Updates that are positive: Forma, the head coach of the Boston Celtics, has made his return public.
Boston — On Saturday night, Ime Udoka visited the TD Garden once more following his 2022–2023 season-long suspension by the team. The Celtics defeated Udoka’s Houston Rockets 145-113.
When the Rockets coach was revealed during opening lineups prior to the game, he received mixed reactions, including some cheers and jeers.
Udoka was previously questioned about if it was nostalgic to go back to the location where he came close to winning a title before losing his job due to what the team believed to be an improper relationship at work.
“It was a decent year, not a fantastic year. failed to complete it. Nevertheless, I did talk to a few people I hadn’t seen in a long time, Udoka said. After that, it’s finished. Everything is new the first time. We’re prepared to go on now that we’ve experienced it.
Although he claimed to have been able to speak with some of them in an effort to move on, Udoka expressed regret for disappointing the players and members of the organization after they came so close to winning a championship.
“I mean, I told the men the truth. I reached out to the people I needed to when the things happened, and I get some solace in the knowledge that the boys are aware of what transpired and how it all transpired, Udoka said. Naturally, I reconciled with my instructors after that, as they accompanied me to Houston. Many of my guys have returned to me, and while I tried to stay in touch with them as much as possible throughout the year, I also wanted to allow them room to pursue their own interests. That also applies to the players.
Udoka has been very explicit about the elements of team building that are essential to long-term success since coming to Houston: selflessness, aggressiveness, and, above all, a hands-on, aggressive defense. The main reason the 19–18 Rockets are still in the running for the postseason is their ability to have a top–three defensive team for the duration of the season, despite their struggles with offensive consistency.
The seasoned leadership of Jeff Green, Dillon Brooks, Aaron Holiday, and Fred VanVleet has been a key component of Udoka’s strategy to bring equilibrium and order back to the Rockets locker room. It’s hardly surprising that the arrival of a coach who expects the best performance from his players has coincided with third-year center Alperen Sengun’s explosive development.
According to Udoka, “the veterans coming in has played a big part of that.” After winning 19, 20, and 22 games in the previous three seasons, you kind of expect a different level of accountability and coaching style. However, building those relationships is what’s always happened, whether I was here or somewhere else. They recognize that going in and that’s who I am, and you can only be who you are.
