The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - The Matt Thomas Show : Rockets Drop 4, Verlander To Miss Opening Day

Episode Date: March 9, 2020

The Matt Thomas Show w/ @SportsMT, @SportsRV, and @ProNickLow 3/9/20What The Hell Is Going On With The Rockets? (0:00)Justin Verlander Confirms Lat Injury and Probably Misses Opening Day (38:55)Alyson Footer Discusses Verlander Being Shut Down With Lat Injury (50:19)Is Forest Whitley a First Round Bust? (1:09:12)

Much larger than life. Yeah. Lunch timers is the Matt Thomas show. 1201 in H-town. What's happening in lunch timers? Good afternoon to you and welcome to a Monday edition of the Matt Thomas show

and I have one simple question for you. Is it a good afternoon? Good gracious in the worst way. I will say yes, Matthew. It is a good afternoon. One week ago today, last week, we played Happy by Farrell. Yes. Because the rockets had just beaten the Boston Celtics on Saturday night.

I was in New York. Yes. Cougars won. Your Longhorn's one. Maybe even the Astros won a spring training game. I don't know. At least at that time, none of them were getting hit. That's true.

Are they getting hit these days? I don't think, not that much. Somebody got hit on a breaking ball. We got Astros issues to get to. Don't worry about that. Okay. What the hell's going on around here? Rossi.

Losses are going to happen in the association, as the kids say. Yes. You're going to go through losing streaks. Yeah, absolutely. Ups and Downs. 82 season games of Ebb and Flo. Yeah, you're not Milwaukee. Actually, Milwaukee's in a little bit of a down.

It's a roller coaster ride, if you will. But you are not going to be a title contender when you lose to the sucky nicks. And then the really good clippers. And then, but how did that game go? Oh. It weren't even close. No. Not got, didn't get within 20 the entire third quarter.

And then wave the white flag. Uh-uh. And then. Then. Sports. I don't refer to myself usually in third person, but we're going to. I jump on a play and I go with the Rockets to Charlotte, North Carolina. Get their mojo back a little bit.

Yes. And I proceed to do the play-by-play of a team that falls behind 20 to nothing. What was that like? Not great. They rallied. I mean, they scored them 99 to 88 after that point. Well, there's that silver lining that you like to present to the show. All right, so we lose that game.

It is what it is. You jump on the plane. You're like, you know what? Getting Russ back, be home. Happy crowd. Well. And then the upstarts probably too strong of a term. Slightly better than Charleston Hornets.

But you're home. It's Orlando. They've never really posed a serious threat to you in the last five or six years that I remember. basically in the last 11 years since they made the finals. They haven't been doing much of anything. Yeah. And they kicked the crap out of you. Mm-hmm.

The worst week, I think, in my four years of broadcasting games. Yeah. That's probably fair. Yeah. Three losses to crappy teams and the one loss to a good team, you weren't even close in the game. Ross, you asked me this before we went on the air in our intention. prep before. You said, Matt, what's wrong? I just made sure to ask it to you before you would ask it to me. Because you beat me by about 75 seconds. I've been nursing this cold,

so I'm not going to, a constant delay. You don't have the COVID, do you? I don't think so. Because the COVID would make you not want to do anything, right? I mean, I'm still functioning. That's good. Man, I look handsome. All right, no handshakes. Fist bumps only. Yeah, now people are elbow bumping each other now. Don't touch your face. Because here's the bit. Not that I don't want to get into Covita talk today. It's not a covita, is it? COVID.

COVID. Is that we're calling it? I call it because I think it's funny. The regular old flu is much more of a dangerous problem in our society than this. That's not true. I was just told minutes ago that's what it is. By who? By a very reliable person.

Was it an epidemiologist? 22,000 people have died from the flu this year. Okay. In the United States. Okay. We've had 22 people. die in the United States of the corona. Right, but it has a much higher fatality rate.

Flu is about 0.5%. Coronavirus has been about 3.5%. Okay. And that will conclude our coronavirus talk for the day. So those that were trying to say it's just the flu, I don't know what's wrong with them, but that's wrong. According to doctors from what I've read. Okay, MSN. MECC. That's fine. All right. So let's get back to the issue here.

Oh, what was I talking about? See, again, I'm on this delay, so it makes it difficult. This is the worst week, Ross, in four years. Oh, what's the matter with the team? You know what? I'll let you tell me, and sometimes I don't want to hear y'all. Sometimes y'all don't want to hear me. The answer...

Let me give you the overly simplistic one. Okay. This team doesn't have the certifiable, deep, three-point consistent. Every single time, I'm going to knock down five-threes. You ain't got to worry about me. They've got guys that are all capable. Westbrook, to a very small extent,

hard to an extent, Robert Covington to a certain extent, Daniel Howe. I mean, but there isn't the, there isn't the AKA Sharpshooter, the knockdown, J.J. Reddick. Chris Clemens. No, I'm not putting out of the category. Kyle Corver, hired assassin,

I'll knock down the triples for you. So when you have a bunch of those type of players who are all very good, slumping collectively at the same time, if everybody misses five out of seven threes, you multiply that times five players and you're looking at these horrific percentages. I think the miss threes have guys moping a little bit,

and I think the defensive intensity has taken a dramatic step back than it was, say, a week ago, and they beat the Boston Celtics in overtime. I think they're shook right now. I think there has to, one of the things that I noticed in the beginning of the first couple of quarters of the game yesterday, it seemed like there were like five different times

where somebody was open from three and they didn't fire it. They didn't shoot it. They didn't throw it up. And that's not Rockets basketball. It was a PJ Tucker did it a couple times, Covington did it a couple of times. I don't know if these guys are just are lacking of confidence or if they're scared or they're hesitant

or what's going on out there. But it seemed like the last few games, especially since the 7 of 42, from three against the clippers, the last couple of games, it's like they're a little scared to shoot. And you can't be that way in the Mike Dantonie office. You just have to let them fly and then hope for the best.

There is not another coach in the NBA that will put you on the floor and say to you as you, as you walk on the floor, get on the floor, get an open look, and take a three-point shot. There is not anybody else in the association coaching-wise that will have you to allow you to free form to take the three-point shot.

And not only that, James Hardin cannot make a three-point shot. He's been horrible the last five games from three. This is, this has been the, don't you think this has been the most up-and-down season we've seen from him in the Rockets Air? There's always a little, a couple peaks in valley.

Sure, lucky would be. This has just been more extreme than normal, I think. Yeah. He's not good right now. And I hope he understands that. I hope he's not, I hope he's not going, well, this is one or two. I mean, this is, he has been, when he has been on his mark, he has been a 40 point triple double machine. As, remember during the stretch, what was it in December Rossi, where he was as fluent as, I mean, not fluent, as fluid in terms of shot selection, not having to take 35 shots to get his 40.

points. I mean, he was getting the free throw line. He was making baskets. He was knocking down threes. He was in the MVP conversation for quite some time. It was basically him and Janus for about a month and a half. Now, obviously, LeBron is taking over that spot among others, but I'm not worried about that. There's something going on that I cannot give you the answer to that perhaps you guys have the answer to because you watch it. You're watching it with the same set eyes as I am. He's taken 59 threes in the last five games and made 12. That's not good.

I don't even want to know. Let me see my U-BH math. You can get it. You can get it. You can get it. It's an easier one. It's less than 30%. Close to a divisor.

Right. It's 12 of 60. I'm going to put that at about 20%. Yes. A little over, a shade over 20%. 12 of his last 59 from 3. And you can't win. The Rockets cannot win with James Hardin.

20% from 3. That's this. That's it. Period. This also coincides with him falling on his wrist in Boston. Is there something to that, or are we just looking for excuses?

Well, um, he has, for all of his knocks. He gets hit and clipped and kicked and pushed, but he gets up every time. Yeah, it's literally had his way.

His eye was, I couldn't see out of his eye and continue to play in that series against the Warriors. So that goes to his credit. He does not, he doesn't take games off. He doesn't like to rest. Hell in the Charlotte game, would he play 90% of the game, right? Yes.

I mean, usually he usually plays 80% of him. He was playing 90 because Russ didn't play. I don't know what it is. But man, it is beyond frustrating to watch right now. And this is a team that was, one week ago today fighting for a number

potentially three spot in the West overtaking the Clippers if they beat the Clippers to a team that is having to hold off the Dallas Mavericks for the seventh spot. Is it just an issue of the threes aren't falling

or there's something more to it? I think there's something more to it. The defense has been terrible. Like I said, they've been hesitant to take shots. They just look like a shell of themselves. They don't look like the Houston Rocks. They look like one week ago.

I mean, seriously, And we're not kidding. One week ago, patting ourselves in the back, gritty, tough win at Boston. Beat the Clippers Thursday. You're going to beat the Knicks. I mean, everybody beats the Knicks. Yeah, the Knicks are no problem. And you're going to beat the Clippers on the home floor Thursday,

and you're going to find yourself in the number three C, maybe even the number two C in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, Utah's won five straight games. The Rockets have dropped four straight, and they have fallen. And now Oklahoma City is in front of the Rockets. Oh, by the way, Justin Verlinder's hurt. How's that Monday for you, Houston, Texas? Thanks, Matt.

713, 212-5-790. 7-13-212-5-790. It's Matt, and he's back. The Matt Thomas Show on 790. Houston's home for Houston teens. Hey, Rossi, would you like some more good news on this Good News Monday on the Matt Thomas show on Sports Talk 790? Sounds like I'm being set up for some more terrible and depressing news. Go ahead.

I'm going to let James Click the Astros general manager tell you this. This is courtesy of Allison Footer, who covers the Astros, among other teams, for MLB.com. Yeah. We've got the scans back is a mild lat strain. Lat. Lat. Yes. Yeah, it's not worth getting into specifics, but, like, this whole area is very connected.

I'm learning about this, too. This whole area is very connected. So the initial, you know, he felt it in here, but the initial MRI was a mild lat strain. Do you know how long he would be out? No, it's a situation where we're just kind of kind of, you know, reassess, see how he feels. The thing right now is that he's going to, we're going to no throw for a little bit, and we'll see.

Do you think he'll be ready for opening a bit? I don't know that yet, but, you know, that's going to be a question about him and how his body responds. Is there any extra concern? He had a similar thing in 2015. It almost sounds like they initially said it was a trisette and it was a lad. Is it very similar to that? You'd have to ask him.

I don't know how he felt in 2015 versus this one, but, you know, that's a good question for him. I don't want to speak for him. How concerned are you? I mean, this is your ace and the top of your rotation guy. How concerned are you that you're shutting him now at this point in spurt? I mean, you're always concerned with a guy like this of his caliber. But at the same time, I think by and large, the news that we got today was on the positive side. Positive, huh?

Yeah, it's positive, Matt. It's fine. It's going to be okay. There's no problem going into the season with 36 and 30. 37 years old as you're one, two, and the rotation, and then a lot of question marks after that. By the way, it's not a lap

strain. Who said that? Somebody on Twitter. You get lap strains at strip clubs. That's true. It's a lat strain. LAT. A latid rural dorsimus or something like that? That's fine. Look it up on WebMD. Lettisius Dorsimus. All right, so Verlander's been shut down.

Oh, it's close. Lettissimus Dorsi. It was close. It was close. But you also have a computer in front of you. I just look. All right. Anything else? Anybody else want to just hit me in the testicle area?

