Sports Round Table from The State News

The Sports Round Table Council chat about the NFL draft, the early MLB season and the NBA and NHL playoffs.

What is Sports Round Table from The State News?

The State News sports reporters discuss all MSU sports.

Jacob:

Welcome back to sports roundtable state news's sports podcast. Last one of the semester. Very, very sad times. Trying not to shed some tears, guys, please. But I'm back.

Jacob:

I'm your host, Jacob Smith, my cohost, Maddie, and guests, Alana and Thomas. Second appearance of the semester, so they're going out with a bang.

Madi:

Second appearance of the year.

Thomas:

Yeah. It's good to be here. Thanks, guys.

Madi:

Here's your little warm welcome, Thomas. Unbelievable. Sorry.

Jacob:

Just setting the standard.

Thomas:

I'm just kidding.

Jacob:

But it is nice to have a packed house for our last episode, four people around the whole table, hence why it's called roundtable. But we got some exciting topics for you guys today because, Michigan State really does not have anything going on with sports. So we're doing another pro episode because I ran out of ideas. But it's an exciting week in pro sports because the NFL draft is tomorrow, which snuck up really fast. MLB season's in full swing, and the NBA and NFL playoffs have not disappointed so far.

Jacob:

We got some fun topics, but we're gonna start with the NFL draft. I know this is, like, kind of a weaker class than normal, but is there any consensus who you guys think is gonna go number one overall? Because that's kind of the talk of the town right now with Tennessee on the clock.

Madi:

Thomas, go

Thomas:

ahead. First of I didn't know it was tomorrow.

Jacob:

It is tomorrow.

Thomas:

I I knew today. Yeah. But I was, like, two days ago years old when I learned. Mhmm. I would say it's probably because of it being labeled like a weaker class.

Thomas:

Relative to recent classes, I think I saw I was reading ESPN article, and one NFL general manager said there are four, maybe five blue chip players. After that, it's 40 guys with a a late first round or second round grade. Wow. And, again, the general managers are involved, but they're not the scouts. They're not the ones who are, you know, crushing hours of film on these guys.

Thomas:

But I think what we're gonna find is that there's gonna be a lot of dispersion between the mock people and what actually happens for that very reason. Yeah. There's just gonna be, I feel like, more more things flying in that regard. I think Cam Ward will go number one, though, and this is mostly just me reading other experts Yeah. Stuff.

Thomas:

And I don't know what you guys think, but, you know, Travis Hunter is a guy I think will go higher than he should go, and we'll get into that. But I think Cam Ward's going number one, personally.

Madi:

Yes. Honestly, I'm kinda in the same boat as you, Thomas. I found out on Tuesday that the NFL draft was on Thursday, and I was kinda like, oh, forgot about that. But last year, I feel like it was more prominent to us because it was in Detroit. So we there was so much hype around it coming to Michigan.

Thomas:

I was there. It was awesome.

Madi:

I know. I remember. Yeah. But, yeah. I I mean, honestly, besides Cam Ward and Travis Hunter, I really don't know anybody that's supposed to go top five in the draft this year.

Madi:

Like, I just haven't paid attention because it has been a weaker class.

Alana:

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, would say the same. It's been a pretty weak class. It's just, like, not it lasts like a top heavy, like, QB or wide receiver

Thomas:

Yeah.

Alana:

And stuff like that. But I wouldn't be, like I wouldn't disagree with Cam Ward in any way. But I don't think of Duel Carter as, like, a bad pick either necessarily.

Jacob:

Yeah. Just

Alana:

a weak class.

Jacob:

Yeah. Duel Carter. Yeah. Duel Carter had a lot of buzz, especially, like, with Tennessee kind of needing, like, everything as they are number one on the clock. But I think they would kind of be silly not to go Cam Ward because LeBoe Levis has just not panned out Mhmm.

Jacob:

In his time in Tennessee, and they kind of need a quarterback. And Cam Ward can be a franchise out of Miami, but

Thomas:

And I don't think that you look at the Titans and you say that's a franchise that would mess up this opportunity. Like, we've seen franchises historically, year after year, miss on quarterbacks.

Jacob:

Yeah.

Thomas:

And I think that it's such a quarterback league now that, especially an organization like the Titans who has had success in recent years and seems to be healthy minded from the outside looking in, I think that they will realize the importance of having a guy like Cam Ward who immediately has a presence from day one and can compete.

Jacob:

Yeah. Because he showed that in college. I mean, he Yeah. Very athletic, kind of plays a little conschalant as some people would say, but he makes the right reads, very good throws. He's a mobile quarterback.

Jacob:

I think a funny thing to note is that why I think he's going number one is because he was playing Fortnite on stream. And one of his duo members said, who are your favorite wide receivers in the league? And he said Calvin Ridley and Traylon Burks, who are two titans receivers for those that don't know. So, I feel like Cam Ward's probably been on the phone, Tennessee, to say to say the least. He's definitely a number one caliber player.

Jacob:

And like Alana said, like, there's not really anybody, like, behind him that can compete as a quarterback for the number one pick. I mean, Shadrar Sanders is the next best quarterback in the draft, and there's talks of him going like Steelers mid round for mid first round. So I think Ken Ward's definitely the pick, but it makes it interesting because then after that, I feel like all kind of breaks loose, and that's why I wanna get into, like, somewhere you guys think some other players will go, such as Travis Hunter, Shudder Sanders, Ashton Genti, who should have won the Heisman in my opinion, but those guys as well.

Madi:

I mean, I'm looking at, like, an ESPN top whatever, like, how people are projecting others to go. I thought that Mason Graham from Michigan was supposed to go a lot higher than ninth. Like, I thought for a while before that he was supposed to go at least top five. I don't know. I thought I saw things out there.

Madi:

That or I was just listening to my dad who likes Michigan, and he said something about it. I think there

Thomas:

are some complications with, like, how he fits as an NFL player. Mhmm. He his position he's kind of a hybrid defensive lineman. And and in today's NFL, all the edge rushers are it's it's its own position now. It's called edge.

