05-02-25 KOA Sports Hour 3 with Rick Lewis

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Strick Lewis till six o'clock.

Speaker 2 (00:02):
We'll hand things off to Benjamin all Bright Broncos Country tonight.

Speaker 1 (00:04):
We got the Rockies. We're streaking, coming.

Speaker 2 (00:07):
Up tonight at seven o'clock to take on the Giants.

Speaker 1 (00:10):
I don't know, man, the streaking Rockies, the streaking Rockies.

Speaker 3 (00:16):
That's nice. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (00:17):
Well and even before they were two and oh is
one to oh, it was streaking.

Speaker 3 (00:21):
That was a streak. Yeah, absolutely, yeah, yes, that's right.

Speaker 1 (00:27):
L Yes, we got two game seven tomorrow. It's a
good time.

Speaker 2 (00:32):
It's a good time here and uh in Denver for
Sports and we'll have John Michael Lyles joining us here
at five thirty to get his thoughts on the Apps
and their opportunity tomorrow. Just a couple more thoughts here
on the Nuggets before we move on. I look at
this game, and I know that we talked about before
the series, the win and loss and the outcome of it.

(00:53):
Do you really want to blow things up if you
lose this game? This is a tough matchup. The Clippers
are not. It's kind of the same we're doing with
the Dallas Stars, right, It's a tough matchup. This isn't
like one of those, Hey, you should win this game
because you're in the window and everybody expects you to
win this game. In fact, a lot of people picked
against the Nuggets to win this series. So you lose
this thing, I don't know if that should immediately signal

(01:16):
to blow things up. Meanwhile, if they win this one,
I don't know if that immediately tells me that they're
on the right path either. It's a very weird spot
that the Nuggets are at in their franchise right now.

Speaker 4 (01:27):
Would you agree, I yeah, I agree that nothing would
be certain no matter which way Tomorrow night goes.

Speaker 3 (01:38):
But I think I think this if the Nuggets.

Speaker 4 (01:43):
If the Nuggets lose tomorrow night, I think there's a
pretty good chance that there will be significant roster changes
next year. Now again, with you know how difficult it
is to trade players. Number one, you got to find
a team that actually wants the player, and then what
they send back to you has to be commiserate with

(02:06):
the salary of the player.

Speaker 3 (02:07):
You're sending to them.

Speaker 4 (02:09):
I think that limits how much activity an NBA team
can have. But I yeah, if they would lose tomorrow night,
I think I think they have to I would say,
Josh Cronki would look at that and say, I'm open
to listen to anything that has not attached to Nicola

(02:35):
Jokic and his name. Anything else I'll listen to. We're
open for business. Let's talk about it. Yes, don't you
think they've already taken the first step to kind of
making some pretty major moves? They fired the coach with
three games to go in the regular season. To me,
that's a pretty big deal. I agree with you in

(02:57):
the GM and the GM, so I think it's pretty
obvious if they lose tomorrow, they're going to be a
pretty major overhaul around Joker and Jamal. I think those
are the two, or maybe Aaron Gordon too. But no,
not Joker, No, No, I don't think they He's the
one that's going to be the consistent guy they build.

(03:18):
They have to build a better team around him. And
I don't think ag. I mean, I think the Nuggets
have some good pieces. I mean, if you know Jamal
Murray is a talented, talented guy. The last two games
show me that. Whether whether now he's feeling better physically,
the hamstring's not bothering him, what have you.

Speaker 3 (03:39):
That's the kind of Jamal. Now.

Speaker 4 (03:40):
The question is can you get can you get of
the eighty two regular season games, Let's say he plays
in sixty to sixty five, can you get you know,
fifty five of those sixty five to be that Jamal,
Because it really sort of boils balls down to that
you're not going to get the abslute best of every player.
It's it's nice to be able to say that, but

(04:03):
realistically you're just not. They get broken down, they get
beat down, their type, whatever. But I think you have
to look at and I've said this for the last
four or five years, you have to find a way
to add some.

Speaker 3 (04:16):
Scoring to the Nuggets roster. And you have to that'
scoring to.

Speaker 4 (04:20):
Me, has to have the ability to knock down at
least a few shots from the perimeter. And the problem
with Jaball, as you mentioned, he's inconsistent and I always
got this gigantic contract. If you did want to trade
him and move on, I think that's going to be
pretty difficult because of the injuries, inconsistent play and that

(04:41):
type of thing. No jokers, that windows closing, and so
you're going to have to do whatever you can if
assuming they get knocked out tomorrow, and I don't think
that I think they're going to win. But if that happens,
you need to find a way to build a team
while this window's open to take another run at the
First thing you gotta do is you got to decide

(05:01):
who's going to be the GM, absolutely, and then you
got the GM would have a I would think pretty
significant say in terms of who's going to be the coach.

