Rockets Rookie BALLS In G League Debut, Verlander Heading To Giants, Texans Respond To Rex Ryan

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Lunchtimers. This is the Matt Thomas Show.

Speaker 2 (00:06):
Send oh one in the am in h Town. What's
happening late morning? People? Not lunchtimers, brunch timers. Who's having
brunch on a Wednesday? I don't know. Welcome in to
the Matt Thomas Show with Ross. I am your host
Ros Virial right now for the moment. Will be joined

(00:28):
by others as we go along. Matt Thomas is out.
He is traveling with the Houston Rockets who beat the
Washington Wizards last night, and we're gonna be with you
here to have a good time. We got a lot
of stuff to get to as we go along. It's
gonna be a shut yo bomass up Wednesday. We got
news at noon, we got rocket stuff to talk about,
text and stuff as well. Most importantly you at seven

(00:51):
one three two one two five seven ninety seven one
three two one two five seven ninety Chris.

Speaker 3 (00:58):
Gordy will be joining me in a little bit.

Speaker 2 (01:01):
As you know, he is a very important cog in
the wheel up here at Sports Talk seven ninety in
iHeartMedia Houston. So he is in a meeting and he
will be joining me shortly and in the meantime, as
I said, you can hang out with me if you'd
like at seven one three, two one two five seven ninety.
You also have tweets you could send to at sports RV.
Connor McGovern is here as well. As I said, we

(01:24):
do have a lot of things to get to here
on the program, Rockets winning last night against the Washington Wizards,
taking out the trash one hundred and thirty five to
one to twelve win, both Alprin Shingoon and Jalen Green
going off.

Speaker 3 (01:40):
In that third quarter.

Speaker 2 (01:42):
You also have uh is Reach Shepherd, the greatest rocket
of all time. I think we might have to start
having that discussion after his night in the G League.
Now last night, if you have not heard, I don't
know what kind of rock you've been living under, because
Reach Shepherd is the goat. He dropped forty nine points
in the G League las night. We could also talk
about that as well. And as I mentioned, some Texans stuff,

(02:05):
but I don't know where are we at on the Texans.

Speaker 3 (02:09):
I'm not feeling the juice.

Speaker 2 (02:11):
I don't know if it's because we have everything else
going on and the weather's changed, and I mean college
football playoff doesn't seem to me to be taking off
the shine. But you have a division winner here in
Houston who is hosting a playoff game. And yes, albeit
it is this Saturday regular standard three point thirty pm

(02:35):
start for the Texans, But I'm not like conn of,
can you give me a like, I need some.

Speaker 3 (02:39):
NFL music, I need something that I get.

Speaker 4 (02:41):
Yeah, where's the juice?

Speaker 2 (02:45):
How are you people feeling about this? This this Houston
Texans game this weekend? Get's justin Herbert Jim Harbaugh and
I don't Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa coming into town.
But you got a division winner coming here. I mean,
you are a division winner here and you're hosting the game.

(03:06):
And I'm just not feeling any of the juice. I'm
not feeling any of the power. I'm not feeling like
it's playoff time in Houston.

Speaker 3 (03:13):
I was on actually Monday on.

Speaker 2 (03:15):
A station in Kansas City that has me on from
time to time, and I said, like, we've already become
spoiled in Houston. I don't know how it happened so fast,
but it did. Yeah, this is working for me. You
know what, I'm gonna stop what I'm saying let's hear
some Demiko Ryans. Let's get Tamiko Ryans fired up for
some Houston Texas football. I'm sure he's gonna get fire

(03:37):
and brimstone. He's gonna be pounding the podium. Tomiko Ryans,
you got Rex Ryan calling you guys chumps. He said
it's basically gonna be a buye for the Los Angeles Chargers.
I'm sure you got a lot to say as a clapback.

Speaker 5 (03:53):
Yeah, for us, I don't think you know, it doesn't
matter if anybody gives us a shot. It really doesn't
matter to me.

Speaker 3 (04:00):
Of the day, when the ball is.

Speaker 5 (04:01):
Kicked off, who's the best football team right on Saturday.
That's where our focus is on playing really good football.
Everybody have an opinion about us one way or the other,
but outside opinion really doesn't drive what we do here internally,
Like our guys put the work in.

Speaker 3 (04:18):
They know what we're about.

Speaker 5 (04:20):
We know what we're about, So it really doesn't matter
to me on all.

Speaker 3 (04:24):
The outside nose.

Speaker 2 (04:26):
All right, that's uh yeah, that's not getting me juiced
up for the game. Okay, how about the Houston Texans
and the great season that they had. They went ten
and seven, they were spectacular all season. Okay, maybe they weren't.
They lost two out of their last three games. Oh no,

(04:46):
turn this music off, Turn turn this off, Connor, this
is not working. You're losing it.

Speaker 6 (04:54):
Now.

Speaker 3 (04:54):
I'm getting down myself. All right.

Speaker 2 (04:56):
They got killed by the Ravens, they lost to the Chiefs.
They beat the Titans with Davis Mills when it didn't matter.
Their point differential is at exactly even three seventy two apiece.
I'm looking at quarterback rankings that are posted on Twitter,
and CJ. Stroud is ranked like twenty second. He's like
behind guys like Bo Nix and Russell Wilson and stuff.

(05:19):
The offensive line is still a work in progress and
a mess.

Speaker 3 (05:22):
And the defense has been really good. All right.

Speaker 2 (05:27):
I just deflated myself in one, like in three minutes.

Speaker 7 (05:30):
All right, fine, whatever, you gotta get reduced though. Look,
we had Quauiti wins over the Colts.

Speaker 3 (05:34):
Okay, two times. The Colts suck.

Speaker 7 (05:37):
Hey we beat the Bills, Oh.

Speaker 3 (05:41):
Yeah, lost by two points. The Packers only lost by
two points.

Speaker 7 (05:45):
In the Packers than Chicks.

Speaker 2 (05:50):
Yeah, they could have beat the Lions. Yeah, but Tank
Dell is hurt. Stefan Diggs is out for the year.
The offensive line is in shambles. I mean, what happened
to CJ. Droud?

Speaker 3 (06:00):
Bring me back down again? Okay, I'm sorry you. Somebody's
got to bring us up.

Speaker 2 (06:05):
I was looking at there's this guy named Ben Baldwin
who does advanced stats, and I know, I know, probably
I don't even know where the split is. It's easy
when it's me and Matt Thomas here because he hates stats.
They make him all scared and they put fog in
his brain and he hates them. Stats numbers go bad.
Even though every single major franchise baseball, basketball, football, et

(06:25):
cetera has an analytics department. That's then they are using numbers,
whether you like it or not. But this is a
leaderboard put together by Ben Baldwin, who does a lot
of stats stuff that I like to follow. And it
has something called EPA which is expected points added, and
then it also has the the Pro Football Focus grades

(06:47):
for quarterbacks as well, and h well, when he puts
them both together, he he basically ranks the quarterbacks from
those stats, and as of this moment, it has c. J.
Stroud as the twenty fourth twenty fourth best quarterback in

(07:12):
football behind guys like Jamis Winston, Aaron Rodgers to a
tongue of a Lowa, Bryce Young has now passed him.
Trevor Lawrence as well. Ooh ooh, this is this is
an average of the Pro Football Focus grade and then
EPA as well.

Speaker 3 (07:31):
So I don't like to see that.

Speaker 2 (07:33):
And that's that's one of the big questions coming up here,
and what I was thinking about as we hit a Wednesday,
coming up on a Saturday with the Texans playing, and
I'm not gonna come out here, and you guys know me,
and much to my detriment, probably in my career, I'm
not gonna go in front of microphone and say is CJ.
Stroud's legacy on the line. This is a must win game. CJ.

(07:56):
Stroud has to prove his worth and prove the doubters wrong.
I'm not gonna go out and with that bluster, re
fiery absolutism, but I'm gonna tell you he needs to
have a good game.

Speaker 3 (08:06):
This is big for CJ.

Speaker 2 (08:07):
Stroud because a lot of what we talked about throughout
this season has been the weapons, and the weapons are
not going to improve for him this weekend, but great
quarterbacks overcome that and the offensive line has not been
great for him either, but great quarterbacks overcome that, and
he's probably not one hundred percent. Again, great quarterbacks overcome.

(08:30):
Franchise quarterbacks like c J. Stroud overcome. I would really
like to see as plus performance at home going up
against this Chargers team from CJ.

Speaker 3 (08:41):
Stroud because they're gonna need it.

Speaker 2 (08:44):
Everybody and their grandmother knows that the Texans and Bobby
Slought are going to try to establish the run. So
you're going to end up where they're loading up boxes,
they're sending run blitzes. You're gonna get gains of one
or negative two yards on a couple of first downs.

Speaker 3 (08:59):
Lord knows, you're.

Speaker 2 (09:00):
Gonna get a Laramie Tunzel fall start here and there,
and you're gonna get some third and lungs. You're gonna
get some tight situations. This is the playoffs. This game
is projected to be close. It's supposed to be at
two and a half three point spread. You need CJ.
Stroud to step up in this game because when I
look up these numbers and I see that c J.
Stroud is twenty fourth, it makes me sick because I'm

(09:23):
somebody who was believed I became battle Red Ross the
first couple of games after the season last year when
the Texans started out terribly, So I couldn't be accused
of bandwagon and hopping because I believed in CJ. Shroud,
because I saw what he did. I saw the light
bulbs going on when he was playing, despite them losing
that game early on to the Baltimore Ravens, and what

(09:44):
was it. There was another blowout loss early in the
season last year, and it looked like he started to
play better. He started to play more confidently, and then
that's when I said, you know what, it's time. I'm
giving it up. I'm hanging up all my oiler stuff.
I'm putting that in the bat. I'm never wearing it again.
I'm becoming battle Red Ross. Where CJ. Stroud early on

(10:06):
they started off zero two getting crushed by Baltimore, and
then if you remember, Anthony Richardson before he got hurt,
was crushing the Texans and CD Stroud ended up throwing
for three hundred and eighty four yards in that game.

Speaker 3 (10:18):
He had a great second half.

Speaker 2 (10:20):
That's when I was like, this guy's ahead of his time,
and this guy is going to be a franchise quarterback
for the Houston Texans, and so this is a big
game coming up this weekend, and there's just no other
way to put it. You need to see CJ. Shroud
overcome because, as I mentioned, these EPA Pro Football focused

(10:40):
grades that have him ranked twenty fourth, I'm gonna guarantee
you all twenty three quarterbacks ranked ahead of him don't
have great offensive lines and great weapons.

Speaker 3 (10:50):
You've got a number one, number one in.

Speaker 2 (10:51):
Nico Collins as a top top ten, arguably top five
wide receiver in football. So you've got that, Dalton Schultz
is a solid tight end. You've got some other veteran guys,
and oh, by the way, you've got a great running
game as your backbone with Joe Mixon and the guy's
a freaking pro bowler. So yeah, CJ. Stroud needs to
play better. He's only played one series in the last

(11:13):
couple of weeks, he's had some time off. He can't
get fresh and better, and he needs to look so
on Saturday for the Houston Texans, certainly if they are
going to be successful in their playoff game against the
Los Angeles Chargers.

Speaker 3 (11:28):
So where are you at right now?

Speaker 2 (11:29):
I'm somebody I talked about this the beginning of the week,
for whatever reason, I'm really pessimistic. Week starts to go through,
gears get turning, I start to feel better. I'm feeling
more optimistic. I did gut feelings yesterday. I predicted the
Texans win. Seven one three two point two five seven
ninety is the phone number if you want to get in.
The formula is going to be run game with Joe

(11:50):
Mixon defense swarming all over the field and CJ. Shroud
making enough plays to get the victory to survive in
advance in the NFL tournament. Seven one three two one
two five seven ninety is the phone number if you'd
like to get in. Ross very out with you, Chris
Gordy along the way, Adam Clanton along the way, you

(12:11):
as well at seven one three two one two five
seven ninety. Tweets at sports r V. We'll have shut
your bum ass up coming later on. We'll get the
news at noon, we'll get some rocket talk. Read Shepherd.
I mentioned going off last night Rockets with another win.

Speaker 3 (12:25):
Are we believing?

Speaker 2 (12:26):
Are we full jumping in with two feet on the
Rockets who remain at the two seed in the Western Conference.
A lot of stuff to get to as we go
along with you until two o'clock.

Speaker 3 (12:33):
It is the Matt Thomas Show with Ross.

Speaker 8 (12:36):
More Matt Thomas Show with Ross now Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 2 (13:01):
Welcome back to the Matt Thomas Show with Ross Without
Matt Thomas. He is out traveling with the Houston Rockets.
Got the victory last night over the Washington Wizards to
improve to twenty four and twelve. It's getting late early.
We keep talking about this Rockets team early in the season. Okay,

(13:25):
they're number two. We don't want to take too much
away from it. Eighty two game season. We are thirty
six games in. Now they're a half game ahead of
the grizz for the number two spot. They ain't catching
the Oklahoma City Thunder. That's just not happening. Thunder are
easily Western Conference favorites. We'll see what happens with some
other teams as they get healthier, like the Dallas Mavericks.

(13:46):
Nuggets are always lurking in a team to keep an
eye on as well. But the Thunder of one fifteen
games in a row, they are thirty and five. That's insane.

Speaker 3 (13:58):
Somehow.

Speaker 2 (13:58):
More insane is the Cavaliers one four on the on
the flip side on the Eastern Conference. But the Rockets
continue to play well. They continue to win games. They've
beaten some tough competition. They've lost to some tough competition,
including their last games against the Celtics and the Oklahoma
City Thunder. They've also beat the Thunder at home in
a close one as well, So we'll see as it

(14:21):
goes along. Thunder clear favorites. Cleveland Cavaliers looking good in
the East. Boston Celtics to me still the championship favorites
because they are the raigning champs and when healthy, I
think are still the best team in basketball, probably alongside
the Oklahoma City Thunder. But the Rockets continue to play well.
Thirty six games in, they are the number two seed,
and they continue here on Sports Talk seven to ninety.

(14:43):
We know your home. We are your home for your
hometown Hoopers. They take on the Grizzlies and another good
test that'll be tomorrow at seven o'clock, six o'clock Rockets
launch pad. That'll be with me yours truly. Phone lines
open as I mentioned at seven to one, three two
one two five seven ninety if you'd like to get in.
S even won three two one two five seven ninety nine.
I said, temperature check on where we are on a Wednesday,

(15:07):
with the team coming up, with the game coming up Saturday,
with the Los Angeles Chargers coming into town, and I
don't even want to play the audio of Rex Ryan going,
I thought they got a bye week, Like he's just
trying to be funny. He's got time to fill And unfortunately,
the nature of ESPN and being a pundit on television
means you have to say the most wacky stuff because

(15:27):
you need the most impressions, the most people talking about it,
the most views that you can possibly get, and all
that type of stuff. A Rex Ryan is a former
NFL head coach. He knows more than anybody that there
is no such thing as a bye week. When there's
another team lined up across you in the NFL, anyone

(15:47):
can be beat anyone, as the Baltimore Ravens, by a
lot of the metrics I was talking about, are the
best team in football. They lost to the freaking Las
Vegas Raiders and Gardner Minshew, So anything can happen on
any given Sunday. It is not a bye week for
a team that is on the road against the division
winner that's just talking out of your ass to put it.

(16:10):
To put it mildly, you're either trolling or it's probably
gonna be you know, it's gonna be my phrase for
twenty twenty five. You're either trolling or you're stupid, and
I've got time for neither. That's that's where we are
with with what Rex Ryan says. And I don't think
he's stupid. I think he's trolling. So we're gonna move
on from that. But at the end of the day,
this this is a big game for the Texans because

(16:32):
I think to what he's kind of hinting at, he
obviously went.

Speaker 3 (16:35):
Overboard with it, did Rex Ryan.

Speaker 2 (16:37):
But I think there is a lot of discounting of
the Houston Texans and and a lot of it warranted
because you and I probably had higher expectations for this
team than going ten and seven and really reaching that
mark at the end of the season against a Titans
team that was looking to earn the number one overall pick.
We talked about that tough stretch all season long. All right, right,

(16:59):
we're sitting here talking about the season beforehand. Before the
twenty twenty four campaign started, it was easier schedule at
the beginning and then we're gonna learn a lot about
the team at the back end of it. Well, it
took care of business with the easy schedule at the beginning,
but they also didn't look spectacular. Only game they really

(17:20):
looked great all season long was against the New England Patriots,
who were starting Drake May for his first start of
his life. So I would have liked to have seen
them look a bit better. And at that moment in time,
I was saying, Okay, at least we can say we
haven't seen their best football yet. Maybe they can turn

(17:43):
it on. Jets game was a huge, huge gut punch
because they lost twenty one to thirteen in that game.
But if Malachi Corley doesn't drop that ball at the one,
that game is even worse and probably out of hand.
And the Texans got grossly outplayed by the New York
freaking Jets, who suck. And that was probably the low
point at that time up to that point of the season. Obviously,

(18:06):
the low point is that lost to the Baltimore Ravens.
With everybody watching on Netflix and the Texas getting completely
clowned twenty five million people watching. They had to stick
around because Beyonce was coming on at halftime. Otherwise it
probably would have been turned off by everybody. The Troit
Lions game was closed, but I mean, it was just
the loss of the Titans. Ugh, and just keep waiting

(18:30):
and waiting and waiting and waiting. When are you going
to pick it up? When are you going to show
your true selves? And I think the longer we say that,
the longer we say you just have to have to
go with this is who they are. They are a
mediocre team. They can beat good teams, but most likely
they are going to lose at the very least. She
would hope they don't want to embarrass themselves like they did

(18:52):
against the Baltimore Ravens.

Speaker 3 (18:54):
So I find myself very intrigued.

Speaker 2 (18:57):
I am convincing myself that they are going to win
this game just because of some of the things that
are If this was on the road against the Los
Angeles Chargers, I would say, no chance. You get the
advantage of being at home, you get the advantage of
this Texans defense, which is one of the best in football.
And I'm just going to have to believe, have to

(19:18):
believe that only playing one series in the last couple
of weeks is going to help CJ. Stroud clear his head,
get a little healthier, whatever it is. He talked multiple
times throughout the season about being banged up. Of course
he himself and Demiko Ryan's dismissing that and saying that's
not an excuse because if you're out on there on
the field, you have to perform a lot of it

(19:39):
has been what's going on with the offensive line this
season as well, thankfully not seeing Kenyon Green anywhere recently,
and Titus Howard kicking into guard. Demiko Ryan says Texans
have been better.

Speaker 5 (19:52):
Yeah, Titus has done a really good job stepping in
at the levguar spot and he's handled himself very well
man playing tackle to move in the guard, and it's
been a very seamless transition, unselfish by him. That's the
type of mindset we want from all our players, just
the team first mindset of whatever it takes for our
team to be successful, to put us in position to win,

(20:14):
Like everybody needs to be willing to do that. Titus
is willing to make the move and I think you know,
we've been better upfront with Titus in at the guard position.
And you know, as much credit to tightest to all
the guys, how they continue to work well together. I
mean Patterson stepping in that center, I think he's grown.
He's continued to get better with the communication that's operating

(20:35):
at the center position.

Speaker 3 (20:36):
And we had Juice step in that right guard last week.

Speaker 5 (20:39):
So let's see guys moving around to different spots. But
it's about just getting our best guys out there and
going and competing. That's the what old line offensive line
play is about. It's gritty, it's tough. You don't get
a lot of a lot of love, a lot of
pats on the back, but everybody's gonna criticize you when
it goes wrong. But you just have to make sure
you just stay the course and just keep grinding playing tough,

(21:01):
gritty football.

Speaker 2 (21:02):
Keep grinding playing tough, gritty football. We gotta, you know what,
I think We're gonna talk to Matt about this. We
gotta have some kind of bell ready for every cliche
that Demiico Ryans throws out there in his media availabilities.
Love Demiko Ryan's great coach. He's the right man for
the job here in Houston. But he's also, i mean,
just a walking cliche machine, but does a good job.
Gets his players motivated. I think there that's kind of

(21:24):
an element of something that we don't necessarily talk about.
You have to have somebody up there who is a
leader of men, who gets players to buy in and
can just roll with the punches as the season goes
along and keep their spirits up as the year goes
along as well. And I think Demiko Rans does a

(21:45):
great job of that. I think he's great calling defensive
plays as well. And if you have the right offensive
coordinator and oh, by the way, an offensive line that's
working in good weapons, this team can be successful with
Demiko Ryans at the helm. And we'll see what happens
come Saturday. Unless it's just some kind of crazy twenty
eight to three disaster.

Speaker 3 (22:06):
I don't think my opinion is gonna change.

Speaker 2 (22:07):
And even if that happens, uh, depending on the circumstances,
I don't think that will either. All right, seven one
three two one two five seven ninety is your phone
number seven one three two one two five seven ninety.
We're gonna take quick break here on the Matt Thomas
Show with Ross. Chris Gordy should be joining shortly. What
Adam Clanton along the way as well, coming up at

(22:28):
eleven thirty, it ain't nobody got time for that? Slast,
Shut Joe bump Ass Up? News at noon, Rockets Talk,
Texans Talk Anything you guys want to get to seven
one three, two, one two five, seven ninety Matt Thomas

(22:54):
Show with Ross contenues here, Sports Talk seven ninety, Chris
Gordy into the fold at some points, Adam Clinton coming
on at one o'clock, Shut Yo, bum Ass Up? Slash,
Ain't nobody got time for that? Coming up at eleven thirty.
You know, originally that segment was Ain't nobody got time
for that? Geniusly conceived by one Matthew Thomas and then

(23:17):
Josh Smith. Who was he talking about in that clip?
I think it was Doc Rivers And we was gonna
supposed to be for one week. We were gonna play
that just as a kind of a joke for people
to say, but it caught on.

Speaker 3 (23:29):
People liked it.

