Thunder's Big Win Over Celtics! Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Scores 33+11, Doc Rivers' Prediction Comes True, Clippers Shouldn't Have Traded 9 for 1 The Thunder and the Celtics had a fierce battle, with the Thunder ultimately achieving a great comeback victory, winning 105-92. In their next game, the Thunder will face the Cavaliers, who are currently first in the East, which could be a preview of the finals. The Thunder, currently first in the West, have won 15 consecutive games and are leading by a wide margin. The Cavaliers have also won 10 straight games and are far ahead in the East. The Thunder have a record of 30 wins and 5 losses, while the Cavaliers have 31 wins and 4 losses. If the Thunder win their next game, they will have the same record as the Cavaliers. If they lose, the Cavaliers will solidify their position as the top team in the league. This 15-game winning streak is also the longest in Thunder history, surpassing the record from the SuperSonics era. In this game, the Celtics once held an advantage because they had their strongest lineup. The Celtics lined up a formidable starting five of Holiday, White, Jaylen Brown, Tatum, and Porzingis, with Horford on the bench. The Thunder, on the other hand, stuck to their regular starting lineup, with Alexander and Wallace in the backcourt, Dort on the wing, and Giddey and Hartenstein in the frontcourt. The Celtics, who play with a "Moreyball" system, were indeed unstoppable when their shooting was hot. In the first quarter, the Celtics went on…

With the Lakers losing to the Rockets and the Thunder reversing the Celtics, changes in the Western rankings! The Thunder, ranked first in the West, has won 15 consecutive victories, while the Lakers surprisingly lost to the Rockets. Behind this seemingly ordinary result of the game, there is a fierce shake-up in the Western pattern. Is it time to tear off the label of "pseudo-strong team" from the Rockets? What impact will Amon's emergence have on the West? ▶ The unexpected joy of the Rockets The Rockets' performance this season has been questioned. Their record of 22 wins and 12 losses looks bright, but it is always considered a false appearance built on defense, lacking real competitiveness. In this game against the Lakers, almost no one favored them before the game. However, the young players of the Rockets responded to all doubts with a thrilling victory. Jalen Green scored 33 points, showing his leadership qualities; Amon Thompson contributed a comprehensive data of 23 points and 16 rebounds, showing amazing energy on both offense and defense, even making James hard to handle. This victory not only improved the ranking of the Rockets, but more importantly, it boosted the morale and self-confidence of the team. The victory of the Rockets was not accidental. They focus on defense, using the vitality and impact of young players to play an efficient transition offense. The addition of Amon Thompson has injected new vitality into the team. He can not only score, but also grab rebounds, organize offense, and limit the core players of the opponent…

On January 6, 2025, Beijing time, the Thunder with a record of 29 wins and 5 losses hosted the Celtics with a record of 26 wins and 9 losses. The Thunder currently ranks first in the West with a 14-game winning streak and remains undefeated against Eastern Conference teams this season. The Celtics, on the other hand, are the reigning NBA champions and are considered to have the best strength in the league today. Who will win this peak matchup? The Thunder's Chet and Caruso were absent, with the starting lineup being Alexander + Wallace + Dort + Jalen + Harten. The Celtics' Brown returned, with the starting lineup being Holiday + White + Brown + Tatum + Porzingis. In the first quarter, Alexander scored the first 6 points for the Thunder, while Brown, Porzingis, and White responded together, giving the Celtics a 9-6 lead. Wallace, Harten, Alexander, and Jalen then took over, surpassing by 5 points. White and Tatum scored, to which Harten and Wallace responded, giving the Thunder a 6-point lead. Brown then scored 5 points in a row, to which Wallace responded with a layup, leaving a 3-point difference. Holiday, Brown, and Tatum then took the lead by 4 points, to which Wiggins, Alexander, and Isaiah Joe responded by taking the lead by 3 points. Horford and Hauser then made two consecutive three-pointers to take the lead by 3 points. Wiggins made a layup, and Tatum made both free throws, ending the first quarter with the Celtics leading 35-32. In the second quarter, Wiggins made a three-pointer,…