Thomas:

Mhmm. Whereas it was historically just being outside linebacker.

Madi:

Mhmm.

Thomas:

And I think that teams are looking for more of, like, a true DN or a true nose guy rather than someone who can play both. Although, I I think he's shown in his body of work that that he can produce against against those guys up front.

Jacob:

Mhmm. Yeah.

Thomas:

At a school like Michigan where you're playing. Elite competition. Yeah. The big time was phenomenal last year.

Jacob:

Yeah.

Thomas:

And he did a great job for Michigan. He was a a bright spot on a a struggling team.

Jacob:

Yeah. And edge guys out of Michigan normally don't fail pretty bad. So, I mean, there's always that.

Thomas:

Right. And there's, like, that track record over

Jacob:

the past couple years. Most definitely.

Thomas:

I was I thought it was interesting to see some comments about Travis Hunter because Ryan Clark of ESPN said something along the lines of, you know, Travis Hunter he doesn't think Travis Hunter is a top three corner or wide receiver, or he doesn't have that kind of ability or talent.

Jacob:

Crazy team.

Thomas:

And that if a team is not gonna play Travis Hunter on both sides of the ball, then they shouldn't waste a top five pick on him because I think, you know, I said, like, he's not Julio Jones, he's not Larry Fitzgerald, he's not a Champ Bailey, he's not Deion Sanders. He is what he is, and he's a he's a very durable player who has that, stamina and endurance that other players don't, and that's what makes him special. But it's what Ryan Clark said was that what makes him special is not his talent on one side of the ball or the other. Mhmm. And I honestly agreed from a certain standpoint.

Thomas:

I think he is not those players, but he's 22 years old. He's 20 I actually don't know how old he is, but he's around that age, and we're just acting like this is a ceiling. Mhmm. But I do understand from the sense of, you know, he's not, like, this alpha male at corner or at receiver yet, but who's to say he's not gonna get there? You know?

Thomas:

Yeah. I mean, what do you guys think about No.

Alana:

I completely agree. I mean, I was gonna say, like, you're young. It takes a while to develop your skills. And, like, he'll figure out where he specializes even if he's not, like, fully there yet and he is playing both sides of the ball. But I do almost agree a little bit that right now with where he's at, like, a team is in need of both of those positions, it is an amazing pick to, like, just fill those.

Alana:

But yeah.

Thomas:

So you so you think teams whoever drafts him is gonna play him on both sides?

Alana:

You think so? I would think, like, starting out, that's what they should do. And then, like, as they figure out where he does really fit, like Yeah. Have him specialize in that.

Jacob:

Yeah. Mean, it's proven to work all throughout college. I know that's a different game than the NFL NFL, but, like, even though if he's not your top three receiver and top three quarterback at the same time, you're still getting above average almost elite production Yep. From both sides of the ball. Mhmm.

Jacob:

So I feel like it's worth the risk. Can you look at the teams, like, behind Tennessee who's probably not gonna take them? I mean Mhmm. Cleveland's right there.

Madi:

Right.

Jacob:

I know they have a good cornerback room, but they're they don't have a lot of receivers Mhmm. That can catch the ball. Margaret Cooper's still a free agent. New York needs everything. I mean, they've needed everything for probably about ten years, but they're right there as well that could use an elite corner as well as a ball catcher.

Jacob:

And if he falls in New England somehow, that would also work out. So I feel like the team's right behind Needham. I think he's gonna go to Cleveland or New York. It's just a matter of which one takes him first. But he's got a chance to produce a Wheatley.

Madi:

Mean, if you have a diverse guy who can do both, why not test the waters? Why not draft him, test the waters, see what he is better at doing, and then go from there?

Thomas:

And, you know, not I mean, he's probably one of those four or five blue chip guys that that GM was talking about. So it's really just a matter of where he fits in this class. Yeah.

Madi:

There. Mhmm.

Thomas:

And I just worry about that. You know, he's playing that many snaps in the NFL. He's gonna get hurt. Mhmm. So and, like, it's just a matter of how often he's gonna get

Jacob:

hurt Yeah.

Thomas:

And and how that's gonna uphold if he wants to play for a long time, you know, and that's gotta be something that you look at as a as a general manager when you draft somebody.

Jacob:

Yeah. I think that's a good point because it's like at what point like, how many snaps did you play at a certain time? How many snaps are you gonna play a game? How many offensive, defensive snaps are playing? 30 years old.

Thomas:

Yeah. Exactly. Playing in the NFL. Exactly. 30 years old.

Thomas:

Yeah. What's that gonna look like? What's the wear and tear gonna look like there?

Jacob:

Yeah. I know. It's it's so difficult to that NFL. So it'll be interesting to see how he works. That's the risk that comes with him.

Jacob:

But the last guy I wanna ask you guys about before we move on is where do you think Ashon Genti is gonna go? Because Ashon Genti was the best running back in college football last year, almost broke Barry Sanders' record of most rushing yards in a single season. He had over 2,000 and led Boise State to the playoffs. So he is someone that can change the game because we see how well he runs and how well he can break tackles incredibly strong. But running backs are always, I feel like, a risk at in the NFL draft, especially top 10, and then he's directed to go around five or six to the Jags or Raiders.

Alana:

Yeah.

Jacob:

So what do you guys kinda see there?

Thomas:

Yeah. I think running back is the I mean, running back was like the star of the league last year.

Jacob:

Mhmm. Mhmm. What?

Thomas:

The running back position stole the show in 2425 for the NFL with with Saquon and Derrick Henry and how much those trades ended up impacting the recipients. Mhmm. So I think you're gonna see Genti go high. I really do because of that very reason and the guy's a stud. And say what you want about the competition he played last year, the tape speaks for itself.

Thomas:

Yeah. I think, I mean, if you just watch a couple of hours of tape, look at, like, the the six or seven yard runs instead of all just the big plays, he's an NFL back. Mhmm. And I think he could be an NFL feature back where, like, Saquon or Derrick Henry get a lot of the of the touches. And in today's NFL, you see so many NFL backfields with, like, three guys or, like, or at least two guys that split carries, like, in Detroit or, I mean, how I think a lot of the NFL teams this year had, like, three headed backfields.

