Fresh off a series loss to the Golden State Warriors, Ime Udoka and the Houston Rockets are in active reflection of where it all went wrong. During a recent chat with the media after Game 7, the Houston Rockets coach revealed the greatest areas of need for his team and how they plan to approach a critical offseason.
“When we played really good basketball, we had some blowout wins, and when we played average or below, we still had close losses,” Udoka said, via The Houston Chronicle. “And so the more consistent you can be across the board and avoid some of the situations that even got it to a Game 7 would be one (missing aspect). But other than that, I’d say 90% free-throw shooters and 50% 3-point shooters, that’s what we’re missing.”
The Rockets won 52 games in the regular season to secure the second seed in the West. By December, the Rockets were being called one of the best teams in the conference, thanks to a deep and balanced roster that includes Fred VanVleet, Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr. (among others).
The most important recent addition is head coach Ime Udoka. After leading the Celtics to the NBA Finals in 2022, he was fired after his sexual history with a team staffer was exposed to the world. Eventually, Ime accepted the Rockets coaching job, and he’s had amazing success in building a culture and a system that caters to everyone’s strengths.
Unfortunately for Houston, it still wasn’t enough to get past the Warriors in round one, and they will spend all summer trying to figure out why. They shot just 37.4% from three in the series and just 70% from the free-throw line for an average of 104 points in seven games.
With more consistent shooting and a reliable shot creator, the Rockets might have stolen the series with a win in Game 7. Instead, they’ll have to search for a solution this summer, and one name has already emerged from the fold: Suns superstar Kevin Durant.
Durant has experienced back-to-back failed seasons in Phoenix, and his future is looking more uncertain now than ever before. With rumors swirling about a potential trade from the franchise, a massive sweepstakes is expected to occur, where the Rockets will be trying to make the most compelling offer.
For the right price, Durant could be an amazing trade for the Warriors, and he’d give them exactly what they need as an elite shooter and shot creator. In 62 games this season, he averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game on 52.7% shooting. For his career, Durant is an 88% free-throw shooter who shoots 39.0% from beyond the arc.
In many ways, Kevin Durant is the perfect fit for the Rockets, and he’d slide right into position as their starting power forward. As a 2x champion, former MVP, and 15x All-Star, Durant would be the star of the show in Houston, and he could raise their ceiling to a whole new level. According to Ime Udoka, Durant is the missing link that will maximize their potential as a team.
