The Best of The Dan Patrick Show

Summary

The Dan Patrick Show: "The Best of The Dan Patrick Show" Release Date: May 7, 2025

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Introduction

In this special episode of The Dan Patrick Show, host Dan Patrick brings together some of the most insightful and entertaining discussions centered around professional sports. Featuring in-depth conversations with Pittsburgh Steelers analyst Jerry Dulac, NBA Hall of Famer Ray Allen, and NHL star PK Subban, Dan delves into pivotal moments, strategic decisions, and the evolving landscapes of football, basketball, and hockey. Throughout the episode, notable quotes and expert analyses provide listeners with a comprehensive understanding of recent developments in the sports world.

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1. Steelers' Trade of George Pickens: Insights with Jerry Dulac

The episode kicks off with Dan Patrick engaging in a spirited discussion with Jerry Dulac from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Steelers Radio Network. The primary focus is the Steelers' recent decision to trade wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys for draft picks.

• Implications for the Steelers:

  Jerry Dulac explains, “When the production outweighs the aggravation, you keep them. When the aggravation outweighs the production, you get rid of them” (02:03). This sentiment underscores the Steelers' rationale behind moving Pickens, citing ongoing issues with his on-field temperament and off-field behavior that outweighed his on-field contributions.

• Impact on Aaron Rodgers:

  The trade raises questions about its effect on quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Dulac notes, “Aaron Rodgers is a very detailed quarterback and I don't think he has on the field relationship with George Pickens, who is anything but” (03:51). He suggests that the move is unlikely to influence Rodgers' decision to stay with the team.

• Future Strategies:

  Discussing the Steelers' plans in the absence of Rodgers, Dulac mentions, “They will go out and sign some other veteran quarterback” (05:26), indicating the organization's strategy to maintain a competitive edge by securing experienced players rather than relying solely on rookie talent.

• Fan and Team Dynamics:

  The conversation touches on the Steelers' notorious approach to handling star players, with Dulac confident that the team will invest in key players like T.J. Watt, stating, “I can't think of one player, one of their star players basically in their prime that they have ever let walk” (07:15).

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2. Basketball Strategy and Free Throw Psychology with Ray Allen

Former NBA star Ray Allen joins Dan to dissect recent basketball strategies and the psychological aspects of free-throw shooting.

• Celtics' Three-Point Strategy:

  Dan questions the Celtics' heavy reliance on three-point shots, especially in high-stakes games. Ray Allen responds, “They gotta figure out getting some easy buckets, you know, just kind of establishing rhythm as opposed to just kind of letting it fly, consistent” (14:11). He emphasizes the need for a balanced offensive approach that includes driving to the basket and drawing free throws to build momentum.

• Free Throw Challenges:

  Delving into the mental hurdles of free-throw shooting, Allen shares, “Imagine a situation in practice where you practice those emotions. It's hard to practice feeling competitive, to practice feeling angry, to practice feeling anxious” (17:31). He highlights the difficulty players face in replicating game-day stress during practice, which can affect their performance at the free-throw line.

• Defensive Strategies:

  Discussing defensive schemes, Allen critiques the lack of paint presence in playoff basketball: “There are so many holes right now in their defense. So that's ultimately a system where it's built around team shooting threes” (22:22). He advocates for a more robust interior defense to complement perimeter shooting.

• Personal Anecdotes:

  Reflecting on his own experiences, Allen reminisces about his debut against Michael Jordan, stating, “He was such a big role model then. Being on the same floor with him, it was just unbelievable” (29:47), underscoring the impact of playing alongside legends on his career.

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3. Hockey Insights and Playoff Dynamics with PK Subban

The episode transitions to hockey, where Dan speaks with PK Subban, an ESPN analyst and former NHL defenseman, about the Toronto Maple Leafs' performance and broader trends in the sport.

• Team Morale and Performance:

  Subban assesses Toronto's mood, saying, “Coming into game two, they should feel pretty good about where they're at and playing a full 60 minutes” (31:57). He suggests that despite some setbacks, the team remains confident and prepared for upcoming challenges.

• Playoff Scoring Trends:

  Addressing the rise in playoff scoring over the past five years, Subban attributes it to increased skill levels and changes in defensive play: “There's way more parity in the game which challenges teams” (38:22). He points out that players are now more versatile and capable of contributing across multiple facets of the game, leading to higher scoring outputs.

• Importance of Goaltenders:

  Subban emphasizes the critical role of goaltenders in the playoffs: “Without a good goaltender, you're probably not getting too far in the regular season, let alone the playoffs” (33:58). He discusses how teams protect their star goalies and the impact of injuries on playoff runs.

• Physicality and Respect in Hockey:

  Delving into the culture of hockey, Subban remarks, “We are the only sport where you can fight a guy and the next day, literally be sitting at the bar having a beer with them after playing a full 60 minutes and fighting next to him” (35:42). He highlights the unique camaraderie and respect that fosters both competitive spirit and team unity.

• One-on-One Battles:

  Subban elaborates on the significance of individual matchups in hockey: “Hockey is a sport of one on one battles. It's all about one on one battles” (42:59). He believes that these individual contests add depth and personal rivalries to the game, enhancing its appeal to fans.

• Star Players and Team Building:

  When asked to choose between Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, Subban opts for Crosby, stating, “To me, he's the best all around player in my generation. He's a winner, he's a champion” (40:18). This choice reflects his emphasis on versatility and leadership in team dynamics.

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Conclusion

Throughout this episode of The Dan Patrick Show, listeners are treated to expert analyses and candid conversations that shed light on pivotal moments and evolving strategies in professional sports. Dan Patrick skillfully navigates discussions with guests Jerry Dulac, Ray Allen, and PK Subban, uncovering the nuanced decision-making and personal experiences that shape today's sports narratives. Whether it's the Steelers' strategic trades, the Celtics' offensive tactics, or the dynamic nature of playoff hockey, this episode offers a comprehensive and engaging exploration of the sports world.

