Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
OKC vs Spurs Rivalry LOADING + Spygate Scandal & NFL Powerless Rankings
19 Plays13 days ago
Episode 77 of Who’s Got The Ball? sees the lads tackle another massive week across the NBA, Premier League, and NFL.
Michael joins James for the NBA section as they review the OKC vs Spurs playoff series and discuss where things could be heading next. They also react to James Harden’s game one struggles against the Knicks and debate which teams are handling the playoff pressure best.
In football, the lads react to Arsenal officially becoming Premier League champions before debating whether the league format needs changes going forward. There’s also discussion around Spurs and West Ham’s current situations, what could happen with the European qualification spots, and a full breakdown of the latest “Spygate” controversy.
To finish the episode, the lads hold the first-ever NFL Powerless Rankings Draft—ranking the 10 worst teams heading into the new NFL season and debating which franchises are in the biggest mess right now.
The episode also includes the final Gan Seans and final Power Rankings of the season.
Another packed episode full of NBA playoff reactions, Premier League chaos, NFL debates, and strong opinions throughout.
🎧 If you’re into:
Premier League, NBA & NFL talk
Weekly predictions & reactions
Underdog picks (Gan Seans 👀)
Power rankings & sports debates
🔁 New episodes every week — follow so you don’t miss one.
🌍 Where football, NBA & NFL collide every week
💬 Connect with us:
📸 Instagram: @whosgottheballpod
🐦 X / 🎵 TikTok: @wgtbpod
📩 wgtbpod@gmail.com
🇮🇪 Irish-based, talking global sports every week
(0:00) Intro
(6:08) OKC vs Spurs: Everything We Dreamed
(21:32) Playoff James Harden
(31:35) Arsenal Win the Premier League
(38:04) Will Spurs or West Ham be Relegated?
(42:05) The Race for Europe
(46:16) Spygate
(53:06) Gan Seans: Our Underdog Picks
(55:53) The NFL Powerless Rankings
(1:11:06) Final Power Rankings
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction
00:00:09
Speaker
Alright lads, welcome back to another episode of Who's Got The Ball. Myself and Shane here once again. Shane, what is the crack?
Arsenal's Unexpected Premier League Win
00:00:17
Speaker
Yeah, we're living in a world where Arsenal are Premier League champions now, which is not a world either us wanted to be living in. coming or come When this episode came coming around, was here we are.
Weekend Sports Recap
00:00:27
Speaker
I had the biggest weekend of sport I've ever had my life last weekend, I think. So I went to a Treaty, I went to Munster and I went to Limerick on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. So I'm still in... recovery trying to get back to it was three wins wasn't it just standing yeah three wins and Celtic won the league as well so it was a good weekend we'll forget Liverpool played it on Friday because I watched 3D instead so yeah i four four wins from four and the ones that mattered last weekend and here we are now in Arsenal our Champions World at least Villa did the decent thing last night Wonder Europa League anyway and gives Bournemouth the best chance of getting Champions League
00:01:02
Speaker
Yeah, that was nice to see. All right. I liked i liked seeing Villa get that. was a great scene as well surrounding the team because there was like there they're such a
Dry Needling Experience
00:01:10
Speaker
decorated club as well. So it was nice to have that.
00:01:13
Speaker
Last weekend, listenzz to be honest, I can't think much past backwards past yesterday because I went to the physio. I've got this like... problem like on my left side my lats are like really tight going into my like rib muscles and it's going up into my neck i think it's just the way i've been sitting for a long time so i needed to move like my screen around on my desk and all but anyway do ever get dry needling in your neck because my god it's i've never done dry needling but it's it's it's on the list It's absolutely madness. The pain I was in, like literally i I went every week for the last three weeks and I did mostly on my lats and my chest and it was very, very sore.
00:01:52
Speaker
But I got through it yesterday. She did it on my neck and she was like, oh, let's push out the appointment for two weeks this time because I don't think you're going to be able to go through that again next week. It was unbelievably painful. I was when I got home, I was like,
00:02:06
Speaker
actually felt like when I was driving home, was like, i I shouldn't be driving right now because I feel like my whole head has been like unlocked and I just felt like in pain, but like relieved at the same time. And it's still sore today, but hopefully the relief usually kicks in after a couple of days. So I pray to God that does.
00:02:24
Speaker
No, thanks. No, thank you. the book you in for a bit of dry needle in there on the neck for your for your next death your next birthday. I like to go might actually get it on my back. You're the third or fourth person who's mentioned it now. So I think if I don't try it, I'll never know. It could help. It might make it worse. But at this stage, I think I'd rather try it and in get worse than try nothing at all. So yeah. Just go for anything. Let's try it out and see if we can then keep you off the injury reserve. and One thing I do want to mention before we get into the rundown is...
Champions Cup Final Preview
00:02:56
Speaker
Champions Cup final this weekend I think it's a massive game for Leinster because although they're underdogs like Bordeaux are clearly the better team it's still like almost a must win for everyone involved because of the fact of how Leinster lost so many of them recently and I think Cullen is under serious pressure to get the win I think If they let that pressure get to them, there's no chance. If they play how they've been ramping up the last few weeks, it could be a great game. But I am obviously hoping for a Leinster win. But that's going to be an interesting one because I think it could be the end of the road for Leo Cullen if they lose and URC goes with an early crash out too.
00:03:35
Speaker
I think it has to be the end of Cullen if they lose this one because that would be, what, four losses? it four in a row or four and five if they lose this one? It's four in the Champions Cup. it's They won the Eurotie last year in the final, but it's four Champions Cup. Oh, yeah, but sorry, I meant in the Champions Cup. They did have lost four finals in a row in the Champions Cup. Yeah, yeah. not Maybe not four in a row in the Cup, which you know what i mean. for Their last four finals they've been in, they'd have lost. So I think it would have to be the end of Leo Cullen then because...
00:04:03
Speaker
even their URC season, it was nothing to write home about. I know they finished second and they were kind of, they were more focused on going through in the Champions Cup, but if they come out of this season with no trophy again, then I think it's really, really poor for side that are built to win, really. So, they like, for side that's built to win, they really do, they really should be winning.
00:04:23
Speaker
Yeah, I agree with you. I think the the whole stress of the Champions Cup got to them in the last couple of finals after losing the other the other ones earlier when they should have won.
00:04:34
Speaker
think the hardest one they had was against Toulouse and that was the one they had the biggest chance to win because they asked to kick it at the last second. So yeah, it's going to be interesting. I think it could be the end of the road for him, but that's something I'm keeping an eye on um as a Leinster fan.
NBA Playoffs Analysis
00:04:46
Speaker
Hopefully they get the win, but let's move into the rundown for this week. We had Michael on as usual in the and NBA. So we talked mostly about Spurs OKC because that is the hot topic right now. And that's the series that has been played on Friday night. So you'll hear our thoughts before.
00:05:04
Speaker
You get to watch that tonight and see how it goes. We did obviously touch on the Cavs and Knicks a little bit from game one. We don't know how game two is going to go because that is on. and We're recording this on Thursday night as always, so we'll miss out on that before the podcast. so We didn't want to focus too much on that, but James Harden's game, we needed to have a word on that from game one.
00:05:23
Speaker
Then we moved into the football side of things. Arsenal winning the Premier League, as Shane mentioned. The permutations heading into the final weekend of the Premier League, what could happen in terms of relegation on European spots, and then Spygate in the Championship. Just a crazy story that we got into, which is is good fun to talk about. Then we moved into Gonshance, the final iteration of the season.
00:05:46
Speaker
And then the NFL, instead of power rankings, we gave you our powerless rankings, which teams we thought have absolutely no power and are not looking good going into this season. And then we wrapped up with the actual power rankings as usual, the last one of the season. and Hold on for our picks there. Let's see how they get on. Hold on to the very end for a bit of a a nice ending to wrap that up. But let's jump into the episode.
00:06:08
Speaker
So the conference finals, the matchup we've all been waiting for has gotten underway. OKC versus San Antonio Spurs. Look, there's also the the small matter of the Knicks and Cavs to look at. But as we do every week, we're going to talk about the game that's not on Thursday night as we record. So that's going to be Spurs and OKC, which is great for us because we get to talk about the two first games and build up to game three in San Antonio. So we're looking at 1-1 right now.
00:06:39
Speaker
Two unbelievable games. Game one was Wemby just all over and just dominated the whole game. Played 40 odd minutes going into double overtime. The perfect way to start this matchup.
00:06:51
Speaker
And then second game, SGA took over and OKC leveled L1-1. So going into San Antonio on Friday night, Michael, what are your initial thoughts from game one and two?
00:07:04
Speaker
Honestly, i was thinking about this a lot, but My initial thoughts is everybody who said defense is dead in the NBA, come take a look at this. I feel like we saw sda adapt to what the Spurs were throwing at him.
