The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - Local Hour: Dan Takes a Step Back

Episode Date: May 21, 2025

We'll get to the Panthers and the NBA Western Conference Finals, but Wild Billy has a theory about Awful Announcing, and Amin met a white Rodney.  Today's cast: Amin, Stugotz, Greg, Roy, Billy, Jeremy, and Mike. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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The tequila that invented tequila. Proximo, Cuervo.com, please drink responsibly. Cuervo You guys want to do a Shadow Show? No No, not at all, no. tequila that invented tequila. proximo, queervo.com, please drink responsibly. queervo. You guys want to do a Shatter Show? No. No, not at all. No, I think we're good. Whoa, you stumbled onto another wild Billy Wednesday.

Hold on to your hats, partners. It's about to get wild. Nothing wilder than not having Dan in on a wild Billy Wednesday. That's wild, man. Be nice of him to show up to his own show once in a while. Really? We'll take it a step back. Seriously. What's going on there?

Someone needs to get to the bottom of that. Yeah, let's start a rumor. Get Barrett Sports on it. Or Awful Announcing, what is it? I don't know. They're on a payroll,. Or Awful Announcing. What are they? They're on a payroll, right? Awful Announcing? Awful Announcing. I have a theory.

It's for Awfare. Wild Billy Wednesday, already too wild. Wild Billy Wednesday. Give us some hints, some notes. You don't have to say the whole thing, but just kind of like, what's the theory around? Maybe someone has a nondiplume. Wow, Billy Wednesday. Give us some hints, some notes. You don't have to say the whole thing, but just kind of like, what's the theory around? Maybe someone has a non-deplume.

I love this theory. Non-de-what? I am Ben Axelrod. Just a side of it. Maybe someone's running a side hustle with a non-deplume. He's from Cleveland. He can't be real, Ben.

Come on. I'm not mad at that. He's from Cleveland. He can't be real, Ben. That's amazing. I'm not mad at that. I want to explore that as the show goes on, but we gotta start with, of course, game one of the Western Conference Finals yesterday. Is there a greater feeling in sports media than vindication? Then saying something and then having it for oh two quarters be like oh man maybe I was wrong and then the second half happens and you sit back and you're like told y'all asses oh man that was so fun watching so fun watching Shay Gills and Alexander just turn it on and just destroy the wolves and it's

crazy because I'm in a group chat with my buddies and they were killing I was like the guy's a foul baiter he's not fun to watch and every single shot he hit in that second I was like was that not fun my buddies, and they were killing him. He was like, the guy's a foul baiter. He's not fun to watch. And every single shot he hit in that second half, I was like, was that not fun? Was that not fun? How much more fun can it get? And I'm wondering, is this an internet thing that Shay Gildes Alexander is not a fun player to watch, or is this a, he plays in Oklahoma and Ipso facto?

It's a combination of things, don't you think? What do you think? I think it has to do with him playing in Oklahoma. I think he plays, it's kind of, he's a weird player in that the mid-range game is really, really good. He's not hoisting three after three after three, like Steph Curry is. So I think all of that factors in.

His style of play and where he plays certainly factors in. Well, this is his coming off party for me. You know, if he gets to the, and there are, OKC's a big favor, right? Like they like they're betting odds i mean they should be yeah and yes except yesterday's espn's analytics said the wolves had a 70 chance of winning game one which i have no idea where that math came from but right but yes the betting odds favor the yeah and and i'm coming around on i've been sort of making fun of this final four because it lacks leBron and Golden State and all that stuff but in Boston but I'm sort of coming around on OKC and the Knicks as a pretty sexy championship round. Doesn't this have to happen for us to grow right for the sport to grow?

We have to have this where it's like I don't know anybody well this is how you get to know new people and so that we can continue to kind of grow with these people this is I mean that's what Anthony Edwards kind of started last year by going to the conference finals. Now, this is his second conference final, same thing for Tyrese Halliburton. They are now ascending to that place where they're going to become household names because of the success. Yeah, and if you, not to look ahead, but if you get the championship matchup that I want,

it's a great contrast. The storied Knicks who haven't won in a half a century against an OKC team that is super young and could be around for years. It's just like a great matchup. So I mean, you're saying the NBA as fans, we need to turn the page on LeBron and Steph Curry and get used to SGA and Jalen Brunson, guys like that, Halliburton. You guys remember Greg and Stugatz, definitely, when Michael Jordan retired the second time, right, in 1998. There was this whole search.

