May 1, 2026 • 12 mins
NBA on Prime's Cassidy Hubbarth joined The A-Team with Adam Clanton and Adam Wexler and shared her thoughts on the Rockets' Game 6 matchup with the LA Lakers. Can the Rockets extend the series to seven games? Be sure to listen to the audio to hear the full discussion!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
On the eight team on Friday afternoon.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Adam Wexler and Adam Plant here with you, talking a
lot of Rockets Lakers already, and we'll do so over
the course of the rest of the afternoon, but also
a pleasure to be joined by Cassidy Hubbert. She will
be the court side reporter this evening on the broadcast.
Amazon has the game tonight Amazon Prime and each of
the games in the NBA for the Game six is tonight.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Cassidy.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Great to spend a little time with you this afternoon,
and we'll see you over at the arena. Should we
all make it over there safely in this water later tonight.
It's happened before, as I mentioned to you and the
others that shoot around earlier today. Hopefully it will not
tonight though, But just curious, as you've prepared for covering
this series and being here for this Game six, It's
(00:42):
not very frequent that you reach a game six in
a series the way this particular series has played out,
the way the Rockets have somewhat recovered again. They got
a lot of work to do, but recovered from losing
the first three games in this series against a Lebron
James led Lakers team. How have you seen that this
series play out?
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Yeah, I mean, look, we're starting to hear the rumblings.
People starting to talk about again to see history, the
first team ever to come back from being down three
to zero. It's been an interesting series obviously, you know,
with the Lakers coming in down their two you know,
highest scores and then coming out like gangbusters behind Luke
Canard and Marcus Smart being this fire uh for for
(01:27):
that Lakers squad, reminding us what he did with the
Boston Celtics. So clearly they made a statement in the
first two games, and then that game three I was
on the sidelines for obviously, you know, you you and
all your listeners know that that game could have went,
you know, the other way, and we could be sitting
here with the Rockets up three to two and looking
(01:48):
to advance. So the series, uh, you know, I do
feel like it it shifted in that that that game
three for the Lakers and the Rockets. Obviously, I think
big storyline, you know around the Rockets. You know, he
may making sure they watched all their miscues from that
game right after the game, read Shepherd, saying, you know,
even though it was painful, it was it was necessary
(02:10):
in order to move on, and you know, calling them out,
saying that they needed to grow up. And I think,
you know, you're seeing the second youngest starting five in
playoff NBA playoff history growing up before our eyes without
the future Hall of Famer and Kevin Durant to lean on.
They're leaning on each other and finding that growth. Meanwhile,
(02:32):
you know you have to wonder Lebron James forty one
years old, what he was able to do in that
Game three was absolutely miraculous. I had that postgame interview
with him, and I you know, like even if you
are a Rockets fan, you had to be in all
what he was doing at forty one a.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Little behind thee there, Yeah, no question like on our end,
we know how it would be on your end. Can
you at least confirm that in advance of the actual
ending of Game three you had already worked out your
postgame interview with a Rockets player totally.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Well, here's the thing. Yeah, The way that it works
for me is that like at the five minute mark,
I start writing out like all the different scenarios. You know,
I had an ALP interview, and you know, I had
a blank Lakers interview just in case, but like you know,
I pretty much ripped that up at the like you know,
(03:23):
the minute mark. Well, no one thought they were gonna
come back from being down six thirty seconds ago. So yeah,
but you wonder, you know, how how much of a
toll that took on Lebron and and and that group,
you know, one of the older lineups out there. And
now with Austin Reeves working himself back in the mix,
(03:44):
you saw kind of have an impact on Lukenard, who
was the story of the first two games. So you know,
I'm I'm saying all this to say there's a lot
going on in this series heading into this game. There's
there's you know, the the cloud if you will, if
you're the kers of you know, making bad history, and
then there's the sunshine of Oh, I mean, we're watching
(04:06):
these these young Rocket stars kind of believe in who
they are.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Talking to Cassidy Hubberth of NBA on Prime obviously she
is a true professional because she just talked about all
the ridiculous storylines that are just in this series, and
it seems like we eat those up this time of year.
I think it's fascinating that depending on where the Lakers
are whether they're you know, well they've been leading in
the series the entire time, but you know, three zero
(04:31):
versus three two, that's how the narrative changes on Lebron.
