The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Ime Udoka: The Rockets Are 'A Deep Team With A Lot Of Guys That Are Deserving' Of Minutes

Episode Date: January 2, 2025

The Rockets earned their first win of a season-long five-game homestand with Wednesday's 106-90 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. The Rockets erase a two-game skid and hold the third-best record in the Western Conference. After a stint in the NBA G League earlier this season, Cam Whitmore has returned to Houston and provided a spark off the bench, recording 18 points and three rebounds in 24 minutes of play Wednesday. "The scoring is his natural ability," head coach Ime Udoka said while joining "The Matt Thomas Show with Ross." Udoka also commented on the defensive efforts of the 20th overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft, helping the Rockets rank third in the league for points allowed per game this season. "He's really improved in those areas," Udoka said. When speaking to the media following Wednesday's win, Whitmore appeared frustrated with his playing time, saying, "I contributed a little bit, but it doesn't really affect anything. Doesn't really, you know, can't get me anywhere, but we'll see what happens, but just glad we got the win." Udoka acknowledged Whitmore's postgame remarks, adding that he understands his young forward wanting to earn minutes. "We have a deep team with a lot of guys that are deserving," Udoka said. "When we get everybody back, it's a good problem to have."

time for us to spend 10 quality minutes with the head basketball coach of your Houston Rockets winning last night over the Dallas Mavericks. You may docket with us here. Happy New York coach. How are things? Good. How are you guys doing? Yeah, no complaints, no complaints. Congrats on a win last night. It feels like we've left a couple of victories on the floor. The aggravation of the first two in the fourth quarter and the ability of last night to not let Dallas get back in the ball again. That'd be much more of a reassuring feeling for you and your staff. Yeah, obviously the Minnesota Miami games, we played well enough to win. You know, went on a drought offensively at the end of specifically Minnesota and defensively. They didn't guard up to our potential and kind of felt like we gave those away and wanted to improve down the stretch in the game last night.

And did that on both ends. Guarded well enough. Got some big baskets and held on to the win. Is there a direct correlation to a missed basket on one? one end to the other side going, all right, now you had a defensive lapse? I mean, do you even measure that kind of metric? Or if you're a dog defensively, you've got it no matter what's happening for you on the offensive side of the floor.

Yeah, you'd like to say that, but there's some human nature to it. Obviously, you know, some players get fueled by their offense and we try to fight against that, but it's natural at times. But obviously, when you miss some easy looks or some really good looks like we did against Minnesota or Miami, and there are some cross-matches going back in transition. obviously it's harder to get matched up, and we gave up some three-point plays, three-pointers and three-point plays in those games.

And conversely, when you get the stops, we get out and run as well, and don't have to play against the set defense. So it works both ways, and as much as we harp on, you know, not letting other parts of your game impact the defense, assuming nature at times, and that's what happened in those two games.

You are very demonstrative when it comes to defense. When plays are well-run, you high-five, and at a boy and then sometimes you've called timeouts just to talk about defensive lapses. Where did you get that from? Was that your game? Was that your style as an assistant coach? Because your intensity to me is double-triple when you're watching your team play defensively. Yeah, I mean, that's who I was as a player.

So that kind of, that side is second nature for me. I also understand the importance of that to winning basketball, winning championships. And so being that I was at as a player, and then obviously my time in San Antonio, I guess, pop kind of stressed that it's went with who I was and um yeah so for me it's always going to be not uh brushing under the rug just address it immediately and let's get on to the next play and so for me guys know what to expect and I think you can only be yourself I'm not a coach that's gonna you know sit there and hope guys do well I'm gonna let them know if they do or don't and so just being myself as far as that and something that the guys really asked for and enjoy from me

it's honesty and the upfrontness about certain things. And we address it, try to move on and have less of mistakes than the other team in the game. You did not have a man because of the suspension. Tari remains out. Cam came through and helped you out yesterday on the offensive side of things. And he has played a lot since his return from the G League. Your thoughts about his return since coming back and how he may feel about where he is right now in your rotation, even if you get those guys back and you obviously will get a men back.

but whenever Tarry comes back, is there room for Cam to get the kind of minutes that you need from him? He wants from himself and to help this rocket team, especially get some extra punch off the bench. Well, yeah, first of all, he's improved greatly. You know, the shot selection and the defensive focus are all the things. He really harped on going into sitting down a real grand, and I think he took that stuff to heart, focused on that area,

just as preparation in general shootarounds and all those things that's really improved. And then that's translated to the game where, you know, he's locked in on certain coverages and schemes and communication, all the things that sometimes young guys struggle with. You know, some of our guys did as well last year as we were kind of implementing everything. The scoring is his natural ability, and he does that, you know, regardless of anything else going on. And so for him being one of our best catch and shoe players, a guy that can get downhill and that is very dynamic in transition. Obviously, that's welcome for us offensively. It was more of the other things and continue to make the right play if he's not shooting the ball and then defensively locking in.

He's really improving those areas. Regarding the minutes when guys come back, you know, we have a deep team with a lot of guys that are deserving. And a big thing we talked about this year going into the season with sacrifice. It's not going to be your night every night. And guys are understanding that. And so you've seen throughout the season, guys that play well are going to finish. And so it's pretty much equal opportunity as far as that. the rotations are the rotations

and we do have real depth at the wing and he adds that so he has another dynamic as well and so finding the right combinations that work together is a big thing giving guys opportunities and guys have had them this year whether it's Reed early on getting a look and then Aaron playing

last year and this year when the opportunity is there Tate now the guys are out and and Cam as well and so there are 30 games in and you know you got 50 plus to go and you want to find out the best rotations going forward and he's a part of that and brings another dynamic. And so when we get everybody back, it's a good problem to have.

