Stephen A. Smith walks back take on Texans' CJ Stroud after convincing argument from Ryan Clark
ON SECOND THOUGHT
20 August 2024
Ryan Clark sets the record straight. Composite image by Jack Brame.
Tuesday on First Take, Stephen A. Smith, Ryan Clark, and Shannon Sharpe discuss the top QBs 25 and under and debate which player is most likely to make a Super Bowl, Jordan Love or CJ Stroud.
Smith makes a case that Stroud will struggle more than Love this season because NFL teams now have a season of tape to watch, and he won't sneak up on anyone this year.
What Smith overlooks, and Clark highlights, is that although Love has been in the league for several years, he only became the starter last season. Which means he's in the same boat as Stroud from that perspective. Both quarterbacks have about the same amount of film for teams to analyze.
Smith even says later in the video, “He got me. He got me on that one.”
Finally, Smith and Sharpe both decide to take Love over Stroud, but mostly based on the strength of the AFC with Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson to deal with.
Check out the video above for the full discussion.
Jalen Green scores 35 points to lead Rockets past Timberwolves 121-115
Feb 22, 2025, 11:56 am
Jalen Green scored 35 points, Alperen Sengun added 24 points and 13 rebounds and the Houston Rockets defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 121-115 on Friday night.
Green finished 12 of 24 from the floor and was 5 of 11 on 3-pointers. Amen Thompson finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for Houston, which shot 50%, including 13 of 26 on 3-pointers.
Jabari Smith Jr had 15 points and nine rebounds off the bench in his first game back after missing 22 games with a broken bone in his left hand.
Anthony Edwards scored 37 points on 13-of-32 shooting, including 4 of 14 on 3-pointers. Edwards scored 25 points in the first half on 8-of-15 shooting, including 3 of 7 on 3-pointers.
Naz Reid had 22 points and eight rebounds, Jaden McDaniels added 21 points and Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 16 points for Minnesota, which shot 45%, including 11 of 39 on 3-pointers.
Takeaways
Timberwolves: Mike Conley returned to the lineup after missing four games with a sprained right index finger, but he was in foul trouble for most of the night and finished with five points in 24 minutes.
Rockets: One area that coach Ime Udoka pointed to before the game where Smith’s return would help was rebounding. Houston outrebounded the Timberwolves 48-35.
Key moment
Tied at 108, Green made a 3-pointer with five minutes remaining to kickstart Houston’s 9-2 run to open up a seven-point lead with 48 seconds left.
Key stat
Edwards was 1 for 6 in the fourth quarter, including 1 of 4 on 3-pointers. He scored 3 points in the quarter as Houston sent double teams at him.
Up next
Minnesota hosts Oklahoma City on Sunday night, while Houston travels to Utah on Saturday night.
