&quot: The Rockets finally got the defensive answer! 29+10 strong players landed in Houston, and Uduka created the strongest defense replacement system in the league "

[In-depth analysis] Defensive strongman Finney Smith airborne Houston, Rockets' third position ushered in the ultimate answer

When the 29-year-old Dorian Finney Smith appeared at Toyota Center in the Rockets' jersey, the mobile phone screen of Houston fans was instantly flooded with the highlights of this defensive expert. What kind of vitality will this forward player who has tempered his top defensive skills in Brooklyn inject into Uduka’s defensive system?

Defensive system upgrade: Mobile barriers enter the Aerospace City. Smith, who is 2.01 meters tall, has the top lateral movement ability in the NBA. Last season, he was able to suppress his opponent's shooting percentage at 42.3% in defense against position last season. His arrival directly solves the pain point of the Rockets' small forward's weak defense. Data shows that when he is on the court, the Nets' defensive efficiency has increased by 6.7 points. In the system where Uduka emphasizes unlimited defense swaps, Smith can not only defend Doncic's level ball-holding core, but also assist in the defense and sweep the penalty area, perfectly adapting to the Rockets' defensive philosophy.

Three-point firepower reinforcement: underestimated space points. In addition to the defensive label, Smith has maintained a three-point shooting percentage of 37.2% in the past three seasons, and averaged 5.1 shots per game to hit a career high. In the Rockets' existing system, his bottom corner three-pointer (41.3% shooting percentage) will become an important contact point for Shen Jing to play in low singles. More importantly, his unball running consciousness can activate Jaylen Green's breakthrough space, and the two are expected to form an offensive linkage similar to Tatum and Horford.

Downtown Room Value: Key traits of the Championship puzzle As the 2016 draft, Smith's counterattack story itself carries the grassroots genes of the Rockets' tradition. His professional attitude was highly praised during the Nets' period. Nash once commented: "Dorian's training video should be included in rookie teaching films. "This veteran style can just balance the young storm in the Rockets' locker room, especially at critical moments in the playoffs. His big heart attribute (51.8% of the key shots last season) will become a valuable asset.