Chris A. White 🐻

Asked Ime Udoka if he felt his team had the top-tier talent to compete with top of West (SGA, Jokic, Wemby etc.)

"We have the talent no doubt. It's identity, mentality, toughness, dog, all of that is missing right now. We'll see if we can get it back by the end of the season).

SAS loss stunk. But the #Rockets have to shake it off quickly. They have a B2B home vs TOR on Tuesday and then on the road vs DEN (need to win to tie the H2H tiebreaker). Get those two games!

Perfectly put!

Probably the hardest I've ever rolled my eyes when Tirico said that

#Rockets lose to SAS. Just not in their league without at least FVV/Adams available. Too much to overcome.

Amen showed up with 23pts, 7rbs, 6ast.
Sengun was a -28 for the game and Capela a +11.

The Rockets will start their usual group with Jabari Smith Jr. back, per Ime Udoka.

Amen, Bari, Tari, KD, Şengün.

Jabari Smith is available Sunday for the #Rockets vs Spurs.

I disagree. CC defensively was shutting down the paint and stopping the lobs POR was throwing to great effect to Williams and Clingan.

They probably take Ausar, honestly.

However down you might feel about the Rockets, just imagine if Portland had picked Amen Thompson and not Scoot Henderson.

Things could definitely be worse

#Rockets are now 11-0 when holding opponents below 100 and 20-1 below 105 (21-0 if Tari tip-in a tenth of a second earlier in that previous POR game). Why the Rockets defense is important to Udoka. #NBAsky

#Rockets WIN! Rockets closed with Capela at C instead of Sengun. Very interesting move by Ime.

Amen Thompson with 26pts 7rbs 7asts
#NBAsky

Amen will play tonight, Jabari will test his ankle out per Udoka.

No reaggravations, Udoka said, ankle injuries can just linger.

Embarrassing loss by the #Rockets. Completely unprofessional. What makes it worse, is the game went to OT and the Rockets have a B2B game vs Portland tomorrow.

Yup

The high Amen minutes I think are for defense to cover for Sengun.

Doesn’t really matter as long as he gets close to 30 MPG

Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith are expected to play tonight vs GSW per Udoka. #Rockets #NBAsky

Amen rolled his ankle in the fourth quarter per Udoka, tbd on severity.

#Rockets WIN!

Sheppard: 19pts, 7rbs, 10ast, 6sts, 2blks
Sengun: 32pts, 12rbs, 8tos
KD: 30pts, 7rbs 6tos
Amen: 22pts, 12rbs

Now we wait to find out Amen's injury status.

Over their last 6 games, the Rockets are:
- 4-2 with the 5th best net rating in the NBA
- 5th in offensive rating, 9th in defensive rating
- 2nd in EFG%
- 5th in halfcourt offense

Not the stiffest competition (Utah, SAC) but did take on Charlotte, Orlando and NYK

No Curry against the #Rockets on Thursday.

#Rockets next 3 games: at WAS, GSW, POR (B2B). Rockets need to take care of business and win all 3 of those games. 2 day break after the WAS game. Jabari back for GSW. Likely no Curry for GSW. No excuses. Sets up a huge game at SAS on Sunday on NBC.

Buyout candidates have to be released today before midnight eastern to be available for the playoffs. #Rockets

Udoka didn't flat out say it, but Sengun's defense last night was appalling. Him specifically, got blown by, through, around on so many possessions. He was put into actions and got badly exposed. Larson, Jaime, Bam all went through him.

Heat 115, Rockets 105: Alperen Sengun outplayed inside by Miami bigs It was a rough afternoon for Rockets center Alperen Sengun, who was statistically outplayed by both Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware in a loss at Miami.

“They were the tougher team,” head coach Ime Udoka said postgame. “They put their heads down, shoulders in our chests, and got to the basket way too easy. “(They had) 66 points in the paint, and with individual defense, we didn't stand up tough enough.” #Rockets #NBAsky

#Rockets played 6 games in 10 days. Looked like they ran out of steam in the loss to MIA. Wizards up next on Monday, then 2 days off.

Jabari Smith will miss the next game but be back against GSW on Thursday.

Asked Ime if we could see more Reed closing games later in the season.

"Whoever's playing and doing certain things, he's going to play and finish."

Also said putting Reed+Amen in the starting group does leave the bench with a dearth of scoring. Will probs see more Aaron Holiday

Reed starting. #Rockets

DEN losing last night has a 2 game separation between the #Rockets and Nuggets. Really need to find a way to win today vs Heat to keep it that way. And the Wizards up next on Monday.