The problem was exposed. The Rockets failed to take off after two consecutive losses at the start of the game. Two shortcomings made the team face greater challenges.

In the offseason, the Rockets can be said to be one of the most satisfying teams for fans. They sent away Jaylen Green, who had low scoring efficiency, and acquired Durant, who has the highest singles efficiency in the league. At the same time, in terms of role players, in addition to retaining all the main substitutes from last season, they also attracted powerful players like Fannie Smith. In the latest strength list before the start of the game, the team also ranked third in the Western Conference, second only to the Thunder and Nuggets.

However, after two games, people may not be so optimistic about the Rockets' prospects. After losing to the Thunder in the first game, the Rockets played at home in the second game. However, in the end they still lost to the Eastern Conference team Pistons with a 4-point disadvantage. Their opening two consecutive losses also made them temporarily ranked last in the Western Conference.

Looking at these two games, although the Rockets have a great advantage in terms of lineup size, the team's shortcomings in two aspects still make them very passive at certain times. The first is the use of Shepard. When the Rockets selected Shepard with the third pick, they were thinking of letting him replace VanVleet. However, judging from Shepard's current playing style, his position is more inclined to the No. 2 position and become a fixed-point shooter.

Shepard has played two games so far, averaging 9 points, 2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2 steals per game. His shooting percentage is only 27%, but his three-point shooting percentage is as high as 46%. Therefore, it is very difficult for the Rockets to let him break through the offense and pass the ball after tearing up the defense. At this stage, it is very difficult.

When Shepard is on the court at the same time, the Rockets are often targeted by their opponents during defensive rotations. Alexander in the first game and Cunningham in the second game are undoubtedly not focused on Shepard, the defensive weak link. This is why Udoka cannot keep him on the court for a long time.

At the same time, there are also big problems with the Rockets' starting lineup. The team's five major lineups do have a great advantage in rebounding. However, after encountering the opponent's pick-and-roll defense, Shen Jing and Adams in the lineup are relatively slow in lateral movement, making it very easy for the opponent to get three-point opportunities from the outside. It seemed that they only lost 1 point against the Thunder, but the Thunder's three-point shooting rate was only 25% in the whole game. Even if it is a little more accurate, the Rockets may have difficulty parrying.

Came to the game against the Pistons. At the end of the game, the Pistons took 39 shots from the outside and hit 16 goals, with a hit rate of 41%. Whenever the Rockets caught up with the score, the Pistons would attack the outside with firepower. Even the inside player Reid also hit three-pointers from the outside.

In addition to the problems when switching defenses, the Rockets also have problems with their own offense. Although they now have top scorers like Durant, compared with last year's starting lineup, the Rockets lack VanVleet, Green and Brooks' three-point three-point threats. The current lineup The three-point shooting of Rong Zhong, Amen and Adams is not reliable at all. Although Shen Jing hit 5 three-pointers in the first game, he faced the Pistons and shot 0-for-2 in another game. His shooting ability is not stable at all. In the current lineup, only Xiaojia and Durant are relatively stable three-pointers.

However, with the current development trend of basketball, this kind of firepower configuration is simply not enough. Look at teams such as the Warriors and Knicks. Each of the starting players has strong three-point shooting ability, so that they can continue to maintain outside firepower in a game.

However, the Rockets don’t need to be too anxious at this stage. According to the media, VanVleet, who was injured this summer, has taken off his protective gear and started some simple recovery training. Recently, VanVleet also appeared in team training to guide players in pick-and-roll exercises. With his recovery speed, maybe the Rockets can wait for the star to return from the backcourt when the playoffs begin next April, and all problems will be solved by then. The only goal of the Rockets at present is to get a ticket to the playoffs in April next year while keeping other players free of injuries!