ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Lakers 4/21/2026 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 2)

i think he will redeem himself this series. im here for it

 

Amazing what happens when we lock in on defence and get some stops

 

Is that you stone?!?

 

The rotations are so bad. He ran a bunch of Tate and Holiday out there and the result was predictable. It's one of the only meaningful gametime decisions for a coach and he can't even come close to getting it right. I don't know if any other coach in the league puts those guys on the court in a playoff game barring extreme injury/foul trouble or garbage time.

 

Is Stone at the game ? Probably hitting up the hot dog stand and not in the locker room talking to Ime.

 

Yeah, Tate is just riling up Lebron for no ****ing reason and then doing jack **** on both ends of the floor. It would actually make so much more sense to give DFS a chance as dreadful as he was this season. You then have Sengun playing like a b**** and that doesn't help either, that's why I'm in favor of a small line up. Give Reed more time and get his confidence up, despite playing like **** the defense is respecting him and it gives KD a chance to not have to play against a double.

 

Some players get all the leeway and some no. That’s the system.

 

The moment seems a little big for most of our roster, which we have clung to as if it were loaded with future all-stars. Luke Kennard was picked up for Gabe Vincent and a future 2nd round pick in 2032.

Not that our coaching staff could get this kind of play out of him, but Kennard is a veteran difference-maker. We could use one of those right now, especially one that can shoot in the playoffs.

 

Reed has to play and has to stop passing up those shots.

 

"but amen was guarding x player!!!"

This is an offense league

better offense will always beat good defense

always the case and now its 2026...this 90s coach is out of touch

 

We all know Stone is a front for Patrick Fertita who is the real person making decisions. There's a reason they didn't hire a basketball guy who would never sign up to take orders from Patrick

 

Classic Al Pee: Tripping over his own man...

 

If Fertitta fires Ime at halftime, we win by 20

 

I was just going to say. When’s the last time Stone was in the media? Dfs signing?

 

From my point of view, there are players on this team playing for a job, next season. Alpi definitely, Reed, and, Jabari. I don't understand why Alpi doesn't realize this. He's one of the hubs on this team, that creates offense for eveyone. It keeps people from taking bad shots.

 

Total doll

 

Defense is an illusion. Kennard and Smart will make those stupid 3s no matter how well they're defended because those shots are lucky to begin with. It's more important to have guys who can score along with them and when the luck runs out

 

While you are at it take splitter over ime, who we probably could have gotten easily.

 

I'm really curious as to what will happen when/if FVV comes back to this team. I'd really like to see the offense with them both out there, not starting, but I want to see what some FVV/Reed lineups can do with KD and Sengun if we still have them. Who knows at this point.

I can't see the team standing pat if they lose this series. Maybe Ime doesn't go (sigh) but I expect some kind of big move if they lose this series.

 

I’m still questioning why we gave Ime an extension unnecessarily and prematurely. I was an ime fan prior to this season and woukd have been fine extending him with continued success, but I didn’t understand the extension this early.