Hot Takedown - podcast cover

Hot Takedown

FiveThirtyEight, 538, Neil Paine, Geoff Foster, Sara Zieglerwww.espn.com
Hot Takedown is the weekly sports podcast from FiveThirtyEight. On it, the crew uses numbers to dissect the week in sports, taking down some silly hot takes in the process.
Last refreshed:
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Download Metacast podcast app
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

The LeBrometer

Justin Tinsley joins the team to talk LeBron's return to form, the Stanley Cup Finals and the Howard U. soccer team from 1971 stripped of its title because of a statistic.

Jun 14, 201651 min

Why Can't You Outrun A Cheetah?

The HTD team talks about the NBA Finals, the usefulness of statistics when discussing Muhammad Ali and the USMNT's poor start to the Copa America.

Jun 07, 201647 min

The Thunder Really Did Blow It

The HTD crew discusses the Warriors' return from the dead, are joined by Chris Herring to talk African-Americans and analytics and look at who is going to win the Stanley Cup.

May 31, 201650 min

The Game Is 48 Minutes Long

The gang discusses the NBA Conference Finals, whether African-Americans talk about analytics with ESPN's Michael Wilbon and the goings-on at Rolland Garros.

May 24, 201654 min

Bonus: Ben Lindbergh Takes Over A Team

Ben Lindbergh talks about taking over a baseball team with sabermetrics. This is a cross-post of a recent episode of What's The Point. Subscribe: fivethirtyeight.com/podcast

May 20, 201634 min

The Ball Actually Does Lie

The HTD crew discusses the Western Conference Finals, concussions in women's sports and the centuries-old data set that helps us determine who really is the G.O.A.T in sumo.

May 17, 201646 min

Is It History Or A Hot Streak?

The HTD crew discusses the Chicago Cubs, the WNBA stars who play overseas in the off-season and long shot candidates in sports and politics with 538's Harry Enten.

May 10, 201653 min

Epidemic? What Epidemic?

The HTD triptych discusses legendary Leicester City's EPL title win, the quality of quarterbacks in the NFL and the reasons behind the decline in Tommy John surgeries.

May 03, 201650 min

NBA Seasons Should Last 16 Games

The HTD crew discusses how Steph Curry's injury impacts the Warriors' playoff hopes, the Cubs' fast start to the season and the Stanley Cup with the Wash Po's Neil Greenberg.

Apr 26, 201647 min

Analytics Has Killed Future Kobes

The HTD crew talks to Bill Barnwell about the mega-trade between the Rams and the Titans, discusses Kobe Bryant's fraught relationship with analytics and previews the NWSL.

Apr 19, 201650 min

Emergency Pod! The Warriors Win 73

Chad Matlin and Neil Paine look at the eye-popping numbers that describe the Warriors' record-breaking season, and ask if anyone has a chance of beating them in the playoffs.

Apr 14, 201613 min

Nobody Can Outsmart The Draft

The HTD crew discusses Jordan Spieth's historic collapse in the final round of the Masters, argues about the downfall of Sam Hinkie and previews this season's NHL playoffs.

Apr 12, 201652 min

It's The Narrative Not The Numbers

The HTD crew discusses the NCAA men's final; Allison McCann joins to talk wage discrimination in women's soccer and Neil Paine delivers a special SigDig on the Warriors.

Apr 05, 201643 min

Syracuse Is A Spring Miracle

The HTD crew gabs about Syracuse's run to the final four in the men's and women's NCAA tournaments, the return of baseball and the Cricket World Cup with ESPN's Andrew Miller.

Mar 29, 201654 min

There's A Dearth Of Data In The WNBA

Sue Bird joins the HTD crew to discuss the data gap in women's sports, the madness of this year's NCAA tournament and the sexism row that's rocking the world of tennis.

Mar 22, 201655 min

It's March Madness Everybody!

The HTD team discuss NCAA tournament brackets, why Kansas is 538's favorite to win on the men's side and whether anyone has a hope in hell of beating UConn on the women's.

Mar 15, 201650 min

Live From Sloan w/ Morey And Battier

Shane Battier and Daryl Morey join HTD to discuss NBA box score stats, bracketology and what happened to the Rockets this season. Recorded in front of a live audience!

Mar 12, 20161 hr 2 min

The Warriors' Haters Are Wrong

The Hot Takedown crew discuss why we shouldn't listen to the Warriors' critics, whether the NBA should move the three-point line back and if Gerrit Cole ought to be paid more.

Mar 01, 201649 min

Canadian Hockey Is In The Doldrums

The Hot Takedown crew discuss where it went wrong for Canadian hockey, how Daytona 500 races are getting closer and closer and why Anthony Davis's 59/20 game is so rare.

Feb 23, 201645 min

Hot Takedown - Super Bowl Statistics Special

Chadwick Matlin, Neil Paine and Kate Fagan discuss Cam Newton's confidence, Peyton Manning's terrible season and the hot takery of the Super Bowl's off week.

Feb 02, 201640 min

Hot Takedown - NBA Stat School

Statman Neil Paine gives Kate Fagan and Chadwick Matlin a tour of basketball scoring stats, from points per game through usage percentage.

Dec 29, 201531 min
Hosted on Libsyn
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android