Tag: Ime Udoka

Coach of the Month? Ime Udoka makes key adjustments in March for streaking Rockets

During Houston’s current 11-game winning streak, the Rockets have only been outscored twice in the second half, and both came after starters exited early.

Let’s start with the obvious: the Houston Rockets are the NBA’s hottest team by virtue of their current 11-game winning streak. Shooting guard Jalen Green could soon be accepting the Western Conference Player of the Month award for his elite play in March.

With that out of the way, let’s get to another big reason they have blazed through March with a 13-1 record. The halftime adjustments made by head coach Ime Udoka and his staff, and those could lead to Udoka winning conference Coach of the Month honors.

Throughout the month, the coaching staff meticulously took physical and mental notes throughout the first half of the miscues on both ends of the court. Those were relayed to players at halftime, and the team responded and made the necessary adjustments.

For example, on March 19, the Rockets took a 3-point lead into halftime against the Wizards at Washington’s Capital One Arena. During the intermission, Udoka sternly told the team they were not playing to their potential, and they were allowing a team missing key players due to injury to hang around.

“My message was, we are playing with the game, messing around with the game,” Udoka said in his postgame comments.

Houston responded by holding the Wizards to 57 second-half points (while scoring 77 themselves) in the 137-114 victory. Earlier this season, the Rockets might not have responded to their head coach’s message, but his words hit home at the right time.

Entering Sunday, Houston still has a realistic path to make the Western Conference play-in tournament. It trails the Golden State Warriors (39-34) by one game for the final slot.

During Houston’s 11-game winning streak, it has been outscored in the second half only twice, and both were games during which the starters were removed early. In seven blowout wins, Houston has averaged a final victory margin of 17.5 points.

On March 6, the Los Angeles Clippers outscored the Rockets after halftime, 78-59, and they won that game. Since then, Houston hasn’t lost. The team’s defense has been the key to its second-half resurgences, with the Rockets holding opponents to fewer than 50 points four times; to 25 points or less in a quarter 10 times; and 20 points or less in a quarter five times.

Udoka’s messages will need to continue resonating over the season’s final two weeks, since Houston is scheduled to face six teams vying for postseason spots in the West over its final nine games.

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March memories: Rockets finish with NBA’s best monthly record

The Rockets finished March with the NBA’s best monthly record among all teams, and it’s their first time doing so since the 2017-18 season (65 wins).

The Houston Rockets entered Sunday, March 31, with 11 consecutive victories and a 13-1 record in March, which leads the NBA.

Regardless of Sunday’s outcome at home versus Dallas, the Rockets (38-35) will finish with the league’s best monthly record. It’s their first time with that distinction since Houston’s incredible 2017-18 season, which resulted in the best record (65-17) in team history.

Thanks to that success, Houston is back in the mix for a postseason spot in the Western Conference. They were six games back when the winning streak originally started on March 8, and now they are within a game and will be multiple games above .500 entering April.

Even after losing star center Alperen Sengun to a potentially season-ending ankle injury on March 10, the Rockets haven’t skipped a beat, thanks in large part to a sustained breakout by Jalen Green.

In still images, here’s a look back at some of the defining shots from a most memorable March 2024 for the Houston Rockets.

As Jalen Green excels, Rockets coach Ime Udoka touts value of patience

“It’s not always going to happen overnight for guys,” Ime Udoka says of the Rockets and Jalen Green (34 points). “Patience is really important with our young guys.”

On the same night Jalen Green scored a game-high 34 points in Houston’s 11th straight victory, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka spoke to the value of patience with his third-year shooting guard.

In Friday’s pregame comments from Utah, where the Rockets (38-35) later improved to an NBA-best 13-1 in March, Udoka said of Green (as transcribed by Dave Hardisty of ClutchFans):

I don’t judge Jalen (Green) on the past two years or even the start of this year. It was, ‘How good is he going to get with us throughout this season?’ And now you see him hitting his stride and understanding. That’s what we’re looking at, big picture-wise. It’s not always going to happen overnight for guys. Patience is really important with our young guys. …

The aggressiveness and confidence is obviously up, and that’s due to making shots and reading defenses better. So that’s part of it, but with Alperen (Sengun) being out, the ball is in his hands more, and he’s getting more opportunity there. When you’re in that rhythm, and he’s shooting it as well and attacking as well as he is, he’s going to have the ball more.”

