May 1, 2026 • 8 mins
Ime Udoka on Game 6: Rockets vs Lakers Playoff Showdown
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
So I asked email dok. I said, Amy, you would
come on the show on like Wednesday. He's like, no,
it's too soon, he said Friday. I said, okay, one
o'clock Friday. Here we go and email and the Rockets
have proven that this series will go on to a
game six, number six tonight and coach joints us here
on the show. Email, good afternoon. Do you what a
nice bounce back for your squad the last couple of games?
(00:22):
Tell me about it. And I don't know how if
there's if you read much into this, but what's the
demeanor like in games four and five talking to those
guys pregame is compared to maybe some of the first
three games of the series. If there is such a thing.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
That's confidence obviously building.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
But you know, we had a let down at the
end of Game three and looked at a lot of
the positives and you know, really had to dominate three
quarters outside of the finish, and so there was a
lot of good to look at, a lot of things
that we knew we did well enough to win and
carry that over the game four and five. And so
now the shooting numbers have come back around. We're still
defending at a high level, and so confidence is high.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Confidence is high. Also, another nice thing has happened in
the last couple of games is you've not allowed one
of their scorers to have great first period of play.
Was that a focus? You know, look, it's forty eight minutes,
but man to see guys like Canard or Marcus Smart
have gooes great for his quarters, we're certainly alarming in
the early parts.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Of the series.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Yeah, we looked at the first three games and giving
up thirty three, thirty three and thirty nine in the
first quarter and being.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
At a small deficit most of those.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
We wanted to get out to a great start and
started with game four, you know, being up twenty six
to twenty two, and then last game we didn't score
a ton, but we held them in the twenties. So
we wanted to get off the better starts, and we've
done that lately. Smart came out hit a few threes
and free toes, but outside of that first eight points
in the first quarter, he ended with eleven, So did
a much better job with him. Canard only have one
(01:48):
part one point, and so much better focus on those
two guys.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Is it okay to say yo, lut Dean R eight
and do what he needs to do and getting those
two point shots if it comes with the fact that
your perimeter defense is better. I mean, obviously you want
everybody to be stopped. But can you live with Deandrei
doing what he did and not allowing guys like Canard
and Marcus Martin and Lebron in a small or extent
to hit the bunch of threes.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Yeah, I mean, every time you go into a game plan,
you want the ball to find certain guys more than others.
And even if he's making some of those shots, we
don't feel that can beat us at a high level,
and keeping everybody else contained is pretty much part of
the game plan. And so we're going to live with
some of those, especially with the opera and helping on
some of the drives, and we feel we can contain
(02:35):
the others will be in good shape.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Austin Reeves got in there, and as you and I
were kind of joking about a little bit, Austin's going
to get to the free throw line. He certainly did
a bunch thirteen times. That's kind of his modus operande.
But what did you notice from the game plan of
the Lakers with Austin out there as compared to some
of the minutes that Luke Cannard was taken from him
before he came back and being healthy.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
For them, well, they run a lot of the same
plays with those two, so the actions weren't much, but
he's you know, a better one on one player and.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
To your point, getting to the free throw line it's
a big thing.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
So they try to bring read up into some actions
with him. I think outside of the fouls and us
going under two pick and rolls where he got three
point shots, we did a good job funneling him inside.
I think looked like he got worn down this game
went on, and then we made him work on the
other end. And so obviously one of the best scores
all year. What he's done is taking a big jump
this year, and that's why they've improved, and they're going
(03:27):
to try to get him his actions get him to
the free.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Throw line, and we got to do a better job
in that fouling.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
And one of the things, of course you kind of mentioned,
what the turnaround is the defense, especially with reed Shepherd
and outbranching Gooon. What have you been seeing from those
two guys, especially just from a competitive standpoint and being
up to the challenge to improve their defense.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Yeah, taking all the challenge is first part, and just
being more physical in general. You know, we were putting
them on certain matches and they're doing a good job outring,
specifically putting out some fires, guarding his man, and like
I said, we're living with some of the eight things
that are going to be residual effects of that.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
But for the most part, they're doing a really good job.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Obviously, if you hold a team to under one hundred
as many times as we have, especially ninety three and
ninety nine in the last two games, you know you're
doing some good things.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
And so still areas we can clean up.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
We took a look at that today where you can
even improve more. But defens is feeling our offense. The
turnovers are great, the activity is great, and they're a big.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Part of that.
