Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Liverpool vs Man United Preview | The Tampa Bay Bucs: A Baker Mayfield Experience | Will KD Guide the Rockets All the Way?
0 Playsin 7 hours
Promotion Teams on the RISE! Will the New Boys 🚀 Continue to Soar or CRUMBLE at the Final Hurdle? 😱
⚔️ Shane v James Gets HEATED Ahead of Liverpool 🔴 v Man Utd 🔴 Showdown!
🏈 Bucs on FIRE! Are Baker & Co. Super Bowl Bound? 🏆 Or Just Pretenders? 🤔
💥 NFL BOMBSHELL! Brian Callahan SACKED! 🚨
🏀 NBA RING CHASERS! Can the Rockets 🚀, Pelicans 🐤, or Mavs 🤠 Go ALL the Way? 👀
🎙️ Gan Seans RETURNS!
📊 MASSIVE Power Rankings SHAKE-UP from Shane! ⚡
👉 Subscribe now and never miss the hottest takes across football, basketball, and beyond!
🎧 Listen if you’re into:
- Football (soccer) analysis
- NBA previews & predictions
- Weekly NFL reactions
- Underdog betting tips
- Draft-style sports debates
- Power rankings across multiple sports
- Sports content from an Irish perspective with global takes
🔁 New episodes drop weekly!
Follow/subscribe so you never miss a breakdown of the latest in the EPL, NBA, and NFL.
💬 Connect with us:
📸 Instagram → @whosgottheballpod | X / TikTok → @wgtbpod
📩 Send your takes → wgtbpod@gmail.com
🌍 Based in Ireland | Talking global sports weekly
(00:00) Intro
(05:15) The Promoted Teams are Flying in the Premier League
(14:43) Liverpool vs Man United Preview
(24:26) Are the Bucs a Super Bowl Contender?
(33:17) The Titans Axe Brian Callahan
(38:22) Gan Seans: Weekly Underdog Picks
(43:40) Can the KD Led Rockets Win it All?
(55:12) The Pelicans Have got Some Pieces…
(01:01:09) The New Look Mavericks
(01:06:42) Our Multi-Sport Power Rankings
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Shane's Return
00:00:09
Speaker
right, lads, welcome back to another episode of Who's Got The Ball. Shane, back once again, back from his drunken stupor that he was in last week. Couldn't couldn't record this, too busy on the sauce, but he is back once again. Shane, welcome home.
00:00:23
Speaker
Thank very much. believe you missed me. Of course I did. Yeah. yeah and So yeah, I was at a wedding last weekend, so unfortunately it unavailable. But Michael and Conan stood in, stepped in but without any issues and a couple of behind-the-scenes images of Conan that if he doesn't behave will be released to the world at some point as well. So he keep keep pick better be on his best behaviour now, especially in the Fantasy League.
Ireland's Football Woes
00:00:47
Speaker
Outside of that, had the displeasure of watching two Ireland matches. The first one was the Portugal one. We won't mention that, I suppose.
00:00:55
Speaker
like The second one, that Armenia game. um he I don't know what to say about him I it's ah don't yeah don't know if I've ever seen a team so short in confidence as this Ireland team are because there's no excuse for Armenia playing you off the park and needing them to get out to 10 men to win it if Armenia keep 11 men on that pitch there's no way Ireland win that game No, no, not at all. I was unfortunately there, which honestly, it felt like the longest 90 minutes of my life. it was yeah It was so long. Like it was incredible. and Just I was like, there's couple of times I looked at the clock and I was like, how is there only 30 minutes gone? Like it can't be. and
00:01:31
Speaker
And like you're going for the point at halftime because you can't bring it back to your seat. And they're just like, God, do I even have to go back to my seat here at this point? Yeah, this is one of the worst games I've ever seen. And then that red card obviously changes everything as it did in
Match Highlights and Fan Reactions
00:01:43
Speaker
the Hungary game. How super was he? So ridiculous. What was he doing? And it was great because we all the fans were getting on him in the first half because he was giving it to the fans when they were booing him for the when he was getting the thing on his head.
00:01:55
Speaker
And then straight away, like in the second half, he gets sent off and everyone was roaring abuse at him. So but that was the highlight probably of the whole weekend. It was pretty funny. um But yeah, Ferguson, as always, bailing us out. And honest to God, that Ida cameo was one of the worst...
00:02:14
Speaker
performances I've ever seen like he missed two absolute sitters and then the one chance he he he buries it was his fault being offside I should not have you for that ball when it was like being played and there was a um a guy beside me and he is like an older guy and he he was sitting beside me in the last game as well we were having a bit of a chat and he was giving out about Ida and then Ida buried that and then the flag goes up and I turned to him and I was like that was his fault actually I know he buried that but it was his fault for being offside there like he should not have touched that ball are gone yeah i think I think what made it worse for him as well was that Parra came on and looked like Messi reincarnated every time he got in the ball on the right wing. He was running at people, taking people on, so much confidence. yeah And then Ida... Ida was still playing right now from that game the other night, he still wouldn't put the ball the back. was no one there still in the stadium, he still wouldn't have put it. Yeah, he'd still be hitting the crossbar, hitting the post there. He'd somehow managed to make a run from... An offside run with no one when all he still was standing in his own half. He was just...
00:03:12
Speaker
yeah like like the whole performance it was abysmal Edmund Ferguson is unbelievable and I really hope he can get his first goal for Roma soon and just get that duck off his back and just get him going another cliche I need to stop with the cliches you have them lined up prayer for your return um but but what we talked about this week then we didn't want to waste your time on Ireland because we've we talked about them before and we didn't want to go in depth because what I started to go in depth about really yeah we We were like, we'll we'll just cut to the chase here. We'll we'll give them a little shout out in the intro and that's the end of it. We'll talk about some real teams like the Sunderlands of the world, like the Burnleys.
Premier League Promoted Teams Analysis
00:03:51
Speaker
So we talked about the promoted teams in the Premier League. We've got Burnley, Leeds and Sunderland, how well they've been doing so far. Had a chat about them before we previewed the big game on the weekend. Shane versus James, Liverpool versus Man United.
00:04:04
Speaker
There can only be one winner. Or there could be a draw. Then we've got the NFL. We talked about the books. I know we went into the and MVP conversation last week and we did talk about Baker Mayfield, but the books in general have been so good. So we had to give them a full segment. and Then we talked about Brian Callaghan getting fired over in Tennessee, which was probably long overdue.
00:04:26
Speaker
We went on into Gunshans, gave our picks for the week and went over last week's picks, which shocker, none of them were right. And then we went into our NBA chat, our last three previews of the season. Shane was delighted to get his rockets out there.
00:04:40
Speaker
I can't believe you made me wait until the last game of the season. So So you're wondering why the episode is four and a half hours long, there is a three hour segment on the Rockets in the middle, just in case you're wondering. i mean, I think we spent the same amount of time on the Rockets as we did on the two other teams. But yeah, right we've got the Pelicans as well and the Mavericks. So the Rockets are probably the most interesting and right now out of the three. The Mavericks got way too much chat last season, so they can go on the back burner here a little bit. um And then last up, we went with our power
NFL and NBA Previews
00:05:06
Speaker
rankings. So listen for a massive shakeup over in Shaneland. He went with the fun rankings this week. So that was interesting. and So give that a listen um and let's get into the episode.
00:05:15
Speaker
All right. So since we didn't have much football to chat about last week, since I was on my lonesome for that portion, and let's get into a topic we had planned to speak about over the international break. And that is how the teams that just got promoted are getting on.
00:05:29
Speaker
It's clearly much better than... what we've seen in years, the past couple of years and definitely a lot better than last season. So what's been your biggest takeaways who's impressed you the most so far?
00:05:41
Speaker
I think the biggest takeaway for me is that that they haven't all gone out and signed the way that Forest did when they came up and went out and signed 20-odd players. They seem to have had squads ready to just step up.
00:05:53
Speaker
Definitely players ready to step off lakesa sunderland ah you mind lefe ah isador just Isidore, just seem to see him as he slot into the Premier League. With Burnley, they have Esteve. I know he was here the last time they were up, but he's he's come on leaps and bounds after his year in Championship as well. And then Leeds...
00:06:10
Speaker
like I just think Leeds look really, really strong as well. And I know they've signed five or six lads over this over six foot three as well to help them with corners and stuff. So I just think the way that they were, they were always almost prepared to come up before they came up.
