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

Based on everything I've seen. Ime has never been able to adjust. He's constantly outcoached and can't run an offense. Stone sticks with him so that's a huge problem for me.

 

Does it even matter? It's OKC and SA, nobody else has a chance except maybe Denver.

 

Losers mind

 

Help us KD, you’re our only hope.

 

Huh? Look I don't love the way the team is built and if we lose to the Lakers I'd fire Ime and Stone (I'd di that anyways) but we have a chance. Don't quit on the team

 

The solution is similar to when they hired a defensive assistant for Dantoni.

They need to poach someone from Denver's staff and run a similar system. Durant can extend his career as a catch and shoot guy.

 

Reality mind.

 

I've gotta disagree. I wasn't a big fan of the Dantoni hire but he's light years ahead of Ime. He was all offense

I honestly don't think people want to work with him. You think KD will do that? I honestly don't. He has to be the focal point of the offense

 

I'm sorry but this is crazy you think an NBA play is unsuccessful if it *only* is a 1-v-1 doesn't generate a 1 v 0 unguarded shot? OK by that definition the Rockets failed, as did everybody else, all the time.

Indeed that's why it's called transition offense

Yes it was, the first half of the play is missing from the video clip because of the way NBA.com chops up the highlights to only focus on the result. They only have the last few seconds. Go back and watch the whole play from the game replay, it starts around 9:20. My description is this.

Fifth Play - Rocket run a complicated 3 man sequence with Thompson passing to Sengun up high, Thompson dives, AND Smith comes around the back for a possible DHO. Thompson fakes his dive & comes back, then tries to get it in to Sengun in the post but the Lakers are in a zone, Thompson/Reed realize this,, make the right decision to move the ball quickly with some touch pasess to beat the zone & get Smith a drive but Sengun forgets about the 3 second rule. Oops.​

Notice in the linked clip the shot clock is at 13. The complex part happens from 20-13. In fact it was probably the most complex sequence of all 12 I looked at.

I'm not defending it I'm saying that complaints like Charles and yours are factually incorrect - the Rockets do run motion and sequences, they don't just even if you refuse to see them. Like it's just a factual matter that the Rockets ran 2-3 actions in that Sengun 3 second play before the sequence of passes that ended in the 3 second call. It is a thing that happened.

Likewise I think if you move the goalposts to say that an offense designed to create mismatches (which is every NBA offense) is "just guys going 1-on-1" , it's not acting in good faith.