January 19, 2026 • 30 mins
Jabari Smith Jr. finished with a season-high 32 points and seven 3-point makes on Sunday, leading Houston (25-15) to a nine-point victory over New Orleans (10-35). However, veteran center Steven Adams was lost to an ankle injury, which appeared serious at the time.
Featuring Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty, our “ClutchFans Live” show offers postgame reaction from Toyota Center, where the Rockets are now 14-3 this season.
Discussion topics include why Smith is becoming even more important in the aftermath of Adams’ injury; the implications of Amen Thompson’s recent surge; and storylines to watch entering Tuesday’s important game versus San Antonio (29-13).
Featuring Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty, our “ClutchFans Live” show offers postgame reaction from Toyota Center, where the Rockets are now 14-3 this season.
Discussion topics include why Smith is becoming even more important in the aftermath of Adams’ injury; the implications of Amen Thompson’s recent surge; and storylines to watch entering Tuesday’s important game versus San Antonio (29-13).
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome in everybody. Rockets get a one to nineteen to
one ten win at home tonight over the New Orleans Pelicans.
And really the good news from this game is that
Jabari Smith Junior, who has significantly struggled with his shot
of late after a really good run goes through this
eight game stretch where he can't hit anything, comes out tonight,
(00:26):
hits a career high seven to three point shots, scores
thirty two points to lead all scores, and the Rockets
come up with a big win on on a night
when they needed it from Jabari. Jabari kind of played
the KD role tonight, and KD played the Jabari role
from the last several games. And I'm here with great
Ben Dubos. You can follow him on Twitter at Bendubo's
and you can read all this stuff at Rockets Wire
(00:48):
and on Clutch Fans as well Clutch Fans dot Net. Ben,
you were at the game, obviously I have. Before I
kick it to you, I have to tell you, like
the Jabari news is great, the Steven Adams news is
the real thing that just casts a shadow over this game.
Where Steven Adams landed in the third fourth quarter. I
think it was maybe it was early fourth where he
(01:09):
landed on his left of foot and they're calling it
a high ankle sprain, but it's non contact when he
landed and they, you know, Emo Unoka says, nothing's broken,
but there's a lot of pain, a lot of swelling. Obviously,
couldn't put weight on it, had to be helped off
by two people into the locker room, which is going
to weigh loom large because you've got the Spurs on
(01:31):
deck and you've got plenty of other tough matchups coming up,
and Steven Adams is a critical play here for this team.
So your thoughts, Yeah, that's definitely a down er.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
With that said, I think if there's any way to
overcome it in the short term, some people pointed to
the availability of Clint Capella and you can lean on
him to take a few minutes here or there. But
I think in terms of replacing the high impact Steven
Adams minutes, the only real solution outside of when Shagoon
is your center, it's Jego jabari At and we actually
(02:01):
saw that tonight in the fourth quarter with jabari at
the five, DFS playing some at the four, and I
think DFS had eight points, I believe all in the
fourth quarter, and those were instrumental in helping the Rockets
finally get some separation and put this thing away and
to beat good teams.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
I mean, you've talked about it before.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
The superpower for the Rockets is the rebounding and Stephen
is enormous, enormously important in that. But you're not going
to be able to replace that with Clint Capella, at
least not on a super frequent basis. He can stop
up minutes, but in terms of the high leverage ones
against good teams in the second half, you certainly want
Shingoon to.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Play well, stay out of foul trouble.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
But beyond that, I think this might be the point
of the schedule that you tried Jabari at the five
a little bit more and to see Jabari get going
the way he did tonight. I think this was a
really good mental health game for Jabari and for the
team overall. They're now twenty five and fifteen, so you're
back ten games over five hundred, which they hadn't been
since midway through the two Portland games. They are now
on pace to win fifty plus games. Tuesday against the
(02:59):
Spurs will be the half point of the year, so
you'll be unpaced either win fifty or fifty two. So
it's a nice round number to be at. And Jabari,
the guy who had struggled earlier this month when you
went through that downturn, now he comes out on the
other side. So anybody concerned that, you know, he had
lost it and was struggling to sort of regain his confidence, Well,
tonight he did that. And you can point out that
(03:20):
the Pelicans aren't a good team, that's true, but the
teams Jabari struggled against on that road trip, the MAVs,
the Blazers, the Kings, they're not good either. Jabari's just
had a point where he needed to see the ball
go through the net, and tonight it did.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Yeah, and I you know, we'll definitely talk about Jabari
for sure, to add to context to what you were saying.
I May was asked by Kelly Eco. Shout out to
Kelly for the question about, Okay, if you are going
to be at without Steven Adams first stretch, what are
you looking at? You look at playing Clint Moore? Are
you looking at you know, going small? And he said,
you know it's going to depend on the matchup. We
got Clint for sort of this purpose, but he said specifically,
(03:56):
I like that lineup that we had at the end,
and that was at the five, and you know, playing
some of some of that some more. You know, if
I think about losing Steven Adams, I think it's a
significant loss for the Houston. Rocket's significant. But another part
of that superpower is a men Thompson like as far
as who is elite at applying that kind of rebounding
(04:17):
pressure at his position. Now, he's not gonna He's not
gonna fill the void of Steven Adams. I'm not saying
that at all. I'm just saying those are the two
elite you know, sort of rebounders for their position that
give the Rockets such an edge and create so many possessions.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
You know, tonight they did win the possion battle.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
I don't think the rebounding advantage grew at all when
Adams went out. I think it stayed pretty The Rockets
did win the boards tonight by I think twelve, but
it was about that gap when he went out. You know,
really the difference tonight was Jabbari. You know, we can
talk about Shangun. I thought Shanegun played really good in
the second half. It was almost for me a lot
like the Minnesota game where he was just really terrible
(04:55):
in the first half and then the second half was
really good. Same thing kind of with that Minnesota game.
I think he Shangoung hit eight of his last nine shots,
and he had a couple of shots where they were
sort of, you know, not the two foot layup variety,
you know, like an eight to twelve foot turnaround fade
or something along those lines. So he had it going on.
It's just when I'm asually pointed out, you had to
(05:17):
survive a night tonight where KD goes five of eighteen
I believe he's one of eight from free point range.
You're not going to see that very often.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
No, not at all.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
And in some ways it was fitting that the young guys,
most notably Jabbari and a man picked up the slack
for KD when Kd's been picking up the slack for
them for weeks. He may called them out after one
of the Portland games for having toim rely so much
on a thirty seven year old KD where he has
to play forty minutes a night, and even the other night,
it was nice to get the win over Minnesota, but
(05:47):
KD had to go god mode to get that done
over a Minnesota team that was without Anthony Edwards, and
Jabari has been at the forefront of those struggles. So
for him to do the heavy lifting for a change, yeah,
it's fitting because this is a three and four stretch.
So Katie, especially after doing what he did the other night,
his tank was probably on empty a little bit. So
it was nice to see the other guys, the younger
(06:09):
guys who should have a little more juice in these
stretches with three games in four nights, pick up the
slack for a change, and to close the loop on Jabari,
I pulled up his season long SATs. So after tonight
where he scored a season high thirty two points, I
was sort of hoping that they'd let him get to
thirty four thirty five, which would have been a career high,
but obviously they wanted to funnel the late game free
(06:31):
throws to KD so that he could pass Drktovitski to
get to six doll time in NBA scoring.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
I get it.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Nonetheless, it's a season high for Jabari made seven three
pointers and so that raises his three point shooting clip
for the year back to thirty five and a half.
