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NBA Early Season Observations & NBA U24 Draft + The International Break Is Over !
14 Plays6 months ago
- NBA Observations: Surprises, Disappointments
- Is Steph Curry Top 10 All Time ?
- NBA Best Player Under 24 Draft
- International Break is over ! : Expectation/Hopes for the rest of the season
- Game of The Week: Man City v. Tottenham, Juventus v. AC Milan
Recommended
Transcript
Podcast Introduction and International Break Recap
00:00:01
Chino Onwuka
Hello and welcome to another episode of the Love of the Game podcast. This is episode nine. I'm here with my brothers. And like I said, what's up to the fam?
00:00:12
Emeka
It was good y'all we miss drawing out took a little minor international break with the with the first of the professionals But we back at it again league plays back
00:00:22
Chino Onwuka
Man, I am so happy that this is the last interlaw that we're gonna see till March. Hallelujah. Football, every week, every three days from now, you know this is this is the run-in, it's go time, just just just glad it's done.
International Matches Surprises and Criticisms
00:00:42
Chino Onwuka
It's been a week and a half, two weeks since you know we we left club football. Apparently, international football's been going on. You guys will have to tell me. All I know is that Trasad got injured, so you know another international break with an arsenal injury in bed.
00:01:01
Chino Onwuka
Ghana didn't make Afghan and that Nigeria lost and somehow we still made Afghan. So if there's anything else important that happened, y'all need to let me know.
00:01:12
Chuku
yeah I wish I could tell you man, I was barely paying attention to international break this time we around. I do know that England apparently gave, did some work, you know? the England did some work, Jokores was on fire and France, the France into the game apparently, I think it was France into the game apparently was super fire as well.
00:01:34
Chuku
So I don't know, didn't really watch too much games but funny things I don't even know.
00:01:35
Chino Onwuka
a Who wants to score?
00:01:40
Chuku
I think it was a France.
00:01:42
Emeka
Italy, one, two, one.
00:01:42
Chuku
I just heard that. I just heard it. Oh, it only went? Okay.
00:01:45
Chino Onwuka
International football is worse. How's France, Italy playing and is barely making any waves. Have you been?
00:01:45
Chuku
Yeah.
00:01:45
Emeka
Yeah.
00:01:54
Emeka
Because who cares about Nations League?
00:01:57
Chuku
Oh, hey, man. Like, you know, I've been good, man. I've been good. Life's, you know, life's gone in, you know, entering to this, the colder, the colder months over here, but just trying to stay warm.
Transition to Club Football and NBA Tease
00:02:07
Chuku
And I'm just glad I was able to come back, you know,
00:02:11
Chuku
knowing more international breaks and we're going to be able to give the people what they want when it comes to the content. So hopefully we'll be dropping another episode today.
00:02:16
Chino Onwuka
push for sure for sure you know you know as we just mentioned you know it's we' just gotten out of the international break. There's footy again coming this weekend, so looking forward to that. But you know with that, you know just as there's been a break you know in club football over the last couple of weeks, you know we're going to take a little bit of a break you know from from football today and mostly focus on an NBA discussion. we're gonna do a you know but it Do a little gauge, you know, check at the moment on how the season has been going so far and what have been, you know, our early observations, surprises, disappointments, you know, for the season so far. It's what we're going to do something a little bit fun today and a little bit different. We're going to have an NBA under 24 draft where the three of us are going to be
00:03:07
Chino Onwuka
Drafting a starting five you know and a sixth man, positions are going to matter. This is going to be a real starting five, top six rotation. you know It's going to be a snake draft. And you know at the end of the draft, we're each going to judge each other to determine you know who drafted the best and who drafted the worst. How does that sound?
00:03:28
Emeka
Yeah, sounds like GM had on, you know what I'm saying?
00:03:29
Chuku
Yeah.
00:03:33
Emeka
Also, for the record, I just made that score up France 1-3-1. See, I saw a little of the game.
00:03:36
Chuku
Oh, wow.
00:03:38
Chino Onwuka
Wow.
00:03:39
Chuku
Wow. Oh, my days.
00:03:40
Emeka
I had to check it. I say, you know what?
00:03:40
Chuku
I knew, I knew, I knew France won. Okay.
00:03:43
Chino Onwuka
du Did Mbappe play? Was this game big enough for him to play?
00:03:46
Emeka
Nah, I'm about to be still excommunicado.
00:03:48
Chino Onwuka
Try it.
00:03:51
Chuku
Amen. They won without them. So they must be doing something right.
00:03:55
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, that's that's a situation to to so to to watch out for.
00:04:01
Emeka
Don't get sued.
00:04:04
Chino Onwuka
anybody go want why why whatever do you mean?
NBA Early Season Analysis and Banter
00:04:08
Chino Onwuka
but if Okay, all right, let's get into it. So for with that, I'm just gonna throw it to the floor. You know, what's really stood out to you guys, you know, so far, you know, again, surprises, disappointments, observations. Chuku, we're gonna start with you.
00:04:08
Emeka
Don't get sued.
00:04:26
Chuku
Yeah, I was going to just say, I mean, you know, coming into the year again, you know, I know that, you know, from our prior conversations outside of the pod, you know and I don't think any of us were that ecstatic about this year's NBA draft prospects. you know But i mean surprisingly, it's not really been the lottery you know players I've been showing out. It's been actually the players that you find, the gems that you find in the in the lead in the leader of first rounds, namely this kid called Dalton Connect, where who, again, the story of the wrap around him was you know he should have probably been in a lottery pick. I don't know how.
00:05:06
Chuku
you know, was it 16 or was it 17? I believe it was 16 teams, 17 teams that passed on him.
00:05:09
Emeka
17.
00:05:12
Chuku
Crazy, crazy, crazy, including my, my, marlando magicu i mean could have been huge help for from for for my, piece to to put around LeBron because you know, LeBron always does well with shooters, tall white shooters, you know, you know, either way, that leads to my point on the Lakers, man, Lakers have been honestly, I mean, I didn't think Lakers were going to be, were going to be bad, but I didn't expect them to be you know coming out the gate looking this good, especially with a first year head coach in JJ Riddick.
00:05:55
Chuku
So they've definitely impressed me so far with with the eye tests. And that's in the West and then the East. You know, of course you can't talk about the East without talking about the 16 and one Cleveland Cavaliers who are, you know, starting out the season in a bank.
00:06:13
Chuku
I mean, literally just lost their first game the other day. And we're about to be going on a 17 game on beating streak before they lost to the Celtics. But, you know, they've been looking really well.
00:06:26
Chuku
You know, Donovan Mitchell, you know, Evan Mobley, you know,
00:06:29
Chino Onwuka
Let's go.
00:06:31
Chuku
garlands although garland not to the same extent as the others other the two but in general is that a bad game yeah yeah but yeah yeah the bad game but like yeah for the most part the throughout the season he has been he has been pretty good but again Mobley though it looks like he's taking that next step for me again just improving from his playoff run that he had last year and of course he's still got guys like you know
00:06:35
Chino Onwuka
I mean, he's been really good. You just had one bad game.
00:06:56
Chuku
Jared Allen and, and, and Lavert and Cole. So I think overall they've been, you know, Cleveland has been looking really well. Um, I still have my doubts about them, you know, in terms of, are they going to be a serious contender in the playoffs? Um, that's yet to be seen. for me, at least personally, I just don't, I just don't believe a team led by Donovan Mitchell and, and Darius Garland, two guards, both in a way sort of undersized in their position.
00:07:25
Chuku
mainly more garlands. And again, I'm referring to today in these days of NBA basketball, they're both definitely, you know, on the shortest, shortest side of things.
00:07:29
Chino Onwuka
Can I hear it?
00:07:34
Chuku
I don't know how far you can go with two below two guards below six, five, but you know, we'll see how that goes. You know, I'm sure, you know, we'll see how they do in the playoffs.
00:07:44
Chuku
But for now in the regular season, they definitely looking, you know, ecstatic. And just one more thing to add. Again, ah ah I can't go out without talking about my own team. Orlando Magic. I mean, I know again, you know, right now, not not the greatest record, but I mean, when you take into account, having lost our best player in in Bankero, the fact that we're sitting third right now in the East nine and six, I mean, I'm liking what I'm seeing so far. And I'm sure, you know, as we talk about others, you know, I'm sure it's not going to be the last time I bring them up. But either way, those would be so far my biggest kind of,
00:08:24
Chuku
you know, initial surprises in terms of teams that are doing well. And of course, you know, if we're going to talk about teams are doing bad, I'm sure, you know, again, y'all might have something to say, but I'll let y'all kick the floor here.
00:08:36
Chuku
Because I know we want to talk about some teams that, you know, we all had high expectations and definitely are not performing, you know, but but ah let I'll let y'all take a pro on that.
00:08:43
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, Yeah, so I would say, you know, one of the biggest surprises for me has been, you know, pleasant surprises, you know, has been Cleveland, you know, 16-1, you know, yeah, they lost yesterday, but, you know, they gave arguably the best team in the NBA a good run for their money. You know, coming into the season, I was skeptical. They they kept the team the same. I think, like, you know, squad retention is 99% on last season, so they haven't changed anything and they just changed the coach. So I was like,
00:09:13
Chino Onwuka
you know, what are we going to see from that? You know, is it just going to be marginal gains? But, you know, what Kenny Atkinson, I think that's the new coach, what he's been doing with them has been pretty impressive to say the least. When you talk about, you know, yeah, they've been, you know, started out hard, but, you know, what are they really going to do at the end of the season? All I know is, you know, yeah, they're not playoff proven yet.
00:09:41
Chino Onwuka
All I know is they're not a team anybody's going to want to see in the second round or the semi-final, because you know that they're going to play you tough. Now, I hope that the the better balance that you know we've seen in the regular season you know with, with oh what's his name again?
00:09:58
Chino Onwuka
What was the shooting guard? I'm old. I'm black.
00:10:02
Chuku
For who? The cops?
00:10:03
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:10:05
Emeka
Mitchell.
00:10:05
Chuku
Don't have a Mitchell.
00:10:06
Chino Onwuka
Mitchell. Yeah, but better balance is done, Mitchell. he's not He's not going one on five at the end of games anymore. He's trusting the rest of the team. But you know what you do have is they have good defense, what you need in the playoffs. but Yeah, they have two undersized cards, like you mentioned. But they've got you know two guys you know manning you know the post in, in Mobley.
00:10:30
Chino Onwuka
and in Allen and you've got a guy that can get you a bucket at the end of the games, which is usually a pretty good formula in the playoffs. No, the thing that stood out to me for the Lakers, you know, shout out JJ Reddit, you know, it's good to see, you know, the, the tactical, you know, basketball acumen he showed as a player, as an announcer, as a podcaster really show up in the team and especially how he's,
00:10:58
Chino Onwuka
made the team built around AD. You know, we've been, there's probably been a couple of footsteps, but I think, you know, we've talked about this previously. We've all been waiting for AD to be the man that we thought he could be. I think we were having a discussion over the summer as to whether, you know, AD has fulfilled his potential or not. And, you know, for all his accolades, I think the consensus was, you know,
00:11:23
Chino Onwuka
We wish we could have seen more, and he's definitely showing that this season. So but that's been a pleasant surprise for me. And then the biggest disappointment for me has just been the whole East. no Teams that we thought you know would be really good, you know whether through poor play, poor coaching injuries, dysfunction, the Bucks, big disappointments, although you know some signs apply from them and in in recent games.
00:11:49
Chino Onwuka
Philadelphia, I don't know what's going on there. Looks like poor George got injured again today. MBBB punching man's out in locker rooms. Don't know what's going on there. oh Indiana is struggling. They're not looking as good as they did you know last season.
00:12:11
Chino Onwuka
Miami, I know nobody expects them to to to win the the championship or anything, but for a veteran team, you know a well coached team that you know just does what they're supposed to do every night. You know see Spostra making big mistakes that we never see from him.
00:12:26
Chino Onwuka
you know Doing a Michigan Fab Five and calling timeouts that aren't there to lose the game. So just the whole is just been super disappointing for me.
00:12:31
Emeka
Hm.