Anybody? Anyone? Verlinder shut down for a while. I'll kick you in the nuts if you want me to. What are you going to tell me? The Houston Cougars are not going to go the Insibaldi tournament? That's not going to happen. They are going to go.

Yeah, they're going to go. It should be out in the first round. I don't want you anywhere near me near my brackets. I'm feeling out several brackets just to make you mad. No, we've got bracket. proper protocol on next Monday's show. Here's Mike Dan Tony. Has things gotten any worse at this point?

You know, it's funny. Just, what, eight days ago, we were rolling. I mean, it was like, and then all of a sudden, the bottom fell out, and we're searching a little bit for answers, and we'll find them. And, you know, we have a bunch of guys that will hang in there, and we'll get through this. You know, what's that Winston Churchill's saying?

And when you're going through hell, you just put your head down, keep going. And right now that's about what we have to do. We just, it's so, it's so bad that, you know, we've got to find a little spark and get a little swagger. And hopefully we'll start Tuesday. I thought we'd start today. But we need to start Tuesday, that's for sure. I feel like Florida's going to get a workout today.

That's right like four of them in the first 23 minutes of the show. Things are so bad that Dan Tony is breaking out Winston Churchill quotes. Let me, I don't say some right now. That is alarming. I have a college education. and, granted, it took me a long time because I was working in the radio business. And I wish I would have studied more when I was in college. I don't think I could pull out a Winston Churchill quote to save my life.

Now, I can pull out a lot of different things from movies, but not Winston Churchill. Didn't he say the enigma wrapped in a riddle wrapped in a mystery or whatever one? He also had the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. That's Winston Churchill. Wait, was that him? Here's a Winston Churchill quote. The red zone is for loading. The blue zone is for unloading.

That wasn't FDR? By the way, today's edition of believe it or not will be Winston Churchill quotes. Oh no. Were they really quotes? You know that's what we're going. Okay. 713212.5.7.90. If any of you all can pull a Winston Churchill quote out, I will give you major props.

Yeah, the only thing we had to fear for yourself was FDR. No. Sorry, Nick. Now we can't use that one on, believe it or not. Way to go, Ross. Yes, we can. You think prize whores are listening right now? Come on. Wherever you go, there you are.

That's from Mike Brady from the Brady Bunch movie, number one, starring Cole, whatever his last name is. Garrett? No. Let's go to Ray and Memorial, 1225 on 790. Ray, good afternoon. Hello, fellas. How's your? Wonderful.

I just want to make a handful of comments, and I'm going to hang up in here. what you guys have to say about it. I've been watching the Rockets, man. I'm a big-time Rockets fans. I've been a big-time Hardin fan. And the first thing I want to say is, I don't know, something's not right with Hardin. I'm a little concerned with Hardin's nightlife out,

because it's been kind of well-documented. Hardin likes to go out a lot. And I don't know if this is, I don't know if this is playing a part in it, but some days he just is bizarreed it. Some games, he just comes out, and he just looks totally uninterested, totally uninterested.

the turnovers and not even attacking the basket, just coming down, pull up three. I don't understand it. And the second thing I was going to say is I don't want to see any more of house in the starting line. I am so sick of house in the starting lineup, brick and jump shots. They need to find someone else. Someone else can do better than him. And third, and my last point, I just can't wait for the season to be over with because

my prediction and we'll come back to this. But I think that Tony's gone, and I want to see Kelvin Samson for the Rockers next season. And I hang up and hear what you guys have to say about it. Have a good day. All right, man, you give us a lot. First, I cannot speak to James Harden Nightlife. Ross, this may come. He does love the nightlife, though, Matt.

This may come as to surprise you, but James has not run to me and say, hey, Matt, let's go get a drink when you land. And he also likes to boogie. We haven't seen, have we seen any photos of him out lately? No. I'm sure it's happened, though. But he parties all the, that's the thing, though. I would be concerned if he wasn't partying. Here's the thing.

Because he's always partying in every city, and he normally plays pretty well. I think he wasn't partying in September, October, and now he is. It's like he just all of a sudden woke up and said, I'm going to be starting, I'm going to start going out every night. When James won the MVP and the Rockets won 65 games or whatever that was, he party. He was partying every night then too. But you know what, though, you know, as you get a little bit older, it's not as easy to party. like, you know, in your late 20s as you were if you're in your early 30s.

That's true. You're saying he can't keep up as much. Well, here's what I'll do. Next time I see him, which will be Tuesday night. Okay. I'll say, hey, James. Yeah. I know you don't know my name.

And I know you and I have not spoken a lot. You fist bumping me every once in a while. That's good. Maybe not because of the corona, but that's on here or there. Okay. Please stop going out. You're going to plead with him. You say, hey, let's just stay in, have one glass of wine and play some peanut.

Or we can play spades. I don't monitor a video game player, but I can invite him to your apartment. We can play on the air and put it on the Twitch channel. Oh, that's true. Okay. Okay. Daniel House, look, the Rockets may be in tune for a lineup change here. The question is, do you go with Ben McLemore, or do you go with a guy like Jeff Green,

who's actually been playing pretty well for the Rockets? I mean, he's been the only bright spot during this last handful of games. I like Jeff Green. But do you like Jeff Green coming off the bench? I mean, does Jeff Green get exposed if he's playing quarter of the game? unquote starters minutes. I mean, you'd play around the same amount of minutes. I would like him.

So a lot of people on the Rockets Twitter are trying to figure out some things. And I think for once they have a good point. James Hardin, because when you took Clint Capella away, it helped Russell Westbrook, but it hurt James Hardin. Him coming off that pick and roll and being a great passer and forcing defenses to decide, are you going to guard Capella or are you going to guard James? So either James is getting a layup or Capella is getting an alley-euf. that element of the offense is completely gone.

James is getting contested at the lane more than the error has before. He'd be the first attempt. And then you just have to find shooters, and then they're closing out on the shooters, then you just have to start the possession all over again. So it's really taken away that element. And I think that element can be there with Jeff Green. And as far as Calvin Samson and replacing Mike Danton,

those two people are two of my favorite people in the world, so there's no way I could potentially comment on that. And ultimately, for Rockets make a deep playoff on Mike Dantone, it's going to be here for a long time. If this team fails up to the first round, my guess is there will be a change. I agree.

I don't think I'm telling any secrets on that. I think it's been fairly obvious on that. The Rockets' future in terms of coaching will be largely determined based on what this team does come postseason. Whether that's fair or not, it's just the situation that they have been presented themselves with. And how about Lance McCullors?

Hey, it's Lance McCullors. Back to Matt Thomas. Turnball swinging a mid-strike three. I'm Sports Talk 790. You're home. for Houston Astros baseball. Mike Dan Tony, after last night's loss to Orlando, asked what's wrong with the team right now.

It's just a lot of things. I think our second guess on ourselves a lot of time. There's no swagger. We're passing up threes. We're driving in, you know, because we miss so many threes at one game. Now everybody said, let's drive. Well, that's what they do.

They stay inside. So we drove and you've got 25 turnovers. And that's what most people don't understand. No, we need to take the shots. We need to take three. Even if we miss it, so be it. But we need to play the way. we play and then uh but we're past enough shots and and then uh you know this game like last

game the last two games we lost uh second chance points were even so it wasn't that the night is 22 nothing a half time second chance points so it's like it's this the day it's that tomorrow and it's to me it's a spirit it's uh toughness it's um a swagger it's not hesitating and and and just a lot of combo thing a combination of things that that really really started from a really lack of kind of effort in New York. And then we went up to a good team and now we're questioning everything.

We have music behind that too? I'm playing Blump, yeah. I like it. Here's what's among the alarming things. Rossi, they're getting blown out in the first quarter of games. I've never in my life

and I've done college basketball, pro basketball. I've probably even some high school games. I've never called a game or a team fell behind 20 to nothing. Now there have been 20 to nothing runs in games, but there was a point in Saturday's game at Charlotte

where the Rockets had more turnovers than shot attempts. Is that bad? Not great. Doesn't seem good. Yeah, I mean, I don't even know. Blown out in quarters. I mean, I actually felt like everybody and myself

included in the pregame show when I was like, you know what, this is maybe a get right game for the Rockets, they lost two straight. But then, I mean, the writing seems to be a little bit on the wall with the fact that that James Hardin is not playing well. Games, now that we have a sample size of two games that Russell Westbrook has missed, since they've gone to the five-out offense, that's Phoenix, where they lost by 34, and then the game where they just, they lost to the Hornets.

So, I mean, if Russell Westbrook is out, it looks like their back is against the wall, especially the way James Harden is playing. And you're missing Eric Gordon. It's just, it is a, it's a real mixture. There's a lot of different factors going into how poorly the Rockets are playing right now. Our buddies over at Clutch fans, first 34 games of the year. James Harden, 38 points a game, 46% from the floor, 39% from 3. Good, good, good, and good.

Rockets were 24 and 10 during that time. The last 26 games, point total goes from 38.4 to 29. field goal percentage goes from 46.3 to 38.7. Three point percentage goes from 38.6 to 29.6. And the rockets are 14 and 12 in those 26 games. So first 34, and then the last 26, his point total has gone down 9.5 points. His field goal percentage has gone down 8 points. his three-point percentage has gone down nine points,

and the Rockets' record from 14 up are basically playing or holding water at 14 and 12. And did you see that the 25-point halftime deficit at home was the worst since 1987? Nope, didn't see it. Since the Showtime Lakers were in town, that's the worst half-point deficit for a home game for the Rockets.

And it was the Orlando freaking magic. Orlando magic You went from Showtime Lakers You get down 25 to the Showtime Lakers In the 80s You know what? That happens The Orlando freaking magic

DJ Augustine Yeah Longhorn, great If he would have made as many shots For the Longhorns As he did with the magic last night You guys would want a national championship And they had good teams in there They made the elite eight with DJ Augustine.

Get out of here Okay Nikola Vucevich wasn't even much of a factor yesterday Now Moamba They didn't go so far I think they were out in the first round Was Moabamba? by the guy that I won my bet on

with the UT Houston game in the CBI? No, that was the guy that was missing free throws? No, it was, that wasn't Alexei Wang Mani. Who was that? No, Prince eBay. Okay. That was a rare bet that I won. You got me going back now.

Prince eBay. I didn't want to remember the Prince eBay era of Texas Longhorns Basketball. By the way, we'll have the Longhorns game on Thursday starting at 11 o'clock, and we will be on after that. So, It'll be like a longhorn post game show. We'll call it the final horn.

I like that. I like that, but I hope it's not the final horn for the season. Yeah. Because they're not making the tournament if they lose that game. No, they're not. And they're going to have to probably at least get at the championship game to go to the tournament, right? I think if they win a couple games, we'll see. All right.

Let's go to Gilroy in the southwest part of town. Gilroy on 790. Good afternoon. How you doing? I've got the cold, but I'm all right. All right, good to hear it. I hope you don't have that problem with that commercial with the gonadism. I just wanted to make a couple of comments, one on the Rockets, the small ball.

