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

I'll be honest I don't really agree. I am curious though, what makes you say they've been empowered to take the helm in the absence of leadership and the team's typical offensive engine?

 

I mean Amen has played the most minutes on the team for the last 365 days and - despite not having shown much aptitude for it - been handed the keys to run the offense as the nominal PG for the entirety of the season

How does it get more empowering than that?

Same with Jabari, he's been empowered to run his "poor man's KD " routine for years now with no fear of benching or anything and was rewarded with a 120 million dollars.

 

Saw Udoka's post game



Guy who lost his job for some p***y talks about being mentally weak. More at 11.

 

how bad is taris

 

Man I hope they don’t rush Sengun back.

 

They know it, just don't want to admit it.

 

Yup - he should have taken another 5-10 shots to get the ball out of Jabari’s hands.

 

Since Christmas (hashtag arbitrary endpoints) Amen is averaging 21 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 5 assists on 54% shooting, and 83% from the FT line

Not sure why people think he's been a problem during this rough stretch. He's not the issue, he's scoring his points and he's doing it efficiently despite the lack of a jump shot.

The main problem in our recent losses has been that the players who are supposed to be shooters around him, aside from KD, have been sh*tting the bed from behind the 3P line. Jabari, Reed, DFS cominbed for 5 for 28 last night. January 7th, 3 for 16. January 3rd vs Dallas, 4 for 16. Even Tari got in on the action on the 7th with a 2 for 8 performance, though he was good in the other games.

If our supposed shooters give us even 33% shooting we probably win all three of those games. Let alone if they actually shoot league average

 

Amen learning the pg position compared to your old man hero:

https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/tiny/6E98x

Amen one of the best 5 defenders in the NBA. 3pt% is the only solid in favor of FVV, Amen had an extremely poor start and all the measurables the last 15 games are much better other than 3pt % as he learns the position and gets more comfortable. 3 pt% is a problem, but the offense has performed better than last year even with his 3pt% which is something that he is really not being asked to do to any large extent. PG is not our problem, our supposed shooters missing shots is the problem and Ime’s inability to put an offensive system in place (not to mention injuries).

 

Idk this feels pretty emotional. The aptitude comment... feels like he's shown not only shown the aptitude, but has taken a large step forward as a ballhandling playmaker. I just think they're trying to force the ball to KD all game long and it's not his strength, while also not helping to develop skills for other players. Especially without Sengun, Amen should be driving/kicking as the primary option for 3 quarters, and KD should be closing it out.

I'm sure that sounded like some hot **** but I haven't a clue about what poor man's KD routine means. He's the 3rd option right now. Did they post him up once in the last 2 games? Kinda feels like they expected him to be a 40% three point shooter without establishing a rhythm during 40 minutes of ball. Did nothing to try to set him up.

 

This.

If our players just half brick their shots instead of trying to build a brick castle, the Rockets win all of these close losses comfortably. I thought muscle memory was a thing for professional athletes but it might be a myth for this organization.

 

I rewatched the 2nd half, he got Jabari some great open looks. If he took half of those we win

 

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I think Amen has been fine, good even, but not the All Star level leap a lot have predicted.

I also think that Amen's negatives are immediately noticeable to casuals like myself - when teams back all the way off him in the corner to close down the lane or otherwise encourage him to shoot, it usually doesn't go in the box score (unless he shoots) but we notice it.

Some of this is KD effect fwiw, he operates in an area where it makes it extra easy to sag off Amen

 

That’s ok, Westbrook will beat us

 

Losing 2 against this team was bad... but the Blazers are really well coached.

JABARI was really bad offensively...

Still very early guys but we will be OK.

 

Almost career threatening. It is Tari Eason leg only. Rockets Staff are lying just to not create panic.

Alperen Sengun should not play at all because of a calf strain and potential achilles tear.

Just accept the 6th seed at this point and face the Lakers at the 3rd Seed.

 

NGL I actually did laugh at that one, kudos.

 

Portland had won 3 straight (2 on the road) one against SA coming in and we didn’t have Sengun. If we even hit 28% from 3 in either game we win. There is no need to panic, although Ime’s lack of ability to adapt is extremely frustrating, we are only one game worse than last year at this time. With some better luck on the injury front and Amen’s and Reed’s continued improvement we will still be contenders. Jabari had probably his worse half of basketball in his career. He will be fine.