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Notable Quotes

• Jerry Dulac on Steelers' Decision:

  • “When the production outweighs the aggravation, you keep them. When the aggravation outweighs the production, you get rid of them” (02:03)
  • “Aaron Rodgers is a very detailed quarterback and I don't think he has on the field relationship with George Pickens, who is anything but” (03:51)

• Ray Allen on Celtics' Three-Point Strategy:

  • “They gotta figure out getting some easy buckets, you know, just kind of establishing rhythm as opposed to just kind of letting it fly, consistent” (14:11)
  • “Imagine a situation in practice where you practice those emotions. It's hard to practice feeling competitive, to practice feeling angry, to practice feeling anxious” (17:31)

• PK Subban on Playoff Hockey:

  • “Without a good goaltender, you're probably not getting too far in the regular season, let alone the playoffs” (33:58)
  • “We are the only sport where you can fight a guy and the next day, literally be sitting at the bar having a beer with them after playing a full 60 minutes and fighting next to him” (35:42)

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Timestamps Reference

• 02:03 – Jerry Dulac discusses the Steelers' rationale for trading George Pickens.
• 03:51 – Impact of the trade on Aaron Rodgers.
• 14:11 – Ray Allen on Celtics' offensive rhythm.
• 17:31 – Challenges of free-throw shooting in high-pressure situations.
• 33:58 – PK Subban emphasizes the importance of goaltenders in playoffs.
• 35:42 – PK Subban on the unique camaraderie in hockey.

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from "The Best of The Dan Patrick Show" episode, providing listeners with a detailed overview of the topics covered and the expert opinions shared.

Transcript

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[Dan Patrick]

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[Jerry Dulac]

You are listening to the Dan Patrick.

[Dan Patrick]

Show on Fox Sports Radio. The Steelers dump wide receiver George Pickens to the Cowboys for draft picks and I'm not surprised. I think that there was a lot of chatter leading up to the draft that they were trying to do this or they might do this. And then I thought, are they going to draft a wide receiver? Which they didn't. And then George Pickens goes to the Cowboys. You look at the Pittsburgh side of this and you go, what's this mean for Aaron Rodgers? If anything, he's going to say, well, they got DK Metcalf and a couple of guys that not familiar with got a pretty good tight end, got rid of Najee Harris. Maybe it's Mason Rudolph's team, but this guy would know better than I. It's Jerry Dulac joining us again, Steelers coverage with the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and the Steelers Radio Network. How surprised were you that this move took place?

[Jerry Dulac]

Well, I was obviously I wasn't shocked because I knew they were going to move on him at some point. Dan, they were never going to give George Pickens a second contract. That was never going to happen. And I never thought they would just let him walk. When they didn't take a receiver. I thought they were content to go into the season with a, you know, a double barreled receiving room with DK Metcalf And George Pickens. But you know, a coach told me this a long time ago, Dan, and it's still true. When the production outweighs the aggravation, you keep them. When the aggravation outweighs the production, you get rid of them. And that's what happens with George Pickens. They just thought that, you know, they, his teammates. It was a problem in the locker room. It became a problem with Mike Tomlin. It wasn't just his on field temperament and behavior. You know, repeated violations off the field, late for meetings, skipping meetings, late to games. It was just on and on. And it just got to the point where they weren't, especially after they traded for DK Metcalf, they just weren't going to tolerate it anymore.

[Dan Patrick]

Dan, what are the Cowboys getting?

[Jerry Dulac]

They're getting, you know, both a problem and problematic receiver. There's no question he is a big play gu, but, you know, I severely doubt that his on field temperament is going to change. You know, they're going to deal with a guy who's, you know, is he all of a sudden be going to become a Mr. Discipline? I doubt it. I don't mean to pick on a guy. I only know what they saw and what we saw for three years with the Steelers. So there's no question about his talent level. But you know, sometimes it's, it's about more than just talent level in the NFL.

[Dan Patrick]

This move, impact, Aaron Rodgers decision, you.

[Jerry Dulac]

Know, I, I don't think so. They don't think so. I, you know, from their end, it doesn't have any impact at all on whether he signs with the team. I will say this, Dan, and of course, this was certainly no motivation for making the deal. But Aaron Rodgers didn't get to where he is as a future hall of Famer by being an undisciplined, fly by the seat of your pants quarterback, which is kind of the description you can apply to George Pickens. You know, I think Aaron Rodgers is a very detailed quarterback and I don't think he has on the field relationship with George Pickens, who is anything but. That would mesh very well. So you know, it, I don't want to say it might be a blessing, an enticement for Aaron Rodgers to come. I don't think that at all, but I don't know that it would have been a good mix here anyhow.

[Dan Patrick]

Any news on the Aaron Rodgers front?

[Jerry Dulac]

I wish I could tell you something. I mean, I check all the time and you know, they, you know, as I've told you before, he told them up front. He's going to take his time. They are willing to do that. They are still willing to do that. You know minicamp is in, excuse me, OTAs, the rookies are in this weekend and OTAs are start two weeks after that. So there's still time. And then of course you know you get into the minicamp which is I gauge everything about the US Open coming to Oakmont at the 12th through the 15th which is where minicamp is. So you know there's still time for him to come.

[Dan Patrick]

Is there a plan B?

[Jerry Dulac]

Yeah, you touched on it. Mason Rogers. But I think even if that is the case Dan, they will go out and sign some other veteran quarterback. I really don't think they are going to rely on a sixth round pick. Even though I like Will Howard in that spot. I don't think they're really going to rely on a rookie being a backup. Their history has always been to have two quarterbacks with NFL starting experience on their roster. And even though some of those have been picked over, that's one of the downsides of this Aaron Rodgers delay. I still believe they will try to sign some veteran quarterback to come in and be the number two behind Mason Rudolph if Aaron Rodgers falls through. But they firmly believe Daniel, that he is coming.

