After a month of competition, the Rockets have the second best defense in the NBA, with 103.7 points conceded per 100 possessions, behind Oklahoma City (102.7). A clue to explain the current third place of the Texan franchise in the Western Conference and above all the translation of the coach's will.
“Every team that won the title was, in general, a top-five defense in the league. It’s non-negotiable for me.”assures Ime Udoka for The Ringer.
The technician has therefore again asked for efforts from his troops this season. They had already made good progress last season (9th defense in the NBA), but they are even sharper in 2024/25. The main instruction is simple: stay one-on-one. “We will be as good as our individual defense is”specifies Ime Udoka.
Accept size differences…
“It’s not really a question of patterns, it’s above all will, desire,” he continues. “It’s very telling when you show the defensive numbers from previous years. If you are sincerely tired of losing and want to change the perception of your team, then it starts there. »
Why is it absolutely necessary to hold your opponent one-on-one? Because the Rockets' defense relies on constant changes. To do it correctly, so that players are never left behind or blocked by a screen, it takes a lot of concentration and communication, even chemistry.
This system nevertheless has a flaw, often well exploited by intelligent adversaries: they push the interiors to end up on the exteriors and vice versa. Dillon Brooks may therefore have Karl-Anthony Towns or Victor Wembanyama on him, Fred VanVleet may have to manage Draymond Green low post…
“That’s Dillon’s strength. Towns or Wembanyama, or the other pivots, are not a mismatch for us,” believes the coach. “When it concerns him or our other wingers, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr, we don't see it as a disadvantageous duel. »
…to limit shots to 3-points
The advantage of this tactic, of these constant “switches”, is also that it limits the shooters’ spaces. Screens no longer allow gaps to be created and this is how the Rockets display the 3rd most effective defense in limiting attempts to 3-pts (34.7 attempts conceded on average). The Texans only concede 11.9 winning baskets per game and only the Wolves do better (11.8).
“Almost all of our schemes are designed to avoid 3-point shots. If we can change and take teams out of their actions, to force them to beat us one-on-one, that drops the shots behind the arc.”remarks Ime Udoka, who thus asks Alperen Sengun not to be in “drop coverage”, this defensive coverage of the pick-and-roll where the pivot stays behind the screen to wait for the opponent near the circle.
“We don’t do that, with our interiors remaining in the background. We want them to be high on the floor, to be a deterrent and for outside opponents to face them.”explains the former Celtics coach, who is lucky to have versatile defenders available and an Amen Thompson – Tari Eason duo that is particularly heavy on opposing attacks off the bench.
