The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 05/24/2021 - HOUR 2 - Right and wrong, NBA

Episode Date: May 24, 2021

Where Colin was right and wrongThe face of the NBA has to be able to shoot wellGuest: Derek Harper Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

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Listen and learn the hard way on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversation.

with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox SportsRodio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeart Radio app by searching herd you're listening to fox sports radio ah here we go on a monday

first hour flew by live in los angeles it's the herd wherever you may be and however you may be listening a fox sports radio i heart radio and fs one it is a pleasure to have you in the first round is great this this really is i know sometimes you know everybody's saying this is the greatest and That is the greatest. But Boston, Brooklyn, that series is not going to last long because the bottom of the east, the middle of the Eastern Conference is pretty weak. Washington doesn't have much of a chance against Philadelphia. But with Donovan Mitchell's health, he was supposed to play and didn't play last night,

the number one seated jazz lost at home. That's a real series. Denver, Portland, that's a real series. Dallas beats Clippers. That's a real series. And the sons are just Devin Booker's two towns. talented. Chris Paul's too talented. There's going to be some legs on that series. So out west, these are really good opening round playoff series. And I'm not a huge fan of seven game first

round playoff series. Stefan LeBron played last week, got a huge rating because there's urgency. It was just a playing game. So Joy Taylor's joining me. But I do think there's a couple of Eastern series which are going to be, you know, they're going to be over. We know Boston without Jalen Brown. they just don't match up with Brooklyn. That thing's over fast. We know that, right? Well, you just can't keep up with the scoring. I mean, obviously defensively, you'd like Jalen out there too,

but you lose someone like Jalen Brown, and you've got Kyrie, KD, and Hardin on the other side. You just can't produce the amount of points. But there is, and it is refreshing. You've got, you know, it's funny. Devin Booker was really good for Phoenix for years, but he needed somebody to kind of lead him into stuff. And then he's got Chris Paul now.

And Chris Paul couldn't shoot in the second half because he banged up his shoulder. but he was still on the floor. Devin Booker was insane. He is just a, some guys just are as basketball players, it's just the body language, it's the move. Devin Booker was built to score. Yeah, well, he has ultimate confidence. And that's what, I mean, Kobe had this. Yes, you have to have a shooter.

Some guy, just every, his body, he can just nudge and get in the way. Some of it's taught. Some of it is just, he's just natural. Devin Booker was built to score a bunch of points. All right, Colin right, Colin wrong, brought to you by Jersey Mike's subs. Good things come to those who wait. At Jersey mics, you don't have to wait. Order ahead. Download the app now through May 23rd. Code to buck off your order. Here we go. Where Colin was right. I warned you all last week about the Clippers' late game issues. They look like a bunch of talented

guys at the YMCA that have never played together. The last six minutes against Dallas, a reminder, Dallas is a poor defensive team. The last six minutes, the Clippers were two of 12 and 0 for seven on threes. This is a problem. This was the redeem game. It's just they brought in Rondo to fix this. Because I live in Los Angeles, the Clippers, all their games are on, and I see a lot of Clippers basketball.

This is a bad late game basketball team. They'll blow you out from time to time, but if it's close, the fact that Dallas's defense gave them issues is a problem. Where Colin was wrong. What's fair is fair. I got to give credit to Chris Middleton of the box. He hit a big shot. Now, my problem with Chris is always, he's not a great player. He's a very good player.

His career average is, you know, like 17. He's about a 19 point of game guy. last year without Drew Holiday, they needed him to be great. He's good. So when you ask a player to step up a level that he's not, you're disappointed. But he is a shot maker, and now that's what they need him to be. He's their third best player, and he's very valuable because you cannot trust Janus at the free throw line to hit a three.

Yesterday, he couldn't even hit twos. So this is what Middleton can do. He can hit shots. Don't ask him to be a number two. and drop 32 a night. That's not what he's going to do in the playoffs, but he can hit shots, and he deserves credit because I've been banging on him for years.

Where Colin was right. About half dozen times a year, I say, sports is actually now mostly dominated by old guys, Saban, Bruce Ariens, Tom Brady, LeBron James, Andy Reid, now it's Phil Mickelson. Careers last longer than ever now

because you can spend money, easier to stay in shape, and Mickelson look, like the best shape he's been in at 50 for a long time. It was a wonderful moment. I know we always want to bury the old guys, but there is something embraceable about what I saw yesterday. The old guys can still be great.

