Back to the roots

It's always good to go back to where things started. Although unable to make the podcast, co-host Thomas Cobb invited the guy who nearly started it all. Join us this week as we talk about MSU and mainstream sports with former host Nick Lundberg!

What is Sports Round Table from The State News?

The State News sports reporters discuss all MSU sports.

(Anthony) Take a seat at the table with us. My name is Anthony Brinson.

(DeShawn) I'm DeShawn Johnson.

(Nick) And I'm Nick Lundberg

(Anthony) And welcome to the sports roundtable podcast. So as you heard by the third host, you know, it's a cold day in Denver and Tom has decided to duck this podcast. He had some busy to do so we're joined by the former host of sports roundtable. Nick Lumbergh. Yeah, good to be back.

(Nick) Yeah, it feels great. I was just gonna say I missed it. It's been what a year Yeah, cuz I took it over first semester last year. So yeah, it's it's it's been since then than I've been back so it's you know, it's it's nice to be back in this room again.

(Anthony) Welcome back, man. That's what's the what you've been doing ever since you've been gone for the year what's been on Nick Lindbergh's plate.

(Nick) I'm just you know, I've been now I'm doing MSU football so that's been pretty cool. Even though the season you know, hasn't gotten off to the greatest start with everything going on. But it's, you know, still been a ride. You know, over the summer I worked with the Detroit soccer team and that was cool to shout Jared Mackay. MSU legend. But um, and then, you know, just traveling with with my family with my friends this summer. It was at a good ad. Pretty good year.

(Anthony) Where'd you go? If you don't mind me asking.

(Nick) I went up north all the way up north to copper Harbor, like 10 hours away an hour drive with a couple of my buddies and then me and my mom. I've always wanted to go to Niagara Falls. So me and my mom had that on the Canada side. Okay. That was pretty. That was fun.

(Anthony) I'm glad to hear it. The years while you've been gone has been good and everything. Yes, sir. We was talking a little bit off camera you just mentioned how you cover MSU football and it's been sort of a rocky start. I was telling to Sean last week. Um, the Maryland game was my first MSU game, I went to a game on my girlfriend for our anniversary. And the experience was really dope being in the crowd and like seeing like the big screen, like getting the food and stuff. But they unfortunately they couldn't bring it on went home. So what was your takeaways from this week, with MEC versus Maryland?

(Nick) Yeah, I mean, obviously, there was still a little bit of optimism after you know, Washington's a good team. The game itself was the opposite of that. Just we played very badly. And I mean, you know, whenever you play like an opponent that's less than like a top 10 team, you kind of have that same optimism going in. But I feel like in the first half was pretty rough. But I liked what I saw from the defense in the second half that kind of anchored down. There are a couple misplays that could have turned into big opportunities to you know, get closer like the Montori drop two and a half. And then like a couple of turnovers like the the Noah cam interceptions were just mysteries and then the fumbles, especially by Alonzo Brown at the end of the game, like there were just the game was definitely there. The scoreboard may not seem like it was close in any way. But there were definitely plays that if you know something minor just changed. And I feel like it could have been a lot closer. So it wasn't as bad as I feel like the score says it is but you know, you always want to get a win at home in the big time, especially with the schedule coming up and No, no more favors on the schedule in the future. So it sucks that I got away for them. But you know, it is what it is

(DeShawn) Yeah, I mean, for the most part, I totally agree with Nick. I just I was kind of hoping for a better experience. When we went through with Washington. You know, we talked about on the podcast last week, I wasn't really expecting MSU to come on with the women, we kind of talked about how to win his team that there was like a mini Washington, I didn't think it was going to be as bad but to lose him. And he's really good at controlling the pocket reading the puck and running around that pocket. And that's exactly what we struggle with paying against panics. So I wasn't really expecting too many different things. But I think you're right, Nick, I totally agree that like there were definitely a couple of different plays, where if things just went minorly different, we would have had a better turnout. Um, you mentioned the Montori drop. I mean, that one was really rough. You know, there was a couple of different drops that were almost on the same page. But I mean, that that play was there, it was wide open, and everybody in the student section. I mean, at that point, we're still kind of into things. And it was a dime. Yes. Right in his pocket. Yeah, it was definitely one of the better drones we had seen in the night. So it was definitely rough to see that. And we also seen that, you know, tongue of my Lord, He's a beast, you know, I mean, he taught me so, you know, I got a picture here. And you know, I was at the game. So, you know, I did this last week with a half times. That's our time of possession. You know, we had the ball for almost whole seven more minutes than we did. However, it's the same kind of thing that was going on. They just had a better control of the ball, their, their drives were just much more effective than all of ours were so it like you said, Nick, it was rough to see you know, hopefully, well, maybe we can have some better turnouts coming up in our schedule, but as you said, we definitely have no more favorites on the schedule. I think there's a couple games that are still within like winnable realm for us, but I mean, we can only see at this point.

(Nick) Yeah, it's not not it's not a great it's, I mean, you played three top 10 teams. and you have like two more home games with the Ford fueled game in Detroit, which is not a home game anymore. But it's like, there's no favours on that schedule. So they need everything they can get at this point.

(Anthony) Yeah. And I know, with the news going around with just surrounding MSU, football makes things even more difficult to kind of get your head in the game, especially when you're playing some of the best teams in the world. And I know, there's been some more middle soccer news that dropped recently. And I know Do you have any, like updates on that? Or just?