[Dan Patrick]

But if you look at where they are talent level, you know, are they the third best team in their division, would you put obviously Baltimore, would you put Cincinnati above them?

[Jerry Dulac]

Well, you know Dan, last year after acquiring Russell Wilson and Patrick Queen and DeShawn Elliott and the moves they made, they were nine win team. The year before I automatically thought they were a better team based on their off season. I thought they were a 10 win team. I don't right now think they are a better team than last year. So I don't know if that means it's 10 wins, 11 wins, nine wins or eight wins. I don't think they're an eight win team. You know Mike Tomlins history has shown that they are just not that a sub 500 team. But you know the Bengals, as long as they have that quarterback and their receivers, their defense is very suspect. You know. You know they finished Steelers finished second last year. I don't think they're the best in the division by any stretch. So it might be a coin flip how it goes with the Bengals depending on Joe Burrows health. If he stays healthy they're going to be tough. We saw that at the end of the year.

[Dan Patrick]

Steelers going to pony up for T.J. watt?

[Jerry Dulac]

Yeah, I think so Dan. I, you know, you Go back in their history. I can't think of one player, one of their star players basically in their prime that they have ever let walk. I can't think of one. I go back to Franco Harris, which was toward the end of his career, and Dan Rooney admitted, quietly admitted after that was the biggest professional mistake he ever made. He should have just signed Franco for everything he meant to the franchise. I can't. TJ Watt doesn't want to leave and they don't want him to leave. So I expect that to happen.

[Dan Patrick]

I'll leave you with this with Pittsburgh. Mike Tomlin is not afraid to bring in guys who are suspect the headaches. You know, if you look at Antonio Brown, Le'Veon Bell, Chase Claypool, you got, I mean, they've gone through a lot of wide receivers. It feels like they can't. And then they don't draft one when they need to draft one. Do they get enough critics? Do the Steelers get criticized locally for the kind of the randomness of some of these players that they bring in?

[Jerry Dulac]

I don't think there's any question they get criticized locally for Dan. I mean, and that is one of, you know, to me, I don't want to sit here and call it a Mike Tomlin fault, but Mike Tomlin believes that he can, you know, work through these guys and kind of, you know, get them onto the Steeler way. And you roll the dice with some of those guys and, you know, you look back, you know, even, you know, you look at juju Smith Schuster when he came in, and he's not nearly the problem that some of the other guys were. But you mentioned Chase Claypool, Antonio Brown, and they're still sensitive to everything that happened with Antonio Brown. And that's why they knew they weren't going to give George Pickens a second contract. Because if he was acting this way without the big money, what do you think he was going to do once he got the big money? So, yeah, I think it's. I think the people here are very much aware of it. And I think you pointing it up shows that maybe nationally, some people becoming a little bit more aware of it as well.

[Dan Patrick]

I don't know why I always go back to this play. When Antonio Brown got concussed by Vontes Burfick, it felt like his personality changed. Now you being around the team on a daily basis, but he went from being this great story. He was on the path to be a Hall of Famer. And I don't know if you can pinpoint that concussion that changed Antonio Brown.

[Jerry Dulac]

You know, Dan, that that kind of theory has been advanced. I have been told, you know, medically that that wasn't the case. The Steelers believe that the money changed Antonio Brown. But whatever it was, that sense of entitlement reached a point, you know, they traded him for a fifth round pick. So people think like they're getting short change for a third round pick for George Pickens. They are not. I think they're a little spoiled by the fact that they got a second round pick from for Chase Claypool from the desperate Chicago Bears. Yeah, but, you know, I don't know if you know this or not, Dan. For five years, I did a weekly radio show with Antonio Brown and I did. I liked the kid. I did. But you saw him later the last couple of years change and his insubordination that last year with the Steelers from, from his teammates to his coaches to the general manager to the team owner was unlike anything I've ever seen happen in the Steeler family. And so that's why they had to move on from him.

[Dan Patrick]

Great stuff. We'll be in touch this summer. Thank you, Jerry.

[Jerry Dulac]

All right, Dan. You got it, man.

[Dan Patrick]

All right. Covering the Steelers for decades, Jerry Dula for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette Steelers radio network.

[Ray Allen]

Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our [e-mail] and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to listen live.

[Dan Patrick]

Hey, it's Steve Covino. And I'm Rich Davis and together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and of course, the iHeartRadio app. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich? We talk about everything. Life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved, too. Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino Enrich live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Kovino and Rich, wherever you get your podcast and of course on social media, that's Covino and Rich.

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[Dan Patrick]

Ray Allen, hall of Famer and two time NBA champ joining us on the program. You put up all those numbers in Seattle. You spent five years in Seattle, correct?

[Ray Allen]

Yep.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay. Are those numbers now attached to the Oklahoma City Thunder since the supersonics went to okc? Like, could your jury jersey number be retired by OKC based off what you did in Seattle?

[Ray Allen]

Technically, I think it could be, but I think for tradition speaking, you know, typically you raise a banner or jersey in a place that is kind of familiar to that city and, and nobody in Oklahoma City really had ever watched me play in that city. So I don't think. And it's a ownership mandate as well, so I don't think that would ever happen.

[Dan Patrick]

Is there a building where your jersey is up in the rafters in Seattle?

[Ray Allen]

Yeah. In Karena.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Ray Allen]

It would, I would say possibly, but it's Kia Rena. I don't think. I don't even know what they use it for anymore.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay, here's a couple of things I want to talk to you about. The Celtics keep shooting threes the other night.

[Ray Allen]

Yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

Now you had a game. I think you went over 13 from 3 point range. But as a great shooter, you're told to keep shooting. But at what point do you stop shooting threes? If you're the Celtics the other night or do you stop shooting threes?

