The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 07/19/2021 - HOUR 3 - Lillard, Giannis

Episode Date: July 19, 2021

Does Damian Lillard want to be traded?How good will Giannis be over the next 5 years?Guest: Enes Kanter 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. On the Look Back at it podcast. For 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was 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.

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, 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 IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeart

radio app by searching Heard. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Driven to be the best. Try MDrive, boost, and burn. Gives you the energy you need. Free shipping, 60-day money-back guarantee. MDrive for Men.com. Check it out.

Ennis Cantor has been on the show many times. He's a Portland Trailblazer. He also does, he's organized over 40 camps in over 20-plus states, basketball camps. So he's in Pennsylvania this week doing it. He loves it. and Ennis Canter is joining us live. So you have like 300 kids at this camp. And let's just be on, do you, you don't have any kids, do you?

No, I don't. Do you want any kids after the camp? You know, after this camps, man, I have no idea. I'll be honest with you. Because these kids don't know. Hey, they love to have fun. They love to laugh. They love to smile.

And I feel like it's all about that. But like, they don't listen. They drive me crazy sometimes. Okay. So let's first, I think it's interesting, Ennis, is that if you look at this series with Milwaukee, they've only got one pure shooter, Chris Middleton. They're big, they're physical. They play defense.

And everybody loves three-pointers. Everybody loves analytics. In the last three years, the Raptors, the Lakers, and the Bucks, not great three-point shooting teams, big physical teams. So as a center in this league, do you like what you're seeing with Milwaukee style? I love it. Because, like, listen, man, because there was this narrative saying, okay, the big men's like it's like dinosaurs.

You know, they're not going to be around many years. And now it is all about picking and pop and shoot a three. But now, like you said, look at the last three three champion, right? The Raptors, the Lakers and Milwaukee, they're all playing physical games. they're all banging inside, they're all rebounding, offensive rebounds, and back to baskets. And I love it, man, because, like, there was this thing. Everybody was saying big men are just, are not going to be around many years anymore. But I see, I watch Milwaukee, and I'm having so much fun.

You know, it's interesting. Janus, you remember, because you're 29 years old. So you remember when he came into the league, I want you to go back to the first time, Ennis that you faced Janus like eight years ago. Tell me what it was like eight years ago to guard him, because I remember him being very skinny. That's actually what the first thing I was going to say, because he was,

that was just like skinny, long arms. And he was, he was kind of skill. But like, he was just rebounding, and he was just like, you know, doing all this like his Euro steps and everything, but he was not even closed. I did not think he was going to be this good. Even like, I remember in a locker room,

I was playing for Utah Jazz, and coach was like, hey, there's this kid, skinny kid, watch out for him. He might be really good one day. I looked at him, I'm like, that's, I mean, that's not possible how skinny it is because back in a day, it was all about physicality, right? But now how he developed, how he, you know, worked on his body and his game is just unbelievable that I would never, I'd never say it to him like this before.

You know, it is interesting. You're from abroad as well. And there's a humility and a work ethic. And I'm not saying American players, American kids don't have it too. I'm not saying that. But what I'm saying is, you know, I saw it with Dirk Novitsky and I see it with Yannis, and I've seen it with you. There's a certain joyfulness.

And Yonis is pretty cool in that the NBA has always been a star league. It's almost like international soccer. It's the Star League, right? Yep. But it's like I look at Yonis and I think to myself, is Yonis going to be the face of the league? He's the new face, which is kind of humble, loyal. I want to play with my team.

Do you think it'll catch on a little bit or this is just a rare guy and a rare team? No, man. I think you see all the international players like Luca, right? Like Dirk back in a day. Now, Janus, now look at all the other international players. I think every day they're just taking over step by step. And I love it.

You know, you see all this international players, European players come in the league and do their best, they can to just. you know, compete in a high level and become their superstar and their team. It just, this means so much to international players and the teams because it's, look, what happened to Luca, right? Look, what happens to Yanis? Look for what happened to many other international players.

