The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 07/05/2021 - Best of The Herd

Episode Date: July 5, 2021

Colin explains very patriotically that Charles Barkley speaks the truth because when Giannis wasn't on the court, both Jrue Holiday and the offense both shined. Luka Doncic needs a star now because unlike Dirk, he doesn't need time to develop. He's the best young player in the world. Green Bay didn't call Aaron Rodgers on his bluff and even though the Denver story sounds good, he won't be leaving this year. The NFL has a very clear distinction this year between four very bad teams and very good teams. Plus, another edition of "Where Colin was Right and Wrong!"Guest: Ric Bucher 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, Clivert Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers 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 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. Welcome in, live in L.A. I think the fireworks just decided a couple, just stopped a couple hours ago. It's the herd, wherever you may be. However you may be listening, IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1.

Hope you had a great 4th of July weekend. Those fireworks were playing, Joy tells me, I was out by 9.30. Joy tells me they went 10, 11 midnight last night. So we hope you got a good night's sleep. You're up and ready around the country. It was funny. I sent out a social media post last night. I'm like, this is the loudest I've ever heard fireworks in Los Angeles.

And I got tweets from all over America. And they're like, no, in Denver, it's in Texas, in Florida, in Philadelphia. It was wild last night. It's always wild for Fourth of July. But you and I have lived a couple different places. L.A. does fireworks different, guys. Like, every single city block in Los Angeles is setting off fireworks. If it's Fourth of July, New Year's, if it is a championship.

Like, nobody does it like L.A. I'm sure you think it's loud, but this is Los Angeles. They like fireworks. Yes. Well, it's great to have you in a Monday. One hour from now where Colin was right, where Colin was wrong, plenty of both. You know, we all know there are certain things that are good for us. Big picture long term.

401Ks. You should invest in those, right? Long term, don't pull the money out. But short term, sometimes you can blow through the budget. Just go have a great family vacation. That's what the kids are going to remember 50 years from now. Spend a little more than you're comfortable with on the family vacation. Big picture, eat your vegetables.

Short term, it's hot out. It's August. It's July. I want ice cream. You know, if you live in a northern climate, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Illinois, SUV, makes sense. But there's probably about 30 days a year in those climates. The convertible is way cooler and a lot more fun.

Just because something is great over an extended period of time doesn't mean it always feels right, works the best or makes you feel better. And that's the Milwaukee Bucks and Janice. He has a physical presence. Over the course of an 82 game schedule, Janice is going to block a lot of shots, get you a lot of easy baskets. He's absolutely a franchise player.

But short term in a series situationally, got to be honest, Milwaukee's offense without him for a couple, a couple of games against Atlanta was smoother. The ball movement was excellent. This happens all the time. It's not just Yonnas. You get to the playoffs and basketball changes.

The officials let more go. That's hurt James Hardin. Carl Malone, players who needed the whistle. They were great players that you'd love to have in your franchise. But sometimes there was a better teammate in a moment in the playoffs than Malone or James Harden, maybe on the same roster, right? And the Bucks have fallen into a trap. All right, Janice is our best athlete, he's our best player, so we've got to get the ball. He's got to be playing late. And that's just not the truth. He's your best defensive player.

He's your great rim protector. He's unbelievable in transition. But in the half-court offense, sometimes he gets in the way. Drew Holliday, needs his space. Chris Middleton needs to know he can be the number one guy. not worry about getting it to Janus. That's what Charles Barkley talked about, got some pushback, but I think he's actually right. I hate to say this. I think the best thing happened to the Milwaukee Bucks

was Janice getting hurt. Because they have unleashed Drew Holiday, the aggressive Drew Holiday. I think he's going to be fantastic in the finals against Chris Paul, as much as I love Chris Paul. If, if, if, if Yonis is 85 to 90%, I'm going to go with Milwaukee. Now, I like Phoenix. I think they have a better coach.

