Rockets Enter New Opportunity as Four Shooters Join, Increasing Pressure on Udoka

Recently, some commentators have pointed out that Rockets head coach Ime Udoka often chooses to shift blame after the team loses. His reasons are usually that players did not perform well, lacked effort, or that some responsibility should be attributed to injuries. However, this attitude has drawn criticism, with some believing Udoka should take responsibility for losses instead of repeatedly looking for excuses and moving the blame away from himself.

In reality, the Rockets' roster for next season has been significantly strengthened. Although some compare them with star-studded rosters such as the Philadelphia 76ers and believe Houston still trails behind, arguing that their only unique star player is Sengun while the 76ers have multiple superstars such as Embiid, Jaylen Brown, and James, the Rockets' depth is also worth noting. Last season, their main problems were a lack of a primary point guard and insufficient perimeter shooting. As a result, Durant and Sengun were often double-teamed in crucial moments, causing the team to repeatedly struggle in important games.

During this offseason, although the Rockets did not add a superstar, they consecutively signed four practical perimeter shooters, including minimum-salary guard Bogdanovic, Smart, who previously helped the Lakers eliminate the Rockets, and two emerging rookie point guards, Copeland and Thornton, with the latter shooting above 40 percent from three-point range in the Summer League. The arrival of this group of shooters will undoubtedly help solve the Rockets' lack of perimeter firepower. Along with VanVleet's return, the Rockets will have more options in their outside shooting strategy next season.

Legendary coach and newly inducted Hall of Fame member Mike D'Antoni, a former Rockets head coach, expressed approval of the current Rockets roster. He said the Rockets now have both strong offensive ability and excellent shooting, and that if he were able to coach this team, it would be an enjoyable experience because he would have many talented players at his disposal.

D'Antoni gave a positive evaluation of the Rockets' offseason additions. In his view, the four newly signed shooters and the Rockets' strong defense complement each other, making the team a top-level squad that combines defensive excellence with strong shooting ability. If last season's Rockets had only a certain level of defense but lacked shooting ability, then this season's Rockets would be a more balanced team on both ends of the court. According to D'Antoni, the four new shooters have undoubtedly strengthened the Rockets' perimeter shooting.

If D'Antoni were ten years younger and had the opportunity to be considered for a head coaching position, he would certainly try to take charge of this Rockets team. In D'Antoni's view, the Rockets' roster is already close to perfect, so if Udoka still cannot lead the team to a breakthrough next season, it will be harder to find excuses. The explanations involving injuries and insufficient perimeter firepower from this year will no longer apply, as VanVleet and Adams return and new perimeter shooters are added, leaving Udoka facing greater pressure.