The battle between the teams in the Eastern and Western Conference playoff zones ended with the Timberwolves losing 105-119 to the Pistons on the road, suffering their third consecutive defeat. Notably, the Pistons' record has reached 17 wins and 18 losses, close to eighth place in the East, as they have emerged from the gloom of being at the bottom of the league last season. It is clear that the Pistons, like the Rockets last season, are starting to soar and rise. The player who has made the Pistons rise is undoubtedly the number one pick, Cade Cunningham. Currently, CC is indeed the undisputed leader of the 21st session. Cunningham has been steadily improving every year since entering the league four years ago. This year, he averages 24.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 9.5 assists, with a shooting percentage of 45% and a three-point percentage of 37.6%. Obviously, these statistics are very Harden-like; he is a younger version of Harden. Then there's Jalen Green, the second overall pick, who has been stagnant for four years. Evan Mobley, the third overall pick, is quite good, but his strength is indeed not as good as Cunningham's. Fourth overall pick Scottie Barnes is gradually becoming mediocre, Jalen Suggs has reached his ceiling, and Franz Wagner is okay, but he doesn't belong to the Five Kings. Comparing and contrasting, you will find that Cunningham is indeed the strongest presence in the 21st session. We can only say that the Rockets regret choosing Jalen Green with the second overall pick instead of going all-in for the…

Kevin Durant's announcement has caused a seismic shift in the league, with teams like the Rockets and Warriors responding accordingly. In the absence of Booker, the Suns have only managed to secure one win out of six games. Despite Durant's heroic performances, including scoring 37 points against the Pacers, a season-high 43 points against the Pistons, and another 31 points against his old rivals, the Warriors, the team's losses overshadow these individual achievements. The Suns have only won once since Booker's absence, during the Christmas Day game against the Nuggets, with Durant consistently delivering star-level performances but still unable to secure victories. Durant's frustration with the team's situation is evident, as other players fail to provide support on both ends of the court, leaving him isolated in crucial moments. The team's inability to trade the instigator of their losing streak further exacerbates Durant's dissatisfaction, leading to feelings of hopelessness regarding championship aspirations. Following a close loss to the Warriors, Durant openly expressed his desire for a trade, which could potentially trigger significant changes across the league. Teams such as the Rockets, Thunder, Warriors, Mavericks, and even the Suns themselves have shown interest in facilitating a trade, with many willing to offer substantial assets for the 36-year-old veteran. The Rockets, currently second in the West, lack a superstar presence that could elevate them in critical moments. They are prepared to offer multiple first-round picks and young players to entice the Suns, making the acquisition of Durant seem almost inevitable. The Lakers have also publicly declared their willingness to part with anyone…

The competition in the Western Conference this season is much more intense compared to the Eastern Conference. Apart from the first-placed Thunder team, the difference in wins and losses between the second-placed Grizzlies and the tenth-placed Warriors is only six games. It can be said that the teams in the playoff zone have a particularly large number of ranking variables, which also makes the Western Conference rankings change greatly: Rockets secure 3rd and aim for 2nd, Clippers aim for 5th, Spurs rise, Suns drop out of the top 10. Rockets Secure 3rd and Aim for 2nd! The first-placed Thunder team in the West currently has a 12-game winning streak, with a record of 27 wins and 5 losses, ranking first in the West, and leading the second-placed Grizzlies by 5 games, making the first position very stable! The competition for second place in the West is much fiercer, with the Grizzlies at 23 wins and 11 losses, and the Rockets at 22 wins and 11 losses. The difference in wins and losses between the two teams is only 0.5 games, and both have the possibility of taking second place! The Grizzlies' recent performance has been quite good, winning three out of four games. However, the team has encountered significant problems, namely too many injuries. Morant, Aldama, and Adi have all encountered injury situations, causing the team's performance to decline significantly. Especially with the Grizzlies' upcoming schedule not being easy, facing teams like the Kings, Warriors, Mavericks, Rockets, and Timberwolves, all Western Conference teams, it means the Grizzlies will suffer quite…

