October 28, 2025 • 25 mins
The Rockets (1-2) secured their first win of the 2025-26 season with a home blowout of the Brooklyn Nets. With Dave Hardisty and Ben DuBose as hosts, Monday’s ClutchFans Live postgame show explores all the key storylines.
Topics include Tari Eason’s career shooting night; promising signs from Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard at point guard; and Ime Udoka’s decision to start Josh Okogie in place of Steven Adams.
The episode can be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK6DcRVY8zE
Topics include Tari Eason’s career shooting night; promising signs from Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard at point guard; and Ime Udoka’s decision to start Josh Okogie in place of Steven Adams.
The episode can be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK6DcRVY8zE
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome in to the post game, fellas.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
We are here.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Rockets get their first win of the season, one thirty
seven to one oh nine at home over the Brooklyn Nets.
Not the exactly the greatest test, but the Rockets passed
the test because they absolutely crushed this team and as
I said, get their first win of the season, and
you know, they start out zero and two. They really
kind of needed this. Seven players scoring double figures, everybody
(00:31):
to varying degrees, looks really good. And there's a few
things definitely that we want to talk about here. I'm
here with my good friend Ben Debos. Ben, you were
at the game. You've got the shirt to prove it.
It was strange. Stranger, Yeah, absolutely stranger things night at
Toyda Center. You know, Ben, outside of the very beginning,
when the Nets kind of jumped out seven to two,
(00:51):
nine to three, whatever it was, I know it was
seven to two, You're kind of like, okay, is this
going to be an issue? You know, Rockets just kind
of ran them from about one of the USA it
was about sixteen to sixteen. They just kind of took
off and never looked back.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah, from pretty much the moment Tarry Easton entered the
game in the first quarter and had four or five
threes by the end of the frame, I believe. And
my first question, Dave, can the Nets present Tari with
the one hundred and fifty million dollar oppera sheet now
or do they have to wait until June thirtieth h
exactly because.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
They're sorry to have a ton of money. They are
going to have a ton of money. It's a great
you know, you're making a joke, but at the same
time it is relevant because they could throw a ton
just to get the.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
R Yes, the pressure, but more seriously, like, of course,
I don't think the Nets are going to disproportionately weigh
one game against them, especially night tub of it back
to back. They're on the road. They are bad team
to begin with their tanking because of that deal they
made with the Rockets eighteen months ago or sixteen months ago,
whatever it was, when they got back two of their
future picks twenty five and twenty six for the assets
(01:52):
from the Suns, which indirectly helped the Rockets get Kevin
Durant because they used the twenty five pick in the
KD deal. So, boy, there's some amazing ripple effects when
you think back to the Rockets Nets trade from June
of twenty four. But look, I just think more than anything,
the Rockets needed to get right night, and specifically Tari
Easton and Reed Shepherd needed it because these first two games.
(02:13):
I mean, no one should be making a mountain out
of a mole hill because these were difficult opponents. You
lost by a combined four points. Yet I do think
it's very difficult when a team is built like the
Rockets and there's an established big three, or at least
an expected big three. I know with Shingoon and the Men,
they're still developing, but the expectations are very high for KD.
Shangoon and a Men assuming health. When you were one
(02:36):
of those supporting pieces, and especially if you're young, there
is so much scrutiny. And so when Tari and Reed
started the season slow, and we saw this a little
bit with Jabari in that second game against Detroit as well,
the temperature can get turned up so quickly on you
by the fan base because the big names tend to
get the benefit of the doubt. Look against the Pistons,
(02:58):
Shangoon and the Men were both sub but people trust
that they're going to figure it out, and we're conditioned
to think big picture, like if the Rockets don't win
a championship, what will be the reason they don't? And
so if Shangunda the men have a big have a
bad game, excuse me, I mean, people will note it,
but then we'll say, yeah, you know what, they'll figure
it out. It's one night and then the opener and
ok see, we talked on this show about kd struggling
(03:20):
late in the fourth quarter, especially the overtimes, the two
bad plays which he himself said postgame he felt like
cost the Rockets the game. There's also the timeout that
wasn't granted that could have cost the Rockets the game
as well, and yet no one makes a big deal
out of it, and rightfully so. Because it's Kad, we say,
you know what, he's going to be really good, it's
going to be fine. Well, what ends up happening is
that the young guys that are in that fourth fifth spot,
(03:42):
the guys like Terry Easton reached Shefford to some extent
Shabari Smith Junior, especially if they're young, every game gets
scrutinized because if they underwhelm, it's very easy for those
of us who are die hards and want to see
this team win a championship to say, hey, this is
the reason why they might not and so so I
get where it comes from, but it can be a
(04:02):
little unfair. I think sometimes when they have a bad night,
it gets blown out of proportion because of that tendency.
And you know, it's not that they're the only supporting
pieces on this team, but the veterans Steven Adams, Josha Kogi,
they do what they do Fred VanVleet before he got hurt, Like,
there's a certain stability there with the younger guys like
Tari Read to an extent Shabari that are sort of
(04:23):
boom or bust in their play. When they have a
night where they go bust, people make a huge deal
out of it. I understand where it comes from. But
when it happens at the start of the year, and
in Tari's case, it happens after the contract negotiations that
didn't result in an agreement, then it doesn't take a
lot for it to spiral. So even against the Brooklyn Nets, look,
I'm not taking any victory laps. It's one game a
(04:45):
week into the season against a really bad team on
a back to back, but sometimes you just need to
see the ball go through the bucket to avoid sort
of a spiraling effect to where things can get out
of control. And I felt like for Tari and Read specifically,
this was a get right game for them after a
rough first week of the season.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Yeah, let's talk a little bit about Tari because really
I think he's had one highlight in the first two games,
and it's been a lot of low lights, you know
what I'm saying, Like it's been rough for Tari in
the shadow basically of the contract negotiations that did not
come to fruition for an extension before he, you know,
the season started. So obviously I've seen it on the
forums on Clutch fans on Twitter, all these different you know,
(05:21):
conspiracy theories, he's you know, whatever you want to say,
that he's not into it. Obviously tonight that wasn't the case.
