ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Lakers 4/18/2026 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 1)

It is very untalented - they have one low efficiency fake all star in Sengun, Amen and a bunch of role players. That's a borderline play in team without Durant

 

Yes, because the tap-ins might be bad attempts at bad angles

 

But they did do this

 

It seems JB is a better coach than Ime now.

 

They didn’t have FVV this season, Adams missed half the season as well… the West was tougher as well… and the team last year played hard.

Tonight you got to see what this Rockets team is without KD… they were losing by 17 to a Lakers team missing two of their three best players.

 

Somebody posted this on Twitter, lol:

"we wasted all those rebuilding years drafting role players"

 

If our young core is legit they still should've won without KD against this team. I think KD comes back in game 2 and we still win this series, but the fact that we're this dependent on KD with Stone's young core is a huge issue. I don't know how you can call Stone a good GM given those facts.

 

that’s pretty much the truth. Your lotto picks are not the offense.

 

All I could do is laugh

 

Look in this series who has the more talented roster Lakers or Rockets? With Luka and AR injured everyone said Rox would sweep the Lakers right? So clearly the Rox roster is better than the Lakers.

Instead we lose the game handily and were behind since halftime. Rox didnt even break 100 pts.

Of course you can argue if Stone had 4 superstars drafted Rox would win. But the Rox already had the talent advantage we still lost therefore Udoka is to blame as his coaching is so bad. If Udoka got the most of this limited roster how did we lose the game when everyone agrees Rox have the overwhelming advantage on paper? lol just look at the gambling odds prior to this game that will tell you how much more talented this Rox team over Lakers.

 

Laker fans acting real confident right now

I’m seeing a ton of posts like

Takeaways:

• ⁠Kennard got that dawg in him
• ⁠⁠Marcus Smart is who Pat Beverley thinks he is
• ⁠Sengun is bad when you let him match up 1 on 1 against a decent big
• ⁠Sheppard gets targeted on every possession, he’s too small

The Rockets have no consistent offense without KD, and KD hasn’t told any lies from his burner either

and

Are we sure that KD is saving this team? I get he’s one of the best scorers ever but they cannot generate consistent half court offense. This series is so winnable even with him coming back

 

On the bright side at least we didn’t get cooked by Bronny

 

But everyone thought the Rockets would win because we had KD. They wouldn't have predicted that if they knew KD would be injured.

 

And Ryan Hollins is always trying to hype up Jabari, lol.

 

The ONLY thing you couldn't have happen was to lose Durant for the playoffs. When you essentially build your offense around one dude, that one dude better damn well be available.

 

Young cores are still inexperienced. Sengun's 7th playoff game? You just want your best team to be clicking. These days, I think the time off between the regular season and the Playoffs also kills some momentum.

 

It doesn't get desperate until you lose a home game. If we win game 2, the series is in our hands with home-court advantage.

 

It seems they’re correct. The Rockets are in a mess right now, unfortunately.

 

we got cooked by the white version.

Ronny from NOT the Jersey Shore.

 

There were alot of times that Eason, Jabari, Reed, and Amen didnt even get the ball into Sengun. He has to be your hub and create. Alot of it is on him as well. Reed Sheppard should not take 20 shots. I dont care if people vouch for him as a generational shooter.He didnt stay in front of his man and put our defense in rotation all the time. Rotation leads to scramble, scramble leads to open man. Then in the third some of those reach arounds, put people at the foul line, when they were struggling to score. He wet the bed! There's no other way to put it.

Jabari Smith should only be taking 10 to 12 fg attempts in a game. Maybe less. This guy has to get stronger. Two jump balls won by Amen, tipped his way and he touches the ball and can't secure it. Your tattoos look cute though, I guess. They are not winning us any basketball games though. You do not have the green light to shoot anytime. You're a role player.Should' ve sent him to the Wizards with Cam Whitmore so he could get his shots up, that he thinks he should be taking.

Amen, I love ya, but if you dont put up 1000 3 poiters a day in the offseason, you will always hinder us.
Tari you can still walk this offseason. That fast break we had, off the steal, where you were leading the break embarrassed me and the city of Houston. Yeah we still scored but it looked like a Jr. High game fastbreak.
Sengun you are a mental midget. I'm starting to believe that now. You want to be voted in as an all-star, and here was your chance. You will never be Jokic. Jokic can take scrubs and make them look good. You do it occasionally, but never want to bang with people who are as strong as you.
Last off all. f u refs, f u stone and f u Udoka.