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Who Will Win the Cups? | SGA for MVP and Grizzlies Head Coach Fired | Giants QB Situation and the NFL’s Best New Head Coach
19 Plays15 days ago
In this week’s episode of Who’s Got The Ball? the lads have a chat about who they think will be the winners of the cups across Europe and England. They then switched to the NBA to discuss SGA’s form and whether he can take the Thunder all the way in the playoffs, before discussing the Grizzlies head coach firing. To finish up they discussed the Giants quarterback situation and who got the best new coach in the NFL.
Gan Seans continues with the score at 21-12 to Shane & there is an update on the WGTB Multi-Sport Power Rankings.
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Transcript
Introduction and Episode Overview
00:00:09
Speaker
Alright lads, welcome back to another episode of Who's Got the Ball. We're on episode 12 now. Coming to the point now where don't even have to keep saying the episode number. I was thinking to myself, why do I just keep saying the episode
Jack Crowley's Standout Performance
00:00:21
Speaker
number at the start? like It's grand for the first few, but...
00:00:24
Speaker
I think Jack Crowley smashed that out of the park. good i up but the monster match at weekend up in mcqueil park they thankngily came away with the win the wind up there was just something like i'd never experienced a ro mass before it was just catching every single case to bus yeah we're in there one lad said that twenty was sent after tea today we go and i think jack crowley kind of smashed that out the park thankfully and yeah Can we have to win despite having 14 men?
00:00:49
Speaker
Good weekend can overall.
Thrilling Match in Westport
00:00:50
Speaker
Westport's a good spot. close win, a close game as well, which is exciting even if, they're you know, when you're going to see game, you want something close. Exactly. You don't want either team to kind of run away with it. And I think if it if it had stayed 15 men each month, they might have run away with it, boss. Losing Nankyville now for the Stadfront, or La Rochelle game is a of a nightmare as well, boss.
00:01:09
Speaker
Yeah, I think Connacht has fallen off a cliff a good bit there in the last
Munster Rugby's Victorious Weekend
00:01:14
Speaker
10 games. They started off well, but it was a good a good weekend for Munster in general with Leinster getting the win then. Yeah, it did.
Leinster's Young Talent and TV Challenges
00:01:21
Speaker
gives you a chance to move into the top four smaller gap now between yourselves and Sharks so that was a very tough game for Leinster it did very well to come out on top I only saw bits pieces of it now it was on in the pub after it was kind of hard to keep an eye on this there was that was on the Limerick winning the Allianz Division 4 football was on another TV and then Brighton was on the other TV so I was kind of trying to watch all three of them yeah there's a lot going on there I just watched the Leinster game and uh Then I saw the penalties, extra time penalties of the other game after the Brighton game. But yeah, I thought Leinster were very good considering they played a lot of the young players.
Weather-Hit UL Vikings Game
00:01:56
Speaker
Also had a bit of an outing myself there on Saturday. Went up to UL for the UL Vikings and South Dublin Panthers. It was a nil-niller, but man, the weather was shocking. Like it was raining.
00:02:09
Speaker
Yeah. um Like pretty like... blowing in your face kind of rain and in the second half and there was some some decent plays I got some clips so might put something together there for that but yeah it's good go to a local game unfortunately no score but look still good to good to show a bit of support and stuff like that so that was covering that but go on yeah if you go to another game and finish at Nilal again then we're going to just cut you from the gate of Gridiron and I'll have to go myself I think because if you're the reason they'd be finishing Nilal then we can't be having that
00:02:42
Speaker
I know, can't believe it finished. I was like ah was just expecting some sort score. I knew the Panthers were kind of building up to a score and then they fumbled and i was like, oh my God, we're not going to see a score here. like and But yeah, was as you kind of mentioned there, I was covering it with Gaelic Rediron, so Jimmy that we had on previously. So yeah, hopefully we'll do a bit more work with them over time. Yeah, but hopefully.
00:03:04
Speaker
Yeah, we'll get a good few more
Transition to Football Discussion
00:03:06
Speaker
games in. But moving on to a different type football to start up, we're going to talk about. Did you like that transition? yeah I did. Good job. yeah You are starting to smash out these transitions as the week goes on. I think you're coming into Rowan now. It just comes naturally, you know.
00:03:22
Speaker
Great presenter. Might be on, the you know, what's it called? Late, late show next. Oh, yeah. Yeah, the next Ryan Toverdee. Yeah. don't think I want to be that, but anyway.
Predicting Cup Winners
00:03:33
Speaker
So we're what we're going to this week is, since it was only just a few games at the weekend and in the English League, we're going to do our predictions for who's going to win the Cups for the rest of the season. So obviously we have the League Cup is over, Newcastle won that one. So we're on the FA Cup, Champions League and Europa League left.
00:03:55
Speaker
There's no point in going with a Premier League prediction because that's kind of wrapped up. Premier League, really. Chelsea are surely going to win that conference. I don't think there'll be any argument between us. We probably won't come out with Chelsea so we can leave that off of them.
00:04:07
Speaker
Exactly. and So we'll start with the f FA Cup. I'm going to go first. So we have two semifinals now after the weekend's action. We've got and Forest and City and then the other side is Villa and Crystal Palace.
Crystal Palace as FA Cup Contenders
00:04:20
Speaker
So what I'm going for is probably the least that you'd expect. I'm going Crystal Palace to win it, nine to two um I think it's a bit of a mad one, but I think they have that ability to like win a cup game. i know we saw them get there before, and how they performed at the weekend against Fulham was very, very good. They put them away nicely.
00:04:43
Speaker
I tipped them to win that on last week's episode. and I think the way they've been kind of mentioned at the time, the way they've performing since Christmas, they've only lost twice, once to Brentford and once to Everton.
00:04:54
Speaker
I think they just beat Villa 4-1. I saw after the game, like in interview Jacob Ramsey, and he heard that they got Palace, and he was kind of laughing and saying, oh, Palace is it? Oh, that's good, that's good.
00:05:08
Speaker
I think... You don't want to underestimate Crystal Palace. You don't want to underestimate anybody in a cup tie, especially on a Premier League side. You just repress them, lads. So don't be getting too big for your boots. I think it could be
City vs Forest Match-Up Speculations
00:05:22
Speaker
could be tough now. will like They're going to be coming off couple of legs against PSG. They're in the Champions League, still trying to make top four in the Premier League or as close to Europe as they can. and Palace only have this to play for at this point.
00:05:36
Speaker
So I think I'm going to go with Palace here. They're 9-2. So themselves and Forrest are both 9-2. So I think, yeah, I actually really like them to to get there. And I actually think they're, I think they'll take down City in the final because I think Forrest and Run will come to an end on the other side. so and I actually, I like that shout from you, to be honest. I think like the way the d wait tillas way Palace finished last year under Glasner, and I know they had a data really slow start this year, but since they started getting the lads back, Adam Morgan's back now, Eze is back kind of, back to 100%
00:06:07
Speaker
And they've just been done a really, really good team to watch. They were my power rankings there a couple of weeks back and they'll be able to laugh off it like, but they are one of the better teams in the league to watch. yeah As you said, Aston Villa will be playing PSG and that will probably take kind of centre stage for more than playing Joe's not really glamorous playing
City's Weaknesses and Strategies
00:06:25
Speaker
Christopher Palace. It's great to play at Wembley, but playing PSG is a glamour tie for them. Yeah.
00:06:29
Speaker
um So i don't need to badge. I think Glasner's a great manager. and think Emery is also a great manager, but I can... If I was picking someone to come from that side, I would have picked Palace as well, to be honest, I too.
00:06:40
Speaker
But I have gone with Forrest to it at I think the season they're having is fairytale stuff for them. They look so good. They're two centre-backs.
00:06:52
Speaker
could probably get into any team in the Premier League at the moment with the way they're playing. I think they're just incredible to watch the two of them. I think Palace have a great team. Matt Sells, one of the bargains of last season with the way he's playing as well. Two penalty saves.
00:07:05
Speaker
As you said, they're all tonight to two, so they're the same
Forrest's Wembley Aspirations
00:07:07
Speaker
as city. And i watched city against Bormut and it was more Bormut losing it than City winning it really. Bormut should have been out of sight by half time really. And then City got two chances then took the two of them. But City just looks so vulnerable. They're so easy to get at. And Palace are big, strong, political team.
