The West Is Almost Finalized, Astros Take The Series vs Angels, NFL Draft Talk

The West Is Almost Finalized, Astros Take The Series vs Angels, NFL Draft Talk

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
Lunchtimers. This is the Matt Thomas Show.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
Ten oh two in the am here on Sports Talk
seven A.

Speaker 1 (00:14):
Hello and welcome.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
Into a Monday edition of The Matt Thomas Show with
Ross without Matt Thomas. He is out sick. He talked
about it on his Twitter account at Sports MT He
should be back relatively soon, at least as far as
I've heard. I'm gonna be honest, I don't always check
all my emails and my text but I think he

(00:36):
should be back tomorrow. Johnath, do we have any confirmation
on that? Are we gonna wait and see mode?

Speaker 1 (00:39):
I don't know. I think he's gonna be broadcasting from
home tomorrow.

Speaker 3 (00:42):
Yeah, I think Tuesday and Wednesday's coming at the okay here,
he gave us the I gotta go ahead and broadcast.

Speaker 1 (00:47):
From home, and that's okay. He should have heard on Friday.

Speaker 2 (00:51):
I heard people talking about it on the on Twitter,
so I think I don't know. Maybe I listened for
like literally thirty second if that. So, Yeah, he gave
us it's the allergies, and well, apparently Matt Thomas is
pretty sick, so he'll be out today. I will be
joined by a cast of characters. Adam Klant will be
coming up at one o'clock. Chris Gordy. Look, I gotta

(01:14):
be honest, the man is very busy. He's a man
about town. He literally just won he's riding high because
he just won this program Director of the Year award.
So he's trying to big time me right now. We'll
see when he's able to show up. We'll get Chris
Gordy on at some point. We also have you as well.
Most importantly, you want to get in on the show.
You can at seven one three two one two five

(01:37):
seven ninety seven one three two, one two five seven
ninety with you until two o'clock here on a Sports
Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 1 (01:44):
We have a number of things to get to.

Speaker 2 (01:47):
Jonathan is gonna give shot by shot breakdown of Rory
McElroy's Master victory. We've got that coming up. Okay, he's
shaking his head. I guess he's not ready. I'm just kidding.
I don't think we talked. I would say one percent.
Golf can talk.

Speaker 1 (02:00):
About the Tennessee in c double a thing.

Speaker 2 (02:03):
Oh okay, you know what you are official NCAA X
I could definitely do that.

Speaker 1 (02:07):
Can you explain?

Speaker 2 (02:08):
So? Johnathan you were a track athlete at you said
you ran the four by one hundred or you ran
the four hundred meters.

Speaker 3 (02:13):
So I was a four two sprinter. But on so
but I joined all the relays in both.

Speaker 2 (02:17):
Claus Okay, you did all the relays at both UH
West Western Kentucky and the Steven F. Austin axem Jack's Okay.
How did you like living in Nacadochius, Texas.

Speaker 1 (02:28):
I hated it at first, but then you really it
warms up to Okay, it's got a little bit of charm.
It's very hidden.

Speaker 2 (02:33):
You got to dig deep to find the charm of
Nacadochi's Okay. Speaking of which, I was in Kansas City
over the weekend. I was really impressed. It was a
celebration of life for my wonderful great aunt who actually
passed last year. It was great to see some family
and stuff like that. And I only got a weekend
in Kansas City. Kansas City was man. I put up
the picture some of the pictures on my Twitter account

(02:54):
at sports RV. I will be putting up on my
on my Instagram at sports RV. That place was pretty awesome.
I went to the Negro Leagues Museum, there's a lot,
there's the Jazz Museum. There's a big jazz scene in
Kansas City, which I love jazz music. So I went
to the Boulevard Brewing. There was a party there. They
got good barbecue. I liked Kansas City. Have you ever been

(03:16):
in Kansas City, Johonathan, No.

Speaker 1 (03:18):
I've never been. I heard it's a nice nightlife A
thumbs up.

Speaker 2 (03:22):
Yeah, some of the bars stay open to four am,
which is actually very dangerous. So for some of you
that's probably a bad thing. For some of you, it's
a good thing as long as you're able to pace yourself.
Let's just say one of the nights I could have
paced better. But anyways, all right, so great weekend over
in Kansas City. But I was watching from Afar catching
up on a lot of the astro stuff over the weekend.
We're gonna get to that. We got rocket stuff to

(03:42):
get to as well. They are locked and loaded in
the two seed, which they have been right now, and
as it stands with the standings, they will be playing
the winner of the playing game between the Golden State
Warriors or the Memphis Grizzlies.

Speaker 1 (03:57):
So folks say it with me, let's go Grizzlies.

Speaker 2 (04:01):
The Warriors are kind of scary, even though they faltered
a little bit at the end of the season, losing
two of their last three. Jimmy Butler, Steph Curry, I
mean Draymond Green. Draymond Green is going to try to
end Albura and Shangoon or someone's career literally just for
the health of the of the Houston Rockets. Like long term,
he's gonna be out there trying to fracture orbital bones,

(04:23):
kicking people in the nads and throwing elbows. Remember when
he went like two his finger went two knuckles deep
into James Harden's eye socket, and it's like, dude, he's
raking everyone over the face and James Harden's both of
his eyes were red. It looked like he had conjunctivitis
in both eyes. So I don't want to see Golden

(04:43):
State Warriors just because they've terrorized us here in Houston
for years, and because Draymond Green is literally gonna try
to hurt somebody and he's a psychopath who needs all right,
some piece of my microphone just fell off, all right,
this is literally falling. These are falling apart in here.
What is this all right, the jo goes on. So, yeah,
I don't want to play the Warriors because I think

(05:04):
they're the tougher matchup. And that's not to say that
I'll bring on the Memphis Grizzlies. They suck and they're
the horrible I mean, Jaron Jackson, Junior John Morant. They're
a good team as well. No matter what the first
round matchup is going to be for the Houston Rockets,
it is going to be tough. And the good thing
is is no matter what the matchup is going to be,
the Rockets can win and they should be favored with
home court advantage, so they're in the two seed. And

(05:26):
then with the Nuggets beating the Rockets yesterday, Nuggets clinch
the four spot, Lakers in the three spot, and then
everything else, We're just going to kind of figure out
with the NBA Playoffs as you have playing week coming up.
Then over the weekend, the Rockets will play game number
one at Toyota Center. That should be quite fun. Five

(05:46):
years we've been waiting for playoff basketball here in Houston.
It is here. This team is number the number two seed.
They're not to me. I still put them in the
Tier two as far as championship contenders, with Tier one
being the Boston Celtics, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Oklahoma
City Thunder. But right after that they're up there with anyone,
and that is really fun and we are happy and
proud to be your home of the Houston Rockets here

(06:10):
on sports Stock seven ninety. By the way, just to
like quick programming note, if you're looking for the Astros
or the Rockets at any time over the next couple
of weeks with them both playing, just look at seven ninety,
look at seven forty. We'll make announcements on the air
as they come so you can pay attention to those.
We'll also update it on our social media. But as
a general rule, you're just gonna be able to hear
the Rockets or the Astros on one of seven ninety

(06:32):
or seven forty, very close to each other on the dial.
You should be okay there. So Rockets playoffs coming up.
I am super pumped. I'm very excited. I'm gonna be
honest with you. I miss I'm missing a I'm supposed
to be in Nashville this weekend for a wedding and
I was like, no, I can't. I'm sorry Rockets are
back in the playoffs, So I really appreciate it was a
wedding I really wanted to go to, but I can't
do it because my Houston Rockets are back in the playoffs.

Speaker 1 (06:55):
Baby.

Speaker 2 (06:56):
I am over the moon about it. I'm super excited.
I think it's going to be a good playoffs. I
think at least into the second round the Rockets go.
I think the Western Conference Finals are very much on
the table, and then it's probably time to be an
underdog against the Oklahoma City Thunder. They can win that series.
Thunder have at some points faltered and look vulnerable. They

(07:17):
also won their last four games of the season. They
won sixty eight on the year. They have far and
away the best point differential in net rating in basketball.
They're the best team in basketball if you ask me.
But it would be no shame of losing them. But
I would say the Rockets I have a shot, albeit
a bit of an outside shot.

Speaker 1 (07:32):
But we'll come to that bridge when we cross it.

Speaker 2 (07:34):
Right now, it will be the first round playoffs coming
up this weekend for the Houston Rockets. Your Houston Astros
are finally hitting. Can you believe it? It's okay to
score runs. I joking at least that on Twitter on
Friday when they trash the Angels fourteen to three.

Speaker 1 (07:51):
Good job, Joe A. Spota, Let's go Troy.

Speaker 2 (07:55):
Was anybody praising Troy Snicker and Alex Sintron when they
scored fourteen runs on Friday? All of you like to
trash the hitting coaches and talk about how terrible they are,
And well, when the team over the weekend, now they
scored one run on Saturday, we don't have to mention
they scored one run on Saturday. On Sunday they scored seven.
That's twenty two runs over three games. That's still an

(08:15):
average of over seven per game with my quick math,
So that's pretty darn good. Bats are looking a little
bit more lively. And you know what, if you called
in talking about how the hitting coaches are trash, I
want you to call in and praise the hitting coaches
Joe Spot also doing when he did that thing where
he set the lineup that scored fourteen runs. Masterstroke stuff
by Joe Aspota. Of course, I'm joking because everyone wants

(08:38):
to call Joe Spot an idiot when they lose and
when they win, when the players do what they're supposed
to do. It's all the players. That's just kind of
the job when it comes to being a major league manager.
But over the weekend, Astro is taking two out of
three of the Angels, and yeah, it's like, oh, it's
the Angels.

Speaker 1 (08:52):
They suck.

Speaker 2 (08:53):
They're the worst, but they're the first place Angels by
the way. They've been hitting a bunch of home runs.
Their offense has been looking good. Mike Trout has been
on fire to start the season, at least from a
home run standpoint. His average is terrible. He's down to
one ninety six, but he's got six home runs on
the season, so that's propping up his ops numbers. And
funny enough about the Astros, Eastak Paradis is going nuclear.

(09:15):
Jordan Alvarez is looking a little bit better. He got
some guys in the back of the lineup producing as well.
And then all of a sudden, Jose L two Vay's
bat goes cold. So he was the one that he's
like the only one hitting when nobody else was hitting
on the team. Every other player on the team was
underperforming except my guy, Jake Myers, and then now he
goes cold. Jake Myers also did not have himself the

(09:36):
best of weekends. It was decent enough and then all
the other bats are going so kind of funny how
that goes. As we always go back to the old phrase,
that's baseball, but that's baseball. With the Houston Astros talking
about hitting some home runs, getting some guys on base,
and actually bringing them home two out of three over
the Angels on the weekend, they are now seven and

(09:57):
eight on the season. And look here there is a
team now for the first time I think all year
with a positive run differential in the American League West.
It is your Houston Astros. Now they're in fourth place,
but they'll be fine. As we always say, especially in
the middle of April, it is early. So how we

(10:17):
feeling about the Houston Astros with his hitting over the weekend.
Are you ready to Are you ready to get an
apology give an apology to Joe a Spot.

Speaker 1 (10:25):
No, you're probably not. That's okay. I'm just having some
fun with you.

Speaker 2 (10:29):
Are you ready to talk about some Rockets basketball matchups
we got coming up again? Jonathan will give us a
full breakdown of Roy McElroy's Masters or he's gonna go
round all four rounds and he's gonna go shot by shot.
We have that coming up later on to tell the
truth is coming up later on in the show. We
have Chris Gordy, we have Adam Clanton, we have News
at noon. We have you at seven one three two

(10:50):
one two five seven ninety. The phone number seven one
three two one two five seven ninety. It is the
Matt Thomas Show with Ross with you until two o'clock
here on Sportstock seven Nighty will beat after the short
break now please to be joined by the program director
of the Year. I mean, my goodness, Chris Gordy carving
out some time. Yeah, at least you you acknowledged Matt. Matt,

(11:13):
just like poop pooed it on front. You know what,
I'm not gonna comment much on that. I'm just gonna say, Gordy. Uh,
you know, I'm glad you're here, and I'm glad to
say this on air. You do so much for us.
You're so busy. People don't know this. Gordy is running
our websites, our social media. This guy is obsessively dedicated
to our station. So well deserved for you, Gordy, and
the dude's even filling in. Look, Matt Thomas outsit. Chris

(11:36):
Gordy's in here filling in, so appreciate you being here,
and congratulations, well deserved on the award.

Speaker 1 (11:40):
I know Madg's legitimately sick because I know he never
like he is. Remember that time he lost his voice
and still called a Rocket stay. He was like, somebody
needs a step in here and tastes like Jay the
Greatest step. That's like great, It's like, I know you're dedicated.
But for him to miss the game over an illness,
that means it's pretty uh, it must be pretty bad.

Speaker 2 (12:00):
Yeah, So apparently he's got a fever. He's out sick.
He'll be back tomorrow. But I'm glad to have you,
Chris Cordy. We do have a lot of stuff to
talk about, but we were talking about during the break.
I just look at these title odds and I was
really literally just last segment talking about how I have
the Rockets as a Tier two contender behind the Celtics,
Cavaliers and the Thunder. The championship betting odds completely disagree.

(12:23):
They don't think the Rockets are in Tier two at all,
which I think they're idiots. I think this is value
here now. I don't think the Rockets are gonna win
the championship. But the betting odds right now are the
Oklahoma City Thunder are nine to five. That's basically like, okay,
ten to five would be two to one. It's a
little short of that, right, so let's just call it
two to one. Same thing for the Celtics, they're basically

(12:43):
two to one, meaning every dollar you bet you get two,
you put twenty on it, you get forty. Cavaliers five
to one, Lakers nine to one. But anyways, we go
all the way down to the Rockets. They have worse
odds than the Clippers, the Knicks. The Knicks are not
gaing out of the East like they're just not timberwol

(13:06):
behind the Timberwolves. The Rockets are forty five to one,
meaning hook look just saying, friends, twenty bucks you put
on it, you get nine hundred back. All they have
to do is win the championship. What is the song
is bet online? I don't know Matt doesn't like giving
them the free plugs, but it is.

Speaker 1 (13:22):
Bet online out ages.

Speaker 2 (13:23):
If they give us the odds, I think we owe
the plug. That's another that's one of the sites I
use so there you go there.

Speaker 1 (13:29):
So yeah, bet Online has it at forty five to one.

Speaker 2 (13:31):
So you just put a measly twenty bucks in the Rockets,
who are top five in point differential, top five in
net rating, they're the number two seed in the West.

Speaker 1 (13:39):
I think that's good value.

Speaker 2 (13:40):
I don't think the Rockets are going to win the championship,
but I think they should have just as they number one,
they should have better odds than the Timberwolves, Nicks, Clippers, Nuggets,
I guess is arguable Warriors as well, the way they've
been playing.

Speaker 1 (13:54):
But a forty five to.

Speaker 2 (13:55):
One, especially because you got home court baked in all
the way to the Western Finals, I put a little
twenty spot on it. So this is to win it all, Yes,
to win the chance and they have to win yeah yeah,
plus forty getting out of the West is gonna be tough,
and then whoever they play in the East is gonna
be tough.

Speaker 1 (14:13):
For sure.

Speaker 2 (14:14):
I don't think they're gonna win it, But forty five
to one, let me give you, uh what that odd
odd means, hongd On.

Speaker 1 (14:22):
I just said it to put twenty bucks down on
you dead it. Let's go, Hey, can I put can
I give you ten for that.

Speaker 2 (14:28):
So that's that's basically implies, uh, two point two percent chance.
Do you think they have more than a two percent
chance to win the championship?

Speaker 1 (14:37):
It's yeah, it's gonna be tough, but it's worth like
anything could happen, right, Like, I mean, think of us
having the same discussion in September of twenty seventeen, where
we're gone, Man Astros are pretty good with Verlinder. I
don't know, Man Dodge the Yankees, like, this is gonna
be really hard, This path is gonna be really hard,
but who knows, maybe the Asters can pull it off.
It was kind of the same thing. It was like
that too.

Speaker 2 (14:57):
But I will also say to me, upset, that's in
baseball kind of happened more than basketball in seven game series.

Speaker 1 (15:03):
Seven game series feels like because.

Speaker 2 (15:05):
If basketball is not only a seven game series, you're
talking about one hundred possessions per each game, like, and
you know in baseball there's one blop single can get
you three runs and you win a game.

Speaker 1 (15:14):
It's a little different. I think experience in the Major
League Baseball playoffs is a little bit over eighty. Experience
in the NBA playoffs.

Speaker 2 (15:21):
Yeah, we don't normally see unexperienced teams make a deeper
rents differently.

Speaker 1 (15:24):
I mean, Harden struggled with that every year. He always
you know, they called games differently, so.

Speaker 2 (15:30):
He's like dropping thirty a game, and then he's getting
shut down by Wesley Matthews in the playoffs and you're like,
what's going on here?

Speaker 1 (15:35):
Yeah? For sure? So, like I said, I don't think
it's they're going to win.

Speaker 2 (15:40):
But if you tell me, even even if you're you're
getting double your money value, if you tell me they
have a five percent chance of winning it all.

Speaker 1 (15:46):
So I just don't understand why we do it. So
we know who's all playing on Saturday, right, I guess?
So ESPN lists the Rockets playing the Winever Grizzlies Warriors
on Sunday. Okay, I'll look at this. Is that locked in?
It just doesn't have the time. I don't know. The
press release from the Rockets last night said Rockets will

(16:07):
play either Saturday or Sunday. M okay. But I'm looking
at the ESPN TV schedule on Saturdays, Bucks Pacers at noon,
Clippers Nuggets two thirty, Piston's Knicks at five, and Timberwolves
Lakers at seven thirty. So if the Saturday games are
all locked in, did somebody accidentally post this the ESP.

Speaker 2 (16:24):
I don't know, maybe, oh maybe all there all the
teams that are playing play in matchups on Sunday.

Speaker 1 (16:31):
Is that what's happening.

Speaker 2 (16:32):
I think that's what it is, because the top two seeds,
all the top two seeds are playing Sunday.

Speaker 1 (16:36):
So I guess. Okay, so they are going to play Sunday.
Is what it's looking like. All right, it's not.

Speaker 2 (16:42):
Confirmed, not unconfirmed reports that they're playing on Sunday.

Speaker 1 (16:46):
Who will they be playing? Let's go Grizzlies.

Speaker 2 (16:49):
Yes, I need to text to my buddy in Memphis
and tell him, bro, please beat these dudes like no
one wants to see I not get it, Jimmy Butler,
but no, I don't care.

Speaker 1 (16:59):
I don't want to see that team. I don't want
Draymond's stupid fat face. I mean, I said this is
the first segment. I don't want him injuring people.

Speaker 2 (17:06):
Yes, he's he's going flying elbows, he's going full UFC
on Alperhin Changoon.

Speaker 1 (17:13):
I don't care what any Warrior Warriors fan says.

Speaker 2 (17:15):
You don't go up to the basket with your elbow
out like a chicken wing straight into somebody's face where
you're trying to like and you're trying to end their careers.

Speaker 1 (17:25):
It's ridiculous.

Speaker 2 (17:26):
I don't want Draymond Green anywhere near this Rockets team.
And plus they're really tough, and I don't want Steph
Curry shooting a bombing a bunch of threes. I'm traumatized
from that. Enough enough enough with the Steph Curry bombing
threes against the Rocket to the playoffs, I've had it.

Speaker 1 (17:39):
It's ridiculous. But by the same realm, this could be
the changing of the guard, right, this could be the
final kind of off run for the Warriors and it
kind of ends and the Rockets beat him and send
the message your day is done. The Rockets dynasty starts.

Speaker 2 (17:57):
Now, you're right, and it could be true, but I
don't want to risk that. Yeah, that's it also could
be oh, his final run, the final last gasp of
the great run, like the like the San Antonio Spurs
in like twenty fourteen when they when they beat the
Heat and it was also they had a young Kawhi Leonard,

(18:18):
but it was all the rest of the old guys
and young Kawhi Leonard.

Speaker 1 (18:21):
And they beat the Heatles, so it is like their
last run. Grizzlies are tough too, though, I mean, John
Moran is a superstar, Desmond Bayan, Jaron Jackson Junior. I
mean they they've got that won't be an easy out.
I mean.

Speaker 2 (18:38):
Absolutely, it's not gonna be an easy out at all.
It's gonna be tough no matter what. Rockets can lose
the seven game series of Grizzlies, that's just the fact
of the matter. I don't think they would, especially with
home court advantage, but it could happen.

Speaker 1 (18:50):
They have star power. Nobody on the Rockets team.

Speaker 4 (18:53):
Now.

Speaker 2 (18:53):
They do a pretty good job of slowing down John Morant,
but he's still too fast for anybody in the planet.
Like Aman Thompson can slow him. So same thing for
Tar East and other guys on this team. But the
fact of the matter is he's still gonna get his
He's still gonna be able to get to the basket.
And they while they have guys that kind of can
limit a Ja Morant, they don't have anybody to me
that can limit Jaron Jackson Junior. I think when he's

(19:14):
played them, he's looked really good and he scores at
ease against this Rockets defense just because they don't have
anybody that can match the kind of the links and
bulk that he has down low. He can definitely do
some damage. So it'd be a tough matchup for sure.

Speaker 1 (19:29):
It's just exciting, man, the Rockets backing the playoffs Like
this is it's been too long here. It has been
way too too Like it's been so long that there
are people in the city that are like, like they
don't remember what it was like for like fifteen, sixteen,
seventeen to eighty, like making the playoffs every year, knowing
you had a chance because Harden and whoever else was

(19:50):
around him on those teams. Like it was fun, man,
it was it was fun. It's good to have playoff basketball.

Speaker 2 (19:56):
Back in the Yeah, meaningful playoff basketball. Hopefully the its
crowds arrive on time. But it's gonna be Sunday late,
so we should be good. You think it's gonna be
Sunday late, I think so. I think, Well, if it's
a Warrior, so it'll be the latest game Sunday, it'll
be the only the other two. Yeah, Celtics and Celtic
Thunder are uh well, who are the potential thunder matchup?
I guess I should ask. We'll have to get to that.

(20:19):
It would be what could still be the Warriors. But
is that Mavericks Kings?

Speaker 4 (20:23):
Yes?

Speaker 2 (20:24):
Okay, so I guess if the Kings are involved, where
the Warriors are involved. If the Warriors are involved, I
think the late game is gonna be whoever.

Speaker 1 (20:31):
The Warriors is? Bucks? Uh Bucks Pacers is at noon
Central on Saturday? Is that an NBA TV special? Give
me that one Sunday? Like if it's Grizzlies Rockets, give
me that one noon Sunday. You know why because the
Astros play Sunday night Baseball. Oh, they're playing so we
can get the old double headers. I forgot about that.
So it's not the end of the world. I know.

(20:52):
I know the folks of ltatos are probably want the
night time, prime time games. But if it's the noon game,
I'm not. I'm not a post to that.

Speaker 2 (21:00):
All right, Well, we'll see what happens. Rockets are in
the playoffs as the number two. See do you hear
what they're doing tomorrow TOI Center?

