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World Cup Final Preview with Daniel Hussey + NBA Offseason Winners & Losers
13 Plays5 days ago
Episode 85 of Who's Got The Ball? sees Daniel Hussey join James to preview the World Cup Final. They discuss the biggest talking points ahead of the tournament's showpiece event, the key matchups to watch and make their predictions for who will become world champions.
Shane also returns to break down both World Cup semi-finals, looking at what Spain and Argentina’s performances mean going forward to the final.
Michael then joins the show for a look around the NBA. They discuss the standout Summer League performers, the biggest winners and losers of free agency and debate what the future could hold for LeBron James.
Another episode full of World Cup analysis, NBA debate and plenty of big opinions.
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(0:00) Intro
(3:15) World Cup Semi-Final Recap
(15:43) World Cup Final Preview
(34:25) Our Final Predictions
(39:58) NBA Summer League Standouts
(50:27) Offseason Winners & Losers
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Transcript
Shane's US Trip Experience
00:00:09
Speaker
Alright lads, welcome back to another episode of Who's Got The Ball. This time I'm not doing the intro alone. The last two weeks I have been, but Shane is back once again from the from the wonderful world of the US of A. Shane, did you enjoy your time?
00:00:22
Speaker
Yeah, even Jack, my barber, and a really good friend I need to put in there, because last time I mentioned him, I just called him my barber and he was very upset. But he was like, have you just like have you stopped doing the podcast? was like, no, and no, i'm just just being gallivanting around the US and having shingles and everything under the sun, that feels like any excuse to not do it. But I'm back. I had a really, really good time.
00:00:44
Speaker
fell in love baseball. It's so much better in person than it is on the television, but even on the television is a lot easier when you actually know the rules. So I am now a Detroit Tigers fan. Their jerseys are lovely as well.
00:00:58
Speaker
Up McGonagall in the All-Star game. and Yeah, I just had a great time just on a lake, relaxing. Fourth of July it was just mental, as mental, if not more mental than I thought it was going to be. Just sitting in a lake watching fireworks go off a hill.
00:01:13
Speaker
Absolutely in incredible. Just a great time. But I'm back. No more messing about. No more shingles. Can't get that for another six months. So we're safe now for we're running for the long haul again.
Sports Injuries and Recovery
00:01:24
Speaker
nice one well it sounds like a great time i mentioned last week at conan when we're talking about nfl was saying that i was back playing soccer and literally like five six training sessions in i sprained my lcl in my knee from a bad tackle my foot was planted in the ground got strike across the bottom of my shin um nowhere near the ball and my knee caved in so that was great it popped worst pain i've ever felt
00:01:48
Speaker
Even worse than when I broke my ankle because I tore ligaments that time, but I didn't even feel it until the next day because I hurt my, like actually cut my knee that stage. So that was the main pain. But this was crazy. and thought it was only going to be like a grade one.
00:02:01
Speaker
But yeah, got the news today that have to an MRI and it's most likely a grade two. So its go be a few months. So that's great. But plenty of support to watch. So I can do that with my feet up. Yeah, just like I was telling you, I think you're better off smoking 20 fags and drinking 20 pints a day because.
00:02:17
Speaker
Yeah. you you very rarely get injured sitting on a bar soon unless someone hits you. So, yeah, stay off the football patches, get back into the pubs, especially you kids, not only joking. That's the motto of this podcast. If you don't know, now you know.
World Cup Finals Preview and Insights
00:02:31
Speaker
um Yeah, but a great episode. We gave... A few of our thoughts on the semi-finals of the World Cup before we I welcomed in andm Daniel Hussey. He joined me to give a preview of the final and predictions for who we thought was going to win before we got and Shane's prediction too then for who he thought was going to come out on top.
00:02:49
Speaker
Then Michael joined us for some and NBA chat. We talked about the summer league and how valuable rookies are in the league right now, which ones are going to make the biggest impact going into next season.
00:02:59
Speaker
And then also who kind of won the free agency period or the offseason period so far and which team ended up doing the worst job in our opinion. So let's see how that unfolds when we get into the season. But as usual, rule a packed episode and we'll jump straight into the action.
00:03:14
Speaker
All right, so great time for Shane to return right after the World Cup semi-final so we can get all his thoughts. and I did record a World Cup final preview a little bit earlier with Daniel Hussey, so we'll jump into that in a few minutes. But we want to get the thoughts that you have on the World Cup semi-final because um obviously we focused a lot on the final in the preview. We didn't talk too much about how the semis panned out. So first, Spain, argent our spain France, 2-0.
00:03:41
Speaker
What did you make of it? Yeah, so we've just re-recorded this part because my chair kept slipping down as you were talking. And as you were talking there, my chair is after slipping the whole thing. So I have to move the camera angle here or something. If I put it back up, it's going to slip again. du It was just like, instead of it being a game of two halves, these were these semifinals were two games of completely different contrasting styles.
00:04:06
Speaker
One was full of good football, two teams really going on and other one was two teams trying to kick lumps out of each other. The first one, thankfully, was the one that was actually quite a good watch. I thought Spain were just, they were just so much superior to France. They just made France look like a team that should be knocked out in the last 32, the way they absolutely played them off the park.
00:04:27
Speaker
I just didn't think there was anything France could do. They couldn't get their shots away. did zero big chances in the whole game, which I think is absolutely wild. 0.31 on the XG. But I was listening to a podcast yesterday morning, other podcasts who exist outside of Who's Got the Ball? should probably check some others out. But they were saying that France are really set up like a club team.
00:04:48
Speaker
who are really good at being the flat track bullies. They can go and put five and six past teams. They can bat anyone off the park. But when they come up against someone who's playing in a low block and has the quality of Spain, that they they just couldn't break him down.
00:05:02
Speaker
i think Dechamps should have put his pride to a side and brought on a third midfielder because he should have just taken off one of the attackers. They were getting no overrun by that Spanish midfield. Fabien Ruiz is just so clear.
00:05:14
Speaker
And that's without would even touching on Rodri who looks, he really does look back to his best in this tournament. He looks back to the pre ACL Rodri but the two of them midfield just ran the show and ended bringing on the likes of a Pedri.
00:05:26
Speaker
Like France just needed someone in there to just try and run with him because they were absolutely destroyed in midfield and Yeah, I think it was it was always going to be who scored the first goal was
Spain vs. France Match Analysis
00:05:36
Speaker
going to win it. And it's unlucky with the penalty, but Luka Dean, just clear, instead of trying to head it up to then volley it, just try and get rid of it, head it out of the way and run after it. it Just get yourself out of the box.
00:05:46
Speaker
okay I thought Spain were far superior and they deserved it. I was so happy that Orgaz Evald didn't do the stuttery 10-second run-up. He just absolutely blasted it into the corner. I'm sick of these stuttery run-up penalties. I've been on for three weeks now or two weeks, so...
00:06:02
Speaker
Every single penalty that's been missed, I'm pretty sure has been a sturdy run-up, barred the messy ones. And he just ran up and blammed into the corner. texted my dad straight away, he's like, thank God, a proper penalty. But yeah, I thought Spain were full value, and I just think they look so good.
00:06:16
Speaker
They're so solid at the back, and if you have a strong defence in a tournament, going to go a long way. The money conceded at one goal, that's madness. yeah Yeah, I know. I think you you said that the fact of the big chances. They've only conceded three chances in the whole knockout stage of the tournament. Three big chances, which is crazy.
00:06:35
Speaker
Obviously, Yamal is the X factor, but the midfield is so, so good. Incredible.
Argentina vs. England Tactical Review
00:06:40
Speaker
I do think that that Dinja foul on Yamal just reeked of a 36-year-old left back up against a fast 19-year-old. Yeah, is it 36?
00:06:51
Speaker
Yeah, I think so. Jesus. The second he looked away from him, he looked over his shoulder. And then the second he looked away, Yamal was like, yeah, this is my chance. And then just played it perfectly for the foul.
