Houston Rockets Get Win Vs New York Knicks After Questionable Call Late + GM Rafael Stone Comments

Houston Rockets Get Win Vs New York Knicks After Questionable Call Late + GM Rafael Stone Comments

On today’s show the Houston Rockets hold on for the win against the New York Knicks Aaron holiday with a huge spark off the Rockets bench and the beneficiary of a pretty questionable foul call at the end of the game we’re also going to talk about the Rockets getting back to their defensive identity

In this one plus some of the commentary from Rockets general manager Rafel Stone after the NBA trade deadline it’s all coming up right here at locked on Rockets this is Miss control Houston ignition sequence start throw it up to jayen Green shenon here in a short row

Oh my that’s the no look Jabari for three and the win look at T 15 seconds guidance is internal the Houston Rockets select amen Thompson and cam Whitmore one thing I have never done is not made the playoffs and so we want

To take that step here as well 6 5 4 3 2 1 what’s up and welcome to another edition of locked on Rockets your daily podcast home for everything Houston Rockets basketball as always I’m your host Jackson Gatlin d f ston and a credential media member I’m also the

Host of locked on NBA Mondays be sure to follow along on Twitter at JT Gatlin and the show of course at lockon Rocket free and available wherever you listen to your podcast including YouTube now today’s episode is brought to you by prize picks the easiest and most exciting way to play daily fantasy

Sports go to prize picks.com lockon NBA and use code all lowercase locked on NBA for a first deposit match up to $100 and as always thank you so much for making lockon Rockets part of your day every single day whether it’s on your way to work on your lunch break in the

Gym thank you for being it every day and making the show part of your day every single day joining us now at to breakdown the Houston Rockets 105 103 win holding on for the win against the New York Knicks is none other than your weekly co-host NBA draft Enthusiast and

Die hard Rockets fan Madison Moore you can track down on Twitter at madman leaks Madison this was a Helter Skelter really kind of insane game some insane closes to the second half going in a halftime and then an insane close to regulation in this one the Rockets

Managing to hold on for the win let’s get into that final sequence here that won that essentially won the Rockets this game and start right there with with the the foul call on Jaylen Brunson with3 seconds left whatever it was Aaron Holliday recovers the loose ball throws

Up a heave and then Jaylen Brunson gets called for the foul how are we feeling about that as the end to this game man if you’re a Rockets fan and you went through all the gamewinners by free throws last year we were due we were due

This is the Universe paying us back we were due and he was he was touched and if you remember that Eric Gordon sequence you can remember all the kings get the Kings like bro we’ve been on the other end of this and it’s nice it’s nice to finally get one ourselves but

Kudos the game was more than just that last play at the end of the game the Rockets played actually an excellent game they got back to their defensive roots and I really just enjoyed this game a lot this was one of the more fun fun games I watched this season yeah

Absolutely we’re gonna get we’re going to unpack some more from this game now that that final possession I look I I said it on social media already I’m going to Echo the sentiment here on the show look the Rockets were due they’ve been screwed by the refs a lot this is

Kind of their their karmic retribution they get one back from all the times that they’ve been screwed think about like the KD out of bounds call the James Harden dunk gate like all the stuff we’ve been through with the refs over the years that said this call sucked

Like like if I was if this call had gone against the Rockets oh I would be so pissed I would be I rate I would be I’d be burning things down like this is one of those I just I hate when the refs decide that they’re going to be the ones

To decide a game right when they make themselves the headlines and that’s why I try to stay consistent right I try to just call out what I think is bad refereeing whether it is in favor of the Rockets or against the rockets and here

Like I get it if you’re a Knicks fan you got to be upset with how this game ended yes it was contact yes it was technically a foul but to call that foul at that point in the game all things tied up at 103 a holiday gets sent to

The free throw line with three chances to to put the game away hits the first two intentionally misses the final free throw as per oka’s instructions and that basically seals the game for the Rockets it’s unfortunate that it ended that way because this was a really fun game

Outside of that kind of crappy like officiating decided ending a lot of back and forth and to your point the Rockets are really felt like got back to their defensive roots and defensive identity in this game after what was what looked like it was going to be the the the

Dante Devan chenzo show after the first few minutes of this game he hit his first three three-pointers and then proceeded to go hang on if I’m doing the math here correctly two of 11 the rest of the way from downtown so hit his first three threes and then went two of

11 the rest of the game they also managed to hold Jaylen Brunson just under his season season average because I believe he’s averaging a little more than 27 a game right now so he had 27 points in this game but only on 10 of 25 shooting so only 40% shooting from the

