I originally intended to stop writing, but I have a habit of browsing other people's articles every time. Today, I came across an article with pictures in which Kyrie Irving mentioned that there are only six players in NBA history who excel at one-on-one play: Jordan, Kobe, James, Durant, McGrady, and Harden. Seeing this list, I would like to share my thoughts. Honestly, when it comes to one-on-one play, LeBron James does have a gap compared to these players. James relies heavily on pick-and-roll or post-up plays in his later years, while the others are known for their tough individual skills that make defenders tremble in one-on-one situations. Durant's biggest enemy in one-on-one play is his own stamina and shooting touch. James doesn't really belong on this list, although it's not to say that his one-on-one ability is bad. In my personal opinion, the strongest one-on-one players are Jordan, Kobe, Durant, McGrady, Iverson, and Kyrie. Harden's one-on-one ability is actually not great; he is more of a player with high basketball IQ who knows how to take advantage of the rules. Jordan was able to win two three-peats in his era, which was largely due to his personal one-on-one ability. Do you remember the Detroit Pistons' Bad Boys, known for their rough defense? Jordan faced them with great difficulty, and it was through such challenges that he honed his one-on-one skills, so there's no objection to ranking him first. Kobe, similarly, progressed from a role player to the core of the Lakers. He has mentioned in his memoirs that he…

The Houston Rockets defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 128-111, with Jalen Green exploding for a super performance. He shot 12 of 21 from the field, including 6 of 11 from three-point range, scoring 30 points with 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, with a plus-minus of +30. Over the past 11 games, Jalen Green's state has indeed been improving. His awakening game was against Philadelphia where he scored 41 points. After entering December, the Rockets faced several strong teams, and Green's performance was inconsistent, playing well in some games and poorly in others. Against the Kings, Green scored 28 points, but in two games against the Warriors, he only managed 14 and 12 points, followed by two games against the Thunder where he scored 9 and 12 points. However, surprisingly, against the Clippers, Jalen Green efficiently scored 31 points and 4 rebounds, followed by two games against the Pelicans where he scored 34 and 30 points. Over the past 11 games, Jalen Green averaged 22 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 steals, with a shooting percentage of 47.2%, a three-point percentage of 36%, and a true shooting percentage of an impressive 60.2%, with a cumulative plus-minus of +36. This means that when Jalen Green averages 22 points per game, the Rockets can improve their win rate even if his shooting percentage is not as high as 47%, but rather around 45% and 36%. The Rockets' defensive efficiency and average points allowed are among the top three in the league this year, but their offense is only average. This…

The Houston Rockets defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 128-111 in a recent game. Jalen Green and Van Jordan had outstanding performances, while Whitmore, coming off the bench, became a key player, effectively filling the void left by the absence of Ison. The contrast between Whitmore (referred to as the "White Wizard") and Shepherd was particularly evident, with Shepherd scoring only 1 point in 18 minutes, while Whitmore scored 27 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal in 26 minutes, shooting 9 for 16 from the field and 4 for 8 from three-point range. Coach Udoka's positioning of the two players is somewhat similar. Previously, when Whitmore was in the G League, Shepherd averaged only 10 minutes per game. His main task was not to come off the bench as a backup point guard but to be used as a spot-up shooter, with the ball still in the hands of Van Jordan and Shen Jing. However, Shepherd has too many passes that shift responsibility because he is afraid to shoot and plays safe to maintain stability. Defensively, Shepherd's physique does not meet NBA standards, and it can be said that whenever teams face the Rockets, they single out Shepherd for one-on-one play. Offensively, Shepherd lacks tactical status, and even if given tactics, his body cannot execute them. Defensively, he has become a weak point. Currently, Shepherd really needs to go to the G League for training. This is not to look down on Shepherd, but rather to say that if you force him to stay with the Rockets, you cannot…

Curry: Only 4 People in NBA Truly Influenced the World, I'm Not Qualified Yet! The NBA has become the highest level of basketball competition not only because of its massive scale and successful commercialization but also largely due to the existence of superstar players. With their exceptional skills and personal charm, these superstars have accelerated the development of basketball and expanded the influence of the NBA worldwide. Recently, Stephen Curry, the star player of the Golden State Warriors, discussed his four most influential NBA players in an interview. He claimed that these four players made significant contributions to the development of basketball and their influence reached a truly global level, which he believes he is not yet qualified to be compared with. Let's take a look at the legendary stars in Curry's mind. Jordan Jordan holds an unshakable position in basketball history, just like Pele in football and Bolt in track and field, he is a benchmark figure in the industry. In Jordan's career, he won six championships and was elected Finals MVP each time, won five regular season MVPs, and ten scoring titles. It is precisely because of his unparalleled dominance that Jordan is also known as the "Basketball God." It is no exaggeration to say that Jordan made the NBA truly go global, and basketball has thus become one of the most popular sports in the world. Kobe Kobe is the representative of the NBA's one-man-one-city, he dedicated his entire 20-year career to the Los Angeles Lakers and brought them five championship trophies. Kobe's playing style is elegant…

