Clippers really adjusted to tari and amen from the game two days ago

A few promising trends this month: 1) Jalen is taking less shots (20 down to 15) and about 3 less minutes per game. 2) Fred playing about 4 less minutes per game 3) Tari and Amen both playing about 9 more minutes a game. 4) Sengun more efficient (50% from the floor from mid 30s) and about 1.5 more blocks per game.

Everything is moving in the right direction after that disastrous first few games.

Need to send Reed down to the g league for a month or 2. Kid is rotting on the bench. Holiday is much better poised for that 5-8 minute role.

The Porkchop Express said:

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9-4, tied for the #3 seed in the west, is way ahead of schedule. Last time the team had this fast of a start was 2019-2020. Really nice picking up wins early as some teams you expect to finish above or on par with the Rockets start slowly - Clippers, Mavericks, T-Wolves.

Sengun currently 7th in rebounds and 10th in blocks.

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Big thing is #3 defense and #6 NET rating in the NBA. Most advanced stat geeks will use net rather than w/l for their calculations. There are currently 10 teams positive in net in the West and only 5 in the East.


Houston's defense is 2nd best at opponent's 2pt FG% and Houston is best at opponent assists by a long shot. That says to me that Houston's super athletic young guys are destroying passing lane and playing really disciplined defense.

Udoka is clearly doing a great job.

Admittedly, I haven't been on the Rockets for a few years now, but when was the last time our squad went and dismantled a team on the road? I know, I know… it's just the Bulls, but that was impressive.

The team does just about everything well. Still needs an Alpha though.

Sengun first Rockets' center to ever have back to back triple doubles.

Rockets now #1 in the league in rebounding (49.5 per game, 66 on Sunday)

Outscored the Bulls 81-52 in 2nd and 3rd quarters

Bulls' largest loss at home since losing by 42 to Golden State 2 years ago. Interestingly, the Rockets also gave the Bulls their 5th-worst loss ever, a 45-point doozy, 123-78 back in 2000 - Really fantastic starting 5s for that game: Chicago - Elton Brand, Metta World Peace, Fred Hoiberg, Chris Antsey, Randy Brown - that's 2 years after their second repeat. Matt Maloney was on the bench for Chicago. Rockets: Walt Williams (24 points), Shandon Anderson, Kenny Thomas, Steve Francis, Kelvin Cato.

Feels like we haven't beaten a team like that in a while. Let's do it again tonight against the Bucks.

WES2006AG said:

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Feels like we haven't beaten a team like that in a while. Let's do it again tonight against the Bucks.

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Give future Rocket Giannis a glimpse of how good life is in the WC

Damn. Right play drawn up. Pass a little hard to handle. Nice effort coming back in the second half.

Prefect play drawn up. Fred of all people threw it to high

That last play would have been a thing of beauty had they executed it. Still glad to see the team fight hard on the second night of a back to back. The effort these guys put out make them fun to watch.

I was ready for Sengun to make the shot and then after it went in a super late whistle for a push off on Giannis

Tickets still dirt cheap for next few games

Have access to some good stuff for very cheap if anyone is looking to go - PM me or email username@gmail

The NBA announced that Giannis Antetokounmpo should have been called for a turnover after stepping out of bounds on this play, per @NBAOfficial

“Antetokounmpo's (MIL) left foot is out of bounds when he receives the pass from Lopez (MIL).” pic.twitter.com/bhZ5Q94bAv

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 19, 2024

the tough loss notwithstanding, ESPN is showing the Rockets big love in the latest ratings. #5 overall, #3 in the West.

5. Houston Rockets

• 2024-25 record: 10-5
• Previous ranking: 10
• Next games: vs. IND (Nov. 20), vs. POR (Nov. 22), vs. POR (Nov. 23)

Pay attention. Off to their best 14-game start since 2019-20 after Sunday's win at Chicago, the Rockets are one of the hottest teams in the West. Houston hasn't lost consecutive games this season, and its suffocating defense appears to be improving as Alperen Sengun continues to develop on that end of the floor. The Rockets entered Tuesday with the third-best defensive rating in the league (105.2), and two bench players -- Amen Thompson and Tari Eason -- are arguably the most significant contributors to that and making strong cases to enter the starting lineup. -- Michael Wright

The Rockets are not interested in breaking up their core for Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, sources tell @TheAthletic. Houston, sitting at 10-5 and a game out of first in the West, remains focused on developing its young players as a collective.

— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) November 20, 2024

Good. Giannis is awesome but I have concerns with fit and don't think he ages gracefully.

They'll need to make a move at some point, but I don't think this is it.

I'm not even sure if the Spurs would break up their core of Wemby and mates, and the Spurs are terrible.

Jabari has 14 at halftime. Start working those phones for a trade partner.

Anyone needing cheap tickets for this weekend hit me up - helped someone here earlier save a couple hundred on game tonight.

Quentin Jackson had a good game for the Pacers. Nice to see the dominant win at home against a team we we should beat.

Every good team has a winning characteristic or defined skill that separates them from their opposition. The Warriors have Stephs shooting, the Nuggets have Jokic's passing, the Celtics and the Cavs have the ability to play 5 legitimate scoring threats in one lineup.

We have what I like to call "The blitz". There is usually a point in the game, where our guys just flip a switch. Sometimes it starts with full court pressure, but it always culminates in whirlwind of energy and physicality on the defensive end. You can definitely tell when it is happening because its a consistent barrage of steals and dunks. The opponent will often panic and make it worse, before you know it we are up by 20. It's a beautiful sight and it's clearly our superpower.

One of the reasons I wouldn't trade Jabari, is that he has a clear role in the blitz. He is a very long and flexible defender that definitely disrupts passing lanes. He can switch onto any player on the floor and play pretty good defense. He will never be the head of the snake like Tari or Amen, but he plays an important role in covering rotations when those guys extend our pressure.

This team is pretty much the exact opposite of the Harden/Dantoni Rockets. So much effort and intensity on the defensive end make us very dangerous.