Local Hour: The Die-Die-Dayenu Game

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Local Hour: The Die-Die-Dayenu Game

Date: April 14, 2026
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami
Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, Mike Ryan, Greg Cody, Roy, Zaz, and Jeremy (on location)

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Episode Overview

The Local Hour dives deep into the Miami Heat’s “win-or-go-home” Play-In clash against the Charlotte Hornets, blending the existential angst of long-suffering sports fans with the show’s signature blend of satire, nostalgia, and South Florida flavor. The crew debates whether Miami should win or lose, reminisces about the Heat and Hornets’ intertwined histories, celebrates memorable Miami sports moments (and statues), and invents the “Die-Die-Dayenu Game”—a comedic riff mixing sports fatalism with the Jewish concept of gratitude (“Dayenu”). The episode is thick with local color, running jokes, and basketball soul-searching for a team teetering on mediocrity.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Heat vs. Hornets: A Battle of Historic Futility

• Significance of the Game: Dan frames the game as the biggest of the Heat season, though part of the comedy is in just how uninspired and “fake” this playoff scenario feels for both teams.
  • “It's not the biggest moment in Charlotte history. Right? Alonzo Mourning hit a buzzer beater…” (04:40—04:50)
• Hornets Playoff History: Most of Charlotte’s memorable basketball moments are intertwined with the Miami Heat—either as rivals or because ex-Heat players starred for the Hornets (i.e. Jamal Mashburn, Alonzo Mourning).
  • “Their playoff memories all involve the Heat.” (05:18—05:34)
• Play-In Irony: The Heat/Hornets are both expansion franchises, and now, “all roads have led to this—a 9-10 Play-In game.” (06:13—06:21)

2. Will Winning Even Help? The Lottery Dilemma

• Tank or Triumph?: Dan and the crew debate whether Heat fans should hope for a win and a playoff berth, or a loss and a better chance at a high lottery pick (4–7% chance at top 4).
  • “If they get to the playoffs, they have a 0% chance of getting to the lottery. So do you want them to win tonight, yes or no?” (10:35—10:59)
  • Mike: “I think they're going to lose tonight…I'd rather watch a playoff series.” (10:59—11:33)
  • Roy: “I am still a Heat fan…when my team starts winning in a big game…it's a weird experience for me.” (12:38—12:53)
• Statistical Realities: Despite a negative mood, the statistical difference between picking 12th or 15th in a draft may be minor, but for a “disappointing…forgettable” Heat season, even small lottery hopes become tempting. (12:01—12:53)
• Cynicism and Optimism: Zaz: “For the reasons you say, even a minute lottery shot is better than none…It's been totally forgettable.” (12:53)

3. Disappointment and Decline

• From the Bubble to Now: Dan diagnoses “one of the most disappointing seasons in 30 years,” highlighting defensively collapse, a failed upward trajectory, and moral and statistical mediocrity.
  • “They're now 14th in defensive efficiency…first time since 2014…” (13:20—14:57)
• Collapse Metrics: “They’ve won like 4 out of 14 games…just collapsed toward the end of the season.” (14:18—14:57)
• Spoelstra’s Reputation: “The hallmark of an Eric Spoelstra team was…they were always better by the end of the season. That has not been the case.” (15:14—15:28)

4. The Die-Die-Dayenu Game: Comedy and Coping

• Die-Die vs. Win-Win:
  • Greg Cody coins “the die-die game”—whether the Heat win or lose, “the franchise isn’t moving in the right direction.” (19:17—19:34)
  • Arguments ensue about whether the game is a win-win, die-die, or both, echoing fan base confusion and the show’s penchant for polls and tongue-in-cheek terminology.
• Dayenu Spin: Jeremy, reporting live, quips: “I call it a Dayenu game…which, in Judaism, means to appreciate what you have—not take it for granted.” (25:27–25:47)

5. Jeremy’s On-the-Scene Reports: The Art of Satirical Positivity

• Staged Atmosphere: Jeremy awkwardly “reports” on the “palpable energy” from outside the Kaseya Center—though the Heat aren’t even playing at home.
  • “You can see the cars passing by by the tens of cars…the energy here is great for a team not playing at home.” (07:34—08:15)
  • Dan: “Get closer to the arena, Jeremy…closer to the statue.” (08:15—08:41)
• Moral Victories: Jeremy tries to rally optimism over “moments” like beating the Pistons and Thunder in January, to the ridicule of the group:
  • Greg Cody: “That's where we are…looking back at, 'Oh, we beat the Charlotte Bobcats…' Sick.” (25:47—26:02)
• Satirical Reporting Styles: The crew debates the modern trend of reporters phrasing questions as exclusive “I asked…” or “he told me,” even when it’s from a press conference (26:02–27:18).

6. Heat History, Superstitions, and Statues

• Dwyane Wade and Ichiro Statues:
  • Dan highlights mishaps at sports statue unveilings, especially Seattle’s Ichiro statue (bat broke beneath the sheet; 29:11–30:17)
  • “Ichiro bursts out laughing…the bat clearly wasn’t supposed to break…if a bedsheet can do it, anybody can.” (29:21–30:17)
• Nostalgic Heat Reminiscing:
  • Warm debate about the Heat’s era after the Big Three, the Bosh health tragedy, what could’ve been with Joe Johnson, and former playoff series against Charlotte (38:10–40:37).
  • Mike Ryan, on Bam’s importance: “All the MVPs and Bam…whenever he's on the court, they are an obvious different team.” (41:15–41:16)
  • Greg Cody: “Do you need playoff experience for a fake playoff?” (41:44)
  • Group: “Are the Miami Heat the most experienced fake playoff team?” (42:01–42:07)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Greg Cody on the Heat’s trajectory:

  “This is an Old Yeller team—the Heat suck. Let's turn the page on this.” (18:06–18:14)

• Jeremy on sports fandom and Dayenu:

  “I call it a Dayenu game…within Judaism, that means to appreciate what you have and not take it for granted. Enjoy a basketball game tonight and move forward.” (25:38–25:47)

• Dan Le Batard on Heat’s futility:

  “You’ve been talking to me all season about how disappointing this Heat team is…this is a worse basketball team this year, is it not?” (16:26–17:24)

• Greg on “Die-Die” Game:

  “It's not a do or die. It's a die or die. Because either way you slice it, the franchise isn't moving in the right direction…” (19:17–19:34)

• Stugotz on NBA media predictions:

  “All these high paid analysts…they are dead. They cannot, they're not going to make it…You know, even if they win…they don't get a chance in Boston…” (22:35–23:07)

