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The Early MVP Picture in the NFL | How Far Can Wemby Lead the Spurs? | EPL & NFL Power-Rankings
16 Plays4 days ago
🔥 Newcastle DESTROY Forest! Early NFL MVP Shockers, Colts Hype, and NBA's BIGGEST Questions 🚨 | Who’s Got the Ball?
This week on Who’s Got the Ball?, James is joined by Cynan and Michael (with Shane sidelined on IR) to break down another wild week in sports!
⚽ Newcastle’s DOMINANCE over Nottingham Forest — Was it the performance of the season?
🏈 NFL MVP Race HEATS UP – Cynan and James reveal their underdog picks to take it home, and debate if the Colts are LEGIT contenders after a surprise 4-1 start.
🏀 NBA Season Preview Bombshells! Michael joins James to talk:
- Can Wemby carry the Spurs to playoff glory?
- Are the Suns a mess?
- Can the Grizzlies bounce back and make noise in the West?
Plus, an all-new Multi-Sport Power Rankings Update and bold Gan Seans underdog picks you won’t want to miss.
👉 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!
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🌍 Based in Ireland | Talking global sports weekly
(0:00) Intro
(01:45) PL Performance of the Weekend: Newcastle Batter Forest
(5:45) Cynan Joins James to Chat Early NFL MVP Race
(39:59) Are the Colts For Real?
(52:36) Gan Seans: NFL Underdog Picks
(56:51) Michael Joins James to Discuss the Wemby Led Spurs
(01:06:46) Are the Suns a Complete Mess?
(01:18:04) The Ja & JJJ Show in Memphis
(01:32:40) The Premier League + NFL Power Rankings
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Host Update
00:00:09
Speaker
Alright lads, welcome back to another episode of Who's Got The Ball. Usually this is the point where I say myself and Shane are back here once again, but it's just me this week. Shane is at a wedding, so we got a couple of guys to fill in, as you will see in this episode.
In-Depth Sports Discussions
00:00:23
Speaker
and A bit of an extended NFL and NBA chat because we had Cunnan on for the NFL. You guys will know him. He's been on before. Absolute pleasure and absolute pleasure to also have Michael on as well. We went into detail and on a few things there with him about the NBA. We continued the previews. So hope you enjoy having both of those guys on. What else I kind of touched on?
00:00:43
Speaker
Well, to look at the NFL, we we kind of chatted about the early MVP conversation and we gave some names there and who we're looking at. So... Give a listen to that. If you if you fancy picking an underdog there or somebody who's kind of in the conversation and has a nice price or if you just want to hear who we think has kind of taken the lead early on in the season.
00:01:02
Speaker
And then we also touched on the Colts. Are they for real? Based on how well they've started the season, they're Let's see. um Let's see what we, we myself and Conan, think. And then...
NBA Team Previews
00:01:13
Speaker
Myself and Michael did preview the Spurs, the Suns and the Grizzlies. And we we gave our usual answers to the to the questions about what's going to happen in their season ahead. How far can they go? And we'll obviously go further into that when we do our full NBA season preview, which Michael will also be a part of. We're looking forward to that a lot. I gave...
00:01:34
Speaker
Both myself and Shane's Ganshan's picks and both myself and Shane's power rankings. Obviously, he sent them across to me, so I gave them both through.
Newcastle's Performance Review
00:01:44
Speaker
There's just one thing I wanted to touch on before we jump into the episode because we have been doing performance of the weekend.
00:01:50
Speaker
basically every weekend for the last three or four weeks about the Premier League team that kind of stood out to us and performed well. So even though I am here on my own, I want to run on that again and and continue on and give another one just to keep the ball rolling on this because I enjoyed the segment and I really do think that Newcastle's performance last weekend does deserve a shout.
00:02:10
Speaker
And before we forget about it going into next week, because we're in the international break now, next week we're goingnna touch on the three promoted teams and how they're getting on so far. Probably with a bit of Ireland chat, hopefully not too negative, because obviously they've got a couple of games coming up over the weekend.
00:02:25
Speaker
So yeah, back to Newcastle against Forest, I thought they were really impressive. It was a good way to back up their win versus USG in the Champions League, I think. It was a really tough loss they had late on against Arsenal the weekend before.
00:02:40
Speaker
And kind of how you bounce back from games like that can tell a lot about how your season is going to go. i know they're not exactly high-flying in the table yet, but...
00:02:51
Speaker
There's a couple of things that probably needed ironing out their away performances, as we kind of mentioned. And when we talked about negative tactics, the way they had the team set up for their away game, for example, against Bournemouth was quite a negative thing. And i think from there going and losing in the fashion that they did to Arsenal, I think...
00:03:09
Speaker
Bouncing back with a really convincing win in the Champions League and then basically annihilating Forrest really is a positive thing for them going into the rest of the
Analysis of Newcastle vs. Forrest Game
00:03:19
Speaker
season.
00:03:19
Speaker
They won They deserved at the very least to win by two goals. that They had so many chances created in that second half. and looking at the xg they had 3.45 compared forest's 0.3 how badly andrew's been doing so far at forest is uh it's not a surprise to me because most of you if you listen to this will know that i don't i think he's out of his depth to be honest and i know it's going to take a while to bet in his ideas but i think forest this is something that you probably may expect to see going forward with Forrest struggling um with his tactics because the team just isn't set up to play that way as well as everything
Newcastle's Future Prospects
00:03:58
Speaker
else.
00:03:58
Speaker
um But Newcastle were very, very good. They basically just put them to the sword in this game. 18 shots in total, nine on target, five big chances missed. I know Valtemada, he needed that penalty. He missed two big chances before that.
00:04:14
Speaker
I couldn't believe one of them. It was easier to score than to do what he did um and just completely missed a Gilded's chance. But I think that penalty was an absolute cracker. and but the The way he took it looked a bit odd, the way he ran up to it.
00:04:28
Speaker
and like I was watching the game my dad who's a big Newcastle fan and I said to him like the the way he ran up to the ball and whatever way he had him set up and his planted foot was so close to the ball it looked like he he could have kicked the ball off his planted foot to be honest but it worked for him clearly because he absolutely nailed it into the top corner so that's good for his confidence too to score despite you know missing some big chances and and I think they were really really good value for the win I think they deserve a a lot of credit for how they bounce back to that Arsenal loss as I already mentioned but it'll be interesting to see now how they go from here they'd
00:05:07
Speaker
They'll obviously be hoping to reach those Champions League places once again, but getting a win in the Champions League against a weaker opponent will help them kick on there as well. And obviously they'll be hoping to get out of that initial league phase there. So let's keep an eye on them this season.
00:05:23
Speaker
and A bit of a bumpy start, but I think they were impressive last weekend and that could kick them on now after the international window, which...
NFL MVP Contender Analysis
00:05:31
Speaker
yeah may have come at a bad time for them because you like to get that momentum going but obviously they'll take a dominant win like that on any day of the week so let's get into the rest of the episodes um we're jumping into our our chat with Conan first so enjoy everything that's ahead right lads let's get into the first section we've got Conan back once again pleasure for you coming on especially with at late notice and at this late hour um and know you're
00:05:56
Speaker
tied up until late I really appreciate it coming on because yeah it's an early 10 o'clock now usually we like to get these things done earlier and you've taken time out to spend it with us so we really appreciate it and anytime no listen it's it's me that's meant to be thanking you thank you very much again for having me on I love talking ball love talking to you James so it's a great mix I get i get to do both And why sleep is overrated anyway. Who needs it?
00:06:23
Speaker
So, no, this is i this is why I needed. it I needed this. if You needed to relieve some stress and talk some ball. yeah Well, obviously, we we don't have Shane this time, so we're not going to hear some random Jets nonsense during this chat.
00:06:37
Speaker
So let's let's just go from the start here because we're going with MVP, early MVP conversation. So Shane, this is the point where Shane would have said Justin Fields. So let's just get that bit...
00:06:48
Speaker
gone and let's hear who you've got we were going to go through like three picks each one of them is going to be kind of an underdog and so who is your first pick for this early MVP chat okay so oh my god okay i'll I'll be real with you I found it very hard stick with three it's because right ill I'll okay talk through my thinking okay so I've about six the The underdogs are very much like underdogs. It's not a real like solid pick for MVP.
00:07:24
Speaker
Three of them are quarterbacks, and that's yeah that's boring. I don't want to see that. I'll start off, because this guy has been solid, and I've been a big fan of him.
00:07:36
Speaker
throughout all the all the teams he's been through, all the teams he's been with, and all the hardships he's gone through. I'm a massive Baker Mayfield fan, and i have Baker Mayfield as one of the clear frontrunners for MVP.
00:07:51
Speaker
I love the kid. Okay? I'll throw throw some stats at your face now. 1,283 passing yards already. He has a 65.1 completion of percentage, 10 touchdowns.
00:08:05
Speaker
And this I didn't know, one interception. And ill know that. ah And obviously a four-on-one record. And that one loss... It could have gone either way against the Eagles.
00:08:17
Speaker
So, like, you know, i we could be sat here talking about Baker Newfield and the Bucs being 5-0, and that would be crazy. ah Yeah, you should be playing out the skin.
00:08:28
Speaker
and what I find weird, i mean, in the past... what i even say? Maybe even longer than five years. Like I've been used to the Bucs having solid defense, like never like below par defense.
00:08:44
Speaker
But recently, like I was, whilst doing this research, I was going through like obviously the Bucs results and, you know, baker Baker's performance, whatever. And like every game has been decided by six or fewer points.
00:08:58
Speaker
Like it's constantly been close. Yeah. And even with all these stats that Baker's got out and, you know, he's got Egbuka who's been like, Superb for him. and like I was a massive fan of him like coming out of college anyway.
00:09:12
Speaker
But even with all this, you know the the firepower that they have, the defense just can't... They're not helping them out. And that is so like random. Not random, but it's so foreign to me seeing Bucs defense not ye you know playing playing well.
00:09:31
Speaker
yeah So that's my that's my first first ah pick for MVP there, Baker Mayfield. Love the kid. Yeah, one of the... well i' I've already built out the graphic for this and I had Baker on it because I knew that he was going to be a hot topic on this because I have him too as one of my first picks here.
00:09:51
Speaker
i think... First of all, the stats that you listed out are like amazing, but his performance has gone beyond that as well. Just the way he's like willed the team basically to win the all of these close games. So 23-20 against the Falcons, they had no right to win that game.
