Ime Udoka highlights the progress of his young Rockets

Currently twelfth in the Western Conference, five wins from play-in at the time of these lines, the Rockets have not yet mathematically said goodbye to the playoffs. But they still seem to be on a poor path to achieving their “moon goal”, the one announced at the start of the season.

After the big moves of last summer, notably the arrival of veterans Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks and Jeff Green in the offseason and the appointment of coach Ime Udoka upstream, the young Texan squad still has a way to go, and mistakes to make in order to better erase them, before being able to aim for the top of the League.

“I knew where I was going. I understood that it wasn't going to happen overnight.” Ime Udoka advances in The Athletic. “When we rely on so many young players, we constantly try to instill good playing habits that can serve them throughout their career. I've coached veteran teams and even with them, you have to continually break habits and habits. It takes a little more time with young people. Everyone grows at their own pace. You have to stay positive. We can increasingly see glimpses of what we could ultimately become. »

A series team if ever there was one, with for example three defeats in a row, then six victories in a row, before losing again three times in a row, just to start the season, the Rockets continue to progress. At their own pace. And this, behind their two rising stars, Alperen Sengun on the inside and Jalen Green on the outside.

“Whether it's Alpi who grows in his role in the low post, who adapts to the different defensive schemes offered to him, or Jalen [Green], who learns to play less with the ball with a real leader at his side. We have several guys who are still adjusting to a new role, to things they weren't used to doing recently. »

Sengun and Green expected around the corner

Author of a memorable performance against Victor Wembanyama, with 45 points, 16 rebounds and 5 interceptions, Alperen Sengun is gaining more and more depth in the Rockets' game. From year to year, he progressed to appear at 21 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists in his third campaign. An All-Star in the making and a very credible candidate for the Most Improved Player trophy.

“I worked with Joel [Embiid] but also Tim Duncan and LaMarcus Aldridge and I played with and against a bunch of scorers in the low post. But the only one who rivals him, in the game overall and their versatility, is Joël (Embiid) » assures Ime Udoka. “But Joël is not even the smuggler that Alperen is. In any case, when I was training him, because he has progressed since then. But it's a luxury to have a guy you can play anywhere on the floor. When he improves in shooting, it will open up the field even more for him and the team. Because the defenses adapted against us and focused on him, to force us to score from 3 points. He is still learning to master these situations: when to switch to the two-man take or find the right balance between post-ups, pick & rolls or playing without the ball…”

In the case of Jalen Green, we can only observe a regression, at least statistically. Having gone from 22 to 18 points per game, the Rockets' dunking guard is in fact in the process of reshaping himself. If he indeed wants to be part of the project that is being put in place at Clutch City, he will have to become a more complete and more effective player without the ball. And no longer just this shooting star who only puts on a show…

“The most important thing for him is to read the game and see what the defense offers him. This is his greatest room for improvement, reading the game. We know that he can score points if he has the ball in his hands all the time but we want a balanced attack so we want him to have a more complete and more efficient game. To do so, you have to read the game and adapt to the defense, not just do pick & roll, or isolation, or without the ball. But all at the same time. »

A bottle class that has juice

Among rookies, the Rockets also have talent to spare. Author of a month of February averaging 11 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists, Amen Thompson is for example a “prospect” that the Texan staff wants to nurture. Without skipping a step. To make it explode in two or three years!

“For Amen, it’s the shooting that we have to work on. This is what will allow him to take a new step, because he already has the physique and the talent. But if opposing defenses respect his shot, it will open up his game. But defensively, he has already made the transition to the NBA well, in speed, athleticism and finishing at the rim. He can already contribute in these aspects, even without a stabilized shot yet. »

When it comes to explosiveness and athleticism, Cam Whitmore is no exception. The rookie out of Villanova is already averaging 12 points and 4 rebounds. But this inveterate scorer must still channel his energy for the good of the collective.

“With Cam, it’s about defensive involvement. He is one of our young guys who still makes too many defensive mistakes. But he has the physical assets, the size, the power, and everything it takes to be a big, versatile defender. He must still learn to defend collectively, and not just his player in a duel. Offensively, we talk to him about his shot selection because at the start of the season, the ball stopped when it came to him, but he has progressed” concludes the coach.