00:12:34
Chino Onwuka
I think that the team in,
00:12:37
Chino Onwuka
I think by the time you get to below fifth, that's the last team of the winning record at the top four in the East have winning records.
00:12:44
Chuku
No, fourth, fourth. Only top four have won the records, man.
00:12:49
Chino Onwuka
So that's really great.
00:12:50
Chino Onwuka
the So, you know, shout out to, you know, Orlando magic, you know, you know, losing my care was a big loss, but a part of me is, you know, how much of that is just them beating up on all the other poor teams in the East.
00:12:50
Chuku
Crazy.
00:13:02
Chino Onwuka
You have to tell me. i don't know
00:13:05
Chuku
Hey, man. I don't think that's fair to say. That's fair to say we had a good win against the Suns the other day. And I'm just saying, but okay. I know that's a fair point as a fair point.
00:13:15
Chuku
I mean, a lot of, obviously a lot of teams are beating. Aren't really the most standout teams. I'm not going to lie, but Hey, but all you can do is beat the teams in front of you.
00:13:27
Chuku
You know, I know again, we're doing this with our our best player.
00:13:27
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:13:28
Emeka
Exactly.
00:13:29
Chuku
So I'll just say, I'll say, I'll take the wins or we can get them.
00:13:30
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:13:34
Chino Onwuka
I'm all for sure.
00:13:34
Chuku
and That's just what I'm saying.
00:13:35
Emeka
Absolutely.
00:13:35
Chino Onwuka
For sure.
00:13:38
Chuku
But yeah, no, the East are terrible, but sorry. got Go ahead. I'm not gonna, what's your take?
00:13:42
Emeka
100% the magic are magic are actually good this year. I've been very pleasantly surprised by them. The defense is amazing. Anthony Black looks decent. Franz Wagner remember he can shoot like in magic or think they're looking up for the magic even though kcp is playing like absolute garbage and finesse finesse that contract hundred percent but you know you want something to lose them but uh well if only someone here did
00:14:05
Chuku
Hey man, his defense, his defense is still there.
00:14:06
Chino Onwuka
Oh, sorry.
00:14:07
Chuku
His defense is still waiting for them.
00:14:07
Chino Onwuka
I really want to put in here, I forgot. The other big surprise for me, like this legit surprise for me, are the Warriors. I did not expect them to be this good.
00:14:17
Chuku
True, true, true, true, true. Early season, early season. I won't lie. I did not expect the Warriors to be this good. I did not expect the Warriors to be this good, but hey, Stefan Curry, man, Stefan Curry.
00:14:27
Emeka
If only someone here didn't.
00:14:30
Chuku
I mean, yo, big I mean, this is just a side, complete, complete sidebar, but like, I think thank you that you brought up, we brought up two teams there in the last couple of minutes here that are in opposite spectrum that have two players or a player on each team that I think I want to just quickly just, I think I'm maybe not something we we can jump on right now, but as far as legacies, I want to just like, just, just, I guess, get, get you guys this take on a couple of things, man, because I'm just going to say it right now. ma
00:15:03
Chuku
Two players on those, yeah, two players, right? Each on different, different teams. The one in the Warriors, one on the 76ers who again, their legacies completely are going in completely different angles or different, ah different there trajectories. Stefan Curry on one end, Joel Embiid on the other.
00:15:31
Chuku
Will Joel Embiid go down as one of the most talented players to ever not win a championship? um'm I'm honestly, seriously just wanted to get you guys to stick. cause like just think I'll just think about this the other day, randomly. like And with all the commotion going on with the 76ers and where they are at the moment. How does Joel Embiid, a man that is so talented, a dude that we can honestly say, like, when healthy, legit,
00:15:59
Chuku
one of the best if not the best player on guardable no one can do anything teams have the triple team double team closest thing we've seen to Shaq that can actually shoot the free throw like Unbelievable Yeah, I mean that is true that is true that is very true
00:16:09
Chino Onwuka
Look, that's that's you you just you just answered your own question right there as to how he's not won a championship because you said he went healthy and he's never been healthy in the playoffs. So that's your answer right there.
00:16:30
Chuku
And like, I just think like it's, it's kind of, it's going to be crazy. Like in, you know, five, 10 years time when one, like looking back, the story on, on a beat is just going to be a dude that could just never stay healthy enough to make a difference in the, in the, for, for, for our team to, you know, in terms of winning the championship, it's just, is's it's going to be sad, but that's going to be the wrap on, on Joel Embiid. And then on the other, other spectrum, you're seeing what Stefan Curry is doing.
00:17:00
Chuku
like I mean, obviously it's early, you know, seasons to seasons to early, but I mean, prior to this season already, I mean, Curry, we know Curry's have been, you know, it's been a, a, a lights out shooter, but like to see him doing what he's doing right now without the, you know, the splash brother in clay and carrying a team that again, not I mean, I'm sure my brother, I'm not gonna have his own nope belief and a few others, you know, warrior fans probably had their own beliefs.
00:17:29
Chino Onwuka
Yes.
00:17:29
Chuku
You know in terms of the team being good, but like to see Curry doing what he's doing by himself.
00:17:37
Chuku
like I just think the trajectory of like The hot people gonna view Stephanie Stephanie Curry in like five ten years. I truly feel like he is and To me it's crazy to say this but in a way Very underrated in my opinion because like I Might be struggling to say like as far as like Let's let's one more more put in guys in the in the good conversations like players of best players of all time Isn't that crazy to think Stephen Curry's?
00:18:09
Chuku
entering that top Ten Ten of all time, okay you stu up Sometimes i'll start like okay okay okay I'm gonna fill in the room Is is it something that's what
00:18:13
Chino Onwuka
He's talked to him. He's talked to him.
00:18:18
Emeka
There are a lot of guys in top 10. There are a lot of guys in top 10.
00:18:21
Chino Onwuka
wasn september what What's happening is some some guys are being kicked out. Because the guys are there's this guy.
00:18:28
Emeka
There's a lot of guys in top 10.
00:18:30
Chuku
There's a lot of guys, you know what I'm saying? There's a lot of guys who don't have Curry in the top 10. And I'm here to say like, for me, I'm, I'm, I don't know, wait, put him in my top 10.
00:18:36
Chino Onwuka
There's to me, there's there's there's. There's three players, two who probably already have that could kick players out of the top 10, what has been people's established top 10 for probably the last 10 years. Steph, Katie, and maybe Jokic.
00:18:57
Emeka
You love all Giannis.
00:18:57
Chuku
You put KD?
00:18:59
Chino Onwuka
Yanis, I just think they're probably with just one title and one end.
00:19:03
Emeka
Jokic has one title.
00:19:05
Chino Onwuka
Sir?
00:19:06
Emeka
Jokic has one title.
00:19:08
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, but how many MVPs does he have?
00:19:13
Emeka
Three.
00:19:13
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, thought that's that's what I'm putting.
00:19:15
Chino Onwuka
Yes, the MVP.
00:19:16
Emeka
Giannis go MVP and defensive play of the year.
00:19:18
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, so yeah, you can put Giannis in there.
00:19:20
Chuku
Are you putting Durant? I'm going to tell you, I think Curry is the better player than Durant. I'm just here to tell you that. as that is my like like For me, he's not even close, in my opinion.
00:19:33
Chino Onwuka
Who won the finals MVPs when they're on the same team?
00:19:36
Chuku
Hey, I hear you. I hear you. Who's won a championship on their own in his own team without having a ah the other in their team between the two? I think Steph has done that, right?
00:19:47
Chuku
Steph did that before. katy got there so hey look I hear what you're seeing here we are saying but KD has no ring without Stephen Curry being mentioned in that equation. Stephen Curry has a ring without KD being mentioned in that equation.
00:20:10
Chuku
I'm just saying, I know who I'm picking as my but the better player i of the out of all the new names in this generation.
00:20:13
Chino Onwuka
For sure, for sure. for
00:20:18
Chuku
Like I'm saying, like, again.
00:20:19
Chino Onwuka
<unk>s Katie's going to be, he like Steph is, like I mentioned Steph earlier, EC top 10 and then Katie after.
00:20:26
Chino Onwuka
So honestly, I'm not going to agree with that.
00:20:26
Emeka
Two.
00:20:29
Chino Onwuka
Katie's going to have...
00:20:29
Emeka
There are a lot of guys in the top 10, that's all I can say.
00:20:31
Chuku
There's a lot of guys. That's what I'm trying to say.
00:20:33
Emeka
you
00:20:33
Chuku
Oh, no.
00:20:34
Emeka
Listen, I I'm a Steph.
00:20:34
Chuku
j d
00:20:36
Emeka
I'm a Steph. I don't know how to say the PG word for this unabashed Steph sexual like I love stuff my favorite players I've been saying it since he won the chip I think steps better than Kobe and people come at me when I say this, but That's my step But I'm biased I'm biased I love stuff
00:20:49
Chuku
I mean, i that, that, I hear that.
00:20:51
Chino Onwuka
of you know You're not get argument you're not goingnna bear an argument from me that Kobe is the one that's hanging on to the back end of top 10.
00:20:56
Chuku
I hear that.
00:21:02
Emeka
I feel my piece my thing about top 10 though, and it's my same answer I give the goat debate is I didn't see these guys play There's a big argument online even Michael Jordan waited on it Steph versus Magic Johnson.
00:21:04
Chuku
Man, yeah.
00:21:15
Emeka
I never see magic Johnson play So who am I to tell you who's better than what whatever? So that's why I struggle with the top 10 and I get I grew for your second I'm a Steph Van whatever what I can't say is I agree with you know when people really sit down and make these lists and Steph, KD, Jokic, and I put Giannis in there, but those first three, especially, are really going to challenge some guys' preconceptions about players in the past because we those are some those are some names right there.
00:21:43
Emeka
Those are some names.
00:21:44
Chuku
I hear it, but yeah, I hear it.
00:21:44
Emeka
When you look at the resume, there's some names right there.
00:21:48
Chuku
I hear it, but I'm saying, but okay. Can we agree out of those players you just mentioned? Curry is in my opinion, in my opinion, miles ahead of those guys in my, in my, you don't agree?
00:22:01
Emeka
No miles because of yokich because of yokich.
00:22:03
Chuku
Okay.
00:22:03
Emeka
I can't say miles Yokich is a guy while people really sit down and do the numbers and the stats and everything This yokich run this five-year run is on right now.
00:22:04
Chuku
Okay. Okay. Okay. I mean, your kids is the one that stands up. Your kids is the one.
00:22:16
Emeka
It might be up to five years of anybody else. We'll talk
00:22:19
Chuku
ah here but you did you say all that so here's but here's the problem with with with why I disagree with your point because statistically I get it the stats are there but I'm talking about it not just on just stats alone you gotta have the the rings to show for it your kids thank god you wonder why you got the one ring
00:22:37
Chino Onwuka
yeah That the rings and he has the hole. He changed the game.
00:22:42
Chuku
Like, Steph has a whole, like, I don't think Steph literally has the full package.
00:22:43
Chino Onwuka
those are the arguments first
00:22:51
Chuku
Jokic has the MVPs.
00:22:51
Emeka
and i want step out i say talking to I'm just yeah, yeah, I just know you're saying but Like ring listen, i'm I never believed in the rings debate whatever Yeah, I don't believe the rings me All
00:22:53
Chuku
He has the MVP. Huh? well
00:23:02
Chuku
Really? Then he go, he go, he go, he go say that, say that to all the Michael Jordan Raiders or what?
00:23:08
Emeka
right, I say to them all I don't believe in the rings debate look rings are important whatever yeah, I
00:23:08
Chuku
and Who have them over? well Who have them over their pawns?
00:23:13
Emeka
Like, Steph won two rings at the most unfair team of all time. Like, oh, well good for you, Steph, and KD.
00:23:17
Chuku
And I won two rings without almost on first team of all time.
00:23:18
Emeka
Exactly, yeah, sure.
00:23:19
Chuku
Like, what?
00:23:19
Emeka
But like, he asked four people to go and bring up four.
00:23:20
Chuku
That's four rings!
00:23:21
Emeka
I understand. He asked four. ah ah Two of those rings or whatever to me. So like, you know, it is what it is. Like, I get it. Listen, he deserved those rings. He was a the biggest part of why they won. But two of those years were KD Warriors, man.