[Ray Allen]

Well, the other night I think The Celtics shot 60 threes and they were shooting them at points when the Knicks kept kind of plugging away. And they were plugging away and they were playing, they were playing tougher, they were getting tougher buckets. The Knicks were obviously Brunson was getting so many mid range shots, so he had a great offensive rhythm. I don't think the Celtics ever built their rhythm offensively. Now they take a lot of threes early and they take them throughout the game and when they're going. Because you got multiple guys that shoot threes. And shoot them well. But if you never build a rhythm, you know, get into the basket, get into the free throw line to the mid range game, that's kind of where there was a hole in that game for the Celtics the other night. So to answer your question, they gotta figure out getting some easy buckets, you know, just kind of establishing rhythm as opposed to just kind of letting it fly, consistent. Because it's the playoffs, it changes a lot because now those shots become smaller opportunities and they're shooting quicker and it's important for them to try to figure out a way to, to get some rhythm stuff. Starting the game early.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, I just thought, you know, go inside, get fouled, go to the free throw line, get. Let's, let's break up all this and just get something there. That's what was surprising. But the analytics say, I think to keep shooting the threes, don't they?

[Ray Allen]

Well, obviously, because threes are more than twos, and that's what everybody says. You keep shooting them and they've been highly successful at it. So it's hard to stop what you've been doing and what's made you successful this whole year. But you have to take into account that the game does slow down a little bit more in the playoffs. And you're, you're putting so much pressure on Tatum. He makes a lot of tough threes. Jalen went to the basket and got a layup at one point during, during that fourth quarter. And I was like, okay, that steady the offense a little bit. And you see him, you want him to drive. Because you look at the Knicks defense, you know, there's a lot of holes in their defense if you just drive. There's a couple of times where even Derrick White had the ball in the paint and he, the basket was behind him and he's looking out toward the perimeter as opposed to just turn around and get something easy. And it is, hopefully, you know, they'll look at the film and, you know, I'm sure Missoula will say, these are just shots that we missed. You know, we're all capable of making these shots. But to make it easier on yourself, you know, it's hard in a playoff situation because, you know, you can make those shots. So I just think to start the game tonight, they have to make sure that they, they get to the free throw line early and establish something in the paint from the standpoint of driving and getting some easy stuff, because as a shooter, I'll tell you, I did not want to start a game shooting A3 because if you miss, then you start pressing and then you start pressing. I didn't want to have to feel like I was pressing. In Boston, we had so many good players that score. So I want to make sure I got to the basket early if I could.

[Dan Patrick]

Talking to Ray Allen, former three point shooting contest winner back in 2001. Do you practice missing free throws? We saw that with Tyrese Halliburton because you know he's got to miss the free throw, but you got to miss it correctly to get a chance. Do you practice missing free throws?

[Ray Allen]

Well, I mean, it sounds funny, but you know how to miss dog. And it's just kind of being off. And obviously you're looking to who your best rebounder is on what side. So, yeah, there is some precision to being able to miss a free throw. I can't say that I practiced it, but I definitely know how to aim up there and get it to bounce on one side or the other.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, you did practice making them, though. You did a really good job at that.

[Ray Allen]

I did. I did. I was pretty good at it.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. But I never understood that. Explain to me what happens when guys go to the free throw line and all of a sudden they. They free. They, you know, they, They're. It's not fluid. They like, everything slows, you know, it stops. Maybe that's what it is. Guys are used to moving now. All of a sudden it stops. But the mind games that go on with these guys who can't shoot free throws.

[Ray Allen]

Well, it's similar when you think about golf. When you stand to the tee box and. And they call your name and they say where you're from, all these accolades and all of a sudden they. Everybody's quiet. I was like, oh, keep making noise. I'm comfortable in noise. You know, don't be quiet. I think what people, and I say this a lot with free throws, people don't understand how emotional a free throw is. You know, you think about a guy going to the free throw line and emotions don't always mean anger, but your. Your adrenaline is pumping. You just got knocked on your butt. You know, you're either down to, or you're up to. You just dunked on somebody. All these emotions are inside of you. And for most players, imagine a situation in practice where you practice those emotions. It's hard to practice feeling competitive, to practice feeling angry, to practice feeling anxious, practice feeling desperate. How do you do that in the gym by yourself? And so you have to figure out a way when you practice to take that quiet gym and make yourself tired, make yourself mad, make yourself excited. Because that feeling you have to get used to in a game. And a lot of times then when they get into a game situation, it's a foreign situation for them when they go to that free throw line. Because think about, you take somebody like, like Pritchard, you know, great shooter, had a great year, but how often is he at the free throw line in the fourth quarter if it's not Tatum or Brown?

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah.

[Ray Allen]

So now he goes to free throw line because it gets fouled. It's sometimes it's, it's a foreign circumstance or situation for a lot of players. And, and that's why you do get nervous because it's like, I, I, I'm not used to this and I got to get used to, I got, I got to be better at figuring out the situation.

[Dan Patrick]

One thing that drives me crazy and I'm sure I drive my audience crazy because I bring it up all the time. I never want the best player to beat me. Never. I'm always going to send another guy. I got to get the ball out of your hands. I want somebody who's not used to taking that shot. And if that guy beats me, I live with that. It's like, you know, when Jordan beats Brian Russell, they don't send another guy and like I got to get the ball out of his hands. Right. Like, I don't help me understand that if Jalen Brunson has the ball, I'm going to double, I'm going to get the ball out of his hands. I have to do that. But why don't more coaches do that?

