The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Rockets HC Stephen Silas Talks Rockets Level Of Play And Chris Paul's Trash-Talking Abilities

Episode Date: April 7, 2021

Rockets HC Stephen Silas Talks Rockets Level Of Play And Chris Paul's Trash-Talking Abilities

is the Matt Thomas Show. 101 on Sports Talk 790. The second hour of the Matt Thomas show begins with our weekly visit with our good friend, the head basketball coach of your Houston Rockets. Tonight, the Dallas Mavericks are in town. Steven Sautis with us here on the show. Coach, I have mentioned this story to my audience a couple of times

about the last two times we were in Dallas to do a road game and actually call the game there. to Rick Carlisle at Pop Belly both times. And it's an uptown. And I'm like, and so Ross says maybe Coach was with him and maybe you were so rude to him. Was I ever rude to you? Were you ever with Coach? We ever with Rick at a Pop Belly before a game against the Rockets?

No. No, we used to go to Jimmy Johns. So I never went to Pop Belly with him. But he is definitely a man of ritual. so I could see that. If it's a certain team, maybe it's a pot-belly day, most days that I was with them, we went to Jimmy Jobs, so maybe he felt like that was our spot.

So basically he just likes all sandwiches, basically. He doesn't care where he gets in front. Okay, I got you. So is there a place, forget about pandemic. Let's go back to before. Is there a go-to, in every city, is there a go-to place? And what's your favorite of those go-to places? Because I have them when I was traveling on the team.

There was always spot-at spots I wanted to go. Was there a ritual place that you traveled around the league and said, when I'm in this city, I've got to be at this place? Not really. I'm a Chipotle guy, so if I can find a Chipotle nearby within walking distance of the hotel, you'll probably find me there pre-game. Nice, nice. So Dallas is in town.

We don't know about, I know they've lost quite a few players injury-wise, but they're also one of the hotter teams in the NBA in five straight games. Tell me about Luca when the first time you met him and how he progressed as a young player and what you see now has you tried to scout him? Yeah, so when I first met Luca, he was definitely guarded

and, you know, but he had this, like, quiet confidence about him. And he's so smart. I would be introducing some offense or putting in a new play or reviewing some stuff. And introducing and putting in new stuff is fine for him,

but reviewing, he doesn't see the value in reviewing because he gets it the first time. He's like, why do we keep going over this stuff? I know it's already. I'm like, we need everybody else to know it as well as you. So, yeah, he is definitely a very smart guy, very confident guy. And, you know, he knew he was going to be good when he came in. And there were lots of, I guess, naysayers and doubts when he first. came in as far as the difference between the level of basketball he was playing in the NBA.

But definitely transferred. And the one thing about him is he is a worker. And you see by his shooting now, it's a lot better than it was when he first came into the league. And that's generally guys who are going to work on their game and spending more time and that sort of thing. But he's been doing it since he's 16. So all of this stuff isn't new for him. it's pretty much old hat for him. Rocket Coach Steven Silas here on a Sports Talk 790 and coach in the last game

went up against a pretty good team going up a pretty good one tonight. It was close against the sons and a lot of guys played well. Do you think even though it was a loss, have some confidence or tell the guys, hey, you see we can play with anybody? Yeah, that was the message. I mean, they're a good team, obviously second in the West. and with Booker and Chris Paul and those guys that were able to just make plays on their own

without the help of anybody else. And then Aiden and his post-ups definitely hurt us. But overall, it was the fight that I wanted to see. It was the offensive continuity. It was the cheering of the ball. We had 28 assists in that game. And guys kind of finding, their role and finding how they can play well together.

And that was the first, I think that was the first game that we started, Kelly and Christian together. And they had played some together, but not started. And they both had productive games for us. And it's going to be important as we move forward to see how that pairing goes. And I think it could be really, really special with both guys being so versatile on both ends of the floor and being able to stretch the floor with both guys and do a lot of different things with John Wall and KP playing downhill.

I think it could be really good. But it was the fight and there was the competitiveness and there was the learning from the previous games as far as fourth quarter execution and all those things. We came up a little bit short, but there was a lot to learn from that Phoenix loss. You've spent basically your entire NBA coaching career going against Kelly Olinic. What did you know about him before the trade? And what are some nuances to him, both either personally or professional, that you've learned since he's joined the team?

