Rockets FALL APART Vs Kings In OT, Kevin Durant & Alperen Sengun FAIL To Deliver In Clutch AGAIN
Rockets FALL APART Vs Kings In OT, Kevin Durant & Alperen Sengun FAIL To Deliver In Clutch AGAIN
Houston Rockets fumble another double-digit lead, falling 125-124 to the Sacramento Kings in overtime—can this squad be trusted in crunch time? Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) spotlights the Rockets’ ongoing struggles with late-game execution and questionable play-calling, despite big nights from Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün. Turnovers, missed assignments, and a shocking 19 offensive rebounds from the Kings fueled a brutal collapse, while Jabari Smith Jr.’s crucial missed free throw and Tari Eason’s critical late game error add to the drama.
Gatlin recaps Ime Udoka’s candid assessment as the Rockets’ coach shoulders blame for a lackluster effort and motivation against a struggling opponent. Key talking points include the Rockets’ reliance on Durant and Şengün, visible absence of Fred VanVleet’s leadership, and whether a trade is urgently needed to stabilize late-game woes. Are the Rockets approaching “fraud watch,” or can they right the ship before it’s too late?
#Rockets #NBA #KevinDurant #AlperenSengun
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#HoustonRockets #Rockets #NBA #KevinDurant #AlperenSengun #AmenThompson #JabariSmithJr #TariEason #ReedSheppard #FredVanVleet #DorianFinneySmith #StevenAdams #AaronHoliday #JaeSeanTate #JeffGreen #ClintCapela #JoshOkogie
44 Comments
This team urgently needs a trade. Udoka should be traded to another team.
I'd rather hear your commentary than watch the games at this point. Thank you.
It’s annoying to watch the. game played last night .
Typo at the thumbnail
We need to do something because this team is shit trade Alpi and trade for a point guard and Ime is not a good coach
We shouldn’t have lost that game ! Reed is more than capable of running the point until VanVleet gets back !
Bro what kind of brain do you have, denver game okey alpi couldnt finish the game but this game who is responsible for clutch i think KD with 2 clutch yeah KD effect😂
Playing without a point guard can only get you so far. Unfortunately
Lets see alpi Lakers warriors or denver with jokic
K.D starting to show bad body language, whining and looking to blame others. I seen this coming. No surprise that's who he is.
POINT GUARD PROBLEM IN THE CLUTCH..REAALLY SIMPLE
let me ask you a question, how many times did a clutch shooter miss, not everyone, just the top 50 players. I believe they missed more often. To label someone as Failure, is just not right. Your very negative, very.
Change that title, stop pointing out individuals. As you say, this team has to figure that out, they just need time…i like your content btw
KD should just work on clutch shots only in practice cause that last shot was crooked as hell
This team is still one real pg away and one good offensive assistant coach away from championship… Even prime Jordan could not do anything like this iso sets in this Rockets! Stop blaming Alpy, KD or rotation players… They are trying to do their best but coaching, especially in offense, is disgusting!
Rockets are really compromised when they have to sit Adams. The rebounding suffers and the paint defense goes away.
Get a european offense coach and play some sets for gods sake.
Also we need to give Aaron holiday serious mints in the rotation when sheppards not on the court and have a PG all the time
Udoka needs to own this as well. How many of these losses before its the coaches fault? 8 man rotations on back to backs, closing lineups losing double digit leads, disappearing defense, iso instead of set plays to end games, turnover prone team having Jabari initiate offense/dribbling, playing -20 player heavy minutes and allowing him to shoot 3rd most shots, losing rebounding battle to the worst team in NBA in rebounding, etc.
Rockets need a shake up trade:
HOU: Kelel Ware, Pelle Larsson, Heat 2026 SRP
BKN: Terry Rozier, Jabari Smith Jr., Rockets 2028 FRP
MIA: Michael Porter Jr., Nets 2028 FRP swap
Rockets get longer, save salary plus better rim protection, better rebounding, better 3P%, better offense on 3rd unit as well as flexibility to move Capela for PG like Jose Alvarado, Jared McCain or Quentin Grimes to address the glaring turnovers issue.
After that game, I hope we can trade for Dennis Schroeder. Just a smart, clutch PG…. We desperately need a player like him.
Absolutely embarrassing. Watching this Rockets team in the 4th quarter last night was like watching a circus act. Backcourt violations(Sheppard), jump passes off the side of the backboard(Sengun), and an inability to handle defensive pressure(every Rockets player) to the point that it becomes a massive challenge just to get the ball across the half-court line and start offensive sets. You bounce back big against Denver after that debacle in New Orleans, and then you return to being a circus show the following night. Like what is going on with this team in December. 🤦🏽♂I feel like for the first time this season, the cracks of Fred Vanvleet being out are beginning to show, and in a BIG way.
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS THE HOUSTON ROCKETS TO TRADE FOR A POINT GUARD.
🎯 AHEAD OF 12/23 & 12/25:
I'm BURNING on this!
*Here's my expected COMMENTS until the playoffs…
*The true FAN can recognize real and/or fake basketball!
*The truth be told, most games are simply hard to watch!
*It's simply pathetic and a crying shame when a player can stay on the court and can't defend his own shadow!
*WHY, teams ignore the obvious?
*Explain to me, why teams allow them (poor defenders) OFF THE HOOK?
*Every team should ALWAYS take advantage of a team's poor defender, (especially multiple).
*I say, If teams allow a known poor defender to score (40-pts), somebody's expected to score (41-pts) against him!
*Example: All scouting reports against the Lakers should read, target and exploit (L.James, L.Dončić and/or A.Reeves) and force them to the bench via foul trouble or sheer embarrassment!!
*It's just insane that teams ignore the obvious and fail to target, exploit and dominate the likes of a LeBron James the self proclaimed King/GOAT aka Father-time.
