The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 06/21/2021 - Best of The Herd

Episode Date: June 21, 2021

Colin loves the way the Suns have built their team counter to what people consider "modern basketball". He points out why Ben Simmons and the 76ers failed this post season and what they have in common with the other teams who came up short in the post season. He also tells you why he was right about Zion Williamson and wrong about Doc Rivers. Plus, NBA veteran Al Harrington joins the show to tell Colin what the 76ers need to do in order to fix Ben Simmons in the off season. 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. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win.

A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, 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, unfilled conversations with athletes,

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For 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's 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 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. Thanks for listening to The Best of 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 Heard. This is the best of the herd with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio. Ah, here we go on a very robust Monday live in Los Angeles.

This is The Herd, wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Iheart radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1, one hour from now, where Colin was right, where Colin was wrong. It's one of our better ones in some time. Alex Curry sitting in for Joy Taylor, who is sick today under the weather. Alex, how are you? Oh, doing fabulous. Thanks for having me this fine Monday.

Well, it's all this stuff is coming to a head. We got coaches being fired. Players happy, players unhappy. So I want to start with my Phoenix Sun. So I like new stuff. I talk about it all the time. We've got to adapt. We've got to evolve.

But that doesn't mean old school doesn't have its place. And with basketball, there are some old school elements I like. I like teams being built through the draft. You know, you can add a star, you can add a Chris Paul, but I like the idea of finding talent, developing talent, the Warriors, Clay Thompson, Draymond Green, Steph Curry. You can add Katie, you can add Andrew Wiggins,

but at their core, they are built through the draft. This is why I like the Phoenix Suns. They're old school. That's an old school team. Everybody has a defined role. None of this positionless basketball nonsense. They have a true point guard in Chris Paul, though he didn't play yesterday.

They have a dominant shooting guard. That's what it's called a shooting guard. SG shooting guard. Devin Booker. They have two athletic wings. Both can finish. Both can hit a three. McHale Bridges.

Jay Crowder. One's a veteran. One's a kid. And then they have an athletic big. DeAndre Aiton, who likes being big. He doesn't hoist up threes. He hangs around the rim. He likes being around the basket.

I like my bigs to be around the basket. That's when Anthony Davis, who doesn't like hanging around the basket? He's one of those new bigs. And nothing wrong with having guys like DeAndre Aiton. He can cover anybody, can protect the rim. But he likes to be around the basket. They don't do load management in Phoenix. That's not their thing.

and defined roles matter. I know everybody wants positionless basketball, but that's like the liberal arts degree of academics. Great, you read Chaucer. What do you do? I want to hire you. What do you do? Well, I'm very well read.

What do you do? Are you great at something? Not a lot of time to read here at work. What are you great at? Phoenix has people, 3&D, true point guard, legitimate score, big who likes being a big. They actually play nine guys. You know, there used to be a time, Brooklyn Nets. With all these super teams, you can't have a bench.

You can't afford a bench, so Brooklyn's playing like six guys. You know, you go back to the Bulls, they played eight or nine. You go back to the Magic Lakers, they play eight or nine. And it's really funny, when you go back to the greatest teams we've ever had, they had to find roles. The reason the Bulls worked, not only was Jordan great, and Pippin was a great too, but Pippin knew Michael takes the last shot. Pippin knew, I got a guard the best player sometimes. That's my role. And Phil Jackson brilliantly orchestrated it.

If you go look at Magic's Lakers, go look at the Magic Lakers and the point guards they had and the guards they had. So Magic was your classic distribution guard, but he could score, like Chris Paul. They had your defensive guard. Michael Cooper. he played defense. And then you had your like shooting guard, Byron Scott. He wasn't as good a defender.

He wasn't as good a ball handler or distributor. Even within the guards, the great Laker teams with Laker and Kareem, who are arguably as good as any team in league history. Everybody had a defined role. Magic didn't have to shoot the shot, but Magic would have the ball late and control it, and everybody knew it. Like I like Phoenix.

They're old school, built through the draft, No load management. By the way, and this is crazy. Their players play all their games. That's why their chemistry is so good. Their players play. Their top four or five players, they all played the entire season. That's why their chemistry is so amazing late in games.

By the way, who are the two teams that are really, really talented but bad late in games? The Sixers, we can't, we don't know what Ben Simmons role is right now. We can't define it. They don't have a defined point guard. Simmons probably is a point forward or on the Warriors. He could be a center. Who else is bad late in games but talented? The Clippers.

Why? They don't really have a true point guard. Like we've gotten to this point in society where everybody's equal. Everybody's the exact same thing. No, no, no, it's okay. You can do what you do. Have a ceiling on other stuff. You've got a defined role.