(Nick) Yeah, so from here, so I mean, from by my understanding that MSU has completely let go of him for cause, which is, in my opinion, the right call, regardless, but so he's officially gone from the program, but at this point, he's just going to try to, you know, suck all the dollars he can from the university, that 80 million that's kind of left on the table. So I'm not really exactly sure how all that financial stuff plays out. And the legal process specifically, but I just know that he's not going to go away without a fight. Because 80 million is 80 million. And yeah, that's a lot of money. So but focusing on more of the MSU side of it, like the team, you know, there, it seems like listening to the press conferences. I'm just listening to Harlan Barnett talk. He's obviously not the, he's not going to be sticking around for much longer, because and you can tell by the way he acts, but he is doing, you know, in my opinion, pretty well for the Tandy was given and it seems like the team is still buying into him. He said that he asked anyone if they wanted to leave, and no one raised their hand, or which I mean, you know, they, I feel like people that kind of do want to leave when say that they want would want to leave? I feel like, regardless, that's still a good sign that it seems like everyone's still bought into the current team. And the leaders talk, you know, about the chemistry they have and everything. So it's a pretty, not great situation all around. But for what it's worth, I feel like the players are really sticking together and trying to, you know, find out the rest of the year.

(DeShawn) Yeah, definitely. I mean, I just want to start with like, it's it's a sad situation. And I don't mean, sad isn't seeing Tucker leave just it's sad as all the things that have been happening around MSU these past couple of years. It's just another one of those things that we're having to deal with. Yeah. But I also want to agree with you, Nick. I mean, I think it's the right call regardless, and you know, we obviously have the meeting or the hearing coming up in the next week. But regardless of the outcome of that, it's definitely the right call at this point, to just parting ways with Tucker, I just, you know, there's there's definitely a, you know, obviously, I don't want to get, like speculating or get too much into the legal process, either. But this is definitely about money at this point. That's all. That's all it's about. So we, you know, we have to wait to the hearing and wait to see, I seen today that, you know, Tucker is planning to sue and stuff like that. So, but getting away from that, like you said, I, I just can only imagine what it's like to be on the team at this moment, you know, because not only are you having to try and buy into a new system, which I don't know how different it is from Mount Tucker system, but regardless of the fact it's going to be a new system in the middle of the season. And as far as the trans reporter goes, like, you know, I you know, it's completely understandable if these guys want to get out of here, I totally understand that. However, you have to put yourself in this scenario. I mean, you guys, it was probably a big decision for you guys come here to Michigan State, right. You know, I can only imagine what it's like to be an athlete, and in the middle of the year, try and think about having to turn yours, you're completely around. And you're also having to worry about who even wants me to go your whole life? Yeah, yeah, I mean, it's gonna be a completely you know, a lot of these times, you know, getting just like the academics part, the credits won't transfer over that they're looking at more years of college and stuff like that. So like, it's gonna be hard for some of them to leave and hard for them to stick it out. So we're definitely gonna have to ride this one out. It's definitely gonna be a rough ride these next couple of weeks, potentially, you know, who knows how long years but it's sad to see like I said before, and it's just, I'm, I'm over it almost as a student here.

(Nick) Yeah. And what they they've been saying to is just, you know, MSU in the past five years, every, every time you turn around, it seems like there's something new to deal with in terms of adversity. And it's like, I mean, the team like they're, they're gonna stick together like, and they've been, you know, doing a doing a good job of that. It seems like so. Yeah,

(Anthony) yeah. And it's definitely unfortunate like the Shawn was talking about just having to deal with all these things at once because it's one thing if you're losing football games, or you're going through new coaching but having scandals around it, and then obviously things that happened in the years prior and if with the mental talk and stuff relating to the Nasser stuff that happened years back, it's just it's a lot to kind of like mentally deal with in those aspects, but especially like you mentioned, like as a student or you work those games, both you work those type of events. So just say a lot that goes into it, and it's a lot of domino effects that happened as well. But as we were telling Nick Off, off the mic We've opened the horizon, some more bra sports and not just MSU football and one is a host, I appreciate the audience who's kind of been with us with this new format sports roundtable with going from Nick to pressure Bella at the time and then us. So just really just want to say one more thank you to the audience as we get comfortable in the year and talk about these things. And both of you cover different sports. I know you were just at the first women's basketball practice in New York at the men so whichever one you want to go first to talk about those things.

(Nick) Yeah, so I mean, obviously this year, the team has just completely, we've not revamped but you know, you've got the top, the top MSU freshman class like a top five in history in the history of the program, like I mean all top 100 players to five stars, just guys who bring so much so many different kinds of things, skill sets that the team was lacking last year depth being specific, I kind of took that away from the first practice was that this team is just so much deeper and that's exactly what was the issue last year like you would have MADI Sissoko, who barely played his sophomore year to starting and literally playing like the entire game because we only had two bodies down low to you know, back him up. And with Malik being injured most of the year or at least half the year. But yeah, I feel like those are my biggest takeaways to start the year like the freshmen just look like Jeremy fears as the backup point guard. He's legit. Midsummer Tom is always compared him to Mateen cleaves which is very high praise. Xavier Booker's kind of got that Jaren Jackson kind of build a five star big was the top three player in the class guy construct the four block shots, which is exactly what we needed. In terms of big man who can do that. A couple freshmen wings and a dude who has like a 50 inch vertical and Cohen car who's six, eight to 30, which is just absolutely ridiculous. And his head literally hits the rim every time he jumps. So he's going to be very exciting for all the fans out there that need a go to guy feel like he's going to be getting a lot of love this year with his fastbreak dunks, but I mean Malik Cole and Tyson Walker coming back like Tyson walkers, you're closer. AJ is your point guard. Like you've got that established from last year. Malik Cole being fully healthy is huge. He can stretch before he can box out get rebounds, which is something that the team is oh teams usually, you know, they'd love to crush the glass and dominate the boards. But last year, they just didn't have the size or the strength of the athleticism to really do that. Especially with Malik being out half the year. But now you've got guys like Mati, Sissoko gained 25 pounds, which is just ridiculous. And he looks massive. So the team, I mean, they're ranked top five and almost every poll I've seen, which is well earned. And I've been respectful ranking. And you've got like an is like as a loves to schedule the big dogs early. So we've got Duke coming up real quick. And it's just going to be very exciting here. I have high hopes for the team.