Speaker 1 (21:08):
I heard Matt talking about it seven to ten am tomorrow.
If you're driving to work pass by Tota Center. They're
giving out a Rockets emblem for your car just for
being a Rockets fan driving. That's great. Yeah, seven am
to ten am tomorrow morning. Sounds wonderful. I could use
one of those.

Speaker 2 (21:25):
I know, I kind of a I'm gonna get the
caught in a lot of downtown traffic. I don't know
if I can do that. You gonna go down there.

Speaker 1 (21:32):
Do it well For people who like live in Katie
and work in the Woodlands, it's probably not a bit
for if you work int your downtown. You just stopped by.

Speaker 2 (21:40):
Yeah, CRUs on through all right, we are gonna take
a quick break here. Chris Gordy is hanging out. Appreciate him.
Matt Thomas is out sick. You can get in. We're
gonna switch to some astros talk as well. Coming up,
we have to tell the Truth. Coming up at eleven thirty.
We got news at noon. Adam Clanton joining it one.
We also have you anything you want to get to.
Seven one three two one two five seven is the
phone number. Seven one three two one two five seven ninety.

Speaker 1 (22:04):
Estoc brettis greatest third basement in as Shrow's history. Some
are saying did you play all of his home runs?

Speaker 2 (22:12):
No?

Speaker 1 (22:12):
I didn't have the No, it was some technical snaffoos
we're doing.

Speaker 2 (22:16):
Okay, now, I mean, this is what we heard about
the guy like he lost to pull a bunch into
the Crawford box. It didn't all three home runs going
to the Crows boxes. They said, well, they said, I
was watching MLB Network last night. They said, he has
never hit a home run to center or right. Every
home run in his career.

Speaker 1 (22:33):
He has hit is the left and Orange play a
Tiken park. Also, for those keeping track home run totals
on the season, estoc Parade is three, Alex Bregman two.
I just want to bring that up. What's the ops totals?

Speaker 2 (22:49):
Ops? Okay, estoc praatis eight thirty one. Let's go Alex
Bregman eight oh six.

Speaker 1 (22:55):
Yeah, suck at Bregman. Cam Smith hitting a home run
all the weekend, twelve rbi to nine for Estox.

Speaker 2 (23:02):
I mean of them there, but again we have to
always touted like one six RBI game. Yeah, he had
a huge game, and then I don't know if what
he's been doing since then.

Speaker 1 (23:11):
Quite frankly, I don't care.

Speaker 2 (23:11):
It's Red Sox baseball, but as far as the Kyle
Tucker trade is going, which Kyle Tucker, of course, is
just mashing for the Chicago Cubs. You got a win
from Hayden wesn Esky, right, you got three home runs
from Paradus over the weekend, and camp Smith hit his
first home run and he's been playing pretty steady handed
right field.

Speaker 1 (23:32):
No, that's the funny part about it is again we
say it all the time. Sometimes in a trade it
works out for both teams, and this is one. As
of right now, it's looking like it's worked out for
both teams. Now, the caveat is if Kyle Tucker does
not re sign with the Cubs, the Astros still get
multiple more years of camp Smith, Estoch Peridus, Hayden was Esky,

(23:53):
a one year rental of Kyle Tucker. Great. I'm glad
he's doing well for them.

Speaker 2 (23:56):
He better because they gave up a pretty big haul
to get him. I'm wishing them the best. And if
they sign them out, I don't even care. If I
don't care if the Cubs win the trade. The Astros
have already won the trade and they're going to with
what Cam Smith I think is going to provide No
whatever level, even if he's just a Major League above
replacement player for as many as years as he's going
to be under team control, this is this is a

(24:17):
win and you're already getting much more than that with
Hayden was an Eski and Easti paratus and what they're doing.

Speaker 1 (24:23):
Yeah, and I was talking about this on the post
game show yesterday. You know, understand expectations for Wesneski. He is,
he's the expectations where he'd be the number five guy
in the rush. He's probably number four right now because
Spencer Burragetty's out because his thumb is broken.

Speaker 2 (24:39):
But what he's doing so far three starts in a
new area of three. That is, that's exactly what you
want out your number five guy. That's that's tremendous. That's great,
he's doing exactly what you want. That's even better.

Speaker 1 (24:50):
Yeah. Yeah, and he's only twenty seven, so I mean,
like you could probably get three four more really good
years out of him. He could slide up in the
rotation if he you know, if he continues to improve
and stay steady, you know, maybe next year he's the
number three guy. So yeah, I think it's it's a tremendous. Uh,
tremendous showing so far from Weznsky a career high ten

(25:10):
strikeouts yesterday.

Speaker 2 (25:12):
Yeah, he gave up three solo shots, three mistakes, but
he hit their solos.

Speaker 1 (25:17):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (25:18):
Uh, look, it was a quality started at the end
of the day, like you said, and in ten strikeouts
he was looking good. I'm feeling pretty darn good about
where the Astros are right now, considering how slow they started,
how slow the bats started, and aarrag Getty's injury and oh,
by the way, uh, Lance mccullor's junior over the weekend
had a rehab start didn't look too shabby.

Speaker 1 (25:38):
Yeah, and Dana Brown yesterday they kind of intimated that
they think if this continues to go well again, no
one who jinks it, but if he continues on this track,
that series in Kansas City at the end of the month,
could see perhaps Lance mcullus junior rejoined the team in
that series. That's crazy, now, I would be selfish. I'd

(25:58):
like to hold him out for the Detroit series when
they come back home on the twenty eighth. Woll just
to have him home home. Yeah, yeah, okay, what's his number?
His numbers at Mini made park. I think lifetime are
really good. Honest.

Speaker 2 (26:10):
There was a year where he was getting destroyed at
home and then it kind.

Speaker 1 (26:15):
Of flips it.

Speaker 2 (26:16):
I can look at his career numbers, but I know
what you're talking about wasn't. But I think there, I
think it was flip flopping with him. There were some
years he was grade at home, some years he wasn't,
and those types of things generally tend to even.

Speaker 1 (26:28):
Have I just know, opened the damn roof flants of
colors is pitching. He he does not like that. Oh yeah,
I know that's what it was. Remember it was at
an Arizona or something. They closed the roof in the
middle of.

Speaker 2 (26:38):
The game or they opened it up in the middle
of the game, and he was like really pissed about it. Yeah,
because striking him out and doesn't matter where the roof
is open or close.

Speaker 1 (26:47):
Lance, But yeah, the Astros tonight, Ross will go for
something that they have not done all year long, okay,
is when back to back games they have not won
two games in a row all season. Yikes, that's it
doesn't sound great, all right.

Speaker 2 (27:04):
Career at home for Lance mccullor's junior Yeah, way better.
Two point six to seven Era on the road four
point four to three. That's what if I had to guess, though,
it was yikes, all right, well, Kaufin Stadium's pretty big though,
Kansas City, be all right.

Speaker 1 (27:20):
I'll talk to somebody who was there, though. So he
looked really good, okay.

Speaker 2 (27:24):
Sources Chris Cordy's sources close to the show are saying
that Lance mccullors Junior looked pretty good. His sinker was
averaging ninety one point seven miles an hour I think,
or something or ninety one point four.

Speaker 1 (27:34):
I can't remember what.

Speaker 2 (27:35):
Brian mctackart's exact tweet before he went down it was
averaging ninety three. So the velo is a little bit
down right now. Who knows if that's going to come
back up. It could happen, but it's certainly something to
keep an eye on. And while we've all been keeping
our expectations low, I think as he continues to kind
of knock these things off his list as far as
bullpens then live BP, then rehab starts and doesn't have

(27:57):
a setback, I'm starting to feel pretty good about how
you even mentioned Dana Brown. In a couple of weeks,
we could have Lancema Colors junior starting a game for
the Houston Astros.

Speaker 1 (28:05):
How about that? And I didn't think. I didn't think
Ryan Gusto's outing was all that bat on so good.
It was out of the gates. It was you could
tell his nerves. It was ward singled Renheifo doubled trout singled,
it was like, oh God. And then he kind of
settled down from there and he had some you know,
some quick innings, a one, two, three inning and the third.
Uh did give up a solo homer in the fourth,
but you know, to go four innings three runs, it's

(28:29):
not great, but it's just magnifi because you only scored
one run that day. It's basically what was Ansky did yesterday, Right,
he gave up three runs, but no harm, no fault,
because of course scored seven. Yeah, so exactly if you had,
if you had scored eight runs on Saturday, we'd be saying, hey,
Gusto pounded on the back, you know, if they had.

Speaker 2 (28:44):
But they had scored fourteen the day before, so they
were getting no hit into the fifth or sixth or
whatever it was.

Speaker 1 (28:48):
It was the sixth with two outs and they rowed
on riped the double thank god. Uh yeah, off the
that's right off the last thing too, Like, okay, the
Friday night offensive output was awesome, but then Saturday the
bats are cold, and then yesterday get the big three
run blast from estoc Paratus outside that it was five singles.
You're still not really it's okay, it's okay, it's coming along.

(29:09):
Oh I didn't tell you the best part. So Dubond
yesterday in the clubhouse pregame, I interviewed, have had him
on the pregame show, and then uh, as he's walking
out of the clubhouse back car, horror goes, hey, so
you got the torpedo bat. Yeah, and uh, Dubon goes yeah. Man,
he goes, is, we're to see if it works. I'm
gonna use this thing every year. If it done, we're
gonna go back to the other one. Yeah. But he

(29:29):
showed us on his bat all his contact is made
right in that little sweet spot where it's the thickest.
Uh huh.

Speaker 2 (29:35):
So he's like, we'll see and then what he has
a hit yesterday? Yeah, I think it's for his first
ab with a torpedo bat. Yeah, he had a single
up the center, I mean up the middle.

Speaker 1 (29:43):
So team torpedo as far as I know, he's the
only one using it. Yeah, but more power to you, Mauricio.
Sounds like much of ado about nothing. Then if everybody,
if it was such this huge advantage, then everybody would
be using the torpedo bat And he's the only astro
that we know of that you use again, So, but
what was his total on the season prior to it?

Speaker 2 (30:02):
I know he was hitting like under one hundred for
a while, so I think he had one or two.

Speaker 1 (30:07):
Yes, he had one hit on the season. He doubled
that yesterday. Let's go with a hit. So torpedo dubon,
is it a real thing?

Speaker 2 (30:14):
We'll discuss a seven one three two two five seven
ninety is the phone number.

Speaker 1 (30:18):
We are going to take a break. We got some
more Astros talk coming up.

Speaker 2 (30:21):
Chris Gordy is here, Matt Thomas is out sick or
Ros virial with you as well at seven one three,
two one two five seven ninety. Quick break back in
a second here on Sports Talk seven ninety. Astros take
two out of three from the Angels over the weekend.

Speaker 1 (30:38):
Great news, Gordy.

Speaker 2 (30:40):
They have a positive run deferential plus two on the season.

Speaker 1 (30:44):
Let's go only team in the American League West with
a positive run differential. Well, and if you want to
look on the bright side, I do you know, if
you want to be half class full m do you
realize they are? That's You've been blown game in Seattle
on Wednesday. If they'd just done what they need to

(31:06):
do that day, we'd be talking about three straight series wins. Yeah,
they took two out of three Minnesota, they just took
two out of three against who are the AL West
leading Los Angeles Angels coming into this right and then
Seattle you lost two out of three, but you should have.
I mean, you were winning that Wednesday game the whole game.
Hunter Brown was outstanding. Contraras was not. He was not,

(31:29):
and everybody was blaming the spot up, ok Oker, it's
been awesome in every other I do think that's just
a tough outing go Basically nobody else couldn't get three outs. Yeah,
it's a tough spot to be in there. You off
the Grand Slam like he did, he goes hey man,
only one of those runs is earned to me.

Speaker 2 (31:45):
Yeah, and even then, exactly, even then, Brian Obray, you
shouldn't have blown the game. I mean, you're you're up
to runs with Brian A. Bray, who should get the
job done against a weak Mariner's lineup, So they didn't
get it done. Whoever you want to blame, I understand
some people are giving blame to others.

Speaker 1 (32:00):
Brian A. Brady with a two run leads should get
the job done. He did not.

Speaker 2 (32:04):
Astros sit at seven and eight. But them's the breaks.
That's how baseball goes.

Speaker 1 (32:08):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (32:08):
You just try to continue to win series and rack
up more dubs and hopefully they'll be able to do
that in Saint Louis for three and then they come
back home for a weekend series against the San Diego Podra.

Speaker 1 (32:18):
Sonny great and I he's been pretty good, had one
bad outing against the Angels, but dominant the other two.
And then on Tuesday it be Eric Fetti who's been
really good as well, so but again one bat outing
for him. So yeah, we'll see what to see what
we're getting here. The interesting part? Do you know the
do you know who leads all of baseball in home runs?

(32:41):
Mike Trout?

Speaker 2 (32:42):
Well, I mean as a team, Oh, as a team,
you get the Yankees are the Dodgers. I'm gonna go
with the Dodgers.

Speaker 1 (32:46):
They spin the Dodgers for much of this season, but
as of today, it is the Los Angeles Angels. Okay,
they've been up there as well. That's why I did
have a problem with you know, Wasazeski gives up three homers? Yes, there,
but they're the solo variety. Solo home runs don't beat you.

Speaker 2 (33:02):
Yeah, but that's also like you should still have a
problem with him. He's been having some home run issues
as well.

Speaker 1 (33:08):
When Verlinder was cruising and even Garrett Cole at times
like they'd put up seven innings of two or three
run ball and they were all solo home runs. Whatever,
But you don't want three leaving the building, no matter
what they are.

Speaker 2 (33:19):
So I wouldn't say, you say, it's a little bit
easier pill to swallow, but I wouldn't say I got.

Speaker 1 (33:24):
No problem with it.

Speaker 2 (33:24):
I have more of a problem with the Astros only
having twelve home runs and being six worst in baseball
at home runs. So jord On Alvarez still has zero
correct or does Oh, that's right, that's right. Yeah, it
was a bomb too, Okay, so he's got one. Come on, Jordan,

(33:46):
you gotta be doing a little bit better than this.
Let's go he's gonna get it going. But but preseason,
we were kind of talking about this with everyone. We
did this on opening Day with everyone we were talking to.
We were like, hey, we need that breakout year from
jord On where he really really pushes for like forty
home runs. His o ps ops plus numbers have always
been great and they're gonna continue to be great. But

(34:06):
like that breakout forty year, forty bomb, like I'm winning.

Speaker 1 (34:11):
The m v P type of season. It would have
been really nice. Correction, I wouldn't say it was Minnesota
and that was the game they were. Remember they were
losing in the ninth inning and the stupid, the stupid
Twins put the brought their closer in the eighth and
then brought in the setup man the ninth.

Speaker 2 (34:28):
Uh huh, and you'red untied it and went to extra
Griffin Jacks. That's right, Griffin.

Speaker 1 (34:34):
Duran, that's their st He came in in the in
the eighth. But you're know how to hit in all
three games as series, it's just yeah, one double, there
are a lot of there are a lot of singles.

Speaker 2 (34:46):
Yeah, and he brought they brought in Rock abou Eli
brought in. It was like the back into the lineup
right the Astros long if he brought in Durant or Duran.

Speaker 1 (34:53):
Yeah. It was funny yesterday in the clubhouse per game
and all the players are arriving, you know, in that
early hour or whatever, uh before the game, and uh,
you're not walks in. I'm talking with Gene Dies from
the Astro staff, and you walks up to Gene and
does a fist bump with him. And I'm like, okay,
and I'm talking to Gene for another thirty seconds or so.
I turned to the left and I realized you're not

(35:15):
had then turned to me with a fist bump and
was waiting. He was holding, and I left him hanging.
No man, but I was like, I almost wanted to
be like, you even know my name, what do you need?
If it's bump for me, that's pretty great. He's funny. Yeah,
he is funny.

Speaker 2 (35:28):
He's kind of sneaky funny. Uh, that's pretty funny.

Speaker 1 (35:32):
Him and al two. I mean the personalities of him Altuve,
I mean like Jeremy Payne. Yeah, I mean, you've You've
got some good dudes on this team, so very easy
to root for. Very Uh, you know, they just need
to produce. That's where we're having is doing his thing.

Speaker 2 (35:46):
He is well, he had a bad weekend, but can
we mention though him and left field is actually it's
not been bad.

Speaker 1 (35:52):
It's been fine.

Speaker 2 (35:53):
And Cam Smith is getting better and better in right field. Yeah,
he's made some nice grabs he has and he's been
okay too. And I like his arm out there.

Speaker 5 (36:01):
Now.

Speaker 1 (36:01):
Did you see the diving catch Jake Myers made yesterday? Yes?
I did. For all people want to bitch a complain
about his bat. That is why Jake Myers plays every day.

Speaker 2 (36:11):
Dude, that was in insane. Catch was fired up. He
was like, dude, like what you could kind of tell?
He said, bleeping something, bleeping catch. He was fired up
about it.

Speaker 1 (36:22):
That's that's why you can get away with al Tuvay
and left to him Smith and right because Jake Myers
is covering the entire ocean out there.

Speaker 2 (36:28):
Yeah, you're totally dude, Jake Myers fan club, you're preaching
a choir right now, Gordy, we love we love us
some Jake Myers. He's also let's see, actually his ops
plus numbers are gone down pretty significantly. Never mind everage
is okay, right, he's in too fitty.

Speaker 1 (36:46):
Yeah, that's that's the best on the team right now.
Six twenty six. Ops.

Speaker 2 (36:49):
We'd like it a little bit better. But yeah, uh,
he's not. I don't think he has a single extra Brase.
Oh no, he's got two doubles.

Speaker 1 (36:55):
That's right. This is a trip I wish was in
like a month or so. I've never been to Saint
Louis that this would be a fun trip to make
to go see him. Yeah, it's a little too early
in the season. Why just because time of year we
got rockets to playoffs. Yeah, everything on. Maybe next year,
there's always next year. Do you have another day game?
I love all these midweek day games. It's great.

Speaker 2 (37:15):
We don't mind them. Here on the Mad Thomas Show
ten to two. Here on Sports Talk seven to ninety.
Knock off a little early, not the worst thing that
could happen to me.

Speaker 1 (37:22):
I think Matt is scheduled to do pregame on Wednesday.
You may won't be on standby for that one.

Speaker 2 (37:26):
Okay, all right, I'm just gonna start calling him a
sicky Matt.

Speaker 1 (37:30):
And the stupid Saint Louis start times. It's an extra
five minutes of pregame for that. Good luck, Matt, appreciate you.
It'll be Wednesday, will be even eleven to eleven forty five.
I can hang out with him for it. We've done
that before.

Speaker 2 (37:43):
Yeah, where I'm just like the kind of like the
color analyst to him being the play by play of
the pregame.

Speaker 1 (37:50):
The I believe the Astros still are saying TBA on
their starter for Wednesday. ESPN has run out Blancos slay
it in there. I don't know why they would and
go Renel Blanco there. Hmm, unless you're trying to because
they had off day. When was that Thursday? Yeah, they
were off last Thursday, so you just kind of slider

(38:12):
everybody up now. They still went Gusto on Saturday.

Speaker 2 (38:15):
Yes, so I think I think because it's early in
the season, they don't they don't really want to do that.
They want to give everybody a little bit of that
extra resk and everybody built up ready to go for
the season.

Speaker 1 (38:24):
I saw Eric getting in the clubhouse yesterday and one
of the guys asked him how you're doing it. He
was like, man, doing the best I can. Like, it's
just kind of it's just do you notice how freak
of an accident. That was yeah, because I said they
were they were shaggingfly balls and a ball was coming
and he didn't see it, and he covered his head
and as he put his hand on his head, the
ball hit right on the bottom part of his thumb

(38:45):
and broke it. I was joking, Brian McTaggert, I said,
So it almost had been better had he not covered
his head. He was just going out of concussion for
a couple of days, but he would have been still
being able to. Yeah, that's true, that's crazy.

Speaker 2 (39:00):
Fortunately he is out, he's gonna he's figuring out how
to do things left handed, everything in his life right now.

Speaker 1 (39:06):
Hopefully he'll be fine.

Speaker 2 (39:09):
Ye all right, Gardy, we do have to get to
a quick top of the hour break here, but uh,
you know astro season is in full swing, and what
pairs best our number two of the Matt Thomas Show
with Ross again without Matt Thomas.

Speaker 1 (39:26):
He is out sick.

Speaker 2 (39:27):
He should be back, I believe broadcasting from home tomorrow
taking a little time has Matt Thomas, and well, he
was sick if you heard him on Friday. Unfortunately it
is continuing into the weekend and beyond, so he'll be back.
But I am here Ross VI Real, Chris Gordy is
here as well. Adam Clannon'll be joining me as at
one o'clock as well.

Speaker 1 (39:47):
Nice saw Wex and AC on the TV last night
in Jersey Sports Sunday with Randy mcilvoy hind and catch
it by the way. Randy mclvoy winner of the Media Houston.
Oh beautiful. Yeah, Media Alliance Award for I think it
was Best Sports Caster that was the one he beat
up Matt.

Speaker 2 (40:06):
Oh really, how's Matt feeling about? Is that why he's
really off today?

Speaker 6 (40:10):
Is?

Speaker 1 (40:10):
See?

Speaker 2 (40:10):
Did he really take off today in protest? Is that
what's really happening? I mean, losing a Randy's no shoe.
Brandy's been doing this, what twenty five years in the city?

Speaker 1 (40:21):
No shame? Is that right? Has it been that long?
It's been around a while? Man? Okay?

Speaker 2 (40:25):
Uh yeah, Matt Thomas tweeting out, I thought I was
turning the corner, but I haven't fever, slight chills, aches,
no appetite. So yeah, he's gonna take Monday off. Hopefully
he's feeling better getting I don't know if he's getting
liquid IV or what he's doing.

Speaker 1 (40:38):
He said he was getting an ivy at home.

Speaker 2 (40:40):
Okay, Well that's a hip of violation, Gordy. I don't
know what you're doing over there. I'm just kidding.

Speaker 1 (40:45):
I think you can buy an ivy from like the
corner store and bring.

Speaker 4 (40:48):
It to you.

Speaker 1 (40:49):
Really, i'd be really helpful on days when you're hung over.
They are, so that is an industry I've heard, particularly
in Vegas. They've popped up a lot. Yes, where you
get like you're hungover Vegas, come to the spot and
get the liquid ivy.

Speaker 2 (41:02):
But it's like three hundred dollars. Should we really how
bad do you want to get over the tangover? Should
we really be encouraging alcoholism as much as we do?
I mean, my god, what people are I mean people
are gonna do it everywhere you look, is nyah? But no,
But they didn't have that nineteen seventy six. You went
down and you drank too much. You paid the consequences.

Speaker 1 (41:19):
Can I pose a question to you? Somebody asked me
this recently. What's the point in shots? You're doing a
shot of liquor? Yeah, to get drunk to drunk quicker? Right, Yes,
Like that's really the only reason. Uh huh, there's no other.

Speaker 2 (41:31):
So you are making a conscious decision when you do
a shot. No, I will tell you this. Then, what's
the point of the fruity shots? Everybody like, you know, like, uh,
let's make some lemon drugs, do some lemon drops or
some Mexican candies or some whatever.