00:07:22
Speaker
Had a great game. We saw OKC take a completely different like use of Hartenstein. Hartenstein couldn't get on the floor game one.
00:07:33
Speaker
Game two was everywhere, pulling everyone, being the instigator. But it worked. I mean, Wemby took five shots at the rim in game two versus like 19, 20 in game one. And that's just being physical, pushing him off.
00:07:51
Speaker
There's a lot of talk about the refs. get The refs, if the team wasn't good, they'd still lose. Okay. Like, and on top of that, they're not bribing them. It's not that they're literally cheating with the refs. A lot of the time, it's good footwork.
00:08:09
Speaker
Does it suck sometimes that when they go for jump shots, they're not looking to get the ball out? They're looking to get the contact? Yeah, but if you make contact, that's a foul 100% of the time.
00:08:21
Speaker
So it's a little bit like I get the discourse around it, but there's no arguing it isn't a foul. And we're seeing both of these teams adapt their defenses. I'm expecting OKC to do something crazy again in game three and go with something different.
00:08:38
Speaker
especially with the Spurs having two days to prepare for what they just did in game two. But this team, this series is going to be crazy. I'm going to have to stay up on Friday night.
00:08:49
Speaker
I can't lie. So I just want to touch on what you said there about the contacts and how contact is afoul a foul 100% of the time. It's when they're kicking their legs out to make sure that they catch the other person and then they go down. That's what's annoying me. And you had Chess purposely trying to stand on Wemby as well when the ball was going up off a free throw. I didn't like that either.
00:09:12
Speaker
that's the thing that annoy me. It's like, there was a video on Doubt on Twitter. I didn't watch the whole thing because honestly, I can't be bothered with it. do It's then become a bit like Arsenal for me now. But it was showing SGA going down after every single shot he took trying to get end one. Yeah, I saw that. I saw that. That's not basketball.
00:09:27
Speaker
that that's complete if you like That's just completely incorrect, that video. It shows like six calls. a Yeah, i did i didn't I didn't watch whole thing. Yeah. Okay. He only got six free throws on the night. like So i that that video is just for a really big thing. It worked on you, so...
00:09:46
Speaker
I know I said I didn't watch it, but i I think in general indeed they have, as you said, they've been two amazing games. Wemby 24 rebounds in game one is just, it's it's silly. Like it really is. As well as his 41 points, is it's it's madness. And then game two, we kind of saw the real OKC come back and show what they can do.
00:10:05
Speaker
i think the Spurs will be more than happy to get out of OKC you with a 1-1 and not be tunneled down and bring them back to San Antonio for two games and see... like but what they've done at home all season has been quite remarkable are you they're a bit special like so if they can come out of this 3-1 going back to OKC for game five then it it really is it really puts them in such a strong position yeah I think it's likely they split these next two as well because as Michael said OKC are going to come with something different and if that doesn't work they'll come with something different again like looking at last night they went 11 deep like
00:10:42
Speaker
or 10 deep onto to their, onto their roster, which is crazy. Jared McCain closing for them, hitting clutch threes in the fourth, just, just looked so good. SGA was superb.
00:10:54
Speaker
Like Jadob went down after five minutes, AJ Mitchell went out of the game injured as well. And yet they still had more. They had other players there that could step in. Now, I think,
00:11:06
Speaker
The one thing that's an and annoying me right now is this. I just didn't look at any of these like posts or things about fouling or like refs because this is literally the best two basketball teams in the NBA playing for the highest stakes. And both teams are being physical with each other.
00:11:24
Speaker
And like you know if you wanted to make a montage of players flopping, let's go back to game one and make it of Wemby. Because he was flopping all over the place. And he was getting the calls.
00:11:35
Speaker
And in game two, we make a flopping montage of SGA. And he only had six free throws. So that's part of the game now. Look, if you get your contact, you have to exaggerate it and go down.
00:11:46
Speaker
It's part of basketball. Especially if if you get somebody hitting you or making contact with you. And then people make a big deal about the players falling down. If you don't fall down like onto your arse, basically. unlike set yourself with your hands you could seriously injure yourself any bit of contact when you're going up into the air if you land you could break your leg do your knee do your ankle that's why they fall like that so all of this stuff is is set up in a way that oh this is the most important part like the refs the refs no the basketball decided who won both of those two games and shots like wemby's pull-up three in overtime of game one and shots like sga's like hard break on castle and step back into a long two with like 40 seconds left last night.
00:12:36
Speaker
That's the sort of thing that we should be focusing on. This is gonna go to seven and we're gonna get so many good moments like this. I will say before I throw it back to you guys is that De'Aaron Fox is a big miss because Castle was great and his stat line was nice. He played well, he made some good shots. 25, five, eight and a steal. 59% shooting on 17 shots is super, but nine turnovers.
00:13:01
Speaker
He's not ready to lead an offense against and a defense like OKC just yet. He's still very young. He will learn. And I think Fox is the cool head that they need out there in moments like this. So that was a big miss.
00:13:13
Speaker
And if he's going to miss more games, this could very easily be 3-1 to OKC going back to Oklahoma if he's going to be still out. Because he is a huge factor in controlling this year this young team.
00:13:26
Speaker
Yeah, we're going to talk about turnovers when we get on to James Harden now in a couple of minutes, but nine is really, really bad as well. And as you said, like that is it's like it's it's not game-defining, but it is definitely game-changing. He was minus 11 on tonight as well, which obviously comes from the fact he did turn the wall over nine times, and that's not...
00:13:44
Speaker
really going to help but any team, no matter how good you are. If you have someone that turns the ball over that much, then you are going to be in a bit of trouble. Yeah, they they do really need the Aaron Fox back as soon as possible. And we've seen with a lot of teams throughout these playoffs are already that when wind there is one guy out, like for the Rockets missing Durant, there was such a big loss against the Lakers. And you had Luka obviously out for the Lakers series against OKC. While it probably wouldn't have made that much of a difference considering they got absolutely... eat slapped around the place. He he would have like they probably would have picked up one game or maybe two if they had Luka in there. So people like De'Aaron Fox just need to get back as quickly as they can and just try and help this team through what is clearly the most difficult matchup they could have gotten.
00:14:28
Speaker
Yeah. I feel like the last two days with all of my friends, I've been saying De'Aaron Fox doesn't look like the best guard on the team. And I've been repeating that. But you really...
00:14:41
Speaker
I gave it a pass in game one because they got the win, but you really start to feel it looking at the the stats so far in two games. I mean, Stephon Castle has 20 turnovers.
00:14:52
Speaker
The next closest is Wemby with seven. The highest anyone on OKC has is SGA with five. I mean, that's going to kill your team every single time.
00:15:03
Speaker
That is an insane comparison to have right there. I think another big challenge where we'll really see how good these two teams are is the depth and now with Dylan Harper and Jalen Williams out for both teams.
00:15:18
Speaker
I'm super excited to see what person off the bench I've never heard of comes in and scores 12 to 15 points for a team. It's going to be electric, but I'd love to hear who you guys think. I didn't answer the question earlier.
00:15:33
Speaker
I think OKC picks up game three, but to continue my point, um, think Jalen Williams, the other Jalen Williams, the center, he's going to have to play like 20 minutes to kind of make up for the depth from the other Jalen Williams.
00:15:52
Speaker
In the regular season, every time he's been given over 20 minutes, been a monster. Love him in my fantasy league. Every time the two centers are out, he's averaging a triple double. It's crazy. So if he can step up and have that same kind of impact he has in those series against the Nuggets,
00:16:09
Speaker
I think it'll be great for OKC. I think they get another win in game three. And then Wemby comes back in game four at home to seal the deal, bring it to a game five decider.
00:16:23
Speaker
But it's definitely going seven. It has to go seven. I need it to go seven. Yeah, I feel like we all deserve to watch seven games of this. Like all season, we've watched so many horrendous games of basketball in the regular season. And then you have the likes of the Pistons and Magic like in the first round. And now we've got this like cream of the crop basketball. So this is going to be better than whatever the finals shows up, I think. So I'm i'm really looking forward to each and every one of these games. Your point about...
00:16:53
Speaker
depth on who's going to come in okc are the only team that are injury proof if j-dub doesn't play if aj mitchell still can't play even if someone else goes down that's not shea then they can fill that gap like they've got guys like aaron wiggins who is an incredible player that i was so high on last season in the playoffs and i told you he's gonna have his big moments and he did have them in the finals And he's not even getting a look in. But if he comes in, he's ready. You know he's ready to go.
