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Rockets reloaded: How a shift in philosophy just spawned something big
Dec 14, 2023, 1:00 pm
The new-look Rockets are turning heads. Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images.
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Head coach Ime Udoka didn’t exactly have big shoes to fill taking over the Rockets reins this season. The Rockets were coming off three seasons of complete and utter despair, finishing with records of 17-55, 20-62 and 22-60, the worst era in Rockets history. Fans noticed and stayed away from Toyota Center in droves. Season ticket holders were selling their seats for pennies on the dollar – literally the change under your sofa’s cushions.
Stephen Silas, Rockets coach those three seasons, now has the dubious distinction of the worst won-loss record (59-177) of any coach in NBA history with more than 200 games on the bench.
Forgetting the past, what Ime Udoka has done this year with the previously underachieving Rockets has been overwhelming. After Wednesday night's wire-to-wire victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, the Rockets stand at 12-9 and knocking on the postseason door.
Playoffs? Yes, playoffs!.
The Rockets record is light years ahead of pre-season predictions – ESPN had them down for 29-53 this year. Still the record is wonky and upside-down. The upside is their 11-1 mark at home, practically unbeatable at Toyota Center. The downside is their 1-8 mark on the road. I know, weird.
While their won-loss record may be upside-down, Udoka has turned the Rockets inside-out. If a team reflects its coach’s personality, then the Rockets are tough, no-nonsense, in-your-face beasts.
Last year, for the few thousand fans who showed up, it was disheartening to watch Coach Silas sitting placidly on the bench while the Rockets lost game after game, then walking over smiling to congratulate the other team’s winning coach. The Rockets mirrored their coach’s personality. To put it mildly, the Rockets played mildly. Soft.
That ain’t the Rockets this season. You see Udoka scowling on the bench when the Rockets are trailing. While Silas looked like the good-natured father in a Hallmark Network holiday movie, Udoka is the Grinch trying to steal a Rockets win.
Udoka knows all about scrapping. During his playing career, he took the floor for teams like the Fargo-Moorhead Beez, Independiente, North Charleston Lowgators, Adirondack Wildcats, Fort Worth Flyers and UCAM Murcia. He also made brief appearances with the Lakers, Knicks, Trailblazers, Kings and Spurs. He knows you’ve got to fight every minute of your basketball life. Now the Rockets know.
Like Tom Petty, the Udoka-led Rockets won’t back down. They’re 3-1, including their lone road win, over the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets. And if a heralded Rocket isn’t playing up to Udoka’s expectation, Udoka has no problem sitting him on the bench the entire fourth quarter, like he’s done to star shooting guard Jalen Green – more than once.
Udoka doesn’t care who the opponent is, he’s not putting up with any nonsense. Earlier this month, Udoka thought that LeBron James was complaining too much about ticky-tack contact. Udoka unleashed an NSFW rant on the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, called him the B-word and all but challenging James to a fistfight.
The exchange reportedly went something like:
Udoka: “Y’all gotta stop crying like b-----s, man. Stop b------g.”
James: “We’re all grown men. Nah, that b---h word ain’t cool. Don’t use it so loosely.”
Udoka: “Yeah, I said it. What are you going to do about what I said? Walking over here like you’re going to do something. Soft ass boy.”
Apparently “soft ass boy” is higher on the profanity corporate chart than the b-word. Referee J.T. Orr hit Udoka with his second technical foul of the game and excused him for the evening.
Udoka later explained, “We want a competitive group, which we do have. I talked to the guys about not taking a backseat to anyone. Opponents, as well as teammates and certain guys. We have certain guys who would address it, but we want everyone to be that guy.”
How much do you love our coach getting in LeBron James’ face and daring King James, “What are you going to do about what I said?”
Just as important as winning, well almost, the Rockets are putting an entertaining, aggressive, fun product on the floor, and fans are responding by coming to games.
This is Ime Udoka basketball and this could be the start of something big.
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Despite a last-minute comeback attempt by Gonzaga on Saturday, the Cougars defeated the Bulldogs and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the sixth straight NCAA Tournament.
Houston will face the No.4 seed Purdue, who made it to the championship game last year.
The Boilermakers will be one of the toughest opponents the Cougars have faced thus far and will essentially have the home-court advantage with the game taking place in Indianapolis.
Despite the daunting matchup on paper, Houston is currently an -8.5 favorite to win this game. The Cougars should be able to handle Purdue so long as their offense stays hot and they continue to play defense at an elite level.
Keep the offense flowing
Houston guard LJ Cryer matched a career-high with 30 points against Gonzaga and has been the offensive focal point of this team.
This season, the Baylor transfer has averaged 15.6 points per game and has stepped up to be one of the unquestioned leaders of this team.
In addition to Cryer, the Cougars have Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp, who can carry the offensive load as they did during the Big 12 Tournament and against SIUE on Thursday.
J’Wan Roberts is another key factor for Houston’s success. The senior forward seems to have recovered from his ankle injury and has been a productive player since returning to the lineup.
Roberts leads the team in rebounds and is one of the most efficient scorers for the Cougars, averaging more than 50% from the field over his last five seasons.
Houston’s dynamic offense and elite defense makes this team one of the toughest to beat during the tournament.
Containing Purdue’s stars
The Boilermakers have two proficient scorers on their team, Trey Kaufman-Renn and Braden Smith, who each average over 15 points per game.
Kaufman-Renn scored 22 points in his previous game against McNeese State and has been one of Purdue’s best players for most of this year.
Roberts and Joseph Tuggler will likely be assigned to the junior forward to slow down his offense, forcing his teammates to step up.
Smith is Purdue’s second-leading scorer, averaging 16 points per game, and has the most assists and steals for the Boilermakers this season.
Both Uzan and Cyrer, who have been elite parameter defenders, will cover the Purdue guard and limit his production.
Containing both Kaufman-Renn and Smith will be Houston’s top priority and the key to come away victorious.
Play Cougar basketball
Head coach Kelvin Sampson has now made it to at least the Sweet 16 six consecutive times and has his team well-positioned to make another deep tournament run.
Since arriving in Houston, the 69-year-old coach has turned this program from an afterthought to one of the best basketball teams in the country year after year.
Sampson’s key to his success is instilling a defensive-first mentality into his team and getting the best effort out of his players.
This season is no different, as Houston has the number-one ranked defense in the nation and is holding their opponents to 58.4 points per game on average.
If the Cougars can create consistent offense and continue playing defense at an elite level, they should win this game with ease and advance to the Elite 8 for the first time in three years.
The Houston-Purdue game will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday at 9 pm. The winner will play either Kentucky or Tennessee in the next round.