- 1 day ago
Seth and Sean are joined by Vanessa Richardson (Rockets Sideline Reporter, Space City Home Network) to talk about the playoff matchup between the Rockets and Lakers starting up on Saturday.
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00:00The schedule is out for the Rockets postseason, and it begins on Saturday in Los Angeles
00:06against the Lakers. A depleted Lakers team taking on a Rockets team that is
00:10trying to get out of the first round. Couldn't get it done last year.
00:14Different, slightly different group this year, trying to get it done this year.
00:18No games on Space City Home Network, but our next guest will be in LA covering
00:21the Rockets. And she is, of course, everybody knows her. She's Vanessa Richardson.
00:26She is the Rockets sideline reporter. Vanessa, great to talk to you. How are you doing this
00:30morning? Yeah, it's so great to talk to you. Sean, I feel like I should have your wife
00:34with me because I'm going to Babita's, and then I'm going to Target to get all my travel
00:38supplies, and then I'm going shopping. So I feel like I need Amy with me. It's one of those
00:44the day before you leave and you're getting everything done.
00:47I promise she'd rather be with you than handling first graders right now. I can assure you of
00:52that. So yeah, Vanessa, we're looking forward to you being out there covering the team for
00:56sure. We'll talk about that, but let's get into this. 52 and 30 again this year. Last year was
01:01good enough for the two seed, but the West has kind of elevated a little bit this year. So it's
01:05a five seed going on the road, but a very strange situation where the Rockets are on the road as
01:10a
01:10really heavy favorite against the Lakers. I guess at this point, what's the biggest concern for the
01:15Rockets other than maybe overconfidence against the depleted Lakers team?
01:20Yeah, and I'm glad you brought that up. I think the Rockets coaching staff is really big on
01:25respect your opponent. And candidly, the Rockets had some losses this year that they would like
01:30back. The guys said this, you know, against opponents that had bad records or that the
01:36Rockets were the heavy favorites. So I don't think that they're overlooking anybody. And, you know,
01:41you can't overlook a team that has LeBron James on it. And the Lakers have a lot of role players.
01:47And you guys know from watching the NBA playoffs for decades that every year, like role, random
01:53role players end up mattering during like multiple games in the NBA playoffs. So yes, of course,
01:58you know, the Rockets are the favorites and, and I obviously expect them to win very much believe in
02:03them, but you have to respect your opponent. I know that's one thing that Emei Doka is big on.
02:08And so it is going to be, you know, I think it's going to be an exciting series. And when
02:13you have
02:13two of the greatest ever, LeBron James and Kevin Durant facing each other, like that is just
02:19gold. And I'm really excited for it. Is that what are the, what do you think there's,
02:23what are the chances that the Lakers are kind of playing possum here with Doncic and that the
02:27situation is actually better than anything's been reported? And will he be able to adjust the
02:34American dining schedule when he comes back? Yeah. I mean, it's the games are spread out,
02:42you know, the Rockets and Lakers games are spread out that first round. So whatever the timeline is,
02:49could we see a Luka Doncic appearance? I know that he, it was reported, I think by Shams
02:55Sharanya that he was in Spain and he had gotten some treatment there and was, was really trying to
03:01expedite it and be ready for some point in round one. So the difference between the Lakers with Luka
03:08and without Luka kind of goes without saying. I think it could be, it will make it very fascinating
03:14if he returns at any point, particularly if it's around that game three, game five area, when, you
03:20know, you of course hope that the Rockets are sewing it up and packing it in. That's a great point,
03:25Vanessa. I mean, I, we looked at this, Seth and I were looking more at the schedule of games as
03:29to
03:29the start times because we get up really early, but this, this series is super spread out. There's
03:34the most spread out one. Yeah. If I'm not mistaken. Yeah. Almost as if it's specifically
03:41created to help out a 41 year old superstar. It does feel a little that way. Yeah. There's two,
03:46they, they play Saturday and don't play again until Tuesday and then play. Don't, they don't play
03:50until Friday. They're in the first five games, potentially, if they, if it goes five games,
03:55there are, there are three times where there's gaps of two days in between games. You're right.
04:02That's a, that's a really, it's a really interesting point. Yes. For LeBron James and for Luka to try to
04:08get back from this hamstring injury and Austin Reeves too, you know, with this oblique as well.
