ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Spurs 10/16/2023 (Preseason)

Holiday was the star of this game. On the flip side, Sengun looked pretty bad. Our interior defense needs a lot of work. All in all, the effort was good, not much to complain about. Whitmore shoots too much, Thompson continues to impress, I like the direction they are heading. Good game...

 

One word: Amen.

 

Gotta be Silas’s fault.

 

Amen looks 6'11 on the court.

And very encouraging to see his shot falling so early in his development.

 

Starters played like they weren't interested. Bench played like they want a job.

 

Just saw this pic, you haven't been sitting courtside at Suns games recently have you??

 

We play them again on Wed (10/18). Pops kinda knows what works right now.

Rockets bench is positive in +/-, while our starters are in heavy minus. HOU's bench advantage is also skewed since Spurs put in their 3rd unit. In essence, they won the game tonight.


Wemby and Vassell will suit up Wed. What's worrisome is Pops has stuff to fall back on.

Pre-season goals is more about the steps than wins. Spurs will come with full roster power. A more legit stress test to the systems Rockets is trying to build. Hopefully not a blowout and an opportunity to get more data.

 

How much draft capital do they still have?

Would be interesting....how they continue to rebuild this.

 

They have some for sure from Dejounte.

Year Round Team Protections Deal
2024 1 Spurs
2024 1 Raptors Top-6 Jakob Poeltl
2024 2 Pelicans, Bulls Less favorable Josh Richardson
2024 2 Lakers Kennedy Chandler
2025 1 Spurs
2025 1 Hawks Dejounte Murray
2025 1 Bulls DeMar DeRozan
2025 2 Spurs
2025 2 Raptors Jakob Poeltl
2025 2 Bulls DeMar DeRozan
2026 1 Spurs
2026 1 Hawks Swap

 

If healthy they look like a 27-30 winning team .....not far fetched and probably about the same or over Portland.

They can run some different ish.....without Wemby.

Wemby has no weaknesses other than he is slower on the close outs, once he figures that out, it is practically over.

 

the only concern are injuries. Spurs look like they got Pops imprints already… and they ****ing young. Add Wemby to the mix and we looking at the dynasty. Its very obvious

 

Some thoughts and observations:
1. Amen Thompson is ready, love the guy already in all that he does. He rebounds, hustles, goes for blocks, steals, can recover quickly with that wingspan and his stroke is already looking solid enough.
2. Aaron Holiday really has that Holiday DNA, the guy is a hustle player and is one of the few players I trust to make something happen when penetrating. I want the guy to get minutes over Bullock, Whitmore or anyone else.
3. Jeff Green needs minutes, the guy still has hustle, can score from time to time and is a great influence on the court with his communication and poise.
4. Jabari definitely needs to keep gaining muscle and getting stronger, but also work on his handles and posture. He makes it much harder on himself sometimes with the way he dribbles, goes into the lane, leans in too much to the point that he almost falls down or makes it very easy for his shot to get blocked.
5. Amen, Holiday and Tate can all make something happen inside, even against bigger, more athletic competition such as the Spurs. The rest who is out there I don't trust at all to get a quality shot, pass or just make the right decision.
6. Not impressed with Cam Whitmore at all. Sure, the dunk was nice, but if he had looked up earlier, he could've passed it off to the guy ahead of him. He's selfish, doesn't hustle on defense, only looks out for himself, and way too quick to pull the trigger.
7. Sengun looked out of sorts, not sure if he still has an injury or something, but did not look good. He did hustle though.
8. Our 3rd stringers are pretty damn solid. I don't know who should make the team, but really like Samuels (did you see that pass to Cam in the corner) and Jeenathan Williams.
9. Spurs really outmuscled us and we really look small compared to those guys, really could use another big forward / center type out there.
10. Brooks looked solid, just not when he tries to force it. Early shot clock threes and drives to the basket should be kept to a minimum.

 

Yes, they need two more All Stars for that, in the form of TP and Ginobili.....

Keldon, Sochan and Vassell are a tier below in my opinion, will still be a good Playoff team.

Collins, Branham are beasts though. Bassy interesting.

 

That was torture watching Zach Hakeem Collins score that many points.
Tate killing the tempo trying to be pg, STOP!
Jabari playing soft AF.
Cam chucking everything.
Bullock reminds me of washed Corey Brewer
Sengun did meh
Amen is good.

 

Sengun just probably needs time to adjust to the fact he is magically 4 inches taller over the offseason -


-once he grows into his body it is lights out for Spurs and their generational giant Zach Collins

 

Sengun and Jabari made Zach Collins look like Prime Shaq. So, that's not great. Cam dunk was fun. Amen looked pretty good. (It's a little frustrating that he quickened and cleaned up his shooting stroke in a few months, while Jalen hasn't done it in 2+ years. But whatever.)

Anyway, we're probably a bottom 5 team. So it's all good. Let's just try to stick to the positives for now.

 

The Rockets have been playing way better than I imagined.....I thought they would go 2-1 but not that great of an improvement.

I do think some of the Offense comes from getting stops and steals......and it is still worrisome.

Cam and Amen have been outplaying other 2nd and 3rd stringers.....so there is that.

 

I can make stuff happen when penetrating as well.

 

no one giving props to Aaron Holliday? comon he lead the 4th quarter comeback. he will be a nice emergency option all season.

 

Lol