FL floor for Brunson really liked the collective effort on him a lot of uh the defensive possessions by Dylan Brooks as well as Amin Thompson you know I really felt like a men’s length absolutely bothered Jaylen Brunson in this game yeah I mean it was clear game plan that

That we were not going to let uh Jaylen Brunson go off on us tonight um I thought Dylan Dylan uh did a a very good job establishing the physicality that the the entire Rockets team play with he was very physical with Brunson and Brunson is a very physical player but uh

Uh uh Dylan is much bigger and and you know it’s going to and it’s going to initiate a lot of that physicality and that physicality was just what we needed to get under brunson’s skin I mean I feel like Brunson Hit the Floor about 30 times tonight man it was just that level

Of physicality and I like that we we smartly doubled on a lot of plays like off his Blind Side Aman was the recipient of a lot of steals off Blindside doubling and uh using his length and quick hands to uh knock the ball out but I feel like everybody

Played well defensively tonight for the most part outside of rebounding um I thought I thought the players were active they were uh uh playing towards the game plan and I I mean Dylan I want to give Dylan his flowers because especially in the first half Dylan really did a number on Jaylen Brunson

But the the team effort and the way um am and Thompson played at the top of the fourth and in that third defensive ly was absolutely special I mean that dude he has you all NBA all defensive team you know upside he might be kind of

Close there now you know what I mean giving these type of efforts defensively and and also on the uh boards defensive and offensive rebounding so I really want to just give alond his flowers he’s not he doesn’t have as many uh on ball reps as we would hope but he’s still

Able to make a huge impact on the floor he was a big part of that run in the top of the fourth with all those it’s crazy watching A Min Thompson find so many different ways to impact the game to where you’re watching how effective he is right now as a rookie

Again only only four shot sorry only five shot attempts he was four or five from the floor he had uh eight points he had five assists five Ste five steal like well first off a Miss Thompson is goingon to get a 5 by five at some point

In his career it’s it’s not a matter of if it’s a matter of when um but then a team High 13 rebounds right just finding ways to be effective whether it’s on the defensive glass closing out possession strong closing out defensive possession strong or generating those extra opportunities for the rockets on the

Offensive side of things um I just even though we know a men Thompson’s probably going to need to develop a shot at some point in his career I’m almost at a point where it’s like and I know this is early it’s still his rookie season but

Just seeing all the ways that he’s able to impact a game all the good things that happen when he’s on the floor I feel like am Min Thompson might not might be one of those rare NBA players that can still be a good high caliber player without an outside shot like as

Long as he develops like some kind of a reliable midi SL floater game to keep defenses semi honest he’s going to be just fine in his career and to your point about the defensive effort in this game I really loved how much more how much how aggressive we saw Alper Shon in

This game you know and I don’t know if that’s just by Design or what but we saw shenon actually like blitzing and trapping and doubling on the perimeter at points in this game and hey what do you know it actually looked pretty good when they did it I don’t know why they

Don’t do it more often man we were doing it early in the season I don’t know why we kind of get got away from it I mean and that’s when the defense fell off I mean you know what I mean so I we definitely got to get back to that I

Mean we got to have a helping defense where everybody helps but we gotta Blitz and and that blitzing gets us out in the passing Lanes the all everybody is smart enough to Now read what the defense is trying uh trying to do and it gets our

Young guys out and running and they need to get out and running in into Rhythm like just for example jayen green did not have a great game tonight but compared to some of his other off nights where he just could be an albatross at sometimes he got out in transition he

Got to the line he was he was able to get some easy buckets that kind of uh helped us in this game and he it was a good it was a good off night Jay process looked good yes absolutely exactly right but but but that goes because of our defense our defense

Turning into offense able to make make not everything has to be so hard especially with a very good defensive team in the uh in this New York Knicks team so I just want to give the entire team Kudos today because it because you know spearheaded by Dylan and Aman but

Everybody contributed in a m contributed in a major way coming up we’re going to shift gears to the offensive side of things from this game talk about the process there for the Rockets what we’d like to see maybe change a little bit some things that need some improvement

Even though they were able to sneak out the win in this one some process things that have to change going forward we’re going to get there in just one moment as well as comments from Rafel Stones post NBA trade headline press conference we’ll get there in just one

Moment first today’s episode is brought to you by prize picks prize picks is America’s number one fantasy sports app with over three million members at the easiest and most exciting way to play daily fantasy sports because it’s just you against the numbers you just pick

