The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Head Coach Ime Udoka On The Rockets Playing For The NBA Cup: 'Let's Go Get It Done'

Episode Date: December 11, 2024

The Houston Rockets return to the Toyota Center to host the Golden State Warriors in a win-or-go-home matchup for the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup. The winner of the contest will travel to Las Vegas to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the semifinals Saturday. "Let's go get it done," head coach Ime Udoka said. "It's good to play in meaningful games." Rockets forward Tari Eason is returning to the lineup after missing two straight games in concussion protocol. The other half of the "Terror Twins," Amen Thompson, is coming off a 22-point performance in a 117-106 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Thompson is "such a great driver and slasher," Udoka said. "He doesn't have to be reliant on jump shots." The Warriors are on a 15-game win streak against the Rockets, including being 2-0 this season. The last time the Western Conference foes faced each other was December 5 in San Francisco, as the Warriors won 99-93. Golden State was missing starters Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, and Jonathan Kuminga recorded a career-high 33 points. However, both Curry and Green are available for Wednesday's matchup. "They do play very differently when Curry is back," Udoka said. Green serves as the leader for the Warriors' defense and draws comparisons to Dillon Brooks in the sense of getting under the skin of the opponent. "Use it as motivation, and don't back down and shy away from it," Udoka said. "To some extent, try to bully the bully."

16 and 8 on this season. Knockout game of the Golden State Warriors. E. Mae Doca is with us here on the program. Coach, good afternoon. I don't know. I've never asked you this. Are you a napper in between shoot-around and games? Tonight, maybe a good one because it's an 8.30 tip off here. No, I am not a napper.

And it is a later game. But, you know, keep the same routine. And push you back an hour or so like we did shoot around this morning and get ready to play. How are the boys? how's the energy? Look, you got a victory in Los Angeles on Sunday that's great, but let's be honest, you've got two things going for you here. You've got a lot of these kids that on your team

that have gone through a lot of losses against Golden State and more importantly, you've got a trip to Vegas on the line here. What's been the vibe so far with the squad this morning? Let's go get it done. We had an opportunity the other day where we didn't capitalize on. Didn't play our best game overall in Golden State

and a good chance to revisit that, but also break a streak and playing for something bigger. So let's go get it done. That's everybody's goal right now. How weird has it been for you to have to play Golden State twice this year already and know Steph Curry in any one of those games? I know the injuries have

played and he's getting relaxation here and there and whatnot to make sure he doesn't playing back-to-backs and whatnot. But how much do things change now that you're adding the greatest jump shooter of all time on the floor? Yeah, it's very different obviously. And so they've got some other guys that have hurt us in certain areas,

but they do play very different when Curry is back and Green was missing last game. as well. So have some things to prepare for and be ready for, but have experience with that. And, you know, obviously got to pay a ton of attention to them. Everything's focused on getting him shots and hold the other guys down like we did with Heald and some of the other guys in the previous games. Fred Van Vleet missing the last game for you guys. And turnover is a bit of an issue of the first couple of quarters, but then a lot better in the second half. What was the change there? And just in general, what we know that Fred Van Vleet has a great assist. to turnover ratio. What do you try

to preach to the guys as far as taking care of the ball, wanting to make the right passes and good passes, but also taking care of the ball? You know, just not playing the crowd. It goes across the board with everybody regardless if Fred is there or not. Obviously, handles quite a bit and initiates a lot of our offense, but for other guys

are going to take those steps, understand that they can get to the basket. They can make plays for others and avoid playing in that crowd. And we've seen a few teams, specifically Golden State, specifically the clippers in that game that really load up the paint and protect the paint with some of their smaller lineups out there. And just taking that one less dribble and making it easily pass and getting the hockey assist, so to speak, will pay dividends. And so Golden State's the team that forces a ton of turnovers as well. So got to be smart with it, strong with the ball, and take advantage of the opportunities.

Rocket's head coach, Emilio Doka, with us here on Sports Talk 790. About a quarter way into the season, the fourth year for Jalen Green started off the season hot has been a little. little bit up and down since then. How would you assess his season and what do you want to see more from him? Yeah, he had good carryover from the end of last year and then, you know, hit a rough patch, some, some poor shooting, which has plagued a few of our guys this year. But the thing I like is that he continues to play and do other things to impact winning, not just relying on scoring and still making plays for guys. He's had some poor shooting nights where he really came through in the fourth quarter. And so to keep that confidence still defend and make plays for others is a great sign for

him that he can impact the game when the shot's not falling. So for him, consistency is always going to be the key. Teams are throwing some different things at him scheme-wise to try to keep him off balance. And I think his recognition has grown night and day since last year in that area. I think also we've seen some growth from a men Thompson stepping in in a starting role. I mean, just also the corner threes have been falling for him. Is that something you guys are preaching for him to let those fly? Yeah, teams regarding them.