I think they are going to be the face, a new face of the NBA, and, hey, they're international players. I love it. You know, it is interesting. Rudy Gobert, defensive player of the year from France, Yokic. By the way, M.B. from Cameroon. Yeah, so there's no question. I want you to take our audience, before we get to the dame stuff, that the, I don't think all the viewers of our show quite understand that the academy system in Europe, it's different than here where you go to college, you play AU. For the international players, we've often heard that you guys get better sooner, that you're more skilled. Go back to, you don't, you didn't start playing until you were 14 years old. go back, tell somebody that's watching you right now about the system overseas and how it's different from America.

I mean, I started playing basketball when I was 14 years old, right? And when I was 16, I played my first professional game. It's crazy because, like, in a young age, when you're like 15, 16, 17, you start playing against these guys who is 30, 35, 36, right? So that's and this and everybody's obviously fighting for a contract, fighting for to get a better spot. So they don't care who's young, who's not. Even like the players in your team just try to compete with you to get a better spot. So I think what made me so like being physical, being hungry and humble,

when I was 16, I was going against these big men's who's 35, 36, you know? Like same thing with Luca. I remember when I was with OKC, we won't, we won't, we want to Real Madrid and play against him and he was just like a little kid and playing in a big guy's league big men's league you know

so I feel like those international players going against you know who are they grown men makes him so much better in the future yeah all right let's get to the Damian Lillard questions you know I have great affection for Portland and you play for the Blazers

listen is it's okay I mean he's given eight years to the team. He's been great. He's a great teammate. Everybody loves him. And everybody would love to have him. So there's going to be a lot of teams that call the Blazers and say, let's make a trade, let's make a trade. Nobody doubts that. Are you concerned, though, this morning, that Portland is kind of trapped. You're good. But Dame wants a championship team, and you know

with the salary cap, there's limitations on what you can do. Are you concerned that Dame may love Portland but may not believe it's a championship team? No, I don't think so, man. I played with Dame, you know, two years ago, played with them this year. I mean, like I said this again, I said this in many interviews.

He is the most loyal player I have ever seen in a league, you know. And I don't think I talk to many people, and every time I go to a basketball camp, kids are always asking if Dave is going to leave. I don't think so. I think Dame love, you know, but Blazers and the Portland fans so much. And obviously he wants a championship team,

but the one thing, he wants to bring a championship to Portland. that's what people don't understand. Like he wants to win a championship, like every other player, yes, but he wants to do it all in Portland. So I don't think he's going to leave. I don't think he's all the trade rumors. He even said it himself, you know, he woke up and to all this trade rumors, and it's not true. And I don't think it's true. By the way, did you ever watch Michael Jordan and Space Jam?

Did you ever watch that movie? Yes, I did. I did. Did you like it? I liked it a lot. Yeah, I liked it a lot. When I was a kid, he was like, it was very cool, yes. Okay.

Are you going to watch LeBron's space jam movie? No. I'm not. That's a kid movie, right? Why would you do that? It is a kid movie. By the way, you've had enough, you have 300 kids around you all day. The last thing you want to do is watch more kids on a movie screen.

I totally get it. Exactly, exactly. And as Canter organized over 40 free basketball camps in 20-plus state. across the country. By the way, why do you do that? I think it's really important. You know, whenever I remember, like whenever it sees, you know, where people always, the players always talks about how they're going to go to vacation, take some time, all playing video games all day.

I think it's important to go out there and try to inspire as many kids we can. And whenever we do a basketball camp, we don't only talk about, we don't only play basketball. We talk about healthy lifestyle, respecting parents, respecting others, education, and, you know, how to become a successful basketball. basketball player. And I think it's important to not just go to do a basketball camp in your city, but go all over America and try to give back to every city because there are so many NBA fans

out there. And what we do is we go to this, you know, the states or cities that no one even heard before. You know, I remember I went to this city in Alabama, Evergreen. They said the last basketball player came here to 20 years ago and he stopped to eat a burger and left the town and people still talk about it. So I think it's important to give back to those kids because they never get to be an NBA player or played against an NBA player.