Recently, rumors about the potential trade of the Kings' backcourt core, De'Aaron Fox, have been rampant. This is mainly due to the team's poor performance this season. The Kings made a big trade in the offseason to acquire DeMar DeRozan, hoping to make further progress, but they failed to live up to expectations. They suffered consecutive defeats and their locker room was in chaos. Ultimately, head coach Mike Brown was fired, and the team fell into another low point. Fox also put pressure on the team through his agent, hinting that he might consider leaving. As a quasi-All-Star level player, Fox is still very popular. Reports suggest that if Fox wants to leave, teams like the Rockets and Spurs will pursue him vigorously. The Rockets, in particular, seem to be particularly interested in Fox, as they are in need of a star player who can perform in clutch situations. Therefore, they are expected to be one of the top contenders for Fox. American media has also confirmed this news, stating that the Rockets will lead the race for Fox. In recent days, an article by Eric Pincus, a salary expert at Bleacher Report, pointed out that NBA rumors indicate that Fox may push for a trade before the February 6 trade deadline, and the Kings may consider all options. One team stands out as their most likely trading partner: the Rockets. The journalist also provided a very informative trade proposal: Kings receive: Reed Sheppard, Cameron Whitmore, Jeff Green, Jaxson Hayes, Jock Landale, 2027 first-round swap rights, 2028 first-round pick, 2030…

NBA regular season continued to play, the Rockets lost at home to the Celtics with a score of 86-109, missing out on consecutive victories. In this game, the Rockets started off in mediocre form, with an imbalanced offense and defense. Their attack was not stable enough, and they were slow to retreat defensively, falling behind the Celtics by more than 10 points after half a quarter. Although the Rockets managed to stabilize their footing later on, they were unable to maintain consistency and still trailed by a 9-point margin at halftime. In the second half, the Rockets' offense remained inconsistent, and in the third quarter, they briefly narrowed the gap to around 5 points but were quickly pushed back to a 15-point deficit. After the third quarter score was set at 16-17, the Rockets entered the final quarter with a 10-point disadvantage. In the fourth quarter, not only did the Rockets fail to further close the gap, but the Celtics also went on an 18-7 run, directly widening the gap to over 20 points. Coach Udoka had no choice but to concede defeat early. After the loss, the Rockets' record stands at 22 wins and 12 losses. So where exactly did they fall short in this game? Perhaps the data can provide us with some answers. Jalen Green shot 10 for 21 from the field, 5 for 13 from three-point range, scoring 27 points with 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, and 1 turnover. It seems that Green's efficiency wasn't particularly high today, but his performance was actually quite commendable.…

The Houston Rockets suffered a resounding defeat against the Boston Celtics with a score of 86-109, a result that appears to be just another routine loss in the regular season. However, what lingers in the minds of fans after this match is not the crushing defeat itself, but the head coach Stephen Silas' post-game comments about Norman Powell. These remarks, akin to a stone thrown into a lake, have created ripples and sparked deep contemplation about the current state and future prospects of the Rockets. In this game, the Rockets were thoroughly outplayed. The defeat was not only reflected in the significant point difference but also in the team's lackluster performance from the outset. In the first quarter, the Celtics demonstrated their formidable offensive and defensive prowess, firmly controlling the game's tempo. The Rockets' offense struggled, lacking effective organization and coordination, resorting to individual efforts out of necessity. Defensively, they were riddled with vulnerabilities, allowing the Celtics' players to score at will. Despite Jalen Green's impressive 27 points, his personal excellence could not offset the team's overall slump. It was as if a lone hero fought valiantly amidst a vast army yet could not turn the tide. Of course, we cannot overlook the impact of objective factors. The absences of Smith, Aman, and Ison significantly diminished the Rockets' strength. However, this should not excuse the team's poor showing. Other players, especially the high-paid veterans, should step up, take responsibility, and lead the team forward in such times. Yet, what we witnessed was Norman Powell once again lost on the court.…

On January 4th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continues. Let's take a look at the performance of the Western Conference teams and the latest standings changes. The main information is as follows: Thunder defeated the Knicks 117-107, Rockets lost to the Celtics 86-109, Grizzlies lost to the Kings 133-138, Lakers defeated the Hawks 119-112, Mavericks lost to the Cavaliers 122-134, and Nuggets narrowly lost to the Spurs 110-113! The latest Western Conference standings The first-place Thunder in the West are unstoppable. Today, they trailed by as many as 14 points at home but made a strong comeback in the final quarter to defeat the Knicks 117-107, securing their 14th consecutive victory. Their record improved to 29 wins and 5 losses. With both the Grizzlies and Rockets losing, the Thunder extended their lead to 6.5 games over second place, solidifying their position at the top. The second-place Grizzlies played an offensive battle against the Kings on the road with Morant absent. Jackson committed a level 1 malicious foul on Fox in the final moments and fouled out for the sixth time, ultimately losing 133-138 but still leading the Rockets by 0.5 games. The Kings bounce back with 3 straight wins The Rockets' shooting went cold at home, losing 86-109 to the reigning champion Celtics. They have lost three of their last four games, with their record remaining at 22 wins and 12 losses. Jalen Green scored 24 points, and Jabari Smith suffered a left hand fracture during training, needing to rest for 4-8 weeks, which will have some impact on…

