Rockets vs. Nuggets Preview

The Rockets will face the Nuggets at home. This is the first time the two teams have met this season. This is also an NBA Cup game, which is very important to both teams.

Currently, the Nuggets have 11 wins and 3 losses, ranking second in the Western Conference. They have achieved a record of 8 wins and 2 losses in the last 10 games. They have lost to the Trail Blazers and Bulls. Among them, the loss to the Trail Blazers was in the NBA Cup. However, the current NBA Western Conference Group C is 1 win and 1 loss. The Nuggets are ranked first in the group with a point difference.

Currently, the Rockets have 10 wins and 3 losses. Ranked third in the Western Conference, it has recently won five games in a row, with a record of 9 wins and 1 loss in the last 10 games. The losing game was to the Spurs. This was also an NBA Cup game. It is currently ranked second in the Western Conference Group C with a point difference.

This game can be understood as the battle for second place in the Western Conference and the battle for the top spot in the Western Conference Group C of the NBA Cup. For both teams, it is a game that they really want to win.

The biggest highlight of this game should be Shen Jing VS Jokic

This season, Jokic averaged 29.1 points, 13.2 rebounds and 11.1 assists in 34.6 minutes per game. 3.6 offense, 1.6 steals, 0.8 blocks, shooting 64% from the field, 40% from the three-point range, and 85% from the free throw line

This season, Shen Jing averaged 23.4 points and 10.4 baskets in 37 minutes per game. 7.4 rebounds, 3.5 turnovers, 1.2 steals, 1 block, 48% shooting from the field, 44% from the three-point range, and 74% from the free throw line

In terms of data, the data gap between the two is shrinking year by year, but Jokic is obviously the stronger player at present. Jokic and Alexander are currently competing for the number one player in the league, while Shen Jing has just completed his evolution this summer and has become the core of the Rockets' new team building. The gap with Jokic is narrowing.

The two met in this year's European Championship, but Türkiye led by Shen Jing finally defeated Serbia led by Jokic, and finally eliminated Serbia led by Jokic.

Both of these two are also European insiders, the core of their respective teams, and supporting and organizing centers. They have a great influence on both offense and defense, and their playing styles and characteristics are also highly similar. Their personal data and team leadership results are very good. After Shen Jing has improved his shooting and space value this year, meeting a player like Jokic can verify his current strength and grade. This is a very good test.

Two-man turn VS Two-man turn

The most powerful combination of the Nuggets is Murray and Jokic playing pick-and-roll, which will form two sets of mismatches, while the most powerful combination of the Rockets is Durant and Shen Jing playing pick-and-roll, and the two will form two sets of mismatches.

When two sets of pick-and-rolls are formed, Shen Jing will face the speedy Murray, while Durant will encounter Jokic, the most powerful center in the league today, testing the offensive strength of the two main attackers. When Durant singles out Jokic, this matchup becomes very interesting.

For the Rockets, after Cameron Johnson came to the Nuggets this season, he was not accustomed to the climate and his shooting was very inaccurate. However, the recent recovery has been very obvious. The Rockets may pay attention to the defense of Huang Zhong.

On the bench, Valanciunas can match up with Adams, Sheppard can match up with Hardaway Jr., and Okogie can match up with Bruce Brown. The two teams can basically match each other in the transition period between the substitutes.

This is a head-to-head contest between the two most balanced teams in the league. Currently, the offensive efficiency of both teams ranks among the top 3 in the league, and the defensive efficiency ranks among the top 10 in the league. They can be described as strong teams integrating offense and defense.

Currently, both teams are strong rebounding teams, ranking among the top 3 in the league. However, the Rockets average 16.4 offensive rebounds per game, ranking first in the league, and the Nuggets average 35.9 backcourt rebounds per game, ranking third in the league. A strong offensive rebounding team encounters a strong team with good defensive rebounding protection. Rebounding may determine the direction of this game.

The Nuggets are a team with many assists and few turnovers, while the Rockets are just the opposite. Of course, the Nuggets' field goal percentage is 50.6%, ranking second in the league, while the Rockets' three-point shooting percentage is 42.3%, ranking first in the league.

The Rockets are a team that is extremely good at transitioning between offense and defense, while the Nuggets are a team that scores high inside and takes into account both efficiency and production.

In this game, based on the Nuggets' offensive distribution and offensive efficiency, Uduka may have a double-tower or five-high lineup for a long time. However, Murray is extremely good at playing pick-and-rolls, as well as Mr. Huang's improved outside touch, Hardaway Jr. and Watson's recent excellent outside touch, which will make them afraid to put up a large lineup for a long time. Of course, to catch the thief first, Uduka's first choice is to formulate a defense against Jokic. The strategy is to let Shen Jing defend Jokic alone, to flank Jokic, or to let Adams face Jokic to release Shen Jing's defensive pressure. This may have a direct impact on the direction of this game. Shen Jing VS Jokic, and how long the five-high lineup can be maintained. Whether Uduka will maintain a double short + twin tower + single forward lineup for a long time to balance offense and defense is also worthy of attention. After all, this game is indeed a very worthy of attention.