04:12Yeah. Austin, I, I feel like I haven't heard as much about the possible return of AR that certainly
04:18does not mean it's not possible. I, one thing that we know about JJ Reddick and about a lot of
04:23these
04:23super cerebral coaches in general around playoffs is they're not showing all their cards. So that's,
04:29you know, that's the other thing is very possible that they return. But yeah, it is spread out enough
04:35to where it leaves that question of could, could Luka return? Could he? Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Well,
04:42and especially like LeBron, you know what he was at 33 minutes a game this year, I think, which is
04:47the lowest he's been in a long time. But like in the playoffs last year, he was playing 40 minutes
04:53a night. And the, so like having these games spread out, I'm guessing, I'm guessing LeBron is
04:59going to try to have like an inspirational series for the ages that is the age of 41. We're going
05:06to
05:06see LeBron on the court a lot more than we did in the regular season. Yeah, I think it's possible.
05:11And Kevin Durant played top five, the most minutes in the NBA. I don't remember where he landed exactly.
05:16I remember Emei was a little frustrated because he had tried to get Kevin's minutes down. But Kevin,
05:23Kevin plays a lot of minutes. His goal is to play 48 minutes a night. He's not shy about it.
05:28He doesn't
05:29want to get off the court. And then you have somebody like LeBron, like you guys said, that is
05:32notorious for playing a lot of minutes. These guys just take such good care of their bodies. I mean,
05:37people don't see it, but they just like, especially the older guys that are playing like
05:41Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green and all the, I mean, they, they have to take such precise care
05:47of their bodies and they do it for this time of the year. Vanessa Richardson, rocket sideline
05:51reporter joining us. Yeah. He was number two in minutes. Vanessa, I'm in Thompson was number one
05:56and Jabari. Yeah. I knew him. It was number one. Yeah. So maybe the rockets benefit from this schedule
06:02as much as the Lakers do with all the, the, you know, the, with all the, the wear off the
06:06tread
06:06possibly. And I think Jabari was in like the top five or six also. So we know who the core
06:10guys
06:11are on this team. So as I mentioned earlier, Vanessa, 52 and 30, both seasons here, we know
06:18how it ended last year with golden state in that seven game series, different team now,
06:23different makeup. If they're going to get past the first round this year, like what's the
06:27biggest difference in your mind with this team compared to last year's team that would
06:31lend itself to making a playoff, I'll say a playoff run out of the first round. And then
06:35I think what is hopefully a competitive second round against Oklahoma city.
06:41Uh, I'm going to say two words, Kevin Durant. I would say that's the biggest difference.
06:46And, you know, um, look last year, it's very well known. And the pattern is always there,
06:52right? That like, you have to get your heart broken in the playoffs before you experience
06:56success. Almost every single team. Like I think the Pistons are going to go on a run this
07:01year. They're the number one seed. The Pistons got their heart broken last year. The Rockets
07:05got their heart broken last year in seven games. So I almost, I mean, don't get me wrong.
07:10I didn't like that they lost last year, but the fact that they now have the playoff experience,
07:14the young guys have it under their belts. Tari Eason, Amin Thompson, um, Reed Shepard,
07:20Alperin Shangoon, like those guys experienced playoffs for the very first time. Jabari Smith
07:25Jr. Like that, that's a very real thing. And so, um, yeah, I mean, I think that when you take
07:31inventory of that, the biggest difference is experience. And I think that that really matters.
07:36The other thing is, um, you know, Amin Thompson had to do so much this year when Fred Van
07:42Bleet went out, I got so frustrated and so tired of people saying that he wasn't having
07:46a good year. Um, he was literally playing a different position. And I, so I think the
07:53fact that he's been able to grow in that, I think the fact that he's been able to develop
07:56in that and is still able to guard the, you know, the best player on the other team every
08:02night is going to be critical. I think Amin is going to be the secret sauce. And then
08:06ultimately defensively, you know, you're going to need guys like Josh Akogi. Now, listen,
08:12this round, it might not be as difficult as future rounds that the Rockets make it to the
08:16second round and face Oklahoma city. But Sean, I liked that you put that, that second part
08:21on the question, just in general for the playoffs, you're going to have to have guys like Josh Akogi,
08:26guys like Tari Eason really step up defensively. If the Rockets want a long playoff run.
08:32And I think the nice thing about this, the wind streak that they were on in the, the way that
08:36they've been playing over the last few weeks is that it's, it doesn't feel flukish at all.