I think they're healthier. They're more rested. They have home court advantage. And they have clearly defined roles. Chris Paul is the setup guy. Devon Booker's the score. DeAndre Aiton's the pick and roll guy with Chris. Jay Crowder's the three and D guy.

you get the same style, the same production, the same efficiency, the same urgency, the same urgency every night. I like Phoenix rather quickly in the series. But there's something to be said if Janus was 80%, and you didn't play him quite as much, it would let Chris Middleton and Drew Holiday flourish. And I think there's an argument to be made. What we know about these playoffs, when basketball becomes situational, half-court offense really important, who can hurt their team? team. Westbrook, Simmons, and Janus can't shoot. You need shot makers. That's why Chris Middleton

actually situationally, latent games is a better player for the bucks than Janus. Now, over the course of a season, Janus gets you so many easy baskets. He's such a great defender. He's so good in transition. You don't coach the same way. You know, your team flies into town. Especially this year in a condensed year. You watch an hour of film. it's really difficult to prepare for the physical dimension of a Westbrook in his prime or a Janus. But you get into situational half-court basketball, and Chris Middleton, he's a guy that worries me. It's not Janus. I'd love Janus to shoot.

And then I'll foul him and put him at the free throw line late. So I like Phoenix over Milwaukee, but I think it's something. It's not a criticism of Janus. It is a reality of life. We know you got to eat your vegetables, but some hot days you just want to beer or ice cream. We know you put in the 401K, but sometimes for the family's sake, dad's all stressed out, just going a big vacation. SUVs are more valuable in the north, but a convertible is better on like 30 days.

And I look at Janice and I think sometimes when he's off the floor, it's weird to say, two-time MVP, they're better offensively. Ball moves better. Middleton feels empowered. Drew Holiday feels empowered, but I'll still take Phoenix. So this is a real thing. I don't talk about Slovenia basketball much. They have 2 million people.

They're the size of New Mexico. They have never made the Olympics. It is a tiny country. And if you look at the teams that will play basketball in the Olympics, Ben's basketball, America, we have 330 million people, and Japan has 126 million people. And then there's like Italy was 60 million, and Germany with 83, and Nigeria has over 200 million people,

and Spain's got 50 million people. and Argentina's got 46, 45 million people. And Slovenia has two. And Luca has carried them to the Olympics. And they beat Lithuania. Now think about that. Lithuania has put 14 guys in the NBA. Lithuania, after maybe Spain?

I mean, you talk about international basketball powers. Us, Lithuania, Spain. It is a short list and they beat him. Or should I say, Luca beat them? What's really fascinating about this, Luca came into this league at 20 and averaged 21 points a game. He's now at 29 and his efficiency numbers better every year. He is, along with LeBron and Magic Johnson,

the best 22-year-old basketball player I've ever seen in my life. and this just doubles down on the fact that Mark Cuban has got real pressure on him. He's already fired his coach and he's already fired his general manager. Now he's got to find him a player. And this is not like Dirk Novitsky. And I'll tell you why. Because first of all, Dirk wasn't this good this early. Second of all, Dirk was a more agreeable personality, not as feisty.

The other thing was when Dirk Novitsky entered the NBA, it was Dirk. different. And this was something that was discussed in the league. International players, even if they were good, kind of considered themselves, you know, visitors to America. They played basketball, but they didn't like to demand trades. International players, that wasn't the game. They came to the states. They'd play for a team and they wanted to be, you know, great citizens and great teammates. But it's changed now. International players have a lot of pull and they're unbelievably talented and they're going to let you hear their opinion, as they should. So Luca, not only by international player standards, by basketball

player standards, has an opinion and wants to win now. And he's so great now, you can't worry about drafting people around him. He's too good. These guys like Trey Young and Luca, they're not going to sit around and wait for some kid from Creighton or Gonzaga to get good. You got to put stars around him. And Luca, unlike Dirk, isn't just going to be a good guy and develop and take one for the team and wait until he gets the – it's not going to work that way. You are looking at the best young player in the world. Luca Dantage, the best young basketball player in the world that just got Slovenia past Lithuania. The only thing I can even compare it to, and it's probably a poor comparison,

and I'm old enough to have seen it is when Larry Bird carried Indiana State into the championship game against Magic Johnson and Michigan State. Michigan State was a basketball power, head coach, Judd Heathcote. It was Magic Johnson. They had another player, Greg Kelsey or Greg Kelser. I forget the name of the player. But Michigan State had really good players. And Larry Bird took Indiana State, the sycamores.

