The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 76ers, Ben Simmons, Lakers, Warriors-Rockets, and the Browns

Episode Date: May 10, 2019

Colin explains why people should be patient with Philadelphia 76ers G Ben Simmons, why the Los Angeles Lakers should hire Jason Kidd as their head coach, why he's picking the Houston Rockets to beat the Golden State Warriors, and why the Cleveland Browns need to stop talking. Guests include Chris Broussard, Rob Parker, Marcus Thompson, and Jason McIntyre. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on. A Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you're. know is somebody coming after me listen to kingdom of fraud on the iHeart radio app apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts life is full of hurdles so how do you keep going on hurdle with emily abody we're talking with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness from professional athletes coaches

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You're listening to Fox Sportsport. Radio. On a Friday, great show lined up. This is The Heard. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening. We're live in Los Angeles on IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, FS1. I've got my Philadelphia 76ers blue on this morning. Absolutely. Joy Taylor is joining me. I am perhaps not loved in Philadelphia, Joy, but I am representing the city of Philadelphia this morning. You need a passes in a few cities. Philadelphia. You definitely can't go to Cleveland without a pass. I think I can go to Philadelphia because I think Philadelphia knows I love their teams.

Well, you are kind of the Eagles overall. I criticize them initially, but I think Philadelphia is starting to fall in love with me. I think you might be a little delusional in that regard. I think there's a connection here. There's a love connection that is starting to blossom because let me start with this. I am only here to help you, Philadelphia. I am the honesty broker. I am the great healer of sports fans who sometimes get carried away and overly emotional.

I'm not allowed to do that. I have to see the world clearly, cleanly, and without emotion. Philadelphia, I have your best interests at heart. It's almost like I'm running for a campaign to win the moral job of Philadelphia, but I'm not. I'm doing this out of just human decency. You want to move Ben Simmons to some far-off land where he's going to dominate the NBA for 12 years, and I am here to tell you, I am here to save your franchise.

I'm a faith healer. I got a little Joel Osteen this morning. I am here to save you. Some Jim and Tammy, okay? The bottom line here is, you do know that he's 22 years old. You get that, right? There's only two young guys even left in the playoffs. Jamal Murray in Denver, who's inconsistent, and Ben Simmons, who, God, what a shock, is inconsistent.

He's 22 years old. Last night, he goes 21 points, eight rebounds, six. assists bagel, no turnovers. No player in NBA history, except Magic Johnson has had that stat line at 22 years old. You do realize that Kobe Bryant didn't start his first two years in the NBA. And then year three, he was, meh. You do, that's Kobe Bryant. You go to college to mature.

I mean, if you didn't make mistakes in college, you really don't have a life. You need to make mistakes in college. Okay. Oh, Ben Simmons went to an hour and a half of college to a non-traditional program and to a coach that got fired and no NBA players and then he gets hurt.

And now two years in, in big games last night's the biggest game for the Philadelphia 76ers in 19 years. And he is there. And you want to trade him. He spent one year in college. Steph Curry went to three years of college and then didn't pop

until year five in the NBA. Do you know what they called Steph Curry at 22? Irrelevant. Okay. Chris Middleton. Everybody's like, oh, Chris Middleton. This is his seventh year in the NBA. Janus is already in his peak.

Sixth season. He just won his first playoff series. What about Anthony Davis? I have to hear about Anthony Davis again. He's in his sixth, seventh year in the NBA, sixth year. Last year he won his first series. Ben's already done that. Ben's now in a game seven.

Folks, here's the Rockets Warrior series. I'm going to name the age of the players in this series. Katie's 30. Steph's 31. Iggy's 35. Drayman's 29. Clay's 29. Chris Paul's 34.

Hardin's 29. PJ Tucker's 34. Ben Simmons is 22 years old. They say your brain's not fully formed to your 25. He also played 79 games this year. 81 games, Joel Embed. Last year, the Sixers are 7-0 if he has five or more assists. Owen, four in these playoffs when he doesn't.

You go ahead and run him out of town. What were you doing at 22 years old? These kids now, they come out. This is not Ewing and Duncan. This is not Clyde Drexler. This is not guys that went to college for multiple years, emotionally, physically grow up. We're jamming Ben Simmons into this world-class stage against Kowai and Leonard. Seventh game, intense Philadelphia, pressure from the media, talk shows, talking, ripping, trade in bum.

Last night, biggest game in 19 years. He was money. He was unbelievable. ball. They called Tragic Johnson. That was Magic's nickname for a year after a bad finals. Ben Brown is coach, thankfully understands the gifts of Ben Simmons. He's 22 years old, you know, and his game as he grows his shot and tries to get a better command of his position and deals with, you know, the stage of the NBA playoffs, Shame on us for thinking like he's going to be all day, every day.

Here he is and he's just going to go knock it out of the park. Like, it's just not fair. So what he did today was lots of the reasons he was an NBA All-Star at age 22 as an NBA point guard with the ball. Brett Brown, my bad. I love that guy too. You want to run that guy out of town too. This is a tough team to coach. It's a tough team to coach.

You got Jimmy Butler doesn't get along with anybody. M. Beds high maintenance. Simmons is 22 and Tobias Harris wants to be a max guy. I mean, JJ Reddick's, the only guy that comes to the park, kind of knows what he is. You know what you get every night. So we are just forgetting. There's a kid that plays for Portland, Zach Collins. I have buddies up in Portland.

I'm like, oh, no, I'm like, he should be a junior at Gonzaga. He's not even an upper classman yet in college. They're babies. He has to go against the Joker? He's a junior in college. Love Ben Simmons. Let me shift to this. All right, tonight, Warriors, Rockets, Game 6, Houston's going to win.

I slept on it, and I've now come to the realization. I think Houston's going to win the series. I'll get to that later. But James Harden, this series is no longer about Steph. It's not about KD. It's not about the Warriors. The series is now about James Harden and his legacy. And by the way, Mike Dantony's legacy, Chris Paul.

But let's talk. James Harden here. Here are the MVP's in the history of the MVP that have titles. You've heard of some of them. LeBron, Kobe, Steph, Kevin Garnett, Duncan, Shaq, Michael Jordan, Magic Bird, Dr. J., Kareem, Akeem. Here's the MVP's without titles. Hardin, Westbrook, D. Rose, Iverson, Charles Barkley, is only six. And there is a big gap in legacy between those two groups. You're talking about on the left, FS1 viewers, the greatest players of all time. And on the right, you're talking about guys, Carl Malone never seen his clutch.

Let's be honest, if Barkley wasn't so fantastic on television, he would have been the guy that didn't want to practice or play defense. Derek Rose couldn't stay healthy. Russell Westbrook tends to be a tad rigid. Iverson couldn't get along with others. Oh, there is a massive Grand Canyon gap between the left and the right. And this series now is all about Hardin. And by the way, so far he has not passed with Flying Colors, last year, his team was up three, two, and he did lose Chris Paul,

but he was awful in game six and seven when the series then depended on him. He shot 24% last two games from three. He needs to be the best player on the floors tonight. James Harden needs to take the game over and be the best player on the floor tonight. Because the Warriors, all these legacies, they're molded. Steve Kerr, great coach, great broadcaster, excellent player. It's molded. He could retire today.

It's done. Steph Curry revolutionized the game, best shooter ever. His legacy is molded. It's cemented. Kevin Durant. One of the 10 best non-centers that's ever played the game, best player, best team, this year, certainly. That's cemented. Kevin Durant can retire today.

He's a top tenor. If you take the centers out, he's a top tenor. He's in that Kobe class. I mean, even Clay Thompson, part of the best offensive back court ever, cemented, retires today. Draymond Green, the Dennis Robin of the Warriors, the quirky, crazy tough guy. Everybody on the Warriors, it's all cemented. in stone set. Now, guys can be even greater.

You can add a title or points to that. But James Hardin right now is in the, you know, kind of odd, talented, the beard, points, nightclubs. You're unraveled. I think he's not cemented. This is tonight's the night. And the NBA for the record is there for the taking. Now, Boogie Cousins and Kevin Durant are out for the warrior. they have no bench and they've got no bigs. Golden State should not win this series.

Portland, Denver feel very reliant on one guy. For the record, so does Milwaukee sort of. It's here for the taking. No excuses. It is here for the taking. And when I look at that list, you start looking at that list of MVP's with titles, it is the faces of the league. MJ, Kobe, Shaq, Duncan, Garnett, Staff, LeBron, Larry, Magic, Kareem, Dr. Jay. It's like, just check it off. 60s, 70s, 70s, 80s, 90s. The other group, kind of quirky guys. Charles didn't want to practice or play defense.

He's funny as hell on TV. Iverson couldn't play with others. Nash was small. It was part of a system. Russell Westbrook, good, but boy, he unravels. Hardin, you don't want to be in that group. There's only six of them. You want to be in the other group.

And it is wide open, and this series is yours now for the taking. Coming up next, there is a difference, Lakers, between being concerned about something and being consumed about something. Lakers have fallen into the latter category, and it's not healthy. That's coming up. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Last night, a blown call changed a game.

This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves.

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And for more, follow Timbo Slices Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets,

meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levant, this went to a billion-dollar fraud. But with two kings from in time, entirely different worlds.

Just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the Aihart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. 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 in. 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, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the hard way and listen now. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them? hurdle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness,

professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going. From the WNBA standout Kate Martin and rising hockey star Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't belong. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladecki. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me.

And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts for wherever you get your podcasts.

Presented by Capital One, founding partner of I Heart Women's Sports. Great news. Quick, easy way. You can save money. Switch to GEICO. Takes 15 minutes. Say 15% Geico.com. Smart people as a rule are concerned about stuff. Financial inequity in America, poverty, world hunger, their own health and aging. I think smart people tend to be concerned about problems ahead. That's smart. Odd people get consumed. with stuff, have 13 facelifts. Yes, I care how I look going forward, but I'm, you know, I'm not going to start just pulling everything back and spending my time in a hospital. Little tuck here and there, perhaps, but my point being is there is a difference, the words even sound alike, between concerned and consumed.

I live in Los Angeles. I'm concerned about earthquakes, but I don't stand in door frames all day. I was concerned 19 years ago about Y2K. I'm not a doomsday prepper. I was not consumed by it. Those were weird people, building bunkers in their backyards. Frank Vogel got an interview for the Lakers job. He hasn't worked so far anywhere.

And if you're going to just hire a guy that's been fired a bunch, hire Jason Kidd. Nothing against Frank Vogel. But if you're going to hire a guy that's been fired, Jason Kid's been fired, Frank's been fired. Hired Jason. Because Jason and LeBron, they respect. each other. Jason's one of the great players of all time. And again, I get the concern. Optics do matter. LeBron, the last three times he's left a team. They've been in shambles the next day.

I get it. That's being concerned. But the Lakers now, the Rambis is running the family. The team, we're going to hire Vogel over Jason, kid. That's consumed by stuff. That's consumed with LeBron having too much power. He is your best player. I'd like to remind everybody, This was his bad year. This was his disaster year. 28, 8 and 8. Excuse me? Yeah.

He will be either the best player in the league next year or the second best. Okay. And the Lakers have a history of handing the franchise over to stars. This is not foreign territory. They gave Magic the franchise. Think I'm wrong? He got a winning head coach fired. They gave it to Magic.

By the way, they gave it to Kobe. Kobe met with Phil. Phil, come on back. Okay, so don't tell me the Lakers have never given the keys to this franchise to star players. They have. Now, they had to make a choice, by the way, Shaq and Kobe. But the minute they chose Kobe, they gave him the franchise. Okay.