• Roy on dismal context:

  “I'm done trying to pretend the Heat are good…the Heat suck.” (18:06–18:14)

• Mike Ryan, satirizing Heat’s self-belief:

  “They like their team, Dan. Right. That's what Erik Spoelstra said after the trade deadline. We like our team.” (18:59–19:04)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [04:00–06:35] — Play-in Game Buildup and History of Heat-Hornets Rivalry
• [09:12–12:53] — Should Heat Fans Root for Winning or Tanking?
• [13:20–15:28] — Defensive Decline, Spoelstra’s Reputation, Metrics
• [19:17–19:55] — “Die-Die” and Win-Win Game Debate
• [25:27–25:47] — Jeremy Coins the “Dayenu Game”
• [26:02–27:18] — Satire on Modern Sports Reporting Styles
• [29:11–30:17] — Ichiro Statue Mishap: Sports Superstition and Humor
• [32:09–33:19] — Young Heat Players, Roster Moves, and Fake Playoff Optimism
• [36:18–37:18] — Positive Spin: Khalil Ware & Bam Adebayo
• [38:10–40:37] — Heat ‘What-Ifs’ Post-Big-Three Era
• [41:15–42:31] — Bam’s Statistical Value and Fake Playoff Experience

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Memorable Recurring Themes

• Fake Playoff Experience: The Heat’s unparalleled “experience” in play-in situations is begrudgingly admired and lampooned.
• Satirical Reporting: The crew pokes fun at both the performative aspects of sports media and at themselves for being “insiders.”
• Sports Nostalgia & Schadenfreude: Many discussions are about what might have been for Miami or Charlotte, and the irrepressible humor in sports disappointment.

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Tone & Language

As always, the tone is irreverent, deeply local, and playfully combative. Characters shift from exasperation (Greg Cody and Roy’s “the Heat suck” rants) to gallows humor (the “Old Yeller” and “Die-Die” metaphors) to sincere, if sometimes deluded, fandom (Mike Ryan and Jeremy’s stats-based optimism). The “Dayenu” concept injects a rare note of spiritual levity, while the on-location bits with Jeremy add absurdist color.

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Summary Takeaway

This episode is essential listening for Miami sports fans teetering between hope and existential exhaustion. Le Batard and crew use the Heat’s mediocrity, NBA history, and sports media tropes as fodder for deep comic reflection on what it means to root for your team—even when the only choices seem to be “die-die” or “win-win.”

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Listen for:

• Comic takes on Heat and Hornets playoff futility
• The “Die-Die-Dayenu Game” as a clever summation of fan fatalism
• Real-time satire unpacking sports journalism trends
• A masterclass in making sports mediocrity compelling and hilarious

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Skip the ads, get to the basketball angst—and embrace your own “Die-Die-Dayenu Game.”

Transcript

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[Jeremy (Reporter)]

K Pop Demon hunters Saja Boy's breakfast meal and Hunt Trick's meal have just dropped at McDonald's. They're calling this a battle for the fans. What do you say to that, Rumi?

[Depop Advertiser]

It's not a battle.

[Dan LeBatard]

So glad the Saja boys could take

[Depop Advertiser]

breakfast and give our meal the rest of the day.

[Jeremy (Reporter)]

It is an honor to share.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, it's our honor.

[Jeremy (Reporter)]

It is our larger honor.

[Mike Ryan]

No, really, stop.

[Jeremy (Reporter)]

You can really feel the respect in this battle. Pick a meal to pick a side.

[Dan LeBatard]

Ba da ba ba ba.

[Jeremy (Reporter)]

And participate in McDonald's while supplies last.

[Greg Cody]

Hello?

[Zaz]

Hello?

[Doc]

I mean, what the.

[Fibula]

Who is this?

[Doc]

I mean, this is Doc.

[Unknown Caller]

Oh shit.

[Fibula]

What's up, man?

[Doc]

What the did you tell me?

[Unknown Caller]

I'm not following.

[Doc]

Leviton does a whole show and doesn't even mention my name.

[Unknown Caller]

Hey, that's not true. I brought you up on weekend observations two weeks in a row.

[Doc]

Yeah, yeah, you said I got fired. I did not get fired. I retired of my own volition. You're out here spreading inaccurate reports like Psalms where's loads when you need them?

[Unknown Caller]

I don't know, he probably shoveling snow or some shit. Look, what you want me to do about it, man? It's not my fault you had a shitty season.

[Doc]

Yeah, yeah. It's not gonna be Blake's fault when I whoop Your ass.

[Unknown Caller]

Oh, easy, killer. Why don't you go hit up your son? You guys can wax poetic about how it's everyone else's fault you're out of a job.

[Doc]

Whoa, whoa. Do not pump me in with him.

[Unknown Caller]

You're right, man. That was a low blow. My bad. But seriously, what you want me to do? You can hold on, Doc. I got someone on the other line.

[Doc]

Hello? Did you see that? Motherfucker got fired.

[Unknown Caller]

President Obama.

[Doc]

How'd you get my number, man? I was talking to Michelle, Sasha, and we were cracking up about it, and Michelle said, you know who get a kick out of this? Me.

[Unknown Caller]

I'm flattered, Mr. President, but I think he actually retired.

[Doc]

Hey, hey, listen to me. He got fired. Fired? Now some folks are on silent. They want to believe he retired.

[Unknown Caller]

Hold on. Mr. President. I think. I think this is actually Doc on the other line. Hello?

[Fibula]

Blah. I mean, who is this? This is me, Fibula. Blah.

[Unknown Caller]

Oh, shit.

[Fibula]

What's up, Bibula? Nothing. I'm just calling on behalf of my good friend Doug Rivers, and I want you to know that he totally retired, completely under his own free will. Nobody actually tried to talk him out of retiring. He said, no, no, it's time for me to go. And, yeah, everything you hear about him getting fired, totally untrue.

[Unknown Caller]

Yeah. Yeah, he called me, too. I got you. Yeah, well, I mean, we don't really have a relationship, Fibula. So I guess I got to go now.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah.

[Zaz]

Blah.

[Fibula]

I love you, too. What?

[Stugats]

This is the Dan Levator show with the Stugats podcast.

[Dan LeBatard]

I've told Amin that fibula needs to be limited as a character. It cannot have long speaking roles. It has to be very quick. We have the biggest game in the Miami Heat season tonight. Don't make that face, Mike Ryan. The biggest game. Tell the Hornets tonight's not a big game. The Hornets never get to play games that are this important. Last time they did, they had a purple shirt guy. And we still remember him for wearing a purple shirt because Dwayne Wade embarrassed him. That's. That's the biggest playoff moment Charlotte's ever had.