00:07:23
Speaker
Their first time at Wembley in God knows how long. I should look it up. vi on ear Forest area. Their first time at Wembley in a long, long time. And they're a better team than City this season they won't be next year don't get me wrong City will spill strengthen but the way they've played this season and I would I do i think they'll beat City in their first outing at Wembley in a long time Yeah, I think the last time they played there was in the Championship playoff game. and oh yes so I saw a clip from that when Ryan Yates scored and I think there's a stat that they played Huddersfield in that game and right now they have more players in their squad from that Huddersfield squad than they do of the Forest squad of that day.
00:08:02
Speaker
No way, that's nice. That's a bit mad, but i yeah, I think...
Forrest's Penalty Shootout Strengths
00:08:07
Speaker
I think Forest is a good one too. The only reason I went with City is just because I think they'll have to pile everything into this game now. And they did get a bit of luck at times against Bournemouth, but again, they did miss that penalty too.
00:08:19
Speaker
And that really swung things. The thing I will say about Forrest is, like you mentioned, cells, they're excellent on penalties with him. like He is such a good penalty stopper. That's two rounds now in a row they've gotten through on penalties.
00:08:33
Speaker
So you would fancy them it far. Three in a think, go through penalties. Three? That's mad. So you would fancy them it goes that far. Yeah, think three a they've gotten through on penalties. um so like yeah if they get if they get to if they get to take a team to penalties they might just try to do that against city just play it out if they have to like they did in the last game because honestly brighton were the better team in that game but uh i think that from from what i saw afterwards in the highlights and stuff and then in the extra time brighton were the only team that were pushing from when i was watching but like forest had the kind of
00:09:05
Speaker
mental ability to get through it and kind of pack out the box and they've done that a number of times this season and already against City in their 1-0 win recently so yeah like
City's Wembley Experience
00:09:15
Speaker
I like that pick. I like that we both went for the underdogs too when neither of us picked the favourites. So that was pretty cool. Yeah, like i I think if either favourite is going to get through, will obviously be Man City.
00:09:24
Speaker
But like i am I'm really confident on Palace beating Villa. I don't know why, but there's just something in my mind that just I just think they'll be massive underdogs when the betting comes out for that. And I think and anyone who backs Villa over them, if you're just like...
00:09:40
Speaker
if you're not a professional gambler, if you're back in Villa over at Palace that day, and I think you're making a mistake. I think Palace have just been really good the last couple of weeks. Since Christmas, really, they've kind of turned it back on again. Obviously, see like it there is a good chance that City will just come out and wipe the floor for us. They know where to play at Wembley. They've done it so many times recently like this.
00:09:58
Speaker
yeah like It wouldn't be overawding for them being back in the dressing room again. But I think when it's two teams that haven't been there in a while, that it would be a different story. Yeah, no, I agree with you.
Barcelona's Champions League Prospects
00:10:08
Speaker
Do you want to Trying to go ahead with your Champions League pick Yeah, so i I kind of struggle a bit with this because obviously Man City have the voodoo over the Champions League. But I've gone with the other Spanish team who I think have just been a joy to watch again this season. I've gone with Barcelona to win I just think the way they play, they have Rafinha's and the form of his life. You mean Jamal is you mean Jamal. He's just outrageous for 17 years old. They're so strong in the midfield.
00:10:36
Speaker
I just think like, I don't think they'll have many problems. and getting to the Real Madrid game. But the Real Madrid game is where they should be. If they play Real Madrid in the final, that is where they will kind of come on stock, I think. I really fancy them. think they've won their last eight in the league now.
00:10:54
Speaker
yeah uh which is is some going because they they had a run there stinking form around christmas and kind of they were did a good advantage in the league and they kind of threw it away but i think they're back and top now again yeah the three points clear routines yeah the two madrid teams are kind of falling in the purse in front of a rise in the league as well so i think they're the strongest one left like they've dormant in the next round like they will get past them yeah Definitely. Surely.
00:11:18
Speaker
And then their semi-final is Bayern or Inter. That's when they will kind of... Yeah. I think whoever wins that will... Whoever comes out of those four teams is the one that would go and win it. But I'm back in Barca.
00:11:29
Speaker
Well, this conversation is a little bit easier because I also went with Barca. So they're 3-1. I just, for the same reasons that you mentioned, I think their attacking ability is just...
00:11:41
Speaker
second to none in Europe. The record speaks for itself. Most goals in Europe's top five leagues with 82. Most goals in the Champions League with 32. And I think, kind of as you mentioned a little bit, I think Inter are going to come out on top against Bayern, in my opinion. And I think that'll be the toughest test because Inter are solid defensively.
00:12:01
Speaker
They're good and clinical and in terms of their attack when they need to be. So I think that will be the toughest test. But I think that Barca have... too much attacking power and I think that'll ultimately win out.
00:12:13
Speaker
Looking at, as you mentioned already, you mentioned Rafinha and Yamal, like just insane. The goal Yamal scored for Spain over the international break off that long ball from Huysin.
00:12:23
Speaker
It's crazy. And then you're looking at adding in Lewandowski into that, between the three of them, they've had 65 goals and assists in the league this season. That's in the league alone.
00:12:35
Speaker
Yeah, and then Rafinha is there on Ballon d'Or levels, basically in the Champions League scoring 11 goals, 5 assists. like yeah They're just... Yeah, they're just looking so good from a whole different type of Barcelona that they still have possession, but they're much more direct and a lot faster.
00:12:51
Speaker
um So it's really they're really good to watch. So yeah, that's they're my pick too.
Rafinha and Yamal's Impact on Barcelona
00:12:55
Speaker
and But yeah, I was kind of caught between themselves and Real and PSG on the other side. I would like to see a Barcelona and PSG final. I think it would be such a great game. that's the one I'd want. And it came down to that. like I wouldn't want PSG to win.
00:13:11
Speaker
But I really want Lewis Enrique to win this because i think yeah he comes across so well and everything. he He never interviews badly. He always, any interviewer he does, he seems sound. But I just, it's been like Man City won it there.
00:13:24
Speaker
Yeah, it's good. Joe, it's there. The state back club's winning it again. That's not what I want. That's kind of why I want Barcelona to pull it the bag this year. Yeah, no, it it would be a good final. Anyway, just for a viewer, like the attacking talent I'll show there.
00:13:38
Speaker
and But again, I think the Barca are just a bit more clinical, so that's why I've gone with them. I'll go ahead with my Europa League prediction. So what I've gone with is... My team, Manchester United, I've had to go
Man United's Europa League Chances
00:13:52
Speaker
with them.
00:13:52
Speaker
I've had to go with them. So it's only the only reason I'm gone with them here is because whoever wins out on that side of the draw is going to win. like The other side of the draw is weak enough.
00:14:05
Speaker
It's Frankfurt and Spurs in the next round. I'd say whoever wins that will probably come out there. Lazio are okay, but they haven't been great this season. I think whoever comes out of the United side will win it. Lyon have been very, very poor in Ligue 1.
00:14:19
Speaker
Losing to Strasbourg at the weekend, I think it was 4-2, but Strasbourg were like 4-1 or 4-0 up or something. I think that, yeah, I don't think they've been very good.
00:14:30
Speaker
and I think that they have been falling off in the league. Again, so have United, but Bilbao have also fallen off in the league. So I think you have three teams there.
00:14:40
Speaker
between the three of them. I'm not going to mention Rangers because they're not going to get past Bilbao. But those three on that side are all kind of poorer in the league this year than was to be expected.
00:14:51
Speaker
Bilbao are the best in the league out of the three. And that's what I think will be the biggest test because obviously the game is in Bilbao in the final. So they'll want to get there. I think that will be the semi, United against Bilbao. But I have seen improvement in United in the last month.
00:15:07
Speaker
You can see Amram has used some players and in positions now that work that maybe he knows kind of how to get the most out of Casemiro in this system right now.
00:15:18
Speaker
Xerxes has been performing better when he hasn't been up top. I think looking at Jaro coming back, Manu will be back. There's a possibility that Ahmad will be back for the final if we get there.
