Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Rick Lewison's studio. What's up, man, what's up, guys. It's
good to be here. Not too crazy about the weather.
Brought Arizona weather to us here. Huh, Well, I had
tickets to the Rockies game tonight, so I'm really just
I wanted to sit out there in the snow and
sleet and watch a three and fifteen team play. You
got a little candy to you.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
I'm just saying I love you, but you got got
a little bit of candy to you.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
It's good to be back, Dave, right, good to see you.
Dave out the man, Daves, My guy, Dave, Dave.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Incredibly perceptive. It doesn't take just one or two words
and he's he's in.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Oh yeah, well I think we know each other a
little maybe too.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Well, yeah, well, what's sure? He did blanket with somebody.
I guess you get to know him.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
You know. That's a fact, very true. That's a fact,
you know. And there's the rumor is false that I
was sitting on his lap when we were sharing the blank.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
That's a fact too. Yes, listen, that's a fact too.
As we say, not that there would be anything worse that.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Yeah, what happens in the blank, Neil, never mind, Dave,
my friend, how are you?
Speaker 1 (01:11):
You'd see Ryan days? Good to see you dress appropriate
for the weather. I see, yeah, I got the got.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
The hoodie, the warm hoodie, back on sweats and uh
yeah it's a little I mean we get one of
these about every April, don't we. Yeah, sometimes much worse.
So it's it's only supposed to go through today, Tomorrow,
better Sunday. I think I saw it's supposed to be
sixty and we're skating. Yeah, right into spring. I think
(01:39):
that's the last blast of winter. What is it today,
the eighteenth, eighteen eighteenth?
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Yeah, my lawn is greening up a little bit. There
you go.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
That's you know, getting to that age where now I
pay attention to those kinds of things.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
I see my lawn outside the lawns getting to the
age or you're getting to the age. Yes, oh, but I.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Know I get to where I pay attention to those
kinds of things. You know, we need the moisture. Here's
that's where I was at. And I woke up this
morning and I saw this, Well, dar mindset, that's just
like because well, but I've been thinking about and historically
I've always done this wrong, So maybe you guys can
help me with this. I have historically never timed out
turning on my sprinklers at the right time, like I
(02:20):
don't to this day, at nearly forty five years old.
I have no idea when I'm supposed to do it,
because I know, like my neighbor next door, he had
this thing done late March, and I feel like that's
extremely early.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
I mean, I think that would be early here in Denver.
I think it's kind of a guess right. I mean,
you want to make sure that the last freeze is
already passed, but you also don't want to wait too
long because then your lawn day gets too far behind.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
So it's an educated guest. You know. You can blame
me because over the weekend I decided to clean my
garage job. Okay, this happens every year. I jumped the
gun on that because I can't it's disgusting right from winter.
I cleaned it out over the weekend. I thought to myself, well,
it's probably gonna snow within the next couple of days,
so here we are. No, I am, I'm sorry. I
(03:07):
made a mistake. I do it every year. I mean,
that makes sense.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
I guess anytime I have an outdoor activity, I just
sort of assume like it's going to be we're going
to have some kind of inclement weather. Like you know,
we were just talking about Red Rocks and those kinds
of things. I got a couple of days I'm going
to go up to Red Rocks for a couple of
concerts this summer, and I just know that I'm going
to be eyes glued to the apps beforehand, being like,
please don't be a thunderstorm, Please don't be inclement weather.
(03:33):
But anyways, do you have recommendation for when to turn
sprinklers on? Because you know, maybe there's other people like
me that don't.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
They say Mother's Day in Colorado, don't plant flowers? Plant flowers. Yeah, yeah,
not that I plant flowers, but getting nothing wrong with that.
I'm just waiting for days to jump on that line.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Now. Listen, sometimes you get one lobbed to home plant.
You can swing out of your shoes, but you decide
to hold off. Uh, Dave's personal florist. Nobody knows that.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Yeah, they say, telling through the tulips came from you guys.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Just go ahead, Yeah, Mother's Day. That's the kind of
the unofficial official time where you can feel like, all right,
spring is here. You can turn on your sprinklers again
and you're good to go.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Okay, all right, well there you go. I'll uh so
I'm not behind. I'm not behind here in late April
and I have a fews. Okay, look at all the
precipitation we're getting.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Yeah, but I remember, this is the neighbor day that
I told you that that loves to do it.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
You don't like, Okay, well there's you have like two neighbors.
One you think is pretty cool, that there is maybe
not so much.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Well, he's just he's just very is that this one. Yeah,
he's just he's intense, like he's just he's very well no, no,
but like he's out there.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
He makes me feel bad about how I treat my
house or how I treat my like because he's just
always on top of things. He's always doing stuff around
the house. He's always fixing things, he's always working.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Back everything that you're not.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Yeah, in a lot of ways, you know, maybe even
more handsome.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
To you have well, I mean you have, you have attributes,
you have skills that he probably I wishes he had.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Feel free to list those. It's just let me think
about that. We got three hours time.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Take the time.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
It's great at smashing slow pitch softballs. I'm just saying,
I I've only swung once today. I know you know,
I know you've held back on a c I have, Yes,
you have. You go right through your lower lips sometime.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Sometimes you got to hold back discretion with a valor
or something like that. Yeah, all right, So we have
all sorts of fun things to get to. Of course,
over the next few hours. We got the NFL Draft
less than a week away. We got playoff games tomorrow tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Two in town, one in town, but two to watch.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Yeah, for sure that the Nuggets at one thirty, and
then I want to say it's six thirty for the Abs.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
The Long Line Dallas in Dallas, David started yesterday.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
We at the very end of the show, we talked
a bit about how you're feeling about both of those
teams that gets in the Ads getting out of the
first round. It's remarkable kind of reading up on this.
The optimism for the Abs because they're dealing with significant
injuries and they're on a bit of a slide, and
so there's optimism about the abs that I don't think existed.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Probably a month or so ago, we'll be talking about
Dallas is dealing with Dallas is.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Dealing with some significant injuries, and they're on a bit
of a slide. Their defense, their their goaltender, all of
it doesn't look really great right now.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
About a month ago. It's so funny because the Stars
were like that team.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
They were kind of like my Minnesota timber Wolves that
I just did not want to see, but you just
knew was gonna happen right the way the standings were
laid out.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Fast forward a month.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
I feel great about the apps in the Dallas Stars matchup.
I don't don't kill me for this.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
I don't.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
I don't feel great about the closes. Of course you don't.
I mean, of course you don't know. How long have
you and I've done this show. I know I'm getting.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Used to this.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Rinse repeat every year. Yet yeah it's again. As I
have said, I do not think this will be an
easy series. It's going to be a long series, but
I think the Nuggets will find a way to win.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
I think I think the Nuggets will win at least
one time in Los Angeles, which means the Clippers would
have to beat the Nuggets twice in Denver. Now last year,
I mean the Timberwolves beat the Nuggets three times in Denver, So.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
I mean it can happen. And I think the Clippers
are on a streak, and I think as long.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
As Kawhi is healthy again, as I said yesterday, one
of the top five two way players that we've had
in this game for a long time. Right, if Kawhi
was not a score but played defense the way that
he does when he's healthy, he was still.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Being an elite NBA player.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
If he didn't play any defense but had his offensive
game win healthy, he'd be an elite NBA player.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
So, but he's a guy that likes to do them.
