After multiple seasons of hard work, the Rockets have finally ushered in a resurgence and rise - this season, relying on their strong defensive capabilities and rebounding advantages, they have successfully entered the playoff competition ranks in the top three positions in the West. Compared to pre-season expectations, the young lineup of the Rockets has achieved remarkable results under the leadership of head coach Udoka. The Rockets' performance on defense and rebounding can be considered top-tier in the league, but if they want to go further in the playoffs and even compete for the championship, the shortcomings on the offensive end are obvious - the slightly immature guard Jalen Green, the difficulty of launching an offensive from the inside with Shen Jing, and the lack of a superstar who can step up in critical moments is the biggest problem for the Rockets to compete for the championship. This team's performance this season can be described as amazing, especially on defense, ranking second in the league with a defensive efficiency of 105.8. Udoka's defensive system is not just talk; with their dominance in rebounds and defense, the Rockets have an advantage in the paint. We can take a closer look at the Rockets' problems through several key games: In the game against the Timberwolves, the Rockets led by 10 points in the last three minutes of the game, which seemed to have settled the outcome, but unexpectedly, the Rockets made frequent mistakes in the critical moments, completely losing their offensive rhythm, and eventually were overturned and lost the game by the…

The NBA regular season game between the Rockets and the Mavericks at the Rockets' home court was a thrilling encounter. The Rockets started passively but turned the game around with Whitmore's explosive performance, eventually securing a decisive victory. This showcased their ability to win without relying on a single core player, highlighting the impressive growth of the young team. In the second quarter, the Rockets unleashed an astonishing offensive surge that dramatically changed the course of the game. Whitmore's performance during this phase was particularly eye-catching, scoring 13 points in various ways in a single quarter. His burst of energy completely dismantled the Mavericks' defensive system. The Rockets have displayed unexpected resilience this season, maintaining their rhythm even after losing key rotational player Amen Thompson. Their depth advantage was evident in the match against the Mavericks. The Mavericks faced significant issues, with Doncic's absence making their offense quite one-dimensional. While Irving maintained his excellent individual offensive capabilities, the team struggled when he was heavily guarded, leading to offensive stagnation. The Rockets initially seemed passive, with consecutive missed shots raising concerns about a continuation of their previous slump. However, Green's breakthrough layup injected a strong dose of confidence into the team. Shen Jing's performance in the game was both surprising and delightful. His accurate shooting in the first half left a deep impression, although his performance dipped in the second half. Overall, it was still a commendable game. The Mavericks' perimeter did make a small comeback in the final moments, with Thompson and Dinwiddie's consecutive three-pointers giving a glimmer of hope.…

The Mavericks suffered another defeat at the hands of the Rockets, a game that exposed their current predicament. The scoreline of 99-110 may seem close, but in reality, there was no suspense. The Rockets did not have to exert much effort; they simply relied on their stable performance and efficient offense to easily secure the victory, while the Mavericks seemed to lose the game step by step themselves. In this match, Irving and Thompson combined for 9 turnovers, which became the core reason for the Mavericks' failure. Each turnover felt like digging their own grave. Irving's indecisiveness on offense and Thompson's frequent misses from three-point range made the entire Mavericks' offense seem directionless. You might wonder, how could these two former superstars falter so today? They are capable of better performances, but it is clear that they are no longer the figures who can lead the team forward. At the start of the game, the Mavericks played reasonably well. Thompson's three-pointers were almost like a stabilizing force, and Washington's breakthroughs brought some vitality to the team, giving the Mavericks a temporary lead. However, everything was shattered by the Rockets' quick counterattacks. Jalen Green found his rhythm, and Shen Jing's performance in the paint made the Mavericks' defense helpless. Every time you thought the Mavericks could stabilize the situation, they would lose their composure. The Rockets played simply and directly, with many scoring options, while the Mavericks' defense was as fragile as paper, allowing anyone to score. By the second quarter, the Rockets completely took control of the game. Shen Jing…

