Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Five, six, six nine zeros in text line, you guys
want to get involved the conversation. We did have somebody
from the two to one to four positive theory and
you know me, I love theories, says I know you
don't care about this, but I'm in a Madden Football League.
I am the Broncos. I was playing the Bengals against
somebody in Ukraine. I glad he was able to play
the game in our league. But on the last play,
(00:20):
am kicked your game winning field.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Goal and it was blocked.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Maybe right now, it's just a thing for the Broncos
universe wide. With that, We're going to the Kawai Commas
freeth Hotline. We got a good buddy, Cody Rourke from
my high Sports Cody. How's it going this evening?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
I'm good, Ben.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
How are you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Ah?
Speaker 1 (00:34):
You know, that was a pretty pretty big gut punch
yesterday against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
I think there are some positives to take away from
that game.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
I think we see that Bonix belongs in this league.
I think the Denver Broncos are able to compete with
top tier teams. But how do you get the third
youngest team in the NFL to a start, scoring points
in the second half and b close out wins.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Yeah, you know, I think a lot of it has
to do it just uh not going backwards in a
sense in terms of what they they had.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Done, Like they'll build momentum on one play.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Well, let's talk about the second half here. You know,
promising drive, odric estimate, rips off a big time run
and hold on flag on the play holding Ben powers
just what his plays like that they set you back
and then you know, double a gap blitz by Chiefs
and they get to bow Nicks and may take them,
you know, sixteen yards back. You I mean, stuff like
(01:22):
that is definitely what killed them in a sense, and
you know missed opportunities as well. I mean Ben right
before halftime, I think Denver executed a two minute drill
really well for the most part. And then you have
the not set off sides on the offense and so
that back five yards you know you have to drop
on a second and fifteen That what puts you in the
field goal ring at least a more manageable field goal
(01:43):
situation than sixty yards. You don't get that, and all
of a sudden you lose the game by two points.
You know, your field goal gets blocked. It's just a
compoundent set. And I think time of.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Possession is a big key. I mean Kansas City.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
And that second half, they kind of possessed the.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
Ball a little bit longer than Denver wanted them to.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
They couldn't out to field on a few third down situations,
and it took opportunities away from both in the office
to be able to have this. So I fact date
the r in the right direction.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Well, I mean I tend to agree with that.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
I do think they're trending in the right direction, especially
if you look relative to season long.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
It is tough to go on the road and we
win in Arrowhead. It is tough to go on the
road and win in Baltimore.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
But as we look at this team, there are some
glaring things that even date back to last year. They
struggle to score in the third quarter. They're averaging three
points per game in the third quarter. This is something
that dogged them last year where they were one of
the bottom three teams in the league and scoring in
the third quarter number one last year.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
And scoring in the fourth quarter.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
So it's not the quarterback, it's not Russ, it's not
bo it's the offense or the offensive play call or whatever.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
How do we remedy that?
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Yeah, I mean I think it's going to find the
right personnel, the guys that work and I think Dever
heye say that word again, but they're trending in that direction.
I really like what we've seen in the last weeks
from the bomb Bag.
Speaker 4 (03:01):
I think he's having a more increased.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Role the player in the back sit a little.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
Bit, maybe trying to get him that troll.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
The type of role because of the un world wide
receivers necessary working for him. Uh rot, It's gonna be
something interesting to watch going forward. Can he be the
energized by here?
Speaker 4 (03:21):
The Denver.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Said, you're kind of been the game for them as well.
If you just get that all the guy that he
will see a lot more of. Uh that Like that
opens things up when you run them all a little
bit more, you control I'm a possession for you know
a little past. In some games they have trouble to
will be ten points for a team or whatever, so
(03:45):
you kind of.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
Have to abandon the run game there.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Getting that early cruise on the thing for Denver, I mean,
that was the thing that kind of assured me a
little bit that they went up, you know that game three,
and then you know they still keep trying to pass
the ball more so than they tried running. Yeah, and
I think I think bus the offense sometimes. It used
to play foller there and it's just there.
Speaker 5 (04:09):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
How they get it then.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
But hey, Kelly, we're having a little trouble with your
phone there. I can't quite I can't quite make out
the answer there. It sounds like we've got a bad connection.
So I have Grant retry it here in just a minute.
But it sounds like you do that.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
You were saying that, uh, that we need to run
the football more in the second half, and I agree,
I think we need to run the football more.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Overall, we saw on.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
The drive, the clock killing drive, how effective that can be,
and that Causey's you just knew what the Broncos were doing.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
There was no secret to what they were doing.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
It wasn't They weren't disguising in any way what they
were doing when they got the ball back on that
that drive. They were very intentional with the fact that
they were going to milk this thing out and play
for the field goal.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
It was obvious. I agree philosophically with doing that.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
I think for me, I might have been a little
bit more aggressive in the ways that I ran, trying
a few different things to put myself in position.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
But I think I agree with your premise overall, Cody,
that that.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Running the football is going to be key to setting
everything else up that the Broncos want to do.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
No, and that's the key.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
I think he's about figuring out who you want to
run the ball with.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
You know.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
I think Audrick's carries that he had yesterday, certainly at
the higher volume, Javonte's just you know, didn't didn't get ruly.
I think he only had one carry and one.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
Catch on the back.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
There were times where he was in but it wasn't
going to him. He was in for pass protection purposes.
I think we might see a passing of the torch
here for the Broncos offense, and obviously Joel mclafflin's a
factor in that. But you know, they're specially to get
Tyler Baday back here soon. He's been on the side field,
he's ramping up towards a potential return. We'll see if
that ends up being the case here. Obviously, Josh Reynolds
coming back into the mixt year. I just like what
(05:53):
we've seen from bow Nick's having a run game to
compliment him. I think opens things up because, Hey, on
that touchdown in to Cotland, you know, you have a
heavy stack box there by Kansas City third and one,
you're under center. They're anticipating it's going to be an
estimated handoff, and so you have a two man route
crosser by Adam Couptman on the right side and the
safety seeing him because it's an all out blitz.
Speaker 5 (06:13):
It's cover zero.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
And he bites on that for a second, and then
it allows you to have the one on one on
the left side of Courtland Suton who beats mcguffie for
the touchdown. That's that's where things are going to open
up even more here, I think for the offense.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Yeah, I like that.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
We're talking with Coddy Rourke again my Life Sports and Cody.
I liked that, and I was talking about it last week.
You know, I'd like to see I said last week, oh,
last week, that I'd like to see Aldrick Estimate get
more of the early down work and Javonte get more
of the later down work. Almost a role reversal for
Shivante from last year with what Samaji p Ryan was doing,
because I think it's a better fit for him that
I want Javonte's carries or touches reduced as much as
(06:47):
Samaj's were at the end. But in that role, I
think that he's at his most effective. And I think
that Aldrick said his most effective as being a battering
ram on early downs. We kind of sort of saw
a little bit of that in this game, and we
saw the efficacy on the clock kill drive at the end.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Will Sean Payton have the patience to just run the
ball more?
Speaker 3 (07:06):
I think he's building up towards it. You know, certainly
you want to see what you have with your cute.
I think that we're at a point now I think
we've seen enough to say, okay, hey, Bonus belongs as
you mentioned earlier in the NFL, and certainly I think
he's the right guy for the BRONC. Who's the right
guy for.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Sean Payton here in the situation?
Speaker 3 (07:20):
So why not say, okay, hey, we got that question
kind of answer for us. Now, how can we run
the ball and help them out? Because look, here, Denver's
in a good position, I think from a leadership standpoint.
They got a lot of young guys. Courtland's obviously they're
number one. We all know that they need another playmaker there.
But you're getting your young guys more playing time here,
you know, the Detroit Franklins, the Devon Vley is getting
in the mix more. I wonder if Reynolds will see
(07:41):
a little bit more of an increased workload and if
that reduces Lord Jordan Humphrey down the stretch, or if
that impacts one of the younger rookies here as they
go forward. But it's like, all right, hey, we got
that problem kind of answer right now. The biggest issue
for Denver's offense is a consistent run game. In my opinion,
I think we will see Sean try to run the
ball more. I mean he's mentioned to, of course two
weeks in a row in the conference call that you know,
(08:02):
estimate is going to get more touches, So more touches
shouldn't be more hunt in the football. Hopefully that's the case.