00:07:05
Speaker
Yeah, I just think France got it wrong. And you made a good point about not bringing on someone else in midfield. They needed at least somebody in midfield to do some of the pressing because that front three or the kind of three... From four.
00:07:20
Speaker
front front four but the three that don't include Mbappe were getting run ragged and because they were doing all the running and trying to close down and Rodri was just like waiting until the last second every time to pop a pass off and the same with Fabian Ruiz just wearing them down so the Spanish just played it perfectly and France were kind of a bit naive in that sense I thought Rabiot was terrible in the first half he was way off it and then he came off at half time two men he could have been off too because he didn't look right with that injury but they couldn't take both of them off so i don't know i just think that the french got it wrong and the spanish capitalized massively i know you're giving out about you and i see him on and his erratic runs out of the box but i thought yeah that one that he did get on to stop it was so so good like he read it perfectly so you have to give him that but yeah there's been a few times you're like what on earth are you doing here
00:08:14
Speaker
I think I'm just scared by Alisson doing it for Liverpool and getting caught out more than a couple of times. that I think my father has just drilled it into me now that goalkeeper's leaving box equals bad news. But actually thought he did quite well.
00:08:28
Speaker
In the semi-final at times, it was a couple weeks ago when he got lucky. There was one where the French player just literally chipped it into his arm and it got absolutely no lock to get it over his head. I think that you mentioned the sub there where he took Rabiot off at halftime. i think he'd have been better off taking off Olyse or Berk-Holam bringing on the term midfielder at that point. And it would have been seen as a negative move because they were 1-0 down at halftime. But it would have given him so much more stability in midfields.
00:08:54
Speaker
move Dewey out to... Sorry, who was Dewey? Move... You had Lise Dembele. Move Lise right, maybe, or Dembele right. Dembele can play either one and just go with the two of them and Mbappé up front and have an extra runner in midfield would have made such a difference to him. Dine is only 32, but he does act like a 36-year-old. Oh, I don't why he got 36 from... but I can't help but think about that goal. He conceded against Boromir where he just let Ryan walk past him and basically rolled out the red carpet, I suppose.
00:09:23
Speaker
I just thought, yeah, France got it wrong. They just never got going in that match at all. And I just don't know where it came from because they looked imperious the whole way through. And then the first time they come up against a team that actually puts it up to them, they're just incredible. That's Spanish midfield. I could actually do another Patreon episode just talking about the two lads in the Spanish midfield because at the point you made about the passing, you can see they're playing for top teams.
00:09:52
Speaker
And they're the last midfielder on the top team. They don't feel pressure ever. It's literally the last possible second gets pass off now. Like literally split seconds. Takes out three or four players every single time and they're straight at you. And when you have the likes of Jamal, you have to remember Nico Williams has barely kicked the ball in this tournament as well. And the two of them were their main things. Zubimendi came on and ran the show in the Euros final against Singleton two years ago. He hasn't really been seen either. So they have just quality all over place. Or Yazabal.
00:10:24
Speaker
He's 10 times, if not 20 times, the player I thought he was. I never saw this from him. I watched him fleetingly for Real Sociedad. And maybe it's when he's surrounded by better players. He just looks like an absolute superstar.
00:10:37
Speaker
But he's just been, I think he's been exceptional for He's been running the line. Jumbo Giroud in 2022 for France. We didn't score a goal. That's been our Yesbal for Spain this year. just links everything. Only he's getting the goal as well. And yeah, as I said, great penalty on top of it. I just thought Spain were such worthy winners. And we'll talk about the second semi-final before we give our predictions on the winners now.
00:10:59
Speaker
he's he he was He's the perfect replacement for Morata. 100%. Only he looks better. Yeah, he does. I tipped him to be the top scorer. He didn't quite reach those heights, but he's been very good.
00:11:11
Speaker
So yeah, obviously the other semi-final Argentina, unbelievable comeback against England. We talk a lot about Argentina and the in the preview. Let's get our your England thoughts. I think that, look, Tuchel just made an absolute mess of it. They went back into their usual shell, just retreating the same way they did under Southgate. And then he added more fuel to the fire by making defensive substitutions.
00:11:34
Speaker
And yeah they were pretty much just asking for it at that point, given Argentina that many chances and that much of the ball. They had 12% possession after Argentina's or after their own goal. And I think I saw earlier between the first England goal and the second Argentina goal, Argentina had like 144 completed passes to England's like 15 or 20 or something like that.
00:12:00
Speaker
So it's just outrageously bad tactics from England. I couldn't believe. He finished the game with six defenders on the pitch. Now, one of them is Nico O'Reilly, and he was playing in midfield, but he's played all season for Man City at Lefax. I'm counting him as a defender. yeah Nico O'Reilly came on for Declan Rice.
00:12:17
Speaker
ah Fair enough. Declan Rice didn't look himself at all in that game. He was nowhere near it. was surprised he actually lasted 83 minutes. Brought on Dan Byrne for Rhys James for height, put Jed Spence over to the other side.
World Cup Final Predictions
00:12:30
Speaker
and brought on Esri Khansa for Anthony Gordon in the first sub. I was like, this is meltdown all over. There was still 18 minutes left of normal time, plus the nine that was added. So there was 27 minutes left, a half an hour left, actually, when he brought on his fifth defender and I was like, oh God, what is he doing? It was way too early to make that first up and then he doubled down and tripled down and quadrupled down until he had no choice but to bring on Rashford and Rashford, just he wouldn't have scored in a Brottle.
00:13:01
Speaker
Sorry, I can't say it that on podcast. He wouldn't have scored in... or leaving that in but yeah yeah himself and Tony like yeah totallyy bringing on two lads that had barely featured Tony hadn't featured at all I'm pretty sure was Watkins Watkins sitting on the bench like he should have brought him yeah Watkins injured at Watkins made no sense bringing on Rashford and Tony and I don't know I just thought if he'd waited until the 80 minutes and take off Harry Kane and bring on someone then, I know you're never going to off your captain, but Harry Kane was basically doing all the defensive work anyway. He didn't have a touch in the box the whole game. Yeah.
00:13:31
Speaker
You might as well have someone that can either track back and defend, or if you still want to lock, bring on a defender that can just step out. But it was all about the tactics. The first goal is an absolute wonder strike from Esri Conte. It's Enzo Fernandes, but a full-size goalkeeper saves us. It's in the middle of the goal.
00:13:52
Speaker
yeah as Bellingham said when he watched it back on the jumbotron. Is that what he said? He looked at it and he goes, in the middle of the goal. I know when it finishes it's in the corner, but when it passes the line, it's it's it's there. If it's Dean Henderson in goals, Dean Henderson saves us.
00:14:07
Speaker
It's just you need a goalkeeper with full-sized arms, and and he might have saved us. And then just the the winning goal was always coming from Argentina. Yeah, ball of ball by Messi.
00:14:18
Speaker
Odd man. See that Kenny Cunningham thing about I wish he retired after the last one. Yeah. And he said how he he doesn't watch any of them the Argentina games live because of it. How can you even comment if you don't watch the games? Exactly. But Messi has been the player the tournament again.
00:14:35
Speaker
yeah and he got two assists last night the one for Eden's oh okay fair enough it's one of those when they take a free kick and they touch that off to the side and someone slaps it in like that was basically what the first one was the cross on his right foot for the second one and the header is incredible and that's with Dan Byrne who's 9 foot 8 and all the other lads who were really good at winning headers were nowhere near it he just put in the perfect place and Lataro made the perfect run and yeah I think it's going some final I'm just so happy that I don't have to worry all day i have enough to worry about with Limerick being in the All-Ireland final without having to worry about England being the World Cup final on top of it as well so yeah it's just the perfect outcome but I would have happily watched another half an hour football if someone told me that Argentina were definitely going to win because it was actually it was became really enjoyable towards end it
00:15:21
Speaker
The first 20 minutes was just not football. was just stop, start, stop, start, nonsense. I don't know how no Argentine was booked in the first 20 minutes with all just the silly niggly fouls they were getting away with.