And he made threats. I'm leaving Chicago. And they listened. Back the truck up, as they should have. But there is a massive difference between concerned and consumed. If you're going to hire Frank Vogel, just hire Jason Kidd. Yes, he's closer with LeBron. Yes, he is.

By the way, Pat Riley was concerned, not consumed. Pat Riley was concerned about giving the keys to LeBron. But he did acquiesce a lot with LeBron. Should be noted, at the end, he got a little obsessed with not giving LeBron power. LeBron left and Pat Riley watched him go to the finals for straight years. So be careful, Lakers. If you're going to go Vogel, you might as well go Jason Kidd. Because neither has a history of elevating teams.

And I would say Kid has a better reputation helping young players develop. I think Jason Kidd could help Lonzo Ball. Jason Kidd could help Kyle Kuzma. He could help Brandon Ingram. But if you go Vogel over Kid now, you've moved into Consumed. And that's where strange people live. You don't want to live there. Joy with the news.

No, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. So everyone in the sports world experienced the same reaction, watching KD. went off the court the other night, which looked like an obvious Achilles injury. It turned out to be a calf strain.

But he's obviously going to miss the rest of the series. Game six is tonight. And game seven would be Sunday at Oracle. Yes. Here is Steve Kerr on the injury. Yeah, I think it's good news. You know, calf strain. He's had them before.

He's responded well. Obviously, we're disappointed. He won't be able to play in this series. But, you know, if we're able to win the series and move on, it looks good for his return in the not too distant future. Well, the good news is the Warriors are 23 and 4 when Steph plays and KD is out. You're going to talk about later, you tease, that you feel like the rockets are going to end up.

winning this series? Well, I thought a lot about this. We've got to be careful about saying, you know, Steph won a title without KD. I went back and looked at the roster. That roster had Bogot playing, Mo Spates, Iggy was closer to his prime, Harrison Barnes.

This team is fairly barren. Once they signed Boogie, they basically said, we don't have a bench. So now I don't have Boogie, and now I don't have Durant. Forget the fact they have no bench. Joy, they have no size. This is a tiny basketball team with no depth. I'm with you.

They are a differently constructed team than they were when they won without KD. However, I feel like if they can get through this series, which I think they will. I agree with you that Houston's going to win tonight. I do think they beat Houston. And if they beat Houston, who am I really afraid of? I mean, I certainly think that they can beat the Blazers just based off of shooting alone. I think they match up with. Portland pretty well, frankly.

And I think they just have more experience than the Nuggets. Like, yes, Yokic has been incredible, but I'm going with the Warriors in either one of those series, and I'm not afraid of them against anyone in the East. So, I feel like this is it. Like, if they can get through this series without KD. I don't think they

can. I did yesterday. Yesterday. But if they do, do you see anyone else that can take them down? It's a hypothetical, and I don't think they can. I literally look at this series now as five against three and a half. Five guys for the Rockets are veterans. Gordon, Hardin, Chris Paul, Capella.

Who am I missing? PJ Tucker has been really good. And now it's Steph, Clay, Drayman, and let's be honest about Iggy. He's about a half. And they're not winning tonight. I don't, again, KD is seen as, oh, you're losing points. You're also losing size. No boogie.

They don't want to play Bogut clearly. No boogie, no KD. This is a team now with no size and no bench. And Houston's really good. They're the second best team in the league. I slept on this and I got up this morning. I'm like, why am I talking myself in the Golden State getting through the series? I don't think they're going to.

I don't know. I think they will. I can't wait for Sunday because you know we're getting a Sunday. Well, we're getting a Sunday. But it's, I don't know. I still have faith. So Thursday, Kyler Murray signed his rookie deal. He signed a four-year $35 million.

contract with a team option for a fifth. And the deal also included a signing bonus of $23.6 million. Yeah. So the Cardinals put a little provision in there. They use the same baseball language that was in James Winston's contract. Yeah. So any move to baseball will void any future guarantees, which seems pretty fair. You're not going to take guaranteed money if you're not going to be there.

Tyler was the first person to be drafted in the first round in NFL and MLB. But I think this is officially time to lay this. baseball fear to rest. Tyler Murray's not leaving the NFL to go back to baseball. At this point, would baseball even... Oh, no, they take him. Oh, yeah. Well, he's not going to do it this year.

No, no, no, no, no. So if he was a complete disaster this year. But for marketing, I mean, they took Tebow in. I mean, absolutely. Kyler Murray, starting NFL quarterback. Hey, Russell Wilson, a couple years ago did a baseball track. Do you know what a gift Russell Wilson would be for a major league franchise and for the sport? Yeah.

He'd be the most popular player in an hour. I don't know. I hadn't even thought about this until I saw that. story today like, oh yeah, that's right. He did have that baseball thing as a concern. It's just not a concern of mine. He's going to play quarterback and it's the decision he made. Unless maybe

five years from now it turns out to be a disaster and he goes back. Well, then you'd want a new quarterback anyway. Right. So it wouldn't be a big deal. Finally, Odell said to GQ that he's trying to bring as many championships to Cleveland as possible during and also turning the Browns into the new Patriots.

He obviously got quite a reaction to that because anytime you invoke the greatness of the Patriots, usually spurs a bit of a response, but especially when you pair with the Browns. Well, yesterday he clarified his remarks. He said, just to clarify, I never meant the Browns are the new Patriots or going to be the new Patriots. I just

have the great respect for what they've done and definitely recognize the work that has to be done to get there. Does everybody get that Odell actually wanted his first choice? He was to be with the Patriots. Yeah, he wanted to be a patriot. Like everybody gets that right. Like, this is where he landed. That's fine, and he could be very

happy there, but that was where he wanted to go. and L.A. He wanted to be a ram or he wanted to be a patron. Yeah, I agree with both of that. That's pretty obvious. But I don't think he's upset with being with the Browns at this point. I think he'll do very, very well. I think he and Baker will actually work very well again. Right. And I'm glad he clarified it. Because I personally didn't think he was saying that they are the new

Patriots, but it is that he clarified it because that was my whole point is you need to build a culture. We need to build a franchise. The Browns are in the perfect position this year to create a culture that is not associated with losing. Just slowly, make progress. No one's saying that you're going to make it to the Super Bowl this year.

Just make progress. I am so excited for the Browns hosting Tennessee in week one. Because that's the schedule, Cleveland schedule, Joy, in September, October is rough. Like a lot of good teams and a lot of them on the road. Tennessee is considered the gimmee to start the season, crazy old Tennessee. I think Mike Rable's really good and Mariotto will be healthy, which he's often not. That is going to be a, that is a, that is a, fascinating game. And Cleveland's going to be the big favorite. It's Marty Gras, Super Bowl Parade. And here comes a little sleepy Tennessee.

He always finishes just a game out of the playoffs. And I think Brable and Marioada together are very interesting. In week one. You've got an upset game one? It's got upset written all over it. Upset, because Cleveland's got after that like seven, eight weeks of tough roadies and cute. Maybe it ended up being a Blazance and Five pick. Uh-huh, yeah.

Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Heard Lye News. All right, Chris. Our final visit with Chris Broussard this week. This is so much fun. The NBA is just the gift that keeps on giving.

It's so much fun. So, you know, a couple days ago, Charles Barkley came out and he said, Golden State can't beat anybody. And I was like, hey, they can't beat Portland? They can't beat Denver? And I was like, come on, Chuck. But I think I've cited. I changed last night.

I don't think they can beat Houston. Wow. You got to go. I think it's over. I think Houston's going to win the series. And now what KD does is fascinating, and I don't have an answer for that. But I'm sitting there last night, and I'm looking at rosters as I'm watching the Sixers game. And I'm, you know, I got my cocktail and I'm sitting there on my phone.

I'm looking at rosters. Let's not confuse the Warriors that won without KD in this one. We forget how much size and depth they had. They had Harrison Barnes and Mo Spate. And Iggy was closer to his prime. And that was a team, Bogot, by the way, could play back then. This team in acquiring Boogie Cousins gave up their bench. and now they're the tiniest team in the league.

Here's the thing. I hear what you're saying, because that's what most people say. I know a scout texted you last night and told you all that. Andrew Bogget would be playing if Houston wanted to play big. He can't play in this series. But he'll play against Denver if they meet Yokic and he'll play against Portland if it's cancer, if they get that far.

Then let's go back to the bench. Now I'll give you Iguodal is older. But Iguodal is playing his best bass basketball. basketball of the season right now. Now, can he keep it up? That's a fair question. Draymond Green playing his best basketball of the season. Draymond has been spectacular.

Okay. Other guys they had playing on that team, getting minutes, Leandro Barbosa as an older player, Festus Izele, Brandon Rush. I remember Brandon Rush hitting a couple of big shots. Like, they had guys that when they went

elsewhere, couldn't do anything after being with Golden State. My point is, if the core is there, then you just fit pieces around them that won't be very good elsewhere, but with Steph and Clay and Draymond, they'll be fine. Jonas Jerepko looked pretty good the last game. He had a big shot, though. Kevin Looney, you put him somewhere else. He probably can't even get on the floor.

He's fine for them. So the depths may not quite be what it used to be, but I think we overstate the depth. and the strength in numbers back then. So you would acknowledge Houston wins tonight. Well, I've got Golden State winning the series, and I've got Houston. I'm going to respect Houston enough to say they win tonight, but I will not be surprised if Golden State wins tonight.

What? Yes. Look, this is a legacy defining these next two games. For Hardin? For Hardin and Chris Paul and Mike Dan Tony. Yeah. You know, we know, Dan Tony, I'm in the minority. I think he's a Hall of Fame coach.

I think he's this generation's Don Nelson. You know, the quirky, changed the game, won a lot of games, didn't win the championship. But for Chris Paul, because this might be the last year where he's even remotely close to his prime. If Houston loses these next two games, they go from gifted to chokers. I mean, literally, if Dan, Tony, and Hardin and Paul don't win here,

I've defended Chris Paul for 10 years. I can't defend him. I mean, I can't defend him if he disappears the next two like the last two. He will, it last three games that averaged 13.6 assists, 33% shooting. There are people, I'm not one of them, but there are people that think they lost last year because Chris got hurt. Right. Imagine putting on top of that they lost this year because he didn't deliver. Or KD got hurt. Right.

So you couldn't move when Chris. You couldn't close the deal. Oh, man. This series now is the pressure's all on Houston. He's going to be a Hall of Famer, no doubt. but where you start ranking him with other all-time-grade point guards depends on what he does in this series and his playoffs. And Hardin, Hardin, we know he's had some playoff clunkers

just about all of them, if not all of them, in critical games. That is a- Right? Is that game one or two? And listen, I bang on Westbrook, because I think Hardin's the better player. But Hardin, because I think he's more likable than Westbrook, the beard. There is a-Harton. One's quirky and kind of, you know, whereas there's an intensity with Westbrook that could turn you off does to me.

Hardin's head, I mean, awful games in big spots. And we're not even counting, at least I'm not, his first finals or only finals appearance in Oklahoma City when he disappeared. I gave him a pass on that because he was so young, but that maybe was a precursor of what was to come. you're right about this is Hardin. This is kind of like for him what Westbrook's gone through struggles in the post season. But we haven't banged on Hardin like Westbrook. No. And here's the, this is why I almost think if Hardin doesn't deliver in these two games and they lose,

I almost think it's worse than what Westbrook is done. And here's why. A lot of us don't think of Westbrook as this great basketball player. Great athlete. He's a great athlete. athlete, a phenom, a spectacle who can average a triple double. But when it comes to the winning play, smart basketball, the kind of stuff that gets you championships, we don't view him that way.