Speaker 2 (23:30):
So coming up at eleven thirty, my favorite segment of
the week, your favorite segment of the week, it is
shut Joe, bum Ass Up slash, Ain't noe body got
time for that? Number then will be the same as
the number now seven to one three two, one two,
five seven ninety seven one three two one two five
seven ninety talking some Texans here early on mention, of

(23:51):
course the rockets and action. We'll get to more on
that and the greatest of all time, Reed Shepherd. He's
averaging forty nine points per game in the G League. Okay,
he's played one game and he got forty nine points
in that game. But still, hey, that's the fact of
the matter, folks. We'll get to that coming up at
eleven o'clock with some rockets stuff. You can also send
tweets to at sports RV Chris Mina saying as much

(24:14):
as time as Matt takes off, the show should be
called the ross V Show with Matt. Well, you didn't
have to tag Matt in that. Now he's gonna get
all upset, Chris, why'd you do that? Or maybe that
was your aim? And that's okay, that's kind of funny.
You know what, We're gonna taple like button on that.
Appreciate you. But I took my time off at the
end of the year. I was out in Asia for
two weeks and then I was in New Orleans, thankfully

(24:37):
before crazy stuff went down in both of those places,
and so I had my time off. Matt Thomas gets
a lot of vacation because he's been in this business
for a long time, so he takes a lot of vacation.
He's traveling with the Rockets today. Normally they leave overnight
to the next city, but I think they were leaving
during the day today for whatever reason. I don't know

(24:57):
if it's because of the weather and what's going on
there in the North East. But Matt will be back tomorrow.
Chris Gordy should be here in a little bit as
an I'm as and as I mentioned, Adam Clanton coming
up at one o'clock as well. Seven one thirty two
point two five seven ninety is your phone number. We've
been talking a lot of Texans, talking a lot about
the offensive line, and now it's we're getting to this

(25:19):
playoff week here in Houston. Unfortunately, I know eight for
eight Saturday at three point thirty. It's hard to be
super excited and get all jazzed up.

Speaker 3 (25:30):
But it's Jim.

Speaker 2 (25:31):
Harball, Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers. Are we
just feeling defeatists? We're not caring at all. I mean,
I'm just trying to get the pulse of you folks,
and so far it seems like the pulse is dead,
not a lot of energy. Maybe everyone's just thinking they're
gonna lose. I got the Texans winning this one. Thing
is gonna be close. I'm trusting in CJ. Stroud to

(25:53):
make a couple of plays. They're gonna establish the run.
But really, why I think the Texans are gonna win.
It's going to be that Texans defense in allowed environment
in inn RG Stadium over the week played some of
the Demico Ryans talking about Titus Howard shifting to guard
and how that's been working out or CJ. Stroud also

(26:14):
spoke to the media as well, wanted to give you
guys some of that. Here's what he had to say
about Titus Howard and that offensive line. To me, the
number one concern this upcoming weekend. Now, Joey Bosa isn't
playing as well as he has the last several years,
so really early in his career where he was just
an annual double digit sack guy, he hasn't been that lately,

(26:36):
but he's still pretty good. And Khalil Malck is still
one of the best in the business. Both those guys.
I saw an article on the athletic. I didn't read it,
but I saw the headline. Both of those guys took
a pay cut to stay with the Chargers for this
exact reason. So they're gonna be amped up ready to
go against this Texans offensive line. How are they going
to be ready to handle that? Or how well are
they going to be ready to handle that? It lies

(26:58):
with the offensive line, And here's c. J. Stroud on
Titus Howard moving to guard.

Speaker 9 (27:04):
Yeah, you know, he's been able to do a great
job in there and holding his own you know, definitely
just uh being a being just a comfort blake hit
you know, I know, and that he's gonna do his
job every time and just have that the interior lockdown
or you know the interior structure like it's kind of
like a wall, you know, the street interior guys. So
you know, it's definitely helpful having him in there. I'm

(27:25):
just you know, happy that you know, he's happy doing it,
and you know, I'm proud of him that he, you know,
is that type of guy for the team is to
go in there even though he's his natural positions tackle,
you know, but to go in there and have success
has been really awesome to watch.

Speaker 2 (27:38):
Yeah, all right, So it's not necessarily anything shocking there.
You weren't expecting to see J. Stroud to come out
and just completely crush Titus Howard or anybody on the
offensive line or anybody into any time. Maybe if you
talk to him private, let's say, yeah, protection hasn't been there.
But he puts a lot of it on himself, and
I think a lot of it is on on CJ. Stroud.
I think there have been times where there's been clean
pockets and he's not getting set and he he he's

(28:00):
not making the correct throws and he's being been a
little bit off target. He still makes He's still a
special quarterback, and I just know this. I don't think
we're seeing in a situation where he pops in the
first year and then he regresses and then he's never
the same. I think c J. Stroud is still going

(28:20):
to be a special quarterback and develop into that. I
think in three years from now, we're talking about this
as a bump in a row in the road, because
still a couple times a game you go, oh my god,
what a throw that was, What a play that was
from CJ.

Speaker 3 (28:34):
Stroud.

Speaker 2 (28:35):
Look at that tight window that he squeezed it into
and there's enough of that. My belief is not shaken.
Perhaps some others is. And not even saying here in Houston,
I'm talking about national pundits. We already know how the
national pundits are going with. He did disrespect, and I
just say more of an afterthought, necessarily disrespect, but keeping

(28:56):
the Texans as an afterthought, which they themselves had a
big part in with not playing up the par basically
the entire season. But TJ. Stroud is still a franchise quarterback.
This is a bump in a road. You can call
it a sophomore slump, call it whatever you want. Situation
circumstances weren't ideal. He makes enough place for me to say, damn,
this guy's gonna be a quarterback in Houston for a really,

(29:19):
really long time. So he's gonna be fine. It's just
a matter of when does that switch turn on? Can
it not flip until this season is over, until he
has an offseason to heal up gather himself. I mean,
the team can improve as far as an offensive line
and stuff like that.

Speaker 3 (29:36):
I don't know, but it'd be nice.

Speaker 2 (29:39):
If for a little soft reset going with the basically
a week off, playing one drive against the Tennessee Titans,
and now perfect scenario in that you get the game
at home as far as the playoffs here at Energy
because you are a division winner. It maybe would have
been pre a ble to see the Pittsburgh Steelers, who

(30:02):
are really reeling. And I think that Texans defense hold
to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Russell Wilsons what he's playing. I
was saying all year, don't sleep on that Steelers. Don't
sleep on the Steelers. Well, I took my tilean all PM.
I'm going to sleep on them because the last four
weeks Russell Wilson has regressed back to what he was
as a Denver Bronco and not going to be shocking

(30:26):
at all if they get crushed this weekend against the
Baltimore Ravens. Although they did beat the Ravens once this year,
we must say, but the better team the Baltimore Ravens
at home nine and a half point favorites there. So
I probably would rather have seen the Pittsburgh Steelers because
I think I think the Chargers are going to be
very very well coached. They've got a better quarterback, they

(30:46):
they've got a better running game defense isn't as good
as the Steelers, but still I'm more comfortable with the
Texans and on knockdown, drag him out, slugfast, then I
am in a possible situation where you need to shoot out,
which is not super likely against the Chargers. But here's
their point totals in the last three games, thirty four,

(31:09):
forty and thirty four. Now again that was Broncos. Okay,
then Patriots and Raiders. But still the offense is humming
over there for the Los Angeles Chargers, and I need CJ.
Shroud to keep up in this game. If the Texans
are going to be successful. Okay, time for a quick break.

(31:31):
Here we go on the Matt Thomas Show with Ross.
They're coming fast and furious hour number one almost in
the books. Chris Gordy joining at some time you can
get in if you'd like to as well, shut yo, bump,
ass up, slash. Ain't nobody got time for that. Coming
up at eleven thirty and you at seven one three, two,
one two five seven ninety seven one three two one

(31:51):
two five seven.

Speaker 8 (31:52):
Ninety more Matt Thomas Show with Ross now Sports Talk seven.

Speaker 4 (31:58):
Ninety ten eight in the Am.

Speaker 2 (32:21):
Yes, it is the morning on Sports Talk seven ninety
Welcome back, Ross Viya with you. We got a special
surprise for you coming up at the top of the
eleven hour, So coming up at eleven o'clock, you're not
gonna want to miss a special tribute coming up here
on the Matt Thomas Show with Ross. Matt Thomas is

(32:42):
out today traveling with the Houston Rockets. There's a little
foreshadowing for you. The Houston Rockets in action last nat
against the Washington Wizards. They were bad in the first quarter,
good in the second quarter, great in the third quarter,
and then went on to cruise toctory against I mean

(33:02):
an absolute horrible Washington Wizards team.

Speaker 3 (33:05):
Is that the worst.

Speaker 2 (33:06):
Franchise in the NBA right now?

Speaker 10 (33:10):
Man?

Speaker 3 (33:10):
They are terrible.

Speaker 2 (33:11):
They've got some good in theory, good young talent as
far as the players and the balal Coolibais, and they
just drafted Alexander Saar And I mean Kyle Cousman is
that good. But he's not the worst. And he got
hurt in that game and didn't play in the second half.
But man, the Wizards are terrible. And again, the mark
of a of a good team is taking out the

(33:33):
trash against bad teams, but the Washington Wizards barely qualify
as an NBA team.

Speaker 3 (33:38):
It's like a it's like a tune up game.

Speaker 2 (33:41):
It's like it's like when Texas or Alabama, Ohio State, like.

Speaker 3 (33:44):
When you when you.

Speaker 2 (33:45):
You schedule the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks or something like that
the beginning of the season, just to start like a
get right game, kind of like what CJ. Stroud did
with the Tennessee Titans. That's what the Rockets had with
the Washington Wizards last night. Little bit tougher competition tomorrow
against the Memphis Grizzlies. That'll be a good battle with
the Rockets at the number two spot. Yes you're hearing

(34:07):
me right. Yes, we are into January. Yes, the Rockets
are the two spot in the Western Conference, Grizzlies in
the three spot. So the battle for Western supremacy for
teams not named Oklahoma City is tomorrow here on Sports
Talk seven ninety seven o'clock, tip six o'clock. I'll be
with you on the Rockets launch pad. Phone lines open

(34:29):
at two one two five seven ninety seven one three
two one two five seven ninety You can also send
tweets to at sports rv at Connor deep McGovern, do
me a favor. Connor McGovern's been working hard up here.
He's covering games like nobody's business. Connor d McGovern. Give
the guy a follow. It'll impress his girlfriend. Connor d

(34:50):
McGovern on Twitter. All right, So we've been talking a
lot of Texans here in the first hour, and it
is a Wednesday ahead of It's almost like so really
it's like a Thursday for a Sunday game. And again,
not getting a whole lot of pushback, not getting a
whole lot of reaction. And I don't know if everybody's
just giving up on the Texans and moved along and

(35:10):
going about their own rest of their lives and worried
about this freeze and well those an't really a hard
freeze or anything like that, but the bad weather coming
this week. Everybody's too busy wrapping up their plans to
be caring about the Houston Texans, I guess. But I
did get a tweet from J Diddy four to twenty.
What a great name that is. I agree with you
on the Texans. I think our defense will show up
in a big way. Need some big plays from CJ.

(35:31):
Nico and Joe.

Speaker 3 (35:32):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (35:33):
I mean, look, there's cachet and there's name value. With
the Los Angeles Chargers and their offense. Justin Herbert has
been playing very well. Early on in the season, he
was only throwing the ball like twenty twenty five times Max,
But they've really opened things up.

Speaker 3 (35:47):
Their offense is humming.

Speaker 2 (35:49):
I wouldn't say on all cylinders, on most of their
cylinders and doing a lot better. But I feel like
the Texans can can bottle them up to an extent.
Land McConkie certainly worries me, especially as a slot guy
and that matchup, and he's gonna be able to get open.
Quentin Johnson has really been coming along, but really, as
I said, the last couple of weeks, we're talking about

(36:10):
them beating up on the Patriots and beating up on
the Las Vegas Raiders. So I think on the road
in a playoff environment, Texans defense is gonna step up.

Speaker 3 (36:21):
Joe Mixon gonna do his thing. He's gonna be ready
to go.

Speaker 2 (36:24):
Speaking of him and talking about guys being banged up
and not being one hundred percent, I put Joe Mixon
in that category. Multiple ankle injuries throughout the season doesn't
seem like he's been moving as well. Just played the
one series on Saturday, so also effectively a bye week
for him, helping him heal up. And he is a
veteran running back, which is just a euphemism for old,

(36:48):
but a veteran guy like him with multiple ankle injuries
getting rested and refresh and fresh ready to go this weekend.
I'm feeling pretty good about the Texan chances and if
not even necessarily, everybody's doubting us and that's why we're
gonna win or anything like that. But I do think
to an extent, to an extent, people are sleeping on

(37:12):
the Houston Texans. Chris in Missouri City calling in to
talk some rockets ball.

Speaker 3 (37:17):
I'm with that, Chris. What's up.

Speaker 6 (37:20):
Morning, my brother? Thanks for the call. I just wanted
to get your get your take on just kind of
staying obvious what everybody's seeing. What I'm in. That kid
is something special, man. I mean, it seemed like as
his motor is always running, he's always on go. I
mean you, given that Jabbari is hurt right now, I

(37:41):
mean going on going forward, do you think that it's
it's pretty much because it looked like the starting lineup
that they got is pretty good, bro.

Speaker 11 (37:50):
I mean, and.

Speaker 6 (37:52):
Cup half full of Jabari coming off of the bench
whenever he comes back. Oh that's a depth, man. So
I just wanted to kind of pick your see what
your thoughts were on this.

Speaker 3 (38:02):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (38:03):
Are you aware of a We do a segment on Tuesdays, Chris,
It's called gut Feelings.

Speaker 3 (38:08):
Oh yeah, Oh yeah, I did a gut feeling yesterday.
Tell me what you think.

Speaker 2 (38:12):
I said, A men Thompson will have the best career
of the young players on the Rockets. That includes Shangoon Green, Jabari, Smith,
Reed Shepherd, all of them. I think I'm in my
gut feeling yesterday was that a Men Thompson is gonna
have the best career of all of them.

Speaker 10 (38:27):
Bro.

Speaker 6 (38:28):
That's a decent bent. I mean, but Alfy Alfie is
a bad boy man. So I mean I'm all for
that because I was like, it's just like this kid
gets it, man. I mean, he says all the right things.
I mean, he he plays hellified defense and he's not
even figured that out offensively, man, He's just he's just

(38:49):
playing on athleticism right now. So I'm like the kid's
feeling is scary, real talk, so I'll be willing to
put a little money on that bit.

Speaker 3 (38:57):
Yeah, thank you, Chris, appreciate you getting in and you.

Speaker 2 (39:02):
Let's talk about a men Thompson individually, and then we'll
talk about the fit with the starting lineup individually.

Speaker 3 (39:07):
Amen Thompson.

Speaker 2 (39:10):
Checks basically every single box, unfortunately, except shooting, which is
the crux of basketball.

Speaker 3 (39:17):
You shoot the ball into the hoop.

Speaker 2 (39:19):
That is basketball, like saying you have a great striker
in soccer, and he does everything except for make shots
like shooting, so it's important, but the beauty of it
and where you get a lot more wide open looks
in basketball than say you do in soccer. So he
can win with that athleticism to where he's getting all
tap ins. Well, that went longer, the soccer analogy, and

(39:40):
I thought it was going to He's up to twelve
and a half points per game. He rebounds the ball,
he gets blocks, he gets deals, he can lock up
on defense. Even though he was getting out muscled against
Lebron James on Sunday, he was not biting on pump
Fis staying disciplined. I was like, I don't know. I
was like a proud Papa. I was like, Oh, he
didn't bump on the those Lebron James, he didn't fall

(40:03):
for those Lebron pump fakes. And then he's contesting shots,
forcing misses. He does it all like you said, he
says the right things. You can tell that he's intelligent.
We interviewed him when he was drafted, and we post
a lot of our interviews up on YouTube, and for
whatever reason, that one got way more hits than any other,
and I think a lot of it was because people
were like, Wow, this guy, this guy's very lucid, smart,

(40:24):
well thought, I mean, well's spoken, and like just kind
of introspective, smart, funny, like he's everything like and that
to me that that doesn't matter. That means you have
a certain you know, he's just smart in general, and
he's got a very high basketball IQ in general. To me,

(40:44):
you can have guys who are, you know, very good
on a on a football field or a basketball court
and then not very intelligent outside of it. For whatever reason,
the first name that popped in my mind was Rob Gronkowski,
but I digress. It's a situation where he checks all
those boxes except for shooting, and it was just a

(41:05):
gut feeling yesterday because I think nobody's perfect right now
on this Rockets team. They don't have any All Star,
first Team All NBA caliber type of player. But if
you can get some semblance of a shot from Amen Thompson,
I think he can develop into that. Or there are
players that we can point to that were not good
three point shooter. Jimmy Butler early in his career. John

(41:26):
Morant right now is like a thirty two percent career
three point shooter, even though well, Amen Thompson's like under
twenty five percent right now, so that would have to
go up to some extent. Russell Westbrook was never a
great three point shooter. He's still an effective ballplayer, So
even if the jump shot doesn't develop in full, Amen
Thompson will be good. And as far as the fit

(41:48):
in the starting lineup, on its face, I think a
Men Thompson can contribute more on a game by game
basis than Jabari Smith Junior. But also what you get
with Jabari Smith at least a credible three point shooter,
and when you have two on the floor that can't shoot,
those being alprinching gun and a Men Thompson. And really

(42:10):
I mean right now, we gotta throw Jalen Green in
that mix, and really, right now, you gotta throw Fred
van Vlien in that mix. You're just you got no spacing.
You've got no spacing on the floor. You need somebody
to respect to three in the game in twenty twenty five,
in twenty twenty four or in twenty twenty five, you
got to have shooters to space the floor. So when

(42:34):
you have all those non shooters on the floor at
the same time, it can be problematic for the Rockets
running their offense. That means they're easy. It's easier to
double team Alprinching Goon, It's easier to clog the paint
on drives, which is Jalen Green's best game is driving
a men Thompson's best game is driving, and Alprinching Goun's
best game is on the low block. That's three of

(42:56):
your five guys that aren't good shooters right now, they
don't have to respect you on the perimeter. So from
a from a player standpoint, I like Amn over Jabari,
But from a schematic standpoint, needing the spacing, I'm curious.
We'll see if they need to go back to Jabari.
Smith Junior something to keep an eye on to be sure.

(43:19):
All right, quick break here on the Matt Thomas Show
with Ross That is me. Matt Thomas is out. He
will be back tomorrow. Sources close to the show say
Chris Gordy will be joining soon. We'll also have Adam
Clinton coming up at one o'clock. We'll have eight nobody
got time for that slash shut jobamass up coming up
at eleven thirty as well, and you at seven one

(43:41):
three two one two five seven ninety seven one three
two one two five seven ninety lunchtimers.

Speaker 1 (43:49):
This is the Matt Thomas Show.

Speaker 3 (43:53):
Ball comes in. Not to wait.

Speaker 12 (43:55):
My Shepherd goes in so two hands slam. Last year
charge of the offense for the Wizards, Yeah, was his
main role. And here Shepherd on the drive the second
deck of the game.

Speaker 3 (44:07):
He used this eleventh rebound.

Speaker 2 (44:09):
Here come the Vipers, goes all the way around, hit him.

Speaker 12 (44:12):
Pick it up Shepherd again. He's got forty six down
drive by logan missus and here's Hinton three on two
break sends it out for Shepherd a three. He got
it proud getting into it.

Speaker 2 (44:28):
We're going heavy. Even tried to bring a punch in
you for your name, let the Grand a Name and
breed Shepherd for the Rio Grand Valley Vipers. Forty nine points,

(44:49):
eight three pointers made. Is he going into the RGV
Hall of Fame? We shall discuss as you go along.

Speaker 3 (45:00):
That's like the guy.

Speaker 13 (45:00):
I mean, it was like, uh, Corey Jolks would be
up here and he was zero for ten. He had
you go back to Triple A. He had three home
runs last night.

Speaker 2 (45:09):
Petro Leone is absolutely mashing at Triple A.

Speaker 13 (45:14):
So it's like different though. Forty nine points is pretty good. Yeah,
so clearly Reid he's an elite talent. You know, Rafel
said he was the best player in this draft. I
still think there's chance for that to be.

Speaker 3 (45:26):
How Craze resa che doing.

Speaker 13 (45:29):
He was just going through growing pains as a rookie,
and this is what a lot of guys go through.
And you know, they were getting some opportunities late in
some games and he just couldn't hit shots.

Speaker 2 (45:37):
But then gets to the valley and he's crushing. He's
looking great. That is Chris Gordy. I am ros Virial.
This is the Man Thomas Show with Ross. We are
here with you until two o'clock. Gordy here till one
phone lines open in our number two of the program
at seven one three two, one two five seven ninety
twenty four points in the fourth quarter. These a statistics

(45:59):
courtesy of ad Jay Wexler. Twenty four points in the
fourth quarter for the game eighteen of thirty three, eight
of nineteen from three in under thirty seven minutes where
the Vipers lost one thirty to one twenty five he
made I think it was nineteen threes at the NBA level.

Speaker 3 (46:18):
Out of like sixty eight. I looked it up last night.
I'll go look it up.

Speaker 2 (46:22):
He already made eight in one game in the RGV
and that's that's the NBA three point line down there.
So it's not like they were cheapies, and that's good
to see, Reed Shepherd. Maybe I think his biggest problem,
at least at this point is it was its lack
of confidence. Yeah, he looked very deer in headlights. He
was passing the ball away. He didn't not necessarily look

(46:43):
like he was disinterested in being out there. That's maybe
Cam Whitmore at the end of the game last night,
which we could talk about that, but it was I
expected him to thrive in the G League but forty
nine points in his debut, feeling pretty good.

Speaker 3 (46:58):
Kentucky legend. Wow.

Speaker 13 (47:00):
And and what's crazy is it's it's like a lot
of those guys at Kentucky they do the one year
and they're awesome, but it's like they're stolling nineteen and
it's you know, we've.

Speaker 3 (47:09):
Seen a lot with these Rockets players.

Speaker 13 (47:11):
I mean, look at look at what Jalen Green and
all these guys have been have grown into from where
they were as a rookie.

Speaker 3 (47:17):
It's just it's gonna take time.