00:10:09
Speaker
The Falcons were the better team and he still pulled it out, which is massive in division against probably your biggest threat. And then Texans winning by a point.
00:10:20
Speaker
They ground that one out against a tough Texans defense, beating the Jets by two. Again, the Jets probably should have won that game. They threw it away. That was crazy game. Sorry, Shane. And then...
00:10:31
Speaker
The Eagles game, yeah. You actually thought they probably should have won the Eagles game and they ended up losing by six late on. And then last week, that game against the Seahawks, I thought Darnold was going to drive them down.
00:10:43
Speaker
And actually, that was one of the only times the Bucs defense really stepped up and made a play. Although they did concede 35 points in that game. But like he he's been something else. 104.4 QBR. And only thing...
00:10:55
Speaker
cur and the only chain I think that maybe the conversation doesn't go too much further with him past the next few weeks is their schedule is so tough.
00:11:08
Speaker
Like, I feel like they had such a tough schedule already, but just looking at their next few weeks, like I think this Sunday against the Niners, they're the favorites, but I just feel like that's a bogey game there where the Niners are kind of dangerous and...
00:11:22
Speaker
Their defense is going to be pretty good. Then they play the Lions. That speaks for itself. Then, obviously, they play some team called the Saints. I don't know if you've heard of them. Apparently, I think they're like an expansion team or something like that.
00:11:34
Speaker
Okay. No, i'm not I'm not having this. No, no. Maybe Shane's taking this. I'm not taking this. No, I'm not having this. No, but... Hey, I know. I know. Listen, it it's your Giants lost to us, okay?
00:11:47
Speaker
To this expansion team. No. Hey, I'm not having this at all. No, I'm not having this. No. and Anyway, what I was going to say really about that one is that in-division games are always weird. So that you wouldn't be surprised if they just randomly lose, even if they are the favorite.
00:12:05
Speaker
And then Patriots, I don't really like the Patriots this year. So I think that's okay. Bills, tough, so tough. Rams, so tough. So like you're looking at a really, really tough schedule here.
00:12:16
Speaker
So I think the conversation for him, the his price is 17 to 2. But I feel like i wouldn't really be looking at that as something I would back because I don't think it goes much further than maybe another couple of big
Colts' Season Evaluation
00:12:31
Speaker
performances. But then regardless of how well he plays, it does go on record as well. And i don't think these close games are kind of sustainable as a way to... no to have a good record. Like, he can't keep winning that late. And also, the point on throwing picks, like, I've, like, he had one pick, but he should have had, like, eight by now.
00:12:53
Speaker
Some of the passes he has thrown, like, especially early on in the season, like, the Texans, they dropped, like, I think it was either the Texans or the Jets dropped, like, three, like, really bad passes that, I don't know what he was doing.
00:13:07
Speaker
and But then, obviously, those things are forgotten about when they don't happen. So... Yeah, I really love him as well. I think he's he's great. And what of what a lineup of quarterbacks the Bucs have had like over the last few years between him, Brady, Fitzpatrick and Jameis. Just so random and so like brilliant in different ways. No, it's been nuts.
00:13:28
Speaker
Don't get me started. As an obvious Saints fan, has been it's been a weird... like the past 10 years of watching the Bucs and like, like obviously the Tom Brady signing being like, what has just happened?
00:13:43
Speaker
No, no, I totally agree. no like, well, yeah, like, like I said with the, it's not only these close games, you can't keep, I know, you know, the Chiefs were somewhat similar last year where they kept like winning these one score games and people like, oh my God, they, they've got devil magic whatever.
00:14:02
Speaker
Yeah. But I think and there that that instance, they had this... so I'm going back to defense constantly. They they had this great defense, whereas i know Steve Spagnuolo running it.
00:14:15
Speaker
But that's not going to happen with the Bucs. I mean, unless this is getting clipped after they go 17-2. But no, I can't see it happening.
00:14:26
Speaker
And I mean, like you said... you know baker is quite know rash or he does love just loves to throw a ball up he just slings it there's not much yeah i mean yeah not much thinking behind some of them it's just like i'm going to shoot this as fast as i can ah some ah better gadget whoever it is so yeah no you're totally you're totally right there Yeah, I think the point on Spag's defense as well, that's the first thing that came to mind when you think about like how the Chiefs ground out those wins.
00:15:00
Speaker
It's often harder to do it by scoring 40 points every week, as we saw with how the Bengals capitulated last year. like You can't really keep up with a bad defense. um So I'll give my next pick then.
00:15:13
Speaker
I've gone with one I actually really like, and I think it could be a chance that this one, i didn't want to pick, and like, I didn't go, I know obviously the obvious answers are Josh Allen here or Mahomes like turns it on late or whatever. These are the Buckees favorites, but the ones I went with are the ones I found most interesting. Baker was first, second was Matt Stafford.
00:15:34
Speaker
So he is 12 to 1. I think those odds are unbelievable. He's had over 1,500 yards, 67% completion pretty much, 11 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, and a higher QBR than Baker, 107.3. the Rams are I feel like they're...
00:15:51
Speaker
and the rams are three and two feel like theyre One of those teams that there's a couple of games there they lost this season and in the Eagles game and also the Niners game.
00:16:04
Speaker
Both of them are ones that, well, firstly, the Eagles game was just freaky that those two blocked field goals in the fourth when they had dominated. That crazy game. And then the Niners game last week, it's one of those weird division divisional games where the Niners are completely beat up.
00:16:21
Speaker
Mac Jones is quarterbacking them and they they just managed to turn the Rams over late on. Because, and also that was a McVay decision laid on to run that fort down to try and take the game. And it was a really bad play call, to be honest. Like, Williams wasn't really breaking free much in that game. And yeah, the Niners read them like a book there. So i think...
00:16:44
Speaker
they'll learn a lot from those two games. And going forward, I think they'll be a team that are pushing. I picked them at the start of the year to go to the Super Bowl. I'm going to stick by that. I think they'll get there. And Stafford is going to lead them. Those... Some of those throws that he made, that, like, honest to God, like, some of those, like, the throw that he made to, know, against the Rams, or against the Colts, when he put Atwell in for the long touchdown, there was, like, a...
00:17:14
Speaker
but DB I think that fell over but straight away he saw him he's like one of those things that he never misses anything if something comes open he hits them and that's it and he might be a quarterback that leads probably the best three receiving seasons ever with Calvin Johnson at the Lions then he had Cup at the Rams and now Puka is on for a 2000 yard pace yeah that's crazy absolutely unbelievable so I was tempted to put Puka as my underdog pick just because of how he may get over 2,000 yards and how well he's playing. But i I know it's a quarterback award pretty much. So I think Stafford would be my actual pick right now if I had to go behind anyone and go with them.
00:18:00
Speaker
No, I, so, we're on the same wavelength here, okay? I had them here as well. i Obviously, ah that fan okay, fantasy, I'm going off on a tangent here.
00:18:14
Speaker
Fantasy, you pick them up, think, a Riders star season, think, oh yeah, just someone, you know, safe to have. All of a sudden, oh my, oh my God, what's going on?
00:18:25
Speaker
And I think what's crazy to me is The start of the year, i was saying with you, i was thinking, yeah, Rams are going to go, if the Rams Darko is going to make a Super Bowl. I can see that happening.
00:18:40
Speaker
But i was more and I was more thinking of, oh, because they have this young defense, they have this great young defense, great core, the defensive line's great, this is that the other.
00:18:55
Speaker
This defense hasn't been that great so far in the season. is And that's something i didn't think I'd be saying at this point. They have not been that good. Now, they do tend to do this throughout every season. They tend to start off slow, and then by the end, they they pick it up. But I was expecting the entire team to kind of...
00:19:17
Speaker
gel quicker, like get it together quicker. Like Kyron Williams, off the top of my head, I mean, you could correct me if I'm wrong, but i don't think he's been like outstanding or he hasn't been, had that much of an influence. ah da he the runner he and Even back this season as well to get him going because of how, how much he's kind of struggled.
00:19:36
Speaker
um Yeah, exactly. Yeah. and And I think it's literally just been the Matthew Stafford and Puka Nakua show. yeah I mean, that I had Puka Nakua as one of these like the underdogs for MVP as well. But like the the beauup the pair of them, ah just it's just them against the world.
00:19:56
Speaker
And until I think it's somewhat similar... Maybe, big obviously Stafford and his experience on his side maybe won't be similar to what we were you saying about Baker and that can't keep yeah just hoping that the the defense will somehow click by the end.
00:20:15
Speaker
like Something's got to change now. i mean I don't know what it is. i haven't been but I'll be honest, haven't been watching Rams games under magnifying glass. like I don't know exactly what's going on, but...
00:20:26
Speaker
yeah like Jared Verce hasn't had the same input or output as ah we're used to seeing. like i don't I don't know what's going on. like i haven't heard much about Braden Fisk either. like I don't know how productive he is either.
00:20:44
Speaker
had a pretty decent game, I think, against the Niners. But yeah, slow start again, which is unexpected. So, I think this is because the other, I and i have another quarterback and his defense also sucks.
00:21:00
Speaker
And it's just weird how like these QBs point out doing all this work and it might be for now. It's a bit like Joe Burrow last year where he was genuine MVP candidate.
00:21:11
Speaker
I didn't even get to the playoffs. Yeah. and i don't know. It's such a weird, such a weird year. So competitive this year. There's so many teams as well that are seem like they might be overperforming. Like even the Bucks are. The Jags certainly are.
00:21:25
Speaker
The Coles are him were going to come on to in ah in a while. But... I think the Rams are the opposite end. But I think that looking at the games coming up, like the Ravens this weekend without Lamar and with basically no defense. Like if you're going to concede 40 odd points to the Texans, the Rams could put 100 on you.
00:21:44
Speaker
Like, yes they will wax them this weekend, I think. And then... They'll humble the Jags the week after. um i feel like and you'll be at that game. ah its so I will be at that game. In London. i do think that they will bring them back down to earth.
00:22:00
Speaker
And then they play after that, this team, I think, called the Saints. i'm not sure. Oh my God. He's done it again. He's done it again. He's done it again. my God. No, but then after, after the Saints, like in those three games, I think they're all winnable.