I think they're still called that. I'm not sure if it's still a university. Larry Bird took him to the championship. And it was like, I remember the baby blue uniforms. They had the weird Indiana state logo. It was like, what? This was a, what? That's how good Luca is.

And so I do think Mark Cuban, new coach, new GM, understands the urgency with this. But it's a remarkable story. Can you imagine New Mexico? Get the best players in New Mexico, compete against the world, and they would get into the Olympics. It's insane the accomplishment. Luca talked about winning a gold medal or an NBA championship. What would mean more to you?

A gold medal would have a team Slovenia or an NBA championship with a man? I would say gold medal with Slovenia. You play for your country, and that's something that really, really. But I wouldn't mind both. Yeah. Either would mark Cuban. 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 where you're saying.

Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand-new podcast,

The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream,

This is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people.

I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jek. And I'm Alex English. 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 all day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you 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, 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, Keir Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. A story that we have talked a lot about, and we're kind of waiting for the conclusion of this. We're in that middle period where, ooh, it's a story, not much can happen for a month. It could be big, right? We're in that part of the movie that's a pretty good movie with a good open and a good finish,

but there's like this 12-minute story arc in the middle that doesn't quite connect. And that's the Aaron Rogers story. Jake Plummer, former Bronco quarterback came out and said, I think he can come into Denver and crush it. There's a story that Denver is still monitoring the Green Bay situation and is still interested in Aaron Rogers. My opinion, they should be. I think if you put him with that roster, they're very, very interesting. I don't think it guarantees anything. Patrick Mahomes is in that division. Andy Reid's in that division, but it does make that division really fascinating. But here's the thing. These stories sound interesting, both the stories about Denver and Green Bay today, but we've got to be honest about it. The Packers called Aaron's bluff. They're not budging. They're not taking calls. They're not trading him. And they're not going to fire any executives.

and they know Aaron and they've had him for 16 years and they know him and they know he doesn't like ugly he doesn't like uncomfortable and the minute this situation got contentious I mean really contentious what happened Aaron went to Hawaii gets away from all the nonsense and send some friends out to become available for press interviews that say stuff like hey it's fixable and they sue the hot coals you know they kind of bring the temperature day and Green Bay is telling you, we don't think Aaron has the stomach for it. Now, it's different in Seattle with Russell Wilson. Much like Aaron, after Brady won a Super Bowl, Russell was mad.

But the difference is this. The reason the Seahawks acted so quickly is Russell really had never complained. I mean, almost to a nauseating fault, go hawks, was always the answer. Go hawks, everything's great here. And so if you're like that in the marriage or a relationship where you never complain, even during tough times, when you occasionally rarely do, you know, people listen. Oh, oh, she's mad. He's mad. Russell's mad. So the Seahawks immediately reacted to it when Russell's like, I'm upset. Here's the four teams or whoever leaked it.

So the second thing is that Russell Wilson complained two weeks after the Super Bowl. So he gave the Seahawks time in free agency to make moves. He gave the Seahawks the draft to make moves. It's one thing to complain, you know, about the road trip when you're already pulling up to the hotel. It's another thing to complain three weeks out about. You don't like the timing of it. We may want to reconsider rebooking the vacation. So Russell Wilson never complains, did loudly, or his people did, and he gave the Seahawks time to maneuver around his concerns.

