December 3, 2024 • 11 mins
Former NBA center turned Space City Home Network analyst Ryan Hollins joins The A-Team from Sacramento. He talks about this Rockets team rising to becoming one of the league's best teams in the early part of the season. He talks about why the Rockets have performed the way they have in the first couple of months. Plus, who he believes has been a catalyst for their success.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
And as promised, we are joined by our main man,
(00:02):
Ryan Hollins, all the way from beautiful Sacramento to discuss
all things Rockets.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Ryan.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Man, it's nice to say again with confidence, one of
the best teams in the NBA has Houston across its gear.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Man.
Speaker 4 (00:18):
That is that is music to I think all of
our ears, Man, and it's just been a joy. But obviously, Man,
there's a lot work to be done. But I think
listening Man, it's fair for the fan base to celebrate
the many victories that the Rockets have given us so far.
Speaker 5 (00:35):
Yo, Ryan, before this last game, after they'd won the
last two overtime games and then they obviously had OKAYCN
and everyone's making the one versus two two best defensive teams.
Your rematch from earlier in the month when they handled you.
I'd asked em about how he felt this team was
executing laden games, and he I think correctly assessed, well,
we're doing okay and better than last year. But you
(00:56):
look at the Philly game and we had an eight
point lead, gave him the final eight point and we're
stuck in overtime, and then you watch what unfolded against
ok See, what did you think of how the Rockets
handled the last three, four, five minutes of a tight
game with the best team in the West.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Well, they're looking like a group that is really just believing, hey,
and just finding a way. I mean, I think we've
seen a couple of times there's nothing going and Dylan
Brooks flies in and gets an unbelievable rebound.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
He makes a makes a big player. I think the biggest.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Thing is you kind of mentioned that Philly game. Uh
Alp is turning into a bit of a closer.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Now.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
Obviously he's not where you necessarily want him to be
if we're saying, you know, comparing it with the league's
bestiness part closing, but he's gaining confidence the ball game
put in his hands. It's not just that he can
score to basketball, but we all know he's excellently making
decisions for others. So I think for Houston to make
that next step, the big challenge was there and guys,
(01:57):
you guys heard me say this over and over again.
Being able to execute down a stretch, having a guy
who you can get the ball to and get a
good look, and having a group that.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
You feel comfortable with.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
And I think the gold for the rockets, is that
any of those starters has no problems stepping up and
hitting a big shot. But you like that Alp is
kind of taking the wherewithal upon himself and you see
him growing and getting more and more comfortable in that spot. Man,
you have Fred who is just inserting even more confidence
into him in that panoff this.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Team, and obviously what Alpi is doing offensively is great,
but he's doing something else that he wasn't necessarily known
for before. And that's on the other end of the floor,
which is where this team's bread and butter is made.
It's where its identity is. Right now, they are the
number three defense in the NBA right now. That'll probably
change one way or the other after tonight, but they're
(02:48):
anywhere from one to five on any given night consistently
throughout this first quarter of the season. I know in
your playing days there had to be at least one team,
maybe it was the Detroit Pistons.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
I'm trying to think.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Of the years that you were in the league where
you just dreaded going up against that lineup, and I
can't even imagine going either to Toyota Center or knowing
that they're coming to your gym and after the initial
wave of the starting five, then you gotta deal with
Tari Easton and a Men Thompson, how like just absolutely disgusting.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Is this defensive unit that is the Rockets this season?
Speaker 3 (03:24):
No, man, You're right about that.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
And the biggest difference with the Rockets is that they
create offense with their defense. You know, a Men Thompson,
Tari east and Dylan Brooks like is it almost looks
like AAU basketball at times where the kids can't get
the ball at the court and they're trapping and pressing everywhere.
And you see the Rockets run away with a couple
of victories when that has happened. And I think even
(03:46):
more so, you know, teams are getting tighter with the basketball,
but I love that the Rockets are showing that they
can play a different gear. So hey, even if they're
not getting those steels, you know, they're still.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Able to be effective. And you know, the play of.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
The game, we're talking about AltFi offense, Tarr Easton switches
on the shade goes as Alexander and we can argue maybe,
along with Luca Donsons and Kevin Durant, is the hardest
one on one cover in the NBA and he was
step first step with them. So I think with Tari back,
you're seeing the versatility that Emays able to put out there,
and even more so our friend being able to hold
(04:21):
his ground h Defensively, he's getting in some unique situations
where coaches saying, well, hey.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
You go guard to guard, go Guarna Ford or.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
Guard off the basketball move you move your feet, and
you know, he's embracing defense in a way that we
hadn't seen him do before. And that's just with time,
that's with confidence and obviously, you know, growing into his
role and hey, let's be honest here, guys, some tough
love from Emay.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
You know it wasn't always like.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
That with LP, but you know, he's really believing.
