1 Change Ime Udoka desperately needs to make to the Rockets' offense

The Houston Rockets changed their culture when they signed Ime Udoka.

He sets a tone. Udoka is tougher than most of the players on the floor. If you want to play for him, you've got to display the same toughness. Udoka doesn't care about your salary. If he doesn't think you're playing hard in the 4th quarter, you can watch the game with him on the sidelines.

He's been a blessing for the organization. That doesn't mean that he's perfect. Udoka's grit tends to translate on the defensive end of the floor. The Rockets were a revelation on that side of the court in 2023-24. Yet, for all of his defensive acumen, he seems to be lacking in offensive ingenuity.

In 2024-25 so far, it's showing.

Rockets are running the wrong plays

Udoka's offense is simple. Much of it revolves around Fred VanVleet and Alperen Sengun in the pick-and-roll.

The Rockets are currently 6th in the NBA in pick-and-roll (roll man) frequency (6.9%). They're 20th in the league in points per possession (PPP) generated from those actions (0.96).

So, they're running an action that isn't producing results quite often. Is there a more effective play they could run?

How about dribble hand-offs? The Rockets are just 21st in the NBA in hand-off frequency (21st). The 1.14 PPP they score in those sets ranks 7th in the NBA.

Forget basketball for a second. If you're trying to accomplish anything, you should do what works. The Rockets have data to suggest that the pick-and-roll isn't working. They've got data to suggest that dribble hand-offs work.

That also makes sense based on the roster's construction.

The Rockets need to revitalize their offense

Alperen Sengun draws frequent comparisons to Domantas Sabonis. The Kings are first in the NBA in hand-off frequency (9.5%). They're doing the thing that makes sense.

What a novel concept!

That's not to say Sengun is a replica of Sabonis. One could argue that he's got more natural scoring ability. The Rockets could stand to find Sengun on the low block more often as well.

Still, hand-offs are a good way to get Sengun into his face-up game. They're also a way to maximize his passing ability while minimizing his subpart processing speed. Making plays as a roll man requires making snap judgments in the short roll. As a hand-off hub, Sengun would have more opportunities to assess the defense slowly and make the right call.

Jalen Green may benefit the most from such a shift. Hand-off actions with Sengun would allow him to get downhill and should keep the paint more open than the Rockets' current pick-and-roll offense. Green is thriving through three games in 2024-25, but increasing the team's hand-off frequency should make for a more sustainable shot diet for the young guard.

Frankly, a VanVleet/Sengun pick-and-roll doesn't make particular basketball sense. VanVleet doesn't generate much rim pressure, and Sengun isn't a vertical threat. This is a limited action, and opposing defenses are keying in on it in 2024-25.

In 2023-24, the Rockets' pick-and-roll frequency was more easily justified. Udoka was focused on instilling defensive principles. It was sensible to keep the offense simple while he taught the team how to defend. Now, it's time to take the training wheels off. If Udoka has more in his playbook, he needs to start leaning on it.

If he doesn't? Perhaps the Rockets could invest in an offensive coordinator in time. That may feel like an indictment on Udoka, but it shouldn't. He's a high-end head coach by virtue of his ability to lead men and coordinate a defense. If he needs help from his staff to craft a more dynamic offense, the Rockets should get him help.

He'll still set a cultural tone for the organization.