Rockets' Ime Udoka issues clear demand to team after Alperen Sengun's big playoff debut |
21/04/2025 08:51 -
Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka was blunt after his team’s 95-85 loss to the Golden State Warriors. The Western Conference’s No. 2 seed dominated Game 1 from a physicality standpoint. Unfortunately, the shots were not falling for the Rockets, and they now find themselves in a 0-1 hole. Largely everyone struggled on offense Sunday except for one key player, Alperen Sengun. Houston’s starting center and only All-Star from this season had an efficient night, putting up 26 points in 18 shots and recording nine rebounds.
During his postgame press conference, Udoka praised the 22-year-old star’s performance, while also giving a statement on what the Rockets need to do to even this series.
"He (Sengun) had a great night. We need others to join the party and I think guys will."
The Rockets hit an offensive wall against the Warriors
The Houston Rockets had a phenomenal regular season that was largely build on an aggressive defense-first mentality and an ability to generate extra shots on the glass. However, the main question this team had heading into the postseason was the offense. Because Houston would go through scoring droughts at times during the regular season. Through one game those concerns seem all the more valid in these high leverage situations.
In particular, the Rockets struggled mightily from three-point range. The team went 6/29 from distance with Fred VanVleet missing eleven of these attempts. Unfortunatley, the former NBA Champion had a night to forget at the Toyota Center, shooting 4/19 from the field. VanVleet’s backcourt mate, Jalen Green additionally was inefficient in his first playoff game, going 3/15 overall. These offensive struggles resulted in a 13 point second quarter that put Houston behind the eight ball early on.
The Rockets ultimately lost a game where they shot eleven more times than their opponent and six more free throws. That’s usually been a winning formula for this group, but it was not meant to be in Game 1. Houston is going to have to grow up fast if it expects to compete with a team that firmly believes it is going to win the NBA Championship. While the Rockets are the No. 2 seed, there’s a reason they were considered the underdogs heading into this series.
Overall, though, not all is lost for Ime Udoka’s squad. Houston will surely come into Game 2 with some adjustments and is the kind of team that should grow into this series. The hope is that the significantly older Warriors eventually where down the longer series goes. However, for that to happen, the Rockets need to even this series on Wednesday. They cannot afford to go into a 0-2 hole at home.
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