Ime Udoka after Raptors loss: "It's Game 51. We have to see some growth"

Did you notice the first phrase "a little observation"? It might also be good for you to read more about a rising number of players and coaches who are raising issues about the mediocre officiating with some even resulting in games lost. Having said that, I had several previous posts that pointed to the need for sniper and a big back up. Sometimes, per an NBA ad featuring Kevin Garnett in yesteryears, "Reading is Fundamental".

 

At this point, I think anyone could be traded this offseason except Cam and Amen.....

DD

 

Agree 100% that NBA refs suck almost as bad as NFL refs. Just saying that the Rockets problems are due to lack of talent (especially in the front office). We need size and we need shooters and we don’t have either (with the exception of Cam) and if the fans don’t step up and demand better from the team instead of the clowns on this site (like Roslione) who always applaud and support the losing, then nothing will change because ownership knows they have the not so intelligent fans in their pocket no matter what moves (or non- moves) they make and will continue to put out this mediocre product.

 

I totally agree with you. I think there are a lot of smart fans here too despite differing opinions, and this is what makes this site pretty interesting.

 

Do YOU understand basketball? Green helps and Trent Jr is shooting 42% from 3 and over 50% on wide open shots, if Brooks helps, Barnes is shooting what 37% from 3 and is well over 40% on wide open shots....of the likely options at that point, successfully defending and NOT giving up a 3 or a foul is lower than the certain two or the likely 3. Sengun has to understand help isn't going to bail him out unnecessarily overplaying Poeltl that far out when he isn't involved in a screen. because at that point the opponent is running a 3 on 2 break in the half court.

Maybe you roll the dice on helping and hope Trent/Barnes miss but that's a judgement call for sure given at that point the help is already out of position and could give up an And one. I think if anyone should have helped it would have been Brooks because Amen would slide into the helping the helper between Barnes and Barret BUT the only indefensible "f*cking pathetic play" was Sengun needlessly putting his team in that position. The Sengun revisionist history has to stop for christ sake - especially to **** on Green because that's the cool thing to do right now. SMH....

 

I would like to see some semblance of offense by game 51 too. Where is the movement? Where is the motion?

Game 51 - we are better but we aren't better on offense unless Cam is playing.

DD

 

Fred and Dillon at this stage are not starters on a title winning team. I think they are both rotational players on a team like that, but if you are relying on them to close out games against the very best teams, then you probably aren't getting very far. That's not to say they arent PERFECT vets for this team - I think they are...but their value to the team is more in their leadership and mentality than what they offer with their on court play. They are just not very good overall and that's why they ended up in Houston and that's why you don't hear about other contenders trading for one of them (or Tate for that matter).

 

Did you hear him b****ing about the offense the other night? Have you seen his lazy body language in games he’s not shooting well. Hell - I was cheering when Ime finally got Green to start rebounding and not standing flat as others get the ball.

A poor attitude doesn’t always mean you are mean mugging.

 

Doesn't that depend on who is around them?

 

After last night’s disastrous performance, Udoka needs to send a message and make a change to the starting lineup. Insert Cam at either Green or Brooks spot. Wish we had a backup other than Tate to replace Jabrari as well. Season is over after no moves of help coming, so mine as well send some messages to the starters about job security.

 

This play was terrible defense by Sengun. Inexcusable to give up that blow by.

It was also terrible help defense from Dillon Brooks. Both can be true. Dillon obviously has the help responsibility from the weak side corner, you can see Dillon watch the play unfolding, Poeltl going to the rim with no resistance, and Dillon makes a business decision not to help.

Scottie Barnes is shooting 35% from 3 this year, after a track record up to this year of being a non-shooter, and still hesitates when taking spot ups. Poeltl is not a good passer. Of course you help off of Barnes to go for the strip and at least foul Poeltl and stop a free dunk. (Poeltl is a career 50% FT shooter).

Sengun messed up, and then Dillon messed up. Honestly our weak side help has been so unwilling the last few games it makes me wonder if it's a coaching philosophy thing, or just fatigue / poor spirit heading into the all star break.

 

If you think anything fans do or say on this site has any effect whatsoever on the front office and/or ownership of the team, then I have some Enron stock you might be interested in buying. Hit me up!

 

I think Ime talking growth by Game 51 is way too late, and it does not work.

You got 3 games before the All Star Break, at least win 1 of them would be bare minimum.

 

...like I said, Barnes has a rep as a weaker 3pt shooter but he is over 40% wide open from distance this year. Agree if anyone should have rotated, it was definitely Brooks from the weak side because Amen was in a position to closeout if needed. I didnt realize Poeltl was such a bad FT shooter - I think give that you are right - in that case you take the chance, try to make a play to defend the hoop and even if you DO foul Poeltl, those are better odds than the alternatives....but Jalen helping would have been a huge mistake given Trent's solid outside shooting so let's not use this as an opportunity to dog pile on the man for making the right move.

I too wonder what Udoka's coaching strategy is these days. It feels like the team has been in a bit of disarray of late with all the lineup changes/injuries. Turns out the solid play earlier in the year was really about addressing very specific lineup gaps and now we can see just how much this team lacks versatility when injuries force players into new roles/lineups.

 

I don't have a big problem with what you said, just pointing out what I've seen -- we have been desperately poor at helping on the weak side recently.

Everyone just sticks to their man or gives some late token help to make it look like they're doing something. Packing the paint and helping-the-helper / zoning up on the other side is the bread and butter of most defenses today. It's like we caught Indiana Pacers disease and try to defend every action 1-on-1 or 2-on-2 (and fail, because that's impossible to do in the NBA).

You know how every time we're on offense and and run a PnR or drive off a DHO, the other team's low man is already just sitting in the paint waiting for Sengun or Jalen or Amen or whoever. We are the opposite when we're on defense.

Don't know if it's coaching philosophy or just indiscipline.

 

Yeah -I agree with you. I added to my original response because I think it has something to do with young guys lacking diversity when lineups force players to be in new spots/roles. I think that's why Udoka's lineups from earlier in the season were more successful but also VERY stringent. A guy like Sengun(for example) requires a very specific set of defenders to surround him in order to cover for some of his defensive(speed guarding out to the perimeter) or offensive(lack of him being an outside shooting threat) shortcomings and when injuries or fouls(love Brooks but he fouls WAY too much) change the rotations, the house of cards quickly falls.

 

....sure, put a vintage MJ with them and maybe its a different story but generally speaking Fred and Dillon's inconsistent shooting and Brook's fouling and/or poor decision making at times make them weak links on really really good teams. I mean if you subbed FVV with Derrick White, the Celtics are probably a worse team. Same with Brooks and Jaden McDaniels.

 

Pretty sure that you stick FVV/DB on the Lakers and they are a title winning team.

 

How players look depends somewhat on the players around them.
Take FVV and Dillon and put them with competent vets around them and I think they look much better than they have on the 2024 Rockets.

 

Have the Rockets been the same since Coach Ime's altercation with Lebron?

[DIVOT]