Avoid 2 consecutive losses! Rockets vs. Pistons 2 will be absent, Uduka shows off his killer move again, 4 points worth paying attention to

The NBA regular season continues. The Rockets will usher in the first home game of the new season at home. Their opponent is the Pistons, who also lost the opening game. For the Rockets, who are aiming to avoid two consecutive losses, this game is not only an opportunity to grab their first home victory, but also a key battle to test the team's "five-high" starting lineup. As for the Pistons, they are also eager to reverse the early decline with a victory. The contest between the two sides is full of highlights.

1. Update on the injury status of both sides: Rockets 2 will definitely be absent, and the Pistons’ core defender will also be out.

On October 24, the Rockets and Pistons updated their team's injury lists one after another. The playing status of many generals has been settled, which will undoubtedly affect the formation of the two teams. For the Rockets, two players are determined to miss tomorrow's game. Forward Finney Smith has not yet recovered from an ankle sprain and will continue to miss the game; guard VanVleet is affected by a torn anterior knee cruciate ligament and will not be able to return to the game in a short time. But the good news is that forward Amen Thompson, who had missed some training due to calf cramps, is now fine and is confirmed to play in the game against the Pistons. In addition, player Tate is listed as "doubtful" due to knee soreness. The final decision on whether he can play will have to wait until before the game based on his physical condition.

The Pistons' injury situation is not optimistic either. Defender Ivey needs to undergo injury management after knee arthroscopy and will continue to be on hiatus and will not be able to participate in tomorrow's game; defender Sasser is troubled by muscle pain in his right hip, and forward LeVert has suffered a contusion in his right knee. Both of them are also classified as "doubtful", and whether they can appear will not be determined until before the game.

2. The recent war between the two teams: the Rockets narrowly lost to the Thunder, and the Pistons lost to the Bulls. The two teams are seeking their first win to avoid two consecutive losses.

On October 22, the Rockets challenged the defending champion Thunder away from home. The game was extremely fierce, and the winner was determined after two overtimes. In the first half, the Rockets were in excellent condition. Durant, Shen Jing and other main players performed steadily. With smooth offensive cooperation, they led the Thunder 57-51 at halftime. But in the second half, the Thunder began to exert force and gradually narrowed the point difference. At the last moment of regular time, Durant made one of two free throws, giving the Thunder a chance. Alexander seized the opportunity and hit a mid-range shot, dragging the game into overtime.

In the first overtime, the two sides went back and forth. The battle reached 115 and had to enter the second overtime. In the second overtime, the Rockets once took the lead, but at the critical moment Alexander fouled Durant and made two free throws to help the Thunder overtake the score. In the last 2.3 seconds, Jabari Smith Jr.'s buzzer-beater missed, and the Rockets lost to the Thunder 124-125. Unfortunately, they got off to a bad start.

In terms of statistics, the Rockets' Shen Jing's performance was amazing. He scored 39 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists, showing his All-Star level strength. Durant also scored 23 points and 9 rebounds. For the Thunder, Alexander scored 35 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, and was the number one contributor to the team's victory; Holmgren also contributed 28 points and 7 rebounds.

On October 23, the Pistons challenged the Bulls away from home, but also failed to win their first win of the season. As soon as the game started, the Bulls quickly entered the state. Vucevic was active on the offensive end and led the team to an advantage. At the end of the first quarter, the Bulls led the Pistons by 16 points 30-14. In the second quarter, the Pistons slowly found the rhythm of the game and the offensive end picked up. However, at the end of the half, they were still 15 points behind 49-64.

In the third quarter, the Bulls continued to exert their strength and launched a 13-0 offensive climax, widening the point difference to 23 points. The game was once one-sided. However, the Pistons did not give up and launched a crazy counterattack in the final quarter. Stewart and Holland scored consecutively and continued to narrow the point difference. At the last moment, Cunningham and Harris tried to tie the game, but their shots missed. Gidi made two free throws to seal the victory. In the end, the Pistons lost to the Bulls 111-115 and also suffered a false start. Cunningham of the Pistons performed steadily, scoring 23 points and 10 assists, Stewart also had a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Duren had 15 points and 6 rebounds.

3. In the second game, Uduka insisted on the "five-high" starting lineup: crushing height + integrating offense and defense, which became the key to the Rockets' victory.

Although they lost the opening game, Rockets coach Uduka showed enough confidence in the team's starting lineup. On October 24, Udoka made it clear after training that tomorrow's game against the Pistons will continue to use the "Five High" starting lineup from the opening game against the Thunder. This lineup is also known as the "Five of Death" by the outside world. It is the core killer move in Udoka's hands.

