Although the Houston Rockets' power forward, Jalen Green, has been out for three consecutive games and may not return for over a month, the team's interior play has not been significantly affected. Besides the impressive performances of centers Alperen Sengun and Bruno Fernando on both offense and defense, the bench also features interior players Jeff Green and Jock Landale. More importantly, Coach Stephen Silas has transformed Armoni Brooks into a power forward, starting him in the position, which can be considered a stroke of genius. Despite standing at only 6 feet 7 inches tall, Brooks has thrived in the power forward role, being very active. In the last three games, the Rockets have achieved a three-game winning streak, with Brooks being the first choice at power forward. In the victories against the Lakers and Wizards, he recorded double-doubles with 20+ points and 15 rebounds. Even against the Grizzlies, he had a comprehensive stat line of 10 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block. Over the three games, he averaged a double-double at the power forward position. Even if the Rockets' high-scoring forward Jalen Green is out for over a month, Silas' team can still rely on Brooks to replace Green and continue helping the Rockets win any game. In the game, Brooks' style is completely different from Green's. Green is tall and can protect the rim and shoot threes, but his low-post scoring and attacking abilities are average. Brooks, on the other hand, although not particularly tall for the four position, possesses excellent explosiveness, speed, and is…

The Houston Rockets gave their opponents a chance to seize victory, but they failed to capitalize on it. Alperen Sengun scored the highest points and rebounds for the team, but his free throw shooting was a letdown, with only 7 out of 15 attempts made, scoring just 1 point in the final quarter. Sengun has attempted at least 20 shots in two consecutive games (his season average is 15.5), aiming to make an All-Star push. Despite average defense and stamina, and inconsistent free throw shooting, his one-on-one play and passing are what Udoka likes. Udoka encourages Sengun to take advantage of opportunities and be brave in expressing himself. In an interview, Sengun admitted that Udoka always sets up tactics for him because he trusts him and believes his form will return. They maintain good communication throughout the game. Sengun once complained about facing double teams, but now with the improved shooting touch of Green and VanVleet, he can play more comfortably. Houston media suggests that the Rockets may try to trade for a shooter before the deadline, with Memphis' Kennard being a suitable candidate. Kennard scored 11 points in this game, shooting 4 out of 7 from the field, 3 out of 5 from three-point range, with a team-high +13 plus-minus. The Rockets need shooters to create space, yet they have demoted McVeigh, who actually has decent shooting ability. The Vipers, the Rockets' affiliate, also won on the same day as the Rockets. In their previous match, Shepherd scored 49 points but the Vipers lost to the Thunder's affiliate. This…

The Houston Rockets have achieved a three-game winning streak after defeating the Memphis Grizzlies, with a record of 25 wins and 12 losses, securing the second place in the Western Conference. This is a remarkable improvement from last year's performance. While many are discussing the championship potential of the Oklahoma City Thunder this year, the Rockets have quietly caught up and are ready to compete fiercely with them. The Rockets' success this season can be attributed to several factors. Some credit goes to Green for his significant progress, particularly in terms of consistency. Others point to Sengun, who has matured and delivered many high-level performances. However, the author believes that the primary contributor to the Rockets' transformation is Udoka. Last year, Sengun averaged 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5 assists, nearly making it to the All-Star game. Meanwhile, Jalen Green averaged 19.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, which is also impressive. Yet, the Rockets' record last year paled in comparison to this season. The main reason for this turnaround is Udoka, who has learned how to effectively pair and utilize the Rockets' dynamic duo of Sengun and Jalen Green. Last season, when one played well, the other would underperform, leading some to believe they could not coexist and should not be re-signed simultaneously. However, in the summer of 2024, the Rockets cleverly resolved their contract issues, retaining both young talents. They signed Sengun to a five-year, 185millioncontractandJalenGreentoathree−year,185 million contract and Jalen Green to a three-year, 185millioncontractandJalenGreentoathree−year,106 million deal. These contracts have a two-year time difference, providing Sengun with a…

Is White Magic leaving? There's too much news about this player, and he's always unhappy. People like this can't stay. It's better to send him away so that no one suffers. Before the draft, didn't his coach say something bad about him? At that time, everyone thought, where could there be such a coach who speaks ill of his own players? Now everyone should understand that no coach can teach him. He's not a big name, so how could Udoka's character accommodate him? The next step is to see what White Magic can be traded for, whether it's the first round, second round, or nothing. Why did I suddenly think of the scene when Little Porter was abandoned by his mother team? The Rockets thought they had found a treasure, but as we all know now, Amon is really good. He listens to whatever position he's told to play and does whatever work is assigned without complaining. He has accumulated bit by bit through hard training and has now become an indispensable role. Status is earned on the court, and White Magic's offense is indeed good, but in the Rockets, it's really over. If he leaves, it will also make room for Little Xie to come back and level up. White Magic has a tendency to be a troublemaker. After playing well in one game, he thinks he's great and that the whole team should revolve around him and set special tactics for him. His positioning is inaccurate; he hasn't fully grasped his role (as you can see from the…

The Houston Rockets have achieved a three-game winning streak after defeating the Memphis Grizzlies with a score of 119-115, widening the gap to 1.5 games ahead of the third-placed Grizzlies. The Rockets' depth in their rotation this year has been impressive. With Smith out, Amen Thompson stepped up to hold the power forward position, and with Ison out, Tate was able to step up as well. Adams became the backup center, with Landale waiting in the wings. We don't know when Ison will return, as he has already missed 11 games. Previously, the Rockets had considered trading away Tate, but it seems that such plans have been put on hold. It's clear that Tate is a player every team needs. In today's game, he played for 18 minutes, scoring 12 points with 4 rebounds and 1 steal on 3-of-6 shooting, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. He has been a spiritual leader and veteran during the Rockets' rebuilding phase. Tate is very much like Beverley, constantly harassing opponents on the court, fighting for rebounds, and always ready to finish plays on offense. After the game, Shenjing praised Tate's incredible performance on both ends of the court, likening him to a 'ferocious dog.' The term 'ferocious dog' is not meant as an insult; in fact, it's quite a compliment in the NBA, as Beverley himself refers to himself as a 'junkyard dog.' Shenjing also revealed that Tate's energy on the court is abundant, and he is always there to encourage his teammates when their morale is low. Head coach Udoka described…

