PMT DB
PMT DB
Ryen Russillo and Keith Yandle on NBA and NHL Finals Previews
The NBA Finals are finally set, but the biggest news of the morning dropped right before recording: Tom Thibodeau is out in New York. Big Cat and PFT immediately started looking at the vacancy, specifically wondering if Jay Wright's music is playing in the background. While Max tried to insist Wright is happily retired, Big Cat isn't buying it given the Villanova connection already established on the roster.
Big CatJay Wright as the head coach of the Knicks would be fantastic.
Jay Wright as the Nick's head coach would be fantastic... outside Rick Brunson, he has more connections, deeper connections than anyone else out there in the coaching pool.
Before shifting to the hardwood, the guys checked the temperature on CJ Stroud's "general soreness" in Houston. While the team says it's no big deal, PFT is already spiraling into a specialized form of NFL anxiety.
PFT CommenterI'm anxious that CJ Stroud's arm soreness will become a long-term worry.
I'm not worried about him yet. But I am worried that I might end up worried about him. Pre-worried. I'm worried that I'm gonna be worried about him. Yeah. I think they call that anxiety.
Hot Seat Cool Throne featured a heavy dose of chess drama. Magnus Carlsen, the man supposedly unbeatable at the board, has been catching Ls lately. The guys watched a viral clip of Carlsen slamming the table after a blunder, leading to a discussion about whether he's actually washed or just having a bad week.
PFT CommenterMagnus Carlsen is no longer the GOAT of chess because I've only seen him lose for 48 hours.
I'm gonna say right now, Magnus [Carlsen] not the best. 'cause I have been watching chess religiously for almost 48 hours now. And all I've seen is Magnus lost.
On the Cool Throne side, Big Cat is continuing his campaign for Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh to get some hardware. Between the defense and the power, the campaign for the "Big Dumpy" MVP is officially in full swing.
Ryen Russillo joined the show to breakdown Thunder vs. Pacers. While the Pacers have been the feel-good story of the playoffs, Ryen and Big Cat both look at the Oklahoma City defense as an immovable object. Big Cat thinks the perimeter pressure will simply be too much for Tyrese Haliburton to navigate over a seven-game series.
Big CatThe Oklahoma City Thunder defense will be too suffocating for the Indiana Pacers to handle.
I just can't get over the fact that the Thunder's defense is so fucking suffocating and they have so many guys that they can throw at you and just like, even I know regular season doesn't matter. Like [Dort] is gonna make Halliburton work his ass off.
Ryen RussilloThe Oklahoma City Thunder can match or exceed the Indiana Pacers in transition and bench depth.
The things that the Pacers pride themselves on running, keeping the basketball not turning it over... the Thunder can match you with a better bench. Their bench has actually played better. They've taken care of the basketball better and they're more than ready to run with you if you wanna run with them.
Ryen also provided some spicy off-season fodder regarding the Phoenix Suns and their current roster construction. While everyone is focused on the Finals, the smoke surrounding a certain superstar in the desert is starting to get thick.
Ryen RussilloKevin Durant might be traded by the Suns this offseason.
I don't know, I feel like the seeds have been planted... I thought last year he was, there was a lot of stuff right. A lot of stuff around the draft. There was like rumors about Houston... I feel like the seeds have been planted.
The conversation shifted to the hierarchy of the league and why, despite how good SGA has been, he isn't quite at the top of the mountain yet. Ryen made it clear that there is a distinct gap between the mere mortals and the Joker.
Ryen RussilloNikola Jokic is on an unobtainable level compared to the rest of the NBA.
To me [Jokic] is unobtainable. Like you cannot get to his level right now. And there's gonna be a lot of people arguing [SGA] just because it's better... But I don't think a sane person, a real basketball person should look at this and be like, okay, SGA is now the best in the world.
Ryen RussilloThe Oklahoma City Thunder will win the NBA Finals in five games.
Thunder in five. I played, I think it was plus six 80 Thunder Games one and two, Pacers Game three, thunder game four and five.
Keith Yandle hopped on to get everyone ready for the Stanley Cup Final. He’s fully biased toward his Florida Panthers, but he’s backing it up with the fact that this roster is actually an upgrade over the one that just won it all last year.
Keith YandleThe Florida Panthers are a better and deeper team than they were during their 2024 championship run.
In my opinion, I would say Florida got, you know, obviously they were really good last year and won it all, but I think they got even better and even deeper.
Keith YandleThe Florida Panthers will win the Stanley Cup in six games.
I think it's gonna go six. I think they steal one on the road early and take care of business at home and then win it at home. I think winning at home game six would be huge.
Yans also touched on the controversy surrounding Paul Maurice and the handshake line. As a traditionalist, Yandle thinks the coaches skipping out on the best tradition in sports is a massive mistake.
Keith YandleCoaches should always be involved in the post-series handshake line.
I just think that, you know, maybe [Paul Maurice] is downplaying how much that the coaches mean to a team... I think they deserve to be in there and, you know, whether you're winning a series or losing a series, going through that handshake line, you know, just what it means to shake every guy's hand... I think it's one of the best traditions in hockey and it shouldn't be taken away.
The show wrapped up with a legendary lottery ball segment involving the first-ever VAR review in pmtdb history. Big Cat claimed 74, the machine confirmed it, and the "cream team" of Zach and Jacob are officially ready to bring the ice cream machine to life.
Watch your back, Tyrese Haliburton, Lou Dort is coming.
