Rising! 60%+61% in two games! Van Jordan alternative? No more White + Morant?

So far in the new season, the Rockets have a regular season record of 6 wins and 3 losses, which seems good, but it still seems to be far behind expectations.

After Van Jordan was reimbursed for the season, many voices of doubt appeared on the Rockets' defense line. Everyone was paying attention to whether Amen and Shepard could withstand the vacancies in the defense. After two consecutive losses at the beginning of the season, these two young guards were directly criticized for hot searches.

Uduka then made bold changes to gradually bring the Rockets back on track, but even so, it was still difficult to cover up the vacancies at the back.

For Amen and Sheppard, the abilities of these two young guards are right in front of them, and instability is their flaw. Sometimes they showed assists to revitalize the team, but once they encountered a strong opponent, their point guard performance was completely lost.

It is precisely because of the ups and downs of the two young point guards that various sports experts and media have begun to discuss whether the Rockets should make a trade. The Grizzlies control Morant and the Celtics defender White have also entered various simulated trading plans.

As for the Rockets, Shepard, Amen, and even veteran VanVleet have all been put on the trade shelf, even at the cost of future draft picks.

But for the Rockets, they are calm enough at the moment, and they seem to have no intention of taking early action.

The reason behind this is also very simple. On the one hand, Morant's annual salary is in the 40 million level, which is quite heavy for the Rockets. On the other hand, Morant's personality tends to be prickly, and Uduka needs players who are obedient, able to execute tactics, and have strong discipline. The gun champion obviously does not meet the requirements.

As for Derrick White, his value is more like a 3D defender with average organizational ability. If they choose him, after paying a high stake, the Rockets' final game control may not be much higher than that of Shepard and Amen.

In short, spending a lot of money to pursue point guard options may not necessarily solve the team's problems. But for the Rockets, who have high ambitions this season, the problem with the back line is indeed obvious and some changes are needed.

But the story seems to be starting to take a turn. In the last two games, the Rockets have won one and lost one. But Sheppard's performance is worthy of attention. In the two games, he scored 16 points, 6 assists and 1 steal, 16 points, 2 assists and 4 steals respectively. He made a total of 12 of 20 shots and 8 of 13 three-pointers. The offensive efficiency is really scary.

In addition to scoring, what is more important is that he played 50 minutes in two games and sent out 8 assists and 3 turnovers. Judging from this data, if it can be maintained, it will naturally be the standard choice for the Rockets point guard.

The short period of high light may also give the Rockets a lot of psychological comfort. At least they don't have to forcefully toss Morant, White or other candidates for the time being.

As for Amen Thompson, in the new season he will focus more on defense and breakthroughs. Although his ability to control movement is slightly inferior, his defensive matchup value still exists, and he can also provide certain environmental advantages for Sheppard's organization. Even the fourth point guard Davison is much more stable than at the beginning of the season in a limited time rotation.

Looking at the overall situation, the Rockets' young backcourt seems to be slowly taking shape.

Borrowing from coach Uduka's post-game interview:

"We trust young people. They need opportunities to prove themselves instead of relying on others' halo."

In the final analysis, what the Rockets lack most is people who can stabilize the court, and some stabilizing forces are gradually beginning to emerge in the team. In comparison, Morant and White will only have to stand aside for the time being, and the Rockets will not rush to make a decision and will look for the most suitable partner for the future after the transition.