So when he falls in the playoffs, it's like, and maybe we've gotten used to it, too, the last three years. But Hardin is a heady guy. He doesn't win with athleticism. He wins with skills. He figures it out. He's a smart player. He's winning with his mind.

but in the playoffs, when it's time to do that, he hasn't figured it out. Yeah, I think this is interesting. The difference is Westbrook, who's never been, who's always been greater athlete than pure basketball talent, when he loses in the playoffs, we're like, well, we still kind of admire his primary fastball gift. Right. We don't look at him as a perfect player. But Hardin, we're now told analytically, is better than Kobe. Okay, so you're putting him in that class.

So when he loses, we're like, oh, it's all, you're a head case. Yes. Like Westbrook is a flawed but brilliant player, but we all know he's flawed. Like he's not a shooter. Hardin's like, well, there's no flaws with his offensive game. He just gets cold. He freaks out. And here two, one of the most telling things is game six against San Antonio 2017.

And then there was one more playoff game where he struggled. He shot two for 11. I know. A guy that averages 30 points, 11 shots. That's all you got up. And then last game, game five. or game, yeah, game five against Golden State. That's what was most alarming to me was he didn't have the ball in his hands.

Like all year they've played with him having the ball, ISO. And the last seven minutes, Eric Gordon brought it up two straight times. Chris Paul had the ball in his hands. Hardin wasn't playing Hardin basketball. So this is huge. Look, I think he's a great player and I, look, I think Golden State is going to win. But he's got to deliver him and Chris. Chris Paul got to deliver.

And Dan Tony. And Dan Tony. I'm telling you, by Sunday night, we could look at the rockets as the Sacramento Kings. Well, look, I've already said it. Couldn't get just choked against the Lakers in the game seven. I've already said that these Houston Rockets will go down as this generation, Sacramento Kings, and the Phoenix sons of Steve Nash. Both of them.

Close but couldn't get over the hump. And obviously the connection with Phoenix is Mike Dan, Tony. As good of coach as he is, he lacks attention to detail. He does. And he's non-confrontational. In a tight playoff series where every little minuscule point matters, those two things come back to bite you. When something has to change and you're not going to get in somebody's butt, that comes

back to bite you. When your team is so used to being loosey-goosey that they miss the rotation or that they make the bad pass. So, you know, they forget an assignment. Those things come back to honk. He's the opposite of Pat Riley, whose attention to detail was almost obsessive, and he was consumed with intensity.

Yeah, that's a great point. Driving the Fiat, you know, in Italy, the Italian, good-looking basketball coach. Yeah, we'll get to the, just shoot some hoops. I mean, one guy was almost over-intense. The other guy's too casual, and one guy's got a lot of rings. Chris, I got a million things to talk about here.

I'm going to throw a Steph thing at you because I think the guy gets no respect and you've got to explain it to me. And Ben Simmons looked pretty good last night. You're like a roller coaster on this with Ben. No, I love Ben. Embed, I, whatever. He was defending. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific.

Last night, a blown call changed the game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode we're cutting through the noise. Breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines.

We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live there. them. Listen to SportsSlic on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness.

So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the press. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levin this went to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me?

Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't. realize that we are in possession of the thing and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough because people scoreboard watch life becomes about wins and losses

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Our Heart Radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness,

professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going. From the WNBA standout, Kate Martin, and rising hockey star Lala Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that.

Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't feel on. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ledecky. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world, Like, I can do anything. I can do anything.

Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Great to have you in. Chris Broussard, former New York Times sports writer. He is our voice of NBA basketball. We've added some really great pieces.

Got Rick Bucher now is in-house. You've got Chris Haynes in-house. You've got Chris Haynes in-house, all that stuff. Marcus Thompson, by the way, an hour three today from the athletic. So I'm watching the Sixers last night. And they're fascinating. So I thought Toronto would go and win last night. I kind of just, I think the Sixers have, we've agreed,

second most talent in the league. If the Sixers go to Canada and win, to me, it is a franchise reshaping they're relevant for, I mean, I think it's that big of a game. You'll stop saying they should trade M. B. No. Keep the other three in Reddick. No, I still think they have to get more shooters.

And I do not think M. B'd and Simmons work well together. That's why they're so wildly inconsistent. Last night, Simmons was great. I don't think long term this team functions perfectly with these four. What did you make of the win last night and game seven? I do agree. I was wildly impressed because, like you said, everything was pointing toward them getting not only beat but blown out.

Yeah. And Embed and Simmons were taking major criticism, and rightly so, and they both showed a lot of heart in living up to it. I agree with you. If they win game seven in Toronto, that place is going to be rocking. Okay, I've been there during playoff games. It is a loud atmosphere, so it's going to be going crazy.

If they go up there and win this series coming back from down three, two, then it's a coming of age for the young guys. My only problem with them, and you're right, you know, you got to, Simmons has to learn how to shoot and all that. But my major problem with them is I don't think they're two young guys, M. B. and Simmons, are mentally mature enough yet, emotionally mature enough yet, to beat a good team in the playoffs. If they do that against Toronto.

They have answered the question. Yes, and the rest of the NBA better watch out. And even though as impressive as Milwaukee's been. Yeah. And I would pick Milwaukee. It matches up. It would be a heck of a tough. Philadelphia matches up with them.

Yes. There's no question. Philadelphia's got the length, the big. Yep. And that would challenge Janice at the rim. I know everybody thinks when LeBron left the east, it's not as interesting. You give me Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Eastern Conference finals. I think it's more interesting because LeBron was so dominant in the East.

I think Philadelphia is the most fascinating current NBA team. The leagues, at this point, the league's dream scenario in the finals is Golden State Philadelphia. Yes, I got seven stars. God, I couldn't. That'd be great. And Katie's back. Don't, don't, no, that's not good. Okay, I want to go to this.

There is a rumor out there about LeBron recruiting Kauai Leonard. So there's stuff on the internet, saw it last night. Can you clear this up? Yes, because Stephen A. Smith, our former colleague, he put it out there. It was confirmed to me by someone yesterday. But Rich Paul, I was in contact with Rich Paul, LeBron's agent today. He said it's completely false. That LeBron has not talked with Kauai or any of that,

that he wasn't in Philadelphia recruiting him and stuff. So, yeah, it's not. Obviously, they'll get to a point where they talk to Kauai, but no, that is not true. There is a narrative that Kauai is not considering the Lakers. Yeah, I think that's overstated. Now, I think the Clippers and the Raptors are the two front runners. But to say the Lakers have absolutely no chance, this idea that Kauai doesn't like LeBron or something,

that's way, that's wrong. Because those two have played basketball together. I'm not saying they're buddies, but they have a relationship. They're fine with each other. Just last year, they were playing ball here in L.A. together. There's a photo of it on the, internet. So here's the thing with Kauai, though. He is not trying to form a super team. He's not, that's not even something he's thinking about. He's not trying to join a super team.

He's not trying to form his own super team. He just wants to do what is going to make him happy. And win or lose, if Toronto wins the finals, that doesn't mean he's staying. If they lose, it doesn't mean he's staying or leaving. In fact, I think it's easier for him to leave. If they were somehow to win the championship. Yeah. Because you're a two-time championship. You can do whatever you want to do at that point. Toronto would even have to say, hey, he came for one year and he got us a ring.

Why are we going to be mad? So I think with Kauai, he's just going to do whatever makes him happy. And if he wants to be in warm weather, if he wants to be near home, he's probably going to go to the Clippers. But I think the Lakers, the Lakers will get to talk to him. and look, I think it's a slim chance, but to say they have no chance is wrong. Finally, Westbrook's unraveled in the playoffs.

Players still love him. Hardin's unraveled in the playoffs. Players still love him. I'm reading this morning that if Steph can't elevate the Warriors over the Rockets, well, he's just not a step-up guy. Steph's never really unraveled in the playoffs. His numbers aren't quite as good because, you know, you're playing the best coaches and players.

Describe to me again, explain to me again, Chris, why players like Barclay don't respect Steph. Well, the first thing is the narrative that he just folds in the playoffs is totally wrong. I will go to my grave saying he should have been the MVP of the 2015 finals. Totally agree. And I know Andre Goddala was important and all that. But Steph averaged 28 points a game, six rebounds, five assists on 49% shooting in the last. three games, which were pivotal. Golden State won all three. If you look at his last four playoffs seasons, two of the three, two of the four years, he's averaged more points in the

playoffs than he did in the regular season. So this, and then let's go back to game seven when they beat Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant, by the way, and Russell Westbrook and coming down back from three one down, he had 36.7.73 shot over 50%. He was a star of the game. in game seven. So this notion that he just folds is totally wrong. But as far as players sometimes not respected him, I don't like him. I don't get it.

Some of it is that I've talked with players that have said, look, the defense. And not just that he's not a great defender because he actually is a smart defender and works hard at it. Yeah, but they feel like because he doesn't like Chris, well, Chris Paul is a great defender, but let's say Damien Lillard, Kyrie Irving, not great defender. defenders, but they at least take on the challenge of guarding the opposing point guard.

Whereas guys look at Steph like, that's basketball. Like, you come at me, I go at you. That's the fundamental where there's one-on-one, three-on-three, five-on-five, that's basketball. And Steph is cheating that. And not, he's going at you, but not giving you the chance to go back at him. But that's because Clay Thompson's the best defensive guard in the league. And if I had that on my roster, I would say, Clay, you guard the best guy. Right.

That's too logical, though. I agree. Like, that's the game plan. That's the smartest thing to do. Clay's the best two guard in the NBA. He, along with, like, Kauai Leonard and Paul George, and one of the best defenders in the league. You're right.

I agree. And look, and I also will say this. It's not all players that don't like Steph. He gets major respect in the league. There are some guys that don't like him or whatever. But also, Alan Iverson, who we know is beloved by all the players, He loves Steph Curry. He thinks Steph Curry, like Ivers in his said,

I thought I was good. Like he is in awe of Steph Curry. I think he on his all-time team, he had Steph as the point guard instead of Magic Johnson. That makes me, I had Iverson on, by the way, once. He was fantastic. When you get him to talk, he was great. Great scene, Chris.

Hour two next. One more herd? 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. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying,

and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions,

the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumph, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered.

SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slices Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth.

He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levant this plant to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history.

You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games.

And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing

and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on Earth, or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely.

And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them?

On hurdle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going. From the WNBA standout Kate Martin and rising hockey star Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but.

Don't ever feel like you don't belong. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladeki. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything.

I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Ah, here we go, hour two. We're live in Los Angeles. This is The Herd, wherever you may be, however you may be listening.

Joy Taylor is joining me. We're on IHeart Radio. We're on Fox Sports Radio. We're on FS1. Good to have you in today. Rob Parker, Marcus Thompson's great last hour, not the time. that Rob isn't, Jason McIntyre. I mean, I say, you know, Marcus Thompson's great.

You've got to listen to Next Hour for him. Rob Parker's like five feet away. He's like, what about me? I'm on in 15 minutes. I love Rob Parker. Joy, how are you? I'm great. Good morning.

You know, football dynasties have a chance to last longer because you, you know, you have the head coach and you secure the quarterback. NBA dynasties, you know, take the Celtics out, right? Right. Even the Bull dynasty was three years. Mike left, came back three years. NBA dynasties tend to last about three years.

