As the Lakers lose to the Rockets and the Warriors suffer a crushing defeat to the Kings, the competition for the top 4 spots in the West heats up, with the rankings as follows! This seemingly calm regular season is actually filled with undercurrents, with each team fighting their hardest for playoff positions. ▶1. Lakers vs. Rockets, a close battle The Lakers challenged the Rockets away from home, expecting an easy victory, but it unexpectedly turned into a thrilling tug-of-war. The Rockets opened the game with full firepower, leading the Lakers by 18 points at one point in the first half. However, are the Lakers a team that gives up easily? In the third quarter, Anthony Davis dominated the paint, and LeBron James also played a pivotal role, with the Lakers scoring 40 points in a single quarter to reduce the gap to just 2 points. In the final quarter, both sides fought fiercely, with the scores alternating. In the closing moments, the Lakers were only down by 3 points, but James' attempt to call a timeout to set up a tactic was ignored by the referee, allowing Fred VanVleet to seize the opportunity for a crucial steal, helping the Rockets secure the victory. After the game, James expressed strong dissatisfaction with the referee's decision, believing he should have been granted the timeout. In this game, Davis scored 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocks, while James contributed 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 9 assists. However, the outstanding performances of Jalen Green and Armoni Brooks of the Rockets, who combined…

The Warriors played a beautiful team basketball game without Curry, which showed that they are still competitive even without their star player. The Grizzlies, on the other hand, exposed some issues after losing on the road. In this game, the Warriors demonstrated strong team cohesion, with Wiggins scoring the highest of 24 points while also limiting the opponent's offense on defense, reminiscent of his outstanding performance in the championship season. Schroder put up an efficient 17-point performance off the bench, replacing Curry. His drives and passes kept the Warriors' offensive system running smoothly, proving that his signing at the beginning of the season was a wise choice. Although Green only scored 9 points, his organization and defensive support on the court were still very beneficial to the team, especially his defensive disruptions in the fourth quarter that directly stalled the Grizzlies' offense. Hield and Kuminga also had excellent performances off the bench, scoring 14 and 13 points respectively. They hit consecutive three-pointers in a small surge in the second quarter, helping the team establish a lead. Davis didn't score much, but his 11 points and 9 rebounds showed his dominance in the paint, especially his rebound protection on defense, effectively limiting the Grizzlies' second-chance opportunities. Waters also had an efficient 16-point performance off the bench, scoring consecutively in the third quarter to stabilize the situation, showing the depth of the Warriors' bench. Although Li Kairui only scored 7 points, his defensive intensity and positivity on the court are worth recognizing, especially during the rotation lineup period, his defensive positioning repeatedly…

The Houston Rockets have made a bold move by acquiring De'Aaron Fox from the Sacramento Kings in a 6-for-1 trade. This transaction has sparked discussions among fans about whether it is a gamble or an adventurous move that could lead to a miracle. The Rockets exchanged Fred VanVleet, Whitmore, and Shepherd, along with three valuable first-round picks, totaling six assets for the promising young star. This trade is indeed surprising, especially considering that it includes three future draft picks. Essentially, the Rockets have put a significant portion of their future on the line, betting that this deal will bring immediate success. It's a bold and risky move, akin to a desperate gamble. Is this an opportunity or a ticking time bomb? Let's not rush to conclusions; instead, let's analyze the situation step by step. When discussing Fox, it's undeniable that he is an incredibly fast "dark horse." During his tenure with the Kings, he has been the team's absolute core. Last season in the playoffs, Fox averaged 25 points and 6 assists per game—statistics that not only sustain the team's rhythm but also demonstrate that he is more than just a scorer; he's a leader who can drive the entire team forward. What truly sets Fox apart is his speed, which allows him to catch opponents off guard, particularly in fast breaks and drives to the basket. He's essentially a one-man show, tearing through defenses. Moreover, Fox isn't just a player focused on driving to the hoop. His shooting accuracy is consistently stable, and he's fearless and meticulous in crucial…