obviously and make it improve it. And so he's really worked hard this offseason in that area. Even more so on the wing, he's put in his work as well. But he's such a great driver and slasher that we're encouraging him to do that, attack the offensive glass. And then when he can't slash behind, be a lot better, or playing the dunker. Obviously, stay confident and knocked down those corner threes,

which you've seen him do a lot more lately. And so he puts into work every day and that's only going to continue to grow in that area. But he's going to impact the game in so many different ways that he doesn't have to be relying on jump shots. he gets downhill, gets into the paint, crashed the offensive glass, and really pushes great in transition. Tara, Eason, going through the concussion stuff, the last couple of games,

I'm assuming everything got cleared for him, and what's it like for him to kind of have the energy back? I know he's always thriving to get on the court as much as he can, and certainly was last year fighting through all those injuries. It had to been killing him that he was unable to play the last couple of games. Yeah, yeah, it was bothering him. He had a chance to possibly play in L.A., and we wanted to be safe and get him.

few extra days and obviously a big matchup coming up and so good to see him back out there the usual energy that he brings to practice to the game so he'll have that obviously and he was a little disappointed not getting to play in his hometown to L.A., but the main thing was health-wise getting ready for Golden State and having these days of rest and so he's looking good as usual and looking forward to the impact he brings tonight. We were kind of joking about unfortunately the two losses this year. One of them involved buddy heel going off the other one with Jonathan Comingga. for those audience members, and I'm going to, let's be honest, he's not a household name around these parts.

Caminga has done some damage. He's had a very good season. For those that are going to the game that I are listening or watching, he's double zero. What has he possessed that's going to cause you guys some trouble so far this year? Well, the main thing is he's very physical. He's an aggressive driver that gets downhill and has some athleticism, obviously. And so the games that Curry has been out, he's had more opportunity.

And we kind of lost track of him at times, doing a really good job on heel. last game and focusing on some others, he kind of got away, especially in transition. Knocked down a few threes that we can live with, but that added to his total. And just a guy that's super confident takes advantage the opportunity when the guys are missing and has done that and hurt us in two games so far. Draymond Green's going to play, whether it's a starter reserve, we'll obviously find out. Seriously, coach, he drives me crazy with the towel waving when he wasn't playing last week in San Francisco.

When he is on the floor and you have had lots of different guys. blank talk your guys. You guys are a pretty good amount of it as well. Do you embrace it? Do you tell the guys to close their ears? How do you appropriately go at him knowing as good as he is, but not letting his words become a huge part of the game? I would say he uses motivation and don't back down and shy away from it, obviously. He does that, but we have guys that do it as well. And so for us, we tried to establish that foundation last year to not take a backseat to anybody and be competitive on a nightly basis and make other teams feel less. And so a lot of those things that we're preaching to our guys,

Draymond does for his team. And obviously I've had the chance to work with him quite a bit, play against him quite a bit as well, but work with him in a team USA. And he was really a linebacker safety quarterback on defense back then. You see how invaluable he is on a night-to-night basis. And he does that with Golden State at a high level. So as much as some people hate it,

and obviously you hate going against it, I respect him for what he's done in this league. And he brings their edge to their team. And we have guys that we have to do the same thing. Dylan's one of ours. And so don't back down. Don't back down, give it right back. And, you know, some extent try to bully the bully.

You know what? I love that attitude. It's fresh. It's different. And I think not a lot of teams embrace that against Golden State. So if I go to your white marker board right now and you were to put up the stuff in the pregame visit with a team, what's the very first thing on the top of that list? Curry. That makes sense.

Yeah, makes sense. You know, obviously we haven't played against them twice this year. and everything revolves around him with the team. And so understanding how they're trying to use them, you know, his off ball movement and you got four guys setting screens. They're moving the ball to try to get them looks. And so that's a big piece of it. We've guarded their off ball action pretty well this year.

But him and pick and roll, him and off ball actions is the key to their game. And so playing through their physicality on defense as well, they've blitzed quite a bit and try to junk up the game. And so Jalen Fred and the guys that run the pick and rolls need to know that. Alpern has to be an outlet for them and then make them pay on the back. side will have a numbers advantage. And so not being surprised by that. And then guarding Curry are the main two things.

Well, honestly, coach, to wrap this up, if you guys were playing the NBA Cup games in Bismarck, North Dakota, I'd be proud to broadcast them as I normally would. But it's Vegas. I mean, come on. We need this. Don't we need this? Doesn't the city of Houston need this?

Doesn't all of America need the rockets to knock off the Warriors and this long losing street tonight? Absolutely. I think for us, you know, we want to do all the above. you just mentioned. But for us, it's good to play in meaningful games. Our young guys that have made the playoffs, this is a higher pressure situation, and we had some really good games at the end of last year that were meaningful. So anytime we can get these first on their list and get these experiences out of the way, I think it bodes well for our team going forward. And so this is

the first real challenge this year of something that means more you're playing for a cup, playing against a team that has success against you. And so want to see our guys be confident and aggressive and come out attacking tonight. All right. Thanks for the visit. luck and we'll see you later on tonight at the arena thank you you got it emmaid don't go with us here weekly wednesday visit on sports talk 70 yes ross if the games were in bismarck i'd be happy to call them if they were in wichita zero issues if the games were played in uh burringham i'd be all for it