Kings GM Scott perry and HC Doug Christie during the introductory press conference (Photo: Jeremiah Salmonson)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
Category: NBA
NBA Playoffs podcast Michael Roberson: Rockets close the gap with 131-116 win over Golden State; Warriors hold a one game lead 3-2
Golden State Warriors Brandin Podziemski (2), Jimmy Butler (22), and Stephen Curry (30) watch from the bench in the second half as they lose game 5 of the NBA Playoffs first round to the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center in Houston on Wed Apr 30, 2025 (AP News photo)
NBA Playoffs podcast Michael Roberson:
#1 Golden State Warriors failed on both end of defense and offense on Wednesday and failed in an elimination opportunity to take out the Houston Rockets with a 131-116 loss as the Rockets cut the deficit in a now 3-2 series.
#2 The Warriors got into a jam early in the game as you saw super star players sitting on the Golden State bench, Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and the remaining Warriors starters as head coach Steve Kerr played the backups in the last five minutes in the third quarter with the Rockets up with a 20 point lead.
#3 Kerr did share in the blame of how the Warriors performed in Houston in game five saying that he did not have them ready to play. That the Warriors got into foul trouble with three fouls in a two minute segment of the game. The Rockets were 13 for 13 from free throw line at the end of the first quarter.
#4 After a very physical game 4 at Golden State and the series moved back to Houston for game 5 how fired up were this Rockets group they just jumped out at the Warriors right from the tip off?
#5 The Rockets head to Golden State for game 6 Fri May 2 for a 6:00pm PDT tip off. The Warriors can put this away with home court advantage and advance to the second round. However if the Rockets come out again keyed up and with another game plan to shut down Golden State’s starting line up it would force a game 7 that would go back to Houston on Sun May 4th.
Michael Roberson is an NBA analyst for http://www.sportsradioservice.com and writes for the African American Athlete.com
Golden State Warriors/NBA Playoffs podcast David Zizmor: Will there be more bad blood in game 5 Wednesday night?
In the second quarter of game 4 of the NBA Playoffs things got heated between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center in Houston on Mon Apr 28, 2025 (AP News photo)
On the Golden State Warriors podcast David Zizmor:
#1 Dave how much blame to you give Golden State Warriors Draymond Green who received a Flagrant 1 foul with 2:44 left in the second quarter when Green pushed the Houston Rockets Tari Eason’s face into the hardwood. Eason also picked up a technical.
#2 There was already tension between the two teams going back to game 2 when Jimmy Butler was upended landing on his back and got a pelvic contusion on Wednesday when he was hard fouled by Amen Thompson. On Friday Dillion Brooks said Green was a dirty player. Warrior head coach Steve Kerr called the comment “interesting?” Do you expect there to be more bad blood on Wednesday night in game 5 in Houston?
Join David Zizmor for more Golden State Warriors podcasts Wednesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
NBA Playoffs podcast Michael Roberson Wed Apr 23, 2025: Celtics Brown leads the way with 36 points beat Magic 109-100; Cavs go up 2-0 defeat Heat 121-112
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) takes a shot on the Orlando Magic’s guard Cory Joseph (10) in first half action in game 2 of the NBA first round playoffs at TD Garden in Boston on Wed Apr 23, 2025 (AP News photo)
NBA Playoffs podcast with Michael Roberson:
#1 Michael, the Boston Celtics took game 2 109-100 on Wednesday night. The Celtics once again got help from leading scorers Jaylen Brown 36 points, Kristaps Porzingis 20 points, and Derrick White with 17 points.
#2 The Magic now down 0-2 in this series couldn’t close the gap on the Celtics got scoring from Paolo Banchero with 32 points, Franz Wagner 25 points, and Wendell Carter Jr 16 points. The Magic have their backs to the wall with game 3 going back to Boston on Friday.
#3 The Cleveland Cavaliers Donavon Mitchell helped the Cavaliers go up 2-0 in the series leading with 30 points, Darius Garland 21 points, and Evan Mobley with 20 points. The Cavaliers had an offensive plan and won it 121-112.
#4 The Heat tried as hard as they might just didn’t get enough to try and tie this series up the leading scorers Tyler Herro 33 points, Davion Mitchell 18 points, and Haywood Highsmith with 17 points.
#5 The Heat are talented but do they have enough to make any noise as they head back to Miami for Saturday’s game 3?