Recently, the Rockets' performance can be described with one word—lukewarm. The young players on the team are doing well, with some occasionally exploding, but the team's overall offensive efficiency, especially at the point guard position, is really dragging them down. Take Amen Thompson, for example. Although he has potential in scoring ability, he hasn't yet achieved stable scoring, averaging only 12 points, which is indeed quite low. The Rockets urgently need a stronger point guard, and this problem is already there. Controlling the rhythm and driving the offense, a good point guard can make the team's offense more fluid and layered. The question is, who can step up for the Rockets to find such a player? Fox's name is being mentioned more and more often. The Kings' All-Star point guard is young, athletic, and most importantly, he has the ability to organize the offense. Moreover, he himself also intends to leave the Kings and wants to find a place that can give him more opportunities. Do you think the Rockets are just right? The Kings are considering rebuilding, and letting Fox go is also a possible choice for them. The Rockets have several promising young players and some expiring contracts, which can provide some trade chips, plus draft picks from the Suns, making the trade chips relatively rich. This gives the Rockets considerable negotiating capital in such a trade. Are you starting to doubt whether the Rockets will really get Fox through a trade? Some netizens believe that this trade is not worth the risk. Although Fox scores well, can…

On January 6th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued with two strong teams from the West - the Lakers and the Warriors - suffering defeats in their respective games. The Lakers lost at the Rockets' home court, while the Warriors suffered a heavy defeat at home against the Kings. With the conclusion of these two games, the competition for the Western Conference standings has entered a white-hot stage. Below is a detailed review and data analysis of both games. Lakers Lose by 4 Points to Rockets, Key Mistakes Seal Their Fate Game Overview:‌ The Los Angeles Lakers challenged the Houston Rockets on the road, ultimately losing by a narrow margin of 115-119, ending their previous winning streak. Despite Anthony Davis's outstanding personal performance, contributing 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocks, the Lakers' overall mistakes and key errors were the main reasons for their eventual loss. Game Progression:‌ The Lakers started off relatively sluggish, with the Rockets quickly establishing a lead through excellent outside shooting. In the first half, the Rockets led the Lakers by nearly 20 points thanks to Jalen Green's outstanding performance. Although the Lakers launched a counterattack in the third quarter, scoring 40 points in a single quarter and once reducing the gap to only 2 points, they failed to seize the opportunity in the crucial final moments. James' offensive foul and Christie's serve error directly caused the Lakers to lose the chance to overtake. Data Highlights:‌ James: 21 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists, a comprehensive performance, but unable to lead the team to reverse the…

As the Lakers lose to the Rockets and the Warriors suffer a crushing defeat to the Kings, the competition for the top 4 spots in the West is heating up, with the rankings as follows! James missed a crucial timeout, Davis scored 30 points in vain, and the Warriors lost to the Kings by 30 points! What happened to the sudden change in the Western rankings overnight? This seemingly calm regular season is actually seething with undercurrents, with each team fighting hard for their playoff spots. ▶1. Lakers vs Rockets, a close call The Lakers challenged the Rockets away from home, expecting an easy victory, but it turned into a thrilling tug-of-war. The Rockets opened the game with full firepower, leading the Lakers by 18 points at one point. However, are the Lakers a team that gives up easily? In the third quarter, Davis wreaked havoc inside, and James also played a pivotal role, with the Lakers scoring 40 points in a single quarter, reducing the gap to just 2 points. In the final quarter, both sides went back and forth, with the scores alternating. In the final moments, the Lakers were only 3 points behind, and James tried to call a timeout to set up a tactic, but was ignored by the referee. VanVleet seized the opportunity to make a key steal, helping the Rockets secure the victory. After the game, James expressed strong dissatisfaction with the referee's decision, believing he should have been granted the timeout. In this game, Davis scored 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocks,…

