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Takes

Win
Big CatBig Cat

Kawhi Leonard is gone from Toronto no matter what happens in the Finals

I think he's gone no matter what. I think he's made up his mind already no matter what. There could be a world where he's like, I really love it in Toronto, but losing or winning the finals won't change that.

Kawhi won the championship and Finals MVP and still left for LA.
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Big CatBig Cat

The Cavs vs. Raptors series is over and I'm not watching another second of it

This series is going to be brutal to watch. Maybe the Raptors play close for four quarters in Toronto for one game, but I don't even give them that... the Cavs are locked in. They're on a different level right now. So this series is over as far as I'm concerned.

The Cavs won the series 4-2, so while they won, it wasn't the total non-competitive sweep he implied.
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.
Win
Joakim NoahJoakim Noah

Jimmy Butler once went an entire summer without watching TV to focus on his game

Jimmy's probably the toughest competitor I've ever been around. And you know, it started right away. He worked his ass off and you know, the sacrifices that he made in the summers were just unbelievable. I mean, people don't know this, but he was going whole summers, no tv.

Butler has confirmed in other interviews he lived in a house without internet or TV for periods to focus on training.
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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.
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Big CatBig Cat

The take that the Warriors are better without Kevin Durant is starting to look true

The kernel, the little fucking seed that got planted a few weeks ago, has now become a full tree, a take tree. Are the Warriors better without Kevin Durant? It is a full-blown take tree. It's the tree that's dropping shit on your car now because you can't go anywhere without seeing this take. And it's starting to look kind of true.

The Warriors won the 2022 title without KD, proving they could win at the highest level without him, though they lost the 2019 Finals shortly after this take.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Loss
HankHank

Derek White's Game 6 buzzer-beater felt like a series-winning moment

Game six was unbelievable. Just that win and the day after did, it did feel like a Game seven win. It felt like a series win. I was, I was basking at it. I truly was.

The Celtics ultimately lost the series, making the feeling of it being a series-winning moment incorrect in hindsight.
Win
Big CatBig Cat

LeBron James robbed fans of a hater moment by making the correct basketball play

I feel so robbed by it because [LeBron James] actually made a very selfless play. A game-winning assist for a buzzer beater. I was really hoping that the situation had occurred where he was trying to force it and he cost him the game. He robbed that from us.

The streak literally ended as described in the episode.
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HewyHewy

WNBA Finals will be the third most-watched sport in the fall

The finals of the WNBA specifically will have the third most ratings in the fall. So behind college football and the NFL. There needs to be a third place. And WNBA finals will surpass the NBA opening, will surpass the NHL and it'll be the third most watched sport. It'll battle the World Series and it will be three.

The WNBA Finals set viewership records (averaging 1.6M viewers, up 115% from 2023), but it's unclear if it definitively surpassed the World Series and NHL as the third most-watched sport. It was competitive with but likely did not clearly beat the World Series ratings.
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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.
Win
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

I hope Draymond Green doesn't get suspended for the nut kick because playoff basketball is better with fights and retaliation

The question is, is Draymond going to get suspended for that kick? Because it was a crane kick. It was a Karate Kid shot to the balls. And I hope he doesn't get suspended because I'd like to see some retaliation. That's when playoff basketball really takes off is when there's fights and retaliation.

The NBA decided not to suspend Draymond for the kick in the 2016 WCF, though they upgraded it to a flagrant foul. PFT's wish for 'no suspension' came true.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

If the Kings advance past the Warriors, basketball fans will eventually regret not having the Warriors in the later rounds.

If the Kings advance, we're gonna be caught up again on the Beam team. We're gonna be very excited about them moving on to the second round. And then they're gonna start actually playing the second round, and I'm gonna be like, I really wish that this was the Warriors playing.

The Warriors won the series, so this scenario never played out.
Win
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The Timberwolves vs. Grizzlies series is the most fun series to watch because they are the two youngest teams in the NBA

There's a reason why this series is so fun to watch. Obviously you've got great players... [they are] the two youngest teams in the playoffs, two of the five youngest teams in the NBA, which means that you're going to see some guys that have the ability to do like incredible, amazing athletic stuff, but also make really, really stupid, awful mistakes.

The Timberwolves and Grizzlies were indeed among the youngest teams in the league/playoffs that year.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The Golden State Warriors are officially a dynasty after five straight Finals appearances and three titles

I count anything three and four. I think yes. I'd say three out of four. Absolutely. Three out of five is when you really start to have the conversation. [But] three out of four and five straight finals.

The Warriors' run of five straight finals and three titles is widely considered a dynasty in NBA history.
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Big CatBig Cat

The Golden State Warriors are baby back bitches

Anytime the Warriors get discussed on this show, it gets hot. Because they're baby back bitches.

Purely subjective expression of team hatred.
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Kirk GoldsberryKirk Goldsberry

The Golden State Warriors are officially 'back' and look like a championship team again.

The early returns in round one, it screams, yes, this is looking like not only a very, very dangerous offensive team, but once again, with Draymond [Green] they're a very good defensive team... it seems like they're back guys... And what I keep telling people is if the Warriors get out of the West, that's six trips to the finals in eight years.

The Warriors won the 2022 NBA Championship, defeating the Celtics in 6 games.
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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.
Loss
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Gabrielle Union would ruin the Golden State Warriors' chemistry

I hope that [Dwyane Wade] goes to Golden State and then... Ayesha Curry gets tasked with showing Gabby [Union] around Oakland. And she's like, please don't make me hang out with this crazy bitch. And Gabby just ruins the chemistry of the entire team. That would be wonderful.