(DeShawn) Yeah, before I make the transition over to women's basketball, I just wanna say I am so excited for men's basketball. I'm Nick. I mean, you you hit on all the points, you know, but obviously, the most exciting things. We have some great freshmen this year, dude. I mean, we had some explosive. I've seen some of the clips the other day. And I mean, last year, we were left off a little bit like bittersweet, I guess you could say because I mean, we spend a lot of great things last year, I felt, however, the last that we took, I mean, it was pretty emotional. I would say for a lot of MCU fans, I remember I was working at game, I was working on the board for one of the high school games or whatever. But we're watching it in the back. And I mean, they just heard it just heard the last two minutes that game were extremely wild. So But moving on to this year, I just think that we have a lot of potential. Being here, you know, and watching the different sports going on. I think that basketball has been the most exciting chapter of sports while I've been here for the past couple of years. And it seems like it's only going up from here. So like I said, just super excited to watch that and then transitioning over to a woman's basketball. They did start their first practice today. And there's kind of like two big headlines coming out of there. Obviously, the one is not just a new coach, but an entire new coaching staff. You know, I was able to talk today with Coach freely and she was able to tell me a couple of different things. The one big thing that we're working on is obviously just team chemistry. It's the first practice but over the summer, they've been grinding it out doing multiple different team bonding activities. I know Coach really kind of talked about just last night, she had the entire team over at her house and she was talking about she's not even completely unpacked yet, but they're starting to try and do team bonding events because obviously, more MSU controversy last year, what happened with Suzy merchant was pretty I mean, it was pretty tragic of an event and she obviously haven't stepped down that I'm definitely I'm sure that offer the team a little bit and then they were still able to go on a bit of a run but unfortunately, they missed the NCAA tournament. I decided not to play in it. And then the other kind of storyline that's coming out of there right now is obviously there's a mixture of players on the rosters here we got a couple of different returning veterans and like de haga man, and then you get mo joiner, and then you're also going to be having the return. Yeah, the Elliot that she's a Detroit native, coming from the mercy and like, I mean, she obviously she was hoping last year, she was getting a bunch of different double digit playing games. And she, unfortunately to her ACL that put her out for the season. So I mean, those are definitely a couple of different things that derailed the team last year, but it looks like there's gonna be multiple different veterans that are gonna be able to lead a bunch of these new players. We got five new players and coming for the team this year, which is pretty crazy. But I think that one that's been standing out the most a bunch of different people were able to talk about her today. Bree Robinson, I don't know what you guys have heard about her yet. She's an incoming freshman. But I'm telling you, I was watching her getting some early work in today with Diddy and Gabby and she was looking really good. She got high praise from Gabby high praise from Coach freelook and she was getting praise from mo Joyner. So I'm telling you guys, you gotta watch out for her. I was watching her today. And she was gonna have a lot of good shots. So I mean, I we also got a couple of different other freshmen that I think that are really gonna be able to put in some work for us, we got a couple different transfers in coming from West Michigan and stuff like that. So the girls team, it's like I said, it's gonna definitely be a process though. But I think that they're in shape to make a better run than they had last year. And hopefully they can start earlier. Who knows what that what can happen. And obviously, we gotta look towards like big 10 tournament first before you start to start talking about NCAA, but I think they have a better chance than they had last year. They just barely missed the brink last year. So.

(Anthony) So a lot of exciting news in the basketball world. And I say that for a perfect transition into more of my wheelhouse and more I'm knowledgeable too. So to give a little background, there's a certain host who I'm not gonna name to Sean Johnson, who feels a certain point guard in the league in the NBA is the best point guard in the league, and he was just traded in a blockbuster move to the Milwaukee Bucks. I'm alluding to Mr. Damian Lillard. And to give a bit of context of the joke, I was digests it so we had a debate about him and Steph Curry and he feels that if correct me if I'm wrong, if Damian Lillard was on the Warriors, he would have had the same amount of success and I completely disagree, but I'll let I'll give it to him and we'll kind of ping pong from here because

(DeShawn) Okay, so first of all going off I want to do the trade real quick. I won't do too much on this but I just want to I know I got a lot of emotions going on within the past 24 hours. I was literally walking into class, and then my phone I get three different phone calls because I know you guys may not know this. We haven't been able to talk too much NBA specifically my favorite player in the NBA, but I got multiple different phone calls. I'm talking. Did you hear the news? Did you hear the news? Yes, of course. I heard the news. Look, I am ecstatic right now. Damn on the books was something that me and my friends were just joking about last year. The fact that it's reality right now it's crazy to me, I understand that the book had to give away to holiday dromeda And he's a key piece to the team. However, I do believe that the books do have a strong defensive presence and Dame is able to add a completely new play style to their game you got Chris Middleton is able to fill out different positions on the perimeter game can go perimeter all the way mid range he can finish in the inside tube. That's obviously we're looking at mid range in for Yanis overall I think that Trey was great. I also have heavily I am I am a fan of Portland too. Just because there has been there his entire career. So I want to say that I it's a shame but it's also nice to be able to see Dame leave in the right way. I think I also think that Berlin is on the right track for us kind of trying to make new moves and then the Phoenix Suns part of this everyone's not really talking about too much but they really build out their roster they I mean like they filled out the roster. We seen the moves that they made last year. Obviously they got one of the best deals right now and Katie and DEVIN BOOKER and the pieces they had that they got from the Blazers and a little bit from the Bucs. I mean it was just it was an amazing move from them as well so but going into this Damien Allah thing I mean, you know, this isn't a disappear opinionated thing. I can't back it up with anything besides what I know. But I'm telling you if you put Damian Lillard on that same exact Golden State Warriors team I'm talking to the deadline up I'm talking about pre Katy with Draymond Andre Iguodala, Harrison Barnes and clay or with the we got the Katy line of Katy Dre clay and Andre still still being there. So you you damn. I like I like I know Steph Curry is the greatest shooter of all time. Like I mean there's no debate so I'm assuming greatest point guard of all time, I would say number two, but you know Yeah, yeah, he's Yeah, that's a whole that's a whole nother issue right there people got people gotta calm down a little bit with that one, but 100% the greatest shooter all the time and he's up there and top point guards I mean, like he's definitely he's one of the only three specifically two point guards that it's under what six six to lead a team to a championship so I definitely give him his prayers 100% However, I'm telling you that the only difference between damaged Steph Curry as far as like what they've been able to do in this league is within their teams. No shade to the Portland Trailblazers but they just haven't put the same roster around that the Warriors are able to build around Steph Curry so no shade around I was gonna let them cool I was gonna let him cook but Yeah, seriously man I'm telling you stick damn on either those rosters he definitely has the same outcome. Okay, so to work a little bit backwards. Um, where would you rank stuff as far as your point guards of all the top three For sure it's a it's a debate to put them into because I mean like I'm just gonna my two top point guards is magic and Isaiah thank you so very respectable thank you so it's hard to put stuff up there I mean he's still got some time to go and you know there's definitely things that could change that however magic and Isaiah do I mean I know I didn't even get the Washington as much as I should have or like as as I wish I could have however, the legacy behind those two players is completely different I know Steph has his own different legacy but he's also had much better rosters at different points in times.

