Latest / The Lunch Rush with Trent Condon / NFL talk with Vinnie Iyer, NBA Playoffs with Jackson Gatlin & Trent's Picks presented by Circa Sports

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NFL talk with Vinnie Iyer, NBA Playoffs with Jackson Gatlin & Trent's Picks presented by Circa Sports · The Lunch Rush with Trent Condon

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Hour number two, welcome back Miller and Condon.
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Iowa Sports Radio Network, Trent Condon, Ken Miller for the next
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hour to talk sports with you wherever you're listening in the
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state of Iowa. We are grateful that you are
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coming up. Jackson Gatlin covers the NBA
0:21
part of the Locked on network. We'll talk to him in about, oh,
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20 minutes. Let's get our friend Vinny Iyer.
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Speaking of Locked on network, he does part of that as well,
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including his writings for The Sporting News where he covers
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the NFL. Vinny Trenton Ken, good to catch
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up with you again. Vinny, how are you?
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I'm. Doing well.
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Thanks for having me guys. No, Appreciate you coming on.
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So I guess we got to start with the Pittsburgh Steelers and you
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know what's going on there. Obviously, it sure seems like
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everything is aligning that it's just a matter of time before
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they announce Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback.
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I mean, they can't be serious about heading into the year with
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Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson and Will Howard.
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Can they be? Well, considering this game did
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make the playoffs and go 10 and seven with Mason Rudolph, Kenny
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Pickett and Mitchell Trubisky, I guess you could.
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But. Are they trying to win in the
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playoffs? That's the question, right?
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I mean, you can have a winning season.
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I mean, that's been the Mike Tomlin MO every year.
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But is winning season the standard in Pittsburgh or is it
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winning playoffs games and competing for Super Bowls?
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I think it's the latter. So I don't know what they're
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going to do. Like are they just assuming that
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Rogers would not have participated in the OTAs and
1:35
mini camp anyway and that's why they're behind on this?
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Or are they just trying to be in a staring contest to see what
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kind of deal or what they can kind of lowball Rogers?
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I'm not sure. I mean, Rogers has been just
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very quiet here of late. And the Steelers have been
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quiet. I thought they would at least
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draft a quarterback that wasn't Will Howard and nothing against
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him. He's a good developmental
2:00
quarterback. And I liked his upside
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throughout the whole process after he won that championship
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with Ohio State. But again, that's not an answer,
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right? I mean, you don't take answers
2:10
that late in the draft, especially short term, right?
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I mean, Mason Rudolph, Skyler Thompson, that's what you're
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looking at right now. And then on top of that, you
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have one receiver, DK Metcalf. There's not a lot of depth now
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after the George Pickens trade. So I'm not quite sure what they
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want to do. But everything points to the
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Steelers trying to win with running game and defense this
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year in this current state, which I think that could be a
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cap scenario for them and not look good for Tomlin having
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another winning season. Bring in DK Metcalf, out goes
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George Pickens. He makes his way to Dallas fit
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style. Bit of a melt contend.
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It feels like a time, certainly from the outside in.
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How does he fit in a Dallas place that certainly needs
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playmakers to go along with CD Lamb?
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Yeah, when the Metcalf trade was made there by the Steelers, that
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he was kind of was just the clock was ticking on Pickens
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going because they're similar receivers, not like they
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complement each other. They do almost the exact same
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thing. Big guys to stretch the field.
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Well, CD Lamb needs a big guy to stretch the field.
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He's the slot guy. He's a dominant target person
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who's got the quickness, gets open all the time.
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It reminds me a lot of DeAndre Hopkins and his prime that he's
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going to get open and make plays all over the field whenever
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there's a key first down to be had by that that Prescott.
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But the biggest thing they needed was a field stretcher.
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They have tried different guys, Jalen Tolbert and Brandon Cooks
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and before that Michael Gallup, but these guys have not got the
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job done consistently. Galloped it for a little while
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before he tore up his knees. So when we look at it now, I
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think they say, OK, Pickens is going to be that deep threat.
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We knew this offense, there's going to be different play
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calling here. And Mike McCarthy is more at the
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West Coast traditionalist. Well, now you have Brian Schott.
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I'm taking over the head coach duties and the playing calling
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duties where he's more that we thought let Russ cook thing it
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didn't quite materialize, but he wants to throw the ball down
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field. He wants to run the ball, set it
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up for play action. So I guess that would throw it
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back a little bit more to the Dorf Turner style of offense.
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So I just look at this and say, OK, this is what the Cowboys
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needed here, but I'm not so sure that's all going to work out.
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I mean, Pickens personality has to be there.
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He's got to accept he's a #2 he's got to go to work with back
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here. But to Pickens defense, he's had
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a lot of bad quarterbacks, so maybe he might actually enjoy a
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quarterback that's at least above average, close to the lead
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status than the best they had in Pittsburgh.
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Which of the two LA teams is closer to a Super Bowl?
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That's a good question. I think the one that we know it
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1 Matthew Stafford, because we know that we know what he can do
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the playoffs and we're not. He didn't necessarily light it
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up in that playoff stage. I mean, they also did have Aaron
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Donald and Jill Ramsey for that run.
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But it's pretty admirable how the Rams have quickly kind of
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rebuilt their defense. There's still have a few holes
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there. I mean, it's understandable that
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it took a few drafts and all that to make up for things so,
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but there's still a rising force on defense.
