5 players are absent! But there is a 57% probability of beating the Warriors. The US media is optimistic about the Rockets winning streak. There is good news for Durant

The Rockets will face their second opponent in the NBA Cup group stage—the Golden State Warriors. As soon as the pre-game injury report came out, almost everyone took a breath: VanVleet was reimbursed for the season, Adams was absent from the game, Ethan's knee injury has not healed, Durant continued to take leave to deal with family matters, and electric fan Smith has not yet made his first appearance in the new season. With five major players absent, the Rockets are effectively giving up one starter. This lineup would be considered a "catastrophic" attrition in front of any championship team.

However, just when everyone was preparing to give the Rockets a reprieve in advance, ESPN threw out a jaw-dropping pre-game prediction: the Warriors' winning rate is only 46.3%, while the Rockets' winning rate is as high as 53.7%. The remaining Rockets have become the favored side. Let’s look at the basics of the two teams first. The Warriors currently have 10 wins and 9 losses, and their performance is quite satisfactory, but there are many hidden dangers: Although Curry is still young, he is showing signs of fatigue, and he still has to carry the team's offensive banner for an average of 33 minutes per game; Butler has never established himself as the second scoring point, Dream Green is in unstable form, and although Kuminga and Podemski have bright spots, they are far from being able to take over the game. More importantly, the Warriors' record against remnant teams this season is extremely poor. It seems that the more their opponents are short of players, the less capable they are of playing.

Looking at the Rockets, even without Durant and Ethan, the core strikers, they proved their depth with a hearty victory in the last game. They bloodbathed the Suns, ranked sixth in the Western Conference, on the road. Amen Thompson and Shen Jing completely took over the game. Although starting Shepard was still a little uncomfortable due to the sudden rise, Holiday on the bench completely exploded, scoring 22 points and 6 three-pointers, directly piercing the Suns' defense like a sharp knife. What's even more frightening is that the Rockets' toughness and chemistry seem completely unaffected by injuries. In Uduka's system, everyone knows their role: Shen Jing guards the penalty area, Amen rushes around to chase defenses, Holiday and Sheppard are responsible for scoring in chaotic battles, Okogie is always ready to stand up as a surprise player, and Smith stabilizes the fort on the outside.

After Van Fleet was retired, the important organizational responsibility fell on Amen and Shen Jing. The two actually played at a level close to All-Star point guards, which no one expected at the beginning of the season. Going back to this game against the Warriors, where the Rockets really have a chance is - what the Warriors fear most is this kind of "selfless, crazy running, chaotic fighting" team. Curry needs rhythm, space, and teammates to open up singles, but the Rockets are the top five teams in the league in defensive efficiency and the top two in transition offense. Once they drag the game into the quagmire, use Amen and Okogie to take turns to fight Curry closely, use Shen Jing and Capela to push the Warriors' small inside, and then let Sheppard and Holiday fire from the outside, the Warriors' exquisite passing and cutting system is likely to come to a standstill.

Of course, the Rockets are not without hidden dangers if they want to win. Without Durant, peripheral organization and pressing singles will be compromised; without Adams, once Shen Jing is chased by Dream + Butler, his physical fitness will decline rapidly; especially with Durant absent, the Rockets will lose a stable attacking point. But it is precisely this desperate situation of "no way out" that may inspire this young team to have a stronger desire to fight - in the past two weeks, they have overturned strong opponents many times without being favored: beating the Cavaliers, defeating the Magic, and bloodbathing the Suns with their remaining lineup. Now it is the Warriors' turn.

Rockets reporter Bradeaux tweeted before the game: "This will be a tough battle, the Rockets will be difficult to beat." However, the pre-game predictions are quite accurate. In this game, the Rockets not only have a chance to win, but may even win more easily than imagined. After all, what the Warriors fear most is never the superstars, but the "civilian army" who are so jealous that anyone who steps up can score 20 points. The remaining formation counterattacks, Rocket Youth Army, are you ready? In addition, Durant took leave to miss the Suns and Warriors, and it was time to return after playing against the Warriors. Durant was previously worried about family matters, but now that they have been dealt with, Durant's return to form is the best news for the Rockets.