On January 18th, Beijing time, the NBA officially released the last two minutes of the referee's report for the Rockets vs Kings game. The league wanted everyone to know that Dillon's two fouls were not unjustly called, and the Rockets did not get cheated in this game. Prior to this, the Rockets had been cheated twice. After losing this game, the Rockets' record stands at 27 wins and 13 losses, continuing to rank second in the West. In the first 40 games, the Rockets have achieved a record of 27 wins and 13 losses, which is the best performance in the past seven years. The last time they had a better record was in the 17-18 season with 29 wins and 11 losses, which was the team that almost defeated the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. That year, if Paul hadn't been injured, the Rockets would likely have been the champions. Since entering 2025, the new three giants of the Rockets have begun to take shape. Jalen Green averages 30.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.9 assists with a true shooting percentage of 67.2%; Shen Jing averages 20.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.1 steals; Amen averages 17.2 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.2 steals. These three players have all performed exceptionally well since January. Moreover, Green is only 22 years old, Shen Jing is also 22 years old, and Amen is just 21 years old. It must be said that the Rockets have a promising future. The Houston media also wrote that it is unreasonable for the…

This season, the young Rockets have played with a very good state and momentum. Recently, the Rockets have defeated several strong teams in a row, achieving a four-game winning streak, and currently have a regular-season record of 26 wins and 12 losses, ranking second in the West. Before the start of the season, the Rockets were not favored, and most people thought they were just a play-in level team. However, under the leadership of head coach Udoka, the Rockets have built an excellent defensive system and have been making great progress, surprising everyone. The Rockets now have some shortcomings, mainly the lack of a superstar scorer. With Jalen Green's state still unstable, the Rockets still need a key player who can make the decisive shot. It can be seen that in this year's trade rumors, the Rockets have been linked with players like Fox and Butler. However, there are also reports that the Rockets are currently unwilling to break up their existing lineup. They want to see how things go before deciding whether to make big trades in the summer. However, as the schedule progresses and the Rockets' record is so outstanding, they have begun to fantasize about the championship. In this situation, the Rockets may reconsider trading. Today, ESPN reporter Tim MacMahon discussed the Rockets' situation on his podcast. He said that the Rockets understand internally that they ultimately need to pursue a star scorer to become contenders. The reporter stated that two potential trade target players the Rockets may focus on in the future are Booker and Fox.…

In a highly anticipated match-up, the Rockets suffered a disappointing defeat at the hands of the Kings, which sparked significant dissatisfaction among the team regarding the referees' decisions. In the closing moments of the game, the Rockets had a strong chance to make a comeback, but the referees repeatedly called fouls against them, ultimately extinguishing any hope of a reversal. This outcome left the players and coaches of the Rockets feeling unable to accept the result, leading them to openly express their frustration and disappointment with the refereeing. Head coach Udoka was the first to speak out, candidly stating that the referees' calls in the final moments were inconsistent with the standards set throughout the rest of the game. Foul calls that could have gone either way were instead decisively made against the Rockets, leaving them feeling wronged. Udoka's emotions were clearly heightened, and he even vented his anger by smashing the locker room after the game. The Rockets' guards, Jalen Green and VanVleet, also voiced their discontent with the refereeing. Jalen Green believes that the team's loss was closely tied to the referees' calls, questioning why the Rockets were continuously penalized in the dying moments of the game. VanVleet was more direct in his criticism, suggesting that the referees were essentially ensuring the Kings' victory, leaving the entire team feeling disappointed and helpless. Additionally, the performance of the Rockets' center, Shen Jing, came under scrutiny. In the crucial moments of the game, Shen Jing's screen quality was criticized as being too low; he failed to block the defender before…

