ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Mavericks 1/3/2026

KD basically shoots 2s over 3s......even if he makes it, the opponent gets hot from downtown....

Tradeoff is 3s versus 2s.

KD gets stripped like Jalen Green.....Rinse repeat.

 

To be fair there were a *lot* of ticky tack fouls not being called both ways. Felt like one of those games. Rockets were up 11 and the refs started calling everything tight and the Mavs got even. They seemed to go out of their way to give KD his 4th foul. This is the real reason no one wants to take the regular season seriously because it feels like more of an extension of gambling than it does the NBA.

That being said I wish Amen had more takeover gene in him. So many times he gets himself into a good spot and just passes out. Needs to make the game easier on himself instead of Jalen Greening it all the time with high difficulty shots that wont fall later on in his career.

 

So glad I didn’t go to the game last night. I was looking at 170 a ticket x3 plus like 40 dollars in parking at AAC plus food, drink etc.

Like a $500 night when it’s all said and done to watch THAT???

You guys think I would have gotten my moneys worth if I went?

 

Was a Scheduled Loss after that injury.

 

Well, Gafford was there to block Amen that night.......dang....does not happen often.

 

And a coach that can’t adjust.

DD

 

True, but have to admit I am seeing it more and more lately. He’s definitely been more aggressive lately compared to early in the season. So I think there’s a chance he’s slowly getting there.

Part of it is most likely that he is our starting point guard. So he probably feels like he needs to distribute more to warrant that. Even though there are times where we could benefit more with him just using his athleticism and strength to overwhelm dudes to the rim, like he did a couple of times tonight. Even the announcers were basically like “the defender tried to stop him several times but just nothing he can do” lol

 

Would have still won this game without Sengun if Jabari or Sheppard were making their shots.

 

Anybody complaining about the way Amen played last night is out of their mind. He was by far the best player on the court and was relentless down the stretch on the offensive boards. It was a collective lost due to poor 3 pt shooting by the guys that are supposed to be good at it.

 

Yup I’m in agreement he played a good game. And he hustled hard towards the end during that attempted comeback. Overall, I really like what I’m seeing from him lately and still think his potential is sky high.

 

He hit some really nice middies last night and is trending up in that area. Earlier in the year he was missing layups at an alarming rate, but that has completely been overcome. He is settling into his role. There really is no need for this team to panic. What is important is that Sengun, Amen, and Durant stay healthy. Without any one of them, we will be first round fodder. It is imperative that Ime learn how to better manage his rotations. Last night was not his fault, but that extended streak with Holiday and Tate on the floor was head scratching. I’m also perplexed how Okogie has been demoted so far down the bench. His defense alone opposed to Holiday on a cold shooting night would have kept us closer in that game. Sheppard was playing poorly, but he also could have taken some of those Holiday minutes and maybe his shot would have started dropping.

 

Must hit 3s to win in the NBA.

DD

 

Our offense was terrible last night but way better than our defense. Go Texans!

 

Notes on the Rockets three games vs the Dallas Mavericks this season.

Rockets took the second most 3 pointers in a game in the loss last night. 41 attempts

The Rockets two lowest 3-point percentages of the season have both happened agaisnt the Mavericks
November 3rd .276 (Win) January 3rd .244 (Loss)

Lowest opponent 3-point attempts in a game by a Rockets opponents both happen agaisnt Dallas
including last night and both were losses.

Two lowest free throw attempts and makes in a game this season for the Rockets both again have happen on the Rockets' three games vs the Dallas Mavericks this season.

The Rockets' two lowest 3-point percentages of the season have both happened against the Mavericks.
November 3rd .276 (Win) January 3rd .244 (Loss)

The lowest number of opponent 3-point attempts in a game by a Rockets opponent occurred against Dallas and was a loss.

The two lowest free-throw attempts and makes in a game this season for the Rockets both happened again against the Mavericks.
11-13 attempts on 12-06, 12-15 attempts 01-03, both losses

Lowest total rebounds for a game this season? Yes, you guessed it, against the Mavericks.
37 12-06

Second-lowest fg percentage of the season.
.387 01-03 the Mavericks.

 

Defense was hardly the reason for their loss record but really bottom 10 Offense.

If Christie blows up somehow, they got another mini Brunson in their darn lucky hands.

 

Embarrassing loss. We are not contenders at this point.

 

If you write that after this 1/82 then there is no "we" fam. WE Rockets fans know that when Bari and Reed play a bottom 5% game for them (re: one of their worst 3-5 games of an 82 game season) on top of no Alpi and Adams then it's going to be tough to beat anyone.

Here's what you look for in a night like last night:

Did your star(s) play like star(s)? Check
Did you have a chance late? Check
Did you find a new rotation or an interesting play design or defensive quirk to use later? No
If you could normalize the level of play of one underperforming player do you win? Check (Bari normal = W)
Did your team play hard? Check
Did your starters play even or outplay their starters? Check (judged by starter aggregate +/-)

Also, it would really help if Brandon Williams wasn't Reed's daddy. In both games it's like he's 2 or 3 pages ahead of Reed on both sides of the ball. I think IME could have given JD some of those minutes late in the 4th over Holiday. I really like Aaron Holiday. Probably too much. But it was obvious he was neither quick enough to stay in front of Christie or Williams nor was he hitting shots. Simple, easy, tweak next time we're in this situation.

 

Is he the worst in the league at in game adjustments? Seems like it. He’s like Texans-era Kubiak where the first 60 or so snaps were scripted and he DID NOT deviate from the script.