Joe Mazzulla and Michael Malone on NBA Play-Ins and Playoff Previews
The show opens with Big Cat and PFT reacting to Gregg Doyel's incredibly awkward interaction with Caitlin Clark during her introductory press conference. Between the heart hands and the weird follow-up comments, the guys are left wondering how a professional reporter could fumble the bag that badly. PFT notes that while people are debating the WNBA pay scale, the math actually points toward a different conclusion for the men's side.
The WNBA/NBA pay gap argument actually proves that NBA players are currently underpaid based on their revenue generation
NBA players obviously make way more money than WNBA players, but the league revenue is much higher. So at the same time, [people] are making the argument that NBA players should actually be paid more for what they're bringing. But their salaries are artificially deflated by the collective bargaining agreement that they have.
Hank is in full Celtics mode as the Play-In tournament shapes up. While the Sixers managed to escape the Heat, the focus turns to the Bulls-Heat matchup on Friday night. Hank is openly rooting for the Bulls to win just so the Celtics can have an easy path through the first round.
I'd much rather the Celtics play the Bulls in the first round because it's a free win
I mean the Heat obviously have had success against us. No Jimmy Butler... but still it's like, you just don't mess with [the Heat]. Forget about the Heat. Don't mess with it. If you play the Bulls, it's much better... I just want the free win.
Big Cat isn't so sure it'll be a blowout, predicting a tight finish for the Friday night clash.
The Bulls-Heat game will be a one-possession game with three minutes left
I honestly just, if my, if I had to give you my take on the game, it's gonna be a one possession game with three minutes left and then who the fuck knows?
Robert Kraft is also under fire after reports surfaced that he may have warned Arthur Blank about hiring Bill Belichick. Hank admits that the legendary Patriots owner might be losing the fan base's goodwill, especially with a statue unveiling for Tom Brady on the horizon.
Robert Kraft is going to start getting booed at Patriots events
He is entering territory where it's like he's gonna start getting like boos, which is insane. But like he is, he has set himself up for that... and I could see there being like boos or, or something where like that's gonna, that's gonna rattle him.
In preparation for the NFL Draft, Hank finally reveals his quarterback big board. It is... controversial to say the least. After watching roughly 13 minutes of YouTube highlights, Hank has some very specific concerns about the top prospects, starting with JJ McCarthy.
JJ McCarthy is my 5th ranked QB because he's a game-managing system quarterback
JJ McCarthy... is the bottom... He doesn't throw, he didn't see any long balls or all the long balls are wide open. Short throw. Short throws... he's seen the, he, he was a game manager. System quarterback.
Hank also has some concerns about Drake Maye, specifically regarding the weight of the football and the prospect's height.
Drake Maye looks short on film and the ball looks heavy in his hands
Drake Maye... This was the biggest, the biggest deterrent and, and the thing that I see happening the most, the ball seems very heavy in his hands... It just seems like it takes him a long time to get the ball up and out... [He] looked short in the film that I was watching.
Despite all his complaints about the current top options for the Patriots at pick number three, Hank has a specific dream scenario for the draft that involves a massive trade back up into the first round.
My best-case draft scenario is drafting Marvin Harrison Jr. and trading up for Michael Penix Jr.
If it were up to me. Marvin Harrison, Jr. Trade up Michael Penix. That's, that's my best case scenario draft... trade up to... get Penix Jr.
Joe Mazzulla's Alpha Mindset
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla joins the show and immediately wins everyone over by revealing he was choked out in Jiu-Jitsu practice the day after a tough loss to Atlanta. Mazzulla explains that he uses combat sports to simulate the stress and pressure of the NBA playoffs, noting that mental toughness is about staying calm when a submission feels imminent.
Most people tap out in Jiu-Jitsu because of the fear of being in the submission, not because it actually hurts yet
Most people tap before it actually, like before the submission actually hurts, right? It's like the fear of being in the submission is when you tap. And so like that can be applicable to handling championship expectations or success.
Mazzulla's philosophy on winning is just as intense. He treats every lead as a dangerous position, referencing UFC 300 to explain why the Celtics can't ever relax on the court.
The more successful you are, the closer you are to losing
The closer you are to winning, the closer you are to losing. Right? So like, you saw it at UFC 300... most people can't handle the fact that you think you beat your opponent, but now you still have to fight them.
This intensity extends to the whistle. Mazzulla explains his habit of contesting shots after the whistle, even from the coaching box, because he refuses to let an opponent get into a rhythm on his floor.
You can't allow the best player on the opposing team to take a practice shot after the whistle because it's insulting and helps them find rhythm
I don't understand how you could give your opponent any opportunity to feel good about themselves on your half of the turf... I don't think there's anything more insulting than allowing your opponent to do that... What if that one kind of gets the, gets him the rhythm that he needs to make one?
The interview gets truly legendary when Mazzulla discusses his daily life, which sounds like a deleted scene from *The Town*. He is constantly scanning for exits and threats, leading to some very specific rules for navigating the world, including a strict ban on revolving doors.
I refuse to walk through revolving doors because you are a sitting duck if they get stuck
I won't walk through revolving doors. Because like one of them gets stuck, then you're just a sitting duck. Avoid them. Get stuck, you're, you're screwed.
He doesn't stop there. Whether he's at a restaurant or grabbing a coffee, the coach is always looking for the tactical advantage in the room.
I never sit with my back to the door in restaurants so I can always have a vantage point
I never sit with my back to the door like you in a restaurant. I never sit with my back to the door. You always gotta sit to where You can have a vantage point of like, everything that's going on around you.
To wrap up, Mazzulla settles the debate on the Mount Rushmore of Italians by picking four heroes who truly represent the culture.
The Ninja Turtles are the Mount Rushmore of Italians
I think the Ninja Turtles are probably up there [on the Mount Rushmore of Italians]... Rafael's more my personality. Michelangelo is my son's favorite, so I flock to him.
Michael Malone and the Quest for a Repeat
Nuggets head coach Michael Malone returns to the show to talk about the grind of defending a title. He discusses the evolution of Victor Wembanyama, admitting that the rookie's progress throughout the season was unlike anything he's ever seen from a player that size.
Victor Wembanyama is the future of the NBA and has no weaknesses
Yes, you're watching Wembanyama and you're saying, wow, this guy is a future of the NBA... Wendy's ability to be a playmaker. His passing ability, he was making all his teammates better... he's gonna get stronger, but I, I don't see any weaknesses in his game.
As the Nuggets look at the Western Conference landscape, Malone isn't buying the narrative that the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder are too young to make a deep run. He cites his own team's experience in the bubble and their early playoff runs as proof that talent and coaching can overcome a lack of veteran hardware.
The Oklahoma City Thunder aren't too young to win a title
I don't buy into the hole, they're too young to win it. Last year people thought, well, we've never won a championship. They can't win a finals... They have the talent, they have the coaching, and I think these Western conference playoffs are just gonna be so fun to watch.
The show finishes with Mr. Pear's latest NBA pick and a classic Fyre Fest of the week. PFT reveals he was banned from a tortoise forum for asking gambling-related questions, and Hank admits he's addicted to watching old Masters broadcasts to fall asleep.
At least Mr. Pear finally picked the Bulls, giving Big Cat some hope for Friday night.

