logo
Podcast: Rockets-Warriors playoff series predictions, keys to success

Podcast: Rockets-Warriors playoff series predictions, keys to success

USA Today17-04-2025

Podcast: Rockets-Warriors playoff series predictions, keys to success Discussion topics on the series preview podcast include predictions and key storylines to watch for, as well as potentially crucial variables for Houston.
Is the fifth time the charm? With a first-round series (schedule) against their longtime nemesis coming up, Rockets podcasters Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves explain why 2025 should finally be the time for Houston to beat Golden State in the NBA playoffs.
The Rockets previously lost to the Warriors in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019 playoffs. However, all of those losses came during the previous James Harden-led era — when none of Houston's current players or coaches were part of the organization.
As the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, these Rockets (52-30) will have home-court advantage over the No. 7 Warriors (48-34). Game 1 and Game 2 will take place on Sunday and Wednesday inside Houston's Toyota Center, as would Game 5 and Game 7 (if necessary). Game 3, Game 4, and Game 6 (if necessary) are slated for San Francisco's Chase Center.
Looking ahead, discussion topics on the series preview podcast include key storylines to watch for; predictions on what is likely to happen; and the role of players such as Alperen Sengun, Tari Eason, Steven Adams, and Fred VanVleet as potentially crucial variables for the Rockets.
Thursday's podcast, which is sponsored by Houston-based Karbach Brewing, can be listened to below in its entirety. Each episode of the show is also made available via flagship radio station SportsTalk 790 and to all major podcast distributors under 'The Lager Line.'
More: With opponent set, Rockets begin preparations for first-round playoff series with Warriors

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Is Manchester City v Wydad on TV? How to watch Club World Cup game for free
Is Manchester City v Wydad on TV? How to watch Club World Cup game for free

Yahoo

time17 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Is Manchester City v Wydad on TV? How to watch Club World Cup game for free

