The game between the Rockets and the Wizards was quite interesting. In terms of the game's progress, the Rockets didn't start off well in the first quarter. However, there's no need to worry too much as the Rockets always manage to win games with a grand style, and everyone saw that they easily took the victory in the end. There are still some points worth analyzing from this game, so let's take a look. The Rockets achieved a big win and solidified their second place position, with many key players contributing to the victory, a quartet of stars emerging, and good news for Ison. This season, the Rockets are considered dark horses in the West, with a strength not to be underestimated. Despite the absence of Ison and Xiao Jia, the team's overall lineup structure remains unchanged. In this game, the Rockets demonstrated what it means to be a top-tier Western Conference team, winning by an 18-point margin. This victory also brought their record to 24 wins and 12 losses, solidifying their position as second in the West, which currently appears quite stable. So who were the key players that contributed to the Rockets' victory in this game? There are quite a few to mention. The first is Green. Green rained down three-pointers in this game, making 7 shots and continuing his previous form, scoring 29 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. What the Rockets need is a player like Green who can score in crucial moments and provide a steady output. If Green continues to perform like this, the Rockets…

Everyone saw the game between the Rockets and the Mavericks, it was so lively and full of fun. The Mavericks were plagued by injuries, and in this situation, the Rockets easily won the game, which was expected. So, what are the points worth analyzing about this game? Let's take a look. Look, a big win and holding onto third place, the Rockets have five great strategies, and the number of scorers is increasing, with one player that is really worth reusing. Everyone knows that the Mavericks' record this season is okay, but the most headache is the numerous injuries. Take this game for example, Doncic couldn't play, which greatly reduced the pressure on the Rockets. As a result, everyone knows that the Rockets won a big victory. You know, considering the ranking situation of the Rockets and the Mavericks, this game is a key battle that can be worth two games. That is to say, the Rockets not only won by 11 points, but also firmly maintained their third place in the West. So what reliable strategies does the Rockets need to win this game? Five can be sorted out in this game. First of all, let's talk about the first strategy, which is to specifically defend against Irving. Think about it, just like a person can only walk with one leg, the opponent will definitely seize the opportunity to defend specifically. Doncic didn't play this game, so Irving became the single core. Fortunately, in this game, the Rockets' defense against Irving was quite in place. Although Irving shot 13…

On January 8th, Beijing time, the Rockets defeated the Wizards to secure their second consecutive victory. Jalen Green went on a scoring spree in the second quarter of the game, setting a new career-high with six three-pointers in the third quarter alone. He led a scoring surge that put the game out of reach, and by the fourth quarter, Green only played for three minutes before the game entered garbage time. This marks the 15th time this season that Green has been the top scorer for the Rockets. Green started the game with only two points in the first quarter. However, after making a layup and a buzzer-beating three-pointer in the second quarter, he found his rhythm and hit two three-pointers at the beginning of the third quarter. Jalen Green completed a 30-foot super long three-pointer with 7 minutes and 29 seconds remaining in the third quarter, earning him praise from the media as a master of catch-and-shoot threes. The official Twitter account of the Rockets also praised Green's performance: "One three-pointer, two three-pointers, three three-pointers... In just 12 minutes of the third quarter, Green went 8-for-13 from the field and 6-for-10 from beyond the arc, scoring 22 points, grabbing 3 rebounds, and recording 1 steal. By the end of the third quarter, Jalen Green had already accumulated 29 points and 7 three-pointers." The media outlet Biased Rockets wrote: "In the third quarter of this game, Jalen Green was like Stephen Curry." In the third quarter, Shen Jing scored 14 points while Green added 22, bringing their totals to 22…

