PMT DB
PMT DB
Bob Huggins and Danny Woodhead on Grit Week, NBA Playoffs, and Vanny Woodhead
Grit Week 2017 has officially arrived, and it is smells like straight gasoline and determination. Big Cat, PFT Commenter, and Hank are broadcasting live from Mike Florio’s barn in West Virginia, having survived the first leg of their trip in "Vanny Woodhead," a 1993 Chevy Gladiator that is currently dripping fuel and struggling to hit 45 miles per hour on mountain inclines.
LeBron's Coward Performance
The guys started by addressing the elephant in the room: LeBron James and the Cavs finally dropped a game to the Celtics. While Hank is busy trying to convince himself that a five-year rebuild is a short timeline, Big Cat had some questions about why the King looked so disinterested on the floor.
Big CatAdam Silver texted LeBron James and told him to play bad for ratings and revenue
Did LeBron James get a text from Adam Silver being like, 'Hey, LeBron, all anyone can talk about is how the NBA Finals are nine days away after you sweep the Celtics. We're going to really need some more cash here, so could you just suck for an entire game and look totally disinterested?'
Hank, of course, is high on the Celtics' future even if the present looks like a gentleman's sweep. He’s convinced the youth movement in Boston is right on the verge of taking over the Eastern Conference.
HankThe Celtics are in year five of a rebuild and are closing in on LeBron James' tail
We're in year five of a rebuild. We have the number one draft pick. We're in the Eastern Conference Finals. We're clearly coming up on LeBron [James]'s tail. As long as we can dominate LeBron in the beginning of his career and then dominate him on the way out, I can be content with that.
PFT Commenter offered a more permanent solution for the guys' funeral arrangements should the leaky gas tank in the van finally ignite, suggesting that LeBron’s penchant for coming up short in Game 3 would make him the perfect person to carry a casket.
PFT CommenterIf we die in the van, LeBron James should be our pallbearer so he can let us down one final time
If we die in Vanny Woodhead, let's have LeBron James as one of our pallbearers so he can let us down one final time.
Danny Woodhead in Vanny Woodhead
The namesake of the van himself, Danny Woodhead, joined the show from inside the vehicle to discuss his move to the Baltimore Ravens and the nature of grit. PFT Commenter, who has been looking parallel at Danny for years, tried to get to the bottom of what makes a man truly gritty.
Danny WoodheadA truly gritty person doesn't want to explain what grit is
I think in all fairness, if you are gritty, you don't want to be the person explaining what it is. You just go out and you do your job every day. And then everyone else can decide if you're gritty or not.
They also got into some hard-hitting analysis regarding the leadership qualities of NFL quarterbacks. PFT noted that both Philip Rivers and Joe Flacco have massive families, leading to a theory about why they are so effective in the huddle.
PFT CommenterA quarterback's fertility and family size are indicators of strong leadership
Between [Philip] Rivers [having eight kids] and [Joe Flacco] having four... Is there something about fertility that you think makes a good leader? I think it just shows that they're strong... leading a big family. Family men, and they're strong leaders.
Press Virginia with Bob Huggins
West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins stopped by to talk about his 800-plus wins and his legendary "Press Virginia" defense. Huggins didn't hold back on his past, admitting that the 2000 Cincinnati team still haunts him because of what could have been if Kenyon Martin hadn't gone down.
Bob HugginsCincinnati would have won a national title in 2000 if Kenyon Martin didn't get hurt
I think anybody who doesn't [think we would have won] don't know anything about basketball. [I think about it] not more than four or five times a day.
Huggins also broke down the mechanics of his defensive philosophy. While many coaches obsess over shooting percentages or advanced metrics, the man in the jumpsuit prefers a much more active indicator of success on the court.
Bob HugginsDeflections are the most important stat when playing a press defense
Since we started pressing, it's deflections. Deflections is a sign of activity and energy. It's disruptive.
Olympic Updates and LaVar Ball
The show wrapped up with a look at the deteriorating medals from the Rio Olympics. Apparently, the gold is literally falling off, which led PFT to propose a new rule for the record books regarding the validity of those wins.
PFT CommenterIf an Olympic medal deteriorates, the athlete shouldn't be considered the winner anymore
I think the medals that were won in this Olympics, if they deteriorate, they shouldn't count. If the medal's gone, you didn't win it.
Finally, the guys touched on the latest LaVar Ball controversy regarding his comments on Kyrie Irving. Big Cat argued that we should probably stop expecting the CEO of Big Baller Brand to consult an encyclopedia before he opens his mouth on national television.
Big CatLaVar Ball should not be held accountable for facts in his takes
I'm not on board for fact checking LaVar Ball's takes on anything. As far as I'm concerned, LaVar Ball does not when he says things, he doesn't give a shit if they're true or not. He's a prey and spray kind of taker. He's just gonna shoot, shoot, shoot. LaVar Ball, he can't be held accountable for his takes.
Keep an eye out for the van in Detroit, Cleveland, and Cincinnati as the quest for grit continues.
Don't forget to get your steps in on the Fitbit by vigorously disputing traveling calls.