His true shooting clip for the season is about fifty
four and a half. And while it's not what it
was two and a half weeks ago, it's not.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
That far off either, And that's what I want to
remind people.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
We are only about two and a half weeks removed
from when Jabari was having, you know, career numbers across
the board, when he was shooting about thirty eight percent
from three on dten volume, when his true shooting percentage
was about fifty seven and a half, just short of
fifty eight. Like, this was a guy who offensively was
taking a clear step forward. We know the value he
brings as a defender, as a connector. Then the bottom
(07:18):
fell out, and that sucks, But the bottom fell out
over five or six games. Well, we're not even to
the halfway point of the year yet, we still have
forty two games left to play in this regular season.
So if he can get it going again, those numbers,
while not what they were, they're not that far off
from when two and a half weeks ago we were
talking about him having this breakthrough season. So while it's
(07:39):
been frustrating, hopefully this is a catalyst, something to build
off of, because you know, this is a big year
for Jabari year four, twenty two years old. But now
also without Steven Adams, I think you're gonna have to
lean on Jabari a little bit more. And so to
see him sort of build confidence and see the ball
go through the net as much as he did tonight,
that's big. Because my suspicion, this is me guessing, but
(08:01):
I would be surprised if we see Steven Adams before
the other side of the All Star Break. I just
think I agree because this is the second time he's
framed that ankle, and this one it already had some
swelling not even an hour or after the injury when
Imi Rijoka talked to us postgame. I mean, that's not
an injury you want to mess around with, especially because
(08:22):
as you've said, that is their superpower, the offensive rebounding,
and so you want him to be ready for the playoffs.
And if you wait until the other side of the
All Star Break, you have a built in bonus week
in which you can get rest because there's no games,
so you can sort of stack that on top of
the three weeks that you have before the All Star break,
So I would my guess is that the Rockets play
(08:42):
this conservatively. You give him a month off because at
this point, this is not a season where you're going
to chase down the one seed.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
We've talked about it.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
This is one where you just want to get the
best matchup you can and be in the best health
you can getting to the playoffs. And even if you win,
say fifty games instead of fifty five, if you're healthy
and you're in peak form come April, you'll happily take
that trade off with this particular Rockets team, So I
think they'll be conservative. And because they'll be conservative with Steven,
that's why you need Jabari and also Dorian Phinty Smith.
(09:12):
I want to hit that home again. Dorian taking a
step forward is really big. Hopefully they get Tari back
very soon. He's been listed as questionable the last two games.
That's going to be all the more important now that
there's no Stephen Adams.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
For a while.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Yeah, on both players. I'll talk about Adams a little
bit more first. You know, when we look at the
Rockets and where they are record wise versus where they
are net rating wise, the Rockets should be better. Their
records should be better based on where they are net rating,
but a lot of their net rating, or a good
chunk of that is really those Steven Adams minutes and
he is. It's crazy the impact that he has when
(09:44):
he's on the floor. Tonight they started double big, they
were good and play well. I'm really hopeful that it's
I'll just put it this way. I thought it was
something that could cost him his season. I thought it
could possibly be achilles. Yeah, I thought this. You know,
he couldn't even put weight on it right away. He was,
you know, in pain, and you know Steven Adams high
(10:05):
pain tolerance. I was quite nervous about that. This was
much worse than a high ankle sprain. But I do
agree with you. I would be stunned if he's back
before a month or something like that. I think it's
gonna take him beyond the All Star break. As far
as Jabari look, Jabari's had lots of bad games. I
still just want to lay out kind of like my
view of Jabari. This is kind of the vision. How
(10:27):
he played tonight is the vision for Jabari Smith Junior.
What I certainly hoped for when I, you know, saw
him play a guy who could or you know saw
him pre draft is a guy who's ten six', eleven can,
switch can defend multiple, players and he MAY i wrote it,
down BUT i don't have it here anymore BECAUSE i
apparently accidentally closed. It but he went straight From, yeah
(10:48):
he hit shots, tonight but it was more than, That
like he was, switching he was guarding big small zion
and just praised his overall. Defense this is what he
needs to. Do it's not that he has to put
the ball on the, floor cross people, up go around
screens and create for. Everybody, yes that'd be, nice but For,
jabari he's got to be this kind of defender and
this kind of shooter more. Often and he was playing
(11:12):
really well, before LIKE i, said leave the like you,
said before the bottom fell. OUT i think he was
around fifty percent from three for the six games before
this thing just. Cratered and so it's it's. Frustrating i'm
really happy to see him have a game like. This
it's long, overdue and hopefully this starts to. Build but
you know what he's people have to be. Aware he's
(11:34):
going to have another game where he shoots four for
fifteen and you're just gonna have to be patient and
look at the big. Picture when this, thing's you, know
all said and, DONE i want to talk About. Reid
don't want to talk about a men, too BECAUSE i
don't want to overlook the. MEN a men tonight ten
of fourteen from the field and led the team and
plus minus at plus twenty, one had six, assists did
have a late turnover that really bothered, me but otherwise
(11:57):
he had six assists to one turnover before that late
one that was, like, oh what are you? DOING a
man and eight boards as, well played forty. Minutes thought
of men was really good in this. Game, reid of,
course is that lightning rob but everyone's gonna want to
talk About Reed. Sheppard he came, in hit some shots
and you're like, great and matter of, FACT i was
looking at this AND i think he was three for
(12:17):
four and had hit two threes and was like minus
twelve right out of like, early And i'm, like how
did that? Happen because that's usually the oppisode what happens
With reid finished tonight seventeen and a half minutes minus,
fourteen but eleven points three of seven from. Three you,
know he had the, turnovers WHICH i thought was bigger
issue than the. Defense what did you see From? Reid
(12:39):
did you draw anything necessarily from what we saw?
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Tonight, WELL i think he was also hurt by the
decision to Start Steven, adams BECAUSE i do think That
reads a guy who benefits disproportionately from Having stephen out,
there like everybody benefits From steven because generally he wins his.
Minutes read specifically because of the screen setting and The
rockets opting gets start to double big for the first
time in a. WHILE i think that was a change
(13:02):
up that it's a situation where Without tari The, ROCKETS
i think just wanted to play their five best guys
and figured out everything else, later and If toarri's, Unavailable
steven is clearly one of your five best and it largely.
Worked they got off to a good start in this,
game but then the bench couldn't sustain it because there
just wasn't the firepower with the guys they're, missing and
(13:23):
Without steven's availability to set the screens and to help
Get read. Going he did get going later in the,
game and it really helped in the fourth quarter WHEN
dfs had that flurry and scored all aabus. Points besides
making a, three he also attacked the closeouts a lot
better tonight than he had in his first couple of weeks.
BACK i thought he was moving a lot more, fluidly
which is a good.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Side but eight points has got to be a rocket
high right For, YEAH i haven't, looked BUT.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
I, mean it's, God i'm pretty sure it.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Is, Yeah but, YEAH i just think a lot of
it was a byproduct of not Having tarri and Moving
steven to the starting. LINEUP i, MEAN i don't think
it was necessarily a terrible game For reid or not
as bad as the plus minus might. INDICATE i just
think it was it was largely circumstances and just a
continuation of you, know we've talked about it in recent.
Shows he just hasn't been quite the same guy for
(14:10):
the last month or. SO i wouldn't say this, was you,
know particularly, bad but it's. Nothing it's nothing too. News
it's more the same and, hopefully you, know he hit
a couple of shots down the, stretch hopefully that helps
get it.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
Going it's got to be A kogi that starts On
tuesday right against The, SPURS i, meaning so they're gonna
Throw kogi at wenby A La dylan and try to
make his life. Hell and that's AN i.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Guess.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Yeah and even When reid had it going that game
In San antonio earlier this, year he was picked on
so much down the stretch, Defensively SO i can't SEE
i may doing.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
That, no, yeah, yeah, read it's so tough because it's a.
