Takes

There is no way the Celtics blow a 3-1 lead with two home games left

When you have a three oh cushion though, I mean there's no way. There's just no way. They have two home games. Oh, no way. Worst case way, worst case scenario. But it's not scenario they have.

Jayson Tatum's poor shooting in the Finals needs to be a bigger story

Tatum won 15 five and three on four of 10 shooting. He is now shooting 36% from the field and 29% from three. This series. I just like thought that we should have talked. We should talk about that.

Jalen Brown should be the NBA Finals MVP

I do agree with Hank that Jalen Brown—it should be offense though, but—Jalen Brown was incredible. Like phenomenal. The Celtics team... Jalen Brown's gonna hit a big jumper to ice the Mavs out at home.

The Celtics are a perfect team with no holes

More than just Luca's defense, it's just more of a testament to the Celtics having no holes. They don't have a guy who can—you can sag off of. They don't have a guy that you can basically say we're gonna ignore them. They don't have a guy that you can put your worst defender on and say he's gonna be okay.

JJ Redick getting the Lakers job is a result of white and LeBron privilege

I love JJ solid dude... but it's a lot of privilege you going on... definitely white and LeBron [privilege]. Yes, definitely... you knowing it was coming. It was the setup and how are they cool? When did they ever, when have you ever seen them cool? This is all, this was all a play.

I will shave my head if the Celtics win a championship

I will shave my head if the Celtics win a championship. stop it. Like, oh, that was the perm bet you knew in the back of your head... No, I give you my word that I will shave my head if the Sellies win a championship.

The Celtics are a way better team than the Mavericks

The Celtics are up two. Oh, congratulations Hank. Thank you. Your team is so much better than the Mavs. Yeah, they are. They are a way better team. It's great, great team win. It's not even really close.

The NBA Finals are already over after Game 2

What you need to transition your brain to, because this, this series, the Celtics are just better. Yeah, no, this is over. I'm over.

The Celtics will beat the Mavericks in the NBA Finals

I like Boston. I'm scared to death of Luca... but I feel like Boston has the two versus the one... their primary lineup of Pingus back is going to be five people that you have to worry about.

Luka Dončić is impossible to guard because he's a 'heavy' 245 pounds and uses his body perfectly

He's heavy, right? You know, with with, with respect to the heavy people out there... Luka is heavy man and he's a good, healthy, heavy, like strong, sturdy. He's still quick. He, he, he has a great change of speed... I mean he's gotta be at least 245, maybe heavier healthy body fat. ... Luca is heavy, hard to guard. He can lean on you, he can post you up.

A bad shooting day in an empty gym for an NBA pro is still making 65-75% of shots

A bad shooting day for me, I'm probably making 65% of my shots. And that's like a's like a bad, like I'm bricking nobody in the gym, empty gym. ... If we go do we do a hundred threes a bad day, I'm making 75 outta a hundred. That's like a terrible day... A normal day 80 plus out of a hundred... [Normally] 90, 92, 93 out of a hundred.

The Celtics will beat the Mavericks in 5 games

My gut reaction is Celtics in five. I think so. I'm a bigger Celtics fan than Hank is, I guess.

The Celtics are a seasoned team that knows how to make big plays in high-pressure moments

The Celtics are a seasoned team that knows how to make big plays and that's what they did time and time again in this series. In the past when it feels like they turtle up in close games and kind of turn into more iso ball... they didn't do that at all. They found a way to win.

Jimmy Butler is my biggest draft regret

I would say Jimmy Butler is the first one that comes to mind. It was, you know, he was a late first round pick and he was seriously in our thoughts of drafting and we went another direction and Jimmy turned out to be a great player. And that's probably the one I regret the most.

Kyrie Irving has become the elder statesman and leader in the Mavericks' locker room

Kyrie so settled in even more than last year, he's such a leader in the locker room. . . the fact that Kyrie has willingly stepped in to do all of that, the guys in that locker room love him. It's really unbelievable.

The Celtics' Game 1 win over the Pacers was a 'wake-up call win,' which is the best kind of win

It was a wake up call win, which are the best types of wake up calls... they overcame, they were stumbling at the end of the fourth quarter, couple of really bad turnovers. Jalen Brown was not playing good in the fourth quarter. And then he came up clutch when it mattered most.