Aaron is different. he's never truly happy. So when Aaron complains, there are going to be, like any relationship where somebody is generally unhappy, can be passive-aggressive. There's a little bit of an eye roll with it. And the second thing is, Aaron did it after free agency and leaked his information through sources the day of the draft. It's a little late. And so Green Bay has decided, you know what this really is? it's a public tantrum and how do parents, most parents, handle tantrums? Stay firm,

hold your ground, and eventually he'll fall asleep. And I think that's what Green Bay has decided to do. We've seen this before. We know the way you did it. You didn't give us time to do anything. In the end, it's a public tantrum. We're going to stand our ground and you're going to come back. Because we have your rights. And we're not going to trade you. and you're not going to give up $30 million. And so when I read this story this morning, you have the two quarterbacks in their mid-30s in this league that are fantastic, Hall of Famers, Russell and Aaron.

And whether or not you like one of the other, Russell, who has mostly hidden his feelings, got the news out there, but it's so rare that he complains that Seattle reacted to it immediately. It's probably a great lesson for all of us and like. If you're going to complain, do it loudly but do it infrequently. If you do it casually, passive aggressively, often, it becomes an eye roll. And I think the Packers look at Aaron and just go, we've been through some of this stuff.

This is worse, but we've been through some of it. Russell Wilson's case, it was like, uh-oh, he's naming cities. C.R. and Russell aren't happy. Let's take care of it. And so, I mean, all these stories are great, but I said this three weeks ago with Joy is my witness. when the story got out that Aaron had rejoined the Green Bay Country Club, my takeaway was, well, the time to golf is July, August, and September in Green Bay. He's not holding out. He's going to come.

He's going to be great. He's going to work hard. It'll get Jordan loves some extra snaps. But in the end, all these stories, believe it when I see it. I think he'll be a Packer this year. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. What's up, everyone?

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

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

I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the 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, 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 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 Cliverts Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast,

or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs?

Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do a little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jett.

And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me

not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you all know. 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... Then you're finishing that sentence.

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

Keer 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 or are you a good person because you're afraid because that's two different intentions bro absolutely and that that's two different levels of trust I want you to just really be a good person Join me, Keir Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. I think there's certain things in the NFL. We know what the top is. We know what the bottom is. And it's really clear more than ever. There's four really, really bad teams in the NFL. You know, let's take Philadelphia. Rookie head coach who's been embarrassing so far in front of

Mike, and they don't know what their quarterback situation is long-term, and they're a rebuilding franchise. The New York Jets, worst roster in their division, rookie coach, rookie quarterback. Lions. Again, worst roster in their division looks like a downgrade at quarterback, and I don't trust Dan Campbell. Texans, some talent there, but it's just been a circus in the off-season. I don't think it's a good hire as a coach. Those are bad teams. The bottom of the league is real clear. There are six teams then, I think. are really, really talented, and they just feel like playoff teams. They could stumble, they could have a distraction.

The bills, the Browns, the Bucks, the Chiefs, the Packers, and Ravens, as long as Aaron Rogers plays. You know, in their divisions, you know, I just think Cleveland in Baltimore just feel, you know, the Steelers O line, Ben's old, they haven't ended the season well. I just think these six feel like these are safe bets. They're playoff teams somewhere. Then there's the NFC West where. It's the best division easily, and it feels like two, potentially three teams would come out of that division to make the playoffs.

I mean, Arizona was eight and eight, and they're getting better every year, and they added pieces. Then I think there's two teams where I like the rosters, I really like the coaches, the Colts and the Washington football team. We don't know exactly what we're getting at quarterback, but they have dominating units. The Colts offensive line is dominating. Washington's defensive line is dominating. These are, they got the right coach. I like their rosters. They have dominating units.

If they ended up just wildcard teams, it's probably because they weren't efficient enough at quarterback. But boy, there's a lot I like here. And then you get a lot of Steelers, Giants, Cowboys, Chargers, a lot of questions on one side of the ball, or it's a rookie head coach, or it's still a young quarterback, or they're too dependent on one player. And I think Dallas is in that group.