On January 3rd, Beijing time, the Miami Heat suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Indiana Pacers, ending their two-game winning streak. In this game, Butler once again changed his hair color to green, but he still seemed disengaged on the court, playing for only 26 minutes with just six shots taken. His shooting percentage and three-point percentage were both above fifty percent (9 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds), giving the impression that Butler was simply waiting for a trade in a state of disarray. This was a back-to-back game for the Heat, and surprisingly, Butler continued to play after only returning two days prior. It's worth noting that after being injured on December 21st, he rested for five games (12 days). However, his competitive form was as poor as it was in the first game of the back-to-back against the Pelicans, where he had only two attempts in the first quarter and still only two attempts in the first half, scoring 2 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists for a "222" stat line. In the third quarter, Butler finally made his third attempt, and by the end of the third quarter, the fourth quarter turned into garbage time, allowing Butler to clock out early. The American media BC mocked the current Butler, comparing him to Harden when he was waiting to be traded from the Rockets, suggesting that he was in a state of complete disarray. In the entire game, Butler played for 26 minutes and 31 seconds, making 3 out of 6 shots and 1 out…

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…

Translation of the article content into English: On January 2, 2025, Beijing time, the NBA regular season witnessed a crucial match between two Western Conference powerhouses, the Rockets and the Mavericks. In this pivotal battle for positioning, the Rockets successfully defeated the Mavericks with a score of 110-99, ending their two-game losing streak and intensifying the Western Conference standings. In this game, five players from the Rockets stood out with their key performances, not only contributing critical statistics but also playing irreplaceable roles on the court. Let's take a detailed look at the outstanding performances of these five players. Shen Jing: The Core on Both Offense and Defense In this game, Shen Jing once again demonstrated his comprehensive abilities as the team's core. He not only scored the highest among the team but also played a significant role on both the offensive and defensive ends. With a shooting percentage of 56%, he contributed 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists throughout the game, bringing a positive impact to the team in almost every possession. Although he made some mistakes during the game, it did not affect his overall performance. Shen Jing's key steals and offensive coordination allowed the Rockets to firmly control the rhythm of the game after halftime. Dillon: The Efficient Scoring Engine of the Offense Dillon was undoubtedly an important engine for the Rockets' offense in this game. With a high efficiency of 6 out of 15 shots made, he contributed 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 steal, especially in moments when the team needed scoring, Dillon's performance…

On January 2nd, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continues, let's take a look at the performance of the Western Conference teams and the latest standings changes. The main information is as follows: The Rockets defeated the Mavericks 110-99, sending them to their third consecutive loss; the Nuggets defeated the Hawks 139-120 for their third consecutive win; the Kings reversed the 76ers 113-107; and the Pelicans lost to the Heat 108-119, suffering their eleventh consecutive loss. The competition in the West is very fierce, and the rankings can change every day. The Thunder and Grizzlies did not play today and remain in the top two spots. The third-placed Rockets won 110-99 at home against the Mavericks without Doncic, ending their two-game losing streak and improving their record to 22 wins and 11 losses, just half a game behind the Grizzlies and 5.5 games behind the Thunder. The losing Mavericks suffered their third consecutive loss with a record of 20 wins and 14 losses, falling out of the top four to fifth place. In fact, the teams ranked fourth to seventh, the Nuggets, Mavericks, Clippers, and Lakers, have a maximum difference of only one win between them. The Nuggets played a 41-24 offensive wave at home in the third quarter, defeating the Hawks 139-120 for their third consecutive win. Jokic shot 8 for 16, easily scoring 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 15 assists. Murray and Porter Jr. scored 21 points each, and Westbrook shot 5 for 6, scoring 16 points and 11 assists with only 1 turnover. Although the Nuggets are…