Speaker 13 (47:19):
But I think there's a chance Reid gets this confidence
and a swagger and maybe by the end of this
year is a nice bench piece because I think in
a perfect world, in a perfect world, he's a true
backup point guard to Fred van Vliet because he's got
he's got vision, he can distribute, he could pass, he
can hit threes.

Speaker 3 (47:39):
You know, it defends very well.

Speaker 2 (47:42):
Yeah, But believe it or not, at some point we'll
hear from Ruffelstone.

Speaker 3 (47:46):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (47:46):
You know, getting read back from the G League is
like making a trade. It's like an acquisition for us.
It's like we're looking for it for We're looking for
a three and D wing and this is our guy.
It's it's like it's like getting a trade with Reed
Shepherd coming.

Speaker 3 (47:58):
Up likely to be a day A Brown quote that.

Speaker 2 (48:02):
I feel like that. That like covers all sports. It
feels like all general managers try to think like that,
or at least try to impress that upon their fans.

Speaker 3 (48:10):
I mean, we're getting Christian Harris back. It's almost like
we made a trade exactly exactly.

Speaker 2 (48:16):
So, I mean, hey, the Rockets could use a guy
who could play some good perimeter defense and knock down
some threes. Maybe that guy is Reached Shepherd. I know
we've been talking a lot about the team where they
are now twenty four and twelve in the number two spot.
There's a lot of people that want them to go
big game hunting. Dearon Fox has been mentioned. Jimmy Butler
has been mentioned.

Speaker 13 (48:35):
I just don't see it from the mom was that
report yesterday somebody said, don't trade whatever you do, don't
trade for Jimmy Butler.

Speaker 2 (48:41):
I think Jimmy Butler apparently has been going on and
tailing teams. Do not trade for me. Wow, because I'm
not going to resign with you. So that Jimmy Butler,
he's not. He's radioactive, Do not touch, do not go
near him. There's just no way. There's no way the
Rockets should in any way pursue and I don't think
they are. I think a lot of the fan base,

(49:01):
like I said, we're talking about trades and they're number
two and let's win the West and go to the
finals and all that type of stuff. I think it's
a process with Rofelstone, They're trusting the process. The process
is bearing fruit right now that they're number two. I
think there could be some trades being made, but I
think it would be more for bench slash depth pieces

(49:23):
rather than any sort of major shakeup with the starting five.

Speaker 3 (49:26):
Meanwhile, Cam Whitmore's like, I'll go to Miami. You can
send me there.

Speaker 2 (49:30):
Yeah, there are some video circulation circulating on the interwebs
last night of Cam Whitmore looking less than enthused going
off the going off the floor at the end of
the game. He got eighteen minutes last night, but a
lot of that was in garbage time. Seventeen points, six
of eight from the field, perfect three for three from
three and if you are Kim Wentber, I understand where

(49:52):
he's coming from. He's like, what else do I have
to do every time I go out there, except for
while he had one bad game, what was it against
the against Boston where he was horrible, But he was
great against Dallas before that, he had twenty seven points
a few games before that against the New Orleans Pelicans,
So we have to they are terrible, but guy goes
out there and performs, and he's been playing better on defense.

Speaker 3 (50:15):
Coach Udokah's keeping praise on.

Speaker 2 (50:17):
Him about his defense and everything that he's doing and
checking all the boxes, and it seems to me in
his mind he's he's due for a much bigger role
in this team that has not come yet despite injuries.

Speaker 3 (50:27):
What's his deal? Why is he unhappy?

Speaker 2 (50:30):
I think he's just sad and he's maybe he's an
angry person. Maybe he needs to go to therapy, you know,
maybe he's got maybe he's got issues, some sort of
childhood trauma.

Speaker 3 (50:37):
I don't know.

Speaker 13 (50:38):
I mean, you get you can be unhappy with playing
time and all this and think I should be playing more,
but like this is an earn it league and he
made Adoka as an earn it quote.

Speaker 3 (50:47):
Coach, if you were that awesome, you'd be playing more.

Speaker 2 (50:51):
I just wonder what it is necessarily that more that
he needs to do or that he's not seeing seeing
from and maybe he has some delusions in his head
that he needs to be starting in this game. I
mean he's like, I'm better than Jalen Green. I need
to starting over Jalen Green, or I mean mean arguably
by points per minute and field goal in three point
percentage shooting and that type of stuff, he is more

(51:13):
effective than Jalen Green by those metrics. So I don't
know exactly what's going on with Cam Whitmore. I don't
know exactly what's going on in his head. It was
very bizarre those comments from a week week and a
half ago, when he was talking after the game like
he had just been sent to the G League after
dropping fifty, when really he was playing consistent May He
played twenty four minutes in that game and had like

(51:35):
twenty something points. I don't know what's going on with him,
but he's clearly not very happy.

Speaker 13 (51:40):
Well, I mean, this is is this maybe a reason
why he fell? Remember he was projected as a lottery
pick and he after the Rockets got picked twenty.

Speaker 2 (51:47):
We thought it was an injury thing, and we weren't
sure what exactly was going on. Perhaps there were some
whispers about possible attitude issues, and yeah, they have multiple
times now sent him to the Rio Grand Valley. But
he's back up. And you got a great game from
Jalen Green in that third quarter. I think he made
six threes. Alprinching Goon was great in that quarter as well.
They ended up with twenty nine and twenty six points

(52:08):
like that. That's what you you kind of envision like
what happened now, of course it was. It was a
get right game against the Wizards. And I don't even
care they had won before that. Every game against the
Wizards is like a tune up game against Southwest Louisiana State.
But it was nice to see both albrynching Goon and
Jalen Green over twenty five plus points. I wonder how

(52:30):
many times that's happened in their careers where both of
them are thriving like that.

Speaker 13 (52:35):
Well, look, we're we're in a stretch where they're away
from home. You're gonna go play in a tough Memphis
environment tomorrow night. Atlanta always seems tricky when they have
to go there. Well, if Trey Young's being knocking down
a half court game win. That's gonna be tough. That
It's crazy, that was, and you play, you come home
from Memphis next week, then you're at Denver, at Sacramento,

(52:55):
at Portland for a little West coast trip.

Speaker 3 (52:57):
I think, you know, like just keep doing what you doing.

Speaker 13 (53:00):
Just keep grinding away, because I was, I was a
little worried there when they had dropped three out of four.

Speaker 3 (53:05):
Yeah it was Boston, but you knew, you know, it
was a tougher stretching the skill with.

Speaker 2 (53:08):
A bad collapse against the Minnesota Timberwolves. All Right, we
gotta take a quick break here. Chris Gordy is into
the fold. I am here, Ross Vierial I was asked
the question before I will pose it to Chris Gordy
and you as well. A Men Thompson in the starting
lineup right now? Is that where he does stay for
the season? Is that where he should stay for the season?
Seven one three two one two five seven ninety seven

(53:31):
one three two one two five seven ninety eight.

Speaker 3 (53:33):
Nobody got time for that.

Speaker 2 (53:34):
Slast shut yo bum ass up coming up at eleven thirty.

Speaker 8 (53:37):
More Matt Thomas Show with Ross Now Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 2 (53:55):
I love an eighteen. In the am, you're on Sports
Talk seven the Matt Thomas Show.

Speaker 3 (53:59):
With that is me.

Speaker 2 (54:01):
Matt Thomas is out as he will be back tomorrow.
He's traveling with your Houston Rockets. They are taking on
the Memphis Grizzlies tomorrow. Took on the Washington Wizards last night.
Jabari Smith Junior unfortunately remaining out with that hand fracture.
Gonna be four to eight weeks. Reevaluated in four weeks

(54:24):
is what we've been hearing. So in the meantime, now
that I'm in, Thompson is back from his two game
suspension for hit tossing Tyler Hero. He's been in the
starting lineup, and we're kind of talking about this before
you came in, or I guess right as around you
were coming in and getting ready, Gordy that I like
him in Thompson to me objectively, he is a better

(54:44):
overall player than Jabari Smith Junior. But the question is
how does he fit necessarily with this offense as a
whole against better teams who are going to pack the
pain against you when you your starting lineup is Jalen Green,
who now has been knocking down He's back over thirty
three percent. That's I mean objectively half a point per shot,

(55:06):
which is decent, and okay, you'd rather him get close
to league average thirty five thirty six percent. But Fred
Vanvlik continues to struggle overall with his three point shooting.
Alpi is having his worst three point shooting season as
a pro, and Aman Thompson is shooting under twenty five percent.
You can, can you go out there with him in

(55:27):
that starting lineup with four shooters in the event that
Jabari Smith Junior comes back and then have him come
off the bench. I'm curious what Imo Udoko would do
going forward.

Speaker 13 (55:37):
Yeah, I was hoping this is going to be the
green light year for Jabari Smith, that you know, the
light comes on and he takes that next step. And
obviously the injury is going to sideline him for some time.
But his his numbers have actually tipped, like his point totals,
it's the lowest of three years in the League's free
throw percentage is up, field goal percentage slightly down from

(55:58):
last year, and rebounds down at a three three or low.
So but yeah, I mean, with Amen's a nice piece
he can fill in. But to your point, like you
really want him filling in full time for Jabbari him
playing that position and getting out physical by some guys bigger,

(56:19):
bigger than him.

Speaker 2 (56:20):
So yeah, especially like, yeah, if you're playing him at
the power forward spot, how physical I mean, Look, I
like Jabaris Smith Jr. I like his fit. He knocks
down threes. He he's not someone that's going to be
the engine of the offense. Unfortunately, he hasn't developed into
a player of where you drafted him to to what
you're hoping. You got somebody in the top three, you're
hoping the guys goes gets to be a star player.

(56:41):
Now that's not super common, but it is possible. And
he also, remember he was talking about in that drafts,
is a possible number one overall pick. So Jabaris Smith
Junior has some talent and the three point shooting started
off pretty slow this year and was bad his first year,
but it's come along.

Speaker 3 (56:56):
So I like Jabbari Smith Junior.

Speaker 2 (57:00):
And that's a good point with the physicality and getting
physically beat up at the power forward position. But also
in this age of basketball, how many opposing teams are
running out two big men to where Amen Thompson is going.

Speaker 3 (57:17):
To have to be doing a whole lot of low
post defense. I don't know. Yeah, these are two big
games too coming up.

Speaker 13 (57:21):
By the way, Memphis only trails you by half a
game in the standings. You're you're the two seed right
now in the West, they're the three seed. Uh half
a game behind you in the standings and tow your
next three year against Memphis. So I would say, I beenim,
you want to split these Yeah, that'd be nice. And
it's as we go along.

Speaker 2 (57:41):
I mean, thirty six point thirty six games into the season,
nearly the halfway point. I mean, where are you out
on the Rockets?

Speaker 3 (57:47):
Where do you think? I mean, I.

Speaker 2 (57:49):
Keep wanting to say, you know what they're they're lacking
star power. Like if we go up and down the
other rosters, the Shay Gilles Alexander's of the world and
John Morn and Nikola Jokic and Luka Donca and Kyrie Irving,
like there's a lot there's so much star power on
these other teams. But the Rockets keep kept winning games,
they keep playing well. The net rating point differentials, all

(58:12):
that type of stuff. It's it's still remarkably consistent with
where they are in the standings. It's like, at this point,
I guess we just have to buy in and say
these are the Rockets. These this team is finishing top four,
top five in the Western Conference.

Speaker 13 (58:28):
Yeah, I mean, I hope it holds true. It's just
it's still so early in the season. But I mean,
look at the gap the thunder of created. You're you're
six and a half back.

Speaker 2 (58:36):
Thunder of the best, and I mean if you're if
your aim is to chase the thunder, then the Rockets
need to improve dramatic, dramatically. But as we're kind of
talking about in the last seven and how much is
it is rothe Eelstone's like, hey, stay the course, we're
not supposed to win the championship this year anyways. We're
in the year two of Phase two, which is supposed
to be multi years, where Phase three is championship contention.

(58:59):
Phase two is let's get into the playoffs and then
try to be this kind of plucky We're not supposed
to be here underdog type right now where they are
if the season ended today, which it doesn't, they're ahead
of schedule.

Speaker 3 (59:12):
I didn't realize the Cavs are thirty one and four.
That's nuts. So that's nuts.

Speaker 2 (59:17):
Evan Mobley taking ahead of are taken after Jalen Green.
He's got in all NBA defense team on his resume
and he's averaging like nineteen points and ten rebounds game,
just saying, yeah, it's it's one of those you'll always
we'll always look back at and look at Pollo And
can I go delete that article that I wrote that

(59:38):
Jalen Green is the pick over Evan Mobley. Can I
go back into our archives and delete that?

Speaker 6 (59:42):
Oh?

Speaker 2 (59:43):
I'm going to actually right now, I would like to
all right, seven five seven out of the phone number.
Anthony and deer Park want to talk some Rocket Paul.
What's up Anthony?

Speaker 11 (59:55):
Hey guys, So, so do you think that like the
way a team comes oubt like you were saying, you know,
the Rockets are in phase two? Like, do you think
that like with the Rockets being twenty four and twelve,
they're kind of in like that second group where the
you know, the Cavs, Celtics and Thunder are the elite
teams and then you got the Rockets, Grizzlies, Nicks. But

(01:00:17):
do you think that the Rockets being twenty four and
twelve could kind of nudge them into that Phase three
earlier than expected, where they like, maybe go get the
Aaron Fox or somebody like that to kind of push
them into that elite group of top tier teams.

Speaker 3 (01:00:33):
Yeah, that's the question, Anthony, that's where we are. Thank you.
I appreciate you getting in.

Speaker 2 (01:00:39):
If I had to guess, and without knowing, I would
guess that raphel Stone is going to preach patients on
this Emai Doka. I could see a scenario where you
Dooka's like, hey, get me. These players were close for
the number two seed. You get me a little bit
of extra. I'm gonna get you over the hump and
we're gonna go win a championship. So it's gonna be

(01:01:00):
that push and pull and that tug and whether it's
Roughel zoneer whoever. And then I'm not saying that they're
on the same page if there's any disagreements or discord
or anything like that, but it could be a situation
where do you want to trust the process, let these
players that you have continue to grow and thrive, which
so far they have, and if you're going off of

(01:01:21):
their last game again against the Wizards, but if you
go off their last game alprynching Goon and Jalen Green
both looked great. They both looked spectacular. And Fred van
Vliet's doing his thing, dropping twelve assists and Dylan Brooks
knocking down three's and a men. Thompson is that wrecking
ball on defense and offense. That is just swinging back
and forth from from each side of the court the

(01:01:44):
ninety four feet and wreaking havoc on both sides of
the ball. So right now, this team is good. They're fun,
they're exceeding expectations. They have the right coach in place.
Do you rock that boat and change up the chemistry
to try to get over that humph for the championship
or do you say, hey, you know what we're dancing with?

Speaker 3 (01:02:06):
Who brung us?

Speaker 2 (01:02:06):
Right now, we're ahead of schedule with these guys. Let's
let them grow and thrive the way that they're This
team is constructed.

Speaker 13 (01:02:14):
And by the way, darn Fox is in the midst
of a one hundred and sixty three million dollars I got.

Speaker 3 (01:02:19):
One year left after this week.

Speaker 13 (01:02:20):
Yeah, he's making thirty five mili this year, thirty seven
mil next year.

Speaker 3 (01:02:24):
So if you want a good three point shooter, either,
if you.

Speaker 13 (01:02:26):
Want to inherit that contract. You're gonna have to move
some things dollars and cents to make it work. And
who does he play over?

Speaker 2 (01:02:34):
The natural fit would be Jalen Green, But you can't
really cheery trade Jalen Green's contract right now because of
the extension you sign him too.

Speaker 13 (01:02:39):
People would argue over probably over Fred because Fred's struggling.

Speaker 2 (01:02:44):
Darn Fox and Jalen Green. Who's your ball handler? Who's
I mean, who's who's starting your offense? I think you
need the steady handed leadership of Fred van Vliet. I
mean this offense when when Fred goes out, this offense
is a lot worse.

Speaker 3 (01:02:58):
Yeah, he's such, He's does such a good job.

Speaker 2 (01:03:01):
Of knowing where other guys need to be, setting other
guys up and kind of being that engine of this offense.
And the assistant turnover ratio since he's been here has
been spectacular.

Speaker 13 (01:03:11):
Well, I don't know. I tend to think stay the
course here, but I get it. People you're gonna look
at and go the rockets and the two seed always
want more.

Speaker 3 (01:03:20):
What's upgrade? What's upgrade?

Speaker 2 (01:03:21):
If you're not the championship, you're terrible, You're a worthless Well,
what's the point well, the point is they're they're growing
and getting better and hopefully in a year or two
will be to that championship level. Or I mean, if
this keeps going and they make the number two seed,
by default, the number two seed in a conference is
a championship contender. All right, we're gonna take a quick

(01:03:42):
break here on the Matt Thomas Show with Ross Chris
Gordy is here. You guys, got something you want to
get off of your chest, something that has been bothering you,
sticking in your craw as it were. You want to
tell somebody nobody got time for that. You also want
to tell somebody, hey, quit talking, perhaps a U a
former Jets coach who is on some show that doesn't

(01:04:03):
even warrant mention calling a playoff game on the road
a bye week, and you want to tell them to
shut their bumb ass up.

Speaker 3 (01:04:11):
You can do so.

Speaker 2 (01:04:12):
Seven one three two one two five seven ninety is
the phone number if you'd like to get in. Seven
one three two one two five seven ninety.

Speaker 4 (01:04:20):
Here.

Speaker 3 (01:04:21):
Let me get here, me get heby, get Tampa here.

Speaker 2 (01:04:25):
Let me get Tampa dear, Let me get dampid, dear.

Speaker 1 (01:04:29):
Let me get tamp here.

Speaker 2 (01:04:30):
May get tablet me get dampadi. All right, this is
the segment where he got some complaints. You've got some grievances.
He got a lot of problem with some people. Well
you air it all out on Ain't nobody got time

(01:04:50):
for that slash.

Speaker 3 (01:04:52):
Shut your bum ass up, man, Hey, nobody get shut
so bum ass up man.

Speaker 2 (01:04:57):
Here on the Matt Thomas Show with raw Matt Thomas
is out. Ross is with you, Chris Gordy is with you.
Connor McGovern here as well. Phone lines open if you'd
like to vent seven one three two one two five
seven ninety seven one three two one two five seven
ninety and allow me to start. Uh myself and Chris Gordy.

(01:05:21):
We were doing a Crawford box cast yesterday. You can
check it out for free on the iHeart Radio app.
Great stuff on the latest on Kyle Tucker and Alex
Bregman and the state of the Houston Astros.

Speaker 3 (01:05:33):
Right now all ready Crawford box Cast presented by Carbock Buren.

Speaker 2 (01:05:36):
Yeah, presented by Carbock Brewing Ice, Pulled, refreshing and delicious
Crawford bach.

Speaker 3 (01:05:42):
Who's that new astro?

Speaker 2 (01:05:43):
By the way, that's what's that guy's name?

Speaker 6 (01:05:46):
Oh?

Speaker 3 (01:05:46):
The guy they just they just traded for.

Speaker 2 (01:05:48):
Great Passenger, Rip Great Cassinger. No, we're not giving you
a farewell on.

Speaker 13 (01:05:51):
The show, Matthew Lynsky Umble Natives played it Rice.

Speaker 2 (01:05:56):
Matthew Lensky, I shout out Umble Texas. Connor McGovern agrees. Anyways,
we're doing some research and we're trying to figure out,
you know, what's the latest if anybody said anything on
Alex Bregman. And every time I try to do it
to look something up lately, these and I'm gonna call
them out by name. SI dot com. Sports Illustrated. You
used to be the best most trusted source of sports

(01:06:20):
news and information. My dad subscribed. I couldn't wait for
it to come every week. I would read it cover
to cover and I loved Sports Illustrated.

Speaker 3 (01:06:29):
How far they have fallen. They have these.

Speaker 2 (01:06:32):
Joker writers fresh out of journalism school or or whatever
program they went to, who put these sensational, lying, misleading
headlines saying Alex Bregman favored to sign back with the Astros.
And it's some joker from some New Jersey website putting
that in a blog where they're making a prediction or

(01:06:54):
put Alex Bregman close to doing this or close to
doing that, they take one sliver of truth and they
turn it into this sensational headline. You got my click,
but never again. I'm sick and tired of se SI
dot com and not living up to standards in practices.
Shut jobumass up Sports Illustrated You suck now, shut jobumass up.

Speaker 11 (01:07:15):
Man.

Speaker 13 (01:07:16):
Well, I'm with you because I have to echo that
because I got a text from a friend on Friday.
It was a link to an SI dot com article
and it was titled Houston astro is predicted to re
sign fan favorite to Mammoth one hundred and seventy five
million dollars. It's a picture of Dana Brown. I'm like, yes, Wow,
they're gonna resign a fan favorite. I wonder who this

(01:07:36):
is and I click on the article and it's it's
all about they may still resign Alex Bregman And I'm like, wait,
where did this come from? Yes, Trader freeshuck Bret is.
They've signed Christian Walker. Everything says that they have moved
on from him, and its sites like one little thing
and it's like the ester still haven't said.

Speaker 3 (01:07:56):
They're completely out on.

Speaker 2 (01:07:57):
Him, right, And it's like, wait, exactly. I had somebody
in my family send me that article two and I
was like.

Speaker 3 (01:08:02):
So, I had to look up who wrote it.

Speaker 13 (01:08:05):
It is a guy by the name of Kate Kissner
and here's and here's his bio. Kate Kissner is the
publisher and beat writer for SI's Inside the Phillies. What
he covers the Phillies and he's writing about an Astros
free agent. He's an alumni alumnus of Tulane University and
graduating in twenty seventeen with a degree in Latin American

(01:08:25):
Studies at a minor in Spanish. He was commissioned into
the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School.

Speaker 2 (01:08:34):
Even know he flunked out of flight school and now
he's writing crap for SI dot com.

Speaker 13 (01:08:38):
Well, then he wrote the one yesterday that said New
York Mets emerges favorites to side out.

Speaker 3 (01:08:43):
You heard that's the one you were saying, And I'm.

Speaker 13 (01:08:44):
Like what, And I'm like, wait, emerge as favorites And
then he cites USA Today's Bob Knight and Gil who
says the Mets are showing strong interests.