And then on the other side of things, you know,
Kevin Durant, the Rockets are playing better without him.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Like do you just sometimes sit back and think.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
Of like the NBA, out of all the major sports,
might have some of the most ridiculous things said about
some of these guys and some of these teams as
the playoffs get here.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Yeah, but that's the magic, right, That's what we like
about the NBA because you get into the nitty gritty,
you know, like obviously the the NFL is exciting. It's
like there's there's things going on with them every week,
but every the thing about the NBA is you get
to know these guys in day by day. There's there's
(05:11):
some new personality or some new storyline that you latch
onto that kind of you know, it allows you to
be connected to this game in a way that you know,
I don't think compared to any other league. And you
know you're seeing you're seeing so much in this first round.
I mean, this first round for me, has felt like
(05:32):
ten years. I mean, granted, I think also we had
the play in and the play and was exciting for
for us as well. But there, you know, we're having
another three game six is tonight. We're we're we're guaranteed
a game seven won at least one game seven tomorrow,
which you know, the Celtics and Sixers like that, that's
going to be incredible. I mean, especially the way the
(05:54):
Sixers are playing right now. I mean, it was like
a throwback Paul George went back in time and Joe
he just had it appendectomy just sixteen days ago. You're
in Houston talking about here, yeah, and here in Houston
it's it's it's yeah, it's it's quite quite a remarkable
that's what they say. It's where the playoffs happen.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
Well, and I think, just to follow up on that
you mentioned it, you know, these young Houston players being
able to kind of get back off the mat. It's
not just that they went down three, it's that they
did so in the fashion that they did. And I
think if you're questioning the chemistry around the Rockets right now,
I don't know that a team with bad vibes or
whatever you want to call them necessarily responds that way,
(06:35):
but that's just my theory sitting here in Houston.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Yeah, I mean, look, I had a chance to catch
up with Alprin Shingun this morning and also Jabbari Smith,
and those two guys have taken on a real leadership role,
and you know they're they're they're they're making sure that
they're this team believes because they believe because they're competitors,
both of them, they're ultimate competitors. And you know they're
(07:00):
I think they're they're relishing this this leadership role that
they have right now to show show the world that
you know, they're for real and that they should be
taken seriously. And and then you can't say enough about
a men Thompson. I mean he's leading the league and playoff.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Minutes, both him and a Sar.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
I mean that Thompson family, whatever their parents did, they like,
sign me up for their book on parenting because they
are incredible, incredible young men who are true professionals. And
it is just a joy to watch event. I mean,
he is like I can't like, I can't even explain
his his bounce. It sometimes doesn't even look real out
(07:40):
there on the court. So you know, I think this
young core is is the reason why there there's you know,
I think a lot of talk around this team because
there's so much talent, and so when there's expectations or
an understanding of, you know, the prospects of a collection
of players, there's obviously going to be some disappointment if
(08:03):
they don't achieve what some people believe that they can achieve.
But there, you know, the season's not done yet and
they're trying to prove that. You know, there's still time
to show off their talent.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Do you think there is any issue for the players
because we talk about it, You'll talk about it the broadcast,
ours and yours, we'll both talk about what could be
history in the making. But there's no Game seven unless
the Rockets win tonight. You and I both heard Jabari
Smith talk about that this afternoon, that they're not even
thinking about Game seven. You know, they're focused in on tonight.
They got the task at hand. Do you think it
(08:34):
is at all hard for the players to go into
a Game six having won the last two trying to
They're not trying to make history tonight. History comes down
the road only if they win tonight.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
You know, like you and I our job. We need
to have those kind of lines in order to you know,
like get people's attention. It helps with our conversation, right,
But I do I believe them when they say we're
not thinking about that because they can't. I mean, they
have to think about their job. We're thinking about our jobs, right,
We're thinking about what's the good what's the good one liner,
(09:08):
what's the big overall arching storyline? I think they'll think,
you know, I think the Lakers and the Rockets will
think about it if we're going into a game seven.
But I believe Javari like they have they have to
focus on winning this game and what what all that means? Like,
you know, the adjustments are going to make you know,
with Austin Reeves now starting the game, him having uh,
(09:32):
you know, another day of rhythm, how that's going to
change what this matchup looks like because it's going to
be different from obviously the first you know, three games,
four games, and so what's that going to look like?
So I just think there's so many details that even
us we can't we can't possibly understand because we're not
(09:52):
in that locker room on that team. But I believe
Javari when he said they can't focus on that, but
it's fun for us to talk talk about.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
Right, absolutely, and given all the givens, I won't straight
up ask you for your prediction about tonight because that
just that would be terrible.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
But what do you how do you what kind of
game do you envision?
