Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Reason to be optimistic tonight if you're the Rockets.
00:04Ryan Hollins joined us at 650.
00:07Rockers TV color analyst, 10-year NBA vet, formerly a first take ESPN.
00:11Ryan Hollins said a lot of things in that interview, by the way,
00:14that we can touch on again.
00:15But this one is what he talked about in regards to optimism for Houston tonight.
00:20But I'm extremely optimistic for tonight.
00:22Houston actually did a lot of things well in that last game.
00:25And I'm going to give you one thing that really stands out for me.
00:30What really stands out for me is that Houston was able to be physical.
00:37If Golden State was more physical and they won that battle,
00:41think Houston ends up with 20 offensive rebounds?
00:44I'd be extremely concerned.
00:45And that's a huge part of why they struggled in that second quarter.
00:48But because they were able to win the rebounding battle and be physical
00:52and do elements of what they do well,
00:56I think there's a huge chance for Houston to win this game tonight.
01:00See, I think it's as simple as they just need to hit shots.
01:04When they have open shots, they need to hit them.
01:05So who do you fear?
01:06If you're the Warriors and you could take away one particular person,
01:10who is the guy that you'd try to take away from the Houston Rockets?
01:12Well, listen, Shen Goon's going to get his, the Warriors can't match his size.
01:16He's that guy.
01:16He's that dude.
01:18Am I fearing Jabari Smith?
01:20Well, he played 25 minutes, but he didn't shoot the ball a whole hell of a lot.
01:23I do like him as a player.
01:24I do like him too.
01:25So maybe Emi Udoka says, hey, you need to shoot more in this game
01:28and a little less from Fred Van Vliet, a little less from Jalen Green,
01:31a little more Jabari Smith.
01:32So maybe it's whoever has the hot hand in this game outside of Shen Goon for me.
01:36I don't know who it's going to be, Joe,
01:38because quite frankly, everyone else kind of sucked shooting the ball.
01:41Alman Thompson, maybe he was four of nine.
01:43I don't fear him.
01:45He was four free throws, two in a row.
01:46It's Van Vliet for me.
01:47I know he's had really poor shooting numbers.
01:50See, I think the size of the Warriors just bother him.
01:52He's six feet tall.
01:53He's the only real, like what I would consider like good shooter
01:56in terms of like guy that you definitely need to honor to some degree.
02:01I know his shooting numbers have been very poor the last whatever two months.
02:04Stiney was rat-a-tat-tatting.
02:06He's been awful, specifically against the Warriors too.
02:08Horrible.
02:09But I do worry about him getting hot.
02:11Like Dylan Brooks, he'll hit a couple early.
02:13It's like, that's a good thing because you know he's going to miss late.
02:16I have zero fear of Dylan Brooks being clutch in terms of long-range shooting.
02:21Although this is a career year for him from beyond the arc.
02:23He's actually been pretty good this year shooting the three-point ball.
02:25But in a game that matters?
02:27No, I hear you.
02:28I hear you.
02:28I'm going back to not trusting him.
02:31Amen Thompson.
02:31No, I fear him in transition.
02:34I fear him around the rim.
02:35I don't fear him from beyond 15 feet.
02:37Now, Jabari Smith's another guy I would put into this category.
02:40I think you're going to see a lot more of him.
02:42The other guy that we haven't brought up is Tari Eason.
02:44He was bad.
02:45He was, but I worry about him a lot.
02:50I think he's an X factor for them.
02:51I thought he was bad shooting the ball defensively.
02:53I thought he was flying all over the place, but they had a lot of bad and knuckle-headed
02:56turnovers.
02:57Jabari Smith was one of those guys who, although he shot the ball well, he had four turnovers.
03:01Like, that can't happen.
03:02That's why he's going to keep his minutes probably down in this game.
03:05Do we see anyone?
03:06Do we see a Reed Shepard, right?
03:08Do we see something like that?
03:09Do we see an adjustment there?
03:10Steve Curry talked to Willard and Dibbs yesterday, Joe, and he says he doesn't expect massive
03:14changes from the Rockets in game two.
03:16I would say most coaches wait until after two games to make a major adjustment, whether
03:22it's a rotational addition or a scheme change.
03:27I think I don't expect massive changes from Eme.
03:32They know who they are as a team.
03:33They've had a great year.
03:34They have a real identity, and so we kind of know they're going to be physical, they're
03:40going to defend, and they're going to rebound, and I don't think too much will change from
03:45that philosophy.
03:46I mean, he says two games, but if the Rockets lose these two games and their home court is
03:51kaput, yeah, it's not looking good for them.