00:22:16
Speaker
And then it is a little bit more tough because they've got the Niners again, but I feel like a quick turnaround after that tough loss, you want to put it right. Then they have the Seahawks and Bucs. So I think this is the the path of, you know, they face like easy Ravens defense. Okay, he put up some some stats on the Jags, Saints and Niners. I feel like he knows they're playing against the Niners. He's done it so many times.
00:22:42
Speaker
Then he faces the Seahawks. That would be a real test. That defense something else. That would be so good. I think he could be... on for I don't know how many yards this season the fact he has over 1500 doesn't make sense like and and the whole talk before the season was how he's injured he was in this pod basically to preserve him bring him back to life i don't know what was going on in that pod but he's like coming out of that thing like as if it was like don't know what some kind of Star Trek pod um and Now, all that's forgotten.
Colts' Playoff Prospects
00:23:12
Speaker
Nobody's talking about it anymore. Everyone's like, oh, yeah. What about that? well but I thought he was barely able to move.
00:23:18
Speaker
hes thrown for like He's thrown for fun. And Devontae Adams is is like his secondary receiver, and he's happy to do so. for so So for some reason, he's after turning Adams around too.
00:23:31
Speaker
In his attitude his ability to accept that he's a second fiddle. I was so expecting, and obviously, all the wide receivers get the you know the tagline that they are divas. Not saying Devontae Adams is a diva, but to go from you know the main main receiver Aaron Rodgers for so many years, be that main guy, i mean, doing it, I i guess the Raiders, yeah, I mean, that was a bad time in his life. But then he went to the Jets, again,
00:24:02
Speaker
number one there, even though Gary Wilson was there as well. He was still like, it was still him or Rodgers like this. So it baffles me really how like sound he is with, you know what? Yeah, fine. I'll take a backseat to this.
00:24:15
Speaker
Yeah. Doesn't seem like Yeah. No, it's it's crazy. So, I mean, maybe, i mean, that's what they need. They need, they need the team to kind of play play as a group.
00:24:26
Speaker
Because this that would be and like ah we were mentioning before anyway, it can't keep going on if they're putting up all these points, the defense isn't helping them out.
00:24:37
Speaker
So if Devontae Adams at any point started going like, i'm actually I'm actually sick of this, I'm not getting all these targets, that da with i feel like the the wheels would fall off.
00:24:48
Speaker
and That's the only thing that may cause some kind of upset, I feel like. That's the most logical thing. Yeah, because like having 2-2 as your second is not it does not look good.
00:25:00
Speaker
Yeah, that's true. But even if you even some of Adam's performances, he's had less targets, but already this season he's he's had three touchdowns and... like There's a couple of games there, 88 yards last week, 106 against the Titans. So he is getting fed.
00:25:17
Speaker
I think it's just not as much targets as he probably would want, but it feels like he's okay with it so far. So I think the hope for them is that it can continue that way and then just use Tutu as like a deep threat. And the fact that Williams seems to need kind of some help by getting going in the receiving game is only going to push up Matt Stafford's stats. So...
00:25:40
Speaker
yeah that's I think we're both kind of in tandem on those two. So let's get your underdog pick then. Who have you gone as an outsider? ah Okay.
00:25:51
Speaker
Can I go? Okay, no, I have to mention this guy. Can I go honorable mention afterwards or before? Because i i want I want to mention one guy. See what my one is. See what my one is. Okay, fine, okay.
00:26:03
Speaker
ah have Fine. i know We're going to be talking about this team anyway in a bit. But I have to mention Jonathan Taylor. Yeah. Especially after last Sunday as well.
00:26:15
Speaker
i kept Every time i would watch your red zone, I go, oh, the Colts scored. It was Jonathan Taylor. Sick. Okay. mean, I need ah go on my phone.
00:26:26
Speaker
Oh, I didn't have him on this team. I had him on this one. Damn it. up Oh, well, it'll probably stop now. Oh, he scored again. it was just constant. The guy is, I mean, we've known since ah you since he got to the league 2020, we've known that this guy's legit.
00:26:42
Speaker
He's constantly been cause been in that high epsilon, like top top five, top seven back in the league every every year.
00:26:53
Speaker
And he's constantly, i keep on forgetting how quick the guy is. He's almost, he's almost every time in the top three, like highest clock speed in in the year.
00:27:05
Speaker
Like guy the guy is nuts. i have his stats here as well. 480 rushing yards already, 5.1 yards per carry, six touchdowns, zero fumbles, and a 4-1 record. And the Colts could easily b I mean, I don't want to talk about Colts too much because it was we'll will lose it at the end, but it could easily be five and l if it wasn't. you know I'm i' being mean and blaming Adonai Mitchell, but I'm doing it. i don't care.
00:27:35
Speaker
like It was his fault, really. he messed up big time same with Democado with Cardinals like you can yeah cannot you cannot do mistakes like that on the biggest scale in the most competitive you know league in the sport like it's just unacceptable yeah but yeah two mistakes in that game as well not only just one yes or Exactly, yeah. So that that's mine. ah Jonathan Taylor. i to be you know would be nice to see a running back win it because Saquon lost out last year and he had like a historic year. So it's not looking likely that Jonathan Taylor could get it, but I want to just mention his name because he has just been such an important part of this team.
00:28:21
Speaker
It's not like you know it's just purely been him. But when they've called upon him, he's delivered. ah yeah he's never not I don't think at any point in any games he's not delivered or he's been yeah and he's underperformed.
00:28:36
Speaker
like Daniel Jones has been <unk> you know
Dak Prescott and Cowboys' Season Analysis
00:28:39
Speaker
surgical. He hasn't been throwing the ball deep. he just Completion percentage has been high. Surgical gets them to the certain point they need to get to. And then Jonathan Taylor gets the job done later on.
00:28:50
Speaker
like yeah he's such a well-oiled machine at the moment sorry I'll talk about the Colts later on sorry but yeah I i think we'll touch on the rest of the Colts team afterwards but on Taylor I had like obviously a bit done on him he wasn't my pick for outside but I just did a little bit bitd on him because we're obviously getting into the Colts in a small bit but like Looking at, as well, his receiving game, like he's not he can do it, but it's not his game. But he still has another 133 yards and a touchdown. So that brings him to 613 total.
00:29:23
Speaker
total He's only behind Puka. who, as we mentioned, is on for a record-setting season, and CMC, who is the whole Niners' ah offense right now. They're going to him in the passing game and the run game.
00:29:35
Speaker
So he's very impressive for a back who's not primarily or over-reliant on pass-catching, and he's also league in the leading the league in touchdowns with seven. So...
00:29:46
Speaker
Yeah, he's a be a great honourable mention, or a great underdog pick, should I say. i feel like you're under... The reason I didn't want you to give your honourable mention is because I feel like that's my underdog pick. Okay. So my underdog pick is Dak Prescott.
00:30:01
Speaker
Oh, okay. I've gone with him. 22 to 1. So far this season, 1,356 yards, 71% completion percentage. Considering he's been throwing the ball like deep a lot as well. And some of his deep passes are disgustingly good. 10 to 3 TD to interception ratio, 101 QBR.
00:30:27
Speaker
You're looking at a Cowboys team that are just... They're just last year's Bengals. 2-2 and this season. First game of the season. Lose play quite well against the Eagles. And I thought that's a good sign already.
00:30:42
Speaker
Then they beat the Giants in that overtime game, which was heart-wrenching for the Giants. But yeah, ultimately that helped get Russell Wilson benched. So we'll take it Got hammered by the Bears, which is a surprise. And then 40-40 against the Packers. What a game that was.
00:31:00
Speaker
And they really put it up against a Packers team that everyone was raving about up to that point. And then they put it up to them with the same level of offense. Ian, that was without CeeDee Lamb.
00:31:12
Speaker
yeah And then the Jets game, they they just showed them... Sorry, Shane. They showed them... I was just about to say. But then looking at their upcoming schedule, like they have the Panthers-Commanders in division game.
00:31:25
Speaker
Broncos is going be tough. Cardinals, who will just shoot themselves in the foot on any given chance. don't even know about them. yeah Raiders. You know, there's a few games there that are winnable. I think they could eat they could easily wind up as a team that...
00:31:39
Speaker
get to the cusp of a wildcard spot. And by the time get into the Eagles and Chiefs games, which is in five games time, that could be close to 3000 yards already because yeah just the way that they're playing.
00:31:54
Speaker
um I really think he's somebody that deserves to be in the MVP conversation. He's looked absolutely amazing this season. No, 100%. My friends hate me for like liking that liking the Cowboys, especially Dak.
00:32:09
Speaker
like I'm not a fan of the Cowboys, but I do like him. Contrary to popular belief, I like him. I know everyone else hates them, but do like him. Dak, even more so. I really like Dak, and he gets yeah get hey purely because he is the Cowboys quarterback.
00:32:28
Speaker
And I just remember, I'm trying to remember how many, was it maybe three, four years ago? Was it three years ago, four years ago when Dak was, again, another MVP? Yeah, it was three, I think, years ago he was up there. light was going be like he's people People could keep forgetting he is that guy.
00:32:44
Speaker
ah he can't he has it in his arsenal. He can't do it. There's a reason and got paid as much as he did as well. like i know That's another reason why people hate on him. but Yeah. If you had him with a very... Then the argument is, can you have him with really good defense because he's paid so much? But yeah if they were wiser, they could.
00:33:03
Speaker
But them i think I think he's so good. And actually, my uncle like is always saying how he just does not like him at all. He's like, no, no. And I'm just like, no, he's he is solid. He is very good quarterbacking.
00:33:16
Speaker
No, he's i like, what's saying, he's putting up all these numbers. Like you said, he's been without CD for, is it two games though? Two or three games? Two games? Yeah, two and a half. Well, actually the first game that he was ruled out of, he only like ran one route and he didn't catch the ball. So it was basically three games this point. Essentially three. And i George Pickens has stepped up a little bit.
00:33:37
Speaker
I mean, Javante Williams, you know, je Jalen Tolbert's been good. Kevontae Turpin, of obviously he can do it Javonte Williams has been like a shock for me.
00:33:49
Speaker
mean i I remember his first year of the Broncos, I knew he's got something about him and then it just kind of went downhill for him. This is like this resurgence. I mean I think this is another reason why this Cowboys team kind of still in the fight for half of them.
00:34:07
Speaker
Like that that Giants game, where there was a third and extremely long, that like like a third and 26, and I think it was either in overtime, just before overtime, and they went they went with a run play, and Javante Williams could have been stopped behind the line scrimmage, didn't, and made up all the odds. And I was like, this guy is a completely different person.
