ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Warriors 4/26/2025 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 3)

Nope, I want the better players, I don't care who coaches....Stone would be a fool to trade Jabari - or Cam before he finds out what they are....Cam has more potential than Jalen at this point.

DD

 

You could see it pretty clearly tonight that Alperen Sengun was a problem. Not just because he missed free throws, though that’s bad enough for someone in his fourth year, but because of the way he played.

Passive. Soft. Like he was waiting for something to happen instead of making it happen.

And when you see that, it’s hard to keep pretending he’s the guy you build everything around.

 

I mean I Want to keep these players but put yourself in their position...

If you are Cam why would you want to stay on this team? You watched every other young player on this team get to grow and learn while you sit and watch. There are plenty of teams that would love to give him the minutes like the Jazz or something or the Wizards, why would you want to stay on this team? If I'm Cam I'm bolting ASAP. Every year on this team from his POV is a wasted year.

Jabari, I don't know, he seems like a complete team and selfless player who would only leave if more money was offered elsewhere.

But if the Rockets don't have plans for them they may as well trade them while they still have value because I don't think these guys are on the team once their contracts are up. We can only commit to like 3 of our young core, clearly these two aren't it. Reed, hopefully he'll get a chance next season...but who knows.

 

Oh I agree, but Cam is under contract for at least 3 more years enough time to right that wrong. Jabari is a great role player, should be starting.

It is literally Stone's job to pick the right guys, he needs to move on from Jalen and Fred.

DD

 

Amen is so inept offensively. He will never be a superstar. Not to mention his free throw shooting.

 

one 6’5” guy flanked by 3 zebras

 

Worriers secured a Game 6 and possibly a trend to Game 7....and then Butler returns.

 

This is why I've been a pro-wrestling fan since forever.

It's sports but its all fixed and just entertainment so you won't even get mad when your favorites lose. It's the most stress free 'sport' of all.

 

Doesn't sound like that great a quote when the guy has two games under 10 points so far.

 

Our starting lineup is Dillon and 4 non shooters. Bold 1950s strategy in 2025

 

Sengun took some bad bad shots tonight, wasn't impressed at all with the rushed bunnies that always go short. Always have and always will pin this on the fact he's rarely ever treated like the main guy and he doesn't always get to find a rhythm like the guards are afforded.

Amen was absolutely putrid with a lot of his attempts inside.

Jalen, apart from the one bad three towards the end of the game i'm not even upset at his misses. It's that the entire game the Rockets put the ball in his hands and he did absolutely nothing with it. One time I can recall he beat his man off the dribble. But the rest of the time he was content being forced to give it up and do nothing with the ball. He was so passive they literally were playing 4 on 5 a lot of possessions. And this goes back to the root of all Jalen issues - consistency.

He is averaging 18ppg this series...... after scoring 38 in a game. If he was consistent and scored 18 in each of the games they'd have a very good chance of being 3-0.

The loss doesn't sting as bad, because you knew from the beginning of the game they weren't going to win. After they Warriors were missing absolutely everything to open the game and the Rockets could barely get any separation, add to that the refs actually seemed to be favouring the Rockets in the beginning.

The defensive scheme for the backend of the second half was just atrocious.

 

Ime blame the loss on his players cant make those shots. Lol

 

It’s frustrating because we know how good this team can be and this game was so blah. Like they just went dumb show for 10 min. Every game counts.

 

Exactly and imagine if Reed starts imitating Curry on a few 3s or Cam has a highlight dunk or two that changes the energy. Simple things that I don't know why Ime doesn't just try it out

 

Except Alperen had 26 points in his playoff debut and a damn near triple double in game 2. He gets a game 3 pass unlike Jalen who has thrown up two terrible duds.

 

I believe it is 2 more years and then he is a restricted FA.

 

FVV and Jalen are catching all the heat this series,and they deserve it.

However Amen has been easily my most disappointing player in this series. He's looked hesitant and altogether terrible on the offensive end. He is the guy most of us are extremely high on, and it is his first series...that doesn't change the fact that he's sucked on the offensive end.

 

Tonight something was off. This happens, they can lose all remaining games but there is hope. They have shown that they are capable of winning.

Both loses were very easily winnable games. With some average FT shooting they would be tied. This team can compete even when the shots are not falling.

 

This.

This Rocket team can be so good when clicking. All the players are under performing.

 

That 1st quarter showed our issues so glaringly, I knew it was going to be a grind out slug fest where we would get nothing going. FVV hot shooting could not mask the horrendous offense we throw out, only magnified by Jalen Green’s inability to get past his man, by FVV’s lack of an inside threat when he drives (I know he’s small by would it hurt to actually get a lay-up or floater game going?), Amen’s inability to dribble and Sengun’s inability to control the ball. Jabari and Brooks shot it well, yet cannot get the ball as much because Green & FVV play hero ball and then in the 2nd half Amen likely got in his head or was instructed to be more aggressive. Either way, we play dumb and if we hadn’t, Brooks and Jabari would’ve both had more than 8 attempts from 3.

The worst part about this game is how weak we looked. Yes, we looked soft AF out there. Not just accepting again that Draymond throws elbows and even took a shot at Adams, but not to put up much resistance on the boards at times, on drives, doubling off of good shooters, not sticking close enough and just allowing guys to get in for lay-ups. We talk a lot of **** for a team who’s getting embarrassed on a nightly basis with our lack of smart, solid basketball. Very disappointed in a few guys overall: Jalen, Amen, FVV, Brooks and then some for specific reasons like Sengun (wtf is wrong with him, looking shook, not getting any lift on those shots and free throw shooting was just ridiculous), Tari (get your feet behind the line dummy), Jabari (stay in bounds and shoot will you?) and Ime for again not trusting the bench beyond the 3 he played.

Do not even get me started on our strategy on defense, execution or both and not adjusting to their zone defense very well from a players and coaching standpoint. 3pt shooters got wide open looks, Sengun didn’t get many touches and when he did he was just slow AF, no solid cuts when Sengun hubbing, not getting the ball to the shooters in spots where they can be successful. All of these things plus specific issues with players have been discussed prior and it’s time we accept as fans that we’re just not smart enough, a lot of bark but no bite and that this roster is deeply flawed.

Next game we better come with more energy and crisp execution of our offense, passing in particular. We might have thought this would’ve been an easy win without Butler and in that case we are just not ready for the spotlight. If Post starts again next game, can we please bring Amen off the bench and start Tari or rather Jabari? Thank you.

Last thing, FT shooting again abysmal, just like Game 1. So guess all we have to look at is FTs if it even matters anymore. We are not worthy of being here if you play games like we did in game 1 and 3.