The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - Local Hour: Left to Right on Your Radio Dial

Episode Date: June 6, 2025

Zaslow drove all the way home from North Carolina on one tank of gas and made his son pee in a water bottle because the Panthers needed him to be here to talk about Game 1 of the NBA Finals and tell us why Panther fans do not need to panic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Conditions apply. This is the Don LeBattor Show with the StuGuts Podcast. Happy Friday. NBA finals wasted no time getting going. Road Team won immediately, so let's not waste time. Jonathan Zaslow. Yo. Tony Ayres.

Tony, in the shipping container. Roy, in the shipping container. Chris Cody. is. Tony, in the shipping container. Roy, in the shipping container. Chris Cody. Roe Cole? In the shipping container. An unbelievable start to the NBA Finals. Unbelievable start to the NBA Finals. Tyrese Halliburton is now 13 of 15 in shots

in the final two minutes to either tie or go ahead. That is insane. There is a million insane stats. Another improbable victory by the Indiana Pacers. I am falling in love with this team. I think OKC, I know a lot of people are gonna be like, don't be hyperbolic at the NBA finals. These things happen.

But if you wanna pick any stat that might be damning, it would be that Indiana had 17 more turnovers in this game. 16 fewer shots in this game. And they won it at OKC. Izzy, I know you were listening, Zazz, I know you were driving down and you were listening to the game on the radio, I'm curious your perspective there. But is this sustainable for the Indiana Pacers?

Do we legitimately have a series, or was that a fluke? Well, game one's always the tough one. You don't really know what it was, especially after some of that off time for OKC. But I will say in the first half, you're watching that game and saying like, yeah, OKC does play good defense, but it was just terrible offense. It was just and I blame the Knicks for this or credit the Knicks, however you want to say this. Indiana had such an easy time. Tyrese Halliburton could have 15 assists and no turnovers, just

jumping in the air and then deciding where to pass it to. Against this team, every pass is contested and they just seem to not recognize that early on. And then you look at the scoreboard, it's like, it's a 12 point game. OKC should be up 30, do not mess with this team. And then by the end, you look at the stats and they shot 46% from three, the Pacers did.

And so yeah, you stay in close enough, you get, and this is the other part when I knew something was did. And so yeah, you stay in close enough, you get, and this is the other part when I knew something was up, when Nemhart in one play turned into Allen Iverson and just went whack, whack, whack, between the legs, step back three. I was like, they're definitely coming back now. How fun is that guy?

He's just so aggressive all the time, becoming a superstar. Zazz. Full brigator. Halliburton had a really difficult time. This game was played within a 12 point spread for the entirety. In fact, the Indiana Pacers only led four three-tenths of a second in that game.

It's the final three-tenths of a second. It's awesome. And the Thunder's biggest lead was in the fourth quarter as well, 15. But Indiana seemed to have an answer and it wasn't choking the game away. We were talking about this before. No, no.

Indiana just made the shots down the street. Yeah, it felt similar to me, like when Indiana did the thing to New York in game one. New York didn't blow that game like they wanted to. Two miss free throws. But it wasn't like Cleveland in that game two, I think it was where they never crossed half court in the final minute of the game. They're throwing the ball away.

No, I mean like the Knicks, they missed shots and the Pacers made shots and the same thing last night, the Thunder, they missed some shots and the Pacers made shots. And the same thing last night, the Thunder, they missed some shots, and the Pacers, they made all their shots. It was a 32 to 16 run after it was 94-79 with like eight minutes left. It was the biggest lead to the game by 15. And yeah, I was listening to the game.

I, by the way, when's the last time you listened to an entire game, basketball, football, baseball, Mike English says the entire game. It was the Miami no Neil against Georgia tech. I was listening to Josie cause I was in the car and I could for whatever reason, the last, the last quarter, not a near there. I'm talking about the whole, I listened to the whole game last night. When's the last time I know exactly your 20, 25 hour night. When's the last time? I know exactly the last time. In your 20, 25 hour Lord,

when is the last time you listened to an entire game? Game seven, the 1997 World Series. 90s. I was driving back the 19th, the previous century. You in Sea Rent-A-Ria? Dave Van Horn. I was driving back to college, to the University of Florida. I think you went there, Zazz.

I did. No, he went to Santa Fe. Nope, I did not do that. Did you have to change stations as you got north? It was a crackle all the time. So when we got to the bottom. On that drive to Gainesville, you get radio stations from New York and Cleveland.

