The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - Local Hour: Herroicism

Episode Date: April 25, 2024

Today's cast: Dan, Chris, Jeremy, Jessica, JuJu, Mike, and Roy. So... the Heat beat the Celtics in Boston last night. How 'bout that? Dan leads the crew through a conversation about how the Heat were able to take down the Celtics with a "perfect" game, Jayson Tatum and the Celtics late-game execution, Joe Mazzulla vs. Erik Spoelstra, and, somehow, the definition of "culo" as we listen to Ryan Cortes calling into WEEI. Then, Amin and Charlotte are dropping in from Oddball to discuss Charlotte's disappointing night as a Celtics fan, why Bam Adebayo is the best defender in the league, and Stan Van Gundy's fury. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Stay tuned because you'll hear more about DraftKings and all it has to offer throughout the show. DraftKings, the crown is yours. I want you to imagine a firehouse in like a super sleepy town that hasn't had a fire in a long time. At about 11 o'clock last night, that was this show with firefighters who weren't expecting a fire running in every direction, where Cortez is running off to WEI to see if he can call. Taylor's running off to make a parade of gas bags. A video, have you had time to put up on the screen, please? The exclusive footage we have of Boston fans

leaving their arena early, what they, they lost their what, four or five times all year, one of the most, well, the most overwhelming offensive efficiency in the history of the league. For all the talk of Miami's perfect game and perfect shooting, holding Boston in the second half to 40 points, that offense, and making those people go home early when they have the highest of expectations for that basketball team. And we got yesterday what I think none of us was expecting, which is, oh, that feeling

from last year, that delightful feeling from last year where they can make it a series. And at the very least, what you get from last night is the glorious thing you didn't think you were going to get is the next two days Boston fans have to sit in oh shit wait a minute am I worried about this and worse than that Tatum has to look at Porzingis and be like are you okay with us going through you during the playoffs when all of the mismatches are going to be you and you can have the turnaround jumpers if you want them and maybe not all 7 foot 3 guys can pass like Jokic can and what they did by game plan to Boston yesterday requires them

to play a perfect game perfect shooting best they've ever had I shouldn't say perfect because they turn the ball over a lot in the first half, but they were 13 for 24 on threes in the first half and were down by three. I don't feel like anybody is going to talk about the defense in that second half and how it is you choke out after Brown hits the three pointers and does the heat check thing and I'm going to keep shooting because I'm Jalen Brown and I'm gonna go into the second half with Miami we're not afraid of you you just had your best first half we've seen in the playoffs shooting the best total game we've seen shooting from the heat in the playoffs ever probably I would say like it's not just making more threes.

Everything that they were shooting from every guy who was shooting except for Duncan Robinson, everything was going in. That's how you have to beat that team. I don't believe they could do that four times in seven games, but you've put that doubt there for everybody. Now everybody is thinking something. I don't know if the Celtics are thinking it, but everyone is thinking something they were not thinking four quarters ago. The thing that was crazy about those threes, Dan, is they

created 23 wide open threes according to the stat tracking data. So this wasn't just making threes that were contested and it being fluky, it was an offensive execution to be able to get everyone wide open. And that had to do with BAM setting screens on offense, creating more room for Tyler Hero to operate. It was a perfectly executed game from those two players who have been doubted by a lot of people on a lot of different shows, including this one.

Jeremy, you are not allowed to take a victory lap considering you are part of the parade of gas masks today. Oh no. It's bullshit. Oh no, let's hear it. It's hard to see how the Miami Heat are going to win a game in that series. They're a joke right now! Everyone's laughing at them!

This team is not going to, more likely than not, even pull off one game against the Boston Celtics this year. Tyler Hero, not good, not a fan, bye! Just bye! It's not a code red, because if you take out Jason Tatum, the Celtics are still sweeping the heat. So slow down, Scalabrini. Yeah, give my f***ing Ruiz up out of here.

They down 0-1, they about to go down 0-2 tonight, and your season gonna be over in the next four days. They need to dynamite the Heat. Please, just the core, toss it out. Wow. I'm done. He's been doing that for two years. They have a whole game at two nights.

