March 5, 2025 • 7 mins
The Rockets are currently on a three-game losing streak following Tuesday's 115-102 loss to the Indiana Pacers. Alperen Sengun scored 25 points, while Jalen Green recorded 12 points and five turnovers. "We need more playmaking out of [Green]," head coach Ime Udoka said. The loss to the Pacers was the second of a back-to-back as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Rockets 137-128 on Monday. Houston was without Sengun, Amen Thompson, Dillon Brooks, Fred VanVleet and Tari Eason in that contest. "All these back-to-backs have added up," Udoka said. The Rockets have the most games by a team on no rest this season, with 15 games. "Until you prove yourself in the league, you'll get a favorable schedule eventually." The Rockets will look to get back into the win column when they face the Pelicans in New Orleans on Thursday.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hemay Doka with us here, coach, this is our third
city in three days. I don't know if you were
restless last night, irritated, slept well, how are you feeling
right now? Is this team takes a I guess a
well deserved off day.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Yeah, ready to get back after tomorrow, you know, try
to write the ship here and then get back on
the winning side.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Get everybody healthy eventually and start to play the way
we're capable of.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Let's go back to the Monday game. Look, I was
a different lineup out there. The team was very competitive. Look,
Oklahoma City is amazing basketball team. We've seen him many
many times so far. You had guys like Shepherd and
Wentmore getting a lot of playing time. Was it strange
addressing the guys before the game, knowing that so many
(00:44):
guys needed to set out and needed to rest and
you had to you know, look, in the world of
NBA we're in today, when you're playing as many games
in a shorter period time and all the back to backs,
you got guys with aches and pains that need to
heal up, rest up. What was it like getting those
guys that were not no more rotation guys in the folk.
So oh, by the way A playing and b doing
against maybe the best team in the Western Conference right now.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Yeah, I mean it was. It was obviously different, a
great experience for them and for us to get a
look at guys. Yeah, like you said, all these back
to backs have kind of added up, and then guys
had some bumps and bruises as well as time to
see Tred being out with the ankle and uh fortnite
at this page. With all the back to backs have
been a little tough on us, but the guy's opportunity experience.
(01:26):
The message was go out and get a win, be competitive,
and think advantage of this opportunity. And so they did that,
played extremely hard, extremely well. Obviously Gil Alexander got going
and it hurt us as far as that, but we
had our tances and then obviously he's a really good team,
but a good, good experienced guys going forward.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Second half, your team defensively did a much better job
against the Pacers last night. This the ball couldn't drop.
And then one number for me that probably irritated you
as much as anything else that certainly did me is
calling the game, was the percentage of points in the
paint You got there a bunch just weren't able to finish.
Was that an aggregating part of watching the squad last night?
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Yeah? See your point, giving up sixty seven and a half,
that's obviously way too high. We got back to guarding
like we're capable of, put some zone in and took
him in a rhythm a little bit there, but needed
needed some more scoring. Obviously didn't shoot them extremely well
nine thirty three and thirteen for twenty six goal line.
So when you're getting the stops and you, you know,
make your way back with some team point deficite to
(02:26):
take take a lead late, you know you want to
capitalize on that, and to your point, missed a lot
of easy baskets, you know, a little put back layups.
I think it was four or five of them, won't
We didn't get the lead and in there, so with
all that we put back into it, that we couldn't
shoot from three those and on those backs.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
One of the things been seeing the last couple of games.
We like the way that Jalen Green's been playing, especially
when he's been scoring, but the careless turnovers have been
cropping up for him a little bit. Uh, what what
do you chalk that up to. Is it some fatigue,
is it just playing carelessness? And what are your conversations
with him about those?
