In an NBA regular season game, the Rockets suffered a surprising 112-113 reversal at the hands of the Timberwolves. The Rockets were leading by a significant margin in the final moments of the game, but the Timberwolves staged an incredible comeback with a 15-2 run that no one could have anticipated. Following the match, the Rockets faced four pieces of bad news.
The first major mistake was attributed to Udoka. In the crucial moments of the game, his handling was deemed poor. He did not call a timeout when the opponent was on a scoring streak. Throughout the season so far, Udoka's decisions regarding player rotations and timeouts during decisive periods have been questionable. A timely timeout could have disrupted the Timberwolves' rhythm, but he chose not to do so. Additionally, he persisted in using players who were clearly unsuited for the fourth quarter, which was another significant error.
During this time, VanVleet and Green also contributed to the defeat. Green, in particular, made a series of inexplicable moves and turnovers, which significantly altered the momentum on the court. Despite Green's continuous misses throughout the game, Udoka continued to trust him. VanVleet, who scored zero points in the final quarter, also made some rash shots in the closing moments, giving the opponent multiple opportunities to close the gap. These two players have consistently been a hidden trouble, and it might be better to bring in Tate and Holiday, who are more reliable options.
After a recent outburst, Whitmore's performance also collapsed. He had just completed a major breakout the day before, but in this game, he was completely lost. His offensive approach was too simplistic, unable to create damage, and both his three-point shooting and drives were ineffective. Defensively, he was unable to hold his ground, resulting in a complete breakdown on both ends of the court. This suggests that he can only score against weaker opponents and is unable to meet expectations in other areas.
Sheppard has also completely fallen apart. After a series of collapses, Sheppard played for only 4 minutes in this game, recording nothing but a turnover. His performance indicates that he is no longer suited for playing in the NBA, and it would be best to see when he can be sent down to the Development League for some playing time.