Development we've talked about this, before So i'm not going
to go way deep into it. Again it's a development
versus a winning now. Thing AND i think some people are,
saying and they may be. Right i'm not saying they're,
wrong but are some people are, saying, well it's actually
look at the, numbers you're winning now by P. Reed
so somewhere these two things are going to merge and maybe,
(15:03):
soon but you, know you can tell that there's still
that balance for Emay on on the trust trusting Of
reed ON. Dfs you, know we we talked about this
and drew the parallels in the past To tarri or excuse,
me To Steven adams when, he you, know was brought
on with the rockets and was looking pretty. RUSTY i
remember some people, Thinking, Okay adams is, washed but just
(15:24):
had to get that strength and and everything back and then.
Rolled i'm HOPING dfs is that. Way he's starting to
gain more, strength shake off the. Rust uh three of
five tonight did hit a, triple caught three, boards eight.
Points you, know he's going to obviously be a key
member of the, rotation at least we, think assuming The
rockets are sticking to this plan with the trade deadline.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Looming but uh, YEAH i Mean emay.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Talked about this. Afterwards we're going to Get tari, back
which is another THING i want to ask About, ben
and THEN dfs is getting more. Strength we hope to
have a full complement of defensive. Guys but he specifically
cited the ability one through five to. Switch SO i
think you're going to see More jabari at the five lineups.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Overall and when you can run a Men thompson at the,
point who's averaging twenty, points eight, boards five assists per
game on like sixty two sixty three percent true shooting
since the start Of. December that's a twenty game. Sample
that type of length and athleticism across the board makes
it so much easier to you, know if you're a
little light or undersized at other, spots you can overcome.
(16:29):
It when you have a guy as your point, GUARD
i know that will rub people the wrong, way but
he does at least start. There it just gives you
so much flexibility when it comes to filling out the
rest of your. Rotation AND i JUST i want to
make sure we don't take amend for, granted because if
then everything he's done Since december, first if he had
done that since the start of this, season he would
(16:50):
be in The All star. Conversations, yep he would legitimately
be on the verge of being An All star for
the first. Time he's been that good Since december. First
we haven't talked about it enough because thes haven't won
games at the rate we would like them to Since december,
first and so we're looking to talk more about about
what's going wrong rather than what's going right when you're
in a stretch like what The rockets have been in
(17:12):
the last six weeks or.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
So but a man is.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
Definitely a bright, spot AND i think assuming the record
bounces back and with a larger sample it, SHOULD i
think reads a guy who in the second half of the,
year people around the league are going to look at
his numbers and just blink and, Say, wow this is a,
really really special.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Player it's just a matter of. Time he'll make The
All Star game here at some POPT i believe. That,
ANYWAY i think this guy's, ANYWAY i think. Special he's
had some real bad games where you're, like, okay what
in the, world but you can see so much potential this.
Skind he's starting to get more consistent with that mid range,
shot which, is believe it or, not an. Improvement the
three is still very much work in, progress but a
(17:50):
lot of good things happening with the, men.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
And from the first twenty games to the second twenty
there's been clear. Improvement that's what you want to see
from your younger, players you, know with the team losing
at the rate has this, month there's been a lot
of big picture of. Referendums, well here's a clear success.
Story here's one of your talking young guys that is getting
better week over, week month over. Month so if we're
going to point out the, negatives let's point out the
positives as. Well and this is something that whether you
(18:13):
want to credit a man himself or the coaching, staff
and it's probably a combination of the. Two, clearly this
is trending in the right, direction And, dave give me a.
Minute i've got a rant after That texans game today
because It MAY i Appreciate Imo.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
Ujoka a little.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Bit you, know people get frustrated at times by you,
KNOW E may showing some some tough, love especially to
the young, guys especially if it's you, know the stands
that don't necessarily like the criticism when it's lobbed in
the direction of their young. Guy, WELL i think the
REASON I may does, this he wants them to face
this adversity head, on so that when it's further down
(18:50):
the road and you get to the, playoffs these guys
have been through it before and they come out on
the other. Side one Thing i'm not a huge fan
of with The texans And Dmiko ryans the relentless. POSITIVETIVITY
i think when you do ultimately get punched in the
mouth the way.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
We saw C.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
J stroud specifically, today it can be. Overwhelming AND i
thought the body language ON. Cj stroud's face it looked
to me Like James harden in the twenty seventeen, playoffs
like he didn't even want to be out. There AND
i think that's the opposite in my opinion of the
Ima udoka, approach which, is you, know it's tough, love
(19:26):
but with the hope of getting them to the other
side so that they are mentally tough and ready to
take on these. Situations and you, Know i'm not going
to say last year was a clear success because they
did lose in the playoffs to The, warriors but they
did get better as that series. Progressed they fell down
three to, one they got their feet, wet they won game, five,
one game, Six game. SEVEN i think they largely just
(19:48):
ran out of talent against A warrior's team that had you,
know proven better and high level difference makers In, Steph
jimmy And, draymond and The rockets didn't Have kde. YET
i don't think there's any shame in losing in seven
the way it went, down BUT i did think as
the series, progressed you, know they showed some mental, fortitude
AND i think that's ultimately What EMA's trying to. Do
it's not that he's trying to pick on these, guys it's,
(20:09):
just you, know he shows them some tough. Love and
then as we saw with you, Know Javari, Tonight, amn
the last six weeks or so that eventually they'll come
out on the other side and they'll be better for the.
Experience and SO i, think you, Know i'm certainly not
victory lapping the Ema udoka approach because The rockets have
not won at a high level. Either BUT i understand
what he's trying to. Do he's trying to make these
(20:31):
guys mentally tougher so that when it gets To april And,
may these guys aren't. Overwhelmed they've been through the struggles
before and they can call upon these experiences and know, that,
hey we just got to play through it and don't
have the deer in the headlights look that we saw
from C. J stroud today that saying for sure it's
going to work out that, way but that's the.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
Hope well a TOUGH i mean THAT i haven't seen
a situation like this where if a team, WINS i,
mean they're not a surefire win over The. Broncos but
to lose such a valuable player Like Bo nicks to an,
ankle you, know a serious ankle, injury just the opportunity
to go to The Super bowl was really right. There
that's a really painful. Loss watch the whole thing today
(21:09):
and it just it was tough to. Take let me
ask you About tari before you, know we go into
the tail stretch, Here, tari this Is this is game
number forty this year for The, rockets And tarrii's missed
nineteen of, them so he's basically, missed you, know half the.
Season we thought he'd be back For, okac but that was,
speculation didn't. Happen then he was questionable for The minnesota.
Game second. One we thought for sure he's gonna play, there,
(21:31):
didn't which was a. Shock but then he's questionable for this.
One thought, oh absolutely he's playing this. One Didn't he's
out for this. ONE i, mean maybe they're just, saying,
well this was The, pelicans we feel better about playing
him against and giving a couple more days to play
against The. Spurs if he doesn't play against The spurs
with two questionable designations in the last two, GAMES i
don't know what to.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
Think i'm just.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
Curious your thoughts on. This this is not the first
time we've seen this With tari where it looks like
he's gonna play and then, no, no, no he's not ready,
yet you know the Leg and, yeah it's just.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
Interesting SO i will Say Steven adams And Alfred In
shinoun coming back from their own ankle sprains earlier this,
month it's a bit of a cautionary. Tale stephen just
reinjured the same, ankle it sounds, like And shinoon came
back and he wasn't quite himself those first couple of
games in terms of just the overall freedom of movement
and the fluidity near the. Rim he just didn't look
(22:21):
as springy to me as he typically. Is SO i
think that's a little bit of a cautionary tale when
you try and bring these guys back too. Soon AND
i actually wasn't that surprised. TONIGHT i was very surprised
he didn't play Against, Minnesota but once they sat in that,
ONE i, said, hey you've got to trust that you
can beat The pelicans at, home steal a couple more,
days and try to bring him back against The.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
Furst So i'm not too.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
Worried ankles are, tricky and you, Know shingoon said in
one of his interviews last, week he's still not one hundred.
