Victory! Murray with 30+7+8, Jokic's triple-double, Westbrook is amazing, the Western Conference landscape changes On January 18, 2025, Beijing time, the 20-win and 19-loss Heat hosted the 24-win and 16-loss Nuggets. Butler returned for the Heat, while Jokic and Gordon also returned together for the Nuggets. With both teams' core players present, who would win this battle? The Heat's starting lineup was Herro + Deng Luo + Butler + Hayesmith + Adebayor, while Gordon came off the bench for the Nuggets, with the starting lineup being Westbrook + Murray + Braun + Porter + Jokic. In the first quarter, Adebayor dunked, Murray responded with a three-pointer, Herro made a layup, and Murray, Jokic, and Porter scored 7 points in a row, giving the Nuggets a 10-4 lead. Butler cut through for a dunk, and Murray and Braun added another 4 points, extending the Nuggets' lead to 8 points. Herro made a layup, Westbrook responded with a three-pointer, and the Nuggets led by 17-8, forcing a timeout from the Heat. After the timeout, Westbrook made a layup, and the gap widened to 11 points. Herro, Adebayor, and Harkless narrowed the gap to 4 points, but Jokic and Westbrook extended it back to 11 points. After the timeout, Jovic scored 5 points in a row, and the first quarter ended with the Nuggets leading 30-24. In the second quarter, Strasser made a three-pointer, giving the Nuggets a 9-point lead. Well and Herro scored, while Gordon added 6 points, widening the gap to 11 points. Jovic and Rozier narrowed the gap to 6…

On January 11th, Beijing time, the Denver Nuggets hosted the Brooklyn Nets and won a decisive victory with a score of 124-105. The Nuggets had already established a significant lead by the end of the third quarter. Although the Nets have been performing poorly in the Eastern Conference, they showed great resilience in this game, launching a 13-3 run in the fourth quarter to reduce the gap to just 5 points. At the critical moment, Westbrook and Jokic worked together to stabilize the situation. Murray missed the second half due to a knee injury, and we hope for his speedy recovery. The Nuggets are now on a two-game winning streak, ranking fourth in the West with a record of 22 wins and 15 losses, only 1.5 games behind the third-placed Memphis Grizzlies. In this game, both stars of the Nuggets recorded triple-doubles. Among them, Jokic stood out with an impressive performance, shooting 14 of 21 for 35 points, 12 rebounds, 15 assists, and 4 steals, with a plus-minus value as high as +33. It is clear that Jokic has become the top star in the league, with a dominance that can be considered historical, surpassing even Jordan and James in terms of all-around ability. However, in the latest MVP rankings, Jokic dropped to second place, being overtaken by Alexander of the Thunder. If Jokic wants to win the MVP, the Nuggets' record must at least enter the top 3 in the West, which would give him a chance. The 36-year-old Westbrook continued to start, making 8 of 17 shots for…

D'Angelo Russell is a player that Lakers fans should be very familiar with. Since he was drafted by the team during the Kobe era, and then returning to the Lakers for a second time, D'Angelo Russell has always been a player with a lot of topics. This season, due to the conflict between him and the Lakers, he was ultimately traded back to the Nets. After arriving at the Nets this time, D'Angelo Russell also dared to speak out. In the current program blog, D'Angelo Russell also talked about some things about his time with the Lakers. He said, "I really like Westbrook. I hope that in the future, Westbrook will be able to participate in my show, but that may have to wait until after his retirement. I look forward to him sharing some of his experiences when he was playing big ball. I want to hear what he has to say. He is one of the veterans in the league, and everyone speaks highly of him, everyone loves him." Here, D'Angelo Russell's remarks can be considered quite bold. Everyone knows about Westbrook's experience with the Lakers, which is similar to D'Angelo Russell's own experience with the Lakers, as they both played big ball next to James. They needed to become the so-called "ball-less point guard" that fans jokingly refer to, which made them both quite uncomfortable. Especially when the Lakers' record was not good, D'Angelo Russell and Westbrook were both players who had to take the blame. This naturally put a lot of pressure on the two players,…