00:17:24
Speaker
Like J Will hitting big threes when he comes in. I think he can do a similar thing to what Hartenstein did, I think, in in in game two on Wemby if they need it for a shorter stint, like 15 minutes maybe. Hartenstein only played 20 odd high 20s if he pushes that into 32 33 minutes I think they've got something good going there but their guard rotation is just so deep and then you look at the Spurs if Dylan Harper and Fox are out and this this is 4-1 it doesn't matter if you have Wemby or not if both of them are out for the rest of the series it's over because Jordan McLaughlin and Carter Bryant are
00:18:01
Speaker
they're not getting you through it. They're they're nice players. They're fine. Bryant is having a good rookie season, but there's a huge difference between that drop off and kc's drop-off drop-off. So if the Iron Fox is back for game three,
00:18:14
Speaker
I think it's going to be very, very close, but I'm going to go with what you said, Michael, and I'm going to go with OKC getting one and then Spurs kicking back into gear and going, right, we need to pull this back because we're still at home. Fox and Wemby and some of the some of the other guys stepping up Champagne, maybe hitting some threes. But if we don't see Fox or Harper for either game, I think we will see Fox. I think he's I think he's only questionable. It's not a severe injury.
00:18:41
Speaker
But if we don't see either them, it's going 3-1 back to OKC. We need to get Fox back on the floor, especially with Harper's injury looking looking pretty pretty tough for them. Yeah, I think we hadn't even mentioned Alex Caruso there as well, and he's just a menace whenever he's on the court. He was plus 18 last night in his 25 minutes, 17 points.
00:19:02
Speaker
Like if they need him to step in and do 20 minutes as well, he can easily do it And he puts up points like it it's just, it's no man's business as well. So as you said, OKC are so deep. it Being able to go 10 players in in a conference final is just, is is a luxury that I don't think too many other teams have for the drop-off just isn't crazy.
00:19:21
Speaker
And as you said, the Spurs, while they have built a really, really good five, it is this important cast that need to step up our kind of just pull form out of nowhere because,
00:19:32
Speaker
if like if if If Fox is out and Harper is going to be out as well, then they really the are in trouble. and It could be 4-1 or 4-2 then. But we want one of them back because, as you both said, we want this going seven games. So we want them both at their they're fit and firing at their best. So hopefully they all just come back and have a nice time.
00:19:50
Speaker
Yeah, your your point on Alex Caruso reminded me of one thing. And I thought about it in the Rockets series when the Lakers were winning and Marcus Pemart was playing great.
00:20:01
Speaker
Good organizations. The sign of a good move is getting that veteran defensive piece, whether it's Drew Holiday, even Derek White for the Celtics. We're talking about like Marcus Smart for the Lakers. And now we're seeing Alex Caruso for OKC. That kind of that guy who can knock down his shots and play great defense for 40 minutes of a game.
00:20:26
Speaker
is so invaluable to these top team contenders. Because as good as everyone is in offense, and as much as everyone says defense is dead, it feels like defense is now a premium.
00:20:38
Speaker
Because everyone has a great offensive package. So if you can play great defense, there is always a place for you. No matter what age you are, as we can see. Even Portland played great. Getting into the playoffs after their head coach got arrested day one.
00:20:56
Speaker
Yeah, I think there is something to be said for the defensive ability of both of these teams. Like, even if you look last night, it felt like early when it started, it was kind of slow to get going. Now, both teams put up 31 in the first quarter, but...
00:21:11
Speaker
If you look at the second quarter, there's 20 points only going up by the Spurs. In the fourth, only 26 by OKC. It's still quite a number, but if you put that across four quarters, it would be lower. And I think that teams can lock in for five, ten minutes at this fast pace that that the league has played at.
00:21:29
Speaker
That's a testament to both squads. I want to just get your thoughts quickly on the Knicks and Cavs side of things, because look, that's going to be on tonight. So we won't know what, what the result is going into game three, but game one, look, let me just set the table here because 93 71 with seven minutes and 39 seconds remaining. The Cavs are leading by 22 points.
00:21:57
Speaker
The Knicks get five straight and then they call a timeout with 6.41 remaining. They come out of that timeout and they go on an 18-1 run before Kenny Atkinson calls a timeout with 3.30 left.
00:22:09
Speaker
So he allowed this team, this game, to go 23-1 before he called any sort timeout in the fourth quarter. So then coming out of that you go all right, Mobley hits a big three, not looking too bad. Eight points up, 97.89 to the Cavs. Knicks get the thing back to 99.99 with 45 seconds left.
00:22:31
Speaker
That's a 28-6 run in six minutes, and the Cavs only call one timeout during that in the fourth quarter of the conference finals. It's just a complete malfunction of coaching that he did not pull James Harden out this game or do what he did literally 90 seconds before the end and put Struis out there and have him be the one that switches on to Brunson consistently to trouble him because that actually worked.
00:22:58
Speaker
but he just allowed James Harden to get cooked over and over and over again, didn't change anything about it. Meanwhile, Harden has nine ISO possessions against him in the fourth quarter and overtime.
00:23:11
Speaker
Guess how many points per possession He gave up on those nine possessions. Michael, I'll throw it to you first. Yeah, I saw it. Wasn't it 1.9 or something? Yeah. Yeah. 1.29. It's just a bucket every time when you're ISO iso against Harden.
00:23:28
Speaker
That's just disgraceful. In the fourth quarter and overtime of a game, you're leading by 22 with seven minutes left. Like, okay, Brunson, 15.79 in the fourth quarter.
00:23:40
Speaker
Like, superb, as always. He's clutch. He can take over a game. He's playing against a traffic home. it's It's not. It's just such a different game than what we watch with Spurs and OKC.
00:23:52
Speaker
It's so stodgy at times, this this series. It's only been one game, but there was times where it was so slow, hard to watch. I'm sorry, yeah I think this thing needs to pick itself up.
00:24:03
Speaker
I know it was a amazing to watch that Knicks comeback, but there's no way on earth that should ever, ever have happened. The Cavs need to sort themselves out. Yeah, that tweet I saw that I sent you where it was, am James Harden is on five fouls. The Knicks really need to make sure he doesn't de doesn't foul out here just to keep him on the court because...
00:24:21
Speaker
Jesus, he just completely fell apart. He went back to the James Harden that has been just lambasted left, and centre by so many teams. But on top of that, going five for 16, one of eight from three, he just did himself no favours at all. And then letting all those isolation possessions up on him as well then was just... Six turnovers. Talk about... Yeah, sorry. I was going to get onto that in a second as well, the six turnovers on top of that. He just doesn't help himself at any point. And...
00:24:51
Speaker
like They brought him in to win the championship and so way they got through the conference semifinals and he kind of pulled it together towards the end of those last two or three games and we're oh, maybe he he is up for the fight here.
00:25:02
Speaker
And then he goes into game one of the conference finals and does that. It's like, oh, well, I did my bit in the semifinals. The rest of them can pull up now and show me what they can do before I try and do something again. This being James Harden's problem all all his career, really. And why he probably, well, there's no problem, he won't win an NBA championship before he retires now if he's going to be in your your your starting five.
00:25:23
Speaker
I love the man. He was brilliant for the Rockets, but again, he's just not a serious person. And that the other night really, really showed that he is not a serious person. Yeah, like performances like this is exactly why Daryl Morey did not want to give you that contract.
00:25:43
Speaker
Okay. And that's why you got traded. And I don't know, is he going to opt out this offseason? I wouldn't because I don't think you're going to get that That contract that you think the Cavs promised you.
00:25:57
Speaker
This is the seventh game this offseason where he has equal or more turnovers than made field goals. They've had two game sevens. That's like half the games.
00:26:10
Speaker
And you're thinking, oh, particularly bad. Harden has 49 games in his career playoff history out of 188.
00:26:23
Speaker
189, sorry. Where he has at least as many turnovers as made field goals. That is 25% of the time once he hits the playoffs. 25% of the time you're getting a scrub.
00:26:36
Speaker
Just a scrub. Can't do nothing. Bobbles the ball all the time. That's outrageous. If it was any other player, any other player, oh my God, we'd be murdering them.
00:26:50
Speaker
But it's it's the that's that's the losing of a series. If it's one one in every four games, he's going to show up and do absolutely nothing for you. That's how you lose series. It's how they lost game one. So maybe now the next three is okay, but then goes to game five.
00:27:05
Speaker
Like, are you going to get the James Harden that stands up and puts down eight of 12 from three and has two turnovers? it's it's It's unlikely. you're You're actually more likely to get the one that gives up the six turnovers and five made field goals and nine isolation possessions and everything. And...
00:27:23
Speaker
like i honestly can't think of better way to describe him than he's not a serious person. Because so boy is why are you putting him on the court to put yourself in this position? over and over again. He's also, so what is he, 36? He's not changing now. if anthony's going He's only going to get worse, yeah if anything. So, I think the Cavs might need to blow this up into somewhere.
00:27:41
Speaker
At times, he's pretending. Like, he's like, yeah I'm contesting the shot, but like, you're not. we can if We can see you're not. It's just that your hand is just up. Yeah. it's yeah And, I think James is spot on as well. Kenny Atkinson has to answer for something because, I mean, Jalen Tyson was playing amazing all season.
