The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Rockets Take Down KIngs, Texans Offseason News, Ime Udoka Joins

Episode Date: February 26, 2026

Ime Udoka Joins as Rockets Look to Continue Two-Game Momentum

is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. Welcome to a Thursday edition of the Matt Thomas show with Ross. This is Sports Talk 790. Assist number 11. We got the smooth operators at TOTA center last night. We got the smooth operator back with us in studio today. Jonathan? That's true.

We got Ross back. I should say that. The smooth operator has been with us. all we call. By the way, Matthew, first of all, good to be back. Second of all, I was telling Jonathan, young Jonathan, about Prime Shaw Day. Ooh. That's what I said, too. He's like, oh, really? I got to get to the Google machine. She was a model. She was a model before she was a singer. You go look at her. You put a couple of her songs together. Oh, yeah. I told him there's a non-zero chance he was

conceived of that song. It was the jam back of the day. There's a chance that I got to keep it clean. You're back. Yeah. Was it getting somehow dirtier when I was going? Well, it's funny because we got into a spirit of debate yesterday that a lot of people tweeted me. And I actually got several emails about, which is really funny. And IG messages too.

Oh, really? We were talking about spring break for some reason. Okay. Jonathan's like, you know, we're going to get like a half million people coming to Houston for spring break. And I'm like, no, we're not. and there was, I mean, he's like, man, it's too expensive to go to Florida. It's too expensive to go to California. Today's kids are going to Houston for spring break.

And I'm like, from where? From Nacadocious? That's what I said. That's, are they running out of gas? Y'all don't believe you, man. Oh, we ran out of gas. We ran out of gas at H-town. I guess this is where we are for spring break.

I remember when I was younger, a news story. Now, see, now this is actually a longstanding, topic in the show. I'm not trying to do this, Matt. But everyone I was young watching the news, they were interviewing people at Galveston. They're like, yeah, we just don't have money to go to South Padre. We can't afford South Padre or Panama City, so we're in Galveston for spring break. I mean, I kind of get that. Which happens?

Yeah, I mean, I kind of get that. I didn't know. Now it's so, Galveston I can live with is with a cheap spring break on the cheap. Right, right. I'm going to H-town. Well, I'm going to Ruggles for Spring Break. Let me tell you something, Jonathan. We love you. And you are such a fun part of our show, but you're dead-ass roll.

You know what? We got a week. We got a week. I will say, I'm not doubting, Jonathan. If he's saying it's true, if he's saying the kids are going to, because the kids are different these days, Matt, you got to realize. Like, we were young, there was all these spring-bake movies and you'd be dreaming. You'd be dreaming of going to the beach. And then, like I said, well, you just end up with a syringe in your foot in Galveston.

And now, I mean, economic times are hard. Hello, visit Galveston.com. Shout out to you, my brothers, my sisters, my friends. Yeah, I wish you all the best. Clean up your syringes. We were going to get into a deep dive today about the rocket's impressive blowout win. By the way, I listened to you last night, and it can still hit a little bit in your voice. Okay.

Just tell the audience, not that everybody knows us already, but the flu can kick your ass. I'm going to be honest, flu kicked my ass. I had the influenza A. I felt like death on Saturday. I got tested positive for it on Sunday. And I just been just staying in bed, taking Tamaflu and getting all the fluids I can. And it's been the sports RV movie marathon from my bed the last few days.

Really? What was your favorite movie you've seen? Ooh. Let's see. Conclay was pretty good. I liked Spotlight. I watched Life is Beautiful. the Roberto Benini movie from the 1990s.

I thought it was terrible at first, but then it rallied. Okay. I actually saw mean girls for the first time because people were getting mad at me for never seeing mean girls. I think Jonathan was one of them. No, actually, I don't...

Okay, maybe it wasn't Jonathan. Somebody young was getting mad at me for never watching Mean Girls, so I watched that. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, I'm thinking of white chicks. You're right. Yeah, I was mad at you. Yeah, see, okay, there we go. Jonathan was mad at me for never seeing mean girls,

and it's got all these cultural references, so I wanted to catch that. Yeah, it was a variety. It was a varietal sports RV movie marathon while I had the flu, Matt. All right. Well, we're glad to have you back. And today, probably being a short day, helps you a little bit, getting back on the... Yeah, it's like spring training for me today.

Yeah, it is. All right. So what I didn't expect was Jerry Shepulski or Shiplinsky talk on the show today. Who's that, brother? That is your new quarterback coach for the Houston, Texans. Oh, thank God. It's going to fix everything. Jerry

Sheplinsky Again, I'm probably Butchering it Jerry Sheplinski It's S-E-H-U-P-Sage lodged in his throat It's S-E-H-U-P-L-I-N-S-K-I Jerry Shiplinsky Okay

Am I stereotyping to say He sounds more like an O-L-Line coach? Yeah, to bring it in Jerry Sheplinski Let me tell you about what you think Jerry Soplinski looks like He has hair on the side, like wings He doesn't have an other time? It's like 80% gray.

80% gray. He's wearing a 36-sized pants, but he's really got a 40 waist. Oh, no, I'm going to go. He's wearing a 40 belt with a 48 waist. Oh, my God. Every time he huts his entire, his whole stomach moves. He's got a little bit of chewing tobacco in his mouth between his cheek and his gums. Yeah.

He's got a hat on because he covers up his bald head. But it's like one of those, like, frumpy dad hats. he swears way more than he should he's yes more swear words than actual regular english words correct so then go take a look at him um he has a decent hair oh no a nice smiley face and i would say probably i don't know what his age is i'm not a great judge of male ages i can judge the females pretty well the males i cannot oh he looks like a regular dude he's a regular dude I thought he was going to have like a big frothy womb broom. But I can tell you this.

The two keys to victory. He's a John Carroll guy. Oh, are you kidding me? And a New England Patriot guy. Stop. Stop. You're kidding. I'm putting my name on something. You're joking.

You're joking. He did not go to Chi. Or Nikki C and his boys get cleaned out. See, I'm not calling you a liar on that. I'm saying the main. manner in which it happens. If the Texans are the one seed and then they lose in the division around in like a 38 to

37 shootout with the Chiefs, Nick Casario ain't going anywhere. But if they finish like 10 and 7, barely win a wildcar game and then embarrass themselves in a division around, you could be right. I'm saying it's dependent. It's situational dependent.

I will take the fall. Go ahead. The insider, Mr. Texas is telling you. Yes. AFC champion. I bet you're best. Okay.

Because let me tell you something. You have made two offensive staff changes in two years. I don't know, Ross, if that's the panic button, but it ain't the, it's cool around here, button. Hilarious. Jerry Schlepensky. How many people have went to John Carroll? Is the entire enrollment on the staff? Are there any penny?

Is there anybody left that John Carroll? Is it just empty? Everybody's left with the Houston Texans or moved to Houston? It's like the treasurer and the ombudsman on the staff, too. God. Now look, Gerard Johnson has been brought up in numerous coaching situations the last handful of years. I mean, has applied for a bunch of jobs, hasn't gotten any of them. Either that or he just loved Houston. He went to Humble. He's a Houston kid. He played at A&M. So maybe he just liked it here. And maybe he thought, well, if Nick Cayley gets the axe, I can take over that spot.

Maybe the Texans were tired of him kicking the tires. I don't, you know, sometimes when you always are looking for jobs, your current boss is not a huge fan. of that. True. I mean, I'm just throwing that out there as a possibility. Again, we're not going to have a deep-seated conversation about Jerry Sloplinsky.

