The last time the Houston Rockets made the playoffs, James Harden was still part of the team. And with free agency looming, he did field the idea of going back to the place where he won MVP. The Rockets, with an exciting young group, had barely missed the play-in tournament last year. Surprisingly, Ime Udoka was the one who deflected the move. He told Harden “You’re at the stage where you want to win, and we’re not there yet”. There could have been a potential play for Giannis Antetokounmpo and even Jimmy Butler has forwarded his interest. But Udoka is unfazed.

Fast forward a few months, Houston is the third seed and among the toughest tests even for a title contender. So was it the right move to deny the possibility of adding a superstar and making a push early? Many may disagree, but Austin Rivers feels Udoka nailed his assessment.

Being a head coach of a team with championship aspirations means walking on eggshells. Hence, due to the fact the Rockets are young and only just ascending, Rivers resonates with the way Udoka feels.

“I think Ime is like I don’t know if we are ready for that… He’s in Boston before, then before that he’s in San Antonio with Pop. He knows what a championship team looks like. So I know he is looking at this team like we’re not there yet. Getting Giannis is only going to create worse expectations, false expectations on a team that’s not ready to do it yet,” he said on his podcast.

The Rockets have a young core with Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun blooming into the franchise stars. A sudden hierarchy shift not only can derail their progress but also levy a burden of expectations on a group that’s beginning to establish their identity. Rivers has seen this movie before with his own father.

“You want to be Doc? My dad right now he coaches teams that if you don’t win, you, you you get fired. He lost to the Bucks for with the Sixers, they fired him. He’s with Giannis right now they were talking about it last year. But the team is not even championship-built, but just because you got that Greek dude on your team, you got to win, you know what I mean?” he expressed on Off Guard.

Moreover, even with such a patient approach, the Rockets are still exceeding expectations unlike anything imaginable.

Ime Udoka is leading the Rockets down the right track

After a 41-41 season last year, Houston had several decisions to make. Green and Sengun were awarded extensions and the objective was set. Udoka wanted to run it again, but this time take the next step. And that’s evident this season. The Rockets have the second-best defense in the league, making playing hard as their core principle.

Additionally, they have already won 17 of their 26 games, the fifth-best mark this season. It highlights their drastic improvement since last season. But it’s just their first year of being such an elite group. Mistakes are yet to be identified and only then does a push for a megastar such as Giannis Antetokounmpo or Butler make sense.

With Udoka’s experience on teams demanding titles, he is aware of the process. Rivers feels thus far he has led a campaign impressive enough that “he’s going to win Coach of The Year possibly”. So even if the Rockets don’t win titles, a loss brings with it a lesson to sharpen their identity each game.

Even the general manager of the Rockets, Rafael Stone is on board with Udoka’s mindset. “We like this team. You know, we definitely do not intend to change anything, and I would be shocked if something changes this season” he said in the wake of rumors of Butler’s interest.

Apart from expectations, franchises also have to deal with the financial penalties that come with making a title push. Teams can’t pay their way into being a second-apron team for years unless they are willing to spend ludicrous amounts. Just ask the Celtics who could be paying over $500 million to keep their unit intact next season.

In these times, it seems it’s better to strategize and target the ideal window rather than rush into anything. The Rockets are surely on the rise but they are yet to fully reach their peak. Ime Udoka wants to distinctly be at that caliber before making any huge commitments. It will delay a championship but when the push comes, the Rockets will be prepared for the obstacles that arise with competing.

Do you think Ime Udoka and the Rockets are taking the correct approach? Let us know your views in the comments below.