Manchester City kick off their Club World Cup campaign in Philadelphia, facing Moroccan side Wydad AC. Pep Guardiola has added a string of new signings to his squad ahead of the tournament, with Wolves full-back Rayan Ait-Nouri and AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Rejinders among those who have already joined following a disappointing Premier League campaign for the club. Advertisement Casablanca-based Wydad finished third in the Moroccan top flight last season, and are in the enlarged competition by virtue of winning the 2021/22 CAF Champions League. When and where is Manchester City v Wydad? Manchester City face Wydad at midday ET in Philadelphia on Wednesday, June 18. That is 5pm BST. The match will take place at Lincoln Financial Field, which is the home of NFL outfit Philadelphia Eagles, and holds just shy of 68,000. How to watch the Club World Cup DAZN will be broadcasting each match of the tournament live, from the opener up to and including the final, for free in the UK. All users can watch a live stream on television and mobile devices, all they need to do is sign up for the company's DAZN Freemium service, with the option to watch ad-free coverage for £14.99. Advertisement Users can watch DAZN from anywhere by using the DAZN App on TVs, smartphones and any device with a web browser. The streaming service has hired several footballing legends as part of it's coverage team, with Ronaldo Nazario, Claude Makelele, Sami Khedira, John Obi Mikel and Christian Vieri among the former players to feature on the punditry line-up, alongside Shay Given and Premier League striker Callum Wilson. Ade Oladipo, Kelly Somers and Olivia Buzaglo will act as hosts for the coverage alongside former Football Italia presenter James Richardson. And Conor McNamara will head the commentary team, with former Premier League players Andros Townsend, Michael Brown, Brad Friedel, Rob Green and Danny Higginbotham among the notable co-commentators. Club World Cup schedule and results GROUP STAGE Advertisement Saturday, June 14 Group A: Al Ahly 0-0 Inter Miami Sunday, June 15 Group C: Bayern Munich 10-0 Auckland City Group B: Paris Saint-Germain 4-0 Atlético Madrid Group A: Palmeiras 0-0 Porto Group B: Botafogo 2-1 Seattle Sounders Monday, June 16 Group C: Chelsea 2-0 LAFC Group D: Boca Juniors 2-2 Benfica Group C: Flamengo 2-0 Espérance de Tunis Tuesday, June 17 Group F: Fluminense vs. Borussia Dortmund, 12 p.m. ET (5 p.m. BST) (East Rutherford) Group E River Plate vs. Urawa Red Diamonds, 3 p.m. ET (8 p.m. BST) (Seattle) Group F: Ulsan HD vs. Mamelodi Sundowns, 6 p.m. ET (11 p.m. BST) (Orlando) Group E: Monterrey vs. Inter Milan, 3 p.m. ET (8 p.m. BST) (Pasadena) Advertisement Wednesday, June 18 Group G: Manchester City vs. Wydad AC, 12 p.m. ET (5 p.m. BST) (Philadelphia) Group H: Real Madrid vs. Al Hilal, 3 p.m. ET (8 p.m. BST) (Miami) Group H: Pachuca vs. FC Salzburg, 6 p.m. ET (11 p.m. BST) (Cincinnati) Group G: Al Ain vs. Juventus, 9 p.m. (2 a.m. BST) (Washington) Thursday, June 19 Group A: Palmeiras vs. Al Ahly, 12 p.m. ET, (5 p.m. BST) (East Rutherford) Group A: Inter Miami vs. Porto, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Atlanta) Group B: Seattle Sounders vs. Atlético Madrid, 6 p.m. ET (11 p.m. BST) (Seattle) Group B: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Botafogo, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m . BST)(Pasadena) Advertisement Friday, June 20 Group C: Benfica vs. Auckland City, 12 p.m. ET, (5 p.m. BST) (Orlando) Group D: Flamengo vs. Chelsea, 2 p.m. ET, (7 p.m. BST) (Philadelphia) Group D: LAFC vs. Espérance de Tunis, 6 p.m. ET, (11 p.m. BST) (Nashville) Group C: Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors , 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Miami) Saturday, June 21 Group F: Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Borussia Dortmund, 12 p.m. ET, (5 p.m. BST) (Cincinnati) Group E: Inter Milan vs. Urawa Red Diamonds, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Seattle) Group F: Fluminense vs. Ulsan HD, 6 p.m. ET, (11 p.m. BST) (East Rutherford) Group E: River Plate vs. Monterrey, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Pasadena) Advertisement Sunday, June 22 Group G: Juventus vs. Wydad AC, 12 p.m. ET, (5 p.m. BST) (Philadelphia) Group H: Real Madrid vs. Pachuca, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Charlotte) Group H: FC Salzburg vs. Al Hilal, 6 p.m. ET, (11 p.m. BST) (Washington) Group G: Manchester City vs. Al Ain, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Atlanta) Monday, June 23 Group B: Atlético Madrid vs. Botafogo, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Pasadena) Group B: Seattle Sounders vs. Paris Saint-Germain, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Seattle) Group A: Inter Miami vs. Palmeiras, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Miami Gardens) Group A: Porto vs. Al Ahly, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (East Rutherford) Advertisement Tuesday, June 24 Group C: Benfica vs. Bayern Munich, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Charlotte) Group C: Auckland City vs. Boca Juniors, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Nashville) Group D: Espérance de Tunis vs. Chelsea, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Philadelphia) Group D: LAFC vs. Flamengo, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Orlando) Wednesday, June 25 Group F: Borussia Dortmund vs. Ulsan HD, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Cincinnati) Group F: Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Fluminense, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Miami) Group E: Inter Milan vs. River Plate, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Seattle) Group E: Urawa Red Diamonds vs. Monterrey, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Pasadena) Advertisement Thursday, June 26 Group G: Wydad AC vs. Al Ain, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Washington) Group G: Juventus vs. Manchester City, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Orlando) Group H: Al Hilal vs. Mexico Pachuca, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Nashville) Group H: FC Salzburg vs. Real Madrid, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Philadelphia) ROUND OF 16 Saturday, June 28 Match 49: Winners of Group A vs. Runners of Group B (Philadelphia) Match 50: Winners of Group C vs. Runners of Group D (Charlotte) Sunday, June 29 Match 51: Winners of Group B vs. Runners of Group A (Atlanta) Match 52: Winners of Group D vs. Runners of Group C (Miami) Monday, June 30 Match 53: Winners of Group E vs. Runners of Group F (Charlotte) Advertisement Match 54: Winners of Group G vs. Runners of Group H (Orlando) Tuesday, July 1 Match 55: Winners of Group F vs. Runners of Group E (Atlanta) Match 56: Winners of Group H vs. Runners of Group G (Miami) QUARTER-FINALS Friday, July 4 Match 57: Winners of Match 49 vs. Winners of Match 50 (Philadelphia) Match 58: Winners of Match 53 vs. Winners of Match 54 (Orlando) Saturday, July 5 Match 59: Winners of Match 51 vs. Winners of Match 52 (Atlanta) Match 60: Winners of Match 55 vs. Winners of Match 56 (East Rutherford) SEMI-FINALS Tuesday, July 8 Match 61: Winners of Match 57 vs. Winners of Match 58 (East Rutherford) Advertisement Wednesday, July 9 Match 62: Winners of Match 59 vs. Winners of Match 60 (East Rutherford) FINAL Sunday, July 13 Match 63: Winners of Match 61 vs. Winners of Match 62 (East Rutherford) Watch every Fifa Club World Cup game free on DAZN.