What's 80.9? And then I got to a certain point, because there was two people in the car with me, they didn't give a shit about baseball, two people in the car with me, and it was starting to get really bad, so I was like, I'm sorry, I'm pulling over here to listen to the bottom of this inning

and it was the rent-a-rea hit. That's hardcore. So I listened to the whole game last night, I drove back all day yesterday from North Carolina. We can get to the reason why coming up if you want. But literally every time, you know, you look at the screen in your car and it always has the score now,

the entire game, the ThunderUp 11. The entire game. Yeah, on your radio dial, were they going left to right? Left to right on your radio dial? Yeah, I don't think that's a thing that they say anymore. I was just in the ESPN radio. Zagacki always does. Kesti didn't say it?

Nah, Kesti was not having me go left to right. Go left to right on your radio dial. I need to know where they're going. I always need to know. You're left to right on your radio dial-out. I need to know where they're going. I always need to know. You mentioned that they went down 15. The Indiana Pacers are five and three this postseason when they go down 15. That's insane.

It's the most comebacks of that variety in NBA history. It's funny because with like three minutes left, it was a seven point game, or a nine point game, and Mark Kestasher, voice of the NBA on ESPN radio, was fantastic. He makes the note, this is the time in the game where I have to tell you that the Pacers have come back X amount of times, down by seven, with under three minutes play.

I'm like, all right, it is the thunder though, you know? But to answer your question, Mike, if it's sustainable, if they can keep doing this, I don't really see why not, because as the game went along, you would imagine the defense would maybe get better, the defense would lock in, the Pacers offense got better. The Pacers seemed like the team that early on

were a little bit sort of off because of the NBA finals, felt some of the pressure. Like you don't wanna do that where they're nervous, but it seemed like they were nervous. And OKC didn't take advantage. Halliburton was also in the torture chamber. He was. I mean, he was clearly affected, but I didn't think

that Indiana had the type of supporting cast to help Tyrese Halliburton when he's having it. Well, then T.J. McConnell checked in the game, you know. That guy always does something. You mentioned you were listening to the radio call. You probably had the wrong language, because the Korean radio call of that game-winning shot which my there's a still obi-top and would have really

increased the value of my top shot there were so many wide open Indiana Pacers but Tyrese Haliburton was not letting anybody else take this shot and this is what it sounded like in Korea Wow, Undo Dog, Undo Dog is in Indiana, getting a familiar situation. Harley Button, he's hitting the button! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow!

Wow! Harley Button! Wow! Wow! There's a stat. Those Koreans know how to call basketball. Teams trailing by seven, which I don't believe this stat.

Teams leading by seven in the final three minutes were 1-21 and 0. In what finals games? In the postseason, I don't believe this stat. Teams leading by seven in the final three minutes were 121 and 0. In what finals games? In the postseason. I don't believe that just because I feel like I've seen the Indiana Pacers come back from that deficit multiple times. Each series?

Yeah, well they're now the one in the one in 121 stat. An unbelievable team. This team, for an underdog team, they play into all those tropes. Never quit, never stop fighting. The win probabilities that they've come back from. We're talking not just single digits, we're talking percentage points.

It's unbelievable what Indiana has done. Rick Carlisle, if he gets this one done, we're talking one of the greatest coaches in NBA history, I think, and he would be at the helm of two of the greatest coaches in NBA history, I think. And he would be at the helm of two of the largest NBA finals upsets in NBA history. We gotta start looking at him different if he holds onto this one.

Can the win probability be 1% if I've seen it happen five times in the last three weeks? Win probability is the most useless thing. It's just like such a made up thing. This is 99.99. It's like, well, I've seen it happen three times in the last two weeks. It's a dude called Elias like yeah what was the win

probability on that yeah it really is just someone in a room and say what do you think probabilities 98 points it's just setting up the possibility that it could be a good finish that's it it's just a random number oh wow 99% of teams have won here okay something different might happen Mike can you go back to the start of the show? You ratted off a couple of stats. You said 17, what were those stats? You had them off the top of your head again?

Not off the top of my head. Okay, so. This is courtesy of Ryan Cortez. Indiana had, by way of Andrew Grieve. Is it Grieve or Grieve? I think it's Grieve. Huh? Indiana had 17 more turnovers than OKC and 16 fewer field goal attempts and won.

And to me, that is the single biggest stat in terms of an indicator in this NBA Finals projecting the rest of the way. One thing you guys haven't said out of that, so 17-16, the Pacers also out-rebounded Oklahoma City by 17. So if you look at that, you look across and say, wait a second, how did they do this, right? They're turning over the ball 30 times in a game, 19 in the first half, and they ended up with I think six or seven in the second half.

