Cristian Tabush

“Most” is an overstatement. Some, sure. But replacing Sengun with like- contribution at his price would be practically impossible. That’s what people fail to see. I’ve been on board with keeping him since his first year. It’s due time to finally contruct a roster around the kid. Go back to the original timeline, optimize the roster for him and work on him and/or Amen to finally develop a jumper. Or don’t, get rid of him and blow the whole thing up in 2 years once again when KD retires. Because that’s what will happen if the chose the KD path. Sell high on him.

Rockets have had 5 YEARS to build around Sengun and they still haven't done it, why would that change now? If the front office actually had his back, Udoka would already be gone and they would’ve actually gone out and got a PG. Most of Rockets fan base wants Sengun out of here more than they want KD gone anyway. At this point, I hope they get exactly what they’re asking for.

Build around Alpi, trade KD in the offseason.

@mrjaysizzle @RogueHouSports I’m stealing this 🤣 Shit take the beard off and could be a doppelgänger.

@RogueHouSports The Deebo Doctrine only gets you so far.

I’ll never forgive Rockets fans for convincing themselves James Harden is unwelcome in HOU for not wanting to ball with Boogie Cousins & a 35 year-old crippled Piru Now we have no offense & a coach who just writes, “Stop being a bitch” on the clipboard as a play during timeouts

@Clay_HTXSports @SeanTPendergast @SethCPayne To “read and react” you need players that can create advantages. Not only do we have non-to little guys that can do this, but also so easy to stop unless you have guys like Harden/Luka to orchestrate it. It’s so lazy and such a piss poor excuse for a strategy.

@SeanTPendergast @SethCPayne They make mistakes that some middle schoolers wouldn't. Regardless of roster construction, Ime has allowed this "read and react" offense to create some of the worst professional basketball I've ever seen.

I lost my shit this morning. @SethCPayne thought I was mad at him

Crazy. It’s like they’re talking about Houston. All the signs and indicators point to one main person. No matter how much the media protects the guy and how fans want to blame players, a coach’s job, much like a CEO or a succesful business owner is to maximize the tools at their disposal. His track record speaks for itself. I don’t think an offensive coordinator fixes the locker room. If it quacks like a duck…

Ime said “I’m not new to this I’m true to this” 😂

I’d rather be patient and cash in on assets. OKC and San Antonio, maybe even Detroit are much better built. Send off KD, Tari, maybe DFS and see what you can get. Heck, I’d include FVV. We have some draft stock coming up in not so good drafts, but maybe tou can re-tool and get Amen, Sengun, Reed and Tari some more time to grow. They are still super young. Basically get off the guys that don’t fit the timeline. If Sengun or Amen can get you a top 3 pick in the next draft, I may do that too.

Houston does not have a KD problem. He’s having an All-NBA season and already has 2x as many 30-point games as both players he was traded for did last season: The Rockets need: 1. A PG to collapse defenses on the drive and limit TOs 2. Shooters 3. Depth (injuries have hurt)

Yes. Coaches and front office are also responsible for talent development and team cohesion. Even if FVV and Adams are healthy, this team has way too many redundancies, and not enough players that can ACTUALLY Shoot. Failed on the draft, Free Agency, scheme and somewhat on talent development. Being fair, last year they were ahead of schedule, this year, maybe the regression is more aligned with the timeline. However, not having an offensive system outside of “read and react” and no shooters is limiting the ceiling. I believe they need a coaching change.

Udoka cannot be blamed for a missed FT with the game on the line. However, the through line of the issues ties back to Udoka and Stone. Most the roster is approved by Udoka and the players are only playing within the framework he created. Yes, the players are flawed. But why are they so often put in positions to expose those flaws? I judge coaching by how much they get out of role players regardless of talent. If role players are playing below, at, or above their heads, that's a reflection of the coach. Full stop. Stars will be stars regardless. So add that to your arsenal when thinking about basketball as a whole, and not just in the moment.

@BimaThug @fyrebear Team is the 8th most profitable in all of sports. Additionally, it’s a business write off. If the situation is dire, why would they not fire him? There probably is a buyout clause, no?

Ime Udoka just signed a long-term extension. He’s not going anywhere. But he’s going to need to add someone to architect an offense, and it might not be his choice. (FWIW, James Borrego would be nice if he doesn’t keep the NOP job.)

Is it a bad sign that I expect KD to miss FTs in clutch situations?

@clutchfans @GormanChristoph Yes, you give up some wins with the hope of a better outcome on the other end. This is not a championship team, when Stone punted the season, it was the only choice.

Thanks for sharing. Just to be clear since it was the next thing said before the video cuts off, I (and Ben too) believe you keep starting Reed. It's a high-ceiling, long-term play. But it's a development play. There is so much growth that has to happen defensively (Reed-Sengun) with this lineup. The idea that Ime hates Reed or is an idiot for not doing this 30-40 games ago and they would have won 5-10 more games if he had just doesn't fit with the data on how the lineup has produced to date.

"...this starting lineup[last 3 games]has a -23 net rating...on the season, its -10.7..." - Dave Hardisty[@clutchfans] on the Reed Sheppard starting lineup via Clutchfans Postgame 🥶🥶🥶 🚨🚨🚨 Thoughts? #Rockets #Allfire

Agree. You have a better chance at winning a championship (not that I expect it) being a top 5 offense and middle of the pack defense than the other way around. Last time a team was a top 5 O and middle D was Denver in ‘23. The last time a non-top 10 O won a championship while being a top 5 D was the Pistons in ‘03. Reed will get better at Defense. He will never be Gary Payton, but he’ll do it, by failing. He can’t do that on the bench. And like you said, Bari hits just 2 3’s and Reed hits another one and the score is flipped completely.

