ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Blazers 1/9/2026

Hindsight is 20-20. It’s not like Jabari is a 37% 3 point shooter, a starter, or has hit big shots pretty fluently in the past. We were going to take him out for who? Looking at today’s game AFTER it’s over makes everyone question why he kept shooting because he was extremely off and did cost us the game tonight. But it’s not like most of those shots weren’t in the flow of the offense that he just forced up. But yes, it’s the coach’s fault.

 

He looks gimpy to me. Damaged goods

 

That airball from the top of the key... He's shooting a worse percentage than his rookie year. And if he can't shoot then what is he?

 

When players are open and they just shoot when there are better options , that’s coaching ! It’s clear Ime has very little clue on offense … guys should be setting screens for kd and Reed to get them open … but no plays are ran for them to get them open down the stretch… definitely a coaching issue

 

Rockets play 4v5 in the 4th on every single close game. Defenses completely ignore Amen. Something has to change.

 

The team is poorly constructed. They don’t have enough guys who can hit wide open shots… from 3, from inside the 3 point line, under the basket… And what’s really frustrating is that every other team in the league has shooters all through their lineups. Starters… on the bench… every damn where. The Rockets just need at least one to help take the load off of KD.

 

We should lean heavily into Reed, his shooting is way more consistent - Portland was guarding Reed for a reason and leaving Jabari open for that same reason.

IMHO, Sengun, Amen, KD and Reed should all be kept everyone else....ALL OF THEM are available to trade for better fits as players.

We need guys that can create off the bounce, and shoot the 3 ball....our entire philosophy needs to be about that.

DD

 

Kinda knee jerk and I’d hate to see this team without KD’s shotmaking but they(Ime) made that trade, accelerated their timeline, brought in all these veterans(KD, DFS, Adams, Capela, Okogie, Holiday), gave Ime Thibodeau himself a fat extension and while yes they’re missing Fred, they don’t appear to be any closer. So you continue to go “all in” around KD and whatever or you have to seriously consider moving him and some of these other vets and resetting your timeline back to what it was. (23 year olds) And no, you aren’t getting much back.

 

Like I said....We should've left the team AS IS. We were young, hungry and deep!

Now, we don't have a bench, defense is subpar and no cohesion

 

Sounds like Ime knew he lost confidence, he mentioned it in the presser that he could see it on his face. He might have thought this was a teaching/growth moment because I imagine if he didn't want him taking more shots he would have just taking him out of the game, but I think everyone saw he mentally broke there.

You're right though, either he bounces back or not. It happens, I remember Sengun getting punked by Draymond in the post season and he did grow from it.

I'm in that same boat. I'd rather have a player confident to take those shots then one scared to.

 

The Rockets record last season after 35 games: 23-12

The Rockets record this season after 35 games: 22-13

They're WORSE this season. I certainly don't mind that we got KD, but the other guys were expected to take a step forward in their development. Instead Jabari has been a trainwreck lately, Amen is having his worst season, DFS has been a disaster as a Dillon replacement, Reed is regressing back to last year's version, and Alpi and Tari can't stay healthy.

 

Jabari didn't even want to be out there to redeem himself. He was begging to be taken off the court with his body language. We would've been better off with Tate. At least Tate isn't a puss.

 

Man stfu. All you had to do was sub Bari for anybody.

 

yes he does. You have to look at the totality. He picks up hi dribble way too often and looks to indecisive when he's not taking that middle off of the pick. When he's off the ball he looks way more confident after receiving it.

 

He has these 5 minute stretches where he gets hot, hits a few threes and everyone thinks he's putting it together, then he immediately goes back to being invisible. and every time he hits a few threes he starts gambling for steals and the defense breaks down.

I've seen enough, **** him off

 

He's washed. The Rockets signed a lemon.

 

Honestly, I think this is the right move (moving KD).

 

Reed was a big reason we got the 13 point lead. Jabari gave us NOTHING. He actively HURT the team. He was a NEGATIVE.

 

On paper, I get it. I really, really get it. Was I reluctant to part with two guys I liked? Sure, but it's KD! And now it's just like this season has vacuumed a lot of the joy of following the young Rockets out of me. It feels like the last full Harden season, where we had Russ. We're good, sure, but not THAT good, and it's no fun.

Luckily we have a lot more youth now, and more room for growth. I will bank on that being the thing to bring our happiness back.