[Highlight] The difference in the Lakers bench compared to the Rockets bench in clutch time
Courtesy of Getoffmydickerson
No way them dudes don’t hate him just a little bit lol chemisty gotta be cooked they know how he really feels about them
I think as long as they are winning, it’s all rosy, but defeats lead to monsters raising their ugly heads, and getoffmydickerson is a pretty big fucking monster that KD had created
Sengun you can tell is not into it and knows KD is gone after this year
Another trade demand to an almost contender coming soon
We can run this exact story back next year when it doesn’t work, give or take a month
I dont even think its hate, they looked up to him. It probably affected their confidence. KD fucked this one up pretty bad.
Jabari Smith Jr idolizes KD so what he said on the burner must be so demoralizing even if he just isn’t at the level expected of him as a #3 pick
Im also pretty confident that even if the KD files hadnt leaked, how KD actually feels must leak out in some capacity throughout the year. When you spend a lot of time with someone as these guys do in a year, you can usually tell how someone really feels about you even if they dont just air it out. KD having a fall out with basically every former teammate so far kinda proves it. Obviously getoffmydickerson must have speedran this process by a lot tho
I know not everyone’s personality is to be a good leader but you ever notice the difference in how people talk about some other star vets as motivators like when people talk about wanting to run through a wall for Russ or Maxey developing into a PG by learning from Harden then we see KD is just kinda a go with the flow guy who’s talking shit about his teammates on a burner
Hey, he’s not here to get into Twitter nonsense.
The way he’s holding the water bottle and how his head is down looks like he’s having phone withdrawal.
Honestly looks like it loll
Father Time and Uncle Tech Tech are undefeated
Surprised the man doesn’t have some kind of VR Twitter command station at home with a bunch of phones and a chair with one of those hamster water drips
How crazy is it that an internet leak of KD’s anonymous shit talking comments is likely a huge reason behind an entire team’s downfall? Quite a time to be alive.
You should see how their coach left his last job
Saw someone call him unfaithful Darvin Ham and it’s been living rent free in my brain since.
If only he looked at Nia Long like she was Taurean Prince
And this team loved each other last year
“Man, y’all need to leave KD alone. I can only do so much with these bum ass teammates.”
KD cant win a championship with those cats
Who could lol
Somehow, prime Bron
Rockets Harden
Shit man, give Luka this squad with a rimrunner switched with Sengun and it would be a killer
KDs a cancer when he’s not around dudes he respects. Opposite of leader. Bus rider
Bro KD is just a hooper bro. He’s here to hoop. He just wants to hoop. Let him hoop.
Good burner
I mean yeah they all hate KD
I think the feeling is mutual
He called them ass and they responded by proving him right
Knew they were ass and still went their kd should learn to pass outta double teams before shitting on his teamates
They weren’t bad last year. Fred being out this year threw the whole team off but yeah him getting fucked up by double teams definitely doesn’t help
Steven Adams’ role cannot be understated. He provided help for Sengun on the defensive side, which has now exposed Sengun’s mid D
And on offensive he was a proflific rebounder that hid the Rocket’s poor shooting because they frequently had second chances with easier looks. Now they are exposed as a one dimensional offensive team
You can see their decline started shortly after Adams’ went down for the year
you’re absolutely right. they are massively missing a ball handler and a defensive anchor… both roles out with injuries.
if they were healthy, it would be a completely different vibe.
Offensive rebounds have been like another revolution these past few years, second chance opportunities are extremely valuable to efficient offenses. Players like adams and mitchell robinson, and jalen duren are super important to their offenses despite being defense-first players
This shit is frying me 😭
It boggles my mind that teams keep thinking he’s going to be the player to turn them around.
He hasn’t done it anywhere he’s been. The only time he won a championship was with the Warriors, where they already had a core that he couldn’t disrupt. You can’t have KD on a team with young players, or a team that he’s a leader of, it just doesn’t go well. With the Warriors, he wasn’t the leader of the team, Steph was. He may have been better, but Steph was still the face of the team.
He is not a better player than steph
I said “may have”, because I’m sure it’s something people always debate. I agree. I think Steph was better too.
The debate is during the finals the Cavs where double teaming Steph to leave KD one on one. That alone lets you know
That’s not why the Rockets got KD lol. They didn’t need him to turn anything around, but they were in desperate need of a go-to bucket getter. The FVV just fucked everything.
