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Celtics HC Joe Mazzulla, Nuggets HC Michael Malone, NBA Play Ins, Gregg Doyel creeped out America + Fyre Fest

Friday, April 19, 202415 takes

Gregg Doyel has successfully creeped out all of America with his weirdo lines in Caitlin Clark's introductory press conference and subsequent column that made it worse (-). We talk NBA Play In Games, Sixers survive and the Bulls are on a collision course with the Celtics which makes Hank very happy (-). Robert Kraft continues the worst offseason ever for an Owner and Hank shares his QB Draft big board in preparation for the draft (-). Celtics Head Coach Joe Mazzulla joins the show to talk about the Celtics, getting choked out, alpha male challenge with his dad, the Town, his scouting reports on quizlet and tons more (-). Nuggets Head Coach Michael Malone joins the show to talk about trying to go back to back, Jokic, his championship tattoo, keeping his team ready and more (-). We finish with Mr Pears second NBA pick and Fyre Fest of the week (-).

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.

Void
Apr 19, 2024
#23887
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

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.

The math on revenue sharing percentages in the NBA compared to total revenue generation is a well-documented economic debate in sports labor.

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.

Push
Apr 19, 2024
#2048
HankHank

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.

The Heat beat the Bulls in the play-in for the 8-seed, so the Celtics played the Heat. The Celtics won the series 4-1, proving that even the Heat weren't a major threat.

Big Cat isn't so sure it'll be a blowout, predicting a tight finish for the Friday night clash.

Loss
Apr 19, 2024
#2051
Big CatBig Cat

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?

The Heat won 112-91, which was not a one-possession game.

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.

Win
Apr 19, 2024
#2055
HankHank

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.

Kraft was notably booed during the Tom Brady Roast on Netflix shortly after this and has faced increased scrutiny during the 2024 season.

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.

Win
Apr 19, 2024·Picks
#2057
HankHank

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.

JJ McCarthy was drafted 10th overall by the Vikings, lower than the big 3 and Penix, which aligns with Hank's ranking (5th among the top group).

Hank also has some concerns about Drake Maye, specifically regarding the weight of the football and the prospect's height.

Loss
Apr 19, 2024·Picks
#2058
HankHank

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.

Drake Maye is 6'4'', which is tall for a QB, and his arm strength is considered elite by actual scouts, making the 'heavy ball' take highly subjective and likely incorrect.

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.

Loss
Apr 19, 2024·Picks
#2059
HankHank

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.

The Patriots stayed at 3 and drafted Drake Maye, ignoring Harrison Jr. and 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.

Void
Apr 19, 2024
#23888
Joe MazzullaJoe Mazzulla

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.

This is a subjective observation about psychology and competition.

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.

Win
Apr 19, 2024
#2063
Joe MazzullaJoe Mazzulla

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 is a philosophical principle that Mazzulla successfully applied to lead the Celtics to a championship shortly after this interview.

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.

Void
Apr 19, 2024
#23889
Joe MazzullaJoe Mazzulla

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?

Whether it actually affects rhythm is debatable, but the Celtics did have an historically efficient season.

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.

Void
Apr 19, 2024
#2061
Joe MazzullaJoe Mazzulla

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.

This is a personal lifestyle choice based on his worldview.

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.

Void
Apr 19, 2024
#2062
Joe MazzullaJoe Mazzulla

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.

This is a personal habit rooted in safety/strategic thinking and cannot be objectively proven correct or incorrect.

To wrap up, Mazzulla settles the debate on the Mount Rushmore of Italians by picking four heroes who truly represent the culture.

Void
Apr 19, 2024
#23890
Joe MazzullaJoe Mazzulla

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.

Purely subjective and comedic.

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.

Win
Apr 19, 2024
#2064
Michael MaloneMichael Malone

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.

Wembanyama unanimously won Rookie of the Year and finished 2nd in DPOY voting, largely validating this take.

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.

Push
Apr 19, 2024
#2065
Michael MaloneMichael Malone

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 Thunder won their first-round series but lost in the second round to the Mavericks, showing they were capable of winning playoff games but not yet a title.

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.

nfl-draftnba-playoffscelticsnuggetscaitlin-clarkfyre-fest

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