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Point Guard: Brooks vs Kidd
Brooks' attacking power and footwork had already made him unguardable for Kidd in the previous match. However, Kidd's ability to control the game in critical moments helped the Mavericks win in the last game.
On November 25th, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, after a tough loss to Dallas, the Rockets have learned from their mistakes. Here's the translation:
In the last away game against the Mavericks, the Rockets started scoring easily and quickly took the lead, but in the second half, the Mavericks began to push and the lead that the Rockets built in the first half disappeared, resulting in a reversal by the opponent.
With lessons learned from the last encounter, the Rockets know they must avoid repeating the same mistakes.
Advantages of the Rockets include fast rotation speed, good timing on three-point shots, and a strict tactical system. But in the November 10th game against the Mavericks, they forgot all about these strengths. The Rockets led by as many as 17 points in the first half because it was too easy for them, making them overconfident and deceiving themselves. Their shooting accuracy dropped, their focus waned, and they eventually lost themselves.
"The start of the game was too easy; we kept scoring," said Rockets coach Adelman, "everything went as expected, but when they started to push, our defense became ineffective, we didn't know what to do. We didn't respond well; you have to maintain the same defensive pressure."
When the Rockets were leading by the largest margin, they had made 22 out of 36 shots. With only 3 minutes and 20 seconds left in the first half, the Rockets were down to 9 out of 38 shots, including missing all 5 shots at the end. The Mavericks ended the half with a 22-3 run, and by halftime, the Rockets had only made 1 out of 15 shots. Ultimately, the Mavericks completed the comeback and won 121-103.
In the past 17 encounters between the Rockets and the Mavericks, the Rockets have lost 13 times, indicating a clear disadvantage historically. With Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady still sidelined, even playing at home, the Rockets have no guarantee of victory. However, the stark contrast between the two halves in their first meeting provided the Rockets with a way to win—accelerate the pace of play, using speed to compensate for height disadvantages, expose gaps in the opponent's defense, and wear them down. If the game's rhythm is controlled by the Mavericks, the Rockets will inevitably face a significant setback, such as being reversed by 39 points in one half.
Therefore, it can be said that if the Rockets want to win tomorrow, the most crucial point is to fully accelerate the pace. This is based not only on each team's characteristics but also on objective reasons. The Mavericks are currently going through the toughest period of their season so far, with key players Marion, Josh Howard, and Dan皮尔 injured and unable to play, and substitute starter Ross also only playing half a game due to back injuries. The team's offensive and defensive systems will inevitably be affected. The faster the game's rhythm, the more vulnerabilities the Mavericks expose, and the greater the chances of the Rockets winning. Secondly, the Mavericks have a dense schedule, facing four opponents in five days, and just played the Warriors yesterday in a back-to-back situation. Conversely, the Rockets have rested for three days, ready to take advantage of their rest. If they can execute the fast-paced strategy, achieving a decisive victory would be ideal. Additionally, the Warriors, who only had six players on the court yesterday, managed to end the Mavericks' five-game winning streak because they maintained a high-speed transition game, with Ellis repeatedly attacking the Mavericks' interior and Morrow hitting three-pointers frequently, ultimately leaving the Mavericks unable to withstand the pressure. Given the Rockets' player configuration and style of play, they need to create this kind of rhythm to seize the initiative.
In the last game, the Rockets suffered a major defeat at home against the Mavericks, bringing their record to 8-7. Similar to the away loss against the Mavericks, the Rockets started strong, leading by double digits, but once the Mavericks got into their rhythm, the Rockets couldn't keep up. An interesting detail that may have gone unnoticed is that since the overtime loss to the Lakers on November 5th, the Rockets have alternated wins and losses, maintaining this trend for nearly 20 days. This shows that the current Rockets lack stability, and as some basketball experts have pointed out, the Rockets don't have a core player who can lead the team forward in critical moments, which is the essential difference between the Rockets and the top teams.
Although both the Spurs and the Mavericks underwent significant changes during the offseason, the Spurs haven't achieved as much success as the Mavericks. A 7-6 record isn't satisfying for the team, and they've also faced criticism from analysts. Recently, ESPN expert Tim Legler predicted playoff seeds for both conferences, boldly stating that if the Spurs continue their current performance for the rest of the season, they won't make the playoffs. In his view, the Spurs are riddled with injuries and lack sufficient passion in their play. However, with the return of Parker and Ginobili, the Spurs have recently secured a three-game winning streak, showing promising momentum.
Core Matchup: Brooks vs Parker, Scola vs Duncan
With Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili often playing intermittently due to injuries, and Richard Jefferson not yet fully integrated into the Spurs' system, Tim Duncan remains the most consistent player on the team. Although he's older and has several injuries, Duncan's stats haven't significantly declined this season—he averages 18 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, all surpassing his numbers from previous seasons. He's an important factor in the Spurs' ability to stay competitive in the Western Conference; on the Rockets' side, despite fluctuating performances, as Coach Adelman said,
Aaron Brooks is considered one of the fastest guards in the league today, with many comparing him to Allen Iverson's successor. However, in recent games, Brooks' shooting has been off, making his signature fast attacks less effective, significantly reducing his scoring per game. On the other hand, Tony Parker of the Spurs is also renowned for his lightning-fast moves, differing from Brooks in that Parker excels in quick advances after changing directions rather than pure straight-line speed. On the court, Parker often plays a more significant role than Brooks.
