The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 06/04/2021 - HOUR 1 - Lakers, LeBron, Blazers, Clippers

Episode Date: June 4, 2021

The Lakers were inconsistent all seasonDamian Lillard should consider leaving the BlazersLeBron's legacy is fineWhy aren't people blaming Kawhi Leonard?Guest: Kevin O'Connor 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.

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. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying.

Yep, that's me, Clifford 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 Clifford 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 Clifford show on the IHard 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. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 is big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, 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. I mean, it was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Herd. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.

Sports Radio. Here we go on a major Friday in the herd in Los Angeles, a sad city this morning. It's sunny. It's not that sad. Iheart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, FS1, wherever you may be, and however you may be listening, it is a pleasure to have you in today. All the joy, all the happiness. Half of the ice cream cone has melted and already hit the sidewalk.

The other one in the L.A. Sun, it's dripping, it's close. It's about ready to fall out of the cone and hit the sidewalk as well. Joy Taylor is joining me. It's over for LeBron and A.D. Yeah, look, Lakers fans have had a lot to celebrate over the last year. They've lots of championships. And it didn't end well this season. But there's a lot of they could change over the next off season.

No question. Stay optimistic. Let's start with this. If the Lakers were a restaurant, they'd have to go out of business. The service, the quality of food, the effort, it changed every night. That's the Lakers season. Is AD healthy? Not tonight.

Oh, he is healthy, but he's not aggressive. Dennis Schroeder's amazing. Now, that was two nights ago. Tonight he's terrible. Andre Drummond, well, you can play him against the game. this team, you can play him in this quarter, you can't play him in that team. LeBron's healthy now, but he has no juice tonight. How about Kyle Kuzma?

Yeah, he totally disappeared. You don't know what you're getting. The whole season was like a restaurant that you didn't know if it was hot food, cold, the service was good, the bathrooms were drinking. You never, you got to close the restaurant. Actually, Phoenix is the opposite. As long as Chris Paul is like 80% healthy, you got the same thing every night. You got Chris Paul's toughness and intelligence and leadership.

You got Devin Booker's offensive brilliance. Jay Crowder, the three and D.Gy guy. You get his toughness. You got DeAndre Aiton's athletic ability and size. Every time you go to that restaurant, you know exactly what you're getting. That one stays open, four stars. Now, the Lakers ceiling is higher, but how many times did they hit it this year? Four?

In this series, they had one great quarter. It was the third quarter of game two. It was the best quarter they played. It was the best quarter any of these teams played in the whole series. And they had about a really good game and a half. But you never knew what you were getting with the Lakers. As long as Chris Paul's 80%, this is why the Suns finishes his second seed. You know what you're getting.

They're a really good basketball team. Well coached, play hard, leadership, offensive brilliance. Now, the good news for the Lakers, you can move almost everybody. Kyle Kuzma's contract, you can move it. Dennis Schrooter, free agent, he won't be back. Andre Drummond, not under contract for the Lakers. Montrez Harold, he was in the doghouse, he's done. The bad news for the Lakers,

AD and LeBron are coming back. Because right now, LeBron does not have the juice on a nightly basis. And Anthony Davis, when he's in the mood to be aggressive, is he capable of playing? You know, I was watching before the game last night. I'm watching him practice. and I'm like, they're showing the video and I'm like, this is, no. Now, even if he can play a little, he's not playing long and he's not playing game seven.

And then a couple minutes into the game, you know, he's in pain. You've got to take him off the floor. Charles Barkley, you know, I know the Laker fans think the good news and the bad news, they're actually all the same. Cabloom is probably the best answer, Charles Barkley last night. You should never be hurt early in your career. Like I always told people, from 20, say two to 32, you're Superman.

And then, obviously, age and all the games take their toe. For him to always be hurt, he's doing something wrong. And at this stage, a LeBron's career, Anthony Davis is going to have to be the best player on that team if they're ever going to be good again. LeBron, at some point, an agent started to catch up with him, too. There's no way he going to just keep playing great for eternity. It's not going to happen.