I don't think very often, but it is weird that Gerard Johnson was a young, bright, shining voice, and apparently his relationship with C.J. Stride was incredible. And now Bobby Sloak, who C.J. Stroud love two years ago was Gonzo. And Gerard Johnson,

who C.J. couldn't speak highly enough of him, he's gone. And why now? I mean, didn't what wasn't, didn't D'Amico just tell us right after the season? It was going to take a week for staff evaluations before decisions were made? Something happened. Something happened. Something happened. It had to have happened.

Something happened. You're right. We're going to cussing. We're going to discuss some Texans quarterback coaching. You all want to do that? I'm good to see you haven't changed my three days off. I haven't changed. Not that I was expecting anything. I haven't. I'm trying to change. I'm trying to change. No, you're not.

What's wrong with me? I'm sleep deprived. We didn't get to the hotel to almost four in a morning. Oh, really? Yeah. Eastern? Yeah, you're fine. I'm taking me a big ass nap.

Five diamond accommodations, short show. How's Astro's spring training been going? Honestly, I haven't been paying much attention. We have a Josh Hader update today on the show. Oh, really? Yes, we do. Okay. I know Hunter Brown was good.

He was really good. Two innings, one hit. He gave up a double and then pick the guy off at second because he's a badass. Yes. Then he spitted his feet as he was walking to the dugout. We got an EMI starting tonight. We have an E-May joining us on the show today. How about that? Oh, wow. Today? Yeah, 1130. Oh, love it. So we got that going on. We're a short show today. So if you want to come in and say hello,

and you want to rip on Jonathan's horrific spring training, spring break take of 500,000 people coming to use for spring break. They'd be like saying people really want to go to S-A for college. That's how that's ridiculous. Oh, wow. Come on, man. These are these low blows. Hey, they have a high enrollment. As I told somebody yesterday, somebody said, man, Jonathan's to give you the business and said, you know what? I give it.

I must take it. That's what we love doing the show with each other. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-1-2-5-790. Rockets get a career-best 7-3s from Reed Shepard. Texans have a new quarterback coach. Astros, spring training news to get to. and IMAIDOCA, all between now and 1150 here on Sports Talk 790.

If you want to join our conversation, we would love to have you with us at 713-212-5-790. The number again to join us today. We have a shorter show, 7-13-212-5-7-90. We normally would do, I just don't get it today, but E-Mayo-a-Docke is like, I get it. You get me for 10 minutes a week. You'll take me over some crappy segment you have on your show. I said, yes, coach, that's for sure. 7-13-212-5-790.

1019 on a Thursday edition of the Matt Thomas show with Ross. It is a snack size. You used to say snack size. It's like brunch, maybe? It's like a light lunch. And ahead of like a big heavy dinner you got later. Yeah, yeah. You want to, yeah.

Speaking of that, we're trying to get into a super exclusive restaurant in Miami on Saturday 9 after the Rockets game. Oh, really? I can't get in there until 9.30. So that's kind of Miami chic, right? Eating super late like that? Oh, yeah. Okay.

That's how they eat super late in like, I don't know, Spain and Argentina and whatnot. Just do it in Miami. I called the concierge at our hotel in Miami. I said, hey, can you help us out? And he goes, oh, yes, we can help you out. We can go to the website, open table.com. I was like, I know what open table is. I love open table.

And you must have put the credit card guarantee per person. I'm like, why are you talking like you're French? You live in Miami. Oh, ma'am here. Open table. I cannot help you anymore, but please come by and say hello. I'm like, why don't I need to come say hello to you? Do you even need a concierge in 2006?

Oh, yeah, all the heavy five stars, do you? Because they always get their handout. I mean, I'll tip the guy if it gets me a better. I was looking for like an 8, 8.30? Yeah, I guess if you need the best hookers in town, you got to have your concierge. Yeah, tip your concierge for the highest-pressed ladies in town. Yeah, so do you want the grade A? All right.

I seriously, I can't. Now, Wex might be able to do it, but I can't do four hours of Texans' quarterback talk. You're not going to do Jerry Schiplinsky? We do believe it or not. Do you want to do Jerry Sliplinsky? No, I don't. I might do John Carroll University. My God.

Seriously. Everything okay back there? We're in downtown Orlando. It could get a little sketch. Really? Well. You tell me. Do you hear it?

Is Mickey Mouse ripping and running, folks? What's going down in Orlando? It's so funny that you can hear that. I'm just making sure you're safe. I didn't know downtown Orlando was sketch. I've never been. I don't know. I mean, if you're going to come to Orlando for like a Walt Disney vacation,

you would not typically come to downtown Orlando state. You would do it more towards the property. I guess when somebody's doing shows in Houston, they're like, oh, downtown Houston can get sketch a little bit. All right, so we can put a tie, a bow on this tie, I guess, or tie on the bow, whatever you call it. Tide the bow. Tie the bow. Look, we don't know the inner workings.

Again, the minutia of a quarterback's coach to me is, it's certainly not overrated, but it's not, it's overrated for us, Jamok's to just talk about the team, right? Yeah, it's not like he's learning how to release a football. I mean, I don't know if his mechanics are really all that off or anything like that. Yeah. I'm curious where Gerard Johnson. and lands and what if anything comes out about this yeah i don't know um yeah i just don't know where do you go on that uh i will i do want to talk about did you see the big uh presentation for torotown yesterday i saw some of it i saw some of the renderings yeah it looks great i mean

guess it's everything that i thought it was going to be it's going to basically be the star in frisco and where the cowboys have their thing they're going to have a field house it's going to have 16000 seats. They're going to have flag football fields, full football fields. They're going to have restaurants. They're going to have volleyball courts. They're going to have all sorts of things. Pickle ball. Oh, there'll be plenty of pickleball. Love it. Pickle, pickle brawls.

Hey, we had that last week with the Florida story. By the tomorrow's Florida stories again. Isn't that good? Oh, my God. Because I have like four options. What an easy way for you to get back in the show. Short show today and Florida stories tomorrow. I know. I'm dipping my toes back in, man. It's my spring training. You know, you're the spring training of a radio show host. Ramp it up.

Yeah, and give us two innings and one hit a line to pick off at second place. Today's a live bully, and tomorrow we go full. Four hours. Yeah. We need you to go 75 pitches. It's early. I know. We're not going to make you do that.

Point being is, though, that everybody was just, it's funny. Everybody's like, so how are you all going to pay for this? We don't know yet. Okay. Next question, please. I mean, look, I don't know how real estate works. I mean, obviously town and country was built for a reason. Obviously, the Woodlands Park Waterway was built with that.

I mean, I don't think there's anything salacious to it. I'm just saying that it was just curious. Underhanded dealings? Well, I mean, don't you think every deal is an underhanded deal? Isn't every land deal in Harris County and underhanded deal? Somebody's getting kickbacks. I mean, come on. But all I kept thinking is I saw the renderings was,

and I can't put my name on it because I'm not 100% sure. The insider doesn't give you information. Oh, okay. You only heard whisperers. You haven't gotten that third confirmed source. That's exactly right. We're trying to teach the young kids how to do the journalism properly in this world. Yes.

If they're going to love Toro Town, they're going to love the Toro Dome even more. Big sprawling area. Put it next to Toro Town or close. Have shuttle buses so you can park at Toro Town, and all that money goes to the McNair's and the Howard Hughes Corporation. I didn't know Howard Hughes was still hanging around in Houston. Good for them. Well, the corporation, the man is long dead, right? Yeah.

Okay. May he rest. Aviator, good film. Great film. Ooh, look at this guy. I've seen, you know what? I was shocked you even saw it. I'm floored, actually.