More than or less than on two to six player stat projections and watch the winnings roll in it’s so simple to play you can make your picks and submit an entry in less than 60 seconds quick withdrawals easy gameplay and an enormous selection of different players

And Stat types is what makes prize piics the number one DFS app on the market and here’s the really cool thing it is now demon time on prize picks you can now win up to 100 times your money with as little as four correct picks you can

Turn $10 into ,000 demons and goblins are the newest and most exciting way to play at prize pick so if you’ve been thinking about getting into daily fantasy sports give prize picks a chance go to prize.com locked on NBA and use codee locked on NBA for a first deposit

Match up to $100 again that’s priz pick.com loock on NBA promo code locked on NBA for a first deposit match up to $100 prize picks is daily fantasy sports Made Easy and continuing on here at locked on Rockets your daily podcast home for everything Houston Rockets basketball

Now I think Madison we have to give locked on Rockets player to this one guy who’s whose game really ignited the rockets in this one specifically the not only the first poster of not the first poster of his career yet another poster from one Aaron holiday dunking all over

Three different Knicks in this one that dunk at the top of the fourth quarter really felt like it kind of ignited the Rocket’s ability to close this game out gave them a lot of juice a lot of a lot of fire there at the top of the fourth

Quarter loved what we saw from Aaron holiday in this game 18 points s of 14 shooting he was for all intents and purposes basically all of the Rockets bench production in this one right all of it yeah no Aaron had an excellent game second excellent game in a row man

He had a really strong game uh uh the other night against the Atlanta Hawks um once again and he earned the right to close this game and he closed it well with those free throws but I just want to talk about our defense was so effective at the top of that fourth

Quarter but we really have struggled especially without Alper Shon and Jaylen Green in to to score in the half court or just to generate really good looks and Aaron holiday really took over at the top of the fourth and it was it was really good to see someone else kind of

Run the offense and and be able to get a bucket and that you can rely on I think it was it was it was the type of run that we needed we kind of have been playing the the Knicks at the top of the first half uh the Knicks had gotten back

Into this game and we and it was a defensive slugfest the entire time but we couldn’t get any generation of a lot of buckets in a row and Aaron holiday did that at the top of the fourth and really that’s what propelled us to win

This game so I Gotta Give I gotta give kudos to him for not just tonight but last night keeping us in the game until he unfortunately he didn’t get to close the other night against Atlanta but this night he closed and he made the free

Throws and I I was just want to give him his credit for that yeah you know Aaron Holliday is a guy that I think a lot of rockets fans have like a mixed perception of him where it’s like some Rockets fans going into the deadline

They were like we got to get rid of holiday we can’t keep these minutes and you know he he had maybe hit a little bit of a rough stretch where he was playing you know below or maybe let me put it this way I think he was playing

Above like like Beyond his level like earlier this season and then he kind of regressed back to the mean a little bit got to keep in mind Aaron holiday is like a journeyman kind of NBA player third string point guard kind of guy he’s basically a three and D undersiz

Two guard is what he is for his career so to get that kind of production from him that’s huge that’s that’s Aaron holiday playing well beyond what he should be able to do on a nightly basis so him stepping up to the plate kind of next man up mentality being able to help

Fill that void with Fred vanet out of the lineup until uh the return from Allstar break is at least that’s the update that we got from the Rockets before this game against the Knicks so shout out to Aaron holiday would not have been able to win this game without

Him and like Oka is often is is is uh prone to do right riding the hot hand giving giving the guys who deserve the chance to close who kind of kept the rockets in this game he kept Aaron holiday out there he had a very strong game offensively from this one Madison

It was an ugly game it was this was this was not one of the better offensive performances of the season for the Rockets thankfully they were able to generate you know some Second Chance opportunities they had 12 offensive rebounds in this game even though they got absolutely crushed on the boards

Overall uh a 51- 39 rebound Advantage for the Knicks including the Knicks having 19 of their own offensive rebounds that offensive rebounding did help the Rockets kind of stay in this game a little bit they also did a pretty good job taking care of the basketball only three turnovers in the first half

Now then they did have six turnovers there in that third quarter where the Knicks went uh up 2817 uh that 2017 third quarter in favor of the Knicks I should say um I really hate when we see these games where and again this is one of those side effects of not having Fred

Van out there Alper and shinon felt like an afterthought for so much of this game and it’s because nobody on this team knows how to make an entry pass to him nobody on this team can hit him on the short roll uh other than Fred Van vet

Apparently we Jay it sometimes but but but not he’s not getting to him enough and it’s just ridiculous the number of possessions that we see where this team almost forgets that that he’s their best player and thankfully down the line we did see Oka go to a steady diet of Alper

