Rockets Are Real Deal for BIGGEST Threat To Thunder! Alperen Sengun BEST Scoring BIG Not Jokic?

Rockets Are Real Deal for BIGGEST Threat To Thunder! Alperen Sengun BEST Scoring BIG Not Jokic?

this. We’re going to kill this. We’re going to talk some hoops. Let’s get into it. Rockets Cavs. That’s our first game to discuss. Uh Shingune, five straight wins for Houston, by the way. 114 104. He finishes with 2811 and seven. Kevin Durant had his 20. Uh Houston outrebounds Cleveland 5139. I think that’s interesting. Donovan Mitchell, like we’ve seen this before, his fourth quarter craziness. He had 19 in the fourth in this one. Um but we can talk about that in a second. They are 10 and one since they started the season with two losses and we all started to doubt them right away. Lou, I’ll start with you. Uh they’ve they’ve obviously shown something and they’ve turned things around. Are they now the biggest threat to the Thunder? I think they’re the real deal. I I think between them and Denver, those are going to be the two teams that’s going to give OKC a run for their money when it comes to to postseason basketball play. I think Houston has all of the pieces. They can score with the best of them. they can put a bunch bunch of points on the board. But the surprising thing is their top five defense and allowing points scored as well, you know. So when you look at both of those things and you look at a team led by Singon and Kevin Durant and they’re playing at a high level, they’re going to be a threat to anybody. Now, the only thing for me is when it comes to OKC, they’ve created so much separation in how they play and how they operate as a team and the pieces they have. We yet to still we yet to see Jaylen Williams on the floor for this team and they’re still rolling. They’re still beating everybody and they’ve created so much separation from whoever the second place team is. And another threat for me I feel like is going to be Denver. Denver is going to be in that conversation as well uh with the year that Joker is having and along with Jamal Murray and that two-point and and a lot of people aren’t even talking about Aaron Gordon and the way that he’s been uh impactful for that team as well. Those are going to be the top three teams I feel like that’s going to be in this conversation. But Houston is definitely doing its thing on both ends of the basketball and it’s only been a sample size, but I like where they stand as far as competitive nature and where they are in the uh where they are in the West right now. Yeah. And we’ve talked about how deep the Western Conferences since jump, right? We knew Oklahoma City what they were going to do. Now, I don’t know if we knew they were going to go 15-1. And by the way, I looked ahead at their schedule. There’s a good chance this team goes like 32 and three. Like they are they are so good and they are there’s such a difference between them right now and these other teams. But Houston’s there, Denver’s there, the two teams that that Lou mentioned. And then there’s the sneaky teams, the the Lakers, they’re starting to get healthy. They’re figuring things out. Minnesota Timber are a team that can get hot and they have a lot of talent. And then the Spurs, when they’re fully healthy, they’re they’re they’re so young and I still think they’re a year away, but man, when they’re fully healthy, they defend. They’re so versatile. So, I think those five teams all really have a chance to continue to get better throughout this season. But when you look at the starting five of Houston and you look at the play now that Reed Shepard’s starting to give you, Aaron Holidayiday gives you 18 last night and you look at the size of their starting five, their smallest guy in their starting lineup is is Ahmed Thompson. He’s 6’6. So, I’m not surprised at how good of a offensive rebounding team they are. You got Singon playing at an allNBA level. Kevin R. I’ve never seen him. Team is more teams more team. He’s more [Music] seems to be at peace. Oh no. Is it doing it? Drink. If you had your bingo card, take a drink. We got it. Kevin Durant seems to be at peace right now. Just kind of praising Son and all his teammates. So, Houston is is redot right now. And they are going to be a tough out cuz in the playoff in the playoff series come you know come half court offense this team can beat you in a bunch of different ways. They’re so they’re so big and tall and athletic on the offensive glass and they showed that last night. They can really beat you up there and dominate on the glass. So they’re good and it’s still to me it’s Oklahoma City and then Denver and Houston right there and then those other three teams I mentioned though the Western Conference is still stacked. By the way, just uh not to get ahead of ourselves, but tomorrow they do have a cup game against Denver. So, that’s a that’s a mustsea. Put it on your calendar. Speaking of um just put Yish to the side. And Chandler, I have loved the sort of mutual love fest that’s been going on between KD and Shingun. I I just think it’s a really good story. Uh and he’s so complimentary and he said he’s never played with a big man that scores the way he does. So, we got Jokic. He’s in a category of his own. Is Shenun the best scoring big right now besides you? I mean, outside of Jokic, you look at look at the numbers, they don’t lie. And this dude, I think it’s the way he plays. He He’s so versatile. He’s so agile for a big man to kind of lead the offense to get that defensive rebound and push the break. So, he’s one of them. And if you look at the stats, I mean, Maradin, you can he’s not really a five, he’s more of a four. market and Joic and Wimby are the only guys that are the technically bigs that that are averaging more points than him. So, it’s a fair comment for him to say that. It’s a fair comment for him to believe that. And I think with this makeup of this team, they can really showcase his versatility all season long. And he’s going to I don’t think this is like a fool’s gold thing where he’s averaging crazy numbers early and he’s going to tinker off. I think he’s going to stay right where he is or get better. He’s shooting a three-pointer at at 45% I think it was. So, he can do it all. he can step out. He punishes smaller guys on him and there’s no real recipe of guarding this guy. So outside those other three guys that statistically average more points right now he’s right there. I think this is fun to watch. I love it. Okay, let’s do a little Cavs here because Nick Van Exel said that when they lost JB Bicker staff, uh the Cavs lost their toughness. I I love sentences like this because it goes many different