00:34:33
Speaker
tar But yeah, just before you go on there, third and 26 against the Giants is essentially like second and two. So, you know, if you ah get a compilation of all Giants third and 15 plus this season, and it's just a clinic in how to call plays the most stupid way you possibly can.
00:34:54
Speaker
Even, okay, I'm not going to go off on a tangent, but how they set up the Cowboys for that Aubrey field goal at the end, they know he can kick it from that deep. And they literally had...
00:35:07
Speaker
I know why you know. Why did you even sign Paulson Adebo if you're going to be like, okay, you're a great man-to-man defender. like you are You're good. You're good when you're playing man, but you want to be touched tight to the player. Okay, what you're going to do is he's going to be there. you You stand, let's say, 26 yards off him, and then we'll we'll start it from there.
00:35:26
Speaker
Shane Owen needs to be fired into the sun. And we also want you, as soon as ball's out, don't meet him. Backpedal. You've got to cover the deep. We're running cardio out here. We're not actually playing coverage.
00:35:43
Speaker
But no, Dak is an excellent shout. He's one... Obviously, I've like... i've I'm just, I'm not, I don't know what the word is. but I can't, I'm indecisive. i have too many picks, but Dak was up there. was my second one after Baker, but no, about- That was your honourable mention.
00:36:05
Speaker
Wow. Wow. So basically, so whilst once I was looking into Puka's stats, I noticed this guy and I haven't been paying much attention to him or his team playing.
00:36:24
Speaker
Cause I didn't think first game of season, I thought the team were going to be more rush heavy and But no, this this guy's been nuts. So I have Jackson Smith and Jigpa oh because but i mean i've never I've never been like super high on him until now. like I realized, okay, I do not know ball. i've So just to put it into perspective here, okay?
00:36:49
Speaker
So he's 34 receptions on 43 targets. He's on receiving two touchdowns. He has, he's getting almost 15, more than 15 and a half yards per reception.
00:37:06
Speaker
Right. So jae so jack Jackson Smith that smith and Jigba only has 52 less yards than Pukunukua with 18 less receptions than him.
00:37:19
Speaker
i did not I did not know he was it was doing this. And a lot his passes as well are like only maybe five or seven yards beyond the the line of scrimmage because he is playing with Sam Darnold and yeah it's not really deep.
00:37:35
Speaker
like They're dialing up and every time he has the ball, yards after the catch must be insane. I don't have to stop but yeah i died i on the I just tweeted about him. Me and a rotating topic of the day on Twitter and I had him as laughter last weekend.
00:37:54
Speaker
I wanted to do him the week before and I was like, let's wait until he has the... And then the last end of the books, was like, should I, shouldn't I was like, no, i have to put it out now. Just watching him, he's so good.
00:38:04
Speaker
He's crazy. And i think I think what this year... With Jamar Chase and Justin Jefferson having you know a slower start to the year, nothing on them.
00:38:16
Speaker
like Nothing on them at all. It's just the situation they've been put in. like They're still there's still top receivers in the game, but when Joe Burrow goes down injured and the same with JJ McCarthy and you're rotating QBs, it's never going to work.
00:38:30
Speaker
But that's what that's how we're seeing like you know Jackson Smith and Puka really standing out. I didn't realize Chris Olave is also in like top five receptions within the year as well. And I had no idea that was going on.
00:38:46
Speaker
Like, we did the... So all these receivers, all these like mid-range receivers, suddenly their usage is going up but because of these top-end receivers not playing at the top of the game.
00:39:01
Speaker
That's why it was so sad when Neighbours went down as well because could legitimately have been the number one receiver in the league this season. And he was on like a really good pace and then yeah, just heartbreaking stuff. but I know, that was good.
00:39:17
Speaker
I think ah Smith and Jigba looks... And I looked... It was really good seeing him and Egbuka kind of... Basically, like, tail off on each other during that game. Just, like, one after the other, one after the other. And...
00:39:29
Speaker
to both Ohio State, I believe. So... Yeah. yeah that is That was really, really something special and good for both of them. And he's so young as well, considering what he's going into, like, his third year and he's like 22 or something like that.
00:39:43
Speaker
That's crazy. Yeah, he's young. So, yeah, I like that pick. So those are our shouts for MVP and
In-Depth Colts Playoff Contender Analysis
00:39:51
Speaker
underdog. Obviously, we already touched on the rushing aspect of the Colts game, which is something they rely on heavily. But...
00:39:57
Speaker
Another question I posed to you before this is articles for real. um So I think that luck in football kind of comes back around and that's the reason why they lost to the Rams because in that Rams game,
00:40:14
Speaker
they deserved to win. They actually deserved to win it. They were very, very good. And that showed me that they are for real because this Rams team is exceptional. The week before against the Broncos, they were really lucky to get the win. So I think that look kind of comes in ebbs and flows.
00:40:29
Speaker
So I think four and one is perfectly accurate for their level. And yeah, that Rams game was a real marker of that they are actually for real, for me anyways. Well, I mean, I i agree.
00:40:42
Speaker
I agree. I think they are. I mean, I think they're definitely for real. I think whilst I was doing my research on the Colts, I looked at the the teams, that's all in all. So I wasn't looking at like how many interceptions, how many tackles for us, whatever.
00:40:59
Speaker
So as an offense, they ah they have the fourth most passing yards in the NFL. Yeah. And that is, know, Daniel Jones isn't a gunslinger.
00:41:11
Speaker
So that is quite a stat that they are. that it like Like I said before, well-oiled machine, it is just constant. The eighth most rushing yard in the NFL.
00:41:23
Speaker
Still, again, top 10. Second most points per game. because because Yeah, I didn't know that. So that's second to to only the Lions, I think.
00:41:33
Speaker
It was crazy. and Also, third least amount of points conceded in the NFL. That's the important part. So this deep this defense is... I mean, i always knew...
00:41:47
Speaker
but The Colts were just that little bit away from making it. like The defense has always been legit. Jonathan Taylor has always been legit. i I mean, okay, Michael Pittman, I've never been that that high on.
00:42:01
Speaker
Josh Downs, I love. I love Josh Downs so much. And I think he benefited from Anthony Richardson because of the moon balls. Josh Downs just went. I mean, it's not Daniel Jones' game, so that's why he's not as productive. But I love Josh Downs.
00:42:18
Speaker
Alec Pearce is really good. Alec Pearce's game is kind of going deep, but Jones is connecting with nicely as well. So that's, yeah. I know. and know. but like He's been somewhat consistent, like not yeah really good and ah consistently really good, but he's been solid. like what What you need, you need that solid foundation anyway.
00:42:40
Speaker
like He's never never faltered. Warren, superb. So good. Superb. He's been really good. The offensive line, pretty good. They've always had a decent line as well.
00:42:55
Speaker
Exactly. So the team the team's always had these though key aspects, key elements in them. It's just needed that little bit. And how nuts is it that Daniel Jones, of all people, has...
00:43:11
Speaker
been that spark like it's not so that just shows that this team didn't even need like like a ah high round high round pick or high draft pick or like a josh allen to take them they just needed a guy who would just get the job done who just knew okay i don't have to be superman here if i just do the basics and do them right do them consistently then we can we can do this Like, it's it's crazy.
00:43:40
Speaker
Was there anything else here? fit Okay, this one's good. faith high turn Fifth turnover differential in the NFL, but plus five, okay? So they've only given the ball away three times this year.
00:43:54
Speaker
That is also like ah of like a stat. It's like an invisible stat. ah yeah You don't look at the giveaways much, but this team is just clinical. They are, to the book,
00:44:05
Speaker
clean and that's how you win games that's how the Chiefs won all those games last year where everyone was like voodoo magic I hate this it's because they were they were they were clean their special teams are doing the dirty work as well like this Colts team there's a lot of work going on be behind behind the scenes and it is really good i I love seeing it I love seeing like just football done right on a all aspects I always liked as well Daniel Jones at the Giants, I always thought that I wished he did succeed, but every time Andrew Thomas was getting injured, that was leading to his demise, I think, massively. yeah
00:44:44
Speaker
And that's big thing, because he's he's not he If he's comfortable, he makes decisions quickly, but on his in his essence, if he's uncomfortable, he's a very slow decision maker.
00:44:57
Speaker
And I think now that he has the time behind that line and he has almost like um if if there's ever an issue, just dump it off to Warren or dump it off to... and to eric to jonathan taylor and you're okay he knows that those two options are there a lot of the time the giants didn't have he didn't have the time first of all and second of all he didn't have those options because when saquon was there with him he was constantly getting injured if jones wasn't injured himself andrew thomas was injured and this is just a cleaner team that know how to play clean football as you've mentioned
00:45:30
Speaker
I think Shane Steichen is a very, very good coach. He can clearly coach up a quarterback who's even competent. like There's a lot of talk right now about is Jalen Hurts like that that good or is he just like average level? Does he need to have a good coordinator? And look, he had Kellen Moore, who was excellent, then he had Steichen before that.
00:45:50
Speaker
So what Steichen has done... With Jones, he's allowed him to get the ball out quickly, which is what he did with Hurts. Now he doesn't have the same rushing ability, but you have Taylor there, as we already talked about. So I think...
00:46:03
Speaker
the way he's coached this team and they're almost seeing Luan Arumau come as kind of an additional piece is something that maybe unlocked the defense because like he coached up probably a mid-level mid-level defense with the Bengals up to a team that reached the Super Bowl and their defense was good that year. it was, there was times that they were caught out, but nothing compared to how they were last season. and I know he was still the coach last season, but what he can do,
00:46:33
Speaker
when given the resources is very good. Like their rush defense is amazing. And that's so important. Games are won and lost in the trenches, only 98 yards per game allowed. So, yeah, with the schedule they have right now, is like it's hard to see where they stop.
00:46:50
Speaker
I mean, yeah, I mean, you're Italian right. You know, Cardo's next. Like that's the charges. lined up on offense Now the charges are a weird one. Yeah, the Chargers are a weird one.
00:47:02
Speaker
Titans after that.
00:47:06
Speaker
Steelers, that's at Pittsburgh. that I don't know. i mean The Steelers have... I don't know, they haven't been great. but I'm just thinking about i'm just thinking about the the... I think that's where Daniel Jones will get the pressure the most. yeah If out of all these games that's going to come up, that's where he's going to get pressure most. I think that's going to be his... Not make or break, but that's going to be... Okay, how yeah, the day go there you go. The test. how How can you deal in the pressure with TJ Watt?