So it's really important to inspire them because those kids are going to be our future one day. So we have to build our future with those kids. N.S. Canner, you're a really good dude. I love having you on. I appreciate it, my man, and continued success. You're a jam, and I appreciate it. Thank you, brother.

All right, N.S. Canter. 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, 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 what you need to be. 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. 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 Jay 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 y'all know I mean at this point Mark this is the second episode where we've discussed crack So I'm starting to see

There's a through line We also have AIDS On the table right now So Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important

year for black people. 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? Or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different. different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free Our Heart Radio app.

Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. A hot water that never runs out. TanklessmadeSimble.com. Tankless made symbol.com. It's called Navian with 15-year limited warranties. Navian tankless water heaters. Joy with the news. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Well, Team USA is right on track after their last exhibition game before heading to Tokyo. They beat the current world champion Spain on Sunday night for their second straight win. Are they on track?

I mean, you win or you lose? And they won. So it's better than going into Tokyo with four straight losses. They did get off to a slow start, trailing at the half. But they rallied back for a seven-point lead heading into the fourth and held on. on for the 83-76 win, and afterwards, Greg Popovich said that they are getting better every day. They will make their debut in Tokyo on Sunday, July 25th, against France. So right around the corner.

Yeah, they're very reliant on the three, which, by the way, that's the NBA. I am very interested. They should win the goal. They have the most good players. But they went and got Javelle McGee, which a lot of people criticized, but they had no rim protector. They had to get size. Of course. So I didn't have a problem with that at all.

It's like, you've got to get a big. I mean, we're watching an NBA finals where size matters. And again, like Ennis is talking about, a lot of these international teams, they got, they got dudes. Like, I've been around for a long time. And we're a very finesse three-point shooting team. So can you shoot your way? Just shoot threes your way to an Olympic goal. Well, it's also going to be interesting because apparently our players are not super happy with the way that the referees are calling the games because they call it a little different.

than doing the NBA, she's not going to get the same amount of fouls. That's right. Either. So, yeah, I mean, the Olympics is kind of, it's a little strange this time around. Obviously, dealing with a lot of COVID issues, a lot of players having to be replaced, not just with the men's team. Like, there's just a lot going on. So it will be interesting to see how this is for them.

Because, you know, normally the Olympics, Olympic experience is very exciting. And there's, you know, thousands and thousands of fans. and you're in a different country and you're like you're getting this cultural experience and it's like once in a lifetime experience and this time it's it's going to be very much a big task to deal with mentally it's you're essentially going back into the into a bubble in some ways we talked to a reporter a couple weeks ago he's going to the olympics in his room the only time he can leave his room is to go to his event and then come back and my takeaway is then i would tell the people my events an hour walk away i could not not exercise for three weeks sitting in a hotel

room. That would be miserable. They're going back into the bubble, essentially. It's going to be a lot mentally for all the athletes. Not just basketball. I mean, it's not as long, obviously, as the bubble was. But yeah, we'll see how it goes. So, the much-critized play-in tournament will continue for at least one more year. The NBA and Players Association have reportedly agreed to continue the play-in tournament for the 21-22 season.

The decision is pending approval from the Board of Governors in August, but it is expected to be passed. Not everyone really loves this situation. Give something two years. And then it's okay. It's not the end of the world. It didn't change my life. I like it. Yeah, it's something.

I thought the playing games were really fun this year. It gives another couple of fan bases some hope at the end of the season. Yeah. I know, you know, LeBron didn't love it. Baseball has a wild card. Some like it. Some don't. It's, you know, college football, when I grew up,

sports writers determined who it was. then it was BCS, then it's 14th, we're going to go to a 12-team playoff, I think. You know, there's nothing wrong with, I'm all for just trying new stuff. NFL move changes rules every year. If it doesn't work, you stop it. And it's not the end of the world.