He had twenty points by halftime and basically uh had
five hit a career high three pointers standalone career high
he hit four last year. He had five three pointers
made by halftime, and he was aggressive and just knocking
(05:46):
down his jumper and it was probably the biggest thing
that jolted them in that uh you know, in that
first half was Tari playing better And that's a great sign.
It may be the nets. We can dismiss a lot
of things. And by the with the nets to me,
look a lot like the Rockets in twenty twenty one,
Like a lot like the Rockets.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
But with a better coach than Steven Silas.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Right, exactly exactly. But it's you know, like you look
at these these highlights Toari bringing it tonight. He was energetic,
he was aggressive. I mean here he is go straight
to the basketballs his way through and then he was
knocking down jumpers. Shng Goon was finding him. Reed Shepherd
a men. You know, it's just one of those things
(06:28):
that just reassures you Tari is here. Tari is still
very talented. We didn't forget you, Tari, because I gotta
be honest. Just if you watch those first two games,
it is easy to forget that Tarri can play.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
By the way. Tonight we saw that he also had
five assists to no turnovers and only two fouls. So
for all the criticism that Tari gets for sometimes playing
out of control, and it's often warranted, tonight he did
play within control and when they closed out on him
a little bit more. He showed an ability to playmate.
He did get reckless with the fouls, trying to do
(07:01):
too much. So these are all really good signs. Sure
it helps when the ball goes through the bucket, but
it wasn't just that. He just played much more composed overall.
And I do think, like the start of this season,
one thing that's worth noting and reminding fans is that
it was just two games. But it was two games
in terms of the style of play, grinded out in
(07:23):
the half court, physical defenses that were very similar to
the last seven this team had in the playoffs against
the Golden State Warriors, And for some players, I think
Tari in particular, that's not a strength. He feeds off
of games that are a little bit more helter skelter,
when he can get into the whole terror twins dynamic
and cause and create chaos and you know, get out
(07:45):
in transition. Again, it wasn't just that tonight. He did
make plays in the half court, But I do think
that Tari is the type of guy when you look
at the two opponents they had last week and the
seven games against the Warriors, who's going to be set
up to look a little bit worse based on his
skills as they currently are, and I think they're targa
team made that with all the injuries and the games
he missed the last two years, his development might have
(08:07):
been stunted a little bit. So right now he needs
to sort of fatten up against an opponent like the
Brooklyn Nets, and to his credit, he did, and so
he's not a finished product like at some point for
him to be worth the money that he clearly thinks
he's worth, he's going to need to, you know, scale
this up to where he can deliver in the half
court against really good defenses. But one of the good
(08:30):
things about the NBA in an a two game season
is that you get a mix of opponents, and so
to start this season, going back to the playoffs, excluding
the preseason, when the games have mattered, the last nine
or two games of the Rockets had all been against
like top shelf defense that are dialed in. Tonight was
a reminder that hey, you are going to get some games,
and the Rockets have more coming up. You got the
Raptors Wednesday, the Celtics on Saturday, the Mavericks on Monday.
(08:51):
None of these teams are particularly difficult where some of
these guys who because they're young, they're a little raw,
they might not be ready for you know, alf court
level execution in a playoff setting. Well, they can thrive
over the season, and the hope is that, you know,
they get more reps, they get more confidence, and then
eventually they develop and improve in those deficiencies so that
by the end of the year they're more ready to
(09:13):
play playoff basketball than they were in the spring, or
that they are right now. And so I think that's
the thing with Starry, with Tari excuse me, It's got
to start somewhere, and I think tonight was potentially that point.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Yeah, the win tonight does at least keep eighty wins
on the table. It's possible, right, So I want to
talk about the change they made in the starting lineup
as well. You know, Double Big gets sit down. Obviously
we saw a lot of Double Big tonight. I'm not
saying it's out in general, but it did come out
of the starting lineup tonight. Josha Koge gets the start
(09:43):
instead of Steven Adams, you know, and like I said,
other than the little you know, Nets run to start
the game, maybe the Rockets did just find a Kogi's
been really good and I'm amazed with Tari here and
a man and all this that that he has worked
his way into this rotation so fast, significant minutes, so early.
We will see when Dorian Phinney Smith gets back what
(10:04):
actually pans out, and we'll, you know, judge the defense
at that particular time. I do think the defense in
general in the first half wasn't that great. You know,
they gave up sixty points. E May in the postgame
talked about this as well, said he wasn't it wasn't
up to our standard. And it was around mid third
quarter that I noted, I know, to you and some friends,
(10:25):
I was saying, you know, the defense has definitely shifted
here in the third. I'm sure Emay had a little
pep talk with them at halftime about you know, cranking
that up. But what did you see as far as
a kogie starting, him getting the play and do you
think that's what we're going to see more of as
in him being more of a placeholder in the starting
lineup until Dorianfinney Smith gets healthy and moves himself into
(10:46):
the starting lineup.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Yeah, I think it was pretty clear based on this
decision that the double big is not something they necessarily
anticipate running all season long, at least as a primary option.
They want it to be, you know, a tool in
the bag. That's an analogy I've used before. It's a
club that Imo Udoka can pull out when it's warranted,
but it's not something I want to have to do
(11:09):
on a game in game out basis, at least not
for twenty to thirty minutes per game. And so I
think starting Josh tonight shows a willingness that when Dori
Anfonty Smith comes back, and if he is as good
as expected and if he's healthy, then it's very possible.