[Ray Allen]

Well, I think it's a double edged sword because when you want, you don't want the best player to beat you, there's some scenarios, some playoff situations you kind of walk into and you, you say he's going to get his 40, but we can't let these other guys get off, you know, so it is each situation from, from series to series, you know, what are you dealing with? Like if you look at Indiana, you got nesmith that had 23 and Turner had 23 and Nemhard had.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, but this is the last shot though. This is the last shot. That's all I'm talking about. Even Halliburton has the ball. That's the guy I know who wants the ball. I have to send another guy his way. I'm not going to let him beat me. And they gave him, you know, he created space but he, I know, but he's only, it's, it's he's got single coverage on it.

[Ray Allen]

Yeah, I mean, you. It's always. We can be perfect defensively as a. As a scheme, you know, going to the game, but we always say, good offense, better defense or good defense, better offense. I'm sorry, you. You. We. We're playing a scheme a certain way, and then a guy makes a tough shot over the top of of us, we have to shake their hand because this league is fold filled with great offensive players. So it can, like I said, it can go either way. You know, we'll run two at a guy because he got hot. Say if a guy has 40 plus, you know, I don't know. Halliburton only had 19 points last night, so it wasn't like he was cooking.

[Dan Patrick]

But he's a closer.

[Ray Allen]

Yeah, but you. You just kind of. You. You live with those odds. Because if you look at defenses and you look at all these. These playoff games, the one thing that you find fascinating is there. There's. There's no paint presence.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah.

[Ray Allen]

Last night, I don't know who. I don't remember. It was Draymond Green. He came straight down the lane and dunked it. And there was no awareness from Minnesota whatsoever. And that's the one thing in playoff basketball that you kind of, you know, you fortify your defense with a paint presence and you work from inside out. And you see that consistently because, you know, so many teams are shooting threes. And then you look at the ball, the way the ball bounced, you know, against, against with the Golden State, and you see how many rebounds they got. And Minnesota's the bigger team. You know, you think about how many rebounds they didn't get. Gobert had 11, and I think Anthony had 14 or somewhere around there. But those balls are bounded so long, so it's spreading the defense out. And then you're trying to figure out what we try to do. On most teams I played on, we tried to keep our big guy in the paint. You know, we rotated. We're playing man to man. So if it was myself and kg, I tried to stay up top and you stayed low. So if somebody did drive, they had to see him. And right now you just don't see that. That fortification of the painting. There's so many holes right now in their defense. So that's ultimately a system where it's built around team shooting threes.

[Dan Patrick]

What's your favorite pair of shoes behind you?

[Ray Allen]

My favorite pair. I'd have to go up. I'd have to go up. 1, 2, 3, 4. If I can show You.

[Dan Patrick]

Oh, my goodness, you got a whole wall.

[Ray Allen]

This one right here.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Ray Allen]

Number four.

[Dan Patrick]

So those are. How many of those are air Jordans?

[Ray Allen]

They're 1 through 30.

[Dan Patrick]

Mike, sign any shoes that you have?

[Ray Allen]

No.

[Dan Patrick]

You wouldn't ask him.

[Ray Allen]

I haven't. Like, I have a jersey. He just hanging on my wall. And I play golf with him regularly. I wouldn't ask him, but I think at some point I should here in the future, just. Just for keepsake. Just have momentum. And I know he would if I asked him, but. But I thought about it, but I haven't done it yet.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay, but if you have them in the back of the golf cart, and then, you know, Mike probably sees them, and then you go, oh, God, yeah, sorry. I thought I was going to leave these in the car. And then you have a Sharpie attached to it. Then all of a sudden, see that.

[Ray Allen]

I'm a vet right here. DP that's like the rookie move to do that. If somebody did that to me, I'd be looking at, like, really? Really, dude.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Ray Allen]

Left it with the Sharpie on the. On taped up to it.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay, what if you send somebody that. You guys. Guys used to do this, where you'd send the clubhouse guy over to get something signed by somebody in the other locker room. Right? Okay.

[Ray Allen]

Yeah, we did that. Did I tell you a story? One time when I was playing in Milwaukee, I was always early, and the bus wasn't there yet, so I took the cab over, and I'm sitting in the locker room. So our equipment manager didn't get our gear out yet. So I'm sitting in the locker room, and I'm antsy, trying to get on the court. And, you know, the United center was always freezing, so you wanted to come, like, bundled. So I'm sitting there, and the equipment guy from the Bulls comes to the locker room. He goes, you guys didn't get here yet? I said, no, they're not here. I'm just waiting on them. He goes, mike's on the other side. You know, he has some stuff. Maybe you want to ask him. And I was like, really? And he's like, yeah, but you got to ask him. You got to go in there and ask him. And, you know, this was. I'm probably like, three years in the league. And I'm like, ask. Go over there and ask. I was like, can you ask for me? He goes, no, you gotta go ask. And so I went in there and I was like, mike, you think could borrow a pair of shoes? And I'm already wearing the shoes. Anyway, I'm under contract and he's like, sure kid, you know. And in the, in the Hall, I walked in, cabinet full of Jordans just like all the way down there. All the shoes. That was cool.

[Dan Patrick]

Where are those shoes?

[Ray Allen]

I don't know, they're somewhere floating. I got so many shoes like tucked everywhere.

[Dan Patrick]

We brought this up yesterday, the hall of Very Good. Like the guys that you played against or with, like Jamal Crawford in the hall of Very Good. Not a Hall of Famer, but you know, hall of Very Good. Who would you put in there? Maybe you played against, you know, contemporaries where you go, that guy should be in the hall of Very Good. Not hall of Famer, but hall of.