Don talking about his BAM gonna find the guts. I'm done talking about it. I mean, the Miami Heat could go 100% from the field, 100% from the three and they're still going to get swept in this series. They just don't have the personnel to match up with the Boston Celtics. That's it. I talked to a person that's high ranking in the NBA who would know stuff about player evaluation who said he would take 13 centers over BAM. Wake the hell up Heat fans! You're so far gone from being a contender right now. You are an afterthought. They do not want to face Boston in the first round and be

their first victim. They will probably get swept. I'm gonna say that right now if they face them in the first round. Most people do not believe the Heat will win a single game. Cause this roster is simply not good enough and it's not good enough by a mile. That's out of tone. I think I'm the most right. You're insane. In that group.

You are insane. Did you watch basketball last night? I watched it and I'm very happy Miami won. I don't like Boston, I like the Heat, no one. And I mean, no one sweeps a Miami Heat. It's not a thing that happens to this franchise. So I'm also a little disappointed because look at us. We used to reserve these things for finals runs. Now you're like the one in four and one.

Old man yelling at clouds is what you're like the one in four and one. Old man yelling at clouds is what you're doing. We didn't get swept! We didn't get swept! They left early, like it's a little, if you ask me, I'm a little sad. It is sad, I thought the same thing. As part of our scramble this morning,

unsuccessful part, I asked for them to find me a banner that read, we didn't get swept. That might have been the one in four and one, but okay, all right, cool. I just don't see how you can watch that game and not be apologetic for the way that you've talked about Bam Edibayo and even Tyler Hero for that matter,

who now in back to back, huge games for the Heat, the one that would have eliminated them from the postseason entirely, and the one that would have put their backs up against the wall, stepped up and had two of the best games of his entire career as a playmaker. I'm not going in circles with you guys on BAM. Because you're wrong.

He's a fine player, and if you wanna regurgitate the spoon-fed bullshit from the Miami Heat that says he's a key to the defense. That's insane, did you watch the game? Yeah, yeah, I watched the game. I'm not saying he's not a good defender. Look, the Miami Heat have acknowledged that I am right every offseason

when they've tried to acquire a star that is better than Jimmy Butler and have failed. And have failed, all right? Bayam Atabayo is the one piece that they haven't actually looked to relinquish. They keep wondering, why are our offers not good enough? It's because you haven't included Bayam Atabayo. So if you have faith in this organization

to push through and remain a contender, if you have faith in the coaching staff, I'd say I'd probably have a little faith in them potentially replacing Bam Adebayo if they had to. But I am super happy that they beat Boston. I'm super happy that the Boston Celtics fans have to wear that for two days. But also, this feels sad to me. Today does not. I will not allow you to make today. Unbelievable.

I will not allow you to make today sad because I don't disagree with you and I don't think anyone disagrees with you. Before last night's game, there was exactly no one saying that the Miami Heat will win that series. Juju? I'm sorry, if you guys listen to the Alley U podcast that be on every now and then

whenever we feel like doing it, I call this the whole time. I bet last night that the Heat will win. I won $500 last night on the Moneyline Heat win. If you listen to the Alley U, wherever you are, if you sell these gas bags, I'm a Celtics fan, but I'm a realist. I said all year, what happens when the damn shots

don't fall, tall man? What happens when the shots don't fall, Mr. Slick Hair Man? What happens when the shot don't fall, no left hand? So, back to you, Dan, but some people are here at profits. Juju, I have been watching what you've been doing post-game, and what I will continue to say as no insult to you because yes There are many people who love boston who have the post-traumatic stress disorder of still having some fear in them Although you've heard simmons and shir sound a lot more sure than they usually do about this celtics team

I don't dispute that you have warned and doubted these Celtics about the Miami Heat can beat them in a game, but I've heard no one say that the Miami Heat will win that series. I've heard no one in a credible mainstream position go out on the limb and be alone with Boston will lose this series. I have felt that it is very strange to watch any series of any kind where the consensus is this complete so that in game two of a playoff series you could be legitimately stunned

when a home team loses the miami heater one of the best road teams in the sport they were twenty four seventeen it's as good as okc as good as denver on the road they are excellent on the road. They're not afraid of that team They've kicked the ass of that uniform a great deal over the last couple of years Let me give you some of the stats because this is from Cooper Morehead the Miami Heat have four playoff games in the past two Seasons where they've shot 50% from three no other team has more than one Against anybody he's bought and paid for. Quite literally, he's an employee.