The Houston Rockets suffered a resounding defeat against the Boston Celtics with a score of 86-109, a result that appears to be just another routine loss in the regular season. However, what lingers in the minds of fans after this match is not the crushing defeat itself, but the head coach Stephen Silas' post-game comments about Norman Powell. These remarks, akin to a stone thrown into a lake, have created ripples and sparked deep contemplation about the current state and future prospects of the Rockets. In this game, the Rockets were thoroughly outplayed. The defeat was not only reflected in the significant point difference but also in the team's lackluster performance from the outset. In the first quarter, the Celtics demonstrated their formidable offensive and defensive prowess, firmly controlling the game's tempo. The Rockets' offense struggled, lacking effective organization and coordination, resorting to individual efforts out of necessity. Defensively, they were riddled with vulnerabilities, allowing the Celtics' players to score at will. Despite Jalen Green's impressive 27 points, his personal excellence could not offset the team's overall slump. It was as if a lone hero fought valiantly amidst a vast army yet could not turn the tide. Of course, we cannot overlook the impact of objective factors. The absences of Smith, Aman, and Ison significantly diminished the Rockets' strength. However, this should not excuse the team's poor showing. Other players, especially the high-paid veterans, should step up, take responsibility, and lead the team forward in such times. Yet, what we witnessed was Norman Powell once again lost on the court.…

The Houston Rockets faced two unfortunate pieces of news ahead of their game against the Dallas Mavericks. The first was the suspension of their backup point guard, Amon Thompson, for two games due to a conflict in the previous match. This was his first game out, and he would also miss the next home game against the Boston Celtics. To make matters worse, the Rockets' forward, Ethan, has been out of action due to injury for several consecutive games. Last season, Ethan only played 20 games, which was one of the main reasons the Rockets failed to enter the playoffs. It seems that injuries have once again found the 23-year-old iron-blooded forward, Ethan. As part of the Rockets' famous "Door God Combination" and best defensive duo, it is clear that with both Amon Thompson and Tari Ethan unavailable, some bench players were given the opportunity to play. For example, in the game against the Mavericks, the Rockets' forward, Whitmore, scored an impressive 18 points in 24 minutes, catching everyone's attention. Another guard, Aaron Holiday, also received 15 minutes of playing time, scoring 4 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist in the game, with a performance that could be considered average. Another veteran, Tate, scored 3 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal in 15 minutes, showing a very comprehensive performance. Most importantly, outside of Ethan and Amon Thompson, Tate is the first choice for the Rockets' bench forwards. Therefore, although the 28-year-old Tate is known as the most likely player to be traded by the Rockets, from the current…

Despite the fact that Kobe Bryant has passed away, his devoted fans remain unwavering in their affection for him, primarily due to the aesthetic appeal of his technical moves and his passionate playing style, which always evokes a sense of excitement and fervor. His five NBA championship titles are a testament to his greatness, but the greatest regret is that he was unable to achieve a second three-peat, which would have allowed him to stand shoulder to shoulder with the "Basketball God" Michael Jordan. So, what were the reasons that prevented Kobe from achieving a second three-peat? Was it a lack of skill or simply fate? Today, let's revisit Kobe's peak years and analyze the reasons behind this. Many fans believe that Kobe's prime was during the championship-winning seasons of 08-09 and 09-10, but this is not the case. Kobe's true prime was actually during the 2007-2008 season. During this season, both his skills and mentality reached a level of perfection, and the arrival of Pau Gasol only added to his prowess, leading the team to a record of 57 wins and 25 losses, securing the top spot in the Western Conference. With an impressive average of 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, he was awarded his first regular-season MVP title. Compared to the more intense playoffs, Kobe's regular-season performance was just an "appetizer." In the first round of the playoffs, against the Denver Nuggets led by Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony, Kobe averaged a staggering 33.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.5 steals, and…