Thomas:

Yeah. Right? So I think Genti could, in in some time, make his way into that conversation of being an every down back, but it's hard to do in the NFL.

Alana:

Mhmm. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I'd agree. I think he'll might go, like, sooner than we think.

Alana:

But I just overall, like, he was underrated. Like, that's he was slippery, I guess, is a good

Jacob:

Yeah.

Alana:

Way to describe it. Yeah. I don't know. I don't know. I just think he'll go sooner than we think.

Alana:

I don't know what team, but I think he'll go sooner than we think.

Madi:

I agree. I don't really have much He was

Thomas:

underrated? I

Alana:

mean, like, I feel like I don't hear as much about him as

Thomas:

I mean, yeah, he did win the highest, man. Well

Jacob:

Runner-up. Hasn't runner-up. I said he didn't win the Yeah. Yeah. But yeah, mean he's

Thomas:

That's that's not a conversation.

Jacob:

No. It is. I I I would honestly agree because like I feel like he should have won the highest for the production that he put up and I you can say what you want about the competition but like you said just put on the tape. I mean, you watch a YouTube video for four minutes of Sean Genti and show it to your kid. They're gonna be freaking out because it's like half his touchdowns were 60 yarders.

Jacob:

So, I mean, it doesn't lie. So I feel like to agree with everybody else, I feel like he is gonna go probably top five. If not, he's gonna go six to the Raiders, which is right there. So I think it should be interesting. But there's not as many product, like, top prospects to really talk about this year, which is why we kind of wanted to zone in on the top fever or whatever but Yeah.

Jacob:

Definitely a good outlook into tomorrow night as we all didn't realize came up real quick. Mhmm. Shifting gears a little bit now from we're gonna talk about the MOB just real quick because the season is in full swing even though it is still like, getting close to the April. But, got some teams off to some hot starts. The Dodgers, I mean, they show that spending a billion dollars will get you whatever you want.

Jacob:

Sixteen and eight with the second best record in the MOB. They're always gonna be good. The Yankees had a whole fiasco with torpedo bets. I don't know if you guys heard too much about that. Yeah.

Jacob:

But I feel like that is a good talking point, so I'll let you guys, like, kinda speak your thoughts on that.

Alana:

But I don't know that much, but I understand, like, the implications of it. Like, I am curious as to, like, what what do they plan to do with it? Like, how are they planning to, like, get rid of it? Like, what Yeah. What do they wanna do there?

Alana:

I don't know. It's just this is interesting. Just like I remember, we were talking in one of my classes about, like I don't remember what team it was, what player it was, but somebody was using a torpedo bat, and they, like, hit the ball and it, like, just flew. Like, the bat itself just flew. And I was like, that's kind of insane how aerodynamic those are.

Alana:

Like, that's wild. Like, you can hit hard.

Jacob:

Yeah. There's a lot of science behind them. Like, the whole point is to shift, like, the power of where you make contact with the ball towards the middle of that barrel. And like it's bigger than the barrel is bigger than a normal bat by a pretty significant margin and it's it's supposed to be that way for science and to increase more upward lift on the ball that's why the Yankees have been using them is because it's supposed to help you get the ball in the air more, increase your power. It also is why it caused a lot of controversy because it's something we've never seen before in the OV but it is legal.

Thomas:

Right.

Jacob:

So it's probably not gonna go anyway away anytime soon.

Alana:

I've heard they're on back order.

Jacob:

They are pretty much. There's the teams that have put in their individual order for them. Like, it's getting to the So that's why they've had a hot start leading the league in runs, but interesting there.

Madi:

That's what I was gonna say is like, why are they just now coming about now? Like, what is the I

Jacob:

think they have a staff member that was, like, really into this kind of stuff.

Thomas:

Oh, yeah. I understand. It's all about science.

Jacob:

Pretty much. Yeah. It's like the Yankee set of science guy that pretty much figures out.

Madi:

Like, don't

Thomas:

The sweet spot.

Alana:

Yeah. Like, don't I? Yeah.

Thomas:

The sweet spot of a baseball bat is obviously where you want to hit it on, but it's ridiculously hard. Like, it's, like, scientifically the hardest thing to do in sports.

Jacob:

Most definitely.

Thomas:

Yeah. Just hit a baseball Yeah. Professionally, like, at that level. So I think the the idea is that when you do hit the barrel, like, when you hit the when you hit the swing you want to and you hit it on the sweet spot, it's going to go further. Mhmm.

Thomas:

And it's probably it's probably a to do with exit velocity because Yeah. Exit velocity velocity is, like, a huge thing for these players. That's, like, a huge metric. Mhmm. But, I mean, it's only really been the Yankees so far that have used them consistently.

Thomas:

So I I think it's being made a bigger deal than it actually is. Yeah. That's what I've told everybody who asks me, like, what's the deal with this? Like, well, it's legal, it's regulated, it's just shifting, you know, however much of the bat to the sweet spot, which is already ridiculously hard to hit.

Jacob:

Yeah. And I feel like this is like this reminds you of, like, middle school where a fashion trend becomes popular or, like, a social media trend becomes popular for, like, two weeks. Mhmm. And then it just goes away.

Alana:

Yeah. I almost wonder, like, if every team, like, the I've heard some players say that they think it's, like, a placebo effect almost. Yeah. But

Jacob:

It's also just the

Thomas:

Yankees. Yeah.

Madi:

Yeah. That's true.

Thomas:

So if was like the Milwaukee Brewers doing it, like Yeah. Who cares?

Alana:

Right. But it's the Yankees. The Yankees. Mhmm.

Jacob:

No. It's it's definitely interesting. And it's like like I said, hence the reason why they've got off to such a good start. Like, they're leading the league in runs. So that caused a lot of controversy around the league.

Jacob:

Mhmm. But definitely one of the bigger storylines of that early season as well. And then looking kinda out west, like, the NL is really stacked this year so far. I know the Dodgers are up there. They're always gonna be up there.