Michael Roberson does the NBA podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
Scott Perry Returns to Sacramento With Optimism and Big Decisions Ahead
Scott Perry is introduced and joined by his wife in Sacramento on Wednesday. (Photo: Kevin John on X)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
SACRAMENTO — “Good morning everyone, I’m so excited to be back in Sacramento, California. It is a joy and a blessing for me…”
Scott Perry opened his second tenure in Sacramento with a tone of optimism and resolve from the main press conference room inside Golden 1 Center on Wednesday morning.
Perry, who had previously spent a few months with the Kings in 2017 before leaving for New York to join the Knicks, is now back in Sacramento for the long haul as General Manager of the club.
One of the most pressing decisions Perry faces is selecting his head coach. The new Kings GM did not commit to interim coach Doug Christie, but he also didn’t rule him out.
“I’ve spent time with Doug Christie already,” Perry said. “I admire him as a player and his career. I watched him this year from afar… He’s one of the first people I met with when I arrived here in Sacramento… I want to have a few more conversations in and around this job, and hopefully we can come to a decision in the next week or so.”
The Kings and Perry appear eager to get to work. The next few months should give Kings fans a strong indication of the long-term direction the franchise is heading.
Golden State Warriors podcast David Zizmor: Green says Curry Warriors ticket to winning games
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) scores while being surrounded by Houston Rockets Tari Eason (17) and Jalen Green (4) during game 1 of the NBA Playoffs first round at the Toyota Center in Houston on Sun Apr 20, 2025 (AP News photo)
Golden State Warriors podcast David Zizmor:
#1 Golden State Warriors guard Draymond Green said that game 1 basically boiled down to Stephen Curry leading the Warriors in scoring with 31 points to maintain a lead on the Houston Rockets, “In order for us to win basketball games it requires Steph Curry to be great,” Green said. “And he was just that.”
#2 Curry was 12 for 19 from the floor and hit five crucial of nine attempts for three pointers and got some acrobatic shots that even amazed his teammates.
#3 Game 2 is on deck Wednesday night. The Rockets are looking to get some scoring production from Albert Sengun who lead with 26 points in game 1 but their going to need a lot more from Fred VanVleet and Dillion Brooks if they plan to get by Golden State. David what’s your thoughts on game 2?
David Zizmor does the Golden State Warriors podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioserivce.com
Kings Eliminated by Mavericks 120-106 in Play-In; Monte McNair Fired Immediately After Game
Monte McNair ex GM (right) and owner Vivek Ranadive (left) of the Sacramento Kings (Photo: ESPN on X)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
SACRAMENTO–In a whirlwind of a season for the Kings, it all came down to one game. The Kings and Mavericks played in the Western Conference 9/10 play-in game on Wednesday night inside Golden 1 Center.
The sold-out crowd inside G1C was raucous from the start as the Kings looked for a win and a date with the Memphis Grizzlies in a second play-in game for the eighth seed. The Kings and Mavs largely had similar seasons marred with turmoil and turnover.
The Mavs made what many consider to be the worst trade in NBA history, shipping Luka Doncic out for the Lakers’ Anthony Davis. On the other hand, the Kings traded All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox and head coach Mike Brown during the season. Neither team could afford to lose the game, but one was destined to. The Sacramento Kings’ season ended on Wednesday as they lost to the Mavs 120-106.
In the first quarter, the Kings got off to a solid start. The pace and intensity matched the Mavericks’, and the Kings outscored them 29-27 in the opening quarter. It seemed the Kings came to play; however, the first quarter would be the only quarter in which the game was close.
In the second quarter, the Mavs exploded for 44 points compared to the Kings’ 19. The Kings appeared to lose all will to live in the game. I felt as if I was watching someone slowly die after the body had given up. The Kings went into halftime trailing the Mavs 71-48.
In the third quarter, the Mavs continued to pour it on. Dallas outscored the Kings 33-28 in the third as all hopes of a Kings comeback were snuffed out. The Kings continued to struggle to contain the Mavs, as their size and length proved too much for Sacramento.
In the fourth quarter, the Kings had all but mailed it in. The Kings couldn’t mount any comeback as they were blown off their home court by the final of 120-106. The Kings went out with a whimper in the 2024-2025 campaign. DeMar DeRozan led the Kings in defeat with 30 points in 43 minutes of action.
Immediately following the game, while reporters were in the locker room, I got word from a league source that Kings head coach Monte McNair was fired.
Following the news, players were called into a meeting while some still showered—another cog in the wild turn of events that was the Kings’ season.