But he is your fifth starter alongside the clear top
four of kd Amin Shigoon and Jabari Smith. And I
(11:30):
thought the biggest motivation for the change going into and
again the caveat of small sample size. Two good opponents
Thunder defending champions Piston's playoff team YadA YadA. Look, the
Rockets were second worst in the league in three point
attempts per game allowed and seventh worst in three pointers
(11:50):
put up, like they were at a huge math advantage
in those two games they had last week like we
talked about in the OKC game, where it felt like
the Thunder missed a lot of threes, yet I think
they made as many, maybe more than the Rockets, Like
the Rockets didn't have an advantage from three, even though
they shot slightly better, because the Thunder put up more
in volume. And then on Friday, it was just a
(12:12):
dramatic discrepancy between the Pistons and the Rockets. And it's
just so tough to win in the modern NBA. If
you're losing the math advantage to that extent, which tends
to happen when you play the double big because you
don't have as many shooters on offense and because you're
running more zone and you have to drop those bigs
a little bit, then you're inherently going to give up
a few more threes defensively. And tonight they did give
(12:33):
up more, but the gap was thirty two to thirty nine,
much more reasonable, and I suspect the Rockets might have
put up more threes than that if the game had
been competitive. You know, everything sort of just stalled out
a little bit late in the game, got helter skelter, YadA, YadA,
and so you know, it was fun watching Read and
Capella get some synergy on the lobs and all that
good stuff. But I thought starting Josha Kogee and he
(12:55):
had two threes in the first quarter, if you recall,
was big from the standpoint of the Rockets not playing
with you know, a hand or two hands tied behind
their backs, which is what it felt like a little
bit when at least in the Pistons game, you know,
the Rockets, especially Kevin Durant, would execute in the half
court and then you go down and the Pistons stick
a three, And you know, even if you've scored three
(13:15):
straight trips, if the Pistons have two threes in there,
then you haven't made up any ground. Like It's just
it's a math game and you can't lose it the
way the Rockets had. Now, I don't think they're necessarily
moving away from the double big. We did see a
lot of Steven Adams and Alfrid Changoon in this game.
We saw some Clint Capella and Alfrinch and Goon as well.
But I do think that this showed that the Rockets
(13:37):
recognize they need a little bit more floor spacing. And
we're gonna talk about a men He had eight assists
to zero turnovers tonight. So one theme that I've been
pushing back on, I don't necessarily agree that the Rockets
miss Fred vn Fleet because they are without a point guard.
(13:57):
I think the Rockets missed Fred van Fleet because they
are without a reliable fifth starter. And to me, there's
a distinction there, like that's not downplaying Fred. No, he's interesting,
he's really good, don't get me wrong, But if you
have a capable fifth starter, and this is where Joryan
Phinney Smith can come into play, I do think a
Men and Shongoon are good enough as creators and they
(14:19):
should get better and Reid should get better as well,
to where not having a point guard is not necessarily
going to kill this team. To me, what's killed this
team is well and killed. I used that loosely because
come on, they're one and two and the two losses
are to the good teams, so I could find five points.
But what has hurt this team to this point is
that their options for the fifth spot have been limited,
(14:40):
and that you know, Tari and Reid struggled the first week.
Steven Adams was good, but there are some limitations on
both ends when you go the double big and so
there just wasn't that drop in fifth starter that made
sense alongside the clear top four. Fred and Fleet would
have been that guy, and I have hope that Jorriyan
Phinney Smith could be that guy.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
So well, you know, it's gonna be interesting. We'll see
if that's true. I've been thinking a little bit differently, like,
oh man, they just desperately need that that sure ball handler.
There was the play where, you know, Shangoon and Reed
both played really well tonight, but they had some turnovers
that you know, there was the one in particular where
Shangoon just dribbled top of the key for a long
time and lost the ball out of Telos, had some
bad passes and just got had you know, had it
(15:21):
turned over read as more just an experienced Shangoon is more,
in my personal opinion, the secondary playmaker. But you know,
that's I think we'll see in the next game. Toronto
is a team that we're hearing at least they're one
and three. They're not great, but they are applying a
new trend, which is pressing their high ball pressure. So
(15:41):
let's see how the Rockets do in that next game.
But but you do make a great point. I mean,
if they had more of a cohesive, you know that,
or like you said, a fifth guy, maybe it would
be a little bit differently and it wouldn't look stick
out quite as much.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
By the way, the Rockets only had nine turnovers tonight,
so there were some low lights in there, but as
a team they Okay.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Yeah, it was three KD three Shangoon and as you
point out, a man eight assists to zero turnovers tonight.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
And endless plus thirty three in twenty five minutes. It's
that's insane.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
It's insane, and it's like I said, coming off the heels,
like you pointed out of him having a really rough
game against Detroit. Great to see him have that kind
of major impact. He always does generally speaking, but great
to see him have that major impact tonight. We don't
talk enough about Shangun and read Shangoon really good game
tonight again. Two for two yea from three point range
(16:33):
is Alpra and Shangun after going five for eight in
the first game, I think he was zero for two
and against Detroit or I know he didn't make one,
but two for two from three tonight, seven eleven overall,
twenty one points, did have six assists, six boards in
the three turnovers and read you know, he played significant minutes.
Also got some garbage time at the end, but in
the fourth when it wasn't really exactly garbage, he did
(16:54):
knock down a couple triples. Three of seven from deep
finished I think fifteen points, eight assists. Wow, I didn't
even note that down.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
He and Capella had some nice chemistry going there.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
The lobs absolutely, yeah as then the chat was talking
about that he needs a lob threat. Actually gets Steven
Silas coming in with the lob threat comment.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
But yeah, yeah, you're right, eight assists. I didn't realize that.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
Wow, yeah, I did not catch that either. A couple
turnovers Cappella. I think somebody said on the broadcast, this
is his best game as a Rocket, and I'm like,
we might want to revisit that comment, at least his
recent rocket tenure, because you know there is a past.
But you know, amend to me, like I said, just
really stand out Jabbari four of seven tonight, eleven points.
(17:35):
He was solid. Kevin Durant, you know six or fourteen,
hit seven of seven from the line, oh for four
from three again he was over four at okay See
as well, so he struggled a little bit from three
point range, but still, you know, kat was Katie nineteen points.
Tarry really is the one who stuck out the most,
and it is you do have to put it aside
as this is Brooklyn. You can't really bank on this
(17:57):
as far as any kind of like playoff success. But
they needed this like they just needed it. The first
two games. Extremely physical defenders both both teams. I think
the Rockets are built to withstand that and succeed in
that type of environment, but they needed an easier one,
a little less physical in Brooklyn. Like I said, I
(18:17):
think that team's probably going to be the worst in
the league, if not bottom two or three. And that
is a pick that the Rockets did have. But of
course what they've gotten in return has been quite good.
