The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 06/03/2021 - HOUR 1 - Clippers, Lakers, Luka, Nets-Bucks

Episode Date: June 3, 2021

The Clippers are on the verge of implodingLuka Doncic is an amazing player and he's only 22 years oldColin doesn't see the Lakers winning tonightThe Nets-Bucks series should be interestingGuest: Ric Bucher Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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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. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people.

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Wherever you may be and however, you may be listening. IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1. Uncle Colin bet the hawks last night and the Mavs and was this close to betting the jazz. I couldn't tell you the last time I went three and O on bets. So lunch on me today. Uncle Colin is, I got cash pouring out of my pockets this morning. Well, I owe you a... Yeah. What bet did I beat you on?

Tebow? They'd start talking about... And Nick Wright bet me on the Hawks? So he did. You guys did do a separate bet. Well, he set it on the air, so I count that. Oh, okay. Yeah, that's fair. So Atlanta rolled. I don't know how far they'll go against the Sixers, but it was a fun night. I got home last night. My house is being rehabbed. It's a disaster. I've had the refrigerator in the dining room for now a month and a half. I'm over it. So last night I got a little sushi and sat for four hours and watched NBA basketball.

And we're getting very close to Cabloom time for the Clippers. So they lost their third straight playoff home game. Yet they've won all their playoff road games. That doesn't make any sense. It's Kauai's team. Kauai's teams don't make any sense. Shocker, they were awful late in the game last night. Listen, both L.A. teams have a hole.

It's going to be a very sad weekend in L.A. the Lakers hole is health. Some of that is random. The Clippers hole is chemistry. But I kind of think, you know, this is the way it is. If AD is going to be your guy, you're just going to be Heartbreak Hotel. And if Kauai is your guy, you're not very verbal. Statistically, the Clippers are the only really good team in the NBA that is atrocious

late in games. And they were atrocious last night. Rondo's yelling at Kauai. Kauai is air ball on it. They were just a mess. you become your star in the NBA. It's the smallest roster of any professional sport. Soccer rosters are bigger.

Hockey rosters, baseball roster. It's a very small roster. So the star, whether it's on the plane, meeting rooms or on the floor, the star dictates the temperature of the room. You become your star. Magic Johnson's teams were fun and joyful. Steph's teams are clever and offensive-minded. Michael Jordan's teams were relentless.

Tim Duncan's teams were quiet, methodical. Birds teams were blue collar tough. You become your star. It's a tiny, tiny locker room. 13 guys, seven really play. You become your star. Well, we have discovered with Kauai, San Antonio in Toronto, he wasn't the foundation.

He was the assassin that walks in and hits the shot. we've discovered when he's the foundation, your team is weird. The Clippers are an enigma. Kauai is. He doesn't communicate. Is he playing tonight or is he resting? Is he guarding Luca or not? Who knows?

He doesn't talk. He doesn't have press conferences. You have no idea. Last night in key situations in the third and fourth. He's on the bench. Not talking. I'm watching him during timeout. He's not talking.

LeBron. He doesn't talk. You don't know. They've become co-waters. Why? They win all the road games. They lose all their home playoff games. What? That makes no sense.

It also makes no sense that last year the Clippers go into the bubble with the deepest roster and literally fall apart. We're sitting here going, what? They go like 10 deep. It makes no sense this year. All this talent. They are the worst clutch team in the NBA statistically that's in the playoffs. In clutch time games this year, the playoffs, look at this. they shoot 18% from the floor,

they're 0 and 3 and minus 22. This is for one of the top five teams in the league. That makes no sense. So it's one of these things where I think when it's hard to, the clippers to me are hard to explain. They can't win at home. They went on the road. Why are they terrible late?

Why last year was the chemistry so bad? Doc Rivers teams always have great chemistry. Doc Rivers finally had a team. I mean, Blake Griffin and Chris Paul couldn't stand each other. They still had pretty good chemistry. We found that DeAndre Jordan and Chris Ball couldn't stand each other. We never talked to tell them about chemistry. So I think if the foundation of your house is Kauai, it's a haunted house.

