This Sunday morning, the Rockets posted a negative record (8v-9l), and they still have not won a single away match. Eight matches, eight defeats on the road, the last of which came on the Lakers floor (107-97). There are only 10 points difference, but for Ime Udoka, this is the worst performance of his players this season.
“It was probably our worst game in terms of effort and attention to detail.” regrets Ime Udokawho will watch the end of the match from the locker room after a collision with LeBron James. “We didn't do what we've been doing since the start of the season: effort and play physical. »
In fact, the Houston coach thinks his players saw themselves too good, too soon… “As we've had a few wins, it seems like it's gone to some people's heads, and we're going to have to get back to what we were doing to find success again. »
The Rockets had taken the match from the right end, but they exploded in the second quarter, losing 35-14! “We had a very good first quarter, and even if we didn't score, it was still a game with a 3 or 5 point difference. And then, we had a series of lost balls and defensive errors. I didn't like our lack of physical response, especially in this quarter.”
Lack of concentration, no aggression…
In fact, the Rockets will finish the first half 1 out of 10 on shots with four lost balls. Opposite, the Lakers sign a 26-8!
“A lot of little mistakes that lead to fast basketball, open 3-pointers…” confirms Tari Eason. “There was no concentration in defense, and stupid lost balls. The kind of things that hurt against a good team, especially one playing at home. »
Rockets leader Fred VanVleet thinks the Lakers' strategy of pushing inside took them out of the game.
“It was like a whirlwind… They did a good job putting the ball in the paint, playing close to the rim, and going for free throws. It slowed down the game, and we lost our energy a little. This is not very usual of us, and clearly, I am not proud of our lack of competitiveness. »
