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Record Breakers, KDB's Legacy, NBA Playoff Matchups & More !
10 Plays1 month ago
Impossible records that could get broken
- Ovy passing Gretzky
NBA playoffs
- Cavs or Thunder - who has a better chance of winning their conference
- First round matchups we'd like to see
KDB Farewell
- Where does he rank amongst prem greats
- Biggest City legend - Kompany, Aguero, David Silva or KDB
Game of the week
- CL QF First Legs
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Crew Welcome
00:00:09
Emeka
Thank you.
00:00:09
Chino Onwuka
Hello and welcome to another episode of The Love of the Game. It's your boy Chino and I'm here with the fam, the crew as always. Chico say what's up.
00:00:20
Chuku
What's up, what's up, guys? Glad to be back. Not feeling the greatest, but, you know, still got to put on the show and give y'all, you know, what y'all been missing. And hopefully we have another banging episode for y'all today.
National Championship Monday and Sports Updates
00:00:33
Chino Onwuka
Amazing, amazing. Emeka, what's up, how are you, what's good?
00:00:38
Emeka
Hey fam, episode 20. We still kick in. We back at it. who thought we who would Look at us. who would have thought? We're ready for another episode with the with the people during National Championship
Ovechkin Breaks Gretzky's Record
00:00:49
Emeka
Monday. What's good?
00:00:51
Chino Onwuka
I know, right? And it sounds like like it's it's it's coming down to the wire, which is what you always want for the final of of March Madness. So, you know, we will keep you up to date.
00:01:03
Chino Onwuka
You know, once the game is over, we will sort of indicate who wins. Currently, there's 324 left in the second half, and Houston is up 60-57 to Florida.
00:01:16
Chino Onwuka
So we will see how that ends. But... You know what, we we will we will probably have more takes on on March Madness and further episodes, but we do have and a pretty stacked agenda today.
00:01:30
Chino Onwuka
Some big things have been happening in the world of sports. And most importantly, I know we don't talk a lot of hockey here. In fact, we haven't talked hockey yet. Apologies, apologies. But, you know, a record has been broken that we just have to talk about.
Ovechkin's Journey and Challenges
00:01:46
Chino Onwuka
Alexander Ovechkin, the great eight, has somehow eclipsed... He's now the record holder for most career goals scored.
00:02:00
Chino Onwuka
Rising above the immortal, the undisputable hockey goal, Wayne Gretzky, in what seems to be a record that would never be broken, he has...
00:02:14
Chino Onwuka
done it in amazing fashion, scoring from scoring his signature girl from the left slot on a one timer. And it's as someone who follows hockey, you know, moving to Canada and learning about the game and understand and learning about the grades and what they've done, you know, seeing all the records that Gretzky had, there were so many that I thought,
00:02:40
Chino Onwuka
would never be broken.
Unbreakable Sports Records Discussion
00:02:42
Chino Onwuka
and it's that one in particular was one of them. You know, people talk about how high scoring the game was in the 80s. You know, we experienced a dead puck era. You know, it's a different game now.
00:02:54
Chino Onwuka
Never thought someone in this day and age would be able to score that many goals. And he has done it and And it's an amazing story. You know, he was chasing it coming into the year.
00:03:08
Chino Onwuka
He was on fire. Minds broke his leg and people thought, wow, like how, how, How bitter is that? Like he's chasing this record. He's broken his leg. He's 40 years old. You know, he might have lost his chance. Who knows how he'll be affected coming back. I guess we'll have to wait till next season, hopefully. And not only did this dude come back, but he still managed to do it in the same season and break the record with games to spare. Like unreal.
00:03:34
Chino Onwuka
So in the spirit of that, you know, we're going to start off this episode. Each one of us is going to drop one seemingly impossible record in sports. that most people think will never be broken, but we're goingnna <unk>'re we're gonna hedge our bets, we're gonna make some takes to give which records we think could be, can be, will be broken, and who will break that record.
00:04:05
Chino Onwuka
So with that, Emeka, I'm gonna come to you as as one of our historians within the group. What record are you picking and who's gonna break it?
Potential Record Breakers in Sports
00:04:17
Emeka
Yeah, not to sound like a hater on Ovechkin. Breaking the goal record is unbelievable. Shouts to him for that. But the you talked about Gretzky stats. The Gretzky record that always blew my mind, and in my opinion, one of the most unbreakable record in sports, is he was the all-time leading goal scorer.
00:04:36
Emeka
And if he never scored a single goal, he'd be the all-time leading points guy in the and NHL. That's insanity.
00:04:41
Chino Onwuka
And by a lot, even if it was just assists, he'd still be lapping the field in terms of points.
00:04:41
Emeka
Like, yeah.
00:04:47
Emeka
He has 300 more assists than Ovechkin has points. Like, it doesn't make sense how what his stats were. Like you said, the undisputed goat, Wayne Gretzky. But in the spirit of records that will be broken, i have a spicy one.
00:05:02
Emeka
Like, I feel like the easy cop-out answers here are any of the single-game NFL records because extra game, passing has exploded. Like, I can, you know, Calvin Johnson's yards or Manning touchdowns.
00:05:14
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
Single-Game Records Predictions
00:05:16
Emeka
That's easy. I got to go big, and I got to go real big. And I'm going that within the next five years, five to ten years, someone will break well to 100 points in the game record.
00:05:29
Emeka
It's going to take a lot of factors. Yeah, I thought I got a spicy one.
00:05:34
Chino Onwuka
all
00:05:34
Emeka
It's going to take a lot of factors. Chief among them, I think the game will have to go to like double overtime. I think that's great.
00:05:40
Chino Onwuka
yeah
00:05:40
Chuku
Really?
00:05:41
Emeka
It'll have to go to double overtime.
00:05:42
Chuku
100 points? You think somebody's going to get 100 points in the game, bro?
00:05:45
Emeka
I think with the level of shot making in the and and the NBA nowadays, someone's eventually going to catch fire and hit like 18 threes in the game.
00:05:46
Chuku
70?
00:05:54
Emeka
It's just going to happen. And if it gets the line enough and it gets enough usage, i can guys are hitting 70 now. It used to be I never saw someone hit 70 for the longest time. Now it happens every other year.
00:06:06
Emeka
Like, look, I had 70-something last season.
00:06:08
Chuku
seventy And a hundred. That's still 30 more points, my brother.
00:06:14
Emeka
I understand.
00:06:14
Chuku
Okay, okay.
00:06:16
Emeka
I understand. going to cheat a little bit and I'm going to nominate two names.
00:06:18
Chuku
See,
00:06:21
Chuku
oh
00:06:21
Emeka
It's going to be... if Again, I think... I don't know what... listen i might The name part is is crazy because can't predict. I do it's going to break in the next 10 years. And I would think it would be either Jokic or Anthony Edwards.
00:06:32
Emeka
but My logic behind this is with Jokic, the Nuggets, i don't know if you've been watching, he's been putting up some ridiculous numbers, and the Nuggets have been losing, because Nuggets have nobody.
00:06:43
Emeka
And eventually the word's gonna get out, to beat the Nuggets, you just have to let Jokic score. You just don't double him, because when he gets assists, when he beats you. So these games, when he's having 50 and 20, you know, 60-20, take away those 20 assists and make them more points,
00:06:59
Emeka
Again, he's got to be hot from three that game. That's the hard part. He has to be hot from three. But I think if a double over, triple overtime Nuggets game and Jokic just has no one playing, he's just taking 60 shots, he can touch it.
00:07:12
Emeka
And the wild card, don't know if you saw the game, quote-unquote, game-winning three and hit against the Sixers.
00:07:21
Emeka
Ant is, for some reason, turned into a sniper this year. He tops out usually at like six, seven, eight threes in the game. If you tell me someone's going hit 15, 16, 17 threes in the game, I think it'll be eh.
00:07:33
Emeka
And he hits that has that kind of game again. like It will have to be at a double overtime game. I'm not going to say anyone breaks it in regulation. But the right game, double overtime, triple overtime. He gets enough. People are injured.
00:07:45
Emeka
He gets enough shots up. I think he can come close to it. Booker did did it. Mitchell did it. Luka did it. Got 70. It happens frequently now. And someone's going to get just that little 30 points a lot of points. But, you know, give him an extra 20 minutes and he's feeling it. I
March Madness Game Updates
00:08:02
Emeka
think it can happen.
00:08:05
Chino Onwuka
Nah, that's a good one. See, I don't think it'll be Jokic because I don't think he's someone that would chase after it. Like, he'll do it if he needs to, but he won't, like, hunt it. Some of those other names you mentioned, like Luka, Ant, like, I think they would they would hunt it. And, yeah, they they have they have the ability to go fuego and come close. I think, you know, it was trending that way, especially last year before...
