Takes

Inside the NBA is significantly more important to the NBA's culture than the In-Season Tournament

Inside the NBA is more important to the NBA than the in-season tournament by a large margin. Like those are not equal to me in terms of the consumption of the culture around the sport, the way the sports talked about.

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.

No single player will ever win six NBA championships as the main guy again

I personally, I don't think it's even possible for someone to win six rings anymore. Like maybe as like the extra guy who goes tops from team to team or something. But as like the main guy, I just don't think that's available anymore. . . the competition is so much thicker from team to team and game to game.

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.

Anthony Edwards wearing a microphone in Game 7 on the road proves he is fearless

He wore the microphone in game seven. Game seven on the road. I'll take that mic, put it right here. That before the game, he's like 'yeah I'm not worried at all, go ahead and record everything I say.' ... His leadership and his belief, I don't know, maybe he can carry it.

Most NBA GMs would choose Luka Doncic to start a team over Jayson Tatum or Anthony Edwards

Rank the players... Luca, Tatum, Ant, Halliburton... I think they probably take Luca because he's six-eight and he can be such a difference maker in a single game. And then Tatum and Ant is interesting because Ant defends, man. This is the thing... Ant wants it. He wants the ball, he wants the microphone.

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.

The Nuggets' navy 'Altitude' jerseys are not suitable for a Game 7

I don't know what the fuck burn that nuggets jersey Never wear it again... you gotta have something more intimidating and then you let, that's not a Game seven uniform. That's a game two uniform.

Celtics will beat the Pacers in 5 games

Celtics in five... I could see maybe going six, but definitely not seven.

Jason Tatum is better than Luka Doncic due to his playoff experience

I would, I'd say Tatum is better than Luca... More experience. He's played longer... they've more playoff games. I mean it's close. It's close. It's, its a, it's, it's a one a one B situation. Luca's very good. But, so I'd ride and die with Austin Cel.

The Thunder should draft Zach Edey to pair with Chet Holmgren

I actually think you wanna hear this one. I think the thunder should draft Zach Edey. Twin Towers... you got the, the Nimbly three point shooting Skinny center and then you got a little bit more of a traditional center in Zach Edey.

The Knicks would never have beaten the Celtics even if healthy

Would I have loved for it to be, you know, Mr. Bing Bong versus Hank? I mean, yeah... the Celtics look, they would've never beaten the Celtics. It was just fun to get in Hank's face.

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 Timberwolves should wear their throwback uniforms every single game

The wolves wore their throwbacks with the throwback court, which was the minute I turned on the game, I was like, oh, it's fucking on. I don't know. They should wear that every single game. I do not think they could lose in those.

Stephen A. Smith could score five buckets on LeBron James in a one-on-one game to 100

I'm going to say that Stephen A. I think Stephen A. could score five buckets on [LeBron]... Because I think that LeBron would, he'd just, he'd get tired. There's no load management in the game to 100 one-on-one.

LeBron James is going to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers

So LeBron is gonna go back to the Cavs... LeBron has a podcast with JJ Redick. LeBron wants to make the podcast even bigger. LeBron gets JJ Redick hired by the Lakers... I am gonna go to Cleveland and I'll get a different coach. So LeBron is actually trying to get two coaches hired right now.

The 'easy path' criticism of the Celtics' playoff run is an invalid excuse

I don't give a fuck about anyone that says that their path is easy. All they can do is beat the teams in front of them. It's not a valid excuse for people to be like, oh, Cupcake Mickey Mouse Eastern Conference run.

The Denver Nuggets have too much talent for the Dallas Mavericks

I just think that the Nuggets have even like four of those guys where if they have, they're capable of having incredible nights... I just think that the Nuggets have too much talent for the Mavericks.

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.

It is better to guard Nikola Jokic with average defenders than one elite defender like Rudy Gobert

I think it's almost better to guard Jokic with like one and a half slash two average defenders than it is to guard him with one good defender [like Rudy Gobert].

The Oklahoma City Thunder have officially earned their big boy playoff stripes

The Thunder I want say have officially earned their big boy playoff stripes because what they did on Monday night when they could not shoot at all... That's a tough playoff win. ... the Thunder win. And I'm like, they got their big boy stripes.

Bronny James is in a terrible spot and I feel bad for him

My Hot Seat is Bronny James... I feel bad for him. Like I, I he's he's in a terrible spot. I agree. He's in a terrible spot. He is at the combine this week. People are debating whether he should even be at the combine.

Bronny James would not be drafted or at the combine if his name wasn't Bronny James

I do agree with you because it's just a simple question. Would Bronny James be at the combine and be drafted if his name wasn't Bronny James? The answer's no.

