PMTPMT DB

Takes

Win
#PMT-2024-0110-10491
HankHank

NBA officiating in the Celtics-Pacers game was 'very questionable' after reversing a clear foul

Last night against the Pacers... Jalen Brown had a game tying shot attempt that they call the foul. They reviewed the tape, he clearly got hit in the head. They reversed it, gave the pacers the ball back... very questionable. Very, very questionable.

The NBA L2M report later confirmed that Buddy Hield should have been called for a foul on Jaylen Brown.
Void
#PMT-2023-1220-12087
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The NBA In-Season Tournament should have one traveling banner instead of permanent ones

There should just be one banner. And the team that wins it should get to have it in their arena for the remainder of that year into next year where they have to give it up and another team then gets to possess that banner because you can't have every NBA team eventually having an in season tournament banners.

This is a suggestion for league policy, inherently subjective.
Win
#PMT-2023-1206-8402
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Nikola Jokic is the best player in the world

Yoic. Did you know that He leads the NBA in points, rebounds, and assists right now. Jesus. It's fucking insane what Yoic is doing. He's so good. I think, I feel like we're in the trap of not appreciating how great Yoic is. Yeah. He's the best player in the world.

Jokic went on to win the 2023-24 NBA MVP, widely confirming he was the best player in the league at that time.
Win
#PMT-2023-1206-8404
Big CatBig Cat

The NBA In-Season Tournament is a success

My Cool Throne is the NBA in season tournament because it kind of rocks... It was an awesome crowd. The crowd was awesome... I was critical at first. It didn't make sense in the beginning, but now that it's more organized... I'm a fan.

The first In-Season tournament was widely praised for its ratings and competitiveness, with LeBron James winning the first MVP.
Void
#PMT-2023-1115-6585
Big CatBig Cat

Zion Williamson is not an NBA superstar

Is Zion Williamson to be a superstar? No. No. I don't think he's played enough games to be a superstar. Superstars play. He was a college superstar. I absolutely agree with that.

Subjective definition of 'superstar'. Zion's injuries have consistently limited his impact.
Loss
#PMT-2023-1004-4655
MaxMax

James Harden will do something so egregious that he ends up in jail by the end of the week

I think that James Harden will end up in jail by the end of this week. I think he's gonna do something. He's gonna do something so ridiculous that someone in the front office is gonna call the cops on him. Like I think he may just like show up on the court naked.

James Harden did not go to jail; he was eventually traded to the Clippers.
Open
#PMT-2023-0913-11333
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Baron Trump will eventually be the first overall pick in the NBA Draft

How awesome would that be if Baron Trump was the first overall pick in the NBA Draft. We were right. It was gonna happen.

Baron Trump has not entered the NBA draft and is currently pursuing a college education.
Void
#PMT-2023-0830-8489
HankHank

NBA teams shouldn't call themselves 'World Champions' if they only play in the US

My Hot Seat is the NBA. Noah Lyles... he was doing an interview where he basically asked, why do they call the NBA the world champion, world champion of what they only play in America? And there was a, you know, it was kind of an embrace debate, huh? Is NBA the world champion or are they just the US champion?

This is a subjective semantic debate about the definition of 'World Champion' in domestic leagues.
Void
#PMT-2023-0830-8490
Big CatBig Cat

The 'World Champion' debate is dumb because all the world's best players are in the NBA

This is the dumbest debate ever, especially when you consider all the best players in the world playing the NBA. ... This is one of those cases where a guy's trying to say something deep and then he says it... and when it comes out of his mouth, he's like, yeah, take that guys.

Subjective debate regarding the prestige and terminology of professional sports championships.
Win
#PMT-2023-0726-13130
HankHank

The massive Jalen Brown and Jayson Tatum contracts will look like great deals in five years

When [Jalen Brown] is making $68 million in four years, it still will be a lot of money. But if we have two or three rings, it's worth it. In five or 10 years, when Jalen Brown and Jayson Tatum are only 30, it's gonna look like two great deals because the cap is going up.

Jalen Brown led the Celtics to the 2024 NBA Championship and won Finals MVP in the first year of the extension cycle, making this look very prescient.
Open
#PMT-2023-0719-13325
HankHank

The city of Philadelphia will never win a championship in any sport ever again

My Cool Throne is the city of Philadelphia never winning anything ever. Joel Embiid, our prince... made comments the other day that he wants to win a Championship in Philadelphia or anywhere else... It seems like if he doesn't win this year in Philly, he's probably out.