00:08:31
Chino Onwuka
The NBA, you know, secretly let more physicality back in the game. So we haven't seen those explosions that seem to be happening happening seemingly every week last season. But, you know, i would say Luka just because he's gotten close.
00:08:48
Chino Onwuka
Ant is a good shout. oh I think just some of the – maybe just because he's older, he's not as likely. Steph with the way he can just go –
00:08:57
Emeka
I'd say Steph would be a good one.
00:08:58
Chino Onwuka
that's crazy From three, like if there's anyone who will hit like 20 threes in a game is Steph.
00:09:04
Emeka
The issue though, and probably why it happen,
00:09:06
Chino Onwuka
It's from the power line, right?
00:09:09
Emeka
His teams are haters and if you if a guy's going for like 60 they're gonna just double them like that's what's gonna have teams are haters They don't want history.
00:09:14
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:09:17
Emeka
That's why I don't like it have to be a stubborn team like Luca last year where the Hawks refused to double him and he just scored 70 on them because you they were like this is a joke That game with the overtime double overtime like that was the game that made me think someone gonna break it because I really felt that they played longer look what they broke it because you cannot miss
00:09:25
Chino Onwuka
yeah
00:09:37
Emeka
But now yeah i just the the show level of shot making I'm seeing the league these days, someone's going to catch fire. And hey, I hope I'm watching when happens.
00:09:45
Chino Onwuka
Nah, that
NBA Playoff Prospects and Matchups
00:09:46
Chino Onwuka
is a good shout. And just an update, 46 seconds left. Florida has taken the lead 64-63. It's coming down to the wire, folks. OK, Chukwu, do you got one for us, or do you want me to go first?
00:09:59
Chuku
No, I got one for you all, but, man, I mean, you're on the right track, bro, but I think you just won the wrong record, man, because 100 points, I just don't see an NBA team letting somebody go off that much, man. Like 70, 70, 80 has been, you know, we've seen 80 plus with Kobe, but, man, I just don't think, and we've never seen someone beat Kobe yet, let alone go for 100, but you know what?
00:10:25
Chuku
Fair, fair shot, fair shot. But the one, the Wills record, I think, is more likely to be doable, especially in today's day and age. And i have a couple names that I have a good chance of of accomplishing this Wills record, is the consecutive games of 30 points or more.
00:10:43
Chuku
And we've seen little instances already of this with a guy named SGA, who has been putting up buckets on a consistent basis.
00:10:53
Chuku
like nobody's business. And I just think, you know, with the way the NBA is going and with certain teams, I definitely think SGA, clearly the number one option, clearly the man, clearly one of the best perimeter talents in the NBA.
00:11:10
Chuku
I just think as he progresses within the next two, three years, that's a record that's very doable that can be done. And more importantly, a guy like Anthony Edwards, another guy that I believe can fit that same mold of a pure scorer who can consistently, as he gets, you know, his he's very still very young, but as he gets older, mean, I don't see, you know, any reason why, especially now with, know, Cat out of the picture, he can't be a main focal point in terms of of scoring. And those are just two names I think have a good chance of getting that consistency record of 30-plus a game for the, you know, for 65 games or 66, I guess, to break the record.
00:11:51
Chuku
in a row. So that would be my shout for a possible oh you know record being broken.
00:11:59
Chino Onwuka
And who who who owns the record?
00:12:02
Chuku
Wilt, a guy named Wilt Trimbley.
00:12:04
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, so wanted to bring this up. I think there are so many world records that will never be broken. Is someone going to do 66 games of 30 more points or not? If MJ didn't do it, I don't think anyone would.
00:12:20
Chino Onwuka
Honestly, the person I think has the best of ability to do it, but I don't think he actually will, is Wendy because yeah it has to be a point where you just hope he misses.
00:12:29
Chuku
That was my next name. So I'm going go ahead and get it.
00:12:35
Chino Onwuka
Now that we've seen that Wendy can shoot, if he ever gets to point where you know he's able to finish inside, he gets fouled, and you can't guard a shot from three,
00:12:35
Chuku
Hmm. Hmm. Hmm
00:12:46
Chino Onwuka
And it just depends. And once he gets that good, once he matures, he's in his prime. it just depend It will all depend on just if he wants to do it or not. Like, I think
Potential NBA Records and Player Achievements
00:12:54
Chino Onwuka
Wemby is the greatest there. But there's so many records that will never be broken.
00:12:56
Emeka
so
00:12:59
Chino Onwuka
I think that the the best one is just the season where he averaged more than 48 minutes a game.
00:13:04
Emeka
I was going to say, that's the record.
00:13:05
Chino Onwuka
That's the one that will never.
00:13:06
Emeka
They'll never be broken.
00:13:08
Chino Onwuka
There's some records that are unlikely. Seemingly possible like some of the assist records from Stockton all those rebound records that you saw from the 80s and 70s where and People always talk. Oh, we missed a game Well, if a guy is averaging 20 plus rebounds a game that should tell you how many how many misses and bricks were going on during that period so lot of those records won't be broken You know, some of the NFL, you know, all-time career records, even with additional games, there's a bunch of records I don't see being broken.
00:13:40
Chino Onwuka
Jerry Rice's receiving records, Emmitt Smith's rushing record, you know, I don't see those being broken, even with the extra games. The one I do see being broken, just because i there's one guy I can point out who is, you know, the prince that was promised, is the and NFL player,
00:14:01
Chino Onwuka
career passing yard record and touchdown whichever one you go because You have a guy that's far out in front of everyone in both those records, a man by the name of Tom Brady, you know who people have labeled the GOAT, deservedly so, but you know there's a young buck who's who's coming for him. It just depends on how long he wants to play.
00:14:22
Chino Onwuka
It's not a surprise to y'all, the name I'm going to mention. It's not as sexy or as much of a hot take as some of the other ones people have spoken about, but obviously that man is Patrick Mahomes.
00:14:33
Chino Onwuka
He is coming for Tom Brady and all his records.
00:14:38
Emeka
The thing is, the reason why I picked the 100 points game is I feel like a one-off game is easier than the consecutive one. is 65 consecutive games is insane. like That's a lot. of Regardless, Mahomes with the with all-time passing, should. He should.
00:14:55
Emeka
you should But the longevity of Brady, like we take it for granted how long he played and also how little games he missed because of injury. He missed that one season because of the ACL, but Mahomes didn't play his rookie year, so it kind of balances out. And then he's got to play like 12 more years, pretty much, to do it.
00:15:13
Emeka
that's a long He's almost 30. That's a long time. That's a long time.
00:15:18
Chino Onwuka
I agree.
00:15:18
Emeka
agree.
00:15:20
Chino Onwuka
This was a nice balance between right it's not it's not a piece of cake at all. It's not a guarantee. Probably if there's a step statistician out there, it'd be pretty low odds, but you can sort of see how it could come to fruition. And it's one, I think people are going to be counting down just like Like the other, you know, all-time scoring record that was broken with LeBron. LeBron was similar case where, yeah, he if there was someone that could do it, it would be him. But it's like, man, it would take everything going together, longevity, not missing games, still being to play at a high level to an old age.
00:16:00
Chino Onwuka
And... Nobody thought anyone would top Kareem's record either. and it did. and it's been blown past really. So is it likely that someone's going to break Tom Brady's records? No, but I think Mahomes could do it.
Messi's Record and Its Significance
00:16:14
Chino Onwuka
And, you know, just want to shout out some other records that I just want to highlight that will never be broken. This one, it brings me joy to say this. Lionel Messi's record of goals in a calendar year of 91.
00:16:31
Chino Onwuka
Like, boys, 91 in one calendar year will never be broken. As long as the rules of football as we know it stay the same. If they change it to some gobbledygook so that Gen Zs and Gen Alphas are happy, then maybe. But the beautiful game as we know it, no one will even come close. And just to put it out there, Messi, 91 goals.
00:16:59
Chino Onwuka
The next closest, which are all amazing accomplishments in themselves, the next closest are both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lewandowski with 69. So this is 22 goals.
00:17:13
Emeka
Listen, fam, you don't have to tell me that.
00:17:13
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:17:15
Emeka
I was i was watch un locked in that year.
00:17:18
Chino Onwuka
Oh, man.
00:17:18
Emeka
I couldn't believe what I was seeing. 91 means you he scored 50 goals in La Liga that year. like 50 goals in the league that year.
00:17:30
Emeka
Just the league.
00:17:31
Chino Onwuka
that That's crazy.
00:17:34
Emeka
It doesn't make sense.
