On December 17, Beijing time, the Rockets lost to the Knicks at home 103:116, suffered two consecutive defeats, and were swept by the Knicks this season, and the Knicks also ended a 4-game losing streak with this victory.
In this game, Gordon returned from injury, and Silas put up the lineup of Gordon, Brooks, Matthews, Tate and Theis, which was different from the starting lineup that lost to the Cavaliers in the previous game, in that Gordon replaced Augustine, and such a substitution prompted a huge change in the rocket's offensive and defensive ends.
When Gordon is on the field, the contribution to the team at both ends of the offensive and defensive ends is greater, at the offensive end, Gordon can change the opponent's defensive formation through his own strength and technology, while Gordon as an organizational defender, the passing ability has been improved to a certain extent, more importantly, Gordon's three-point projection can attract the attention of the opponent's defense, this season Gordon's three-point shooting rate is extremely high, this season's three-point shooting rate is 43.4%, when Gordon is on the field can be used as a diversion point, can also be used as a holding point and the main attack point, It can also be used as a domination ball and transit point.
In this game, the Rockets rely on Gordon and Tate to open the situation, rely on Gordon and Tate to attack the box, maintain the Rockets' score, although Gordon's three points in this game are not accurate, but Gordon's pass is still very good, the whole field sent 9 assists, when the Rockets starting lineup is on the field, in fact, do not lose points.
In this game, the turning point of the Rockets' loss all appeared in the bench transition, when Silas replaced the starting lineup, Augustine, Christopher and Matthews made consecutive mistakes, and the Knicks played too many opportunities for offensive and defensive conversions, and the point difference was quickly widened.
And by the beginning of the second and fourth quarters, Shen Jing could not play Mitchell Robinson at all on the offensive end, whether it was an independent offense or organizational strategy, Shen Jing's performance was not good, the Rockets were in the bench connection section, another organizational guard, Augustine's error rate of holding the ball was too high, in the brain of the two team bench connection section, in the state of very depressed, the Rockets presented a bad situation at both ends of the offensive and defensive ends.
Because the bench connection section of the Rockets crazy digging holes, prompting the fourth quarter when the starting lineup came back, has not been able to fill the big hole, coupled with Tate's excessive fouls in this game, premature five fouls, forced to replace, seriously disrupted Silas's platoon deployment, prompting the Rockets to attack and defend the continuity of the two ends of the poor, and Tate's defensive Randle effect is very good, when Tate was replaced, the Rockets' interior line was quickly exploded, plus the Knicks can continue the three-point projection feel, these many factors prompted the second half to catch up weakly, Eventually lost the game.
The Rockets lost in the bench connection section, especially Shen Jing's play is the worst game of the season, Augustine's performance is not good, most of the rockets this season are starting to dig holes, the bench can quickly fill the pit, and when the starter comes back, the Rockets lost the game, but this game, the Rockets are not such a plot, in the case of Gordon's lack of offensive endurance, Tate encountered a foul crisis, when the opponent played the state and morale, the Rockets could not suppress the opponent.
However, in this game, the Rockets also have a certain gain, as the most embarrassing player in the team this season, Theis, played his own advantages and characteristics.
In the offensive end, Theis's ability to participate in tactics is extremely strong, when participating in tactics, follow-up mid-range shots, or attacks under the basket, Theis shows an efficient side, while Theis can also respond to the opponent's release, hitting three points on the outside.
On the defensive end, Theis's rebounding protection and rim protection ability was finally on display, and Theis's defense and co-defense did a very good job.
The play of Theis is inseparable from the containment of Tate and Gordon on the offensive end, when Tate and Gordon play better, the two can change the Knicks' defensive formation, attract the attention of the Knicks' defense, prompting Theis to face less defensive pressure, and Theis's offense becomes more fluid.
On the defensive end, Tate's defense of Randle is extremely good, Gordon does not suffer losses when he changes defense Randall, Theis spends more time against Noel, Noel's low presence on the offensive end, prompting Theis to participate more in the defensive system, showing Theis's excellent defensive and co-defensive value, Theis's defensive pressure is reduced, and the role of Tate and Gordon on the defensive end is also inseparable.
Another highlight of the Rockets, when Brooks was injured in the game, in the second half Silas let Christopher enter the starting lineup, and when Christopher entered the starting lineup, it was a great upgrade to the team's offensive and defensive ends.
On the offensive end, Christopher has the ability to digest the ball, has the ability to hold the ball and break through and three-point projection, and also has the ability to pass the ball, and the Rockets have an extra player who handles the ball and dominates the ball, prompting the Rockets to do a very good job in the starting stage of the second half.
Defensively, Christopher's defense is very aggressive, very fierce, this game a steal is impressive, from the current point of view, Christopher is a better defensive player than Brooks, coupled with Christopher's better size, in the case of Brooks in the offensive end of nothing, Christopher for the Rockets to provide another way of thinking.
This game, although the Rockets lost, but Silas found how to use the correct password of Theiss, and Christopher's attempt to enter the starting lineup, from the current point of view better than Brooks effect, these two major gains for the Rockets, even if the season did not trade Theiss, for Theis and rockets are good, Theis played so well, more conducive to trading, and Christopher's entry into the starting, both can balance the offensive and defensive ends, but also to develop young players, in this sense, this game, The Rockets still have gains from losing.