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

Anytime you get 4 three pointers from DFS and Amen, you better win the game.

 

Game 6 is on Prime, we are getting Grady aren't we?!!

 

I was proud of Alpi for finally focusing at the FT line and hitting those 2 late ones.

 

You might be right, but Sengun would've cooked them at the rim. There's not a lot of room for him to operate in the post with a double team, but isolate him with whomever and they're cooked. Alpi gets to the rim with ease against Han Solo Ayton.

 

Did we win?

 

We lost the rebounding battle but won the game. Imagine that.

We need to attack them a little harder in transition, they're exhausted.

 

clint shouldn't play anymore, ever. we have 2 non shooters playing 40+ minutes in alpi and amen, the bench minutes should go to at least passable shooters to spread the floor whenever alpi or amen are resting. also, defensively it's actually proved to be better since we can switch more.

that's the only way to mitigate the spacing issues going forward, even for next year. forget about adams and clint and the terrible twin towers + amen lineups, we're not winning playoff games this way, only regular season games.

 

Lakers play small ball lineups without Ayton. Also they like to switch with Sengun on LeBron. Clint isn’t the perimeter defender he used to be unfortunately

 

Amen and Alpi can absolutely work, I was wrong. Surround them with shooters and ball handlers, no double big gimmicks unless its a stretch 5. Alpi and Amen need to get into low 30s from 3 with passable mid range and we eat

 

Yeah, he isn’t a reliable shot blocker either. Bari should protect the rim, and Sengun should try to slow Lebron near the perimeter as much as possible.

 

He hated young Ultimate Warrior and Macho Man because they were covered in Baby Oil before matches against him. Why would he wear UW's makeup?

 

It was one of those rivalry runs lost to history: Ultimate Giant vs Ultinat Warrior

 

The national media has been mentioning that the Rockets are intentionally focusing less on getting offensive boards and are instead prioritizing getting back in transition in order to limit the Lakers' scoring opportunities.

 

The dab to KD was more of a **** you dab. If you look at the time to contact and time maintaining contact on the impact of the hands it’s far less than with Bari etc

 

57 NBA teams have come back to win a playoff series when trailing 3-2.

 

Haha yeah I heard that, it's really lucky for us when Udoka has a stupid idea that ends up being a good idea. He's just been playing so many rebounders that it came at the expense of shot making. Now we have Jabari backup 5, more Reed, no Tate and Capela. Do we take a hit on defense? Yes, but that's the better poison when you're facing a team that's missing key scorers.

We need to attack more in transition too, not just guard more.

Finally, we are putting serious pressure on Kennard/Smart/Lebron which we should have been doing from game 1. Loving that.

 

winning cures all ...

 

I'm glad this game wasn't a blow out. Not only did the team have to pull out a gutsy win in the clutch, but Lebron also played 40 minutes in a loss. He didn't get to rest in the 4th quarter. Hopefully the extra wear and tear makes a difference in this series.