Speaker 1 (41:44):
It's like, okay, I guess I want you want to
go hard, but not too hard. You want to go
a little wit.

Speaker 2 (41:49):
Usually they're like like eight dollars a piece. You might
as well just get a drinking and chug that. You
might as well get a cocktail and chug that down.

Speaker 1 (41:55):
It's true. It's like, if you're doing a shot, you
want to get drug Let's do some hard liquor. Let's go,
hey dollars for a shot. I don't know. It depends
on where oh are you the guy who walks up
to the bar and goes, what's your highest aav beer?

Speaker 5 (42:06):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (42:06):
Man, that some people do that. Yeah, I'll take the
triple Imperial stout.

Speaker 1 (42:10):
Would not know my name?

Speaker 2 (42:12):
What is going to numb my brain as fast as possible?
I mean, yeah, there are some people like that, and
that's fine.

Speaker 1 (42:19):
You got to thinks get away from live that world.
I think you're willing to live the liquid ivy world.
Other shots.

Speaker 2 (42:24):
I mean, look, I've done some shots in my day,
a lot of shots in my.

Speaker 1 (42:27):
Day, but hang out with Greg Cook a lot of
Irish mar moms, like a week of sleep to prepare
for that night.

Speaker 2 (42:37):
I'm like, Greg, it's one thirty in the afternoon. Why
are we doing four Irish car bombs?

Speaker 1 (42:41):
Dude?

Speaker 2 (42:41):
And then he calls you an explotive good, yeah, yeah,
and explet it is not safe for air and not
it's really supposed to be in high usage in twenty
twenty five. But he would like me because I could drink.
I guess a lot of people couldn't drink with him.
I can, Uh, well, it depends, it depends. I can't
handle pretty myself pretty well.

Speaker 1 (43:00):
I guess. One of the most fun UH I've ever
had was was that I'm trying to remember for his
Atlanta or what Super Bowl trip did we go on.
We were at a restaurant and we had Greg Cook
and Sean Salisbury and they were both just sharing.

Speaker 2 (43:15):
Was that when we're at the we're at the cigar bar.
I think, so we went to the cigar bar after?
Did you come to that?

Speaker 1 (43:20):
I don't know. I didn't go that. It was the
dinner before that. Okay, the cigar bar. Things turned up
a notch. It was great.

Speaker 2 (43:25):
That was one of my It was yeah, but they
were just sharing stories and it was it was incredible.
I'm gonna be honest, that was one of my favorite
nights probably ever, because, yeah, we went to the restaurant.

Speaker 1 (43:34):
They're telling stories.

Speaker 2 (43:35):
You know, Sean was more like in the eighties and
Greg was more like in the seventies, but they had
there was some overlap, and they were talking about guys
that they knew, and like they were almost finishing each
other sitting there like, hey, what was the name of
that that defensive end that went to Penn State? And
then then Sean would know it, and then and then
Sean would be like, hey, what was the name of
that wide receiver that went to And then Greg would
know it. And they were telling all these stories and
then yeah, we went to the cigar bar after.

Speaker 1 (43:56):
It was like flirting with the waitress, yes.

Speaker 7 (44:01):
He was.

Speaker 2 (44:02):
Yeah, yeah, harassment charges could have been filed, but it
was fun and uh, you was I think I want
to say, yeah, Sean was having some tequila. Greg was
going hitting the bourbon and I was I was like
having they were telling these hilarious stories. I was having
multiple times, like tears streaming down my face that I

(44:23):
hate cigars, but that was a fun night.

Speaker 1 (44:24):
That was a great time in Atlanta. You're on a
cigar BT, guy, No, I hate cigars. I'm I'm sensitive to.

Speaker 2 (44:31):
Maybe that's why tears are streaming down my face too,
is because all the cigars smoke. Like even if I uh,
if I'm near cigarette smoke, I'm very sensitive as my
my eyes will start watering and I can like I
could just feel myself getting uncomfortable. I don't know if
I'm I'm technically allergic or what, but I can't take it.

Speaker 1 (44:47):
I just don't. I don't like crazy to think in
the late eighties early nineties, you would go to a restaurant,
they'd go smoking or non.

Speaker 2 (44:52):
Yeah, well doing an airplane, so everybody's like babies are
on airplanes getting secondhand smokes. Like okay, it's fine, I'm
two rows away from the cigarett smoke.

Speaker 1 (45:00):
It's like, no, it drifts. I just remember going to
a restaurant one day they didn't have any like or
there's there's no weight in smoking. There's weight for non smoking.
You ever go like and smoking and yeah, you're just
miserable and.

Speaker 2 (45:14):
Or like sometimes you can still go into the suburbs
somewhere and you go into place and there's the guys
is lighting up a cigarette. You're like, what, Yeah, where
am I? Did I step into a time?

Speaker 1 (45:23):
Are we doing? Your? Folks, you're like out in Webster
or something. I don't know.

Speaker 2 (45:26):
You're on the way to Galveston and stop it either
or whatever some kind of small suburb and some dude
starts lighting up in.

Speaker 1 (45:32):
The middle of the restaurant. You're like, what the heck
is going on? Out of here? It's crazy? All right? Anyways,
what are we talking about?

Speaker 5 (45:40):
Well?

Speaker 2 (45:40):
I do want to pass this along. Okay, thank you.
Hit us on track. This is why I need Matt.
Get us on track, Matt.

Speaker 1 (45:46):
The uh Normal's Pelicans announced they fired their GM David Griffin.

Speaker 2 (45:50):
Okay, come on, man, you can't come with Pelicans GM.

Speaker 1 (45:54):
I'm just I'm bringing this up because one of the
news services there put out a report breaking news Pelicans
will keep co which Willie Green okay, and will Gillery
covers the Pelicans. He said, yes, Willi Green will remain
the Pelicans coach for now, but when they hire a
new lead executive, that person will decide Willie Green's future.

Speaker 2 (46:12):
So it's like one of those it's one of his caveats.
It's like, yes, he is technically still the head coach. Yeah,
when they hired a new leadership, that leadership is probably
gonna go.

Speaker 1 (46:19):
You know what, We're gonna make a change.

Speaker 2 (46:21):
Champs just said the Phoenix Suns have fired Mike Budenholzer.

Speaker 1 (46:25):
Didn't. Who did they have last year? Was it Mike? Oh?

Speaker 2 (46:27):
Was it Frank Vogel? It was they had Vogel for
Vogel NBA champions Championship winning coach for one year.

Speaker 1 (46:37):
Fired.

Speaker 2 (46:38):
Budenholzer NBA Championship winning coach fired after one year.

Speaker 1 (46:42):
I think, yeah, wow. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (46:45):
They had Monty Williams for four years. Yeah, and then
he left a weed.

Speaker 1 (46:49):
The NBA Coach of the Year a few years ago.

Speaker 2 (46:51):
Yeah, NBA Coach of the Year is a death now
you win that thing or getting fired within three years?

Speaker 1 (46:55):
Yeah. Bodholzer win thirty six and forty six on a
team with Kevin Durant and who else is there?

Speaker 2 (47:01):
Yeah, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, and they were terriffs
they have all. It's funny because they're running back all
these preseason videos of Devin Booker like, ain't nobody gonna
be able to guard us? We're we're unguardable, and they're like, oh, well,
turns out that's not exactly the case. But yeah, Kevin
Durant go keeps texting the Rockets, going you up, what's up? Uh?

(47:24):
They might be, but I don't really want them to
be for how old he is. But man, that's yeah,
that's crazy.

Speaker 1 (47:31):
So the NBA did announce their Saturday games, so the
Rockets will play Sunday. I see, Okay, they just haven't
announced the time. Yeah, I just don't know the time.
The other part I meant to bring us up. We
were talking Rockets earlier the h did you see the
we get more clarity on the draft lottery as the
Suns tied for the NBA's ninth worst record. Okay, so basically,

(47:53):
the Rockets they will have a chance to perhaps I
want to say, I forget what the odds are, but
it's like a four percent chance of any of those
like top four picks. Okay, like four. I thought it
was seventeen percent.

Speaker 2 (48:07):
Okay, Yeah, I thought it was a seventeen percent or
something like that overall, and then four percent for the
number one overall pick, something like that.

Speaker 1 (48:13):
And then the the who tweet this out, Brado tweet
this out yesterday. So here's an update to look at
that hardened Nets trade. This is what you've gotten so
far for Harden, the twenty twenty two first round pick,
which would be in tari Eason. That was the seventeenth
overall pick, your twenty twenty four pick, which ended up
being number three over all, reed shephard uh this coming year,

(48:34):
you will now have a top nine projected pick from
the Sun's see where that pick falls could fall even higher.
And then you still have the Sun's twenty twenty seven
first round pick, the nets twenty twenty seven first round swap,
and the twenty twenty nine Sons and or MAV's first
round pick. Okay, so that that's still to come from
that hardened trade. And Harden's not even a Net anymore.

(48:57):
Like that just shows the fallout of that trade. But
he's into two teams since then. Yeah, pretty crazy, but
it is insane. But yeah, I mean, look, it's not likely,
but it's not a zero percent chance. That the Rockets
can't win the lottery and you end up with Cooper
flag Cooper flag, you are that would just be stupid.
That'd be great. Would that really be good for Houston

(49:19):
if he came? We're like, I don't know if that
would be a good.

Speaker 2 (49:21):
Would the number one overall pick, consensus best player in
the draft be good for the Houston Rockets.

Speaker 1 (49:25):
I'm gonna say yeah, Okay. Fellow Duke players have called
him the best freshman they've ever seen at Duke.

Speaker 2 (49:32):
He's also literally he should be a high school senior.
He's eighteen. He should be a high school senior. He
dropped twenty seven on the last he's young. Yeah, but
go ahead, osten.

Speaker 1 (49:43):
Well Ree Shepherds twenty, I would say, yeah, that's what
people people making these generalizationsh Reepherd can't play. He's twenty.
Feeling good about it. You don't think that you didn't
see what he did these last couple of weeks. Three
point fall. Yeah, he can make threes. That's good. Checking
two years from now, reach up. I'm telling you he'll
be all right.

Speaker 2 (50:02):
You're wife has infected your brain, I must say it'll
be all sort But like he could get a three
point specialists.

Speaker 1 (50:08):
Yeah, he could be a he could be a rotational plan.
It was the dude that uh jim or for debt.
He can't be that.

Speaker 2 (50:12):
But come on, some people were like, Oh, I'm getting
all my money in on Reed Shepherd for Rookie of
the Year.

Speaker 1 (50:17):
Let's not act like there wasn't some hype. There wasn't much,
plenty of time available for Yeah, exactly was there loaded
team with talent. That's the other thing Adam Planton started
with me the other night was if if if you
win the lottery and you take Cooper Flag, plant thinks
you trade him to go get a proof He goes,
You go get a proof it, You go get it?
Who he was thrown out there? You call Denver on

(50:38):
Jokic you just started in place a Dylan Brooks and
move go on. Well he was, he was saying, you
called Denver, you give him a package of Reed Shepherd,
Cooper Flag and Shingoon for Jokic.

Speaker 2 (50:50):
Okay, that's then you need to throw in like four
first round picks or something.

Speaker 1 (50:55):
Every pick. You need to unload every pick you own.
Then maybe they'll think, but it isn't interesting, like you've
built this thing up. It's all homegrown talent so far
with Dylan Brooks and Ford Van Vliet.

Speaker 2 (51:05):
Are you.

Speaker 1 (51:07):
Is this the point where you're rafel Stone. You go,
let's pull the trigger and go get a proven star.

Speaker 2 (51:13):
You evaluate, you open up conversations, and you kind of
go from there.

Speaker 1 (51:18):
Who's the top ten player? Like Anthony Edwards isn't gonna
be traded from Minnesota? Although I don't know. I don't
know if you say that anymore because Luca Dallas is
never traded Luca. That happened.

Speaker 2 (51:28):
They traded him for Anthony Davis. God, But anyways, do.

Speaker 1 (51:33):
They have any other pieces in Dallas with that dumb GM?
Any any other players we could poach from them? They
gave away Quentin Grimes too. Who's bawling and bawling in Philadelphia? Yeah?
What's left there? It's Anthony Davis and who's the Lakers GM.
He pulled like a Daryl Morey Jedi mind trick, like
you will trade it.

Speaker 4 (51:51):
You will.

Speaker 1 (51:54):
Remember when Maury would do that, he'd pull off these trades,
But be like, how did you pull off that tree?
The other GM just stupid?

Speaker 2 (52:00):
Yeah, uh, all right, we are gonna take a quick
break here on the Matt Thomas Show with Ross. Without
Matt Thomas, Chris Cordy is here. We've been talking some rockets.
We've been talking to them strows. Anything you want to
get to as well, We'll continue to put off the
full shot by shot breakdown of Ry McElroy's Masters win.
But anything you want to get to seven one three

(52:21):
two one two five seven ninety is the phone number.
Seven one three two one two five seven ninety. Back
in a minute here on Sports Talk seven ninety The
Matt Thomas Show with Ross eleven nineteen in the am.
Here on Sports Talk seven ninety. Welcome back to The
Matt Thomas Show with Ross. Matt Thomas remains out. Ross
View Real with you, Chris Gordy as well, Jonathan Allen

(52:44):
as well. You can get in you want to talk
some rockets. How are were feeling about them in the
number two spot. We're basically just daydreaming about them winning
the number one overall pick. It's like a three point
eight percent chance. I don't think it's gonna happen. But
what's happening right now is they are in the playoffs.
They are the number two seed. They will be playing
either of the Golden State Warriors who finished seventh, or

(53:07):
the Grizzlies who finish eighth. The playan is all weird.
It's like seven plays eight, then the loser of that
plays the winner of nine to ten in a home game.
So you could be the eighth seed and be left
or seven seed and be left out of the playoffs
just by losing two games. But if you're the seventh
seed you lose two home games, it makes for more drama.

(53:29):
It makes the reason that the NCAA Tournament is so
good is that there's always this kind of underlying tension
at all times to where the season is on the line.
That's why, I think a big reason we get real
big into it and we tune into it. We don't
even care who it is, right it's you know, Wichitas
State versus South Dakota State or whoever. But we know

(53:50):
the season is on the line, and that's why we
get way into it. So that's why the plan that
was made during the COVID season to kind of help
out with teams not really getting a season.

Speaker 1 (54:00):
They liked it.

Speaker 2 (54:01):
There were ratings, there was interest, there was talk about it,
and what are these leagues like? They like ratings and
interest because that gets you more advertising dollars. So the
playing tournament has stayed. So we'll see who the Rockets play.
Obviously it's probably going to be the Golden State Warriors.
That game is coming up on Tuesday. Golden State Warriors

(54:22):
are favored by six.

Speaker 1 (54:24):
And a half in that game. Benef it's the Warriors.

Speaker 2 (54:29):
For a seven game series, I'm gonna be on edge
because Steph Curry can go off and go nuclear at
any time.

Speaker 1 (54:36):
Hope it doesn't happen.

Speaker 2 (54:37):
Jimmy Butler's really good team has been playing very well
since making that Jimmy Butler trade. But also I'm worried
about Draymond Green wrecking people's careers because he is just
he's a psychopath.

Speaker 1 (54:48):
He just goes crazy.

Speaker 2 (54:50):
Seems rather regular and normal and mild mannered off the floor,
but on the floor he turns into a psychopath. So
I don't want Draymond Green near any of these Rockets players,
certainly not for a seven game series. Again, we saw
it when when he like he was trying to blind
James Harden. I mean, come on, man, and literally was
trying to I don't even know what he was trying
to do to Albrinschino, and he could have fractured his

(55:12):
orbital bone coming in with a flying nubble like that.
Dude's ridiculous, but certainly some of one of the things
we'll be keeping an eye on. If the Rockets do
play the Golden State Warriors, will know who their opponent
is after that game. Tuesday, it's nine o'clock on TNT
Hawks and Magic earlier there oough, that's uh. I don't

(55:32):
know if the national interest is getting in for the
Atlanta Hawks versus the Orlando Magic, but there you go.
That's what we're waiting to see with the Houston Rockets on
that front. Seven one three two one two five, seven
ninety is the phone number if you would like to
get in.

Speaker 1 (55:45):
We have to tell the truth. Coming up.

Speaker 2 (55:47):
I will give four opinions. I will only believe one
of them. That is coming up here at eleven thirty
on a Sports Talk seven ninety. And you can get
in at seven one three two point two five seven
ninety if you want to talk with talking some Rockets basketball.
As I said, we've also been talking some Houston astros.
They won the weekend set against the Angels two out

(56:07):
of three games, exploding for the fourteen runs on Friday.
That was really nice to see, was he look, it
was gonna happen at some point. And we've been saying
this all season long. It's going to turn. It's going
to turn. It's going to get better, but it's to
what degree will it continue to get better? So far,
fourteen runs in one game pretty good. Won in the

(56:28):
next game, getting no hit into the sixth not as good.
But seven runs yesterday, even though it was a lot
of singles outside of a three run bond from Escoc Paradis,
But they're gonna be fine. I really like where Paradis
is right now. Jordan is waking up to an extent.
He's not fully wakened up, but he's gonna be fine.
Still not worried about that. I am curious actually, of

(56:50):
all the Astros, kind of see how the season plays out.
What's gonna happen with jose Al Tuve, because he did
start off white hot of the season. He was carrying offense.
He's hitting over three point fifty, he's got three home
runs i think already this season, and he's been really good.
He did have a cold weekend, and I'm not overreacting
to a cold weekend. I'm not saying, Okay, it's all over,

(57:11):
he's gonna be falling flat on his face. But he
did go one for eleven over the weekend. And I'm
just talking about from coming off a last year to
where he had his lowest ops that he'd had basically
since twenty fifteen. How much of a bounce back year
there was gonna be this year now after that bad

(57:31):
weekend he's under that last year was seven ninety great number.
Appreciate you, Jose for showing supports to the station here.
Seven ninety ops for him last year, seven to eighty
three for him this year. So is he gonna bounce back?
This is where he is. It's just something that I'm
keeping an eye on. We're fifteen games in the season again,
we will continue to use the words here in the

(57:51):
middle of April.

Speaker 1 (57:53):
It's early, but I would put.

Speaker 2 (57:55):
Him on the watch list. I'm just kind of curious
how things are going to shake out for him over
the link of a season. For a guy who is
a thirty five year old, and generally when you have
one of your worst seasons in ten years as a
thirty four year old, you don't have a huge bounce
back as a thirty five year old. But if you
want to talk about the outliers of all outliers, somebody
who can just keep this train going, who has great

(58:17):
hand eye coordination, and you should be the last person,
one of the last people on the planet Earth that
you should doubt.

Speaker 1 (58:25):
Jose L two vay is one of them.

Speaker 2 (58:27):
So I'm just curious kind of to see how this
one plays out, because I was like that at the
beginning of the season. Then he started off really hot,
and I'm like, all right, Osel twova is going to
bounce back from that year was a bit of a
down year.

Speaker 1 (58:39):
Last year.

Speaker 2 (58:39):
He still had twenty home runs, but there wasn't enough
consisten slugging and he still had a two ninety five average,
but the ops numbers were lower than they were the
previous three years. So now after a bad weekend, unfortunately
he's under the number from last year. We're gonna see
where it continues to go. Just something I'm keeping an
eye on along with the rest of this offense. Like
I said, Jordan's gonna be Christian Walker is going to

(59:01):
be fine and coming up here, and to tell the truth,
I will have a hot take about the Astros hitting,
but it will be Do I believe it or don't
I coming up at the next how are we feeling
about I mean, I'm not worried about Joseo TV. Like
I said, it's just something I'm curious to see. With
somewhat of a decline last year from his previous numbers
from the previous couple of years. Now into age thirty

(59:23):
five season, the hot start here has settled somewhat has
cooled somewhat well.

Speaker 1 (59:27):
But he was so in Fuego though that first week.
I mean, he's not gonna hit three fifty all season
long to be cool. Yeah, he's He's about a three
hundred hitter in his career, so I expect that's he'll
he'll level off here. He's been in three zero two,
so he's exactly where he is in his career. Yes,
does have the three home runs, so I me, yes,
he does. I have no problem with his numbers. You

(59:48):
have a little bit higher, but yeah.

Speaker 2 (59:49):
That's what I'm saying. I don't have a problem. He's
he's the leadoff man as he will should be.

Speaker 1 (59:55):
Put it this way, as the leadoff man, he's only
got four walks. Paradius has eight, Christian Walker eight, Jordon
has eleven. I'd like that walk to one will be
a little bit higher.

Speaker 2 (01:00:03):
He's he's just so aggressive, man, Like there was a
there was one of the games over the weekend, Oh,
the no hitter on on Saturday that the Angel said
Tyler Anderson had going in the sixth I'll two vays
up and I think Todd KALs is like, well, Blumer,
we'd like to see al Tuo put together competitive bad.

Speaker 1 (01:00:19):
Here and like first pitch swings pops up. I'm like, dude,
those are the ones that crushed me because I'm like,
I know them is probably trying to jump on his
he's throwing first pitch strikes, try to jump on it.
But dude, like that just says nothing for pitch count
or anything like work a walk every now and then,
find a way to get on base.

Speaker 2 (01:00:35):
Yeah, that's also it's like the blessing in the Curse
of Jose al tuove though he he giveth and he
taketh and and sometimes I mean just you just have
to live with it. And it's almost i mean not almost,
so it is always more good than bad for him,
But some of the bad You're like, ah, that feels
like that was kind of avoidable, but you take it

(01:00:55):
what you can and you add it all up. Josel
two obviously has been huge, and he's been one of
the better hitters, even with the bad weekend that he
had and with the the OPS dipping below eight hundred,
it's been much better than a lot of what's going
on with these Astros hitters.

Speaker 1 (01:01:10):
And now, oh, I just had it up.

Speaker 2 (01:01:12):
I think they're twentieth or somewhere thereabouts in Team OPS.
They were like literally thirtieth at one point. So just
over the weekend, oh, I'm sorry, jumping up to twenty third,
just behind the Seattle Mariners and just ahead of the
Texas Rangers. That's another good thing that we haven't talked
about much. The os stinks. I think the Astros should

(01:01:33):
be able to win it. I wouldn't say stinks. It's
it's very competitive. Nobody has a positive run differential, not
a single team zero. All right, we're gonna oh, actually,
I'm sorry the team that does, I mean no team
out of the Astros who are a plus two now
this first spin, we're the only division in the American

(01:01:54):
League with multiple teams with nine wins. Oh, Okay, well,
that's good for them, but how many that's not true?
Oh you said in the American League. Okay, sure, in
the American League.

Speaker 1 (01:02:05):
All I hear all.

Speaker 2 (01:02:06):
Off sas day Elie is the best division in baseball.
The Yankees, Red Sox raise Orioles Blue Jays. Oh my god,
Well the Yankees are doing decent. Blue Jays are up
there in first place, first place. They're coming here to
Houston in a couple of days. Orioles has certainly stumbled
out of the gates, sor ry. Time for a quick
break here on a Sports Talk seven ninety ros Viria

(01:02:27):
with you, Chris Gordy as well. When we come back
to tell the truth, I will have four opinions. I
only believe one of them it'll be Jonathan Gordy's. Uh,
it will be their task to figure out which one
I believe.