Well, it happened actually the first time, too, in 93. There was a whole search for who's going to carry the mantle. And in 94, it was a Grant Hill and a couple other guys. And we were left like so unfulfilled and then Jordan comes back and is like oh thank god Jordan saved everything. Shaq and Penny had a run. They had a run but like everyone was like you're not Michael. Right but Shaq was like a larger than life character that did kind of take the mantle

as far as I mean Jordan was a talisman of the league and stuff but Shaq in terms of being a larger than life personality was transcendent. He was, he was, and looking back, of course he was, but I'm telling you, at the time, the whole vibe was, we're unfulfilled by these people. No, no, when Jordan came back, it was a lifeline. It was like, oh thank God, we acted like, oh, there was nothing, there was just a black hole while he was gone.

Yeah, remember it well. And so then he retires a second time, and that same thing, you had Kobe, you had Tracy McGrady, you had Shaq again. Well, Jeremy was workshopping a take that this may be similar to that, and you may be going down that road. But there were some names that he invoked that I certainly

saw similarities on mute last night. When I'm watching Shea, I see aesthetically, I'm watching Kobe, I'm watching Dwyane Wade. I'm seeing a guy who splits double teams like no one can presently do in the league that gets to the line, and there's this, I mean you mentioned it to me, in the internet sort of discourse around Shays,

oh foul merchant, foul merchant. I think that people don't understand the differences in how you can draw fouls, and the ways you go about it. And I think James Harden did it in such a way that felt so, I don't know, reckless, like it was cheating the game, he's hooking other guys' arms in, where what Shea does with his body control

and his ability to draw fouls feels more like these throwback guards, like Dwayne Wade, except Dwayne Wade was 6'3". Shea is 6'6", and has an even better jumper. And so his ability to control the game from the line, I mean, you'll look back, I did it this morning actually, I went back and looked at Dwayne Wade's playoff box scores, some of Kobe's playoff box scores,

you're gonna see a lot of box scores that look a lot like what you saw from Shea last night. And I think the way he does- That's how you spent your morning? It relaxes me. Numbers. Sorry, I mean. I mean, I was preparing for the show

that we do for four hours. I feel like that was helpful. I added a note, you know? Thanks, Jeremy. That was great, man. I feel like you would do that if you did have a show to prepare for, I mean. Yeah, that's also true.

Zombie crunching numbers. That's just his Wednesdays. But it is the way he goes about it, right? Like it's stylistically, I think part of the reason people are feeling so weird about it is they're like, no one's used to watching a player like that in the modern game. I mean, last night, Minnesota took 30 more threes

than Oklahoma City, and it's in large part because so much of the game was shade, driving, splitting double teams, and then throwing lobs to other guys because their body movement is unbelievable. He reminds me a lot of Paul George, too, just a little bit quicker. His trade partner. Cause he got traded for him.

Yeah, he probably doesn't like that, Con, because Shay is probably gonna win an MVP here. But to your original point, that take sounds like it's emanating from people that don't necessarily watch, maybe lump themselves into casual observers. I know because I've probably had that take before about SGA because I just Okay, see ever since they moved from Seattle. I just don't care to watch this team. There's just something about the market They never feel big-time

But you can't watch last night's game even if it was on mute and not be really blown away by his style If you're one of those like oh You can't watch last night's game, even if it was on mute, and not be really blown away by his style. If you're one of those like, oh, bring back 90s basketball type of guys, well, it's right there. It's embodied in SGA. He's really fun to watch. And to me, I think the aesthetic is that, first of all,

you mentioned Kobe and Dwayne Wade, Jeremy. Those guys were explosive. Right. He's not. He's way smoother. It's all about going off rhythm. That's right. You're just left kind of.

Two guys in this series that kind of bring back that 90s style, and is just way more explosive, which is also fun. There were guys in the 90s that really, you couldn't trust their shot, but you can certainly trust their athleticism. He's like Sean Kemp on the perimeter. And when Edwards has become such a three point shooter.

