ClutchFans Game Thread: Knicks @ Rockets 11/4/2024

Great win.

Amazing that feeding your best player has this kind of result and fuels his confidence in turn playing better. Sheesh, who would've thought it. A little crazy though only getting 15 shots when you're that hot and can't be stopped. He was 11/15 but I'm going to say 11/13 because 2 of them were end of the shot clock 3s after getting handed the ball late.

I've been critical of Udoka so far this season but credit tonight, firmly planting Jabari to that bench to end the game. How many wide open 3s can this guy miss?

Didn't think Jalen did much to warrant being in there to end the game, but to his credit he had a great end to the game and helping seal the W, not just the big 3s but he made some very team-first passes down the stretch which got teammates better shots which wouldn't have been made in the past. Didn't try to take bad shots to shoot himself out of the slump instead playing in the flow of the offense.

Reed was great tonight - both sides of the ball - some of his contests defensively were so good.

Speaking of defense. Amen Thompson. Good lord. Once again. His reading of the player he's guarding is uncanny. Brunson had a horrid shooting night not being able to get his defender jumping on his myriad of fakes and spins.

 

Awesome, though I definitely didn’t like some stretches where we could’ve lost the game and let’s be honest, we got some home cooking as we were allowed to be quite physical and they got called for things we didn’t. That being said, here’s some thoughts:

1. Jalen Green playing at the end of the 4th is EXACTLY why Sengun should’ve been in against the Warriors. Ime shows trust in his young guy who just got paid, but not the other. Green absolutely did not deserve to be in there. The dribbling off of his foot several times, the inability to stop anyone on defense, the shot not being there. I would’ve accepted a line-up of Amen, Reed, Brooks, Tari & Sengun or FVV, Reed, Amen, Tari & Sengun. They all deserved it more. Still, he was given the opportunity and showed some serious clutch shooting. Kudos to him! We need this trust in not just Green.

2. Sengun with the big FU to Ime and anyone who doubted him. Still, it wasn’t like he played that much different, outside of the one-legged stepback he seems to have fallen in love with a bit too much to my liking. He brought the effort on defense and it’s not like that hasn’t been there.

3. Offensively we are still ASS. Sengun is this hot yet only 15 shots and Tari roaming the perimeter while Amen takes a three, guys driving inside when it’s crowded, and FVV thinking he’s the man because he hit a few?! Even freaking Adams refused to pass it outside and took some wild ass one handed shots. Inexcusable in this day and age with this type of talent to have this type of offense out there. In the 90s this would've been acceptable and I like don’t mind it that much due to our defense, but man, this team should be running more, passing more and having all kinds of movement and back screens to get guys open.

4. Reed, finally showed some confidence, but people have been acting like it’s all on him. No, coaches design plays to get 50% 3pt shooters open. Reed has had to create most shots for himself so that has to change. Glad he stepped up, though I still don’t like his hesitation at times.

5. Hesitation on taking shots is a thing with our guys and I’m not sure why. Jabari is the main culprit of this alongside Reed and he’s playing himself out of the starting line-up this way, on top of his 3pt shot being too inconsistent and his inability to finish on a drive and get around guys or shoot over them is a serious problem. I’m not giving up on him, but Tari should get that spot if this continues into next year.

6. Amen & Tari, what a beautiful two-headed monster to come off the bench. They are EVERYWHERE and deserve a lot of credit for this win. Just need to be utilized better and if Tari can continue to cut down on the dumb fouls, he should be good to go as a starter and up for 6th man of the year alongside Amen. That play by Amen at the end, the fake, wow…and did y’all see Tari celebrate that Green dunk and wanting to get his own dunk when we got the rebound with about 18 seconds left?! Haha the guy just doesn’t know how to stop playing.

7. I’ll credit the coaches for better rotations and being flexible with line-ups. Cam not playing is warranted with his inability to do more than just attack and play sporadic defense. That’s the one thing we can trust Ime with, he will play the ones who show effort and match the opponents physicality. Cam has been too up and down and since he’s not bringing anything on offense from 3, might as well sit him.

All in all, great win against a solid team, but we can be even better if we play a bit smarter, a bit faster and start to put guys in the best spots to be effective. Let’s keep this rolling.

 

It can be reported what the Nets wanted but you don't actually even know we considered it. Just cus they asked for it doesn't mean we were going to do it. Otherwise why didn't happen

 

Udoka to anyone with a critical question:

 

Might be my fave "Core 7" play so far. Jalen correctly passes over the double into Amen who jumps, pump fakes Mikal....*in mid air* mind you....and waltzes in for the game sealing dunk.

 

1/16. 6.25%.

 

A Quality Win

Rocket River

 

Big win!

Couldn't hit the side of a barn, but dominated the glass.

Great D out top!

 

For the hesitation, I can speculate udoka being too micro managing and disciplinarian, getting to players’ heads.

 

If Thompson develops a shot, he will be an All Star. He might be anyway. He is magic with the ball.

 

houston, where shooters come to get their eyes feet & arms misaligned

 

I love it. We are growing up.

 

Ye gods our offensive efficiency has been horrible so far this season. The only players playing significant minutes who are currently above 55% true shooting are Amen (58.1%) and Tari (61.4%). It's a testament to our defense that we have a winning record right now, but we have got to get the offense flowing better and hit our open shots.

 

Not sure if this is true and why that happened.....what was so horrible?

Why kicking someone out when the attendance turnout in the last years were not great.

 

I suspect he’s temporarily out of the rotation. And honestly, last night I didn’t want to see him on the court. The guys we had were playing hard and playing well. I continue to believe we have too much young talent to develop effectively. I love Cam, but he needs to keep developing. I’m not sure how much of an opportunity he’s going to get in Houston with so many other young players on the roster. Hope we don’t tank his value. A consolidation trade will be needed soon one way or another.

 

https://www.nba.com/nba-fan-code-of-conduct

• Guests who engage in fighting, throwing objects or attempting to enter the court will be immediately ejected from the arena.

Joking about it and posting it online could b viewed as an "attempt" to enter the court

 

Ok. Lol I guess so .....whereas you can go naked streaking during a soccer game and you get banned too.

But you got massive exposure.

 

hence u hardly see any fans do it. It's not worth it, the court is so small = security is tight. U will get tackled within seconds

 

I have compared ticked pricing, and it is definitely cheaper to do it on the pitch than on the court.

But I do not think you get banned 1 year for just randomly falling onto the pitch......

I do think sports have become a tad authoritarian to say the least.

 

it's not even about the money for the fans who plan to run into the field/court/pitch. Logistically
U are more likely to escape or dodge security doing it on mlb park or soccer field. Doing it on the nba is gonna hurt and no way u can escape security