What do you want me to do? But that's also a fact. It's just a statistic. That's a fact though. That's also a fact. I'll do my own research. Okay, very good. Bought and paid for is better than buying

to get information. That's all I'm saying. Boston doesn't play close games at- Whoa, kiss my ass. Wow. If you want to say that you can't break something down because you're a part of a broadcast or because you're part of an organization working for nba.com,

I just don't understand how that's the analysis that you can go with. Jeremy, Jeremy, I'm just doing a thing. Let's move on. Hey everybody, it's Mike. And typically I record these Miller light spots in the studio, but I requested that I specifically record this one from my home office because I got a window

and I'm looking outside at those beautiful fishhtail palms knowing that in just a few seconds I'm going to go out there. I'm going to crack open a can of Miller Lite because while sitting outside by my fishtail palms is usually a good time, I like to take it up a notch and make it a Miller time. That's right, you crack that puppy open and you don't have to think about what you're drinking for a darn second. A lot has changed over the years, including my backyard. Lots of landscaping being done right now.

But the one thing that hasn't changed is the undebatable quality of Miller Lite. You don't have to choose what quality is the best. Miller Lite has great taste and it's less filling. Tastes like Miller time. To get Miller Lite delivered right to your door, visit MillerLite.com slash Dan, or you can find it pretty much anywhere that sells beer. Celebrate responsibly Miller Brewing Company Milwaukee, Wisconsin 96 calories per 12 ounces, fewer cales and carbs than premium regular beer.

Don LeBretard! Teammates can't shoot from three, now they're gonna see a different Jimmy. Now he's just, just playing Nickelback in the locker room and Stugats They'll play D and show threes As they chase the Nats for the sixth seed These five words in his head

Scream, are we winning games yet? This is the Don LeBathard Show with the Stugats Look, the thing that happened last night was with all the bluster and all of the praise that the Celtics received over the weekend and after that game won win, it's basically like they started this game up already, 20 points. And you see what the Celtics do when they're up 20 points. They will let your ass right back in the game. Gaines being a mouthpiece, can we get back to the stats is that all of them? If I'm a Celtics fan I am concerned because the blueprints out there now and you need the guy that's watching the town

every day to come up with adjustments and it's very clear all the Miami Heat need to do three more times is set a new franchise record from shooting for shooting from downtown. Well this is what I will tell you that I was watching last night that i will not get used to no matter how much the sport changes the idea that in playoff basketball you would allow the boston celtics to do what they want around the rim easy layups it's just not something i'm used to and now the movie is going to be for boston

what juju is saying what happens when the shots don't fall miami was basically saying the boston no more threes that's not how you're going to play where you're shooting sixty six percent of your shots are threes sixty six percent of our shots are going to be the threes and the thing i was stunned by most last night was not that miami one though that was stunning enough it's that boston was forced to play a game by another team a lesser team an eight seed without their best player

That Boston didn't want to play which was allowing them easy layups at the rim Where Jalen Brown and Tatum could take off the dribble? Hero and Duncan and then what they were doing to me was super interesting with poor Zingas which was you haven't been here go ahead and see how those little turnaround jumpers in the key work when you've got the mismatch we're showing you yet Tyler heroes on you that's Hawkeyes on you you've got seven inches on those dudes you want to turn around and take little turnaround jumpers go ahead poor Zingas let's see all those Washington games and Nickicks games you've played before that aren't this game. You're the third biggest piece and you've been a perfect fit there as the third biggest

piece, but what happens when Datum's quiet in the fourth quarter? What's happening when Brown is quiet in the second half after that first half? Oh, it's gonna be Porzengiz and White, is it? Okay, let's see what you got with Porzengiz and White. There really is something to the Jason Tatum thing And that was just like a fan opinion and playing Against a boss in Celtics in several series He has these crucial stretches where he goes missing and then we saw Tom Habershow did a quantifiable study on It's actually a real thing and he is a superstar

He is the first face that you see in the NBA playoffs promo for ESPN and he just has these strange moments. He idolizes Kobe and I will say Kobe never went missing. Kobe may have had bad performance, inefficient performances, but he asserted himself. If that is who you look up to, you've got to assert yourself. They got rid of the Marcus Smarts of the world. You're the guy. Be the guy. Even if you don't have it that night, just have the confidence to let your team know that they can still come to you. His body language is terrible. He's rolling his eyes like a child. He needs

to find the dog. Stan Van Gundy accused him of losing his composure and getting frustrated. Stan Van Gundy was hitting the note of this team doesn't know what close games are like. This team does not know what this heat feels like when it's close this year. Jason Tatum is a pretty good asset. Should they trade him? Enough out of you. Look, I feel like our tone's been less than celebratory. Not today. Not today?