I look this up. The Rain Man. I love how we can always count on us two guys. Like when I'm here. Have you been missing time? I looked up guys who led the league in free throws attempted per 100 possessions right all time and first of all the top 10 nine of them are from the 60s right so that's not a modern thing at 10 you get Joel Embiid from a couple years ago you get

Harden from a couple years ago and B2B then you go back to Pettit and Robertson Iverson Malone, Mike and Malone, Dantley, WorldB3, Shay Gilder's Alexander's outside the top 30. So it's like he's not egregious and he's not flopping, he's getting fouled. And that's part of the game is like, can you guard me without grabbing me? And him moving in that way is a necessary element to that.

People think he's just falling down and drawing fouls when really if you watch, he is maneuvering his body down low to the ground keeping his balance and drawing contact in a way that's not hooking guys in it's just simply being so athletic and so smooth that he can force people into making contact with him in a way that no one else in the league is capable of. So you're saying that that free throw, drawing a free throw, has become sort of a lost art that OKC is bringing back because the three ball killed the art of drawing a foul. I wouldn't say it's a lost art that OKC is

bringing back. I'm saying that people complaining about Gildes Alexander doing it are being myopic because this isn't even amazing by historical standards right it's as he's one of the best in the league right now lucadontist does it jaylen brunson does it but but like these guys are all do it is like notice of our trend here these are guys like he was so fast and explosive i couldn't help but fallow the guard and i think that's part of it is people

convinced themselves that the type of players that are superstars, the type of players that are unstoppable, the type of players that draw a lot of fouls are, jump out of the gym explosion like Michael Jordan. And then you see guys like Brunson and Donnetson and Shea and they don't move like that. They don't look like that. It's like, oh, you're just flopping basically,

is the, as opposed to no, you can't guard me, that's what's happening. Playoff Jimmy built his entire legend on this. No doubt. The whole thing was built on him getting to the free throw line over and over and over again, except it was, you know, in his 30s, where Shay is doing it in a way that is smoother

and while he's younger. And to me, I don't know how you can watch the last few playoffs celebrate what it is the Jimmy Butler did and then not look at what she's doing and say oh my god he's even taking that to a different level. I'll be curious to see if it is OKC New York what the ratings will be because you have this monster market in New York that'll draw the casuals but guys that like watching basketball in the 90s they may be drawn to Shay Gillis Alexander,

but also the Knicks are a 90s ass team. From the style, Brunson's kind of like a modern day Allen Iverson with the way that he plays bigger than he actually is. I'd be really curious to see how that rates. Naturally, we'll probably get Indiana, Minnesota with the league's luck, but. Not if the NBA has something to say about it.

The best possible thing for SGA, if he gets to the finals, is to go up against New York, because that is the absolute launch pad. That makes him a star. That makes him a star. From a ratings standpoint, I think Wolves-Nicks is the best possible one, because those are the two biggest markets,

and also you have the storylines of these these guys were traded for one another right but the the Oklahoma City one is probably the best one for the long-term health of the league because you need to establish that say should be a household name beyond bad AT&T commercials and then the absolute nightmare is probably Pacers versus wolves or maybe even Pacers. I think OKC needs the Knicks. Minnesota, I mean Anthony Edwards. Everybody needs the Knicks. Everybody needs it.

Yeah, but I do think that it would be, it would probably be OKC Indiana, that'd be the worst matchup. If it's OKC and the Knicks and the Thunder win, doesn't SGA have a claim to the new face of the league? It's a start, it's a start, but it's a big start, right? It's a big start, yes, absolutely. I think-

Well, what if the Knicks win? Does Brunson get the same thing? Look, there's a bunch of people in the group chat right now who are clamoring to say, yes, say yes to me, say yes, say yes, you know it, say yes! What I love about the Pacers-Nicks rivalry historically is the Knicks are always the villain. Anytime they match up against a team

because they're from Gotham. But the Pacers historically have always leaned into wearing the black hat in that series. Knicks versus Knicks. And doesn't matter how many years have passed, they're doing it again, and this is probably one of the more likable New York Knicks. And doesn't matter how many years have passed, they're doing it again and this is probably one of the more likeable New York Knicks team. So it's just, it's that dynamic totally amplified.

