With the Lakers losing to the Rockets and the Thunder reversing the Celtics, changes in the Western rankings! The Thunder, ranked first in the West, has won 15 consecutive victories, while the Lakers surprisingly lost to the Rockets. Behind this seemingly ordinary result of the game, there is a fierce shake-up in the Western pattern. Is it time to tear off the label of "pseudo-strong team" from the Rockets? What impact will Amon's emergence have on the West? ▶ The unexpected joy of the Rockets The Rockets' performance this season has been questioned. Their record of 22 wins and 12 losses looks bright, but it is always considered a false appearance built on defense, lacking real competitiveness. In this game against the Lakers, almost no one favored them before the game. However, the young players of the Rockets responded to all doubts with a thrilling victory. Jalen Green scored 33 points, showing his leadership qualities; Amon Thompson contributed a comprehensive data of 23 points and 16 rebounds, showing amazing energy on both offense and defense, even making James hard to handle. This victory not only improved the ranking of the Rockets, but more importantly, it boosted the morale and self-confidence of the team. The victory of the Rockets was not accidental. They focus on defense, using the vitality and impact of young players to play an efficient transition offense. The addition of Amon Thompson has injected new vitality into the team. He can not only score, but also grab rebounds, organize offense, and limit the core players of the opponent…

NBA regular season, the Lakers lost 115-119 to the Rockets. The Lakers played terribly in the first half of this game, even though they exploded in the third quarter, unfortunately, they were unable to turn the situation around in the final quarter, resulting in a narrow defeat to the Rockets. Two players had excellent performances throughout the game. With 18 shots and 10 hits, he scored an impressive 30 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and blocked 5 shots, demonstrating his dominance on the court. Defensively, he limited Shen Jing, and offensively, he was able to complete strong kills. He also scored 22 points in the second half, doing everything he could to hold the fort in the paint. However, when Anthony Davis appears at the five position, he is not capable of playing as a tank, which is something the Lakers need to pay attention to. Smith's performance has been improving steadily. He scored 13 points with 5 out of 9 shots, including 6 points in the final quarter, which is also a new high for him since joining the Lakers. Combined with his defensive prowess, he is sure to maintain stable output in high-level games. James, Rivers, Christie, and Hachimura all had passable performances. James' performance in the final moments of the game was somewhat disappointing, with turnovers and an offensive foul that completely affected the team's momentum. But without James' explosive performance in the third quarter, there would be no subsequent events, so he didn't play badly. Rivers is still a player who is strong on offense but weak…

A game of future and reality is quietly unfolding! The Suns are struggling with poor performance, the Timberwolves are trying to upgrade their lineup, while the Rockets are secretly manipulating, holding the draft pick swap rights and waiting for the fisherman's advantage. In this three-way trade idea, the fate of D'Angelo Russell has become crucial, while Kevin Durant's helpers are gradually decreasing. The once invincible super trio now struggles for the eighth spot in the West. Is the luxurious lineup just a paper tiger after all? This "trade storm" is not groundless; it is a chain reaction triggered by the Suns' difficulties. The Suns were originally highly anticipated in the 2025 season, but with Booker's return from injury, followed by injuries to Beal, O'Neal, and Monte Morris, the team has found it difficult to maintain its competitiveness at the beginning of the season. Despite Durant's continued firepower, he cannot hold up alone. After suffering three consecutive losses, the Suns dropped to 11th in the West, further away from the playoffs. To date, the Suns have huge salary pressure, with the trio's combined annual salary exceeding $150 million. The management has almost no room for maneuver, and this luxurious battleship is gradually losing its direction. The Rockets are in a completely different situation. They are the biggest potential beneficiaries of this trade, for no other reason than they hold the Suns' first-round draft pick swap rights in 2025. 2025 is widely recognized as a big year for the draft, and Rockets general manager Rafael Stone knows that this pick could bring…

