December 11, 2024 • 8 mins
Space City Home Network's Craig Ackerman join The A-Team to preview tonight's Rockets-Warriors NBA Cup Knockout Round game. He talks about how fired up the Rockets are to finally end this 15-game losing streak to Golden State. Also, what a win tonight would mean for the Rockets.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Talking now on the phone lines with our special guests,
the TV voice for the Houston Rockets on Space of
the Home Network. That's Craig Ackerman. He joins the A
team here on his way to Toyota Center. Craig, we'll
get right to it. NBA Cup game tonight. We're all
very excited, how about you.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
At this point, I thought it could be in a
better mood than I would normally be at this point. First,
let me apologize. This is supposed to take place in studio,
but I did not. I was not aware. It's going
to take an hour and fifteen minutes to go about
two miles and there's they've closed down a couple of
lanes too. But anyhow, it's good to be here. I'm
(00:38):
excited about the ballgame tonight and looking forward to a
lot on the line, especially for the Rockets in terms
of where they are as an organization versus where say
the Warriors have been as an organization. But should be
a release on night tonight.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
It has been a long time, probably forever, for most
of the players on this team that are part of
tonight's rotation. There's something truly on the line, and it's
not just the NBA Cup berth in the Semis in Vegas.
It's snapping a ridiculously long losing streak, preventing it from
becoming the longest losing streak in team history to one team.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Yeah, the only current Rocket on the roster that was
with the Rockets the last time they need Golden State
was Jeff Green, and I believe he had just recently
signed with the team at the time. And so yeah,
this new generation of Rockets players, these guys have never
tasted victory against the Warriors, played him twice this season.
That first game of Toyota Center was wild off again,
(01:36):
Rockets got down by thirty one and then Tary Easton
did literally superhuman things to help force overtime. They eventually
ran out of gas and lost. Obviously, the one just
a week ago in San Francisco was really frustrating because
Curry wasn't playing, and either was Draymond and Curry also
missed the first game and they still ended up losing
(01:57):
the game. So yeah, it's been it's been very frustrated.
Warriors have had the Rockets number for a very very
long time. Obviously, all those playoff series victories over the Rockets,
So hopefully Tonight's is the night.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Yeah, I'm not going to even talk about the blind
rage I felt when thirteen point eight points per game
score Jonathan Kamingo went off for thirty three, and you
felt like that was the best opportunity because of the
aforementioned Curry and Draymond not being in the lineup. But
as it stands going into this game tonight, I know
that you know the Cup has been I feel like
(02:31):
it's this lightning rod because I understand what the concept
is and you know, garnering or generating interest in games
that would normally we would just be plodding through the
month of December because it is an eighty two game campaign.
How have you felt about the Cup action? And I
say that because we heard from some of the guys
that practice yesterday they feel like they're fired up more
(02:51):
for these games, and they also have recognized that any
given opponent during these games, it feels like they're more
fired up for them as well.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Do you see that out there? I mean, I think
in the last since this is the second season of
I guess I do get the sense that there is
more intensity on display from the players in these games.
Look as someone who is an international soccer fan, I
understand the place for additional tournaments and additional things for
(03:25):
teams to play for, so I certainly understand the concept.
I think as generally speaking as an American sports fan,
I think there was some skepticism, including from myself, going
into this new format for the league. But since I
understand and appreciate the soccer format and now have the
chance I had a chance to experience this for the
second year in a row, I really like it, and
(03:47):
I do think that the intensity of these games are different. Obviously,
the floors are very different. But I think that's just
a concept to make sure that people understand that this
is something unique and different in American sports now, and
just to kind of pay attention to it and make
them think about it a little bit. But I do
like it. I do like that there's something additional to
play for, and I do think for a team, again
(04:09):
like the Rockets, or still in an upward trajectory with
a lot of young players who have not had the
opportunity to taste a ton of winning success so far
in their young careers, having something else to play for
with something on the line, and the experience that could
be gained from it is really really valuable to this group,
(04:31):
and so far, I thought the team played very well
last year. Ultimately they didn't get to the knockout station,
but I thought they competed very well in those games.
They've certainly been been better at it this season, and
I hope they get a chance to go to Las
Vegas and continue on it's again. I think tonight's game
will be intense, It should be fun. And you got
the old nemesis too, you got to try to knock out.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Yeah, they'll try to claim that last spot for Vegas.
Two teams got there last night. The Eastern Conference game
Hawks Knicks is the other game early and of course
Rockets Warriors late right here on Sports Talk seven to
ninety and on Space City Home Network. Coverage for both
we'll start at the seven point thirty Rockets TV play
by play voice for Space City Home Network, Craig Ackerman
with us here through twenty four games at sixteen and eight.
(05:16):
Are there one or two things that you've found most
pleasing about what you've seen from the Rockets this year,
Whether there's something overall with how the team does something
or how they play, or any individual's game that really
stands out to you.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Well. I think at the start of men Thompson in
terms of individual players, has taken a significant lead this season.