00:17:36
Chino Onwuka
That's crazy. Okay. na that That was an exciting one to talk about. no's It's always fun being able to witness history happen. I think we've we've we had the pleasure to to live you know in a... for for For all the way people badmouthed,
00:17:55
Chino Onwuka
sports these days is in a golden generation of greats you know in in football we had we got to
Current NBA Standings and Playoff Predictions
00:18:03
Chino Onwuka
witness the rise to the prime to the golden years of both messy and Cristiano Ronaldo and breaking news Florida has won the 2025 NCAA tournament 65 63 so congrats to the Gators but as I was saying got the minutes Messi and Ronaldo in the NBA we've got to witness LeBron James in the NHL you have Sidney Crosby Wayne Gretz I'm sorry Alexander Ovechkin all these guys coming on at the same time we got Tiger Woods we got Serena Williams Djokovic Federer Nadal all these guys maybe all they're all around the same age so it's just just crazy just crazy
00:18:54
Chino Onwuka
Okay, so now we're going to move on to to other other topics, things that are happening today in sports, and we're going to talk about the NBA. We haven't talked about NBA in a while because, you know, the real season is just about to begin. you know, everything we've seen in the regular season has just been you know, an appetizer for for what is the real season, when things get serious, when things get real in the NBA, which is the playoffs. So we're coming to the end of the regular season.
00:19:26
Chino Onwuka
You know, everything's pretty much been sorted out. Teams are just jockeying as much as they can for playoff positioning. And so we're going to talk about that right now. So first thing I want to ask, we've got two teams who are leading their conferences, two teams that are filled with young talent that people thought they were gonna be good promising but didn't expect them to come out dominate the way they did. And so that is the Cavs in the East.
00:19:54
Chino Onwuka
and the Thunder in the West. i think we've spoken about those two teams in previous episodes of the pod, but my question to y'all is, which team has a better chance of winning their conference? And that is to mean, which team do we see better?
00:20:13
Chino Onwuka
coming out to be the representative for their conferences in the NBA playoffs and representing their conferences in the NBA
Cavs vs Thunder: NBA Finals Chances
00:20:23
Chino Onwuka
finals. Chuka, I'll start with you.
00:20:26
Chuku
We're sticking with just all the two number one seats? Or is it just any teams in general? Just to confirm your question.
00:20:33
Chino Onwuka
right back to the Cavs and Thunder.
00:20:35
Chuku
Okay, just the captains on there. Oh, man.
00:20:39
Chuku
It It has to be... has to be OKC. But for the record, I don't think either of them are going to make it to the finals, if you're asking me, honestly speaking.
00:20:51
Chuku
But if I had to pick between just those two number one seats... I would say the Thunder, just because the Cavs, as good as they've been, just don't see them beating a healthy Boston team in a game of seven. I just i don't see it.
00:21:10
Chuku
I don't see it. And I think all Kings see it, in my opinion, have a better chance of beating their competitions in the West than I do think Cavs have of beating the Boston Celtics in the group seven. So oh if if I have to pick one, I'm going to stick with OKC.
00:21:33
Chuku
That's what I'm going go with.
00:21:35
Chino Onwuka
Okay, we've got one vote for OKC. Mecca, how about you?
00:21:41
Emeka
It's tough because I think that OKC are better than the Cavs. And I also agree Chukwu that I think OKC can say they're the best team in the conference.
00:21:56
Emeka
Deep down, either Cavs will tell you. they wouldn They would believe Boston's better than them. But all that being said, I would still pick the Cavs more likely to make the finals and OKC to make the finals.
00:22:07
Emeka
And that's only because... I am pretty confident that the Cavs will smack whoever is going to be the eighth seed. The Magic, the Hawks, the Bulls, the Heat. It's going to be easy 4-1.
00:22:19
Chuku
put some respect on my Orlando Magic, bro.
00:22:19
Emeka
Yes. Even the Magic. Even the Magic.
00:22:22
Chuku
You really think so?
00:22:23
Emeka
It's going to be easy 4-1. Then they're going to
00:22:26
Chuku
Mind you, we gave them game seven last year. Okay. its good
00:22:31
Emeka
And then they're going to beat whoever is the Pacers or Bucks or Pistons, whoever is that next round. They're going to comfortably favored in both those series. If it plays out how everyone thinks it plays out in the finals, they meet the Celtics and yeah, it'll be a tough game.
00:22:46
Emeka
But at least they have an easy path to get there.
East and West Playoff Dynamics
00:22:49
Emeka
There's a real world where the OKC Thunder play the Golden State Warriors. The Nuggets, the Timberwolves.
00:22:56
Emeka
Like, they might play a killer in the first round. There's a real world where OKC lose in the first round. I can't see a world where the Cavs do. I mean, if they do beat the AFC, they're going to probably play again like the Lakers...
00:23:10
Emeka
Warriors, like they're going to play two great teams in the in both rounds. And even though I think they're the best team in the West, matchups and everything, they get the wrong team in the wrong series.
00:23:22
Emeka
They get the Lakers and Lucas hot. They get the Warriors and Curry's cooking. They get your Nuggets and maybe Jamal gets healthy. All these things happen. To me, it wouldn't be a shame to lose to the Nuggets or the Warriors or the Lakers.
00:23:36
Emeka
These are all just great teams. So even though i think that the best team in the West, I would not be shocked. If you told me right now why it all happened and the Timberwolves or the AFC and they beat them in in a series, I wouldn't be shocked. I'd be like, now I can see it. Maybe Ant caught fire.
00:23:52
Emeka
Rudy we held the paint down. Like, Next round, they told me they matched up against the Warriors of Nuggets and they lose or the Lakers. I wouldn't be shocked either. So it's tough because, again, I really think they're best team in league even. Forget the West, the Thunder. But the West is such a gauntlet.
00:24:08
Emeka
I don't know who's going to come out of it. So just by that little chance then, I can see the Cavs beating Celtics, know, three out of ten times, four out of ten times. That's higher percentage than you tell me the Thunder come out of the West, man. i don't know know who's going to it.
00:24:23
Chino Onwuka
No, Emeka is like you you you you took the words right out of my my mouth. like As you were talking, it's like, bruh, my manager's taking all my points because I completely agree with you. I think the Thunder have been the best team in the NBA by far. They're hungry. you know When people talk about you know the steps teams to make,
00:24:44
Chino Onwuka
before they can become champions you know the thunder have been following that script but man the west is a bloodbath like you said you know let's say you know the timberwolves finish eight so that would be a first round against the timberwolves if they win that denver's currently the fourth seed you know let's say all the all the the higher seeds win then they face the nuggets next And you have Jokic against what is a smaller team. I know they got Hartenstein, but you got Jokic, championship pedigree against the Young Thunder, and then whoever they play in the final. like like like Look at the West Thunder, the Rockets, the Lakers, Nuggets, the Clippers with Kawhi healthy, the Warriors, the Timberwolves.
00:25:32
Chino Onwuka
The Grizzlies were were second or third team earlier the season. think they've got some stuff going on, but still, that's what the team want to take lightly. So the West is just so tough. And if you're just looking at if you're looking at permutations and combinations, you're almost guaranteed, like I said, for the Cavs to make it to the conference finals at least, whereas the Thunder
Orlando Magic's Playoff Potential
00:25:53
Chino Onwuka
aren't guaranteed. So just looking at the math, yeah, so I would also agree that the Cavs are more likely to be the team.
00:26:01
Chino Onwuka
representing their conference in the NBA Finals. But, you know some you know, a lot of the times, you know, the the playoffs, you know, that those those first round of games aren't interesting.
00:26:13
Chino Onwuka
And, you know, it's probably going to be the the case for the East as usual. But, man, every game in the West is going to be appointment viewing for that first round in every round of
00:26:22
Emeka
Hey, I'm going to push back a little. i honestly think the East playoffs are are getting slept on. People have the that mindset. and i'm i'm challenge Pacers-Bucks are one of the few rivalries left in the league. If you told me I have to bet on one series that people going to box in, I pick Pacers-Bucks.
00:26:40
Emeka
The Pistons-Knicks.
00:26:41
Chuku
This is so disrespectful, bro.
00:26:44
Emeka
I say, if it's Magic-Bucks,
00:26:44
Chuku
I can try to let you finish, bro. Yeah.
00:26:46
Emeka
magic
00:26:47
Chuku
Because the Magic, potentially an 8th seed.
00:26:47
Emeka
the if if it's man That'd be interesting. i mean I'm watching that. think the playoffs general going to be great this year.
00:26:54
Chuku
See,
00:26:57
Chuku
I just think the East, I mean, look, obviously we all know what's going on in the West, but like the East just doesn't get enough and you got enough respect, to my opinion, because some of the teams that I'm seeing in the playoffs, Detroit played basketball. They have been very good this year.
00:27:14
Chuku
like The turnaround that they've they've had, they have been one of the better teams, in my opinion, to watch no just in general. And it's going to see them in the playoffs for the first time in years.