NBA regular season continues to play, the Warriors lost at home with a score of 99-129 against the Kings, ending their two-game winning streak. In this game, the Warriors suffered a collapse from the start, unable to score on offense and being overwhelmed on defense, trailing by 15 points in the first quarter at home. In the second quarter, although the Warriors' offensive state slightly improved, their small lineup could not contain the Kings, allowing the opponents to score 39 points again in a single quarter, with the point difference widening to over 20 points. The Warriors' poor momentum continued into the second half, as they were unable to produce effective offense and defense in the third quarter, with the point difference growing even larger, exceeding 30 points. In the final quarter, the Warriors struggled to catch up, and Coach Kerr decided not to bring back the core players to the court, surrendering early and accepting the defeat. After the loss, the Warriors' record stands at 18 wins and 17 losses. So where exactly did they lose in this game? Perhaps the data can give us some answers. Curry shot 8 out of 12, made 4 out of 8 three-pointers, and went 6 for 6 from the free-throw line, scoring 26 points with 7 rebounds, 1 steal, and 4 turnovers. Curry's personal offensive performance was actually quite good today, as he maintained a high offensive efficiency and scored well despite facing multiple defenders. However, there was no one around him to step up and share the scoring burden. With Kuminga's…

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…

On January 6th, Beijing time, the Kings defeated the Warriors 129-99 to secure their fourth consecutive victory. This marks the fourth win in five games since the Kings fired Mike Brown and appointed Christie as the new head coach, continuing their northern campaign. Notably, this game saw Fox resting, with Malik Monk stepping up as the team's main point guard, scoring 26 points and 12 assists, becoming the key contributor to the victory. Monk, who was previously on a one-year, 2.2milliontop−tiercontractwiththeLakers,signedatwo−year,2.2 million top-tier contract with the Lakers, signed a two-year, 2.2milliontop−tiercontractwiththeLakers,signedatwo−year,19 million mid-level contract with the Kings in the summer of 2022. He then renewed his contract with the Kings for four years at 77.97million,earning77.97 million, earning 77.97million,earning17.45 million this season. Monk's performance with the Kings has indeed been outstanding, justifying his multi-million dollar contract. In the first quarter, Monk scored 7 points, 3 assists, and 1 steal with 4 shots made out of 3 attempts and 1 three-pointer made out of 2 attempts. By halftime, Monk had accumulated 16 points, 10 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block with 9 shots made out of 6 attempts and 4 three-pointers made out of 2 attempts, showcasing his versatility as a perfect point guard. Monk also possesses an impressive drive, not inferior to Fox. In the third quarter, he completed a powerful dunk after driving to the basket, successfully dunking over Davis, who stands at 6 feet 9 inches. Monk scored 10 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals in just 11 minutes during that quarter. After three quarters, Monk played…

Defeat! Warriors' Five Tigers with 76+21, Xiaosa with 22+13+7, Monk Sets Record, Western No. 8 Changes Hands On January 6, 2025, Beijing time, the 18-win and 16-loss Warriors faced the 16-win and 19-loss Kings at home. The Warriors were playing back-to-back games, having defeated the Grizzlies the day before. The Kings had an advantage in terms of physical fitness, but Curry did not play yesterday, so his energy was not a concern. Who would win today's game? The Warriors were missing Kuminga, with their starting lineup being Curry, Schroder, Wiggins, Green, and Davis. The Kings were without Fox, with their starting lineup being Monk, Ellis, DeRozan, Murray, and Xiaosa. In the first quarter, Monk, Murray, and Xiaosa started with a 7-0 lead. Green and Wiggins responded with three-pointers, while Ellis and DeRozan countered for the Kings, leading to a score of 12-6. Curry, Hield, and Wiggins scored points, followed by Monk scoring 5 consecutive points and Hert's three-pointer, creating an 8-point gap. Wiggins made a layup, but Ellis, Hert, and Xiaosa responded strongly, increasing the gap to 13 points. Curry hit a three-pointer, but Ellis, Xiaosa, and DeRozan responded even more powerfully, extending the lead to 18 points. Hield and Schroder scored, and Carter made 1 of 2 free throws. At the end of the first quarter, the Kings led 36-21. In the second quarter, Carter made a jumper, giving the Kings a 17-point lead. Wiggins and Curry narrowed the gap to 13 points, but DeRozan made both free throws, maintaining a 15-point lead. Curry scored 8 points on his…