They're not taking as many shots. Where is the offense coming from? Oh, they out rebounded them by 17. You know what helped in out rebounding them by 17? Chet playing 23 minutes. Chet playing 23 minutes. Hartenstein playing 17 minutes. And is that a Rick Carlisle thing?

That's a Dagonal thing. A Dagonal thing, where he started off with Kacen Wallace. That's the first sign where I was just like, wait a second, man. Why were they adjusting to Indiana? You are the dominant 60-something win team. You've got the MVP. They're 80-something and 18 this year. What are you doing changing your starting lineup?

You change your lineup to us. We're not changing our lineup to you. Exactly. That's the first sign where I was like, that is kind of strange. But then look at Chet Holmgren's minutes, look at his line, look at Jalen Williams's line, and it's like, those two shouldn't be allowed

to wear the same clothes in that commercial anymore. Like they need to re-edit that commercial because they are not on the same page. That is not a big three. That is a big solo artist with a couple of helpers there. And Chet, I owe Cat an apology because I thought that in this series, Chet would be the version of Cat

that we all wanted to see in that series. No wasted stuff, just catch and shoot, maybe be some sort of a deterrent at the rim. And instead he gives you nothing. Well, the issue is nobody was at the rim for him to guard, right? Like that's, I think the issue where D Dagon is looking across and saying, okay, miles Turner doesn't play like a traditional big he's a post.

He's a post guy from like the elbow down. He made some big shots for that pull up. Yeah. And then he's got the pick and take that shot. It's got the pick and pop game. So you're going to have Chet basically out at the three point line. There's going to be no rim protector. They got Siakam. Who's kind of floating everywhere else. There's no traditional big or a guy like a Jaden McDaniels, like a guy who you can leave on an island and be like, all right, shoot threes. I don't care.

Indiana has everybody that can shoot from one to five. Chet had that first drive against Miles. And I said out loud in the living room, Miles can't guard him. They should be able to do that all day long. He didn't have to. He didn't finish again. I don't think he finished again trying to drive past him.

Yeah, but he didn't get the opportunities. I'm really fascinated by how Rick Carlyle uses Miles Turner. The rotations are very interesting and I'll be curious to see like the chess match between the coaches and you were talking about Indiana maybe looked a little nervous NBA finals, but keep in mind, OKC is also trying to get over that hump. This is a first-time NBA Finals appearance for Dagonal, and Carlisle's been here before. He's a veteran. He's learned from his mistakes. It's curious, considering how Indiana choked so many games away against the Boston Celtics in the playoffs, and now they're on the opposite side of it, having these improbable victories, being this team that you just cannot put away. They're a zombie team, Zez.

being this team that you just cannot put away, there are zombie teams as. Yeah, and I would also say, you know, the idea that it's the finals and, you know, these things can happen, I don't think so. Like, I think what we saw last night, just think about how many times in recent memory in the finals does something crazy happen? It's not that common.

Like last year, Celtics,Mavs, nothing crazy happened. The year before, Heat Nuggets, nothing crazy happened. Like maybe you go back to 2022, that game four, right? Steph Curry kind of saved the Warriors against the Celtics in the second half. Like that was kind of crazy, maybe didn't expect that. I mean, then before that, Heat Lakers in 2020. The Suns Bucks final was weird.

Like the final game in game six where Giannis had the 51- No the whole season. And the free throws. The finish was weird. That's like the most bastardized NBA season. People want to make fun of the bubble. Right, right. The season started in like December.

That was a weird year. It was way more affected. Way more affected by COVID. But otherwise, like what we saw last night, that doesn't happen in the finals. The finals are normally rather predictable games. Last night was crazy. Well, basketball used to be predictable.

Just in finals matchups. We never in our lives had to scan our brains. What was the NBA finals matchup there? Because it usually was, like a handful of teams. Yeah, that was an all-timer last night. Think about game six. At least in recent memory. Heath Spurs, 2013.

How over the game felt? Down five. Like you're down five with 30 seconds left. 28.2. The Pacers could win by 10 if they're down five with 30 seconds left. 28.2. Sorry, 28.2, my mistake.

