The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Radio Voice of the Lakers John Ireland Talks Game 6

Episode Date: May 1, 2026

Radio Voice of the Lakers John Ireland Talks Game 6 

1031, 7908 is a Matt Talos show with Ross. We spend 10 quality minutes with our friend for the second time. Man, I hope he doesn't ask for a talent fee on this. John Arlin. I don't think we're going to afford them. John already does a three-hour show in Los Angeles as it is. And he's a Lakers radio voice and he's with us for the second time in the last couple weeks. John, how do you like this Chamber of Commerce Weather?

We're giving the Los Angeles Laker fan base here today. Well, as you know, Matt, my second stop in TV news was in Beaumont, which is about 80 miles. Yes. And I was there for four years, and this was what the weather was like every day. So I'm well prepared for that. But first of all, before I yell at you, how are you feeling? Last time I saw you, I thought I might have to send you to the infirmary. Are you feeling better?

Beverly Hills, I officially have pharmacy pills from the 90210, which makes me kind of special. I feel about 90%. And I certainly felt a lot better as the game was moving along, as the rocket's got the victory. So I appreciate you checking on me. John, Ross, I should tell you, John was offering me medication during the game. I don't know if you wanted me to fall asleep during the game

or whatever the case may be. I don't think you should ride them out for a federal crime. I mean, what kind of medication are we talking about here? No, full on. Oh, no. No, it's all over-the-counter stuff. Okay, that's fine. Except for the sleep gummies.

Yes. She's like, hey. California legal. He called me the mule for some reason. I don't know why he did that. Yeah, that was so terrible. All right. Johnny, let's get right to it.

How just... Wait a minute. You want to get right to it? Let's get to this. Why don't you listen to me? All right. I didn't want to listen to you because I think you were just... You were just giving me full optimism is what you were trying to do. Well, no. I think we both pivot to, as most team announcers do, hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. Yes. And so I knew what you were doing, but so the audience knows, I ran into Matt the other night, and I

I said, you know this series isn't over. And you looked at me like I had lost my mind. And you went, well, you know, nobody's ever come back from 03, blah, blah, blah. Matt, you realize you guys should be ahead three, two. I know. If you don't gift wrap game three and hand it to us, tonight you would be preparing for a party. But because the Rockets did that, we've got a shot.

But I mean it when I say this, like you could put me on a lie detector. this series is not even close to being over. Wouldn't you say it has reached the stage now where it's probably, I know this isn't the accurate number, but in your own head, isn't it probably 50-50? Like who wins this now? It would not surprise me if the Lakers won tonight and ended your season.

It would not surprise me if the rockets blow us out, like the Knicks Hawks thing. And then it all comes down to a game seven. There is no scenario you could give me that I would be. shocked. Do you feel the same way? 100% of the matter of fact I spent the first half hour with the show with the audience saying, I don't have a feel for this. I don't because everybody

and their mother has flipped the narrative on this. LeBron is old. Kinnard can't shoot anymore. It's Marcus Smart's going to turn the ball over. It's the rockets are at the momentum. I got me, Kendrick Perkins calling us a dumbest team in the NBA until

the Lakers came and became the dumbest team in the NBA. I really don't have a feel for it whatsoever. Now, I did go to your Instagram account where you were not working yesterday. Your guy Max Kellerman, who people know on ESPN, is loving your squad. So tell me, is Max a good prognosticator when he comes on your show? Max is terrible. Are you kidding?

He is a great guy. He couldn't pick to save his life. For 10 years, Matt, I did the show before Max's. Max was doing radio in L.A. for a long time with Marcellus Wiley. It was a really great show. Like most shows in our business, some suit screwed it up. Yep.

But I heard Max when I was on the plane flying out here and I heard Max. I think that a lot of people watching this series, particularly national media, have pivoted to this. Well, LeBron will never let this happen. Like LeBron will never blow an 03 lead, his legacy. is too important. I'm here to tell you, and I'm curious what you think about this, it is not LeBron that has allowed the rockets back in this series. I know he's made some turnovers, but everybody's, what killed the Lakers in game five was they got absolutely nothing out of Lou Canard and Marcus Smart. When I was on with you last, like before the series

started, I said, Canard's the X factor because you can't leave him open. And if you do, he'll light you up. That's exactly what he did in game one. I think he had 27 points. So we went from 27 from Luke down to basically zero. And Marcus was actually a liability, and he's been one of our best players. So I think as we, you and I call this game tonight, what it may swing on is not LeBron. LeBron's been great. Shengoon's been great. I know they've both made mistakes, but those two are going to show up. The question for the Lakers is, do Marcus Smart and Luke canard impact the game. If they don't, you're coming to LA for game seven.