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Offensively, I think they're going to be pretty special here
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with Devante Adams in the mix. Bouncer Cooper Cup.
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I think Adams clearly showed he had more left in the tank than
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Cup last year. So I think that's also great
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because they have two outside receivers for Stafford.
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So that is there. I think with the charters, I
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mean, everything else is there. They upgraded their running game
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and yet again, their offensive line is great, upgraded
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receiving core. Their defense made the right
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move. I think moving on from Joey,
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both of the question comes out of Justin Herbert.
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He had not a lot of playoff five that have been good so far.
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He had the big comeback where the Jaguars took him down and
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then last year it was terrible. I thought they could go to
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Houston and win, but he was a major liability in that game.
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So I'm not a lot. My confidence is wavered a
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little bit on Justin Herbert. I think if you're Jim Harbaugh,
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I think you need to see that next level for a bit.
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Let's stay out West. I want to go to San Francisco.
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Prohibit a favorite in the NFCA year ago injury bug hit them
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hard. Now you look around, you see
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some of those names, obviously Brock Purdy and Christian
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McCaffrey and Iuke and and you look at some of the top level
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talent that they have. But then you worry about depth.
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Where are we going? Is this a bounce back season for
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San Francisco or we going to look back and say that was a
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window and opportunity that closed very quickly for the
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49ers? Yeah, I mean, it's Kyle
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Shanahan. And this typically seems to be
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what happens with this team right up and down, up and down.
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They seem to have a rash of injuries and then they go right
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back up when everyone's healthy again.
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They do have some changes, though, that they had to
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consider. I mean, the Rock Bernie contract
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looming and then the George Kill extension that just happened,
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they had to like think about their defense and let a lot of
7:03
starters go. But I think I like a lot of
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their young talent that's in there.
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I like Robert Sala alone changing their defense, coming
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back to call the plays is going to be a big factor in that
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defense. So I think it has a nice
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rebound. The offense, I think they were
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preparing for this, right? Devo Samuel Dawn they knew Iuke
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was hurting. They use the first half pick.
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Now it's starting to make more sense on why they took Ricky
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Purcell in the first round last year.
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Starting to make more sense. They're they've got a good
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system, but a Mccaffrey's back and Purdy is playing up to his
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level and IU comes back at some point at full speed.
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Then you're starting to cook with gas right with all these
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guys it'll Purcell and IU can McCaffrey.
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You're back to what you know of the 49ers often.
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So I'm interested to see how it goes.
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The one thing that 49ers have made break at and we'll get the
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scheduled official dates and times for their games next week.
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The 49ers schedule is very favorable if you look at it.
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I mean, it's almost like them going into the last place gives
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them just an incredible opportunity this year.
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So I look at this and like, geez, I mean, they don't play
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any of the NFC heavyweights basically.
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So watch out for them kind of taking advantage of that
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schedule really bad. Their stats.
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I mean, really their toughest games are against the Rams, so
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that's saying something. And maybe the Texans would be
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that other game. Let's go to the AFC West.
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Is this the year we finally see a change at the top?
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Is the Chiefs reign of terror for Chargers, Broncos and Raider
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fans about to come to an end in the AFC West?
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They were 15 and two last year as we recall.
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What do they rule the West again, Vinny?
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I mean, right now they are the heavy favorites.
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I mean, the Broncos still are work in progress, right?
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We still need to see more out of boat Nicks.
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I mean, I just mentioned Chargers and Herbert.
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You know, the Raiders have blown everything upright with Pete
9:02
Carroll coming in, Gina Smith as a quarterback.
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They were the fourth team last year that division.
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So when I look at this and say, hey, this is a situation where
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I'm, you know, looking at different teams improving, I
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don't know if the Raiders can improve just by virtue of where
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they are. So I just look at this and say,
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hey, it may be something where we see those three teams again.
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But the Chiefs are still the class, a lot of it tied to their
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divisional power. And again, look at their
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offense, defense, it's still significantly better than
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anybody in that division. We bet going around and around
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here on the local front for us, our regional teams, Bears,
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Vikings, Packers and of course the Lions of the NFC North.
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We know the talent still there for the Lions, but of that next
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tier team with the Vikings after a 14 and three regular season a
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year ago. But a new quarterback, the
9:56
Packers that just never seemed to find their footing a year
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ago. And then the Bears, obviously
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the collapse after their first month and a half of the season
10:03
that happened with them. How do you kind of rank those
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three teams after the Lions, Vikings, Bears and Packers?
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Who do you like out of that group?
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I mean, I do like the Bears. They do have a very tough
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schedule. I'll say this if you look at it,
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but I think the Bears can also be a very improved team of Caleb
10:18
Williams. So I do like the Bears.
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I do like steal their playoff chances Despite that schedule.
10:23
They just have too much right now around Williams.
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They've got a better offense line.
10:27
Ben Johnson as a fantastic coach.
10:28
I think he should be a heavy front runner for coach of the
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year. You got their defense still has
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a lot of pieces here. So the Bears, I think everything
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is setting the table. The Bears are kind of on delay,
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like the Commanders were ahead of it last year with Daniels.
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I think they are. So if I had to put it, I think
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it's Bears, Packers, Vikings easily for me.
