The recent performance of the Rockets has been quite disappointing, especially with regard to Coach Udoka's tactical arrangements. Looking back at the game, the team's performance was simply incomprehensible. After Jovic scored a crucial three-pointer, Udoka finally called a timeout. Everyone thought this might be a turning point, but what happened? The team's offense became even more disorganized after the timeout.
In fact, Udoka's problems were exposed as early as the previous game. At that time, he was afraid to call a timeout and didn't know how to inbound the ball. Now he does call timeouts, but the results are not satisfactory.
Speaking of inbound passes, Coach Li Nan probably knows to use a big man like Zhou Qi to inbound the ball, but Udoka chose Fan Tong instead. In the last game against the Bucks, Fan Tong's view was completely blocked, forcing him to lob the ball high to his teammate, which almost flew out of bounds. This time, when Fan Tong was inbounding, he couldn't even see his teammates, only the nose and armpit hair of the defenders.
Besides inbound passes, the Rockets' defense is also riddled with problems. There are numerous defensive lapses, and they often fail to box out for rebounds. Udoka, who is known as the "best defensive coach," had a performance that left everyone stunned. The opponents easily broke through the defense, making the Rockets' defense virtually non-existent. Players like Green and Dillon tried hard to score, but the overall tactics were chaotic, disrupting the offensive rhythm. Especially Fan Tong, who has been in a slump with fewer points than attempts in consecutive games.
Green contributed 14 points in the third quarter of this game, showing a good state. However, Amon's state has been somewhat inconsistent, especially when facing Hiro's trash talk, appearing somewhat uncomposed. Besides the core players' performances, there are also issues with the Rockets' rotation lineup. VanVleet's performance in critical moments has always been controversial, and Udoka seems overly reliant on him. In contrast, he could consider increasing the playing time of young players, giving them more opportunities to showcase themselves.
The second overall pick and the fourth pick were originally key targets for the team's development, but under Udoka, they have gradually become 3D players, losing more room for growth. The team management should reassess the roles of these players, give them more autonomy, and help them find confidence on the court.