Le Batard & Friends Network

Jimmy Butler makes his highly anticipated return to Miami as the Golden State Warriors take on the struggling Miami Heat. Amin and guest cohost Jeremy Tache reflect on Butler's time in South Beach, and analyze Draymond Green and Butler' differing takes on how much this game means. With the Heat struggling this year, should Erik Spoelstra or Pat Riley should be feeling the pressure? We close the show with the first-ever edition of Shot Clock, an NBA trivia tic-tac-toe game show from the mind of Jeremy Tache!

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Today’s word of the day is ’bar’ as in raise the bar as in set the bar as in expectations as in Paul Skenes. He’s entering Year 2. Opening Day starter. Cy Young favorite. He spoke with a reporter about what he thinks of the Pirates. What he means to the team. (9:20) Andrew Miller spoke yesterday about salary caps and dynasties in baseball. He now works for the MLBPA. (18:40) The Minnesota Twins want to sell. The Twins owners want $1.7 billion. The Twins hold a ton of debt. The Twins will still sell. (26:01) So You Wanna Talk to Samson!? Someone asked me about the Giants and Red Sox approaches to the game and spending. Who will be right? (37:00) A national security failure already. What a world we live in. (43:55) NPPOD. (46:15) The college basketball transfer portal has opened up. A record number of players in there. The system is broken. It’s all broken!

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Don't be fooled by the standings or the calendar: Amin lets guest cohost Jeremy Tache know that the playoffs have already begun! The Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets are battling for the No. 2 seed in the West, while the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a brutal loss to the Chicago Bulls that may have knocked them out of contention. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder compete for the best record in the NBA to claim home court advantage in the Finals. Steph Curry’s injury raises concerns about the Golden State Warriors' chances of holding onto the No. 6 seed with the red-hot Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Clippers right on their heels. Plus, Jeremy gives his definitive take on the MVP race between Nikola Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and what "Most Improved Player" really means.

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This week on Underdogs, Jordan and Peter investigate the curious case of the missing killers in this year’s tournament, and why the transfer portal could make March Madness Cinderellas a thing of the past. But first, we’re not giving up on BYU to bust some brackets this week. Plus, the guys take their victory lap for calling Drake and McNeese to upset in the first round.

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Today’s word of the day is ’crystal ball’ as in seeing into the future as in MLB season is here as in rosters as in cuts as in rotations as in big decisions. From Mookie Betts being sick to Jordan Montgomery not making the rotation to Mitch Haniger being cut by the Mariners. There are so many decisions being made this week; forced or chosen. (15:45) The March Madness is madness’ing this year. No Cinderellas. Only power conferences. (32:50) Review: Severance Season 2. (36:08) Dan Hurley is the most outspoken coach in college basketball right now. Love him or hate him, but he’s going to say what’s on his mind. Is an ACC/Big East merger coming? (45:30) NPPOD. (46:45) Let’s talk about what MLB quietly did over the weekend. 

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Welcome in Mike Matheny! 4x time Gold Glove winning catcher! Former manager of the Cardinals and Royals! He’s also an author! He takes us inside the process of his new book The Dad Coach - How to Lead Kids to Succeed On and Off the Field.

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Today’s word of the day is ’consortium’ as in the Boston Celtics as in the NBA as in ownership as in $6.1 billion. Wow. How are these teams being paid for? What does the future of ownership look like? Is expansion coming? (12:50) The Los Angeles Angels have banned cell phones from the clubhouse. That will do the trick! The losing is over! (20:20) Is ESPN looking to get back into business with MLB? Maybe! (33:41) Review: Flow. (36:09) NPPOD. (47:12) Michigan had a problem. Now the former co-offensive coordinator has even bigger problems.

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The shipping container is worried that we may have reached a critical mass when it comes to the amount of TSA Pre-check members at the airport. Taylor and Jessica wonder how many times Tracy Morgan would be allowed to throw up on the court as long as the Knicks are winning and could we just replace Tony with his brother without anyone noticing?

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Billy, Mikey A and Fuentes run through the headlines from the NFL with a game of "Here's a Headline" including the latest with Aaron Rodgers, a new QB flying up the draft boards and Bengals wide receivers getting all the money. Billy introduces the Bracket Bonanza which crowns a new champion in 2025. "Will is pass" hits Mikey's favorite time of the off season. And more Mikely's has the guys looking at draft busts.

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What happens when every NBA team loses its best player? Amin and Izzy analyze how teams would perform without their biggest stars. They break down the New York Knicks without Jalen Brunson, the Los Angeles Lakers without LeBron James (not Luka Doncic), and the Milwaukee Bucks without Giannis Antetokounmpo. Does Oklahoma City become a lottery team without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? To close the show, ’tis the season: they fill out a bracket and decide which team would take first without its star.

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