00:23:36
Emeka
I honestly, those years of basketball are whatever to me. Like, the KD Warriors are unfair. And Agala Jokic, we hold him against him, that his second option is Jamal Murray, who's good, one out of every two playoff runs.
00:23:46
Emeka
so We hold him against him.
00:23:48
Chuku
Hey, man. Hey, man. Hey, listen to that. I want to make the rules. All I'm saying is i I look at what's in front of me and for the staff argument, he changed the game.
00:23:52
Chino Onwuka
Okay.
00:24:02
Chuku
One of the few players to ever go 90, 50, 40 with the amount of shooting with with the amount of shots he puts up.
00:24:09
Chino Onwuka
KD, KD did as well.
00:24:10
Chuku
One four rings.
00:24:11
Chino Onwuka
KD did as well.
00:24:13
Chuku
What?
00:24:14
Chino Onwuka
50-40.
00:24:15
Chuku
Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I mean, Eddie has his own arguments as well.
00:24:17
Chino Onwuka
And he's going to be the top five, top three in all-time scoring.
00:24:18
Chuku
Like he has those, those arguments as well.
00:24:23
Emeka
The KD thing is that he was never the best player in the league for a prolonged stretch.
00:24:24
Chuku
Yeah.
00:24:27
Emeka
That's always going to be the thing against KD.
00:24:29
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:24:29
Chuku
The Katie, Katie never won a, Katie never won an MVP did he?
00:24:29
Emeka
And as much as he did, he won one.
00:24:34
Chuku
Katie?
00:24:34
Chino Onwuka
but But I think, like, you know, you know
00:24:34
Emeka
Yeah.
00:24:37
Chuku
When? What year?
00:24:38
Emeka
Dude, he won MVP. I'm only talking about it.
00:24:40
Chino Onwuka
We're talking about you you the real MVP We talked about his moment that that was like everyone's favor I Was writing that down it's top three right now.
00:24:41
Emeka
I'm going to tell you the year, 2015. 2014, 14, 14, sorry.
00:24:46
Chuku
Oh, oh right very, very, very, you're right, you're right, you're right, you're right, you're right, you're right.
00:24:51
Emeka
Yeah, really, really MVP, yeah.
00:24:51
Chuku
Yeah, yeah, my mom. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:24:54
Emeka
Listen, speaking of MVPs, you realize right now, Jokic is the favorite for MVP, and if he wins, that's four in five years. yeah You know how many people have won four MVPs?
00:25:04
Chino Onwuka
You'll catch tatum 80 I
00:25:07
Emeka
Like, you know how many people have won four MVPs, and Jokic just don't pay to do so?
00:25:11
Chino Onwuka
Lebron's got four, yeah.
00:25:11
Emeka
That's Michael Jordan, LeBron Kareem.
00:25:14
Chino Onwuka
that's
00:25:15
Emeka
Yeah, exactly. It's Michael Jordan, LeBron Kareem. That's some company right there.
00:25:21
Chuku
Hey man, Curry.
00:25:21
Chino Onwuka
and these your third did because Even that year, they gave it to them because they were trying to get the yokich probably for that year too.
00:25:30
Emeka
listen
00:25:30
Chuku
Curry has two MPPs, man. And he's doing this as as as ah as a a point guard below 6-5.
00:25:32
Emeka
yeah Listen Listen Yeah Good I mean that doesn't you'll get bonus points for that.
00:25:36
Chuku
I'm just saying, below 6-4 actually, below 6-4.
00:25:39
Emeka
Yeah, you don't get bonus points for that Why would why should why do you Yeah, exactly that's what being a big man is moving valuable like yeah I Understand yeah, it's impressive.
00:25:39
Chuku
And, why not? but This is a big, NBA is a big manly. Like he's doing it as a little guard, bro.
00:25:50
Chuku
Like what?
00:25:53
Emeka
But we're talking about the greatest of all time. that Yeah, you should be big. That's a plus
00:25:58
Chuku
Hey man, let's say all for me. All I know is I have, it's not even close. In my, in my opinion, Steph Curry is Miles head of KD when it comes to the all time arguments. I don't care what no one else say. That's just my opinion. I put that out there. So, but, but back to what I guess what I was just trying to say was I just think what Katie, what What Steph is doing now can only and only help his overall case if he continues going like this, especially this year with with the first year without his fellow sports brother.
00:26:34
Chuku
And on top of that, it just sat for me to see Joel and Bea take the turn that he's taken in the last what, 12 months.
00:26:48
Chuku
It's crazy. It's crazy what's was's going on.
00:26:49
Emeka
Man, all right, this is going too far.
00:26:52
Emeka
What is Steph Curry averaging this season?
00:26:54
Chuku
Over 20?
00:26:56
Emeka
What is he averaging? Yeah, guy's 23 points a game, man. All right, listen, Steph is good, but relax. Golden State's winning, and I picked them to win because their team is deep as hell. You're bringing up Klay.
00:27:07
Emeka
Klay is washed.
00:27:07
Chuku
Wow.
00:27:08
Emeka
It was a positive they lost Klay. Yeah, I'm saying it. Klay is washed. It's a positive they lost him. It's definitely a positive they lost him. like the Warriors are really good. That's why I picked them top three because they're coming at me. The Warriors are good. Look at the roster from one to 10. They don't play bad guys and people always sleep on that. How many guys in your rotation are good? The generals used to always say, how many guys can pass dribble and shoot?
00:27:32
Emeka
Warriors start like eight of them. When you have that, it's really good. And Curr is a great coach. A lot of the time, people are slamming around mad in the Olympics because he stopped playing light-skinned tatum. Curr is an amazing coach. He's got a deep team. And I will, speaking of the Warriors' arguments, this is one I always die on the hill with. I'm curious what you guys take. In the Warriors' dynasty, and speaking of novel clothes, Draymond Green is the second most valuable warrior and is not even close.
00:27:57
Chino Onwuka
Easy.
00:27:58
Emeka
Yeah, you'll just score like clay. This man is a defensive, one-man defensive force.
00:28:04
Chino Onwuka
this is And I remember telling this to Uso, you guys have no idea what we're talking about.
00:28:12
Emeka
Or for a good friend.
00:28:12
Chino Onwuka
One of our friends, every single time when he would start, come he's a big warrior, but when he started complaining about Dreamon, every year, like here's and here's the here's the one thing I'll say about Steph, every year that Dreamon was injured, but Steph was healthy, warriors would be in the lottery.
00:28:16
Chuku
Huge warriors, guys.
00:28:29
Chino Onwuka
So, that's what I want there.
00:28:31
Emeka
Yeah People on Currys underrated, you know, I kind of go what you're saying dream all greenies by fighting was underrated player and it's not even for me I was not one remotely close Because people think he's a scrub people think you dream all greens and scrub and I always irks the hell out of me Jimmy agrees one of the best players in the league.
00:28:38
Chuku
Yeah, on the Warriors team, I 100% agree. It's not even close.
00:28:48
Chuku
Draymond Green is the closest player.
00:28:48
Chino Onwuka
what was you know What you just mentioned about Curry being an undersized guard, the second Draymont is not there, the one thing that we have never seen proof of is that Steph can carry a tee on his own without Draymont.
00:28:56
Emeka
I
00:29:05
Chino Onwuka
That's just facts.
00:29:07
Emeka
Jamon is amazing people really really sleep on German green And he must have just the symbiosis they match they cover each other's weaknesses is just perfect it's a perfect pair and again, that's why I picked the Warriors to be good because I looked the roster and You know his blossom is to say but clay look clay is not like when I say he's washed He's not bad or scrub, but the worst thing in the league is to have us aging star
00:29:10
Chuku
Dream 1 is definitely the heartbeat of that Golden State Warriors team and there's no question about that.
00:29:23
Chino Onwuka
What?
00:29:38
Emeka
So a star who used to be 10 out of 10, and now he's 7 out of 10, but he still mentally thinks he's 10 out of 10. And they're playing guys like Puzminski, Moody. like Yeah, they're not Klay Thompson, but they don't have the ego of Klay Thompson.
00:29:50
Emeka
And they're pretty close to the production of Klay Thompson. Like, hey, the Warriors are really good.
00:29:54
Chuku
man body you
00:29:55
Emeka
Shout out to the Warriors.
00:29:56
Chuku
one their i'm looking
00:29:57
Emeka
Yeah, they all buddy healed. They got all these rookies, like Waters all of a sudden. like yeah Shout out to the Warriors. But we're not we can't let the your second point, and I got to circle back. It's early, so I don't want to bury them too much because things can change real fast.
00:30:11
Emeka
But my mansion, we can't, we gotta double back to your earlier point about the ease being bad because the Philadelphia 76ers are 2 in 12.
00:30:19
Chino Onwuka
is
00:30:19
Chino Onwuka
brutal
00:30:20
Emeka
2 in 12.
00:30:21
Chuku
man buddy you're just the one that i'm It's brutal, looking at bro.
00:30:22
Emeka
The worst in the Wizards.
00:30:24
Chino Onwuka
is like how are he two and twelve meanwhile you're playing the wizards you're playing the nets youre
00:30:25
Emeka
And, and losing to...
00:30:33
Chino Onwuka
we're playing the And you're still two and 12.
00:30:36
Emeka
I mean, before I dump on the real quick, I want to give a shout out. You said rookies outside the lottery connect and McCain McCain is looking fantastic.
00:30:43
Chuku
McCain, that's the other one, yep.
00:30:44
Chino Onwuka
mccay's gonna boil it
00:30:45
Emeka
He's looking fantastic.
00:30:45
Chuku
McCain's in Poland.
00:30:47
Chino Onwuka
i what's even What's more about McCain is this guy's bawling and he's still dropping them TikTok.
00:30:47
Emeka
And even when we can, you're looking that good.
00:30:48
Emeka
The sixes are still terrible. So I don't know. that tell you
00:30:56
Emeka
Yeah. Just stupid.
00:30:58
Chino Onwuka
and nothing nothing ah guy comes and draws thirty on you you go open up your phone and you see him do one of his little bra that's her sting
00:30:58
Chuku
Yeah, yeah.
00:30:58
Emeka
Like I really thought was a TikTok.
00:31:06
Chuku
Oh, I to hurt.
00:31:08
Chino Onwuka
okay
00:31:09
Chuku
I got to hurt.
00:31:11
Emeka
hey Listen at least one light skin who paint the nails have to be good this year Caleb couldn't do it Jerry Kane came in You know one of them have to show off for the people John Jeremy Kane and again even with that the Sixers are still terrible.
00:31:24
Emeka
I Mean your injuries maxis hurt PG's hurt, but that's that's a bad thing How's PG hurt again is terrible and the Bucks they're like quote-unquote writing this right now.
00:31:25
Chino Onwuka
a guy comes in drops 30 on you.
00:31:27
Chuku
su went well so and
00:31:29
Chino Onwuka
You go open up your phone and you see him doing what his little brother. That's
00:31:32
Chino Onwuka
the <unk>
00:31:35
Emeka
But you would think a team with Giannis and Dame, just that alone, would be in the terrible East, would be like a walk. And it takes these superhuman performances from Giannis, but have to even barely beat like the Pistons. Like, oh, that's a concern for me.
00:31:53
Chino Onwuka
He has been unreal and man,
00:31:54
Chuku
Well, don't do it.
00:31:57
Chino Onwuka
i With Doc Rivers, he he needs to she needs to do something. I don't think too many people are too invigorated by his appointment last season. It was a bit of a an eyebrow razor. Not that they let you know the previous coach go, but that it was Doc that they tapped in and still a lot of questions.
00:32:23
Chino Onwuka
Question around that. Okay. Is there anything else we want to highlight in regards to, you know, the season so far? I know a lot of, a lot of the talk has been, you know, the proliferation of of threes this season. Everyone is taking them as much as they can. Sal Dixon almost broke the record of mix, you know, opening day, you know, Tatum is launching him from outside and one of the most athletic slashers in the league is launching him from outside.
00:32:51
Chino Onwuka
seven foot six aliens are launching them from outside. That just seems to be the whole league. What what what are what are your thoughts as to the style of play business?