08:40It feels like everything they talked about in their players only meeting and everything,
08:44you can see that it's just a more cohesive unit that the chemistry is better. You have a pretty
08:48unique vantage point to be able to watch all of that. Um, and have a different perspective on
08:53things. What, what have you been able to see just in terms of the communication, the way they
08:57operate in the game and how it's different now, perhaps than it was a month or
09:02so ago. Yeah, I think that they're more connected and they, not only did they start making shots,
09:08which is obviously a big part of it, but I think they figured a lot of things out. You know,
09:12uh,
09:13everyone knows Fred getting hurt was a massive, massive blow for the team, but, uh, not talked
09:18about enough with Steven Adams. I mean, Steven Adams is this great eraser of if shots weren't falling
09:26and mistakes and he could just get the rebound and very rare for a starting center to like having
09:32such a great backup, but Alperin loved playing with Steven. And, you know, um, so I think just the
09:39biggest difference is I think that they've figured out, uh, how to play most effectively without those
09:44two guys. I think that, uh, the guys are definitely under the understanding via email
09:51Doka that there's the starting lineup might not be consistent. It was going to be matchup based.
09:56Some nights Reed would start some nights. Tari would start some nights. Josh Rikogi would start,
10:00but it was, it was an understanding that you are expected to play whatever role that you're needed
10:06to play that night. And I think that, um, a tremendous amount of buy-in and, and look,
10:11when you have turnover on a team, it takes a while for guys to get used to each other. So
10:15I think they did. And I think that they clicked at the right time.
10:17You may have answered this question. I'm about to ask you, Vanessa, by mentioning Josh Rikogi's
10:21name, but I'm curious outside of the, I'll call it the first six guys, because it's, you know,
10:26we know Alperin, Shengun, KD, Ahmed, Jabari, they all start. And then, as you mentioned,
10:31it's kind of a rotating thing, but Tari Eason and Reed Shepard always get their fair share of minutes
10:36outside of those six guys. Who's the biggest X factor outside of those guys?
10:41Cause they have not operated as a very deep team over the second half of the season.
10:45Yeah, I think, I do think Josh Rikogi is, is massive. And there have been nights,
10:50Josh Rikogi started a healthy amount of times this year. Um, Josh, Josh can get a bucket and
10:56Josh is really tough defensively. And the reason, one of the reasons Kevin liked playing with him
11:01in Phoenix and other guys have liked playing with him is he is genuinely very unselfish.
11:05That sounds cliche, but if he's not scoring buckets, but he's getting deflections and,
11:10um, making the hustle plays, like he's fine with that. So I think that Josh, that if you're,
11:16if you're including kind of Tari and Reed, both in that, who has started unit, um, I'm going to say
11:22Josh Rikogi is going to be a massive X factor. And then, and then look like there, there are nights
11:27that the Rockets would not have won without Aaron holiday period point blank. Like they wouldn't have
11:33won without Aaron, you know, sinking shots and certain hustle plays from Jay Sean Pate,
11:38who of course has the longest 10 year bracket. So I would say the biggest X factor would be
11:43Josh Rikogi. If you're talking like kind of the off the bench, the sixth man role, but I mean,
11:49every playoff team needs bench guys and role players to step up in the playoffs every single
11:54year. You see, like I said earlier, a game where, um, you know, there has to be that,
11:59that bench player that gets hot.
12:01Vanessa, I'm going to ask you a question that I hope has nothing to do with the playoffs
12:04because it involves Clint Capella's three point stroke. Um, but one of, one of my favorite
12:10post-game interviews this year was you interviewing Clint Capella after he hit his first three point
12:15attempt, uh, of the year. Is that, is that one of your favorite all-time post-game interviews?
12:20That's up there. Um, first of all, because CC is such a great person and, and, and amazing,
12:28amazing, amazing teammate, um, teammate on the court. But for those of us that work behind the
12:34scenes, the broadcasters, the producers, social media, PR, like Clint is just a joy to work with.
12:40And so for him to get his first step for career three. And then it's funny, like people, a lot
12:46of
12:46people didn't realize until after he met with the media, that you may drew that up for him.
