PMT DB
PMT DB
NBA Preview with Rachel Nichols and Richard Jefferson, Plus Army Coach Jeff Monken
The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially transitioned from the best team in the league to the most concerning, and Big Cat isn't holding back. After a disastrous Monday Night loss to the Bengals, it feels like the wheels haven't just come off; the entire car is in a ditch. Big Ben looks old, the offense can't run the ball, and the aura of invincibility is gone.
Big CatThe Pittsburgh Steelers are straight up frauds
The Pittsburgh Steelers are frauds straight up frauds. 11 and 0 to 11 and 3 losing as 14 point favorites to the Bengals. They are broken, they are hurt. They are damaged. And I don't know, like, has there ever been a team that's gone 11-0 and finished 11 and 5 and still going to the playoffs?
While the Steelers look like they are decaying in real-time, the guys looked back at Eli Manning as the genius of the 2004 quarterback class for knowing exactly when to hang it up.
Big CatEli Manning had the best retirement strategy by leaving early rather than hanging on like Big Ben
Who actually is coming out the biggest winner, Phillip Rivers, Eli Manning. Eli Manning retired first. He was the first to leave the party. Now he was obviously, when he got bad at the end, it was bad, but our lasting memories are now going to be a bad, bad Big Ben... Eli's just sitting, eating, whatever, like sloppy Joes... and he's going to end up being like, Oh, remember Eli. He was awesome. He never got bad. He's like, it is a great lesson. Like leave the party, be the first to leave.
With the playoffs approaching, the outlook in Pittsburgh is bleak. There is a very real possibility they enter the postseason on a massive skid, which usually doesn't lead to a long stay in January.
Big CatThe Steelers are going to limp into the playoffs and sputter out in the first or second round.
This Steelers team, it feels like they're going to limp in and probably sputter out in the first or second round.
NBA Preview: The West with Rachel Nichols
Rachel Nichols joined the show to help make sense of the Western Conference and the impending return of the Sonics. While fans in Seattle are desperate for their team back, Rachel pointed out that the league's motivation might be more about the bottom line than nostalgia.
Rachel NicholsThe NBA's consideration of expansion to Seattle is primarily driven by the need for billions in expansion fees
The truth is they need money. And if they expand again, it's about a billion dollars a franchise... They're talking about, 'Oh, should we put more Jersey patches on stuff like that to make up the extra revenue they're not getting from ticket sales?' The Seattle SuperSonics coming back, that would be a hell of a Jersey patch. You would definitely rake in the cash.
As for the actual basketball on the court, the Suns are the trendy pick to make a jump. Rachel thinks the addition of Chris Paul changes their floor entirely, even if they aren't ready to take down the Lakers just yet.
Rachel NicholsThe Phoenix Suns will solidly make the playoffs this year with Chris Paul.
The Suns with Chris Paul should be really good. I'm not expecting them to contend for a title, but I think they would solidly get in the playoffs there.
Naturally, the conversation turned to James Harden and his apparent desire to play anywhere that isn't Houston. Despite the constant rumors, Rachel thinks the Rockets are going to hold out until a suitor loses their mind.
Rachel NicholsThe James Harden trade sweepstakes won't move until a team gets truly desperate
They have to wait for a team to be desperate. And how long is that going to take? ... The reason I say that is to get a Paul George type package to get an Anthony Davis type package for in trade, which is what you want if you're the Rockets... until someone gets desperate, I don't see James Harden moving.
The East with Richard Jefferson
Richard Jefferson brought his usual energy to break down the Eastern Conference, specifically the circus surrounding the Brooklyn Nets. While everyone is crowning them, RJ is trying to keep the expectations somewhat realistic for a team with a first-time head coach.
Richard JeffersonThe Brooklyn Nets season is a success if they reach the conference finals, it's not championship or bust
If they get to the conference finals and lose to Milwaukee or lose to a Boston, I think that's a great season. I don't think it's championship or bust, even if they have championship goals... when you have a new group together, it's not a one-year championship or bust.
He also provided a fascinating breakdown of why Giannis Antetokounmpo still struggles when the game slows down in the postseason. According to RJ, the Bucks need a closer who doesn't rely on transition to score when the clock is winding down.
Richard JeffersonGiannis Antetokounmpo cannot be your best player in the final two minutes of a playoff game
Giannis might be when it comes down to the last two, three minutes of the game, he can't be your best player because of the style of game that he has... not a great free throw shooter, not a great jump shooter, everybody packs the paint... if you put James Harden on that team and late game where you need a bucket, you need free throws... he would be a perfect fit.
Beyond the heavy hitters, RJ is high on the Atlanta Hawks making a significant move up the standings. He also dismissed the idea that the Clippers or Nets need to be one big happy family to win a ring, citing his own experiences on championship teams.
Richard JeffersonChampionship teams don't need to be friends, they just need to respect each other
There is no championship team that are just holding hands and skipping their way to the finals. There's going to be moments where you don't want to talk to each other... you have to respect each other. You don't have to get along. I think that's been proven time in and time out.
The Last of the Hards
Army head coach Jeff Monken joined the show to discuss the Black Knights finally securing a bowl game. Coach Monken is the ultimate Football Guy, and he explained the origin of the phrase that has become synonymous with his program.
Jeff MonkenArmy football players and soldiers are the 'last of the hards'
The over 1 million men and women who serve in the United States army that we represent when we go and play in this bowl game and we play every week, they are the last of the hard... they are the people who are willing to do the hard jobs and other people don't want to do to stand in the gap between freedom and those wanting to take it from us. And it takes a hard person that's determined and has a spirit about them that's different.
Monken’s team has been through it this year, not seeing their families since May to keep the season alive. It’s the kind of grit that makes you want to run through a brick wall, or at least bet on a triple-option team in a bowl game.
Hot Seat Cool Throne
Hot Seat is Dwayne Haskins, who decided that a global pandemic and a struggling season was the perfect time to hit the strip club without a mask. PFT pointed out that regardless of the health risks, Haskins' timing from a purely tactical standpoint was offensive.
PFT CommenterGoing to a strip club on Sunday is just bad decision making regardless of COVID protocols
Going to a strip club on Sunday is just in general, not a smart idea. Sunday's not a good strip club day... a smart quarterback in my book would either go Monday for $5 buckets or you go on Thursday for the lunch steak and shrimp combo.
The Washington Football Team seems to be reaching the end of the rope with their former first-round pick, and the vibes in DC are trending toward a permanent divorce.
PFT CommenterDwayne Haskins is probably going to be cut by the Washington Football Team this week.
Dwayne Haskins... is probably going to be cut this week.
On the Cool Throne, PFT is looking at the Rams. While everyone is laughing at them for losing to the Jets, there might be a 4D chess move hidden in the embarrassment.
PFT CommenterThe Rams losing to the Jets might actually be a favor because it provides a wake-up call and could lead to a better playoff matchup against the NFC East winner.
The Rams may have actually done themselves a favor by losing [to the Jets]. One, little wake-up call... Number two is there is a possibility that that would make the Rams play against the NFC East winner in the playoffs. They have beaten every team in the NFC East.
In a week of fraud alerts, Big Cat is putting the Packers on notice. They have a massive test against the Titans, and if they can't stop the run, the 'fraud' label is getting slapped on them immediately.
Big CatIf the Titans can't run the ball down the Packers' throat, the Packers are frauds
This game to me is everything. Unfortunately it is everything. Because if the Titans can't run the ball down the Packer's throat and score at will, I'm going to start having very bad feelings about the Packers being frauds.
Go enjoy the McRib and have a Merry Christmas.
