Should Losing Game One Rattle the Thunder?

Summary

PTI Episode Summary: Should Losing Game One Rattle the Thunder?

Release Date: May 6, 2025
Hosts: Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon
Podcast: PTI by ESPN

---

Introduction

In this episode of PTI, hosts Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon delve into the heated discussions surrounding the Oklahoma City Thunder's unexpected loss to the Denver Nuggets, exploring whether a Game One defeat should indeed unsettle the Thunder's championship aspirations. Alongside NBA playoff analyses, the duo touches on significant NBA and NHL events, providing listeners with in-depth insights and spirited debates.

---

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets: The Rattle Effect

The episode opens with the recent clash between the Denver Nuggets and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite Oklahoma City having 18 more regular-season wins than Denver, the Thunder succumbed to a last-second three-pointer by Aaron Gordon, prompting a debate on the psychological impact of this loss.

Michael Wilbon initiates the conversation:

“[01:02] Mike Wilbon: Like an earthquake rattling the dishes in your china cabinet? Yes, because they just blew it. And they blew it in so many different ways.”

Tony Kornheiser adds his perspective:

“[02:11] Tony Kornheiser: You have picked them to win the National Basketball Association championship since the beginning of the year... This is game one potential seven game series.”

Key Points:

• Strategic Missteps: Wilbon criticizes the Thunder's strategic errors and inability to capitalize on free throws.
• Coaching Decisions: The duo discusses Oklahoma City's coach, Mark Daigneault, questioning his decisions under pressure.
• Nikola Jokić's Performance: Tony highlights Jokić's impressive 42 points and 22 rebounds, pondering if voters for MVP would reconsider their choices after such performances.

Tony emphasizes:

“[03:35] Tony Kornheiser: Jokic pulls out and turns over his two hole cards and they're both aces... So if you voted today, would you change your vote?”

---

Knicks Upset the Celtics: A Case of What Went Wrong

Transitioning to the Knicks' victory over the Celtics, Tony and Mike dissect whether the upset was due to the Knicks' efforts or the Celtics' failures.

Tony remarks:

“[04:17] Tony Kornheiser: ...the story of this game is not about the Knicks, about Boston. It's about what Boston couldn't do, and that is hit shots.”

Highlighted Statistics:

• Celtics' Shooting Struggles: Only 15 out of 60 three-point attempts made (25% success rate).
• Third Quarter Performance: 19 of 20 shots taken were threes, leading to unsustainable scoring.

Mike questions:

“[05:05] Mike Wilbon: Is there a plan B? I saw the Houston Rockets lose a championship chance when they kept taking threes.”

Tony responds:

“[06:20] Tony Kornheiser: Now, they lost games last year doing this, but they did 16 and three in the playoffs.”

---

NHL Playoffs: Sam Bennett's Hit and the NHL Disposition

Shifting gears to the NHL, Tony and Mike discuss the controversial hit by Sam Bennett on Toronto Maple Leafs' goalie, Anthony Stolarz.

Tony comments on the incident:

“[07:06] Tony Kornheiser: In last night's Florida Toronto game... Bennett cuts Stolars down, leading to an injury without penalty.”

Michael offers his take:

“[07:20] Mike Wilbon: It was intriguing. Sam Bennett’s actions seemed sneaky but not egregious given playoff hockey's nature.”

Later, they feature insights from PK Subban, who downplays the severity of the hit, likening it to everyday hockey plays.

“[11:20] PK Subban: ...playing his seventh consecutive game... Anthony Stolarz's presence impacts the game dynamics.”

---

Stanley Cup Playoffs and Team Analyses

The hosts elaborate on various Stanley Cup playoff matchups, emphasizing team strategies, player performances, and coaching decisions.

Key Discussions:

• Washington Capitals vs. Hurricanes: PK Subban advocates for Washington, citing their defensive prowess and Alex Ovechkin's enduring performance.

  “[13:16] PK Subban: ...Washington Capitals are better defensively and Alex Ovechkin still looks like father. Time hasn't touched him.”