And when you're in that group, you just don't have a lot of margin for error. And I think another team in that division, the Giants and the Cowboys are very similar. You don't really know. The over-under on Dallas is nine and a half. That's what the, and people, the wise guys, the Sharps in Vegas are betting the under. That means they think Dallas is going to. to be like nine and eight. So that's where Hard Knocks is just enough of a distraction.

Does it peel off one win? That's what it's done in recent years. So we thought the Cowboys distractions were over when they signed DAC. And then this feels like a self-inflicted distraction. I think that's what's frustrating if you're a cowboy fan. One more Hurd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHard Radio app. Search Her to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like.

All right. We're Colin Wright, Colin Wrong, brought to you by Jersey Mike's subs. New grilled portabella mushroom and Swiss, delicious. Try it, fresh ingredients make a sub above. Jersey Mike's be a sub above. Colin Wright, Colin Wrong, here we go. Where Colin was right. Well, Chris Paul was my MVP.

Joy and I, I kept banging on this thing for two months. He never got nominated. I thought it was ridiculous. In game six against the Clippers, 41 points on 66% shooting. This is a franchise that had the worst record in the league for a nine-year period before he arrived. Too often it's all about vertical. It's all about dunks and flash. We underestimate intelligence, experience on the floor coaching.

DeAndre Aden said he's the most important player in my career. He was the first guy that really forced me and demanded I'd be a different player. So Chris Paul, the guy we said two months. ago was the most valuable player, not the best stats, not the flashiest, not the most vertical was the MVP. Where Colin was wrong. I've been very critical of Chris Middleton. I've always felt on a championship team, he's a three, but I wonder if he's not the one

on this team. When Yannis left, he averaged 29 points and nine and a half rebounds and felt loose, felt like he felt like it was sort of his team. Chris was exceptional and let's be honest. He can be at times streaky, but when you have Janus as your star, he is the buck shot maker. And he proved me wrong throughout these playoffs, still a bit inconsistent, but he looked like in the last two games, they're number one. Where Colin was right? Said it for years.

The Cowboys care more about entertainment than football, and that's just not the way you're going to win championships. They're now on hard knocks. They agreed to it for the third time. there are 20 teams that have never been on hard knocks, like, you know, the Patriots. Listen, it's a distraction. Five of the last six teams that have been in hard knocks have sort of capsized. The cowboy over under wind total is nine and a half, meaning this is not the Kansas City Chiefs. This is not the Ravens.

This is not a team that can walk in and we can just put nine or ten wins down. Little distractions, you know, egos bruised is not. good for this team. They don't have a huge margin for error, so I don't love this. Where Colin was right? Well, I will say that the journey was unique, but we did pick the bucks to be in the finals. We said this roster is one that doesn't get hurt much. Now, Janus did get hurt in the end, but they were 12 and 5 in the Eastern playoffs. They got some breaks, but we said when you looked at the East, the Celtics were unraveling, we didn't like the Sixers chemistry. We didn't trust Miami.

We thought there was a little lightning in a bottle for that team last year, and the Bucks ended up where we thought eventually they would end up. Where Colin was wrong. The Yankees are now in fourth place in the American League East. They lost two or three to the Mets. They can't pitch. Garrett Cole, their ace is struggling. Or Aldous Chapman out of the bullpen is struggling.

They don't really have a number two pitcher. Jordan Montgomery, for the time being, is it. They don't run the bases particularly well. Not a great defensive team. They're not overly athletic. They have a negative run differential, which is real trouble. It is a team that is very reliant on the home run, which can be fine if you're starting pitching is money. But Garrett Cole, I got to tell you, that whole tack issue, you know, a lot of pitcher spin rates have been reduced a little, but Garrett Cole suddenly can't get anybody out.

makes many people suspicious. Where Colin was right? The Dodgers, though, have won nine straight, and they got through a tough time when they had some injuries, but they have now swept the first place giants. They swept the Nats over the weekend. I watched a lot of that. They won three or four from the Cubs.