00:15:33
Speaker
But yeah, I'm just, I'm glad that England make it true didn't make it through. Well, let's let's welcome Daniel in now and get the final preview and then we'll come back and get your prediction. All right, lads, special guest for World Cup preview time. We've got Daniel Hussey, sports inventor with Matchbook. You may know him from regular appearances on on Ireland AM, but Daniel, thanks for joining us. How are you?
00:15:55
Speaker
Yeah, not too bad. Not too bad as the form. Good, not too bad at all. i Looking forward to this final now. I think it it was a bit nervy there last night when it looked like England might have got through, but we can relax and enjoy it now.
00:16:07
Speaker
Yeah, that's all the messages I was getting, not even celebrations from the win for Argentina. More so, we can enjoy Sunday's final stress-free, which is always great. I mean, personally, the ideal scenario would have been a a glorious World Cup final to defeat for England, but that just comes with a lot of risk, obviously, that if Spain, they could beat France or Spain on their day, when I was thinking about this before the semifinals. So yeah, um it's the it's the right outcome, ultimately, I think.
00:16:33
Speaker
Yeah, I think so. I think gives a little bit more drama as well because I think we saw last night probably what England's game plan would have been against Spain if they had scored and the Spanish, while they are very good and they've shown what they can do. They do struggle to break down a low block a little bit more because they don't have that. I know they have the pace of Jamal, but they don't have that technical ability of Messi. I don't think to unlock and that kind of will to win. But we'll start, I think, on the Spanish side.
00:17:03
Speaker
So they're obviously the favorites. If you look at the odds, i looked at their earlier, i think 5-4. Argentina are 5-2. So not a big difference, but Spain are the favorites. They were dominant against France.
00:17:15
Speaker
hard to pick holes in their team i think with the defense being so strong and then their midfield controlling things they did the complete opposite to england in the fact that they pressed on when they went up rather than just sitting back and they never really gave france a chance what do you make of their team do you see any clear holes that argentina could exploit going into this final I don't think Spain will allow Argentina to exploit those holes if there is any vulnerabilities. Because normally in previous tournaments, you would say maybe you can get out of the fence, but they conceded one goal in the whole tournament, which is just absolutely crazy stuff. Or at least, sorry, maybe two goals in the whole tournament. But regardless, they have incredible defense. I think one, yeah.
00:17:59
Speaker
Yeah, one, literally one. I see the game going where even though Argentina have been given out for the last 24 hours almost about England's slow block, they will play a form of that, I guess, against Spain because Spain are just going to have all the ball. And I think Spain will be a little bit cautious in that first half just to make sure that they're not susceptible to the counterattack. And I think you may see a bit of a standoff. I don't think Argentina will get st stuck into...
00:18:23
Speaker
I can be completely wrong, but i just can't see them getting stuck into Spain the same way they got stuck into England, if that makes sense. so I don't see Argentina being able to cause Spain problems unless maybe Spain get an early goal and they can maybe start coming attacking. But a again, Spain will just pick them off because you've rightly compared the two.
00:18:41
Speaker
Spain and England both being 1-0 up and Spain deciding at 1-0, yes, we can still play our football. And you saw that with the second goal. I think Thierry Henry did a great overhead drone, spider cam analysis of it where they just constantly, everyone kept moving positions, but making sure there was someone in a set position and they just scored an unbelievable goal from Pedro Parra. And that was at 1-0 up. You've take that with the clip doing the rounds about England trying to pass out from the back just after scoring and Harry Kane getting caught in his own box. I think that sums up the differences between the two sides. So going into this game, I do see Spain dictating how the game's can be played in Argentina, having no real option but to sit off. And in that case, they're going to struggle to pick holes in whatever vulnerabilities the Spanish team have, if they even have any, you know.
00:19:24
Speaker
Yeah, I think when I looked at the team, the only two things I could pick out that really were possibilities are of Argentina exploiting them are Pedro Paro's defensive ability.
00:19:37
Speaker
But in this World Cup, he's been good. But it's I'm just going off what we've seen for Spurs down in the years. He can get caught, but it looks like he's better drilled in the Spanish side. And then...
00:19:49
Speaker
Simon in goal is just sometimes so erratic when he comes out and that ball over the top that Lissandro Martinez likes to play to Messi if they even get him ah one chance at that and Simon messes it up you know if they're the red card or a penalty given away Something crazy like that I think could turn the tide in this game. So I think maybe they could look to exploit that. But like you said, Spain are probably going to have most of the ball and look to dictate the tempo.
00:20:17
Speaker
It looked like the French forwards were chasing shadows with Rodri and Fabian Ruiz in midfield. And I don't know how these older Argentinian players could fare kind of having to run around. And the heat is going to be savage on on Sunday and in MetLife as well. So that's going to play a factor.
00:20:35
Speaker
Yeah, 100%. And I was like with you, Una, Simon, I like personally, I would have Raya over him every time watch him for Babau. I think, yeah, top quality goalkeeper. But I like, in my opinion, David Raya is in the top three in the world right now. So I think i think he should have been starting. But the fact is when Spain aren't conceding goals, you can't argue with it.
00:20:53
Speaker
And he was, I thought he very ropey and dodgy in that quarterfinal against Belgium, but the complete opposite then against the French, like within two, within those couple of balls that went over top, he dealt with them so well. There was one, obviously as a TV viewer, you don't get the full picture. And I was certain Mbappe was getting to, and he was so far off his line. And by and large, he dealt with them excellently. and i And I think if you can deal with them against Mbappe,
00:21:16
Speaker
that The couple of chances Argentina do get to break with Messi, it is a more slower attack and I just feel he'll be perfectly set in those positions. And Pedro Parra, I think that's a simple case. I always was a fan, as someone keeping an eye on my nearest rivals, Spurs, I was always a fan of Pedro Parra and the football he was trying to play. Well, defensively, obviously a lot to be desired, but similar with Trent, was sort of left exposed a lot.
00:21:38
Speaker
It just shows when you're playing a better team you can and had to have all the ball, it plays to your strengths and suddenly you're probably one of the best right backs in this World Cup. And and that that goal he got was amazing, like just an amazing one-two. And he finished it like a striker as well, as Henri said. So yeah, those two weaknesses, I don't really see them being exploited in this final, in which case...
00:21:58
Speaker
all the all the things point to Spain, but it doesn't mean they'll necessarily break down this Argentinian defence, which we'll come on to as well. So Spain could do everything they want to do in the game and not score. And again, ultimately against France, they got a penalty and France had to push on for that equaliser and they picked them off with that with that second goal. So it just shows you without that penalty and that moment of madness from Luka Dean, that game's nil all, probably nil all, 60, 70 minutes in and maybe Spain can't break France down and France go into the game and something similar there could happen on Sunday.
00:22:26
Speaker
yeah Yeah, I think it does depend on who gets the first goal. I think it will be cagey in the first 45 minutes. You've mentioned Argentina there. I think overall, it's funny to say they're the world champions. They've recent Copa America champions. They're in the final again, but they are...
00:22:42
Speaker
I think it's a little bit clearer that they're the weaker side because they've they've got more of an aging squad. You could see that at times last night when England were on the break. England just made bad decisions, i think, but they could have capitalized. um And some of the players, while they do, they're running for Messi and they love it. you know like After the game last night, Simeone was nearly in tears saying that you know they'll run for all of Argentina and run for Messi.
00:23:08
Speaker
We'll see him again, i think, surely from the start because he provides a lot of that youth and the athleticism that they need against this kind of a Spanish team. But yeah, where are the weaknesses in this Argentina team that you think Spain can exploit?
00:23:24
Speaker
the The back four, the centre-back partnership, and like Romero and Martinez, both got a goal in them, to be fair, and both you know really solid careers club-wise, but I guess they're get-edible, as I would say. And you saw that with both them picking up yellow cards against in England just makes it all the more baffling that England decided to take off all their counter-attacking options to never drive. like That was set up for a second yellow card from one of the two of them in that last 30, 40 minutes.
