The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Ime Udoka Joins Before Match Up vs Raptors

Episode Date: October 29, 2025

Ime Udoka Joins Before Match Up vs Raptors 

Matt and Ross with you here at 11.04. Let's spend 10 minutes right now with the head coach of your Houston Rockets. Rockets tonight here in Toronto to take on the Raptors. E. May Adoka with us here on the program. Coach, thanks for the time. He's always. Congratulations on the win. Was it just a simple case of the ball went through the hoop a little bit more to your satisfaction than perhaps the previous two games? Well, we obviously shot it well, much better. You know, 50% from 3 and 88 from the free throw line. But I think it was more than that. It was an unselfishness. just 33 assists that we were moving the ball a little stronger in their traps than the previous few games, and that results in open look. So the guys are going to be free if Alpi can make those plays, the attention, Kevin draws.

They're making the right reads and guys were knocking them down. You know, it was funny when Katie was asked about the game, and Tari obviously had that great game with five three-pointers in the game, which has a career high for him, it's like, man, if we get that kind of production from Tari, Yason, and it doesn't have to me from him every single night, but it almost tells you that you've got to get that one or two guys off the bench. It's got to be that quote-unquote instant offense. Do you kind of feel that Tari can fill that mode, if not him, somebody else on a given night? Yeah, I mean, obviously it's been one of our strong suits. It's the depth that we have, and I think it can be different guys,

different nights. And so with us kind of mixing up the starting lineup, guys are put in different positions at times. And, you know, it was Tari that night, but it's been others throughout the seasons about the first few seasons I've been here and you know you got a wild card guy that you know teams have to prepare for you know what they're going to bring every night that's just a added benefit you uh started josh akogi in the game against the nets there you know used reed shepherd during the preseason in the starting lineup uh thought or two about what you thought like from josh in the starting lineup and is that something that's going to be in the rotation now for you yeah i think we've been pretty open about um you know the lineup being uh the switch the

switchability with the lineup. And, you know, we like the big lineup. We tinker with that a little bit in preseason, but Reid will get opportunities at times if they have two really good scores like Cam Thomas and Michael Porter, we may go with a defensive lineup with Josh in there to guard one, I'm in to guard another. And so we can go all sorts of ways, honestly, and then very comfortable with that. And I think the guys are prepared for that. So that was a look we gave there. And at some point when we're fully whole, we'll kind of zone in on one thing. And it could be Dorian at the time. It could be going big like we did or read and read for instance. And so, like I said, our versatility gives us options to do that.

And I think all of our guys are comfortable in every role. How would you assess Reed's play so far, both ends of the floor, but also the shot selection specifically. It's been 11 shots every single game for him. How do you feel about the selection there? Yeah, we want to be aggressive and confident, you know, not passing up any looks that he gets. He's one of our best shooters. and we understand how teams are defending him and the attention that he commands himself.

And so, but when you're playing with the guy like Alper and Katie, I'm in who's going to get downhill and attract that crowd as well, those looks are going to be there. We want him to be confident and not second guess anything. And he's done that so far. You know, getting the training on ball, off ball, you know, with some teams that really are up pressuring, started with OKC and then Detroit does more the same.

And even Toronto and Brooklyn are heavy load up teams. And so just giving him different looks, he's going to learn on the fly. And I think, like I said, with Fred being out, him, my man, got to learn to be the PG, play some off ball. And I think he's doing a good job. Rocket Tech coach, Ima, Adoka, was here on a sports talk 790. And yeah, you mentioned Amen being the PG. I imagine you're pretty satisfied with eight assists and no turnovers in the last game.

What is that like? Because it's obviously, it's basketball one-on-one. Don't turn the ball over. Get assists. But, I mean, how do you kind of communicate that or drill that into players and see, improvement as a season goes along in that facet. Yeah, just overall recognition of what teams are doing out there. Like I said, we're playing against teams that have really packed the paint and want to

protect the rim with their full team defense. And so the kickouts will be there, get to our spacing properly, and know where your outlets are at. And so for our men, it's going to be different every night, depending on who's on him and how they are guarding him. You know, he can be aggressive getting downhill, but teams know what he's all about and know the threat that he is. So they're going to load up.

And it's up to him to make those reads. So I think he did obviously a great job with those numbers you just pointed out. But throughout the season, it's going to be a game-by-game thing where he has to have a full understanding of how teams are guarding him and where to get his shot and other guy's shots. And I think that's where he's improved so far throughout this season already. Ema, I know you don't like turnovers. Nobody does. But there are going to be some that are going to be, I saw what you tried to do there. I appreciate that.

