Ime Udoka: 15-6 Rockets are good, but striving for ‘better than good’

Ime Udoka: 15-6 Rockets are good, but striving for ‘better than good’

At 15-6, the Houston Rockets have moved just past the quarter pole of the 82-game common season. That complete of six losses is tied for the second-fewest in the 2025-26 Western Conference.

Yet, the Rockets aren’t solely happy. They rank second in the NBA in total web rating (+10.8) and defensive rating, trailing only the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. They are fourth in offensive rating.

Advertisement

Of those six losses, 5 had been games that may have been received in the fourth quarter. Crunch-time execution, notably in half-court conditions, has been an occasional issue. So, with a team led by a pair of 2025 All-Stars in Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun, the Rockets imagine they’re able to more.

Coming off Saturday’s short-handed loss at Dallas on evening two of a cut up back-to-back, the Rockets are at the moment in a uncommon scheduling break, with their next game not coming until Thursday (house versus the Los Angeles Clippers).

So, in the aftermath of a stretch with 5 games in seven nights, head coach Ime Udoka allowed his weary team to take Sunday and Monday off, solely.

But Tuesday, the Rockets had been again at it inside their Houston follow facility, and team actions included each a movie session and a competitive follow.

Advertisement

Speaking post-practice, Udoka supplied this evaluation to local reporters (by way of Space City Home Network, SCHN):

It’s always good to dive into what we’ve completed, and take a look at some traits. And then, we assault those on the court docket.

We wish to be nice, but I feel we’ve been good, total. If you take a look at the report, 15-6, there are some positives there. But we also really feel like we let some (games) slip away, so we’re looking for the areas the place we’ve grown or had some slippage in. Overall, it’s good, but we’re making an attempt to be better than good.

What we checked out, today, was the place we had been at after the first 10 games, and what was taking place in the last 11. You see some good and unhealthy traits, total. But for the most half, when your plus-minus is the place we’re at, and offense and protection is the place we’re at, we’re taking some good strides. We perceive there’s another level we are able to get to.

As far as figuring out potential points past crunch-time execution. the Rockets are also 0-2 on evening two of back-to-backs and 15-4 in all other settings. Fortunately, they’ve only one back-to-back (at Denver and Sacramento on Dec. 20 and 21) remaining this month, they usually hope to have extra roster reinforcements — particularly, Tari Eason and Dorian Finney-Smith — before the quantity of back-to-backs will increase in January.

Thursday’s tipoff versus the Clippers (6-18) is at 7:00 p.m. Central from Toyota Center, and the game will likely be televised regionally on SCHN and nationally by way of NBA League Pass.

More: Tari Eason, Dorian Finney-Smith hope to rejoin Rockets in coming weeks

This article initially appeared on Rockets Wire: Ime Udoka: 15-6 Rockets are good, but striving for ‘better than good’

Do you want sports activities? Stay informed with the latest in sports activities. At
TheGossipBlogger.com,
we cowl breaking news, match outcomes, athlete updates, and key developments from major leagues and competitions worldwide.

From soccer, basketball, and tennis to global tournaments and local games, our reporting highlights the performances, data, and rivalries shaping today’s sporting panorama.

Beyond scores and outcomes, we also share analysis, exclusive interviews, training insights, and tales from behind the scenes — supplying you with an entire view of the action.

Bookmark
Sports
and check back recurrently for correct, well-curated updates that preserve you linked to the athletes and occasions making headlines.