The Rockets' 110-133 loss to the Warriors and their playoff hopes were largely dashed, and it was a tooth-gnashing night. Speaking of which, the Rockets' operation really made fans have mixed feelings, including the surprise of Jabari Smith Jr.'s 24-point slash, and the worrying defensive holes.
Let's talk about Jabari Smith Jr., this young man is really on fire today, with 24 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, which is a golden statistic on any rookie. Especially the accurate shooting, which makes people addicted to watching. However, the Rockets' defense is simply a big leaky basket, and the Warriors players are running around the court, as if they are walking in their own backyard, and shooting casually is accurate.
Coach Udoka's comments were direct and sharp, and his praise and criticism of Jabari Smith Jr. went hand in hand. He's right, it's not just about scoring on the basketball court, it's just as important to defend. No matter how high your score is, if you can't prevent people, you can only cry and get points. This is directly reminiscent of Wood, that buddy's data was good back then, but now, the base salary is a substitute.
In that game, the Rockets actually worked hard, but they were a little powerless under the onslaught of the Warriors. At the end of the day, it's the defense. Coach Udoka's words are actually a wake-up call to the whole team, a team without defense is like a pot without a lid, the heat is all gone, and it can't be boiled no matter how you cook it.
The good news is that Jabari Smith Jr. and the rest of the young players have shown good potential and talent. Although the Rockets seem to be out of play this season, next season, as long as they can improve defensively, they are still very promising. Losing now can be seen as the price of growth, after all, the Rockets are still young, find out the problem, the next step is to solve the problem.
I have to say that the Rockets were still glorious in this battle. Jabari Smith Jr.'s performance really gives a glimpse into the future of the Rockets. But the road ahead will require the whole team to work together, especially on the defensive end. Coach Udoka's words may have been a little harsh, but it is precisely because of this that the team can realize the seriousness of the problem.
And we, as fans, should also give more patience and trust. Young teams always need time to grind and grow. Every step of the Rockets is inseparable from the support of the fans. So, let's look forward to the next season, where the Rockets can bring us more surprises.
As for Coach Udoka, his criticism, although direct, is also full of love and anticipation for the team. It is with this attitude of not being willing to accept the status quo and daring to face the problem head-on that the Rockets are likely to achieve better results in the future. Therefore, for the Rockets, the most important thing now is to learn lessons, keep training, and keep improving.
It seems that this season of the Rockets, although it is a bit regrettable, is also a valuable learning experience. Although the performance of the players has been highlight, it has also exposed a lot of problems. As long as we can face up to these problems and have the courage to improve, I believe that the Rockets will be able to usher in their own glory in the future.
In short, the Rockets didn't win this game, but it left us with a lot to think about. For the team, every defeat is an opportunity to grow. As long as we can seize these opportunities and move forward bravely, Team Rocket's future will definitely be even brighter. Let's look forward to how the Rockets will perform in the future!