Well Tyrese Halliburton is the new Reggie Miller. He's the guy that is all right with you hating him, right? He wants to flaunt and taunt into your face. Which is so odd. You have a middle American team, the birthplace of basketball and when they go up against the New York Knicks, they're the villain. I wanna talk about the Pacers and villainy for a second.

You guys talked about this a little bit yesterday, and I talked about it on Oddball, and I realized I don't think I was forceful enough on this. This Pacer fan who got hit with the trash. Wind horse? No. Brian didn't get hit, by the way, did he? In the video, it looked like he did not get hit.

No, I'm talking about this guy that we have on the screen right now. This guy who is going to game four now because Tyrese is flying the mountain and all that. And everyone's like, oh my God, these unruly Knicks fans. And oh, it's so awful that that happened to that guy who's just minding his business. And you know what?

We don't condone violence. There is never an excuse to condone violence. Having said that, that dude knew exactly what he was doing. The Pacers didn't play that night. It was Knicks versus Celtics. You decided to put on a Pacers jersey and take a stroll big ass New York City. Was he in the Upper East Side, Sugat?

Did he go down to Battery Park? Was he in Brooklyn? Right, was he in the story of Side, Sugat? Did he go down to Battery Park? Was he in Brooklyn, right? Was he in the story of Queens? Nope, I said I'm gonna take a walk at 10 p.m. in New York City by Madison Square Garden where I know the shenanigans is going down. And so that justifies throwing garbage bags at him? He got off easy.

Greg, when you were growing up, what was the worst neighborhood, the worst neighborhood in your area? They're like, oh, that's a rough neighborhood. Don't go around there. I'm blessed to say I can't think of an example. You can't think of any example from your life? You're 70 years old. Boyleus and Plantation. Right. Right. All right. Well, see, I was a bad one to ask. Okay. I just figured that... Charmed life like charm life and i mean you live there but you will know of that neighborhood of course that's what i wanted to know i get okay so okay i'll give you an example i grew up in new york queens bridge projects that's where where a runner test is from

where nos is for all these people group uh... that it's the largest housing project in the world right is a rough neighborhood it would be tantamount to me going to Queensbridge, wearing jewelry, counting money, and then I got robbed, like, oh my God, crime is so bad. Like, we have to acknowledge this was not someone who was lost, a lost tourist.

This was not someone who was just mining their business at their place of business. Right. Just strolls upon a Nick Celebration. That dude went to Madison Square Garden. Looking for it. He went looking for it. Looking for garbage.

I know, but he's not in the worst neighborhood imaginable. It is when the Knicks win! It is when the Knicks win! They're going to the conference finals! Imagine if they lost, what kind of mood that'd be. I've got a pretty brutal example of me doing this as a little kid and being a jerk. My dad, for my 10th birthday, took me to Fenway Park. But growing up, I also not only rooted for the Marlins, but I rooted for the Yankees,

because my dad is from Brooklyn, you know, whatever. And so I went to Fenway Park for a game between the Red Sox and the Angels, and I wore an A-Rod Yankees jersey and a guy threw a beer at me and I deserved it. You know how I feel sad? Got a boy. I feel sad because you were 10 years old in that story. Yep. Jesus.

An A-Rod Yankees Jersey. 2005. He was 10 years old. Did you say that was a waste of a beer? I'm telling you, seriously. What are you gonna throw a beer for? It's like liquid gold. That's a great point.

It's so expensive. At a 10 year old. I deserved it. Did you catch it and drink it at 10 or no? No, I wasn't that skilled. Okay. You're on the complete opposite side. Somebody wore a Brad Marsh on Panthers jersey

to game seven of the game versus the Maple Leafs. There was just chirps. But you know what, Roy? It's understandable. Hey, it's a game between these two teams. Sure, this guy is, he's rooting for that team. It's a great experience. I would love to go to a game seven on the road

for my favorite team. What's not understandable is someone showing up for a team that doesn't even, it's not even here. Like he knew what he was doing. That's like, it's not an accident and it's not an innocent bystander. Like again, we don't condone violence. But he's's not innocent in this he went to go instigate it's no different from like people that go to they would go to like women's rights marches and go