Then you're gonna need to get off to a good
start against the Atlanta Fountains here on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Well, and I agree, And that's that's sort of the thing.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
I mean, it feels like that Sean Payton is trying
to remind us all how smart he is in drafting
bon Nicks with some of these past past pass stuffs
coming out of the half where we're not scoring, when
we just got shown that even if Kansas City knows
what's coming, even if a good defense knows what's coming,
that we can run the ball down people's throat, which
Judi is running, which we did in the Milk the
Clock Drive. So Sean bo Nicks is probably second in
(08:37):
the Rookie of the Year voting behind Jayden and Daniels.
Maybe for some people. Number one, you've already shown you
you know you were smart on that. Now it's time
to start committing to the run game and delivering these
dubs so that you know we can get the Broncos
back in prime time and get to a Super Bowl. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
I mean that's the goal too. And look, I think
Denver's ahead of schedule in terms of where people thought
they would be. I think certainly they're exceeding expectations. Now
you have three upcoming games before the bye week, three
winnable games where if you take care of business, you
can go into to buy eight and five then you
open up with the Colts Tour, a team behind you
right now. They're going through their struggles right now. Then
you have the Chargers, you're hoping that maybe still one
(09:12):
on the road, they're considering that you already lost at
home to them earlier in the season. And then a
tough road match up against Joe Burrow and the Bengals
who are behind you as well in the playoffs standings,
and right now, I said it like this weekend, Broncos
Country has to hope that the Chargers win this weekend.
So the Bengals are another game back at this point
and one step closer to their season ending. Joe Burrow's
(09:32):
playing MVP level football, but because they're losing, he's not
going to get that recognition or that consideration. They are,
in my opinion, then the most dangerous team right now
for the Broncos behind them. I don't you know the Jets.
That doesn't matter. Jets are the next team behind. Those
two teams are just mentioned With the Colts and the Bengals,
They're not going to catch up to Denver at this point.
But you have to just find a way to keep winning,
(09:54):
and that obviously the Bengals lose, and that the Colts
continue to lose because the right now, the seventh seed
is really only in the grass of the Broncos, and
they can maintain that if they can continue to piece
together some momentum and go forward and get some wins here.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Well, that's the thing.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
I think philosophically, we're alying there because I think the
Chargers are very good football team. I think they're being
underrated criminally. I think they're in that top tier you
know that top five teams, six teams.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
In the in the AFC, no doubt, and so you know,
I'm with you.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
I think Cincinnati's beatable because they don't play any defense
right now. They get too much attrition over there, whether
it's injury or letting the wrong guys go in free agency, whatever.
They're an all offense team, and don't get me wrong
on the offense cooks, but it's not winning them football
games as we've seen.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
I do believe that of the team's.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
Left, I think Cincinnati's more beatable than the Chargers. I
believe that the Colts and Browns are beatable. And then
you've got then you're gonna have to steal one somewhere,
whether it's the Falcons at home or go you know,
Kansas City coming here, whatever, You're gonna have to steal
one somewhere. So I think philosophically we're aligned on that
we need a little bit of help here or there.
But I'm with you. I have the Chargers, you know,
keep winning and doing their thing while while we mop
up on some of these others.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Yeah, and look, nobody not a lot of people had
the is being in the playoff conversation. I think we've
seen all the receipts on social media of all the
people said, oh, this is gonna be a one win team,
they're going to win more than three games. You know,
Vegas had them at five and a half. Well, year,
they are at five. You know, they're in a good
place to be here early on, and they've they've dropped
some games certainly that they should have won this year.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
But you know, I think as the.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Season goes on, I mean, then this stretch is going
to be very crucial. Right, tough game against the Atlanta
Falcons who are coming off of the loss to the Saints,
who are now rizzed up down there in New Orleans.
And then you got to find a way to you know,
go on on the road to at Las Vegas and
get a win there. I think they're maybe going to
be trying to play for a quarterback in this year's
NFL draft, maybe Shuder Sanders. And then hey, Monday Night
Football against your former wide receiver Jerry.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
Judy, and you've got Jamis Winston, who Sean.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
Payton knows very well. Three very winnable games coming up
here for the Broncos going into buy week eight and
five would be a great.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
Step in the right direction.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
In those games. Towards the end of the season, as
you mentioned, I think Denver Denver can get into the playoffs,
and to be honest with you, if they're able to
get even at the seventh seed, I think that's a
huge success on the season, and even I think it
demolished in the playoffs. That is a step in the
right direction with a young team that's in the middle
of a rebuild. That's promising I think for the fan base,
and I think that a good portion of the fan
base kind of sees it too, which I think is
(12:10):
a little more promising.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Well, yeah, and we're talking with Cody Rourke from Aley Sports.
I totally agree with you.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
I think that if you had told people at the
beginning of the season that the Broncos would make the
playoffs even as a seventh seed, everybody would have been ecstatic,
you know. And so I don't think that that that
making the playoffs as a seventh seed at this point.
I don't think that that's any sort of letdown at all.
I mean, you talk about a team again that the
books disrespected to the tune of five and a half
on the win total. So we always knew that this
(12:35):
this three game stretch right here was going to be
the meat of the schedule. At Baltimore, at Kansas City,
your home against Atlanta. That's a three game swing against
three very tough teams. You were hoping to pull one
of the three. Well, you got one chance left to
do that, pull one of the three. At Atlanta. It's
going to be the homecoming for Justin Simmons in this game.
But Atlanta hasn't rushed the passer well this year. What
can we expect out of this game?
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Yeah, I think you're gonna see a little bit more
bow next Tonent though you had to be careful because
he got Justin, you got Jesse Bates, aj Terrell I mean,
they have a great secondary down there in Atlanta, and obviously,
like the saxsone coming, the pressure is not coming at
the rate in which they want to. But I also
look at it this week as well, Denver defensively in
the inverse, you know they play as well as against
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. They're able to get after
(13:17):
him sacking four times, hit him nine times. I look
at Kirk Cousins, who's not mobile, who doesn't have that
escapability to him, but you know he can get the
ball in his hands quickly.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
That's gonna be the problem.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
You got to London, you got pitch, you got Bijon Robinson,
you're gonna have to account for. This is gonna be
a game where I think it's gonna come down to, Hey,
can le Broncos offense holl put things up a little
bit more and keep building on what they're able to do.
Obviously you're gonna.
Speaker 4 (13:38):
Want to score more than fourteen points.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
But I think that Denver actually matches up really well
this week he gets Atlanta, though you have to watch
out for those wild cards there in the secondary for
that Falcons defense.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Yeah, I'm with you on that. I do believe that
they can get this one, and they kind of need
this one.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
You get this one, you get back on the right
side of five hundred to put you on the path again.
You got Raiders, Browns both winnable games and then a
bye week in the Colts winnable game.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Uh, you can get right back on the six and five, seven, five,
eight and five, nine and five.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Really if you win that out, and then you're staring
down the barrel of Chargers Bengals, Chiefs and you know
in driver's seat for.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
The for the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Cody, you always appreciate the time, brother, look forward to
checking in with you here again soon.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Absolutely looking forward to it. Thank you so much and
enjoy your evening.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Yes, sir Cody Roar, Mile High Sports. Always go get
a chance to talk to him.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
We got Harrison Winn coming up next segment here talk
a little bit of the Denver Nuggets, and then Parker
Gabriel in the following segment. I want to go back
over this Broncos lost with.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
A fine tooth comb before we finally put it behind us.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
To look forward to the high flying Falcons coming in
to town this weekend.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
You guys want to come out to Sam's Number three.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Well, Thursday we're doing We'll be live out there again
Sam's Number three on Thursday, So come on out.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
We always have good, good giveaways, great food there. Sam's
always loved going out there.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Whenever I have to miss the Sam's Number three, I
get a sad because they have the best food out there.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Are you on the Shannon Scott Die. I can't do
the six egg burrito thing that that Canada.