And part of what they got in return they used
to get KD and all that. It's not like a
revision's history thing. But it will be interesting to see
if the Nets come away with Darren Peterson or Aj
(18:37):
Debiansa or or one of those guys. But yeah, that's that,
you know, all note as well as you did earlier,
the Rockets do have the Nets pick next year. So
you remember what it was like when the Rockets were
in this in this boat where they had three first
round picks, or excuse me, four first round picks, right,
we had Josh Christopher and more of my blanking out
(18:59):
Usman Garuba thanks.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
Oh yeah, a Rockets and Jalen and these guys.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
Are all learning. You're going to lose a lot of games.
It's hard to imagine, even with all their cap space men,
that they're going to turn it around drastically next year.
It's possible, yeah, but it's hard to imagine. When they
have five first round picks, some of them as young
as nineteen on their roster. It bodes really well for
that pick that they have next year.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
Kntari Easton b the tank commander for the Rockets, to
get a high twenty seven pick from Brooklyn.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
I'm I'm you know, you're joking, but I could actually
see it. That's what's kind of terrifying right now.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
Yeah, because you don't know how it's always going to
scale up, No, and to close the loop on the
double big like beyond just the three point volume discrepancy,
which I think you know was important to get that
under control. Todnight. I think the bigger thing with regards
to the starting lineup change and what they're looking for,
and tonight was certainly something to build on. Whoever you
(19:51):
start has a very high floor, like we've talked about
it before, and it's certainly the individual player or players,
but also the groupings like they're going to play unless
something goes catastrophically wrong, they're going to play at least
the first six to seven minutes of the first and
third quarters, and so that's twelve to fourteen, twelve to
fifty minutes right there before you even consider the remaining
(20:12):
eighteen or so minutes of each half. So you need
to feel like there's not going to be a glaring
deficiency in that group, because if there is, there's not
much of an off ramp. And so for me, the
double big much makes much more sense off the bench
because you can sort of feel your way. If it's working, great,
(20:32):
you can stick with it, and you may Udoka did
this tonight, like there was still a decent amount of
time that Steven and LP played together. But if it's
not working, if it's just clearly I thought this was
the case against the Pistons, where they just were getting killed.
From a math perspective, it's tough to really go away
from it without making your rotation super clunky because you're
(20:53):
taking somebody out really early then you got to bring
them back and you're also trying to play capella, so
you're trying to potentially play three centers. It's just it's
very difficult to start a group or to start any
player if you think you might need an off ramp.
So for me, Josha Kogy now maybe it's Tari maybe
read plays into it, hopefully, Dorian Phinney Smith to me, that's,
you know, excluding Fred bin Fleet, who by the way,
(21:14):
Fred talked to us today at shoot around and he's
still not saying he's done for the year. Obviously that's
many months away, but keep that in the back of
your mind. But I think that's the consideration for the
Rockets as they go forward, is that until you have
an entrenched fifth starter, I think you need to make
sure you have an off ramp. Josha Kogy is an
easier off ramp if you need to change things up,
(21:34):
and if you try to double big off the bench,
then obviously you can easily, you know, go away from it.
If it's not working, and so that's why for me
this makes a little bit more sense that I suspect
that at least for one more game, this is this
is where they'll go.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Yeah, one other note, twenty four fast breakpoints for the
Rockets tonight after you know, just being two games. Of course,
they are dead last in the league at seven and
a half fast break points after the first two games.
This is going to help them quite a bit. The
Nets came into this game oh to three and did
have the dead last worst defense in the league one
hundred and twenty five plus defensive rating Phoenix right there
(22:08):
next to them, which is a little surprising to me.
I thought Dylan would have a little bit more of
an impact. It's still way early, but so that is
something to consider as well. But next two games been
you go you on the road, now you go at Toronto,
you go at Boston. Both of those teams struggling badly,
but they are sneaky, tough plays. Toronto has, has, like
(22:31):
I said, really started to bring into this pressing defense,
which is going to tax a team that is not
exactly loaded with ball handling depth or just you know,
a starting point guard. And then Boston which of course
you know Emaoutoka going back there, and you've got Jaln Brown.
You do have still talent on that squad. So next
two will be I think a more significant test.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
Yeah, I think so, But it's also an opportunity and
that if you can get both of these games, that
would feel like getting back, at least to me, the
break that they gave up last week, because I don't
think anyone was realistically expecting two and oh, but both
of those games went down to the wire. It should
have been one in one. Like Dave, I know you've
got a spreadsheet every year you chart expected wins and losses. Yes, yeah,
(23:14):
you shouldn't have been zero to two, but you probably
shouldn't have been two to oh as well, So you're
really only one game off what I would say the
expected pace is well, I don't think you'd probably expect
to sweep a road trip in Toronto and Boston like
you take it as a pleasant surprise. But as just said,
these are two capable teams on the road a lot
of travel. I think one in one is a reasonable expectation,
(23:37):
especially when you're still short handed, you're integrating new pieces,
and then if you go to and O. Then it
sort of offsets any damage that there was from losing
both of those thunder Pistons games. So for me, you know,
one in one you can live with at two and oh,
I mean it's on the table and that's an opportunity.
If you can win these two games and get to
three and two through five games, I think you'd honestly
be probably where you should be all things considered.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
Yep, gonna be a really interesting to see. And the
one I have circle on my calendar Bean November seventh,
Rockets at Spurs, that first NBA Cup game. Spurs are
four and oh, I know they look good. I haven't
really did their schedule. I haven't really seen how they
have been tested as far as like their opponents. They
just played the Nets for example, I think they played
the Raptors tonight. Who the Rockets play next? But they
(24:19):
did crust. You know, they beat up the MAVs. I
can't remember their first game, but Wemby against the Rockets.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
Dylan Harper looks a lot better than I expected.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
It looks terrific too.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
Yeah, like I was, well, of course I was pullsh
on him as a prospect, but I didn't necessarily think
as a rookie that he would contribute to winning to
the extent that that he is. I thought he might
be a little bit closer to Stephan Castle. And that's
some of the you know the stats or empty calories. No,
they're not empty calories of Dylan Harper. He's contributing to
winning already. So yeah, that'll be a big win NBA
Cup game too, So tons of stakes there.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
Absolutely, and you have the Maverson Grizzlies before that game.
But that's the one I'm really because that's the one
that's the Rockets are a future team. The Spurs are
a future team, I mean the present and future for
both of those teams. That's the one that the Rockets
are to be sized up against for a long time.
