Who is the most impressive player this season? This question may have different answers from different people. For example, Wembanyama, who entered the top ten of the league in his second year of his career, has now made a groundbreaking performance on both offense and defense. In my opinion, there is another player worth mentioning, he is the super inside player who was sold at a low price by his mother team last offseason: Towns. After the Timberwolves were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, everyone thought that this team was just not deep enough. If they maintained their complete lineup, they would still be able to achieve great things next season. Unfortunately, the Timberwolves management seems to think differently. They believe that making Edwards the only core and shifting the focus of the team's offense outward is the most important thing. Therefore, they chose to trade away Towns during the offseason. Last season, Towns averaged 21.8 points and 8.3 rebounds as a quality inside player, which was already an impressive feat considering he sacrificed a lot of shooting opportunities. What's even more unexpected is the package the Knicks gave up to get Towns: Randle, DiVincenzo, and a first-round pick. Randle was a complete garbage contract last season, and DiVincenzo is at best a quality role player. In other words, the best asset in this trade turned out to be a first-round pick. This season, Towns has completely transformed, averaging 25.5 points, 14 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, with a shooting percentage of 55% and a three-point percentage exceeding…

How far can a team be saved by a "remedial" adjustment? The Rockets' start to the new season was like a runaway train, with star guard VanVleet (Van Jordan), who was brought in at great expense, constantly making mistakes on the court, and young talent Jalen Green gradually losing his shine. In the shadow of three consecutive losses, everyone was asking: Is this a young team with a future, or just another joke about "rebuilding every year"? However, the good news is that the Rockets have finally found their way recently. Coach Udoka has finally made up his mind to reduce VanVleet's ball rights and hand over the offensive initiative to Jalen Green. How did it turn out? A series of eye-catching performances - 22 points, 27 points, 33 points. People began to talk about the name of this "future star" again. The question is, will this adjustment really bring change to the Rockets, or is it just a short-term "last gasp"? For VanVleet, this may be one of the few "helpless moments" in his career. As a guard signed for a lot of money during the offseason, he was originally the "stabilizer" on both ends of the team's offense and defense. But the reality is that Udoka significantly reduced his number of shots in recent games, with data that is astonishingly low: 8 times, 7 times, 11 times. This doesn't seem like the kind of data a core guard should have. This adjustment seems sudden, but there are actually signs behind it. At the beginning of the season, the…

Will Kevin Durant really change teams again? Known as one of the most versatile scorers in NBA history, he has been at the intersection of championships and controversies, from the Thunder to the Warriors, from the Nets to the Suns. Now, the Suns' "four-game losing streak" has dropped the team from first to twelfth in the West, with American media reporting Durant's plan to leave the team. Will this major trade involving a "1-for-5" deal really change the landscape of the NBA? Last year, Durant's joining made the Suns a championship favorite. Booker and Beal's partnership seemed like a perfect fit, with Durant's mid-range shooting stability, Booker's strong ball-handling ability, and Beal providing crucial scoring moments. However, this "Big Three" lineup failed to meet expectations. At the beginning of the season, the Suns performed impressively, once occupying the top spot in the West. But Durant's injury became a turning point; his absence caused the Suns' system to collapse, and the team slid from first place into the play-in tournament area. Even worse, when Durant returned, Booker and Beal were injured one after another, leaving the team's lineup incomplete for a long time. This repeated turmoil directly led to the Suns' recent four-game losing streak, dropping their record to twelfth in the West, with even their playoff hopes in jeopardy. What is even more surprising is that the Suns' management operations have also come under scrutiny. Although they have assembled a luxurious lineup, the supporting cast is seriously lacking, with a lack of quality interior defense and stable bench firepower. Durant's…

Victory! Rockets' Five Tigers Score 111+35, Green Scores 22 Points in a Quarter, Thompson Sets Record, League Landscape Changes On January 8, 2025, Beijing time, the Wizards with a record of 6 wins and 27 losses faced off against the Rockets with a record of 23 wins and 12 losses at home. On paper, the Wizards were not considered strong opponents for the Rockets, who had been consistently performing well against weaker teams this season, often securing big victories. Could the Rockets maintain their winning streak today? The Rockets were without Smith and Ison, starting with VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon, Thompson, and Shen Jing. The Wizards were missing Poole, starting with Carrington, Culibali, George, Kuzma, and Sar. In the first quarter, Kuzma made 1 of 2 free throws and scored a layup, while Shen Jing and Thompson responded with 4 points. Culibali scored 4 points, giving the Wizards a 7-4 lead. Thompson and VanVleet then took the lead by 2 points. George, Kuzma, and Kispert extended the lead to 5 points. Jalen Green and VanVleet scored, but Valan and Carrington responded, leaving the Wizards ahead by 6 points. VanVleet hit a three-pointer, but Valan scored 6 consecutive points and Kispert added another three-pointer, increasing the lead to 12 points. Thompson made an alley-oop and Whitmore hit a mid-range shot, while Butler made both free throws. At the end of the first quarter, the Wizards led 30-20. In the second quarter, Kispert made 1 of 2 free throws, maintaining an 11-point lead for the Wizards. Whitmore, Jeff Green, Shen Jing, and…