• Vegas Golden Knights vs. Edmonton Oilers: The challenges Connor McDavid faces against the experienced Vegas defense.

  “[14:14] PK Subban: ...Vegas Golden Knights are built for playoff hockey... Connor McDavid's performance is critical.”

• St. Louis Blues vs. Winnipeg Jets: Reflecting on the Blues' heartbreaking loss in Game Seven due to defensive lapses.

  “[15:37] PK Subban: ...devastating for them... Winnipeg's composed performance despite missing key players.”

---

Notable Highlights and Player Performances

Throughout the episode, Tony and Mike highlight exceptional player performances and memorable game moments across different sports.

NBA Highlights:

• Cameron Hayward's Milestone: Celebrating his 88.5 career sacks, placing him second among Steelers' all-time leaders.

  “[19:23] Tony Kornheiser: Cameron Hayward has more sacks than Hall of Famers like Mean Joe Greene.”

MLB Moments:

• Outfield Assist by O'Neil Cruz: Comparing Cruz's swift throw to legendary Roberto Clemente for a crucial out.

  “[21:44] Tony Kornheiser: Roberto Clemente, right fielder... But this kid was a shortstop.”

Historical References:

• Kerry Wood's 20-Strikeout Game: Tony reminisces about Wood's remarkable rookie performance, one of only four pitchers to achieve such a feat.

  “[20:40] Tony Kornheiser: ...one of the four pitchers ever to get 20 strikeouts in one game.”

---

Closing Thoughts

As the episode wraps up, Tony and Mike offer their predictions for ongoing and upcoming playoff matchups, reiterating the importance of strategic adaptability and mental resilience in high-stakes games.

Tony concludes:

“[23:09] Mike Wilbon: The Cavaliers have to win this game... I'm gonna give them Game one.”

Mike adds:

“[23:27] Tony Kornheiser: And I'm Mike Wilbon. Same time tomorrow, knuckleheads.”

---

This episode of PTI provides a comprehensive analysis of pivotal moments in the NBA and NHL playoffs, enriched with expert opinions and statistical insights. Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon engage listeners with their knowledgeable and candid discussions, making it a must-listen for sports enthusiasts seeking depth and clarity on recent sporting events.

Transcript

[Mike Wilbon]

Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbon. It's National Teacher Day. Tony, if you were a teacher, what would be your subject?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm Tony Kornheiser. Geography with an intense focus on i95.

[Mike Wilbon]

No.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. And I can't imagine I would explain to the people that the Midwest is unimportant, completely unimportant, but that i95 is the cradle of civilization. That's pretty much what I would.

[Mike Wilbon]

Cradle of something.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm going straight up. I95 the next three days.

[Tony Kornheiser]

New York and Boston. Right?

[Mike Wilbon]

New York and Boston.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Mike Wilbon]

Happy to be there.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Enjoy that side of the. Enjoy it. Welcome to pti, boys and girls. In today's episode, the Knicks upset the Celtics. Sam Bennett sends Anthony Stolars out of the game. And PK Subban joins us for five good minutes. But we begin today with the Denver Nuggets going to Oklahoma City and beating the Thunder on a last second three by Aaron Gordon. Oklahoma City had 18 more wins than Denver in the regular season. Nikola Jokic had 42 points and 22 rebounds last night for Denver. Wilbourn, should this result rattle the Thunder.

[Mike Wilbon]