Speaker 1 (05:10):
That's a really good point.

Speaker 4 (05:11):
So if you're Josh Cronky, you got to find a
GM that you can work with that shares your vision,
whatever that vision is, and then you have to direct
him in terms of, hey, here's what I think in
terms of the coaching search.

Speaker 3 (05:25):
But ultimately you want that GM to make that higher.

Speaker 4 (05:28):
Then both of those guys with Kronki get together and
decide what they're going to.

Speaker 3 (05:32):
Do with the roster. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (05:33):
I think that's actually a tremendous point.

Speaker 2 (05:35):
Like this is almost an incomplete exercise because we don't
know what the vision of it is going to be.
If you go say in house, well, then you may
have a little bit of a lean on what direction
they're they're thinking right now. But if you go outside
the organization, will they may come in and say, well,
I'll tell you exactly why we're not winning right now,
and MPJ needs to go, and I think Aaron Gordon

(05:55):
is starting to show some crafts. We're going to get
out from under this as soon as possible, because I
don't want to hang on to him for another couple
of years. We watch him kind of break down in
front of us, his sort of the Belichick approach, where
it's like, I'm going to get.

Speaker 4 (06:07):
Out a year two early, and obviously everything has to
be done with the joker in mind exactly.

Speaker 2 (06:14):
So you're right, I think it's a bit of an
incomplete exercise, just because we don't know what the vision
is going to be. I struggle with the Nuggets specifically,
and we can talk about the ads in a second
only because this game, in my opinion, is truly a
fifty to fifty.

Speaker 1 (06:26):
I like the Nuggets chances because.

Speaker 2 (06:28):
They're at home, but on the other hand, I don't
know if I'm going to learn more about them in
a win or a loss than what I already think
about them, what they already think about their window, and
who they are now. If they get blown out, maybe
that tells me something, but I just don't think that's
the way this game is going to go. I think
it's going to come down fourth quarter game. It's going
to be back and forth in the tail end of
this thing, and I don't really know what direction.

Speaker 1 (06:48):
It's going to go. I like the Nuggets, like you said,
but we'll see.

Speaker 2 (06:51):
Point of it is you win this series, you go
and face Oklahoma City, and again, I think Oklahoma City
is just a better team. Does that mean, like, oh,
this is this team isn't very good in a lot
of ways. You cut their legs out from underneath them
heading into the postseason by firing their head coach. What
other expectation I know you said publicly, Josh Cronkey said,

(07:12):
you expect this team to be able to do some things.
But simultaneously you fire a coach before the postseason starts.

Speaker 1 (07:18):
That usually sends a signal too, doesn't a brick?

Speaker 4 (07:20):
Yeah, you're and you're playing with an interim head coach,
which you know a lot of people kind of forgotten
about that now.

Speaker 3 (07:27):
And Adaman seems like I've been impressed.

Speaker 4 (07:29):
He's been doing good job that he was able to
bring this team back because it looked like they'd already
given up and he brought him back.

Speaker 3 (07:36):
They're on the brink. Now, if they win a Game seven,
they move on.

Speaker 4 (07:40):
Even if they win tomorrow night, I don't think this
story is completely told. It depends on what they would
do in that second round. And I'm talking about the
future of the Nuggets. I think everything's up in the
air right now, and I think they already showed us
that by firing Malone. Everything's on the table right now.
Other than Joker, He's not going anywhere.

Speaker 1 (08:00):
Do you hire just.

Speaker 2 (08:01):
Out of curiosity Dave? Like win tomorrow? Are you moving
David Adelman up your list? As far as coaching candidates
with a first round series win, that's a tough one.

Speaker 4 (08:15):
I think it would depend on. If I'm Josh Kronki,
it would depend on what my view of his ability
to interact with his team, to run the locker room,
what if the practices look like You know, I can
judge for myself watching the games in terms of effort

(08:38):
from players, what adjustments as he and his remaining staff
made during in game opportunities that help us win a game.

Speaker 3 (08:49):
So I mean it helps him for sure.

Speaker 4 (08:52):
I think it depends also on really, you know, some
of the past relationships that Josh Kronki may have, and
it may come down to you're gonna hire the GM first,
and you don't hire a GM just saying, oh, by
the way, this guy is going to be your coach.

(09:13):
I mean, has it ever happened. I'm sure it has
not much though not many times. You hire the GM
and say, let's go on an exhaustive search. You let
me know who your top three candidates are. I'll be
involved in all the interviews, but ultimately that GM's got
to make his pick to you.

Speaker 3 (09:29):
That's why you hired him as the GM.

Speaker 1 (09:31):
Yeah, I mean, I think you're absolutely right.

