PMT DB
PMT DB
Ryen Russillo on NBA Preview, World War II Museums, and the Four Nations Cup
The first weekend without football is always a dark time, but Big Cat and PFT found a way through the void by embracing pure, unadulterated nationalism. While the NBA All-Star weekend was busy tripping over itself with late scratches and gimmicks, the NHL’s Four Nations tournament reminded everyone that sports are simply better when people actually care about winning. Big Cat didn't hold back on where the United States stands in the hockey hierarchy right now.
Big CatThe United States is currently the best hockey country in the world
Guess what? We're the best fucking country in the world in hockey... until Canada, until Canada to be on Thursday. We right now as of the second we're the, we're still and still the best hockey country in the world.
PFT took it a step further, reminding the neighbors to the north that the hardware stays in the States for the foreseeable future.
PFT CommenterCanada won't get the Stanley Cup back from the United States
We got the Stanley Cup. They're not getting it back.
NHL vs. NBA All-Star Weekend
The contrast between the ice and the hardwood couldn't have been more stark. The NHL gave us USA vs. Canada with fights in the first nine seconds, while the NBA gave us a court that looked like a Lite-Brite and LeBron James checking out before the game even started. Big Cat was particularly annoyed with the timing of LeBron's exit, calling it a lame move to announce a scratch just two hours before tip-off.
Big CatLeBron James sitting out the All-Star game two hours before tip-off was a lame move
LeBron James decide he is not playing in the Allstar game two hours before the All-Star game... dude, just say you're gonna do this five days ago. Don't do it two hours before the All-Star game. And people do wanna see you play and it's probably, you're, you're at the end of your career. It's just kind of a lame move.
According to PFT, the scheduling of these events says everything you need to know about where these leagues stand in the pecking order.
PFT CommenterThe NFL cued the NBA during All-Star week by holding the Super Bowl immediately before it
The NBA cued the NFL during Super Bowl week and the NHL cued the NBA during Allstar week. NHL is king.
The Vindication of Richie Incognito
The guys also touched on the ten-year anniversary of the Jonathan Martin situation in Miami. A recent article featured Martin admitting that the "bullying" label was largely driven by his mother and didn't reflect the reality of the locker room. Big Cat used the moment to reiterate a long-standing PMT philosophy: you cannot judge an NFL locker room by the standards of a cubicle farm.
Big CatNFL locker room standards should not be judged by corporate workplace standards
When you try to take the outside world and judge a locker room and how it operates and basically put it into corporate America or a classroom or any type of place where people gather together and there's a little bit more decorum, you're always gonna be shocked by the locker room... you can't judge it that way. That it just never works that way.
PFT simplified the entire sport down to its core essence to drive the point home.
PFT Commenter99% of football is technically bullying
Like 99% of football is technically bullying.
NBA Preview with Ryen Russillo
Friend of the program Ryen Russillo joined the show for a massive NBA preview that was about 20% basketball and 80% history, real estate, and World War II facts. Russillo recently visited the World War II Museum in New Orleans and was stunned that more media members weren't ditching parties to look at airplanes.
When they finally got around to the hardwood, Russillo provided a sobering outlook for some of the league's established contenders. He’s officially out on the Giannis era in Milwaukee having much more life left in it.
Ryen RussilloThe Milwaukee Bucks' championship window is likely already closed
The Giannis thing is is terrific... But I I think the reality is the NBA stories, the way they go, like their, their window's probably already closed.
He also took a flamethrower to the 76ers, specifically targeting the branding of Paul George compared to his actual production on the court.
Ryen RussilloPaul George is essentially just Tobias Harris with better branding
Paul George is Tobias Harris with better branding. Whoa. Yeah. I mean they're all back tonight... Paul George, Paul George, I know he had a better January, but like off key, he, he needs to be a dude while MB is out through all of this. And instead he's totally comfortable getting his ISO 17 footer up.
Russillo isn't expecting a deep run in Philly, even if Joel Embiid returns to the floor, predicting a premature end to their season in the play-in tournament.
Ryen RussilloThe Philadelphia 76ers will lose in the NBA play-in tournament
How do you think the sixth or season ends this year bad... They're gonna losing the plan, losing the plan prediction.
Finally, the guys locked in their Finals picks. While Big Cat is riding with Rick Pitino and St. John's to be a force in March, Russillo is looking at a specific matchup for the Larry O'Brien trophy. He’s officially calling for the young core in OKC to take down the defending champs in a seven-game thriller.
Ryen RussilloThe Oklahoma City Thunder will defeat the Boston Celtics in seven games to win the NBA Finals
Thunder over Boston in... would be seven thunder. Get it at home.
Hank ended the show by guessing the lottery ball correctly while literally asleep, which is the most Hank thing to ever happen.
