Takes

The current Minnesota Timberwolves are the NBA version of the 2000 Baltimore Ravens

This is the 2000 Ravens through these first six [games]... they're maniacal. They're grinning ear to ear as they're playing defense. Minnesota is emerging as the favorite to win this tournament by being the best defense we've seen in years.

Anthony Edwards is the hero that American basketball needs

He's the hero that American basketball needs. I was saying that you can really chart out with Jokic, Doncic, SGA, Giannis... a path to 2030 where we go a full decade without an [American] MVP. Anthony Edwards these last two weeks has had something to say to that.

The Celtics should intentionally lose two games to the Cavaliers to get battle-tested for the finals

I stand by my take. I still think they should intentionally lose some games to the Cavs... I think two. That way when they get to the Finals they're like, yeah, we've had our battles.

Anthony Edwards is the next upcoming superstar in the NBA

Anthony Edwards is the next upcoming superstar in the NBA. I know we talked about superstars when it came to Jalen Brunson... Anthony Edwards is 22 years old and what he's doing through the first five games in these playoffs for him have been just outta this world.

The Michael Jordan comparisons for Anthony Edwards are not forced or crazy

He's an absolute killer. And people are throwing around the [Michael Jordan] comparison and like, it's not, it doesn't feel forced. It's not crazy.

The Clippers are a disaster franchise

The Clippers just went out, sat on Friday night... people just kind of forgot. Oh yeah. The Clippers are one of the biggest sports disasters. They're a disaster franchise.

The Celtics vs. Cavaliers series will be a triple-digit point differential bloodbath

They'll probably maybe win one game and have like a historic shooting there... but there should be a four-one or four-oh series. [Point differential] is gonna be like in triple digits. Bloodbath.

The Knicks get the 'yips' whenever they play the Pacers

I'm very nervous about the Pacers. There's a history there... I think the Pacers actually... I think we just get the yips when we're around them.

Tyrese Maxey is better than Jaylen Brown

I mean, Tyrese Maxey is better than Jaylen Brown for sure. Ooh, for sure. [Hank] would trade Jaylen Brown for Tyrese Maxey immediately.

The Eastern Conference is a cakewalk for the Celtics

Yeah. No, the East is a cakewalk... They should lose one, maybe two games. The over under should be three. Maybe one series next, next game.

The Bucks' 2021 championship was a fluke

Some people could argue that the Bucks Championship was a fluke because it was off the bubble and all the teams that had to play a long season deep into the next year got bounced and the Nets got injured and beating Chris Paul isn't that impressive.

Doug Gottlieb was right to question Caitlin Clark's shooting mechanics

I actually thought Doug Gottlieb got unfair hate for that... Every single professional athlete works on their mechanics constantly... It's not saying she's bad, she's incredible... He should have phrased it better. That there could maybe be a way for her to become even better of a shooter.

James Harden will have a legacy bad game with under 10 points in the playoffs

This is gonna be a legacy game I'm calling it right now. This is a James Harden legacy game. And by that I mean I hope he scores less than 10 points.

The Lakers were never winning a title because their roster was the problem, not coaching.

I still think that the roster is the problem that they just don't have enough guys. And the Nuggets were a better basketball team no matter how many minutes the Lakers led. Execution and being able to win games late is what makes the team better... They were a good team. They were never a great team.

The Minnesota Timberwolves match up better against the Denver Nuggets than anyone else in the NBA.

I think this Minnesota team probably matches up as well as anyone in the NBA versus the Denver Nuggets. I'm really fascinated by this series.

The current NBA landscape marks the beginning of the death of the 'Super Team'.

I said at the beginning of the year... this year could be the beginning of the death of the super team. Part of that is the new second apron in the CBA... you have to build through the draft. And then be positioned... to then make an impactful trade.

Nikola Jokic is already a top 15 player of all time.

Nikola Jokic to me is already a top 15 player of all time. And I know that that's maybe a hot take. I don't really care.

The Phoenix Suns' issues are about team building and personalities meshing, not just one specific player or coach.

I would look at sort of team building in a very holistic way beyond just, oh, we gotta trade this guy... You have to look at any roster, any team, and look at how personalities mesh together and how skill sets mesh together... and you have to be willing, I think to, as an owner, you have to be willing to be patient with that.

The New York Knicks are going to win their series against the Philadelphia 76ers.