We're gonna have Amin El-Hassin join us a little bit later. He was there, right? We're gonna have him join us and set the table for us at what that looked like and perhaps preview what game two might look like because I actually think I am gonna knee jerk to this. I am gonna be hyperbolic. That turnover stat was wild

because that disparity between the teams and turnovers, I don't think that's gonna be the case going forward in this series. And they just flat out, I don't wanna say they stole the game because they earned this one, but they shocked everybody. And I think we definitely have a series. I mean, no question they stole Homecourt Advantage,

and this is gonna be a good one. Of course. Well, it started, so. Oh, get out of here. Look, worst case scenario. You don't like that, that cliche? No. Why? It's the second worst cliche

that the series hasn't started yet until the road team wins the game. The worst cliche is when a team goes up 2-0, and the series is over. That's the absolute worst. And the second worst is- Get ready to learn that, pal, on Lord Stanley. The series hasn't started. Yeah, look, we obviously have a series because worst case scenario now, we get, you know, the Thunder win game two and game three. Worst case scenario,

you're going to game four with the home team a win away from making it 2-2. And then you know you're locked into a long series, potentially seven. Like, we are, this is a very, very juicy series. Can I ask Tony a question? Yes. No. All right, nevermind, let's move on. Damn.

Hold the umbrella. Tony, when did the push-off become a move? Like I was watching this one clip of SGA and it was on the baseline and it was, look how much separation SGA gets with this step back. The answer is Tatum. Well no, is that when it happened? No, Michael Jordan.

No, well. See. No, but it was so odd when Jordan did it. Everybody pointed out, it's like whoa, look what he did right there. He cheated. That one was even more of a push-off because it was, you know, here, take your hand. It was like odd when Jordan did it. Everybody pointed out, it's like, whoa, look what he did right there. He cheated. That one was even more of a push off because it was here, take your hand.

It was like a push by almost. But it wasn't a move. He was using the inertia and the momentum to cheat. It's like judo. I'm going to use your momentum against you. You've seen that clip of Steven Seagal kicking all those people's asses, and he's not even really moving. You're like, hey, is this Reg?

No, he just knows how to manipulate inertia. It used to be where the extension gets you the call. Full extension. Full extension gets you the call. But now guys have just gotten so good at getting that thrust without the extension and really just pushing off and then creating the space. And to me, that's not a move.

That is still an offensive foul. You're just using your own strength to push the guy off, even if you don't extend all the way. It's the same thing. The same thing happened to Caruso when he had the and one. He clearly, I don't know if it was Miles Turner, if it was Siakam or somebody else, he clearly went into it with the shoulder,

got bumped back and then made the and one. I'm gonna answer that question by this, Iz the state the time that the push-off became an absolute you know amazing move is the same time where you can do a travel with two steps the step through is the other thing that's ruining that steps so you put go back what what where are you what what The Dan Leventar show with Stu Gotz is sponsored by Liquid IV All right So i'm getting ready for another beach weekend with the boys the finals game on the tv sun Maybe even some grilling if my brother doesn't burn the hot dogs again, which there's no guarantee

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Stugats. I would die. I don't know where it is. This is the Dan Lebatard Show with the Stugats. We're going to talk more NBA finals with Amin in a little bit. We have an abbreviated show here. Roy, you got a big watch party tonight for game two of the Stanley Cup Final. I want to talk about this game and how nervous everybody is, but first, get your promo off. All right.

The Hockey Show is hosting a live watch along at the Dead Flamingo. If you are in the area, you guys can come by and support us and watch the game with us. If you are not in the area, you can watch online with us live. That's game two of the Stanley Cup Final between the Panthers and the Orlers tonight at eight o'clock. Chris Cody, hold your hand out.

Let me see if it's shaking. You still? A little bit. It is shaking a little bit. It is shaking. I mean, I don't want it to be shaking. I feel like the Panthers have been here. I feel like the fan base is way more nervous

about this than the players are. So that makes me feel better. You see this playoff beard? Yeah. You see this thick, luscious playoff beard on my chin? It's not going away. It's not gonna go away if they go down 2-0. We've been here before.

If we go down 2-0, I'm going to be soiling myself. The only time this thing leaves is if we go down 2-0, we've been here before. If we go down 2-0, I'm going to be soiling myself. The only time this thing leaves is if we go down 3-0, because then we're pulling the reverse move of what Edmonton failed to do last. At least we'll have that in our back pocket if we were to go down 3-0 of, hey, maybe we'll just do what they did. I like how you're talking.

