The Rockets defeated the Hawks 122-113. In this game, the 8 Rockets players made their debut perfect!

On October 7, the Houston Rockets will start their first preseason game at home, against the upgraded Hawks. The core suspense of this showdown focuses on the direct collision of talented front lines - the Rockets' superstar team leads the lineup and the Hawks' No. 1 pick will compete, and the contrast between the training of the remaining formation and the running-in of all the main players makes the game more interesting. Durant, who was introduced through a 7-team deal in the offseason, the 10-time scoring champion, gave Houston a confidence in the championship. He formed the core front line with Jabbarri Smith, who renewed his contract for 122 million yuan in five years. Smith showed efficient finishing ability with 45.5% of three-point shooting percentage last season. It is worth mentioning that the Rockets have 10 players with an arm span of 2.13 meters, and their defensive oppressiveness ranks among the top five in the league. However, after point guard Van Vreet was reimbursed for the season, Amen and Shepard had a heavier task in tandem organization.

Eagles play in the main position, and their forward talent is eye-catching. 24-year No. 1 pick Rissache will make his season debut. The rookie, who scored 30+ four times in the season and scored 38 points, will partner with Jaylen Johnson, who just signed a five-year 150 million contract. Johnson averaged 18.9 points and 10 rebounds per game last season, which complemented Lissache's shooting percentage of 45.8%, and the forward rotation depth is enough to deal with the Rockets' residual lineup. In addition, the league assists King Trey Young is in charge, and his pick-and-roll tactics with Porzingis can create a large number of open opportunities for the front line, and his strength cannot be underestimated. The victory or defeat in the preseason is not the key. The Rockets need to examine Amen Thompson's backcourt adaptability, while the Hawks need to polish the chemistry between Rissache and the main player. The first game of the preseason started, and the Rockets quickly entered the game rhythm to seize the lead. Jabary Smith felt hot, and he scored two consecutive three-pointers to help the team open the gap first. However, the Hawks quickly adjusted their state, gradually regaining the offensive rhythm in the second half of the first quarter, narrowing the score difference bit by bit to widen the situation. Entering the second quarter, the two teams completely turned on the offensive mode, the offensive and defensive conversion speed soared, and the firepower was fully opened and they did not give in to each other. In the fierce attack, the Rockets defeated the Hawks 40-37 again with a more efficient ending, 3 points in a single quarter. After halftime, the Hawks were temporarily behind by 4 points.

The side changes again, the core main players of both teams have not appeared again, and more rotation players have opportunities for practical training. Even so, the Rockets' rotation lineup still firmly controls the initiative on the field. In the third quarter, the Hawks set off a wave of points chasing, narrowing the gap to only 3 points. At the critical moment, the Rockets responded quickly and extinguished their opponents' hope of reversing with a 7-0 offensive climax. In the end, the Rockets defeated the Hawks 122-113 and achieved a good start to the preseason. In this battle, I completely saw the 8 Rockets players.

1. Shen Jing: In terms of technical polishing, Shen Jing has completed the transformation from a "single scorer" to a "all-round tactical point". Shin Kyung-chang had previously been unable to integrate into the fast break due to insufficient speed, but now he can connect to the Rockets' counterattack through precise long passes. When Van Vreet was absent in the season, he took on the role of "core of the second organization" and had transformed from a "potential star" to the Rockets' "tactical core of the championship lineup". In the future, as the adjustment with the forward group deepens, his position will be further consolidated. In this game, Shin Kyung's style of playing was to write about Jokic, with a very explosive data: in 13 minutes, he scored 19 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks.

2, Jabaris Mies, Jabaris is expected to complete his transformation to an all-round forward in the new season. In this game, Jabaris is very confident in holding the ball with three-pointers, and his mid-range turnover jump shot and pick-and-roll ability are also demonstrated; the defense coverage is expanded to the inside frame protection, and he can switch to the defense No. 1-5 position. Despite Durant joining, for the Rockets, Jia Jia is still one of the key points of tactics: the three-point deterrence helps Shen Jing reduce double-teams, helps Durant improve breakthrough efficiency, and fills the front defense loopholes when Finney Smith is injured; he can also connect to the second team. With a contract renewal of 122 million yuan in five years, he is not only the space and defensive core for the current championship, but also the forward pillar for the future connection to the "post-Durant era". Xiao Jia played for 13 minutes and 30 seconds in this game, with 3 shots of 7, 2 of 3 points and 9 points and 5 rebounds.