00:27:26
Chuku
It's going be very exciting to watch. The fact that Magic are the eighth seed, or who's that going to be in the play in?
00:27:31
Chino Onwuka
No, I think you're going to move along. I'm excited to watch a lot of these young teams, you know, a lot of teams their first time.
00:27:34
Chuku
What?
00:27:38
Chino Onwuka
But if we're talking about excitement, stakes in this playoffs, okay, yeah, we're talking about the Detroit Pistons. They've had an amazing season, especially after the season they had last year.
00:27:49
Chino Onwuka
They're playing the Knicks. If the Knicks are healthy, Pistons are healthy. What do you think that series is going to be?
00:27:55
Emeka
I think can go seven.
00:27:56
Chuku
I don't know.
00:27:56
Emeka
I wouldn't do Shaq.
00:27:58
Chuku
I'm telling you, Ryan, I don't know because earlier at the start of the year, everyone was on the Knicks.
00:27:58
Emeka
I wouldn't do Shaq.
00:28:03
Chino Onwuka
It's a competitive 4-1, 4-2. Come on, guys.
00:28:06
Chuku
You think Knicks win the 4-2?
00:28:07
Emeka
I promise you that series would be competitive. think he might go seven.
00:28:12
Chino Onwuka
fortune
00:28:12
Chuku
I'm telling you, I don't know. I'm telling you, don't know because I'm telling you right now, Detroit can surprise folks, man. That's how good these guys have been. You know what? But that's the point. i'll back umm I'm trying to come back to Mecca's point on telling me the Cavs are going to win Cavs in 5-1 over potentially a matchup with my magic.
00:28:33
Chuku
I'm trying to tell you the disrespect my magic of God in this because obviously we're not willing to follow through in terms of rankings as we did the previous year. I'll have you note, we were literally half the season with either France or Paolo or both out of the lineup and we still somehow found a way to clinch a playing position. And I can guarantee you right now it's a lot. We are going to make it – we're going to win our playing matchups.
00:29:04
Chuku
We're going to make it to the – I won't say peaking, but we're entering – we're going to be entering the play-in and as clean as good of a basketball as we have been playing with Paolo coming to his own, being consistently getting teams
Intriguing NBA Playoff Matchups
00:29:22
Chuku
buckets. France, they're one of the better second options.
00:29:26
Chuku
It hurts that we love Jalen Sucks for the year, but I'm going to tell you all right now, don't be surprised if we give Cavs a series. That's all i'm going to say. I'm going to preface like that. i preface but the And I'm telling you, Paulo has a vengeance.
00:29:44
Chuku
He does not like the Cavs. I'm not as sure if you all are keeping or paying attention earlier in the season, in the regular season when Ty Jerome from the Cavs was there talking mad shit or trying to talk mad shit to to to my boy Paulo. And i don't know what he said. He said some things.
00:30:00
Chuku
Paulo said some things. And the end of that game, Paulo gave them the business. we got the W that game. All I'm saying is Paulo is going to be very motivated. to be playing this kind of team that obviously we have nothing to lose.
00:30:12
Chuku
The season is going to be a write-off. We've been hurt most of the year. I'm just saying, you know, it's going to be an interesting series.
00:30:18
Chino Onwuka
now is what you Now you're right is gonna get a super competitive for one series
00:30:24
Chuku
Okay, okay, okay, okay.
00:30:26
Chino Onwuka
made Every game I see 80 79 games. Well, I'm sorry like On magic. yes They had a lot of guys injured but that first they went both guys were back I think they were probably still trying to work out the kings of both Paulo and Franz playing together again. They're both trying to find the rhythm and So there was a time there where i didn't know what was going on with the magic. I didn't even want to say anything to you because I was like, man,
00:30:52
Chino Onwuka
Chico's probably hurting inside. They have right of the ship down the last couple of weeks, last couple of months. You know, Banchero has been giving the whole of the NBA buckets, which is true, but I'm sorry. I'm just looking at the Cavs' point differential of 9.8, the Cavs' point differential of negative 0.5.
00:31:13
Chino Onwuka
There's so many other statistics I can mention. This isn't a one-game, you know, knockout situation. This is a seven-game series. i I'm sorry.
00:31:24
Chino Onwuka
The Cavs have taken a leap. The Magic, for reasons, haven't taken that same leap, whereas last year they were close.
00:31:31
Emeka
I'm just in
00:31:34
Chino Onwuka
But even though they were close, the series still turned out one way, and now there's there's a gap between the teams. I'm sorry. Not to say that there aren't going to be good games in the East, guys, but Are we trying to compare it to the West?
00:31:46
Chino Onwuka
But
Potential Playoff Rivalries
00:31:47
Chino Onwuka
anyway, if that's what we want, then we'll do it.
00:31:47
Emeka
and just in here confused. When did the Magic become the eighth seed or the seventh seed? The Chukwu's acting like they're going to guarantee they're going to lose the opening playing game. I thought it was Boston-Orlando.
00:32:00
Emeka
I don't know why we're talking about Cavs all this time, but hey, that's just me.
00:32:03
Chino Onwuka
So it's a possibility, right? Because they are just one game in front of the Hawks.
00:32:07
Emeka
Yeah, I know. Believe in your team, know?
00:32:08
Chino Onwuka
I don't know.
00:32:09
Emeka
Believe in your team, fam.
00:32:11
Chino Onwuka
Depending on how the plane goes they could still be they can still be eighth so
00:32:14
Emeka
I know, I know, I know. And the West will be better.
00:32:16
Chino Onwuka
yeah
00:32:17
Emeka
will not Come on, I know that. The West will be better.
00:32:20
Chino Onwuka
I'm also like let's less like are we gonna start hyping up? Getting out of the plane in the east as well. Like come on. Let's be serious
00:32:28
Emeka
like The West will be better.
00:32:31
Chino Onwuka
Let's be serious, okay, all right moving on
00:32:37
Chino Onwuka
I like this question. if if we if you could pick one first round matchup that is seemingly realistic with seeding that you would want to see, what would it be?
00:32:48
Chino Onwuka
ah ah know I know which one Chuka is looking to, but i will give I will start first on this one. And this is probably the matchup that I know ESPN, ABC, TNT wants is definitely Lakers Warriors in the first round.
00:33:07
Chino Onwuka
I think you know all the narratives there that you'd want to see you know LeBron and Steph going at it again, you know two teams that made additions at the trade deadline that have sort of given them a lift you know in luca lucom Luka Magic and Jimmy Buckets.
00:33:27
Chino Onwuka
So I know that's one. But one that I think is a little bit under G that i would like to see is
00:33:36
Chino Onwuka
and An all-LA matchup in the playoffs. I think I reading something that it has not happened for 40-plus years. So I think that would be pretty cool. Something different, probably something not a lot of people are thinking about, which is the Lakers versus the Clippers in the playoffs.
00:33:53
Chino Onwuka
I think it would be cool
Individual Player Dynamics in Playoffs
00:33:54
Emeka
How you think about that? That's pretty nice. That's pretty nice.
00:33:54
Chino Onwuka
to see.
00:33:57
Chino Onwuka
Yeah. Yeah. and it's There's a chance. There's a chance. All right. Emeka, how about you?
00:34:04
Emeka
I mentioned the first one. I have two. I'm both for the same reason. For me, the ultimate judge of a good playoff series is that by the end of the series, I think both teams to hate each other. And there's everyone says the league has no rivalries.
00:34:18
Emeka
There is one rivalry in the league, and I love it, and it's Bucs-Pacers. They're destined to play each other again. hope the Bucs maintain. I just wish... Dame was healthy. Even though I'm reading he's trying to come back, Dame, don't do it.
00:34:31
Emeka
Relax. But and in some universe where Dame was healthy, even without Dame, as long as Giannis is healthy, because Giannis has been playing some basketball recently. And I just love when, again, like I said, a series where two teams just can't stand each other.
00:34:45
Emeka
From the the basketball the stealing thing last year, instant tournament games, playoffs last season. but i I just want them to give me seven games of that back and forth. Can Doc Rivers finally win a series again? Like,
00:34:58
Emeka
Oh, it'd be fantastic. And I was going to say, like, the you know the answer Adam Silver is looking forward to, hopes and dreams, is Lakers-Warriors. But last night or two nights ago, think was that was last night, I'm sorry.
00:35:11
Emeka
I changed my mind now. I want Houston-Golden State in the first round. Those two teams don't like each other. Draymond probably fights Shang-Goon by game three.
00:35:21
Emeka
the way they were going at it. Draymond and Shang-Groon. Draymond's guest better than the game in that series. That's what I can say, if they they match up. I meant Thompson.