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Want to go to the Washington commanders who really emerged
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last year. Do they build on that or do they
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take a step back? What do you think of Washington?
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Obviously the Super Bowl champs defending reside there.
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The Giants are going to finish 4th, but what kind of year are
11:04
the Commanders going to have? Yeah, the Commanders, I think
11:09
could slip a little bit, but this whole division has a tough
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schedule. I'll say this.
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I mean, they have to play each other first of all.
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Then you play the NFC North. All these teams have to play the
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NFC North and then you play the AFC West, so that's just brutal.
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So I think everyone could come down.
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But in relation to the Eagles, I still think they're right behind
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the Eagles in this division. So they could look, twelve wins
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was, I don't think anyone saw that coming.
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But they get to 10 or 11. I think they're in the playoffs
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in a similar position to make a run.
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I mean, they made a run as a wild card team last year.
11:39
So it's really how far they get in the playoffs and how much
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they can challenge the Eagles if that opportunity were to present
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itself again. Because the division still, you
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would still bet on the Eagles. But I think there's a big gap
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between those two teams and the Giants and Cowboys that remained
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and helped with that cushion. So something off the beaten path
11:57
a little bit for you, Vinny. And it is was a week ago that we
12:00
had the major sport entities that went out there, they're
12:03
meeting with Congress and talking about some of the TV
12:05
things. But the NFL, they didn't show
12:08
up. And we have games that are being
12:10
played now on Fridays. And we got all these games that
12:12
are played out there and these antitrust questions that that
12:15
are involved. Do you read anything into that
12:18
And the possibility that the way that we consume NFL football and
12:22
the not so foreseeable future is going to be changing for all of
12:25
us? Yeah, it just definitely could.
12:28
I mean, we now basically have to subscribe to every streaming
12:31
service to watch football. So that's already tough.
12:35
But yeah, maybe there'll be different ways.
12:38
I mean, don't sleep on flag becoming a bigger deal, right?
12:41
It's in the Olympics. Maybe they're just hedging their
12:43
bets a little bit on what's going to be good with the future
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of the sport. Vinny, my last thing for you,
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Corsa lockdown, you cover the fantasy part of the locked on
12:51
network. Is there a rookie, or give me a
12:54
rookie on both sides of the ball, an impact offensive and
12:58
defensive rookie that you think may have an impact on their team
13:03
this year? Who would those guys be?
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There's a lot of those guys. They did write an article.
13:08
Right now it's Sporting News. Some of the guys that I really
13:10
like, maybe not the obvious guys because Ashton Jetty, everyone
13:13
knows he's going to be great with the Raiders, but I love
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Omari and Hampton with the Charters and Caleb Johnson with
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the Steelers. I think they landed in perfect
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spots for their delivery. Defensively, that one is hard,
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but I do like this guy that Patriots got and being Dave
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here, but Braden Swinson, I really like this kid, a pass
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rusher. They need a pass rush.
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And then if I'm going to go along the same lines, I think
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either those Falcons players that you look at could have a
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big difference here, James Pierce being that notable pass
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rushers. So I think one of these pass
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rushers is going to go off as a rookie and those are some of the
13:48
candidates. Yeah, I'm just, I just clicked
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on right now there's former Cyclone Jalen, no listed third
13:53
round pick for the Texans. Vinny, listen, good to catch up
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with you. We appreciate you doing this for
13:59
us and we will impose on your time again here as we get closer
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to the season. Vinny, thank you.
14:07
Thank you. Good to talk to you.
14:08
Vinny Iyer, Sporting News and part of the Locked on Network.
14:11
Yeah, I'm looking at the article right now.
14:12
There's Jaylin Noel listed. Who else do we recognize?
14:15
Alex Jackson, Dart Henderson, the Patriots running back, but
14:22
like, both Ohio State running backs, of course, Why wouldn't
14:25
you? There's Omarion Hampton on the
14:27
list. Oh, and RJ Harvey.
14:29
Good stuff. Good stuff.
14:31
Are you playing fantasy? When do you get into it?
14:33
I mean, do you wait for the end of August?
14:35
I mean, it's, yeah. You don't do homework now?
14:38
No, I'm with you. I absolutely.
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I think you know me in general, I'm kind of last minute when it
14:44
pertains to all those things. I got a fantasy draft tomorrow.
14:47
All right, we'll jump aboard and.
14:49
Let's get ready. For it.
14:50
Let's get ready for it. I'm a little sometimes spread a
14:52
little bit too thin for you know what.
14:55
June 8th, May 8th, April. No, no, no.
14:59
Let me ask you the question. Ask Vinnie which which of the
15:03
two LA teams closer to the Super Bowl.
15:05
Closer to the Super Bowl is the Rams.
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It's got to be right because it's the they're in the NFC.
15:09
Yes, that's a a big part of it. They were there last year.
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They gave the Eagles the best game of anybody in the last,
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without a doubt in the divisional round.
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They were the only team that even pushed them.
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Rams are 22 to one, Chargers 28 to 1.
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There's still a lot of questions on Herbert aren't.
15:24
There. Oh, absolutely, there should be.
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Give me that moment. I haven't seen it yet.
15:29
He doesn't have. I think he's got it.
15:31
He's talented, right? But some guys never get.
15:33
It Yeah. Trevor Lawrence is talented.