Still working on consistency from three, but he's been basically
percentage wise the best Rockets guy from the corners from three.
So I think that's in how standing development. But just
his ability to be able to get downhill whenever he
(05:51):
wants to and get to the rim whenever he wants
to has been an awesome development. Obviously, he's an incredibly
gifted defense player. We saw that last year as a rookie,
but it's awesome to see him doing what he's been doing.
It's been awesome to have Tarry Eathen back and healthy.
It's a significant add to the team since he's missed
the last couple of games in concussion protocol. To have
(06:13):
him back for the ball game tonight because with the
Warriors at pretty much full strength, they do have plenty
of offensive weapons and so having both the Terror twins
on the floor at the same time will come in
handy for the Rockets. But I think to me they
were really good defensively last year, but their lead this
year to elite defensive team with Alprin Chingoon making a
(06:35):
significant step forward defensively manning the paints, protecting the rim,
to me is probably generally speaking, been the most pleasant
thing I've seen in terms of this team's development this year.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Well, you had, you had him and Jalen Green get
extended this offseason just real quickly, I think that you
just nailed on the head with what we've seen from
Alprin Shangun in a lot of ways, even with his offense,
I feel like the defensive step forward is the biggest,
most significant step in his game to becoming a you
(07:08):
know what we hope is going to be an All star,
right because you.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Need somebody on the back end. You still need somebody
on the back end to provide some sort of rim
deterren So the fact that, look, this was something they've
really started working on in the off season and throughout
training camp. You know, he's still not the most explosive leaper,
but ability to defend vertically and protect the rim getting
his arms up has been a great ad. Like, only
(07:33):
the Calves and only the Thunder are allowing a lower
field goal percentage to opponents at the rim than the
Houston Rockets, So look their point of attack defense is tremendous.
Philan Brooks is having a really good seaton. Jarius Smith
Junior has been fantastic defensively. We've already talked about Amen
and Tari and Fred van Vliet is a terrific point
of attack defender as well. But to have somebody on
(07:54):
the back end that you can rely upon when guys
ultimately are able to get past that first line of defense,
to provide that second line of defense and some rim
deterrence has been a huge addition. The team has won
a lot of games because they win all of the
hustle numbers and all the hustle stats and defensive numbers,
and they still try to figure out some consistency offensively.
(08:14):
That's how they win games. And I think because of
Shoon and all the other guys that I mentioned to me,
that has been.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Sorry to cut you off wise, but well worth the weight.
We look forward to your broadcast tonight.
Talking now on the phone lines with our special guests,
the TV voice for the Houston Rockets on Space of
the Home Network. That's Craig Ackerman. He joins the A
team here on his way to Toyota Center. Craig, we'll
get right to it. NBA Cup game tonight. We're all
very excited, how about you.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
At this point, I thought it could be in a
better mood than I would normally be at this point. First,
let me apologize. This is supposed to take place in studio,
but I did not. I was not aware. It's going
to take an hour and fifteen minutes to go about
two miles and there's they've closed down a couple of
lanes too. But anyhow, it's good to be here. I'm
(00:38):
excited about the ballgame tonight and looking forward to a
lot on the line, especially for the Rockets in terms
of where they are as an organization versus where say
the Warriors have been as an organization. But should be
a release on night tonight.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
It has been a long time, probably forever, for most
of the players on this team that are part of
tonight's rotation. There's something truly on the line, and it's
not just the NBA Cup berth in the Semis in Vegas.
It's snapping a ridiculously long losing streak, preventing it from
becoming the longest losing streak in team history to one team.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Yeah, the only current Rocket on the roster that was
with the Rockets the last time they need Golden State
was Jeff Green, and I believe he had just recently
signed with the team at the time. And so yeah,
this new generation of Rockets players, these guys have never
tasted victory against the Warriors, played him twice this season.
That first game of Toyota Center was wild off again,
(01:36):
Rockets got down by thirty one and then Tary Easton
did literally superhuman things to help force overtime. They eventually
ran out of gas and lost. Obviously, the one just
a week ago in San Francisco was really frustrating because
Curry wasn't playing, and either was Draymond and Curry also
missed the first game and they still ended up losing
(01:57):
the game. So yeah, it's been it's been very frustrated.
Warriors have had the Rockets number for a very very
long time. Obviously, all those playoff series victories over the Rockets,
So hopefully Tonight's is the night.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Yeah, I'm not going to even talk about the blind
rage I felt when thirteen point eight points per game
score Jonathan Kamingo went off for thirty three, and you
felt like that was the best opportunity because of the
aforementioned Curry and Draymond not being in the lineup. But
as it stands going into this game tonight, I know
that you know the Cup has been I feel like
(02:31):
it's this lightning rod because I understand what the concept
is and you know, garnering or generating interest in games
that would normally we would just be plodding through the
month of December because it is an eighty two game campaign.
