PMT DB
PMT DB
Mike Breen on the 'Bang,' NBA Finals, and the Bears' Hard Knocks Anxiety
The NBA Finals are finally set, but not before Luka Dončić and the Mavs absolutely dismantled the Timberwolves in five games. It was a dominant performance from Luka, who outscored the entire Minnesota roster himself in the first quarter. While Anthony Edwards remains the future of the league, the guys had a much harder time finding silver linings for Karl-Anthony Towns. PFT thinks rooting for KAT might be the ultimate test of patience for any basketball fan.
PFT CommenterKarl-Anthony Towns is the hardest player in the NBA to fully get behind and root for.
If you're a Timberwolves fan, I, God bless you because you are, you have to root for Karl-Anthony Towns. He must be so infuriating to root for. I'm just saying he, he is probably the hardest player to fully delude yourself into getting behind in the [NBA].
Big Cat was also quick to point out that Minnesota's fashion choices didn't help their cause. You can't show up to an elimination game looking like you're wearing an in-season tournament alternate from October and expect to win. Between the jerseys and the lack of post presence from their big man, the Wolves never stood a chance.
Big CatKarl-Anthony Towns cannot claim to be the best big man shooter of all time because he lacks post moves.
Karl-Anthony Towns is a self-proclaimed best big man shooter of all time. I feel like you have to have post moves, like really good post moves to be able to say that, to claim that. Otherwise, you're just a tall shooter. There's a difference between being tall and being a big man.
NBA Finals Predictions
With the Mavericks and Celtics officially meeting in the Finals, the internal dynamics at PMT are reaching a boiling point. Hank is already wearing his Lucky-stomping-Kyrie shirt, while Max is convinced the Celtics are frauds who haven't been tested. The predictions are all over the place, with Big Cat sensing a long, drawn-out battle.
Big CatThe Celtics will beat the Mavericks in 7 games
My gut kneejerk is Celtics and seven
While Hank is leaning toward a six-game clincher for Boston, PFT is taking it a step further. He’s fully embracing the Celtics' wagon and thinks they might just run away with it in five.
PFT CommenterThe Celtics will beat the Mavericks in 5 games
My gut reaction is Celtics in five. I think so. I'm a bigger Celtics fan than Hank is, I guess.
Max, however, is the lone voice of dissent, pointing out that when the game is on the line, he trusts the Mavs' closers far more than Jason Tatum or Jalen Brown. It’s the ultimate "test vs. talent" debate, and Big Cat is already mapping out his gambling strategy for what he expects to be a see-saw series.
Big CatI'm going to bet whoever loses Game 1 of the NBA Finals because the series is definitely going to seven games.
One strategy. I actually, the one only betting strategy I think I have for this is I think I'm just gonna bet whoever loses game one because I do think it's gonna go seven. So no matter who loses game one, I'm just gonna bet that they're gonna trade games back and forth.
The Bears are on Hard Knocks
It’s official: Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears are headed to HBO. While most fans are thrilled to see the behind-the-scenes look at the new-look offense, Big Cat is currently vibrating with a mix of excitement and pure, unadulterated terror. He’s seen this movie before, and he knows that the Hard Knocks hype machine can be a dangerous thing for a fragile fan base.
Big CatI'm worried Hard Knocks will ruin the Bears' upcoming season
There's a small part of me that's worried that hard knocks might taint all the success the Bears have had these last few years. Like this could go south.
Mike Breen Joins the Show
The voice of the NBA, Mike Breen, joined the guys to talk about his transition from Fordham radio to calling some of the biggest moments in sports history. He shared an incredible story about the late Bill Walton's kindness toward his father and gave us the origin of the "Bang!" call. Interestingly, Breen admits that while he loves the accuracy of replay, he hates what it does to the rhythm of a great game.
Mike BreenInstant replay has become a 'necessary evil' that hurts the flow and quality of the NBA product.
I don't know if [replay has] made it more difficult [to announce]. I think it hurts the product a little bit. It's become a necessary evil and they're certainly not going back to no replay. But there are certain times that the flow of the game is affected and that's when the games at it's best... those games, especially a playoff game where it's like a three, four minute review, those are maddening to me.
Breen also touched on how the industry has shifted since he started. The days of the "calmer" broadcast are gone, replaced by a high-octane style that mirrors the speed of the modern game. Big Cat even tried to pitch him on bringing his signature call to the NFL, specifically for the most exciting play in football: the game-winning field goal.
Big CatThe 'Bang!' call would work perfectly for a game-winning NFL field goal.
Can 'bang' go in any other sports? Could you use it in any other sports? I think you go hands. You wait for hands. Game winning field goal. Bang! Works. [A] game winning field goal, 'bang' works.
MLB Records and Fyre Fest
The guys also tackled the recent news of MLB integrating Negro League statistics into the official record books. While acknowledging it's great for the legends to get their due, Big Cat feels the league is using it as a PR move to gloss over the fact that they were the ones who kept these players out in the first place. He’s ready to just wipe the slate clean for everything that happened before integration.
Big CatMajor League Baseball should get rid of all stats from the pre-integration era
I actually think you should just get rid of all old stats pre-integration because that was ma the major league stats are also tainted. You kept out because you kept out some of the best players. You've deliberately kept them out. You shouldn't be able to count those as those the like the number one stats.
Finally, Fyre Fest of the week featured Jake’s new addiction to the snack world and PFT’s aggressive new health plan. With 40 on the horizon, PFT is convinced that his current physical state will define the rest of his life, and he has found the silver bullet for fitness: the Uncrustable Diet.
PFT CommenterThe 'Uncrustable Diet' is the perfect way to get in shape for age 40
I'm trying a new diet that I think I invented, which is strictly Uncrustables. ... My meal plan is, I eat four Uncrustables a day. ... I think that the Uncrustable is probably the perfect snack. The perfect meal, the perfect everything.
If the Celtics lose this series, Hank might actually have to retire from the internet until 2025.
