Paul Bissonnette on NHL Playoffs, Chris Berman’s Extension, and the Belichick Engagement
The NBA Playoffs are shifting into high gear as the Thunder took Game 1 from the Timberwolves, and Big Cat is already planting his flag on the eventual champion. Oklahoma City’s defense looks absolutely suffocating, and while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s style of play isn't exactly a beautiful watch for everyone, it’s undeniably effective.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will win the NBA title
Today is Wednesday, May 21st and the Oklahoma City Thunder are going to win the NBA title. ... Oklahoma City's defense is very fucking good. They're elite. Yes. They pack the paint so well. They make you take threes. ... I think they're the best team.
PFT was a bit more frustrated with the aesthetics of the game, specifically the constant whistles that seem to follow SGA whenever he gets near the paint. While the Thunder looked dominant, PFT isn't ready to bury Minnesota just yet, even if the national broadcast booth didn't exactly help the vibe.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the number one foul-baiter in the NBA
It pisses me off watching [SGA] play. ... I have to watch the foul baiting like three times in a row where I have to see the same non foul three times. ... [SGA] is the number one fator and he's so good. ... he has taken the mantle from James Harden.
The ESPN announcing booth of Richard Jefferson and Doris Burke lacks aura and does not suit big playoff games
The booth, the Richard Jefferson, Doris Burke that there's not a lot of Aura. I'm sorry. ... I'm smashing the Aura button on everything now but I'm smashing it there. It don't, we like RJ, I like Doris Burke as a team. It just doesn't feel big game ish. It just, I don't know. It's like, but let Mike Breen just do it himself. It just didn't feel something was off.
The Timberwolves will win two or three games in the series against the Thunder
I actually do think that the wolves are gonna win two, maybe three games [against the Thunder]. I know it doesn't feel like it after what we just watched tonight, but I mean, crazy shit happens in the playoffs. ... it'll even out a little bit, I think.
Beyond the hardwood, the biggest news of the week involves a certain hoodie-wearing legend. Reports are circulating that Bill Belichick is engaged to Jordon Hudson, a development that has Hank in complete denial. Big Cat and PFT are already planning the bachelor party and speculating on the New York Times wedding announcement, while Hank is convinced the whole thing is a media fabrication.
The reports of Bill Belichick's engagement to Jordon Hudson are fake news
I will wait until you know, Ms. Hudson and, and Mr. Belichick report this themselves. I do not believe, you know, the New York Times, fake news media. This is just a report as far as I'm concerned. ... I don't think Bill knows.
In the world of media beefs, Ryan Clark and Robert Griffin III turned a conversation about a WNBA foul into a full-blown personal war. Big Cat and PFT broke down the absurdity of the feud, which touched on everything from podcast aesthetics to Ryan Clark’s nuclear social media strategy. The guys also waded into the ongoing discourse surrounding Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, noting that the toxicity has reached a level usually reserved for the NBA Finals.
Angel Reese definitely hates Caitlin Clark
I'm just gonna go outright and say it. [Angel Reese] hates Caitlin Clark. I think she does. And that's fine. 'cause rivalries are good. ... The issue with this rivalry is Caitlin Clark is just a lot better and more entertaining of a basketball player.
Ryan Clark is a psycho for his social media attack on Robert Griffin III
Ryan Clark is kind of a psycho and just went like nuclear on a take about a foul in the WNBA. ... It basically comes down to RG3 had a misdemeanor of being corny online and, and Ryan Clark put him in front of a firing squad.
WNBA players should stay off social media to avoid the toxic discourse
I would imagine that most of the really, really bad shit that you deal with is from people that are DMing you from anonymous accounts... I would just log off, have somebody else run your social media, do your ad deals, do all that shit for you. But don't, I, I would stay off.
Hot Seat/Cool Throne featured a look at Juan Soto’s hustle, the potential banning of the Tush Push, and Tom Cruise using blockbusters as a shield. Big Cat also highlighted the return of chaos to the Phoenix Suns organization.
The NFL should not change playoff seeding to be strictly based on record
They are proposing to do playoff seating one through seven strictly based on record... I hate this. ... the division winner should get a home playoff game, that should be it. ... I'm just scared that once... the NFL will do is change everything so that more people watch.
The Phoenix Suns are returning to a state of institutional chaos under new ownership
Matt Ishbia bought the team. And guess what, they're back in it [chaos] because there's a lawsuit now out that sun, CEO Josh Bartelstein might have had an inappropriate relationship with Sophie Cunningham who played on the Phoenix Mercury. ... The suns are just back in it.
Tom Cruise used Top Gun: Maverick to make people forget about his Scientology controversies
Tom Cruise... Scientology thing is very weird... He just was like, yeah, I'm gonna put out a new Top Gun and everyone's gonna forget about that. ... It felt like the block was getting a little hot with the documentaries and everything. He's like, I know. Top Gun two. People won't care anymore.
Paul Bissonnette joined the show to mourn the Maple Leafs' latest early exit and preview the NHL Conference Finals. Biz offered some harsh truths about the future of the "Core Four" in Toronto and shared his thoughts on the return of the Stars' most infamous fan from behind bars.
Mitch Marner will not be back with the Toronto Maple Leafs next season
[Mitch Marner] ain't coming back. ... he just hasn't lived up to what, not only he's being paid, but what the hype is in, in crunch time. ... my theory would be that you bring back [Nylander], you bring back Matthews and you can build around those guys. ... he won't be back. It sucks.
The Dallas Stars will likely ban the 'Glass Banger' fan from the arena for the conference finals
I don't think they're gonna let him [Glass Banger] in the building. ... he just got out [of jail] in the last couple days. ... I think in his own mind [he's the best fan], but he's more of a distraction than a fan. Including rattling all the other people who have had peace and quiet for this last six months.
The Dallas Stars will defeat the Edmonton Oilers in seven games
I picked the Oilers and then Whit said, no, you can't, you're a mush. Stay away from my team. So then I switched my pick to Dallas in seven. ... I'll be heartbroken for either of these teams because Pete DeBoer... has never won a Stanley Cup. ... he's nine and oh in Game sevens in playoff history.
The Florida Panthers will beat the Carolina Hurricanes in five or six games
I think that Florida should win this series in six, if not maybe five games. ... high-end superstar talent also advantage Florida. ... Florida can play any way you want. That's what makes them dogs.
To wrap things up, the legendary Chris Berman stopped by to celebrate his massive contract extension that will see him reach 50 years at ESPN. The Schwam discussed the closest he ever came to leaving Bristol, his thoughts on Scottie Scheffler’s dominance, and why he’s holding out hope for the Buffalo Bills to finally catch a break in the postseason.
The Buffalo Bills will somehow avoid the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs this year
Is this the year Buffalo somehow avoids Kansas City in the playoffs? ... means someone would've to lose or somebody... but somehow they don't meet. ... somehow the Chiefs and the Bills will miss each other in the playoffs.
The New York Giants will win 7-9 games and be better than people think
I think the Giants are gonna be better than people think. ... I think that defense is gonna be elite. Their, their defensive line has just monsters on it. So I think they might be one of those teams where... they go jump up to 7, 8, 9 wins.
If Bill Belichick really is looking for a ring bearer for the wedding, he knows exactly where to find a guy who’s already got his golf schedule cleared for the summer.
