The Houston Rockets faced off against the Dallas Mavericks in a decisive match, ultimately securing a victory with a score of 110-99, ending their two-game losing streak. This season, the Rockets have now achieved a double-kill over the Mavericks, with Luka Doncic continuing to sit out due to rest, and Washington also sustaining an ankle injury after playing only 16 minutes, forcing him to withdraw from the game. Without Washington's strong presence at the power forward position, the Mavericks' depth appeared to be stretched thin. Kyrie Irving was also off his game, performing poorly in the first half before finding some momentum in the second half. On the Rockets' side, they were without Ison and Amen, who was suspended for two games, leaving the "Door God" duo absent. Despite these absences, the Rockets' starting lineup remained intact, featuring Van Jordan, Jalen Green, Dillon, Smith, and Shen Jing. With Doncic out, the Rockets' strategy against the Mavericks was straightforward: focus on defending Irving, occasionally double-teaming him and forcing other Mavericks players to take on the offensive load. Initially, this tactic proved effective, but the Mavericks' outside shooting was accurate. Players like Dinwiddie, Thompson, and Washington were on fire, with LeFevre also scoring consistently, allowing the Mavericks to lead 30-24 in the first quarter, largely thanks to Jalen Green's scoring efforts. In the second quarter, the Mavericks extended their lead to as much as 40-30, a 10-point advantage. Coach Udoka was forced to bring back Jalen Green and other starters, pairing them with the scoring prowess of White Moore. The combination of…

Houston Rockets recently suffered a two-game losing streak, which has left their fans feeling very distressed. The Rockets lost both games due to a sudden offensive outage in the fourth quarter, unfortunately falling to the Timberwolves and the Heat. The biggest problem exposed by the Rockets' consecutive losses is the lack of a key player in the fourth quarter. Neither VanVleet nor Green, nor Shen Jing, have the ability to seal the deal in critical moments. In this situation, trading for a star player has become an urgent matter for the Rockets. According to previous reports, the Rockets management did not plan to make any trades this season as they wanted to observe how far the team could go. However, recent consecutive losses may have somewhat softened the Rockets management's stance. Especially with some potential big fish appearing in the trade market. Both Fox from the Kings and Butler from the Heat can meet the Rockets' demand for superstars. Especially Fox, the 27-year-old young player who had a great performance this season, including a highlight moment of scoring 60 points in a single game. The good relationship between the Rockets and the Kings management also increases the possibility of a trade. Moreover, according to media reports, the Kings have expressed interest in some of the young players on the Rockets, making a big trade between the two teams seem increasingly likely. On December 31st, Beijing time, Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report reported that an Eastern Conference management source revealed: "Sacramento really likes (the Rockets') Sheppard." Eric Pincus reported that the…

Recently, there might be significant changes in the lineup of the Houston Rockets. It is said that the Rockets and the Sacramento Kings are discussing a 6-for-2 trade, with the Rockets aiming to acquire the Kings' All-Star point guard De'Aaron Fox and shooting guard Kevin Huerter through this deal. Consider this: The Rockets would send out VanVleet, Sheppard, Whitmore, and three future first-round draft picks, including those from the Suns in 2025, 2027, and 2029. Doesn't it sound a bit crazy? But precisely because of the possibility of this trade, the future lineup of the Rockets fills us with anticipation. Let's talk about De'Aaron Fox. This guy is really impressive! Fox averages 26.2 points, 5 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game this season, with a shooting percentage as high as 48.3%. He is not only a scoring guard but also exerts pressure on opponents defensively, having won the league's steals title. Most importantly, his athleticism and ability to break through make people shout with excitement when they watch him play. If the Rockets can get Fox, their backcourt firepower will be significantly enhanced, especially in terms of organizing offense, where the Rockets' performance will undoubtedly experience a qualitative leap. Imagine, the combination of Fox and Jalen Green in the backcourt, moving so fast that the opposing defense can hardly cope. Some netizens have expressed: Fox is simply the missing piece of the puzzle for the Rockets! If he comes, the Rockets' offense will become interesting. The current VanVleet, frankly speaking, is in poor form and cannot support the offensive needs…