00:15:28
Speaker
So I think, look, I think it's obviously a bit of bias there too, thinking that United are going to win. But I just think that Himself, Amirim and Ratcliffe know that they need this, not only for the fans, but for the money.
00:15:42
Speaker
Like if United don't get into Europe, it's a catastrophe for much money they'll lose out on. So I think they'll be pushing so hard in these games and I could just see them doing it because I've been impressed with them in the last month or so, especially in the Europa.
00:15:57
Speaker
Yeah, so they were kind of, when I was looking through it, like, I think, first of all, it's a really, really poor lineup in the quarterfinal. Like, there's teams there that are doing absolutely nothing in the league range have been awful. Roma haven't been too good. to Like, they brought back in Claudio Ranieri.
00:16:12
Speaker
As you said, Bilbao are the best of the bunch there. They've only lost one of their last five, and they think they've two wins, two draws, and they're lost in their last five. They're the ones who I have gone with. They're joined favourites with United to win it.
00:16:25
Speaker
which is completely understandable. If anyone is going to win it, it will be from that match that they play. But I just think I'll let a club with their their quality. The two Williams brothers are absolutely class. They're firing an odds and enders at the moment.
00:16:39
Speaker
i think I think they could be too strong for United, but at the same time, But United will have more notes. Bruno there, he knows how to win fouls probably better than the United club players do and I think the referee, lot will depend on who the referee is. If he's a soft referee, then Bilbao will get three kicks for everything, then United will be in trouble. But if he's a strong referee, kind of plays on a bit, then United could have too much. But I just i obviously couldn't back United for start. But then when I was looking down, i was like, Bilbao at ten to three is it's really good odds. um
00:17:13
Speaker
yeah i guess I think the main thing is that it's such a poor competition this year that one of the English teams really should be winning it. United or Spurs should be going on to win it here now, but the season they've had, you can't trust them. like You just cannot back them with any sense of real confidence that they can come out there to the side of this. like but ah think perfect.
00:17:32
Speaker
For me, it was like looking at Spurs. like They should be coming into that final. But as you just said, you can't trust them like a single bit. And I know that United haven't been trustworthy, but they've been improved and Spurs just look to be the same.
00:17:46
Speaker
So i'm but I'm just a bit weary because they barely got through against Alkmaar, whereas United looked... a bit more like they were prepared against Sociedad, even though they went down in the second leg.
Casemiro's European Experience Advantage
00:17:59
Speaker
And I think Casemiro excels in these like European games against Spanish teams because he knows how to play against them.
00:18:05
Speaker
um And I think that would be a benefit against Bilbao, but I can't knock you for going for Bilbao because I think It was very tough between them and United for me, and I just went for United just because I support them, to be honest. yeah but I think especially especially with it being in their home stadium as well, as's like that is such a motivator. That's why you like to and I'm not overly willing to write Bayern out the Inter game, but I do think Inter will get through.
00:18:28
Speaker
I think Bayern get an extra 10% or 20% from knowing that it's going to be on in their ground. and kind of like This is the one they really, really want to be in this one. The league pretty much sewn up, so that they're kind of contra in the Champions League now as well.
00:18:42
Speaker
They do keep picking up a couple of knots, though, which is a killer as well. Yeah. course, as you said, like, if United can have a mad back for the final, other players coming back, mainly coming back, you're kind of... this The team is getting better and will only get stronger when the better players are in it. Obviously, that's kind of just... It's how life works. Like, too yeah you're going to be better when different there's better people doing it. like Yeah, exactly. yeah I knew he... i but It was always going to come down to between United and Bilbo for me.
00:19:10
Speaker
And I just went to Bilbo. You went with United. Yeah, fair enough. I just looked at mine there if I put the three. So Palace at Barca at 3-1 and United at It's a 98-1 treble.
00:19:27
Speaker
I'd say yours is around 90-1 or so as well because we obviously both have teams with similar odds. yeah, if you fancy it, lads, there you go. and But those are three predictions. Let's see how it goes. Be interesting now if we if we get a ah ah Palace and Forest final or something like that and we'll both be looking at the semis here if United are against Bilbao but um let's move on to the and NBA so do you want go ahead first and give us your what you've gone with this week yeah so I think like as the weeks go down it kind of gets harder and harder to pick people you want to talk about you it's kind of like do you want to tear someone apart or do you want to praise someone really really high and I think Shane Giggillus oh my god I can't believe it
00:20:11
Speaker
very delicate i oh i'm gonna call him sga for the whole duration of this now god i can't believe butchered that he has just been absolutely outstanding that wants the full pronunciation it's shay gilgis alexander but he we're going with sj so there you go yeah we're gonna stick with sga um he's just been incredible again for the tundra in this for this year again this year like he kind of he was He was decent when he started. He'd been just gotten better and better year on year.
00:20:38
Speaker
And last year and this year, he has just been a menace to play against. He's ever done 33, 5 rebounds and 6 of this. He started every game for the OKC, which is a serious level of...
00:20:49
Speaker
and longevity and consistency yeah longevity consistency like it Joe just hard just clearly very hard that he's not getting injured all he's playing all these back-to-backs and just putting up 30 33 points a game constantly yeah the Thunder are the best team in the NBA and he's the best player in the Thunder and I just think him and the they just deserve an awful lot of credits I wouldn't want to play the Thunder in the playoffs and especially with him he averaged 37 and 6 in the playoffs last year but That's it that silly numbers. i it just
00:21:20
Speaker
Whatever putting up to 30 points, getting the seven rebounds and six assists on top for the dollar, it's crazy. like He's the kind of man that you want. Yeah, he's just been incredible. like he's He's just one of the best players in the NBA.
00:21:33
Speaker
His teammates clearly love him. He makes their life so much easier. Chet hasn't needed their time. Dort hasn't needed their time. There's less pressure on him when SGA is on the course. and Just what a player, man.
00:21:45
Speaker
Honestly, what a player. No, I think I'm happy you brought him up because at the start of the year, I kind of tipped him to be the MVP. I tipped Thunder to win, as I've mentioned. But at the start of the year, he was 4-1 to be MVP.
00:21:59
Speaker
He's one to forty on now. So for every 40 you put on, you win a Euro if you do that. right That's how likely it is at this point. Another interesting thing has been his defensive side of the game.
00:22:12
Speaker
He's just like when a player is so good on offense and they're even passable on defense, it's like, quite well done because they have to put in that effort. But he is one of the best defenders in the league at his position.
00:22:24
Speaker
And he deserves to be in the all defense team. He deserves to be in the defensive player to year conversation. Like, he's never going to win it, but he deserves to be in the top 10 consideration, at least for that, and because of how much he puts into offense.
00:22:39
Speaker
Like, looking at now, I just saw this stat earlier today that he now has the fifth best single season plus minus in NBA history. So when he's on the court, his plus minus across the whole season is plus 878.
00:22:56
Speaker
The only other players who are higher than that are Steph Curry three different times and Draymond once. That's crazy. Yeah, so it's it's like... how good he has been with this team and how young the team is. And he's the leader. Like they're, they have a double digit win in a season.
00:23:16
Speaker
So how many double digit wins they've had in the season has been 48. So 48 times they've won by 10 points or more this season. That's how dominant this team has been. And obviously that's a team stat, but looking at his plus minus, that points to him driving that whole thing.
00:23:33
Speaker
They're the two youngest teams to ever finish as the number one seed in the NBA are the Thunder last year and the Thunder this year. and listen The leader both times. So, yeah, it's like what I was saying there about the minutes I say about it. The fact he played 75 games, he's played every game this season.
00:23:50
Speaker
He's also doing it 34, 35 games a minute. He's averaging just above 34 minutes a game. yeah like to to be able to keep up that level of playing minutes always always on the court and to do it for so long over such a long season and keep putting up the numbers he does that plus minus is frankly ridiculous like it's absolutely outrageous to be that far above the the plus when you're on the court it's just yeah and how many games are just slowing teams away and and like yeah he he is like If they give him the ball at any point, it's just like he can isolate anybody. He has probably one of the best handles in the league.