But isn't in the Shrek series, I'm floored. You haven't seen it if it's after 1988. God, that stings. It's not necessarily untrue. true though. You always do this to me. I'm trying to think about the last movie that I have seen. In the theaters?

Didn't you go to Bohemian Rhapsody? Or the Elton John one? I've seen the Eitha Franklin one. I'm a huge biopic guy. I can tell. There was an Aretha Franklin one? Yes. How was that? It was okay.

Okay. I think it was called Respect, if I'm not mistaken. Don't hold me too that. That's a good name. 6.6. Come on now. Maybe it was just okay. That sounds like it was just okay.

Yeah, it was just okay. Now you're really going to make me think about the last movie that I've saw. No, I'm frustrated. That's okay. We've got to break. I'll get a break. by the way. Coconut water is super clutch.

Does it taste coconut-y? It's not, the taste isn't the greatest. You're not going to like it, man. Yeah. I don't think Jonathan likes it either. But he knows it's packed. He knows he's packed with potassium, magnesium, and sodium, and all your electrolytes. If I was with raw situation, I'm going to drink it because I know it's going to help me.

Yeah. I'm not doing that. Well, I mean, I will drink anything that, like, for instance, the only thing I will not drink to get myself faster is Alka-Seltzer to me to me makes me gag. Yeah. The plot, plop, flub, fizz, fizz makes me yak, yak. But other than that, I would do about anything to speed up the progression of this illness. 713-212-5-790. A Hunter Brown update.

No. Excuse me. Check that. A Josh Hater update. Next, 1027 on Sports Talk 790. Look at the sky. It's the color of love. Such a jam sports therapy.

Ah. It's nice. Can I give you my second? Jonathan just has no idea. The sweetest taboo. Oh, that's a jam. Oh, so good. You know what I'm going to say?

Shadde underrated. What's up? You know what? I was trying to find songs today to use for the open for those members of the 2026 finalists for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And just nothing, I didn't spend enough time looking at it because I was just waking up. But it was much more difficult than I thought it would be. I didn't see the Hall of Fame finalists.

There's a huge list. Okay. Mariah Carey's in there. In excess. Phil Collins is a solo artist is on there. A Woutain clan? Yeah. Lenny Kravitz. Iron Maiden.

Oh, okay. Oh, Oasis? Yeah, I listen to Oasis song. I was like, you're not getting in. I mean, they have Wonderwall, and then there are other song that sounds like Wonderwall. Yeah, it's a one-trick pony over there with Oasis. We're going to get some people mad now.

Don't say that too loud. There's like Oasis fanatics. Oh, stop. Yes. There are people who think they're like the greatest band of all time. Well, you better watch out. If they get the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I'm going to look stupid, aren't I? Let me ask you this.

If you're in that group and you don't get in, what does that mean? You need to go back in the recording studio and try to up your game a little bit or discography. Well, it's like Billy Wagner didn't go and get more saves. Yeah, I know. Maybe he's I don't know if there's going to be a Sabre Metrics revolution in music. I mean, the hits are the hits.

If you had a lot of 10 hits so you didn't. Yeah. Ladies gentlemen, time now for a Josh Hater Update. Hater Update on Matt and Ross's show. Ader is our good to go. Well, Ross,

he played catch off a mound yesterday. Wait. Now he's still just catching? Soft toss, as the kids would say. What? He's not throwing fly balls with his arm. He means soft toss. Let me just say, if Josh Hader was playing for a slow-pitched baseball league,

a softball league, he'd be ready to go for you. But since he's not, and he has got to throw 98 on a regular? You like that? He's got that intimidating look, his hair in a full flow. He's scowling at the batter. Correct. Correct. Correct.

Let me tell you, he would be a badass. He wouldn't be nearly as badass as the guy that had the ankle bracelet on when I was umpouring St. Paul softball. But he's pretty pretty close. Some dude with a knee brace is taking you deep. That's not good. Oh, with a belt with a beer gut. Oh, my God. Like, man, I used to play a ball at like small division two school in Oklahoma.

I was a banger. Got a hernia belt on. I told you this. Rex Beck. I don't know if it was either with you early in the show. but I wanted to create a movie called Softball Guy. Yeah. Just a bunch of dudes that were trying,

like old high school bros that would just travel around the country playing in softball leagues. There was a movie kind of like that. There was. It was like Artie Lang did it. Yeah, it was called Beer League with Artie Lang. Yeah. So basically, my bit was stolen.

I'm sorry. I do that's creative. That's okay. Oh, EMI is going to pitch tonight for the game right here on 790, so looking forward to hearing that. Robert and Steve will have. the call. No TV on that game. So if you want to catch the actions right here. Let's go.

Tatsuya Emi, not tonight, Matt. Today. Yes. And his first action in an Astros uniform right here on Sports Talk 7-night. There's a buzz throughout Southeast Texas and in Southeast Florida for that matter. Burles

will start Saturday against the Pirates. I love it. McCuller starts tomorrow with Arrogati behind him. We're going to see all the big boys starting to play a little bit. Oh, really? We're going with McCullors and then the McCullors. And then the McCuller Clown. Well, you're talking about just their main.

You're not talking about their clone. I mean, great stuff. Walk too many guys. Don't get intense. I didn't say that. I'm talking about the, I'm talking about on the mound. Okay. Great stuff.

Can strike everybody out. Can also walk everybody. Got a little bit of an attitude. Very cerebral, smart, well, spoken in front of the microphone. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Eventually, the 790 show will be called McCullors and Erigetti

when Matt and Ross are done. Yeah, they're good. But they're needed on the mound and be successful. Yeah, that'd be great. Okay, so we got that going on. Christian Walker is going to make his first appearance in spring training today. He'll be in the lineup for the Astros. There will also be a Carlos Correa signing today in the spring training game.

So there's a reason why I want to listen to the game. A lot of the heavy hitters are going to be there. I was looking at it's a split squad game. Half of them are in West Palm and the other half are, I think, are playing against the Cardinals. and Jupiter. I looked at the Jupiter lineup card. It's not great. I mean, it's like Corpus

Christi Hooks baseball. Yeah, don't they always, and the vets always get to stay? Correct, but I mean, imagine if you go down there and you are a Cardinals fan. Not that you should ever worry about who the opponents are, especially when teams have to travel. They don't like to put their vets out there unless it's a starting pitcher, maybe

one or two guys on a position. But if you're going to see the Astros Cardinals on the Cardinals side of it, and where Jupiter is, where the Cardinals play, You're like, who the hell of these people? Carl's Corriott. Nope, other team. Hotel Tube ain't not playing.

They might not even have their names on their jerseys. Dude, when everybody in your lineup is 73 and higher on the jersey card number, that's not great. That's when you really want to bet on spring training games, right? I guess. Let me tell you. If you are betting on a spring training game. I don't use the term clinically ill too often. Yeah.

but you are clinically ill. I mean, I would do it. If I was at a book and I had like 20 bucks to lay down, sure, why not? I don't, can you even bet a spring training? I mean, I mean, I don't say you can do it, but I don't ever few lines about it, do you? Yeah, they have money lines. Yeah, I don't want you doing that. I would actually hold you back from doing it.

I mean, if I happen to be in Vegas in March or something, kick your feet up and watch and yell delos Santos and the boys, mow them down. Just what I would do. What? You know you'd hang out with me. because I'd be taking the overs in the first five and then cashed that. Exactly. Those tickets.

713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-7-90. If you want to visit with us through Twitter, you may do the IG as well. At SportsMT, Ross, the IG account is thriving. That's great. Follow Matt at SportsMT, excuse me, SportsMT on Instagram.

