Houston Rockets postgame: Ime Udoka talks Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams

Houston Rockets postgame: Ime Udoka talks Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams

questions. Coach, at the half you all had 11 turnovers. You finished the game with 18. What was the message to to the guys at halftime about uh protecting the ball, be strong with it. Um, you know, convert in transition and don’t look like a junior varsity basketball team. What did you like about uh what did you like about Stephen Adams effort there in that third quarter? Just the way he brought his his two-way game and physicality. Yeah, I feel like that’s when the game kind of changed. U s similar to what he did in the Utah game. The pace picked up and always sets really good screens, gets guys open, and then um cleans up when they miss. So felt like that group, that unit in there, um I think got it to 17, 16, 17 when it had been a tight game for the most part, but it was literally just taking care of the ball. Um getting quality shots and putting a little physicality behind it. First half we had one foul and just kind of following him around and uh upped our intensity in second half. More of a big picture question, but uh Alpin Shingun scored his career 5,000th points tonight. How have you seen him evolve this season? Yeah, consistency. um you know big nights pretty much every night uh regardless of what’s going on in the game could be foul trouble miss shots whatever he sticks with it and um you know kind of puts in performances like that so when you look across the board in our season so far in 19 games been very consistent regarding Stephen when you look back to this summer was keeping him on this roster kind of key to this team’s identity in your opinion was that something you personally really valued yeah he was u you know the impact that he made since he got here And the other part was that we knew he’d be more healthy and uh you know have more rhythm coming into this season. First off seasonason three years he’s been healthy and got to put in the work and you could kind of see his legs underneath him from the start this year. Obviously saw it at the end of last season, second half of last season. But um yeah, it was a huge piece of what we do. Saw saw something that worked with him and big lineups and just the um second chance opportunities that he gives us. Coach, I think this team is 27th in pace, but how important is the the probing, the patience probing of Alpurn and Kemp in terms of how you guys want to attack teams in the half court offensively? Yeah, I mean, we’re not a huge running team as far as that in transition and fast break points, but we do want to play with some mix it up in the half court. um you know, sprint up to set screens, get some separation for our guys where they can’t trap Kevin as much and and opens up the pocket and you want Alfred and our bigs to make big quick decisions there. So, very important as far as that. Um you know, men does the thing and you know, we got some runners, but overall we we want to execute really well in the half court. And kind of on that note, how much do you think Ammen’s energy and his downhill pressure kind of feeds into the identity you guys want to have? Yeah, I mean, he’s he’s a oneman fast break. um you know he plays a little bit different than the rest of the guys and sometimes they have to keep up but puts so much pressure on the rim and attracts so much attention in a different way that a lot of opportunities for kickouts or offensive rebounds if he misses and so very important what he does we love him to rebound and push and give us added dimension. Coach, you uh you all only attempted 16 three-pointers tonight but you had 78 points in the paint. Was bully ball the the the message? Yeah, I mean we were on the co on the bench late in the game kind of laughing about that. You know, when Jeff hit the three, made a five for 16 extremely low low number. We’ve shot almost that in the quarter before. Um but kind of given what the game takes or taking what the game gives us. I think uh you know we got they didn’t have a ton of size down there when you know they’re trapping some pick and rolls. So, you want to attack the basket and put pressure on the rim.

Houston Rockets postgame: Ime Udoka talks Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams.

#nba #kevindurant #rockets #alperensengun #houstonrockets #fredvanvleet