Speaker 3 (01:08:54):
Yeah, how do you.

Speaker 2 (01:08:55):
Get from their showing interest to emerge his favorites. Yeah,
we need something he needs to stop. Somebody's like, I
don't know, we need some sort of media watchdog company
or what. But this ocean of misinformation, it's only getting
worse and worse and worse.

Speaker 13 (01:09:10):
And well it's just for clicks, Like you're doing that
just for clicks, and it's I want.

Speaker 2 (01:09:16):
To block a website for my browser. I'm literally because
they put it on a Facebook. And then we have
callers who call in. They call Sean, Hey, yeah, we
bregmant Is resigning. We had a caller said the same
thing the other day and I'm like, I didn't. They're like, yeah,
I saw. I saw that he was a favorite to
sign for one hundred and seventy million. Me and Matt
are like what, yeah, well, these these lives put out,
but shut your bum ass up again, Sports Illustrated. Shut

(01:09:40):
so bum ass up man seven one three two one
two five seven ninety If you want to get in
seven one three two one two five seven ninety, Uh, Cordy,
you got anything else? Are you gonna stick with the Sports?

Speaker 1 (01:09:51):
Well?

Speaker 13 (01:09:51):
I wanted to pivot over to a report from Tom Pellisero,
who just put this out about thirty minute let go.
Multiple NFL teams have inquired about whether legendary coach Bill
Belichick would reconsider his move to college football, including the Raiders,
whose new minority owner Tom Brady spoke recently with his

(01:10:15):
old coach.

Speaker 3 (01:10:16):
According to league sources, Oh my god.

Speaker 13 (01:10:19):
I mean this is more of a shut your bump
ass up to Tom Brady, because don't be calling your
old ass head coach who just took a college job.
But also Bill Belichick, you took the college job in
North Carolina. Bro, I'm sorry you're lying to it if
you thought you were even going to be considered for
an NFL job again, which, by the way, you had
to keep it in the back of your mind because
he interviewed for johns Less off season.

Speaker 3 (01:10:40):
Like, shut your bumbass up.

Speaker 13 (01:10:42):
If you're going to take a college job where that
you knew there would be NFL Team's interesting.

Speaker 2 (01:10:47):
I'm sorry too, signed for me?

Speaker 3 (01:10:51):
Signed with me?

Speaker 2 (01:10:52):
Yeah, he's gotta like apologize to all the recruits, Like
what if you signed for Bill Bellot? This is again
transfer portal does not bother me, Go and find the
best spot for you.

Speaker 13 (01:11:02):
What kills me is NFL in college time. Heals all
wounds time. And what I mean by that is ross.
When a coach gets fired and goes and does TV
for a year two years, his name.

Speaker 3 (01:11:18):
Then becomes red hot. It's like John's been mentioned. Ryan's
name is up again, like no, Rex.

Speaker 2 (01:11:26):
Is doing media. Yeah, I swear you know what it is.

Speaker 13 (01:11:30):
I think it's that like ESPN, Fox all the like
we watch these teams, these these games all the time
that we like in our minds, we erase what happened
and we.

Speaker 3 (01:11:39):
Go Rex, Ryan he knows ball. No, he might be
a good coach again, like Ryan just called the Texans
a bye. Rex Ryan does not know ball. But why
do we do this like they do?

Speaker 13 (01:11:50):
It happens in college. The reason there's a college coach
on ESPN NOL is because he sucks because he got fired.
And it's not because he just decided to step away
from the game. He got fired.

Speaker 2 (01:12:01):
Absence makes the heart grow fonder. It's like Eli Manning
being a finalist for the Hall of Fame. Do we
not remember what Eli Manning was as a quarterback? There
was not once you were like, oh my god, man,
I'm so scared.

Speaker 3 (01:12:14):
Eli Manning is coming into town.

Speaker 2 (01:12:16):
Guys, what are we gonna do. You're like, hell, yeah,
Eli Manning's about to throw three picks. Baby, let's go.

Speaker 13 (01:12:22):
On two Super bowls with elite defenses. But at any
point was he a top two quarterback in the league.

Speaker 2 (01:12:28):
It was a top five. Going through the list, he
probably wouldn't top ten. The only thing he ever led
the league in was interceptions, and he did it three times.

Speaker 13 (01:12:35):
That's like saying big shot Bob Robert rorriy oh me god,
I look on several teams, has multiple rings. But yeah,
that was Bob Robert Horrian, a top five player in
the NBA.

Speaker 2 (01:12:46):
Zero time All Star, zero time first, second or third
time All NBA. I said the same thing about managing
Obal and I got attacked by a lot of people
in San Antonio. By the way, two time All Star,
zero time first or second team All NBA. I don't
think he ever made a third team All NBA. I'd
have to go look at that again. But my god,
we always remember things better than they were. I'll put

(01:13:08):
it that way, all right, seven one three, two one
two five seven ninety condo McGovern we.

Speaker 3 (01:13:12):
Will break, but you're going next. Oh your bag right now?

Speaker 2 (01:13:17):
All right, let's build the drama you got something good, Connor,
or you need some time to think, we.

Speaker 3 (01:13:23):
Can We'll hold on the next week. When's Jason.

Speaker 2 (01:13:26):
All right, let's take Jason real quick, and then Connor
McGovern can go Jason in king what I imagine, ain't
nobody got time for the latest arsenal losses.

Speaker 3 (01:13:33):
What you're gonna say, Well, I'm.

Speaker 6 (01:13:35):
Glad that you knew it. We're not gonna talk about
that right now, but this report, right Ryan, Greg, Ryan.

Speaker 14 (01:13:45):
You gotta such up b mess up rich Ryan, Nobody
cares about what you've got to say about anything in
regards to the Houston Texans.

Speaker 3 (01:13:52):
I know you don't watch them.

Speaker 11 (01:13:54):
I know you.

Speaker 14 (01:13:54):
I know you don't watch them, So yeah, I got
none to say such up by mess up, mess up.

Speaker 2 (01:14:00):
He knows this is the thing. He knows, folks. He
wants your attention. He wants you to know. I'm not
mentioning what show or network he was even on, because
it doesn't matter. He was a former NFL coach. He
knows there's no such thing as that bye week in
the NFL. He is saying this to sensationalized Please, I'm
praying for you people to stop falling for this stupidity,

(01:14:20):
because it just makes sports discourse work worse, and the
whole we can go over the whole society and all
this going into the toilet, but man, it's getting worse
and worse when it comes to sports discourse. All right
seven one three two one two five seven ninety. If
you still want to get in, we'll take a quick
break here, but you can still tell somebody to chuck
they bump ass up or ain't nobody got time for that?

(01:14:43):
Seven one three two one two five seven ninety. Connor
mc governor will give his next as well and your
calls if you want to get in after this quick
break on the Matt Thomas Show with Ross More Matt.

Speaker 8 (01:14:52):
Thomas Show with Ross Now but sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 2 (01:15:04):
All right, still a few minutes to get in if
you would like for Ain't nobody got time for that?
Slash shut Joe bump ass up? Here on the Matt
Thomas Show. Phone lines open at seven one three two
one two five seven ninety seven one three two one
two five seven ninety. Connor mcgovernor, The floor is yours.

Speaker 7 (01:15:27):
So last week we had on Rockets head coach, Imma
a Dooka and Ross. You actually asked him about Cam
Whitmore after Whitmore seemed discouraged AboutUs playing time.

Speaker 2 (01:15:37):
Yes, well, Matt asked the first question. I asked to
follow up. So let's let's give Matt his credit. That's true,
that's true. I said, it was on your Guys show.

Speaker 3 (01:15:43):
No I know.

Speaker 4 (01:15:43):
Uh.

Speaker 7 (01:15:44):
He had a good response to your Guys' questions about
Cam Whitmore. Somebody on Twitter screen recorded the podcast clip
and posted that, and it started to get some traction.
So I'm gonna keep going, but just a quick anybody
got time for that for the guy not linking the
blog post or original podcast clip or tagging either Matt,
you or Sports Sox seven ninety Bad Drills and Ethics.

(01:16:06):
But anyway, I saw Gordie commented on the screen recorder
reposts and properly gave credit to you and Matt. I
continued his work by adding credits to all the reposts
I saw on Twitter.

Speaker 3 (01:16:18):
Thank you, Uh.

Speaker 7 (01:16:19):
David and Austin Uh tweeted at me and took some
exception saying also and also Cotter d mcgovernor, who produces
and uploads the podcast.

Speaker 3 (01:16:29):
I think he was saying, you deserve some credit.

Speaker 7 (01:16:31):
Oh, he said finally stop stealing content and punting it
off as your own.

Speaker 2 (01:16:35):
Oh was he defending me?

Speaker 4 (01:16:36):
Yes?

Speaker 2 (01:16:37):
Oh when you sent me that, are you gonna tell
him to shut his my mass up?

Speaker 15 (01:16:40):
Oh?

Speaker 2 (01:16:41):
David listens every day we appreciate you. David, he misunderstood
he was giving you credit. I thought you that makes
sense to why you would send that to me. I
know he was getting after me.

Speaker 7 (01:16:51):
No, when I was adding the credit, I'm like, I
didn't even I was posting from account or tagging.

Speaker 2 (01:16:58):
I wasn't even tagging myself. You're taking You're taking offense
when there was none. You are truly learning from Matt Thomas.
Well you stop me, so thank you and David and Austin.
I apologize for what I was going to say, but
I'm not gonna say now that's great anything else? How
about just those people who were the reposters.

Speaker 3 (01:17:14):
I already said anybody got time for him? Again, it's
where we're headed.

Speaker 2 (01:17:17):
It's when when our friend Elon Musk made Twitter pay
for and then it's basically rewarding people for the most impressions.
So the most sensationalized saw it was already like that
on Twitter, right where the most impressions, the most retweets,
the most crazy stuff gets the most views. But when
you started monetarily incentivizing that, stoking the fires of trolls,

(01:17:41):
that's when things really got worse. And well that's when
my mute button has been working over time, and I've
been trying to get on Threads and Blue Sky, but.

Speaker 3 (01:17:47):
There's just nobody over there. I don't know all. I've
reread it now and I completely misread that.

Speaker 7 (01:17:53):
I appreciate that he was he was tagging me to
all ses, Yes, that is correct.

Speaker 13 (01:17:58):
Can I throw out another one chichibab mess up to
all the writers out there and national pundits who are
saying death to the SEC.

Speaker 3 (01:18:08):
The SEC is dead. Your years of dominating the college
football is over.

Speaker 13 (01:18:14):
Need I remind you thirteen of the last eighteen national
championships and football have been won by the SEC. And
let's not even get into baseball, reigning SEC champs for
like the last five years. Yes, women's basketball, Don Saley
in South Carolina. I mean, if you want to get
into Texas and rowing, I mean, they're always national championships there. Tennant,

(01:18:36):
give the Aggie some credit. They finally won a tennis championship.

Speaker 2 (01:18:39):
Before Tenant, before Tennessee got crushed last night, you had
the number one and number two teams in the country.

Speaker 3 (01:18:43):
Country in basketball.

Speaker 13 (01:18:44):
Yeah, but like the and And here's who I really
want to tell to shut their bumbass up. Joel Klatt,
who last I checked Ross works for Fox, who does
the Big ten noon kickoff. I wonder why he would
want to put down the SEC's. Oh, they're not as
dominant anymore. I think it's the Big Ten.

Speaker 3 (01:19:03):
Really, don't. They're at your checks, Joe.

Speaker 13 (01:19:05):
But Nicole Ohrbach, who just left for NBC this past offseason,
she is now NBC and it's on.

Speaker 3 (01:19:12):
The Notre Dame pregame. Guess what she thinks. Oh SEC's overrated.
Oh yeah, it's a little convenient there. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:19:21):
I always caution beware of the overreaction to a small
sample size. I said that again when everybody's like, oh,
is it a disadvantage to have the bye week, Well,
it's a disadvantage to be Boise State in Arizona State, right,
and having to face Ohio State and Georgia not having
their starting quarterback.

Speaker 13 (01:19:41):
So and look, Texas Michigan won it last year but
had Georgia gotten in breaking news Georgia was gonna win
the championship.

Speaker 2 (01:19:51):
If now you're going with the hypothetical matches always wins
the hype Florida State like seventy to nothing.

Speaker 3 (01:19:59):
I'm trying to hell you, Gordy.

Speaker 13 (01:20:01):
If Texas wins this championship, and I like them to
beat Ohio State or Friday. If they win this championship,
I like to hear, that'll be fourteen of the last
nineteen Fall.

Speaker 2 (01:20:09):
Championships S E C S East.

Speaker 3 (01:20:12):
So you can say Texas is an SEC. But last
I checked the logos on the shoulder back.

Speaker 2 (01:20:16):
Yeah, let's go, and they are in the championship, unfortunately
because they lost to Georgia twice, but we not to
talk about it. Undefeated against everybody not named Georgia though,
Josh and Cyprus.

Speaker 3 (01:20:23):
What you got going on?

Speaker 16 (01:20:26):
Hey, guys, thinks I want to just start off with
a big shut your bow mass up to uh mister
Rex Ryan, very annoying. Hell, he actually believes that. I
think I think he just wants to have us beat
their ass and end up with his foot in his mouth.

Speaker 3 (01:20:44):
That's it, thank you.

Speaker 2 (01:20:45):
I hope so, Josh, he would really enjoy the foot
in his mouth. Actually he enjoys that quite frequently, I imagine,
And you know, I'm not here to kink shame. We're
not here a kink shame on the Mat Thomas Show
with Ross, Is.

Speaker 3 (01:21:02):
It okay to touch him again?

Speaker 6 (01:21:07):
Oh? Damn?

Speaker 2 (01:21:07):
Can I help you with anything? Can you mind if
I touch that?

Speaker 3 (01:21:15):
Is that right?

Speaker 17 (01:21:18):
Mm hmm?

Speaker 3 (01:21:19):
You don't remember these?

Speaker 2 (01:21:20):
Oh they're like really sow, there's a weird video of
him touching his white feet. Let's go along with Baylor.

Speaker 3 (01:21:28):
Doug, go ahead.

Speaker 18 (01:21:31):
Yeah, So I go to the Texas Bowl and to
see LSU Tigers defeat the Baylor Bear the day before
my birthday. But I guess Chris Forty's happiness is what's
really important.

Speaker 6 (01:21:42):
Hey, nobody got time with that?

Speaker 15 (01:21:44):
Wow?

Speaker 13 (01:21:45):
Sorry, the Baylor Bears wearing up to snuff. It's okay,
shame and listen to a good LSU team.

Speaker 2 (01:21:51):
And the vaulting, according to some, the vaulting of Garrett
nus Meyer's Heisman campaign for twenty twenty five, Well, he
is behind.

Speaker 13 (01:21:59):
He's number two in low behind one arch man whoa
let's go arch and that while that a guy who's
got a full season as a starter at LSU under
his belt is coming back. Yeah, but he's behind the
guy who's played two games.

Speaker 2 (01:22:11):
It's always what's in the mystery box. We've got a
full season of mid from nes Meyer. Okay, Now I'm
an arch truther. I do I do think we'll see
I think with another offseason. I think I think he's
going to be really good as long as he takes
what the defense is giving him, more than trying to
drive the ball down the field and make splash plays,
which I think he was trying to do a little
bit too much when he came in. I'm a I'm

(01:22:32):
a big fan of Archer as well. I think he
needs to be featured more in the red zone.

Speaker 13 (01:22:35):
Is that Sawyer Robertson kid gonna be back at Baylor
because he was pretty damn good.

Speaker 3 (01:22:39):
I don't know.

Speaker 2 (01:22:40):
I'm sorry, he's a junior with the Baylor too deep
right now?

Speaker 3 (01:22:43):
He was good, all right?

Speaker 2 (01:22:44):
That being said? At his time for another break. Here
on The Matt Thomas Show with Ross without Matt Thomas,
with Chris Gordy and Connor McGovern coming up.

Speaker 3 (01:22:52):
We will have the News at noon.

Speaker 2 (01:22:54):
Also Adam Clinton coming on at one o'clock and you
at seven one three, two, one, two, five, seven ninety one.

Speaker 3 (01:23:00):
What's happening in the sports world? A lot of stuff
to cover.

Speaker 1 (01:23:02):
Actually news at noon, next, lunchtimers, This is the Matt
Thomas Show.

Speaker 2 (01:23:10):
Twelve oh one in ah Town. What's happening to lunch timers? Hello,
and welcome in to our number three of the Matt
Thomas Show with Ross without Matt Thomas, Chris Cordy here
until one.

Speaker 3 (01:23:22):
Adam Clampton will join then.

Speaker 2 (01:23:25):
But right now, it's time for the top sports news
of the day in a segment we call the News
at Noon. All right, gotta we got to hear your
your news guy voice here.

Speaker 3 (01:23:40):
Okay, maybe if you don't really want to do it,
you don't have to.

Speaker 2 (01:23:42):
But what do we head for the top sports news
of the day. Here, give me your best news.

Speaker 7 (01:23:48):
Okay, this is sports soox seven to ninety. I'm conormc governed.
Here is the news at news.

Speaker 4 (01:23:54):
I like it.

Speaker 3 (01:23:55):
Thank you, you're hired, appreciate it. I can keep it.
I can keep my job.

Speaker 13 (01:24:00):
Ever, tell you about the guy in ESPN Louisville that
I heard of radio Row years ago and I thought
it was I think he was doing a bit, but
it was his real voice, really, welcome back three o'clock
here already, asked Loville, Like, there's no way he dearly
talks like that.

Speaker 2 (01:24:14):
He did that was to force it like that for
hours would be tough.

Speaker 3 (01:24:19):
So I think it was his real voice.

Speaker 7 (01:24:21):
Hmmm, all right, well the news at noon, Thanks you
the rock The Rockets defeated the Washington Wizards one hundred
and thirty five to one hundred and twelve last night.
Jalen had Jalen Green had twenty nine points, Alpert chan
Good added twenty six with ten rebounds, while men Thompson
scored twenty and grabbed fifteen boards, So double doubles for
those guys. But another Rockets news rookie, Reed Shepherd, after

(01:24:43):
being officially assigned to the G League on Monday, made
his Rio Grand Valley Viper's debut last night, and in
thirty seven minutes of play, recorded forty nine points on
seventeen for thirty three shooting drave by.

Speaker 12 (01:24:57):
Logan missus and here's sentence three on two break since
it out for Shepherd a three, he got it crop
getting into it.

Speaker 7 (01:25:06):
So Sheppard added six assists, five rebounds and three steals,
and the Rockets the Rockets have a history of sending
their high level prospects to G League. Kem Wentmore this year,
in last year, Mentompson last year. So where do we
see the potential of number three overall pick read Shepherd.

Speaker 2 (01:25:22):
That's the question. I almost don't know exactly what to
make of this. I mean, first of all, it's a
very high paced league. In the G League, they go
back and forth, not a whole lot of defense played.
He did get thirty three shots up, but he made
eight threes.

Speaker 3 (01:25:36):
He'd only made like nineteen all year long.

Speaker 2 (01:25:38):
Or something like that in a Houston Rocket uniform, so
he made eight in one game. I think overall, there's
no way to feel bad about this. There's no I
don't want to discourage myself too much as ads just
the G League.

Speaker 3 (01:25:49):
They're not even trying up there. Whatever.

Speaker 2 (01:25:51):
Forty nine points is pretty good. I mean in a
college game, let alone, in a G League game. You
got thirty three shots up, but still pretty impressive from reach.

Speaker 3 (01:25:58):
Shepherd, Yeah, did you see? I think it was.

Speaker 13 (01:26:00):
Danielle Lerner tweeted out that the Rockets were in the
locker room post game in DC looking at highlights of Rey.
Shepherd once said he's bleeping balling man. In other words,
he said, did you see he had a dug? That's
kind of cool that they were cheering on their guy.

Speaker 2 (01:26:15):
I also minus five hundred. One of those players was
not named Cam Whitmore.

Speaker 3 (01:26:20):
Right exactly damn what he did.

Speaker 13 (01:26:24):
I hope this keep him down there a couple of weeks,
Let him get a shot, go and get his confidence back,
and then bring it back.

Speaker 2 (01:26:31):
So bad things happening to the Rockets. Jabari Smith Junior
is hurt. Good things happening to the Rockets Jalen Green
and Alprin Shangoon went off last night, even though it
was against the Washington Wizards and a men Thompson, I mean,
dudes playing like he should make first. He's getting a
lot of hype like he's gonna make one of the
all defense teams. I think whether it be first or
second or third or do they do a third for defense,

(01:26:52):
I don't think so, so whether it be first or second.
He he's making ways right now, and the we were
talking about earlier.

Speaker 3 (01:27:01):
We don't know if he's going.

Speaker 2 (01:27:02):
To be if he's going to be a situation where
he ever comes out of the starting lineup. If he does,
I think it would be strictly because of the shooting
provided by Jabari Smith Junior. All right, what else you got?
Connor McGovern on the news at noon.

Speaker 7 (01:27:17):
The Houston Texas will host the Los Angeles Chargers on
Saturday for a wildcard playoff matchup. Former NFL head coach
Rex Ryan is already dismissing the Texans chances, calling them
a quote by for the Chargers head coach Nico Ryan
spoke to the media yesterday and had this to say
when a reporter actually quoted Rex Ryan's comments to him.

Speaker 5 (01:27:35):
For me, it's something like that, what does it do?
Does it make you play harder? Because somebody said that,
does it change like? We play hard anyway? We're gonna
bring our style of football, our brand of football on Saturday, regardless,
irregardless of what anyone a talking head's opinion is about us. Right,
So it really doesn't drive or doesn't change our approach

(01:27:58):
one bit.

Speaker 7 (01:27:59):
Joe Mixon was actually asked the same question in the
locker room and kind of reiterated what Demiico Ryans and
the Texans are saying, which is they don't care about
outside opinions.

Speaker 2 (01:28:07):
So how are we feeling about the Texans playoff chances.

Speaker 3 (01:28:10):
Uh yeah, in a way.

Speaker 2 (01:28:11):
I'm a guy that subscribes to especially at the NFL level,
bulletin board material doesn't mean a whole lot. These guys
are professionals. They pour their lives into these games. They
go through the slogs of this entire season. Maybe you
need that little extra something to motivate you, but I
don't think it's going to be.