00:35:29
Chino Onwuka
Is Mr. H. Shungun a European big man?
00:35:33
Emeka
Exactly.
00:35:33
Chino Onwuka
If the answer is enough, sir.
00:35:36
Emeka
Yeah, they're going to be dancing. I meant Thompson. i'm I am the number one fan of the meant Thompson bandwagon. Put me on there. I love this kid.
00:35:46
Chuku
Get out of here bro, stop this bro.
00:35:47
Emeka
I love this kid.
00:35:48
Chino Onwuka
That's a lie. That is a lie.
00:35:50
Chuku
That's such a lie. I have been on the army top scene hype train for a minute bro.
00:35:53
Emeka
Oh my God.
00:35:54
Chuku
What we doing here bro
00:35:58
Chino Onwuka
I've been talking the Thompson Twins since Overtime Elite, so y'all better talk.
00:36:01
Emeka
I see how Mads acted like it's a competition.
00:36:02
Chino Onwuka
Y'all better talk.
00:36:02
Chuku
bro? Man, exactly the competition.
00:36:03
Emeka
I'm just saying I'm big fan of her.
00:36:06
Chuku
ain't trying to hear you talk about you being the number one battle.
00:36:07
Emeka
Oh my God.
00:36:08
Chino Onwuka
Y'all better talk.
00:36:08
Emeka
Oh my God.
00:36:09
Chuku
Get out of here with that one
00:36:10
Emeka
Y'all crack me up.
00:36:11
Chuku
Get out of here.
00:36:11
Emeka
Who cares? yall let y'all cracked me up who cares Okay, congratulations.
00:36:14
Chuku
Okay.
00:36:14
Emeka
like the chair Right now, he's one my favorite guys to watch in the league. That brother is in the league of athletic freaks. he is he He's an athletic freak among the freaks.
00:36:27
Emeka
It doesn't make sense.
00:36:27
Chuku
Bro, him and his brother are insane.
00:36:29
Chino Onwuka
He is one of one.
00:36:30
Chuku
It's insane, bro.
00:36:34
Chino Onwuka
W-N. One of one.
00:36:35
Emeka
It's funny people who say that because he has a little twin. Like Chico said, it that cracks me up. like Imagine being a unicorn you have a twin. win
00:36:41
Chuku
but
00:36:42
Emeka
That's how I get that little twin.
00:36:42
Chino Onwuka
Here's the thing.
00:36:43
Chuku
The twin is almost just as good, but I think Ammon is still going to be the better of the two.
00:36:47
Emeka
I agree.
00:36:48
Chino Onwuka
no let let me Let me pause you all here. Let me put you on game here. Osar is top 5th percentile in the NBA. he's not He's not as athletic as Ahmed.
00:36:59
Emeka
i agree
00:37:01
Chuku
Yes, no, no, it's not.
00:37:01
Chino Onwuka
He's not as...
00:37:02
Chuku
It's not. I agree. I know that. We know this.
00:37:04
Emeka
I just think it's funny that like we say all these guys are unicorn freaking eight. He has a little twin brother in the league. But regardless, I'm Ant Thompson. My goodness. And I used to be always hyping up the Rockets need to make a trade and i'll go for Booker, go for KD, blah, blah, blah.
00:37:19
Emeka
more I watch, I'm like, man, I might get the keys to Ahmed. Like, we had a little under-20-something draft we had couple months ago. If we do that draft again today, i take I'm picking Ahmed second round. Like, that guy is, man.
00:37:33
Emeka
Yeah, i mean he needs a big playoff showcase. And against the Warriors, matched up on Steph, that's the perfect national. Let the world know. Ahmed Thompson is out here.
00:37:41
Chuku
Listen, listen, let me just let me just say right now, bro. If Adam and Thompson could ever just develop some form of a consistent three-point jump shot, bro, it is, the league, it's almost a wrap. It's almost a wrap because this dude, let me tell you right now, bro, his quickness, bro, is absurd. Forget just athletics and just being able to jump out of gym.
00:38:12
Chuku
he is so quick, bro, it reminds me of, like, young John Wall quick, in terms of, like, how fast he can beat guys off the dribble, bro. He is ridiculous, and it's finishing around the rim, one of the best, like, again, I shouldn't have one of one, like, he is special, bro. He is special. There's no question about it. I mean, I'm just glad to see him, because, of course, the biggest issues entering the draft was his shooting ability.
00:38:36
Chuku
I'm glad to see he's still been able to make it work without they can rob the shooting being, know, his best
Houston's Playoff Prospects
00:38:43
Chuku
feature. But if he could just ever develop some form of a consistent jump shot, this brother, it'll take his game to all different level.
00:38:54
Chuku
That's all I got to say on Ahmed. But otherwise, he's very fun to watch.
00:38:56
Chino Onwuka
and have That's why I think the players are going to really interesting because playoffs are where you know your weaknesses get exposed. Now, Ahmed is a great player.
00:39:09
Chino Onwuka
He does so many things on the ball, off the ball, offense, defense. We all know that once the playoffs comes, teams are going to scheme against that and and really try to expose that lack of shooting. Now, I like what Houston has been doing, putting him in that dunker spot, which sort of alleviates him being able to shoot and they can sort of maximize their spacing with that. But those are the type of warts that, especially in your first postseason, sometimes can get exposed. So it'll be really interesting to see how he and Houston handles that when that inevitably comes.
00:39:45
Chuku
You just know the storyline, Chinna, right? You just know the storyline is going to come. Obviously, we know Houston. Look, there's no reason we to believe Houston are going to win the championship or anything like that. So when the time does come and Houston do lose, so sure for certain, you can book that one of the reasons why they're going to lose in whichever series it ends up being is going to be on Arman Thompson's jump shot or jump shooting ability. That's going to be a factor. not going to say the number one factor,
00:40:15
Chuku
but it's going to play a factor. ask The storyline is already there.
00:40:18
Chino Onwuka
yeah never three Okay,
00:40:19
Chuku
I'm just the up saying, before we go off to now, just before I was going to say, you just know the storyline is early. That's going to be the case. And I just think Ahmed Thompson, that's going to motivate him and help him develop even further. Because you know what's going to happen is,
00:40:38
Chuku
For me, at least what I can see happening is there's going to be a case where, as they make it to the playoffs, as they continue to develop as a team, like I said, when they lose, that's going to be something that's going to come up in terms of end-of-year reviews.
00:40:53
Chuku
And I just know Adam Thompson being the kind of player he is. That's always in the gym. don't know if you want to watch this overtime documentary of the Armin bros and see how they work. These guys don't play.
00:41:05
Chuku
I know he's going to be in the gym working that same next day, that same summer. And at some point, if I have to put money on a player working on and eventually developing a shot, my money is on Armin Thompson. I think at some point it's going to happen for him. He's going to be in the gym. working and Yeah, like I said, at some point in his career, don't know it's going to be next year or the year before the year next, but at some point, I i believe I can look at he's eventually going to be able to develop some semblance of a jumper.
00:41:36
Chuku
And when that time comes, boy, oh boy, I'm a Thompson. He's a, in my opinion, could be a, he easily could be a max player in the league. But anyways, that was all I wanted
00:41:45
Chino Onwuka
No, he's a max player. I do think there is a a ceiling to where his jumper can get to because he started at such a low point. Where he's shooting now is actually a pretty markedly improvement from where he was before.
00:41:59
Chino Onwuka
If he can become a 30% three-point shooter, that would be a a success story. And that's a 30% shooter where he's shooting a little bit more volume. But I don't think Ahmed is going to be the storyline.
00:42:13
Chino Onwuka
Because yes, his weaknesses might be exposed, but if Houston crash out, the skate goals are going to be two players. Shane Goon, because it's going talking about defense. Can he be the anchor? Blah, blah, blah.
00:42:26
Chino Onwuka
And Jalen Green, because of how hot and cold he can be. Those are going to be the two guys that i actually think they're going to look at first at Houston before they come down to Ahmed. So anyway, Chukwu moving on.
00:42:39
Chino Onwuka
What is the first round matchup do you want to see or did you already tell us already?
00:42:45
Chuku
I mean, I'm pretty sure you already told you, but, you know, if you want to hear me again, mean, it's no secret out here, man. I've been a lot of Magic fans. I just think, especially with the rivalry that we displayed last year, I think it's going to only grow into a rivalry. And if somebody call it a one-sided affair, that's your opinion. But, you know, a lot of Magic versus the Cavs, I just think we got something for them, you know. We got something for them. I mean,
00:43:13
Chuku
Sure, Cavs right now, better team in terms of you know players and who they got in the squad and roster. But I just think, you know, with the way we play and the way our team is set up and the players that we got in terms of our top players, our top players are just bigger.