00:23:49
Speaker
So that's it. And I watched a Barra-Dews Switzerland game, which unfortunately fell asleep at halftime. But when I fell asleep, Switzerland were getting on top again, despite Argentina taking the lead. And I've watched all their other games.
00:24:01
Speaker
Like, that Egypt game stands out to me because they were completely dead and buried. And the worst thing Egypt almost did was get that second second second goal that wasn't disallowed. And it just made Argentina put the shackles off, Messi moved to the right, and effectively won the game from there. And a very similar thing happened against England. So... I just can't see Spain allowing that to happen.
00:24:22
Speaker
And like even though like into last year's World Cup final, you would have said France would be the team on top of now. I was reading somewhere their first shot last for the final last year was in the 60th minute. And people forget, even though three-all game, it was very cagey for long periods. so Yeah, again, I see something similar, but ultimately I see Spain breaking them down. And if that's after extra time or maybe a penalty shootout or something, but and which obviously is a lot more fifty fifty but I just feel the onus will be on Spain to attack, attack, attack. And eventually that has to show because this Argentina side of being through extra time a couple of times, last minute goals against Egypt, last minute goals against England. They've gone to the well so many times and there's only so much you can do that.
00:25:01
Speaker
in a tournament but then on the flip side of that is this Argentinian team defy logic the fact they won that World Cup in Messi's last stance four years ago with the fact he's still here at 39 years of age and even though he didn't get the goals against England he got two assists albeit one was a side by pass but the second cross was world class the replays so show I think John Stones literally got a hair to the ball and just couldn't reach to it that's how good that cross was for Martinez so Yeah, I ah i just, Messi is the greatest ever.
00:25:30
Speaker
i just think Spain will have too much of the ball for him to have an impact. And then suddenly you're effectively playing against 10 men. And I just think they'll eventually grind them down. But again, they they can they can win this final, of course, but it'll have to be just another...
00:25:47
Speaker
ridiculous game that you can't really analyze because Messi continues to fight logic. And once he does does that, there's only so much you can say before the games, you know, like the guy's an absolute genius. And this Argentinian team for the last four years have played to Messi's tune. And that is the best way of getting the best out of this Argentinian team. So they have plenty of weaknesses, but they continue to fight logic. So they obviously have a squeak in it for sure. But I do ultimately expect Spain to take care of business.
00:26:12
Speaker
Yeah, I think everything in the trends leading up to this game would point to the fact that Argentina are... There's some degree of luck and some degree of will that Gotham here. You mentioned the two extra times, obviously against Cape Verde, which was unbelievable. dead What a game that was. and You know how far they push them. and But then you saw Egypt do the same and Switzerland to a degree after before the red card, the same thing. and And then again, last night against England, they hadn't faced a single team ranked above 19th in the world until England last night. The highest was Switzerland.
00:26:46
Speaker
was kind of an easy enough way through, but yet they seem to make such hard work of it. and then look at the fact that they hadn't had a lead inside 90 minutes in any of the knockout games is just quite crazy because all of their winners have come after extra time or or or in the 90 plus minutes so all those things you'd say how much luck have they gotten on deck but when does it run out and how much will can you put put it down to will of this team and Scaloni on the sideline is almost like living and dying by every ball he's listening to what the players have to say that the clip of Paredes um in the game against Switzerland was I think it was against Switzerland was a really really good one he was kind of telling them
00:27:34
Speaker
how they needed to set up and what he needed to be changed to kind of combat what was going on for the rest of the game. And Scaloni was all ears. And then last night he made the decision to take Paredes off, even though he had been such a big part of it and bringing on De Paul almost changed the game. um And that right-hand side, his kind of connection with Messi.
00:27:54
Speaker
So I think... Spain, while they are the better team, and Argentina look like they've used up every last bit of luck they could possibly get, it's still like these small things that winners do. And look, Spain are winners as well. They've won the Euros. The first time the Euros winner places a Copa America winner in the in the World Cup final with current standings.
00:28:17
Speaker
i just i I want to say Spain. i I think that they're better, but Messi. i don't know. Defies logic.
00:28:28
Speaker
Are we going to... Is this going to be the last time we see him? I don't know. like The way he's playing at 39, they could wrap him in bubble wrap for the next four years and bring him on in the next World Cup. You wouldn't know. But I think...
00:28:43
Speaker
If you give him the time and the space at any moment, he could do something. i I see both teams scoring at some point in this game. I know Spain have been so good defensively, we've just seen so many games that the first half has been very dull and then it just kicks into life in the second half.
00:28:58
Speaker
And I see Spain getting the opener. And if that happens, Argentina might just have the will to get this to extra time. I think we could be in for a cracker. Yeah, it depends on that early goal.
00:29:10
Speaker
I'm with you little bit like it could be a case of cagey first half and then opens up second half. But I don't know. I just see in the Argentinian team have been to the well so many times. You mentioned all the extra time stats. think there was three penalty shootout wins in 2022. Obviously none this year, but it's been, ah if anything, more dramatic, yeah if that is even possible.
00:29:29
Speaker
In the game itself, yeah, if Spain get an early goal, then it's the onus is on Argentina, but I can see Argentina getting to halftime and nil all and then to 60 minutes and nil all and being ultimately that sort of game while not ruling out, obviously, the the madness that we saw in the last year's World Cup final. But I go back to it, that was such a cagey game and so similar theme to some of the knockout games in this tournament that a goal obviously like the england goal if england don't score that goal maybe the game's nil all all the way through to extra time and penalties but because england get that goal and sit back then art the honest on argentina and then they end up with an epic 2-1 like i think the stats were like five i think there was three shots in the first half and 17 shots in the second half england versus argentina and you could get something similar here which standoffish spain team don't want to get done on the counter and you're getting to a nil all half time and then seeing how the game goes so That's how I see it sort of happening unless there's a moment magic from Spain and they take the lead. But I just can't see Argentina in that first half going out and getting a goal because I just think Spain are going to have all the ball. And it's ultimately, they'll be a little bit cautious with that ball because they know what makes it like. But player we haven't talked about is Laminia, Yamal, who... I think he's only had one goal in this tournament, but I watched all the Spain games and everyone asked me who played well. I'm like, I mean, the best player pitch is the mean amount. Whether he played well or not, he obviously could play better, could score more goals and assists, but he's been absolutely phenomenal to watch. He's probably my favourite player since the peak Messi to watch because he just gets the ball. You don't know what he's going to do with it and you're just... encapsulated it and I feel he is due a big moment in this tournament. He had big moment against France at the Euros and I feel it's just set up for 19-year-old Jamal now to take this World Cup final by storm. So if anyone's going to get that goal in a moment of magic, I think Lamine and Jamal up against that Argentinian defence can unlock them and maybe score a 60-70 minute goal that wins them the game in a 1-0 sort of fashion. But that's ultimately how I see it in my mind's eye. But
00:31:23
Speaker
I mean, if you asked me before that World Cup final, I would not have said three all after extra time, you know, so it just shows you football and it continues, but particularly international football is just so unpredictable. ah Obviously, we've had all the seeded teams, but the actual what's going to happen in the game, I mean, who could have predicted last night that Tuchel would effectively throw the game away? And if he didn't, we'd have a Spain-England final. Now we have this Argentinian team with a chance of history of going back to back.
00:31:46
Speaker
Yeah, I think the Yamal one, i I don't know how he took so long to get on to him, considering the factor of of him on the Spanish side. i think the injuries in the group stage for him obviously had a little bit of a setback and to how quickly he got into it. But I agree with you during the knockout stages. He's obviously been there their focal point in attack. um That potential third goal that he was marginally offside for against France would have been amazing.
00:32:13
Speaker
I forgot about that. You completely forgot about that. Yeah. Yeah. The lovely little cut in and finish. And of course he did win the penalty as well. So he played a big part. I think seeing him get his moment and would wrap the storyline. You know, the the pictures are doing their rounds again of Messi giving him a bath. He was a baby, which is quite insane. like All the comments are like, the world is just not real. And you can't really argue with that. I mean, how the he on earth does that happen? like Yeah. Like in my opinion, he is the closest we've seen to Messi since Messi, not near him, like obviously.