@fyrebear Ehh, I get it. To win, this team will have to outscore their opponents. With average three point shooting, Rockets win that game. The rest of the season, offensive execution is supreme. On the Rockets greatest defensive nights, they lose because they can’t score.

#Rockets gave up 132pts against the Bulls and I am seeing Rockets Twitter complaining about role player scoring. What are we doing here? They defensively gave up 132pts to the Bulls. The story of this game is not offense. If that is what you are talking about, reevaluate.

The guys fell behind and that’s why they lost. They were gassed. The usual suspects want to blame the defense, but the D “guys” could not stop anyone and can’t hit the ocean from the beach. The scorers brought them back. They’ll get better at defending with reps. Flip Tari for a 3 and D guard that CAN shoot and we’ll be ok.

This is why I go back to the deadline inactivity. You had Coby White, Ayo, and Alvarado all right there on the cheap. IF the GM thought the only way to get the coach to play the freaking former #3 overall pick was to not upgrade the roster, that’s just pure organizational dysfunction. Nights like last night are bound to happen, in terms of Reed. Young players have bad games! It’s a thing! Meanwhile, Kevin Durant dropped 40, Sengun is rounding back into All-Star form, and Amen Thompson is surging. I’ll never understand why you’d punt on a season with those three guys healthy.

@congressdj Mother made a 6hr30min line at terminal E yesterday. Got there at 1:15, made it past security at 7:45pm. The problem is getting worse. Only 2 terminals open now. You are full of shit.

There is no TSA shortage or wait at IAH airport in Houston. Let me explain. The media and some influencers, in this case, mostly on the right, are creating a crisis to get democrats off their butts and pass DHS funding. I get congressional pressure, but what I don’t like is disinformation. Or in this case, the partial truth. The videos and pictures showing massive lines are typically taken early in the morning. When airports open, typically around 4 AM, TSA, even when fully funded, are not there 100%. Maybe 50% of checkpoints may be open in some places, if you’re lucky. So the media scares everybody into showing up at the airport 4+ hours early. You essentially then have a situation where an ENTIRE DAY’S WORTH OF TRAVELERS are arriving at the SAME TIME, early in the morning, with low staff. This creates the nightmare situation you are seeing. If you show up a few hours later, typically around 9am, the lines will be mostly gone. There are some other workarounds, too, which make for good advice even on a regular day. If you’re going to a United hub, for example, check in through American’s security terminal, or vice versa (depending on airport). That can save you time, even if it means a little more walking. I’m not saying the lines aren’t real, they are. But unfortunately, they have mostly been created through hysteria. On the left is Houston IAH today at 11am. On the right is DCA Friday at 9am. We are still being manipulated by the mainstream media. Yes, even Fox News.

@WillKunkelV My mother waited close to 7 hours today at IAH terminal E to make it through security. The line went all the way to the underground train. They now have cots set up at the gates for people spending the night.

Houston (IAH) continues to defend their crown with the LONGEST TSA lines in America.

@stfukhi Crazy. They’re close to the same player statistically. Scotty was the better player 12 months ago. Amen has caught up!

In no particular order here’s the players I’d have above Amen: Shai Luka Jokic Giannis KD Kawhi Curry Ant Maxey Jaylen Brown Tatum Dwhite Mitchell Wemby Brunson Booker Cade Harden Siakam Chet Bam AD U can argue Amen being better but I’d lean the other player for now tier: Scottie Lamelo Mobley Bron Franz Murray Zion (if healthy) Jdub So I’d have Amen around top 30-35

@AKInfinity_VVS The benching for Fred will happen. And it will be a shit show.

Reed Sheppard has an opportunity to make his inevitable benching upon the return of Fred look really dumb. Hope he continues to force Udoka's hand though. Do not let up, kid. 🔥

@Clay_HTXSports @BradeauxNBA Yes, but many of the “pundits” protect Ime to the death. Probably to stay in the good graces of the front office. It was ALL on Ime. You call a time out if you have one (they had 2) 10/10 times to advance the ball.

I saw some commentary earlier that said Reed could/ should've altered his path to the ball to stop the turnover.. Or.. you know, how about the 8 other things Ime Udoka could've done to prevent this (including @BradeauxNBA's point here) Situational awareness matters. Tari has to wear this, but last night's near disaster of a loss was on the coaching staff's lack of intentionality with personnel vs. circumstance.

@3rdCoastPimpin Kind of being facetious. You know it won’t happen if the coach is still here.

Really not that hot of a take. Nobody wants to see fvv dribble for 14secs till he runs a play. Reed gets the ball moving and hustles, thats what this team needs

@JahariKavi Just wait. He’ll be back to his old ways soon.

Udoka finally realized the importance of space on the floor for your offense. It only took him three seasons. #Rockets

@WillKunkelV Hot take. He’s the starter over FVV.

Do the Rockets stick with Reed Sheppard in the starting lineup is the real question.

@MarkMurrah @clutchfans I feel like the head coach does not want him to succeed bcs his best friend is the “starting pg”. Let’s just wait for next year’s shit show.

@clutchfans clearly time to send him back to the bench

"Reed Sheppard to the rescue!" Reed has 23 points, 14 assists, 0 turnovers