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00:00River Island's guest line, let's do it.
00:03Out to the River Island's guest line to talk with Colette Azebuki,
00:06getting ready for Game 2 in Houston.
00:08Obviously part of the broadcast, NBC Sports Barrier alongside Fitz.
00:12Hey, Colette, what's going on, man?
00:15I'm chilling, man, hanging out in the hotel over here.
00:17What's going on with you guys? Thanks for having me.
00:19Yeah, man, thanks for doing it. We really appreciate it.
00:21So I say the Warriors are the two-seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
00:26They're actually the two-seed because I'm only taking into account
00:31Western Conference records that happened after Jimmy Butler
00:34started playing for the Warriors. Is that fair?
00:38That's about right. The 23-8, the 31 games, ranked first defensively.
00:45It sounds like a two-seed to me.
00:47I think their confidence level is probably that of a higher seed too, right?
00:52The way they've been playing, obviously it was just fight, claw,
00:57do everything you can to have a chance at a playoff berth.
01:03And they did that winning that first play-in tournament game,
01:07getting the 7th seed, which was huge because you don't want to have to go up
01:10against OKC, like the best team in the league the first round.
01:14So, yeah, if you lose that first one, then you win the second one you're still in.
01:18But you're in a much more advantageous position right now going up against this
01:24somewhat inexperienced.
01:26They got some experienced players, but some of their best players that they
01:29are aligned for scoring the most, Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green,
01:33who they guard really well, are inexperienced.
01:35And the Warriors have the experience on their side.
01:37And you saw that in the way the Warriors were able to close them out,
01:40even though the Rockets made their run game there in that third quarter
01:46and fought hard with all their offensive rebounds and just battling and holding
01:52and hugging Steph and Stephen Adams throwing people all over the place
01:57to get offensive rebounds.
01:59They overcame that and got a W game one.
02:02So, Kalano, you look at game two coming up here on 95-7, the game,
02:06and you think about a blueprint for Houston to win this game.
02:10What is it that the Rockets would have to do?
02:12Or on the other side, what would the Warriors have to mess up to allow Houston
02:17to be able to get this game here tonight in game two?
02:21Well, it's easier said than done for the Rockets.
02:24They've got to make more of their open threes.
02:27You would like to say maybe to get even more physical,
02:30but probably not going to be that.
02:32Just kind of convert on more of their second-chance opportunities.
02:35The Warriors actually did a pretty good job of scrambling around
02:39and getting a few stops even when they got the second-chance points.
02:44But I felt like in that second half,
02:48Ime Udoka went more with Sengun handling and some ball screens.
02:53Maybe they try to set some ball screens for Jalen Green to get him going
02:59because the Houston Rockets can't have success if their leading scorer continues
03:05to struggle like this, like he has against the Warriors all season,
03:08like he did in game one, only seven points, three for 15.
03:12He really needs to go right, and the Warriors have forced him left a whole bunch
03:17and kind of sat on his right side.
03:19So can they get some action for Jalen Green to go right?
03:22Can they switch up an angle of a ball screen even if the Warriors are sitting
03:26on his right hand to get him going right or get him moving to his right,
03:31get him comfortable, see if they can get him out in space.
03:34The fast break points were 16-4 in favor of the Warriors,
03:39and that's the one thing.
03:40Like, Warriors, if they can snatch the offensive or the defensive rebound,
03:43get two hands on it and corral some more of those,
03:46it can almost work as a live ball turnover.
03:49Warriors can kind of get out and run because everybody,
03:52pretty much everybody, is crashing for the Rockets,
03:54and a lot of times there won't be anyone back.
03:56So the Warriors can do that even more.
03:58But they need their fast break points.
04:00The Rockets do.
04:01They need their second chance points.
04:02So can they get out in space a little more?
04:05Can they push it a little more?
04:06Even after a made bucket, throw the ball ahead even more
04:09and throw it ahead to Jalen Green and Tyree,
04:13whoever it is that can attack from the wings of Ben Thompson
04:16and see if they can get more in transit.