People pretending like an injured aging FVV is the one piece holding this team back from contending is pretty funny ngl
As should anybody that has to deal with his “I’m just hoopin’, but also I’ll complain about all of my teammates and coaches” ass
Coworker vibes
KD’s never gonna beat the allegations since the Rockets regressed, and the Suns improved from last season. They are only 2.5 games apart in the standings despite the Rockets being the 2nd seed, and the Suns being the 11th seed last season.
KD sold his career for those 2 warrior rings. He had a chance with the Nets but that blew up. Suns had a shot until they bought in Beal. And now the Rockets that looked promising until KD’s burner got outted. The universe really is comical in some ways.
And the Warriors rings aren’t all that significant historically. Getting the FMVPs helps but the consensus is still that they were Steph’s teams and Steph won before and after KD, so didn’t need him.
Obviously they had a solid chance to win in his final year with OKC before blowing the 3-1, but the following year it’s believed Horford would’ve been signed if KD had stayed. Instead he signed with Boston and was a starter for their #1 seed team that lost to LeBron in the ECF.
They probably should’ve beat GS in 2016 and lost in unprecedented fashion, and then would have only improved their roster the next year. One ring in OKC would be only a slightly worse Dirk-level of presige ring, which would be worth more than both of his GS rings.
I don’t even think it’s insane to say he would get more respect from fans if he stayed in OKC and never won a ring somehow with Russ and harden. I’m sure he would but even if he didn’t, look at how much Russ was loved when he was in OKC even though everyone knew he wouldn’t win there. Maybe for KD he’d be slandered a lot more cause the expectations on him are greater but I personally would have respected him more for staying loyal and falling short. I’m sure a lot of Thunder fans feel the same.
You might be right, but KD’s chip on his shoulder was always being 2nd to LeBron. In his mind, he could never surpass that if he didn’t start winning rings as soon as possible.
I suppose trying to chase someone like LeBron leads top 20 all-time players to dark places. Could’ve had a Dirk like legacy instead he’s getoffmydickerson
The difference between 0 rings and 1 (or 2) pretty fake rings is still gigantic. KD right now is usually ranked around 15th all time. Without the ring he drops down below KG, Dirk, Oscar, West, and other guys with 1 ring and falls into the Malone and Barkley territory.
I have always thought if the Rockets win in 2018 and nothing else changes that Harden would be unquestionably ranked ahead of KD all time. Without a ring there is only so high you can go even if those rings aren’t the same as the other top guys.
Yup. The only thing significant about his warrior rings is that the best 2 players in the western conference had to team up to beat Lebron
That’s really the summary of Steph Curry and Kevin Durant.
For as great as they are as all-time legends of the sport, they needed each another to beat LeBron James.
Steph curry beat LeBron before KD. Lol
Once while his whole team was injured and even then they almost lost
Curry didn’t need KD to beat Bron though
Once is by chance. Twice is a coincidence. Three times is a pattern.
You fool me can’t fool again
My tinfoil hat take… The suns could have won the championship if they would have traded for Hachimura back then. It was a great team. They were in advanced talks with the Wizards but ultimately decided against it because of an additional second rounder. They were legit a bench scorer away from the championship and Hachimura turned it up for the Lakers during the same playoffs.
I love the dumb ass comments of zero context like the teams are exactly the same lmao
Rockets lack a fucking point guard and look like they’ve never ran an offense in their life, that’s what happens when your best ball handler is fucking Reed Sheppard
Suns have a completely different team too, 3 players out of the 5 with most avg minutes are not there, they added an elite shooter in Gillespie, a very good center in Mark Williams
I’m not gonna sit here and act like KD is some saint teammate or anything but these comparisons make no sense, teams are completely different, Rockets got fucked by FVV’s injury, Suns have a completely different team now and coach too
Honestly I think Sengun is a flawed star who can’t be a #1 option on a contender
Basically he’s Sabonis
Sabonis is ultra efficient and way better at running an offense, Sabonis on this team would be much better (they would hide his awful defense better too)
Plus Sabonis was a decent shooter for a bit there but defensively both suck ass especially at protecting the rim
sabonis is a better rebounder as well
Sengun is a worse Sabonis, the worse archetype of a big in 2026, defense so ass and he’s not even efficient like Sabonis
I agree with everything you said but isn’t that a big reason why players like KD get paid like they do and are revered in the best ever categories? He’s supposed to be able to make up for what his team lacks. That’s what a difference maker really is. Losing a 32 year old Fred Van Vleet shouldn’t be so devastating.
What are you talking about my guy, KD is one of the best scorers ever not one of the best playmakers ever
KD is a fucking 37 year old 7 footer and his weakness even at his best was his handle, you cannot have 37 year old KD running your offense and expect him to be a Jokic out there
Everything you said is true.