And shingun post-ups in fact that the last offensive possession of the game when it was tied up 103 all was supposed to be an inbound pass to Alper and shenon the Knicks double teamed it and then they wind up sending the pass crosscourt to Jaylen green who drove and

Unfortunately was blocked right there at the rim and that’s when the loose ball made its way all the way out to Aaron holiday he had the heave and that’s all she wrote uh gets fouled knocks the free throws down and that’s the end of the game but they’ve got to figure out

Better ways whether it’s maybe it needs to be more creativity from the coaching staff and finding ways to get Alper shingu in the basketball but you cannot let your best player be that easily schemed out of a game it just it’s it’s unacceptable it can’t happen yes so for

Me I think it to me tonight Oparin go goon touch the ball a lot because he’s the he’s the guy in the Middle where either your Jaylen or your uh Dylan Brooks or your Aaron holiday you’re giving it to the uh toer operation goon and everybody rolls off those screens at

The top of the key the the little three- man weave action they the little three- man weave but the but the the the core of that is Alp he can either he can either take it himself which we know he’s he’s able to do and he did a lot

Down the stretch or he can hand off to the weave and roll right and with his gravity you have a choice now the Knicks did a very good job of overloading in the paint tonight and because we’re such a poor uh three-point shooting team we

Did not make them pay and that is why Alp is not getting the looks he needs to get because the paint is just packed packed to the rim there was several times where alpie had the ball down low and there was four guys on him and he

Had to kick it out to a shooter right he’s not able to get the temps up cuz teams are triple and quadruple teaming him down there they’re overloading on on those uh uh on the paint because they know he’s our best player and this is what happens when you’re number one on

The Scouting Report so Alp has is learning now the things that he needs to improve on so that so that he can still continue to contribute at that rate when they take away your strength and by packing the paint and so that’s why he needs to add the jump shot so he can

Bring some of these guys out the paint and these are the things I’m talking about because there’s a there was a lot of possessions where out where we were we did try and get outp the ball and he drew a triple team and he kicked out to

A shooter and the only body only person who could make a three-point shot tonight was Dylan Brooks right and so that that is I think the crooks of the offense right now teams have kind of figured us out offensively nobody operation goon is not uh surprising

People anymore and so now it’s time for us to yes get more creative from the coaching staff but also our players have to be better Jaylen has to be able bble to to score on the pick and roll if they’re if they’re uh going to stay

Without bin shinon he has to be able to slash through but they’re just overloading the pay Jaylen could didn’t have the M midi going uh tonight and so it was very much a struggle so that’s that’s my that’s what I see going on yeah and you know I I do think and I

Commented on on this at one point during the game I do think the next kind of evolution for alpie is he needs to be a little bit quicker at recognizing when those double and triple teams are coming his way because he is number one on The Scouting Report he’s the guy that

Opposing teams are constantly scheming against you’re starting to see you know his uh Effectiveness be diminished a little bit just in the sense of like again I think without having Fred out there to kind of slow things down and make sure that he gets the basketball

Either you know on the short roll or or with space to operate yeah it can be really difficult for him and he’s still you know he’s still a bucket when you can get him the ball right we saw him you know go right at the Knicks late in

This game you know some some really strong possessions uh late in this one that led to and Brooks three-pointer alpie scoring right there at the rim on pre precious auua so I’m glad that Oka still recognized hey this is this is you know crunch time we got to get our best

Guy of the ball it just it seems like a failing throughout the first like three and a half qu the entire game I understand like 10 shot attempts for your best player just that doesn’t seem like it should it shouldn’t happen um now elsewhere in this game you got to

Give credit to Dylan Brooks because he I’m so torn on this game Madison because this was like it feels like a little bit of like the Memphis Dylan Brooks experience where he’s like taking over the offensive Burn games Dylan Brooks is so much like the

The the epit epitome of like the no no no no yes type player like where you’re watching the process go down and you’re just like oh that’s a badger oh it went in okay all right we’ll take it so six of seven from three in this game you’ll

You’ll live with Dylan Brooks on fire from three-point land in this game uh 23 points on the evening he had five boards he had an assist he had the great defense on Jaylen Brunson kind of throughout the evening but before we transition here into our final segment

And you know TR tackle some of the commentary from Rafel Stone I’m curious I want your thoughts better play better pass in this game or just better overall play the Amin Thompson to jayen Green lob in transition which was insane Amin Thompson gets the steel gets out in

