Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka expressed frustration and disappointment following his team’s Game 7 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday, citing offensive inefficiency, missed opportunities, and a lack of urgency in key moments.
Speaking to reporters postgame, Udoka emphasized how the Warriors’ zone defense disrupted Houston’s rhythm.
“You know, we usually find success when we find the middle,” Udoka said. “It felt like we missed a lot of point-blank shots.”
Despite pulling down 14 offensive rebounds, the Rockets converted only half of their second-chance opportunities.
Udoka also noted how Buddy Hield’s 33-point outburst—highlighted by nine made threes—exploited Houston’s zone looks.
“They had the most success against our zone for the first time in the series,” he said. “Hield got loose there.”
The Rockets, who finished 52-30 in the regular season and secured the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed, now face an early playoff exit. Udoka acknowledged the sting of a first-round elimination. “You can’t waste opportunities,” he said. “Felt like we had chances there to not even be in this position.”
While Jalen Green struggled offensively, averaging just 13.3 points over the final four games, Udoka defended his approach.
“You have to look at it as a sign of respect—the way they went after him,” Udoka said. “He didn’t get a ton of shots, but he did his job to get off the ball.”
Amen Thompson was one of the few bright spots for Houston, finishing Game 7 with a team-high 24 points and nine rebounds.
Udoka praised the forward’s resilience after a slow start to the series. “He just kept attacking, never lost confidence,” Udoka said. “Probably our most consistent guy tonight.”
Asked whether Houston beat themselves more than Golden State beat them, Udoka didn’t hesitate. “At times, for sure,” he said, pointing to 12 missed free throws and cold shooting stretches. “We really had great opportunities to come back home and put pressure on them.”
Houston shot just 40.5% from the field and missed more than 30 shots in the paint. Udoka attributed those struggles to a lack of physicality, not anything Golden State specifically did. “You have to play through contact and not seek fouls—just go to finish,” he said.
The head coach also reiterated his desire to bring back veteran guard Fred VanVleet, who holds a player option for next season. “Both sides want to be here,” Udoka said. “He’s a huge part of our growth.”
Reflecting on what it will take to reach the next level, Udoka stressed the need for internal growth and greater basketball IQ. “Everybody will take a look internally and see how we can all improve,” he said. “We can’t just come back the same.”
Despite the abrupt end, Udoka believes the franchise is on the right trajectory. “We took a big step this year,” he said. “But now it’s about taking the next one.”