00:24:26
Speaker
every Every week it feels like he has something new that he's adding to his handles. Players can't keep up with him. and I don't agree with some of the stuff about like that he foul baits and stuff because I honestly feel like he's such a quick player and yes sometimes he does do a little bit of flopping but it's very little compared to other superstars like back when we used to see Harden take that step back through where he would just flop every time but it was working and getting him getting him free throws like now we've got this guy who you can't help but foul him because he is so quick and he can make anything like the other day I think I'm not sure who was on him but I'm pretty sure it was like a seven footer
00:25:04
Speaker
He was behind the backboard and he shot it over them. He's just a sick, sick player. I ah just can't... I don't know, I just love watching every bit of him. And I think he'll be one of the faces of the league for a couple of years to come now.
00:25:19
Speaker
And I still really think that the Thunder are going to win it all. I think it doesn't matter their age. When they have a Maverick like him leading the team, yeah, it's going to be very hard to stop come playoff season because, like you said last year, those numbers in the playoffs, but they're not normal and they won't be normal again this year.
00:25:38
Speaker
Like, I think the biggest surprise for me is that it's taken us this long to kind single him out and talk about him. Yeah. And the fact that we've waited 12 weeks, 12 episodes to bring him up is just scandalous, like, because for what he's done yeah since theycent game one, he's just been on it. He hasn't dropped. He hasn't even, from what I can, now it's been a lot of games, as I've just said, but like from what I can remember, he hasn't really had two or three games in a row where he's been off-peak.
00:26:04
Speaker
Like, he might have had one here there where he's put up 12 points. He mightn't even... But I just think for the whole team, he's been the model of consistency that you want. And as you said, i do think the Thunder are going to win it out now as well. I just think the way they've played it all season, it's hard to see how they can drop off so much that they don't when win couple seven-game series and seven game series is because yeah they're just they're the best team in the NBA and it's quite comfortable them at the moment as well.
00:26:31
Speaker
Yeah, I think... I think they will do it. I really think they do they will. And I'd love to see them do it as well with such a young team. And I'd love it for him as well. And I really hope he wins MVP. I think he probably will at this point.
00:26:44
Speaker
and But yeah, the amount of wins they have, the way they've been playing. And to be honest, I could see them winning all the rest their games at this point and just finishing with an outrageous record. But yeah, I really...
00:26:55
Speaker
I really like the fact that we talked about him. I know we did wait a long time, but I think it's a nice prime time, like a month out from the playoffs. It's a nice build-up. If you want to go watch highlights of somebody, go watch his highlights from this season.
00:27:11
Speaker
and it's They're just crazy. um and Every time he steps on the court, it's just insane. Have you got anything else on him or I'll move on? No, we're happy to move on. like As I said, i do think they are comfortably favourites now. like They probably are into betting, but I think even if you're just going off the eye test and not looking at numbers, like this should be everyone's favourite to win it at this stage because they're blowing teams out every single week.
00:27:35
Speaker
And yeah as you said, they could very well finish the season without losing another game and finish like 70 and 12 or something because... yeah but la it suit To kind of wrap it up, I think i another one more thing is just that like a people saying about their age and stuff.
00:27:51
Speaker
like Last year they had their their time where they got to the playoffs at a young age and they crashed out against a very tough Dallas team. and like I think this time now they have that experience under their belts and it didn't it didn't do anything negative to them when they got to this regular season.
00:28:12
Speaker
They kicked on again. They put everything into the season. And now they're ready to go again with some additions in Hartenstein. And Chet kind of fully fit this season. And Adam Caruso as well. So, yeah, I think any other argument about other teams winning, I can listen. But I think anything outside of either Celtics or them, I don't think, can be really argued. No, the fact they've come on so far from 57 and 25 last year.
00:28:39
Speaker
to definitely they're going to win 65 games this year like so it's that's the minimum they're going to win at this stage and yeah they've gotten better and better as the year has gone on as you said the 48 of their wins have been by double digits like that's just that's absolutely ridiculous like 48 of 62 games yeah whatever the percentage of that is it's definitely about 80 like that's just crazy stuff and they really they really should go on and win it from here now Yeah, fingers crossed. We'd both love to see it. But now moving on to my topic. So I've gone with the Grizzlies, but I know we kind of talked about Ja and some other players a couple of weeks back.
00:29:15
Speaker
But what I want to focus on is the fact that they just fired and coach Taylor Jenkins. So I think that was a very shocking thing. It just came out of like absolutely nowhere.
00:29:27
Speaker
and just how they've played and kind of how he's evolved this team since he took over in 2019 I think he he's been one of the longest serving coaches in the league he brought up this young core I think there was only a five other coaches or four other coaches that had a longer tenure than him and they're all they've all won a championship at this point like you're looking at like the likes of Steve Carr and Spolcher and but eat these guys but he he's obviously so well respected and I would have thought that they would have stuck with him.
00:29:58
Speaker
and I know this season hasn't been as good. So looking at how they they're played against some of the top teams, they were o and four against OKC, losing by double-digit points every single time.
00:30:11
Speaker
But as we kind of mentioned, OKC do that to everybody. There are 3-6 against Houston, Denver and the Lakers, who are the other teams ahead of them. and So like they've performed really well outside of teams who are above 500.
00:30:25
Speaker
but then against other teams they were not as good and i think they had a losing record against teams that were above 500 so i think that could be playing into the facts of why this has gone the way it has but as we highlighted in the jack conversation He's like seen to be their main guy and he's constantly been out injured or something going on over the last, not just this year, but the years prior too.
00:30:49
Speaker
So I don't really put that on the coach. I think they should have stuck with him at least until the end of the year and reassessed and maybe got his opinion on what they could do going forward because he's obviously so well respected and the team will snap him up straight away. What did you make of it when it came out?
00:31:05
Speaker
and I was shocked with the timing of it, but i wasn't shocked that they did it at the same time because like it did they replaced his backroom staff in the off-season without his knowledge.
00:31:16
Speaker
They brought in Yamana Thomas Isuit, the definition finish lads from Paris. They brought him in as his assistant without telling him. and like i i think there was always this succession plan was there to get your man uh the top job but i just can't believe they've done it with eight games left they're kind of they're sitting pretty and so they're in the playoffs like it's yeah but as you said like the last the last time they beat a team with a 500 regular above was in it was february second when they beat milwaukee but they haven't been a team that's over 500 since then and going into a playoff
00:31:51
Speaker
Like after after the first round you're going to play a team that's over 500, it's kind of how it works. And maybe they thought it had more success getting rid of him. But at the same time, he brought him from the 11th best to sixth best offense in the last 18 months.
00:32:04
Speaker
That's some jumping standard of of shooting. I was reading saying that apparently Jamarant doesn't like the way the offense is, um is is kind of it's it's not worked around him. And he's the man they paid. So I wonder if that's kind of like it's... He needs to be available for a long time before he can say something like that. Exactly.
00:32:25
Speaker
i just I think it's madness to sack someone with this little games left and coming into playoff. It's such a big kind of, it's a turning point for any season, but it's massive. Like the lads now, team now is get used to new coach with eight games left and a playoff run.
00:32:39
Speaker
I know they're not going to win it, obviously, but you don't want to go in and embarrass yourself either. You kind of want to go in with a plan in place, a clear plan that the players have been playing with all year, not one that's been kind of drawn up in the last month of the season.
00:32:52
Speaker
yeah It feels like more of a hit and hope in the end than now. Just the kind of only thing i I just thought of actually while we were talking there was maybe it's like one of those like new coach bounce things they're trying to do, but do it like right before the playoffs so that you go into the playoffs with like a new coach.
00:33:08
Speaker
And as you mentioned, did they have had him at the since the start the year. He was excellent, obviously, with Paris basketball winning the Euro Cup. And I think he won coach of the year last year in that and that and competition.
00:33:21
Speaker
But I think... Yeah, it could be possible now that they had him lined up and that they were doing this at a strategic time. But it does just seem ridiculous because it's only 10 games out. Like you would think maybe they do that like in January where he has a few months yeah to build up to the playoffs.
00:33:37
Speaker
It was a big shock to me, to be honest, because he had 250 214 since took over June 2019. Jenkins did.