The Houston Rockets have recently defeated the Lakers and the Wizards, maintaining a winning streak and securing their second-place ranking in the Western Conference. Currently, the Thunder has a record of 30 wins and 6 losses, leading the second place in the West by 6 games. It will be difficult for the Rockets to catch up with the Grizzlies, who have a record of 24 wins and 13 losses, only half a game behind the Rockets. The Rockets and the Grizzlies have very close win-loss records and are in the same tier, with the fourth place in the West lagging behind them significantly. The Rockets have also been dealing with some serious injuries recently, with Tari Eason and Jabari Smith, two key defensive players, out of action. Fortunately, head coach Ime Udoka has made proper arrangements, putting Amon Thompson into the starting lineup, which has proven to be very effective. Young players like Jalen Green, Sengun, Amon Thompson, and Whitmore have all been steadily breaking out. Jalen Green has averaged over 30 points in his last three games, with a shooting percentage of 49.2%. Amon Thompson has averaged 21.5 points, 15.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.2 steals in his last two games, with a shooting percentage as high as 66.7%. Whitmore scored 17 points, 1 rebound, and 1 steal in one game, and 18 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal in another. These young Rockets players have been consistently performing well, striving hard in the games, giving their all, and working very hard to lead the team to…

The Houston Rockets achieved a significant victory over the Washington Wizards today, with Jalen Green, Shen Jing, and Amen Thompson all performing exceptionally well, securing their second consecutive win and maintaining their position as the second seed in the Western Conference. However, there is another piece of good news that has emerged: Shepard has had a breakout performance. After being demoted to the G League's Vipers by the Rockets, he made his debut today. Shepard finished the game with an impressive stat line of 17 out of 33 shots, including 8 out of 19 from beyond the arc, scoring 49 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, dishing out 6 assists, and making 3 steals. For all Rockets fans, today confirms one fact: Shepard is not just a raw talent; he is a skilled rookie who simply lacks the physicality required. Why did Shepard, who dominated in the Summer League, appear to be a liability on both offense and defense in the NBA? It's not that Shepard isn't capable; it's that his body hasn't kept up with the intensity of the league. Today's performance solidifies the notion that if Shepard can improve his physique to meet NBA standards, he will be able to showcase his talents. In today's game, Shepard displayed confidence in his outside shooting and aggressively attacked the basket, while defensively, he held his own and even served as the primary perimeter defender for the Vipers. Regardless, the G League's level of competition surpasses that of the Summer League. Shepard's ability to exhibit his strengths in this environment validates the Rockets'…

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…

It is well known that the Houston Rockets have recently been facing a shortage of players. First, Amen Thompson was suspended for two games, but fortunately he has officially returned and put on an All-Star level performance in the game against the Lakers. Additionally, the injury wave has affected the completeness of the Rockets' lineup. Besides Adams, who has been playing intermittently, the team's power forward Tari Eason has been out due to injury for nearly 10 games. Although Eason is questionable for upcoming games, the Rockets have announced that he can only play with a small probability, with a chance of only 25%. The other starting power forward, Jabari Smith Jr., also suffered a hand fracture during training and will need to rest for 4 to 6 weeks. During this time, the power forward position will have to be filled by Amen Thompson, Whitmore, and Tate. With the absence of two key forwards, the Rockets are undoubtedly facing significant challenges in their lineup arrangements, which is one of the main reasons for their recent record of fewer wins and more losses. However, the Rockets seem unconcerned as they have announced the demotion of their 20-year-old rookie, Shepherd, to the G League's Vipers. This marks the fourth player the Rockets have sent to the Vipers this season. Previously, the team's forward McKew, guard Jonathan Williams, and undrafted center Dante were all demoted to the G League, where they rarely return to play significant roles for the Rockets' first team. Now, the Rockets have demoted their fourth player, this year's third…

The Houston Rockets, a battleground of the future and the present What is the Rockets' strategy: to focus on the future or to push for immediate success? This question has become a hot topic among the team and its fans after two consecutive losses. From head coach Ime Udoka's subtle suggestion that no one in the team can step up in critical moments to the continuous rumors about the potential trade of De'Aaron Fox, each piece of news has struck a nerve with Rocket fans. It begs the question: how did this team, which was supposed to make a big comeback, suddenly fall into a state of confusion? Two consecutive losses have exposed the Rockets' vulnerabilities. First, they faced the Minnesota Timberwolves, leading most of the game only to collapse in the fourth quarter; then, against the Miami Heat, they repeated the same mistake, faltering again at a crucial moment. After the game, Udoka candidly admitted, "The team currently lacks someone who can take charge in decisive moments." This statement is straightforward and quite pointed. Interestingly, in the face of offensive struggles, the Rockets' backcourt duo of Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green stood out as particularly "eye-catching." Statistics show that in these two losses, the two combined for nearly 70 attempts but only made 23 shots. In other words, their efficiency with the ball was extremely low, yet they occupied the majority of shooting opportunities. What about the frontcourt player, Alperen Sengun? Despite his hot hand, he took fewer than 40 shots but made 24, a stark contrast that makes…