1-0 is nothing. I don't like how you're talking. Look, man, I wanna put on a brave face right now, but Edmonton looks good, so do we. We win tonight, I'll be back, but right now I'm a look man, I wanna put on a brave face right now, but Edmonton looks good, so do we. We win tonight, I'll be back, but right now I'm a little scared, I'm gonna be honest. Does that make me feel better? Listen, if their biggest issue is

the Panthers looked kinda tired in the third period in overtime, they'll be fine. They'll get over that, they're not gonna be tired. I just worry that we wasted, of these first two games, in my mind it It was gonna be Hopefully we steal one we probably get blown out one and I'm fearing that we blew our chance at the close game and that this One says make me feel better. Yeah, I don't see it that way at all. I like when the Panthers Start the series on the road, which by the way these last three post seasons almost every series they play they start on the road Well, not last year two out last year, two out of three.

Right, but the year before that, all of them, and in this year also all of them. Yeah, yeah. So I love when they start the series on the road, because the way that I look at it is, do I think this Panther team can win one of the first three games? And certainly I think they can win one out of three,

and if that's the case, then okay, then you have a game four at home with a chance cut. Same thing. That's right. You know what, I do feel better. I instantly feel a little better. I only need to win one of three. Thank you for shifting the paradigm. But I'm talking about, you know, a Stanley Cup champion that only has to win one out of three for me to go into game four. Obvious pressure cooker, but at least I have confidence in my team in that spot.

So I'm not getting crazy after the one loss. I will say, that shit was devastating the other night. Like I was, I was devastating. We had him. I was in North Carolina. I've been in North, you guys know. God's country. I've been in North Carolina this past week, all right.

I didn't think that my team needed me to start this series. So I'm watching the game on Wednesday nights in the cabin in North Carolina. I felt good, they lose. I didn't think that my team needed me to start this series. So I'm watching the game on Wednesday night in the cabin in North Carolina. I felt good they lose. I wanted to kick a hole in the television. But then I remembered, okay, I don't own this cabin. That's gonna be costly.

I shouldn't do that. But what happened was I ended the vacation early. I ended the vacation early. That's right, the next day, which was yesterday, we were supposed to drive to Charleston, South Carolina. We had activities. We had excursions. Cancel them. We were going to stay overnight last night. We were supposed to come back today. Ah! We

got up in the morning. I said to my family, I said, we're going straight home today. And my wife's like, oh, what about Charleston? And my boy's like, oh what about, we're gonna go see a doll. I go, what about the Panthers? What about the Panthers? And they saw the look in my eyes and they knew, all right, he's leading us. And they got in the car with me,

we drove straight home, we didn't even stop. You have to be. One stop. One tank. No stopping. One tank of gas. No stopping. I told my son, yeah, the gas tank, it's in lies a little bit. You have to pee. One stop. No bathroom base. One tank of gas. No stopping.

I told my son, yeah, the gas tank, it lies a little bit. They want you to get more gas. You can drive straight through it. I told my 16-year-old son, he said he has to go to the bathroom. I said, you got an empty water bottle, right? Yeah, that's right. He learned how to do that.

We've all done it before. He learned how to do that in the backseat of the car. We drove. Never with the rest of the family in the car. That was an experience. We drove straight. with the rest of the family in the car. Well, that was an experience. We drove, my younger son, after my older one, you know, peed in the bottom, my younger one looking, what the fuck?

Anyway, we drove straight through. We drove all the way home because, why? Your team needed you. Because my team needed me. So I'm back, baby. All right, we're winning. We're winning. Roy, I haven't seen any possible adjustments.

I don't know, the lines haven't checked out daily face-off. Any adjustments from Paul Maurice here for game two? I know a lot of people are upset just because of the mistake the fourth line made. I can't believe so. I haven't seen any lineup adjustments or anything like that. They haven't had morning skate yet, so we'll see once they get on the ice.

I can't imagine they would change anything. Like calling for Noschek to not be in the line, ah, come on, fourth line's been very good. He made a bad mistake. I don't even know who you would place him. If you were gonna place him with Greer or Samus Kavich, those aren't centers. Sturm, right? Oh, I guess Sturm, but Sturm's been bad in the playoffs.

No, actually, no, I think that's a misnomer. He's one of just a couple minuses on the team. Yeah, but he's often penalty killing. That's like, you have to apply that contact. No, but you don't get plus or minus on power on special teams. Oh, really? No. No, no, no.

Oh, really? Don't you feel like if it wasn't- I'm an idiot. You're not an idiot. I didn't know that, for real. Why wouldn't you? Because it's not fair. Extra man.

