ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Mavericks 2/8/2025

Apparently it is a Circus at Dallas Protests with Luka Doncic being Traded.

 

First you brought up bird rights, now a NTC, all useless if a player makes clear he doesn't want to play for your team or if he's set on a team. It's useless getting mad at an imaginary Fox trade, Spurs got him for nothing because he made it clear that's the only team he wanted to play for. If he was open to playing for other teams, his price would have went up.

 

Fire Nico Harrison Cutouts, it is crazy at Dallas.

Too many distractions at Dallas

 

10 losing streak before All Star incoming

 

Won't be a seed at this rate. Only 6 games up on 11th and don't look like winning.

 

I am happy that I missed the game.

 

Mavs 53 Bench Points

Mavs 18 Blocks

Rockets 14 Bench Points

 

Why do we suck in February every season?

Because Stone can't trade for good players before deadline who can help this team.

 

Nick Young said Rockets will be out of playoffs.

 

I was worried we would be but at least this confirms we'll be in.

 

Oh Rockets, why dost thou sucketh so?

 

Missed the game. After checking the box score, I have some questions:

Alpi certainly did his part on offense. My question is did he once again start off soft on both ends of the floor before kicking it in gear?

Amen's box score looks very encouraging, particularly 2/3 from long range. Were some of his 2s difficult or just dunks and layups?

Tari putting up only 8/6 in 30 mins is a little disappointing. Did he play with his normal energy? Were his hands disruptive on defense?

Was the bench going 4/28 because there was no offensive chemistry or were Cam/Reed/Adams just that pathetic?

Did the Rockets give up a lot of fast break points?

 

blundered multiple fast breaks not taking the easy pass, or making the right decision or blowing lay ups or dunks. We stayed down 10 2 possessions in a row mid 4th when it should have been 6. We lost our chance at that moment to get back in the game.

 

Alpi started so bad. absolute dog water. Like 1 for his first 6. Didnt do anything till the 3rd quarter. His halftime line was like 5 points 4 boards on sub 40% shooting

 

lol

 

Alpi was dominated early by AD and kept short arming his shots like he has been all year. Ime finally made a brilliant move to start the 3rd quarter with both Adams and Sengun starting. Adams began to man-handle AD and it freed up Alpi to get involved in the offense.

Amen shot really well from the corner and hit several floaters in the lane. He was running the offense most of the 3rd quarter when we made our comeback. Ime inexplicably moved him off the ball again and the offense started to falter again. His defense was back and he pretty much shut Irving down most of the game.

Tari had a really so/so game, but it wasn't lack of effort and the refs had some pretty questionable calls under the bucket.

Ime was so frustrated with his starters he ran a unit of Reed, Tari, Tate, Adams, and Cam. No one could score.

Yes the Rockets were pathetic defensely except for the 3rd quarter when they had Adams and Sengun in together.

Alpi and Dillon sucked on defense most of the game.

 

alpi did most of his damage 2nd half, amen made several midrange shots, tari was tari on D but couldn’t convert in the paint over davis/gafford, bench players were the brick brigade but overall the offense was stagnant with few clean looks, rockets gave up a lot of uncontested 3’s and layups

 

Monstars sucked the defensive talents from the Rockets players.

 

Thanks guys. The offensive explosion that fueled the 11-3 start to January is gone. It was great while it lasted but it's time for the Rockets to return to their roots of crashing the offensive glass to overcome poor shooting, playing great defense and causing live ball TOs. I believe that is their formula to regaining their stride.

I am soooooo sick of Alpi not being mentally ready to play to start games. To be a legit foundational player, he's gotta figure this out soon.