Speaker 4 (10:10):
Like the other day, I said ninety six to ninety two,
and it wound up being ninety nine ninety three.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Like it was.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
It was a lower scoring affair, just the age you
mentioned with Lebron, the Rockets being back at home, the
momentum on their side. How do you think tonight's game
plays out just the style that we see?
Speaker 3 (10:28):
I don't know. I mean, obviously, the one of the
hardest games to play is a close out game, right,
but now this is the Lakers like second opportunity to
close out, third opportunity to close out. So I you know,
I'm not I don't. I don't expect a Nicks Hawk's situation.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
To That's good, good lord, that was bad.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
That was insane, insane, But I you know, I don't.
I don't know. That's I think I want to. I
think I need to go to the arena tonight. And
I got to see I gotta, you know, interact with
some of the players, some of the coaches and kind
of gather, you know, what the teams are feeling for
me to really know what to expect tonight. I think
that's where we're at right now, Game six. I think
(11:17):
both teams know what's at stake. I you know, I
think both teams understand each other, and so I think
we just got to tip the ball up.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
Well, We've had a great chance over the years to
get to know Jeff van Gundy. You got to Stan
van Gundy with you on the broadcast tonight. We have
had both Iron and Noah Eagle on the show over
the years, recent years in Noah's case, and now we've
got a chance to get you on. Here is this
broadcast team you're coming to town with tonight. Have you
had fun with them?
Speaker 3 (11:47):
The best? I mean they are They are incredible. I
mean you said you've gotten to know Ian. He's one
of the most wonderful partners and the funniest person in
the world. And he makes me laugh every two seconds.
And Stan has been such a treasure for my career.
I mean, no one has made me feel more welcome,
(12:10):
more part of a crew than he has, and his
preparation is unlike any other analyst I've ever worked with,
and so it's been really quite a enriching and wonderful
experience so far my first year at Prime.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
Isn't Iron Eagle getting into it with Mike Frattello one
of your favorite YouTube videos of all time?
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Yes, it's unreal, it really is. He's you know, his father.
Iron's father was a well known stand up comedian growing up,
and you're like, oh, now it all makes.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
Sense right well, Cassidy, we appreciate you taking the time,
especially in the middle of a busy series and a
busy schedule for you this time of year.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Thanks so much, and let's do it again soon.
On the eight team on Friday afternoon.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Adam Wexler and Adam Plant here with you, talking a
lot of Rockets Lakers already, and we'll do so over
the course of the rest of the afternoon, but also
a pleasure to be joined by Cassidy Hubbert. She will
be the court side reporter this evening on the broadcast.
Amazon has the game tonight Amazon Prime and each of
the games in the NBA for the Game six is tonight.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Cassidy.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Great to spend a little time with you this afternoon,
and we'll see you over at the arena. Should we
all make it over there safely in this water later tonight.
It's happened before, as I mentioned to you and the
others that shoot around earlier today. Hopefully it will not
tonight though, But just curious, as you've prepared for covering
this series and being here for this Game six, It's
(00:42):
not very frequent that you reach a game six in
a series the way this particular series has played out,
the way the Rockets have somewhat recovered again. They got
a lot of work to do, but recovered from losing
the first three games in this series against a Lebron
James led Lakers team. How have you seen that this
series play out?
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Yeah, I mean, look, we're starting to hear the rumblings.
People starting to talk about again to see history, the
first team ever to come back from being down three
to zero. It's been an interesting series obviously, you know,
with the Lakers coming in down their two you know,
highest scores and then coming out like gangbusters behind Luke
Canard and Marcus Smart being this fire uh for for
(01:27):
that Lakers squad, reminding us what he did with the
Boston Celtics. So clearly they made a statement in the
first two games, and then that game three I was
on the sidelines for obviously, you know, you you and
all your listeners know that that game could have went,
you know, the other way, and we could be sitting
here with the Rockets up three to two and looking
(01:48):
to advance. So the series, uh, you know, I do
feel like it it shifted in that that that game
three for the Lakers and the Rockets. Obviously, I think
big storyline, you know around the Rockets. You know, he
may making sure they watched all their miscues from that
game right after the game, read Shepherd, saying, you know,
even though it was painful, it was it was necessary
(02:10):
in order to move on, and you know, calling them out,
saying that they needed to grow up. And I think,
you know, you're seeing the second youngest starting five in
playoff NBA playoff history growing up before our eyes without
the future Hall of Famer and Kevin Durant to lean on.