I think the Knicks are gonna win the series.

Jalen Brunson is a 'true 1A' superstar.

They've got a true leader. And I'll say it a true one A. I agree. Jalen Brunson a true one A.

Joel Embiid is having a better series than Jalen Brunson

Joel Embiid is scoring 35 points a game. 45% from the field and a plus 34 when he's on the court... Jalen Brunson is scoring 33 points a game 40% from the field and is a minus three when he's on the court. And the difference that people are talking about Jalen Brunson and Joel Embiid is absolutely insane.

The Sixers are a better basketball team than the Knicks, the Knicks just want it more

The Sixers are a better basketball team. It's just that [the Knicks] want it more. They are just dogs. They want, it's just that they want it more.

The Timberwolves are the young team with the best chance to reach the NBA Finals

Based on how Minnesota's playing, I'd say the Wolves. Ant [Anthony Edwards] feels ready for the moment. Like he doesn't feel like he shies away, you know, make or miss and he's indifferent... I like how their team fits for the postseason.

The Phoenix Suns' primary problem is the lack of a lead point guard

I think they're missing a point guard. Like a lead guard. Like somebody to organize everything to take some of the pressure off these other guys... they don't have a stable force.

The Phoenix Suns' 'all-in' move is an all-time disaster

This has maybe been one of the greatest, like rich guy buys a team who thinks he's the smartest guy in the world... does a bunch of all-in moves and it blows up in record time. They have zero first round picks from 2025 to 2030. They have zero second round picks... They have one pick in the NBA draft between now and 2031. That's insane.

I am officially retiring the 'Cocky Hank' persona and giving up on 'Championship or Bust'

After the game one of the Bruins and the Celtics, I made a mistake and I'm here to admit and moving forward say that I will no longer be cocky. I've given up being cocky. ... Championship or bust is is no longer. It's just, it's Win this series. Whoa. And then let's win the next series. Whoa. Let's win the next series. Whoa. I'm not focused on the nuggets. I'm not focused on the Western conference. I'm just focused on Saturday against the heat.

Joel Embiid is one of the dirtiest players in the NBA

Joel Embiid was incredible. He also was maybe the dirtiest player I've ever seen on a basketball court. ... Joel Embiid basically did Draymond Green's career highlights in one game. The play on Mitchell Robinson, when he tried to grab him by the legs, that was, that should have been an ejection. And then he kicked Mitchell Robinson in the nuts. He kicked, he kneed Isaiah Hartenstein in the, in the nuts.

Nikola Jokic is one of the greatest big men of all time and plays like he's in a pool

Jokic plays basketball like he's in the pool with his kids. Like he's waiting above the water and he is like just putting it above him. Just the way he puts it back in his shot. ... He plays pool basketball... he's one of the best big men of all time. ... The Jokic family, all they wanna do is go race horses. And he just happens to be one of the greatest NBA players.

The Phoenix Suns are officially dead

The Suns are dead. I proclaimed it. The Suns are dead. They don't look like they have any life to him whatsoever. They look anemic. Bradley Beal looks pretty bad. No trade clauses, by the way, for Bradley Beal. So yeah, I think he's like the sixth highest player in the NBA. They're gonna be stuck with that for a little bit.

Devin Booker is a worse player when he wears a headband

I also have a vibe stat for this game. And it has nothing—it's based on absolutely nothing. I'm sure someone will actually give me the stats and say I'm wrong. I don't think Devin Booker's good when he wears a headband. I just don't. I don't know why... I think maybe his head is too constricted.

Therapy would make Luka Doncic a worse basketball player

My take was that Luka, I think Luka desperately needs therapy, but I also think that it would be very, very bad for him as a basketball player. I feel like that shit that he has makes him excellent, but he's just, he's always angry.

The 76ers will win their series against the Knicks despite being down 2-0

And then the final act, new tweet: Sixers will win this series.

The Lakers-Nuggets series is over

I think this series is definitely over. Yeah. Well, no, well, what's gonna happen is the Lakers, Sixers might, the Lakers are gonna play great in some more games that they're also going to lose. Right. That's what's gonna happen.

Kevin Durant will 100% return to the Oklahoma City Thunder

Kevin Durant is 100% going back to the Thunder. Yes. They're doing some trial balloons... it was a video narrated by KD talking about Chet Holmgren and the city of Oklahoma City... I'm absolutely for it because I think that would be a very cool, like if he won, wins a title with the Thunder. Kind of everything's forgiven.