Percent the ankle is still affecting. Him those are injuries that,
linger and you need a longer time frame than THE
nba calendar typically. Allows it's just especially if you are
as important to winning As shingoon And Steven adams are
for The, rockets you try and expedite that. Timetable stephen
(23:03):
came back even earlier because that's When shangoon was dealing
with THE, Caf so The rockets were really in a
tight spot and they want to make sure that they
don't do the same thing With. Tari but, yeah, nonetheless
missing half the, Season i've said, BEFORE i think sixty
games is a big. Number if he's below sixty, again
even if it's different, injuries even if it's fluky and
(23:26):
it's not the. Leg for the most, part it's not
what he's dealt with in the. Past the sample just
isn't going to be there for him to for him
to get the type of contract that he'll want next off.
Season because even if the numbers are, there even if
the three point shooting does, hold for the most, part
people are going to, say, well you need to show
that you can do it over a longer, sample that
(23:46):
you can stay out there and that the production is
not going to drop. Off you, know If jabari didn't
play this month because he was, hurt he would have
never fallen off and the stats would be exactly where
they were three weeks. Ago, yeah that's part of what.
Happens when you play more, games you have more opportunities
to go through a, downstretch like like we saw With,
jabari like we've seen With reid the last. Month that's
part of you, know a full season sample eighty two
(24:08):
games is really, long and so it's. Nothing you, know
he had that brief issue with the lower leg when
he was ramping up from the oblique that was Concerning
this seems pretty, Fluky So i'm not too concerned about
it in the big. Picture BUT i, mean if he's
below sixty, games unless The rockets have a really deep playoff,
runt and maybe they, will and that'll you, know that
(24:30):
would certainly boost the sample to a more representative. Amount
but without, THAT i, mean, yeah it probably will impact
his market just because the sample is not large enough
for people to fully buy in on whatever the data.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
Shows and we're gonna.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Talk about real quickly The spurs game before we close,
up BUT i want to ask you because Because, Beema
David wiener AND i have the last game talked about
trade deadline a little bit And tari as. Well do
you See AND i know some people will think this
would absolutely be, it just you, know a curse or
something to do something like. That but could you see
them Trading tari given that we don't know some of
(25:02):
the stuff that happens behind the scenes as far as
contract and all, THAT.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
I personally would be, surprised just BECAUSE i don't think
there's going to be enough value for that to be.
WORTHWHILE i because of the sample we're talking, about he's
literally missed half the. SEASON i would be very surprised
if there's a deal out there with more upside than
simply Keeping tari and hoping that he's able to put
it together down the stretch of this season and be
(25:28):
a valuable rotation, player a three AND d guy for
you in the. PLAYOFFS i just you can't write it
off because of the contractual. Uncertainty BUT i just think
at this point there's going to be greater upside for
The rockets and staying the, course rolling the dice that
that he's able to stay healthy and put it. Together
and at this point The rockets have to have to
think upside when you have a thirty seven year Old
(25:48):
Vin durant and you're trying to win a championship this.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
Season absolutely this is you, know we already just saw
okay see In.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
Minnesota this one was kind of more of the.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Break you've Got spurs On, tuesday which is.
Speaker 3 (25:59):
Huge you're In.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
Houston you're gonna go on the, road play Play, philly
go on the road and Play, detroit which is given
The rockets problems. Lately you're gonna have The grizzlies here at,
home and you're gonna play The spurs again here In.
Houston so they've got a five game stretch here that's quite.
Challenging but just as we close up your thoughts On tuesday's, Game,
wemby you know that whole.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
Matchup it's kind of.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
INTERESTING i know some people kind of make it A
wemby Versus shangun. Thing they don't really guard each. OTHER
i Think shangoon or excuse, ME i Think wemby Guards.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Shangun maybe more.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
Lately so it's not really like the, old you, know
a keen ewing kind of. Clash it's it's much. DIFFERENT
i expect A kogi to be on Uh wemby a
lot and obviously some, switching but you know You're i'm
curious of your thoughts on that on that matchup with
with The spurs having just Beat minnesota With Anthony edwards
the next the day after The Rockets timberwolves.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
Matchup, yeah relative to that first meeting In, november you
need kdi tom to be much more crisp and his decision.
MAKING i think he had seven or eight turnover that
first time against The. Spurs those were. Killers and then
beyond that against a high level, TEAM i think you're
gonna need your young guys with upside as creators to
have big. Nights Amn, Thompson Reed shephard the reason you
(27:13):
had a chance in that first. Game, NOW i know
he got picked on down the stretch, defensively but the
first forty two Minutes reid made some really tough shots
against The. Spurs that was when he was at his
best In. November if you can tap into that version
Of reed going up against you, know people are always
Comparing reed To Steph, castle maybe that gets them. Going
it's a matchup WHERE i think you need the ability
(27:35):
to get off shots in tight spaces and that's something
That reid can. Do and it will also be a
challenge for A. MEN i thought that first game against The,
spurs a man got very timid after he had a
shot blocked By.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
WIMBY i can't remember exactly what quarter it.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
WAS i want to say it was midway, through but
it just felt like to me watching, live he got
very tentative from that point forward and he didn't attack the.
Paint and This rocket's. Team we've talked about the difference
the last six weeks having this version of A, men
the twenty eight and five type guy on top. Efficiency
he can't get scared Because wemby's in the. Paint he's
(28:11):
got to keep, attacking trust that the whistle is going
to be. There and if he gets a shot or two,
blocked because you Know Wemby's, wemby, okay tip your.
Speaker 3 (28:18):
Hat he's going to do. That he's a.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Freak just trust your own. Ability and so to, me
it's just a game where you NEED kd to B
kd to be more crisp with the decision, making not
turn the ball, over especially the live ball turnovers like
he did In San. Antonio but then you, know high level,
game NATIONAL, tv everybody's going to be Dial then it's
going to be tougher for your role players.
Speaker 3 (28:38):
To win you the.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
Game you need your your young guys with, upside And
i'm looking largely at a men and reed to have
breakthroughs to go make plays off the, dribble attacking downhill
in the case of a men with, reed making shots
and tight spaces from thirty, feet if that's what it,
takes this is a game where you need to lean
on the upside of Men thompson And Read shepard and
hopefully they're able to step up.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
Big game for The.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
West Standing spurs are twenty nine and, thirteen their second
behind The thunder and The rockets are two back in
them in the lost. Column rockets currently fifth. Seed they're
ahead OF. La they're technically a half game behind The,
timberwolves but.
Speaker 3 (29:14):
One less loss.
Speaker 1 (29:15):
Exactly they have fifteen losses to The timberwolves. Sixteen it's
now at fourteen. Losses by the, way they lost tonight
to The. Hornets so is it? Final because it was
they were getting A, yeah they're down by the as hard,
Recording they're down twenty three with six minutes, Left So
i'm going to say yes. Final, yeah it's probably a
very very safe. Bet AND i don't know when they're
Getting yokic, back but that's that's a surprise to see.
That so it's really tight in. There so if The nuggets,
(29:38):
lose they'll be twenty nine and, fourteen so you know
The rockets will be one back in them in the lost.
Column this is a big game in The, west so
looking forward to. It we will be back for that.
Game Anything, ben you want to say before we close.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
Up, no that's pretty much.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
Yet looking forward To, tuesday that's going to be first
matchup In houston between The spurs And. Rockets spurs always
have a big fan presence for so hopefully The rockets
fans are on time because nothing was more embarrassing than
having it feel like fifty to fifty in AN nbc
game From.