00:47:38
Speaker
TJ Watt, Cam Hayward, Highsmith,
00:47:45
Speaker
or what's the other one? german There's a German one, I forget. There's a European one, it's superb as well. I forget. The Steelers players, I forget off the top of my head. But yeah, that that'll be a real test for him.
00:47:56
Speaker
Then the Falcons, then the Chiefs. like we've listen I've listed all these teams and it's looking good for them, me especially in... you know In the division they're in, I know Jacksonville is doing superb, but then it's Houston and Tennessee.
00:48:10
Speaker
It looks like there's a fall-off coming for Jacksonville as well, whereas with the Colts, it looks like it's it's more steady. I know Jacksonville, they were much more impressive against the Chiefs, but I thought in their earlier games, it was down to a lot of luck.
00:48:23
Speaker
But then you look at the Colts, and yeah I know the Raiders have been poor, but to beat a Pete Carroll-led team 40-6, you have to be good. you have to know what you're doing. yeah For me as well, another big test will be playing the Texans.
00:48:37
Speaker
That's where he'll come under severe pressure if you have Will Anderson coming off one side and um gone off the top my head. if One of the best Daniel Hunter. One of the best editors in the game.
00:48:51
Speaker
yeah So I think Those are definitely big tests for Jones because, as I said, he's he finds it hard to make decisions when he's under pressure. But if they have enough kind of automisations in his mind already, this is what I do in this situation, this is what I do here, I know I'm okay behind this line, then he might be okay when he comes to those games. But I agree that the Steelers is a big test because of that.
00:49:17
Speaker
And then, obviously, the Texans as well, u but I think probably... If they are on their day, probably the best defense in the league for me, if not the Seahawks. They're kind of a toss-up for me right now. Sorry, it's not going to be much important to what I say now, but I have to just say it because it's been on my mind for a while.
00:49:39
Speaker
I've watched the defense for the Colts play a couple of times, and I've seen loads of times where Liatu Latu has actually been in coverage or is it zone coverage which means they are you that in my head I'm thinking okay that means they've got more zone blitzes more fire blitzes going on which is you they're going to rush one side that means Laiotu could drop back in this other one and that's why he's dropping in the little pocket where the QB is getting rushed one side so he's going to look this way straight away okay i'm just going dump it off and he's like a hawk waiting for that think
00:50:17
Speaker
yeah I think you you are completely right with the defense. of that They just needed that one addition and just a different mindset. like and I'm looking at the the draft they had as well. JT Tuumala as well was another good pick.
00:50:35
Speaker
But there's no like outstanding defensive players they've added in. then they they also Didn't Chavez Ward leave as well? and he Yeah, he went. Did he leave since he's got there? Like, I know he just went there this season.
00:50:50
Speaker
I'm sure he... Oh, did he get there? Have i messed that up I messed it up? i thought he I thought he just went there from the Niners. Okay, okay, my bad. I just remember the name. e but of Anyway, yeah ignore my my lack of ball knowledge. But basically, that there hasn't been like big movements in defense.
00:51:10
Speaker
it's it's It's roughly the same people they had last year. It's just different concept. it's It's just crazy how... a different concept considering how many things you can do on defense.
00:51:25
Speaker
I, there's only so many looks you could give so many, you know, fronts and coverages. There's only, there's only like a handful of coverages you can actually do. So it's nuts how just a different mindset, different way of looking at it.
00:51:39
Speaker
but leads them to now being the yeah but conceding the well the third best team conceding the least amount of points and then also the fact that your offense is not constantly giving up bad field position and allowing the other team to come back into it so that plays into it too like if you're just clinical on both sides So, yeah, I do think they're
NBA Team Outlooks
00:52:01
Speaker
definitely for real. um And I think you'd agree.
00:52:03
Speaker
and We both kind of come to that. so i think And they're one that I don't think I see a fall off coming this season. So I think they'll make the playoffs. No. I think they will at this point. But it's been a pleasure having you on again. As I said earlier at the start, thank you for coming on at this ungodly hour.
00:52:20
Speaker
No, thank you very much. And we'll surely have you on again. But I appreciate it, man. No, thank you very much, man. Thank you. very I love love talking ball. i love talking to you. So no, this is this is my my pleasure. like this is This is great. Thank you very appreciate man. Talk you again soon. So Ganshan's continued last week. Shane got the only point of the week.
00:52:40
Speaker
So it was 2-2. We're at 3-2 now. He had the jammiest win of all time with the Titans taking down the Cardinals. If you haven't watched that game, just go back and watch the highlights. It's probably the worst loss I've ever seen by the Cardinals. Like,
00:52:55
Speaker
Just unforced errors. and The Titans just did not force them into making mistakes. Dropping the ball around into the end zone. A snap straight off Kyler Murray's face mask.
00:53:06
Speaker
That led to a fumble or a recovery by the Titans. Another ball they intercepted. Took three steps to secure the interception. Fell down. dropped the ball, two people slapped it off the Cardinals, and it ends up in the end zone where the Titans pick it up and get a touchdown. I honestly couldn't believe it.
00:53:22
Speaker
And I thought the Browns were going to get one for me, but unfortunately not. that They surrendered late to the Vikings. So I'll go through my picks first. So what I've gone with here this week is the 49ers to take down the Bucs.
00:53:37
Speaker
They are away from home. And although I do really like the Bucs this season, They've been winning games very late on and they've been kind of pushing their luck at times.
00:53:47
Speaker
I find Baker has thrown a lot of passes that could be intercepted, which like I mentioned earlier when we talked about the MVP conversation. But I do think that the Niners might take advantage and win a very close game here, maybe by three points.
00:54:02
Speaker
So they're 27 to 20. So I went with them as my first pick. I've gone back to the Browns. Probably shouldn't be going back to back to the Browns, but I just think that Divisional games are very strange, especially in the AFC North. It's hard to know.
00:54:15
Speaker
And I just still am not certain on the Steelers. They'll probably come out and win this by three or four points, just like scraping it by. But I do think that the Browns defense is very, very good.
00:54:26
Speaker
And Dylan Gabriel probably be a little bit more settled into the offense. But look... It's a very tough place to go and play in Pittsburgh. So this one, i will i I really wanted to take the Seahawks instead, but the Seahawks were just evens and then they went, both teams are actually odds on. So it wasn't exactly something that would have fit in the criteria here. So that was my second pick.
00:54:49
Speaker
And then my third pick was the Saints. They're playing the Patriots. They're at home. I still think the Saints are pretty solid this year and they're 8-5 to win this game. I think taking them against the spread is probably smarter thing to do. Similarly to the Browns and similarly to the Niners. I wouldn't mind taking all these three against the spread or with the spread because I think all these games are going to be close. And I think the Saints might take this one later on because the Patriots can make mistakes and the Saints defense isn't and the worst in the league that can cause turnovers like they did to the Giants last week.
00:55:23
Speaker
So put the three of them together and that's 18 and a half to one. So those are my three picks. And then Shane, and first of all, of course, he went with the Jets to beat the Broncos. What he said, the Jets were 11 to four. What he said with that is, look, they have to win eventually and it's a bloody tough week to pick. So,
00:55:41
Speaker
Yeah, I agree with that. And also the game is in London, which can cause it to be strange. It was either going to be the Jets or the Browns as my pick to slot in instead of the Seahawks, who I did have penciled in before the odds changed.
00:55:53
Speaker
And I just thought that the game, something, it's one of the games that's weird, like a divisional game or a London game. could go either way. Then second up he has the Ravens at 11-4 also to somehow beat the Rams he says.
00:56:06
Speaker
He says it'll be a close one but i just think the Ravens have to stop this run at some point and they may catch the Rams cold. I find it hard to agree with that one because I'm very high on the Rams this season. I feel like they've been caught cold twice already this season.
00:56:19
Speaker
And I think they're really going to try eliminate any easily silly mistakes. So I feel like the Rams will run away with this one. But he's gone with the Ravens. And then he's also gone with the Niners, the same as me, to beat the Bucs.
00:56:30
Speaker
He said he can't believe there is a favour for this game, which is probably just down to the 49ers injuries so far this season. But at the same time, I agree that... I think these teams are fairly evenly matched across the board and I feel like the Bucks may become a team that gets knocked off here in this one.
00:56:50
Speaker
All right, so we've got Michael back for the and NBA section once again. Trusty, Michael comes in clutch. Shane is not around. So we're going to go through three and NBA teams once again, preview them. Michael, you know the crack with this you've been on before for this segment.
00:57:06
Speaker
What's the crack with you? How are you? I'm all good. How are you? I'm struggling to get by in our fantasy league, but you know, ala I'll take to two and three, five weeks in.
00:57:19
Speaker
Yeah, your first time doing NFL fantasy, right? Yeah, it's my first time. I'm enjoying it. I haven't been hit by the injury bug yet, so i'm fingers crossed we keep it that way.
00:57:30
Speaker
Yeah, I've been absolutely destroyed by that myself. losing neighbors James Conner, CeeDee Lamb for like three four weeks as well so look that's the way the cookie crumbles in this but we're gonna get on to that NBA fantasy too of course but let's get straight into the first team so we're gonna do the Spurs first we haven't many teams left at this stage but we'll start with the Spurs and I'll throw the first question to you where do they need to improve most from last season i
00:58:02
Speaker
Well, one of the things watching the Spurs I felt like they need to improve was probably their frontcourt, which I think they addressed pretty well this offseason, adding Luke Cornett and Kelly Olenek.
00:58:14
Speaker
But the bigger thing was shooting. And I feel like there's still a lot of questions on shooting. Um, now I'm on percent sure they're betting on Soshan, Vassell or Harper to come in and one of them to be, you know, at least an average three point shooter in their first, in, in this first year, kind of beginning to contend for a playoff, uh, picture, but,
00:58:44
Speaker
I think there's a point three months in where we're going, oh, we still don't really have that much three-point shooting. And Wemby is now shooting like still 14 three points game now.
00:58:58
Speaker
I don't know. He might reach Nirvana and start chucking half-court shots every possession book. Yeah, I don't know. i think they could struggle with that too. I feel like at that point, it would be a too early thing to say, but they could say, we should have traded back and just taken Trey Johnson or something, and then you've got your volume shooter and probably more assets. Yeah.
