"Brad Stevens is a better coach with less talent than Gregg Popovich has ever been" — Big Cat

Take Slip·May 6, 2018

#19745#PMT-2018-0506-19745

Brad Stevens is a better coach with less talent than Gregg Popovich has ever been

I saw some people saying that Brad Stevens is doing more with less than Popovich ever has. [Big Cat:] I'd agree... Popovich had Tim Duncan, who's like a top 10 player of all time... People are pretending that [the Celtics] are not talented because they don't have their number one guy, but they still have a ton of talent.

Hot Take Basketball Hot

History has favored Popovich significantly. Stevens eventually left coaching for a front-office role without a title, while Popovich is the all-time wins leader.

More from this episode

View episode

Void

Take Slip·May 6, 2018

#19743#PMT-2018-0506-19743

Big Cat

Brad Stevens is the best coach in the NBA

I mean, I think [Brad Stevens] is the best coach in the game. He's a mad scientist.

Opinion Basketball Medium Subjective

While Stevens was highly regarded, he never won an NBA title as coach and later moved to the front office. Most analysts would eventually rank Spoelstra or Kerr higher during this era.

Win

Take Slip·May 6, 2018

#19744#PMT-2018-0506-19744

PFT Commenter

Ben Simmons is playing like a rookie because he can't shoot

It's a real problem that [Ben Simmons] can't shoot. He's playing like a rookie. So this actually... I've changed my mind now. He is a rookie based on how he's been playing.

Opinion Basketball Mild

Simmons' inability to shoot did indeed remain the defining flaw of his career.

Win

Take Slip·May 6, 2018

#19746#PMT-2018-0506-19746

Big Cat

I will not pick against LeBron James in the Eastern Conference until he actually loses

Looming is LeBron James, who I'm happy that I'm on the right side of history on this one because there was a lot of talk that he was ripe for an upset in the East this year, and I'm firmly in the I'm not picking against LeBron in the East until he loses, until I watch him lose in the East because it seems like it will never happen.

Prediction Basketball Medium

LeBron James won the Eastern Conference in 2018, maintaining his streak of 8 consecutive Finals appearances. He left the East for the Lakers the following season, never losing a series in the East again.