Shack and Kobe after three titles, they're out. There's a lot of reasons. It's a star-driven league, and the stars get tired of each other. They want new challenges. And so this Golden State dynasty, I'd say it's been like a four-year thing. They won. They lost close. They've won.

They've won. I believe the dynasty is over because I think Kevin Durant, it's official, will not return for this series. And I thought about this last night. I'm trying to talk myself into something. It doesn't make any sense. I don't think they can win either of these two games. It's five against three and a half. PJ Duckers playing great.

Eric Gordon's amazing. Hardin's fantastic. Clint Capello when he plays as good. Chris Paul still, maybe the best defensive guard at the point guard spot in the league. They have a veteran head coach. Golden State's now, Steph, Clay, Drayman, and Cross Your Fingers on the bench. Iggy's old.

You get him for a couple six-minute bursts, but you can't depend on him. It's five against three and a half. I think Houston wins big tonight, and I think you get to the fourth quarter of game seven, and they don't have any bench, and they don't have any size. And I think Houston plays some football on them, and I think they just beat them down, and I think they win game seven. And I have a right to change my mind, and I thought about it overnight. I do think if they could get past Houston, they could beat Portland and Denver.

I don't know about Milwaukee. Milwaukee's got too much depth and too much size. But you'd have KD by then. But I thought, you know, we usually, and this is the way it goes, like a, dynasty ends and then about a year later another dynasty starts I mean that's what you know you had like you know Shaq and Kobe and then went away and then all of a sudden it was like oh you had the big three and then you had Kobe Gazal and then you had the Miami Heat and you got the spurs are mixed in there and you have there's got me another dynasty and so I thought but I'm not

sure what it is let's let's stack them up and this is sort of this morning everybody's two something I'll start with the Rockets even if they win this year it's not a They're too old. Houston's old. Chris Paul's old. PJ Tucker's old. This is a team that Chris Paul, you don't have very much flexibility

because of his age and what you owe him for the next three years. And I just think Houston's too old to go in a four-year three championship run. Let's talk Denver. They're the opposite. They're just too young. I think they're going to be really good for years.

They have the coach. They have Joker. They have Jamal Murray. But come on, they're kids. I mean, they're really this year. Kind of shocking all of us, right? We're all like kind of, what? And they're going to a game seven.

They may not get out of this series. They're too young. How about a team I love the talent, Philadelphia? They're too dysfunctional. I mean, if they lose game seven, the coach gets fired, and they're moving off some of these guys. They're not going to give Tobias Harris the money he wants. Jimmy Butler, he's not corrosive, but he's a lot of work.

And Bede and Simmons don't work together. To me, there's just too much dysfunction here to be a four, five championship level team. Let's go to Raptors. They're too Canadian. Now, I know that sounds mean, but they don't have a history. Steve Nash turned them down. Chris Bosch left, T-Mack left, Vince Carter left. It's Canada, and free agents don't generally.

Kauai was traded there. Let's go to Portland. Portland's too remote. They're a little bit like the Raptors, but are raptors. They're up in the corner of the country. Free agents historically don't move there. You've got to draft well. Best players they've drafted well.

And I think they're well run. I like their GM. I like their coach. I love Damian Lillard. But they've never even hosted an NBA All-Star game. Do you realize that? Not enough hotel rooms. A little small and a little remote.

How about Boston? too many B players. I don't think they'll fall up a cliff without Kyrie, but who's their closer? Orford, Hayward, Jalen Brown? I like Jason Tatum a lot, and I do think he'll flourish without Kyrie. But right now, this is a young coach

and a bunch of bees, and bees make the playoffs, and bees can win a series, but they don't win championships. We continue on NBA potential dynasties. How about Oklahoma? city. I think this is fair to say. They're too Westbrook. They're locked into him, and they're paying him a lot, and he can struggle. He can unravel. He's kind of rigid.

It's his personality. His exit interview about a week ago is the happiest I've seen him. In the course of a season, he is intense, man. He is intense. The team's a little, when he's leading it, a little too Westbrook. How about the Lakers? Too many rambuses. They've got no leadership. I don't know who's running the team. Linda Rambis, Kurt Rambis, too many rambuses. How about the clippers? Two little brother. I mean, they do rent space from the Lakers.

They are the second team in town, and I love where they're going. Kauai may stay in Canada. And Durant's probably not picking them. There is, and they have to overcome this, that's why they brought Jerry West in. That's why Doc Rivers is so important. I think they're a little too little brother to be a dynasty. How about the Knicks? Too hypothetical.

There's just too many ifs. If they get Zion. If they get Kyrie. If they get Jimmy Ballard. If they get Kevin Durant. Hey, you're if in me. I mean, I got too many hypotheticals here. Let's wait till Tuesday to even discuss the New York Knicks.

How about Milwaukee? I think they're at this point too dependent on. one player. And I also think they're going to overpay for Chris Middleton because you have to have a second guy. And I think Chris is a really, really nice player. But I don't think, you know, Clay Thompson's the third best player on the Warriors. They're a dynasty. If Chris Middleton's your two, I'm not saying you couldn't win a championship, but I don't think you'd be a dynasty. And finally, Golden State going forward. They're too expensive. They're going to be paying steps. They're going to be paying Stefan Clay after their contracts are signed, $75 million for two guys.

There's your bench. I mean, we see it this year with Boogie Cousins. They don't have any money. I don't need bench. By the way, how many years can you rely on Andre Aguadala? How many times do you go to that well? They're just too expensive. So I guess my point is there's a dynasty out there, and I'd say Milwaukee may have the best

chance, but from too old to too young to too dysfunctional, two Canadian, too remote, too many B players, two Westbrook, too much rambus, two little brother, two hypothetical, too dependent, too expensive. We'll see. I say Milwaukee, maybe your best bet. I saw this. Rob Parker's only a few minutes away. The Seahawks yesterday parted ways with two players I like a lot. Doug Baldwin, Stanford undrafted, became a terrific NFL player.

Smart dude, loved him. And Cam Chancellor. Excellent. I actually went to a pool once and he was sitting next to me. Good dude. Seattle is the dynasty. that never happened. Now, of course, Russell Wilson takes the heat for that because of this play. Play clock at five. Pass is intercepted it. Who almost made the phenomenal play that wound up in Percy's arms. There are flags on the field for a celebration. Amazing. Of course, people tend to

forget that if it wasn't for the amazing Russell Wilson, there was a minute left in the game, and Russell did this or they would have never even been in that position. Russell in the pocket. Russell for curse and it's broken up again. And is it, but somehow that he wound up with a football? I think Butler hit it and it fell right back down to the ground. Unbelievable. That's exactly what happened, isn't it?

Well, curse goes for it. It's still not on the ground. It's still not on the ground. Well, look at that. Oh, my, I can't believe he didn't get up and get the end zone in time. Brady's saying, first the guy in New York, Tyree, what was the guy that caught it with a? David Tyree caught it with his super glue in his helmet. That was a glorious moment.

It was the dynasty that never was. But I actually yesterday saw the headline Cam and Doug Baldwin gone, and I thought, good for Seattle. First of all, Cam made a lot of money. Doug made a lot of money. Good dudes. That's a great life. but Seattle's got their head coach, check, the quarterback check, their GM, check,

and Bobby Wagner, one defensive star check. Don't get romantic about the past. That's Suckersville. What did the Philadelphia Eagles do with Nick Foles? Bye-bye. What did they do with Trey Burton? Blunt, bye-bye. By the way, the Colts didn't get romantic about Peyton Manning.

The Packers didn't get romantic at the end with Brett Fav. Don't romanticize the past. Baseball's about romancing the past. Football's about next man up. I like what Seattle did. They turned four draft picks into 11 in a 24-hour period in the draft. They're not getting romantic. By the way, there's an NFL team right now that is tied to the past.

They can't get over it. They're called the New York Giants. They're a mess. Seattle's in a great spot. They got the quarterback. They got the coach. They got the GM. They got the revenue.

They have one great, great defensive player, Bobby Wagner and Pete Carroll's strength is developing young defensive talent and Seattle now has tons of it. Baseball is about romancing yesterday. Football is about next man up for tomorrow. Half the NFL is undrafted. Good for Seattle. This is the way you have to operate and do business in the National Football League. And congrats to Doug Baldwin and Cam Chancellor. Great players, good dudes, great careers. Rob Parker is coming up next. Oh, Rob Parker. He is all worked up today.

Rob is all worked up today. I slept on it. I don't think the Warriors can win this series, and I think the Dynasty therefore is probably over. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeard Radio app. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind.

Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real.

From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context and ask the questions everybody wants answered. SportsLice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slices Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back.

Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levant this plant to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, Just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me?

Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations

with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough because people scoreboard watch.

Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, 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, Kear Gaines, as 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. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer that? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness,

professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going. From the WMBA standout, Kate Martin, and rising hockey star, Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't feel on.

Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladecki. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything.

Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Tomorrow on FS1, Francisco Lundor leads the Indians, the tribe takes on Chris Davis and Oakland A's. Coverage begins at 3 Eastern on FS1 or on the Fox Sports app. By the way, Rob Parker is part of the new herd radio podcast network.

You have a baseball podcast. You're a Hall of Fame voter. It's going well for you. So far inside the Parker drops every Wednesday morning. And you have Max Scherzer coming out. Yeah, that's the next one for next week. Darryl Strawberry. Yeah, Tony Clark and the league office. Yep. And

Sheffield, Gary Sheffield. So it's been great so for, Colin, loving it. Well, here's what's not great. The Lakers yesterday held a Is it today or tomorrow or yesterday? They held a rally outside. I think it's today and tomorrow. Okay, today and tomorrow, the Lakers held a rally. Basically,

they want Jeannie Bust to sell the team. You are familiar with this rally stuff and you love these. I do. When fans push back, you know, the word fan is derived from the word fanatic. Right. So people are in. They're invested.

They spend their money. They care about the team, whether they win or lose. So I get it. So when fans feel like they haven't been taken care of or neglected, as in the case with the Lakers, because just think about this. We haven't heard from Jeannie Bus, haven't heard from Rob Polinka. Magic quit. Right.

Magic quit. And LeBron waited until his TV show to even mention it or talk about it. Didn't take any questions from the media. And the only people we heard from was Kyle Kuzma and Lonzo Ball. I mean, that's a diss of the fans. So in Detroit, fans were outraged when Matt Millen was the general manager, arguably the worst general manager in the history of sports. So I wrote a column saying that it was time for fans to have the Millen Man march.

And you know what? They picked it up on radio and they organized it. They walked out of a Bengals Lions game, and they had a stuffed guy up like Millen and Effergy, like walking around saying, hey, hey, ho, Matt Millen's got to go. I mean, it was a big deal. And you have all the sportscasters I know. You almost always take the fans' point of view. I do from the standpoint of I feel like I work for the fans, always have been in the newspaper business.

everywhere because I think they get shortchanged. I think they, you know, like when these big stars was sitting out of games in the NBA, seriously, I looked at it calling us consumer fraud. You know, I spend $400, take my son, and not, I don't have any kids, but if I had a son for his birthday or something like that, and then these guys are just not playing. Yeah, that game, I just don't think that's right. No, no, no.

I mean, by the way, all sportscasters have sort of different brands. You have always been voice of the fan guy. and so voice of the fan guy Rob Parker Kyrie decides you know what I'm going to go back to LeBron how does that land for you career suicide really absolutely

the way that he exited to LeBron and the way he wanted out remember it's very public it wasn't like out of nowhere they traded him he even went on to say remember I'll have surgery on my knee or whatever it was not to play that year if you don't trade me. And Cleveland wound up trading inside the Eastern Conference, which normally doesn't happen either, and it almost burned them.