In the NBA league, most players will experience a noticeable decline after the age of 30, and they may be replaced by younger players at any time, ultimately being eliminated by the league. In recent years, several powerful stars have suddenly bid farewell to the NBA stage. If it weren't mentioned, many fans might not even know that these six stars have faded away from the NBA stage. For example, Austin Rivers, the pride of the Rivers family, was once the top high school player in the United States. With his outstanding skills and sharp breakthroughs, he became a good choice for a substitute shooting guard. At his peak, he was also a bench bandit, averaging over 10 points per game for multiple seasons. However, at the age of 30, which is considered the prime of a player's career, he unexpectedly announced his retirement, surprising many fans. Serge Ibaka was also a tough player in the NBA, especially on the defensive end, where he was an undoubted tough guy. During his time with the Thunder, he was the shot-blocking champion, and his combination of height and agility made him extremely intimidating under the basket. After a major injury, he underwent a splendid transformation and successfully won the championship. Now, with his achievements, Ibaka has chosen to transfer to Europe, which can be described as having more money, less work, and being closer to home. Similarly, Derrick Rose's retirement was also unexpected. Last season, as a backup point guard for the Grizzlies, he still managed to contribute an average of 8…

On December 28th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued with the Indiana Pacers visiting the Boston Celtics. The Celtics have been in poor form recently, losing three of their last four games and just suffering their first consecutive losses of the season; the Pacers' six-game winning streak was just ended by the Thunder, and both teams desperately needed a victory to stabilize the situation. In this game, the Celtics came out swinging in the first quarter, scoring 39 points and quickly establishing a double-digit lead. The Pacers fought back fiercely, but the Celtics still expanded their lead to 22 points at halftime with suffocating offense and defense. After the break, the two teams engaged in a fierce shootout, with the Celtics maintaining a lead of over 20 points. In the fourth quarter, the Celtics unleashed a 20-10 run to extend the lead to over 30 points, making the game lose its suspense. Ultimately, the Celtics defeated the Pacers 142-105. The Celtics and Pacers were opponents in last season's Eastern Conference Finals, but their offensive and defensive capabilities and depth are not on the same level. Facing the aggressive Pacers, the Celtics' key players, Porzingis and Holiday, were sidelined due to injuries, yet they still dominated both ends of the court, controlling the rebounding advantage and raining down threes on their guests! Throughout the game, the Celtics outrebounded the Pacers 52-39, including an 18-13 edge in offensive rebounds, and as a team, they made 23 three-pointers at a 40.4% clip. In contrast, the Pacers only made 11 of their 39…

NBA regular season is in full swing, with many teams involved in trade rumors and several star players potentially on the move. Take the Pelicans, for example; they're like an open supermarket this season. Due to injuries, the Pelicans have had a tough time, with a record of 5 wins and 22 losses, placing them at the bottom of the Western Conference. The Pelicans no longer trust their frontline combination of Zion and Ingram and have openly stated that they are open to trading these two core players. Additionally, the Heat might be looking to rebuild, as they have put their star player Butler on the trading block. Since leading the Heat to an unexpected Finals appearance last year, Butler's performance has lacked highlights, and with his age not on his side, the Heat are considering building a younger, more promising team. The Bulls are also eager to trade away LaVine and Vucevic, taking a longer-term view. The Lakers are quite active in the trade market, eager to strengthen their team quickly. James and Davis, the two core players, are definitely not going anywhere, but other role players could be used as trade bait. In recent times, the Lakers have shown interest in several players, such as No. 1 pick Fultz, the Nets' Cameron Johnson and Finney-Smith, the Wizards' Kuzma, the Blazers' Simmons and Grant, etc. The Lakers' goal in recruitment is clear; they are looking for near All-Star level players to serve as the team's third core. Although the current Lakers lineup appears decent, it lacks depth, with no…