They're leaning on each other and finding that growth. Meanwhile,
(02:32):
you know you have to wonder Lebron James forty one
years old, what he was able to do in that
Game three was absolutely miraculous. I had that postgame interview
with him, and I you know, like even if you
are a Rockets fan, you had to be in all
what he was doing at forty one a.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Little behind thee there, Yeah, no question like on our end,
we know how it would be on your end. Can
you at least confirm that in advance of the actual
ending of Game three you had already worked out your
postgame interview with a Rockets player totally.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Well, here's the thing. Yeah, The way that it works
for me is that like at the five minute mark,
I start writing out like all the different scenarios. You know,
I had an ALP interview, and you know, I had
a blank Lakers interview just in case, but like you know,
I pretty much ripped that up at the like you know,
(03:23):
the minute mark. Well, no one thought they were gonna
come back from being down six thirty seconds ago. So yeah,
but you wonder, you know, how how much of a
toll that took on Lebron and and and that group,
you know, one of the older lineups out there. And
now with Austin Reeves working himself back in the mix,
(03:44):
you saw kind of have an impact on Lukenard, who
was the story of the first two games. So you know,
I'm I'm saying all this to say there's a lot
going on in this series heading into this game. There's
there's you know, the the cloud if you will, if
you're the kers of you know, making bad history, and
then there's the sunshine of Oh, I mean, we're watching
(04:06):
these these young Rocket stars kind of believe in who
they are.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Talking to Cassidy Hubberth of NBA on Prime obviously she
is a true professional because she just talked about all
the ridiculous storylines that are just in this series, and
it seems like we eat those up this time of year.
I think it's fascinating that depending on where the Lakers
are whether they're you know, well they've been leading in
the series the entire time, but you know, three zero
(04:31):
versus three two, that's how the narrative changes on Lebron.
And then on the other side of things, you know,
Kevin Durant, the Rockets are playing better without him.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Like do you just sometimes sit back and think.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
Of like the NBA, out of all the major sports,
might have some of the most ridiculous things said about
some of these guys and some of these teams as
the playoffs get here.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Yeah, but that's the magic, right, That's what we like
about the NBA because you get into the nitty gritty,
you know, like obviously the the NFL is exciting. It's
like there's there's things going on with them every week,
but every the thing about the NBA is you get
to know these guys in day by day. There's there's
(05:11):
some new personality or some new storyline that you latch
onto that kind of you know, it allows you to
be connected to this game in a way that you know,
I don't think compared to any other league. And you
know you're seeing you're seeing so much in this first round.
I mean, this first round for me, has felt like
(05:32):
ten years. I mean, granted, I think also we had
the play in and the play and was exciting for
for us as well. But there, you know, we're having
another three game six is tonight. We're we're we're guaranteed
a game seven won at least one game seven tomorrow,
which you know, the Celtics and Sixers like that, that's
going to be incredible. I mean, especially the way the
(05:54):
Sixers are playing right now. I mean, it was like
a throwback Paul George went back in time and Joe
he just had it appendectomy just sixteen days ago. You're
in Houston talking about here, yeah, and here in Houston
it's it's it's yeah, it's it's quite quite a remarkable
that's what they say. It's where the playoffs happen.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
Well, and I think, just to follow up on that
you mentioned it, you know, these young Houston players being
able to kind of get back off the mat. It's
not just that they went down three, it's that they
did so in the fashion that they did. And I
think if you're questioning the chemistry around the Rockets right now,
I don't know that a team with bad vibes or
whatever you want to call them necessarily responds that way,
(06:35):
but that's just my theory sitting here in Houston.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Yeah, I mean, look, I had a chance to catch
up with Alprin Shingun this morning and also Jabbari Smith,
and those two guys have taken on a real leadership role,
and you know they're they're they're they're making sure that
they're this team believes because they believe because they're competitors,
both of them, they're ultimate competitors. And you know they're
(07:00):
I think they're they're relishing this this leadership role that
they have right now to show show the world that
you know, they're for real and that they should be
taken seriously. And and then you can't say enough about
a men Thompson. I mean he's leading the league and playoff.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Minutes, both him and a Sar.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
I mean that Thompson family, whatever their parents did, they like,
sign me up for their book on parenting because they
are incredible, incredible young men who are true professionals. And
it is just a joy to watch event. I mean,
he is like I can't like, I can't even explain
his his bounce. It sometimes doesn't even look real out
(07:40):
there on the court. So you know, I think this
young core is is the reason why there there's you know,
I think a lot of talk around this team because
there's so much talent, and so when there's expectations or
an understanding of, you know, the prospects of a collection
of players, there's obviously going to be some disappointment if
(08:03):
they don't achieve what some people believe that they can achieve.