But of course, he was hurt, and Cavaliers were able to win in seven games. But that was one of those you don't normally see. I don't see how they didn't win like three championships in a row and there was some little thing. This was a big breakup. It would be like we marrying your ex-wife. And I just don't see how that. helps Kyrie. And LeBron now is an aging star. So what are you going to rekindle? Right? I don't see

they're winning. What are they winning? I don't see it that way. I think people would look at Kyrie and be like, you want it out so much and now you're back on your hands and knees to go back to LeBron. I don't see that happening. So, you know, it's funny. When KD left, because they're the reigning dynasty, the warriors are sort of always the primary top. unless they're facing LeBron in every series they're in. You know, same with New England. It's the New England Super Bowl, not the Rams Super Bowl. Absolutely. But when Katie got hurt, I'm like, no, now this is James Hardin's series.

Because I believe that Kerr, Draymond, Clay, and Steph, their legacies are cemented. Clay is the best Robin since Scotty Pippen. Steph is the revolutionizing basketball player who took out centers. Kerr is just going to go as a Hall of Fame broadcaster. titles. Even Draymond is the Rodman of this dynasty, the quirky tough guy. James Harden, Mike Danton, and Chris Paul, but Hardin specifically, his legacy is very amenable to change here, like very moldable. If for the next two games, Golden State wins one, I think Hardin falls into a weird, quirky

category of closer to, we did this earlier, of Westbrook, of Ivers, of. Moulone, Derek Rose. Like, yeah, they were great. But, like, I think this is his legacy's on the line for this stuff. I agree with you 100%, especially because there's no KD. When KD got hurt in the third quarter, you thought Hardin would take over, right? Win that game, put Golden State on the brink. And it didn't happen to state Golden State was able to win.

So now there's two more chances for, uh, James Harden, who I think is a great player. I mean, I really do. Yeah. But he needs to be able to win this series, and I'm not convinced. The reason I still believe that Warriors are going to win this series is because I don't believe in Houston. It's not because I believe in returning back the clock, and Steph Curry's going to turn back

into that MVP that he was, you know, back to back a couple years, five years ago. I don't believe that at all. I just don't believe in Houston. When I see Chris Paul, I don't believe in him. Dan Tony. I don't. He's never been able to get there. You know how many great teams he had in Phoenix?

It's out there. It just hasn't happened. So I'm not buying in that Houston will have to show me, prove me. By the way, if Houston loses tonight, I can say this, ask you enjoy. Hardin becomes a little, there's a Westbrook thing here where it's like, sorry, we're giving you stars. I mean, again, I think Westbrook has. I think Hardin separated from Russell in the last two years. Boy, if they lose tonight, I think the same criticisms I have of Westbrook, too rigid,

not built for the postseason, I can look at Hardin and go, you know, stamina's an issue. He's two, three ball dependent. He seems to get gassed and tighten. He was passive in game five in the fourth quarter. It was wide open for him. Did you recognize Hardin in the fourth quarter? Do you guys remember how much heat we used to give LeBron? Not when he played badly in the fourth.

When he would pass up a shot as a double team. The standard we held LeBron was he has to take every big shot in the fourth. Hardin disappeared. Nobody's holding him accountable for that. Tonight, a loss for Hardin, he becomes, I think, a more refined shooting version of Westbrook. I think that starts to get talked about. I think people will definitely say he's. He's not that postseason guy.

Right. And he hasn't been able to adjust to the way the game is called, and then he's not aggressive enough in no situation. I mean, it's on the table for them without KD. It really is. I don't believe in Houston. Okay, so if Philadelphia loses in Canada, they're underdogs. They're going to move some pieces.

I'm going to fire the coach. Probably move pieces. If I told you going forward, you get to keep three. of the four, M. Bede, Simmons, Butler, Tobias Harris. If I could, I told you, you could keep three of the four. And remember, it's a Shooter's League. M. Bid and Simmons don't appear to work great together. Who would you keep?

I know people are going to say I'm a sugarina, which is crazy. Right. But I'm going to say, M.B., I would say that's the guy I wouldn't keep. Only from this standpoint. So you wouldn't keep it. I would keep the other three. See, I don't think you're crazy. Only from this standpoint, he has way too many ailments that are frightening for a big guy,

and he seems to not be able to stay healthy, and he's a guy you want to trade too early rather than too late. That's the New England formula. Am I right? No, I mean, this is, it's hard to move off popular All-Stars. The Warriors did with Monta Ellis and got booed and got ripped on sports radio. No doubt about it. But I'll tell you, I can give you a dozen examples of not doing it and failing.

And I think you're going to have to make a big choice. Because if you lose in Canada, everybody's going to go, okay, you've got to blow this thing up. The chemistry's not perfect. I'm with you. I think Embeddied, I'd move. I think he has value. One more major injury for Joel Embed, what's his trade value? Here you go.

Here's a trade. Ready? LeBron James for Embedd, would you make that? No. You wouldn't do it. I'm just saying, I'm just looking at it. What side of my own? Not that LeB.

You're the Lakers side. So I'm the Lakers. You're the Lakers. M.B.D. for LeB. No. Okay. So you're cool with LeBron. Now, the aging star who's got his hands in so many different things.

Now, I'm Philadelphia's GM. Yes, I would make that move. We would make that trade. Yes. Okay. The only reason I say that is you've got to look at where the Lakers are and what they've done and Colin, just be honest. they sabotaged the Thai-Loo thing.

What do you mean? And from this standpoint, they did everything to make a guy not want to be there. You won a championship as a coach, and you're telling people, the ownership is telling you who's going to be on your staff. No way do you take that job. Am I right?

You can't tell me who's going to be on my staff when I'm a championship caliber coach. Then everybody in the league, Luke Walton, Monty Williams, everybody got five-year contracts, and you're offering me a three-year deal. The Lakers are playing cheap. Oh, no, it's got to match up with LeBron's contract.

They're so afraid to give him two more years, basically saying, we only want you here because LeBron's here. We're not interested in you. I said this to Joy earlier. The Lakers have gone from concerned about the optics to consumed about the optics. I mean, I saw a story today. They want to hire Frank Vogel, who's failed twice. well, if you're willing to hire a guy who's failed twice and unemployed,

then just hire Jason Kidd. Because kid and LeBron get along. I think the Lakers have moved from, and I believe. But Ty Loo checked every box. Yes. Won a championship has a good relationship with LeBron and a former Laker. What are you looking for? And, you know, we know Jeannie Bus runs it like a mom and pop store.

Everybody's connected with the Lakers who's around. The Rambuses. Rob Polico was Kobe's agent. Everybody's connected to the Lakers, even when they had Magic Johnson. So why not Ty Lou? Why not try to work LeBron's last three years and get something out of it? Because I think they're consumed with the optics, and I think there's reason for concern, but I think they butchered it.

If Vogel's getting an interview, just hire Jason Kidd. Now, I could argue for Monty Williams, which I did over Lou. I could argue for that. Because I don't think the gap in coaching was big. But if you're getting Vogel, go kid. No, especially because he has a relationship with LeBron. And I think, you know what, they have no choice. They can act like they're not catering to LeBron.

You better cater to LeBron the next three years. Otherwise, you're going to have a bigger mess on your hand. By the way, I got Dodger tickets offered to me tonight. Very good seats. Should I go to the Dodger game? they play the Nats, or should I sit home and watch Houston Barry Golden State? All day, go to the Dodger game. I tell you, baseball is king of the world.

King of the world, Major League Baseball. Don't watch that terrible NBA game. You're the only guy I know that literally goes to cities by yourself and I'll go, and you're like, I just want to go watch a baseball game in Milwaukee. You know, I'm all the way in. I watch baseball every night. I really do. podcast network.

Rob's got a new podcast on our network. That's right, inside the Parker. And, of course, the odd couple with Chris Bussard every night, seven to ten Eastern on Fox Sports Radio. And teaches at USC as well. Good seeing you, bud. Always. Joy with the news.

No, no, no, no, turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, let's stick with that Lakers search you were just discussing. Frank Vogel, interviews, set to interview for the Lakers job. He spent eight seasons as the head. as a head coach in the NBA, six with Indiana and two with Orlando. He last coached in 2017-2018 season.

He was discussed as a candidate to join Tailu's staff if Lou was the head coach of the Lakers. And also, the LA Times is reporting that J.B. Bickers staff will also be interviewing for the head coaching position of the Lakers. He was 33 and 49 with the Grizzlies. As a head coach, he's going to meet with Jeannie Palinka. Joey Bus, Jesse Bus, Tim Harris, and, of course, Linda and Kurt Rambus. He looks like Jerry Seinfeld. Frank Vogel?

That looks like Jerry Seinfeld? A little bit. So now basically in the rumor mill is Frank Vogel, J.B. Bickerstaff, Lionel Hollins, and I think I'm forgetting somebody else who's out. I'm going to age myself. You know when I think of Lionel Hollins, what I think about? That Portland Trailblazer Championship team. I think he was number nine.

Tough guy. Why is Mark Jackson not being... I can never figure this out. Why is Mark Jackson never? Blackballed. He's been blackballed. Why? I have no idea.

Why he's a nice guy? Why would he be... But what else? He doesn't even get an interview anymore. Right. Like, Mark Jackson should be... Unless he has said he doesn't want to coach anymore, which I don't think is the case.

He should absolutely be considered for this job. Why would he... Why would he not? Mark Jackson doesn't get credit for the development of... the Warriors. Mark Jackson is the one that put that team together. No, Mark Jackson was the kind of defensive orchestrator and then Kerr came in as an

offensive guy and said, listen, our defensive is fine. This Warriors team, the defense never gets talked about. It's actually what got him to like 45 wins. And then Kerr came in, players developed, frankly. And Mark Jackson and LeBron James have a great relationship from what it appears.

It's just strange he's not being considered for that. But, you know, it'll be their fifth coach in eight years. So the Lakers are basically the Phoenix Suns. So Jimmy Garapolo tours ACL in week three of last season. Tom Brady, towards ACL in 2008. And Jimmy Garoppolo and Tom Brady

were seen at the Kentucky Derby this past weekend together. I saw that. So Jimmy Garoppolo said he actually reached out to Tom Brady for advice in his ACL rehab. He said, I've got to keep that confidential what he said, but I did actually talk to him about it for a little bit. He's been through everything, seen everything,

so whenever I can pick his brain, it's a good thing. Well, this is nice that they have a, a relationship now after Brady drove him out of town. Yeah, really, yes, after Brady kicked him to the curb. No, I think, listen, Brady obviously, from the results we've seen, Brady's thought process on this whole thing was, I'm still the best clutch quarterback in the league. And by the way, Brady won this debate. Okay, Brady won this because Belichick was ready to move off,

and then Belichick was hoisting a trophy again this year, okay? So Brady was sensitive, but his sensitivity on the Garoppolo proximity was validated because he has been to the last two Super Bowls. Yeah, Brady was right. He was right. And the Patriots did the right thing by agreeing with Brady that he was right. They won in this situation. And for all to talk about Jimmy G, I mean, he's eight and two in his career as a starter. That means he didn't play in that many games.

No, no, no. We have no idea what Jimmy G is. I think he's really good. But all we do is think that, including the 49ers, not that. It's a Carson Went. Now, I think Carson Wentz has more natural talent. Carson Wentz and Garoppolo, I think are A's. But listen, man, Sam Bradford got hurt early, and he got hurt often.