Hyperbolic prediction. Since this take, the Phillies, Eagles, and Sixers have all competed but none have won a title.
Open
#PMT-2023-0524-1686
HankHank

The Knicks should not retire Carmelo Anthony's number; doing so would be 'soft'

You should retire numbers for, for winners. Not like nice guys that you're... I'm just saying it's soft.

The Knicks have not retired Carmelo Anthony's #7 as of mid-2024, though it remains a topic of debate.
Loss
#PMT-2023-0503-7856
Big CatBig Cat

Dillon Brooks has talked himself out of the NBA

I really do think he might've played himself. Like he talked himself out of the NBA. Well and also the lack of play. ... He talked himself out of the NBA.

Incorrect. Dillon Brooks signed a 4-year, $80 million contract with the Houston Rockets later that summer.
Push
#PMT-2023-0329-16109
HankHank

The Philadelphia 76ers are currently in a complete free fall

My hot seat is the Philadelphia 76ERs. They're in a complete, complete free fall. Lost four outta the last five they played. Yoic. Everyone's talking about Embiid versus Yoic for mvp. MBI wasn't even man enough to play. James Harden also didn't play kind of a bullshit excuse like calf soreness.

The Sixers ended the season as the 3-seed and won their first-round series, but they eventually flamed out in the second round.
Loss
#PMT-2023-0329-16110
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The Timberwolves are a solid bet to win the NBA championship at +15,000

I put a future on the Timberwolves. Ooh. 15 plus 15,000 Whoa. On these guys and they beat the Kings. ... No, I'm saying they win two series, then you can hedge out and make a shitload of money. ... All of a sudden I'm sitting on a gold mine over here.

The Timberwolves lost in the first round of the 2023 playoffs to the Denver Nuggets.
Void
#PMT-2023-0308-319
Big CatBig Cat

The NBA MVP award and the discussion surrounding it are overrated compared to winning a title.

I also have a take: the MVP is just way overrated besides the team... in terms of a league-wide discussion, I just don't care who wins the MVP. I don't care who wins the title. Can you remember every MVP? ... Maybe MVPs aren't overrated, but the discussion about them is overrated because I feel like we spend a shit lot of time talking about an MVP that most people at the end of the day, then the playoffs starts, it's like, 'Yeah, this is what we're playing for.'

This is a subjective opinion about the cultural value of sports awards.
Win
#PMT-2023-0301-1825
MaxMax

The Celtics own the Sixers and it's frustrating

We would get smoked. The Celtics just fucking own us and it's so frustrating. I just fucking hate the Celtics so much.

The Celtics did beat the Sixers in the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals, 4-3, confirming the 'ownership' sentiment.
Win
#PMT-2023-0301-1828
Big CatBig Cat

Victor Wembanyama is going to be out of this world good

Charles Barkley has come out and said he doesn't know if [Wembanyama] will be good because he's gotta see him play the physical nature of NBA basketball. This means he's going to be out of this world good because Charles Barkley... is kind of stuck in the past... talking about the Golden State Warriors that went on to win four titles shooting jumpers.

Wembanyama had a historic rookie season in 2023-24, winning Rookie of the Year and proving to be an immediate generational talent.
Void
#PMT-2022-1026-8060
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Russell Westbrook's shot selection is only getting worse because of the criticism

You know, that old drill tweet like keeps screaming at me. It only makes my opinions worse. Yeah. That's what's happening with Russell Westbrooks jump shot. Yeah. Everyone's telling you, everyone's booing you and trying to get you to stop shooting... it's actually just making Westbrook shoot the ball more often.

Void
#PMT-2022-1019-15340
HankHank

Draymond Green glorified assaulting his teammate in his TNT mini-doc

He managed to turn him almost killing one of his teammates in a disgusting move... and then has a show on TNT where he like made it, he like glorified it. Basically he glorified himself assaulting his teammate and looking so like immature, childish and just bad.