(Anthony) I definitely agree on the magic aspect and then Isaiah is my third but I have Steph it too and I don't blame the people who put stuff at one just for me we go from the resume of greatest shooter of all time and only unanimous MVP I was before Katie and what he's built in this league I mean, you can make argument a single handedly or almost single handedly because it's a team sport changed the game of basketball yeah and with magic I mean magic at least my opinion on different level I mean, six nine we put them in didn't even win a championship first year in the league. I mean, never really knew what loss was his career and then Isaiah, I mean, I'm from Detroit you got the lions had so just Isaiah Thomas the way he literally tore his Achilles or had that injury and steel dropped, what like 3040 points and I quote, unfortunately, I think they lost that game, but just Isaiah Thomas I mean, it was three of the greatest players of all time, let alone greatest point guards and real quick random question on pistons history so you do we both know the the Phantom file with Kareem, Abdul Jabbar and Bill and beer. Do you think that was a fire? Or do you agree that it was a Phantom Call?

(Nick) It was a fan. It was most obvious. I'm sorry. Like this. This is hidden really close to home now. But obviously, like he the pistons would fall, they wouldn't call stuff that they would like, literally have dudes on the floor. Yeah. And you get 40 year old Kareem in there who probably would break if Bill Laimbeer actually really filed them. And he barely touches them. And they give him the call because I mean, no shade decree and that's one of the greatest scores ever. But one of the best senators of all time, but it just from what they were calling, it's not a file. And you know, for Isaiah to put up that historic performance on a bum ankle. I'm pretty sure it was it was 30 Plus. But it's just like, if you think about that, and then you think about 2005 When Rasheed missed the assignment and Robert already hit that three. Yeah, obviously that's more on us than the refs. But those are two two more championships that and already three title team a very historic that it would have been the first three peat, I'm pretty sure ever Yeah, at that point. If they I mean, who knows if they actually would go on to win the next two. If they won that first one if they won the year before, but it's just like, it's yeah, I I'm sorry.

(DeShawn) No, I mean, you're good. I mean, I'm not gonna go too far in this round. Is that what it's called the phantom power for reasons. Okay. I like if you want to try and even argue with any of us, I'm sure. I'm going to let me I'll cook a very unpopular opinion on this in Detroit history. Look, man, you go watch that film and you tell me that he you you tell me that lambier really fouled?

(Anthony) Well, I see Well my eyes real quick disclaimer. I like where you said Nick at the time horrible call but just what I see I mean bill and beers body was on his arm while he was going for the hook it's a part of me I'm sorry yeah, no people didn't try to kill me and Nick looking at me like that it's crazy but I would have blew the whistle or at that time I wouldn't Buddha was so but just me now. And nori Rosen I think I do think it was a file invalid back then. And to keep going backwards of the own deliver debate we have the only to keep it short. So we could be here for hours if we're just going on that but Bleuler had his moments and obviously he didn't have the teams around that's definitely it. But he had his moments to lead and be the best player on the team and he just in my opinion, wasn't that guy. I mean, literally, if I'm not mistaken, got swept by the pelicans and I forget what year but when they were thirsty and yeah, like CJ McCollum. I think LaMarcus Aldridge is on the team. And just when Miller was in those positions to be the best player on the best championship, quote, unquote, Championship Winning team, he didn't prevail. I mean, we got the bubble where people were hyping up, Kenny Smith was literally saying, um, or it was around that but I think it's 2021 or 2020. Like, I don't know if Steph could do those things. And then Steph came back to our like 60 owners and then a bubble didn't get it done. It's just we have those moments whether Stephen Miller or deliver on his own to word Lillard didn't reach that peak, in my opinion, but you obviously have the glaring issue of Lillard not having the teams around him that Steph had even if like take away to Katie worries you mentioned like the 2015 warriors were Harrison Barnes and then like, obviously Steph was put in a better position but I don't in situations like this, I don't blame the player just because I mean, the warriors organization did a par and trailblaze obviously didn't do theirs, but I'm very happy to see Lillard in a championship winning environment because whether you wherever you ranked Lillard if you think he's better than Steph, not better and stuff, we're all NBA fans at the end of the day and it sucks to see one of the greatest shooters of all time not even not named Steph Curry, Damian Lillard be in a situation to where he's putting up like 70 points and doing his best. And then either he's dealing with injury or first round exit or not making a playoff. So him and Yanis I mean, obviously, injuries happen, but if they can stay as healthy as possible, and I see at least one in the future, at least one championship and maybe two depending on how the league goes. But just to see the team in Milwaukee. I mean, we got Lillard and Yanis. Katie, Bill and DEVIN BOOKER, LeBron ad still exists, like just a pair of me, Chris Paul is a golden state warrior, like the things going on in the NBA is wild and to see Lillard get traded to the bugs in the way it did. And the way it happened, excuse me, it was it was shocking, because you told part of your story of you going to class, I'm on my way out of class. We was both in the Commerce Building and the Communication Arts and Science. Yes, and he calls me he I'm literally walking towards the stairs and then he calls me and then I ended up talking to him. He's going to his class he like, Hey, you're here, David. Look, I traded a bucks All right. What? No, you're lying. You gotta call my dad so fan first. I had to go get America is this official? Does rumor see us official watch stamp. I'm like, Dad, stop what you're doing. They may lose a buck he like no way. Did you see Jimmy? Jimmy Butler? Obviously felt some type of way about the tray. According to him. There's some tampering going on. Who knows? But it's very exciting. And yeah, that's the whole and listen, I don't the tampering thing is weird for me and like just as a rule, because these players outside the court like their friends like they're gonna talk I don't know if you should expect them to be like, like, Oh, no. I'm not gonna I don't want to hear nothing about coming to the team. Just hold man like no. Coming to Milwaukee. Let's get ready. Let's let's get down as another ring and the Milwaukee Bucks did the complete opposite of what the trailblazers did they heard Yiannis going on his press runs like hey, I want to win rings, not just O ring and they brought him one of the best players in the league arguably top team player in the league right now. And I'm excited. I'm excited and like somebody that was mentioned and like the pick and roll between literally Yanis I mean, it's it can be crazy. So just as a basketball fan, I'm very excited as a LeBron fan it makes it much much harder for him to get a ring number five but I mean I'm sorry, I think we missed it bring on that one. You know I'm not gonna count him out but I was looking