Not every week and not every night and not every golf tournament. But when they want to bring it, they can be the best in field. Where Colin was wrong. I would have voted Chris Paul first or second in my All-Star or in my MVP ballot. He didn't even get nominated. He wasn't even one of the three nominees. It went to Steph Curry.

It went to Joel M. Bid, who missed 21 games, and it went to Yokic. I don't know. First of all, Chris Paul played 70 and 72 games. Second of all, even yesterday, when he hurt his shoulder and could not shoot, his value being on the floor is so substantial. He's a great defender. He shows up every night. His leadership skills late in games.

How is Phoenix this good late in games with all these kids? They're good because of Chris Paul late. They weren't the previous 11 years. I got nothing against Steph, but you've got to kind of make the playoffs for me to think you're an MVP and the Warriors weren't really good this year. So I have missed on Chris Paul. I find that NBA voters prefer the story or the stats. over the word valuable so Chris Paul gets snubbed.

Where Colin was right? Maybe it's because I worked in Portland, but does everybody understand how good Dame Lillard is? If he played in San Francisco, New York, L, Ler, he would be the toast of the league. You know, there's only one other player in the history of the NBA that has won a series on a last second shot twice. Dame and Michael Jordan. First of all, he may be along with Steph, the best peer shooter in the league. He may be the best clutch player in the league. I mean, but the NBA just buries him.

Their game Saturday night was on at 10.30 Eastern. That's when it started. On a Saturday night. Yeah, everybody in New York's hanging around a TV set at 10 o'clock and a Saturday night. He is a remarkable closer. I mean, honestly, I say, outside of Steph, one shot to win any game, I take him over LeBron. I take it, Janus, Embed, even Chris Paul, one shot to win a game.

Ice in his veins. as clutch as anybody the league has had shooting a basketball late in the last decade. Where Colin was wrong. I was a Zion guy over a John Morant guy, but I will say this. This kid is insane. And also, it is a guard league. The hand check is gone. John Morant can get to the basket anytime he wants against anybody.

You can't defend him. He carried his team to the playoffs this year. He carried him into the playoff game last year. and as much as I like Zion, he's nowhere to be found in the last two years. Friday night at Golden State, the kid was sensational. The world's watching him, right? 35, 5 for 10 on threes, and he outplayed Steph. Now, he was just more efficient than Steph was.

So I'm a Zion guy, Zion's personality, the strength in which he plays, feels like a face of the league. But in turn, you know, Jaws had no injury, so I don't have to worry about the injury thing. And the other thing is, he's a true point. When you're a true point, it's a quarterback. You control the tempo of the entire game. The kid is just, I think as Chris Broussard said an hour ago, he's Westbrook, but plays more under control, has a better feel for the game than Westbrook. I know, I know I'm banging on Westbrook, but the kid's really a natural point.

Westbrook's just a great athlete. Where Colin was right? Greg Popovich and Greg Popovich is. go nowhere to be found in the playoffs, he refuses to evolve. You got to shoot threes. You got to. I mean, it's the reality. It's no longer a running league in the NFL.

You got to pass the ball 50% of the time because that's what the Andy Reid's do. That's what the good teams do. That's what the Bruce Ariens do. That's what the Sean Patens do. Seven years, no titles. Three years, no relevance. They gave Kauai away in a trade. Why?

because Popovich was upset the way Kauai wouldn't buy into his system. I've said this before. Tony Larusa, Bobby Knight, the old guys that stay relevant like Nick Saban, evolve. Mike Shoshchevsky evolves. If you fall in love with yourself or your system, you'll get irrelevant really fast in sports. And that's what Pop and the Spurs are now.

Where Colin was right? The Patriot signed quarterback Brian Hoyer translation, Jared Stidham is out. Cam, Mac Jones, and Brian Hoyer will be the rotation. Nothing against Jared Stidham, the Auburn kid, but he wasn't great in college. Every ESPN analyst kept, I know ESPN's based up near the Patriots headquarters, kept telling me, oh, practice, oh, there's a lot.

And I kept saying, I watched him in college. It's okay. They do a decent size, okay arm. But I have this theory, and it's on Jordan Love 2. if you can't practice with a football team for a year, and I don't hear a buzz about you, you don't got it. You were hearing a buzz about Mahomes.