They're ready for them now. They're clogging up the center, and they're not blocking any of the big guys' layup. And also with Kelvin Sampson, you're not going to win anything in the NCAA starting your two best players on the bench. Just a point of view of mine. Well, the problem is the Cougars, it's been a rotation of the best player on the team. Has it been a definitive, absolute number one go-to guy? I mean, everybody's been up and down this year. I mean, here's the problem.

Here's the problem. The Houston Cougars are one of the best defensive teams in college basketball. They are one of the best offensive rebounding teams in basketball. They are one of the best second chance point opportunities in basketball. Problem is they just don't have, I mean, they're seriously lacking a perimeter shooter. I mean, watching the first half of that game yesterday against Memphis, I mean, they had, what, eight field goals in the entire first half, I think? Absolutely.

I mean, that's a major, major problem. Well, a big thing, too, also, no one's going to go into this tournament with their two best players sitting on the bench, and they never have. They're never going to do it afterwards either. Well, I mean, but Quentin Grimes' season has been very much up and down. It's not a definitive that Quentin Grimes is the best player. Now, the resume says he would be, but it hasn't worked out that way. Correct. I understand that.

Well, then you wouldn't be arguing with me about the two best players on the bench. If you understand that, you would say, yes, Matt. Quentin Grimes looks the part but has him in the part. Now, I see your point where I mean in the long run, it's not going to work. Just my opinion. Thanks a lot. We'll see you later. I don't remember what gonad spot is he worried about?

I'm not sure. We have a lot of interesting commercials on our radio station. Checking gonads. Make sure everything's okay. I'm checking them daily. Let's go to Kevin and Conroe at 1241 on 7. on you. Hi, Kevin. Hey, how's it going, guys? Good. I have a question. Was Matthew Moore hurt last night? Yeah, he has the stomach flu.

Wow. He has a stomach flu. Okay, so they definitely needed him. And I, um, I'm calling, you know, and I guess everybody's saying the same thing really has come to, you know, what's going on with James and this slump. Now, we're saying that we're taking our Capella, you know, that. has taken away, you know, that pick and roll option with James. James can shoot from anywhere on the floor. You know, that took away an option. It really did, you know. But, you know, they're defending James on that three.

They're not going for that, that fate like he was getting. And so, you know, it's just like everybody said, you know, teams have planned to, you know, look at a move. Eventually, you do a move long enough. They're going to figure out how to defend you. And that's, you know, they're passing up threes. I heard that Antonio his comment, you know, he's through our body, everybody saying they pass, you know, I don't know what everybody,

what everybody says has in the reference to how they play on the floor, you know. So, you know, as everybody's saying they take too many of threes, so they're driving to the bathroom to the bathroom. So they're driving to the basket based on their own mind, not based on listening to what we're talking about on 16 or whatever. Well, we're 790, but thank you for the phone call. 1243 is our time. They're not talking about the rocket on the 60s out. They're just not.

They're just not. Next time, tell Alexa. Playing 790 on I-Heart Radio. Wherever you are, so is Matt Thomas. Coming up at the top of the hour, you're going to hear from Justin Verlander. Again, courtesy of Allison Footer at MLB.com and down in Twitter. Matter of fact, should we try to call her? Can you text her?

Do you ever remember, Nicholas? See if she'll come on next hour sometime for a few minutes. I'd like to see, you know, because she's right down there with the team. Lat strain, not a lap strain. I feel like I should say that a lot. Because, again, Pete, most men have had lap strains before. Latissimus dorsi. much easier.

So we'll see if we can get footy on next hours down from West Palm Beach. 713212-5-790. If you reach the show, we'll hear from Justin coming up in a few. Maybe get to footy on as well. Let's go to David in Las Vegas at 1250 on 790.

David, good afternoon, friend. Well, thank you. You know, I'm not going to disguise the fact that I'm not feeling real great about all this. I am. But the Rockets for the one team. of all the teams I follow, when they go south, it hurts me emotionally. I have real pain.

I mean, it's like a breakup or something like that. I just walk around in an actual state of drunken depression when this happens. And so I'm not well. I'm very unhappy about what's going on. And I know you are too. But I mean, I just really feel this. But the thing I'd like to say, and I'll let you correct it if you don't have any sympathy for this point of view. I was listening to your discussion here, and I listened to Michael's rocket wrap last night and the coach's comments and so on.

Not a whole lot's being said about the fact that we're getting absolutely clobbered on rebounding on the backboards. Just some statistics during this losing streak. If people haven't had it, we got rebound at 49-38 last night, 42-30 to the Hornets, 57-51 of the Clippers, and then that next disaster, we were out rebounded 65-34. 39. I can't read my handwriting. But, you know, I was against the Capella trade. I was skeptical of the small ball thing. I didn't think we got enough for them. I didn't think we had a real answer to what we were going to be missing either offensively with the pick and

roll in the alley-oops or defensively as in terms of room protection. And rebounding. And that's my story, and I'm sticking to it. I think we really, you know, we're now in the post-Capela era, we're 7 and six, which gets you 53% 44 wins season if you played like that all year. I don't think we're a better team without that, and I think

we're getting killed on the boards, and I'll just leave it open for you to respond. Okay, thanks, David, for the phone call. A couple things. As Ross and I've talked about many weeks, the rebounding numbers can be a little misleading, especially on the offensive side.

The Rockets were a great offensive rebounding team, because, and frankly, a lot of it was because of misses. Clint would go to the basket and wasn't finishing, so he'd grab two or three offensive rebounds, a handful occasions on his own misses. So while I'm going to say that rebounding does matter, clearly it does, the wide discrepancies to me

aren't nearly the biggest concern of the fact that the rockets are one-shot and out. And that's where the rebounding kills you. You can get all the offensive rebounds you want. If you've got perimeter guys that are not knocking down three-point shots, If James is shooting at a well below his season average, if Daniel House is not hitting his threes, you can have three or four opportunities.

They're not going to matter. You're not hitting shots, not hitting shots. They outrebounded the Hornets 42 to 30. They lost the rebounding battle every game of their six-game winning streak. So it matters, kind of. But the overall end of the day, rebounding numbers aren't huge. Yeah, as I said before,

I think it's a little misleading. You can't just look at the rebounding numbers and say, team won. Yeah. If a team out rebound somebody, that doesn't guarantee a recipe for a victory. It just doesn't. And I thought your point was valid. What Clint not being here has done to open up Russ's game

has detracted James and his game. Yes. I think it's very fair to say. Because the pick and roll, the lobs, all that, there's nobody else doing that. Robert Covington and James Hardin don't have the same relationship that Clint Capella and James Hardin had.

I would like to see it developed with Jeff. I think Jeff Green is the springiest of those guys as far as to make a candidate, a pick and roll type of candidate, and he can shoot so you can keep him on the floor. It's not PJ Tucker. He's on the offensive side. He's a corner three. He's not going to be throwing down Al Ubes. I mean, he's at Texas he was, but that was 12, 14 years ago.

Yeah. If you really want to dig into it a little bit, that's where James has lost his luster. He doesn't have that pick and roll component anymore. Even if he doesn't go to the lob feed to Clint, Clint's going to leave him a little bit of open space in there. It feels like every time James gets in there, he's having to put up a shot kind of with his eyes closed, hoping that he gets a friendly bounce off the rim. Very few. Now, I'm not saying zero, but very few clean looks at the basket where he can just go right to the backboard and lay up.

He's lobbing it up hoping that he gets the friendly roll. And the problem is when you lose the size battle, Those little bounces that you're not getting and getting, and Clinton can go to the offensive rebound and getting, you're not getting those. Those are the types of rebounds that I think the Rockets miss. Not just the sheer number of, well, one team is being more aggressive. Because, again, if a team is not making shots and are only shooting 40% from the floor and they're getting a lot of offensive rebounds, that doesn't necessarily mean that's a good stat. I don't think the Rockets are losing games because they don't have a 611 player on the floor on the defensive side. Offensively,

James has been hampered by it, clearly. And maybe James is frustrated. And maybe James is pouting. Well, he needs to start making his three. He's not like he's not taking shots. Like I said, 59 threes in the last five games. He's missing, you know what he's missing? He's missing clean look threes, Ross.

Exactly, yeah. It's the step back from 26 to 28 feet contested three. And the shooting percentages aren't just nearly as good. And some of those, he does have. good space on them and he's still he's still just missing him even like uh there's times where he's missing catch and shoot threes as well like you said it's just i don't know what's going on with him he needs to snap out of it quick or the rockets are going to continue to submarine yeah if james does not play here's an obvious statement of the day if james is not playing better the rockets

are going to have no chance the most brutal postseason they've had in a long period of time and he will get crushed as he should yeah i was going to say i don't i don't i don't When you're making $40 million a year, that's what you kind of live with, right? Right. When this team is built around you, that's what comes with it, is the criticism. This is the Matt Thomas Show. 101 on Sports Talk 7-9. We start the second hour of the Matt Thomas show.

Thank you very much for being a part of it alongside Nick Lowe, our producer, Ross for the Real. I'm Matt Thomas. Really nice to have you with us. Hi, Matt. We've had nothing but horrific news. Have we done anything good this hour? We had a Cougar coach, we had a Cougar caller calling it mad because the two best players aren't starting. Yes.

We had the Rockets with the worst week in probably the four plus years I've been calling their basketball games. The stock market closed today. There's no toilet paper left in Houston, Texas. What? Zach Grinky has given up a run. Anything else? Probably a lot more things, but... Yeah, I want to give her a rest.

I felt like it was just too much in a short time. Florida has been a bust. the lung. Pretty soon, Florida will be like, damn, damn, damn, because she can't speak.

All right, let's get to it. This is Justin Verlander, courtesy of Allison Fodor's Twitter feed in West Palm Beach about the LAT-L-A-T strain that he has.

I agree with where do you see yourself right now? I mean, yeah, I would agree with that just because, I mean, last can be pretty difficult. And, you know, talking with doctors and looking at the scans, you know, it's

definitely not worst case scenario. I mean, the best case scenario would be nothing. You know, it's just probably somewhere in the middle of that. So, I mean, I don't think any injury you could consider positive, but, you know, when you got a bunch of things running through your head and having dealt with it before and having it probably, be more serious then. I mean, I guess it's nice to hear that, or it's a positive to hear that's not quite as bad. Can you compare this one to what happened in 2015? I mean, there's a lot of similarities, as in like, it happened in spring training. I don't think, I don't know how I would compare it. You know, that's more of a doctor's thing. I know I feel better than I did then physically,

and that's kind of a lot of feedback that I've gotten about lat strains is, you know, the scans, can say a lot of stuff and MRIs can say a lot of stuff but one of the most important things is how you feel physically and I'm trying to be very truthful with myself through this process and I definitely I'm trying to recall also how I felt in 15 and I definitely feel better this time than then than then did it feel the same when you did you do a pitch no no no hardly noticed it to be honest it was the pitch before my last one. It didn't quite feel right. Just thought maybe I was a little off mechanically or something

and kind of one of those spring things. And then in between innings, it started to tighten up a bit. And that's when I told Strom that it just didn't feel quite right. And that's when they pulled the shoot. Not going to start this season. No, I don't feel fine at all. You feel fine, Ross? Justin Verlander, our number one guy, our franchise player.

Probably not going to start the season on time. I don't know what to tell you, Matt. I don't know what to say. What, I mean, what else? What else do you want, sports gods? Let's see. The Rockets lost. Oh, I got one.