I would give it one more year. And this was a weird year anyway, but let's give it one more year and see if it works. Well, yeah, so I think that's the biggest value of it, is that next year, essentially, hopefully. Normal. Who knows? But it'll be normal.

again and we'll get to have a regular offseason and guys will come back and be healthy and the best teams end up in the end. That's how it works, especially once you get into the series. Obviously one or two games is not, that's how college does it. But if you don't want to be in that situation,

win more games. Yeah. There you go. It's solved. Yeah. So, some more Mac Jones love. He's been getting some positive reviews out of New England. Oh, boy. Why receiver? Gunner Olshefsky. Oh, Gunner Olshefsky. is the latest pageer to give his stamp of approval. He said, good smart guy, smart football player.

I see why we took him. Those aren't the decisions I make, but I think it was a good one. He's a fun guy to be around, and I think he's a good football player. All right. Well, that's from Gunner O'Zuski. Olssevsky. O'Shefsky, yeah. Yeah, mac and cheese.

Mac and cheese making way with his teammates in New England. It's not the nickname I would want. But look, they did take him, like, they took him in the first round. Like this is the guy that they're building around. Well, when I don't have answers to something, that's when sports gets interesting. I don't have answers. I want to watch. I don't know what it's going to look like.

There's no value to me in making a prediction on what Max Jones is going to be. I have absolutely no idea. I think they took him in a very appropriate place. They didn't trade any picks. He fell to them. And I said before, number three, multiple picks to get him. Big mistake. But he falls to you and you need a quarterback.

I have no problem him being a first rounder. if you don't have to give up the farm. Like Jordan Love wouldn't be as bad if Green Bay had sat there and he's like, okay, he falls into our lab. Because the expectations change. That's right. When you take big risks, we were talking about this earlier with Gop and Stappertr, when you take big risks, there's, it can be big reward,

but there are exchanges there. Like you are now on the clock. You now have expectations. People want to see you accomplish what you're saying you're going to accomplish by making that move. So even if Mac Jones turns out to be the starter for the next 10 years and people are like, oh, well, they could have traded up to get him at three.

Maybe not, because the expectations change when you're supposed to play, how you're supposed to play right away. And if you don't make any swings, if he fell to you, that matters. You know what? I am having, speaking of the Patriots, there's somebody in town. I am having a big dinner tomorrow night with an NFL executive. I knew you were about to say something like that. So, so Wednesday, I know your sneaky faces now.

So I knew you're about to say something. like that. Either that or somebody had just text you some important information. So tomorrow is an executive in town. I'm having... Are you paying? Sure. I'll pay. Put it on Fox's bill. And by Wednesday

I'll have all sorts of tidbits and juicy information to give to the audience. I love that for us. You know, somebody's kidding. The Steeler's camp opens like this weekend or something, doesn't it? Train camp is not that far away. So exciting. Joy with the news.

Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lye News. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd, weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, I'm Doug Gottlie. The podcast is called All Ball. We usually talk all basketball all the time, but it's more about the stories about what made these people love their sport

and all the interesting interactions along the way. We talk to coaches. We talk to players. We tell you stories. You download it. You listen to it. I think you like it. Listen to All Ball with Doug Ghalib on the IHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts, 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 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, 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 Jett. 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 on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack.

So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more. important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeartRadio 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. Simply Safe, making people feel safe at home past 15 years. Simplysafecollan.com. Simply savecollan.com. Customize your system. Get a free security camera. By the way, Joy, the staff. Members of the staff came to Herd Burger in Hermosa Saturday, and let's just say the beer was flowing. Oh. It was the IPA was rolling downhill on that table.