Speaker 5 (15:00):
I think.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
I eat a ton of food, don't get me wrong,
but I usually just get a complete breakfast.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
I want some hash browns.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
I want some chicken fried chicken with some gravy. I
want some the eggs over hard. I want that, you know,
all of it. I want the whole thing, not just
not just a gigantic burrito. You need the full spread
of breakfast. I need a little bit of everything, you know,
and I don't want just I don't want to spend
it all on one thing, right there, So come on
it stamps up three on Thursday.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Look forward to seeing you guys out there. We come back.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
Harrison Win's gonna join us, talk a little bit about
these nuggets.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
This a Broncos country, and I don't get away.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
Right out to the KWA conser the hotline though, and
bring on Harrison Winn talk a little bit about the
the Denver Nuggets.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Harrison, It's it's been up and.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Down a little bit, I guess for the Nuggets started
off a little slow and come on of late, in
large part due to Nicole yolkis doing some extremely heavy lifting.
How sustainable is that and is this team built for
a championship run?
Speaker 5 (15:52):
Well in terms of if it's sustainable for the whole season,
probably not. I mean, he's averaging close to forty minutes
a game. He's doing pretty much everything right now. But
the thing is, this is what the Nuggets needed at
this point. You mentioned the slow start. They look terrible
out of the gates zero to two, and then a
road trip where they scrape by with some wins. They
(16:13):
kind of needed him to do the heavy lifting right now,
and he kind of sensed that as well. I feel
like Jokic came to the season kind of wanting to
get everybody else going, Get Jamal Murray, go and get
Michael Porter, going, get Christian Brown, who was new in
the starting lineup, going, and then he kind of realized,
all right, I kind of just need to do it myself.
And you know, the Nuggets are in a great spot
(16:34):
right now because of that. Is it sustainable for the
whole year? No, But I think him is starting off
the season this way and how it's helped out the
rest of these role players. I think the Nuggets can
take that and they do have a team that go
win the championship.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Talk with Harrison win that Harrison Wind on Twitter, The
DNVR Nuggets Podcast. Jamal Murray hasn't exactly looked like himself
most of the season. Last twear game have been bad,
but prior to that, didn't look like himself early on
in the season. Christian Brawn contributing a little bit more
in terms of scoring than what we saw at at
a KCP. Bruce Brown, guys, before all that, As we
(17:10):
look at this Nugget team, which I believe is number
two in the league in scoring right now and shooting
lights out from downtown, I believe number two as well.
How much of what it is that they have right
now is sustainable because playing Yokic in those minutes isn't.
But what is sustainable and when can we expect Aaron
Gordon back has this team bizarre as it may be
(17:31):
to say been better without it.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
Well, in terms of Jamal Murray, he's kind of the
one missing link that hasn't been going full throttle right now.
He still doesn't really look himself, but you know, it's
okay for now because Jokic has this team playing at
such a high level. Will Jamal Murray get there by
the end of the season and in the playoffs? Will
he be you know, the Jamal Murray of a couple
(17:55):
of seasons ago. In the postseason, that's definitely going to
be the question that determines like if and Nuggets win
the championship. But you know, they're trending in the right
direction because over the last couple of games, the young
role players that Denver needs to develop into sustainable playoff guys,
guys you can rely on the postseason, they've been developing.
(18:17):
You know, Payne Watson, Christian Brown and Julianstraw the off
the bench. The Nuggets need all three of those guys
to be real playoff contributors. And the fact that they
kind of got that cycle going this early in the season,
I think that's gonna bode really well for them. When
it comes to Aaron Gordon, him being out has been
a blessing in disguise. I think for Denver Payne, Watson's
(18:39):
been able to step into the starting power forward minutes
and really shine. He wouldn't have gotten this opportunity. So
I think the Nuggets are definitely better. You know, with
Aaron Gordon, they need his size, especially if they're gonna
play him with the bench at all. They need his rebounding,
they need his you know, physicality. But it's kind of
been okay because Peyan Watson has taken the opportunity and
(19:00):
run with it. I think it's gonna help them out
in the long run.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Yeah, it's it's one of those things where hit me
and on. It's still been a pretty tight bench.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
You did see deandrijord in a couple of games, you know,
get a little hunter Tyson Zignaji as far as that
kind of stuff goes. But it does feel like they're
playing a little short bench, especially early in the season.
You think that's them finding out what, you know, what
it is that they have with those specific players and
then eventually working those guys in to give rest minutes.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Or is this just Michael Malan playing a real tight bench.
Speaker 5 (19:28):
I think it's just the nugget scene to get some wins.
With how bad they started out and how shaky they
were out of the gate, Zho and two, they just
kind of went into, okay, we just need to get
some wins and survive mode, and you know, they caught
some good mojo, they got a good rhythm, and now
they're on a five game winning streak. I think they
also looked at it and said, okay, we have four
(19:49):
days off coming up here. The Nuggets don't play again
until Friday, so we can kind of burn these guys
out a little bit, get everybody get the shape a
little bit at the beginning of the season two. So
this isn't the stainable. They are running a tight bench.
They'll need to open it up a little bit, take
some minutes off Yoka's plate. But I think just looking
at the schedule in the time off that they got,
(20:09):
now it's okay. They were just in a motive. We
got to get some wins and it was kind of
mission accomplished there.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
The big edition of this offseason Russell Westbrooks.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
A shooting hasn't quite been where you want it to be,
but having him on the court has been a value
add in terms of leadership and his ability to rebound
the football out of the point guard position.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
How big do you think that that addition can be
down the stretch.
Speaker 5 (20:32):
Yeah, he kind of reminds you of a running back.
You know, he's just so aggressive out there. His motor
never stops. And he's been great off the court and
on like in the locker room. Everybody speaks so highly
of him, and that's always been the case with Russell Botsbrook.
The leadership, his voice, just kind of the passion that
he brings every single day on the practice court, in
(20:56):
the weight room, you know, behind the scenes, and then
on the court. Honestly, it's not better than I've expected
so far. He's shooting it okay for Russell Westbrook standards.
He's got a great connection with nikoley Jokic. Kind of
a natural chemistry between those two that I didn't expect
Russell Westbrook has. He figured it out very quickly. Just
(21:17):
get the ball to Nikole jokicch and good things will happen.
They'll either give you the ball back and you have
an open shot, or he'll get an open shot for
somebody else or himself. So he figured that out early.
Those two have a great chemistry in the two man game,
and you know, Russell Westbrook has been a very thick
effective player. Went on the floor with Nikole Jochic so far.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Talking with Harrison Win the dfv R Nuggets Podcast at
Harrison Wind on Twitter. As we look at the Northwest Division,
that feels like a little bit of a shift. As
Oklahoma City sits atop the division, it figures to be
the team to beat in the division. Outside of Denver.
Minnesota looks like a team diminished after the trade in Portland,
utahre not competitive. I don't ever want to get into that, but.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
It looks like a three horse race in the Northwest with.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
A Yeah, Minnesota feeling a bit diminished after their trade
and that trade not really working in their favor. That
is that Do you think early chemistry issues or do
you think that Minnesota really did kind of lose out
of that trade and sort of disassemble what was working
for them.
Speaker 5 (22:14):
I kind of thought it was a lose lose trade
for both sides, New York and Minnesota, and the early
returns haven't been great for the Timberwolves. They're going through
some stuff and in terms of like their on court
chemistry that's gonna take some time. But they're not as
nearly as scary of a matchup with Muggus as they
were last year. They just have, you know, less size.
(22:35):
Even though Randall's a big guy, he's not as imposing
on the interior as Towns. And they had a nice
little one two combo guarding Jokic. You know, Jokic could
still have these historic games against him, but you know,
he had to work when he was going against the
combo of Towns and go bare and that's just not
really there anymore. And then with the thunder, you know,
they just had a big injury with chet Holmgrom, their center.
(22:57):
He's gonna miss like ten weeks. So both those events
and the Nuggets playing well has kind of opened the
door for Denver in the division obviously, and so early.
But I mean, you look at the standings now, the
Nuggets are one game at a first place in the West.
The West is really more wide open this year than
I thought it was going to be. Oklahoma City everybody
(23:20):
picked them and for good reason to kind of run
away with it get sixty plus wins. Doesn't seem like
that's going to be the case with this home grim injury. So,
I mean, the Nuggets, they start off terribly this year.
They're on this winning streak right now, and you know,
immediately they look like arguably the best team in the West.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Again, you look at the Pacific, Phoenix, Golden State, the Lakers, Clippers,
and Sacramento, you kind of have the haves and have nots.