03:54So I do think in this game, if things aren't going well, they don't like a matchup, they
03:58will pivot very quickly, and maybe they go to a player on the bench that can shoot the
04:03ball just a little bit better, because the Rockets can't be as bad as they were shooting
04:06the ball on Sunday, and conversely, I think the Warriors and their role players can step
04:11up and shoot the ball a whole hell of a lot better.
04:13Yeah, but I'm not worried about whatever their shooting numbers are throughout the regular
04:17season.
04:17I'm looking at just this matchup, and I'm thinking to myself, anything Shang-Goon gives
04:22you, to me, is you just kind of accept it if I'm the Warriors.
04:26If he goes for 40, and nobody else is hitting from the outside, I actually think that plays
04:30right into the Warriors' favor.
04:31It was kind of like when the Warriors would play the Cavs, the Kevin Durant era, where
04:34you knew you were probably going to win the series, and LeBron's going to get his 40,
04:3845, whatever.
04:40What are the others doing, right?
04:40I was going to go Mozgov, but okay, LeBron.
04:43Sure, sure.
04:43But no, but LeBron always does it.
04:45I'm saying he's their best player.
04:46Yes.
04:47Shang-Goon's their best player.
04:48I know they're going to do that.
04:49Like, I know Anthony Edwards, for the most part, or Ja yesterday, right?
04:52They're probably going to get theirs.
04:54Desmond Bain, I can't let him get hot, right?
04:56I can't get the Santi Aldamas of the world getting hot, right?
04:59So, I think you mentioned Ahmed Thompson.
05:02You don't really fear his jump shot, right?
05:04It's him trying to get to the hoop, get to the lane.
05:05Well, it's him getting, it's basically in transition.
05:08In transition, right?
05:08This is where this team, I think.
05:09A full head of steam.
05:10Yes.
05:10I mean, you saw the, was it Tari Eason with the block the other day?
05:13Oh, it was a sick block.
05:14After he turned it over, by the way.
05:15The athleticism from some of these guys on this team is tremendous.
05:18And so, you're trying to limit the live ball turnovers because you're never going to be
05:23able to compete with them getting back on D.
05:25You're just not.
05:25And you want to have a set defense ready to go in the half court.
05:30And then I'm mixing it up.
05:31Maybe it's a little man-to-man.
05:32Maybe I'm doubling certain guys to get the ball out of their hands.
05:36But I think the big thing that I noticed from the Warriors is they force the Rockets
05:40into late shot clock execution.
05:43And they just don't have a lot of guys who can create off the dribble for themselves.
05:47A player that's interesting for me, and while he's not a great offensive, you don't look
05:52at this guy to shoot or score a lot, but he was super effective.
05:56He was the only player that was a plus category in the plus minus for the Rockets on Sunday.
06:00By the way, could you guess?
06:01Steven Adams.
06:02There you go.
06:02Right there.
06:03Steven Adams was a plus four, and he played 20 minutes for them, three or four.
06:07He had five offensive rebounds and 12 boards.
06:10Here's what I would do with him, though.
06:11If he catches the ball, hack him.
06:13Make him shoot free throws.
06:15I would rather...
06:160 for 2.
06:16Hack a Shaq.
06:17Yeah.
06:17He might have shot...
06:18Hacking at him.
06:19...the worst free throw I've ever...
06:21Oh, I said that in the chat.
06:22Oh, he clanked it to the side, didn't hit the rim, barely grazed the backboard.
06:26I almost would rather air ball than miss that bat.
06:28It was awful.
06:29I mean, it was so bad.
06:31Honestly, he's the only NBA player in the league that I might take our audience over in the...
06:36What do you call it?
06:37The knockout tournament.
06:39Knockout tournament.
06:39You would even take my jump shot over him.
06:41It was so bad.
06:41There you go.
06:42He has to consider shooting...
06:44No, you're...
06:44I made it to the finals, people.
06:46My ball went in.
06:47It might look ugly.
06:48It went in.
06:49Okay, Joe?
06:50Hey, I made it to the finals.
06:51Where'd you go in that knockout tournament?
06:52I was knocked out immediately.
06:54Moses Moody, by the way.
06:56We haven't played any of this.
06:56I love how this is like a referendum on my athleticism.
06:59Well, no, it's not.
07:00Just letting people know that some people are built...
07:02Where did you grow up, punk?
07:04Some people are built for the free throw line of big moments like Sasha Vujicic, game seven
07:07of the NBA finals, soaking wet off the bench, didn't play a whole game, comes in.
07:11Did you say the name Sasha Vujicic?
07:14I think of him with the thin little headband, the soccer flailing.
07:19God, he drove me nuts.
07:22Moses Moody said something yesterday, and he was on with Stiney and Evan filling in for
07:28Goo.
