ClutchFans Game Thread: Pelicans @ Rockets 3/13/2026

Why didn't they show his turnover in the final minutes?

 

This accentuation actually made them smaller.

 

I don't think the Rockets missed Alpi too much tonight. It's kinda disturbing/revealing

 

Best 3P% over last 10 games. Amen will learn to shoot. It’s all about confidence on his middie, the form is already there. 3 pt motion needs a lot of work, but when he just catches and shoots it without hesitation it looks better and goes in more often. Tonight’s game was ugly, but we saw how much the lane opens up without Sengun in the game and Reed’s defense is not as concerning with a better rim protector. Too bad, Capella is not 5 years younger, but it shows the way for what is most important in the off-season.

 

Yeah - but when you need luck against the Pelicans, something is off.

 

Barely beating the Pels at home is not a sign of anything, but there are some lessons to be learned from the game. Defense while still not great is better with Capella rather than Sengun and the lane was also more wide open. Capella obviously is not the answer, but it is glaringly obvious to me that Sengun needs to be moved for a stretch 5 with better rim protection. He and Amen are our only real trade chips, so I wouldn’t move Sengun unless the return was substantial. I think Sengun bounces back next year, but the fit is just not there, especially if Reed is going to be part of your starting rotation next year. I don’t think we can make all the moves we need in one off-season, so we need to be opportunistic if something is available, but not a panic move for Giannis or the like.

 

He has done this for a long time and knows what to expect. He doesn’t have roots anywhere - he shows up, puts his work in and goes home. He doesn’t make any qualms about what he is and isn’t.

I think he is well worth it.

A lot of these guys problems that has with Reed are related to turnovers. He will get better at it - but his ball protection issues are somewhat over blown. They have been worse the last 3 weeks but he still has an over 2:1 asst/to ratio.

 

Issue is Durant more than Sengun. We're going to go all in on Durant again next year and if we do, Sengun should be moved. They do not pair well together at all. Durant doesnt pair well with anyone. Which player does he have good chemistry with? Anyone? He gives up as many points on defense as he scores on offense if not moreso. I've been hard as hell on Sengun this year but dude didnt suddenly forget how to play basketball.

The Warriors worked with Durant because they largely played the same game despite his presence and could overcome his defensive shortcomings. He plays his own game out there and cant be bothered on defense. He's the primary reason why random dudes go off against us all the time. He doesnt close out on anyone, teams know that, and they move the ball so KD ends up as the primary defender on the guy they want to shoot the ball because they know its an open shot. Every time. Assist to turnover ratio of 4.5 : 3.2. Amen (turnover machine apparently) is 2.5 : 5.3. Reed is 3.2 : 1.6. Sengun is 6.1 : 3.3.

Emaciated black Luka Doncic with a Twitter addiction instead of alcohol.

 

I can buy most of this. I think Durant is a huge issue, although his defense is not as bad as stated. Sengun, Durant, and Amen are a terrible fit, because they all need to be on ball and they all like to operate from the same space on the floor. Durant and Sengun are turnover machines as well. I think moving Durant would be great if you could get an even neutral return that doesn’t tie you into just a different albatross contract. I just don’t think moving Durant is a possibility this off-season.

I wouldn’t move Sengun unless we get a substantial return, but he is our best trade piece. A move for Giannis, because of the price, would set this franchise back 6-7 years and wouldn’t bring us any closer to a championship. I’d rather stand pat and suffer through another year than screw our future by trading most of our draft capital and Sengun for pennies on the dollar. Ime is a bigger problem than roster construction, but the roster needs to be addressed at some point with or without Ime. We need a rim protector in the worst way.

 

Had company over to watch the game so couldn't do the game thread last night. Glad we actually squeeked that out at the end, I was getting worried tbh.

 

Or all his iso bricks?

 

That turnover and a lot of other ones were due to the intention of getting the ball to KD. When the opponent denies it, they don't know what to do. Reed could have done better to relocate and try something else. Other teammates could do better to react to the situation quicker.

Those things are maddening. Don't they have other options when KD is denied the pass? KD's on ball and off ball gravity should open up a lot of things.

 

His set and shoot certainly is promising. But I won’t hold my breath tbh.

if he can hit even 30% from 3 or those middies reliably we are a diff team

 

From what I saw last night the other issue is KD is a huge ****ing bonehead about getting the ball.

he rarely moves and just wants it thrown up. He overestimates his ability and then blames his teammates for the **** up

 

No he didn’t….he tackled a guy on the inbounds pass that should have cost us the game 99% of the time, but the refs inexplicably didn’t call it and NO had no challenges left to overturn the bad call.

 

But closed with Sheppard.

 

Can’t wait until we lose game 7 of the first round because we can’t inbound a pass at the end of a game. If you need proof Udoka sucks as a coach, just watch how he never teaches his team how to set a pick to simply inbound the ball. Should have been a 5 second call ending the game for us but the refs had empathy. If someone would be kind enough to post that play I promise you all will be furious watching Jabrari’s zero effort to get open. I was screaming at the tv!!!