19 Points and 11 Rebounds! Amen Hopes to Replace Van Jordan, Rockets Want to Increase Ball-Handling Points, Bulls Offer Price Reading this article before, please click on "follow" for your convenience in discussing and sharing, which can also bring you a different sense of participation. Thank you for your support! The arrival of Biston has brought a new breeze to Houston. This new general manager reshaped the Rockets' lineup, changing the old model that relied on star players. He values young players and believes that through patient training, a new dynasty can be nurtured. The current Rockets are slowly showing the initial results of Stone's strategy. With a record of 12 wins and 6 losses, they are proud of most teams in the West, and fans have high hopes for this young group. Stone's operations along the way are worth reviewing. In 2020, he made a brilliant move with the Covington trade, as well as the unfortunate deal of Westbrook for Wall. However, what is most praised is that in the 2024 draft year, he successively obtained two rookies, Amen Thompson and Whitmore. This young combination is seen as the key to the future puzzle and is also the most successful part of Stone's "youthification" path. Stone advocates not pushing rookies into the starting lineup all at once but gradually in actual combat to hone and grow. Amen is the best example. This point guard is eager to replace veteran Van Jordan, but Coach Udoka understands his characteristics and starts from the bench warrior, gradually increasing Amen's playing time. In…

NBA regular season continued with the Lakers losing 115-119 to the Rockets on the road, ending their two-game winning streak. In this game, the Lakers started with low intensity and were quickly overwhelmed by a 5-21 run in the first quarter, trailing by nearly 15 points. In the second quarter, the Lakers' defensive intensity only lasted for the first half, and when they managed to close the gap to about 10 points, they were again hit by two three-pointers, leaving them trailing by nearly 20 points at halftime. In the second half, the Lakers made adjustments, with DFS replacing Hachimura as the starter. This change had an immediate impact, as the Lakers quickly narrowed the gap and held off the Rockets' offense. By the start of the fourth quarter, the Lakers were only down by 2 points. In the final quarter, both teams exchanged blows, but the Lakers were unable to reverse their downward trend. At a critical moment, the Lakers had a chance to close the gap, but James committed an offensive foul, and Christie made a turnover on the inbound pass, wasting their opportunity. After the loss, the Lakers' record stands at 20 wins and 15 losses. So where exactly did they lose this game? Perhaps the data can provide us with some answers. James shot 8 for 16 from the field, 4 for 6 from beyond the arc, and 1 for 2 from the free-throw line, scoring 21 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, dishing out 9 assists, making 1 steal, and committing 2 turnovers. Today, James was in…

Young is good! Rockets beat Lakers, scoring! Jalen Green is too fast, Amen can jump too much!‌ Beijing time January 6th, the NBA regular season continued to be held, the Rockets played at home against the Lakers. The two teams had a match in January this year, when the Rockets defeated the Lakers and took the lead by double digits in the first quarter. In this game, the Lakers had a major change in personnel. The two teams met again. Throughout the game, the Rockets established a 14-point lead in the first quarter. At the end of the first half, the Rockets extended the gap to 18 points. In the third quarter, the Lakers chased 16 points. In the crucial fourth quarter, the Lakers once narrowed the gap to only 2 points, but finally Jalen Green exploded again and won the game. The Rockets eventually defeated the Lakers 119:115. Let's take a look at the game review, player performance and player ratings.‌ Game starters Rockets starters: VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon, Amen, Shen Jing.‌ Lakers starters: Reeves, Christie, Hachimura, James, Davis.‌ Game review First quarter: As soon as the game started, the Rockets were hot, Jalen Green led the team to score continuously, leading the Rockets to a scoring climax of 18:2. Amen grabbed offensive rebounds consecutively, followed by Dillon and VanVleet with three-pointers, and the team was in full bloom. However, Hu Renezhe's offense broke down, and no one scored for a long time. The Rockets led the Lakers by 14 points in the first quarter with a score of…

On January 6th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued with the Lakers visiting the Rockets. In this game, Aminu returned from suspension and had a fiery performance with Green, helping the team take control of the court and leading by as many as 22 points in the first half. However, the Lakers made a furious comeback, reducing the gap to just 2 points at one point. In the final quarter, the Rockets regained the initiative and held off the Lakers' counterattack. Ultimately, the Rockets defeated the Lakers 119-115 in a close match. In this game, Aminu returned to the starting lineup and both teams were locked in a seesaw battle at the beginning, with the score alternating in the lead. However, after the Lakers' offense fell into a slump, the Rockets, led by Green, continued to score, launching a 21-5 run to take control of the game. In the second quarter, the Rockets extended their momentum and further widened the gap. Although the Lakers' offense recovered somewhat, they were able to close the gap slightly. However, VanVleet's three-pointer helped the team re-establish their lead, and at halftime, the Rockets led the Lakers 67-49. After changing sides, the Rockets failed to maintain their momentum, while the Lakers found their rhythm again. James led the team to continuously make up ground, hitting 9 three-pointers in a single quarter and launching a 40-24 offensive surge to successfully reduce the gap. At the end of the third quarter, the Lakers only trailed by 2 points. In the fourth quarter, the Rockets started with…