15:35
He's been a bust, yeah. He had a great half against
15:38
Kansas City three years ago that.
15:39
Was a hell of 1/2. That's how'd that turn out.
15:43
Had a great second-half in the game before as they came back
15:45
against aforementioned Chargers. Right, That's right, The
15:49
collapse. But he has at least those two
15:50
moments. I can't even come up with that.
15:53
Well then Herbert must have had the first half of that game
15:55
prior to the collapse if we're. Going to go that way, all right.
15:59
Fair check. I keep because I think Herbert's
16:01
a talented quarterback. We've seen a lot of talent.
16:03
I know, but I would put him in my top ten, top 10 quarterbacks.
16:07
Right now in the NFL. That I like.
16:10
I'm not saying this is going to be consensus.
16:13
OK. All right, let's see here, Top
16:17
10 quarterbacks. I want to get a list here in
16:20
front of me because now you got my mind spinning.
16:23
OK, now you got mine. Can I go 12?
16:24
I'll I'll try and squeeze him into my top. 10 top 10
16:27
quarterbacks. All right, let's start with the
16:29
easy guys, the consensus Josh Allen.
16:32
Yes, Lamar. Yes.
16:36
Yeah. It took Yeah.
16:36
No, no. He.
16:37
Yes. Yes.
16:38
Joe Burrow. Yes, Mahomes.
16:42
Yes, 4. Now we get into it DAC.
16:47
No. You would rather have Justin
16:49
Herbert? Yes, you're nuts.
16:51
Jalen Hurts. Got a Super Bowl, you got to put
16:54
him on the He's better. Jaden Daniels.
16:59
Flash in the pan. Oh God, no he's not.
17:02
He's he's a legit player. I don't.
17:04
I think he's kind of like him though.
17:07
Who'd you rather have, Baker Mayfield or Justin Herbert?
17:10
Justin Herbert. To win football games.
17:13
Yes. We're on different pages.
17:16
Kyler Murray. Oh, Herbert.
17:19
Brock, Purdy, Herbert. What physical the 6/6?
17:27
OK, I don't know where to go from here now after that Bonex.
17:35
Oh, that's tough. Jeez Louise, no.
17:37
Are you sure? You.
17:38
Didn't have a puff this morning. No, no Jordan Love.
17:43
Yes. JJ McCarthy, Jared, Jared Goff.
17:49
Jared Goff. Is he better than all three of
17:50
those guys? No.
17:52
You don't think he is? I think he is.
17:55
He hasn't shown. I would buy stock of Justin
17:57
Herbert. Justin Herbert.
18:00
Now I got to look at his numbers.
18:03
You obviously watch a lot more than I do.
18:05
You're keeping a closer eye than I do on the charters and even.
18:08
Finally got a coach that helps. Justin Herbert career stats, all
18:14
right, high watermark, 38 touchdowns a second year.
18:17
That's what he's done the last three years, 25 touchdowns, 10.
18:21
But he's missed a lot of games, hasn't he?
18:23
Or. Played all 17 OK, 20/23/20
18:27
touchdowns, 7 interceptions. How many games did he?
18:29
Miss played 13, missed four. OK played every game last year.
18:32
23 touchdowns. Only three interceptions.
18:34
Well, he's had his receivers are God awful lad.
18:38
Mcconkey, who is a rookie, is his best receiver by a mile.
18:43
I see some dudes, though. Mike Williams was a guy making a
18:47
lot of excuses. The kid that they took Quinton
18:50
Johnson from TC he can't catch. Well, that's a problem.
18:53
As for receiver, that's a big problem.
18:55
I like him. You don't love?
18:58
Him. I don't love him.
18:59
JJ McCarthy or Justin Herbert, Trent Con.
19:02
Justin Herbert? That's not even close.
19:06
JJ McCarthy might be. I'll struggle to make my top 20
19:09
coming into the air. So, Justin Herbert, can we say
19:13
CJ Stroud. Stroud One.
19:18
Goodyear Two. OK Trevor Lawrence, Justin
19:23
Herbert Herbert. Tua Tagliovoa, Justin.
19:29
Herbert. Herbert.
19:31
See, I I like him more than I think.
19:32
Maybe it Drake May Justin Herbert.
19:35
Long term, give me Drake May. I think the upside's there.
19:39
OK, who we missing that that that next tier?
19:44
Is this the apex though of Justin Herbert?
19:47
Have we seen the best? No, because I think he's got to
19:50
get a better cast around him. If he gets that, I think that
19:54
he's got a coach. He's 27, prime time now,
19:58
physically. Yeah, he's, he's about to enter
20:00
it. He's played a lot of snaps.
20:02
He's. Played a lot of snaps but he's
20:03
got a good offensive line finally that'll help Alton
20:06
Slater. They're cornerstones and they
20:10
brought in the kid. The kid from the went to The
20:11
Jets, went to the Eagles, won a Super Bowl, cried.
20:14
He's 380 lbs. Oh God.
20:18
It's a right? I'm a guy, Becton.
20:21
A rite of spring or summer that Ken will talk himself into the
20:25
Chargers. The Chargers Too late, and here
20:27
we are. No, I've already done it.
20:28
It's already happened. It's already happened.
20:30
And I bet the other LA team too. I like both of the LA teams.