Jacob:

The Cubs are another good team with 14 or 15 wins. And then the NL West has the Padres who are seventeen and eight now because they just lost today. Yeah. They did. Sixteen and eight Dodgers, 15 and nine Giants, and fourteen and nine Diamondbacks.

Jacob:

So that division is just looking very scary. But I think it's good for baseball because the best team in the in baseball is in that division, which is the Dodgers. And I'm pretty sure every baseball fan doesn't wanna see them repeat just because they can pretty much buy whoever they

Madi:

want. Right.

Jacob:

So I think it's good to see the Dodgers have some competition.

Thomas:

I was thinking I was thinking about this the other day. I think that this Dodgers team is, like, looking at it from a mix of of star power, experience, and just sheer ability, the most loaded team in the history of sports. Here, I'm actually gonna pull the, like, loaded is, like I said, from a mix of, like, just pure namesake ability talent and then guys who have had not just, like, a lot of years in the MLB, but have played in the World Series and have had postseason experience. Like, obviously, have Shohei, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman.

Jacob:

Big three.

Thomas:

That's their big three. Mhmm. And Shohei is gonna start pitching soon. Yeah. A couple years off of having like a two four ERA Yeah.

Thomas:

And hitting 40 home runs. And then they have these these guys, like the tier two, Teoscar Hernandez, Tommy Edmond, who's playing out of his mind right

Jacob:

now. Almost at league in home runs.

Thomas:

Yeah. Max Muncy, who's been, you know, sort of a franchise pillar for them. And then Michael Conforto, played in the World Series. Yeah. Big, a lot of postseason experience.

Thomas:

Will Smith as a catcher, and then the pitching staff, man. Once Shohei gets back and starting, I'll have him, Roki Sasaki, Yamamoto, Tyler Glass now. I mean, it's just an embarrassment of riches, and I think can look at some of, like, the most successful American sports teams ever, and I don't think you can say any of those teams are as good on paper as this Dodgers team is. Obviously, there's a lot of baseball to be played and injuries and whatever, the trade deadline. But I think on paper, it's the most loaded team in sports history, in American sports history.

Thomas:

I mean, I couldn't I couldn't tell you a more a more stacked team. What do guys think?

Madi:

Yeah. I mean, the Dodgers are coming off of a World Series win. I mean, just to keep playing the way that they have. I mean, sometimes you see teams win a championship and then just kinda, like, slowly decline, slowly fall off. And the Dodgers have done anything but that.

Madi:

Like, they've just continued, to be a star in the league, to be so high up there. And so, yeah, I mean, you're right. They're stacked. They're loaded. They're scary, but they're beatable.

Thomas:

Yeah. But we'll see. Yeah. We'll see.

Jacob:

Yeah. Maybe it's early.

Thomas:

Yeah. It's early. But, I mean, it does feel like it's their it's their season to lose. Yeah. Like, that's not to say we won't see an AL team get hot kinda like the Rangers did in 2023.

Madi:

Mhmm.

Thomas:

But just from, like, from an eye test standpoint, I'd say the Yankees, Rangers, and Tigers are my AL favorites right now. I think and then the Red Sox because they can make big moves around the deadline. Right. Mhmm. I think the Tigers have decent enough bats and what looks and what's been a rock solid five man rotation.

Jacob:

Mhmm. That's been more than rock solid too.

Thomas:

And what's been a great bullpen. Yeah. I think the pitching puts them over the top of it. Although, you know, they're one of those teams, those one of those kind of gadget teams where, like, they could be 20 wins above or below their over under for the season.

Madi:

Mhmm.

Jacob:

Yeah. No, I agree. Because the Tigers, like, their biggest mission this year was to prove they were a fluke last year or not because they made the playoffs on some miracle run with, like, a point 2% chance in August. Yeah.

Alana:

Mhmm.

Jacob:

So this is their season this year is to prove whether they were legit last year or not. They got better, especially bringing Jack Flaherty back. They have four pitchers now who have a sub three ERA. I know it's early, but

Madi:

But still. I don't

Jacob:

care how much you care about me. So that's impressive to do. But

Madi:

Mhmm. No. I I mean, like you said, coming off of last year, they were point 2% chance of even making the playoffs in August. Come back, go on this miracle run that they did, make the playoffs, make it to the second round, almost get through, and then come in and start the way that they have. I think that pitching was not even a weakness, but it was

Thomas:

something that The head pitching pitchers.

Madi:

Yeah. So it was a weakness.

Thomas:

Starting pitchers.

Madi:

It was a weakness then. Like, we struggled last year. And now to come in and have four guys who have been playing out of their minds, people who can actually hit. And last year, we struggled really badly with that at the beginning of the season. We had no offense.

Madi:

And now to see the, like, how far we've come with that even has been incredible.

Jacob:

Yeah. It's it's been it's been nice. It's, like, refreshing too, because they're fifteen and ten this year, which is their best start since 2015, when was like, that was, like, the end of their glory days, essentially. Mhmm. So to see them playing well is is awesome.

Jacob:

And I think a big part of that has been Spencer Torkelson's kinda

Alana:

Yep.

Madi:

He's been on the resurgence.

Thomas:

Yeah.

Jacob:

Yeah. Because he's finally playing, like, number one overall pick that he was supposed to be. Averages near 307 home runs already in the season. That's what we all expected from him, and this has only been a month too. So very positive sign to see.

Jacob:

And they've had other guys step up. I mean, Riley Green struggled this year, and they still have 15 wins.

Thomas:

Mhmm.

Jacob:

He he had a crazy struggle streak.

Thomas:

So Yeah.

Jacob:

That's been nice to see. And just got like, just random guys like Zach McKinstry and

Madi:

Thomas Nito had a really good time the other day too. Where did he come from?

Thomas:

This guy's stepping up. Mean, it's kinda like last year. Yeah. It was organized chaos, as they said. Mhmm.