Well no, KD has flaws, this is not KD of old.(And even than him passing out of doubles was lacking, but he could make up for it)
Their roster construction literally means they don’t have anyone besides Vanfleet of Fred who can throw in an entry pass. I guess they were banking on Amen developing his skills to do that as a PG, or maybe Reed, but that didn’t work
Fred even though his counting stats are kinda ass, functions as a on-court assistant coach who can kinda hand hold the younger players to be in the right positions on O+D, and can actually get people the ball. No else can do that, literally no one. So when you trade for a 37 year old KD, lose your only competent passer b4 the season, and lose Stevo, you’re cooked
I just don’t understand losing FVV and then basically shrugging their shoulders through the trade deadline as they waste a season of KD.
They were very limited in what they could do though that’s the problem
I’ll believe it because I haven’t gone all in on their cap and available options, but it’s surprising that there were zero options available to improve the PG situation.
Gillespie was in Phoenix last year, he just got a lot more opportunity without KD and Beal
The biggest shame, is that Brooklyn had a really fun group of people before KD / Harden BS. I remember the entire bench dancing all the time before OKC did it big. They had D’Lo, LeVert, Allen, and Dinwiddie. Sheesh I miss that vibe.
I mean, he lost legacy points when the Warriros won rings before him and after him
KD clutching that Gatorade bottle likes it’s a phone. Getting warmed up for the post game.
Thought he was on his phone for a minute.
That’s why he doesn’t moisturize can’t get that phone all slimy
The boardroom gc with his nuthuggers are about to hear some outrageous takes
Lakers huddle looking like one of those sports movies scenes where the rag tag crew is making their big comeback
The hours approaching, just give it your best
You’ve got to reach your prime.
That’s when you need to put yourself to the test,
And show us a passage of time,
We’re gonna need a montage
Yeah, except it’s the best athlete who has ever lived sitting there - similar to those movies where the “ugly” girl transforms into the knockout girlfriend.
KD is a HoF player and HoF vibe killer, dudes totally a Donatello
Facts
Harden gets a lot of flack but all his teammates and former teammates always praise his leadership, and he’s usually always actively coaching up guys on the sideline, same with Russ
KD just pouts
You could see it with the way he celebrated with Embiid when he got his MVP
Never considered him much of a painter but he does like painting himself into a corner
I mean, one team is mid huddle. The other is resting while waiting for the coaches to finish deliberating.
No no, we don’t do that here
You can tell who’s never been to a game and watched what the coaching staff do at timeouts.
I’ve actually implemented this into my coaching style after seeing it at live nba games. It gives players a chance to catch their breath and refocus. If you’ve been to live games you see NBA coaches don’t even draw up the play until like after the end of TO horn sounds.
If you don’t give little Wyatt more playing time next game we will not be hosting the team dinner the first week of April.
And littler Brayleigh is tearing it up on 14u he’s going to play varsity his freshman year right coach?
If I was the coach we wouldn’t have lost to Valley in the Centennial Game, you can bet your ass on that.
Yea if coach would have just put me in to coach we would have won state
I tried this in HS but it means you’re getting like 15 seconds to talk to the kids lol. The NBA medias are so long.
Yea that’s true the nba has so much leeway after the timeout is “over”, you get like another minute.
No context pls
No bro, you don’t get it, this short clip of how they were behaving for 5 seconds proves they havent communicated at all during the game and were like this the entire time
/s
Honestly I think the team’s mental does look bad as of late but the way people go off on short clips on Reddit is always crazy to see, as if something like “these teammates actually hate eachother” wasn’t an easy as fuck thing to frame on anyone when you have hours of footage of them together lol
As someone trying to unsubscribe from media narratives, isn’t it just as plausible they’re feeling defeated from team injuries/poor coaching adjustments?
It is good to keep a neutral mind for these sort of things, but a comment up top says the score at this point is 113-109.
If it was later when the Lakers had a much bigger lead with less time I would understand watching a dejected Rockets bench much more.
But in the clutch time/moments like this watching a team with no communication or even emotion besides pain juxtaposed with the Lakers in communication and close proximity is a bit alarming.
But also this could just be the ebbs and flows
Yeah saw that comment too, makes sense. Definitely should have a much bigger sense of urgency in the clutch when only down 4!
The Rockets are up against the best team in the clutch tho after a Luka 360 turnaround 3 over Amen. They should be more urgent but I can’t blame them for feeling defeated even if it’s only a 4 point lead. That’s the importance of leadership and these are the moments KD has to get everyone to lock in
Makes me thankful Luka is on our side
This was after Luka’s dagger step-back 3, the score was 120-111 & 58.4 secs left on the clock.