*Note, Something is WRONG with that picture?!
*So, if a team is over .500 and loses to them (the Lakers or any team that's similar defensely) SHAME on THEM!
Note: The CLIPPERS have one on their roster, (poor defender).
*Moreover, why no-one is talking about what has happened to the importance of respect, honor, integrity, authenticity, history, legacy and the sheer competition of the game…?
*The aforementioned is the foundation of what made the NBA GREAT!
*"Let's make the NBA GREAT again!"
#Huh, what say you?!
#The-BALL-doesn't-LIE!
🚀🏀💥💯👏🏾
hlf uwon2
All these losses down the stretch I blame the coach.
Let’s stop pussyfooting around the issue. Last year the Rockets had FVV and Jalen Green and everyone complained that they needed a closer. Durant was sold as the closer they needed. In truth, the Rockets now have Durant, but excuses continue to be made such as there are no point guards, he doesn’t get the ball, he doesn’t get open shots. “Go to” players win games down the stretch in clutch games, not make excuses. Curry makes shots, not excuses, Doncic makes shots, not excuses, Jokic makes shots, not excuses. Brunson, Edwards, Kyrie, even Schroder makes shots, not excuses. But the Rockets with KD don’t win clutch games, even against bad teams. I just keep hearing excuses and that’s not cutting it. If KD can’t win clutch games, with or without FVV, with or without a true pg, then what’s the point in trading for him?? Might as well just kept JG and wait until the team was ready.
Go Rockets ❤🎉❤
Alpiii❤❤
Almost let Denver come back Saturday
I blame KD for this u r a top 1/ player of all time can't do this shit again and again.. u did well in Denver but don't do that shit again kevin Durant.
THERE IS NO PASSION
THERE IS NO VISION
THERE IS NO AGGRESSION
THERE IS NO FUCKING MINDSET IN THIS BASKETBALL CLUB!!!!!
WHAT THE HELL IS THIS???
Personally when i see The suns playing i’m like this summer i was like noooo trade JG for Kd don’t touch şengün, but what i see, the way that ime use him like he is a role player, of course he will take all the last shots not disrespect to KD but Şengün has to be this guy for houston but no it seems everyone want KD to shoot than go, now i’m thinking what if şengün was traded to this suns with devin and brooks, i tell you he would have shined all his skills and not used like a steven adams with post moves, he is way more than that but ime’s game plan is too predictable top easy, go 1on1 if not possible find the open guy, but not so many cuts or screen either. Look at his plays at Eurobasketball this summer there was always movement and he went toe to toe with jokic literally destroy two time mvp giannis, but ime use him like zach randolf and it’s always his fault, as a Turkish we really hope he goes to a team that he can play with freedom, and i hope if he goes that’s a contender
This is concerning. You would think the Rockets had learned their lesson after their collapse on Thursday. It looked like they had on Saturday. But it’s the same story last night. They had better get this thing figured out. And quick!
Ime Udka, no O
I hate the way you say Bad team. Teams like the Pelican had early injuries that allowed them to lose a lot of games, now the team is getting more health and they won 4 in the row..
Bring jabri to the bench him and kd do the same thing. Start tari eason till we can get dorian back
Suns are only 3 games behind rockets. When green and Grayson comeback, suns will be a tough out. Not to mention that 2027 pick you thought was gonna be a lottery pick? Not so fast
Jrue holiday or cj mccollum along with a healthy dorian will fix this np. We need better spacing shooters and ball hamdling
1. Alpi clearly seems unhappy with this "new team": Any comments on his heated exchange with B. Sullivan in the 3rd Quarter? I don't think it was a "moment" thing. I recall seeing Alpi put his arm over Billy’s shoulder, and Billy removed Alpi’s arm from his shoulder.
2. Amen lacks significant fundamental skills that will make him an elite player or what Rockets think he will become – no way.
3. Reed ball handling is like 70s NBA. I've never seen a short handling the ball that open to losing.
4. KD isn't the guy he used be (almost 10-years ago). Anything he's doing at an elite level apart from shooting the ball? Seeing him pissed off at some of guys will make him a problem in the locker room if it has not.
5. These losses show Ime's weaknesses. How can you not have a working clutch strategy? I don't buy that Tari didn't stick to the game plan and went to help. Not having a working clutch strategy is on Ime, but having a guy ignoring the game plan is twice on Ime.
6. Finally, I think Houston media, including Jackson, know that Alpi will be traded.
I hate to day this ,but i think Durant is the problem. Yes he is amazing. Very few can do what he can at that size. I just think he doesn't make teams better, he tears them apart. I'm a suns fan who started listening to Jackson when the trade was happening. I must say i really like this pod. Jackson you are very fair to other teams, and i really like that. Most of these locked on pods are Homer's. Yes even the Suns ben garcia. I do think fred would solve your turnover problems, i don't think he fixes your 4th qter who is gonna take the big shot. i wanted Durant so bad, but 2 months later, i wanted my old team back.. just like you guys are. We were one of the best young teams. Now we're digging ourselves out of a Durant shaped hole. Happy holidays to you all. Stomp them lakers on xmas for me
1-5 in OT games I'm sick of it. We can't close it out late in the 4th and we can't even win in extra team. This team needs a hard look in mirror
Trade the coach!
Not enough great plays made for KD. Also the line up was too small.
what dont you start tari instead of bari, so that rockets still having "KD" off the bench, okogie-amen-KD-Sengun-Tari, ROckets almost undefeated when tari starts last season
When yall going to admit that we traded the wrong two players for KD
Hi Jackson, your point is well taken, however, I think the coaches take out the starters too early, especially when we’re not finishing games. Keep those starters in there as long as you can.