PMT DB
PMT DB
Kirk Goldsberry on NBA Playoffs, Zack Steffen on USMNT, and Jay Wright Retires
The Minnesota Timberwolves are dead, and Big Cat and PFT are officially done with the rescue project. After watching a historic collapse where the Wolves blew two separate 20-point leads to the Grizzlies, the sympathy for Minnesota sports fans has reached its limit. While Patrick Beverley was busy celebrating play-in wins, the actual basketball being played in the fourth quarter was an absolute disaster.
PFT CommenterPatrick Beverley is at his best when he is angry and disrespected, rather than happy and praised
Patrick Beverley needs to get more pissed off. I think he's too happy... he's been respected too much recently. Patrick Beverley needs to get angry again. He's too happy. I think people have respected Patrick Beverley a little bit too much the last week... he's at his best when he's got a chip on his shoulder.
Big Cat was particularly incensed by the lack of alpha energy from Karl-Anthony Towns, who managed to take only four shots in a pivotal Game 3. For a max player to no-show in a home playoff game is the kind of legacy-defining moment that makes you want to delete your entire Twitter account.
Big CatKarl-Anthony Towns is a bum for his no-show performance against the Grizzlies
I'm done with Karl-Anthony Towns. I'm definitely done with him... He's a bum. I don't know what to say. Like he has to basically, he now has a legacy series that his hands he has to come out and dominate the next like three games to restore his legacy because now the play-in game and then tonight [Game 3] he was a complete no-show.
Class Acts and Warlords
The basketball world was rocked by Jay Wright’s sudden retirement from Villanova. While Hank spent the segment rolling his eyes at the mere mention of other coaches, Big Cat and PFT marveled at how Wright chose to go out: no retirement tour, no farewell speeches, just a classy exit stage left. Big Cat put him in the highest tier of the profession.
Big CatJay Wright is a top 20 college basketball coach of all time.
Jay Wright, retired, classy, classy move... Top 20 coach all time Jake... I mean, he's he had four Final Fours, two titles. He owned an entire, that was his decade.
The guys also looked at the opposite end of the retirement spectrum: Jim Boeheim. While Wright exits with grace, Boeheim seems intent on coaching at Syracuse until the heat death of the universe, or at least until he goes 0-30 with his sons on the roster.
PFT CommenterJim Boeheim is essentially a warlord in Syracuse and it is impossible to fire him.
He is basically a warlord in Syracuse, New York. He runs in that town. Yeah. You can't fire him... He's going to have dudes rolling up in the back of like 1988 Toyota pickup trucks with machine guns.
Kirk Goldsberry Joins the Show
NBA analytics guru Kirk Goldsberry stopped by to explain why the Brooklyn Nets are currently falling apart against the Celtics. He brought some "womp-alytics" to the table to see if Hank’s dream of a 4-1 series finish (the "Womp") is still alive. While Kevin Durant has looked human for the first time in years, Hank is still convinced a sweep is impossible because KD is due for a 50-point explosion.
HankThere is no chance the Celtics sweep the Brooklyn Nets
He's [Kevin Durant] going to have 50 in one of those games... It has to happen... [A sweep] would be crazy. It's still going to be a womping... there's no chance there's a sweep.
Kirk also broke down the hierarchy of the remaining teams, noting that while the Suns and Bucks are dealing with major injuries to Devin Booker and Khris Middleton, they should still survive the first round. However, the real story is out West where the Warriors look like the terrifying juggernaut of old.
Kirk GoldsberryThe Golden State Warriors are officially 'back' and look like a championship team again.
The early returns in round one, it screams, yes, this is looking like not only a very, very dangerous offensive team, but once again, with Draymond [Green] they're a very good defensive team... it seems like they're back guys... And what I keep telling people is if the Warriors get out of the West, that's six trips to the finals in eight years.
The conversation shifted to individual impact and who the real Defensive Player of the Year should have been. While Marcus Smart took home the trophy, Kirk’s numbers tell a different story about the importance of the center position in modern defense.
Kirk GoldsberryBam Adebayo was the most versatile and influential defender in the NBA this season
I'd say Bam Adebayo was the most versatile and most influential defender... The center position, the big man position... is the quarterback of the defense. They are by far the most important defenders. And I don't think Marcus Smart is even the most impactful defender on his own team.
Zack Steffen on the USMNT and Man City
USMNT and Manchester City goalie Zack Steffen joined the show to talk about the pressure of qualifying for the World Cup and the technical differences between playing in the States versus Europe. He shared the harrowing experience of training with the 2010 Jabulani ball and explained the mental fortitude it takes to be the last line of defense.
Zack SteffenThe hardest part of being a professional goalkeeper is the mental strength required to not dwell on mistakes.
As goalkeepers, if you make one mistake, it's usually going to end up as a goal... the hardest part is just like be mentally strong and not being, not thinking about making mistake or being negative because when that happens, you bounce back and mistakes [happen].
Steffen gave the guys a look into the academy system overseas, explaining how young players in Europe are essentially pros before they can drive, a stark contrast to the American "go out and have fun" style. Big Cat also made sure to provide Steffen with some high-level scouting on England's Harry Kane ahead of their World Cup matchup.
Big CatHarry Kane is not a threat to score if he is outside the six-yard line
Harry Kane? If he has the ball outside the six-yard line, he's not going to score, not a threat... outside of the six, not a danger.
To wrap things up, the guys hit Fyre Fest of the week where Big Cat defended the right of every fan to be a "casual" when the sports calendar gets too crowded. Between the NBA playoffs, the Masters, and the upcoming NFL Draft, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Big CatIt is okay to be a 'casual' fan who hops between sports during busy seasons
I'm okay with this. I think we as sports fans in a sports podcast, we need to normalize the fact that there's a lot of sports on and the experts in each field trying to shame the true sports guys like ourselves. I'm sick of it... I'm a casual. It's okay for us to hop from sport to sport.
Hank also officially announced the release of the Car Stick 3.0, made from exotic wood that may or may not have caused a minor environmental crisis in the Amazon.
If the Celtics sweep the Nets, Jake Marsh will be dipping an entire tin of tobacco, so we are all Brooklyn fans for exactly one game.