back to the kitchen like yeah someone's going to like haul off and smack you at some point of your being disrespectful in that way because you know what this was about no I'm a by my I agree with you completely I just think it's users. I think it crosses a line when you throw garbage Just out of curiosity like what's exactly Well Billy the line is if you're a Knicks fan that night speak speak it speak your whatever you have emotionally We're gonna kick your ass in the next round. Whatever. Why the hell are you here? Whatever. But to pick up a garbage bag and hit the guy in the head with it, to me crosses

the line of civility. Again, we don't condone violence. You're right. They should not have been violent. But my point is, they didn't go knocking on doors. You're a piece of fan. Hey, man, here's some trash. They didn't do that. He went to them. you know that's good that they weren't looking for him he was looking for that looking for them he was looking for garbage I agree with that right but he deserved to be have garbage thrown at him that's all I'm and then the next level of that is we should not be rewarding these people we should not

be rewarding these people here's a trip to Indiana and tickets to the game absolutely not because all it is is it's going to like continue this cry for I'd be rewarding these people, here's a trip to Indiana and tickets to the game. Absolutely not. Because all it is, is it's going to continue this cry for attention. It sounds kind of like we're taking all the blame away from the people that threw trash at the game. No, I said we don't condone violence. I started with that.

But he was, look at what he was wearing. He was asking for it. He went down there. That's very dangerous. He went down there. I mean, Billy, he did walk into the middle of a Nick celebration wearing a Pacers jersey who weren't playing in that series.

I mean. What if they threw pillows at him? Would that be okay? So I think I was thinking about this because. Wow, Billy Wednesday. Ah, ah, ah! Ah, ah, ah! If you want something thrown at you,

a bag of garbage seems like a good option. It's soft. No. Yeah. I mean, what if there's, yeah. I mean, it's gross, but it's not damaging. If it's got the juice in it. Or like a can lid. It's soft. Yeah. I mean, what if there's, yeah, like it's gross, but it's not, it's not damaging. If it's got the juice in it or like a can later, you know, needles like the bash brothers could have dead animals.

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He has been great. He's made great hires. I said all. We've said all of it. He said all of it. Yeah. He said that. Everyone has said everything.

First time I heard any of this Greg. Everything you're saying. It's all been said. It's all been said. Okay. You got to understand one thing. Stugats. Me maximum. That's right. Until I say it, it's all been said okay you got to understand one thing Stu gots me maximum that's right I say it hasn't been said okay understand that

the mayor until I say it this is the down libertar show with the Stu guys by the way we haven't celebrated Greg yet. Yesterday Greg made a report on this show that ended up coming true. So there's a lot of things bragging about reporting. Yesterday Greg, exclusively on this show, reported that the sun would come up today. And it very much came up today. Thank you.

No, I appreciate that. Good job. Yeah, I wanted to one up to one-up Zaslow who reported that that the the heat might be interested in Yanis. So I you know, that was such an outstanding report by him that I wanted to one-up. Well, it was a little bit bolder than most people assume because there were peace talks between Russia and Ukraine and I went sideways. That's a fair comment by you. I appreciate the political analysis. Every day isn't guaranteed, folks. That's true.

That's fair. But today happened. Yeah, making my prediction all the more remarkable. If it were guaranteed, then we would be impressed by Greg's prediction. Have I predicted that there's gonna be sunrise tomorrow? Not yet. I'm not prepared to say that.

Not yet. Still confirming? I'm still, my sources are supposed to call me back. Keep us posted. Yeah, I said looking at my watch, it doesn't exist. Still confirming? My sources are supposed to call me back. Keep us posted. I said looking at my watch, it doesn't exist. That was a very noble attempt, Roy, to get the conversation going to Panthers. Thank you, Mike.

Did something happen with the Panthers last night? Not really. Just what many people thought. Mike, let me ask you a question. What's upon a time, I believe, not too long ago, you said something like, that's why blowouts don't happen in hockey. And by my account, three out of the last four Panther games have been blowouts.

What happened to the pride of like, oh, they're hockey players, they fight hard, they'll never get blown out, cause they care more. I don't know what you're doing. You're just isolating a very small sample. Three out of the last four games means that it's a pretty big sample.

All right, well, are you cherry picking the series that went seven? No, no, no. It's very interesting. It's a weird hill to die on. It's a hill to die on. Shout out to Jamel Hill, because this is what you said

after game seven of Nuggets Clippers, which was a blowout. And you said, see, that never happens with hockey. And now it's- I mean, it rarely ever does. Well. That's the thing. Three out of the last four Panthers games have been blowouts. Are you talking about game sevens, or That's the thing. Three out of the last four Panthers games have been blown.

