Last summer at the draft lottery, the Rockets only managed to secure the fourth pick. In the subsequent draft, popular prospects Wenyama and Henderson were selected in the top three spots. The Rockets had to choose between the Thompson brothers during their tryouts, ultimately selecting the older twin, Amen Thompson, with the fourth pick, while the Pistons took his younger brother, Ausar Thompson, with the fifth pick. In his rookie season, Amen Thompson performed averagely, averaging 9.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, with a shooting percentage of 53.6% and a dismal three-point percentage of just 13.8%. As an outside player, he had almost no three-point ability, and his mid-range shooting was also uncertain, scoring mainly through put-backs or fast-break layups. His younger brother, Ausar Thompson, had similar stats, averaging 8.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game, with a shooting percentage of 48.3% and a three-point percentage of 18.6%. Both brothers lacked a significant outside shooting threat, but Amen Thompson had ball-handling and organizing abilities, leaning towards a swingman role. On the other hand, Ausar Thompson had stronger rebounding and blocking skills, leaning more towards a forward position. This new season, Amen Thompson began to fulfill his potential, with his numbers improving as his average playing time increased. He is now averaging 12.1 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game, still coming off the bench. His three-point shooting has improved to 29%, and he is taking more decisive mid-range shots in games. What's even more…

The battle between the Eastern and Western Conference powerhouses, the league-leading Cavaliers and the second-ranked Thunder, was highly anticipated. The Thunder entered the game on a 15-game winning streak, while the Cavaliers were on a 10-game streak. In the end, the Cavaliers emerged victorious with a score of 129-122. Despite the Thunder's impressive run, they fell short against the Cavaliers, who displayed a formidable combination of offense and defense with no apparent weaknesses and a deep rotation. The absence of Holmgren was a significant blow to the Thunder, as Hartenstein put up a strong performance but struggled to match up against the Cavaliers' twin towers, Allen and Mobley. The Thunder's backcourt, led by Alexander, outperformed Mitchell, but the Cavaliers' interior duo of Mobley and Allen proved to be a tough challenge. The Cavaliers' Strus and Jerome provided valuable contributions off the bench, while the Thunder's supporting cast, including Joe and Wiggins, struggled to keep up. Both teams played with high defensive intensity from the start, as this matchup could potentially be a preview of the NBA Finals. The Cavaliers started strong with Garland and Wade scoring six points from beyond the arc, while the Thunder responded with Jai. The Cavaliers then capitalized on their interior advantage, with Allen dominating the paint. Strus played a pivotal role, not only nailing three-pointers but also dishing out assists. The Cavaliers quickly took control, while the Thunder relied on Alexander and Jai's individual scoring prowess to stay competitive, leading by seven points at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, the…

The NBA regular season continues with the Lakers facing off against the Hawks. Prior to the game, most fans predicted that the Lakers would easily secure a victory, given their impressive recent performance. True to expectations, from the moment the game began, the Lakers took control of the court, dominating both offensively and defensively against the Hawks. After four quarters of play, the Lakers comfortably defeated the Hawks with a score of 119-102. The reasons for the Hawks' loss are quite straightforward, mainly due to two factors. Firstly, their rebounding disadvantage was too significant; throughout the game, the Hawks only managed to grab 39 rebounds, while the Lakers secured 56. Secondly, the Hawks' three-point shooting accuracy was poor, with a mere 18% compared to the Lakers' impressive 43%. These two factors were undoubtedly key in determining the outcome of the game. Moving on to the victorious Lakers, I won't delve into the details of their win here. Instead, I want to focus on discussing LeBron James and the two new additions to the Lakers. I'm unsure how everyone evaluates these three players, but my assessment is encapsulated in this statement: "Blasting 33+8, Returning to Fourth Place! LeBron James Sets a Legendary Record as the First in History, New Aids Propel Lakers Towards Championship." Let's start with LeBron James. In this game, James played for 30 minutes, making 13 out of 20 shots, including 2 out of 5 three-pointers and 2 out of 2 free throws, accumulating 30 points, 3 rebounds, and 8 assists. With this 30-point haul, James has created…

