ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Lakers 4/29/2026 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 5)

Just heard ESPN (Shams) say the Rockets have the youngest starting lineup to ever win a playoff game in history.

That's definitely something, lol.

5:30 mark...

 

From my Barbara Bush style notes:
Lakers set shop on Alpi 13 times with the pick your poison action aka the PnR.

He ended up matching up with Lebron 7x on the switch. 4 points scored for Bron on the mismatch with 1 assist, Alpi contested the shot that led to a brick, 1 deflection that led to a steal and one right out steal. Ayton connected on Bron's assist, Ayton gets blocked by Sengun. That's around .78 points per possession, worst because they gave us possessions back. Stellar defense.

Emo Peter Parker + Smart set shop on him or like some of y'all say "hunted" Alpi 6 or 7 times.
Pass to Ayton where he connects on the short roll floater, forces Emo Peter Parker pass out, Emo Peter Parker weaves past the hard blitz but Alpi tracks him down and forces the "swim move" pass out for a brick three. Smart bricks a three. Steal from Alpi on Smart, Free throws for Emo Peter Parker. .65 PPP on that action. Even better.

Add the steals and blocks and he is going to rate as one of the two best defenders for the series oh what do you know, he is. Every possession is vital so there is no way to cheat the stats.


The frustrating part is that on the other end it's so cringeworthy trying to get a PnR action to look natural. It used to be like breathing for us. Probably driving Udoka insane.
Where I thought Sengun struggled was when he was defending space and there was nobody to block out. They just flew in there to grab the rebounds. 43 minutes played. If you die you die.

6 points from Ayton came from Sengun switching and forcing long misses on a shooter. He did give up 5 layups inside, 60% which is on the nose for every center from 3ft, not named Wemby or Jabari Smith, who deterred every laker that attempted a layup or dunk. 33%FG allowed for Jabari.

When Alpi did rest, they "hunted" Eason and Jabari on that action. 5x, lob to James, three pointer, Free throws. 1.4 PPP It ain't easy.



"What a block by Ayton!!!" On the replay after a mini spin, Ayton is left on cement recovers nicely and gets all forearm on the dunk attempt he was going to miss. Should have been 2 dollar throws at the line and some needed rest.
Thespian moment of the game:
Sengun purposely throws himself backward on Ayton then crouches and flails forward. All in one motion, no delay reaction like the B movie actors. It was well executed. Manu would give him a 10/10. Ayton gets the loose ball foul, Sengun gets rest at the line.


So where is Dr. Dunk with the Reed report. It would have been perfect timing to bring that back.

 

I just wanted to stop back in this morning to say: we won.

 

Shams just said this is the youngest starting five to win a playoff game in NBA history.

[Charania] KD Will Miss Game 6 vs. The Lakers

 

For all the talk about Ayton getting too many rebounds and Sengun needing to box out better, which I do agree with, I want to take another minute to really praise the game he had last night. I think he played a lot smarter than we've seen from him on many nights this season and quietly nearly gave us a triple-double while playing much-improved defense.

He was able to recognize the way the defense was playing him and take a step back as a scorer and focus on playmaking for others and playing hard on the other end. The ability to lock in and play that kind of team-oriented basketball (again, except for the boxing out, and maybe taking better care of the ball) is I think the alternative path for him to be a key player on a championship team, with the "ideal" path being that he just develops an average-or-better 3P shot and truly is a #1 option.

What we can't have is him taking around 20 shots on around 40% shooting like we've seen many nights this season. He needs to be able to recognize when it's not there and just not take the bad shots as often and instead convert those into assists as much as possible. And also put more energy into making an impact on defense when the scoring isn't there. That's exactly what he did that last night and it's a huge positive sign for his development.

Worth mentioning too--even if he does develop that 3P shot, it's not going to be there every night, so the ability to give us games like this is still important even in that case.

 

I noted a lot of the same. Excellent post. Maybe shorten EmoPP to EPP is my only suggestion.

 

Will do.

 

ATTENTION ALL CLUTCHFANS!!
IMPORTANT MESSAGE!!
If the Rockets can eliminate the Lakers from the playoffs, they will go in to be NBA champions.
The one and only Coachbadlee is calling it!

 

He needs to go pick up the girls now while he has his deep voice

 

You saying just 15 more years of Tari?

 

I reserve this meme for special occasions

 

This is how a narrative spins out of control.
There were 6 games this year where Sengun met your criteria.

Sengun's shooting & finishing are disappointing. We all want him to be better - from everywhere. But the facts don't come close to these draconian narratives.

Give me a healthy Amen and Sengun supported by Bari, Reed, & Tari. Trade KDF for cigarettes or something that causes Kancer a bit slower than him, and we'll be fine.

(Every line item after the top row 16/72/22% is a subset of that row.
re: in all 16 games he shot 40% or worse he attempted at least 10 shots)

 

Sengun is getting hammered in the post and only getting 1/4 of the calls. Lakers are allowed to grab and hold indefinitely. Which makes Alpren's performance that much more of a feit.

 

If that happens, I will step aside every time you post something and not argue.

 

Fair enough--maybe I should have said "around 15" instead of "around 20". But the general point that these are the kinds of games that drag down his scoring efficiency, I think is still valid one. He has to be more efficient moving forward as a player, and the obvious path to do that is to take fewer bad shots and focus more on playmaking in those situations.

 

bought this for my son @Jontro

only $50! Will sell it for $500 after the playoffs.

https://rocketsshop.com/products/yo...campaign=60b7140b-eea8-47a0-9610-1b4a36fc1873