As the Western Conference postseason race intensifies, Green and the Rockets look to build on that momentum in Sunday’s home game versus Dallas (44-29). Tipoff is 6 p.m. Central.

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Ime Udoka rejected the idea that Alperen Sengun held Jalen Green back from stardom

Rockets coach Ime Udoka doesn’t care for the weird theory about Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun.

With the NBA postseason around the corner, there might not be a better player than the Houston Rockets’ Jalen Green right now.

The former No. 2 overall pick has scored at least 26 points in 11 of his last 14 games. He’s playing easily the best basketball of his young career, which not by coincidence, has merged with a 10-game Rockets winning streak. For all intents and purposes, he’s starting to resemble a franchise superstar.

But some have suggested that Green’s rise has only occurred in the absence of Rockets center Alperen Sengun, who suffered a severe ankle sprain in early March.

In a recent episode of The Matt Thomas Show, Houston head coach Ime Udoka heartily rejected this sentiment, saying there was no “direct correlation” between Green’s resurgence and Sengun’s absence.

To piggyback on Udoka, Green already started to score the ball well before Sengun got hurt. The same plays have been made available to the guard all year. It’s more that of late, with appropriate growth, he’s started to take better advantage of his reads and the way teams are defending him. Sure, Green is probably touching the ball more without Sengun in the fold, but Sengun’s profile is more that of a facilitator than a ball-dominant scorer anyway.

In that respect, he wouldn’t detract much from Green’s more assertive play, regardless.

What should excite the Rockets and their fans is pairing this version of Green with a healthy Sengun. Heck, if all goes well with Sengun’s recovery, we might even see this duo again by the end of the regular season.

As Rockets’ streak hits 10, Jabari Smith Jr. makes up for lost time with clutch plays in OKC

“We just showed the team that,” Ime Udoka says of Jabari Smith Jr.’s clutch 3-pointer in Wednesday’s win. “Basically, it was our favorite play of the game.”

One thing that stands out about second-year Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. is that he is the ultimate team player. As long as he’s on the court and in the battle, Smith has made it clear that he is willing to do whatever it takes for Houston to be successful.

That is why his one-game suspension for getting into a minor skirmish with Utah Jazz guard Kris Dunn last Saturday impacted him, especially while his team is in a close race with the Golden State Warriors to make the Western Conference play-in tournament.

On Wednesday in Oklahoma City, Smith was eager to make up for lost time — and perhaps too eager. Smith committed two fouls in under two minutesand had to sit down, and that lack of rhythm played a role in a dismal 1-for-5 (20%) first-half shooting performance.

It was not the ideal start, but the No. 3 overall selection in the 2022 NBA draft (after one college season at Auburn) knew that he had to stay the course and be there when his team needed him.

With Houston trailing by one point with 26 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Jalen Green moved toward the lane, drawing three defenders and leaving Smith open beyond the 3-point line in the left corner.

As Green got deeper in the lane, he made the pass to Smith. Without hesitation, Smith shot a 24-foot trey over the outstretched arms of Oklahoma City’s Josh Giddey that hit nothing but net, putting the Rockets up by two points with 21.7 seconds left to play.

After the Thunder rallied to force overtime, Smith then hit another clutch 3-pointer to help Houston keep its current winning streak alive at 10 games, courtesy of the 132-126 win in Oklahoma City.

“I was seeing him [Green] going aggressive to the rim, as he had done all night,” said Smith, who finished with 16 points. “They collapsed, as they should, and they left me open in the corner, and I knocked it down. I could tell when he (Green) was driving, my man was kind of gravitating towards him because he had been cooking all night, but he made the right read and found me in the corner.”