Okay. It's like in baseball, sacrifice. It shouldn't count against you. All right, I get that. I did miss Kevin Stenland, because Kevin Stenland would never shoot that book. One of these? Yeah, he would give him one of these and one of those,

and he would never give them one of those dumbass penalties over there. There's nothing to change. You don't think so? Nah, there's nothing to change. I mean, we have a pretty talented winger that's not dressing. Yeah, but clearly the coach sees

that he's not ready for this. He felt he wasn't ready for this in round one. This is Stanley Cup Finals now. what about Mackie for Jesper I mean isn't he one game away from having a great fill-in game for for Reinhardt a couple games away like Jesper wasn't good in game one I don't I don't hey he had a chance in overtime there's a reason why that miskevich has not gotten in that's what I feel yeah is it defensive defensive also he's young and you want to go in with experienced guys. But he's such a talent.

The double rebound on the first goal, right? And then he had the one where he was screened a little by Sam. He still should have hung on to that one. To me, Bob has the typical game that he's gotten this postseason, and they win that in 3 to 1. He was still really good. He was, but he could have been spectacular. But Skinner was better.

Those three, they could have won it. The Skinner was better those three They could have won it Skinner was unbelievable that second goal the second goal though to me which made it 3-2 That was the biggest moment of the game because we it literally gave us no time To just bludgeon them with a two-goal lead two goal if you got a two-goal lead for a few minutes here We get into our game. We're doing our thing. Maybe it becomes a three goal lead. We had zero time to sit on that two goal lead. All of a sudden it's back to one goal. Edmonton's got all the momentum.

And then they get out of the period and we saw what happened in the third. That second goal was an absolute killer. Boys, I want to put my hand up and say it's my fault. No, no. Obviously you guys know my streak. If I'm watching the game, not good things happen. If I leave to go do something else good things happen, right? I was at my in-laws house over time starting and I'm like babe. We should go home babies starting to get it's late And so at that point it's almost midnight. I'm like babies asleep. We should just go home the Panthers will win if we leave now

She's like no, I want to watch the game. I'm. My father-in-law who's not aware of what happens when I leave. He's like, oh, why don't you just stay and watch the game? And I'm like, all right, baby's sleeping. Okay, I'll watch the game. I'll stay and watch the game. That's fine. All of a sudden, goal goes in.

I looked across the room and I said, I told you guys, if I would have left, we would have been fine. But I stayed. So I put my hand up. I blame Jenny. Is that, well. I mean, I got in a car. I drove 12 hours straight.

That's one tank. That's what I'm saying. So multiple car. I drove 12 hours straight. That's one tank. That's what I'm saying So multiple states so tonight if things get hairy car, I'm gonna step outside Maybe go for a walk see how the neighbors are doing come back Panthers before your kids have to hate the Panthers right like they're costing them vacation days Just because you want to sit there because you're not going to play they they ended up being totally okay with it So like once we're you know, we'll keep going right guys. Yeah, let's power through, you know, they were actually good with it How much of this is too much rest? We saw that coming off of the Tampa series going into Toronto They had plenty of rest. We can't do lots for us

Well, I got I had to break and then they were tired and right it can't be both They started the game with a two-one lead. Yes, absolutely. They only had one day advantage on Edmonton. Edmonton also won in five. I don't buy that. I was a little confused as to why Florida looked so tired given the break and then I realized,

oh, they've played more games than anybody over the last three years. Maybe that has something to do with it. And also, that team is really difficult to chase around. I don't know, that's awfully coincidental that all of a sudden they look tired. By the way, coming off of a weak rest, Maybe that has something to do with it. Also that team is really difficult awfully Coincidental that all of a sudden they look tired by the way coming off of a week rest But all of a sudden they finally look tired while they oh also happen to be playing the best other team And they flew out late as a little quince it flew out late. Yeah

Well, I mean who's coming up with these why are they doing that? Well, that's like their thing is day before travel day like they have the routine through all this I mean, I guess it's routine that it can's routine, then it can't be an excuse. Why is Gustav Forsling not as good anymore? That is the most baffling part of this. Every time he touches the puck, he gives it away. That first pair in game one was truly awful. Egg Vlad and Forsling, they did not do well at all

in that game. I mean, if Florida loses in the postseason, typically you can point your finger at number five, but he's not the worst defenseman on that pairing. The worst blue liners, Gustav Forssling, and I do not recognize what I've seen out of him. This guy was not just shut down. This was a guy that could have won the Con Smythe last season. This guy was one of our MVPs in that series against Connor McDavid's Edmonton Oilers,

because he would have to, on those own entries, he'd have to either fight through Lindell or Barkov, but then, if he went through all that, the last safety valve, Gustav Forsling would force him to an offside. He would just be in his hip pocket the entire game, the way that he was with Kuturov. In the first series of this postseason, Forsling was unbelievable, he was dynamite.