00:33:44
Speaker
and since he took over in june twenty nineteen jenkins did Now in the playoffs, they've been there four times and they only won one series. yeah like and That was abysmal series against the Timberwolves in 2022.
00:33:56
Speaker
yeah These things, when you when you weigh them all up and add them all up, it makes a little bit of sense where they're moved on now or why they moved on But it still doesn't make sense why they moved on now. I think it could have waited until the end of the season and still.
00:34:10
Speaker
but yeah was It was a shock to me. and I think it'll be snapped up very quickly in the next coaching cycle. You can hear other coaches, I think Spolstra, Malone, um a lot of the guys said that they were very surprised and that the Grizzlies were making a mistake. so That's as a lot of his peers are talking about him in that way.
00:34:29
Speaker
Yeah, exactly. I was going to say that. When other coaches are coming out and saying that they can't believe a team has done that, that's when you know that it is likely a massive mistake after being made. They've made it now, so we just have to see how how they run with it. post like As I said, think it kind of puts their playoff hopes in a real hit-and-hope situation.
00:34:48
Speaker
They'll get knocked out in the first round, I think, whoever they play. Yeah, that I think so. If they're going to finish fifth, which they likely will, it's going to be a tough, tough series against the Denver or the Lakers. So I think, yeah, I think you're probably right there. But it's one of those things as well. It's like the Luka trade is like, oh, like this is our big plan.
00:35:10
Speaker
And then you just absolutely fall off a cliff after that. Like this could be to a smaller proportion, but it could be like, this is our plan we got rid of him we got this guy in and then you just stink out in the playoffs lose 4-1 or 4-0 in the first round and the fans will not be happy but yeah that's kind of a topic i wanted to touch on because there's something a bit crazy to happen at this time of the year you rarely see it especially on a team that's that's running this high kind of any team with eight games left they usually just wait yeah they can just Like there's no way the Magic can't sack their coach. The rubbish teams, they're kind of keeping their coach to play and then they'll give it to the end of the season. Now I know there teams that are tanking, it's a bad example, it but like yeah I can't remember a team ever doing this with eight to 10 games left, sacking the coach and coming into playoffs. Especially not when they're in the fifth seed.
00:35:57
Speaker
Yeah, exactly. It's fair enough if you're kind of sitting in the middle of the road, you're on the beach already, then fair enough bringing a new coach and kind of get him yeah him and get him on up to speed before he he goes into the summer.
00:36:08
Speaker
But a sack in the fella when you're going into playoffs, it just baffles me. It makes no sense. But these NBA heads don't seem to have many brain cells between them at the moment. What's going on in Dallas?
00:36:20
Speaker
So much mad stuff happening. But yeah, that gave us another storyline to talk about. So there you go. Do you want to move on to Ganshan's? Yeah, good for you. I think I went first last week, so if you want to remind the people of the score, because it's great.
00:36:36
Speaker
Are we giving ourselves a win for Forrest since they won on penalties? I reckon so. was going ask you that. We should have discussed this off camera. See, I think if we're playing by the rules, give it a draw, and a draw is not a win, unfortunately. So I get a big fat zero, unfortunately, but I think rule the rules.
00:36:53
Speaker
Yeah, okay, that's fair. I was thinking either way it doesn't matter because we both had Forest, so it's not like one of us is out as a shaft on the other one. But yeah, so that that makes the score twenty one twelve So I got one point for that giddy half-court win um again against the Lakers, winning by two points.
00:37:14
Speaker
but a crazy half-court shot. I'm sure you've all seen it. If you haven't, give it a watch. My other pick was the Suns to beat the Wolves, and they lost by like 15 points. and They're just getting blown out by everybody now. and KD got injured last night as well. So there you have it. But...
00:37:30
Speaker
Let's move on then to my picks for this week. What I have gone for is I've gone with two NBA games this week. So first of all, I've gone with the Hawks to beat the Knicks. So I think this is a game that I think I went, so I could have went with something similar before.
00:37:47
Speaker
um I think I went with the Hawks to beat somebody else before, but I think, yeah. I think I had them last week in my, digit one of my, think one of my three last week was the Hawks, was it? I don't know, maybe a couple of weeks ago you had them. but Yeah, two weeks ago think I had the Hawks, yeah.
00:38:00
Speaker
I think I've gone with them before because I mentioned as well like that they can win a random game, um just when you least expect it. And especially against the Knicks, Trae Young loves to perform against them.
00:38:10
Speaker
So they're 36 and 38 and the Knicks are 47 and 27. So yeah, that's that's what I've gone with there. And that's on Saturday at 8pm Irish time.
00:38:21
Speaker
And then another game I've gone for is Saturday night at 1am is the Miami Heat to beat the Bucs. We were very down on the Heat last week. They were 33 and 41.
00:38:34
Speaker
And the Bucs are 40 and 34 now. I did say the Heat would bounce back from that and they have. the They won five in a row. And I think the Bucs are in a lot of trouble now with Damian Millard's injury. Looks like he'll be out for the playoffs.
00:38:46
Speaker
So I think, yeah, I think I'm going to go with the Heat there to continue an okay end of the season to inch closer to 500 and the Bucs to keep moving down a little bit closer to playoff time.
00:38:56
Speaker
and and then... For my football one, I've gone for Man United to beat Man City. So United are City are 19-20, so they are money on.
00:39:08
Speaker
And think this is half four on Sunday, so the the big Super Sunday game. I think, as for reasons I mentioned before, I like the way United have ramped up a little bit in the last month or so. Now we are recording this on Monday.
00:39:23
Speaker
So they could go out tomorrow against Forest and get absolutely slapped. And everything I've said just makes absolutely no sense to you. But that's my opinion as we stand right now. I think they'll do it. And I think, yeah, I think City, they they won against Bournemouth. I think they'll slap Leicester around the place during the week. And they'll be very high.
00:39:41
Speaker
in how they're feeling and and I think United will bring them back down to earth hopefully so that's my that's my theory what have you gone with I found the football hard to pick this week because obviously I just said we're doing it one day and there's a full run of Premier League games Tuesday Wednesday Thursday where anyone can get injured anyone can pick up a knock and everything we say could go out the window but I have also gone with two NBA games this weekend also hard to pick a week out in advance of the bus I've gone with the Suns to beat the Timberwolves. No, sorry, that was last week. your holiday So my last week I went with the Withers beat the Nets, the Suns to beat the Timberwolves and Forest to beat Brighton and I got 0 out of 3 and we'll just move on and not talk about it. This week I've gone for the Raptors to beat the Pistons.
00:40:20
Speaker
um So they they're they're both kind of deot at 6 and 4 at the moment. Over their last time. Over their last time, Zary. The Pistons are 42 and 33. The Raptors are 28 and 47.
00:40:34
Speaker
I think they'll be closer than the table suggests. I think the Raptors are building up a small head of scene. They're probably not going to get them anywhere, but they're not as bad as their Raptors suggest, for me anyway, at the moment. um i've also gone for the mavs to beat the clippers so this is one of those where you're kind of looking for something that's close that you had as the other pointer last week and this is 37 and 28th place 42 and 32. you know it's literally it is justified between them it could not be five by the time we get there but yeah um i think the mavs they're they're so hot and cold it's incredible how hot and cold they are and
00:41:06
Speaker
Got AD back now though. Yeah, exactly. And I'm just hoping it'll be hot at the weekend and I could deal with Clippers losing as well because they're starting to get on my nerve a bit with how good they're playing. So that would be great as well.
00:41:16
Speaker
And for my football one, yeah, I've gone for Leicester to beat Newcastle. Leicester at home they're 9-2 Newcastle 1-2 Newcastle just won a trophy He's taken out on Newcastle since they beat Liverpool in the cup It's not even that it's just that this run of form Leicester on it literally can continue like they haven't scored in seven home games in a row they can't be this bad they can't they can't they can't they can't be this bad they're going to get slapped by City like I think Newcastle will still be on a high they'll be coming down they'll probably win midweek as well and then they'll go to Leicester and Leicester will finally score a goal and just
00:41:54
Speaker
I'd love to say sharp shut up shop but they have your man Vouch Fez who's not very good. Oh my lord. i just I couldn't back United. it and it was this year There wasn't too many games the weekend. There were there was an odds on favourite versus an underdog so this is one I went to. I think was either that or Arsenal Southampton. Yeah. It was very tough. Yeah. So I have Leicester Raptors and Mavericks.