Peter Schrager was telling me about Patrick Mahomes a year before he played. You heard a buzz about Garoppolo. Oh, this kid Garapolo. If you can practice for a year, and I hear nothing, I see nothing, there is nothing. So Brian Hoyer, Cam and Mac Jones appeared. to be the rotation at quarterback. Good stuff. Lakers do have a little conflict with the LeBron AD thing and Andre Drummond. There's a little conflict there. They're not very good with Drummond on the court.

And they're great with AD on the court. If AD can occasionally play the five, so we'll talk about that. But next, Derek Harper, he's great. Former Nick. Talk about that. Former Maverick. Dallas is going to be a handful. Dallas really shouldn't win this series. They're not a very good defensive team and their best players a kid. But I'll tell you what, late in that game, they didn't even need all those luka points. They were the better basketball team last six minutes. That's got to be frightening for the Clippers and really encouraging for the Mavs and Derek Harper. Had him on before he's great. We'll be joining us next. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week, within the IHeart radio app. Search Hurd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like.

Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep. That's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football,

or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations,

stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking.

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To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because, of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you finishing that sentence. Yes.

I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your Podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me,

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growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app, Search learn the hard way and listen now. Sunday, the best NASCAR season ever continues as the Cup series returns to Charlotte, North Carolina for the Coca-Cola 600. Coverage begins with Race Day on FS1 at 430 Eastern, then continues at 5.30 Eastern on Fox in the Fox Sports app. Derek Harper, his number 12 jersey has been retired by the Dallas Mavericks. He could do it all.

He was a two-time all-defensive player, still leads the Mavericks all-time in steals. He could score. He still leads them all time and assists. And he had a wonderful career. He played for the Knicks. He played for over a decade with the Mavs. He's now a broadcaster for the Dallas Mavericks, and he joins us live. So let's just talk about those Dallas Mavericks, Derek, because I think they're not yet a great defensive team,

and yet with six minutes to go in that Clipper game, they made key stops. And I said, of all those game ones, a lot of them don't feel like they mean a lot. But for a young team that this is a confidence builder, I thought it was a substantial win for the Mavericks and a disheartening loss for the Clippers. What was your takeaway in their late game performance? I kind of agree with your sentiments, Colin, when you start talking about game one. I think the game was more important for Dallas than the Clippers. because I just think the Maverick is to your point.

They want to build some momentum, some confidence as a basketball team, and I think still in game one, did that. Obviously, Luca is all-world when it comes to the game at this stage in his career. But collectively, Dallas was a better team on both sides of the basketball, and they put a lot of pressure, Colin, if you would, on the Clippers, a team that I think everybody is waiting to see whether or not, They can handle the pressure of the playoffs. They had a debacle finished last year with Kauai and Paul George.

And I really feel like Dallas is playing with House money and can beat the Clippers. That's simple for me. You know, it's interesting. When you watch the Clippers late in possessions or late in games, they have struggled now for two years. We know they have the talent. But if you were coaching the Clippers, how do you turn around their late? game woes. You know, Colin, I would tell them not to give a you know what.

I think the guys like Paul George Corpil, they listen to the noise. And you can almost care too much sometimes as a go-to-superstar player. You care to the point where you're worried about what people are going to say, what they're going to think about you at some juncture throughout the series. And I don't think LeBron gives us a heck what people say. say. I don't think Carrie Irving cares. Kevin Durant. They don't care.

So they go out and I think it frees them up to be themselves. You can do it for three quarters, but what basketball in the NBA comes down to, especially Colin doing the playoffs is quality possessions, whether or not you can execute,

get what you want on both sides of the ball. And so far, the clippers had been able to do that. They blamed a lot of it on Doc Rivers' system. Doc is a good friend of mine. And I respectfully agree with it then. I respectfully disagree with it now. I think guys like Paul George Cowell Leonard, this is why you were paid the big bucks.