Speaker 1 (01:02:41):
That's coming up next here on a Sports Talk seven ninety.
Oh but I do.

Speaker 2 (01:02:47):
Know how to tell the truth. Ros Viria with you
on the Matt Thomas Show. And you know we're gonna
shelve this real quick because Gordy has stepped out for
a second and we have a phone call. Sorry, Jonathan,
We're doing this on the Fly Live Radio. We will

(01:03:08):
get to give that to you in a second. But
Gordy has stepped out. You know, it's very busy man
program director of the Year, and we appreciate him hanging
out here, but we do have Louise and Katie holding
so we're gonna go ahead and go to him while
we wait for Gordy to get back here in studio
here on Sports Talk seven, and you go, hit, Louise,
the floor is yours.

Speaker 1 (01:03:26):
Good morning guys.

Speaker 8 (01:03:27):
You guys are talking about a two bay ops and
all that, but also I'm not a hondred per se show,
but doesn't the ops involves a calculation of doctor flies
and everything. And if you really see the sentence, an
eighth and ninth hitter in the astros that only counts
Meth have done a little bit better on the RBI.

(01:03:49):
But the rest of the guys that really haven't hit anyone.

Speaker 5 (01:03:52):
So the strong.

Speaker 8 (01:03:54):
Guys about two we do not hit.

Speaker 5 (01:03:56):
He's not gonna have any rubies.

Speaker 8 (01:03:57):
I mean, he's been hitting well about three hundred, so
but if nobody said and on base, it's gonna be
hard for him to uh to bring in uh in
RBIs and I just wanted to see maybe from what
you mentioned.

Speaker 2 (01:04:10):
Yeah, yes, is on base Yeah, oh, pase, it's just
on base percentage plus slugging. So that's why I like
it more than batting average, because let's say two guys
go three for ten, but one guy has three home
runs and one guy has three singles. By batting average,
they both have a three hundred batting average, but one
guy's obviously producing a lot more. So it's on base percentage,
which generally, of course is going to be uh, when

(01:04:32):
you're drawing a lot more walks, you're getting on base,
and then slugging is the calculation of when you're getting
a more extra base hits. So on base plus slugging,
it's he's at seven eighty three. Last year he was
at seven ninety. The year before that he was at
nine fifteen.

Speaker 8 (01:04:48):
So do you mean that he's not getting on bath?

Speaker 1 (01:04:51):
Right? Is on basis than last year? He less than Yeah?

Speaker 8 (01:04:56):
Okay, all right, well he's getting old, but it's still
I got it. Will still be the best hitter of
the of the of the last two games. Thank you
very much, Ross, I appreciate it, and and keep going
take care of.

Speaker 1 (01:05:09):
It, all right.

Speaker 2 (01:05:09):
I appreciate it, thank you, and thank you for getting
in Luis. So yeah, look, and it's funny because like
we get into these arguments with Matt and we talk
about it, and I trying to I really try to
be objective about things. And I'm not going to say
anything bad about jose L Twove. I'm just being talking
about the reality of him being thirty five years old
and also having a number, an OPS number lower than

(01:05:32):
what he has had. Basically, if you don't count the
twenty twenty COVID season where he only played forty eight
games and he was a disaster if you remember in
that year, he's got his lowest OPS number since two
thousand and thirteen. So if you go to OPS plus,
last year's was his lowest since twenty fifteen. OPS plus
does factor in ballparks. You know, if you hit thirty

(01:05:55):
home if East I Paratus hits thirty home runs into
the to the left field Crawford boxes, it's a little
bit different than doing it in say pet Co.

Speaker 1 (01:06:02):
So they average it out.

Speaker 2 (01:06:04):
For everyone, and then they bring in ballpacked ballpark factors
and stuff like that, Right, Like, hitting thirty bombs in
Coors Field is a little bit different than hitting it in, say,
in Detroit. So that type of thing. That's why I
like OPS plus. It's very easy to remember. Average of
everyone is one hundred. If you're one oh one, you're

(01:06:26):
one percent above average. If you're ninety nine, you're one
percent below average. For example, Jake Myers is an eighty
five right now, fifteen percent below average.

Speaker 1 (01:06:35):
It's not good, even though he got off to a
bit of a hot start of the season.

Speaker 2 (01:06:39):
Josel two is at a one twenty seven, so that's
twenty seven percent better than average. It's pretty good. But
two years ago he was won fifty one. Three years
ago he was won sixty one. That's all I'm say.
I am I trying to call him out. I'm not saying,
you know, this is he's the worst ever? Why is
he leading off? He needs to be out there because

(01:06:59):
he just had one bad weekend and he's fine. It's
just one of the storylines I said, I'm keeping an
eye on because there was a bit of a decline
in all of his numbers last year and they're moving
him out to left field. This has been interesting. Man,
whatever happens to Jose Altuve, he's a made man. There's
a statue out in front of dyke In Park or
whatever it's going to be called. At the time, he
deserves and will get a statue. He will be in

(01:07:21):
the Astros Hall of Fame. He will be in the
Baseball Hall of Fame. He is a made man in
this league. If he retires tonight, what glory fades, stars fade.
I'm just wondering where we are right now. Like I
said something, I'm keeping an eye on with Jose Altuve.
I'm less worried about him than maybe I am some

(01:07:42):
others in this lineup and where they're gonna be. But
the hitting has continued over the weekend, or at least
has gotten a little bit better to where you go
from thirtieth in t ops to twenty third, that's an improvement.
Like to him to get top fifteen, hopefully top ten
or somewhere in that neighborhood by the end of the season.

Speaker 1 (01:07:58):
If they're where we want them to be, it is
the bottom line.

Speaker 2 (01:08:00):
The expectation level has been set by this organization and
what they've been doing, and by the owner himself who
said that the window will always be open. Window he's
talking about being open. Isn't the aos championship window. It
is the Major League Baseball World Series Championship window. So
as of right now seven and eighty, do you have

(01:08:21):
a positive run differential?

Speaker 1 (01:08:22):
That's good.

Speaker 2 (01:08:23):
Fourteen to three on Friday helps as well, But it's early.
There's a long way to go. But certain things we're
all keeping an eye on as far as storylines and
where this team is going to be going going forward,
and at the top of the lineup with Jose Altuve,
that that's something I will be watching. Yeah, runs bad
it into me. That's an archaic metric. I'm not super
worried about that. It's not something that I'm locked in to.

(01:08:46):
It's you know, you got a lot of guys on
base right like I think it was what was a
few years ago when Jose Bray you had that horrible season.
He had ninety runs bad in. So it's like, oh, man,
great job, ninety runs bad it in for Jose A. Bray,
we must be a really good hit. No, he was
just batting forth every game. There's a bunch of guys
on bass. So he ended up with like ninety runs
batted in, but he was terrible by every other metric

(01:09:09):
that you looked at. So I'm not worried about that.
I don't think you should be either, especially with the
leadoff man. He's not gonna get a whole lot of
guys on bass, especially with what's at the end of
this lineup, sometimes when it is gonna be Jake Myers
and or Mauricio Duban. Although Torpedo Dubon Torpedo Dubon could
be a real thing. He talked about how it fits

(01:09:29):
his swing, makes him a little bit better, and he
got a couple of hits with it yesterday, So maybe
that's what's going to turn everything around for him. Maybe
the torpedo bats not for everyone, but maybe it is
for Mauricio Dubon, so that will be better. Gonna be
the big boppers in this lineup who are going to
have to carry the load. Essach Parade is doing very
well over the over the weekend. Christian Walker still hasn't

(01:09:51):
fully awakened, but at least we're seeing some certain signs
of life from him, and some certain signs of life
from jord On Alvarez and same thing from Yaner Diaz.
I never thought I'd be so happy to see Janer
Diaz have a one nineteen batting average, but he got
three hits on Friday, wasn't in the lineup on Saturday,
and he basically more than doubled his batting average from

(01:10:12):
third from Tuesday when he last played to Friday.

Speaker 1 (01:10:16):
Sixty one to one thirty two. Huge.

Speaker 2 (01:10:21):
So if he can start to catch fire at some point,
he's somebody that needs to factor into this offense as well.
You don't have the length and depth of this lineup
that you had, especially, I mean, you lose Kyle Tucker
and you use Alex, you lose Alex Bregman. So far
Paradis is producing as well as Alex Bregman could and has.

Speaker 1 (01:10:40):
But right now Cam Smith is not.

Speaker 2 (01:10:42):
Doing what Kyle Tucker did in right field, and you're
not really expecting that from him. But where you're supposed
to win is especially at that first base spot, which
where you didn't get a whole lot, and that's not
happening right now. With Christian Walker, he's hitting one sixty
four yikes. Improve for sure, and he will improve. I

(01:11:03):
do feel fully confident in that. And he's at least
been drawing some walks. First couple of weeks. He had
like zero walks the whole season. Now up to eight walks,
so he's getting on base a little bit more, probably
feel a little bit more comfortable. I think Christian Walker
is going to be just fined at the center of
this Astros lineup as well. All Right, we're gonna take
a quick break here on Sports Talk seven ninety Where
is Chris Gordy. We'll find out, you'll find out what

(01:11:25):
I do. We got to get to the News at.

Speaker 1 (01:11:29):
Noon coming up.

Speaker 2 (01:11:29):
We also have to tell the truth as well. You
have Adam Clanton joining at one o'clock. You also have
you if you'd like to get in at seven one
three two one two five seven ninety seven one three two,
one two five seven ninety Welcome back to the Mat
Tom Show with Ross. Appreciate you guys listening somehow. We're

(01:11:51):
already two hours into the show. Basically News at Noon
coming up here next one o'clock Adam Clanton will join.
But now you've been waiting patiently and we appreciate you.
It's time to play. To tell the truth.

Speaker 5 (01:12:13):
I never know why, oh what I do?

Speaker 1 (01:12:25):
All right, the way this segment.

Speaker 2 (01:12:26):
Works, I will have four opinions for you, good folks.
I only believe one of them. You have to tell
me which one I am. Now I have a list here, Gordy,
I'm marking one of them with an X, so I
will show you that I didn't change because I feel
like Matt Thomas changes his up all the time.

Speaker 1 (01:12:44):
I believe it. Yeah, he totally would do something like that.
But that's okay.

Speaker 2 (01:12:47):
I will not do that. I keep it honest and
true here on the show. All right, let's get it started.
I will give you opinion number one. The Los Angeles Lakers,
who I saw are well ahead of the Houston Rockets
on the championship odds, are a hype job. Yes, they

(01:13:11):
have Luka Doncic, but they also have a declined Lebron James.
Both of those guys are minus defenders. Austin Reeves is solid,
but if then it's what Jackson Hayes, Gabe Vincent, Contavious
Caldwell pope. While they do have the star power, they
are a hype job. They should not be favored to
win the championship as much as they are. I think

(01:13:34):
they might not even get out of the first round.
That's not my prediction. My prediction is that they are
a hype job and they're not making it out of
the Western Conference. I will personally guarantee you that that
is take number one. Okay, take number two. By the
end of the Astros season, Jordan Alvarez will be number

(01:13:59):
one home runs for the Uston Astros.

Speaker 1 (01:14:02):
Number two will be.

Speaker 2 (01:14:05):
Estcoc Paradis, more than Christian Walker, more than Jose Al Twove,
more than the Yaner d Is, Jeremy Payne, whoever it is.
You got the three over the weekend, Crawford Box's Taylor Made.
I know we're just fifteen games in the season, but
I'm buying the Estoc Paradis hype. He will be number
two in home runs for the Astros at the end
of the season. Take number three, Hayden wes Nesky. Sure

(01:14:30):
he's got problem giving up the long bawl, but also
an end of the season prediction for him. On the
pitching side, he will be their third best pitcher. Now
I'm talking about wins above replacement because Arraghetti's missing time.
It's gonna be Hunter Brown in whatever order with Jordan Alvarez.
Number three will be Hayden Wesnsky. I've seen enough he

(01:14:52):
is gonna be good. It's a short sample size, but
I'm liking his stuff ten strikeouts yesterday, Hayden wesn Nesky
ending the season as the astros third best option as
a starting pitcher. Let's take number three. It is take
time for take number four, Gordy. We had all this
mess over the weekend with what's his name, Nico Yama

(01:15:14):
of Lava.

Speaker 1 (01:15:16):
Aliava. I just call him Nico because they're bros like that.

Speaker 2 (01:15:21):
Nico and his whole situation is basically Tennessee said he
wanted some more money from Tennessee. They hadn't heard back
from him. They said, shut your mom ass up. You're
a free agent. We're basically having free agency in the
in the football sphere, basketball sphere with the transfer portal
and all that stuff as well. NCAA has got multiple

(01:15:43):
Supreme Court cases going on. Within three years, the National
Collegiate Amateur Athletic or Athletic Association or whatever will lose
its tax exempt amateur status. They will have to operate,
giving up all those money. You're going to open up
a flood of sponsorships in C double A athletics as

(01:16:06):
we see it will flip on its head within three
years in C double A losing it's amateur status. And
that is take number four, folks.

Speaker 1 (01:16:16):
All right, these are some good one grass, I'll get
you that, thank you. So the recap Lakers are a
hype job.

Speaker 2 (01:16:22):
Astros number two and home runs will be Estoc Paraitis,
Astros number three pitcher will be Hayden Wesnsky within three
years in c double A loses.

Speaker 1 (01:16:32):
It's amateur status. Cody and Jonathan took this out and
so correct me if I'm wrong. You only believe one
of I only believe one only.

Speaker 3 (01:16:39):
Okay, Well, Gordion, I'm looking at the he's talking out
he has eight errors, only have five.

Speaker 1 (01:16:45):
Oh, you're looking at the wrong page.

Speaker 2 (01:16:46):
I think earned runs, earned runs, Yeah, eight earned runs.

Speaker 1 (01:16:50):
I think you're looking at he's a picture. I think
it's I think it's It's believable. Was an Eski could
be the third best pitcher in the Astros. It's especially
with Space Turgetty's injury. I mean it's Fromber and Hunter
Brown are one and two. So now you're asking him
to be better than Renal Blanco, which I think certainly
can happen. Jordan leading the Astros and ol runs, but

(01:17:14):
parades number two, I mean, look, you just hit three
and three straight games, that's not a stretch. I believe
the way college football is trending. I mean, I don't
know if they'll lose their tax exempt amateur status, but
they're definitely gonna. But Lakers are hyped though they're really they're.

Speaker 2 (01:17:31):
All right, I get you, guys, but I hope take
was the Lakers ahead of the Rockets in championship, not
even ahead of the Rockets. It's just that they're a
hype over hyped. As far as the playoff odds and
everyone talking about Luca and Lebron, I.

Speaker 1 (01:17:45):
Would think you don't believe that because they are good.

Speaker 2 (01:17:48):
That's what you're going for. Lucas good. That's where I'm leaning.
It's the one I do believe. Oh this is okay,
So that one's so. Then I'm elimiting that one because
I don't think he believe that.

Speaker 3 (01:17:58):
Okay, I'm gonna go for. I'm gonna go for right now.
I think he believes the instable.

Speaker 2 (01:18:04):
All I'll go. I'll not touching my laptop. You'll see
where the x's are parades number two of the home runs. Okay,
that's not crazy, right, Well, you're both right to dismiss
the Hayden Wesnesky one a little bit of a short
sample size. He's only throwing eighty nine innings. It is
a nice start. I am hopeful that he could end

(01:18:25):
up as their third best starter. But I think Arragetty,
even though he's gonna he's got the broken thumb. It
didn't require surgery, so he should be back soon enough.
He's gonna be great. And Renel Blanco, we'll see the
next one I will throw off. Who chose the NCAA.

Speaker 1 (01:18:39):
One I did? Did it off?

Speaker 2 (01:18:42):
I don't think within three years. I think they're gonna
be able to fight in the courts. Long enough, you
have all those other sports rowing and blah blah blah
blah blah. To some extent, they should be able to
just yeah, yeah, it's like yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:18:55):
I mean, even if if a union is created, it's
gonna take a while. I'm glad I tricked you on
that one. Jonathan was good good.

Speaker 2 (01:19:02):
I still think Christian Walker is gonna be second in
home runs for the Astros lost.

Speaker 1 (01:19:07):
You better pick it up.

Speaker 2 (01:19:08):
Oh yeah, I guess I should show you. See I
didn't touch it. They'll see all the exes at number one.

Speaker 1 (01:19:12):
So you believe the Lakers are a hype shot job,
hip job. Come on, so bron can't defend any.

Speaker 2 (01:19:18):
One, suddenly got better, jumped up to the three seed
when they got there at.

Speaker 1 (01:19:22):
The three seeds.

Speaker 2 (01:19:23):
Since since February tenth, they're seventeenth in offense, I'm sorry,
seventeenth in defense, thirteen in the offense.

Speaker 1 (01:19:30):
It's also been a soft schedule for them.

Speaker 2 (01:19:32):
I think they're gonna be I think I think they
can get knocked out in the first round. I really do.
I think it's another Lakers high job, mark my words.
And if I'm wrong, this.

Speaker 1 (01:19:40):
Is the thing.

Speaker 2 (01:19:41):
Matt's had some really bad takes on this, but he
believes them, and then when he's wrong, you can bring
it back, you can throw it in my face. But
if I'm wrong, I'm wrong. I'm just not believing it.
I don't think they're as good as the Rockets. Quite frankly,
I don't think they're as good as the Thunder. I
think the Nuggets beat him in his seven game series.
The don't have anybody that can guard Nikola Jokicic. So
I do think it is a bit of a hype

(01:20:01):
job from the on the Los Angeles Lakers because of
who they are and the star power. Luca can't guard anybody,
he can't guard to he can't guard a folding chair.

Speaker 1 (01:20:10):
Yeah, but look, he just got to the NBA Finals. Life.

Speaker 2 (01:20:13):
I know, I know they had a better team around
him than they do this year.

Speaker 1 (01:20:15):
I do believe that, And I love Lebron. JAM think
Kyrie is better than Lebron.

Speaker 2 (01:20:20):
At this stage in their careers. I would say yestely.
Actually they're both minuses defensively.

Speaker 1 (01:20:26):
What's up? Repeat that? How many fifty point games Kyrie
was dropping? Fidty Lebron said, a bunch of thirty point games. Yeah,
he's good. It's one of the all time greats.

Speaker 2 (01:20:36):
I just think the complete I think it was more
of a complete team with Dallas than what they have
in Los Angeles right now.

Speaker 1 (01:20:42):
I just think the Lakers were they were struggling for
the first part of the season, and then when they
got Luca, they just took off and started climbing up
that Western Conference standing.

Speaker 2 (01:20:52):
Oh you know what, I was looking at it earlier
and I still have it up Los Angeles Lakers. Since
the first game that Luca played that was February tenth,
we're talking about thirty two games. They're thirteenth in net rating.
Behind the Bulls, behind the magic.

Speaker 1 (01:21:07):
Why why are they're winning loss? I don't know.

Speaker 2 (01:21:10):
I can go find that. I guess give me. I'm
gonna need a minute for that. Okay, well you know
I'm gonna come back with that. I'll tell you at
the top of the hour. But we do have to
get a break here on Sports Talk seven ninety. Thanks, guys,
Maybe you should just play tell JJ Reddick he's a
damn good coach.

Speaker 1 (01:21:22):
To tell that true. Maybe he is. I don't know.

Speaker 2 (01:21:24):
Seems like he did a good job limiting Anthony Davis. Okay,
coming up the news at noon, we'll get to all
the top news items of the day. Also at one
o'clock we will have Adam planton. Also you you want
to get in seven one three two one two five
seven ninety seven one three two one two five seven
ninety Speaking of April, which I was talking to you,
but guys about that earlier. Thomas is out, Chris Gordy

(01:21:46):
is hanging out now. Phone lines are open for you
at seven one three two one two five seven ninety
seven one three two one two five seven ninety. But
right now we have to get to all the top
sports news items of the day.

Speaker 1 (01:22:02):
What we call the news at noon.

Speaker 2 (01:22:08):
All right, Chris Gordy, we got a lot of stuff
going on in the Houston sports world. We'll go ahead
and start with your Houston Astros getting the bats going
a little bit over the weekend.

Speaker 4 (01:22:20):
Grady's waiting for a two to two. Here it is
and at his hammer day till I failed. Pad you
pets that one good bye out of the Laftress proper boxes.
Asa Paradis holders great perch straight day. This one to
go ahead, three run shot fight to two Astros.

Speaker 2 (01:22:39):
Hayden Wasnsky six innings of three run ball, three solo shots,
career high ten strikeouts. Isak Paradis continues to be scorching
hot with three runs batted in there. Did have a
couple of case overall, got his ops over eight hundred
on the season. Astros bats also score four fourteen on

(01:23:01):
Friday and do it against okay see Angels in town.
But the Angels first place in the West, so nice
to get a couple of wins over the weekend there.

Speaker 1 (01:23:11):
They needed to win that just from a standpoint of look,
I know it's super early and standings don't matter and
all that I know where you stand on must wins,
but like it would have created a little bit of
a gap had you lost that series to the Angels
because they were leading to ale Wes. The Rangers have
been winning a lot, like there were been a little
bit of a gap there, and you would have been

(01:23:31):
faring with the A's for the bottom of the basement
of the aos. So you know, this is where I
thought I'll win yesterday. It was very much needed.

Speaker 2 (01:23:38):
Yeah, also in the American League West, how about the
Rangers getting swept by the Mariners. Mariners have now won
five of the last six, including that series, went over
the Stros and then sweeping the Rangers, who have fallen
back to earth a little bit.

Speaker 1 (01:23:53):
Yeah, the Mariners are still good. I mean, that's why
I didn't understand what people were poo pooing them. Their offense,
the bats, Yeah, rotation is gonna be coming around. Yeah
they're pitching is good enough, and yeah they've won four
in a row now. But I don't know, I just
I feel like, again it's very early, but head to
head with all these teams, like they won't see the

(01:24:14):
Rangers for another couple of weeks for their first series.
But it just feels like the tiebreakers coming to play
here recently. I just feel like take advantage went into
three against the Angels. Yes, losing the Maritors wasn't great.
Like when you play the Rangers in a couple weeks,
take take advantage. Beat those guys.

Speaker 2 (01:24:33):
Astros in Saint Louis are three games that'll be a
six to forty five first pitch here on a Sports
Talk seven ninety day game on Wednesday, and then they'll
come home for three games against the San Diego Padres
and three games against the Toronto Blue Jays, who are
leading the American League East.

Speaker 1 (01:24:51):
Yeah, right now, they've been very good. It's gonna be
hard to uh, gonna be hard to beat those guys.
They their offense has been pretty good. But Abushet's batting
above three hundred. Vlad Guerrero kind of motivated after signing
that big deal. He's about over.

Speaker 2 (01:25:07):
Three hundred, fourteen year deal. Zero home runs by the way,
for flat Guerrero.

Speaker 1 (01:25:13):
Well, think they're regretting that fourteen year deal. Their second
baseman though, Andres Jimenez. Jimenez, he's got three home runs.
George Springer, George Springer.

