The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Ime Udoka Joins The Show Before Game 1 of NBA Playoffs

Episode Date: April 17, 2025

Ime Udoka Joins The Show Before Game 1 of NBA Playoffs

uh 122 on sports talk 790 i am i'm gonna tell you right now i'm gonna repeat this again do not listen to the dub nation podcast i have zero interest in that whatsoever we got again five million pocket listen to some music listen to a jazz podcast or something like that don't listen to that thing let's uh literally off the practice court to say hi to us for a few minutes is the head coach of houston rockets ima doka emi it's mad and ross thanks for coming on how was practice today it was good it was very eventful and lively guys are getting after it the last few days happy to be back on the court after a few days of rest and looking forward to the series all right lively and eventful meaning that anybody am i getting elbows throwing each other anybody fighting with each other or just all competitive spirit in practice competitive spirit overall like we always do especially when we go out of each other but um yeah i think alpi got a little liver shot from fred and other than that we're good somebody protecting you too i don't need you down i was down last week i don't i need you ready to go for this week i'm good i'm good with the kids out there all right i got you hey um have you had that quote unquote talk yet about life's about the change for you boys in the next handful of days

playing the same opponent at least four times maybe maybe as many as seven i mean we talked about the playoffs and the experience for the guys for the first time and um you know how how it's a privilege to be playing at this time of year. So half of our guys have been there. Obviously, the young guys haven't, but what we're trying to do is overall simplify it, keep it simple, keep it basketball, and talk about what we do and how it

carries well into the playoffs. And so not make it more than it is. It is an opponent, we'll see multiple times, but our guys have played in high pressure situations throughout this year at times, and we'll be prepared for that. But like I said, keeping it simple, keeping it a basketball, and

not trying to overthink it. You threw the kitchen sink defensively at Steph Curry, went one for 10 a week ago Saturday against Golden State. How much of that was spent looking at that film, Viv in the memory of the guy's minds, and what can you do beyond just the fact just irritating best you can to replicate that? Well, understanding that it's not a one-on-one thing, it's a full-team defensive scheme. When you have four guys on their team, hunting shots for him, you have to have four or five on your team, preventing those shots. So it's not just one guy denying him being all over him, taking away, pick and roll and all those things, especially with all the offball screens, is everybody being

on the same page, communication being great. And when we're doing that, we're in good shape. When he gets off the ball, relocates and guys get caught standing, you know, he gets those relocation threes. And a lot of, like I said, they're all hunting shots for him. And so we have to be on point. And that's what we were in that game. So I have to duplicate that effort. what is it like for you as a coach and with the staff as well just preparing for this one opponent going into game one as far as like adjustments it could happen as well maybe not even wanting to over prepare not wanting to under prepare what is that like for you it's busier at this time of year of course you have all these days to prepare for one opponent multiple games like you said and so during the season you play one got one team and you're on to the next and you know you're not going as in depth you have to do that here.

Take away certain actions, take away certain personnel, and you can dig much deeper into that. And so for us, it's great to have this time. Obviously, we earned it to not be in the plan to have these days of rest and preparation, and now it's our chance to get out there and execute. But for us, especially against a team like Golden State, that does a lot of different things, especially with their off-wall actions. We have to be on point, like I said, with our communication and coverage.

And when we do that, we're in good shape. We showed that throughout the year in our meeting. with them holding them to low points. I think Curry average 16 against us overall in those games, so we've done a pretty good job on him. But understanding that others are there as well and Butler's added to the picture, we've only played against him once this year, so that'll be a newer

challenge. Yeah, you mentioned Butler getting added to the picture, so they've obviously been a very good team, 23 and 7 with him in the lineup. What does he do and what does he bring to the table that makes them so much better? Well, another facilitator that, you know,

can obviously take some of the pressure off of a Curry. He's an isolation guy, which they didn't have much of without Curry and some of, you know, losing Wiggins and some of those guys. And so a guy that can create his own shot, obviously brings a defensive mentality and you've seen all, seeing the numbers as far as that with him in the lineup. But the main thing is that a 1A, 1B, Batman and Robin, whatever you want to call it, another guy that can create his own shot, command double teams, and he's a really good facilitator. So it's not just Draymond Green getting guys involved. He's looking to

pass the ball as well or create for him. So, Eme, we were there last week. Tremont tried to poke the bear that was Alperin Schengun, basically just praying for a technical foul, got one. That's going to be in play again. How much did Al-Bee learned from that experience, know that more of that is coming? I would say he already knew.