He'll do both. So he's he's he's a problem for
the Nuggets. But the Nuggets have problems for the Clippers too.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
So I think the Nuggets win the series, and I
think the Avs will find a way to beat the Stars,
and I think we'll be sitting here, oh, I don't know, week,
maybe a little bit longer than a week talking about
the second round for both I.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Love the optimism and you were always a beacon of optimism,
especially on this show, and we all know that another
beacon of optimism.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Rick Lewis and Judy, you feel the same way. I
feel better about the I would say the Avalanche chances
in Round one than I do the Nuggets. I do
think the Nuggets that probably goes to seven. So to me,
it's kind of a toss up between them. The Clippers,
Clippers the hottest team in the league. They caught the
Clippers at the wrong time. And for me, now, when
I say that, Dave kills me for it. He's gonna
(08:46):
allow you to say, I know, Rick. Rick was just
stating the facts. The Clippers are the hottest team in
the league. That's a fact.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Fact They've won eighteen the last twenty one, that's a fact.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
I mean, what he said was factual. What he didn't
say was, well, I hope we don't have to face
the Wolves. I hope we don't play Minnesota. I mean,
do you think we're gonna have to play Minnesota?
Speaker 1 (09:09):
No, I didn't say that. I don't I say that.
By the way. Yeah, and yeah, the Clippers are healthy.
James Harden at thirty five, having one of his best seasons.
Who saw that coming? So I think that this is
going to be a really good matchup. For me, the
only uncertainty with the Nuggets is they have an interim coach, uh,
(09:30):
interim head coach. We'll see how this goes with him.
Uh they're three and oh they're undefeated with him. But
to me, that's the only uncertainty and also a factor
I think for the Nuggets is they're playing with house money.
Nobody's expecting them to win the NBA title or even
the Western Conference with an interim head coach. So to me,
(09:52):
that takes a lot of pressure off of the Denver Nuggets,
which should benefit them in this soon.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
I am.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
You do expect.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
I expect the Nuggets to represent the West and face
the Boston Celtics.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
It is wow. So you have a lot of faith
in this team, even though they didn't finish very well. Yep.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
I mean I think and listen, there was a stretch
doing this show every day with Ryan. There was a
stretch where it's like, man, oh man, I'm gonna have
to reconsider this because I mean, what are we doing
here on almost a nightly basis? I mean, do you
care about it? But since the dismissal of Michael Malone,
(10:37):
you know, I don't know if that's you could say
it sparked the team. I just think there's enough pride
with this group that they will come out and play
like they can. And if they play like they can,
I think they have enough to win the first series,
and then I think the series against if it's o City,
(11:01):
that will be a war.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
But I think the Nuggets can can beat them too,
even going thirteen to twelve down the stretch. You have
that much confidence. I know you're a b Yes, I
do a basketball fan.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
So as long as we got as long as Jokich,
I mean, Jamal Murray's got to stay healthy, that's I mean,
that's like saying Kawhi Leonard has to stay healthy for
the Clippers.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
And he's got to be consistent.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Yeah, I mean, if something happens to SGA, Oklahoma City
is still a really good team, but they're not that
elite great team that dominated the West this year. So
I mean, guys have to stay healthy and play. I'm
just assuming that that's going to happen. I liked I
know they're going to be an underdog this series. They
would be a decided underdog the next series, and then
(11:47):
if they win that, they would play probably either the
Lakers or the Warriors, and they would probably be an
underdog in that.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Series as well.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
So you know, you're swimming upstream a little bit if
you really think the Nuggets can do it. I just
think with Jokic playing the way he's playing, I think
he can dominate a series in any game they go into.
If it's a must win situation, whomever they're playing has
(12:15):
to deal with that guy, right, I mean, and he
is I mean Sga is a great player. There are
other great players in the West. Jokich is a unicorn
in basketball today. Jamal's got to have his best effort,
stay healthy, be Jamal. That we have seen, not consistently,
(12:36):
but we've seen it before. You know, Ag does his thing.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
I am riding with the Nuggets until they kick me
off the back of the cycle.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
I'm here. I know you follow them very very closely
throughout the entire season. You're a big NBA fan. Can
they afford to put it all on you mentioned the Joker?
Can you put it all on the Jokers? He needs
to play complimentary? No, no, no, they have not done Yeah,
other guys have to contribute for sure. I mean the
(13:05):
first game with Adelman as the head coach. And then
the game they played in Sacramento, they had five guys
that over twenty points.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
I mean, they moved the basketball, They actually contested shots
on defense, right, they moved their feet, they attempted to
stay in front of the ball on defense. So I
just saw a few things that made me think, Okay,
you know what, they can do it if they really
want to do it. And I think whatever whether and
(13:38):
we were all Michael Malone fans still still am from
my standpoint, but I mean maybe the message was stale.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
But their effort on defense prior to him being announced
had been awful, I mean awful, not running back on defense,
I mean acting like you really.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Don't you know, you just don't care. And then these
last three games.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
I thought they were much more energetic on defense, and
they moved the ball a little bit better on offense too.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
It's gonna be interesting in the matchups.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
You mentioned Jamal Murray, yet he does seem to go
to a different level in the playoffs, right historically, Yeah,
I mean so, I mean there's a little bit of
that like kind of unknown and like every single year
we expect it hope for it, and then he does it.
I mean, he especially did it in the Lakers series
last year, Like they don't win that series without Jamal Murray.
(14:35):
But then they got to the Timberwolve series and so
you have to sort of, I guess marry the two thoughts.
And I wonder how much the injury really kind of
plagued him, because we talked about that going and going
into the series, and then you saw it during the
course of the series, and then MPJ Stort disappeared in
that one where he was actually really great in the
Lakers series. So it's it's a little bit of a
tough thing, but yeah, it can't be just all on Joker,
(14:56):
Like Joker by himself can carry this team only so far,
even if you're to play him forty eight minutes a night,
you can if which you're not.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
But I'm just saying, like he he can only do
so much. He's got to have a robin.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
You maybe even have to have two out there that
can consistently give him because guess what the Clippers are
gonna have. They're gonna have that You're gonna have anough
level of performance from Kawhi James Harden know is fascinating,
right because we've seen him go ice cold in the
playoffs those years with the Houston Rockets.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
He's not.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
He's not, I mean to me and I could. I mean,
he's He's got a long history. I maybe his career
has been lengthy. But if I if I think about
James Harden in postseason, I I don't know that we
we'd have to go back and look, I don't ever
remember him sort of carrying his weight in postseason, no
matter where, no matter where he's been, whether it was
(15:43):
it Oak Oak City early or Houston. I just I
just don't remember that. It's always like, man, oh man,
what what what's happened to you? So he's been good,
he's been good this season.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
I think this. I think one of the things.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Also, if you had to say there was one thing
different from the Nuggets after Michael Malone left with respect
to David Adelman and and him being the head coach,
what would it be one one thing.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
That you're like, Wow, that's that's different.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
One thing for Joker or Jamaal, one thing for the
Nuggets that's been different with David Adelman. That's correct, Sorry, defense,
I mean that that I think they played different defense,
but this was I mean, I guess I think they've
had better energy.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
I think you're both right to me, Russell Westbrook has
not gotten nearly the playing time. I was just gonna
ask you about him, Dave, And so you know they're
they're I mean, when you fire the coach late in
the season, the guy that you know was the coach
of a team that two years ago won an NBA championship,
you're always going to have.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
You're you're gonna have things.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Coming out of the locker room, and you're gonna have
people speculating.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
And so there was a narrative that we've heard that.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
Maybe some of the team didn't like the way Michael
Malone handled Russell Westbrook with respect to him getting a
lot of tick, and maybe in their mind he didn't
deserve as much. But I thought it was telling in
the first game with David Adelman as the head coach,
down the stretch, it was picket on the floor. It
(17:36):
was not Westbrook. Westbrook was at the end of the bench,
I mean, and that struck me as well. Even when
the team was seated and during timeouts and Sacramento closed
the gap, they got to within four late in the
fourth quarter, and so there's a time out and I'm
watching it. Westbrook is standing all the way at the
(17:56):
end of the bench while the guys that are playing
are seated.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Now, I'm not you know, I'm not going to read
too much into it, but I I have read into that.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
I think that's the biggest change that I've seen since
Adaman took over. Westbrook's minutes have gone down, especially at
key moments.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
You know, he's in enigma and he's going to be
facing his former teams. I wonder if they will continue
him in that role here against the Clippers. And when
you go back to when they picked him up, I
remember people saying, Wow, this is the best offseason pickup
that the Nuggets have made in a long time. And
then as we got towards the end of the season,
(18:36):
this is the worst off season pickup that they've had
in a long time. And so the whole thing turned
a big pivot on Russell Westbrook. And You're right, these
last three games, he's his role has certainly been diminished.