Yeah, but we've seen a lot more from Carson Wentz than we have from Jimmy D. I know. No, it's a real thing. I think the Niners are my surprise playoff team in the NFL next year. I really, really like what they've done. But it all hinges on that. Yes. finally rumors came out this week

that Clay Thompson was displeased with being the team's third option behind Katie and Steph. Something about being tired of getting everyone's crumbs. He's eligible for a five-year $190 million max contract this summer. He spent all eight seasons of his career in Golden State.

And last summer, he said he wanted to be a warrior for life. Well, he's responded to those rumors. He said, that's not true. Have I ever indicated that I was unhappy? It's kind of fair. Now, obviously, it was a report that he was unhappy with all this. It's not anything that came from, like, his body language or something that he said or did.

Because Clay is very consistent. He just seems to be a mellow, low-maintenance guy that just goes out there and does his job. And he is very undervalue to this franchise. He's always the third guy mentioned, sometimes the fourth guy mentioned, because Draymond Green is such a personality. Here's what I've heard from somebody close to Clay Thompson's camp. And I heard this mid-season. he's not unhappy,

but he is going to demand the max. That's not unhappy. That is having a point of view and a strong conviction, and he is going to be offered that. So people can confuse, pay him the max, or he's moving. That's not unhappy. That's just conviction. And there's a big, I don't think he's unhappy,

but I've been told if they try to cheap him, he will move. Because he does believe he's taken a lot of, he's passed on a lot of shots for the betterment of like the Russell Wilson thing. I've taken one for the team multiple times so that you can keep this past rusher in this corner. Now it's my time to get it. You can't argue with that. You can't.

And I don't think that the Warriors don't value Clay Thompson. Oh, they do. I think that he just, his personality and the way that the team is constructed, that's just kind of how it falls out. But the whole NBA could look differently in a few butts. There's almost no example, and I'm sure a sports fan listening to me could find one, but there's almost no examples in sports. You eventually can get discounts on people. Dak, Russell Wilson, Clay.

But if an athlete's good, they get paid. So teams will get lucky, like you draft a guy in the third round. Like Russell Wilson, you're paying him what you pay a Seattle DJ and he's leading to Super Bowls. But Clay, Russell, Dak, these are all-stars. You got to, and then you're going to have to overpay him because you gave him nothing early, and you just have to live with that. That's why when you get Clay for nothing, you can spend on a boogie. You can spend, you can spend on Reguadala. You have to build it in.

Hey, guys, in three years, we're going to have to overpay Clay Thompson. Yeah, take advantage of the situation that you have now. Yep. Well, you have flexibility. Yep. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by.

The Heard Lye News. I am not a hater of Cleveland and the Browns. frankly, that's mean-spirited, and it makes me terribly sad. But there is a story here where I have to be critical of the Browns. Again, I'm going to be a journalist. There's been no opinions on this. Only a Big J journalism. But the Browns are talking again.

Lord. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Last night, a blown call changed the game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending. Opinions are flying. And nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in.

I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer-beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered.

Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slices Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back.

Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levant, this went to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive?

The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody? coming after me. Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many

incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we 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, Kear 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. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them. going from the WMBA standout Kate Martin and rising hockey star Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't

belong. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs, Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladeke. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. level at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything.

I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHart Women's Sports. Discover alerts you if they find your social security number on one of those risky websites or the dark web.

It's free for card members. Sign up online, discover.com slash free alerts, limitations supply. Joy, okay, Joy, I'm going to ask you to monitor me in this segment because I'm tired of being called a hater. I don't think I'm a hater. Okay. Okay. John Dorsey is a very good personnel guy. He got run out of Kansas City.

But by, you know, my guy, the Hunt family and Andy Reid, I love. And he's got some ego and he talks a lot and stuff. But I talk a lot and that's okay. I'm not saying he's bad. He can clearly assemble talent. but he sat down and said something and like Cleveland needs to stop talking okay let's stop talking

here's what John Dorsey said I will say the fan base in Cleveland for the Cleveland Browns are more passionate than the Green Bay Packer fans that means a lot but there are a lot of similarities between the Green Bay Packers and the Cleveland Browns

there truly is because of those iconic years early on. Okay, my head hurts. There's nothing at all in common with Green Bay and Cleveland. Your iconic years and plays Elway Drive the Fumble are all losses. The iconic plays for the Packers are mostly wins. There is nothing in common with Green Bay and Cleveland. By the way, there's only three national fan bases in the NFL, the Steelers, the Cowboys, and the Packers. Cleveland is not even regionally, regionally a brand. Now, New England, you think, is a national brand. Brady and Belichick retire tomorrow.

We're not putting their games on TV. Denver is a regional brand because they're the only team in the Rocky Mountains. Eight states are all in. The Raiders are big Denver West because they've moved so much. And they have that rebel attitude, that rebel brand. I think the bears have a very big footprint in the Midwest. And in Arizona and Chicago, where everybody in Illinois retires to. But there are three national brands.

The Steelers, the Cowboys are the two biggest, then Green Bay. Green Bay and Cleveland have nothing in common. Cleveland's mascot is an empty helmet. Their stadiums generic. Their famous moments are losses. They have not had an iconic player since Jim Brown in the 60s. They can't get the quarterback right, the most important position, or the coach right, the second most important position.

Okay, now I'd like to check in with you. Joy. Is that hate? I was listening closely for a lie, and you haven't told one yet. Okay. Outside of the Chicago Cubs, to be a national brand, you have to win, Steelers, Packers, Lakers, Celtics, Yankees, these are national brands. Okay, I don't even consider the Patriots a national brand. I consider them a current dynasty, but like the Spurs, when the dynasty ends in San Antonio, we don't talk about the Spurs. when Belichick and Brady are gone,

we're not going to talk about the Patriots. We'll probably talk about the Eagles, who I think are a bigger national brand, actually than the Patriots, if you take the history of the NFL and not this 15-year spot with Brady and Balliachek. You can't lose and be a brand. And you've never been to a Super Bowl,

and you've never won a Super Bowl in the Super Bowl era. So the Cubs are the exception, and there's a lot of reasons why the Cubs are the exception. Rigley Field is the Ivy. It's adorable. Wrigleyville. Harry, Kerry. You were the first super station in America, I believe, on WGN, so all of us watch day games for 25 years of the Cubs. It's also in Chicago.

I'm not trying to be a hater here. No, I'm with you. There's a lot of exaggerations and a lot of noise around the Browns right now without any actual evidence that any of this has worked or will work. I think last year they made a significant jump, which we're all happy about, and congrats. and now you have an incredibly amount more talent and pressure and expectations. Cleveland's not a national team. You know what the national team? You know, the fourth biggest national team is just the NFL. We watch it, we bet it, we love it, we talk about it, we discuss it.

It's talked about on the opinion shows more than any other league. Like, like, I'm saying that New England's not a national brand. New England, like the Spurs with Duncan, for about 12 years. We're on TV constantly. Right. But Duncan leaves, we don't talk about the Spurs. the Patriots are Dunkin Donuts, the franchise. The further west you get once Brady and Belichick leave and retire,

the less relevant they are. Starbucks is global. Duncan Donuts is national, but man, it's huge in like four Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New York. You start moving west, but the time you get to, you know, like Denver, it's back to Starbucks. And none of that was hate, right? You can't say that's hate.

No, all of that is very much true. It's very much a reality. Now, the next thing I'm going to do, I don't have to do, but I do think it's funny. This may be a little over the top. Roll the tape. Joke him no. Every time I look out my window, it's pretty depressing out here, man. It's bad.

It's bad. So you don't, you're not going out. No. No going out in Cleveland, man. It's all factories. Do you regret anything that you said about Cleveland? Not at all. Do you like it?

You think Cleveland's cool? I mean, I never heard anybody say I'm going to Cleveland on vacation. That was unnecessary. I didn't need to do that. I was, the staff thinks that's the funniest thing ever. It is pretty comical. And that is when it passes over into being a little bit. I was childish.

That was being a little bit of a hater. Everything you said before that was just accurate. And I always told you, the best fan, in my opinion, the best fan bases in the country in terms of loyalty impact power, I gave you that list last week. Steelers won, Packers, two, Eagles, Broncos, Cowboys, Chief, Saints, Seahawks, Bears, Bills. So the Bills don't have a Super Bowl either, but the Bills Mafia has a name. And I would put it ahead of... Well, I mean, the Browns have the dog pound. I do think that the Brown's fans are very loyal.

It's just not enough of them to be considered a national fan base. Their owner wasn't even loyal. They left for the glamorous city of Baltimore. Their owner left. I don't think this... I don't think this is hate. I'm just saying this all started because, Dorsey said, you know, us and the Packers, it's just...

Yeah, they're not the same. It's not the same. Yeah, I mean, the iconic Packer moments are all wins. In fact, I can't think of an iconic Packer moment that's a loss. I can't think of an iconic Brown moment that's a win. I mean, when's their last national player? I think it's Jim Brown. I like Brian Seip, though, but that I just went over the head of 90% of my audience. Unless you're 58, you don't know who Brian Seip is.

He was a hell of a good quarterback. I loved him. Guy Summers here. Tommy John, red, white, and blue collections coming. Tommy John.com code herd, H-E-R-D, H-E-R-D, Tommy John. 20% off your first order. Great hour three next. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week, within the I-Hard Radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like.

Welcome back. Marcus Thompson joined us a couple weeks ago. I got so much positive feedback. He is the athletic. It's kind of the Netflix of sports writing. You pay a very reasonable fee, and you get the best, many of the best sports writers in the country. He also wrote the book on Steph Curry called Golden, The Miraculous Rise of Steph Curry. He's got a new book coming out.

You can order it now on Amazon, by the way. I cannot wait for it. Kevin Durant's biography, KD, Kevin Durant's relentless pursuit to be the greatest. And that's coming out. Let me check. That's May 14th. What day is it today? Today is May 10th.

Oh, so it's coming out next week. ping pong ball lottery. I can read that during the lottery. And Marcus Thompson is joining us. He just got out of shoot-around for the Warriors in Houston. Marcus, I slept on it. I said, when KD went down, I said, I think they're going to win game seven in Oracle. They'll lose tonight.

And you know what, Marcus? I slept on it. And I said, now they don't have Durant and Boogie. So they don't have size. They haven't had a bench all year. I kind of woke up this morning and said, you know what? Houston's going to win the next two games and win the series. where are you this morning on it?

I'm definitely leaning more towards the Houston winning just because I don't care who you are, you lose two starters. It's the problem, right? And they're down boogie and they're down Kevin Durant and now they're relying on like a 34-year-old center from Australia who kind of just got to the NBA like a month ago. So it's going to be tough.

I'm not fully ruling out Seth Curry Magic or Clay Thompson doing another game 16. and we know Houston is not immune to collapsing and falling apart in the pressure. But I still feel like this is their series to win. Steph Curry rebounds last game. I've never bought into the narrative that some say that, you know, Steph's not clutch. I think Hardin's unraveled.

I think Westbrook has. I think Steph, though, is going to be the complete target of Houston tonight. They're going to throw multiple bodies at him and get physical. Do you see any kind of, where do you fall on what you think we'll see tonight? I think we're going to see more football Houston Rockets. No question. I think he was already getting doubled and a lot of attention with Kevin Durant. Now, like he's getting the kitchen sink.