It makes you happy in life. That's fine. The positionless basketball, it's okay to have a true point guard who distributes. Last eight games, Phoenix is eight and no. And they are the best team in the league right now late in games. And it makes no sense, right? Why would a young Phoenix team be so good late in games?

Wouldn't the Clippers with all the veterans, Rondo and Paul George and Patrick Beverly, wouldn't the Clippers be the best late game team? They're arguably after the Sixers. the worst. Because they don't quite have a quarterback for this offense. And the young sons are a great late-in-game team, which makes no sense. Even yesterday with Chris Paul out, they were great late. It's Devin's team. Devin's the best player. We'll support him. We'll play D. Aiton at the rim. Like, it all works for Phoenix. Now, this is going to be a real tough series. This is going to be a six-seven game series. Don't kid yourself. Clippers are bigger. They got more

Veterans, these are going to be close games. This is going to be a great series. But I like new stuff too, but tradition always gets a bad mark or a bad name. And I like the old school sons. All right. So what I don't like is Embedon Simmons playing together. That doesn't work. We've been saying this now for some time.

And I acknowledge I whiffed on Ben Simmons. I thought he was the guy I would choose. He has deteriorated badly. But Doc Rivers, the coach now of the Sixers, was asked. If Ben Simmons could be a starting point guard for a contending team. I don't know that question or the answer to that right now. You know, so I don't know the answer to that. Obviously, he struggled from the free-thel line,

and that became a factor in the series. There's no doubt about that. Still believe in them, but we have work to do. You know, we're going to have to get in the gym, put a lot of work in and go forward. Right now, Ben Simmons may be closer to Rudy Gobert than LeBron James. He's big. He's a great defender.

He's long, but he can't shoot. Lord of God, he may be closer right now to Rudy Gobert than LeBron James. But you know what it is in life and in the NBA? You kind of get what you deserve. Ben Simmons will not work on his shooting. That's the result. Anthony Davis won't work on his body in the offseason. The result, he's always hurt.

The Clippers did the load management thing last year. Their chemistry was awful. The Sun's five starters all played all the games. Remarkable how good their chemistry is. The Nets spent a fortune on three players. They have no bench. Okay? This morning, you are exactly, whether you've been eliminated,

you're ascending, you're flourishing, you're declining, you're exactly where you should be. You've all earned it. By the way, Janus is not a great, is not a great free throw shooter, but he is a worker. Unlike Simmons, he's a worker. And what do you do yesterday? He hit just enough free throws. He earned that series because Janus is a worker. He may have limitations, but unlike Simmons, you can tell he is working on these free throws.

and therefore he hit just enough to advance. Paul George. Okay, Paul George has been a player. I'll get there. I'll get there. I'll put the work in. I know my play. What has happened to Paul George?

Well, Utah couldn't defend him. Why? Because Utah, once again, cannot defend wings. So they're exactly where they should be out because they couldn't stop a wing Terrance man or a wing Paul George or in the games he played, Kauai Leonard. So Ben Simmons' number one issue, is Ben Simmons.

He has tools you can't teach, and the stuff you can he will not work on. Even Philadelphia as a team. This is exactly what they should be. Kind of a mess. Because we've been saying M. B. and B. and Simmons don't even like each other. All-Star game.

They wouldn't fly in the private jet down to the All-Star game. Don't like each other. So you can blame the refs. You can blame the head coach. That's big in Utah today. Got to blame the coach. Oh, in Philadelphia.

You got to blame Doc Rivers. I admit, Doc Layton Games, his resume is getting uglier. But, you know, even Atlanta is exactly where they should be because Atlanta had to fire their coach. So they brought in Nate McMillan, known as a more defensive-minded coach. And what does Atlanta become? A better defensive team. So, you know, we knew they could shoot. We knew Trey Young was good.

That wasn't the issue. The issue was Atlanta is they're just going to be, you know, this is just all offense, no defense. Now they actually make an effort on the defensive end. So, you know, you kind of end, I always say this. You could have a good childhood, a bad childhood. By like 45, 50, you kind of, your choices have defined your life. You start looking at these NBA teams. They're all exactly where they should be based on their deficiencies,

based on their issues they haven't addressed, based on issues they've tried to address but can't. Old school Phoenix is rolling. and the Milwaukee Bucks, though inartistic and limited, are now in the Eastern Conference finals. 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. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.

Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clipper 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. Hey, it's Edwin Castro, also known as Castro 1021. And I'm Konki, his best friend and business manager. And we've got a new show called The 1021. podcast. I'm taking you behind the scenes on how I became one of Twitch's most popular streamers. We also love sports. And with the World Cup right around the corner, we'll be breaking down the biggest storylines ahead of the big tournament here in the USA. Listen to the 1021 podcast on the Iheart radio

app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. But there's so much more to me than that. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian, and recently I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope I'm a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant, and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring for you. twice. One ring is too scary.

Oh, cream of chicken suit. Hey, cream. Cream a chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the Mike Cultura podcast network available on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So the Brooklyn Nets, you know, they were formed a super team, right? And I was cynical.

They didn't play together. Kyrie's erratic. Katie's obviously great but has injuries. Hardin has never really been great in the postseason where he depends on the whistle. And it's kind of ironic. All those three things is what you saw in the playoffs. Katie was great.

And Kyrie was unavailable and Hardin kind of underwhelmed. That's exactly what they were. People tell you what they are. Believe them. So now, now the good news is super teams are usually better in year two. Miami Hedels, better in year two. If you look at LeBron James, year one never equals a championship. It's always in year two. Year two in Miami, year two in the return to Cleveland, year two with the Lakers. So it takes time to get stuff going. The issue with super teams, though,

is always the same. You can't have a bench. It's a salary cap league. I mean, you're asking Kevin Durant to play 53 minutes in game seven. He averaged 45 minutes most of this series. I mean, it's an insane number. And if you go back to the last, super team we had with three stars, Katie, Stefan Clay, and even Draymond. What was their issue? Bench. They would depend on Alfonso McKinney and Quinn Cook to play way over their head against great players in big spots. That's not fair. So you spend all your money on cars, folks. You're not going to have as nice a house. You have to make decisions on this. Brooklyn's bench, and I kid you not, this is a true stat, did not attempt a shot, not won in game seven.

No, I'll repeat that. Brooklyn's bench did not attempt a single shot in game seven. The Phoenix Suns, not a super team but really good, their bench gave you 60 minutes and was 8 for 15. That's the difference. By the way, the way the sons are constructed, Chris Paul only has to play about 30, 31 minutes because they have a backup point.

Kevin Durant's got to play 50. You've got to overtime, he's got to play 50. He got to play all of them. And so at one point, Brooklyn was depending on Blake Griffin to be big for them. Well, that's not fair. Blake is way past his prime. And so, you know, if you're eating steak and lobster for dinner four nights a week, you're going to have to eat ramen and luncheables, the other three.

You've got to make sacrifices. This is not baseball. It's not the Yankees. You just can't buy your way out of problems. So whereas the Warrior Super team was so gifted, I mean, that's who I really look at Brooklyn as. The Warriors had three of the great shooters in a shooter's league and Raymond Green. Their bouncer at the bar, the tough guy. Brooklyn has three of the great closers in basketball, but both of their issues are the same.

There's no bench. And by the way, when you're top heavy, we see this in the NFL as well. When you're a top heavy team, the Rams are top heavy. The Cowboys are top heavy. The Seattle Seahawks are top heavy. What happens? When you're top heavy, it literally takes. one injury can derail everything.

It can derail everything. I mean, the Cowboys lose their left tackle, Tyron Smith. It's not the same team. The Seahawks lose a pass rusher or a D.K. Metcalfe goes down. It's not the same team. And by the way, top heavy teams, you can win championships. They don't last a long time. But what you find yourself doing with the Warriors dynasty, with the Nets, with the Seahawks,

with the Rams, Cowboys, it's a lot of finger crossing. If you're healthy, it's great. But come on now. When you are asking in a condensed season, Steve Nash was literally playing six guys. I mean, come on. And Milwaukee now is no longer just a finesse team. Milwaukee's a physical team.

So it is, these are heavy, long minutes of Milwaukee, Drew Holliday and PJ and Janus and Brooke Lopez and Big leaning on you. The last two games of this series, I thought Brooklyn looked absolutely shot. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon

Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. We know in the NFL, it's been proven. Andy Reid, great coach. Couldn't win the big one without Mahomes. Belichick, great coach. But it was more Brady than Belichick. Like we now acknowledge that. Pete Carroll, great coach.

He was fired twice before Russell in the NFL. We know in the NFL, the great quarterback is more valuable than the great coach. Now, the great coach may be more valuable than 90% of his roster, but if you get the great quarterback, he's simply more important. And in the

NBA, you're going to advance, generally, if you have fewer deficiency with personnel. We spend way too much time nitpicking coaches. Take Mike Budenholzer. He's getting shelled. He doesn't make adjustments. He

literally doesn't make adjustments. Let's just not double-team Kevin Durant. They're in the Eastern Conference Finals and favored in the Eastern Conference Finals. By the way, Ty Lou out West adjusts

every 30 seconds, and he's also in a conference final. They have two totally different styles. Why? Well, the Clippers scouting department's pretty good. They got 10 guys who can play. And why the other one?