00:59:23
Speaker
But I think out outside of that, for me, i went with that last year. They were quite shaky defensively and the non-Wemby minutes. Now, obviously him not being around for a lot of time last season, like played an effect on it, but It's not something you would associate really with a Spurs team being like poor defensively.
00:59:44
Speaker
Last season, they allowed 116.7 points per game. It's very high. and Obviously, Wemby, again, missed like pretty much half of the season, so that does feed into that. But in general, they probably need to shore up a little bit with him not on the court um defensively, or else...
01:00:03
Speaker
you know they don't want to rely on him too much across the board to do everything offensively and defensively. So that's something they need to work on, I think, as a team. Looking at someone who's under the radar, then I'm going to go first because you just mentioned Luke Cornett.
01:00:20
Speaker
He's somebody that I've got. I think he's a valuable backup for Wemby. He's played in a winning team already. In Boston's championship season, he gave 15 minutes per game during the regular season, five points, four boards, and a block um on average across those games. So he he is a good piece and somebody that they can probably rely on and that he's not going to mentor Wemby or anything like that.
01:00:46
Speaker
He's not that kind of a guy, but he's somebody that at least they can rely on in the minutes that Wemby's not on the floor.
01:00:53
Speaker
Yeah, i I was kind of... I love that rookie that they've they've drafted. The defense one is a Carter Bryant. But for a defensive rookies who can't really shoot well, they never do fantastic in their first few years in the league.
01:01:11
Speaker
Yeah, hard to get into this group. You know, after watching that preseason as well, I'm all in on the Luke Krennet train. ah Oh, my God. And then every every stat i I look up seems to just support it. Like, he's one of the most efficient finishers at the rim in the league.
01:01:31
Speaker
he's He's one of the the best ah offensive rebounders. I mean, he gives you great defense as a backup big. And like you said, he's he's coming from the Celtics.
01:01:43
Speaker
He's got that championship pedigree. He's a vet that's respected. i think like I think this is probably going to be his highest points per game average. hit The minutes with him and Wemby there, and they're doing a high pick and roll, and two seven-footers passing it into each other, how are you going intercept that?
01:02:04
Speaker
Yeah, I think it could be a recipe for success for them. I think they were smart to bring him in because... Like, their roster is pretty nice. I know we talked about already their backcourt, like you mentioned, but in general, they have options at least there.
01:02:19
Speaker
Now, let's see what they do with them. But this is something that they kind of needed something else. So I feel like they did the right thing by bringing him in. And it's interesting we both picked him. So watch him just absolutely flame out now after we both picked him for this. But...
01:02:33
Speaker
um but I think the books think they're going to be pretty good. So 43 and a half wins is what they they've projected. They had 34 last season.
01:02:45
Speaker
So where do you put them? I, I think, I think the books have it exactly spot on. If it was 41, I'd go over, but like, I'm so worried about the lack of three point shooting. Now,
01:03:02
Speaker
for the record, I think if it's that bad, they have so many assets. They're going to trade something and get a guaranteed three-point shooter halfway through if they really want to make a push. But...
01:03:15
Speaker
Ooh, I'm going to go over. I'm going believe in Wemby being healthy for the full season, 70% of the season. Take me on that center injury copio.
01:03:29
Speaker
But i think i think I'm going to go over. I'm going to they could hit 46%. estimate they hit like forty six Yeah, i I'm kind of like on the same boat as you. that I thought the line was just like so solid.
01:03:46
Speaker
I was swaying either way for a bit. But then was just thinking about some of the others that I've chosen throughout the West. And there's so many good teams that I feel like a 10 win jump, even with a lot more games from Wemby, is still a lot to ask.
01:04:02
Speaker
So I'm going to go with that they'll get just under like 42 or 43. Mostly because I, not that I don't think there's a really good team there, just like I can't pick every team to go over in the West because, or every decent team to go over in the West, I guess, when they have a decent enough margin. But their wins are going to have to come from somewhere and there's a lot more strong teams out there this season too.
01:04:28
Speaker
So, but I do think the line is very well set and it's not something that I would be putting my money on either way because it could sway either way, definitely. Then looking at the ceiling with the current roster and coach for the season ahead.
01:04:40
Speaker
What I went with here is an absolute push. I think the best they could do here is the second round of the playoffs. I think they could win playoff series. I think they'll get their feet under the table.
01:04:53
Speaker
but Just having Wemby to get his first playoff success, this team's ideas, I find it hard to see that they go beyond that so early on in the project.
01:05:06
Speaker
So i think that that's as far as I can really be willing to put them. Yeah, that maybe this is also a bit counterintuitive after just going over on the Spurs. I think they're first-round exit.
01:05:20
Speaker
I think...
01:05:23
Speaker
At a max. With the current roster at the coach, they're so flawed. Now, I said coach, but like obviously coach doesn't really change much. But they're so flawed, I think they're not going to be over seed if they go into the playoffs.
01:05:41
Speaker
And then on top of that, they're going to be playing against much better roster with probably a more experienced coach that's going to be able to dissect. I think it's a first-round exit at max.
01:05:52
Speaker
I think saying play-in is a bit too mean. They definitely can be a 7-seed. But but i I think unless Wemby averages like 46-10-10 in the first round of the playoff. He really could do that though. he really could. We're blunts as a second 10. But yeah, I'm going to keep it at first round exit.
01:06:18
Speaker
Yeah, i thought it's hard in the West. I think there's not many teams really you could see winning a playoff series. They're like on the cusp of that for me. Now, when we do our full season and preview, we'll we'll go through where we think everyone is going to get to.
01:06:33
Speaker
And yeah, I don't think real really they're going to go too far this early, but I think it could be a positive if they managed to get across one series. I think they did really bite your hand off for that at this stage.
01:06:45
Speaker
Then moving on to something completely different, the Phoenix Suns.
01:06:51
Speaker
Where do need to improve most from last season? Where did you go with this? They should fire Matt Ishbia out of a cannon. oh
01:07:04
Speaker
The one thing that everyone was talking about, playmaking. Now, have they addressed it?
01:07:13
Speaker
I don't know. But I think everybody could understand that that team... Now, they brought in Tyus Jones. I'm almost 100% sure. And that didn't really change much.
01:07:27
Speaker
Oh, last year. we'll see. her and Yeah, last year. we'll see if they believe in Ryan Dunn a bit more. Jalen Green, if maybe he can start being efficient passing the ball.
01:07:41
Speaker
I think... I think... It's just very obvious where they need to improve. And instead of going for surefire fix, they've went like high risk, high reward.
01:07:54
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. agree with that. I think it's hard. It's hard to see this working for me in any way. Like that backcourt of Green and Booker, like Booker is an exceptional player, but like that just doesn't work. That just does not work. yeah,
01:08:12
Speaker
Yeah, for me, I went with not sure where they go from here in general, but better center play would be very helpful. Right now, they have enough options like to make that a thing.
01:08:26
Speaker
like But at the same time, like Richards and Williams, when they were together with the Hornets, weren't exactly ah reliable players. center partnership or center rotation and then you take Malawatch who's probably going to take some time to adjust to league so you say like throwing off at the wall and something is going to stick but really is it?
01:08:48
Speaker
i'm not I'm not sold on it yet I feel like they did the right thing in bringing in some guys but maybe they would have been better off just focusing on somebody who they actually believed in or who fit into their system because like Mark Williams is not exactly going to be suited to the way that Jalen Green if for example is going to set him up like he's not going to throw lobs you're not going to see Booker throwing lobs at the centre much so yeah I don't know I'm not really sure but that is something that they needed to improve on so at least they took a stab at it and let's see how it actually looks when the season starts rolling yeah
01:09:25
Speaker
I think under the radar players then. I'm going to go again first because you already mentioned the name here and I've gone with Ryan Dunne. I think he was okay last season. He was like on a really bad team. At least they could look to him as a positive.
01:09:40
Speaker
Picking him up late in the first round and how at least he gave some production for them and You know, he plays hard, at least you can say that, because there's not a lot of players on the team that they could have said that about last year. Playing 19 minutes a game is pretty good as well for your first year.
01:09:56
Speaker
um Seven points per game, three and a half boards. He's handsy enough on defense. I think we'll see maybe a little bit more of him. i don't know. I don't know what what they do here. Like, where do they fit him into this lineup?
01:10:09
Speaker
Because if you're going to have Green and Booker, he's a little bit small to be playing as a forward, unless... They play two bigs because they have enough bigs, but then which two do you play because they don't really work together? And Irland Brooks is still floating around.
01:10:26
Speaker
Yeah, they have a lot of problems here, but I'm going with him as something at least they could hopefully look to work a bit. Yeah. No, I definitely think you look at this roster and...
01:10:40
Speaker
There's not that much to be excited about. I feel like there's too many question marks everywhere. And it could... I mean... If you were going to kind of rebuild, this is kind of the way. There's a universe here where Jalen Green, you know, the Phoenix Suns were one of the you lowest teams in terms of drives last year, but one of the highest in terms of passes.
01:11:06
Speaker
So they're just passing around the perimeter. You hope Jalen Green comes in and drives a whole ton and kind of fixes that problem. But he's never been good at passing out of that.
01:11:17
Speaker
Mm-hmm. So does that really fix the problem? And i mean, even Ryan Dunn, I think personally, i really struggle to see where he has the opportunity to make a step in this.
01:11:37
Speaker
in this team and and for that i'm just gonna say dylan brooks and not because i super enjoy him or because i'm a huge fan he kind of annoys me to be honest but i think there's going to be enough like chaos that he can just thrive in that.
01:12:01
Speaker
And that's kind of what was happening in the Grizzlies as well. When they were like this up and coming team and they were tough and they were just challenging every other team. He was thriving in that chaos and talking his talk and doing all his antics.
01:12:16
Speaker
I think there's enough of that here where we're going to see him get in someone's face and you're going to look at the plot. You're going to look at the scoreboard and they're down 17 and you're kind of like, okay, Pop off Dylan Brooks you've got 20 in this game but it doesn't really matter.
01:12:33
Speaker
Yeah I know like that's the that scenario is something that you can pretty much nail on is going to happen this season that he's just probably against like a Warriors or something and he's just like yapping and then Draymond hits him with like look at the scoreboard bro.
01:12:49
Speaker
And then it's just like clipped everywhere. But yeah, at least he brings a bit of fire because it was hard to see where they were getting that from at times last season. And the bookies have responded in kind to this kind of the negativity that we've spoken about. They had 36 wins last year.