Speaker 3 (01:28:26):
You know, the.

Speaker 2 (01:28:28):
Chargers are driving on third and three and an important
drive in the fourth quarter, and as he's outure here
is like saying.

Speaker 3 (01:28:34):
Rex Ryan dunas in this moment.

Speaker 2 (01:28:36):
So I'm gonna rise up above it because I got
to prove Rex Ryan wrong. No, you go about your process,
you prepare for the game. Sure, it adds a little
bit of layer of intrigue, and everybody's gonna, you know,
pop off at Rex Ryan if the.

Speaker 3 (01:28:49):
Texans do win this game.

Speaker 2 (01:28:50):
But as far as the bottom line of this game,
I think Demico Ryan's for the most part is right.

Speaker 3 (01:28:54):
They're going to control what they can control.

Speaker 2 (01:28:56):
They're gonna do their best to prepare and get ready
for the game on Saturday.

Speaker 13 (01:28:59):
I love the I think that can apply to college
as well. It's funny. It always happens every year with
like the rivalry games like LSU A and M. I'm
sorry LSU Alabama or Texas versus A and M, where
it's like, who wasn't one of the aggies came outs,
so we're not free to Texas blah blah blah, like ooh,
bulletin board material. I'm like, as if Texas is gonna
be like now we really have to beat him? Like no,

(01:29:20):
it's it's a rivalry and here it's a playoff game,
like the Chargers want to beat him. And this is
different because it's not even like somebody on the Charger
said it, it's a neutral party. It's Rex Ryan who
hit whatever the hell he says has no bearing on it.
But again at the Texas when you use as a
little bit more motivation of nobody believes on us, I
mean Kirby Smart literally a few years ago when they
were preseason picked to win the championship, they had his

(01:29:43):
defensive players saying after they won the title game, going.

Speaker 3 (01:29:45):
Nobody believed in us?

Speaker 13 (01:29:46):
Like, okay, who didn't will show me the people who
didn't believe in me?

Speaker 2 (01:29:49):
Did you hear Steve Sarkisian? This week nobody's given us
a shot. We gotta have these long horns fans show
up in Arlington. Nobody's giving us a shot. They at
least they're underdogs. But yeah, but it is just funny.

Speaker 3 (01:30:00):
There's a difference.

Speaker 2 (01:30:01):
Between underdogs and saying nobody gave us a shot unless
you're literally Northern Illinois against Notre Dame. Nobody gave them
a shot. It's not nobody's. It's not nobody's giving Texas
a shot against Ohio State this weekend at home in Texas,
having to only travel.

Speaker 3 (01:30:16):
Two hundred miles for the game.

Speaker 13 (01:30:17):
I do wish, though Tomiko would have some fun with
it and go. He said that that's funny instead of we
do not pay attention to anything outside of the building.

Speaker 3 (01:30:27):
He's coach.

Speaker 2 (01:30:27):
He's coach speak Robot two thousand. I am Demiico two thousand.
We are not worried about outside noise. We are going
to focus on ourselves, execute and play hard and grit
and grind.

Speaker 13 (01:30:38):
Okay, thank you, Oh, come all fund foul?

Speaker 2 (01:30:45):
You know you know what he said about that CBS reporter.
What y'all did was foul? Is that guy's like, I
didn't write that article I'm not to deal with the
CBS National all right, for CBS Colorado Springs or whatever
he was writing for.

Speaker 3 (01:30:57):
All right?

Speaker 2 (01:30:57):
Anyways, what else we got as far as it was
at dude? Here on Sports Talk seven, I d Connor mcgovernent.

Speaker 7 (01:31:04):
Justin Verlander and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement
on a one year, fifteen million dollar contract. The future
Hall of Famer, at age forty two, is extending his
major league career and is entering his twentieth season.

Speaker 3 (01:31:16):
I have a question.

Speaker 2 (01:31:17):
I was thinking about this all day. We do too
many farewells on this show. Is it Justin Verlander farewell time?
He's forty two years old?

Speaker 6 (01:31:24):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (01:31:25):
I think you save it for the day he hangs
it up a fish, okay. And there was also how
much was the deal? Fifteen? Okay?

Speaker 2 (01:31:32):
There was a certain host who shall remain Lilliamus, who
doubted me saying that fifty that he would accept a
fifteen million dollar deal from somebody. But I digress. He
is now a San Francisco Giant. I look, I'm wishing
him the best. He fell apart, I don't think he
was one hundred percent healthy. But also, how many full
seasons of one hundred percent health are you going to
get from a guy that's forty two years old.

Speaker 3 (01:31:51):
When he's out there, he.

Speaker 2 (01:31:52):
Can still show great control, but these lost ticks off
the fastball, the breaking stuff isn't what it once was,
and we're seeing a faded legend right now in front
of our eyes, but certainly one of the all time
greats Justin Verlander and not going to get to three hundred.

Speaker 13 (01:32:06):
We had a ton of comments on our Facebook page.
Not one of them was like, oh man, we should
have ponied up that cass and paid him. Like I
think every ad was like, well, a great run series,
but we kind of saw some chicks in the armor
last year. I'll ride with Hunter Brown and you know,

(01:32:26):
the whole rest of the crew and bid farewell to
Justin Erlin.

Speaker 2 (01:32:29):
Yeah, as far as like full seasons in his career,
it was like his worst whip since two thousand and eight,
his worst RA, worst era plus, like every metric that
you look at, there's just had been significant slippage the.

Speaker 3 (01:32:44):
Last couple of years.

Speaker 2 (01:32:45):
Like I said, maybe he'll get to one hundred percent
health and he can be a little bit more effective,
But wishing Justin Verlander the best one.

Speaker 13 (01:32:53):
More note, Astros opened the season here at home with
Juan Soto and the New York Mets for a three
game set series two Monday Tuesday Wednesday. The San Francisco Giants.
Josh Ferlander probably gonna go in that series against anster.

Speaker 3 (01:33:07):
Okay, I no, Jesse Plemons is their opening day starter?
Is he there? Three started? Would he play in that series?
I'm not sure. I would think you would be four
or five? Right? Yeah, of course, I'm joking.

Speaker 2 (01:33:16):
I'm talking about Logan Webb, who looks like Jesse Plemons. Yeah, okay? Interesting?
Anything else for the news at noon? Connadie mcgovin.

Speaker 7 (01:33:26):
The Las Vegas Raiders have fired head coach at Daniel
Pierce after a four to thirteen season. Pierce took over
as the interim head coach midway through the twenty twenty
three season and went five and four the rest of
the way, and players were advocating for him to get
the full time job. The Raiders, after a two and
two start to this season, got bit by the injury
bug and went on a ten game losing streak. Pierce

(01:33:47):
joined Garrodmeo and Doug Peterson as the first three coaches
who have been fired following the end of the regular season.

Speaker 2 (01:33:53):
Again, I ask, has there been an interim coach that
had some success?

Speaker 3 (01:33:57):
And I'm not saying it hasn't happened. I'm just trying
to I'm like a.

Speaker 2 (01:33:59):
Little asked, and the players are all like, yeah, we
got to keep them. This is our guy. And then
they hire him and then it and then it works
out and they win Super Bowls. This doesn't seem like
that happened.

Speaker 13 (01:34:10):
Well, the one scenario college at LSU that's true, was
became the interim and then they hired him and he
won a championship.

Speaker 2 (01:34:19):
Yeah, but did they win that because of his coaching
prowess or because they had like seventeen and bring Joe
Burrow down to the yah Tago country. They had like
eighteen NFL players on both sides of the how's Rodney
Terry doing at Texas exactly?

Speaker 3 (01:34:34):
That's you're making my point.

Speaker 2 (01:34:36):
And the furious rally and covered the spread against the
Auburn Tigers. They're way out of that game and started
to come back. But we don't have to talk about that,
all right, quick break here on the Matt Thomas Show
with Ross. A lot of stuff we covered how you're
feeling about Justin Verlander being gone. Rockets are winning Texans
with the game coming up against the Los Angeles Chargers.

(01:34:56):
I'm not saying this is a legacy type of game
for CJ. Stroud, but he has to have a good
one on Saturday, not only for the Texans to be successful,
but for my own mental health and well being as
battle red Ross. Anything you want to get to seven
one three two one two five seven ninety the phone
number seven one three two one two five seven ninety

(01:35:16):
quick break here on the Matt Thomas Show with Ross.

Speaker 8 (01:35:19):
More Matt Thomas Show with Ross now Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 2 (01:35:37):
I'm twelve eighteen at the PM here on Sports Talk
seven ninety.

Speaker 3 (01:35:40):
It is the Matt Thomas Show with Ross.

Speaker 2 (01:35:43):
Phone lines opening available at sports RV for tweets at
Chris Gordy as well at Connor d McGovern. Excuse me,
Connor d mccovernor and give them a man a follow Hey,
did you get any follows when I told people to
follow you so you can impress your girlfriend?

Speaker 3 (01:35:59):
I got one?

Speaker 2 (01:36:00):
Nice at Connor d McGovern. He's a producer, does a
great job here. Hey, Hey, one is one for one
per day is good. You'll double your followers if you
If you get it, I'll go to my burner account
burner accounts and follow you from those two Connors. So
you know, we got to build you up, trust me,

(01:36:21):
if you're gonna stay in this business. Otherwise you get
never mind.

Speaker 13 (01:36:25):
If you want to follow me at Chris Gordy. Yes,
I did post it a clip from when we had
Justin Erlinder on a fan fan saw that, or we
asked him about his Taco Bell order.

Speaker 3 (01:36:35):
I remember this.

Speaker 13 (01:36:36):
I just I had read that he had some kind
of game day tradition that he would eat the same
order at Taco Bell, and yeah, start.

Speaker 2 (01:36:42):
Cheesy ord crunch is strong. If I haven't had Taco
Bell thankfully this year or in the last several months.
But also we made him wear that that space headset
that we've had for so many years. These things were
relics from up. I believe they were used at the
Apollo eleven landing.

Speaker 13 (01:36:58):
Okay, it was posts. It was post seventeen World Series,
so that sort of been January eighteen, six years ago.

Speaker 2 (01:37:04):
No, that's seven years, seven year. Oh oh god, welcome
to twenty twenty five. Oh my god, I'm not used
to this.

Speaker 13 (01:37:10):
That's what somebody's asked me today, Like, what was Joe
Burrow in Lshues a couple of years ago?

Speaker 2 (01:37:13):
Right, I'm like, Yesnee, six years ago. Oh my gosh, ago,
Joe Burrow is here an FL MVP.

Speaker 3 (01:37:22):
No, I mean, I love him, but it's it's Lamar.

Speaker 2 (01:37:26):
Shall I get the argument for who's the better player
this season? It was Lamar Jackson. Who is more valuable?
It was Josh Allen. But then also you have to
get into the the is the award. You're penalizing Lamar
Jackson for having a good general manager. You're penalizing him
for having somebody that says, hey, let's go out and
get Derek Henry, let's go out. And you know they

(01:37:47):
lose Patrick Queen and other pieces off that defense, and
that defense is still really good, and it's like.

Speaker 3 (01:37:52):
Hey, Lamar's like, hey, it am I fault?

Speaker 2 (01:37:54):
And you know they haven't had a Pro Bowl wide
receiver ever until Zay Flowers this year. And I mean,
what Flowers be a Pro Bowler if it weren't for
Lamar Jackson.

Speaker 3 (01:38:02):
So I get it.

Speaker 2 (01:38:03):
Nobody's whoever wins among those two is going to be
very very deserving. And if you're going with the most
valuable player, if you swap both of them, it would
be Lamar Jackson because he would be on the Bills,
who don't have as much as the Ravens, And then
it wouldn't be Josh Allen.

Speaker 3 (01:38:21):
So it's just it's gonna be a combination.

Speaker 13 (01:38:23):
Should be accommindation of outstanding numbers, statistically, outstanding moments you individually.

Speaker 3 (01:38:29):
Team's success is part of it.

Speaker 2 (01:38:31):
Yeah, if we're going with most valuable players on a
team that sucks, then then it's probably Joe Burrow, right,
as if Joe Burrow isn't carrying them to all those
wins that they had with that defense as poor as
as it has been, the most valuable to his team
was Joe Burrow. The Unfortunately, because things didn't the Chips
didn't fall their way, they still ended up nine to
eight on the season, but didn't make the playoffs because

(01:38:52):
of tie breaks and stuff. They won their last five
games where Joe Burrow was like absolutely on fire the
entire stretch.

Speaker 3 (01:38:59):
They don't make that a an award.

Speaker 13 (01:39:00):
Who's a player you could name that after guy who
just puts up great numbers on a bad.

Speaker 2 (01:39:05):
Team Josh Allen Award now the Dan Marino Award.

Speaker 13 (01:39:12):
Yeah, there you go, the Dan Marino Honorary MVP. You
go back to like the Archie Manning Award.

Speaker 12 (01:39:18):
Yep.

Speaker 2 (01:39:19):
Yeah, those terrible Saints teams putting up great And that's
the thing too, Josh Allen's defense being as bad as
it is allows him to accumulating a crew better statistics.
It was like that when I don't know, we can
go back to some of the the Heisman races of
years past, like teams that have a better defense. For example, Yeah,

(01:39:40):
Vince Young had great numbers in two thousand and five.
They were winning all those games, but like thirty five points,
so he couldn't put up extra touchdowns and extra rushing touchdowns.

Speaker 3 (01:39:48):
To really pad the stats.

Speaker 2 (01:39:49):
You also need an element of a Really, if you're
all with a really good defense and you're winning games
by like twenty eight, then you're not gonna be able
to accumulating a crew all those yards. So it's an
interesting conversation, But to me, I'm guessing Josh Allen is
gonna win Lamar Jackson deserving. And look, if you want
to prove your worth, go ahead and beat each other

(01:40:11):
in the playoffs. That would be a dream matchup along
with whoever ends up playing the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes,
which could be the Texans. If everything falls to chalk,
it would be the Texans. If they won were able
to get past the Los Angeles Chargers despite being a bye,
they would take on the Chiefs and Arrowhead and we
divisional round of the playoffs.

Speaker 3 (01:40:29):
Do you remember preseason? I think CJ. Stroud was like
fifth best MVP.

Speaker 2 (01:40:35):
Yes, he people had him at like top five of
I mean we were ranking quarterbacks like in the offseason,
and I'm like, I don't know, I think I got
him like top seven worst. It's like now I was
pulling up to Sado before you you hopped on Gordy.
There's this guy Ben Baldwhen who looks at EPA, which
is expected points added and the Pro Football Focus rankings,

(01:40:57):
and then he kind of averages those when you blend
those with quarterback rankings.

Speaker 6 (01:41:02):
C J.

Speaker 2 (01:41:02):
Stroud, I believe, is twentieth in football, behind Aaron No No.

Speaker 3 (01:41:10):
Uh with the PFO.

Speaker 2 (01:41:11):
Yeah, behind Aaron Rodgers, behind Jamis Winston, Matt Stafford, Gino Smith,
Russ Wilson, Trevor Lawrence. He did not have the season
that we were expecting this year at all. How much
of that is the offense? How much of that is
the weapons going down with Stefan, Digson, Tank, Dell, and
how much of that is squarely on CJ shroud.

Speaker 3 (01:41:32):
Well, we'll see.

Speaker 13 (01:41:33):
By the way, did you see their their uniforms that
they're gonna wear.

Speaker 3 (01:41:37):
No, how do people care about this? Why? Here's the
official uniforms.

Speaker 2 (01:41:45):
We're going with the blue, the blue and the blue
is from er Valdez picking the uniforms.

Speaker 3 (01:41:50):
It's like, uh, it's but it's almost like a black.
It's so dark.

Speaker 2 (01:41:53):
Yeah, it's black. It's basically it's it's like one shade
off of black with the deepest, deepest heel blue you
could possibly find. The shirt is black. Not yeah, okay,
there we go. We're going with my wife in twenty
twenty five.

Speaker 3 (01:42:09):
Let's do it. I'm down.

Speaker 2 (01:42:10):
Okay, they're wearing their their those do look black. They'd
look black and red. They've looked like Atlanta Falcon. They
look like Atlanta Falcons uniforms with seahawkspont deep steel Liberty
blue is that it's deep steel blue. It's a Liberty white.
And then of course it's battle red.

Speaker 3 (01:42:26):
Well, what do you say this ross?

Speaker 13 (01:42:27):
If they lose on Saturday, we can look back and go,
at least we looked fire.

Speaker 3 (01:42:32):
At least we look good.

Speaker 2 (01:42:36):
I would rather than wear I mean, like frilly pink
daisies and wine. Let's go baby. I'm not big into
a uniform guy. I don't know. It seems like Matt
Thomas is a little bit. I don't know how much
you care about what they're wearing and what they're doing
or something like that. Adam Klan owns like seventy six
jerseys of the Texan, so I assume he's a uniform guy.
But it's not necessarily something I care too much about.

(01:42:57):
I'm more more focused on what's happening on the field.
How do the Texans stopped? Justin Herbert and Quinton Johnson
who's been coming on and Lad mcconkay, he's having a
great rookie campaign.

Speaker 13 (01:43:08):
It's it even more bolsters the argument that the SEC
Championship game last year, Lad mccackey and Brock Bowers were
both hurt.

Speaker 3 (01:43:16):
They were not one hundred percent.

Speaker 13 (01:43:17):
They were struggling, and they lose a close game to Alabama.

Speaker 3 (01:43:21):
But then look at what Brock Bowers A. Ladd mccacky
did in the NFL this year.

Speaker 13 (01:43:24):
Had those guys been healthy, I think Georgia would have
run the table again last.

Speaker 2 (01:43:28):
Wow, look at you just tie it back into the
That was beautiful.

Speaker 3 (01:43:31):
Look what mccacky's eleven undred yards standing.

Speaker 2 (01:43:35):
No, It's like I'm watching Michelangelo chisel a statue right now.
That was that was beautifully put Putting it back to
the SEC.

Speaker 3 (01:43:41):
I to cover, I don't know who's going to cover.

Speaker 13 (01:43:43):
Maybe Kamari Lasser, his Georgia teammate can uh can maybe cover?

Speaker 3 (01:43:47):
Yeah, Kamari Lasley Jr. Or stud from LSU.

Speaker 2 (01:43:50):
Maybe he he was in the Pro Football or the
NFL Players Association All Pro Team, which we didn't mention
before Derek Stingley alongside Patrick certained the second. To me,
he's like the number one lockdown corner in football from Alabama. Yeah,
well basically from his dad though really, I mean he's
got great jeans. If he'd have played at Miami, or

(01:44:11):
if didn't his dad play at Miami, I think Patrick
shout senior or he played in Miami Dolphins. Maybe not
the Miami Hurricanes, I can't remember, but wherever he would
have played, He'd have been fine. I would say, well.

Speaker 13 (01:44:21):
Look if any of Will Anderson Junior from Alabama wants
to want to drop out, Danica Audrey Frossissippi State, Derek
Bardier from Tennessee, any of these guys here plays on Saturday.

Speaker 2 (01:44:32):
My god from Ohio State, Justin Herbert not from the SEC.
He should have been yeah, should have It looks like
he's all right, what did Georgia? All Right, I'm gonna
vomit all this SEC talker. Actually we're gonna get into
some college football playoff, but we got to take a
quick break. Here a couple of segments left for Gordy
Adam Clinton coming at one o'clock. You guys can get in.
We're talking football. We've been talking rockets. Should have been

(01:44:53):
stomp Thompson State in the starting lineup when Jabari Smith
Junior comes back, a lot of different stuff to get
to with you, folks, if you'd like seven three two
one two five seven ninety is the phone number seven
one three two one two five seven nighty twelve thirty

(01:45:21):
three pm here on Sports Talk seven ninety. It is
the Matt Thomas Show with Ross with you until two
o'clock Adam Clinton coming on in a half hour.

Speaker 3 (01:45:31):
You have Chris Gordy here right now.

Speaker 2 (01:45:34):
You on the phones if you'd like at seven one
three two one two five seven ninety seven one three
two one two five seven ninety tomorrow already the time
is upon us. You will have the first playoff matchup,
Notre Dame facing off against Penn State, and then after
that on Friday. Looks like it's going ahead as scheduled,

(01:45:56):
mister Gordy statement from AT and T State and the
good Year Cotton Bowl Classic. We continue to monitor weather reports,
and over the last twenty four hours, the forecast for
later this week has improved according to the National Weather Service.
We've been meeting routinely with city officials, the director of
Transportation for North Texas, and college football playoff. Should the
forecast change, we are prepared for all contingencies. Blah blah

(01:46:19):
blah blah Blah's supposed to kick off on Friday evening
as scheduled.

Speaker 13 (01:46:23):
Yeah, I'm heading up, but I think on Friday morning
around are you gotta be careful? Well, no, they're going
to go up there in a snowstore. Well, no, that's
happening Thursday. Okay, So they're saying Thursday is the worst
day travel. But uh, they were saying snow accumulation. But
from what I've from what I've heard at least this morning,
is the ice isn't going to be as bad as
they initially like they thought ice was going to be

(01:46:44):
a problem. They're saying they don't think the ice is
gonna be a problem because I've been to Dallas about
a decade ago when they had a bad ice was
that in the Super Bowl that there no, this was
this there was a college basketball thing up there. But
what happened was it rained heavily and then all the
water on the roads froze, and then it rained again

(01:47:05):
on top of that, and then that froze. So it
was like so when you're driving on it, they were
like holes in the ice. So you're like it was
the so you could only drive like five miles per
hour on the Interstate and now it was hell yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:47:21):
So it's like if.

Speaker 13 (01:47:22):
They get ahead of this and the accumulation doesn't stay
on the roads and the ice, you know, what do
you call it?

Speaker 3 (01:47:28):
Assault the roads and all that then.

Speaker 2 (01:47:30):
Brind them is what they call they They they're saying
also in that statement, that the roads have been brined,
so they think, and and you know what, up there
in Arlington they deal with ice and that type of
stuff way more than we do here, so they're a
lot better prepared, it says. North Texas highways are already
being brind and plans are to place, Plans are in
place to assure a safe environment for everyone in and

(01:47:50):
around at and T Stadium on game day. And as
someone who has some interest in going, the tickets have
gotten quite affordable overnight with storm coming in it.

