NBA regular season continues, the Rockets, who have suffered two consecutive defeats, have dropped to third place in the Western Conference, with teams like the Mavericks, Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Spurs, Warriors, and Suns all in hot pursuit. Any misstep could see them exit the playoff race. Fred VanVleet has become one of the most disappointing players for the Rockets this season, earning $42.85 million but averaging only 15.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 6 assists per game, with a shooting percentage of just 37.9% and a three-point percentage of 32.7%. The Rockets management holds his team option for next summer, and it is expected that General Manager Rafael Stone will not continue to execute his final year's max contract. To ensure securing a playoff spot, GM Rafael Stone hopes to strengthen the team through the trade market, aiming to find an All-Star level player to further enhance the overall strength of the Rockets. Recently, Jake Fischer, a reporter for American media outlet "Bleacher Report," suggested that the Rockets should target 76ers' All-Star small forward Paul George as their top priority for recruitment. The 76ers have had a poor record this season, currently ranking 11th in the Eastern Conference, and even if they manage to enter the playoffs, it is unlikely they will make significant progress. George's performance this season has been subpar, and his four-year, $212 million contract has already severely limited the 76ers' salary cap space. The journalist provided a 3-for-1 trade offer to both the Rockets and the 76ers, and if negotiations go smoothly, VanVleet and Tari Eason…

On January 2nd, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued with the Rockets hosting the Mavericks. Both teams had similar records, with the Rockets at 21 wins and 11 losses, and the Mavericks at 20 wins and 13 losses. Additionally, both teams were in poor form recently, having suffered two consecutive defeats. Therefore, this intra-Texas battle was sure to end the losing streak for one of the teams. In the first quarter, the Rockets started coldly while the Mavericks took an early lead with a hot hand, leading 16-6 for a 10-point advantage; however, Green and Xiao Smith's scoring helped the Rockets stop the bleeding, followed by Dillion scoring six points to tie the game. But in the final stages, the Mavericks had another small run to lead 30-24 and end the first quarter six points ahead. In the first half of the second quarter, the Mavericks relied on consecutive three-pointers to lead 40-30 by 10 points; then the game took a sharp turn as Whitmore and Shenjing played very actively for the Rockets, combining for a 17-4 run to overtake the score. Then it was Green, Whitmore, and Dillion who exploded, helping the Rockets end the half leading the Mavericks 61-52 by nine points. In the first half of the third quarter, Xiao Smith, Shenjing, and Dillion worked together to help the Rockets take a 16-point lead; after Irving and Clay scored consecutively to narrow the gap, it was again Dillion, Xiao Smith, and Shenjing who stepped up to stabilize the situation. In the final stages, Dillion and Tate's…

Hey, guys! We're talking about something today that will definitely get you excited! Eric Pincus just dropped a bombshell on BR, saying that the Sacramento Kings have set their sights on the third pick in the draft, Jaden Ivey, from the Houston Rockets, and this time they're serious! This is really interesting. The Kings are even willing to part with their star player, De'Aaron Fox, just to get Ivey. This move has left me speechless! Seriously, Fox plays with real energy, his speed is like a rocket, averaging over 20 points per game is no joke. Let's talk about the trade proposal first, it's a big one! The Kings are offering Fox, Lyles, and McDermott, while the Rockets would have to give up Ivey, Whitmore, Green, Tate, and Landale, plus three first-round picks and swap rights. Wow, that's quite an array! To be honest, Fox's contract is about to expire, he'll need to renegotiate in the summer of 2026. Given his current value, he'll definitely want a max contract, which isn't pocket change! The Kings' management is being very calculating, afraid that spending this money might tie them down, so they'd rather exchange for some young players and draft picks now. On the Rockets' side, Ivey is a real gem! He plays with a certain flair, is ferocious on defense, and comprehensive on offense. His partner, Whitmore, is also a good player. If we could get these two, the Kings would really hit the jackpot! However, the Kings are also quite greedy, wanting Jabari Smith Jr. as well. That's wishful…

The Houston Rockets have been on a smooth ride recently, securing an impressive four consecutive victories. However, their momentum has faltered when facing strong opponents like the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Miami Heat. As a result, the Rockets have slipped to third place in the Western Conference, with the possibility of dropping further if they continue to lose. The recent losses are not due to a lack of skill but rather a failure to capitalize on crucial moments. Coach Udoka's team is struggling to hold onto scoring opportunities when it matters most. Defensively, the team's performance has also dipped, particularly with the absence of Tari Eason, who has missed six consecutive games. Without their defensive powerhouse on the front line, the Rockets are finding it challenging to maintain their top-tier defensive displays. Coach Udoka is also disappointed with some of the team's bench players. In the game against the Heat, he benched rookie shooter Shepherd, who had been a key part of the rotation for most of the season. In the previous match against the Timberwolves, Shepherd played only four minutes with minimal impact, and in this game, he was completely sidelined without a single second of playing time. With Dillon Brooks returning to the lineup, the Rockets have reverted to their usual starting five. The bench has seen some changes, with veteran sharpshooter Aaron Holiday replacing Shepherd. Adams continues to play, while Armoni Brooks has returned to the bench due to Dillon's comeback. Forward scorer Whitmore has once again entered the rotation after performing well previously. It's clear that…