And at Sports RV2, where he actually took his tissues that he blew his nose and he left him out of table, and he's got videos of them. I do have basically an entire trash can full of tissues. Wait, that sounds bad. But from the flu.

I don't think so. Jonathan's reaching for his notes. Where is it at? It's in the bathroom. It's in the bathroom, Jonathan. Oh, I think she is a Hall of Fame nominee. Chadee? Yeah, Charday.

Okay, good for her. That's why I must have picked her songs. I finally found something. Yeah, it's seeped into your brain. How old is she now? I don't have any of any. care she's all she's in my hall of fame but she was hot in 1989 i mean where are we looking at now uh i don't know not that you can't be hot 89 you can't be hot in twenty

yeah come on met i think she still got it if you ask me let me ask you this because we're so thriving with sports topics today okay who is hot in nineteen eighty nine that's still hot today in twenty twenty six chanday all right i'll give me one more Mariah Carey? I would have said Christy Brinkley, but that's getting up there a little bit. I would have said Pamela Anderson, but she doesn't wear makeup anymore, and that's not the greatest one for her. I think she looks great, Matt. She's beautiful.

She does not look great. I'm sorry. Non- makeup Pamela Anderson does not look great. All right. I'm putting y'all to work. Somebody hot in 89 that's hot in 26. That's only 37 years. You guys probably know

Who is this woman The movie is The Burbs With Tom Hanks The wife The blonde chick What's her name? The Burbs? Burbs

All right, I'm looking it up Wendy Shaw I'm going out of this Carrie Fisher I'm just looking at the cast She's dead Oh yeah I forgot

And then her mom died the next day Isn't that weird? It is weird The Burbs The Tom Hanks movie What are you doing Watching that movie bored and I was like

No I'm gonna give you a list of movies I'm gonna give no no this isn't my suggestion This is the girl suggestion And I turned it off after 10 minutes And I was like my life this movie No I'm put I'm put you know I'm gonna put Twitter to work I never even heard of the burbs but Tom Hanks

Have you met It's y'all's time? 1989 Everything is our time What are you talking about Jonathan This is like I'm not dead yet I have eyes thought I can look at movies

Everything's my time You don't watch movies though unless they're a hallmark. No. No. I'm trying to get the wife to get back to a lifetime. Because they're much more salacious, but she just won't do it. She wants nice stuff.

I'm like, ugh, nice is gross. All right. Back at it in a manner of moments. Rockets with a nice win yesterday over the Sacramento Kings. I mean, Ross, to have Kevin Durant not play any of the fourth and part of the third was a wonderful site. We'll discuss that. E. May I Doca is going to join us in 45 minutes here on the Matt Thomas show with Ross.

Oh, Demi Moore. That's the game. There it is. That's a good one. Demi Moore, that's it. Someone said Paula Abdul. I think that's said it wrong. Was Paul.

Paul. You know who Paul Abdul is? Obviously not. I'm just, you know what? I'm going to give him a pass on that one. She didn't have that. Are you sure? American Idol?

Are you sure? Paula Abdul. I guess. Demi Moore for the win for sure. That's 100%. All right. Great job, everybody. These are things we think about here on the Matt Thomas show at Ross.

713212-5-790. All right, Ross, we've got a lot of people weighing in on girls that have their fastball soap for 89. You ready? What is wrong with you? What's wrong with me? It's one of our listeners are throwing names at me left and right. Yeah, who brought this up, though? Jonathan.

What? Diane Lane. I was never a fan of hers. I mean, I'm sure she's a lovely person. Just didn't do anything for me. She's 61 now. Yeah. You never saw Unfaithful?

I didn't think Susan Serran never had her fastball. Sorry. Really? Bull Durham, Susan Saranin was, you know? The character was super sexy. She just doesn't, she wasn't sexy to me. Wait. I know this actor, actress.

Who, Diane Lane? Yeah, you don't, Matt. Sorry. Unfat. I think it was a classic. This one disturbs me. I'm already Craig. You know Craig.

Jane Fonda. She's like 85, right? I don't think 80 85-year-olds have that... See, no, but you open this can of worms. I'm not mad at Craig. Letting us know what a pervert he is. I'm just mad at you.

Well, you'd be mad at me. I don't care. I'm a thousand miles away from you, so I don't care. And Margaret? it again 80s? No, Craig, what's wrong with you? I'm sorry, I cannot as a warm blooded male say a woman in her 80s is hot.

Now, you did this. Stay with me, we're almost done. We're going to Lewis and talk some Rockets. We are a sports show. Stay with me on this. He says Jennifer Aniston, even though she was not unfriend at that point, she was developing as a young actress

how old was she now we're getting into a predator territory okay she was 20 in 1989 I didn't know her any nights I don't know what was she in was she? No but her dad was a very famous soap opera actor so no I didn't know that

yeah it's crazy though because I go ahead he was Victor Kiliakis on days of our lives like because I do a lot of this end up doing this for believe it or not. Like, I am surprised, like, how many actors have our nepotism? Or they have somebody who was in the acting business before them.

Michael Douglas has nothing wrong with that whatsoever. Yeah. Speaking of which, I was watching Kirk Douglas' Paths of Glory from 1957 during Ross's movie marathon during the flu. Here's one that definitely still has her fastball. Cindy Crawford looks great. Yes. All right.

A few of you are knocking things here. Dolly Parton. I'm sorry, no. That's not going to work, 80. People were all over, Dolly Parton, when she did the halftime of the Cowboys show. Well, in Thanksgiving a couple years ago. Who was, I want to know who these people are. Please explain who these people are.

Go, you should open up Twitter. Heather Graham was not popular in 1989, Astro Hole. I'm sorry. Daryl Hannah? Yes. Elizabeth Shoe, she was in that teen, was she like Mystic. Oh, Adventure's a babysitter? Adventures a babysitter.

Oh, I love that movie. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Big Elizabeth Shoe from Fitt. Yeah, yeah, yeah. All-timer for me. Melanie Griffith, I haven't seen her in years, but I don't know if that's an accurate one. Heather Granbo, is she popular in late 1980s? I don't think so.

No. And people are not listening. No, we're talking about women that had their fastball in 89 that have it in 26. That's again, 37 years. I think the goat on that is Demi Moore. Okay. and moving on. She's had some,

her surgeon is very good. It doesn't matter. Looks great. She's on that show that my wife watches. That's the one that's the new hit hot show that's, it's on Paramount. You know what I'm talking about. No.

Not Yellowstone, the other one. Oh, land man? Landman, yeah. People love Landman. People love them some landman. And if you don't like Landman, they're like, what's wrong with you? Exactly.

They get very mad. I don't watch a lot of TV. I'm sorry. Yeah, there's 10,000 shows going on. I normally watch movies and not shows. there you go. Lewis in Sugarland at 1053. Lewis, good morning to you.

Hey, welcome back, Ross. Thank you, Lewis. Great to be back. I can't believe you've never seen mean girls. It's off the list now. I was going to come in with Paula Abdul, but I'm going to throw Selma Hayek and Victoria Prince. Oh, Selma Hayek.

That's a great one. Wait, was she really popular in the 80s, though? She was not popular in 89. I'm sorry, she was not. And Victoria Principal, I've seen her lately. It's not great. I was a big Victoria Principal fan, too. That is correct.

There's a game tonight. Yes, we're here in Orlando. They're playing the Magic tonight, so he does not play back-to-back to back yet, so he's going to play tonight. No, I know that, but I'm just curious. So does that mean Pari's not playing? tonight? No, Tari no longer has to worry about back-to-backs. He can play. Okay. I'm just wondering what, with Finney Smith, I mean, how much more time is there before

he can play every game? I don't understand. Well, he's working his way back. I mean, they're only gone off of doctor's orders on this, so I can't, I mean, I'm sure. In the training room, Maddie, come on every single game. I guess, I just, you know, when the playoffs start, I'm hoping. and, you know, everyone's going to be at full strength, you know? Yeah, but I mean, yeah, you don't play back-to-backs in the playoffs, Louis, so that won't be an issue. Thank you for the phone call.