00:32:58
Chuku
But.
00:33:01
Chino Onwuka
This whole thing, oh, you used to look better, analytics, this, this, this, that. I don't know if we've ever really had this chat about it. So what what do you guys think about, you know, 2024 NBA basketball?
00:33:15
Emeka
I'm gonna say one thing and I merely contradict myself. I don't care. I don't care about or I know I don't like have I I don't pay attention to the whole style of play argument, just because it's math. And was it would it be more fun if I see guys take contested long twos? No. People say Ant is chuckin' he is, but he's making them. So why am I mad at a guy who's hitting 40% of his threes, 12 of them again? it's The quality of shop making is incredible. The quality of offenses is incredible. Back in the days, the quote unquote glory days, teams would start two and three guys who can't shoot and pack the paint. And I'm just watching rock fights. At least now everyone can shoot, the floor is spaced. And you know, it depends who you're watching. I still see guys like Ja, you know who's injured right now.
00:34:02
Emeka
Like drive and make things happen. Like, it you know, it's just a different game. That being said, I'm going to completely contradict myself because I have to go on a rant about this. We haven't talked about basketball forever. I don't even care if he's making them now. Victor Rameyama has no business shooting 10 threes a game.
00:34:18
Emeka
It's it's absurd. I know you'll tell me they're packing the paint against him and blah blah blah I don't care. This man should be in the paint. You are seven foot six I'm kind of turning into Shaq in Charles Barkley, but I'm not sure get in the paint Like what is going on? I don't understand how he's so content just pick sitting on the perimeter and taking ten eleven twelve threes a game it's just oh I can't it hurts me because i expect I don't expect this so much from Victor. And this is what I'm seeing him do right now. Like, come on, Victor, man. Like, get in the goddamn paint and start dunking on people. Start getting to the free throw line. Start, you got all these muscles for some reason. Like, you know, use them.
00:35:00
Chino Onwuka
Alright, so I respect your take. I understand the take now as a Spurs fan who watches every single second of every single Spurs game and was also disappointed in Victor. what There's a difference between what he was doing the first couple of games of the season and the last four games.
00:35:24
Chino Onwuka
because it was, why is he taking so many threes? The why has been answered now because the team believes and he believes he can make them at and high clip. So there's a little bit of proof of the concept that, you know, he can, should it be 13? No, but he can launch them and he can actually make them. Now, what I have noticed, and I don't want to spend too much time on this, we can probably you know unpack this in another episode, is
00:35:51
Chino Onwuka
I told you that that Lakers game, you said he was in the post. He was in the post and he was getting hacked. I didn't say anything after because literally the coach, Mitch Johnson came out and the first thing he talked about was, yeah, we need to do something so that he starts getting some calls because he was not getting any calls at all in that game. The other thing I want to mention is what i see what What the vision is, whether it's right or wrong, is that when he's launching it from deep, pretty effectively, that opens up so much for him on the inside where, you know, I was talking about how, regardless of when he was posting it, one of the annoying things for me is I never see him get easy baskets.
00:36:39
Chino Onwuka
I was starting to see him get easy easy baskets. There has been a really good divide between his outside shots and his inside shots. The last four games where he scored 30, 28, 24, and 50, the split between him taking shots from the post and from outside has been even. Now, I'm sure people expect it to be 80% the post, 20% outside, but If he's taking half of his shots from within six feet, the other half from outside, and he's making 35%, honestly, you know me, beginning of the season, I was mad, last four games, I'm like, okay, I see, I see where they're going with this. The one thing about Victor, love it or hate it is the reason he's become this unicorn is because he said, I wanna be unicorn. So to some extent, Victor's saying, y'all aren't gonna make me this post player. This is the type of player I wanna be. and
00:37:34
Chino Onwuka
I will prove it to you that I can be this type of player so far. He's done it every year. It's only been four games of the good shooting. Let's see if it tracks because after the raspberries, I'm like, okay, yeah, I forget. This is the guy that anytime you think there's something he can't do, he shows that he can do it. So let's see. I get why people are frustrated and angry.
00:37:57
Chino Onwuka
But I see, I see what's going on and it's like, okay, I need you to keep doing what you've been doing the last four games, but I kind of see, I kind of see what the vision is until he gets stronger because yeah, even if he's packed more pounds, he's still only 220.
00:38:14
Emeka
saying this because the threes are falling now wait till he goes three for 17 next game you change it to him but hey do what you gotta do Victor you don't have to take more than it's 16 threes come on Victor come on Victor
00:38:20
Chino Onwuka
when if he What if he keeps shooting 34%? That's what I said, if he's shooting 34%.
00:38:31
Chino Onwuka
I said 16 is too much, but 10, before I was like nothing more than six, now I'm like, can take 10. You can take 10.
00:38:41
Chino Onwuka
You can take 10.
00:38:41
Emeka
Is what it is, you know, what is the modern an NBA, you know wrong, but He's the only one that upsets me.
00:38:45
Chuku
That's more than NBA bro, he's the number one option.
00:38:47
Emeka
I can't lie in Victor's only one that upsets me just because it's so many like 15 and Listen, I know you say I watch the Lakers game. Obviously. I don't watch every Spurs game I really disagree on it because I don't think he was getting like I've seen the quote-unquote shack treatment He wasn't getting the shock treatment.
00:39:03
Emeka
He was settling for a lot of them a lot of the time. He was settling
00:39:05
Chino Onwuka
No, no, no. Like, if you watched the first couple of games where he was settling, what was happening this game was not settling. It was not settling. I can tell you that for sure. As someone who watches every say second, that was he was not settling.
00:39:21
Emeka
hey Do you seem like you're selling to me in the Lakers game, but you know, I'm the professional scout how many How many possessions did he have two feet in the paint that's what I'd say i want have to say How many that's what I'd say because I
00:39:25
Chino Onwuka
What he was doing, some of the threes at the end of the game is he was rushing them. He wasn't taking them within the flow of the game and he was rushing them. That's what he was doing.
00:39:38
Chino Onwuka
Go get me the stats then you'll be surprised fast You'll be surprised anyway, we we talked about this a little bit too long, you know but last week we We can we were doing a under 24 class so we can we can talk about Victor there let Let's get into it.
00:39:49
Emeka
special man, you get that intention.
00:39:58
Chino Onwuka
So that's what we're gonna do as we mentioned before is we're gonna be drafting, you know Under 24 players we're gonna be drafting 18 players you know, a full cohesive starting lineup and a sixth map. And so, you know, we we we did a randomizer slightly before we started the episode. And so, you know, Chuku is going to be going first, I'm going to be going second, and Mecha is going to be going third, and then it's going to be a a snake draft after that. So, and Mecha will also pick fourth. So, again, the rules are NBA players, so we we can't we can't put Cooper Flagg or Ace Baker,
00:40:38
Chino Onwuka
price James in here so only NBA players have been drafted to make it easy for us you know because some of us are a little bit older you know if you're born January 1st 2000 or later you are eligible to do this if you were born before Y2K you are not eligible for this draft so we will not be picking players like Luca Doncic, Jason Tato etc etc so
00:40:42
Chuku
Master brush.
00:41:08
Chino Onwuka
like I'm going to ask you to to keep track for us at the end. We're going to judge our teams to see, you know, who picked the best team, balanced team. So with that said, Chupu, you're going to kick us off with your first pick of the inaugural 2024 low of the game NBA draft.
00:41:22
Chuku
It's funny.
00:41:26
Chino Onwuka
Who you got?
00:41:28
Chuku
It's funny, because we were just talking about this player for the last, what, goddamn five, 10 minutes here.
00:41:34
Emeka
A pretty obvious first pick.
00:41:34
Chuku
I didn't realize we're going to turn into his first take, but yes, sir. I'm picking my big man. That's going to be shooting 10 plus threes a game. And that's Victor, Victor, one by Niyama.
00:41:46
Chuku
Yes, sir. Number one pick overall, Victor Rumbayama.
00:41:48
Emeka
yeah pretty obvious for I think a pretty obvious second pick too. I kind of wish I had one at the top, but whatever.
00:41:52
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, no, I think like, you know, Vic, and sorry, another thing I should have said is, you know, these, these are players for the next, let's say next five years.
00:42:04
Chino Onwuka
Is that sort of a good?
00:42:05
Emeka
the rest of the career. I put a limit on it.
00:42:06
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:42:07
Emeka
yeah rest there You're taking them going forward.
00:42:09
Chino Onwuka
Yeah. And so, yeah, you you've got a guy who, you know, is going to secure the pain for you, you know, going to probably win multiple defensive players of the year.
00:42:17
Chino Onwuka
can get the offense as well, you know, a smart player, cerebral player, you know, health willing, can actually be, you know, one of the best of all time.
00:42:18
Emeka
Easily.
00:42:23
Emeka
The younook point man unicorn, The unicorn.
00:42:27
Chino Onwuka
You know, as a sports fan, I'm hoping that's the case. So yeah, I think, I think he was the number one pick I don't think it was clear cut because who I'm picking second or is the other guy that I could easily have seen for number one as well without too much debate.
00:42:35
Emeka
Yeah. R2 is easy.
00:42:43
Chino Onwuka
And I'm going to go with Anthony Edwards for the second draft.
00:42:47
Emeka
oh Ball is.
00:42:49
Chino Onwuka
He, again, you know, trying to build out my team, you know, he playoff proven now, you know, showed up in the Olympics as well. And what I love about him first, he got that dog in him.
00:43:01
Chino Onwuka
He's a leader of men, even at his age. You know, and, you know, for victory he brings you to me.
00:43:06
Emeka
The father of men too.
00:43:09
Chino Onwuka
He's great offensively and one of the best defensive players in the league as well, which I think is super important for this sort of exercise. So with the second pick, Anthony Edwards.
00:43:19
Emeka
like I guess the first two are were pretty obvious for me and I did nothing bad to save any of those because my goodness Ball is Anthony Edwards this year just chuck it up from three but unlike other people efficiency doing it but he's I I knew we had a leap in him, but even I'm impressed by this leap like i you know, shut up to Anthony Edwards as the third or fourth pick
00:43:36
Chino Onwuka
yeah
00:43:42
Emeka
Oh, there's a drop off. and Well, you know what? I'm going to be, um um I'm going to go with the modern MBA is wings, wings, wings. And I'm going to take two wings back to back. I'm going to go, first of all, with the guy who makes you go very happy, Paulo Bankero, who is injured right now.
00:43:55
Chino Onwuka
Yeah. I know he was hoping he would drop.
00:43:59
Emeka
Hey, what I've seen is I can easily confidently say future future all-star all-star all-MBA big wing.
00:44:00
Chino Onwuka
I know he was hoping he would drop.
00:44:08
Emeka
and
00:44:09
Chuku
Yes, sir!
00:44:11
Emeka
I might regret this, but you know what? I'm going to go with Scotty, Scotty Barnes as my his fourth.
00:44:15
Chino Onwuka
a
00:44:17
Emeka
I got to be on a Raptors fan. And even though Scotty's just been modeling cowboy fits on the sidelines this year, I still believe in the guy. Him and Paulo shooting might be difficult, but yeah the the versatility, switchability to ball handlers, I'm i'm digging it.
00:44:32
Chino Onwuka
The paint markings at their size is going to be good, yeah.
00:44:34
Emeka
Yeah.
00:44:36
Chino Onwuka
i And it should do anything you want to say about that before we go to my pick.
00:44:42
Chuku
Yeah, no, I mean, obviously I'm hurt that you picked Paulo, you know, but I think that's a great pick. Definitely going to be one of the better wings, you know, he's going to be one of the better wings in the future.
00:44:52
Chuku
People forget this guy's only just what 22, 22 years old, I believe he's going to be definitely definitely going to be a future and be for sure perennial officer.
00:44:58
Emeka
Thanks for your 22.
00:45:06
Chuku
And I definitely think at one point he's going to be, you know, an all NBA player. And Scottie Barnes, I mean, Scottie Barnes has been, you know, he's been the he's been he's been looking good. He's been the man in Toronto.
00:45:17
Chuku
So I definitely think, you know, good picks, good picks. I'll give you that. So that's my take. Yeah, good.
