The Rockets squandered a six-point regulation lead with less than 30 seconds remaining in Game 3 of their series with the Lakers on Friday night. Houston then lost in overtime to fall behind 3-0 in the first-round matchup. Head coach Ime Udoka let loose on his team afterward.
“Horrendous mistakes,” he said, per Kristie Rieken of The Associated Press. “I don’t know if you want to say youth or scared of the moment or whatever the case.”
With Kevin Durant, Fred VanVleet, and Steven Adams injured and inactive, the Rockets were relying on several players without a ton of playoff experience. However, Udoka didn’t view that as an excuse after his team committed two turnovers and fouled a three-point shooter down the stretch.
“Grow up,” he said. “You’re not that young anymore.”
Here’s more on the Rockets:
- Durant sat out for the second time in the series. The official reason for his latest absence was a left ankle sprain suffered in Game 2. “Obviously, it’s different when he’s not on the floor. He’s a tremendous scorer. He can draw so much attention to himself when he’s out there,” guard Reed Sheppard said, per Will Guillory of The Athletic. “It sucks not having him out there. But at the end of the day, it’s our job to go out there and fight and compete and win. That’s what we’ve got to do in the next four (games).” Durant’s status for Game 4 is undetermined. “Up in the air,” Udoka said. “I think we made some progress in the last few days, but we’ll see how that [goes] with only one day in between.”
- Alperen Sengun‘s monster performance – 33 points and 16 rebounds – was wasted in Game 3. “It wasn’t enough,” he said, per Matt Young of the Houston Chronicle. “I guess I could do more with some defensive possessions, some missed shots still. I still did a good job, but it wasn’t enough, so I’ve got to come back better Sunday.”
- Durant would like to be a part-owner of an NBA or NBA Europe franchise after he retires, according to Marc J. Spears of Andscape. “Sole owner? No. But you can definitely be a part of a group,” Durant said. “I wouldn’t say a player could have full control. (LeBron James), maybe. It has to be one of those types of players. Steph (Curry), ’Bron, myself. It takes players that have been in the league for a while, that have relationships, that are building businesses off the floor. You got to have a lot of capital to buy an NBA team. I’m not banking on it, but I’d love for it to happen.”
Clean house. Ime and Stone have to go. They very obviously do not have the same team strategy. Absolute embarrassment.
The Rackets deliberately Decided not to have Playoff ambitions when they after van Fleets injury did not try to find a true point guard with playoff Rotation quality.
If anybody should be fired it has to be the guys who made that decision.
With their only Playoff tested go to option Durant out you should not be surprised that battle tested veterans Like LeBron and Smart kill the rockets in only 30 seconds
Maybe Ime needs to grow up
So KD was correct, this roster is full of “low BBIQ” guys. Pick one of Amen or Sengun and trade the other for a better fit.
Or trade KD cuz he’s old and the rest of them are young enough to build with.
It didn’t make sense trading Brooks for Durant, especially when you had hired a coach to come in there and create a defensive minded team.
It made sense. They needed a scorer. The issue is their GM punted the season when FVV got hurt and didn’t even attempt to help their roster during the season. Additionally, their coach is a “defensive guru,” but can’t field a 5 man lineup with anyone that struggles defensively or he benches them after one defensive lapse. He’s not a good coach in any way shape or form. If you can’t incorporate the players you have on your roster in the best way they need to be used, then you’re a bad coach.
I get what you are saying, I am not an Udoka fan either ( I am bitter about my C’s losing to an aging GS Warriors team a few years ago). But Brooks was the lead dog in that defensive attack, the guy who gets under the opponents skin. I have to believe he was one of Udoka’s favorites. That’s all I mean, they thought KD was the missing piece but now they are further away from contention than before the trade.
Some coaches are not winners. Udoka is not a winner. Celtics were the heavy favorites against the warriors but adjustments made and they got out coached. KD is a good player but never been a leader. He was never the best player on the warriors it always was Curry. Being a Celtics fan you should know it takes a leader to win like Tatum. LeBron is a leader. KD is not a leader.