00:43:33
Chuku
talking about literally into in terms of, like, size. They're just bigger than Cavs' best players. And, you know, I just think, Paolo is a problem on any given night for most teams, but especially against the Cavs.
00:43:50
Chuku
I don't think the Cavs, Mobley is too small in terms of weight to mark my boy Paolo in the paint. He's going to, as good of defender as Mobley has been, just think Paolo is just a recipe for a disaster against the Cavs team.
00:44:11
Chuku
And you know with the playoffs, it's all about matchups. You know what I'm saying? matchups win Matchups win you games. And I just think, for the most part, I just don't see the Cavs matching up well when it comes to defending not of defending my but but know my better players.
00:44:25
Chuku
So I think, at the end of the day, Cavs may be the more talented team. But I think, again, if Palo and France come to play, we can definitely make that a very interesting and a very interesting matchup. So that would be definitely one I'm looking to watch.
00:44:41
Chuku
I don't know why, mean, I understand on paper y'all would mention the Lakers and Golden State, but quite honestly speaking, i i really don't find that as appealing as other people think because I just think the Lakers are going to just, like you know, Lakers and five, let's just put like that. I don't see, I just don't see it being a competition. Like I have more faith in hook arab in a the Cavs and the Magic going distance or going further than I do with the Lakers and Golden State Warrior matchups. So for that reason, that's what I'm saying. I much prefer that matchup outside of just being a Magic fan.
00:45:20
Chuku
But also to my Bruce points, like the Bucks versus the Indiana also will be a very nice series. But I'm actually putting Knicks versus Detroit. I i find that series very fascinating because Detroit have honestly been one of the fun teams to watch. and I don't know if but i've I ever expressed this enough to y'all earlier, but Cade Cunningham was one of my favorite players but coming into the draft, what's just watching his game you know when it was at OSU.
00:45:51
Chuku
If I'm building a team with a point guard, he fits the exact I would want from a point guard. and Seeing him finally playing on a good team, on a decent team, doing a well, I never thought I would it today, considering how bad Detroit have been during his time there.
00:46:11
Chuku
So I'm just glad that he's getting his flowers and, you know, the team, the decent team around him. And I just think, you know, that would be a very fascinating watch to see him play, him, that squad, playing against the Knicks.
00:46:23
Chuku
So that would be matchups to, the two matchups would be the Knicks, the Knicks, Knicks versus Detroit and Cavs versus the Magic.
00:46:36
Chino Onwuka
Nope, fair enough, fair enough. Nah, I can't wait for the playoffs to come. It is going to be exciting and... You're going to want make us your first listen, you know, after every game, every week, because you know we are going to be d diving and detailing all the matchups right here on the Love of the Game podcast.
00:46:57
Chino Onwuka
Okay, so speaking of, you know, big news that's happened in the sports world, you know, over over the last couple of days, you know, we would be... Remiss to not mention you know what one of the greats of the Premier League, KDB.
00:47:12
Chino Onwuka
you know This will be his last season at Manchester City. you know It's been an injury hit season for him. you know he's For someone that's been the mainstay, the the that the fulcrum you know in their team for for so many years. you know He's been seemingly a bit part player in a season that's been pretty rough one for Manchester City. So just you know opening up to the floor, so what are our thoughts you know about KDB, him as a player, his legacy?
00:47:47
Chino Onwuka
And then the question I want to pose Two questions I want to pose on top of that is, you know, where does he sit? You know, some would say the Mount Rushmore of Premier League players, you know, best Prem players, best Prem midfielders.
00:48:03
Chino Onwuka
And then i have one more question after go through all of those. But let's let's let's start there. Emeka, I'll start with you.
00:48:13
Emeka
Oh, man. KDB. First of all, i feel like I'm getting old because this young, fresh-faced boy I remember from Chelsea is not retiring. It's crazy. i It's tough when when you do these rankings of best ever.
00:48:28
Emeka
My age betrays me, even though we like to pretend football was invented in 1992. was invented in ninety ninety two my memories of football really start from 2000. Like the 90s guys, i don't really know them. So when I say best ever, I can't really speak on, you know, the Cantonese of the world, Ginola. I never watched them.
00:48:45
Emeka
So I can only go from what I've seen. And from what I've seen, To me, outside of Stevie G, I think KDB is the best midfield the Premier League I've seen. like And Regency bias is definitely involved.
00:48:58
Emeka
I'm disrespecting my guys like Vieira and Keane and Skoll, all those guys, Lampard. The passes I used to see KDB make, they just didn't make sense to me. that That right area, love when a player has a signature move that you can just envision it.
00:49:14
Emeka
And those KDB low crosses from the right area. Huh. Sterling was scoring 20 goals this season because of that. Raheem Sterling was out here just living off tap-ins because of that.
00:49:25
Emeka
The balls he put in, and I'm glad he got one year, even though it cost my my dear arsenal, he got one year with Haaland when he was healthy. and They made some magic happen that first season when Haaland was in the in the league, like,
00:49:38
Emeka
Oh, what a guy. What a man. Just a specimen. And just the blend of physicality and skills always gets me. I love houston houston or say Houston. Philadelphia GM, Daryl Morey, has a rule I always love living by.
00:49:52
Emeka
The Morey comparison rule, which is should always compare players cross-racially because it's so easy to compare a white guy with a white guy and a black guy with black guy, et cetera, et cetera. one of my favorite Mori comparisons is Man City and Jason.
00:50:05
Emeka
KDB literally is Yaya Toure. That combination of size, pace, power, yet skill and finesse. he's He's the reincoitant reincarnation.
00:50:15
Emeka
little bit less physical with a little bit more skill. But that same mold where it's just the complete. If you're creating a midfielder in a lab, attacking midfielder, I feel like you create KDB.
00:50:26
Emeka
There's just no area in his game he doesn't lack. And again, this is bias. Aguero had the the goal of all goals. Company was the captain, all that.
00:50:38
Emeka
I think KDB is the Man City GOAT. Ten years, ten excellent years, won all the trophies.
00:50:43
Chino Onwuka
Okay, and that was my next question that I guess you've jumped ahead of and you can talk to it now is, you know, not not just Prem Grates, but Man City Grates, is KDB number one for you?
00:50:45
Emeka
yeah And that was...
00:50:55
Chino Onwuka
Or are there other names that are still above him?
00:50:58
Emeka
you know, like as I was named, like the man city of our era, like the company, Aguero and KDB, I think it's pretty, pretty safe to say those are the the three choices. And I'll never besmirch anybody picking Aguero goal scorer, one of them, the first league or company who's captain, all that. But for me,
00:51:15
Emeka
I have to pick the 10 years is the big part to 10 years of just excellence of just 10 out of 10 performances. was one of the few people in the Premier League. I can say was the best player in his position in the world.
00:51:30
Emeka
in the modern era and i i i put katie b right up there against any midfielder who's ever played i've seen xavi niesta cruz modric any of those guys i'll put katie b next to them that's the level of talent he has two-footed presses great finisher great crosser long pass short whatever you want katie b can give it to you plays a false nine you put on the wing you play deep he plays a 10 like As you can tell, I have a huge, i nothing but respect for K. I just love the guy so much. And it it makes me feel old. And now he's the guy to see fresh face kid.
00:52:09
Emeka
is He's washed up now. And he's going to wind up in MLS or Saudi or something. But, man, I loved watching KDB in the Premier League these last 10 years, man. What a, I'll put him next to any Barcelona, Real Madrid, any midfielder of the modern era.
00:52:24
Emeka
I put KDB next to them. And I wouldn't, I'm, pfft. he's just as good. At the worst case, you tell me he's just as good as them. Shouts out, KDB.
00:52:34
Chino Onwuka
Well said, well said. Chukku.
00:52:38
Chuku
I mean, what can you say, man? I mean, KDB, what a water player, man. I mean, I remember seeing the news today, i was recently, about him announcing his leaving of Man City, and I can't tell you the relief.
00:52:53
Chuku
Even though we know how, I mean, let's face like, I mean, this season he's been watched, part of being in love, injuries and whatnot, but even then, just hearing the fact that he was leaving, you should judge how great a player is being an opposition fan, and the sense of relief knowing that this particular player is no longer going to be playing against your club anymore.
00:53:15
Chuku
And that's just, I can't tell you the sense of relief I have to be able to go to bed at night knowing I never have to worry about KDB ever again when it comes to playing against Arsenal, bro. Because this guy delivered nightmares, man. Like, so I guess, look, if you're asking me in terms of Man City Great's life,
00:53:37
Chuku
I'm with my brother here on this one. but like You can name the Yaya Toure's of the world. You can name the Agueros companies. But man, I'm sorry. i got KDB number one in my rankings of Masi the Greats. And the part of it is not just the goals, the assists, but the longevity of how long he's been doing this for, for that team.
