ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Sixers 1/22/2026

I did make the 5 am workout - no victory bourbon unfortunately. Its only a couple 2,3,4 fingers depending anyways. Helps you sleep better.

 

This was the lineup that was killing the 76ers in the 4th when we had all the momentum:
Capela
DFS/Jabari
KD
Amen
Reed
We go up by 8pts and then Ime subbed in Okogie, Tari, and Sengun...I dont understand why tinkering with a lineup that has all the momentum. It was no reason to sub them in at that juncture.

 

imagine subbing that in for the group that took you to an 8 pt lead in the first place

was like watching a slow mo train wreck

this is the worst coach this team has had in recent memory, even worse than milkhair

 

This handoff gets blown up multiple times in crunch time by the mediocre teams in the league and we're expecting it to work vs OKC? Ime is on crack.

 

You know that's exactly what's gonna happen

 

KD sucks at the top of the key late in games, he is easily guarded by a double team and he is slow with the ball at his age causing turnover after turnover.

Ime needs to give ball late to Amen and Reed and go through Alpi on the block.

DD

 

Ime always does that. It totally kills the momentum the Rockets had. That lineup had the game won.

 

Correct about Amen and Reed. Alpi if he gets back to his unselfish self.

 

If Ime is going to die on the defensive sword, then how do u not make an adjustment on your defensive scheme when Maxey is killing you with the same play over and over and over and over in OT!!!

 

Ime can't stick with a winning lineup if it bites him in the ass...

Reed led a 4th quarter comeback against the Spurs and was doing it again last night, then Ime benches him the entirety of overtime??

The game turned when Alpi pump faked himself out of a wide open layup and got swatted in an embarrassing fashion. Four point swing, from tied to down four and it was done.

 

I do think Sengun is playing hurt. We need to trade for a SG and a backup Center asap and let Sengun sit out a month if necessary. Monk and Saric for Adams, Tari, and FRP would set us up to make a run late in the season and give us a chance in the playoffs. You could make the same trade using DFS instead of Tari, but I actually have more confidence that DFS will stay on the court than Tari. He seems to be fully recovered.

 

As I predicted some time in the past. Every time we lose, the haters will come out in drove to point fingers at the player they hate and propose all kinds of trades to get that said player off the team. It doesn't matter which player, and doesn't matter how that player contribute in the season. It's always that player that cost us the game.

 

Very poor execution down the stretch by everyone, but this loss falls on Bari, trying to play hero and taking bad shots. Higher-quality possessions would likely have sealed the game. Up 4 with under 3 minutes, he drives on their best paint defender and turns it over. Two possessions later, up 2 with under 2 minutes, he steps back for a bad three and misses. Bari typically doesn’t play hero ball, so this was especially frustrating to see.

 

I know Holiday was listed out yesterday, but why is he out of the rotation? This guy can come in and give you a quick 10 to 15 points off the bench.

 

Imagine posting this with a straight face.

Imagine not realizing this was already the case and the coach active sabotaged the individual that already led the charge with all those points...off the bench...and got an 8 pt lead.

Why do you post about the game when you didn't even watch it? You sound really stupid.

 

Spoiler

 

Rockets can offset yesterday with a victory tonight.

Shock the World !!!

 

You can’t listen to game threads after a loss. Reed played 15 minutes straight. Last 3 of 3rd and entirety of the 4th.

also, Tari nails 2 crucial threes in final minutes of 4th, and … crickets.

 

He may have took a few ill-advised shots, but for the most part he took shots in the flow of the offense. He just wasn’t shooting well, like he did the game before. If Reed is not shooting well, Clutchfans in general is ok with him and even encourages him to continue to let them fly. Both Reed and Jabari have to take those wide open 3’s when presented. The offense won’t work any other way. If they aren’t hitting them it is up to the coach to sub them out. It’s not on the players for doing exactly what they have been coached to do.

Both of these two players were drafted for their potential as outside shooters. If they can’t get to a level of acceptable consistency, they need to be traded. A lot of shooters run hot and cold, because of the makeup of this team and lack of depth with shooting we are going to lose most games when Jabari and Reed are not shooting well. Reed was great for a short stent last night and Ime should have leaned into it and left him on the floor and played him in OT, but he was bad in the first half. It’s time for Reed and Tari to start and at least see if the extended playing time with Amen will set up Reed to gain the consistency he needs. Amen and Reed compliment each other very well. Tari is a more consistent shooter than Jabari if he can stay on the court.