07:28Goo back today, by the way.
07:30But Stiney and Evan yesterday, Moses Moody joined them, and this is what he had to say
07:35about the Warriors and their chances over Houston.
07:40I think we can score better than them in the half court, definitely.
07:44They bring a lot of pressure, so as long as we can control the ball, limit turnovers when
07:48it comes down to it, I think we're a better team.
07:50So the more that we can use that and not let them just play fast and get out of it, then
07:55I think it'll be better for us.
07:57We're a better team, is what he said there.
07:59We're a, quote, we're a better team.
08:02You know, in the words of Burner, it sounded like there were seashells clicking in the background
08:06of that phone call.
08:07FBI tap, listening to Moody.
08:09FBI was tapping in.
08:10Agent Harris from The Sopranos tapping in there.
08:13What was going on there?
08:14That was not a great connection there, but hopefully the connection is better.
08:17And that was on what show?
08:18That was with Stiney and Goo yesterday.
08:19They get all the good guests.
08:21Well, not the best lines, though, clearly there.
08:23You know, it is a trip, and I'm going to tell Guru this when I see him.
08:26I love him dearly, and I know, look, we all have things going on.
08:28Are you taking a shot at Goo right now?
08:30He's the anti-Cow Ripken of this station.
08:31Come on.
08:33He was going through some serious stuff, and this is, come on.
08:36He'd get a good chuckle out of that.
08:37You were out Friday and Thursday.
08:39With the game on the line, who do you rely more on, Andrew Wiggins or Guru?
08:44It's a joke.
08:47It's a joke, people.
08:49Was Guru a first one eliminated in the knockout tournament again this year?
08:52Me and him both.
08:53Like, does Daryl the Guru Johnson owe us an explanation?
08:56Yeah.
08:57Let's not go down that road.
08:58I wonder if Goo's in on Shadur to the Niners.
09:00He might be.
09:01Goo would love Shadur to the Niners.
09:03Here's more on Moses Moody.
09:04Just for the content.
09:05Right?
09:06Here's more from Moses Moody.
09:08Real quick, did you like him saying we're a better team than the Rockets?
09:11Like, outwardly, he just said that.
09:12We're a better team than them.
09:12Yeah, but I don't think he meant it in a disrespectful way.
09:15Well, is there any other way to say it than just saying we're a better team?
09:17Well, that's the cause.
09:18No, I think athlete belief is a different thing than, like, oh, we think they're not good at all.
09:22Like, that's a completely different thing.
09:23Like, would he have said that if they're going up against the Lakers next round is what I'm saying?
09:27I don't know if he would have said that.
09:28Like, the Rockets feels like we could talk about the Rockets because they haven't shown,
09:32then they're proven anything in this league.
09:34Right?
09:35We're a better team than them.
09:37Right?
09:37But why are you looking at me like that?
09:38I'm just saying.
09:39Look, I mean, they are.
09:41Okay.
09:41And they're going to go out and they're going to prove it.
09:43Well, then they should tonight and go up 2-0 is what I'm saying.
09:46I just didn't think it was some malicious thing.
09:48No, I was just asking if how would you feel about that as a fan of your guys saying like that.
09:51I don't mind.
09:53And Moses Moody is such, like, an old soul.
09:54And, like, he's so calculated.
09:56Such a smart player.
09:57And he's, like, really his personality has shined a lot on the court, I feel like, this year
10:03because we've seen finally a happy, consistent Moses Moody on the court.
10:08That's why I think those shots today in the fourth quarter are huge.
10:11So huge for the mentals for him.
10:13And I know Anthony Slater, he mentioned yesterday, he's like, you know, we have Moses Moody.
10:15He's played in the playoffs before.
10:16Remember?
10:17He had to take over for Wiggins who got hurt in that Lakers series.
10:20I was like, yeah, but it's different starting.
10:21It always is, right?
10:23It's always different starting than coming off the bench.
10:25There's a mindset there that is different.
10:27There is a different weight on your shoulders early on in that game.
10:31And you find out if you're ready to be that key contributor.
10:34And I thought late in that game, he showed why he was.
10:38By the way, this one was great.
10:40More from Moses Moody.
10:41Talk about some of those crazy Curry shots that Ryan Hollins is mentioning.
10:45Kevin Harlan on the call saying geometrically that should not be possible.
10:49Well, you just expect it now at this point if you're Moses Moody.
10:53It's sad to say it's really become kind of normal around here.
10:56To see it so much.
10:58And it's still amazing.
11:00The same thing I've been watching since I was in middle school.
11:02But, you know, in the heat of the game, in the midst of it, you just have to win those games.