This is why you need to find a way to step up and make a difference this time of the year. No question about it. Now, I don't feel the same way, Derek, about the Lakers. First of all, the sons were more rested. They were at home. You know, it just felt like you could feel the 11 years of no playoffs. This was the biggest game in Phoenix in over a decade. And I kind of felt like, you know, I mean,

the Lakers just kind of walked into a no-win situation. Are you worried, though? Anthony Davis, you know, it's funny. Some guys are talented. Some guys are just motivated without talent. You know, the late Kobe Bryant was motivated and talented. I always feel with AD that you got to light a fire under him, about three times a month.

and does that worry you that he is kind of, he kind of sleepwalks through big portions of games and series? You know, Colin, it doesn't worry me. I, you know, I played for the Lakers for one year. I played against them throughout my career. So I'm not going to, I'm not going to make any bones about it. I hope the Lakers lose against the Phoenix Suns. Monty Williams is a great friend of mine.

I played with him in New York. And when it comes to AD, why should you have to light a fire? under a guy that's an all-pro, all-N-Ba basketball player that most people think is a top-10 player in this league. Once you get to the playoffs, you should be self-motivated as a team. And you should go out and you should set the example that's needed to be. I think a bigger problem for these guys is just the cold.

Injures will slow you down as a team. They're clearly slowed the Lakers down somewhat. LeBron is not 100%. Anthony Davis missed 30-plus games with an Achilles problem throughout the year. And I don't think basketball is a game this time of the year that you can just turn on and turn off like a license. And the pressure, as AD alluded to, the pressure is solely on him to find a way to be better, to play better. They're playing a very energetic team. I think that's the worst matchup for a Laker team that has dealt with a lot of shortcomings as far as injuries are concerned.

You know, back in the 94 finals, you were one of the most dependable Nick scores when you guys played the Rockets. You guys lost in seven games. But it's funny, if you even go back to Walt Frazier, who was like a seven-time defensive, you know. My favorite player all the time. Yeah. That's my guy. Now, he may have been cool, and he had a nice jumper, but he was about defense. And then Pat Riley's teams were about defense, and this team's about defense.

So when I watch the Knicks, they do take me back, you know, to a bygone era. This is what they've always been. Willis Reed, Walt Frazier team was really about defense. They are so limited offensively, Derek. How far can they go? Well, that's an interesting question. And I think to answer that question is they got the right matchup because I think these teams are really evenly matched when you start talking about what they do as a team,

both offensively and defensively. It took the youngster, Tray, Young down the stretch to make a huge shot getting to the and finishing off the Knicks. But I don't think that there's a lot of pressure on New York. They're kind of playing with House Money as well. Coach Stimidot has this team believing in themselves as a defensive team. And Derek Rose and Julius Randall, I think they can make enough bad baskets and create enough offense late in games where the Knicks will stay in this series.

I suspect that this series will go seven games and I think it will be anybody's series to win. But I just think defense for the Knicks has to be the front of what they do. It has to set the tone for them as a team. And, you know, man, you're getting close games. All to take is a bucket here and a bucket there, a stop here and a stop there. And you can find yourself successful. So I like the Knicks chances.

I love my time in New York. And I'm rooting for the Knicks. You know, it's interesting. We know James Harden, Kyrie, and Kevin are three of the top four or five offensive players in the league. it's interesting. Not only are Kyrie and Harden great finishers and great players, but in the history of the NBA, I'm not sure there's ever been a back court with two guys that can get their own shot anytime they want. I mean, Clay Thompson's more of a catch-and-shoot guy. You know, Gail Goodrich was a guy that, for the Lakers, Jerry could create his own shot. Gayle was more catching a shoot. I look at these two and I think,

do you ever worry about Brooklyn that that back court is so damn talented? points come so easy that in crisis, in close games, it could be a problem. I don't think so. I just think greatness, the greatness that they have, you're talking Hardin, you're talking about James Hardin and Kyrie Irving in the back court, and then you have KD, probably the best player in the league, pound for pound, if you look at what he brings as an offensive player. I don't worry about that.

I worry more about their focus, especially Kyrie, Sometimes I worry more about whether or not they can defend. You know, Boston is not going to put a lot of resistance up as far as the worst Brooklyn is going to play was game one. Yeah. I don't think things get better for the next. I don't think they're going to fall down and not play like they're not going to play like they played the other night. They're going to be better. They're going to be more focused.