00:28:01
Speaker
Can't look on the floor. But even if you want to say fine, he can't play. Keon Ellis can knock down shots. And when he was playing at Sacramento, That's your Caruso. I remember sending... That's exactly what I'm saying. I remember sending like stories and and posts on Instagram of advanced metrics of Keon Ellis being like top five in everything.
00:28:24
Speaker
And they trade for him. And I thought he was going to be such a good pickup. He can't look at the floor. He can't get more than five minutes. And he was a he was like a plus two or something.
00:28:35
Speaker
I don't know.
00:28:40
Speaker
It's frustrating. So many things went wrong for the Cavs. But we have to also... i really... I feel like we've just been dunking on James Harden and the Cavs. The Knicks look great, man. Captain Brunson is there.
00:28:53
Speaker
Everybody's giving good contributions. Kyle Anthony Towns is so good this offseason. I am... amazed every time he touches the floor. He's averaging almost eight assists this playoff. yeah Every other time he's he's played, he's averaged I think 2.8. That is unprecedented increase in one in in this playoffs. and it's done He's done it for two series now.
00:29:20
Speaker
so he's destined for the finals he started off that first three games against the hawks pretty poorly and then that's when they did that kind of move of him to the four and his passing ability has always been good but now it's like when he started hitting down a few shots he started getting doubled and then his passing out of doubles has just been so good and when bridges is hitting shots and og like they are then it's it's it's easy to rack up those a this and he's doing a great job with his decision making so I agree with you I think the Knicks clean this one up I don't know how many games it goes maybe maybe six um because wasn't I think five six there wasn't too much between the teams I know there was a big different but like you move on two nights later and things could be very different tonight and you know, the Cavs have the ability to beat them, but I just think the Knicks have more than enough, and they won't start as slow as they did, and I don't think, as they did in game one again.
00:30:18
Speaker
So, look, we've got that one tonight, so you guys will all know what game two looked like. We could be sitting at 1-1, which would make things a bit more interesting, but the main one we're looking forward to is OKC and Spurs on Friday night, so...
00:30:33
Speaker
let's Let's watch that one, see how the rest of the week unfolds, and we'll be back more and NBA action next Thursday. Just before we let Michael go, Michael's your only guess what I picked as my but my finals matchup when we were doing the preseason preview. I need to give myself some credit after the the shit show I made at the NFL one. but do do Do you have Knicks Spurs?
00:30:56
Speaker
Knicks OKC. Oh my god Yeah I had the Lakers I was out so early Yeah I know was You're just as a good card You're a LeBron fanatic but I had the Sixers too making it out of Yeah true So you know what It doesn't even matter yeah i It matters to me because I made A dog's dinner of the NFL once saying the Jets were probably going to win the whole thing Run around my sitting room Yeah i top swinging Let's get some more comments like that out of you next season.
00:31:29
Speaker
Right? Mike, I'm Mike. I'll talk to the next week. See you in a Mike. See you guys. Okay, so let's dive into the football side of things now that Michael has departed. Shane is hyped i for this.
00:31:42
Speaker
Arsenal winning the title. It was sealed on Tuesday night. They're the winners after City drop points to Bournemouth. City had dropped points to Everton a couple of weeks ago as well. So those two were what really sealed it for Arsenal.
00:31:58
Speaker
Arsenal, look, 69 goals for them this season. City were the only team that had a more potent attack with 76. Best defence in the league, 26 goals against, 25 wins, 7 draws, 5 losses.
00:32:12
Speaker
You're looking at that kind of statistical profile and... and how everything looked in terms of their play and total points, it by no means was it um a dominant Premier League title win and or one really to be marveled at or remembered, I don't think, compared to what we've seen in recent years. But they got the job done.
00:32:36
Speaker
The exploitation of set pieces and their use of like pushing the boundaries on fouls without getting any red cards or penalties is commendable to them because they knew how to game the system better than anyone else. They used it to their advantage and now they've got the Premier League title to show for it and they can they can rest and prep for the Champions League final in a couple of weeks. They don't have to really do anything this weekend because it is sealed for them.
00:33:02
Speaker
Yeah, so I am a firm believer that the best team in the league wins the league at the end of the season. So in in fairness, some like as you everything you said is true. like they've They've made the most of absolutely everything in what has been... like i nearly say every team in the Premier League is a mid-table team at the moment, bar Arsenal and maybe City on a good day. The rest of them have just been mid-table teams. Anyone can beat anyone. And... They've just beaten more than anyone else. But it's... The de no right cards and no penalty stinks for me. It really does. It really just it sits in the back of my throat. And it's not their fault.
00:33:37
Speaker
Like, but the PGMOL have made maybe eight statements saying that decision was wrong, this decision was wrong. And I don't understand how after four or five, not looking closer to see, oh, well, we let them away with that there three weeks ago. So how are we letting them away with again? But...
00:33:51
Speaker
like My problem is more with Arteta than it is in Arsenal. It's not the players' fault, their manager's a clown. i just I just think that I don't see how they go back-to-back. I can't see them coming out here and winning this league next year. I think they're more likely to stay with Liverpool than they are to to win this back-to-back, which is good. And I'm really happy that Arteta stays in charge of them for another year because...
00:34:15
Speaker
There's no way he's going to get away with playing the same brand of football again this year. It's gotten him the title this year, but he has to go back to some sort of normal football next year because the players and the fans aren't going to want to play this defensive rubbish for another 38 games and see how it gets him.
00:34:30
Speaker
But yeah, let's leave it there and move on to the relegation fight. think I really, really need don't want to talk about him anymore. Well, I think next year will be interesting though because they'll probably see it as a... as an opportunity, like, I think anything less than winning it again would be an underperformance because they have a manager that's been there for so long.
00:34:51
Speaker
They've got a great squad. They're going to spend more money and you're getting Pep leaving. Slott, look, let's be, let's call a spade a spade. he's He probably won't last a season. and i don't know. do you see Twitter today?
00:35:05
Speaker
No. What about It's all over Twitter today that he's he's a goner. That the season of review has been done. I think i saw us and think I saw from eight different people on Twitter today that he's gone and Areola is the favourite to win now. So we'll have to win. I'm not sure how I feel about the Areola one either. He's never managed a club in European football. i He's had a lot of injuries this year, but he's only had one game a week. So yeah, but look, we'll talk about that next week if it does count to fruition. But...
00:35:31
Speaker
Like, I was meshing with a Villa fan I know last night, Wally, delighted for them. That was absolutely massive. But he was saying that if Pep does go, he thinks they have the best manager in the league now with Unai Emery. And i don't think he's far off, to be fair. Because I think Emery's a better manager than Arteta is.
00:35:49
Speaker
But if they come out and try and... I think there there has to be changes this summer in the Premier League with around set pieces, the pushing, the shoving, the pulling, the long shows have to change as well. There's so much the Premier League need to fix this year because the product they put out this year was just so poor from every everyone.
00:36:05
Speaker
Even Arsenal won the league. there were i i couldn't I couldn't somewhat watch them. but They were a terrible team to watch. Man City have been a terrible team to watch for years. They were actually enjoyable to watch this year because Ray and Cherokee was doing what he wanted. But...
00:36:18
Speaker
It's become such a hard league to watch and they really need to sort out the set pieces and these goal kicks and everyone jumping for everything. It just drives me insane. I don't know what you can do about corners.
00:36:29
Speaker
Maybe do that thing where no one's allowed in the six yard box until the ball is kicked or whatever it is. Like the hurling rule, we can't go in the box. One for our outside of Ireland listeners there. You can look that one up, the square ball bus.
00:36:41
Speaker
They have to do something to fix it because if it goes into this season the the same way as it is this year, there's more Friday nights I'd be going up watching Treaty than watching the Friday night Premier League game because I'd rather watch rubbish football in real life than rubbish football on television, to be honest. So we'll have to wait and see what to do in the summer.
00:36:56
Speaker
Yeah, I think the that point is is a good one, that they need to do something. I don't know what they could do about certain things, but they need to either they need to clamp down on this stuff in the box and then the first three or four games give 10 free outs and three penalties per game until the team stop pulling.
00:37:15
Speaker
Or you do a thing where you you don't allow anyone in that six-yard box, which I think is actually a very, very good idea, Mick, for... probably some more interesting routines as well from set pieces. But my point that I was going to make still kind of stands if slot does go, because you're looking at Liverpool with a new manager, City with a new manager, United with Carrick, who's only been there for a few months, and then Emery probably the the next best manager or the the manager of a team that's been there the longest. But Are Villa going to push for a title? I don't think they're consistent enough and they're going to be in the Champions League so it's going to be tough.
00:37:51
Speaker
So look, Arsenal would want to go back to back next season and let's see if they can by by playing some sort of different football because I don't think everything goes their way again another year.