00:06:23
Speaker
And it just made the signings from in the summer a lot easier to kind of just slip in. Then think Jacques has been an outrageous bit of business by Sunderland in particular. um I just think they all look really good and ah sunland i I could talk about Sundland for the day but I'll let you come in here now but I think they've signed really well. Their players have still come in, the likes of Brian Broby, Gertrude i haven't really had a look in yet and they're quality footballers well. So I just think the way they had players in the squad, they were ready to step up and the signings they've made have made them even more impressive as well.
00:06:53
Speaker
Yeah, I think in general the signings have been good. And like you said, at least they've had each team has at least had two or three players that you know actually show that they have the quality to play in the Premier League and they're not... um they're not just solely relying on signings. So that's, that's true. Like, I think that plays a huge part as well when you're, especially when you have the same manager that you had before.
00:07:18
Speaker
um But in terms of like what's impressed me, I think Sunderland, yeah, they've been really, really good. They've played some, probably some of the best football and they are obviously in the best position.
00:07:29
Speaker
and But in general, the defenses across the board have been really good. So looking at Sunderland, they're in ninth place right now with 11 points. They've only conceded six goals. The only teams that have conceded less in the entire league are Arsenal, Spurs, Crystal Palace and one more team. Where did I lose them? Newcastle.
00:07:50
Speaker
That's the only teams that have conceded less than them. So that's a very impressive statistic. But then you look at Leeds. They've conceded 11. OK, it's not, you know, brilliant, but it's not that bad. It's much better compared to how the other teams were fair in last season.
00:08:04
Speaker
And then when you consider when you consider with Leeds as well, like they got battered by Arsenal. Yeah. like so It's only, it's only six goals really then in the other six, you take out that Arsenal result, which is really solid as well. They a really good nil-all job in Newcastle. Um,
00:08:20
Speaker
They were good against Spurs. They were unlucky in the end of that game to to lose that too. So as yeah I think pointing out to defence is a great point to make because they have looked strong. We always knew Burnley were going to be strong defensively after what he did last year.
00:08:32
Speaker
That's a great point for them is that they they've been the weakest out of all yeah defensively. But again, as you said, signing strong, big, strong players seems to be a team because Sunderland did the same thing and it's worked for both them and Leeds. Yeah.
00:08:51
Speaker
Yeah, I just think the way they've gone about it has just been so smart. and They haven't signed players like, oh, we're going to go up this year, we'll bet them in for year, and then they'll be great in the championship next year. They've signed players who were ready for the Premier League. Now, ah bringing in Jack and making captain straight away was such a sign of intent from Sunderland.
00:09:09
Speaker
I think Leeds are really missing kind of like ah an out-and-out reliable goal scorer. I know Okafor scored in the last game, but he's never been... a reliable source of goals obviously Calvert-Lewin he's not reliable anymore he had one good season and that was Carlo Ancelotti just working miracles I think if they had signed a proper striker I'd have him having no issue with staying up but I think the fact they don't want to have one it puts them at a bit of risk but I think Burnley are gone unfortunately and I don't think they're staying up but I think how poor Wolves and West Ham in particular been give Leeds a real real chance of staying up
00:09:45
Speaker
Yeah, and I think Forrest are not really going anywhere at the moment. and we like A lot of people question Brentford. I think and know they look pretty good, but you never know with them going in later into the season. You also don't know Fulham. So I think there's a lot of teams there that are going to be knocking around the same area.
00:10:04
Speaker
The interesting thing is there's only been one matchup between promoted teams so far, and that was Burnley coming out on top against Sunderland. So considering they're in the worst position out of all the teams that got promoted, it's funny that they have beaten the team that are in the best position. And they were solid in that game. And Jadon Anthony in general has looked really good for them.
00:10:25
Speaker
and Looks really good, yeah. lot of games really have just thrown things away that they shouldn't have, which is typical fashion of how they played last time they were up. And you mentioned some of the results Leeds got. I think really impressive to get a 1-0 win at Everton.
00:10:39
Speaker
and kind of caught Everton on the hop there they played very well against Wolves to beat them three one and then as you mentioned a draw against Newcastle and a draw against Bournemouth who are absolutely flying so it'll be really interesting see how Burnley fare against Leeds at home this weekend because this is the second two promoted team matchup and ah think both teams will be seeing this as a must win Definitely, yeah. And I think if Leeds do win that, then it is curtains for Burnley, kind of. Yeah. They'd be sucked down. They'd be really sucked towards bottom. I know they have to win. They have four points, but if you can't, Joe, if you can beat Sunderland and then going to lose to Leeds, not really doing much else. and
00:11:17
Speaker
I think they'll be competitive in a lot of games. I think they'll definitely, like, they'll have no issue. They're not going to do what Southampton did last year. They're definitely not going in position Burnley were all those years back. I think they will be competitive and they'll put up a fight to lot of teams the way they did United, the way they did to Liverpool earlier in the season. But I just don't think they have enough firepower to get them over the line outside of Jadon Anthony. And when Esteve, who's been probably your best player, is on for a hat-trick of own goals against Man City, you really are kind of fighting a losing battle there as well.
00:11:46
Speaker
Yeah, that was unfortunate considering he's been in the season and then that was one of the worst single performances I've seen in a long time. Just so poor to write. But I'll leave it on on a final stat here that looking at comparison to last year, I mentioned at the top, but They have 23 points combined, the three teams, after seven games. Last year, the three promoted teams had 11.
00:12:11
Speaker
But the interesting thing is the XG against, so non-penalty XG against. The teams last year at this point had 43.1 against them, whereas the teams this year have 27.5.
00:12:23
Speaker
But you would think then that that would translate into, you know, okay, they've sacrificed attack. But no last year the teams had 17.7 XG created. And this year it's 17.5. So it's basically the same amount of creation, but way better defensively.
00:12:38
Speaker
So it shows that they really are clued in to what they need to do. And I think Sunderland especially, they've fielded the second youngest team on average across the league this season. So they're doing lot young players too, which is incredibly impressive.
00:12:52
Speaker
Yeah, I think their manager has done an unbelievable job and since he came up. Even since you ainer he in there, he turned them around last year and he's he's made such a difference in this year as well. LeBrie, I'm pretty sure his name is, he's been absolutely super superb for him. I think they can hold on to him, if they can stay up this year, and I think they will now, I think I've the most confidence in them, they're 10 points clear of Wolves.
00:13:16
Speaker
at this stage of the season is absolutely mental-like. So I don't think they should have too many issues with staying up now. Deeds' Christmas schedule is a nightmare. And that's that's where they haven't been conceding goals yet, but I can see if they are start conceding goals, be about then.
00:13:32
Speaker
They played Liverpool twice in December, and which is mad. They play on the 6th and the 30th, which is crazy. On top of that then, they have Sunderland, massive game, Palace at home, Brentford away.
00:13:46
Speaker
They have City in there as well. Like their dere Christmas fixtures is where they'll rise or they'll fall around then. So they just need to pick up as many points as they can between now and the start of December and see where they are at the end December then. And if they can get at any points in December, it'd be a bonus for Yeah, really impressive start from from all the teams. And i think there'll be ups and downs as there always is. But if if you start off strongly, um like especially Sunderland have done and Leeds have done performance-wise, maybe not in total points. But if you start off strong, it matters a lot as you go later into the season. do and ah
00:14:22
Speaker
I was just looking there, Leeds. So in the space of week, they have City away, Chelsea home, Liverpool at home. 29th of December, 3rd of December, 6th of December, as things stand out. They'll obviously... they might be moved around a bit, but they're, they've three, they've those three games in a week with a midweek game. So that's, no that's the stuff the nightmare is like.
00:14:40
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely horrible. Um, let's move on then to our preview for the big game of the weekend. Obviously it's our two teams facing off. So Liverpool playing Man United on Sunday and Anfield, um, a really big game, I think probably more so for Liverpool. It'd be surprising to have said that a few weeks ago, but, um,
00:15:00
Speaker
you know I think United are on this win one, lose one streak. So you're catching them at the right time. They won their last one. So by right, you should win this game. But Liverpool are coming in having lost three in a row.
Liverpool vs. Man United Preview
00:15:11
Speaker
In the game before that, I wasn't very impressed with them against Southampton in the Cup.
00:15:14
Speaker
So it's not been a great streak. and So this is a kind of a must win at this point. um I know it's funny to say that this early, but it is really one that you need to put your stamp on and um' go out there and win it.
00:15:27
Speaker
um What's your take what's your take on what way they'll go about this tactically or what way they'll they'll select the line-up to go after United. yeah but i think First of all, I think it's a must win for both teams, but for extremely different reasons.
00:15:41
Speaker
Liverpool need to win just to get off this this streak of losing three. think the National Braille came at the perfect time for them. If we're looking back, like the amount of late wins and stuff, like it just hasn't been a good start to the season for Liverpool at all.