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Yeah, we need more playmaking out of him, especially with
Fred and some of our little guards out and guys
that missed some games. So the illness is on him
to obviously handle a little bit more, initiate offense, get
guys into into sets, but also look to score and
be aggressive like he always is. And so just the
careless ones are the main thing. It's it's you know,
travelers are going to happen or you know, a tough
(03:21):
shot here and there, but the simple ones that are
unforced are the ones that really hurt us. Obviously had
a few of those last night. I think I had
out he had four and he had five, and so
a lot of them just playing in the crowd and
just keeping you know, we set against okay, see you know,
hit singles, make the simple play when the when the
crowd is there, get off the ball and he will
get those wide open looks. And so, yeah, just continue
(03:42):
to grow in that area. He's done a great job
obviously added to his game over the year a year
and a half that I've been here, and need them
to continue that, especially with Fred out.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
What have you seen from read Sheepherd. Of course we
know the big breakout game and then last night.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Yeah, ups and downs of the young guys going to
have at times. It's good to get that experience for
him out there, you know, up and down rookie year
with the opportunity and our depth and you know, different
lineups that we've been having out there. But want him
to be aggressive, stay confident and take advantage of So
obviously a really good game against Okaye's a really good
defensive team, and last night had some open looks that
(04:19):
he missed. You know, he missed a few free thows,
which is uncommon for him, and I added to our
free throw woes. But yeah, learning experience for him neither grow,
be confident aggressive at all the times. And and you this
year to really kind of put your stamp on the
NBA and and learn as we go.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
You know, I've talked to you a few times about
all these three games and four nights and back to backs.
It feels like I know the NBA has made it
try to at least concern an effort to have less
of them. Do you as a coaches group, as a
coach association get to visit with commissioner or somebody at
the at the scheduling level to say, hey, can we
space some things out. I know you're you're fighting with
(04:57):
buildings that are hockey in concerts and whatnot. Is that
even a item of conversation on a yearly basis or
do you know? Because look, hell, you've been in the
NBA between a coach and a player for twenty years.
I mean you just it is what it is, and
you just got to play through it.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Yeah, at some point or the other, everybody hits that
stretch in their in their season where you have a
lot of back to backs. There are a lot of games,
you know, piled up, and we're in that right now
with all the back to backs before I'll start breaking
coming out, and so you just have to deal with it.
You know, some teams have more than us. I think
we do have the highest amount of back to backs
this year. But as I said before, until you prove
yourself in the league, you will get a favorable schedule eventually,
(05:33):
and so they'll continue to build what we're trying to
do here, but at the time play the second youngest
team in the league. We have good depth and other
than some unfortunate injuries, relied on that depth this year.
That's to where we're at.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
We'll let you go on this coach tar Re's and
you've been not playing him in back to backs and
that may not be a situation. That's uh, you know,
we don't know how long it's going to be. But
when he plays, he's full throttle. What is it like
for him you as a coach watching him on the
next day, do you wake up, do you check on him?
Do the training staff do the same kind of thing?
Does he even you know, check his own body to say, hey,
(06:08):
I feel a lot better today than I did a
week ago when I played my thirty five minutes And
what is it like for you to see him get
as many minutes as he is And then as your
medical team says, we need to take a step back
and it would not be smart to him playing in
the second half of those back to backs.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Well, I think he's kind of improved the point where
he's feeling better after thirty minutes, kind of a restriction
at all, just can't play in the back to backs.
And part of this is being conscious to be a
smart big picture going forward. We have two back to
backs left the season, so I want to be smart
with that and look at the big picture. And so
he's feeling better, he's increased workload, hasn't.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Heard him at all, and eventually maybe one of the
last back to backs he can possibly get in there
against Phoenix in LA.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
The whole way's doing that and want to be smart,
like I said, big picture and not have any setbacks.
I'm going into the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
And what do you know about Fred in terms of
his ankle situation right now? I mean, is it a reaggravation?
Is it just it's an awkward step that forced us
some more time. I mean, I look, you're not a doctor,
but I'm just you know, a lot of folks are
asking me about Fred and his availability for the next
foreseeable for the foreseeable future.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Here, yes, literally in the game.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Unfortunate thing and obviously stepping on the house for the
first player of the game. But have to be the
same makam but not the same makes the same area
that kept him out all that time. So it's normal
brain that was already a little bit injured. But good
thing is that in the same area. Just matter, get
us some flu out and getting the mobility back and
(07:35):
obviously not making him out as long as the last minute.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Coach, thank you for the visit. As always, we'll see
you tomorrow night against the Pelicans. Thank you. All right,
it's Amadoka joining us from New Orleans and uh, he
may be at the Aquarium Ross. You never know. Maybe
he's getting a swim in or something I don't know
could be.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
Maybe he's in the one of the submarines at the
World War Two Museum.
