Coach Ime Udoka pushes Rockets to ‘make some real noise’ after 2 straight first-round exits

Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka is aiming for the team to go beyond simply making it to the first round of the playoffs. This is Udoka's first season with the Rockets, who won 52 regular-season games in the previous two years but lost in the first round of the playoffs. Speaking at the start of the NBA season, Udoka emphasized the team's desire to "make some real noise" and take the next step in their development.

The Rockets opened their preseason with a two-game series against the Dallas Mavericks in Macao, China. The media day for the Rockets was more optimistic this year, with key contributions from returning players Fred VanVleet, Steven Adams, and Marcus Smart, as well as the addition of Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart. Kevin Durant, who was healthy throughout the regular season but limited to one playoff game last year due to an ankle injury, expressed his desire to play more minutes, even if it means sitting out in the fourth quarter when the Rockets have a lead.

Coach Udoka aims to focus on finishing games with a lead after more than half of Houston's 30 losses came from double-digit leads. General manager Rafael Stone expressed optimism about the potential for a big year for the Rockets, citing improvements in areas such as injury management and returning key players.