I appreciate it. Look, Sophia Vergara, All-timer, not Piper on 1989. Sorry, come on, gang. Listen, maybe in Colombia. Yeah, like on those teen magazines and stuff. Hey, guys, meet Sophia. Oh, she was 17 in 1989. Okay, and scene.

Geo, 790 and 1055. What's the good word? All right, guys. I got a nominee for one of the hottest here. I'm going with the good old Cindy Crawford. Cindy Crawford is correct. Cindy Crawford had her fastball in the line. She's got her fastball in 20?

Yes. Yes, that's correct. Yes, she does. Yes, she does. Oh, relax, Gio. He said that out of. You okay, Gio? It was a little.

He had to hang out the phone. He said like he had somewhere to go. Matt, you open this weird kind of worms on the show. Wait a minute. Yes. Thank you. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Texans quarterback coach talk isn't driving the conversation. Yeah, we should be talking about Kiklinski. His name is not Keklonsky.

Oh, he's not. Keklonski? He's not Richard Kiklinski? No. That was a mob hit man. So now we're going to take every international dialect and just add a ski to it, and we're going to call this guy our offenseant's quarterback coach? So he's not Richard. Richard the Iceman, Kiklinski is not

the Texans new quarterback coach? Wasn't he on an episode of Sopranos back in the day? And he was, there was an HBO documentary series on him. That dude is a sociopath. All right. Before to the top of the hour, Matt and Spring Branch on 790. Hello, Matt. Yeah, I'm sorry

if someone already said these two, but I haven't heard him mention, and I'm appalled that I haven't heard him yet. Marissa Tomei and Jennifer Connolly and come on. That's good. Good ones. Oh, Tomay. Tomai was on a different world back in 89. Yeah, that, that hits. That's all I got

Thank you Bo Derek is dead Trevor Sorry That has a count See look what you did How did do anything You haven't too much phone Was this happening when I was gone

Gentlemen We talked We talked We talked Endless sports we talked Endless sports Right Right

The only thing We did off kilter Was we talked about Dwight Howard's Flotulence issues What? Yes Was he farting on a podcast or something?

No No, he was crop dusting as Stan Van Gundy was trying to direct the team during practices and stuff. Oh, I remember that story. Yeah. By the way, I'll see Stan Van Gundy tonight. He's doing the Amazon Prime version of the game. Love it. He does a great job.

Yeah. There is a local version on Space City. So I'll watch that one instead. I mean, of course, listen here on Sports Talk 7. I, and, yes, of course. And by the way, afterwards, we can talk on the Rockets Rap program. Call volume is up because I was on for like an hour last night with the flu. Because I heard Gerard and I didn't time it

So I felt dirty. I didn't time it. That's okay. Then I was yelling at people about the rockets not making moves. They're capped out, folks. Can we write this down? And implanted everyone's foreheads? I'm just going to give you a little back behind the scene stuff. When you had Fred Van Vleet and Kevin Duran in your roster,

that's going to cap you out. Those guys are making pretty pennies. and you got Alper and Shangu with a new contract. Jpari Smith, a new contract. You just don't have any wiggle room. But you need an energy boost sometime, especially if you're down and out sports, Harvey, and how do you fix that?

Sorry, I was talking about Jonathan, I was talking to Jonathan about how to handle this flood of calls of 1980s actresses we're getting right now. Would you ask? Alyssa Milano was the question. Oh, that's too young. Milano and 89, how old was she? I don't know.

She's like 10 years older than me, so I feel like I'm safe. New hour, new us, guys. New hour, new us. Yeah, we're shaking it off. You cannot call any more about a hot 89 women. Yeah, we're done. Now in 2006. We've closed the topic for conversation.

Yeah, what if she's 10 years older than me? That's, I feel like that's... No, but how old was she when 1980s were talking about... I was five. That's how old was I? Oh, no, she was 17. She's my age. She's 53 now.

All right, let's move on. Let's move on. Let's talk about synergenics. Yeah, you know what? This is a low-energy segment. This is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. I need to apologize to go, Derek, you're alive. 69 years old and thriving.

And now we're going back to sports. Ross and Matt with you here. E. Mae Doka coming up at the bottom of the hour. We've got baseball at 1150. We only have 45 minutes left for the show. I mean, can we win a Marconi off of this program so far in the first hour and four? Let's see. We've stereotyped a coach and we've declared a woman who is dead, who is not dead.

Yes. And we've talked about hot oxygenarians. Yes. I'm going to say no. We can get into Texas. CJ's trying to lead quarterback. We're going to do it out of here. Oh, God.

Is that me kicking in? Are you okay? I have like multiple personalities. Yeah, I know. What's wrong with me? A lot. Absolutely a lot. I'm getting down to Miami tomorrow.

I'm going to do the show with you for four hours. Anything goes for me? And then I'm going to the casino to get to cleanse this bad juju off my body. Where's the casino relative to Miami? Half hour. Okay. Yeah. Although the Florida geography puzzles me.

Yeah, it's a little bit. but it's just really congested, as you know. All right, 713-21-2-5-7-90. That's Ross. He's back with us after that terrible case of Hipsy, I think, is what it was. I'm sorry, you had that. Influenza, Matthew. Influenza A. I'm sorry, I got it mixed up.

All right, Rockets got a win last night. We'll talk to E.May Adoka about that coming up in just a few minutes. I think he's, I text him. I say, we're so good for 1230, which is our time. And he hasn't, now, we didn't get to the hotel of four. So, I mean, he could be still sleeping. but it's Orlando they're decent they beat the Lakers

in the night so we got that going for us yes Nuggets destroyed the Celtics last night so the Rockets are still tied for the third spot with the Nuggets in the Western Conference Oh they destroyed them It was close when I did the when I did the post game scoreboard on the Rockets wrap

I want to say it was 20 point game Yeah one of three eight But the big news Well they crushed them in the third quarter The big news of the day Go ahead I don't know Is that the Texans have said Dura Johnson, you were the young, bright, smiling,

future-esque type coach that we're going to build a franchise around down the road. And they had a quote-unquote mutually parting of the ways. On February 26th. On February 26th. So were they just mulling this over for six weeks? Or were they saying themselves, we're tired of you interviewing, spot? I mean, again, I worked for people.

that have had, that get really mad at other people for always looking for jobs. And I don't know if that had much to do with it, but when did the light bulb turn on with Nikki C. and with C.J. Stroud and with D.M.O.R. Ryan to say, you know what, let's do this towards the end of February

that we need to replace our quarterback's coach. And weren't C.J. Stroud and draw Johnson close? At the hip. I hate to use this term, but something Rossi does. smell right. I totally agree. We need the Texans Insider on this.

So Adam Wexler comes on later and we'll see what he says. Do you think Wexel have the intel on this? I don't know. You'll want to listen today. You've given me Buckkus. Yeah.

By the way, I did put up a poll question to tell you. Who is Jerry Shalpulski? Your options were your tax lawyer, your high school chemistry teacher, sold you a car on the new Texans quarterback coach. 43% of you got it right so far That's good

Yeah To me it's just Are you shuffling decks on the Titanic here? No, come stop You tell me How are they shuffling decks on the Titanic? The jets are on the Titanic

You fire the offensive coordinator You fired Gerard Johnson The quarterback's coach I mean when does it start to be about the player probably coming up after this year. And we should discuss Jerry Shepolinski. We've got to get this right.