They're going to be more, you know, tied together, if you would, as a team. and Boston is just short-handed and don't have enough to handle what Rippland is. But moving forward, when they start to face Philly and they play the Milwaukee Bucks, Colin, that's when you can concern yourself a little bit because there's more defense. There's more manpower on those other top Eastern Conference team

that can challenge the Nets. But I think the next is going to win the Nets, barring any injury and staying healthy, I think they're going to win the championship. That's just that simple because they can look at each other and turn a switch on on the offensive end of the floor. Not overall, but they can certainly get hot at the right time and, you know, go on the kind of runs that it takes to win a championship. By the way, you do Mavs games, so you see Luca every night and you played 16 years in the NBA. You were a former first round pick.

Does Luca even remind you of anybody you played with or against in your career? You know, we're always trying to compare people, right? They try to compare you to Skip Bayliss and different people right on the air. And I love Skip, but I'm a Colin Cowherd band to the end. Luca is Luca, man. And the one thing that I can, the biggest compliment I can pay this kid, man. He's just in his third year. And when Luca faces the best players in the league, Paul George, Kaua Leonard, LeBron James,

James Harden, Kevin Durant. He plays his best basketball. And to me, that's a guy that's waiting. He's waiting to seize the moment of an opportunity to outdo the best in the league. And I don't think you can take that kind of stuff for granted. He's not afraid of the moment. The only thing you can question about Luca is his shot selection sometimes.

I think it's very difficult even for him as a player. But, man, when it's time to strap him up and put him on and walk down the alley, I'll take Luca Donchich against anybody in the NBA. He was my MVP. I know Yokic is probably going to win it, but I just think what Luca is as a player, you can't duplicate it. I don't care how great the other guys are. Derek, I love having you on the show.

Anytime you're in L.A., you just come here. Anytime. Sit in the chair. We'd love to have in studio, man. Thanks, Derek. I would love to, Colin. Take care, brother. Yeah, that was a – he played both ends of the floor.

He had a little Clay Thompson. He played defense. He'd get a steal. He'd get a bucket. He was a leader. You know, it is interesting with Luca, and you can define this very easily. The great players do not shrink against the great players.

Luca plays great against great players. And that's troubling if you're the Clippers, man, because Dallas is not a great defensive team. Last six and a half minutes, Clippers couldn't score. That's scary. It'd be one thing if you're facing the Lakers or, I mean, Yonaut, let's be honest. Milwaukee, Butler and Bambo struggled.

Well, Milwaukee plays real defense. Hulliday, PJ Tucker, Janice. These are great defensive players. They're not good. They're great defensive players. So, you know, Jimmy Butler and Bam struggle, you're like, yeah, I get it. You're struggling down the stretch with Dallas. It's like, whoa, whoa, whoa, look, Lucas, you know, none of these young guys play much defense. LaBron wasn't even great first two years in the league on defense.

You've got to learn defense is hard. Defense is effort. You've got to want to play defense. But, boy, Luke, it's something special. Joy Taylor with the news. No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news.

Boy, this was a fun game. Trey Young did not disappoint in his playoff debut. Those Nick fans, they're just, they're just taunting it. You know, I'm watching the game and I'm like, I am rooting for the Knicks. But the Knicks are not my team, obviously. But I have anxiety watching this game. And I'm not a Knicks fan. So I can't imagine what Knicks fans are going through.

And they're all like celebrating and they're so hype right before Trey. Well, the game went back and forth. There were five times I thought the Knicks won. Yep. There were five minutes left, five times. I'm like, Knicks got it, big shot. Knicks fans thought that too. And then Trey Young said, not tonight.

Not tonight. He had 32 points, 107-105 win over the Knicks. The fans were chanting at Trey throughout the game. And he said it felt good to score the winning bucket and silence the crowd. I definitely know the history of players coming in here. being hated. And that's, like I said, I'll take that as a compliment, to be honest with you. I mean, obviously, I'm doing something right. You hate me this much. So as I hit the floater, it just felt like everybody got quiet. And I was waiting for them F you chance again.

So I was excited. He was great. 32, 7 and 10. Julius Randall had 15 points, 12, rebounds and four assists, RJ Barrett and Derek Rose, both out at 14 and 17. Let's watch this. Look at this. You just cannot stay in. Oh, my God. You can't stay in front of these guys. These Jah Morant's and Trey Young's, Steph Curry. I don't care who you are. You can't stay in front of them.