You can live in a haunted house. I mean, unless it's Amityville horror, you can live in a haunted house. But there's just, I don't think you're ever going to quite feel with the clippers that you have all the answers. In the last two years since Kauai's gotten there, they are a riddle wrapped in an enigma. There's no reason they're that bad late in games. There's no reason the chemistry was terrible. There's even Kauai's injury in San Antonio was shrouded in mystery.

Suddenly the one player in Popovich's entire coaching career that wouldn't listen to the doctors. Remember Kauai went to Toronto. They were going to give him like a penthouse suite. He didn't talk much. He was kind of a loner. he's a great player but you become your star it's the smallest roster

in American professional sports and I can't get my arms around the clippers I just don't trust them they don't talk much Rondo Paul George Montrez they shipped him out Kauai Leonard

new coach still same old issues let's talk Luca though Luca is remarkable Luca was playing professional basketball in Europe at 14. Now, I just want you to think about that for a second. Let that bake.

At 14, I was just moving out of playing with Legos. I had just graduated post-Legos. I still watch cartoons. Luca is now 22. Luca and LeBron James are the best 22-year-old basketball players in my life. Luca came into the NBA and averaged 21 points a game at 19. Just think about that. Now, he's not a very good defensive player, but he's the best offensive player in my life I have ever seen at 22.

LeBron is the best athlete I've ever seen at my life. At 22, he led his team to a final. 6-9, 250. He used to chase people down, block the ball off the backboard. He stopped doing it about six, seven years ago. Now, Magic was close, but Magic wasn't a great score at 22, 18 a game, and plus Magic inherited Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. That's not fair. So let's just take Magic out.

When you inherit Kareem Abduljabar, that is not fair. It's Lucas' team. It was LeBron's team. The pressure every night for you to score, to defend to make the play. But here's the key on this, and it's fascinating. Cleveland could never, ever get LeBron a Pippin, a Robin a two. And Mark Cuban could never get Dirk a two. Steve Nash was great once he left.

Portland's never, seven, eight years, been able to, get dame a two. And I think it's harder than ever to get a two. Because it used to be if you got a college kid, he was, had been in college for three or four years, you, you had so much tape on him, you knew, you had so many scouts that had surrounded him. You knew if he was temperamental. You knew his game.

When you give an NBA scout four years of tape, you better not whiff. Now guys get like, if they get any college tape, it's 30. games and maybe eight where there was an NBA player other than the guy you're drafting on the floor. Some of these guys are out of high school or they go to the G League. It is hard. I mean, Michael Jordan didn't get Scotty Pippen for like four or five years. And by the way, they got lucky to get Pippin. It was a trade with Seattle with Olden-Pollinies. And that was in an era, I think it was easier to get a two. You were looking at three and four years of college You kind of knew what a guy could do and what a guy couldn't do after a hundred college games.

Now you get 30. And back then, there were all sorts of NBA guys in college. So if you watch Michael Jordan's tape, he would guard NBA players. He was defended by NBA players. Now you watch, you know, Jalen Sugs for Gonzaga. He didn't face an NBA guy until like the last two games of his college career, maybe like a UCLA or a Baylor. So I just think it's harder than ever.

And Mark Cuban's a really smart guy, but he could, Porzengis is not it. You can't trust him physically. He's a three, not a two. And Mark's really smart. He's a business guy. But think about all those great Dallas team. They could never, in an easier era, find Dirk a two. Portland's got smart people running the organization.

They can't find Dama two. And, you know, I just, I look around right now with Luca. When you get a Luca, you basically, are getting Josh Allen and Mahomes. You are going to be excellent for 12 years. But the difference is in the NFL draft, good God. There are pro bowlers in the fourth round, in the fifth round, Tom Brady in the sixth round.

Half the league is undrafted. Doesn't work that way with the NBA draft. You are out of players by about the 14th pick. You are, I mean, the number of guys who have been stars in the second round is tiny. Manu Genoobli, Draymond Green. It's pretty tight. Yokic, obviously, there's some. So I'm fascinated to watch.