Brooklyn fell apart. It's deficiencies. Utah is a prime example. So Utah loses to the clippers. Oh, Quinn Snyder. Didn't do this, didn't do that. Who ate Utah alive? Kauai Leonard when he was healthy, a wing.

Paul George, a wing. And Terrence, man, unstoppable a wing. Why? Because Utah's had an issue. We have talked about it on this show for three years. They don't have an elite athlete on the wing. we said when they were down O2, I said, I still like the Clippers to win this series.

When they were down O2, I said, and even when Kauai got hurt, I thought the Clippers were doomed. But they still had Terrence Mann and Paul George. Two wings. Utah can't defend them. It's not a Quinn, you can nitpick Quinn. Utah has a personnel deficiency, and they know it. They've got to get more athletic.

I mean, go look at when the clippers were built. why did they immediately defend LeBronwell? Because they have Paul George, Kauai Leonard, they add Terrence Mann. They got a bunch of wings. By the way, if Ben Simmons could shoot, Doc Rivers would win these games. That is a personnel deficiency. It's not a Doc Rivers deficiency. Think about the coaches we like.

Nick Nurse and Steve Kerr didn't make the playoffs. Personnel deficiency. Tibbs, what a coach. He won a single playoff game. Eric Spolstra will be a Hall of Famer. Love Spolger. He got swept. Rick Carlisle, that guy's a genius.

He had a 2-0 series lead, went back home and lost the series. Did they get dumb overnight? No, I mean, it's funny, Brad Stevens, Jalen Brown gets hurt. Kyrie Irving didn't work. Campbell Walker's got bad knees. Did Brad Stevens suddenly become a bad coach? If Jalen Brown is healthy and Campbell Walker's knees were better, you could have Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals.

But none of those happened. Look at Nate McMillan. This is his 17th year coaching. In the 16 previous years, he had one playoff series win as a coach. That was the Sonics back in like 2005. Good team. Suddenly now, he goes to Atlanta mid-season. He is in the conference finals.

Did he learn how to coach? No. He made an offensive-driven. team better defensively and Tray Young hits a bunch of shots late. We just nitpick the coaches forever. I mean, by the way, the scouting department for the clippers, maybe the best in basketball. They got 10 guys that can actually play.

But the one thing they can't defend, what is it? They couldn't stop Donovan, they couldn't stop Luca, they couldn't stop Booker. They don't defend a great scoring guard. That's kind of their deficiency because you can't have everything in a salary cap league. So they're big, they're great on the wing, but if your guard's great and scores, they can't do anything. Even Ty Lou can't. So Boodin Holzer makes no adjustments favored in the conference finals. Tai Lu is adjusting everything.

He's in the conference finals. Coaching thing in the NBA is a little overstated. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand. whenever you'd like. Where Colin was right? Well, I've been on this for two years on Embed and Simmons.

Very talented. It doesn't work. They can't play together and they don't get along. And so I do think this Atlanta series needed to happen. Ugly, better team lost to an inferior roster, had leads, couldn't hold them. This is what had to happen because Embedin Simmons are so talented. You're going to keep, it's the Hollywood couple. They look beautiful.

They're both successful. It should work. you got to have a blow up and they're driving home one night and go, yeah, we don't, this doesn't work. We're not good for each other. This is what you needed. Nobody can dispute it. And Beed Simmons, and we call it, it just isn't a championship fit. Where Colin was wrong.

I said on Devin Booker, I've said, great talent. Is he a leader? I don't see the leader thing. And yesterday I thought he was really a leader. No Chris Paul, not only that he have 40 points, triple double. he became the assist guy. That is what a leader looks like. Not just the 40 points.

