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.
Coach Ime Udoka let loose on his team afterward.
“Horrendous mistakes,” he said, per the Associated Press. “I don’t know if you want to say youth or scared of the moment or whatever the case.”
He wouldn’t blame the team’s relative postseason inexperience for the late collapse, when the Rockets committed two turnovers and fouled a 3-point shooter.
“Grow up,” he said. “You’re not that young anymore.”
Here’s more on the Rockets:
- Kevin 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 was wasted. Sengun racked up 33 points and 16 rebounds. “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 upon retirement, 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. ‘Bron, maybe. It has to be one of those types of players. Steph, ’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.
Udoka is probably smashing KDs boyfriend making it awkward.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How about this series was fixed so Labron could win! Durant just happened to get hurt? BS
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.