Ice cream and onion rings and burgers and it was sometime. All right. So Janus is one win away from an NBA title and he will be the finals MVP. It would seem. Chris Middleton will get some votes. Devin Booker's been good. But it would be Janice's final. And he's a very engaging kid.

He's a great story. Humble, grateful. And he's worked pretty hard. I mean, he's gotten better every single year. And so we were going to ask the question. Next five years, starting next year, first game, would I take Janus or this star next five years? Half a decade. Here we go.

Janus or Kevin Durant. Again, five years, I would take Janus for two reasons. Number one, KD is not the defender he used to be. The nets were 22nd in defensive rating. Also, Janice has signed through the 25-26 season, so I have some certainty for the next five years where he's going to be. Also, we have to be honest about this. There is a little bit of an injury concern with KD. His game, the way he slashes, he's had major injuries, and Janus has not.

So I would take Janus. Janus or James Harden. This one's easy for me because I think what you're seeing in the playoffs is what separates the two. I would take Janice. So in the past six years, James Hardin's playoff numbers are under his regular season numbers. And we've talked about this. The greatness of Derek Jeter was, it wasn't that he became a better player in the postseason. Derek Jeter was the same player, regular season Yankees postseason, whereas Aarad was a great

player in the regular season, but was less of a player in the postseason. There are games and personalities, and Hardin's ball-centric style wears Dan. whereas Janus' his style wears others down. And so I do think, Joy, NBA officials tend to swallow the whistle in the playoffs. That plays to Janus's advantage because he's so big, so strong, and so physical.

Janus or Luca? This is a tough one. I think I'd go Luca here. So Luca is younger and Luca is a better, more refined player at his age than Janus. Also, Janus needs to be coupled with shooters. Luca is the shooter. And there's not many people in the world, certainly not at 22 years old, that shoot the ball like Luca.

So whereas Janus needs to find something very rare shooters to succeed, Luca just needs to find size, a big, and there's plenty of big guys around basketball. So I would take Luca. Did you take Janus or Steph? really not easy one is 33 one is 26 one has had injuries one hasn't so i would take yonis over the next five years but you know the value of step is he is like yonis so good so selfless and so good playing with others um this is a this is a go either way if it wasn't for yonis is a bigger stronger athlete, Steph, a smaller athlete, bit of a defensive liability, and he's had injuries.

And as we're finding out in the playoffs, Joy, the injury thing is the thing. It has to be considered. It's a big component. Janus has never had a major injury. Janus or Kawhi. Again, Janus, Kawhi is coming off a major injury. And I also feel like Janus is going to give me 95% of the games. Whereas with Kauai, he's sort of a major injury.

nonverbal guy. Yonis is very verbal. Janice is very much the cheerleader, very much all in. He's verbal leader. He's an emotional leader, a physical leader. I feel like with Kauai, he needs that on his team. He needs a verbal leader. I still content if I was the clippers. I do whatever I could to get Dame. And then if I had to let go of Paul George, I think it is hard with Ben Simmons or Kauai

to be your go-to guy because they're kind of non-verbal. Some would say it's aloof. Call it whatever you want. Janice or Jewel Embed. Embed's the more gifted offensive player. Yonis has the better body. And I would take Janus, Embed has never gotten past these semis. I think if Embed had never had injuries, this would be probably Ambide. I think Embed is the closest thing we've seen to Shaq. I think he can shoot a jumper. He can hit an occasional three.

I think he's a big personality. He has struggled with Ben Simmons, but I'm not sure that's M. Bede's fault. He's very verbal. He's very expressive. Again, M. Bede's the only big in the league where I would consider taking him over Yonnas, but we've got, you know, he had a torn meniscus this year in the playoffs. Janus or Anthony Davis. Easy one.

Yonis. First of all, Yonis loves basketball, totally committed, gets better every year, and plays every night. That's an easy one. It's nothing against AD, and I'm not saying he doesn't love basketball, But Janice, you can just tell from, I say this about Lamar Jackson. I know Lamar Jackson likes football because I look at his body. And now he's got traps. He came into the league.

