February 13, 2025 • 11 mins
Even with Kevin Durant scoring 37 points, the Houston Rockets were able to rally late and secure a 119-111 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Amen Thompson recorded his fourth career triple-double, his second this month, with 18 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. Phoenix, who were missing Devin Booker, entered the fourth quarter with an eight-point lead, but the Rockets, led by Alperen Sengun and Dillon Brooks, were able to regain control and pull away in the final minutes, taking advantage of Phoenix's 17 turnovers. "I think our activity was great," head coach Ime Udoka said. "They came up with a lot of steals." After a quiet first half due to the Suns' strong post defense, Sengun finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds to help the Rockets win a second straight. Sengun was named an NBA All-Star for the first time in his career and was selected for Charles Barkley's team in the mini-tournament. The 74th NBA All-Star Game will take place Sunday, but the Rockets have one more matchup before the break, hosting the Golden State Warriors on Thursday. "You want to lock in and finish on a good note," Udoka said.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We are happy to be joined as we are weekly
by the head basketball coach Y Houston Rockets. Tonight, the
Rockets take on the Golden State Warriors. Winning last night
against the Phoenix Suns, coach at Doka with us with
Matt and Ross. Coach, congratulations, a nice win last night
and for the second straight game, a really good fourth
quarter offensively. I don't know if what you would say
that you spent a lot of time focusing on just
(00:20):
the fourth, but it is kind of nice to see
that you've won two games where you put up some
big numbers in the final twelve minutes of play.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Yeah, it was good to see those shots go down.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Obviously made a bunch of threes in those last two
games in the fourth quarter, but also guarded well as well.
You know, nineteen points given up to Phoenix last night
and eighty seven overall in the game before, and so yeah,
not only offensively defensively were doing good as well there.
But you know, sometimes as simple as continue to be
confident in the shots and they go down the fourth
(00:50):
and extend the lead.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
One thing that you were able to do. Look, Durant
had a fantastic game, as you expected he would. You
did take advantage you turned They forced ten deals, I
think eighteen turnovers, got twenty five points off of that.
That's just one of those unsung numbers that you can
always look at and say, there's the main reason why
a team wins a losers by just taking care of
good care of the basketball.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Yeah, we've been one of the teams that is one
of the best in the league taking care of the ball,
and so when we keep our numbers down, obviously we're
in good shape. But to create that many on them
and get with the activity. Obviously we went after Durant
and four to seven on him and six on Tyas Jones,
which is a guy that doesn't turn the ball over much.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
I think our activity was great.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
You know, get Tari Beck, you get certain guys out there,
and they're obviously going to get their hands on the
ball a lot, and they came up with a lot
of steels, ignited our transition fast break and obviously got
some easy buckets.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Speaking easy buckets, it was not easy to get out
be involved in the offense, at least in the first
two and a half three quarters.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Got things going in the fourth.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Was there something you guys thought you could do or
something that they adjusted to that Alpurn was able to
take advantage of to get him busying.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
The fourth well, they went after him pretty much every
time he got in the post in the first half,
and so he up to simple and made the right
pass and you know, sometimes make or miss as far
as him kicking out, but he's doing the right thing,
attracting the attention. And yeah, anytime he was in the post,
they went after him. And so regardless of who was
on in big or small, they sent two or three
bodies to him and limited him some in the first half.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
But we moved him around a little bit more.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Put him on a perimeter a little bit more and
at the elbow where could face up and see all
the double teams and everything, and it's obviously harder.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
To double him from that position.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
And he got going downhill a little bit there, got
the free throw line and made some good shots. But yeah,
they simply were not going to let him score in
the post and went after him, and he did the
right thing, kicked it out, and other guys were recipients.
Speaker 5 (02:38):
Thirty eight minutes from him last night. How is he
feeling and do you expect him to play the back
to back.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Yeah, he came out feeling good.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Nothing nothing happened during the game, So the tightness and
the spasms that he had previously, hopefully that's even better tonight.