Well, it was really great to see and feel the energy that the fans bring to the game. I mean, last year in the bubble, we kind of all sort of adjusted to the aesthetics and the sound of a game like this with no fans. But throughout that, we all said, like the NBA is. basketball is so unique. It's such an intimate setup for play that the fans are on the court. On the court, you can talk to players. Right. Like you run into fans if you're running out of the out of balance trying to save a ball.

So you really, like the interaction between fans, especially when you're talking about Knicks fans. Oh, God. With players, this really affects the game. So it was awesome to see MSG, which looked completely full. Oh, my God. How about Utah last night? Yeah. I mean, it was great.

It's so good to have fans back. Oh. And especially like now that other restrictions are lifted at the perfect time, we're going into the playoffs. They're going to have, it's going to feel like a full house regardless of how many people you have in there because the fans are so excited. It's really interesting. So one of the things when I was a kid, younger, I say a kid, when I used to watch

Laker games in the forum, I always noticed how well lit the fans were. You could watch a Laker. It was like no other arena. And somebody told me that's because they're famous. And L.A. is a lighting town. They know how to light the crowd because you. you have movie stars. So you'd watch a Laker game.

You could see the fans' faces. And that's what somebody told me years ago, like it wasn't a coincidence. I don't know what it is with Madison Square Garden. But there's something the way that arena is formed. It feels like the whole damn crowd is on the court. Even the guys behind the basket, it's just so intense. And it's like every other arena. But Portland doesn't feel like that.

Denver doesn't feel like that. Memphis doesn't feel like that. There's a grittiness and a, An intimacy. Yeah. I've only watched a basketball game. One or two Knicks, one or two big. I've only seen about three games there, but it is different.

I've been there for one basketball game, one heat game there, and for the McGregor fight. But there's just something about certain buildings just have an energy to them that you just really can't explain. And it was awesome to see. And that's like, that's part of it. Fans are back and they're talking trash. And Trey shut them up. And game two is Wednesday. And it's going to be an intense one.

looking forward to it. So Memphis took game one from the Jazz on the road, thanks to big games from Dylan Brooks and John Morant. Brooks at 31 points setting a single game franchise scoring record for a Memphis player in a playoff debut. And Morant had 26 points. They got a 112-109 win. Obviously, Donovan Mitchell was out, so he's recovering from a right angle spring. Yeah, I mean, they just didn't have enough backcourt scoring. Mike Conley wasn't terribly effective late. He had 22 points. Six rebounds and 11 assists, but, yeah. Miss two, three-pointers late. Donovan was reportedly very angry about the late decision to sit him,

but he, like, he's recovering. He played on April 16th, and he's been out longer than initially expected, so he's progressing slowly with his recovery, but they're obviously going to need him if they're going to win this series. John Morant was incredible last night. Utah, Utah can't, Donovan is juice. don't have a lot of, they, Utah's well coached, they have depth, they have a rim protector. They don't have a lot of offensive juice.

Like, they need Donovan Mitchell's 21 points, like badly. Well, that's the issue when you lose a player like that. When you lose a Jamal Murray, when Donovan Mitchell isn't out there when Jalen Brown is injured. Like the defense, the leadership, all of that is important. But you're talking about offensive performances from guys that you can't supplement. Like you can't, you can't not have Jalen Brown out there in those points when you're going up against a team like the Nets. Like you need to have all of your stars out there at this point. The Wizards put up a good fight against the Sixers. They did. They were within five points with less

than a minute to go, but Philly held on the 125-118 win. Doc Rivers said before the game that he was worried his team might look rusty after a week off. And Joel and B did get into foul trouble early, but Tobias Harris had a huge game. Huge. What did he finish with? Career high 37. I was going to say he was, he was, 28 in the first half. God, he was on fire early. Yeah. So they had a 15 to 4 run midway through the third quarter and the Sixers took the lead and kept it for good. Russell Westbrook had 16 points, 5 rebound, 14 assists. He actually, again, he played more measured. It was like a little bit more.

You know, that's what we were hoping for years ago. But I also think it's easier to play more measured as you age because you don't have that relentless. Yeah, you can't go 100 miles an hour every play. But it also might work better for their style play and leading into Bradley Beale. scoring game two is Wednesday at seven. I don't anticipate this being a long series, but every game this weekend was competitive and entertaining. Yeah, Brooklyn was so cold in the opening quarter against Boston.