Speaker 13 (01:48:01):
As of right now, Dallas supposed to be in the
mid to upper thirties on Friday and then actually a
nice weekend into the forty Saturday and Sunday.

Speaker 2 (01:48:10):
Okay, So so you're saying I should ditch the Matt
Thomas Show and go to the game.

Speaker 3 (01:48:14):
I mean, look, if you think it's safe to go
up there, sure, Now you're really making it tough on me.

Speaker 2 (01:48:22):
All right, we're gonna talk about the matchups in a second,
but just your thoughts overall and how the playoff has
gone executed. First year of the twelve team playoff. Do
you think there's gonna be material change with Boise State
in Arizona State getting the three and four seed. A
lot of people upset about that, a lot of people
talking about the buys and the way that it has gone.
How do you feel the first year of the playoff

(01:48:42):
has gone to this point?

Speaker 13 (01:48:44):
It's fine, I mean I figured this was what's gonna happen, though,
the fact that we've got four teams left and none
of them won their conference championships, I mean, it's a
little shocking, you know.

Speaker 3 (01:48:55):
And the problem is, let's say a Penn State wins.

Speaker 13 (01:48:59):
It's gonna berazy because we're gonna look back and go
in any other circumstance or your Penn State never would
have won a national championship.

Speaker 3 (01:49:05):
Correct, They never even would have been considered. I mean,
I guess it.

Speaker 2 (01:49:08):
It dilutes the product. When you add more teams, you
dilute the It happens in It happened in the NCAA Tournament.

Speaker 13 (01:49:13):
It happens to college basketball all the time. It's who
gets hot the right moment. Yes, so then you have
teams that break through and win a title. It's like, well,
I guess they're the best team in the country. But
it's really not about that. It's about who could play
the best football the right time.

Speaker 3 (01:49:25):
That's about injury like as well.

Speaker 13 (01:49:27):
Yeah, well they look at Georgia if they don't if
they have the starting quarterback. Last week, I think they
put up a better fight against Undre Dame. Yeah, you
don't know that they win, but I would agree with you. You
think it's at least a better fight.

Speaker 2 (01:49:36):
But you have to survive, especially if you're a team
outside the top four, you have to survive the four games.
I mean, Texas has had some injuries there off the
offensive line, but and I'm not saying I'm not making
excuses or anything like that, but you've had guys go
down on other teams as well. Penn State themselves, weren't
they missing a couple of offensive linemen? I think so,

(01:49:56):
I mean, everybody's dealing with it. But where did you
do you think you got the truest champion? Was it
the BCS system or maybe the top four or do
we have to see where things shake out.

Speaker 13 (01:50:06):
As much as people bitch about the BCS, it actually
it wasn't that bad. Like I think we most years
in the BCS format we got the two best.

Speaker 3 (01:50:14):
Teams playing for them. I'd say most years, I would.

Speaker 13 (01:50:16):
I mean, yeah, so people can gripe a complaint about that?
I think the four team playoff I think for the
most part last year was the first time, and it
was the whole Florida State incident when the quarterback and
all that. But I was still more mad about Georgia
because it was like Georgia lost to Alabama and they're like, wy,
Albama's in wild Baba lost the game.

Speaker 3 (01:50:33):
Georgia just got lined their first loss.

Speaker 13 (01:50:35):
Yeah, and they're like, well head to head and it's like, well,
you made this excuse that well, Babma lost to Texas,
but yeah, we'll push that by the wayside. It's like
you get a mulligan on that one, and it's like, well,
so I again, I mean I again. I like the
twelfy format. We need to redo the seating though, I
still think one through twelve you take and because that's
what my whole gripe was. If the committee's going to

(01:50:56):
take the time to rank everybody one through twenty five,
and their last rankings they reveal one through twenty five,
well one through twelve should be one through twelve.

Speaker 2 (01:51:04):
Yeah, one through twelve not well, with automatic bills was.

Speaker 13 (01:51:07):
Seventeen and they get in because they jumped this team, like, no,
it should just be one through twelve.

Speaker 2 (01:51:12):
I agree, that'll never happen. The other conferences will never
agree to it until the SEC and Big ten can
strong arm enough to say, Hi, well, if you don't
agree with this, we're going to cut you Bay Brands.

Speaker 3 (01:51:21):
I mean, I'm sorry too, it's just true.

Speaker 13 (01:51:23):
So yes, But also on the flip side, had had
Dione and Colorado run through the Big twelve this year,
I guarantee Colorado would have been a top three, top
four sex Like you know what I mean, Like it's
you don't have to win your because not all conferences
are created equal. Just because you're on the Mountain West boys,
he doesn't mean you get to move to the front

(01:51:43):
of the line.

Speaker 2 (01:51:44):
Yeah, but I also think, I mean something has to
be said for beating like well, like I know you
were on the side of the Alabama being left out,
some others weren't, like Kirk Karve Street and whoever, because like, yes,
I know you're not for BAMA. I don't expect you
ever to be for BAMA. But it's an interesting conversation.
I'm okay still with like Arizona State and Clemson, I'm
okay with him getting auto bids to the top twelve

(01:52:06):
falling where they may, and if they were out of
the top twelve, put them twelve and eleventh.

Speaker 3 (01:52:10):
Yeah, so.

Speaker 2 (01:52:12):
From that standpoint, and then also I would like to
see a reseating of the playoff as well as we
go along like we see in the NFL.

Speaker 3 (01:52:21):
Aaron chimed in.

Speaker 13 (01:52:22):
He said, listening to the media talk about Ohio State,
sounds like Texas should just skip the game and go
ahead and just you know pack it in.

Speaker 2 (01:52:29):
Yeah, they're by game, they got no just as Rex
Ryan would say, Texas is a bye for Ohio State.
But yeah, onto the matchup. So how do you feel
like this game is going to play out tomorrow? Starting
with the Penn State Notre Dame game.

Speaker 13 (01:52:41):
I've been impressed by Notre Dame. I just you know,
they're physical, man, what's crazy about? And I talked to
I mean, name drop here, let's let's do it. Last Monday,
I spent a couple no here, there's my ESPN for
you and ross. Last Monday I was able to spend
a couple of minutes with Mike Denbrock Notre Dame. Okay,
and he talked to me about he said Chris. Our
defense is so good that our offense doesn't even have

(01:53:03):
to be special. They get a short fields, say bobby'sluk.
We were talking, but it's true. Like, go look at
Riley Leonard's numbers. Because I did a show last week
Ross and somebody asked me. They were like, what's Riley
Leonard got to do this week to get a win?
So you have to throw for like three hundred yards?
And I said, if Riley Leonard throws for three hundred yards,
will be the first time all season that he has

(01:53:23):
thrown for that. Like, go look at Riley Leonards stats
this year. He's not thrown for many yards at all.
In fact, he's only thrown for two hundred yards in
a game four times this year or five times. Damn
what he beat Georgia. He threw for ninety yards against Georgia.
He beat him with his legs. He had fourteen carries
for eighty yards. The affags close to six yards per

(01:53:43):
carry as a quarterback. So yeah, I just I like
this Notre Dame team. They're opportunistic defensively, they're stout, they're physical,
and then they do enough on offense.

Speaker 3 (01:53:55):
Penn State. I just I don't know. Man, maybe it's
just a James Franklin.

Speaker 13 (01:53:58):
Thing and he's got thing going against him that he's
he's what now, like like one in twenty against top
ten teams in the last ten years.

Speaker 2 (01:54:06):
Like he just never beats something. That's why it's hard
to believe in him. Yeah, so I don't know. I
would skew towards the Irish and Coudes to Marcus Freeman.

Speaker 13 (01:54:13):
I will say, people berating Brian Kelly for late and
I'm like, Brian Kelly was the most successful Notre Dame
coach in the last forty years. Basically like they they
quickly forget how bad Charlie Weiss was and Tyrone Willingham
and all these guys. But Marcus Freeman inherited a loaded
deck and he sustained it. He's recruiting very well. They've

(01:54:34):
added through the portal, they get Ridley Leonard.

Speaker 3 (01:54:35):
From, They've opened La check. Yeah.

Speaker 13 (01:54:39):
So he's done a great job of sustaining what Brian
Kelly built. Because I asked somebody who was like complain
about Brian Kelly, I said, so flip it. If Brian
Kelly doesn't leave Nore Dame is Notre Dame probably in
the same spot like they're probably still winning at a
high level and making the twelve team playoffs.

Speaker 2 (01:54:53):
I would I would think so. I would think so
as well. And then quickly, you know what, when we
come back, Hey, we come back the Longhorns and Ohio State.
Please give me some good news, Chris Gordy after this
short break on The Matt Thomas Show with Ross, Matt
has eye trouble.

Speaker 8 (01:55:13):
He's having trouble seeing Dallas win anything anytime soon.

Speaker 2 (01:55:18):
Sorry about that, Friends to the North.

Speaker 1 (01:55:20):
Back to The Matt Thomas Show.

Speaker 2 (01:55:36):
Twelve four to eight and the PM here on Sports
Talk seven Nighty, Welcome back Ross Viria with you. It
is the Matt Thomas Show with Ross. Matt is out
doing fancy Matt things. He might even be in the
air now, I'm not sure. Traveling with the Houston Rockets.
They won last night over the Washington Wizards. Big game
coming up tomorrow here on Sports Talk seven ninety seven

(01:55:58):
o'clock start Rocket taking on the Memphis Grizzlies. Whoever wins
that game will be alone in second place where the
Rockets are now. But a little bit more cushion for
the grizz would be nice. They play them two out
of their three next games. That'll be a six o'clock
Rockets launch pad here on Sports Talk seven ninety with
yours truly. Seven one three two point two five, seven

(01:56:20):
ninety is the phone number if you'd like to get in.
Seven to one three two one two five, seven ninety.
All right, take it easy on m Gordy. Can my
Longhorns beat the Ohio State Buckeyes to not tomorrow Friday?

Speaker 3 (01:56:34):
Yeah? I think so.

Speaker 13 (01:56:35):
This will be This will be the toughest defense that
Ohio State has faced all year in Texas. And you know,
I argued argue for a good bit of the season.
Do Texas avoid some of the better teams in the
SEC this year because of scheduling? Sure, but they can't
do anything about that. All you can do is go
out and play what's in front of you. And you know,

(01:56:56):
it gets to a certain point in the season when
you've played eight to nine ten games and you still
right now number one in most defensive categories, it means
you're doing something special.

Speaker 3 (01:57:03):
It means that you really are good, and so you know,
it's it's kind of weird.

Speaker 13 (01:57:08):
Arizona State game, like they were up twenty four to
eight going to the fourth quarter.

Speaker 3 (01:57:11):
They should have put that game away. They didn't. Quin
you weres with in that game, the defense was on
the field too much.

Speaker 13 (01:57:17):
Yeah, and Skataboo just I mean, he got hot man
and that's a he's a hell of a warrior and
that kid is special and so but by the same realm,
you got to give credit to Texas. On a fourth
and thirteen, quin yours digs deep. Oh my god, it
makes an amazing throw, and they give.

Speaker 2 (01:57:33):
Those terrifying moments of me watching Texas football the fourth
and thirteen like, all right, this thing's over. Let's go see.
Let's see when your throw a pick. Oh my god,
it's a touchdown. We're going to second overtime. And then boom,
first play they had another touch that was insane.

Speaker 13 (01:57:46):
And so what I caution everybody on is like, don't
live too much in the moment. I get everybody. We
always want to do A A plus B equal C. Like, well,
High of State dominated Tennessee and then they dominate Oregon,
so clear that they're just gonna.

Speaker 3 (01:58:00):
Keep this going.

Speaker 13 (01:58:01):
Yeah, or we see the Ohio state that showed up
November thirtieth against Michigan lost thirteen to ten at home,
Like that's still in there somewhere, so they you know,
like in other words, just because they've won in dominant
fashion last two games does not mean they're gonna keep
doing this for two more.

Speaker 2 (01:58:15):
Games, I think especially, Yeah, there can be a little
bit of recency bias. And I mentioned this when the
spread came out when it was like six and a half.
You did have Texas struggle against Arizona State. Also, the
defense was on the field. I can go pull it
back up, but I'm fairly certain I'm right on this.
I think it was ninety seven plays run by Arizona
State and sixty run by Texas, and they'd made a

(01:58:36):
big fourth down stop at one point late in that game.
That's when they are in the third quarter of the game,
in the second half, and that's when the literally the
next play they fumble the snap and there's a safety.

Speaker 3 (01:58:47):
Then the defense has to come back on.

Speaker 2 (01:58:48):
The field after another long drive drive and another fourth
down stop. It was the defense got worn down in
that game. And yeah, campscattab was a part of that,
as he would.

Speaker 3 (01:58:57):
He got a lot.

Speaker 2 (01:58:57):
There's a reason why he was so much more successful
in that second half than he was in the first
and also he had like fifty five.

Speaker 3 (01:59:04):
Touches in that game or something like that.

Speaker 2 (01:59:06):
And I contend that's that that that that pacity throw
is grossly underthrown and it's not like he was out
there throwing dimes or something like that. But anyways, I digress.
The defense got worn out. Yeah, and if the and
that's why it's on the running game to me when
contraveon Wisner, I mean, he's had so many good games
this year, but the run game has not been there recently.

(01:59:27):
Eighteen carries for forty five yards in that game. That's
not going to get it done. Against Ohio State, Yeah,
we called him Tray. Those close to him we called
him Trey Weisner. It's easier to say, yeah, well that's
that was like mid season. They were like yeah Trey.
I was like, oh, I guess no, he was outstanding.

Speaker 13 (01:59:42):
I mean gets Kentucky, he ran for what one fifty
against A and M. It was close to two hundred
he ran for but you know, against Club City got
over the one hundred yard mark. But yeah, I think
Georgia and then Arizona State did a good job of
saying we want to take him away and forced Quinn,
you weres to throw the football, but it worked out.
I mean Quinn had a three hundred yard passing in

(02:00:02):
three touchdowns. Matthew Golden has really emerged as kind of
that go to threat. You know, Silas Bolden's had his moments.
I mean they've had They've had guys look good at
Gunner Helm. I mean, god arguably one of the best
tight ends of the country for a guy who's fromer
walk On. So I think this Ross I think, I
think Texas playing close games makes them more battle tested.

Speaker 3 (02:00:24):
Oh I like this. I mean I like this a lot.

Speaker 13 (02:00:27):
You know, they they I think blowing that seton that
fourth quarter against Arizona State makes them go, we cannot
do that again. We've got to put good teams away
and go look at how the state's schedule. Where have
they really been tested in a close game. I mean
the Michigan one, they crepped themselves. They lost the game,
they crepped themselves. So the you know, I mean, like

(02:00:48):
outside of that Michigan it's great, you had to dumb
because they didn't throw the football to their stud wide receivers.

Speaker 3 (02:00:55):
So I mean that's what it comes down to.

Speaker 13 (02:00:57):
Ken mccouba and and Johnny Barron and the guys can make.

Speaker 2 (02:01:00):
Cover, Yes they can, but's also do Yeah, it'll be
it'll be interesting, I think to me, the key is
the run game. As you said, we know that defenses
are going to key in on that run game. They're
going to try to put the ball in Quinn were
his hands. He proved he can do it, at least
in overtime. He did have a bad pick at the
end of that game on second and four as well.
You also had the miskicks from Bird Auburn that extended

(02:01:24):
that game to where we hadn't even been talking about overtime.
We wouldn't even have seen those great moments from Quinn
ewers to where I mean that was pulling a rabbit
out of the hat fourth and thirteen, needing a touchdown,
getting it, and then still winning that game.

Speaker 3 (02:01:37):
It very well could be Texas could be.

Speaker 2 (02:01:39):
Out of this one already, and one could argue should
be out of this already.

Speaker 13 (02:01:43):
Yeah, and you know turnover margin is big. Will Howard
does have nine interceptions on the ear.

Speaker 2 (02:01:48):
I like that.

Speaker 13 (02:01:49):
I mean, I could make it as simple as whoever
wins the turnover battle is going to win this game.
But Texas lost a turnover battlegainst Arizona State and still
found a way to win overtime.

Speaker 2 (02:01:57):
Yeah, so you're making me feel better. You have a
final score prediction on this one. Oh, I mean I
think it's I think there's gonna be points scored. I
think it's gonna be something like I think thirtytle is
a round the low sixties. I think I'll go pull
it back up fifty three and a half. That seems
kind of low but could be low scoring. Actually spread

(02:02:19):
down a five and a half.

Speaker 13 (02:02:20):
Now, Yeah, thirty twenty seven something like that feels like thirty.

Speaker 2 (02:02:24):
To twenty seven. Texas longhorns onto the final Bird Auburn
kicks the game winner. In mindet, that'd be great. That'd
be a good redemption time for Bird. Steve Sarkisian, don't
go anywhere near him if he's got a last second
field goal this time, just let him be. And also
Arizona State athletic trainers get out of his way when
he's trying to.

Speaker 3 (02:02:43):
Kick the ball.

Speaker 2 (02:02:45):
But to me, if Texas wins this game, they're winning
the national championship. Agree or disagree, Yeah, I think whoever
wins this game is going to win the national team.
The winner of this game is on paper better than
Notre Dame in Penn State.

Speaker 3 (02:02:56):
I think I tend to agree with that. Seat.

Speaker 13 (02:02:59):
No, we don't want to an all Big Ten championship
Ohio State, Ohio State and Penn State the rematch.

Speaker 2 (02:03:05):
That'd be kind of funny because I don't care. I
guess I would root for Penn State in that instance,
just because it would be funny because they beat them
in the Big Ten Championship and then to lose to
them for the national Championship and they're like, wait a minute,
they're national champs, we.

Speaker 3 (02:03:17):
Meet them for the Big Ten Championship game. This isn't right.
I guess I didn't think of that.

Speaker 13 (02:03:21):
So whoever wins of these four remaining teams, none of
these coaches have won a national championship before Rye, So.

Speaker 3 (02:03:26):
We're gonna have a we're gonna usher in a new era.
Well you have.

Speaker 2 (02:03:32):
Well, Steve Sarkysan took care Dabbo. Jimbo's not in the.

Speaker 13 (02:03:36):
Game, Okay, So Dabo's out. Jim Yeah, Jimbo's unemployed. Mac
Brown is not unemployed. Yes, So I'm just trying to
think of the coaches that won championships. Yeah, no, Saban
took up a big part of those.

Speaker 3 (02:03:49):
Yes, yes he did.

Speaker 2 (02:03:50):
And Ojeron available, Yeah, he is very much available. All Right,
we're gonna go ahead and take a break. Gordy, thanks
for hanging out man. Yeah, appreciate a couple of hours
with Chris Gordy. Those are in the books coming up.
Will he show up on time or is he caught
an air quote traffic? We shall see. Adam Clanton supposed
to join here on the one o'clock hour here on

(02:04:12):
Sports Talk seven ninety It is the Matt Thomas Show
with Ross. You can also get in on anything you'd
like to at seven one three two, one two five
seven ninety seven one three, two, one two five seven
ninety hour. Number four of the Show with Adam Clanton.

Speaker 3 (02:04:25):
Is next.

Speaker 1 (02:04:28):
Lunchtimers. This is the Matt Thomas Show.

Speaker 2 (02:04:32):
Our number four of the Matt Thomas Show with Ross
without Matt Thomas. Ross very out with you. Adam Clanton,
we'll see when he shows up. He's supposed to be
here very soon. I do appreciate him and making the
extra time. He'll be on with Adam Wexer on the

(02:04:53):
A Team two pm to six pm here on Sports
Talk seven ninety Matt Thomas is out traveling with the
Houston Rockets.

Speaker 3 (02:05:01):
They won last night over.

Speaker 2 (02:05:02):
The Washington Wizards, and they will take on the Memphis
Grizzlies and a big game here on Sports Talk seven
out of your home for your home teams. Seven o'clock
tip tomorrow, six o'clock Rockets launch pad. I swear to
you almost I said Astros on deck. My goodness, Rockets
launch pad. That'll be coming up. Speaking of which, in
a couple of weeks, we'll have some interesting news for

(02:05:24):
you on the Astros fan Fest, so make sure you
stay tuned for that. And oh, by the way, the
Crawford Box Cast recorded an episode yesterday with Chris Gordy.
You can find it for free on the iHeartRadio app.
As we're now, as Gordy reminded me yesterday, it's like
five weeks from pitchers and catchers reporting. Things are already
heating up. As far as the twenty twenty five campaign

(02:05:46):
getting underway for your Houston Astros. What's gonna happen with
Alex Bregman, Well, that remains to be seen. Phone lines
open and available for you at seven three two one
two five, seven, ninety seven to one three two one
two five. I have seven ninety tweets at sports r
V and now at Adam Clanton as well. If you'd

(02:06:06):
like to get in there, what's ubody and do us
all a favor? Follow Connor d mcgovernn so he can
impress his girlfriend with how many followers he has?

Speaker 17 (02:06:14):
What do I hear earlier that you only got him
one follower with Michelle? I think it was four more
now or three or four?

Speaker 3 (02:06:20):
I don't know. We're up to Connor? How are we looking?
I think we're at four?

Speaker 11 (02:06:23):
Yes, look at that.

Speaker 3 (02:06:23):
Let's go.

Speaker 2 (02:06:24):
Well, see I don't have that Twitter cloud like Adam
Clanton does, so maybe you should find somebody with some
real cloud on Twitter, because it ain't gonna be me.

Speaker 3 (02:06:30):
Connor. I'm sorry. I do have to deeply apologize.

Speaker 2 (02:06:34):
My Twitter accounts is dead and buried. Oh effectively, I'm
I was gonna say self.

Speaker 17 (02:06:40):
There's two franchises in this city that pay attention to
what I tweet. One of them has Rabbity ears and
the other one doesn't. Okay, well I'll just leave it
at that.

Speaker 3 (02:06:52):
Thank you, Adam.

Speaker 2 (02:06:53):
I appreciate you being here, so you know I would
have had this discussion with you off air.

Speaker 3 (02:06:57):
But I didn't know where.

