1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

  2. ROCKETS GAMEDAY
    We get another Amen Thompson vs. Tyler Herro matchup as the Rockets take on the Heat in Miami Saturday. Come join Dave and Ben with Paulo Alves as they recap the game.

    LIVE! ClutchFans on YouTube

Ime is not a championship coach

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by H. Christopher, Jan 15, 2026.

  1. javal_lon

    javal_lon Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2010
    Messages:
    12,184
    Likes Received:
    10,125
    Boys having keypad meltdowns when their favorite players ain't having the seasons they envisioned. Lmao
     
    kjayp and Stephen_A like this.
  2. BallSoHarden

    BallSoHarden Member

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2015
    Messages:
    3,118
    Likes Received:
    3,857
    There are very few coaches that last a very long time and win championships over the course of decades, that era is pretty much over. You can not be a terrible coach like Silas and expect to win, but you need someone good enough and then a solid GM to win. 4 of the last 6 championship coaches have been fired after winning, so it's not like they forgot how to coach or were the second coming of Pop. I feel like if the roster were better Ime could win a ring here, I don't think he would win 4 rings over 12 years or anything though, but he is on par with the coaches that have won recently and been fired.
     
  3. Stephen_A

    Stephen_A Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2016
    Messages:
    7,206
    Likes Received:
    5,789
    Dude who said anything about averages? Why are fans so wrapped up in league averages? I’m talking about ability. Besides when we talk about league averages it’s deceptive. Are we talking about whole league, point guards, starters?

    Fox shot 2 pull up threes in Rockets players’ face last game. That’s ability. Amen can’t do this. Neither can Sengun. He launches 6 a game. Spurs have 4 starters that can shoot the 3. I said nothing about averages. I was talking about capability to stretch defenses. Teams still have to guard Fox at the line. They do not have to guard Amen or Sengun at the line.

    It’s not a “may” have. The Rockets are in winning phase not development phase. This is widely known and documented. They got Durant to win now whether fans like it or not. Agree with it or not this is the focus and goal of the team. So with this, the question is what does this team need to win?

    Lastly I just explained to you how Detroit plays with 2 non shooters. This is vastly different than how the Rockets play.
     
  4. Stephen_A

    Stephen_A Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2016
    Messages:
    7,206
    Likes Received:
    5,789
    Speaking of popovich, what did he do from 2017-2024? Not much. Couple 7th seeds first couple years then Mediocrity to bad last 5 years. If you don’t have the personnel you can’t win. Period.
     
    plates300 likes this.
  5. h3llmarch

    h3llmarch Member

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2025
    Messages:
    99
    Likes Received:
    103
    I think he's having difficulty maintaining his memory. He needs some vitamin B supplements and to eat plenty of fish.
     
  6. daywalker02

    daywalker02 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2006
    Messages:
    104,817
    Likes Received:
    52,973
    Championship ....ppl are talking like championship is easy.....

    .even a lousy regular season Away arena coach.
     
  7. chef0010

    chef0010 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2012
    Messages:
    897
    Likes Received:
    616
    He is the next Monty Williams.

    black and one finals run
     
  8. Joe Rocket

    Joe Rocket Member

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2020
    Messages:
    6,949
    Likes Received:
    9,736
    I mean he doesnt have a championship team either so.
     
  9. Stephen_A

    Stephen_A Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2016
    Messages:
    7,206
    Likes Received:
    5,789
    Took the Celtics to the finals

    19 game improvement over Silas in first year

    Playoffs in year 2 with Rockets

    126-83 (.603)

    The man obviously knows what he’s doing. Much of it isn’t on him as this roster isngood enough and flawed in its construction with 2 non shooters shooters and no dynamic guard that can both drive regularly and shoot. Insert any guard that can do that and this team would play very differently with different results.

    Imagine a Booker, Jaylen Brown, Bane or even guys like Herro and the style and trajectory of this team changes as the halfcourt is opened up with 4 shooters around Sengun and a guard that can iso, play high screen and roll, drive, or get open shots from double teams.

    I believe the Rockets aren’t Udoka’s ideal team and he took the job after the scandal because it was the most attractive one. I’ve only seen the Pistons were interested and maybe Raptors but those teams weren’t as attractive as Houston at the time. He didn’t draft Sengun but he was there for the Amen draft so maybe that’s on him. But bottom line is this roster isn’t balanced and just not good enough for a championship. Hopefully he understands and sees this and drastic changes will be made in the off season
     
  10. LosPollosHermanos

    LosPollosHermanos Clutch Crew
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2009
    Messages:
    33,982
    Likes Received:
    18,998
    And then he ****ed a team members wife, his team fired him for unprofessionalism and got much better when he left, went on to win a ring. A finals appearance in the east doesn’t mean much, losing as the 2nd seed to a 7th in his first season in the west is more representative of his coaching ability

    and lol at comparing him to a tank commander coach. At least Silas got the team picks.

    I’ll repeat, trying to defend Udoka at this point is insanity. No rockets fan expects to win close games since execution, smarts , substitutions are key. That is all coaching
     
    rocketstruther, DaDakota and J.R. like this.
  11. Stephen_A

    Stephen_A Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2016
    Messages:
    7,206
    Likes Received:
    5,789
    It would be better if you not write things out of emotion. Also why do you have to repeat? We barely interact on this topic.

    Now onto your rebuttal here.