According to the latest report from American media, insiders in the league believe that Kings star De'Aaron Fox will push for a trade before the deadline. The Kings may consider all options, and the Rockets are likely to be the best potential trading partner for the Kings. Their draft picks and promising young stars make it hard for the Kings to refuse, especially after VanVleet's consecutive poor performances. The Rockets' desire for a trade has become increasingly strong. VanVleet's salary this season is $42.85 million, the highest in the Rockets team. So far this season, VanVleet has played 30 games for the Rockets, averaging 15.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. His shooting percentage is 37.9%, the second-lowest of his career, with a three-point percentage of 32.5%, a career low, and a free-throw percentage of 79.7%, also a career low. In yesterday's loss to the Heat, VanVleet performed poorly again and was even ejected from the game. He played for 38 minutes and 14 seconds, making only 6 of 17 shots, including 4 of 10 from three-point range, scoring 16 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. Meanwhile, the Kings are experiencing a six-game losing streak, and their head coach has been fired. Fox previously rejected the team's offer of a three-year, $165 million early renewal contract, leaving his future in Sacramento uncertain. The chaotic situation in the Kings has intensified discussions about Fox's future direction. This management is really incompetent, Brown is just a scapegoat. According to ESPN reporter Ramona, sources say…

The Houston Rockets have recently suffered a two-game losing streak, causing great concern among their fans. The Rockets lost both games due to a sudden offensive outage in the fourth quarter, unfortunately falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Miami Heat. The biggest problem exposed by these consecutive losses is the lack of a key player in the fourth quarter. Neither VanVleet nor Green, nor Shen Jing, have shown the ability to seal the deal in crucial moments. In this situation, trading for a star player has become an urgent matter for the Rockets. According to previous reports, the Rockets' management did not plan to make any trades this season as they wanted to observe how far the team could go. However, recent consecutive losses may have softened their stance. Especially with several potential big-name players appearing on the trade market, such as the Kings' Fox and the Heat's Butler, who can meet the Rockets' demand for superstars. Fox, in particular, the 27-year-old young player, has had a good performance this season, including a highlight moment of scoring 60 points in a single game. The Rockets and the Kings have a good relationship, which increases the possibility of a trade. Moreover, according to media reports, the Kings have expressed interest in some of the young players on the Rockets, making a big trade between the two teams seem increasingly likely. On December 31st, Beijing time, Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report reported that an Eastern Conference management source revealed: "Sacramento really likes (the Rockets') Sheppard." Eric Pincus reported that the current…

On December 30th, Beijing time, the Rockets suffered an unexpected collapse and defeat with a score of 100-104. They were leading by 12 points but managed to be overturned, committing an epic blunder in the final moments, resulting in VanVleet's ejection! In the game between the Rockets and the Heat, the Rockets lost in a truly painful manner because the Heat had previously double-killed the Rockets for four consecutive seasons, achieving an overwhelming record of 8 wins to 0. Unexpectedly, in this game, the Rockets, who had once turned the tide, were struck back by the Heat again. Moreover, the 40 million dollar guard VanVleet was ejected at the last moment, adding insult to injury. Not only that, but a large-scale brawl erupted between the two sides at the end of the game, creating a very intense scene. The Rockets have been holding their breath. After completing a big comeback in the third quarter with a 16:4 reversal, they had already seen hope of winning. However, in the fourth quarter, the Rockets' offense suddenly stalled, scoring only 12 points in 11 minutes, allowing the Heat to continue their reversal in a single quarter. With 47.2 seconds left, the Heat led the Rockets by 4 points with a score of 98:94, at which point the Rockets made a big mistake first. After Udoka called a timeout and returned to inbound the ball, VanVleet directly committed a 5-second violation on the sidelines. At the last moment, he wanted to call a timeout to the referee, but it was too late, so VanVleet…

The Houston Rockets defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 128-111, with Jalen Green exploding for a super performance. He shot 12 of 21 from the field, including 6 of 11 from three-point range, scoring 30 points with 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, with a plus-minus of +30. Over the past 11 games, Jalen Green's state has indeed been improving. His awakening game was against Philadelphia where he scored 41 points. After entering December, the Rockets faced several strong teams, and Green's performance was inconsistent, playing well in some games and poorly in others. Against the Kings, Green scored 28 points, but in two games against the Warriors, he only managed 14 and 12 points, followed by two games against the Thunder where he scored 9 and 12 points. However, surprisingly, against the Clippers, Jalen Green efficiently scored 31 points and 4 rebounds, followed by two games against the Pelicans where he scored 34 and 30 points. Over the past 11 games, Jalen Green averaged 22 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 steals, with a shooting percentage of 47.2%, a three-point percentage of 36%, and a true shooting percentage of an impressive 60.2%, with a cumulative plus-minus of +36. This means that when Jalen Green averages 22 points per game, the Rockets can improve their win rate even if his shooting percentage is not as high as 47%, but rather around 45% and 36%. The Rockets' defensive efficiency and average points allowed are among the top three in the league this year, but their offense is only average. This…