How have you felt about the Cup action? And I
say that because we heard from some of the guys
that practice yesterday they feel like they're fired up more
(02:51):
for these games, and they also have recognized that any
given opponent during these games, it feels like they're more
fired up for them as well.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Do you see that out there? I mean, I think
in the last since this is the second season of
I guess I do get the sense that there is
more intensity on display from the players in these games.
Look as someone who is an international soccer fan, I
understand the place for additional tournaments and additional things for
(03:25):
teams to play for, so I certainly understand the concept.
I think as generally speaking as an American sports fan,
I think there was some skepticism, including from myself, going
into this new format for the league. But since I
understand and appreciate the soccer format and now have the
chance I had a chance to experience this for the
second year in a row, I really like it, and
(03:47):
I do think that the intensity of these games are different. Obviously,
the floors are very different. But I think that's just
a concept to make sure that people understand that this
is something unique and different in American sports now, and
just to kind of pay attention to it and make
them think about it a little bit. But I do
like it. I do like that there's something additional to
play for, and I do think for a team, again
(04:09):
like the Rockets, or still in an upward trajectory with
a lot of young players who have not had the
opportunity to taste a ton of winning success so far
in their young careers, having something else to play for
with something on the line, and the experience that could
be gained from it is really really valuable to this group,
(04:31):
and so far, I thought the team played very well
last year. Ultimately they didn't get to the knockout station,
but I thought they competed very well in those games.
They've certainly been been better at it this season, and
I hope they get a chance to go to Las
Vegas and continue on it's again. I think tonight's game
will be intense, It should be fun. And you got
the old nemesis too, you got to try to knock out.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Yeah, they'll try to claim that last spot for Vegas.
Two teams got there last night. The Eastern Conference game
Hawks Knicks is the other game early and of course
Rockets Warriors late right here on Sports Talk seven to
ninety and on Space City Home Network. Coverage for both
we'll start at the seven point thirty Rockets TV play
by play voice for Space City Home Network, Craig Ackerman
with us here through twenty four games at sixteen and eight.
(05:16):
Are there one or two things that you've found most
pleasing about what you've seen from the Rockets this year,
Whether there's something overall with how the team does something
or how they play, or any individual's game that really
stands out to you.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Well. I think at the start of men Thompson in
terms of individual players, has taken a significant lead this season.
Still working on consistency from three, but he's been basically
percentage wise the best Rockets guy from the corners from three.
So I think that's in how standing development. But just
his ability to be able to get downhill whenever he
(05:51):
wants to and get to the rim whenever he wants
to has been an awesome development. Obviously, he's an incredibly
gifted defense player. We saw that last year as a rookie,
but it's awesome to see him doing what he's been doing.
It's been awesome to have Tarry Eathen back and healthy.
It's a significant add to the team since he's missed
the last couple of games in concussion protocol. To have
(06:13):
him back for the ball game tonight because with the
Warriors at pretty much full strength, they do have plenty
of offensive weapons and so having both the Terror twins
on the floor at the same time will come in
handy for the Rockets. But I think to me they
were really good defensively last year, but their lead this
year to elite defensive team with Alprin Chingoon making a
(06:35):
significant step forward defensively manning the paints, protecting the rim,
to me is probably generally speaking, been the most pleasant
thing I've seen in terms of this team's development this year.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Well, you had, you had him and Jalen Green get
extended this offseason just real quickly, I think that you
just nailed on the head with what we've seen from
Alprin Shangun in a lot of ways, even with his offense,
I feel like the defensive step forward is the biggest,
most significant step in his game to becoming a you
(07:08):
know what we hope is going to be an All star,
right because you.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Need somebody on the back end. You still need somebody
on the back end to provide some sort of rim
deterren So the fact that, look, this was something they've
really started working on in the off season and throughout
training camp. You know, he's still not the most explosive leaper,
but ability to defend vertically and protect the rim getting
his arms up has been a great ad. Like, only
(07:33):
the Calves and only the Thunder are allowing a lower
field goal percentage to opponents at the rim than the
Houston Rockets, So look their point of attack defense is tremendous.
Philan Brooks is having a really good seaton. Jarius Smith
Junior has been fantastic defensively. We've already talked about Amen
and Tari and Fred van Vliet is a terrific point
of attack defender as well. But to have somebody on
(07:54):
the back end that you can rely upon when guys
ultimately are able to get past that first line of defense,
to provide that second line of defense and some rim
deterrence has been a huge addition. The team has won
a lot of games because they win all of the
hustle numbers and all the hustle stats and defensive numbers,
and they still try to figure out some consistency offensively.
(08:14):
That's how they win games. And I think because of
Shoon and all the other guys that I mentioned to me,
that has been.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Sorry to cut you off wise, but well worth the weight.
We look forward to your broadcast tonight.
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