If they do, we could end it tonight. I think also John Austin Reeves, obviously a big factor. What did you think overall about the performance? I mean, the obvious box score watching thing was he started off hot and then he cooled off but was still getting the free throw line. But just in terms of flow, how he was moving around, how did you feel he played? And can he get in a better rhythm, at least shooting from the floor tonight? Good question.

I actually thought he looked pretty good. He didn't show any signs of the injury. And what he's been great at all year, Matt, is you mentioned it, getting to the line. He got 13 free throws. Matter of fact, for most of the season, the three guys that were leading the league in free throw attempts before Austin got hurt were SGA, Luca, and Austin. You wouldn't normally think of Austin being in that club, you know, like you would. would say, well, what about Jason Tatum or Jalen Brown? What about Yokic? You know, what about Devin Booker? Austin's just great at getting to the free throw line. And by the way, Matt,

did you see who the lead official is tonight? Yes, the serious extender. Yes, we already know this. The extender, Scott Foster, the bat phone has gone out. And what Scott's nickname the extender is, he tends to favor the team that could have their season ended. In this case, the Rockets, You know what you are. I don't know. I think you're a fraud. I think you're going on your L.A. radio show today, and I think you're doing all the other stuff. You're just trying to placate to my audience.

I see what you're doing. I see what you're doing. How do you think I've survived 30-plus years in the business? Of course that's what I'm doing. Let me tell you something. I'm going to put on the ESPN LA app, and I'm going to listen to your show today. I don't know how long you're going to be on for, but I'm going to listen. I'm going to find out exactly this is the true stuff. You're really telling your audience.

You're trying to suck up to the wonderful people of a huge. human Houston, Texas. You're not too far from your former home of Beaumont. That's what I'm going to find out from you today. First of all, thank you for mentioning the ESPN, L.A. app free in the app store, wherever you get your apps. By the way, also, John Ireland gets his face on the screen

at the Rossi get the Crypto.com. John Ireland's face is on there 10 times per game. I'm lucky to get a radio call on the big board at all at Toyota Center. They got you in the highlight package at the beginning. They have you in the beginning thing when they're introducing the team, too. I don't know, such a whiner.

John's getting more run. By the way, I love, I love that Dream On open that's right. Yeah. I hope they never, ever change that. Like, I was afraid that they were going to change it for the postseason. Like, if you come to a Laker game, you'll notice that they, they tailor the opens to whoever the opponent is, and so they do new ones all the time. That, you know, Matt, you and I obviously get to go to every arena.

Yep. That Dreamon video open for the Rockets where you kind of get to. see the history of the team. And my guy, Rudy T's in there. It is as good of an open as any team in the league. If I had to rank them, I'd rank it number one. So, Matt, use your power as the voice of the rocket. Make sure they never get rid of that thing.

That thing's fantastic. Okay, so before I let you roll, if you guys win tonight, give me the scenario. How does it happen? Well, we kind of already talked about it. I think the other players, other than LeBron, impact the game. Like DeAndre Aiton played great in game five. I think he finished with 18.17 rebounds. I'll let you have that by the way. I'll let you have twos over threes all day long, all day long.

Right. I think what E may did was brilliant. You guys are the best offensive rebounding team I've ever seen. And he threw a curveball at us in game five. He basically told his guys, don't crash the glass like you normally do. get back and we're going to make the Lakers beat us in the half court. And when that happened, your length and your athleticism made a big deal out of that game. And I think it's one of the main reasons why the Rockets won. JJ will adjust to that tonight. I don't know how. But I'm not so sure EMA might adjust back.

You may might say, okay, that was a one-time thing to steal game five. Now we go back to crash in the glass. I'm actually more excited to call this game than I have for me. most games this season. I'm guessing you feel the same way. Absolutely. Because what you said in the, what you said in the beginning, I have no feel for this either, Matt.

There is nothing that would surprise me. The way, like, Rockets winning a blowout tonight. Lakers winning a blowout. I mean, either team wins at the buzzer. I just think the possibilities are endless. And it's like going to a movie where you know nothing about it. You walk in and then you walk out. Like, I would imagine anybody that invested time,

I mean, he was a Rockets fan that invested time in game five, even as late as that game was in Texas, stayed up to see the end because everybody thought the Rockets were going to do what they do and screw it up in clutch time. They did the exact opposite. They, Reed Shepherd came up with that huge steal, which I thought sealed the game. And by the way, took a just flat to him LeBron. Nobody had that on their bingo card. And I've fallen in love. I got a man crush on Jabari Smith. I think that dude is super underrated.

So, again, no feel at all for what happens over the next two games, none. And that's what makes this fun. It is, makes it a lot of fun. You are a great sport. One of my good friends in the league. I really appreciate you and I, you and I, getting into each other the last 10 years or so. Have a great lunch, get a good nap in, and we will see you at the arena later tonight. Thank you for the time as always.

All right, man. Thanks. And I'll be out. I'll be in a few hours. That sounds great. John Ireland.