Inching closer to the end of another month, but also the beginning of the latest podcast as I dive into all that’s happening in sports. On deck:
(2:53) With the ‘second half’ of the NBA season tipping off tonight, I’ll get into a breakdown of what to expect in both conferences as we march on to mid-April before the start of the playoffs. Are the Boston Celtics to be trusted to finally win an elusive championship? Can the Cleveland Cavaliers be a threat in the East? What about the Milwaukee Bucks? The Philadelphia Seventy-Sixers? How about the defending Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat? Out west, can the Minnesota Timberwolves or Oklahoma City Thunder represent in an NBA Finals? Will the Denver Nuggets defend their title? How about the LA Clippers getting to their first ever NBA Finals? You can’t forget about the LA Lakers or Golden State Warriors. Do they have staying power if they get into the postseason? So much to answer and I’ll have an in-depth look as to how this’ll play out over the last couple of months.
(26:00) As for college basketball, #1 UCONN suffers a rough road loss at #15 Creighton. Any concerns or worries about the Huskies? Also, #17 Kentucky loses to LSU on a last second shot as the unpredictability of this college season continues to rear its ugly head.
(31:18) On the ice, the New York Rangers are the hottest team in the NHL, winners of eight straight. Is this the year that they finally get to a Stanley Cup Final, considering what’s taken place over the last two seasons? I know the Florida Panthers are nipping at the heels of the Bruins and Rangers in the conference, winners of six straight as they try to get back to a Final. Auston Matthews has been on a goal scoring tear (had two last night in Arizona. Currently 51 on pace for 75). Alexander Ovechkin scored two goals vs. New Jersey the other night as he’s 56 goals away from tying Wayne Gretzky all time in the sport’s history. How many will he need to get this season in order to reach him next year? I’ll check on what else is going on in the league as they’re past the two-thirds point of the regular season.
(43:33) College football has their 12 team playoff format mapped out, but now there’s some discussion about expanding it to 14 in 2026? What!?
(48:57) In the late 1980’s, early 90’s, we had the Jordan Rules, where the Detroit Pistons did their best to defend Chicago Bulls legend, Michael Jordan. Fast forward thirty some odd years later, Las Vegas Raiders coach, Antonio Pierce, has the self proclaimed, Mahomes Rule after beating them on Christmas Day, their last prior to running the table winning the Super Bowl. Has he found the formula to slow or stop the Chiefs QB? Was this premature of him to say?
(54:12) Spring training is well underway throughout the MLB. Can we please stop with ALL of the attention regarding Shohei Ohtani’s batting practice home run in his first camp as an LA Dodger? Seriously!? Then there were the comments by Angels 3B, Anthony Rendon, stating that baseball isn’t his priority. WHAT!? Is there any concern in Yankee-land over Aaron Judge’s comments regarding his big toe that he injured in Dodger Stadium last June? Saying that he has to manage it over the upcoming season. You had former Royals 1B, Eric Hosmer announce his retirement. And here we go with the Mets. Projected ace, Kodai Senga has to be put on the shelf due to arm fatigue. ARM FATIGUE!? (It has been announced after the recording that he’ll likely be on the IL to start the season) As a diehard fan, you can’t make it up!
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Intro/outro music by Cyklonus.