Skip to content
PMTPMT DB

Takes

Void
Christian LaettnerChristian Laettner

The one-and-done era has watered down both college and NBA basketball

And it's watered down the game a little bit. And then everyone leaving early for the NBA, I think, waters down the NBA a little bit. But it's hard to stop kids from pursuing their dream.

A widely debated structural opinion about basketball talent pipelines.
Void
Vince CarterVince Carter

Super teams threaten to water down the NBA

The only thing I just hope that doesn't happen is the league becomes watered down because so many teams are trying to create a super team to where you have 10 teams of the 30 having all the best players. And then what does that do with the rest of the league? Everyone else is tanking. That just hurts the NBA at the end of the day.

This is an ongoing debate about the NBA's competitive balance.
Void
Joel DahmenJoel Dahmen

The NBA is currently too watered down

The the the other problem is the NBA is so watered down now. Like the the the difference between the top five or six teams and then the bottom half is just just atrocious. So like if you just add two more teams, you're just gonna I mean you might as well have me play.

Subjective opinion on league quality.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

You should never do water bottle flips at Madison Square Garden because it is the Mecca

First of all, I just want to jump in and say this is not behavior you do at the Garden. No. Respect the Garden. You can do this at any other stadium, but you don't do that at MSG. Mecca of basketball.

Matter of stadium etiquette and sports tradition.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The third quarter Warriors are the most fun team in the NBA to watch

The third quarter Warriors are the most fun team in the NBA to watch. They're insane. I absolutely love them.

Subjective opinion on entertainment value.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

Analytics and the three-point shot have made the NBA tough to watch

It's analytics. I blame analytics... That too. Three point shot. That too. Dunk should be three... Imagine if they made dunks threes. Everyone was just trying to fucking yam on each other constantly. That would be sick.

Subjective opinion on game quality.
Void
Paul BissonnettePaul Bissonnette

LeBron James' tears after winning the Cleveland championship were fake

I'm not a huge LeBron fan. I feel like he's very calculated. I felt like when he cried after he won it for Cleveland, he felt like he had to cry because MJ cried when he came back and did his thing and it made it emotional. Fake tears.

Inherently subjective; one cannot prove or disprove the sincerity of another's tears.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

SGA's style of play is frustrating to watch when he's fishing for fouls

I still stand by the take that I don't like watching him [SGA] when he is foul baiting... I still get pissed off when he, when he embellishes. I think the Timberwolves are at their wit's end with it too.

The sentiment of a player's style is subjective.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

The Minnesota Timberwolves are legitimately better without Rudy Gobert

Lakers in advanced the T-Wolves, let's say, let's do, let's do some positive spin zones for the T-Wolves. Okay. One, I think they're better without Rudy Gobert. Yeah. Like legitimately, you can make the case on defense that they need somebody like that to protect the rim. But on offense, they are like, I don't think it's even a debate right now. They work better... without 'em.

Subjective. The Timberwolves have since had success with Gobert in 2024, but in the specific context of the 2023 season, many agreed with this.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

Chris Webber was definitely betting on the Thunder-Spurs game

Chris Webber, I'm pretty sure Chris Webber was betting on this game because I've never heard anyone so emotionally invested in a game... It was clear that Chris Webber had money on this game.

While Chris Webber's broadcast was highly emotional, there is no public record or proof that he had a wager on the game.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

Jalen Brunson's foul baiting has made him hard to watch as a basketball fan

The foul baiting has gotten to a point where it's just hard to watch. And it's not just the foul baiting... the Knicks in this fourth quarter, they just go to straight iso ball foul baiting. No one else touches the ball. Jalen Brunson just trying to score. And it's bad basketball to watch.

This is a subjective opinion on playing style that many fans and analysts debated during the 2024 playoffs.
Void
HankHank

We would easily beat the Warriors if we started the 4th quarter with a 100-point lead

No, easy. We win by 30 [if we had a 100-point lead against the Golden State Warriors at the start of the fourth quarter].

This is a purely hypothetical scenario that can never be tested.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Watching Steven Adams without sound is like listening to porn without images

Watching Steven Adams without sound is like listening to porn without the images. Well, it was kind of cool seeing him yell at him and point his finger, but I needed the sound to really get me there.

