October 30, 2024 • 9 mins
The Houston Rockets have started the season 2-2 after Monday's 106-101 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Jalen Green scored 34 points, and the Rockets never trailed after losing to the Spurs 109-106 on Saturday. Head coach Ime Udoka joins "The Matt Thomas Show with Ross" to discuss the Rockets struggling with consistency early in the season. "So far after these four games, we've been up and down," Udoka said. The Rockets hope to go on a run early in the season with a softer schedule ahead, and the addition of Steven Adams will certainly strengthen the rotation. After missing the first three games of the season due to a left calf strain, Adams made his Rockets debut in Monday's win over the Spurs, recording six points and three rebounds in 14 minutes of play. "His IQ and communication have been invaluable" for the Rockets young core.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Time for us to spend ten quality minutes with the
head basketball coach. If you're Houston Rockets off to a
two and two start, the boys will be heading up
to Dallas here shortly for a game tomorrow night with
the Mavericks. Every Wednesday around one o'clock, we will spend
time with Rockets head coach Imidoka coach Matt ross Hower.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Things today, good, how you guys doing? Man Great to
have you with us. Two and two start of the season.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Give me the uh super high and the super low
through the first four if there's such a thing.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
The highs would be that we battled back in some
games and obviously got out to some really good leads
and so we've done some good things to get those
leads or find our way back into a game.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
The loves would be the.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Inconsistency that got us in that deficit or end up
help losing a lead at times. And so, you know,
consistency was a theme coming into this season, how we
can improve in that area, and so far after these
four games, we've been up and down, but have some
really good stretches that we're looking to build on.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
You know, I mentioned this to you a couple of
nights ago, but it's you're still looking for that first
kind of complete forty eight minute game, and you kind
of tease that to a byproduct, if it's early in
the season, are you still staying with that philosophy? You
think how long does it take to kind of get
past that and go, you know what, we need one
of those nights where we can play four complete quarters.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Well, I mean that's been the case for sure.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
I think you know, we've at times last year went
through that a little bit, and then we really kind
of hammered down on some things late in the season
that made us more consistent, obviously with the winning streak
and things like that.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
But for us, it's really you know, defending at a
high level.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Initially, you know, we had some thirty eight point quarters
given up in the last two games, but we're scoring
enough and so we want to obviously played better defense
there and then when we do get those leads, how
can we maintain those And for instance, the other game,
the second game with San Antonio, you know, they got
ten offensive rebounds in the third quarter, allowed them to
go from a twenty point deficit to down to thirteen
(01:51):
or twelve going into fourth quarter. So small things like that,
little details that we go back and look on and
how we built the lead and how we lost it
and how we can improve in those areas.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
You know, part of the fun of watching Jennen during
the last couple of months of last year were those
knights where he would take over games where he'd make
four or five three pointers in a short period of time.
The second quarter he was unconscious against the Spurs, And
you've seen more of that, at least early going on
so far this year. What did he do for you
in the offseason and in training camp that maybe better
(02:21):
prepared him for nights where he can get kind of
take over offensively.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Yeah, I think in general, you saw his growth last year,
and you know, the game has really slowed down for him.
He's not only scoring, but he's you know, become a
secondary playmaker with Fred and you know and Alpi and
so I think his his reading of the defense has
been nine day from last year. He's taken on chief chances.
I'm taking on the challenges defensively on that end. But
(02:48):
I would say, you know, he's a recipient deal of
night they went zone quite a bit and he was
the guy that got the open shots and knocked those down,
but overall his confidence in the game kind of slowing
down for him is the thing that's most noticeable for me.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
Three point attempts for him ticking upward? Is that something
that has just been a situation where it's been the
matchups and what the defense has been giving him. Is
that something that is targeted that you guys want to
do and are you okay with the shots that he's
taking from there?