Speaker 5 (04:53):
Talk with Ryan Hollins, Rockets TV analysts Stay City Home
Network of course Beyond the Call tonight, alongside Craig Ackerman
and Vanessa Richards, then nine o'clock tip pregame coverage there
at eight thirty. Our pre game coverage begins eight o'clock
here on Sports Talk seven to ninety for the nine
o'clock tip. MTNAC on the call of that one, the
fifteen and six record, We keep watching them go out
(05:13):
and play the way they have. I almost feel silly
asking this, but every part of it and every part
of the way they got there makes me think absolutely,
this is a legit record, It's a legit team. I
do believe they'll be among the best teams in the
West as things play out. Injuries obviously, could you know,
make a change in that statement. But everything I just said,
isn't that extremely believable after watching them play these twenty
(05:36):
one games, No.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
It is.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
And the reason being is, and I'm sure you guys
we all get this feeling like the best is yet
to come. Like as good as the Rockets have been,
we're sitting the bat going you know, they don't shoot
the three that well still, you know, kind of trying
to find some offense. They've been good in spurts. Hey,
Jalen Green is gonna you know, hit his second half
stride of the season, and we saw a teaser of
(06:03):
that to start this season. But you know that there's
more to come. And the beautiful thing about having young players.
You see them still and they're still relatively young, Okay,
fair enough to say they're gonna improve and get better.
You know, as the season progresses. And I think even
from the beginning of the season until now, you know,
we've seen improvement. We've seen him in Thompson be more
(06:23):
aggressive offensively. We've seen how Pe taking his time you
know and closing like we just talked about, you know,
in in Tario Easton, you know, getting more and more
comfortable offensively and just kind of making his name and
you know known in the NBA. So I think there's
more that the Rockets have, but fair to say that
consistency from the defensive end is going to be there.
(06:45):
And then let me throw this out guys, you know, because.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
It's a deep team. He has just said, you know,
that helps.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
With injuries, and that helps not running you know, a
guy into the ground. Dylan Brooks knows if he gets
two fouls, if he's a little tired one night.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Those two young Bucks have is back.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Well, well, unless, of course fred Van Vliet plays and
back to back overtime wins and he logs more than
forty two minutes in each of them and then has
to score thirty eight in the very next outing.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Right, Yeah, but you know Freda's equipped for that.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
But you know, again, Deezer, it is hard to game
plan for the rockets and we've just seen it be
a different guy, you know, just about every night. And
you know, to me, which stood out and I loved
you know, Fred's points is that Mark Dadnel dared Fred.
If you notice when Jalen Green drove, there were four
(07:36):
bodies in the lane. When Fred drove, they fanned back
out and it was disrespectful. And said, okay, I'm gonna
fry you for that.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
I am gonna.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
Absolutely cook you for disrespect to me offensively, and he did.
And the reason they do it is because Fred is
such a dynamic passer. But I thought, man, that was
just huge, and that's champion. Don't get me too excited,
that's winning.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Asking Yeah, but did you think it was also disrespectful
that every time Jalen Green went to the rim those
four bodies would collapse on him and hammer him. And
it was an assault in every other setting in America,
yet no whistles were blown. But if you you breathed
on Shay Gildess, Alexander, it was a foul.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
And now you're trying to get me fined on.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Now you're trying to get me five We've been We've
been here in like fifteen minutes.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
You know, I'm the troublemaker on the show. Ryan, you
know that.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
Oh well, let's let's talk about some hardware.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Although I don't know if they actually give you hardware,
I guess they do. The Western Conference Coach of the
Month is also right here, and he was actually there
in Sacramento with you. Can you talk about how fast
uh Ema Udoka has changed the culture. I know that's
such a cliche, but it's true. I mean, Demiko Ryan's
has done it for the Texans. Ema Udoka has definitely
(08:54):
done that for the Houston Rockets. And what it's like,
I mean, you played around him. What's he like behind
the scenes. I guess for some of the fans that
might not know.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Man Ema is a straight shooter. He knows the game.
