PMT DB
PMT DB
Tracy McGrady on NBA 75 Snub, 13 Points in 33 Seconds, and Why He's Better Than Billy Football
It is officially the start of summer, and the Golden State Warriors have celebrated by clinching their sixth NBA Finals appearance in eight years. After a couple of seasons lost to the injury gods, the core of Steph, Klay, and Draymond is back on the big stage. Big Cat and PFT feel like we’ve time-traveled back to 2015, watching Klay Thompson enter the zone and Andrew Wiggins turn into a consistent monster.
Big CatReturning to the NBA Finals is the crowning achievement for the Warriors' core
This feels like the crowning achievement for this group, to be able to go back there [the NBA Finals] after all the injuries, after KD came and left after guys are in and out and they've rebuilt themselves with that core of Klay, Steph and Draymond, and Steve Kerr there.
PFT is ready to rewrite history for the years they missed out, claiming that health was the only thing standing between the Warriors and a decade of total dominance.
PFT CommenterThe Warriors would have made eight straight NBA Finals if not for injuries
I'm willing to make a giant excuse for the Warriors for the two out of the eight years that they did not make the finals. It's all because of injuries. Like the Warriors should have been in the finals eight years in a row.
Heat-Celtics and the Concession Stand Conspiracy
The Eastern Conference Finals have been a different story, mostly defined by blowouts and a truly bizarre Game 5. Big Cat has a theory that the Miami Heat didn't lose because of bad shooting or Jimmy Butler's knee, but because of the arena's logistical failures. Apparently, the fans were so busy waiting for hot dogs that the Celtics got to treat the start of the second half like an open gym.
Big CatThe Heat lost Game 5 because fans were stuck in concession lines, leaving the arena empty for the Celtics' 'shoot around' second half
I have a theory... The reason why the Heat lost on Wednesday night... halftime happens and then we come back. The arena is empty. The fans are all in the building... but most are stuck, still waiting in line for food... so the Celtics get opening possession and with an empty arena, it's basically shoot around for them.
Hank was a nervous wreck throughout the game, despite the Celtics' eventual dominance. He’s convinced that Game 5 was the entire series, and with the Heat looking lifeless, it’s hard to argue.
HankWhoever won Game 5 of the Celtics-Heat series was guaranteed to win the series
I think if the, whoever won that game [Game 5] was going to win the series, Celtics are the better team.
As for the legendary "Heat Culture," Big Cat isn't buying that Pat Riley is the only guy in the league who cares about body fat percentages. He suspects every team has a guy with skin calipers lurking in the hallway, ready to shame anyone who had an extra appetizer at dinner.
Big CatThe 'Heat Culture' of monitoring body fat is overrated and likely common across the NBA
I had one person who got very mad at me that I implied that other teams might check body fat, not just the Heat... I'm pretty sure every team's got trainers. What if you get stuck outside with a skin calipers?
Tracy McGrady Joins the Studio
The Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady joined Big Cat and PFT to discuss his new one-on-one league, the OBL. T-Mac is a purist when it comes to the game, arguing that five-on-five can sometimes hide a player's true skill, whereas one-on-one reveals everything.
Tracy McGradyOne-on-one basketball is the true, pure essence of the sport
One-on-one is the true essence of basketball. There's one-on-one and five on five, true matchups, but one-on-ones the true pure essence of basketball. I mean, we all grew up playing one-on-one.
When the conversation turned to his career, T-Mac didn't hold back on the recent NBA Top 75 list. While he's at peace with being in the Hall of Fame, he pointed out that some of the omissions were downright disrespectful, specifically highlighting a former teammate.
Tracy McGradyDwight Howard is the most disrespectful omission from the NBA Top 75 list
I don't take away from anybody that was on that list... but Dwight Howard to me is really the most disrespectful one [omission]. His prime years was phenomenal. Like he was the most dominant big in our game in his prime years.
We also got into the great "What Ifs" of his career. It’s easy to forget how close we were to a McGrady/Grant Hill dynasty in Orlando or T-Mac potentially joining forces with Tim Duncan if Doc Rivers had just been a little more chill about the team plane rules.
Tracy McGradyIf Grant Hill had stayed healthy, we would have created a dynasty in Orlando
If Grant Hill was healthy... I make it to the NBA finals with the Orlando Magic. We would have created a dynasty for sure.
Reflecting on his own greatness, T-Mac credited his success to being a natural-born athlete who could have dominated any field he stepped on, whether it was the hardwood or the pitcher's mound.
Tracy McGradyI was born with natural God-given talent that allowed me to excel at any sport without even practicing
I was born with a natural ability, natural skillset. Like you could drop, God just dropped me on earth and was like 'son, you could play baseball, basketball, football, pick your choice'. I could throw a football 60 yards. I could throw a baseball 88 miles per hour in high school. I ran a four four or four five. And I could play basketball. This was without practicing to anything.
NHL Playoffs and Fyre Fest
While the NBA has been a string of blowouts, the NHL has been delivering absolute heaters. PFT is officially declaring hockey the superior viewing experience right now, especially after watching Nathan MacKinnon turn into a human highlight reel.
PFT CommenterThe NHL is currently much better than the NBA
Basically what we can take away from these hockey playoffs is that NHL is way better than the NBA right now. The hockey games have been incredible.
Big Cat was particularly mesmerized by MacKinnon’s coast-to-coast effort, even if the ending of the game sucked the air out of the building.
Big CatNathan MacKinnon's coast-to-coast goal against the Blues was one of the greatest ever, but will be forgotten because the Avalanche lost the game
Mackinnon was maybe had the greatest goal ever that everyone's going to forget... coast to coast, like insane goal. If you just watched the last three seconds... you'd think it was an insane goal.
To wrap up the week, we hit Fyre Fest. Hank is going through a corporate identity crisis, Billy is convinced Apple Watches are the downfall of Western civilization, and PFT is contemplating a "fake college" to keep his XFL dreams alive.
Billy FootballApple Watches are the primary tool used for cheating in modern academia
Apple watches in my opinion, ruined academia because literally they're the number one thing used to cheat... It's just rampant uses. I've never had an apple watch, but I wanted to buy one just because like, it would have been so much easier.
PFT CommenterThe XFL should have a 'fake college' loophole to allow older players to qualify for tryouts
I'm going to find out I've got my agents and representatives reaching out to find out the details... or if maybe there's a fake college that I can enroll in in order to qualify for the XFL.
The show ended with a heated debate over who has the most "blue-collar" hands in the office. Despite Billy's claims of working construction for two summers, a blindfolded handshake test from Jake Marsh proved that Big Cat actually possesses the more rugged grip.
Big CatI have harder and tougher hands than Billy Football
I honestly I'll I'll like disavow my own title. I have stronger and tougher hands than [Billy Football]. I don't want the title. I don't want the belt. Admitting I have soft hands... they're soft. But you don't have hard hands. You are not as tough as you think you are.
If you see Billy in the woods this weekend, don't worry, he's just trying to find his calluses.