As happy as Rockets head coach Ime Udoka was about Smith hitting the big shot late in regulation, he was more excited that Green was able to recognize the defenders rotating towards him. From there, he was able to make the right read of the Thunder defense, which had been sending multiple defenders his way all night.

“It was huge,” Udoka said when asked about Green’s decision-making. “We just showed the team that. Basically, it was our favorite play of the game. We just showed four guys in the paint, and he made the right pass. Dillon [Brooks] made two big ones [in overtime] after going 1-for- 9, and Jabari, who was struggling with the fouls early, didn’t hesitate, and Jalen didn’t hesitate to pass to him. Great pass, great growth. I’m proud of them for that play.”

Houston will look for its 11th consecutive win on Friday as it heads to Utah to play the Jazz for the second time in a week. This time, Smith will do everything he can to avoid having to leave early.

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As Jalen Green piles up points and wins, other Rockets are also reaping benefits

“He has been the key to everything,” Fred VanVleet says of Rockets star Jalen Green. “Our confidence, our pace, our spacing, his guarding.”

Rockets shooting guard Jalen Green has arguably been the NBA’s best player in March. After a slow start, he has helped Houston (35-35) win eight consecutive games while climbing within reach of a play-in tournament berth in the Western Conference.

Many will look at how efficiently Green has scored during the Rockets’ eight-game winning streak. However, his on-court presence is also helping generate better looks for teammates.

Green, 22, has scored at least 25 points in the past five games, and his 172 points are the most by any Rockets player over a five-game span since James Harden. Yet, the most significant dynamic in Houston’s resurgence has been the attention he draws from defenders.

Against the Bulls last Thursday, Green shot 67% (4-of-6) from the field in the first quarter, while teammate Dillon Brooks scored 11 points on a 5-of-6 effort from the floor (83.3%). His numbers were a direct result of Chicago defenders following Green to prevent one of those double-digit first quarters  he’s become known for.

The pattern continued when the Rockets hosted Utah on Saturday (a blowout win). Green went 6-of-8 (75%) from the field in the first quarter, scoring 13 points, while point guard Fred VanVleet hit five of the six 3-point shots he attempted for 17 first-quarter points.

“He has been the key to everything,” VanVleet said postgame regarding Green. “Our confidence, our pace, our spacing, his guarding, and when he is on like that, it is another nuclear weapon to have out there that can go and get you 30 or 40 (points) at any given time.”

“It changes the way the defense is guarding,” VanVleet said. “It changes the coverages and matchups. He has been huge for us, obviously. It is just a testament to him staying with it and working through what has been an up and down year for him, but he is finding it.”

What has helped Green’s evolution is his ability to quickly read what opposing defenses are trying to do to him, and attack first. He did not do this in February, when he averaged 15.8 points on 36.8% shooting from the field (and 26.3% from 3-point range) in 12 games. It was easy for teams to push him out of his preferred spots.

Yet, all that has changed. On Monday, as Green enters his 12th game of the month against the Portland Trail Blazers, the reigning Western Conference Player of the Week has increased his scoring to 27.8 points per game. His 51.4% field goal percentage and 41.7% clip 3-point range have led to the Rockets applying significant pressure on the Golden State Warriors (36-34) for the final play-in spot.

“Hopefully, I am the main focus over there,” Green said of his on-court presence and opening the court for teammates. “They are loading up on defense, so once I drive, it is easy for kickouts.”

Ime Udoka, head coach of the Rockets, also recognizes teams are starting to notice how aggressive his third-year shooting guard has become. That has especially been the case over the last six games, given the injury losses of offensive weapons Alperen Sengun (right ankle sprain) and Cam Whitmore (right knee sprain).

“You have to game plan differently,” Udoka said. “At times when you would help off of certain guys and take away certain things, I think him playing at that level and Fred shooting it the way he does, you have to try and take away something. That opens up other things.”

“So, him being on a hot streak, the defense has to get a little higher, and they don’t go under as much, so he can get downhill,” Udoka said of the ripple effects of Green’s surge. “I think that, as well as his rim reads and finding his outlets, that has impacted our team hugely.”