Cleveland could never find LeBron a two. Portland hasn't done it. Mark couldn't do it with Dirk. This kid's Mahomes. This kid's Josh Allen. Can they find him a two? In an era where I think it is, maybe you have to go buy a two. They tried to do that with Porzengis, but he's a three.

So they overpaid to get Porzengis, he's not a two. If he's your two, you're not winning championships. If he's your three, you can win them. really interested, but he is Luca and LeBron. I've never seen 22-year-olds that good. Never. Now, fourth quarter, he's a little tentative. I don't think he trusts himself at the free throw line late in games.

A little tentative late. It's okay. I mean, LeBron first at 22 years old, LeBron was still figuring out defense in the, LeBron can block shots, but he wasn't the same player defensively. Really, really, really interesting stuff. the way, Anthony Davis is talking, and what he's saying worries me a little. Plus, Matt LaFleur,

the Packers coach is talking. Oh, boy. 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. Hey, it's me, Rob Parker. Check out my weekly MLB podcast inside the Parker for 22 minutes of Piping Hot Baseball Talk, featuring the biggest names and newsmakers in the sport. Whether you believe in analytics or the I-Test, we've got all the bases covered. New episodes drop every Thursday, so do yourself a favor and listen to Inside the Parker with Rob Parker on the IHartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast. A win is a win. A win is a win.

I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clever 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

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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. 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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. What the hell does George Bush got to do with a little camp?

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 it 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 is big to me, not just because of crack.

I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you're all right. But just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed, correct. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line.

We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for 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 Hardway 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

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So the Lakers host the Phoenix Suns tonight down 3 to 2. The Lakers season can be summed up like this. Tonight, the Suns win if Anthony Davis doesn't play. or the Suns win if Anthony Davis plays but is really, really limited. Or the Lakers win, in my opinion tonight if Anthony Davis plays 38 to 40 minutes and is just relentless and unbelievable. Good luck. He's got a groin strain. I think the Lakers season ends tonight.

Anthony Davis talks about his injury and playing tonight and going forward. Hopefully, you know, all the rehab and treatment that I'm doing, you know, pays off. And, you know, the doctors clear me to go tomorrow. That's what we want. So, you know, like I say, getting more treatment tonight tomorrow and kind of talks to the doctors before a game after, after and before and after our shoot. And hopefully everything comes back good where they clear me. So that's what we would be open for.

was grimacing in warm-ups a couple of days ago. Listen, I didn't mention LeBron's name in the three outcomes tonight because this team, LeBron's averaging 22 points in the playoffs. This team has won two games, the Lakers, and both times Anthony Davis has been a monster. That's how they win tonight. The Lakers have become the Sixers. You just, if the big fella's healthy, you like their chances. Listen, what we have in the NBA right now, and I'm not sure the reasons why, there are point guards everywhere. Some teams have two, Chris Paul Booker. I mean, it is Derek Rose is 32 with 48-year-old knees. He's productive.

John Morant, Dame, Steph, Donovan Mitchell, Luca, Trey Young, Chris Paul, Booker. There are guards everywhere in the planet. Next year, there's more good ones in the draft. There are guards everywhere and wings everywhere. there are about four great bigs on the planet. Janus, M. B., A.D. Yokic. That's about it. And by the way, A.D. doesn't even like playing center.

He'd rather play four. So you get into a situation. I thought Philadelphia should have moved off N.B. two years ago because we have a clear pattern. When bigs get hurt early, they get hurt a lot. It doesn't get better with big bodies. You would think in football because they tackle each other. that there'd be a lot of injuries.

But football players, by and large, are 6'4 or under. I'm 6'2. I think I'm fairly, I'm taller than the average American, but I'm, it's, I don't have a unique body type. You're talking about a league where players are seven feet tall and Porzingis is, whatever, 74, whatever. It's a different league. KD, 7 feet, Yokic, these guys get hurt a lot. These are unique body types. And we ask a lot of basketball players.