Others are like, what the hell are you thinking? You guys dissect those turnovers like I think you do? Yeah, and it's really specific to the game plan. Like I said, we've had pretty much all four teams are going to either blitz the pick and roll or pack the paint and make you prove it and beat you from outside. And so it's just a simple play as we've talked about, you know, hitting singles against O'KC in game one. And we didn't do that. Obviously, 25 turnovers for 28 points in a one possession game is way too high.

And so understanding and learning from game to game that these teams are going to be there, keep it simple. And when you see the crowd, get off the ball and have a two-on-one or some numbers on the backside. If you go blitz and pick and roll, get off the ball and let Alperin and other guys make plays. And so when we try to overdo it and, you know, split or beat the crowd, beat the double team, and sometimes you get in trouble, but we just want to keep it simple. Trust your teammates and make the easy pass. One of the turnovers was a Kevin Durant offensive foul against the nets where the ball hit the player in the face. Did you get a satisfactory clarification on what happened there? Because it looked like to me, the defender's right in his

face. Where was Katie supposed to go? Yeah, it's a tough one. I think we all thought it would be overturned when I challenged it due to the fact that the ball grazed him. You know, we didn't hit him with his hand, didn't hit him with the elbow or anything like that. And like you said, they're crowding your space. You have a legal right to obviously make your move and try to impede that progress. And so we thought it would be overturned. They gave us a reason and we keep it moving from there. Didn't really agree with it, but it is what it is.

Katie, to you, you've seen him so many times game planning against him. You've been with him on the bench now for a short time here and obviously other places. What has his game done to change and evolve as he's gotten a little bit longer in the tooth? I mean, are you still seeing, if I went back and looked at KD video of 10 years ago, is it about the same kind of player or how is he transitioned as he's played a little bit later in life? I think he's just continuing to be as efficient as he always been, as he's always been. I think you look at the last three years and the 40, 50, 90, and that's high efficiency shooting. He doesn't force it.

He understands defenses and what teams are trying to do to scheme against him. And he's basically seen it all. So now he's at times fine being a decoy or letting guys either crowd him and make plays for others or get it to Alpy and let him make the play. And so he understands that. And if it frees everybody else up and we get the win, he's all about that. And so he's not a guy that's trying to force it and prove anything. He's seen it all, done it all and understands what he does to impact our team offensively.

And how have you felt about his fit, obviously, culturally? He had worked with some guys in the offseason as well. But a lot of players talking about his work ethic and how they are really impressed. Have you seen kind of effect of that rubbing off on other guys or not so much? Yeah, definitely. I think you brought in veterans like I always talk about Dylan, Fred, Jeff, and those guys that came a few years ago. And Kevin takes that to another level with the work ethic is one-on-one professionalism. every day, and that's why he is as great as he is.

It's not just by chance or talent. He puts in the work and is trying to improve and add to his game, you know, every, every year and throughout the season. So you see young guys tagging along, and it's great to see that work every day, and then how hard you have to go at game speed and, you know, not just loafing through the workout, but actually trying to get better. And so it's rubbing off, no doubt. I think everybody takes note of it, and then they start to incorporate it themselves,

and it's a great thing for our young guys to implement their career at a young age. Last question, who is in charge of free throw shooting? If you want to give yourself credit, go for it, because Stephen Adams is 9 of 10. Alpi is 22 or 26. If you're big men are shooting free throws like that, that's going to be a huge asset for the squad this year. Yeah, it's been great. I think I did point out at the start of training camp that we were 29th in free throw shooting last year. It might have been 30th, honestly.

But, yeah, that was a challenge to our guys. Obviously, we finished every practice and every individual workout with a good amount of free throws and try to put them in some pressure situations throughout practice and training camp, but guys have to own up to it and take that on, take that challenge on. And so obviously 23 for 26 the other night is great for us. But I think it might be Garrett Jackson or one of our assistants. I think actually Cam Hodges signed contracts with I blank. We'll shoot this many fritos and shoot this percentage.

So they all have to sign it. And it's a direct challenge to meet this number. meet the number you're going to shoot the percentage-wise, but also meet the attempts that you need to get up every day in order to get there. And so guys all signed it. I think it's just a way of holding guys accountable and kind of pointing back on what they agreed to.

Is there like a steak dinner on the line on this? Or is there a kangaroo court if they don't hit that number? Not sure what Cam came up with, but so far as it's working, we'll take it. You got that right. Thank you, Amy, for the time. We'll see it the building later on this evening. Good luck tonight. I appreciate it.