Speaker 2 (01:25:21):
George Springer, he was hot, hitting the start. Is he
still keeping it Up's got a couple Springer dingers in there, okay,
but it's their pitching's been pretty uh, pretty solid so far.

Speaker 1 (01:25:30):
Kevin Gossman, evan resurging year's fan. Kevin Gossman, okay, two
thirty three. How about Chris Bassett, oh eighteen and the
third innings pitch zero point nine eighty ra.

Speaker 2 (01:25:39):
He wasn't good for them last year in thought, but okay,
bounce back years for the Toronto They're just good for them,
all right, Keeping it going here. Dana Brown speaking over
the weekend on Astro's radio network about his seven ninety
as well yes on Sports Talk seven ninety over the
weekend about a certain Lance mccullor's junior in his rehab
start with the Triple A spased Cowboys. Four innings pitched,

(01:26:03):
one hit, no runs, one walk, five strikeouts, thirteen whiffs.

Speaker 1 (01:26:10):
Here's what Dana Brown had to say about Lance mccullors junior.
I spoke to.

Speaker 7 (01:26:14):
Him today personally, probably just about an hour ago, and
he feels really good.

Speaker 1 (01:26:19):
That's the thing that I'm excited about. Mostly.

Speaker 7 (01:26:22):
You know, when these guys come back from rehabs, you
know you know, when they get start getting innings and
built up, sometimes they don't feel as good the next day.
And the fact that he felt great today and he
threw well yesterday, that's encouraging because we're adding more more
pitches to his to his starts, and so to get

(01:26:42):
to get to that pitch count and feel good the
next day and have a pretty good outing, it's it's
very very encouraging and exciting.

Speaker 4 (01:26:51):
So Color is getting another rehab start next weekend for
Corpus Christy at the Double A level. Could that potentially
be his last minor league rehab outing?

Speaker 7 (01:27:00):
Yeah, I mean the dart process is if we can
somehow get him back by you know, the Kansas City Series,
that would be pretty encouraging, you know, but we don't
want to rush it. We're gonna take it one, you know,
one start at a time. But he's look he looks
like he's on pace that potentially we might we might
be able to do.

Speaker 2 (01:27:19):
That, So could be the Royals series. In a couple
of weeks mentioned I did not mention sixty one pitches
from Lance mccullor's junior So Neil Little starting pitching help.
Ryan Gusto is good over the weekend. But is it
really gonna happen? It feels like we've been talking about
this for years. You say a couple of weeks. That's

(01:27:40):
a week from Friday. Yeah, week from Friday. There you go,
so yeah, I mean it is interesting.

Speaker 1 (01:27:45):
I just saw a car back announced her to do
an Astro's watch party next Friday. That game sides, Yeah,
what if jday?

Speaker 2 (01:27:56):
Okay, Lance mccullors junior striking up, Bobby Wood Junior, sign
me up.

Speaker 1 (01:28:00):
It's probably good that they have next Thursday off though,
to rest up that bullpen, because let's be real, McCullers
may only give you four. He well, you can get four.

Speaker 2 (01:28:09):
You know, it's early in the season. We'll see what happens.
Gusto be ready to hear other guys. Mccaullors the opener,
Gusta ready to go right after that. I like that
we can do a piggyback start. Yeah, little piggyback action.

Speaker 1 (01:28:21):
I like that. I like that a lot.

Speaker 2 (01:28:23):
All right, So elsewhere in the news at noon, here
Chris Gordy, your Houston Rockets, of course have been locked
in as the number two seed, but we know who
their potential opponents are. It's gonna be either of the
Memphis Grizzlies or the Golden State Warriors. They face off
on Tuesday at nine o'clock on TNT. Golden State favored
by six and a half in that.

Speaker 1 (01:28:45):
One, Jez six and a half, Poor Grizzly, that's just
a couple of buckets. Let's go grizz I texted my
buddy who covers the Grizzlies out there in Memphis. I said, uh,
I said, please beat the Warriors. He said, we suck.
I said, if Jimmy is hurt, though, we have a chance.
Rockets will murder us in a series four to five games. Easy.

Speaker 2 (01:29:08):
Well, I like what he's saying there. I like the
doom and gloom. Grizzlies will be tough. Hurriers will be
really tough the way they've been playing lately. I would
rather have the Grizzlies if the Rockets had their choice. Again,
not to say that it would be easy pickings or
anything like that, but man, he.

Speaker 1 (01:29:24):
Went on to say, I love your team. Tough as hell.
Fourth quarter offense could doom me all though. Yeah, that's
something that we talk about.

Speaker 2 (01:29:33):
It gets highlighted most in the playoffs when it's two
minutes left, it's a five point game, and yeah, you
can operate within the year system. And you're talking about
you're not getting up and down the floor. That's when
they you know, people say the game slows down in
the playoffs, it actually doesn't. They have data that that
kind of goes against that. But it's in the last
two minutes that's when it really really does slow down.

(01:29:53):
So in those situations, Rockets have options. They don't have
the big alpha dog option, and we'll see what happens
in what they try to go to. But coaching Doka
is a good coach. He's gonna be prepared and you're
gonna know the opponent by Tuesday, so they'll be well
and ready to go at the Toyota Center Sunday time TVD.

(01:30:13):
So the Warriors, it's going to be a late night
probably well, you know, on a Sunday maybe.

Speaker 1 (01:30:18):
So Ben do Bos is guessing that the the two
point thirty game is is ABC National, So he thinks
that would be the time slot where you go Rockets
Warriors because you want the bigger audience. The night game
is TNT, so he thinks Rockets and Grizzlies would suit
more of the night game on TNT as opposed to
the midday national audience on ABC.

Speaker 2 (01:30:41):
What about like Celtics Hawks or Health Celtics Magic. Hmm, okay,
very very interesting. We'll see what happens there, all right,
a little bit of NBA news, Gordy here on the
news at noon. As you mentioned, the Pelicans have fired
their executive vice president, David Griffin after six seasons. Also
Mike Budenholtzer, the Sun's coach. After one year of Frank Vogel,

(01:31:05):
you're out, one year of Mike Budenholzer, Y're out. Both
those guys won championships. Maybe it's the roster that stinks
over there in Phoenix.

Speaker 1 (01:31:14):
I don't know that thinks a whole mess. That's a mess.
At least the Rockets traded Harden and tore everything down
and just kind of started from scratch. I'm glad they
didn't try to do the sustain. No, let's keep going again,
let's make trades, let's get played like and I think
if Moury it's stuck around and they might have done that. Well.

Speaker 2 (01:31:32):
Maury is sticking around, by the way, with the Philadelphia
seventy six ers, as is head coach Nick Nurse, speaking
of guys who have gotten fired after winning a winning
an NBA championship. Nick Nurse and Daryl Morey back in
the fold in Philadelphia, what happened there?

Speaker 1 (01:31:47):
Why did they not go right? Injuries? I mean they've
been hurt.

Speaker 2 (01:31:49):
Joel embiid Is, I mean he's he's a monster when
he's on the floor, but he's just been hurt his
entire career. Didn't he miss his first two NBA seasons
with injuries? Yep, it's it's just basically his whole career
has been riddled by injuries. And that is your news
at noon here on a Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 1 (01:32:08):
Thanks for listening, folks. It is time for a quick
break here on.

Speaker 2 (01:32:11):
The Matt Thomas Show with Ross Jonathan Allen with us.
You have Chris Gordy with us, Adam Clanton will joint
at one o'clock and you at seven one three two
one two five seven ninety seven one three two one
two five seven ninety I'm uh, mister Gordon and I
are talking during the break. Yeah, we're worried about the
Rockets and the playoffs. It's kind of funny you hit

(01:32:33):
this this lull of the sports calendar in February after
the Super Bowl. It's not a whole lot going on.
It's like NBA All Star Week. But now you've got
the Astros firing on all cylinders. They're playing games. I
played a night against the Cardinals six forty five pm.
First pitch here on Sports Talk seven ninety. Rockets into
the playoff this weekend, and it kind of puts it

(01:32:53):
on the back burner on your radar a little bit,
especially with the two teams that we have here. The
NFL drafts coming up in like two weeks or not
even April twenty fourth, that will be a week from Thursday.
The NFL Draft will be here and we'll be talking
about it here on Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 1 (01:33:14):
We will Did you see who the I just saw
the Texan center released today. I think, what's his face?
Jem Nick Cassario is going to Well, I haven't seen
him in a while, so his name kind of eluded me.
He's gonna have a media availability later this week to
not answer questions about the draft. Yah.

Speaker 2 (01:33:35):
It's gonna be one of those situations where where we
are on the board and you know, we.

Speaker 1 (01:33:39):
Look at players we like, you know, players we may
like a little bit more than others, and you know
you just kind of valuate it's just the right pick. Yeah,
we're gonna get the pick.

Speaker 2 (01:33:48):
I have to go with the flow because you know,
any number of different scenarios can play out, and we're
gonna keep everything on the table, you know, where we think,
whether there's trading up, whether it's trading down players.

Speaker 1 (01:33:57):
Look, get ready for that. He's gonna. I mean, we
could do it. No, here's the list things we could do.
You know, we could trade up, we could stay and put,
we could trade back. You know, there's any way you
can go on this. Yes, Nick, I understand how draft works.
Thank you understand that. Thanks. Yeah, there's a lot of players.
We like, there's a lot of players. Does he think
some of the media members have never covered the NFL
before and it's their first time. Yeah, Look, it's it's

(01:34:19):
what we do is we go in the room and
we evaluate talent. We look at film a bottom and
we saw it. We build a board and.

Speaker 2 (01:34:25):
One of the things is especially picking where we are
is there's so many unknowns at this point. So we'll
try to just kind of as it goes along, keep
reevaluating our board and keep all our options open and
we pick where we're picking back into the first we
don't know who's going to be available. Yeah, so there
could be a really good talent available then, but.

Speaker 1 (01:34:45):
This good draft a lot of good talent.

Speaker 2 (01:34:47):
No matter who we get where we get them, We're
confident that we're going to get a good player and
somebody gonna help us build towards the future. Did you
see thanks Nick, They created great stuff. Did you see
who the Texans are hosting for a visit?

Speaker 1 (01:35:00):
Uh? Are they? They did host for a visit? Oh? No,
I didn't.

Speaker 2 (01:35:06):
Kelvin Banks from the University of Texas running back Oh
Jaden Blue, Jayden Blue. He's at formal meetings with the Bills,
the Packers, Eagles, Blue Steelers, and the hometown Texans. Okay
rush for kerr high seven hundred and thirty yards, eight
touchdowns caught, forty two passes, three hundred and sixty eight

(01:35:27):
yards played behind several excellent running backs, including Jonathan Brooks,
who's the Carolina Panther. Yes, and when I look at
that Texans depth chart, Ross Joe maxon Ross, Joe Mixon's
doing just fine there as a starter.

Speaker 1 (01:35:41):
Yeah, but he's got my basically one year left on
his deal.

Speaker 2 (01:35:43):
Darry Ogumbawalle and Damian Pierce hanging around.

Speaker 1 (01:35:47):
Yeah, you need I think this is supposed to This
is thought of as a really good running back draft.

Speaker 2 (01:35:52):
Yeah, starting of course with Ashton Jentiek, who's possibly going
to go in the top ten. Some people think, but
you've got to mean skataboo. You've got Jayden Blue, he's
got some Trevion Henderson from a house state people like.
So there's a lot of good running backs in this draft,
and I think it'd be a good idea for the
Texas to try to pick one up.

Speaker 1 (01:36:11):
The thing with Jayden Blue is breakaway speed. His official
pro day time at Texas was that a week or
two ago was four to three eight. Aaron Wilson, though,
says his unofficial times were a four to two five
and four to two eight. So what I'm confused then?
What what is the four three eight different official versus unofficial? Yeah,

(01:36:32):
I mean some guy with a stopwatch fucked him.

Speaker 2 (01:36:35):
Yeah, him at four two five and usually they're pretty
close for a running back like that's yeah, I don't think. Yeah,
he's very fast. He's definitely not like big and bulky.
Maybe could have some issues with the with pass protection
and stuff like that, but you can get him second,
third round or wherever.

Speaker 1 (01:36:53):
I don't know exactly where he's projected to go. I
like j in the NFL does the running back out
in space and just has breakaway, you know, nothing but
land in front of them. NFL everybody so fast, they're
gonna you know, they close so much.

Speaker 2 (01:37:08):
Yeah, that's true, but I mean you have guys a
lot of the you do have home run hitters. I mean,
how often have you seen Derek Henry just run by everyone.
It's because you have guys taking bad angles and then
they you kind of surprise them with your speed. So
it's not gonna be wide open fields. It's gonna be
safeties and linebackers taking bad angles because of how fast
you are.

Speaker 1 (01:37:24):
I just feel like the majority of the NFL is
so much these days is dink and Dunk's move the chains,
live to fight another day. On Markley disagrees six yard
run here, five yards slamt pass there. Yeah, yeah, Barkley was, I.

Speaker 2 (01:37:39):
Mean, he's yeah, how many rushes over fifty yards did
he have?

Speaker 1 (01:37:43):
It seemed like it was happening every week. But Blue
would be a nice compliment behind behind Joe Mix.

Speaker 2 (01:37:49):
Yeah, but basically it was those two guys. Oh here's
a note I'm just pulling up, like the yards per
attempt leaders from last from last year. It's a bunch
of a couple of quarterbacks. Yeah, Jamior Gibbs, I would
put in that category. Actually, Sneaky Bucky Irving. He had
five point four yards per carry for Tampa Bay. He
was running away from a lot of guys. But but
to your point, we're talking about basically three or four
guys that were really running past everyone. Other than that,

(01:38:12):
gonna be a lot of tough inside running and stuff
like that.

Speaker 1 (01:38:15):
The looking at the running backs, Yeah, Ashton Gent is
expecting to go number one, a Marion Hampton, catching a
lot of love coming out of North Carolina. They are
some folks putting him at the back end of the
first wow, Like they think Ashton Gent will will go
somewhere in the first fifteen. And you can get a
whole argument on should he draft, should you be drafted
a running back that high?

Speaker 2 (01:38:36):
That sort of thing, But yeah, if it's somebody that
is going to be the mega talent, like who was
was Sekwon Barkley one of the last who's one of
the running backs that have been your guy from Texas?
Oh well, Jonathan Brooks.

Speaker 1 (01:38:51):
No Atlanta Falcons.

Speaker 2 (01:38:52):
Oh yeah Jon Robinson, John Robinson, Yeah he was dude.
B Jon Robinson was one of the best running backs
in football last year.

Speaker 1 (01:38:57):
Yeah, Bjon one eighth overall. Two years ago, Jamier Gibbs
went twelfth overall. So by that judgment, that's pretty damn good.
I got a hot take for you as well.

Speaker 2 (01:39:06):
I think Bjehn Robinson wasn't healthy all year, just the
way that he was moving. Early in the season he
was looking electric. Then in the middle of the season,
and then late in the season he just looked. He
didn't look good at all. And when they got big leads,
they were immediately going to Tyler Aler Geer Algier. So
I got a sneaking suspicion that he wasn't one hundred percent.
And I think Bjeon could even break out more next year.

Speaker 1 (01:39:28):
Yeah. Jonathan Brooks was the highest drafted running back last year.
He went with pick forty.

Speaker 2 (01:39:32):
Six and he had just torn his ACL. Then he
came back for one game and towards ACL again.

Speaker 1 (01:39:36):
Yeah. Bucky Irving went in the fourth round. He was
pretty good with the Bucks. Ray Davis went in the
fourth round to the Bills. He picked up some yardages
This year went along, but there weren't really any a
ton of other running backs. The Texans took Jair Jordan
in the sixth round last year, he didn't do much.
But for the year prior, b Jeon and Jamier Gibbs
both in the first round both.

Speaker 2 (01:39:57):
Both us excellent. Yeah, absolutely, so it varies from year
to year. People are saying that this isn't maybe a
lot of home run hitting running backs outside Ashton Genty,
but it could be guys who have been very solid
and you could pick up third or fourth round a
running back who could really produce in the NFL.

Speaker 1 (01:40:12):
Yeah. The other names to watch, it's Ashton gent obviously,
I don't think that he'll even be in play for
the Texans. So Marion Hampton from North Carolina, Caleb Johnson
from Iowa, and then you get Trevion Henderson from Ohio State,
Dylan Sampson from Tennessee, Quinnchhn Judkins from Ohio State. Camp Scatibo.
That feels like a Nick Cassario, New England days would

(01:40:36):
love him.

Speaker 2 (01:40:40):
Skeptical in camp Sciatogo. Is that wrong? I think a
lot of it, And maybe I'm just basing this off.
Like he was good in that game against Texas, but
that was like fourth quarter after like thirty carries and
stuff like that.

Speaker 1 (01:40:52):
He was their best player all year. The defense is rundown,
but the Arizona State makes the playoff because of Scatibo. Yeah,
and the same thing with Ashton Genty at Boise. Hmm.

Speaker 2 (01:41:02):
Absolutely, But I mean we'll see, we'll see. I don't
know exactly where where do you see Cam scattaboy on
what you were looking at, like second third round pick somewhere.

Speaker 1 (01:41:12):
List as like the eighth best running back, So that's
probably third or fourth.

Speaker 2 (01:41:15):
Yeah, maybe even further back. Okay, I'm not saying. I'm
just saying, let's get James and kliin. Whant to talk
some NFL draft real quick? What's up, James?

Speaker 1 (01:41:25):
Yeah, Golden Ut you think he's a first round pick.

Speaker 2 (01:41:30):
I don't know that he's gonna go. Maybe if it's
it could be the back end of the first round.
There's some guy, like there's some analytics guys that don't
like his yards per route run and some other metrics.
But I mean he's really fast, I think, and maybe
somebody who the highlights look really good, but when you
look at some of the low lights, the people are
questioning kind of his work ethic and how much he
wants to be out there and stuff like that. So

(01:41:52):
up and down I could see. I think Golden could
go maybe in the back end of the first round.

Speaker 1 (01:41:57):
ESPN list is a Tedor roa McMillan for Arizona. They
have him projected as the fifteenth overall pick, so that
would be in the middle of the first They have
matth Matthew Golden at twenty fifth overall.

Speaker 2 (01:42:07):
Yeah, so that would go back end of the first Okay, well,
he hung up Texans territory.

Speaker 1 (01:42:12):
I mean, if the Texans want to add Loo, you
got Nico Tank, Dell's very much up in the air
on his health. You added Christian Kirk, you added Justin Watson,
you added Braxton Barrios, and you returned John Metchi Savior Hutch.
I mean, look, none of the if you added Matthew
Golden to that room. I mean he's competing with Christian
Kirk for the second best wide receiver on the roster.

Speaker 2 (01:42:33):
Yeah, immediately, I think some people took some issues with
and with some of his performances throughout the season. He
came up big in some big games as well, but
it was a little bit uneven from Matthew Golden.

Speaker 1 (01:42:46):
But I think he's really talented. Toy for first and
a touchdown receptions in the SEC. There you go. What
about yard?

Speaker 2 (01:42:52):
I think the yards were very inconsistent for him. So
all right, we're gonna take quick break here on the
Matt Thomas Show with Ross. Chris Gordy is hanging out.
I really appreciate him hanging out for appreciate you, Gordy
from the hanging out. As long as you have you
want to get in, you can. We're we just talked
a little bit of NFL draft. Who's also been talking
about the NBA and the Rockets as the number two seed.
Astros Bats wake up to some degree over the weekend

(01:43:14):
as well.

Speaker 1 (01:43:15):
You can get in talk about anything you'd like.

Speaker 2 (01:43:17):
Seven one three two one two five seven ninety seven
one three, two, one two five seven ninety Continuing along
on The Matt Thomas Show with Ross. Without Matt Thomas,
he's out sick. He'll be back to Mara. You folks
want to get in, you can seven one, three, two,
one two five seven ninety Chris Gordy with us as

(01:43:42):
well Adam Clanton joining at one o'clock. Apparently we had
off air someone talking about the top offensive tackles the
Texans could end up with.

Speaker 1 (01:43:51):
I imagine you.

Speaker 2 (01:43:52):
Got Will Campbell number one, although some people say he
should be a guard I Calvin.

Speaker 1 (01:43:57):
Begson, Wild Campbell, I think are obviously the two best
souls I'm in this draft from Texas and LSU armand
Membu from a Zoo has been the guy that's been
raising up people's boards. He had a really good show
at the combine and good workouts, long arms, good you know,
big guy who moves well. So armand Membu's those who
kind of thought to be the three top ones. The

(01:44:18):
number four guy is a guyt of Ohio State named
Josh Simmons. And I'm just looking at the latest CBS
mock draft that came out this morning, Ross and they
have going to your Houston Texans at the back end
of the first round with pick twenty five is Josh
Simmons from Ohios.

Speaker 2 (01:44:35):
I would like that a lot. Josh Simmons was a
big talent. He got hurt last year was it just
an ACL I can't remember exactly what the injury was,
so he only played a few games, but there are
a lot of people that think if he played all
season long, he could possibly have ended up as the
number one tackle on the board.

Speaker 1 (01:44:49):
Here's what they say. Texans have completely overhauled their own
line in this offseason, but the new additions aren't incredibly inspiring.
That's why Houston reennights CJ. Stroud with one of his
Buckeye teammates and Josh Simmons, who allowed just one quarterback
pressure and no snaps or no sacks in one hundred
and fifty two pass blocking snaps last season. That was
good for the lowest pressure rate allowed by any tackle

(01:45:10):
at least one hundred past block snaps.

Speaker 2 (01:45:13):
But also a small sample size, right. I think he
was hurt early into the season, so and I imagine
the the the beginning of Ohio States, their schedule probably
a little bit light.

Speaker 1 (01:45:26):
I'll tell you another guy to keep an eye on
is Tyler Booker, who's a guard out of Alabama but
really big size, and we know they liked their Alabama guys.
Tamiko went to Alabama. Basically all their linebackers who went
to Alabama, Henry to Yeah, Christian Harris went to Alabama.
John Metchi went to Alabama, and they had a little

(01:45:46):
thing for Alabama guys there for a while. They were
gonna take Bryce Young.

Speaker 2 (01:45:49):
Well, you know what, those Alabama players have been pretty
good over the years.

Speaker 1 (01:45:52):
They were gonna take Bryce Young until the Panthers, And
that's very true. But I don't know, that's just a
name I would keep an I on because you know, again,
if they want to go guard over tackle, which I
don't know you already missed on the Kenyan Green one.
I just I feel like guard is never a first
round pick. You never go guard first round.

Speaker 2 (01:46:12):
You shouldn't, or if you do, it should be a
can't miss, no doubt about it. Guard like nails or
something like he And that's unfortunately not what Kenyon Green
turned out to be. There's a lot was it fifteenth
or sixteenth they picked him? Man, that's high for a guard.

Speaker 1 (01:46:25):
Yeah, but but it was their second first round pick
that year. But the here's the here's the tough part.
If a Mecca Abuka is there, and I know he's
he's kind of projected us an early second right now,
I don't think he oh, is he that's a guy
that C. J. Stroud has chemistry with, loved him in college.

(01:46:45):
That maybe you know again, like I always be very
intrigued with reuniting those two.