00:42:20
Speaker
Nice. Okay, so those are our picks. So, lads, keep an eye on the weekend. a little bit more difficult for us this week, choosing this far out. and But, look, that's what happened with the way the recording went scheduled this week. So, let's see if we do well this week. be even more impressive, I think.
00:42:35
Speaker
Yeah, I agree. It should be a 10-pointer this week. Bring you back into it if you get 3 out of 3. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Good idea, actually. We'll talk about that again next week. and So what I've gone with and as my topic in the NFL to talk about this week is the Giants quarterback situation.
00:42:52
Speaker
So we've mentioned that we were waiting for the chips to fall a couple of times with Rodgers. Look, we I said like two or three weeks ago, he's going to end up in the Steelers. He is going to end up in the Steelers. That's just the it's going to end up. But I think the Giants have kind of...
00:43:09
Speaker
Slowly, slowly, slowly moved, and then they've acted um on, I think, what they saw as the best alternative now that Rodgers wasn't available or clearly isn't going to end up there. They didn't want to wait for him anymore.
00:43:21
Speaker
So first of all, they went with James Winston, who I said last week when we were recording that I would actually take him over Rodgers or Wilson if they're going to go with the rookie QB route. And then they went and got Russell Wilson.
00:43:34
Speaker
So he's on a one-year deal. ah This is not something I saw happening. And it's not something that I wanted the Giants to do leading into this situation. But to be honest, I think...
00:43:47
Speaker
I can get over it and I think i can I can allow this to happen for a season, to watch this for a season. We're probably going to see both of these guys because we're not going to win a whole pile of games. So they're both going to play at some point, I reckon.
00:43:59
Speaker
and But there's so many other issues on this team. I think just getting a veteran in Russell Wilson and then getting another guy who throws a nice deep ball similar to Russell in Winston as a backup, you've clearly got a game plan there where you're going to go deep and try to get the ball out their hands quickly and run it a lot with Tyrone Tracy.
00:44:20
Speaker
I think that's probably a good idea while you're trying to shore up this offensive line. And that's the main thing we need to improve on. So I think we need to go offensive line at some stage in the draft.
00:44:31
Speaker
I would hope it's not with the first pick. I think we'll go with Travis Hunter, fingers crossed. But again, i can't rule a QB in the draft. I just don't think it'll be with three overall. I think it will be later on.
00:44:44
Speaker
um just maybe a hopeful punt at somebody later like a Jackson Dart or something like that but what do you think of the Giants QB situation yourself? I think the first thing for me was that the money for both of them isn't outrageous by any stretch of imagination they're not breaking the bank at all so Wilson is a one year deal 10.5 million including 8 million in a signing bonus And then there's just, there's a lot of bonuses. He gets 500 grand if he plays 65% of snaps, gets one and a half and then he'll get 75. So the money for him is... think it's up to 21 or something at max. So it's not that bad. I understand. James Winston is a two-year deal for 8 million. So agree with you. But only four of that is guaranteed with him too. Yeah.
00:45:22
Speaker
so like so the money the money is fine and i think both are better options than rogers personally for where the giants are because with that offensive line putting rodent in behind that the man can't run he's like you've just got you to give it and just have ended up getting slapped around the place i'm not saying there's some wilson's usain bolter and tonight that but he is probably a small bit more mobile than yeah i don't understand signing both of them ah don't understand signing balti be honest, like I think sign one and bring in your rookie and the rookie can learn can learn from underneath him.
00:45:53
Speaker
i I talk when they signed James Winston, they were that they would then done with kind of looking after the veterans and they just kind of leave it there. But they must have had it. They must have had this plan in place because Russell Wilson didn't really talk to anyone else. But it looks like I know I saw it. Only the brands think.
00:46:08
Speaker
Yeah, I saw a couple of weeks back that there was there was talks of this and then it kind of just went quiet again. And then it just it shot back up last week and it was signed. I was like, oh, yeah <unk> there i think their plan is was that now. I think it's kind of like if they got Winston in, then I'm like, okay, you're either going to go trade big and try to get Cam Ward or you're going to hope that Shador gets back to you in third, which I don't think they should do. And I don't think they should give up what the Titans wanted for Cam Ward either.
00:46:39
Speaker
And so I think this is probably the best option available to not go with that. But now you're in this situation where Winston is your starter. And I don't think they wanted that to be the case. They wanted him to be there as part of the room of QBs.
00:46:53
Speaker
involving maybe a rookie who would be the starter from the start if that was the route. Are you starting Winston over Russell Winston? No, but I'm saying at the point of when Winston was the only guy.
00:47:06
Speaker
Like that was the idea there in my mind that, okay, this is the way they'd go. But then when it becomes clear that this move for Wilson completely makes it clear for me that they're not going to do that with the first three picks. And now he's the starter and Winston is the backup.
00:47:21
Speaker
I think he was going to be the backup either way. But if you didn't get Wilson in, he would have had to been in the starter if you don't go high in the draft with a QB. So I think you kind they kind of had to do it if they don't like the QBs. This kind of points to me more than anything that they don't.
00:47:37
Speaker
And I think, yeah, I think we'll see. a lot of these two guys over the year and yeah, some some pretty dodgy throws and maybe some pretty nice long deep throws as well. So let's see what happened I think the main thing for me on it was that like they clearly didn't want to trade up for Cam Ward because as you said, the Titans are asking for They're basically asking for an arm and a leg, two kidneys and maybe a heart transplant as well. Like the stuff they're asking for is ridiculous. Yeah, it's gone up and up up as well.
00:48:04
Speaker
Yeah. And so outside of like Cam Ward, it's kind of like the further down we go, the weaker the quarterbacks are. Yeah. i Like I don't confess to know a whole lot about this draft class, but I think it's kind of clear to see from, first of all, from what the Titans are asking for and the fact that they've signed Wilson.
00:48:22
Speaker
No one is really that hot on the quarterbacks outside of the top two, maybe top three. Yeah. I think that the main two guys are Ward and Shador, and I don't know. Ward is probably going to go one out of the Titans. That's what's going to happen unless somebody gives them like the three first-rounders that they want,
00:48:37
Speaker
or then you're which somebody isn't going to do that because I think they know that next year is loaded with QBs in the draft class. So I think for once the Giants have probably made the smart move here, and bided their time and just seeing what they can do now with the rest of the roster and hopefully just win more games than last season and and then go QB than next season. If you have to trade some some stuff away next season to do that, then do.
00:49:03
Speaker
and But yeah, that's that's my whole opinion on the current Giants quarterback situation. So it's just mainly a lot of fingers and toes being crossed over here for me at this point. The main thing for me about the money, like once the money didn't get out of hand and Like if if it does get to 21 million, I mean, you've had a really, really good season. So you so you can probably accept that.
00:49:23
Speaker
Like the fact it's going to be, we'll say 12 million between the of them over the course of the year. If it's, sorry, it's 8 million signing and two, a four million guarantee. It's yeah, between eight and 10 million for the year for two quarterbacks. It's not that bad.
00:49:36
Speaker
I think it as well, it could be a possibility that this probably won't happen. But let's say something happens where Cam Ward slips to you or you didn't expect Shador to slip and now he's there in third.
00:49:47
Speaker
And you do pick him like Jameis is cutable on that contract. You're only losing four million. And then if another team picks him up, whatever they pay him is going to be knocked off. That's why you're not losing much. Yeah, exactly. yeah Let's see what happens. But ah do you want to go ahead with your which our topic for this week?
00:50:02
Speaker
Yeah, so I just wanted us to both kind of pick a coach, a new coach, because there's seven new coaches in the league this year. just wanted to pick one each and kind of talk about it. So we're going to go with Aaron Glenn, but we did a lot of kind of Jets talk the last couple of weeks. And um my Jets bias, it seems to have stunk a bit recently. So I'm actually going talk about it with Caelan Moore.