Transition he locks eyes with Jaylen and he knows like Jaylen is ready for this lob they make eye contact and and a Min drives it towards the middle draws that second Defender and then puts it up Jaylen hammers at home or the amen Thompson like no look eyes in the back

Of his head pass little shovel pass over his head to alir shingon which one’s the better play definitely the alar shingon pass I mean it was it was off of the off like a offensive rebound too and it kind it kind of looked like he didn’t know

What he was doing erratic but it was just a crazy pass and it led to the dck yeah no definitely that one I mean we could see we could see the uh the the alopa developing but nobody saw that pass coming from a man and usually sh

Only saw that pass coming from Al because they’re the only two who make those type of passes but it’s good to have them on the team speaking of I want to give credit to there was one play late in this game uh where uh the one

Where I can’t remember when it had it was late in the game Dylan Brooks hit the wing or the kind of corner Wing three-pointer he was wide open uh it was off of a bit of a scattered play and was a tip something or it swung it like

Rever it was like a reversal all I know is is Jaylen had walked the ball up at first and and alpie had the seal down low and then Jaylen pitched it over to aan Thompson who had just entered the entered the the frame and and because

Nobody was out on Dylan Brooks as soon as a Min touched the ball alpie pointed out to the perimeter to like as if to say get Dylan the ball and it was just one of those moments where you’re like Alp is so smart like he just knows where

Everybody is on the court at all times and so even though he had a deep seal on his man he was like no no no I’m not the right play here that’s the right play on the perimeter and he pointed out to DB and I think a men swung the ball to him

He hit the wide open three it was either a Min or jayen swung the ball to him and it was a wide open three it was a big make for the Rockets So and just let me just add this because it alpie also had a ridiculous like touch pass to tap that

That he missed the layup on that’s right that thing was crazy that that one might have been better than alond that thing because I was like Jesus it was so quick but yeah now the no Al is definitely seeing things that you know only he can

See on the floor and Almond’s like step like right behind them so it’s it’s really good to see that but but the the team did move the ball well if we could just keep Dylan away from isolations we just keep him away if it’s a catch and

Shoot he’s money dog we just got to keep him away from the isolations yeah 22 assists on 36 made shots for the Rockets uh again Dylan Brooks isos are not are decidedly not look he can ISO when he has a smaller defender on him and you

Get him on a post up those are the only Dylan Brooks isos we want to see aside from that they all every other Dylan Brooks isolation play needs to be 86 from the Rockets Playbook expeditiously but coming up we’re going to get into some of the uh post NBA trade deadline

Commentary from Houston Rockets general manager Rafel Stone we’re going to get there in just one moment first today’s episode is brought to you by better help sometimes we all need the opportunity to get something off our chest big or small certain things can really start to get to you

It’s important to let that out especially to someone who’s unbiased when it comes to your life so today I want to say how I really feel about something you might even be thinking the same thing this week and honestly it’s got to be NBA officiating drives me crazy I just want consistent officiating

That’s all I want and especially even after this game talking about the questionable call on Aaron holiday look it helped the Rockets I’m here for it they have been uh on the bad side of some horrendous officiating in the past but at the end of the day I would love

It if the NBA could just figure out there officiating issue but in all seriousness maybe there is something important that you want to talk to uh somebody about that’s going on in your life and therapy can help you with that therapy can be different for everyone most of us have bigger problems than

Just our favorite sports team or frustrations with the officiating Crews and it’s important to get things off your chest every once in a while so if you’re thinking about starting therapy give betterhelp a try it’s entirely online designed to be flexible and suited to your schedule visit

Betterhelp.com lockon NBA to get 10% off of your first month that’s betterhelp hp.com lockon MBA and final segment here at lockdown Rockets your daily podcast home for everything Houston Rockets basketball now Madison we just passed the NBA trade deadline I shared my thoughts I did my reaction to the deadline go ahead and

Hit us with some of your thoughts about the fact that the Rockets didn’t aside from the Steven Adams trade that they made you know before the NBA trade deadline they didn’t make any other subsequent moves so give me your thoughts right now about where this team

Is at the fact that they didn’t make any trade deadline moves aside from the the Steven Adams deal yeah I’m a bit disappointed I mean I it’s clear that this team needed help upfront and they needed a different uh skill set other than the ones that we have right now we

Have uh aler and shenon is the only traditional big we have and he’s undersized and defense is not his strength especially in the pick and roll uh outside of Alper and shenon Jac landelle was supposed to be the other traditional big but it’s clear that he hasn’t worked out now okay that’s fine