But at this stage of Anthony Davis's career, he should be the best player on that team. But you can't trust his health. This morning, Laker fans are trade everybody. Actually, I'd consider trading AD. But like Joel M. B'd, that market is shrinking. As a general manager, I would struggle to inherit the next four years of AD's contract. I don't know what I'm getting.

I'd take a lesser player who's healthy. I mean, what big change are you? going to make? What big swooping chance? Steph Curry! Why would Steph Curry tie himself to this? Steph Curry could go play with Luca. Steph Curry could go play with Janice.

Why would I tie myself to this? He could go play with Jimmy Butler. Why would I tie myself to this? Well, what about Dame? Dame's getting frustrated like crazy in Portland. His guys can't stay healthy. His guys aren't dependable. So, listen, LeBron, L.A. is this more of

what we've seen. LeBron has won championships in now three different cities. Two in Miami, one in Cleveland and one in Los Angeles. And what do they all have in common? He never wins the first year, takes him about a year. You always think he probably should have won at least one more in the city he should have been in. And they end sooner than you think they should end. Miami was like, it's over. It's just started. Cleveland.

Boom, he's gone again. Los Angeles. The winning title stage for LeBron and the Lakers, it's over. It's amazing, but it's over. There's not going to be a pandemic to give LeBron NAD four and a half month

hiatus. That's a once in a lifetime strange break for a franchise, for a brittle guy and an old guy. Two in Miami, one in Cleveland, one in L.A. It's amazing. Let's celebrate it. But LeBron came to Los Angeles for 50% basketball and 50% business.

He's already talking about space jam. Let's talk about Dane. We all love Dane. I used to work in Portland, know the city well, know its history well. and stop me if you've heard this before. Portland is out in the first route. Okay. Dame's amazing, and he's loyal.

But after last night, he dropped an interesting Instagram post, kids love Instagram, basically quoting the late great Nipsey Hustle, how long should I stay dedicated, how long till opportunity meets preparation. Now, first of all, I worked in Portland. And I have sympathy for this franchise in the history of not only the NBA, but professional sports. There has never been a franchise that has been snake bit like the Blazers.

Let's talk about that for a second. Bill Walton is arguably the greatest college basketball player of all time, UCLA. Bill Walton was, you can go ask historians. Maybe the greatest college basketball player. They get him in Portland. They win one title. He falls apart physically. What a bad break.

They draft Sam Bowie. Go YouTube Sam Bowie. He was 20 years ahead of his time. He was 7'4 pull up for a bank shot on a fast break in the angle. Sam Bowie was insane. You will watch Sam Bowie video on YouTube. He's 20 years ahead of his time. Goes to Portland.

Boom. legs fall apart. Okay, we've got a couple bad breaks, but that's enough. We're never going to, Brandon Roy. They get Brandon Roy. Great player. Great player. Cardilage, knees, rubs, early retirement.

What? Had like nine years, All-Star left. Okay, this cannot happen again. Greg Oden, Monster Center. The next great center falls apart physically. I don't blame Portland for a lot. any of those. I don't even blame them for not drafting Michael Jordan. They had Clyde Drexler,

who's another one of the greatest college players I've ever seen, played the same position as Michael. I don't even blame him for that. And Bowie was unbelievable. I don't blame him. Snake bit four times. And then Dame Lillard happens. Loyal, tough, one of the greatest

offensive guards in the history of the planet. You get everything. He doesn't miss games. He is clutch. He is tough. He is loyal. I mean, you hit the super lotto a day. But this is not bad luck. This is bad GMing. Eight years, you can't get him a number two. I'm not saying it's easy. Mark Cuban could never get Durkan number two. I'm not saying it's easy, but you've been trying to convince this, Nirkich, C.J. McCollum, good players, like them both. Love them on my roster. They're not twos.

Norman Powell. Now, I hear Norman Powell. Got to get Norman Powell back. He's not a two. It's probably a four in a championship team, maybe a three. Nobody's more snake bit. I mean, I got great sympathy. Walton, Bowie, Oden, Brandon Roy, this is on the team. You've got to take a big swing. And you've been trying to convince Blazer fans and convince everybody.

