ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Thunder 10/21/2025

I think playing him off the bench regularly in non critical situations will help reed.

He defers too much. He should shoot the ball every time he's remotely open.

 

We might have won had Holiday played. I bet Ime got an edict from the FO to play Reed to see what he has. Look for him to be gone in December at this rate.

 

FVV is out the whole season so there’s no point in counting him

DFS is just a decent role player

 

I say tonight game was very encouraging since we’ve seen that Sengun is ready to make an impact as one of the top center in the league, Amen solidified as off ball slasher scorer rather than PG, Jabari needs more touch, we gotta figure out how to give the ball to KD and lead the game most of the way. Let’s be honest this OKC would’ve still wipe their @ss against either GSW or Lakers that are playing tonight and if this was home court we would’ve won

 

I listened to Bill Simmons over under pod and I thought he was being a hater for picking the under of 53 because no PG. I still take the over but we're not a contender without a veteran presence at the 1.

 

He is a great man and a great father

 

KD was supposed to be our go to guy in clutch time to get the buckets we couldn’t get last year in the playoffs against GS, but we couldn’t get him the damn ball. It literally felt like watching a noob use a good team on 2K trying to force shots with the highest rated player.

We need some semblance of flow in the offense, everything is too sticky and we’re having to force too much. MVP Alpi carried us this game, I really hope this is a sign of things to come for him because his 3 point shooting and FTs have made a 180.

 

Cousins is right about the vet PG. Anyone denying the need for one is delusional.

 

I think that it's by design because he doesn't have the strength or hip flexion to stay in front of anyone so ime has him funnel to a certain side.

So i hope

 

I think we can cope with losing in double overtime to one of the best teams of all time on their home court. They had the greatest point differential in the history of the NBA. It’s the first game of the season. This team is going to be just fine. Now let’s trade Tari and Reed for Reeves and go for it this year.

 

It's an investment. Let's hope he's mediocre by playoffs.

 

I don't know exactly what we need yet, but I know that insomuch as a loss can be "good", this was a good loss. We played well and took the reigning NBA champions on their home court to two overtimes and lost on a miss on the final possession after two of our best three players had to leave the game.

Right now I mostly want to see what this team can do with some time to adjust and develop. Any major changes can wait.

But I am very annoyed by how much Tari sucked tonight after rejecting probably a very reasonable contract offer that would have set him up for life.

That's all I've got for now.

 

My takeaways from tonights game

1. Coaching & Offense:
   
   • Ime Udoka needs an offensive coordinator. He’s a strong defensive coach, but the offense lacks rhythm and movement.
   • This game was absolutely winnable — missed free throws and poor ball flow cost us in the clutch.
2. Player Observations:
   
   • Reed Sheppard: Still playing timid under the bright lights. He needs time and confidence to play through mistakes. But i dont know if this team has the time or window for him to develop.
   • Kevin Durant (KD): Clearly tired late in the game. He is 37
   • Amen Thompson: Great energy and effort, but his release needs to be quicker, and the team tempo should rise when he’s on the floor.
   • Alperen Şengün: Excellent performance — i think he’s ascending to Jokić-level playmaking and is become very confidence. Could become our top option if floor spacing improves.
   • Tari Eason: Looked disengaged and selfish at times, as if his mind was elsewhere. Whether it’s the contract situation or focus, something’s off. He’s too talented to play this passively — we may have to trade him if things dont turn around
3. Team Takeaways:
   
   • The Rockets need better spacing, faster tempo, and smoother ball movement.
   • OKC’s physical defense went largely unchecked by the refs.
   • Adams’ minutes aren’t sustainable — rotation balance needs tweaking.
   • Missed free throws and sloppy late-game execution cost us a win.
   • Still — this was a very winnable game.

 

Can’t do that when we saw the Rockets struggle at the very thing Fred does well.

DFS over Tari would have helped tremendously.

 

I don’t follow the NBA outside of the Rockets like I used to, any good PGs that fit that bill we could trade for?

 

Some HOT takes over the first game

 

I wish there was one site for actual fans, and a different website for all these folks spewing hate. We lost by 1 point to the champs in double overtime on their home court. You would think we had lost by 40 to the Blazers.

 

Can we pry Jamal Shead out of Toronto? Back up point with no fear and elite on ball and team defender. Reed's lack of decision making didn't really bug me, it was his atrocious defense that was alarming. I mean, not even Jalen's defense was that bad, not even close. He let fat Mitchell blow by him over and over and over. He was like the high school thot, every body took turns on him. With all that said he needs to get thrown in the fire again, and again. I'm holding out that he can be better. He's way to quick and bouncy to get blown by, by every single guy he guarded tonight.

 

I get it, coping makes it hurt less. This team was a fringe contender fully healthy and without FVV we are a second round exit best case. No steady PG play, no chance