Speaker 2 (01:46:51):
Hmmm, uh yeah, I think it's got to be I
think what we're talking about right now is kind of
what it's got to be. Right, It's got to be
either wide receiver or it's got to be a or
offensive lineman in some way, probably tackler guard.

Speaker 1 (01:47:08):
Yeah, Like like this mock draft has Max Harrison from
Kentucky going one pick later. I like Max Harrison a lot,
but you just locked up Derek Stingley junior, paying him
a ton of money. You just drafted. Uh, who's my
guy from Georgia last year? I got a pulp the
dep term having it. I'm in I'm in basketball baseball note,
I'm having Brett brain fart. Sorry, I was looking at

(01:47:30):
something up. I didn't even hear what you are. Okay,
you feel pretty good about last ter in Stingley. So again,
that's one of those tough parts, like if if you
get to that pick and you have Max Harriston as
your best available player, that's a tough thing of like
do you just take him because we got him great
as such a high player.

Speaker 2 (01:47:47):
Yeah, I don't know. It's well, yeah, it's good. We
up to Nicky C and his coach speaker, his GM
speaker what he's gonna give us, So we're gonna say
true to our board.

Speaker 1 (01:47:56):
All right, Uh, we're gonna take the best player available.
I feel pretty good they're not gonna go see because
you got cj Arter Johnson now and you just locked
up Jalen pe Tree, Yes, and you got Kaylen Bullock.
Like that feels like I know Patrick is a little
bit more of a nickelback however they use them, but
like that's your You're good at safety. Uh. Defensive tackle
is an interesting one because I feel good about the

(01:48:16):
ends with the Neil Hawner and Will Anderson.

Speaker 2 (01:48:19):
I would like to tackle, and you got Sheldon Ranklin's back.
Tim Settle was good, especially as a pass rushers. You're
fine there, but you don't have like complete game wreckers,
which is fine. You don't necessarily need that. In the
way the Demiko Ryans, you had the guys like Mario
Edwards and those kind of guys in the middle kind
of holding things down that way. The airdressers and the
linebackers can do their thing and get downhill and stop

(01:48:41):
the run.

Speaker 1 (01:48:42):
Like if Kenneth Grant from from Michigan falls and he's there,
I feel like you got to go take him. He
uh yeah, where's Grant supposed to go?

Speaker 2 (01:48:51):
Though?

Speaker 1 (01:48:51):
Is he gonna fall that far? This mock draft has
him going twentieth overall. Okay, yeah, I guess it could happen.

Speaker 2 (01:48:57):
But I've heard a lot of people talking about him
going maybe even higher than that twentieth on the Mack Draft.
Derek Harmon from Oregon, I'm good on him. It's actually
supposed to be. I read a very deep defensive interior
draft as well, so you could pick fifth round someone
like that. The former Aggie who finishes Corret Ole Miss.
He was just a legend, Alfred Collins. You didn't mention

(01:49:18):
him coming in.

Speaker 1 (01:49:19):
A nice year. I worry about those guys who have
like the huge last year of college.

Speaker 2 (01:49:24):
Oh really, when you know when they're best and they're
coming in really coming into their own, come on, man,
be fine.

Speaker 1 (01:49:30):
I would take Nolan over Nolan. I think you gotta
you gotta push him a little little, you know, you
gotta have a but Demiko is your coach, so I
have no problem. I think he would get the most
out of them.

Speaker 2 (01:49:40):
Yeah, Nolan might fall. This Pro Football Focus board I
have has Walter Nolan eighth over all.

Speaker 1 (01:49:47):
Wow. This mock draft has him going thirty two overall
the Eagles. Wow.

Speaker 2 (01:49:51):
Okay, so yeah, somebody like in Alfred Collins or who else,
whoever else. It's kind of at the third fourth round
you can find guys who can be defensive tackles. It's
not a premium like ed rusher tackle and all that
type of stuff.

Speaker 1 (01:50:03):
But yeah, as the caller suggested, there's basically a big
four of O linemen in this draft. It's Calvin banks Well, Campbell,
armand Membu and then Josh Simmons from Ohio State. If
you end up with one of those, I'm feeling pretty good. Yeah,
all the all the rest.

Speaker 2 (01:50:16):
I mean, when they got a guy Wyatt Millium from
uh Milam from West Virginia, No, yeah, there's.

Speaker 1 (01:50:23):
A Nika Sarah. I'm not banking my future on a
West Virginia O lineman. I think he's supposed to be good.
I can't remember what the knock on him was I
was doing. I was like weeks ago.

Speaker 2 (01:50:33):
He was doing all my like kind of pre draft prepping,
and then I forgot because all the astros and rocket
stuff that's been going on.

Speaker 1 (01:50:39):
Oh you know what, let's just take Johad Campbell. Let's
get another Alabama linebacker and there room. Yeah, I mean
they might do that.

Speaker 2 (01:50:44):
Actually, watch out, Tomko goes Aziz al Shay here, you're
getting older. We got Henry to Otoa, we got you know,
Christian Harris. Let's go ahead and add Jihad Campbell to
the mix.

Speaker 1 (01:50:56):
Yeah, okay, let's do it. I don't care. I'm on board.

Speaker 2 (01:51:00):
Just improve the team. That's all I want. Whoever they get.
I mean, I'm not gonna It's not like I've been
watching tape on a bunch of these guys. I've been
kind of reading some draft prospect profiles and stuff like that.

Speaker 1 (01:51:10):
Can I pass along what I heard over the weekend? Yes,
So everybody. The consensus now is cam Ward is the
best quarterback in this class. And that's it. Like it's
cam Ward and then there's a massive separation. There's been
a lot of talk of the Saints at nine maybe
in taking Shador Sanders. In fact, a lot of the
mock drafts are falling into that category. This guy I
talked to you said, he's talked to tons of people

(01:51:33):
around the league that they don't even have Shador like
they have Shador right fortieth forty one, forty two, Like
they don't even have him in the top in the
as a first round pick.

Speaker 2 (01:51:44):
I think there could very well because what you're talking
about I've heard from several people as well.

Speaker 1 (01:51:49):
And the name that came to my mind.

Speaker 2 (01:51:50):
Remember people were talking about will Levis like going in
the top five, going in the top ten, and then
he slipped all the way to the second round. I
think we could see a similar situation, which you do. Sanders, Yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:52:01):
I think it's it's a simple fact somebody, this person
brought up that go back to that what was that
draft in twenty two that the attitude of that draft
with quarterbacks was as similar to this one. Where was
Kenny Pickett, Desmond Ridder, Malik Willis, Matt Carrall, Bailey Zappi.
It was like you like some of these guys, but
you weren't in love them. And to be honest, Pittsburgh

(01:52:22):
reached taking Kenny Pickett twentieth overall. Desmond Ridder went in
the second round to the Falcons. But he's turned out
to be a bus Like there was no good quarterback
that came well. I guess the best one was Rock Party,
the last pick of the of the you know, last
quarterback pick in that draft. Party's doing quite well for himself.
But like what if I told you that this is

(01:52:43):
much like the twenty two draft.

Speaker 2 (01:52:46):
I think cam warden has thought of as better as
all those prospects. But outside of that, it is supposed
to beat Kim Morton Cot Like I didn't seems good.
It was fine. I didn't see like, man, the Titans
are gonna be ah.

Speaker 1 (01:52:57):
I didn't think he was good at all. Ifc South Champs,
if they take him, yeah, y'all let to let him tho,
if the Titans want to take Camp's okay with Ward
number one? Let him?

Speaker 2 (01:53:05):
Yeah, I'm okay with it too. I wouldn't be super
scared about it. It's yeah, some people have do have
cam Ward coming going down on their boards, but it's
the quarterback position. You gotta take a shot. Who knows
if the Titans are gonna do that orf they're gonna
try to trade.

Speaker 1 (01:53:18):
Down, all right.

Speaker 2 (01:53:19):
We gotta take quick break here again on The Matt
Thomas Show with Ross Chris Gordy hanging out.

Speaker 1 (01:53:24):
Matt Thomas out sick. You could get in if you'd like.

Speaker 2 (01:53:26):
It's seven one three two one two five seven ninety
seven one three two one two five seven ninety back
in a minute after these quick after this quick break.

Speaker 1 (01:53:36):
Well junction.

Speaker 2 (01:53:37):
Matt is not here today, he is out sick. He
will be back tomorrow in some capacity. I believe he'll
be broadcasting from home next couple of days, resting up,
getting ready. Maybe the long eighty two game season is
wearing on them. He'll be ready to go for the playoffs.

(01:53:58):
Get some rest. He'll be back tomorrow. Chris Gordy has
been hanging out. Adam Clanton's coming up in a little bit.
You guys can get in seven to one to three
two one to two five seven ninety seven one three
two one two five seven nine. Even talking a little
bit about the NFL Draft that is just a week
from Thursday. It's creeping up. We're also talking about the

(01:54:18):
Rockets in the number two spot. They will be anxiously
awaiting the result of the game on Tuesday. I imagine
if you talk to you doakin the players, they don't care.
Uh yeah, we don't really care about the opponent. Whoever
it's gonna be, it's gonna be really good. And it's
like it is kind of I get it. Do you
want to take on Jaron Jackson Junior and John Moran
or do you want to take on Steph Curry and
Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green and what they got over

(01:54:42):
there at Golden State? Probably the former, But no matter what,
it's gonna be a pretty good team. But it feels
like maybe the Grizzlies it'd be easier for them to
open up a can of quit. First of all, I
don't think they're as good as the Warriors. Second of all,
they fired their coach and they went on a losing
streak after that. But thinking it kind of close the
season strong, including a blowout win over the crappy Dallas

(01:55:05):
Mavericks in the season, and they are in the eighth
spot right now. So the way the playing tournament goes,
seven and eight play each other and nine to ten
play each other. Whoever wins out of seven and eight
is going to be the opponent for the Rockets, who
are the two seed in the West.

Speaker 1 (01:55:24):
So say it with me.

Speaker 2 (01:55:25):
On Tuesday tomorrow, Go Grizzlies six and a half point dogs.
They are to the Golden State Warriors, who I think
are the more dangerous matchup, but doesn't matter. There's no
easy pickings in this Western Conference, which is just ridiculously difficult. Which,
by the way, speaking of how I've been wanting to
the Rockets to avoid the Oklahoma City Thunder for as

(01:55:47):
long as possible and wanted him to finish in that
second or third spot in the West. The Oklahoma City
Thunder have finished with the best point differential in NBA history,
twelve point nine points per game better than our opponents. Previously,
the record was held by the nineteen seventy two Lakers.
Like that's with Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain Lakers. They're pretty good.

(01:56:10):
I want to say they didn't win seventy games, if
they won like sixty eight sixty nine games, something like that.
And so the Oklahoma City Thunder by point differential, by
the points they outscored their opponent by best team in
NBA history sixty eight wins.

Speaker 1 (01:56:24):
I mean, they've been damn good. It's I mean, I
know they beat the Rockets for the coveted NBA Cup
earlier in the season. They've already got one trophy this year,
then Gordon.

Speaker 2 (01:56:35):
Yeah, they do hang a banner. But yeah, it's they've
been ridiculous. I mean, that's stupid.

Speaker 1 (01:56:42):
How and a big part of has been shake Gill
just emerging as an absolute superstar in the league. You
think he wins MVP. I mean, who would you give
it to?

Speaker 2 (01:56:53):
Over is the best player in basketball? Yeah, but that
becomes the Lebron year to him every year. But he's
the best player in basketball, so I would give it
to him. But I understand there's fatigue. They were the
fourth seed, they fired their coach, all that stuff, but
they just I mean, Jalen Williams has emerged. There Chet
they you know, Chet Holgrun's good. Lou Dort is great.

(01:57:15):
I mean he started knocking down three in addition to
the great defense, first team All Defense, type of caliber
defender he is. He's been knocking down threes like crazy.
They're just a complete good team. They have one of
the better defenses in basketball and one of the better offenses,
and they smashed it was twelve point three points per
game the seventy two Lakers.

Speaker 1 (01:57:32):
This is twelve point nine. That's that's pretty insane. It's
a crazy thing too. The last time the Rockets made
the playoffs, they played this Thunder team in August of
twenty twenty in the Bubble. Yeah, that's right.

Speaker 2 (01:57:46):
There was a game seven and James Harden block Lou
Dort at the end there.

Speaker 1 (01:57:49):
Yeah, that's when dork was dropping like thirty nine. And
they had Chris Paul was on that team. Yeah, I
think how different that team was. Steven Adams was their
starting center for the Thunder, Chris Paul was their point guard,
and they had Jay Gil just Lou Dort and Danilo.

Speaker 2 (01:58:04):
Gallinari, Danil Galadi. Their bench was Dennis Schroeder and uh
Nerlans Noel.

Speaker 1 (01:58:10):
It's actually not terrible. And then the Rockets line. Do
you think you can name the Rockets starting.

Speaker 2 (01:58:14):
Five of that game? Russell Westbrook, yes, James Harden.

Speaker 1 (01:58:19):
Yes.

Speaker 2 (01:58:20):
This is where it's gonna get difficult for me. Was
was that the Robert? Was that the five out?

Speaker 1 (01:58:26):
Robert? Yes?

Speaker 5 (01:58:28):
Uh? P?

Speaker 1 (01:58:29):
J Tucker? J Tucker? And who was the other? Was it?
Pat MeV? Eric Gordon? Eric Gordon? Okay? And then your
bench was Jeff Green, Daniel House and Austin Rivers. Yeah,
not great, not great at all. They beat the thunder.

Speaker 2 (01:58:45):
Yeah, that's when they traded for They traded Capella and
got Covington and they went, They're like, we're just gonna
go five out.

Speaker 1 (01:58:51):
We're gonna search.

Speaker 2 (01:58:52):
Daryl more Is. Yeah, We're just gonna go five out
and everybody throw up threes. All right, thanks Darryl?

Speaker 1 (01:58:58):
What is uh?

Speaker 4 (01:59:00):
Oh?

Speaker 1 (01:59:00):
God, brain fart today? The coach Mike D'Antoni. WHERE'STONI? He
was an assistant.

Speaker 2 (01:59:08):
He's an assistant somewhere I think is it in Philly
or was it was Brooklyn?

Speaker 1 (01:59:13):
He was an ass coaching advisor for the Pelicans. Okay,
now's with the Pellies. Okay, and they won twenty one
games this year.

Speaker 2 (01:59:20):
Oh well, he was an assistant with the Nets right
after okay, and for just the twenty twenty one season.
And then now you say he's an advisor for O.

Speaker 1 (01:59:27):
Well, this is twenty twenty one. He was hired as
advisor with the Pelicans. I don't even know if he's
still He may be sitting at the Green Brier. Yeah,
who know, who knows what he's doing joined a cocktail. Well,
things aren't going so well for the Pelicans. What does
that say about D'Antoni.

Speaker 2 (01:59:43):
Though, by the way, like the minute you moved on
from him, no team wanted him as a head coach. Yeah,
I think it was pofs every year he was here.
He was towards the end of his career, and I mean,
I think he was a good coach. I don't think
he was costing it as much as everybody else did.
And he was also under instructions of like, look, he
had to do whatever James Harden wanted. If if he

(02:00:05):
crossed James Harden, he was gonna be fired. That's like
the bottom line of it. That's what happens in the
NBA we just talked about. I mean, Nick Nurse won
a championship, he's been fired. Now he's with Philly and
there they said they're going to retain him, but he
was almost gonna lose his job. Budenholzer gone, who is
the Budenholzer was gone with the Bucks because johannest didn't
like him over there. Now he's gone with the Suns
because there wasn't a fit over there. And as Frank

(02:00:25):
Vogel's gone. I mean, how many coaches Lebron James gotten fired.
It's it's the nature of the NBA.

Speaker 1 (02:00:30):
Man, m.

Speaker 2 (02:00:34):
It's a it's a player driven league, much more so
than the others than the other other major sports here
in America.

Speaker 1 (02:00:43):
I I just saw this. Did you see the NFL
and ESPN are doing a crossover event? Yeah? So did
ESPN buy the NFL network? They were talking about that.
Did that happen? I don't know, but I assume they
had because there it's a starting tomorrow, NFL Network and

(02:01:03):
ESPN talent will appear on various shows ahead of the
NFL Draft tomorrow sports Center Tomorrow evening, Kyle Brant will
be on ESPN Sports Center and Mel Kiper will be
on the NFL Network.

Speaker 2 (02:01:17):
Well, good for Mel Kuiper. How do all the draft
experts on the NFL network feel about this? Daniel Jeremiah, Lanzerline, Bucky.

Speaker 1 (02:01:23):
Brooks, Thursday, Field Yates will be on the NFL Network.
Rich Eisen will be on ESPN First Take. I will
not be watching leny Mina Chimes will also appear in
the NFL. That's great, wishing them all the best. I
won't be catching that program.

Speaker 2 (02:01:37):
She's got a lot of hate. There's a lot of
people who hate her for stories. Yeah, it's a very
easy reason.

Speaker 1 (02:01:42):
Come on, Oh, being a lady formula and a male sphere,
you just have to be.

Speaker 2 (02:01:49):
It's I mean, I think she's smart, I think she
does a good job, but I also don't really watch
much of her content. You just don't watch much of ESPN.
But I mean, I feel like she does a decent
good job. I like Danie Orlowski. I like what he does.
I just don't watch it much. It's because those talking
head shows just don't interest me.

Speaker 1 (02:02:05):
It's just funny that that's happening because remember for years
it used to be like we should try to book
a guest and be like, oh, you're not an ESPN station. Yeah,
kind of like I can't go on with you. And
then he has a working at Fox anyway. But it's
just funny how it's like they're so protective. I'm like,
in this day and age of social media and branded
like go on everything, get them as much biggy platforms
as you can to spread your brand. They should be.

Speaker 2 (02:02:28):
But whatever, I like, when we get guys, it's like
you literally work for a subscription service. Like when I
reach out to some athletic guy and he doesn't want
to come on, I'm like brother, you're getting bought up
by the New York Times.

Speaker 1 (02:02:38):
They're laying people off. You need to get any kind
of pubs with one of those subscription services, you better
do everything. I love the Athletic. I subscribe to the
Athletic for many years.

Speaker 2 (02:02:46):
But it's like you also got to play the game, man,
if you need a little bit of pr we have
some wonderful listeners who might be interested in your content
if you come on this show.

Speaker 1 (02:02:54):
And that's what really kind of irks me. But anyways,
I digress.

Speaker 2 (02:02:58):
All right, time for a break here, and it's also
time for the third hour to be over. Gordy, thanks
for hanging out man, Thanks appreciate you. Matt Tomas will
be back tomorrow. We get Adam Clinton. Although at what
minute will Adam Clinton be here? Sometimes it's at one
oh five, sometimes it's at one fifteen.

Speaker 1 (02:03:14):
We'll see.

Speaker 2 (02:03:14):
We'll play Adam Clinton roulette figure out what he's actually
gonna show up coming up next without Matt Thomas. He
is out sick. He will be back, I believe, on
air tomorrow, but perhaps broadcasting from the Kingwood Studios, hopefully
fully clothed. Rosby Reale Adam Clanton with you, and we
were getting some bets in, folks. One of you via

(02:03:35):
Twitter said, put me down for one thirteen Adam Clanton
arrival time. He's hourly, folks, he's actually here. We appreciate it.
And he's talking now. It's up one oh two forty
five on the clock. Cash in your tickets.

Speaker 1 (02:03:49):
Hey, Adam, how are you?

Speaker 9 (02:03:51):
You really were taking bets on my arrival? Yeah, we were,
we were. What if the were reversed?

Speaker 1 (02:03:55):
What do you mean?

Speaker 9 (02:03:57):
You and I sail in it about the exact same
time for our shows.

Speaker 1 (02:04:00):
Well, I used to come in a little bit earlier
when it was new.

Speaker 2 (02:04:03):
Now that it's now that it's ten o'clock and I'm
the I would self admittedly the worst morning person in
human history.

Speaker 9 (02:04:10):
After me, just let's talk about when I did mornings
and it was a grace to see who could be
later between me and my co host at.

Speaker 1 (02:04:17):
The time, whoever that may be. Yeah, what's up, man,
you know what?

Speaker 9 (02:04:22):
How's it going? It's great. I'm very happy because the
Rockets are in the playoffs.

Speaker 1 (02:04:27):
Yes, first time in five years.

Speaker 9 (02:04:29):
I'm even happier because I want who I want, and
you know who.

Speaker 2 (02:04:35):
That Isrizzlies Nope. You want the Golden State Warriors.

Speaker 1 (02:04:39):
Absolutely.

Speaker 2 (02:04:40):
You want the team that's been playing really well since
the Jimmy Butler trade.

Speaker 1 (02:04:43):
Bring their heads to me on a pike.

Speaker 2 (02:04:45):
You want Stephen Curry, who can drop seven eight threes
at any given time.

Speaker 1 (02:04:49):
I'll tell you what one I got.

Speaker 2 (02:04:51):
The biggest reason that I don't want the Warriors, Draymond Green's.

Speaker 1 (02:04:55):
Going to injure somebody. No, he's not. Yes, you ready
for this. Draymond Green's gonna get injur.

Speaker 9 (02:05:00):
Oh why because the Rockets don't back down from anybody,
especially that be.

Speaker 1 (02:05:05):
Okay, come on, dude, listen.

Speaker 9 (02:05:08):
I don't want to like go off the rails here,
but okay, I will, let's go. I just like, I'm
so tired of that guy in particular, just cruising along
doing what he does and the NBA going, Eh, it's
different set.

Speaker 2 (02:05:21):
Of rules he hit, Yeah, he does have a different
set of rules. He hit alprin ching gun with a
flying elbow to the face.

Speaker 1 (02:05:28):
This is what I'm talking about.

Speaker 9 (02:05:29):
Like you think I'm just like, oh, he's just doing
that for a hot take, you know, effect Listen to
what I'm saying.

Speaker 1 (02:05:35):
Who are they?

Speaker 9 (02:05:35):
Okay, let's if it's the Warriors, right, Yes, if they
don't manage to lose to the Grizzlies, which actually would
be a lot funnier. But if they don't, and it's
the Warriors and the Rockets, uh huh, who's.

Speaker 1 (02:05:45):
The one team that doesn't back down from anybody? So
if he starts, it's talk about Shenanigan.

Speaker 2 (02:05:51):
It's like he literally could have knocked out Alprin Chingoo
for a season. But they'll hurt you too. Yeah, they'll
hurt them too. But that hasn't helped you that Alprin
Shingoon's out for the year.

Speaker 9 (02:06:00):
Well, no, what I'm saying, he's not gonna be Draymond
Green's not gonna hurt anybody in this series and knock
them out of series.

Speaker 1 (02:06:06):
What I'm saying is he could.

Speaker 9 (02:06:07):
He could, or he could get himself a little dose
of his own medicine.

Speaker 2 (02:06:11):
He could like zuzz up Putrulia Kawhi Leonards style.

Speaker 9 (02:06:15):
All those times the Rockets have matched up with the
Warriors and we know about the results.

