April 28, 2025 • 9 mins
The Voice of the Rockets Craig Ackerman joins the show to preview everything that must chang eahead of the Rockets' Game 4 against the Golden State Warriors. Can Houston slow down Steph Curry and limit the big shot in the second half?
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It is the eight team Sports Talk seven ninety chance
for us to head on out to the Bay Area
and catch up with our good buddy Craig Ackerman, who
will be back on the call tonight. Craig, I cannot
emphasize how much you were missed during that game three.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
I appreciate that, well, thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
It's just I missed it as well.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
I don't I don't like not working games, so it
is what it is. But I appreciate that. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
So when you guys are doing that and you're in
the arena, I mean, you're obviously attending the game. Is
it just killing you not to be able to call it?
Speaker 3 (00:29):
We were.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
I was actually home. We didn't fly up here till yesterday,
but there, yeah. I mean, but like, for instance, we
had a game earlier this season Sacramento where yes, we
were in the building and I was like, you know what,
I don't want to sit here and just watch, So
I was like, Matt, can I join you? So I
went on. I joined Matt on the broadcast.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
I remember that. I remember that that was a roadie.
As you mentioned, well, all right, tell us what you
saw that.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Was preferable to just sitting there and watching.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
For sure, for sure, especially in this building. Tell us
what you saw on Saturday night as the biggest culprit
as to why the Rockets are having a need to
even up this thing tonight.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Well, look, Steph Curry is still the best player on
the floor. We've all seen that. We all knew that
he's having another incredible series. He has been the rockets kryptonite,
as have the Warriors have been for a very long time.
So that's that's the first thing. But secondly, you know, look,
(01:29):
Golden State's an excellent defensive team and they've been even
more so since the acquisition of Jimmy Butler. Obviously Jimmy
Butler didn't play the other night, but look, in their
two losses, it comes down to there are a lot
of complicated ways as as to why they can make
more shots. They just don't. They didn't weren't making enough shots.
Golden State prevents teams from getting to the rim as good,
(01:50):
if not better than any team in the league, even
when they don't play with size, which they do the
majority of the time. I thought the Rockets kind of
forced the issue lit with that they missed way the
need they're going to concede those shots in the mid
paint area. The Rockets missed way, way, way too many
of those shots. They have got to make those moving
forward in the series. And of course, the Rockets have
(02:11):
been the worst free throw shooting team in the league
and miss way too many free throws. And that's not
a recipe to win, especially a playoff game, especially a
road playoff game, And that's really not much of a
recipe to beat anybody in this league. So they're going
to have to make more of their shots in the paint.
They're going to have to be better at the freak line,
and they just need to be more aggressive and assertive.
You can't be passive offensively taking too long to get
(02:32):
into your sets against this Golden State half court defense.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Yeah, that's something I definitely talked about during the broadcast
the other night in Game one and earlier on today's show.
To that end, do you anticipate a change in rotations.
There's no reason to change the starting lineup. We got
into that earlier, But could you see maybe tonight there's
a real opportunity to play Aaron Holiday or take the
ball out of Fred's hands a little bit while he's
(02:57):
on the court and let somebody else bring it up,
set it up, start things moving forward. Jabari Smith Junior,
maybe a little bit different role. Any of those things
seem like a possibility as we're into Game four.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's a possibility. We saw
Aaron a little bit in Game two, coming off the
Game one loss. I certainly think that's a possibility. I
certainly think it's a possibility that you're going to see
more of Jabari Smith Junior moving forward. He was averaging
what in like the mid twenties in minutes. Perhaps maybe
he plays a little bit more moving forward. Perhaps they
do allow some different guys to kind of get them
(03:29):
into their sets early. But I think in terms of
just the general rotation, I think what you've seen is
what you're going to get. I mean, they went to
basically an eight man rotation in the last several weeks
of the regular season in preparation for the playoffs, and
I don't think that's going to change. And if they
do happen to play another guy off the bench, it
would probably be Aaron Holiday first, and then the only
(03:49):
reason for anybody else outside of those top eight to
play would be if somebody is in significant, or somebody's
are insignificant, foul trible, and or there's an injury. But
I think they're going to roll with the group that
they feel that they that they're most confident with and
let the chips fall where they may.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Talking to Craig Ackerman here on Sports Talk seven ninety,
I mentioned this the other day to Wax, I said,
you know, is there a scenario where a hamper Jimmy
Butler actually could play into the Rockets, you know, in
their favor basically because he's taking up minutes as a
not completely healthy player.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
I don't know. We'll have to see how he's moving
out there tonight. I would guess that for some reason
he does become a significant detriment to them that he's
they probably won't play, or they'll pull them and go
in a different direction. But I'm under the assumption it
looks as if we won't know for sure, but it
looks as if things are trending that he's going to
play tonight. I don't think they would he would be
(04:44):
playing if he couldn't go, and I don't think they
would do anything to hamper their chances. So I expect
Jimmy Butler to play. I expect him to be at
his best and the Rockets need to be prepared for that.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
How do you think the Rockets have handled everything? First playoffs,
first road game, being down one zero, being down to
one Draymond, et cetera. How do you think they've handled
all of it? Mentally?