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Rudy Tomjanovich extremely impressed by new-look Rockets, Ime Udoka

“I’m in love with this team,” Rockets legend Rudy Tomjanovich says of the 2023-24 team and its recent success. “I’m excited about basketball, again.”

Count Hall of Famer and legendary head coach Rudy Tomjanovich, who was in Houston for last Friday’s gala fundraiser to raise money (nearly $1 million) for the franchise’s Clutch City Foundation, among the biggest fans of what the current Rockets are doing.

Tomjanovich and several members of the 1993-94 Rockets, including Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon, were honored as part of a 30th anniversary celebration of the franchise’s first title.

While at the gala, “Rudy T” was asked about the 2023-24 Rockets, who entered Monday with eight straight wins and an NBA-best record of 10-1 in the month of March. It’s a striking turnaround from their placement in the Western Conference basement for three years.

As the current Rockets (35-35) chase a potential postseason berth, Tomjanovich made it clear he’s a big fan of the current team and its first-year head coach, Ime Udoka.

Here’s what he told Vanessa Richardson, courtside reporter for the team’s television broadcast partner, Space City Home Network:

I’m in love with this team. I’m excited about basketball, again. I watch all the time. It’s a great combination of youth, and I just love the veterans they added. Great role models for the young guys, and they can all play. The team is tough, and they’ve got a coach to match that, too. Intelligent, fiery. I couldn’t be more excited for our team.

The complete video can be viewed below.

With Udoka leading the way, the Rockets look to continue their current momentum when Portland (19-52) visits Toyota Center on Monday night. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. Central.

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As streak continues, Ime Udoka proud of Jalen Green’s resiliency for Rockets

“All it takes for a really good scorer is to see a few go through,” Ime Udoka says of Jalen Green’s surge for the streaking Rockets. “It can kind of snowball.”

With a 10-1 record in March and eight consecutive wins, the Houston Rockets (35-35) are back in the Western Conference play-in tournament race and are the NBA’s hottest team.

The biggest individual reason, of course, is Jalen Green. Since losing Alperen Sengun to what could be a season-ending ankle injury on March 10, Green has been electric in a 5-0 stretch for Houston.

In those games, Green is averaging 34.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game while shooting 56.5% from the field and 50% on 3-pointers. He’s the reigning Western Conference Player of the Week, and the talented 22-year-old could be poised to win it again on Monday.

So, how did Green get to this point after head coach Ime Udoka hinted in mid-February that he might lose his starting spot?

In postgame comments after Saturday’s win, Udoka credited Green for his resiliency and confidence. Among those comments:

He’s on a hot streak, obviously. Just like people have slumps at times, people can go on runs like this. But the main thing is he’s stayed resilient and continued to be confident when things weren’t going great. And all it takes for a really good scorer is to see a few go through. Run off a game or two of hot shooting and it can kind of snowball like this.

I’m proud of the way he fought through some adversity. It’s not easy with a newer team and some different demands from a coaching staff and doing different things to always stay the course and fight through it. And he’s done that. Great to see him come out on the other side.

Green and the Rockets will look to build on that momentum in Monday’s home game versus Portland, and Udoka appears hopeful.

“I’ve coached a lot of high-level scorers,” Udoka said of Green’s ongoing hot streak. “This is right up there with them.”

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Utah’s Will Hardy sees incredible coaching by Ime Udoka in Houston

Utah’s Will Hardy on the coaching of Ime Udoka in Houston: “I think what he’s been able to do with this group, this season, is pretty remarkable.”

Will Hardy, head coach of the Utah Jazz, has inside knowledge of his Houston counterpart, Ime Udoka. Hardy was a prominent assistant to Udoka when the latter was head coach in Boston, and both were assistants to Gregg Popovich for years in San Antonio.

Under Udoka’s leadership, Houston exited Saturday (after a win over the visiting Jazz) as arguably the NBA’s hottest team. The Rockets (35-35) have won eight straight games and have a 10-1 record in March, best of any team in the league. That’s put them back in the postseason race in the Western Conference.

