Ime Udoka press conference after loss to Hawks 12/20/2023

oh shiii... is one of green or shenj finna get traded?

 

The defense was absolutely brutal most of the night. I’m tired of seeing Sengun get beat on the PnR and then throw his hands up like he’s deflecting or it was someone else that got beat. I’m also tired for him always trying to sell something to get the call or a replay. Just play the damn game hard and be accountable when it’s on you. Too talented to be crying so much.

Don’t get me wrong, I like Alpi, just not a fan of the antics like he’s a 10 year vet the deserves all the calls.

FVV is a difference maker. Even when he’s not having the best of nights I still feel comfortable with him running the show. I’ve yet to see another player on this team that can consistently keep the ship steady when Fred is off of the floor.

To me, I like Holiday best next to FVV. He seems to be able to make more plays and get better shots when he’s not playing point.

Amen looked totally lost out there. I saw him lose his man in transition and just not be in position at all on D. I’ll check that off as just not playing and being 100%. I’m not worried about him yet. It’s far too early to be concerned.

The team clearly missed Tari, he’s become important to the success of the team on both sides of the ball.

Still feel like the Rockets are ahead of schedule. That said, Jalen and Sengun have to be much more consistent in order for this team to have more success.

 

I agree so much about Alpi's antics. It's fine that he still has defensive lapses sometimes--he's still learning and is bound to make mistakes--as long as he's getting better over time, and I think he is. But I'm sick of him complaining to the refs and pouting when plays don't go his way. Needs to work on his attitude.

And yeah, Fred is really key to what we've been doing, on both ends. He can be hunted as a defensive player due to his size, not due to his abilities, but I think his leadership makes a big difference on both ends. Truly a coach on the floor. Only problem is he's playing far, far too many minutes. 44 last night, what the hell? His body isn't going to hold up if this keeps going on. We really need to hope Amen gets 100%, shakes off the rust, and starts living up to his potential fast, because otherwise I fear it's only a matter of time before Fred misses games due to injury.

 

One thing is becoming abundantly clear: there's a reason why versatility in the frontcourt was one of the first things Udoka mentioned when he was hired.
The Lopez debacle was costly and Landale being hot garbage has only made things worse.

 

I agree he needs to stop the complaining, said it many times. Just keep playing.

 

Well said. I think Hollins was pretty spot on with his comment of “deep six”-ing the groin shots. Just stop, idk how he wasn’t kicked out. Dillon also heaved a wild three in crunch time, he was sniping regular threes all game. I guess part of it is confidence but like, that wasn’t the play. We got a dose of bad Dillon and it’s up to him to reassess, get back to what’s made him a big part of the turnaround for these Rockets.

 

Brooks going 7/9 and being the only MF on the court last night who even tried on defense was "bad" Dillon? Sheesh tough crowd.

 

We are 13-12 after 25. Most had us at 5-20. We have regressed for a few games, but it is not time to push the panic button. Tari missing this game was big. Amen will need time to get back into the flow of things, but he is the answer at backup PG. Holiday is reverting to what I thought he would be, a journeyman that can provide some decent minutes when others are not getting it done. If he is your primary backup guard all year, we will be extremely lucky to make the play-in. We should trade for Brogdon and move Jalen to the bench. Pretty sure one FRP would do it with salary filler (https://fanspo.com/nba/trades/JskTu4fdhrwE9I

 

Would love to trade for Brogdon and have Jalen demoted. He just isn't big enough or efficient enough yet. I don't believe it's conducive at all to trade him. Let him learn from vets and fill out some more. Not the answer but not a lost cause either.

 

The biggest issue facing the Rockets right now is that they lack a real franchise player on the offensive side of the court. After three straight high lottery pick seasons - they have good players but not a great offensive player. If the Rockets had someone that dropped 25-30 a night, the Rockets would be at the top of the standings.

 

Unfortunately so.

 

for everyone hating Jalen and his inability to make a shot (me included) he did exactly what was asked of him from coach. you can disagree all you want, and i certainly dont want to see this many bricks, but udoka said himself tonight was the aggressive Jalen he wants and the team needs.

He needs to continue learning what to do while being aggressive to make the correct reads. I think udoka is putting more value in the penetrating of the defense more than the efficiency.

Most coaches are like this if i recall. Its not about whether you make the shot or not, but rather was it the correct shot. MDA said it in the past, and udoka said it last night.

i want jalen around 12 shots a game as the 3rd option because of how bad his efficiency is. but thats not what coach wants. and jalen is doing what hes being coached to do, and in turn hated for it. people are starting to turn on udoka because of how much they hate jalen. its wild.

 

Well - he was aggressive, which is the biggest thing that Udoka has been trying to drill into his head. So I will give Green credit for being aggressive last night, especially early. However, I wouldn't say that Green did exactly what Udoka wanted because Green's shot selection was still poor. Udoka alluded to Green passing up open threes instead settling for mediocre midrange shots with defenders on him.

I am not going to pile on Green for last night - because at least he was aggressive - and he isn't why the Rockets lost either. However, he has a ways to go on the offensive side of the ball.

 

Agreed, and i could have expanded on that with the picking the correct shots comment. He does need to pick the correct shots and read what the defense is giving him. I thought he did that in the 4th with 3 open 3 bricks. Sucks he missed, everyone hates him for it on CF but udoka prolly isnt upset.

I wish he could learn to create contact before leaving his feet on his penetration, it would help him so much. Its kind of a strength thing but he always gets contact after leaving his feet and has to try and finesse everything. Really shows you the importance of strength when watching youngsters and frail guys.

 

He can learn this coming off the bench if we can get a legitimate replacement for the 1st team. We do not have that right now. Our shooting guard needs to break down the defense off the dribble. Dillon is terrible at it.

 

Wow refreshing to see someone ask Sengun take accountability.

 

That’s what I have been seeing. He defers too much to FVV and Sengun and hasn’t been as aggressive as he was last year. He seems a little lost or left out in this offense and we saw this im the first half of his rookie season. I think It’s a combination of the FVV Sengun focus and Green’s hesitant approach. And I agree he needs to get contact. His paint FGA were up there with the best last year but just not finishing and strength probably is a part of the reason.

I say it again tho FVV isn’t Brunson or even Jamal Murray. Why is he top 10 in PNR ball handlers and top 15-20 in touches? He doesn’t get to the paint at a high rate or finish and wasn’t asked to play that way in Toronto as he deferred to Siakim and was mainly a facilitator and 3 pt shooter. The ball needs to move and Green needs the rock. This shi+ aint working.

 

It's refreshing compared to the past 3 years of this:

 

....it's not emotional if it's the truth and real transparency is just talking about the reality of what is happening on the court and figuring out how to work past it. I would imagine to go along with that blutness, Ime is also not holding it against players of what they did wrong in the past(keeping players in the doghouse for isntance), but is more about "what are you going to do tomorrow to address that?"

 

The expectation was Jalen to be that franchise player.

Granted, he was under crappy coaching for his 1st 2 1/2 years, but so far, it hasn't panned out under the Ime regime.