No structure or balance on this roster. The coach only plays defensive minded wings and rebounders. He despises any player that can put it in the hoop, & he hates being proving wrong every single time Cam or Reed outperforms his precious veterans. This is not good coaching. A good coach would look to the end of his bench for someone that’s willing to put the ball in the hole. A bad coach would stick with what’s not working and play a trash player like Fred 40 mins a night.
Everyone makes fun of teams like the suns, yet most fans (like OP), wish the rockets were run like the suns.
Ime is a problem while Kerr resurrects Kuminga, and starts a Gleague at Center in Post.....Ime continues to run his defenders into the ground ala Thibedaux, and does nothing to help the players get looks where they are most effective. Nor, does he go into the bench for players that might help like Holiday etc....... Ime's stubborness and focus on defense only is hampering this team and holding them back. DD
A good coach utilizes all of his players yep. Reed might not be defensively ready, but Cam and Tari are the same players to me. Except Cam is more offensive focused while Tari is more defensive focused. I feel like Cam and Jalen would make the game so much easier for both, I remember early in the season I saw them two on the floor together and it was beautiful. I remember even saying how oh, Cam playing more will open things for Jalen so much...but nope. I love Tari but defenses aren't scared of him like that. He either has an open shot or he passes it. Cam can pump fake, drive, slash, and finish. Him sitting on the bench for this entire season is Ime's biggest mistake this season.
Well I didn’t write I agree with this mindset, have I? I can understand Stone’s position, but I think that he did need to execute some sort of moves in the deadline. We had several expiring contracts (Tate, Unc) and we have a nice stock of frps. Stone had to make some move and acquire a decent and experienced D&3 or back-up PG to our roster.
Ime Udoka is exactly what the Rockets needed. It's hard to imagine another coach having them any further along at this point. The progress is there.
If only Stone had drafted a number 3 pick with 52,1% in 3 point percentage in College… I am sure Stone is to be blamed for not drafting such a guy, I am sure Ime would have given him a lot of development time to be ready for the playoffs
Actually we are very deep—> It is not developed overplayed veterans in the regular season shaded out our youth movement. We have two players that aren’t any better now than last year. Both can’t play in the G league because they’re to good. Reed made allstars team with less than 10 games. Amen was the same till injuries got him some playing time. Cam has talent as well.
That 1st quarter showed our issues so glaringly, I knew it was going to be a grind out slug fest where we would get nothing going. FVV hot shooting could not mask the horrendous offense we throw out, only magnified by Jalen Green’s inability to get past his man, by FVV’s lack of an inside threat when he drives (I know he’s small by would it hurt to actually get a lay-up or floater game going?), Amen’s inability to dribble and Sengun’s inability to control the ball. The worst part about this game is how weak we looked. Yes, we looked soft AF out there. Not just accepting again that Draymond throws elbows and even took a shot at Adams, but not to put up much resistance on the boards at times, on drives, doubling off of good shooters, not sticking close enough and just allowing guys to get in for lay-ups. We talk a lot of **** for a team who’s getting embarrassed on a nightly basis with our lack of smart, solid basketball. Very disappointed in a few guys overall: Jalen, Amen, FVV, Brooks and then some for specific reasons like Tari (get your feet behind the line dummy), Jabari (stay in bounds and shoot will you?) and Ime for again not trusting the bench beyond the 3 he played. Do not even get me started on our strategy on defense, execution or both and not adjusting to their zone defense very well from a players and coaching standpoint. 3pt shooters got wide open looks, Sengun didn’t get many touches and when he did he was just slow AF, no solid cuts when Sengun hubbing, not getting the ball to the shooters in spots where they can be successful. All of these things plus specific issues with players have been discussed prior and it’s time we accept as fans that we’re just not smart enough, a lot of bark but no bite and that this roster is deeply flawed. Next game we better come with more energy and crisp execution of our offense, passing in particular. We might have thought this would’ve been an easy win without Butler and in that case we are just not ready for the spotlight. If Post starts again next game, can we please bring Amen off the bench and start Tari or rather Jabari? Thank you.
Man all of y’all overreacting, Stone has done an amazing job rebuilding and Ime’s brought in an amazing culture. we just need to upgrade from FVV this summer and find a decent offensive assistant coach
I think Ime is a very good coach, but he has to extend his rotations and use his superior bench because his defensive style is running these guys into the ground. You can't realistically play with that kind of defensive intensity with an 8 man rotation and expect them to be able to perform on both ends of the court night after night. It's just not going to happen. If he doesn't adjust, they're almost certainly not going to advance.
Stone's shortcomings do not excuse Ime's inability to utilize the pieces that are at his disposal... imo He's got Reed, Jeff Green, Cam, Tate... all sitting there twittling their fingers while he runs guys that are sucking on a particular night 30+ minutes... For example, if a guy is 2-11 through 3 quarters and cant hit a free throw... maybe it aint his night and you need to find a spark elsewhere...
Game 1 - Rockets missed too many open shots Game 2 - Ime made adjustments and outcoached Kerr Game 3 - Kerr made adjustments and outcoached Ime. Plus it was all the kids first away playoff game
There has been no reason for Ime not to try and utilize Holiday, Tate, and Jeff Green even if it just to come in and commit some hard fouls. Tate especially could cause some havoc. GS is way too comfortable. The defensive Guru is getting out coached on the defensive side of the ball with a team with a front line of Draymond, Looney, and freaking Quentin Post.
