Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | ESPN App | Download | RSS | New to podcasts?
Welcome to the latest episode of Hot Takedown, FiveThirtyEight’s sports podcast. On this week’s show (May 31, 2016), we discuss the Golden State Warriors’ return from the brink of elimination in the Western Conference Finals and ask whether they only won because the Thunder blew it. Then, we follow up on our interview with Michael Wilbon last week and chat with Chris Herring from The Wall Street Journal about whether African-Americans are really averse to analytics. Finally, it’s Stanley Cup Finals time, which means Neil Greenberg from The Washington Post returns to tell us what the Pittsburgh Penguins’ victory over the San Jose Sharks in Game 1 means for the rest of the series. Plus, a significant digit on Christian Pulisic, the teenage American soccer star who holds the hopes of a nation in his hands.
- Ben Morris said before Game 6 of the Western Conference finals, Steph Curry had lost his shot.
- ESPN Stats & Information Group showed how the Warriors flipped the switch in Game 7.
- ESPN’s J.A. Adande says the Warriors-Cavs final is a rematch made in heaven.
- Here is ESPN’s look at the analytics behind the NBA Finals matchup.
- Dave Schilling in The Guardian says Michael Wilbon is wrong in that discussion about sports analytics not existing in “BlackWorld.”
- Bryan Curtis wrote last year for Grantland that older pundits are waging a second statistical war against analytics.
- Also last year, Howard Beck broke down how black coaches are disappearing from the NBA.
- Neil Greenberg says the Penguins will have to stop the Sharks’ power play if they are going to win the Stanley Cup.
- And ESPN Stats and Information breaks down the numbers behind the Penguins’ win in Game 1.
- Significant Digit: 17 years, 253 days. That’s how old Christian Pulisic was when he became the youngest player ever to score for the USMNT in a 4-0 friendly win against Bolivia on Saturday. You can watch the goal.
If you’re a fan of our podcasts, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating/review. That helps spread the word to other listeners. And get in touch by email, on Twitter or in the comments. Tell us what you think, send us hot takes to discuss and tell us why we’re wrong.