ways. He also, you know, look, he went on to say Kenny Atinson’s a great coach. There’s nothing wrong with that, but he’s offensiveminded. Uh, and that a lot of times coaches and teams will sort of take each other’s personalities on. Uh, Lou, I’m wondering if you agree that Cleveland has lost their toughness. Well, I I said it yesterday. I I I didn’t say that they lost their toughness, but I just would like to see them be a tougher basketball team. Like, you want to see them get a little grind, little grittier, get down on the floor and and mix it up with some teams, especially with the the identity that they have. I think they play a pretty style of basketball. They play a very flowing style of basketball and as we know in the postseason it’s gonna it’s going to get tough. It’s you got to get your hands dirty and I just want to see them have that. So I’m not going to comment to what they didn’t have and what they what they don’t. I just want to see them be a tougher team moving forward and and you know and to speak to Kenny Atkinson. I work with both of these guys. I work with Nick Van Axel at the same time that I work with Kenny uh with Kenny Atinson in Atlanta. And you know, Kenny doesn’t have the reputation for being a super tough type of uh basketball coach, but he knows what he’s doing. And he’s no pushover either at the same at the at the same time. And teams are a reflection of their coach a lot of the times. And so, you know, with that, Kenny is going to put them in the positions to be successful on the offensive end. He knows what he’s doing when it comes to drawing up plays and putting guys in the right position to score the basketball. But, you know, as far as toughness, that got to be in in you. you know, that has to be part of your makeup individually and then you bring that to the table. So, this team very much has the personality of their coach, but at the same time, toughness is going to come from each individual guy and pulling that out of themselves, you know? So, I don’t know if they lost their toughness when they fire JB. I think naturally, they just got a they got a bunch of nice guys. They have a bunch of guys that carries themselves like that, but I just want to see them get their hands dirty a little bit more than where they are right now. Especially when it comes to a deep postseason run. It’s going to be some grind out games where it’s going to be low scoring, where the game is not going to be as free flowing. They’re going to take away some of your cuts. They’re going to take away some of your first and second options where you’re going to have to get down to your third and fourth opportunities on the offensive end. And that’s where that toughness is going to come in. Not necessarily just pushing people around and wanting to fight. No, we mean mental toughness. We mean toughness going out there and just trying to operate in a space where when things get tough, you know, you have guys that are built for it. You know, even Donovan Mitch Mitchell mentioned it. They weren’t tested. They weren’t battle tested. Everybody is talking about the toughness of the Cleveland Cavaliers, including the Cleveland Cavaliers and and especially their best player, you know. So, when those questions are being asked, you got to find that somewhere, especially if you want to compete for a championship. Yeah. And listen, we’re one season removed from Kenny Atkins winning coach of the year. So, it’s hard to insult him in any way, but when you look at the makeup of this team, who is their enforcer? Who is their Draymond Green? Who is that guy that when push comes to shove in a playoff series, then they have more talent? They score more points usually. Who’s going to be that difference maker? And I think that’s what Van Axel means. And that’s where I do agree. When you look up the makeup of these two rosters, there’s no way that the Detroit Pistons are getting punked this year. And I don’t think that’s all on JB Bicker staff instilling this crazy tough think that’s just the that’s just the that’s just the what indeed to do with but also that’s on the players. Put Isaiah Stewart on the Cavs. Put put some put some other guys like that on that Cavs roster. I think they automatically overnight gain some toughness. But Kenny’s always been an offensive coach and their offense has taken a little hit. Last year when they started off 15 and0 and they were rolling. They were the number one offense. They’re the number seven now, which is still pretty good, you know, to to look at it out of 30 teams. But this is an offensive team and sometimes that can bite you in the butt come playoff times, come in a series where teams take away what you do best. Then it’s all the little things and it’s effort, then it’s toughness, and this team hasn’t had that in the postseason when it matters the most. So, I agree with Vanexo. I think JB was that guy and I said it countless times. I think that was a bad move. But then again, they hired the guy that won coach year in his first year. So, who I think they both won. No, I think this I look I’m not one of those I’m not cheesy this way, but I think everything happened the way it was supposed to cuz honestly they’re both in like really good spots and and killing it, especially JB. Uh Jared Allen, look, we got a dunk last night. Doesn’t count. However, sometimes you just have to give credit to the art. Uh that that’s on Shangon. Top 10 know yourself. Ain’t for everybody. It’s a little nasty. I I kind of like that it’s Jared Allen who’s like the nice guy. This is like when when you jump from so far like Dwight Howard, you don’t even touch the rim on a dunk. It’s imp it’s impressive. Yeah. God, that must be fun to do. Attacking the rim make you foul me. That’s toughness. I like it. I like it. I like that. If it didn’t hit him in the face, too, it probably it probably counts. Yeah, that was that was a fun one. We had we had to show that one just because it was good. Okay, we had other games. Don’t look now. Toronto. Hey, can

On November 20, 2025 episode of ‘Run It Back’ on FanDuel TV, co-hosts Michelle Beadle, Chandler Parsons, and Lou Williams are joined by former Milwaukee Bucks Larry Sanders to talk about if the Houston Rockets are the biggest threat to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Dallas Mavericks are not trading Anthony Davis.

FULL EPISODE HERE: https://youtube.com/live/2BxPVnKlrq8

CHAPTERS
0:00 ROCKETS VS CAVALIERS REACTIONS
0:25 ROCKETS BIGGEST THREAT?
4:10 SENGUN THE BEST SCORING BIG OUTSIDE JOKIC?
5:28 CAVS LOST THEIR TOUGHNESS?
9:00 JARRETT ALLEN DUNKS ON ALPEREN SENGUN

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