We talk about personnel in depth during the season. So certain guys bring that edge and toughness and physicality, and we'll talk as well. And so Green has been one of the best at that, and that's what he brings for his team. And so for Alpi is just keeping his composure, you know, not backing down from the challenge, but also going at it. And then when the chippiness happens, just continue to play through it. And so he did an excellent job of that, of course. The end of that half was a lot of back and forth.

That last minute felt like it took five or so with all the fouls and looking at the reviews and all those things. And so for us, it's like keep our composure, continue to play. a physical brand as well. So we know where it can get to, but especially in the playoffs, it's too important to have guys kicked out of games. And so you have to keep composure and play through everything. So many folks he may have discussed the double big lineup. You've thrown up there with Adams and with Shengun out there together.

Of all the teams, you wouldn't normally play a lot of that. It would be against Golden State. So I've asked you this once before, and it's worthy. You certainly come playoff time. How much do you want to dictate that? How much do you want to surprise them by that? And how much are you going to see what they do? and whether or not you can go without that double big lineup and when to use it in spots during the course of the series.

I mean, for us, it's something that works very well. It's, you know, you can see it on the court. The number showed as well, but that team has been very successful out there. And so we won't go away from that, of course. We'll use the things that have worked for us throughout the season. And so we can do that, obviously, run some different things schematically defensively to hide certain matchups and lineups. But it's something you definitely want to take advantage of. It's not just a piece of it.

Obviously, in the last Golden State game alone, we went with the double big, we went traditional little start, and then we went small ball with Jabari at the five and a bunch of athletic long wings out there. And so the versatility that we have is just another piece of it, and keeps teams off the art. I think keeps teams out of rhythm. You had the zone in there, and some of the things we do offensively with attacking the glass, it gives people problems, and so definitely something we'll use and continue to go to.

And what is that like, especially when you're talking about rotations and things you're trying to do is in the playoffs. In a regular season, if you try something it doesn't work out, okay, you move on. In the playoffs, I mean, you can only lose four games in a series and you're out. So kind of trying to figure out a sample size of something and trying to decide

when something's working or when to go elsewhere, whether it be rotations or things you're trying to do offensively or defensively. Yeah, I mean, you have to see what, like I said, what worked well during the season. And then understanding certain lineups that you'd like to kind of deploy it against.

But at the same time, you still have to make adjustments in-game, and that's what the playoffs is about, seeing what works well, scrapping something if it doesn't, but also imposing your will. If we're a team that plays big and they play a lot of small, somebody's going to have an advantage, and it's up to us to defend certain actions well, but also punish them on the other hand. And so we'll look at that.

Like I said, we can always play the zone like we've done at times with that double-big lineup, but we have some things we can go to. And I think if you're punishing them to that extent, they go back with their big lineups, and it kind of works in your favor. Last question, Amy, do you like the way the schedule lays out a couple days in off in between games one and two? Or do you like to get them kind of every other day if you could? Yeah, for us, I think it doesn't matter.

I think rest is always a good thing. Maybe you'd like to play them against an older team, you know, more frequent. But we've had this time off and we're ready to get back after it, especially with resting the guys in L.A. on the Clipper-Laker game. And so got a little bit of a half for three quarters, three runs in against Denver. Our guys are getting after now, I'm ready to get to another series. So it really doesn't matter to us. The chance for adjustments, you have a little bit more time for preparation in between games

if something doesn't work well. And so either or it's fine with us, but it'll get to one day off in between pretty soon. Really appreciate the visit tonight. Congratulations on a fantastic season. I look forward to catch up with you on Sunday, and good luck in game one against the Warriors. Thank you. You got it.