You knew it would end, but you're like, this is everybody. Hardin was. But it makes you think for a second, you're like, if they had Jalen Brown, you know, because Jalen could guard Hardin, and then you'd have Marcus Martin Karee and Tateem on and KD, and you'd be like, okay, they can make it uncomfortable. Right. I mean, I would still pick the Nets in the series, but it's, there's been a lot of last second shots, and the first games were amazing, so it's going to be a good NBA playoff run.

Good stuff, Joy with the News. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lie News. Sometimes the NBA media cracks me up, and I thought about this watching Milwaukee in Miami yesterday. Thoughts on that, LeBron and A.D.2. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app.

What's up, everyone? It's me, three-time NFL All-Pro Sean Marriam. And I have a new sports podcast called The Lights Out Podcast with Sean Mariam. This podcast is special to me as I get a chance to talk to some of the best who've ever done it on the field or the track. So whether it's talking to a Super Bowl champion or a NASCAR Cup Series champion, the Lights Out podcast will bring it to you the only way I know how to. I'm giving you the best insight from the best who's ever done it. Listen to Lights Out with Sean Merrim or the IHeartRadial app or wherever you get your podcast.

Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, CliverTaylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show.

This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clivered Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need. to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that

George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here. unpack what went down and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 was big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so y'all know.

I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack, so I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now, so. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. People. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, We get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses.

Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth. Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now.

Ready to smell like a gentleman. Each cremo scent made with thoughtful blend of ingredients, not a pre-mixed formula. Cremo, uncommon good scents. Amazon has it, so does cremo company.com. I use all their stuff. Good body wash, too. So, you know, the NBA media sometimes cracks me up. They always want to anoint, you know, the new face of the league. And my takeaway is always like, all right, can they shoot? Like Derek Rose, oh, I got it. He can't shoot. John Wall, Russell Westbrook, they can't shoot.

And they're small. So they're not going to dominate the glass. If you can't shoot, you're not going to be the face of the league. Kobe can shoot. Michael Midrange could shoot. Okay, like Larry Bird could shoot. LeBron can shoot. Got to be able to shoot to be the face of the league.

Yonis can't shoot. Can't shoot free throws, can't shoot jumpers. Okay, he's great. He's a great defensive player. He's a great kid. He's great within four feet of the basket. But this whole face of the league thing, he can't shoot. And so when you watch Milwaukee play, I pick them to win everything with no confidence. They struggle at times late in games. There's a way they have to play. I compared them to Lamar Jackson and Baltimore. You know, they're better with a lead than they can play downhill. Milwaukee's the same way. If they get behind in games, Yonis is not going to shoot you back into it. There's a certain way Milwaukee can play.

Now, they're very good defensively. They're only better now defensively with PJ, Tucker, and Drew Holiday. They were good last year defensively. They're better now. But the new rule is if you're going to convince me who the face of the league is, they've got to be able to shoot. And I say this with respect. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is as good a player as the league's ever had.

Bill Russell, Shaq, they would not be as dominant in terms of championships today as they would have been 15, 20, 30 years ago. You've got to be able to put the ball through the basket. Even if you're a big, we need you to occasionally hit a three. It's a math equation. And so, you know, the game, like I love Zion. He can't get to the playoffs because they didn't have a three ball. You got to be able to fix that.

And I think Zion will. He's got a good-looking jumper. It just takes time. You ask these young kids to develop overnight. And it takes some guys three and four years. I mean, Jalen Brown for the Celtics. It took him four years to pop in the NBA. Now he averages, you know, mid-20s a game.

So I like Janice. I think there's dimension he has. But I never, one or two things, to be the face of the league, you got to control one or two things. You got to be able to control the tempo. John Morant's controlling the tempo of the game. He's telling you, we're slowing it down, we're speeding it up. Or you've got to be just a prolific shooter. Because there's generally ways, you know, Shaq was so unique as a body.

there's generally ways to defend Biggs and put double bodies on them, front them, guy in back, push them around. There's really no way without the hand check to defend Steph Curry, John Morant. There's really no way to defend. Jason Tatum's going to get a shot. K.D. Hardin, they're going to get their shot. So the Lakers are an interesting story because, you know, and I found this with the Lakers have a little bit of a conflict of interest. LeBron has always like the rim to be open. So LeBron is not a great natural shooter.