But I wonder if that's you think with this new
Adaman is the new interim head coach, he'll probably continue
(19:00):
like that.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
And just kind of keep him in the background. I do,
I mean, I do, I think. I mean, I've been
a fan of Westbrook. I guess to a certain extent.
I think he brings energy at the grint, like if
he brings some toughness to you, I think. And he'll
rebound obviously, but you know, you don't want him. You
don't want him shooting the ball. Maybe as much as
(19:23):
he shot the ball. Where he's at he's best offensively
is when he takes the ball to the rack, even
at thirty seven, he can still get to the basket
and he's got enough athletic ability still or he can
he can score the ball, but you don't. And and defenses,
I mean, it's kind of like in the NFL in
the playoffs. Defenses now can be set, can be structured
(19:44):
to where he's going to be open, right, and they're
they're they're going to basically entice him as you're sitting
there looking at the basket and the guy's backed off
you about ten feet, you know, and he's the kind
of guy that is going to shoot it. So it'll
be interesting. I'll go back and look in the last
three games, how many minutes he averaged as compared to before.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
But my I have here, you do have many. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
So the first game against Sacramony at seventeen, when twenty
seven and twenty three in these three games, okay, and
then so over the course of the season his average
was twenty seven point nine, so it was it was
under his average.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
I just look, I mean, I think that's something that
I'm not saying he can't provide some value, but I
think at this stage of his career, it's probably the
law of diminishing return. It's like you can play a
backup player in the NFL at certain positions and you
(20:47):
can get away with it for a series or two,
maybe even a quarter.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
You might even get away with it for a game.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
But if that guy has to play, you know, an
extended amount of time, the more he he plays, the
more it becomes evident why he was a backup player.
So I with Russell, I think you just have to
You've got to use him wisely and hopefully appeal to
his competitive fire about hey, when when this way, when
(21:17):
you get in there, go all out just like you do.
Don't worry about being tired, because I'm going to take
you out.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Yeah, And he really struggled.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
I mean, he's played his former team, as you mentioned, Rick,
and I think for a lot of Nuggets fans it's
the up and down nature of the season. And then
if you think about how he played in the postseason
for the Clippers last year, it was it wasn't a
good scene.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Nope. Right, So I don't know. I think a little
bit later on we can get into what is what
does the bench.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
Depth actually look like going into this series, because what
are the rotations? We have no idea what Adaman will do.
We knew what we knew what they would do with
if with Michael Malone, but I have no idea what
Rick Adelman's going to do. So, oh, David, at least
I caught myself before it.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
Well, you don't have any idea what Rick's going to
do either, So so what you said was actually true?
Speaker 3 (22:04):
All right, love early here on a good Friday, Dave Logan,
Ryan Edwards, Rick Lewis. This hour's chance to win a
thousand dollars coming up the next five minutes thanks to
Maverick Rick. We're less than a week away from the
NFL Draft. The Broncos with picked twenty seven total picks.
I don't know, man, how you feeling about the Broncos
(22:27):
coming up here in the draft.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
You know, I love the draft. I think it's one
of the most interesting times of the year in the
NFL outside of the season of course. Broncos. I see
them going running back. I don't see them trading up.
I know there's been a lot of talk lately that
they'll trade up and try to get genty. I don't
(22:48):
see that happening. The last couple of years, the Broncos
have given away a lot of their high draft picks
for Russell Wilson, for Sean Payton. I think you hang
on to your ear draft picks this year and take
a running back. If you're going to take a running back,
you could get a good running back at twenty. I
love Hampton at twenty. I don't think you need to
(23:11):
trade up to get genty. He's a great player, seems
like a sure thing, you know, as sure as you
could be about a running back coming out of college.
But I think Hampton would be a good pick at twenty.
I could even see them waiting till the second round.
There's enough good running backs there that you could get
a Round two, even round three. I think that would
(23:32):
help them out whoever they pick with that twentieth pick.
I think it's a player that has to have an
impact this year. I don't think you can afford to
have a player that you're going to have to you know,
Groom and hopefully next year, you know, he can be
an impactful player. So that makes me think they'll go
running back at that position.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Yave.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
This is into a national podcast today and they were
talking about the sort of tier breakdowns of the running
backs and the wide receivers, including the tight ends I
guess the pass catchers, and their view on it is
genty is is that much further ahead than the rest
of the group, Like they say, hey, he's in the
tier of his own. They do think hampton Is probably
(24:11):
leads the next tier, and maybe there's a big enough gap.
I don't really know, I mean, you know your thoughts
on that. But they said for the wide receivers and
receivers in general, they're actually a lot closer. I mean,
Travis Hunters is an alien right, as Mark would say,
but everybody else has kind of been in the mix.
So do you do you kind of look at it
the same way with at least the pass catchers and
running backs.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
I mean, I excuse me, I look at it.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
I look at it that way with genty okay, And
I think Rick is probably right in terms of the
Broncos moving up and what they'd have to get to
move up to a spot that would assure them.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
I mean, you're only you know, a couple of things
have to happen in order for you to move up.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
You got to absolutely positively know that you're able to
move up and get the guy that you want, because
I mean, how bad would it be if you sacrificed
future draft capital moved up and the guy you wanted
somebody else moved up, you know, one slot in front
of him. I mean, you cannot have that happen. So
(25:15):
I would bet the Broncos more than likely don't do that.
But I think Genti's the special back in this draft.
I don't think there's any question about that. Hampton, by
most accounts, not all accounts, but by most accounts, is
a very good player. Both backs at Ohio State I
(25:40):
think will be second third round guys, powerback, speedback.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
So it just depends sort of on what I mean.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
I think they're going to address that position early in
the draft, no doubt about that. I don't have any
idea and they don't want us toe In terms of
actually how how they rank them, I mean I think
I would be safe and saying they rank Genty as
the best back. Now, if you said at this point, hey, Dave,
what do you think Sean Payton and George Peyton? Who
would you think they would rank as the number two back?
(26:10):
I mean I could have an educated guess, but it
would be it would be just that, it would be
a guess. And again we've talked about how secretive they
have become since Sean took over. I think that's probably
smart on their part. They don't want a bunch of
dweebs like us, you know, having somebody leak information out
(26:32):
of a building, right, so I think they you know,
you get threatened with basically your life.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
Hey, nothing better leave this room that we.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
Talk about, And I applaud the Broncos for taking that
particular sort of stance.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
Well, the reality of it is, I mean I can
already kind of hear it. We say, well, they probably
think genty is the top running back.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
Oh, they definitely do. Okay, all right, but then if
they get Hampton, let's say a pick twenty.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
That'll be the guy that they were targeting all along,
and they were very excited that he was there.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
Oh yeah, yeah, But those two things both can be true.
I guess that's fair. They could, you know what, I
don't think they're not going to say in a press
conference like oh we had him second or no.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
But what I don't think if they, let's just say
they take Hampton a twenty, I think I think they
would say, Hey, we had targeted this guy, we're very
excited about him. What I don't think they would say
is he was our top rated running back on the board.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Okay, I now there's a way to frame that.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
I guess they could say that, and then we have
no ability to challenge him because you know, you know,
they could say, I mean, how do you know that?
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Dave?