Speaker 2 (09:32):
So again, a bit of an incomplete exercise, but tomorrow
we'll be I mean, it's gonna be interesting to find
out after what happens. And once again for Oklahoma City,
Dave hates me going down this road.

Speaker 1 (09:44):
I would say, no chance, man, I just don't feel good.
That is a tough matchup.

Speaker 4 (09:49):
Well, they're the best team in the NBA and they
have home court advantage.

Speaker 3 (09:52):
I know it's not you know, I know, I.

Speaker 2 (09:55):
Know, but I feel like I am being unbelievably negat
every time this topic comes up.

Speaker 1 (10:01):
But I can't help it.

Speaker 2 (10:03):
Just what I feel Oklahoma City is that team and
they've been that way from me all year.

Speaker 3 (10:07):
You know what I say, I'm scared. We'll see. Yeah,
if the.

Speaker 4 (10:11):
Nuggets can win tomorrow night, will you give them no chance?
That's a no God, Just say it, Just embrace it.
Don't want to say it, though, say it. I'm telling
you I think the Nuggets, if they win tomorrow night,
should Oklahoma City be favored? Yes, they're the number one seed.
They've been the number one seed the last two years.

Speaker 3 (10:31):
In the West.

Speaker 4 (10:32):
They've got the best record in basketball, and they have
home court advantage.

Speaker 3 (10:36):
But I give the Nuggets an excellent chance in that series.

Speaker 2 (10:42):
Switching to the as for a moment and again, John
Michael lyles, you're gonna join us at five point thirty,
so I thought. Anthony Rodd asked this an interesting question
on Twitter earlier via our social media page Kway Colorado.
By the way, you can check out Zach Seekers did
a really great rite up on the Broncos draft picks.

Speaker 1 (11:00):
Who will have the biggest rookie impacts?

Speaker 2 (11:02):
You want to go check that our clout It's available
right now Kwait Colorado dot com. He asked the question
like who needs the win tomorrow more abs or Nuggets.

Speaker 1 (11:12):
I think it's the Avs.

Speaker 2 (11:13):
I think, as we see here in this moment, organizationally speaking,
I think the ABS need this one more than the
Nuggets do.

Speaker 4 (11:22):
That's a great question. They both won championships recently. You
think the the Abs, I.

Speaker 1 (11:30):
Think the more. I think the Avs need it more.
I tend to agree because they did a lot of moves.

Speaker 3 (11:36):
Well yeah, yes, because joker Okay, uh, you've got this
piece right there with a window that has closed. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (11:46):
Also one of the greatest, maybe the greatest great maybe
the greatest av in their history.

Speaker 4 (11:53):
Certainly in the conversation, Yeah, what do.

Speaker 2 (11:57):
You think, Dave, who needs it more? Organizationally?

Speaker 3 (12:03):
That's a tough one.

Speaker 4 (12:05):
I would say probably the Avs.

Speaker 3 (12:11):
I know you hate probably, Oh did you say that.
I'm going to take the Nuggets. Disagrees with you.

Speaker 4 (12:19):
I would say the as I mean the Nuggets. The
Nuggets won it two years ago.

Speaker 1 (12:25):
As three, I think, Yeah, I think the Avs.

Speaker 4 (12:30):
Before the playoffs started, I think people expected the Avs
to maybe have a deeper run of the.

Speaker 3 (12:36):
Playoffs than the Nuggets.

Speaker 4 (12:38):
Nuggets, even though they won the last three games, they
they still had some issues. Ricky brought up fired the
head coach and the GM, so hey, listen, I'm I
think both teams win. I think the Ads go to Dallas.
I think that would be a hell of a hard game,
but I think they find a way to beat the Stars.

(13:00):
And then I think the Nuggets, you know, it's all
about their mindset defensively. I think they win at ball Arena,
and we've got another two weeks of the playoff action
to talk about with a good hockey team and a
good basketball If the Nuggets do lose, I think you
factor in the fact they fired their head coach and
general manager going into the playoffs, I think I don't

(13:21):
think of it.

Speaker 3 (13:22):
I think I think they get a bit of a
pass on that.

Speaker 4 (13:24):
No, why would you if the Nuggets lose, Why would
you think that Malone's departure or dismissal would play based
on how this team is played, would play a role.
It's such a major shake up three games before the
playoffs that you know. I remember telling you guys last
time I was on I thought they were playing with

(13:46):
house money, like expectations would be lowered in that situation.

Speaker 3 (13:51):
I could be wrong on that.

Speaker 4 (13:52):
So for me, I think if they do lose, tomorrow,
people go, yeah, you know, maybe you shouldn't have fired
Malone or you fired your head coach right before the postseason.
Who does that, right, So I think they would get
a pass, a little bit of a pass.