00:54:03
Chuku
He has been their talisman. from time and like when you're building again, know, we talked I talked about earlier about, you know, building your prototypical point guard and out I mentioned, you know, Keith Cunningham that and he fit that mold for me.
00:54:21
Chuku
KDB does the exact same thing when it comes to that attacking, you know, attacking midfielder, like the size, the fact that he could win the ball in midfield,
00:54:31
Chuku
His passing range, his passing ability, his ball striking. Like, man, you know, it's not going to be fair, some of his abilities.
00:54:42
Chuku
Like, imagine if Santi Cazola was six feet. like You know what I'm trying to say? Like, you know, like, it just sort of the things KDB was able to do at his size. It just doesn't make any sense, bro. Like, it makes no sense.
00:54:56
Chuku
And, yeah, no, I mean, he was definitely be missed. No doubt about it. I mean, Man City clearly missed his presence this year. One of the popular reasons is why, yeah obviously, they're not doing as well as they've normally been in the past. But, you know, all I'll tell you is with KDB gone, I can't sleep easier knowing that don't have to worry about this brother anymore.
00:55:21
Chuku
And as far as EPL grades, I mean, he has to be in the top –
00:55:28
Chuku
I mean, we haven't made a full list here, but it has to be at least top 20, at least. some I just, I just have no arguments. I couldn't say top 10, but I feel like I don't want to jump the gun yet on that one. But top 20, I think that's fair to say, in my opinion, EPL talents of all time, in my opinion.
00:55:44
Chuku
But, hey, you know, definitely one of the best players to ever play in the game that didn't play for a Real Madrid or Barcelona. oh And this is a talent that I do agree with my brother that as well when you compare him to the likes of all the top players in the world, you know, that played in Barcelona's, the Real Madrid's.
00:56:06
Chuku
yeah He has to be up there with some of those names. Like, you know, obviously, you know, he got the Champions League. He's won, you know, won his triples.
00:56:17
Chuku
He's won enough immacity to warrant being in those conversations. He's put up the stats. Like, what more can you do? Like, he's done it all. He's done it all for my city. And, you know, I just, I pray Urikar becomes even three three quarters of the player KDB has. But, you know, anyway that's a different topic for another day.
00:56:40
Chuku
But as far as KDB and where his market on the game, I mean, he's clearly been amazing. Top talent. He's going to be missing EPL.
00:56:51
Chuku
And, I'd say they're going to struggle to replace that kind of talent, man. Like, you don't just find that kind of talent growing on trees, you know? Like, he was, he he has been special for them. So, it's going to be very hard for them to find a replacement.
00:57:05
Chuku
we in the best I'm kind of shocked, though, that he's leaving before Bernardo Silver. Because I would have thought Bernardo Silver would have been gone long like long before KDB. But, anyways, that's another topic for another time.
00:57:18
Chuku
But, yeah, as everyone else has said. KDB, what a player. What player.
00:57:24
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, you guys have said it all about KDB, you know, a true legend of the game, you know, a player that, you know, when you see him in that starting lineup, you know, you you he puts the fear of God in you.
00:57:38
Chino Onwuka
And, know, you guys already said a lot, you know, what I will say is just narrowing it down to the players that I've watched in my lifetime, you know, which is,
00:57:52
Chino Onwuka
over 25 years of watching the beautiful game. He is in the top five creators of all time. And so this is, this is Lionel Messi.
00:58:07
Chino Onwuka
Ces Fabregas, Mesut Ozil, and KDB. Those are the guys we talk about. Creation, final balls, putting it on plate for others. Production, you know, those guys are far above the others. Now, talking about Prem greats, you know, it's really tough because you have strikers, midfielders, defenders, you know, who all do different things.
00:58:29
Chino Onwuka
So in terms of midfielders, I think Emeka alluded to it. I'd have him in the top three for sure. You know, it's got to be Stevie G, Vieira, and KDB for me. You know, Lampard fourth.
00:58:42
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, yeah, Tui fifth. And then in terms of Man City greats, I'm sorry. Like, KDB is great. You know, i think the players we've mentioned... You know, Toure, Kompany, David Silva, Yaya Toure, you know, those guys are sort of his, you know, the Rushmore Man City players. But to me, i think that the Man City goal for now has to be Aguero.
00:59:09
Chino Onwuka
I'm sorry. He also had the longevity. He's up there in terms of most goals in the Premier League ever. And... Nothing will ever top that.
00:59:23
Chino Onwuka
Aguero! I'm sorry, last-minute winner for the championship in the Premier League? Like, I don't know who ever, i mean, we had 89 with Arsenal, I don't think we'll ever see a moment like that ever in football.
00:59:39
Chino Onwuka
And so that was their first one. And I think that first one makes it so memorable. And not just, he didn't just lead them to it. He he was the finding moment of their first ever title.
00:59:51
Chino Onwuka
Won four more. i think Aguero, like in the hearts, maybe your head might say something, but in the hearts, Aguero has to be the number one. Number one.
01:00:01
Chuku
Now we come back to that, though, as you said, yeah, Aguero definitely has that moment of winning their first league for Man City with that goal, which was a crazy moment.
01:00:14
Chuku
Definitely, I'm sure, I'm certain, lives in the hearts of many Man City fans. But KDB has the fact that he's won a treble with the Man City team and won the Champions League.
01:00:30
Chuku
I mean, look, man, don't know about y'all, but the league, if you got Champions League and you got the Premier League, I mean, I'm just saying, man.
01:00:40
Chuku
I know but understand it.
01:00:41
Chino Onwuka
I don't know, but this was, by that time, Man City was a Man City. That first title, that was the first title before Pep.
01:00:47
Chuku
You mean...
01:00:51
Chino Onwuka
This is before Pep. Aguero was one of the first signings of this new Man City regime. He was, you know, sometimes you have to give props to the guys that laid the foundation and built it up to win.
01:00:58
Chuku
but
01:01:02
Chuku
Wasn't you on that same team or on my triple?
01:01:05
Chino Onwuka
You are very much tripping.
01:01:07
Chuku
I'm very much tripping. Okay. Okay.
01:01:08
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, this was 2011, 2012.
01:01:08
Chuku
Bye-bye. Bye-bye. Bye-bye.
01:01:09
Chino Onwuka
KDB didn't join Man City until 2015.
01:01:13
Chuku
Okay. All right.
01:01:14
Chino Onwuka
By which point they already won a couple of Prem titles by then.
01:01:14
Chuku
All right. Bye-bye.
01:01:16
Chino Onwuka
So this is the first one since like the 60s or the 80s. This was before Pep. This is Pellegrini as coach. These are the guys, Aguero, David Silvairia, Ture and company. Those are the guys that laid the foundation for all these other guys that came after.
01:01:37
Chino Onwuka
So I think just that, you know, if like you are totally right, the treble ring, the Champions League is up there. But I think because I have a lot of family in Manchester, I know what used to be said about Manchester City. So I know what that first one would have felt like for them.
01:01:56
Chino Onwuka
And in the way they did it, last minute winner, last minute comeback, and then doing it above Manchester United, who had thought they'd won the game and thought they'd won the title, but he snatched it from, oh no.
01:02:10
Chino Onwuka
You couldn't even write a script like that. I'm sorry, is that's something that where you put that in Hollywood and they're like, that's too unrealistic. So just with that, I think.
01:02:18
Emeka
just right I agree.
01:02:18
Chino Onwuka
That's the most iconic moment in in the Premier League. That's the most iconic moment in the Premier sorry,
01:02:24
Emeka
I agree. i Like I said, I think there are three answers. Aguero, KDB, and company. And i'm not I'm not mad at any one of those. Any one of those. But just personal preference.
01:02:35
Emeka
I might have came in because he's just retired. I'm sure if you asked me when Aguero just retired, I'd have said Aguero was the GOAT because Aguero moment. It's funny when people talk about it. I feel as Arsenal fans, we always have to mention, like, we had Michael Thomas and whatever, but it wasn't the Premier League, and it wasn't – there's something about – just
01:02:52
Chino Onwuka
but no that No, no,
01:02:56
Emeka
saying the Premier League. There's something about the Premier League branding that just makes things seem bigger.
01:03:00
Chino Onwuka
no that that that there is there's
01:03:01
Emeka
don't know.
01:03:03
Chino Onwuka
books and movies that have been made
01:03:05
Emeka
Hey, fever pitch. Don't get me wrong.
01:03:06
Chino Onwuka
yeah
01:03:07
Emeka
I know. I start bringing it up.
01:03:08
Chino Onwuka
so
01:03:09
Emeka
Everyone acts like it's the first time, but it's that Premier League branding. For some reason, it just and makes things stand out more. I don't know. It's crazy.