Prior to that game at Toyota Center, Hardy spoke to Rockets Wire regarding Udoka’s performance during his first season in Houston.

Hardy’s comments:

I think Ime has done an incredible job. You can see, by the way that their team plays, that they are mirroring his personality. They’re a tough-minded, defensive team. I think what he’s been able to do with this group, this season, is pretty remarkable.

It’s been fun to watch from afar, because I love Ime. But they’re no fun to play against, because they’re very physical, and the switching is tough to score against. And they have some talented offensive players.

I think what Ime has done in Year 1 here is pretty special.

The complete video can be viewed below.

The Rockets entered this season coming off three consecutive years at the basement of the West standings, though all three of those teams were coached by Udoka’s predecessor, Stephen Silas.

Now, under Udoka, the Rockets rank in the NBA’s 10 best defenses of the 2023-24 season after being near the bottom in recent years.

The offseason additions of key veterans Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks certainly helped, but so, too, has Udoka’s guidance.

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‘Not backing down’: Ime Udoka proud of Rockets’ physical play, support of teammates

Ime Udoka on Thursday’s Rockets-Bulls scuffle: “They are not backing down. A guy takes a hit, and teammates are going to stand up for each other.”

HOUSTON — Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks sent a message to the rest of the NBA before stepping on the Toyota Center court.

“When you come to play Houston, you know it’s going to be a physical battle,” Brooks said in October 2023 as part of his first press conference after signing with the Rockets. “It’s going to be a challenge. When you come play Houston, you know it’s going to be a physical battle. It’s going to be a challenge. It’s not just a walk in the park no more, when you come to Houston.”

With the 2023-24 season in its final month, those words ring as strongly as the day he spoke them. Throughout the season, Brooks and his teammates have put them into action.

Toughness is a character trait that Brooks displayed when he was with the Grizzlies, as he took on Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James in the 2023 NBA playoffs. Though Memphis lost that series, Brooks did not flinch.

In Houston, the unwavering mindset starts with head coach Ime Udoka, who believes his team must fight fire with fire when opponents try to bully them with on-court physicality. That’s what the Bulls tried to do on Thursday in Houston’s 127-117 victory.

With 6:02 remaining in the third quarter, Chicago forward DeMar DeRozan committed an egregious foul against Rockets guard Jalen Green, sending him to the floor grimacing in pain.

As the medical staff rushed to check on him, DeRozan and Brooks got into an altercation, which subsequently led to DeRozan swinging an elbow to Brooks’ chin. That led to an on-court encounter between both teams, with teammates and coaches separating them.

Once the officials reviewed the video footage, they determined that DeRozan’s foul on Green was a flagrant two, and he was ejected from the game. Brooks was given a technical foul and ejected; it was determined by referees that he escalated the situation.

“I didn’t love it being that (Brooks) got elbowed, and he walked over and didn’t say anything crazy,” Udoka said regarding the scuffle. “What they say the rules are is the guy that kind of instigates it, that gets it to that step after DeRozan did what he did … he got (ejected) because of that. Don’t love that he got hit, but if you walk over, that’s basically the rule, and that is how they explained it to me.”

Even though the Rockets lost one of their hottest offensive weapons in Brooks, who scored 23 points in 25 minutes played while playing excellent defense against DeRozan, Houston did not succumb to the Bulls’ rough play. Instead, the Rockets used it as motivation to finish the game and secure their seventh straight win.

“It has been good,” Udoka said when asked about his team playing more physically in recent weeks. “I think we talked about from the start of the season about effort and competitiveness. Not a bad thing to have these types of chippy games. … I don’t mind that part at all.”

“It is good that guys are battling and getting competitive,” Udoka said of his improving team. “We are all playing for something, and they are not backing down. A guy takes a hit, and teammates are going to stand up for each other. You have seen about three or four of those (on-court scuffles), and it is a good thing, in my opinion.”

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