So I'm really looking forward to that. Ben, appreciate you
doing this. It's a next game. We don't need to
go to the full thirty. We will be back on
Wednesday night after the Rockets play the Raptors. Appreciate all
(25:10):
of you for watching and subscribing and supporting Clutch fans.
We appreciate all of you, So you all have a
great night. We'll see all Wednesday
Welcome in to the post game, fellas.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
We are here.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Rockets get their first win of the season, one thirty
seven to one oh nine at home over the Brooklyn Nets.
Not the exactly the greatest test, but the Rockets passed
the test because they absolutely crushed this team and as
I said, get their first win of the season, and
you know, they start out zero and two. They really
kind of needed this. Seven players scoring double figures, everybody
(00:31):
to varying degrees, looks really good. And there's a few
things definitely that we want to talk about here. I'm
here with my good friend Ben Debos. Ben, you were
at the game. You've got the shirt to prove it.
It was strange. Stranger, Yeah, absolutely stranger things night at
Toyda Center. You know, Ben, outside of the very beginning,
when the Nets kind of jumped out seven to two,
(00:51):
nine to three, whatever it was, I know it was
seven to two, You're kind of like, okay, is this
going to be an issue? You know, Rockets just kind
of ran them from about one of the USA it
was about sixteen to sixteen. They just kind of took
off and never looked back.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah, from pretty much the moment Tarry Easton entered the
game in the first quarter and had four or five
threes by the end of the frame, I believe. And
my first question, Dave, can the Nets present Tari with
the one hundred and fifty million dollar oppera sheet now
or do they have to wait until June thirtieth h
exactly because.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
They're sorry to have a ton of money. They are
going to have a ton of money. It's a great
you know, you're making a joke, but at the same
time it is relevant because they could throw a ton
just to get the.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
R Yes, the pressure, but more seriously, like, of course,
I don't think the Nets are going to disproportionately weigh
one game against them, especially night tub of it back
to back. They're on the road. They are bad team
to begin with their tanking because of that deal they
made with the Rockets eighteen months ago or sixteen months ago,
whatever it was, when they got back two of their
future picks twenty five and twenty six for the assets
(01:52):
from the Suns, which indirectly helped the Rockets get Kevin
Durant because they used the twenty five pick in the
KD deal. So, boy, there's some amazing ripple effects when
you think back to the Rockets Nets trade from June
of twenty four. But look, I just think more than anything,
the Rockets needed to get right night, and specifically Tari
Easton and Reed Shepherd needed it because these first two games.
(02:13):
I mean, no one should be making a mountain out
of a mole hill because these were difficult opponents. You
lost by a combined four points. Yet I do think
it's very difficult when a team is built like the
Rockets and there's an established big three, or at least
an expected big three. I know with Shingoon and the Men,
they're still developing, but the expectations are very high for KD.
Shangoon and a Men assuming health. When you were one
(02:36):
of those supporting pieces, and especially if you're young, there
is so much scrutiny. And so when Tari and Reed
started the season slow, and we saw this a little
bit with Jabari in that second game against Detroit as well,
the temperature can get turned up so quickly on you
by the fan base because the big names tend to
get the benefit of the doubt. Look against the Pistons,
(02:58):
Shangoon and the Men were both sub but people trust
that they're going to figure it out, and we're conditioned
to think big picture, like if the Rockets don't win
a championship, what will be the reason they don't? And
so if Shangunda the men have a big have a
bad game, excuse me, I mean, people will note it,
but then we'll say, yeah, you know what, they'll figure
it out. It's one night and then the opener and
ok see, we talked on this show about kd struggling
(03:20):
late in the fourth quarter, especially the overtimes, the two
bad plays which he himself said postgame he felt like
cost the Rockets the game. There's also the timeout that
wasn't granted that could have cost the Rockets the game
as well, and yet no one makes a big deal
out of it, and rightfully so. Because it's Kad, we say,
you know what, he's going to be really good, it's
going to be fine. Well, what ends up happening is
that the young guys that are in that fourth fifth spot,
(03:42):
the guys like Terry Easton reached Shefford to some extent
Shabari Smith Junior, especially if they're young, every game gets
scrutinized because if they underwhelm, it's very easy for those
of us who are die hards and want to see
this team win a championship to say, hey, this is
the reason why they might not and so so I
get where it comes from, but it can be a
(04:02):
little unfair. I think sometimes when they have a bad night,
it gets blown out of proportion because of that tendency.
And you know, it's not that they're the only supporting
pieces on this team, but the veterans Steven Adams, Josha Kogi,
they do what they do Fred VanVleet before he got hurt, Like,
there's a certain stability there with the younger guys like
Tari Read to an extent Shabari that are sort of
(04:23):
boom or bust in their play. When they have a
night where they go bust, people make a huge deal
out of it. I understand where it comes from. But
when it happens at the start of the year, and
in Tari's case, it happens after the contract negotiations that
didn't result in an agreement, then it doesn't take a
lot for it to spiral. So even against the Brooklyn Nets, look,
I'm not taking any victory laps. It's one game a
(04:45):
week into the season against a really bad team on
a back to back, but sometimes you just need to
see the ball go through the bucket to avoid sort
of a spiraling effect to where things can get out
of control. And I felt like for Tari and Read specifically,
this was a get right game for them after a
rough first week of the season.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Yeah, let's talk a little bit about Tari because really
I think he's had one highlight in the first two games,
and it's been a lot of low lights, you know
what I'm saying, Like it's been rough for Tari in
the shadow basically of the contract negotiations that did not
come to fruition for an extension before he, you know,
the season started. So obviously I've seen it on the
forums on Clutch fans on Twitter, all these different you know,
(05:21):
conspiracy theories, he's you know, whatever you want to say,
that he's not into it. Obviously tonight that wasn't the case.
He had twenty points by halftime and basically uh had
five hit a career high three pointers standalone career high
he hit four last year. He had five three pointers
made by halftime, and he was aggressive and just knocking
(05:46):
down his jumper and it was probably the biggest thing
that jolted them in that uh you know, in that
first half was Tari playing better And that's a great sign.
