25 wins and 12 losses, firmly occupying the second place in the West, this record is too bright. When the schedule is almost halfway through, the Rockets have almost locked in this position, losing two fewer games than the Grizzlies, with a head-to-head record of 2 wins and 0 losses, showing a clear advantage. The Rockets are considered the biggest dark horse this season, and it's possible that their first playoff trip after the Harden era is really coming. Among the many stories of the Rockets, there is a rookie whose experience has attracted particular attention, and he is Reed Shepard. The Rockets' performance this season is truly commendable, from Coach Udoka's outstanding coaching to Green's stable play, Shen Jing's growing maturity, Amen Thompson's strong rise, and the steady performances of players like Javale Smith, even VanVleet has found his own positioning on the court and started to distribute the ball reasonably. The team atmosphere is good, the chemistry is excellent, and they look like a strong team. When the Rockets selected Shepard with the third pick in the draft, everyone thought the Rockets had found a treasure. In all the lottery pick operations, the media gave only the Rockets' selection of Shepard an A rating, while others were below A. After playing two good games in the summer league, fans' evaluations of him soared, saying he was a combination of Paul, Nash, and Curry, which is a ceiling-level compliment. Coach Udoka even declared him as the leader of the Rockets before he played a single NBA regular-season game. For…

The competition in the NBA Western Conference is currently very fierce. Besides the Thunder leading the West for two consecutive years without any surprises, the other teams are closely following each other. For instance, the Houston Rockets, who are temporarily ranked third in the West, have a minimal gap with the teams behind them. Coupled with some injury situations, the Rockets may fall behind in the second half of the season if they only rely on their current lineup. During an appearance on Kevin O'Connor's podcast, renowned journalist Tom Haberstroh revealed the Rockets' future team-building strategy. This includes center Alperen Sengun, who has become untouchable for the team. The three players Jalen Green, Fred VanVleet, and Reed Shepard could be sold by the Rockets at any time. After all, if the team wants to create salary cap space or roster spots to pursue big-name stars, these individuals are likely to become sacrificial lambs. Alperen Sengun has earned his current status and recognition entirely through his own efforts. Initially just a substitute, he has become a core player for the Rockets. So far this season, Alperen Sengun averages 18.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1 block per game. Apart from his outside shooting and defense needing some improvement, his overall performance is impeccable. If Alperen Sengun and the Rockets maintain their level of play without significant declines, it is highly likely that he will be selected for the All-Star Game and the All-NBA Team for the first time in his career this season. Moreover, Alperen Sengun is already…