Speaker 4 (04:24):
Rocketech coach Imadoga with us here on Sports Talk seven
ninety what's the latest you can give us on Kevin
Durant and trying to work his way back. Of course
not going to be available tonight, but potentially for game seven.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
He's still going through the process and you know, getting
some work in and seeing how it feels. You know,
the mobility and the pain are two different things, and
you can probably push through some pain at times, but
if you're limited with your movement and some of the
things you can do. As far as n being the
score that he is, it's going to be tough. And
so as much as it sucks for him us, you know,
(05:00):
other guys have stepped up and we have to go
with who we got and so looking at him obviously
out tonight, we'll see what happens the next few days.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
But you know, those bone bruises are tricky. You know,
it takes some time.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
And you look at Marcus Smart earlier this season, missed
nine games due to a bone bruise and the healing
process of one thing. But like I said, the mobility
being limited is much more impactful.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Your guys have rallied around the fact that Katie's not gone.
That's what two straight games of all five of your
starters and double figures. That's not a typical for a
regular season game. But to see good balance current like
that in the playoffs has to be a positive sign
for you.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Yeah, everybody's aggressive, the ball is moving, you know, turnovers down,
assist numbers, up and guys are shooting it well. Like
I said, even in the first two games, we had
really good looks that we didn't make. And we know
if we continue to get paint touches, those are great
for us Man and read and I'll be getting into
the paint has open up shots for everybody else, and
that balance is hard to guard, and so we're not
(05:57):
relying on one or two guys, everybody else contributing, and
like I said, the turnovers that really field of offense
as well.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Reid has the mid range shot in the fourth quarter,
he comes back and steals Lebron's attempted pass, winds up
going for a dunk and mill thea lane for a
confidence standpoint for him. And look, every moment is an
experience for him. But as you saw it through your eyes,
how much in read and grow up and that just
that stretch with those two big plays were such a
big part of that fourth quarter.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Yeah. Huge. Obviously they cut into the lead.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
We had missed some good shots as well, but we
knew the coverage they would have with Reading to pick
a roll as opposed to I'm in or somebody else,
and so he got the space to operate instead of
good screen, had to get set up and got to
a spot, and so we trusted him with that shot
all day. Obviously one of the best foods we have.
But the instinct to go make a play as well.
On James driving, he's really good at that, got great
(06:50):
hands and anticipation, and to push us back up to
seven at that point was obviously needed, but huge for him.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Just growing experiences. Like you said, first time playing.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
In a heated playoffs series, and so great to see
them come through at that point.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
And before I let you go, the turnovers again continue
to haunt them a little bit. You guys are taking
advantage of that. Is that making you from a defensive standpoint,
want some guys to try some things or just let
the Lakers kind of do what they've been doing a lot.
And this is handled the ball over. I mean, you've
had twenty seven steals in the last couple of games.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Yes, both. I think we have the freedom to make plays.
We have guys with great instinct a man read Tari obviously,
and so their freedom to make plays, especially when you're
guarding certain guys, and like I said, we want the
ball to find other guys, and so it's just a
really good mix, but when they're trying to take advantage
some mismatches with aid and in the post or Hachimur.
