PMT DB
PMT DB
Keith Yandle, Pablo Torre on the Belichick Saga, and the Celtics' Darkest Day
The vibes in the studio were at an all-time low to start the show. Between the Pacers dismantling the Cavs and the Celtics potentially losing their entire future in one play, it was a rough night for the residents of the office. Big Cat and PFT tried to make sense of the Eastern Conference landscape, including a potential LeBron homecoming that feels more realistic after Cleveland's early exit.
Big CatLeBron James will opt out of his contract and finish his career in Cleveland
I'll say this PFT, LeBron, he's gonna opt out. He's gonna opt out. Could he, could he end his career in Cleveland? Could he fix everything? Well, no, he, he might opt out to take less money, but that would be fun if he did the opt out And we had like a day or two of being like, calves coming home one last time.
While the Cavs are soul-searching, the real tragedy struck in Boston. Jayson Tatum went down with a non-contact injury that was confirmed as a torn Achilles. Hank is currently in the denial stage of grief, alternating between wanting to fight God and offering up his own body parts to the Celtics' cause.
HankI'd give my own Achilles to Jayson Tatum to heal him
I'd give him my Achilles. [I'd do it] for the city. Believe in Boston. Yeah. That's... I just want to beat New York. That's really where in my mind [I am].
Despite the catastrophic news, Hank is still trying to convince himself—and the world—that the Celtics aren't dead yet. He believes the depth of the roster can still carry them to a title, even if he has to watch Jalen Brunson dance on their grave in the meantime.
HankThe Celtics can still win the NBA Championship even without Jayson Tatum
We have a bunch of champions on this team. We still have the Eastern Conference finals MVP, we have the finals MVP we ready to go... I still think we could win the championship, but that's where I'm at is, is just make it as far along in the season as we can because once the off season comes, a lot of things are gonna change.
The Rigged Lottery and the Mavs' Luck
Big Cat, PFT, and Max actually attended the NBA Draft Lottery in person, and they came away feeling like absolute marks. After being treated to a mediocre buffet and a tour of the "unriggable" ball machine, they watched as the Dallas Mavericks jumped into the top spot with a 1.8% chance. PFT isn't buying the league's transparency act for a second.
PFT CommenterThe NBA Draft Lottery is rigged despite the league's attempts to prove otherwise
I think the media is now welcome at the draft lottery because he used to see it behind the scenes... he was laying it on thick. He was doing a lot of unrigable talk... if it was rigged, this is exactly how they would've rigged it. Exactly how they'd rig it. Exactly... you can pick and choose Max... that shit's fucking rigged and I fucking hate it and there should be an investigation.
With the Mavs now holding the keys to the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes, the trade theories are already flying. Whether it's the Wizards trying to overpay for the pick or the Bucks hitting the reset button, the #1 overall selection is the biggest chess piece in the league right now.
PFT CommenterThe Mavericks should trade the #1 pick to the Wizards for the #6 pick
If you're the Wizard's front office, do you pick up that phone and do you call Nico [Harrison] and do you say... we will offer you the number six overall pick for the number one overall pick... If you pick the one overall pick and he ends up not being good, you could get fired. You're dead. If you take the six overall pick, people don't really expect a lot from that player.
Big Cat even floated the idea of a Giannis-to-Dallas blockbuster, which would satisfy the Greek Freak's reported desire to play in a state without income tax while giving the Bucks a generational talent to build around.
Big CatThe Mavericks will trade the #1 pick for Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Giannis thing is interesting because Giannis did say that he wants to play in a state with no income tax reportedly. And would that, I think the Bucks would absolutely do that trade... if you're the Bucks and you're like, 'Hey, we're not gonna win with Giannis, but we can get Cooper Flagg and reset everything.' And the Mavs would be an immediate [contender] with Giannis.
Investigating Jordan/Jordon and Bill
Pablo Torre joined the show to break down his deep dive into the relationship between Bill Belichick and Jordan Hudson. The details are as bizarre as you’d expect, involving Jordan reportedly negotiating Super Bowl commercials with Ben Affleck and controlling Bill's media appearances like a seasoned veteran.
Pablo TorreJordan Hudson has appointed herself as Bill Belichick's agent and media manager
It turned out that she had appointed herself Bill Belichick's agent and was the one negotiating with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon... She was the one, or at least she had a very controlling interest in saying, we can't do North Carolina because we're doing that for something else... she was CC'd on every single email at Carolina by Belichick's request.
From ring camera footage to the power struggle at UNC, Pablo paints a picture of a 19-year-old (at the time) who has completely overhauled the life of the greatest coach in NFL history. It’s a story about power, ambition, and a 28,000-year-old artifact that probably should have stayed in Provincetown.
Playoff Hockey with Keith Yandle
Our guy Keith Yandle stopped by to talk about the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the absolute mental collapse of Biz during the Leafs/Panthers series. Ys is riding high on the Panthers' momentum and even took some credit for their Game 5 win after he was the one banging the drum. He also went out of his way to highlight the physical dominance of one of the league's most polarizing players.
Keith YandleTom Wilson is a bonafide star who should be on the Olympic team
I gotta give a shout out to and put some respect on his name is Tom Wilson. Like he's obviously, you know, he's been around a long time. He's an unbelievable player, but I think he is a bonafide star right now. Like he should be on that Olympic team. No one wants to play against him.
As for the finale, Yandle is sticking to his guns on a "No Tax State" Cup Final that would make the northern traditionalists absolutely miserable.
Keith YandleThe Stanley Cup Final will be the Florida Panthers vs the Dallas Stars
I've said it from the beginning that it, it's gonna be Panther Stars. So I'm sticking with that... I'll still stick with Dallas coming out of the west and Florida coming out of the east and you know, just another, no, no Tax City Stanley Cup finals.
Hot Seat/Cool Throne
Big Cat's Hot Seat is the NFL schedule release, which has become a week-long edging session that no one asked for. Instead of just dropping the grid, the league is leaking games one by one to satisfy broadcast partners, and it's driving everyone insane.
Big CatThe NFL has ruined the schedule release by leaking too many individual games
I'm so sick of this fucking schedule release week. It sucks. It fucking sucks. Give me the whole schedule. Stop giving me a piece of a game here and there... They've completely ruined something that was kind of fun. And now it's just become, 'cause now I'm piecing it all together... Just gimme the whole schedule. They've completely ruined something that was kind of fun.
On the Cool Throne, Big Cat has officially formed "The Cream Team" to install a soft serve machine in the office. Despite Hank’s protests and the very real threat of diabetes, the decision is final. It's about quality of life and the pursuit of the perfect swirl.
Big CatInstalling a soft serve ice cream machine in the office is a life-changing move
I reassessed my life and I realized that a life without constant access to soft serve ice cream is not a life I want to live anymore... I trade [shooting a diamond out of my dick] in a heartbeat. I mean a soft serve machine. It's like a, it's a gold mine. It's a dream of mine. It's the best. I love soft serve ice cream. It's so good. And it's good for you.
If the Celtics lose Game 5, Hank might actually be the first person to ever use a soft serve machine as a primary coping mechanism.