00:32:46
Speaker
But every time I watch him, as I said, Jesus, man, it's just, you it reminds you why you play football. You just, you have the phone down for those, well, it's 22 and a half minutes now. used to be 45 minutes and you're just waiting for Jamal. You're watching the game through Jamal. Like, give me, let me see Jamal with the ball here, how he takes two defenders and then then he just pops it off. And Messi was the same against seeing England. like Yeah.
00:33:05
Speaker
three like that that image of like three english players surrounding them i think they all made yellow i think all four of them actually four them i think there was jude and anderson kane and someone else in there maybe yeah someone else in there all with yellow card challenges before think anderson got the yellow for that just incredible that's what those great players do like they're moving in slow motions it doesn't make sense because they're up against special footballers and i feel the amount you know can do that and if he takes two or three Argentinian defenders outplays a little one two he's in and I think that's how I see them unlocking the fence just a quick one two a lot of ball and then side footing into the back of the net and Spain win the world cup but yeah it's it's a fascinating game I personally don't think it'll be a classic I think it could be a very much a nil all one nil
00:33:54
Speaker
Boris the death sort of game, but the tension alone will keep you captivated for that 90 minutes. But as you said, the last World Cup final was 3-0, so what do I know, you know? Yeah, I know. I think the the Spanish factor throughout this knockout tournament has been, they've just been dominant and in control, and it's not really overly exciting. And then Argentina on the other side are just incredibly exciting in every game. So yeah, i could a happy medium i'll I'll take because once we get to see Jamal and Messi on the same pitch, and I'm sure we're both going to have moments.
00:34:25
Speaker
we'll We'll get your prediction before we let you go Let's go for first score and and method of victory, whether that be extra time or or penalties or outright. Yeah, so last thing on the the reason why Argentina ultimately won't press, you saw it with France's half-ars attempt to press in the ball at 1-0 down, and that Pedro Parra goal is why you don't press Spain.
00:34:47
Speaker
And that's why they won't press them, and to conserve energy given all the extra times they've in. So I just keep saying to myself, this just seems so obvious to me that this is going to Spain keep the ball and eventually break them down in the 80 plus minutes, not too dissimilar to maybe Argentina against England, battering the butt door down. So I'm going to go one nail just about ninety minutes ahll me in Lamin-Yemal to score the winner and Argentina just not having enough time in that 10, 15 minutes to to get the equaliser. They might have a Messi free kick that just goes wide. But yeah, that's my prediction, 1-0 and Lamin-Yemal take over the mantelpiece from Lionel Messi for good and to crack on and kick on and have a a great career.
00:35:26
Speaker
Yeah, that would be any any special moment with Jamal, I think would be worth it in this in this World Cup. i'm I'm leaning towards extra time. I just think we're not done with the drama. I do think Spain will get one before the 60-minute mark just because of their kind of dominance.
00:35:42
Speaker
in the game i do think the best way argentina can combat them is if they have a chance to break don't don't be over exerted don't constantly try and hit them on the counter because if you leave yourself open that's where spain will cut you apart just conserve energy get on the ball when you do have it and you know make them work but i think spain will work a goal early first hour argentina that kind of inevitability get one back and then we see a spanish winner an extra time But yeah, I think it's going to be it's going to be interesting either way. World Cup finals are always great, even if the scorelines, you know, we had that one years ago with Goethe and goal an extra time. we obviously had the 3-3 last time around, so it can go yeah plenty of ways, but it's nearly always exciting.
00:36:30
Speaker
That three all was like a joke. had to sort of rejog the memory when someone told me that stat about the shots and just. and I couldn't even say but remember that happening. That's crazy. Yeah. Like I know that's, you have to sort of, it's amazing and how the mind plays tricks on you and you just like three all in my head. Oh yeah. And then you forget like it was after extra time, a lot of the, the action happened and stuff, you know, but, um,
00:36:52
Speaker
yeah I just can't see that happening this time around. But like you said, that if Spain do get an early goal, I think it does set for Argentina to perhaps get the equaliser. Because while I think the Spanish team is very good at the back, like I'd certainly, with this with these players, i.e. Messi, they've always got a shot. But yeah, I'm really looking forward to it. But I do expect Spain to ah to get to get done and take over from Argentina as the world champion. But we'll see. Yeah, let's see how it goes on Sunday. Appreciate you giving us the time. We'll chat to you again.
00:37:20
Speaker
No worries. All right, so Daniel has left the show back with myself and Shane here. So you'll have heard my prediction there. It's 2-1 to Spain in extra time after an interesting second half to the second half, I guess, where Argentina press forward. and So let's get your prediction before we welcome Michael in for some NBA chat.
00:37:41
Speaker
Yeah, I actually think it's so hard to call because i think the Spain team on paper are so much better than the Argentina team, particularly at full back. I think centre mid is where Argentina could really get caught out here because we as we've just waxed lyrical about Rodri and Fabian Ruiz, like McAllister has been, he's had an excellent tournament, but he still has no legs. He's never really been able to run. Rodrigo de Paul off the bench is playing in the MLS. there is I just think the midfield is where it could be won and loss and...
00:38:11
Speaker
That's why I'm going for the same result as the semi-final for s Spain. I'm going 2-0 to Spain. i think Messi's magic is finally going to run out. I think this is... Spain are looking at going for a back-to-back-to-back tournament again, the way they did with the Euros, World Cup Euros, because the next Euros is held in Spain as well. I know it's bit Portugal as well, I think, or something, but they have games in Spain anyway, so it puts them in a really good spot. Their team is so young as well, so I'm yeah i'm back in Spain on this, unfortunately. The next Euros is in Ireland.
00:38:39
Speaker
I think it's in all of Europe, isn't No, it's just Ireland and the UK. It's the next World Cup is in Spain. Oh, sorry. Okay. And Morocco and Portugal. Yeah, that's the one. Okay. But I still think they could win.
00:38:51
Speaker
They could still win it over here. Like, so it's grand. They're only, it's only a small, it's only short flight. Yeah, it's it's the oh it's the jet lag they'll get from the hour-time difference is what's going to absolutely destroy them. Not like the five-hour time difference and traveling all over America has done any damage to them most.
00:39:07
Speaker
yeah Yeah, I think Spain are going to get over the line. I'd love Messi to get a second one. I really would, but I think this one is Spain's. Yeah, I think so. Three, three Spanish predictions then from the three of us. I obviously haven't heard Daniels yet because I wasn't here for it. So he went 1-0 Spain, um a late winner from Yamal.
00:39:27
Speaker
and We talked about Yamal getting a big moment and I think he probably will get one in this final. It would just be so typical, wouldn't it? Yeah, it would be. It would be great. But I actually forgot to mention I linked Daniels social media down in the in the link as well. Just so.
00:39:42
Speaker
Just to say that so you guys can check him out if you want to give him a watch or a follow, please do. The man's a class act, in fairness, he really is. So he's definitely worse worth watching. Yeah, 100%, couldn't agree more. But let's jump into Michael now with the and NBA action.
00:39:58
Speaker
So Michael is back with us after a week off of
Impact of NBA Rookies in Current Landscape
00:40:01
Speaker
the NBA. and We've got a couple of topics to jump into. So as you know, for the last few couple of months, we've been doing like playoff stuff, draft stuff, and then trickle into free agency. But now we're well into the off season. So we'll go back to our usual where Michael brings the hottest topics to us. We've got two nice topics lined up this week, Michael. Welcome back for another episode and what have you got for us first to start off?
00:40:25
Speaker
Thank you very much. This will probably be the penultimate episode for this offseason until LeBron gets traded or Kawhi gets his contract voided. But to start off, I think it's very topical now with the summer league going on. The current cap situation in the and NBA is making rookie deals extremely important, whether you're rebuilding, whether you're trying to contend for a championship now. What you need is impact and impact yesterday.