I think our rotations have been good. We've been doing
(07:46):
our work early fighting those guys off the post, and
you've seen a lot of steals on those high low passes, and.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
So activity is great.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Like I said, we know how much that feels us offensively,
if we can get out and run and play against
a non set defense, it's been great.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
For us all year.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
I hear La is lovely in early May. Let's go
back one more time. Thank you coach for the visit,
and good luck tonight against the Lakers.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Thank you,
So I asked email dok. I said, Amy, you would
come on the show on like Wednesday. He's like, no,
it's too soon, he said Friday. I said, okay, one
o'clock Friday. Here we go and email and the Rockets
have proven that this series will go on to a
game six, number six tonight and coach joints us here
on the show. Email, good afternoon. Do you what a
nice bounce back for your squad the last couple of games?
(00:22):
Tell me about it. And I don't know how if
there's if you read much into this, but what's the
demeanor like in games four and five talking to those
guys pregame is compared to maybe some of the first
three games of the series. If there is such a thing.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
That's confidence obviously building.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
But you know, we had a let down at the
end of Game three and looked at a lot of
the positives and you know, really had to dominate three
quarters outside of the finish, and so there was a
lot of good to look at, a lot of things
that we knew we did well enough to win and
carry that over the game four and five. And so
now the shooting numbers have come back around. We're still
defending at a high level, and so confidence is high.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Confidence is high. Also, another nice thing has happened in
the last couple of games is you've not allowed one
of their scorers to have great first period of play.
Was that a focus? You know, look, it's forty eight minutes,
but man to see guys like Canard or Marcus Smart
have gooes great for his quarters, we're certainly alarming in
the early parts.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Of the series.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Yeah, we looked at the first three games and giving
up thirty three, thirty three and thirty nine in the
first quarter and being.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
At a small deficit most of those.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
We wanted to get out to a great start and
started with game four, you know, being up twenty six
to twenty two, and then last game we didn't score
a ton, but we held them in the twenties. So
we wanted to get off the better starts, and we've
done that lately. Smart came out hit a few threes
and free toes, but outside of that first eight points
in the first quarter, he ended with eleven, So did
a much better job with him. Canard only have one
(01:48):
part one point, and so much better focus on those
two guys.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Is it okay to say yo, lut Dean R eight
and do what he needs to do and getting those
two point shots if it comes with the fact that
your perimeter defense is better. I mean, obviously you want
everybody to be stopped. But can you live with Deandrei
doing what he did and not allowing guys like Canard
and Marcus Martin and Lebron in a small or extent
to hit the bunch of threes.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Yeah, I mean, every time you go into a game plan,
you want the ball to find certain guys more than others.
And even if he's making some of those shots, we
don't feel that can beat us at a high level,
and keeping everybody else contained is pretty much part of
the game plan. And so we're going to live with
some of those, especially with the opera and helping on
some of the drives, and we feel we can contain
(02:35):
the others will be in good shape.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Austin Reeves got in there, and as you and I
were kind of joking about a little bit, Austin's going
to get to the free throw line. He certainly did
a bunch thirteen times. That's kind of his modus operande.
But what did you notice from the game plan of
the Lakers with Austin out there as compared to some
of the minutes that Luke Cannard was taken from him
before he came back and being healthy.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
For them, well, they run a lot of the same
plays with those two, so the actions weren't much, but
he's you know, a better one on one player and.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
To your point, getting to the free throw line it's
a big thing.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
So they try to bring read up into some actions
with him. I think outside of the fouls and us
going under two pick and rolls where he got three
point shots, we did a good job funneling him inside.
I think looked like he got worn down this game
went on, and then we made him work on the
other end. And so obviously one of the best scores
all year. What he's done is taking a big jump
this year, and that's why they've improved, and they're going
(03:27):
to try to get him his actions get him to
the free.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Throw line, and we got to do a better job
in that fouling.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
And one of the things, of course you kind of mentioned,
what the turnaround is the defense, especially with reed Shepherd
and outbranching Gooon. What have you been seeing from those
two guys, especially just from a competitive standpoint and being
up to the challenge to improve their defense.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Yeah, taking all the challenge is first part, and just
being more physical in general. You know, we were putting
them on certain matches and they're doing a good job outring,
specifically putting out some fires, guarding his man, and like
I said, we're living with some of the eight things
that are going to be residual effects of that.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
But for the most part, they're doing a really good job.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Obviously, if you hold a team to under one hundred
as many times as we have, especially ninety three and
ninety nine in the last two games, you know you're
doing some good things.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
And so still areas we can clean up.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
We took a look at that today where you can
even improve more. But defens is feeling our offense. The
turnovers are great, the activity is great, and they're a big.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Part of that.
