PMT DB
PMT DB
Dusty May on FAU's Run, Kirk Goldsberry on NBA Math, and MLB Opening Day
We are live from a classroom at the University of Texas where Big Cat, PFT, and Hank just finished molding the minds of tomorrow's business leaders. It’s a packed show with Florida Atlantic head coach Dusty May joining us mid-Cinderella run and Professor Kirk Goldsberry breaking down why the math might be failing some of our favorite NBA stars. Plus, the boys of summer are back and the clock is ticking.
Baseball Is Back and Better?
Opening Day has finally arrived, and for the first time in years, the energy around the diamond feels different. PFT is already declaring the new pitch clock and larger bases a massive success for the fan experience.
PFT CommenterThe new MLB rules have made baseball watchable again
Overall, I think that what they've done is they've turned baseball into a game that more people will Congrats. We did it. We made baseball watchable again.
While the pace of play is improved, the predictions are as wild as ever. PFT is going all-in on the West Coast, while Big Cat is looking at the Florida analytics darlings to finally break through.
PFT CommenterThe San Diego Padres will win the World Series
My You wanna just say who our World Series champion is? Yes. San Diego Padres.
Big CatThe Tampa Bay Rays will win the World Series
You know what? I'll say it. This is the year. I think the Tampa Bay Rays are gonna win it all. They've been knocking at the door where like they'll have a couple years where their advanced analytics will always work... I think they're coming back up this year.
Big Cat is also high on his Cubs, though he’s keeping the expectations somewhat grounded for the North Side faithful.
Big CatThe Chicago Cubs are 'sneaky not bad' and close to being a good team
I actually am very excited for the Cubs because I think they're gonna be, my line is sneaky not bad. Sneaky not bad is very close to good. You got young guys you can root for, you're building something. I got Mancini, Swanson... it's sneaky not bad.
Final Four Fever with Dusty May
FAU head coach Dusty May joined the show to discuss the Owls' incredible journey to Houston. Between discussing his history as a student manager for Bobby Knight and the "rugby" style of play in the SEC, May explained exactly what makes this FAU team so dangerous to the blue bloods of the world.
Dusty MayFAU's brand of basketball is a fun, unselfish 'throwback' style designed to be entertaining
We have a fun style of play to watch. From day one we've wanted to be entertaining. You need to do something other than just win... to get people into a gymnasium when it's 80 degrees and clear skies out. We're very unselfish and we're a throwback team because we have a different best player almost every single game.
One of the more interesting technical gripes to come out of the tournament has been the consistency of the rock itself. Coach May didn't hold back on the logistical nightmare of switching between different manufacturers every week.
Dusty MayCollege basketball should have one universal ball for every team to use
It seems like we should have one universal ball for college basketball for every team to use... every game we go to we have to practice a different, we have a closet full basketballs, we have to practice with a different one every week depending on where we're playing. So I would think it's time for, for all of us to come together and... have one basketball for the betterment of the game.
Before letting him go, PFT tried to manifest a blowout for his futures bets, even though the country is desperate for a nail-biter.
PFT CommenterUConn will win the National Championship with back-to-back blowouts
I feel like we're in store for two UConn blowouts back to back... I get all I really need out of this Final Four is just one close game.
NBA Analytics with Professor Goldsberry
Kirk Goldsberry sat down in his own classroom to discuss the state of the NBA and why some of the league's biggest names are struggling under the microscope of advanced stats. The conversation immediately turned to Nikola Jokic and the defensive red flags that might haunt the Nuggets in the postseason.
Kirk GoldsberryNikola Jokic is giving up more points on layups than any player in the tracking era
He's giving up more points per game on layups as the closest defender of any player in the player tracking era, which is now 10 years. And so I brought that up because it's in the heat of this... chance for the Nuggets to finally get out of the Western Conference for Jokic to be a three time MVP.
Kirk GoldsberryNo team has won a title with a defense ranked 11th or worse in decades
No NBA team has won the championship with a defense that's ranked 11th or worse in the regular season in a very long time... The Denver Nuggets are not checking that box. So... you get exposed if you play Giannis in a seven game series.
It wasn't all doom and gloom for the superstars, though. Goldsberry pointed out that Kevin Durant is currently defying the "mid-range is dead" movement with a historic shooting season that could carry the Suns to a title.
Kirk GoldsberryKevin Durant is having the greatest mid-range season in 25 years
Kevin Durant is... arguably having the greatest mid-range season in the history since we've been tracking this for 25 years and he's breathing life into it and it's beautiful to watch... Kevin's almost 60% right now. It's incredible.
Kirk GoldsberryThe Phoenix Suns could win the NBA title primarily using the mid-range game
Devin Booker on his team and Chris Paul on his team, the Phoenix Suns this year have a chance not only win the championship but doing it in the mid-range.
To wrap up the NBA talk, Goldsberry proposed a solution to the constant flopping and foul-baiting that has slowed down the pro game, suggesting the league takes a page out of the college playbook.
Kirk GoldsberryThe NBA should bring back the 'one-and-one' free throw rule
When you make millions of dollars to shoot free throws, we, we don't need you to take one-on-one. Yeah. Like bring the one-on-one to the NBA. I think that's one thing we could do to actually increase the risk for some of these these guys.
Fyre Fest of the Week
Hank’s Fyre Fest involved a lost laptop and a confusing conversation about "fog machines" that left PFT feeling like the oldest man on earth. Meanwhile, Big Cat is staring down the barrel of a Game Time bet that has him sitting in the literal last row of NRG Stadium for the first game of the Final Four.
See you in the nosebleeds.