Not today? Jeremy, you don't have to do that. It's the Day of the Levitard Show. Out! You should be celebrating this victory, even though it's one game, with Ryan Cortez doing what he does best, calling into Boston Radio and playing Pitbull songs on unsuspecting radio hosts.

That's a cue for you, Chris Cody. That was her. He was really, he was celebrating his go thing. We told Jeremy to go and I hit. Go! I heard your joke and then she was making one and you were saying to Mike, praise me behind me. You were so busy smelling your own farts that you didn't hear Jessica throw it.

I'll take the blame for that. We're a team here, Dan. Okay, it's the woman's fault. We're a team here, Dan. Okay, it's the woman's fault. We do everything as, you're right, it's Chris' fault. It's 111-101, game two at TD Garden. Absolutely disgusting. You're supposed to be winning 18 and you're out there laying eggs without this.

Let's go to Danny in Cambridge. Danny, what are your thoughts? Bro, I gotta be honest, I am pissed right now. I was watching the game at a palacio de los jugos I cannot believe we got a good game finally for once out of Tatum and Brown both But you know Joe Masula can't make adjustments if he's gonna lose the air exposure in game two that means to me that the Celtics are playing like Thanks Danny. Danny brought his sound effects.

How does he keep getting away with, how do they not hang up as soon as he said he was watching the game at Palacio de los Jugos? How does he get away with this every time? He is a master at his craft. He was sleepy in a slumber. It was funny last night to sort of jostle him awake and make him go run toward WEI

We did not know we were gonna be able to do any of that this year I do want to explain to the audience that might not know this that just because pitbull sings it culo so happily It is the word asshole and so I don't know if And so I don't know if the majority of people listening to this know that when Pitbull sings culo, it's asshole, but so what he just did on WEI is tell the host there that the Boston Celtics played like asshole.

Or just ass. Yeah, it could be general ass. I don't think it has to be the whole. When I think of culo, I always think of the hole. I don't think of the entirety of the butt. When I was growing up, it was just the hole, but then after Pippo dropped culo, it became the general ass area. Is that what?

Yeah. That's a general booty, by the way. Wait a minute. I was pretty sure that throughout my Cuban childhood, I'll ask Mero this, Mero's gonna come through here today, I wanna know, throughout my entire life, Kulo has not been the entirety of the ass. You're suggesting to me that Pitbull changed that

so that it went from a smaller surface area to the entirety of the surface area. Yeah, somewhere in the aughts, when Lil Jon and Pitbull dropped Kulo, it expanded out from the whole to the whole ass. So you think it's like, asshole? Like that's the song? Yeah, asshole!

And not just like, butt! Ass! That's So you think it's like asshole? Like that's the song? Yeah, asshole. And not just like butt, ass. That's how you make it mainstream. I think right now the only song about that is Brown Eyed Girl. It went from asshole to whole ass. Jessica, I appreciate your command of the language. I'm simply saying to you that as a child, whenever it was said in my house by my father or anyone else, I think I saying to you that as a child, whenever it was said in my house

by my father or anyone else, I think I've told you guys this story. The word in Spanish for a fish is pescado. In my childhood, my father would wear swimming trunks in the ocean, and then he would do like a handstand where his shorts would fall off and he would call himself a pesculo. And it wasn't because the word was ass, it was not the entirety of the ass, it was simply the whole. I know, I know.

It's kinda like when bad became good after Michael Jackson dropped bad. It's kinda like that. There's so many people listening who did their first dance with their dad or someone, a loved one at their wedding to Brown Eyed Girl that now are just crying in their car. I did, you guys didn't know that?

No, it's totally about the asshole. Put it on the poll please, did you know that Brown Eyed Girl was about the culo at LeBretard Show and for our Hispanic brethren out there culo does it mean ass because I did not know this or asshole I thought run DMC changed you're saying it's Michael Jackson I thought I thought run DMC what made bad good I mean the the vernacular is out there and pop music is

just there to give it a megaphone, you know Did Michael Jackson run DMC and vent bad? No someone on the street corner did but you know, they gave it the platform Juju were you mad at the Celtics last night? I'm always mad at the Celtics. I wake up every morning regular season It's always some room for improvement this whole season. I knew like, bro, this record is fool's gold. I've been saying the same thing over and over all season. I'm, it's just, I know I'm black and you don't listen to me, but it's cool. I've been saying the whole, bro, the Celtics are fool's gold. I don't, I love them, but when they get to the playoffs, they always