[Roy]

Big game for the Hornets, no doubt.

[Mike Ryan]

What a night that was. Oh, let's talk. Let's relive that. What a night ten years ago. Purple shirt guy, sit down.

[Dan LeBatard]

Actually, it's not the biggest moment in Charlotte history. Right? Alonzo Morning hit a buzzer beater to win a playoff game, did he not? Was he not on the court?

[Mike Ryan]

Celtics, game four. That is correct. 1994. Ish.

[Greg Cody]

Maybe it's like a 20 some odd years ago.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, but they don't have any playoff memories like they've got. They've got Jamal Mashburn, but their playoff memories all involve the Heat. Jamal Mashburn, a former Heat player. That's their best playoff team ever, is it not?

[Mike Ryan]

Oh, when they killed us?

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, when they killed the Anthony Mason Alonso morning team, is that not the best Charlotte team there's ever been?

[Mike Ryan]

I drove down from school right to Miami arena to go to that game. The Heat got killed. That was not a good experience.

[Dan LeBatard]

I still asked the question again and again though. Go ahead and name them all the major moments in Charlotte basketball history. Do they involve players that you more associate with the Miami Heat? Like Dwyane Wade in the purple shirt game, Jamal Mashburn, that playoff series and Alonzo Morning.

[Mike Ryan]

I think also when they were the Bobcats, Josh McRoberts had a really dirty foul on someone on the Heat in the playoffs.

[Roy]

Yeah, the Heat swept the Bobcats. And who can forget LeBron's 60 point game with the mask on that came at the expense of the Charlotte Bobcats. Wow. Two franchise tied together.

[Dan LeBatard]

Dan, you mentioned Josh McRoberts. He was called here Josh McRob Dus because they signed him after he showed promise at the end of a season with Charlotte. They signed him and and Danny granger to keep LeBron James here.

[Roy]

Historically, this franchise does have a blind spot when it comes to some Duke guys.

[Mike Ryan]

And the Heaton Hornets entered the league together. So it really feels like all roads

[Greg Cody]

have led to this to a 910 playing game.

[Roy]

Hey, put it on the pole. Have all roads for the Heat and Hornets led to this?

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't. I thought the Orlando Magic in the

[Mike Ryan]

Heat came in Magic or the next year.

[Roy]

Was that with the T Wolves? Yeah, Scotty Skiles and them boys.

[Dan LeBatard]

It is a giant game. Greg Cody is here. I believe that I have this right when I say it's on prime video and only on prime video. So Greg Cody, will you be able to find tonight's not playoff game playoff game?

[Zaz]

Yeah, fake playoff game. My wife will find it for me.

[Dan LeBatard]

That would have been great as a pregame show. Fake playoff game. We missed a great opportunity. But Jeremy, who is our in house announcer aspiring to be our Mike Biamante. He is working very hard. He has four jobs. One of them is with the Miami Heat. The Miami Heat use him a great deal and he is right now, outside of the bustling energy and seismic sort of shaking that we have here in Miami before this, the biggest game of the basketball Season and what Greg is calling a fake playoff game. Jeremy, what's the scene out there outside of the arena before this big game?

[Jeremy (Reporter)]

That's right, Dan. It is palpable energy out here outside of the Kaseya Center. You could see the cars passing by by the tens of cars, and that's because people are lining up to get here just to be able to watch the game outside the arena. As you guys mentioned, this game is in Charlotte. So the energy here is great for a team that is not playing at home. But this is the biggest game not just of the season, but potentially of our lives. Because every single time the Miami Heat take the floor, there's an opportunity to win, there's an opportunity to get to the playoffs, and there's an opportunity to advance all the way to the NBA Finals.

[Dan LeBatard]

Dan, go ahead and fade him down here. Get closer to where the Energy is, please. I don't want you in an intersection. I want you closer to the arena.

[Jeremy (Reporter)]

Energy is right here, Dan, at the intersection. Nobody would ever let us go to the arena. That's a bad idea by you. We'll have to shut this down, down. But it could be right here where you could see folks even passing by on bicycles.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, that's closer to the arena, Jeremy. Closer to the statue. Closer to the place where it feels not like an intersect.

[Greg Cody]

When you send me out, I get

[Dan LeBatard]

to the statue, right? I don't. I don't know why. He's just in the middle of the street. That's not close enough to the game. But Greg, you will be able to easily find. We'll check in with Jeremy a little bit later to see what the energy is like out there. You'll be able to find the game on prime video, no problem.

[Zaz]

I won't, but my wife will. I don't know what is. What channel to this day, I'm saying What channel is ESPN? I think it's 216-272-06206. So, you know, that's why the wife is one of the many reasons I

[Dan LeBatard]

love her so much. I have a question here, though, for Zaz, that Zaz has already said that he does not believe the Miami Heat will be in the playoffs. They are. Last I checked, they were five and a half point underdog tonight. It is kind of startling, right? Because I remember earlier this season I was making fun of Charlotte coming down here for a game. Miami blew them out at home early in the season. And I was saying, Charlotte has been running up and down the court for 30 years for no Good reason. Kemba Walker is one of their most successful players ever. Did he ever win a playoff series? He never won a playoff series, right?

[Mike Ryan]

No. The Hornets have not won a playoff series since that Alonzo morning.

[Roy]

They did go to seven. They did go to seven with the Miami Heat.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, no, since the Alonzo morning shot the Mashburn.

[Mike Ryan]

Right. Oh, one.

[Dan LeBatard]

Mashburn beat the Heat. But when. When I think of the Charlotte is a historically bad basketball team and the Charlotte crowd tonight will be embracing something that is almost foreign to them. And the thing that I wanted to ask Zaz, because I do actually think it's an interesting conversation that is also a strange conversation to have today, which is do you want the Heat to win?

[Mike Ryan]

Oh, we're going to answer that right now.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, he asked the question. You answer, especially when it's directed towards.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's a difficult question. Is it not tough?

[Zaz]

Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

Will you be watching the game tonight and wanting the Miami Heat to lose? Because as I looked this up the other day, if they lose, they will get a 4 to 7% chance of being in the lottery. If they get to the playoffs, they have a 0% chance of getting to the lottery. So do you want them to win tonight, yes or no?