Subjective comparison of sensory experiences.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

Reggie Miller was right about resting Kevin Durant and James Harden in Game 6

Reggie Miller was right. If you forgot, Reggie Miller basically said after game five, rest Kevin Durant, James Harden for game seven. Don't even play them. They played. They lost.

The Nets lost both Game 6 and 7, but Miller's take was widely mocked as 'rest' isn't usually the strategy in close-out games.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

Draymond Green's $50,000 fine for recruiting Devin Booker was worth it

Draymond get fined $50,000 for saying Devin Booker needs to get out of the Phoenix on the set of TNT. Well, so people are saying that there shouldn't be these tampering laws anymore like $50,000 of Draymond Green is absolutely nothing. It's actually probably worth it in terms of just the message that he was sending to Booker.

The value of a fine is subjective to the player and the goal of the tampering.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Watching a big man who can pass is the best thing to watch in all of sports.

Watching a big man that can pass like Jokic is maybe my favorite thing in all of sports to watch. I'm thinking through every single league... but I actually think that watching a big man that is just throwing no look passes over his head from the post down low... that's my favorite thing in all sports.

Purely a matter of personal preference.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

LeBron James' best dad move ever was getting Bronny drafted into the NBA

Lebron is a better father than he is basketball player? Yeah, I think, didn't we we determin that on Friday. Yeah. The fact that he got Bronny drafted. Yeah. No basketball player has ever done that before. But I do think he went up to him [Stephen A. Smith] like Stephen A. Smith played the role afterwards.

The evaluation of his fatherhood vs. basketball skill is inherently subjective.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

Kyle Lowry is the absolute worst and most annoying player to watch in the NBA

I'm so happy I don't have to watch Kyle Lowry play anymore. That guy is like, he's the worst. He is literally the worst... I swear if Kyle Lowry spent like maybe even half as much time complaining, he would be double the player. He just complains about every single possession, no matter what.

This is a subjective opinion about a player's watchability and attitude.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

LeBron James will never allow a teammate on the roster who knows more about wine than he does

LeBron takes his wine knowledge very seriously. There's no chance he will ever have somebody on his team that knows more about wine than he does. That's his thing.

Void
HankHank

I am rooting for the Knicks to reach the NBA Finals specifically so I can watch them get their hearts broken

I'll be rooting for the Knicks to win the Eastern Conference... Ooh, that's huge... I want, I want the Knicks to get their heart broken.

Stated rooting interest.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Portland is the #1 NBA city because the fans have nothing else to do except hike and watch basketball

I actually, along those same lines, I went Portland. Especially with the old Jailblazers. Those guys used to have a real good time out there. I think Portland has some of the best fans... That's because they're homeless, so they don't have anywhere else to go. No one in Portland has a job. They move around from bookstore to food truck to Trailblazers games.

A satirical claim about city demographics and fan passion that cannot be objectively verified.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

Jabari Parker was benched because he started the mutiny against the Bulls' practice

Jabari Parker, he has been benched because, and this is, I mean, I have no sources to back me up except my own brain, but he was clearly the guy who started the mutiny, right? Because he didn't want to practice. He doesn't want to play defense.

While Parker was famously benched and criticized for his defense and 'not getting paid to play defense' comments, it was never officially confirmed he was the sole leader of the 'mutiny'.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

If you don't appreciate LeBron James' greatness while watching him, you aren't a sports fan

LeBron, at this point, you can hate him... but if you're sitting and watching LeBron and not being like, this is incredible, everything he does, then you're not a sports fan. Even his teammates do it.

This is an inherently subjective opinion about what qualifies someone as a 'sports fan.'
Void
Big CatBig Cat

Joel Embiid is an absolute monster when he is healthy

Joel Embiid is a fucking monster. He is a monster. Like, watching him play. When he's healthy. But he was a monster on Saturday. When he is out there, he looks like he's playing with little kids. Like, his hands are so much bigger than everybody. He's so much taller. He gets the ball in the post. There's nothing anyone can do.

Subjective opinion on a player's dominance, though Embiid's MVP-caliber career since then supports the 'monster' claim.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

True basketball fans prefer the Nuggets-Trail Blazers series over Warriors-Rockets

If you're a basketball purist, you say, forget about the Rockets and the Warriors just tricking each other into fouling on three-pointers. That's not basketball. You know what my basketball is? Guard play. Excellent guard play and good, crisp dribbling. And that's what you get in the Nuggets Trailblazers.