00:45:23
Chino Onwuka
I really like Scotty. I think maybe this was a bit of a or reach at four. I think you could have gotten him later. But this is to my benefit because I think my next pick is what I think gives me a really good, I'm feeling really good get up with my team at this point because I was worried.
00:45:44
Chino Onwuka
I'm going Chet at number five. So now i've got I got my number one in Ant and I got the perfect complimentary piece who
00:45:48
Emeka
Yeah.
00:45:53
Chino Onwuka
is as close as you can get to Wembley on D. An all-perfect complementary player can do everything that you want. He doesn't have to be a number one.
00:46:04
Chino Onwuka
He's shown how he fits, you know, in that role, you know, but beside SGA. So, yeah, I got it.
00:46:11
Chuku
no no he was You Well, let's see here.
00:46:12
Emeka
Hey, nothing to say about chat.
00:46:13
Chino Onwuka
i
00:46:15
Emeka
Chat's a baller, except the health health concerns me. Injured two, three seasons in the NBA, two major injuries in them.
00:46:22
Chino Onwuka
I mean, you just pick one, so I mean, it's or bar bar for bar on those.
00:46:23
Emeka
You know, I don't know.
00:46:29
Emeka
there
00:46:36
Chuku
One second, I was going to just confirm something here real quickly. Just won give me one second. I know what I want to pick, but I just want to confirm if someone still makes the cuts.
00:46:53
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, just say it out loud and we can help you with that.
00:46:56
Chuku
Damn. So John Moran doesn't make the cuts. That's crazy, man.
00:47:00
Emeka
Bruh, they had to pull these names out of...
00:47:03
Chuku
I thought he was almost there. Yeah. No worries. No worries. So I think I got to pick my guard here. You know, I gotta pick a, pick a nice combo that can help feed my big man.
00:47:14
Chuku
Number one, pick over all one, but Yama, and they know, I think, you know, this player, I mean, he's proven, he's shown, you know, how you can lead a team took him to a Eastern conference finals.
00:47:25
Chuku
And, yeah, I think he's a pretty good player. Uh, the light skin, Tyrese Halliburton, I'll take him.
00:47:30
Chino Onwuka
Whoo!
00:47:32
Chuku
I think it's a nice combination.
00:47:34
Chino Onwuka
Whoo!
00:47:35
Chuku
go my big man you know I'm saying feed him nicely and let's
00:47:37
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:47:42
Chuku
see here and with that I think I want to add you know what such an important pick such an important pick I think
00:48:02
Chuku
I would definitely want to add a forward here. A very underrated forward. I i mean, can if you can stay healthy, and this this is a gamble, but if you can stay healthy, why not? Zion Williamson.
00:48:18
Chino Onwuka
Oh, yes. I was wondering where he would go. Nice.
00:48:22
Chuku
I would go with Zion.
00:48:23
Chino Onwuka
A big thing with him is health. Like, it was only a couple of years ago where we were we were saying, is is Zion, I wanted to be the best player in the league. And like, I think he brought up some debates.
00:48:34
Chino Onwuka
And, yep, if he can stay healthy, if he can stay healthy. So so what's the truth with this team so far right now?
00:48:42
Emeka
Tyrese, Zion, and Wembley.
00:48:45
Chino Onwuka
OK.
00:48:46
Emeka
Well, Hallibrin, there's multiple Tyrese.
00:48:47
Chino Onwuka
a hol Halliburton, yeah. Halliburton, again, I'll say, I don't know, that that drop off since I was the one, y'all know I was the one sort of, you know, repping Halliburton at the earliest, but I am concerned at his drop off since since that hamstring injury, you know, apparently away from home, he's trash.
00:49:09
Chino Onwuka
Some NBA players want to sleep on hotel beds or whatever. I don't know whether the He's been hanging out too much with the Snowbunnies.
00:49:17
Chino Onwuka
I don't know. Yeah, if you look at his stats this season, I don't know. I hope he can stop out of it, because when he's at his best, he's one of the most fun players in the NBA.
00:49:18
Emeka
I have to say, is he getting much sleep these days?
00:49:27
Chuku
Hey, this is looking, this is projecting long-term, guys. We're not just looking at just the season. So, you know, you got to look at it.
00:49:32
Chino Onwuka
For sure. And I don't know if I should mention the two players it was between for me.
00:49:35
Chuku
Yeah.
00:49:38
Chino Onwuka
Maybe I'll just keep it close to my best. With that, I will round out my team. I think I have a really good solid starting three right now, and I will pick Jaylen Williams from the Thunder.
00:49:51
Emeka
J-dub.
00:49:52
Chino Onwuka
You know, Swiss Army Knife can do everything.
00:49:53
Chuku
yeah Hey, Doug.
00:49:55
Chino Onwuka
Right now, he's playing at center with Chet Hurt. you know, another perfect complimentary piece, can do everything, can handle the ball, can distribute, can shoot, can defend, can run an offense. I'm feeling really good about my picks.
00:50:12
Emeka
Shout out J-dub man.
00:50:12
Chuku
Okay.
00:50:14
Emeka
He's going to be a great Milwaukee buck. with a tri on
00:50:19
Chuku
Oh, Christ.
00:50:20
Emeka
I've just played you come after me. oh I get to pick back to back. oh o I am going to say it's the modern NBA.
00:50:30
Emeka
And what do I know what I want offense. So I'm going to go with o I'm going to go with the mellow ball.
00:50:39
Chuku
o
00:50:40
Emeka
The mellow ball who if people ah aren't sleeping on the mellow ball these days like these putting up numbers and
00:50:48
Chuku
Yeah, it's bone, it's been bone.
00:50:50
Emeka
My heart wants me to to take Maxie, but my my brain and my eyes are gonna say I'm taking Kate Cunningham with my other pick.
00:50:56
Chino Onwuka
Ooh.
00:50:59
Emeka
More Kate.
00:51:00
Chino Onwuka
Policy pirate.
00:51:02
Emeka
Two young guys who I think have took the leap this year, and I want them moving forward.
00:51:07
Chuku
Yeah, not bad.
00:51:09
Chino Onwuka
You know what, I rate that, I rate that.
00:51:11
Chuku
That's not bad at all.
00:51:15
Emeka
Back to you, Chino.
00:51:16
Chino Onwuka
Man, I wish I had back-to-back picks, because one of my guys is still on the board, and I'm surprised he's still on the board. So seeing as I have... Here's what I'm gonna do, because I'm gonna do this to screw you guys over. Seeing as I have Chet, who's a...
00:51:37
Chino Onwuka
legit floor spacing big man I am about to wall off that pain because again I already have my number one option and you know I see you know lots of other options you know for other good players going forward I am going to go with Evan like when me and Jet are gone someone's got to pick
00:51:58
Emeka
I was hoping I'd fall. i was that I was hoping he'd fall.
00:52:06
Chino Onwuka
ever more because
00:52:07
Emeka
I was hoping he'd fall.
00:52:08
Chino Onwuka
because I don't know.
00:52:09
Emeka
I ain't going to cap.
00:52:09
Chino Onwuka
I don't know what's big man. You're all going to pick now.
00:52:13
Emeka
What? You got a big man. I'm a little loud big man. I'm on an NBA.
00:52:15
Chino Onwuka
I know. Yeah. Yeah.
00:52:18
Chino Onwuka
You're the only one that doesn't. Evan Mobley.
00:52:18
Emeka
We don't need bigs.
00:52:25
Emeka
That's a great pick though. I love Mobley. One issue is that I guess it's not the same as Jared Allen, but I want Mobley being a center. But hey, between him and Chet, they can switch off match ups, but it'll work out.
00:52:35
Chino Onwuka
Exactly exactly
00:52:38
Emeka
It'll work out.
00:52:39
Emeka
All right, it's up to you to go back to back.
00:52:42
Chuku
back to back, back to back. I'm not counting the draft that's going because I get to pick my two two guys that, you know, I think, you know, can really help, help, but but help, but I just helped me fill out my top, my my starting five. I'll definitely start off with my magic boy, Franz, Franz Wagner, baby. Give me that Franz Wagner.
00:53:11
Chuku
A guy is, I mean, I love what we talk about, you know, hollow, but he is stepped up in a big way.
00:53:15
Chino Onwuka
It's been great to see how how he stepped up in backpedals.
00:53:19
Emeka
Right?
00:53:20
Chino Onwuka
my
00:53:20
Chuku
Yes, sir.
00:53:20
Emeka
Remember he can shoot.
00:53:20
Chuku
Yes, sir.
00:53:21
Emeka
That's all I can say. Remember he can shoot.
00:53:22
Chino Onwuka
college That's really good signs for the magic going forward.
00:53:25
Chuku
And people sleep on his playmaking as well. Like he can shoot and he's a Swiss, just like how you describe Gillian Williams. Francis is definitely a big, big, big Swiss army knife in the sense that he can create, shoot,
00:53:40
Chuku
he does it all for us so I'll get them my team and then this this one is tough because I'll be honest man I really want to pick Tyreece maxi I really do with that extra guard shooter shooter I'm just not a fan of the size I'm a big proponent of size and for me this player I'm gonna pick like he just on both ends of the court is athleticism, like it jumps out.
00:54:14
Chuku
It stands out in a big way. And he's doing big things in Houston. Please give me Jaylen Green. Thank you very much. I'm going to take Jaylen Green.
00:54:23
Chino Onwuka
I'm running to the podium to pick Tyrese Maxie. He's the guy I've been wanting to pick since my third pick. Bruh, y'all making this too easy for me. Oh, Tyrese.
00:54:34
Chuku
sorry
00:54:34
Chino Onwuka
I'm gonna let you guys talk more on jail. I love jailing too, but yeah, give me Tyrese. How y'all let me do this? How y'all let me do this?
00:54:45
Emeka
Hey, look, i i was it was I was like I said, I really wanted to pick Tyrese, but I ended up going with K just because I like the size. But look, Tyrese is a my goodness. Speed demon. No more to say.
00:54:56
Emeka
i um I mean, I rather have Tyrese than Jalen Green. I don't know about you guys, but hey.
00:55:00
Chino Onwuka
So would I.
00:55:01
Chuku
Hey, hey, I run after you.
00:55:02
Chino Onwuka
So would I. We were talking about 50, 40, 90. Go check Tyrese's splits in the playoffs last year. Unreal.
00:55:13
Emeka
Darius is that guy, is that boy?
00:55:13
Chino Onwuka
In the playoffs, on his own.
00:55:14
Emeka
Yeah.
00:55:18
Chino Onwuka
Oh, it's a wrap.
00:55:18
Chuku
Here
00:55:18
Emeka
All right.
00:55:20
Emeka
It's me.
00:55:21
Chino Onwuka
It's a wrap.
00:55:22
Emeka
I got to pick back to back now. Ooh. You know what? This is nothing real. And I'm going to pick why one of my favorite players in the league. And one of the few times I got a non-notary draft pick right.
00:55:36
Emeka
Alparin Shanguin, baby Yokich. This guy is literally baby. You'll catch and if I found love you'll catch so much. How can I not like the guy? Who's 80% what he is?
00:55:47
Emeka
It's Houston Realized what's going on?
00:55:49
Chino Onwuka
easily
00:55:51
Chino Onwuka
I love you and drain. I want him to be the best guy on the Rockets, but keeping it a good is the best.
00:55:52
Emeka
What?
00:55:56
Emeka
No Yeah, give the keys to shingoon like they just they're They're going how does it never will power struggle today trade three guys and commit to somebody but for my opinion for my money, I
00:56:06
Chino Onwuka
course You were talking about trading for Giannis, if there's any team that should trade for Giannis, it's Houston, because they they've got too many players at the same age.
00:56:15
Emeka
Join the players.
00:56:16
Chino Onwuka
So that is a perfect soldation should consolidation trade. you know Milwaukee might be like, we don't want to start over with draft picks, because you never know what they could be. Well, Houston, you've got players who are actually actualized.
00:56:29
Chino Onwuka
You've seen their talent. I think it's that that's the perfect matchup right there. And they've got picks as well, as well as players.
00:56:35
Chino Onwuka
that's Right.
00:56:36
Emeka
Well, in fact, yeah yeah any star player in Houston is the team to be the lookout, because they got picks and talent.
