ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Thunder 10/21/2025

That's the spirit!

 

Some thoughts:

Alpi played like an MVP, though I don't expect him to shoot 5/8 from long range very often. Eurobasket was a great tune up for him.

KD should have gotten more FGAs. Too often the other players forgot about him. The missed FT and foul blunder make this loss hurt more.

Rockets would have won if Amen had not cramped out. His absence gutted the defense.

Steven Adams is one of the most uniquely impactful players in the NBA. There is nobody quite like him.

Jabari started well, completely disappeared for 3 quarters and then showed up again late. Once it became obvious he would take the last shot, I knew the game was lost.

Tari was a complete flaming train wreck. I am extremely disappointed he started the season so poorly. Either his mind isn't right or he didn't improve in the offseason.

Reed looked very small out there. Defense is gonna be a problem for him all year because opponents will continually put him on an island. If he doesn't shoot 40% from long range, he may not be very useful in the NBA.

Okogie has the potential to be a very good rotation player for this team.

 

Derick white would be ideal

 

My biggest concern was the number of times Goon initiated the offense from 25 feet out. A handful of times ok, but it’s too much work to get deep in the lane. All night is exhausting. Durant too. Amen can handle it. But let’s get these guys the ball on the post and use our height and length down low. And I’d like to see Jabari dumping the ball inside for entry into the post. We are working too hard to get shots instead of using our length and height, and ball movement.

 

We need another guard desperately. Reed is a traffic cone on defense and can’t dribble against pressure.

 

Ball movement is not a stalwart of an Ime Udoka offense. I can hear it now, we just got outworked.

 

why? Whats different than the last 3 years? Players constantly play to increase their brand and market value. Why would This year wouldn’t be any different

 

Reed Sheppard had me yelling at the tv. So did Tari Eason. That turnover at the end by Sheppard was what made me so angry. I was one of the guys who think we should give him more playing time but the more time he got at the end of the game might just be enough for me to think he is not good enough. Has a really good shooting form but only when he’s wide open. Not very athletic and can’t guard for crap. Been watching the Rockets for nearly 35 years. I thought he was too timid at first but the more he shoot it the more I got angry.

 

I don’t see him as a lost cause as he could be very good in 2-3 years. The issue is his development and where he is opposed to where the organization needs him to be. He isn’t a Cason Wallace or Herb Jones type guy who was ready for a heavy duty in their second years. The Rockets aren’t prioritizing development that’s why they shipped Cam. I don’t know how long this observation period will last but we can’t win big games like these with him. Forget about the playoffs. These mistakes simply cannot happen. That’s how slim the margins are

 

Contract years are different for players because it's typically in the back of their mind. Jabari for example can play stress free as he knows he's got a contract for the next 6 years basically and can just go out there and give it his best. His performance this game does not impact his future money. Tari on the other hand is likely thinking about every game and putting pressure on him self to make sure he gets stats but also to make sure he doesn't get injured as that would be detrimental for his next contract. Jabari doesn't have to worry about that now that his contract is secure.

There were a couple of plays where Tari just didn't try for effort plays, a loose ball he could have had but didn't' even try to get it. Defense on a fast break where he just let the guy go basically, few others where his effort was clearly questionable it made me wonder if he's worried about getting hurt. If he signed that extension he wouldn't have to worry about that and could play relaxed and go all out like usual. I mean this is really not rocket science. There's a reason people joke around sometimes when someone balls out for a game "oh it must be a contract year" lol. So for Tari my guess is that he wants to up his stats while also avoiding injury. That could be problematic for the team if not managed correctly.

 

My #1 regret about this game, at the moment, is that every loss puts pressure on Ime to limit Reed's minutes and consider trading for whatever PG we can get. I'd like to give Reed time to get used to defending and running the offense against high-quality opponents. I believe that will pay off later in the season. A win tonight would have given him more leeway. Instead, as you can see from the reactions on this board, there will be pressure to tighten the leash.

 

It is very unfair and disgusting that there is so much dissing of Reed on this thread. First of all, he was not the reason why the Rockets lost the game. He did not play as well as expected but everyone, other than Alpi had a hand in the loss, including KD. This is the first game of the season and there were three new starters and other players. The team showed grit and fighting spirit despite having a new lineup. There are still many more games to play down the road, and the players should be judged when enough games have been played. The singling out of Reed is absolutely disgusting.

 

I've been screaming all game about Sengun trying to dribble penetrate from outside the 3pt line WITH CARUSO ON HIM. Against a small and quick guy like that, you punish them by posting him down low rather than forcing him to dribble past a pest.

I understand they want to clear the lane for both Sengun and Amen to drive. But the double big isn't design to have a very open lane anyway. If Caruso isn't guarding him, then yeah let Sengun beat a big guy from outside. Got to adjust your offense according to what the defense is throw at you.

Anyway, I'm actually optimistic about the team despite the loss. Tari and Reed were disappointing. But I think Reed will learn, and Tari will calm down in time.

Amen is visibly less hesitant to shoot the 3 now. But after a few misses, he seemed to have given up and abandoned the shot.

Having Jabari playing up front in the zone defense is hilarious. He's just not fast enough to do that full time. Even Tari can't do that very well. You need faster personnel, especially when the best opposing player is a speedy guard. (No, Stone, not all wings are created the same.)

 

Feels like all of these offensive problems would be solved with a real veteran PG who can get the ball to our players in the right spots. Sengun is being handed the ball at the top of the key and asked to post up 20+ feet out. He needs to not let Alex Caruso off the hook and really post him up every opportunity like Jokic.

But again if we had a real pg, Durant and Sengun would be getting the ball in their sweet spots instead of at the half court line.

 

he's pressing for the wrong reasons. Tari used to hustle for the love of the game; for the hate of GSW. Contract year and Tari, all of a sudden, wants an expanded role. Tari is not built for an expanded role. Tari's game no longer pure.

 

still no explanation on thompson’s injury status?

 

They just said calf cramping. Probably a safety precaution to take him out. No reason to risk any kind of injury our first game of the season.

 

i heard he cramped up. Nothing serious

 

He’s built for regular season chaos too. This was a late round playoff game. He’s not that effective when he has to play in the half court.

 

Honestly, if he was asking for a lot of money, I'm glad he didn't get it. Even with no health concerns I would be concerned about overpaying for what he brings to the table.