Although the Rockets defeated the Phoenix Suns on the battlefield, it did not bring the slightest relief to their situation. Looking back at the team's record, a dismal 26-34 record has locked them firmly into the 12th spot in the West. In the last five battles, the Rockets have faced the Thunder twice, but have not tasted a victory; And in the three battles with the Phoenix Suns, they barely won two. But even so, there is still a whopping eight wins gap with the Mavericks, who are eighth in the West, and even compared to the Los Angeles Lakers in the play-offs, there is a six-game difference.
New signings VanVleet and Dillon Brooks were even more disappointing. They started the season with a decent showing of form, but as the game progressed, the consistency issues of the two veterans were gradually revealed. Their key data such as shooting percentage and defensive efficiency value are not satisfactory, as if last season's Wolong Phoenix Chick was possessed again, but it can only make people shake their heads and sigh. However, even in the midst of the struggle, there are still plenty of young players to look forward to on the Rockets. Green, Eason, Shin Kyung, Amen Thompson, Whitmore and Smith have all shown great potential and could all be future starters. This undoubtedly adds a touch of brightness to the future of the Rockets, but it also means that the competition within the team will be more intense.
In the face of such internal and external troubles, Team Rocket still did not escape the curse of the suffering man. According to Rockets head coach Udoka, forward Ethan, who has suffered a calf injury, will undergo surgery and is expected to miss 4 months and be reimbursed for the season. However, this potential newcomer with excellent offense and defense did not suffer a major injury like a torn cruciate ligament, but in the physical confrontation between them, the previous calf bone hyperplasia became worse and more complicated. The 2022 sophomore, the 17th pick in the first round, averaged 98 points, 7 rebounds, 12 assists 14 steals 09 blocks, once the Rockets' rotation lineup lacks this wing strength, their pressure on the defensive end speaks for itself. In terms of the team's current situation, it will be difficult for them to make the playoffs.
According to the latest news from well-known overseas data**bbr, the probability of the Timberwolves, Thunder, Nuggets, Clippers, and Pelicans advancing to the Western Conference playoffs is more than ninety, while the Houston Rockets are only 17%。Obviously, this situation is beyond the expectations of the management, looking back on last offseason, general manager Stone held 60 million salary space, insisted on giving up James Harden, and introduced a number of offensive and defensive veterans, although the overall strength has been strengthened, but there is no excellent head coach to lead the team to revival, it may be difficult to continue, Udoka's coronation was pushed on the agenda. Just when everything was ready and began to show his strength, the sudden invasion of injuries and Jalen Green's rapid growth have become a compulsory course for the team's first group, and whenever the game comes to a critical moment, the top star will eventually be pressed on the bench by head coach Udoka.
A good card, excellent team operation, but the full plate plan is placed on Green, for the young people who are growing, the operation of the Rockets management is afraid of fueling the seedlings. In this dilemma, Udoka seems to have no way to do it. If you look back, if Silas is in charge of this season, the team will also be able to sit firmly in the 12th place in the West. At this moment, fans may have woken up from a dream, and their misunderstandings about Silas have vanished. However, behind this, the real culprit has emerged - it is none other than Stone. He is like **, pushing the team into an embarrassing situation. If missing out on Harden is a shame for all of the Rockets' recruiting strategies, then choosing Jalen Green is an over-optimism for the draft. With the end of the three-year contract set by owner Fertitta close at hand, the pile of jade in front of him still looks jerky and unpretty. Perhaps the Rockets management lacked the necessary patience for the rebirth of the master, which may be one of the reasons for firing Stone this summer.