Are you talking about game sevens or? I'm talking about three out of the last four Panther hockey playoff games. Yeah, the ones on the road. Yeah. Playoff games have been blown. The Panthers are a wagon. The Panthers are a wagon, and Carolina

is going to struggle this series because they can't score goals. They've been struggling to score goals, quite honestly, for years. They tried to address it with Miko Reintan, and Miko got there for 11 games said I don't want to stay here Get straight into Dallas and carries them to the Western Conference finals Carolina that was a very odd game because Florida did not play very well in that game Carolina a tougher team But really amplified the shenanigans I thought and going after Bobrovsky every play going out of their way to to put an elbow on Bobrovsky probably shook him up a little

bit I know Kristen Winske is already alleging assault on on on Twitter when he came to one of those Bob altercations what Ghost does to Marshand is just hit a slap shot right at Marshand in the middle of the ice that that's probably gonna get reviewed but I think you see a Carolina team that is very limited they know it they're trying to turn to the Dark Arts to see if they can do this to the Florida Panthers and that's a bad team to turn to the Dark Arts to because they have perfected the Dark Arts so the more you do that the more you play into Florida's game and I just thought that was the game that Carolina needed to get this

could get ugly quick and this could be one of those ugly series that you point to unless Carolina finds something, some inspiration offensively. They didn't score a single goal with their sticks. Both the goals got kicked in. One was a power play goal that ricocheted and the first one shouldn't have been allowed flatly. I mean, I don't even look back at it. That was so weird. Yeah, I thought Maurice should have protested that. I mean, I thought Paul kind of knew the vibe of the game, didn't want to risk starting the next period off with a power play and really get that barn into the game. Once you're up with a goal headed into the second period, you're already playing Panther hockey. So

I get why he didn't do it because Florida was really controlling that game and it was a bit of a fluky goal. But Carolina's got some big time issues, and if they don't change things, Brendan Moore's gonna learn exactly what a sweep looks like. And by the way, Carolina has lost 13 conference finals games in a row, dating back years and years, including the sweep by Florida two years ago. No sweep, they didn't get swept. Oh yeah, right, Brendan Moore.

Brendan Moore, come on. Brendan Moore, yeah. Jesus. Juju, please put it on the poll, guy who calls an arena a barn Douche question mark no dish That's a like that man you guys mentioned Paul Maurice did he say after the game after a five to two win on the road? In the playoffs Eastern Conference finals. I didn't love our game tonight. Yes. Yeah, that is badass

Play like crap which is why Carolina's in real bad shape in this series, because Florida doesn't have to play their best game. They were playing the game that Carolina wanted to play. Limited chances, shaky goaltending from Carolina, which has been questioned, even though Anderson's been good, but I said this on other podcast appearances, the playoffs

have been a flat track for Carolina. They got New Jersey and they got Washington, two teams that don't necessarily play this aggressive playoff style. And New Jersey's been hurt. Yeah, and Florida's been in the deep end of the pool for a month and a half. And they're still riding it.

And I know Russ versus Russ is a discussion, but they were a day and a half removed from a game seven. They've been playing intense hockey for a while now. And Carolina is just kind of just lollygagging their way around through a very flat track and they learned yesterday that you have to take it up to another level and they overcompensated. They were forcing things, they were faking things, they put themselves in trouble with penalties and it's only going to get worse because now the refs are going to be looking for some of the stuff they did because they got away with a lot last night. I don't think they have that other level do they offensively? Offensively Jarvis is a good player he's probably the forward that I fear the most over there. Ajo has this tendency to really disappear I mean really disappear and

where Toronto found success in the series against Florida was screening Bob getting in front there and Mikola just decided midway through that Toronto series he wasn't gonna let that happen. And if there was a player to watch last night it would be Mikala in front of Sergei Bobrovsky's net having absolute jousting matches with every forward that was sent to his way. It was crazy. There was just unmitigated violence in front of Sergei Bobrovsky's net and Mikala answered the bell. The other thing about Mikala is him joining on that rush on that AJ Grig goal. That was amazing. Seeing that big man over here creating it was a three on two

