Clutchfans Game Thread: Rockets @ Cavaliers 11/19/2025

His game has fallen off considerably. I was a big fan a couple of years ago, but when Tari and DFS come back, he won’t see a minute and rightfully so. He put in valuable minutes once upon a time, but he was and always will be a journeyman depth piece.

 

The thing about Amen is he has two holes in his game.

1. His shooting.
2. His handles.

His handles won’t break him in the league but the shooting obviously is a glaring issue.

I’m not saying he can become like Shaun Livingston with the automatic midrange, but his tools are there to get that mid range shot off.

Maybe he gets a respectable 3 point shot, but that’s not likely. At this point the coaching has to scheme for ways for him to be successful. Right now he’s lethal off ball cutting to the basket and setting screens.

You could theoretically run out there

Reed (primary ball handler)
KD
Amen
Jabari
Sengun

You have 3 knockdown shooters, and Sengun down low to suck in the defense. Have Amen be your cutter and rebounder leading to fast outlets.

You see the offense breakdown when Amen is the primary ball handler at the top of the key. If he doesn’t get a first step past his defender then the shot clock winds down and looks for a bailout pass.

I doubt Reed gets into the starting lineup, but come playoff time defenses will hone in on Amen’s lack of a shot.

 

His handles are getting better each game. Even the announcers last night were saying his handles were great. I don’t think people should write-off any part of Amen’s game. He eats, drinks, and sleeps basketball. We will see. Gonna be a lot of crow eaters by the end of this year.

 

I don't hate Tate at all. He always leaves everything on the floor and the last couple of years his decision-making has improved a lot.

The problem right now is he looks cooked. Ankle surgery + no camp + no preseason is no joke. Ime is gonna continue giving Tate occasional run to see if he can shake off the rust and become legit playable. The Rockets will need as much depth as possible starting ~middle of January, when (to varying degrees) teams often begin struggling with game-to-game energy and focus.

Playing Tate single-digit minutes hasn't cost the Rockets any games yet, and with Tari out, it will continue. At least Ime yanked him after only 2 mins against the Cavs.

I'm fine with what Ime is doing so far.

 

I saw Evan Mobley getting cooked like Barbeque Chicken.

 

Tate is rusty and his timing is off by a step or two. Since he doesn’t offer size, shooting, or plus defense—he’s physically overmatched every time he laces up and steps on the court—Tate is out there trying to be a glue guy.

But currently off the bench, we don’t need glue. We need a shot creator or someone that can take some of the pressure off KD and Alpi having to initiate.

Hoilday gave us just what we needed. If Tate can’t space the floor; Ime should turn to Jeff Green or even Isaiah Crawford since both offer more size and can put the ball in the basket.

 

Chicken Kebab (Durant + Sengun)

 

Sure, Mobley is nothing like Chet or Wemby otherwise he could have held his own.

 

Yes... but those players are DNP.

Rockets fans are glad having 12+ players better than Tate though. True

Minutes, right now Durant is at 36.2. Rockets need him closer to 34, which compares to GS and his first season from Achilles. His efficiency is down. Yeah some is due to new team and getting acclimated, but 36.2 is playing with fire. Multi-year contract

Major positive is the improved FT so far. It's almost non-existent having a bad FT with a good 3PT. Baby steps. The 3pt% regression is concerning but hey, it's still early.

 

I understand feeling the need to post criticism on players haphazardly in the Internet forum arena, but how the **** someone watches that game and immediately dumps on Amen is beyond me.

I mean….what the **** are they watching?!?!?

 

shout out to dean wade and evan mobley at the FT line. a combined 5/14 from the FT

D. Wade 1/4
E. Mobely 4/10

YIKES

 

Kendrick Perkins criticizes the Cavaliers bigs disappointing game against the Rockets: "They dominated them in the paint. Zero excuses. You have the reigning DPOY Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, two twin towers. The only reason they're not getting it done? They're soft. They're creamy in the middle."

 

tell your team to makes their FTs. 20/32 is embarrassing. especially your 'star' player, mobley. 4/10 is shaq-esque.

 

I know I'm being unrealistic but I would like KD to be on that late career John Stockton minutes plan...30 minutes a game with a very long 1st quarter rest period.

 

Imagine bragging that you "only lost by 10". That's the respect we are getting this year, even if they rarely say it out loud.

 

Lol.

No FVV, Tari, and DFS. We still won by 10 by taking a nap on 3rd Q.

And we're still gelling. EZ...

 

Your team collapsed Kenny. Absolutely foolish to Fire JB Bickerstaff.

Donovan Mitchell being a ballhog is a problem on every team he has been on since the Jazz days.