Speaker 2 (14:07):
From a public perspective. I agree with you actually on that.
From a public perspective, I mean, the diehards are going
to feel what the diehards are going to feel. But
when they fire Michael Malone, that was my first thoughts, like, okay, well,
despite the fact that Josh Cronky's out there saying we
think we are still going to compete for a championship
this year, that's just not the message. You fire a
coach that right before the postseason starts, that, that is

(14:28):
not the message.

Speaker 4 (14:29):
I would agree with both of you if I hadn't
been watching the games, and I think this team I
haven't seen any drop off in any category of winning basketball.

Speaker 3 (14:42):
In fact, I would have to.

Speaker 4 (14:44):
Say I think in certain areas they've played better. So
the fact that I haven't seen a drop off leads
me to believe that. I mean, that's not Honestly, it's
professional sports and it can be cruel at times, but
I don't I don't think you know, I don't. I
don't think it's a factor that they're both gone. Here's

(15:05):
a tough question for both of you. The games are
are going to be played about the same time, and
say you like watching games live, you don't want to
tape it, you're not going to do picturreing picture. Which
of the two would you spend more time on? Well,
it depends Nuggets. You're going to be asleep at eight
forty five, So whichever one you want me to not quite.

Speaker 2 (15:27):
Later?

Speaker 3 (15:28):
This is going to be Saturday night.

Speaker 4 (15:29):
Rick, Oh yeah, oh yeah, yeah, I can stay up
till ten thirty on Saturday night.

Speaker 3 (15:34):
Yeah yeah, yeah, that's a big night for me. So
what are you saying? Which?

Speaker 4 (15:37):
Which game would I which would you spend more time with?
For me, they they don't score all that much in
playoff hockey. I would probably spend more time watching the
Nuggets and then go back to the Avalanche. You know,
go okay, it's one nothing, then you go back and
watch the Nuggets for a while. For me, it would
be the Nuggets between the two games. Yeah, I'm going

(15:59):
to be on the Rockies.

Speaker 1 (16:01):
The streaking because they are on the streets.

Speaker 4 (16:05):
Three in a row. Because they're sure to win tonight. No,
I probably would be the same. I'm more of a
basketball but I mean I love watching the ads in
the playoffs. But if I had to pick one, I'm
probably gonna focus in the basketball game and then click
back a lot.

Speaker 3 (16:21):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (16:21):
The good news is the Rockies play it two a five,
so you can actually, you know.

Speaker 4 (16:24):
What, no conplicated triple header. You get triple head until
the Kentucky Derby comes on, and then then you're out
and the Rockies will be so far ahead it will
be the seventh inning.

Speaker 2 (16:32):
I almost forgot the Kentucky Derby was tomorrow because of
Game seven's we have two gage sevens and I'm like, oh, yeah,
the Kentucky Derby. I heard an ad or something for that.
I'm like, oh, that's right. Usually we're kind of like, oh,
I'll watch it.

Speaker 4 (16:43):
Do you see the late great Toby Keith has a
horse that he owned in the derby?

Speaker 3 (16:48):
Well wow, I forget his name.

Speaker 4 (16:51):
And he's not the favorite, but it certainly will be
a betting favorite because of the Toby Keith connection.

Speaker 1 (16:57):
It's like stick a boot in your never.

Speaker 3 (17:00):
Mind me yeah, zoo because people love Toby Keith.

Speaker 1 (17:03):
Yeah, understandably.

Speaker 4 (17:05):
Yeah, we had a texture that sides with you, Ryan
the seven to four six. Oh oh, Dave, you're dreaming
Thunder will roll the Nuggets.

Speaker 1 (17:16):
Well, that is not me texting him.

Speaker 4 (17:18):
Well, the good news if the Nuggets can find a
way to win tomorrow night, we'll find out now.

Speaker 2 (17:23):
One.

Speaker 4 (17:23):
Yeah, I got a question for Dave and Dave and
I haven't talked since the draft, and Shaudor Sandrews got
drafted by your Cleveland Browns team.

Speaker 2 (17:33):
Uh.

Speaker 3 (17:33):
Number one.

Speaker 4 (17:34):
Chador has the best selling jersey among all rookies as
of right now, which surprised me because I thought it
would be Travis Hunter.

Speaker 3 (17:42):
Number two.

Speaker 4 (17:43):
Dave, he showed up in Cleveland wearing his new clothing
line Legendary right on the on his shirt there a
big legendary. Now, you, being a veteran of the Browns,
how are the Vets going to take this guy showing
up with legendary clothes coming to camp? They put him

(18:06):
in his place pretty quick. I think that I think
veterans will. That's a hard question. I still think you
have to earn the respect of the locker room no
matter who you are, and as a rookie, what that
means is you can say what you want to, you

(18:29):
can wear what you want to, but you got to
go out and play. Veteran guys I can tell you
during the course of training camp it takes them about
two weeks in practice as they practice to determine that
guy's going to help us or.

