For the first time in about a month, all three of us are in the same place. Robert Horry is back to work (and a little cranky about it), Harp is back from the casino, and Rob Jenners is off the road. Episode 282 of the Big Shot Bob Podcast.
We start with the WNBA Finals. A'ja Wilson has five MVPs, so who's her NBA comp? Then the fight: Game 6 between the Dream and the Valkyries tips at 12:30 on a weekday in Atlanta and airs on E! and SyFy. Harp says the NBA should have stepped in for its little sister. Rob says this one is on the WNBA. Rob Horry has a simpler fix, and a story about the Lakers getting rushed off the floor in Philly to celebrate a title in a back hallway.
From there: is State Farm Arena the best building in the league when Atlanta actually shows up? The Knicks sent employees a fake championship ring email as a phishing test, then handed assistant coaches empty boxes. That leads to Horry pulling out his own rings on camera and explaining why the '95 Rockets ring, from his favorite title, is the worst one he owns.
Also this week: Jalen Williams' ankle injury and why nobody needs the slow-mo replay, Kawhi's knee (again), LeBron's golf swings during the anthem, a Warriors rookie getting under Luka's skin, and the defensive rule Horry teaches kids that you will never forget. Plus the Cavs blowing two big leads, the early unbeaten and winless teams, and Harp finally turning in his playoff picks with a week of games in his back pocket.
We close with college football picks (Auburn-Ole Miss, Georgia-Florida, Northwestern-Oregon, Miami-UNC, Ohio State-USC), a fight over whether Harp gets credit for the weeks he missed, Big Shot of the Week, and a higher-or-lower game on new guys in new uniforms.
00:00 Intro: the whole crew is back
02:09 WNBA Finals and A'ja Wilson's five MVPs
03:48 Game 6 at 12:30 PM: whose fault is it?
09:41 The Hawks floor and no on-court celebration
14:59 Is State Farm the best arena in the NBA?
18:16 Darkened crowds and viral fans
20:20 Knicks ring phishing scam and empty boxes
22:27 Horry's championship rings, best to worst
29:02 Jalen Williams' injury and the replay problem
31:42 Kawhi out again with knee inflammation
34:41 LeBron's anthem golf swings and Sixers ratings
36:51 Warriors rookie vs. Luka
40:05 Horry's defense rule (and a T-shirt idea)
42:11 Cavs collapses, unbeaten and winless teams
45:19 Harp's playoff picks: East
48:24 West picks and the Lakers' big man problem
53:56 College football picks
1:03:27 Big Shot of the Week
1:04:43 Game: Welcome Back, higher or lower