The Kings will hold exit interviews later this week, and the media will get one last chance to talk to this current group of players.
NBA Playoffs podcast with Michael Roberson: Golden St’s Butler and Curry do damage in play in win over Memphis; Magic’s Anthony leads with 26 pts in win over Hawks; plus more news
Golden State Warriors Jimmy Butler (left) and Stephen Curry (right) embrace the Warriors victory over the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA play in win at Chase Center in San Francisco on Tue Apr 15, 205 (AP News photo)
NBA Playoffs podcast with Michael Roberson:
#1 Golden State Warriors Jimmy Butler scored 38 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, guard Stephen Curry scored 37 as the Warriors are the seventh seeded team in the NBA Western Conference with a 121-116 win over the Memphis Grizzlies in Tuesday night’s play in tournament at Chase Center in San Francisco. The Warriors have advanced to the best of seven games to face the Houston Rockets in Houston on Sunday.
#2 The Orlando Magic’s Cole Anthony came off the bench on Tuesday night with 26 points with six assists to help lead the Magic to a 120-95 win over the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA play in tournament. Paolo Banchero scored 17 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists and Wendell Carter Jr scored 19 points with seven rebounds. Next up for the Magic the Boston Celtics in Boston Sun Apr 20th for the best of seven series?
#3 On the other hand the Hawks Trae Young was none to thrilled with the direction of the play in game and was so frustrated that at 4:47 left in the game he got hit with two technical fouls one for throwing a chest pass at official James Williams and deflecting the ball with his foot and would not give the ball to official Pat Fraher. Was this a matter of how the Hawks just couldn’t get anything going against the Magic and Young had just had enough and this would be his season’s swan song?
#4 Michael, talk about Isiah Thomas’ comments regarding the Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James taking warm ups before last Sunday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers without a shirt on. Thomas said if it had been one of his players doing that he wouldn’t have allowed it. Thomas went onto to say “What are we doing here” and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver needs to fine that. Michael your thoughts on LeBron taking warm ups before games without a shirt on?
#5 Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison said that “defense wins championships” and he used that to explain why he made the decison to trade Luka Doncic to the Lakers in deal that shocked the NBA and quite frankly upset the Mavericks fanbase that had fans chanting in the stands for firing Harrison.
Michael Roberson does the NBA podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
NBA Playoffs/Golden State Warriors podcast David Zizmor Wed Apr 16, 2025: Warriors get set for next round with Rockets in Houston on Sunday
Golden State Warriors guard Stephn Curry (30) takes a jump shot three pointer against the Memphis Grizzlies Scotty Pipen Jr. at Chase Center in San Francisco on Tue Apr 15, 2025 in the play in game (AP News photo)
On the Golden State Warriors podcast with David Zizmor:
#1 The Warriors advance to the seven game series of the playoffs after defeating the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 at Chase Center in San Francisco on Tuesday night in the play in game.
#2 The Warriors had leading scorers with Jimmy Butler with 38 points and Stephen Curry with 37 points. The Grizzlies simply had trouble containing these two all night long.
#3 The Warriors move onto the next round in a best seven game series in Houston against the Houston Rockets as game 1 gets underway on Sunday. The Rockets have had a good season 52-30 and are 29-12 at home. The Warriors finished in the Western Conference seventh at 48-34 and have won seven of their last ten games. How do you see this series coming up?
Join David for the Warriors podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria: Can Kings get this play in game against Mavericks?
Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis (11) picked up his 61st double double of the season against the Phoenix Suns at Golden 1 Arena in Sacramento Sun Apr 13, 2025 (AP News photo)
Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria:
#1 Sacramento Kings Domantas Sabonis and Jonas Valanciunas each chalked up a double double as the Sacramento Kings clinched for their first play in game after defeating the Phoenix Suns 109-98 Sunday.
#2 Sabonis scored 20 points and had 12 rebounds for his 61st double-double of the season. Valanciunas scored 22 points and ten rebounds.
#3 The Kings Zach LaVine scored 20 points and the Kings improved to 40-42 and are ending their regular season on positive note with a win.
#4 The Kings will meet the Dallas Mavericks for the play in game. The Kings finished the season in ninth place and the Mavericks finished at tenth place. The Play In game is one and done on Wed Apr 16 for a 7:00pm PDT tip off at Golden 1. How do you see this post season match up?
Tony Renteria podcasts the Sacramento King each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
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