Houston Rockets Secure a Dominant Home Victory Over the Mavericks, Maintaining Their Position in the Western Conference The Houston Rockets secured an impressive home victory against the Dallas Mavericks, solidifying their position as third in the Western Conference. In this match, the Rockets limited the Mavericks to just 99 points while scoring 110 themselves, showcasing both their defensive prowess and offensive capabilities. Despite veteran Fred VanVleet's subpar performance, with only 5 points from 1 out of 8 shots, the rest of the team stepped up, including the typically underperforming bench players. Notably, the Rockets' strong second-quarter and third-quarter comebacks were largely attributed to the efforts of several key bench players. Among them, small forward Whitmore stood out, scoring 18 points in just 24 minutes on the court, with a shooting efficiency of 7 out of 9 attempts, including 3 out of 4 three-pointers. His game-high plus/minus rating of +12 underscored his significant contribution to the team's victory. However, in a post-game interview, Whitmore appeared less than thrilled despite being the second unit's top scorer. He modestly suggested that his contribution was minimal and expressed curiosity about what the future holds. While he was pleased with the win, Whitmore also conveyed a desire for more consistent playing time. When asked if he had secured stable playing time, he responded negatively. Whitmore's comments hinted at deeper concerns. His outstanding performance in this game demonstrated his value to the team, yet he remained resentful over coach Udoka's initial lack of faith in him. Although he harbored no ill will towards Udoka, Whitmore, as…

On January 2, 2025, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued with the Houston Rockets facing off against the Dallas Mavericks at home. Despite the absence of Amen Thompson due to suspension, the Rockets demonstrated remarkable resilience and ultimately defeated the Mavericks 110-99, ending their opponents' winning streak. With this victory, the Rockets improved their record to 22 wins and 11 losses, firmly securing third place in the Western Conference, just half a game behind the second-place Memphis Grizzlies, intensifying the competition for the top four spots in the West. Game Review:‌ The Mavericks started strong in the first quarter, leading the Rockets by six points with a score of 30-24. However, the Rockets began to exert themselves in the second quarter, with Shen Jing and Jalen Green's outstanding performances helping the team score 37 points and reverse the lead to 61-52. In the third quarter, the Rockets maintained stable offensive and defensive play, keeping their double-digit lead throughout. In the final quarter, despite the Mavericks' efforts to catch up, the Rockets remained steady and secured the win with a final score of 110-99. During the game, the young players of the Rockets showed significant potential. Shen Jing excelled in his breakthroughs, once falling due to an opponent's malicious foul and being hit in the face. But Shen Jing persisted and continued to contribute to the team. Similarly, Jabari Smith Jr. suffered a bloody nose while fighting for rebounds, demonstrating the indomitable spirit of the young Rockets players during the game. Western Conference Competition Intensifies, Rockets Aim for Top Four…

In the lead-up to the new season's early renewal deadline, the Rockets have offered two young players in their squad contracts worth hundreds of millions of yuan. The contract amounts are approximately 33 million yuan per year for Green and 36 million yuan per year for Shen Jing, with Green's contract lasting for 3 years and Shen Jing's for 5. It is understandable that the Rockets' strategy was to retain these two young players, who were selected by the team. Last season, Green did show some impressive performances at certain stages, but he still lacked consistency. However, in order to successfully keep this second overall pick, the team provided him with a player option for the final year. This is probably an acceptable outcome for both parties. As the flames of the new NBA season are about to ignite, the Rockets have completed a last-minute signing: the team has successfully renewed the contracts of two promising young stars - Jalen Green and Shen Jing. Jalen Green, the second overall pick from 2021, has been regarded as a core player to be cultivated for the future since being selected by the Rockets. The Rockets have signed a three-year, $106 million early renewal contract with Green, with the third year being a player option. Unlike many high draft picks from the same year who signed five-year long-term contracts, Green's choice appears particularly wise. This not only provides him with short-term financial security but also leaves ample room for his future career development. Green demonstrated remarkable scoring ability last season, especially during the…