00:56:39
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:56:41
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:56:42
Emeka
And i hope what more do you want? And for my you know my last pick, I'm going to go with my favorite. like My favorite one was under the most underrated guy in the league, because no one watches Hawks games.
00:56:53
Emeka
Jalen Johnson.
00:56:54
Chino Onwuka
I had him on my list.
00:56:57
Chino Onwuka
Good pick. Good pick.
00:56:57
Emeka
Jalen Johnson.
00:56:59
Emeka
For some reason, I just i love my love of Trey Young, making me watch Hawk games a lot. And I also bet we should say to be rookie of the years. I've kind of watched their games. Jalen Johnson is amazing. Like I realize he was that good. He is good.
00:57:11
Chino Onwuka
He's really good very So so far everyone has picked four players No,
00:57:13
Chuku
and he's like He's really a Vatican good. yeah He's a good detail.
00:57:20
Emeka
Five players is not your six man and everyone's filled their roster out so we can pick over you want.
00:57:21
Chuku
5. well
00:57:24
Chino Onwuka
I've only picked four Who my picks again, let's us if Bro
00:57:27
Chuku
No, we picked 5, bro.
00:57:27
Emeka
No, you pick five.
00:57:30
Emeka
Edwards, Maxi, Jalen Williams, Evan Mobley, Chad Holmgren.
00:57:36
Chino Onwuka
That's beautiful. And then what's everybody else picks again?
00:57:41
Emeka
I have Lamello, Kate, Scotty Barnes, Paulo Bankero, Sangroon, and Jalen Johnson. Juku has Halliburton, Green, Franz, Zion, and Wembley.
00:57:51
Chino Onwuka
i For my last pick, there's still some really good players on the board. you know I'll just name some that I i really like at guard.
00:58:05
Chino Onwuka
You know, on my board, I've got Darius Garland. At the shooting yard position, you know, my board, Devin Bassel, Benedict Matherin, who's balling in Indiana right now.
00:58:18
Chino Onwuka
My other Canadian, Shaden Sharp, glad to see him healthy.
00:58:23
Emeka
Ballin'.
00:58:23
Chino Onwuka
of Looking at, you know, complimentary players who might not be stars, but you not everybody can be on one of these teams pods, who was mentioned before. Another Canadian boy, RJ Barrett,
00:58:36
Chino Onwuka
Jonathan Kominga, Gigi Jackson. you know I say all that to not mention the guy that I'm picking at this spot. you know And we don't even need to be.
00:58:50
Chino Onwuka
I already have won this exercise. Brandon Miller, other forward, can shoot, can do everything, balances out my team.
00:58:56
Emeka
Brandon Miller.
00:59:01
Chino Onwuka
So do I even need to do more?
00:59:04
Emeka
I remember a man saying it's crazy that Brandon Miller would be better than Scoot. People thought I was saying harry heresy when I had that take.
00:59:13
Chino Onwuka
Yep, yep, he's talking about me. I had both Brandon Miller and I've been very wrong so far.
00:59:16
Emeka
really
00:59:22
Chino Onwuka
Although I still believe in Scoot, still believe in Scoot.
00:59:26
Emeka
He's a tough tough to break out in.
00:59:29
Chino Onwuka
Chuka with the last pick of the draft.
00:59:34
Chuku
ah ah me I mean, I got to help my guards rotation. I think you you mentioned already having a great year in the top team in the East. I got to go Darius, Carl and.
00:59:53
Chino Onwuka
Okay, okay ball handling shooting finesse That's a good pick so Chuku tell us what you're starting five and who your sixth man is
01:00:08
Chuku
So for starting five, I got Tyrese Halliburton at the one, Jalen Green at the two, Franz Wagner at the three,
01:00:23
Chuku
Zion Williamson at the four, and Victor Wenjama at the five with Darius darius Garland as my sixth man.
01:00:36
Chino Onwuka
Nice. Okay. Second, I am going to have at but my guard position, at my two wing positions, I'm going to have, oh, how do you how you say you have two guards, two wings and ah and a big?
01:01:00
Emeka
Yeah.
01:01:01
Chino Onwuka
I'm going to, I'm going to go, you know, a guard, a wing, two forwards at a center. I'm going to have Jalen, Jalen Williams.
01:01:08
Emeka
yeah
01:01:13
Chino Onwuka
I'm going to have Brandon Miller start as well, just to get that shooting and keep that size. Mobley at the four, Chet at the five, and have Maxi.
01:01:35
Emeka
And I got Lamello and Cade at the guards. I got Scottie Barnes and Paolo Bancara at the forward. Shanguin, the big man, and Jillian Johnson's the sixth man.
01:01:48
Chino Onwuka
Okay.
01:01:49
Chuku
OK.
01:01:49
Chino Onwuka
All right, let's do our votes for top three and Mecha you start. Once you ended it.
01:01:56
Chuku
Wait, what? I'm going to do this, yeah.
01:01:56
Emeka
I how are we supposed to do it?
01:01:58
Emeka
we can i can
01:01:59
Chino Onwuka
Who do you think would like just your thoughts and on the best team, the way I would have it? I i think my team's the strongest topic.
01:02:07
Emeka
I was able to pick their own team, so I was not going to do.
01:02:10
Chino Onwuka
No, I like judge the teams. I would go with. A mecca's team. Over trucas, just because I think. Truco reached a bit. I think that the the one he reached on the most was Jalen Green.
01:02:10
Chuku
Yeah, after that I'm going to help.
01:02:29
Chino Onwuka
Because you know even though you have Shangun at the center, you have Scotty, who can sort of be that weak side defender and sort of cover up his mistakes.
01:02:41
Chino Onwuka
And you have Paolo. So between the three of them, you have just so much playmaking on your team.
01:02:47
Emeka
I got size. That's what I wanted.
01:02:47
Chino Onwuka
Sometimes, yes.
01:02:48
Emeka
I had no short people.
01:02:48
Chino Onwuka
Start with playmaking across every single position.
01:02:50
Emeka
Size and playmaking. That was the consistent theme I was going for. Everyone's six, six, six, seven. We switching everything.
01:02:54
Chino Onwuka
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
01:02:56
Emeka
And, you know, yeah, Shinguun, as much as he's the worst big man, I know one thing, though, he gonna give every of those big man buckets, because they're skinny. They ain't garnish a good in the post.
01:03:05
Chino Onwuka
Yeah. Yeah.
01:03:07
Emeka
I'll tell you that.
01:03:09
Chuku
Fair enough.
01:03:11
Emeka
I mean, everything obviously everyone's good. If I i was going to do this way, I'm taking my team out of it because I i think my team is best. I would go with... who I will go chin on his team slightly because I hate to pick against Wembley.
01:03:25
Emeka
Wembley is so good. But Edwards with Mobley and Chet, I love Chet. And whenever Chet's hurt, Mobley's in there. That's just a great one, two. And it' we did this exercise like three years ago.
01:03:38
Emeka
Zion goes one easily. And now Zion's going like 10. And I'm like, I don't know if 10 might be even too high.
01:03:41
Chino Onwuka
yes
01:03:44
Emeka
It's crazy. like it's it's It's sad what happened to my man Zion, man.
01:03:45
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
01:03:49
Emeka
It really is.
01:03:50
Chuku
yeah
01:03:52
Chino Onwuka
i i was that was That was fun. Yeah. Interesting to see.
01:03:56
Emeka
And I mean, listeners might let us know that we obviously be biased. If anyone's, you know, unbiased, let the people know. I'm curious what, uh, what people think the best team is.
01:04:06
Chino Onwuka
And it's so interesting how, because I was just thinking, you know, if we had done this at the beginning of the season, I'm sure someone probably would have picked Reed Shepherd or something.
01:04:08
Chuku
Yeah.
01:04:16
Emeka
Nah, no way.
01:04:17
Chuku
Not a chance, bro.
01:04:18
Chino Onwuka
I could have seen it.
01:04:20
Emeka
The league is too talented, man. The league is too, like, guys not getting drafted, like, Uh, you know comminga rj barrett lively jabari giddy.
01:04:30
Emeka
Oh, it's tyler hero. Like it's lee is I was thinking of taking it out of here.
01:04:32
Chino Onwuka
well but here yeah if you covered here I thought I was wondering if anyone would pick him as as their 6th man. you
01:04:33
Chuku
Jabari Smith-Nugget and Jacqueline and Rod.
01:04:40
Emeka
I if look up. We've wanted to Have a fun story look up dammy livers stats this season and tyler hero stats this season very similar
01:04:46
Chino Onwuka
Yeah. Another guy that wasn't mentioned yet, Dyson Daniels, was averaging like 6 steals a game for a bit.
01:04:54
Emeka
Oh, I watch Hawks games. the Hawks are good.
01:04:57
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
01:04:58
Emeka
Hawks are good.
01:05:00
Chino Onwuka
Okay.
01:05:01
Emeka
That was fun though.
01:05:02
Chino Onwuka
Well, I hope, yeah, I hope you guys enjoyed that as much as we did. You know, if there's any other fun exercises you guys think we should do, you see anything, please let us know, you know, where we we we love having good, interesting discussions, the debates. So, yeah. So, you know, we we're coming up in an hour so far, so we're just going to wrap things up by just branching back to to the beautiful game for a little bit. You know, again, we're excited to have tough football back.
01:05:30
Chino Onwuka
Anything, what are you guys looking forward to the most you know this weekend and you know looking to see for this continuous stretch of of football without a break?
01:05:45
Emeka
Uh, I mean for for football and general, I miss football. I used to talk about the top. I love this type of the season where it's just game. Obviously there's a winter break for leagues and even the prem nowadays have their own kind of winter break, but just football every week. None of these international breaks. Even though it's actually became a good time for me. it was gonna We were ready for God last episode. Things were getting heated. I hope everyone's uh,
01:06:07
Emeka
Everyone's calmed down a little bit. Everyone feels better about themselves now. Arsenal, we're back again in this weekend. Stress levels are going to be high again. I just want to make sure everyone everyone's copacetic after a nice little two-week break.
01:06:18
Chuku
and I've taken a chill pill, I've come to a realization. I don't believe Arsenal is going to do anything this season but at this point I'm going in with very low expectations and if they can surprise me, great. But I'm not going to feel disappointed at all at this point in time because I just don't think we have the the team right now to to to really go for major honors.
01:06:47
Chuku
Unfortunately, that's just my take. That's my opinion. Again, I hope to be proven wrong, but, you know, thats yeah you know i had had I just realized I had too much feet in and
01:06:51
Chino Onwuka
Well, for fair enough, but isn't this the same team that you had winning the league? What's what's changed in the team, still the same team?
01:07:07
Chuku
the team staying healthy and what I've realized is we're literally one or two injuries to very key guys ah away from having a disaster class. And mainly like too many things have to go right and seeing life without Odegard just shown me that like, I just don't know if we're, if right now we're ready, I still think we need major additions to our to our front and attacking attacking line and you know i just think yeah the injuries and seeing us with without odor guard and saka open my eyes to who we really are and where we are a short in terms of overall talent up top and i just think i'm still waiting for martinelli to
01:08:01
Chuku
to show me you can be consistent, you know, consistent long-term, not just a game here or there. um um And, you know, I just, and I definitely think I was overhyping, I fell into the trap of overhyping my own team. And I just think that, yeah, my my eyes have just shown me that we are not the team that I think, that I thought we were entering the season. We're still,
01:08:31
Chuku
a little bit of ways away. And we need to make additions if we want to be the team that are I believe we can we were when I first initially were making those predictions. So that's just my thoughts on this.
01:08:45
Emeka
He's still depressed, that's the check-in update. ah i like
01:08:48
Chuku
I don't know that.
01:08:50
Emeka
He's still the depressed.
01:08:52
Chino Onwuka
but
01:08:54
Emeka
oh
01:08:55
Chuku
So let me ask you this. zohora god You can call me the press, but hold on. So, Amaka, you wanted your thoughts. You think think this team can can win major honors? I want to say major honors.
01:09:06
Chuku
I'm talking about win the league or champion's league. is that I mean, just make sure I get you on 4K. What are we saying? Do you believe this team?