This is a subjective opinion about entertainment value and 'pure' basketball styles.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

LeBron James' statement on China was so bad he could have claimed it was 'Opposite Day' 10 minutes later

He actually – it was such a bad statement that if he had come back and 10 minutes later been like not or like opposite day, he would have been good. He would have been good if he was like everything I said, that was a joke. I meant the opposite of that.

This is a subjective opinion on the quality of a PR statement.
Void
HankHank

The specialized NBA Cup courts are bad for casual fans and confusing to watch

I do not like the court. Okay. I don't like, I don't, I think for a casual fan it's gonna take a while for them to get The NBA a cup. It just doesn't help. It's like, what is wrong with this court? Then you have to explain this whole long NBA cup thing. Not a fan of the court.

This is a subjective aesthetic and marketing opinion.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Cooper Flagg should go to the NBA this year no matter which team drafts first

Cooper, this is why you gotta go to the NBA. No matter who drafts you, no matter who is in position to the lottery, you're risking injury... If the Wizards get the first lotto pick, don't even think twice. Go to the NBA.

This is a subjective career advice take.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

I would love to watch a WNBA matinee game on a summer afternoon

I would especially love it if they had a game this afternoon a little matinee with the play in the summertime when kids go to camp. ... I would love to watch the Sky and Mercury.

This is a statement of personal preference and interest.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

Watching the NBA makes you realize how bad college basketball players are at shooting

You watch college basketball for three straight weeks, and then you switch back to the NBA, and you actually wonder if the NBA has bigger rims, because every shot seems to go in. It's like, oh, hey, that open three-pointer, they made it. Oh, wow, a guy didn't just throw one off the backboard when the shot clock's expiring.

This is a subjective comparison of entertainment and skill, though shooting percentages are objectively higher in the NBA.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Whoever won the Thunder-Nuggets series was going to be the NBA champion no matter what

I think whoever won that Thunder-Nuggets series, that was going to be the champion no matter what. That was going to be the champion no matter what.

Subjective opinion on team strength.
Void
Ryen RussilloRyen Russillo

James Harden is a quitter whose personality can't be trusted when playoff situations get tense

I have a problem with anyone who's a professional athlete who is okay deciding that they're just not going to be competitive twice in a year because they don't like their situation... if you're okay sucking on purpose and having it happen that many times in a very short span, then why would I bet on your personality when everything's tense and it matters.

Harden's playoff performance continued to be inconsistent, most notably in a disappearing act in Game 6 against the Heat in 2022.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

Replay review has ruined the watchability of basketball

Review in NBA and college basketball has ruined the watchability of basketball games because it just the last five minutes take forever. And they look at every little piece of the game and did it go off this guy? It was unwatchable. They need to dial it back.

This is a subjective opinion on the quality of the product.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

The Warriors are more fun to watch without Kevin Durant

The question now is, are the Warriors better without Kevin Durant? I think what you're seeing is they're more fun to watch without Kevin Durant. They are absolutely more fun to watch. They play a more interesting brand of basketball. Steph Curry is allowed to be Steph Curry.

This is a subjective opinion about entertainment value.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

I am going to miss watching LeBron James in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

Everyone out there, please remind us how much fun it's been to talk about LeBron this year because I will have a moment in the first round of the playoffs where I'll be like, I kind of wish LeBron was here.

Subjective viewer sentiment, though the Lakers did indeed miss the playoffs.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The Phoenix Suns are better without Chris Paul

I think in a sick way they definitely are better without Chris Paul. 100%. Because if you got Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, those guys, they can both create their own shots... they're not reliant on Chris Paul to run their offense.

The Suns went 2-2 without Paul in this series but ultimately lost in 6 games to Denver. Whether they are 'better' long-term is a matter of debate.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

There is a zero percent chance LeBron James watched the WNBA draft

There's no way he watched a WNBA draft. There's a 0.0% chance. If he was watching WNBA draft, he would have tweeted it during the WNBA draft, not 24 hours later being like just a thought I've had on my mind recently.

Impossible to definitively prove LeBron's eyeballs weren't on a screen, but the timing supports Big Cat's skepticism.
Void
Danny BarrettDanny Barrett

LeBron James is a dickhead and I would never want him on my rugby team

Probably the last person I would want is LeBron... strictly because he's a dickhead. He's a dickhead. If I had to go with anyone, it would probably be AP, Adrian Peterson. He would be good at that.