NBA Western Conference Latest Rankings: Rockets Create NBA Miracle, Clippers Receive Big Gift, Suns in Peril Beijing Time January 6, 2025, Today there are 6 NBA games, involving the Lakers, Warriors, Rockets, Thunder, Kings, Jazz, and Pelicans. After the games, the Western Conference rankings have changed.‌ The Rockets hosted the Lakers at home, missing two key players, Smith and Ison, which significantly reduced their combat effectiveness. The Lakers have been in excellent form recently, winning 7 out of their last 9 games. On paper, the Lakers had the advantage. In the first quarter, the Rockets were full of vitality, with Jalen Green and Thompson teaming up to overwhelm the Lakers, winning the quarter by 14 points. In the second quarter, the Rockets continued to suppress the Lakers, with the lead reaching 22 points at one point. At halftime, the Rockets led by 18 points. In the third quarter, the Rockets extended the lead to 20 points at the start, but then the Lakers' three-point shooting heated up, and they quickly closed the gap. By the end of the third quarter, the lead was down to just 2 points. In the fourth quarter, the Rockets started with a fierce offensive, extending the lead to 13 points. Then the Lakers began to catch up, and with 7 seconds left in the game, the lead was down to 2 points. However, the Lakers made two consecutive turnovers in the final moments, and the Rockets ultimately won by a 4-point advantage. The Rockets created an NBA miracle by defeating the Lakers, who were in…

The Houston Rockets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 119-115, despite almost being overturned after leading by 24 points. However, winning is ultimately a good thing, and there is no difference between winning by 24 points or 4 points. The Rockets just need to improve on some details. Considering the absence of Smith and Ison, it was impressive that the Rockets could win against the Lakers without their two frontline players from 2022. Amen Thompson was undoubtedly the key to the Rockets' victory today, while Jalen Green was the go-to scorer, and Adams was the unexpected hero. Jalen Green's scoring was crucial for the Rockets in the final moments of the game. Adams' offensive rebounds forced the Lakers to slow down, preventing them from launching counterattacks and holding on during a tough stretch. Meanwhile, Amen Thompson was the absolute foundation for the Rockets at both ends of the court. Defensively, he locked down James and assisted Shen Jing with defense. Offensively, he aggressively attacked the basket, finishing layups, and made second-chance putbacks. You could truly say that Amen Thompson was everywhere on the court. After serving a two-game suspension, Amen returned to start and played 41 minutes, with Udoka not daring to take him off the court for even a minute. He had an impressive shooting record of 11 out of 19, scoring 23 points, grabbing 16 rebounds, dishing out 3 assists, and making 1 steal. In fact, James found it challenging to play one-on-one against Amen today, as the young player is incredibly skilled defensively. James faced the best defender…

On January 6th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued, and all the games for today have been completed. Although there were only 6 games, 5 strong teams from the Western Conference faced off. Due to the fierce competition in the West, the Western Conference landscape has changed after today's games. Although the rankings in the West haven't changed much, there has been a significant change in the number of wins between the teams. Let's take a look. Thunder's Momentum Continues The Thunder hosted the Celtics in this game, which the Celtics took very seriously, fielding their full core lineup. At halftime, they had established a 10-point lead thanks to their excellent performance. However, as the Thunder's defense began to dominate in the second half, the Celtics only managed to score 27 points in total for the entire half, ultimately being reversed by the Thunder. In this game, Alexander on the Thunder side scored 33 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. After the victory, the Thunder extended their winning streak to 15 games, becoming the second team in the league to reach 30 wins. They remain undefeated against Eastern Conference teams this season. In their next game, they will face the Cavaliers, who are first in the league and have yet to lose to a Western Conference team. This matchup is definitely worth looking forward to. Currently, the Thunder leads the second-place Rockets by 7 wins. Given their stability and strength, it seems that the top spot in the West is almost guaranteed for them this…