00:15:54
Speaker
um I know they won their first seven and it's really hard to say. won seven in a row is is struggling, but the amount of late gold in there, Going 2-0 up and throwing it away couple of times. They've really struggled to find a bit of form.
00:16:09
Speaker
I think for this one, I think Wierth will start. I said that last time he was on the bench, but I think he will start Wierth as one of the three in midfield. I don't think McAllister start. think it'll be Gravenberch, Stavazlai and Wierth in midfield.
00:16:23
Speaker
And then I think he might go Ekotike. Isaac, Isaac and Salah as a front three. The back four then, the full backs are the problem. um i He's been trying to play Kirkus into four.
00:16:34
Speaker
I don't know if you can keep just plugging him away and hoping for the best, especially when you're not playing to his strengths. I think it's a bad game to do it as well with Boumo coming at him and Ahmad who loves to have a nice partnership with him there. so um my um My biggest s want is that we we haven't played well against a team that plays three at the back since 1994 with the way things are going. I can't remember the last time we played well against a team we plays three at the back.
00:17:00
Speaker
I just want them to come out and show that they are capable of playing a team three at the back and beating a team of three at the back. Hmm.
00:17:08
Speaker
I think um looking at United so far this season, they've conceded 1.6 goals per game and Liverpool have scored 1.9 goals per game. So you would think that Liverpool are going to put up one at at least in this game, if if not two. um and But then on the flip side of that, you look at United's goalkeepers during that time where they conceded goals and they were absolutely horrendous. um I know it was only one game, but Lamont's looked very impressive.
00:17:37
Speaker
a lot more assured at least in the box and no silly mistakes just no nonsense which is probably what United need right now he needs to put a lot more together than that but that would be kind of the flip side to the argument of of how they've conceded but I know we mentioned the last time around like we spoke about Wurtz and but you said he had like the same amount of chances as Grealish but like zero assists and Grealish had four or something yeah I want to absolutely take down this argument because i was like, right, I'm going to talk about Vert in this game and how many chances he's created.
00:18:15
Speaker
Just to seem that I have been hoodwinked by the statistics by you here. he's 21 chances created. hor tar In the Premier League, Wurtz has 11 chances created. One of them is a big chance and he has no assists.
00:18:31
Speaker
Grealish has 17. Three are big chances and he has four assists. And then I was like, OK, what is it different for other players? But then you look at Wharton. five big chances created zero assists.
00:18:44
Speaker
So it's always it's not always the conversion rate. It's not always the striker's fault. So I'm not willing to allow this. like I was thinking it like it's fine. Okay, if that's the argument, if that's the points, that's okay.
00:18:58
Speaker
But then stumbling upon that I've been statistically hoodwinked here. Well, have I then in that stage because was reading it off of that. And Opta put it up, the way Opta put it up, made it look like he has 21 chances for it in the Premier League.
00:19:12
Speaker
Maybe it was across all comps or something. Yeah, I wasn't going re-watching all the matches to go back and see if if he's 21 chances for it or not. I just saw it from an Opta tweet. but just going these are the statistics that I saw, which obviously powered by the same, like Opta provide the same across the board.
00:19:30
Speaker
um and i I thought, okay, then where is the biggest threat for this game? So to kind of put a point on this, it's, I think, the biggest threat, despite how slow he's been.
00:19:43
Speaker
Obviously, it's an obvious thing to say Salah, but it is Salah. if like If Liverpool are to win this game, it's going to be down to Salah. I think, yeah, okay, Varsic has created chances. He hasn't got the assists. Things haven't gone his way. He's only new, whatever.
00:19:57
Speaker
You can make your argument on that either way, but... For Liverpool to win this game, it's going to massively come down to Salah here because if you United play Dorgo on the left, Salah has wealth space there that he can run into.
00:20:09
Speaker
If United play Dalot on the left, then like, you know, Dalot might give Liverpool a throw on and the next thing he's high-fiving every United player and Salah's in behind him because Dalot's not paying attention to what he has to do.
00:20:20
Speaker
So this is like a massive area of the game that I'm going to be watching closely. Um... Salah's created 12 total chances this season, four big chances with two assists. So he has been Liverpool's most effective creator. I think Gakpo has more chances created, but they're not as many big chances.
00:20:38
Speaker
yeah And so I think he's someone that I'll be watching in this game and someone that I think could be the difference maker if he plays the way he did last season to that on Sunday.
00:20:49
Speaker
Yeah, so I think Salah's biggest issue had been his shooting this year, had been so way worse. Everything he seems to sue everyone who tries to curl into the corner has seems to just go flying over the bar.
00:20:59
Speaker
and It's been very annoying to watch because you know the talent is there quite clearly. The amount of goals you score for Liverpool in general shows you the talent is there. It would be so Mo Salah to come back in this game and just slap a hat-trick of 25-yarders into the top corner and only goes and scores 11 goals in his next 10 games or something. But something has to give in this game. and Be it Salah, be it Izak, be it Fierce. Someone has to just step up now and grab them and say, OK, we've lost three in a row. Two of them were to late goals that we should not be conceding. Two stupid goals to concede. A throw then Robertson falling asleep.
00:21:34
Speaker
This is the game where it all comes right. We've had the international break and a lot of lads have done really well. um Alexis Bicalis has scored two for Argentina. Dallas scored two for Egypt. um Ekotike was the starting number nine for France. He's going to get confidence from that.
00:21:50
Speaker
Isaac might come back with bit between his team after what happened to Sweden as well. So it could be the perfect mix and a perfect time to take on your biggest rivals as well then. Yeah, I think. And then on the other side of the coin, the one thing I'm looking at is United probably do need to look to exploit Kanata because that has been a weakness for Liverpool. And Sesko has been a handful for a lot of defenders so far when he started. I think the three games he started...
00:22:15
Speaker
he's like pinned defenders back and just caused hassle. He has quite a good touch for his size and he has good pace. So I think that ball into him with Mbouma running at Van Dijk, which kind of allows then that overlap to Ahmad if he forces Karkes to play. I think that overload on that hand side with basically two strong attacking players coming at Van Dijk and Karkes could be something United need to...
00:22:40
Speaker
maybe go at but having said everything who's going to win the big one is it going to be Liverpool or Knight what's your score Liverpool go or Jesus 3-1
00:22:54
Speaker
three one Okay, I'm going to go with ah an exciting game. Both teams open at times and a 2-2 draw because they just seem to love drawing 2-2. Yeah.
00:23:06
Speaker
And you're saying, of course, as if I just predicted United to win like 6-0. No, I knew I thought you were going to sit on the fence. like i'm i I don't think United are going to win this game away. They haven't won away all season. So yeah I'm not going to start by predicting them to beat Liverpool just because of bias. They're not going say they're going to beat them either.
00:23:29
Speaker
so I don't think Liverpool have been good enough this season, to be honest with you. They've been there to be had. And I think United could really put a further dent into their armour. And United perform well against Liverpool consistently over the last...
00:23:45
Speaker
season or two and they've had a couple of big wins and a couple of big goals so I think this could be a big one um and again i think for me ultimately comes down to Salah if Salah's on form this could be filthy for United because i that left hand side worries me and but if Salah's playing the way he has for the rest of this season then i think United have a real chance here so That's our predictions for those two, for that big one.
00:24:11
Speaker
um Let's see how it goes. We're both going to watching um on the edge of our seats and both hoping for a result. But I think it's coming at a really interesting time off this international break. Yeah, it is. Big time. the end of said So let's jump into the other type of football that we love to chat about. It's American football.
00:24:30
Speaker
I did go with it last week. We talked about... The MVP race, myself and Conan, we talked about it for a very long time. and We had a lot of of names thrown out there. And one that came up was Baker Mayfield.
00:24:42
Speaker
Now, his team has gone and won again last weekend. So it's only right that we look at the team as a whole. Bucks are 5-1. What do you make of them? I obviously wasn't on last week. I wasn't on IR. I was under the influence of alcohol. That was my problem last week. But I actually want to give Baker bit of an MVP shout-out result for 30 seconds before we talk with the rest of the team. 12 touchdowns, one interception.
00:25:06
Speaker
But it's not just that, it's what he's doing with his legs as well. His run against the Jets to get him in into field goal range. His run to get that first down last weekend against the Niners, outrageous. Everything he's doing is turning to gold at the moment.
00:25:18
Speaker
um a like all that he All of his flares seem to be playing well as well. Ibuka, before his injury, absolutely flying and as you were saying like they haven't had an easy schedule Falcons Texans Jets Eagles Seahawks and Niners the only one they've lost to the Eagles and they were but extremely competitive in that as well the whole way through so like we could be sitting here talking about them being 6-0 and no one would be surprised with the way they played this season and Yeah, I think they actually won. Like I mentioned it last week, but they lost a game that they should have won in that Eagles game. And then...