Speaker 2 (05:04):
It's it seems like some you know, look, these are
all first for all these young guys. I think some
of the things that you've seen from them are not unexpected.
You first row playoff game, first home playoff game, that's
where they really kind of struggles. I think they've actually
handled it pretty well, but look, it still comes down
to execution and even outside of the young guys. Look,
(05:28):
Fred van Vlie had a very good first quarter in
Game number three, but he's got to be better. He
has struggled against Golden State all season long. He has
not shot the ball well at all against them at
any point consistently all year. He's got to be better.
And Men Thompson has to be better moving forward. He
has not had a great series. Jalen needs to become
a bit more consistent. Shengoon's got to make his free throws.
(05:50):
So I mean, I think that they've settled into what
is to be expected of them in this kind of
the scenario. They have now had their first experiences in
terms of again their first ever playoff game in their
first road playoff game, so you know, hopefully all that
stuff is behind them. But it still comes down to
execution and for the Rockets more or less just making shots,
because their defense has been as good as Curry has
(06:13):
been in this series, and then their only loss looked
that he scored twenty and maybe trying to stop him
from scoring thirty would be a pretty nice component to
this moving forward. But as good as he's been, you
have to expect him to be this way moving forward.
It still comes down to the Rockets needing to just
make more shots, and hopefully they can do some more
of that here tonight, even up this series and then
(06:35):
make it a best of three with two of the
final three games in Houston.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
Yeah, you talk about making shots, and that's what I
think maybe Game three came down to With Jalen Green.
I thought maybe they you know, they were it was
spoken about that they were going to go after him,
that they were going to hunt him defensively, because imy Udoka,
you know, pointed that out in his presser. But is
it as simple as he was just missing open shots
or was it more of the Warriors defense. Was it
(07:00):
a mix of both as to why he kind of
came back down to earth in game three.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
I mean, they definitely, they definitely sent more defensive help
to him in game three, coming off this big game
in game two, There's no question about that. Look again,
the gold there are certain things that Golden State's going
to allow defensively. Look, they are susceptible to live ball turnovers,
and if you do turn them over in a live
ball situation, Rockets haven't been great converting off those turnovers,
(07:27):
and you have to convert those points because you've got
to be able to create easier scoring opportunities in transition.
You just have to When the Warriors make a mistake
in a live ball situation, you've got to punish them
in the open floor. But you've got the Rockets were
their minds. They were just more aggressive, more assertive in
Game two. They got into their stuff quicker, they were
pushing it, they were attacking, They played more to their DNA.
(07:48):
They didn't play as passively as they did in Game one,
and then at times in game three. They've got to
continue to play with that mindset moving forward, and those
shots again in the mid paint are going to be there.
I think they've tried things that, especially in men Thompson
looks like he's forcing trying to force the issue too
much getting to the rim in the half court set.
Unless you're getting into your actions quick, that's just not
(08:10):
going to be there. But those shots in the madpit
area are going to be there. They've always been there
against Golden State, and they've got to start making those
shotshn Gum was very good at making those shots in
the first twoing games of the series. Struggle with that
in game three. Those shots are going to be there.
They're going to have to make those shots. I expect
this team to continue to defend at a really high level.
I continue to expect Steph Curry to be his usual self.
(08:32):
He is just a tough shot maker, and that's just
who he's been his entire career. It just comes down
to these guys executing in the half court set, taking
what's given them, trying trying not to force so much
stuff at the rim and just try to settle into
the game. It a little bit more that way. But
they again, it comes down to them being aggressive. If
the Rockets are the team, and we've seen this all year,
(08:52):
if they're the team that punches first and continues to punch,
they're better off than their pat than they are. If
they play a tad that less, it's probably with they're
more passive because this team just reliably from a game
to game basis, just can't count on them making enough
perimeter threes to stay in games. They've got to continue
(09:13):
to be the aggressor. They've got to win the offensive
rebounding battle. They got to win the second chance points.
They've got to win points off the turnal ers. They
got to be better in the paint. These are things
that they have to do at a very high level
if they expect to win this series.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Never being accused of being passive, he is Craig Ackerman.