Speaker 4 (04:24):
Rocketech coach Imadoga with us here on Sports Talk seven
ninety what's the latest you can give us on Kevin
Durant and trying to work his way back. Of course
not going to be available tonight, but potentially for game seven.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
He's still going through the process and you know, getting
some work in and seeing how it feels. You know,
the mobility and the pain are two different things, and
you can probably push through some pain at times, but
if you're limited with your movement and some of the
things you can do. As far as n being the
score that he is, it's going to be tough. And
so as much as it sucks for him us, you know,
(05:00):
other guys have stepped up and we have to go
with who we got and so looking at him obviously
out tonight, we'll see what happens the next few days.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
But you know, those bone bruises are tricky. You know,
it takes some time.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
And you look at Marcus Smart earlier this season, missed
nine games due to a bone bruise and the healing
process of one thing. But like I said, the mobility
being limited is much more impactful.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Your guys have rallied around the fact that Katie's not gone.
That's what two straight games of all five of your
starters and double figures. That's not a typical for a
regular season game. But to see good balance current like
that in the playoffs has to be a positive sign
for you.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Yeah, everybody's aggressive, the ball is moving, you know, turnovers down,
assist numbers, up and guys are shooting it well. Like
I said, even in the first two games, we had
really good looks that we didn't make. And we know
if we continue to get paint touches, those are great
for us Man and read and I'll be getting into
the paint has open up shots for everybody else, and
that balance is hard to guard, and so we're not
(05:57):
relying on one or two guys, everybody else contributing, and
like I said, the turnovers that really field of offense
as well.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Reid has the mid range shot in the fourth quarter,
he comes back and steals Lebron's attempted pass, winds up
going for a dunk and mill thea lane for a
confidence standpoint for him. And look, every moment is an
experience for him. But as you saw it through your eyes,
how much in read and grow up and that just
that stretch with those two big plays were such a
big part of that fourth quarter.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Yeah. Huge. Obviously they cut into the lead.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
We had missed some good shots as well, but we
knew the coverage they would have with Reading to pick
a roll as opposed to I'm in or somebody else,
and so he got the space to operate instead of
good screen, had to get set up and got to
a spot, and so we trusted him with that shot
all day. Obviously one of the best foods we have.
But the instinct to go make a play as well.
On James driving, he's really good at that, got great
(06:50):
hands and anticipation, and to push us back up to
seven at that point was obviously needed, but huge for him.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Just growing experiences. Like you said, first time playing.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
In a heated playoffs series, and so great to see
them come through at that point.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
And before I let you go, the turnovers again continue
to haunt them a little bit. You guys are taking
advantage of that. Is that making you from a defensive standpoint,
want some guys to try some things or just let
the Lakers kind of do what they've been doing a lot.
And this is handled the ball over. I mean, you've
had twenty seven steals in the last couple of games.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Yes, both. I think we have the freedom to make plays.
We have guys with great instinct a man read Tari obviously,
and so their freedom to make plays, especially when you're
guarding certain guys, and like I said, we want the
ball to find other guys, and so it's just a
really good mix, but when they're trying to take advantage
some mismatches with aid and in the post or Hachimur.
I think our rotations have been good. We've been doing
(07:46):
our work early fighting those guys off the post, and
you've seen a lot of steals on those high low passes, and.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
So activity is great.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Like I said, we know how much that feels us offensively,
if we can get out and run and play against
a non set defense, it's been great.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
For us all year.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
I hear La is lovely in early May. Let's go
back one more time. Thank you coach for the visit,
and good luck tonight against the Lakers.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Thank you,
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