Hold on. Stay, stay ahead. Go ahead. The Rockets lost to the Knicks. Yeah. The Hornets. Yeah. And the magic in the same week.

And Laramie Tonsel had laborin surgery, right? Yeah. So that's good. Seriously, what else we want? what what come on bring it bring it what else you want bring it to me bring the pain i don't know i don't even i i i'm this is a bad time in sports in sports houston sports history hopefully jv is going to be okay grinky's going to be okay the games are going to start the astros are going to win oh by by speaking of games they're going to bash a lot of home runs they'll be an empty

stadiums because the coronavirus is going to shut down sports our planes are empty, Ross. Yes. The stock market got closed. It's like completely closed down? Closed. Oil and gas. Big trouble.

Oh, no. Gas is cheap, but that's at a price. People are losing, we losing jobs here before you know it. What is going on? I'm not, coronavirus, I get that. I get the fact that oil and gas is struggling right now. But how do you lose the Hornets and the magic in back-to-back days? that's the national

national crisis, I tell you. Nobody does that. Not even Sucky Eastern Conference teams do that. I'm looking at the Dow Jones is down 20%. Yes. That's not good. Well, clearly not. Well, make sure not to check on your 401K, Maddie.

Well, I want to work a couple extra years now. Yeah, that's true. You're going to be in your 60s? I was going to retire at 71, and now I've got to go to 73. Can you win a championship with James Hardin Jr? We'll discuss next here on Sports Dog 790. At Tiffany 722.

Good news. FSU basketball is number four in the country. No one cares. Nobody, let me tell you something, Tiffany. Nobody cares about FSU basketball. You know who doesn't care about basketball at FSU? FSU. Maybe Charlie Ward and Sam Casale care.

That's about it. That's the good news. Let me tell you something, Houston, Texas. That's what I get on Twitter is the good news of the day. Is it Florida State basketball's number four in the country? Houston Roughnecks are undefeated. That's true. Oh, by the way, let's not forget about them.

Lest we forget, Matthew. Lest we forget a team that caught a major break by the Seattle, whatever the hell they're called, didn't get a chance to run a last play. That's right, because they were only up nine. So not only did the Texans get away, the Texans, the roughnecks get away with one, the XFL puts out this release and says, we goofed. We're sorry and we're reassigning the lead official in that game. I know.

How does that lead official feel? How does a Seattle fan base feel? Well, how much of a Seattle fan base is there? Poor Seattle. The Mariners are super suck. The Supersonics aren't even there. They're super gone. It rains all the time.

It's clinically depressing to live there. And their beloved XFL team doesn't get to run a final play. And the XFL showing its transparency comes out and says, we're sorry. I don't know. I don't want sorry. The Seattle Dragons. I didn't see any of the games. I don't even know how I'm playing Pan-Bahue.

Their head coach is Jim Zorn. Former Seahawk quarterback, former Redskins coach? Yeah. You know Jerry Glanville is a defensive coordinator for somebody? Yes. He's like 90. I was like, what does he bring a cane and a walker in a wheelchair out there or what? Yeah, he is 78.

Damn. That's what you want to. You know what you're talking about when you're a hit singer in the 70s and you have like five hits, you just go run to casinos everywhere and you play? That's what old coaches do. If you have any success or had any success in the NFL or college, you just keep coaching until you can't walk anymore because there'll be another startup league for you. Arena league, XFL, AAFL, whatever.

the hell that was called last year. Jerry Glanville is 78 years old and he's running a defense. Well, walking a defense. They have to have practices before 3 o'clock in the afternoon, right? Because after 4 o'clock, he's got to have his dinner and his cookies and he's going to go night and night, right? You're going to the Lubies for the Lou Ann Platter. Sheesh. Okay, Houston.

So how do you feel today? How's everybody doing? Is everybody okay? Do we need to talk it out? Let's talk it out right now. Get it off your chest. your rockets have had the worst week and probably

probably since what 41 and 41 when Dwight and James weren't getting along right pretty close I think so okay we have Laramie Tunsell who wants to get fat and happy and rich has a surgery

was that a secret or would that just that they put it out there it seems secret but I guess they had to finally release it and maybe that explains what's going on with these negotiations and you want to make sure he's back and healthy and then Justin Verland has a lat strain, not a lap strain?

I'd rather him have a lap strain. Yeah, that'd be nice. Because, I mean, Mrs. Kate, you know, Kate's like, yeah, I'm causing the injury. I'm sorry. I used to have a lap strain when I was a kid when I wasn't married and out having sex on a regular base. I had constant lap strains. Okay, so everybody on Twitter, the good news so far of the day is,

is it Florida State's number four in the country in basketball? That's all we've got. Kansas is consensus number one. my cougars are going to be consensus number one in your hearts when they win the national championship. No, they're not. They're not going to. Reed Gettys and I have already got our Homer cast ready to go. I don't think they responded to your tweet.

They did not. Turner SportsP.R. did not do so. And what the hell is a matter with them. 11 is our time. If you have any good news, I'll take it. If you had a nice meal outside with your wife or you got some exercise in or you got to raise at work, I'll take it because what we have done for the first 70 minutes of this radio show is giving you nothing but bad news.

By the way, Allison Footer from MLB.com is going to join us for a few minutes. at 1.30 to tell us what she heard and saw it today from James Click and Justin Verlander. And Rocket fans? I mean, I know you're out there, but may and all just be pissed, too. But I can't just be silent. I'm a radio guy with a microphone in my mouth in front of me here. I got to speak. You know what? I'll speak on the next segment, Matt. You ready? I have some things to get off my chest.

Get off your chest. Ross is going to get some things off his chest in a matter of minutes. This is the Matt Thomas show. Matt Thomas on Sports Talk 790. Zach Granky is finishing up his day down in Florida, so we're going to grab our good friend Allison Footer for a couple minutes right now before he speaks to the media, although that probably won't last very long, but that's not here nor there.

Footy, thanks for spending some time with me. Give me a thought or two about what first James Click had to say, and then the response from J.B. Were you startled, surprised? Are they trying to sell this as a positive, or what do you think is really going on with Mr. Verlainer in this LAT latch strain? Well, I don't think it's great news. I mean, Justin said it was kind of the, not the worst-paced scenario, but certainly not

the best-case scenario. So he said if it has to happen, let it happen now and not in September. But he knows that he has to be shut down for a while. He said it'll take a miracle for opening day, and he doesn't want to take miracles off the table, but opening day is off the table. So he's just going to have to rest it. and then see where he is. So there's a lot of uncertainty right now.

He had this injury similar injury in 2015. And I don't think he made his debut until June that year. And then he was five-year younger then. So this is definitely, I would say this is probably an alarming thing for the Astros. Man, you're just giving us more bad news after more bad news. I hadn't forgotten the fact that he didn't start until June that year. That's, ooh. Did he tell you exactly when it happened?

Did he try to fight through it during the impression? parents, and I know the plan was for him yesterday to throw four innings on the only went two. Right. So as soon as it happened, he stopped. And I mean, that's a veteran guy that has been through this. And that was very smart of him to just take himself out of the game. And that probably helped him.

You know, that's probably something that in the healing process, he didn't make it any worse. And so I do give him a lot of credit for that. And, you know, I mean, we all know that the starting pitching death was already a little bit in question, and now there's even more, there's more spots to fill. So this is, you know, you have to come up with like 1,400 innings in a season to cover from a pitching standpoint. Right. You kind of can mark a couple guys down for 200 innings, and they just don't have that. So they've got Lance the Colors who's on the innings limit, you know, Jose or Petey, who they pushed through the World Series last year. And so that's the main concern is just how are they going to,

how are they going to compensate for all these innings that need to be compensated for? Yeah. you're phoning for McTaggart. I don't know how long you've been down there, but who it takes advantage of this or who should take advantage of this situation? Well, you know, that's why they get guys like Austin Pruitt. I mean, they have, you know, the guys that are in

camp that are always getting stretched out to start, and this is why. I mean, you need eight or nine guys that deep before you break camp. But you get a guy like Austin Pruitt, who's been a long reliever, but a bullpen guy, been a starter, and those are the ones that are going to have to kind of step in

and try to obviously make the rotation. Brad Peacock is not a candidate at this point because he's coming back from his own injury. So starting pitching depth is, like James Clitchell just said, nobody goes through a season with just five guys. You're going to go through 10 or more. And so that's where they are right now. My guess is Josh James is a little more secure today than he was,

say maybe 48 hours ago. Yeah, I mean, you have like three guys that we're going for the fifth-star or five, and now you have three guys that are going more for the fourth of at starters class. So that's kind of how it works right now. Josh James is having a great spring. So I would anticipate that if he ends up strong, then he's going to see some time in the big league to start off.

Last question. So what did JV, what have they been telling him about the next time he should attempt to throw a baseball? They're not telling anything right now. They're telling him not to throw a baseball. So these fans just came back. And he cannot do anything for the time being. So everything is very new.

I mean, obviously we got this news. just a few minutes after Justin did. So this is all just very uncharted territory right now. But he is shut down for now. All right. How long were Zach Granky conversation be today? I don't know. I got to head down there, Maddie.

I'm guessing around. I don't know. They say that he obviously haven't been around the whole time. But they say he's been, you know, a little bit more of requacious this spring. Oh, I love when you say loquacious on my radio show. That makes your show sound so smart. Fuddy, thanks for the time. We'll let you get back at it.

We appreciate you coming on. Okay, thanks for having me. We'll see, Allison Footer, MLB.com. Loquacious. You've done a word you hear on sports radio that often. Not to throw a baseball, Ross. Last time, she just put it so bluntly. Last time he was out until June and he was five years younger.

Fact and fact, but he didn't have to do that to us, Allison. Yeah, Allison, like, slid that in. Yeah, it's like saying, well, you get this type of cancer in the survival rate's like 12%. Yeah, I See, Nick, I'd ask for you to supply something positive for the show, but you're just going to pounce on the negative that has been the program in the first 82 minutes. Yeah, I'm probably not the guy to ask. Ross, what do you got?

Oh, you're going to go back to the rocket stuff. Oh, no. Do you want me to air out my lot of rockets? Just my feelings? Do you have rockets dirty laundry? No, there's no laundry. It's just... Do you need music behind it?

I'm just not feeling great. I mean, you can pick something. You want to pick something depressing or angering? You can do that. We've reached a point. This is... Okay, well, we've already had, Mike Dantonie has said it, and the players are saying it as well.

We are at rock bottom with the Rockets right now, right? The low spot. I'm just, I'm just so frustrated with this team that I want to believe in, and then they make moves, and I believe in them, and I say it's going to work out, and they go small ball, and I want to root against them, and T&T saying it's not going to work out, and they beat the Lakers, and then you can beat your chest about that. You get all happy.

James Hardin is one of the most hated superstars in the entire country, Ditto for Russell Westbrook, or at least he was in Houston before he came here. And I just, I want to root for these guys. And I want them to win. But when I go and watch these games this last week, against the New York Knicks, you're getting down big. Against the clippers, you can't get within 20 and three quarters. Against the, against the magic at home, you get down at the half by 25. And you have guys who don't even want to pull the trigger.