00:40:52
Speaker
Last year, we saw 12 players score at least 10 points per game over 50 games. So over half the season, they're playing with their teams. They're scoring over 10 points per game.
00:41:04
Speaker
With the Summer League in full flow now, who do we think out of the top five, we've seen some great performances, some standout performances from other players who were not on my... on my radar at all but who do you think is going to have the most impact for their team coming into next season Shane go ahead i Yeah, I think to start anyway, you were basically in summer league the way you started this recording, Michael, but trying to build up and just help back up to an NBA level of podcasting. But I think what you say, you're you're dead right, because the money that's gone into rookies this in particular, I was looking up before we started recording and AJ Daivante is looking at getting 62.7 million over four years as a rookie.
00:41:50
Speaker
That could be completely off. I just literally asked Google what the story was. And if you're paying someone money like that off the rip, you want them coming in and getting you 10, 15, 20 points per game over 50, 60 games from the start. Because if you're not, then it's a lot of cap space that you're using on someone. If you have to give like 10 or 15 minutes a game, you're scoring five points.
00:42:12
Speaker
It's wasted money. Now, I don't think it will be with him because I think he looks really, really solid. But I think the fact that rookies have rookies have become more important every single summer. And this year seems like the year where it's going there's going to be so much pressure on these shoulders straight away to be the next Wembenjana, be the next Cooper flag. Someone has to just come in, take their money and just step up straight away. They've literally no other option this year.
00:42:38
Speaker
yeah yeah i think with the with the figures you're right on that for devance it seems a bit crazy as a rookie like you know and a lot these are are front loaded as well which is just kind of mad and the signing bonuses they get but i think overall You make a great point about the value of these contracts, Michael, and how like you need to draft smart because for two reasons. One, you've got the cap in place, so you can't go out and give too many players too much money.
00:43:07
Speaker
And then secondly, the rookie contracts at the high end of the draft are quite expensive. So you kind of need to draft smartly in the mid-level of the draft or towards the end of it and consistently be a good team, which is what we've seen the Thunder do.
00:43:24
Speaker
That's why I've kind of outlined some players that I think could have a a really great effect, but maybe it won't really fit into this topic because it could be for a team that just continues to lose, but they look great. The likes of the De Bansa...
00:43:40
Speaker
cam boozer caleb wilson braden burry's maybe less so debansa but the other three i think will all look good for teams that aren't that good but then on the other end of it i think teams that could go quite far and they've done well in the draft are the likes of the warriors philly and the lakers they've got players in the 20s i know and with the warriors landenborg was in the teens but getting him so far three games did the same as he did in college 17 points per game seven boards three assists nearly two steals he's going to be 24 in september so that's instant impact high iq file on for philly 18.5 points per game in four games he has an absolute bag on the ball like he can create a shot which is what the sixers needs he's better inside the arc strong playmaker
00:44:28
Speaker
He just shot like so many threes last night. He shot 13 threes, he only made one. I'm pretty sure they were like, just go shoot a lot of threes because you're in summer league. Because he didn't do it that much in the first three games. Now his three-point percentage in college was was good, so I think that's just an outlier.
00:44:43
Speaker
And then Cam Carr is someone who stood out to me so far. He only played twice so far in Summer League for the Lakers, but 20 points per game, limited turnovers, strong defensive effort, a big physical guard, and they need instant impact and from across their roster considering how much money they've invested into just a small selection of players. So those are my three guys, I think. and But i'm I'm interested hear who you've got down, Michael, for us for this.
00:45:11
Speaker
Honestly, you know how much I love a young guy. I've i've got more or less two players. awesome and You've mentioned both of them. I i am in love with Cam Boozer. I think I may have a little man crush on Cam Boozer, guys. Shane loves him too. I love everything i see about him. Even in his his first summer league game, I think he recorded four assists. Could have had about 11 if people were hitting their shots. He's...
00:45:38
Speaker
Come into the game now, we have to see coming into the first few weeks of the season how it translates. But he seems to read the floor immediately so well. And it's just such a such a nice touch. His scoring was a big question coming into it. He can hit pull up threes. He can hit catch and shoot threes. And he's got a really, really good roster around him.
00:46:01
Speaker
And I kind of want to put him in the Hawks role and put him into the playoffs for next year. Now, we'll have to see because we never know where LeBron's going. And that might have to switch some of the standings around.
00:46:14
Speaker
But besides him, Lenderberg has also really, really impressed me. I think the Warriors have just absolutely nailed. It's someone that they needed, and I think it was the best pick at that position. He looks extremely comfortable.
00:46:32
Speaker
Extremely comfortable. Like, the way GMs talk about... And the way fans even talk about like, oh, what about this veteran guard in college? Like he can come in and make an impact now. Like, no, this guy actually might come in and average 12.6 rebounds, three assists, maybe like on 37% from three.
00:46:55
Speaker
That would be fantastic as a rookie. And I think another big thing about it, we're talking about the rookie contracts and it is a lot of money, but the big thing is it can only be a certain percentage of the cap.
00:47:06
Speaker
And I think that is contributing a lot. I mean, we've already seen we already saw it with Minnesota when they traded Carol Anthony Towns. The main reason there was cap space and how much they were spending over the luxury and the owners wanting to get off some of that bill. I think we've seen the exact same thing with the Celtics. They wanted to keep their two rookies for the next couple years instead of giving up all of their flexibility and all of their potential for Giannis. Now, still crazy because Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Shireman are not that valuable.
00:47:43
Speaker
And I doubt they will ever be that valuable. But it goes to show you you the importance of like keeping that luxury tax bill low. And as free agency goes on and everything is getting crazier, I think a big factor is that like hold that the cap apron is giving all of the teams.
00:48:03
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, I agree with you. I want to say actually before we continue on this, when Shane first spoke on this answer, he said that you were warming up like you're in summer league.
00:48:18
Speaker
I just want everyone to know he's not just throwing shade at you for no reason. and We took a few takes to get this going just to peel the curtain back. And that just came into my mind there when you were speaking. I was like, people are going to think he's insane for no reason. I'm glad to see that but we have the original Michael back. he He has stood up eventually, but it did take him a couple of meltdowns and not just from the heat that we're dealing with at the moment. There was actual there was one point where I thought you were going to drop off. You're like, lads, I can't do this today. was oh no. It might be one of the ones where it it gets released on Patreon. If we ever set one up, you'll get Michael's biggest meltdowns on the Patreon. It'll be worth a five or a month, I think.
00:48:59
Speaker
Yeah, the recording is is saved, so we've got that to come back to. No, I just mortified. my My computer melted down and then I couldn't get anything right in this room. Oh, it was a mess. You're good. You're good. But on the rookie topic, just before we move on to the next one, and you mentioned Boozer there and I did say some guys that might have an impact on teams that aren't that good. for He was the one I had highlighted here. I had the stats you ran through him already, but I kind of made the note that he might not be flashy, but he'll be the most impactful of any rookie. And I'm i'm not like in any doubt of that. I think he will be someone who has the most impact. DeBanco will have amazing highlights. Peterson will have great scoring games. Caleb Wilson the same. And you'll see flashes from other guys, but
00:49:52
Speaker
Boozer is almost like that high iq Dylan Harper type that is not overly flashy, doesn't really want the big highlights, but wants the team success. And we saw how well he did last season.
NBA Offseason Moves Review
00:50:05
Speaker
Now, probably he's not going to get as far as Harper did in the playoffs. But yeah, I think the the Grizzlies are all the better for getting him in. And they're definitely on the right path with that kind of a pick. I think it it sections nicely into your your next segment, if you want to throw that out, and the whole...
00:50:21
Speaker
The whole rookie drafts and how teams have approached it after free agency or before free agency. Yeah, exactly. So as the offseason continues and Summer League is like a cherry on the end of a very, very eventful ah barbecue. i feel like We've seen arguments. We've seen beefs. LeBron's in the corner not choosing a team. Tyler Hero and Bam are fighting. Draymond and UD are behind them also arguing.
