ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Spurs 10/27/2023

Still saying 44 win season. 1st win tonight. Want it so bad. Want to see how we plan and execute against Wemby.

Things I’m looking for:

1st off. Rid the impression of lack of maturity in a 3rd year #2 pick player from Jalen Green. Rid the impression that you’re not taking ownership & accountability after a poor opening performance. If you have another terrible game, don’t then repeat a bunch of sideline laughing and post-game deflecting of valid criticism.

#2) Take care of the ball. Amen gets a free pass cause he’s young and full of nerves - rookie excitement. Jalen Green 3rd year needs to stop unforced turnovers. Brooks and FVV too.

#3) Perimeter D, guarding 3 pt line improvement. Getting killed on the 3 line and on the glass. Choose one. Usually not both. Those running close outs need to be more effective cause teams are comf af letting it fly by the time our guy does a running fly by close out.

#4) mitigate the other teams offensive boards & 2nd chances. Getting killed on the glass which is weird cause we’re not spread out on the perimeter. We’re paint packing with shifting help D. We’re there a lot of times but not boxing out, playing harder and more physical.

 

My psychic said 81-1 is inevitable. Go Rockets!

 

As inevitable as acne.

 

No way they win on road vs Spurs who’s gonna try even harder to win their first game with Wemby looking to get more touches and stay out of foul trouble. I’ll be ok with 4 quarters of intensity and a total team effort. Progress vs Regress

 

i think we lose by double digits.

 

The bane of @Jontro .

 

Pump fake Wemby, get him into foul trouble again. Keep the crowd out of it.

 

No more 'first game jitters' excuses. Hope Udoka was hard on the players for their unforced TOs.

 

Cmon Amen close us out! Ummmm... "Umm" on 3. 1.. 2.. 3.. ummm... you better grow some nuts!

 

Let Dillon defend Wemby otherwise he'll drop 40 bomb on Jabari's head.

 

He's so likeable. I hope he retires a rocket

 

We were a 1.5 point underdog and then Landale's injury made it 3 points. I think I'd be almost happy with a 3 point loss. SA might smack us down. I hope to be surprised = trap game for them?

 

We were a 1.5 point underdog and then Landale's injury made it 3 points. I think I'd be almost happy with a 3 point loss. SA might smack us down. I hope to be surprised = trap game for them?

 

Devin Vassell is gonna light us up in addition to Wemby blocking Jalen at least 3x


Spurs rout

 

Smith seems to have the most problem with physical bigs. Houston's best bet is Smith on Wemby and Sengun on Collins, but the Spurs will probably try to switch that.

Either way, the Rockets will have to be at their best to have a chance.

 

I think tonight's game will show the team's character. After getting flat out embarrassed in game 1, do they come out swinging wanting to prove they aren't a joke or do they stink it up again?

 

Differences we need to see from last game vs. the Magic:

- We were mediocre but not catastrophic in initial halfcourt defense against Orlando (101.4 pts/play with Orlando hitting a lot of shots we want them to take). We got destroyed on the offensive glass though, giving up a 50% OREB%. It's a guaranteed loss if that happens -- some of this is due to unlucky bounces, but Sengun needs to be much stronger vs. the opposing C and our smalls need to seek physicality and actually box out.

- Jalen made at least 5 plays that were completely unacceptable mistakes for a third year player. 2 unpressured turnovers literally throwing the ball out of bounds, and 3 zero hope straight line drives into waiting shotblockers. Net positive players never make plays like this. I want to see Ime call a TO, bench him, and chew him out if one happens again vs. SA.

- Jabari's shot has to go in for him to be a meaningful NBA player, simple as that.

- I want to see FVV be more aggressive with his offense. A Fred VanVleet pull up 3 out of the PnR is pretty close to this team's best offense. We need more of it.

- For Amen and our second unit to succeed, he has to play downhill at all times. Asking him to play like a traditional point guard day 1 is a mistake. I like his willingness, but he shouldn't be calling out sets and running standstill PnR's into mid-range pull up jumpers right now. It's stressing the two things he's weakest at -- the handle and jump shooting. Instead, set a hard screen for him 5 feet above the three point line, and let him run full speed into the paint and play instinctively. He'll draw a foul, make a good pass, or finish at the rim. Amen needs to play like a Westbrook-style PG right now, not a CP3-style PG.