ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Lakers 1/16/2023

lol didnt alpi also have a couple of huge dunks on jokic?

 

Sengun taking and making 3's is as good as it gets. Just the threat of him shooting especially in high scoring games is invaluable to everyone on the team and the philosophy in general. "Im so happy' to see that!

 

I didn't see the second half last night, but the numbers point to a similar outcome: It looks like, in the 3Q, the Rockets were in danger of getting blown out but strung together a bit of a run. At the beginning of 4Q, we turned to the bench. We got a little more scoring than usual, but the Lakers muscled up their needed shots, and we couldn't defend and keep them off the line. Nothing all that new here.

It's fascinating to go inside the numbers of Sengun's career night.

In the 2Q: He brought the ball up numerous times in his 10+ minutes on the court. The advanced stats give him a paltry 19.3% usage rate for the quarter (trailing KMJ 33.8, Green 31.5, Smith 25.2, Gordon 22.5). He got 9 points, 8 boards, 3 assists, and 3 blocks out of such a low usage rate.

Sengun had 11 shots (two off the offensive glass) in the first half, five more shots in the 3Q, but only one shot attempt, a driving layup, in the 4th (though he did get called for an offensive foul on a rebound with 40 seconds left). That leaves him with a paltry 14% usage rate in the last quarter. Were the Lakers doing anything special here? I have my doubts since their D looked pretty bad.
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Last glaring stats: The Lakers finished the night with a franchise record low of 2 TOs and a 27-7 advantage on the break. Is there anything that our young team can do to get more points on the break or disrupt the other team's rhythm?

 

I just saw the clip of Jabari Smith Jr. calling Lebron old. You might want to rethink the trash talk when your team only has half the wins of the old guy's..

 

COME ON MAN?? YOU GOT TO BE JOKING?

These SOFs have lost their minds. Hakeem?? He had one good game against inferior competition and now you're saying he can probably be better than Hakeem?

 

I can't believe the Nuggets whiffed on him. Truly insane.

 

The hornets game is going to be a fun game to watch. The epitome of wild Wild West hoops.

 

They will regret it. Like I've said about Jokic, Sabonis and Sengun, they are all similar players; very skilled passers and on the offensive end but they give you nothing on the defensive end.

It's hard to win a Championship with a player with those skill sets. You have to be able to get stops! You can blame it on the guards, forwards or whomever but your CENTER IS THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE!

 

But we knew we were tanking 3 years in a row so loses is expected… the team will only win as many games as the other bottom teams.. would it have made a different if we were the second worst team the last 2 years?

The NBA does love screwing Houston over but let’s hope Houston being a international melting pot lands us Wemby.

 

lol buddy alpi gives you the defense! and has an elite defensive potential like al horford or draymond green type and even better... its juts that he has only ever played 6 full nba games and you cant become good at defense by not playing any games...

you also need teammates otherwise its very discouraging to put great effort into defense when it doesn't even matter because other players leak all the time...

you also need a coach that will support you and protect you vs refs because if your coach aint giving you any respect neither will the refs ... and you cant play great defense in NBA if the refs are against you

 

Orlando is also tanking. Just happened they drafted way better players and are helping them win.

Paolo and Franz >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Green and Smith.

 

stop worshiping the past, hakeem is good but hes not a god, nothing that alpi cant beat...buddy you didnt even begin to learn what the true greatnes is about...

 

This is what Stone will be judged upon.....if there are players drafted after his picks that are a lot better it will be on him.

DD

 

If Sengun truly is the best of his draft class, then by the metric alone Stone has won lifetime tenure

 

Yeah but you need a defensive coach. The Nets had defensive players and were one of the worst defensive teams under Steve Nash. Hate to be a broken record but its SIlas. We need a new coach.

 

Alpi had one of th ebest dunks of the season against the Spurs. Im not sure what TInman is going on about there. That highlight is no better than anything highlight Sengun has on a regular basis.

 

We had no shot at Paolo, I was okay with the Green pick at the time, but he seems to be a disappointment overall, other than that second half of his rookie season.

 

What a game! Wish I could have been in the game thread, but had company - very frustrating.

Sengun was just incredible! That first 3 with the wild bounce going down gave him the confidence in taking the shot that's always been standing between Alpi and adding that to his expanding offensive repertoire. That's my guy!

Not the only one playing well, but the star of this game, no doubt about it.
I'm so happy!

 

Jalen is 20 years old. How does the “wait for him to develop” argument currently being heaped on Sengun not apply to Green? Not picking on you necessarily, it’s just way too early to make any bold assessments about any of the youngsters