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, for me, the answer is yes. I don't expect. I think they're going to lose tonight. For me, the answer is yes, because 4 to 7%. I happen to look at it the other way. They have between a 93 and a 96% chance of not winning the lottery, and that's an extraordinarily high percentage chance. So while they're not going to get past Detroit in the playoffs, we are talking about the difference of selecting like 12 overall and 15 overall and they get to play in a playoff series, or at least I get to watch a playoff series. So I'm rooting for them to win.

[Mike]

I need to know the percentage chance that they can take Detroit to six games. Give me that number. If that number.

[Greg Cody]

00%.

[Mike]

That number's higher than our lottery chance. That's lower.

[Greg Cody]

That was the same conversation everybody had last year against Cleveland and what happened there.

[Roy]

That's right.

[Mike]

I didn't say win the series. I said to get it.

[Greg Cody]

No, no, they didn't win a game in the series.

[Roy]

I don't think what Zaz said. I happen to think that this is a pretty good NBA draft. So I don't think three draft spots is a small thing. I think it's a helpful thing, especially with this franchise's pursuit of a super

[Mike Ryan]

wouldn't it be the other thing if it's a good draft and three slots is not a big thing because you're still going to get a good player.

[Roy]

I think that there's going to be a good player, but a better player at 12 than 15. Just applying basic logic. But the way that I've experienced these play inside dating back to the Bulls, one in which that path ended with a majestic run to the NBA Finals, is when they're down, I'm like, yeah. And when they pull ahead, I'm like, yeah, that's Heat basketball. It's very strange for me watching this because I am a Heat fan. It's weird. Like I can step back and have the macro view of what's better for this franchise is for them to lose.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, I won't be upset if they

[Roy]

lose, Dan, but I am still a Heat fan. And when my team starts winning in a big game, because these games do tend to big, it's win or go home. Like, I get proud when the team shows hard. It's. It's a weird experience for me.

[Zaz]

I think the fan, notwithstanding what Mike just said, I think the fan should be rooting for the Heat to lose. Frankly. It's a season that feels like it wants to be put out of its misery. And for the reasons you say, even a minute lottery shot is better than none, 12 is better than 15, there are tangible reasons to hope they lose. Been a forgettable season, you know, other than an 83 point game by Bam, it's been totally forgettable. And let's move to next year.

[Dan LeBatard]

And this has been one of the most disappointing seasons in the 30 years of the Miami Heat, at least in part because it signals from the bubble to here where you've watched everything deteriorate, you've watched an empire crumble for five years. And over the course of this season, one of the things that's been weird is they're now, they're now 14th in defensive efficiency, which is the first time since 2014 that they're not in the top 10 at defense and they were all season. So that just collapsed toward the end of the season. But one of the things that did happen in the second half of the season that I regard, I think says maybe go through the memory bank here. I regard it as the best game they've played the second half of the season. They've fallen apart since Bam's 83 point game. They don't look the same. They're not good at defense, they've been bad. I think the record is like they've won like 4 out of 14 games or something since then. It's something in that realm. But the best game I thought they had in the second half of the season was Tyler Hero going to Charlotte right after we said, aren't you amazed by Charlotte? They're 19 and 2 in their last 21. They're the hottest team in the league. And then Tyler Hero made all his shots in the game and that Tyler Hero played in the Eastern Conference finals in the bubble, or he played in the playoffs in the bubble against Boston and became someone that we hoped in and hasn't looked like that since. And the game he played against Charlotte. Go ahead and go to the memory bank and tell me the second half of the season, they wiped the floor with Charlotte and they can if Tyler Hero is going to make all the shots. But you can't count on that in any reasonable way.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah. The thing that's most confusing about this Heat team, this, or maybe most disappointing, I should say, is one of the hallmarks of an Eric Spoelstra team was no matter what the team was, if they were a really good team, if they were an average type team, they were always better by the end of the season. They were always playing their best basketball by the end of the season. And that has not been the case this year. Like you just mentioned, the Defensive numbers absolutely plummeted.

[Dan LeBatard]

27th in defense over the 7 and 10 stretch.

[Mike Ryan]

They are always better at the end of the year under this coach, and that has not been the case.

[Dan LeBatard]

Let me try again on this, though. You guys realize that what I was saying is that they've got a 4 to 7% chance if they lose this game of a top five four pick. Like, it's a top four pick. It's a. It's the spot that changes franchises. Top four pick. They've had very few of those in their history because they've always been relevant. How many of those have they had in their history? Like in under or not their history, but under Pat Riley? Is it. Is it two?

[Mike Ryan]

Oh, under Riley?

[Dan LeBatard]

Just Beasley and Wade. Right, Beasley.

[Mike Ryan]

Wade was five.

[Roy]

Wade was outside.

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay.

[Roy]

Ford.

[Zaz]

Good player.

[Mike Ryan]

Could have been Cayman.

[Roy]

I wasn't on the air. I shouldn't have said that. Nobody would have known.

[Zaz]

Yeah, you shouldn't have said that.

[Dan LeBatard]

You wanted T.J. ford.

[Roy]

Overall, we needed a point guard.

[Doc]

He's a good player.

[Mike]

He was very popular coming out.

[Roy]

Yeah, we needed a point guard, and I didn't know if D. Wade can handle point guard.

[Mike Ryan]

I thought they were going to take Chris Kamen.

[Dan LeBatard]

So did I.

[Mike]

Some great names.

[Roy]

Yikes.

[Dan LeBatard]

Pat Riley liked Chris Bosh in that draft more than Dwyane Wade. But a top four pick. You guys understand, right? We've been talking around here for about 30 years where Jimmy Johnson was saying, the enemy of great is good. When you start legislating all equalities and you make it so that eight of the teams in the league are playing because they want to get into the position that the Heat would have a 4 to 7% chance of winning if they lose the game tonight and get a Cooper flag. A Cooper flag. Who can bail you out? A Cooper flag. Who is the first 19 year old to ever have 50 points in a game? I believe you guys are crazy. I understand that this is the way that fandom works, but you've been talking to me all season about how disappointing this Heat team is. You know that the last season ended in the most catastrophic way a season has ever ended for a basketball team. In the playoffs. They got beat by more points than anyone's ever been beaten in the playoffs last year and they're worse this year. This is a worse basketball team this year, is it not?

[Jeremy (Reporter)]

Well, no.

[Mike Ryan]

We should point out wins wise, record wise, they are better this year, but everybody else in the Eastern Conference have gotten more better.

[Greg Cody]

So how about morale wise?

[Mike Ryan]

So the year 10th this year as a result?