00:50:21
Speaker
The award-winning, the awardwin to Super Bowl-winning offensive coach for the Eagles last year. think this is a great move for both him and for Saints.
00:50:34
Speaker
Yeah. I think, like, if he can get Derek Carr working properly, and he was, he was the quarterback himself, really good offensive coach. Obviously, if he can get Derek Carr going, they brought in Brandon Cooks, great, great addition. Clyde Edwards-Hilaire has a lot to prove as well.
00:50:48
Speaker
I think... like I don't think that the Saints are going to be anything special this year, but I think it's a really good move into coaching for him. and It's a really good first step. It's going lot harder than he had last year at the Eagles, obviously. bos yeah like du did For his first step in, there'd be like there won't be that much pressure on him because no one in New Orleans will expect him Super Bowl anytime soon. so It takes the pressure off him a small bit and he can just send you to settle into it.
00:51:14
Speaker
Get some good professionals around him, some good young players coming through. I think it's a really good move from from both sides. Yeah, I think it's a good opportunity if they're willing to give him the time to settle into it.
00:51:27
Speaker
I think is he's a young coach, so only 36 years of age. mean, as you mentioned, he played QB. It didn't really work out for him in the league, but he transitioned quickly into coaching. And he was the QB coach with the Cowboys, then moved on to the offensive coordinator job between 2019 and 22. And that was a good period for Dak. He worked well there with him.
00:51:49
Speaker
Yeah, he liked him. Yeah, and when he went and headed over to the Eagles, look what he did with the offense last season and how much they trusted him to you know call the plays the way that they saw they wanted it to go. And it worked for them throughout the entire season, got them to win the Super Bowl.
00:52:06
Speaker
I think going and adding who we actually mentioned with ah Conan, like as kind of jokingly, a good few weeks ago when i was on when he was on with me and and he mentioned like getting Brandon Staley in as the DC. Yeah.
00:52:20
Speaker
and then it ended up happening. I think that was a good move because he was a first time head coach in 2021 for a couple of years with the Chargers and it didn't really work out. But he's a very, very good DC.
00:52:31
Speaker
And I think he's only young as well, 42 years of age, I think. So he's definitely a good guy to have in your corner. kind of to help you and point you in the direction that where he maybe fell down so I think that was an astute move as well but yeah I think everything they've done like it all it all paints positive pictures like they've given him the freedom to bring in who he wants the people he brought in has been they've been smart moves everything he's done has been smart so far he's clearly an excellent defensive coach you know with a really good defensive coordinator behind him as well so he can kind of concentrate on
00:53:02
Speaker
getting the best out of Derek Carrick, getting the best out of his running back, showing him this is what I did with Barkley, this is what I did with my wide receivers. So there's, yeah like he's's he's coming from a good pedigree. People are clearly going to respect him. He's a Super Bowl winner. Like people are going to respect him. I think it's hard to see any negatives in it for me at the moment. But as you said, it's all about the same being willing to give him time because he's not, to joe he's going to make mistakes.
00:53:25
Speaker
yeah And you just have to be able to bite the bullet and say, yeah, but he made a mistake there. We lost by 20 points. plus the future is brighter with him than it is without him. Yeah, I think it's always tough for first-time head coaches, especially ah find it like...
00:53:39
Speaker
when you you you're like, you know, you're obviously this offensive guy, you're just off the highest of highs and now you're going to a team that is a good few years away from winning anything. and it's It's quite a tough transition, but as you mentioned, some of the guys they signed and he's also got Chris Olave there, Alvin Kamara, um some guys to work with. So I think, yeah, I think, I think, look, we'll see what happens.
00:54:01
Speaker
Conan will certainly be hoping for a positive outcome. but Yeah, of course he will. Yeah, i've I've gone with someone on the opposite end of the age. Yeah. Big time. I've gone with Pete Carroll as my best ah head coach and hire. Obviously, definitely not a first-time head coach. This man is absolutely the the definition of a veteran.
00:54:22
Speaker
like He was a college coach for 10 years from 1973 to 83 years. And then he went from into the NFL, moved from a DB coach up to a head coach between 84 and 99.
00:54:34
Speaker
Obviously, the USC head coach then for eight years and the Seahawks head coach for 14 years, winning a Super Bowl with them in 2014 with the aforementioned Russell Wilson leading the team.
00:54:45
Speaker
But he's a decorated coach. four-time Rose Bowl champion, seven-time Pac-10 champion with USC. And I think they've done the perfect thing here with as the Raiders. The reason I went with them is because I think they have a really good roster already. And I think the amount games they've won doesn't reflect the players they had available. I think Antonio Pierce was way out of his depth.
00:55:09
Speaker
And I think as a defensive coordinator, as a guy to motivate people, similar to like an Aaron Glenn type, I think... He could be good in the league. He could have a position.
00:55:20
Speaker
But getting in and a guy like Pete Carroll, who has so much experience, getting his quarterback in Geno Smith tied down for the next few years, it's only a three-year contract. He's just there to steady the ship and guide this team forward. I think they will have a winning season this season.
00:55:37
Speaker
That's a bold statement, but I think they will. I think they'll turn things around a lot. because I like what they have there on offense already and and the defense speaks for itself it's already been excellent and they've tied Max Crosby down to a three-year deal 106.5 million extension I think he's worth every cent of it or sorry every cent but I think he is outraged to see good he's so he's incredible and the fact that he's signed on to say they're not gone for a Super Bowl pushing team I think that's a big win for him off the start anyway Yeah, he was the highest paid non-QB there for for a couple of weeks um or a couple of days, even at that price point.
00:56:13
Speaker
And I think it's good they stuck with the same DC because they've been good on defense, as I mentioned. And then also adding an old head in Chip Kelly as their and offensive coordinator.
00:56:24
Speaker
Kind of really steadying the ship, getting these two guys in. Former head coaches in the NFL, in college football, very decorated and a lot of experience. So I think these were these were good moves. What do you think of this whole entire?
00:56:37
Speaker
and I agree with you. I think it's a good move from it's the smart play that if you're not going to go and bring in a new quarterback like and the Saints have done, that the best nice thing to do is get someone who knows how to do it, who's done it over and over and over and over again.
00:56:51
Speaker
and They really do need to set these shifts. They've had a couple of dodgy years and they have players there that are so talented. If they can get the best out of them, then did they could very well in a 500 season. I can't see any issue with the statement you made.
00:57:04
Speaker
Brock Bauer is the best tight end in the league for me. I think he's absolutely insane. yeah grahem I think Grahiem Mostert is a great pick-up as well. And obviously, Gino Smith's a brilliant pick-up, especially with Pete Carroll now, who knows him so well.
00:57:17
Speaker
and Just such a solid player. He won't make many mistakes. No, exactly. And like he's 73, so if as you said, he's the it's a definition of a veteran. Three-year contract, then he rides away off into the sunset. and And then they bring in someone younger or step up their DC or their OC again. But when I looked at it, on face value, I was like, oh. First of all, it's like, why is he picking this to talk about? And then I was like, why the hell have they done that? But then when I looked into it, the more I looked into it, my kind of...
00:57:45
Speaker
went through Artfield, read their truth, it was like, oh yeah, it actually makes so much sense for Pete Carroll to kind of keep him out of the house, away from the wife, kind of keeps him motivated. for It makes sense for the Raiders because, as you said, they've had a couple of dodgy years now where they haven't been able to get anything going.
00:58:02
Speaker
And if he can't motivate you to get going, then I don't think anyone can and it might just need tear the book up and try again if it doesn't work under him. Yeah, I think it getting him in there with And straight away, it makes when he got him in, I was like, okay, it makes a lot of sense. Now what are we going to do with the QB?
00:58:21
Speaker
And then it's like, if they do draft a QB, I was kind of thinking, I don't know if that's a good decision because he won't be there in the long run. I don't know, does he want to develop a young guy? But they go get somebody that he knows on a deal for a similar length of time that he's going to be there.
00:58:35
Speaker
And I feel like these two guys together can... guide the team forward into a couple of winning seasons and then move on from there. So yeah, this way I like this one the most. I thought it was a really smart move and I think it makes the biggest difference, I think, in terms of from where they were last season to next season in all the hires. So that's why I've gone with this one.
