ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Pelicans 3/6/2025

It has been a WHILE since the last time these trio shined. Hope it’s a returning trend and not a one night stand for sake of old times lol.

 

Tale of 2 Halves

NOP initial strategy was to limit Jalen + they effectively held him to single digit scoring + become more of playmaker (8 AST!!!!).

HOU initial strategy was to take away Zion + let other Pelicans beat us. Worked too well, NOP shooters had field day in 1st half esp Trey Murphy. Rpckets were also losing REB battle.

Udoka adjustments at halftime: Triple Big + Amen lineup to pack the paint, eliminate vertical spacing, own the glass AND run off the shooters at 3P line.

Green adjustment in 4th was to be more prolific + patient with driving + kicking, rinse + repeat if necessary. Too little, too late.

 

Tari (and Alp) not getting enough credit for keeping Rockets in this game offensively in 1st half.

And Tari also had 6 stocks (5 STL, 1 BLK)

ALP finished with 4 stocks (3 STL, 1 BLK)

 

And Jabari also deserves kudos. While he had a wild + weird 1st half he redeemed himself in the 2nd. The Triple Big + Amen lineup allowed Jabari to play SF + this meant he was expending less energy or less physicality. Instead of guarding the 2nd biggest guy on the court he was guarding a wing, which is probably his best matchup so he has more energy + focus on offense.

 

Head Coach Ime Udoka

Alperen Sengun, Tari Eason seem to miss the most Layup, barely miss rim out layups.

Free Throws is a disaster by Alperen Sengun. Shooting almost Flat Footed on Free Throws since his Rookie Year. Nobody on the Coaching notices or corrects.

 

Jeff Van Gundy to Rick Adelman

Kevin McHale, JB Bickerstaff to Mike D'Antoni

 

Keep opening your wide open mouth. Full Time.

 

Impressive win, that defense on Zion and effort by Brooks, Sengun, Tari & Amen was awesome. Jabari also came into his own with some surprisingly determined strong drives to the basket that right after lead to his first 3 of the game.

At this point I really do not want to see FVV back in the starting lineup, bring him back slowly, minutes restriction and off the bench. Make sure he’s ready for the play-offs, that’s the biggest thing. His value will be most obvious there.

But our young guys can really use this time to grow, make their way through adversity and we can also see what we have in Reed, Dante, McVeigh, Cam & Nate.

 

I love reading your post-game posts.

On FVV, I want players to develop. He's great at playing on ball and off ball with Amen. He works well with Sengun. If the goal is to develop Amen and Sengun, FVV should be on the starting lineup. If you want to prioritize developing Green over Amen and Sengun, FVV would be better off the bench. I think the Rockets should win and the young players should develop in an environment geared towards winning to provide better feedback on how players contribute to winning, especially in the playoffs. Having two veterans in the rotation is not some massive impediment to development.

 

You can’t rebound from the stands. Zion is just too big of a gamble. If he was just a salary dump for very little going back that would be doable, but because of his contract structure he will command a lot if he stays healthy the rest of the year. If he does stay healthy the NBA will find a way for him to replace Lebron or Donkey in the next year or two.

 

Yes to this. I would love the Rockets to get a 3&D PF like Naz Reid or Collins and slide Jabari to SF. Amen, Jalen, Jabari, Reid, Sengun with a bench of FVV, Dillon, Tari, Reed, Danta or another traded for Center would make us solid contenders for years to come.

 

I would have found this graph amusing if that team stuck in the lower left corner wasn't the Rockets.

 

IIRC, he had a couple of post ups against smaller defender. The mismatch can be exploited if they play that lineup again. Jabari needs to be more confident in punishing shorter guys in the post.

 

Zion talking about Dillon Brooks while mic’d up. “He can’t guard me. I get by him every time. That’s not a problem.”

 

Alpi is an above-average jumper when he has space to jump, I think! He has hops, he's just not necessarily the super twitchy kind of jumper. But one of the things I love the most is when defenders underestimate his athleticism and gets posterized. Zach Collins probably has PTSD every time he sees Alpi