Speaker 2 (02:06:58):
We got a lot of plans fun go here right now.
As far as the carousel of topics, we've been talking
about the Texans, how important this game is for CJ.
Stroudo is pulling up some advanced metrics and like they have.

Speaker 6 (02:07:10):
C D.

Speaker 2 (02:07:10):
Shauwd is basically like not even a top ten quarterback
at this point in terms of things like EPA, which
I know your co host Adam Wexer likes Pro Football
Focus rankings, which I like as well, the blending of those.

Speaker 3 (02:07:21):
There's a guy named Ben Baldwin who puts them out.
They have CJ.

Speaker 2 (02:07:23):
Shroud as the twentieth just based on those numbers, twentieth
best quarterback, I mean behind guys like Kyler Murray, Trevor Lawrence,
Russell Wilson, Geno Smith, and I mean we spent a
lot of this offseason talking about him being like in
the fringe of a top five type of quarterback, and.

Speaker 17 (02:07:41):
Fringe my co host in it. My co host had
him in the Hall of Fame.

Speaker 2 (02:07:46):
Okay, well he can still get to the Hall of Fame.
He can still get his gold jacket. But other teams
deal with bad offensive lines, other teams deal with not
having a good receiving corps. You still got Nico Collins,
who to me is a top ten guy for talking
about fringe French, top five guy in the league.

Speaker 3 (02:08:04):
What is going on and how important?

Speaker 2 (02:08:07):
And like I said, I don't want to be like
hot take host guy, like this is CJ. Shroud's legacy
is on the line. It's a damn important game on Saturday.

Speaker 17 (02:08:16):
Well, I, you know, let's take the hot take part
portion first, because yet just yesterday we were talking about
this and I said, well, you know if because what
we were talking about was was like guys like Trevor
Lawrence that got paid and shouldn't have in the division,
guys that basically got their money and the franchise that

(02:08:37):
gave it to him is already second guessing it. And
I wasn't saying that was gonna be CJ. But I
was saying, year three next year, regardless of what happens
on Saturday, whether you think they're gonna win or lose,
you think they're a bye week or you know whatever,
you think they're gonna win the super Bowl this year
with some miraculous run you're going if you're the Texans,
whoever's in charge, whoever's either currently in charge or is

(02:08:58):
going to be in charge later depending on how things go.

Speaker 3 (02:09:01):
But you're gonna be keeping an eye on CJ.

Speaker 17 (02:09:03):
Stroud just to kind of see, all right, how much
of year two was a sophomore slump? Was the offensive
line or was him really regressing? I don't think we're
getting there. That would be a super hot take. Well,
you probably don't want to invest in CJ. Stroud.

Speaker 3 (02:09:16):
I'm just saying.

Speaker 17 (02:09:18):
Yet, there's a lot of buyer's remorse out there in
the NFL, and you don't want to be that team.
I don't think the Texans even have to consider that,
but you always kind of have to consider that at
that position because it's the most important one in sports,
and this is a franchise that really this is probably
the first time they can say they had a franchise quarterback.
As Deshaun Watson's career continues too, like a piece of

(02:09:40):
fruit in the Houston Sun in July.

Speaker 2 (02:09:42):
There was a window there where you would have called
Deshaun Watson the franchise quarterback.

Speaker 3 (02:09:46):
Only in Houston. Then Jackieast, No, I wouldn't say, only
in Houston.

Speaker 2 (02:09:50):
You think his first year in Cleveland was worth saying, Ah,
this is.

Speaker 3 (02:09:54):
Only in Houston.

Speaker 2 (02:09:55):
I thought you were saying only in Houston did people
say he was a franchise quarterback. I think he was
nationally thought of as a friend choice quarterback when he
was doing his thing in with the Texans. Is that
what we're saying.

Speaker 3 (02:10:04):
Yeah, I'm saying it.

Speaker 17 (02:10:05):
Only those thoughts quickly went away once he put on Texans.

Speaker 3 (02:10:10):
That's okay.

Speaker 2 (02:10:11):
Yeah, there was a time here, I mean, yeah, everybody
thought he was a franchise quarterback and then.

Speaker 17 (02:10:16):
Josh Allen the playoffs had the crazy move or the
defenders ran into each other, and then that was he threw.

Speaker 2 (02:10:22):
For forty eight hundred yards and led the entire league
in passing yards. And was that the year they went
four and twelve as well?

Speaker 17 (02:10:29):
Yeah, so okay, there's another thing that Wex would point out.
But it was fascinating that year, and he would come
in here every week just wanting to put his head
through the wall because he's like, how is DeShawn having
one of the greatest individual statistical seasons a quarterback has
ever had, not just the basic numbers, the metric numbers,
the advanced numbers, and they've got four wins, and you

(02:10:49):
got JJ Watt walking off the field, and I'm like, yes, sorry,
we sucked.

Speaker 3 (02:10:53):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (02:10:53):
I think, well, one of the ways that you one
of a very easy, not very easy way, but one
of the good ways to become the the leader in
the NFL in passing yards to have a bad defense.

Speaker 3 (02:11:03):
I mean, Drew Brees's doing it for years.

Speaker 2 (02:11:05):
You're Matt Stafford when he was having five thousand yard seasons,
those Lions defenses were terrible. So it kind of goes
hand in hand and actually kind of ties into the
the MVP conversation I was having earlier with Chris Gordy
about like, yeah, Josh Allens' stats are insane in his
rushing yards and all that type of stuff, Like if
they had a better defense, he wouldn't be racking up

(02:11:26):
as many touchdowns, as many yards. He would be on
ice in the fourth quarter of some of these games.
And same thing for example, Joe Burrow, Joe Burrow setting
all these records with all these touchdowns he's throwing, Like
if the Bengals could stop anybody Joe Burrow. That's not
to take away from his Greatness or Josh Allens or
Lamar whoever else is. It kind of takes two to
tango in some way to where often teams with like

(02:11:48):
the best defense in football don't need their quarterbacks to
go out there and score sixty touchdowns.

Speaker 17 (02:11:53):
See the Chicago Bears in nineteen eighty five, although they
did have a very good running back.

Speaker 3 (02:11:56):
Yeah, but it was a different thing too. It was
a running game.

Speaker 2 (02:11:59):
Look, Lamar Jackson, Hey, I'm just gonna hand it off
to Derek Henry twenty five times and we're gonna be good.

Speaker 17 (02:12:03):
I heard you and Gordy talking about the MVP debate,
and I do think there's something to this. And I've
kind of said this for a few weeks now. Is
the MVP race between two horses heated up?

Speaker 3 (02:12:13):
You know the narratives that are already out there.

Speaker 17 (02:12:15):
Thank god, Ramona Shelburne doesn't have a vote in the
NFL's MVP race because we know that she votes based
on narrative, her words, not mine. Uh yeah, but people,
what I was gonna say is, I do think and
I continue to think that, and this will kind of build.
I don't know when the votes have to be cast
and all that kind of stuff. I think Lamar Jackson

(02:12:36):
unfairly is going to be penalized for getting Derreck Henry
this year.

Speaker 2 (02:12:40):
Right, which is dumb. We're sorry, Lamar, you have a
good GM who gets you good players.

Speaker 3 (02:12:44):
You're not V.

Speaker 17 (02:12:45):
You know what people are gonna say when they're arguing
Josh Allen. On top of that, they're gonna say, yeah,
and Josh Allen lost to Von Diggs in the same offseason, right,
and they're gonna say, look at what he did with
lesser talent.

Speaker 2 (02:12:57):
I don't know, Mark Cooper is really good, but they
don't have a number one guy. Amari Cooper not much.
Dalton k and Kate has been terrible as somebody who
owned him on his fantasy team all year long. I
can relate. So it's it's an interesting conversation and to
me kind of I know I've been crushed for this.

Speaker 3 (02:13:17):
You have to have an opinion. I can argue for
multiple people.

Speaker 6 (02:13:20):
My vote.

Speaker 2 (02:13:21):
I think my vote would be if we're taking the
how do you take the V out of MVP? But
the best player I've seen on the field this year
is Lamar Jackson.

Speaker 17 (02:13:30):
That's just because you watched on Christmas. Well, I watched
a lot this year. You know what's funny about the
NFL versus the NBA in this debate, too, is that
they will always go with the team that won more games.

Speaker 2 (02:13:43):
That's automatically the guy that gets it.

Speaker 17 (02:13:45):
Well, unless, of course, Russell Westbrook averages a triple double
and then don't get that guy the MVP from the
sixth seed, when they would never do that.

Speaker 2 (02:13:53):
For James Harden, well, he also did something they hadn't
been done since Oscar Roberts Shars Black and White kicked
by hard the team in the first round.

Speaker 3 (02:14:01):
Voters cared.

Speaker 17 (02:14:02):
The voters cared, all right, I don't know why I
still stump for Harden Sometimes I hate it.

Speaker 3 (02:14:06):
Yeah, I thought you hated him. I should absolutely hate
James Hardy.

Speaker 2 (02:14:12):
He should. They would have won the championship in eighteen,
and he'd be viewed a lot differently in this town.
If Chris Paul's hamstring could have held up if.

Speaker 3 (02:14:19):
He which it did not.

Speaker 2 (02:14:20):
If they win that title in eighteen over the greatest
team of all time? Who those eighteen Warriors go? Look
google a list greatest NBA teams of all time. They're
gonna be in the top ten. Look at every one
of those lists, the eighteen team, the eighteen Warriors.

Speaker 17 (02:14:34):
Yeah, that's why I think it's funny when people are like, oh, well,
if the Rockets had won that series, it's not they
would have beaten Lebron could beaten.

Speaker 3 (02:14:41):
They would have beaten them.

Speaker 17 (02:14:42):
Without Chris, they probably would have swept them, just because
I mean, look, Lebron would have averaged like forty fifteen
and fifteen in that series, but it wouldn't have been.

Speaker 2 (02:14:49):
Enough sixty five win Rockets team.

Speaker 17 (02:14:51):
But okay, so if if they win that title, does
he still put on his fat suit and force his
way out of town?

Speaker 3 (02:14:57):
I don't know, that's my question. Don't ask me to
get James Harden's head. I don't think.

Speaker 17 (02:15:02):
I think you and I should have like a competition
as to who's more bitter about that rocket.

Speaker 3 (02:15:06):
See, they're asking me to predict.

Speaker 2 (02:15:07):
A guy who went in front of a bunch of
children in China called Darryl Moriy a liar.

Speaker 3 (02:15:12):
Yeah multiple times, and he reiterated, these kids are like, oh,
James Harden is here. Look, he has a great beard,
he plays basketball. He's like Darryl moriy is a liar.

Speaker 2 (02:15:20):
And they're like, oh, he's like Blake Darryl moriy and
they're like, who's Darryl Moury, Like, okay, that was mister
American basketball man.

Speaker 3 (02:15:28):
Can you make a three point shot please?

Speaker 17 (02:15:30):
I've had interesting conversations with Darryl about that off air
that are just fascinating.

Speaker 2 (02:15:36):
It was unfair the way that he treated me in
those circumstances. And go get go in the other room
and get on a line so we could do this right.
I think the children should not should have been sheltered
from those type of comments.

Speaker 3 (02:15:48):
All right, we're gonna take a quick break. Real, it's
so good.

Speaker 2 (02:15:51):
We're gonna take a quick break here on the bat
tub of a show with Ross. Adam Planton is here
hanging out. We're talking. I don't know, did you hear that.
We're talking rockets, We're talking at MVP. We're talking Astros
Texans in the playoffs.

Speaker 3 (02:16:02):
This weekend is shoe J.

Speaker 2 (02:16:04):
Stroud's legacy on the line seven one, three, two five
seven anything you guys want to get to with you
until two o'clock on the Matt Thomas Show with Ross
Without Matt Thomas.

Speaker 8 (02:16:15):
Matton Ross returned return on Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 2 (02:16:20):
Okay, Derek you right, yeah, I was born righty, Nick.
Let's go man, Derek Diigler demo, you got the touch.

Speaker 3 (02:16:27):
Take seven, kid, you got the touch, You got the power.

Speaker 2 (02:16:52):
Going back to the Matt Thomas Show, Don't Talk.

Speaker 3 (02:17:01):
Away, John c Riley Air running.

Speaker 2 (02:17:07):
Here we go, straight break.

Speaker 3 (02:17:15):
Where's the line's coming?

Speaker 4 (02:17:19):
Mine? You got.

Speaker 18 (02:17:27):
You?

Speaker 2 (02:17:27):
Take the basses? Taken away from the vocal? Not really,
maybe it sounds bounced, man, It's definitely taken away from
my vocal.

Speaker 4 (02:17:38):
Just to take the base town and bring up the vocal. Okay,
let's do it.

Speaker 6 (02:17:41):
You heard him.

Speaker 3 (02:17:42):
Okay, let's do it. Nick, you heard him.

Speaker 17 (02:17:44):
I like I was watching Connor's face, you know, seeing
he wasn't born when that came out in nineteen ninety seven,
and I'm so curious. Now, Connor, have you seen Boogie Nights?
That's oh come on man, come on, plastic put it
on a realist. Watch it like tonight.

Speaker 2 (02:17:59):
It's basically Paul Thomas Anderson's ode to number one the
seventies porn industry and number two to Martin Martin Scorsese.
It's very Scorsese like in the way that it's shot
and paced and stuff, like a shot called when you
do the one tracking cam? Is that is that what
it's called? Though, yes, I've got tracking shot. The steady
caam is the cam that shot it is also called

(02:18:19):
the steady camp shot. Now it starts off the thing,
it flips around, It starts on a crane that goes
into a steady camp shot to start. There has to
be documentaries about this film that I haven't seen.

Speaker 3 (02:18:30):
Probably.

Speaker 2 (02:18:31):
I only bring it up a because I'm hosting a
show with you right now.

Speaker 3 (02:18:34):
Hi, okay, Hi, my name is Ross's is Adam Clinton.

Speaker 11 (02:18:37):
This is what we do.

Speaker 3 (02:18:38):
This is a thing between us nights.

Speaker 1 (02:18:41):
So here we are.

Speaker 17 (02:18:42):
So when you were producing my one hour, whenever the
plant experience, we shall find that intro in the system
that's probably in there. We might and uh and just
for whatever reason, you would start playing soundbites from this movie.

Speaker 2 (02:18:55):
For whatever reason, come on, idea. We would talk about
the movie and then I would play bits from it.
That's what a good producer does. Connor knows that I was.

Speaker 17 (02:19:04):
Talking to him break and I was like, you know,
I've sat in with you a few times now, and
it's been a while since we've you know, started playing
Boogie Knight's clips.

Speaker 2 (02:19:12):
But the thing is, I actually have a reason to
bring this up.

Speaker 3 (02:19:14):
So okay, here we go.

Speaker 17 (02:19:15):
Did you hear Mark Wahlberg recently made a statement about it.
He's very religious now all of a sudden, Oh really,
Like I think he fir was.

Speaker 3 (02:19:23):
I think he was.

Speaker 17 (02:19:24):
He grew up Catholic or whatever. But I think like
he maybe regrets that role now that he has children
and he's having to explain to them, Oh, really, why
dad made those decisions as an actor when he was younger, and.

Speaker 3 (02:19:37):
Of course great film was one of the great directors
of all time.

Speaker 17 (02:19:39):
Okay, but again you've heard you know women who get
a little bit older and they regret maybe okay, some
of the things they did that their children can now see.

Speaker 3 (02:19:49):
Correct.

Speaker 2 (02:19:49):
Well, there's a scene at the very end of that
film that maybe, uh.

Speaker 3 (02:19:52):
It's prosthetic. They don't know that. Tell him it's a prosthetic.

Speaker 2 (02:19:57):
Kids, if they come and ask you what's going on
in that scene?

Speaker 3 (02:20:01):
The kids turned the film all over. You watch that movie,
it's exactly. It's rated R.

Speaker 2 (02:20:06):
When you reach of age, we can talk about it,
and it was a prosthetic. How about Burt Reynolds, though,
may he rest, may he Hademy Award for for that
Best Supporting Actor. I believe correct, yes, And I also
think there's a funny story from that scene where Paul
Thomas Anderson, the director. You know, of course Mark Wahlberg
had the music background with Funky Bunch and he now

(02:20:28):
like completely acts like never happened. So Mark Wahlberg tries
to do bad singing what he was trying to do
in the takes, and Paul Thomas Sanders is like, no,
I want you to sing like like as you think
you're doing good singing. So the Mark Wilber's like, well,
I guess I'm a bad singer because he kept telling
me to sing my best. But he's a great rapper, right,
So that's him like singing at his best and it's bad.

Speaker 3 (02:20:50):
And that's what Paul Thomas Anders I wanted to bring
out of that scene.

Speaker 17 (02:20:52):
Next segment, we have Connor play good Vibrations to come back,
I would assume, yeah, okay.

Speaker 2 (02:20:58):
And then you can you can go to full Mark
Wahlberg voice for the rest of the show would be great,
geez spectacular stuff. Rough Okay, clearly it's Adam and Ross together,
my goodness. The Matt Thomas Show with Ross seven to
one three. I'm having a great time. I'm just keeping
us authentic seven one three, two, one two five seven
nine in our radio relationship phone numbers? What just keeping

(02:21:20):
us authentic? Now you're making a reference remembering our roots.

Speaker 3 (02:21:23):
These are our roots.

Speaker 2 (02:21:24):
We're keeping it real as the kids say, as they
might say, or they used to say. No, I don't
think the kids are saying, what's keeping it buck? That's
what the kids would say, right. What's been the number
one topic that you and Gordy discussed today? Besides the
SEC because Gordy was sitting in here, we talked some Texans.
We also talked a lot of rockets like Boogie Knights
is my SEC.

Speaker 3 (02:21:42):
If I were going, I got you?

Speaker 2 (02:21:43):
You know, yeah, he really lights up you get Gordy
engaged when we talk a little college football.

Speaker 17 (02:21:47):
He was literally, well, there's a one time in the
SEC where at Orgeron took over as an interim coach
and they want it's like.

Speaker 2 (02:21:52):
Derek Pardett SUC Will Anderson Junior SEC.

Speaker 3 (02:21:55):
It's so awesome.

Speaker 2 (02:21:56):
Like he was bringing up all these SEC players that
were in the NFL playoffs and stuff like that. That's
what he does. That's his Niche.

Speaker 17 (02:22:01):
I feel like he mumbles those three letters in his sleep.
Everything he probably does. He would have to ask his wife. Yeah,
he's locked on.

Speaker 11 (02:22:10):
He is.

Speaker 2 (02:22:10):
He is absolutely locked on. Find him at Chris Cory
on the Twitter verse. So one of the things that
we did talk about and Biscuit, who I appreciated call
me last night on the postgame show. Uh, we've been
talking about the Rockets their win last night, and Matt
Thomas made a gut feeling on Tuesday that I didn't
think was super spicy.

Speaker 3 (02:22:29):
But I wonder if it's going to happen.

Speaker 2 (02:22:33):
When Jabari Smith Junior comes back and is healthy, is
a men Thompson still going to be in the Rockets
starting all line up?

Speaker 17 (02:22:45):
Okay, what you have to do to truly answer that
exact question, in my opinion, is you have to ask yourself. Well,
first of all, you have to see a stronger sample size,
or not a stronger sample size so much as just
a bigger sample size. But I guess, especially against good teams, well,
in light of last night, it would it actually would
need to be a stronger sample size since the Wizard suck.

(02:23:06):
Did you see some random Wizard fan getting after Matt
Thomas last night.

Speaker 3 (02:23:11):
That was weird.

Speaker 17 (02:23:11):
I was like, I didn't even know these people existed
by the time the conversation was done for him who Matt, No.

Speaker 2 (02:23:16):
Was happy for the Wizard feel like there's a wizardel
happy for the Wizard's organization. There's a guy stumping for
them on Twitter for some reason. Stupidly.

Speaker 17 (02:23:23):
Yeah, he was like, well, y'all talking mess y'all should
have done your homework in the first quarter as they
were up by ten, Let's see how this goes, chump
and they lost by twenty three.

Speaker 2 (02:23:32):
By the end of the night, he had blocked both
Matt and myself.

Speaker 3 (02:23:35):
And deleted his original tweet.

Speaker 17 (02:23:36):
I believe, yeah, that the Internet doesn't forget it. Does
my screen grab? Oh you scream grabbed it. I did
a video actually Matt's quote tweet of his original tweet
got you. Then me clicking on his tweet where it
shows that it's been deleted, and I just said, you know,
he learned a valuable FAFO lesson.

Speaker 2 (02:23:57):
Explain that what is that it's it's a fart around
and find out.

Speaker 3 (02:24:01):
Okay.

Speaker 11 (02:24:01):
I like that.

Speaker 17 (02:24:02):
I like the way to answer your question, like how
I'm not going to gauge this based on a blowout
went over the Wizards.

Speaker 3 (02:24:11):
You shouldn't. It's like a two.

Speaker 2 (02:24:12):
I was comparing him to a tune up against like
Southeastern Louisiana.

Speaker 3 (02:24:15):
You just want to go out there.

Speaker 17 (02:24:17):
Well, listen, everybody going Tomorrow night is an actual true test. Ay,
it's the Grizzlies, b it's on the road and see
you know, Amn Thompson. The problem with the problem for
Jabari Smith, and it's a good problem to have for
the Rockets, Like it's not even necessarily about Jabari Smith.

Speaker 2 (02:24:36):
It's about amen.

Speaker 17 (02:24:37):
And if you're if you're the Rockets and you're like, well,
when this guy's in, there's no like, listen, let's all
be honest. Jabari Smith Junior, especially for where he was taken,
you don't get a lot of stat box eye popping numbers,
but if you, if you know basketball, you realize what
he does from a high IQ standpoint on the floor

(02:24:59):
with space seeing defensively. And I don't like, I don't
want to downgrade or what Mike Gundy said, I don't
want to be downgrade him at the expense you know
the word. Yeah, Well, he in his rant it was
I don't want to do that just to prop up
a men Thompson. But man, it's it's not a coincidence
to me that Jalen is playing like this with a
men getting more minutes. He played forty one minutes last

(02:25:21):
night and he was like a plus. I think he
was a plus twenty one? Was a men Thompson? Uh
maybe a plus nineteen nineteen? Okay, correct, alfring shin Gun
the biggest that was plus twenty one. I'm also not
a big plus super big plus minus guy. But because
you know, if your bench is terrible or your bench
is good and the other team's bench is bad or something,
it can get thrown off based relative to other things.

