Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka acknowledged his team fell short of its internal expectations last season, but he made it clear that simply reaching the playoffs will not be enough as Houston prepares for the 2026-27 NBA season.
With the Rockets set to open training camp next week, Udoka reflected on Houston's first-round playoff exit against an injury-riddled Los Angeles Lakers team during an interview Tuesday with Ben DuBose of Rockets Wire.
Udoka said the Rockets âÂÂplateauedâ last season and pointed to their inability to close out games after building sizable advantages. Of Houston's 30 regular-season losses, 18 came in games in which the Rockets held a double-digit lead.
âÂÂWeâÂÂre not here just to make the first round. We want to make some real noise,â Udoka said.
The admission sets a higher standard for a Rockets team looking to turn its recent progress into a deeper postseason run. Houston returned to the playoffs last season but saw its campaign end much earlier than the organization anticipated against Los Angeles.
Ime Udoka sets higher expectations for Rockets ahead of 2026-27 season
Udoka's comments also serve as a warning about Houston's mindset entering the new season. The Rockets have moved beyond viewing a playoff appearance as the primary benchmark for success and will instead enter training camp focused on becoming a legitimate postseason threat.
Houston's inability to protect leads stands out as one area for improvement. Losing 18 games after leading by double digits accounted for 60% of the team's regular-season defeats, underscoring how different its record could have looked with better execution late in games.
That issue became more significant once the postseason arrived. Despite facing a Lakers team dealing with injuries, Houston could not capitalize and advanced no further than the opening round.
Udoka has helped raise expectations since taking over as Houston's head coach, and his latest comments suggest another step forward is now expected internally.
The Rockets will begin that process when training camp opens next week. After Udoka admitted Houston plateaued last season, the goal for 2026-27 is clear: The Rockets are no longer satisfied with simply reaching the postseason.