They're scared. They're shook. They don't even want to shoot three-pointers. They don't want to play defense. They don't want to rebound. There's no energy. There's no leadership. There's nothing happening right now with the Rockets.

It's frustrating. I love the Houston Rockets. I want them to win. And what I saw from them last week, I'm basically done with them as a championship contender this season. There's no way that I can believe that the Rockets are going to win the 2020 championship with what I'm seeing in this last week. They're not playing like contenders.

They're not playing like a great team. You're losing. to subpar teams three out of the last four games and then some of them aren't even close and it's like yeah Russell Westbrook is out or Eric Gordon is out and what's going on

with James Harden? He needs to be stepping up is he not healthy? I need answers did they get their did they get their talent stolen away like we're on space jam is there some kind of did somebody sleep with somebody else's wife like what is happening? There has to be a reason

for what I'm seeing, because the rockets are more talented than these teams they're playing, and they just continue to lose to them. And every time something like this happens, they make a little run, and then they give you a little bit of hope, and then they're going to disappoint again. That's where I feel right now. I want them to get over the hump. It's frustrating. And now you're in the sixth spot in the Western Conference because you can't get your

crap together against the magic and the hornets. And the Knicks. And the Knicks. They're supposed to, it's hashtag one mission. You're supposed to be going for a championship. You're supposed to be one of the better teams of the NBA. You have two MVPs on your team. Two.

And good role players and good defenders and good shooters. But they're not doing any of that. The talent is there. Is it the coaching? I don't know. Is it something in the locker room? I don't know. Is everybody fatigued?

I don't know. Does everybody have a secret injury that we don't know about? I don't know. I know that what I'm seeing on the court is terrible. It's a bad product right now. The Houston Rockets are sucking the life out of me for their fandom for them. And for that, I thank you. Not only was that the heart and soul of a sports RV brought it to you real,

I was finally able to open up my day cold medicine while you were doing that little five-minute soliloquy there. You're welcome. I love Houston Rockets. I'm just mad at you right now. You know how much I love the Houston Rockets? I love them. They're my favorite sports team. They're my favorite.

They were my favorite sports team before I started working for them. Way before. I, you ready for this, Ross? I would go to the summit in the sucky days of Caldwell Jones, Bill Willoughby, Mike Woodson, Terry Teagle. Yeah. And I would unscrew the light bulbs at the top of the summit because I thought I was a cool 11-year-old. Did you say you were taking DayQuil?

Yeah. Might be the coronavirus. Uh-oh. You got the COVID? Speaking of bad news. Yeah, I mean, I'm with you, Matt. Because the Rockets, when they were... I, Rossi,

went to buy jerseys of Akeem Elijah won, a young Akim Alangea Juan, a Ralph Samson, if you will. A Jim Peterson! I, screaming yell at the top of my lungs for Russell Westbrook to score. And for Robert coming into the block shots. Not for for.

DJ Augustine that hit 30 footers and Terrence Ross and whoever else sucky plays for the Orlando Magic. I'm with you, Matt. They won championships when I was 9 and 10 years old. I used to listen to the games on the radio. I would sneak a radio under my pillow to listen to Gene Peterson call late-night West Coast games. You do that still with me? I was watching the air. Please time you do that with me still.

Not really. Like the Walt Williams era rockets, I was watching every game with Antoine Big Dog car coming out there and fouling everybody. and Mo Taylor and Cotino Mobley and Steve Francis and all those terrible errors of rockets I was watching the majority of the games

I'll give you Dave Fidel for the win on UPN on 20 and I think they were on the tube for a little bit Not the tube The 51 51 that's what it was News channel

Yeah they were on they were on all these weird channels And I'm watching them on And listening to it on the radio When I have to go to bed I love the Houston Rockets I love the Houston Rockets I love the Houston

and Rockets. I hate what has been the last week. Again, this is the worst run since the worst stretch since the 41 and 41 team. That's bad. James, if you're hurt, tell the world. Take some time off. James, if you're mad

because the spacing isn't what you want it to be, because Russ has thrived than you haven't. Tell the world about it. Say something. We need answers, Matt. So all I have right now is questions. Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson here. to the Matt Thomas show on Sports Talk 790. Time for a little cougar update brought to you by

the giant chiropractor, the official chiropractor, the Houston Cougars. My Cougars Sports RV knocked off the Memphis Tigers yesterday. Wasn't the prettiest thing in the world, but it was effective. And then with the Wichita State went over Tulsa, the Cougars share the American Athletic Conference Championship regular season title for the second year in a row. Congratulations to them. And they will be the number two seed in the upcoming tournament.

tournament in Fort Worth, and they will play on Friday night. 64-57th win over Memphis. It was very cool. Fort Worth? Yeah, the new Dickies Arena. I'm not kidding. Hmm? The what?

Dickies. Okay. You know, the clothing are like the workman pants, that kind of thing? Get some Dickies from Fiesta. Is that where you get them? You could. At least back in the day. I've never worn a pair of Dickies pants in my life.

You go get some parade brand hamburger helper and some Dickies at the old Fiesta. Have you ever bought a club? some fiesta before? When I was a kid, my parents, parents probably bought me. I bought a pair of warm socks before a Rockets Road trip, like my first year. I mean, Fiesta's like a festival in itself. You got outside, they were selling, because when I was a kid, we would go there. It was like, it was like an event.

They'd be have clothes. You could get clothes. You could go to the grocery store. You got the live lobsters. They got people out there selling cassette tapes and various, like, you know, Mexican blankets and stuff like that. Could you shoot dice out of Fiesta? Probably.

You could get some tacos going. How's the food at Fiesta like the, because I've only been into Fiesta maybe once or twice a year. And I always, they're always cooking up tacharian stuff like I'm thinking is it. I used to eat it when I was younger. I haven't been into a fiesta in years. Now, granted, my, my stomach is accustomed to eating hot dogs that out of a gas station. So I can do anything. Hmm.

Okay. All right. I don't know how this morphed into a Cougar update, but it just did. Cougar and Fiesta update. Having Jim Nance called a game was very cool, by the way. First time he never broadcasted a game in Houston since he was the Pooger. he announced her back in the early 80s. Wow.

That means like 30 years of a relevant basketball. Strong term. He's very busy calling Big Ten and ACC. Exactly. Games that matter. Well, clearly he had to come to Houston to broadcast this one. 30 years later. He'd be back on a regular basis.

Okay. 713-212-790. Go ahead and say it. I'm the worst. I don't think I have to say it. The audience just knows it already. 7-1-3-21-1. 2-5-7-90.

We'll run through the headlines coming up in a couple of minutes, including an update on Justin Verlainer. If you did not hear it earlier, Latt strain. That's when the MRI says, and he has been told to shut it down for a while. Let's just some of this door side. Or should we do muscles?

Or we're doing Winston Churchill phrases. Yeah, was this a Winston Churchill phrase or not? Okay. By the way, did you know that Mike Dan Tony would give you something like that? No, I didn't. I would see, I could see him being well-read. Oh, he's very bright. I mean, every time I can go down the lobby, he's always playing some sort of word game or trivias.

Yeah, yeah. That's what you got to do. That's how you keep your mind alert. That and the take away of the strain of having to worry about a team is losing to Orlando and New York and Charlotte last week. Yeah. A little Sudoku will distract you from the loss of the magic. You know, when you're doing up, when you're playing a 20-0 game, I have no one to talk to. What do you say?

I'm going to call you in next time that happens. Call into the broadcast. Adam Clant was doing the studio workforce. I really even going to talk to him that much because he's here and I'm there. Yeah, I was sitting right here. I was sitting in the same scene I am right now. It would have been fun to kind of bounce something off somebody. Oh, well.

Wayne and Green's Point at 140 on 7.90. Hi, Wayne. What's you got today? Man, so basically, games at the summit, compacts and all of that, you know, The younger fans like 94 in the 90s base, you know, they don't know that, 94 and on. But the question is this, man, y'all said questions. The only right question is, I know you like Hardin, that's fine, and that you don't expect a title. And we expected at least title contention back in the last summer.

What needs to change? What are you going to change? There's no draft picks? What needs to happen then, man? Well, thankfully, I don't occupy the general manager's title because that's a question better for him. I mean, at this point, Wayne, thank you for the phone call. I got a little bit of static there.

I don't think there's a question of fixing anything right now. You have to let this thing play out. You have to hope if this team shoots better than they have in the past week. Your chips are in. Their ticket is punched. Moria's bet on these horses right now. You can't fire Mike Dantone right now because who's going to replace him. How do you get better?

The Nets fired Kenny Ackinson over the weekend and replace him as Jacques Vonn. What's that supposed to do? I don't know. Let you let this play out. And unfortunately, if this team does falter in the first run of the playoffs, probably even the second run, Ross, there will be sacrifices made, and the head coach are probably one of them,

which is something I don't want. You must realize something. It is very rare, and I've told you this before, it is very rare to have nice people running sports franchises. A.J. Hinch is a loss because A.J. Hinch was a good man. Mike Dan Tony is a good man. There are Rossi, there are so few good people that are head coaches that are nice people. And we're lucky that two of the three teams in this town have nice people running their franchises.

Well, and I'm assuming Dusty's nice too, but, you know. Dusties, it seems like a sweetheart. I mean, we are lucky with the Astros. We are lucky with the Rockets. We are lucky with the Cougars. The owls, I'm sure, are lovely people. too. Sure, why not?

I mean, the Texans, you know, it's work in progress. Whatever. I don't care how grumpy he gets. Just win games. When a playoff game. What a playoff game that matters? They want a playoff game.

That matters. The Buffalo Bills came into town, got up 16 and nothing. Texans responded. Deshaun Watson responded. Okay. But no, I'm not talking out of school here. If this team losing the first round, they're going to go,

They're going to go in the ivory towers of the post or co-tel which down the street. They're going to shut the door. They're going to say, all right, what are we doing? What are we doing to shake things up? How do we get better? But with no draft picks, it's not like to, again, if you're in the playoffs, you're not relying on pick number 17 to make you a better championship team arm. I mean, it's all the free agency.

It's what stars. It's a low chance for a pick number 17 to help, but it's not a 0% chance. Well, you have to have. I'll be probably in the 20s anyways, but yes. That's true. Matt Thomas Return. on Sports Talk 790. One note of the NFL

would need to pass along. It sounds like the Dallas Cowboys have given Dak Prescott until Thursday to accept a new contract we would include $105 million in guaranteed money worth an average of $33 million

per season. They met with him during the Combine in Indianapolis. And if he does not take this, new offer, they're going to franchise tagging. I mean, you know, I love Dak. I mean, I don't like the Cowboys, but I like Dak as a player. Dax's got to take this money.

I mean, $33 million per season. So weird. This is Jera probably leaking this, right? Got to be. Because Jera is tired of taking the L on the, why haven't you signed Dak Prescott for a long-term contract? Right? Yes.

And these guys, his players, hate franchise tag. It wouldn't be the highest average annual value. Russ makes 35. Rostersberger makes 34. Aaron Rogers and Jerry Goff at 33 and a half. So he would be under Gaugh. I wouldn't expect him to take this offer if he's not going to be making as much as Jared Goff. Now, will he wait for one more offer from Jerry Jones?