This guy's a two and that guy's a two. No, they're not. Milwaukee tried to do that nonsense with Chris Middleton. I banged on that for two years. Chris Middleton's a good player. Love to have him. He's a three. on a great team he's a four

on a potential championship team he's a three you were trying to sell me Chris Middleton's a two for years I kept saying nonsense he's a 19 point of game guy can hit big shots love them on a team C.J McCollum Nerkish not it old mellow not it Cunnington not it Norman Powell not it take a big swing

because Denver was missing Jamal Murray and Will Barton two of their starters out for round. Here's Dame after. I don't know what what a shakeup looks like or what changes

will be made or could be made. But obviously as is, it wasn't good enough. You know, we came up short against a team without the starting point guard and shooting guard and we came up short. So obviously

where we are isn't good enough to win the championship if it's not good enough for us to get out of a first round series with, you know, two of their best three or four players, not on the floor. All defend Portland forever. They got a spot in my heart. Nobody got worse breaks. Nobody.

Could you imagine being an NFL team and you draft like a Peyton Manning level guy four separate times? Every seven, eight years. Yeah, he got hurt. He got hurt. I have great sympathy. But Dame, you got to take a big swing. You got to blow this thing up, give Dame somebody. You just don't.

dames don't exist. Now, it's not easy to find a number two. But finding Dame is next to impossible. Tough, great, loyal for his size, doesn't get hurt. That stuff doesn't... You don't get that. This is your John Morant. That's why I always said when LeBron left Cleveland after seven years, you're burning jerseys.

Burn the owner's jersey. Seven years, you couldn't get him an all-star. We're talking eight years for Dame. You're trying to convince me old mellows the answer? Get him a new car. Let's go up town. Let's go to the Mercedes dealer. Not for these other dealerships.

Let's go up town now, blow it up and get him a star. Because I'm going to tell you something. You're not going to get another dame. That small never hurt. That clutch. He and Steph Curry are the two best clutch players last 10 years in the league. Little old Portland got him. You're not getting that again.

That's not happening again. Swing big. All right. A lot of things to talk about today. You know, I'm hearing a lot of legacy stuff with LeBron. Well, Tarnishes his legacy. How about Kauai's legacy? That tonight could take a hit coming up.

Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the I-Hard Radio app. 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. a space for honest conversations,

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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 a little kill? 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 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 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.

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So, you know, a lot of people are asking, you know, the question today, ooh, a first round playoff exit, will it tarnish LeBron's legacy? Not one bit. And that's like, you know, hot take debate show stuff. Like, I get that. Michael Jordan's last two years with the Wizards were a disaster. He was heavy. He couldn't jump.

He didn't get along with teammates. They couldn't make the playoffs and the crappy east. Nobody cares. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, conversely, ended his career with a great deal of elegance. He won two of his last three finals. He got to the finals. It was classy, sophisticated, refined. Did he get credit for it?

we never talk about it. The end doesn't shape legacies in 99% of careers. All of us wobble a little as broadcasters in our late 60s or 70s, and all athletes wobble a little at the end of their careers. Even if they win a Super Bowl like Peyton Manning, it's not because of them. This is the mogul stage. We said this when LeBron came to Los Angeles. We said he has graduated now to the mogul stage.

50% basketball, 50% business. And after he lost last night, not only did he not look dejected, here's what he said after the game. He is already talking 10 minutes after the game about Space Jam the movie. No, I think I'm going to play for the Toon Squad this summer instead of Olympics. I think that's my focus on trying to beat the Mom Stars or the Goon Squad, we call them now. So didn't have much success versus sun So now I am gearing my attention to the goon squad

Here in July in mid-July So let the I'm gonna let the ankle rest for about a month And then I'm gonna gear up with Lola Tass Granny bugs You know And the rest of the crew So hopefully see y'all at the match Yeah he looks crestfallen

Legacy check money check trophies check lifestyle he'll be at the pool check folks is Elvis less iconic because of the fat Elvis stage he died on a toilet nobody cares all we talk about is the cool Elvis the young Elvis it doesn't matter when he moved L.A. LeBron made it very clear I remember the first year he moved to L.A. He stopped following in all my social media stuff because I said, dude, you're still basketball player. He's a little about basketball, but he didn't like any of the young Laker players. And so he was like, you know, setting up all these meetings with billionaires. And then, you know, the pandemic, he had to focus on some hoops and he was great. But we all knew going in.