Dwyane Wade did not join the Warriors, and Gabrielle Union did not ruin their chemistry.
Loss
Ryen RussilloRyen Russillo

The Golden State Warriors are going to be even better this season

I think the warriors are gonna be even better. Ooh.

Incorrect. The Warriors finished as the 6th seed and were eliminated in the second round by the Lakers in 2023.
Loss
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The Golden State Warriors will beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the play-in tournament specifically for the TV ratings

What I think is gonna happen in the West, we're gonna see Lakers-Warriors in a play-in game... Warriors would win that... for the ratings.

The Warriors lost their first play-in game to the Kings and were eliminated before ever facing the Lakers.
Loss
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The Golden State Warriors are a worse team with Kevin Durant.

I said that they were going to be worse with [Kevin Durant]. I said that. I was the only one. You called me an idiot. Guess what? The black hole is leaving Oakland, but he's the new black hole.

The Golden State Warriors won the 2017 NBA championship with Kevin Durant, finishing the playoffs with a historic 16-1 record.
Loss
Big CatBig Cat

The Golden State Warriors might be done after losing Game 1 to the Celtics

I actually believe that... the rest, you know, they're done. Yeah. They might be done. I think they might be done when they're done. I think they might be done. I really do think the way they lost this and the fact that the Celtics, like I know that they're their shot-making... what the Celtics can rely on and what they do better than anyone else is, they locked down on defense.

The Warriors were far from done; they won the series 4-2, winning three straight games to close it out.
Loss
Big CatBig Cat

The 2016 Golden State Warriors will win the NBA title and become an all-time team

The Golden State Warriors won their 72nd game last night against the Spurs. So now they are an all-time team. Unless they don't win the title. If they don't win the title, then it really doesn't matter. But we all kind of assume they will win the title. The Spurs will probably give them a great series. They will be an all-time team.

The Warriors lost the 2016 NBA Finals to the Cavaliers.
Loss
Ryen RussilloRyen Russillo

The Golden State Warriors will win the NBA Finals in six games

I'll say Warriors in six. Yeah, I'll say, like, something, you know, a couple of a game there. The Warriors are an incredibly, like, arrogant team, for good reason, but... They will screw around. They will screw around in a game and lose it.

The Warriors actually swept the Cavs 4-0.
Loss
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The Golden State Warriors are now Klay Thompson's team

It's Klay's team now. It has to be his team.

Curry remained the definitive leader and best player on the team; it was never Klay's team.
Loss
Logan CoutureLogan Couture

The Golden State Warriors might have chemistry issues because they have 'too many chiefs'

I don't know if they have enough shots. Everyone's going to want to shoot the ball. I don't know how it's going to work... Too many chiefs, not enough Indians. That's how I think it's going to go, but we'll see.

Incorrect. The Warriors with Durant were immediately dominant, winning the 2017 and 2018 championships with historically efficient offense.
Win
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

No one is beating the Golden State Warriors

The Celtics aren't going to be able to beat the Warriors. No one's beating the Warriors.

The Warriors swept the Cavs in the 2018 Finals to win the championship.
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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.
Win
HankHank

The 2022 NBA Finals will be the Boston Celtics vs. the Golden State Warriors

Go Celtics warriors.

This prediction was exactly correct. The Warriors beat the Celtics 4-2 in the 2022 Finals.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The 2022 NBA Finals will be the Brooklyn Nets vs. the Golden State Warriors

I'm going to double dip. I'm going to go nets warriors... Meaning like the warriors are kind of, I'm treating them the same way I'm treated the nets, which is they're too good. They've got so much talent. They're going to figure it out.

Incorrect. While the Warriors made the Finals, the Nets were swept in the first round by the Celtics.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The OKC Thunder will get swept by the Golden State Warriors in the playoffs

Who gets the shot at the end of game four when they're getting swept by the Golden State Warriors? Russ, triple team.

The Thunder didn't even make it to the Warriors; they lost in the first round to the Utah Jazz 4-2. While the 'sweep' didn't happen, the prediction of a postseason failure was correct in spirit.
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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.
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Tom IzzoTom Izzo

The Golden State Warriors would not have won their championships without Draymond Green

I absolutely love him. He's, he's a versatile player... I don't think as good as Steph [Curry] and Klay [Thompson] and all the other guy, I don't think they would've won the championships without 'em. He just does all the little dirty work that makes a difference in the end.

This is a widespread debate, but Draymond was an All-Star and DPOY during those runs; his impact is statistically documented in plus-minus and defensive metrics.
Loss
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The Golden State Warriors are soft 'candy-ass'

If you can put a live cam on Steph Curry and the rest of the soft candy-ass Golden State Warriors watching the finals that they should be in. That would be great.

Hot TakeBasketballHotSarcastic
Subjective, but the Warriors won the 2017 NBA Finals with a 16-1 playoff record.
Loss
James HolzhauerJames Holzhauer

The Golden State Warriors will win the 2019 NBA Finals.

Well, I have to say the Warriors. But, you know, as a fan, I'm rooting against it. But, you know, they're obviously the best team, so boring answer, but there you go.

The Warriors lost to the Toronto Raptors in 6 games in the 2019 NBA Finals.
Loss
Big CatBig Cat

The Golden State Warriors are better off without Steph Curry

I've seen enough and I know enough that if you take Steph out of the Warriors, they're just as good, if not better. [They haven't said his name] all series because he's been on the bench all series.

Steph Curry is an all-time great and the Warriors are objectively worse without him; they eventually lost the series when LeBron/Kyrie took over.
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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.

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