Or will Jerry Jones be serious and say, yeah, I told you, if you don't take this, you're getting the franchise tag. The franchise tag is going to run on 33 to 34 million, apparently. So maybe he's saying, you know what? I won't take it. I'll go down on the franchise tag. I'll have a great season. We'll be better.

And I'll get you next year for more money. Okay, that's the non-exclusive tag. I mean, sorry, the exclusive tag is 33 to 34 million. Non-exclusive would cost around 27. And then DAC could negotiate with other teams, get an offer sheet, and then the Cowboys would have to match. And if they don't, they get two first-round picks. but who's the quarterback next year?

What was that guy's name? Their backup. Exactly. Look, is Dax not a top five quarterback? No. But just because you're not a top five, it doesn't mean you don't get paid because it's your turn,

it's your time to get paid. It's not about what you've done. It's about when your clock is up. $33 million is a going rate for an above average quarterback. And that's what that's what DAC is. There's been no Super Bowls, no championship games. Stats are good, but not amazing. He was really good last year.

He carried them for a while. Yeah. Unless he's in his mind, his representatives are in mind, I've got to be above a certain level. I've got to be right there with Russ. If Russ is the franchise player for the Seattle Seahawks, I'm the franchise player for the Dallas Cowboys. No, there's another number.

watching this very closely. And that's why you're not going to hear a peep from him. He wants to see what Dak gets. And then when Dak gets his money, then it'd be like, I'm better than Dak. I'm as valuable, if not more valuable than Dak is. Time to pay me. Show me the money.

Because you certainly seem to pay JJ Watt every time he asked for it. Yes. If I'm your franchise quarterback, if you're going to come out in post-game press conferences and talk about how special I am and how great I am and how you can win with me. Good teammate, gets their early, leaves late, all that crap, the Bill O'Brien Spuse. Coach on the field.

Mm-hmm. Good teammate, well-liked. Works hard. Just give me the damn money. Larry on 790 at 153. Larry, what do you got today? M.T., how are you? Good.

I've got two questions. First of all, did you ever find anybody that would be willing to throw up their hand and want to take over my Astros hat, autograph by Mike Pires and Alex Chora? I did not. Here's what I learn, Larry. Autographs, the memorabilia game, is not what it used to be, my friend. All right, bud.

Okay. But you know what you need to do, Larry, because you're an astrophane. Keep it. Give it to somebody down the road. Frame it. Put it in a box. No, don't, no, don't let anybody ever wear it again. All right, but I'll go with that.

Now, let me ask you another question. And this is not based on the news that we got about Justin Burlander today, which, you know, hopefully that's just going to be a short-term type thing, but you, myself, Dusty Baker, and all the fellows, we really don't know what the outcome. is going to be on debt. But our new GM has to be able to go out and get another starting pitcher to boost up our rotation because I really do think we need another guy.

Well, I mean, yeah, thank you, Larry. I'll get you that. If nobody makes trades in March. That's just the reality of it. You make treadline deals on July 31st or thereabouts. You're not going to alter who you are because Justin Verlinder can't start the season on time or he

thinks. Well, it wouldn't be like a major trade. You might make a little something and try to get a starting pitch for a prospect or whatever. That you would have never recognized for a prospect that you never recognized. Somebody you want for like a four or five starter or a spot guy, depending on how much time they think he's

going to miss. But I would say to make a trade at all would be very, very unlikely. Do you know what made me mad yesterday? I was listening in the car. What made you mad yesterday? Astros game. It was spring training against the Mets.

And Chandler-Rome was on the show. It was on their Astros broadcast. Okay. And he was talking about Forrest Whitley. Forrest Wittley. So Forrest comes in heavier than it had been years past. 40 pounds or something like that. And apparently, Stromie, Brett Strom,

pitching coach was not happy about that. Oh, he wasn't? Yeah. And Strommerie's like, you didn't come into, you didn't come into spring training in shape, ready to go. You know what Forrest Whitley's response was? What? Yeah, I didn't want to come into shape right away because I feel like I've worked too hard in the offseason and that in previous years, I've tended to sputter out of, you know, to lose some of that oomph in the later moments of the season. Right.

Basically saying he spent too much time in the last couple of years being in prime condition and that he ran out of a gas towards the end of a particular season. Do you buy that or is that just Forrest Whitley trying to spin that his pitching coach is pissed at him because he didn't come into kind of shape that Brett Strom wanted him in? Well, I didn't know this, but apparently a year before he'd lost 70 pounds because he was overweight. So a year ago he lost 70 Because he was He loved Waddeberger He's got weight issues Which is not good because

He's a fluctuator like Luther Vandross Yeah if you're a fluctuator That can't be good That's not good for the body If you know what I'm saying No it's not But anybody thinking about Forrest Whitley being on this opening day roster

Is high He's not He hardly pitches This is a first round bust Right I well maybe when did he get drafted he's uh he was a high draft brick I'm not exactly sure where I'm gonna look it up but I mean how many years has this been at this at a certain point you have to start really working towards becoming a major leaguer he is 22 years old so he

should be yeah first round 17th overall in 2016 he was committed to Florida state but and decided to sign with the ash so the bonus is he's 22 And it's hard to call any 22-year-old a bust. Right. But he's straight out of high school. But if you're this high-level phenom, one of the best prospects in baseball,

by 22, you should be made you ready. You should be ready to go. And there's no sign that happening. Meanwhile, you get 37th round pick Josh James, go snag one of those spots. So did he eat too much Wedderberger over the off-season? We should have asked him then. We talked to him.

He didn't look. I mean, I stood right in front of him at spring training. He didn't look out of shape. I mean, he didn't look, you know, fat is what I'm saying. Did you grab his middle section? I did not have him hold on to the body fat calipers. The pinch an inch kind of thing? Get his body fat percentage.

No, I did not. All right. I just, to me, hearing that from Chandler meant, man, man, what's going on? There's a disconnect between what the pitching coach wants and the athlete wants. And that can't be a good sign for a kid who has yet to taste a pitch of Major League Baseball. He's going to play himself in the shape like Shaq. or James Harden. Shaq never did that.

Shaq played himself into shape. A bigger shape. I mean, he would come into the beginning of the season out of shape and then just play his way into shape. All right. Updates on Justin Verlander and comments from Mike Dantone. We refire up the final hour of the Matt Thomas show. Is the Matt Thomas Show.

The Matt Thomas Show Sports Talk 790 with Ross and with Nick. I'm Matt. 713-212-5-790 if you are want to get in the conversation. 713-212-5-790. Here is the diagnosis on the injury to Astros, Ace Justin Verlander, from General Manager James Click. We got the scans back. It is a mild lat strain. Lat. Lat. Yes. Yeah, it's not worth getting into specifics, but like this whole area is very connected. I'm learning about this too. This whole area is very connected. So the initial, you know, he felt it in here, but the initial, you know, he felt it in here,

but the initial MRI was a mild lat strain. Here's JV when it happened. Didn't quite feel right. Just thought maybe I was a little off mechanically or something and kind of one of those spring things. And then in between innings, it started to tighten up a bit. And that's when I told Strom that it just didn't feel quite right. And that's when they pulled the shoot.

All right, click asked about Vernliner being ready for opening day. It's a situation where we're just kind of kind of reassess to see how he feels. The thing right now is that he's going to, we're going to no throw for a little bit. We'll see. think he'll be ready for opening day? I don't know that yet. We do. That's going to be a question about him and how his body responds.

He'll be ready opening day. It's very mild, Matt. Hopefully. Look, I've learned long enough. I think those of you have learned long enough, too, that you've watched sports and losing athletes. They always tend to go on the, well, this feels, you know, this won't be gone very long. We'll see.

Yeah. It happens way too many times with way too many athletes. You cannot trust. I feel like baseball is the worst one about this. like forearm stiffness three days later it becomes oh i need a season ending Tommy john surgery what does that term the aster's use the last couple of years discomfort discomfort if I hear discomfort one more time it means you know what discomfort AK means out 75 days I mean I've got knee discomfort five out of seven days of the week let me tell you something my back is constant

discomfort I'm here doing a radio show you're grinding grinding it out grinding it out all right other things going on oh Mike dantonie what's wrong with this team right now just a just a lot of things. I think our second guess on ourselves a lot of times. There's no swagger. We're passing up threes. We're driving in, you know, because we miss so many threes at one game. Now everybody said, let's drive. Well, that's what they do. They stay inside. So we drove and you've got 25

turnovers. And that's what most people don't understand. No, we need to take the shots. We need to take three. Even if we miss it, so be it. But we need to play the way we play. But we're passing up shots. And then you know, this game, like last

game, the last two games, we lost the second chance points were even so it wasn't that the night is 22 nothing and a half time second chance points so it's like this the day it's that tomorrow and it's to me it's a a spirit it's uh toughness it's a swagger it's not hesitating and and just a lot of combination of things that that really started from a really lack of kind of effort in new york and then then we went up to a good team and now we're questioning everything What do you think you really wanted to say? Do you think that's everything or do you think you want to say some more things? Maybe he wanted to call some people out specifically.

But he's exactly right. In that game yesterday, they were just so hesitant to let the ball go from three. I'd never seen anything like that. Like I said it in the first hour, they're shook. The lack of confidence. Here's a problem. There's 20 games left in the year. They better find the confidence quick.

playoffs start in a month and playoffs like six or seven weeks I just hope we can win a game it's to me this isn't about not having Clint Capella I refuse to let me that simplistic they had not had Clint Capella and they went on a six game winning streak right

with two wins over Boston and a win over the Jazz and then the win over Lakers as well that was a tough hard fought win against the Jazz on the road all right so let's dumb it down is it a team that doesn't have a pure shooter that have three point shooters but not Pure slumping all at the same time.

I mean, Covington was, what, 7 to 13 on Saturday? Nobody else is making anything. Yeah. I mean, if Jeff Green's not, if Jeff Green to Mari Carol, some of your better three-point shooters, I mean, that stares at James, right? Here's the thing. This is just the truth.

James got to be better. James is a huge part of this. James is a huge part of this. If he's going to take 59 threes and make 12 of them, over a five-game stretch. The Rockets aren't going to perform well. Certainly not if Russell Westwick's not playing in one of those games. And I'm a James guy.

I love James. We spend, what was it, Friday show, bitching him on all the people about James. Everybody wanted him traded on Friday, and I put that poll up, and it was like 70% keep him. I'm not going to make that poll today. I don't want to see the results. I don't want to. But James has to be better. Absolutely.

He's a huge part of this. As much as we love Groko hitting his shot. and Daniel House doing one so in an aisle and Austin River's doing his thing. If the rockets are not going to, forget about winning games, they're not going to win a championship if James is shooting the way he's shooting and playing. And whether it's he's hurt, he's pouting, he, the spacing is different because of the fact that there's no legitimate true pick and roll center in there. It might be a combination of all of it.

