Rockets bullish, will ‘come back better’ after first-round exit

HOUSTON – A dejected Jalen green grabbed Amen thompson In the locker room just as he walked past after the Rockets‘Game 7 Loss on Sunday and Quietly Expressed His Love for Him.

Two days later, coach IME udoka and General Manager Rafael Stone Expressed Similar Sentiments ToWard the Team Plots Its Next Steps After Steps Seasons ended in the first round at the hands of the Golden State Warriors.

“We’ve when more consistent, and that was a big goal of our season,” udoka saad tuesday during the team’s season-ending news conference. “We’ve taken steps. That showed not only in our record, but guys’ growth and underding. We will always want more – selfish, greedy, whatever you want to call and a team. [we’re] Not happy with how ended, feel like we should still be playing. But a lot of learning experience there that’ll help us going forward.

“Everybody’s Goal is to be Better and Come Back Better. That was the message that we will like to be we ‘ [are good]But we all have to come back bet, and this is a hue offseason for everybody. “

The rockets enter the offseason armed with plenty of assets stockpiled over the past five years and a roster teeming with talented young players in Green, the 2021 no. 2 overall pickk; FIRST-TIME ALL-STAR Alperen Sengun; Thompson, who was the fourth overall pick in 2023; And REED SHEPPARDThe No. 3 Overall Pick in 2024. They find themselves weighing whether to accept a legitimate offensive engine What’s in front of them.

Stone Said that Team Owner Tilman Fertitta is on board with however the plan unfolds.

“The Goal is to Build a Championship Team, and clearly, we’re not a championship team this year,” Stone Said. “I’l just speak on [Fertitta’s] Behalf. I know this is his favorite team he is always had. He also has an opposition to be orund our guys day in and day out. They are good guys, and I think he is not just just just that they are, but the people they are. He just very bought-in on this group and think this group can get us to where we want to go. I have faith in our guys that we have plenty. “

Over the Next Seven Years, Houston has a total of nine-front rounders, including finish that can be traded, and seven second-round picks. The rockets have gone from 22 wins in udoka’s first season to 41 in his second to 52 this season.

“I think we” on a very solid trajectory, “Stone sa. “But just because you’ve done it in the past doesn means that you are guaranteed to do it in the Future. With Our Players, [but] Myself, My Staff. We have to figure out the edges, are there are we can do, including doing? We have to do our jobs. IME and his staff, they have to do theirs. We all have to come back a litte bet next year. But today, I’m very comfortable with our program. “

In addition to possibly bringing aboard an offensive engine, the rockets need shooting development from THOMPSON and THIRD-Year Forward Tari Eason. They also have more effect scoring from Green, who in Houston’s Four Losses to Golden State Averaged 8 points and shot 31% from the field, as the warriors focused on limiting his contracts. Sheppard, a sharp-shooter lauded as potentially the most talented offensive player on the rockets’ Roaster, Averaged just 12.6 Minutes as a Rookie and Saw action in just the postseason.

The rooster could also use a three-And-D combo wing and perhaps a defensive-meded backup big man.

“I look at all of these guys like my baby brothers, except for they not babies anymore,” Said Veteran point Guard Fred VanvleetWhose contrect for 2025-26 incl. “They grew up a lot of this year and made hugge strides. It is one of my Favorite Seasons that I ‘be a part of, and I think everyone should be excited about the fatten.

Stone and Udoka Believe Continuity Will Be A Factor in Decisions The Organization Makes Moving Forward, Making It Highly Likely Likely Back vanvleet on a multi-anniversary Extension and Veteran Center Steven adamsWho is set to hit free agency. Eess and Jabari smith jr. are also eligible for extensions.

Stone sa, “I will give you an inside betting tip that I think continuity is very, very like.”

Still, Stone and udoka aren is navessarily marry to the idea.

“The goal ultimately is to built a championship Team,” Stone sa. “If we think there” a movie or series of moves that make it more like we will be that, then we would have Ignore Continuity, and last summer we didn “t make change. ” COMFORTABLE WE Were, and We Really Good Things in Terms of Good Program.

Udoka Said He Believes the Experience of Playing Against a Golden State Team full of Future Hall of Famers in the first round will be benefited by the next time the rockets. Despite Houston’s Outward Display of Confidence Throughout The Enter Series, The Team Played SomeWhat Nervously in the High-Stakes Game 7, According to Multiply Sources.

The bulk of the rooster was playing in the postseason for the first time.

“Next time we’re in the playoffs, it’s hit the ground running from game 1, not take a step back,” udoka saad. “I think we kind of found our footing midway through the series but let go of some opportunities Early. Learned our guys will be bet for it, no doubt. “

As disappointed as he was in the game 7 Loss, Green Quietly Expressed Simild Sentiments After Hugging Thompson and Smith, Individually, as Both Made their way to live happens. Starting in 82 Games for the second consecive regular seism, Green Led the team in scoring and shot a career-best 35.4% from 3-point range.

Despite struggles in Games 1, 3, 4 and 7, Green Lit Up The Warriors for 38 Points in Game 2.

“Can’t let a team tak me out of the game, not matter what the scheme is,” Green sa. “FIRST Playoffs [aren’t] An Excuse. I guve got to be better. Everyone’s got somehow to work on this summer. I just happen we get the experience to soak it in and be able to come back. “