This is an IHeart podcast.

You're tuned in to Heat Check with Trista Crick.

On this episode of the Heat Check, friend of show, Brendan Glashine returns to breakdown.

What's happening in the NBA again, folks.

Brennan, by the way, is a play-by-play man for the main Celtics of the G League. Also, WMBA's Connecticut Sun, as well as a host on ESPN, Draft Kings, and an Action Network contributor, so he works a lot. He joined me and my co-host Ryan Horvott and Nick Aschew on BedMGM tonight. On a recent episode, talked about the Dallas Mavericks,

the Milwaukee Bucks, as well as his thoughts on the MVP race and the rookie of the year.

I enjoyed this conversation, so Nick, do me a favor and drop that beat.

With Chris Middleton back, we wanted to know what impact his return might have on the bucks and whether that actually made them favorites for the NBA title.

As Brendan's Celtics insider, I thought his answer was very interesting.

Maybe a little bias. We then get into his

thoughts on what's happening in Dallas as well. Yeah, well, having Middleton back, I thought his

absence in the playoffs, particularly against Boston and the East Semis was was glaring. And the

fact that Janus and company kept that series close, I think is a compliment to Janus and what his game's all about, elevating others, making others around him better, putting role players in situations to succeed.

You know, having him back and I was just looking, I noticed that the ticker here on the side, I couldn't believe it.

Brooke Lopez is the frontrunner to win defensive player of the year.

He's been a block machine.

Janus is in.

I've said this now for a while.

I think Janus belongs in that category as LeBron in terms of, okay, his name's going to be up

there for MVP now every year.

And as we know with the MVP award, it's very subjective, no matter what league

you're talking about. If you're in the discussion every year, you get kind of boring. You're not

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