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Yeah, I would say a little bit of both. Last
year him reading defenses. You know, he has such a quick,
quick first step and he's so explosive that teams will
try to go under a lot of pick and rolls
to you know, stay in front, keep him out of
the lane. And so we want him to be confident
k down those shots, knowing it'll open up everything for
him on the drives and bring the big up a
little bit higher. And so this is a combination of
(03:36):
that they were going under, but as well as Ed
for example and web Yama being back in a deep drop.
You know, obviously two big guys that are good m protectors,
and so for them, they want to funnel everything to
those guys, and you know, he has that shot when
those guys are back. As long as Alp Jock Steven
get a good piece, he has those wide open looks,
we know he can knock him down.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
A high clip rocketed coach Emodka was here on Sports
Talk seven ninety Mavericks in the next game, and we
could ask you probably one hundred questions about how to
defend Luka Dancic, But I want to be specific when
when you have a player like him who pump fakes
like one hundred times a game, is there like a
message or like something you can do in practice to
try to help the team not bite on somebody like
(04:18):
that who pump fakes so much.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Yeah, I mean it was something we did drills with
during preseason. It felt like every game in the preseason
we're going for too many shot fakes.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
We want to be second off the floor, and.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
You know, it's a big thing with KYP, knowing your personnel,
knowing who you're going against us. I think we did
a good job the other night on Harrison Barnes where
he got some guys in Game one with some pump fakes,
and then he saw Cam Jabari and some of those
guys stay down and really challenge the shots there, so
we go deep into the personnel and obviously that's a
He's a big one as far as that before and
after the shot, after the dribbling, so you got to
(04:51):
stay down on him. He loves get the free throw line,
loves the big guys, and for us, it's that game
plan discipline, and we've worked on that in preseason stand down,
being second off the floor and using our length.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Red got a couple of early girl good looks in
the first couple of games, didn't play a whole lot
in that San Antonio stretch of games.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
It's gonna be ebb and flow. I mean, that's what
a normal rookie does. Correct.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
It feels like to me, no matter what draft spot
or what are you're expected to be in the lineup.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Yeah, I mean they're gonna have some ups and downs
of times, of course, and we know that you guys
through went through it last year with our young guys
and all of them have over the last few years.
But as many consistent minutes we can find him, we'd
love to. You know, the game kind of was dictated
by matchups. Last game we pretty much matched dealing with
Webb Yama's minutes and that threw off our normal rotation.
(05:38):
So when Webion went out, Dalan went out and came
back and that kind of squeezed read a little bit there.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
But a guy that we know has a high i Q.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
We super confident and looking to get a more opportunity
when possible, and he'll continue to grow because that.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
You know, you had Fred Garding winby a little bit,
you had Dylan doing it a lot. I mean you
you obviously that's intentional when you go to those guys
and say here's what we're doing on the defensive switch.
I mean, they're gonna they're gonna do whatever they want,
but in terms of doing what's best for the team,
but that has to be still a challenge for those
guys going against a guy of his of his sight,
of his height, and of his frame.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Yeah, I would say we're comfortable with all of our
guards and wings on him, especially on the perimeter. You know,
we switch it out of their pick and roll actions
or him getting a walk away. They set some down
screens for him, So we're fine with our guys crowding him,
taking up his space on the perimeter. It doesn't matter
if you have Alpi Steven or a guard on him.
He's gonna be able to shoot over. It's just being
(06:35):
physical and getting him off his spot, and I think
we did a great job of that, especially in Game two.
We were much more physical. When he starts to roll
down to the post. Obviously we have our bigs ready
to kick our guards out and we can guard him
from there as well, so we have a few counters.
But when he's on the perimeter, I think a lot
of his advantages are against five men.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
That you know, can't take up that space. He can
shoot his threes, he can kind of.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Handle and go around, but we love our guards taking
the space and being with him, and Dylan was ahead
of that a.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Couple more minutes here with im a Doka getting ready
for tomorrow night's game with the Dallas Mavericks. You've Jacques
a little bit early on. Steven Adams got his first
appearance for you in the second game against San Antonio.