Did you hear his comments after the game last night? And how much discussion have you two had about his role? Yeah, I heard about him. And I'm totally fine with people expressing whatever they need to express. We've had a ton of meetings in one-on-one, myself and him and other coaches. And so there's an understanding of what's expected and what's going to help you get on the floor as far as growth. And so, you know, if you know me, you know, I am not a sensitive person at all.

Guys can express what they need to. We'll have those discussions. And so I'm totally fine with what he said, the part that I will reiterate to him. Like everything I say publicly, I've said times 10 behind the closed doors to our guys. And so getting across those points and he understands what he needs to do

to be on the floor and improve as far as that. And I think he's taking those steps and done that. Would you like to have some open communication about the Oregon Duck football performance yesterday? No, no, thank you. Okay, that's fine. I think they scored two touchdowns where you and I were talking last night

before the game. I was focused on the Maverick, so... Oh, okay. I'm brushing aside. I got you. Coach Udoka with us here on a sports talk 7-9. You mentioned Reed Shepard's name hasn't played in the last couple of games.

Has there been any discussion about his role as well, possible G-League assignment, and just in general, the benefits of him being up at the NBA level with you guys as opposed to the G-League? Yeah, we're looking at every single. everything, honestly, you know, and then what I talked about this year to our team with I said sacrifice and consistency in those things, a big part of our progress as a team is going to be the growth of our young guys. And so we're at a different stage than a lot of teams

where obviously some teams are just playing all the young guys and whatever results happen, happened. And we kind of went through that over the last few years and obviously somewhat last year, but we're at the stage of development at the same time as we're trying to win. And so we want to get guys to look, get their feet when the NBA, and then see how they do after a certain amount of games. And so for Reid, has ups and downs, no doubt, has gotten more comfortable as the games gone on and the amenities have increased at times. And then, you know, it looks like a rookie at times.

And so for him, it's really trying to figure out what's best for him, whether it's up here with us getting some time in live action similar to what Cam did or just being around the NBA game in general and getting the work in and the film sessions and everything with the coaches. So looking at everything right now. but, you know, Reed is a rookie that's going through his ups and downs like a lot do. And even our second, third, fourth year guys last year with the new staff had their ups and down, so it's not unexpected.

You are a guy that's told me on many occasions that you look at things in 10-game spaces, and we're at 33, so we're the midst of the fourth round of things. Even to this point, any surprises? I mean, I think the record has been fantastic. I think the development is good. I think even when nights with the team is not shooting, well, the defense has been really good. And what does that say about a team that, you know,

the shooting percentages haven't been probably what you want are the three point numbers, but the defense, third fewest points allowed per game, that has remained remarkably consistent, even in games like a Minnesota or Miami where you're not scoring as much as you'd like. Yeah, so the identity we've taken pride in. I think our guys understand the importance of that, and it's something we can do on every night basis, regardless if shots are falling or not,

we can always give ourselves a chance. And we've had winning games and streaks when we shot under 40% or haven't made a ton of threes. We can still rely on that. And so the positives and you look at it perspective-wise is that you look at teams giving up 140 across the league nowadays, and you see teams losing by 2025. Regardless of made shots, missed shots, whatever with us,

we can still win the game or right in the game. And that's the positive you take away from Minnesota and Miami is that we really had some. uncharacteristic letdowns on both ends of the floor in the fourth quarter when we built 16 point leads and 12 point leads and that gives us a chance every night so we should be positive about that looking at that now is taking the next step in finishing offensively and guarding the way we are possible of defensively similar to what we did last night and so from there you extend the 15 point lead instead of letting it dissipate

last question now you won't have a man tomorrow night for boston but i don't know what who's the the leader in the clubhouse is for six man of the year, but I think a man Thompson has been just your super sub off the bench. You've had him start occasionally when necessary. What's the number one thing? I mean, obviously the shot percentage is a lot better than it was last year. But is there anything beyond that

that a man has done this year that maybe you didn't even see in his rookie campaign? I would simply put it to health and availability. And, you know, he rolled his ankle pretty bad in Summer League and early in the preseason. He was a little hamper last year. And then he missed the games, you know,

early season ankle sprain as well, missed 20-plus games. And so he's a guy that's going to take leaps as much as he can just by being out on the floor and playing. And so even he had a two, three games stint in the G-League last year to get his feet under him, you know, coming off the injury. And so took advantage of that, came on the floor. And then obviously starting late in the season when Alperin went down was big for him and the carryover for this year. And so I think health and availability is the main thing with him because when he's on the floor,

he's one of the most impactful players in the league on both ends. one man fast break obviously one the top defenders and he can do so many things different things offensively at different positions i just love hime his IQ i feel like when he is on the floor for as young as he is there's very few oh i should have done that i feel like he's just got fantastic core awareness and look there are a lot of great players in the NBA as you've coached and been around but man i just i'm just a big believer of high IQ basketball players and i think he's got it for especially for as young as he is yeah he sees something and learns it and applies it immediately. And so for him, that's a good trade obviously to have,

especially with the physical instincts and traits that he has. And so that's where you become a complete player. You have all these God-gifted tools that he has. He's starting to pick things up IQ-wise. Very instinctual, like I said, anyway. And so you're seeing those rewards on the court, on both ends of the court every night. All right. Thanks for the visitors. Always good stuff from you as per usual. Talk again tomorrow night. Good luck against the Celtics and the Lakers this week. Thank you. You got to, you may have don't go with us here on Sports Talk 7.9.