A lot of guys in this league can drop 30 and 40 points. It's grabbing game one by the throat, controlling it, taking all the big shots in a huge third quarter. Remember, the clippers were a little gas because they just came out of a longer series, had no rest. So you knew the second half of the clippers, they could be a little fatigue they were. He comes out in the third and just takes the game over. the NBA's got a ton of talent, not a ton of leadership,

and I thought Booker yesterday delivered there. Where Colin was right? I picked the bucks to win the East, and I said one of my two reasons was health. Janice, Middleton, PJ Tucker aren't guys that get hurt. And really, in the end, health is why they won. They were fresher down the stretch. And when I made the pick, I said, you know, I don't love them,

but M.B. gets hurt all the time. The Celtics, Jalen Brown, was out. I said LeBron A.D. if they get to the finals, I picked him to beat the Western team, which I thought would be LeBron and A.D., and you look at Kevin Durant, Hardin, Kyrie, they have injuries. So, you know, other than Dante Divencenzzo, Devinchenzo, they really haven't had an injury. And if you look at their roster, it's a bunch of guys who are sturdy players who don't get hurt much. And as we know over the last four years, that can be, the Toronto Raptors have a title because they got healthy and the Warriors fell apart.

Where Colin was wrong. I love Doc Rivers and I defend him, but I did think, you know, he's lost now nine game sevens. And I thought the Sixers were a little too much ISO ball. I'd like to see more play design. And at some point, as much as I like Doc, the Clippers now appear to have better chemistry than they did when Doc was there.

And the Clippers appear to be a little better without Kawhi Leonard. when Doc isn't there. And Philadelphia's issues are not all Doc. But, you know, I defend him a lot, and it's another game seven with a lead. You're at home. You should win it. And he lost.

Where Colin was right. But the reason I was critical of Brooklyn was I don't understand choosing Kyrie Irving over Steph. I don't understand choosing James Harden over Steph or Clay as a teammate. I don't understand choosing Steve Nash, a rookie head coach over Steve Kerr. don't understand choosing the ownership of the nets over the ownership of the warriors. In the end, this is how it should have ended. Kevin Durant having to carry a team because James Harden in the playoffs wasn't consistent

and Kyrie wasn't there. It's not about just choosing talent. There's a reason LeBron chose D. Wade and Bosch. They were not perfect fits for him. D. Wade really has a lot of his game. athletic, not a great shooter. But it worked because LeBron trusted the intelligence,

the big game ability of D. Wade. Chris Bosch wasn't a perfect fit. They kind of pushed him to the outside, clear the lane. It's not just about talent. Steph and Clay and Kerr and Bob Myers and Dremon were a better fit overall, emotionally, than Brooklyn. Where Colin was wrong.

Got to hand it to you. honest, he averaged 32 in this series and he was a man in game seven. I've said, face of the league is nonsense. You can marginalize his game. He can't shoot. But he works on his game and I thought he was fantastic. And he was also very aggressive in game six and game seven late in the games. And Simmons and him were both timid earlier in the series. So he kind of turned his game around, stayed closer to the basket. After they were down 02, he averaged 34 and almost 14 rebounds. He was the difference good for him.

Where Colin was right? I have speculated ever since Zion came into the league, New Orleans won't be big enough for him. New Orleans is big enough for a football star. I don't think they're big enough for Zion. Shack was too big for Orlando, and a story came out last week that Zion's family wants him out. Chris Paul wanted out of New Orleans.

Anthony Davis won it out. Zion wants out. They're all great players, but New York City doesn't feel like a college football town in New Orleans. It doesn't feel big enough to have a superstar basketball player. Zion's a good kid, but let's be honest here, third year, going to have their third head coach. They just always feels like they're reaching and seeking and searching,

and it's not a stable franchise in Zion's family. consents it. Where Colin was raw. Well, I have whiffed on Ben Simmons. I thought, I mean, he didn't have a, he didn't shoot a single shot in the fourth quarter of the last four games. What? I said, when he

came into the league, I said, this is an all-time guy. This is Magic Johnson, but a better defender. But his game's getting worse. The great players work on their games. Simmons appears to be at times indifferent to getting better at his obvious weakness, his liability, can't shoot.

I've said forever, I would have taken Simmons over Embed because of Embedd's injury history, but Simmons right now is really a reclamation project. He's closer to Rudy Gobert than LeBron James as a player. Where Colin was right? Got my doubts on Tua. Five picks in one practice last week.

Now, I know it's a practice. It was raining. But the last four things we've heard on Tua, who I'm a cynic of, the last four times he's been in the news, bench for Ryan Fitzpatrick, three picks against the bills, admitted he didn't know the playbook very well,

and now five picks in a practice. I think he's a good kid. I think you have to design a play, and it has to work perfectly for the play to work with Tua. I don't see the special with his arm, with his size, with his athletic ability. Your special can't be accuracy. That's kind of a foundational piece, a quarterback needs.

It's like saying a running. back's got speed. You kind of have to have a little speed. Where Colin was wrong. Gotta give it up to Chris Middleton. Been hard on him for two years. I think he should be the third best player on a championship team, but he was great against the Nets. Last five games against Brooklyn, 28, eight and a half rebounds and shot 41% on threes. He was aggressive. There were moments he was the best player on the floor outside of maybe Kevin Durant. He was asked to take big shots. He took big shots and he hit big shots throughout the series.