(Nick) sons are running the West after they got a bench now they got they got a real center now I'm sorry. And I saw this video about DeAndre and a while ago he said he always wanted to play the for like he did that in Arizona makes much more sense yeah cuz he's not he's not physical like that. Yeah, and the posts like he's got good touch and he's big and keyboards but like he's not you know, that kind of bang down low guy but NERC itches and then you add like four solid bench players to a team that literally had no bench and that was their only issue. Yep. And now I just don't see them. I feel like it's Buck sons again and sons and six I think is a

(DeShawn) I'm feeling pretty good about that prediction because you know as you're telling me David louvered use of negative in the final is that what you're telling me right now I mean, in my Blazers is gonna get a reward guys for the fact that what you're telling me right now
(Nick) I'm just glad they're out of Portland they do not know how to run an organization at all what giving Jeremy Grant five years 160 mil and then on top of paying eight and then you draft school when you have Lillard don't even get me started in a trade the pig we will be here with Anthony not joking we would be

(Anthony) we we not even 30 minutes so we can go off because

(Nick) what does he do like trade the pig if you're going to take a guard yeah and you want to win with them trade the pick and don't give Jeremy Grantham Max contract

(DeShawn) exactly because then now you're sitting in the exact situation that they're in they're holding Damon hostage situation when they allowed this to happen. Keep them I dare you keep doing what you're gonna do hinder schools then a school ain't gonna start over damn and they're not gonna can't

(Nick) shoot anyway. So it's a good little one too dynamic. The league is turning into two guards. Yeah.

(DeShawn) I think the Portland Trailblazers have some like PTSD within the past to experience experiments they've ran a dame and CJ getting on the brink eight straight years in the playoffs every year but you're you're not making past second round and then you finally get to a Western Conference Finals and get absolutely bounced Was it when they put the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals? They did what year was that was COVID Yeah, that was about a year because it's lucky I don't want to respond to everything he said including the pelicans and everything else but the bubble year Dame one MVP, okay, so it's not a real it's not I'm not counting that was the real MVP champion championship, not a real MVP, but I'm just saying he was balling Alright, he was hoping it was him and DEVIN BOOKER got like CO MVP or something like that. But he was balling the pelicans had the best player in the world. We're at a time and Anthony Davis. I don't want to hear that play in the world you go you go ghastly like that. And I'm at. I'm so serious before he got started. They were at their best player at the time then about a year they got swept, right? Yes. All right. I'm gonna I'm gonna do a big research keep going, keep going. All right, anyway, well, we're that it's just it's no organization obviously had a bunch of different issues. Oh, and the second experiment of game and then trying to do it with internet I love and finance. I'm interested in Monday. I love CJ. However, I just think it's really hard, especially if the problem that the Blazers had going on is that they always needed a really good wing player. And I think they had a really good center and use of mortgages. The problem is as much as I love them, sometimes he can be wishy washy on certain nights. He'd be super physical contact everything. Other nights. It seemed like he just didn't want to bang so i mean, i i and then you know, we mo Harkless al Farouq aminu. Those are our wing players until we got Jeremy Grant and don't get me wrong. I think Jim Green had some great games for Portland. However, that's still not the star power that they were looking for. And I can't fully blame them. No stars really want to come out to Portland, which is understandable. Yeah, but at some point, you got to try and put a bigger player around what you got.

(Nick) Or just break it all down. The teams in this mid markets like Detroit's a perfect example. We went through trying to trade for big storm Blake Griffin. Yeah. Where does that get you when you're small to mid market team? The seventh seed Yeah, the eighth seed every year and it's like just mediocrity mediocre season after mediocre season. You got to build through that's literally why the Bucs are so good right now you build inside with the honest and I mean we drafted Chris Middleton but we gave we gave him away for for a bag of chips, but 90, but I mean that's how you win if your teams like Portland like Detroit's doing that right now. You got five good young players on the roster that can all be all stars in the future. Depends on who you ask. But yeah, I mean, they're just that's hope maybe they'll learn maybe they'll learn I mean student aid and honestly, on its own like the the more you look at it, school sharp, and Aiden isn't bad. Yeah, but it's like, first of all, they think they're going to make the playoffs this year, which is a little sketchy. No one can shoot. No one on that team can shoot I got a bunch of slashes going in there. Like you got to be able to shoot to win an NBA. Yeah. And obviously, as a pistons fan, you saw that last year the team couldn't shoot for anything. Didn't win any games real quick.