3. Ethan, Ethan showed off her offensive and defensive all-round performance in her first appearance in the new season: her mid-range shot on the offensive end, her counterattack end has high efficiency, and she can also connect the second team through secondary passes; her blocking ability on the defensive end is very strong, she can switch to the defense line and the inside line, and her ability to grab rebounds is outstanding. For the Rockets, he is the key to the forward rotation: filling the defensive gap of Finney Smith's injury, and the "defensive pillar" of the second lineup; the end of receiving a long pass from a teammate in the fast attack improves the team's counterattack efficiency, and the cost-effective contract makes him an important puzzle to connect the main force and the substitute, balance the championship and the depth of the lineup. In this game, Ethan played less than 11 minutes, with 6 of 8 shots, 12 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists.

4, Amen Thompson, Amen's progress in the new season focuses on the double upgrade of "control and pass control + ending". The core role is to fill the gaps in the backcourt organization and strengthen the connection between offense and defense. During Van Vreet's absence in the season, he became the key ball-holding point for Shin Kyung and Durant. He is good at breaking through and passing the ball and will give his teammates a scoring opportunity, and can also connect with Shin Kyung's long pass to launch a fast attack; on the defensive end, he is 1.98 meters tall + 2.13 meters arm span adapted to the Rockets' "long arm system", is good at stealing, and can switch to the defense No. 1-3 position. In addition, he serves as an "offensive engine" in the second lineup, which can prevent the main players from falling into scoring drought after they leave the field. It is a key puzzle for the Rockets to balance "main strength" and "substitute depth", providing the backcourt tolerance rate for the championship lineup. In this game, Amen played for 27 minutes, 4 of 8 shots, 1 of 2 shots, 11 points, 1 rebound and 3 assists.

5. Shepard: After Van Vreet's long absence in the season, the Rockets' backcourt organizational capabilities have a certain gap. In addition to Durant and Shin Kyung, the second team urgently needs a "connection point" that can launch an independent offense, which is one of the reasons why the Rockets need Shepard to rise quickly. Whether it is opening up space for Shin Kyung and Durant, or connecting to the second team and enriching tactical options, Shepard can make the Rockets' entire offensive system smoother. In this game, Shepard made 3 of 6 shots, 2 of 4 shots, 10 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist.

6, Capela and Adams, the efficient end of Capela and Adams' preseason debut, Adams made 5 of 5, scored 10 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists, Capela made 4 of 5, scored 8 points and 5 rebounds, which is a direct reflection of the two's adaptation to the Rockets system. The two can be called the "double anchors" of the team's inside line. As an "old Rockets", Capela's ability to eat cake and pick-and-roll skills have not diminished. In the future, with Durant and Shin Kyung's passing, "pick-roll-off" will become a stable scoring method, and a keen sense of frontcourt rebounding can create a second offensive opportunity. Adams has a foothold with rebounds and defense, which can consolidate the inside line position and frame protection, and confirms its end reliability. As Shen Jing's rotational partners, the two not only fill the depth gap in the inside, but also strengthen the defensive system with rebounding advantages, and can effectively connect the outside firepower. This is the key puzzle for the Rockets to balance the main load and consolidate the offensive and defensive foundation.

7, JD-Davidson, his preseason debut was an unexpected surprise for the Rockets' bench. On the offensive end, the Development League MVP continued to perform efficiently, with sharp breakthroughs and accurate 3 points. In this game, he made 6 of 9 shots, 5 of 6 points, scored 17 points and 3 rebounds, and sent 3 assists. The defensive end lead is extremely resilient. To be honest, Shepard's pressure is coming. When Van Vreet is absent, if Davidson seamlessly connects the second team and fills the gap with offense and defense vitality, it will become the most valuable gain in the two-way contract.