Yeah but I mean why are they not discussing anything? Why is coaching staff not doing their job, and you know, coaching.
Like you can see the Lakers are discussing things, working on things, while the Rockets just look bored and ready to go home.
Ime is asking for advice from his lack luster coaching staff. “What should we do?” “I don’t know, KD ISO again?”
Even then the players should be discussing something. I’d even take draymond yelling at KD type discussion instead of none at all, lol. They’re all scared of KD or something lol.
Most timeouts you see the coaches meet together first and let the players rest then they come over with the game plan basically after the horn sounds.
This clip is too short to really know what the coaches did
Yeah I some of it is they’re just catching their breath while the coaches huddle. Also, maybe they’re just a bit quieter on the bench. Lakers have a couple guys that are nonstop communicators during the game, off and on the bench (LeBron and Smart). When they’re engaged, at least.
Rockets probably heavily regretting the KD trade
Wasn’t the biggest issue. Bigger issue was getting another serviceable point guard
Ya losing FVV probably killed their season. Which is crazy to say cause he isn’t even that good
It seemed workable until Adams also went down, but yeah Rockets trading for KD and then basically wasting a year not being able to acquire any kind of PG is just bizarre.
Not getting Westbrook after FVV went down was so dumb. He would genuinely help this team
Durant is a great player, but he just doesn’t fit this team well. The Rockets have so many young guys that they rely on heavily to contribute. If he wants to win, he needed to go to a team that was more ready. Minnesota would have been such a perfect fit for both parties. Durant wouldn’t have to be the best player on the team because there’s an elite guard he can defer to, and the Timberwolves need another consistent scorer outside of Edwards.
Jalen Greens contract is an actual negative at its price point. What they should be regretting is signing FVV over Harden. They went with Ime, an alcoholic gooner, over the best player we’ve had in the modern era.
Lakers got closers, Rockets other then KD not so much
Smith hasn’t improved. Sengun I feel can be a closer but he’ll have to be fed the ball to do it and have good plays run to get him and his teammates spaced out for him to cook
What was the score at that point?
I think it was 113-109
That’s a much worse look than if it was after the Lakers went up 9 with less than a minute left.
I was gonna say LA has Lebron and Houston doesn’t have any vets. Then there’s KD sitting there, staring off in the distance.
Yikes
I haven’t followed much in the last month, is Houston’s regression timed with KD’s burner event or is it way before or after? Or a coincidence
It is somewhat closely timed with that but I’d argue it’s many things not just one. The burner thing is one of them though since the team chemistry is so clearly wrecked, but also Ime hasn’t made any significant offensive adjustments once teams figured out all you need to do vs Houston is double KD. Without Freddy V to help coordinate the offense and Steven Adams offensive rebounding they just are a very very poorly built team
I don’t know why, but everywhere I go it smells like shit.
The Rockets coaches are talking before they talk to the players, the Lakers coaches were ready to talk to the players right away. This video doesn’t show what you want it to show. This is just normal.
Love to see it.
Is Houston going to sell low on KD this summer?
Bro why they act like they already lost
this has been the clubhouse vibe since the KD allegations came out. Team synergy is non-existent. Either they are blowing out a team or they will lose any relatively close games it feels.
It’s Lakers up 4 in the clutch. They basically already lost
LOL the KD trade was overrated even if you managed to avoid the drama
Durant doesn’t listen to coaching anyways. It rubs off on his team.
Rockets players hate each other they will be lucky to not get swept in the 1st rd
At quick glance I thought KD was scrolling on his phone
WBC Team USA vs all the other teams in a nutshell.
Poor lil rockets running out of jet fuel
Downvote if you agree 👎🏼
All evidence pointing to KD being a cancer, but Ime runs team kinda weird too.
I have a feeling that KD is an energetic vampire. Like if you feel good,he’ll somehow make it lesser. Seems like he’s unconfrontational,but wants it his way and thinks he’s all that,and just passive agressively makes you miserable. I got all that just from this video.
Steven Adam’s was such an important part of their offense. A shame he’s out for the season. Fred VanVleet going down really hurt them too.
No Freddy killed them, the KD leaks were brutal, DFS is still dealing with his injury and has been way off on his 3s, and in the clutch Udoka will just let his guys keep ramming their heads into a brick wall believing one day they’ll break through it.
Bright side is that they’re still in pretty good position, and Reed’s development this year has been awesome to watch
1st round exit. Durant kills another team.
This is exactly how the Suns bench looked last year. I wish someone could do a montage of all the checked out teams with KD.