00:25:53
Speaker
um and then There's maybe one or two that they could have lost, but they managed to come through. So i think it shows their like their grit. And that Niners game last week was a potential banana skin.
00:26:05
Speaker
Both myself and Cunnan said it, that it seemed like the type of game that the Niners would just come out and perform above what was expected of them and win the game. and But it was the first game actually all season that Baker was able to kneel out a win and go into victory formation.
00:26:19
Speaker
So I think they'll like that feeling. I think there'll be be something they chase again. But as you mentioned, like how tough their schedule is um over the next five, you have the Lions, um then the Saints, which is a pretty easy one for them. But again, in division, it can always be tough. I'm sorry, Conan.
00:26:38
Speaker
And then you've got the Patriots who are on a high right now, with the Bills and the Rams. I look at the back end of the season and you end with Cardinals, Saints, Falcons, Panthers, Dolphins, Panthers.
00:26:49
Speaker
That is quite easy. So I think even if they do stumble here, they should have no problem winning the division. But I think this next like run of five, If they even come out of this 3-2 and then they're sitting at God, like it it'll be really hard to look past Baker as MVP because he's going to run a riot on those last few games of the season.
00:27:08
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. As I said, they out of those 5-3-2 during business. and But I think they deal with a couple of tops on there. In particular, I think the Lions game next him is really tough.
00:27:20
Speaker
ah they can be If they can beat that Lions team, not only is he... as a proper MVP candidate, but a puts them in a real Super Bowl conversation as well for me because the Lions have been playing really well up until, don't know if you want to mention that Kansas City game, but it was just outrageous. Like not having a flag thrown in the whole game or the one that was thrown was the Lions because they got a first down, but Yeah, they they were they were pretty robbed in that game. And other than that, been absolutely flying. in If the Bucs win that, then you had to look at them in a serious and and Super Bowl conversation as well.
00:27:57
Speaker
Yeah, I agree. I think they're one of the strongest teams in the NFC right now. And the Eagles are stumbling along. um i think really the Rams look dangerous. and The Seahawks look very, very good. And that was a massive game between themselves and the Bucs.
00:28:11
Speaker
And then obviously the Lions as well. I think those... Three or four teams are really, really strong. um And you mentioned Egbuka already.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Challenges
00:28:19
Speaker
He's been huge so far for them. Outstanding. Probably the offensive rookie of the year, frontrunner. He's had two games at over 100 yards, including a 163-yard game versus Seahawks.
00:28:31
Speaker
And he scored five touchdowns in his first five games. Just unbelievable for a rookie. Unfortunately, got a bit of an injury versus the Niners, but I don't think it's going to be long-term. um But injuries have been the name of the game here for Tampa. Like they've had injuries along the offensive line.
00:28:46
Speaker
All their star skilled players, Bucky Irving, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and now Ed Buka have all been injured. Yet the offense hasn't missed a beat. Ranked sixth in points per game, 27.5 on average and seventh in passing yards per game with 244.
00:29:01
Speaker
So it's actually, despite all the injuries on offense, it's still the offense that is carrying this team. And that's testament to Baker, but testament to some of the other guys that are stepping up as well, like Sterling Shepard, massive Giants, ex-Giants star.
00:29:17
Speaker
um he's He's shining over there now. So yeah, it's pretty big. Another one as well is Rashad White. Stepping in for Bucky Irving has been absolutely flying as well. I now think everyone knew his talent anyway. He should probably be starting running back one for somewhere else, but he's just stepped up massively. And another man who stood up like that is yeah Rico Dowdle as well. I know we're not talking about them at moment, but I think he deserves a shout out after his last two games as well.
00:29:44
Speaker
um It must be so frustrating for people like White and Dowdle to go back and then the bench or play half the snaps they were when they're putting up the numbers they have in the last couple of weeks but Joe that is an NBA game Bucky Irving is it is the number one there and he's an unbelievable running back so the depth they have there now there's only so deep your wide receiver core can go as well when you're losing your top three receivers and then but then Sterling Shepard comes in and steps up like like he's just been doing it for his whole life as well so i think everything is going right for him there at the moment and Baker is the pinnacle of us
00:30:18
Speaker
Yeah, Tez Johnson looked really good too last Yeah, he was solid. I think if he gets going through... Yeah, did da deliver him on the sideline. Yeah, hit him on the sideline about the MVP, I thought, was absolutely brilliant.
00:30:30
Speaker
Yeah, he thought that the MVP chance were for him and Starling Shepard had tell him they're for a Baker. Yeah. That was a funny rookie moment. um But I think looking at the defense then as well, they're ranked 14th in yards per game allowed. So kind of mid-level 320, but they need to put a clamp on the scoring that they're allowing they're allowing 25.2 points per game so like they're on average they've they're 2.3 points better than their opponents it's very very narrow basically they're winning every game by less than a field score yeah and that thing needs to that's something that needs to be cleaned up because they haven't had as many injuries as the offense just a couple here and there and
00:31:14
Speaker
it's really been the weaker part of the team. Now that actually stood up a lot better against and the Niners and they confused Mac Jones into throwing a couple of picks. So I think if they can keep that up going into a big Lions game, that'll be key really going forward.
00:31:28
Speaker
Yeah, like did they let the Jets score 27 points and we saw the Jets don't know how to score when they played against Broncos at the weekend. So i think especially against a team like the Lions who just love putting up 30, 40, 50 points on teams. If they don't get that right this weekend, it could be anything on that side and they'll be asking Baker to throw 12 touchdowns in one game to double his tally for the season if the defence can't get it right so I think that that is a massive thing and it's something that will harm their Super Bowl chances as well if the out-of-the-art team score 25 points a game you're not going to score 26, 27 every single week you need to be able to grind out a couple of 19, 16, 19, 15 as well so we'd have to see if the defence can match up to what the offence have been doing
00:32:14
Speaker
Yeah, and I mentioned last week, the only thing about Baker is like he's only had one interception, but he's thrown some fairly questionable passes at times. And the Jets should have had a couple of takeaways and a few games they had should have had takeaways against him. So if he is chasing a big game, like against the Lions or the Bills, he may throw one or two. But I think for now, he's been performing outstandingly well. and And I think he will continue that into the rest of the season. So...
00:32:41
Speaker
Yeah, I think he's definitely a forerunner for MVP and this Bucs team is not to be laughed at. like Oh, 100%. I was only going to get a clip there of you and Conan talking about Baker for MVP and you were going through the list of quarterbacks the Bucs have had over the last couple of years and it's just, it's it's the highest of the high and the lowest of the low and all of a sudden Baker is falling into that highest of the high category and if he keeps going that way, then the sky is the limit for him this season.
00:33:10
Speaker
Yeah, he's in there with Brady now at this point amongst the fans. I'm sure like they're happy to have him. Someone that fans did not like and the owner followed suit was Brian Callaghan.
00:33:22
Speaker
The poor fellow was the first guy, first head coach fired over in Tennessee. I mean, it's really hard to argue with it, but look... ah we've lost the first one of the season it's around this point maybe sometimes a little bit later but um it is early enough into the season there was a lot of murmurings at the end of last regular season that he was going to get the bullet but they said they were going to stick by him despite the team going 3-14 last season they got the number one overall pick picked Cam Ward, gave him six more games and he went
Tennessee Titans' Coaching Change
00:33:52
Speaker
one and five. So four and 19 is the total record for Callaghan, one of the worst of all time.
00:33:57
Speaker
I think it would have been the worst of all time um statistically if they had have lost that Cardinals game, which was just the Cardinals beat themselves is more than the Titans actually beat them. So obviously I ah think Callaghan probably it was his time to go.
00:34:13
Speaker
Yeah, he definitely, it's only so long you can keep him. i Four and 19, as you said, is just a business. im Like it's really, really poor. And the one win, as you said, against the Cardinals this year was just stupidity from the Cardinals.
00:34:27
Speaker
Dropping the ball, going over the goal line. God. I can't believe also that the Cardinals head coach got fined for shouting at his player on the sideline after that. But anyway, that's player maybe next week's topic. Cam Moore just doesn't look like he's really ready. and But so this kind of he's the first overall pick you've...
00:34:45
Speaker
hanged the season to get him, you had to leave him in there but in general they just haven't been good at all. like They've just been really poor, everything they've done is poor. They've no scheme, they've no real, they don't seem to have a plan other than Cam Moore throws it up and if he doesn't get picked off it's great and if he can find someone that even better then it's just been a clusterfuck in all honesty from since the start of last season. and yeah There's only so much he can do. I was reading an article because i was trying to look up and get bit a bit of points in it and their owner as well, she doesn't like to be embarrassed apparently.
