Hooked on Sports

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA title in 50 years on Tuesday night with a captivating 50 point performance, but what NBA legend was John reminded of last night in watching the 2-time MVP close out the Phoenix Suns, and why was last night such a hopeful night for the NBA? John also discusses news regarding the 49ers, including defensive back Jimmie Ward calling out new Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, how head coach Kyle Shanahan should handle the team's quarterback situations between Jimmy Garappolo and rookie Trey Lance, and two of the league's best linebackers securing long term contracts on Wednesday just before training camp. And, should American soccer fans be worried after the American women lost their Olympic opening match against Sweden? And the residents of Brisbane, Australia should be excited after learning that the city will host the 2032 Summer Olympics.

After an exciting and successful weekend in sports, John unpacks everything that went on, including Giannis' dominating Game 3 of the NBA Finals and whether his legacy is on the line in this year's Finals, and what the Bucks must do to win Game 4 tonight. He also discusses other issues like the good and the bad of MLB All Star festivities this year, Italy capturing its first European title in soccer in 53 years, how gymnast Simone Biles is silencing her critics ahead of next week's Tokyo Olympics, and more!

This week's podcast dives into the NFL defenses as the league gets ready for training camps to begin at the end of the month; John will look at all the league's defenses and power rank each division solely by its collection of defenses. But before he unveils his rankings, he gets into hot button stories such as Sha'Carri Richardson's marijuana usage, the Olympics taking place without fans (likely), the NBA Finals getting underway, and the Stanley Cup Final potentially wrapping up tonight.

The Phoenix Suns are set to return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1993 and for just the third time in franchise history after defeating the L.A. Clippers in the Western Conference Finals. So what should the expectations be for Phoenix in the Finals? The East picture is less clear, however, with both the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks missing their best players in this stage of the series, but there is one take Flynn is bullish on, who knows how it would turn out. He also gets into the Tampa Bay Lightning's series victory over the Islanders and the Montreal Canadiens' Cinderella run to the Stanley Cup Final, and why their regular season record should not suggest a fluke, and talks about the problems the Phillies and Yankees are facing as the All-Star break approaches.

Amidst Flynn's new microphone, he gives a blunt analysis on the state of the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers following gruseome Game 7 defeats in their respective Eastern Conference Semifinals series. The Nets lost their series to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, while the Sixers dropped Game 7 to Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night. So what questions should be raised about the future of the Kevin Durant/Kyrie Irving/James Harden Nets and about Ben Simmons' future in Philadelphia. 

Also, who will win the Western and Eastern Conference Finals? Flynn makes his predictions as they get underway. 

Can the Islanders recover from their 8-0 blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 5? And can the Montreal Canadiens recover from their overtime loss against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday night? That, and more in a new era on this podcast.

Timemarks:

The new microphone (0:05)

Lessons Nets should learn from disappointing sason (4:41)

Lessons Sixers should take away from their season (14:14)

Conference Finals Previews (22:12)

NHL Roundup (28:08)

NFL - Jets interested in multi-year deal with Morgan Moses, and Carl Nassib comes out (34:08)

MLB quick hits (36:08)

WE'VE HIT ONE HUNDRED EPISODES!

But that doesn't stop John from talking about some big news in sports this week, and has some unpopular takes on the big trade that sent All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones from the Atlanta Falcons to the Tennessee Titans, particularly from a Falcons perspective that they might... win the trade after all?!?! Plus, he gets into the sticky situation between the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers and how it relates to Rodgers... coming back?!?!, and rounds up the Stanley Cup and NBA Playoffs, including Bruce Cassidy's comments about officiating in the Bruins-Islanders series. Also, if the Yankees fire Aaron Boone, John gives a familiar name to replace him as manager, and can anyone in the NL East compete with the Mets in the division?

Julio Jones traded from Falcons to Titans (01:24)

Aaron Rodgers saga (14:31)

Stanley Cup Playoffs Roundup (17:08)

NBA Playoffs Round-Up & Embiid's value to the Philadelphia 76ers (32:19)

Time for the Yankees to make changes? (40:03)

Jacob deGrom's greatness and a big problem in the NL East (47:41)

In a voluminous week to talk sports, John talks about the surprise announcement of Danny Ainge stepping down as Boston Celtics president of basketball operations and head coach Brad Stevens replacing him, and who the team might hire as their next head coach. Also, can the Lakers bounce back and win Game 6 against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday evening and keep their season alive, potentially without Anthony Davis? And John says it's time for the Toronto Maple Leafs to face reality, for Canada's sake, after they blew a 3-1 series lead against the Montreal Canadiens and were eliminated with a Game 7 loss at home on Monday. 

Plus, John looks at the baseball standings two months into the season, talks about the Giants, Cubs, Pirates, Mets, and some of the key matchups this weekend, including a fun four-game series in San Diego with great pitching between the Padres & Mets, and the Red Sox and Yankees facing off for the first time this season in the Bronx. Then, he'll predict the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs and go through the rest of the matchups in the NBA Playoffs.

This week's podcast dives all into the NBA Playoffs, and why one team's future is very much in doubt, some of the impressive team performances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, such as the Boston Bruins and Winnipeg Jets, and then discuss the futures of NFL stars in trade limbo like Atlanta's Julio Jones, and the missing-in-action-from-Packers-OTA's Aaron Rodgers.

NFL fans had been anticipating the night that the schedule would be released for months now, and now they know when their teams are playing who, the much-discussed primetime slate of games across the networks, and the must-see matchups that'll generate the buzz and importance, beginning with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beginning their Super Bowl title defense on September 9th when they host the Dallas Cowboys. John talks over the games that stood out to him when reading and reviewing the schedule, and notice the common themes that John stresses when he looks at the schedule. Also, John makes his picks and predictions for Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the matchups *pretty much* set, and discusses the NBA playoff picture as it becomes more clear. And can Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit overcome the controversy surrounding his victory and drug tests and capture the Preakness at Pimlico on Saturday?

John offers two winners and two losers from the 2020 NFL Draft, and of course, the feud between Aaron Rodgers and the Packers and how that's likely going to end. He also talks about the state of the NBA playoff races and reacts to the New York Rangers making sweeping changes.. again, and more.