12:50Yeah. So yes, you may drew it up for him, which I thought was so great and so nice of
12:56email. And
12:56so, um, look when it's, it's the final game of the season and rockets are locked into their
13:03seating and they're just waiting to see who they're playing. And it is a great, a great chance
13:07for those guys to get some run and for just something kind of wacky to happen, but something
13:12that, that authentically meant a lot to him. Yeah. I love that. I loved it. Vanessa Richardson joining us
13:18Vanessa, before we get you out of here along those lines, um, you've done many a post-game
13:22interview with Kevin Durant because he's been amazing this season. So that I know that's very
13:26exciting for you. Um, so with Kevin Durant coming here and you you're there on a day-to-day basis,
13:32you're traveling with the team in terms of covering Kevin Durant. Is there anything I know you've
13:37enjoyed it. Is there anything that's surprised you or, you know, just that you weren't expecting
13:42in terms of covering Durant that you've seen behind the scenes? Yeah. Um, and it's going to sound
13:47like a, like maybe political or PR answer, but it's the truth. He is one of the nicest superstars
13:54I've ever been around. He, and, and not that I didn't expect that. I had actually met him and
13:59interviewed him a couple of times for some national stuff, but I, I had, didn't obviously get to know
14:04him. He is truly a kind person and, um, takes the time to be very thoughtful. There's nothing
14:11manufactured about his image. Um, you know, he feels his feelings and he, you, I like that he
14:18wears his emotions on his face during a game. Like we always ask that of, of athletes, you know,
14:24we want you to be genuine. We want you to be authentic. Um, I have really enjoyed the authenticity
14:29part of it. And I had a gut feeling he was like that, but I didn't know it for sure.
14:33And then just
14:33how he leads by example. Um, you know, everybody knows he might not be the most vocal guy,
14:39but Rafal and Emei are kind enough and trust me enough to watch every practice and every shoot
14:44around and to see him work with the guys and to see him really take them under his wing, um,
14:50and teach them throughout the year. Cause they all grew up looking up to him has been,
14:54has been really cool as well. So, um, so what exactly are they going to have you doing out
14:58there in LA since the games aren't going to be on space city home network, but we know you're
15:02going to be traveling out there. What are you going to be doing that the fans can keep an eye
15:06out for?
15:07Yeah, we'll be doing behind the scenes interviews at the practices. We'll be gathering sound at
15:12shoot around. Um, I'll do a walk-off interview, you know, when the Rockets win and we'll be going
15:17to the locker room and the post-game press conferences and then, you know, hopefully just
15:21some fun behind the scenes stuff. You know, there's, there's going to be, um, a lot of guys that,
15:27uh, you know, are going to have family out in LA and, um, you know, friends out there. And so
15:32I
15:32think it should be really fun, but definitely more behind the scenes footage. And of course,
15:37Craig and Ryan will be hosting those post-game shows. They'll be hyper local for sure on Rockets,
15:43but, but we're also, you know, I think Craig and Ryan do a really good job of breaking down
15:47the opponent as well. And, um, certainly not a better storyline this first round than,
15:52than what could be one of the last playoff series between LeBron and Kevin.
15:56No doubt. And so those post-game shows will be on the network, right? The games won't,
16:00but the post-game shows. Yep. The games are not on the network for the first year. Um,
16:05unfortunately with the new media rights deal, but the post-game shows are on the network.
16:10They are on SCH and the app. And then if you are in Houston and you can't come to the
16:15game,
16:15make sure you watch our post-game show. But if you can, um, the tickets are actually available
16:20right now on rockets.com. There you go. Vanessa Richardson. And the nice thing about this,
16:24the nice thing about this stretched out schedule, Vanessa, is you get to spend two days in LA between
16:29game one and two. So that's kind of nice. You know, it's not a back to back. It's not terrible.
16:32My, my birthday is Thursday. And so I'll be, you know, and I'll get to see my girlfriends out in
16:39LA and it'll be nice. But, um, yeah, great weather. We're going to stack some rockets wins and it could
16:44be fun. I'm a total failure. You mentioned my wife earlier, Amy, when I told her you were coming on
16:48with us yesterday, when I, when you and I saw each other in the building and I said, Vanessa's coming
16:52on with us tomorrow, she said, wish her a happy birthday. And I failed. I totally, I totally
16:57failed. This is why we need women. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. Yeah. Someone for many reasons. Yes.
17:02Yes. Hey, Vanessa, safe travels. Uh, happy shopping for the rest of the day. And, uh,
17:07we'll talk to you soon. Go rockets. Talk to y'all soon. All right. Thanks. That's, uh,
17:11the great Vanessa Richardson joining us on the show. Um, she'll be out in LA space city home network
17:17post game shows news games over on ABC, NBC or prime flip over to space city home network.
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