00:35:18
Speaker
And she had a lot of people in watching the game at the weekend and they were like, geez, you can't keep him in charge. So she made the decision then. Okay. Yeah, Amy Adams-Strunk.
00:35:30
Speaker
shi She didn't even show up to the press conference then to dismiss him. and one There's a guy, Paul Kaharski, I think is the beat reporter over in Tennessee and he asked like the hardest questions and he hounded um Callaghan like gave him such a hard time he asked the guys like where is she turned that yeah and they were like oh she's not here I'm here representing her so yeah she obviously didn't want to show a face because she doesn't want to be known I think as somebody who keeps firing head coaches quickly but she has been doing that so uh
00:36:01
Speaker
yeah But this one I think was justified and yeah and I would certainly be embarrassed too if I owned the team and that was what they were putting out on the field. yeah it Especially account wordss yeah especially like did dad their next game is Mike Vrabel is coming back to town after she fired him and now look what he's doing as well. So Fryden wants to see her biggest mistake up against her second biggest mistake as well. So she let the second biggest mistake go.
00:36:25
Speaker
yeah Yeah, that could have probably played a part in it. like It would have been really bad optics for them to get hammered by Vrabel. But I was just going to make a point on Cam Ward. I think it was better to get Callaghan out because he was clearly like not dialing up the right ah offense and not giving Ward exactly what he needed. Ward has had some really, really good throws um and some really good moments, but some really horrible like rookie, and clear low-level rookie passes and mistakes. So I think that...
00:36:54
Speaker
maybe someone who's a bit more experienced or makes the offense kind of around him. um i think there they're bringing Mike McCoy, who's already in-house in for the rest of the season. And I think he said he's going to make things a bit more friendly for Ward, which is definitely needed. But yeah, like hundred percent looking at their defense, theyre they've been actually like on a similar level to the Bucs. amazing. 26.8 points per game allowed, which is actually less than what the Bucs So they're actually slightly better defensively, despite how many possessions they've allowed.
00:37:27
Speaker
But it's the offense, 13.8 points per game, second worst in the league. um So it just shows you, like... and a good A decent offense can get you out of like a semi-okay defense, which is what's happening over in Tampa. Whereas if your offense absolutely stinks, it doesn't matter if your defense is mid-level. This defense might even be decent, but they have to face so many snap or snow somebody many drives every single game that it's just like you're wearing down on every snap. you' You're literally knowing your offense is going to do nothing for you. And it's similar over in Cleveland with the Browns.
00:38:01
Speaker
Yeah, so I think the first sign of the offense doing nothing was when they lost 20-0 to the Texans. and Only conceding 20, the defense put on a good show there, and then the offense come out and just literally cannot do a single thing. And back to you got two more games after that was a bit of a shock to me in general. So the fact that they, you said, it it is definitely justified to get rid of them now. Okay, so moving off the Titans, because I think they've been and like really, really poor this season. And It's not something you want to dwell too much on really, to be honest, because... yeah I think they were as shaky as my internet connection towards the end of that point there. So I think we're better off to move on.
00:38:37
Speaker
Yeah, we had a bit of a technical difficulty. So if we seem like we're just jumping straight into gun chances because we had a bit of a but a connection issue. The internet did not want to hear us talking about Callaghan and the Titans any even a minute longer. So let's get into gun chances.
00:38:53
Speaker
We had two Titans level performances last week. Neither of us got anything right. So the score is 3-2 to you at the moment. I'll let you go first this week. Who have you got?
00:39:05
Speaker
This was, I was just saying it to you there, this is one of the toughest again. Just the Premier League matchups are really doing us no favours at all. and So I've had to go brave on all three of mine this weekend. I might be in for another Titans up performance here. My first one, gone for Fulham at 5-1 to beat Arsenal at 1-2.
00:39:24
Speaker
It's at the Cottage. They might catch Arsenal cold after the international break. Obviously Arsenal would have had maybe twice as many players away as Fulham had. So they would have had an extra week of training and together. Who knows, they could come out and just kick him off the pitch and God, I hope so. I just think 5-1.
00:39:40
Speaker
Yeah, I just think 5-1 at home for any team against anyone else is just mad odds. I'd always look for If I was a betting man, they're the kind of bets I'd be doing every week. Like... Everything going to Anfields a couple of weeks ago was 10 or 12 to 1 as well.
00:39:52
Speaker
I know they didn't win at the end, but they were probably the better team for lot of the game. So you never know. So at 5 to 1, I think that's a great bet. I've gone for the Vikings to beat the Eagles. The Eagles are 8 to 11. The Vikings are 11 to 10.
00:40:04
Speaker
This one is more of a toss-up than it looks on paper. and The Eagles have been a bit shaky the last couple of weeks and the Vikings have looked good bar the Dublin game. Other than that, they've been really, really good.
00:40:16
Speaker
If they're off the back of a bye week, Jefferson has all rested, looking forward to getting 160 yards under his belt, they can do it. I have unfortunately have to back the Jets again at evens to beat the Panthers at 4-5.
00:40:29
Speaker
Look, they have to win a game at some point. i i really just, I couldn't pick another Premier League game. They're all too tight and even the NFL games are hard to pick. There's no way the Jazz can go 0-7. They can't be that bad. So surely they pick one up this week.
00:40:44
Speaker
Yeah, I think that one was when I looked at for a second, but then I was like, i can't go with the Jets. so just not what After how Glenn performed last week with them and the calls he made, it was just hard.
00:40:56
Speaker
i The only team I was considering really in the Premier League was Everton to upset City, but I ultimately couldn't bring myself to it. So I went three NFL picks. I've i've got The Colts to beat the Chargers.
00:41:10
Speaker
It's in l LA. The Chargers are pretty banged up on the offensive line and the Colts are 5-1. They're absolutely flying. and The Chargers barely got over the line against Miami. So I think the Colts at 11-10 is quite a decent price there.
00:41:23
Speaker
Another team that's 11-10 is the Cowboys. They're at home to the Commanders. I think... These two teams are probably similar level. I'm not sold on the commanders at all this year, but threw it away against the bears.
00:41:35
Speaker
um And I think the Cowboys can probably beat anybody and it's going to be a shootout every single week. So you might as well throw them in there every week. You probably get half them right, to be honest, um because they're probably going to be underdogs most weeks.
00:41:48
Speaker
And then last up, I've gone on a similar vein to you and I've gone after my own team. I've gone with the New York giants to take down the Broncos and, The Broncos flying back from London. um I think that's quite a long flight. um That'll be something that'll be kind of taken into account here with the bookies, I'm sure. But it is still a seven point game. They're giving the Giants seven and a half points. So they think the Broncos are going to win by more than a touchdown, which I'm surprised by.
00:42:15
Speaker
considering they were hopeless against the Jets on ah offense and and the Giants have looked quite solid in the last three weeks so I'm going to go with them again i was i was questioning whether I should or not but I think they were one of the best options out there left on the board i was also looking at the Falcons but they're just so up and down that i i I know they played great they beat the Bills and they won the week before but before that they lost 30-0 to the Panthers so it's quite hard to beat them so those are my three and if you did add them together it's 16-1 but more likely I would add the three together as all to cover the spread because I think they all they all will and I think it's going to be some close games there this week definitely amongst those three
00:42:58
Speaker
ah Mine is 20 to 1 as well there on Pellicower. So two solid bets again. If you want to lose a tenner, stick a tenner on either of our bets this weekend. If you're in the business of losing money, then yeah this is perfect for you. Look no further.
00:43:12
Speaker
Actually, an interesting one is ah the last two times I went to the Ireland game, both times I put a fiver on and both times my bet won. And I was like... I must just like keep going to Ireland games and yeah I'm going to have winners. like And everything even I was considering came up.
00:43:28
Speaker
I was considering putting Coleman in yellow card. I didn't. But he did get yellow card. I had Malumby yellow card. That came up. Ferguson to score a resist. like At least there was something out of that dismal performance.
00:43:39
Speaker
yeah Let's move on then to the NBA. We've got... Your team, I'm sure you're only delighted. We had Liverpool to chat about today. We laughed at the Jets a bit and now we've got onto the Rockets. So these are our final three teams to preview for the NBA season. We've got our full season preview coming as an extra episode next week. So look out for that on Tuesday. But let's start with the Rockets. Where do they need to improve most from last season?
