When the Houston Rockets look back on their 2025-2026 season, one glaring issue stands out above the rest: a dismal 1-7 record in overtime games. That's not just a bad stretch—it's a season-long pattern that exposed critical late-game flaws and ultimately kept the team from climbing the standings.

Only the Denver Nuggets played more overtime games this season, per StatMuse. But while Denver found ways to win in extra time, Houston repeatedly crumbled when the pressure hit its peak. Their lone overtime victory came all the way back on November 16th, 2025—a win against Orlando that feels like a distant memory. In fact, we're now closer to the start of next season than we are to that last OT win.

So what went wrong? For starters, the Rockets struggled with free throws and three-point shooting all year, and those weaknesses only amplified in clutch moments. But the bigger issue may be coaching. Ime Udoka's squad looked stagnant and predictable when games tightened up, often failing to execute when it mattered most.

That's led to serious questions about whether Udoka should be on the hot seat. While it's hard to argue he's had fireable offenses in Houston—and his contract makes a firing unlikely—the team could clearly benefit from more creative offensive minds on the bench. Bringing in assistants who can design better late-game sets might be the smartest move.

Of course, personnel matters too. Simply relying on a smaller guard returning from an ACL injury—even one as talented as Fred VanVleet—isn't enough to fix these issues. The Rockets need both better players and better coaching in clutch situations if they want to turn those heartbreaking overtime losses into wins next season.