[Ray Allen]

Very Good that I played with. I would definitely say two players that just, you know, one in particular that would kill the game today is then Baker. Okay, he, this, he, he was around the basket. I don't think anybody could stop him. And he still could shoot, you know, on the perimeter. He would be really good in today's game. And, and obviously, you know, these are two guys that I played with my rookie year and Glenn Robinson and you know, arguably one of the, the greatest college players of all time. And I think they don't get their, their, their credit, but they were incredible scores. And, and when I watched then nobody could stop them, you know, so they were good and they just ended up not being on teams once they left Milwaukee where they had any, any semblance of success. But I thought they were incredible. And, and so you look at the game today, we don't have those, you know, you talk about those mid range players, you, those pick, great pick and roll players. Think about Terrell Brandon. He, he was dubbed best point guard in the world. Sports Illustrated like this he was, he was split a pick and roll. His mid range game, he was automatic. And I learned a lot from him. You know, just playing with those three guys helped my game tremendously. And we don't have that, that skill level right now in the NBA because of the overuse of the three ball.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, I still keep, I can't get it out of my mind that you're wearing Michael Jordan shoes. Playing against Michael Jordan.

[Ray Allen]

Well, just remember my, my second game in the NBA. My first game was Minnesota Timberwolves and preseason and the second one and I seen the schedule. So I was still in my college apartment when I got the schedule and October 15, 1993, Chicago Bulls, United Center. And I'm sitting there, I still got poster of him on my wall right here in my in my room, and I'm like, I'm about to play against Michael Jordan. So I'm. I'm wearing his shoes on October 15th. I'm stretching, and then I hear the whole introduction. And, you know, I'm used to being on the other side, looking at the tv, watching all this stuff happen. And now I'm like, wow, this is so crazy. I'm inside the TV right now, and then I'm sitting here on the ground stretching, and I'm doing this, and I'm just kind of. And I see the Bulls run out, and he's the last one. And I just. I couldn't believe it, you know, just as much as I watched him and. And kind of, like, studied his game. And he.

[Dan Patrick]

He.

[Ray Allen]

He was kind of. He was such a big role model then. Being on the same floor with him, it was just unbelievable.

[Dan Patrick]

Did he talk trash to you?

[Ray Allen]

No, but at jump ball, he walked over to me and he said, welcome to the NBA, Ray. Like, you just don't understand, like, this, man. He's. He's. You know, to be great, you also have to be intelligent. You know, you can't walk around and be oblivious to the things around you. So he knows everybody who's playing against you study your opponents. You watch the draft. You know who's young and coming to league. And so as us young players, we're so naive to that idea. You start to realize how much you have to immerse yourself in this game. And you have to know every player in the league. You can't just think that, oh, I'm the best player. I don't care about anybody. You really have to study this game and who's in it.

[Dan Patrick]

What's on your shirt? Jesus shooting a jumper, shooting a jump shot. That's not Jesus Shuttlesworth. That's Jesus Shuttlesworth.

[Ray Allen]

But it's a playable.

[Dan Patrick]

I don't know about Jesus form, though, Ray.

[Ray Allen]

Yeah, this one ain't. This one ain't my form. We got. We'll work with him, though. We'll give him a pass. We definitely will give him a pass.

[Dan Patrick]

Thank you, Ray. Good to talk to you again. That's Ray Allen.

[Ray Allen]

Be sure to catch the live edition.

[Dan Patrick]

Of the Dan Patrick show, weekdays at 9am Eastern, 6am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.

[Podcast Host]

Time is precious, and so are our pets. So time with our pets is extra precious. That's why we started Dutch. Dutch provides 24. 7 access to licensed vets with unlimited virtual visits and follow ups for up to five pets. You can message a vet at any time and schedule a video visit the same day. Our vets can even prescribe medication for many ailments and shipping is always free. With Dutch, you'll get more time with your pets and year round peace of mind when it comes to their vet care.

[Dan Patrick]

PK Subin, he's a ESPN analyst and former defenseman, played 13 years in the NHL. Great to have you on PK. What kind of mood do you think Toronto is going to be in tonight when they face Florida?

[PK Subban]

Well, they'd have to be in a pretty good mood. You know, you're up one, nothing at home, still at home, playing in your building again and you know that you maybe didn't play your best game in game one. I think they had a great start, but maybe not the best finish. So coming into game two, they should feel pretty good about where they're at and playing a full 60 minutes.

[Dan Patrick]

But you had an incident where, you know, your goalie takes a elbow to the head, he's throwing up, they take him off like, like you guys, you know, police your own sport here. How does Toronto stay in the game an important game while you still send the message to maybe the most physical team in the NHL?

[PK Subban]

100%. And I think that the best way to send that message is in between the whistles and shift by shift. This is gonna be a long series. There's gonna be ups and downs. As a player, for the most part, leave the media and all the quotes and all that stuff to the fans. As a player, you got to stay focused on what you need to do on the ice. And let's be honest here, nobody knows that the symptoms that, you know, Anthony Stolars was that we all witnessed on the bench were from that hit. I think a lot of people believe that maybe it was from something else, maybe a sickness or from the prior shot do. But that all being said, no one should be speculating on what the injury injury status is of Anthony Stone Polars and made no doubt about it based on the incident. Outside decreased or just inside decrease rather. This was not a significant enough play for this to be anything. This is just playoff hockey and both coaches are doing what they need to do to maintain the edge.

[Dan Patrick]

Explain to me. We talk about goalies standing on their heads like they're going to stop everything. But why is it in that moment we have at least one goalie every. Every playoff, The Stanley cup final, where you go, I'll be damned. Like he's winning a series, winning a Stanley cup championship.