But he felt good, you know, obviously going into break here,
we want to finish on a good note and hopefully
guys are all available.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Obviously Taria in the back backs. We'll see about Steven
with the back to back as well.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
His minutes were pretty low, but nothing happened withoutp and
hopefully it's good to go and can rest up and
then go play an All Star game.
Speaker 5 (03:09):
Yeah, when it is the last game before the All
Star break, do you ever feel like as a coach,
you see, not even necessarily just now, but in your history,
is there do you have to put kind of an
extra emphasis and say, hey, guys, let's focus and let's
get this one done before we hit the break.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
All the time, it seems like every year, guys minds
are starting to think about the break, think about the
All Star Game, rising stars, whatever they have going on,
and we want to lock in and finish on a
good note. And so yeah, I've been on both sides
that had some ten game winning streaks before they got
snapped to go into All.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Star Break, and we talked about that last night. Phoenix.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
They had played the night before at home and got
in four thirty in the morning.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
We wanted to jump on them.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Obviously, they put up a much better fight and Durant
had a big card to do with that, but we
knew that was their last game as well, and so
if we knew if we could lock in, they might
bow out early as well.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
So the squad plays tonight and then we don't play
again until a week from Friday, when I'm back to
back with the Minnesota and then go to Utah. I'm
gonna throw scenario if I shorten the All Star Break
by two games by two days and it gives you
two less back to backs, would you take that or
do you think the week away from the sport's a
good thing for the guys?
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Well, based on how we are right now, I think
the rest is good. Obviously Fred being injured, and then
the guys I can't play the back to back Stephen
and Atario right now, but I'll be being banged up
as well. And then guys that haven't missed games like Jalen,
you know, playing through contusions and.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Bumps and bruises.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
I think it's good to get everybody's legs back, get
physically refreshed, but also mentally take a step away as well.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
So we'll take the extra days needed. And then like you.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Said, they take it right back from us with the
back to back ESPN game late night here against Minnesota,
and they have to go all the way to Utah,
so we will be prepared for that. But get the
back to back schedule right now has been crazy. I
think that's for in a row for us.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
I did watch a little bit of the Warriors game
last night when I got back from our game. This guy,
Quentin p didn't play a whole lot, but he's a
seven foot Why is there a seven footer playing for
the Golden State Warriors that I've never seen that for them,
at least since like Andrew Bolg had played.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Yeah, he brings a different dynamic to them.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
He's a picking, pop big, something different that they haven't
had in a while.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
I think Lotoney hasn't been playing as much. You know,
they've bring a small ball with.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Raymond at the five some, and then Tracey Jackson Davis,
who was starting for them, isn't really in the rotation
right now, so he gives them a different look something
that we haven't seen when we played him so far.
He wasn't getting any time at that point, but yeah,
stretches of defense does some different things for them, so
they're going with a different look to try to shake
it up as well.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
How about Jimmy Butler, what have you seen so far?
Him wearing Golden State gear?
Speaker 2 (05:39):
No fitting in Well.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
I think he obviously brings the leadership toughness to that team,
but he's he's a little bit different with how he scores.
Doesn't don't need to play play call for him, but
he can impact the game in so many different ways
and very unselfish and so seems like he's fitting well
so far, has made an impact and obviously until last night,
they had won a few in a row with him,
and so I'm sure he's happy to get back on
the court and we'll see what he looks like tonight
(06:01):
against US.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
We haven't talked about this, and least on this show.
What was it like coaching in Dallas on Saturday for
that game with all the Lucas stuff and the protests.
We were on the buses obviously getting theren in it
was growing as we were getting there, But what it
was a vibe any different for you just being around
the fans with all that, You know, there was a
lot of anks in that crowd at least early, and
(06:24):
there certainly has been since they played that game.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Now.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
I think the outside was more crazy obviously, the protests
and the people out there with the signs and the
whole crowd gathered out there. Once you got inside, I
think Anthony Davis made them forget a little bit about
it immediately with the first half that he had, and
then the injury happens, and so it's kind of exacerbated
that Luca's gone again and then Davis has hurt.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
So I think there's been some ups and downs for sure.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
Davis, if he was healthy and playing, might have helped
sway their opinions a little bit, but him being out
for the extended time is only going to make them
miss Luca Moore. And so it was a wild outside,
but the inside they were pumped up for him.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Davis had a great first half and like I said, we.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Clouted back into the game and he got hurt obviously,
so that dampened their expectations a little bit.