Big Brother Won't Hit Me Anymore? Leonard Leaves Before the Game, Clippers Tank Together! Westbrook Mocks Face-to-Face, Harden Suffers On January 9th, Beijing time, Westbrook had his strongest game yet, exploding for 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists in three quarters to crush the Clippers. His most domineering move mocked his old team and humiliated Harden. The Los Angeles Clippers faced a weakened Nuggets team without Jokic and were surprisingly blown out, even more so by their two former players. Both Westbrook and Jordan played their most classic games of the season, although Westbrook didn't get a triple-double, he and Jordan were too fierce. Jordan started at center and incredibly scored 12 points with 9 rebounds and 2 assists, performing various alley-oop dunks that felt like a dream from over ten years ago. In 2015, Jordan played this way for the Clippers, and he can still do it now. It's unclear what the Clippers were defending against, but more importantly, Westbrook dominated Harden in their matchup. Westbrook already had 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists on 8-of-16 shooting after three quarters, directly making Harden check out early. Harden only managed 16 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists, with a shooting percentage of 5-for-15. He was outperformed by Westbrook in efficiency, scoring, rebounding, and assists, and even had more turnovers. Westbrook only had 3 turnovers upon entering the game, while Harden had a total of 5. Both were starters and primary ball handlers, and it was clear who played better and who played worse. In the third quarter, Westbrook…

The Clippers visited the Nuggets for a game, with neither Kawhi Leonard nor Nikola Jokic playing. The Clippers' starting lineup was Harden, Dunn, Powell, Jones, and Zubac, while the Nuggets started with Murray, Westbrook, Braun, Porter, and Jordan. In the first quarter, Murray scored a 2+1, followed by Powell's three-pointer, and then Braun's three-pointer. Both teams exchanged leads as the score kept rising. After Harden assisted Batum's three-pointer, Murray made a mid-range shot, leading to a timeout at 12-10. Returning to the game, Porter scored five points to extend the lead, Powell hit a three-pointer to stop the bleeding, and Jordan made a 2+1 under the basket. Westbrook made a putback, and Porter followed with another three-pointer, leading to a 14-3 run that forced the Clippers to call a timeout. However, after the timeout, the Clippers' offense remained ineffective, and Westbrook's three-pointer increased the lead to 15 points. Harden and Porter each made a three-pointer to try to close the gap, but the Nuggets continued to score, ending the first quarter with the Clippers trailing 19-33, a 14-point deficit. In the second quarter, during the rotation phase, Porter continued to score, but the Nuggets were raining threes from outside. After Murray made his own three-pointer, he assisted Saric with another three-pointer, and then made another three-pointer himself, directly widening the gap and forcing the Clippers to call a timeout. Returning to the game, the Nuggets maintained their offensive momentum, leading by as many as 25 points. It seemed like the game was about to be over. After Harden returned, he…

On January 9th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued with a total of 8 matchups scheduled for the day. The specific results are as follows: Thunder lost to the Cavaliers 122-129, Bulls were defeated by the Pacers 113-129, Wizards fell short against the 76ers 103-109, Raptors lost to the Knicks 98-112, Pistons beat the Nets 113-98, Trail Blazers won against the Pelicans 119-100, Clippers suffered a heavy defeat against the Nuggets 103-126, and Spurs were defeated by the Bucks 105-121. Stars such as Allen, Mobley Jr., Siakam, Maxey, Towns, Beasley, Avdija, Westbrook, and Giannis Antetokounmpo all had impressive performances. So, who will be awarded the title of today's best player? Let's take a look together. In the game between the Spurs and the Bucks, Wembanyama scored 10 points + 10 rebounds + 3 blocks, Paul contributed 18 points + 5 rebounds + 7 assists, and Keldon had 24 points + 11 rebounds. Despite a valiant comeback from a 26-point deficit, the Spurs were unable to turn the tide and secure a victory. On the Bucks' side, Lopez scored 22 points + 7 rebounds, Lillard had 26 points + 5 rebounds + 8 assists, and Giannis Antetokounmpo was even more unstoppable! He played 35 minutes, shooting 11 of 21 from the field and 3 of 7 from the free-throw line, scoring an impressive 25 points + 16 rebounds + 8 assists + 1 block with a plus-minus rating of +13 on the court. According to statistics, this is the 432nd double-double in Giannis' career, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (431 times) to…

