Takes

LeBron James is the hardest working player I have ever been around

LeBron is the hardest working guy that I've ever been around. And I've played with Dirk, Tim Duncan, Steph Curry, Jason Kidd... the amount of time that he takes on his body... i'm just saying when I look at how hard the guy works, then I think a lot of that has to do with why he has avoided injuries.

The Cleveland-Golden State rivalry is the only time NBA fans actually feel vulnerable

When Golden State shows up in our building, that is the first time all year that you're like... You can feel the anxiety of 20 something thousand people... to me, that's an energy that you only get in the NBA finals, like where you literally feel vulnerable for the first time in months.

The NCAA will investigate LaMelo Ball for selling shoes

Yes, this is going to pique their [NCAA] interest a little. If you take any dollar out of the NCAA's pockets, they will come down on you. So yes, I think the NCAA will look into this.

Dwayne Wade and LeBron James are definitely planning a team-up because they are 'going' to dinner

I would say that going to dinner is more intimate than meeting for dinner. Because going to dinner implies that you're going there... Every time you go to dinner, you have to meet somebody for dinner. But every time you meet for dinner, you're not necessarily going to dinner together. I think the act of going is way, way more intimate than just meeting... Not just friends. You don't just go to dinner.

LeBron James is only defending jersey burning to protect his future self for when he leaves Cleveland again

LeBron's statements are right. I'm always a players guy. The owners don't look out for the players. But this, to me, is classic LeBron looking out for future LeBron. Because he knows he's going to leave.

LeBron James will still leave the Cavaliers after the 2017-18 season

It does make a lot of drama, and I still do think LeBron is leaving. Although now it's sourced material from our friend Ryan Russell says LeBron doesn't know what to do because he hasn't decided if he hates Isaiah Thomas yet or not.

LeBron James is definitely going to the Lakers next year.

[Big Cat]: Where do you think [LeBron] is going? [PFT Commenter]: LA. [Michael Rapaport]: If you're a little pussy-ass bitch, you go to LA. ... Lakers. It's already set up.

LeBron James is 100% leaving Cleveland after this season

Chris Sheridan said... NBA Source said today... this will be [LeBron James's] final season in Cleveland. He is 100% leaving. Relationship with owners beyond repair.

The 'TNT Bulls' home winning streak technically survives because the NBA was too cowardly to schedule them on TNT

The NBA has run away, cowards. They have not scheduled the Bulls, the Chicago Bulls, on TNT Thursday night this year... Alternative facts, the Bulls really fucking suck, and they probably didn't want to put them on national television. But nonetheless, the record, the 20 straight home wins on TNT, you can't lose if you don't play.

LeBron James is setting up excuses to leave Cleveland by blaming Kyrie and the front office

This is all setting up. You first have the GM situation. You have Dan Gilbert acting crazy as always. You have Kyrie asking for a trade. LeBron can now leave Cleveland and be like, it's not my fault. It was all on you guys.

LeBron James is triggered and definitely not enjoying his summer

LeBron James is triggered... When he hashtags 'enjoying my summer', hashtag 'you do the same', that's a pretty telltale sign he is not enjoying his summer. Because you know LeBron probably told someone to tell Stephen A. Smith, 'Hey, I want to beat Kyrie Irving's ass,' and then when it comes out, he goes to Twitter.

LeBron James' next social media move will be posting lion quotes to look like an alpha

This is going to end in a couple weeks with LeBron posting like an image of a lion that says 'lions don't concern themselves with the opinions of sheep.' His next post will be him in the gym just being like 'out here grinding, not worrying about Kyrie Irving.'

Derrick Rose signing with the Cavs is sad and marks the end of his relevancy

Derrick Rose just signed with the Cavs... He's going to be LeBron's little sidekick. Is he going to be Robin? It's very sad how his career has turned out. $2.1 million to play with a guy that he absolutely despised when he was in Chicago.

