The countdown to the Rockets Nash s rise! Can the miracle of the No. 15-Chat counterattack MVP be repeated in Houston?

Who will save the Rockets if VanVleet reimbursement? The answer seems to point to the young man who was questioned as "parallel token of the flower" last year - Shepard. Good fortune and misfortune? Isn’t VanVleet’s injury a turnaround? Van Vleet seeks steady ball play, slow vision, but experience ensures that the Rockets can reach the lower limit of the playoffs. Shepard's crushing ball quotient, ball play speed, vision and overall vision creativity can revitalize the Rockets who were constipated last year. Selfless and fast sharing of ball can affect the Rockets' team sharing multi-touch ball to play team strength, and the Rockets are closer to the championship. Shepard's opportunities are always surprisingly similar to the Rockets' fog in the new season...

Seweng lost his horse, which is a blessing. The story of Steve Nash is the best example. This No. 15 show in 1996 was thin and extremely poor in the early stages of his career. He also had limited opportunities in the Suns and performed mediocrely. After being traded to the Mavericks, he was only the fourth choice in the "three troikas". Who would have thought that after he was injured in the main players, he was able to show his vision and creativity. After returning to the Suns in 2004, he completely exploded in the "Running and Booming" system. With his dominant performance of 15.5 points and 11.5 assists per game, he redefined the value of point guard with his pass and overall situation. The core of his dormant and rise is system adaptation and ball rights release. Now the Rockets' Shepard is standing in front of a similar goal of opportunity, but is facing a more complicated situation. For the Houston Rockets' new season, fans' expectations are mixed with a hint of worry. Although the team has good personal talent and defensive resources - the defensive efficiency ranked fifth in the league last season, and the frontcourt rebounding and rebounding rate ranked among the top in the league - it is far from enough to stand out in the fiercely competitive West. The adaptability and smooth team cooperation between players' personalities and style of play are the key to determining the Rockets' upper limit, and these two points are the team's biggest hidden dangers at present.

VanVleet's torn ACL ligament on his right knee led to a season reimbursement, putting the Rockets' already weak back line in desperate situation. Shepard's performance last season was two extremes: he averaged only 4.4 points and 1.4 assists per game in 52 appearances in the regular season, with a shooting percentage of 35.1%; but he gave 20 points and 5 assists and a stunning three-point shooting percentage of 52% in three starts, and the Development League averaged 30.7 points and 7.3 assists per game. This contrast is just like the ups and downs of Nash's early years. The key is whether Uduka can find the password to activate him. Even if VanVleet is healthy, the team may not be able to replicate last year's height, and the potential "individualism" tendency in the lineup may undermine the team's chemistry. Now that he is absent, sophomore rookie Shepard unexpectedly becomes the biggest variable. Although he performed mediocrely due to psychological quality issues last year, his football business, overall view and creativity are all top in the league. His confrontation ability after gaining muscle in the summer league has been significantly improved, his defense reached the league average, and his sense of stealing is even more highlighted.

Uduka has shown a willingness to adjust. If Shepard is put into the starting lineup in the preseason, the effect will be immediate, but his team-building idea of ​​focusing on defense and light offense is still tested - the Rockets only ranked 27th in the league in effective shooting percentage last season, and their offensive shortcomings are obvious. Shepard gained 16 kilograms during the offseason to strengthen the confrontation, trying to make up for the shortcomings in the defensive, but whether he can integrate into the Rockets' strict defensive system is still unknown. In terms of ball rights allocation, Van Vreett's organizational vacancy for 5.6 assists last season needs Shepard to fill it with a higher ball quotation, which is highly similar to Nash's role in taking over the Mavericks' offense that year. His selfless style of playing and excellent ball speed are the key to activate the Rockets' offense. The Rockets' new season prospects are full of uncertainty. Shepard's stability is the biggest variable. His 36.4% shooting efficiency in the summer league is still struggling and needs to quickly adapt to the role change from substitute to core. In terms of lineup, the starting lineups of Shepard, Thompson, Durant, Xiao Jia and Shin Kyung can use their overall view to promote the sharing of ball rights; the "five small" lineup led by Shepard has broad space and strong counterattacks. However, Thompson's lineup with point guard is significant: his organizational ability is insufficient, problems have been exposed last year's key battle, and both Shin Kyung lacks stable three-pointers - Thompson's three-point shooting percentage last season is 27.5% - will compress offensive space. What we need to be more vigilant is that Shin Kyung's individualism when he hit the All-Star last season and Ethan's selfishness in the contract year may hinder the transfer of ball rights.

If Shepard can replicate Nash's transformation and use projection to attack in series with the organization, the Rockets may be able to resolve the crisis; if his offense and defense still have shortcomings and the team is in their own battles, the team may find it difficult to continue the 52-win record last season. The new season is a touchstone for Shepard, and for the Rockets, it is a test question to balance off offense and defense and break the shackles of individualism. The success or failure of the Rockets ultimately depends on whether they can establish a team chemistry. Shepard's growth and tactical choices will determine the fate of the team.

Van Vreet's injury was accidental or a turning point in the Rockets' fate? Is Shepard's rise to power a brief firefighting or the opening of a new era? The answer will be written in every game of the Rockets' new season.