Michael Shapiro

New @chron: "There was plenty of 'man up, motherf---er.' Plenty of 'stop whining.'" Ime Udoka is harsh. He’s also widely respected across the NBA. Why? Jayson Tatum, Grant Williams, Kyle Anderson, Jabari Smith Jr. and more explain ⬇️ chron.com/sports/rockets…

@_brandoc @_JMLDAVID @kissphoria Happy someone (you) had the courage to share this. Caught my by surprise in EaDo, lol.

@_JMLDAVID @kissphoria

For any Dutch fans in Houston looking for some post match entertainment, Polekatz strip club is here in the East End advertising their after party

@sheabsullivan PLENTY of Astros gear in attendance. Also some Texas Longhorns items, and a few New York Knicks jerseys!

@mshap2 I mean… we have a lot of orange clothes!

Incredible scene in Houston this morning. Thousands of Netherlands supporters (and a pair of buses) are taking part in the traditional pre-match Oranje Fanwalk before today’s match vs. Sweden. I’ve never seen Houston this packed.

@sheabsullivan Tons! Was very cool to see Houston show out and take part in this tradition.

@mshap2 Lots of locals too just wearing orange and checking things out

Nearly every Dutch fan I spoke with said today’s Fanwalk drew a larger crowd than any pregame Fanwalk in the Netherlands. Great showing by Houston today and really throughout the entire World Cup thus far.

More from the Oranje Fanwalk. I’m told fans began crowding the area around Rice University around 6:30 a.m. Netherlands soccer federation told Dutch visitors they expected 5,000-10,000 fans for the walk. I believe the Dutch and their American friends surpassed that mark.

@HEBenjoyer @asoukuptx ^ yep. I’d also do that if I was the Nets, fwiw.

@asoukuptx @mshap2 Possibly. Their owner is sick of losing and they already took 3 PGs last year.

Hey great, the Rockets can start three guys who can’t shoot.

@HEBenjoyer @asoukuptx I get the allure of trading into this lottery. I just think that’s a really dangerous game when none of these guards are a guaranteed star. I feel like Alperen has become quite underrated this summer.

@mshap2 @asoukuptx Sengun for pick 6 and Claxton and we actually take a PG who can shoot and is a threat off the dribble

@Beanie13072 @asoukuptx I also think Kessler is a supreme rim protector + vertical spacer and he’s kinda sorta is expanding his 3-point shot. Definitely agree tape > numbers. But I think Rafael Stone would say the same thing (even if you/we disagree with some of his decision making).

@mshap2 @asoukuptx Harsh and very true. The spreadsheet Nerds need to go away. We need real basketball takes and not on/offs and play minutes.

@Beanie13072 @asoukuptx Harsh!

@mshap2 @asoukuptx Dude if you don’t stop with that worthless analysis. This is why the Rockets suck because idiots think a calculator wins games

@BimaThug @JTGatlin @LockedOnRockets Tari’s market is very, very interesting. I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion at all he’ll be somewhere else in 2026-27, but it only takes one $100-ish million offer to change that. Closer to $80 million, a return is very much in play, imo.

@mshap2 @JTGatlin @LockedOnRockets Paying Tari won’t hard cap them, but I could also see them doing a S&T of Tari if he’s ready to sign an offer sheet we won’t match.

🚀 Tossed around a number of offseason options with @JTGatlin on today’s episode of @LockedOnRockets. My favorite theoretical move for Houston? Fully embracing the double-big lineup with a trade for Utah’s Walker Kessler. Let me know your thoughts, Rockets fans.

@BimaThug @JTGatlin @LockedOnRockets Makes sense, I ultimately assume Houston will make marginal moves that don’t add salary in the aggregate. Do you assume Tari’s exit will come via S+T, or do you assume Rockets won’t want to take back major salary for apron/hard cap reasons?

@mshap2 @JTGatlin @LockedOnRockets Interesting, but accepting Kessler via S&T would hard cap the Rockets at the first apron (again) and make filling out the roster pretty tough. I don't think they want their hands tied like that again this season.

@NBABlackburn Think these are all pretty smart, except for No. 2. Alperen isn’t perfect for Ime Udoka, but he’s still a terrific offensive talent. I’d view this as a major sell low. (Really like No. 3, btw).

BTW, my list of NBA Free Agency/Trade Predictions from 6/17: 1. Giannis traded to Miami in 3-team deal that sends Tyler Herro to Detroit, Ron Holland + MIA players/assets to Milwaukee 2. Domantas Sabonis to Charlotte, Alperen Sengun to Sacramento, Miles Bridges + Moussa Diabate to Houston 3. Rudy Gobert traded to Boston for Derrick White 4. OKC declines Hartenstein’s and Dort’s contracts, trade role players and a first round pick to Dallas for Daniel Gafford in an attempt to consolidate and get cheaper 5. LeBron James returns to the Lakers on a $40 million per year contract w/ 2nd year player option, Lakers sign Hartenstein for the full MLE 6. Knicks lose Mitchell Robinson and Landry Shamet in free agency, replace them with minimums and draft picks 7. Spurs run it back, give Julian Champagnie a fresh extension, and sign either John Collins or Rui Hachimura to an MLE deal 8. Bulls add bad salary and picks, acquire Jerami Grant from the Blazers who desperately try and get cheaper for their new ownership 9. Either the Clippers trade Kawhi Leonard or the Sixers trade Joel Embiid, but not both and not for each other 10. The Nuggets trade Christian Braun and Cam Johnson for lower salaries, re-sign Peyton Watson, and mostly run it back

Images from that sunny, muggy day in Galveston (in which President Biden closed the proceedings with a speech inside Reedy Chapel-AME Church).

Reporting on last year’s Juneteenth celebration in Galveston remains a career highlight. Best wishes to Rev. Michael Waters, march leader Sharon Batiste Gillins, community leader Corey Simon and so many more today. From last year ⬇️ @shapiro.michael1/when-were-here-we-re-free-joe-biden-juneteenth-and-my-useless-cynicism-c239d48f4d94" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">medium.com/@shapiro.micha…

I’ll always adore this photo, btw. Have to imagine this would be an 𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙚 twin-towers duo in today’s NBA.

Hakeem and Ralph Sampson back together again, great stuff here 🚀

Happy for Tiago, upstanding guy. Former Rockets assistant was key in building Alperen Şengün’s game. Tiago on Alperen in 2023: “He’s such a talented player. You see him trying all sorts of stuff in practice and it's like ‘ok, it’s time to try this in the next game.’” More ➡️ chron.com/sports/rockets…