ESPN's Carlos Boozer makes case for Rockets as West's second-best team
ESPN's Carlos Boozer makes case for Rockets as West's second-best team 'Young teams that are this talented are dangerous in the playoffs,' former NBA player and current ESPN analyst Carlos Boozer says of the Rockets.
With 10 wins in their last 11 games, the Rockets are the NBA's hottest team in March 2025. That stretch has lifted Houston (47-26) from No. 5 to No. 2 in the tightly packed Western Conference standings.
That level of consistent play also draws national attention. In a Wednesday segment on ESPN's NBA Today, former NBA star and current league analyst Carlos Boozer argued for Houston being the second-best team in the West (behind only 60-12 Oklahoma City).
When asked to name the West's second-best team, Boozer made his case:
Everybody wants to talk about the Denver Nuggets, the Lakers, the Clippers, and even the Warriors. But I'm going right there in H-Town, with Houston I think they've got a star in Alperen Sengun. He's a 20 (points), 10 (rebounds, and 5 (assists) guy. Baby Jokic, I like that (nickname). He does a great job.
Jalen Green has turned himself into a both-sides-of-the-court guy. He can play defense, and he can score. He can put up 30 (points) a night, if he has to. He's averaging 22 right now.
They've got some veteran guys to go with this young core, Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks locking up (defensively). They've got Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. This team is quietly just going about their business They've won 10 out of 11 (games). They lock teams up. They can score with anybody. And they're young. Young teams that are this talented are dangerous in the playoffs.
Led by talented young players such as Boozer and Deron Williams, the Utah Jazz upset the Tracy McGrady-led Rockets in a pair of first-round playoff series in 2007 and 2008.
Now, almost 20 years later, Boozer is picking a new generation of Rockets to perhaps have a similar level of postseason success as they embark upon their first playoff run.
ESPN's complete video segment on Houston can be viewed below. As for the regular season, the Rockets will resume play Thursday with a road matchup versus Boozer's former team, the Jazz (16-57). Tipoff from Utah's Delta Center is at 8:00 p.m. Central.
More: By the numbers: As Rockets stack wins, Jalen Green diversifies his game
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC Sports
33 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
Khalil Mack: Staying with Chargers was less about finances than about winning games
Chargers outside linebacker Khalil Mack says looking for the most lucrative contract offer wasn't his top priority as free agency approached in March. Mack, who stayed with the Chargers on a one-year, $18 million deal, said he thinks there's more he can accomplish with the Chargers and wants to be part of what they're building. 'I had to be fair in the approach to things and not making it about just finances and all the different things,' Mack said, via ESPN. 'I tried to make it more so just about winning ball games.' The Chargers went 11-6 last season in Jim Harbaugh's first year as head coach, and that has Mack thinking about a bright future in Los Angeles. 'Just not wanting to give up on that goal and that ambition that I have ever since I stepped into the league,' Mack said. 'I knew I wanted to play in important games and win a Super Bowl.' For all that he has accomplished in his NFL career, Mack has never experienced winning a playoff game. That's something he thinks he can do with the Chargers, and is one of the reasons he's back for another year.