Kyrie Irving is requesting a trade to control his own destiny like LeBron James

I love it because [Kyrie Irving]'s basically pulling LeBron in LeBron's face. He's like, I want to control my own destiny just like you have. ... Kyrie's like, yeah, I don't want to stick around for you to leave next year and fuck me over.

LeBron James is going to break Cleveland's hearts by leaving again

It's really, though, I'm sorry, I just feel bad for the people of Cleveland because LeBron's just going to break their hearts again.

Lonzo Ball's Summer League introduction was the sixth most popular post in NBA Instagram history

The NBA made a press release today saying that of all the posts that the league has ever put on Instagram... that Lonzo being introduced at Summer League, when they put that up on IG... That's the sixth most popular thing they've ever put up.

Carmelo Anthony's 2 AM workout videos are laughable

Carmelo Anthony was working out over July 4th... it was so laughable that his own team actually laughed at it. I don't know if you saw that clip. No, there was a clip of the Knicks front office sitting at a summer league game watching the clip of Carmelo Anthony working out all laughing at him.

Swaggy P signing is irrelevant to the Warriors' championship chances

The Warriors' odds to win the NBA championship before Swaggy P signed, minus 163. After he signed, minus 163. So Swaggy P is literally irrelevant to the Warriors' chances to win. His wins above replacement is zero.

JJ Redick will sign with the Philadelphia 76ers

My first prediction, J.J. Redick is going to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. [He] bought a condo in Brooklyn, and we're connecting dots. We're getting into the realtor information.

Austin Rivers will sign with whatever team his father, Doc Rivers, is coaching

Austin Rivers, he's going to go wherever his dad goes. So they're a package deal kind of. I'm going out on a limb there I know, but that's kind of what I'm thinking.

Phil Jackson's master plan was to get paid for screwing up the Knicks

Phil's master plan was to get paid for screwing up a franchise and he's getting paid. He's just like [fucking] the ground, having a good time, getting paid for it. He played James Dolan like a fiddle.

Chris Paul hated Doc Rivers because of the preferential treatment given to Austin Rivers

Chris Paul hated Doc Rivers ever since he brought Austin Rivers on and basically didn't yell at Austin Rivers and treated him exactly like his child.

Bulls front office members Gar Foreman and John Paxson remain fuckheads

Gar Foreman and John Paxson remain fuckheads. [The Bulls season] never even began, but yes, it is over. They're dead... I don't trust these guys to actually rebuild correctly. I mean, you got fucking trainers saying that they're worse than drug dealers.

Phil Jackson is the Wile E. Coyote of the NBA

You could just make up a story like Phil Jackson was spotted walking around MSG with his hand in a toaster and his foot stuck in a bucket and he fell off a balcony, and his feet kept moving until he looked down, and then he fell. He's basically become the Wile E. Coyote of NBA.

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert is cheap and never gives GMs a second contract

Dan Gilbert's really fucking cheap, and he has, what's the stat? He's never given a GM a second contract in 12 years.

Phil Jackson is dangerously close to tarnishing his NBA legacy

Phil Jackson, I think we've said this on this podcast, but he is dangerously close to tarnishing your legacy territory... as himself. Phil Jackson, his legacy as an NBA guy, mind, player, coach, GM... You always remember the last thing you did, and if he trades Porzingis and continues to make the worst team in the NBA even worse, that's some legacy talk.

Luke Kennard will be drafted by the Pistons at pick 12

I don't think [Luke Kennard] gets past Detroit at 12.

The Chicago Bulls front office has no actual plan or internal communication

Some people will say that the Bulls are very secretive, but it turns out they're just actually not doing anything... there's actually no thought or conversation going on at the Bulls' facility right now. They couldn't leak anything if they wanted to.

Bulls fans think their front office are morons, but they have actually drafted well in stretches

I'm going to remove myself from some of this because I actually think there was a stretch where they drafted really, really well. And now all you Bulls fans are so mad that you think they're just morons from day one.

NBA prospects suck until they actually prove it in the league

I'm of the mindset that the best players in the world are currently in the NBA, and if you're not in the NBA yet, then you suck. I don't see anybody competing against the superstars for the next five to ten years. I haven't seen [Markelle Fultz] play, so he must suck.