Speaker 3 (18:49):
That guy can't play. We had a we had a
linebacker that came I don't know, early.

Speaker 4 (18:57):
Eighties, I mean much publicized linebacker, and we scrimmaged the
Detroit Lions in Toledo in preseason.

Speaker 3 (19:08):
And so the other veteran wide receiver, Reggie.

Speaker 4 (19:13):
Rucker, ambled up to me as our defenses on the
field against the Lions, and he said, hey, man, let's uh,
let's watch Let's watch your boy. So we focused on
a play and it's one play, but he got absolutely.

Speaker 3 (19:29):
I mean like rolled on a play, just had his
head snapped back.

Speaker 4 (19:35):
You'd thought the back of his head was going to
punch a hole in between his shoulder blades. Rutger looked
at me and said that Margaret Florence can't so you
know what I mean, But you'll so they'll know. So

(19:56):
it'll take two weeks before they start trying to put
him in his place. No, it'll take two weeks before
they determine, Okay, this guy is going to be a dude,
he's going to be a player, might not be, but
this young guy, this young.

Speaker 3 (20:09):
Guy can play.

Speaker 4 (20:09):
Or conversely, before they say, you know what, that's all hype, bro,
that's that's what that is. And if it's the ladder
of the two assessments of his talent, he's going to
have a hard time with the clothing line. If it's
the first, I think I think it'll be well received.

Speaker 2 (20:27):
Interesting, Well, I think we kind of live in an
era where everybody's got a little bit of a brand
now if you're a player, especially player's coming to college.
So maybe you're right, maybe there's a little bit of
allowance for that. But I think if he can play, yeah,
I mean, do you.

Speaker 4 (20:41):
Think every player like coming out of college nowadays as
a brand?

Speaker 3 (20:45):
Yeah?

Speaker 4 (20:46):
Like what okay, would what would the Baron kid from Texas?
What's his brand?

Speaker 5 (20:53):
Oh?

Speaker 3 (20:53):
John A.

Speaker 5 (20:53):
Barron?

Speaker 3 (20:54):
Yes, Uh, he's uh.

Speaker 2 (20:57):
I mean I haven't subscribed to his social media channel yet,
but I'm sure he's He's done some things where.

Speaker 3 (21:02):
He are you saying, like a brand of clothing?

Speaker 1 (21:04):
Well, no, no, no, No, not that far. Just I guess
media presence.

Speaker 4 (21:08):
Coming out of college. Yeah, social media presence for for sure.

Speaker 3 (21:12):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (21:12):
So like whether you're sure, I mean, maybe it's not the.

Speaker 2 (21:14):
Far end where I have my own film crew like
Shadoor does, and I have my own clothing line that
type of thing. But you you have something that you're into,
that you're promote, that you are a part of, and
because you have a social media presence, you can usually
make some money off of that.

Speaker 1 (21:27):
I guess that's what I'm trying to say.

Speaker 3 (21:28):
Okay, yeah, maybe.

Speaker 4 (21:29):
So you remember Brian Bosworth Boz Of course I think
of him when he came out, big flamboyant guy, real
cocky and it's coming out of college, and it felt
like they put him in his place pretty quick.

Speaker 3 (21:45):
But he could play, he could play, He could play.
I don't think he could play as well as he
thought he could play, in my opinion, looking back, I
could be wrong.

Speaker 4 (21:53):
I mean, yeah, he had so he got hurt, but
I think I mean, he was a good player in
the league, right. I don't know if he was a great,
great player, but he was a good player. Okay, But
that kind of reminds me of Chadur but Shador is
him on steroids because of social media, Yeah for sure,
and so he's.

Speaker 3 (22:12):
Got a lot to live up.

Speaker 1 (22:13):
To, no no doubt about it.

Speaker 2 (22:14):
All right, we come back to help us preview the
Abs and Stars Game seven, John Michael Lyles, we'll get
to that next.

Speaker 1 (22:25):
Punk drop is six o'clock and to help.

Speaker 2 (22:27):
Us break it down right now, we add onto the
Kawa Common Spirit Health hoighline and bring on John Michael Lyles,
John Michael Leiles, thank you so much for the time.

Speaker 1 (22:35):
As always, you're on with Dave Logan, Ryan Edwards and
Rick Lewis.

Speaker 5 (22:37):
How are you, man, I'm doing great. Thanks for having
me on, guys.

