{"id":104272,"date":"2024-10-31T11:49:26","date_gmt":"2024-10-31T15:49:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=104272"},"modified":"2024-10-31T11:49:26","modified_gmt":"2024-10-31T15:49:26","slug":"rockets-ime-udoka-commends-jalen-green-for-major-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/10\/31\/rockets-ime-udoka-commends-jalen-green-for-major-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Rockets\u2019 Ime Udoka Commends Jalen Green For Major Change"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Houston Rockets do not have a problem with Jalen Green<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been phenomenal all year as far as (reading the defense)<\/a>,\u201d Rockets head coach Ime Udoka says, per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. \u201cI think he really grew toward the end of last year. Now it looks like he\u2019s getting whatever he wants, whether it\u2019s for himself or others. Some of those that he used to miss at times and kind of rush into a crowd, over-penetrate, he\u2019s (now) making the right reads.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rockets\u2019 Ime Udoka Commends Jalen Green For Major Change<\/h2>\n

Green, the 2021 No. 2 pick, has had an up and down career thus far. As a rookie, he flashed a lot of promise, averaging 17.3 points and 2.6 assists per game. After finishing fourth in Rookie of the Year voting, it seemed like the sky was the limit for the high-flyer. In his second season, Green broke the sound barrier, averaging 22.1 points and 3.7 assists per game. However, the regression in his efficiency spoke to his need to play a more mature game.<\/p>\n

That might not have been what Ime Udoka was expected to bring out of Green when he was hired as the Rockets head coach in 2022.<\/p>\n

As a player, Udoka was a defensive specialist. In his lone year coaching the Boston Celtics, they ranked first in opponent\u2019s points per game (104.5) and second in defensive rating (106.9). That isn\u2019t to say that Udoka didn\u2019t understand how to coach a top-notch offense. \u00a0Nonetheless, his background only provided evidence that he would improve the Rockets defensively.<\/p>\n

In 2023-24, after hiring Udoka and adding the defensive-minded Dillon Brooks<\/a>, Houston ranked 14th in opponent\u2019s points per game (113.2) and ninth in defensive rating (113.4). This was a significant improvement from the previous season, when the Rockets ranked 28th in opponent\u2019s points per game (118.6) and 29th in defensive rating (119.3). That being said, Udoka\u2019s best work may have been getting Green to lock in.<\/p>\n

Pushing The Right Buttons<\/h3>\n

Green had a tendency to float around the court, only impacting the game offensively. This prompted Udoka to push Green to crash the glass. Though Green had demonstrated the ability to be a commendable defender, he needed to improve his effort and technique. Green seeing that Udoka was more likely to leave him on the court when he played great defense sharpened his focus.<\/p>\n

At the same time, the game started to slow down for Green. He was making better reads and taking smarter shots. To be frank, Udoka\u2019s tough love approach could\u2019ve backfired. Green was discontented by his lack of opportunities<\/a> on offense. However, his competitive nature outweighed his frustration<\/a>, and he met the challenge head-on.<\/p>\n

If Udoka didn\u2019t want to put the ball in his hands more, he was going to prove why he should.<\/p>\n

Rounding The Corner<\/h3>\n

After the All-Star Break, Green averaged 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.0 steal per game while shooting 44.1 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from three. His best work came after Alperen Sengun<\/a> suffered a scary leg injury<\/a> against the Sacramento Kings in March. Over the next nine games, Green averaged 31.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game on 50.5 percent shooting from the field and 46.8 percent from deep.<\/p>\n

The Rockets won every one of them, which put them back in playoff contention. Prior to the start of the 2024-25 season, Green was essentially rewarded with a contract extension<\/a> for his play in the back half of 2023-24. For a player who was on the trade block a few months prior, it was a rapid turnaround.<\/p>\n

The biggest question was whether Green\u2019s play would carry over from the end of last season. In the summer, he was working on his mechanics and reads<\/a> in clips posted on social media. However, offseason workouts don\u2019t always translate to actual game play.<\/p>\n

As it turns out, the Rockets didn\u2019t have much to worry about. Though the jury is still out<\/a> on just how good Green can be, he\u2019s performing at an All-Star level early in the season.<\/p>\n