[PK Subban]

Yeah, for sure. And I feel like it's. Goaltending has become more and more important every year, and it's always been important. You know, playing hockey, it's the ultimate team sport, but we have an individual position that can really dictate whether you are a competitive team, a contending team, or you're not even close. And without a good goaltender, you're probably not getting too far in the regular season, let alone the playoffs. So when it comes to playoff times, we're seeing the best goaltenders, you know, on the most competitive teams going at it. And, you know, we're seeing that every night now. What we're also seeing is a lot of contact in the crease. A lot of that is due to. Because players are doing whatever they can to disrupt any, you know, any groove that the goaltender might be in, any rhythm that he might be in. You want to disrupt that by flash screens and getting physical in the crease. Well, sometimes that boils over. You know, Sam Bennett's going into the crease. Yeah, I know he says, anthony stole our buddy, but he's going in there. You know, if he makes contact, I mean, no one's upset about that. And let's be real, if you hurt the number one goaltender, you know, a third or fourth line guy runs. And this is something that we got to talk about in hockey is all it takes is one player to say, you know what? I'm going to go in there and, you know, whatever happens, happens. But, you know, you lose that player for a couple games, that's one thing, but losing a number one goaltender for the playoffs is another. And, you know, I've been on that side. Right. When we lost Kerry Price against the Rangers in the conference final, that was the end of our run. So they're trying to protect the goaltenders the best that they can, but that play on the crease wasn't. Wasn't anything to gawk at, wasn't anything too crazy.

[Dan Patrick]

What's it like to fight somebody and then he turns out to be your teammate at some point in your career?

[PK Subban]

There's a lot in hockey. This is what makes our sport so special. And, you know, Brian Birch says the hockey fraternity is the best fraternity in all of sports, and I believe them. But it starts for that simple reason. We are the only sport where you can fight a guy and the next day, literally be sitting at the bar having a beer with them after playing a full 60 minutes and fighting next to him. Right? So we're the only sport that does that. It's about honor it's all about your teammates and team first and the willingness to do anything for the team. That's, that's what fighting really is in hockey.

[Dan Patrick]

When do you start fighting in hockey? At what age or is it acceptable?

[PK Subban]

Well, I mean, oftentimes now because we're in the world of social media, I get all these reels and these tweets at me every day of like these little nine year old kids having brawls on the ice in different parts of like, you know, this just happens in hockey. It happens all the time. It happens in all sports. But it's funny to me when I see the little kids doing it in hockey, you know, because they're watching everything on tv. But, you know, I'll keep it real. People talk about our sport the time, they don't talk about the respect and there's a lot of respect in it. They talk about it a little bit, but you know, not to the degree that they probably should. And the level of respect in the game of hockey is, I think it's unmatched in any other sport because of the physicality and the danger in our sport. And when you talk about fighting, there's such a respect in regards to fighting that if you do it the wrong way, you know you're gonna have everybody, including your teammates, not happy with you. So, you know, that's the respect that fighting sort of garners when you drop the gloves. We all know it's something that you have to be willing to do and not everybody's willing to do it. So I think for kids it's not in the forefront for them. You know, we stress skill and Alice, because you got to entertain. At the end of the day, this is sports entertainment. So the fighting part, you know, is a part of the game, but the entertainment goes way up, right? The entertainment though has to meet the skill as well. So we got to have a balance of both and I think we have that in the league. But fighting for me doesn't really start, doesn't really start until the kids are about 14 or 15. Usually once you get to junior and even then it's like a choice. If you don't want to fight, you don't have to.

[Dan Patrick]

P.K. subin of the Mothership ESPN analyst and second round playoff action coming up tonight. It's a double header. It's the Maple Leafs Panthers and then it'll be the Dallas Stars Winnipeg Jets. Playoff scoring is up again. I think this is, I think this might be the fifth consecutive year playoff scoring is going up. Why is that?

[PK Subban]

I think it's the style, style of play, the way teams are built, obviously it's the way the game is policed as well with officiating. You can't hook and hold anymore, you can't clutch and grab, you can't cross check. You can't do all those things as a defenseman, you know, to impede players. You know, guys are also coming into the league way more skilled. When I came into the league, you knew that their third and fourth line probably weren't scoring any goals. They could run around, hit. But now you got goal scorers and multi, multi point guys on the third and fourth line. I was just talking about this last night about Edmonton with, you know, Corey Perry scoring that beautiful goal in that passing play with McDavid. But Corey Perry was a 50 goal scorer in, in the OHL like Corey Perry was 100 point guy in the. Oh, Corey Perry is a former mvp, a Stanley cup champion playing on the fourth line and up and down their lineup, you know, and when you look at the Detroit Red Wings back in the day, Kirk Molpy, you know, Darren McCarty, Parthy, you know, excuse me, I'm missing another name here. But they had Danny Cleary, they had a bunch of guys that played those roles, those third and fourth line roles when they got to the NHL, but were skilled players in junior hockey. So I think there's a lot of more talent in the league, a lot more skill. You know, there's way more parity in the game which challenges teams. I think the star players have to do a lot more every night, which is more difficult to do so and there's more teams now, so you have more skilled players. So I think there's no off nights now. You could circle your, you know, calendar and for the games that were point nights, even in the playoffs, you knew that you were playing against teams that were going to give up a lot. Now it's just difficult to do that. You got to play disciplined game and you got to have skilled players that can check both sides of the puck. And I think we're seeing the game at probably its highest point in a long time.

[Dan Patrick]

I'll let you start your team with Sid Crosby or Alex Ovechkin.

[PK Subban]

Sidney Crosby. First of all, I'll always take a Canadian player over any country. I am Canadian. This is our sport, folks. I know I work for ESPN in America, but hockey is our sport. So I'm always going to go with the Canadian. But you know, I'll say this about both Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin I mean, how lucky was the NHL to have two ambassadors like that over the past two decades, you know, and we're hoping to have them around a lot longer too. Neither of them is slowing down and you can see the age, but the performance hasn't really dropped that much. And there's such. They're premier athletes, premier professionals, and most of all premier people. The way they've represented the game. So to have either or of those guys would be a huge win. They're both champions. Like I said, great ambassadors, great teammates. But I'm going with Sidney Crosby. To me, he's the best all around player in my generation. He's a winner, he's a champion. And once again, he's got that Canadian maple syrup running through his veins. That's the X factor, Dan.