James Hart's mom is going to be out there guarding him. Like he's getting everything. All of Houston will be out there on Steph, which means Clay's got a ball. Like Clay's got to, he's got to make shots. And Draymond's got to make shots and Nick Adela's got to do it. if he can do anything, if he can loosen up somehow, then Houston could be in trouble. I could see it, but I can't imagine the defense he's about to get tonight. Like they're going to, this is going to be, this is going to be 2013 Warriors where it's like,

all right, David Lee carried a Warriors because everybody should double team and Steph, but now it's Clay Thompson and Jeremy Green. You know, I thought of you, it is so strange. Oh, how sweet. Yeah, well, I'm a sweet guy. When Kevin Durant got hurt, I thought, oh, I'd love to talk to Marcus Thompson. Because you're writing the book, you have incredible access to him, and you've been really brutally honest about his presence and about the kind of person he is,

which is fascinating. And I thought to myself watching that, I thought, is that the last moment of Kevin Durant's warrior career? Like, walking off the court. Do you believe, Marcus, that that injury could actually help the warrior's cause to keep him because he doesn't want that to be the last moment of his warrior career? I think that injury definitely sort of like shakes up the snow globe, right? It's not 100% the same as it was before the injury. And also, here's this, I'm telling you, they've been especially kumbaya lately in that locker room. Like it's been, you know, like obvious that they're like together,

everybody's positive. Everybody's like on this. page, maybe it's the playoffs, but there's just this vibe that like, uh-oh, he might be, he might be liking it again. Right. He might be liking it. So, and then the crowd is getting MVP for him and everybody's saying he's the best player. There was, there is this sentiment, you know, that things are like feeling a lot better. So does, does he want to go out like this? Does he watching them fight to try to continue the season for him, win him over? Does the other elements fall in the part coming to play? I don't think it's, I think things. I think things, are a little bit different with the injury. I don't know how different, but it's not exactly the same.

I think the snow globe has been shaken. I was just about done with Draymond Green, and then he did the old flip-to-switch, and I love him again. How do you explain him? If somebody had never seen Draymond Green, and I said, paragraph, the guy brings an energy, and when Katie went down, I thought his three, I thought that was the shot of the game. What do you make of Draymond? A little roller coaster to him, but God, he's been good. And Draymond is like Will Smith's character in pursuit of happiness, right? Like, he's the best when things

are all down and it's looking all bad, he comes through with a clutch. Like, this has been his whole career every single time. When you think it's a rap and you think he's done, he makes the play that makes you say, wow, this dude is good. Like, there's just something about him.

He's got a gene. You see that three he hit last game? It was like, this dude hasn't made a three all postseason. Right. And then he gets to play. biggest one of the year. There's just something, you know, people do the cliche, the heart. You can't measure

the heart of a champion, yada, yada. But he really embodies that. And if he doesn't have to, if he doesn't have to score, he got some guys who are running with him, he's going to make you beat him. Like, that's what Draymond does. You've got to beat him. He's not going to, he's not going to lose. You have

to beat him. And that's what we're going to see about Houston. Because they're going to get Draymond Green like they've never seen. And they have to beat. them and that's going to mean they're worthy if they do can they do that i don't know but man he's draymond i shoot around was like he got that look in his eye he's ready they haven't been an underdog since he was like a rookie he's like we're underdogs again like he's living he's living his best life right now he's back in his comfort zone of being an underdog so you're going to get raymond

tonight i don't know if can they handle it we'll see yeah seven point dogs i think that's the biggest they've been dogs in years uh chris paul finally mark You don't cover the Rockets daily, but it is almost shocking to watch Chris Paul shrink. How do I explain that? What is that? You think it's age. It's age. I mean, he's played a lot of basketball.

Like, you know, this stuff catches up with you. You can't get around his man. And you know why it's so, like, kind of sad? Because Chris Paul was easily one of the greatest point guards of all time in his prime, right? Like, the dude was incredible. But now to watch him kind of resort to antics, it's just like, come on, Chris Paul. Like, this is Chris Paul we're talking about, right? This is CP3.

This is the best, one of the best ever. And he's out here, like, trying to, like, do tricks and stuff and flop. And it's just like, it feels so weird. I wasn't there for Willie May. And he was never, like, on Willie May's level. But when I hear people talk about how it was to watch Willie Maid's, I kind of feel that I would not be mad if Chris Ball had a great game tonight and kind of like reminded everybody who he was because that dude was incredible in his prime. And now he just looked like he might be done.

Yeah. I was saying I've always, you know, Westbrook and Hardin will always be connected because of Oklahoma City. And OKC chose, in my opinion, the wrong guy. But about two years ago, I considered him kind of the same player and then Harden two years ago kind of separated. in my mind from Westbrook. But if they went out tonight, Hardin played poorly and they lost, Marcus, there's part of me that thinks we bang, myself included a lot, bang on Westbrook for unraveling in the playoffs. But what's the difference between Westbrook and Harden if Houston loses tonight and Hardin

implodes, which he has done before in the postseason? Probably shooting percentage. That's it. Look, there is a part. Hart's going to get a lot of, he's going to get a lot of double teams, too. Like, they're going to treat him probably like Houston would treat Steph. And that's probably, that's a testament to Harden. Like, you don't have to double Westbrook. You just don't.

Like, there's no point. You can let him kind of unravel on his own. But Harden, you've got to do something. And if they do that and he has a bad night, at least there's that acknowledgement that I don't think you can take away from him. That he was so good. you had to take the ball out of his hands. But with that said, he can't endure another playoff, flame out. He just can't.

Not to the Warriors. This will be the number four. This would be the fourth time that he loses to the Warriors. And this is probably the best chance he'll have to win it. But to go from Game 7 last year to now losing these circumstances, like that would be, that changes the perception of just the same way Damien Lillard changed the, like, conversation about Westbrook, losing this series for Hard

will change the conversation about him. No question. Marcus Thompson, go to Amazon.com, pre-order it. Coming out next week, May 14th, Kevin Durant biography, K.D., Kevin Durant's relentless pursuit to be the greatest.

He's at The Athletic. Subscribe, I do. It's worth it. Marcus Thompson. Great talking to you, man. Have fun tonight. Thank you. I'll be coming to L.A.

to hang out with you. That's all good. Yeah, that's all good for us. That is all good for us. Marcus Thompson, have him on the show again. Got great feedback last time he was on. You know, Goulet, you should subscribe to that athletic thing. And you bring something to the table.

Why don't you read some top? I can't just keep stealing your password? Yeah. Why don't you support good sports writing? This guy over here is making America journalism great again. Support our co-journalists in the world. Joey with the news. No, no, no, no.

News. This is the herd line news. J.B. Bickerstaff is going to interview for the Lakers head coaching position. Is that Bernie's son? It is Bernie's son, yes. He spent two seasons as the Grizzlies head coach and went 48 and 97. He was also the interim head coach in Houston after Kevin McHale was fired right before the Rockets hired Mike Dantone. He's scheduled to meet with Jeannie Bus, Rob Polinka, Joey Bus, Jesse Bus, Tim Harris, and of course Linda and Kurt Rambus. And yes, his father is Bernie Bickerstaff, who's the Lakers

interim coach for five games before Mike Brown after Mike Brown was fired. Yeah, he looks like his dad. Of course he would. He's his son. That's the way it works. These are the Lakers' coaching candidates. And this is their last two seasons as head coaches. J.B. Bicker's staff was 15 and 48 and 33

and 49 before he was fired. Frank Vogel was 29 and 53 and 25 and 57. Before he was fired, Jason Kidd, 42 and 40, 23 and 22, who fired midseason. Lionel Hollins, 10 and 27 in his last season, fired midseason, and Mike Woodson was 37 and 45 before he was fired.

That is the Lakers coaching pool. I don't know enough about J.B. Bicker's staff to have an opinion. But he's interesting. I always liked his dad. That's interesting list. My feeling is that they have completely blown this coaching search. Not been good. They should have got Monty.

Williams, if that was the guy that they wanted, they should have paid whatever and given him whatever it is he wanted to get him. Because what I feel like is if you have someone in mind that's your number one guy, the moment that it goes out to the public that that is your number one guy, he is now your guy. Otherwise, you look like a second option and you're the Lakers. You can't be the second option. And then when you go to your number two guy and he turned you down, you're now on your third option. And everyone knows. This is your third option. Yeah.

Well, that's why, you know, it's always amazing to me how stuff gets out. Like, I, like, Deep Throat, Watergate, it got out because somebody wanted it out, right? Like, the Lakers, there's always too many, remember the Pelican situation? Uh-huh. Why was that stuff all getting out? Like, and now this, all the coaching guys, it's all getting out. Like, New England literally signs people, and you're, like, they traded Garapolo. It literally broke.

rumor of it. Like the Spurs do stuff. You're like, Kauai ended up, did we were, we ever talk about Toronto? We weren't even talking about Toronto. And it like, why does everything leak in this organization? Well, there are, let's see, Jeannie, Rob, Joey, Jesse, Tim, Kurt Limba. There's seven people that are going to interview him. So there's that plus his agent. So I always feel like you get leaks in any business joy. You get leaks when there's unhappiness. Like,

say what you want. This is not a political statement. The Obama White House, didn't have a lot of leaks because there was a sense that there was less chaotic. This White House has had more leaks. So if a company's got leaks, the Spurs don't, the Patriots don't. Leaks tell me there's some backbiting. There's people that have intentions. They want to get their message out. And it's like the Lakers in the last six years, everything gets out before it happens.

Everything. I don't have an explanation for why it's all getting out. All I'm saying is that once it gets out that you have a number one guy, that better be your guy and you better do everything you can to get him. So everyone in the sports world experienced the same reaction, watching KD. Limp off the court. Kind of felt like either this is an Achilles injury and the rest of the NBA for the next 10 years is going to look really different. Yes. Or at least this series is going to look really different. He has a calf strain.

He's going to miss the rest of the series. Game 6 is tonight and game 7 is going to be on Sunday if there is a game 7. And here is Steve Kerr on the injury. Yeah, I think it's good news. You know, calf strain. He's had them before. He's responded well. And obviously we're disappointed.

He won't be able to play, you know, in this series. But, you know, if we're able to win the series and move on, it looks good for his return, you know, in the not too distant future. I know that you have some concerns about this series, but I'm still going with the Warriors in this series. series. And if they get past Houston, which I think will be their biggest hurdle, I feel like they're still going to win the championship with or without Katie. If Houston can't wrap this up, I'm sorry, James Hardin. I'm sorry, Chris Ball.

No, if they can't wrap this up, they deserve whatever criticism they get, because there's no excuses, especially now with Katie being out. You've got to win. Pretty much we all feel like they're going to win tonight, but you've got to win this series. Finally, Kyler Murray signed his rookie deal yesterday, four years, $35 million with a team option for a fifth. He also got $23.6 million in a signing bonus. And they put a little protection in there. There was a big concern with Kyla Murray entering the draft. What if he changes his mind and wants to go play baseball?

Well, they use the same language that was in James Winston's contract. And if he goes to play baseball, it will avoid any future guarantees. Seems fair. Yeah. If you're going to leave the sport, you shouldn't be getting guaranteed money from a sport you're not playing. But I actually, I completely forgot about James Winston playing baseball as well. So do I. Yeah.