Durant detonated a tactical nuke to that locker room and their chemistry. They’re cooked.
Been saying this a year 2 years ago and you guys crucified me.
KD bout to join the Spurs or thunder
The Thunder can have him if they want
LeBron vibes vs KD vibes in a nutshell
You know KD already finished the outline of his burner tweet and just tryna add some polish to it too
The Lakers were up 9 after Luka’s 3, with 58.4 seconds remaining in regulation.
The Rockets were defeated in their mind after the dagger 3 (if you’re wondering whenin the clutch)
Someone said it was 113-109 at this point
Anybody know what the score was during this moment?
Looking at his bottle like, “come on Seattle, hurry up and get yo team. First dibs, the comeback.”
Mr bus rider thinking about who he wants to blame with his burner account
They rushed the process
LeAdership
Damn KD really fucked their mood
A million miles stare from Getoffmydickerson
lol. Love to see it.
They’re all looking in different directions like an album cover
Can’t huddle up when your leader thinks Yall are trash. And he’s the only offense.
KD: “why does this always happen to me”
KD is a cancer
The lakers bench probably looked like this before the coaches came back from their mini huddle. This is normal but it feeds so well into the Reddit soap opera
Bron always yelling something I love that dude so funny
Where’s that dude who asked why I think the Rockets are cooked the other day haha.
Holy fuck I am so glad fuck KD
Everyone is quick to blame KD but there are so many things wrong with this team.
We never replaced FVV in any way. Adams went down and we lost so much toughness and rebounding. Sengun and Amen didn’t improve in any meaningful way. Jabari is still inconsistent and under used. Ime refuses to give Reed enough playing time. Tari Eason was pissed and playing for himself and a big deal. DFS still isn’t back to playing form. Ime as a coach has zero offensive plans or adjustments. It’s just been a mess.
KD is one of my favorite players of all-time to watch but man, he is absolute chemistry killer. I legitimately can’t believe it happened again with this team.
KD after the Warriors has been more diva/locker room cancer yet teams still keep trading for him.
KD: “ain’t nothing to discuss, just give me the ball and get out of the way.”
a few moments later….
“inbound to KD. Lakers is doubling him. Marcus steals the ball!”
You sure this wasn’t after Luka’s dagger 3?
KD has been very vocal about not being a leader. It’s the only reason he fit with the Warriors, they were already a complete team with a vocal leader (Dray) and an alpha (Steph). KD was just an elite role player. These other teams keep praying he’s gonna come in and take them over the edge. But if their culture isn’t rock solid, he tends to make them worse
Haha rockets Got a man baby in KD hahahaha
It’s almost like trading for KD is a bad idea.
One of the big differences you see in games. I saw a game near court side and the wizards are all huddled meanwhile the Cavs are just chillin and laughing.
Do the teams make this happen to KD, or does KD make this happen to teams?
The KD effect, bro.
I watched it in Phoenix.
KD needs to go to a team with a leader.
These last 2 games are a huge ego check for KD
This is all on the GM for not going for a playmaker….
Everybody who wants KD never computes how terrible a leader he is. Talking shit about teammates before, during and after a season. Always gloomy. Hyper-talented, so it takes someone either more talented or just irrationally confident and boisterous to lead him. That’s why Curry and Draymond worked as long as they did. You put him with milquetoast “leaders” like Harden, Kyrie, Booker, Beal, or whomever and he ain’t doing shit. Say what you will about Westbrook, but he was clearly the heart and soul of those Thunder teams. Did he shoot them out of important games? Sure. Would KD be locked in without him, probably not. You’d likely see what you see here.
Has Kevin Durant become a locker room cancer
KD hardest road taken confirmed
The KD effect
Rockets basketball is just in a terrible place right now. I mean they’re not ‘bad bad’ but they’re not fun at all to watch lmao.
Honestly at this point, just send them all to the moon and give us the Supersonics back. We’ve got plenty of Texas teams already anyways
The Kevin effect
KD sitting next to the 2 people he threw shade at in the KD Files.
That team chemistry is done.
No wonder a KD led team goes no where.
Y’all drama queens. Rockets are clearly catching their breath as the coaches work out the play. Lakers are attentively going over the play, just as the Rockets will after this clip, as you can see the coaches moving towards them.
Ime Udoka has always struck me as a bad vibes kind of guy. He just always seems annoyed to be coaching a NBA team.
KD can’t win with these cats
Lmfao, damn awkward work environment.
When keeping it real, goes wrong.
Yall tryna make something out of nothing when the sexual misconduct coach isn’t even in the huddle yet