20:34
That's why I asked Vinny Dicker. The kicker.
20:41
No, it's not that simple. It's got to, there's got to be
20:45
something let somebody laying in the weeds that's going to really
20:49
boost those Super Bowl finalists tickets like 200 a 180 to one.
20:56
This is one of. This.
20:57
Did it pay last year? No.
20:58
Did it pay the year before? No, keep waiting for it to
21:02
happen. But when it does.
21:03
Look out below. Speaking of pay, let's see if we
21:06
can pay you $1000 in this nationwide contest.
21:10
You can head to KX and o.com right now.
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We're going to switch gears. Jackson Gatlin covers the NBA
21:30
part of the Locked On Network, will pick his brain on these
21:33
playoffs so far. When we come back, Miller and
21:36
Condon Iowa Sports Radio Network hi Millory Condon welcome back
21:42
Iowa Sports Radio network. Trent Condon, Ken Miller trends
21:45
plays of the day. They are still to come get to
21:48
those here coming up all in about to 15 or 20 minutes.
21:52
Jackson Gatlin momentarily from the locked on NBA pods
21:56
momentarily. But there is a little bit of
21:58
news when it comes to the Cubs. Kate Horton has indeed been
22:02
called up. Tommy Birch just confirmed it is
22:04
done. He's headed to New York, not
22:05
Tommy Kade, where he will join the the team and assuming he'll
22:10
probably start against the Mets on Saturday.
22:13
So Kate Horton on his way to the show.
22:16
Speaking of the show, it's been going on and these these Rd.
22:21
teams are just dominating this certainly in the second round,
22:26
Jackson Gatlin joins us. Jackson, Trent and Ken, thanks
22:28
for joining us here. We appreciate it.
22:30
So we both Trent and I thought, well, just as a foregone
22:34
conclusion, why are we bothering to go through this?
22:36
It's going to be Cleveland and Boston in the Eastern Conference
22:39
final. Let's just Fast forward to that
22:42
point and get the show on the road.
22:43
Of those two teams, both of them in deep waters right now, who's
22:48
more likely to Rep to get back to the Eastern Conference final,
22:51
Boston or Cleveland? Man, well, First off, I just got
22:56
to say shout out to OKC for riding the ship and finally
22:59
picking up a win for the home team here in the second round.
23:03
For sure. I will.
23:03
I will say between those two, you know, things are looking
23:06
really bleak for the Cavaliers. And that's also mostly just
23:10
because of the injury stuff that you're dealing with, right?
23:12
Like, you know, there's there's cautious optimism that maybe
23:15
they'll they'll get back now. Evan Mobley, Darius Garland,
23:19
DeAndre and kind of, you know, try and right the ship in game
23:22
three on the road. But Indiana is a phenomenal
23:25
home, you know, home home team. And I think that Boston, you
23:30
know, their their losses have been, I guess, less
23:35
catastrophically bad, right? Like the Cavs have had the the
23:38
seven point lead over the Pacers twice now in games one and two
23:43
and then coughed that up to close both games.
23:45
So just some incredible choke jobs by Cleveland.
23:49
So I think that Boston has the better chance to kind of bounce
23:53
back and get themselves back in the series.
23:56
You know, they've they've had some horrifically bad shooting
23:59
games across these first two. You know, couple mistakes there
24:02
at the end, the turnover by Jason Tatum.
24:05
And we could be talking about that series being 11.
24:08
And I guess you could maybe make the same argument for the other
24:10
side with the Cavs. But but I really think the Cavs
24:12
are in the most trouble here. Tatum, you mentioned him 13
24:16
points, 14 rebounds last night, but boy, certainly in the
24:19
second-half he didn't seem to have that lift.
24:21
I know he's dealing with a couple of different injuries
24:24
right now. How banged up is Jason Tatum and
24:26
is there their hope? They just going to have to gut
24:28
it out or that he can be a little bit rejuvenated and we
24:32
can see a different guy than what we've seen these last
24:33
couple games. Yeah, I mean, obviously you hope
24:36
Tatum is, is, you know, the the problem is, and I I try to
24:40
remind everybody this every every postseason is that
24:43
everybody's banged up at this point in the NBA season, right?
24:45
You go through an 8 two game grueling schedule, you make it
24:48
through the first round and now you're in the second round of
24:51
playoffs. Everybody's got lingering
24:52
injuries, stuff that they're dealing with and the Celtics as
24:55
a whole, right? Tatum's dealing with stuff.
24:56
Kristoff's Porzingis hasn't really been himself, but the
24:59
beauty of of the Celtics entire system, right is even if Tatum
25:03
isn't 100%, you can kind of utilize him as a bit more of a
25:06
decoy offensively and let other guys kind of do the heavy
25:10
lifting, right? The Celtics have a fantastic top
25:12
six of guys who on any given night, any one of them be a Drew
25:16
Holiday, Derek White, Jaylen Brown, Porzingis, Horford, like
25:21
anybody can kind of step up and be that significant contributor.
25:24
So maybe they just lean a little bit more on Jaylen Brown going
25:27
forward, what have you. But if Tatum isn't 100%, you
25:31
know, you, you don't want to, you know, let the Knicks know
25:33
that, right? Let still you know kind of run
25:35
your sets, try and get stuff going, but maybe utilizing him
25:37
more as a decoy to get other opportunities for other guys
25:40
instead of him just trying to shoulder so much of the
25:43
offensive burden himself. Do we know what's wrong with
25:45
Porzingis? Because something clearly is.