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…

According to comprehensive reports, the Kings may trade their starting point guard De'Aaron Fox, but they may need to wait a bit longer and send him away before the trading deadline this season. Now may not be the right time. Although the Rockets' management and coaching staff have not clearly stated that they want to go all out to pursue Fox, according to some reports, the Rockets are indeed interested in Fox. Moreover, NBA famous reporter Eric Pincus also said that the Rockets have the chips that the Kings want, and they will also be one of the most ideal destinations for Fox. In fact, it is also reported that the two newcomers of the Rockets, Whitmore and Reed Shepard, have been favored by the Kings. The Kings admire Shepard very much. Although Shepard did not have many opportunities in the Rockets this season, his playing time was relatively short, and he has often been benched recently, and his personal data is very ordinary, and he did not perform as a No. 3 pick. However, Shepard is only 20 years old, and he is also a shooter with great basketball talent and basketball IQ. This season, Shepard played 29 games for the Rockets, averaging 3.4 points, 1.2 assists, and 1.3 rebounds. His shooting percentages are not good, but in the end, it is still the Rockets who did not give Shepard the opportunity to swing freely. When the Rockets were tanking before, whether it was Jalen Green or Shen Jing, they had such unlimited firing rights, but now Whitmore and…

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…

The recent performance of the Rockets has been quite disappointing, especially with regard to Coach Udoka's tactical arrangements. Looking back at the game, the team's performance was simply incomprehensible. After Jovic scored a crucial three-pointer, Udoka finally called a timeout. Everyone thought this might be a turning point, but what happened? The team's offense became even more disorganized after the timeout. In fact, Udoka's problems were exposed as early as the previous game. At that time, he was afraid to call a timeout and didn't know how to inbound the ball. Now he does call timeouts, but the results are not satisfactory. Speaking of inbound passes, Coach Li Nan probably knows to use a big man like Zhou Qi to inbound the ball, but Udoka chose Fan Tong instead. In the last game against the Bucks, Fan Tong's view was completely blocked, forcing him to lob the ball high to his teammate, which almost flew out of bounds. This time, when Fan Tong was inbounding, he couldn't even see his teammates, only the nose and armpit hair of the defenders. Besides inbound passes, the Rockets' defense is also riddled with problems. There are numerous defensive lapses, and they often fail to box out for rebounds. Udoka, who is known as the "best defensive coach," had a performance that left everyone stunned. The opponents easily broke through the defense, making the Rockets' defense virtually non-existent. Players like Green and Dillon tried hard to score, but the overall tactics were chaotic, disrupting the offensive rhythm. Especially Fan Tong, who has been in…

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…

The game between the Houston Rockets and the Miami Heat was an extreme defeat for the Rockets, with three players and two coaching staff members being ejected. Armoni Brooks and Jalen Green are likely to face suspensions as well, and a huge conflict in the last 35.7 seconds has sparked heated discussions across the United States. After the game, Vernon Maxwell, a former Rockets player (who played for the Rockets from the 90-95 season and won two championships with Hakeem Olajuwon), wrote: "I love what Armoni Brooks did. Put his fine on my account; I'll take care of anyone who stands up for the Rockets." Houston media highlighted the double standard refereeing in the fourth quarter, where Rozier used an elbow to clear his way for a layup, hitting Armoni's head with his elbow. However, the referees awarded a 2+1, which reduced the Rockets' five-point lead to one point. Houston media member Bradeaux wrote: "TV replays need better methods; the big screen at Toyota Center should be enlarged, making the referee's decision look even worse." He also revisited the moment when Armoni and Herro were entangled, both of them getting physical, but Armoni used a shoulder throw, and his emotions were more intense. The Houston media wrote: "Strictly speaking, I like everything Armoni did, but it's terrible that he faces suspension. The Rockets are about to enter a tough schedule, and we will miss Armoni if Ethan cannot return. The Rockets' next three games are against the Mavericks, Celtics, and Lakers." During his ejection, Herro taunted Armoni, saying, "You're a…