(Anthony) You said you have to shoot to win the NBA. I just wonder who's the who's who caused that NBA certain player in down and Golden State Steph Curry. But you know, that's neither here or there. But I was gonna agree with y'all that I mean, the trailblazers, we know who they are. They're the trailblazers, but at least with DeAndre Aten school Henderson and then if they keep drew Holliday, that veteran feel in the locker room. I mean, it's not the worst situation in the league is just when you try one of the best players in the NBA, you don't really get that much for them. That's kind of they really, on one perspective, they had did the best they could and doing more research about that 2018 year you mean telling me Anthony Davis, after 2018 Bronwyn we'd asked is a whole nother conversation. But as a LeBron. The best big man in the league at that time. 110% That guy called me honest as a big guy was yes. And even then in that year, he was Anthony Davis was 100% on top of the world at that point, which bars it big. And that guy was shooting three pointers yelling Kobe for game winners, and you gotta tell me that no, no, by the way, the reason why this conversation is so frustrating is because in theory, you shouldn't be 100%. Right? Like I remember when people were saying like, especially in 2020, when the Lakers won, like they were putting like LeBron at one two best players in the league and before then New Orleans ad, they consider him like he shot like multiple MVPs. Yeah, and like the decline I say decline with quotation marks, but he's still one of the best players in the league, but just the level, like I remember the conversation of ad over Yanis. And like, as ridiculous as they may seem, now, heck, I mean, some people would still say they kind of up their close neck and neck, but the path ad should have been on like, even as a LeBron fan, LeBron can still be the best player in the league. Like it should clearly be Anthony Davis, but he's not as consistent as he should be. Not even just what health just like on the court. He's not as consistent but with Damian Lillard and Yanis. I want to ask y'all do y'all think at the moment they're the best duo in the league? I'm gonna let me go first on this one. I feel like I've been hogging the blade or Damian Lillard topics

(Nick) best duo in the league. Um, I mean, I can't really I mean Booker and KD comes close. And our first Kyrie and Luca maybe up there

(Anthony) I want to see more from that duo because Luke is other than LeBron and every player in the league

(Nick) they can't play defense only kind of downfall and they're both kind of ball hogs but yeah, I mean, I'm I'm a fan of the trade for the bucks like and for the sons obviously but like I said, but I mean, you lose drew holiday and obviously that's a big loss that's you know, they're stabilizer their point guard. Yeah. When there's not really a lot of true point guards left in the league at this point, but um, yeah, I mean, they they're definitely gonna miss his defense, but that was kind of their strong suit and what they lacked was a close Sir, like you've got Yana suit, you don't trust him with the ball in his hands really at the end of the game, because he's going to fall in either miss, or make a free throw or miss both. And then you've got Chris Middleton, who's like a good player, like an all star caliber player to shotmaker. But if you just double him, it's not really hard to take them out of the game. Yeah. And now you get a guy like dame, where you can just like literally give him the ball and just get out of the way. And then if dame's covered, you got Chris Middleton to back them up. And that's a great second option as a closer and then if all else fails is thrown up the honest and it's like, he's a top three player in the league right now. So it's like, you can't really go wrong with those three, and you lose, again, that kind of anchor and drew holiday. But I mean, you've get just as proud I would say on par facilitator Dame is about the same. Just the defense, they're lacking from that position a little bit more. But I mean, that was, again, like I said, their strong suit is their defense. And it's not like, they're going to be losing all of their defensive identity without them. So I feel like it was definitely the right move for them. And I'm, I'm kind of glad he's in Milwaukee, and not Miami, but that's just me. Yeah, I totally agree. Um, I mean, I like Miami, but I just feel like last year was such like, kind of a Cinderella run, that it would be hard to replicate again. And I mean, Jimmy Butler's not getting any younger, I really liked I liked their vibe, like I liked their team. But I just, it would be weird to see, because Jimmy ball is like the alpha dog. Yeah, that seemed like you're giving it to him at the end of the game. And I mean, Yanis is of his team, as well. But it's just a different, you know, personality with Jimmy and you know, that chemistry was what kept them together and kept them playing so well. So it's like, you bring in another kind of top dog guy, maybe kind of ruffles a little bit feathers, and then they lost like, I think they lost truce, and then they lost a couple other guys in their bench. So I mean, who knows if it's the same Miami team. I mean, the everybody changes every year in the NBA basically, it seems like but I think definitely the right trade from Milwaukee and I'm, I'm a fan to be honest. I'm a fan of dame. I'm excited to see them work together.

(Anthony) Yeah, I wouldn't personally go as far as best doing the league yet, because we haven't seen him on the court. Correct. But when you think of duels like the reigning champions, yo kitchen, Jamal Murray, the book and Katie are even still LeBron at it. Yes, I still have hope that it'll be hard to put them there without seeing them on the court. But just from the excitement alone, I mean, yawn. It's like you said top three player in the league game you could argue top 10 And probably like second best player in the league or first depend on who you're talking to. But the dual, they're going to they're going to reign supreme and again, without any injury to possible in the east. The East is not crazy to what you got in the walkie Boston, Miami if they're not really a Cinderella.

(Nick) I mean, it's kind of a Yeah, they're really only comp is Boston, I the Cavs are young. The Knicks aren't that good yet? Adelphia is falling apart. Yeah, I mean, Philly will never win. I hate Philly. But yeah, I mean, they're only comp is Boston and Boston, you know, Tatum's? I don't really think Tatum is that guy?

(DeShawn) I don't either. I don't I'm not okay. All right. I don't think he is either, though. It seems like we've seen the same thing happen for them multiple times and then just completely falls off the end when they get deeper into the playoffs. But that's a whole nother tangent. I am firstly before I even get into this duel question. Did anybody see what Max just got traded? I just seen a post the other day. I don't remember what team he's on right now. But I have no idea when that guy got traded. pacers maybe got like, I have no idea like, but anyhow,

(Nick) it's a big piece of their finals run like he was sniping. Yeah, well, points a game. That's where you need that. Right. And that's something that can't really shoot.

