ClutchFans Game Thread: Warriors @ Rockets 4/23/2025 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 2)

What a win. Still tons of room for improvement, which will be especially important if the refs call game 3 tighter against the Rockets. Things I'd like to see in addition to the positives of game 2 continuing:

(1) less wide open threes for the Warriors, and especially less widen open corner threes. I get this is hard w doubling Curry, but the degree to which they were open really increases the % of it going in. Reminds me of the Lakers Clippers series-yeah, you want Westbrook shooting a 3...you don't want him shooting a wide open corner 3.

(2) Jabari improving on offense. Want to see him get the ball more for outside shots. Can't keep dribbling inside and losing it.

(3) Amen coming alive on offense, we've seen flashes.

(4) In the event of another blowout, better play from the cleanup squad.

(5) More composure - play tough and don't back down, but no stupid Ts or potential ejections.

 

We are the 89’ and 90’ Pistons

 

What the F do you think it is? The rockets were ahead from the get go and Green got better the longer the game went. When your up big from the start it’s easier to play freely. When things tighten up it’s a different story.

 

Everyone was beaten to a pulp that game and cracks started to emerge on both sides, yet Jalen somehow got stronger.

 

It's November 1993 and The Wu just released 36 Chambers

 

I want him to not take bad shots. It’s a simple concept.

 

Great bounceback win for the Rockets. Their defense is pretty consistent. They've held the Warriors to 96, 95, and now 94 points in their last three meetings dating back to the regular season. Although the Butler injury and Podziemski illness certainly played a role in Game 2.

Fred with another stinker in which he played 42 minutes and hit 25% of his shots. The difference this time though was he only put up 8 attempts. That's a compromise we can live with if Ime is gonna insist on leaving him out there that much. Just let other players shoot the ball.

 

Yeah and I am telling you you have to take the bad with the good. Obviously if Jalen knows if the shot will not go in then he won't take it. He doesn't know if the shot is good or not that's why he takes them and then you find out at the end of the game if they are good shots or bad shot based on the result.

This is like you trying to tell Steph not to take those logo shots he always takes. You know those are bad shots right?

 

FVV also did a much better job defensively he and Jalen were taking turns on Steph.

Honestly the guy in my eyes who played the worst was Amen, that's why its ironic he is also the one who took out Butler.

 

Jalen isn’t Steph. Jalen isn’t harden. If Jalen had proven through his four seasons that he was a good or even clutch shooter, we’d be having a different conversation. But when you’re playing GSW and they’re within striking distance, every bad shot is a high risk. And I know Udoka agrees because a couple times they panned to his face after he and FVV took these ill advised 3 pointers with 20 seconds on the clock and he looked even less pleased than usual.

You praise him today because we won, but you said it yourself, he’s streaky, and against a 4 time championship team that has our number historically, I don’t want to rely on his streaks.

playing smart shouldn’t be a controversial thing.

 

From not knowing English to almost being fluent soon. Love the progress by Sengun so far.

 

Amen had some good moments, but he's been up and down so far this series. Which is understandable given his offensive limitations. Tari was way better though in this game.

 

Both Jabari and Tari have played better than Amen, mainly because they can shoot from range. Apart from when Sengun breaks their defense and he is able to cut to the rim Amen has been kinda useless.

 

If he played smart he wouldnt have 38 pts, he'd have 15 pts on like 12 attempts and we would lose this game due to not enough pts on the board.

If you dont want to rely on Jalen thats fine who else will you rely on? FVV? Amen? Somebody else has to be the point of attack of the offense besides Sengun who else will create for this team?

 

Don’t waste your time arguing with idiots - every time JG sit both Game 1 (when he was off ) and Game 2 (when he was on) the Rockets offense went into a pile of crap…. And the Warriors either took the lead or majorly cut into the lead

JG took 1 bad 3 last night, and 2 heat checks…other than that everything was catch and shoot 3s

 

I guess your vagina feels pretty worn out after last night…

 

Sorry! I forgot to post b/c I was up all night looking at the Jimmy injury clip and trying to figure out how people were saying Amen was dirty for (1) getting pushed by Donkey & (2) tripping over other players' feet / legs

 

Sorry, that’s ridiculous. He didn’t score 38 on a bunch of bad shots. I don’t care if he takes a 3 with under 10 seconds. I care when he takes a bad 3 with more than 10 seconds. Every single time he and FVV did that, the warriors went on a mini run. Hero ball is not a good strategy when you’re not a proven hero.

 

Watched the replay from yesterday and you could see from the start Jalen Green was locked in. He was locking down Curry and diving for the ball every chance he got. His energy really helped set the tone for the whole team.

Jalen has all the tools to be a superstar in this league. If he can come out consistently like he did yesterday we are legitimate threats for the title. I really liked how even if he wasn't getting the ball Jalen was putting 110% effort on defense to make a difference in the game. Thats what your stars need to do.