04:19Because the Warriors show, like,
04:20everybody wants to talk about the Rockets' defense.
04:22Warriors' defense is legit, man.
04:23I mean, 85 points is wild.
04:29So the Rockets need more in space, less in the half court.
04:33They want to speed it up a tiny bit more maybe
04:36and get out and run a little more.
04:38If they have to go half court to half court,
04:41that favors the Warriors,
04:42especially since they have ISO game now
04:45and they can figure things out if everything gets stagnant in the half court.
04:47Fitz and Buki on NBC Sports.
04:49Barry, it's night game two of the Warriors and Rockets.
04:52You'll hear it on 95.7 The Game.
04:54Kalena joining us right now on Withered and Dibs.
04:56So, Kalena, when you look at game one,
04:59did you kind of take away from it,
05:00the Warriors just won a basketball game,
05:03or did you actually see a sign of some matchups there
05:07that suggest the Warriors have a true edge?
05:09You know, I don't even feel like the Warriors played that well.
05:15I feel like they can play much better.
05:17And I feel like that's how the Warriors are thinking right now.
05:20Like, they probably feel like there's another level they can get to.
05:23Like, they outscored the Rockets from behind the three-point line by 18,
05:27but they didn't shoot it amazing.
05:30And as far as matchups go,
05:33like, I think you like Steph Curry versus anybody.
05:37They're obviously going to double-team him a ton,
05:39and he figured it out and kind of split the defense
05:41and got inside to kind of start off for him.
05:44Jimmy Butler against...
05:46You know what matchup that's interesting
05:47that I think the Warriors will do a better job with
05:49is the Moses Moody-Alperin-Sengun matchup.
05:52Because I think they want to get Alperin-Sengun involved
05:55with pretty much everything or as much as possible
06:00that they do offensively, ball screens, split action, all that stuff.
06:03Like, if Moses Moody can't attack him one-on-one
06:07and just go ISO and get in there and make a threatening drive,
06:10get deep in the paint, counter move, or whatever it takes,
06:13then just go hit and set a handoff screen.
06:16Throw it to someone and set a screen
06:18and get Sengun involved that way
06:21and just keep him involved.
06:23Use that matchup to their advantage.
06:25You get Moses Moody involved in some ball screen action.
06:28And then, yeah, if he's a little more decisive
06:29with his first move against Sengun,
06:32like, you know, hit him with a mean crossover.
06:35See if you can really get into the paint
06:36and make someone else help
06:37and just make them pay whenever Sengun is on the floor.
06:40I think they can do a better job of that.
06:43Just putting him in some tough situations,
06:47some actions that he'll have a tough time guarding
06:49and make him make a decision.
06:51Does he want to be in drop cover?
06:52Does he want to get up?
06:53And whatever he does, make him pay for that.
06:55I think Moses Moody will do a better job of that balance,
06:58figuring out when to attack himself
07:00or go pass it and set a screen to keep him involved.
07:05And I think the Warriors are doing a better job
07:06of just making him pay.
07:07And they need to make him pay.
07:09And it looked like, you know, the Warriors, younger guys,
07:11the role players were kind of slow to warm into the ball game.
07:14Pods is a little bit of a different animal in that way.
07:17But outside of Jimmy and Steph,
07:20you look for that third score tonight.
07:22Who do you think is key for the Warriors to get comfortable
07:25and get that additional offense?
07:28I think it is Pods.
07:29I mean, Pods, since Jimmy's been here,
07:31has been the third leading scorer.
07:32And he did get, like you said, he's different.
07:35He got the scoring start off of the Warriors.
07:37He hit that first three, which was big.
07:40The first points of the Warriors,
07:41a guy that's in his first playoff appearance
07:44and showing immediately that the moment isn't too big.
07:47The lights aren't too bright.
07:48I think Moses Moody, like I mentioned before,
07:50he'll probably have a bigger game.