show the same side and I, they have to prove something to me. I have said this year that I didn't think that Barclays criticism it feels cruel to me it feels unfair to dismiss a team is not mentally tough enough especially a team that has been that historic that great during the during the regular season but this is absolutely a reputation that represents what i believe is this team's only frailty and i generally don't tend to believe in that as a frailty yes michael jordan was a competitive asshole it was celebrated

but cool uh... kobe bryant was a competitive cool and tatum for his playing style which is languid it's all so beautiful all of us can see watching him as a skilled player that that is not something that is made of steel and barbed wire it is silky and wonderful and it's ballet in the air and And if you have a question about this team, and I'm telling you, that's not something I do. I don't call people who get to the top of sports

mentally frail because I think it's very hard to get over other people on competition for money. But I understand how it is that a game like last night reinforces that appraisal. That's why we miss Marcus Smart so much. That's why the true lifers, the true hoopers knew that. When we lost Marcus Smart, that was more than just our point guard.

That was a dog that we had. It was a dog that I was happy was shooting wide open threes. I think that they did have to move, and I do think that the Celtics will be better because of this matchup. Now that Jimmy is not there, it's like an old heavyweight rival that is washed that decides to be your sparring partner, and mentally you know that you can clear that

hurdle. It's still the Miami Heat uniform and for Joe Mazzola who needs to make some adjustments here, for them to get through that speed bump, that boogeyman, because for many respects Miami Heat are the boogeymen of the Boston Celtics. This is a shell of what they could be even at the high end. If Jimmy's healthy and they're playing out of their mind, I still think Boston is better. But the fact that they can get past this and have a little bit of struggle,

this will ultimately be good for the Boston Celtics, I think. The thing that's interesting about their adjustment from game one to game two is that it was essentially adjusting back to what the Heat did to the Celtics last year, which is force the Celtics to play one-on-one. And this is the thing that Juju was concerned about all year long about them playing late in games back to what the Heat did to the Celtics last year, which is force the Celtics to play one on one. And this is the thing that Juju was concerned about all year long about them playing late

in games in isolation ball. But if you saw last night, Dan, you mentioned they blitzed the Celtics off the three and their one stretch of the game where they played zone was really the one stretch where the entire Boston offense started to cook, where Al Horford hit a three, where Sam Hauser hit a three. When Boston's just playing Isoball. I don't think you can be, the zone has been effective,

I don't think it works against this team. This team, that zone is not something that's gonna work very much. It won't, which is why you saw very few Kevin Love minutes, because they need to play zone when Kevin Love is in there. Jovic is the guy that stepped up. This is one of the things that I would have gotten wrong in my analysis after game one, and it's one of the things that I would have gotten wrong in my analysis after game one and it's one of the

reasons Mike that I don't feel comfortable questioning the expertise of these particular people who have run this city for 20 years giving us all of our best moments out here. My analysis after game one would have been Kevin Love needs to play more. My analysis after game one would have been Kevin Love needs to play more. I need more Kevin Love minutes and obviously that was among the many things I would have gotten wrong. I think last night, Spolstra and that franchise showed you that they can maximize the talent and it's a little frustrating that they're not healthy because I do think that you'd actually have a real legitimate series and you could lean

into the ghosts of years past. Last night is a testament to Eric Spolcher. They have a head coaching matchup every time. He's one of the greatest, if not the greatest to ever do it. And Boston needs to figure that part out. Exactly. And I think we have one of those dogs on our bench. Sam Cassell, assistant coach.

Look out brother. Joe Mazzulli, you make one false move. Ass. Hello. Don LeBattard. All these high paid analysts, I don't want to mention names, TNT, ESPN, you know, oh yeah, they are dead. They cannot, they are not going to make it, you know. Even if they win in, if they lose it in Miami. I need to calm you down.

That's right, if they lose in Miami, they don't get a chance in Boston. Oh, they are going to have their ass, you know what, in Boston, you know. Stugats. They were wrong, they were, are they going to lose a job? No, are they going to get a cutting pay? No, what are they going to do?