00:38:01
Speaker
I agree with that point but... Let's look at what's going to happen this weekend because obviously the title is not to play for anymore. So what is to play for? Well, we've got West Ham and Spurs, two North London rivals. They're going to fight it out to avoid the final relegation spot. and So a draw at home to Everton is enough for Spurs.
00:38:24
Speaker
So they just need one point. Like West Ham's goal difference, they're not going to catch them. Right now you're looking at West Ham. Minus 14 or something. Minus 22 for West Ham and minus 10 for Spurs. Yeah, 12 goals.
00:38:35
Speaker
That's not possible. West Ham need to beat Leeds and they need Everton to beat Spurs. So that's the first thing that we're going to be keeping an eye on. I don't know. Spurs, Everton, they were awful last week. I don't know why they would make any effort to improve playing away from home this week when they couldn't do it at home last week. Spurs surely get a point here and and stay up.
00:38:56
Speaker
I think Spurs would rather this was happening at the Hill Dickinson rather than their own place. And I think Everton are happier that they're going away to Spurs rather than bringing them to their home. i think I think Spurs would love to flip this fixture and be going to the Hill Dickinson because they have two wins at home all year.
00:39:14
Speaker
I know they only need a point, but I think everything, they're like every other team in this world. They want to see Spurs go down because West Ham staying up is one team more that keeps them away from the relegation zone because West Ham will be in this position again next year.
00:39:29
Speaker
There's no way if Spurs stay up that they're in this position again next year. I just, I don't see how it happens at all. I know it's been two years in a row and that is a bit of a pattern, but if Spurs stay up, they'll be back in the top 10 next year. I'm going to say that now before they've even made any transfers.
00:39:44
Speaker
I think... i i just I still have this funny feeling Spurs go down. I don't know how it happens. And it's not even... haha look, it's bursting now. I actually just think... It's gone so far that... Yeah, they're in a great position. They two points up. They only need a point. But...
00:40:00
Speaker
If they go 1-0 down to everything at any point and West Ham are 1-0 up in the other game, you can forget about it. it Those fans are going to be booing and screaming and abusing and it's not going to help anyone on the pitch. And I don't blame them for what they've watched over the last 24 months. But I still have this feeling Spurs go down and it might come back to bite me. They might go out and beat everything 3-0 and it'll be over by over and done with by halftime.
00:40:23
Speaker
i just I think there's still a way for Spurs to down and West Ham stay up. and I think West Ham getting Leeds is quite a good one. Leeds got their big win last week to end the season, so they're happy out. All their home games are done. They are fully on the beach. They'll come out with their flip-flops with their towels over their shoulders. They'll be absolutely fine.
00:40:40
Speaker
but West Ham will probably get a win there. It's just about if Everton do want to show up and put Spurs into the championship. Yeah, I think you're right if that on that point that if Everton grab an early goal, then we could as we could see like this one go very badly for Spurs.
00:40:59
Speaker
But the longer it goes on, I think the less likely Everton are to score. It would have been a much better situation if Everton had beating Sunderland at home last week because then they'd be waiting for Europa League.
00:41:11
Speaker
And now it's just not possible with the goal difference they have really and the teams above them that they like they can't catch up with Chelsea. And everything else would have to go their way too and Chelsea would have to lose by like five.
00:41:23
Speaker
So it's just it's just out of the question right now. That's why I just think Spurs will at least get a point. i A few weeks ago I actually did think they were going to go down but... A couple of results went their way. And and West Ham... The Villa one really helped them. The fact they played Villa between the two forest legs really, really helped them. And yeah so while it's worked out for Villa now, it didn't matter to them. They they have their term of secured. But if Spurs hadn't gotten those points against Villa, they'd be going into this last day...
00:41:52
Speaker
in the bottom three and I'll never forgive Villa for that. I know they won their trophy and fair enough but I'll never forgive them for giving Spurs a handy free three points at Villa Park.
00:42:05
Speaker
Yeah, well, let's look at the European side of things because there is still stuff to play for though. Right now, we've got, it's it's a bit of a messy situation, but let's put it quite short. If Brighton and Bournemouth are two teams that can still get into the Champions League, so if City beat Aston Villa and Liverpool beat Brentford, then Brighton or Bournemouth can grab that sixth place and that will then become a Champions League spot.
00:42:35
Speaker
For Brighton to do it, they would need Bournemouth to lose and they would need to win. They have a better goal difference, so they would take that spot. For Bournemouth to do it, all they need is a draw away to Forest, which is likely because Forest are safe now.
00:42:48
Speaker
and And I think Bournemouth will go out on this last game for Areola and least at least get that point. So they will be praying that the other two results go their way and they can get Champions League. Then for the other European spots...
00:43:00
Speaker
We've got Brighton on 53, Chelsea 52, Brentford 52 and Sunderland 51. So all those teams are in with a fighting chance of getting either the last Europa League spot or the Conference League spot.
00:43:13
Speaker
So Sunderland actually play Chelsea. Beating them would put them above them and give them a great chance. If Liverpool beat Brentford, they would have it, which would be crazy for Sunderland to manage that. Brentford obviously need to beat Liverpool.
00:43:28
Speaker
and hope for other results to go their way. Brighton want to beat Man United, and then obviously we mentioned Chelsea. They want to go out and get something against Sunderland to secure that spot. I would love to see Sunderland go out and beat Chelsea and then everything else is kind of up in the air after that.
00:43:44
Speaker
If my perfect weekend here would be City beat Villa, Liverpool beat Brentford, we see Bournemouth in the Champions League, Sunderland beat Chelsea and grab themselves Europe, knocking Chelsea out in the process, Spurs lose, West Ham win.
00:43:58
Speaker
That would be an absolutely amazing Sunday to end the season. Yeah, I have no complaint to that, which is surprising because I was fully sure you were just going to go with Brentford to beat Liverpool and we'd have a bit of an argument then. boy No, I'd just love to see Borussia. I think, no, 100%. I think everything you said is how it goes.
00:44:17
Speaker
i think Liverpool will finish for it because they have a better goal Liverpool than Villa and they'll finish above them. Now, Liverpool tried their best to give Villa a better goal Liverpool than Liverpool had when they played last Friday night, but thankfully it didn't go as badly as it it actually did go.
00:44:31
Speaker
Liverpool win, City win, Bournemouth win. And then, like, is Chelsea in the Conference League funnier than Chelsea not having Europe? It works, think. It's kind of my toss-up between Chelsea and some of them being there.
00:44:42
Speaker
and it would just ruin it. Yeah, that's true. Yeah. yes Yeah. like let's Let's get something into your thing. I think Brentford, for a team that's, I think we both tipped to go down. What a job Keith Andrews has done there.
00:44:55
Speaker
I did not tip them to go down. ah but What a job Keith Andrews has done there. Incredible. And their end of the season has been... like they've They've kind of done a Crystal Palace season.
00:45:06
Speaker
They have 14 wins, 10 draws, 13 losses. It's one of those where it's like every third game is literally going to be one one result, the other or the other. so But they've they've just been so solid. they They'll get top 10, hopefully.
00:45:18
Speaker
And yeah, hopefully Sunderland can jump into 8th place, Chelsea 9th, Brentford 10th. Eddie Howe loses his job because Newcastle are 11th or 12th. Actually, we need to finish 12th because Everton are going to beat Spurs. So, yeah.
00:45:31
Speaker
I can't wait to look back at the tables we did at the start the season because i don't think we're going to have a single position. Yeah, we need to do we need to look at that because I think they're miles off. Yeah, I do think we're miles off of that, to be honest.
00:45:44
Speaker
But if West Ham do go down, at least though I had that one from the start of the season. That was my hot take. Yeah, so let's let's let's see if that comes true. would still rather Spurs than be around at this point. But...
00:45:58
Speaker
A last thing to touch on in the football side of things, obviously, congratulations Aston Villa for
Aston Villa's Europa League Triumph
00:46:03
Speaker
winning the Europa League. That was superb. Well-deserved. They were the much better side. There's not much to break into the game other than some fantastic goals. But the Spygates... The goals. My God.
00:46:14
Speaker
Yeah, unbelievable. Oh, yeah. Let's get into this spygate side of things because this is just a ridiculous story, all things considered.
Spygate Scandal Explained
00:46:22
Speaker
Basically, if you don't know, this is the rundown. May 7th, Millsborough make a formal complaint to the EFL, alleging that Southampton member of staff spied on their train in three days before a championship playoff semifinal first leg.
00:46:35
Speaker
First leg is a nil-niller. Borough boss calls out Southampton says they're cheaters. May 12th, Southampton were then charged with a breach of EFL regulations. That was before the second leg.
00:46:47
Speaker
The playoff second leg goes ahead. Southampton win an extra time. They get their place in the championship playoff final. The day after, photos start coming out of a Southampton analyst named William Salt near Middlesbrough's training ground. it Absolutely hilarious photos of him. trying to hide behind a tree. Just go behind a tree, Nick. Please go in the bush or something, Nick. It's absolutely ridiculous. It's literally like a naked gun level of of ridiculous spy work.