On December 27, 2024, Beijing time, the Houston Rockets won a fierce match against the New Orleans Pelicans with a score of 128-111, further consolidating their rise in the Western Conference. Despite the absence of key players Zion and Ingram from the Pelicans, the Rockets demonstrated strong team collaboration and individual abilities throughout the game. In particular, the outstanding performances of Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet gave the Rockets' offense a significant boost. On the other hand, the Pelicans struggled offensively and failed to make timely adjustments defensively, ultimately leading to their defeat. Game Review: From the start of the game, the Rockets quickly established a lead, with Green and VanVleet's outside shooting providing stable scoring support for the team. Green showcased his offensive talent in the first half, hitting several crucial three-pointers and contributing a total of 30 points. VanVleet not only contributed 25 points but also made key steals and rebounds on defense. The interior protection provided by Alperen Sengun and Bruno Fernando was also crucial, helping the Rockets establish a strong defensive front under the basket. Although the Pelicans fought tenaciously under the leadership of CJ McCollum, they were unable to find their rhythm on offense due to the absence of their main players. Especially in the third quarter, the Pelicans attempted to close the gap by strengthening their defense, but the Rockets' quick counterattacks and accurate three-point shots kept the Pelicans from getting close to the score. Despite McCollum scoring 18 points throughout the game, his inefficient performance on the court directly affected the overall play…

The Houston Rockets defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 128-111 in a recent game. Jalen Green and Van Jordan had outstanding performances, while Whitmore, coming off the bench, became a key player, effectively filling the void left by the absence of Ison. The contrast between Whitmore (referred to as the "White Wizard") and Shepherd was particularly evident, with Shepherd scoring only 1 point in 18 minutes, while Whitmore scored 27 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal in 26 minutes, shooting 9 for 16 from the field and 4 for 8 from three-point range. Coach Udoka's positioning of the two players is somewhat similar. Previously, when Whitmore was in the G League, Shepherd averaged only 10 minutes per game. His main task was not to come off the bench as a backup point guard but to be used as a spot-up shooter, with the ball still in the hands of Van Jordan and Shen Jing. However, Shepherd has too many passes that shift responsibility because he is afraid to shoot and plays safe to maintain stability. Defensively, Shepherd's physique does not meet NBA standards, and it can be said that whenever teams face the Rockets, they single out Shepherd for one-on-one play. Offensively, Shepherd lacks tactical status, and even if given tactics, his body cannot execute them. Defensively, he has become a weak point. Currently, Shepherd really needs to go to the G League for training. This is not to look down on Shepherd, but rather to say that if you force him to stay with the Rockets, you cannot…

The Houston Rockets' recent victory against the New Orleans Pelicans was a clear demonstration of their dominance, with no suspense from the start. The Pelicans seemed to have no intention of winning, as the Rockets quickly established a lead that they maintained throughout the game, ultimately securing a decisive 17-point win. This victory not only marked the Rockets' fourth consecutive win but also solidified their position as second in the Western Conference. The Rockets' recent momentum has been impressive, and their performance against teams that are not performing well has been particularly noteworthy. In this game, they led by as many as 30 points at one point, showcasing just how smoothly their game plan was executed. With this win, the Rockets have now achieved four consecutive victories, a streak that has helped them maintain their strong standing in the Western Conference. The question on everyone's mind is: who were the key players behind the Rockets' success? The data tells us that five players stood out. First among them is Aman. Despite scoring only 9 points, Aman contributed significantly with 10 rebounds, including 6 offensive rebounds, along with 3 assists and 5 blocks. Aman has proven himself to be an invaluable role player, and if he can improve his mid-to-long-range shooting, his potential is limitless. Second is Shen Jing. Shen Jing had a relatively easy game, contributing 10 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists. He played with ease and was able to control the game effectively. Third is Jalen Green. Green had an excellent shooting night, making 12 of his 21…