00:50:50
Speaker
Like we've seen some... PG got traded again. The most valuable player in the NBA. Thank you very much. Continuing to begin dynasties. Left, right and center.
00:51:02
Speaker
we finally get a chance to sit back, join LeBron in kind of a review of all of the teams in the league and, and what they've done so far. And we've taken a look at some of their draft picks. Now we've seen them in summer league. We've seen some of the moves, some of the contracts they've signed. We have a better picture of what they're moving into next season.
00:51:23
Speaker
Who do you think has been, well, who has been your favorite offseason so far? Which team has kind of taken that mantle? Which team do you think not only has disappointed you, but still has a long way to go?
00:51:37
Speaker
you can go first here or even first last time. Okay, okay. See, I just, I have like choices to make here. Yeah, I don't want to say the Sixers because obviously it's like the Homer answer, but... But it is correct.
00:51:49
Speaker
ah ah Okay, if you believe that, I'll let you speak on them. I'm going to go with the Thunder. It's not like overly flashy or too like out there...
00:52:01
Speaker
of an off season where they went and drafted him you know high up on the board and they they traded for some big names no they just continued to be smart which is what they do and they traded away wiggins and isaiah joe to trim the payroll down a little bit they signed isaiah hartenstein they declined and a team option and they signed him to a long-term contract which is very smart he's kind of key to what they do and then off the back of that they draft the daimara as another backup big option which maybe frees chad up to play at the four a bit more and less reliance on him defensively as we saw kind of what happened in the playoffs last year and then they drafted bennett starts which is another good pickup so they added two strong rookies and they extended lou dork for a season and they got hartenstein in the long term while trimming off some of the the fat on the edges of their roster and then replacing them with these rookie contracts. so I think they just continue to be smart and set themselves up nicely for the future. and So that's why I think for me, other than the Sixers, there're the they're the hottest topic, this free agency. I think they've done an excellent job um in the offseason.
00:53:10
Speaker
I think the way they've moved in the last three to five years is something that every other NBA team should be studying because the way they put it would put that roster together, it's not costing them an arm and a leg. They haven't given away millions of first round picks left, right and center. They've just been so smart in the moves they've done, so smart in the rookies they've picked up.
00:53:29
Speaker
The SGA deal is going go down history as something that everyone's going to looking back and saying, how did they get them so cheap in the end? Because... Clearly, he just wasn't fancied. And they're like, oh, we we we definitely do fancy you. So come over here and we'll make you our star. And now he's the star of league.
00:53:44
Speaker
ah yeah I think they just move so smart at all the time. And it's something that... watched Moneyball. I watched it on the plane back. and again, it just brought me back to like what the way big the way Billy Bean was moving back then for the A's.
00:53:57
Speaker
There's someone in the Thunder background. There's someone who's going to come in and offer him the biggest contract ever for a GM in the NBA because they're like... What you did over there, we we really need that over here and we need it now. And hopefully he does what bity brown but Billy Bean does and turns it down as well. But yeah, i there's two I want to talk about. The sixes, obviously, I actually thought you were going to talk about them, but just really, really smart somewhere again.
00:54:20
Speaker
Getting Jalen Brown in is absolutely outrageously good business. Just say it's not in there. getting rid of Paul George, the poor man, RIP. But you know what? he's he's He's always there being the one that's the the dis sacrificial lamb that will go and go to another team. It's not like he's going to a team that's not going to be doing anything next year. He's gone to the Celtics, so he'll be absolutely fine there. Dean Wade, £39 million.
00:54:44
Speaker
And Fernie Simmons, 12.3 million over two years. These are all just really smart squad building. like you he's He's a really good scoring guard, and Simons is.
00:54:55
Speaker
Another one that just adds to your your list, and I'm not sure what you have behind Joel Embiid. I didn't see anything about his centre, but that's Stephanie on your list, and if you get that sword as well, I think you'll be absolutely flying.
00:55:07
Speaker
But on the other side of that JN and Brown deal, I actually like what the Celtics have done as well. outside of trading him away. Getting Quella on a four-year, £56 million pound deal, $56 million dollars deal even, is just outrageous business. He played 76 games from last year, 75 from the start.
00:55:26
Speaker
Over 20 points average. He was just absolutely exceptional and keeping him for that kind of a price seemed a bit too good to be true. It feels like there's something waiting to bite him at some point at that because it just feels too cheap.
00:55:38
Speaker
On top of that, Mitchell Robinson, three years, £47.4 million. Yeah, they just did really smart things outside of trading away their second best if not best player.
00:55:49
Speaker
Yeah, i I'm glad you won Sixers because I wasn't going to touch on it and I was going to be upset if none of us brought them up. I have two very different teams that are kind of, for me, they're they're my favorite.
00:56:04
Speaker
I think the Portland Trailblazers had a really, really good offseason. And now that sounds crazy. But I really like the moves they've done here on the edges to kind of, they've brought Robert Williams back. They they have Yang Hansen that they're still developing. Looks a lot better this summer league.
00:56:23
Speaker
They get rid of Jeremy Grant and Chris Murray and they bring in Ja Morant. I think it's a high reward. Like, I think it's a low risk, high reward move because if he sucks, oh, well, like we have plenty of other players who can step up and take that position right now. We've got plenty of youth on this team that have shown a lot of promise and they're kind of going all in to see what do we have right now? And I think teams kind of need to do this more. And the other team is very similar. It's the Charlotte Hornets.
00:56:56
Speaker
They've got rid of their two biggest culture cancers in that team. I think the ownership has realized, oh, Khan Kanopal literally has not is is replicating a season that we haven't seen since Steph Curry in his rookie season.
00:57:13
Speaker
and And going all in on Brandon Miller, him, bringing Nasri to the team, I think is such a nice pickup next to both of them as well. I'm really, i think these are going to be like my two fun teams of the Eastern and the Western Conference, but...
00:57:30
Speaker
I just felt like none of the other teams I've kind of got my gripes with every other team, especially the Lakers, as much as I would love to say, Oh, wow, they did so great putting a team around Luca. I think there's still too many holes, but they're not my least favorite team. My least favorite off season. So far has got to be the Cleveland Cavaliers because they're What's going on?
00:57:56
Speaker
that we All we did for the last season is complain about how bored we were of the Cavs. And what did they do? They went into the playoffs and they did okay. But did any of us here actually think they were going to make it to the finals?
00:58:12
Speaker
No, we're just bored of seeing the same thing over and over again. They lose Keon Ellis. Who's going to be your defensive guard? He was great in minutes for you. And he just couldn't get the floor. They refused to play him though. so like Exactly. Dean Wade goes to my wonderful Sixers and they re-signed Thomas Bryant.
00:58:34
Speaker
I... so Why? to us wait and They're just waiting on LeBron. That's literally it. The issue is, if you don't even if LeBron goes there, you have James Harden.
00:58:45
Speaker
you You would have been way better having Keon Ellis there. And then, if you don't get LeBron, I mean, Donovan Mitchell doesn't care. he said it in the interview. He got the back.
00:58:59
Speaker
What are you doing? What's the plan? The plan is LeBron and you can't be doing it for like the third time in his lifetime being like, oh, please save us. Please come back and save us.
00:59:14
Speaker
it's It's just disappointing. Make some moves. Do something interesting. Get his attention. You know? Jesus. le Yeah. LeBron is like De'Aaron Rodgers of NBA this summer, just sitting around. yeah Everyone knows where you're going. It's written on every single wall, in every single newspaper, in every single article you open. He's like,
00:59:33
Speaker
Yeah, everyone knows where I'm going. and I'm just going to take my time. am I'm going to sit here, shoot some hoops the backyard and put out tweets that make absolutely no sense because there's more emojis than i knew existed in him.
00:59:44
Speaker
And he'll he'll end up there and he will just go to absolute poo. Like, it's it I just don't see how it works that well for him. As you said, it's their third time trying to bring him back. He's in his 40s this time.