Hemay Doka with us here, coach, this is our third
city in three days. I don't know if you were
restless last night, irritated, slept well, how are you feeling
right now? Is this team takes a I guess a
well deserved off day.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Yeah, ready to get back after tomorrow, you know, try
to write the ship here and then get back on
the winning side.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Get everybody healthy eventually and start to play the way
we're capable of.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Let's go back to the Monday game. Look, I was
a different lineup out there. The team was very competitive. Look,
Oklahoma City is amazing basketball team. We've seen him many
many times so far. You had guys like Shepherd and
Wentmore getting a lot of playing time. Was it strange
addressing the guys before the game, knowing that so many
(00:44):
guys needed to set out and needed to rest and
you had to you know, look, in the world of
NBA we're in today, when you're playing as many games
in a shorter period time and all the back to backs,
you got guys with aches and pains that need to
heal up, rest up. What was it like getting those
guys that were not no more rotation guys in the folk.
So oh, by the way A playing and b doing
against maybe the best team in the Western Conference right now.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Yeah, I mean it was. It was obviously different, a
great experience for them and for us to get a
look at guys. Yeah, like you said, all these back
to backs have kind of added up, and then guys
had some bumps and bruises as well as time to
see Tred being out with the ankle and uh fortnite
at this page. With all the back to backs have
been a little tough on us, but the guy's opportunity experience.
(01:26):
The message was go out and get a win, be competitive,
and think advantage of this opportunity. And so they did that,
played extremely hard, extremely well. Obviously Gil Alexander got going
and it hurt us as far as that, but we
had our tances and then obviously he's a really good team,
but a good, good experienced guys going forward.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Second half, your team defensively did a much better job
against the Pacers last night. This the ball couldn't drop.
And then one number for me that probably irritated you
as much as anything else that certainly did me is
calling the game, was the percentage of points in the
paint You got there a bunch just weren't able to finish.
Was that an aggregating part of watching the squad last night?
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Yeah? See your point, giving up sixty seven and a half,
that's obviously way too high. We got back to guarding
like we're capable of, put some zone in and took
him in a rhythm a little bit there, but needed
needed some more scoring. Obviously didn't shoot them extremely well
nine thirty three and thirteen for twenty six goal line.
So when you're getting the stops and you, you know,
make your way back with some team point deficite to
(02:26):
take take a lead late, you know you want to
capitalize on that, and to your point, missed a lot
of easy baskets, you know, a little put back layups.
I think it was four or five of them, won't
We didn't get the lead and in there, so with
all that we put back into it, that we couldn't
shoot from three those and on those backs.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
One of the things been seeing the last couple of games.
We like the way that Jalen Green's been playing, especially
when he's been scoring, but the careless turnovers have been
cropping up for him a little bit. Uh, what what
do you chalk that up to. Is it some fatigue,
is it just playing carelessness? And what are your conversations
with him about those?
