ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Mavericks 10/31/2024

You're right it's all important. But my only issue with Sengun has been his defense.

If he has to come out of a regular season game in the 4th Qtr, imagine what's going to happen in the Playoffs, if the Rockets make it? He will become a none factor.

 

The Rockets had ONLY 8 TO (5 by Green, 4 of them in the 1H). That’s pretty crazy.

 

Udoka is gonna have to think long term and stop coaching to win every single game. FVV should not be playing this many minutes.

Sheppard hasn't hurt the team in his minutes. If not him than Holiday, somebody has to be out there in the second half to spell FVV.

 

So my evidence is highly anecdotal as this is honestly the first full Rockets game I've seen in like 3-4 years... but man, for all the s*** I see people talk about Green and Smith over the last couple years, those kids looked big AF tonight. I liked what I saw from Sengun, but he doesn't feel like the guy we go to in those kinds of situations, and this is why we need both Jalen and Alpi, and people needa stop pitting them against each other.

Also, why the flying f*** did we run so many huge plays in the 4th quarter through Brooks when they clearly couldn't stop Green? Those were embarrassing to watch.

But I'm also buzzed and will probably disagree with myself by morning.

 

Sengun has been benched before for poor defense, sometimes for nearly the entire 4th quarter - but in this game, he actually played 8 out of 12m in the 4th. I don’t think this was one of those games; he held up fine on defense. Udoka subbed him (along with Smith) for their top defenders, Thompson and Eason, when Dallas took out both Luka and Irving for their own D and then called a TO to bring them back in with only 3:30 left, with Hou up by 4. This was a strategic move to protect the lead (I’m sure Udoka would have called a TO if Dallas had scored, but they didn’t).

 

Man it's almost like they are 21 and 22 and so they are still going to make mistakes or something? Odd huh?

People get way too caught up in comparing our guys to a guy like Wemby. Not everyone develops on the same trajectory, it's not instant for every one, some guys have to go through bumps Nash, some guys have to learn the hard way like Butler. Some guys just have to literally grow into their body like Giannis. Stardom is not going to be instant for most players, but just because a guy isn't a star in his first 3 years doesn't mean he can't grow into one.

I think our young guys are learning and growing and again...they are all 22 and younger.

 

That's great dude. I suggest you stop dick riding and wait till we get a bigger sample size.

 

Oh I enjoyed it. I was screaming by myself. That’s usually a good indicator right. Rox Season hasn’t started unless we troll these dudes. You know this. Bollocks. I’m gonna fold that in to my lexicon somehow

 

I'm not dickriding... I'm spitting facts... And our GO TO scorer down the stretch is clearly our most dynamic scorer who also happens to be the guy that's leading the league in clutch scoring and top of the league in 4th qtr scoring.

 

Props to Jabari on an efficient game.

I loved the playful taunt by Tari Eason on Derrick Lively. He's a real character.
Lol!

 

We don't have any bench player who can play over 20 minutes.

Overplaying starters is a problem, especially they are not good sometimes.

 

Peeps were disappointed that they did not look that good in their first seasons given how hyped they came out of the draft.

 

You literally started off calling me a clown for a comment made in the middle of a game thread. Its great that Jalen has those stats, I root for him. But he's been below league average efficiency for like 3 years. For you to start name calling over a 5 game stretch where I made a comment IN THE MIDDLE OF A GAME THREAD is childish.

 

Amen to this. Alpi was also the hub of the offense for long stretches that gave the Rockets the lead. Jalen has also learned to attack the lane due to the focus of the defense against Alpi. That was obvious in the recent games where the lane is almost always open for the Jalen drive opposite of where Alpi is. Alpi had major impact on the games just by his presence despite his underwhelming games. Tonight though was more of a team win where the took turns carrying the team on their shoulders.

 

It looked like down the stretch, Udoka took out both starting bigs, Sengun and Smith, to match up with Dallas's small ball. It turned out to be the right call.

And I have to say that small ball lineup of FVV, Green, Brooks, Eason, and Thompson was pretty incredible.

Overall, an impressive win against a top WC opponent.

 

The Rockets have two bench players who will earn 25-30 mpg as the season progresses. Just watch.

 

This. Case closed and let's all just enjoy the win, against the Mavs of all teams.

 

We are top 6 in least turnovers in the comp. Averaging 11

 

And Alpi would have had a triple double if those who got the ball from him and were wide open would have made most of their shots. If anyone closely watched the Mavs defense, it was mostly designed to defend against Alpi. He still got the swarming defense every time he made his move in the paint. I can't wait for Reed to start getting his groove and receive the wide open passes from Alpi.