At the beginning of the season, Parker was plagued by injuries and missed several games. However, after recovering, Parker seems to have regained his former speed, once again launching attacks towards the basket. His rapid directional changes during high-speed movements make his penetration abilities superior to Brooks', and he poses a greater threat to the opposing team. Meanwhile, we often see Brooks taking three-point shots from the perimeter, and when attempting to penetrate the interior, he tends to rely solely on speed to break through the opponent's defense, charging inside to attempt layups.
However, when facing Parker tomorrow, Brooks' signature move may encounter serious resistance.
Firstly, Parker's speed is not inferior to Brooks'. If Brooks relies solely on his first step or pure speed after starting, it will be quite difficult for him to shake off Parker's defense. In recent games, Brooks' penetration effectiveness has clearly diminished, largely because his direct penetration lacks variation, making it easy for defenders to predict and position themselves defensively. Considering Brooks' height, scoring close to the basket is extremely challenging. Adding some simple stop-and-go maneuvers could significantly enhance Brooks' penetration effectiveness.
Secondly, Parker's penetration style makes it quite difficult for Brooks to defend. While no official nickname has been given to Parker, calling him one of the new generation's ankle-breakers wouldn't raise much objection. Brooks' defensive capabilities are still lacking, and if he's not careful during the game, he could easily fall into foul trouble. Kyle Lowry, who comes off the bench, is skilled in organizing plays, but similarly lacks defensive experience and scoring ability, potentially leaving the Rockets vulnerable at the point guard position.
If the Spurs dominate both the point guard and center positions, combined with Richard Jefferson gradually finding his form, the Rockets will face significant challenges.
Given the inevitable disadvantage in the interior, the Rockets can only try to control Parker's performance at the point guard position while maximizing Brooks' attacking abilities. Of course, Brooks needs to learn from such games, as linear speed is only part of the NBA game. Basketball is not a sprint race; quick directional changes are the survival key for point guards breaking through defenses.
On November 27th, the Rockets, having just defeated their nemesis the Mavericks, are set to welcome another formidable opponent, the Spurs, with no reduction in challenges—
The Rockets aim to send the Spurs to their fifth consecutive road loss. Luis Scola has been the most consistent player for the Rockets this season. Entering his third professional season, Scola's average stats are almost a double-double—15 points and 9.7 rebounds. However, his task tomorrow will be challenging, as Duncan's size, strength, and experience exceed his own. Restricting 'The Big Fundamental's' effectiveness will determine the outcome of the game.
Match History
Last season, the Rockets and Spurs met four times in the regular season, splitting the series 2-2. In the preseason before this season, the Rockets defeated the Spurs 99-85, although Duncan and Parker did not play in that game.
On November 27th, after being defeated by the Dallas Mavericks by a 31-point margin at home, the Houston Rockets will continue to host the Toyota Center for a 9:30 AM challenge against another powerful Southwest rival, the San Antonio Spurs. Will they continue their "win-lose-win-lose" bizarre pattern, or suffer their first losing streak of the season?
In the last game, the Rockets lost 99-130 to the Mavericks, continuing their so-called streak of "winning one then losing one" over the past 12 games, but that's not the most important issue anymore—after leading 15-2 early, the Rockets were quickly overwhelmed by a rare 26-0 Mavericks run. Not only did the game set records for points allowed and net negative points, allowing the Mavericks to shoot 65.5% was the worst situation in 24 years (on April 8, 1985, in a game where the Rockets lost 105-126 to the Spurs, the Spurs shot 67.6%). Coach Adelman criticized the "team's lack of defense" post-game, but is that really the fundamental reason for the team's extreme passivity and suppression on the court?
In their last four home games against the Spurs, the Rockets have won three. However, in the previous 18 matchups, the Rockets lost 14. Comparing the Spurs' star-studded lineup, the Rockets' underdog status stands out more—although Ginobili may continue to sit out due to groin injury, Parker has steadily improved after overcoming recurring injuries, and Duncan, Richard Jefferson, McDyess, and Finley all possess abilities and experiences unmatched by the Rockets' current roster. With McTyer's return still uncertain, the Rockets must prepare for difficulties.
There's always hope, though—the Spurs have an odd losing streak in away games this season—in their four away games so far, the Spurs average 90.5 points with a 41.8% shooting percentage, contrasting sharply with their home averages of 107.3 points and 48.9% shooting.
After 15 games, the Rockets have experienced growing pains like children, but they have consistently maintained one thing: change.
After every loss, they win, whether at home, away, or in back-to-back games. So far, they haven't experienced any consecutive losses this season, sustaining a 12-game alternating win-loss streak, setting an unusual team record off the court.
However, compared to before, this time against the Spurs, the Rockets need significant change. After the devastating 99-130 loss to the Mavericks, the Rockets should feel frustrated and rekindle their humility to avoid dropping their win rate to 50%, especially since they're about to embark on a four-game road trip. Since the second game of the season, their win rate has remained above 50%.
Friday's game is very important for us," Scola said, "We can't lose like we did against the Mavericks. If we want to get better, if we want to make a mark in this league, we must respond. We must respond, we must bounce back. We have no choice."
"Responding doesn't necessarily mean you'll win. Even if you play an incredible game, there might still be reasons why you lose. However, the key is that you must respond."
Tomorrow, the Rockets must play better, especially on defense. In yesterday's game, they allowed the Mavericks to score 130 points, and aside from the Mavericks, the last time an NBA team scored over 130 points against the Rockets was on December 4, 19