I mean, it's not that far apart of two games,
but it looks like Phoenix and Golden State playing better
right now. The Lakers, even at six and four, just
don't feel like they played well at home, but they
just don't feel like a team that.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
Belongs with the other ones.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
I know, the big story was obviously drafted to Broni
and all that kind of stuff, and looking at him,
he looks like he's a capable NBA defender but can't
really play offense at this league game. We can't un
play offense in the G League either, which is where
he's at right now. But the story to me was
adding Dalton connect and what he was going to be
able to do for that team and thus far, you know,
you're seeing a guy who's only getting about fifteen minutes
(24:19):
a game and not really getting a chance. I think
to be the best player that he can be. Is
that just a Lebron James vanity project at this point?
Speaker 5 (24:29):
That's kind of what it seems like. I mean, they
pretty much rolled back the same roster. Yeah, they added Connect,
but they rolled back the same roster. I mean, we
were talking about how Fenn Denver's bench might be. Take
a look at the Lakers bench. It's actually center. It's
actually like way worse on paper than the Nuggets. Mentioned
has been way worse on the court. I feel like
(24:50):
it's kind of a disaster. I mean, they're a Lebron
James or Anthony Davis injury away from having the bottom
drop out of it. So I I feel like the
Lakers are pretty much the same team as they were
last year, which is the same team as they were
the year before. Don't probably, you know, make a big
mid season trade. Everybody will talk about it, They'll get
(25:12):
into the plan and then maybe still play the Nuggets
to get in the playoffs losing four or five games.
I feel like they're pretty much the same team they've
had the last couple of years.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Talk with Harrison Wind the day of our Nuggets podcast.
The team I've been Liball is the Phoenix. They look
you know, focused, I should say, and it's a two
man show with Durant and Booker, but they've got plenty
of support and depth between Beal Jones and eil nurkic Allen,
you can go on down the list and plumbley.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
They've got plenty of depth. Is that the team that
gives you the most pause in the West.
Speaker 5 (25:45):
They're definitely better than they were last year. Absolutely. I
think they're a real threat to as long as they
can stay healthy. That I mean, that's the big question
with everybody, but especially them. Kevin Durant, you know, he's
playing a ton of minutes too, like playing thirty eight
minutes a night two right now, I believe, And he
just went down with an injury as well, So it's
(26:05):
gonna be about health for them. They are a tough
matchup when you get to the playoffs, partly just because
like they just have a bunch of guys who can
go one on one and score on you. And they
added an actual point guard this year in highest year,
and they have a little more depth, so they are
more of a threat in the playoffs. I still think
they just have no answer, you know, for Nicole Yokis
(26:28):
and that's where it starts in any matchup with the Nuggets.
But they've had a great start to the season. They're
definitely better than last year. I think they'll definitely be
a top four seed come April.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
And then of course Golden State, which you know, the
add of Buddy Healed. I've always been a Healed fan
and felt like that, you know, in the right in
the right you know, sort of role and with the right.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
System, he can he can shine.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
And I don't know how long Steph Curry's going to
continue to play, but he Healed and and Wigginson coming
to look like a big time big four there. I
mean again, is anybody is his team the team to beat?
You look you look around the West and it's kind
of no. I don't feel like anybody's distinguished themselves as
the team to beat.
Speaker 5 (27:07):
For the Nuggets, yeah, I mean with Golden State, they're
relying on a bunch of young guys to take the
leap like a Kaminga, like a Pajemsky. Buddy Heil's been
playing great, like he's the leader for six Man of
the Year right now, early leader. I still think if
you're looking for like the toughest team for the Nuggets
in the playoffs, it's gonna be Minnesota or Phoenix or
(27:30):
Oklahoma City if they get home run back. I still
have the Warriors a tier below that, you know, just
because they got younger guys. They don't have as much depth,
I feel like, and they're smaller up front. Like again,
I feel like that's where it starts. When you're talking
about teams against the Nuggets in the playoffs. What type
of defense are they going to have next to the
guard Nicole Jokic, And yeah, they have Draymond Green. I
(27:52):
don't think Draymond Green is a capable matchup for Nicole
Jokics at this point in his career. I think Jokic
has mastered that and they really don't have the des
around him. I don't think to really challenge him, So
don't say's definitely better. I still put them a tier below,
you know, the Minnesotas of the world in terms of
toughest matchups for the Nuggets.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
Everybody was talking at Boston in the East preseason, But
how about those Cleveland Calves eleven and zero. Are you
as shocked by the way that they've come out the
gate playing and how good this team is.
Speaker 5 (28:23):
Yeah, a little bit. I mean they're solid in the
regular season and you look at their roster and you
probably think, hey, they probably have more of a regular
season rosters in the playoffs. Boston, to me though, is
still clearly the best team in the league is Boston
and Denver. And like Boston just has such an easy
regular season formula. If they hit you know, thirty eight
(28:45):
percent of their threes or whatever, they take enough of
them where they're gonna probably win that game. They got
the same team as last year. They got depth, they
got sized, they got pretty much everything. So I really
think it's Boston and then the rest.
Speaker 4 (28:56):
Of the East.
Speaker 5 (28:57):
But yeah, Cleveland's gone off to a great start. I
could see them, you know, winning the Eastern Conference if
we're talking regular season for sure.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
Yeah, they just they score it will and it's it's
been fun to watch again.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
It's refreshing surprise.
Speaker 1 (29:10):
I think for me, I did not expect them to
be that good, was, you know, relative to you know,
everybody talking about Boston. I think they got a game
coming up against Boston here soon that maybe was the
the nineteenth, and thinking about a week that I'll certainly
want to want to watch when you get a chance
to kind of see how those two square off.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
What are the surprises around the league? Have you seen
those far?
Speaker 5 (29:32):
In terms of surprises, I mean the fact that Cleveland's
gone off to the start they have, that's absolutely a surprise.
There's been some turmoil with some you know, West teams,
the Laker, who's got off to a good start. Everybody
was talking about JJ Reddick coach of the year. You
know he's the next pat Riley. Well, you've kind of
(29:53):
seen those takes fade away a bit as Dave dropped
down to five hundred. Other teams in the West, you know,
kind of up and down early to Dallas, up and down,
but you know they'll be solid. New Orleans kind of
a mess with the injuries. The biggest surprise to me
(30:13):
has just been kind of the Western Conference. It's gonna
be really competitive. I don't know if it's as good
as I thought it was going to be coming into
the season. And the Clippers with the Kawhi Leonard injury,
they kind of have maybe a disaster season written all
over them too. So the Less I don't think is
as elite as I thought it might be. And that's
(30:35):
you know, good news for the Nuggets, because I think
the Nuggets, even though they're going to be really good,
they could go through some more ups and downs this year,
but they could still be you know, heading towards the
top four seed because it's not as strong as many
thought it might be.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
Talioer Harrison Wind df R Nuggets Podcast.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
Last one for me, Uh here, as we look forward
to this, how many how many years left do we
have in the Nicola Yokich window?
Speaker 5 (31:01):
I think about four or five. He's you know, twenty
nine years old right now, turning thirty thirty three, thirty four.
I feel like that is probably the end of the
window of when he'll be you know, top five, top
ten player in the NBA, and so that's probably when
you look at Okay, that's probably the end of like
(31:24):
this era in terms of championship windows. I think Nuggets
are probably about you know, halfway through it, maybe a
little more than halfway through it. But he definitely has
another three years, probably another four years where he's in
that top five, definitely top ten range. His game is
going to age beautifully. I mean that's something I think
(31:45):
we do know the only thing you worry about with
big men as injuries. You know, he's had some little
back stuff, the wrist, little things here and there and that.
Of course he plays through most of the time. He is,
you know, one of the most durabile players in the league.
You got give him a lot of credit for that.
So I'd say definitely four years or so and that's
you know, how long Nuggets have to win another couple
(32:07):
more championships.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
Well, hopefully that will Harrison would appreciate it. Look forward
to checking in with you later on down in the season. Calculator, Absolutely,
Harrison win. Do you have you our Nuggets Podcast and
a Break? We come back, Parker Gabriel, you gonna join us.