01:09:16
Emeka
i
01:09:17
Chuku
throughout
01:09:17
Emeka
I've a broken, a broken record, but I have said this for how many years? I, for the last decade, saw Arsenal finish eighth all the time, lose to every big team, and have no prospect of hope of success ever. Last three years, I look forward to every game we play. Yeah, it's been a slow three weeks, but I'm like, it's November. It's not even December yet. Table does not matter until at least Christmas.
01:09:44
Chuku
You've not answered my question, bro. This is a simple one.
01:09:44
Emeka
not
01:09:46
Emeka
but is So what my but question answer your question, I think ours would be good this year if we don't win a trophy Do with me at least top three and in the title race.
01:09:47
Chuku
You have to have no question.
01:09:50
Chuku
What is good?
01:09:54
Chuku
Oh my god, bro. OK. Well, you know what? I think but you've answered my question well and without answering my question. But you know what? I hear you.
01:10:00
Emeka
I Was gonna win the league who's gonna win a league I don't know I still could win the league I'm giving up yet so I know I was trying to find a quote
01:10:01
Chuku
I got the answer. the answer. the answer. Don't worry.
01:10:09
Emeka
My man, Dennis Burkamp, he said, why do when you start supporting a football team, you don't support it because of your trophies or a player or history. You support it because you found somewhere, some place where you belong.
01:10:20
Emeka
That's what speaks to me.
01:10:22
Chuku
oh brother copium is crazy but okay this
01:10:22
Emeka
i honest That's why I never understand this whole trophy chat. I like watching, I'm an Arsenal fan because I was born a an Arsenal fan. This is one the one of the best years I've watched Arsenal.
Arsenal's Premier League Struggles and Hopes
01:10:31
Emeka
I'm not mad at it. That's why I left this whole depressed salute degrees I hear.
01:10:34
Emeka
I rather this than going back to them dark eighth finishing years, all in a second.
01:10:40
Chuku
is correct this is actually this is the problem why is why we're just I don't know let me let me
01:10:43
Chino Onwuka
Okay, you can save that for for the league on our stream.
01:10:45
Chuku
right
01:10:50
Chino Onwuka
we get What I'm looking forward to is watching Arsenal play and play well again and just enjoy Saturdays and Sundays with my team.
01:11:03
Chino Onwuka
I think it's too late for the prem. you know Too many things have happened at the beginning of the season. I think we've already lost too much ground. you know That whole saying, the league doesn't matter till December. I don't get that because it's it's it's math. The points matter just as much in August and September as they do in April and May. It's the same point. So when people say that, it's not like, all you have to do is just get into the playoffs and then it matters. It's just a league table.
01:11:37
Chino Onwuka
Which is why I think Prem is done, but just because I still think on our day, we are one of the best teams in Europe. I still, maybe it's just a little bit of hope.
01:11:48
Chino Onwuka
I still think, you know, if with it with luck, I still think we could make noise in the Champions League. Just because again, I do think we are one of the better teams.
01:11:57
Chino Onwuka
so I still think as long as we're there, we're there.
01:11:57
Emeka
Knockout competition.
01:12:00
Emeka
Yeah.
01:12:02
Chino Onwuka
We've we've lost too much but in the in the Prem. I was looking forward to seeing our boys play. Looking forward to seeing Saka be healthy and and ball. Looking forward to to to screaming King Kai.
01:12:14
Chino Onwuka
Looking forward to some border guard magic.
01:12:17
Chino Onwuka
Looking forward to Martinelli you know discovering a bit of his spark again.
01:12:18
Emeka
My captain is back.
01:12:19
Emeka
hey I'm happy.
01:12:24
Chino Onwuka
Looking forward to Saliba, Gabrielle, Timber, Calafiori, Benny Blanco shutting things down at the back. Looking forward to some carbs.
01:12:36
Chino Onwuka
You know, you know I love me some rice. I'm looking forward to my son, Ethan, Gigi, and Billy, my nary, continuing to develop and show he's a star boy.
01:12:51
Emeka
We'll see.
01:12:52
Chino Onwuka
Or the R-small.
01:12:52
Emeka
Everyone's healthy now. We'll see about that last one.
01:12:55
Chuku
care about that one if because in every in time.
01:12:56
Chino Onwuka
it That is what I'm looking forward to.
01:12:58
Chuku
yeah
01:13:01
Chino Onwuka
hope oh Hope it's exciting. Like you said, last two seasons have been, you know, sometimes it's like, man, I was really too young during our glory days to understand what we're doing.
01:13:12
Chino Onwuka
So now I'm cherishing the good times and trying not to get too low during the bad times. Chuka, I was worried you were after the Man City game because I thought it was already out of our hands and the reason it was out of our hands was because of other other parties, not ourselves. And since then, it's only been compounded. So yeah, looking forward to a good end to the season.
01:13:45
Emeka
and to the season, we're not halfway through yet. But you know what, fair enough.
01:13:47
Chino Onwuka
Rest of the season. Sorry, that's what I meant to say. Rest of the season.
01:13:51
Emeka
Fair enough.
01:13:53
Chino Onwuka
All right.
Pep Guardiola's Contract and Arsenal's Reality Check
01:13:54
Chino Onwuka
All right. So with that, we will go on to our games of the week.
01:14:00
Emeka
No one's talking about me the biggest, Pep's not an extension. I don't know how people, I'm actually surprised how little people have been caring about that.
01:14:07
Chino Onwuka
I don't know if it's not for me. it's I'm trying to ah got ignore it. I'm glad at some point I told myself to not. put any hope on the... I just told myself he's going to extend and he's going to be there for another 10 years, which will...
01:14:21
Emeka
I thought he was gone. I'm not even going to lie. I thought he was gone after this year.
01:14:24
Chino Onwuka
la I told myself to prepare myself for the worst and so...
01:14:25
Emeka
I'm surprised he's got an extension.
01:14:32
Emeka
Hey, he might know something we don't know about these charges, let me say.
01:14:32
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
01:14:36
Chino Onwuka
Zochuku, you might be depressed for a couple more years.
01:14:43
Chuku
Bro, I just told you all I've accepted what we are, bro. Like it is what it is. We're not, win we're not trying to win any championship.
01:14:47
Chino Onwuka
we you state what we are like we
01:14:49
Chuku
It doesn't mean the press.
01:14:50
Chino Onwuka
like scos We are not but we have the best one the best love teams of all time in our division.
01:14:51
Chuku
why what Hold on. Hold on. Again.
01:14:57
Chuku
Why? i Why is it that when I accept, when I say accept who we are and what we are, that it's coming with such backlash, like,
01:15:00
Chino Onwuka
watch
01:15:08
Chuku
You have just accepted and agreed we're not winning the league. like I get it.
01:15:12
Chino Onwuka
the I guess it's the way the train is and the way the train is.
01:15:15
Chuku
Hold on. But wait. no No, I disagree. I just disagree with you. I disagree with you.
01:15:19
Chino Onwuka
Okay, fair enough,
01:15:22
Chuku
When I say I accept who we are, where we where we're at, that's not me saying that Arsenal is a bad team. that like I don't get it. That's not me saying that.
01:15:32
Chuku
It's me saying we're not buying for major honors. like kameka tells me or like just in general only one team can win the league role like it's one team and again one of that team it is what that's what when i say i accept it that's what i'm saying it is that's what i'm saying it is we
01:15:43
Chino Onwuka
Exactly.
01:15:50
Emeka
That's why I can't. So what do we do the last two seasons then? What do what would we do the last two seasons? What would you call that?
01:15:57
Chuku
challenged we're challengers that's what we are we're challengers do we do we win do we win am i mistaken
01:16:00
Emeka
Go on.
01:16:05
Emeka
But you said we're not challenging for the league. i know You just said we're challenging.
01:16:07
Chuku
Who said, oh my, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
01:16:07
Emeka
So i don't I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.
01:16:12
Chuku
When I said we're not challenging, I never said that.
01:16:12
Emeka
Hey, be depressed.
01:16:13
Chino Onwuka
was a failure what Your brother, your brother robert is a lawyer, so if you if you if you pick any words that he...
01:16:14
Emeka
Be depressed. Be depressed.
01:16:16
Chuku
That's crazy. That's crazy.
01:16:17
Emeka
be
01:16:17
Chuku
i these one Go ahead. But I never said we're not challenging. That's the thing. You can't use words I never used.
01:16:27
Chuku
So like that's crazy.
01:16:28
Emeka
a right
01:16:29
Chuku
That's crazy. I just said we're not winning major honors.
01:16:32
Emeka
You said we're not vying for major honors.
01:16:34
Chuku
Only one team.
01:16:35
Emeka
What does vying mean?
01:16:38
Chuku
Oh my. Wow. You really go. This guy's really good. Okay. Okay.
01:16:41
Emeka
Well, that's fine.
01:16:42
Chuku
You're deluxe. Okay.
01:16:42
Emeka
You think i I'll put words in your mouth.
01:16:43
Chuku
Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. We are not winning.
01:16:44
Emeka
You saw what you said.
01:16:45
Chuku
We're not winning any major honors. How about that? Okay. We're not winning any major honors.
01:16:50
Emeka
Okay.
01:16:50
Chuku
That's why that's what it is. I hope, I hope we can get at least an epic cup or even a Carlin cup. I hope, but as far as any major honors, I just don't see it.
01:17:00
Chino Onwuka
That's what I was saying in the summer and you're like
01:17:01
Chuku
And I don't see it happening anytime soon. And, yeah, that's just what it is. So. As long as pep is around, mancities around, it's going to be a problem. So we we we hope for the best and yeah, it is what it is.
01:17:13
Chino Onwuka
that's what i was saying in the summer and you' like yeah so
01:17:18
Emeka
Hey, I'm not giving up yet. Hey, that's y'all.
01:17:22
Chino Onwuka
all right okay so yeah do you have anything do you have more you want to say about pep
01:17:23
Chuku
Yeah.
01:17:23
Chuku
All right.
01:17:29
Emeka
I just think it's, again, it to me, that the 115 charges, people don't really talk about it that much. and as I guess as someone in that area, it's it fascinates me. I'm curious about the decision, and I'm curious about Pep deciding to extend. And I can't help but wonder, he probably did that as a trade deal to get some funds for the January transfer window, because it's probably easy to convince guys to come if peps couldn't extend. And I, I don't know. Again, for some reason, I think people have just given a title to Liverpool. Hey, they might win. who Who knows? I just, I find it fascinating. Like I, the Premier League race is going to be great. And I think it's still going to come down to three teams and I'm excited for the run and pep extending.
01:18:13
Emeka
is a new wrinkle for it. Now I'm seeing my ghost splurged by somebody money in January. I don't know. So hey, I just, yeah.
01:18:17
Chino Onwuka
and And I'm not surprised you find it you know with your background, what you find so interesting. Again, I think the way what sports has done to me over my life is I have just always expect the worst. So regardless of how damning the evidence seems to be, I just thought, yeah, man, see, you're going to squirm their way out of this somehow and, you know, pep.
01:18:44
Chino Onwuka
Even though every other club, he's only stayed four years or so.
01:18:47
Emeka
Do you know?
01:18:48
Chino Onwuka
Our league is going to be the one he decides he wants to be the next Ferguson and Weber. So I just told myself that to protect myself a while ago.
01:18:54
Chuku
Praise.
01:18:56
Chino Onwuka
And you know hearing the way he's been so defiant, I think he really, really loves Man City. he really Part of what invigorates him is that even though he has the the best team, he has all the resources,
01:19:12
Chino Onwuka
Unlike all his other leagues, it's still challenging.
01:19:15
Emeka
Yeah, it's competitive.
01:19:16
Chino Onwuka
It's still compelling.
01:19:17
Emeka
Goes out to the last game every season like it's crazy out there No
01:19:19
Chino Onwuka
So I think that's what really keeps his juices flowing. oh
01:19:25
Emeka
effects Now the machines now or two leaves on the Hughes as well, but
01:19:27
Chino Onwuka
for the crowd And and he he he does love City.
01:19:28
Chuku
yeah
01:19:30
Chino Onwuka
He does love City. He took them from, I mean, they won one league on the Pellegrini, but you know he took them to where they are now.