The 'documentary' was widely panned for precisely the reasons Hank stated.
Void
#PMT-2022-1012-13102
Big CatBig Cat

Ben Simmons should stop shooting because every miss becomes a viral mockery

I now am starting to understand why Ben Simmons just doesn't shoot because he, he can't shoot. And every time he does shoot it becomes a viral moment... why would I shoot when I know that it's not gonna go in and people are gonna roast [me]?

This is a psychological opinion on a player's mindset and can't be objectively verified.
Void
#PMT-2022-1005-12868
HankHank

Losing a preseason game to an NBL team is bad for Chris Paul's legacy

The sun's lost their first games. Good for us. They lost an NBL team, an Australian league team... How did Chris Paul do though legacy wise? [Hank:] I mean, that's bad for your legacy. [Big Cat:] I'm gonna count that as another 3-1 lead blown.

The Suns did lose to the Adelaide 36ers, making it the first time an NBA team lost to an NBL team. The 'legacy' impact is a subjective joke.
Win
#PMT-2022-1005-12869
Big CatBig Cat

Ben Simmons will be one of the most hated and mocked players on the internet this season

Ben Simmons is back and he's shooting basketball... It's gonna be awesome when it's like a Thursday night primetime game... and he just misses a shot. And the whole, like this is now this we're we're looking at one of the most universally hated guys on the internet... There's not a lot of defense for Ben Simmons.

Simmons remained a target of significant criticism and viral mockery throughout the 2022-23 season.
Loss
#PMT-2022-0622-401
HankHank

John Wall will be a great player as soon as he leaves the Rockets

He's still a good player, right? He's totally healthy now. Yes, he has no lingering foot injuries. He's back. I feel like he's going to be a great player as soon as he gets off the Rockets.

John Wall was bought out, signed with the Clippers for the 2022-23 season, but was traded back to Houston and waived within months, having failed to return to all-star form.
Loss
#PMT-2022-0504-17303
Big CatBig Cat

NBA players who get hit in the nuts should get a free shot to kick the offender back

If you get a flagrant one, you should get to kick the guy in the balls back in center court. How awesome would that be for fans? Tonight, I might see a guy just get smoked in the nuts.

The NBA will never implement a 'kick back' rule.
Void
#PMT-2022-0413-993
Big CatBig Cat

LeBron James is a coach killer who has gotten six coaches fired

LeBron has been freed of another coach... LeBron has gotten six coaches fired in his career... I don't know why we don't talk about LeBron James as a coach killer more because Frank Vogel got overall raw deal.

LeBron has played for many coaches who were subsequently fired, though the degree of his direct influence is subjective.
Loss
#PMT-2022-0330-8445
Big CatBig Cat

LeBron James has it in his contract that he cannot be shown in Lakers loss photos on Twitter

Every single time the Lakers lose a game and they post the final score on Twitter, they never include a picture of LeBron... I absolutely think this is in his contract. He definitely put this in his contract. So you cannot include me in any lost pictures.

There is no public evidence this is a contractual clause; it is likely a choice by social media managers or a coincidence highlighted by fans.
Win
#PMT-2022-0316-4635
Big CatBig Cat

The Lakers are 'packing it in' and LeBron isn't trying on defense

The Lakers are so bad. It's awesome... LeBron... just doesn't try at all on defense. He's very close to packing it in... I watched the first quarter last night they were down 33 to 12 in the first quarter.

The 2021-22 Lakers finished 33-49 and missed the play-in tournament, confirming Big Cat's assessment that the team was failing.
Void
#PMT-2022-0302-18275
Big CatBig Cat

Zion Williamson is a better player when he is fat

I'm going to say something controversial. I think that Zion Williamson is a better player when he's fat. I want him to get fat. Well, in fact, well he D he doesn't play right now. He's a better players to get fatter. Yeah. He just needs to get so fat that they roll them out there.

This is a subjective and satirical claim about performance vs. weight.
Win
#PMT-2022-0126-9206
Big CatBig Cat

James Harden is unhappy living in Brooklyn

James Harden is upset. This is going well. I fucking love the Nets—they're going to Kevin Durant's hurt, Kyrie plays half the games. And I saw the quote... James Harden doesn't enjoy living in Brooklyn, not just because of the climate, but also the state income tax is different than Texas.