So he's either due to recover and have a good finish to this series, or he laid off the PEDs. Yes, well, I don't know about all that but I like it well as forestling although he does have the best body so I've heard on the team Gustav Forestling together I this team not to use it as line but go on. Look. I'm glad Amin's not here. Look, this team has been through so many adverse situations over the last years.

I get it that the Panther fan is up, I'm gonna be on the verge of projectile vomit the entire 60 minutes tonight, all right? So I'm not exempt from this. I'm good. I understand the Panther fan being super nervous based on what they saw. You think this shit's gonna be easy?

No. It's a Stanley Cup finals against a really good team and against the best player in the world. No, that's right That's good correction. No, but I'm telling you hockey people say finals like you watch I know it's final but it like I always thought it's a thing like Roy our whole hockey live you say finals He's like it's final. It's what like spitting chiclets like they're always just like saying final I'm talking about multiple Stanley Cup final? No, I think it's just one of those things where it just makes sense to put the s there Oh, I just after and that was a quote. I'm the one who said it was a devastating loss the other night I be it was devastated on several fronts. Obviously you felt like you were gonna win that game, but they were 29 to know that streak is over with a lead after any period in

the postseason these last three years that streaks over it also happened on a two goal lead and the comeback came in the third period where the Panthers have been known to punish you so it was a and losing an overtime in the Stanley Cup playoffs where it's it literally it feels like sudden death it's the worst so what were you what would you have slept like if they won that game versus Stanley Cup playoffs where it's literally it feels like sudden death. It's the worst What were you what would you have slept like if they won that game versus how you still be in Carolina? Be happy, but let's not look back we're only looking forward all right, and I'm here. I decided I got to get back here I I slept so poorly I had I guess you'd call this yeah I had what you guess you'd call them, yeah, I was like, I had what you would call nightmares, all right?

That's right, because I had dreams about the panties. I had nightmares, I had terrible, terrible sleep. I was miserable yesterday, but now you gotta pick yourself up, all right? You're allowed to be sad, you're allowed to be upset about it, you're allowed to be hurt. I was hurt yesterday, I was hurt, dog! You're allowed to be hurt for one day. You wake I was hurt, dog. You're allowed to be hurt for one day.

You wake up this morning, butch, butch off. I'm back. This is hard. You think it's gonna be easy? It was easy, anybody would do it. The journalist. That's peaceful. We're gonna be joined by me and Elhassen

in a few minutes, but there was a pretty big story yesterday. Tony, don't look now. Oh my God. It's time for a new game. Don't look now. Eyes closed everyone. I got my own from home.

Oh nice, is he? I can't see it, but. Not the only one who's got sheets and giggles. Whoa, whoa. Relax, buddy, relax. Scrub that, scrub that, scrub that. Supercharge that maze. All right, Chris. You've got something to read. Ah Don't look now presented by Smirnoff the world's number one vodka, please drink responsibly

Mike I'm glad that you mentioned the biggest news of yesterday because wait in sports are outside No, no in sports in sports. Okay, there's a family show sports whatnot. All right Sports and sports. Okay, there's a family show sports whatnot. All right Russell Wilson says he's not just a mentor for Jackson dart. He's a mentor for all Giants quarterback. I'm not gonna lie Mike This is one of the otter ways. I've seen someone cover their eyes How do you know how the hell do you know what yeah, what are you talking about? Roy are you looking? I'm looking at some notes on Roy, do not look. That's the whole point. I apologize. Sorry. Thank you. In other news quarterback news that is

Colts QB Anthony Richardson sideline with a shoulder injury. Yeah. Anthony Richardson hurt. Can you be sidelined in the summer? Speaking of sidelined in the summer, lions wide receiver. I'm on raw St Brown ice training camp after his surgery. Hmm. Tony, I gotta be honest. I'm really confused at the, uh, the order of your don't look now is why there's big news building down. But did I, did I, did I not give you huge news? Russell Wilson's not just a mentor to Jackson Dart mentor to all My mentor to all quarterbacks and Wilson's replacement

Russell Wilson's Bonix Pittsburgh Anthony Richardson sideline of the shoulder. Yeah, I got that one. You be news, right Mason Rudolph. Oh I an early batch. I see where you're going. Okay, Aaron Rodgers signs with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Don't look now. All right, you can look now. All right, so I have thoughts about this

and I know a lot of people have Aaron Rodgers fatigue. Do you think this was Pittsburgh saying, this is when we strike with this news dump, right here, we were waiting for this moment and it's during the, you know, these on the Epstein files, all that stuff was going on. Or do you think Aaron Rodgers was like, this is a perfect time for me to take the spotlight?

