Rockets LaunchPod

Rockets LaunchPod

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.

Episodes

November 11, 2025 79 mins
Featuring hosts Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves, our latest full show breaks down the highs and lows of Houston’s 6-3 start to its 2025-26 regular season. Tuesday officially marks three weeks since the NBA’s Oct. 21 opener, and the Rockets — who have won six of their last seven games, overall — are now more than 10% of their way through the season.

The discussion includes grades for all nine rotation players and Rockets head coach Ime Ud...
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In Houston’s most impressive win of the 2025-26 season to date, Kevin Durant (31 points, 7 assists) and Alperen Sengun (23 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists) were incredible down the stretch as the Rockets stormed back from a 14-point deficit on the road. Houston is now 6-3 on the season, while Milwaukee is 6-4.

In Sunday’s postgame show, Ben DuBose, Paulo Alves, and Dave Hardisty break down all the highlights versus Giannis Antetokoun...
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The five-game winning streak for the Rockets (5-3) is now history after Friday’s 121-110 loss to the Spurs (6-2). The in-state rivalry game served as the opener of Emirates NBA Cup 2025 play for both teams.

Featuring Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty, Friday’s ClutchFans Live postgame show breaks down all the key takeaways, including how San Antonio crushed Houston off of turnovers (33 points off 23 giveaways) and subpar defensive reboun...
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The Rockets (5-2) have now won five straight games, and Amen Thompson (28 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals) was the big story in their latest win at Memphis. Featuring Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty, Wednesday’s ClutchFans Live postgame show breaks down what we learned after a dominant showing against the Grizzlies.

This episode can be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrWXL_SinRk
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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...
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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.
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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 S...
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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 view...
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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 th...
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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 sh...
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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
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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 start...
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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 h...
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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....
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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-rotat...
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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 — p...
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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
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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.
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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, alon...
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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.
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