ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Blazers 1/9/2026

Does it look like Bari's side of the backboard corner 3 miss might've been actually blocked on the close out? I'm looking for any win possible here.

 

I blame Ime, because he put in the system! There is no ball movement, no player movement, everything is centered around KD. To have an effective offense, everybody has to be involved. I've seen quarters where starters don't touch the ball on the offensive end.

 

It was a good one to miss, you were the only winner last night lol

 

Good grief lol

 

That was nasty but I still think we will be okay. I would like us to pick up ball handler that can get his own. Add Alpi back, keep fighting and we will do some damage in the playoffs. I Want to Believe!

 

Didn’t see the post game posted:

https://www.nba.com/blazers/videos/ime-udoka-postgame-2

“Take a 37 yr old out of the game for two minutes…”

 

Mentally weak.

I really miss Dillon Brooks.

 

Just a slump. OKC was in a slump also. It happens. The earth will keep spinning and they’ll probably go on another win streak at some point soon. Perhaps when Alphi comes back

 

Same thing since we lost to worst teams.

 

OKC won championship last season.
They are still first seed.

We are falling to 6th now.

 

well after Sac, we got a home stand coming up... were 11-2 at home... hopefully that gets us right....

 

This team is simply not good enough:

1. Amen can’t shoot

2. Sheppard is inexperienced making a lot of mistakes on both ends and not an efficient player for his skillset

3. No player on the roster that is a dual threat who can consistently beat their man on the drive and shoot a 3. (Durant isn’t a dribble drive guy)

4. No PG replacement for Fred. Too much forcing the ball in Durant’s hands

 

Yep, and most of them 22 or younger....

DD

 

Yep. I like Reed. He tries but he has a lot of limitations physically and skills wise. To make matters worse, his shooting which is his bread and butter hasn’t been good.

People say well TJ McConnell is successful. TJ is a bit bulkier than Sheppard and very physical. He uses his body to bump defenders or shield them off under the basket etc. despite physical limitations.

 

Go outside for a walk man, it will be ok

 

but don’t you think there are deeper underlying problems than just a slump? The same big issues seem to be getting worse. The turnovers, the poor passing, the poor rim protection. I’ll give u that the shooting may just be slumping, but there’s also the fact that when we take more shots our efficiency seems to go way down. That appears to be a trend as opposed to a slump. Could be that we don’t have as good shooting as we thought we did.

I just don’t see a contending team when no one can dribble or pass the ball. That feels like a personnel issue. And I think some criticism of Ime is fair as well. I just don’t see a contending team and I don’t see a reasonable case to be made that we are.

 

I agree with you to an extent but the window to win isn’t big. They made a move to win NOW. They have built this roster for 5 years now. These guys have been coached and developed to win within these next 2-3 Durant years. Maybe this year isn’t it but they better retool next year and I think it starts with moving your biggest pieces in either Amen or Sengun.

I already made the comparison with Jerami Grant who was a terrible shooter coming out of college. He didn’t get a 3 point shot and mod range until year 5. And wasn’t proficient in it till year 6. We don’t have that time to develop Amen if he will ever even get there. No time to develop sheppard.

There simply is no time to be messing around if they want to win a championship.

 

The only reason and I mean, the ONLY REASON, I think Jabari has a chance is because he has length, he plays defense and he has shown at times that he can shoot.....I think his problem is his form/mechanics. He needs to learn to stick to what he is being told. Last night, he shot the ball 3 different ways; flat, elbow too far out and finally with arc. He was all over the place.

Reed to me, will always be an inconsistent bench player.

Tari is good but he can't stay healthy.

I still think we are missing Cam Whitmore. He provides what we need. Which is a scorer off the bench

 

Not about shooting. About driving. Spacing. Decisions with ball/passing. We don’t have the personnel.

example poor decision making: capella received a pass in the paint which he could have gone up for a layup or dunk but passes out to corner 3 Okogie for a miss.

Amen had a man wide open on the break but decided to run right into Avdija which he got stripped.

 

Well KD is 37, so we have to win now