Yeah, I've always known he could shoot, but I also knew that he kind of likes to play in a way that he's not going to be put in a box. So he will duck in the paint and post up some if he has a smaller guy on him. or he will. He plays in a way that makes it easier for everybody else to play well. So, hey, when he catches the ball, it's not just shot first. It's see if there's a handoff that I can get to. See if I can move it and set a screen for somebody.

See if I can get the offense moving a little bit better and more. So, yeah, and as far as a guy, he's super professional, has some really good ideas. He's seen a lot, has been through a lot, obviously being in the finals last year. He's a confident guy, and he's definitely good for our group because we're a younger group,

and we need some of that veteran know-how with our younger guys. One of your older guys, it sounds like he wants to play tonight. We're speaking of John Wall, and he got into a bunch of hamlet. string knee stuff, and I'm not a doctor, I just do a radio show and do the Rockets games. Where is he going to be a how he wakes up in the morning kind of feel the rest of the way?

Is that just how it's going to work out the rest of the season you think with John in terms of whether or not he's available to go play? And that can't be easy for you, but that's just the reality of it. Yeah, I think that is kind of the reality of it. And making sure that he is doing everything he needs to do and making sure that the performance team is on top of whatever it takes for him to be on the floor. He desperately wants to be on the floor, but he's coming back for a major injury. And now he has these little nagging ones that kind of come and go,

and we have to be conscious of that. So if he plays tonight and it looks like he's going to, the minutes are going to be restricted because we don't want to just throw him out there and have him play in 38, 40 minutes after being out for so long, and especially with the injuries that he has, it's kind of like the knee and right behind the knee and the hamstring and stuff that with wear kind of creep up on you. So we want to make sure that we're not wearing him down, wearing him out. For I let you run a little bit lighter note, Chris Paul, obviously watch him as a Hornet and watch him as a clipper and as a rocket.

He came back here as a Thunder and now as his son. and he's a big smack talker in general. I respect the hell of him. I grew to really appreciate his game, especially when he was wearing the Houston gear. He's a big talker as he's after he scores baskets to the bench. Do you hear much of that? And what does he say?

And more importantly, where do you put him among NBA players that like to bark at benches after scoring baskets? Yeah, he's right at the top as far as, you know, talking trash or, you know, telling the coaches it's time for a time. out for her. Oh no. That's awful. That's terrible. It's awful. It's awful. He hasn't done it to me, but I did notice it when watching film that he did it to a few other guys. So yeah, you know, he's so smart and he sees everything and knows how things should be done. And if things aren't being

done the correct way, he will let anybody and everybody know about it. But as far as like through my career, Reggie Miller is right at the top of the list of guys who are going to trash talk. Baron Davis was a big trash talker. I'm trying to think who else. I think if you add CP to that group, that's three pretty major trash talkers throughout the game. Because, Stephen, that's a drive-by. That's not a, you can't have a conversation.

He scores that little mid-range right-elbow jumper, and then he turns and y'all says something really fast. And I look at you and your coaching staff and some of the players, like, did he really just say that to us? I mean, I have respect for it. I feel like I'd be that kind of player. The problem, Stephen, is I wouldn't make as many baskets as Chris Paul. So I wouldn't have the chance of Trees to Tash talk as much as he does.

There are very, very few guys who can actually back it up. And he's been doing it for a long time and can back it up. And, yeah, he's one of those guys that you probably love to have on their team, but when he's on the opponent's team you don't really love them too much.

Well, best luck tonight. I know your guys have shown to acquit. I love the new black uniforms. I don't know if you guys were in those tonight, but that was definitely a good look for the team. And getting John out there to work with Kelly and Christian, I'm kind of looking forward to seeing what that combinations like, because you haven't had that very much this year. Yeah, I'm looking forward to it tonight.

We've been showing some fighting. We've been playing a lot better as of late. We've just got to get over the hump. And, you know, it's about, for us really, it's about playing well, but it would be nice to get a win, too. We'll see you later tonight. Thanks, Coach, for the visit.

We really appreciate it. Thank you. You got it. Stephen Siles with us here on the show.