On January 2, 2025, Beijing time, several NBA games continued to be played, with important matches as follows: Mavericks 99 - 110 Rockets This was a match between the No. 3 and No. 4 teams in the West, with both sides very close in strength. The game started with fierce competition from both sides. Although the Rockets had the advantage of playing at home, they were very passive at the beginning. Fortunately, when the East was not bright, Whitmore became a trump card, continuously scoring to help the Rockets keep up with their opponents. Then Green played bravely, leading the Rockets to overtake in the second quarter. In the second half, the Rockets stabilized the situation on the court, with multiple points blooming to take control of the game. They eventually won the Mavericks at home by 11 points, further widening the gap between the two sides. Nets 113 - 130 Raptors After the opening, both sides played very fiercely, with each other taking the lead in the first three quarters, but without a significant difference. In the crucial fourth quarter, the Raptors launched a 20-6 offensive climax, sweeping away the game, thus ending their embarrassing 11-game losing streak. Magic 96 - 105 Pistons The Magic, ranked fourth in the East, lost to the Pistons with a low win rate, causing a big upset. Today's NBA Results Latest Rankings The latest NBA standings show that while the Eastern Conference rankings are gradually becoming clear, the Western Conference is still fiercely contested, with a small margin, and the situation can change…

The Houston Rockets suffered a home defeat of 86-109 against the Boston Celtics. The Rockets played poorly throughout the game, with their rhythm controlled by the opponent, and they were further outscored in the final quarter, leading to a crushing loss. After the match, the Rockets faced four pieces of bad news. Shenjing struggled significantly when facing strong teams, performing poorly under the basket. With Smith currently injured and Aman also absent, Shenjing's defensive performance was in shambles. Additionally, on the offensive end, he was unable to gain an advantage against the Celtics' twin towers, resulting in him being dominated both offensively and defensively. Looking ahead, opponents will likely target him during the playoffs, which could worsen his performance. It is hoped that after this game, Shenjing can reflect deeply on his play. Similarly, Whitmore lost his way after facing targeted defense from a strong team. Throughout the game, he missed three-point shots and was unable to establish any advantage when breaking into the paint. Currently, Whitmore's basketball IQ is truly poor. Without the guarantee of a three-pointer, he could only dribble recklessly. However, his judgment of defense was lacking, and his basketball IQ was very low, ultimately causing Whitmore to fail to explode, shooting only 4 out of 17 for the game. Although his talent is good, his playing style is too unsightly. VanVleet's recent performance has been increasingly poor. He shot 3 out of 7 for only 8 points, 1 rebound, and 3 assists, failing to live up to the role of a backcourt ball-handling core. Especially on…

This season, the performance of the Phoenix Suns has been quite surprising. In theory, the combination of stars like Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal should have caused a stir, especially after Durant joined, everyone thought the Suns could at least make it into the top five in the West. But what happened? The Suns are currently not even in the top five in the West, and their playoff qualification is not stable. What's going on? The combination of Durant and Booker seems to have failed to produce the expected chemistry. Everyone knows that Durant is a formidable player, but which path did he take? It seems that after winning the championship with the Warriors, he started to focus on the concept of "brotherhood basketball," paying more attention to relationships with teammates on the court rather than individual performance. There were rumors recently that Durant might consider retiring while playing for the Suns, which was quite surprising. After this news came out, many fans were stunned, thinking it was unlikely. However, Durant does seem a bit lost, as his partnership with Booker has never quite lived up to expectations. The Suns' injury problems are also a headache. Both Durant and Booker have been injured, which has had a significant impact on the team's overall efficiency. Especially Durant, whose injury history is somewhat long, although his form is still good, he is not as impressive as before. Moreover, the Suns' inside-outside cooperation always falls short, making the whole team look scattered, and the coaching staff's management is also being questioned.…