Thomas:

Yeah. When they had two starting pitchers and really, it was a managerial master class down the stretch last year. Yeah. That was unbelievable what that that staff did with the lineup and the bullpen and the pitching rotation. Mhmm.

Thomas:

But that's another story.

Jacob:

Yeah. Most definitely. But definitely, some dogs over there in Detroit, as I like to say. Got a rep for the the brands here today, but that's pretty much your the best recap you're gonna get in MOV season so far, and that's what we can give you. It's the best.

Thomas:

Yeah. It is.

Jacob:

For our final two segments of the day, we're gonna talk some playoffs because the NBA and NHL are in full swing Mhmm. Games every night. This is about as good as it gets as a NBA or NHL fan, the first rounds of the playoffs. So I wanna start with the NBA, and, we're gonna talk about other teams too, but for Detroit's sake and the region aspect of this podcast. The Pistons are tied now with the Knicks one to one.

Jacob:

Stole a game in the Garden on Monday night, and I think it proves how gritty they can be. Yes. Like, when I look at these two teams, Detroit and New York, Detroit is playing like a shade of the bad boys almost. And New York is playing like a team that can't handle any sort of contact whatsoever.

Alana:

Agree, dude. I watched the first game, and I, like, we shouldn't have lost that.

Jacob:

No.

Alana:

We should not have lost that.

Thomas:

Mhmm. Just the Nova boys.

Jacob:

Yeah. The Nova boys.

Madi:

I mean It's the Nova boys.

Alana:

It's honestly their defense.

Madi:

Like, they just

Alana:

they you don't see that much in the NBA. Mhmm. Like, the Pistons defense has been really, really good. Mhmm. And I don't think other teams, like, are keeping up like that.

Jacob:

Yeah. Because if you look at, like, the eye I one of my favorite things is the eye test. You look at the Pistons and you're like, okay. They got Kate Cunningham.

Thomas:

Right.

Jacob:

And then some probably, like, the casual NBA fans gonna be like, who else do they got? Mhmm. And I know, like, the the above average basketball fans, like, they got Tobias Harris, Mike Beasley, Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Durran, all these guys that really contribute heavily. But for the average fan, like, this team is not really that great on paper.

Madi:

Oh, right.

Jacob:

They've stepped up with JB Bickerstaff kind of coaching this team, implemented a great game plan, tell them to play tough every night. And, like, this team gives Bickerstaff and the city of Detroit everything they

Madi:

got Yeah.

Jacob:

Night in and night out. And I feel like that's why they deserve to win games because they're gonna match up a team against, like, the Knicks. Where the Knicks, they're flopping all over the place trying to get calls because they're used to playing soft. Like, Carlton Townsend is a big man. He's looking at the three point line every single play, like, getting the paint.

Jacob:

Like, they they don't wanna play Yeah. The same brand of basketball that Detroit does, and I think that's why the Pistons army must steal a few games this series is because they can't handle it.

Madi:

And nobody even expected them to win at the Garden, period. Like, nobody expected them to go in and actually pick up a game at MSG.

Alana:

Yeah. No.

Madi:

So, I mean, that it shows a lot about what this team can do and how gritty they are and just how tough they are mentally and obviously overcoming one of the worst seasons in NBA history Yeah. To come back and triple the amount of games that they won last year and then pick up a game at the Garden. That's a huge deal for that team.

Alana:

They're just really figuring things out under pressure,

Thomas:

and I

Alana:

think it's really impressive.

Jacob:

Yeah. And first playoff win since 02/2008

Thomas:

Yeah.

Madi:

That's insane.

Jacob:

Like, we were, like, all around four or five years old when that happened. So I mean, like, tells you how much of a long time coming it's been. Yep. But great to see for the Pistons. And my only last comment is Jalen Brunson is, like, my biggest op, as the kids would say.

Thomas:

Yeah. Well, so the Pistons are really well coached. Yes. Mhmm. And they have an identity.

Madi:

Mhmm.

Thomas:

And that identity is the city.

Jacob:

Mhmm.

Thomas:

Yeah. Like, it doesn't nothing to do with basketball. Mhmm. I mean, they're, you know, they play good defense and they're connected, but their identity is Detroit. I think a lot of those guys, like Beasley and, you know, some of those guys have really sort of embraced it.

Thomas:

Mhmm. So that's I think that's what I noticed when I watched Pistons. I'm the only non Pistons fan in this room. Yes.

Jacob:

Yeah.

Thomas:

So, I mean, I I can play I play devil's advocate a little bit for the sake of of this podcast. I I think, like, stuff of Jalen Brunson, I mean, is nothing new. Right? Like Mhmm. This is James Harden and Trae Young, and James Harden's still doing it, by the way.

Jacob:

Yeah. The

Thomas:

Clippers are pulling my nuggets, and it it happens every other time down the floor. My nuggets? Mine.

Alana:

They're mine. They're mine nuggets. Tell them, Thomas. Tell them.

Thomas:

You is done? Sorry. I think he'd go. Can move on. James Harden does it every single time on the floor.

Thomas:

And Trae Young, there's problems where they had to change the rules and over the pandemic. Mhmm. So this is, yeah, this is just recency bias, my opinion. It's just a knee jerk reaction, kinda.

Jacob:

Yeah. And I think it's true. But I wanna go back to what you said about the city, like, how the Pistons perform.

Madi:

I was about to do it.

Jacob:

Because Detroit's entire word of just like, their motivational word for the last five years for the city has been grit.

Madi:

Mhmm.

Jacob:

That's how the Lions became good. Mhmm. Because Dan Campbell came in in 2021 and said, I don't care how good of a roster we have. You guys are gonna play your butt off every single day. Mhmm.

Jacob:

And you're gonna play for the city. Yeah. That's how the tigers made the playoffs last year. Their nickname was gritty tiges.

Madi:

And that's what I was gonna say. That's exactly what I was gonna say because Jason Bonetti said, A city that never cared about the odds now has a team to match. Alright.

Jacob:

Such a bar.

Madi:

That's engraved in my brain. Mhmm. And that's how except for the Red Wings, that's how every single team in Detroit has played, is against the odds. Mhmm. That's all they've done for the city.

