Stephen A. Smith warns Ime Udoka that his comment about 'chippy' Warriors-Rockets series could backfire
The Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets first-round matchup has become a physical battle, but Ime Udoka likes it that way. Players from both teams are determined to turn the showdown into a slugfest through hard screens and bumps.
According to the Rockets coach, this style of play favors his team based on results from the past two seasons. However, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith disagrees with Udoka's take.
Smith believes it favors the Warriors and that it will also hurt Houston in the long run.
"Ime Udoka's special," Smith said on Thursday, via 'First Take.' "He's the right man for the job, I think he's gonna lead the Houston Rockets to a championship in the near future. But, I don't like that comment that he gave because you're making yourself more of a target for the NBA when they don't want that."
Smith added that the calls will go against the Rockets at some point and that when it happens, they shouldn't complain.
After Game 2, Udoka said his team would not change its identity.
"That's who we are," said Udoka. "If they let us play, both teams, it's in our favor for the most part. Golden State as well is physical. You just have to play through it. You can't expect it on one end and then cry about it on the other. If it gets chippy we've seen over the last few years that works in our favor for the most part. Gets us amped up."
Houston has transformed under the leadership of Udoka. The three seasons before his arrival were all losing campaigns. The Rockets won 17 games in 2021-22, 20 the following season and 22 in 2022-23.
In 2023-24, they increased their win total to 41. Although they missed the NBA playoffs, it was an encouraging sign for a young squad.
This year, they finished as the No. 2 seed in the stacked Western Conference with 52 wins.
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Ime Udoka tells his team to keep playing physical
The Warriors-Rockets series has gotten fans up in arms with complaints over perceived non-calls and missed calls.
Houston coach Ime Udoka has encouraged his players to lean into it. In Game 2 on Wednesday, he was heard telling his players to keep playing physical because the referees won't blow their whistles.
"Keep playing through the contact, physicality," Udoka said. "Don't worry, they're not gonna call anything. Play through it."
The Rockets have played a physical brand of basketball all season long, and it's gotten them to the postseason.