In the history of basketball development, the evolution of tactical concepts is always closely related to the characteristics of the players of the era. The ball-dominant core play, as a tactic that has received much attention in recent years, has become the offensive core of many NBA teams. However, this style of play carries both risks and opportunities, hiding deeper game philosophies and paths to success. The concept of the ball-dominant core can be simply understood as a player leading the majority of the team's offensive rounds, not only scoring but also organizing and scheduling their teammates' offense through ball control. In a narrow sense, modern basketball players like James Harden and Luka Doncic are representatives of this style; while in a broader sense, traditional point guards like Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, and Steve Nash were also typical examples of the ball-dominant core approach. However, throughout history, few players have won championships solely relying on the ball-dominant core style. This tactical system can produce dazzling performances in the regular season but often fails in the playoffs. Taking Jason Kidd as an example, he led his team to the finals twice during his peak period but never won a championship until the twilight of his career when he played a supporting role for the Dallas Mavericks. The core issue with the ball-dominant core style is the excessive concentration of ball possession. This is particularly evident in the experiences of James and Harden. For instance, in 2009, the Cavaliers were almost invincible in the regular season, but in an away game against…

The Houston Rockets visited the Denver Nuggets in a game where Jokic and Gordon were absent for the Nuggets, while Eason and Smith continued to be sidelined. The Nuggets' starting lineup featured Murray, Westbrook, Braun, Porter, and Little Jordan; the Rockets countered with VanVleet, Green, Dillon, Amen, and Shen Jing. In the first quarter, the Nuggets started with two turnovers, followed by a three-pointer from Van Jordan, which was answered by a three-pointer from Murray against Shen Jing. Green made a mid-range shot, Amen had a baseline alley-oop, and Westbrook hit a corner three to stop the bleeding. After Jalen Green's 3+1, Malone called a timeout. Upon resuming, the Nuggets committed another turnover and had to rely on Murray's individual play. Shen Jing struggled with turnovers and was blocked twice by Little Jordan. Van Jordan hit another three-pointer, and the score was 23-18 when Dillon stepped out of bounds, leading to a timeout. After the timeout, Green assisted White Magic with a three-pointer, but the Rockets turned over the ball and were countered by Braun's outside shot, prompting Udoka to call a timeout in frustration. The first quarter ended with the Nuggets trailing 23-28, five points behind. In the second quarter, during the rotation phase, Van Jordan came in with a mid-range shot and then assisted White Magic with a three-pointer, extending the Rockets' lead to ten points. Porter scored a basket plus zero to stop the bleeding. However, Old Sister-in-Law also hit a three-pointer, and Westbrook's offensive rebound led to an assist for his teammate. Adams' ground pass set…

On January 15th, Beijing time, the Mavericks lost 99-118 to the Nuggets at home, with Doncic out due to injury and Irving returning. The game lost suspense from the first quarter, with the Nuggets leading 36-21 after the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Nuggets won by 11 points with a score of 35-24, leading 71-45 at halftime. The entire second half became garbage time! Jamal Murray had his strongest game of the season: playing 37 minutes, shooting 18 of 26, making 5 of 9 three-pointers, 4 of 4 free throws, scoring 45 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals. Before this game, Murray's highest score this season was only 34 points. This is the fifth time in Murray's career that he has scored over 40 points, and it is also his highest score since February 20, 2021 (50 points). Murray only played 19 minutes in the first half, shooting 12 of 15, making 4 of 6 three-pointers, 4 of 4 free throws, and scoring 32 points with 3 assists. Seeing Murray in such good form, Jokic only attempted 2 shots in the first half, which is the ultimate selflessness. This is the third time in Murray's regular-season career that he has scored over 30 points in a half, tying Anthony and Jokic for the most in Nuggets history. In the entire game, Jokic shot 4 of 7, made 1 of 2 three-pointers, 1 of 2 free throws, and got 10 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, with a plus-minus of +23, the highest in the game.…

A 19-point comeback: Why did the Nuggets take another step forward? In one game, they were 19 points behind and eventually completed a reversal with a score of 112-101. This game, which can be called a "roller coaster of the heart," how could the Nuggets climb out of the mud? Is the chemistry between Westbrook and Jokic really the key to the Nuggets' comeback? What is the story behind the comprehensive outbreak from the bench to the starting lineup? This game not only played out excitingly but also left a pile of thought-provoking questions. The Mavericks indeed suffered from being "short-staffed" in this game - Doncic and Irving both rested, which made people wonder, "Can the Mavericks without a leader hold up?" However, in the first half of the game, they slapped this question in the face with their actions. Especially Klay Thompson, the veteran's 11-point explosion in a single quarter made the Nuggets' defense suffer. Throughout the game, Klay hit six three-pointers and contributed 25 points, not only consolidating the Mavericks' lead of up to 19 points but also proving that he still has the ability to dominate the rhythm of the game. However, the hidden danger of lacking core players gradually emerged. The Mavericks' tactical choices became monotonous at critical moments, lacking the control power of Doncic as the "pillar of the sea" and Irving's ability to make key shots, ultimately leading to their inability to withstand the storm of the reversal. If Klay supported the Mavericks' sky in the first half, then the wind and rain in…