Shlopensky. Uh-oh, listen to this. Are you okay? What is going on over there in Miami? I mean, Orlando. In Orlando. Downtown streets are, they're pleasant.

That's why these teams are getting out of downtown. Stay safe over there, Matthew. Maybe we should do some shows from Toro Town. Do you like a hotel room here? Is there like a five alarm fire over there? I don't know. I don't see anything. I'm out on the seventh floor.

of my hotel, so I think we're good so far. Seventh floor. It's a little high. It's about the perfect level. Okay. Yeah, you're good from a tidal wave, I guess. Yeah, or a tsunami, but we're actually about 75 miles inland, so we're okay on that, I think. Probably.

All right. Sports, Ross. Come on. Focus. What are we going with this? Oh, so Shablinsky, whatever. Jerry Schlopinski. Yeah, he is a John Carroll graduate, where apparently every team goes to get their NFL coaches.

Not every team, no, just the Texans. Just the one. What was it wrong? Oh, I don't know what it was. Remember back about 15 years ago, everybody from Colorado State came to play for the Texans? Yes. Every Kubiak member. Every Kubiak.

Yeah. It was like the dog snuggles Kubiak. Well, here's the thing. You also do, you do hire people. that you know and are your buddies and that you've worked with. Yes. Think about Ross, we've spent a lot of time in the last 20 years talking about how great the football program is at John Carroll. We have, I guess.

Yeah, when you think of the great programs in college athletics, you think of an Alabama, you think of a Notre Dame, you think of a Clemson, I guess. I think of Indiana, and clearly John Carroll's in the mix. John Carroll University. The pipeline. It's almost embarrassing, almost. but to let him go as late as they did and to just take the next man up. I mean, you're telling me that if every quarterback coach candidate that Nikki C.

was not in Indianapolis this week talking to people? Hey, you want to come run away? You want to come help CJ Stroud? I want about this, Ross. How about those at you? How attractive is the job? I would say still somewhat attractive, but I would say most everybody who's going to have a job has one by now.

And that maybe because this decision was made so late that the Texans had the easy answer by just saying, well, does promote from within? Yeah, I mean, that just, it seems like that's what, yeah, that's the case. I mean, again, we don't ever go, hey, we need a deep dive into your complete coaching staff because honestly, we don't care.

When we talk about coaching staffs in sports, We worry about in football, the head coach, the OC, the DC, and to a lesser extent, the special teams. In baseball, we want the hitting coaches fired even though we don't know their names. We want to know who the pitching coach is so we can fire him. And we want to know who the third base coach is so we can fire him when he keeps sending runners home. In basketball, can't anybody name one a Rockets assistant coach? I mean, we can, but we can't, but not the general public can't. Longhorn legend Royal Ivy

Very popular with the people Big Royal Ivy fan Good dude Good Yeah I think will be a head coach in the NBA I will even say Ooh

In the next five years Okay He's got my vote I figured he would Longhorn legend Yeah All right So yeah

Again The inner workings of the Texans It's fine If this is going to improve things good If Gerard Johnson was not meshing well with with CJ but that doesn't sound like that's the case because man how does all the things turn around so quickly after those guys were like quote

unquote inseparable for the last couple of years some some I don't know this is weird something done smell right does CJ would have to give the okay on this right oh they said mutually parting of ways well Aaron Wilson was on with the morning show and he said that he was aware of it but I don't know how intricately involved he was in making that decision but I would assume if you love CJ. Hey, CJ, what was the problem? Did Gerard Johnson's name come up in the mix? Because I guarantee you Bobby Sloak's name did last year. When you get rid of an offensive coordinator who was looking for head coaching jobs the year before, that means your quarterback didn't like you.

Yeah, this is too, honestly to me, and again, I keep saying this for the 100th time and I'll say in a hundred more times between now and the end of the year. You have to as a Texas. fan, you absolutely must give him a clean slate. But there are too many different side things being intangible that are being moved around that makes me think when are you ultimately going to say

he just may not be our guy. And if CJ ain't your guy, this team is in massive trouble. 1113 on the Matt Thomas show with Raw 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-7-90 with the

Pas-Sugi. Emai is going to make his astro spring training debut today, right here on Sports Talk, 7. We'll have the game for you. Our broadcast will begin in a half an hour from now. No TV. Edoca. No TV. Zilch.

Zero nada. We will have Eme Adoka. So we've got E. Mai and E. May in the same hour on the show. Let's go. Nobody else can beat that run, friends. EMA is going to join us in about 12 minutes here on the Sports Talk 790. Manon Ross with you here. 713.

3-21-2-9-7-19-1-3-21-2-5-7-9-0. Hunter Brown yesterday, two innings, one hit, two Kays. We will see Christian Walker make his debut, Carlos Correa. I don't know if you've been paying any attention to the box scores. Let's just say, Ross, the ball is not being torn off the cover off the baseball at spring training. It's the first week. I'm not concerned. Our drawing walks, which is good. Yes.

Pitching's been pretty solid. So we're feeling okay. We're feeling like we're normally supposed to feel in springtime. Okay. Zach Cole hadn't hit five home runs yet? No, it's funny, though, when Gordy came in and filled in for you on Monday, he's like, I got a sneaking guy that's going to make the Astros rotation. I'm like, who is a sneaky guy?

Sneaky Alexander. Ooh, that is sneaky. And then he gave up four runs in one-third or two-thirds ending the next day. It's okay. Gordy curse is real. one ooh two of four runs and two thirds

yeah not great is it era of 54 man is that okay or well you know what they were down four nothing and came back to tie the game six six or something for that it was a nice six six draw

yeah spring training games are interesting to me because if you've ever gone before you are like man the sun is out it's bright it's funny and it's fun

and then you see all your favorite players done after two-winning or won at bat and they're like nothing but 70s and 80s. They're like, who are these people? All these guys will be starting up here at Asheville. Yeah, that's when you start hitting the double IPAs. Ooh, double IPAs in South Florida in early March. Just kidding.

Stay safe out there, folks. So basically, Ross is endorsing or just rampant alcoholism at baseball games in the middle of the day. It happens whether I endorse it or not. All right. Hey, guess who I met yesterday at the Rockets game sports RV? at the Rockets game in Houston? Yes. Elvin Hayes.

No, I've known Elvin for 15 years. Okay. Chuckie Brown. I met Yankees Keith, who's with us on the Matt Thomas show, Ross. I got to tell, Keith, I got to tell Ross this, you severely outkicked your coverage. I mean, my God, what do you have on her? I mean, it's ridiculous. Thanks, man.

I appreciate that. that. If you won't, if you run for mayor, you got our vote. You are truly a man of the people. That's, you know what? That's what I call me Mr. Texas. Because I'm all over, meeting people all throughout the state. Yeah, we loved it, man. We sent you a picture. Did you get it? Yes, you called me your favorite white person ever, which is very nice. I'm going to assume you've met some white people before in your life, but if I'm on top of that list, I'm honored. Oh, yeah, that was great. My wife enjoyed everything except the fact that Amen didn't play.