Their pitching has been excellent lately. The team ERA is number one in baseball. Kershaw, by the way, the guy is just still money. Kershaw gives you that six-inings minimum. He's nine and seven on the year. second best record. Unlike the Yankees, they run the base as well, they're athletic, they're getting great pitching, and right now behind the Red Sox, second best record in baseball.

Where Colin was wrong. Well, I've never been a fan of Alabama quarterbacks in the NFL, mostly because they have such great coaching and such great defenses. They have such great receivers and offensive lines. It just doesn't relate to the NFL. It's an easy life for a quarterback, and I think Mack Jones looks like another Alabama quarterback who underwhelms, but apparently he is swaying teammates. There was a report that he has connected with offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels.

Pat's insider, Mike Reese says Mack Jones had a very strong first impression on not only coaches but players. So I have had my doubts for years on Alabama quarterbacks who, you know, throw to wide open receivers, always play with the league. He'd always have a great running back. But we'll see if, I just, you've got to get number 50 often. That just does not look right to me. Where Colin was right?

Well, we had said Dame Lillard is going to finally speak up. He's going to do a Russell Wilson. Northwest athlete, I'm tired. Well, Chris Haynes broke the story that Damien Lillard is considering his options that he believes he is sort of mired in mediocrity, mired in NBA quicksand where you're not terrible but you're not great and you can't win the championship.

He's a little uneasy there and Chris Haynes reporting. Excellent job by Chris who comes on this show regularly that Dame is realizing Warriors are going to be better. Maverick's only getting better. Clippers, Lakers going nowhere. Now the suns are great. Utah finished with a number one seed.

Maybe it is time to demand his way out of Portland. So good stuff. 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. Rick Bukers covered the NBA since the early nine days, brought to you by Mercedes-Benz, the best or nothing. He'll join us live from the Bay Area.

So when I look, Charles Barkley said it, and I was saying earlier, there are players that are great players over the course of a season, but situationally in the half-court offense. So Westbrook, Yonis. a Ben Simmons, not great shooters, that they can be a little bit of a liability. And I did think the Buck's offense in the half-court set was pretty effective against Atlanta without Janus. Do you think Milwaukee knows in the half-court set sometimes taking him off the floor,

lighten, you know, gives Drew Halliday and Middleton opportunities they wouldn't otherwise get, right? Yeah, no. And it also gives opportunities for Brooke Lopez that he normally wouldn't have. He ends up being a largely a three-point shooter to space the floor in order to give Janus room to get into the paint and do what he does. So Brooke Lopez becomes a completely different player, and you saw that in the absence of Janus. Janus is at his best, and the bucks are at their best. When he is actually the screen setter and the roller and doesn't have the ball in his hands, unless he's catching it below the free throw, below the free throw line. That's when he can be effective because then it's only a

dribble or two. He gets two feet into the paint. Now he's his most dangerous. When he's facing up at the top of the key, quite honestly, that always scares me because it's a turnover waiting to happen. And a turnover there is an automatic fast break bucket going the other way. So maybe the encouraging thing for the Bucks is seeing how Bobby Portis has played and how Brooke Lopez is played. And it may be a little bit easier to convince Janus that less is more right now and to allow these other guys to shine. Do what he does defensively. Do what he does rebounding the ball. Play below the free throw line.