Just give us a little glimpse into Stephen as a
competitor and now with you him and your group and
working with the guys, and more importantly, just being what
exactly what you thought he would be as a guy.
(07:23):
That would set a good lot bunch of good screens
and would get a bunch of offensive rebounds for you.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Yeah, I mean he is working his way into shape.
You know.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
I saw a number where he hadn't played in six
hundred forty six days.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
I think.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
So he's been out for quite a while obviously, and
he needs to get his conditioning down, timing down, game shape.
And so even with that being said, while he figures
out his rhythm and gets his body back in shape,
I think his IQ and communication has been very invaluable
for our young guys. It's another coach out there, just
like Fred and Dilanware last year.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
It's just another guy to throw out there.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
And obviously he sets screens against guys open, but the talking, teaching,
extra coaching he's been doing guys has been really good.
And so as he makes gets his way into shape,
we understand what he brings to the team. Whoever he
sets the screen on is going to get space to operate,
and then you have to count for him on the
offensive glass. So he's done those little intangibles that he's
done his whole career.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
But we'll only get better going forward.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
And lastly, it looks like Tarry Easton is really enjoying himself.
You know, here's a guy in his rookie year, played
all eighty two games. The injuries got to him a
lot last year. But for a guy that can do
so many different things for you, offensive rebounds, stealing him
occasional three. Just to have that kind of versatility from
a guy for bench, he's got to be something you
like right now.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
Yeah, you're just plugging me in with I'm in Daling
and some of those guys, and you don't miss a beat.
As far as his defensive versatility, very instinctual, gets his
hands on everything and pretty much comes up with it,
and so we love what he's bringing. He's another guy
that had been out for a while and so we
had to move him along slowly in the preseason. But
now that he's had him in to increase lately, we
(08:58):
can run him for some longer stretches and finished games
if we'd like to. You know, it's tough on him
and at times when he's playing so well, but you
restricted some you know, to a certain amount of minutes
or stretches he can run. But I think as he
gets his self back in shape, same with Steven, I
think those guys will play more and more and what
they bring to our team is obviously very noticeable.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Coach, thank you for the visit, save travels of dallas'll
see you later on tonight and thanks to the time.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
As always, thank you Yes
Time for us to spend ten quality minutes with the
head basketball coach. If you're Houston Rockets off to a
two and two start, the boys will be heading up
to Dallas here shortly for a game tomorrow night with
the Mavericks. Every Wednesday around one o'clock, we will spend
time with Rockets head coach Imidoka coach Matt ross Hower.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Things today, good, how you guys doing? Man Great to
have you with us. Two and two start of the season.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Give me the uh super high and the super low
through the first four if there's such a thing.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
The highs would be that we battled back in some
games and obviously got out to some really good leads
and so we've done some good things to get those
leads or find our way back into a game.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
The loves would be the.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Inconsistency that got us in that deficit or end up
help losing a lead at times. And so, you know,
consistency was a theme coming into this season, how we
can improve in that area, and so far after these
four games, we've been up and down, but have some
really good stretches that we're looking to build on.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
You know, I mentioned this to you a couple of
nights ago, but it's you're still looking for that first
kind of complete forty eight minute game, and you kind
of tease that to a byproduct, if it's early in
the season, are you still staying with that philosophy? You
think how long does it take to kind of get
past that and go, you know what, we need one
of those nights where we can play four complete quarters.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Well, I mean that's been the case for sure.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
I think you know, we've at times last year went
through that a little bit, and then we really kind
of hammered down on some things late in the season
that made us more consistent, obviously with the winning streak
and things like that.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
But for us, it's really you know, defending at a
high level.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Initially, you know, we had some thirty eight point quarters
given up in the last two games, but we're scoring
enough and so we want to obviously played better defense
there and then when we do get those leads, how
can we maintain those And for instance, the other game,
the second game with San Antonio, you know, they got
ten offensive rebounds in the third quarter, allowed them to
go from a twenty point deficit to down to thirteen
(01:51):
or twelve going into fourth quarter. So small things like that,
little details that we go back and look on and
how we built the lead and how we lost it
and how we can improve in those areas.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
You know, part of the fun of watching Jennen during
the last couple of months of last year were those
knights where he would take over games where he'd make
four or five three pointers in a short period of time.