[Zaz]

Yeah. To me, that's the discouraging thing. When you look at the macro view, the Heat isn't bad. If you consider they're above.500. They're plus 2.4 on points for and against. But none of that matters because they're 10th. And look at the teams that you could always count them being better than that. They've now fallen behind Charlotte, Orlando, Atlanta. Detroit was awful a few years ago. Now look at them.

[Dan LeBatard]

Greg, the group is really mad at you for citing those stats. They didn't like those stats.

[Roy]

No, no, I just. I'm done trying to pretend that the Heat are good.

[Greg Cody]

This is an old yeller team.

[Roy]

The Heat suck. This is. This is. Let's turn the page on this. The Heats suck.

[Mike Ryan]

I think the easiest way to look at it, Greg, Outside of Milwaukee, who had extenuating circumstances, the only teams in the Eastern Conference who the Heat finished ahead of are literally teams trying to lose games, right?

[Zaz]

Yep, you're right. The Tankers. And I'm not saying the Heat are good. They're not. They're bad. They're 10th. 10th is 10th.

[Dan LeBatard]

They're not bad. They're a little over 500 they're, they're thoroughly mediocre.

[Zaz]

I know, but that's what you just made fun of me for, was saying from that vantage, they're not terrible.

[Roy]

Yeah, I disagree with that. I think they're terrible.

[Greg Cody]

They're a tensedeed.

[Roy]

They got no shot. They got no shot.

[Zaz]

Exactly.

[Roy]

And it's just not headed in the right direction. At the beginning of the season, I would have been like, okay, this team has a shot. It's been going downhill since they decided famously, we've got enough.

[Mike Ryan]

They like their team, Dan. Right. That's what Eric Spolsher said after the trade deadline. We like our team.

[Dan LeBatard]

We're better than you think we are. We're better than our record states.

[Mike Ryan]

And the end result is going into tonight in a do or die playing game. They are a five and a half point dog against the lowly Hornets.

[Greg Cody]

The problem is it's not a, it's not a do or die. It's a die or die because either way you, you slice it, the franchise isn't moving in the right direction or

[Mike]

it's a win win. You either get in the lottery.

[Dan LeBatard]

It cannot be a die die.

[Greg Cody]

It's a die die game.

[Mike Ryan]

Win, win game, die die is a tough spot.

[Mike]

Mike described earlier. If they're losing, he's happy. If they're winning, he's happy.

[Greg Cody]

It's a die die, folks.

[Dan LeBatard]

All right, put it on the poll. Is tonight's heat game a die die win win game? Because you guys are saying it's both a die die game and a win win game. And I'm not sure of the story of Old Yeller, but I also want put on the poll. If you say this is an old Y, then have to say, take them out back.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, you got to take them out back.

[Dan LeBatard]

But I don't.

[Mike]

Who are we taking out back?

[Dan LeBatard]

Was Old Yeller killed at the end? Was old. Did Old Yeller just die or Old Yeller was killed?

[Greg Cody]

Buddy was shot, put out of his misery.

[Roy]

Chrissy Gnome did it.

[Zaz]

Yeah.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

Did she?

[Zaz]

Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

Different time in the background wearing a brassiere.

[Mike]

Yep, that happened. Folks, listen up. Quick break in the action. Are you counting down the days until payday? Instacash from Moneyline can help you Access up to $500 of your hard earned pay early. There's no interest, no credit check, and no monthly fees, so you can manage those in between expenses with less stress. Download the MoneyLion app and link your qualifying bank account to see what you qualify for. Moneylion make money easy. Instacast is subject to Terms and eligibility requirements. Expedited delivery requires a turbo fee. See moneyline.com. ah, folks, listen up. Let's talk about moms. Our madres. Could be your mom, could be a grandma, could be a stepmom. Whoever filled that role for you, what's the one thing that she does that nobody else does? Like the oddly specific way she texts and how she knows you're lying before you even finish that sentence. That's the good stuff. That's the she deserves way more than this type stuff. And yeah, flowers are the go to on Mother's Day. But not all flowers sit the same. That's why I like 1-800-FLOWERS. They've been doing it for over 50 years, so they've got it down pat. The bouquet shows up fresh, full, not sad, and half alive. Like some of these last minute gas station situations. And right now, this is big. You order one dozen roses, they double it to two dozen for free, which makes it seem like you planned ahead when you probably didn't. And trust me, I've used them before. The box shows up, you open it, it smells legit. Looks great. It's one of those pat yourself on the back, I did a good job here type situations. Mother's day is Sunday, May 10, and the bouquets are selling out fast. Trust me. Do not wait to claim your double roses offer before they're gone. Visit 1-800-flowers.com-Dan. That's 1-800-flowers. Com:Dan? 1-800-flowers. Com:Dan.

[Roy]

Hey, Roy, buddy.

[Greg Cody]

Yo.

[Roy]

You know that energy shift when the game gets good and everybody all together in unison knows to stand up on their feet?

[Greg Cody]

Oh, absolutely.

[Roy]

Mike.

[Doc]

Yeah.

[Roy]

You've been at many big time sporting events. You know that moment quite well. That's what it's like when you take your first sip of Cuervo.

[Greg Cody]

Oh, delicious.

[Roy]

It's the signal that says, we're not checking the time anymore, pal. It's when small talk turns into stories. Cuervo, man. It's that high five. A random stranger effect. That's right. The game is popping. You're hugging people you never met before. That's the kind of energy that Cuervo brings. It's so smooth, so delicious. That's the Cuervo effect. Keep it Cuervo.

[Stugats]

Don Levatar, all these high paid analysts. I don't want to mention names. Tnt, espn, you know.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, yeah.

[Stugats]

They are dead. They cannot. They're not going to make it. You know, even if they win in. If they lose in Miami.

[Dan LeBatard]

I need to calm you down.

[Stugats]

That's Right. If they lose in Miami, they don't get a chance in Boston or 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 their job? No. Are they going to get a cousin pay? No. What are they going to do?

[Mike Ryan]

Keep predicting.

[Stugats]

What is the obvious. They are going to say, oh, the Nuggets are going to win. Oh Denver, the attitude. And you know what? The Heat are going to win at all. This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugach.

[Dan LeBatard]

Let's go out to Jeremy to do with a shot. Let's go out to Jeremy again where he's a little more positive than the group that I have here and he's surrounded by positive energies as we check in with the Heat arena before the biggest basketball game of the season and indisputably the biggest basketball game being played today.

[Jeremy (Reporter)]

Correct.

[Dan LeBatard]

There is no bigger basketball game being played anywhere.

[Roy]

Blazer Sons.

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay, but that's after.