[Dan Patrick]

Utah has their nickname.

[PK Subban]

Is it the Mammoth? Did I see that? Yeah, the Mammoth.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. What do you think?

[PK Subban]

What do you think of that?

[Dan Patrick]

I kind of like the, the Utah Hockey Club.

[PK Subban]

You like the Utah? You know, me too. I did like it. I did like it. Just playing, it was starting to grow on me, especially towards the end. But you know, I will say this, Dan, as a fan, because I still consider myself a big sports fan. That's why I do this now, is that I'm a fan of sports. Is that the fan does love those logos. They like having that logo, like the Chicago Black Box logo. To have that.

[Dan Patrick]

That's the best logo. That's the best logo in sports.

[PK Subban]

It is, it is. And I think for Utah, they want the opportunity to create something. Create something iconic. So I understand having a proper name and a proper logo. I get that. But I share that with you do. I'm the same way. I loved Utah Hockey Club. I love the simplicity of it.

[Dan Patrick]

I did in basketball you guard guys, you know, guys who guard Michael or Larry or Kobe. And in hockey, we don't really kind of single out it's a one on one match up there. It's like, it's like us against them. But did. How often do you have those one on one moment like with Ovechkin? How often did you have a one on one where it's like, you know, this might not end well.

[PK Subban]

Oh my God. It's such a great question. Hockey is a sport of one on one battles. It's all about one on one battles. If you watch the game of hockey, it's one on one battles all over the ice. It's a one up. It's. It's a team sport. But you have to Beat the guy across the line from it. So when we line up for that face off, there's the centerman, he's got to be better than the centerman. The wingers got to be better than the wingers, and the D got to be better than the D. And I know who's on the other side. I know when I'm playing. Eric Carlson, Drew Doughty, Cale McCarr, Victor. There had been. My job is to outdo those guys. So it's individual, this is competition, it's pro sports. So it's very much one on one. And that's what we want. We want our athletes to take it on. And part of my responsibility as an ex player now being on the broadcast is to bring those battles to the forefront for the audience and people watching to see and participate in. Because you don't have an opportunity to hear what the players are saying on the ice all the time, or on the court or on the field. You don't always have the opportunity to know that there's bad blood or that these players have a history. So it's our job as the analysts and the talent on air to paint that picture of the story. And last night we got a good glimpse of McDavid and Jack Eiffel going back and forth. But in my time it was, you know, even when I came into the league, it was more rich than that. And I think that hockey is now starting to take ownership of those one on one battles. We saw it at the Four nations between Brandon Hagel and Matthew Tkachuk and we want to continue to build on those storylines and I think the players are buying into it and it's, it's really helping our game.

[Dan Patrick]

Is there anybody you could see that you might still want a piece of, like, just in regular life?

[PK Subban]

That's a great, great question. Let me see. Which guy would I want a piece of? You know, and I don't hate. It's not that I hate him at all. I love them. But I'm going to tell you why I would want a piece of them. And I don't even know if I'd do anything if I had a chance, but let's just say I had a chance. We'd probably be Chris Crowley, because, you know, my best chance to win the Stanley cup with Montreal was that conference final when he collided with Gary Price. So, you know, I mean, every Montreal Canadiens fan and every player on that team shares that same view with me. You know, Crystal maintains that it was an accident and I believe him.

[Dan Patrick]

But let's say you're, you're at Starbucks and he's in line at Starbucks and you see him. Would you, you wouldn't cross check him? You would not?

[PK Subban]

No, I wouldn't cross check him. No, no. And I, I feel even bad throwing them into the mix like that. But no, I wouldn't because, you know, it's. No one's bigger than the game, even me. And even though that may have been my best chance to win a Stanley cup, there's a lot of guys out there who dream about winning the Stanley cup and there's a lot of guys who have before me and didn't get a chance to win one. So, you know, I would never take, I never take myself too seriously when it comes to other people. It's about the game. So I, maybe I throw a little elbow, like a Messier elbow to the ribs or something like that. Maybe I hit him with one of.

[Dan Patrick]

Those Messier looks like he could still play.

[PK Subban]

Oh. I mean, don't take this the wrong way. I mean, he is my teammate and I work with him, so I'm going to pump his tires on air. But he could probably be on the front cover of GQ as well. He's a good looking guy. I haven't met a woman yet who doesn't ask me about Mark Messier and what his whole, what his whole treatment regime is and how he keeps his skin so nice and all that. I'm like, guys, I'm 35. What about me? Like, you know, black don't crack. Come on, give me a break. Mess is taking all my shine. But no, he, he takes, he takes really, really good care of himself and, you know, he's a happy guy. You know, I also believe this. As time goes on, if you're a happy person, it shows in your energy and you know, I love, there's nothing better than I love to do at work. It's a Super Bowl. If I get a laugh out of Mess because he's got that big grin and that big laugh, it's just fun to see him laugh. So. No, he takes good care of himself and he does look like he can play. I went on the ice with him in L. A for that charity for, to raise money for the fires. And I told him right away, like his presence on the ice, now I know why they call him Moose. I know why they call him the Moose now because he's just so big and you could just feel his presence. And it was pretty cool to touch the ice with him in la.

[Dan Patrick]

Great to talk to you. Hope you're doing well. Thanks for joining us.

[PK Subban]

Thanks Dan. Hope to come back back on soon man. Thank you. Thanks for having me.

[Podcast Host]

PK Subin Time is precious and so are our pets. So time with our pets is extra precious. That's why we started Dutch. Dutch provides 247 access to licensed vets with unlimited virtual visits and follow ups for up to five pets. You can message a vet at any time and schedule a video visit the same day. Our vets can even prescribe medication for many ailments and shipping is always free. With Dutch, you'll get more time with your pets and year round peace of mind when it comes to their vet care. You're listening to an iHeart podcast.