We're gonna go this Broncos loss of the Fine tooth
Colm Broncos Country Tonight
Five, six, six nine zeros in text line, you guys
want to get involved the conversation. We did have somebody
from the two to one to four positive theory and
you know me, I love theories, says I know you
don't care about this, but I'm in a Madden Football League.
I am the Broncos. I was playing the Bengals against
somebody in Ukraine. I glad he was able to play
the game in our league. But on the last play,
(00:20):
am kicked your game winning field.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Goal and it was blocked.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Maybe right now, it's just a thing for the Broncos
universe wide. With that, We're going to the Kawai Commas
freeth Hotline. We got a good buddy, Cody Rourke from
my high Sports Cody. How's it going this evening?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
I'm good, Ben.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
How are you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Ah?
Speaker 1 (00:34):
You know, that was a pretty pretty big gut punch
yesterday against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
I think there are some positives to take away from
that game.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
I think we see that Bonix belongs in this league.
I think the Denver Broncos are able to compete with
top tier teams. But how do you get the third
youngest team in the NFL to a start, scoring points
in the second half and b close out wins.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Yeah, you know, I think a lot of it has
to do it just uh not going backwards in a
sense in terms of what they they had.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Done, Like they'll build momentum on one play.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Well, let's talk about the second half here. You know,
promising drive, odric estimate, rips off a big time run
and hold on flag on the play holding Ben powers
just what his plays like that they set you back
and then you know, double a gap blitz by Chiefs
and they get to bow Nicks and may take them,
you know, sixteen yards back. You I mean, stuff like
(01:22):
that is definitely what killed them in a sense, and
you know missed opportunities as well. I mean Ben right
before halftime, I think Denver executed a two minute drill
really well for the most part. And then you have
the not set off sides on the offense and so
that back five yards you know you have to drop
on a second and fifteen That what puts you in the
field goal ring at least a more manageable field goal
(01:43):
situation than sixty yards. You don't get that, and all
of a sudden you lose the game by two points.
You know, your field goal gets blocked. It's just a
compoundent set. And I think time of.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Possession is a big key. I mean Kansas City.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
And that second half, they kind of possessed the.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
Ball a little bit longer than Denver wanted them to.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
They couldn't out to field on a few third down situations,
and it took opportunities away from both in the office
to be able to have this. So I fact date
the r in the right direction.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Well, I mean I tend to agree with that.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
I do think they're trending in the right direction, especially
if you look relative to season long.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
It is tough to go on the road and we
win in Arrowhead. It is tough to go on the
road and win in Baltimore.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
But as we look at this team, there are some
glaring things that even date back to last year. They
struggle to score in the third quarter. They're averaging three
points per game in the third quarter. This is something
that dogged them last year where they were one of
the bottom three teams in the league and scoring in
the third quarter number one last year.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
And scoring in the fourth quarter.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
So it's not the quarterback, it's not Russ, it's not
bo it's the offense or the offensive play call or whatever.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
How do we remedy that?
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Yeah, I mean I think it's going to find the
right personnel, the guys that work and I think Dever
heye say that word again, but they're trending in that direction.
I really like what we've seen in the last weeks
from the bomb Bag.
Speaker 4 (03:01):
I think he's having a more increased.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Role the player in the back sit a little.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
Bit, maybe trying to get him that troll.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
The type of role because of the un world wide
receivers necessary working for him. Uh rot, It's gonna be
something interesting to watch going forward. Can he be the
energized by here?
Speaker 4 (03:21):
The Denver.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Said, you're kind of been the game for them as well.
If you just get that all the guy that he
will see a lot more of. Uh that Like that
opens things up when you run them all a little
bit more, you control I'm a possession for you know
a little past. In some games they have trouble to
will be ten points for a team or whatever, so
(03:45):
you kind of.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
Have to abandon the run game there.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Getting that early cruise on the thing for Denver, I mean,
that was the thing that kind of assured me a
little bit that they went up, you know that game three,
and then you know they still keep trying to pass
the ball more so than they tried running. Yeah, and
I think I think bus the offense sometimes. It used
to play foller there and it's just there.
Speaker 5 (04:09):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
How they get it then.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
But hey, Kelly, we're having a little trouble with your
phone there. I can't quite I can't quite make out
the answer there. It sounds like we've got a bad connection.
So I have Grant retry it here in just a minute.
But it sounds like you do that.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
You were saying that, uh, that we need to run
the football more in the second half, and I agree,
I think we need to run the football more.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Overall, we saw on.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
The drive, the clock killing drive, how effective that can be,
and that Causey's you just knew what the Broncos were doing.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
There was no secret to what they were doing.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
It wasn't They weren't disguising in any way what they
were doing when they got the ball back on that
that drive. They were very intentional with the fact that
they were going to milk this thing out and play
for the field goal.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
It was obvious. I agree philosophically with doing that.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
I think for me, I might have been a little
bit more aggressive in the ways that I ran, trying
a few different things to put myself in position.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
But I think I agree with your premise overall, Cody,
that that.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Running the football is going to be key to setting
everything else up that the Broncos want to do.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
No, and that's the key.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
I think he's about figuring out who you want to
run the ball with.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
You know.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
I think Audrick's carries that he had yesterday, certainly at
the higher volume, Javonte's just you know, didn't didn't get ruly.
I think he only had one carry and one.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
Catch on the back.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
There were times where he was in but it wasn't
going to him. He was in for pass protection purposes.
I think we might see a passing of the torch
here for the Broncos offense, and obviously Joel mclafflin's a
factor in that. But you know, they're specially to get
Tyler Baday back here soon. He's been on the side field,
he's ramping up towards a potential return. We'll see if
that ends up being the case here. Obviously, Josh Reynolds
coming back into the mixt year. I just like what
(05:53):
we've seen from bow Nick's having a run game to
compliment him. I think opens things up because, Hey, on
that touchdown in to Cotland, you know, you have a
heavy stack box there by Kansas City third and one,
you're under center. They're anticipating it's going to be an
estimated handoff, and so you have a two man route
crosser by Adam Couptman on the right side and the
safety seeing him because it's an all out blitz.
Speaker 5 (06:13):
It's cover zero.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
And he bites on that for a second, and then
it allows you to have the one on one on
the left side of Courtland Suton who beats mcguffie for
the touchdown. That's that's where things are going to open
up even more here, I think for the offense.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Yeah, I like that.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
We're talking with Coddy Rourke again my Life Sports and Cody.
I liked that, and I was talking about it last week.
You know, I'd like to see I said last week, oh,
last week, that I'd like to see Aldrick Estimate get
more of the early down work and Javonte get more
of the later down work. Almost a role reversal for
Shivante from last year with what Samaji p Ryan was doing,
because I think it's a better fit for him that
I want Javonte's carries or touches reduced as much as
(06:47):
Samaj's were at the end. But in that role, I
think that he's at his most effective. And I think
that Aldrick said his most effective as being a battering
ram on early downs. We kind of sort of saw
a little bit of that in this game, and we
saw the efficacy on the clock kill drive at the end.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Will Sean Payton have the patience to just run the
ball more?
Speaker 3 (07:06):
I think he's building up towards it. You know, certainly
you want to see what you have with your cute.
I think that we're at a point now I think
we've seen enough to say, okay, hey, Bonus belongs as
you mentioned earlier in the NFL, and certainly I think
he's the right guy for the BRONC. Who's the right
guy for.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Sean Payton here in the situation?
Speaker 3 (07:20):
So why not say, okay, hey, we got that question
kind of answer for us. Now, how can we run
the ball and help them out? Because look, here, Denver's
in a good position, I think from a leadership standpoint.
They got a lot of young guys. Courtland's obviously they're
number one. We all know that they need another playmaker there.
But you're getting your young guys more playing time here,
you know, the Detroit Franklins, the Devon Vley is getting
in the mix more. I wonder if Reynolds will see
(07:41):
a little bit more of an increased workload and if
that reduces Lord Jordan Humphrey down the stretch, or if
that impacts one of the younger rookies here as they
go forward. But it's like, all right, hey, we got
that problem kind of answer right now. The biggest issue
for Denver's offense is a consistent run game. In my opinion,
I think we will see Sean try to run the
ball more. I mean he's mentioned to, of course two
weeks in a row in the conference call that you know,
(08:02):
estimate is going to get more touches, So more touches
shouldn't be more hunt in the football. Hopefully that's the case.