Speaker 3 (30:06):
Houston so Please rockets fans be on, time be.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
Loud, yeah and no wemby posters please as far as getting,
posted but appreciate, It, ben thanks everybody for tuning.
Speaker 3 (30:16):
In appreciate.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
It let let us know your thoughts on the, comments
anything ranging from your you, know how you like the
show structure or don't like the show, structure or anything
about The. Rockets by all, means we welcome all, feedback
so'd love to hear from. You appreciate everybody for tuning
in and we will see you Guys tuesday.
Speaker 3 (30:31):
Night thanks, everyone
Welcome in everybody. Rockets get a one to nineteen to
one ten win at home tonight over the New Orleans Pelicans.
And really the good news from this game is that
Jabari Smith Junior, who has significantly struggled with his shot
of late after a really good run goes through this
eight game stretch where he can't hit anything, comes out tonight,
(00:26):
hits a career high seven to three point shots, scores
thirty two points to lead all scores, and the Rockets
come up with a big win on on a night
when they needed it from Jabari. Jabari kind of played
the KD role tonight, and KD played the Jabari role
from the last several games. And I'm here with great
Ben Dubos. You can follow him on Twitter at Bendubo's
and you can read all this stuff at Rockets Wire
(00:48):
and on Clutch Fans as well Clutch Fans dot Net. Ben,
you were at the game, obviously I have. Before I
kick it to you, I have to tell you, like
the Jabari news is great, the Steven Adams news is
the real thing that just casts a shadow over this game.
Where Steven Adams landed in the third fourth quarter. I
think it was maybe it was early fourth where he
(01:09):
landed on his left of foot and they're calling it
a high ankle sprain, but it's non contact when he
landed and they, you know, Emo Unoka says, nothing's broken,
but there's a lot of pain, a lot of swelling. Obviously,
couldn't put weight on it, had to be helped off
by two people into the locker room, which is going
to weigh loom large because you've got the Spurs on
(01:31):
deck and you've got plenty of other tough matchups coming up,
and Steven Adams is a critical play here for this team.
So your thoughts, Yeah, that's definitely a down er.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
With that said, I think if there's any way to
overcome it in the short term, some people pointed to
the availability of Clint Capella and you can lean on
him to take a few minutes here or there. But
I think in terms of replacing the high impact Steven
Adams minutes, the only real solution outside of when Shagoon
is your center, it's Jego jabari At and we actually
(02:01):
saw that tonight in the fourth quarter with jabari at
the five, DFS playing some at the four, and I
think DFS had eight points, I believe all in the
fourth quarter, and those were instrumental in helping the Rockets
finally get some separation and put this thing away and
to beat good teams.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
I mean, you've talked about it before.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
The superpower for the Rockets is the rebounding and Stephen
is enormous, enormously important in that. But you're not going
to be able to replace that with Clint Capella, at
least not on a super frequent basis. He can stop
up minutes, but in terms of the high leverage ones
against good teams in the second half, you certainly want
Shingoon to.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Play well, stay out of foul trouble.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
But beyond that, I think this might be the point
of the schedule that you tried Jabari at the five
a little bit more and to see Jabari get going
the way he did tonight. I think this was a
really good mental health game for Jabari and for the
team overall. They're now twenty five and fifteen, so you're
back ten games over five hundred, which they hadn't been
since midway through the two Portland games. They are now
on pace to win fifty plus games. Tuesday against the
(02:59):
Spurs will be the half point of the year, so
you'll be unpaced either win fifty or fifty two. So
it's a nice round number to be at. And Jabari,
the guy who had struggled earlier this month when you
went through that downturn, now he comes out on the
other side. So anybody concerned that, you know, he had
lost it and was struggling to sort of regain his confidence, Well,
tonight he did that. And you can point out that
(03:20):
the Pelicans aren't a good team, that's true, but the
teams Jabari struggled against on that road trip, the MAVs,
the Blazers, the Kings, they're not good either. Jabari's just
had a point where he needed to see the ball
go through the net, and tonight it did.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Yeah, and I you know, we'll definitely talk about Jabari
for sure, to add to context to what you were saying.
I May was asked by Kelly Eco. Shout out to
Kelly for the question about, Okay, if you are going
to be at without Steven Adams first stretch, what are
you looking at? You look at playing Clint Moore? Are
you looking at you know, going small? And he said,
you know it's going to depend on the matchup. We
got Clint for sort of this purpose, but he said specifically,
(03:56):
I like that lineup that we had at the end,
and that was at the five, and you know, playing
some of some of that some more. You know, if
I think about losing Steven Adams, I think it's a
significant loss for the Houston. Rocket's significant. But another part
of that superpower is a men Thompson like as far
as who is elite at applying that kind of rebounding
(04:17):
pressure at his position. Now, he's not gonna He's not
gonna fill the void of Steven Adams. I'm not saying
that at all. I'm just saying those are the two
elite you know, sort of rebounders for their position that
give the Rockets such an edge and create so many possessions.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
You know, tonight they did win the possion battle.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
I don't think the rebounding advantage grew at all when
Adams went out. I think it stayed pretty The Rockets
did win the boards tonight by I think twelve, but
it was about that gap when he went out. You know,
really the difference tonight was Jabbari. You know, we can
talk about Shangun. I thought Shanegun played really good in
the second half. It was almost for me a lot
like the Minnesota game where he was just really terrible
(04:55):
in the first half and then the second half was
really good. Same thing kind of with that Minnesota game.
I think he Shangoung hit eight of his last nine shots,
and he had a couple of shots where they were
sort of, you know, not the two foot layup variety,
you know, like an eight to twelve foot turnaround fade
or something along those lines. So he had it going on.
It's just when I'm asually pointed out, you had to
(05:17):
survive a night tonight where KD goes five of eighteen
I believe he's one of eight from free point range.
You're not going to see that very often.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
No, not at all.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
And in some ways it was fitting that the young guys,
most notably Jabbari and a man picked up the slack
for KD when Kd's been picking up the slack for
them for weeks. He may called them out after one
of the Portland games for having toim rely so much
on a thirty seven year old KD where he has
to play forty minutes a night, and even the other night,
it was nice to get the win over Minnesota, but
(05:47):
KD had to go god mode to get that done
over a Minnesota team that was without Anthony Edwards, and
Jabari has been at the forefront of those struggles. So
for him to do the heavy lifting for a change, yeah,
it's fitting because this is a three and four stretch.
So Katie, especially after doing what he did the other night,
his tank was probably on empty a little bit. So
it was nice to see the other guys, the younger
(06:09):
guys who should have a little more juice in these
stretches with three games in four nights, pick up the
slack for a change, and to close the loop on Jabari,
I pulled up his season long SATs. So after tonight
where he scored a season high thirty two points, I
was sort of hoping that they'd let him get to
thirty four thirty five, which would have been a career high,
but obviously they wanted to funnel the late game free
(06:31):
throws to KD so that he could pass Drktovitski to
get to six doll time in NBA scoring.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
I get it.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Nonetheless, it's a season high for Jabari made seven three
pointers and so that raises his three point shooting clip
for the year back to thirty five and a half.
His true shooting clip for the season is about fifty
four and a half. And while it's not what it
was two and a half weeks ago, it's not.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
That far off either, And that's what I want to
remind people.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
We are only about two and a half weeks removed
from when Jabari was having, you know, career numbers across
the board, when he was shooting about thirty eight percent
from three on dten volume, when his true shooting percentage
was about fifty seven and a half, just short of
fifty eight. Like, this was a guy who offensively was
taking a clear step forward. We know the value he
brings as a defender, as a connector. Then the bottom
(07:18):
fell out, and that sucks, But the bottom fell out
over five or six games. Well, we're not even to
the halfway point of the year yet, we still have
forty two games left to play in this regular season.