Speaker 5 (07:09):
You had last Night, thirty six year old Kevin Durant
playing as well as he is. And then you have
thirty five year old Jimmy Butler, thirty six year old
Steph Curry lebron is forty doing his thing. What have
you just seen in your time around the league? How
much of this is these guys are freaks of nature?
How much of this is the sports science improving and
guys taking more care of their bodies to where you
(07:31):
have these guys into their late thirties playing as well
as they are.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Yes, combinations of all the above, I think, you know,
taking care of your body is become paramount. You know,
for these guys. They're also great players, so their skill
set lasts a little longer and they're very efficient at
what they do.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
So it's a little bit of both.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
But you know, I me being around Durant and some
of these guys over the years, you see the work ethic.
You see how guys take care of their bodies and
the amount of time they put into their sport. And
so I think guys are starting to do that at
a younger age as well, which helps them extend their career.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
But the other part is guys will.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Sit out some games, and I played the back to
backs three and fourtnights, and so those things help as
well in longevity of your career.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
How old were you when you retired?
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Thirty four?
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Quitter thirty four got a coaching opportunity physically could have
kept playing.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Pop off for me the job, and I took it.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
So did you how?
Speaker 1 (08:27):
And you've been asked us before, when did you know
that you had the coaching bug in you?
Speaker 3 (08:33):
Probably around twenty nine, you know, mid the middle of
my career. I started AU team in Portland and did
some coaching clinton with the MVPA, the Players Association put
them on. I did that three years in a row
out of Uva with the top one hundred high school kids,
and so I knew I enjoyed it, and I knew
I wanted to do NBA and one in college or
any other level. And so once I got the call
from Pop and the opportunity, I stopped playing a little,
(08:56):
you know, a year or two before I had to What.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
The hardest part about an assistant coach is?
Speaker 2 (09:01):
That?
Speaker 4 (09:02):
Is scouting?
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Is it?
Speaker 1 (09:03):
The endless watching of tape? Is I mean when you
have to work your rank way up and you certainly
have done that with all the different stops you made,
what's the what was the toughest chore and ultimately getting
to the spot where you are now.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
I think just opportunity that. You know. The thing that
I was told with all the interviews was you've never
done it before. Well, you can't do it until you
do it. And so that's the hardest part, you know,
is everybody has to be the first time it's something. Obviously,
the hours are much longer than when you're a player.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
You know, you spend countless hours before and after practice,
all night doing scouting and films. But you know, I
learned from one of the best, and I'd say the
thing for me was having to be good cops for
Pop when he's a bad cop, and even though I
may have agreed with him on things, I'd be a
good cop and put my arm around guys and kind
of lie a little bit.
Speaker 4 (09:47):
You know, I love it. You have to lie. I
love it. That's what I'm saying. The best coaches some
times have to lie. So are you good cop? Bad cop?
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Right now? Are you?
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Kind of as a head coach had to be kind
of a mix of that right now?
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Sixty six percent bad percent? Good. But I got a
staff and some vedom players that make up for my aggression.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
Yeah, you know I wouldn't change it. Let me get
you out of here on this one. Dylan Brooks is
having a great year. Three point wise up the thirty
nine percent, that's his best number. The ball leaves his
hand that looks like a much better this year than
it even did last year, and certainly was a Memphis
Grizzly youtubete that to anything?
Speaker 4 (10:24):
Is it spacing?