He was like a twig. And now he's got traps. Look at Janus's body from four years ago to today. You know how many hours in a wait room that guy has spent? A.D. The Lakers privately have been struggled to get AD to the weight room. So the commitment level for Janus is much greater. Here's an interesting one, Janus or Damien Lillard.

Janice is an A player on both ends of the floor. Dame is A plus on the offensive end, but he is a, you know, he's a smaller player, not a great defensive player. So generally, in a perfect world, Dame would be on a team where another guard can defend. Now, Dame's the better offensive player and a great clutch player, great at the line. But there is, look, we're watching size win these NBA titles. Like size matters, and Dame is the best small players. player in the league and Janus is the best big guy in the league.

Janus or LeBron. Five years, Janus. Now remember, this is a big thing. Janus led the league. This is a stat. In fouls drawn per game. He attacks the rim. LeBron ranked 30th.

What does that mean? LeBron increasingly, as he ages, doesn't want all the contact and get slammed to the floor. LeBron's becoming a jump shooter. Now he's really good at it. He's really developed a shot. But what that tells you is, as LeBron ages, he's going to play fewer minutes, fewer nights, and become a little bit more of a finesse player. It's going to be more perimeter.

And by the way, to extend your career, if you want to play with brawny, that's what you do. You don't hit the deck every 15 minutes like your former teammate D. Wade. But in terms of drawing fouls, getting to the line, being a line, being a lot of. aggressive. Janice runs the floor like LeBron did eight years ago. He really does. Escape quickbooks. They're quicksand. Go to NetSuite by Oracle. The number one financial system. Head there right now. NetSuite.com slash herd. NetSuite.com slash herd. You get all your financials, your HR, your e-commerce, all in one site. We talked about that earlier to start this hour, is that Janus is so aggressive. and get so many free throws in a game,

it's less relevant that he shoots 55% from the floor. And there's a term called Haka Shack. There's no term called Haka Barkley. Shack's got a bunch of titles. He's got like, what, four titles? And that the Duncans and the Shacks and the Yannas and the LeBrons aren't good at the free throw line, but they're so physically unique

and they create so many free throw opportunities that you win the Costco way. You win by volume. So we got everything here. and I do think I overvalued free throw shooting. There's also a value to being physical like that. So even though you might not get every call or make every shot, you're wearing down the other team.

I was talking to Nick Wright about this. At its simplest form, UFC, basketball, football, baseball, the team that can make the other team less comfortable wins. Milwaukee is making Phoenix uncomfortable. Chris Paul is uncomfortable with Drew Holiday's physicality. The bucks are dominating the board. They're getting second shots. So if you watch the game, Phoenix is talented.

But they're not making Milwaukee uncomfortable physically. You go and watch a UFC fight. Somebody, man or woman, is making the. other person less comfortable. They're on the defense. There's always like one that's on the offense, one that's on the defense. Patrick Mahomes, at this point, is a more talented quarterback than Tom Brady. But Tampa's defense made Mahomes incredibly uncomfortable during the Super Bowl. Tom had all the time in the world to throw. And if that's what Milwaukee's doing here. And that's what physical sports does. Like all of us played like high school basketball or

basketball at the Y. Nothing was worse than the guy. that guarded you and was up in your face and sweating on you and he was in your grill. And it was just, even if he wasn't that talented, it just, it was uncomfortable. He wouldn't give you your space. That's what Milwaukee's doing. They're just leaning and pushing and rebounding. And Phoenix is a little bit in disarray for the first time in the postseason. We will see you tomorrow.

Speak for yourself around the corner. It's the hurt. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite, unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform?

We do some retirement homes. 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. On the Look Back at a Podcast. For 1979, that was a big moment for me.

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. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey,

or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, 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 Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network.

on TikTok. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.