07:52I think he's capable of having one or two big scoring games,
07:57whether that's 16, 18, whatever,
07:59however many points that could be.
08:00And you think of a Quentin Post who didn't score in game one.
08:04I think he could have an impact
08:06and really stretching the floor for the Warriors
08:08and spacing and getting the bigs away from the basket,
08:12whoever's on him, whether it's Steven Adams or Sten Goon,
08:15see if he can get them out of the paint
08:17and open up more driving opportunities
08:19for Stephen Curry, for Jimmy Butler.
08:23So that's what I mean when I say the Warriors can play better.
08:25The Warriors didn't even win the bench battle.
08:27They lost that pretty handily,
08:29and that should go the Warriors' way.
08:32It was 23-14 in favor of the Rockets.
08:34So you expect a little more from your bench.
08:37You know Buddy Heald is capable of having a monster game
08:41or just an X-factor type of game.
08:43He didn't really have that in game one.
08:45So Warriors weren't really hitting on all cylinders.
08:48They still got to win, which can be another thing that the Warriors can get confidence from,
08:55knowing that, okay, we kind of won with our E effort.
08:59Maybe B, you know, defensively.
09:01It was an A++.
09:03Offensively, maybe not so much.
09:04And they still got to win, which is great.
09:06So there's levels higher they can get to,
09:10and I think the role players being a part of that is really important.
09:14Kalana, when you look at the Rockets' roster,
09:17there's no one on the team that was there when the Rockets had their previous playoff battles
09:22with Steph Curry's Warriors.
09:25But I wonder if being in that building, did you sense, just from whether it's fans, media,
09:31the whole picture, did you sense that there is some sort of a mental block
09:37or confidence problem because it's Steph Curry and the Warriors in town again?
09:43I didn't sense that from the players, but the crowd, though.
09:46You can definitely feel the, oh, geez, we've seen this before.
09:51We know how this story goes with Steph Curry going on his flurries
09:55and torturing him and hitting shots from all over the place
09:57and the groans and then the spatter of Warriors fans, like, screaming and doing their thing.
10:04It felt really familiar just being in there.
10:07I'm sure Steph Curry is really comfortable in that building.
10:11I'm sure Draymond Green is really comfortable and familiar with that building,
10:15and that helps.
10:16Other than that, not too much, but it is kind of funny here
10:20and the crowd react, knowing that I've heard that exact sound from this place
10:25and the groans, and they've had to watch the Warriors have success
10:28at their team's expense a whole bunch.
10:31And that's kind of fun, for sure.
10:33You can definitely hear it on the broadcast as well when they've grown and everything,
10:36and then the Warrior crowd that's in there gets hyped up.
10:40So I enjoy that part of it.
10:43I remember, you know, the Warrior days with Kevin Durant and when James Harden was there
10:49and Chris Paul and, you know, there's a lot of success, a lot of Warrior great wins
10:56that they've had in that building.
10:57So that's pretty cool.
10:58How much of an advantage is it for the Warriors having been through it?
11:02And, you know, you had 48 hours now or more between games,
11:04and so a veteran team coming off a victory has a chance to just rest.
11:08I know Steph went out and golfed, and you probably snuck in nine yourself, Kalana.
11:13I know you're an avid golfer and probably better than I remember
11:16when you and I got out to Presidio,
11:18but how much does the time off help a veteran team as opposed to a younger team
11:23that's champing at the bit to get back out there?
11:26Well, I just want to know why you said only nine for me.
11:28Do you just feel like my attention span isn't good enough for 18?
11:31Is that what you're saying right there?
11:35You're kind of right, and I'm upset that you're right about it,
11:38but I just want to know why you said that.
11:39Well, unless your pace of play has changed,
11:42nine holes for you is a solid four hours.
11:44Wow.
11:45Pew, pew.
11:46Wait a minute.
11:47That pace of play was never my issue, was it?
