Durant scored 26 points as the Rockets defeated the Celtics, making the Celtics become mere mortals

First, point guards have become the true masters of the NBA’s small ball era.

The long season, the faster and faster style of play, and the mid-season tournament all come together. The result of the combined efforts of the three parties is that there are a large number of injuries to star players.

Before the start of the season, the general view was that the 76ers, Pacers and Celtics, who were without their core stars, would find it difficult to turn around, so the Knicks and Cavaliers had a great opportunity to break out of the Eastern Conference.

But after the start, when the Pacers failed to recover, when the Knicks and Cavaliers fell into the playoffs, when the 76ers were unexpectedly strong, what emerged after all the chaos was that in this small ball era, guards have replaced centers and forwards and become the real masters of the rhythm of the game.

It's okay to have less strikers, but it's really leaderless to have less point guards.

Therefore, the Pacers who lost Harry were hopeless, while the Celtics who lost Tatum became more and more frustrated.

So, Conley’s aging Timberwolves are top-heavy, while James’ alcoholic Lakers are reborn.

The more representative ones are the Mavericks and Rockets. Their true yearning for Irving and VanVleet is day by day.

On the second day, a game verified the true quality of the Beggars’ version of the Green Army.

The Rockets averaged 16.5 turnovers per game in the new season, 3 more than last season. VanVleet's season reimbursement made the Rockets' offense extremely difficult. The performance of Amen and Shepard made the Rockets' point guard trade countdown.

Not long after the game started, Amen hit a three-pointer. The previous 0 for 10 clearly demonstrated the limitations of this blue-collar guard. A point guard without the ability to reach the basket can obviously damage the team's offensive space.

But the reason the Celtics allowed the Rockets to score 37 points in the first quarter, while they only scored 24 points, was firstly because of 6:14 rebounds, and secondly because of 6:11 assists. They still relied on Horford, Pozin, Holiday and Tatum.

In the second quarter, the Rockets' advantage was further enlarged, and the point difference widened to 20 points.

In the third quarter of the game, Uduka, who was still brooding about the past, beat the lost dog hard. When the point difference widened to 25 points, the suspense ended.

The Rockets' 10 blocking shots have clearly demonstrated the inside gap between the two sides that is enough to generate electricity.

Durant only took 11 shots for 26 points, which was absolutely efficient.

Amen scored 17 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists, which was absolutely easy.

Shen Jing has 16 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists, absolutely versatile.

Brown scored 12 points, the epitome of the Celtics team.

Today, on the one hand, the Celtics could not guard Durant on the outside, and on the other hand, they could not punish the Rockets' point guard shortcomings.

The confrontation with the Rockets, the fourth and fifth seed in the Western Conference championship, not only clearly explained the strength gap between the east and the west, but also preliminarily verified the true level of the tower-less Green Army. Without Holiday, their perimeter defense has indeed been significantly reduced. Even if Tatum returns healthy, the Celtics have no possibility of getting out of the East.