They play on a hard surface. They crash to it. Play 82 games this year 72, condensed schedule, and then go 25 games in the playout. And shocker, that baseball pitchers, who we asked to throw 100 miles an hour, just you're not supposed to throw anything that hard. And basketball players get hurt more than football players do because of the body sizes and what we asked them to do. So I look at the Lakers and the Sixers, and I feel the exact same way. If the Bigfell is healthy, probably going to win. But you end up, it's a walk on thin ice.

You can never be overconfident. You can never feel great. I'm not trying to blame anybody, but this is the reality of what the Sixers and the Lakers have become. You have this rare, unique body type on the planet. When they're good, they're unstoppable. I mean, unstoppable. But my guess is tonight, AD plays, tries to play, season on the line, is not terrible. effective. I'll never

predict he's going to get hurt, but I would say he'll be limited. There'll be some pain. The sons win the game. The sons win the series. And move on. Joy with the news. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. A lot of blowouts last night. Yeah, it was. Thankfully for the betters in the world. Well, yeah. Well, you and I were talking in hair and makeup about how our lives have now just

become at 4 o'clock. We just sit on the couch for the rest of the night. How about the Eastern playoffs are now set? Boy, you've got some Embed's injury throws a real wrench into the Atlanta Sixers series now. Yeah, it's gotten very interesting. Well, the Hawks eliminated the Knicks from the playoffs last night. Big performance by Trey Young. He's 36 points for his third straight 30-point playoff game at Madison Square Garden, joining Michael Jordan as the only two visiting players to ever do so. When he hit a three in the last minute to solidify the win, he bowed to the crowd. And after the game, he explained why he was taunting the Knicks fans.

I know where we are. I know it's a bunch of shows around this city. And I know what they do when the show is over. So that's pretty much what it was. By the way, this is great for the league. He's a showman. Oh, I love it. This is great.

I love it. Listen, if you're a Knicks fan, you're sad today, understandably so. And you hate Trey Young. But that's how it goes. you, Trey Young is a finesse shooter. You're supposed to be a tough defensive team. Like, should have been able to slow him down a little bit. He had a great series against them.

And played great for a kid in New York. That's a, listen, the bubble last year or Madison Square Garden without fans is a completely different environment. Like, that's, that's the test right there. Madison Square Garden, Nick's fans haven't seen their team in the playoffs in years. Everybody's back after a pandemic and he thrived. By the way, Spike Lee left. the game with four minutes left. There are all you need to know. Here's what's funny what we do

in America. We romanticize the past. So if Reggie Miller was doing this today, we would crush him. That's taunting. But yet we do 30 for 30s on Reggie Miller. What Tray Young is doing is great, because what Tray Young is saying is, I'm going to be theatrical on the court. Steph Curry does this. So to me, I never thought of Trey Young. I just thought he was a score. I didn't think of him as a star. but I honestly feel like now he's becoming something. He's a showman. This was an arrival. No question.

No question. Especially in New York. Yep. Especially in New York. And listen, I love Spike. But I think finally now we can put the, you know, fans, only bad fans leave early thing to rest. Spike leave five minutes. Boom.

And then he wants to, of course. He probably walked home in four blocks and he still left early. Didn't even have to face traffic. A lot of traffic. Well, Trey Young was incredible and now they're moving on to the next round and we'll see what the Knicks do in the off season. But overall, Knicks fans got to look. You took a step forward. It was nice.

It was a nice season. The Hawks were just better. Yeah. So the Sixers didn't have any problems with the Wizards without Joel M. Bede in the lineup. Seth Curry had a playoff career high 30 points. Tobias Harris added 28. And Ben Simmons had a triple double in the 129-12 win. They will start their next series against the Hawks on Sunday.

fans are already looking past that. Some fans were chanting, we want Brooklyn as time expired and last night's win. Listen, Brooklyn's got to get past the bucks. They actually match up great with Brooklyn if MB plays. You know, this is a series. I honestly believe they get a little bit of a break. They should beat Atlanta.