11:50I definitely play faster now.
11:52Okay.
11:52Yeah, I mean, you were known for – you had a waggle.
11:55You had a waggle, and, you know, you were still working through your swing,
11:58so you were definitely, like, going to make sure that you were set up
12:01and hitting the right shot, and even then,
12:04when you were in your nascent rookie days,
12:06you still were better than I will ever be, Kalena.
12:10Yeah, well, I definitely play faster now.
12:12I mean, if I'm going to stink out there, I'm going to stink pretty fast.
12:16And then – and, yeah, we got 18 holes and had a good time.
12:19But, yeah, I don't know if it –
12:22it may favor the Warriors early in the series,
12:25and then if the series goes later or goes, like, six games or seven,
12:31maybe you think about the youth of the Rockets.
12:34But just in general in the playoffs, I don't know if the rest favors either team
12:39just because it's – both teams have to go through it,
12:42and you do get your rest for the most part,
12:45even though later in the series it goes every other day.
12:48But I do feel like the experience factor for the Warriors comes into play the most
12:54when it comes down to, like, clutch games or close games.
12:58You saw the Warriors closed in game one.
13:01Which group of closers would you rather have?
13:03Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler,
13:05or would you rather have Alperin Sangoon, Van Vliet,
13:08who went, what, two for 13 from three-point range in the first game,
13:13I believe it was, and Jalen Green trying to close games for you.
13:17I think the answer is clear,
13:19and anyone in their right minds would choose the Warriors
13:21when it comes to the closing down the stretch
13:25and making plays, the smarts, the IQ, thinking the game, the adjustment stuff.
13:31So that's the biggest thing for me.
13:32I don't feel like the days off really have a huge impact
13:37unless maybe it goes later in the round,
13:41and then you get later in the playoffs,
13:43and you still have a young team going against the Nola team.
13:45Then maybe we could start talking about the days off.
13:48But the experience factor is close games for me.
13:51Kalena Azebuki with us.
13:52Hey, Kalena, did you happen to talk to Fitz
13:55either late yesterday or early today?
13:59Yeah.
13:59Yeah, I talked to him both late yesterday and early today.
14:02All right, was there any discussion of bug tussle?
14:05Did that come up at all?
14:07Of what?
14:08Bug tussle.
14:10All right, so...
14:10Bug tussle?
14:11Bug tussle.
14:12So here's the deal.
14:13I want you to be ready for something tonight
14:15because it's been promised to us.
14:17Fitz came on yesterday,
14:18and he was asking for a city in Texas
14:22where he could sort of reference it
14:24if Steph Curry took a really long three.
14:27You know, like, oh, he shot that one from Austin
14:29or something like that.
14:30So quick Google search on odd Texas City names
14:35came up with a place called Bug Tussle,
14:38and that ended up being the big winner,
14:40according to Bob.
14:41And so Bob has promised that Steph is going to shoot one
14:44from Bug Tussle tonight,
14:45and I want you to be ready.
14:47I will be ready.
14:49I appreciate you telling me that.
14:50I know last game he went with Woodlands,
14:52and we played golf in that area
14:55the day before yesterday.
14:58So Bug Tussle.
14:59How do you spell that?
15:00There's two words.
15:01Yeah, it's B-U-G, like a bug,
15:03and then the other word is tussle.
15:05T-U-S-S-L-E.
15:06Bug Tussle.
15:07T-U-S-S-L-E.
15:08I'll be waiting for that,
15:10and if he doesn't do it, I'll get on him.
15:12Oh, he'll do it.
15:13He'll do it.
15:13I trust that man.
15:14I know.
15:14I know he will.
15:15Yeah, it's going to happen.
15:17All right, hit him straight, Kaletta.
15:19Have a great call tonight.
15:20Thank you so much.
15:21I appreciate you guys having me, man.
15:24Take care.
15:24Thanks, Buki.
15:26Fitz and Buki tonight.
15:27There's Buki.