Sometimes your signings don’t work out struck gold with gold with Aaron holiday we struck gold with Jeff Green you know these guys are contributing more than what we thought but we did not with Jac landelle he’s underperformed so we need another player I need another uh guy

With size rebounding has been an issue Rim protection has been an issue we needed that at the deadline and hopefully in the buyout market and I was really disappointed to see us not just spend a second to go get a a backup big like there were those guys were going

For one and two seconds I thought we could probably get one on the cheap we could probably use J Shante to go get get a guy now I understand Rafel and and many have reported about this Rockets um plan to keep salaries so they can go

After a big star but I don’t I think you still should be able to add something to these this team that that can help them now they could have went and got bio on on the uh market now he gone and that offered toughness defense screening you

Know a give just giving this team another body that they can throw out there to go out there and get boards when they’re struggling to get boards I was really disappointed in the Rockets not getting that the shooter fine you know we’ll get healthy guys need to

Shoot better regardless I was fine we’re not getting a shooter but I really was disappointed that we did not go get a big for this team and it’s worth noting and I I I should have included this in our trade deadline preview my apologies for not doing so but the Rockets also

Had available to them their room level exception which means they could have gone out there and signed a guy like bismack bio and paid him more than any of the other teams that are out there that don’t have access to the room level exception right that only have access to

A vet minimum contract so even if there’s maybe a slightly more desirable location a team that might be you know making a deeper postseason run or have legit title aspirations this year fine you’re going to lose out on some guys in the buyout Market to a team like that

Like biombo signing uh with the OKC Thunder but you cans make a play for a guy who wants more money and you can be aggressive with that room level exception so TBD on whether or not the Rockets actually pick up a name via the buyout Market they would still have to

Wave somebody on this roster to be able to make space to to allow that to happen I’m not going to hold my breath I don’t have a lot of confidence they’re going confidence that they are going to do that but it is what it is I I myself I

Was also disappointed with the trade deadline but some of the thoughts from Houston Rockets general manager Rafel Stone some updates on uh the trade deadline that the Rockets did have and the stuff that they did do uh Steven Adams uh is apparently the the surgery went well for Steven Adams he is ahead

Of schedule as far as his rehab is concerned he did pass his physical with flying colors and they do anticipate him being ready for the start of next season now Stone did also go on to say that he’s really uh excited about the addition of Steven Adams basically

Saying that they have two starting level centers on the roster now and that kind of matches with how we felt about the deal when it first went through right Stephen Adams for what it cost for what you got for him he’s a phenomenal backup big to have on the roster now again

That’s a long-term play that’s a play for next season it doesn’t help the Rockets much right now but if everything goes according to plan having Stephen Adams on next year’s roster is going to be huge because that is the answer to the backup five spot right if you have

34 minutes a night of Alper and shingon 34 36 38 minutes of shingon and then the other whatever 15ish or so minutes go to Steven Adams that is a huge one-two punch at the five spot that’s going to be a lot for other teams to deal with

Yeah no uh I really like the Stephen Adams pickup I don’t think he’s as seamless a fit to play next to shenon but definitely Off the Bench he’s going to be the best backup center in the league you know and he’ll he’ll bring that toughness that we need he’ll bring

More of the intangibles and Leadership that we need um I I believe him uh Dylan and Fred Van v would just be the ultimate uh set of vents for this young team that needs to add toughness that needs to add muscle that needs to you know add accountability I think that is

The Rockets have really addressed that in a real way with uh with all of the vets that they got and so yeah I like Stephen Adams a lot would have would have liked more of a lob threat type guy that could catch lobs but Stephen Adams is is a very good

Pickup lob threat I I was looking for it lob threat I pressed the wrong button I can see the lob threat on your face oh I I tried to go for my LOB threat button but the problem is on my little soundboard I’ve got I’ve got like

Eight little buttons and I was on the wrong page and so and the problem is the button that I clicked is actually my like my locked on NBA like int like interlude music the same way that I’ve got like the break music for L like I’ve

Got that for locked on NBA also so I like smash it I was like that’s not it oops all right sorry for the technical difficulties there everybody but that was supposed to be a lob threat button lob threat um yeah look you know it is

What it is Rockets didn’t add a guy that can help this season uh Rael Stone did say that he and Oka looked at a lot of you know basically every possible deal that was out there together and they both came to the conclusion that there just wasn’t a deal out there that they

Liked that they thought could help the team right now you we’ll just I guess we just take them at face value we agre you know we saw some of the role players that were moved at the deadline I’m not like disheartened or upset at any of the names that were