Like if this was LeBron first iteration in Cleveland, I'd be like, dude, come on. It's got hurt a little more than this. If it was in Miami, I'd be like, come on, that's your crowning moment. If it was in Cleveland the second time, I'd be like, you still have it won here. Come on. Los Angeles, he won a title. It's over. Like, it's, I mean, he's literally laughing and talking about space jam 10 minutes after it's done. Joy Taylor with the news. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. This is a really good pitch, actually. I thought the movie studio, Brian, texted him last night. Thank you.

I love that. Yeah, he's, he's all right. He's fine. He's going to do just fine. So the Clippers are in Dallas tonight trying to stay alive. In a winner go home, game six against the Mavs. The Road team has won every game this series so far. Weird, just like the Clippers.

And the Clippers are favored to continue that streak. Foxbet has them at minus three over Dallas tonight. I'll take Dallas. Well, the Mavs won the first two games. Clippers won the second two games. Mab's won the last game. So we'll see. I would tend to lean Dallas too

just because it kind of feels like this is what the Clippers would do. But I wouldn't be surprised if this goes to seven. Joy, I am on a heater. This is true. Suns last night. I have won three, I think three or four straight. I am going to go Dallas tonight. I said, I thought if Chris Paul was 80% healthy,

it became very clear in the series. They were the better team. Yeah. When Luca has been 80, 85%, they're the better team. It looks like to me. Well, you had 42 points in the last game. It didn't even play well in the fourth quarter. They still won in L.A.

Porzenga said eight. So that's the thing. If Kauai or Paul George can go off, who else is going to get points for Dallas? That's the question. Kauai had 20 points in Paul Georgia at 23. So obviously we know how that ended. And they were still in it at the end.

Like, still had an opportunity to win the game. So I would tend to lead in Dallas as well, but again, I wouldn't be surprised with the Clippers Drag us to 7. Could be a really, really bad two-night stand in L.A. Oh, my God. It's going to be so sad in L.A. I'm so sad. Maybe I'm just kind of like wishing that. Like everyone in Laleigh to have a terrible weekend. Lakers fans are already sad. Let's just give the Clippers fans. Move on to Dodgers. They're a very good team.

Exactly. So the Nuggets closed out their first round series against the Blazers last night. They were down by 14 in the third quarter, but they were able to rally. to a 126-150 win. Yoko Ch had an incredible game, 36 points, led Denver to the second round for the third straight season. They will face the Suns next. I like Phoenix. And that series begins on Monday. Well, so does Fox bet.

They have the Sun's favored by four and a half in game one. Yep. And by 225 to win the series. Listen, Jamal Murray and Will Barton are starters. They're both out. I feel bad for Denver. But if Chris Paul now gets a break, Phoenix is a better team. They were better than the regular season.

They're healthier. I'm going to take Phoenix. Phoenix in this as well. Chris Paul does get a break. He gets the whole weekend. They don't start the series until Monday. He looked good in this game. Obviously still in some pain, but he's going to have a significant amount of time off. How good was Devin Booker last night? Devin Booker, this is what Devin Booker does, though. Devin Booker is incredible. He's an incredible score. He's a star. He plays in Phoenix. They don't play in the postseason. So nobody really sees him and sees what he is. Not only is he great. He is...

he's a showman. Like he talks trash. He plays with a certain energy and a little bit of rage, too. Like he really has this chip on his shoulder. Yeah. He's amazing to watch. He is a, he is, he's 30 a night. He's just a natural, gifted from the way he moves, the way he shoots.

Like there's some guys. And he can defend also. Points come easy. Devin Booker was built to score a bunch of points. I mean, his first half was, I mean, first quarter was ridiculous. How many threes in a row did he hit? Six. In an NBA game, God.

