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Ben DuBose, longtime Rockets media member, writer, and podcast host, discusses the 2025-26 Rockets season with Paulo Alves and special guests. Basketball topics include the performance of star players such as Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson, and Alperen Sengun; potential transactions in 2025 and beyond; weekly game recaps; and much more.
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In an in-state rivalry matchup, the Rockets shot the ball poorly at home amid a rare off night for Kevin Durant. Yet, thanks to huge games by Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson, Houston survived it versus the short-handed Dallas Mavericks (2-5).For Monday’s ClutchFans Live postgame show, Dave Hardisty and Ben DuBose recap what we learned at Toyota Center, as well as many of the key takeaways moving forward. The Rockets (4-2) have now won four straight games, overall.The episode can be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmrO20T6uBM
Saturday’s ClutchFans Live postgame show breaks down Houston’s dominant 128-101 victory in Boston. The Rockets (3-2) have now won three straight games, overall, all by a margin of at least 18 points.
With Wednesday’s 139-121 victory at Toronto, the Rockets (2-2) secured their first winning streak of the 2025-26 campaign and are now NBA’s most efficient offense of the young season.Featuring Ben DuBose, Paulo Alves, and Dave Hardisty, the “ClutchFans Live” show recaps all the key storylines. Topics include big scoring nights from Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr.; a dominant rebounding performance, led by interior strength from Steven Adams and Alperen Sengun; and potential concerns on defense (where the Rockets currently rank in the bottom half of the league).This episode can be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C4F5xTVeKc
The Rockets (1-2) secured their first win of the 2025-26 season with a home blowout of the Brooklyn Nets. With Dave Hardisty and Ben DuBose as hosts, Monday’s ClutchFans Live postgame show explores all the key storylines.Topics include Tari Eason’s career shooting night; promising signs from Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard at point guard; and Ime Udoka’s decision to start Josh Okogie in place of Steven Adams.The episode can be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK6DcRVY8zE
In a roundtable conversation, Dave Hardisty and Ben DuBose sit down with Gretchen Sheirr, president of business operations with the Rockets, to discuss the opening of the 2025–26 NBA season.As part of the interview, Sheirr shares insights on the state of the franchise; what fans can expect from the Toyota Center experience, and the new promotions and initiatives designed to bring fans closer to the team.Discussion topics include the Rockets’ outlook for the new season; the impact of Kevin Durant on business; ongoing upgrades at Toyota Center; and the latest updates on fan promotions, engagement initiatives, and the overall business of basketball in Houston.This episode can also be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95dVJwU3kB4
All-Star center Alperen Sengun was fantastic with a game-high 39 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists, but it wasn’t quite enough in Houston’s heartbreaking 125-124 road loss to the defending NBA champion Thunder. As a fitting opener to the 2025-26 regular season, Tuesday’s matchup between Western Conference heavyweights wasn’t decided until the final seconds of a second overtime in Oklahoma City.Tuesday’s ClutchFans Live postgame show, featuring Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty, breaks down all the good and bad — including the fantastic showing by Sengun and a worrisome 21 turnovers as a team. Late miscues by Kevin Durant were also a recurring theme.
Monday’s ClutchFans live stream features reaction from Dave Hardisty and Ben DuBose to the relatively surprising news of the Rockets and Tari Eason not being able to agree on a contract extension prior to the rookie-scale deadline. Where does Houston go from here? Let’s discuss.This episode is available in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMwKKKv9mvk
With analysis from Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves, Sunday’s show reacts to the news of Kevin Durant extending his Houston contract for two additional years (and $90 million), as well as insight on whether Tari Eason is the next Rockets player in line for an extension.The episode also looks ahead to Tuesday’s regular-season opener at Oklahoma City and breaks down whether Reed Sheppard or Steven Adams is most likely to be the fifth starter versus the Thunder.
The Rockets finished out a perfect preseason (4-0) with Thursday’s 133-115 victory at Atlanta, in which second-year guard Reed Sheppard (29 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 blocks) stuffed the stat sheet. Our Houston-based postgame show, featuring Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty, offers immediate reaction — along with insight on the upcoming contract-extension deadline for Tari Eason.The episode can be viewed in video form here, via the ClutchFans YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5H7YddfNPo
Tuesday’s “ClutchFans Live” postgame show features reaction from Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty to Houston’s 130-128 exhibition victory over New Orleans. The Rockets are now 3-0 in preseason play.Topics include a big night for Jabari Smith Jr.; the implications of starting a “double big” lineup with Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams; and whether defensive concerns are warranted.The episode can be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng5u1_5sSYM
Hosted by Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves, Friday’s episode features reaction to Houston’s 2-0 start to preseason play. Topics include strong showings from the likes of Alperen Sengun, Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr., as well as early indications that the Rockets’ identity this season might be more driven by their offense.With a focus on player evaluations, the show concludes with a look at Ime Udoka’s end-of-the-rotation options and how much players such as Clint Capela and JD Davison might play off the bench.