So Chris Middleton, and maybe it's because there wasn't as much pressure with Drew Holiday. There is a sense now. PJ Tucker, he can kind of play his space because he is a shotmaker. He's a very good shooter. But I've been hard on Chris Middleton and I thought this was as good as he has played as a pro. he was fantastic in multiple games in this series. Where Colin was right, where Colin was wrong. Al Harrington, former NBA players, been very outspoken on the things he sees.

He will be joining us next on a Monday. After a busy day, a hardworking day, there are a few things feel better than a nice, either hot shower, a nice cool shower. Of course, that's always bad if the hot water ever ran out, but it doesn't with Navian. Navian tankless water heaters. Give you instant and endless, warm to hot water for spa-like comfort because they only heat it when you need it. So it makes it easy to go tankless. It takes up less space than a traditional water tank.

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Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'll say it. Yep, that's me, Clifford 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 Clivert 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. Hey, it's Edwin Castro, also known as Castro 1021. And I'm Conky, his best friend and business manager. And we've got a new show called The 1021 Podcast. I'm taking you behind the scenes on how I became one of Twitch's most popular streamers. We also love sports. And with the World Cup right around the corner, we'll be breaking down the biggest storylines

ahead of the big tournament here in the USA. Listen to the 1021 podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. But there's so much more to me than me. I'm an actor.

I'm a comedian. And recently, I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, hope from a hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant, recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is too scary.

Oh, cream of chicken suit. Hey, cream. Cream of chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the My Cultura Podcast Network available on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Al Harrington was the seventh NBA player to go directly from high school to the pros. And that's an incredible leap when you really think about it,

that you're playing high school basketball, and now you're at high school basketball. and now you're at hotels where you can't go to the bar in the hotel. Because you're too young. Yeah, I mean, it's amazing. Like, it's an amazing thing. We wouldn't even think about that high school to the bigs in baseball, high school to Liverpool in soccer, high school to the Green Bay Packers. But Al did it and had a great career.

It was in the playoffs a ton, most notably 16 years. You saw him a lot with the Pacers. And he is now joining us live. Well, you are in a lot of these playoff series, and I was saying, Al, I like three-point shots. I understand we all have to evolve and adapt. But the Phoenix Suns are a little old school. Built through the draft. A lot of mid-range.

They played almost all the games. Everybody's kind of got a defined role. They're big. Doesn't shoot threes. Their point guard, Chris Paul, is not a shooting point guard. Like, I like Phoenix. They feel like when you play, they feel like 12 years ago. And Al, a lot of times we talk positionless basketball, but I like positions.

I like guys to know what they do. That's what I see when I see Phoenix. What do you see with the sons? Now, I agree with you. You know, first I want to say big shout after James Jones. He was my rookie in Indiana back in the day. So I think we taught him well and, you know, how to structure a team. You know, with Monty Williams being an older school player, too.

You know what I'm saying? I think that it's just kind of the DNA of like those two guys, right? You know, when we came up to your point 12, 15 years ago, it was all about people being specialists in certain positions and certain things. And that's how you knew night in and night out what you were going to get from certain guys. Right. Right now the game has changed so much with positionless basketball. You don't know what you're going to get.

So when you don't know what you're going to get, you're going to get a lot of inconsistencies and different things like that. So it's just a good thing to see kind of old school basketball. I mean, they obviously still shoot the three a lot. You know, that's obviously something. something, you know, more of the new generation. But, you know, I really love and love watching them play because, you know, everybody brings it every night.

They play really, really hard. And I think that when you play hard, you know, good things happen. So, you know, we can, I say we tend to blame coaches. But if Ben Simmons can't shoot a free throw, there's not a lot Doc can do with that. I do believe Ben Simmons has value. I do not believe he can play with a dominant scoring big. I think the lane has to be open for him. He can score.

He has to be playing with a bunch of shooters like Golden State. You put him on that team. You make him a point forward. Clay on one side, stuff on the other. There's value. Do you think it's a lost cause in Philly? What would you do with Ben Simmons if you ran the Sixers today? Yeah, I think that if I ran the Sixers today, you know,

I think that I would probably have to move on from Ben. You know, I think that you can't have two guys that need to play the post, you know, to be effective. and I think I would definitely pick and beat over him right now today. But I think that the main thing that, you know, with a guy like him is you need to surround him around shooters and allow him to dictate everything from the post area. But, you know, my biggest thing with Ben is it's confidence, man,

and it's on him. You know, a coach can't give you confidence. Your confidence is found in the gym. And he needs to dedicate this whole summer in the gym shooting the basketball. You know, he don't need to make any dribble between the leg moves. He has handled. he has all those different pieces, but what he's missing is confidence in his jump shot. And, you know, if he's serious about his craft and he wants to, you know, be able to get his reputation back, you know, I would, you know, if I could work him out, you know, I would have to make a thousand jump shots a day.