The second quarter he was unconscious against the Spurs, And
you've seen more of that, at least early going on
so far this year. What did he do for you
in the offseason and in training camp that maybe better
(02:21):
prepared him for nights where he can get kind of
take over offensively.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Yeah, I think in general, you saw his growth last year,
and you know, the game has really slowed down for him.
He's not only scoring, but he's you know, become a
secondary playmaker with Fred and you know and Alpi and
so I think his his reading of the defense has
been nine day from last year. He's taken on chief chances.
I'm taking on the challenges defensively on that end. But
(02:48):
I would say, you know, he's a recipient deal of
night they went zone quite a bit and he was
the guy that got the open shots and knocked those down,
but overall his confidence in the game kind of slowing
down for him is the thing that's most noticeable for me.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
Three point attempts for him ticking upward? Is that something
that has just been a situation where it's been the
matchups and what the defense has been giving him. Is
that something that is targeted that you guys want to
do and are you okay with the shots that he's
taking from there?
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Yeah, I would say a little bit of both. Last
year him reading defenses. You know, he has such a quick,
quick first step and he's so explosive that teams will
try to go under a lot of pick and rolls
to you know, stay in front, keep him out of
the lane. And so we want him to be confident
k down those shots, knowing it'll open up everything for
him on the drives and bring the big up a
little bit higher. And so this is a combination of
(03:36):
that they were going under, but as well as Ed
for example and web Yama being back in a deep drop.
You know, obviously two big guys that are good m protectors,
and so for them, they want to funnel everything to
those guys, and you know, he has that shot when
those guys are back. As long as Alp Jock Steven
get a good piece, he has those wide open looks,
we know he can knock him down.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
A high clip rocketed coach Emodka was here on Sports
Talk seven ninety Mavericks in the next game, and we
could ask you probably one hundred questions about how to
defend Luka Dancic, But I want to be specific when
when you have a player like him who pump fakes
like one hundred times a game, is there like a
message or like something you can do in practice to
try to help the team not bite on somebody like
(04:18):
that who pump fakes so much.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Yeah, I mean it was something we did drills with
during preseason. It felt like every game in the preseason
we're going for too many shot fakes.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
We want to be second off the floor, and.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
You know, it's a big thing with KYP, knowing your personnel,
knowing who you're going against us. I think we did
a good job the other night on Harrison Barnes where
he got some guys in Game one with some pump fakes,
and then he saw Cam Jabari and some of those
guys stay down and really challenge the shots there, so
we go deep into the personnel and obviously that's a
He's a big one as far as that before and
after the shot, after the dribbling, so you got to
(04:51):
stay down on him. He loves get the free throw line,
loves the big guys, and for us, it's that game
plan discipline, and we've worked on that in preseason stand down,
being second off the floor and using our length.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Red got a couple of early girl good looks in
the first couple of games, didn't play a whole lot
in that San Antonio stretch of games.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
It's gonna be ebb and flow. I mean, that's what
a normal rookie does. Correct.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
It feels like to me, no matter what draft spot
or what are you're expected to be in the lineup.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Yeah, I mean they're gonna have some ups and downs
of times, of course, and we know that you guys
through went through it last year with our young guys
and all of them have over the last few years.
But as many consistent minutes we can find him, we'd
love to. You know, the game kind of was dictated
by matchups. Last game we pretty much matched dealing with
Webb Yama's minutes and that threw off our normal rotation.