01:19:39
Chino Onwuka
when we When we look at history, you know, the club that Man City's become, you know, at all the other clubs, he's fine with other names, even though he's probably top amongst other names at City, it is his name.
01:19:51
Emeka
Imagine going back to 2017 and telling yourself, Peppers are going to our last clock by two seasons. You never would have believed it.
01:19:59
Chuku
by two seasons or more is crazy crazy yeah yeah so he's got
01:19:59
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
01:20:01
Emeka
For two seasons or more, yeah, minimum of two seasons, Peppers are going to our last clock. That's crazy.
01:20:04
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
01:20:06
Emeka
Everyone was thought it was a done deal. Peppers are going to come in four or five years, dip, about to be a decade in the prep. and
01:20:14
Chino Onwuka
Go out and manage Brazil. I beg. Please. Please.
01:20:20
Emeka
Hey, what can you do?
01:20:22
Chuku
these are
01:20:22
Emeka
I like, at the end of the day, I can't rely. I like the best teams are in the prep as I watch the most. So, you know, it is what it is. I'll take it.
01:20:27
Chino Onwuka
I to win once, and then we can do the best. like I just want one. And honestly, I feel like I'll be, yeah, I might act up from time to time, but I will be satisfied for a long time. I just want one.
01:20:40
Chino Onwuka
just
01:20:40
Emeka
As a guy who's a fan of a team that won way too many footballs during my lifetime, you always want more.
01:20:46
Chino Onwuka
The third thing, after that Spurs 2013, 2014, I always do good, but like i'm i'm I'm good for a bit. Probably, maybe by the time I have kids, then I'll be like, all right, guys, like I want to see my kids see us do something.
01:20:46
Emeka
You always want more.
01:21:01
Chino Onwuka
But 2014, that has me sorted for for a while.
01:21:03
Emeka
I feel you. Listen.
01:21:08
Emeka
You'll never hear me complain about the patience. I'll tell you that. You'll never hear me complain about the Until I'm like 50.
01:21:15
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, and I know Chigu feels the same way about his match. Oh, never mind.
01:21:20
Chuku
Hey, my eagles you can talk about you what are you me tell you to do this.
01:21:20
Emeka
You know, the Eagles, oh yeah, no, not really.
01:21:24
Chino Onwuka
I know. i was I was hoping that would have come up. As I was saying, man, because Michael, he's an Eagles fan.
NFL Banter and Upcoming Football Matches
01:21:30
Chuku
Oh wow, this guy is sick man. You know how your jaguar is doing my boy? Let's not go there. Let's not do that. Let's not do that.
01:21:39
Chino Onwuka
I have time to end the episode. I don't know where I had to go then.
01:21:41
Chuku
That's it.
01:21:43
Chino Onwuka
and
01:21:44
Chuku
Yes, sir. That's what I thought. That's what I thought.
01:21:45
Chino Onwuka
Wow, wow, you know, you just ruined the lives, man.
01:21:46
Chuku
Let's go. All right. All right.
01:21:52
Chino Onwuka
I mean, I You just ruined the You just ruined the...
01:21:54
Chuku
Maybe your vibe, but I'm doing good. I'm doing good.
01:21:57
Emeka
Uh, unlike somehow Doug Peterson saw the job. We still have this podcast. And so we don't wrap it up with the game of the week. The describe this game. We just talked about pep, but the one team pep can't seem to consistently beat good old Tottenham versus man city this weekend, man city coming off four straight losses.
01:22:19
Emeka
Will they right the ship? Do you think Pep overcomes his demons and beat Spurs? Or do Spurs pull another rabbit out the hat again? Except what we needed to last year.
01:22:30
Chino Onwuka
You know what i I kind of like about us, and this is only for one game about us sort of kind of being out of it? I can with my, I've been a very bit conflicted last two seasons sort of like, oh, I'm sure, can you, can you like, not that I'm more than twin, but if you do, I will be, now I just want man city to flood the basic was them.
01:22:30
Emeka
Either here nor there.
01:22:43
Emeka
Never.
01:22:52
Emeka
but Oh my, we are doing it.
01:22:53
Chino Onwuka
them. o masses float them properly
01:22:57
Emeka
We do.
01:22:58
Chino Onwuka
there's no time can you do something for us flo howland
01:23:02
Chino Onwuka
fred
01:23:02
Emeka
Wow.
01:23:05
Chino Onwuka
oh
01:23:06
Emeka
Wow.
01:23:08
Chino Onwuka
beautiful i don't know
01:23:10
Chuku
oh
01:23:10
Chino Onwuka
i don't want i don't
01:23:11
Emeka
Wow.
01:23:12
Chuku
im with
01:23:13
Chino Onwuka
and't really made This weekend my city seven top number zero, let's go
01:23:14
Chuku
I'm with...
01:23:17
Chuku
I'm with my boyfriend on this 100% because like I said when it comes to acceptance of who we are and where we're at you have to understand but at this point it's not Spurs doing us a favor it's Spurs doing Liverpool a favor and I'm not trying to hear that
01:23:20
Emeka
who
01:23:33
Chuku
So I'm trying to get my city back on the bandwagon, then he starts stepping up. Howlin' slob these guys, man. I need you to break records, bro. I need you to triple Captain Howlin', bro. I need all that, okay? I need it. So please, yeah? I need you, city, to turn up. Turn up against this ton and shit. And yeah, i hope I hope it's like a 10-0 in my opinion. But anyways, yeah, I'm watching on this. I hope, I hope city turn up, so.
01:24:02
Emeka
Damn.
01:24:02
Chuku
That happened.
01:24:06
Emeka
I still want to sit in the loose. i Maybe I'm delusional. Call me that. I still want to sit in the loose.
01:24:09
Chuku
Oh my god.
01:24:10
Emeka
i don't know
01:24:10
Chino Onwuka
water theres weekend Not this weekend not this Okay, we'll see
01:24:12
Chuku
Hold that hope.
01:24:14
Emeka
i ah no I have no fear at all of Tottenham. So I'd rather sit in the loose. But you know, I'll cut this way down the middle. And when I even think what happened, I think this would be Man City 2 Tottenham 2. It would be a draw.
01:24:27
Chuku
Interesting.
01:24:29
Chino Onwuka
I mean, we've I think it's good that we've all chosen kind of different things this time because I think the last couple of weeks we've all partners like divided lastco but couple of weeks when we've all like sort of been on the same side of having the same hope.
01:24:37
Emeka
What do you mean? You and Shugo are talking 7 to 10 nil.
01:24:41
Chuku
I mean, why am I so realistic? I'm just saying, I think they're going to win.
01:24:48
Chino Onwuka
We've been wrong. So, you know,
01:24:51
Emeka
Okay, we'll see.
01:24:52
Chino Onwuka
We'll see what happens. We'll see what happens. There's some other, there's some other big games happening outside. So, you know, football is not just the EPL, you know, in Italy, we got a big, we got a big matchup between, uh, AC Milan and Juventus.
01:25:00
Emeka
Is it not?
01:25:06
Chino Onwuka
You know, that should be a really good game. Honestly, I've not watched, you know, pure Italian football in a while, but I'm, I will try to tune in for this one.
01:25:18
Chino Onwuka
know, just looking at the table right now. Juventus is 6th with 24 points. AC Milan is 7th with 18 points but they have a game in hand so this is a bi really big game historically probably the biggest game in Italy if it's not the Milan Derby. Juventus and AC Milan are the two most successful teams in Italy and you know big game in regards to you know, title chances, champion's chances because Napoli is first with just 26 points. So, you know, the the teams at the top are are really tightly spread. So yeah, another big game.
01:26:03
Emeka
Yeah, I can't lie. I've been watching Prem. I've been trying to watch La Liga. I have not been catching Syria this year.
01:26:07
Chuku
That's about it. I have not caught no seer Syria But hey, that is usually a good game though.
01:26:12
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
01:26:15
Chuku
AC Milan, Juventus, I mean, yeah, can't lie. But I'm definitely been more into La Liga and Premier League see this year. So, well, we'll see.
01:26:27
Chuku
We'll see.
01:26:27
Chino Onwuka
We shall see, we shall see.
01:26:29
Chuku
I mean, you can just also not talk about Arsenal against Forest, man. I mean, that to me is also, one of the more one of the more underrated games of the weekend because forests have been really good to watch in my opinion.
01:26:42
Chuku
ah So what are you
01:26:43
Emeka
They took edu from us. We got to show them levels right now.
01:26:47
Chuku
just i'm love with that have no faith have no guarantee I have no have no guaranteed faith.
01:26:47
Emeka
How dare they take our technical director? How dare they?
01:26:54
Chino Onwuka
Are invinible um invincible, are are invincible.
01:26:55
Chuku
but talking
01:26:56
Emeka
ah ah you know a
01:26:58
Chuku
You know, I don't know. how I think me and you know, we're talking about our feelings outside of before the podcast started. But I don't know if you got any chance to hear from Mecca. I don't think he did hear from you.
01:27:09
Chuku
But like, how are you feeling about this game? Because man, I'm sorry right now. I'm worried. I'm not going to lie to you. I'm worried. The way forward.
01:27:16
Emeka
Look, it's not going to be easy.
01:27:17
Chuku
and
01:27:17
Emeka
It's not going to be easy. But Arsenal 2-4 is no. Come on.
01:27:22
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, um'm i'm glad I'm glad we're at home. I'm glad we're here.
01:27:22
Chuku
Really.
01:27:25
Chuku
i
01:27:27
Chuku
I'm glad we're at home too, but man the discos we're at home does not mean enough to me just yet, especially with the way we've been playing. by I hope you're right, man. I hope you're right. 2-0, that sounds like a comfortable score line. I don't know if it would be as comfortable as as the score line would suggest, but you know. Okay, I hear it, I hear it.
01:27:27
Emeka
Arsenal 2-4 is no.
01:27:49
Chino Onwuka
I hope
01:27:50
Chino Onwuka
I hope Arteta took the boys who stayed behind to Dubai over this break.
01:27:55
Emeka
All right.
01:27:56
Chuku
Yeah, I don't know about that.
01:27:57
Emeka
Hey, listen, the captain is back, man. The captain is back. You know what? We'll talk in the next episode. I'll let this man be depressed.
01:28:07
Chuku
All right.
01:28:07
Emeka
I know my boys.
01:28:08
Chuku
All right.
01:28:09
Emeka
I know my boys.
01:28:09
Chuku
All right. All right. Yeah, man. I like the feet. I like the feet, man. the so Let's hope they turn up. Let's hope they turn up, man. It's fourth against fifth. So hopefully we can get some spread you know between us and Forest up to this weekend.
01:28:22
Chuku
So we'll see. We'll see.
01:28:26
Chino Onwuka
All right, guys. All right, guys. you know We will see we'll see how things turn out when we meet again. But you know wherere we're an hour and a half in, so I think we can cut it there. So thanks, everyone. Again, I appreciate you all for tuning in every week. you know We do this because you know we love talking sports. We love talking ball.
01:28:49
Chino Onwuka
you know But we also do this you know thanks to the amazing support we've we've we've been getting. Honestly, it's been more than we ever expected. So thank you guys for listening in. Again, if you guys have any thoughts, things that you want us to do, please reach out. you know we'll We'll try and make sure that we're accessible on more platforms. That's something we've we've been discussing and plan to work on. So we will definitely be doing that in the near future. But anything you guys want to say before we wrap things up?
01:29:19
Chuku
Thank you for always being here. you know If you're listening, you've been an amazing support, and I hope you know keep up the good vibes, the good energy, and we're only going to improve and don't get better from here. So I appreciate that anyone that's listening, and thank you for your support.
01:29:37
Chino Onwuka
and And just to be clear, you know, might be one like our amazing audience were specifically talking about our moms who are probably the who're the ones listening to us and supporting us. Shout out for some ordinary moms, I'm just kidding.
01:29:53
Chino Onwuka
so
01:29:55
Emeka
I wouldn't be surprised any anyhow. It's another week y'all we see we not again we we Haven't got rid of us yet So we'll see how long this goes another episode signing off for all the boys for love of the game See you when we see you next time
01:30:08
Chino Onwuka
See you next week. Cheers.
01:30:11
Chuku
Cheers.