Speaker 2 (27:39):
Right? So no, but I feel pretty confident the genty
is their top rated running back as well. I just
like Rick said, I just don't you can't really concoct
a scenario that would be reasonable that would allow the
Broncos to move up to get him.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
Yeah, I wouldn't. I wouldn't give up a lot of
draft capital to get him because this is such a
deep draft for running backs, although this week they've been
talking about we're going to get a running back. Which
is that really how they're thinking or are they just
trying to throw everybody else off in the draft. I
think they may end up taking two running backs. Well,
see that was Max's question.
Speaker 3 (28:16):
Would the combination and we talked about this a couple
of days ago, David, the combination of two running backs, like,
say you take one to twenty or even in day
two and then you take another one in day three,
would that equal to what you think you might be
getting with Ashton Jenny it was a two for one
kind of deal.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
No, no, no, I mean, because he's that dude. To me,
he is, Okay, I think he's that guy.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
Now, if you take two running backs, you're just trying
to make that running back room as competitive and strong
as you as you possibly can. Could both those guys
make the team absolutely, I mean I think that. I
think right now there are some interesting prospects in that room.
Speaker 1 (28:54):
But I I mean, I honestly I don't know that one.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Guy you would say, well, he's definitely going to be
on the final fifty three when September rolls around.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
I mean right now. Yeah, I think that's their biggest
need on offense. We talked about that for the past
couple of seasons. I think a running back is in
their future. I don't think it's going to be Genty though,
and I'm okay if they if they wait today too
and take it back. You mentioned the two running backs
out of Ohio State, Dave. I think both of those
(29:29):
guys have an upside and in a high ceiling. I
don't think we've seen the best of those guys yet.
But to me, Hampton's the full package. He's a little
bigger than Genty. Although you used to see the picture
with Genty with a shirt off. Yeah, yeah, that was
you back in the day when you wore the cutoff
(29:50):
T shirts right to show your six pack. I wish.
I wish that I ever in my life that I
was never never that thick. That dude is so thick
I couldn't believe it. Yeah he is. He's a force
and he's a freak in many ways. But no, I
don't see that happening. I'm okay to if they. If
they go wide receiver at twenty, I think that although
(30:13):
they took to last year, if they like took him though, Yes,
that's true. They were both late round picks. I like
the kid from Arizona. I think that's the guy they're
probably looking at. Although he's very similar to Courtland Sutton
in my opinion. He's a big body receiver. He might
be a little faster than Courtland. I think tum Millan. Yeah, yeah,
(30:36):
he's uh for fourish, Yeah, he's that would be faster
because of course stage of Courtland's career. Yeah, and he's
a freaky athlete. Uh for his size. I'd be okay
if they took him too. I think he's gonna be there.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
Well, oh, I say there, I say, there's a scenario
where he's there. Some of the stuff I was doing
research on today has Dallas taking him a twelve.
Speaker 1 (31:00):
That's that's higher than I would think. Same. But I
but I you know what I mean, it could it
could happen. I thought about this. I would not I
would not be opposed to the Broncos. I mean, the
(31:21):
one thing, as you said, was so much.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
Easier, so much easier to say and talk about than
to put in into place.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
They need players that I can either hand it to you.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
Or I can throw a short pass to you or
I can throw a They need guys that, once they
get their hands on the ball, can do something with it. Now,
everybody that plays in the NFL is has been a
really good player at at some level college for sure,
(32:02):
But I mean this team had such a lack of
And you know, if by chance, any of the offensive
guys who are listening to the show, they're probably saying,
you know what, shut the hell up, because I would
be if I were playing and I heard some I'm
nuts talking about this sort of stuff. But to me,
(32:23):
if I'm looking at, you know, critically, at the offense,
I gotta find I got to continue to find a
couple guys that can do stuff with the ball. So
one name that I think this guy is different at
the receiver spot. Not that there aren't some other really
good players, but the Burden kid out of Missouri really
(32:46):
is different. He's different, different than the Ohio State Receiver's
different than the Texas receiver. He's different than those guys. Now,
I think he can still be he can be a
vertical guy downfield. But I'll tell you what, I went
back and looked at a lot of Missouri tape. That
guy with his hands on the ball and he's playing
(33:08):
in the SEC. He's not you know, he's not playing
it at j JC. I mean, he is a guy
that you want to get the ball to. So if
I'm Sean Payton, I look at that, I'm thinking, I
don't know, I want to spend the twentieth pick on him?
How I would say? How can I get my hands
on that guy? We were trying to get him for today,
(33:35):
but he's traveling.
Speaker 3 (33:36):
Monte Ball is going to join the program at four
thirty on Monday, looking forward to catch up with him.
He's going to be he's making the picks, making Bay
the second round pick for the Broncos, which is very cool.
Speaker 1 (33:47):
Makes sense.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
He I mean, he played at the University of Wisconsin, yep,
And last time I look at Green Bays in Wisconsin,
so I would I would think he'll receive a nice
warm welcome from Wisconsin folks.
Speaker 3 (33:57):
What a cool full circle moment though, right, Yeah, second
round pick for the Broncos out there, and especially after
all he's been through. Yep, he's had he's had some
tough times, but good to see him back on.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
Track, yep.
Speaker 3 (34:08):
So looking forward to that conversation on a four thirty
on Monday. So, Dave, you were talking about Luther Bird
the third out of Missouri or somebody like him or
somebody I don't know if there's many receivers like him
in this draft. Like to your point, you're bringing up
why he's different, and honestly, there there's a lot to
like about him. But what I said to you as
(34:29):
soon as we went to break, I was like, it's
going to take the right coaches to bring that out
of him, because if you just draft him to run
the route tree, you're making a mistake.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
I just don't think he's that guy.
Speaker 3 (34:38):
I think he's but that's the problem is is a
lot of the draft experts just keep calling him a
gadget guy.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
Do you see that? I think he's better than that.
Speaker 3 (34:48):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
And I you know, I'm a firm believer that NFL coaches.
Speaker 2 (34:57):
With a guy. I mean, you have to have a
you have to have a requisite amount of talent. But
NFL coaches can make you better the right coaches. The
system helps, for sure, but a position coach, a coordinator,
they can make you. You can get better. You have
to get better no matter who you are when you
come out of college. As great as you were in college.
(35:18):
When you get to the league, you have to improve.
And so I bristle a little bit with people that say, oh,
I mean this guy you know, and then NFL guys,
NFL coaches, Well, you know, he couldn't do this, he
couldn't do that. Man help him, coach him. You're getting
paid a lot of money to coach him. You ought
(35:39):
to be able to get the absolute best out of
that guy. So no, when I'm again watching a lot
of tape on him, I think he's a better route runner.
I don't think he's a great route runner, but I
think he's better than people think he is. I'm just
staying from the Broncos perspective. I would be if I'm
over there running things, I'd be interested in finding a
couple of guys in this draft that I know if
(36:00):
I can hand it to him, flip it to him,
throw it to him, short, throw it to him, along whatever.
If they get their hands on the ball, they're going
to be able to generate big plays that didn't happen
much as much as they needed it to last year.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
And Dave you said something the last break about the
Broncos need a couple of guys you put the ball
in their hands, they can make a play. Explosive players
Matthew Golden, this kid out of Texas early run four
point twenty nine forty if you believe he's the fastest
in the entire dress. Yes, yeah, so that's a guy
you might want to keep an eye on. He should
(36:36):
be there at twenty, I would think.
Speaker 3 (36:38):
I mean, most people think besides Travis Hunter, he's gonna
be the next wide receiver off the board.
Speaker 1 (36:42):
But if he's there, I mean, I think that's a
guy this team could really better.
Speaker 2 (36:46):
He's more of a he's big time fast. Yes, he's
more of a traditional downfield wide receiver. And not that
they don't need those guys too, but I'm still trying
to incorporate in the offense somebody that I can do
flip it two and can go get like seventeen yards
Rick Lewison's studio. What's up, man, what's up, guys. It's
good to be here. Not too crazy about the weather.