That game was outrageous last night. No, at one point it was like 30, it felt like 37 to 11. I couldn't, I mean, it was a complete blowout, and I couldn't take my eyes off of it. I watched every second of it. It was unbelievable. So the bucks have made sure to keep Tom Brady in the loop with the personnel decisions this offseason. Gave me a heads up. They were going to get Kyle Trask, they were going to take a quarterback in the draft.

And Bruce Ariens revealed they also asked for his opinion on wide receivers. Love it. They told Rich Eisen that he asked, he told Rich Eisen that he asked Brady to scout potential receiver prospects and see if there was something that he liked. He also said Brady did a great job with his evaluations. They took a wide receiver, Jalen Darden, in the fourth round out of North Texas. But this is what they're doing. They're not playing any games with Tom Brady. He wants input.

that was a big problem with the Patriots and it's not a problem with the bucks. Yeah, I mean, Tom Brady's not going to tell them who to draft. But by the way, if you're making big decisions, I mean, there's one draft a year and you get like six, seven picks, wouldn't you want more impact input? Like just if I had to make a big decision in my life on this show, I would go to Ryan, I'd go to you, I'd go to a couple bosses. Like the more opinions I get, you, sometimes it's the, we always do this in our show prep. We prep for two hours.

you would not believe how many times our last 10 minutes we get our lead. We find this gem. Like the more opinions I get for big decisions, the better chance I have to fall on to an opinion that go, I go boom, light bolt, yep, boom, that's the opinion. I mean, if it's someone's opinion that you respect,

like all of our producers. Right. In the room there. Like, deserve to be there so that they have good input. Tom Brady is Tom Brady. So his input is valuable. probably more valuable than some of the scouts. He's probably actually been playing longer than I don't know what their scouts are,

but he's been around for a long time. He might have some valuable input. And to your point, you don't have to do what he says, but making people feel like their very valuable input is at least heard, at the bare minimum, heard, goes a long way. Communication is important. Now, obviously, we're all layering this with a little bit of sarcasm directed at the Green Bay backers. Right.

But it's just like this stuff is not really that difficult. No. It becomes difficult when you miss the small things, they become big things. And that's what it is. Yeah. Good stuff. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by.

So we're almost talking. We've got Brooklyn, Milwaukee. I'll take Milwaukee. Atlanta's Sixers, even without Embed. If N. M.B. plays two games, I'll take the Sixers. Baby steps. Atlanta's not ready to get to a conference finals. Phoenix, Denver.

I'll take Phoenix. I'll take Utah against the clippers of the Mavs. I will. I think the Clippers could give them more problems because the clippers are so good at the wing. And that's kind of a spot where I don't think the jazz are terribly athletic. They can score. Not sure if they defend much on the wing. I think the Clippers series would go longer with the jazz than the Mavs.

And I disagree on the – I think the Nets are going to win that series. But I also think it will be long. I can't wait. Kevin O'Connor, NBA analyst. The Ringer is now joining us live. my Mercedes-Benz the best or nothing. So, I mean, I think Kevin this morning, you know, I mean, we love this. We love the off-season and the NBA.

It's fun and there's projections. But I do wonder if LeBron's lost a little of the superpower where all the young stars want to play with him. I mean, if I'm Steph, if Dallas called and I could play with Luca, that could be fun too. So, I mean, we know the Lakers are going to move off a lot of these pieces, right? Kevin, I mean, Andre Drummond's not under a Laker contract. what do you envision, just a hunch, what does the team kind of look like next year, in your opinion? I would imagine similar in some ways you're going to see some of the pieces like the Alex Caruso's, maybe at Coosba, be back. But with that said, you would expect the Lakers to take a big swing at some point.

They tried and they were in conversations for Kyle Lauer ahead of the trade deadline as well as other teams. And that didn't happen. But doesn't it feel like that's the type of thing that we could see from a Lakers team here? something big, a sign and trade for a Lowry? It does. You know, they're not going to move off A.D., and I think there's a psychological edge here, is that I think A.D. knows he disappointed people this year.