[Greg Cody]

That's a massive game.

[Dan LeBatard]

This is the first big game of the be of the postseason. This is the first big game.

[Greg Cody]

So you know about that.

[Dan LeBatard]

Danny the Heater opening the postseason with this fake playoff game that isn't a playoff game to get into the playoffs. Let's go out to Jeremy who's near the positivity. What's the, what's the energy out there like? Jeremy?

[Jeremy (Reporter)]

See the beautiful views of the Kaseya center just over my left shoulder on your right. And Dan, we're talking about percentage chances. There are some fans that just walked by and said, hey, tell LeBatard with his 4 to 7% chance of getting into the top four picks, you could look at the heats play in history and let everyone know. There's a 33% chance that if they get out of the play in game they get to the NBA finals. And that's a fact, Jack, based off of history.

[Mike Ryan]

Get closer to the arena.

[Zaz]

You're a liar.

[Dan LeBatard]

Too far. Get closer. Get closer, Jeremy. And no one told you that because there's no one there. No one walked past you because there's no one there.

[Jeremy (Reporter)]

Energy is palpable as everyone anticipates the biggest game of this Miami Heat season. Eric Spolster told me before last game that the Heat can't dwell on the lows of this season. Inconsistency has been the hallmark, but this year it is most important that they focus on the really good moments that they had earlier in the season where they were able to beat teams like the Detroit Pistons and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Dan will send it back to you. As the Heat march their way toward victory tonight in the biggest game. You call it a die, die game. I call it a day, a new game. Which means, Dan, the big machum on campus, such as myself, know, within Judaism, that means to appreciate what you have and not take it for granted. Enjoy a basketball game tonight and move forward with this. Die, die, die. A new game here, not at the Kaseya Center.

[Greg Cody]

He's right about that. What he's wrong about is the Heat touting moral victories against Oklahoma City in, you know, January or whatever. That's crazy. That's where we are right now, Dan. That's where we are siting back, looking back in November, be like, oh, we beat the Charlotte Bobcats or whatever, you know, 144, 117. Sick.

[Dan LeBatard]

Greg, how do you feel as a journalist about the Jeremy move that he's gotten very good at over the course of this year? Eric Spoelstra told me.

[Zaz]

Yeah. Yeah, I like that. It conveys stature on his part to be able to get a talk to Eric, to talk to Spoelstra one on one, face to face. That's great. Good for Jeremy. Not a lot of people get to talk to Eric Spoelstra, so.

[Mike Ryan]

You know, it's a weird thing that I see I read reporters doing nowadays in that similar vein. They'll say that I asked or. Yeah, or he told me.

[Stugats]

But.

[Mike Ryan]

But in a press conference setting, like, because they asked the question, they'll say, he told me. Yeah, in a press conference.

[Zaz]

I also hate certain unnamed reporters in this market who record themselves asking a question like, you'll hear blank reporter.

[Mike Ryan]

How do they do that? They, like, flip the phone around.

[Zaz]

Yeah. And. And all of a sudden you hear his voice and he's taking a picture of the guy and his voice is

[Dan LeBatard]

asking, who does that? Why won't you name names on that?

[Mike]

Including the question in like. I'm fine with that. I want to hear the question a lot of times.

[Zaz]

Yeah. You know, but nobody's saying they have

[Mike Ryan]

the phone, like the video.

[Mike]

I don't even know if he is saying that.

[Zaz]

Yeah, no, I am saying that. And I think it's a little.

[Mike Ryan]

I know what he's saying.

[Dan LeBatard]

He doesn't know what he's saying.

[Mike]

He wasn't saying that. I can play it back, what he just said.

[Zaz]

What are you saying?

[Dan LeBatard]

He doesn't know what he's saying. Do you have your top 50 catchphrases?

[Zaz]

Always?

[Dan LeBatard]

Not always. Usually you didn't have them? The last time I asked.

[Zaz]

Yeah, two times ago, I didn't. But since I've learned the others, they all learn from me.

[Mike Ryan]

When he has them, he always has them.

[Zaz]

Exactly. Well put.

[Dan LeBatard]

Says you mentioned not everyone has the stature to talk to Eric's bolster. And I'm hoping that Jeremy is walking over to the Dwayne Wade statue to get the energy that's over there. But we had a statue moment that I believe in sports is the best statue moment that we have had since the Dwyane Wade unveiling. That was a real catastrophe. I'd also like to congratulate Zaz here. This is roughly the anniversary of when Zaz won a job with us because the play in game that he won and the Heat won against Atlanta.

[Mike Ryan]

Oh, here. It was so good that night.

[Dan LeBatard]

That was the day that he won a bet. And he ends up. Did you not. Do you not know this story? This is how Zaz got the job. Zaz won a job here with a bet on that Heat versus Hawks playoff game. It's the biggest bet you've ever made.

[Mike Ryan]

Most importantly, I won Pearl Jam tickets out of it too.

[Zaz]

Oh, that is more important.

[Greg Cody]

Talk about a die die situation. The Heat win the playoff game, we don't get Cooper flag, and then we're straddled with Zaz here.

[Mike Ryan]

That's such nonsense.

[Jeremy (Reporter)]

A die die.

[Mike Ryan]

I hate how you do that. Okay, I don't care the part about me. I hate how you do the idea that if that. That Cooper flag would have still been their pick. Okay? It's nonsense. The Heat makes nonsense.

[Greg Cody]

It's very simple.

[Mike Ryan]

It was the Mavericks pick. The Mavericks won the draft lottery, not the Heat because the Heat weren't in the draft lottery. It's not their pick.

[Greg Cody]

It was their pick.

[Mike]

Would I give up?

[Mike Ryan]

It was never. It was literally never their pick.

[Mike]

Your Cooper flag. I gotta think about that one.

[Zaz]

Do you?

[Dan LeBatard]

No, you don't.

[Zaz]

No. You're gone.

[Roy]

I thought about it for a half second and I'm a big Zaz guy. Have you seen this guy?

[Dan LeBatard]

50 points at 19, but there is this. The best sports statue moment that we have had since Dwyane Wade. Everything that happened with Ichiro's statue. Have you seen this, Greg?

[Zaz]

Yes, I have. It's hilarious.