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Yeah, we need more playmaking out of him, especially with
Fred and some of our little guards out and guys
that missed some games. So the illness is on him
to obviously handle a little bit more, initiate offense, get
guys into into sets, but also look to score and
be aggressive like he always is. And so just the
careless ones are the main thing. It's it's you know,
travelers are going to happen or you know, a tough
(03:21):
shot here and there, but the simple ones that are
unforced are the ones that really hurt us. Obviously had
a few of those last night. I think I had
out he had four and he had five, and so
a lot of them just playing in the crowd and
just keeping you know, we set against okay, see you know,
hit singles, make the simple play when the when the
crowd is there, get off the ball and he will
get those wide open looks. And so, yeah, just continue
(03:42):
to grow in that area. He's done a great job
obviously added to his game over the year a year
and a half that I've been here, and need them
to continue that, especially with Fred out.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
What have you seen from read Sheepherd. Of course we
know the big breakout game and then last night.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Yeah, ups and downs of the young guys going to
have at times. It's good to get that experience for
him out there, you know, up and down rookie year
with the opportunity and our depth and you know, different
lineups that we've been having out there. But want him
to be aggressive, stay confident and take advantage of So
obviously a really good game against Okaye's a really good
defensive team, and last night had some open looks that
(04:19):
he missed. You know, he missed a few free thows,
which is uncommon for him, and I added to our
free throw woes. But yeah, learning experience for him neither grow,
be confident aggressive at all the times. And and you this
year to really kind of put your stamp on the
NBA and and learn as we go.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
You know, I've talked to you a few times about
all these three games and four nights and back to backs.
It feels like I know the NBA has made it
try to at least concern an effort to have less
of them. Do you as a coaches group, as a
coach association get to visit with commissioner or somebody at
the at the scheduling level to say, hey, can we
space some things out. I know you're you're fighting with
(04:57):
buildings that are hockey in concerts and whatnot. Is that
even a item of conversation on a yearly basis or
do you know? Because look, hell, you've been in the
NBA between a coach and a player for twenty years.
I mean you just it is what it is, and
you just got to play through it.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Yeah, at some point or the other, everybody hits that
stretch in their in their season where you have a
lot of back to backs. There are a lot of games,
you know, piled up, and we're in that right now
with all the back to backs before I'll start breaking
coming out, and so you just have to deal with it.
You know, some teams have more than us. I think
we do have the highest amount of back to backs
this year. But as I said before, until you prove
yourself in the league, you will get a favorable schedule eventually,
(05:33):
and so they'll continue to build what we're trying to
do here, but at the time play the second youngest
team in the league. We have good depth and other
than some unfortunate injuries, relied on that depth this year.
That's to where we're at.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
We'll let you go on this coach tar Re's and
you've been not playing him in back to backs and
that may not be a situation. That's uh, you know,
we don't know how long it's going to be. But
when he plays, he's full throttle. What is it like
for him you as a coach watching him on the
next day, do you wake up, do you check on him?
Do the training staff do the same kind of thing?
Does he even you know, check his own body to say, hey,
(06:08):
I feel a lot better today than I did a
week ago when I played my thirty five minutes And
what is it like for you to see him get
as many minutes as he is And then as your
medical team says, we need to take a step back
and it would not be smart to him playing in
the second half of those back to backs.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Well, I think he's kind of improved the point where
he's feeling better after thirty minutes, kind of a restriction
at all, just can't play in the back to backs.
And part of this is being conscious to be a
smart big picture going forward. We have two back to
backs left the season, so I want to be smart
with that and look at the big picture. And so
he's feeling better, he's increased workload, hasn't.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Heard him at all, and eventually maybe one of the
last back to backs he can possibly get in there
against Phoenix in LA.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
The whole way's doing that and want to be smart,
like I said, big picture and not have any setbacks.
I'm going into the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
And what do you know about Fred in terms of
his ankle situation right now? I mean, is it a reaggravation?
Is it just it's an awkward step that forced us
some more time. I mean, I look, you're not a doctor,
but I'm just you know, a lot of folks are
asking me about Fred and his availability for the next
foreseeable for the foreseeable future.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Here, yes, literally in the game.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Unfortunate thing and obviously stepping on the house for the
first player of the game. But have to be the
same makam but not the same makes the same area
that kept him out all that time. So it's normal
brain that was already a little bit injured. But good
thing is that in the same area. Just matter, get
us some flu out and getting the mobility back and
(07:35):
obviously not making him out as long as the last minute.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Coach, thank you for the visit. As always, we'll see
you tomorrow night against the Pelicans. Thank you. All right,
it's Amadoka joining us from New Orleans and uh, he
may be at the Aquarium Ross. You never know. Maybe
he's getting a swim in or something I don't know
could be.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
Maybe he's in the one of the submarines at the
World War Two Museum.
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