ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Thunder 10/21/2025

Ime right now:
"We have to set better screens." on how avoid defenders getting into the passing lanes.

It's what I took from this interview.

On Reed: "Ups and downs. Learn to free himself up. We have to set better screens like I said. Reed will grow from this."


Third question lol... "Set better screens"

It jumped out to me. Aquaman is always begging to lay someone out on a screen. Not so much last night. I should stop calling him Aquaman after what he did to those poor fish. Don't get me wrong, I eat Salmon . My fave fish. Just didn't expect Aquaman to do that. That's some "The Boys" villain stuff right there.

 

i mean ime benched him for tari in double OT for Tari on offense... and tari was playing so poorly okogie was getting minutes before him

 

Ime needs to learn how to call last second plays. Inbound plays are horrendous.

 

As good as Alpi was playing, he shouldn't have been the target on that last second shot in Regulation. I would have went KD, Jabari, then Amen.

It takes Alpi too long to get setup his shot

 

Nobody moves, they just raise their hand and hope the defender doesn't jump.

 

Jalen is one of the least efficient scorers in the game. They wouldn't need Dort. Dort only played 26 minutes that game.

It was also at home.

No, he wasn't the main guy.

 

My takeaways:

- I'm not a big FVV fan, but the Rockets looked flustered on offense and getting into sets last night, without him. We have enough talent (particularly Alpi last night) that we overcame it for most of the game, but when we got into the pressure filled last 5 min plus OTs, had a lot of trouble getting into our sets. Alpi bailed us out a lot, but we need better sets, in my opinion. When it turned into a playoff atmosphere and things tightened up, that's when we missed the calming force of FVV. Just looked discombobulated a lot of the night.

- KD - hmm where to start. Some things looked good - efficiency, particularly. I was picturing JG going 5-19 or something, in a game like this. But man, he disappeared for the 4th Q and OTs. At one point, the NBC graphic showed 1 shot since the 3rd Q, and I think that was right before that final and 1 bucket. Speaking of, that was a nice move and all, but I guess I thought KD had a better handle? Looked awfully shaky last night. I know he's not Steph, but I guess I thought he had a better handle than he does. Lots of bad passes, dribbled it off his foot, lost it on that play but got lucky. Meh. We needed a closer for games like this, traded to get one, but didn't use him. We need him for this exact situation, so hopefully with some more time as a group and chemistry, it will look better.

- Bench guys... I like Okogie... didn't think I would, but good effort and probably one of our best defenders after Amen. The other bench guys - Tari had a bad game, Reed was ok offensively (mostly good shots that will fall for him), and he was facing the toughest defense in the league. He has to stay in front of his man defensively, though. It's about positioning for him, not effort. Since he is small and not long, he needs better positioning. Hopefully FVV can help with that, while he rehabs.

- Didn't like some of those late play calls from Ime. He needs to work on his play calling, and we need more movement on offense. Get guys in positions to succeed.

- Alpi = beast. I think he's going to take that next step this season, and be a 22-10-7 guy. Dude put everyone (including KD) on his shoulders and nearly carried us to victory. Needs some help, though.

- I really hope NBC brings back the player montage during Roundball Rock. I did like the lasers and the graphics, but missed that.

Despite all that, we were right there against the champions on their floor. This team can be great this year. Hopefully, some of these issues resolve themselves after 15-20 games as a group. I do have to say, even with KD and Amen, looks like Alpi is the go-to on this team. What a stud last night.

 

And yet Reed's even less efficient than Jalen. That's not good.

 

Jalen and Sengun literally had similar TS% last year.

They had Dort, Caruso and JDub taking turns on Jalen.

What does being at home mean anything? Reed played at home multiple times still averaged 47% TS.

JG was literally the leading scorer of the team. If he wasnt the main guy he was no 2. What no is Reed?

 

Yeah.

I give the Rockets credit for almost winning, but based on what I saw - the Rockets would be lucky to win 1-2 games in a 7 game series against the Thunder. They were without their second best player, and the Rockets were excited to play.

I am not putting down the Rockets - they are one of the better teams in the Western Conference, but short of the Thunder facing several massive injuries, the Rockets are not beating them in the post season.

 

Okay - NGL I avoided the forum for most of the day because I knew there would be a ton of overreacting, but I will say this and then go back and read all the chaos from last night to this afternoon...

Last night the only player that performed to his potential was Sengun and we still took last years champs to double OT and nearly pulled out the win if not for a bailout foul call.

Yes, Reed needs to get better defensively... & not panic when things don't go as planned (no more stopping his dribble without a plan in the key please)
Yes, KD needs to get the ball more in the 4th and OTs... & he needs to go to the ball when an essentially rookie point guard is trying to get him the ball.
Yes, the defense as a whole could be more cohesive... & everyone needs to BOX THE HELL OUT.
Yes, Amen needs to make more outside shots.
Yes, Tari had a "trying too hard" no-extension hangover and looked like crap (I hope this will not continue the whole season)

All of the above things are fixable - this was the first real game for a team that is trying to incorporate KD and learn how to deal without last year's floor general and they didn't lose by 30.. I'll take that as a win. Plus it was an entertaining freaking game!

Okay... now I'm going to read all the nonsense posts pushing to trade all the assets for a point guard in week 1.

 

I think we need to give them a little time to adjust and gel with KD, loss of FVV, and other new guys assimilating. While not having Williams in the lineup is a huge loss, they had some other guys step up. I was overall encouraged by the effort and Alpi was amazing (5/8 3ptfg was not expected).

The Thunder are the champs, but they're beatable. We need some more offensive plays and movement to take advantage of athleticism and passing ability.

 

Well, last year Udoka was a huge supporter of Sheppard to start the season - then grew tired of him not playing in games like he did in practice and pushed to send him down... and then was a supporter of Reed again by the end of the season and did not want to trade him.

I get the appeal for Ime, Sheppard can do somethings very well and has a skill set that should fit well --- but at some point Udoka is going to tire of not getting results out of Sheppard, and he will be moved for a useful player...... so the clock has started ticking on Sheppard this season. I thought he looked solid early in game one, but the second half was mediocre at best.... people love to pick on Demarcus Cousins because he is a hot head, but he is bright and knows basketball...... and what he said is right.

 

The DFS signing was fine........ the Capela signing to me was the mistake. He isn't the same player he was a couple years ago and the lack of a play making guard was obvious. It feels like Stone and Udoka got too cute.

 

He wanted to be in LA for family reasons - he wasn't coming to Houston.

 

This is all the Reed Sheppard noise in a nutshell.

Fans can complain for and against Sheppard ----- but at the end of the day, he learns or he will be playing in China with various white guys from Gonzaga and Butler.

 

Yeah - they lost on the road to a team that won 90% of their home games.

It is clear the Rockets will be very good if they stay healthy.

I felt that the Thunder showed why they are better than the Rockets and the entire league last night.... but only one team wins the title.

 

Exactly and I think they have been gambling on fvv’s health as the type of player that doesn’t get serious injuries, no dunks, close to the ground, no awkward movements.

 

Rockets legends™

 

https://official.nba.com/l2m/L2MReport.html?gameId=0022500001

Shai Flopous should’ve been called for a shooting foul on Amen at 1:15 in 4th
Durant should’ve been called for technical (no timeouts)
Everything else “correct”