He's highly intelligent. The biggest thing that stands out is
that he's you know, he's a players coach. He played
the game at a very high level.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
I liken him too.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
If Greg Popovich ever wore the jersey and was six
to eight, two hundred.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
Fifty five pounds, you.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
Know that's e may But I mean he's just he's unbelievable,
but like he gets it, and I think the biggest
thing that sit out to me, and you guys can
correct me if I'm wrong, Like the accountability, like when
we saw Scot make a man, is this enough email?
We pushing these guys too hard, Like he pushes them
even harder. But the accountability and the expectations, and I
(09:43):
think he sees something in our guys that they may
not see themselves. And I think it's been really cool
to watch. And it's tough because, you know, kind of
we sit back and see some of the growing pains.
But like you're saying, Alpi come out on the other side.
You saw forty one from Jalen the other night, know
that there's better about Faketball to come. But you're seeing
guys by ind and obviously we're getting the fruits of
(10:05):
emails labor, you know right there, and those guys, our
guys are like they're getting him. They're like, Okay, coach,
I believe, like I'm in with the game plan, like
I understand it.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
I'm all in.
Speaker 5 (10:15):
It's very easy to see all that if you're at
the games. We're certainly watching it on Space City Home
Network because when guys come out of the game, those
conversations are being had when guys are sitting on the bench,
they're talking to one another in harsh, accountable type of ways,
and everybody seems to take to it quite well. Sacramento
hosting the Rockets tonight a nine pm tip. Ryan, We
appreciate the time, look forward to doing this again. Look
(10:36):
forward to getting you in here in studio hopefully sometime
real soon.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
But enjoy the West Coast trip.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
Three time sellers, you guys, keep it up man.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
Absolutely, Ryan Hollins here on Sports Talk seven to ninety
and Space City Home Network. And yeah, as wex mentioned,
you'll see him and Craig Now, you know, if there's
a big shot again, you're gonna see Craig's head and
you're gonna see Ryan Hollins belt ball like you saw
the other night when Fred hit that moonshot on Space
City Home Network.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
But yeah, we're gonna get him in studio.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
We'll get other members of the Rockets broadcast crew on
the Space City side in studio as well.
And as promised, we are joined by our main man,
(00:02):
Ryan Hollins, all the way from beautiful Sacramento to discuss
all things Rockets.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Ryan.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Man, it's nice to say again with confidence, one of
the best teams in the NBA has Houston across its gear.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Man.
Speaker 4 (00:18):
That is that is music to I think all of
our ears, Man, and it's just been a joy. But obviously, Man,
there's a lot work to be done. But I think
listening Man, it's fair for the fan base to celebrate
the many victories that the Rockets have given us so far.
Speaker 5 (00:35):
Yo, Ryan, before this last game, after they'd won the
last two overtime games and then they obviously had OKAYCN
and everyone's making the one versus two two best defensive teams.
Your rematch from earlier in the month when they handled you.
I'd asked em about how he felt this team was
executing laden games, and he I think correctly assessed, well,
we're doing okay and better than last year. But you
(00:56):
look at the Philly game and we had an eight
point lead, gave him the final eight point and we're
stuck in overtime, and then you watch what unfolded against
ok See, what did you think of how the Rockets
handled the last three, four, five minutes of a tight
game with the best team in the West.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Well, they're looking like a group that is really just believing, hey,
and just finding a way. I mean, I think we've
seen a couple of times there's nothing going and Dylan
Brooks flies in and gets an unbelievable rebound.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
He makes a makes a big player. I think the biggest.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Thing is you kind of mentioned that Philly game. Uh
Alp is turning into a bit of a closer.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Now.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
Obviously he's not where you necessarily want him to be
if we're saying, you know, comparing it with the league's
bestiness part closing, but he's gaining confidence the ball game
put in his hands. It's not just that he can
score to basketball, but we all know he's excellently making
decisions for others. So I think for Houston to make
that next step, the big challenge was there and guys,
(01:57):
you guys heard me say this over and over again.