Nothing he could have done, Mazulla would get cooked by Steph as well
Matter of fact he did, because he was already an assistant on that team and nothing he suggested helped
Ime is done and not sure he gets another job, back to back 1st round exit. Celtics won when he left, he couldn’t do what Mazzula did with key player out
KD should go but I don’t know what team wants him at 38 with that contract. He is not a leader so you don’t get him for vet leadership, not winning if he is the best player on team.
Truly wonder if KD will have the foresight to understand that he is the problem. That Nets/Bucks series was the worst thing that could have happened for his ego. He was an inch away from proving that he could go somewhere and turn them into a contender. The expression “give him an inch and he’ll take a mile” has never been more fitting.
Obviously the Rockets FO and especially horny Ime are to blame for last night but there is a larger picture to examine that revolves almost entirely around KD. Rockets traded their core’s identity for a number 1 guy whose identity changes and morphs as it needs to do deflect blame. So now the young guys that excited you a year ago are about to absorb ALL the blame when only some of it has been earned. Could have devastating impact on those young players and their development.
And I’m not usually a big “look at this fatty” kind of guy but my word Alpi needs to drop some of that blubber and add muscle. The embarrassment I got from watching G-Leauger Shepard get fondled by Bron just to have Sengun look like the fat kid trying to play tag on the perimeter was next level.
We would have given you Westbrook for two 2nds and a bag of chips btw.
KD definitely is now toxic due to his 2nd burner controversy but on the court he was not really the problem
The problem was the missing Brooks energy/defense on top of deciding not to replace FVV
Also on an half Ime note – what the hell is about being a head coach in New England that makes you become a home wrecker? Especially when you’re making as much money as these guys are/have. You could cheat on your wife with so many people yet they choose to be a dirtbag as close to their job as possible.
I guess Kraft getting rub and tugs in Palm Beach doesn’t set the best example but still.
The Celtics did suspend him. Now if he worked for the Patriots…
How about this series was fixed so Labron could win! Durant just happened to get hurt? BS
Exactly, the narrative was already written, Lakers win , raise another banner
Somebody needs to fix this app. It has been awful since the update
Reed Shepherd = Matthew Delladova
I don’t get why he needed 21 FGs when Jabari was actually in a good groove and only had 16 FGA.
Gotta trade Amen or Jabari to get a PG with Sengun and KD.
What a disaster series for Houston.
Asking Shepherd to bring the ball up the floor with a minute left and LeBron close by is like asking Klay Thompson to do the same because you want the ball in the best free-throw shooters hands. Ridiculous.
They refused to give us Tari Eason for Coby White back in February. Imagine if they had Coby who is the playmaker that Reed is not. And his handles got better since he came into the league. Unbelievable and they deserve this ass whipping.
Without Luka and AR!!!!!
Should of traded for a PG. You just blew a KD yr. Not many left.
You said rockets would beat Lakers without a point guard though Richard
I said they win yes. WTF is Richard your imaginary friend. I been saying tgey need a PG since JVV went down. Catchup
just like your Knicks need to catch up Richard
Terrible Coach.
I thought Ime had some good things going after the tanking years with the Asst. Coach from Dallas or wherever. We had gotten to 41-41 first season. 52 to 30 or such next 2 seasons. But we do not go anywhere in playoffs. Last season we were out coached by Kerr. This season it is JJ. Reddick. Lakers have won 5 games against us. Going back to those 2 in Toyota center we lost.
This team is not great to watch. Just like the Trashtros. Saw Cora and his staff were fired today for way taking Boston. Houston is a pure disaster with Crane.
I myself do not know why we HAD TO GET KD. Dillon we should not have traded. Green myself needed a change of scenery.
I see Tari probably gone this off season, Okogie, Finney-Smith was not good. I know he was great but just did not recover as thought. I think Green and Holiday and perhaps Tate. Myself wish could find another coach. Not sure if Ime Contract up or not. But myself we need to have someone in place. I know we will need to fill staff for the Comets so can start building a team there. So will be curious who all is in there. Will FVV return next season and how will he be after a season away due to injury. He would make a great Asst. for the rockets. But Stone did bad this season when Fred was lost.