Speaker 3 (22:41):
Yeah, we certainly appreciate talking. Let me just ask you.

Speaker 4 (22:46):
As you look at game seven, and obviously a lot
of interest in that and the matchup between the Stars
and the Abs.

Speaker 3 (22:53):
What aside from the fact.

Speaker 4 (22:55):
That they're really well coached and they've got excellent players,
but from a strategic standpoint, what couple of things make
the Stars such a difficult matchup for the Avs.

Speaker 5 (23:08):
Well, listen, they they're very deep in the sense of
they've they've got three really good forward lines. Their fourth
line is good as well, but doesn't score as as
I would say prolifically as the as the top three,
and all three are they can score in bunches. You

(23:28):
look at their top three lines and there's there's some
really really good players in there. And you know, Jason
Robertson hasn't even been in this series because he could hurt.
And then Jake Ottinger is just really really good. And
but Ckenzie, you know, Mackenzie Blackwood is six foot four
and he feels like a giant, and then you walk
by Jake Ottinger and he's six foot six, and somehow

(23:51):
he seems even bigger. And I mean, I don't know
how you see any space when he's in net, especially
when he comes out and challenges like he did quite
a bit last night. And the ABS put a lot
of pucks on him last night, say about forty forty
six shots I believe they had, and you know, Jake
Audre stood tall for for you know, quite a few

(24:12):
of those. And but that's that's kind of the secret
is you know, you got to take his eyes away.
He's so good at reading pucks through traffic, and you
have to limit any sort of quick breaks or Dallas
they're a very good transition team, as they showed in
the second period, especially last night. And and you know,
for me, when you look at the guys that got

(24:33):
on the board, Marty Natchius, you know, going on assist
last night, Cale mccarr, you know, he he got on
the board as well, had his you know, probably best
game of the series. And I would say that was
even ahead of Game four, even though he didn't score.
He was really good in Game four. So for the Abs,
it's it's got to be that kind of similar layout,

(24:55):
I would say, or blueprint for tomorrow, and that is
tons of pucks that on and you have to make
it chaotic for him in front. You know, I don't.
I mean, I hope the Avs don't go down nine
seconds in like they did in Game five, but you know,
I don't see that happening again, just off a flute bounce.
You know. I think tomorrow night's going to be a

(25:17):
really interesting, really fun game to see. And you know,
the Avs are zero and three in game sevens against
Dallas in the years past, so hopefully this is this
is the breakthrough.

Speaker 3 (25:27):
We're talking to John Michael Les John, it's it's Rick
Lewis here. Obviously, home ice.

Speaker 4 (25:32):
Is an advantage for the Stars, and we were talking
earlier about that ice can be really slow there in
Dallas and it plays to their advantage. How much of
a difference does slow ice make with a team like
the Avalanche that are so fast.

Speaker 5 (25:50):
Yeah, it's it's definitely, you know, it's an advantage, I
would say. Now, you know, the NHL has pretty strict
ice protocols, is what I would say. But just given
the kind of you know, the weather down there, and
you know, it's just it's a different environment. And that's
kind of how it is when you go to these
different places Florida and you know, Vegas and some of
these warmer areas, or you get up to like Edmonton

(26:13):
is notorious for really really good fast ice, and so yeah,
it's Dallas is a little bit slower, a little bit
choppier at times from from you know, my time in
the league, remembering what it was like playing there regularly,
So yeah, it can be a bit of an advantage.
But you know, in the end, the app did win
Game one there, so you know, they've shown they can
win there and they've shown i mean, that game was

(26:34):
very tight up until midway through the third period. They've
you know, they've shown they can win those close games,
even though they lost in Games two and three in overtime. So,
like I said, similar blueprint to last night, it has
to be very smart hockey. You can't be stubborn. You
can't turn the puck over at the blue lines, which
the Ads have gotten in trouble, you know for a
couple of games to turn and puffs over and just

(26:55):
making it easy for the Dallas transition. So it has
to be a very very smart I think, just I've
been saying it on the broadcast, a non stubborn game
from the Abs.

Speaker 1 (27:09):
How do you feel about the power play?

Speaker 2 (27:10):
I mean, we've talked a ton about this and it's
been a point of contention. So hopefully the Abs move
on after this series and whether they play the Jets
of the Blues, but the power play has been a
source of frustration I imagine. Is there anything that they
can do at this point in the season or the postseason.

