25 wins and 12 losses, firmly occupying the second place in the West, this record is too bright. When the schedule is almost halfway through, the Rockets have almost locked in this position, losing two fewer games than the Grizzlies, with a head-to-head record of 2 wins and 0 losses, showing a clear advantage. The Rockets are considered the biggest dark horse this season, and it's possible that their first playoff trip after the Harden era is really coming. Among the many stories of the Rockets, there is a rookie whose experience has attracted particular attention, and he is Reed Shepard. The Rockets' performance this season is truly commendable, from Coach Udoka's outstanding coaching to Green's stable play, Shen Jing's growing maturity, Amen Thompson's strong rise, and the steady performances of players like Javale Smith, even VanVleet has found his own positioning on the court and started to distribute the ball reasonably. The team atmosphere is good, the chemistry is excellent, and they look like a strong team. When the Rockets selected Shepard with the third pick in the draft, everyone thought the Rockets had found a treasure. In all the lottery pick operations, the media gave only the Rockets' selection of Shepard an A rating, while others were below A. After playing two good games in the summer league, fans' evaluations of him soared, saying he was a combination of Paul, Nash, and Curry, which is a ceiling-level compliment. Coach Udoka even declared him as the leader of the Rockets before he played a single NBA regular-season game. For…

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 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'…