00:59:54
Speaker
You can't expect a 40-year-old come back and play with James Harden who already can't run. like it's just It's just madness. And it brings me on perfectly to my worst summer so far.
01:00:05
Speaker
And it's not even just one team. It's one contract. And it's the Trae Young contract to Washington. It's absolutely outrageous, lads. $212 million over four years for a player who is a best mid-level.
01:00:21
Speaker
Like, he's he's he's not someone you should to be trying to build your franchise around after all the moves you made, bringing in all those big players. And then he's like, oh, I don't actually want to be here. Give me a quarter of a billion dollars and I'll think about staying. It's absolutely criminal from the Wizards. I actually had so much hope for the Wizards when they did that trade and they set himself in Davis for the rest of the season. like, oh, they might actually do something next year.
01:00:46
Speaker
And you're looking there, youre like, what is the actual plan here? Because giving him 212 million doesn't seem like a plan. Yeah, I'm going to jump off the back of that and go to a team that has refused to give somebody a contract so far as my most disappointing team, and that's the Detroit Pistons.
01:01:03
Speaker
Now, I'm not going to say that they should pay Jalen Durant what he wants or an incredible amount of money. But at least do something. Because Doran is sitting out there.
01:01:17
Speaker
Asar Thompson could be signed to and a rookie-scale extension, but they haven't done that. they They literally drafted two players who, you know, I don't think they're going to make an instant impact. Re-sign Kevin Herder and Javante Green.
01:01:31
Speaker
Let Tobias Harris walk, who... hate him as much as you want as a Sixers fan. He contributed to that team last year. They still haven't really added any shooting or any additional, like, on-ball players that can take the load off Cade.
01:01:45
Speaker
where Where do you think that this is going to get better? They they sent Beef Stew away. Like... I don't understand what what they think is going to improve after the moves that they made. It just seems like they're worse or maybe the same had a push, but they haven't really done anything.
01:02:03
Speaker
And they were so bad in the playoffs. And like just because you played well in the regular season, that doesn't mean you can go and re-up. just talked about the Cavs. We've seen what happens when you just re-up what you have because of a good regular season. and so yeah they've been really disappointing for me personally i think that they could have done a lot more to contend in this east and it doesn't make a whole bunch of sense um i do want to say on the sixer shane since you brought them up that caleb love two-way contract is so good he's going to be very very very good on that on this team the fact you don't have to use a roster spot on him either and you mentioned simons and wade exactly what we needed
01:02:44
Speaker
Huck Party is the backup now for Embiid along with maybe if we play a little bit of Adem Bona or Johnny b Broome cleaning up in the in the summer league. guys and But no, I think we probably still do need to send another backup centre, but at least there's something there and I am happy with the offseason has gone as well as it has, but the Pistons have really let me down. And I thought that they would at least try and do something because they're so close, but it feels like they're just going to remain just as close as they were last year and not get any further.
01:03:16
Speaker
Yeah, I always find with teams like the Pistons where like the regular season they had was, I presume it was unexpected because none of us were talking about them when we were doing our breakdown last summer. And you know,
01:03:27
Speaker
a hell of a lot more of about basketball than I would. I'm more of a watcher. You're more of observers than I am. And they've kind of just sat back on their hands and just said, oh yeah, the last season was good. Let's just go again.
01:03:38
Speaker
But as you said, they were so terrible in the playoffs that but like What pluse is going again? Is going again, making the playoffs again, and you're happy with that. Happy with just making the playoffs, being one of those Chicago Bull teams that you eventually go from first seed to third seed to fifth seed to play in.
01:03:53
Speaker
And all of a sudden, everything is blown up in your face, and all just gone. It's just gone by the wayside. And that's one thing that just doesn't make sense move to me with the Pistons. i just want to touch on another contract. I'll let Michael jump in on this. I'm sure he'll have plenty to say.
01:04:07
Speaker
That's Austin Reeves' contract to talk to me. It seemed like 184 million over four years. 41, 42, 46, 49 is the breakdown over the four years. It's another one that just feels like complete panic mode for me. It's like, I'm not going to say here, okay, we'll give you 190 million. If he had waited a week, he'd gotten 300 million. He'd be like, well, I'm better than Trae Young, so I want more than him.
01:04:34
Speaker
it It just seems the Lakers offseason has been very strange because they've been kind of building to it for like half of the regular season. There was little hit pieces about LeBron and him not being happy in his role.
01:04:50
Speaker
But like we said, he had to come in and save you at the end. And then even weird're look at their ah the players that left them this offseason.
01:05:00
Speaker
Every player that had a significant moment this offseason in the playoffs is not on the team anymore. Every single one. Like, it really does feel more of Rob Palenka trying to wash the hands of the Lakers than it is someone who's actually trying to improve the team on the long run.
01:05:26
Speaker
The ideal version of Luka of an a Luka-led team is what we saw in Dallas Mavericks. And what that means is is a ton of good role players that can shoot threes, super athletic wings.
01:05:42
Speaker
And i feel like that's their biggest weakness. Giving Austin Reeves this huge contract and kicking LeBron to the curb is is fine if you have a long-term plan. But you boot all of your draft picks after we've just talked about how important rookie contracts are.
01:05:59
Speaker
so You can't just go undrafted forever. You got Austin Reeves. That's like one-in-a-generational thing. You can't just bank on that. so it It's a lot of money.
01:06:10
Speaker
They really like him. They believe in him. And they believe that they can get to the finals the same way the Mavs did in Lucas last year. But I think they're just too shorthanded. We're just going to be seeing the Lakers in the 4-8 seed for the next three years, unfortunately.
01:06:29
Speaker
yeah i agree with that i think that's so far from that mavs roster like when they did pick up um gafford and pj washington during that season There's no PJ Washington-esque player on this team. like The first thing they should have done is... Go ahead.
01:06:47
Speaker
No, Rui just left. Yeah, that's what i was going to say. The first thing they should have done is re-up Rui. So that should have been the first step because he fits this team and they didn't do that.
01:06:58
Speaker
So all they're left with is Vanderbilt. And like they went with Reeves because... luca likes him and the kessler deal while we both did like it it it's it's high risk high reward so it might not work out but yeah i think interesting to look back i don't know when we move into the season how we'll feel i'm sure where lebron ends up will play an impact on how we see the season for rolling out but good to get the thoughts midway through summer league and appreciate you for these two topics michael they were great to think just before you go
01:07:32
Speaker
Yeah, just before you go, it always feels like summer league comes out of nowhere. Like it feels like the season and literally ended four minutes ago and it's like, oh, here's more summer league. And someone who's struggling in summer league is my boy, Milik Chamberlain. He's having an awful tough time. He can't run.
01:07:50
Speaker
He's just too big. He does some so he just he needs to get in the gym for the summer and then he might have a hope. Yeah, we leave it there. Michael, you appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you very much. guys We'll be on Milk Chamberlain Watch.
01:08:01
Speaker
Talk to you next week. All right, so there goes Michael. Now it is time to wrap up. and It's like a time warp. I'd love to see, i'd I'd love to just show you Michael's first 18 attempts at starting that section the nba it's it's one of It's one of the best things that's ever happened. Absolutely superb. It's funny to... to go between recordings because obviously we're recording just the two of us and we recorded with michael at a different time and i recorded with daniel earlier so it's a lot of chopping and changing but we've got to the end and we hope that you and enjoyed it next week obviously we'll have the recap of the world cup final which will be interesting we obviously we all went for spain so it's probably going to be an argentina win that we're going to be but yeah i'll i'll throw to you shane to wrap it as usual
01:08:52
Speaker
Yeah, just thanks so much for listening. um I've been here now for, I think it's three of the last five, but I am back now and I've no more holidays planned. So I'll be here every week going forward so he can start listening again or stop listening if you're listening to avoid me. So just honestly, just thanks to all the support. We really do appreciate it. still on the road to that 100K, so help us out. Get closer. We will see you next week.
01:09:18
Speaker
Bing bong.