So if he can get it going again, those numbers,
while not what they were, they're not that far off
from when two and a half weeks ago we were
talking about him having this breakthrough season. So while it's
(07:39):
been frustrating, hopefully this is a catalyst, something to build
off of, because you know, this is a big year
for Jabari year four, twenty two years old. But now
also without Steven Adams, I think you're gonna have to
lean on Jabari a little bit more. And so to
see him sort of build confidence and see the ball
go through the net as much as he did tonight,
that's big. Because my suspicion, this is me guessing, but
(08:01):
I would be surprised if we see Steven Adams before
the other side of the All Star Break. I just
think I agree because this is the second time he's
framed that ankle, and this one it already had some
swelling not even an hour or after the injury when
Imi Rijoka talked to us postgame. I mean, that's not
an injury you want to mess around with, especially because
(08:22):
as you've said, that is their superpower, the offensive rebounding,
and so you want him to be ready for the playoffs.
And if you wait until the other side of the
All Star Break, you have a built in bonus week
in which you can get rest because there's no games,
so you can sort of stack that on top of
the three weeks that you have before the All Star break,
So I would my guess is that the Rockets play
(08:42):
this conservatively. You give him a month off because at
this point, this is not a season where you're going
to chase down the one seed.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
We've talked about it.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
This is one where you just want to get the
best matchup you can and be in the best health
you can getting to the playoffs. And even if you win,
say fifty games instead of fifty five, if you're healthy
and you're in peak form come April, you'll happily take
that trade off with this particular Rockets team, So I
think they'll be conservative. And because they'll be conservative with Steven,
that's why you need Jabari and also Dorian Phinty Smith.
(09:12):
I want to hit that home again. Dorian taking a
step forward is really big. Hopefully they get Tari back
very soon. He's been listed as questionable the last two games.
That's going to be all the more important now that
there's no Stephen Adams.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
For a while.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Yeah, on both players. I'll talk about Adams a little
bit more first. You know, when we look at the
Rockets and where they are record wise versus where they
are net rating wise, the Rockets should be better. Their
records should be better based on where they are net rating,
but a lot of their net rating, or a good
chunk of that is really those Steven Adams minutes and
he is. It's crazy the impact that he has when
(09:44):
he's on the floor. Tonight they started double big, they
were good and play well. I'm really hopeful that it's
I'll just put it this way. I thought it was
something that could cost him his season. I thought it
could possibly be achilles. Yeah, I thought this. You know,
he couldn't even put weight on it right away. He was,
you know, in pain, and you know Steven Adams high
(10:05):
pain tolerance. I was quite nervous about that. This was
much worse than a high ankle sprain. But I do
agree with you. I would be stunned if he's back
before a month or something like that. I think it's
gonna take him beyond the All Star break. As far
as Jabari look, Jabari's had lots of bad games. I
still just want to lay out kind of like my
view of Jabari. This is kind of the vision. How
(10:27):
he played tonight is the vision for Jabari Smith Junior.
What I certainly hoped for when I, you know, saw
him play a guy who could or you know saw
him pre draft is a guy who's ten six', eleven can,
switch can defend multiple, players and he MAY i wrote it,
down BUT i don't have it here anymore BECAUSE i
apparently accidentally closed. It but he went straight From, yeah
(10:48):
he hit shots, tonight but it was more than, That
like he was, switching he was guarding big small zion
and just praised his overall. Defense this is what he
needs to. Do it's not that he has to put
the ball on the, floor cross people, up go around
screens and create for. Everybody, yes that'd be, nice but For,
jabari he's got to be this kind of defender and
this kind of shooter more. Often and he was playing
(11:12):
really well, before LIKE i, said leave the like you,
said before the bottom fell. OUT i think he was
around fifty percent from three for the six games before
this thing just. Cratered and so it's it's. Frustrating i'm
really happy to see him have a game like. This
it's long, overdue and hopefully this starts to. Build but
you know what he's people have to be. Aware he's
(11:34):
going to have another game where he shoots four for
fifteen and you're just gonna have to be patient and
look at the big. Picture when this, thing's you, know
all said and, DONE i want to talk About. Reid
don't want to talk about a men, too BECAUSE i
don't want to overlook the. MEN a men tonight ten
of fourteen from the field and led the team and
plus minus at plus twenty, one had six, assists did
have a late turnover that really bothered, me but otherwise
(11:57):
he had six assists to one turnover before that late
one that was, like, oh what are you? DOING a
man and eight boards as, well played forty. Minutes thought
of men was really good in this. Game, reid of,
course is that lightning rob but everyone's gonna want to
talk About Reed. Sheppard he came, in hit some shots
and you're like, great and matter of, FACT i was
looking at this AND i think he was three for
(12:17):
four and had hit two threes and was like minus
twelve right out of like, early And i'm, like how
did that? Happen because that's usually the oppisode what happens
With reid finished tonight seventeen and a half minutes minus,
fourteen but eleven points three of seven from. Three you,
know he had the, turnovers WHICH i thought was bigger
issue than the. Defense what did you see From? Reid
(12:39):
did you draw anything necessarily from what we saw?
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Tonight, WELL i think he was also hurt by the
decision to Start Steven, adams BECAUSE i do think That
reads a guy who benefits disproportionately from Having stephen out,
there like everybody benefits From steven because generally he wins his.
Minutes read specifically because of the screen setting and The
rockets opting gets start to double big for the first
time in a. WHILE i think that was a change
(13:02):
up that it's a situation where Without tari The, ROCKETS
i think just wanted to play their five best guys
and figured out everything else, later and If toarri's, Unavailable
steven is clearly one of your five best and it largely.
Worked they got off to a good start in this,
game but then the bench couldn't sustain it because there
just wasn't the firepower with the guys they're, missing and
(13:23):
Without steven's availability to set the screens and to help
Get read. Going he did get going later in the,
game and it really helped in the fourth quarter WHEN
dfs had that flurry and scored all aabus. Points besides
making a, three he also attacked the closeouts a lot
better tonight than he had in his first couple of weeks.
BACK i thought he was moving a lot more, fluidly
which is a good.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Side but eight points has got to be a rocket
high right For, YEAH i haven't, looked BUT.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
I, mean it's, God i'm pretty sure it.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Is, Yeah but, YEAH i just think a lot of
it was a byproduct of not Having tarri and Moving
steven to the starting. LINEUP i, MEAN i don't think
it was necessarily a terrible game For reid or not
as bad as the plus minus might. INDICATE i just
think it was it was largely circumstances and just a
continuation of you, know we've talked about it in recent.
Shows he just hasn't been quite the same guy for
(14:10):
the last month or. SO i wouldn't say this, was you,
know particularly, bad but it's. Nothing it's nothing too. News
it's more the same and, hopefully you, know he hit
a couple of shots down the, stretch hopefully that helps
get it.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
Going it's got to be A kogi that starts On
tuesday right against The, SPURS i, meaning so they're gonna
Throw kogi at wenby A La dylan and try to
make his life. Hell and that's AN i.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Guess.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Yeah and even When reid had it going that game
In San antonio earlier this, year he was picked on
so much down the stretch, Defensively SO i can't SEE
i may doing.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
That, no, yeah, yeah, read it's so tough because it's a.
Development we've talked about this, before So i'm not going
to go way deep into it. Again it's a development
versus a winning now. Thing AND i think some people are,
saying and they may be. Right i'm not saying they're,
wrong but are some people are, saying, well it's actually
look at the, numbers you're winning now by P. Reed
so somewhere these two things are going to merge and maybe,
(15:03):
soon but you, know you can tell that there's still
that balance for Emay on on the trust trusting Of
reed ON. Dfs you, know we we talked about this
and drew the parallels in the past To tarri or excuse,
me To Steven adams when, he you, know was brought
on with the rockets and was looking pretty. RUSTY i
remember some people, Thinking, Okay adams is, washed but just
(15:24):
had to get that strength and and everything back and then.