Like an earthquake rattling the dishes in your china cabinet? Yes, because they just blew it. And they blew it in so many different ways. There was strategical mistakes made. There was straight up choking on free throws. The worst thing of all to me, look, the Oklahoma City coach, Mark Dagnaut, he's been in like the top three coaches the last couple of years. This guy's a terrific coach. But when you see the best player in the world standing on the sideline at the scorers table and he can't get back in. Don't tell me what you always do. Do something different. Do something different. Even though he didn't figure into either the pass or the shot, the fact that he's not out there may rattle his own team into some mistake. You can't put him back in the game because you've got to foul in a backcourt two seconds after the. No, no, no, no, no, no. I don't want to hear that. And coaches only double down now on whatever they think and they say, oh, yeah, we had to do it this way. No, you didn't. They just. They were unimpressive, thoroughly unimpressive. And you know how much I love Oklahoma City.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You have picked them to win the National Basketball association championship since the beginning of the year. Look, this is game one potential seven game series. And you know that I feel that is usually the least important game of a series. But in this Case Denver came in tired. They had just gone seven against the Clippers. Oklahoma City was rested, they were playing at home. So yeah, I think they should be rattled. You know what else I think Boston should be rattled. I think Cleveland should be rattled. All three lost game ones at home. The most intriguing part of this series to me, as we discussed the other day, is Jokic. Yes, Jokic may be having real personal stake in this series. I know that you don't guard Gilgeous Alexander, but you're out there when he's out there. It's sort of a matchup situation. And Gilgeous Alexander is going to beat Jokic for mvp. You voted for him, for example. Okay, so by the end of that game last night, I looked at this and I thought that Jokic at the end, he pulls out and turns over his two hole cards and they're both aces, right? Because the other guy has 33 points and 10 rebounds and eight assists. And that's a lovely game. But it ain't 42 and 22 and it ain't 18 in the fourth quarter and you didn't win. So if you voted today, would you change your vote? And I think that may be motivational.

[Mike Wilbon]

You know what, Tony, also, how about the way he is engaging his teammates now during the timeouts, snatching the clipboard and really getting at it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, because they don't have the old coach.

[Mike Wilbon]

No, they don't. Be a collaboration. Doesn't there? Yes. Wow. The Nuggets beating the Thunder wasn't the only upset of the night. In the early game along I 95 people tell me the Knickerbockers came from 20 down in the third just as Tony was going night night.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yep.

[Mike Wilbon]

To beat the Celtics in OT. The Celtics missed 45 of 63 point attempts. So Tony, was this about what the Knicks did or what the Celtics failed to do?

[Tony Kornheiser]

So as you correctly predicted, I turned the game off. It's 20.

[Mike Wilbon]

You weren't the only one.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, millions of Americans turned the game off. It's over because it's 20 points in the third and Boston is at home and they've beaten the Knicks four out of four this year. So I assumed the game was over and I wanted to get on and do something in my life that was more productive. And I may have made a mistake. In hindsight, I may have made a mistake and I. I don't.

[Mike Wilbon]

Fabulous.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I don't want to denigrate the Knicks on any level because they play hard and they come at you all the time. But the story of this game is not about the Knicks, about Boston. It's about what Boston couldn't do, and that is hit shots. 60 threes. Count them, kids, 60 threes. And they made 15, so that's 25%. I got numbers here that are fascinating. 19 of the 20 shots they took in the third quarter were threes.

[Mike Wilbon]

That's insane.

[Tony Kornheiser]

34 of the 41 shots in the second half were threes. And they weren't making them their best two players, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum were 5 out of 25 from 3. Doesn't anyone on the bench, Mike, stand up and say, how about we go to the basket?

[Mike Wilbon]

How about we do something in the post game where Jaylen Brown talked very eloquently and practically about what we're saying? Is there a plan B? I saw the Houston Rockets lose a championship chance this way when they were like 1 for 30 something on threes, and they just kept taking them.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What are you doing?

[Mike Wilbon]

And you would say later, what do you think? Where's the Shoney? The Celtics are defiant. They won a championship like this last year, even though it seemed unlikely. And they come back at you and they say, here's what we're going to do, and we're going to do it no matter what. And they think they're better than the Knicks. Arrogance will get you in trouble.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, then you lose that game.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Now, they lost games last year doing this, but they did 16 and three in the playoffs. 16 and three. So I'm not getting. I'm not getting off the Celtics on the road now. Well, thank you for mentioning the word road, because they're 33 and 8 on the road so they can beat New York in New York. But if you were saying to me that the key phrase is plan B. Absolutely. There was no plan B.

[Mike Wilbon]

No. Or there was. Nobody went to it. But I'm just looking at, you know, I told you at the beginning of the year, the two things I said not. I'm still alive on both of them, unlike my bracket and the NCAAs. I'm terrible. I told you. I think the league is too good for Boston to repeat.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I understand.