Speaker 2 (02:25:42):
But anyways, I get what you're saying. And also I
would say this when this came up earlier. My answer was,
who's the better player, it's a men Thompson. But if
you need to space the floor better offensively, right now,
you have four guys who are bad three point shooters
or below league average three point shooters in the starting lineup,

(02:26:02):
which would be a mens Chagoon, Fred van Vliet and
Jalen Green. So for spacing purposes, it would be it
would be beneficial to have one of your better three
point shooters on the floor to start the games, and
then you could have him in closing games. You could
have him in playing more minutes to where all right,
you start off this way and then you kind of
see how the flow of the game is going. That's
if I had to predict at this moment, unless I'm m.

(02:26:24):
Thompson really comes along and you just have no choice
but to keep him in the starting lineup, That's how
I would figure it would go.

Speaker 17 (02:26:31):
Becks tweets in and says, FAFO equals test the assumption,
evaluate the result.

Speaker 7 (02:26:36):
I like that.

Speaker 11 (02:26:37):
I like that.

Speaker 2 (02:26:37):
That's a good description of what the concept of that is.
And here's my thing.

Speaker 17 (02:26:43):
You're talking about a men Thompson this way, and he's
in what you're saying at the end of it. Man,
I mean, if he ever gets a good jump shot, well,
he's already improving. And this is year two and he's
what twenty twenty one? How old is a men Thompson.
He's twenty, I believe, I mean that is. I know
we keep saying this about Jalen green one, he's a kid.

(02:27:04):
They're all kids, yes, But that's actually that that is
a thing that's a. That's a very good talking point
because they're not even probably done physically developing, let alone
developing their game.

Speaker 2 (02:27:16):
Yeah, he'll be twenty two in just a few weeks
January thirtieth, Happy early birthday to him and Thompson. All Right,
we got to take quick bottom of the break up.
Y'll on hold one of talk some rockets ball. We
will definitely get to you. Adam Clinton is here, I
am here, Ross Vireal, Matt Thomas is not. He'll be
back tomorrow. We're with you until two o'clock here on
Sports Talk seven ninety. Back with your calls on Rockets

(02:27:38):
Talk after this short.

Speaker 8 (02:27:39):
Break, lunchtimers, lunch timers, It's the Matt Thomas Show with
Ross on Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 11 (02:27:49):
Go.

Speaker 3 (02:27:49):
Let this run the whole song. I haven't even started yet. Yeah,
you have to let what's her face now? Royalties?

Speaker 17 (02:28:00):
It's some this woman who's singing like didn't get paid
properly the first time around or something shocking.

Speaker 2 (02:28:05):
I can't remember her name. HM, let's listen to Mark
Wahlberg rap Yo.

Speaker 3 (02:28:12):
All the great nineties.

Speaker 2 (02:28:14):
Rap songs started with Yo.

Speaker 10 (02:28:16):
I want.

Speaker 1 (02:28:18):
The house sound.

Speaker 17 (02:28:19):
Seriously, Connor, it was a better time the nineties. I
know you weren't around, but trust me on this. By
the way, shout out to Kevin Cooper who's listening to us.
He's like, yes, in all caps, more Boogie Knights talk.
He gets it, he gets me, he gets you, he
gets us. Ross number one us hit.

Speaker 2 (02:28:39):
What did he say about roller Girl? Yeah she's really foxy.

Speaker 3 (02:28:43):
Yeah she is.

Speaker 17 (02:28:45):
That's such a seventies word for hot chick. She's really foxy.
It's great script writing. They did his research, Paul Thomas Anderson. Okay,
on that note, let's just keep it rolling.

Speaker 2 (02:28:56):
Adam Klann clearly in the house, Rosby Real with you,
Matt Thomas show with Ross, Yeah, Matt Thomas with Connor McGovern. Uh, no,
you haven't brought up Taylor Mathis once. So you're playing
Barry Manilow.

Speaker 17 (02:29:06):
Yes, he'd be talking about how we don't work, even
though I'm sitting in his chair as he has the
day off.

Speaker 3 (02:29:11):
Correct.

Speaker 2 (02:29:11):
He'd be upset about people who are getting hired for
various game show jobs that he was not hired for.

Speaker 17 (02:29:16):
He would take sinley veiled shots at fake media around
the city.

Speaker 3 (02:29:20):
I would say, not thinley, not so thinly.

Speaker 2 (02:29:24):
Exactly who he's talking about. All right, plant in the building,
A couple of on hold less toxin Rockets, ball biscuits
next up on the line.

Speaker 3 (02:29:32):
What's up, biscuit? Hey, what's up?

Speaker 10 (02:29:34):
My brothers?

Speaker 3 (02:29:35):
Ac?

Speaker 6 (02:29:36):
Happy New Year to you, my.

Speaker 2 (02:29:37):
Brother you man, you too, Man, I haven't talked to
you in a minute.

Speaker 1 (02:29:40):
It's been a minute.

Speaker 18 (02:29:41):
Man.

Speaker 10 (02:29:41):
Hey, before I get to win more, man, let me
say this, man. Eventually, when the Rockets are making that
serious run for the championship, Thompson gonna be in the
starting lineup. And I don't think it's gonna be in
place at your bar. It's gonna be in place of Brooks.
Thompson's gonna because the thing about Thompson and what you

(02:30:04):
noticed is, and you kind of know it to last year,
Thompson and Green go good together. And then when you
add Jabari with that, now you got something.

Speaker 6 (02:30:14):
Man.

Speaker 10 (02:30:14):
I don't know who the point guard gonna be, but
it's gonna be San Gooon Green, Thompson and Jabari.

Speaker 18 (02:30:21):
And now I'm talking like two years from now.

Speaker 10 (02:30:24):
But I just but the with the coach got a
decision to make because Brooks brings the attitude. But Thompson
and Green go good.

Speaker 16 (02:30:32):
Together.

Speaker 10 (02:30:32):
Man, it's obvious that they play good together. It's Jalen
game goes to a different level when Thompson on the floor.
So I you know, but that's a decision the coach
got to make.

Speaker 1 (02:30:43):
But let me ask you this though.

Speaker 10 (02:30:45):
Uh And I talked to Ross last night, But Ross,
you didn't mention it. But a buddy of mine who's
a big Rockets fan, he's telling me that Cam Whitmore
kind of bumped Jalen Green last night and got into
kind of shoved Thompson.

Speaker 2 (02:30:59):
Did you I saw a video of him like walking
off the court at the end of the game and
he was kind of look disinterested and didn't want to
be there. And yeah, I didn't mention it because I
didn't even see the video that you're I didn't see
the video that I'm talking about till somebody sent it
to me after I was done with the post game.

Speaker 3 (02:31:16):
I did not see him. Did you see him bumping
into Jalen Green.

Speaker 17 (02:31:19):
I'm not going to say that I looked hard for it,
but I was on you know X last night and
I didn't see anything like that. I saw the video
you're talking about. Here's the problem with this Cam whitmore.
I don't even know if i'd call it a situation.
It's being made into a situation. But the problem is
he has done tangible things to add to this story

(02:31:42):
if it's a narrative versus if it's real. You know,
you can't have the press conference that he did after
a win, no less and not have people just at
minimum put you on the radar for this kind of thing.
You already had the fact that he was very talented
but fell in the draft, and all these teams passed
on him, including the Warriors and the Lakers before the Rockets,
and you had all this stuff, but it was all talk.

(02:32:03):
Then he went down to the G League and it's like,
all right, what that happens. I mean, look at Reed
Shepherd last night. This happens with young players. And then
you know, he comes out and just has that bizarre
press conference that regardless of how you interpreted it, people
were trying to interpret it, and that's just not what
you want for a team with this much youth and
talent and all that kind of stuff, and certainly not

(02:32:25):
I mean, I love that Emai Udoka came out and
reacted to it the way he did.

Speaker 2 (02:32:28):
He's like, you guys know, I'm not sensitives. He can
say whatever he wants.

Speaker 17 (02:32:31):
But you know, even if this isn't a thing last night,
the way it's made it's being made out to be.
The reason I think there's more fuel to that fire
is because of these other things leading up to it.
And so if you're the Rockets, if you're cam Whitmore,
you have to kind of maybe have a come to
Jesus and ask yourself, all right, where do we stand
with each other in this relationship?

Speaker 10 (02:32:51):
Yew, That's that's where we're going. Where me and Ross
were going back and forth on me personally went more
feel like he's better than those guys, and he's mad,
he's sting, and it's gonna be a problem. But guess what,
there's one captain of the ship for the Rockets, and
that guy's the coach, and if you won't do what
he's saying, you're not finna play.

Speaker 17 (02:33:14):
Hey, biscuit, And this is I was actually thinking that
very same thing. I was just kind of going over
that in my head to day thinking about the situation.
Do you think it's that he thinks he's better than
those guys or do you think it's specifically, I think
I'm better than Jalen Green, and I'm not happy about
the fact that he's gotten every opportunity that I feel
like I haven't gotten.

Speaker 10 (02:33:35):
Well, I wouldn't so much say Jayleen Green, but he
definitely think he's better than Shepherd, Easton and Thompson, and
those three guys up until Layton had been getting more
minaced than him, and he is pissed behind that, and
then they sent him down to the D League that I'm.

Speaker 11 (02:33:51):
Telling you, it's a week and White fail in the draft, man,
and if you go somewhere.

Speaker 10 (02:33:55):
Else he might shine. But for this team and the
style of play they played, those up of guys do
the system better than he does, and he hasn't quite
got that yet.

Speaker 13 (02:34:05):
So I mean it's a maturity thing.

Speaker 10 (02:34:07):
Hold this guy look one, maybe, but you better realize
real quick. He got a coach and he got a
plan for you. You can't get with the plan, You're
gonna find yourself at the end of the bench.

Speaker 17 (02:34:19):
I mean, it's hard to argue with with the really
a lot of what he's saying there, especially the you know,
buying into the team concept, the offense. There's been too
many times where he come down and chunk up a
three point shot that looks like a bad shot, and
if it doesn't go in, well it automatically is determined
as a bad shot, you know what I mean.

Speaker 2 (02:34:35):
It's yeah, the evidence is mounting. I'm somebody who, like
you know, if we're you know, I'm not a Rockets inside.

Speaker 3 (02:34:41):
I'm not in the locker room. I'm not seeing all
this stuff stuff.

Speaker 2 (02:34:43):
But like you add it all up with what his
postgame comments, with some bad body language on the court.
As you guys were talking, I was kind of just
I just put Cam Whitmore into X and there's videos
of him like not getting the pass and the perimeter
and slumping his shoulders and and then the way that
he walked off the court as well. It it doesn't

(02:35:04):
look good. The optics are bad. Does that mean he's
a cancer in the locker room and he needs to
be sent down the g LA or traded away?

Speaker 3 (02:35:11):
I don't know that's for for coaching.

Speaker 2 (02:35:13):
Rafel ston't to to kind of decide as we go
along here, But right now it looks like a bad
situation is budding in Houston with Cam Whitmore, If indeed
is I mean, it's this conjecture, of course, But as
I'm guessing with you guys, it seems like he wants
to be on the floor more and maybe he even
thinks he needs a starting role.

Speaker 17 (02:35:29):
Well, there's I mean, there's a lot of reasons that
players pout whatever you want to call the word. I
suppose this is a good reason if there is, If
you're gonna rank different reasons why players act this way
or act out. The fan in me obviously hates this,
but the uh broadcasters slash cynic in me is fascinated

(02:35:51):
to see how Ema Udoka handles this.

Speaker 2 (02:35:54):
Yeah, it'll be interesting and something something that is certainly
keep an eye him because it's fake cam. What more
is valuable to this team? He can come off the
bench and torch other teams and score twenty twenty seven
points like he had a few night and now was
against the Pelicans several games ago. But you can get
fifteen to twenty off the bench, instant scoring on a
team that cannot shoot like the Rockets, that is a

(02:36:16):
lot of value.

Speaker 17 (02:36:17):
Let me ask you this if cause I know, well
I know I'm doing this, I'm sure you probably are
starting to at least a little bit.

Speaker 2 (02:36:23):
You scoreboard watching in Phoenix yet I.

Speaker 3 (02:36:26):
Am no, I'm not.

Speaker 17 (02:36:27):
You should be why because they lost to Charlotte last
night and their picks belong to the Rockets. And the
more they lose and or get closer to breaking up
that team because they're losing, the better those picks get,
Especially if you're the Rockets and you want something either
on the Phoenix roster to get from them with those
picks or just you want to keep those picks and

(02:36:48):
they you want them to be better than they were
coming into this year. But the other question I want
to ask you is if the Rockets finally find the deal,
the deal to get that guy that they don't have
on their are you comfortable with Cam Whitmore being a
part of that transaction?

Speaker 2 (02:37:05):
Possibly? I would say certainly if he's unhappy and if
he's going to be causing problems and this is just
in't the right organizational fit for him, it would be
an easy decision to who's the.

Speaker 17 (02:37:13):
Kid that Daryl Morey traded for from Sacramento pat Patrick? Patterson,
he had a lot of promise, but he just wasn't
It wasn't jiving, and everybody was like, ooh, this might
be a lowmitting.

Speaker 3 (02:37:25):
With plan I know you're talking about.

Speaker 17 (02:37:27):
I think it was Patrick Patterson. Patrick Patterson was their own,
their own draft pick, all right, then maybe I'm thinking
of somebody else.

Speaker 2 (02:37:33):
I know a Sacramento trade for his name, and it's
a top five pick. He was like fourth overall, and
then he eventually ended up on the Blazers after I
think maybe had all.

Speaker 17 (02:37:44):
The talent in the world, all the promise, but maybe
had some some issues similar to what Cam's going through.
Not exactly the same, but you know what, the reason
I bring that up is those kinds of players sometimes
are enticing to teams in a deal where.

Speaker 2 (02:38:00):
You're like, all right, i'll get Thomas Robinson. That might
be him. I get this high reward in thirteen Thomas Robinson,
and then he went to Portland. He didn't have much
of an NBA career. He was out of the lead
by he was twenty five.

Speaker 8 (02:38:12):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (02:38:13):
Yeah, And I don't think that's gonna happen to can
win more. I don't think so either. But he is
twenty years old, doesn't turn twenty one until July. Okay,
way over for a break. We'll get to those of
you on hold next, I promise. Final segment of The
Matt Thomas Show with Ross without Matt Thomas. After this
quick break, this.

Speaker 3 (02:38:27):
Is Craig Ackerman and the Rockets get the job done.

Speaker 13 (02:38:30):
Oh here's another new catchphrase I have for you.

Speaker 3 (02:38:34):
Good gracious, good gracious.

Speaker 8 (02:38:37):
You're listening to the Matt Thomas Show on Sports Talk
seven ninety.

Speaker 19 (02:38:40):
Why't you tell the kids what we were talking about
off air?

Speaker 3 (02:38:56):
Ross?

Speaker 2 (02:38:56):
What fifty pm are on Sports Talk seven ninety M
we do I Matt Thomas impression.

Speaker 3 (02:39:05):
That's pretty good.

Speaker 2 (02:39:06):
It's not hard.

Speaker 3 (02:39:08):
I'm proud of you. Um, that's neither here nor there.

Speaker 2 (02:39:14):
Seven seven eighty of the Phone Number final segment of
The Matt Thomas Show with Rossy A team with Adam
and another Adam coming up. Gary and Spring has been
holding quite patiently. We appreciate you, Gary.

Speaker 3 (02:39:26):
Go ahead.

Speaker 2 (02:39:26):
The floor is yours, hey, fellas, can you hear me
all right?

Speaker 3 (02:39:31):
Yes? Okay?

Speaker 15 (02:39:33):
Uh calling in about the Rockets. Uh, you know on
hold on there, you know, so much stuff goes through
your mind. One thing I want to say for the
Rockets is, man, I want Texans to win this Saturday
game so bad, and mainly because I want them to
go back up to Kansas City and play Kansas City
again because you got to beat the best to be
the best. But that that that's my wish, my my

(02:39:54):
post Christmas wish. Hey on the on the Rockets, the
topic you're talking earlier about should they sit pat or
should they trade? And let me ask you a question.
What's their record or percentage winning percentage.

Speaker 3 (02:40:10):
This year the Rockets, yes, sixty seven.

Speaker 16 (02:40:15):
Six sixty seven.

Speaker 15 (02:40:16):
Last year they were five hundred. So why in the
world would you want to go five hundred.

Speaker 2 (02:40:21):
To six sixty seven?

Speaker 15 (02:40:23):
And these guys are so young, and they're so good,
and they're they're they're all got so much ceiling potential there.
Why would you want to stir that up on chance
of losing one of those and messing up the chemistry
they got. That's just I think they need to sit pat.
And another reason why I believe that is they're getting
so good, man. They're so fast and jump so high

(02:40:45):
and run so fast, and they're so young. That's pretty good,
pretty good things right there. So just any of them
that they're going to trade in the future, just keep
them because all of them's trade value is going to
grow with their experience and everything. So I don't see
any even contemplate tradeing anybody because they just got so many.
And one other thing I'd like to say if they Rockets,

(02:41:07):
if it was me the GM and the Rockets can
only keep one player on their roster, it'd be Jalen Green.
To me, he is just such a great player in
his ceiling, he'll be he'll still be growing in five years.
He's got so much potential there. So I just I
wouldn't touch Jalen Green. But anyway, I hope they just
stay pat and uh and see what happens this year.

Speaker 3 (02:41:30):
Thank you, Gary.

Speaker 2 (02:41:31):
I think there's some merit to that way. I mean,
we kind of talked about this as far as were
we jumping ahead of ourselves. We're to where we're talking
about Phase one and phase two is making the playoffs.

Speaker 3 (02:41:40):
Phase three.

Speaker 2 (02:41:41):
To me, the way that I see at phase one
tank phase two, start to make the playoffs.

Speaker 3 (02:41:46):
Phase three championship contention.

Speaker 2 (02:41:48):
And this core that you have that you just signed
these guys to long term deals, not long term deals,
but to two extensions in Alperin Changoon and Jalen Green,
your exceeding expectations. Right now, you're on a fifty four
to fifty five win pace with the winning percentage, Like
he talked about, you're the number two seed? Is it
all moving too fast to where you you rock the boat?

(02:42:09):
You trade away some big pieces to try to win
now when maybe winning now wasn't even in your thought
when we were four months ago, when it was the
start of the season, we were like, oh, let's hope
they win forty five games and make a plane.

Speaker 17 (02:42:21):
The biggest argument for standing Pat is that you are
so far ahead of the schedule. I think most people,
let's just say, outside of the organization for sure, had
for you going into this season. You're not going to
be the two seed in the West in January. The
second week of January, you're the two seed in the West.
If you had told Rockets Brass that was going to

(02:42:43):
be the case back in you know, training camp, they
would have, you know, loved that. So why mess up
a good thing? Is kind of the thinking there. But
you know, I think the ultimate audition for this group
as it stands, you know, to Stan Pat is what
they do in the postseason and how they do it. Like,
you can win a series, but did you eke it out?

(02:43:05):
Did you play an inferior opponent? There's there's so many
different you know, things that go into it. I just
the last NBA team to win a championship without a
bona fide superstar was what the Four Pistons.

Speaker 3 (02:43:17):
Yeah, but they had four of five.

Speaker 2 (02:43:19):
I think all five of those guys were made All
Star teams at some point.

Speaker 17 (02:43:23):
Yes, and you have all star quality players on this roster,
But what was their identity.

Speaker 2 (02:43:28):
It's a lot like the Rockets. They could just destroy
you defensively just because it was Yeah, those guys, and
those are also the anomaly. As you said, I mean,
it's very rare without superstar. By the way, they played
very good team defense. We owe them a debt of gratitude.
You know why the four Pistons. Yes, for beating the Lakers.
But who was on that roster? Uh Rashid Wallace? No, no, no,

(02:43:50):
the Lakers roster Karl Malone. There you go, Gary Payton. Yeah,
but I didn't mind Payton as much because Mocky Walker.
I don't know, Walker, there's a deep there's a deep
cut right there.

Speaker 17 (02:44:01):
Fortunately for all of us it was. It was also
helped along by the fact that Kobe Carl was flirting
with Vanessa Bryant.

Speaker 2 (02:44:09):
And he would have six to match Michael Jordan as well.

Speaker 3 (02:44:12):
Kobe's better than Lebron, deal with it. No, yeah he is.

Speaker 17 (02:44:16):
No did you hear Charles Barkley talking about that? No, oh,
it is good, good audio. But he he unlike most.

Speaker 2 (02:44:23):
Hot air Barkley, Lebron's a better three point shooter, a
better overall scorer because now he's a more versatile scorer.
Was Kobe Bryant and the defenses are comparable, and he
was one of the greatest playmakers of all time Lebron, Charles.

Speaker 17 (02:44:38):
Was argument was more about the fact that he's obviously
MJ over Lebron.

Speaker 1 (02:44:43):
Guy.

Speaker 17 (02:44:43):
Yeah, but he was like those two are killers, and
Lebron's just a nice guy, which I don't know well.

Speaker 2 (02:44:51):
Is in some of those the end of those heat
runs and with the when he was with the Cavaliers
beating the greatest team of all time, the they we
had Draymond and crying on the phone begging Kevin Durant
to join them because they couldn't beat Lebron.

Speaker 3 (02:45:03):
I think he's pretty good.

Speaker 2 (02:45:06):
The Matt Thomas Show with Ross Adam Clanton is a
warrior haters. He stays true to his colors, and that's
why you gotta love him. He's gonna be here for
four more hours. I do appreciate him coming in. Adam
Weser getting ready in the bullpen as well. My name
is Ross Vireal. Thanks to all of you for listening, calling,
getting involved. Thanks to Conor McGovern, thanks to Chris Gordy
as well. Talk to you folks tomorrow on The Matt

(02:45:28):
Thomas Show with Ross. Matt Thomas will

Speaker 3 (02:45:30):
Actually be here

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