Shen Jing scored 25+ points in three consecutive games, the new 3 cores are confirmed, the Rockets no longer shout slogans

The Rockets are full of surprises this offseason, and winning Durant makes them a strong contender for the championship next season. The young core Shin Kyung's performance in the European Championship warm-up match was also eye-catching. He scored 25+ points in three consecutive games, and the opponent's NBA-level big center couldn't find North. Shin Kyung's growth gives the Rockets greater confidence to hit the championship next season. At the same time, with Amen Thompson, the Rockets will definitely use these three players as the core next season and use other role players to launch an attack on the championship.

In the European Championship warm-up match between Türkiye and Montenegro on August 24, Shin Kyung was like a king on the field, showing his dominance. He played 27 minutes in the game, made 10 of 16 shots, 6 of 9 free throws, scored 26 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals and 1 block, with a plus-negative value of up to +25. In the third quarter of the game, Shin Kyung's personal performance time. He seemed to have transformed into a giant inside. He dunked his hands after receiving the ball many times. The perfect combination of strength and skills made the cheers of the audience deafening. Another time, he accelerated instantly after passing the ball through half the game, like a black lightning break into the penalty area, and then hit the dunk with one hand. The amazing explosive power and speed made the opponent unable to defend. Shin Kyung on the defensive end was also active. In the last quarter, he simply defeated his opponent's three-pointer, and then easily dunked in the counterattack. A series of operations were completed in one go, showing his superstar style.

The match against Shin Kyung is 36-year-old Montenegro star Vucevic. He averaged 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists in the NBA regular season last season. He is a strong inside player. However, in this game, Vucevic was suppressed by Shin Kyung and scored only 9 points. Shin Kyung showed advantages in strength, speed and flexibility, and did a very good job in both footstep movements during offense and position judgment during defense.

This is not Shin Kyung's highlight performance at the moment. In previous games, he continued to be in a hot state. When he played against Lithuania, he played for 32 minutes, made 9 of 17 shots, 7 of 10 free throws, scored 25 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists, helping Türkiye win 84-81. His opponent is Lithuania's core center Valanciunas. Under the interference of Shin Kyung's defensive interference, Valanciunas made only 3 of 8 shots in 16 minutes, scoring only 10 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist. There is also facing Germany. Although Turkey lost 71-73, Shin Kyung made 9 of 11 shots, 7 of 9 free throws, scoring 25 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists, with the highest score in the game. With three consecutive games, Shin Kyung scored more than 25 points, he proved with his strength that he had grown into a top center.

Shin Kyung's outstanding performance naturally won the praise of his teammate Durant. As an NBA superstar, Durant reposted Shin Kyung's wonderful highlights on social media to celebrate him. This is not only a recognition of Shin Kyung's personal ability, but also makes people look forward to the Rockets' three-core cores in the new season.

Last season, 36-year-old Durant still maintained a super high competitive level for the Suns, playing 62 regular season games, averaging 36.5 minutes per game, scoring 26.6 points, 6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, plus 0.8 steals and 1.2 blocks, shooting percentage of 52.7%, three-point shooting percentage was as high as 43.0%, and free throw shooting percentage was also stable at 83.9%. He has a variety of scoring methods, and his mid-range jump shot is unsolvable. He has a hand that can be opened outside the three-point line. His strong scoring ability makes him an existence that no team dares to underestimate.

Shin Kyung's growth in the Rockets is obvious to all. Last season, he played in 76 games and started all of his 76 games, averaged 31.5 minutes per game, contributing 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and shooting percentage of 49.6%. Shin Kyung has solid inside skills, flexible and changeable steps at low positions, and has a good passing vision. He can often cleverly pass the ball in double teams to create opportunities for his teammates. Entering the playoffs, his data has increased to averaging 20.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game. His increasingly mature performance has made him the Rockets' insider.

Amen Thompson, as a potential star, showed significant progress in the 2024-2025 season. He played 68 games in the regular season, 52 of which were the starter, averaged 29.8 minutes per game, scoring 12.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.9 blocks, shooting percentage of 48.2% and three-point shooting percentage of 31.5%. As a wing player, Amen Thompson's advantage lies in his athletic ability and defensive enthusiasm. He can complete the fast break end with his outstanding physical talent, and can also face players from multiple positions on the defensive end, launching a conversion attack for the team through steals and rebounds. However, his three-point stability still has room for improvement, which is also the technical link he focuses on polishing during the offseason.

Reviewed in the 2024-2025 season, although Durant is already 37 years old, his competitive state remains at an extremely high level. Shin Kyung has also made great progress this season, and his inside skills are becoming increasingly mature. As a potential star, Amen Thompson showed outstanding athleticism and defensive talent, and his fast break and stealing abilities injected vitality into the team.

Looking forward to the new season, the Rockets, with Durant, Shin Kyung and Amen Thompson as the core, will have a more tactical system. On the offensive end, Durant can open up space from the outside, use his shooting ability to attract the opponent's defensive attention, and create opportunities for Shin Kyung to attack in the inside. Shin Kyung's strong attack and support in the inside can also create space for outside shooting and breakthroughs for Durant and Amen Thompson. Amen Thompson can use his speed and athleticism to finish the finish in a fast break, or create opportunities for teammates through breakthroughs and passes. On the defensive end, the height and wingspan of the three can build a solid line of defense that interferes with opponents' shooting and passing. The new 3 cores are confirmed, and the Rockets will no longer shout slogans to the championship next season.

Around these three core players, the Rockets also have a group of powerful role players. Jabbarry Smith Jr. grew significantly in the 2024-2025 season, averaging 12.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, with a three-point shooting percentage of up to 36.8%. His stable three-point output has opened up the team's offensive space. He can also interfere with opponents' shooting with his height and wingspan on the defensive end, which is an important offensive and defensive puzzle around the three-core. As the team's point guard, Van Vreet's organizational ability and game experience are crucial. He can sort out the team's offensive rhythm at critical moments and deliver shells to Durant and Shin Jing. At the same time, his defensive resilience can also improve the strength of the backcourt defense line. In addition, Ethan became the team's "rebound surprise" with active fighting; he signed Finney Smith and Capela to have excellent physical confrontation and could shoulder heavy responsibilities in the wing and inside defense. The two of them jointly provided the team with a tough defensive thickness.

However, they still face many challenges in order to lead the Rockets to the championship. There are many strong teams in the Western Conference, and every team should not be underestimated. But as long as these three core players remain healthy and can cooperate tacitly in the game, the Rockets have the opportunity to create glory in the new season. Fans can't wait to look forward to the arrival of the new season, eager to see their wonderful performance on the field and witness the Rockets launch an attack on the championship.