[Mike Wilbon]

I know they want to do something. Larry, Joe Bird.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But you don't have them going out to the.

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm sorry.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Don't have them going out to the Knicks. No. Okay.

[Mike Wilbon]

But you got to go through a lot of stuff. And if you give away games and you have energy and people get sick, your boy or you turn an ankle, you cannot afford to give away games.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Even one of The NBA and move to hockey in last night's Florida Toronto game. Toronto won the game 5, 4, but lost their starting goalie, Anthony Stolars, in the second period after Sam Bennett elbowed Stolars in the head, Stolars began to vomit and was taken to a hospital. Bennett was not penalized in the game, and reports today say he will not face further discipline. Wilbon, what did you see, Tony?

[Mike Wilbon]

When I see it and now, I didn't see it live last night because I was so into basketball, but I've seen it now a dozen times, and it looks fairly innocent. The result was not. When a guy's vomiting, that sounds like all the classic concussion symptoms, does it not? But in live time, when you look at it, there's contact. There's contact on every single movement. In hockey, particularly playoff hockey, aren't goalies.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Supposed to be a little bit more protective?

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah, but it wasn't like he was coming at him. He was.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He elbowed him to the head.

[Mike Wilbon]

Okay. I mean, his elbow sticks out. You get a piece of him, and maybe it's a penalty. But did I see this as something egregious, given the contact in playoff hockey? I didn't.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. So to me, the irony in this is so obvious. Last year, Stolars was a member of the Florida panel.

[Mike Wilbon]

They're teammates.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He and Bennett were teammates. Bennett said today, we're good friends.

[PK Subban]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And do you remember last year when Bennett punched Brad Marshall in the face and he. And he couldn't play for two games? You know where he is now? He's in Florida with Sam Bennett. And they're probably really good players.

[Mike Wilbon]

Also, this is Florida. This is their thing.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is what I want to get to. They are a terrific team. They won the Stanley cup, and the year before, they got to the Stanley cup finals. But whenever we talk about them, we talk about how tough they are, we talk about them putting people out of the game. Sam Bennett, all the clips I saw of him today, he was a little bit sneaky in what he did. And I'm thinking to myself, maybe they're like the NHL equivalent of the Detroit Pistons, bad boys from some years back. But maybe also, Mike, maybe the referees ought to look a little more closely at them.

[Mike Wilbon]

Well, you have to. You have to put in the referee's hands, because teams, usually, almost none of them have enforcers anymore. So it's not like you can send a guy onto the ice and say, you know what? You lined Bennett up.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let me just say that that doesn't.

[Mike Wilbon]

Exist in the main I was the.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Statistic today that in the last 14 games that Stolar started for Toronto, they won 12 of them, which would make him sort of essential. Make him maybe targeted. Maybe. I'm just saying maybe motivation. Let's take a break. Coming up, we will ask PK Suban, Hockey Zone about Bennett's elbow and what the win means to Toronto.

[Mike Wilbon]

We'll also ask him whether he expects Alex Ovechkin in the caps and Connor McDavid in the Oilers to advance. Play starts tonight.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Are you surprised that now three for three home teams have lost in the NBA? Yes. Yeah. Three for three.

[Mike Wilbon]

Is Minnesota gonna lose tonight?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Pardon the interruption is brought to you by UFC315 Saturday buy now at espnplus.com PPV.

[Commercial]

Lowe's helps refresh your garden in time for Mother's Day. Right now get five bags of one and a half cubic foot Scott's Naturescapes Mulch for just ten dollars plus select one and a half gallon annuals. Hanging baskets make the perfect gift. Now two for only fifteen dollars. The best garden starts with great deals. Lowes we help you save. Valid through 5 7. Selection varies by location while supplies last. Discount taken at time of purchase.

Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. I don't know if you knew this, but anyone can get the same premium wireless for 15 doll plan that I've been enjoying. It's not just for celebrities. So do like I did and have one of your assistant's assistants switch you to Mint Mobile today. I'm told it's super easy to do.