The Lakers coaching job is a much better long-term opportunity than the Suns job

I think there's more of a runway with the Lakers. I think the Suns is like more of a, you know what happens in the NBA if you, if they have another season this year... you have this like very tiny window. ... The Lakers have, I think a longer runway. ... If you create a max salary spot with the Lakers, come on, you're getting somebody. Right. Guys are always [wanting to play there].

Victor Wembanyama is going to dominate the NBA in ways we have never seen on both ends of the floor

The Spurs are coming because of Victor [Wembanyama]. ... we better all get our winning out of the way fast. We better get our winning done fast. 'cause once that kid has anybody around him, he's gonna win everything all the time. ... He's going to dominate this league in ways like I think on both ends of the floor, unlike we've seen.

The Nuggets are the scariest team left in the playoffs

The Nuggets are the scariest team in the West. You're right. Left in the playoffs period. Like the Nuggets just do not care. Like they're not worried about the pressure of game five or six or seven... thinking about the championship, if you were to do that, you'd rather play one of those younger, more inexperienced teams. But that's why I think the Nuggets, they were just gonna, they're gonna roll from here on out.

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.

Tom Thibodeau did not cause the Knicks' current injury crisis

I don't think that he [Thibodeau] specifically has caused this situation that the Knicks are in... Julius Randall hurt his shoulder on a play... OG's always hurt and he was traded halfway through the season... Brunson was like 14th in minutes... I think this one situation, like it's kind of just fluke injuries and I don't know if you can blame him a hundred percent for this one.

Jayson Tatum has had nothing but success in his NBA career despite lack of a ring

I think [the critics] are wrong. I think Jayson Tatum just gets picked on. He's had nothing but success in his NBA career. He hasn't won a championship, but he's had an extremely successful career and people just try and shoot him down.

The Celtics will 'kill' the Cavaliers in Game 3

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

The Celtics will win Game 3 by exactly 33 points

Prediction for Saturday night: Win by 33. I guess a little, you know, you got an extra one. 101 [total series point differential].

The Celtics will sweep the rest of the playoffs through the Eastern Conference Finals

We're the Boston Celtics. We're gonna beat the fuck out of 'em the next game. Beat the fuck out of 'em again. Beat the fuck out of 'em again. And then the Pacers and Knicks are both gonna be dead by the time they come to us. That's a clean sweep, clean sweep.

Rick Carlisle is being a 'gigantic baby' for his officiating complaints

The Pacers have had a bad whistle and they got, they got screwed up. I mean, game one that we, we talked about on Wednesday, that game one kickball call sucked. They've gotten a bad whistle. Rick Carlisle's being a gigantic baby.

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.

Coaching an NBA 'super team' is currently the worst job in sports

That's gotta be the worst job in sports as a head coach right now is signing up to coach a super team because no matter what happens, it's never the player's fault. It's always the coach's fault. If you flame out in the playoffs with one of these teams with a big three or a super team, you are the fall guy every single time.

Anthony Edwards is the best young leader in the NBA

When it comes to the young up and coming superstars, I've never seen a leader like [Anthony Edwards]. And he's the best young leader in the game of basketball.

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.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander should have won the 2023-24 NBA MVP over Nikola Jokic

I voted for SGA. I voted for Shai because Shai last year Oklahoma didn't even make the playoffs. This year they're the number one seed in the Western conference. He's first in the league in steals, shooting 54% from the field as a shooting guard... He has the best record in the tough Western Conference.

LeBron James should retire immediately to protect his 'GOAT' legacy

I wish [LeBron James] would retire because at this point I'm looking at it, what else is it for LeBron to accomplish? He have nothing else to accomplish... every single season that you don't win, then you give more animosity or more arguments to come at you about the GOAT debate... his legacy now is measured on the GOAT conversation and the firing of Darvin Ham does not look good on him.

The Timberwolves will win the NBA championship and Anthony Edwards will be Finals MVP

I got the Celtics coming out of the East. I got the Minnesota Timberwolves coming out of the West and I got Anthony Edwards Finals MVP, Minnesota taking it all.

Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, and Josh Hart are the top three 'dogs' in the NBA

Number one is gonna be Anthony Edwards. Rotweiler. Now it's a certain type of dog. No teacup oodles. I'm gonna go Anthony Edwards, I'm gonna go Jalen Brunson... and number three, I gotta go with Josh Hart. He's the best rebounding guard in the playoffs... snatching them in traffic.

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.

The Celtics will beat the Cavaliers by a cumulative triple-digit point differential in the series

[Hank] is on pace for his triple digits prediction bloodbath for point differential in this series. The Celtics won by 25... we're on pace. This should be a four-one if not 4-0.

Miami Heat culture is in absolute shambles

Heat culture absolute shambles. Pat Riley did a press conference... asked about Jimmy Butler trolling when he wasn't playing and he said, if you're not on the court playing, you should keep your mouth shut.

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.