PMT DB
PMT DB
Alex Caruso and Ray Romano on the NBA Finals, OKC's Dynasty, and Golf Tips
The Indiana Pacers are officially headed to the NBA Finals in 49 states, while in Indiana, it’s just another Monday because basketball is life. Big Cat and PFT opened the show by giving the Pacers their flowers after they dismantled the Knicks on the road. While Pascal Siakam took home the Eastern Conference Finals MVP, Big Cat made sure to point out who the real engine of that team is.
Big CatTyrese Haliburton is the most important player on the Indiana Pacers
Tyrese Haliburton is the straw that stirs the drink. Correct. He is. I mean, without Tyrese, none of this works. The instant baskets after a made layup. Those don't happen without him out-letting the ball down the court. He's the most important player, I think on the team.
The conversation naturally shifted to the defensive masterclass put on by Andrew Nembhard. The guy has spent the entire postseason turning elite scorers into absolute pumpkins. Big Cat noted that Nembhard’s defensive stats against the likes of Lillard, Mitchell, and now Brunson are the stuff of legend.
Big CatAndrew Nembhard is an elite defender based on his playoff performance against Lillard, Mitchell, and Brunson
Andrew Nembhard... was incredible... he was playing ferocious defense on [Brunson]... through the playoffs, he, when he, he's a primary defender. Damien Lillard... 23.3% field goal percentage... Donovan Mitchell... 23.3% field goal percentage... And then against Jalen Brunson, 38.2% field goal percentage... He was awesome.
The Death of the Bing Bong
Just as the guys were digging into the autopsy of the Knicks' season, Jerry O'Connell called Hank’s cell phone while literally sitting in a bathtub. It was a bizarre, classic PMT moment that featured Jerry trying to broker peace between Big Cat and his wife, Rebecca Romijn, after some Twitter blocking drama. Once the domestic disputes were settled, the focus returned to why the Knicks are watching the Finals from home. Hank isn't buying the "overachieved" narrative that Memes and other Knicks fans are leaning on.
HankThe New York Knicks will regret not going further in the 2025 playoffs
I think when time comes and you look back at this year, you're gonna regret not going farther. And you're gonna understand how golden of an opportunity this was to get to the finals with all of the injuries and the path just opening wide up.
Big Cat also came to the defense of Karl-Anthony Towns, who seems to be the designated fall guy every time a team he's on gets eliminated.
Big CatKarl-Anthony Towns is the greatest scapegoat in NBA history
I think Kat [Karl-Anthony Towns] is the greatest scapegoat in NBA history in terms of like, this happened with him with the Timberwolves too. And I'm not saying the Kat is a perfect player... But Kat is not like your only problem. He's still a big guy. And you'd rather, if you have a problem on defense, you'd rather he be a large man than a small man.
PFT was a bit more critical of the Knicks' star guard, pointing out that while he carries the offense, the defensive end is a different story.
PFT CommenterJalen Brunson is a liability on defense
you have to admit that Jalen Brunson is a liability on defense. Yes.
Alex Caruso Previews the Finals
Friend of the program Alex Caruso joined the show to talk about the Thunder’s run to the Finals. He’s the veteran presence on a young OKC team, though he joked about the difference between winning a ring in the "Mickey Mouse" bubble versus playing in front of a real crowd this time around. Big Cat is so high on this Thunder core that he’s already looking past this year and projecting a massive run of success.
Big CatThe 2025 OKC Thunder championship will be the worst title of their upcoming dynasty
We have gotten ahead of it and we think this actually will be the worst Thunder team to win a title in their dynasty run. 'cause you guys [Alex Caruso] are probably gonna win like six in a row. So you're saying this is the worst this year? Yeah. We just back where we'll be like, can you believe that team won?
Caruso gave some incredible insight into the physical toll of the postseason, specifically what it's like trying to guard the Joker.
Alex CarusoNikola Jokic is immovable and possesses the strength of an NFL offensive tackle
the dude is like, he's like offensive tackle strong. Like, he's like immovable, right? And then he doesn't like make these super aggressive moves to get into the post. He just like takes, takes a foot bumps you, takes another foot bumps you.
Ray Romano and Who's Back
Ray Romano hopped on to talk about the upcoming American Century Celebrity Golf Championship in Tahoe. Ray is a 14-handicap who is desperate to break the top 50 this year, mostly so he doesn't have to hear it from Charles Barkley. They also touched on his Jets fandom, where Ray is cautiously optimistic about the new-look offense now that they have a quarterback who can actually move.
Ray RomanoThe Jets have a chance this season because they finally have a mobile quarterback
I guess my question is, you know, do we have a chance? I mean, he's a great guy. He is a runner. Right? At least we got a runner. I always have faith.
In Who's Back, the guys covered Taylor Swift finally owning her masters (emotional labor for the Swifties), Bonnie Blue’s escalating numbers, and the upcoming Stanley Cup Final. Big Cat and Hank are split on the hockey results, with Big Cat riding with Connor McDavid.
Big CatThe Oilers will win the Stanley Cup in seven games
I think it's Oilers. I got Oilers in seven. I think it's Oilers.
Hank, ever the contrarian, is heading down south for his pick.
HankThe Florida Panthers will win the Stanley Cup in five games
I'll go Panthers in five.
If the Pacers keep winning, just look for the girl in the Indiana jersey—she's the lucky charm.
