The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Ime Udoka Talks Rockets Surge as Win Streak Reaches Eight

Episode Date: April 10, 2026

Ime Udoka Talks Rockets Surge as Win Streak Reaches Eight

Coach, thank you for the time as always. Congratulations. I thought the first 36 were awesome. I was enforcers sweating those last 12. How did you feel about those last 12 minutes of basketball last night? Yeah, I mean, they dunked it up, put the bench group in, and, you know, picked up their physicality. We didn't handle it great. So, yeah, we liked the first 36 and probably the last two or three.

But outside of that, we've got to be better to have a composure and be able to maintain what we're doing through some physicality. Hey, it's still an eight-game morning streak. What have you not necessarily learned about your guys, but I guess the better question would be, what have you observed from your guys over the last two weeks or so? They understand the possession battle. Taking care of the ball is paramount with us. And when we have the turnovers like we did in the fourth quarter last night,

nine turnovers in one quarter, it obviously allows teams to get out in transition, play against us when we're not set defense and get some easy baskets. And so, you know, five turnovers, the first three-quarters to give up nine in that fourth. That's kind of been the trend throughout this. it's a streak, you know, take care of the ball.

You know, highest six numbers move the ball, playing selfish, and then defend it'll be in good shape. I know, you may have been asked us a lot over the last week or so, but you inserted the Josh Akoggi in the starting lineup yesterday. You've used to talk, you've used to read a little bit. Has in your mind, and maybe you're holding it all for intelligence for down the road, but maybe it's still matchup based, but what have you seen in differences with those three different guys starting?

I know it's matchup related to what you've said so far, but is there one that peaks your interest more than the other at this point? Well, I think they all bring separate things. Obviously, with Josh out there, he started the season, and he'll take some of the pressure off I'm in and guard the best guy for a few minutes. And read out there gives us another handler, initiator, and someone that works well and differently than Kevin and I'm in and the pick and roll, and then Tari is, you know, all around doing what he does.

And so they all give us something different. Obviously, playoffs will be matchup-based, but we see what we like and don't like with the units and how we can stagger them and kind of insert other guys into the lineup as well. And so it's not just about the starters. It's what we want coming off the bench with some balance and, you know, have not all our handle is out there at one time. Yeah, that's what's going to be my follow-up about the second unit. It seems like Reid does a really good job wherever you put them with the starting lineup or the second unit. But you guys have been a team that has been lacking and been scoring in terms of points per game relative to the rest of the league.

And I was just going to ask how much that factor is in a lot for you. you as well. Yeah, it's big. It's the balance of it. You know, you like to, you know, you don't want to have all your five leading scores out there together. You want some punch off the bench. And, you know, when, when Reed comes in, he does that, he definitely changes the game. When Tari comes in, he does that as well, interjecting energy and, you know, his all-around game and shooting the ball better again now. So it's a balance for sure. And like I said, a lot of its playoff matched up, playoff based, but playoff based. But they all bring certain things, like I said, that we like. And it's good to have that versatility and keep

games off balance. Rocket Tech coach, I'ma Doka with us here on a Sports Talk 790. Over this win streak, something that has really impressed me has just been the activity of everyone with men, of course, and Jabari, Okogee you've been inserting.

And it just seems like there's a bit more urgency and activity on the floor, especially defensively. Yeah, I think our guys brought into that. They understand where we are and what's about a success. And even through the ups and downs, we still maintain our deeps.

defensive edge in general. I think we're top five and number five as it is. But we feel we can get even better at that. Like I said, taking care of the ball was a big part of it. Their points off turnover is whenever we had a high number there, teams had some success against us. So we're understanding that part. But I think everybody's bought in and understanding that we have to guard

in order to be successful. And then the offense is coming with it. You know, defense offense is always a great thing for us. I don't know if you looked at this morning's injury report around the league. It's like 15 pages he made. I don't know who the hell is playing and who's not playing. So can I ask you? And have you guys figured out what you're going to do tonight?

We're going to play our guys. And, you know, everybody's healthy for the most far. I've had some, you know, some illness that he's questionable. But hopefully he's good to go again. He obviously had played well yesterday, played with energy and played through a little bit of sickness. And so for us, we're in decent shape outside of the season ending injuries. You know, the rest of the league is kind of struggling through it. And that's how it is a lot of times before the playoffs.

And we'll take care of ourselves and figure out whatever happens with everybody else. later. It is funny that you'll dictate it yourself by your winning and losing and let everybody else do their thing. But it feels like to me that, I mean, we're down to two games left and you still have three potential opponents. Is it ever gone this late for you as a player coach or as a head coach?