00:47:15
Speaker
They're at the phone behind a tree. yeah one And Middlesbrough call out Southampton. They want them to get expelled. That was May 15th. May 18th, Middlesbrough players return to training because there's an independent disciplinary hearing.
00:47:29
Speaker
May 19th, the EFL announces Southampton are expelled from the playoff final. Southampton come out, obviously they appeal that. That's not successful. And the FA confirmed they'll begin their own investigations into Spygate because there was a Luke Edwards telegraph with some whistleblower information that this has been going on all season or at least for a portion since the new manager came in. This is a crazy story in so many ways.
00:47:57
Speaker
I think good enough for them to get thrown out the way they did because they cheated. But Hull have been majorly done badly here because Middlesbrough knew they'd be playing Hull in the final. So as soon as they went back to training, they could prep for that.
00:48:10
Speaker
And in their minds, that that was the game that they were going to get. Whereas Hull still don't know which team that they're going to play. And they're the ones that won their two legs. I just don't agree with that side of things at all. But this is where we are and the game is on on Saturday. it's go to be It's going to be madness if Middlesbrough get up.
00:48:29
Speaker
I think Hull to just be put straight up because yes, Southampton have been expelled. So fair enough. Middlesbrough were knocked out. So technically the the last team standing is Hull.
00:48:42
Speaker
Like I know did they haven't played a final, but they are the last team standing. So they should just be put straight up given the the benefit of all the money, whatever it is, because Bairro went out lost their two legs, as you said, and then came back training knowing, okay, we have a week now to prepare for Hull potentially.
00:48:58
Speaker
Hull are there, like if we play in Southampton, we play in Middlesbrough, two different sides of football, two completely different teams. It's it's really, really unfair in Hull. Even yesterday, that thing where it's like we have two different kickoff times, depending on who they're playing. but What was that about? Like none of it's making sense.
00:49:14
Speaker
If they, like you forgot to mention as well, if they were Southampton with four-point deductions starting the season, yeah that could be more with this FA hearing as well. Like it could be so bad that it's like we want you to relegated down to League One, so here's a 20-point deduction on top of it. Like you never know how this is going to go.
00:49:30
Speaker
It puts all of Southampton's achievements over the season into into question, where they went in that 15 or 16 game on beat and run, which is basically unheard of the championship. Like they went to Wrexham away and won 5-1 and they're saying they didn't spine them. I don't know now, it looks a bit dodgy. Wrexham were in grey form and then gone, it was 5-1 at home.
00:49:50
Speaker
Like they've just, they've completely and utterly shot themselves in the foot here. And I'd say that manager goes, your man Salt obviously as he goes, they're going to have to clear your house and just start again. And maybe he's not as good as everyone thought he was because he looked like he was coming in young manager, 33 or 34 only, and just turned Southampton around all of a sudden. And now we know how he was literally cheating the whole way through and got him into the playoffs.
00:50:14
Speaker
teams could sue, Wrexham could sue, they missed out on the playoffs because Southampton cheated, Millwall could sue because they wouldn't have been playing Hull, they'd have been playing someone else maybe, they could be playing Wrexham. Like this whole thing could go a lot deeper and it already is and I'm actually more excited about how this pans out than I am watching the World Cup. So let's see where it goes. I think it's definitely likely that he's gone. and i had noted here that he's likely to be fired because of because of the playoff knockout, but the four-point deduction. So that was part of looking at what's going to happen in the future. And I don't see how he stays and I don't see how he gets another her job because you just have this on your name now.
00:50:54
Speaker
And some of the written evidence submitted to the AFL from that whistleblower from the Edwards piece, and he said that it's understood that they've claimed and team meetings included references to opposition data being gathered from the training ground.
00:51:11
Speaker
There was even an accusation that a text message instructed an analyst to travel to an opposition team's training ground after they had just changed managers. Southampton did not know their lineup or if there would be any personnel changes. And This is Oxford United we're talking about.
00:51:27
Speaker
One of the worst teams in the felt the need to go and do that. Like, this is is almost like a like a compulsion that they needed to, like, scratch that itch of going to spy or else they felt like they couldn't go and play the game.
00:51:40
Speaker
Like, it's just incredibly strange. And I agree with you that whole went up. There's talks as well that there was stuff in group chats. The whole of Acts of December, they were making jokes about going spying on teams in group chats. I think that was in the same article as well. I didn't i don't know whose article I read that in, but...
00:51:57
Speaker
Southampton players now are looking to sue the club. Harbert Bellis is apparently looking to sue the club because he's missing out on promotion, clause and all that kind of stuff. He's kind he was making these gestures when they scored against the Middlesbrough. It's one of those first few, like him's at you fast if you don't stop to look at it once in a while, maybe you'll miss it. like this is You brought this on yourself. like you If you try and sue this club, you're going nowhere.
00:52:21
Speaker
He's going with Roy Keane's, or he's engaged with Roy Keane's daughter as well. Let's say Roy Keane will give him slap over the head and say, don't you dare or even think about suing your own club, you clown. I'm sure Keane wasn't too happy when he saw the binocular celebration. Yeah, I think i can imagine.
00:52:37
Speaker
Like it's hilarious. It's scary. And it's absolutely mad what could come out of us. And I'm all for it. It's like football's version of EastEnders or something. i've done watched episode EastEnders, but imagine it it sounds like a plot line they could very easily come up with. Spying on another pub or something to see how how they're getting all the customers in.
00:52:57
Speaker
Yeah, I think we'll leave it on that ah analogy that you made and move on to Ganshan here.
Football Final Week Predictions
00:53:03
Speaker
But it's one to watch going into the summer. Last week, we each got a point in the second last week. So I'm 42 to 31. This is our final week of the season with the Premier League ending. So last week I had Wolves to beat Fulham, as did you. That ended in a draw.
00:53:19
Speaker
I had the Pistons to beat the Cavs in game six. That came off and they got a two game seven. And then we had the Timberwolves and Spurs.
00:53:31
Speaker
I had the Timberwolves to beat them and you also had that, but that didn't come off. But you had Sunderland to beat Everton. They battered them three one at the end. um So we got a point each. Looking at this weekend...
00:53:43
Speaker
I've got Sunderland at home to Chelsea. Sunderland are 5-2. I'm surprised they're 5-2. Chelsea are evens for this game. I think Sunderland to have it all to play for here and and they've done so well this season it would be a great way to go out so I think it's a good price.
00:53:59
Speaker
I've also got United 5-2 away to Brighton who are money on I think you could make the argument that United have nothing to play for, but now it looks like Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire are not going to be in the World Cup. They'll be out there with a vengeance to play.
00:54:13
Speaker
Bruno is still going to be trying to get the assist record. So I do think that United go and do a job on Brighton away. And then last up, I've got the Thunder to beat the Spurs in game three on the road. They're twenty three and twenty and the Spurs are So those are my three picks.
00:54:31
Speaker
Yeah, I had the Thunder to beat the Spurs as well. I think it was a pretty obvious pick considering the other one is on before Decepso comes out. So we had no real choice there. Whoever was, I was going to have to put in. I've gone with Everton to beat Spurs and kind of just back up on the point I've been making. I can't believe that West Ham and Spurs are both favourites for their games.
00:54:51
Speaker
It's a bit mad to me. So Spurs are 20-23 and Everton are 14-5. And I've got my Palace to beat Arsenal. Declan Rice and Saka and the boys are outside the Emirates at half five on Wednesday morning. So I don't think they're going to be in much state. They're just going to be thinking about getting to the end of the game so they can lift this trophy back at home.
00:55:09
Speaker
So I've got my Palace 16-5 to beat Arsenal, who I presume, think it says 3-4, but my computer turned it into a three-quarter sign, so I can't see 100%, but I'm pretty sure it's 3-4. Yeah, that sounds about right. um I think the only reason I avoided that one is because it just has like some kind of a nil-nil written all over it where Arsenal are all hungover and resting their players for a Champions League final and Palace are resting everyone for the Conference League final.
00:55:36
Speaker
So I think... I just think i'm I'm guaranteed at this point to not get a five-pointer this season. So I might as well put in one that just keeps me at getting a max of two again. There's no point. If I get a five-pointer this week, I'll be fuming at myself anyway. so Well, this is going to be the last week of it. So let's see how we get on. and Let's move on to the NFL. We've got a bit of a fun and topic for you this week.
00:55:58
Speaker
We're all for doing power rankings, but let's do the powerless rankings. We're going to look at the 10 teams heading into this season that are just completely powerless. They have nothing going for them.
