ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Blazers 1/7/2026

The Rockets didn't shoot well. They also only scored 32 points in the paint when usually scoring over 50. I thought the Rockets were missing badly in the first half and were forcing threes a little in the 2nd half (I don't usually make too much of body language, but they did not seem confident in the 2nd half) as they couldn't consistently score inside. Ime was rotating the three shooters in the 2nd half trying to find someone that could shoot.

 

I’ve noticed and uptick on backscreens and pick n rolls. This game was not on Ime. it was on the players not hitting their shots. Reed passed up at least 2 wide open 3’s as well. If you are an elite shooter you have to take those shots even when you are cold. Holiday is not the answer. If you are taking Reed out then put Okogie in. At least, he plays lock down defense.

 

It’s also Tmacs fault. They never got their Heineken’s.

 

Ime Udoka I think is the worst Coach for Small Ball.

Fred VanVleet is the Coach, smh

No IQ on offense, looking like players can't play defense either.

 

He said zebras lol

 

the head coach doesn't have accountability why would he have any either? Tari got cooked all night by Deni.

 

They won the game. Stop your BS.

 

He was right. I’ve been watching the 4th again and damn, is it painful. The “home cooking” was ridiculous, in my opinion.

 

yeah I hate this answer from Tari. Tari can only pray he’s anywhere close to Deni’s caliber as a player. Very frustrating comment.

 

If we lose again next game, Ime should be fired.

 

The refs stole the win from the Rockets. The call on the floor was a made bucket by Tari. Portland didn’t have a challenge. That should have been game over.

 

Bad break for the Rockets but the refs get to review plays like that in the last 2 minutes? 1 minute?

 

Ohhh shoot that's even worse than I thought, well in that case they should just sell the damn team, eff it

 

Last night Bari, Reed, and Tari were the Brick Squad easily. The three musketeers.

 

Same, I thought it was just me, but we're definitely using more screens. We just missed shots last night lol

 

They will review that 100% in any game at the end. It doesn't have anything to do with challenges. The point is to make the right call with less than a second left, and they did that. We took too long to get that shot off unfortunately.

 

quantify that and it goes in the statistics-only, no-eye-test-allowed thread

 

They get to, but they don't have to. I wish I could recall an example of a particular game, but there have been times when we were in disbelief that the refs didn't review an end of game play, but they didn't. Game over.

 

DFS needs to join the squad.

 

That layup was terrible, but... it's still early in his return from injury, my expectations for him are lower for a little while until he gets back into the groove more. So for the most part I'm ok with his play, but won't lie I was pissed off at that layup attempt momentarily lol