He'll be on the call tonight on the Space City
Home Network side of things. Craig, appreciate the time from
the Bay Area and bring us back a series tie.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
I'll do what I can. Looking forward to coming home
with this thing tied to too too awesome stuff.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
Craig Ackerman here on the A Team Sports Talk seven
ninety
It is the eight team Sports Talk seven ninety chance
for us to head on out to the Bay Area
and catch up with our good buddy Craig Ackerman, who
will be back on the call tonight. Craig, I cannot
emphasize how much you were missed during that game three.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
I appreciate that, well, thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
It's just I missed it as well.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
I don't I don't like not working games, so it
is what it is. But I appreciate that. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
So when you guys are doing that and you're in
the arena, I mean, you're obviously attending the game. Is
it just killing you not to be able to call it?
Speaker 3 (00:29):
We were.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
I was actually home. We didn't fly up here till yesterday,
but there, yeah. I mean, but like, for instance, we
had a game earlier this season Sacramento where yes, we
were in the building and I was like, you know what,
I don't want to sit here and just watch, So
I was like, Matt, can I join you? So I
went on. I joined Matt on the broadcast.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
I remember that. I remember that that was a roadie.
As you mentioned, well, all right, tell us what you
saw that.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Was preferable to just sitting there and watching.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
For sure, for sure, especially in this building. Tell us
what you saw on Saturday night as the biggest culprit
as to why the Rockets are having a need to
even up this thing tonight.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Well, look, Steph Curry is still the best player on
the floor. We've all seen that. We all knew that
he's having another incredible series. He has been the rockets kryptonite,
as have the Warriors have been for a very long time.
So that's that's the first thing. But secondly, you know, look,
(01:29):
Golden State's an excellent defensive team and they've been even
more so since the acquisition of Jimmy Butler. Obviously Jimmy
Butler didn't play the other night, but look, in their
two losses, it comes down to there are a lot
of complicated ways as as to why they can make
more shots. They just don't. They didn't weren't making enough shots.
Golden State prevents teams from getting to the rim as good,
(01:50):
if not better than any team in the league, even
when they don't play with size, which they do the
majority of the time. I thought the Rockets kind of
forced the issue lit with that they missed way the
need they're going to concede those shots in the mid
paint area. The Rockets missed way, way, way too many
of those shots. They have got to make those moving
forward in the series. And of course, the Rockets have
(02:11):
been the worst free throw shooting team in the league
and miss way too many free throws. And that's not
a recipe to win, especially a playoff game, especially a
road playoff game, And that's really not much of a
recipe to beat anybody in this league. So they're going
to have to make more of their shots in the paint.
They're going to have to be better at the freak line,
and they just need to be more aggressive and assertive.
You can't be passive offensively taking too long to get
(02:32):
into your sets against this Golden State half court defense.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Yeah, that's something I definitely talked about during the broadcast
the other night in Game one and earlier on today's show.
To that end, do you anticipate a change in rotations.
There's no reason to change the starting lineup. We got
into that earlier, But could you see maybe tonight there's
a real opportunity to play Aaron Holiday or take the
ball out of Fred's hands a little bit while he's
(02:57):
on the court and let somebody else bring it up,
set it up, start things moving forward. Jabari Smith Junior,
maybe a little bit different role. Any of those things
seem like a possibility as we're into Game four.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's a possibility. We saw
Aaron a little bit in Game two, coming off the
Game one loss. I certainly think that's a possibility. I
certainly think it's a possibility that you're going to see
more of Jabari Smith Junior moving forward. He was averaging
what in like the mid twenties in minutes. Perhaps maybe
he plays a little bit more moving forward. Perhaps they
do allow some different guys to kind of get them
(03:29):
into their sets early. But I think in terms of
just the general rotation, I think what you've seen is
what you're going to get. I mean, they went to
basically an eight man rotation in the last several weeks
of the regular season in preparation for the playoffs, and
I don't think that's going to change. And if they
do happen to play another guy off the bench, it
would probably be Aaron Holiday first, and then the only
(03:49):
reason for anybody else outside of those top eight to
play would be if somebody is in significant, or somebody's
are insignificant, foul trible, and or there's an injury. But
I think they're going to roll with the group that
they feel that they that they're most confident with and
let the chips fall where they may.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Talking to Craig Ackerman here on Sports Talk seven ninety,
I mentioned this the other day to Wax, I said,
you know, is there a scenario where a hamper Jimmy
Butler actually could play into the Rockets, you know, in
their favor basically because he's taking up minutes as a
not completely healthy player.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
I don't know. We'll have to see how he's moving
out there tonight. I would guess that for some reason
he does become a significant detriment to them that he's
they probably won't play, or they'll pull them and go
in a different direction. But I'm under the assumption it
looks as if we won't know for sure, but it
looks as if things are trending that he's going to
play tonight. I don't think they would he would be
(04:44):
playing if he couldn't go, and I don't think they
would do anything to hamper their chances. So I expect
Jimmy Butler to play. I expect him to be at
his best and the Rockets need to be prepared for that.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
How do you think the Rockets have handled everything? First playoffs,
first road game, being down one zero, being down to
one Draymond, et cetera. How do you think they've handled
all of it? Mentally?