I forgot completely about that. that. I didn't even remember that. You said that this morning. I'm like, in fact, I don't remember it now. Yeah. Where did he play? Well, I think he played in college. I'm very sure he played in college, but he, but Kyler was drafted in NFL and MLB. I don't know if

James was drafted or if it was just it's why he is from Alabama, but he went to Florida State. Saban didn't want him to play baseball and he did, so he played in school. Okay, there you go. There you go. Yeah. Well, he got the contracts that sort of out, so Kyler married enough to work. By the way, if he goes to baseball in five years, that means things aren't going.

well and Arizona would want a new quarterback anyway. Yeah, I mean, it's not going to be within this contract anyway, so it's nothing to be concerned about. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Ly By the way, John Dorsey runs to Cleveland Browns and he said, I think he's wrong, that

you know, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers have a lot in common. That's why they're both huge fan bases and stuff, and I'm like, no, they don't have anything in common. And I was saying that Cleveland doesn't have any iconic moments where they win, the fumble, the L.A. Drive. Whereas Bay's iconic moments are all the Ice Bowl, Jerry Kramer, Farve running around with Denver,

all the Green Bay iconic moments to me are all winning. And it was funny because I was thinking about Aaron Rogers. And I'm like, if you'd never seen Aaron Rogers play, what is the iconic moment with Aaron Rogers? And people think I don't like Aaron. And I do, but I do think his personality and his leadership sometimes can be called into question, not his talent. I think this play, if you've never seen, ever seen Aaron Rogers play, talking about iconic moments, this play sums up Aaron Rogers and I'll tell you why after you watch it.

Rogers spins to his left. Comes underneath and the pass is incomplete. Now they say complete. With three seconds left, the Packers are going to have a chance to win it. That is unbelievable. Unbelievable. 36 yards on third and 20. And by inches, Jared Cook keeps his feet in bounds and makes the catch.

I think that would sum up, Aaron, because you'd say to yourself, it doesn't tell you that he won a bunch of Super Bowls. It doesn't talk about sometimes, you know, he's gotten some injuries. You would go, oh my God, that guy's arm is ridiculous. Because when I watch that, the only guy in the league that could do that today is Patrick Mahomes. And at the time, Patrick wasn't in the league. That to me sums up Aaron's career. That play. You're like, holy Lord.

And then God touched the young man with the perfect arm. I don't think anybody could have at the time he made that throw. Nobody in the NFL could have made that throw. That, if everybody gets one play, that's it for Aaron. You know, we should do that as a topic someday. Everybody gets one play. Every great quarterback gets one play. That's a good topic next week.

That's errands. That is fun. Okay, Jason McIntyre, tomorrow's headlines today. It's one of my favorite, favorite segment. 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. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Oh, one of my first.

my favorite segments. Jason McIntyre, Fox Sports Radio, Saturdays, the biglead.com, FS1, one of the last websites surviving in America. It's crazy out there. It was a good run for me. It was. But thank God we have saved you. Well, the gambling stuff, I think, is kind of a bigger deal at this point.

That's just, you know, based on some of the news that came out this week. How about FS1 and Fox Sports Joy? How about it? We've got nothing but gambling here now. Well, I'll tell you right now, if you're not. you want to put some money in your mom's pocket for Mother's Day weekend. You could bet on tonight's game. I'll give you a lock winner. A mortal lock here at a minute. All right. Tomorrow's headlines today. Will the Warriors close out the series against the

Rockets? Well, Colin, Stefan Clay are known as the Splash Brothers, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. So the headline tomorrow will be Crash Brothers. I got bad news for Warriors fans. Everybody's thinking, and this was your initial reaction, I think, yesterday, that the Warriors looked fine without Kevin Durant in the fourth quarter. That was a small. sample size, okay? Everybody was thrown off their game. The Rockets didn't know what to do. I think this is ugly tonight. I'm predicting a big,

big Rockets win. If I was bet in the game, I would load up on the Houston Rockets. If you look at the minutes played for the Warriors starters, Curry, Clay, Igudala, the most they've ever played under Kerr in a playoff series. And now you remove Durant. I think

Kerr ends up resting his guys in the fourth quarter for game seven. I think it's going to be a blowout Rockets annihilate the Warriors. I think it looks ugly. And, you know, Colin, I got, I got a bad feeling about Game 7. So why. I mean, and I'm rooting, you know, I'm openly rooting for the Warriors. I don't mind saying it.

I'm not excited about a Houston, Denver conference. I will say this. The Eastern Conference Finals, I think, could be fascinating. Denver is, it's not fair because Denver's playing their butt off, so is Portland. I will say this. The minutes played thing doesn't get talked about.

It's a real thing. So they have no and no depth. Zero depth. And I got a number here for you. They just pulled it for me. Haven't seen this talked about on social media. In the playoffs with Kevin Durant on the court, Warriors are plus 79. He goes off the court, they're minus 14. They are a different team with Kevin Durant. I know what the Rockets are going to do.

They're going to double Steph Curry as soon as he comes across the court. The same way, last year, the Pelicans double Damian Lillard said anybody else on this team, beat us. We'll give you any shot you want, Egudala, Dremont. They're going to just load up on Steph Curry and say, say good luck, Alfonso McKinney, Kevin Luni, and the Warriors, I don't think they can solve this. All right. Tomorrow's headlines today. Who will take Game 7, Sixers, Raptors?

So you've heard the saying, all quiet on the Western Front. Right. I think the headline will be all quiet on the Eastern front. That's funny. Yes, thank you very much. I don't write these, actually. Kauai Leonard and the Raptors, I believe the Sixers are going to be live underdogs, and I like them to win game seven on the road.

I have to say this about Kauai Leonard. I heard some information this week. Risky to put this out there. But I'm not going to rule out the Lakers as a potential best. Now, let me just quickly tell it to you. Kauai Leonard, if you know, moved over to New Balance sneakers. He was a Nike Jordan guy, and he wasn't getting the love from Nike. Sure.

He wants to sell shoes globally and be a global guy. You're going to sell a lot of sneakers if you're playing for the clippers? Or are you going to sell sneakers playing for the Lakers? And there is something going on in New Balance with Kauai Leonard. There's some talks. Don't be surprised if his next shoes are purple and gold. I'm being dead serious here. Kaui Leonard Lakers is in the mix.

And if they lose game seven, I just don't see him staying in Toronto. I don't see him staying to begin with. You're looking kind of sideways. No, it's new balance, aren't they the one they've done this campaign with him that's actually funny? It is. It's the call fun guy. Yep. And they're like joking about his personality.

or lack thereof. Very clever. And Kauai knows, hey, man, this Olympics, China, I got to sell sneakers. And he hasn't really done that in his career. And if you look, like the Clippers, I mean, I know a lot of Clippers guys watch this show. They don't have a global brand. That's just a fact. The Lakers do playing alongside LeBron.

That's interesting. Keep an eye, Kauai and the Lakers. That's a very, the headline was outstanding. Thank you. And your insight today. Well, I'm not just pushing this stuff. People are talking to me. Wait until we get to the Lakers.

Just hang out, hang out. Tomorrow's headlines today. Any chance to Celtics stick with Kyrie Irving? Well, I do think you're right. The Celtics will send Kyrie a message, and the headline will be, thank you next. He didn't get the pop culture. No, I think I ever.

I know Joy would get it. What is it? Ariana Grande. I ordered one of those this morning at Starbucks. Make in the world. Yeah, no, I mean, listen, there's no major news here. Kyrie and the Celtic, it has to be done, right? Yeah.

There's rumors that Jalen Brown and Tatum wanted to drive him to the airport. They just get him out of town. Like they didn't like him. But there's so much going on with the Celtics. Like, let me ask you this. Kyrie leaves, okay? If you're Danny Aange, do you say, hey, we'll take a chance on Anthony Davis and send out Brown and Taylor?

Listen, it is an interesting dilemma because if I'm the Celtics, I'm like, we're not getting through the East unless we solve Janus. And Al Horford's not solving Janus. And all this talk about, listen, let's trade Gordon Hayward. I mean, listen, I'm a big Gordon Hayward. fan. He's a shell of his former self coming off that injury. What's his value? Nobody's paying 30. That guy's got a $30 million

contract a year. There's not a big market for Gordon Hayward. No, it's fair. And I just don't think it's going to be that easy for this team to improve unless they swing for the fences with Anthony Davis. But if you're Anthony Davis, are you staying if there's no Tatum or Brown? You're staying to play with Rozier and Morris

and it's, it's, listen, they've done a really good job in the rebuild. They've been very competitive, but this happens. They just happen. to be rebuilding in LeBron's prime, and now in Yannis takes the baton from LeBron, and he's the most dominating Eastern player, and there is a sense, and I kind of feel this.

I've always loved what Boston's doing, but there's part of me that thinks they're just going to be the Utah Jazz. They're going to have this smart coach and have a couple of great players, and they're never going to get a title. That's kind of hard. But, hey, Utah was 12 years of great with Malone and Stockton. They did go to what?

Two finals with Malone and Stockton? I will say, I'm a little disappointed in, Brad Stevens. The coach of the bucks, Boodenholzer, made adjustments at the final four games of the series at halftime, and they slaughtered the Celtics in the third quarter. They did. And the Celtics came out and Stevens didn't adjust.

I mean, I know Kyrie had checked out. It was just a weird series for Boston. Uncharacteristic stuff from Brad Stevens. Tomorrow's headlines today. Will the Lakers trade LeBron James? All right. There's no way to, let's just get to the headline. The headline will be

trade LeBron. is voted the worst take ever. This is, I mean, where did this originate? Is this starting a different network than FS1? I know nobody here is smart enough to be pushing this nonsense. Colin, LeBron James prints money for the Lakers. Yeah. Okay?

They're the number one TV draw getting the most games because of LeBron. Tickets, I got season ticket holders of Lakers fans texting me. Hey, my ticket value went up the second LeBron sign with the Lakers. Resale markets massive. All that plummets. Lakers, people lose. lose interest if they trade LeBron. There's no, there's no chance of that happened. He was a 28, 8 and 8 player in a down year, and I suggested in Cleveland, and I got, for about a week I was on

this. I'm like, LeBron should retire for a year. Nobody held it again. I remember that. Yeah. Nobody held it against MJ when he retire. We're like, oh, that guy needs a break. If LeBron would have said, I'm going to let the world play itself out here, I'm exhausted. That today looks like a great decision. And then you can pick your spots. But I will say, the reality is he's their only asset. That's it. And he's going to probably be the second or first best player in the league next year. He's going to be up there.

Third. We'll see. We'll see how much Durant comes back from this injury. But the problem with what's going on with the Lakers right now is Rich Paul didn't have a plan B if Ty Loo didn't get the job. And because Jeannie Bus is taking marching orders from Linda Rambus, did you see what her title is? Special events, like, consultant or something?

Special projects. Special projects. That's like me being the director of integrity for FS1 or something. It's just like a made-up title. Well, no, we have integrity. That was outrageous. Whatever. Linda Rambis, really?

What is she done to have Jeannie Buses' ear? And Kurt Rambus, you know why he got run out of New York, right? A total disaster. Well, and he was not a great head coach. And now he's consulting and overriding LeBron? Well, yeah, it appears to be fairly rudderless. Listen, GD. Bus has been on this couch, Colin. I know you guys are friendly.

If you go to a Dodgers game this week, you need to talk to him and be like, listen. LeBron ran the show kind of in Miami, then in Cleveland. It worked out. Can we just give LeBron some leeway here? Jim Bus, when he was running it, you know, they let Magic run. Magic ran a winning coach out of town. And I like Magic.

And Kobe, by the way, moved Shaq out of town. Let's not pretend like they haven't handed over the keys to people. All right. I want to thank Marcus Thompson, Rob Parker, Chris Brousard, and Jason McIntyre. Good stuff. I really like that Kauai headline. That was very, very funny. You have a nice weekend. I'm undecided. Dodger game, Rockets Warriors. Joy, have a good weekend. Be safe. It's the hurt. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. And nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. In every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source. the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

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