But it's, you got to grow up and you've got to fight through this. They got to figure it out because the hourglass is running out of the same. on this season. It's just something needs to happen. Because here's the thing. If you really want to fast forward this whole bad boy and you say, look, if the Rockets lose in the first or second round of the playoffs and the Rockets decide that Mike Nantone isn't the future for this team, which I hope isn't the case, but it's

within the round of possibility, Ross. Of course. What kind of coach comes in here and fixes this? Is Darrell Mori still here? If it's Darryl Moore, it'll be a coach that's going to run somewhat of the similar type of system. It can be a lot of three-pointish for days, five-out or whatever, and Russell Westbrook, if the roster is the way it is, I mean, we're not going to all of a sudden see Isaiah Hardinstein playing 40 minutes

a game. No, that's right. I mean, unless they really shook things up and made significant trades, but the problem is there are three guys essentially taking up all the salary in this basketball team. I don't think you're trading Russ. I don't think you're trading James, and, you know, maybe Eric. But Eric's unfortunate, his trade value has diminished because he has been, you know, up and down with injuries all year long. In Eric's case, he didn't have been the same since he scored 50 points in that game against the Utah Jazz. He's been inconsistent with leg injuries and the three-point shooting just not has not been good basically all season.

So what do you do? What scientist comes into the laboratory and says, I can mix all the chemicals up and come out with a product that's going to compare. compete with the Lakers and the clippers and, you know, whomever else will be a challenger next season. I don't know. Because, I mean, PJ Tucker's not getting any younger. PJ, by the way, what's a new contract? James Hardin's not going to get a younger.

Russell Westbrook's not, I mean, Russell Westbrook's, what, 30, 31 at this point? These are guys in years, what, 12 and 11 in the NBA for those guys? I don't know. I mean, to be really brutally honest, probably the win all in has probably got another year or left to it. before you really starting to think about what you're going to do long term. We have seen teams struggle out of the gate in the first year of their marriage, and that being Russell Westbrook and James Harden, and maybe next year is where everything comes together.

But do you know when it works, it's almost, I like to use the equation, and maybe this is not accurate. Back in the day in college football, 15, 20 years ago, when you had a really good triple option team, you couldn't stop it because nobody saw it. and you had athletes that were precision that ran it beautifully. The quarterback knew when to hand it to the full back, or he knew when to keep it,

or he knew when to throw it to the tailback at the very last second. I don't want to say that rockets are running some sort of triple-option offense because a lot of teams are doing 3-D now. But they're doing it to a different level because of the fact there is no true legitimate center. Everybody's moving immovable parts. If you're going to continue to have this philosophy, you've got to go in there,

and you've got to go figure out a way to find a shoot-ororrs that, that can thrive in this system. And at the end of the day, maybe that's what they're needing. James got to shoot better than 35% from 3. It just does. But right now, I would love for him to shoot 35%. You know, we're close to that in the last month or so. This to me is about James.

20% in the last five games. And it's 20% if he's taking a few a game, that's cool. He's taking over 10 a game. He's taking almost 12 a game. If you're taking almost 12 a game and you're only hitting two of them or three of them, there's a problem. And that's what the Rockets have right now. All right. Time is 2.13.

It is the Matt Thomas show. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-7-90. We have given you two massive headlines of the day that are not fun. Last strain for Justin Verlander, he's been shut down. Rockets mired at a terrible, terrible four-game losing streak. if you'd like to discuss one, both, or something else to maybe add a little positivity to the old sports radio landscape. The Matt Thomas show continues on Sports Talk 790.

220 on 790. Good afternoon. Matt Ross, Nick with you here. Believe it or not, today is on all things Winston Churchill quotes. After Mike Dan Tony went with a Winston Churchill quote in his press conference last night. against Orlando. Maybe you should do that every time. Maybe like it making a tribute game. Kind of take some of the sting off of a rocket loss. By the way, they better win them wrong against Minnesota or, oh my God.

If they don't. They'll still be the playoffs. And the six spot? What's the old three-six matchup these days? Well, right now it would be what Denver? Yeah. Nuggets Rockets. First round fever. Catch it. I feel like an NBA TV series

You're rocking You're heading to Denver for that's not a bad spot mat though For you to go I've been to Denver a couple times Although a guess The casinos don't treat me all up there I forget what happens to you during the playoff time And the radio

The first run I do Okay Second round I join Craig Okay And hopefully we'll be doing a second round Hopefully If now I'm going to be very Let me tell you

You only hear and see the happy go lucky Matt Thomas. Not me. You see all of me. If we lose in the first one week, it's the Rockets. The Rockets lose in the first round, I will be clinically depressed. I would be a little upset.

Your wife probably won't be that mad. Oh, she'll love it. Like, I'm not going on this trip to Lakers in Portland this week. She's all for that. She wants to see her, Maddie. We all do. You get more of me this week.

Although, we've got spring training in tech. That's true. We're hardly on this week. This might be our last show. So tomorrow and Wednesday we'll have spring training baseball. Yes. Getting closer and closer to opening day. So it's good.

Thursday, we have the fantastic lead-in of Texas basketball. A huge game. Against Texas Tech. As the nation turns its lonely eyes to a clash of the Lone Star State Powers. So we will have a Texas Longhorn Postgame show. Basically. Well, we'll do an hour, but it won't be much of a... It'll be Ross crying if your Longhorns lose.

if they win I'll be checking out filling out my in IT bracket during the show If they win We're off Friday If they lose We're at billiard factory

On Friday Okay Does that make sense Right I think So they play at 11 No matter what on Friday If they win

1130 I think 1130 okay No no no they play at night We have to bump the Astros To the daytime and live Oh So we can carry the longhorns live This is very confusing

We just confuse the audience I'm confused. Bottom line is we're going to be on the air next Thursday with a postgame show. Yes. Called the final horn. Okay. And then the final stampede. And then if they win, we're not on Friday.

If they lose, we're at billiard factory on Friday. We're going to be a billiard factory on Friday. We're going to be a billiard factory Friday playing our pool term in anyway between five and seven. If you want to register, go to our contest page at sports790.com. And we're going to draw six names, probably around 4 o'clock this afternoon. So get into our website, sports790.com. If you like to play pool, like to eat great Locatelli's pizza and win some prizes. That all sounds great to me.

Really, really good prizes. Yes. Let's go to Ryan on line 1 at 224 on 7.9. Ryan, good afternoon. Ryan. Yes, sir. Well, you're on. All right.

You know, I wanted to talk about one thing that I haven't heard very much, but it became apparent in not last night's game, but the one right before is that without a true center on the Rockets, Hardin doesn't have that floater slash lob that accounted for a good amount of his easy points. And I think his field goal percentage is going to suffer without it. We've been talking about that for two straight hours, so you haven't been listening and you should be admonished for such thing. I just got off the time. I'm just teasing. But no, we actually said the following statement, and I don't think anybody could argue with it.

No Capella has left in room for Russ to drive and become much more efficient. it certainly has changed the way James gets to the basket. And you're right. The field goal percentage of those lobs, those alley-oops, the pick-and-roll dunks. They're not nearly as fluid as they were before when the rockets at a legitimate center in there. Now, do you think that James could start taking those catch-and-shoot threes? It's a great question. More than drive and takes step-back threes.

I don't know. It feels like to me, and thank you for the phone call, Ryan. bigger guys are coming Ross to defend James. Thus, if he doesn't get past them on that initial push to get past that center or that big post player that's up against him, he's taking a step back and taking a contested, less higher percentage three points out. I mean, the stepback three has been good from the last couple of years.

It's just not good right now, and he's not getting to the basket as much. The burst doesn't look as much as the same. And honestly, when they're both on the court at the same time, I wouldn't mind seeing Russell Westbrook overtake the majority of the possessions. Because it just seems like right now, every time James Harden is a possession is starting with him and Russell Westbrook on the floor at the same time,

it's just him taking a step back three and clanking it. And unfortunately, this is where size matters. That three-point shot that doesn't fall, you're not getting offensive rebounds and second-chance opportunities. How many one-possession possessions have the Rockets had during? this four-game losing streak. It feels like it's a profound amount. It's just everything is burning right now with the Houston Rockets. It's just not good. There's just so many issues. Defensively, rebounding, offensively. Other than that,

they're doing great. I wish it was just the slump. But I think slumps have unintended negative benefits on the other side of the floor. Miss three-point shots that become off the back rim, that come out to the free throw line, pushes the other team. Steve Cliffer, the coach of the magic last night, Ross, kept screaming, run, run, run. He wanted the transition basket the hell out of the rockets, and they did so last night. Yeah, that's what happened. The way the Clippers killed them, they weren't making any threes, and then they weren't getting back on defense. So the Clippers were just basically running them out of the gym.

Yeah. Everybody was doing that. Everybody has been. Let's go to a short timeout. We'll come back and talk to Drew, Sean, and CJ, all the Rockets. But leaving or not today is going to be a good one. Does this quote really come from Winston Churchill, or did Ross make it up? No fear.

No worries. And no hair. It's the Matt Thomas Way. Houston Sports Talk continues with the Matt Thomas show. Got a lot of folks that want to get in on the Rockets. You know what? We've set our peace today. We're talking to win.

I'm way too invested in them for multiple reasons. One, I've been a fan that I was seven years old. Second of all, I'm proud of be one of their announcers. I love doing the pre-and-post game shows. It wasn't fun talking 20-0-0-0. It just wasn't. Yeah. I wish, you worked Saturday, right?

I did. How did I sound at 20-0-0? Down? Like I lost a puppy or something. Defeated? I was looking at the stat monitor. I'm like, they have eight turnovers. They've only taken five shots.

You do very much where you're, heart on your sleeve during the call, and I love that about it, man. Yeah, I can't lie. I've got to be honest. Drew, Westchay, 7 out of your 234. Hi, Drew. I'm doing. How y'all?

Good, good. What's going on? Go ahead. Well, I'm just going to talk about the Rockets to me. Yeah, I think Rock hit on it earlier. It's almost like their mojo taking, like their talent, like the mom-stars game, and it took all their talent away, like, in Space Jam. Like you say, a week ago, I was extremely impressed.

I was like, okay, you know, it looks like sky's the limit. And then, like Dan Tony said, the bottom fell out. I want to make this clear. I don't think they should completely switch their style. That's definitely not what I'm saying. I don't think they should just, you know, completely abandoned, taking a lot of three years because that's definitely who we are and what works. My issue is when we have the separate for the 42 versus the Pacific,

When we have nine for, what, 35 against, I believe, Charlotte or a couple of years ago, when we shoot 27 missed three in a row, we lose by nine to go to the finals. There has got to be something that we can tweak, that we can adjust during those times of us. Something maybe, to me, I think we need a little bit more off-ball movement, It's not something that completely destroys what we feel and what we're accustomed to, but just something that gives us an out when our three is on falling. Because, I mean, I know it's blue about a three, die by the three, but we've been dying for long.

I want us to win. We need to just all come together and figure out how to tweak this offense to make it not so not necessarily one-dimensional, but it's not so boom of us. Yeah, I do. I just don't have an answer for you. There'll be a lot of radio hosts that just say, well, they need to put in Tyson Chandler for 19 minutes and work the

wrong ball around them. I don't know what you do at this point. Yeah, that's the thing. I mean, when the threes are falling, this is the thing. This is the way the offense, people, I understand, it's like if the threes aren't hitting, then you have no chance. That's not necessarily true. They can have a bad,

they can have a poor shooting. First of all, they can't go 7 to 42. They're not going to beat anybody. That's just... When the threes drop, and this is an obvious statement, they're a crushing offense. Exactly. It's a... I mean, I saw it happen multiple times this year.

That's the way it's supposed to be. It's supposed to be if the threes are hitting, you're going to win guaranteed, and if they're not, well, you need to be getting to the basket and the free throws, and that's going to keep you afloat. So that's what the...

