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

IDK. That's the dilemma. You tell shooters to shoot even if they are in a slump. If they are scared to shoot when they are cold, we normally say that the guy is not mentally tough.

The shot Jabari hit the side of the backboard, he actually asked for the ball. He was wide open. And Reed made the right pass to the most open man in the corner. The shot was just bad, really bad. And I don't know if anyone noticed. Jabari started to "aim" when he was wide open. That' really not a good sign for a shooter. When you aim, you lose your rhythm and mess up your muscle memory.

 

i remeber that Capella play. There was a lot of bad decision making last night. I’m also tired of watching Bari take an unnecessary dribble or hesitate when he should be going straight up shooting the ball. I agree with you. Lots of time our players are passing the ball to non-shooters in bad spots, while passing up better opportunities. Zero court vision.

 

We are a good team. I’ve said it before. We cannot afford an injury to Amen, Sengun, or Durant. Any of the 3, and we go from contender to mediocre also ran.

 

We were on a streak when these guys were making shots; these are below-average shooters (except for RS-- an average shooter today, he'll probably keep improving with more conditioning).

Without Alpi to bail out possessions, there's not much talent to work with. The coaches have to add a ton more movement and break many bad habits of standing around to create an average NBA offense.

 

People get real "fire Ime" and "trade _____" after losses, particularly these rough ones.

This is straight facts from Ime. No BS coachspeak. Not trying to shield pros from criticism, but also not being overly emotional about it. This is a pretty perfect reaction and comment imo.

But then... they rely on that 37 year old why? Fred isn't here and we should be operating with the assumption that he'll be back next season, even further what to do when he does return isn't a pertinent topic of discussion right now. Sengun is taking an extended rest because they don't want him succumbing to greater injuries. I get it, I even agree with the decision. He's way too critical to the team's success to mess around so give him the 2 weeks (and don't get jumpy and force him back sooner because of a couple bad games.) Oh and DIllon isn't here anymore, because we wanted that 37 year old. No floor general. No offensive hub. No heartbeat. The youngins need that 37 year old, and by the way he's delivering.

So what's the issue? Outside of having the critical leadership gone, and the hub sitting... That they're relying on an old man? Or that they've been setup to rely on that old man, so that's what they're doing?

Have they empowered Amen? Jabari? I'd include Tari if he were able to include himself into 2 weeks of consecutive basketball? Reed? Have they taken into account the situation and adjusted ***at all***?

Like 40 minutes of ball is wearing out the old man, yeah. It was wearing out Fred too (see ACL injury). Is it not wearing out Jabari, Amen? Tari can't even do 30. Does the old man also have to succumb to injury for them to finally adjust?

Ime - this commentary is spot on, sir. However, the question is begging, "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE ABOUT IT?"

 

Bari’s last 3-point attempt, IIRC, was actually pretty close. That came after the timeout, when Steven Adams was clearly in his ear on the sideline and Bari looked more settled. That’s the kind of moment where you absolutely take the shot - when your body and mind are aligned and you’re shooting to make it, even if you’ve missed earlier.

My point isn’t that a shooter should stop shooting just because they’re cold. It’s that there are moments when you can clearly see a guy doesn’t have his rhythm yet. Before that last attempt, Bari didn’t look like he was shooting - he looked like he was aiming and just throwing it the ball.

In those situations, especially late in a close game when every possession really matters, I think it’s okay to be more selective. Instead of forcing a three when you don’t feel right, drive the ball, get a closer look, collapse the defense, or kick it back out. Stay aggressive, but find another way to contribute until the shot feels more natural again.

This isn’t about fear or mental toughness. It’s about reading where you’re at in the moment. When the shot is there and you’re ready, you take it without hesitation. When it’s not, you keep attacking the game in other ways until it is.

 

There are definitely issues to work on. But everyone else sees us as a contender. Or most folks that I hear think we’re a contender. I sent a few of my close friends a text message in a group text last night with some of the highlights of our brick fest (none of them are rockets fans). And I laughed and basically said it was one of the worst shooting performances in a while.

Their answers, I will copy and paste:

“Kerr would have a stroke with all that size”

“Yeah but guess what? Those shoes will fall.”
“* Shots”

“Nice rebounding”

“Rockets could use Buddy Hield and Podziemski, they know it and we know it”

“Buddy and podz, Draymond/Kuminga for Eason and Smith”

“I like it”

“Will never happen, they are way too tall for Kerr”

“Another week and we'll see where kuminga is rolling to”


I’ll stop right there lol. But yea, I was b****ing a bit about Bari and Tari and this isn’t the first time they come up with different trade suggestions on how to get Tari and Bari on their team lol.

 

I’ve actually never been to Houston (outside of the airport).


I’ll wait until they come to San Antonio or DC

thanks.

 

They absolutely have empowered Amen and Smith Junior - and they aren't good enough!

 

It's mental. These guys aren't used to being first banana. They can shoot but they aren't shooters.

 

well that’s a structural issue. Other teams can survive with one player out. Okc did with williams. Our main node is Sengun unfortunately. I think we can remain afloat without Durant but Sengun is so important to this team/system.

 

agree with everything except whitmore. Too erratic and inconsistent. He hasn’t improved much at all in Washington

 

personnel. Structure. We have a big that isn’t a stretch and a combo guard that can’t shoot. Can’t have 2 starters that can’t stretch defenses in today’s league. Very simple. That’s why i keep saying trade Amen or Sengun or both while we still can. Get Giannis this summer but also get a stretch 5. If we trade Amen then get a star guard that can do everything

 

I continue to believe Amen is playing out of position. If this year is about development I’m fine with that, but we traded for an 37 yr old. We are a win-now team. Amen is a 3/4. He thrives in the dunkers spot. He can’t shoot. He shouldn’t be on the perimeter trying to get the team in their sets. He should be cutting, and pressuring the rim. I still think Amen is our best prospect and the mid-range shot will come. In the mean-time, if we are trying to win, we should try maximizing what he does best. Running the floor isn’t it.

on Bari, I’m just out on Bari. I think he’ll continue to improve but the ceiling is lower than I hoped. He’s just not a great shooter and we are in year 4. I’d rather gamble on another young player and hope we consider moving him in the offseason. I think this yr is a mulligan. If we retool in the offseason we’ve got a chance to be actual contenders next season.

 

Put Amen Thompson as Center

Put Reed Sheppard as a Starting PG

Tari Eason as Starting PF

Jabari Smith off the Bench

 

I think its the environment and the expectations. When he was here, he was a bucket getter. That's all we need when KD is on the bench.

 

You can not start Reed. Especially with Sengun. Either your center or PG has to be able to defend

 

He can but he was highly inconsistent and plays poor defense not to mention doesn’t pass. Lots of guys have been like this that either couldn’t cut it in the NBA or relegated to the bench.

 

Sengun fans fall in a faint.