He did not come in great shape. I think AD's probably going to have a great offseason and really grind your thoughts on that. Oh, for sure. I mean, AD, the thing is, is like, he's going to grind. He's always going to do that. The question is, can he stay healthy? Can he be durable?

And he's always had these issues. He's gotten better. every single season of his career. I don't think there's a question about him going into the offseason, probably working harder than ever, but can he stay healthy? That's always going to be the question for him and his future. And this year for the Lakers, one of the reasons why they lost the Sons and Six and couldn't even push it to the seven.

So that question isn't going to go away anytime soon, though. Dame Lillard's loyal. He made an inference last night. How loyal should I be? I've said earlier today, I used to work there. I've got great sympathy. the Walton injuries, Zam Bowie, Brandon Roy, Greg Oden, but they have not in eight years gotten him a legit big time too,

and you're not going to get another dame. He's one of the great offensive guards in the history of the sport. They've got to take a big swing. I think they know they have to take a big swing. Is there anything out there that would work for them? I mean, he won the teammate of the year award yesterday for being a great teammate. And they're like, well-deserved. I mean, I can't imagine how frustrating it was to score 55 points and lose

to consistently have to drag your team to just the sixth seed, and then losing the first round for the fourth time and fifth years. Like, congratulations to Damien Lillard for winning that award. It's well deserved for all of these reasons. And for Portland, the pressure is really got to be on him. I mean, Dame's got to have people in his circle that he trusts. You and Joy, we're just talking about the importance of empowering people around you in the context of like Tom Brady getting to talk about wide receivers with the front office.

For Damien Lillard, he's got people in his circle who are like, Dame, you're 30 here. you're at the peak of your powers. Is Portland going to put the right pieces around you? Are they going to get you the right head coach? Because they have not thus far. And, you know, for Portland, I feel bad because it's not like they haven't drafted some guys who made some theoretical sense in the Cyr Little. Right.

Anthony Simon's still young. They're just not ready yet. And they've got to be for DAME. And that's so disappointing. Yeah. You know, it's the old saying, people are loyal until they're not. And we can talk about loyalty. But then to your point, people are like agent, shoe companies.

listen you're all buried up in the Pacific Northwest dude let's get on television more I mean you know this league so you're loyal till you're not so tonight is the biggest game for the Clippers I mean it's a top three franchise game ever I like Dallas I think when

Luca's been 85 90% they've been the more consistent team who do you like tonight and thoughts on it I'm taking Dallas in the series whether it's tonight or game 7 Dallas to me I think Luca has proven that he is a better overall player with his ability to create for others. Like in this series, it seems like it's either been, who's better, Kauai or Luca?

If Kauai's better, the Kippur seemed to win. If Luca's better, the Maverc seemed to win. But I think Luca gets an edge in the sense that even if he isn't scoring, even with his big night earlier this week, he was 11 for 25 from two point range. He could have been better scoring around the rim, but his ability to create shots for others is what always makes him a super impactful player. I wouldn't pick them against the Jazz or the Clippers against the Jazz or the Clippers against the Jazz next round. But Luca is a major threat and he gives you a chance any night.

So I'm taking them. Kevin, all your sources, Milwaukee, Brooklyn, I'm taking Milwaukee. I think they've got the ability to play a couple different ways. I worry about Brooklyn lack of chemistry being exposed. I think it's a great series. I'll take Milwaukee. When you talk to your sources around the league, some don't want to put their opinions out there. But what are you hearing from people around the league about that series, which I think is one of the best second round series in a long time. A lot of executives and coaches that I talk to, the boxes have been checked with the bucks in that first round against the heat. The way they just dismantled them, the way they

switch screens on the defensive end of the floor strategically. Sometimes they switched. Sometimes they played drop coverage by having Brooke Lopez drop into the paint. So for Milwaukee, it's going to be a greater challenge against Brooklyn, but the way in which they've evolved their defense and the way in which they're playing on the offensive end of the floor. People around the league definitely are seeing their opinion increase of what the Bucks can be, possibly even being the Nets. And I picked the Nets to go to the finals before the season. I'd pick them to go to the finals before the playoffs.