(DeShawn) But going back to the duo question, I mean, I agree as much as I would love to say they're going to be the best duo. I mean, I can hope for that. But I can't say that yet, just because we haven't seen it. But I will say it doesn't just kind of seem like one of those things that will be a good fit. Like, for example, last year when the Lakers traded or two years ago when the Lakers traded for us. I mean, I was screaming that this is a bad idea. This doesn't make any sense. Now you're gonna get me back mad because I don't understand why people thought that was oh, like there's certain trades that don't make sense you can think of we talked about Luke and Kyrie as much as it like, it sounds like they could be a really good scoring duel. That's another one of those that just it doesn't really make a lot of sense like Luca they need a big they do need a big and these two guys together I mean, they're both Super Ball Dominant Player is very fancy with the ball and they both are great ball handlers are going to have two ball and there's one ball. Yeah, exactly. So I bet. Obviously, DEVIN BOOKER and Katie are for sure dominant or like dominantly the best do I in my mind, just like straight up like basketball. I know Jamal Murray and you'll get went to go get the ring. I'm Thomas. I know you're not here, but I don't love the Denver Nuggets. So I really don't love Jamal Murray. That's a whole nother issue. But they'll respect the nuggets. And I respect the numbers 100% I just I don't know why Jamal Murray seems like always he gets a fire lit under his butt every time he sees Damian Lillard. Like we're not I'm leaving that we're done with them for today. Okay, I'm done. I'm done. After this I'm going to be done so but I definitely think they have the potential to 100% potentially be the best duo by the end of the year. It just seems like one of those like really good fit in game can work perimeter to mid range and Jada's can work mid range in their playstyle seem to fit each other perfectly well because they both can be ball dominant when they need to be and April's continuing to play softball games a little bit better with playing off ball than Jana. So it'd be I mean, we've all seen games catching shootability It's off the wall. So I'm super excited and I definitely think they could be the best duo. But however, it's definitely you know, you got Katie book and you got Jamal Murray and yoga chip their first ad and LeBron James.

(Anthony) Yeah, and if I do a preseason prediction, I mean, it's so early but I still believe in the nuggets just from seeing the complete how complete they were as a team and I were scrambling like lost though. Yeah, that's a huge loss. So it's gonna be really interest. I do think it eventually be suns and nuggets and westercon finals again, or just whatever around again, and I feel like the winner. I do feel like the championship is going to come from the west is here, whether it's from the suns or as the shot looks at me as I say that, but I do think it'd be between suns or nuggets or hopefully Lakers if we can list I got the Lebron fan and he has hope, by the way, an extra one to the Cavs. But just I do think the chapter is going to come out the West this year only because we don't know how the duo of Damon Yiannis is going to be yet but if I were to give official prediction, I would agree with Nick about suns books and I'm gonna say seven. I'm gonna go seven just because you never know about injuries or like If Katie and book have like off night, but this is going to be a very interesting year.

(Nick) I mean, Porzingis only plays 30 games like he has in the past five years, the Bucs are just going to win sweep every every, you know, series they play in the playoffs. Like it's not even going to be funny.

(DeShawn) I don't even understand that move. I gotta be honest. I don't understand that one at all. Yeah, I mean, well, Porzingis on the Celtics. It was unexpected. I can see it if Porzingis plays more than 30 games. I love Porzingis when he was on the Knicks, I love calling him the unicorn. I mean, he was like he Porzingis is like the first like, like, because you know, 2k was a big thing at that time. He was a real stretch big at that time, dude. I mean, like Porzingis was she wasn't code. He was a Chico. He was a huge cheat code. And unfortunately, the injury bug got him and he's just never been the same since but I just I don't understand i i think Marcus smart is a huge anchor on your team. And I totally get that he may not be the biggest scoring aspect. But I don't think Chris soft can be either. If he's not playing I just And plus, like Chris has had some good decent games when he's playing for the wizards. I've seen that. But however, he only played so many. And I also know that just from the time that he spent back from his injury, he's he's definitely had some inconsistent play since being back as well. So I don't I don't love that trade. I don't love Boston, and I definitely don't love that trade.

(Anthony) Yeah. And you mentioned market smart, just about like the parody of the nbme. And now he's on the Grizzlies. And then John's gonna be back after I think 25 games and then you got the Kings, you got the young calves even though they are young, I do feel they're, um, a complete team. And they're all an aspect. And as they get more reps together, then I feel like they'll get better as time goes on. Similar with like the kings in the West, and even with us predicted, like the bugs been in the finals. I mean, Miami has had their number ever since 2020. So I do feel like the, the competition is still there. But I mean, sky's the limit for the league. So I'm very excited. And to go across the pond in the NFL, we have a lot of similar parody, but also with injuries just taken out players in the league. And now players kind of coming back in and now I got a notification that Aaron Jones is going to play, I think tonight in the lions game. So just any predictions as far as that game in general. And then just any more thoughts about the NFL

(Nick) 31 Seven lions Jamboree, touchdown. That's where I'm going with this winning in the north baby.

(Anthony) Is there any? Is there any reason why you wanted that specific touchdown in the end with mystery?

(Nick) Oh, obviously, I mess you legend. I mean, he pulled it together through some tough times last year and obviously led the team in receiving his peach, the Peach Bowl here in the Michigan here. So I mean, he's been, you know, he's always been a dog. And he's been doing well to start the season. And, you know, canine torched us a couple of weeks ago. So that was kind of bittersweet to see too. So I hope I hope he doesn't do the same. As long as we win. That's, that's the bottom line. I just want to see Rudy just because you know, that's an MSU guy.

