On December 14, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued, and the Rockets staged a big reversal in the last quarter, 44-25 net victory over the Hawks by 19 points, and finally defeated the opponent 132-126. In this game, the number one contributor to the Rockets' victory is the 34-year-old veteran point guard Augustine.
This season, the 34-year-old Augustine averaged only 5 points and 2.4 assists per game, a tepid performance, but this game he ushered in a big explosion in the final quarter. In this quarter alone, he scored 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting. In the whole game, Augustine scored 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting, and when he was on the floor, the Rockets could outperform their opponents by as many as 21 points, which was also the highest in the game.
It can be said that Augustine explained in practical action how a veteran should play in rebuilding the team. Under normal circumstances, he would not grab the ball from young players, let alone compete for any starting or tactical position. For example, in the first three quarters of the game, Augustine only shot 2 times in total.
But once the game is in trouble, he will also stand up and show the tenacity of the young players who do not give up. In the fourth quarter of the game, it was he who shot three consecutive three-pointers, completely disrupting the Hawks' tactical deployment.
Such veterans are what the Rockets need most today. After all, his presence will not delay the training of young players, but also lead by example, like young players to pass on professionalism, so even if Augustine's last-year contract is only guaranteed by $330,000, there are already many fans who hope that the Rockets can continue to keep him.
And Augustine's outbreak, in fact, can be regarded as a model for Wall who watched from the sidelines, and now Wall still can't recognize his position and situation, wants to return to play but is not willing to put down his face to play as a substitute, only wants to play the starter, but this is what the Rockets' rebuilding team is most unacceptable. And if Wall wants to return to the game, then learning from Augustine may be the best way out for him.