Then you're gonna need to get off to a good
start against the Atlanta Fountains here on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Well, and I agree, And that's that's sort of the thing.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
I mean, it feels like that Sean Payton is trying
to remind us all how smart he is in drafting
bon Nicks with some of these past past pass stuffs
coming out of the half where we're not scoring, when
we just got shown that even if Kansas City knows
what's coming, even if a good defense knows what's coming,
that we can run the ball down people's throat, which
Judi is running, which we did in the Milk the
Clock Drive. So Sean bo Nicks is probably second in
(08:37):
the Rookie of the Year voting behind Jayden and Daniels.
Maybe for some people. Number one, you've already shown you
you know you were smart on that. Now it's time
to start committing to the run game and delivering these
dubs so that you know we can get the Broncos
back in prime time and get to a Super Bowl. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
I mean that's the goal too. And look, I think
Denver's ahead of schedule in terms of where people thought
they would be. I think certainly they're exceeding expectations. Now
you have three upcoming games before the bye week, three
winnable games where if you take care of business, you
can go into to buy eight and five then you
open up with the Colts Tour, a team behind you
right now. They're going through their struggles right now. Then
you have the Chargers, you're hoping that maybe still one
(09:12):
on the road, they're considering that you already lost at
home to them earlier in the season. And then a
tough road match up against Joe Burrow and the Bengals
who are behind you as well in the playoffs standings,
and right now, I said it like this weekend, Broncos
Country has to hope that the Chargers win this weekend.
So the Bengals are another game back at this point
and one step closer to their season ending. Joe Burrow's
(09:32):
playing MVP level football, but because they're losing, he's not
going to get that recognition or that consideration. They are,
in my opinion, then the most dangerous team right now
for the Broncos behind them. I don't you know the Jets.
That doesn't matter. Jets are the next team behind. Those
two teams are just mentioned With the Colts and the Bengals,
They're not going to catch up to Denver at this point.
But you have to just find a way to keep winning,
(09:54):
and that obviously the Bengals lose, and that the Colts
continue to lose because the right now, the seventh seed
is really only in the grass of the Broncos, and
they can maintain that if they can continue to piece
together some momentum and go forward and get some wins here.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Well, that's the thing.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
I think philosophically, we're alying there because I think the
Chargers are very good football team. I think they're being
underrated criminally. I think they're in that top tier you
know that top five teams, six teams.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
In the in the AFC, no doubt, and so you know,
I'm with you.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
I think Cincinnati's beatable because they don't play any defense
right now. They get too much attrition over there, whether
it's injury or letting the wrong guys go in free agency, whatever.
They're an all offense team, and don't get me wrong
on the offense cooks, but it's not winning them football
games as we've seen.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
I do believe that of the team's.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
Left, I think Cincinnati's more beatable than the Chargers. I
believe that the Colts and Browns are beatable. And then
you've got then you're gonna have to steal one somewhere,
whether it's the Falcons at home or go you know,
Kansas City coming here, whatever, You're gonna have to steal
one somewhere. So I think philosophically we're aligned on that
we need a little bit of help here or there.
But I'm with you. I have the Chargers, you know,
keep winning and doing their thing while while we mop
up on some of these others.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Yeah, and look, nobody not a lot of people had
the is being in the playoff conversation. I think we've
seen all the receipts on social media of all the
people said, oh, this is gonna be a one win team,
they're going to win more than three games. You know,
Vegas had them at five and a half. Well, year,
they are at five. You know, they're in a good
place to be here early on, and they've they've dropped
some games certainly that they should have won this year.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
But you know, I think as the.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Season goes on, I mean, then this stretch is going
to be very crucial. Right, tough game against the Atlanta
Falcons who are coming off of the loss to the Saints,
who are now rizzed up down there in New Orleans.
And then you got to find a way to you know,
go on on the road to at Las Vegas and
get a win there. I think they're maybe going to
be trying to play for a quarterback in this year's
NFL draft, maybe Shuder Sanders. And then hey, Monday Night
Football against your former wide receiver Jerry.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
Judy, and you've got Jamis Winston, who Sean.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
Payton knows very well. Three very winnable games coming up
here for the Broncos going into buy week eight and
five would be a great.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
Step in the right direction.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
In those games. Towards the end of the season, as
you mentioned, I think Denver Denver can get into the playoffs,
and to be honest with you, if they're able to
get even at the seventh seed, I think that's a
huge success on the season, and even I think it
demolished in the playoffs. That is a step in the
right direction with a young team that's in the middle
of a rebuild. That's promising I think for the fan base,
and I think that a good portion of the fan
base kind of sees it too, which I think is
(12:10):
a little more promising.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Well, yeah, and we're talking with Cody Rourke from Aley Sports.
I totally agree with you.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
I think that if you had told people at the
beginning of the season that the Broncos would make the
playoffs even as a seventh seed, everybody would have been ecstatic,
you know. And so I don't think that that that
making the playoffs as a seventh seed at this point.
I don't think that that's any sort of letdown at all.
I mean, you talk about a team again that the
books disrespected to the tune of five and a half
on the win total. So we always knew that this
(12:35):
this three game stretch right here was going to be
the meat of the schedule. At Baltimore, at Kansas City,
your home against Atlanta. That's a three game swing against
three very tough teams. You were hoping to pull one
of the three. Well, you got one chance left to
do that, pull one of the three. At Atlanta. It's
going to be the homecoming for Justin Simmons in this game.
But Atlanta hasn't rushed the passer well this year. What
can we expect out of this game?
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Yeah, I think you're gonna see a little bit more
bow next Tonent though you had to be careful because
he got Justin, you got Jesse Bates, aj Terrell I mean,
they have a great secondary down there in Atlanta, and obviously,
like the saxsone coming, the pressure is not coming at
the rate in which they want to. But I also
look at it this week as well, Denver defensively in
the inverse, you know they play as well as against
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. They're able to get after
(13:17):
him sacking four times, hit him nine times. I look
at Kirk Cousins, who's not mobile, who doesn't have that
escapability to him, but you know he can get the
ball in his hands quickly.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
That's gonna be the problem.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
You got to London, you got pitch, you got Bijon Robinson,
you're gonna have to account for. This is gonna be
a game where I think it's gonna come down to, Hey,
can le Broncos offense holl put things up a little
bit more and keep building on what they're able to do.
Obviously you're gonna.
Speaker 4 (13:38):
Want to score more than fourteen points.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
But I think that Denver actually matches up really well
this week he gets Atlanta, though you have to watch
out for those wild cards there in the secondary for
that Falcons defense.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Yeah, I'm with you on that. I do believe that
they can get this one, and they kind of need
this one.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
You get this one, you get back on the right
side of five hundred to put you on the path again.
You got Raiders, Browns both winnable games and then a
bye week in the Colts winnable game.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Uh, you can get right back on the six and five, seven, five,
eight and five, nine and five.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Really if you win that out, and then you're staring
down the barrel of Chargers Bengals, Chiefs and you know
in driver's seat for.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
The for the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Cody, you always appreciate the time, brother, look forward to
checking in with you here again soon.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Absolutely looking forward to it. Thank you so much and
enjoy your evening.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Yes, sir Cody Roar, Mile High Sports. Always go get
a chance to talk to him.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
We got Harrison Winn coming up next segment here talk
a little bit of the Denver Nuggets, and then Parker
Gabriel in the following segment. I want to go back
over this Broncos lost with.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
A fine tooth comb before we finally put it behind us.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
To look forward to the high flying Falcons coming in
to town this weekend.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
You guys want to come out to Sam's Number three.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Well, Thursday we're doing We'll be live out there again
Sam's Number three on Thursday, So come on out.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
We always have good, good giveaways, great food there. Sam's
always loved going out there.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Whenever I have to miss the Sam's Number three, I
get a sad because they have the best food out there.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Are you on the Shannon Scott Die. I can't do
the six egg burrito thing that that Canada.
