ClutchFans Game Thread: Warriors @ Rockets 5/4/2025 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 7)

I like sengun a lot (obviously not today) but this is a bit of an insult to gasol.

you put a prime gasol on this roster and he’s vaporizing that warriors defense and dominating on the other end of the court too

 

Not even James Harden can do anything.

James Harden was terrible in Game 7 also at Denver.

 

That’s exactly why he didn’t play much. They would switch him on Curry and he would get cooked.

 

I don’t think Sengun needs to bulk up to play tougher against physical defenders. He just needs to focus on playing through contact and dunking the ball when he’s next to the basket instead of trying to lay the ball up. Making his free throws would give him more confidence to play through contact.

I think it’s more important that he develops confidence in his shot 15 feet and out. That includes free throws. Either he or Amen Thompson have to be comfortable shooting perimeter shots next year for the Rockets to have an effective offense with both of them starting.

 

I know Sengun didn't play well tonight but man I respect what he did do all year... even in this playoff series. He did enough. Unfortunately others didn't. I hate we lost but we can't go back and change it. Just gotta get better.

 

They weren't even picked to make the playoffs, WE did, but oddsmakers did not.

Also, this is the natural thing for ALL NBA teams, they all take tough playoff losses. Not a single team just instantly turns into a dynasty in the NBA, it simply does not happen. The Warriors too also took tough losses before they got to where they were, OKC too, in fact, WE were one of the veteran teams that eliminated Shai's early OKC team.

We have to take these bumps to get better, there was no scenario where we were going to actually contend this year. I said it all year too, people can look through my history, having a competitive first round was the goal. It was met.

Now had they been swept, sure, but they fought...I do feel like they were the better team but too many missed opportunites, coach was way too stubborn with his rotation...but they have to go through this.

Good thing. I think Amen is it. I think he's a franchise player, he got us back into this game then got hurt.

We'll be fine, I think we'll be better next year.

 

I still think there’s a chance. He has been inconsistent. But he’s shown enough times in the regular season that he can be one of the best perimeter players. He had a fairly mid playoff series. Played pretty good defense and while he didn’t score at all in several games he was at least active and moving the ball. Just showed no aggression and when he did, couldn’t finish or even draw fouls.

sure, maybe he doesn’t have it. But it was his first playoff series. Maybe he finds it on another team, maybe he just needed this and an offseason to really lock in. I wouldn’t give up complete hope as a player and his projection.

 

Not going to lie, I'm a bit disappointed we didn't go dirty and start a fight down the stretch

 

of course right, it ain’t a key Houston playoff game without some ****face role player having a career night

 

How many times are we gonna hear this team has a bright future before something ****ing happens?

 

Sengun looked tired. But you're right. He needs to play through it.

 

What should the Rockets do?

Get shooters to break the Zone Defense. Common Sense.

Jabari Smith and Aaron Holiday on the bench would've broken the Zone Defense and play Great Defense.

 

Im not upset at this game at all. It’s not like game 3 or 4 where the game was within our grasp and we let them win. They had a solid game plan with their zone. They were aggressive driving with unexpected guys like draymond when they had the lane as i expected and they overloaded our zone and let it fly with Heild. They whooped our ass plain and simple. We played hard and tough and have nothing to be ashamed of. Just game plan for next year and makes changes if necessary

 

Lol why are you acting like I'm saying Sengun is a great first option? In my post you quoted I said I've been saying what you said all series - Sengun is a strong 2nd. But he has also showed up in his first playoff series unlike Jalen so they don't belong in the same sentence

 

I'm a big Udoka fan, but one critique I have from tonight's game is we should've pivoted away from the double-big lineup and played Jabari over Jalen in the 4th.

 

Yeah it would have been sweet to end this delusional dream they have of getting one more but whatever. Since they've gone all in on this roster it means this is their last run and I can't see them beating any other team in this playoffs honestly.

 

We overpaid Jalen, 3 year for 106 million for a player with 1 great game in a series of 7 games. I think in the offseason he has diaper duty likely the next Shawn Kemp.

 

Good year guys. Fun game threads. Horrible ending when you know it should be diff.

draft and fake trades till October.

 

I’m sorry gfab, but that’s just a weak excuse for Jalen

and you’re telling me he just didn’t hit his threes, but he was also just 1-4 on twos until his 2 meaningless baskets in the final minute…he was garbage for 90% of this series and killed us averaging 13 ppg on 37% shooting