You know what I'm saying? I think that's where it is, just taking it back to the basics, mechanics and just really just shooting the ball until you get your confidence back. You know, it's amazing, Al. You were the high school Gatorade player of the year. You were a dominant high school player. There was a reason you should have gone to the NBA. because college probably you weren't going to grow. But it is amazing.

I saw A-Rodd in baseball years ago in a series for the Yankees just totally lose confidence. They dropped him to eighth in the batting order. Alan, your career, did you ever lose confidence? Of course, we all do. Everybody does. You know what I'm saying? But if you have to remedy, you have to figure out how do you remedy it?

And the way you remedy it, like I said, it's being in the gym, really dedicating your time. You know, a lot of things that you normally do probably, you know, in different times. you have to kind of put aside and you have to focus and make it all about the game. Yes, one second. I'm like, sorry. You have to just make it all about the game and just really just recommitting yourself

because you got to think about it even when you were a kid, you know, a lot of us, we got better from spending hours and hours in the gym, you know, and I think you just kind of take it back to the basics. And I think Ben Simmons, we should not write him off. You know, I think if he takes the right mental approach to the game, I think he can bounce back and be that perennial all-star that we expect from him. You know, obviously I think he's superb on the defense event. But, you know, right now in this game, that's not going to get it done.

You have to be able to score the basketball. And being not shooting the ball for four straight games in the fourth quarter is definitely just showing that he has lost his confidence. You know, these super teams, they all look the same. They got no bench. It's a salary cap league. I mean, Golden State was praying that Quinn Cook and Alfonso McKinney could deliver. And it's like unfair.

You need young bench guys to be great against veteran stars. And I look at this super team and I'm like, they play like six guys. I would make the argument that KD and Hardin with the right elements, a good bench, could win a championship. Nothing against Kyrie, but he's a little erratic for me and he's a smaller athlete. They get dinged up more. So like when you look at super teams, do you buy into them or, and they also, Al, you know, they burn hot. It's like a rock band. Everybody buys their album.

Two years later, they all hate each other. When you look at Brooklyn, what do you see next year? That's going to be interesting, man. I think that obviously with these guys having a full summer, you know, the one thing I can't say about those three guys is they all love the game. You know, I've spent time with all three of those guys at different times in the offseason, and I've seen the way that they train and the way they approach the game. So as long as they continue to do that, you know, I personally believe that if they were like even halfway healthy,

that they would have won the championship, to be honest. I just, when you think about playoff basketball and how the game slows down, and then it comes down to like, you know, the plays don't work anymore. Now it comes like mono-e-mino. Like who can score the ball, you know, better than the other team. When you think about those three guys, they are elite scorers. You know what I'm saying? Like elite.

So, you know, I felt that if they were healthy, that nobody could stop them. But, you know, health is part of being talented, right? And, you know, they weren't able to do that. And, you know, that's why now they're sitting here, you know, sitting at home, and the rest of the playoffs. You know, the Trey Young, it's funny. So a couple weeks ago, no, it was actually last week, Al. And if you're listening on Radio Al Harrington, former NBA player, 16 NBA seasons.

I went and looked at Trey Young, his draft prospectus. So Al, it was all what he couldn't do. It's like he's small, he can't defend, he takes terrible shots, he's a turnover machine, and then the strengths for, he can shoot, he got big range. And it's funny. Because in football, a scout or a GM get three to four years of tape. An NBA GM, he may get a year a G-League tape or a year a college tape, and you're almost never playing against pros.

I mean, Jalen Suggs of Gonzaga, how many pros did he play against in the 30 of his 33 games? So I look at Trey Young, and I had my doubts. I was like, he's tiny, he can't defend. He turns the ball over. and now I look up and I'm like, he's still a baby and he took over a series. So as the NBA's gotten younger, why has it worked for Trey Young? Is it coaching? Is it patience?

Does he get all the credit? Because there were a lot of doubters year one in the league that he just was too wild to ever be a franchise player. Why is it working? I think it's because his organization believed in him. And they pretty much gave him the keys from the beginning, right? you know, most times when young guys come in, there's always some form of a veteran or somebody that's kind of in their way. But they've kind of allowed him to kind of learn the game at his own pace. And I think it's definitely paying off.