25:47
I mean, he's averaging half the minutes he normally does during
25:51
the regular season. What's what's going on?
25:53
Is it, is there an injury there? Is he, is it illness?
25:56
Do you have any idea, Jackson? I actually, I honestly have no
26:00
idea. It's it's kind of a peculiar
26:02
thing. Although Porzingis has dealt
26:03
with his fair share of problems injury wise in the past.
26:07
So maybe it's something that'll come to light after the series
26:10
is done and we get kind of the exit interviews and stuff.
26:12
Or, you know, if if the Celtics get eliminated or maybe he is
26:16
dealing with some type of, you know, an illness of sorts and
26:19
doesn't maybe want to disclose it if it's something that's, you
26:22
know, I mean, usually if it's something like food poisoning,
26:24
coaches are pretty easy to like, say, yeah, he's been sick and
26:26
whatever, but but who knows what it is, right?
26:29
Krozingis has not been himself. And he is often such a swing
26:33
factor for the Celtics that when he's not playing like himself
26:36
and it makes it really hard for them to win.
26:39
Let's go to tonight. It's a standalone affair.
26:41
Speaking of bounce, well, we saw two different ways last night,
26:44
right? One looks like it's going to be
26:45
a 20 point victory for the Celtics and then they fall
26:47
apart. And then the Thunder took that
26:49
20 point lead and and built it up to A50 point lead at one
26:52
point in that one. What do you think we're going to
26:54
see tonight from the Timberwolves and the Warriors?
26:56
Obviously no Steph Curry in this one.
26:58
Bounce back. We're concerned for Minnesota.
27:02
I think it'll be a pretty resounding bounce back for the
27:05
Wolves. I this was honestly maybe the
27:07
series that I was most fascinated by coming into this
27:11
second round just because I think that, you know, First off,
27:13
you got two kind of, I don't want to call them underdog teams
27:16
because the West was just a bloodbath this year.
27:18
And both the Warriors and Wolves don't necessarily feel like a 6A
27:23
traditional six seed or seven seed at this stage of the
27:26
playoffs, kind of with how well they were playing to end the
27:30
regular season. But from a match perspective, I
27:33
was so intrigued by this series. The Warriors playing incredibly
27:36
small. That's how they got through, but
27:38
that's how they had to survive the first round going up against
27:40
the Rockets with all their size, their double big lineup of
27:43
Steven Adams and Alpert and Shengun.
27:45
And then the Wolves have a ton of size in their own right with
27:47
Rudy Gobert and Julius Randall and Nas Reed coming off the
27:50
bench. And I just thought this was
27:51
going to be a fantastic kind of chess match between Steve Kerr
27:55
and Chris Finch to see what each team is going to try and do and
27:57
counter and game the game. Losing Steph Curry kind of takes
28:01
a lot of the intrigue out of this matchup, unfortunately.
28:04
And it's not like, you know, obviously they won game one
28:08
without Steph Curry. But it feels weird saying
28:10
without Steph Curry because he did play.
28:12
He had 13 points. And, you know, kind of coming
28:14
into a game and then, you know, losing or a star player leading
28:18
game midway through the game kind of changes your ability.
28:21
You know, you prep all game for, OK, this is how we're going to
28:24
guard all these actions. This is what we're going to do
28:25
to try and take Steph Curry out of the game.
28:27
And then when he lead, when that star player is gone, suddenly
28:30
you have to adjust on the fly and the other team is also
28:32
adjusting on the fly. And I kind of think it took the
28:35
Wolves by surprise a little bit. Not to mention they played like
28:38
literally, they're one of their worst offensive games in
28:41
franchise history, scoring only 31 points at halftime.
28:45
That was a franchise playoff low for the Timberwolves, their
28:48
lowest halftime total all season.
28:50
Anthony Edwards was horrendous to start the game as his first
28:53
ten shots. I don't really expect that to
28:55
happen again. Like there were so many things
28:58
that happened that went against the Wolves in game one and they
29:02
still kind of fought back and got into it and like, cut it to
29:04
a one point lead at one point or sorry, not a one point lead, a
29:08
single digit lead at one point. Yeah, 9.
29:10
So I mean, I kind of think they'll bounce back and with no
29:13
Steph Curry on the other, and it's going to be so much easier
29:15
for them to key in on guys like Buddy Hield and Draymond and
29:18
Jimmy and guys that were kind of hurting them there in Game 1.
29:20
So I think the Wolves will bounce back.
29:22
And I think without Steph, depending on when his return may
29:25
or may not be in the series, I very easily see the Wolves
29:28
taking this in five or six games.
29:29
Let's go to the other series out West.
29:31
Denver, we saw them get embarrassed last night.
29:33
Gave up 87 points in the 1st 24 minutes.
29:36
It's unbelievable to me. We just mentioned 31 that the
29:39
team will scored the other night wherever it was.
29:42
So let's let's talk about the Nuggets and OK C Is OK C now
29:47
clearly in the driver's seat? Can they?
29:50
Does this series go more than five games?
29:54
Could you see Oklahoma City winning the next three years?