The recent ups and downs of the Nuggets' record have left fans feeling anxious, with the focus naturally falling on Jokic and Murray. Everyone is talking about the main characters in this basketball drama, and it's hard not to want to delve into what they've been up to. The team's record fluctuates between highs and lows, leaving fans breathless. The heart of the team is undoubtedly the domineering "Cheeseburger" Nikola Jokic. This big guy not only shines with impressive stats on the court but also excels at controlling the rhythm of the game. However, his recent performance has been heart-wrenching. He tirelessly carries the team's hopes almost single-handedly. It's like a magical realism; Jokic's efforts are undeniable. He's proficient in scoring, rebounding, and assists. When he gets going, a solo move can intimidate opponents. But even machines have their limits; how can he single-handedly support the entire team? This question deserves serious reflection from the Nuggets' management. Let's not talk about Jokic being "Crazy," just watching him run around the court is enough to make one's heart ache. The most frustrating thing is Jamal Murray's lackluster performance. Jamal Murray, the team's second-in-command, earns a high salary but often seems invisible during games. On the offensive end, his touch is cold, and he falls short of expectations, becoming a burden in crucial matches. Comparing his arrogant demand for top pay with his current slump makes one want to shout, "Trade Murray now!" While injuries can be sympathized with, as a key player, he should at least live up to his top…

At the age of 40, after playing basketball for 20 years and winning four championships while still maintaining top-level performance, LeBron James has become synonymous with basketball. However, he has now announced his plan to retire from the Los Angeles Lakers. This is a message that many fans did not want to hear. Some lament that an era may really be coming to an end; others believe it's just a new phase in his career. But for those who admire him, this news carries significant weight. Why does James want to retire? Will he really leave? If he does, who will take his place? These questions are like stones thrown into a lake, creating ripples that spread out in circles. Some believe James' legendary career is already complete enough, while others are reluctant to see "Old James" leave the court. James' career has been so brilliant that any statistic can make people stare in amazement. But if we go back to his high school days, we find that this legendary story was foreshadowed when he was just 16 years old. During high school, James was like "someone else's child." With outstanding talent, he led his team to win the state championship twice, averaging impressive points, rebounds, and assists, making him a "big killer" on the court. The media at the time had gone crazy, calling him "the chosen one," someone destined to become an NBA superstar. But this title wasn't given lightly; it represented huge expectations and came with invisible pressure. Many talented players have collapsed under such pressure, but…

Kawhi Leonard, as a top superstar in the league, has always been a player of great interest. However, his performance and condition over the past two years have been quite worrying. He has been unable to maintain his health on the court, often getting injured and leaving during the playoffs and key games. As a result, expectations within the Clippers organization for Leonard are now lower than ever. Perhaps sensing that his image and status are at risk, Leonard made some controversial remarks upon his return, saying, "I'm not sure about my knee issues; I'll gradually find my rhythm and recover in the upcoming games." It seems that Leonard himself is not very confident this time, as he admits to being unsure about the specifics of his knee injury. The Clippers are likely quite taken aback by this, as it is more concerning than previous instances. Leonard himself is uncertain whether he can return to peak form. Yet, the Clippers previously offered him a maximum contract extension. It appears that Leonard may simply be coasting through this contract. Fans are even more furious, calling Leonard a fraud and urging Ballmer to fire him, saying, "Get rid of him quickly, Ballmer. Keeping Leonard around is only affecting and harming the morale of his teammates." From the once highly anticipated duo of Leonard and George, to last season's trio, and now to their complete downfall this season, Leonard and the Clippers have indeed left their fans feeling utterly disheartened. It's also unfortunate for Harden, who chose to join the Clippers, as his…

Due to the rise of White Demon Whitmore, the Rockets placed Shepard in the Development League. Today, Shepard made his debut against the Thunder's affiliate team. Ultimately, the Rockets' affiliate Vipers lost 125-130. However, Shepard's performance was impeccable; he scored 49 points with 17 out of 33 shots, including 8 out of 19 three-pointers, and contributed 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. This 49-point haul is also the second-highest score in the Development League this year. In the first half, Shepard was still adapting to the game and only managed 16 points, but in the second half, he exploded for 33 points, including 27 in the final quarter, nearly leading a comeback. In the Development League, Shepard truly demonstrated his talent, confidently shooting threes on offense, with mid-range jumpers and layups as well. He organized plays by threading passes across the court and creating opportunities for his teammates using pick-and-rolls. Defensively, Shepard was ever-present, becoming the Vipers' lockdown defender. We previously mentioned that Shepard should have gone to the Development League earlier because he wasn't yet adapted to the NBA's intensity. He was strong in the Summer League due to his physical capabilities. The reason for his strength was that Shepard could keep up physically, but in the NBA, he became a target for everyone's training. Despite Udoka giving him ample time, Shepard failed to explode in any game since the start of the season, instead performing poorly. He lacked confidence on offense and became a weak point defensively for the Rockets. Udoka had no choice but to use…