Madi:

They want to have success for the city, and that's exactly what all four of these teams have done.

Jacob:

Yeah. From a fan's perspective, this has been, like, one of the best stretches we've had in so long. Yeah. I mean, just to see these guys compete again, and the future's really bright because all these teams are still very young. Mhmm.

Jacob:

But that is a lot about the Pistons. I know your nuggets are in the playoffs too. But

Thomas:

We're going through it over here. I mean, you guys got a one one series too. Got a GM. Yeah. All we have is

Jacob:

about Yeah. That was a that was a very strange kinda end of your season, firing your coach and GM, like, a week before the playoffs and then kinda saying, alright. Go out there and play and try to get us a series.

Madi:

Figure it out.

Thomas:

Yeah. I mean, some some something was going on there.

Jacob:

Yeah. We don't something deeper.

Thomas:

For sure. We don't we don't know what's going on. Yeah. We have no idea.

Jacob:

Yeah. And it's been kind of a trend. Like, if there's been the Grizzlies fired Taylor Jenkins two weeks before the playoffs, and now they are getting blown out by 70 points combined in their first two games versus the Thunder. So, like, I whatever works, there's always something kind of a bigger story in the NBA. But, that's definitely been a notable thing in terms of the Thunder.

Jacob:

I mean, some other notable results as well. The Timberwolves and Lakers series is tied one one, which is probably the best, if not one

Thomas:

of the best series.

Jacob:

Matchups in the first round in the NBA. So that one is definitely one to monitor. But something I really wanna note is Giannis Antetokounmpo has not won a playoff game since 2022, and that was a year removed from when they won the championship in 2021. So, I mean, his struggles with the Bucks have been kind of unorthodox for what we've seen in terms of his early career, but I think that's definitely an interesting storyline if you guys have any thoughts on that. I'll look past Baddie.

Alana:

Good idea.

Thomas:

For Giannis?

Jacob:

Yeah. Or just the Bucks in general.

Alana:

I mean, okay. Bucks in general. I mean, they're down bad. Yeah.

Thomas:

I like that. Like that. I mean, I don't I haven't really watched this series Yeah. But I do have a lot of criticism for the Bucks organization and how they use Giannis. Yeah.

Thomas:

I mean, we saw a couple years ago. They lost they were the number one seed, and they lost in five games in the first round. Yeah. I mean, that was despicable. And they're starting it's not the same this year, but it does sort of have that eerie feel going in to game four, game five.

Thomas:

You're like Yeah. They're about to lose this thing. Yeah. And, you know, where do they go from here? Giannis is like the opposite of a diva.

Thomas:

Right? So you're you're lucky that you're not gonna have a guy that's just gonna leave Mhmm. After this. Yeah. But at what point does he leave?

Thomas:

Yeah. Or at what point do you trade him? Because you don't have a future, like, kinda like the Mavericks did. Mhmm. And I think, like, going back to the Lakers Timberwolves thing, I, the LA Times, Lakers reporters have really talked about how much excitement that there is for the Lakers in the playoffs, which is so crazy because it's like, it's the Lakers.

Thomas:

Mhmm. Right? Like, of course, there's excitement, but there's it's the impact of Luka Doncic. Right? And I'm personally afraid of Nikola Jokic going to the Lakers after the broader tires.

Thomas:

And there's just, there's this sense that the Lakers are gonna rule the NBA for the next ten years. Yeah. I'm one Lakers fan, so big shocker.

Jacob:

Yeah. Big shocker. Well, it's not, I feel like, too far fetched because the Lakers, the only reason they've kind of been good Got the money to do it money, but they've also sustained success probably for, like, since Magic Johnson was playing there. I mean, even before that, even though they had a few rough seasons kind of the twenty tens when LeBron before LeBron got there, I mean, they've always been a great team. And they have money because, I mean, see the theme pair with the Dodgers.

Jacob:

They play in Los Angeles. Yeah.

Thomas:

It's the show to the Lakers, man.

Jacob:

You can you can see that. So they'll they'll always be able to get anybody no matter how many draft picks they give up in the trade. But, I mean, just that's kind of how the league is. We they got a sense of players over to the East, man. It's gonna get sad.

Jacob:

But it's it's good for the Piston to contend. But, yeah, if Giannis leaves the East, I feel like the NBA's product is just like yeah. I like meh. It's starting to kinda get repetitive, starting to get like that kind of thing. But I mean, anything for ratings, that's Mhmm.

Jacob:

Kind of how the NBA is. But, moving on to our last segment for today. Talking NHL playoffs. This is Maddie's time to shine, so

Alana:

we'll

Jacob:

give you lots of mic time here. But I wanna talk about Monday in the NHL because those are some of the craziest playoff games I can remember in a long time. I mean, me and you talked about how this could be one of the best first rounds ever.

Madi:

I gotta remember who played.

Thomas:

I'll I'll

Jacob:

I'll run it down for you a little bit. Okay. I'll I'll set the stage for, like, a brief follow-up. K. So I believe it was Monday.

Jacob:

If I'm wrong, then this is bad. But right. So, like, the Capitals are in a series of Montreal. They won an overtime that game.

Madi:

Yeah. They did.

Jacob:

Three and two. And Alex Ovechkin hit the game winner, which is pretty much just poetic at this point. I mean, he's this is one of his best seasons ever.

Madi:

It's his first ever overtime game winning goal in the playoffs too. Mhmm. His first ever.

Jacob:

Yeah. It it would be the season he breaks the square record. Like, that's just how it goes.

Madi:

Yeah.

Jacob:

But quick other really recap before we let you guys talk. The Jets beat the Blues two to one. They we talked about them being an upset watch last episode, and they've started out their series strong two nothing against the Blues. The Stars came all the way back against the Avalanche to tie their series at one one because that's also gonna be a crazy series. They were down multiple goals came back and then one of the craziest games I could say I've had on in the background while I wasn't actually watching it.

Jacob:

The Oilers pulled up a

Madi:

Yeah.

