ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Wizards 1/7/2025

Good win. On to the next victim …I mean game.

 

I agree for the most part about not being in a hurry, but just look at ol skool OKC and Magic. Teams with young talent, but no championships to show for it. Not saying we are on that level yet, but don't just presume our turn will come.

 

Its like he's a 22 year old scoring guard on a elite defensive team that cares more about going all out on defense. Its weird

 

The webbed lawn chairs are set up along Smith Street for the parade today in celebration of the win against a 6 win team.

The thirst is real in Houston. I guess we now know what it looks like when a fan base has not won anything in 30 years.

 

The main reason would be salary cap rules. Unless the Rockets are firmly convinced they can get everybody to take discounts at or below JG and Alpi's current contracts, there's no way we can retain this entire young core, and even keeping 4 of them and having any kind of decent bench would be pushing it. Look what's going on in Denver to see our future if we try. And we don't have a Jokic level talent and probably won't in the future, sorry stans of whatever individual player.

Now, who knows... it seems like most players love playing under Ime Udoka, and these guys came up and grew together as a tight core. Maybe they will take moderate discounts to stay here. But I'm not counting on it, it's definitely not the norm in the NBA, and honestly there's outside pressure from the player's union and the agents for players not to do so.

So we probably do have to choose three or four of these guys to build around and either accept losing the others for nothing, or try to trade them while they have surplus value.

 

And Jesus said, give them Spinzels. @The Drake

 

I mean you're not wrong. I've said it multiple times that the Rockets didn't just give him an extension to punt him off the team. The Jalen stans that hate Reed should be really pleased with Reed's performance yesterday because a lineup of Reed/Jalen/Amen/Jabari/Sengun will be really difficult to contend with. The synergy works on paper and Reed is (potentially) much more lethal in that FVV off ball role you're mentioning. I am weary of being duped into another "jalen has 3 great games against terrible defenses" and believing he's turned the corner but it's clear that Ime is still experimenting with the roles. And the fact that we are 2nd in the West during an experimental year is a testament to how much talent is on this team. Eventually Jalen will need to get consistent. I just don't think they're going to use this year as some sort of cut-off point. I actually think trade deadline 2027 is a good target for when Jalen could actually be traded. If he hadn't made the defensive strides he has this season, I'd be singing a different tune.

As a fandom we really need to stop falling for the "well they need to trade for the guy" narrative. We really don't. Maybe in 2-3 years. We are an attractive city, one of the deepest rosters in the league and a top 5 coach who players admire. We could trade a Suns pick or two for great shooters to surround our current guys with for a few years.

 

OKC is only 1 year of us in the re-build and was a top seed last year. I'm not saying sit on our hands, but there is no reason to go all-in until and absolute tier 1 star becomes available.

 

Fukkkk off,

Respectfully

 

I was talking about the Durant, Westbrook, Harden, Ibaka Thunder.... people thought they would be not 1, not 2, etc.