00:44:04
Speaker
They don't. They're absolutely perfect in every single way. There's nothing they could possibly do that would make them any better. No, I'm only joking. i I don't know. So I did struggle on this a bit in all honesty, but I kind of settled on. So they were 35.3% from three last year.
00:44:20
Speaker
i It's not terrible, but it is 21st in the league. um It doesn't take a massive jump for them to start looking to get into top 10. So 36.6% the top is in the league last year was Milwaukee.
00:44:35
Speaker
They go up 1.5%. They're into the top 10 in trees and you win more games if you're shooting better trees like that. So I think a tiny improvement like on something like that is it will make such a difference. so Yeah, I was so impressed with their regular season performance that I don't ah couldn't really pick anything out there across the board.
00:44:55
Speaker
So I went just maturity in their playoff execution. think they were beaten by a team that was more mature and knew what they were doing, even without their best player for the majority of the series. And think...
00:45:08
Speaker
i think They just looked like they were a little bit shell-shocked when they came up against that Warriors team. Now, it remains to be seen if Adam Cady will tip them over the edge for this, because um if you're a betting man, you'd say, yeah, he's definitely going to tip them over the edge.
00:45:24
Speaker
I'd rather say he would than he wouldn't. But... It's hard to say for sure because he was added to a championship level roster over in the Warriors, over in Golden State. And like they were a championship level roster before he got there and after he left.
00:45:41
Speaker
When he went to the Nets, they had a super team. He went to the Suns, they had a super team. Neither of those teams he took to the finals. So I would be a little bit wary on that part just because I think...
00:45:53
Speaker
He's been maybe questionable in terms of how far he can take a team, but for the exactly what the Rockets need, I think they haven't they couldn't get a better man than somebody you can just give the ball to and score in high volumes in the playoffs.
00:46:06
Speaker
So I like what they did, but I'm so i'm not 100% on it just yet. and But I still think it was the right move, of course. I argued for it before it even happened. so Yeah, so I do agree with you on that. that He's like, he hasn't really shown, he's a bit of a Pep Guardiola. Like he went into a team was full of superstars and just brought him over the line. And then he went into the Nets, which are a mess of an organization and just showed he was
00:46:32
Speaker
Brian Callahan for a season. like So hopefully you can find a middle ground here now and just kind of like the Rockets have such a young roster full of really, really good talented players that if he can be the one that just knits them together, stops them doing stupid things, so many turnovers. Now we've gotten rid of the biggest turnover in the league as well and Jalen Green, so that will help too, obviously. But if he can just kind of bring them together and say, look, this is how you win playoff games.
00:46:58
Speaker
Because I think we can both say completely they are going to reach the playoffs. They just need to try and win a playoff series. If you can win one, you can win two or three. So let's see from there. yeah I'm going to go first on the under-the-radar player for the team.
NBA Key Players and Team Prospects
00:47:11
Speaker
um It is tough to pick one because we talk about the teeth like the Rockets quite a lot since you're a fan of them, both on the podcast. and offline So it's like, oh which guy is actually under the radar? Because we talk about them all. But one guy who I don't think gets enough love anywhere is Terry Eason.
00:47:27
Speaker
I think just in general, what he can do for the team is massive. And by your smart, I guess you probably have him here as well. Yeah. 56 games last season, 16 of those starts.
00:47:39
Speaker
12 points per game, 6.5 boards. He's an excellent defender. This is like one of the biggest parts of his game. 1.7 steals per game and almost a full block per game in only 25 minutes. um Shoots efficiently from the field, nearly 50%.
00:47:54
Speaker
And he does fight for offensive rebounds. He's got good size, He can offer a lot to any team. And I think... The thing with him is the more minutes he gets, the more output you'll get from him. He's not somebody that like, oh, he should only play 23 minutes. No, what he does in 23 minutes, give him 30, he'll probably go up to 16, 17 points per game. He'll be getting over two steals a game.
00:48:14
Speaker
I think he's really underrated and somebody that you should really hold on to. And if you can negotiate a decent contract for him in the long term, he'll be a piece, a massive piece of this team going forward. But what's your thoughts on him? Because I think you have him also.
00:48:30
Speaker
Yeah, I have him as well. I don't have much to add to what you said. I pretty much had to kind of give word for word there with the points for game, the minutes and all that. um I will add that he's the head off Charlie Shambino. and Literally, if you not can look him up, put the two them side to side.
00:48:42
Speaker
I don't think they've ever been in the same room together and there might be a reason for that. Outside of that, I just... i think I think he's absolutely class if he's your sixth or seventh man you're in a really really good spot Jabari Smith Jr as well he didn't finish the season starting and the way he started pre-season he's like oh I'm getting back into that starting five come hell or high water so couple of players there who were fighting for a shirt as well which is good to see and and you When you look at where the Rockets were after they lost Harden and Westbrook to where they are now, it's night day and day. They've had a couple of awful head coaches who were just there to tank. The likes of Stephen Sider and stuff was... This year is just the most excited to season for me since I've kind of been watching properly. So I kind of started following them 2017-ish and i post in the last couple of years now,
00:49:30
Speaker
It's been nightmare after nightmare. Same as the Jets. I'm hoping the Jets will have a rocket turn around at some point as well. Yeah, I think Terry Easton and Reid Shepard are the two. but dore or If I was going for anyone, it was going to be to one ah one of the two of those. So I just went for Terry as well.
00:49:45
Speaker
I'm laughing and at the point there because you were said it's night and day. I thought you were to say it's chalk and cheese again. Oh, no, no. I've definitely wanted that top of my page to not say it today.
00:49:58
Speaker
So looking at their over-under wins then, 53.5, just under this last year with 52. um What do you think? Yeah, I think they're going to go up. I think they they've they gotten stronger than they were last year. As I said, about bringing up that three-point shooting, one and a half, 2% then, they could very easily get 56, 57 wins.
00:50:17
Speaker
I don't think they'll win the conference, but I think there'll be they'll be knocking on the door up until the world's the very, very end of it. Yeah, i I went with um just having around the same as last year because they were exact excellent to across the board. There's some better teams around this year and the roster has gotten better, yes, but I think ah it it'll take a little bit of time to adapt to having KD in the lineup the way they want to play. um And no Van Vliet matters a lot because he's very important for the team, especially with his three-point shooting.
00:50:49
Speaker
So I think I'm going to go under because the line is very high, but it doesn't mean I think they'll have a bad season. I just think it would be just a about under. um And the line is, as I said, very, very high. yeah The thing is that I think the Thunder might win to the division again next year, but I don't think they'll be 16 games ahead of the Rockets.
00:51:07
Speaker
So if that means the Rockets come up five and the Thunder come down five or something, it will be I think it'll be closer than it was this year. But then like the Lakers got 50 wins last year, Nuggets got 50 wins, Clippers got 50 wins. So if the Rockets want that top three seed, they are probably going to need to push and get to 55 wins because...
00:51:24
Speaker
ah The Lakers and the Nuggets only going to get better, especially the Lakers with Luka's full season. So I think they can't really afford to have a slow start. um I think they need to to start strong. Like I was looking here, the Thunder only lost six home games last year. The Rockets lost 12. The Rockets can bring that down to eight or 10.
00:51:44
Speaker
Puts them straight away, you're looking at a better season. So hopefully they can push closer towards what the Thunder were and try and keep the other two and a good bit behind them then hopefully. Yeah, I agree. I agree. I think that probably playing at home and making that a bit of a fortress would be massive. And there probably will be less between them, but I just think the Thunder will come down a bit because they're not really going to be as concerned with the regular season. Absolutely, yeah.
00:52:09
Speaker
um I like the Nuggets a lot as well this year. um Last question then on the Rockets. I'll let you go ahead. What's the ceiling with the current roster and coach for the season ahead? I think the ceiling is a genuine title push. If everything falls into place, I don't know. That's not me saying that they'll do it. i think I think for me, I think getting to a conference finals would be absolutely unbelievable this year.
00:52:32
Speaker
It'd be incredible got to conference finals, then you can build on that. But if they're in good enough form i'm going into the playoffs, they can get a bit of a playoff run. Who knows over seven games against the Thunder. They were able to beat them last year. They could get to the finals.
00:52:46
Speaker
And from there, then it's a stronger division. You'd have to fancy them. So we'll have to wait and see. But I think realistically, a conference finals be unbelievable. you're pushing the boat out to water, then they can definitely get to the title match.
00:52:59
Speaker
title matches I've gone with the ah conference finals I think they're a really really good team and KD will certainly help I just think back to the point that the only time he's gotten there is with a championship ready team and I just don't think this team is is there yet I do think they will get there I really like what they've built I like the pieces and I think over time they're going to get better and better um but ah I'm not sure it will be with him this season it might be with him next season Or it might be without him if he moves on. But yeah I just think that maybe to push all the way to the finals this year is a little bit much. but it's It's a big ask. Yeah, absolutely. It's a massive ask.