Speaker 5 (15:00):
I think.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
I eat a ton of food, don't get me wrong,
but I usually just get a complete breakfast.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
I want some hash browns.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
I want some chicken fried chicken with some gravy. I
want some the eggs over hard. I want that, you know,
all of it. I want the whole thing, not just
not just a gigantic burrito. You need the full spread
of breakfast. I need a little bit of everything, you know,
and I don't want just I don't want to spend
it all on one thing, right there, So come on
it stamps up three on Thursday.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Look forward to seeing you guys out there. We come back.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
Harrison Win's gonna join us, talk a little bit about
these nuggets.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
This a Broncos country, and I don't get away.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
Right out to the KWA conser the hotline though, and
bring on Harrison Winn talk a little bit about the
the Denver Nuggets.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Harrison, It's it's been up and.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Down a little bit, I guess for the Nuggets started
off a little slow and come on of late, in
large part due to Nicole yolkis doing some extremely heavy lifting.
How sustainable is that and is this team built for
a championship run?
Speaker 5 (15:52):
Well in terms of if it's sustainable for the whole season,
probably not. I mean, he's averaging close to forty minutes
a game. He's doing pretty much everything right now. But
the thing is, this is what the Nuggets needed at
this point. You mentioned the slow start. They look terrible
out of the gates zero to two, and then a
road trip where they scrape by with some wins. They
(16:13):
kind of needed him to do the heavy lifting right now,
and he kind of sensed that as well. I feel
like Jokic came to the season kind of wanting to
get everybody else going, Get Jamal Murray, go and get
Michael Porter, going, get Christian Brown, who was new in
the starting lineup, going, and then he kind of realized,
all right, I kind of just need to do it myself.
And you know, the Nuggets are in a great spot
(16:34):
right now because of that. Is it sustainable for the
whole year? No, But I think him is starting off
the season this way and how it's helped out the
rest of these role players. I think the Nuggets can
take that and they do have a team that go
win the championship.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Talk with Harrison win that Harrison Wind on Twitter, The
DNVR Nuggets Podcast. Jamal Murray hasn't exactly looked like himself
most of the season. Last twear game have been bad,
but prior to that, didn't look like himself early on
in the season. Christian Brawn contributing a little bit more
in terms of scoring than what we saw at at
a KCP. Bruce Brown, guys, before all that, As we
(17:10):
look at this Nugget team, which I believe is number
two in the league in scoring right now and shooting
lights out from downtown, I believe number two as well.
How much of what it is that they have right
now is sustainable because playing Yokic in those minutes isn't.
But what is sustainable and when can we expect Aaron
Gordon back has this team bizarre as it may be
(17:31):
to say been better without it.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
Well, in terms of Jamal Murray, he's kind of the
one missing link that hasn't been going full throttle right now.
He still doesn't really look himself, but you know, it's
okay for now because Jokic has this team playing at
such a high level. Will Jamal Murray get there by
the end of the season and in the playoffs? Will
he be you know, the Jamal Murray of a couple
(17:55):
of seasons ago. In the postseason, that's definitely going to
be the question that determines like if and Nuggets win
the championship. But you know, they're trending in the right
direction because over the last couple of games, the young
role players that Denver needs to develop into sustainable playoff guys,
guys you can rely on the postseason, they've been developing.
(18:17):
You know, Payne Watson, Christian Brown and Julianstraw the off
the bench. The Nuggets need all three of those guys
to be real playoff contributors. And the fact that they
kind of got that cycle going this early in the season,
I think that's gonna bode really well for them. When
it comes to Aaron Gordon, him being out has been
a blessing in disguise. I think for Denver Payne, Watson's
(18:39):
been able to step into the starting power forward minutes
and really shine. He wouldn't have gotten this opportunity. So
I think the Nuggets are definitely better. You know, with
Aaron Gordon, they need his size, especially if they're gonna
play him with the bench at all. They need his rebounding,
they need his you know, physicality. But it's kind of
been okay because Peyan Watson has taken the opportunity and
(19:00):
run with it. I think it's gonna help them out
in the long run.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Yeah, it's it's one of those things where hit me
and on. It's still been a pretty tight bench.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
You did see deandrijord in a couple of games, you know,
get a little hunter Tyson Zignaji as far as that
kind of stuff goes. But it does feel like they're
playing a little short bench, especially early in the season.
You think that's them finding out what, you know, what
it is that they have with those specific players and
then eventually working those guys in to give rest minutes.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Or is this just Michael Malan playing a real tight bench.
Speaker 5 (19:28):
I think it's just the nugget scene to get some wins.
With how bad they started out and how shaky they
were out of the gate, Zho and two, they just
kind of went into, okay, we just need to get
some wins and survive mode, and you know, they caught
some good mojo, they got a good rhythm, and now
they're on a five game winning streak. I think they
also looked at it and said, okay, we have four
(19:49):
days off coming up here. The Nuggets don't play again
until Friday, so we can kind of burn these guys
out a little bit, get everybody get the shape a
little bit at the beginning of the season two. So
this isn't the stainable. They are running a tight bench.
They'll need to open it up a little bit, take
some minutes off Yoka's plate. But I think just looking
at the schedule in the time off that they got,
(20:09):
now it's okay. They were just in a motive. We
got to get some wins and it was kind of
mission accomplished there.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
The big edition of this offseason Russell Westbrooks.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
A shooting hasn't quite been where you want it to be,
but having him on the court has been a value
add in terms of leadership and his ability to rebound
the football out of the point guard position.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
How big do you think that that addition can be
down the stretch.
Speaker 5 (20:32):
Yeah, he kind of reminds you of a running back.
You know, he's just so aggressive out there. His motor
never stops. And he's been great off the court and
on like in the locker room. Everybody speaks so highly
of him, and that's always been the case with Russell Botsbrook.
The leadership, his voice, just kind of the passion that
he brings every single day on the practice court, in
(20:56):
the weight room, you know, behind the scenes, and then
on the court. Honestly, it's not better than I've expected
so far. He's shooting it okay for Russell Westbrook standards.
He's got a great connection with nikoley Jokic. Kind of
a natural chemistry between those two that I didn't expect
Russell Westbrook has. He figured it out very quickly. Just
(21:17):
get the ball to Nikole jokicch and good things will happen.
They'll either give you the ball back and you have
an open shot, or he'll get an open shot for
somebody else or himself. So he figured that out early.
Those two have a great chemistry in the two man game,
and you know, Russell Westbrook has been a very thick
effective player. Went on the floor with Nikole Jochic so far.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Talking with Harrison Win the dfv R Nuggets Podcast at
Harrison Wind on Twitter. As we look at the Northwest Division,
that feels like a little bit of a shift. As
Oklahoma City sits atop the division, it figures to be
the team to beat in the division. Outside of Denver.
Minnesota looks like a team diminished after the trade in Portland,
utahre not competitive. I don't ever want to get into that, but.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
It looks like a three horse race in the Northwest with.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
A Yeah, Minnesota feeling a bit diminished after their trade
and that trade not really working in their favor. That
is that Do you think early chemistry issues or do
you think that Minnesota really did kind of lose out
of that trade and sort of disassemble what was working
for them.
Speaker 5 (22:14):
I kind of thought it was a lose lose trade
for both sides, New York and Minnesota, and the early
returns haven't been great for the Timberwolves. They're going through
some stuff and in terms of like their on court
chemistry that's gonna take some time. But they're not as
nearly as scary of a matchup with Muggus as they
were last year. They just have, you know, less size.
(22:35):
Even though Randall's a big guy, he's not as imposing
on the interior as Towns. And they had a nice
little one two combo guarding Jokic. You know, Jokic could
still have these historic games against him, but you know,
he had to work when he was going against the
combo of Towns and go bare and that's just not
really there anymore. And then with the thunder, you know,
they just had a big injury with chet Holmgrom, their center.
(22:57):
He's gonna miss like ten weeks. So both those events
and the Nuggets playing well has kind of opened the
door for Denver in the division obviously, and so early.
But I mean, you look at the standings now, the
Nuggets are one game at a first place in the West.
The West is really more wide open this year than
I thought it was going to be. Oklahoma City everybody
(23:20):
picked them and for good reason to kind of run
away with it get sixty plus wins. Doesn't seem like
that's going to be the case with this home grim injury. So,
I mean, the Nuggets, they start off terribly this year.
They're on this winning streak right now, and you know,
immediately they look like arguably the best team in the West.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Again, you look at the Pacific, Phoenix, Golden State, the Lakers, Clippers,
and Sacramento, you kind of have the haves and have nots.