It is well known that the Houston Rockets have recently been facing a shortage of players. First, Amen Thompson was suspended for two games, but fortunately he has officially returned and put on an All-Star level performance in the game against the Lakers. Additionally, the injury wave has affected the completeness of the Rockets' lineup. Besides Adams, who has been playing intermittently, the team's power forward Tari Eason has been out due to injury for nearly 10 games. Although Eason is questionable for upcoming games, the Rockets have announced that he can only play with a small probability, with a chance of only 25%. The other starting power forward, Jabari Smith Jr., also suffered a hand fracture during training and will need to rest for 4 to 6 weeks. During this time, the power forward position will have to be filled by Amen Thompson, Whitmore, and Tate. With the absence of two key forwards, the Rockets are undoubtedly facing significant challenges in their lineup arrangements, which is one of the main reasons for their recent record of fewer wins and more losses. However, the Rockets seem unconcerned as they have announced the demotion of their 20-year-old rookie, Shepherd, to the G League's Vipers. This marks the fourth player the Rockets have sent to the Vipers this season. Previously, the team's forward McKew, guard Jonathan Williams, and undrafted center Dante were all demoted to the G League, where they rarely return to play significant roles for the Rockets' first team. Now, the Rockets have demoted their fourth player, this year's third…

Recently, the Houston Rockets have faced some personnel injury issues. However, with their deep bench lineup, this is not an insurmountable problem. It has provided opportunities for players like Tate, Whitmore, and Holiday to showcase their talents. Yet, some players have publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the team after making a slight impact. The team's response to such behavior has been decisive. Indeed, the player who openly expressed his discontent with the team is none other than the 20th overall pick in the 2023 draft, Whitmore. Standing at 2 meters tall and weighing 106 kg, he is a heavy-duty swingman with top-tier physical attributes in the league. He turned 21 just on July 8th this year, making him the youngest player on the Rockets, despite entering the league a year later than Sheppard. Last year, Whitmore performed well, averaging 12 points in less than 20 minutes per game for the Rockets. However, after the return of Tari Eason and the addition of the third pick in the 2024 draft, Sheppard, Whitmore's playing time was threatened. Perhaps he had already expressed his dissatisfaction to the management at the beginning of the regular season, as evidenced by his decision to unfollow the official social media accounts of the Rockets before the start of the regular season. After the start of the season, Whitmore became even more reckless on the court, disregarding his teammates. With only one successful three-pointer out of his first 20 attempts this season, Coach Udoka made the firm decision to bench Whitmore, sending him to the G League to cool…

The Houston Rockets, a battleground of the future and the present What is the Rockets' strategy: to focus on the future or to push for immediate success? This question has become a hot topic among the team and its fans after two consecutive losses. From head coach Ime Udoka's subtle suggestion that no one in the team can step up in critical moments to the continuous rumors about the potential trade of De'Aaron Fox, each piece of news has struck a nerve with Rocket fans. It begs the question: how did this team, which was supposed to make a big comeback, suddenly fall into a state of confusion? Two consecutive losses have exposed the Rockets' vulnerabilities. First, they faced the Minnesota Timberwolves, leading most of the game only to collapse in the fourth quarter; then, against the Miami Heat, they repeated the same mistake, faltering again at a crucial moment. After the game, Udoka candidly admitted, "The team currently lacks someone who can take charge in decisive moments." This statement is straightforward and quite pointed. Interestingly, in the face of offensive struggles, the Rockets' backcourt duo of Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green stood out as particularly "eye-catching." Statistics show that in these two losses, the two combined for nearly 70 attempts but only made 23 shots. In other words, their efficiency with the ball was extremely low, yet they occupied the majority of shooting opportunities. What about the frontcourt player, Alperen Sengun? Despite his hot hand, he took fewer than 40 shots but made 24, a stark contrast that makes…

The game between the Rockets and the Lakers was quite a spectacle, with its ups and downs making it very interesting. Initially, it seemed like it would be a one-sided affair, but it ended up going down to the wire. Fortunately, the Rockets managed to secure the victory, solidifying their ranking. So, what aspects of this game are worth analyzing? Let's take a look. The Rockets' lineup change proved to be a great success, with two output geniuses contributing significantly to their win, which is indeed shaking up the Western Conference. As everyone knows, the Rockets had several players missing from this game. Ethan was out due to injury, and Xiao Jia also got injured, but fortunately, Aman returned. So, where did the Rockets get it right in winning this game? We can identify four correct decisions. The first decision was the successful lineup change. With Aman's return, Udoka opted for a lineup change, starting with Dillon, Aman, Shen Jing, Green, and VanVleet. This starting lineup turned out to be quite stable, with Aman serving as a substitute for Xiao Jia and performing his role well. The second decision was to capitalize on their interior and rebounding advantages. While the Lakers have Anthony Davis, the Rockets' interior is no pushover. In this game, the Rockets repeatedly scored inside, accumulating 52 points. Additionally, they controlled the boards effectively, grabbing 49 rebounds, including an impressive 18 offensive rebounds. The third decision was to speed up the offense and quickly get into defensive positions. As everyone saw during the game, the Rockets were…