The Pacers' Game 1 loss to the Celtics is the most demoralizing loss possible

This seems like the most demoralizing loss possible. The Pacers had the game won and they gave it away. And when you give a game away like that in the last like 20 seconds, it feels like even if it goes into overtime, there's nothing good that's gonna happen to you.

I predict the Celtics will blow out the Pacers in Game 2

Blowout wake up call. Celtics. They've been woken up. This was the perfect ending. It was a wake up call win.

If the Celtics do not win the title this year, it will be a terrible missed opportunity

If Boston doesn't win, it's a terrible missed opportunity. Because LeBron's not in their way. The Warriors are not in their way. Giannis didn't make it there cause he was hurt. The only team that handled them all year long was the Nuggets... they're gone. It's sitting there in Boston's lap. They gotta take it.

The Timberwolves are for real after beating the Nuggets in Denver

I couldn't be more impressed with, with the wolves. This series was just, it was the anti Minnesota series... they win the game somewhat convincingly. 'cause they were up 10 with like three minutes left and it was over in, in the Nuggets building. They win three games in Denver. I mean, what a what a what a performance. They're they're for real.

Spreads do not matter in Game 7 of the Timberwolves-Nuggets series

So the spreads don't matter in this game. Put it that way. It's just pick whatever team you think is gonna win.

The Boston Celtics have the best team remaining in the NBA playoffs

I do think unbiasedly, [the Celtics] have the best team left. At least in the East. When you talk about the West, I think the Denver-Minnesota series has been incredible.

Nikola Jokic is the best basketball player in the world, and that's a fact

I am so happy that I'm alive, that I am blessed to be able to do a sports podcast while Nikola Jokic is playing basketball because holy shit, he is the best. ... remind everyone that yes, I am the best player in the world. And that's a fact.

The Celtics will reach the NBA Finals without playing a single memorable game

Will they [the Celtics] be the first team to ever get to the finals without playing a single memorable playoff game? It's crazy. Every game is either they kick the shit out of the opponent and their two losses are they got the shit kicked outta them. They haven't played in one like big fourth quarter moment yet.

The Celtics will smoke whoever wins the Knicks-Pacers series

And they'll smoke whoever wins the Knicks-Pacers [series]. I just love beating New York little brother.

The Celtics will 'kill' the Cavaliers in Game 3

You guys are gonna fucking kill the Cavs in Game 3.

JJ Redick will be the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers

JJ Redick's gonna be the next coach of the Lakers. Right. Feels like LeBron is really defending him... this is based off no information but I'm more basing off just seeing LeBron defending.

The Timberwolves have the Denver Nuggets 'crying like babies'

I said the T-Wolves got them crying like babies. The Denver Nuggets are doing all that damn crying. What the babies gonna do if you gonna do all that damn crying? They had Michael Malone whining to the referees. They had Jamal Murray crying to the referees. They had them uncomfortable.

The Denver Nuggets are in deep trouble against the Minnesota Timberwolves

The Denver Nuggets are in some deep, deep shit. I'm not ready to bury [Jokic] right now, but the Wolves feel like they have the Nuggets' number and it's intensity, defensive intensity. It feels like the Wolves are created to beat the Nuggets and that's what they're doing.

A wrist injury has turned Josh Hart into a lethal three-point shooter

Josh Hart said when he took a half court heave to end the second quarter... he felt his wrist click and it almost clicked back into place. Said he went to Brunson at the half and told him 'I can shoot threes now.' It is basically the plot from Rookie of the Year... Josh Hart is now just a lethal three-point shooter because his wrist clicked.

Anthony Edwards is the next upcoming superstar in the NBA

Anthony Edwards is the next upcoming superstar in the NBA. I know we talked about superstars when it came to Jalen Brunson... Anthony Edwards is 22 years old and what he's doing through the first five games in these playoffs for him have been just outta this world.

The Eastern Conference is a cakewalk for the Celtics

Yeah. No, the East is a cakewalk... They should lose one, maybe two games. The over under should be three. Maybe one series next, next game.

The Lakers were never winning a title because their roster was the problem, not coaching.

I still think that the roster is the problem that they just don't have enough guys. And the Nuggets were a better basketball team no matter how many minutes the Lakers led. Execution and being able to win games late is what makes the team better... They were a good team. They were never a great team.