But the way the Bucks played in that first round does have me changing the way I approach that. I can't wait until Saturday's game. Let's be crazy. Let's circle back to LeBron's legacy. First round exit. How does it land for you? I think you said it earlier. Old Fat Elvis did not change a thing. It doesn't matter what happens with LeBron this year. And moving forward, it does not change a thing. He can only add to his legacy at this point. Yeah. You know, I was watching him last night and I sat there. And I remember saying this about Tiger Woods. Let's just enjoy these guys in their prime. Like, listen, Kevin, we both love LeBron, but he just doesn't have the juice. I mean, it's okay. Maybe it's a condensed season. Maybe next year he's got it back. But I mean, I think even the biggest LeBron fans would admit the turbo button, he still got it.

It just doesn't last very long. Like he's got to play more in Spurge, right? That's fair. Yeah, I think it's very fair. I mean, he doesn't even have the explosiveness right around the rim that he did even just five, six years ago. He has declined athletically. He's just managed to evolve his game to maintain his elite level of effectiveness. And he's going to continue to do that.

He can play for a long time if he wants to. It's just we won't see peak level of. LeBron anymore. And he himself admitted that. So it's not like some shocker to say that. He admitted that. So it's just about how he evolves as he ages. And there's no player you'd trust more to do that than LeBron, though. He's always going to be there. Kevin O'Connor, the ringer. Great seeing you as always. I'll be sitting on a couch watching it tomorrow. Thanks, buddy. Thank you. All right. Good stuff. Yeah, it's, you know, it's funny. We're all talking about LeBron's legacy. Let's examine the legacy that is still being shaped. Kauai's legacy tonight. 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 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 document 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 Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the look of.

Back at a 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. So, 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 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 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, Keer Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing,

growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way. Open your free, Our Heart Radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Want a gift for dad? Give him something he can get comfortable in Tommy John underwear. 20% off your first order,

Tommyjohn.com slash heard. Check out their site for details and all their merge. All right. So we're almost set. We'll know very soon. Eastern Conference, Brooklyn against Milwaukee. I'll take Milwaukee long series.

Atlanta Sixers. I'll take the Sixers. Even if Embed can only play in half the games. Phoenix, Denver. Phoenix is healthier. They're rolling. They're confident. If Chris Paul is healthy, I take the Sons.

Utah, I'll take them against the Clippers or the Mavs. I think they're really good basketball team. I mean, number one record in the league. So the Clippers, though, let's talk Clippers. They got their wish. Lakers are done. It's now finally a chance. They share the same building with the Lakers.

Lakers always hog the spotlight. Lakers are done. June and July, my friends, is Clipper Town USA. Little brother, no longer. The Clippers have a slogan in Los Angeles. You'll see it in commercials and billboards. The slogan is, this is our time. I would submit to you if they lose tonight, let's put up new billboards for Kauai Leonard and Paul George.

Kauai, please. I'm over you. We talk about LeBron's legacy, but it's already been shaped. What about Kauai's legacy? And I think this is something to talk about. there's a difference between quirky guy and strange guy all of us all of you watching all of you listening we've all worked with quirky guy eats the same thing for breakfast every day a little rigid in his cubicle a little bit of a nerd it's okay you can work with quirky guy quirky guy's often fun and

smart we've all worked with quirky guy strange guy Like, women aren't comfortable around him. Guys aren't comfortable around him. Hygiene isn't great. Strange guy is like, you don't really want him in the building. I've worked with a couple of those. A lot of quirky guys in the NBA. A lot of quirky guys.

Got different look, different sound, different. Kauai's kind of falling into, is he going to play? His health is a mystery? He doesn't talk. Two years, two coaches, two smart coaches. Why is it chemistry so bad? You go from like, you know, we've all, it's okay to be quirky in sports in life. But then what happens when you go past that and it's hard to explain.

