Overview of PMS 2.0 1547 - Sports Wednesday
Pat McAfee and the crew covered a packed sports day centered on the NBA playoffs, NHL playoffs, NFL offseason news, golf, baseball, and a few big-picture debates about how sports leagues are evolving. The show mixed game analysis with interviews from Ian Rapoport, Kendrick Perkins, Cameron Young, Gary Bettman, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Shams Charania.
NBA Playoffs: Thunder Roll, LeBron Debate, and Injury Updates
Lakers vs. Thunder
- Oklahoma City blasted the Lakers in Game 1, reinforcing how dominant and physical the Thunder have been all year.
- The panel emphasized that Luka Doncic’s absence is a massive loss for the Lakers, while OKC is also missing Jalen Williams, making the Thunder’s depth even more impressive.
- LeBron’s postgame comments were framed as a realistic acknowledgment that the Lakers simply do not have the scoring punch to keep up.
LeBron vs. Jordan
- The crew revisited the perennial LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan debate.
- The discussion leaned toward:
- Jordan being the greatest in the “classic” version of the game.
- LeBron being the greatest player many of them have watched live in their lifetime.
- Darius Butler and others argued that the two are essentially “different sports” across eras, but agreed both are all-time greats.
SGA and “flopping”
- The panel debated whether Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is embellishing contact or simply playing the modern foul-drawing game.
- Kendrick Perkins defended SGA’s approach, saying great scorers have always drawn fouls and that the Thunder’s overall dominance is the bigger story.
Injury news
- Joel Embiid was ruled out for the Knicks-Sixers game with hip and ankle issues.
- Anthony Edwards was praised for playing through injury and returning quickly after his knee scare.
- Iowa guard? No—this was actually Jalen? The transcript briefly referenced Io DeSumo returning for his game after a big performance against Denver.
NFL Offseason: Refs, Diggs, Mahomes, Rodgers
NFL referees nearing a deal
- Ian Rapoport reported that the NFL and the NFL Referees Association have advanced far enough in negotiations to schedule a ratification vote.
- The crew treated this as a major positive:
- It likely avoids replacement refs.
- It should improve officiating through more training, accountability, and offseason reps.
- It matters even more in the era of sports betting and the league’s massive public visibility.
Stefon Diggs
- Rapoport said Stefon Diggs was found not guilty on all charges in his public court case.
- The expectation is that Diggs should now have a real market in free agency, with teams viewing him as still highly productive and potentially available at the right price.
Patrick Mahomes
- Mahomes is rehabbing his knee injury and could be ready for OTAs, but that does not guarantee full readiness for the season.
- The Chiefs are being cautious and will likely manage him carefully.
Aaron Rodgers
- Rapoport said Arizona is not likely for Aaron Rodgers.
- If Rodgers plays, the expectation is still Pittsburgh.
NHL Playoffs and Gary Bettman Interview
Avalanche dominance
- The Avalanche were portrayed as one of the most physically imposing and offensively overwhelming teams in the playoffs.
- The crew repeatedly described Colorado as a team that is not just winning, but beating teams up while scoring at will.
Bettman on the league’s rise
Gary Bettman discussed why the NHL is thriving:
- Playoff ratings and regular-season viewership are up significantly.
- The league is benefiting from:
- better on-ice product,
- better access through ESPN/TNT,
- increased exposure from events like the Four Nations tournament and the Olympics,
- and the league’s competitive balance.
Officiating in hockey
- Bettman explained how NHL refs are recruited and trained:
- combines,
- skates and clinics,
- development through the ECHL and AHL,
- and heavy video review and accountability.
- The crew praised the NHL for a strong officiating pipeline and contrasted it favorably with the NFL’s ref situation.
Playoff format and growth
- Bettman defended the current playoff format and said the league does not need to return to 1-through-8 seeding.
- He emphasized that the current setup creates compelling series and late-season races.
Golf: Cameron Young’s Rise and the LIV/PGA Situation
Cameron Young on confidence and winning
- Fresh off major success, Young said winning has helped confirm that his process works.
- He credited his family and support system for helping him stay grounded.
Self-called rules moment
- Young discussed the ball-moving incident from his win, making clear he did not try to gain an advantage.
- He was praised for calling attention to it himself, which the crew framed as a great example of golf integrity.
LIV Golf and PGA Tour reintegration
- Young said he’d rather compete against the best players more often.
- He was open to LIV players returning, but made clear the process should be fair and not simply a free reset.
- The crew brainstormed jokingly about penalties or “earning it back,” including groundskeeping and other hazing-style ideas.
Baseball: Pete Crow-Armstrong and the Cubs
Cubs hot streak
- Pete Crow-Armstrong joined to talk about the Cubs’ 7-game winning streak and how fun it is to play at Wrigley when the team is rolling.
- He said the NL Central has become surprisingly strong and competitive.
Defense and advanced metrics
- PCA discussed defensive run-saving value and said he’s focused on doing the little baseball things well.
- He also described an impressive outfield play by another player as the kind of thing that gets overlooked but matters a lot.
Hitting approach and torpedo bats
- He admitted he likes to swing aggressively and sometimes chases more when he’s feeling good.
- He explained why he’s not sold on the torpedo bat, saying the altered sweet spot feels strange to him.
- The crew joked through bat dimensions and baseball equipment talk.
College Football: CFP Expansion and Conference Championships
- The American Football Coaches Association voted in support of:
- a 24-team playoff,
- eliminating conference championship games,
- and ending the season earlier in January.
- The crew noted this is more of a statement of preference than an actual change, since real decision-makers still have massive TV and money considerations to work through.
- They also discussed how much revenue conference title games bring in and how hard it would be to simply remove them.
Notable Themes and Takeaways
- Leagues are evolving: NFL refs, NHL officiating, college football structure, and PGA/LIV tensions all pointed to sports organizations trying to modernize.
- The playoffs are the center of attention: NBA and NHL postseason action drove most of the energy.
- Integrity still matters: Cameron Young’s self-call and the discussion around officiating both reinforced that sports culture still values doing things the right way.
- The young stars are here: Anthony Edwards, SGA, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Cameron Young were all presented as part of the next wave of elite sports talent.