Rolled i'm HOPING dfs is that. Way he's starting to
gain more, strength shake off the. Rust uh three of
five tonight did hit a, triple caught three, boards eight.
Points you, know he's going to obviously be a key
member of the, rotation at least we, think assuming The
rockets are sticking to this plan with the trade deadline.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Looming but uh, YEAH i Mean emay.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Talked about this. Afterwards we're going to Get tari, back
which is another THING i want to ask About, ben
and THEN dfs is getting more. Strength we hope to
have a full complement of defensive. Guys but he specifically
cited the ability one through five to. Switch SO i
think you're going to see More jabari at the five lineups.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Overall and when you can run a Men thompson at the,
point who's averaging twenty, points eight, boards five assists per
game on like sixty two sixty three percent true shooting
since the start Of. December that's a twenty game. Sample
that type of length and athleticism across the board makes
it so much easier to you, know if you're a
little light or undersized at other, spots you can overcome.
(16:29):
It when you have a guy as your point, GUARD
i know that will rub people the wrong, way but
he does at least start. There it just gives you
so much flexibility when it comes to filling out the
rest of your. Rotation AND i JUST i want to
make sure we don't take amend for, granted because if
then everything he's done Since december, first if he had
done that since the start of this, season he would
(16:50):
be in The All star. Conversations, yep he would legitimately
be on the verge of being An All star for
the first. Time he's been that good Since december. First
we haven't talked about it enough because thes haven't won
games at the rate we would like them to Since december,
first and so we're looking to talk more about about
what's going wrong rather than what's going right when you're
in a stretch like what The rockets have been in
(17:12):
the last six weeks or.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
So but a man is.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
Definitely a bright, spot AND i think assuming the record
bounces back and with a larger sample it, SHOULD i
think reads a guy who in the second half of the,
year people around the league are going to look at
his numbers and just blink and, Say, wow this is a,
really really special.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Player it's just a matter of. Time he'll make The
All Star game here at some POPT i believe. That,
ANYWAY i think this guy's, ANYWAY i think. Special he's
had some real bad games where you're, like, okay what
in the, world but you can see so much potential this.
Skind he's starting to get more consistent with that mid range,
shot which, is believe it or, not an. Improvement the
three is still very much work in, progress but a
(17:50):
lot of good things happening with the, men.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
And from the first twenty games to the second twenty
there's been clear. Improvement that's what you want to see
from your younger, players you, know with the team losing
at the rate has this, month there's been a lot
of big picture of. Referendums, well here's a clear success.
Story here's one of your talking young guys that is getting
better week over, week month over. Month so if we're
going to point out the, negatives let's point out the
positives as. Well and this is something that whether you
(18:13):
want to credit a man himself or the coaching, staff
and it's probably a combination of the. Two, clearly this
is trending in the right, direction And, dave give me a.
Minute i've got a rant after That texans game today
because It MAY i Appreciate Imo.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
Ujoka a little.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Bit you, know people get frustrated at times by you,
KNOW E may showing some some tough, love especially to
the young, guys especially if it's you, know the stands
that don't necessarily like the criticism when it's lobbed in
the direction of their young. Guy, WELL i think the
REASON I may does, this he wants them to face
this adversity head, on so that when it's further down
(18:50):
the road and you get to the, playoffs these guys
have been through it before and they come out on
the other. Side one Thing i'm not a huge fan
of with The texans And Dmiko ryans the relentless. POSITIVETIVITY
i think when you do ultimately get punched in the
mouth the way.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
We saw C.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
J stroud specifically, today it can be. Overwhelming AND i
thought the body language ON. Cj stroud's face it looked
to me Like James harden in the twenty seventeen, playoffs
like he didn't even want to be out. There AND
i think that's the opposite in my opinion of the
Ima udoka, approach which, is you, know it's tough, love
(19:26):
but with the hope of getting them to the other
side so that they are mentally tough and ready to
take on these. Situations and you, Know i'm not going
to say last year was a clear success because they
did lose in the playoffs to The, warriors but they
did get better as that series. Progressed they fell down
three to, one they got their feet, wet they won game, five,
one game, Six game. SEVEN i think they largely just
(19:48):
ran out of talent against A warrior's team that had you,
know proven better and high level difference makers In, Steph
jimmy And, draymond and The rockets didn't Have kde. YET
i don't think there's any shame in losing in seven
the way it went, down BUT i did think as
the series, progressed you, know they showed some mental, fortitude
AND i think that's ultimately What EMA's trying to. Do
it's not that he's trying to pick on these, guys it's,
(20:09):
just you, know he shows them some tough. Love and
then as we saw with you, Know Javari, Tonight, amn
the last six weeks or so that eventually they'll come
out on the other side and they'll be better for the.
Experience and SO i, think you, Know i'm certainly not
victory lapping the Ema udoka approach because The rockets have
not won at a high level. Either BUT i understand
what he's trying to. Do he's trying to make these
(20:31):
guys mentally tougher so that when it gets To april And,
may these guys aren't. Overwhelmed they've been through the struggles
before and they can call upon these experiences and know, that,
hey we just got to play through it and don't
have the deer in the headlights look that we saw
from C. J stroud today that saying for sure it's
going to work out that, way but that's the.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
Hope well a TOUGH i mean THAT i haven't seen
a situation like this where if a team, WINS i,
mean they're not a surefire win over The. Broncos but
to lose such a valuable player Like Bo nicks to an,
ankle you, know a serious ankle, injury just the opportunity
to go to The Super bowl was really right. There
that's a really painful. Loss watch the whole thing today
(21:09):
and it just it was tough to. Take let me
ask you About tari before you, know we go into
the tail stretch, Here, tari this Is this is game
number forty this year for The, rockets And tarrii's missed
nineteen of, them so he's basically, missed you, know half the.
Season we thought he'd be back For, okac but that was,
speculation didn't. Happen then he was questionable for The minnesota.
Game second. One we thought for sure he's gonna play, there,
(21:31):
didn't which was a. Shock but then he's questionable for this.
One thought, oh absolutely he's playing this. One Didn't he's
out for this. ONE i, mean maybe they're just, saying,
well this was The, pelicans we feel better about playing
him against and giving a couple more days to play
against The. Spurs if he doesn't play against The spurs
with two questionable designations in the last two, GAMES i
don't know what to.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
Think i'm just.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
Curious your thoughts on. This this is not the first
time we've seen this With tari where it looks like
he's gonna play and then, no, no, no he's not ready,
yet you know the Leg and, yeah it's just.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
Interesting SO i will Say Steven adams And Alfred In
shinoun coming back from their own ankle sprains earlier this,
month it's a bit of a cautionary. Tale stephen just
reinjured the same, ankle it sounds, like And shinoon came
back and he wasn't quite himself those first couple of
games in terms of just the overall freedom of movement
and the fluidity near the. Rim he just didn't look
(22:21):
as springy to me as he typically. Is SO i
think that's a little bit of a cautionary tale when
you try and bring these guys back too. Soon AND
i actually wasn't that surprised. TONIGHT i was very surprised
he didn't play Against, Minnesota but once they sat in that,
ONE i, said, hey you've got to trust that you
can beat The pelicans at, home steal a couple more,
days and try to bring him back against The.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
Furst So i'm not too.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
Worried ankles are, tricky and you, Know shingoon said in
one of his interviews last, week he's still not one hundred.