Brought Arizona weather to us here. Huh, Well, I had
tickets to the Rockies game tonight, so I'm really just
I wanted to sit out there in the snow and
sleet and watch a three and fifteen team play. You
got a little candy to you.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
I'm just saying I love you, but you got got
a little bit of candy to you.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
It's good to be back, Dave, right, good to see you.
Dave out the man, Daves, My guy, Dave, Dave.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Incredibly perceptive. It doesn't take just one or two words
and he's he's in.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Oh yeah, well I think we know each other a
little maybe too.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Well, yeah, well, what's sure? He did blanket with somebody.
I guess you get to know him.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
You know. That's a fact, very true. That's a fact,
you know. And there's the rumor is false that I
was sitting on his lap when we were sharing the blank.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
That's a fact too. Yes, listen, that's a fact too.
As we say, not that there would be anything worse that.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Yeah, what happens in the blank, Neil, never mind, Dave,
my friend, how are you?
Speaker 1 (01:11):
You'd see Ryan days? Good to see you dress appropriate
for the weather. I see, yeah, I got the got.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
The hoodie, the warm hoodie, back on sweats and uh
yeah it's a little I mean we get one of
these about every April, don't we. Yeah, sometimes much worse.
So it's it's only supposed to go through today, Tomorrow,
better Sunday. I think I saw it's supposed to be
sixty and we're skating. Yeah, right into spring. I think
(01:39):
that's the last blast of winter. What is it today,
the eighteenth, eighteen eighteenth?
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Yeah, my lawn is greening up a little bit. There
you go.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
That's you know, getting to that age where now I
pay attention to those kinds of things.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
I see my lawn outside the lawns getting to the
age or you're getting to the age. Yes, oh, but I.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Know I get to where I pay attention to those
kinds of things. You know, we need the moisture. Here's
that's where I was at. And I woke up this
morning and I saw this, Well, dar mindset, that's just
like because well, but I've been thinking about and historically
I've always done this wrong, So maybe you guys can
help me with this. I have historically never timed out
turning on my sprinklers at the right time, like I
(02:20):
don't to this day, at nearly forty five years old.
I have no idea when I'm supposed to do it,
because I know, like my neighbor next door, he had
this thing done late March, and I feel like that's
extremely early.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
I mean, I think that would be early here in Denver.
I think it's kind of a guess right. I mean,
you want to make sure that the last freeze is
already passed, but you also don't want to wait too
long because then your lawn day gets too far behind.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
So it's an educated guest. You know. You can blame
me because over the weekend I decided to clean my
garage job. Okay, this happens every year. I jumped the
gun on that because I can't it's disgusting right from winter.
I cleaned it out over the weekend. I thought to myself, well,
it's probably gonna snow within the next couple of days,
so here we are. No, I am, I'm sorry. I
(03:07):
made a mistake. I do it every year. I mean,
that makes sense.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
I guess anytime I have an outdoor activity, I just
sort of assume like it's going to be we're going
to have some kind of inclement weather. Like you know,
we were just talking about Red Rocks and those kinds
of things. I got a couple of days I'm going
to go up to Red Rocks for a couple of
concerts this summer, and I just know that I'm going
to be eyes glued to the apps beforehand, being like,
please don't be a thunderstorm, Please don't be inclement weather.
(03:33):
But anyways, do you have recommendation for when to turn
sprinklers on? Because you know, maybe there's other people like
me that don't.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
They say Mother's Day in Colorado, don't plant flowers? Plant flowers. Yeah, yeah,
not that I plant flowers, but getting nothing wrong with that.
I'm just waiting for days to jump on that line.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Now. Listen, sometimes you get one lobbed to home plant.
You can swing out of your shoes, but you decide
to hold off. Uh, Dave's personal florist. Nobody knows that.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Yeah, they say, telling through the tulips came from you guys.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Just go ahead, Yeah, Mother's Day. That's the kind of
the unofficial official time where you can feel like, all right,
spring is here. You can turn on your sprinklers again
and you're good to go.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Okay, all right, well there you go. I'll uh so
I'm not behind. I'm not behind here in late April
and I have a fews. Okay, look at all the
precipitation we're getting.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Yeah, but I remember, this is the neighbor day that
I told you that that loves to do it.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
You don't like, Okay, well there's you have like two neighbors.
One you think is pretty cool, that there is maybe
not so much.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Well, he's just he's just very is that this one. Yeah,
he's just he's intense, like he's just he's very well no, no,
but like he's out there.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
He makes me feel bad about how I treat my
house or how I treat my like because he's just
always on top of things. He's always doing stuff around
the house. He's always fixing things, he's always working.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Back everything that you're not.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Yeah, in a lot of ways, you know, maybe even
more handsome.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
To you have well, I mean you have, you have attributes,
you have skills that he probably I wishes he had.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Feel free to list those. It's just let me think
about that. We got three hours time.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Take the time.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
It's great at smashing slow pitch softballs. I'm just saying,
I I've only swung once today. I know you know,
I know you've held back on a c I have, Yes,
you have. You go right through your lower lips sometime.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Sometimes you got to hold back discretion with a valor
or something like that. Yeah, all right, So we have
all sorts of fun things to get to. Of course,
over the next few hours. We got the NFL Draft
less than a week away. We got playoff games tomorrow tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Two in town, one in town, but two to watch.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Yeah, for sure that the Nuggets at one thirty, and
then I want to say it's six thirty for the Abs.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
The Long Line Dallas in Dallas, David started yesterday.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
We at the very end of the show, we talked
a bit about how you're feeling about both of those
teams that gets in the Ads getting out of the
first round. It's remarkable kind of reading up on this.
The optimism for the Abs because they're dealing with significant
injuries and they're on a bit of a slide, and
so there's optimism about the abs that I don't think existed.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Probably a month or so ago, we'll be talking about
Dallas is dealing with Dallas is.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Dealing with some significant injuries, and they're on a bit
of a slide. Their defense, their their goaltender, all of
it doesn't look really great right now.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
About a month ago. It's so funny because the Stars
were like that team.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
They were kind of like my Minnesota timber Wolves that
I just did not want to see, but you just
knew was gonna happen right the way the standings were
laid out.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Fast forward a month.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
I feel great about the apps in the Dallas Stars matchup.
I don't don't kill me for this.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
I don't.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
I don't feel great about the closes. Of course you don't.
I mean, of course you don't know. How long have
you and I've done this show. I know I'm getting.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Used to this.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Rinse repeat every year. Yet yeah it's again. As I
have said, I do not think this will be an
easy series. It's going to be a long series, but
I think the Nuggets will find a way to win.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
I think I think the Nuggets will win at least
one time in Los Angeles, which means the Clippers would
have to beat the Nuggets twice in Denver. Now last year,
I mean the Timberwolves beat the Nuggets three times in Denver, So.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
I mean it can happen. And I think the Clippers
are on a streak, and I think as long.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
As Kawhi is healthy again, as I said yesterday, one
of the top five two way players that we've had
in this game for a long time. Right, if Kawhi
was not a score but played defense the way that
he does when he's healthy, he was still.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Being an elite NBA player.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
If he didn't play any defense but had his offensive
game win healthy, he'd be an elite NBA player.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
So, but he's a guy that likes to do them.
