In the fierce competition, the battle between the Rockets and the Bulls was like a sports feast, in which Shin Jing's stunning performance was eye-catching. The game also revealed some contradictions and challenges within the Rockets. The chemistry between the old and new players has yet to be established, and the arrival of Van Jordan does not seem to have the desired chemistry for the team. In the game of experience and young strength, the rocket fell into a turbulent predicament. So, will the Rockets be able to find a steady pace this season and meet the challenges of the playoffs?
This season, the Rockets signed Van Jordan with a maximum salary and brought in Dillon in an attempt to make the playoffs. The run-in problem with the team's new and old players has put that ambition to fruition. The arrival of Van Jordan, although it brought a strong presence on the inside, seemed to compress Jalen Green's room to play, and Smith failed to play his due offensive power and fell into the role of a blue-collar worker. The only bright spot was the young Shin Kyung's rise to prominence during the season, playing at an All-Star level. But this is clearly not enough to save the rocket from the crisis that lies ahead of him.
At the beginning of the game, the Rockets took the lead, and the tacit cooperation of Van Jordan and Green allowed them to lead the Bulls for a while. The Bulls quickly adjusted their momentum, and the outbursts of DeRozan and LaVine allowed the score to quickly equalize. In the second half, the Rockets fell into passivity, and the Bulls extended their lead with accurate three-pointers, at one point stretching the margin to double digits.
The Rockets finally woke up, and the young star Shin Kyung found his touch, hitting many low-post singles and strong bursts, leading the team to quickly chase points. At the last moment, the Rockets tied the score at 112 and went into overtime. In overtime, the Rockets fell into a scoring drought and could not continue to provide opportunities for Shin Kyung, and were finally counterattacked by the Bulls led by LaVine. Throughout the game, the Bulls started with excellent performances, and the performances of Rockets players such as Van Jordan and Green were dwarfed.
Denying Harden to return and waiving his max contract in the offseason may now seem like a decision error. Van Jordan couldn't carry the core of the Rockets, the team was in trouble, and Harden's influence may be a factor they underestimated. The team is well configured, but without Harden, the Western Conference half of the table seems out of reach. The Rockets' prospects for the playoffs this season are worrying, and Udoka's decision could be a big regret for the team.
The rocket is in crisis: the chemistry has not yet been reached
The Rockets' match with the Bulls is undoubtedly a highly anticipated game, but the team's internal problems are becoming more and more apparent in the game. Although Shin Kyung stepped up at key moments, overall, the team's new and old players have not yet completed the desired chemistry. With the arrival of Van Jordan, he was not able to lead the team to rise as he wished, on the contrary, the compression of the interior line limited the team's overall offense. As a result, Jalen Green struggled to play his all-round strength, and Smith didn't play as well as he could in terms of outside shooting.
The team's fates are intertwined: Van Jordan is under pressure
Van Jordan, who won the highest salary, was expected to become the team's interior pillar. As things stand, Van Jordan has not been able to become the heart of the team as he would like. Its arrival seems to have somewhat compressed Jalen Green's play, and Smith has failed to play fully on the offensive end. On the court, Van Jordan's performance may have been expected, but he has yet to show enough leadership when it comes to the team's overall record and internal chemistry. The future of the team will carry more expectations and responsibilities on the shoulders of Van Jordan.
Shin Kyung: An all-star who fights alone
In the team's low period, the young Shin Kyung became a dazzling existence. In the game, he stepped up at critical moments many times, whether it was a low post single or a strong layup, he showed an All-Star level performance. After all, the strength of one player is difficult to support the whole team, especially in the face of experienced opponents, Shen Jing's young momentum also seems a little helpless. The Rockets need more than just a shining All-Star, but also the tacit understanding and coordination of the whole team.
Team configuration dilemma: Harden's influence is underestimated
The decision to refuse Harden's return in the offseason and to give him a salary cap may have been the trigger for the team's current predicament. Although Van Jordan's addition strengthened the interior strength, it failed to fill the void in Harden on the offensive end. As Harden said, the team's configuration isn't actually bad, and his return could provide the team with even better offensive options. The Rockets' current situation may have made Udoka underestimate Harden's impact on the team, which could be a big test for him in management.
The Bulls started with a strong crush on the Rockets
Looking back at the game, the Bulls' starters performed well, especially players such as Koby White and LaVine, contributing 30 and 25 points respectively. That dwarfed the performance of the Rockets' three rising stars, Smith, Jalen Green, and Shin Jing, especially when it mattered for the Rockets to effectively contain the Bulls' offense. The Bulls' three-point shooting performance was also quite eye-catching, and players such as LaVine and DeRozan all hit key three-pointers to lay the foundation for the team to stabilize the lead.
Van Jordan failed to become a leader
In the game, the Rockets' interior was strongly suppressed by the Bulls, especially Van Jordan failed to step up at critical moments, and the team's offense fell into a bottleneck. On the contrary, the Bulls' coordinated play inside and outside allowed them to take the initiative in the game. Van Jordan's performance was commendable, but he failed to become the leader of the team, let alone save the team's decline at a critical moment. It also made fans worried about the future of the team.
The Rockets lineup couldn't play perfectly
The Rockets refused to return Harden in the offseason, a decision that was especially pivotal during the game. While Van Jordan's arrival has strengthened the interior line, the team clearly lacks a leader who can stabilize the offense at critical moments. Harden's absence prevented the Rockets from performing at their best and was weak in the final quarter of the game. It also raises questions about whether the Rockets underestimated Harden's importance to the team.
Team management decisions: Udoka's test
The Rockets' decision to reject Harden's return in the offseason may now seem like a misdecision. Van Jordan's arrival did not bring the expected improvement in the record, on the contrary, the team was mired in a series of problems. Udoka may have underestimated Harden's impact and failed to properly assess the team's true needs at this stage. How to find a balance in future management decisions has become a major test for Udoka. The future of the team will depend on his accurate judgment and scientific decision-making on the current situation of the team.
The Rockets' defeat in this game is not only a matter of record, but also a matter of coordination and management decision-making within the team. The team needs to find a breakthrough in the difficult situation, adjust the lineup, strengthen the cooperation between the inside and outside, and correctly assess the actual needs of the team. And the Rockets management also needs to reflect deeply, learn from it, and find a clearer direction for future development. Despite the challenges, it was in these predicaments that the Rockets had the opportunity to show their true strength and find their way to victory.
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