01:13:05
Speaker
The line is down to 31 and a half. Last year, KD played 62, Booker played 75, and they got 36. It's hard to see how they improve now with Jalen Green and probably a pretty poor forward rotation, you could say.
01:13:22
Speaker
But I still think they get low 30s. I don't think they bottom out. And I could see them just like scraping 32. So I'm just going to call it over here, even though it's another one I would not be putting my money on.
01:13:35
Speaker
and But I just think they might scrape over. What did you have? I, you know, I can't see them bottoming out, like you said.
01:13:47
Speaker
But you kind of look at this team and... There's not really many teams you'd book them in to beat, but I think on like second back-to-back or something, you just get this whole team, half of the rotation, it feels like, are rookies.
01:14:07
Speaker
They're just going to run everywhere, you hope. I mean,
01:14:15
Speaker
i would go over by like two games. Yeah, I think that is that's my my thought process. Yeah, it's like if they can catch out some of these like higher teams on like where they think they've got a break before they they go over to, you know, Golden State or or or something else, you know, and they're not thinking about the Suns 4 and 15 Phoenix Suns, you know, like...
01:14:50
Speaker
Yeah, I think so. I agree with you. I think like two wins over that mark is probably, it's probably a ceiling as well, which is interesting. I think, but i like an absolute ceiling, like if everything broke their way, things work out and some other teams have some kind of mishaps I have their ceiling as like reaching the play in places and if they could win out in the play and they're just going to get waxed in the first round by whoever they play and so that's like an absolute push that they just basically get waxed in the first round of the playoffs but it would be
01:15:24
Speaker
I think it's fairly unlikely they even make the play-in, but I think if they made it through the play-in, the NBA media is going to be talking up Booker, like he's going to take this team, he's going to take them, he's going to take down a big dog here, and then they're just going to get slammed like 4-0.
01:15:39
Speaker
So I could really see that that is the script already in front of my eyes. What did you have as the receiver? you're you're already kind starting to see it. People are talking about Jalen Green saying like he was the, he was one of the top scorers on a team that scored 50 wins. And it's like,
01:15:59
Speaker
Yeah, but if anyone looked at the games, you could see that he was... he like They definitely did need volume scoring, but like yeah not nobody thought that he was irreplaceable.
01:16:13
Speaker
Nobody. And he was getting benched in four quarters and all of this. like I think, therere again, there is a scenario where you pointed out a good point that I never thought about, which is who's going to throw Mark Williams a lob.
01:16:31
Speaker
There's nobody on this roster that I would immediately say could throw him a lob if I asked him to right now. like Bring back Tyus Jones.
01:16:42
Speaker
In an ideal world. Jalen Green clicks, Mark Williams doesn't get injured, and they're 9-10 seed in the play-in.
01:16:54
Speaker
Like, that's it. Exactly like you said, play-in and... If they got one win in the play-in and then lost the second, that's that's a huge plus for me as a team.
01:17:07
Speaker
That's like what we're aiming for is to flame out in the second round of the play-in tournament. That's just a sad existence for a team that was in the finals, what, like four years ago now at this point?
01:17:20
Speaker
I'd also like to shout out Royce O'Neal is still on this roster. I could not believe that. one i was look And he's played pretty nicely as well compared to some of the other guys on this roster. And he has, what, like three, two more years left after this?
01:17:34
Speaker
I was like, wow. He does nothing for this. He's not going to play. like I mean, if you're giving him the minutes over Ryan Dunn, then you need to literally be checked because this is...
01:17:49
Speaker
Yeah, I don't even know why he was...
Grizzlies' Adaptation Post-Desmond Bain
01:17:51
Speaker
I was swore he was gone, and then I looked at their roster before this, and I was like, okay, there's somebody I'm not mentioning, but he's there. So let's let's move on then to our last team.
01:18:07
Speaker
Arguably, between them and the Spurs, maybe the best team we've talked about. The Grizzlies, the Memphis Grizzlies, and if you want to look at them in a and a positive light. For me, where they need to improve most from last season, and I answered this in a way that was, let's see how they adapt to the loss of Desmond Bain.
01:18:25
Speaker
I think number one priority is is how they adapt to that. What way will they go with the lineup? It's hard to tell. Do you see Ty Jerome starting there? Or do we see Pippen Jr. start as a second ball handler next to Ja?
01:18:39
Speaker
What way are they going to go about this? That's a big question mark. And that's not necessarily something they need to improve on, but it's something they need to plan and take into account going into this season.
01:18:51
Speaker
Yeah, i almost like I have the exact same thing. And I think that's not I'd like to hope that's not bad hosting.
01:19:01
Speaker
I just think the loss of Desmond Bain is so huge for the Grizzlies. And like, I love the Grizzlies. I thought they were fun.
01:19:12
Speaker
I thought they were fun for the last two years. You know, even the year that that everybody got injured, loved watching Gigi Jackson. But The one important thing is that volume scoring underneath that on their on their whiteboard is one name, and that's Desmond Bain.
01:19:30
Speaker
In big games, Desmond Bain is going to hit. In blowouts, Desmond Bain is still hitting. In blowouts where they're winning, Desmond Bain has been hitting.
01:19:41
Speaker
He has been 20 points per game, constant, efficient, three-point shooter. Yeah. that Ja Morant goes out and he just says, okay, I'm just going to average eight more points per game for you guys.
01:19:55
Speaker
He's not there any anymore. If John Morant goes down, you we fully trust JJJ to take on that responsibility? Do we look at Ty Jerome and say, that's okay, we have Ty Jerome, the guy who just flamed out of the playoffs.
01:20:13
Speaker
and know. It's a lot of question marks that the one guy I feel like I would have never traded away was traded. Maybe they believe in KCP more than me.
01:20:27
Speaker
Yeah, that's another thing that I use i was like, there's some people who you like look through their rosters before you prepare for these episodes. And I was like, KCP, was like, I don't even know how to talk about him in in this Memphis team. So i was like, let's look outside of him.
01:20:42
Speaker
But then again, they paid him quite a lot. So he's probably going to play quite a lot. And that worries me because like you mentioned, Ty Jerome, That was a bit, and he lost himself so much money in the playoff performance and he was excellent. the The way you described the way that Bain was playing, scoring, if you're in a close game, he'll volume score. If you're in a a blowout, he'll volume. That's what he was doing. Ty Jerome was doing last season in the regular season.
01:21:10
Speaker
And then you can see maybe that vision, but the playoff performance is really worrying. And so he's a confidence guy too. So hopefully he doesn't take that into this season. Who did you have as your player under the radar that you like for the team?
01:21:24
Speaker
Player under the radar that I like for the team. I... didn't know. i got glimpses of Jock Landale and I was kind of like, that's interesting.
01:21:39
Speaker
But honestly, i really like Santi Aldama.
01:21:46
Speaker
I think he could have a really good year. i like That sounds so strange. But watching him last year, yeah, watching him last year, was like, oh, I understand.
01:22:02
Speaker
And he had this whole like online fan base that kind of woke me up. But But he seems like solid option. And if Jaron Jackson Jr. likes to space out as much as he does, he seems like a solid option to have underneath. I'm not saying that he's going to come out and and be unbeatable.
01:22:25
Speaker
But I think you're looking at someone who could be Luke Cornett in impact minutes, yeah in a sense, for this Grizzlies. I like he's better than that. He has a higher ceiling than Cornett ever is however does. Yeah.
01:22:40
Speaker
Well, I mean, in terms of like Luke Gronett last year was coming on and how you expect him to play this year for the Spurs, that like he does have an impact on the floor when he comes in. He's not plus minus box minus zero, just an empty, you know, 12. Like every Sixers backup center for the last 10 years.
01:23:02
Speaker
um we've been subject to that. Adam Bona is on the way in. Okay, guy. He looks pretty good. And he had a good Euro basket as well. So let's, let's cling on to that as Sixers fans.
01:23:15
Speaker
My under the radar player was Scotty Pippen Jr. I think he's on like a superb contract. He's like, I think he's earning 7.5 million over the next three seasons combined.
01:23:29
Speaker
That is crazy. Considering if you look at how much KCP is getting paid and, Royce O'Neill, as we already mentioned, is getting more than that just this season alone. 21 starts last season, 79 total appearances, was consistent in the team, 10 points per game, over three boards, over four assists, 1.3 steals per game too, which is important for this team because they want to be difficult to play against and he adds to that.
01:23:54
Speaker
He contributes on defense, plays hard every minute he's on the floor. He's just very like Grizzlies. He's exactly what they want. And I think if he can keep up what he had, his his level of three-point shooting, but at a higher clip, like if he had more shots and he continued to be around that 40%,
01:24:12
Speaker
I think that would be very beneficial for the team. And I like that he got at least a bit of a taste of pla playoff basketball this year because I know they lost like the last four games, but he played very well in those games.
01:24:24
Speaker
and So I think that would stand to him too. No, I definitely think I was thinking about Scottie Pippen Jr. as well. But I had a feeling, I mean, no one was picking Ty Jerome or Jammerant or Zach Eadie.
01:24:37
Speaker
so And I feel like the Gigi Jackson hype has has faded away. So I said, let me go out there with this Santi Aldama. Yeah, actually, it was between the two of them for me too.
01:24:48
Speaker
So I'm glad we went opposite ways there. Then their wins has taken a nosedive from last year. They had 48. It's at 40.5 right now.
01:24:59
Speaker
I think it's a bit low,
Grizzlies' Season Projections
01:25:01
Speaker
to be honest. I think... I know that they lost Spain, but if Pippen takes a little bit of a jump, adding Jerome... I think between the two of them, they can contribute in a way that Bain would have, now maybe not to the same level, but they can fill the gap that's not seven wins lower.
01:25:20
Speaker
I think some good young pieces and... It's really interesting the way that you were putting some of the young Suns guys in. You said like they could go out there and win games just by running around and playing hard.
01:25:32
Speaker
That's literally something I wrote for the Grizzlies. I said they're going to win games they have no right to win with their young pieces and the talent that they have. So I think they're a team I want to watch a lot this season and I'm going to go with between 42 and 45 wins.
01:25:46
Speaker
So definitely clearing the over here. Okay, that's really interesting because I look at this team and 40.5 wins so but...
01:25:58
Speaker
seems so low but You look at this team, and i think I think the thing is, especially the last two years, if you don't if you imagine injuries don't exist, I think a lot of people would say that the Grizzlies had one of the more more like talented rosters in terms of like potential.