The only real threat to the Denver Nuggets winning the title is the injury bug

The number one threat to the Denver Nuggets is the injury bug. Oh yeah. I think they're that good. Yeah, I really do. I think Jokic is just, they deserve that kind of dodgy, cute answer. If I have to answer... I just don't see anybody taking out Jokic in seven games, beating them four times in seven games.

The Clippers are going to win the Western Conference

The Los Angeles Clippers are going to win the West. Ooh. Not that they're gonna compete. That they're gonna compete. Hey, I, I said that mostly just to get Hank's hopes up because Hank is grasping at all the straws.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have never won a playoff series without LeBron James

Fun fact, little fun fact. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert has never won a playoff series without LeBron James.

Anthony Edwards is now a legitimate NBA superstar

Anthony Edwards is is a legit superstar Now. [Durant] he he couldn't do anything about it. Yeah. He was like, yeah, you're right. You're kind of, you're kind of dunking on me right now.

Joel Embiid is made of glass

I don't want to, I don't wanna be a hater, but it's like... the playoffs, if you make it to the finals, it's a long run. Like how many games do you think [Embiid] has in him? ... I don't want Embiid to get hurt. I can just look at data and history and acknowledge that he's made of glass.

The Sixers will win their series against the Knicks

Sixers are gonna win the series. Oh plus I think it was plus two 50... I'm already really invested so I don't think that I have to do any bets.

LeBron James lacks the stamina to play at an elite level for four quarters

LeBron is doing at 39. He does not have the stamina to do it for four quarters. Like you saw it, he scored I think maybe two or four points in garbage time with like the under a minute left in the fourth quarter. He runs out of gas and no one else... the other guys have to do stuff and they're not able to.

Jerry Reinsdorf is the worst owner in the NBA

The Chicago Bulls are a joke of an organization. Jerry Reinsdorf is one of the worst owners, if not the worst in the NBA. He's a fucking clown... the Chicago Bulls have made the playoffs two times in the last nine seasons. Two times they've back to back nine 10 game champions and that's it.

I'd much rather the Celtics play the Bulls in the first round because it's a free win

I mean the Heat obviously have had success against us. No Jimmy Butler... but still it's like, you just don't mess with [the Heat]. Forget about the Heat. Don't mess with it. If you play the Bulls, it's much better... I just want the free win.

The Bulls-Heat game will be a one-possession game with three minutes left

I honestly just, if my, if I had to give you my take on the game, it's gonna be a one possession game with three minutes left and then who the fuck knows?

Sportsbooks might stop offering props on fringe/bench players to prevent manipulation

I wouldn't be shocked if there is maybe a little bit of a correction where some of the fringe players don't have props on a night to night basis. Just because those are the guys... who knows that if he bets something, checks into a game for a minute and then comes out, he can win.

Victor Wembanyama is the future of the NBA and has no weaknesses

Yes, you're watching Wembanyama and you're saying, wow, this guy is a future of the NBA... Wendy's ability to be a playmaker. His passing ability, he was making all his teammates better... he's gonna get stronger, but I, I don't see any weaknesses in his game.

The Oklahoma City Thunder aren't too young to win a title

I don't buy into the hole, they're too young to win it. Last year people thought, well, we've never won a championship. They can't win a finals... They have the talent, they have the coaching, and I think these Western conference playoffs are just gonna be so fun to watch.

The Pelicans would have beaten the Lakers if Zion Williamson had stayed in the game

I think the Pelicans win that game if Zion stays in the game. They had, Brandon Ingram wasn't good... and Zion was like, I'm putting the whole team on my back. And he almost beat the Lakers by himself.

The Lakers are going to beat the Nuggets in their playoff series

I think they could be the nuggets... Championship experience, you know... [They've] got the players of all time. Anthony Davis, all stars, all NBA players. Why not?

Caitlin Clark is going to increase WNBA revenue enough to improve rookie salaries

The w NBA draft, the, the, all the rookie wages getting tweeted out and everyone's like, what the fuck? It's like, well, this is what Caitlin Clark might be able to fix. She might be able to prove things a little bit. Like if people watch and then it starts making more money, then they get to pay more.