Speaker 5 (27:28):
Well, listen, there's you know, when you play a team
game in and game out in a seven game series,
the pre scouts are mind numbing the amount of information
that you're given, and so they've seen essentially every goal
that Colorado has scored throughout the regular season on the
power play. Probably not everyone, but you know, we'll call

(27:49):
it fifty percent of them. And the tendencies of all
the players on the power play as well as the
tendencies of what the power play is trying to do,
so anytime that happens, it's light adjustments or kind of
what are made. What I would say is special teams
if the Avs can win, and this has kind of
been the case through most of the series, although last

(28:10):
night it wasn't, but the special team's battle has kind
of determined the winner of the game. And so if
ABS penalty kill can shut down the Dallas power play,
then as power play can get a goal or two.
I mean, it's so huge, you know, the power player
will say looks better last night the one they had
there in the third late on the penalty on Calee mccarr.

(28:31):
They didn't score, but we were talking about it during
the broadcast. They didn't lose momentum, which I think is
the big thing. If you don't generate any shots, any
clear scoring chances, and it's just ice or ice down
the ice over and over again and all you're doing
is trying to break in and then the other team
is shutting you down and it's just tossed down the ice.

(28:51):
A lot of times that can be a huge momentum ship.
So for the Ads last night, although they didn't score
on that third period power play, I would say that
the momentum generated and kept from the power play chances,
it was a really good thing for them. The last call,
at five and a half minutes of.

Speaker 4 (29:06):
The game, we're talking to John Michael, Lyles' former outstanding
player with the Avs.

Speaker 3 (29:11):
John Mike, I want to ask you.

Speaker 4 (29:13):
One one question, final question from a Dallas perspective. You know,
Peter de Borr is highly regarded as a coach. I
think he's eight to zero in Game seven. He's a
guy that usually even for you know, Novice fans, he
usually it looks like he comes up with a real
good game plan. If you were looking from the stars

(29:35):
perspective at the current Avs, what what couple of things
would be most important for Dallas tomorrow night in terms
of getting control of the game.

Speaker 5 (29:47):
Well, listen, this is I'm kind of taking it from
his press conferences in Game five and then also his
press conference before Game six yesterday. You know, Peter Boor
is highly regarded his assist and coaches Steve Spott. I
actually had him at one point, and he's a very
brilliant hockey mind. And they've they've gone kind of all

(30:08):
over the place together. But Pete de Bor said after
Game five they matched the Jamie Ben line up against
the McKinnon line for the entire night essentially, and when
you have that home mis advantage, you get the luxury
of last change, and so they were able to get
the Ben line out there, and he thought that Jamie Benn,
even though he didn't score in that game, was really

(30:28):
really good. And so I'm sure that they're probably going
to go right back to that and line up at
the Ben. I believe it's Wyatt Johnson at de Danov
against McKinnon. So they, you know, Jared Bednar's got to
find some creative ways to hopefully get McKinnon out there
away from Jamie Ben. And then before Game six in
the morning, they talked about eighty percent of their pre

(30:48):
scout prior to the series was on McKinnon and mccarr
and so to me, I mean, yeah, like McKinnon and
mccarr two the best players in the league, and every
team keys on them, especially in the playoffs. But you
know Dallas is looking at them and mccarre having a
really good game in Game six, I think they're going

(31:09):
to be keying on McKinnon and mccar especially, So if
you can get some depth scoring, if you're the Ads,
if you can get that second line, which looked really
good last night. The Chushkin had a couple of goals,
brock Nelson looked really good. And since Gabe Landeskog has
moved on to that second line, I feel like they've
been very dangerous and it was only a matter of time.

(31:30):
So if you can get that second line going all
of a sudden, it makes your matchups a little bit tougher.

Speaker 3 (31:35):
If your petabor one quick question.

Speaker 4 (31:38):
You grew up in the Midwest, played college hockey in Michigan.
I grew up in Michigan. You grew up in skates
when you grew up in that part of the country.
Did you ever show up with figure skates when you
were a kid to the rink.

Speaker 5 (31:52):
I think I figure skated one time when I was
starting starting to learn to skate up in Indiana. So
it's you know, there's a handful of rinks in Indiana.
That's what I would say. I I think I did
it one time, and the next time I went out,
I you know, five or six years old, I had
hockey skates on, and I'm pretty sure I went for

(32:12):
the toe pick. It didn't exist. And then I just
I think I blasted my nose open on the ice
and there was blood everywhere. My mom My mom still
reminds me to this day.

Speaker 1 (32:23):
I know every time. Johnny, Hey, this was a lot
of fun.

Speaker 5 (32:27):
Man.

Speaker 1 (32:27):
Really appreciate your time.

Speaker 2 (32:29):
I mean, wonderful job as an analyst there on Altitude.
We really appreciate you joining us today.

Speaker 5 (32:33):
Man, appreciate it. Thanks for having me.

Speaker 3 (32:35):
Thanks man, Thank you. John Right.

Speaker 1 (32:37):
Oh, he's fantastic.

