You have to remember "local media" isn't as much a thing in Europe, or if it is they're not big enough to get into big sports games. A typical European country is more like a large state in the US size wise, almost all of the media in our sports games are linked to huge corporations and literally couldn't have their access revoked because then nobody would report on the games and it'd ultimately harm the team perception.
Strongly disagree. 10 point lead, milked the clock down to about 10 seconds, Draymond backing off of him daring him to shoot. NBA players take that shot 100% of the time. And like you said, we couldn’t score.
To quote Sengun at the end of the video - "Wide Open" That's a shot he should take when open, Ime should be encouraging Sengun to take wide open 3's, not cracking his confidence. If Ime has been discouraging Sengun from taking those shots all year - He's a problem. Confidence that you can make them is the first step. It's hard as hell to develop when the coach is cutting your nuts and won't allow you the freedom to fail - or not. Sengun making those shots changes the entire offense - If Ime is holding Sengun back, that's a problem.
It wasn't a smart shot -- but at the same time, at least he wanted the ball and wanted to take a shot. The spacing is so horrendous for the Rockets, and the Warriors did not respect Sengun's ability to shoot at all -- so when you are an all star, and you are left unguarded, the desire to take the shot is there.... to me it really highlights how badly an ability to hit open perimeter shots would expand Sengun's game. He would be an offensive engine if he could hit those shots.
Ime makes players second guess themselves. He was wide open. A 3 ends that run. Sengun in FIBA Eurobasket 2025. 31.8% from deep. 31% this season.
Us club sports is almost purely entertainment business, European club sports is something that is much more complex socially.
Agreed, just a very different beast. Even just the number of pro clubs that tend to be around makes a huge difference. Even the idea of press privileges being revoked because of a tough question is crazy to me. I don't think anybody would take the club seriously ever again if they started doing that.
Sengun has been shooting well in his last 4 games or so. It really wasn't that bad of a shot. And for a guy who clearly struggles with his 3PT shooting confidence, it's crazy for the coach to explode on him in the middle of him trying to build a grove. Tari missed like 5-6 shots in a row and survived multiple 3rd quarter timeout/break in plays despite of it. We've watched countless games with KD turning the ball over like a lunatic. We watched the Jabari slump. We've watched a ton of blown leads. Ime didn't have any of these moments with any of the other core starters. I almost question if his anger war more of the defensive breakdown on the Melton 3, but honestly that looked like Reeds fault for not rotating after Sengun cut off the on ball player. I just get the feeling Ime genuinely dislikes Sengun as a player. He's pre-annoyed with him, and when he makes a mistake it shows. That combined with the way Dave always alludes to him being a problematic player mold not worth building around, combined with how his connections within the front office are low on him. I hear from a friend that has a connection with one of the assistant coaches that they too are very low on him. I don't understand why we didn't trade Sengun in the off-season with the dynamics of neither the FO or coaching staff liking him as a player.
At a certain point, I feel journalists don't bother asking direct questions because Udoka's answer is the same. "the players suck, they need to play harder, it's all their fault".
I see both sides of it. On one hand, there was like 10 seconds left on the clock and Sengun is only a 30% shooter from 3. Udoka probably wanted a shot taken when the shot clock was about to go off or a gimme shot. Especially up 10 in the 4th quarter. Udoka is very much a grind it out type of coach in the 4th quarter. However, I can also see where Udoka should have supported him about the shot, as he wants these younger guys to improve and grow as players and it is clear that the overbearing nature of Udoka has impacted some of the younger players negatively. I have no doubt that Reed Sheppard and Sengun have doubted themselves because of Udoka. Udoka - like some coaches, clearly has his favorites and Tari and Jabari are those guys. As for KD, no coach is going to say anything to him in 2026 in the NBA. Seemed to me that Udoka felt the two things were connected and started with the missed 3. Sometimes I think that Udoka just gets angry and assigns blame. Well - Sengun is a problematic player mold for this Rockets team. He is a big that is too slow to guard the perimeter, but not a good rim protector. So defensively, there is an ongoing concern, and his limitations impact what other players can play around him. Couple that with his inability to stretch the floor, that makes it hard to put a rim protecting 5 next to him. Having said that, he is young, he can score and create some - he can rebound and is a gifted passer. Stone is risk adverse -- they had hopes he would become a better shooter from the perimeter.
The IRONY is we NEED Sengun to take those shots....if he becomes proficient at it, we become an instant contender. DD
Sengun making those shots does change the offense. 4 games left in the season in a precarious situation down the stretch of a game is not the time to "change the entire offense." We've lost how many games with leads down the stretch? We historically have problems with letting teams go on 10+ runs to get back into games and you think Sengun is justified in taking a 3 when he has Looney (or whatever his name is) on him? The Ime hate is clouding your judgement. NBA basketball is a game of possessions and situations. That was NOT the situation to hoist up a 3.
I absolutely want him to incorporate the three into his game. He started off the season taking them fairly regularly. But it's not his strong suit and you don't want your best players taking their worst shots down the stretch when it's not necessary...just because he's "open." I don't want a 31% shot when we are in a dry spell and Steph Curry is on fire. Especially when you can dominate your defender anywhere else on the court.
There is a recent example for MLS with Inter Miami. They recently inaugurated a new Stadium and did not provide credentials for one of the local reporters because he started to criticize disciplinary issues with the franchise players there. That may answer your question.
Why doesn't Ime benches Tari and DFS for dumber shots than Sengun and bigger defensive lapses than Reed?