00:53:41
Speaker
It's definitely in reach. um And... Yeah, I'm surprised. I'm not surprised you you suggested they could get to the title game because they have a lot of the talent there. And plus, when we did the NFL season preview, you picked the Jets to go to the playoffs and they are useless. So if your team is actually good, you're definitely going to pick them to go pretty far along the way.
00:54:04
Speaker
I think the thing as well, like the thing that kind of puts the blocker in for me as well is that most of these guys have never won a playoff series. um like the the Most of these guys, their first playoff experience was last year, and where they they just, as you said, they looked shell-shocked against the Wizards.
00:54:20
Speaker
very hard to go women in no very hard to go from winning no playoff series to get into a finals in the space of one year. Now, it can be done, but it probably won't be this year. And will KD stick around for a second season then to try and do it again? We'll have to wait and see. you But I just really hope they have a good season.
00:54:39
Speaker
um Obviously, everything else is going to... go and to hell at the moment. So i just I'd like something to to start and go right. already said the F word. I can't can't swear twice.
00:54:52
Speaker
i I don't think you realise that called the Warriors the Wizards there as well. Oh, did I? Oh, I absolutely didn't know. I just kept going. I saw you say something. I was like, no, I'm going to ignore him. he' just being smart there now, but you're obviously correcting me.
00:55:04
Speaker
ah Yeah, because you said the Wizards beat in the playoffs. i was like, Jesus, that's a turn up for the books there. yeah and So let's let's go on then to, let's do the Pelicans next. um Put sandwich kind of the...
00:55:17
Speaker
The mediocre team in the middle of two good teams. So where they need to improve most from last season, I'll throw in first here. I think they need to add a bit more diversity into their offensive game.
00:55:28
Speaker
Like in general, the offense was bad, but they didn't really try and shoot many threes. They shot 34.6 threes a game. That was the sixth lowest in the league. um Now they added Jordan Poole. So like This is going to rise, but I'm not sure in a very good way it's going to rise because he may not take the most logical of shots. and I think the main thing that will impact this is Trey Murphy. If he is healthy for the full season, then that would be fine for them. But you know two guys there I mentioned, one, he's not reliable on the court and the other guy is not reliable off the court because he gets injured a lot. So it's a difficult one, but that is something they need to improve.
00:56:07
Speaker
Yes, that actually feeds nice thing to my point because my point was last season was destroyed by injuries for him. ah Zion missed 52 games, Murray missed 51 and Trey Murphy missed 29. They all missed massive time last season. If you can keep them on the course, like Zion when he's fit and firing is unbelievable. He's he's a borderline unstoppable when he gets into the paint, but it's very hard to keep him on the court in the first place. If they can sort out the injuries, then they could be in for a good season. But It's so hard to say. yeah could you Would you mind and not missing 52 games and actually playing 52 next year? So it's it's a hard kind of step up. So we'll have to wait and see.
00:56:43
Speaker
I think a massive thing as well is Herb Jones only played 20 games for him last season. yeah He's like an incredible defender. yeah um And he he pivot he like he carries a lot of the defensive load there.
00:56:54
Speaker
um And he can he can play okay on offense. He's a bit of a connector as well. So I think that was a massive one. So if they can all stay healthy, they actually don't have a bad roster. No, not at all. The past kind of tells us that they won't.
00:57:07
Speaker
um Someone under the radar then, who have you gone with that you like for the team? um I just went with their rookie, Jermiah Fiers. They the seventh pick this year. um It's very hard to give anyone their team over with a bit credit outside of Jordan Poole. But as you said, he's very kind of hit and miss. So just thought I'd give him a shout out. I don't think he's going to be star from the off.
00:57:26
Speaker
But he definitely has the potential to slot into this roster. He might even get a year to play off the bench as a six man. he' like He's obviously not going to be in rookie the year conversations. But he could eventually get there. Not rookie the year, obviously. He could get there to be a really good player.
00:57:40
Speaker
Yeah, i i was hoping you would pick Fierce because I was either way enough to go with him or Derek Queen and I went with Derek Queen. So I'm happy we've got a different picks here. and I just think that Derek Queen was the better pick in terms of what he'll offer to the team, not the circumstances of them trading away a first rounder to get him. That was absolutely ridiculous. But I think...
00:58:02
Speaker
i think Just I think what he'll actually offer will be something more that they need right now. he gives and In college, he was a solid player, efficient, shot over 50% from the field, 16.5 points per game with nine boards and 1.1 blocks and 1.1 steals per game.
00:58:20
Speaker
And then you look at Fierce was more of an erratic player. He has the confidence to shoot from anywhere, but his shot selection is quite bad. And 43% from the field with only 28% from three is not what this team needs right now.
00:58:35
Speaker
and But again, he's only 19. So the upside is there. And for the two, maybe going forward into the future. i think a lot of people are worried about how to play Zion and and Queen together, but I honestly think they could do it. And ah it might actually look quite good because the two of them are physical and and Queen is quite efficient as well. So I would actually like to see the two them playing off each other. So that's why I've gone for here.
00:58:58
Speaker
um over under wins then 30 and a half they had 21 last year what do you reckon I had to go over I just think 30 and a half is very low as we said at the top if they keep everyone fit their roster isn't actually that bad so i think just based on the fact that and not the fact based on the hope that Zion Murray and Trey Murphy the third all stay fit then i can see them definitely getting the 31 wins Yeah, I went to over as well. I said the same things. Like if they get games out of Zion um and they have a healthy Trey Murphy and Herb Jones and obviously DeJounte Murray as well, let's see how he fits into the system playing for like a full healthy season. Hopefully they should easily pass 30 and a half, but there are also a lot of question marks.
00:59:39
Speaker
So I'm going to think that it's probably going end up being like exactly 31 or 32. But I'm still going to go with the over. And the seal and I have them at 35 or 36 wins.
00:59:51
Speaker
I think a healthy Zion where the vision kind of, and the vision is clear. Like if they have a good season, they get 35 or 36 wins. They have a clear vision of how fears and queen are going to work here. um And then from there, they decide, okay, maybe we need to trade Dejante Murray.
01:00:07
Speaker
we need to trade away Trey Murphy, we need to trade away Herb Jones, one of them doesn't really fit in. They can get like a big return for that, um which will help them in the future. So I think if that if they get a healthy Zion season and the two young guys perform well, that would be really the most positive thing and that would probably lead to mid-30 wins for me.
01:00:27
Speaker
Yeah, I the same as you. i don't think they're going to be pushing towards a play-in or play-off position here, but I think they can definitely come up from their 21. If they got 35 wins, it puts um it only puts them into 13. It only puts them ahead of the Spurs by one game from last year. So it's like it's only a jump of one position, but it's a massive jump in terms of wins. They only had 21 last year, so...
01:00:48
Speaker
yeah Yeah, like I don't think they're going from 21 wins to winning 40, which gets them into a play-in. So I think it's fair enough. just yeah If they just get to 35 wins, I think they'll bite your hands off for that. It means they have more fun days out and actually enjoy themselves. So I think they'll accept that for the year.
01:01:05
Speaker
especially if the rookies are performing. I'll make the fans happy too. um Then the last team we've got wrapping up the last one of the season before it starts, the last team to preview is the Dallas Mavericks. um Where do they need to improve most from last season?
01:01:20
Speaker
So after the obviously the the maddest thing in the world and get rid Luka Doncic, they've just had a massive hole in their team in terms of creation and leadership in particular. The rest the roster really needs to step up this year if they are going to try and do anything because Cooper Flagg, these are players that, they're not there to to sit around and get 30 wins and not see a playoffs. These are lads who want to do something. So if they want to do something, they're going have to show it themselves that they want to step up here and be of a real, real force.
01:01:49
Speaker
Yeah, the ball handling is quite an issue with the team. yeah Who's going to actually handle the ball? like It's not like D'Angelo Russell, no. I don't think I would not like that. It's probably going to be Cooper flagged more than anything playing like...
01:02:01
Speaker
point forward um almost, but I've gone with rebounding here. i think they had one of the worst rebounding differentials in the league last season with minus 2.2. It was the sixth worst overall.
01:02:13
Speaker
And healthy Anthony Davis, Gafford, Lively and Flagg will most certainly change this. But then if you have so many big guys on the floor, the ball handling becomes an issue. So I think actually our two issues, while different, they kind of combine because yeah it's hard to get one without the other, or with the other, should I say, at the same time.