Keep predicting what is the obvious. They are going to say, oh, the Nuggets are going to win. Oh predicting what is the obvious. They're going to say, oh, the nuggets are going to win. Oh, Denver, the altitude. And you know what? The heat are going to win it all. This is the Don LeVatar Show with the StuGats. ["Sleepy Firehouse"] Again, imagine a totally sleepy firehouse

that hasn't had a lot of activity. Never mind a fire, every once in a while you get called to get a cat out of a tree or something, but there's never an actual fire. Now all of a sudden, we've gotten everyone in the firehouse awake and running in every direction. We bring in our New York studio. The Heat have won a basketball game in the playoffs. It's all hands on deck for MetalArk Media. Amin and Charlotte are joining us from New York. They weren't

even in New York this morning, but we made them hurry up and get into a studio so that we could laugh at Charlotte's pain. Go ahead and show everybody leaving Boston early. Pat Riley grinning through his fangs because again, bleep Boston. Charlotte, Amin, they are oddball. They're every weekday except for Monday on the DraftKings network and at LeBataard Show on YouTube. I encourage you to see the growth of that show. It has found its stride and its voice.

It is funny, it is informative. They have great chemistry. Amin, Charlotte, thank you for joining us. First off though, Charlotte, as a Celtics fan who is now thinking of changing her allegiances to the New York Knicks, how are you feeling today about having the post-traumatic stress disorder of last year dropped on your lap again?

You say it and my stomach drops, Dan. I feel terrible. I feel very, very bad. I feel very bad. And look, you know, the thing is, I think part of this is that I talked to a lot of Knicks fans the other day and they were like, I would lick Seventh Avenue

for Jalen Brunson, and then I watched the Celtics, and there's like one game where they need some vibes, and fans are like, you know what, we're good. Thanks for the most historic regular season ever. What are we doing? That's so soft, that's so soft. Show up, you're not entitled. It sounds like you're blaming the fans.

I'm blaming everybody, Dan. I're blaming the fans. It sounds like you're blaming the fans. I'm blaming everybody, Dan. I'm blaming the environment. Everybody, the team looked miserable. And I think that for me, it also made it clear that fandom is something that as much as you, it's like, oh, it looks fun over there. It's ingrained in you. I was so pissed last night.

I was sitting there, I was, underbite. I was like pissed last night. I was sitting there, I was, underbite, I was like, mad. That's how I feel now. Do you sleep with your fists balled up? Like do you have trouble getting to sleep? Yes, I have a tension headache this morning. My neck hurt last night as I was going to bed. I just think, like also I wanna be clear,

like I never said ever that, oh, this is a foregone conclusion. I did on social media, actually. No, I did say that. I mean, what were your thoughts? What did you find interesting? Because the one place that Heat fans, and of course it's easy to look like this when you make all your threes,

but the one place that Heat fans do have ultimate confidence of having the biggest mismatch in the entirety of the series I would say is what we like our coaches chances adjusting to what you do better because I don't think that Heat have a chance in this series because Miami is worse. That Boston is better at defense than Miami is at offense and Boston is better at offense than Miami is at offense, and Boston is better at offense than Miami is at defense. I don't mean that as a slight against Miami, I just think that over seven games, when those things are true, you generally lose,

unless I have faith in my coach that in a game six or a game seven, he's gonna have stuff for you that you don't have. Yeah, Dan, before I talk about the game, I just wanna correct my good friend Mike Ryan. He said Kobe never Didn't show up to a game and I would implore him to look at 2006 game 7 versus the Phoenix Suns particularly the second half of that game a little Tim of quitting right quit. Yeah, that was a he did that on purpose. No

He chose it he chose to be way to be weak. He chose quitting weakness. Sure, sure. God rest his soul. I was at the game last night in Boston and you listen to your whole opening. No Japanese will win. Sorry for doing my job for you guys. I listened to that whole first segment

and I was staggered that none of you guys. I listed out hope for a segment and I was staggered that none of you guys talked specifically about what Bam did defensively. I saw a Scal after the game last night. Go ahead and hit her again. No, that's not good enough. Hit it? Nope, not good. Okay, I saw Scal after the game and I told-

Oh, come on, he deserves a look at me, Louie. Boston fan here, give Brian Scalabrini the look at me, Louie. Look at me, Louie. I saw Scal look at me. Look at me, Louie. I saw Scalabri. Look at me, Louie. I got the look at me, Louie, for being at the game, but not for talking to Scal, my bad.

So I told Scal. It's not good enough. That MF'er right there is the best defensive player in the league. He's not going to win the award. He is the best defensive player in the league and it's not even close. The moment you show me Rudy Gobert guarding Jason Tatum, not on a switch, guarding Jason Tatum, guarding Jalen Brown. Dan, you wondered how did they bottle up this Celtics offense in the second half?

