ClutchFans Game Thread: Lakers @ Rockets 5/1/2026 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 6)

Nah the Rockets faced the Warriors who had the best record in the NBA since they got Jimmy Butler and they had a top defense. We were good they were just a little better.

 

So that's what happened to @Haymitch

I took my talents to the stock market. I'm watching earnings like it's the playoffs.

 

lakers are as bad as rockets

the difference is they had lebron and had role players stepped up

 

I've never wanted the Rockets to lose a game. Regardless of circumstance I wanted us to win.

However objectively speaking, this embarrassment is better for us than a fake series win against a mediocre Lakers squad giving ownership pretend hope.

This team has big fundamental issues, and some big change has to happen. There is talent to keep, so I'm not saying blow it up and start over, but FVV coming back should not be our big off-season change.

 

Say what you want but we arent THIS bad. There is something more going on here.

 

They learned and grew some. It is hard for me to be too hard on them. Overall I saw good effort- they forced it to go 6 games. I just don’t think they are as talented or as good as we hoped.

Hopefully they don’t trade for more old players. I hope they acquire more future draft picks and let the young players they keep, play and improve. They just need more higher end young talent and the best way to get that is through the lottery.

 

Wow.

 

Favored vs Warriors too... plus Butler missed 1.5 games.

- never won a series
- never led in a series
- been down 2+ games every series

Not good for coach's resume.

 

You would have to be a real degenerate to bet real money on the Houston Rockets. Or deficient in the brain department. definitely one of the two

 

It's been a long time since I felt literally embarrassed to be a Houston sports fan, but this run of awfulness at every level is making it really really difficult to keep my chin up.

 

Well only time will tell, I do think people severely downplay youth, being a good role player at like 22 is a huge credit, I think that's a good sign for a player not a bad one but time will tell. I think they'll play a lot better as they age and I think many of them are missing that one aspect of their game that could help them break out. I just think everyone is making a mistake comparing them to the outliers, like Wemby and Cooper, most players grow into their stardom, they take their knocks, and eventually they are there...and even still, this team should have been up 3-2 if not for a couple of braindead mistakes. I feel like we're going to end up trading one of these guys and regretting it. It's just most guys aren't instant stars.

But as for trading them, if the picks are high sure, I just don't like the attitude that some are saying this guy NEEDS to go and this guy has to go, that's the same mentality we had with Jalen and I'd argue this team has more problems this year than it did last year. Not that Jalen and Dillon had us contending but the team definitely regressed, but it's hard to judge trades that have not happened yet but if we're making some dumb move to trade our youth for Kawhi or Giannis, these are the moves I think would pretty much destroy this franchise. We'd be playoff fodder for years only to crash out and have to rebuild.

Honestly, I just hope we move off KD, both for best parties, and just see how the young core can do with each other, like we were doing before KD.

 

The same could be said about doubling down on a team of role players. This would be the 3rd time though.
My version gets money off the books after another year. If we"re not successful in the playoffs again Then those contracts come off the books and we have money to spend. Maybe we can start tanking again, but we will pick one of these core players to move forward with.
Amen in 2 years will be 24 or 25 something like that. 2 years before his prime. If you can't build around him, then we move off from him.
We are not going anywhere with Sengun. Deep down you know it. Sell high buy low. Another year of Sengun his trade value will be even lower. Jabari Smith will always be a role player. Tari Eason should not receive any money from us at all, so let him walk as well.

 

wanker lmao go to bed grandpa

 

We wouldnt be doubling down on role players and expecting to win. We would be continuing our rebuild. You know that right? Like you dont honestly think I thought we would trade KD and contend for a chip. RIGHT? Look at what we look like with him. Shouldnt we just try to rebuild instead of pretending to be contenders and paying old stars for the same exit we are gonna get without them? It makes no sense.

 

Rockets avg 13 turnovers per game this series. The Lakers avg 18. This last game the Rockets had 1 whole more turnovers than the lakers.

Lakers avg 39 rebs. Rockets avg 40.

Again, Fred and Adams were healthy and playing well last season and they got beat at home in game 7 after being down 3-1 to the 7th seed warriors....with Butler missing time.

Look, if you think this team is close to winning anything substantial as currently constructed with this coach, awesome. Keep the faith.

I dont and I hope they make major changes.

 

Forcing a trade for any of the young players would be foolish. They all have value and talent and will get better. I would poke around though and see if someone will give up a high lottery pick or strong future picks for any of them. The Rockets really could use a couple high level young players - and that may be the only way to get them.

 

This, I just wanna rebuild. KD and Giannis isnt gonna win us anything. If anything they'll hate each other and be injured half the time. Lets just fire Ime trade KD and fred and get as many picks as possible. Hopefully we'll draft an actual star this time.

 

Left at halftime.

 

Yes even with FVV and Adams this team is not winning a title.

KD.................I don't know, normally I'd say he gives them a punchers chance, everything has to go right though. Like one of those unlikely runs a team makes where everything goes right, that's what we're depending on if we run it back.

It could happen sure. Maybe they get into a series where SGA turns an ankle and Wemby gets hurt and then they play some Leastern Conference team like the Knicks which they could beat in a 7 game series...sure...

But yea, it's not how you want to build a team at all, I think we can all agree on that.

What we're really hoping for is for Amen or Reed to be that guy.

Amen needs to learn how to shoot and also probably needs Sengun off the team.

Reed is just inconsistent...and he's young. IDGAF about his defense, you can build around that, and I think he's a better defender than say Steve Nash was in his prime...but Reed NEEDS to knock down his runners and floaters with some consistency. People were saying Reed couldn't get past the bigs...he could...it's just he'd go on to miss the runner or floater or lay up any ways so he was hesitant to attack.

Jabari I don't know, I feel like he could improve his numbers with more of a focus on offense. I think he's a great player though. It would suck to trade this dude, consummate teammate, plays hard all the time, and his shot has been improving.

I think We've seen all we're going to see with Alpi though, he's a fringe all-star Euro big like Vucecic, like Domantas, he's a piece you probably add to a team rather than build around but I could see him going to the right situation and making this organization look silly because I do think he has the right mentality. Also don't think the team is really built around his skillset.

I personally think either the coach/GM needs to go...
or
They need to just try to get the vets off this team, let the young guys prove it and if they do...well then someone stepped up...if they don't...well you're int he lottery anyways.

 

They aren’t as talented as we hoped, but they were still more talented than this Lakers team missing Luka and Reaves. Even without KD, we were the betting favorites for 5 out of the 6 games for a reason. So yeah I think it’s fine to be hard on them. They underperformed. They’re young, but this core went 7 games last year against a better GSW team. I expected better.