and ended up being a two on one at the blue line. He was a playmaker on that play. Ghost is gonna get his block knocked off no doubt because what he did there with that slapper on Morchan and look I thought the refs got it right in terms of kicking Morchan out of that game. You gotta get that guy out of there any chance you have. But that was a hugely dangerous play. No, flat out, like Brad Marshann could have been seriously injured. He slapped a shot three feet away from him

at center ice, hit his upper body. That player safety has to get involved here. Otherwise, the Panthers have already alluded to it they'll take justice into their own hands yeah I didn't get the uh the logic of the uh the penalty situation that's playoff hockey that's the got to music right there like that should have been on sportsman like Condit for the fire in that puck and Marchand he only got a roughing penalty uh gosh to spare on that situation while two separate roughing penalties and the 10 minute misconduct which drew Marchand on it. It didn't make any sense.

Marchand kind of went in sticks high, was kind of reckless, but you can understand it because Brad's like, are you trying to kill me here? What is the point of this? It was a very dangerous play. I think the Panthers team that won the championship last year is better right now. And we saw it again last night with Greer and some others. Hold on, hold on. You're saying this team is better than the team that won the championship. Yes, yes.

You said the opposite. I think this team is deeper to be determined if they're better. I think defensively they were a little bit more stout last year, particularly along the blue line. But in terms of talent, dating back to the President's Trophy team, I think this is the deepest Florida Panther team

that we've seen in some time. Like the more shan thing is, as many people took it as like an insult, I'm saying Florida's got so many great wingers. Look at who the leader in playoff points on five on five hockey is. It's Lucerainen. It's Lucerainen.

Right. Gajdjevic answers a bell. When Boquist is in there, he scored. I swear to God he's just making up names right now. No, Mackie. Roy was showing off. We haven't even seen Mackie really at all in these playoffs. And I think he's probably

one of the more talented players on the puck for Florida. So it's an embarrassment of riches for Florida, and this is a really difficult matchup for Carolina. And Florida's had 17 different players score goals in the postseason, seven different defensemen. Their goals come from everywhere. Marshawn's line has been the best line in the playoffs for the Panthers the fourth line is scoring I suspect Mike has some issues at the no no no I Converted no no I've always been saying I think that's part of why Marshawn kind of turned it around once

He got put on that line that line has been a spark plug It's been very consistent throughout the three years of this run for Florida You could always count on Lundell and Lusa Ryn. And now Lusa Rinan has taken it up a notch. He's made himself a lot of money. Hell, if they make it to the final, Lusa Rinan has an argument to be Con Smythe, which is insane. If we're drafting finish players in this series, I may take Ajo last because of how little he shows up in these big moments. That is crazy stuff. He's finished.

Yeah. A secondary scoring has been gigantic for the Florida Panthers and has proven through how deep this team is. Thomas Nocek, who's on the fourth line had to go up to the third line because Marchand was thrown out of the game because of that misconduct. He got the assist on the Luz de Rhinan goal. Like they didn't miss a beat. Everybody is scoring. Their goon lines are scoring and they have really talented wingers

that aren't even dressing for this team right now that are going to make a lot of money whenever they come up in the open market. Boquist might make some money if he's a free agent. I know Mackie's probably going to get some offers. He's a brilliant, he's got a brilliant future. Florida has got a lot of depth. We'll find out if they're better, especially if they play Edmonton, because Edmonton looks to be a bit of a wagon. If you're a Panther fan, like I am,

I'm rooting for Dallas in that series, because I think it's Edmonton's time. Juju put on the poll, does not liking a 5-2 win make you a badass? And also, can you use the word unmitigated without the word gall because Mike said it was unmitigated violence and I said well there's got to be gall in there. Unmitigated disaster. Yeah. Oh disaster. That's a metal sand that's silver metal. Yeah. Disaster. Yeah. Gall, disaster, then violence? Yeah that's metal sand.