The Minnesota Timberwolves match up better against the Denver Nuggets than anyone else in the NBA.

I think this Minnesota team probably matches up as well as anyone in the NBA versus the Denver Nuggets. I'm really fascinated by this series.

The current NBA landscape marks the beginning of the death of the 'Super Team'.

I said at the beginning of the year... this year could be the beginning of the death of the super team. Part of that is the new second apron in the CBA... you have to build through the draft. And then be positioned... to then make an impactful trade.

The Phoenix Suns' issues are about team building and personalities meshing, not just one specific player or coach.

I would look at sort of team building in a very holistic way beyond just, oh, we gotta trade this guy... You have to look at any roster, any team, and look at how personalities mesh together and how skill sets mesh together... and you have to be willing, I think to, as an owner, you have to be willing to be patient with that.

The New York Knicks are going to win their series against the Philadelphia 76ers.

I think the Knicks are gonna win the series.

Jalen Brunson is a 'true 1A' superstar.

They've got a true leader. And I'll say it a true one A. I agree. Jalen Brunson a true one A.

The Timberwolves are the young team with the best chance to reach the NBA Finals

Based on how Minnesota's playing, I'd say the Wolves. Ant [Anthony Edwards] feels ready for the moment. Like he doesn't feel like he shies away, you know, make or miss and he's indifferent... I like how their team fits for the postseason.

The Phoenix Suns' primary problem is the lack of a lead point guard

I think they're missing a point guard. Like a lead guard. Like somebody to organize everything to take some of the pressure off these other guys... they don't have a stable force.

The Phoenix Suns' 'all-in' move is an all-time disaster

This has maybe been one of the greatest, like rich guy buys a team who thinks he's the smartest guy in the world... does a bunch of all-in moves and it blows up in record time. They have zero first round picks from 2025 to 2030. They have zero second round picks... They have one pick in the NBA draft between now and 2031. That's insane.

The Phoenix Suns are officially dead

The Suns are dead. I proclaimed it. The Suns are dead. They don't look like they have any life to him whatsoever. They look anemic. Bradley Beal looks pretty bad. No trade clauses, by the way, for Bradley Beal. So yeah, I think he's like the sixth highest player in the NBA. They're gonna be stuck with that for a little bit.

The Lakers-Nuggets series is over

I think this series is definitely over. Yeah. Well, no, well, what's gonna happen is the Lakers, Sixers might, the Lakers are gonna play great in some more games that they're also going to lose. Right. That's what's gonna happen.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have never won a playoff series without LeBron James

Fun fact, little fun fact. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert has never won a playoff series without LeBron James.

Anthony Edwards is now a legitimate NBA superstar

Anthony Edwards is is a legit superstar Now. [Durant] he he couldn't do anything about it. Yeah. He was like, yeah, you're right. You're kind of, you're kind of dunking on me right now.

Joel Embiid is made of glass

I don't want to, I don't wanna be a hater, but it's like... the playoffs, if you make it to the finals, it's a long run. Like how many games do you think [Embiid] has in him? ... I don't want Embiid to get hurt. I can just look at data and history and acknowledge that he's made of glass.

LeBron James lacks the stamina to play at an elite level for four quarters

LeBron is doing at 39. He does not have the stamina to do it for four quarters. Like you saw it, he scored I think maybe two or four points in garbage time with like the under a minute left in the fourth quarter. He runs out of gas and no one else... the other guys have to do stuff and they're not able to.

Victor Wembanyama is the future of the NBA and has no weaknesses

Yes, you're watching Wembanyama and you're saying, wow, this guy is a future of the NBA... Wendy's ability to be a playmaker. His passing ability, he was making all his teammates better... he's gonna get stronger, but I, I don't see any weaknesses in his game.

Joe Mazzulla's authenticity is why he will be a great coach for a long time

I think that's one of the most important things about head coaches is the authenticity. Like guys can sniff through it immediately... that's just who he's, so I think that's why he's, he's gonna be a great coach for a long time.

The Celtics will walk through the Eastern Conference because no team in the East is a concern

I'm excited. I'm very excited. Very, very excited. Championship or bust. No, no. I mean I, I like, I would like to beat the heat just for, you know, the storyline's sake, but I'm not concerned about 'em. I think we would roll. There's no one that, that that worries you.