[Tony Kornheiser]

@Mintmobile.Com Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month Required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees, extra fee, full [e-mail] let's get back into the Stanley cup playoffs with our great friend ESPN HA. Analyst PK Subban. Pk, let's start with this. How did Sam Bennett's hit on Leafs goalie Anthony Stolar sit with you? And why does Bennett get off the hook so frequently?

[PK Subban]

Well, first of all, I thought it was just kind of an everyday hockey play. He's driving the net. He happens to catch a part of Anthony Stolar's. Do I believe that he went in there knowing that he wasn't going to touch him? Probably not. But that's playoff hockey. You got to drive the net. And I believe Sam Bennett when he says that Stoley's my buddy and I don't want to see him in the hospital. You know, I Didn't think that that was anything egregious at all. I thought it was just fine.

[Mike Wilbon]

It was intriguing. It was certainly that. We're gonna move to the Panthers, of course. Head coach Paul Maurice said that this Leafs team is more patient and more mature than past versions, which I'm sure people in Toronto would like to hear. Is that how you see it?

[PK Subban]

I definitely feel that there's a different feeling around this team, and I think it starts with Craig Berube. I think they've taken on that identity of him. You know, Craig played with a lot of truculence, and, you know, he answered the bell every time he was asked. So I wouldn't expect any of his players to step out on the ice and do anything differently. But I will say this when I. When I talk about patience. We'll go back to the first question you guys asked me about Anthony Stolarz. I saw something about him playing his seventh consecutive game, which was maybe the most he's played in his career. One thing to know about all three goaltenders for Toronto, they're all inexperienced. None of these guys have this huge body of work. Bobrovsky has been down this road before. He's been pulled in the playoffs. He's used to handling all this workload in this game. So that's something to pay attention to. And I want to see if the Leafs are still patient now that Joseph Wall's in there and Stola as their number one goalie is not. You know, we'll see how they respond to that.

[Mike Wilbon]

PK2 series start tonight. Canes take on the Capitals. Tony's in a frenzy already. And the Oilers face the Golden Knights. Do you like these matchups for the Caps and the Oilers?

[PK Subban]

For the Oilers, I think it's a challenge. You know, Connor McDavid is used to playing in the west and seeing the Vegas Golden Knights, but I don't think there's a team in this Stanley cup playoffs that's built better than the Vegas Golden Knights are for playoff hockey. They got those trees back there, and I'm telling you guys, they're like the oak trees that you see when you go across the border to Canada. You know, those big maple trees that you get that got the big maple syrup? That's what their D are like. They're huge back there. They eat up so much time and space. And Connor McDavid's going to have to fight for that real estate. He's going to have to fight for time and space through the neutral zone. You know, he wants to play with the puck. But Jack Eichel, he's going to see a lot of Jack Eichel's line and Barbashev the whole playoffs. So he's got his work cut out for him. But you guys know this guy's box office. He elevates his game. He's going to have to elevate it in a big way. You know, they're not, they don't have L A, that's an inexperienced team. Vegas is an experienced team that's won before that knows that they got to attend to defense first against Edmonton. So that's what he's up against. As far as the other series go, I got Washington winning that series for this and for this, only number one, Vegas picked the Hurricanes. I can't believe it. I don't understand what's going on at espn Bet with the, with the things I would not have done, I would not do that because I think the Washington Capitals are better in that. I think that maybe a lot of that stuff is happening because of Washington's defense. They're missing Ferravare, which is a big piece, but it's been how they play as a five man unit is why they've been great so defensively and why Alex Ovechkin doesn't look out of place there. You know, with the game being at its fastest that it's ever been, Alex Ovechkin still looks like father. Like father. Time hasn't touched him. There's a reason for that. That's coaching. So for me, I'm relying on the coaching of Spencer Carberry for the Washington Capitals to get that done. And their goaltending, we know they can score goals, we know they got skill. But for that reason, reason alone, I went with Washington.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We will get you out of here on this. And it's something that has really resonated on this show even though it happened a couple of days ago. The St. Louis Winnipeg ending. The Blues would have been in this round if they hadn't given up two goals to the jets in the last two minutes of regulation game seven. Then they lost in double overtime. If you were on the St. Louis Blues, if you were an active player there, how would you deal with this collapse?