Being able to execute down a stretch, having a guy
who you can get the ball to and get a
good look, and having a group that.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
You feel comfortable with.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
And I think the gold for the rockets, is that
any of those starters has no problems stepping up and
hitting a big shot. But you like that Alp is
kind of taking the wherewithal upon himself and you see
him growing and getting more and more comfortable in that spot. Man,
you have Fred who is just inserting even more confidence
into him in that panoff this.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Team, and obviously what Alpi is doing offensively is great,
but he's doing something else that he wasn't necessarily known
for before. And that's on the other end of the floor,
which is where this team's bread and butter is made.
It's where its identity is. Right now, they are the
number three defense in the NBA right now. That'll probably
change one way or the other after tonight, but they're
(02:48):
anywhere from one to five on any given night consistently
throughout this first quarter of the season. I know in
your playing days there had to be at least one team,
maybe it was the Detroit Pistons.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
I'm trying to think.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Of the years that you were in the league where
you just dreaded going up against that lineup, and I
can't even imagine going either to Toyota Center or knowing
that they're coming to your gym and after the initial
wave of the starting five, then you gotta deal with
Tari Easton and a Men Thompson, how like just absolutely disgusting.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Is this defensive unit that is the Rockets this season?
Speaker 3 (03:24):
No, man, You're right about that.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
And the biggest difference with the Rockets is that they
create offense with their defense. You know, a Men Thompson,
Tari east and Dylan Brooks like is it almost looks
like AAU basketball at times where the kids can't get
the ball at the court and they're trapping and pressing everywhere.
And you see the Rockets run away with a couple
of victories when that has happened. And I think even
(03:46):
more so, you know, teams are getting tighter with the basketball,
but I love that the Rockets are showing that they
can play a different gear. So hey, even if they're
not getting those steels, you know, they're still.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Able to be effective. And you know, the play of.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
The game, we're talking about AltFi offense, Tarr Easton switches
on the shade goes as Alexander and we can argue maybe,
along with Luca Donsons and Kevin Durant, is the hardest
one on one cover in the NBA and he was
step first step with them. So I think with Tari back,
you're seeing the versatility that Emays able to put out there,
and even more so our friend being able to hold
(04:21):
his ground h Defensively, he's getting in some unique situations
where coaches saying, well, hey.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
You go guard to guard, go Guarna Ford or.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
Guard off the basketball move you move your feet, and
you know, he's embracing defense in a way that we
hadn't seen him do before. And that's just with time,
that's with confidence and obviously, you know, growing into his
role and hey, let's be honest here, guys, some tough
love from Emay.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
You know it wasn't always like.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
That with LP, but you know, he's really believing.
Speaker 5 (04:53):
Talk with Ryan Hollins, Rockets TV analysts Stay City Home
Network of course Beyond the Call tonight, alongside Craig Ackerman
and Vanessa Richards, then nine o'clock tip pregame coverage there
at eight thirty. Our pre game coverage begins eight o'clock
here on Sports Talk seven to ninety for the nine
o'clock tip. MTNAC on the call of that one, the
fifteen and six record, We keep watching them go out
(05:13):
and play the way they have. I almost feel silly
asking this, but every part of it and every part
of the way they got there makes me think absolutely,
this is a legit record, It's a legit team. I
do believe they'll be among the best teams in the
West as things play out. Injuries obviously, could you know,
make a change in that statement. But everything I just said,
isn't that extremely believable after watching them play these twenty
(05:36):
one games, No.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
It is.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
And the reason being is, and I'm sure you guys
we all get this feeling like the best is yet
to come. Like as good as the Rockets have been,
we're sitting the bat going you know, they don't shoot
the three that well still, you know, kind of trying
to find some offense. They've been good in spurts. Hey,
Jalen Green is gonna you know, hit his second half
stride of the season, and we saw a teaser of
(06:03):
that to start this season. But you know that there's
more to come. And the beautiful thing about having young players.
You see them still and they're still relatively young, Okay,
fair enough to say they're gonna improve and get better.
You know, as the season progresses. And I think even
from the beginning of the season until now, you know,
we've seen improvement. We've seen him in Thompson be more
(06:23):
aggressive offensively. We've seen how Pe taking his time you
know and closing like we just talked about, you know,
in in Tario Easton, you know, getting more and more
comfortable offensively and just kind of making his name and
you know known in the NBA. So I think there's
more that the Rockets have, but fair to say that
consistency from the defensive end is going to be there.