I know. We'll get an entry update in about 40 minutes on his situations. I won't have it. As a matter of fact, we'll ask him in a few minutes. We'll see what's going on with that. Hey, let me ask you a quick question, Matt. Just your opinion. Based on the fact that Smith is trash, don't you think he should be playing in games like

they played last night where he should play like 30 minutes to see what he really got? what do you think? I will say, and I guess I can guarantee that if I add Dorian Finney in the room with me, I'd say Dorian, you're probably not happy with the way you perform this year, and he would probably agree with me on that, and he would agree with that as well. But if I'm going to go and strengthen numbers, I'm going to take my chances, and if you're going to give him extended running, models will do it against a team that you think on paper is significantly better than what we took on last night, and the Kings suck.

they're trying to give up games. They're trying to tank. They had numerous injuries. They're one player who's been hurt most of the year, got hurt again last night in Keegan Murray. No, I would have much rather have seen Isaiah Crawford get some playing time like he did last night. J.D. Davison, Jeff Green, got some middle of game minutes.

That, to me, was a perfect night to sit starters and then try to have as healthy of a roster as possible for an Orlando team who has just finished off a 3-1 West Coast road trip. Okay, how long is A man going to be out? I'm going to find out in 10 minutes. Oh, okay. All right.

All right. Thanks again last night, Matt. We really appreciate it. Nice to see you. Nice to see you. Thank you for the phone call. 713-212-5-7-0. Yeah, Aaron Wilson was on.

Go back to the Texas real quick. Aaron Wilson was on earlier with the boys. And he says it was a mutual departing that Gerard Johnson wanted to explore new opportunities. So he's sick of C.J. Stroud. can I just say people lie? Yes.

If you're Gerard Johnson, you can't get a job right now. It's like when people ask you, hey, what happened with your girlfriend? Oh, you know, we just thought it was time. She probably put you out in your ass. My favorite is we decided to see other people. Yeah. You already were. Yeah.

She found out you were seeing other people. And she says, you know, you can go see them for good. Good. Yeah, I, if this was January the 20th, I'd buy that. I ain't buying it. Yeah, right. This decision, how is this happening in almost close to March? Yeah, yeah.

Again, if Gerard Johnson really wants to go find something else because he's tired of being around the organization, coaches, as y'all know, followed sports, coaching is a carousel. You're not usually in one place or very long. That's why when you watch the hardballs of the world stay in Baltimore as long as he did and the Mike Tomlin stay in Pittsburgh, it's pretty remarkable how those guys have been able to stay as long as they have. Generally speaking, if you're an assistant coach especially, you're bouncing around from team to team to team to team.

So, yeah, as much as I mean, I don't think Aaron's not telling the truth. I think Aaron's being, is reporting what he's being told, but just because you tell a reporter that doesn't necessarily mean it's truth. again in the big picture we're not going to bring up that dude's name more than two or three times we are going to bring up what nick cassero is trying to find out at the combine and that's hopefully grabbing some players that will be much more impactful as a houston texin in 2026 and 2027 and 2028 provided everybody still there i brought this up today with you ross how do you fix all this in one off season do you really go try to outspend seattle and kenneth walker if they don't put a franchise tag on

Is that really what you want to do? I mean, it would be certainly impactful, but is that the best money? Is that the best way to allocate the funds if you are going to restructure some deals? To go get that true, legitimate RB1? I don't know, because you do, all the holes right now are on offense,

which is the good news. But the bad news is it's a lot of them. It's basically not your entire offensive line, but you need two, three offensive linemen, especially in the interior, and even a tackle spot, it's not like you're great. And a running back.

So, I mean, I feel like if I say, can you address the interior of the line and get a running back in an off season? I would say yes. Is it easier to do it through a draft or do you, I guess you'd mix it up between draft and for a agency? Yeah. I have a sneaking suspicion. It's just suspicion on my part that we're going to go get the Texans are going to offensive linemen in free agency. That's going to be like, oh, I know who that guy is, or at least I've heard of him. Or if I go to PFF, he grades up pretty well.

Yeah. That'd be nice. because if I need to live with Moody Udi-Ori-Marx and another young draft pick, I can do that. I know, it doesn't sound great. I know, I know, I know. You can. But don't you want to fix that offensive line immediately

with a guy that's been there and done that? It doesn't go through the Arionte Ursery rookie learning curve. Yeah, well, don't flip him around, left, right, left, like the first week of the season. Maybe Blake Fisher's going to be a good. Big year coming up for Blake Fisher. You know what you're right.

because offensive line I mean, this is in all honesty before we get to email here. Offensive lines can change on our dime. They can get bigger, faster, stronger.

They can get maybe this Cole Popovich with another year under his belt as the offensive line coach can give him some more techniques. I don't know. You weren't expecting Trent Brown and Ed Ingram to be as good as they were. So I mean,

no, no. Now, does that Ingram all of a sudden want a big hefty salary bump? Is that worth it? Yeah, he's going to. Yeah.

I don't know if it's going to be easy. All right. Let's talk to. I may doca next. It is 1128. It's a Matt Thomas show with Ross. We get the Rockets and the Magic here tonight from Orlando. We'll see exactly if he, if he may knows about how a man is doing.

It's the Matt Thomas Show and Ross here on Sports Talk 790. We are very happy to get to a visit with Eme Adoka on this radio show once a week during the course of the regular and hopefully long postseason. And he may joins us here now at 1132 on 790. Coach Sout, thanks for the visit. Congratulations. It's not bad. You had two teams coming in that are obviously thinking about next year. and you beat Utah by 20 and a season high 31,

so a pretty good way to get here to Orlando on a nice two-game winning streak. Yeah, yeah, it was good to play to our level, regardless of the opponent. Had some good carryover from things we've done in the previous games and, you know, handle business. We slipped up a few times and good to, like I said, take care of business this time.

Reed with the Kerr-high-7-3s, Alpi, a triple-double. Reed's made seven starts, and obviously a lot of that is because of injuries, but just a thought or two about, as you see Reed as a starter right now as compared to when you use him as your primary guy coming off the bench for scoring.

Hey, good. Obviously, the threat of the shot and him in the pick and roll and off ball is really good. Operin, Kevin, attract so much attention. Even when he started with our men, he does as well in the spacing.

And like I said, the threat and open looks, he's going to get, he's going to be a recipient off those guys. And so continuing to grow. where he starts to come off the bench and is improving as the season's going on. Now, you said to me yesterday that, you know, Reed didn't do a whole lot of real true point guard work at Kentucky.

What was his high school life like? Because he was only there one year. And is it crazy to you that he's still kind of learning the nuances of running an offense even at this point of the NBA? Yeah, I mean, I would say, you know, they had him and him and the kid from Minnesota coming off the bench together, you know, two of their main scores, and he handled the ball a little bit more.

And so I think in high school he was just the best guy and scored and handled and did a little bit of everything, played on the off ball. But, you know, always been a really gift to score. And so for him, it's like you said, learning those nuances. And not just, you know, looking to score the ball every time, although the shot is there, we want him to take it and be aggressive. And, you know, he's hit an out front in the pocket, finding open guys all over the court much better and continuing to work on the defensive end. And so regardless of high school and college, the NBA is a much higher level, bigger leap with really good lengthy defenders on you. And so for him, it's continued to grow in those areas.

And like I said, he's finding the balance of looking for a shot and hitting guys. I think it's continuing to take strides. Now, obviously, you played a different position when you were in the league, and you obviously play when you were a kid all the way through high school and college and whatnot. When you got to the NBA, what was your biggest adjustment, even though you had been a big forward for most of your professional career life and obviously before that in college and high school. Yeah, you know, the size and length and athleticism,

everything goes up three or four times. And so things you get away with, obviously, in high school, you take a little leap to college, but college NBA is even bigger than high school to college. And so you're playing the best of the best every night at their position. And for a guy like Reed, you know, coming in as the number three pick and the threat, to score and shoot like he is, you'll see how teams guard him immediately.

