ClutchFans Game Thread: Nuggets @ Rockets 11/21/2025

Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun are their 3rd and 4th best players…same can’t be said for Tari or DFS

we’ll see what DFS looks like whenever he comes back…I didn’t know he was this hurt when we signed him

 

Depth? Ime doesn't need that.
8 man rotation is Ime's favorite.

 

This team as constructed can’t beat Denver let alone okc in a 7 game series.
Durant is older, iso ball physical defenders with length will wear him out again these 2 teams. Alpi Amen would have to really have to take a big leap to be contenders and I don’t see that yet !


Joker and sga are mvp caliber players with better supporting casts with toughness. Too many inconsistent players . Durant in free flowing offense like warriors was the best version of Durant we’ve seen. Physical play wears him out..
Finallly Ime needs more plays for Reed… he’s the franchise player

 

He always has his ups and downs against Jokic. This was clearly the latter

 

Ime has been coaching himself out of wins since his Celtic days. He’s good with the player moral though. Just need to remind him that like most players, leave the x and o’s to someone that had to prove more than “I’m tall and can throw a ball through a hoop.”

 

Take away the first quarter. That was 25 to 12 Denver. Both teams were feeling each other out. 2nd quarter and on... both teams were more of what they are. I came away feeling good if we had to play this team again. Just gotta sharpen a few things up and we will be fine.

 

I feel you, and agree that KD should be a lot better.

But now that I think about it, it's starting to feel a little like...
[TRIGGER WARNING]

Spoiler

 

Fair, but I'd also argue Denver is much more top-heavy than we are, and our bench is more important to our success than theirs.

 

I hope Ime does not blame the loss on playing Reed too much time.

 

Yeah Reed's far better suited as the spark plug off the bench with this current roster - Alpi and KD demands too many touches on offense with Amen handling the ball a lot and Jabari shooting the ball every time he touches it.

Reed absolutely be a quality starter in this league - it just doesn't make sense for this current Rockets team for him to do so.

 

Didn't teach him to wear a monacle tho. Had to keep some secrets

 

Not worried about this honestly. It's adjustable issues. If Durant plays an even average game, if Sengun plays smoother, if it's let's "double bigging", this is a win even with all the other issues

Jokic actually played a little below his season numbers. Was .100 lower FG%, 3 less rebounds, 2 less assists. That's just how amazing he is. Nuggets have a tighter cohesive offensive unit, shot 53% for game, and only won by 1 point. Vs the Sengun/Durant Pass-to-Each Other In The Worst Spots offensive plan

 

For sure, this team has missed Tari's hustle and tenaciousness on the court, it's been apparent in these games. And his 50% 3 point shooting too.

 

lol

 

Alpi has had good games against Denver in the past, but I do think he matches up better against Chet than Jokic.

Still, waaaaay too early to think about playoffs, we have a lot more to see and learn about our squad.

We showed a lot today, both positive and negative. But overall, despite the disappointment of losing, this team is still obviously very dangerous and I’d bet nobody wants to see us.

See you next game, friends!

 

Did KD get any points in 4th quarter?

I didn't notice.

 

Reed played 36 minutes and was plus 13. Adams was plus 16. They needed significantly less double big and just less Sengun in general tonight.

 

13-20 free throws, 16 turnovers and only won the rebounding battle by 2.

We really played that bad and only lost by 3. There are reasons to be optimistic, surely Kev and Alpe won't be that bad at the same time ever again?

 

It's painful watching the other teams build a wall to stop KD & Sengun while Amen just sits behind the arc. You can trade picks for whoever, but it won't matter if the other team is guarding 5 on 4.

 

my own comment made me look up keith bogans' numbers

and guess what his career high in minutes is and for which team?

Spoiler

05-06 HOU 32.2 MPG. his 2nd most mpg was at 26.8 mpg. can't believe he avg 32.2 mpg with houston. damn you, JVG