The Houston Rockets of the NBA are currently riding high, boasting a second-place ranking in the Western Conference. The team has recently enjoyed a five-game winning streak, which includes victories over formidable Western Conference opponents such as the Grizzlies, Lakers, and Nuggets. This winning streak is undoubtedly impressive, but what brings even greater joy to the team and their head coach is the transformation of their core player, Jalen Green, into a true cornerstone for the franchise. During this streak, he has averaged over 30 points per game and has been instrumental in scoring when the team needs it most. This may well be the reason behind the significant contract offered to him by the team. However, amidst these positive developments, there are two critical issues that the Rockets must address. Firstly, the team lacks a stable point guard. Fred VanVleet is crucial to the current Rockets lineup, despite his inconsistency and tendency to take risky shots. His experience and decision-making in crucial moments provide significant support to the young team. In today's game against the Kings, with VanVleet absent, the Rockets' offense appeared awkward and disorganized, with players often resorting to individual play without any cohesive strategy. VanVleet himself is not a consistent point guard, prone to getting carried away and favoring outside three-point attempts, which disrupts the team's offensive rhythm. Addressing the point guard issue is therefore of paramount importance. Secondly, Sengun, known for his impressive stats, is not suited to the starting center position. While he frequently records double-doubles, keen observers will notice that the team often…

The Rockets' character has improved, and in the third quarter, their rhythm of advancing and the lucky three-point shots might have really given them momentum against a different opponent. However, the Rockets responded every time, firmly holding down the Nuggets. With Green's current form and the return of Little Jason at full strength, it's hard to imagine what a complete Rockets team would look like. It's really something to look forward to! Green needs a lot of shooting opportunities to bring back his shooting percentage. He is the fastest scorer on the Rockets, and this type of player needs a lot of shots to gradually improve his shooting percentage. Even if Green has an average first half, he can bounce back in the second half! During the 11-game winning streak last March, without Shenjing as the first core, Green faced a significant increase in defensive attention. Then, in several games, he struggled in the first half but scored over 10 points in the third and fourth quarters, widening the gap or overtaking the score, and his shooting percentage also went up. During the 11-game winning streak, Green averaged a top-level shooting percentage of 48% + 42%. This type of ball-handling offensive player needs to hold the ball more to maintain his touch and offensive rhythm while combining with off-ball positioning tactics to keep him moving, making him almost invincible, similar to the perfect display of Green's talent on the offensive end against the Grizzlies on January 14! Now that Green and Amen are playing better and better, it may be…

The Houston Rockets have achieved a five-game winning streak, facing formidable opponents such as the Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies (twice), Washington Wizards, and Los Angeles Lakers. Among these teams, only the Wizards are considered to be tanking this season, while the other three are serious contenders for the championship. The Rockets' performance this season has been unexpected, and their success can be attributed not only to head coach Stephen Silas but also to the growth of several young players on the team. As they enter the challenging month of January, the team has managed to maintain an impressive win rate, with second overall pick Jalen Green playing a crucial role. During the five-game winning streak, Green scored 33, 29, 27, 42, and 34 points respectively. Including his earlier scores of 22 and 27 points in January, he has averaged 30.6 points over seven games, with a shooting percentage of 52% and a three-point percentage of 42%. These statistics are indicative of a superstar-level player. Despite improvements in consistency this season, Green's sudden and complete explosion into superstardom raises questions about what has changed. Firstly, Green is maturing in his game. At just 22 years old, he was always seen as having more potential than maturity, but after more than three seasons, he is showing signs of growth. Secondly, Green is playing with more aggression. In previous interviews, he acknowledged his lack of aggressiveness and the need to seek better offensive options when shots don't fall, such as driving to the basket instead of staying outside. Since January, he has become…

Recently, the Rockets have been on a strong run. After defeating the Nuggets, they are currently the team with the longest winning streak in the league, reaching five consecutive victories. During this period, Jalen Green, who averaged over 30 points, is undoubtedly the top contributor. The versatile warrior Amen Thompson, who has performed well on both offense and defense, should be credited second. Coming in at third, Whitmore is perhaps a player that must be mentioned. If you watched the Rockets' games a week ago, you would always feel that Whitmore was out of place with all his teammates. At that time, he had just re-entered the rotation not long ago. Even when he scored 27 points against the Pelicans, there was no smile on Whitmore's face. In an interview, he even expressed that his playing time was unstable and he felt very lost. Especially in the game against the Wizards, Whitmore made 6 out of 8 shots to score 17 points, helping the team defeat their opponents. However, after the game, he walked straight back to the locker room without any interaction with anyone. Post-game, he stated that winning against the worst team in the league was nothing to be happy about. Whitmore's dejected body language was also captured by the NBA officials, and it was even made into a highlight reel, suggesting that the Rockets were experiencing a personnel struggle within the team. Even though head coach Udoka had come forward to say that these were intentional provocations and there were no problems within the team, most people…