It was Bam Adebayo. And it wasn't just in help defense. It was Bam Adebayo, primary defender on Brown, on Tatum, on Port Zingas, even guarded a holiday a couple of times. He was fantastic. And you guys know me. I shoot it straight. When I thought he wasn't doing what he could be doing

a couple years ago, I called him a Dries, right? That dude, you guys gave him a hard time for the playing game. I thought that was kind of bogus. You guys gave him a hard time for game one. I thought that was bogus. I think he's putting together an incredible run of games here,

and just last night, he then added the timely timely shot making so it wasn't an offensive explosion There was timely shot making and that's exactly what they needed. That's the best defensive player in the NBA bar none So it wasn't your list we can scratch your name off. You know what's funny about that I appreciate you mentioning that today's Jessica because it's unfortunate that Billy's not here today, and I will remind everyone here. I'll have five, please. Five dollars. I will remind everyone here that tonight, on NFL Draft Day, that Billy is planning an extravaganza with Stu Gotz that will have draft day coverage on our YouTube channel over the course of the evening but I find it unfortunate that Billy's

not here today to enjoy the delight of this. The beginning of that game yesterday right before it started I'm settling in for an enjoyment of my evening watching Celtics Heat basketball and I am engaged in getting furious texts from Stan Van Gundy Who's about to broadcast the game saying to me? Why did you tell people in what world do you think that I would tell people that? That BAM is not as good as 13 or 14 other centers. And he's furious at me. And I'm trying to explain to him, no, Billy's doing that on purpose.

He's like, Skal told me, I know, Skal didn't hear me yelling, I didn't say that about Stan Van Gundy, it wasn't Stan Van Gundy. And so now Stan Van Gundy, before doing that game last night, just because of Billy, is yelling at me, angry. A friend, which is exactly what I was afraid of.

And it becomes the same thing that Stugats did to me with Warren Sapp, always saying that Warren Sapp has bad breath, and Warren Sapp now wants to kill me. It's true, by the way, Dan. I saw Stan Van Gundy last night. He has bad breath? No, I saw Stan Van Gundy last night,

and he was pretty upset. He was pretty irate. I said, Stan. I'm not making that up. Like, Stan is now mad at me because of what Billy did, which I knew was what was gonna happen. I could have just said whose list it was. You did it, you did it, Dan.

I did not do it. Someone who said, Dan, you said somebody who's, with NBA ties. But I said four times, it's not Stan! Like I said four, because Billy kept saying it's Stan! Don't protest too much. Yeah, it sounds a little bit like you were saying it was Stan by saying it wasn't Stan.

I didn't think it was Stan before, but now I do. For sure, now I do also. Why would he say that? It's pretty crazy, taped by him. Why would anyone say that? I wouldn't, not even me, I'm my worst bit. Bam was great on both sides yesterday, and one of the places that he was great, I mean this is what you've been asking for for a long time, you've asked for him to be really

aggressive and every time Porzengis was on him he was really aggressive. But not only that, every time but one when the Celtics are creeping back to within seven, within five, within you got you got Robinson missing a three that puts you up 15 and then the Houser hitting a three you got Robinson missing another three and then white hits A three and they get to six and they get to five But when you can get it scary BAM stopped it every time there were a lot of threes that did it too But BAM in the middle of the paint just shooting a little jumper There were a lot of threes that did it too, but Bam in the middle of the paint just shooting a little jumper

Confidently by being aggressive in the post in a way. He isn't always it was just as impressive as off on offense to me as it was on defense Absolutely, and like I said people look at the box score. They're gonna hear us talk say did he have 40 no He didn't have 40, but he hit as you said timely shots and Spoh talked about that post game as well You also have to give a shout out to Caleb Martin, who, if it were, I was gonna say he had the game of his life, except, oh, he already did that last year against Boston. You can't say that.

Boston fans are like, oh, just every game against Boston is the game of Caleb Martin's life. And I mean, you said something, you said that, the one thing that made me feel a little bit better about Boston fans was that no matter what, whenever Caleb Martin's name was said they booed him They every single time his name was mentioned every time he touched the ball every time he got in the game Even when he got called for a foul you think they would cheer. Yeah foul on you. Nope. They booed him

Boston fans, can we just keep it cool? Maybe the thing that sparked the damn heroism So so Jeremy I hear you say co-read is funny. I don't know. I don't know if I'm breaking news here, but Allegedly in the heat locker room before the game. They played the speech several times from a few good men And then during the game as Caleb is making these big plays Certain individuals from the bench were crying, yelling out, Code Red, they ordered a Code Red. And Joe Mazzullo is like, what is that?