And it's funny for me, like, you know, I watched him a lot. I watched him in high school a little bit. I saw him in college. And I always thought he was just an undersized Steph Curry. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? When you've seen the range, the way he handles the ball, the way he finishes around the basket with the floater and different things like that, you know, I wouldn't be surprised if we asked him, who do you watch the most, he wouldn't say stuff.

You know what I'm saying? With a lot of ways that he plays the game. So when I saw that, and, you know, obviously I played through the era Alan Iverson. So I believe, and we've seen a lot of little guys be able to dominate the league. You know what I'm saying? So I was definitely one of the guys that, you know, really liked him from the beginning. I mean, my little brother's like his age in college. And I know he didn't like him to argue all the time, you know, argue all the time about how good he was.

And then now even he says, like, I was totally wrong, just like everybody else. But yeah, I think that, you know, just the league in general, I mean, these young kids, man, the things that they're doing out there with the basketball and the skill level is like, you know, at the highest peak has ever been. You know, I've watched some of these stepbacks that they take and all that. I'm like, I will break my neck trying to get to that shot, you know. But it just really just goes to show like how much the game has evolved and the creativity of the game is at an all-time high.

And it's a beautiful thing to watch. And Trey Young is definitely one of those young rising stars, him, Luca. You know, I just think the league is a lot of the game is a lot of the game is. in great hands with these young guys, and I'm just excited to be able to watch these guys on a night-in-a-night basis. You know, it's funny. I like Paul George. I really do.

I liked him in Indiana, seven-time All-Star. He's a really nice. He can go both ways. D-O. You know, Paul. And he got a reputation, you know, and I thought it was a little unfair in Indiana because he was going up against the heels in Miami. And it's like, well, he's not a great closer.

Well, you're going up against kind of a mini-dignancy. And now he goes to, clippers and you know he had some playoff struggles but it made me happy to watch him in a couple of spots to kind of take me into your relationship, your knowledge of Paul

I think he's very unique Al there's just not a lot of guys that can drop 33 and defend like that there aren't the league's got maybe six of them Kauai is obviously one of the best but your thoughts about Paul George his growth, who he is and

rising to the moment Yeah, man, I mean, he's a great kid, and he's definitely somebody that you want to root for. You know, he's always gone about his business the right way. He's another one of those guys that's a gym rat, and I respect gym rats. You know, I respect guys that love the game more than the life, right? And I think that he's one of those guys. I think with Paul, you know, I think he's another confidence guy. He's a guy that loses his confidence every once in a while.

And, you know, obviously when he start game strong, he usually finish him strong. And what I've seen is when he starts game a little slow and miss him. shots, he gets down on himself, and then he starts second-guessing himself. And like I said, I would say that that's probably a majority of the NBA players that deal with that. You know, that's why everybody can't be Kobe, why everybody can't be Michael Joy and everybody can't be LeBron, right? Those guys, that's what separates them from the rest of the pack. And, you know, I think that that's obviously what, you know, has separated PG from being one of the elite players in the league is because he struggled with confidence issues as well.

But, you know, to your point, it's great to see him kind of step up with Kauai. being out, especially with all the noise that has been being said about him, you know, making fun of him with the playoff P thing. You know, I live in L.A., you know, and obviously, you know, some people say, like, who's more hated, Paul, you know, Paul, Georgia, or Coosma? You know what I'm I'm saying? We hear things like that. It sucks, right? You know what I'm saying? Because, like, for me, it sucks to hear it because I know him, and I know how much you cares about the game. I know how good of a player he is. But, you know, it's good now that he's starting to step up. You know, hopefully when Kowah comes back. I think the main thing with the clippers with those guys is,

like those two guys have never decided to who's going to be the guy, right? They kind of go back and forth. And right now, you know, Paul is kind of saying he's the guy. And, you know, maybe Kauai maybe comes back and supports Paul, you know, while he's on his hot street. Al, boy, you're really good. You really break this stuff down. How about Al? I don't know if I've ever had you on.

You should go into this broadcasting thing. Al, you're pretty darn good at her. Thanks, man. Love to have you on again. And by the way, if the cleaning lady was trying to come into your room, I'm apologize. for the... Don't they always... They do that all the time. Such a headache.

Al Harrington. Great to see you. Thanks, Al. All right, thanks, guys. 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, Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I put on 10 pounds.

I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm 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 IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

On the Look Back at it podcast. For 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's 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.

It was a wild year. 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. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.