HOUSTON — Before meeting the Boston Celtics on Friday night, Ime Udoka discussed how the team has matured since his time with the organization. He said he was not surprised his former club won last season’s championship.
“It was coming regardless,” Udoka said.
Udoka says the Celtics broke through because they were able to raise their IQ and gain valuable experience. Beyond personnel changes, the team has evolved in a long list of ways since he spent one season in Boston. As much as the group has shifted since he was dismissed following what the franchise deemed an inappropriate relationship with a female employee, he surely recognized the defensive style that the Celtics used to smother the Rockets offense during a 109-86 victory.
Under Udoka, the Celtics often used Robert Williams as a roamer while Al Horford served as the primary defender of opposing centers. On Friday, Boston returned to the double-big look, but with Kristaps Porziņģis lurking in the help position while Luke Kornet took on the challenge of guarding Alperen Şengün. After the Rockets big man hurt them during the first quarter, the Celtics used the bigger lineups to shut him down the rest of the way — and, with that, dismantle the rest of the Houston offense. Boston held the Rockets to just 16…