Moved Daniel gaffer was the guy that we talked about um here quite a bit as a potential backup but it also cost a first- round draft pick to get Daniel Gafford right like do you want to give up the rocket the only first round draft pick the the Rockets have to work with

Is the 2024 Nets pick I don’t think Daniel Gafford is worth that so I’m not going to lose any sleep over the lack of moves at the deadline I’m just going to take them at face value there wasn’t enough out there for them to go all in

On something I like the stepen Adams play it’s a smart long-term move it’ll help them next season plus just the way this team is kind of playing as of late yeah it’s nice that they got this win against the Knicks the play in tournament looks to be a like a further

Out like longer shot at this point anyways of making the play in tournament it’s unfortunate it’s an unfortunate reality to have to face I don’t necessarily feel like the Rockets are going to make the play in tournament ultimately unless they can really get healthy post All-Star break get Fred Van

Vet back get tar een back maybe they make a significant push with those two guys back in the fold but uh the season is still I think uh they they’ve May struggle they they well I want to say they’ve exceeded expectations still for this season I think based on where we

Had our expectations set for the year playing tournament would have been incredible that would have been a huge resounding success if that had happened yeah I I I I predicted about 35 wins I think they’re still kind of on Pace for 35 wins they might still miss out on the

Playing tournament it’s okay is it is what it is the team is still ahead of schedule yes I think I don’t know about a a play in would be ahead so I but I think that the jury still out maybe maybe on schedule we’re on schedule and

That’s and and that’s a really good thing like we’re we’re on schedule guys are getting better guys are we’re seeing what guys we weaknesses are we’re understanding our team more guys know what they need to work on in the offseason I think we’re right on schedule so I think that’s a good thing

And look the back half of the season I first off I hate that we always say the back half of the season after Allstar break when it’s really like the back onethird but whatever back half of the Season post All-Star break it’s going to be a lot of fun just watching the the

Rockets young core six have another half season to grow and gel and develop together maybe we even see like a reduction in usage from guys like Fred Van vet and Dylan Brooks as EMA OD DOA gives more runtime more more playing time to some of the younger guys to just

See which versions of those six guys can work really well playing off of one another that kind of thing maybe at some point we’ll see a a full-blown fiveman lineup with just five of the Rockets core six which would be a ton of fun to watch in live action but the final quote

Here that we’re going to unpack from Rafel stone is the one that’s been doing numbers on social media it’s the one that has Rockets fans in a bit of a tizzy if you will so we had to address it here on the show uh Rell Stone discussing Jaylen green and his growth

To this point he said Jaylen has been and continues to be on paper a great fit with us he has a skill set that isn’t really replicated on our roster now the reason this quote is doing numbers is because Rafel Stone’s word choice maybe not the best given how this season has

Gone for Jaylen green to say on paper is pretty rough that’s that’s not a I don’t know it’s pretty accurate I think I think that I mean that that it’s ACC but it’s like it’s like it’s like saying the quiet part out loud man you don’t have

To say the on paper part so I don’t know if that was just like a a verbal Gaff by Rafel Stone who’s usually right he in all his pressers and availabilities he’s very like lawyerly in how he talks right he’s he’s he tries to say a lot without

Really saying anything and this was one where you’re like o like on paper you didn’t have to say that about your young guy man I don’t know man maybe I’m maybe I just don’t hear the like to me stuff like that don’t fase me you know what I

Mean maybe maybe it’s maybe I’m different or something but like stuff like that don’t fase me I think he was trying to say the quiet part out loud and he did and and Jaylen green knows that he hasn’t lived up to par this season and he’s still working on it now

He’s played better as of late and that’s really good that’s the step we want to see and Rafel talked about that but we know the theory of jayen green is not GNA win us games right he actually has to get better and become the guy he’s

Supposed to be on paper and I think Rafel I think more importantly Rafel say something very important to me and it’s the it’s how I’ve kind of felt about Jaylen through his struggles it’s like but Jaylen still offers something that nobody else on the team really offers

And that’s that ability to to be a off ball on ball primary primary ball handler who can also make plays that’s not for Van vet or operan shingle right a guard that offers a different Dynamic to this offense that nobody really uh can do right now I mean cam is such an

Electric score but he he he doesn’t make plays to to help other guys get better at the same rate as Jaylen and that’s what he’s going to have to do if he wants to you know surpass him so I thought I thought what he said was honestly just real like like that’s just

The real deal and I think you don’t say stuff like that unless You’ had those conversations behind doors with Jaylen right I think everybody knows we’re on the same page and I just I think he was saying hey he’s not there yet but we we understand that he can get there and we