But gall leads to your point. Gall leads the unmitigated conversation. By the way two power play goes for the pandas. I don't expect that to happen again against the league's best penalty kill. So good job, I am. It's really interesting throughout this Panther run. They did it as an eight seed that was lucky to get in the playoffs. Then they did it as a team that had home ice throughout the playoffs. And now there are these road warriors that's not going to have a single home ice advantage throughout the playoffs. And it doesn't't matter they almost prefer to be on the

road it is a joy to support this team they're converting a lot of people that were casual observers because of their playoff style that they embody during the regular season blessed to have this run over here Carolina's in deep shit yes six and two on the road Florida that's Yeah, six and two on the road, Florida. That's damn good. Six and two on the road. I met a white Rodney yesterday. What? Get out of here. You're lying.

I'm dead serious. So, because I travel a lot, I have this level of status where sometimes they will pick me up in the cart to take me to the gate. So the guy texts me and he says, hey, I'm here, I'm still going through security. And he signed it, Rodney.. Said, I'm still going through security. And then, and he signed it Rodney. And so when I got through security,

I'm looking for a black guy, and it was a white guy on the cart. He's like, I said, Rodney? And he's like, yeah, I was going, but so I asked him, I'm like, oh, okay. And it's just the whole time, like he's driving the cart, and I'm just thinking to myself, a white Rodney. Did you ask his last name?

No, I was terrified. Oh, that's a major mistake. What would the last name that would justify that be? Jenkins? Something with a steen at the end of it, probably. Is Rodney a steen? No, but I'm just trying to think of something that somehow gets you closer to what you're supposed to be.

Are you sure it wasn't Rod? He said Rodney. R-O-D-N-E-Y. What would Rod be short for? Roderick. he said Rodney. Okay. Yeah, R-O-D-N-E-Y. What would Rod be short for? Roderick I know a Rod What about Rod Thorne? Rod Thorne was he a Rodney? He was a Rodney. Rodney King Thorne. Rod Brendemar His name was Rodney King? Rodney his middle name is King Thorne. Put it on the pole Juju Did you know that Rod Thorne's middle name was King?

Rodney King Thorne. Rod Brendemar is a Roderick not a Rodney. put it on the board did you did you know that ron thorns middle name was king rodney king thorn uh... rod brenda more is a roderick not a roderick but i feel like all the white rodney's call themselves rod maybe yeah but like it just they're not making white rodney's anymore are they rodney dangerfield rodney dangerfield is a good one that's right rodney stewart i gotta tell you uh... is is rod stewart or rodney Dangerfield is a good one. That's right. Rodney Stewart. I gotta tell you, is Rod Stewart a Rodney?

If you hurt my body. He should be. Wow, Billy Wednesday. Yeah. Get that in the sues. Great, limited, fake, Rod Stewart. He's not Rodney, he's Sir Roderick David Stewart, CBE. Did that right, not to be confused with OBE.

What's the difference? I don't know. Amici. Amici has OBE. Does that mean difference? I don't know. Amici. Amici has OBE. Does that mean it's the... One makes you a consultant. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha be relatively easy for OKC. I imagine, and even though we returned, turning that angle doesn't help matters for Minnesota. Is this going to be a boring one? No, I don't. I don't. Look, it's game one. And if you're Minnesota, Chris Vance tells

them, hey, guys, they did what they're supposed to. Like we come back, we win game two and we get we got what we came for. And so it's not I don't think it's a confirmation at all, especially because we do know Oklahoma City has certain things that they don't like. They clearly don't like when a zone is played. And Jaylen Williams still up and down, not really the kind of forceful game he wants him on. How does Gobert fit in the zone, perfectly?

I mean, he did perfectly, yeah, sure. I think he- He was pretty effective. He was. Only 21 minutes. I was kind of confused by his like- Because offensively he was He was pretty effective. He was. Only 21 minutes. I was kind of confused by his life play. Because offensively he was... He was awful.

He was awful. His impact on the game was paramount though when he was out there. Yeah, but it's tough when you're playing four on five against that defense in particular. And it's funny because Mike, the way you were describing the Panthers, it's kind of like the Thunder.

I was explaining this to my friend yesterday and I was like, they're, you know, you talk about two way players. Everyone likes, oh, it's a great compliment. Oh, he's a guy who plays defense and offense. Their whole roster is two way players. Everyone on their roster defends, everyone on their roster is an offensive threat.

And when you got it like that, it's hard to like find flaws consistently. But I don't know, like when you- It's almost like that team had a million lottery picks over the last eight years.