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Is the slidestep is a little bit of everything, because
it looks like it just looks like it's leaving his
hand with much more confidence.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Yeah, I think his preparation is much better. He's always
down ready to shoot.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Guys are looking for him, and he does a really
good job of relocating and finding that opening for the
kickouts or post ups without being so one thing he
has done obviously shot at a high level. I think
he's ready to shoot out every time, and I think
he's improved his the pace of his release as well.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
So he's getting a shot off quicker, doesn't need as.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Much space, and obviously it's been one of our best,
most consistent all years. Want him to stay confident and
aggressively take those shots and I'll pass them up.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
Gray Steff. As always, coach, You'll see you later tonight.
Thank you for the visitors always, Thank you guys. You
got it, You made okay with us here on The
Matt Thomas Show with Ross
We are happy to be joined as we are weekly
by the head basketball coach Y Houston Rockets. Tonight, the
Rockets take on the Golden State Warriors. Winning last night
against the Phoenix Suns, coach at Doka with us with
Matt and Ross. Coach, congratulations, a nice win last night
and for the second straight game, a really good fourth
quarter offensively. I don't know if what you would say
that you spent a lot of time focusing on just
(00:20):
the fourth, but it is kind of nice to see
that you've won two games where you put up some
big numbers in the final twelve minutes of play.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Yeah, it was good to see those shots go down.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Obviously made a bunch of threes in those last two
games in the fourth quarter, but also guarded well as well.
You know, nineteen points given up to Phoenix last night
and eighty seven overall in the game before, and so yeah,
not only offensively defensively were doing good as well there.
But you know, sometimes as simple as continue to be
confident in the shots and they go down the fourth
(00:50):
and extend the lead.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
One thing that you were able to do. Look, Durant
had a fantastic game, as you expected he would. You
did take advantage you turned They forced ten deals, I
think eighteen turnovers, got twenty five points off of that.
That's just one of those unsung numbers that you can
always look at and say, there's the main reason why
a team wins a losers by just taking care of
good care of the basketball.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Yeah, we've been one of the teams that is one
of the best in the league taking care of the ball,
and so when we keep our numbers down, obviously we're
in good shape. But to create that many on them
and get with the activity. Obviously we went after Durant
and four to seven on him and six on Tyas Jones,
which is a guy that doesn't turn the ball over much.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
I think our activity was great.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
You know, get Tari Beck, you get certain guys out there,
and they're obviously going to get their hands on the
ball a lot, and they came up with a lot
of steels, ignited our transition fast break and obviously got
some easy buckets.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Speaking easy buckets, it was not easy to get out
be involved in the offense, at least in the first
two and a half three quarters.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Got things going in the fourth.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Was there something you guys thought you could do or
something that they adjusted to that Alpurn was able to
take advantage of to get him busying.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
The fourth well, they went after him pretty much every
time he got in the post in the first half,
and so he up to simple and made the right
pass and you know, sometimes make or miss as far
as him kicking out, but he's doing the right thing,
attracting the attention. And yeah, anytime he was in the post,
they went after him. And so regardless of who was
on in big or small, they sent two or three
bodies to him and limited him some in the first half.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
But we moved him around a little bit more.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Put him on a perimeter a little bit more and
at the elbow where could face up and see all
the double teams and everything, and it's obviously harder.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
To double him from that position.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
And he got going downhill a little bit there, got
the free throw line and made some good shots. But yeah,
they simply were not going to let him score in
the post and went after him, and he did the
right thing, kicked it out, and other guys were recipients.
Speaker 5 (02:38):
Thirty eight minutes from him last night. How is he
feeling and do you expect him to play the back
to back.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Yeah, he came out feeling good.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Nothing nothing happened during the game, So the tightness and
the spasms that he had previously, hopefully that's even better tonight.
But he felt good, you know, obviously going into break here,
we want to finish on a good note and hopefully
guys are all available.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Obviously Taria in the back backs. We'll see about Steven
with the back to back as well.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
His minutes were pretty low, but nothing happened withoutp and
hopefully it's good to go and can rest up and
then go play an All Star game.