01:02:33
Speaker
So that's something they probably have to combat. back And a guy that I just mentioned is my under-the-radar player. It's Derek Lively. I think... He's not really under the radar because he had a massive rookie season but last year's injuries put him kind of in the back of people's minds I think.
01:02:49
Speaker
In his two seasons in the league he's averaged 8.8 points per game, 7.5 boards 1.6 blocks in just 23 minutes. He's been miniaturing with Daniel Gafford for most of his young career so far and I think he was an important part of that rotation that made it to the 2024 finals If you look at Gafford, he's a solid player, but he's probably the one that should be coming off the bench in the long run. So I'd say Gafford should start for the first maybe 10, 15 games, but we'll see Lively slowly beat him out of that starting role, I believe.
01:03:19
Speaker
Yeah, I had Lively as well, so there's no not really much to add. I was also looking Nembrand, Nemhard, the fellow Deion Grafted rookie they brought in, but he was on a two-way contract, so ah probably he'll probably be playing more GD than...
01:03:33
Speaker
NBA league this year so I just went with the same fella as you and Lively think he's really solid I think they had a they're thinking that maybe be like he's the brother of Andrew Nembhard from the Pacers who excellent defender stepping up a lot i'm looking forward to seeing him how he performs this year with Tyrese Halliburton injured and handling the ball more and I think they said he has some similar characteristics so if he plays as hard as his brother like that will definitely take you into some minutes in the NBA eventually and Looking at the over-under wins then it's 40 and a half. They were on 39 last year.
01:04:06
Speaker
So what do you reckon? I think this is so hard. um I think they're going to be in around that line again. I've actually gone under on it. and I just think there that there's a lot of moving parts here for me that I don't really trust. As you mentioned, the rebounding, the handling, the leadership, who's going to be the one that will step up?
01:04:24
Speaker
I think they might struggle at the start to get any sort of a run going. Cooper Plagg getting used to the league. I think they could very easily get close to it, but I just went with my gut and this and it went under. Yeah, I think last year they had 39 with a lot of disruption and injuries. I think...
01:04:41
Speaker
just I think the way that they'll play is probably they'll use a lot of size. They'll probably play similarly to how the Rockets played at times last season. With the two bigs. Yeah, and try to go physical and bully teams. and i think that's kind of a recipe to get you over this, Mark. So I have them going over 41 wins because I think Cooper Flagg should pick up some of the slack that was dropped off without Luka there. Obviously, completely different player, but...
01:05:06
Speaker
a guy who just is dying to win um and anthony davis has a lot of points to prove so i think we could see them get just a bit over but i agree it is a pretty hard line to judge um and that kind of comes in nicely then to our last question what's the ceiling with the current roster and coach for the season ahead so i think their best case scenario is to get to around 50 wins uh maybe just below it and just push into that playoff picture um playing last year, obviously 39, it was 48 to get into the eighth seed.
01:05:36
Speaker
So they do need quite a jump to get into that. and And I think if they could get there and then they probably won't win a playoff series, but they could win two playoff games and push someone to a a game seven or something like that. I know that means to to win three playoff games. They could push them to a game six a game seven. and I think they'll be doing really well and give them something to build on with Cooper Flag then.
01:05:54
Speaker
Yeah, um I've gotten something similar, maybe a little bit better because I went with, if they managed to get up to like a six seed and they play a team that's like physically a lot smaller than them and weaker, um and at that point you get Kyrie Irving back, I think that would be like a dream scenario for them. If if everybody's healthy, they...
01:06:14
Speaker
kind of establish the physical game, get Kyrie back in for the playoffs and you get a nice matchup against a smaller team and just win one round in the playoffs. But I still don't see them getting much better than that.
01:06:26
Speaker
Really, I don't think, will you'll find out next week court where we put them, but I find it very hard to put them even winning a playoff round this early into the flag experience. But I think um that is an absolute ceiling for them if everything broke right for them.
01:06:42
Speaker
So let's round up then for the week. We've got power rankings to chat about. um ah I'll throw out mine first since you had the first gun chance to I'll give my last week. So I had like the Lions, Arsenal, the Bucks, Bournemouth, Colts and Palace.
01:06:59
Speaker
So obviously no Premier League last week. So it's it's kind of less movement on that side and more movement on the NFL side of things. So I've moved the Bucks to number one.
01:07:11
Speaker
I think... We talked about them earlier. I had them in third place. The Lions were first and the Lions did lose. um And they looked a bit shaky at times. I know the referees were not helpful, but there's a couple of questionable plays there. And the Lions have a little bit up and down in a couple of games, but they've looked very solid throughout. But I just think the Bucs and Lions will be a huge game.
01:07:32
Speaker
And I think the Bucs are going to just take the top spot for now. But I could easily see the Lions grabbing that back off them next week. Yeah. Second, I just left Arsenal where they were. Didn't play, so they're staying there.
01:07:43
Speaker
Bournemouth have actually gone up a spot despite not playing, but that's just because of the lines dropping down. So Bournemouth are up to third. I moved the Chiefs in at four. I just think they're just going to do it, aren't they? They're just going to get there and they're going to get to the Super Bowl. They're just going They just look a lot more dangerous this year um than they did last year.
01:08:01
Speaker
And I know they're three and three, but... they just have something about them that looks like they're going to go very far. yeah um So they're in at four. The Lions then are fifth. um So they drop down from first.
01:08:12
Speaker
And Palace remain at sixth because, yeah, they haven't played and I'm not dropping them off. So that's my six books. Arsenal, Bournemouth, Chiefs, Lions and
Sports Team Rankings Shake-up
01:08:21
Speaker
Palace? Yeah, so mine is a massive shake-up from what I had in last week as well. Obviously, like you, I haven't changed my three-permallied team. So last week I had Lions, Bournemouth, Eagles, Arsenal, Jags and Liverpool.
01:08:33
Speaker
um I've gone very much on a hype train this week. and I also have the box of one. I just think they're having so much fun. Very hard to look past them. Bournemouth stays second for me. I have a new entry at third. It's your New York Giants.
01:08:47
Speaker
whoa yeah I just I think the Giants are just having so much fun Derek and Scatterball are just two absolute so they they're just two kids absolutely loving their lives and power ranking this year is going to be about people having fun and the Giants are having absolute fun with it beating the Eagles just unbelievable the Lions then dropped from one to four for me okay yeah And then my five and six are Arsenal and Liverpool. So Liverpool stay six. Arsenal have dropped down one just because they didn't play and I don't like them.
01:09:20
Speaker
They're the only two reasons. they They have to stay in there, but I don't like them. So um I think the Giants and the Lions having... Far more fun than Arsenal Liverpool fans are having. So up they go. Listen, um i I'm not going to argue with seeing my Giants in the top and the top six. So especially coming from you, having one of my teams in here, i'm not going to argue with it. I think it's the first time we've had it over the last...
01:09:43
Speaker
since we started 40 odd episodes. Yeah, I'd say so, because I'm never going put your United in because of how bad they've been. And the Giants didn't have any fun last year, so... And now they're the Sixers, in fairness, so...
Episode Plans and Audience Engagement
01:09:53
Speaker
Liverpool this weekend, we might see them in Shane's rankings next week. Oh, no. If they beat Liverpool, they might drop the 20th in terms of Premier League teams that might go into it, so...
01:10:04
Speaker
Yeah, so those are our rankings for the week. Big shake-up. Both having books on top, which I'd like to see because they deserve it from how they've played so far. And it ties in nicely from our books section earlier. But another weekend next, or another week done, i'm heading into another weekend, a big weekend is sport as always.
01:10:21
Speaker
um We're going to come with two episodes next week, as we mentioned already. We've got the NBA season preview coming on Tuesday and then the usual Thursday, or sorry, Friday episode we record on Thursday. Getting a bit confused there. um So that's it. I'll throw it to you to wrap it up, Shane.
01:10:36
Speaker
Yeah, thanks so much lads. I wasn't here at last week obviously and we got massive views so maybe I'm the problem. But i'm outside of that, just like, subscribe and just follow along. We're doing but putting so much out nearly daily on Twitter is what we're trying to do anyway. Just one tweet a day on Twitter if you get over there and give them a like or even a retweet. You don't have to like them if you want to.
01:10:56
Speaker
TikTok is twice a week. I'm trying to get more consistent with it but I will eventually get it down to two set days every week where they come out and We just, we really, we really do appreciate support. We appreciate all the comments we get, all the bits of feedback we get in person or from Arsenal fans online. We appreciate everything we get. So just keep it coming and we'll see you twice next week. So lucky.
01:11:17
Speaker
Nice one. I'll see you then.