On January 8th, Beijing time, Reed Shepard, the third pick of the Houston Rockets in 2024, made his debut in the G League - The Vipers lost to the Blue Team 125-130, but Shepard's performance in this game was eye-catching. He was still a superstar when he was the core of the G League, scoring 49 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds with 8 three-pointers throughout the game. After Shepard was demoted, many people did not favor him, but Tres Terrell, a Rockets reporter, wrote: I dare not agree. I don't think Shepard should stay in the G League for a year. As long as he finds confidence and touch, he has already won. He can return to the Rockets. Shepard's shooting was poor in the first quarter with 2 out of 6 shots and 1 out of 4 three-pointers, but in the second quarter, Shepard quickly found his rhythm. In addition to making outside three-pointers, he also stole the ball and dunked like a dragon. It is worth noting that Shepard is the highest jumper in the joint trial, with a running jump of 46 inches, although his body is slightly thin. After establishing confidence, Shepard's one-on-one ability was also demonstrated. It is known that he was hailed as "Little Curry" in the NCAA, and he continuously made fancy dribbling layups and feints. In the first half, Shepard scored 16 points, and the NBA G League officials also praised him. In the third quarter, Shepard quickly reached 20+ and then 25+, but the Vipers were always suppressed. In the…

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…

The snooker Hangzhou exhibition match was truly exciting this time! The event started with many dramatic moments, and the performances of several top players were particularly eye-catching. Honestly, it's a great pleasure to see world champions like Trump, O'Sullivan, and Higgins compete on the same stage. The progress of this game was also full of unpredictability, and many times you couldn't even imagine what would happen next. For example, in the match between Higgins and Mark Williams, everyone knows that Higgins' technique is stable, and Williams is not an easy opponent either, so they played against each other fiercely. However, Higgins actually defeated Williams 5-3! Many people probably didn't expect that Higgins could win this game so smoothly, after all, Williams also has a strong foundation. But in this match, Higgins played very steadily, and his precise shots at critical moments almost left no chance for Williams. However, don't be too happy too early. Next came the confrontation between O'Sullivan and Higgins, and the result was simply astonishing - O'Sullivan swept Higgins 5-1! Honestly, O'Sullivan's performance in this game was really too strong, it didn't seem like an old player, but a young player who had just stepped onto the court. At the beginning of the game, Higgins used a single shot of 102 points to win back a game, which did give everyone a glimmer of hope, but O'Sullivan immediately responded with a winning streak, winning four games in a row, completely stunning Higgins. O'Sullivan's state was really good, leaving almost no chance for Higgins to counterattack, and he…

On December 23rd, in a pivotal battle in Toronto, the Rockets faced off against the Raptors. The game was full of ups and downs, with the Rockets trailing by as many as 16 points at one point. However, they ultimately managed to secure a victory with a score of 114-110, achieving their second consecutive win while the Raptors suffered their seventh consecutive loss. At the start of the game, the Rockets were in low spirits and lagged behind the Raptors in offense. Rookie Walter hit four three-pointers in a single quarter, scoring 14 points and leading the Raptors to quickly establish a lead. In the second quarter, Jalen Green stepped up, scoring 17 points in the first half to help the Rockets reduce the gap to six points. In the third quarter, the Rockets' outside shooting remained weak, but they intensified their inside attacks, gradually reducing the deficit through free throws. Dillon Brooks became the offensive core for the Rockets, scoring 13 points in a single quarter and making 14 out of 14 free throws, contributing a total of 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals. Thanks to his outstanding performance, the Rockets took the lead by the end of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Rockets extended their lead, but the Raptors fought back fiercely, narrowing the gap to just three points. At a critical moment, the Raptors made a mistake, missing an opportunity to level the score. The Rockets eventually clinched a hard-fought victory. This win did not come easily for the Rockets. They had 21…

The Houston Rockets' strong performance finally brought them a long-awaited winning streak at home, as they defeated the Washington Wizards 107-92. This victory not only solidified their hopes for the playoffs but also gave fans more to look forward to. Through this game, the young lineup of the Houston Rockets showcased their potential, especially in their dominant suppression in the paint and Shepherd's breakthroughs on the offensive end, which were impressive. Speaking of the brightest star, it has to be Shen Jing. This pillar of the Rockets' interior almost single-handedly carried the game with his dominant performance, making people wonder if the Rockets have found a future superstar by luck. Let's take a look at the rhythm of the game! In the first quarter, the Rockets set the tone. Although the scores were close at the beginning of the game, the Rockets relied on Shen Jing's consecutive points in the paint to tear through the Wizards' defense with their strong inside attack. Shen Jing is like a natural master of the paint, and the sense of powerlessness in defending him makes one imagine that he is fighting against a small mountain every time he attacks. The Rockets led 30-28 in the first quarter, and although the lead was not big, you could feel that the advantage of the Rockets in the paint had begun to emerge. Entering the second quarter, the Rockets' tactics gradually adjusted. Shepherd shone brightly in this game, not only hitting several jump shots from beyond the arc on the offensive end but also finding an offensive…

The NBA regular season is nearing its halfway point, and the Western Conference is becoming increasingly interesting. The Thunder's 14-game winning streak has left all other teams behind, while the second-place Rockets only lead the seventh-place Clippers by 2.5 games. Teams like the Warriors, Spurs, and Timberwolves, who maintain a 50% win rate, are locked in fierce competition. As the season progresses, many teams are gradually getting back on track. For example, the Clippers finally welcomed the return of their leader, Leonard, who is very selfless and strives to integrate himself into the team without disrupting its balance. The Lakers, after LeBron James experienced a period of decline in December, have once again stepped up his game, bolstered by Reeves' consistent contributions, resulting in noticeable improvements in both offense and defense. Additionally, the Warriors, without Curry, managed a record of 5 wins and 2 losses, demonstrating that they can rely more on Wiggins and give Curry some rest. However, there is one team that, much like the stock market, has seen a sharp decline after an initial rise in September, following an "A-kill" trajectory without looking back, leaving no room for a rebound or liquidation for small investors. This team is the Suns, who started the season with an impressive 8 wins and 1 loss, giving them hope of contending for the championship and topping the Western Conference; the stock market's rise in September once made people believe a bull market was coming, but time always provides the best answers. From an 8-1 start, the Suns have since gone on…