As part of a “ClutchFans Live” postgame show, Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty recap Houston’s 140-127 victory over Utah on Wednesday night. The Rockets are now 2-0 in preseason play.Topics include an electric Rockets debut for Kevin Durant, who had 20 points (70% FG) on elite efficiency in only 23 minutes. The discussion also hits on Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, and Reed Sheppard, who all showed promising signs — perhaps due in large part to the attention drawn by KD.Defensively, however, the Rockets gave up 20 made 3-pointers on nearly 45% shooting. Could Houston’s identity be shifting to something more offense focused?Wednesday’s show breaks it all down. The episode can be viewed in video form on YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_qGdlMnOZs
In a “ClutchFans Live” postgame show, Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty recap Houston’s victory over Atlanta to open the 2025-26 preseason. Topics include strong performances by Alperen Sengun and JD Davison, as well as a somewhat underwhelming showing by Reed Sheppard as the starting point guard. The episode can be viewed in video form on YouTube.www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb8ImorC0To
Monday’s emergency podcast features a roundtable forum of Ben DuBose, Paulo Alves, and Dave Hardisty (@ClutchFans) reacting to Fred VanVleet’s potentially season ending ACL tear. Topics include the Rockets’ internal and external options to fill his role at point guard, as well as why the shocking news isn’t necessarily the end of Houston’s 2026 championship hopes.
Per head coach Ime Udoka, Houston will have an open competition at training camp for its fifth and final spot in the starting lineup. Friday’s show features reaction from our Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves to the news, including a look at the pros and cons of Jabari Smith Jr., Dorian Finney-Smith, Steven Adams, and Tari Eason in that role.The episode also explores potential strategies to optimize each unit of the playing rotation, along with perspective on Alperen Sengun’s elite EuroBasket play for Turkey and its potential implications for the 2025-26 Rockets.
Wednesday’sepisode breaks down the ongoing contract extension negotiations between the Rockets and fourth-year forward Tari Eason, including new reasons for optimism and projections on what a deal might look like. The deadline for rookie-scale extensions comes prior to the NBA’s October 21 regular-season opener, so negotiations between Eason and Houston executives will be active over the coming days and weeks.
Friday’s show with Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves features reaction to Houston’s newly released schedule for the 2025-26 NBA season, as well as recent rumors regarding Kevin Durant’s next contract and why it might not be finalized this offseason.
With the NBA’s 2025 summer league in the books and the Rockets giving what will likely be their final standard contract to defensive wing Josh Okogie, Houston appears set to enter the 2025-26 season with Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, and Reed Sheppard as its primary ball-handlers and play initiators among rotation players.After a brief but underwhelming stint in Las Vegas, Tuesday’s show explores whether Sheppard is up for the point-guard task, as well as whether Thompson is ready to take on the type of on-ball responsibility that Jalen Green often did last season. The episode also breaks down how recent signings such as Okogie, JD Davison, and Isaiah Crawford could potentially fit into the equation as training camp nears.
Friday’s episode features reaction to the Rockets trading Cam Whitmore to Washington and a preview of Houston’s upcoming summer-league games in Las Vegas (where second-year guard Reed Sheppard will be a clear focal point).The show also recaps recent interview comments by general manager Rafael Stone and shows why he’s probably correct in his belief that the remainder of the 2025 offseason will be quiet.
With marquee external additions such as Kevin Durant, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Clint Capela, along with efficient contract extensions for key personnel such as Jabari Smith Jr., Fred VanVleet, and Ime Udoka, the Houston Rockets have turned heads throughout the NBA with their 2025 offseason. According to oddsmakers, they’re now among the leading championship contenders for the 2026 NBA Finals.In Wednesday’s episode (sponsored by Karbach Brewing), our Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves react to the latest news from free agency’s opening days. Topics include why the Finney-Smith signing could make the Durant trade look even better; the implications of Capela’s surprising deal on future luxury tax considerations; and why leaders such as Rafael Stone and Patrick Fertitta deserve every bit of the praise they’re receiving around the league.
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