It may be the nets. We can dismiss a lot
of things. And by the with the nets to me,
look a lot like the Rockets in twenty twenty one,
Like a lot like the Rockets.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
But with a better coach than Steven Silas.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Right, exactly exactly. But it's you know, like you look
at these these highlights Toari bringing it tonight. He was energetic,
he was aggressive. I mean here he is go straight
to the basketballs his way through and then he was
knocking down jumpers. Shng Goon was finding him. Reed Shepherd
a men. You know, it's just one of those things
(06:28):
that just reassures you Tari is here. Tari is still
very talented. We didn't forget you, Tari, because I gotta
be honest. Just if you watch those first two games,
it is easy to forget that Tarri can play.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
By the way. Tonight we saw that he also had
five assists to no turnovers and only two fouls. So
for all the criticism that Tari gets for sometimes playing
out of control, and it's often warranted, tonight he did
play within control and when they closed out on him
a little bit more. He showed an ability to playmate.
He did get reckless with the fouls, trying to do
(07:01):
too much. So these are all really good signs. Sure
it helps when the ball goes through the bucket, but
it wasn't just that. He just played much more composed overall.
And I do think, like the start of this season,
one thing that's worth noting and reminding fans is that
it was just two games. But it was two games
in terms of the style of play, grinded out in
(07:23):
the half court, physical defenses that were very similar to
the last seven this team had in the playoffs against
the Golden State Warriors, And for some players, I think
Tari in particular, that's not a strength. He feeds off
of games that are a little bit more helter skelter,
when he can get into the whole terror twins dynamic
and cause and create chaos and you know, get out
(07:45):
in transition. Again, it wasn't just that tonight. He did
make plays in the half court, But I do think
that Tari is the type of guy when you look
at the two opponents they had last week and the
seven games against the Warriors, who's going to be set
up to look a little bit worse based on his
skills as they currently are, and I think they're targa
team made that with all the injuries and the games
he missed the last two years, his development might have
(08:07):
been stunted a little bit. So right now he needs
to sort of fatten up against an opponent like the
Brooklyn Nets, and to his credit, he did, and so
he's not a finished product like at some point for
him to be worth the money that he clearly thinks
he's worth, he's going to need to, you know, scale
this up to where he can deliver in the half
court against really good defenses. But one of the good
(08:30):
things about the NBA in an a two game season
is that you get a mix of opponents, and so
to start this season, going back to the playoffs, excluding
the preseason, when the games have mattered, the last nine
or two games of the Rockets had all been against
like top shelf defense that are dialed in. Tonight was
a reminder that hey, you are going to get some games,
and the Rockets have more coming up. You got the
Raptors Wednesday, the Celtics on Saturday, the Mavericks on Monday.
(08:51):
None of these teams are particularly difficult where some of
these guys who because they're young, they're a little raw,
they might not be ready for you know, alf court
level execution in a playoff setting. Well, they can thrive
over the season, and the hope is that, you know,
they get more reps, they get more confidence, and then
eventually they develop and improve in those deficiencies so that
by the end of the year they're more ready to
(09:13):
play playoff basketball than they were in the spring, or
that they are right now. And so I think that's
the thing with Starry, with Tari excuse me, It's got
to start somewhere, and I think tonight was potentially that point.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Yeah, the win tonight does at least keep eighty wins
on the table. It's possible, right, So I want to
talk about the change they made in the starting lineup
as well. You know, Double Big gets sit down. Obviously
we saw a lot of Double Big tonight. I'm not
saying it's out in general, but it did come out
of the starting lineup tonight. Josha Koge gets the start
(09:43):
instead of Steven Adams, you know, and like I said,
other than the little you know, Nets run to start
the game, maybe the Rockets did just find a Kogi's
been really good and I'm amazed with Tari here and
a man and all this that that he has worked
his way into this rotation so fast, significant minutes, so early.
We will see when Dorian Phinney Smith gets back what
(10:04):
actually pans out, and we'll, you know, judge the defense
at that particular time. I do think the defense in
general in the first half wasn't that great. You know,
they gave up sixty points. E May in the postgame
talked about this as well, said he wasn't it wasn't
up to our standard. And it was around mid third
quarter that I noted, I know, to you and some friends,
(10:25):
I was saying, you know, the defense has definitely shifted
here in the third. I'm sure Emay had a little
pep talk with them at halftime about you know, cranking
that up. But what did you see as far as
a kogie starting, him getting the play and do you
think that's what we're going to see more of as
in him being more of a placeholder in the starting
lineup until Dorianfinney Smith gets healthy and moves himself into
(10:46):
the starting lineup.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Yeah, I think it was pretty clear based on this
decision that the double big is not something they necessarily
anticipate running all season long, at least as a primary option.
They want it to be, you know, a tool in
the bag. That's an analogy I've used before. It's a
club that Imo Udoka can pull out when it's warranted,
but it's not something I want to have to do
(11:09):
on a game in game out basis, at least not
for twenty to thirty minutes per game. And so I
think starting Josh tonight shows a willingness that when Dori
Anfonty Smith comes back, and if he is as good
as expected and if he's healthy, then it's very possible.
But he is your fifth starter alongside the clear top
four of kd Amin Shigoon and Jabari Smith. And I
(11:30):
thought the biggest motivation for the change going into and
again the caveat of small sample size. Two good opponents
Thunder defending champions Piston's playoff team YadA YadA. Look, the
Rockets were second worst in the league in three point
attempts per game allowed and seventh worst in three pointers
(11:50):
put up, like they were at a huge math advantage
in those two games they had last week like we
talked about in the OKC game, where it felt like
the Thunder missed a lot of threes, yet I think
they made as many, maybe more than the Rockets, Like
the Rockets didn't have an advantage from three, even though
they shot slightly better, because the Thunder put up more
in volume. And then on Friday, it was just a
(12:12):
dramatic discrepancy between the Pistons and the Rockets. And it's
just so tough to win in the modern NBA. If
you're losing the math advantage to that extent, which tends
to happen when you play the double big because you
don't have as many shooters on offense and because you're
running more zone and you have to drop those bigs
a little bit, then you're inherently going to give up
a few more threes defensively. And tonight they did give
(12:33):
up more, but the gap was thirty two to thirty nine,
much more reasonable, and I suspect the Rockets might have
put up more threes than that if the game had
been competitive. You know, everything sort of just stalled out
a little bit late in the game, got helter skelter, YadA, YadA,
and so you know, it was fun watching Read and
Capella get some synergy on the lobs and all that
good stuff. But I thought starting Josha Kogee and he
(12:55):
had two threes in the first quarter, if you recall,
was big from the standpoint of the Rockets not playing
with you know, a hand or two hands tied behind
their backs, which is what it felt like a little
bit when at least in the Pistons game, you know,
the Rockets, especially Kevin Durant, would execute in the half
court and then you go down and the Pistons stick
a three, And you know, even if you've scored three
(13:15):
straight trips, if the Pistons have two threes in there,
then you haven't made up any ground. Like It's just
it's a math game and you can't lose it the
way the Rockets had. Now, I don't think they're necessarily
moving away from the double big. We did see a
lot of Steven Adams and Alfrid Changoon in this game.