The height advantage of this starting lineup is very obvious, and it can be called a "crushing level": Amen Thompson (2.01 meters) serves as the point guard, and the remaining four - Durant (2.11 meters), Jabari Smith Jr. (2.11 meters), Shen Jing (2.11 meters), and Steven Adams (2.11 meters) all reach 2.11 meters in height. The average height of the entire starting lineup exceeds 2.09 meters, which is extremely rare in today's NBA arena.

Judging from the actual performance in the opening game, this "five-high" lineup is very lethal. On the offensive end, the "twin towers" composed of Shen Jing and Adams are sitting inside. The two can not only grab a lot of rebounds and create second offensive opportunities for the team, but also attract defense in the penalty area and create shooting space for Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. on the outside. Durant and Jabari Smith Jr., with their heights of 2.11 meters, are almost uninterrupted by their opponents when shooting, and their shooting efficiency is very high. Although Amen Thompson, who serves as the point guard, is not as tall as the other four, his height of 2.01 meters is still at the "giant level" for the point guard position. He can use his physical advantages to break through and connect the entire team's offense, giving the Rockets a full sense of offense.

The defensive end is the strength of this lineup.. Four 2-meter-11 players build an "air barrier" on the court, which can not only effectively block the opponent's shots, but also cut off the opponent's passing route through large-scale assistance. In the opening game against the Thunder, it was by relying on the defense of this lineup that the Rockets restricted the Thunder's offense many times, once forcing the defending champion into a desperate situation. However, this lineup is not without hidden dangers, which have been exposed in the opening game, that is, insufficient outside rotation speed.

Four. Four major points worthy of attention:

First, the Thompson brothers’ first showdown in the new NBA season. The twin brothers Amen Thompson and Osar Thompson now play for the Rockets and Pistons respectively. Tomorrow's game will be their first head-to-head confrontation in the new season. Although the two have different positions - Amen plays point guard in the Rockets, and Osar plays the small forward role in the Pistons. Under normal circumstances, they may not often face each other directly. However, according to the news before the game, Udoka may arrange for Amen to defend the Pistons' core Cunningham, while Osar may be arranged to mark Durant. In this way, during the defense switching or assisting defense stage of the game, the two brothers will most likely face each other head-on.

The second is the battle among the 21st rookies, with Shen Jing challenging Cunningham. Shen Jing and Cunningham are both NBA rookies in the 2021 class. Cunningham was the No. 1 pick that year and was regarded as the core of the team by the Pistons; Shen Jing was the No. 16 pick that year. After several seasons of growth, he has now become one of the Rockets' core players. In the opening game , Shen Jing's performance was amazing, scoring 39 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists. Not only did he show his strong scoring ability, but he also assumed the team's organizational responsibility. After VanVleet was injured, he has become the actual core organizer of the Rockets, showing All-Star level influence. Cunningham also performed stably in the opening game, scoring a double-double of 23 points and 10 assists. Although his scoring was not as good as Shen Jing's, as the core of the Pistons, his role in the series on the court is crucial. Tomorrow's game will be another head-to-head contest between the two since they entered the NBA. For Shen Jing, this is also a good opportunity to prove that he is one of the best players in the 2021 class; and Cunningham, as the top pick, naturally does not want to be at a disadvantage in such a direct dialogue. The contest between the two will directly affect the offensive rhythm of the two teams.

Third, the "Five High" lineup is facing another test. Can it make use of its strengths and avoid its weaknesses? As mentioned before, the Rockets' "five-high" lineup showed strong strength in the opening game, but it also exposed the problem of insufficient outside rotation speed. Tomorrow against the Pistons, this lineup will be tested again.

Fourth, the two teams are competing for their first win of the new season. Can the Rockets realize their home court advantage and avoid two consecutive losses? Judging from the outside world's optimism, the Rockets have a slight advantage. Data analysis from Leisu Sports shows that the Rockets' winning probability reaches 68%. On the one hand, the Rockets are playing at home and have the support of fans, which will bring a certain morale bonus to the team; on the other hand, the Rockets' "five high" lineup does have certain advantages in strength, especially the combination of Shen Jing and Durant, whose offensive firepower cannot be underestimated.

However, the Rockets cannot take it lightly, because in the past five games against the Pistons, the Rockets have only achieved a record of 2 wins and 3 losses, and are slightly at a disadvantage in historical encounters. Moreover, although the Pistons lost the opening game, the integrity of the team's core lineup is not low. Players such as Cunningham and Stewart are very solid and have the potential for an upset. Did the Rockets rely on the "five-high" lineup and home court advantage to win their first victory, or did the Pistons rely on their historical advantages to achieve an upset? The answer will be revealed in tomorrow's game.