01:26:20
Speaker
yeah i think that year when everyone was out, they kind of got to play a ton of younger guys and see who has you know the chances of being able to stay at this level. I look at this team and I don't know if I feel like coaching change might need to be made or stylistic change. I think Jamarant coming back and how uninspiring they were last year is a really worrying sign for me.
01:26:52
Speaker
I think there's also the bet that he gets injured. And it's not like... I know I'm about to go under on this team because of injury potential after going overs on the Sixers my whole life.
01:27:08
Speaker
But when Ja Morant is on the floor, he is not you are not worried about him scoring 40 points a game. You're not worried about him giving you 15 to 20 assists.
01:27:22
Speaker
He's going to give you his Ja Morant game. And it's a like it's it feels consistent enough, and he might have games where he goes off, but I feel like the difference between Embiid for half the season and Jammerant for half the season, yeah the Grizzlies would take Embiid immediately. And because of that, I'm just going to have to go under.
01:27:45
Speaker
I just have to bank on the fact that he's going to go up for a dunk and come down awkward, or something's going to happen halfway through. Yeah, it's more likely than not considering what we've watched.
01:27:58
Speaker
and But again, it's funny saying that considering we both went with the Sixers over, but I think the Sixers won in a weakened East as well as plays a massive part too.
01:28:09
Speaker
So last question then of the day, we've got what's the ceiling for this team with the current roster and coach for the season ahead? What did you go with? Hmm.
01:28:22
Speaker
It It's really tough because they're definitely you definitely bank on them more. ah You definitely believe in them either at the same or a little bit below the spurs, depending on how high you are on the spurs.
01:28:40
Speaker
And yet, I felt so much more confident... with the Spurs first round than I do saying Grizzlies first round. Like, I kind of feel like it might be...
01:28:57
Speaker
i mean, i don't want to say first round exit, but like... Yeah, like a seven-game first-round exit. I think that's the ceiling, honestly. oh i actually... I matched what I said about the the Spurs and that they could get to the second round.
01:29:14
Speaker
I just think of Ja and... um Jaron Jackson really do take a hold of the team and make it theirs beyond any doubt going into the future. And if Jaslo has kind of a chance right now to put his spin on things and prove that what he did in Europe can translate to the NBA, think it's a big season for all three of those guys. And I'm actually more confident in saying that they can get to the second round than I am in the Spurs.
01:29:42
Speaker
Honestly, i just what we've seen from the Grizzlies for a number of years, And who's to say that Wemby might not can consistently have the same type of injury look as Ja. So I would rather put my chips into Memphis right now, just given the track record of solid play when their stars are available.
01:30:03
Speaker
I don't know. I just don't believe in them as much as I feel like KCP is such an eyesore on that team. Yeah, that's the one thing that I kept deterring from them. It's like, you can't really... How many minutes is he going to play?
01:30:20
Speaker
And also, i don't know if he's the vet you want to bring in. I don't know if he's the like the guy bringing in the championship pedigree.
01:30:31
Speaker
you know I it seems not after last season but like it's hard to see how gives a strong benefit to this team but obviously they're looking from previous seasons what he offered Yeah, i think I think right now, especially with like what like you said, we'll see how they play this coming season stylistically. And if they look a little bit less like separate players on a court and more like a team.
01:31:04
Speaker
Yeah. But i I don't really feel that comfortable like sliding them into round two.
01:31:15
Speaker
It just feels like this is going to be another grisly season from the last four years where it's just, oh my god, we have all this energy and then first round exit.
01:31:26
Speaker
Yeah, I think I'm looking at others like the best that they could do. So I think that's my my highest I'm willing to go with them, but I see the reasons why you're skeptical about it as well.
01:31:39
Speaker
They're a hard team to measure right now. I think we'll know a lot more like a month into the season, as we will about a lot of teams, but they especially them. But I know you have to skedaddle. I don't know why I said that like a 40-year-old guy.
01:31:55
Speaker
So I'm going to let you hit the road, champ. But I really appreciate having you I really appreciate you coming on. Just completely lost the ability to speak here at the end. But once again, was a pleasure. And believe we're going to have you on for the and NBA season full preview episode. So looking forward to that in a couple of weeks. And thank you once again for taking the time out and joining us.
01:32:20
Speaker
Perfect. Thank you so much. I always i always love love getting the text that I'm needed. i'll start I'll start preparing my costume for for for the full season preview little brown this weekend.
01:32:32
Speaker
Don't worry. I'm going bald for it. It's going to be great.
01:32:38
Speaker
Nice to work, thank you.
Current Sports Power Rankings
01:32:40
Speaker
Okay, so just to wrap up then, an update on our power rankings. So last week, I'll go through mine first. Last week I had the Eagles, Palace, the Bills, Liverpool, Lions and Arsenal as my top six.
01:32:53
Speaker
A lot of change i'm heading into this week. So I've got the Lions now sitting atop the perch. I think they've been superb after that first week. Really were caught cold by the Packers and they...
01:33:06
Speaker
The Packers played very well in that game and took down the Lions. They knew exactly what they had to do. They were well prepared. But since then, the Lions, especially offensively, just look absolutely unstoppable. I'm really not looking forward to the fact that the Giants have to play them this season. So they're sitting top for me.
01:33:21
Speaker
Next up, I've got Arsenal. I think that they're probably the best performing team over over the last few weeks and in the English Premier League. They've moved up for me from six to two.
01:33:31
Speaker
Just Liverpool losing three on the bounce kind of had to drop them down and then Palace lost at the weekend. So they slipped for me too. So I think I'm going to have to go at Arsenal here at number two.
01:33:42
Speaker
Next up, I've gone with the Bucs. um obviously earlier on I picked the Niners to defeat them this weekend in Ganshans but I think it could be a very close game and the teams the Bucks have beaten as I mentioned earlier when we talked about the MVP conversation was our teams that are like they're not to be scoffed at they're solid teams and they have played very well only losing to the Eagles so far so they deserve their place there at third and Then fourth, I've gone a born with Bournemouth.
01:34:08
Speaker
Just consistently good this season. a really impressive come-from-behind win and against Fulham. They're 1-0 down, not performing very well, and then score three goals late on when Fulham have barely conceded late at all before that this season.
01:34:21
Speaker
Just really impressive all around. Semenyo looks unbelievable, unbelievable. And really nice for Clover to get on the score sheet there. So I was impressed with them in that they were kind of runners up in my um idea to of who to pick for performance of the weekend.
01:34:37
Speaker
And I think they deserve they deserve to be considered there for that too. In fifth place then, I have got the Eagles. They are just still clinging on. And even though they haven't been overly powerful, just losing one game this season after coming off Super Bowl win and not losing in pretty much since last December until now.
01:34:56
Speaker
And against a good Broncos team, I think that doesn't warrant them to be completely dropped. The Colts were on the cusp here for me. And if the Colts perform very well this weekend and...
01:35:07
Speaker
You see the Eagles having another stodgy performance on Thursday night, which will have already gone on by the time you guys are listening to this. Hopefully the Giants can do a little bit of something for that. and But yeah, I think the Colts may move in here next week, but I think the Eagles for now are just clinging on. And then sixth place, I've got Palace, another team who I thought they're on 19 game unbeaten streak. Losing one game doesn't warrant you to be completely dropped from this.
01:35:30
Speaker
Brilliant season so far so they're still clinging on to my last spot there. So my six are Lions, Arsenal, Bucks, Bournemouth, Colts and Palace. Then just a reminder on Shane's picks from last week.
01:35:41
Speaker
He had the Lions, Palace, Eagles, Liverpool, the Chargers and Arsenal. So his updated rankings, he's still got the Lions first. He just said still having the most fun in the NFL.
01:35:52
Speaker
Everyone there looks like they're having fun. So and in-depth analysis there on that. But it's hard to argue with that point. He's moved Bournemouth up. No surprise, he didn't move Arsenal up higher. He's gone a born with Bournemouth instead.
01:36:05
Speaker
He said, just a great team to watch, having fun. Three wins and two draws in the last five. Only unbeaten team in the last five. So yeah, he's he's on a similar vein to me there, having them included and pretty high up.
01:36:17
Speaker
Eagles then, he's still he still got them in third, they haven't gone down, still Super Bowl champs but struggling hugely. Arsenal then in fourth, look a good team which sickens me but they're on a good run is his quote on that one. and They moved up from sixth to fourth and they are top of the Premier League right now so...
01:36:35
Speaker
I'd say a very good run then in fifth the Jags unexpected start of the season beating the Chiefs they deserve to be here I think um Jags yeah very unexpected to be to be performing so well and they did deserve that win against the Chiefs early on the season there times I thought they're iffy they're getting wins but they're iffy but against the Chiefs they thoroughly did deserve that and yeah having them in here is an interesting addition someone different than than than what I had and he has dropped the Chargers out so the Jags are in there now and then Liverpool is obviously still in for Shane did any of you think Shane was going to drop Liverpool still the champions just a bad run can't drop them out yet but very close to dropping he says so Arsenal are are on a good run Liverpool are on a bad run pretty true and and there's a couple of places in the difference in the power rankings as there is just a place between them in the Premier League so
01:37:27
Speaker
That's Shane Six, he's gone with the Lions, Bournemouth, Eagles, Arsenal, Jags and
Conclusion and Next Episode Preview
01:37:31
Speaker
Liverpool. So hopefully you enjoyed some of the chats and that I had today. I'm really happy that I got Conan and Michael on. I appreciate them both coming on on fairly short notice. And I enjoyed my chat with both of them. I thought...
01:37:46
Speaker
Really, really interesting and always a good laugh as always. And obviously we'll have them on both of them again a lot more in the future. Shane will be back again next week. So don't miss him too much. He's he's having it he's having a great time. He's having fun, similar to the Lions and Bournemouth as he noted, they're both having fun.
01:38:01
Speaker
shane is having fun at a wedding um so he's gonna be back next week and appreciate y'all for listening hopefully um you enjoyed listening to some of my rambles on my own also and all the usual stuff to wrap up subscribe on youtube or on our but any podcast platform give it five stars um leave a comment on youtube video and follow us across social media let us know if there's anything that you want to see going forward from us and we'll be we'd be happy to take on the feedback and incorporate it so um here's to another episode next week and hopefully enjoyed this one we will chat to you again next week good luck