Phoenix is a sleeper NBA city with huge potential

Number two, kind of a sleeper city for me, is Phoenix. Young. It's a good time. Great weather always. I like to get in there a little early. Just take my claim, put them on the Mount Rushmore, and then when they do blow up, it's like, hey, I was here from the beginning.

LeBron James is still fighting his inevitable baldness but will eventually have to give in

See, [LeBron] is fighting it. He's really still fighting it. Eventually, he'll come home, but he's putting up the good fight.

Kevin Durant will take a pay cut to stay with the Warriors

Is KD going to take less money? Yes.

The Cavaliers have no chance of winning Game 5 against the Warriors

Do you think the Cavs have any chance? [Hank]: Nope. [Big Cat]: Are you ready to dance on Cleveland's grave? [Hank]: Yes.

The Spurs were like the Blues Brothers on a mission from God in 2014

We were like the Blues Brothers on a mission from God that next season to get back to the finals and make right by that loss. And so once we got to the finals and matched up with Miami again, the rest was history.

LeBron James signs short contracts to force team management to stay aggressive

I don't think it's an accident he keeps signing these shorter contracts. He's not... LeBron James free agency not signing a five-year contract for a reason. I think he likes keeping his options open... The problem is [with long contracts] your team has no motivation to do anything for you. Plus all the money is locked up. They don't go bring anyone else in.

The Cavaliers are dead and have no chance in the 2017 NBA Finals

It is Monday, June 5th, and the Cavaliers are dead. They're dead... D-E-A-D, dead. I'm going to say it, and this is going to sound crazy. I actually feel a little bad for the Cavs. It's not fair. Like, what the Warriors are able to do is not fair.

Ty Lue is playing exactly the wrong style of basketball by trying to keep pace with the Warriors

I don't understand, and this might just be an impossible thing to do because the Cavs somehow built a team that can't slow it down anymore because they want to play up-tempo offense themselves, but the fact that they're playing at a pace that just plays right into the Warriors' hands feels pretty stupid by Ty Lue.

The Warriors will beat the Cavaliers in a five-game 'gentleman's sweep'

I'm pretty confident... I'll give the Cavs one [game]. I want to hear the phrase gentleman's sweep again... I just really like that title.

If the Cavaliers come back to win the series, fans should unsubscribe from the podcast

You can quote me on this. If the Cavaliers end up coming back and winning this series, unsubscribe. For one day.

The NBA is now Kevin Durant's league and the torch has been passed from LeBron James

Are you ready for my hot, hot, hot take from Game 1 of the NBA Finals? Hit me. The torch has been passed. It is Kevin Durant's league. Whose man's is the NBA? I said that, yeah. It's Kevin Durant's man's. Passed that off. He said, here you go, KD. It is your league now. Your league.

Under Armour used Game 1 of the NBA Finals as a 'soft launch' for the Curry 4s to avoid a social media roasting

I also like the idea of using a game as a soft launch for something. So it's not like Under Armour tweeted out a picture and said, 'Hey, everybody, what do you think of the new shoes?' It's more of something that people got to discover for themselves.

Matthew Dellavedova Taking A Charge Is Peak Grit

It's Dellavedova taking a charge.

The 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.

Kevin 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.

Lonzo 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.

The Warriors will beat the Cavaliers in five games in the 2017 NBA Finals

My pick is Warriors in five.

The Cavs-Warriors rubber match is the NBA Finals we need

It is the Cavs, Warriors, the finals everyone wants to see, the finals we need. It's the rubber match.

The NBA is paying the refs

The NBA is paying the refs. The NBA actually always pays the refs. That's how they get paid. They're paying the refs.

Fans will get sick of the Cavaliers-Warriors NBA Finals preview within a week

We are all going to get so fucking sick of the Cavs-Warriors preview, because it's already starting. They're already previewing Cavs-Warriors, and then if both sides sweep... I think it's like seven days before the NBA Finals start. That's a shitload of previews.