Jacob:

Almost pulled up a crazy comeback versus the Kings scoring five straight goals. Yeah. But then they lost six to five because LA scored about twenty seconds later.

Thomas:

Yeah. So

Jacob:

I'll let you guys kinda

Madi:

I mean, that's an interesting one too because LA and Edmonton have been playing each other in the playoffs for the last, like, four years. Yeah. And LA just can't seem to get past Edmonton most of the time. Yep. And so it'll be interesting if LA can pull off that upset, which really wouldn't even be an upset.

Madi:

Obviously, Edmonton went to, the Stanley Cup final last year, but they're in a lower spot than LA is right now. And LA got off to a really hot start this season. Like, they've had a really great season. I do wanna for Thomas' sake, Colorado and Dallas is gonna be a killer series. I have Colorado winning the whole thing.

Jacob:

I also have Colorado winning.

Madi:

And I, as a Detroit fan, I cannot like Colorado, but this team is just insane. Like, Colorado's

Thomas:

trade they made, recently. It's really Yeah. It's kinda like, basketball when you put when you trade for a group, you trade one really good player for a group of role players, and then all of a sudden, those role players become something different with a guy that's on this

Madi:

team. Mhmm.

Thomas:

And that's what's happening. They're catching passes from Nathan McKinnon now. Mhmm. So, like, what does that look like? Yeah.

Thomas:

Much better. Much better hockey players. And it it it hurt to make that trade, I think, for them, but it was one that really made them better. And, you're starting to see that. Yeah.

Thomas:

I think I think a lot of people have them winning at all. Yeah. And I've only watched the Avs. I haven't watched any other NHL games. It's really gonna be a really good series.

Thomas:

I mean, the other night, I spent five hours of my life watching the Nuggets lose and then the Avalanche lose, and I'll do it again.

Madi:

I mean, just the trades that obviously, it was tough for a lot of those players on the Avs to see a player like Miko Ranton go, but bringing in guys like Charlie Coyle, like Logan Stankov and wait. No. No. He went to Carolina in the trade from Miko to Dallas. There was four or five guys they brought in, Brock Nelson, Charlie Coyle.

Thomas:

Role players.

Madi:

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, just, like, solid players that add depth to this lineup that already has stars on it, like, McKinnon, like, Makar. Obviously, they have Landis Gog back now, which is an awesome like, an unbelievable storyline. Yes.

Madi:

Just he hasn't played in a game since they won the Stanley Cup in, what Right. 2022.

Thomas:

'20 '20 '2.

Madi:

And now he makes his debut in the third game of the Stanley Cup playoffs? Like, that's insane. That's that's just an awesome story.

Thomas:

For, for giving your flowers to the Avalanche.

Madi:

I will.

Thomas:

That's that deserves some credit.

Madi:

They do. They do. And I

Thomas:

No. Said you deserve some credit.

Madi:

Oh, thank you. Yeah. Thank you.

Jacob:

That's why we have Benny.

Madi:

You're not a

Jacob:

new plug.

Madi:

I'm a Red Wings fan forever and ever, and I hate the Colorado Avalanche, but they're the real deal this year. Like, they'd they'll go far. They'll go far.

Jacob:

Yeah. But I mean, the Stars aren't an easy first round.

Madi:

No. Stars Which is

Jacob:

why it's like

Madi:

That's such a good matchup.

Thomas:

The Stars last year in the first round.

Madi:

Yeah. Yeah. They did.

Jacob:

Mhmm. I feel like it's for the Avs. It's like, get past them. You you it's probably a better chance to get to the final rather

Madi:

than Yeah.

Jacob:

Like, just getting out the first round because that's how the initial kinda works. Their playoff format's a little wonky, but it's feel like this is the same thing as the Warriors Kings series.

Thomas:

Like Mhmm.

Madi:

Yeah.

Jacob:

The Kings, they need to break through. And I mean, Edmonton's not gonna score five straight again. So Mhmm. But it also gives Edmonton hope that they can do that and Yeah. Kind of put that together over

Alana:

I feel that could haunt them. Yeah. Haunted.

Jacob:

Yeah. No. Most definitely. Like, especially losing four straight years. Mhmm.

Jacob:

You gotta bounce back at some point. Yeah. So it's it's just like it's it reminds you of, like, La Bronto a little bit. La Bronto just, like, owning Toronto for Yeah. However many years around the playoffs.

Jacob:

But, I mean, that's why we get such great sports storylines is because things like this exist and it's just like an own ownage. Yeah, the playoffs have not disappointed so far. It's been really cool to I

Madi:

mean, another one that's been really interesting is a lot of people have said, whoever wins the Battle of Florida is going straight to the Stanley Cup, to the final round. In Florida, the Panthers beat the Lightning five to two the other night. And everybody on Twitter was like, that's the same Panthers team we saw last year. Like, they're gonna destroy Tampa Bay. They at one point, I saw they had five goals on 13 shots.

Madi:

That's wild, especially for if I don't know if Vasilevskiy was in, but if he was, that's a really, really bad game for him because he's been a really solid goaltender since he stepped into the league. I knew that New Jersey was gonna get whooped by Carolina. That's I'd said that last episode. That's a that's bad. Especially when New Jersey loses Brenda Dillon and Luke Hughes in the same game.

Madi:

That's just atrocious.

Thomas:

She knew.

Madi:

Yeah. I knew it. I knew. I was like, man, they're gonna that's gonna be a bad matchup. For Minnesota and Vegas to be tied at this point is also a little wild to me because Vegas has has a really, really deep roster.

Madi:

They kinda remind me of Colorado. Like, I can see that being a Western Conference final.

Thomas:

Yeah.

Madi:

Yeah. But, I mean, Minnesota Minnesota had a really good game last night against Vegas. I don't know. There's there's a lot of interesting matchups. And for Montreal to take Washington to overtime is wild to me because everybody's been talking Washington Capitals.

Madi:

I don't hear enough of it from our dear coworker, Jason Benedict, about how amazing his Washington capitals are. I'm a little worried for him, especially with this Montreal team that's been hot for the last month and a half.