He'll do both. So he's he's he's a problem for
the Nuggets. But the Nuggets have problems for the Clippers too.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
So I think the Nuggets win the series, and I
think the Avs will find a way to beat the Stars,
and I think we'll be sitting here, oh, I don't know, week,
maybe a little bit longer than a week talking about
the second round for both I.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Love the optimism and you were always a beacon of optimism,
especially on this show, and we all know that another
beacon of optimism.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Rick Lewis and Judy, you feel the same way. I
feel better about the I would say the Avalanche chances
in Round one than I do the Nuggets. I do
think the Nuggets that probably goes to seven. So to me,
it's kind of a toss up between them. The Clippers,
Clippers the hottest team in the league. They caught the
Clippers at the wrong time. And for me, now, when
I say that, Dave kills me for it. He's gonna
(08:46):
allow you to say, I know, Rick. Rick was just
stating the facts. The Clippers are the hottest team in
the league. That's a fact.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Fact They've won eighteen the last twenty one, that's a fact.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
I mean, what he said was factual. What he didn't
say was, well, I hope we don't have to face
the Wolves. I hope we don't play Minnesota. I mean,
do you think we're gonna have to play Minnesota?
Speaker 1 (09:09):
No, I didn't say that. I don't I say that.
By the way. Yeah, and yeah, the Clippers are healthy.
James Harden at thirty five, having one of his best seasons.
Who saw that coming? So I think that this is
going to be a really good matchup. For me, the
only uncertainty with the Nuggets is they have an interim coach, uh,
(09:30):
interim head coach. We'll see how this goes with him.
Uh they're three and oh they're undefeated with him. But
to me, that's the only uncertainty and also a factor
I think for the Nuggets is they're playing with house money.
Nobody's expecting them to win the NBA title or even
the Western Conference with an interim head coach. So to me,
(09:52):
that takes a lot of pressure off of the Denver Nuggets,
which should benefit them in this soon.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
I am.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
You do expect.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
I expect the Nuggets to represent the West and face
the Boston Celtics.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
It is wow. So you have a lot of faith
in this team, even though they didn't finish very well. Yep.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
I mean I think and listen, there was a stretch
doing this show every day with Ryan. There was a
stretch where it's like, man, oh man, I'm gonna have
to reconsider this because I mean, what are we doing
here on almost a nightly basis? I mean, do you
care about it? But since the dismissal of Michael Malone,
(10:37):
you know, I don't know if that's you could say
it sparked the team. I just think there's enough pride
with this group that they will come out and play
like they can. And if they play like they can,
I think they have enough to win the first series,
and then I think the series against if it's o City,
(11:01):
that will be a war.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
But I think the Nuggets can can beat them too,
even going thirteen to twelve down the stretch. You have
that much confidence. I know you're a b Yes, I
do a basketball fan.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
So as long as we got as long as Jokich,
I mean, Jamal Murray's got to stay healthy, that's I mean,
that's like saying Kawhi Leonard has to stay healthy for
the Clippers.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
And he's got to be consistent.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Yeah, I mean, if something happens to SGA, Oklahoma City
is still a really good team, but they're not that
elite great team that dominated the West this year. So
I mean, guys have to stay healthy and play. I'm
just assuming that that's going to happen. I liked I
know they're going to be an underdog this series. They
would be a decided underdog the next series, and then
(11:47):
if they win that, they would play probably either the
Lakers or the Warriors, and they would probably be an
underdog in that.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Series as well.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
So you know, you're swimming upstream a little bit if
you really think the Nuggets can do it. I just
think with Jokic playing the way he's playing, I think
he can dominate a series in any game they go into.
If it's a must win situation, whomever they're playing has
(12:15):
to deal with that guy, right, I mean, and he
is I mean Sga is a great player. There are
other great players in the West. Jokich is a unicorn
in basketball today. Jamal's got to have his best effort,
stay healthy, be Jamal. That we have seen, not consistently,
(12:36):
but we've seen it before. You know, Ag does his thing.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
I am riding with the Nuggets until they kick me
off the back of the cycle.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
I'm here. I know you follow them very very closely
throughout the entire season. You're a big NBA fan. Can
they afford to put it all on you mentioned the Joker?
Can you put it all on the Jokers? He needs
to play complimentary? No, no, no, they have not done Yeah,
other guys have to contribute for sure. I mean the
(13:05):
first game with Adelman as the head coach. And then
the game they played in Sacramento, they had five guys
that over twenty points.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
I mean, they moved the basketball, They actually contested shots
on defense, right, they moved their feet, they attempted to
stay in front of the ball on defense. So I
just saw a few things that made me think, Okay,
you know what, they can do it if they really
want to do it. And I think whatever whether and
(13:38):
we were all Michael Malone fans still still am from
my standpoint, but I mean maybe the message was stale.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
But their effort on defense prior to him being announced
had been awful, I mean awful, not running back on defense,
I mean acting like you really.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Don't you know, you just don't care. And then these
last three games.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
I thought they were much more energetic on defense, and
they moved the ball a little bit better on offense too.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
It's gonna be interesting in the matchups.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
You mentioned Jamal Murray, yet he does seem to go
to a different level in the playoffs, right historically, Yeah,
I mean so, I mean there's a little bit of
that like kind of unknown and like every single year
we expect it hope for it, and then he does it.
I mean, he especially did it in the Lakers series
last year, Like they don't win that series without Jamal Murray.
(14:35):
But then they got to the Timberwolve series and so
you have to sort of, I guess marry the two thoughts.
And I wonder how much the injury really kind of
plagued him, because we talked about that going and going
into the series, and then you saw it during the
course of the series, and then MPJ Stort disappeared in
that one where he was actually really great in the
Lakers series. So it's it's a little bit of a
tough thing, but yeah, it can't be just all on Joker,
(14:56):
Like Joker by himself can carry this team only so far,
even if you're to play him forty eight minutes a night,
you can if which you're not.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
But I'm just saying, like he he can only do
so much. He's got to have a robin.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
You maybe even have to have two out there that
can consistently give him because guess what the Clippers are
gonna have. They're gonna have that You're gonna have anough
level of performance from Kawhi James Harden know is fascinating,
right because we've seen him go ice cold in the
playoffs those years with the Houston Rockets.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
He's not.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
He's not, I mean to me and I could. I mean,
he's He's got a long history. I maybe his career
has been lengthy. But if I if I think about
James Harden in postseason, I I don't know that we
we'd have to go back and look, I don't ever
remember him sort of carrying his weight in postseason, no
matter where, no matter where he's been, whether it was
(15:43):
it Oak Oak City early or Houston. I just I
just don't remember that. It's always like, man, oh man,
what what what's happened to you? So he's been good,
he's been good this season.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
I think this. I think one of the things.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Also, if you had to say there was one thing
different from the Nuggets after Michael Malone left with respect
to David Adelman and and him being the head coach,
what would it be one one thing.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
That you're like, Wow, that's that's different.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
One thing for Joker or Jamaal, one thing for the
Nuggets that's been different with David Adelman. That's correct, Sorry, defense,
I mean that that I think they played different defense,
but this was I mean, I guess I think they've
had better energy.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
I think you're both right to me, Russell Westbrook has
not gotten nearly the playing time. I was just gonna
ask you about him, Dave, And so you know they're
they're I mean, when you fire the coach late in
the season, the guy that you know was the coach
of a team that two years ago won an NBA championship,
you're always going to have.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
You're you're gonna have things.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Coming out of the locker room, and you're gonna have
people speculating.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
And so there was a narrative that we've heard that.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
Maybe some of the team didn't like the way Michael
Malone handled Russell Westbrook with respect to him getting a
lot of tick, and maybe in their mind he didn't
deserve as much. But I thought it was telling in
the first game with David Adelman as the head coach,
down the stretch, it was picket on the floor. It
(17:36):
was not Westbrook. Westbrook was at the end of the bench,
I mean, and that struck me as well. Even when
the team was seated and during timeouts and Sacramento closed
the gap, they got to within four late in the
fourth quarter, and so there's a time out and I'm
watching it. Westbrook is standing all the way at the
(17:56):
end of the bench while the guys that are playing
are seated.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Now, I'm not you know, I'm not going to read
too much into it, but I I have read into that.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
I think that's the biggest change that I've seen since
Adaman took over. Westbrook's minutes have gone down, especially at
key moments.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
You know, he's in enigma and he's going to be
facing his former teams. I wonder if they will continue
him in that role here against the Clippers. And when
you go back to when they picked him up, I
remember people saying, Wow, this is the best offseason pickup
that the Nuggets have made in a long time. And
then as we got towards the end of the season,
(18:36):
this is the worst off season pickup that they've had
in a long time. And so the whole thing turned
a big pivot on Russell Westbrook. And You're right, these
last three games, he's his role has certainly been diminished.