Speaker 2 (05:04):
It's it seems like some you know, look, these are
all first for all these young guys. I think some
of the things that you've seen from them are not unexpected.
You first row playoff game, first home playoff game, that's
where they really kind of struggles. I think they've actually
handled it pretty well, but look, it still comes down
to execution and even outside of the young guys. Look,
(05:28):
Fred van Vlie had a very good first quarter in
Game number three, but he's got to be better. He
has struggled against Golden State all season long. He has
not shot the ball well at all against them at
any point consistently all year. He's got to be better.
And Men Thompson has to be better moving forward. He
has not had a great series. Jalen needs to become
a bit more consistent. Shengoon's got to make his free throws.
(05:50):
So I mean, I think that they've settled into what
is to be expected of them in this kind of
the scenario. They have now had their first experiences in
terms of again their first ever playoff game in their
first road playoff game, so you know, hopefully all that
stuff is behind them. But it still comes down to
execution and for the Rockets more or less just making shots,
because their defense has been as good as Curry has
(06:13):
been in this series, and then their only loss looked
that he scored twenty and maybe trying to stop him
from scoring thirty would be a pretty nice component to
this moving forward. But as good as he's been, you
have to expect him to be this way moving forward.
It still comes down to the Rockets needing to just
make more shots, and hopefully they can do some more
of that here tonight, even up this series and then
(06:35):
make it a best of three with two of the
final three games in Houston.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
Yeah, you talk about making shots, and that's what I
think maybe Game three came down to With Jalen Green.
I thought maybe they you know, they were it was
spoken about that they were going to go after him,
that they were going to hunt him defensively, because imy Udoka,
you know, pointed that out in his presser. But is
it as simple as he was just missing open shots
or was it more of the Warriors defense. Was it
(07:00):
a mix of both as to why he kind of
came back down to earth in game three.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
I mean, they definitely, they definitely sent more defensive help
to him in game three, coming off this big game
in game two, There's no question about that. Look again,
the gold there are certain things that Golden State's going
to allow defensively. Look, they are susceptible to live ball turnovers,
and if you do turn them over in a live
ball situation, Rockets haven't been great converting off those turnovers,
(07:27):
and you have to convert those points because you've got
to be able to create easier scoring opportunities in transition.
You just have to When the Warriors make a mistake
in a live ball situation, you've got to punish them
in the open floor. But you've got the Rockets were
their minds. They were just more aggressive, more assertive in
Game two. They got into their stuff quicker, they were
pushing it, they were attacking, They played more to their DNA.
(07:48):
They didn't play as passively as they did in Game one,
and then at times in game three. They've got to
continue to play with that mindset moving forward, and those
shots again in the mid paint are going to be there.
I think they've tried things that, especially in men Thompson
looks like he's forcing trying to force the issue too
much getting to the rim in the half court set.
Unless you're getting into your actions quick, that's just not
(08:10):
going to be there. But those shots in the madpit
area are going to be there. They've always been there
against Golden State, and they've got to start making those
shotshn Gum was very good at making those shots in
the first twoing games of the series. Struggle with that
in game three. Those shots are going to be there.
They're going to have to make those shots. I expect
this team to continue to defend at a really high level.
I continue to expect Steph Curry to be his usual self.
(08:32):
He is just a tough shot maker, and that's just
who he's been his entire career. It just comes down
to these guys executing in the half court set, taking
what's given them, trying trying not to force so much
stuff at the rim and just try to settle into
the game. It a little bit more that way. But
they again, it comes down to them being aggressive. If
the Rockets are the team, and we've seen this all year,
(08:52):
if they're the team that punches first and continues to punch,
they're better off than their pat than they are. If
they play a tad that less, it's probably with they're
more passive because this team just reliably from a game
to game basis, just can't count on them making enough
perimeter threes to stay in games. They've got to continue
(09:13):
to be the aggressor. They've got to win the offensive
rebounding battle. They got to win the second chance points.
They've got to win points off the turnal ers. They
got to be better in the paint. These are things
that they have to do at a very high level
if they expect to win this series.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Never being accused of being passive, he is Craig Ackerman.
He'll be on the call tonight on the Space City
Home Network side of things. Craig, appreciate the time from
the Bay Area and bring us back a series tie.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
I'll do what I can. Looking forward to coming home
with this thing tied to too too awesome stuff.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
Craig Ackerman here on the A Team Sports Talk seven
ninety
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