11:07And then you can unpack it a little bit later.
11:09It's become kind of normal just to see Steph do the things that he does, which is insane.
11:14And will we have more crazy Stephen Curry shots tonight?
11:17He had so many in that game.
11:18Maybe he doesn't.
11:19That's just kind of how things happen, right?
11:20But the game that he had on Sunday, if he replicates that performance, 31 points, 12-19, 5-9 shooting, 6 boards, 3 assists.
11:33Yeah, I think they're probably winning this game again.
11:35Like, if I'm Houston, I need to shut one of those guys down, right?
11:40Whether it's Jimmy or Steph, and force anyone else to step up on the Golden State Warriors.
11:44Can you imagine if Buddy Heald had, like, a 15-point game?
11:48No, I couldn't imagine.
11:49It's been a while.
11:50I can't even imagine a 15-point series.
11:54Wow.
11:55Really?
11:56Lubman off the top rope?
11:58Going John Cena on his ass?
12:01Damn.
12:01I do think that Pods could have an explosion.
12:05You can't see me, Sam.
12:06I do believe that Pods could definitely have an explosion in the next couple of games, because
12:11he's going to get a lot of wide-open looks with all of the attention centered around Steph.
12:15And now they're going to put a little more attention on Jimmy Butler, and he's going to
12:19play in a lot of those overlapping lineups.
12:21So him having a 20-point-plus game, I don't think is out of the realm either.
12:26You talked about Pods.
12:27Here's Steve Kerr yesterday on Wheeler and Dibs talking about Pods and Post and how they
12:31fared in their playoff debuts.
12:33I thought they handled it well.
12:34You know, Brandon made some huge plays for us, really played well.
12:38I think it was great for Quentin to get really his first taste of the NBA playoffs.
12:44Brandon has played two years now, so he's got a lot more experience than Quentin played
12:51in the play-in last year.
12:52But for both guys, it felt like the last couple of weeks have already been the playoffs.
12:58You know, and the Memphis game is absolutely a playoff game, whether they want to call
13:02it that or not.
13:03So, I don't know.
13:04I just think that young players need that experience.
13:07They need to feel that vibe.
13:09And these last few games have been really good for both guys.
13:12I'm with them on some of these games that aren't titled playoffs, because they're at the
13:16end of the year.
13:17They were playoff games.
13:18Yeah.
13:18Because you were fighting for your life, essentially, and your season.
13:23No.
13:23So, I 100% agree with them.
13:26Quentin Post, he's an interesting one tonight, because I do think he could be a key factor
13:30in this series.
13:31He just has knocked down shots.
13:32Can he knock down some shots early, get some confidence early in this game?
13:35And that's what it comes down to, that word.
13:37Quiet the crowd.
13:37Quiet the crowd.
13:38And again, they were pretty quiet for most of that game.
13:41For most of that game, they were pretty damn quiet.
13:43And I think they're going to know.
13:44If it's the second half, and it's, you know, Warriors up by 6-7-8, you're going to feel
13:50the tension in that fourth quarter.
13:51What is it?
13:52Lemon booty?
13:52What Bonte likes to say?
13:53Yeah.
13:53A lot of tight butts in that already.
13:55What is it called?
13:56Lemon booty is looming large.
13:57Lemon booty is looming large.
13:59Yeah.
13:59Puckering up.
14:01Puckering up right there.
14:02No, for sure, though.
14:03It's true.
14:04It's true.
14:04It's true.
14:05They're 0-4 against this team in the playoffs.
14:08There's a psychological edge that the Warriors just have over this team.
14:11Where I'm, like, it's almost the reverse of what the Chiefs have over the Niners is what
14:16the Warriors have over the Rockets.
14:18All the big games, all the big moments, all the play.
14:21Their best teams, the Rockets' best teams in the playoffs the last two-plus decades since
14:27I came in all of them, like, have been the James Harden and Chris Paul Rockets, and
14:31they just could not get over the hump.
14:32So, for them to finally get back to the playoffs, only to play the Warriors again, yeah, I'd be
14:37like, God, are you serious?
14:39Again?
14:39Well, it's because, you know, Yao should have been ours.
14:41Oh, that's why.
14:42That is.
14:43It's the curse of Yao.
14:44Please.
14:45We lost the most amount of games that year.
14:47Yao was the number one player coming out, and we should have had him.
14:50We ended up with the third pick.
14:51Well, it all worked out.
14:52It was a travesty.
14:52If you kept Yao Ming, you might not have gotten Stephen Curry.
14:54Well, and also, we wouldn't have had Mike Dunleavy, and now Mike Dunleavy wouldn't be
14:58the GM currently.
14:59Look at, see?
15:00It all works out.