Ime Udoka loves what he sees from rookie Reed Sheppard & talks Rockets' outlook

Me too!

 

On Jalen: With young guys, it takes time. You’re asking them to do something different they’ve done their whole career. Alpie kinda came out, hit the ground running. Jabari came on in the first month or two. Took Jalen a little longer. Asking him to defend, guard, play make, score and once he hit his stride, saw what he did that month. Incredible month that not a lot of guys in the NBA can duplicate. Through the ups and downs, the things we were asking, never hung his head.

On Alperen: Continue to improve. He’s fine. If we were in the playoffs or play in, he was able to go. He’s looking good, working hard in Turkey. We got some coaches over there. He’s showing off his body on instagram. He’s proud of how he’s looking but no, he’s putting in a great amount of work. Really understanding what he does for our team. Hard to duplicate. One of the best low post threats in the NBA. Huge for us. We love him. Love the progress he showed last year. Unfortunate he went down but opportunity for others to step up and they did but welcoming him back next season.

On Jabari: Message was continue to grow physically and mentally and fight through the ups and downs of a young career. … It’s continue to grow. His body will catch up. The game is there. The physicality at times wears on him. Happy with where he’s at as well.

What will make him most dangerous offensively?

Work on his handle, being able to get to the basket, score the ball. Right now, jump shot is there, midrange and all that but creating his own shot better. Late in the season, we asked him to get on the offensive glass. That takes physicality and a certain mentality. He did a great job. Mindset is there but like I said, the physicality at time catches up to him. Really creating his own shot is the next step, tightening up his handle, and getting those shots off.

On Cam: Be well rounded and grow across the board. He’s scored his whole life but want him to defend and lock in on that end. Great individual defender, team defense can be better. Continue to play make, rebound, be all around.

 

Udoka trying to bring out the bully in Jabari this year. If he does, we are going to be god damn hard to beat.

 

The Udoker has spoken!