(DeShawn) All right, I'm gonna go very close to the same score Bronco in 2010 I do feel like I really hope that the only score that they get is with jQuery but I'm also thinking a few go might be in order there I don't really got no major things on this game that I besides like Jordan loves and playing Okay. However, I think that they'll package organization has yet to accept them and yet so I think that that's just a whole nother storyline going on there. But I mean, they still got some decent I mean, obviously January he's been playing pretty good but they have a decent core going on there but they've got a lot of their own. Yeah, yeah, they're unproven and they got a lot of restructuring mr. Do I do think that we're just a better position team for this game? I think Jared Goff has been playing outstanding. We had that great play to report day last week. I just think we're on a roll right now I know we lost at the Seahawks and the meeting they were talking about earlier that kind of killed my vibe a little bit but as Nick mentioned, you know, we were already coming off a big win that game so I think we're still on a roll. It may not be a major row but it's a roll regardless of the fact so I definitely think we rolled through tonight

(Nick) and we got some guys coming back healthy big big time on the line that's what kind of we would have put up 40 Last week if we had all our all our guys upfront but you know, it's the NFL people get injured every every game so yeah,

(Anthony) I do think the lions are more suited to win this game just because bringing Aaron Jones back y'all know if like he's gonna come back the same or if he's gonna come back dominant then the Packers like you mentioned Jordan was Jordan love Jordan. Jordan. Just no quarterback situation in Green Bay isn't just not comfortable for like a better word, right? I feel like the lions are gonna take care of business and as far as anything else across the NFL, I mean, we talked about Miami putting up 70 points on the Broncos. I mean, it was so bad like the coach was really in the crowd asking people to make plays. And like the back of Zan scoring I think my dad said the Miami like the backup running back from Miami had like 20 to 40 points in fantasy football. So it was just it was that was insane to see on NFL defense, like all jokes aside, like 70 points is absurd, like scoring game ever. Really? It seems like what's the highest?

(DeShawn) I don't I don't I don't even know exact numbers on the highest. I know that. It's the second highest scoring game. It's another there's another record broken that game is second highest. I want to say either like the fastest. Someone's scored that many points or something like that. I can't remember what it is. But I mean, what they did that game was is a historic game.

(Nick) I'm calling I'm going for now. Tyreke MVP. Yeah, I mean, like, I was a receiver, five, nine receiver in the NFL saying that is absolutely insane. But Tyreke Hill is not like he's not real. No, he's not.

(DeShawn) We talked about this a couple weeks ago. I think he's had truly as potential to go for 2k this year.

(Nick) He's like, I still can't believe it was mahomes, Kelsey and Tyreke Hill on the same team. Like that's just the three, arguably top three, top three, top five. Even some people would put each one of them at one. Yeah. Definitely at their positions. And it's just like all three on the same like that's unstoppable and now he's just by himself. He's even more productive. Yes, insane.

(DeShawn) Insane Tour's been having a great year to manage. I love the fact that that tongue of our low was having a great year did not love getting torched by tongue of ILO I will say that yeah, it is what it is. I'm just happy for the dolphins like I remember they were like barely getting wins at one point NFL and especially for tour. One of my most least favorite moments as a sports fan was when he got hurt in Alabama in that game where they were blowing up their opponent and for some reason save them save and kept him in I think it was for like two minute drill practice or whatever and then he gets hurt and the trajectory of his career kind of gets shaky because it was a really big injury and to see him in the league still prosper and even didn't get into like last year. too seriously, I didn't think tool was going to be playing nowhere near as good this year. I didn't like not even just the skill thing. I was worried for his like his health last year

(Anthony) so to see him prosper, and then the dolphins they bring in Tyree kill and this monster of a move ever since like the dolphins could really do something this year and we got moments of like in Cleveland, that game and then Bill's defense putting on a masterclass against the Washington football team are they still a football team commanders commanders

(DeShawn) They're being sued right now though? I think that the I heard something about like certain native clans are like suing them and they want to bring back the name with the Redskins.

(Anthony) Yeah, I was gonna say Redskins at first but I'm okay. I know it's not them. And I don't even know if that's offensive. I just I like that.

(DeShawn) I've heard that the storyline is that they want to bring that name back and that they were actually their logo was like a very honoured chief. They were like, like saluting every time they went out there with their uniforms.

(Nick) I'm all for that like um, that I didn't see anything wrong with it. Yeah, like in my opinion, but I mean the Washington is just in shambles. Yes it's commanders they got nothing

(Anthony) that goes to show you that the biggest news in Washington football right now is about their name two years ago

(Nick and DeShawn) ) Sam Sam How's Loki not bad though? He he's been showing that he's not bad that's it that's it that's all I got Yeah, Chase young future line.

(DeShawn) Yeah, yeah, he's gotta get out of that I feel bad for the enemy to do the stuff that's going on with the coaching situation there Ron Rivera he obviously a legendary coach 100% Like but his downfall and I've been great these past couple of years.

(Anthony) Yes, unfortunately, what's going on in Washington football and other than that, I mean, we addressed a lot we're gonna get some NBA coming in for a sports roundtable we're gonna be talking about that we're gonna obviously be excited about that. And with that being said, you guys don't have any additional thoughts to add any random thoughts at all.

(DeShawn) Brian branch interception tonight,

(Nick) hopefully, and but I just want to say thanks for having me back is great to talk shop with you guys.

(Anthony) Oh, no problem at all. When Thomas center takes over and Nick was during this I got excited for this. Oh yeah it was great to have you back and sure Mr. Humble over here Deshaun is not going to talk about how he's been working for peacock I mean NBC I mean big time. Definitely got to pat yourself on the back like I always will give you your credit. I appreciate that. Nick. Definitely. Thank you. You set the foundation for people like Bella and and us to host this show. So just I'm grateful for you as well and especially filling in for Thomas this week. Appreciate it. It was it was fun. And I appreciate everyone for taking the seat at the roundtable. Well this. My name is Anthony Brinson,

(DeShawn) DeShawn Johnson

(Nick) Nick Lundberg

(Anthony) And this has been the sports roundtable. See you guys next time.