I had Rick Buecker on yesterday. And I said that. I said, if they get bounced in the first round with this talent, we all blame Doc Rivers. Well, he's winning. We're all going to blame Ty Lou. Well, Tyloos got a title. We're going to blame Montres Harrell? At some point, we can keep blame on Paul George,

but does Kauai have a much lower ceiling than guys like me who really love his game ever perceived? You're echoing what a lot of GMs have said to me over the last couple years, that Kauai Lundered for all of his talent and for his two championships is not a leader. So who is? The decision making and the leadership is the huge missing piece with the clippers.

It doesn't really communicate. Teams now back-to-back years bad late in games. His game's never really been about elevating others. He's gotten better with the assists. The load management thing, I don't really understand it. Is he just going to be a guy that takes 20 games off a year? Nobody really elaborates on it. I just think if they get bounced in the first round and they have a better team.

I mean, like we said earlier, they won 47 games with Kauai and Paul George between the two of them taking 40 games off. It's a good team with a championship winning coach. Dallas won 42 games. Clippers had a home court advantage. Clippers have a better team, better roster. Clippers have, I mean, you could certainly argue Kauai is a much better overall player than Luca. Luca plays no defense yet. So you start losing games.

It's one thing. start losing series you're favored and you can't blame injuries, you kind of move into a different territory from a little quirky to this guy can't really be a one. We'll see. His legacy is still being shaped. And I want to talk a little bit about LeBron. So two of the last three, let's talk LeBron. Two of the last three years for LeBron.

He's looked old. He looks tired now or he's been hurt. But LeBron wants to play with his son. So, you know, I think he's. He's going to play three more years. He wants to play with his son. I get it. That's cool.

So my guess is if he has three years left, they're going to look a lot like a little bit like this year, maybe a little better, but you know, a little, he's good, doesn't have the juice, banged up a little, gets hurt more, takes more days off. And I don't think it's going to hurt his legacy. LeBron's legacy is done. But this is what I wonder about. There's so many great young players in this league. The league's never been younger.

It's never had this much talent. I mean, the Western Conference alone, the guards, it's Booker, it's Steph, it's Dame, it's John Morant, it's Donovan Mitchell. I mean, you just go on. Some teams have Chris Paul and Booker, Steph Curry, and Clay Thompson. I mean, the talent is insane. And it's younger than ever. LeBron always had a superpower.

When Superman called, you picked up the phone. I, LeBron. You won't play with me? You hung the phone up and you called your agent. Make it an iPhone. You called your agent. LeBron wants to play. I mean, that was a two-minute transaction.

You heard that LeBron was interested in you and you call. Kevin Love and Chris Bosch literally gave up points, gave up part of their self-identity. In their prime, they were all-stars. to play with LeBron. Chris Bosch was averaging 25 and 10. There were nights he became LeBron's valet in his prime. Kevin Love was a perennial all-star, best rebounder in the game.

Hey, go stand over in the corner. I got work to do here. So Kevin Love and Bosch in their prime surrendered part of themselves, their stats, their history. You think John Morant? Why would John Moriant want to get saddled with that? Steph Curry, if Luca and LeBron called, I wouldn't want to tick off Warrior fans and go to the Lakers. I'd go to Dallas.

Steph Curry, Yonnes? I mean, I don't know. I just, the superpower LeBron once had, he called, you took the call. There's so many great young players right now. The idea that, hey, LeBron's on the phone. LeBron's agent's on the phone. He wants you to play with him. I just watched him.

he can't stay healthy he's old oh a satellite it's not just you know we all have moments in our careers where we're very attractive to other people oh i want to work with her i want to work with him you know and then you move out of that stage and people don't take your calls anybody listening watching people don't take your calls as much they take your calls in your prime so i i think the titles are done for lebron hour two next 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. 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. On the Look Back at it podcast For 1979 That was a big moment for me 84 was big to me I'm Sam Jay

And I'm Alex English Each episode We pick a year 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 year I don't think there's a more important year for black people Listen to look back at it On the IHeart Radio app

Apple Podcasts 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. Clifford 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, unfills of 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 IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast, 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. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.