29:57
Denver have an answer in them. I guess I could see, you know, a
30:02
radical turn around and like a gentleman sweep, I guess.
30:05
But at the same time, when you have a guy as talented as Nikola
30:10
Jokic, I think it's going to be hard to write off the Nuggets.
30:12
And yeah, maybe they they took OKCA little bit by surprise
30:16
there in game one. This was kind of my feeling
30:18
across the board. And I think why we're seeing
30:21
some of the results here in the second round that we've seen so
30:24
far between, you know, the Thunder getting upset in game
30:26
one. Cavs down O2 Celtics down O to
30:29
right is is these higher seeded teams were so far and away
30:33
better than their opponents in the first round that they kind
30:37
of and they they, you know, cleared them in either four
30:39
games, five games, whatever it was.
30:41
And then, you know, you have this this time off, this kind of
30:44
rest period, which you know, leads to the old adage, right
30:47
rest versus rust and all that stuff.
30:49
And so I think Denver was just a little bit more prepared to be
30:52
thrown into the fire against OKC, kind of battle tested from
30:56
going up against that Clippers going seven games versus OKC,
31:00
who's just been kind of sitting on their hands for, you know, a
31:02
week or whatever it's been. So that being said, I do think
31:07
this is going to be a series that OKC have to win
31:09
offensively. You know, they they had a
31:11
historically great defense this season, but I just don't see a
31:17
world where they're going to be able to reliably contain Yokich
31:21
throughout the rest of the series, regardless of whatever
31:23
it looks like, you know, you know, games 3-4, you know, 2345,
31:27
whatever down the line, however long the series goes, they're
31:30
going to need to win things offensively because defense has
31:32
been the death knell for the Nuggets throughout much of this
31:36
season. And really kind of throughout
31:37
this this little championship window that they've had defenses
31:42
all has consistently been the question mark regarding this
31:44
nugget squad. So Nuggets are going to have to
31:46
tighten up defensively. Thunder are going to have to win
31:49
this match or win this series with their offense.
31:51
And that's kind of the concern is there's a there's a I don't
31:55
know, I don't I don't necessarily have the most
31:57
confidence in the thunders outside shooters to remain
32:00
consistent all throughout a series.
32:02
But as long as they get enough production right, you know, SGA
32:04
is going to produce at a very high level.
32:06
And as long as they get enough role players to show up and
32:08
knock down some shots on a nightly basis, it might not
32:10
always be an 87 point half, but they're going to have to win
32:14
with offense and this one, I think.
32:15
Jackson will get you out on this.
32:17
Tyrese Halliburton. It's been a big storyline here
32:19
locally. Obviously his career beginning
32:22
at Iowa State and the overall overrated poll that came out
32:26
from The Athletic towards the end of the season, calling him
32:29
the most overrated player in the NBA by his peers.
32:31
He's certainly changing the narrative.
32:33
What was your take away though from that?
32:35
What we've seen from Halliburton and the Pacers here two games
32:37
in. Tyrese is so incredibly gifted
32:42
on the floor and you know, he's, he's a gifted scorer, he's a
32:44
gifted playmaker. But arguably the the most
32:47
impressive thing about what he does on a basketball floor is he
32:51
just doesn't make mistakes. Like he's so careful with the
32:57
basketball, but not like in a cautious way, like not be not,
32:59
not, you know, risk averse, not playing it safe, not ever trying
33:03
to go for threading the needle, that kind of thing.
33:05
It just you watch him play over the course of a whole game and
33:07
you're like, wow, he does all the right things with the ball,
33:11
whether it's, you know, him setting up an opportunity for
33:13
himself or driving and, and attacking and then creating an
33:16
opportunity for his teammate or resetting.
33:18
And and he's got all this, this, this, you know, abundance of
33:22
confidence in his own play style.
33:24
And you kind of saw that on play at the end of game too.
33:27
Right now, whether whether or not he intentionally missed that
33:30
free throw, I'm not sure if he did or didn't.
33:32
And I don't even really remember if he remarked on it after the
33:35
game. But, you know, missing the free
33:36
throw, getting, you know, the offensive rebound and then and
33:38
then getting back out and resetting.
33:41
I found myself as an unbiased third party sitting here
33:43
thinking, man, like, just call a time out, like drop a play, do
33:45
something. And and he was like, no, I'm
33:47
taking this thing in and I'm going to and I'm going to pull
33:50
up from three and and ice this game completely and walked away
33:53
doing the the Sam Cassell celebration, which was just
33:57
chef's kiss. And to do that right in moments
34:00
before that, right, you heard the you heard the overrated
34:03
chant from the Cavaliers fans in that stadium.
34:06
And you can see Donald Mitchell trying to calm guys, calm
34:08
everybody down, like saying like, no, stop that.
34:10
Like, please, please don't, don't give him more fuel than he
34:13
needed than he has right now. So I do think that we kind of
34:17
swung from Tyrese Halliburton maybe actually being a little
34:21
bit overrated like a couple years ago to being severely
34:24
underrated this season. And and we're kind of like
34:26
bouncing back now more towards where where he should be, right.
