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ClutchFans: Ime Udoka on if the offense will be different next year -- he says he expects to play differently offensively next year just based on the personnel that was missing (Fred, Adams, KD at the end). He says he does not see any changes to the coaching staff.
Varun Shankar: Rafael Stone and Ime Udoka both say this team should have won more games. Stone called the season frustrating. Didn't say firmly if team would make big moves but said even if HOU doesn't, expects growth from young players (mentioned Tari Eason, Jabari Smith, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard) to lead to addnl success.
Despite the loss, multiple high-level team sources still believe their young core can contend for the next decade. Those same sources said Udoka will remain an essential part of the team's future. Durant too.
They've probably heard worse in their own locker room, the source said. Between Adams' off-color humor and Udoka's tough-love coaching, Houston's young core has developed relatively thick skin. Not to mention, the source explained, younger players are used to the pitfalls and perils of social media. "Good things came out of both those discussions," the source said. "They got s--- off their chest."
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At this juncture, there are no plans to move on from either Udoka or general manager Rafael Stone, sources told Yahoo Sports. Ownership has remained steadfast in its belief in a three-pronged leadership sector because of a combination of the turnaround in recent years and consecutive 50-win seasons, the latter of which was marked by major injuries — resulting in confidence from the top down.
While Ime Udoka will certainly be under fire for the part he played in the collapse, he signed a lucrative multiyear extension last summer that most league observers believe should shield him from being fired. The third-year Rockets coach is still considered one of the NBA’s elite defensive coaches, with this latest version of his team still finishing sixth in defensive rating despite losing their most impactful defender, Brooks, in the Durant deal (they were fifth last season). The offense — and the question of how to fix it — is another matter altogether. Perhaps the best answer to this question is going out and acquiring another superstar talent to pair with Durant this summer.
Will Guillory: Ime Udoka on issues that need to be addressed in the summer: "We do need to address some needs. The lack of shooting at times. Whether it's a backup point guard or our young guys did enough this year to run that when Fred's back. We'll take a look at all those things. We'll have some very interesting conversations. Having a little bit more of a mix instead of some duplicates out there."
Will Guillory: Ime Udoka on Kevin Durant's progress in his ankle rehab: "The mobility is probably the biggest (issue). There is some pain. That's something he'd have to tolerate. ... Certain movements are bothering him for sure. He's done some things on-court, but he's limited with those. When you can't do specific movements that hurt you or bother you, you can't progress."
Rockets Wire: On Ime Udoka’s coaching, Alperen Sengun tells @BenDuBose : “He’s been doing an amazing job. With him, we’re fighters. We’re warriors. When we were down 3-0, everybody was still believing. We never give up. That’s our chemistry, and it comes from them (coaches) most of the time.”
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Addressing the future of coach Quin Snyder, whose contract has only one season remaining after this one. Snyder, remember, was one of five NBA head coaches under contract that the Knicks unsuccessfully requested permission to speak to last June after the dismissal of Tom Thibodeau along with Dallas' Jason Kidd, Houston's Ime Udoka, Minnesota's Chris Finch and then-Chicago coach Billy Donovan. Snyder did not receive an extension in the immediate aftermath of New York's approach like Udoka, Donovan and ultimately Kidd, but extension talks are mostly certainly expected soon after this season … whether or not Atlanta can keep it going Thursday night.
On March 22, Reed Sheppard came up big once again. After a rally by the Miami Heat to take a lead, he hit a floater with 12.7 seconds left to give Houston a 3-point lead to help the Rockets eventually win 123-122. Sheppard had 23 points, 14 assists, and no turnovers in 37 minutes. With that performance, he became the youngest player in Rockets history with at least 20 points, 10 assists and no turnovers in a game (21 years, 170 days). “We put it in his hands a ton,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said after the game. “You know, they went zone a lot, so he’s gonna get some of those open looks, but also delivered the ball well.
Draymond Green: Maybe he knows his team better than I know them, because they responded and they got a game. However, everybody made it about what Şengün said pregame, not necessarily what Ime said postgame of Game 3. So I would just warn Ime to be careful there, because in today’s day and age, I’ve had to learn to deal with younger guys. Guys will quit on you. I’ve seen it. I’ve seen it all around the league. Guys just quit on the coach. I would caution Ime just to be careful there, because guys do quit. And you go at some guys a little tougher than they can handle, guys do quit. Like I said, they responded, so give them credit. But I would caution Ime to just be a little careful there. Ime is going to be who he’s going to be, and I know he goes about his business the way he goes about his business, which is what I respect and love about Ime. But I would caution him with these young guys, man. They just aren’t the same. It’s just a little different.”