(05:38):
So when Webion went out, Dalan went out and came
back and that kind of squeezed read a little bit there.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
But a guy that we know has a high i Q.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
We super confident and looking to get a more opportunity
when possible, and he'll continue to grow because that.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
You know, you had Fred Garding winby a little bit,
you had Dylan doing it a lot. I mean you
you obviously that's intentional when you go to those guys
and say here's what we're doing on the defensive switch.
I mean, they're gonna they're gonna do whatever they want,
but in terms of doing what's best for the team,
but that has to be still a challenge for those
guys going against a guy of his of his sight,
of his height, and of his frame.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Yeah, I would say we're comfortable with all of our
guards and wings on him, especially on the perimeter. You know,
we switch it out of their pick and roll actions
or him getting a walk away. They set some down
screens for him, So we're fine with our guys crowding him,
taking up his space on the perimeter. It doesn't matter
if you have Alpi Steven or a guard on him.
He's gonna be able to shoot over. It's just being
(06:35):
physical and getting him off his spot, and I think
we did a great job of that, especially in Game two.
We were much more physical. When he starts to roll
down to the post. Obviously we have our bigs ready
to kick our guards out and we can guard him
from there as well, so we have a few counters.
But when he's on the perimeter, I think a lot
of his advantages are against five men.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
That you know, can't take up that space. He can
shoot his threes, he can kind of.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Handle and go around, but we love our guards taking
the space and being with him, and Dylan was ahead
of that a.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Couple more minutes here with im a Doka getting ready
for tomorrow night's game with the Dallas Mavericks. You've Jacques
a little bit early on. Steven Adams got his first
appearance for you in the second game against San Antonio.
Just give us a little glimpse into Stephen as a
competitor and now with you him and your group and
working with the guys, and more importantly, just being what
exactly what you thought he would be as a guy.
(07:23):
That would set a good lot bunch of good screens
and would get a bunch of offensive rebounds for you.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Yeah, I mean he is working his way into shape.
You know.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
I saw a number where he hadn't played in six
hundred forty six days.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
I think.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
So he's been out for quite a while obviously, and
he needs to get his conditioning down, timing down, game shape.
And so even with that being said, while he figures
out his rhythm and gets his body back in shape,
I think his IQ and communication has been very invaluable
for our young guys. It's another coach out there, just
like Fred and Dilanware last year.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
It's just another guy to throw out there.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
And obviously he sets screens against guys open, but the talking, teaching,
extra coaching he's been doing guys has been really good.
And so as he makes gets his way into shape,
we understand what he brings to the team. Whoever he
sets the screen on is going to get space to operate,
and then you have to count for him on the
offensive glass. So he's done those little intangibles that he's
done his whole career.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
But we'll only get better going forward.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
And lastly, it looks like Tarry Easton is really enjoying himself.
You know, here's a guy in his rookie year, played
all eighty two games. The injuries got to him a
lot last year. But for a guy that can do
so many different things for you, offensive rebounds, stealing him
occasional three. Just to have that kind of versatility from
a guy for bench, he's got to be something you
like right now.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
Yeah, you're just plugging me in with I'm in Daling
and some of those guys, and you don't miss a beat.
As far as his defensive versatility, very instinctual, gets his
hands on everything and pretty much comes up with it,
and so we love what he's bringing. He's another guy
that had been out for a while and so we
had to move him along slowly in the preseason. But
now that he's had him in to increase lately, we
(08:58):
can run him for some longer stretches and finished games
if we'd like to. You know, it's tough on him
and at times when he's playing so well, but you
restricted some you know, to a certain amount of minutes
or stretches he can run. But I think as he
gets his self back in shape, same with Steven, I
think those guys will play more and more and what
they bring to our team is obviously very noticeable.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Coach, thank you for the visit, save travels of dallas'll
see you later on tonight and thanks to the time.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
As always, thank you Yes
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