But there, you know, the season's not done yet and
they're trying to prove that. You know, there's still time
to show off their talent.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Do you think there is any issue for the players
because we talk about it, You'll talk about it the broadcast,
ours and yours, we'll both talk about what could be
history in the making. But there's no Game seven unless
the Rockets win tonight. You and I both heard Jabari
Smith talk about that this afternoon, that they're not even
thinking about Game seven. You know, they're focused in on tonight.
They got the task at hand. Do you think it
(08:34):
is at all hard for the players to go into
a Game six having won the last two trying to
They're not trying to make history tonight. History comes down
the road only if they win tonight.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
You know, like you and I our job. We need
to have those kind of lines in order to you know,
like get people's attention. It helps with our conversation, right,
But I do I believe them when they say we're
not thinking about that because they can't. I mean, they
have to think about their job. We're thinking about our jobs, right,
We're thinking about what's the good what's the good one liner,
(09:08):
what's the big overall arching storyline? I think they'll think,
you know, I think the Lakers and the Rockets will
think about it if we're going into a game seven.
But I believe Javari like they have they have to
focus on winning this game and what what all that means? Like,
you know, the adjustments are going to make you know,
with Austin Reeves now starting the game, him having uh,
(09:32):
you know, another day of rhythm, how that's going to
change what this matchup looks like because it's going to
be different from obviously the first you know, three games,
four games, and so what's that going to look like?
So I just think there's so many details that even
us we can't we can't possibly understand because we're not
(09:52):
in that locker room on that team. But I believe
Javari when he said they can't focus on that, but
it's fun for us to talk talk about.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
Right, absolutely, and given all the givens, I won't straight
up ask you for your prediction about tonight because that
just that would be terrible.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
But what do you how do you what kind of
game do you envision?
Speaker 4 (10:10):
Like the other day, I said ninety six to ninety two,
and it wound up being ninety nine ninety three.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Like it was.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
It was a lower scoring affair, just the age you
mentioned with Lebron, the Rockets being back at home, the
momentum on their side. How do you think tonight's game
plays out just the style that we see?
Speaker 3 (10:28):
I don't know. I mean, obviously, the one of the
hardest games to play is a close out game, right,
but now this is the Lakers like second opportunity to
close out, third opportunity to close out. So I you know,
I'm not I don't. I don't expect a Nicks Hawk's situation.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
To That's good, good lord, that was bad.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
That was insane, insane, But I you know, I don't.
I don't know. That's I think I want to. I
think I need to go to the arena tonight. And
I got to see I gotta, you know, interact with
some of the players, some of the coaches and kind
of gather, you know, what the teams are feeling for
me to really know what to expect tonight. I think
that's where we're at right now, Game six. I think
(11:17):
both teams know what's at stake. I you know, I
think both teams understand each other, and so I think
we just got to tip the ball up.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
Well, We've had a great chance over the years to
get to know Jeff van Gundy. You got to Stan
van Gundy with you on the broadcast tonight. We have
had both Iron and Noah Eagle on the show over
the years, recent years in Noah's case, and now we've
got a chance to get you on. Here is this
broadcast team you're coming to town with tonight. Have you
had fun with them?
Speaker 3 (11:47):
The best? I mean they are They are incredible. I
mean you said you've gotten to know Ian. He's one
of the most wonderful partners and the funniest person in
the world. And he makes me laugh every two seconds.
And Stan has been such a treasure for my career.
I mean, no one has made me feel more welcome,
(12:10):
more part of a crew than he has, and his
preparation is unlike any other analyst I've ever worked with,
and so it's been really quite a enriching and wonderful
experience so far my first year at Prime.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
Isn't Iron Eagle getting into it with Mike Frattello one
of your favorite YouTube videos of all time?
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Yes, it's unreal, it really is. He's you know, his father.
Iron's father was a well known stand up comedian growing up,
and you're like, oh, now it all makes.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
Sense right well, Cassidy, we appreciate you taking the time,
especially in the middle of a busy series and a
busy schedule for you this time of year.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Thanks so much, and let's do it again soon.
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Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.