Sheppard is the 6th man, the Rockets’ starting five are competing at forwards, Durant breaks double teams, and the Twin Towers restrict Antetokounmpo

After losing to the Spurs after five consecutive wins, the Rockets will hardly be able to perform better than last season without follow-up reinforcements this year. The entire team relies more on talent to play. When Durant's state fluctuates and encounters teams with stronger players, the Rockets are in disarray. Head coach Uduka was lost first. The Twin Towers could not change the 5-pointer. Shepard played well and was replaced. After falling behind, he was remembered again. DNP Jabari Smith Jr. has so many changes in a game. It is really difficult to win.

At 4:30 on November 10th, the Rockets faced the fourth-place Bucks in the Eastern Conference and ushered in another tough battle. Antetokounmpo's personal talent will be the same as that of Wenban Yama, crushing the Rockets' inside line. Uduka needs to find a way to limit the team's starting five and the forwards are facing competition. Jabari Smith and Ethan are rivals. Jabari Smith averages 13+5 per game this season and his three-point shooting percentage is 38%. Ethan has 12+4 and his three-point shooting percentage is as high as 58%, which is more efficient.

The Rockets gave each of them a contract extension during the offseason. Jabari Smith chose to renew his contract and stay with the team for a five-year contract. Ethan is different. He believes that he is worthy of a larger contract. From the beginning of the season to now, he has shown his ability. Jabari Smith's biggest advantage is the three-pointer. As a result, Ethan shot better, had stronger counterattack impact, and had better defense. Uduka can consider appropriate formation changes to deal with difficulties, and can also solve the mistakes caused by Durant's ball after being double-teamed.

Sheppard averaged 10.6 points and 3.4 assists per game this season, and his three-point shooting percentage was 45%. As last year's No. 3 overall pick, he has made great progress. At least he has shown his shooting ability. The more he shoots, the more confident he becomes. But currently he can only play the role of the sixth man. The defensive end is too poor. In the last game against the Spurs, he was named and targeted in the final quarter, which became a turning point in the game. The Rockets' final answer at the No. 1 position is not Shepard, at least not this season. It cannot make up for the impact of VanVleet's absence.

The guard combination of Amen Thompson + Okogie has excellent individual defensive ability, but unfortunately they do not have the ability to control movement and pass, which allows opponents to double-team Durant unscrupulously. For three consecutive games, the Rockets' opponents have chosen a double-teaming tactic. Durant's ball was slow and his teammates did not respond in time. It is obvious that Uduka has not been able to deal with it many times. Durant's ability to break out of a double-team requires his teammates to have three-point shooting and ball-handling abilities. He cannot hold the ball alone while the other four stand and watch.

The Bucks are also very talented. It will be difficult for the Rockets to win without changing the lineup. Adams, Shen Jing and Capela will partner with three-pointers in the twin-tower lineup to restrict Antetokounmpo and not give him room to break through, otherwise he will be allowed to copy the performance of Bunyama. The Rockets' twin towers are a strange formation during a certain period. If they want to go further, Durant must find his form. The trade to acquire him is not to use him as a support, but to use his hard-hitting ability. Durant's shooting percentage was good in the last game, but he made 8 turnovers and failed to perform to his expected level in three consecutive games.