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The Houston Rockets are always going to be in a win-or-go-home situation from now on. Coach Ime Udoka has to scheme against a veteran LeBron James who has reliable guys like Deandre Ayton and Luke Kennard in the Los Angeles Lakers system. While it is expected that Alperen Sengun has to consistently pop off in the NBA Playoffs, there are two guys that the Rockets head coach will be looking to more — Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard.
Why Udoka's Rockets will be using Thompson and Sheppard vs. Lakers
Since the NBA Playoffs started, it has been increasingly apparent that the Rockets struggle in ballhandling. Setting plays have been quite hard for them and their turnover percentage of 11.3%, while still lower than the Lakers, have been quite a problem. This is why Coach Ime Udoka will be more strict with Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard, via Sam Amick of The Athletic.
"When I’ve got my arms around Amen and Reed, I’m telling them, ‘This is the point in the game where you guys take over. You guys are the guards. Be demonstrative, get the ball and dictate whatever we’re getting. I just wanted to let them know that. They’ve done a great job all game controlling it, and it was no different at the end," the Rockets head coach said.
Coach Udoka has seen massive improvements in both Sheppard and Thompson's ballhandling abilities. In their Game 5 win over the Lakers, both of those Rockets guards delivered and ran the offense very well. While Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with his eight assists, the two Rockets guards were not far behind. Sheppard was entrusted to become the Rockets offensive engine for 35 minutes and he dropped six assists while only committing a single turnover. Thompson had 45 minutes of playing time and he notched four assists while having three turnovers.
It's not hard to see why the Rockets need both Sheppard and Thompson. Coach Udoka schemes around them to remove a lot of offensive pressure away from Sengun. If these two manage to heat up in Game 6 and 7, the Rockets are going to achieve an insane comeback. LeBron James will not just be the first to come back from 3-1 in the NBA Finals, he will also be the victim of the first 3-0 collapse in postseason history.
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