We saw some Clint Capella and Alfrinch and Goon as well.
But I do think that this showed that the Rockets
(13:37):
recognize they need a little bit more floor spacing. And
we're gonna talk about a men He had eight assists
to zero turnovers tonight. So one theme that I've been
pushing back on, I don't necessarily agree that the Rockets
miss Fred vn Fleet because they are without a point guard.
(13:57):
I think the Rockets missed Fred van Fleet because they
are without a reliable fifth starter. And to me, there's
a distinction there, like that's not downplaying Fred. No, he's interesting,
he's really good, don't get me wrong, But if you
have a capable fifth starter, and this is where Joryan
Phinney Smith can come into play, I do think a
Men and Shongoon are good enough as creators and they
(14:19):
should get better and Reid should get better as well,
to where not having a point guard is not necessarily
going to kill this team. To me, what's killed this
team is well and killed. I used that loosely because
come on, they're one and two and the two losses
are to the good teams, so I could find five points.
But what has hurt this team to this point is
that their options for the fifth spot have been limited,
(14:40):
and that you know, Tari and Reid struggled the first week.
Steven Adams was good, but there are some limitations on
both ends when you go the double big and so
there just wasn't that drop in fifth starter that made
sense alongside the clear top four. Fred and Fleet would
have been that guy, and I have hope that Jorriyan
Phinney Smith could be that guy.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
So well, you know, it's gonna be interesting. We'll see
if that's true. I've been thinking a little bit differently, like,
oh man, they just desperately need that that sure ball handler.
There was the play where, you know, Shangoon and Reed
both played really well tonight, but they had some turnovers
that you know, there was the one in particular where
Shangoon just dribbled top of the key for a long
time and lost the ball out of Telos, had some
bad passes and just got had you know, had it
(15:21):
turned over read as more just an experienced Shangoon is more,
in my personal opinion, the secondary playmaker. But you know,
that's I think we'll see in the next game. Toronto
is a team that we're hearing at least they're one
and three. They're not great, but they are applying a
new trend, which is pressing their high ball pressure. So
(15:41):
let's see how the Rockets do in that next game.
But but you do make a great point. I mean,
if they had more of a cohesive, you know that,
or like you said, a fifth guy, maybe it would
be a little bit differently and it wouldn't look stick
out quite as much.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
By the way, the Rockets only had nine turnovers tonight,
so there were some low lights in there, but as
a team they Okay.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Yeah, it was three KD three Shangoon and as you
point out, a man eight assists to zero turnovers tonight.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
And endless plus thirty three in twenty five minutes. It's
that's insane.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
It's insane, and it's like I said, coming off the heels,
like you pointed out of him having a really rough
game against Detroit. Great to see him have that kind
of major impact. He always does generally speaking, but great
to see him have that major impact tonight. We don't
talk enough about Shangun and read Shangoon really good game
tonight again. Two for two yea from three point range
(16:33):
is Alpra and Shangun after going five for eight in
the first game, I think he was zero for two
and against Detroit or I know he didn't make one,
but two for two from three tonight, seven eleven overall,
twenty one points, did have six assists, six boards in
the three turnovers and read you know, he played significant minutes.
Also got some garbage time at the end, but in
the fourth when it wasn't really exactly garbage, he did
(16:54):
knock down a couple triples. Three of seven from deep
finished I think fifteen points, eight assists. Wow, I didn't
even note that down.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
He and Capella had some nice chemistry going there.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
The lobs absolutely, yeah as then the chat was talking
about that he needs a lob threat. Actually gets Steven
Silas coming in with the lob threat comment.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
But yeah, yeah, you're right, eight assists. I didn't realize that.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
Wow, yeah, I did not catch that either. A couple
turnovers Cappella. I think somebody said on the broadcast, this
is his best game as a Rocket, and I'm like,
we might want to revisit that comment, at least his
recent rocket tenure, because you know there is a past.
But you know, amend to me, like I said, just
really stand out Jabbari four of seven tonight, eleven points.
(17:35):
He was solid. Kevin Durant, you know six or fourteen,
hit seven of seven from the line, oh for four
from three again he was over four at okay See
as well, so he struggled a little bit from three
point range, but still, you know, kat was Katie nineteen points.
Tarry really is the one who stuck out the most,
and it is you do have to put it aside
as this is Brooklyn. You can't really bank on this
(17:57):
as far as any kind of like playoff success. But
they needed this like they just needed it. The first
two games. Extremely physical defenders both both teams. I think
the Rockets are built to withstand that and succeed in
that type of environment, but they needed an easier one,
a little less physical in Brooklyn. Like I said, I
(18:17):
think that team's probably going to be the worst in
the league, if not bottom two or three. And that
is a pick that the Rockets did have. But of
course what they've gotten in return has been quite good.
And part of what they got in return they used
to get KD and all that. It's not like a
revision's history thing. But it will be interesting to see
if the Nets come away with Darren Peterson or Aj
(18:37):
Debiansa or or one of those guys. But yeah, that's that,
you know, all note as well as you did earlier,
the Rockets do have the Nets pick next year. So
you remember what it was like when the Rockets were
in this in this boat where they had three first
round picks, or excuse me, four first round picks, right,
we had Josh Christopher and more of my blanking out
(18:59):
Usman Garuba thanks.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
Oh yeah, a Rockets and Jalen and these guys.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
Are all learning. You're going to lose a lot of games.