But we're not going to play through you quite as much. You know, if Chris Paul won the finals and they'll be favored, favored in game one, favored in the series, and I like Phoenix, I get more answers than I do questions. With Milwaukee, I feel like I get more questions sometimes than I want answers by this time in the season. I like Phoenix. But if Chris won and the sons won, do you think it radically changes his legacy? I do. Now, obviously, it depends on how they win and what kind of role that he plays. plays. I saw something written about that he was the superstar who owned the conference finals. And for a guy who didn't play in the first two wins and had an off game in the third win for the Sons, I can't say that he's the guy who owned the conference finals. I don't know that any player did. But if Chris Paul gives us more performances like he did in game six, or is just that stabilizing factor where we see the difference between them with Chris Paul and without them, then yes,

adding a ring to a guy's legacy, whatever year you do it, however you end up doing it, changes the impression. I mean, honestly, he's already changed it by getting there. He was considered a great point guard, second round and out in the postseason. By the very nature of getting to the finals, this puts him in a different category. So I do believe that it can have a huge impact. Some of it, though, has to do with how he plays in the finals. And I like the Sons, too, but I don't love them. This idea that it's a foregone conclusion that the Sons are going to win this series, I am not with that at all. I think that it's going to be a very competitive series. And I would not be surprised as the Bucks end up winning it.

You know, you could make the argument. It's a transitional year. We've had years with that Dirk team one. We didn't think they were going to run it back. The Raptors team won. They're not going to run it back. Does this feel transitional to you? Like, oh, LeBron will get healthy.

It'll be fine. I don't know. When I look at Phoenix, I'm like, I don't see him going anywhere. This doesn't feel like lightning in a bottle to me. Do you think this is a transitional finals? the league is changing. It's getting younger. Yeah. And it's going to look a lot more like this for the next several years. I would agree. I do believe it's a transitional time. Who the powers are going to be going forward is a big question mark.

LeBron James coming back. I mean, the Lakers, I don't like their future right now. LeBron's not going to get healthier. He's obviously not going to get younger. Right. Anthony Davis is not going to get less. injury prone. And I don't know how many resources or assets. Actually, I do. I do know how many assets they have to reconfigure that team in a significant way. And there aren't very many. Now, which of these teams rises to the four? Can the Atlanta Hawks with all their young players? They're good for the next year or two. But then you have to start making decisions on contracts. The Phoenix Suns, once you pull Chris Paul out of that equation, or you pay you.

him what he wants to be paid, which is an enormous sum, then how is that going to crimp your ability to keep all those other pieces? What we have seen through these playoffs is that depth and versatility has been the winning card for all of these teams. We like to think of these teams as star-driven, and they all have stars, but the teams that have been left standing as we moved forward, are the teams that have a Bobby Portis coming off the bench, a Danilo Golanari, a Kevin Herder who can give you a game, a Bogdan Bogdanovich who gives you a game. It has been depth and the ability to play big and small that has made the difference. And so I think the pressure is on the GMs to spend their money wisely and not to go with the old concept of,

I just need to get two or three big stars, pay them a boatload of money, and then I'm going to back, you know, backfill on on everything else. That to me has not been the formula this year. And quite honestly, if you look at how the Toronto Raptors won or even the Lakers last year in the bubble, it wasn't just the star power. It was how's our, you know, what's the quality of our sixth, seventh, and eighth man and how did they match up with the opposition? And I believe the same is going to be, to be true in these finals that it's going to be a Bobby Portis or a Jay Crowder or some of the players down the line that are going to be the determining factor on who ends up winning. Well, it's interesting. Let's say Chris Paul doesn't have a great finals and Devin Booker's amazing and DeAndre Aden. They're just amazing. And they win the finals. Then if you own the sons, you're like, okay, you know, do I want to go four years in on Chris?

Because he's going to be like, to your point, it is a punitive contract. It'll be interesting. if Booker and DeAndre Aiton just own the finals. Yeah, I could see Phoenix sitting there, Rick and going, okay, Chris, can we get a two-year deal? That's when it gets really interesting. Now, if Chris is just magnificent, 18 points, 12 assists, one turnover. We only have about 45 seconds left.

Do you think he'll get a four-year deal, Chris Paul? I do think he will get a four-year deal, and I think it's going to be an albatross around the suns. You're going to reward him for what he's done this year. but he's 36 years old and injury prone. Four years at that number, it is a tough decision, no question. 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 I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever

you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 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. 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. 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.

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