PMT DB
PMT DB
Ryen Russillo on NBA Playoffs, Coach Draft, and Fyre Fest
It is officially Good Friday, which means it is also Tax Day for everyone except Billy, who is currently staring at a stack of documents like they’re a defensive end coming off the edge. Before we got into the sports, we checked in on Billy’s tax strategy, which involves writing off his home Wi-Fi and the fact that Big Cat and PFT legally mandate that he must be able to squat 225 pounds at all times. It’s a bold strategy for the IRS to handle, but presumably, they’ll be more intimidated by his quads than his math.
The Battle for the East
The NBA Playoffs are here, and the focus is squarely on the Celtics-Nets series. PFT is already declaring a "womping," which sparked a massive debate over the definition of the term. For those keeping score at home, a womping now requires a five-game series or less, or a six-game series where the winner has a total point differential of plus-50. The stakes? A full tin of dip in the loser’s mouth for 25 minutes. PFT is riding high on the news that Ben Simmons might actually touch a basketball court again.
PFT CommenterBen Simmons is ready to return for the Nets and just needs to pass the ball and play defense
I think I nailed this one. Cause Ben Simmons is coming back per Shams. They've just kept him on ice... Ben Simmons is ready to come back and yeah, he doesn't really have to do anything. All he has to do is be out on the court on defense and then just pass the ball on offense. That's it.
Hank, ever the optimist for his Celtics, isn't sweating the addition of a guy who hasn't played competitive basketball in a year. He thinks the chemistry issues will do more damage to Brooklyn than Simmons’ defense will help.
HankBen Simmons returning to the Nets lineup is actually better for the Celtics
This could be old takes exposed, but I think [Ben Simmons returning] is better for the Celtics... if they're not on the same page and like the third or fourth quarter, like you can't... it'll be really [weird].
While the East feels like a bloodbath, PFT is already looking at the Western Conference bracket with a certain level of disgust. He’s already written off the most boring matchup on the board.
Big CatThe Milwaukee Bucks will make it back to the NBA Finals
I do think the Bucks are gonna make it to the finals... I think it's going to be Suns-Bucks again.
Kershaw and the City of Brotherly Love
Baseball is back, and so is the traditional mismanagement of historic moments. Clayton Kershaw was pulled after seven perfect innings on just 80 pitches, a move that sent Big Cat into a tailspin. We don't care about no-hitters anymore, but a perfect game is the white whale of sports achievements.
HankThe Celtics will 'womp' (win in 5 games or less) the Nets in the first round
I think the Celtics are going to 'womp' the Nets... Five games either way [for the bet], I'm in. I'll be on your side, Hank.
We also had to show some love to the Phillies fan who snatched a heckling Mets fan’s phone and launched it into the outfield. It was a beautiful moment of civic pride. PFT made it clear that Philadelphia is a place where social contracts don't exist, and that’s exactly why it’s great.
HankZion Williamson might return to the Pelicans for the playoffs if they advance past the play-in
I think if they win tonight, which God willing they do, I think [Zion Williamson] might come back.
Ryen Russillo Joins the Show
Our good friend Ryen Russillo hopped on to talk NBA and confirmed what we’ve all been feeling: the regular season is essentially a different sport than the playoffs. Ryen noted that the separation between teams that try in February and teams that win in May has never been more obvious.
PFT CommenterThe Jazz-Mavericks first-round series will be boring and terrible
I've got a series that will suck. I'm ready to predict right now, a series that I care about the least: Jazz-Mavericks. That series is going to suck.
The conversation shifted to the star power in the Celtics-Nets series. While everyone is focused on KD, Ryen pointed out that Jayson Tatum has reached a level where he isn't just a secondary star anymore.
Big CatPerfect games are the rarest achievement in sports and Clayton Kershaw should have been allowed to finish his
Perfect games are probably the rarest thing in sports... like no hitters are nothing. I don't care about no hitters anymore... anyone else has a perfect game, I'm glued in. I want to be watching. That's cool. 23 over in the history of baseball. Some guys make their whole career off it. Oh, it's amazing.
On the flip side, the guys discussed the James Harden experience in Philly. Ryen didn't hold back on Harden’s history of quitting when things get difficult, which doesn't bode well for a high-pressure series against a gritty Toronto team.
PFT CommenterPhiladelphia is the number one sports town in America
Philadelphia might be my number one sports town. It's like the rules surrounding Harambe's cage: Do not approach. Do not try to pet. If you do, bad things will happen. So you should know that the second you enter the Philadelphia city limits.
Of course, we couldn't talk about the playoffs without addressing the inevitable. Big Cat is already bracing himself for the yearly tradition of Chris Paul’s body betraying him at the worst possible moment.
HankBoston is a better sports town than Philadelphia
[Philly as #1 sports town] is a stretch. City of champions, Boston's #1. New York hasn't won shit. Probably LA, Boston, and Jacksonville.
Despite the CP3 injury tax, Ryen is still leaning toward the chalk when it comes to the eventual champion. He sees a rematch of last year's Finals on the horizon, but with a different result this time around.
Ryen RussilloThe gap between regular season NBA teams and playoff teams has never been wider
The regular season can be very misleading. And I've been kind of on this for the last couple of years where I feel like there's never been more of a separation between what playoff teams look like and regular season teams look like.
The "Top 5 Coaches That Could Be Number 1" Draft
We wrapped up the interview with a high-stakes draft of coaches who could reasonably be considered the best in the league. Ryen kicked things off with Spoelstra, but things got interesting when the guys started looking at the tactical geniuses and the locker room managers. Ryen threw some serious praise toward Ty Lue, comparing him to a certain hoodie-wearing legend in New England.
Ryen RussilloThe Atlanta Hawks are already acting entitled and 'bored' despite not having won anything yet
The Atlanta Hawks halfway through the season were like, 'Yeah, we're sort of over this, we're sort of bored.' Regular season? Like you guys haven't done anything... Who do you guys think you are? You haven't even made your name tag yet.
Big Cat took a different route, defending Steve Nash for the sheer amount of insanity he has to manage on a daily basis in Brooklyn. Between vaccine mandates and trade requests, Nash is basically a full-time psychologist.
Ryen RussilloMarcus Smart should be the NBA Defensive Player of the Year
I think Marcus Smart cared even more so because he was having such a good season and wanted to make a push to show that he could be defensive player of the year, which is hard for guards... I'd rather have [his knowledge] than some super athlete that's just freelancing.
Fyre Fest of the Week
Fyre Fest was headlined by Big Cat’s upcoming weekend of potty training, which he is treating like a military operation. Meanwhile, PFT has become addicted to a flight simulator to the point where he isn't sleeping and is buying joysticks like he’s actually going to be called into a cockpit.
Jake Marsh rounded things out with a look at the legendary John Sterling, whose eyes might be failing him even more than the Yankees' RISP numbers. After a particularly bad botched home run call, the calls for retirement are getting louder.
Ryen RussilloJayson Tatum is now capable of going punch-for-punch with Kevin Durant
Tatum has added that part to his game and can still go off for 40 in a playoff game. So you're right to expect the Tatum maybe hangs punch-for-punch with Durant. I think he's still a sliver below Durant, but that's not saying much to say you're just behind who I think is still the best offensive option in the NBA.
Good luck to Big Cat’s carpets this weekend.
