ClutchFans Game Thread: Hawks @ Rockets 12/20/2023

Absolute facts. We can’t let the moment-to-moment disappointments take us out of the fact that we are waaaaay ahead of most of our expectations coming into the season.

Obviously there are warts, Jalen’s scoring issues and today with Alpi being played off the floor…but if we take a step back, from any other team’s fans perspective, we’d probably look like a very promising, very dangerous young squad

 

sengun usually does well against springy bigs

 

They didn’t concede it. Sengun just can’t guard it. Especially when the hawks were spamming 3s all night

 

Ok well then he needs to start putting up more than 1 assist (and show some ability to pass off the dribble) if he's going to be a lead dog - that's just a fact of NBa life these days.

 

And he missed 3 or 4 of those in 4th when we were rushing trying to come back …

 

Yea, I don't put too much stock in it. Just a bad game. The Rockets lost because of Jalen Green & the Hawks not missing.

Sure they did. They had Sengun shading up on Trae Young instead of dropping down with the big on the slip or the roll. They left it wide ass open.

 

I like that Ime is still very confident in Green being a "prolific scorer" when he gets it going.

 

To start when the offense (center) was setting the pick for Trae he should just get back to opponent center instead of watching Trae

 

Kobe Bryant.....played in 71 and 79 games his first 2 years respectively.....he started 7 games in those first 2 years. He averaged 7.6 pts. his first year and 15.1 his 2nd year. He started 6 games his 1st year and ONE his second.

 

You just moving goal post you were wrong, accept it and keep it moving ..

 

I do think Snyder is a Top 12 Coach at least in this league, he might dress up like a carnival dude.....

The Hawks are very talented but somehow the final ingredient is always missing......their best times was with Nique......

They have Jalen Johnson, another guy who can average 15 ppg....who is injured.

It is really tough not able to play Defense in this league.

 

He got benched bc he couldn’t guard it. If they conceded it, he would still have been on the floor. You don’t get benched for something your coach is telling your team to give up

 

Yeah, it was glaring how the game changed immediately, that play became null and void, and the Rockets went on a double digit run the moment Ime finally sat Alpi.

As I said earlier Ime may have waited 2 or 3 plays too long to make that adjustment.

 

The Rockets are playing like a .500 team, and I think that's what they'll end up being at the end of the year. They play hard, they have some promising young talent and solid vets, but no clear stars. Sengun started hot, but we are starting to see his weaknesses emerge, and Jalen just doesn't seem like he can ever become an above average shooter. Jabari is limited and inconsistent, and Amen is a big unknown.

I'm still happy about the team's improvement, and they have a lot of depth, it's just not clear if we have a true star or superstar in the making on the team. This team reminds me of the late 2000's Rockets teams led by Scola, Lowry, Landry, and Brooks. Fun to watch and a lot of likeable players, but it's hard to be much more than a .500 team without a superstar. I hope Sengun can turn it back around and keep improving and become that guy, but it's not clear yet if that will happen consistently.

 

Then trae has a free lane to the basket. If someone on the side helps he kicks it for the 3 pointer which they seem to not miss any...

 

Definitely didn’t concede those

 

Pause

 

While this is true guys like Markkenen (sp?) and Siakam have been all-stars. I don't think its out of the question for Bari.

Also Bari is 20. I suspect he's going to get stronger and look a little differently when he's 24-25. Right now he's barely an adult. I think there is a pretty good chance that he improves from what he even is now. He's said to be a very hard worker so really I am sure he's going to reach his top potential whatever that might be because he's not a lazy player, now its just a matter of time.

 

lol btw Baylor put up a solid fight vs duke . Last few minutes was bad though.

 

The fact that Jabari had 34 pts.,13 rebounds, and 4 blocks and is getting blowback from Scout Sam tells you all you need to know.The "third option" wasn't the 3rd option tonight. I am quite confident when this season is over that he will be quite more successful than is currently being credited to him.