00:58:56
Speaker
Yeah, like I think it's a smart move and I hope the works out for them. it basically show that the Jets have a better draft pick and that's the way going because they we don't need teams to be worse than other if we're going to be tanking again but I don't think we will be either but I don't think it's a good move for both sides of the set at the top and and think Brayden and Gino Smith to help them as well as you said it's just yeah it there' been very very few losers from what I can see in this like they're not going to win a Super Bowl under him but they could get back to being and and a team that you're afraid to play again don't think there's many teams afraid to play the Raiders last year
00:59:32
Speaker
No, and they knew that if they did show up on defence, they weren't going to do a thing on offence. So at least now, hopefully it'll be more well-rounded and under a bit more veteran guidance. So yeah, I like that move. Do you want give us a rundown of your power rankings from last week and what you've gone with this week then?
00:59:50
Speaker
Yeah, will do. So last week I had the Thunder at number one, the Celtics at two, Rockets were in at three, Liverpool were four, Cavs were five and the Warriors were six. And I've gone back to a 4-2 split this week. So I brought in another Premier League team and gone back to a 4-2. The Thunder obviously stayed top.
01:00:07
Speaker
and Liverpool haven't been playing. Liverpool haven't been very good since I last watched them. The Thunder are just absolutely incredible at the moment. they hold on to top spot for me. they um I've made a change at two. So my two and three have swapped.
01:00:22
Speaker
The Celtic and Rockets have now swapped to the Rockets and the Celtics. So the Rockets are in a two. They have 12 wins in their last 13. I mentioned the last couple of weeks now. I'm just so high on them at the moment. I absolutely love what they're doing.
01:00:34
Speaker
yeah It's such such a far cry from last year. When you watch the team tanking, want to see him winning again. It's just incredible. 9-1 in the last 10, obviously. 12 in the last 13 in his head. I just think they're brilliant. And then the Celtics in a 3-3.
01:00:49
Speaker
They had to 9-1 is the joint best record in the league at the moment. So it is the three teams that have their all are 9-1. They have the three best records in the league. The Celtics are just incredible as well. And they are my second favorite for the title after the Thunder.
01:01:02
Speaker
I think you said it while as well, that it's the same for you. Liverpool stay in fourth for me. There's no reason to drop them any further. Joe, they've dropped them first to fourth. Joe, they're not going hit five or six for me anytime soon anyway. And then to round it out, I had the Warriors in a five.
01:01:18
Speaker
They're still their sneaky little basketball team. And then Nottingham Warriors have come in to my top six. They're just, Joe, they're now in an FA Cup semi-final. They're still in the top four picture and they're very, very, very good to watch.
01:01:31
Speaker
yeah What a season they've had. What a season. yeah No, definitely can't argue with that. So what I went to last week was ah Thunder at one, Newcastle at two, Liverpool three, Celtics four, Clippers five and Brighton at six.
01:01:47
Speaker
and So this week I've left the Thunder first for the same reasons you mentioned. I think they're just the best team across all of the sports we covered, including and the NFL for how dominant they are. They've won nine in a row.
01:02:01
Speaker
Recently beating the Pacers and the Grizzlies by 21, beating the Kings and the Bucks by 16. They're just inevitably so good. I left Newcastle where they are because they still haven't played, so I just thought it's not fair to drop them.
01:02:14
Speaker
I've moved the Celtics up one because of how good they've been recently. So they've won eight in a row. and They're on a 9-1 run and they beat the Suns and by 30 points just a couple of games ago.
01:02:27
Speaker
they've They've been very, very good, very solid. I know they've had a bit of an easier schedule as of late, but you have to beat what's in front of you. Exactly. and i think I think they've done they've done very well for a team that's, you know, they they won last year and they're not taking their foot off the pedal.
01:02:42
Speaker
Then Liverpool are still in there, haven't played either. So I didn't think to drop them out. Then in fifth, I've gone with the Rockets. So I've added them this week. I think I couldn't ignore them any longer. i just, before I kind of mentioned, um ah though like, you know, some of the teams they beat were easy and it was similar.
01:03:03
Speaker
with the Celtics there for a while. um But then when you just do for so long, you have to add them in. I think like you know they've beaten so many teams now, it doesn't matter their level. like They've won 12 of their last 13.
01:03:16
Speaker
They have to be considered. like The only team they lost to in the last 13 was the Nuggets. They beat the Suns by 39 points and just the other night, so that was insane. and and they're they're just ramping up more and more and more. So they deserve to be on this list again. and So I've added them back in there in fifth.
01:03:33
Speaker
And then in sixth, a first-time entry for me is Crystal Palace for all mentioned the reasons I mentioned earlier. We've gone down a similar route. We both picked our FA Cup predicted winners to go in at sixth.
01:03:44
Speaker
So yeah, I've gone with them. um that's pretty much That's pretty much me there for that one. um So that's my top six. Yeah, that's pretty much all we have, I think, for this week, man.
01:03:56
Speaker
Just before we go, just want to, we haven't really mentioned in a while now, but talking about the Rockets, I want to kind of give Jalen Green a bit of credit because the last time we talked about him, we were a bit down on him. I wasn't convinced by him. I was kind of, he was off the back of having a really poor run of form.
01:04:11
Speaker
But he's another man. He's like SGA, who started every game for the Rockets this year, averaging 22 points, three assists, five rebounds across the field. At the moment, I have, like I would say, two months ago, I was afraid going into playoffs if he was going to be the leading man.
01:04:28
Speaker
ah yeah i Now I'm excited to watch him go into playoffs and lead this team. But Joe would not be going to it, but just getting into playoffs and having him leading this team, I think it's going to be it's gonna be a joy to watch, I think. Yeah, it'll be exciting at late at the very least. like I think from when we last spoke about him, we wanted him to be more consistent. And in fairness, he has been he hasn't been too many nights where he's lit the world on fire with 50 points, but he hasn't had as his nights that he used to have a lot with like 10 points, 5 points, 6 points.
01:04:55
Speaker
He's been very, very consistent. And as you said, played... I think hes he's played, I think he played every game last season as well. Yeah, he has, yeah. He's played, I think he started the last 152 games like that or something like that. That's like, you know, festivities, your availability.
01:05:08
Speaker
So very, very good player as of late and he has clearly improved as time goes by. And I really like a lot of the players on the team that compliment him as well. Like the likes of Eamon Thompson there alongside him, I think works really, really well.
01:05:21
Speaker
So, yeah, future's bright. I just wanted to give him a very, very quick shout-out. know we've done over time again as well, but just give him a quick shout-out. No, you're well within your rights to shout out one of your stars, I think.
01:05:33
Speaker
Yeah, no, I think things are looking good. As you said, I don't think you'll go very far, but I think as kind of, not to the extent that the Thunder did it, but I think you're betting in this young team now in the playoffs with their first run, if they can get it.
01:05:49
Speaker
if they can even get one series win, that would be great for them going into next year. So I think it's a good... As long they don't rip it up in the off-season and then trade away a load of the young players to bring in a Kevin Durant or something, which all the talk on Twitter is that. It still would just join me drive me bananas if they went and brought in a 37-year-old when this has worked so well. And you've built for so long for this to go and then rip it all up to bring in a star.
01:06:12
Speaker
Yeah, I just don't think they'll it. hopefully not. I don't think they'll do it. I think that we have... I think they have a good good plan in place and I think we could see Durant God knows where. There's been rumours of a lot of things but i just told i hope first of all but I also think that they won't do that. I think this season has gone so well that there's no reason to. but Yeah, that's pretty much it for this week.
01:06:34
Speaker
Back to a bit of a longer episode again. We talked a lot about different things this week so let us know if you enjoyed it and thanks for listening along and I'll throw it over to you Shane if you want to wrap up Yeah, just just hit that like, subscribe, follow, leave a comment, to anything you do. just It really does help with kind of getting it out there to more people.
01:06:53
Speaker
All we can ask for just keep listening if you're enjoying it. Leave comments on anything you want to improve on and we'll see you back here next week. Nice one. See you later. Cheers, Edson.