As soon as he comes in, they got one of their best defenders on him, trying to put size and length to deter some of those shots. Something he just has to adjust to and get used to. And I think he's done a great job even last year growing in that area. And on both sides of the ball, the physicality of guarding defense and then getting guys freed up off him on offense and learning to get those shots off. He's really adjusted that well. what are some of the things you'd like to see from him to maybe make him more used in closing in late and close situations?

Yeah, I mean, the defense is a thing. You know, teams try to target him and he's taking some steps. He started the year off really well. And then, you know, time goes by. Some guys have some slippage. And so a lot of times it's situational offensive defense. And, you know, we want to have five defenders out there. If a team is scoring too much and like that, read and third guys, if the offensive is a little stagnant.

And so that's the biggest thing. Teams are going to hunt him and go out of him, and we can steam around that and try to figure some things out there. But taking the challenge overall with defensively, that's always been a key with a lot of young guys. And, you know, you've got these big guys that are going to go at you. And he's just got to hold up a little bit. And he's done that.

He's taken a step. And we just want him to have a higher point of contact. You know, it's really good hands. So a lot of times he would let guys go by and reach and slap for the ball. And just take the hit and help will be there. Rocket Tech coach, Emaidoka that was here on Sports Talk 790. Is Tari Isan full going back to back the rest of the way? Or are you guys taking it case by case?

Case by case, but he'll be available tonight. It was good to sit him that fourth quarter and get some guys some rest. But he played the last clipper back to back going into all-star break and felt good. So he'll do that for now. And we'll see what happens after this. All right. I'm in Thompson. I know it's never fun to sit your young, talented player.

He's been going to batten a little bit of that tendonitis, whatever. Where is his situation? I guess is that more of a game time, or do you have a feel for him right now? It was game time. He said he felt much better yesterday, and obviously with the back-to-back and three and four nights, we wanted to be smart with that. And so he felt better yesterday. We'll be getting treatment, and we'll see when he ramps it up before the game and tries it out

and knows from there. It is difficult for, the schedule is even though we've got some off days and all-star breaks, it's still a condensed night where you've got back-to-backs and whatnot. That training staff of yours has to put in some incredible time because there just isn't a lot of time to sit back and let these guys naturally heal on their own. No, so it's almost a 24-hour thing. You know, if you prepare guys to play and then things happen in the game,

you have to, you know, ramp that up again, especially on the back-to-back. But, you know, guys got to be smart about rest and diet and body and all the recovery is a huge thing. So especially on a quick turnaround like this. You've got to be smart, and that's why it's great to have a comfortable win last night. I said some guys, get him on the rest, and have them to prepare for tonight. Is it hard to sit, K.D., I mean, or is he know that at 37, that he doesn't need to be playing 37 minutes every single night? Does he fight you much on it? Because, look, he's been a competitor since the day he stepped on a basketball floor.

I'm just curious about what those conversations are like in terms of playing time. Okay. That's for sure. And so, you know, you've got to save guys from themselves at times. And I think any chance that we can rest them like last night in the fourth quarter is great. And any time in the game, when we go on a nice run without them, it's great to extend the break and the rest. And we saw it in the Charlotte game when, you know, we had the lead going into the fourth.

Alperin, we kind of played through Alprin and he dominated. And we stretched the lead a little bit there. And then as they came back, we were able to bring Kevin back. And then he got the 10 points in a row. You know, we sat him out for eight plus minutes. and he was fresh and good to go and close that game. And so anytime we can extend the rest periods, it's great. But a game like last night really helps.

Josh Okoki helped you out off the bench last night with those corner threes, and we had him on the postgame show. Was that something that when you brought him here, you said, hey, we know through our metrics, there's a good spot for you on the floor to hit your shots, and he's hitting at a career best almost about 40% from 3-point range. Yeah, he's a really good 3-&D player. and, you know, he started the year extremely well,

especially with the injuries to Dorian and Jayshan coming out. So, you know, pleasant surprise as far as that, but that's what we envisioned him being. It was a really good defender, and a guy that could spot up and shoot off of Alper and Kevin, our men and those guys. And so for him, he took advantage of opportunity. And his guys became healthy and were bringing guys back in.

His minutes have been a little up and down. But great to see him coming and contribute like he did early in the season. Aaron as well and some of the other guys who haven't been playing with injuries to Jay Sean and some guys now it's great to see them but they're always ready and they've been there. Just your thoughts on tonight's matchup

trying to guard Palo Ben-Caro who gets a lot of the headlines but they also got guys, other guys who can score the basketball. Yeah, he's a tough man to stuff but you know we like the guys that we have on the length and size on our wings as well.

Done a decent job about him in the past and Yeah, you have to worry about Bain and, you know, Anthony Black has stepped up some. And so, you know, not just complimentary pieces, other guys that are really good scores, good players. And so, I'm coming off a long West Coast trip, there's some good wins and, you know, some tough losses. And they're kind of battling in the East. And so it'll be a tough test, but we'll prepare for it, especially with the extra rest in the four quarter. Eme, thanks for the visit. We'll see in the arena later on tonight.

We appreciate the time as always. Thank you. You got it. IMA adoka joining us here on Sports Talk 7-9. It's got a couple minutes left to go on the show, and so you know, again, what are they listing

him? A man is it tendonitis? Is that what they're calling it? Quadricep. Left quadricept tendonitis, which doesn't sound fun. Yeah, where's that? Is that is that behind your leg? Is that what that is? The hamstring. The thigh, it's like thigh.

Okay. Like when I stretch. I feel like we should have a quad expert on this show, I think. Who would that be? Do we have a quad expert? I mean, he should be like every single leg muscle, I feel like we could ask Jonathan about. So what's the question?

Quadriceps tendonitis for Amin-Thompson. What are we looking at here? Really, it's just a long word of saying that he kind of tweaked it, but nothing too seriously. You just got to get, because he can't really press off that, not a force, come off that tendon. So it's just like he might need some needling. that's really what they're going to do about it.

It's nothing like crazy. Like acupuncture? Yeah, so like needling is kind of like that. It's just you, they'll needle you, put some like metal rods in your, whatever the area is. And they'll do electric shocks in it. It hurts, like an MF, but it hurts. But it really does help afterwards, helps the recovery time and all stuff. But that's nothing anything too crazy.

Hmm. There we go. Well, I am on team. I'm in. so I'm going to go get a tissue massage here after the show today. You are? Deep tissue? Yep.

I thought you were a Swedish guy. I like the hot rocks too. Really? That hot stone treatment? Yep. You like to get beat up on, don't you? That's somewhat fair. Okay.

I mean, I don't want to be in agony, but a little pain doesn't hurt anybody. That's an oxymoron. Okay. The reality is tomorrow we're for a full four hour. So Ross, go get your nap in. Make sure you're ready to go. Yeah, I'm going to be honest. I'm more fatigued than I thought I was going to be.

I know, I can hear it in your voice. You know what? We've got to do at least another hour of women that were hot in 89 that are now hot in 26. No, we're good. No, we're good. That's what it really drained me. Did it really?

That's poor. It's just trying to be a little lighthearted. I got to go get a wipe and make sure I wipe everything down here for wax, by the way. Oh, he is not going to be happy that you're on his microphone. That's fine. I got a low viral load right now. What does that mean? Oh, my God.

What did you just say? The science. Look it up. Matt, we're both confused, right? It's called a viral load? Yeah, look it up. Rockets against the magic. I'll have the call at 630.

Ross needs therapy and another nap. We'll talk to you tomorrow from Miami for the show 10 to 2 for anything goes Friday. we got off to a great start with anything goes Thursday. Up next, Astros, spring turning baseball. EMI, after EMA, on seven-nighter.