Percent the ankle is still affecting. Him those are injuries that,
linger and you need a longer time frame than THE
nba calendar typically. Allows it's just especially if you are
as important to winning As shingoon And Steven adams are
for The, rockets you try and expedite that. Timetable stephen
(23:03):
came back even earlier because that's When shangoon was dealing
with THE, Caf so The rockets were really in a
tight spot and they want to make sure that they
don't do the same thing With. Tari but, yeah, nonetheless
missing half the, Season i've said, BEFORE i think sixty
games is a big. Number if he's below sixty, again
even if it's different, injuries even if it's fluky and
(23:26):
it's not the. Leg for the most, part it's not
what he's dealt with in the. Past the sample just
isn't going to be there for him to for him
to get the type of contract that he'll want next off.
Season because even if the numbers are, there even if
the three point shooting does, hold for the most, part
people are going to, say, well you need to show
that you can do it over a longer, sample that
(23:46):
you can stay out there and that the production is
not going to drop. Off you, know If jabari didn't
play this month because he was, hurt he would have
never fallen off and the stats would be exactly where
they were three weeks. Ago, yeah that's part of what.
Happens when you play more, games you have more opportunities
to go through a, downstretch like like we saw With,
jabari like we've seen With reid the last. Month that's
part of you, know a full season sample eighty two
(24:08):
games is really, long and so it's. Nothing you, know
he had that brief issue with the lower leg when
he was ramping up from the oblique that was Concerning
this seems pretty, Fluky So i'm not too concerned about
it in the big. Picture BUT i, mean if he's
below sixty, games unless The rockets have a really deep playoff,
runt and maybe they, will and that'll you, know that
(24:30):
would certainly boost the sample to a more representative. Amount
but without, THAT i, mean, yeah it probably will impact
his market just because the sample is not large enough
for people to fully buy in on whatever the data.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
Shows and we're gonna.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Talk about real quickly The spurs game before we close,
up BUT i want to ask you because Because, Beema
David wiener AND i have the last game talked about
trade deadline a little bit And tari as. Well do
you See AND i know some people will think this
would absolutely be, it just you, know a curse or
something to do something like. That but could you see
them Trading tari given that we don't know some of
(25:02):
the stuff that happens behind the scenes as far as
contract and all, THAT.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
I personally would be, surprised just BECAUSE i don't think
there's going to be enough value for that to be.
WORTHWHILE i because of the sample we're talking, about he's
literally missed half the. SEASON i would be very surprised
if there's a deal out there with more upside than
simply Keeping tari and hoping that he's able to put
it together down the stretch of this season and be
(25:28):
a valuable rotation, player a three AND d guy for
you in the. PLAYOFFS i just you can't write it
off because of the contractual. Uncertainty BUT i just think
at this point there's going to be greater upside for
The rockets and staying the, course rolling the dice that
that he's able to stay healthy and put it. Together
and at this point The rockets have to have to
think upside when you have a thirty seven year Old
(25:48):
Vin durant and you're trying to win a championship this.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
Season absolutely this is you, know we already just saw
okay see In.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
Minnesota this one was kind of more of the.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Break you've Got spurs On, tuesday which is.
Speaker 3 (25:59):
Huge you're In.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
Houston you're gonna go on the, road play Play, philly
go on the road and Play, detroit which is given
The rockets problems. Lately you're gonna have The grizzlies here at,
home and you're gonna play The spurs again here In.
Houston so they've got a five game stretch here that's quite.
Challenging but just as we close up your thoughts On tuesday's, Game,
wemby you know that whole.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
Matchup it's kind of.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
INTERESTING i know some people kind of make it A
wemby Versus shangun. Thing they don't really guard each. OTHER
i Think shangoon or excuse, ME i Think wemby Guards.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Shangun maybe more.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
Lately so it's not really like the, old you, know
a keen ewing kind of. Clash it's it's much. DIFFERENT
i expect A kogi to be on Uh wemby a
lot and obviously some, switching but you know You're i'm
curious of your thoughts on that on that matchup with
with The spurs having just Beat minnesota With Anthony edwards
the next the day after The Rockets timberwolves.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
Matchup, yeah relative to that first meeting In, november you
need kdi tom to be much more crisp and his decision.
MAKING i think he had seven or eight turnover that
first time against The. Spurs those were. Killers and then
beyond that against a high level, TEAM i think you're
gonna need your young guys with upside as creators to
have big. Nights Amn, Thompson Reed shephard the reason you
(27:13):
had a chance in that first. Game, NOW i know
he got picked on down the stretch, defensively but the
first forty two Minutes reid made some really tough shots
against The. Spurs that was when he was at his
best In. November if you can tap into that version
Of reed going up against you, know people are always
Comparing reed To Steph, castle maybe that gets them. Going
it's a matchup WHERE i think you need the ability
(27:35):
to get off shots in tight spaces and that's something
That reid can. Do and it will also be a
challenge for A. MEN i thought that first game against The,
spurs a man got very timid after he had a
shot blocked By.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
WIMBY i can't remember exactly what quarter it.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
WAS i want to say it was midway, through but
it just felt like to me watching, live he got
very tentative from that point forward and he didn't attack the.
Paint and This rocket's. Team we've talked about the difference
the last six weeks having this version of A, men
the twenty eight and five type guy on top. Efficiency
he can't get scared Because wemby's in the. Paint he's
(28:11):
got to keep, attacking trust that the whistle is going
to be. There and if he gets a shot or two,
blocked because you Know Wemby's, wemby, okay tip your.
Speaker 3 (28:18):
Hat he's going to do. That he's a.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Freak just trust your own. Ability and so to, me
it's just a game where you NEED kd to B
kd to be more crisp with the decision, making not
turn the ball, over especially the live ball turnovers like
he did In San. Antonio but then you, know high level,
game NATIONAL, tv everybody's going to be Dial then it's
going to be tougher for your role players.
Speaker 3 (28:38):
To win you the.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
Game you need your your young guys with, upside And
i'm looking largely at a men and reed to have
breakthroughs to go make plays off the, dribble attacking downhill
in the case of a men with, reed making shots
and tight spaces from thirty, feet if that's what it,
takes this is a game where you need to lean
on the upside of Men thompson And Read shepard and
hopefully they're able to step up.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
Big game for The.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
West Standing spurs are twenty nine and, thirteen their second
behind The thunder and The rockets are two back in
them in the lost. Column rockets currently fifth. Seed they're
ahead OF. La they're technically a half game behind The,
timberwolves but.
Speaker 3 (29:14):
One less loss.
Speaker 1 (29:15):
Exactly they have fifteen losses to The timberwolves. Sixteen it's
now at fourteen. Losses by the, way they lost tonight
to The. Hornets so is it? Final because it was
they were getting A, yeah they're down by the as hard,
Recording they're down twenty three with six minutes, Left So
i'm going to say yes. Final, yeah it's probably a
very very safe. Bet AND i don't know when they're
Getting yokic, back but that's that's a surprise to see.
That so it's really tight in. There so if The nuggets,
(29:38):
lose they'll be twenty nine and, fourteen so you know
The rockets will be one back in them in the lost.
Column this is a big game in The, west so
looking forward to. It we will be back for that.
Game Anything, ben you want to say before we close.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
Up, no that's pretty much.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
Yet looking forward To, tuesday that's going to be first
matchup In houston between The spurs And. Rockets spurs always
have a big fan presence for so hopefully The rockets
fans are on time because nothing was more embarrassing than
having it feel like fifty to fifty in AN nbc
game From.
Speaker 3 (30:06):
Houston so Please rockets fans be on, time be.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
Loud, yeah and no wemby posters please as far as getting,
posted but appreciate, It, ben thanks everybody for tuning.
Speaker 3 (30:16):
In appreciate.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
It let let us know your thoughts on the, comments
anything ranging from your you, know how you like the
show structure or don't like the show, structure or anything
about The. Rockets by all, means we welcome all, feedback
so'd love to hear from. You appreciate everybody for tuning
in and we will see you Guys tuesday.
Speaker 3 (30:31):
Night thanks, everyone
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