34:30
He's he's easily like, you know, a top top three guard, top
34:34
three-point guard in the NBA. He should be an all NBA
34:38
selection. Clearly he's the best
34:39
facilitator in the entire NBA and he's a phenomenal scorer
34:43
when he needs to right. The the rub on him earlier this
34:46
season was he wasn't necessarily as aggressive as he needed to
34:48
be. The shot wasn't quite there, but
34:50
he's certainly making a case for why he he is one of the best
34:54
players in the NBA in this year. Jackson Gatlin locked on NBA
34:58
pods etcetera also does locked on Rockets covers the NBA and he
35:02
joins us to talk NBA here with Miller and Condon.
35:05
Thanks for doing this. Jackson will impose on you
35:07
before this thing comes to its conclusion should your schedule
35:11
out. Thanks, Jackson.
35:12
Appreciate it. Always a pleasure guys, happy to
35:14
be back. Yeah, good to talk to you.
35:16
Thank you very much, Jackson Gatlin.
35:18
As we check in on the NBA, OKC is an overwhelming favorite
35:22
futures wise to win this thing. Plus Buck 30, second choice
35:28
Boston just north of $3. Anybody float your boat?
35:33
Those prices? No.
35:35
I can't either. There's just nothing that is
35:38
compelling. I'm invested in Denver.
35:41
Are you to to what? To win the West or to win it
35:42
all? Both and some huge tickets like
35:46
if if we get Celtics Nuggets. Yeah, you don't care.
35:50
You you might not see me show up.
35:52
It's not that big. No, it's not that big, but that
35:55
would be a good one. That would be the, that's
35:57
probably what I'm rooting for the most is Celtics, Nuggets.
36:00
But I took him a couple of times in January.
36:02
Just when it's Jokic, you know it's Jokic.
36:05
He's just believing in that. But I don't have any Warriors, I
36:09
don't have any Timberwolves. I have maybe 1 Calves, some
36:14
Celtics, plenty of Celtics in there.
36:16
But same thing with the Thunder. I just.
36:19
I couldn't. Nah, too short.
36:21
Prices were never good enough. Yeah, young team, I'm not going
36:25
to invest at that kind of price. No, I'm with you.
36:27
I'll take time out to what is he going to invest in?
36:30
Well, we'll find out next. Circus sports sponsors, trends,
36:33
plays of the day. Those are coming up.
36:35
Miller and Condon one more segment on the Iowa Sports Radio
36:38
Network. Miller and Condon welcome back.
36:48
Final segment. Circus sports sponsors are plays
36:51
are trends plays of the day NBA lot of in a lot of day Baseball
36:56
today, very late schedule tonight, if memory serves, most
37:00
of it taking place today, but some of the There are certainly
37:03
some games you can sink your teeth into your Twins or tied
37:07
with the Orioles playing their top of the 7th in Minneapolis.
37:12
What do you bet in? Three games, three events.
37:17
Baseball starting up here in about 15 minutes.
37:20
Tigers -164 against the Rockies. Feels like a safe one, right?
37:24
Keeps him eyes. Takes the ball against Freeland,
37:26
who has been about as good as they have had.
37:29
Unfortunately, the Rockies have not had very much for them.
37:33
I took him in game one. I felt good.
37:35
For the first to be the closer for the Rockies in a contract
37:38
year. Well, it's it's good that your
37:41
arm's going to be fresh. That's one way of looking at it.
37:44
Yeah, Good point. Gave one of Carolina at
37:48
Washington. I thought I was on the right
37:50
side out to 1. Nothing lead looking good, it
37:52
just quickly changed going right back to it plus.
37:55
Washington again. Plus 145, the price on the caps
37:59
at home and wrap it up. I'm going to be playing alts,
38:02
I'm going to be all over the place, but I'll lay the 10 1/2
38:04
with the Timberwolves tonight so.
38:05
You're going to go higher? Yeah.
38:06
How? What's what's your limit?
38:09
I don't know if there is. You would think they CLOB.
38:11
Like 19 1/2, yeah. I mean something like that.
38:14
I I really do. I I don't think I will.
38:17
So this is a boring game, yes, perfect.
38:21
Unless you're AT Wolves fan and. It's entertaining to watch your
38:24
team win by a lot, interrupt Draymond's nose in a little bit
38:27
and those kind of things. They got to be careful with him.
38:30
They can't let, they can't let him get out of control,
38:32
especially if they're getting, if the game is getting out of
38:35
control. I'm with you.
38:36
I think they'll win. I hope that there's a little bit
38:39
of drama in this thing. I really do.
38:42
Let's have an easy night. There'll be plenty of time for
38:44
drama down the line. Get this thing tied back up and
38:46
then we can worry about drama. And it shifts back to the Bay
38:50
Area. All right, Heather is off today.
38:53
Lucas is here, David Eicholt is with him.
38:56
And then Heather and David Eicholt are doing the morning
38:59
show tomorrow is Sean and Lucas are at Shields tomorrow.
39:03
They are, yeah. They'll be there.
39:05
Nice. And getting ready for Iowa
39:07
baseball coming to town. That's right.
39:09
Looking forward to that. That'll do it for us.
39:12
We will be back tomorrow as we always are.
39:14
Back tomorrow from noon till 2:00 Monday through Friday.
39:17
Thanks for being with us. Wherever you're listening on the
39:20
Iowa Sports Radio Network. We are grateful that you are.
39:23
That's going to do it. Thanks for being here.
39:24
Talk to you tomorrow, Miller and Condon, noon to 2.
39:27
See ya.