They're a better team in Atlanta. They have more experience. They can probably beat Atlanta without playing Embed all the games. So if you could take a lead in this series and maybe give, if you could finish it off in five games and Embed doesn't have to play the first or last game and you give Joel like six days rest because I think Milwaukee Brooklyn, that's going a long, that's a long series. Yeah.

So if you could get rid of, and Atlanta's fun, but I kind of feel like they, this is it, right? Like they're just don't have as many good players. If Philly can get rid of Atlanta in five and Embed gets a week off, then if Brooklyn survived, Milwaukee. Then they've got a real shot because I got to tell you something. I don't know if he got mentioned for it. Doc Rivers coach of the year. This team was a dysfunctional mess. I mean, I think Monty Williams and Doug Rivers. You're right. You're right. He will win. But I mean, Doc Rivers has done an incredible job. We had no idea if this was even going to work with the two of them. And it clearly has, obviously, Embed is injured. But I think you're right. I think if they can get, if they can start this

series hot and just, you know, calm the Hawks down a little bit and give Embed some rest. I don't, I think the Hawks can actually give them a couple games. But yeah, if they can get it, even in six, just give him beat a little bit of rest. When Chris Paul got an extra day of rest, he came out and looked great. Like Luca, by the way. This is a little bit of a different injury. Yes, no, it is. Like a meniscus, you don't have to have surgery, but you do need to rest and rehab it significantly

if you're not going to have surgery. So it is something I think they have to keep a little bit more eye on than Chris Paul. But the Sixers are two and a half point favorites in game one, according to Fox Betts. and minus 188 to win the series. I'll take Philly in that. That's a good bet. I'll take Philly right now. Uncle Collins on a heater.

Well, finally, the Jazz are moving on to the next round of the playoffs. Oh, can we pay attention to them? No. They eliminated the Grizzlies in game five with a 126 110 win. Donovan Mitchell, 30 points, 26 in the first half. God, he's good. He's great. After the game, he said it was important that they set the tone early

so the Grizzlies couldn't build any momentum, which is exactly what they did. They now wait for the winner of Clippers Mavs in their second round matchup. Great season for the Grizzlies. Can't wait to see what they do in the offseason. Love everything that they're building there. They're still young. John Moran at 27 points.

Dylan Brooks of 27 points. I love everything the Grizzlies are doing. Jazz are a great team. The Jazz are broccoli. I know they're broccoli, but Charles Barkley and Shaq are brutal. I don't get it. What did they don't like about Donovan Mitchell? I love Donovan Mitchell.

He's a great player. About Donovan Mitchell. It's just, you know what the jazz are? The jazz are the spurs. They're just great. They have a great culture. They have a great system. A great bench guy.

Great bench. Defense. Great big stars. But they're just, it's a small market. It's methodical. Yep. There's nothing, there's no crazy showmanship. Even though Donovan Mitchell has a little bit of that.

Yeah. It doesn't overwhelm the brand of the jazz. And that's why. And until the jazz go out there and win this championship and make some real noise, are just not going to get that kind of attention. See, I'll take the jazz over. Yeah, I would pick them over the Clippers or the Mavs at this point. Absolutely.

I think, you know, and again, as everybody falls apart physically, as long as Donovan Mitchell, because he didn't play at the end of the year, if Donovan Mitchell is healthy through the playoffs, rest of the roster, remember last year they had an injury to one of their wings and they went to the playoffs. One of their wing guy ripped up a wrist or something and they weren't the same team.

So we bugged on of it. Yeah, last year, right before the playoffs. So I think he had surgery right before it, canceled him. And so they had a great regular season, but we forgot about him in the bubble. Yeah, you can't lose him. So good stuff. Joy of the news. Well, that's the news.

And thanks for stopping by. The herd lie news. That's good stuff. The East is all ready to go. Rick Buecker, Fox Sports, NBA analyst is now joining us live. Brought to you, I'm Mercedes Ben's the best or nothing. So I said, LeBron and Luke are the best 22-year-olds I've ever seen.