[Dan LeBatard]

For the audio audience. They take the big bed sheet off of the statue and the bat that. The famous iconic pose of Ichiro pointing his bat at the picture to sort of. He points it at the air and at the pitcher to sort of. I don't know. Was One of the coolest entrances to the plate that there have been. But they broke the bat. And so instead of pointing the bat in a menacing fashion that would suggest conquering, it's a clearly broken bat that now faces him. And Ichiro's bursting out laughing because of how ridiculous it is that the. The bat. Clearly, the bat wasn't supposed to break, obviously. And I'm surprised that. I'm honestly surprised that. That a bed sheet was able to break a bat of a statue. The physics of that is the sculptor needed to consider something like that, because if a bed sheet can do it, anybody walking by could break that. That very easily.

[Mike]

That was some serious thread count on that.

[Roy]

It saved the Mariners season. They've won five in a row since then and finally found their offense. Their pitching was always there, but their offense was anemic. I think their top three batters were sub 200 until that statue happened.

[Dan LeBatard]

Let's go back out to the positivity that you might find around the Heats arena as they enter the first of the fake playoff games played this evening and the biggest basketball game being played today before a bigger one is played a little later in the day between the Suns and the Trailblazers. Let's check in with Jeremy as he gets closer. Look at that. That's some atmosphere right now. That feels like Toronto when they were playing road games at Golden State. And there'd be like, you know, thousands of people in the garden.

[Mike Ryan]

They call it Jurassic Park.

[Dan LeBatard]

Thank you. Look, let's join. Well, Jurassic is here.

[Mike]

Look how many steps are there next

[Dan LeBatard]

to me over there? You've got Jeremy with a lot of steps. Jeremy, paint the picture for us before the biggest fake playoff game in Miami Heats today.

[Jeremy (Reporter)]

That's right. If you look over here, you see lots of steps as a metaphor for the steps that the Miami Heat will take starting today as a 10 seed playing their way into the postseason in their march toward the NBA Finals. The statue of Dwyane Wade haunting the ghosts of Sean May and Emeka Okafor and the purple shirt guy as the Heat take on the Charlotte Hornets tonight. And Dan, a couple of great seasons for the Miami Heat individually anchoring this team. Bam. Adebayo. The first 2010 season for the Miami Heat since Alonzo Mourning and Shaquille o', Neal, the only other players in franchise history to accomplish such feat. Pella Larson, only the fifth player in Miami Heat history as a sophomore to accomplish the feats of 11 points, three rebounds and three assists per game, ranking just Dwyane Wade in that group.

[Dan LeBatard]

He's on the bench.

[Jeremy (Reporter)]

Win shares. And Eric Spoelstra told me. I heard from Eric Spoelstra in our face to face conversation that only he and I were in that. One of the great things about this Heat season, one of the most notable positive moments was the development of their young players such as Pella Larson. Such as one Vlad Golden.

[Dan LeBatard]

He's benching Pella Larson tonight. They're gonna play Khalil. Aren't they playing Khalil Ware and Bambi together? Isn't that what they're doing?

[Roy]

You're dialed in. I haven't read anything about this team the last few days. Surprisingly, the Miami Heat have not put up the 16 numbers that they usually cross out on their march to an NBA championship.

[Mike Ryan]

I guess they haven't qualified yet.

[Roy]

Maybe they should put up an 18.

[Mike Ryan]

That is funny. Like, how does that meeting go? Or let's say the Heat win the playing. All right, they win tonight and they win on, you know, Friday, be it Orlando or Philadelphia, somebody in that Heat office is going to sit down and say, let's get the billboard up there.

[Roy]

Do we put up the 16 numbers that we x out or do we.

[Mike Ryan]

16 trophies. Oh, it's trophies.

[Zaz]

Would they dare?

[Roy]

Would they spray paint off? I think after LeBron left, they were like, you know, white hot usually means something.

[Stugats]

Let's go back to black Don LeBatard.

[Jeremy (Reporter)]

It sounds to me like everybody could use a hug because a hug is

[Roy]

always the right size stugats.

[Jeremy (Reporter)]

All I have put in my body today is three cups of coffee, an entire cup of honey.

[Mike]

Don't let him fool you. He said in the break that he's jittery.

[Stugats]

This is the D Ler show with the St. Gats.

[Dan LeBatard]

What do you guys do with the fact that over the last, let's see here, 38 games, the Hornets are 28 and 10. And the Heat finished the season losing 10 of their final 15 games. Like, the second half of the season for both of these teams has been the exact opposite. Charlotte started the season 16 and 28 like they looked really bad. And the combination of Brandon Miller, lamelo ball and Con canipple figured out a whole bunch of things offensively and defensively. They were, they were, I think, top six offensive and defensive metrics over the second half of the season. This is a team that I would expect to drag the Miami Heat tonight unless for some reason the Miami Heat have a great shooter shooting night. But the lineup of Bam and Adebayo together when it's been on the court SPO hasn't used it that much, but when it's been on the court today, Zaz, you know, it's been successful. Like, it's.

[Mike Ryan]

It's not a ton of time, but. Yeah, but.

[Dan LeBatard]

But people have been curious all year, why don't they play more together?

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, they were a plus 85 when where and Bam had been on the floor together, but again, just 505 minutes together. But it is best. The best plus minus for a Heat duo in their time on the floor.

[Zaz]

So why haven't they been on the floor? We always give spo, and I think spo's the best coach in the league, but we give him credit for being a genius. Why haven't they played more if that is the case?

[Mike Ryan]

I think. I really think the tough love approach is more important to them than, like, I feel like they think it's better for us in the long term than the short term. And you got to earn all of this. And they don't just give away minutes to young players.

[Zaz]

And now it's the shortest of terms. So he's going with the odds. Yeah. I mean, I hate to say it about spo, but the guy to want to learn, gotta want to earn. You know, if you have a combo that works, play it.

[Mike Ryan]

It's tough to.

[Greg Cody]

Good point by him. That's another Greg Cody.

[Dan LeBatard]

Really? All right, let's go. Hold on a second, Sass, because we got to go there. Out to Jeremy. He's scared. He works for the Heat. He's on the steps. He's in a prohibited place. He's close to the statue. I see Dwayne's nether regions there.

[Greg Cody]

You can walk up to the. To the team store. It's right there.

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay. I don't think he's allowed up there. He's scared.

[Jeremy (Reporter)]

No, I'm not.

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay.

[Zaz]

Oh, wow.

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay, give us the. Well, then, I don't know why you didn't start there. Give us the positivity around the Heat season right now.