Definitely. It's odd that it's this tight contested at this stage, but yes, I definitely have when I was at San Antonio, we lost the final game of the season, went from two to seven. And so I've been at that end of the spectrum for sure.

and so I've seen it all pretty much. But we know the three opponents and obviously the matchups that we have against them. And so at least we're not in the plan, you know, worried about that conversation. Who we're going to play against? We'll zero it down after another game or two. Let me ask you this. And I know the bench numbers have been better the last few games because you have played Josh in bigger moments and you've got Tari and Reid doing it off the bench. How important to you?

The answer is obviously, well, it's of course important, Matt. But how much do you look at bench production, especially when it comes to the playoffs, where benches typically start to shrivel up a little bit. Yeah, it's just big, obviously. You want to get off to a great start, and you try to put your best lineup out there to not be at a disadvantage when the bench comes in, but you also want a spark coming off the bench.

You want some versatility, and the balance is great. Like I said, you don't want all your players, all your leading scores with the starting lineup for the most part. You want the spark off the bench, and I think we have that depending on what lineup we go with. And so everybody's kind of accustomed to it. that's the great thing about us. Guys don't care if they start or come off the bench

and they're prepared to play in whatever role. Aaron Holiday as well, you throw them in the mix, a guy who's always professional and ready to go. And so that'll be great for us and always with me. It's more important who finishes the game and who's playing well and different things like that. If I would have told you, EMA, in October, that Kevin Duransko play at least 75 games for you this year.

Look, he always wants to play. Everybody typically does, but would you have been even surprised of that high number? No, I would not. He's a basketball junkie that doesn't even want to come out of the game, let alone miss a game. And so for him, as long as he's healthy and feeling good and takes care of his body, and he plays at a very efficient pace and level. And so it's not relying on athleticism or certain things like that.

And so I think me knowing him and being around him, he wants to be out there every minute and doesn't like to sit out at all. And so great that he hasn't had a tweak or anything crazy other than the ankle one time. And the availability has been needed with all the ups and downs with other guys. I don't want to say he's a one-off because you've been around a lot of veterans that have played a lot of games too. And obviously, you know, LeBron still at 41's doing his thing. But as a coach, beyond just taking a practice off, do you change things up for him to try to keep him as fresh as possible beyond the fact that you're not doing a lot of lifting, say, on a shoot-around day or a practice day? What else can you do as a coach to preserve guys that have put in a lot of minutes?

I'm going to put also a men in that category in Jabari Smith, who both of all three of those guys have been top 10 in minutes played over the. the course of the year. Yeah, definitely. You do as much as you can, and even in practices or walkthroughs, when guys are getting shots and whatever, you give them a little bit of extra rest and recovery time. So they need, their professional know what they need to get ready for the game, but you want to take as much off as you can.

And obviously, in any situation in the game, you like to shave down the minutes. And that's why last night was a little bit frustrating where we didn't want to have to bring it back in the fourth quarter and we had to do that. And so, especially on the back-to-back. And so any chance you can get to shave down minutes or, practice time we do that. Obviously you had a previous relationship with Durant, but what has it been like for you to be his head coach as far as, I don't know, learning anything about him that maybe you previously didn't know or just how it kind of changes how you go about game planning

with having such a special player out there on the floor for you? Well, nothing surprising. Like I said, I coached him as an assistant in Brooklyn, coached against him a ton and, and then coached it with USA basketball. So I knew the competitive side, the work ethic, you know, all the all the, all those things, all the intangibles. I would say more than anything is just the fact that he really doesn't want to come out the court at all. I think Fredmanfleet's similar as far as that. But nothing surprising.

The work ethic and the leadership is different than people see, you know, him being more vocal with the younger team this year. And then the day-to-day professionalism, work ethic rubbing off on a young guy. So very pleased, obviously, and he's had a great year. How much is it a luxury with the time off when you don't have to go into the play-in? in terms of planning for rest and game planning and trying to figure out all those different types of things. Yes, it's huge.

Either way to stay out of the plan gives whoever, you know, an advantage with the week of rest. But preparation-wise, for us, you know, we'll know who we're facing. It gives guys a two-day break there to kind of recoup from the season. And then from there, we're, you know, getting after it. Film sessions is a longer play or playoff preparation. So for us, it's a great thing. So that's why you want to avoid being in session. seven, eight, nine, ten, and have that extra time of rest and recoup after the season.

I think we've earned that and we'll take advantage that, but it doesn't stop for the coaches. We'll be in there next day. EMA, thank you for the visit. We'll see you later tonight. And good luck this evening against the wolves. And we'll look forward to talking to before the playoffs next week. Thanks for the time. Appreciate it.