Luke is the best offensive player I've ever seen at 22. LeBron's the best athlete. I don't count magic because he inherited Kareem, and that is unfair. There's no way. That's like being a trust fund kid, and you inherit a Mercedes. That's not fair. But I, now, I will say this about Luca. We're starting to get a little bit of a narrative that in the fourth quarter,

he doesn't want the ball because he doesn't want to shoot free throws he's not shooting him well and he's just not the same player in the fourth is that fair do you see a little of that do you want me to leapfrog to the whole free throw issue or can we talk about this the two best 22 year olds ever we can talk about that i look derrick rose at 22 was the league MVP and leading the chicago bulls to the best record in all the NBA and and the Eastern Conference finals. So I don't know how we leapfrog and give Luca Donchich, who hasn't been out of the first round yet,

and make him one of the best 22-year-olds ever. What I do think that Luca is exposing is how much AAU has negatively affected the development of American players. Individual skills are through the roof. We've never seen them like this before individually. The range that kids have shooting, the ball handling skills, but they have no idea how to play the actual game and utilize the chess pieces around them to play. Luca does, and that's what makes him so extraordinary, is his ability to manipulate the game and manipulate a team. That's what makes him so amazing at 22 years old, but it's more a reflection of where our game is and how we're developing players.

And look, I'm watching a lot of high school basketball and a lot of AAU basketball, particularly over the last couple of years. So it is, it's painful for me to watch how we're developing or rather not developing players. I think that's the huge edge that Luca has in the game right now, because obviously did not come up in the game over here. As far as the free throws, I don't really believe that he is reluctant. to go there. I think the teams are basically holding back, playing one-on-one through the game. This is a strategy that goes back to the Don Nelson days where I'm going to let a score go off

for three and a half quarters. And then the last six minutes, I'm going to start doubling him and forcing the ball out of his hands and make somebody who hasn't had to shoot the ball all game long beat us. And I believe that that has as much to do with what's happening with Luca and the Mavs at the end of games is that that's the strategy that's being employed. I don't think it's because he's afraid to take those shots. I think it's a matter of he's saying, look, if I got a wide open Tim Hardaway Jr. or even a Christop's Porzingis, I'm going to do the right thing and I'm going to swing it and trust my teammates. You know, it's really interesting. Listen, the Lakers aren't going to move off AD. He'll come back. It's been a condensed season. He's injury prone to

begin with. The condensed seasons made it worse. They're frustrated, but let's talk Clippers. where I do think it's TNT, blow it up if it doesn't work. And I was saying this, you become your best player. Magic's teams were fun and flashy. Steph's teams are smart and clever. Tim's teams, Tim Duncan's team, birds' teams were tough. Michael's relentless. It's a small locker room.

You know, football, you got 50 guys. Baseball, you got 25 guys. NBA got 13 and 7 play. You become your star. And I look at Kauai and he's an enigma. And I look at the clippers the last two years. And there's things that don't make sense to me. They're an enigma.

They win all their road games so far in the playoffs, their own three at home. How can you be this talent in this terrible latent games? How can you be as good as you were last year and have no chemistry? And I almost think we've discovered, Rick, that if he is your piece, if he's your foundation of your house, your house is a little haunted. And that's just the way it is with Kauai. Your thoughts? You're echoing what a lot of GMs have said to me over the last couple years, that Kauai Leonard for all of his talent and for his two championships is not a leader.

So who is? What I found interesting in game five and what they've sort of shifted to is that they're putting the ball in Paul George's hands. And this is, I normally don't disagree with Draymond Green on a lot of things when it comes to basketball. But I've seen this narrative out there that the Mavs were successful. in getting the ball out of Paul George's hands and Reggie Jackson taking almost as many shots as Kauai and Paul George. And that's how they won the game. Game four was the lowest percentage of shots taken by Kauai and Paul George and they won going away. This team is better, particularly against the Mavs, when they utilize all those different pieces.

