If you'd also like to see the Rockets' performance and tactical analysis on the court, rather than a lot of lace news that is difficult to tell the truth from the fake, please come here. That's probably my original intention in writing this article.
When the feathers are gone, the rocket will eventually maintain its forward posture.
A very simple truth, the Rockets did not take the 2021 draft pick in their own hands, if they can not get the top four picks, then they can only get the Thunder, Heat, their three lowest picks.
If "swinging" is to believe in the process, believing in the process is to get a super potential rising star and a cheap contract that can last up to four years, then the Rockets have lost the basic conditions for "swinging" at least this season.
So you can see that even if Harden has a very clear attitude, the new general manager still builds a core lineup that is competitive enough with Harden as the axis, even at the expense of triggering a hard salary cap.
In recent years, we've started the season by emphasizing that the Rockets have a group of guards with a total salary of up to $100 million, they're fierce, they're the backbone of the offensive end of the entire team.
But this year, things will change somewhat.
Even with an extremely optimistic mindset, no one can be sure that Harden can continue the offensive level of 35+ per game in the previous two seasons.
Wall maintained enough effort and competition, both in interviews and in the training shots that broke out in the media. But the fact that can not be ignored is that in terms of offensive firepower alone, Wall, who averaged 20.7 points and 8.7 assists per game in the 18-19 season, could not replace Westbrook's role in the Rockets last season.
That's why I say that the man who stands behind Harden and silently assumes the title of "second brother" for many years needs to stand up and replenish the Rockets' outside firepower in the new season. Eric Gordon, you are so important these days.
In the 19-20 season, due to a trapped injury, Gordon played only 36 regular season games. He averaged 28.2 minutes per game, contributed 14.4 points and 1.5 assists, shooting 36.9 percent from the field, 31.7 percent from three-point range and 76.6 percent from the free throw line. What's even worse is that all of the above data has created Gordon's worst data record since the 15-16 season.
Whether it is production or efficiency, Gordon's performance is not satisfactory.
But even so, there are enough reasons for me to believe that Gordon can make a breakthrough in the new season.
1. As the game progressed, Gordon gradually regained the offensive rhythm of the past in the 19-20 playoffs. Even though efficiency still needs to be improved, the playoff average of 17.3 points and three assists per game has reached its peak in four seasons with the Rockets.
On the night when Westbrook played poorly, Gordon helped the Rockets to a certain extent to keep the bottom line, not letting them fall at the feet of the Thunder, alleviating the embarrassment.
2, from the rocket's current configuration next season, Gordon has a more comfortable offensive space.
To take a very macro example, as a pitcher, how can the team change its lineup configuration to be more comfortable on the offensive end?
Either, there are more points to hold the ball; or teammates with stronger projection ability to open up space; or the commando is so terrible that the opposite side must take the help to restrain it.
The Rockets' plan last season was the third point, using harden and Westbrook's personal formidable pull to create opportunities for outside shooters like Gordon.
So this season, the team's main lineup has changed as follows: Wall for Westbrook, Wood for Covington.
Wood is a better inside lineman than Covington, and Wall's projection ability is perceived to be a little less (unproven) than Wei's.
Therefore, as long as Wall can face the vast majority of players in the first place next season without falling behind or even easily scoring points in a one-on-one, then he will re-qualify for the opponent's defense, and looking back at the above three points to create better offensive space for pitchers, the Rockets have a chance to do it after changing the lineup configuration.
This is related to Wohl Qiang, and it is also an opportunity for Gordon.
3, the most familiar teammates have not left.
The 20-21 season will be Gordon's fifth season with Harden. In the first four seasons, Harden has always been the one who can pass the ball to Gordon (of course, this also has a lot to do with Harden's role in the team), the proportion of passes accounts for more than 25% of Gordon's total received balls, and for four consecutive seasons, he directly converted more than 1.2 assists.
In the 19-20 season, Harden averaged 8.4 passes to Gordon, accounting for 30.2% of Gordon's number of goals received that season, successfully converted 1.2 assists, shot 37.1% from the field, and more than 2.6 were three-point shots.
In contrast, last season, Westbrook averaged 4.8 passes per game, accounting for 17.1% of Gordon's number of passes that season, successfully converted 0.8 assists, shot 37.8% from the field, and shot 1.9 shots from outside the three-point line.
4) When everything is back on track, Gordon will have a clearer team positioning.
Silas gave a plan for Gordon's use of becoming the offensive leader of the second lineup.
Speaking about this, Gordon said: "My role was always uncertain before, and for a player, it was frustrating. If I play first, I'm the best defender on the outside at the same time; if I play as a substitute, I can show the explosive scoring ability. I know I'll play on the bench and help the team contribute on the offensive end of the stages, which is what I'm looking forward to.
Clear positioning means that both mental construction and day-to-day specialization training will be targeted. When the team is back on track, we can expect gordon to lead the second team to play.
5) Gordon's burden is the lightest he has had in the Rockets' five years, especially on the defensive end.
Look at the rockets' reserves of players in the same genre this year, Tate, Sterling Brown, David Nuwaba, we don't know how these guys can perform on the offensive end, but the reason why they can have a place with the Rockets is undoubtedly their ability and motivation on the defensive end.
That is to say, when Gordon leads the second-team charge, he does not need to rush back to look after the strongest front on the opposite side after a round of screaming and screaming, he can rest assured that he will hand over his back to his teammates.
Just trying to do one thing well doesn't seem to be difficult for Gordon, who earns $14.06 million a year. The burden on my body is indeed a lot lighter.
6, put this at the end, but also the last thing I want to talk about but also have to talk about.
From the perspective of age, contract, that is, the characteristics of combat strength, etc., Gordon is the favorite type of player in the team that guarantees the playoffs and impacts the championship.
If the Rockets have different ideas about their future and turn on the rebuild button, then Gordon's relationship with Houston will basically come to an end.
The title said: Gordon, you are so important. If Gordon can stay healthy for the next season while showing his range and the deterrent on the offensive end to prove that last season was just a temporary episode, then it will be beneficial to both the team and himself.
Either, the Rockets rekindled their competitiveness in the West; or, Gordon went to a team with a better chance and helped his old club get a bigger return.
In the end, I would love to let the chicken feathers go away and watch the best basketball players write their stories on the court.