00:56:10
Speaker
The teams that we just don't like the look of. We're going to do it in a draft format. So i'll go back and forth, top 10. Do you have your your name wheels ready that like you usually do or do you want me to pull it up and No, I don't have ready. You pull it up there for a change because you always win them when I pull them up. So maybe it's it's time that I get one back.
00:56:29
Speaker
Here we go. Click to spin. She's spinning. Great podcast and nobody can see this. And it's James. What a shock. It's James. There you go.
00:56:41
Speaker
What a shock. I'm going first here. Right. I think the most. Let me reword that. The least powerful team in the NFL. The team that leads our powerless rankings. First overall pick in the powerless rankings. I'm going with the Arizona Cardinals.
00:56:59
Speaker
This team just smells. There's something going on over there that I think is tragic. First of all, not convinced whatsoever by Laflora as the new head coach.
00:57:10
Speaker
You know something is going wrong when Jacoby Brissett is doing a holdout against you and you have no other option but Gardner Minshew on your roster as a quarterback. I don't know what they've done in recent years with some of their drafts.
00:57:22
Speaker
Some of them don't make sense. I don't know why they picked... Jeremiah Love when they could have traded back or done anything else that helped them. I think he's a great player, but the rest your team is so bad that it's not going to make much of a difference. And the money they're giving him is wild for somebody who's never played a snap in the NFL.
00:57:41
Speaker
Yeah, and then you've got like another Ashton Gentry situation where it's like you play in front of a a weak line, you don't have a good quarterback and nothing goes well. You pick him high and it doesn't work out in the first season. And then...
00:57:54
Speaker
the division they're in. Seahawks, Niners and Rams. To play those teams, those are six-year games, that's six losses. I just think that they're awful position. So that's why they're number one for me.
00:58:06
Speaker
Yeah, so they weren't my number one, but they were obviously in a top five for me. I'm kind of sticking with the Trident Russell. I'm going with the Titans. I still just don't, i don't like them. I still think they're so far off being a team that is going to do much challenging in this year.
00:58:22
Speaker
They're in another division that is is quite difficult. They have the Texans, obviously the Colts and the Jags. The Jags might make an appearance here as well, but the other two aren't going to be anywhere near our powerless rankings here. I just think the Titans are just still a big crop and they go in at number one for me.
00:58:37
Speaker
Yeah, I wouldn't be so sure about those teams not making an appearance. Let's see how we get on here. But yeah, I agree. I think the Titans just... They just got a lot of failed Jets and Giants players that were okay, but they're on completely horrible teams just because they have their coaches now.
00:58:53
Speaker
Yeah, they're just...
00:58:56
Speaker
I don't want to say it again, but they're another unserious organization. We have a James Harden's an unserious person. They're an unserious organization. There's a lot of unserious organizations in the NFL at the moment, but they're they're top of it for me. The Cardinals are up there as well, obviously, for all the points you put out. was There are just some shocking teams in this this competition.
00:59:15
Speaker
I don't know. it's just It's wild to me at times how these d GMs have jobs and make these decisions that they make and keep coming back next year to and get to do it again. The Titans are right up there for me. Yeah, yeah I agree. and Next up, I don't think this one is as much of a shock maybe to you as the first one I had. I've got the Browns coming in at third here for us. Look...
00:59:41
Speaker
it's just bad bad news their quarterback situation is horrendous Deshaun Watson is apparently going to have a competition for the starting job with Shador that's a sentence you don't want to hear as a fan of any team yeah and and you've gotten a guy in there as the head coach who look he he did good with the Ravens as offensive coordinator but I don't know how well he's going to do here and it's it's just going to be a difficult situation for everybody who's involved and I think Although they've drafted well the last two years, I just think the quarterback situation and the question marks around the coaching is is too big for me to not have them in third place.
01:00:22
Speaker
Yeah, I don't mind it at all. from They are quite clearly quite crap. And it is, it's only, they're another team that aren't going coming anywhere near to challenging anyone this season. So yeah, I don't mind it at all.
01:00:34
Speaker
What they did last year in that draft, is it's never, ever going to make sense to me. Taking all those quarterbacks and none of them are good enough. And they did draft a bit better this year, but that doesn't take them away from what they put up last year. And it's kind the same we with my pick at four here with the Raiders.
01:00:52
Speaker
That, yeah, they have they've done a lot of business this offseason, but until they actually show me what they can do, then they're they're still just there right down towards the bottom of this list for me because I just think...
01:01:05
Speaker
Yeah, you can spend this money all you want, but money doesn't always equal equal success. And yeah, they've gotten a great centre in, but does he have anyone behind him he can trust? and Is it going to be Cousins? Is it going to be Mendoza?
01:01:18
Speaker
it's is It is Cousins. and Yeah, it is Cousins that's gone there. Whoever it is is going to really, really tough time behind their O-line still, despite the money they spent on this. And then their wide receivers are just nothing to write home about. So we'll just have to wait and see if they can pull anything out of a hat. And it's another one now I might come back and eat my hat on. But for the moment, the Raiders are definitely in in the top five worst teams in the NFL for me.
01:01:41
Speaker
Okay, I had them a little bit lower. I had them at ninth when I was going through these because I just think they made some good acquisitions and the quarterback situation is better, but they're still completely one of the worst teams in the NFL right now.
01:01:55
Speaker
Next up, I'm sorry to do this, but the Jets, you pass you can't be having Geno Smith as your quarterback and Aaron Glenn as your head coach and not be in the top five here.
01:02:06
Speaker
i just think that... Last year was a disaster. They had a good draft class, but it's not going to get them anywhere when Geno is the quarterback. They've got some question marks on the offensive line.
01:02:18
Speaker
and then you've also got a defense that's very mismatched. You brought in some players, but I don't know how well they all gel together. Like you look at the likes of Minka Fitzpatrick, he might be past it.
01:02:28
Speaker
This kind of a move may not work out. I don't know. I think if you start off well, you could have a decent season where it's it's an improvement. But if the first two or three games are losses, yeah you might find it hard to pick up even three or four wins because Glenn is going to self-implode.
01:02:45
Speaker
And he's going to be the one that's scapegoated for this whole thing. but so And he knows it too. So I've got the Jets in there at our number five pick in the powerless rankings. Yeah, they were going to go in there for me next, to be honest. and Kind of just to follow on from what the Raiders have done again, Jets have done a lot of business in the summer, but again, money doesn't equal success. And like, how do you bring in a defensive coordinator last year you don't get a single intersection all season or whatever it was, is really, really, really poor. And then Gino Smith is your starting in quarterback. He got rid of him 13 years ago.
01:03:17
Speaker
How has he ended up back here again? so Yeah, the Jets were next for me. I'd love to put the Giants in here as retaliation, but obviously I can't because they've done really well, gotten in the best head coach that available on the market. So I'm going to drop the Saints in and I'm really sorry going on, but just...
01:03:32
Speaker
What are the Saints? Like, honestly, what are they? Like, Tyler Shook, fair enough. He looks good towards the end of last season. does Can he do it again this year?
01:03:43
Speaker
Let's just wait and see. I just think they're a team that are missing Drew Brees and he's gone how many years now? We just have just another team that we have to wait and see what they do. I don't think they're going to do much, but let's just just see if they can pull anything the house. And you know what, they might be building the Jets, but that mightn't be hard at the same time.
01:04:02
Speaker
Yeah, I think they're going to have a bad season. I had them on my list as well. like I just think Shook, he had a good few games the end of last season, but statistically, how much better was he than Spencer Rattler earlier in the season? Like, not not much.
01:04:14
Speaker
I think they're going to be picking their quarterback next season, no matter what people think about Shook. So I've got seventh spot, and I'm going with the Miami Dolphins. I think they're just in a disaster situation and they've put themselves here, really. They're they're trying to blow it up.
01:04:34
Speaker
They let go of any decent talent they had pretty much across the board. They traded away Jalen Waddle. They have a new head coach in Jeff Halfley, who's probably guaranteed a second year before this year has even started because they know how bad it's going to be on him. Malik Willis, look, he did well when he came in, but I don't think he's a starting quarterback for a full season. And the team is already in in comp complete this array already.
01:04:59
Speaker
So I just think that this is going to be a bad season for the Dolphins. And yeah, I think seventh spot is Probably, look at the end of the season when we look back, we're going to say this is probably too low because they could be one of the worst teams in the league.
01:05:12
Speaker
Yeah, they were actually so irrelevant I forgot they existed to put them into my top 10 even. So that will tell you where they are. But um yeah, this is a team that looking to reset. And a bit like Aaron Glenn, this head coach is going to come out with no credit. And he's going to be in an awful position coming into year three. I know it's a long way away. But if he gets fired after year two, he'll do well to get another job in the NFL, I think. To say my Aaron Glenn might struggle to get another job. Definitely as a head coach, if year two goes the way we expect it to.
01:05:40
Speaker
i think This is kind of where I started to struggle with finishing out with 10 teams. I'm going to put the Steelers in here at 8 because of their quarterback situation.