It's not three-pointers only. It's let's get to the basket. Let's get Russell Westbrook and James Harden easy layups, and then also they're going to be drawing a lot of foul, especially James Harding, getting to the free throw line and making those. So, I mean, there is, plan A isn't necessarily just, hey, let's go and get some threes.

Get to the basket, get the free throw line, and let's do all this. It's just everything but a mid-range shot. Yeah, because James tries as often as he can to attack the lane. Whether he's going against three guys or one, he's looking either to make that basket or get to the free throw line. James knows free throw line is where he does a lot of his damage to, even on nights where his three's not falling. he knows that if he gets to the free throw line

16 times he's going to make 14 of them and that's 14 almost automatic points every single night And that's how he's still averaging almost Even over this horrible stress He's almost averaging like 30 points a game Which for most NBA players is incredible Because he's getting to the line

Because he's getting some of the easy buckets Just the threes aren't falling and it's just And again this is not all on James's shoulders A lot of it is there But a lot of it does come on his shoulders No if you're if you're making supermax money if the team is getting built around you, if basically you can do whatever you want on this team,

you can show up whenever you want, you can check in whenever you want, you're basically almost the CEO of the Rockets, you need to perform. You need to play well. You need to not go into extended shooting slumps like you are and taking 59 threes and only making 12 of them. Because on the opposite end of it,

if the Rockets are winning games and the Rockets are hitting threes, no matter how many threes at Jeff Green or Robert Cuffington or Eric, or Gordon or Daniel House makes, if the Rockets are thriving, it's largely because James Hardin is at the core of why this team is playing as well as it is. Yeah, it's not Robert Covington's job to drop 20 a night. It's not Austin Rivers' job

to drop 20 a night. That's not what he's getting paid for. James Hardin's job to drop 30 plus and be efficient. C.J. in the West Side, what do you got? All right. How you doing, man? Basically, I guess for me, it's like it's like I'm watching already what's going to happen in the playoffs.

It's like you literally watching it as is happening. Like, this is literally what's going to happen. And my issue with the Rock is isn't the small ball. My issue is Dan Tony and his willingness to adjust. I'm not saying you have to adjust everything, but you have to make adjustments at least during the regular season so you can see what you can do in the playoffs. you have to at least account for the fact that James Harden isn't able to get to the bucket

and get his bucket as easy as he used to without have a Capella or seven-footer in the game to make it easy. You have to at least account for that. You can't just sit here and say, we're going to take this away from you and not let you do it at all. You have to find a way to compromise. And I feel like Mike Dan Tony is just being stubborn on the fact that he wants to play small. And he's going to prove everybody wrong.

But he's just only going to pull himself wrong. And we're going to be out in the first round. Let me correct one thing, though. Let me correct one thing, CJ. This is not Mike Dan Tony shoving this down your throat. Mike Dan Tony is given the players. And this roster is put together through largely the front office and the coaching staff combined and through metrics.

This is not Mike Dan Tony going, I don't like Clint Capella. Get him out of here so I can go with this five, this small line. up. That's not how he operates. That's not how most coaches operate. In the NBA, just like a major league baseball, you are given players and you are to create a philosophy based on what you have. And the fact of the matter is, the only post players of Rockets have true fives. One is in his 19th year in the NBA and gives you five minutes a game. The other one can't play at the NBA level for a long period of time because he's foul prone and gets in the way of his other players. So you have to

go with what you have. But this is not Mike trying to shove this down anybody's throat. This is what the roster that was given to him and he has to work the best with it. So I just want to say this is not a narrative that should be out there. Mike's doing this because he likes it, yes. But it's not because he's forced

it. It's because it's what's been given to him. Okay, but just to counter that. So are you telling me that with what you see right now, even if he plays the guy that doesn't have as much experience as

type of telling him. Because I believe Hardenstein is a good enough player to where he can get... I don't believe that at all. I've seen enough. Isaiah Hartnstein is not a full-time player with the Houston Rockets for a reason. Not even eight minutes. So you're telling me eight minutes, he couldn't give you anything in eight minutes to help this team win. Well, unfortunately, Isaiah Hartinstein would give you

3,000 eight minutes is what he would do for you. That's just the truth. I mean, the rest gives him that anyway. As you've seen in that Hornet's game, they were just giving them five. So, I mean, that's give a take. You take that, but if it gives you productivity at the end, that's what matters. That's what counts.

Here's the two things Isaiah Hardenstein. Isaiah Hartnstein clogs up the middle, doesn't give Russell any freedom to move around there. And second, he's not any sort of a pick and roll player like Clint was. So give me the value of what Isaiah does. He can't shoot the three. Isaiah Hartnstein? You want Isaiah Hartnstein shooting three-point shots? If he shoots one and two a game and he makes one,

that's the reason why the Rockets are struggling is because Isaiah Hardensinstein isn't taking one or two, three-pointers a game? No, I'm not saying you're saying that. I'm saying that one-bit role player is not going to change what this team is. The reason why the Rockets have had a sucky week is because James is playing on a below average level. Period. End of story.

as James goes, so too that does this team. But I'm not going to accept that Isaiah Hartnstein makes a major difference. Hell, James, Robert Covington blocks shot. Robert Covington is every bit of the center is that Clint Clause from a defensive standpoint. You know Robert Covington Ross block shots like a mother all the time? He ain't afraid of anybody.

He's had some emphatic swaths. Yes. He doesn't pick and roll like Clint, but Robert Covington provides way more offensive skills than Clint Capella ever could. It's true. It's just the truth. But Isaiah Hartnstein and Tyson Chandler do not change the misfortunes of this basketball team. An open three-point make and getting back on defense does.

You think Isaiah Hartnstein's a plus defender? And look, Isaiah's a good kid. He's not a plus defender, though. Not a plus defender. And Tyson Channel not a plus defender. Tyson be the first one to tell you I'm not a plus defender. I was 15 years ago, but not today.

He was, I mean, was he a defensive player of the year back in the day? I don't know, but man, he was good, but way back in the day. More, Matt Thomas Now on Sports Talk 790. All right, believe it or not, coming up in a matter of seconds, but right now, Sean and Claire Lake on 790.

Hi, Sean. Hey, what's up, Matt? You, I'm going well, thank you. Good, good. So I had a question. So I know this is a little too early. I heard you speaking earlier that we could possibly lose in the first round. Do you think if we do, there could be a major change going on after the season,

maybe like a rebuilding or something like that? Because, you know, I think the West isn't getting any more easier. Just in our division, you know, the Pelicans, the Grizzlies and the Madvix are both really good teams. Are all three up really good teams. So do you think a major change could happen? Not major roster. Thank you for the phone call. But I think Mike Dan Tony would be the first to tell you that he knows that he's probably not long for this job if this team does not get deep in the playoffs.

That's what lame duck coaches run through, right? If you don't sign extensions, it's easy to make a move because you don't owe that person nothing. That's what, I mean, that's what Talman Fertita said during the offseason. He's like, in the business world, we don't, there's no lame duck or anything. You get the job done and then we pay you and we put you in a contract. It's not an issue to have one year left. on your deal in the regular business world. Just for whatever reason, it's probably because the agents are the architect of this,

where you don't want lame duck coaches, and they've sold that narrative, and so guys end up getting buyouts and getting paid for several years. And a little bit as also, Mike's like, I'll bet on myself. I think I can take this team to a certain level, and then you're going to pay me more than what you were going to offer me. Well, he needs to do that. Hopefully you will. Because right now it's not looking for me.

Because I don't want him to leave. I don't. I don't either. Gene, Southwest Side before, believe it or not, hi, Gene. Oh, hey, Matt. Hi. I've got an idea. I think that James Hardin has lost his confidence.

You can see it. You know, I watch all the games, and I was wondering if it wouldn't be a good idea for us to kind of change the approach on a game or two and make sure that Hardin gets a lot of shots and put some people underneath that basket to make sure we get the rebounds. quite a bit. Get his confidence back. That man is still shoot the ball. He's just not confident about it right now. What do you think? Well, I mean, they're not going to change. They're not going to say James shoot more or James shoot less.

It's better shot selection. It's maybe it's more attacking in the lane. I don't know. But I don't think we're going to see a a massive change one direction and the other. And by the way, they're all crashing the boards. So then the question

of the guys just sitting in there waiting for James and missed a shot and then run back. They're all trying. But they're also, you know, he's not the only one. Everybody's got to do better. Daniel House needs to be a better

three-point shooter if this team's going to rely on Daniel House doing that. PJ Tucker's got to hit the corner three and be more active on the offensive side. But as we've talked about for a better part of almost three hours, a lot of the responsibility comes with the team with its highest paid player,

its most go-to guy, it's the guy that the team is offense is built around, he's going to have to carry a lot of that weight, and that's what James has to do. But other guys do as well. But yeah, confidence has been hit, for sure. But he's not going to rebuild his confidence by getting 7 to 10 more shots than he already is now.

Five minutes left to go on the show. What should we do? We should play America's fastest growing sports game show. call it believe it or not and here's how it works. You'll call 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-7-90. Today's edition of Believe it or not is brought to you by Woodhouse day spas. print out your gift card for the gift of relaxation at Houston Woodhouse Spas.com. The category today is whether or not this quote I give you is a Winston Churchill quote.

If it is, you'll say this. Believe it. If it's not, you'll say this. Two believe it or not on Winston Churchill quotes win your prize. Ross, what's the prize? Matt, how about a pair of tickets to see the bare naked ladies? with gin blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket. Saturday, June 6 at the Revention Music Center, tickets and information at LiveNation.com. Favorite Toad the Wet Sprocket song?

Hey Jude. Now, that's the Beatles. Oh. Let's play. 713, 212.5.7.90. Man on 790. Ready to play, believe it or not? Believe it.

To see what is right and not do it is a lack of courage. Believe it or not? Not. That is Confucius. Statement number two for the win. We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be deflated. Or defeated, excuse me. We must encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.

Believe it or not. Believe it. No, that's Maya Angelou. I love, this is the best. I think we need to do this every week. Way more often. Marking on 790, Mark, you're ready to play, believe it or not? Believe it.

I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals. Believe it or not. Believe it. Statement number two for the win. We generate fears while we sit. We overcome them by action.

Believe it or not. Believe it. No, that's Dr. Henry Link. What is he famous for? I have no idea, but it was a good quote. Great quote. Jay on 790. Jay, you're ready to play, believe it or not?

Believe it. All I can say is that I have taken more out of alcohol that alcohol is taken out of me. Believe it or not. Believe it. Statement number two for the win. You learn more from failure than from success. Don't let it stop you. Failure builds character. Believe it or not. Believe it. No, that's an unknown quote. Don't know who said it, but it's a great one. This is my favorite, believe it or not, probably in months. It really is amazing.

Let's see here. Line number three. Corey on 790. Corey, you ready to play Believe it or not? Believe it. The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter. Believe it or not? Not. He did say that. That's rude. I believe President Trump will say the exact same thing. Ike on 790. Ike, you ready to play, believe it or not? Believe it.

When the Eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber. Believe it or not. Believe it. Believe it. There you go. Congratulations. That was an amazing addition to believe it or not. Probably the high watermark of the show today.

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