Thomas:

I didn't watch the series or I didn't watch the game on Tuesday, Monday. I think it was Tuesday.

Madi:

Monday, Tuesday, whatever it was.

Thomas:

Like I said, I was watching the nuggets. But my uncle, who's a big hockey

Madi:

guy Mhmm.

Thomas:

Texted us, and he said something about, you know, Vetchkin doesn't play defense.

Madi:

No. He can't play defense.

Thomas:

He usually said, what a goal. Ovi is incredible, but he doesn't do anything else Mhmm. But score, like, play defense. Mhmm.

Jacob:

Yeah.

Thomas:

So I guess I'm a basketball guy. I've seen that exist in in the NBA, and it works. You know? If you have people around them that can play play defense and do other things, it works.

Jacob:

Yeah. Go for it. Yeah.

Madi:

That's how like, a guy like Patrick Kane, he can't play defense to save his life, but he can pass the puck, and he has the most insane stick handling skills I've ever seen in my life. Mhmm. So like you said, it can work. It can totally work. That's how Conor McDavid is.

Madi:

Conor McDavid doesn't play defense very well at all, and you see the team that he's on make it to the Stanley Cup final last year. Like, you can have these star guys who can't do anything besides pass the puck and have a hundred plus assists a season and still make it as far as they do.

Thomas:

Kobe Kobe won five rings. Right?

Jacob:

Yeah. I know. I think the common denominator at some to some extent, age. I mean, Alex eventually is, like, almost Santa Claus at this point. He's

Thomas:

a 30

Madi:

year old. Yeah. He's a old man.

Jacob:

Patrick Cain's another one

Alana:

that's Mhmm.

Jacob:

Up there in age, and Connor McDavid is starting to get up there, like, ever so slightly. He kinda reminds me of, like, Luca Dodges in the NBA. His defense is not anywhere near exceptional, but he can score 30 points a game and then get you a win. So I mean

Thomas:

how much of that is, like, saving one end for the other? Yeah. Like, would I be able to go out and get 35 if I'm Luca Donshich? If I'm busting my butt on the defensive end, probably not.

Jacob:

Yeah. No. Because Yeah. For guys like Luka, I mean, you can get tired, but Mhmm. Also, I feel like that's why age kinda holds you back a little bit because Alex Zvechkin is not gonna get out there and skate around the ice at a very fast pace, for his age.

Madi:

But we also saw him, like, break a bone in his leg and then come back four weeks later Mhmm. And break the goal record. So

Jacob:

Yeah. He's kind of inhuman, so I'm not gonna downplay him.

Madi:

He's a robot.

Jacob:

I'm not gonna downplay him anymore. But, I mean, they also, I feel like they have to get past this first round for the Capitals to really talk about having a very successful season because that's always kind of been their knock. I mean, they can't really get too far out of the first round, second round even. I know won they won the Stanley Cup

Madi:

In 2018.

Jacob:

In 2018. So I know there was that. But I mean

Madi:

But last year, I

Jacob:

mean, they

Madi:

made it they made it last year by a thread. Yeah. So yeah. We haven't seen the success of Washington in quite some time, so it will be interesting to see if they can make it past Montreal.

Jacob:

Their best chance. Yeah. That's for sure.

Madi:

Yeah. Yes. Well, yeah.

Jacob:

Yeah. I mean

Madi:

Go Colorado. Yeah. Honestly, if it's Colorado and Winnipeg for round two of the playoffs, that's where Winnipeg gets hit with the curse of the president's trophy. Yeah. Where things crumble for them is against Colorado.

Madi:

Because if if they get past Saint Louis, which they've been playing a really good series against, Saint Louis, Saint Louis has been doing as much as they can. And Winnipeg is known for not doing great in the first round of the playoffs. They lost last year after having a really successful season, winning the president's trophy this year for the first time in their franchise. Mhmm. They they aren't making it.

Madi:

They aren't making it to the cup.

Jacob:

Yeah. Especially because the blues are giving them tough games.

Madi:

Yeah.

Jacob:

So you need to kinda get some experience. Like, the thunder had the best record in the NBA. Don't wanna keep putting this to NBA, but for example

Madi:

No.

Thomas:

That's

Jacob:

fine. Had the best record in the in the West and then or the entire league, and then they're dominating the grizzlies. So the Jets, like, know it's not their DNA to always win early in the playoffs. But, I mean, if the Blues are gonna give you tough games, you're not gonna be prepared for what Yeah. A team like the average is gonna hit you with in the second round.

Jacob:

I mean, turned into an avalanche hype up podcast, but

Thomas:

I mean Love Letter. I mean, I would want to face them. I love Letter. I

Jacob:

really want

Thomas:

to face them right now. Yeah. Mean I

Madi:

wouldn't either. I really wouldn't either.

Jacob:

I have the expert analysis, so that that is Thomas Cowb. But but, yeah, I mean, any closing thoughts? That'll pretty much wrap it

Thomas:

up otherwise. But I'm gonna miss doing this.

Jacob:

I know. It's I know.

Madi:

It's the last one. Yeah. Why? Can we just sit here and talk

Alana:

for

Thomas:

while,

Alana:

you guys?

Thomas:

I would say that's

Jacob:

a great idea, but I think our podcast host in the back is probably gonna disagree.

Alana:

Maybe we could just all do it again tomorrow?

Madi:

Are you free tomorrow, Taylor? He's saying no,

Alana:

so that's

Thomas:

cool. But

Jacob:

sadly enough, that is going to do it for this year and this episode of Sports Roundtable, but it has been a pleasure to talk alongside some of the best in the newsroom and even our co hosting this with Maddie. This has been a very, very good experience. And thank you guys for listening all year. It's definitely been a pleasure.

Alana:

Thanks for having me. Thanks,

Thomas:

guys. Thank you.

Jacob:

Of course. Thank the crowd while you're

Madi:

at it. Thanks, everybody, guys.

Jacob:

Yes. That's gonna do it for this episode and this year of Sports Roundtable. We will see you guys next time. Bye.