Speaker 4 (32:39):
Yeah, you know he knows the game. Sure, sure, he
is so good. Also, Rick, you shouldn't feel bad about
your future skating. That's for Ryan. I was just thinking
you shouldn't feel bad. You showed up with figure skates.

Speaker 2 (32:49):
You said, well, that's all that's all they had, right right,
I didn't have an option.

Speaker 3 (32:53):
Not that there's anything wrong with you, any wrong with that. No,
that's just fun, people said.

Speaker 1 (32:58):
I was confused.

Speaker 4 (33:05):
I read that, and I was like, wait, what, oh,
catch it would be no, wait, how many wis they have?

Speaker 3 (33:13):
Now? Six?

Speaker 1 (33:14):
They have six?

Speaker 3 (33:15):
Yeah, so win seven would be tonight tonight if they
were I got you. Yeah, Hey they're on a two
game heater. I know, Hey my pocketbook. Notice I was
putting money from minute.

Speaker 1 (33:31):
There last night.

Speaker 2 (33:33):
I know they'll have to mention where he's at in
his career and all those kinds of things.

Speaker 1 (33:37):
It's that's that's a win.

Speaker 3 (33:40):
Had more starts than any Rockies picture in history. Last
night was the Yeah that was last night. Yeah, that's incredible,
really incredible.

Speaker 2 (33:50):
You're off for hours and I've been half Actually that's
very good, big show. All right, Before we get to
our show with the money picks, some of the last
thoughts here you will call you Sea Dave.

Speaker 1 (34:00):
How do you feel Nuggets and Abs tomorrow?

Speaker 3 (34:02):
Who wins? Do they both win? I'll start with the Abs.
I think the Avs.

Speaker 4 (34:13):
I think the As will find a way to pull
out a victory. They are favored, yeah, which I didn't
realize that the road. They're abuck thirty five favorite. That's amazing, right,
So the Ass I think it'll be I think that'll
be a very very tough game. So uh and the Nuggets.

(34:33):
I'm I'm going to go with the Nuggets too. I'm
going to take the Nuggets at home, another tough one.
I think early in that game it's worth washing to
see the kind of sort of physical presence the Nuggets
have on defense. Are they up into people and moving

(34:54):
their feet and making it an aggressive sort of we're here.
This is not going to be easy temperament for the Clippers.

Speaker 3 (35:03):
They got to quit with the lazy passing too. That
was sloppy last night.

Speaker 4 (35:07):
They've done that periodically though at times.

Speaker 3 (35:11):
You know the last I mean quite a bit.

Speaker 4 (35:14):
So Yeah, but I think again, I think it starts
with the defense, and I think it'll be easy to
see early in the game if they do all, right, Rick,
Of the two, I feel like the Avalanche are the
most likely to win of the two.

Speaker 3 (35:30):
That being said, I think they'll both win.

Speaker 4 (35:33):
I think they both win games, Long Beach, Rick, Yeah,
but you got a problem with foll Cats, Long Beach, LB.

Speaker 3 (35:41):
Yeah, Yeah, it's good. Yeah. But if I if you
asked me to pick, which of the two do you
think is most likely?

Speaker 4 (35:47):
I would say as I would say Apps. But I
do think the Nuggets will get it done at home.
They better as win. I'll be at the Nuggets game.

Speaker 3 (35:58):
I hope they win. Oh boys, So if they lose,
you don't oistic, Benjamin. I can't play like you played
last night.

Speaker 1 (36:04):
And I'm still mad at I'm for costing me on
the money line. No, that's what it is. I had
a ten leg parlay going.

Speaker 3 (36:09):
It is the only thing I missed on.

Speaker 2 (36:10):
You really, are you gonna you just stand there at
the arena like.

Speaker 3 (36:17):
Staring at him as they walk out of them.

Speaker 1 (36:20):
But it'll be costing me money tonight, like like the
guys replacements, you've been missing some kicks. Yea, hey, Nicola, Hey, hey,
do better.

Speaker 3 (36:36):
Exactly exactly.

Speaker 1 (36:39):
I got a Bolls. I think they're all going to
win tomorrow.

Speaker 2 (36:41):
I'm I think I am very very optimistic that both
are gonna win tomorrow, and then we'll see what happens.

Speaker 1 (36:47):
It's so amazing, really quick. Before we get shimming the money.

Speaker 2 (36:50):
All of the next round of matchups in the NHL
already set.

Speaker 1 (36:54):
This one is the only one.

Speaker 2 (36:56):
The Avs haven't finished their series, and the Blues and
the Jets haven't their series either. It's pretty wild, so
It's not like Oklahoma City's waiting.

Speaker 4 (37:04):
For whomever wins tomorrow. In Dallas will be the favorite
in the next series. Moving on with the Blues, I
completely agree