I've only ever seen the town. I have not- But he also actually does watch Whiplash in the Dark Knight, so. I have not seen that Caleb Martin since the last time he played Boston in the playoffs. And it's no knock on Caleb Martin, but he only plays that way against Bostonoston boston boston must have some sort of

shell shock on if that does releasing the ball from three it's going in because his percentages against them are crazy like it's not he's one of the best shooters ever against only them i'm not kidding like it i mean i think you tell me i'm wrong like against only them Caleb Martin is to be Superfeared because as Stan was saying on the broadcast last night enraged at me for something I didn't report about him He was saying again and again Caleb Martin should have been the most valuable player last year of the Eastern Conference finals

He oh, I agree. He and Josh turned on a different level when it comes to these playoffs. Sorry, I mean. No, my bad, my bad, brother, go ahead. They don't listen to black people in that show so much, so we gotta find a way to share. Damn right they don't. Let's talk to a white person about what his opinion is. Damn it, Dan.

Yeah, Caleb Martin against Boston in his playoff career shoots 48.6% from three. Against everybody else, it's 32.5%. So it really is amazing, but that also has to do with their defensive scheme. They've decided we're going to leave Kayla Martin wide open in the corner over and over and over again. It's the thing that bit them in the first three games of last year's playoffs against the Heat.

It's the thing that bit them in game seven, and now it's the thing that got them in game two. Any final thoughts from Oddball? Again, every weekday except for Mondays on the DraftKings network and at LeBittard Show on YouTube. I do think that there's something here, expectations. Like, if everyone says over and over that you're not gonna win and you're the Miami Heat

and you've got that dog in you, and they said this last year, I was saying people were like, well, it's different this year, the Celtics are amazing. I'm like, we had this exact same conversation about the Heat last year. We also even had the same conversation about Kulo, whether it's ass or asshole.

So this is like, I'm not real PTSD here, Dan. Yeah, we're in reruns and I've seen this movie before and like, I just want everyone in Boston, the team, the fans, like bring that energy and nothing is a foregone conclusion here. This is the danger zone, code red danger zone. Do we have time for a start of the day? I got a quick one for you. Go ahead.

Start of the day, start of the day, and this is the start of the day. Start of the day, start of the day, and this is the start of the day. Start of the day, start of the day, and this is the start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day, start of the day Hey! Ha ha ha ha ha ha. The Heat and the Celtics have met in the playoffs in their franchise histories six times. All six times the winner of the series

goes to the NBA Finals. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a must win series for both of these teams. Before you get- Yeah, because otherwise they're out. Before you get out of here, Charlotte, what's this clip we have from Oddball that I'm throwing it to? What is it? It's me talking to Knicks fans, Dan, about how much they love Jalen Brunson. Let's do it.

We are doing a piece on how much New York loves Jalen Brunson. MVP! Would you give Jalen Brunson $20? Give him 40 bucks, give me 40 points. A dollar a point, that feels cheap. Would you give Jalen Brunson your dollar? She got vet bills, take her, she's a pro. Would you lick Seventh Avenue for Jalen Brunson?

Seventh Avenue uptown or down town? They sweat pretty good over here, I think. Yeah. All right. Why not? This team is really fun, but I'm not a next-gen. Hey everybody, it's Mike and typically I record these Miller Lite spots in the studio, but I requested that I specifically record this one from my home office because I got a window and I'm looking outside at those beautiful fishtail palms knowing that in just a few

seconds I'm gonna go out there, I'm gonna crack open a can of Miller Lite because while sitting outside by my fishtail palms is usually a good time, I like to take it up a notch and make it a Miller time. That's right, you crack that puppy open and you don't have to think about what you're drinking for a darn second. A lot has changed over the years, including my backyard. Lots of landscaping being done right now. But the one thing that hasn't changed is the undebatable quality of Miller Lite.

You don't have to choose what quality is the best. Miller Lite has great taste and it's less filling. Tastes like Miller-tot. To get Miller Lite delivered right to your door, visit MillerLite.com slash Dan, or you can find it pretty much anywhere that sells beer. Celebrate responsibly Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 96 calories per 12 ounces,

fewer cows and carbs than premium regular beer.