But I wonder if that's you think with this new
Adaman is the new interim head coach, he'll probably continue
(19:00):
like that.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
And just kind of keep him in the background. I do,
I mean, I do, I think. I mean, I've been
a fan of Westbrook. I guess to a certain extent.
I think he brings energy at the grint, like if
he brings some toughness to you, I think. And he'll
rebound obviously, but you know, you don't want him. You
don't want him shooting the ball. Maybe as much as
(19:23):
he shot the ball. Where he's at he's best offensively
is when he takes the ball to the rack, even
at thirty seven, he can still get to the basket
and he's got enough athletic ability still or he can
he can score the ball, but you don't. And and defenses,
I mean, it's kind of like in the NFL in
the playoffs. Defenses now can be set, can be structured
(19:44):
to where he's going to be open, right, and they're
they're they're going to basically entice him as you're sitting
there looking at the basket and the guy's backed off
you about ten feet, you know, and he's the kind
of guy that is going to shoot it. So it'll
be interesting. I'll go back and look in the last
three games, how many minutes he averaged as compared to before.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
But my I have here, you do have many. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
So the first game against Sacramony at seventeen, when twenty
seven and twenty three in these three games, okay, and
then so over the course of the season his average
was twenty seven point nine, so it was it was
under his average.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
I just look, I mean, I think that's something that
I'm not saying he can't provide some value, but I
think at this stage of his career, it's probably the
law of diminishing return. It's like you can play a
backup player in the NFL at certain positions and you
(20:47):
can get away with it for a series or two,
maybe even a quarter.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
You might even get away with it for a game.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
But if that guy has to play, you know, an
extended amount of time, the more he he plays, the
more it becomes evident why he was a backup player.
So I with Russell, I think you just have to
You've got to use him wisely and hopefully appeal to
his competitive fire about hey, when when this way, when
(21:17):
you get in there, go all out just like you do.
Don't worry about being tired, because I'm going to take
you out.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Yeah, And he really struggled.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
I mean, he's played his former team, as you mentioned, Rick,
and I think for a lot of Nuggets fans it's
the up and down nature of the season. And then
if you think about how he played in the postseason
for the Clippers last year, it was it wasn't a
good scene.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Nope. Right, So I don't know. I think a little
bit later on we can get into what is what
does the bench.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
Depth actually look like going into this series, because what
are the rotations? We have no idea what Adaman will do.
We knew what we knew what they would do with
if with Michael Malone, but I have no idea what
Rick Adelman's going to do. So, oh, David, at least
I caught myself before it.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
Well, you don't have any idea what Rick's going to
do either, So so what you said was actually true?
Speaker 3 (22:04):
All right, love early here on a good Friday, Dave Logan,
Ryan Edwards, Rick Lewis. This hour's chance to win a
thousand dollars coming up the next five minutes thanks to
Maverick Rick. We're less than a week away from the
NFL Draft. The Broncos with picked twenty seven total picks.
I don't know, man, how you feeling about the Broncos
(22:27):
coming up here in the draft.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
You know, I love the draft. I think it's one
of the most interesting times of the year in the
NFL outside of the season of course. Broncos. I see
them going running back. I don't see them trading up.
I know there's been a lot of talk lately that
they'll trade up and try to get genty. I don't
(22:48):
see that happening. The last couple of years, the Broncos
have given away a lot of their high draft picks
for Russell Wilson, for Sean Payton. I think you hang
on to your ear draft picks this year and take
a running back. If you're going to take a running back,
you could get a good running back at twenty. I
love Hampton at twenty. I don't think you need to
(23:11):
trade up to get genty. He's a great player, seems
like a sure thing, you know, as sure as you
could be about a running back coming out of college.
But I think Hampton would be a good pick at twenty.
I could even see them waiting till the second round.
There's enough good running backs there that you could get
a Round two, even round three. I think that would
(23:32):
help them out whoever they pick with that twentieth pick.
I think it's a player that has to have an
impact this year. I don't think you can afford to
have a player that you're going to have to you know,
Groom and hopefully next year, you know, he can be
an impactful player. So that makes me think they'll go
running back at that position.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Yave.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
This is into a national podcast today and they were
talking about the sort of tier breakdowns of the running
backs and the wide receivers, including the tight ends I
guess the pass catchers, and their view on it is
genty is is that much further ahead than the rest
of the group, Like they say, hey, he's in the
tier of his own. They do think hampton Is probably
(24:11):
leads the next tier, and maybe there's a big enough gap.
I don't really know, I mean, you know your thoughts
on that. But they said for the wide receivers and
receivers in general, they're actually a lot closer. I mean,
Travis Hunters is an alien right, as Mark would say,
but everybody else has kind of been in the mix.
So do you do you kind of look at it
the same way with at least the pass catchers and
running backs.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
I mean, I excuse me, I look at it.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
I look at it that way with genty okay, And
I think Rick is probably right in terms of the
Broncos moving up and what they'd have to get to
move up to a spot that would assure them.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
I mean, you're only you know, a couple of things
have to happen in order for you to move up.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
You got to absolutely positively know that you're able to
move up and get the guy that you want, because
I mean, how bad would it be if you sacrificed
future draft capital moved up and the guy you wanted
somebody else moved up, you know, one slot in front
of him. I mean, you cannot have that happen. So
(25:15):
I would bet the Broncos more than likely don't do that.
But I think Genti's the special back in this draft.
I don't think there's any question about that. Hampton, by
most accounts, not all accounts, but by most accounts, is
a very good player. Both backs at Ohio State I
(25:40):
think will be second third round guys, powerback, speedback.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
So it just depends sort of on what I mean.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
I think they're going to address that position early in
the draft, no doubt about that. I don't have any
idea and they don't want us toe In terms of
actually how how they rank them, I mean I think
I would be safe and saying they rank Genty as
the best back. Now, if you said at this point, hey, Dave,
what do you think Sean Payton and George Peyton? Who
would you think they would rank as the number two back?
(26:10):
I mean I could have an educated guess, but it
would be it would be just that, it would be
a guess. And again we've talked about how secretive they
have become since Sean took over. I think that's probably
smart on their part. They don't want a bunch of
dweebs like us, you know, having somebody leak information out
(26:32):
of a building, right, so I think they you know,
you get threatened with basically your life.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
Hey, nothing better leave this room that we.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
Talk about, And I applaud the Broncos for taking that
particular sort of stance.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
Well, the reality of it is, I mean I can
already kind of hear it. We say, well, they probably
think genty is the top running back.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
Oh, they definitely do. Okay, all right, but then if
they get Hampton, let's say a pick twenty.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
That'll be the guy that they were targeting all along,
and they were very excited that he was there.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
Oh yeah, yeah, But those two things both can be true.
I guess that's fair. They could, you know what, I
don't think they're not going to say in a press
conference like oh we had him second or no.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
But what I don't think if they, let's just say
they take Hampton a twenty, I think I think they
would say, Hey, we had targeted this guy, we're very
excited about him. What I don't think they would say
is he was our top rated running back on the board.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Okay, I now there's a way to frame that.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
I guess they could say that, and then we have
no ability to challenge him because you know, you know,
they could say, I mean, how do you know that?
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Dave?