01:05:51
Speaker
Is Aaron Rodgers coming back again? Are they going to go with someone else? Are they waiting for 45-year-olds? Sorry?
01:05:58
Speaker
sorry They've signed Rodgers like three days ago now. have they? Yeah. Okay. Oh, well, I missed that, but I'm still going to put him in there because Aaron Rodgers is their starting quarterback going into another season and he was finished and he was at the Jets in 2021. So, yeah, I just, I think there's not too many teams from here on that have done terribly.
01:06:21
Speaker
This Steelers team haven't done very well. Yeah, i I had them on my list too. I was going to put them in because I just think they're kind of aimless. And yeah, Rodgers was supposed to meet with them like two weeks ago and he didn't show up at the facility. I can't blame you for not following this story because it's completely boring. It's the same thing we've had for the last three years. It just goes and goes and goes.
01:06:43
Speaker
Then like two days ago or three days ago, they announced that they signed him. And then yesterday he announced he's retiring after the end of the season. And you're just like, why do you always have to make something about yourself? Like, just play or don't play. We don't care what you're doing after the season.
01:06:59
Speaker
it's not going to be a good one anyway. So you should just retire now. Like Mike McCarthy in there as head coach, I don't think that's going to go down well. The fans didn't like it. They didn't do well in the draft. half All their fans left the draft area because they didn't get the player they wanted, even though it was in Pittsburgh.
01:07:15
Speaker
Everything just looks bad. I think they're they're up for their first losing season in a long, long time. So I agree with you there wholeheartedly and to have them in. Next up is one of those. I think the fact that Aaron Rodgers managed to fall out with Pat McAfee says a whole lot about him as well because Pat McAfee is someone who loves annoying people.
01:07:35
Speaker
Like he doesn't say he doesn't love annoying people. He loves people who are annoying. And even he got sick of Aaron Rodgers and his nonsense. So that that goes to show just how how far down dis still the the the rabbit hole Aaron Rodgers has gone.
01:07:48
Speaker
Yeah, and there was a time there, McAfee was paying him reportedly like a million to come on the show yeah yeah ESPN. And now, look at this. i Yeah, look, Rodgers, I just don't understand the way he's called himself to us to the rest of his season, or to his career. and I'm going with the Colts.
01:08:07
Speaker
Look, you said you might not see his team from that division on this board, but the Indianapolis Colts with Daniel Jones, I think they've really messed up. They paid Alec Pearce way too much.
01:08:19
Speaker
They gave up way too much for Sauce Gardner and didn't have a first round pick this year because of it. They paid Daniel Jones now. They've got him in there. he'd I've seen enough of him.
01:08:30
Speaker
the What you got from him at the end of last season is what you're going to get. 90% of the time. Just because he had a few good games, jesus it's not his fault he's always getting injured. He's injury prone. His body is obviously...
01:08:45
Speaker
you know, consistently getting injured in the same areas because of previous injuries. That's not his fault, but he's just not a starting quarterback in the NFL. Never was, and he never will be. And they've gone in on him, and they're going to rue it this year. I think Steichen will be on the chopping block after this season. I think they're going to stink it up.
01:09:02
Speaker
um And I think they'll be floating around with the Titans towards the bottom of that division. Yeah, I had them in my my top 10. When I was saying teams won't get in, I did mean the other two. Okay. And to kind of try off the centre, putting the Colts in as well. I'm just going to throw in the commanders here because I have actually run out of options now.
01:09:19
Speaker
and I don't think they're going to turn a five and twelve into a 12-5 going into this season, as even as good as Jalen Daniels might be.
Commanders' Season Challenges
01:09:27
Speaker
i think they're in for another tough season. They might get over 500, but I don't think they're making playoffs again. Yeah.
01:09:33
Speaker
Then after that, then they'll have to see what to do because Jalen Daniels is probably finishing his rookie deal at the end of this season. they'll probably have to sign him yeah they'll get another year but they'll have to pay him to get ahead of the market so yeah so they'll have to wait and we'll have to see how that goes is old but I just don't think this is a commander's team the one two years ago I thought they were shoe-ins to be Super Bowl contenders and I don't know what they did last summer but they made some mess of it and they're still going to be reaping the weeds they sold in that summer coming into this season
01:10:09
Speaker
Yeah, well put. I think i had them last season when we started the season outside of the playoffs. I just think they did They did way too much above what they should have. And I think the Patriots could be a team that follows suit. They actually made it to the Super Bowl, but they were way ahead of schedule.
01:10:26
Speaker
And I think the commanders did it. And the next season we saw that drop off. And Daniels is another one who consistently gets injured unless he changes his play style. And then they're talking about putting him under centre. I don't know if he ever has ever done that before. i just don't know what way this is going to go.
Power Rankings Discussion
01:10:42
Speaker
So I like... Obviously as a Giants fan, I like seeing at the commanders on this list. But... Our top 10 is Cardinals, Titans, Browns, Raiders, Jets, Saints, Dolphins, Steelers, Colts, Commanders. That is a pretty powerless list. So I think we've done very well there.
01:10:58
Speaker
Yeah, I thought we were going to have at least one mess up, but we've done well there. So I'm proud of us. Pat's on the back. Well done, everybody. Move from the power list rankings into the power rankings to wrap it up the last one of the season because the Premier League has wrapped up now and there's no point in doing six NBA teams when there's only going be four left after this week. So last week I had the Thunder, Arsenal, Knicks, Bournemouth, Spurs and Man United.
01:11:26
Speaker
This week, I've still got the Thunder first. Best team in the NBA. I know they lost the game, but I just think they're what they've done all season. Only losing once so far in the playoffs. Just superb. Arsenal are second. They won the Premier League in the Champions League final. They don't move.
01:11:40
Speaker
The Knicks are still in third. I think they look great. They made a great comeback and I think they will beat the Cavs. I've moved Aston Villa in a fourth. They got the Europa League win, so they're the Champions League next season. They've done very well in the Premier League too, so they deserve to be here.
01:11:56
Speaker
San Antonio Spurs move back in, or stay in, should I say, in the same spot as last week there in fifth, just because I think Villa deserve to to get in there pretty high, and the Knicks are doing very well. And then last up, I've got Bournemouth to round things out. I wanted to keep United in the very last one, but these other three teams, Arsenal won the league,
01:12:16
Speaker
Villa won the Europa and Bournemouth have just done unbelievably well getting into the Europa League and possibly still the Champions League so they deserve to stay in there in that sixth spot so my final rankings is Thunder, Arsenal, Knicks, Villa, Spurs and Bournemouth You can go back and say our final rankings are and list off those six because I think it's the first time ever we have the exact same six in the exact same order.
01:12:39
Speaker
That's mad. But maybe maybe we're we're talking too much. It was close there a couple of weeks ago. We had United in instead of Bournemouth, but we've gotten there. Thunder, Arsenal, Knicks, Villa.
01:12:51
Speaker
Thunder, Arsenal, Knicks. Why can't I read? Sorry. Thunder, Arsenal, Knicks, Villa. Spurs? I'm looking at the wrong week. One second. Yes, sorry. Yeah, Thunder, Arsenal, Knicks, Villa, Spurs, Bournemouth. Jesus.
01:13:03
Speaker
I clicked over to the wrong week somehow on the team, but yeah. There we go. That's mad because even last week you had Knicks in at two, Arsenal three. You had the Cavs in there at Bournemouth fifth, like and we still managed to move them all back into the same order, which is mad to end the season on that. so For me, it was just like Arsenal had to move up, obviously. Yeah.
01:13:25
Speaker
The Knicks did did fall 22 points down. and So they aren't as powerful as I thought they were last week. They were very good last week. So they were going to drop down. Obviously Villa came in after what they did last night and the rest just kind of is an easy pick. Then the Thunder are clearly the best team around. The Spurs are quite good as well, but they did it lose the other night. So was kind of it all just kind of fell into place really.
01:13:45
Speaker
I was delighted to not have to put United into my last one. even though they got that third spot I think the other teams for what they were expected of did very very well so they deserve it and yeah we'll leave it there for this week I'll throw it to you to wrap it because we've been covered off a lot in this episode so let's let's wrap it up yeah let's keep it going to yours 77 episodes done now I haven't been on all of them James has done 77 episodes he's the stalwart here just continue going.
Podcast Growth and Gratitude
01:14:13
Speaker
We picked up a good few followers this week from starting to post on Instagram reels, I think they're called. I'm getting to all of this. Oh, the YouTube shorts. So if you could start... Oh, YouTube shorts. Yeah, there we go. So that that's the one. So if you could start watching them as well, that'd be great. And yeah, just just keep it going. We really appreciate all the support and we'll see you again next week. Thank you very much.
01:14:35
Speaker
Welcome back to another episode of Who's Got the Ball with Shane and James.