It's hard to imagine, even with all their cap space men,
that they're going to turn it around drastically next year.
It's possible, yeah, but it's hard to imagine. When they
have five first round picks, some of them as young
as nineteen on their roster. It bodes really well for
that pick that they have next year.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
Kntari Easton b the tank commander for the Rockets, to
get a high twenty seven pick from Brooklyn.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
I'm I'm you know, you're joking, but I could actually
see it. That's what's kind of terrifying right now.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
Yeah, because you don't know how it's always going to
scale up, No, and to close the loop on the
double big like beyond just the three point volume discrepancy,
which I think you know was important to get that
under control. Todnight. I think the bigger thing with regards
to the starting lineup change and what they're looking for,
and tonight was certainly something to build on. Whoever you
(19:51):
start has a very high floor, like we've talked about
it before, and it's certainly the individual player or players,
but also the groupings like they're going to play unless
something goes catastrophically wrong, they're going to play at least
the first six to seven minutes of the first and
third quarters, and so that's twelve to fourteen, twelve to
fifty minutes right there before you even consider the remaining
(20:12):
eighteen or so minutes of each half. So you need
to feel like there's not going to be a glaring
deficiency in that group, because if there is, there's not
much of an off ramp. And so for me, the
double big much makes much more sense off the bench
because you can sort of feel your way. If it's working, great,
(20:32):
you can stick with it, and you may Udoka did
this tonight, like there was still a decent amount of
time that Steven and LP played together. But if it's
not working, if it's just clearly I thought this was
the case against the Pistons, where they just were getting killed.
From a math perspective, it's tough to really go away
from it without making your rotation super clunky because you're
(20:53):
taking somebody out really early then you got to bring
them back and you're also trying to play capella, so
you're trying to potentially play three centers. It's just it's
very difficult to start a group or to start any
player if you think you might need an off ramp.
So for me, Josha Kogy now maybe it's Tari maybe
read plays into it, hopefully, Dorian Phinney Smith to me, that's,
you know, excluding Fred bin Fleet, who by the way,
(21:14):
Fred talked to us today at shoot around and he's
still not saying he's done for the year. Obviously that's
many months away, but keep that in the back of
your mind. But I think that's the consideration for the
Rockets as they go forward, is that until you have
an entrenched fifth starter, I think you need to make
sure you have an off ramp. Josha Kogy is an
easier off ramp if you need to change things up,
(21:34):
and if you try to double big off the bench,
then obviously you can easily, you know, go away from it.
If it's not working, and so that's why for me
this makes a little bit more sense that I suspect
that at least for one more game, this is this
is where they'll go.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Yeah, one other note, twenty four fast breakpoints for the
Rockets tonight after you know, just being two games. Of course,
they are dead last in the league at seven and
a half fast break points after the first two games.
This is going to help them quite a bit. The
Nets came into this game oh to three and did
have the dead last worst defense in the league one
hundred and twenty five plus defensive rating Phoenix right there
(22:08):
next to them, which is a little surprising to me.
I thought Dylan would have a little bit more of
an impact. It's still way early, but so that is
something to consider as well. But next two games been
you go you on the road, now you go at Toronto,
you go at Boston. Both of those teams struggling badly,
but they are sneaky, tough plays. Toronto has, has, like
(22:31):
I said, really started to bring into this pressing defense,
which is going to tax a team that is not
exactly loaded with ball handling depth or just you know,
a starting point guard. And then Boston which of course
you know Emaoutoka going back there, and you've got Jaln Brown.
You do have still talent on that squad. So next
two will be I think a more significant test.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
Yeah, I think so, But it's also an opportunity and
that if you can get both of these games, that
would feel like getting back, at least to me, the
break that they gave up last week, because I don't
think anyone was realistically expecting two and oh, but both
of those games went down to the wire. It should
have been one in one. Like Dave, I know you've
got a spreadsheet every year you chart expected wins and losses. Yes, yeah,
(23:14):
you shouldn't have been zero to two, but you probably
shouldn't have been two to oh as well, So you're
really only one game off what I would say the
expected pace is well, I don't think you'd probably expect
to sweep a road trip in Toronto and Boston like
you take it as a pleasant surprise. But as just said,
these are two capable teams on the road a lot
of travel. I think one in one is a reasonable expectation,
(23:37):
especially when you're still short handed, you're integrating new pieces,
and then if you go to and O. Then it
sort of offsets any damage that there was from losing
both of those thunder Pistons games. So for me, you know,
one in one you can live with at two and oh,
I mean it's on the table and that's an opportunity.
If you can win these two games and get to
three and two through five games, I think you'd honestly
be probably where you should be all things considered.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
Yep, gonna be a really interesting to see. And the
one I have circle on my calendar Bean November seventh,
Rockets at Spurs, that first NBA Cup game. Spurs are
four and oh, I know they look good. I haven't
really did their schedule. I haven't really seen how they
have been tested as far as like their opponents. They
just played the Nets for example, I think they played
the Raptors tonight. Who the Rockets play next? But they
(24:19):
did crust. You know, they beat up the MAVs. I
can't remember their first game, but Wemby against the Rockets.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
Dylan Harper looks a lot better than I expected.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
It looks terrific too.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
Yeah, like I was, well, of course I was pullsh
on him as a prospect, but I didn't necessarily think
as a rookie that he would contribute to winning to
the extent that that he is. I thought he might
be a little bit closer to Stephan Castle. And that's
some of the you know the stats or empty calories. No,
they're not empty calories of Dylan Harper. He's contributing to
winning already. So yeah, that'll be a big win NBA
Cup game too, So tons of stakes there.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
Absolutely, and you have the Maverson Grizzlies before that game.
But that's the one I'm really because that's the one
that's the Rockets are a future team. The Spurs are
a future team, I mean the present and future for
both of those teams. That's the one that the Rockets
are to be sized up against for a long time.
So I'm really looking forward to that. Ben, appreciate you
doing this. It's a next game. We don't need to
go to the full thirty. We will be back on
Wednesday night after the Rockets play the Raptors. Appreciate all
(25:10):
of you for watching and subscribing and supporting Clutch fans.
We appreciate all of you, So you all have a
great night. We'll see all Wednesday
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