Harden was traded to Philadelphia on Feb 10, 2022, confirming his desire to leave.
Win
#PMT-2022-0119-12607
Big CatBig Cat

LeBron James is the ultimate coach killer

LeBron and the coach killers back. It looks like Frank Vogel might get fired. There's a lot of rumors right now. No one does it better than him. No one kills a coach better than LeBron... Bron is going to come off the court and just be like, all right, he keeps his job one more game. Give him a look like, yeah, he's just doing the fucking gladiator up and down after every game for Frank Vogel's life.

Frank Vogel was indeed fired by the Lakers on April 11, 2022, shortly after the regular season ended.
Loss
#PMT-2022-0105-10906
Big CatBig Cat

Johnny Davis is the National Player of the Year in college basketball

Johnny Davis, right? National player of the year, if you had a vote, yeah. Number one, you would build on it.

Johnny Davis won many awards but Oscar Tshiebwe won the Naismith and Wooden awards for 2022.
Win
#PMT-2021-1215-17834
Big CatBig Cat

Steph Curry will break the all-time three-point record tonight at Madison Square Garden

Steph Curry is going to, by the time you're listening to this, Steph Curry has already broken the record... I'm actually going to go to the game. I'm excited for it.

Steph Curry broke the record in the first quarter against the Knicks at MSG on December 14, 2021.
Loss
#PMT-2021-1201-18374
HankHank

John Wall to the New York Knicks would be 'fucking sick'

John Wall was injured. He's now healthy. He's trying to play. And the rockets are just saying, no. ... So John Wall to New York would, would be fucking sick.

John Wall did not go to the Knicks; he eventually went to the Clippers and then back to the Rockets before being waived.
Void
#PMT-2021-1124-6389
Big CatBig Cat

LeBron James got off easy with a one-game suspension for punching Isaiah Stewart

LeBron James basically owns the NFL [sic], which we already knew, but the fact that he got suspended one game for assault is fucking ridiculous... He looked him dead in the eye and then punched him in the face. Like if you watched the replay, he knew exactly what he was doing.

LeBron was suspended for one game for the strike to the face, while Stewart received two games for his reaction.
Void
#PMT-2021-1117-2647
HankHank

LeBron James is an absolute fraud for how he handled the Alex Caruso departure

Last night was a perfect encapsulation of how LeBron is just an absolute fraud. The story came out that the Lakers basically asked Caruso to take less money... LeBron is the GM. Everyone knows this... then it's all over him hugging them on social media like 'love you bro'.

This is a subjective opinion on LeBron's character and management style.
Loss
#PMT-2021-1117-2645
Big CatBig Cat

Giannis Antetokounmpo might leave the Bucks in two years for a new challenge

Yannis is already planting the seeds to maybe leave Milwaukee... He said 'one challenge was to bring a championship here and we did.'... He said 'in two years that might change. I'm being totally honest with you.'

Giannis signed a 3-year extension in 2023, keeping him in Milwaukee past the 2-year window mentioned.
Loss
#PMT-2021-1103-4449
Big CatBig Cat

Kyrie Irving is refusing the vaccine as part of a viral marketing scheme for the new Matrix movie

My cool throne is Kyrie Irving, because I'm pretty sure he's not getting vaccinated for an entire like prolonged ad for the new Matrix thing that's coming out in December... I think he's not getting vaccinated as part of a viral marketing scheme for the new Matrix.

Kyrie Irving was not actually a paid marketer for The Matrix Resurrections; his refusal was personal/political.
Push
#PMT-2021-1027-7730
Big CatBig Cat

The Chicago Bulls are officially back

My cool throne is the Bulls because Bulls are back. They're the last undefeated team in the East. They are good.

The Bulls finished 46-36 and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. They were better than previous years, but 'back' was an overstatement.
Push
#PMT-2021-1013-5748
HankHank

Ben Simmons will face an all-time 'boo-fest' upon his return to Philadelphia

Ben Simmons has arrived in Philadelphia, took a COVID-19 test as required by NBA protocol... I love going to a good boo-fest. Going to the Sixers' first game, I might have to figure out, talk to Tick Pick and get out there. So perfect that it's Philly... Philly's going to roast him.