Indianapolis Star
37 minutes ago
- Indianapolis Star
Get in the game: Here's how to watch the 2025 U.S. Open from Oakmont CC on Hulu Live TV
This weekend's PGA Tour event is a Father's Day special that many will be enjoying with their dad's as the U.S. Open tees off its 125th event from an infamously difficult course. Beginning today, June 12, through Father's Day on Sunday, June 15, the top men's golfers in the world will take on the third of four majors on the tour at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa. More: What is Hulu + Live TV? What do you get with a Hulu + Live TV subscription? Here's what you need to know The likes of Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm are among the 156 players entered and expected to compete at the U.S. Open. Scheffler is currently the No. 1 ranked player in the world while Mcllroy is fresh off his first Masters victory and completing the career grand slam just two months ago. With the event airing on NBC and USA Network, some streaming services don't offer a way to tune in. However, a subscription to Hulu + Live TV allows fans to watch the U.S. Open round-to-round. To catch every moment, here's how golf fans can watch their favorite player vie for the U.S. Open championship on Hulu + Live TV. Watch the U.S. Open with Hulu + Live TV Hulu + Live TV is a streaming and live television combo that rivals cable packages. However, there are no hidden charges like typical cable box fees, satellite costs or anything else. There is no installation and all you need is an internet connection and a TV with access to an app store either through an extension or a smart TV. Hulu + Live TV allows you to surf over 100 channels of TV, news, live sports and entertainment. Plus, you have access to the entire streaming library, including original content, available with a Hulu streaming subscription. STREAMING GUIDE: Deals, bundles and free trials on Disney+, Peacock, Sling TV Hulu + Live TV packages offer over 100 channels of live TV, news, sports, entertainment and more. Some channels will depend on your local market. Here's a look at some of the top channels Hulu + Live TV offers: This package includes access to Disney+ and ESPN+. Disney+ is typically $9.99 per month with ads and ESPN+ is typically $11.99/month. Plus, you get over 100 of the top national and local channels with your favorite live sports, news and events, not to mention the entire Hulu library (which is typically $9.99 per month). The Hulu + Live TV with ads package includes unlimited DVR to store live TV recordings for up to nine months and fast-forward through your favorite TV content. It also includes a live TV guide to navigate channels. Get Hulu + Live TV (with ads) This package gives you all the benefits of Hulu + Live TV without ads for streaming content. You still get over 100 of the top national and local channels with your favorite live sports, news and events, which may have ads, but you can stream all of favorite movies and TV shows in the Hulu library without ads. Hulu typically airs new episodes for streaming the day after they air on live TV. Plus, you get access to Disney+ and ESPN+. Disney+ is typically $9.99 per month with ads and ESPN+ is typically $11.99 per month. ESPN+ content will appear directly in the Hulu app. However, ads will still be served in select live and linear content on Disney+. Get Hulu + Live TV (without ads)
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Inside Pat McAfee's world: Adam Schefter's ban, solo GameDay dreams, possibly more live events
Pat McAfee's style is born from WWE DNA. McAfee is a character with traces of Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock and Roman Reigns — only real. He is outlandish, impulsive and lives in his own McAfeesphere. McAfee's unpredictable nature in writing his script is intoxicating for his audience. Like the best WWE stars, he can have his hand out to shake on an agreement and then quickly pull it away. That's Pat McAfee's music. Advertisement In recent weeks, McAfee has touted '#UpToSomethingSZN' on his social media feeds, which is the term he uses when he is thinking about new deals. While he is currently under contract with ESPN and WWE, the constraints of signed agreements have never stopped him. McAfee tends to get what he wants, which was exemplified by the right to swear on ESPN during his daily talk program, 'The Pat McAfee Show.' This privilege, a first in the network's long history, was part of McAfee's five-year, $85 million-plus licensing agreement with ESPN that he signed in the spring of 2023. McAfee has two years left on his College GameDay contract. Last year, he considered not returning before re-signing. He has mused with associates about starting his own, independent version of GameDay, according to sources briefed on discussions. This does not appear to be happening, at least not now. But he is mercurial and can make big decisions seemingly on whims. McAfee cares about his image. During a GameDay stop in Norman, Oklahoma, last fall, McAfee grew upset about being shown swinging and missing during a segment in which he faced a University of Oklahoma softball pitcher. McAfee, according to sources briefed on the incident, demanded to know the name of the GameDay staff member who put it on the air, but he was denied the information. He has essentially banned ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter from his program since March. The usually omnipresent Schefter hasn't been on 'The Pat McAfee Show' since that month's free agent deadline. Sources said that the main issue stemmed from one incident. One afternoon, McAfee wanted Schefter on his program. Schefter was appearing on an ESPN2 free agency special and was unable to make it. Schefter, formerly a McAfee Show regular, has been banished ever since. (A McAfee sidekick, Ty Schmit, has remained a regular on Schefter's podcast). Advertisement Schefter's rival, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, has been on McAfee's show instead. Prior to McAfee's program airing on ESPN, Rapoport had been a regular. ESPN NFL newcomer Peter Schrager also has appeared. 