(06:45):
And then let me throw this out guys, you know, because.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
It's a deep team. He has just said, you know,
that helps.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
With injuries, and that helps not running you know, a
guy into the ground. Dylan Brooks knows if he gets
two fouls, if he's a little tired one night.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Those two young Bucks have is back.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Well, well, unless, of course fred Van Vliet plays and
back to back overtime wins and he logs more than
forty two minutes in each of them and then has
to score thirty eight in the very next outing.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Right, Yeah, but you know Freda's equipped for that.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
But you know, again, Deezer, it is hard to game
plan for the rockets and we've just seen it be
a different guy, you know, just about every night. And
you know, to me, which stood out and I loved
you know, Fred's points is that Mark Dadnel dared Fred.
If you notice when Jalen Green drove, there were four
(07:36):
bodies in the lane. When Fred drove, they fanned back
out and it was disrespectful. And said, okay, I'm gonna
fry you for that.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
I am gonna.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
Absolutely cook you for disrespect to me offensively, and he did.
And the reason they do it is because Fred is
such a dynamic passer. But I thought, man, that was
just huge, and that's champion. Don't get me too excited,
that's winning.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Asking Yeah, but did you think it was also disrespectful
that every time Jalen Green went to the rim those
four bodies would collapse on him and hammer him. And
it was an assault in every other setting in America,
yet no whistles were blown. But if you you breathed
on Shay Gildess, Alexander, it was a foul.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
And now you're trying to get me fined on.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Now you're trying to get me five We've been We've
been here in like fifteen minutes.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
You know, I'm the troublemaker on the show. Ryan, you
know that.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
Oh well, let's let's talk about some hardware.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Although I don't know if they actually give you hardware,
I guess they do. The Western Conference Coach of the
Month is also right here, and he was actually there
in Sacramento with you. Can you talk about how fast
uh Ema Udoka has changed the culture. I know that's
such a cliche, but it's true. I mean, Demiko Ryan's
has done it for the Texans. Ema Udoka has definitely
(08:54):
done that for the Houston Rockets. And what it's like,
I mean, you played around him. What's he like behind
the scenes. I guess for some of the fans that
might not know.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Man Ema is a straight shooter. He knows the game.
He's highly intelligent. The biggest thing that stands out is
that he's you know, he's a players coach. He played
the game at a very high level.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
I liken him too.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
If Greg Popovich ever wore the jersey and was six
to eight, two hundred.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
Fifty five pounds, you.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
Know that's e may But I mean he's just he's unbelievable,
but like he gets it, and I think the biggest
thing that sit out to me, and you guys can
correct me if I'm wrong, Like the accountability, like when
we saw Scot make a man, is this enough email?
We pushing these guys too hard, Like he pushes them
even harder. But the accountability and the expectations, and I
(09:43):
think he sees something in our guys that they may
not see themselves. And I think it's been really cool
to watch. And it's tough because, you know, kind of
we sit back and see some of the growing pains.
But like you're saying, Alpi come out on the other side.
You saw forty one from Jalen the other night, know
that there's better about Faketball to come. But you're seeing
guys by ind and obviously we're getting the fruits of
(10:05):
emails labor, you know right there, and those guys, our
guys are like they're getting him. They're like, Okay, coach,
I believe, like I'm in with the game plan, like
I understand it.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
I'm all in.
Speaker 5 (10:15):
It's very easy to see all that if you're at
the games. We're certainly watching it on Space City Home
Network because when guys come out of the game, those
conversations are being had when guys are sitting on the bench,
they're talking to one another in harsh, accountable type of ways,
and everybody seems to take to it quite well. Sacramento
hosting the Rockets tonight a nine pm tip. Ryan, We
appreciate the time, look forward to doing this again. Look
(10:36):
forward to getting you in here in studio hopefully sometime
real soon.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
But enjoy the West Coast trip.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
Three time sellers, you guys, keep it up man.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
Absolutely, Ryan Hollins here on Sports Talk seven to ninety
and Space City Home Network. And yeah, as wex mentioned,
you'll see him and Craig Now, you know, if there's
a big shot again, you're gonna see Craig's head and
you're gonna see Ryan Hollins belt ball like you saw
the other night when Fred hit that moonshot on Space
City Home Network.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
But yeah, we're gonna get him in studio.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
We'll get other members of the Rockets broadcast crew on
the Space City side in studio as well.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.