Simmons never actually played another game for the Sixers before being traded to the Nets, though he was heavily booed upon his return with Brooklyn later.
Loss
#PMT-2021-0811-14236
Big CatBig Cat

Ben Simmons is a 'penny stock' worth investing in right now

I'm kind of low key addicted to Ben Simmons because he really is like a penny stock. If he could figure it out a little bit, it would be incredible. Like he would be, you know, a starter on the all-star team because he has all the other stuff. Defense, passing, dribbling... If he could just figure out when to shoot and have the balls to shoot, I'm telling you invest now.

Since this take, Simmons sat out a year, was traded to Brooklyn, and has seen his career derailed by injuries and continued shooting hesitancy, his 'stock' value has actually plummeted.
Void
#PMT-2021-0630-17270
Big CatBig Cat

Scotty Pippen is doing a great job promoting his bourbon because his controversial takes are keeping him in the news

I actually think he's doing a great job of pitching this bourbon... because everyone's talking about Scotty Pippen, but calling Phil Jackson racist for drawing up a winning play to Toni Kukoc... it goes against everything that everyone knows... he's on a scorched earth tour just getting back at everybody.

While Pippen got the attention he sought, the 'scorched earth' tour significantly damaged his reputation with many peers and fans, making the 'great job' claim debatable.
Void
#PMT-2021-0609-7368
Big CatBig Cat

I am officially counting LeBron James out

So, well, let's just do a quick straw poll. Are you counting [LeBron] out? ... I want to count him out. Yeah, I'm going to do it. I'm going to count him out.

LeBron continued to be an All-NBA player and won an In-Season Tournament title in 2023, though he hasn't reached the Finals since this take.
Win
#PMT-2021-0505-18856
Big CatBig Cat

Russell Westbrook deserves significantly more respect for averaging a triple-double for a fourth season

Russell Westbrook doesn't get enough respect. This is now the fourth season that he will average a triple-double for the entire season. He could record zero points, zero rebounds, and zero assists in all the rest of the games this season, and he would still have a triple-double... The dude is fucking crazy. He's really, really good.

Westbrook did finish the 2020-21 season averaging a triple-double (22.2 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 11.7 APG), his fourth such season.
Win
#PMT-2021-0414-16934
Big CatBig Cat

The Nuggets are 'cooked' for the season after Jamal Murray's injury

Jamal Murray tears ACL. So the Nuggets are cooked and that does suck because they actually were like one of those teams like, oh, maybe if they get a nice run going. So we're going to be Jazz fans now.

The Nuggets were swept in the second round by the Phoenix Suns following the Murray injury, failing to reach the conference finals they made the year before.
Void
#PMT-2021-0407-3412
Big CatBig Cat

LeBron James never would have won the 2020 title if fans were in the stands

LeBron. Because he never would have won a title if there were fans. Seriously.

This is a non-verifiable hypothetical about the impact of the COVID bubble environment.
Void
#PMT-2021-0331-8345
Big CatBig Cat

Kevin Durant has actually become more likable by being more online

Kevin Durant is the most online person of all time. I think he has done the impossible. Usually when people are more online, they become worse people... Kevin Durant has become more likable by being online more.

Likability is subjective, though many sports fans did pivot to enjoying KD's 'Super Cool Kev' online persona.
Loss
#PMT-2020-1209-12755
Big CatBig Cat

Coach K will pull Duke from the season if they continue to lose bad games

I would not be surprised at all if after, like, a month and a few more bad losses, Coach K pulled his team from the season... once he gets a little losing streak going, he is definitely liable to be like, listen, we're not going to go through the motions. The most important thing is keeping these kids healthy.

Coach K did not pull the team from the season mid-year, though they eventually ended their season after a COVID positive in the ACC tournament.
Void
#PMT-2020-1111-12720
HankHank

The 76ers new City Edition jerseys are the worst of all time

My hot seat have a few first one is the 76ers. They released the ugliest probably the worst Jersey reveal of all time the NBA yesterday. They like had new City theme jerseys that are just disgusting... objectively ugly uniforms.

Jersey aesthetics are subjective.
Void
#PMT-2020-1104-3371
HankHank

The Warriors' 'Oakland Forever' jerseys are total bullshit since they left town

They released jerseys for this year that say Oakland on them... It's like the Oakland forever jerseys and it got Warriors fans really mad because they left Oakland. Apparently there's like a lawsuit going on... it's messed up that they did that.

Subjective opinion on branding ethics.