He's developed into a very good three-ball shooter, but he loses confidence regularly. So when LeBron loses confidence, Ray Allen never lost confidence in his shot, Kobe never did, Luca never does. LeBron's not a pure shooter like that. He'll lose confidence in his jumper. And when he does, he goes back to the basket to score. The problem being, Andre Drummond is a five. He's a center.

and Anthony Davis doesn't want to really play the five, but it's better for the Lakers when Anthony Davis will play the five. Because he can move in, out. He's like Chris Bosch. You can put him next to the basket. He can clear out for LeBron and be a jump shooting threat. Andre Drummond's not. So yesterday is a prime example where, you know,

Andre Drummond, there's one quarter he didn't play a minute in the fourth. It was the one quarter of the Lakers beat the Sons. So Andre Drummond has value briefly against certain teams. But with AD, he can be a frustrating player because you always feel like you got to kind of motivate him. And then you got to kind of convince him to play a five. And, you know, he's going to play a position he wants and you got to hold your breath that he stays healthy. And so that's why with Anthony Davis, like, you just got to celebrate when he's great. Last year in the bubble, he was great.

And then you've got to tolerate when he's not. He's not Kobe. He doesn't wake up in the morning. You know, it's so funny if you look at the history of the Lakers Biggs. If you go back to the history of the Lakers, I mean, you can go back all way back when. The Biggs have always been different than the guards. Now, think about the Great Laker Guards. You had Jerry West, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant.

I mean, let's consider LeBron James a ball handler. Focused, driven, obsessed with their business, with their basketball. Like they show up early, they leave late. The Lakers Bigs have always been interesting. was a flake, Shaq was always a little distracted, Andrew Bynum was semi-committed, Dwight Howard was goofy, and Anthony Davis, some nights he's just not into it.

I don't know the psychology behind it, but it feels like in the history of the Lakers, the big guy is great when he's in the mood. The Gargerow was great with the Lakers. The ball handlers, it could be Norm Nixon, it could be Cooper, it could be LeBron, it could be West, it didn't matter. It was Kobe, it was magic.

They've always been, they've had these legendary centers, but they've kind of been the maturity and character and intensity of their guards is why they have the titles. But the bigs have always gotten so much attention. But I feel like we're kind of living, you know, Anthony Davis has got a little bit of shack and a, there's a little wilt, and there's a little Dwight Howard. It's like, dude, focus in big game. Phoenix, haven't played a playoff game in 11 years. you want to be dialed in for this. And the Lakers, he wasn't. AD was just not dialed in ready to play.

And that's kind of who he is. Got to poke him, got to prod him, got to motivate him, got to convince him to play a five, got to cross your fingers and hope he stays healthy, which he doesn't all the time. SimplySafe delivers home security to protect you and your family. Get a free security camera today. Go to SimplysafeColin.com today.

Customize your system with SimplySafe. So the first two hours have flown by, Bill Orham, who covers the Lakers for the athletic, we'll stop by as well. Listen, man, we didn't have sports. Joy and I didn't have sports for a long time. I'm sitting down this weekend on the bed, and just every time I, every channel I went to,

there was something big. How great was it? It was a great weekend. And I'm with you. I think the same thing every time now. I'm like, what an abundant blessing. Now, who plays tonight? Portland, Denver plays tonight.

He used to play and... I think we get two games a night. Yeah, we get two games. games tonight. I know the Heat play the early game. Today? Yes. Heatbucks and Blazers Nuggets. Okay, that's great. Those are good series. Yes.

And yeah, Denver, Portland. I pick Portland in that series. Yeah, it's, they could not stop Dame. He was a total handful for the Nuggets. Hour 2 down, hour 3, 4th coming, live in L.A. It's the Hurt. Another podcast from some SNL,

late night comedy guy. Not quite. On Humor Me with Robert Smygel and Friends, me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to Humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal.

but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to learn the hard way with your favorite. therapist and hosts Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor? It signals to the world that you not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not

mean that you need to. Listen to learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. A win is a win. A win. A win is a win. I don't know. Yep, that's me, Clivert Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Cliford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

So let's get to it. Listen to The Cliford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford, and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. This is an IHeart podcast, guaranteed human.