James Harden and Michael Jordan at the age of 35: A comparison that highlights the differences in their careers. Recently, I wrote about James Harden and Dwyane Wade, both at the age of 35, as they are top-tier shooting guards in the league. Now, let's talk about Harden and Jordan at 35. One is still writing his legend, while the other is a legend himself. At 35, Harden is in the twilight of his peak years, having played 15 seasons in the NBA since the 2009 season. He has amassed numerous accolades, including MVP, assists leader, sixth man of the year, and scoring champion. The only regret is the lack of a championship title, despite having two opportunities with the Rockets that fate did not favor him with. Throughout his career, Harden has been known for his high basketball IQ, ability to play within the rules, and comprehensive skill set, including step-back threes and various Euro-steps. His main weakness is underperforming in crucial moments, with solid regular-season leadership but faltering in the playoffs. This season, at 35, Harden averages 22.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, with shooting percentages of 39.1%, 35.3%, and 88.9%. He has accumulated a total of 24,693 points in his NBA career so far. Jordan, on the other hand, started playing in the NBA in 1984, spending 13 seasons with the Bulls and 2 with the Wizards. In his 13 seasons with the Bulls, he won 10 scoring titles, an efficiency unmatched in NBA history. His skills were virtually flawless, described as…

Curry: Only 4 People in NBA Truly Influenced the World, I'm Not Qualified Yet! The NBA has become the highest level of basketball competition not only because of its massive scale and successful commercialization but also largely due to the existence of these superstar players. With their exceptional skills and personal charm, these superstars have accelerated the development of basketball and expanded the influence of the NBA worldwide. Recently, Stephen Curry, the star player of the Warriors, talked about the four most influential NBA players in his mind during an interview. He claimed that these four players made significant contributions to the development of basketball and their influence truly reached a global level, which he believes he is not yet qualified to be compared with them. So, let's take a look at the legendary superstars in Curry's mind. Jordan Jordan holds an unshakable position in basketball history, just like Pele in football and Bolt in track and field, he is a benchmark figure in the industry. In Jordan's career, he won six championships and was elected as the Finals MVP each time, won five regular season MVPs, and ten scoring titles. It is precisely because of his unparalleled dominance that Jordan is also known as the "Basketball God." It is no exaggeration to say that Jordan truly brought the NBA to the world, making basketball one of the most popular sports globally. Kobe Kobe is the representative of the NBA's one-man-one-city concept. He dedicated his entire 20-year career to the Los Angeles Lakers and brought them five championship trophies. Kobe's…

In the new season, many star players in the league have not performed well, with Embiid being particularly noticeable for his decline. He has been reluctant to play on the court recently, missing all recent games and only playing four this season, averaging less than 20 points per game. As for the Pacers' Haliburton, his state this season has been unpredictable. As a core player, he averages only 17.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 8.7 assists, with a shooting percentage of 41% and a three-point percentage of 34%. Last season, Haliburton was an All-Star starter and considered Paul's successor, but unfortunately, his biggest problem is his lack of athleticism, which puts him at a disadvantage during confrontations. Additionally, some veteran stars in the league seem to be declining as well, like Curry, who averages only 22.5 points this season, with his three-point prowess also significantly reduced. Paul George's move to the 76ers seems to be a wrong decision. In the first nine games, he averaged only 14.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. His shooting percentage dropped by 10% compared to last season, and his three-point percentage dropped by 13%, a significant decline! George's personal abilities are versatile, but he lacks specialization, without a stable scoring method or the ability to control the game, making it difficult for him to perform well in his new team. Even LeBron James seems to be unable to withstand the effects of time. In recent games, James appears lethargic, with a significant drop in efficiency, numerous turnovers, and a negative impact on defense. Over the…

The Houston Rockets chose Amen over Osar because the former is theoretically capable of playing as a point guard. Stone prefers tall point guards and missed out on Cunningham, so he wants to make up for it. Udoka initially wanted to groom Amen into the next Ben Simmons. Udoka once said in an interview: "Amen Thompson is a 2.01-meter guard, a true point guard. You can see his physique and quality; he can pass with that body type and has such defensive intensity. He possesses all the traits we can imagine." However, Udoka found that Amen's ball-handling skills were lacking, and his shooting was poor, so he decided to play him as a forward. In the last game, with Dillon absent, Amen started and played 38 minutes, scoring 19 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, dishing out 3 assists, making 1 steal, and blocking 3 shots, shooting 8 for 16. Amen played full defense, passed to his teammates, and even tried to showcase his shooting. In this game, Amen attempted six three-pointers and made two, which is a season-high in attempts. Some Rockets fans suggest that Amen should start in place of Jalen Green or Dillon, but he actually hopes to replace Van Jordan. In an interview with Houston journalist Feigen, Amen revealed: "I like starting and doing my best. I've learned to always be ready to play. I like the position of point guard. Of course, Amen also emphasized that he would follow the coach's arrangements, having adapted to the role of a substitute and being able to play any position."…