And no that isn't a typo in the title of this Episode - #32 - of The Puck & Hoop Podcast. It's a pun-nish commentary on just what Summer is for those who live in the World of Puck & Hoop... particularly if you are Raptors or Leafs fan, becaUSE CHANGES ARE COMING. Just wait & see. As for expectations? Well we just happen to be at the outset of what could be the most revolutionary basketball talent to ever lace up a a pair of sneakers. Too much hype? Wait & See. Enjoy Ep32.

If you are musically inclined you may have gleaned there is a semi-solid reference to a classic Stevie Wonder album in the title of this episode. But that's a topic for another podcast down the road. And speaking of roads, we have reached the end of the PLAYING roads in Puck & Hoop. Shout to the Denver Nuggets and the Vegas Golden Knights. Worthy Champs both. And a special mention goes out to Kitchener, Ontario's Jamal Murray. Two years of rehab Hell that culminates with the Larry-O. Now that's a bit of all right, as the Brits say. Enjoy Episode 31!

And no, the title of Episode 30 is not just a lame play on the Miami NBA franchise's name. It's actually kind of the underlying theme for this episode of TP&HP.

The heat IS on for the Nuggets, who are the favourites but find themselves in a serious dogfight with the Pitbull-esque Heat. As it is for the Florida Panthers who face the daunting task of digging out of 2-love hole to the mammoth Vegas Golden Knights. And the heat is mos def on newly-appointed Leafs GM Brad Treliving for a myriad of reasons. Oh and for Ja Morant? We all know what kind of water he's in right now and it ain't no ice bath. Enjoy Episode 30.

Those who notice these things will catch which one's which in the title of this episode, but yes we FINAL-ly have the combatants for Lord Stanley's Mug and The Larry O (thank you Kwahi). And yes it sure looks like So. FLA is the place to be for the next few weeks with both the Heat and the Panthers in the midst of epic runs. Too bad the teams they are both facing are playing at their respective best right now. At any rate there will be no shortage of compelling story lines to follow in both PUCK & HOOP. Enjoy episode 29... oh and pay attention to the disclaimer up front of this episode. Wassup Tree!?

It must be something in the water.

Or maybe it's just having franchises that at the very core is a steely determination backed by relentlessness and toughness... means you are bound for play-off success.

And maybe a championship. Or two.

The Miami Heat are manhandling the Boston Celtics and the Florida Panthers are up 2-0 after winning both games in Carolina.

Two So.FLA franchises who scraped into their respective play-offs by the thinnest of margins are poised to compete for the Stanley Cup and the Larry O.

Watch out for Florida. Man. Enjoy Episode 28.

NB/ EDITOR'S NOTE: THE EDITING SOFTWARE WE UTILIZE TO PUT THIS PODCAST TOGETHER HAS DEVELOPED A GLITCH. TO THAT EXTENT THERE ARE SOME NOTICEABLE AUDIO DROPOUTS IN THIS EPISODE. I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY DISRUPTION OR DISPLEASURE THIS MAY CAUSE IN YOUR LISTENING. WE ARE EFFORTING TO GET TO THE ROOT OF THIS ISSUE TO PREVENT IT REOCCURRING IN FUTURE EPISODES.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE MAPLE LEAFS IT WAS PATENTLY OBVIOUS THAT CHANGE WAS INEVITABLE. WHEN IT COMES TO JA MORANT IT IS NOW PATENTLY OBVIOUS THIS DUDE JUST CAN'T GET OUT OF HIS OWN AND CONTINUES TO MAKE BAD CHOICES. NOW BOTH OF THESE THINGS MAY WIND UP WORKING OUT IN A POSITIVE FASHION, BUT MAN... THE PATHS TO GET THERE JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT MORE DIFFICULT, INTERESTING, ROCKY, ALL OF THE ABOVE? ENJOY EPISODE 27, SORRY ABOUT THE AUDIO GLITCHES.

Fate. Destiny. Pre-ordained. Kismet. Call it what you will, it's seemingly never going to be in the Leafs favour. The path was there for a long play-off run, but the florida Panthers had other ideas. And so, once again, us Leafs fans are left to look to next year. Hoping things will be different, knowing that it's unlikely to be much different than the previous 56. Good thing this is The Puck AND Hoop podcast, huh? At least I have the spirited play of the Lakers, the forever rival Sixers-Celtics series, the sublime return to form of Jamal Murray and the unrelenting toughness of Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry to distract from yet another crushing Leafs non-result. Enjoy Episode 26.

Yet somehow we managed a little over 20 minutes talking about how this 'supposedly' great Leafs team is writing a narrative that most thought impossible to even consider. Yet here it is. The Leafs are about to get swept out of the 2nd round of Stanley Cup Play-offs. Lets just leave that there and deal with it when it actually happens. Okay? Okay. So, how about those NBA play-offs? Mat Ishbia... yes ownership has it's privileges, but lets not get carried away here huh. Episode 25, like Ontario, it's yours to discover.

#GOLEAFSGO. Please.

"The situation is desperate, but not hopeless." - Fred Flintstone circa 3200 B.C.

Ok not exactly how I thought this week would turn out for my Maple Leafs, but if this was meant to be easy it wouldn't be so hard. Don't think about that one for too long, just accept it. Anyway the Leafs played well enough to win and made just enough mistakes to lose. No problem right? They've won on the road before - so long Tampa !!! - so why not do it again. Milwaukee Bucks say see-ya to Mike Budenholzer. Didn't the Raps do a little dance with him before signing Nick Nurse? I think he still has two left feet, so please Masai STAY AWAY! And the NBA Play-offs? They're FANTASTIC! By teh way Steph Curry can DIME!

#GOLEAFS GO

OKAY. I know this is called THE PUCK & HOOP PODCAST... but you will have to pardon me if we - and by we I mean me, Brian - got a little carried away with the recent turn of events. To say the least. 19 years in the making the Leafs have FINALLY won a round in the play-offs. Slaying dragons, redemption, monkeys off backs, blah, blah. Whatever you want to call it, they got the job done. Now the real work begins. We're on to Florida. Yes Boston choked. Enjoy