Speaker 2 (02:06:19):
Remember remember when he got two knuckles deep into James
Harden's eye. Yeah, that's James Harden nearly blinded the man
James Harden couldn't see for like three games. Well, I'm
worried about Jade Draymond hurting people and blinding them, raking
them in the face, kicking them in the nads, and
elbowing them in their orbital bones.

Speaker 1 (02:06:37):
All of those valid points.

Speaker 9 (02:06:39):
Unfortunately, because in today's NBA, that's the that's the reality
that we live in.

Speaker 1 (02:06:43):
He even get a flagrant too for.

Speaker 9 (02:06:45):
I know, I know, this is what I'm talking about.
The one team that you want to see handle that
kind of guy is, first of all, the America is
rooting for the Rockets in this series.

Speaker 1 (02:06:54):
Nobody, all these people try to tell you, oh, Steph
Curry's the great shooter everything.

Speaker 9 (02:06:59):
Let nobody likes the Warriors. Nobody, Nobody Warriors.

Speaker 2 (02:07:04):
I was in that building of the NBA Cup game
that the Rockets won. There was a lot of Warriors
fans in that building.

Speaker 9 (02:07:09):
Yeah, you know what those people are called. They they're
called Cowboys fans and Yankees fans. They're front runners and
they're all Lakers.

Speaker 1 (02:07:16):
Still rooting for the Warriors. They're all saying.

Speaker 9 (02:07:18):
They were all Lakers fans up until the point that
they sucked and then they put on their their their
thirty jerseys.

Speaker 1 (02:07:24):
You were absolutely correct.

Speaker 9 (02:07:25):
And then when Lebron was the latest start to get
hand delivered on a silver platter to that franchise, they
they rotated back. Now he's the second latest, Yeah exactly.
So yeah, there's a pattern here. You guys might notice this.
I love the NBA. You and I have that in comment.
You do love the NBA. We love the NBA. But
I'm not going to sit here and act like I
don't know what's been happening for the last forty years.

Speaker 1 (02:07:44):
Like it is what it is.

Speaker 9 (02:07:45):
It's this short of professional wrestling sometimes there I'm not saying.
I'm not saying it's rigged or scripted, but I am
saying that there are determining factors that are put in place.
And if you want me to stop thinking that and
a lot of other people backed me up, by the way,
and stop assigning Scott Foster to games that you want
to have won, and stop allowing guys like Draymond Green

(02:08:06):
to have a different set of rules, because there is
no argument the NBA can make. You can go all
the way up to the top where the mortician commissioner
is in a room in a courtroom. Let's just say
he's in a courtroom, he's on the stand. Okay, and
he's under penalty of perjury. You have sworn in under
oath that there's no funny business or there's nothing. There's
no different set of rules for this guy over here,

(02:08:28):
based on fact and evidence that this guy gets.

Speaker 1 (02:08:30):
Away with murder.

Speaker 9 (02:08:31):
Dylan Brooks would have been arrested and put in prison
for twenty years if he did what Draymond Green did.

Speaker 1 (02:08:35):
I think.

Speaker 2 (02:08:36):
Yeah, then he argues the refs when he's well, Steve
Kerr coming out, Oh, we don't get enough foul calls.

Speaker 9 (02:08:42):
Oh the hell you don't, Are you kidding me? Let's
talk about Game seven again in twenty eighteen. That's why
I want these guys and stop saying it's a curse
and all this other stuff. Oh they just did, We're
cursed by them. Bring those bitches on right now. That's
what I'm saying.

Speaker 1 (02:08:57):
I'm good.

Speaker 2 (02:08:58):
I'll check you outter the series. Okay, look here, you
check me with this series. Let's see what happened.

Speaker 1 (02:09:02):
I'll have all the apologies coming my way.

Speaker 2 (02:09:04):
I don't want the hottest shooter in the history of
the planet to ever walk the earth.

Speaker 1 (02:09:07):
He saw the last time when a men Thomson put
him in a straight jack.

Speaker 2 (02:09:10):
Okay, when he hit that's one game he's been dropping
fifty other way.

Speaker 1 (02:09:14):
He did that game too. I'm game against the Spurs.

Speaker 9 (02:09:17):
They need a game against the I mean there's all
these games they've lost, for all this hot streak that
they've been playing right now, if they could be had,
I'm appreciated.

Speaker 2 (02:09:24):
No, I'm not saying that's not a winnable series. First
of all, if it was a seven game series, I
was still pick the Rockets. But I'm just saying it's
Jimmy Butler is pretty good. You people need to stop
being afraid of this team. They're not that great.

Speaker 1 (02:09:36):
Brandon P.

Speaker 2 (02:09:37):
Gimsey is pretty good. Yeah, really, he's the greatest shooter everyone.

Speaker 9 (02:09:40):
Let you know when I start getting worried about anybody
you've mentioned, including that guy, and.

Speaker 2 (02:09:44):
Okay, not worried about Stephen Curry. Adam Klannon is not
worried about Stephen Curry.

Speaker 9 (02:09:50):
No, Like, what's the point what's the point of Okay,
so you you worked all season to get the two
seed and you're just gonna roll over and die because
of something and die, And I'm nuts.

Speaker 1 (02:10:00):
I would pick No, you're rolling over and rolling over
and down. You've already series in five games. You just
said it. I would pick the Warriors.

Speaker 9 (02:10:07):
You said in five games, Rockets are losing. That's what
you dissessed what I heard. Don't act like they haven't
had a voodoo heckx over there.

Speaker 2 (02:10:13):
How many times are the Rockets this golden steph Curry
era Warriors?

Speaker 1 (02:10:16):
How many times did the Rockets beat them in the playoffs? Zero? Right?

Speaker 2 (02:10:20):
And that's different and hopefully it's the end of the era. Different, Kyle,
not the whole roster.

Speaker 1 (02:10:25):
Who was on who was on there?

Speaker 9 (02:10:27):
No, no, no, no, forget the war you are. You're focusing on
the wrong thing here. We live in Houston, Texas. I
don't care about San Francisco. Who's on that roster from
twenty eighteen still and twenty nineteen for the Rockets? Oh
for the Rocket exactly, but exactly nobody. They don't have
Mike D'Antoni coach and them. They have a guy who
will come out after the game and say we're not
going to put up with that bleep, And that's what
he did. It's a different error for the Rockets on

(02:10:48):
this side, it's a different attitude though, like that team, listen,
as great as they were sixty five wins, put up
points and Bunches had ninety at a half against a
good Son's team.

Speaker 1 (02:10:58):
Like all that.

Speaker 2 (02:10:58):
Stuffs hamstring from from Chris Paul. Right, they're NBA champions,
which tells you that they the Warriors, weren't that great
to begin with. You win seventy three games and everybody's.

Speaker 9 (02:11:07):
Like, oh my god, greatest team ever. Luke Walton was
coaching them half that time. That's why Steve Kurrz overrated. Listen, listen,
Steph Curry is the greatest shooter of all time. He's
a two trick pony. Was not a top ten NBA player,
none of that.

Speaker 2 (02:11:23):
What is the two trick? What is the second trick?
Plays zero defense and gets a free pass for his defense.

Speaker 1 (02:11:30):
Got better as his career.

Speaker 2 (02:11:32):
Give me an example, give you an example of him
being a big a better defender at all. He's a
matador out there. No, he's not a matador. He was
he was earlier in his career and not in the
middle of his career. Now he's not ready for this league.
And also, and also, Steph Curry has been very good
his entire career at getting to the basket and finishing
tough layups. I don't know how you could possibly deny that.

(02:11:53):
It's not like he just sits out there off of
curls and he does do like Reggie Miller stuff, but
he would get to the basket as well or else.
I mean, unless you're just not paying attention. I mean,
he's made a lot of tough layups, very good at
getting to the basket in his career.

Speaker 9 (02:12:06):
I'll take him in Thompson over what that any of
those scenarios you mentioned.

Speaker 2 (02:12:12):
Okay, listen, look a men's great people. Great people need
to stop.

Speaker 9 (02:12:16):
Like like, if you're honestly if you're going into that
series like, oh my god, it's the Warriors again, then
don't show up.

Speaker 1 (02:12:22):
It's gonna be tough. It's gonna be gonna be tough.
Why you said warriors are to manage the Warriors? The
Warriors were good? So what are you predicting? Rockets and
four rockets and six?

Speaker 2 (02:12:32):
Okay, so you lose two games, you win in six,
and you went four and you're saying that's not tough. Yeah,
but you just said they were gonna lose in five.
I heard you act like they're gonna swift.

Speaker 1 (02:12:40):
Shut up. I heard you acting like you're gonna sweep
him out of the building.

Speaker 2 (02:12:43):
I have hilarious Warriors are did he? They're trash? They
suck rockets and six? Why don't you say with your
chest man rockets and four let's go because the broom's out.
Come on now, mister big talker, Come on.

Speaker 9 (02:12:55):
I just said the Rockets are gonna win the series,
which is more than you said.

Speaker 1 (02:12:58):
You said the Rockets are gonna win the series. You're
not listening. Oh you said Warriors in five? God, you
didn't hear that? Is? This?

Speaker 9 (02:13:04):
Is this?

Speaker 2 (02:13:04):
Teresa?

Speaker 1 (02:13:05):
Is this how he gaslights you? Oh? What happened?

Speaker 9 (02:13:07):
She would say, yes, Absol gas light her all the
time and she deserves it.

Speaker 1 (02:13:11):
All right. On that note, we're gonna take a break. Mac.

Speaker 2 (02:13:13):
We see you on Hold. I am here, Matt Thomas
is not. My name is ros Viria. Adam Clanton is here.
We're talking some Rockets basketball. You can get in at
seven one three two one two five seven ninety seven
one three two one two five seven ninety one eighteen
in the PM. Here on Sports Talk seven ninety ros
Viria with you, Adam Clanton is here as well at Thomas.

Speaker 1 (02:13:39):
He's thick. He actually is. I know he is. I
mean I texted him after the show on Friday. I think,
uh huh. Remember when he signed off and he was like, no,
I wasn't listening. That's right, you were.

Speaker 9 (02:13:51):
Going it was like the eighteen and I was like, bro,
are you okay? It was oh man, do.

Speaker 2 (02:13:58):
You remember last year when he called game and he
sounded like he was on his deathbed? Yeah, he didn't
call that game.

Speaker 1 (02:14:04):
He just I'm like, this should not be happening. It
was brutal, but it's all good.

Speaker 2 (02:14:10):
He's gonna be fine. He's rested up, gonna be ready
for the playoffs for the Rockets to destroy the Golden
State Warriors. Actually, uh, Adam Silver is gonna petition. The
Rockets are gonna win the first three games by like
forty plus and then there's just gonna be a three
game series, like you forget, like and somebody just tweeted
this to us, Sam the sports fan, that gif of

(02:14:30):
Draymond just hauling off and kicking Steven Adams, and I
didn't forget, Like it's not if you look at this gift,
I'm gonna retweet it just so you guys can see
it on top at sports are forget you got We
have our own nut kicker too, who Dylan Brooks does
he kick people in the nuts. He kicked somebody in
the nuts like two weeks ago or a week ago.

Speaker 1 (02:14:50):
Also it happened in a Rockets uniform. Yes, it did.

Speaker 9 (02:14:52):
Remember how like Chris Paul would punch people in the
nuts in college. Yeah, oh he was our nut puncher
once he became a Rocket. Yeah, exactly. I I just
if you look at that, and I just retweeted the gift.
It's not a natural motion, No, it's not. It's not
even like, uh, he hauls off and kicks him.

Speaker 1 (02:15:12):
What he does.

Speaker 2 (02:15:13):
He does what basically you like when your kids and
your cousins or whatever, like you you kind of throw
your elbow, you try to act like it's natural, or
you kick your leg up a little extra, or like
it's basically what you do to your brother or your
cousin or something like that. And that's what he's doing.
Like he's your cost or your coast, depending on who
it is he's And that's what the thing is too.

(02:15:35):
Because you have these idiot warriors fans who defend what
he does.

Speaker 1 (02:15:38):
So people when.

Speaker 2 (02:15:40):
He he has his elbows out, you don't go up
to the basket. When you go up to the when
you put your that what happens Adam Clinton elbow locks,
it goes straight. When I fly at you with my
elbow and then I go up, that means I'm trying
to disguise trying to hurt you.

Speaker 9 (02:15:55):
Who was the idiot on ESPN that was watching the
highlights kind of? Was it Molly Karam who was like,
I don't now. Obviously there's a bit of acting here
from Alplare and Chin Gun.

Speaker 1 (02:16:05):
Oh what the bleep are you watching?

Speaker 9 (02:16:08):
Like in this guy, it's not just a matter of
like an isolated incident. This guy's done this. He's done
this to your Lord and Savior, Lebron James. You should
hate him, it's feel guys all love this guy. Yeah,
he does that, and.

Speaker 2 (02:16:19):
He's like he he closed lines people like hits him
across the eyeballs. Yeah, he tries to act like that's
natural too, like, oh, it's just an accident. Can you
recall he he did that? He did to Lebron too,
didn't he rak him in the eyes?

Speaker 1 (02:16:32):
I think he did.

Speaker 2 (02:16:32):
I think he rakes like the only people. I watch
the playoffs every year. I don't watch every single game,
but I watch the playoffs. I follow the NBA. I
really love it.

Speaker 1 (02:16:41):
I think it's a great product.

Speaker 2 (02:16:42):
I know some people don't agree with that, but I
can't recall a single person other than Draymond Green where
he's acting like it's a natural thing. He's the only
one raking people in the face, kicking them in the
nuts and elbowing them in the face. And like I said,
he tries to sell it like you do with your
in front of your dad when you're trying to elbow
your brother.

Speaker 1 (02:17:01):
He's trying to sell it like it's natural.

Speaker 2 (02:17:03):
And I don't know how. I feel like I'm crazy.
Everybody seems to buy it. It's they convinced themselves that
he's this is a coincidence.

Speaker 9 (02:17:10):
You're not crazy, because that's exactly what happens. That's the
problem I have with It's one thing. If you're going to,
you know, allow him to do this, and you have,
if you're the NBA, you have there's no evidence that
you've even attempted to curtail this. Don't tell me suspending
him in the finals, and that was my favorite part.
Warriors fans just wailing and gnashing of teeth. Well, if
he hadn't been suspended, well why did he get suspended

(02:17:33):
because he kicked Lebron in the junk? Like, you can't
you can't act like the world is against you when
you've gotten literally every call in the But like this
whole twenty seven missed three pointers. Two of those should
have been four point plays that James Harden made. And
by the way, I just saw the statistic the James
Harden has has squared off against Steph Curry, regardless of

(02:17:54):
the uniform, sixty times in his career.

Speaker 1 (02:17:56):
Okay, you know what the record is. I don't thirty
and thirty.

Speaker 9 (02:17:59):
Okay, I know that everybody likes to think that, Well,
the Warriors just own the Rockets, and it was well,
yeah they did win those series. Yeah they did win
those series, but they were all very close. We were
a torn hamstring away for like, and nobody also ever
talks about all of the massive key injuries that happened
to Warriors opponents all along the way, almost every year,

(02:18:20):
especially the year they won the whole thing the first time.
But you know, Kawhi Leonards, Jajah Paculia. Like people forget
about that in twenty seventeen. That was after the Rockets
lost to them because James Harden just didn't decide to
show up for two straight games at the end of
that series.

Speaker 1 (02:18:34):
Lou Williams remember all that. That was a great time.

Speaker 2 (02:18:36):
I don't remember in America that Lou Williams trade was
supposed to really save the team.

Speaker 9 (02:18:40):
Yeah, good bench scorn Kevin Love and and Kyrie Irving
being out against that against them in that series in
the final, Like, there was a lot of things that
have happened along the way.

Speaker 1 (02:18:48):
But as it pertains to the Rockets and the Warriors.

Speaker 2 (02:18:51):
Sorry, somebody sent me a Draymond Grey I kind of
zoned out on you because somebody sent me a compilation
of Draymond Green hurting people.

Speaker 9 (02:18:57):
Yeah, that's but that this is a good thing. You
guys need to approach this like this could be. This
could be the beginning of the end for this national
nightmare that is the Golden State Warriors and especially Draymond Green.
If you want to be a Steph Curry fan, by
all means, go ahead. I mean that's that's your prerogative.
Do with your life what you want and what.

Speaker 2 (02:19:16):
Was it thing he had to take, like a mental
health break. He got suspended for the league and he
was going to counseling and all that type of stuff.
Was that after he choke holded Rudy Gobert. I can't
even remember what he did.

Speaker 9 (02:19:25):
It was okay, you say choke called, I say, nearly
to capitate this tomato tomato like he is unhinged.

Speaker 1 (02:19:32):
He needs break. We need a mental health break from you.
That's I'm saying the number one reason I don't want
to play the Warriors.

Speaker 9 (02:19:38):
I'm telling you this could be a good thing that
the Rockets tangle with the Warriors. The stakes are high,
it's a playoff series, and he tries that stuff against
the team is not going to stand for it. Now,
it's to put the onus on the officials to do
something for a change, Yeah, because you finally have a
team that's not going to back down from that.

Speaker 1 (02:19:55):
I love this version of love that too.

Speaker 2 (02:19:57):
But if he's like locking up with Alprin shingoun for
rebound and rips his shoulder out of his socket, I'm
gonna be pissed.

Speaker 1 (02:20:03):
If he does that, he may will come on the
floor and take care of it. Himself. Then you lose
out and it'll be too late.

Speaker 9 (02:20:08):
Well, if he takes out Alprinchingoon's you know, shoulder, you're
gonna lose him anyways, and then you're gonna lose em
because you're gonna go for.

Speaker 2 (02:20:14):
That's why I want them to play the Grizzlies. I'm
less worried about I don't know Jared Jackson somebody else.
I know you're gonna call me crazy, You're crazy. The
Rockets Grizzly.

Speaker 9 (02:20:23):
Series will be twenty times more physical, twenty times more
physical I've seen them play.

Speaker 2 (02:20:28):
No, they're not not not the grindhouse Grizzly doesn't matter.
They have got some big like tough dudes somebody. Plus
they have Ja Moran who's literally insane. Jared Jackson Junior
is a problem they've got. They've got so Jackson Junior's good. No,
the Grizzly would be tough too.

Speaker 9 (02:20:46):
Yeah, like they are easy out in the West playoffs,
There's not no And this is a look, this is
gonna be the case for every single series. This is
the closest I've ever seen the Western Conference. And by
the way, I don't I'm probably taking the field against
the Warriors because of this very thing. Not the Warriors,
the Thunder. The Thunder can be had if they get
the wrong matchup.

Speaker 1 (02:21:06):
It's I know they're.

Speaker 9 (02:21:07):
Dominant, I know they've won sixty five game bah blah
blah blah blah blah blah. There's it's too close, it's
too competitive. Like about the only team that I would
like completely sleep on if they somehow snuck in would
be the Dallas Mavericks. I just don't think they have
the firepower. Everybody else is very evenly matched.

Speaker 2 (02:21:22):
I think the Thunder would the Thunder are gonna be
favored no matter who they play.

Speaker 1 (02:21:26):
But we'll just have to.

Speaker 2 (02:21:27):
See play the Celtics. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. So
in the West, they I mean, they just had the
best point differential in NBA history.

Speaker 9 (02:21:33):
But think about this, if the if the Thunder don't
make the NBA Finals at a minimum, you're gonna start
questioning them.

Speaker 2 (02:21:42):
Because all they do expectations games, and you win sixty
eight games and you have the best point differential in
NBA history, you should make the finals. All right, let's
go to the phones real quick. Mac has been waiting patiently. Mac,
go ahead, I want to talk some Rockets.

Speaker 5 (02:21:56):
Hi jents.

Speaker 6 (02:21:58):
Concerning the Warriors. They're in the playing series and all
they had to do was win one more game and
they wouldn't be in the playing series. And when they
played us this last time, Curry shot one for ten, correct, Yeah, it.

Speaker 1 (02:22:12):
Was one for something three minutes. He had three points
on Washington.

Speaker 6 (02:22:15):
You can so somewheres right now in the Bay Area,
there's a guy calling in saying we should lose to
Memphis and be in the other side because we don't
want to play the Rockets. Who's looking forward to playing us?
Saying is in the season series with Memphis. Didn't we

(02:22:36):
beat the Cavaliers twice?

Speaker 1 (02:22:37):
Yeah, you swept the Calves.

Speaker 6 (02:22:40):
So who's who's looking to play us?

Speaker 1 (02:22:42):
Nobody? It's true, that is correct.

Speaker 9 (02:22:45):
Yeah, nobody's beaten the Warriors the the nobody's beating the
thunder twice this year. And nobody swept the Calves obviously,
and they beat Boston in Boston with them and Thompson
buzzer beater of all things.

Speaker 1 (02:22:58):
The Rockets are gonna be a tough out.

Speaker 6 (02:23:02):
If if they turn green or a draymaon lous on us.
We've got twelve fouls worth of people, big, strong people
from down under that can retaliate. And if somebody of
ours goes out within five minutes, Curry's going to have
an injury.

Speaker 9 (02:23:19):
This guy's he's going bad boys on it like this
the situation. All, I appreciate it, Mac, Look don't I
don't want this to happen. By the way this compilation
he rakes James Harden Lebron James twice in the.

Speaker 2 (02:23:33):
Face and Nikola jokicch in the face. Yeah, he's a
terrible person. He should be kicked out of the league.
And I'm not even joking.

Speaker 9 (02:23:39):
The fact that he didn't even get a flagrant too,
and that Dylan Brooks did get a flagrant too and
was ejected in the same week. God is just insane.
And this is what's wrong with the NBA. And until
you change it, and until again, I don't want to go.
And Ben knows I love him. I'm not gonna go
fit full bend Bo's here. But like there's some times
where I'm like, you know, Ben's got a point here.

Speaker 1 (02:24:00):
What why are.

Speaker 9 (02:24:01):
Officials never held accountable for this kind of stuff?

Speaker 1 (02:24:04):
You're injuring other players. It's not just a foul, it's
crazy he is an absolute menist.

Speaker 9 (02:24:08):
Like Fred van Vliet chasing down who is a Giannis
and kind of pulling back on his on his chin
and he was thrown out for that. And then for
to see, uh, to see Draymond not even get tossed. Yeah,
and he's begging for a technical right, he's like clapping
in the officials face.

Speaker 1 (02:24:25):
That's my other thing. Forget the physicality.

Speaker 9 (02:24:27):
This guy's gonna be able to just like have a
tirade like several times a game and never get thrown out.

Speaker 1 (02:24:32):
I've never seen it.

Speaker 2 (02:24:33):
Coming up next, we'll have Jordan Poole to give his
thoughts on the Draymond Green Okay, maybe not, but we'll
continue Draymond Talks seven ninety. He's out of control, Warriors Rockets?
Who are they gonna play? That game is on Tuesday?
So those are you on?

Speaker 1 (02:24:45):
Hold? I see you.

Speaker 2 (02:24:46):
We'll get to your next at seven one, three, two,
one two five, seven ninety. It is the Matt Thomas
Show without Matt Thomas, with Ross and Adam Clanton with
you until two o'clock one to thirty two pm here
on Sports Talks.

Speaker 1 (02:25:00):
Did you say hello yet? Hello?