Speaker 5 (03:09):
Yeah, when it is the last game before the All
Star break, do you ever feel like as a coach,
you see, not even necessarily just now, but in your history,
is there do you have to put kind of an
extra emphasis and say, hey, guys, let's focus and let's
get this one done before we hit the break.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
All the time, it seems like every year, guys minds
are starting to think about the break, think about the
All Star Game, rising stars, whatever they have going on,
and we want to lock in and finish on a
good note. And so yeah, I've been on both sides
that had some ten game winning streaks before they got
snapped to go into All.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Star Break, and we talked about that last night. Phoenix.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
They had played the night before at home and got
in four thirty in the morning.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
We wanted to jump on them.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Obviously, they put up a much better fight and Durant
had a big card to do with that, but we
knew that was their last game as well, and so
if we knew if we could lock in, they might
bow out early as well.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
So the squad plays tonight and then we don't play
again until a week from Friday, when I'm back to
back with the Minnesota and then go to Utah. I'm
gonna throw scenario if I shorten the All Star Break
by two games by two days and it gives you
two less back to backs, would you take that or
do you think the week away from the sport's a
good thing for the guys?
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Well, based on how we are right now, I think
the rest is good. Obviously Fred being injured, and then
the guys I can't play the back to back Stephen
and Atario right now, but I'll be being banged up
as well. And then guys that haven't missed games like Jalen,
you know, playing through contusions and.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Bumps and bruises.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
I think it's good to get everybody's legs back, get
physically refreshed, but also mentally take a step away as well.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
So we'll take the extra days needed. And then like you.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Said, they take it right back from us with the
back to back ESPN game late night here against Minnesota,
and they have to go all the way to Utah,
so we will be prepared for that. But get the
back to back schedule right now has been crazy. I
think that's for in a row for us.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
I did watch a little bit of the Warriors game
last night when I got back from our game. This guy,
Quentin p didn't play a whole lot, but he's a
seven foot Why is there a seven footer playing for
the Golden State Warriors that I've never seen that for them,
at least since like Andrew Bolg had played.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Yeah, he brings a different dynamic to them.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
He's a picking, pop big, something different that they haven't
had in a while.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
I think Lotoney hasn't been playing as much. You know,
they've bring a small ball with.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Raymond at the five some, and then Tracey Jackson Davis,
who was starting for them, isn't really in the rotation
right now, so he gives them a different look something
that we haven't seen when we played him so far.
He wasn't getting any time at that point, but yeah,
stretches of defense does some different things for them, so
they're going with a different look to try to shake
it up as well.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
How about Jimmy Butler, what have you seen so far?
Him wearing Golden State gear?
Speaker 2 (05:39):
No fitting in Well.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
I think he obviously brings the leadership toughness to that team,
but he's he's a little bit different with how he scores.
Doesn't don't need to play play call for him, but
he can impact the game in so many different ways
and very unselfish and so seems like he's fitting well
so far, has made an impact and obviously until last night,
they had won a few in a row with him,
and so I'm sure he's happy to get back on
the court and we'll see what he looks like tonight
(06:01):
against US.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
We haven't talked about this, and least on this show.
What was it like coaching in Dallas on Saturday for
that game with all the Lucas stuff and the protests.
We were on the buses obviously getting theren in it
was growing as we were getting there, But what it
was a vibe any different for you just being around
the fans with all that, You know, there was a
lot of anks in that crowd at least early, and
(06:24):
there certainly has been since they played that game.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Now.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
I think the outside was more crazy obviously, the protests
and the people out there with the signs and the
whole crowd gathered out there. Once you got inside, I
think Anthony Davis made them forget a little bit about
it immediately with the first half that he had, and
then the injury happens, and so it's kind of exacerbated
that Luca's gone again and then Davis has hurt.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
So I think there's been some ups and downs for sure.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
Davis, if he was healthy and playing, might have helped
sway their opinions a little bit, but him being out
for the extended time is only going to make them
miss Luca Moore. And so it was a wild outside,
but the inside they were pumped up for him.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Davis had a great first half and like I said, we.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Clouted back into the game and he got hurt obviously,
so that dampened their expectations a little bit.
