Game Day: Rockets (49-29) @ Suns (43-35), Tues 4/7/26

[ShelC]

I'm leaning towards the idea of Ott being told to play the vets over the young guys right now. I could see the mentality of "if we sit Allen or Royce for Dunn and Fleming it might hurt their trade value this summer", but that's stupid anyway because those guys are what they are and teams know their games. Cutting their minutes doesn't mean they can't play, it means we're just shifting strategy to the young players.

If these rotations are indeed Ott's call, you have to genuinely wonder what's going thru his head and is there a chance he loses the lockerroom.

I also wonder if Allen's playing thru that knee injury because he was pretty solid defensively most of the year.

[ShelC]

Postgame Quotes and Videos

Spoiler: show/hide

[Mori Chu]

It's a real shame to see how we are ending the season. We had such great energy and hustle and immaculate vibes for about 2/3 of the season. And now we decide to throw it all away and limp to the finish line. The rotations are baffling and we're sitting guys who could be helping. And several guys who were great earlier in the season (Gillespie, Williams, Allen) just aren't delivering right now. Combine that with the pretty regular poor shooting performances from Book and Green, and Brooks still not looking 100% back from his injury yet, and you pile up a bunch of Ls.

I just really think we are going to lose our play-in games and not qualify for the playoffs. I can feel it coming. Clips will smoke us, and then POR or GSW will put us out of our misery.

[Superbone]

Suns started off like it was a playoff game, Rockets weren't ready. Things flipped in the 2nd because they usually do, we just haven't been able to maintain a big lead against teams this season. We get a big lead and then give it up settling for 3s and/or the game slows down and we can't adjust. It is what it is. Ott clearly isn't interested in playing Dunn or Sheer right now or he's being told not to. Whatever it is, we're losing winnable games and also not getting the young guys valuable experience in these important games down the stretch. Finish out the season and see what happens with the roster.

I can only hope that Ott's been given instruction from above to not play our youth. Otherwise, it makes no sense. Well, it doesn't make sense if it's coming from the top either unless there is some ulterior motive I'm not seeing.

I was so happy with Coach Ott for 2/3 of the season and then it seems like everything took an about face. I don't get it.

[Superbone]

Ott: "Going into the playoffs, your rotation shrinks. We've got to pick the right guys."

Yeah, man, and this ain't it.

All offense and no defense. No rebounding or rim protection.

[Superbone]

It's a real shame to see how we are ending the season. We had such great energy and hustle and immaculate vibes for about 2/3 of the season. And now we decide to throw it all away and limp to the finish line. The rotations are baffling and we're sitting guys who could be helping. And several guys who were great earlier in the season (Gillespie, Williams, Allen) just aren't delivering right now. Combine that with the pretty regular poor shooting performances from Book and Green, and Brooks still not looking 100% back from his injury yet, and you pile up a bunch of Ls.

I just really think we are going to lose our play-in games and not qualify for the playoffs. I can feel it coming. Clips will smoke us, and then POR or GSW will put us out of our misery.

Maybe that's the plan. Get in the lottery for a chance at a great young player. Oh, wait... Ya gotta have a draft pick for that.

[ShelC]

His quote after the game was odd too about us not being a great defensive rebounding team. You're going small and sitting your best athletes and rebounders, then pointing to the other team's offensive rebounds and 2nd chance points.

[O_Gardino]

Ott is just a believer that the young guys aren't ready. That's been the case all season long. Maluach only got minutes when Williams was out injured, and Fleming only got minutes when Brooks was out. Dunn got time early, but that was when Green was out. It would be easier to stomach if the Suns were winning, or even just competitive.

[Uncle_Gene]

I watched Southwest Bias with Espo of PHNX Sports, he thought Rasheer Fleming should have got some minutes based upon his rebounding ability, his defense, being able to shoot the three.

[Superbone]

I watched Southwest Bias with Espo of PHNX Sports, he thought Rasheer Fleming should have got some minutes based upon his rebounding ability, his defense, being able to shoot the three.

Duh. We've all been saying this. The question is why he isn't being played.

[ShelC]

Even if Ott didn't think the young guys were ready, you just can't physically compete with a rotation of seven guys under 6-6. I don't care how hard they play or how hard you tell them to play. And even with some mistakes, the energy, length and athleticism Dunn and Fleming bring can offset some of those mistakes with their rebounding, hustle and open court play.

[Split T]

I think it has more to do with making sure we get Brooks and Williams up to speed. I think there is still room for some Fleming or Dunn, but I get it to an extent. These games don’t matter…we need Brooks and Williams to find their rhythm again.

[O_Gardino]

Sure, but we don't need to get Allen and O'Neale up to speed.

[Split T]

Allen has spent most of the season as our 2nd best player. He’s struggling lately, but you don’t just bench him for a few bad games.

Royce is the guy you could maybe take minutes from. Even then, our defense has been better all year than our offense and Royce is unquestionably a better offensive player than either Dunn or Fleming.

I think there could be some flexibility there with playing more of Dunn and Fleming, but I understand why we are playing Royce. He’s a high volume 3 point shooter who doesn’t make mistakes and is hitting over 40% from 3.

[O_Gardino]

I get it, and that's how we end up with the lineups we've been seeing. It was more palatable when the Suns were winning.

I think Ott could for sure sit one of the wings and just tell him that he's taking a look at Fleming. "I know you'll be ready for the playoffs, and I need to see if Rasheer is ready." Ott could tell the whole team that he's going to play bigger. "These 4-gaurd lineups aren't working, so I'm going to play some size."

[Danimal]

Ott: "Going into the playoffs, your rotation shrinks. We've got to pick the right guys."

Yeah, man, and this ain't it.

All offense and no defense. No rebounding or rim protection.

It seems he meant shrinks literally

[ShelC]

Ott has a shrinkage problem.

[Danimal]

Ott has a shrinkage problem.

Have we stumbled upon a new version of little man syndrome

[O_Gardino]

Size doesn't matter, guys.