    His scandal has nothing to do with coaching ability. Absolutely nothing.

    Udoka took a .500 team (36-36) under stevens to the finals with basically the same team and core players. The first season after Udoka Mazzula lost to the 7th seed Heat in the conference finals with virtually the same team. Boston then got Jrue and Porzingis in the offseason and won a championship the year later.

    I believe Udoka would have won a championship with Boston (with Porzingis, Jrue) if he never got into that scandal. Again Houston likely not his ideal team but he took the job probably to revive his career and it was an interesting team with potential. Let’s support our coach instead of tearing him down especially when fans aren’t professional coaches and have very little understanding or information to go by
     
  12. LosPollosHermanos

    LosPollosHermanos Clutch Crew
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2009
    Messages:
    33,982
    Likes Received:
    18,998
    Everything I posted was objective fact. I think you’re projecting pretty hardcore here. If documented facts and empirical evidence is invoking emotion in you—perhaps it is you who needs to self reflect here.

    Just look at your long justification there. His team got better after he was fired. Your biggest prop up is the fact that ye was better than a coach who was hired to tank and got him 5+ top 5 picks.


    “Udoka sleeping with a team member’s wife has nothing to do with any of it”. That is absolutely ridiculous. It demonstrates a complete lack of character and dependability/accountability. Even Pimps in Vegas have pretty clear codes about this…it’s a tenant of any professional organization, let alone a billion dollar franchise which outlines codes of conduct to a T (there’s a reason they were able to fire him on the spot).

    Listen man, I’m not trying to be an ahole its very clear so I would be doing a disservice by not being direct
     
  13. Stephen_A

    Stephen_A Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2016
    Messages:
    7,206
    Likes Received:
    5,789
    Character has nothing to do with ability or talent. You’re bringing up one mistake a man made in his life. There’s been many talented people in our history with character or moral issues yet doesn’t mean they’re not talented or don’t have the ability to be great. Are you 100% morally upright? Have you made the correct decision your entire life? Who’s perfect their entire lives?

    You did not present to me facts. You said the team got better after Udoka left. They didn’t. They were a 2 seed and lost to a 7th seed the very next year with the same team. They only won with new huge signings and a different lineup

    I didn’t compare anyone to Silas. I illustrated the point that he resurrected this team and improved their record the same way he did with Boston. This is a fact. This shows he can develop teams and players.

    Why would i need to self reflect? Unlike you, I simply responded to your comments with facts and logic and based an assessment off that info.
     
  14. Loneyroy7

    Loneyroy7 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2017
    Messages:
    2,733
    Likes Received:
    4,750
    Ime is a good defensive assistant.

    He's not a head coach.
     
  15. Joe Rocket

    Joe Rocket Member

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2020
    Messages:
    6,949
    Likes Received:
    9,736
    This isnt a championship roster. We screwed the team going for KD. We could have grown organically and slowly but they wanted shortcuts so this is the result a limited roster that lacks chemistry.
     
    Stephen_A likes this.
  16. illwil29

    illwil29 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2009
    Messages:
    573
    Likes Received:
    449
    You know who I think is the most overrated coach is? It's Ty Lue, but people love him for some reason. Every coach is flawed to some extent. Chris Finch and Nick Nurse are good examples. Both were part of the Rockets organization at one point. Nick Nurse had a great team in Toronto, but a lucky Kawahi shot saved his a**. Rest is history, but I always felt that if Toronto doesn't have Leonard they are a first round exit and the complaints about Nurse continue.
    Point is alot is on players. Also coaching staff around them. Unfortunately the coaching staff is not great and Ime is set in his ways. During the all star break, I hope someone is analyzing our struggles, so we can identify our weakness.
     
    Stephen_A likes this.
  17. Stephen_A

    Stephen_A Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2016
    Messages:
    7,206
    Likes Received:
    5,789
    yeah. I agree. And if they were going to trade green and brooks at least get a young star back. None of this makes much sense. I really hope they trade Sengun Amen and Sheppard or at least 2 of the 3. This isn’t working.
     
  18. daywalker02

    daywalker02 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2006
    Messages:
    104,817
    Likes Received:
    52,973
    He was actually young enough as an assistant to learn from Offensive minds......

    Something along the way did not compute......he got stuck in his ways and then the secks scandal came, that should have also given him time to reflect on his coaching as well.
     
  19. daywalker02

    daywalker02 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2006
    Messages:
    104,817
    Likes Received:
    52,973
    Lol Toronto without Kawhi would be Indy......pretty much. Could be Reggie's or Carlisle's version.

    I mean Phil Jax adhered to Tex Winter's and Sam Berry's Triangle and could manage egos......

    Tons of serviceable to good coaches in the NBA, Ime is not special other than his Draconian regimen in practice and his uncanny ability to get a great amount of Regular season Wins.......

    Udoka's dream team is probably Jayson and Jaylen with Robert Williams, Porzingis and Derrick White.

    This Rockets team is only second to his Celtic team. He needed 2 Perimeter Stars and a stacked veteran roster, which he would not get easily in this type of environment.


     
    #119 daywalker02, Feb 14, 2026
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2026
  20. dc rock

    dc rock Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2001
    Messages:
    8,069
    Likes Received:
    14,621
    Did anyone see how well Reed played in Carmelo Anthony’s Rising Stars offense? Maybe COACH Anthony is the key to a championship formula. :eek:

    [​IMG]
     

Share This Page