[PK Subban]

It's gotta be devastating for them. And you know, when I look at the St. Louis Blues and what they did to their defense, right, they bring in Ryan Suter, who's at the end of his career, who's a journeyman, a veteran player who literally has been a shutdown defenseman, one of the best of our time in my generation. Cam Fowler, who's a veteran defenseman, they got Justin Falk back there, so it's not like they're D. They don't have any veterans back there. They pick up Broberg, who any team would have in their top four. So their defense looked great. I don't know what happened. They went up two nothing. And this team has played every minute of that series like it was their last. But something happened in game seven as that series went on. The Winnipeg jets and Scott O'Neal, you got to give him credit how he coached that team to be composed. Missing Mark Scheifele for those last two games. For them to be that composed after their number one goaltender, MVP candidate, Vesna Trophy nominee, gets pulled three times in this series. For them to have that composure and see Perfetti step up, this is a young player. This is a guy with not a whole lot of Stanley cup experience or playoff experience doing that against St. Louis defense, it's gotta be devastating. A lot of guys losing sleep this summer. But, you know, I think for a team that added a lot of players this offseason and during the season, getting a new coach, it was a positive season for them, but a devastating way to end. And I'm not sure how you reflect on a first round loss like that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's brutal.

[Mike Wilbon]

It's absolutely.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I mean, as a fan, as just somebody watching who didn't play it, it's brutal. Pk, thank you so much as always. Thank you.

[PK Subban]

Thank you. All right, Tony, I might see you on that podcast tomorrow.

[Mike Wilbon]

All right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Fantastic.

[PK Subban]

Coming on. I think I'm gonna. Come on.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Fantastic. Tonight's playoff doubleheader is on ESPN starting at 7pm Eastern. Let's take one last break. Still to come, Pirate center fielder O'Neill Cruz does something he has never done before.

[Mike Wilbon]

And the warriors and Wolves start their series tonight. The best series, even though Tony doesn't know it. Which team?

[Commercial]

Hey, I'm Brad Milkey. You may know me as the host of ABC Audio's daily news podcast. Start here. But I'd like to add aspiring true crime expert to my resume. And here's how I'm gonna make it happen. Every week, I'm gonna unpack the biggest true crime story that everyone is talking about. ABC's got some unique access here, so I'll talk to the reporters and producers who have followed these cases for months, sometimes years. We'll bring you the latest developments and the larger context on the true crime stories you've been hearing about. Follow the crime scene for special access to the people who know these stories best.

Rapper Sean Diddy Combs was a kingmaker. He had wealth, fame and power. Until it all came cracking, crashing down.

Federal investigators raiding two homes owned by hip hop mogul Sean Diddy Combs.

I'm Brian Buckmire, an ABC News legal contributor. As Diddy heads to trial, we trace his remarkable rise and fall. And what could be next? Listen to Bad Rap the Case Against Diddy, a new series from ABC Audio. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Pardon the Interruption is brought to you by Popeyes. Love that chicken from Popeyes. Happy time people. Happy 36th birthday. Cameron Hayward, the Steelers defensive tackle is the son of Craig Ironhead Hayward. Drafted near the end of the first round in 2011 out of Ohio State, Hayward has been with the Steelers his entire career. He has made the Pro bowl seven times.

[Mike Wilbon]

Wow.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He has 88 and a half career sacks, which is second all time among Steelers to T.J. watt, who has 108. So Cameron Hayward has more sacks than hall of Famers Mean Joe Green, Jack Lambert and Jack Hamm. More sacks than L.C. greenwood and Andy Russell, Dwight White, James Harrison, Joey Porter. I admit Mike, this surprised me. Does it surprise you?