But the bottom line is it's a crisis of leaders. By the way, Paul George had the ball in his hands, the last couple of possessions, had the opportunity to win the game. And what, turnover was one for four in the final six minutes. The decision making and the leadership is the huge missing piece with the clippers. And that extends to Ty Lou. They get the ball back down one with 39 and a half seconds left, and they have a time. out and no time out is called and you've seen what Paul George has done on the previous two, three possessions, and he gets the ball in his hands and you're going to allow him to make the

decision on whether you win this game or not. I just, to me, that is the biggest issue. And it almost feels like the clippers, they have one thing and they don't have the other. They had Chris Paul and they had leadership at one point. But they didn't have health and they didn't have the IQ and the depth. And so it's always mismatched pieces. Now they have the talent. I mean, I still think that the Clippers could potentially win this series. I may be crazy because I just look at what they're capable of. But I never know whether they're going to reach their capability. And that goes to the heart of leadership. Teams that have leadership always achieve what they're capable of. Sometimes they overachieve. Teams that don't have leadership, whether it's

on the bench or on the floor are teams that consistently we look at and go, God, they should be way better than they are and they aren't. And why aren't they? Because of the decision makers and how you're utilizing that talent. Yeah. So the East is all set. I do, I think, I'm going to take Milwaukee. I picked him to win the finals.

One of the reasons I did was they've been dismissed. They got a lot better defensively. And I think they match out with Brooklyn. So I am fascinated. You and I talked about this two weeks ago. We knew Brooklyn would not be stressed or made uncomfortable in the Boston series. Once Jalen Brown was out, the matchups are bad. Now it's going to get more physical.

They're going to trail in games. You know, this is Milwaukee on both ends can make things really uncomfortable. My prediction is it's hard to solve your dilemmas or your issues in the playoffs. And their chemistry didn't matter against Boston. think we're going to see issues, because I think you're going to need great chemistry to win. So I'll take Milwaukee, your thought about what I think is, one of the best Eastern Conference series in 10 years. I think it's that good. Yeah. I hope it is. I'll be fascinated to see what we see in the first game and how the

matchups work, because how the Milwaukee Bucks played the Miami Heat, I believe. Milwaukee is going to play a very different way against the Brooklyn Nets. I think you're going to see a lot more of Janice Antecompo playing center. And what I'm really fascinated to see is if Drew Holiday is on James Harden, Drew being very underrated defensive player, has the physical size and athleticism to deal with James, how much harder can he make the game on James one-on-one? Can he stay out of foul trouble?

Who is Kyrie Irving going to guard? Now, I will give credit to Kevin Durant. Defensively, he's shown me exactly what I thought he needed to do in order for the Brooklyn Nets to have a chance. But Kyrie Irving is going to have to guard somebody. Joe Harris is going to have to guard somebody. And what it really comes down to is this is a battle between Mike Boodenholzer and Steve Nash slash Mike Dantone.

And if Budenholtzer can't win the chess match against a coach in the playoffs for the first time and a offensive coach in Mike Dantonie, then the Bucks don't deserve to win a championship. But to me, this is going to have a, so much is going to depend on the mixing and matching of matchups. And I believe that the Bucks just have more versatility and experience in that area. So I'm with you, but the Bucks, we've seen it in the regular season. I believe that we've seen a different team. I believe we've seen a different Janice Santo Tocompo in the regular season. And the question is going to be, can they deliver that in the postseason for the first time? Rick Buecker, Fox Sports. Good seeing you, bud.

By the way, I hear you were pretty decent at 22 years old, too. That's just a... It could really get hops. I could dunk a wiffle ball. I could like a dunk a wiffle ball. Couldn't duck a basketball. I could dunk a wiffle ball. Volleyball?

Not a volleyball? Depended on the day. If I was hoppy, springy that day. Yeah. Yeah, I could. Got it. All right, Rick, good seeing you. Coming up next, listen,

I'm rooting for all these young quarterbacks. You know that, right? Joy and I don't like cruddy football. But this Jordan Love thing now, I'm just telling you, some of this stuff is not good if you're a Packer Maybe this is why Aaron's playing hardball. He'd been at practice with this guy.