Milos Kerkez 'announces' Liverpool move as Florian Wirtz flies in for medical
Milos Kerkez 'announces' Liverpool move as Florian Wirtz flies in for medical

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Milos Kerkez 'announces' Liverpool move as Florian Wirtz flies in for medical

Milos Kerkez has jumped the gun and seemingly announced his move to Liverpool. The left-back is expected to leave Bournemouth for Anfield in the coming days in a deal, with both clubs in talks over a deal worth at least £40million. Advertisement It is set to be a busy week for Liverpool, who are set to welcome Florian Wirtz to their Melwood training ground to complete a medical ahead of a club-record-smashing £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen. Kerkez has been tipped as the long-term successor to Andy Robertson, who turned 31 years old in March and is now attracting interest from Atletico Madrid in Spain. All smiles: Milos Kerkez is expected to join Liverpool (Getty Images) Talks between the two clubs are reportedly at an advanced stage, and there is a hope an agreement over a deal will be reached this week. But, at this stage, Kerkez remains a Cherries player. But that has not stopped him greeting his soon-to-be-new fans. Speaking on a live stream with a Serbia-based Liverpool supporters group, the Bournemouth full-back reportedly said: "Hi! Greetings to all Liverpool fans." Advertisement He was also pictured holding up a flag of the Liverpool supporter group. One fan replied with: 'A legend already. He love us (sic).' Another added: 'He's announced himself.' Another support mused that 'he must have signed his contract because these no way he would risk putting the transfer at risk because he couldn't keep his mouth closed (sic.)' One concerned fan offered: 'I hope Bournemouth fans don't get upset with this.... I can imagine the rage if it were Trent ... Except this guy has already signed.' Bournemouth have already signed Kerkez's replacement, announcing the £14.5m signing of Adrien Truffert from Rennes earlier this week. Kerkez would seemingly replace Robertson as first-choice left-back, with Kostas Tsimikas remaining as manager Arne Slot's back-up option.

Miami Heat's fallback option emerges in the event of failed Giannis Antetokounmpo trade
Miami Heat's fallback option emerges in the event of failed Giannis Antetokounmpo trade

Yahoo

time5 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Miami Heat's fallback option emerges in the event of failed Giannis Antetokounmpo trade

Like just about every team in the league, the Miami Heat would love to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. But what if the Milwaukee Bucks aren't ready to trade the face of their franchise? Chances are, the Bucks aren't ready to trade the two-time MVP. So, if the Heat aren't able to pry Antetokounmpo away from Milwaukee, where should Miami turn next? According to Mike Scotto of Hoops Hype, the Heat could view trading for Jonathan Kuminga as a 'fallback option.' 'Miami has prioritized pursuits of Giannis Antetokounmpo (if he became available this summer) and Durant (whom they're actively trying to acquire) on their wish list ahead of Kuminga, who's viewed as a fallback option to the two superstars.' Hoops Hype on Miami Heat/Jonathan Kuminga Advertisement While every fan in Miami would instantly recognize Antetokounmpo or Kevin Durant, some non-basketball enthusiasts may need to be informed on the type of potential Kuminga offers. The seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft will still be just 23 when next season starts, and he's averaged over 15.3 points per game across the past two years. He could very well be the next breakout star that takes the NBA by storm, but the Warriors aren't eager to just give the former first-round pick away either. Besides, why wouldn't the Heat have just demanded that Kuminga be the centerpiece in their previous Jimmy Butler trade with the Warriors? It's possible Golden State just wasn't ready to move on from their young wing prospect quite yet. We'll see if that changes this offseason. Related: Kevin Durant trade rumors deliver disappointing update for Heat, Rockets and Spurs fans Related Headlines

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store