PMT DB
PMT DB
Tom Crean on Indiana, Vampire Bats, and the Harbaugh Family Grit
The NBA Finals are taking forever to arrive, and Big Cat and PFT are reaching their breaking point. With the Warriors and Cavs set for another showdown, the takes are flying regarding whether this series will be a legendary clash or a complete snooze-fest. Big Cat is leaning toward the latter, predicting a lopsided affair that won't live up to the hype.
Big CatThe Warriors vs Cavs Finals will be a bloodbath and a forgettable postseason
I think the Warriors are going to. I think it's going to be a bloodbath. I think it's going to be the most forgettable postseason we've ever had.
While PFT is going out on a limb with the Cavs, Big Cat is focused on the individual dominance of Kevin Durant. He thinks KD is about to remind everyone why he’s one of the best to ever do it by outperforming LeBron on the biggest stage.
Big CatKevin Durant will be the NBA Finals MVP and play better than LeBron
I think Kevin Durant is taking this personally because he takes everything personally... I think Kevin Durant is going to be the MVP of the series. I think he's going to play even if not better than LeBron all series.
Hot Seat/Cool Throne
Hot Seat, Cool Throne featured a terrifying look into the mind of Hank, who seems to believe the world is on the brink of a nuclear apocalypse because of North Korea. Hank’s theory of mutually assured destruction involves a chain reaction that ends with everyone moving to Nebraska.
HankIf one nuclear bomb is launched, the whole world will blow up in a chain reaction
North Korea is developing nukes, and my theory is once one of those... So I've always thought once one nuclear bomb goes in the air, then... All the other countries and worlds are going to let them off, and then the whole world's going to blow up.
On the hockey front, PFT is officially in his feelings about Alex Ovechkin. As a Capitals fan, he is already preparing for the ultimate "Stanley Cuck" scenario where Ovi leaves DC and wins it all elsewhere. Big Cat thinks the relationship has simply become too successful in the regular season to actually work when it matters.
Big CatThe Capitals and Ovechkin should split up because their regular season success is too good
I do think I am of the mindset that the Capitals and the [Ovechkin] should just be like, you know, hey, maybe this thing isn't working out anymore. Maybe our sex is just too good. Our regular season sex is too good. So we got to split up.
Tom Crean in the Van
Former Indiana coach Tom Crean joined the show from a sketchy parking lot in Bloomington to talk about life after IU and the true meaning of grit. Crean broke down the mental side of coaching and how he’s handled the transition after being let go by the Hoosiers. For Crean, grit isn't just a buzzword; it's the core of a winning mindset.
Tom CreanGrit is the ability to keep your confidence when your results aren't being met
I think grit is the ability to keep your confidence when your potential is not being met or when the result is not being met in a particular time in life or in a particular moment... When things aren't going well, can you continue to play without being distracted, without letting doubts, without letting the doubters get in and knock you off your game?
Crean shared some incredible stories about his time coaching Dwyane Wade at Marquette and Victor Oladipo at Indiana, noting that the best players he ever had were also the most versatile. He even shared a story about Wade’s humble admission regarding LeBron James’ basketball IQ.
Tom CreanLeBron James is in a unique ballpark of basketball intelligence
Dwyane said this about LeBron. Dwyane is very smart, incredibly smart player... Dwyane said, I'm smart. He said, I know I'm smart. I'm not even in the same ballpark as this guy. And he's pointing at LeBron in the sense of how smart he is on the court... LeBron's in a very, very unique place for his mindset.
One of the wildest moments of the interview involved Crean's brother-in-law, Jim Harbaugh. Crean confirmed the legendary story of the "vampire bats," where Harbaugh gave a pregame speech that led to Crean actually trying to source live bats to motivate his team. They eventually settled for plastic ones, but the energy worked as they went on a massive winning streak.
Ref Bias and Big Baller Brand
Big Cat couldn't let Crean leave without bringing up the 2015 National Championship game. As a Wisconsin diehard, Big Cat still believes the Badgers were robbed by a halftime adjustment from Coach K that involved more than just X's and O's.
Big CatDuke bullied the refs into calling the 2015 Championship game differently at halftime
That Final Four, that championship game, would you agree with my assessment that Coach K got to the refs at halftime and basically bullied them into calling a completely different second half? Therefore, Wisconsin technically was the national champion.
Crean offered a slightly more technical explanation, pointing to Grayson Allen’s ability to force the issue with the officiating.
Tom CreanDuke's 2015 comeback was due to Grayson Allen putting pressure on the whistle
Mike [Krzyzewski] really went into a complete, we're going to drive the ball game. He put a lot of pressure on the whistle... they have an incredible record when they were getting into the bonus at the 12-minute mark of each half... you could see it because they kept driving Grayson Allen from the left wing to the middle. It was the Grayson Allen coming out part of him. If he doesn't get them in the bonus that quick, it's a different game.
Before letting him go, they touched on the Big Baller Brand phenomenon. Crean admitted that watching LaMelo Ball in high school was mesmerizing, even if the offense looked like it was being played at 2x speed.
Tom CreanLonzo Ball is one of the most prolific passers and has incredible vision
I reserve judgment on any of that other than that he is one of the most prolific passers and has incredible vision. I don't think there's very many guys that have come across in a period of time like that.
Guys on Chicks and the Catfish Incident
Guys on Chicks made a glorious return with questions ranging from unsolicited nudes to the economics of shaving legs. Big Cat offered a unique historical perspective on why smooth legs are actually a status symbol.
Big CatShaving your legs is a sign of wealth because not everyone can afford shaving cream
Shaving your legs was actually a sign of being rich in olden times because not everyone had shaving cream. So you should actually take that as a compliment. You're so rich, you can shave your legs. You must be real fancy.
Finally, the show wrapped up with a salute to the Nashville Predators fan who was arrested for throwing a catfish onto the ice in Pittsburgh. Big Cat believes the level of preparation involved—vacuum sealing the fish and hiding it in his pants—should be enough for a full acquittal.
Big CatThe Nashville Predators fan who threw a catfish on the ice in Pittsburgh should walk free
This guy should walk free simply because he vacuum sealed the catfish and put it in his pants. He really prepared for that.
Next time you see Tom Crean on TV, just remember Big Cat is probably taking a picture of his face from a weird angle.
