ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Lakers 4/18/2026 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 1)

I love game 1 meltdowns

 

One Rockets stop and JJ calls timeout.

Udoka should be taking notes.

 

hornets

 

Them flat-footed ass, goofy heaves that he was throwing up at a decent clip a few years ago , weren't substainable..

 

Is that a pulse? Could it be?!

 

Fire everyone

 

So sick of Ime sitting on the bench shaking his head and acting like he isn’t the architect of the horrible basketball on the court.

Defense only coaches don’t win in the NBA (they don’t even win in the NCAA) and Ime in particular has such animosity toward anyone who doesn’t play the way he did that it almost ensures his schemes are all scrap and no actual skills.

Giving Ime that extension will haunt this team for years - I expect it will be as consequential as the wasted 2000-2001 drafts that resulted in McGrady and Yao playing with no help.

 

Rockets didn't seem to start playing with any urgency until it's too late

 

Man, some posters are really hating Reed right now. It's his second year, first year of real playingtime, in an offense that has no gameplan, and he's making the right reads with his passes. Could he play better? Sure...but to say he's terrible is...wild.

 

Adelman has Jokic

 

Houston Rockets: where opposing good shooters become all time great shooters just for one night

 

Their best player is 37. Their rotation players save Reed & Thompson have all qualified for an NBA pension - youth ain't an excuse anymore

 

Maybe they need to put amen on Luke geez..

 

Ime has baby Jokic

 

Refs were doing their usual thing where they give us calls to make it look fair but they might need to stop that right now or the Rockets might actually make a comeback.

 

Kennard outplayed Amen... Ayton outplayed Sengun... Rui outplayed Jabari... Kennard about to score 30 in a playoff game. So sad.

 

Everyone knows their only threat Is 41 years old LBJ and Luke Kennard.

Ime still can't draw a good game play for them.

 

That was a trap bet though. You had SAS and everyone else talking all week about how the Lakers had no chance. That’s when I knew it was going to be a b**** of a series.

 

Nothing is guaranteed so why you think we should go all in and be in a worse position next year? That veteran guard will be leaving next year when FVV comes back lol you think Dosunmu, White would be ok being the 3rd pg? They are unrestricted free agents.

 

How hard it is to sign a Cam Thomas off the buyout market?