Green and Amen are the Jordan Pippen of the Rockets. Amen activates Green, achieving mutual success. I once mentioned that Amen's ultimate template is Batman Pippen, a very versatile small forward. Currently, Amen is indeed playing outstandingly, but what I didn't expect was that after Amen started, there was a very good chemistry between him and Green. Recently, Green has been playing exceptionally well. Honestly speaking, Green's style of play is not the same as Shen Jing's, so they can partner up, but the effect is not always the best. Additionally, the original starting player, Xiao Jiali, is a stationary high-range shooter with much weaker ball-handling skills compared to Amen. Therefore, with Amen in the starting lineup, it's like the Rockets have three ball-handling points: Fan Jordan, Shen Jing, and Amen. This allows Green to play very flexibly, moving around screens, breaking through, shooting threes, and easily getting the ball. It leverages Green's agility and speed advantages, while Amen's cuts inside, defense, and ball-handling skills are also played excellently. Therefore, without Xiao Jiali playing, it actually activated Green. Nerve didn't perform well today, let's adjust for the next game! Shen Jing had a poor performance throughout today's game, feeling not very excited, which might be due to his low shooting percentage! Green made a 3+1 god-level shot but remained expressionless, as if something was on his mind! First of all, I want to clarify that I'm not slandering Shen Jing; Shen Jing and Green have a great relationship, and after Green fell during the game, Shen Jing was the first…

The Houston Rockets have emerged as a strong contender in the NBA, having transitioned from a rebuilding phase to a competitive team under the leadership of coach Ime Udoka. The team has established a defensive-focused culture and has seen significant improvement this season, with their "Houston Seven" players contributing to their success. Despite their high defensive efficiency, ranking second in the league, the Rockets face challenges in offensive efficiency and key moments of games. American media and fans now hold higher expectations for the Rockets, hoping they will prepare for the playoffs. The team's offensive struggles and lack of star power in critical situations have made them a potential destination for star players in the market. Names like Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jimmy Butler, and De'Aaron Fox have been linked with the Rockets due to their culture, depth, defense, and trade assets. The Sacramento Kings are reportedly considering trading De'Aaron Fox, with the Rockets being a likely trade partner. A proposed 9-for-3 trade deal would see the Rockets acquire Fox, along with other players, while the Kings would receive several draft picks and players from the Rockets. This trade could benefit both teams, with the Kings potentially revitalizing the careers of young players like Kenyon Martin Jr., who may not have received enough playing time with the Rockets. The Rockets' strategy is to strengthen their roster with targeted acquisitions, such as Fox, who is a top-tier scorer and clutch player. Although he may need to improve his three-point shooting, his age and potential align well with the growth trajectory of…

The Houston Rockets have achieved a four-game winning streak, with new stars exploding collectively, and Jalen Green and Amon Thompson setting records together. Last season, the Rockets ranked 11th in the Western Conference and were unable to participate in the playoffs. However, this season, they have consistently remained at the forefront of the Western Conference. After defeating the third-ranked Memphis Grizzlies again, the Rockets have solidified their position as second in the West, only behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, leading other teams by a wide margin. The Rockets' recent four-game winning streak was achieved even with the absence of Jabari Smith and Tari Eason due to injuries. The absence of two defensive stalwarts, Smith and Eason, undoubtedly had an impact on the Rockets. Fortunately, Udoka arranged for Amon Thompson to enter the starting lineup, where he performed exceptionally well. Whitmore, playing off the bench, also continued to steadily explode, helping the Rockets win games. In the game against the Grizzlies, Jalen Green went wild, shooting 13-of-18 from the field, including 5-of-6 from three-point range, scoring 42 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal. Jalen Green's recent performance has been remarkable and widely recognized throughout the league. Such a Green represents the ceiling of the Rockets, making championship aspirations a possibility. Amon Thompson scored efficiently with 19 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 5 blocks, with both rebounding and blocking stats being the highest in the game. Grizzlies center Zach Edey had only 7 rebounds (height 2.26 meters), while power forward Jaren Jackson had only 2 rebounds (height…