I mean, it's not that far apart of two games,
but it looks like Phoenix and Golden State playing better
right now. The Lakers, even at six and four, just
don't feel like they played well at home, but they
just don't feel like a team that.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
Belongs with the other ones.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
I know, the big story was obviously drafted to Broni
and all that kind of stuff, and looking at him,
he looks like he's a capable NBA defender but can't
really play offense at this league game. We can't un
play offense in the G League either, which is where
he's at right now. But the story to me was
adding Dalton connect and what he was going to be
able to do for that team and thus far, you know,
you're seeing a guy who's only getting about fifteen minutes
(24:19):
a game and not really getting a chance. I think
to be the best player that he can be. Is
that just a Lebron James vanity project at this point?
Speaker 5 (24:29):
That's kind of what it seems like. I mean, they
pretty much rolled back the same roster. Yeah, they added Connect,
but they rolled back the same roster. I mean, we
were talking about how Fenn Denver's bench might be. Take
a look at the Lakers bench. It's actually center. It's
actually like way worse on paper than the Nuggets. Mentioned
has been way worse on the court. I feel like
(24:50):
it's kind of a disaster. I mean, they're a Lebron
James or Anthony Davis injury away from having the bottom
drop out of it. So I I feel like the
Lakers are pretty much the same team as they were
last year, which is the same team as they were
the year before. Don't probably, you know, make a big
mid season trade. Everybody will talk about it, They'll get
(25:12):
into the plan and then maybe still play the Nuggets
to get in the playoffs losing four or five games.
I feel like they're pretty much the same team they've
had the last couple of years.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Talk with Harrison Wind the day of our Nuggets podcast.
The team I've been Liball is the Phoenix. They look
you know, focused, I should say, and it's a two
man show with Durant and Booker, but they've got plenty
of support and depth between Beal Jones and eil nurkic Allen,
you can go on down the list and plumbley.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
They've got plenty of depth. Is that the team that
gives you the most pause in the West.
Speaker 5 (25:45):
They're definitely better than they were last year. Absolutely. I
think they're a real threat to as long as they
can stay healthy. That I mean, that's the big question
with everybody, but especially them. Kevin Durant, you know, he's
playing a ton of minutes too, like playing thirty eight
minutes a night two right now, I believe, And he
just went down with an injury as well, So it's
(26:05):
gonna be about health for them. They are a tough
matchup when you get to the playoffs, partly just because
like they just have a bunch of guys who can
go one on one and score on you. And they
added an actual point guard this year in highest year,
and they have a little more depth, so they are
more of a threat in the playoffs. I still think
they just have no answer, you know, for Nicole Yokis
(26:28):
and that's where it starts in any matchup with the Nuggets.
But they've had a great start to the season. They're
definitely better than last year. I think they'll definitely be
a top four seed come April.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
And then of course Golden State, which you know, the
add of Buddy Healed. I've always been a Healed fan
and felt like that, you know, in the right in
the right you know, sort of role and with the right.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
System, he can he can shine.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
And I don't know how long Steph Curry's going to
continue to play, but he Healed and and Wigginson coming
to look like a big time big four there. I
mean again, is anybody is his team the team to beat?
You look you look around the West and it's kind
of no. I don't feel like anybody's distinguished themselves as
the team to beat.
Speaker 5 (27:07):
For the Nuggets, yeah, I mean with Golden State, they're
relying on a bunch of young guys to take the
leap like a Kaminga, like a Pajemsky. Buddy Heil's been
playing great, like he's the leader for six Man of
the Year right now, early leader. I still think if
you're looking for like the toughest team for the Nuggets
in the playoffs, it's gonna be Minnesota or Phoenix or
(27:30):
Oklahoma City if they get home run back. I still
have the Warriors a tier below that, you know, just
because they got younger guys. They don't have as much depth,
I feel like, and they're smaller up front. Like again,
I feel like that's where it starts. When you're talking
about teams against the Nuggets in the playoffs. What type
of defense are they going to have next to the
guard Nicole Jokic, And yeah, they have Draymond Green. I
(27:52):
don't think Draymond Green is a capable matchup for Nicole
Jokics at this point in his career. I think Jokic
has mastered that and they really don't have the des
around him. I don't think to really challenge him, So
don't say's definitely better. I still put them a tier below,
you know, the Minnesotas of the world in terms of
toughest matchups for the Nuggets.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
Everybody was talking at Boston in the East preseason, But
how about those Cleveland Calves eleven and zero. Are you
as shocked by the way that they've come out the
gate playing and how good this team is.
Speaker 5 (28:23):
Yeah, a little bit. I mean they're solid in the
regular season and you look at their roster and you
probably think, hey, they probably have more of a regular
season rosters in the playoffs. Boston, to me though, is
still clearly the best team in the league is Boston
and Denver. And like Boston just has such an easy
regular season formula. If they hit you know, thirty eight
(28:45):
percent of their threes or whatever, they take enough of
them where they're gonna probably win that game. They got
the same team as last year. They got depth, they
got sized, they got pretty much everything. So I really
think it's Boston and then the rest.
Speaker 4 (28:56):
Of the East.
Speaker 5 (28:57):
But yeah, Cleveland's gone off to a great start. I
could see them, you know, winning the Eastern Conference if
we're talking regular season for sure.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
Yeah, they just they score it will and it's it's
been fun to watch again.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
It's refreshing surprise.
Speaker 1 (29:10):
I think for me, I did not expect them to
be that good, was, you know, relative to you know,
everybody talking about Boston. I think they got a game
coming up against Boston here soon that maybe was the
the nineteenth, and thinking about a week that I'll certainly
want to want to watch when you get a chance
to kind of see how those two square off.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
What are the surprises around the league? Have you seen
those far?
Speaker 5 (29:32):
In terms of surprises, I mean the fact that Cleveland's
gone off to the start they have, that's absolutely a surprise.
There's been some turmoil with some you know, West teams,
the Laker, who's got off to a good start. Everybody
was talking about JJ Reddick coach of the year. You
know he's the next pat Riley. Well, you've kind of
(29:53):
seen those takes fade away a bit as Dave dropped
down to five hundred. Other teams in the West, you know,
kind of up and down early to Dallas, up and down,
but you know they'll be solid. New Orleans kind of
a mess with the injuries. The biggest surprise to me
(30:13):
has just been kind of the Western Conference. It's gonna
be really competitive. I don't know if it's as good
as I thought it was going to be coming into
the season. And the Clippers with the Kawhi Leonard injury,
they kind of have maybe a disaster season written all
over them too. So the Less I don't think is
as elite as I thought it might be. And that's
(30:35):
you know, good news for the Nuggets, because I think
the Nuggets, even though they're going to be really good,
they could go through some more ups and downs this year,
but they could still be you know, heading towards the
top four seed because it's not as strong as many
thought it might be.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
Talioer Harrison Wind df R Nuggets Podcast.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
Last one for me, Uh here, as we look forward
to this, how many how many years left do we
have in the Nicola Yokich window?
Speaker 5 (31:01):
I think about four or five. He's you know, twenty
nine years old right now, turning thirty thirty three, thirty four.
I feel like that is probably the end of the
window of when he'll be you know, top five, top
ten player in the NBA, and so that's probably when
you look at Okay, that's probably the end of like
(31:24):
this era in terms of championship windows. I think Nuggets
are probably about you know, halfway through it, maybe a
little more than halfway through it. But he definitely has
another three years, probably another four years where he's in
that top five, definitely top ten range. His game is
going to age beautifully. I mean that's something I think
(31:45):
we do know the only thing you worry about with
big men as injuries. You know, he's had some little
back stuff, the wrist, little things here and there and that.
Of course he plays through most of the time. He is,
you know, one of the most durabile players in the league.
You got give him a lot of credit for that.
So I'd say definitely four years or so and that's
you know, how long Nuggets have to win another couple
(32:07):
more championships.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
Well, hopefully that will Harrison would appreciate it. Look forward
to checking in with you later on down in the season. Calculator, Absolutely,
Harrison win. Do you have you our Nuggets Podcast and
a Break? We come back, Parker Gabriel, you gonna join us.
We're gonna go this Broncos loss of the Fine tooth
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Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
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If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.