01:03:18
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, what makes the Michael Thomas moment crazy is that the two teams were playing each other.
01:03:18
Emeka
That Guerrero moment.
01:03:23
Emeka
Exactly.
01:03:24
Chino Onwuka
That's
01:03:24
Emeka
Imagine the Guerrero score that goal against United. That's Michael Thomas book.
01:03:27
Chino Onwuka
what I said, but still that I, I remember seeing like, wow, Man City, these guys, like Jan Vulrich, they've choked against Crystal Palace.
01:03:36
Emeka
I'd be hooked again. Nah, I
01:03:39
Chino Onwuka
And then, oh my, I'll never forget that moment, ever.
01:03:42
Emeka
i never will. Nah.
01:03:44
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, okay.
01:03:45
Emeka
Hey.
01:03:46
Chino Onwuka
but No, yeah, a legend of the game for sure.
01:03:47
Emeka
End of my life.
01:03:49
Chino Onwuka
It'll be it really interesting to see where he goes next. You know, a lot of talk about Saudi previously, but, you know, I'm sure the MLS would want him as well. Okay, and just staying with the football, we're going to end it with our game or games of the week.
01:04:08
Chino Onwuka
It is a momentous Champions League quarterfinal week. We've got the first legs this week. And so I'm going to throw it open to see what games you guys want to talk about. And if you guys want to give predictions, maybe give predictions for all the games. But we've got Arsenal versus Madrid, Bayern versus Inter, Barca versus and PSG versus Villas. So I'll just throw it to y'all to see what you guys want to talk about.
01:04:39
Chino Onwuka
Chukka, we'll start with you.
01:04:42
Chuku
Hmm, let's see. I mean, I can't start anywhere else without talking about Arsenal versus Real Madrid. you Man, I don't know why, man. I feel so nervous about that this game. Look, my my only ask is please, Arsenal, just don't get embarrassed. You know what I'm saying? Don't don't don't lose in embarrassing faction know fashion.
01:05:07
Chuku
Like, just keep it keep it tight, keep it close, keep it respectable. That's all I'm asking. But just want to say is thank God, you know, Saka has, know, Saka is back. We've seen Saka play two games now.
01:05:22
Chuku
Hopefully, i don't know if he's going to be ready to play a full 90 minutes just yet. But, you know, the fact that he's played, you know, at least 45 minutes from the last game gives me hope that he will be ready, know, good to go for for this game.
01:05:38
Chuku
It sucks we lost Gabriel. Like, It just goes to show the type of season we with we've been having. But, yeah, I still think Madrid win. Come on, come on, come on. Los Angeles is still going to win this matchup. But all I can ask is that we just try and keep it respectable. So I'm thinking probably 3-1 series, or they give us least two goals.
01:06:03
Chuku
ah something something i certainly they they give us at least two two goals So, a two goal margin is sorry is what I'm saying. So, that one, you know, yeah, I think this may be it's going to be Madrid.
01:06:19
Chuku
But PSG, Aston Villa, that has me, like, after our earlier conversation, like, if you asked me earlier about this, I was very high on PSG, you know, coming out of this easily.
01:06:35
Chuku
But, man, I don't know what it is, but Villa have just, they're really on a roll. Like, Villa have been playing some really, really, really good football, don't why Emery has got his boys on, but, like, talent on that Aston Villa squad, like, they're showing me things, man, and I don't know. I'm starting to to to believe. I'm starting to think Villa really might have, a you know, something for PSG here, man. i think I think, you know, there's a likelihood that...
01:07:07
Chuku
we can see we could actually see Villa beat PSG. I'm starting to come and come across to to that point of view. I will still stick with PSG, though, for now.
01:07:20
Chuku
Well, I'm not ruling out the possibility that i there's a very high likelihood of that Villa could could happen and make an upset here, but I'm to stick with a high-scored affair, and I will go with a series of 5-4 at the end to PSG still I think PSG just do enough The other matchup was a who's Barcelona playing again?
01:07:46
Chino Onwuka
Dortmund.
01:07:49
Chuku
And then Bayern against Okay Yeah, I knew Barcelona the Barcelona matchup is not I don't find out I have that's in my least
01:07:52
Chino Onwuka
Enter.
01:08:01
Chuku
least matchup I want to see there. I think Barcelona handled that very easily. I gave Barcelona an easy 5-1 series. And then Inter Bayern, that was the making to be a very, very, very interesting matchup, although I don't expect to be high-scoring. I think both teams, especially Inter, are going to set up really defensive.
01:08:28
Chuku
But I i think Bayern have enough firepower to probably just make it through. And I'd probably give that a 3-2 series. Yeah, 3-2 series to Bayern. It'd be close one. I think it has to be because of a close one.
01:08:41
Chuku
But Bayern just sees it. He has enough to go through.
01:08:45
Chino Onwuka
Okay, I'm not going to get your thoughts.
01:08:50
Emeka
I guess Arsenal-Madrid, first leg at the Emirates. don't know. For some reason, i'm i I'm strangely confident. Maybe because I saw Valencia give Madrid a game over the weekend. But Madrid's back line are a little shaky. They always have that black magic. But first leg, I'm going to bold prediction and say Arsenal win 2-1 at the Emirates. And I really hope that they come out...
01:09:15
Emeka
and and show some hunger and press them and and don't just sit back and just inevitably hope to your sit back and catch something because that's when Madrid kill you to death with the passes. I feel like if you show them too much respect, they'll kill you. So you have just try and match them and and and do something.
01:09:33
Emeka
Bayern enter because Bayern home first at first leg. I feel like
01:09:39
Emeka
they're so unhealthy, but Inter, impossible to to score against, so I'm going to go with a smooth 1-1 draw. Barca Dortmund, even though coming off a draw, Hansi Flick has these guys steamrolling, and it's at at the Nou Camp, so...
01:09:56
Emeka
Smooth 3-1 there. Barcelona, I feel like Barcelona are the Champions League favorites, except the other team I'm going to mention next. PSG, Villa. My brother said Villa on fire right now. Those January signings, Rashford in essential with Milan just on fire. But I think PSG are going to win the Champions League this year, so I got to pick them to win this game. and Dembele is the hottest guy in lo the league right now, apparently. So 2-0 PSG first leg.
01:10:24
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, for me, I think Barcelona are going to take care of Dortmund. I think it's going to be an exciting game. PSG Villa, I see a high-scoring draw in the first leg, but with PSG winning in the second leg.
01:10:45
Chino Onwuka
Arsenal Madrid, I don't want to think about the game, to be honest. I should be excited, but... with the way this season has gone, it's not even about the result.
01:10:55
Chino Onwuka
The way this season has gone, you know, football gods have taken so many things from us. I feel like they owe us, but I'm not counting on on anybody giving us anything. So I'm going to hope for is that Declan and Julian Timber don't get yellow cards and just hope that no other Arsenal players get injuries.
01:11:18
Chino Onwuka
You know, it's exciting to have Madrid come to the ends. You know, this is sort of something we've been looking for, looking forward to for a long time. So it it' will be good to to have the Emirates under the lights playing the Galacticos of Madrid. Hopefully it's an exciting game, an exciting tie. Yeah, we'llll we'll we'll see what the results are next week. Gabriel out is a big miss.
01:11:42
Chino Onwuka
We'll see how much Saka can play. Yeah, yeah that's all i have to say about that one. I'm sorry about my pessimism, but yeah it's been a rough season.
01:11:55
Chino Onwuka
Now, the one that I think is interesting is Bayern versus Inter because, again, I've been calling Inter a dark horse for the whole Champions League. for a while. I think we've talked about it previously. Then now you have the situation where Jamal Musiala is injured, which gives Inter an even better chance. So that is one that I will be tuning into to to see how it turns out because Jamal Musiala is going to be a big, big miss for Bayern. So it'll be interesting to see how Bayern sort of adjusted that. Leroy Sané has been in hot form.
01:12:32
Chino Onwuka
You know, Harry Kane, this is his chance to to do something in the later rounds. I know and in previous editions where they've gotten late, gone to the late stages, he's been injured. I think he's fit. So I think this is a big opportunity for him to to stamp his mark in the game. So there you have it.
01:12:49
Chino Onwuka
And know I really hope that, you know, we're we're talking with excitement next week about these games. And, uh, You know, this this this is this is these are the moments that we look forward forward to when we get to the latter stages of the Champions League, the best teams, the best players.
01:13:09
Chino Onwuka
Let's see what they've got. And so with that, we're going to wrap it up you know for this episode. I think it was some super fun and interesting topics and looking forward to what we'll have to discuss next week. So thanks for tuning you in. Thanks for listening to us. Thanks for sticking with us. And we'll catch you next week on another episode of The love of the game.