ClutchFans Game Thread: Pelicans @ Rockets 1/18/2026

Gonna need the same Bari for the spurs.

 

I loathe the "x factor" term but he really is our x factor. When he plays well our chance of winning is so much higher.

 

Durant was awful in this game. Awful. It's honestly concerning. And everybody in the media seems to be afraid to talk about it, but this is now three teams in a row for Durant that have underperformed. I don't entirely understand it when I look at the stats or even watch him play, but his teams don't seem to have the will to win that the Rockets had last season with Fred and Dillon. Is he just a really awful leader? Is he an awful locker room guy? I can't make sense of it, but it's just too much of a coincidence at this point. Just like I think it's not a coincidence that the Grizzlies, Rockets and Suns all got better when they added Dillon and the Grizzlies and Rockets took a step or more backwards after getting rid of him.

 

It’s because of his shot selection and defensive shortcomings. He makes some nice defensive plays, but is generally pretty lazy on that side of the ball. Of course, it’s hard to be energetic at 37 years old playing 40 mins a game and having to fight all the grabbing and holding on every offensive possession. Lazy is probably unfair, just old and tired.

 

Missed the game. Who stood out last night?

 

Jabari

 

First, his legendary status commands too much deference. The young Rockets, and Ime, need to get past this. Second, his preferred iso style of play slows a group that's already too slow with either Sengun or Adams or, God forbid, both, on the court. Third, half of his passes are lackadaisical, leading to a ton of TOs that you'd expect a player as meticulous as KD to be more careful about.

Next, he's tired. Ime plays him way too much. Incredibly, his min/gm are INCREASING as the season progresses. Finally, he brings an iciness, a sterile precision, to the court, the opposite of Dillon's fire. Several young Rockets -- Jabari, Tari, Sengun, even Reed sometimes -- have the fire, but they don't have Durant's gravitas, so their enthusiasm is overwhelmed by the future HOFer's ponderous presence.

 

Wow ok long time coming I guess. Good stuff!

 

The team need one of jabari or reed to put in 15 to 20 points and their chance of winning is that much higher.

When both are struggling, as you can see last week's stretch it is pretty ugly.

 

He is 3rd in the entire NBA in minutes played per game and he has only missed 2 games the entire season. Everyone else around him in MPG is in their 20s and way younger. We're simply asking way too much of him. Sengun, Adams, Tari, DFS have also all missed significant time. He's averaging 27 pts on 50-40-90 splits at 37 years old playing the most minutes. We really shouldn't have any complaints about Durant.

 

Not just his passing. His willingness and eagerness to get to the ball or fight to come meet the pass is lackadaisical and nonchalant. defenders are able to jump the passing attempt because he just stand there like a statue expecting his teammates to teleport the ball right into his hands.

Adams, amen, reed, Jabari all have turn the ball over because of this.

For the past few games, sengun just said he'll take it himself since KD didn't work to get open and provide a better passing lane.

 

For the defense freaks: Go to 6:40 of the 4th and watch Okogie, DFS, and Jabari orchestrate a series of switches leading to a shot-clock violation. It's gorgeous.

 

that's the whole point of DFS signing. in my eyes he's another mbah a moute signing. but dude is not healthy. a great defense is when you're able to switch everything and there are no mismatch.

under MDA and jeff big dih, this is what they did to hide harden in defense.

 

I thought the same - they switched so well it was awesome to watch.

 

You’re kidding me, KD may have been awful for 1 game. But he has carried to rockets to multiple wins this season. The most consistent offensive output for us. Also the highest assist numbers in the past few games.

 

Durant has played admirably for us. He is just a worse fit than most of us thought he would be. Whether it is truly a fit problem or a coaching problem, who knows? It doesn’t matter, because neither Durant or Ime is going anywhere for at least 2 years.

Hopefully Tari and DFS are productive rotation pieces and Sengun returns to his early season play. I have very little doubt that Amen, Jabari, and Reed will continue to improve the rest of the year. It really is up to Ime to find a way to integrate Durant and Reed into the offense. We still have a chance to make some noise, but I doubt it unless Ime becomes a different man than I think he is. I don’t think Stone makes a move at the deadline, so we will live and die by this roster and this coach for this year and depending on the outcome, changes may be made in the off-season.

 

we've made it to PAGE 30.

 

If Jabari plays well the other team sucks.

•Allowed him get open because they couldn’t guard KD or Sengun straight up

•Ran out of good defenders and had to put a Spencer Dinwiddie dude on him

•Didn’t have enough scoring to hunt out and cook, a very cookable option

He doesn’t play well if the other team doesn’t suck

Requiring the other team to suck is our X factor