Sengun sidelined, Rockets stumble. Coach Udoka blasts team's mental weakness as record continues to plummet.
NBA fans got a classic Texas matchup between Houston and Dallas to start the first weekend of the new year. Though these teams have different expectations for this season, the “I-45 Rivalry” was still expected to be a star-studded affair with Alperen Sengun vs. Anthony Davis, and Kevin Durant vs. Cooper Flagg. Unfortunately, Sengun went down after only one minute of play, leaving the game with an ankle sprain that was predicted to keep him out for 10-14 days, per Yahoo Sports. The team hasn’t fared well in his absence. After losing the remaining 47 minutes of last Saturday’s game, the Rockets only managed to get one more win in the three following outings. KD’s game winner in that lone win was worth celebrating, no doubt, but it was a little too close for comfort.
It’s not ideal for Kevin Durant to play upwards of 38 minutes in order to eke out a three point win. Head coach Ime Udoka seconded that opinion, expressing his frustration by saying, “the fact that we have to rely on a 37 year old for forty plus minutes, is a problem.” His postgame interview gave fans an idea of what he thinks some of the issues are, critiquing his team for a lack of aggression and lack of confidence, as well as being mentally weak. It’s harsh criticism, but it could be what the team needs after back to back losses in Portland. The losses can't continue to pile up, and Durant can't continue to play this number of minutes every night.
Houston is in serious risk of dropping into the Play-In Tournament, sitting just a half game above the Phoenix Suns, who have climbed all the way to the seventh seed. With Phoenix hosting the 10-27 Washington Wizards this evening, the Rockets game in Sacramento feels like a must win to get this team back on track. Beating the worst team in the conference shouldn’t be too much to ask, but Houston’s 11-8 record against teams below .500 hasn’t given anyone much confidence. The Suns are 14-4 in roughly the same number of games against similar competition, per ESPN. For comparison, the Rockets went 29-11 against teams with losing records last season. To me, that difference is a display of the mental weakness that Ime Udoka referenced. His team doesn’t show up and compete in games that are deemed to be easy wins. Facing the 8-30 Kings is unfortunately a big test for these Rockets right now, especially with Sacramento in the midst of a seven game losing streak.
With Sports Illustrated upgrading Sengun to questionable for tonight’s game, fans could see him return to the court earlier than expected. A sigh of relief, as key matchups against the Wolves, Spurs, and Thunder are on the horizon. Strangely, a Sunday night game in Sacramento might be just as important. Regardless of whether Houston’s star center is able to play, and regardless of any minutes restrictions, this is a must win game for coach Udoka and his team. A game where they need to prove they can maintain their focus, stay disciplined, and handle business against weaker competition. Ideally a game where young guys like Jabari Smith Jr, Amen Thompson, and Tari Eason can take some pressure off of Kevin Durant. Another loss tonight would be concerning, to say the least.