[Jeremy (Reporter)]

Look, when you look at this duo of Khalil Ware and Bam Adebayo, the big thing that you need to notice is over the span of the season, there was development with Khalil Ware's game on the floor at the same time. Defense, the calling card of the Miami Heat, something they've lost over the last 15 games, has been a point of emphasis for Ware all season long. And Eric Spoelstra told me that Ware's development on the defensive end is what now allows him to start those two players together. And folks, if we remember back to the Heat's final run from the play in season, another player, young player earned his way into the starting lineup with just a few games to go. That was one Max Strus over Duncan Robinson as Robinson went to the bench. Now you see Khalil Ware enter the starting fold, potentially unlocking something different for Erik Spoelstra's Miami Heat as they take steps towards victory, trying to claw their way from the 10 seed all the way to the NBA Finals. First stop, Charlotte tonight with the ghosts of Raymond Felton.

[Dan LeBatard]

I think that tonight is going to be a dark night. They have been one of the worst defenses in the league, maybe the worst among the team that are trying since Bam's 83 point game. And this is not the team to be playing to have to do that point.

[Jeremy (Reporter)]

Stan, you were saying Jeremy score a lot of points. Yeah. You know, they. It helps when you can score more points than the other team. So even if you give up a lot of points, you can score a lot of points. That's what happened in Charlotte.

[Dan LeBatard]

It also helps to not have the worst defensive team in the league among teams that are trying to win.

[Jeremy (Reporter)]

Yeah, well, yeah, they have the best player in terms of on off differential. And he'll play 45 minutes tonight. So that's fine. We see what happens.

[Mike Ryan]

Mike, do you know what the heats starting five was the last time the Hornets had a home playoff game, which of course was a must win. Game 6 for Miami 10 years ago. That was purple shirt guy game.

[Zaz]

Yeah.

[Doc]

Yeah.

[Roy]

Was Joe Johnson on the floor for Miami? He was Dwyane Wade, obviously iconic. Bosh was out sick or was.

[Mike Ryan]

He was done by here.

[Dan LeBatard]

Was Babbitt starting for them?

[Roy]

No, Babbitt was like. Remember Babbitt kept starting because the record was so good. With Babbitt just ceremonially starting.

[Mike Ryan]

No, he was. That was a different year.

[Roy]

Whiteside.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah.

[Stugats]

Yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

You got two more.

[Roy]

All right. Okay. Go on.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah.

[Roy]

All right.

[Mike Ryan]

One more.

[Roy]

Who's the four?

[Mike Ryan]

Good at this.

[Roy]

Who's the four? It's not ud. UD is off the bench. Who's the four?

[Mike Ryan]

Feel silly if you don't get it, especially considering what's. What's been said recently on this show.

[Greg Cody]

Oh, it's got to be McBob.

[Stugats]

Josh.

[Mike Ryan]

No, he came off the bench.

[Roy]

Okay, who was it?

[Zaz]

Lu.

[Mike Ryan]

All dang.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, wow.

[Greg Cody]

Played the four.

[Roy]

That team was that man. If that team had Bosh, they might have made some moves.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, but you have been. Look, your heat allegiance. I can track to right where Bosh it is Gets unhealthy. Bosh getting unhealthy is where you started hurting around the Miami Heat because you had such huge expectations for what they were going to be able to fix with Chris Bosh. By retaining Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, you thought they were going to be able to keep together some semblance of a competition thing that could challenge post Big Three.

[Roy]

I thought that they were going to play Cleveland. That that's. We acquired Goran draw.

[Mike Ryan]

We were begging for Cleveland.

[Roy]

And LeBron still hadn't proven that he can do it without Miami and he wanted no part. He skipped the Miami games that season. And if I recall correctly, the Miami Heat went to seven against the Toronto Raptors in the following series and they got blown out in game seven. It was just a terrible game. But if had they won that, they would have played Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals. No, that was obviously a huge blow. I think that Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Goran Dragic, that unit, especially with Riley making good moves. That Joe Johnson move was a really deft move.

[Mike Ryan]

That team would have been competitive for several years. And we're not even mentioning Whiteside. I mean, maybe been good, maybe bad.

[Roy]

Yeah, but Whiteside was like a player that was a problem guarding the rim against LeBron James.

[Mike Ryan]

That would have been a competitive team.

[Roy]

Yeah, no, but I mean, the Miami Heat made two finals since then. I think really the line of demarcation was when they failed to improve the roster after making the Finals, when it was clear they didn't have enough against the Nuggets, and everybody in the east started making aggressive moves.

[Dan LeBatard]

Greg, please walk me through some of what you think, because I have the risk of looking stupid tonight if they don't get dragged, but the way for them to stay in the game is what Jeremy said. Bam's point differential, if you keep him on the court, whenever he's on the court, they are an obvious different team than when he's not off the court. So you've got in the entire league, the best point differentials that you have on off numbers are Jokic at plus 16, Wembanyama plus 15, Kawhi plus 14, SGA plus 11, and Bam plus 11. So it's all the MVPs in Bam. Like it's all the guys other than Luca that.

[Mike]

You're a funny way of saying that.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, but that's.

[Fibula]

But.

[Dan LeBatard]

But it's. It's a big difference. And when Hero was making his shots off of that, I saw them blow out Charlotte in Charlotte and then this is variable too. What's playoff experience worth? Because one team has it here and the other does not. Like the. Like, what's it actually worth? Because one team's got home court and it's the biggest game in 10 years in that city. But they don't have any playoff experience. But it's a fake playoff game. So do you need.

[Greg Cody]

That's the caveat.

[Dan LeBatard]

Put it on the poll at LeBatard show. Do you need playoff experience for a fake playoff?

[Greg Cody]

The Heat have a lot of fake playoff experience. Being in the. In the plan all the time.

[Dan LeBatard]

The most.

[Zaz]

The most.

[Mike Ryan]

They're the best at fake playoff.

[Zaz]

They are. Four years in a row, baby.

[Dan LeBatard]

They Are they the best fake playoff team?

[Stugats]

Yes.

[Zaz]

Yes, for sure.

[Mike Ryan]

They've never lost in the fake playoffs.

[Dan LeBatard]

Put it on the poll at LeBatard show. Are the. Are the Miami Heat the most experienced

[Zaz]

fake playoff team steeled by experience?

[Dan LeBatard]

Is fake playoff experience, fake experience?

[Greg Cody]

No, it's real experience of fakeness.

[Zaz]

Yeah. Because you pretend it's not fake, but

[Greg Cody]

it's real fake, though.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's real fake.

[Zaz]

Yeah. Nobody would be surprised if Miami won. Right? And. And that's part of the problem with this team. Is that supposed to thinks they're good enough.

[Dan LeBatard]

You still don't watch the clock at all, huh?

[Zaz]

No, I really don't.

[Mike Ryan]

No awareness.