The Rockets beat the Grizzlies 103-96, and the best player in the game was none other than Dillon. He had an excellent performance, scoring 26 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal on 10-of-20 shooting, and a layup and three-pointer ** in the final quarter, successfully killing the suspense of the game. At the last moment, he also completed the desperate interception, making the Grizzlies reluctant to surrender. Dillon has won three in a row against his old club, the Grizzlies, and the next game will be the last meeting between the two sides, set for February 15, 2024. This game will determine whether the Rockets can complete the sweep. The current Rockets are strong, and they are the strongest team to defend this season. From a purely defensive standpoint, the Rockets have surpassed their peak roster in '18. The Rockets lineup that year was Harden, Paul, Ariza, Tucker and Capela, as well as Bamot and Gordon off the bench.
All seven of them can change defenses flexibly, and the lineup is very flexible. And today's Rockets lineup is just as strong. While there is no defensive Jalen Green in the starting lineup, Van Jordan and Dillon are both defensive players. Smith has grown into a top-tier 3-and-D No. 4, and he focuses on opposing scorers every game, making him almost the Rockets' best choice on the defensive end from No. 1 to No. 5, especially in crunch time. And the Rockets' strongest harvest lineup is Van Jordan, Eason, Smith, Dillon and Jeff Green. Van Jordan and Dillon formed the backcourt, Ethan was responsible for picking up the ball and grabbing rebounds, Smith was at the No. 5 position, and Jeff Green was at the No. 4 position to attack the basket. In addition, 23-year rookies Amen and White Devil Whitmore are also known for their excellent defense, but they don't have much time with the Rockets.
So, the Rockets' success this season is due to their excellent defense. As the NBA saying goes, defense wins championships. While we're not saying the Rockets have a chance to win this year, defense can give them a solid win. Even if you're down by a lot of points, anything could happen as long as the defense can stabilize the situation and wait until the team feels better. Today's game is a case in point, with the Rockets coming back from a 15-point deficit in the first quarter, but they gradually rallied back with their defense. Actually, it's not just one or two games, it's a lot of games that have been pulled back by defense. In the '21 draft, the Rockets got Jalen Green and Shin Kyung, and only Shin Kyung is currently playing at the level, and Jalen Green's performance is getting worse and worse.
But in '22, the Rockets definitely benefited a lot, and Smith has entered his sophomore year this year, and his shooting percentage has improved a lot compared to his rookie season. The Rockets are aiming even higher with their excellent defense and the growth of their young players. Leonard's successor? Ethan has shown incredible rebounding ability and defensive talent. Although Eason is slightly lower than the small card, he has a big hand in his class, which gives him a huge advantage in the rebounding battle. In the last three games, Ethan has averaged more than 20 minutes per game, stealing a lot of Jalen Green's time. His performance should not be underestimated, averaging 18 points and 12 rebounds per game, shooting 56 percent from the field and 75 percent from three-point range.
In 15 games this season, Ethan averaged 89 points 73 rebounds 12 assists and 1 block, shooting 474% and 43 three-point shooting8%。His performance has raised expectations for his future development. Ethan and Leonard aren't much different in terms of hardware conditions, they are both tall players with great reach and big hands. But why aren't so many teams interested in Ethan? The reason could be rumors about his basketball IQ. While we can't confirm whether these rumours are true or not, Ethan is in fact not contested by other teams. However, the Rockets saw Ethan's potential and managed to acquire the future "Leonard" by signing with the Nets. Ethan is strengthening his offensive ability with the ball, and his 3-and-D attributes make him an important pillar for the team.
His development potential should not be underestimated. Ethan's arrival brings great benefits to the Rockets, and he is expected to be a cornerstone for them to build their future. The Rockets may have made the right decision, and they may have found the next Leonard. While we can't be sure if Ethan will be able to completely replace Leonard, his rebounding ability and defensive talent have already impressed him. Ethan's performances have made people look forward to his future. Whether he can be Leonard's successor and whether he can be the next core player for the Rockets, only time will tell.
Let's wait and see what Ethan's basketball legend is! References: 1 espn. ethan ampadu player profile.retrieved from [link] on [date].2. basketball-reference. kawhi leonard player profile.retrieved from [link] on [date].