ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Thunder 12/14/2024 (Vegas)

This Rockets team is gonna be good, as in, playoff team year in and out but they will never get past a healthy OKC with SGA, Chet, JDub and Harty in a best of 7 series. Even if we trade FVV for an all-star guard like Fox.

SGA is an MVP level player who will win an MVP, maybe as soon as this year. JDub will be an all-star sooner or later, same with Chet when healthy. Harty is one of the best starting center in the league being used as a backup. Dort will make all-defense year in and out and is apparently a 3pt sharpshooter for the last couple years. Rest of their pieces are just filler but solid enough to provide 3&D. On top of that, they might get another lotto pick this year because of how bad Sixers are and they can swap their pick for Clipper's pick for a top 20 pick to get another good role player. They also own Clippers picks for 26' and 27'. It's just absurd how much assets they have.

I can see Sengun and Amen being future all-stars. I don't see anyone else that can reach that level and no one will be a future MVP. Tari is good but he's more of an effort and hustle type player. He gets compared to Kawhi but Kawhi at the same age was already DPOY level player with an extremely efficient offensive game.

If our ultimate goal was to win a title with this rebuild, I just don't see it happening. I see the repeat of the 2010s where we just struggle to beat the Warriors because they were just built better than us, with better lottery luck. So far this season, we've had a good record because of Ime's philosophy on defense, I personally believe we are overachieving so far into the season. If OKC never got SGA thru that Clippers trade, I'd be more confident in our ability to beat them down the line.

 

True assessment of the Rockets. They can only win if they have a 10 point lead at some point in the game.

 

It would've been embarrassing for them if Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun got benched in the 4th Quarter on National TV.

National Media will start up Non Sense Trades again.

 

The Rockets clamped Shai in the First Half.

Not Starting Amen Thompson on Shai in the Second Half really messed up the defense.

Shai already knows Dillon Brooks defense. Going at him in practice in Canada National Team.

 

Fred and Jalen should be called Bricklayer Brothers.

They are consistently bricking game after game.

 

I find it strange when Amen is not the one guarding the other teams best player.

 

Fair enough, Rockets are a good team but OKC is just the better team right now.

better defense

better shooting

better 1A

 

Our 40 millions Fred put up 8 pts in NBA Cup semi finals.

 

Rockets can't compete with elite teams if they can't shoot.

 

I really disagree. Shai Gilgeous Alexander is already 26 years old his prime, Chet Holmgren is 22, Jalen Williams is 23.

Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green are 22, Amen is 21, Tari is 22, Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore are 20.

Reed Sheppard in a High Octane 7 second or less offense, can become Steve Nash All Star level. The Rockets development Coaches improving him quicker, the Assistants have so much experience International and NBA.

 

I wont blame anyone for this loss because attitude is the one thing but ability is the other and guys try to them best

I think we still need down to the earth and get into Playoffs first

 

Frustrating to come apart in the 2nd half but I applaud the effort. A few observations:

1). Tough night for Alpi. Three things I hope he really works on from now until next season: finishing around the rim, developing a reliable mid-range game, and setting better screens.

2). Fred just isn’t playing near well enough this year to justify his salary. Looks slow, not setting the table well, can’t shoot. I do tink he’d be helped by having a 2 that could shoot, but at this point if we extend him it’s got to be at Dillon money, not more.

3). Jalen was basically a zero tonight. He had some good defensive stretches but it boggles my mind how much hype there continues to be around guy who hasn’t been able to improve his shooting and finishing now going into his 4th season. Our guards are holding this team back. Jalen is now a negative asset with his ridiculous $36mil per extension.

4). More Tari and More Amen please. Not sure why those guys didn’t play more.

5). You are not going to win big games against good teams if your 3 highest paid players are your worst players. That’s what happened tonight. That’s completely unacceptable and can’t ever happen again.

6). I pray we make some moves this offseason to balance the roster and give this team a real chance to contend next season. If we roll with the same backcourt and/or don’t upgrade the shooting next year we are capping this team’s potential success.

It’s incredible how successful we’ve been in spite of the shooting. In Ime we trust.

 

This is what I needed to hear.

 

This years Trae Young makes you think how far he has developed. Trae added so much muscle his strength and stamina looks impressive. Rookie Trae Young was really skinny, Now looking Mature and Strong.

 

If Ime want keep a lot of energy in the defense side in the Playoffs he need extend rotation in the rest of regular season and Stone need explore a couple of trades

 

We really have to play OKC 2 more times for a total of 5 times. Same with Golden State. I know it comes with advancing in the Tourney but damn doesn't seem fair when the Sun gets to play Jazz and Blazers a 5th time. The difference in the standings at the end of the season will come down to a couple of games.

 

Alperen Sengun 13 points 6/16
Jalen Green had 12 points 5/14
Dillon Brooks 14 points 5/17
Fred VanVleet 8 points 3/15
Jabari Smith 14 points 3/8
Amen Thompson 19 points 9/15
Tari Eason 12 points 3/8

Amen Thompson played well

Tough night for Alpi, Zero for Jalen Green are you not watching the game and box score.

 

ppl who think we have a chance with either FVV or JG in our team next year to take the next step are delusional. these 2 single handedly lose us games by shooting us out of games. Not all the time, but most of the time, and because they are more likely to be trash than they are to have good games the probability is against us.

Also Since 2022-23, Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green are tied for the most games with a field-goal percentage below 30.0 and 10+ field-goal attempts, with 28 games OF ALL PLAYERS .
https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask?q=most+games+shooting+below+30%+on+at+least+10+fga+last+3+seasons
https://statm.us/e/cesm9FN0Q

 

Jalen Green plays way better with Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason on the floor at the same time. This could be the Starting Lineup Next Season with Sengun.

 

Stop it. It shouldnt matter who is on the floor. He's been given enough excuses dont you think