ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Nuggets 12/15/2025

IT sure as **** did cost us the game.

Up 1 with 2.3 seconds to go...they get a FT to tie the game.

Now, 3 technical foul points given up hurt, but that call cost us the game we had won.

DD

 

Sengun has a 2/1 assist ratio - awesome for a center. KD has always been average at best with his rate, plus he only averages 3 TO/game.

Rockets main problem is their PG went down and the West is better than ever. Sengun has been pretty great IMO. He's playing much stronger inside than year's past. He's literally bodied people with that hook shot for big late-game FGMs. All his shooting % have increased. Amen obviously needs to improve the shooting but what's concerning is his finishing in the paint. He needs to make more layups and develop a floater. There's been players in league history who drive&finish but don't have range. He needs to master shots 6' and closer if 3PT is a distant hope. Be creative with hooks, floaters, scoops, etc. He can already get to the basket - be creative with scoring after doing so. His FT development is promising.

 

You’re concerned about the 23-yr old star center that just dropped a 30 point triple double against Jokic? Who’s on his way to making an All-NBA team? Be serious.

All of your points are a result of losing our starting point guard for the year. It’s really that simple and not much deeper than that. Until we trade for one, the turnover problem will continue to be an issue.

 

The Golden State game scared him from getting his jacks up. He doesn’t want to step on any toes.

 

my first thoughts were exactly that anyone, anyone should take the shot instead of alpi. man though, if that had gone in it could have created some legendary narratives going forward of goon vs. joker... so, i guess i don't mind that he tried in a game that is meaningless in the grand scheme. anyway, it's not why we lost. in the end, we just came up a little short. we good.

 

Didn’t realize the Nuggs were such a floppy team… still can’t believe that bs call and the missed one against Sengun on hardaway

 

I would agree if the KD trade wasn't made - but no FVV equals the complete opposite of a gift for a Win Now team. Reed can develop all he wants 25 min backing up Fred because Fred isn't a 30+ min body.

The KD trade changes things vs last year. There are no silver linings or gifts incognito for Win Now.

 

I chalk losses like this up to part of the process. Alpi was good for us. I didn't like that last shot by him, felt he just rushed it instead of giving it to a real shooter. That tech was a huge call and that gave them new life.

This team is doing just fine without their starting vet PG available. Reed and Amen are getting the minutes and growth they need. There will be some rough spots along the way, but they are improving as we are going along. Denver is no slouch team.

 

All I have to say is ref shenanigans and missed FTs cost us this game.

 

I agree completely. You don’t make the kd trade for development. You make it because you want to win now.

 

I really, really hate the ticky-tack stuff like this getting called all the time. It slows down the game, breaks players' rhythm, and it's just bad entertainment. The thing about basketball is that if they went by the book all the time you could probably call a foul or a travel or something on almost every possession. It's a sport that is actually impossible to call "by the book" in that sense. So I just prefer if the really soft/borderline stuff gets ignored, especially when it comes to things in the grey area of "incidental contact". Let the players play.

 

Looking at that bullshit call on Hardaway at the end makes me so mad, especially since it denied us an Alpi game-winner which he deserved. Made me think though, players can easily pretend to trip when being chased around a screen and make it look like they were actually tripped and get a call (especially before the ball is inbounded). And if the other team has no challenges left, they would probably get that call 100% of the time. **** even with our challenge they didn't overturn that bullshit call. Refs can get tricked so easily, bunch of dumb blind ****s

 

I think people are somewhat overstating how much the KD trade was a win now move, honestly. I mean, it obviously was to some degree, but I also think the front office was partly just trying to move on from Jalen Green in a reasonable way that didn't make the team worse or give them a bad reputation with players/agents/etc. I think it was "win now" in some sense, I think they wanted to be in the mix with other contenders since we were so good last season but lacked a "finisher", but I don't think it was an indication that they're pushing all their cards in and it's championship or bust right now. It was more like, okay, we can pick up a really great player for a reasonable cost, move off of the contract for a young guy we don't really believe in anymore, and only have to give up one mid-lotto draft pick in a bad draft class to do it.

Basically I'm saying it was a smaller statement of intent than people think. I think the front office is okay with being patient here. They'd probably be happy just to get out of the first round of the playoffs, which KD does help them do.

 

that doesn't really make sense, how does getting KD stop other players from developing. It's obvious the Rockets put a stop to the Jalen Green project after 4 years of inconsistent mediocrity, It's not like Sengun, Thompson and Reed suddenly stop improving because you added KD on the team.

 

Delete

 

I have had this concern after the ease of SA's victory over the Rockets. SA doesn't have as much talent as Houston does.

 

Well, that is the thing, they made their plans I don't know when....during the Playoffs...or early Offseason.

Other teams just caught up developing their players....and making moves also.

 

Wemby alone has the potential to be better than anybody, well, yeah Sengün and Amen developed much better than we could initially hoped for.

Maybe it is hype but they have great talent, I am pretty high on Dylan Harper, he is quiet and not as loud as Castle, but he is going to be better than Castle.

19 and already playing like a 22 year old. Smooth operator.

They just do not look as polished as the Rockets, mainly because they are also 2-3 years younger.

 

That was me at the end of the game, except that I'm a heck of a lot thinner. I didn't sleep well last night after it was over. It was one of those games.