Speaker 5 (07:09):
You had last Night, thirty six year old Kevin Durant
playing as well as he is. And then you have
thirty five year old Jimmy Butler, thirty six year old
Steph Curry lebron is forty doing his thing. What have
you just seen in your time around the league? How
much of this is these guys are freaks of nature?
How much of this is the sports science improving and
guys taking more care of their bodies to where you
(07:31):
have these guys into their late thirties playing as well
as they are.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Yes, combinations of all the above, I think, you know,
taking care of your body is become paramount. You know,
for these guys. They're also great players, so their skill
set lasts a little longer and they're very efficient at
what they do.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
So it's a little bit of both.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
But you know, I me being around Durant and some
of these guys over the years, you see the work ethic.
You see how guys take care of their bodies and
the amount of time they put into their sport. And
so I think guys are starting to do that at
a younger age as well, which helps them extend their career.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
But the other part is guys will.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Sit out some games, and I played the back to
backs three and fourtnights, and so those things help as
well in longevity of your career.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
How old were you when you retired?
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Thirty four?
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Quitter thirty four got a coaching opportunity physically could have
kept playing.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Pop off for me the job, and I took it.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
So did you how?
Speaker 1 (08:27):
And you've been asked us before, when did you know
that you had the coaching bug in you?
Speaker 3 (08:33):
Probably around twenty nine, you know, mid the middle of
my career. I started AU team in Portland and did
some coaching clinton with the MVPA, the Players Association put
them on. I did that three years in a row
out of Uva with the top one hundred high school kids,
and so I knew I enjoyed it, and I knew
I wanted to do NBA and one in college or
any other level. And so once I got the call
from Pop and the opportunity, I stopped playing a little,
(08:56):
you know, a year or two before I had to What.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
The hardest part about an assistant coach is?
Speaker 2 (09:01):
That?
Speaker 4 (09:02):
Is scouting?
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Is it?
Speaker 1 (09:03):
The endless watching of tape? Is I mean when you
have to work your rank way up and you certainly
have done that with all the different stops you made,
what's the what was the toughest chore and ultimately getting
to the spot where you are now.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
I think just opportunity that. You know. The thing that
I was told with all the interviews was you've never
done it before. Well, you can't do it until you
do it. And so that's the hardest part, you know,
is everybody has to be the first time it's something. Obviously,
the hours are much longer than when you're a player.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
You know, you spend countless hours before and after practice,
all night doing scouting and films. But you know, I
learned from one of the best, and I'd say the
thing for me was having to be good cops for
Pop when he's a bad cop, and even though I
may have agreed with him on things, I'd be a
good cop and put my arm around guys and kind
of lie a little bit.
Speaker 4 (09:47):
You know, I love it. You have to lie. I
love it. That's what I'm saying. The best coaches some
times have to lie. So are you good cop? Bad cop?
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Right now? Are you?
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Kind of as a head coach had to be kind
of a mix of that right now?
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Sixty six percent bad percent? Good. But I got a
staff and some vedom players that make up for my aggression.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
Yeah, you know I wouldn't change it. Let me get
you out of here on this one. Dylan Brooks is
having a great year. Three point wise up the thirty
nine percent, that's his best number. The ball leaves his
hand that looks like a much better this year than
it even did last year, and certainly was a Memphis
Grizzly youtubete that to anything?
Speaker 4 (10:24):
Is it spacing?
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Is the slidestep is a little bit of everything, because
it looks like it just looks like it's leaving his
hand with much more confidence.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Yeah, I think his preparation is much better. He's always
down ready to shoot.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Guys are looking for him, and he does a really
good job of relocating and finding that opening for the
kickouts or post ups without being so one thing he
has done obviously shot at a high level. I think
he's ready to shoot out every time, and I think
he's improved his the pace of his release as well.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
So he's getting a shot off quicker, doesn't need as.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Much space, and obviously it's been one of our best,
most consistent all years. Want him to stay confident and
aggressively take those shots and I'll pass them up.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
Gray Steff. As always, coach, You'll see you later tonight.
Thank you for the visitors always, Thank you guys. You
got it, You made okay with us here on The
Matt Thomas Show with Ross
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