Speaker 2 (02:25:02):
There it is and welcome in to The Matt Thomas
Show with Ross. Without Matt Thomas, he is out sick.
Adam Clinton hanging out. We appreciate you, mister Clinton.

Speaker 1 (02:25:11):
I appreciate you having me legs. Thanks for stopping by.
We appreciate you.

Speaker 2 (02:25:16):
Here, folks, you can get on the phone lines at
seven one three two one two five seven ninety.

Speaker 9 (02:25:20):
By the way, you were talking about Matt being back tomorrow,
but perhaps from his Kingwood estate.

Speaker 2 (02:25:26):
Yes, it needs to be from his Kingwood a stick
palatial king would a state. We share a microphone. I
don't need any residual. You don't want to get sick. No,
not made. I'm going to Vegas on Friday morning. Oh
you are for what the listen to? Everybody chimes in,
now did I say Vegas? Well, I just it's always
funny to me, the non drinker, non gambler going to Vegas.

Speaker 9 (02:25:47):
You going to the sphere. See, this is where it
gets great because you've already you've you've eased them in
with the non drinker, non gambler. And then I'm gonna
tell you what I'm gonna go see there and you'll
really love it.

Speaker 8 (02:25:57):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (02:25:58):
Barry Manilow, Oh man, come on, it's at the stadium.
I'll give you a hint.

Speaker 2 (02:26:02):
It's at the oh at the stadium. Oh, Metallica, that's
here in June. Some other band.

Speaker 9 (02:26:08):
Is it like a rock it's a show oh, showcase
of the Immortals.

Speaker 1 (02:26:13):
I don't know what that means. Listen to you too.

Speaker 9 (02:26:15):
WrestleMania, baby, Oh, WrestleMania is gonna be There are.

Speaker 1 (02:26:19):
How many WrestleManias have you been to? Now? Ooh, seventeen seventeen.
That's a lot. That was at the Dome. Okay, oh,
twenty seventeen. No, no, no, it was WrestleMania seventeen. It
was actually two thousand and one. That's the first one
I attended. I got you.

Speaker 9 (02:26:35):
I've never actually stopped and counted. I think it's like
five or six.

Speaker 2 (02:26:39):
What's the big storyline coming into WrestleMania? John cenattorney heel Yes,
which was awesome by the way, Okay, well is this
It was great to see little kids crying in the audience. Yeah,
I know, I don't know. I was just overwhelmed with emotion.
I can't have your fifty year old in georts. He's
turned bad. He's a bad guy. Now he bad guy.
Now J bad guy.

Speaker 9 (02:27:01):
You know when like merchandise and stuff like that as
a factor. That's why a lot of people thought he
would never do it. And so the fact that he's
doing it as his last run because he was retiring
after this allegedly.

Speaker 1 (02:27:12):
I love that dude. What does it, Jordan mean about
the kids? Leave them kids?

Speaker 2 (02:27:17):
Yeah, that's that's what he said, basically what he said,
all right, seven one, three, two, two, five, seven.

Speaker 1 (02:27:22):
Nine of the phone number. Biscuit has been waiting patiently,
so let's go to him all the phone lines. What's up,
Biscuit was what my.

Speaker 5 (02:27:28):
Brothers he a se Man, I've seen you on that
with Randy last night. Now, I didn't know you was
trying to be like Mike. Man, I didn't know he
had the little do a little ball doone there.

Speaker 1 (02:27:38):
I ain't trying to be like Mike. Okay, I'm trying.

Speaker 5 (02:27:42):
To be like, oh I do like let me pull
the question there. You see we I think we can
all agree that Raymond is the dirtiest player in the NBA.
But Ross helped me here. Who is the second dirtiest
player in the NBA.

Speaker 1 (02:28:00):
Second dirtiest player in the NBA. Where is he guiding you?
I know where you're trying to make me.

Speaker 5 (02:28:05):
Go, And the guy would delay the league and technicles
or whatever, and then and then hit a couple of
people in the junk a few times themselves.

Speaker 1 (02:28:13):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (02:28:15):
Yeah, well, so we're not gonna we're not gonna talk
about the dirtiness a see.

Speaker 2 (02:28:20):
Worst Draymond's rates multiple players. He seeks out the other
team's best player and he tries to rake them in
the face.

Speaker 5 (02:28:29):
And the Brooks don't do the same.

Speaker 9 (02:28:30):
No you to that extent, no biscuit, I honestly, if
you're asking, if you're if you're asking that question, honestly,
I really don't think he does. Like Dylan Brooks, aside
from being a much much better offensive player than Draymond
Green all around, and he's having one of his best
three point shooting seasons in forever, he actually will try
to defend you, straight up.

Speaker 1 (02:28:51):
I'm not saying he did.

Speaker 9 (02:28:52):
He doesn't have tactics or thinks he does at times
that you know, maybe are called into question. But I
don't really feel like Dylan brook gets up out of
bed every morning and thinks about how he can injure
a guy, and I don't.

Speaker 1 (02:29:04):
I'm not saying that Draymond does.

Speaker 9 (02:29:06):
But if you were to ask me which one of
those guys would have that mentality first, and I'm betting
on them, it's definitely Draymond.

Speaker 5 (02:29:12):
I agree with that. I'm just saying, Man Brooks say
he ain't acquire boy. Okay, yeah, okay, but look get
into the game to the series though, Man, I definitely
disagree with you. Man, Missles is imploding. Man, if you
can get them, that's almost.

Speaker 1 (02:29:28):
Like a game.

Speaker 5 (02:29:28):
That's almost like a bye I think, you know what
I'm saying. So if you can get them, of course
you want them, but I doubt if that's gonna happen.
So going to the Warriors, I like the rockets stance
against the Warriors.

Speaker 9 (02:29:42):
By the way, the Rockets, the Rockets have never had
the Rockets have never had home court advantage against the
Warriors in a playoff series. You know that, right, It's
always been Yeah, it's I mean, it's like that. It's
it's not a huge thing. But I do think that
there are certain like in sports. As I asked Wex
about this, eighteen, didn't they uh yeah, actually you're right,

(02:30:03):
they did. They did in eighteen, but they didn't have
their best their second best player the last two games that.

Speaker 1 (02:30:07):
Year ruined this.

Speaker 9 (02:30:08):
Yeah, so I kind of hamstring when you're going to
the Bay Area for a Game six and you're up
three to two and you're thinking you're gonna en that series,
but we're gonna take your second best player away kind
of evens out the whole home court thing.

Speaker 1 (02:30:20):
Just make a couple of those twenty seven threes.

Speaker 9 (02:30:23):
Well that was game seven when Scott Foster and Tony
Brothers showed up and said, you're not winning this.

Speaker 1 (02:30:27):
Uh, they could have not gone over twenty seven. It
won the game.

Speaker 9 (02:30:30):
That's my dude. Did you not hear what I said? No,
you've probably never watched. There's a YouTube video of it's
a compilation. Yes there are some. They were fouled on
a few of those. Yes, yeah, they were fouled on
two of them.

Speaker 1 (02:30:40):
For sure.

Speaker 9 (02:30:40):
That should have been four point plays, but Scott Foster
specifically waved those off. You know, the same Scott Foster
who text message with Tim Donahey like hundreds of times
around the betting scandal.

Speaker 1 (02:30:52):
Alright, yes he's rigging the league for Golden State.

Speaker 9 (02:30:55):
I mean, listen, if we want to like say I'm
a conspiracy theorist. That's fine, But take any other scenario
and put those you know, parameters into it, you're gonna
you're gonna.

Speaker 1 (02:31:05):
Don't think rigged.

Speaker 9 (02:31:07):
I don't think it was rigged. No, I just I can't.
I can't sit still and just allow that to go
on and act like nothing happened there. I mean, it's
just it's gross, frankly, especially when you.

Speaker 2 (02:31:23):
If the league was rigged, the team from San Antonio
wouldn't have won five championships.

Speaker 1 (02:31:27):
That's probably true.

Speaker 9 (02:31:28):
Although Tim Duncan was once thrown out of a game
for laughing. That's true, And that's the only time I
can recall that's the only time I can recall the
NBA stepping in which, to their credit, Crawford, to their credit,
he was supposedly one of their best, which tells you
all you need to know about that. He was like
one of their top echelon officials and they're like, yeah,
you gotta go. He was also pocketing the difference on

(02:31:52):
taxes for up trading his flights, all right, anything else, biscuit.

Speaker 5 (02:31:56):
I would also the j O'donald Clyde.

Speaker 6 (02:32:00):
I think that.

Speaker 5 (02:32:03):
When he was with the Rocket, Yes.

Speaker 1 (02:32:04):
But that's ok.

Speaker 9 (02:32:05):
A letter from the mayor's wife to happen. I mean,
these are the kinds of things that have to happen. Yeah,
at least Ali sent a letter to the league office
and he never officiated a game again.

Speaker 1 (02:32:16):
What happened?

Speaker 9 (02:32:17):
So Clyde gets thrown out of the game in Phoenix
and the Rockets I believe were already down three to
one in that series, and he gets thrown out of
the game for just Jake O'Donnell was just a jerk.
Apparently in the pregame circle he refused to shake Clyde's hand.
It was bad, it was a bad look. So he
throws him out of the game. Maybe he was offended
by Clyde's mustache. Nobody's offended by clydes mustache. It's barely there.

(02:32:42):
He throws him out of the game. The league office
gets a letter from Bob Lanier's wife. Really, who was
they were in attendance? What and Jacob go look it
up Jake o'donald. I'm saying that Jake O'Donnell never officiated
another NBA game after that.

Speaker 1 (02:32:57):
Wow.

Speaker 9 (02:32:57):
Famously, it wasn't just that's the end of the run
for this season. He never came back. He was swimming.

Speaker 1 (02:33:03):
He was swimming with the fishes metaphorically.

Speaker 2 (02:33:05):
Okay, I say his career family had him rubbed out.

Speaker 9 (02:33:10):
They did from it, they had his career rubbed out. Okay,
he insulted him a little bit, they did. But uh yeah,
I'm not saying that needs to happen to dreamind but
I'm not saying it doesn't. Okay, I mean, I mean,
you look, you put it this way. Let me ask
you this in all seriousness, and it's not for effect.
The Rockets play the Warriors in the first round. Okay,

(02:33:30):
let's just say game two, Games three, let's go Game three.
It's gonna be in San Francisco. He's in his element,
the crowd's going crazy. He starts pulling his bs right. Yes,
like he does something like what we've talked about, you know,
long lineage of these injurious type fouls. Yea, not just
a regular foul, not a hard foul, not a hard
playoff foul. He does something that hurts somebody on the Rockets. Yes,

(02:33:53):
what should the NBA do in response?

Speaker 2 (02:33:55):
He should be suspended from multiple games of the series.

Speaker 9 (02:33:58):
Absolutely, because forever game you suspend somebody in the postseason,
that's like five regular season games.

Speaker 1 (02:34:04):
Let's say the magnitude of those games. Yeah, he should
be suspended. Okay, Honestly, I feel like you could.

Speaker 2 (02:34:10):
You could literally pull up all the videos and make
it make an argument that he should be out of
the NBA.

Speaker 9 (02:34:16):
And I'm not even kidding, but he didn't even get
ejected when he elbowed alprin Chingoon. And this was after
he got a technical in the half prior. Yeah, you
remember he got that technical before halftime, right, and then
after halftime in the third quarter is when he quote
didn't lead with his.

Speaker 1 (02:34:34):
Elbow, even though he completely led with his elbow. Who's
a natural motion.

Speaker 9 (02:34:38):
The only part that was better and the only part
that always is better about those scenarios is, without fail,
Steve Kerr will get up there and defend him, and
their fan base will act like.

Speaker 1 (02:34:46):
What he didn't do anything. Fan base is terrible. I
hate that entire organization and all of their families.

Speaker 2 (02:34:53):
That is the one and only Adam planned here on
the Bat Thomas Show with Ross, We're gonna take a break.
We got one segment to go, no believe it or not.
Today when Matt is out, we all give I get
myself a mental day off with Matt out doing that,
so I appreciate it. I don't have to write those questions.
So you gotta want to get in the last segment,
you can. It's seven one three two one two five
seven ninety Back in a minute for the final segment

(02:35:15):
of The Matt Thomas Show with Ross.

Speaker 1 (02:35:16):
All Right, welcome back to the final segment. Got the
book of Job going on in here.

Speaker 2 (02:35:22):
Between segments always more interesting than during segments here on
Sports Talk seven. Hinty, Adam Plant is here Ross Veria
with you. By the way to book at Job is heavy.
I'll take your word for it. Is that a movie.
It's a book in the Bible. Okay, it's in the
Old Test. I'm just kidding. Don't look at me like that, Jonathan.

Speaker 1 (02:35:41):
It's called job. I grew up Catholic.

Speaker 2 (02:35:46):
But anyways, seven three two on two five seven the
phone number.

Speaker 1 (02:35:50):
We've been talking a lot of heavy Rockets talk. I
love it.

Speaker 2 (02:35:52):
We have the game tomorrow which Adam Plant will be
full throatedly rooting for the Warriors because he wants them
to come and take on the Houston Rockets. Don't care,
I really don't care who it is either way, I
just do think I think the Warriors are going to
be a bit of a tougher route. I don't think
it's an accident that are six and now they of
course they are at home as well, but they're six

(02:36:12):
and a half point favorites.

Speaker 1 (02:36:14):
Over the Grizzlies.

Speaker 2 (02:36:14):
And we can talk about, like you said, we can
talk about the aura and all that of the teams,
and it's different teams. It's a different here in Houston.
I'm talking about as a practicality for the twenty five season.
With Jimmy Butler added, the Warriors have been playing pretty good.
I think I think the Grizzlies would be not an
easy out, but easier perhaps than the Warriors. And at
the end of the day, this is what I always
come back to. It doesn't matter what you and I

(02:36:36):
root for Clinton. Whatever is going to happen is going
to happen on that floor in San Francisco, and we'll
see what happens after Tuesday night.

Speaker 9 (02:36:42):
Let me ask you this, the Rockets get the Warriors,
and they have games one and two at Toyota Center Sunday,
likely afternoon. If it's the Warriors, I just from that
graphic that's floating around I tend to agree that that
would be the matchup FIRS, because if it's Memphis, it
would be later that night.

Speaker 1 (02:37:00):
Whatever. We know it's Sunday. We do know that Sunday.

Speaker 9 (02:37:02):
So let's say the Rockets find a way somehow, some
way to win games one and two.

Speaker 1 (02:37:09):
They're up to Oh oh that sounds great, So.

Speaker 9 (02:37:11):
They're going back to San Francisco, Okay, and you get
to the arena that night.

Speaker 1 (02:37:16):
Actually you'll know that morning. Uh huh.

Speaker 9 (02:37:18):
You see that one of or both of but likely
one of Scott Foster or Tony Brothers is the official
for game three.

Speaker 1 (02:37:26):
Are you gonna call me crazy? Then? No?

Speaker 2 (02:37:29):
Yes, why, well, we'll see the fix. Will have to
see what the how the game goes with Rockets they
send in. What if the Rockets win that game? What
if they do Scott.

Speaker 1 (02:37:38):
Foster has called a bunch of games the game. It's
Scott Foster. I don't know. I know that he and
he and Chris Paul don't get along.

Speaker 2 (02:37:46):
Yeah, it was both sides hated Scott Foster.

Speaker 1 (02:37:49):
Paul.

Speaker 9 (02:37:50):
Chris Paul has famously like lost like something insane, like
thirteen straight playoff games that he's been in that that
Scott Foster has officiated. It's some stupid number. Yeah, but
I'm saying the game hasn't started yet. I'm talking about
morning of game three. Rockets are up two. Oh, and
you see that? What are you supposed to think if
you've been through all of them?

Speaker 2 (02:38:11):
This scenario? When we get it, all right, we'll watch
the game and see how it plays out and see
how it gets called. All right, I'm just saying, okay,
I'm just saying, all right.

Speaker 1 (02:38:21):
We'll see.

Speaker 2 (02:38:22):
I suppose it's got Well, who's gonna call the LA
games and get the LA moving along?

Speaker 9 (02:38:28):
Well, if you if you talk to anybody out there,
obviously the Lakers are winning at all.

Speaker 1 (02:38:32):
It's it's obvious. It's that's so easy. I'm glad.

Speaker 2 (02:38:36):
Well we're on the same page.

Speaker 1 (02:38:39):
Oh there you get.

Speaker 2 (02:38:40):
I did to tell the truth earlier today, and the
one that I believe was that the Lakers are a
hype job.

Speaker 1 (02:38:45):
Of course they are.

Speaker 9 (02:38:46):
What do you mean if you believe it's fact, you
can't get away from it.

Speaker 1 (02:38:52):
They clarified the follith then you said the fourth one?

Speaker 2 (02:38:55):
Uh okay, So are you won all four or just
the fourth one?

Speaker 1 (02:38:58):
Just no, just the Lakers likes are a hot job.
That was the first opinion I had.

Speaker 2 (02:39:02):
The other opinion I had was Esok Paratus was going
to finish second with the astros.

Speaker 9 (02:39:06):
And home runs, but that was a lie. If you
played all of his games at minute made he could.

Speaker 1 (02:39:10):
Yeah, I think he could. Signed him.

Speaker 2 (02:39:11):
I think Christian Walker is still up second and with
of course you word on Hope if you were on
is it first in home runs at the end of
the season. Something very wrong has happened with the being
so Alex Bregman Alex Bregman as an astro as it.
I was gonna say he's slowed down since that Big
six RBI game as a Red Socks person, red socks

(02:39:34):
as a Red soxsman, not a socksman. Yeah, red socksman.
That sounds weird to say. I don't want to say
that anymore so so going back to the Lakers, don't
know abou Kyle Tucker anyways, going back to the Lakers, Yeah,
I mean, look, Austin Reeves is good, Lebron is good,
Luca is good. But at the stage in the careers,
I mean, Austin Reeves is probably the better defender of
the three of them. I mean They're starting Jackson Hayes

(02:39:56):
at center, and it's like Gabe Vincent.

Speaker 9 (02:39:58):
You have potentially the most nauseating path to the Western
Conference Finals possible. You know that, right if you're the Rockets,
Because if it's the Warriors, you get out of that
series somehow, some way, because you know it did just automatically.
They're the Warriors, So the Rockets shoudn't even show up, right,
That's what we're being told here by Ross and others.

Speaker 2 (02:40:15):
Oh my god, I did not say that. I'm picking
the Warriors. If you get to the Semis, all right,
the gas light King is here, I'm picking the Rockets
to beat the Warriors.

Speaker 1 (02:40:23):
Okay.

Speaker 9 (02:40:23):
So you get to the Semis and the Lakers are
standing there, you realize that, right, if they beat the Timberwolves,
that's who you're facing is the Lakers.

Speaker 1 (02:40:30):
Honestly, Timberwolves could knock them out, That's true, and as
part of me thinks they they probably will. Oh honestly,
I want to get up.

Speaker 2 (02:40:36):
I wish Lakers minus four and a half for Game one.
By the way, I wish we had sports gambling here.
I would love to see a series price. I think,
just on its face, I feel like the Lakers. The
Timberwolves are gonna have a good series. Price I would
like to probably bet on them. I also liked how
about this. We were talking about this earlier, talking about
disrespect and all that type of stuff. Championship odds, the
favorites are around two to one, talking about the Celtics

(02:40:59):
and the under I think this. The Calves are like
five to one, the Rockets are forty five to one.

Speaker 9 (02:41:06):
Say think they were saying they basically think they shouldn't
even show up to their games.

Speaker 2 (02:41:10):
Twenty five bucks, I mean, sorry, twenty bucks on that
wins you nine hundred dollars.

Speaker 1 (02:41:15):
You're butt twenty dollars on that. But the Rockets have
to win the championship. How many teams?

Speaker 9 (02:41:19):
How many teams are behind them in this playoff field?

Speaker 2 (02:41:22):
It's not a lot, I'll go. I'm trying to go.
I'm trying to pull up the email. I mean, that's
just I might have deleted it and I'm sorry.

Speaker 9 (02:41:28):
Like people like like that jackass discount Jesus looking dude
on FS one. I won't I won't say his name
because he's a turd. Are like, well, you know, the Rockets,
they're the two. But they're really the seven. I love
Lebron and Patrick Mahalmes like he just the amount of disrespect. Now, look,

(02:41:49):
if the Rockets roll over and die in the first round,
I'm not gonna I'm gonna be eating all of this.

Speaker 2 (02:41:53):
All right, let's so you know what, I'm gonna pull
up our good friend, DraftKings. So you know you can
download the DraftKings pick six.

Speaker 1 (02:41:58):
App and take your word for it. They don't pay
me and.

Speaker 2 (02:42:03):
Use code spotlight. Here we go, Team Futures Finals winner.
They have the Thunder, like I said, a little bit
under two to one Celtics as well.

Speaker 9 (02:42:14):
So what do they have thunder Celtics in the finals
or is it thunder Calves or uh uh?

Speaker 1 (02:42:21):
This is eight thousand to one? Is this correct? Is
this eighty to one? What doesn't sound ten buckses sound promising? Dude?
You put twenty bucks on that.

Speaker 2 (02:42:37):
Sixteen hundred bucks, I'll take the Rockets in eighty to one,
then do it.

Speaker 1 (02:42:42):
Well, I can't because we don't. We don't live in
a state where the.

Speaker 2 (02:42:44):
Politicians aren't controlled enough by the by the gambling interests.

Speaker 1 (02:42:48):
I guess there's a way.

Speaker 2 (02:42:51):
Yeah, all right, I'm gonna drive Lake Charles tonight. Actually
I'm off. I'm off at two o'clock for the day.
I could drive down there, hang out for a little
bit and come back. I can't get it. We're supposed
to go there in May. It's gonna be too late.
I literally need to find somebody to get this down
for me. I just put twenty bucks on it, sixteen
hundred if they win it all eighty to one? Are
you kidding me? That's tied with the Pacers, worse than

(02:43:13):
the Tea Wolves, Clippers, Nicks, Warriors.

Speaker 1 (02:43:17):
Your Warriors are seventeen to one. They're not my warriors.
Nuggets are twenty five to one. Lakers are fourteen to one.
Get out of here. That is absurd.

Speaker 2 (02:43:28):
Well something to think about, all right, I have to
get I'm not have to get the seriously need to
figure something out. But I mean, look, I don't think
the Rockets are winning the championship, but eighty to one
is good value. That means if they play these playoffs
eighty times eighty one times, can the Astros win once?

Speaker 1 (02:43:45):
I mean the Rockets. Yes, it's all takes.

Speaker 2 (02:43:49):
That's all it takes. All right, that's gonna do it
for the man. Thomas Show with Ross. My special thanks
to program Director of the Year Chris Gordy for stopping
by for a little bit. I appreciate him. Thank you,
Adam Clinton talking about how much you love the Warriors.
Appreciate you. Thanks to Jonathan Allen producing doing a great
job as he always does. Matt Thomas will be back tomorrow.

(02:44:13):
My name is Rossity Reel. I'll be back with you too.
Ten Am, right now, don't go anywhere. It's the A
Team with Adam and Adam