Rockets head coach Udoka doesn't have a lot of trust in young players, and that's been evident in recent games. Against the Suns, young player Whitmore put on a standout performance, scoring 12 points with ease. However, in the next game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Whitmore did not get a chance to play, and instead Udoka was more inclined to trust Jock Landale, who could be in a slump at a critical moment. This decision ultimately cost Udoka.
In the final moments of the game, Landale opted to score a layup of his own instead of passing the ball to an outside shooter to help his team tie the score. It remains to be seen if Whitmore will be able to play more in the future, but what is certain is that Udoka's distrust of young players is clear. In addition to Whitmore, Rockets coach Udoka doesn't have a strong faith in another rookie point guard, Amen Thompson. In the game against the 76ers, Amen Thompson played only nine minutes, scored one point from the free throw line, as well as three rebounds and an assist, and did nothing else.
Originally, No. 4 pick Amen Thompson was considered one of the best rookies this season, and his talent was so good that he could even rival high rookies Wembanyama and Brandon Miller. However, injuries and Udoka's distrust have put Amen Thompson in an awkward position at the moment. So far, Amen Thompson has played in 11 games for the Rockets, averaging 141 minute of playing time only got 45 points, 32 rebounds and 14 assists, while his three-point shooting percentage is just 125%。
In addition to his poor outside shooting, Amen Thompson's style of play has been hovering outside the Rockets' tactical system. Originally, the Rockets wanted him to be the third playmaker, but Amen Thompson had limited ball-handling opportunities, even less than veteran Holiday Holiday. On the one hand, Amen Thompson has limited playing time and has not been able to fully integrate with the players in the rotationOn the other hand, the Rockets did not give him enough opportunities to carry the ball and possession, coupled with the limitations of his individual shooting ability, these negative factors combined to make Amen Thompson, the No. 4 pick, far from showing the level that a high rookie should have.
The Rockets are currently hardly able to find a third player who can pass the ball and organize the offense, except for VanVleet and Shin Jing. Holiday is more focused on shooting more often, while Jalen Green is even spotty on the offensive end at times, not to mention his playmaking skills. Amen Thompson, despite his passing ability, was underutilized and lacked tacit coordination with other players, causing him to be disconnected from the Rockets' tactical system. As a result, the Rockets' plans to create a third playmaker seem to be in jeopardy.
The immediate priority is to give more opportunities to young players such as Amen Thompson and Whitmore, while repositioning some underperforming substitutes to the bench is the most effective remedy. Rewrite: Aside from VanVleet and Shin Kyung, the Rockets are currently barely able to find a third player with the ability to pass and play offense. Holiday is usually more focused on shooting, while Jalen Green has been inconsistent on the offensive end at times, not to mention his playmaking skills.
Although Amen Thompson has the ability to pass the ball, he is not fully utilized and lacks tacit cooperation with other players, which leads to his incompatibility with the Rockets' tactical system. As a result, the Rockets' plans to create a third playmaker seem to be in jeopardy. The most urgent task at the moment is to give more opportunities to young players Amen Thompson and Whitmore, while repositioning some underperforming substitutes to the bench is the most effective remedy.