[Mike Wilbon]

Absolutely, yes. But then you got to think of one thing. Thing. Quarterbacks. For most of those guys, all the Steel Curtain guys, they threw like 14 passes a game, not 50. Okay, so there's so many more chances now to get sacks, right?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Fair.

[Mike Wilbon]

Seems trying to justify it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Happy Anniversary. Kerry Wood. On this day 27 years ago, the Cubs 20 year old rookie pitcher in only his fifth career start to a one hit, no walk, 20 strikeout, shutout of the Astros at. Rick, you may remember this, Mike, I'm sure you do. People looked at Wood and they thought, here's the next Ferguson Jenkins. Wood was rookie of the year with a 13. 6 record and a 340 ERA. But Wood was never that good again. He pitched 14 seasons. He made two All Star teams, but at the end his record was 86 75. Wood is one of only four pitchers ever to get 20 strikeouts in one game. And the others are Max Scherzer, Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens.

[Mike Wilbon]

Twice hall of Famers all. Wood and Pryor were supposed to deliver us. They came oh so close in 2003. Oh so close. And then it just fell apart. It just went away. I cannot tell you the disappointment of that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Happy trails to runs for the Mets and the Cardinals. We had a pair of impressive throws to the plate last night. Corbin Carroll of the Diamondbacks fielded a fly ball off the bat. Offense Francisco Lindor and threw out Tyrone Taylor trying to score from third. But the Mets won anyway. In St. Louis, former shortstop O'Neil Cruz picked up his first career outfield assist ever, gathering a fly ball in center and then throwing a 100 mile an hour one hopper to nab Victor Scott II of the Cardinals at the plate. The Pirates, alas, also lost.

[Mike Wilbon]

That is the most exciting play in baseball. Play at the plate. And when it's coming from an outfield throw. Not a bang bang play from the hot corner home. No, no, no. Outfield throw. You want to see who reminds you a little bit of Roberto Clemente. If you're of a certain age.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Roberto Clemente, right fielder. One of the great guns of all time. Roberto Clemente. But this kid was a shortstop.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And they moved him at 100 miles an hour.

[PK Subban]

Really?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'd be Roberto. Like. That's pretty fast, isn't it?

[Mike Wilbon]

Amazing.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let's go to the big finishes.

[Mike Wilbon]

Let's do it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Kenny Atkinson of the Cavs. NBA Coach of the Year. I assume you agree, Terr.

[Mike Wilbon]

But J.B. bickerstaff inherited a cadaver. Kenny Atkinson inherited a playoff team that was in the second round last year.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That fired J.B. bickerstaff.

[Mike Wilbon]

He did a great job, but he didn't. Not my vote.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right.

[Mike Wilbon]

Derby winner Sovereignty will not run the Preakness. Explain this load management to me.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I can't. Because the Triple Crown is based on the Derby. Two WEEKS later the Preakness three WEEKS later Belmont how can you not want to run the Triple Crown? You're the only horse that can win it. Yes. How can you not want to go for that?

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm very down. I'm not watching. The Preakness.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The Islanders won the NHL Draft Lottery despite odds of just 3.5%. Your reaction?

[Mike Wilbon]

It's fine. But the Sharks, you know, deserve. And the Blackhawks deserve. They were worse. They deserve to be here. I gotta buy this. The A's are just one game back of the Mariners in the AL West. You gotta be surprised by that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I am surprised. They are playing in a minor league stadium and I assume that they were a minor league team as they have.

[Mike Wilbon]

Been and they're not.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They are much better than they've been.

[Mike Wilbon]

Better in Sacktown, baby.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Last one. Warriors, Wolves, game one. Pacers, Cavs, Game two tonight. Who you got?

[Mike Wilbon]

The Cavaliers flat out have to win this game. They do. They're at home. They lost game one. The teen Wolves have been rested and waiting on this. And Ant Man's waiting on the Warriors. I'm gonna give them Game one. I'm not talking about the series, just game on.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We're out of time. We will try to do better the next time. I'm Tony Kornheiser in the studio.

[Mike Wilbon]

And I'm Mike Wilbon. Same time tomorrow, knuckleheads. You can get the PTI podcast on the ESPN app.