'Pat and his show are thriving on ESPN,' ESPN president of content Burke Magnus said in a statement. 'We are very pleased with the partnership. That said, in the nearly three years since Pat has brought his show to our platforms, we've continuously seen those out there that are seemingly obsessed with wanting to see Pat fail on ESPN. This rumor is just the latest example of that. Pat and his show continue to break the mold and reach new audiences, and we look forward to the continued success together.' Magnus did not answer any questions. McAfee did not return messages. ESPN declined further comment. Hours after The Athletic reached out about Schefter's banishment, an ESPN spokesperson said that Schefter will return to McAfee's show on Thursday for the first time in around three months. Besides the behind-the-scenes machinations, McAfee has also been in the middle of on-air headlines. He has discussed a false internet rumor about an unknown 18-year-old college student, which made national headlines, called a now-former top ESPN executive a 'rat' and allowed Aaron Rodgers to pontificate political and medical theories on the all-sports network. McAfee likes to pretend like he is some dumb jock, but he is smart and has quickly figured out the sports media business. He can do good and charitable TV, like his must-see kicking segments during GameDay, where he has given college students the chance to make a field goal for hundreds of thousands of dollars. He and Nick Saban, a yin-and-yang combo, have breathed new life into the iconic program. All in all, McAfee freelances, not guided by some traditional media playbook. He is gutsy, willing to jump from his WWE commentator seat and into the ring, and then make a bet-on-himself career turn. Advertisement In 2017, McAfee, then just 29 with knee issues, walked away from a $2.8 million salary as the punter for the Indianapolis Colts to join Barstool Sports. After several moves, his popularity led to a reported four-year, $120 million deal with FanDuel. Two years ago, he left that contract before its completion to sign his licensing deal with ESPN. ESPN values its connection with McAfee, who attracts a younger audience, according to ESPN's internal data. He and Stephen A. Smith are the network's most talked-about personalities. McAfee's association with ESPN is part of its strategy as it dives into the full direct-to-consumer game beginning this fall. ESPN will make its service available without a cable or any other type of bundled subscription. (Fans with cable or a similar subscription will see no change to their ESPN access.) In ESPN's first 30-second promotion for the new venture, McAfee joined Smith, Scott Van Pelt, Malika Andrews and Dick Vitale as the only current on-air personalities shown. As part of the fall launch of the direct-to-consumer service, a campaign that ESPN has marketed as 'Sports Forever,' ESPN has been trying to add more content to the enhanced ESPN app to make it a go-to for existing and future customers. It failed in luring Colin Cowherd from Fox Sports but succeeded with former ESPN personality Rich Eisen, taking his daily show from Roku. Both Cowherd's and Eisen's talk shows happen to be on at the same time as McAfee's noon-3 p.m. ET program. They would not have replaced McAfee from noon-2 p.m on ESPN's main channel, but they will be available via streaming, like McAfee's show. 'We will have responses, as well,' McAfee said on the air after the Eisen news was public. McAfee did not offer up any specifics. Adding to the time-slot counter-programming, Smith will have his own SiriusXM program from 1-3 p.m. ET that will be in direct competition with McAfee. ESPN has plenty of on-air contributors to go around, but there may be more scoreboard-keeping from McAfee, as there was with Schefter in March. Advertisement McAfee clearly values the guests he has — and part of his personality seems to crave the WWE-type conflict. He writes the script and, like the best dramas, it is always hard to know where it is going to go. We will offer a prediction of sorts: McAfee will likely look to do more live events. In April, he performed in front of a reported crowd of more than 12,500 fans in an arena in Pittsburgh, where he grew up. His guests included big names, like singer Jelly Roll, comedian Shane Gillis and wrestler Jey Uso, among others. Maybe McAfee sets his sights on New Year's Eve and tries to create his own franchise, like a modern day Dick Clark or a counter to Ryan Seacrest and Anderson Cooper as the ball drops. McAfee could use his WWE instincts to find new rivals. He likes to be the one counter-programming.