Speaker 2 (27:39):
Right? So no, but I feel pretty confident the genty
is their top rated running back as well. I just
like Rick said, I just don't you can't really concoct
a scenario that would be reasonable that would allow the
Broncos to move up to get him.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
Yeah, I wouldn't. I wouldn't give up a lot of
draft capital to get him because this is such a
deep draft for running backs, although this week they've been
talking about we're going to get a running back. Which
is that really how they're thinking or are they just
trying to throw everybody else off in the draft. I
think they may end up taking two running backs. Well,
see that was Max's question.
Speaker 3 (28:16):
Would the combination and we talked about this a couple
of days ago, David, the combination of two running backs, like,
say you take one to twenty or even in day
two and then you take another one in day three,
would that equal to what you think you might be
getting with Ashton Jenny it was a two for one
kind of deal.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
No, no, no, I mean, because he's that dude. To me,
he is, Okay, I think he's that guy.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
Now, if you take two running backs, you're just trying
to make that running back room as competitive and strong
as you as you possibly can. Could both those guys
make the team absolutely, I mean I think that. I
think right now there are some interesting prospects in that room.
Speaker 1 (28:54):
But I I mean, I honestly I don't know that one.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Guy you would say, well, he's definitely going to be
on the final fifty three when September rolls around.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
I mean right now. Yeah, I think that's their biggest
need on offense. We talked about that for the past
couple of seasons. I think a running back is in
their future. I don't think it's going to be Genty though,
and I'm okay if they if they wait today too
and take it back. You mentioned the two running backs
out of Ohio State, Dave. I think both of those
(29:29):
guys have an upside and in a high ceiling. I
don't think we've seen the best of those guys yet.
But to me, Hampton's the full package. He's a little
bigger than Genty. Although you used to see the picture
with Genty with a shirt off. Yeah, yeah, that was
you back in the day when you wore the cutoff
(29:50):
T shirts right to show your six pack. I wish.
I wish that I ever in my life that I
was never never that thick. That dude is so thick
I couldn't believe it. Yeah he is. He's a force
and he's a freak in many ways. But no, I
don't see that happening. I'm okay to if they. If
they go wide receiver at twenty, I think that although
(30:13):
they took to last year, if they like took him though, Yes,
that's true. They were both late round picks. I like
the kid from Arizona. I think that's the guy they're
probably looking at. Although he's very similar to Courtland Sutton
in my opinion. He's a big body receiver. He might
be a little faster than Courtland. I think tum Millan. Yeah, yeah,
(30:36):
he's uh for fourish, Yeah, he's that would be faster
because of course stage of Courtland's career. Yeah, and he's
a freaky athlete. Uh for his size. I'd be okay
if they took him too. I think he's gonna be there.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
Well, oh, I say there, I say, there's a scenario
where he's there. Some of the stuff I was doing
research on today has Dallas taking him a twelve.
Speaker 1 (31:00):
That's that's higher than I would think. Same. But I
but I you know what I mean, it could it
could happen. I thought about this. I would not I
would not be opposed to the Broncos. I mean, the
(31:21):
one thing, as you said, was so much.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
Easier, so much easier to say and talk about than
to put in into place.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
They need players that I can either hand it to you.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
Or I can throw a short pass to you or
I can throw a They need guys that, once they
get their hands on the ball, can do something with it. Now,
everybody that plays in the NFL is has been a
really good player at at some level college for sure,
(32:02):
But I mean this team had such a lack of
And you know, if by chance, any of the offensive
guys who are listening to the show, they're probably saying,
you know what, shut the hell up, because I would
be if I were playing and I heard some I'm
nuts talking about this sort of stuff. But to me,
(32:23):
if I'm looking at, you know, critically, at the offense,
I gotta find I got to continue to find a
couple guys that can do stuff with the ball. So
one name that I think this guy is different at
the receiver spot. Not that there aren't some other really
good players, but the Burden kid out of Missouri really
(32:46):
is different. He's different, different than the Ohio State Receiver's
different than the Texas receiver. He's different than those guys. Now,
I think he can still be he can be a
vertical guy downfield. But I'll tell you what, I went
back and looked at a lot of Missouri tape. That
guy with his hands on the ball and he's playing
(33:08):
in the SEC. He's not you know, he's not playing
it at j JC. I mean, he is a guy
that you want to get the ball to. So if
I'm Sean Payton, I look at that, I'm thinking, I
don't know, I want to spend the twentieth pick on him?
How I would say? How can I get my hands
on that guy? We were trying to get him for today,
(33:35):
but he's traveling.
Speaker 3 (33:36):
Monte Ball is going to join the program at four
thirty on Monday, looking forward to catch up with him.
He's going to be he's making the picks, making Bay
the second round pick for the Broncos, which is very cool.
Speaker 1 (33:47):
Makes sense.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
He I mean, he played at the University of Wisconsin, yep,
And last time I look at Green Bays in Wisconsin,
so I would I would think he'll receive a nice
warm welcome from Wisconsin folks.
Speaker 3 (33:57):
What a cool full circle moment though, right, Yeah, second
round pick for the Broncos out there, and especially after
all he's been through. Yep, he's had he's had some
tough times, but good to see him back on.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
Track, yep.
Speaker 3 (34:08):
So looking forward to that conversation on a four thirty
on Monday. So, Dave, you were talking about Luther Bird
the third out of Missouri or somebody like him or
somebody I don't know if there's many receivers like him
in this draft. Like to your point, you're bringing up
why he's different, and honestly, there there's a lot to
like about him. But what I said to you as
(34:29):
soon as we went to break, I was like, it's
going to take the right coaches to bring that out
of him, because if you just draft him to run
the route tree, you're making a mistake.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
I just don't think he's that guy.
Speaker 3 (34:38):
I think he's but that's the problem is is a
lot of the draft experts just keep calling him a
gadget guy.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
Do you see that? I think he's better than that.
Speaker 3 (34:48):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
And I you know, I'm a firm believer that NFL coaches.
Speaker 2 (34:57):
With a guy. I mean, you have to have a
you have to have a requisite amount of talent. But
NFL coaches can make you better the right coaches. The
system helps, for sure, but a position coach, a coordinator,
they can make you. You can get better. You have
to get better no matter who you are when you
come out of college. As great as you were in college.
(35:18):
When you get to the league, you have to improve.
And so I bristle a little bit with people that say, oh,
I mean this guy you know, and then NFL guys,
NFL coaches, Well, you know, he couldn't do this, he
couldn't do that. Man help him, coach him. You're getting
paid a lot of money to coach him. You ought
(35:39):
to be able to get the absolute best out of
that guy. So no, when I'm again watching a lot
of tape on him, I think he's a better route runner.
I don't think he's a great route runner, but I
think he's better than people think he is. I'm just
staying from the Broncos perspective. I would be if I'm
over there running things, I'd be interested in finding a
couple of guys in this draft that I know if
(36:00):
I can hand it to him, flip it to him,
throw it to him, short, throw it to him, along whatever.
If they get their hands on the ball, they're going
to be able to generate big plays that didn't happen
much as much as they needed it to last year.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
And Dave you said something the last break about the
Broncos need a couple of guys you put the ball
in their hands, they can make a play. Explosive players
Matthew Golden, this kid out of Texas early run four
point twenty nine forty if you believe he's the fastest
in the entire dress. Yes, yeah, so that's a guy
you might want to keep an eye on. He should
(36:36):
be there at twenty, I would think.
Speaker 3 (36:38):
I mean, most people think besides Travis Hunter, he's gonna
be the next wide receiver off the board.
Speaker 1 (36:42):
But if he's there, I mean, I think that's a
guy this team could really better.
Speaker 2 (36:46):
He's more of a he's big time fast. Yes, he's
more of a traditional downfield wide receiver. And not that
they don't need those guys too, but I'm still trying
to incorporate in the offense somebody that I can do
flip it two and can go get like seventeen yards
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