This stuff yesterday, this is not good. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, it's me, Rob Parker. Check out my weekly MLB podcast inside the Parker for 22 minutes of pipe and hot baseball talk featuring the biggest names and newsmakers in the sport. Whether you believe in analytics or the eye test, we've got all the bases covered. New episodes drop every Thursday, so do yourself a favor and listen to Inside the Parker with Rob Parker on the IHeartRadio app 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, 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 Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 Jett and I'm Alex English Each episode we pick it 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 is big to me not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day but yeah yeah literally 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. 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, 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. Trip 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 or 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, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way. Open your free iHeart radio app. Search Learn the Hard Way and listen now. Jersey Mikes has a new grilled portabella mushroom and Swiss sub. Give it a try. Fresh ingredients. Make it a sub above. Jersey Mikes.

Be a sub above. So, you know, Aaron Rogers is showing, for the first time in his career, a real stomach for being disliked. He likes to be liked. He and KD. What they call rabbit ears, they can get a little defensive with criticism. We've seen it with both. Aaron now has gotten empowered. Well, he's dating a Hollywood celebrity.

We've been doing that for years. Well, he's making a lot of money now. He's been doing that for a year. Well, he just got to the NFC championship. He's been doing that for years. What's changed? What's changed is the Packers drafted Jordan Love, his heir apparent. And Aaron has watched him and knows football and knows what he sees.

Aaron's got no real replacement. So yesterday, Packers, no more 7-on-7. This was 11-on-11. Jordan Love was sacked twice, threw a pick, and on seven consecutive snaps, threw it to running backs, checked down six times. Matt Lefleur, once again with word salad. Today was the first time that we've had a competitive period that wasn't seven-on-seven. So I think there was definitely some learning for everybody on the offense aside. It was a little bit of a rough day for the offense.

But typically this time of the year, I think that's pretty normal, you know, just in terms of the defense is typically ahead of your offense. And so, you know, we'll take a look at the tape. But I think he's really attacking it the right way. Whatever. can I be concerned? Jordan Love had 31 college starts. 31. In a generation of seven-on-seven leagues, quarterback camps, personal quarterback coaches, passing camps.

Year two, struggling at practice. Seven consecutive snaps checked down six times to running backs. Justin Herbert, Joe Burrow, had no OTAs, had no preseason. And I could certainly argue less talented coaches or offensive lines. Those were bad old lines. They threw for 300 plus yards multiple times. In fact, last year I went and looked up quotes from some quarterbacks. First time you saw him at camp.

This is what they said about Joe Burrell, first scrimmage. He had his first scrimmage the other day. nearly flawless in his execution. Sounds like the arm strength, better than anticipated. Big things for Joe Burrell, who will be a day one starter and was really good behind a bad old line.

This is what they said about, you want to do Justin Herbert, first practices. Quote, you know, we talked about it when we drafted him as athletic ability, rare for his size, but to see it in person, the type of throws he's been making in practice, Very impressive.

Heck of a job staying in the pocket when the pressure is coming. Hasn't flinched. By the way, Herbert had the highest passer rating in the NFL last year of all quarterbacks under pressure. They saw it initially in practice. Doesn't flinch. Deshawn Watson. He's pretty good.

Bill O'Brien, this is what Bill O'Brien said. First practices, first scrimmage. Once we got to OTAs, he was able to operate the line of scrimmage right away. Operate in the huddle, right away. That stood out to me right away. You know what he was right away? Good. Okay.

Like I just don't think, I mean, this kid's got 31 college starts. He'd been around the operation, the playbook for well over a year. And he is 11 on 11 struggling against the Packer defense he sees in practice. He like, who knows who can play and who can't. I don't know. I don't want to be Mr. Negative. I am happy today. yesterday big i took all the winners in the NBA buying lunch feeling great i'd be concerned

maybe this is why Aaron is playing hardball maybe this is why i mean if jordan love was Mahomes let's not kid ourselves Aaron would be in camp Aaron would be in camp Aaron knows his replacement he sees it and he knows it all right was that negative i don't want to be negative Today is a positive day in America. Hour two. Live in L.A. Stick around. It's the hurt. 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. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. People are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart 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 host, 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 and learn the hard way on the AHA 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 Cliver Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations 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 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. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.