The Houston Rockets have recently encountered a minor setback as one of their core players, Jabari Smith Jr., has been sidelined due to a fractured left hand. According to official sources, he is expected to miss at least four to six weeks of play. This news has understandably caused concern among Rockets fans, as Smith's contributions on the defensive end are significant. His absence is expected to impact the team's defensive line. The Rockets have had a strong season so far, winning 22 out of their first 33 games with a win rate of 66.7%, securing a solid position in the top three of the Western Conference. The team has generally been in good shape, managing to cope with occasional minor injuries, particularly on the offensive end where new additions have performed well. Smith's injury, which occurred during training rather than in a game, is unfortunate and unpredictable, leaving the team management exclaiming that they are not to blame. With his injury now confirmed, Smith will officially leave the court to begin his recovery period. While his absence is not expected to disrupt the overall team strategy, it does pose a considerable challenge to the team's defense. Smith's injury affects not only the fans' morale but also his teammates, who must feel the loss of an important defensive pillar. Averaging 11.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game with a shooting percentage of 43.5% and a three-point percentage of 35.4%, his statistics may not be eye-catching, but his defensive efforts and on-court tenacity are crucial to the team's success. Other Rockets…

Strong Return of Rockets' Steven Adams After Injury, Impressive Performance Against Lakers Earns Praise from Coach Ime Udoka was thrilled with Steven Adams' performance after his return from injury, which shone brightly in the game against the Lakers.‌ Ime Udoka is very fond of Steven Adams' performance since his comeback. On Sunday, Ime Udoka and the Houston Rockets won at home against the Los Angeles Lakers, thanks to the outstanding performance of backup center Steven Adams. Despite limited playing time this season due to recovery from major knee surgery, Adams still played a significant role. "This is how he has performed throughout his career," said Rockets head coach Ime Udoka when talking about Adams, who also excelled in setting solid screens. In just 17 minutes, Adams contributed 8 points and 9 rebounds, with 7 coming from offensive rebounds. His shooting percentage was an impressive 75% (3 of 4), including a breathtaking putback that left fans and teammates at Toyota Center in awe. During his time on the court, the Rockets outscored the Lakers by 17 points. In 11 NBA seasons, Adams has averaged 26.4 minutes per game, scoring 9.0 points with a shooting percentage of 58.8%, and grabbing 8.1 rebounds. The 6-foot-11, 265-pound center is widely regarded as one of the toughest and most physically imposing players in the league. Ime Udoka praised Steven Adams for his strong return after injury. Adams' excellent performance made up for the mediocre showing of starting player Alperen Sengun, who in 31 minutes on the court, only made 6 of 14 shots (42.9%), with…

Little Jia's bizarre injury might just be a blessing in disguise! The news of Little Jia getting injured during shooting practice is quite baffling, as no one would expect such an incident to occur. It was just a regular shooting practice, yet he ended up with a fracture. This misfortune could significantly impact the defensive capabilities of the Rockets. Little Jia's injury came unexpectedly during a routine shooting practice when he fractured his hand upon being hit. Such an occurrence is surprising, considering that super round training is merely a shooting warm-up with minimal contact. The Rockets' luck has indeed been poor. Their defense was already not particularly strong, and now they have lost another key defender. The pressure on the defensive end will undoubtedly increase, especially when facing top-tier wing players. This season, Little Jia has performed reasonably well, averaging 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block per game, with a three-point shooting percentage of 35.4%. While not outstanding, it is above average. Looking at the statistics, there is room for improvement in Little Jia's offensive performance. His offensive plus-minus is -0.6, indicating that his presence on the court slightly reduces the team's offensive efficiency. Defensively, his performance is also not exceptional, with a plus-minus of only +0.4. However, as a young player, this data is considered normal. The estimated recovery time from this injury is between 4 to 8 weeks, which is a significant blow to the team, especially during a critical period of the season. Losing a rotational player will inevitably affect the team's overall strength. However,…