Still respect his skill set and that’s a skill set that is very important to this team but in order for it to be actual you can’t just be on paper you got to deliver so I didn’t think it was that big a deal but you know how Rockets

Twitter gonna do of course right of course overreacting to everything but hey look first off just the fact that the Rockets didn’t make any major moves to shake things up at the deadline the fact that they didn’t trade Jaylen green or try to make something happen as far

As a jayen green trade is concerned when I’m sure that they fielded some phone calls on it it sounds like they themselves were doing their due diligence and reaching out to some teams and maybe seeing about what they could get for Jaylen green the fact that they

Decided to keep the coric together it just tells me that they understand that they’re not trying to rush things here that they’ve still got a lot of young talent that they’ve got an exciting future um and I think my camera just froze that’s really impressive that’s that’s really cool no that’s really cool

We’re just gonna leave we’re just gonna keep going with me Frozen here at the end so it is what it is they they didn’t move on from Jaylen green they didn’t move on from any of the young guys so they’re giving them this the remainder

Of this year to see what they have with this young core but on that note I want your thoughts on Rafel Stone’s comments specifically also the jayen green one how do you feel about the onp paper comment as well as how do you feel about the Rockets uh getting away with one

Here against the Knicks the uh questionable call at the end of regulation let us know your thoughts in the YouTube comments but Madison you know the drill say it to my Frozen face where can everybody track you down at man check me down on Twitter or formerly

Known I mean formerly known as Twitter X Madman leaks come talk Rockets basketball with me that’s going to do it for another edition of locked on Rockets as always thank you so much for checking out the show if you haven’t done so yet please consider subscribing whether

You’re listen to your podcast or on YouTube just search locked on Rockets be sure to like comment and subscribe but as always thank you so much for watching thank you so much for listening and we look forward to having you back right here at locked on Rockets your daily

Podcast home for everything Houston Rockets Basketball

Houston Rockets Get Win Vs New York Knicks After Questionable Call Late + GM Rafael Stone Comments

Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) is joined by weekly cohost and NBA Draft enthusiast Madison Moore (@MadManLeaks) to discuss the Houston Rockets holding on the for the win 105-103 vs the New York Knicks after a questionable foul call put Aaron Holiday on the free throw line with the game tied and 0.3 seconds left in regulation. Was the foul call on Jalen Brunson good or bad, how the Rockets got back to their defensive identity in this game, Amen Thompson’s defensive and rebounding impact as well as a couple insane highlight passes to Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green, Rockets needing to find ways to get Sengun more involved offensively, rough night numbers wise for Jalen Green but the “process” continues to look good, post-trade deadline comments from Houston Rockets General Manager Rafael Stone and more.

#Rockets #NBA #AlperenSengun

Follow Madison & his YouTube: https://twitter.com/MadManLeaks & https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI-ES3c38dnqNlusPMO7n3w

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LORockets?sid=YouTube

Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNBA

📺 Subscribe On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LockedOnRockets & https://www.youtube.com/@JTGatlinMedia

📲 Twitter: https://twitter.com/JTGatlin & https://twitter.com/LockedOnRockets

🎧 Follow/Subscribe/Listen:

Locked On Rockets Anywhere: https://linktr.ee/LockedOnRockets

Locked On NBA Anywhere: https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNBA

Follow & Join RocketsWatch: https://twitter.com/RocketsWatch & https://bit.ly/3wXJXcb

Shop Rockets Merch & Use Code LOROCKETS10: https://shop.clutchfans.net/

Follow on Twitch for video game fun: https://www.twitch.tv/diedofbeetus

If your business wants to advertise on Locked On Rockets, DM Jackson on Twitter or email JacksonTGatlin@gmail.com

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! | Offers: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/offers/

Nissan – Our friends at Nissan have a lineup of SUV’s with the capabilities to take your adventure to the next level. Take the Nissan Rogue, Nissan Pathfinder, or Nissan Armada and go find your next big adventure. Shop NissanUSA.com.

LinkedIn – LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Terms and conditions apply.

eBay Motors – For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotos.com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.

BetterHelp – This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA today to get 10% off your first month.

PrizePicks – Go to PrizePicks.com/lockedonnba and use code lockedonnba for a first deposit match up to $100!

Gametime – Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase.

FanDuel – Make Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today to get started.
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

#HoustonRockets #Rockets #NBA #JalenGreen #AlperenSengun #JabariSmithJr #TariEason #AmenThompson #CamWhitmore #FredVanVleet #DillonBrooks #JeffGreen #JockLandale #ReggieBullock #BobanMarjanovic #AaronHoliday