The assessment of someone being a 'dickhead' is purely subjective.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Donald Trump's border wall would beat the 2016 Golden State Warriors because it is salary cap friendly.

The thing I like about Trump's wall is that it's very salary cap friendly since somebody else [Mexico] is paying for it. So Trump's wall would have enough room left over to sign [Kevin] Durant this offseason. ... you could get a lot of good role players and surround like a lot of glue guys in addition to Durant with Trump's wall and still be under the cap. So I'm going to go with Trump.

Nonsensical satirical comparison that cannot be resolved.
Void
Patrick BeverleyPatrick Beverley

Draymond Green gets the JJ Watt treatment on defense where they let him freelance and do whatever he wants

They give [Draymond Green] the JJ Watt treatment. They let him do whatever the fuck he wants... They let him roam. Freelance.

The tactical role of a player is an expert opinion from a peer.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The Suns are better without Chris Paul because he brings bad vibes

Get Chris Paul on your team and then have him get injured. And that way everybody is psyched that they don't have to play with Chris Paul anymore. Better vibes on the team.

The Suns were 2-2 in the games Paul missed in this series before losing to the Nuggets. Whether the 'vibes' were better is subjective.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

LeVar Ball is a mastermind at putting out 'hater bait' to control the news cycle

LeVar Ball at this point, he's just masterful. He's just putting out hater bait for everyone. He's just like, go ahead. I'm going to pull my son out because we haven't been in the news cycle for maybe 24 hours. And then everyone's going to get mad.

This is a media analysis take.
Void
CJ McCollumCJ McCollum

Luka Dončić is already a better player than Dirk Nowitzki ever was

Jay Kidd said he was already better than Dirk, you know, he's 25 years old... they're already talking about he's better than Dirk and he ain't even won a [ring]... this is telling you how special this kid is. Like this man is a real problem and he's still not really in his prime.

Highly subjective debate comparing an all-time great's career to a young star's trajectory.
Void
Blake GriffinBlake Griffin

Kawhi Leonard is my favorite player to watch in the playoffs

Favorite player in the playoffs? To watch, like, Kawhi, probably.

Personal preference.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Luke Walton was a better coach for the Golden State Warriors than Steve Kerr

I would actually say [the Warriors are] Luke Walton's team. People forget he was their coach in the first half last year. They were a lot better then.

While Walton did have a historic start as interim coach, Steve Kerr is widely recognized as the architect of the dynasty. This is a satirical take on coaching credit.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

It is impossible that Dwight Howard doesn't know the names of the players on the Golden State Warriors

This comes to us from Dwight Howard, who said that he couldn't name the players on the Golden State Warriors. [Big Cat/PFT]: Yeah, right. Yeah, right. Okay, Dwight... I had no idea. I don't even care about other teams. Yeah.

It is highly unlikely an active NBA player wouldn't know the core of the 73-win Warriors team that had just added Kevin Durant.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The Golden State Warriors are unlikable because of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Steve Kerr

I don't like Steph. He's a baby back bitch. Yeah, yeah. Klay Thompson's got a fucked up goatee. Steve Kerr's milking it. [With] spinal fluid. Yeah.

Subjective opinion on the likability of the team.
Void
Kirk GoldsberryKirk Goldsberry

The Golden State Warriors have the best 'vibes' in the NBA playoffs, followed by the Heat and the Celtics.

Golden State number one. Cause they have the party, the parties back... then I'm going Miami. I think they're an ultimate chip on the shoulder team... and Boston is third because they still have a dangerous situation in front of them this weekend in Brooklyn.

Vibe rankings are inherently subjective.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

The Golden State Warriors do not truly start their postseason until Draymond Green gets suspended.

I think it's just like the Warriors don't start the playoffs until Draymond gets suspended. And then they just, and then they're ready to kick it into gear.

While the Warriors did win three straight after the Draymond suspension in this series, it isn't a literal rule of basketball.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

The 2017 Golden State Warriors are not the greatest team of all time

Are the Warriors one of the best teams in NBA history? Are they GOAT? Are they the GOAT? No, they're not. I think three-year stretch, they're up there. Only winning two out of three probably hurts them.

Legacy rankings are inherently subjective.

Search

Search takes, episodes, and speakers