After a five-game winning streak! Guangdong team offers a quote, bets on a 1.8-meter guard, squeezes Xu Jie out, and wins the championship lying down! Is the introduction of new foreign aid by the Guangdong team really a strengthening move, or is it another "risk"? On the CBA court, every recruitment operation touches the hearts of fans, especially traditional giants like Guangdong Hongyuan with a glorious history. At the moment when the team won five consecutive victories and returned to the top eight in the standings, they suddenly announced plans to sign the Turkish Super League point guard Darron Russell. A small guard only 1.8 meters tall is about to take on an important role. This move has left many fans stunned: Is Guangdong pressing the accelerator to enhance its "combat power," or stepping on a landmine of adventure? Xu Jie, the core of Guangdong's backcourt, has performed this season as if he were "tough and silent" - sharp in breakthroughs, stable in passing and control, able to drive the whole team like an engine, and capable of standing up to handle big scenes at critical moments. But people are not made of iron, and this pace of "carrying half the backcourt alone" is truly heart-wrenching. In the past few seasons, he has been almost working non-stop throughout the year, and even injuries have not stopped his desperate efforts on the court. Fans understand that Xu Jie is a "miracle of a small man," but they also worry that if he continues like this, how long can his body hold…

Recently, Westbrook has been performing exceptionally well. Since entering 2025, he has been averaging 08+8+8, compensating for Murray's subpar form. Although he still occasionally makes mistakes, overall, Westbrook has returned to being an MVP-level player. Due to his outstanding performance, there has been widespread attention on whether he can stay with the Nuggets. Because of Westbrook's excellent state, it has recently been reported that the Nuggets management has offered him a contract extension. This is a two-year contract worth between 28millionand28 million and 28millionand30 million, with a trade penalty clause included. For the Nuggets, this offer is full of sincerity, as they have no salary cap space left; this is the largest contract they can offer. However, if Westbrook signs such a contract, it will make it even more difficult for the Nuggets to strengthen their team next season. In terms of amount, this contract offer may not fully match the immense value Westbrook brings to the team. But considering Westbrook's age and that his aspirations do not lie in big contracts, this contract still feels respectful to him. Whether Westbrook stays or not has absolutely nothing to do with the contract amount. Westbrook has found a new sense of belonging with the Nuggets. He has good chemistry with Jokic, and the team has the potential to compete for the championship. For a veteran aiming to win a title, the allure of a championship might be more important than money. Therefore, whether Westbrook stays with the Nuggets largely depends on the team's performance this season. If the Nuggets win the…

The NBA regular season schedule is nearing its halfway point, with the Western Conference competition heating up. The Thunder are firmly in first place, having won 32 of their first 38 games, with a win rate close to 85%, giving them a high probability of achieving 70 wins for the season! Young teams like the Rockets and Grizzlies have risen through strong defense, and both have good roster depth. The Rockets' Jalen Green's form has gradually improved, and it is not difficult for these two teams to secure a top-four spot in the West. However, in reality, they may become easy targets for the lower half of the playoff bracket. The most competitive area is the play-in tournament zone; specifically, from the fifth-place Mavericks to the twelfth-place Spurs, there is only a three-game difference, leaving much room for change. As the season progresses, many teams are gradually getting back on track. For example, the previously disintegrating Kings quietly achieved a seven-game winning streak to return to the top ten; the Suns also stabilized after a three-game winning streak with Bill coming off the bench. However, one team that is quite surprising is the Nuggets. As the 23-year champions, the Nuggets were stopped by the Timberwolves at the Western Conference Finals last season. During the offseason, the Nuggets gave Murray a four-year, $208 million super-max contract extension, which included a drop to ninth in the West at the beginning of the season. At that time, even Jokic was almost overwhelmed, bluntly stating that some people were not suitable for starting roles,…