That everyone's thinking about what's going on on that social media platform. No, let's talk about Aaron Rodgers, because it was the biggest indicator that people are over this guy's act, is that I know there was a lot of stuff going on in the world at that time. Like I don't see opinions,

I don't see people really caring. I saw Colin Cowhert interrupted his vacation. Oh. And he's like, eh, they're third place in the division. Like it's- That's your take, you're gonna interrupt your vacation for a third place take?

He was interrupting his vacation to show Rogers how little it mattered Was that a beach like what was the setting he was he was on a beach chair. He was on a beach chair It was weird. He's like I'm gonna interrupt my vacation to show you how little this guy means to me But the clicks though, so as a recovering Browns So as a recovering Browns fan, as a former Browns fan, Pittsburgh was always a model of consistency. They've had three head coaches in their entire time. It's embarrassing for the Steelers.

They had Ben Roethlisberger, and while Ben Roethlisberger was there, you had literally a billion different Cleveland Brown starting quarterbacks. But since 2021, since Ben Roethlisberger left, this is the seventh starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. It's just hugely uncommon. Well, and next year it'll be eight because he's only signing a one-year deal.

I think three of them are Mason Rudolph. Like, I don't understand how Mason Rudolph is, did he ever leave? He's just always in Pittsburgh. From a football standpoint, this is probably the best name, certainly the most famous name, but this is probably the best quarterback that they've had try to replace Ben Roethlisberger. If you look at Russell Wilson's stats and you take into account the, because everybody was on this show, Stu Gotts was touting how Aaron Rodgers closed the season. Look at that, like he was playing garbage games, meaningless games against defenses

that had already checked out. Meanwhile, Russell Wilson was playing meaningful games against tough defenses, and their numbers were incredibly comparable. So I don't, while I assume this is gonna be an upgrade, I'm not exactly sure, and I'm kinda with the vacationing Colin Coward, which is like, this is a lot to make of a team

that's gonna finish third in the division. Which one do you think is more likely? That Aaron Rodgers comes in, figures things out quickly, creates a chemistry with this team, vibes with Mike Tomlin, and goes deep into the playoffs? Or Aaron Rodgers does the opposite of all those things, doesn't really vibe with his teammates, doesn't really vibe with Tomlin,

retires before training camp is over. Oh, he's not going to retire before. I think everything you just- Or before the season starts. No, he's not going to retire before the season starts. Scott, we want against the Jets. So which one is more likely? We want against the Jets. Give us that. Otherwise, what you said I agree with up until the point of he retires before the season starts.

I just- It's more likely than him going on a deep playoff run. The arrogance of him to be able to come in here after what he just showed off. And if he does pull off an impressive run with this Steelers team, I would argue it has more to do with the organization in itself because the Jets were a shit show and you obviously saw what happened when he was there. But Pittsburgh is going to have its stuff together. If he can fall in line, they'll be okay. But I think it's more of a statement on the organization than him.

I mean, from a personnel standpoint, what he had with the Jets last year, I know their defense kind of fell off a cliff. And we always talk about defense to defense, year over year metrics are not always the most safe bets. He had a lot of talent on offense. On offense, they had incredible talent, right? They got Devonte Adams halfway through the season.

They've got a dynamic running back, two running backs that are really good. They got dynamic receivers. You're looking at the personnel here in Pittsburgh. You got DK. Jalen Warren at running back, who again is good, smaller guy, could get hurt. You got DK.

Then your second and third wide receivers are Robert Woods and Calvin Austin the third. Bobby Trees. Bobby Trees. But you're looking at that and saying, OK, we've got DK and not much else. Robert Woods is still out here doing it. I think he's in Texan.

Here's my sneaky take. I think that this is a good move for them. And he is very quietly uber conservative, not politically speaking, in how he approaches the game. And all Mike Tomlin needs is a quarterback that's just going to move the ball a little bit, maybe make one deep shot, and not turn the ball over. I think Aaron Rodgers is totally capable of that. I think this is an upgrade for a team that's still going to finish third in the division.