The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Best of The Herd: 03/19/2019

Episode Date: March 19, 2019

Colin thinks the Lakers are doing a lot of damage control with rumors about Doc Rivers' interest in coaching their team leaking at the right time.  He predicts the record for all 32 NFL teams including some NFC powers taking big steps back.  Plus, former NBA all-star and number 1 pick Kenyon Martin comes in studio to defend Russell Westbrook and his actions that led to a suspension.  Presented by Perky Jerky. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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From 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1, find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Herd. This is the Best of the Herd with Colin. Cowher on Fox Sports Radio. Ah, we're going on Tuesday. We're packed. This, live at L.A. is the herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening. We're on IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, on FS1. Joy Taylor is joining me. Packed today. You know, Joy, we've been in this business a long time. And when stuff leaks, there's a reason it leaks is because

people, Joy, want it out. Oh, it's not an accident? No. You find in our business, when people want stuff out, it gets... It tends to get out. And if people don't want stuff out, it's amazing how many things happen, and we're surprised by it because nobody wants it out. So suddenly, thank you, Joyce, suddenly, all sorts of stuff's leaking, leaking for the Lakers. Doc Rivers may be the next Laker coach.

That story was broken by a series of people won Peter Vessie. This is, by the way, no shot on the reporters. Peter's terrific. Hall of Fame writer. That story just now coming out multiple sources. Oh, it makes the Lakers look desirable, doesn't it? The Great Doc Rivers. Another story comes out in the last 24 hours.

Kobe Bryant bashes the young guys and says, of course you trade Coos Malonzo and Brandon Ingram for Anthony Davis. It's one of the best players ever. One of the best players in the world. Why did these come out? Because somebody wants them out. Okay, I live in Los Angeles. The last two weeks, this has become an anti-Laker town, anti-Lebron.

I've never seen this team get this kind of press. It's been a disaster. Words like, you know, Titanic, disaster, hopeless, over as the clippers in the same building are going to make the playoffs. So the Lakers have a narrative problem right now. They've got a narrative problem. So they send that word out about Doc Rivers, and I don't think Doc Rivers is going to coach the Lakers, but it makes it look like the Lakers jobs now very desirable. I mean, Doc Rivers won titles.

He's up for coach of the year. He's an all-time NBA guy. Oh, he'd leave Steve Ballmer and Jerry West. He'd leave a playoff team for the Lakers. Do I think he's going to leave the Clippers for the Lakers? No, I don't. But they put a face and a name. on the coaching search.

It's now exciting. People talking about Doc. Similarly, Kobe Bryant still has a lot of juice in Los Angeles. One of his best friends is Rob Polinka. That was his agent forever. Polinka, there's no way Kobe would have said that to hurt his friend Rob Polinka.

But the Laker front office, Magic and Polinka, have gotten clobbered in the press, nationally, regionally, locally, for all those trade rumors. Not saying it's all their fault, but it made the papers and the sense is it's crushed the season. So when Kobe comes out and he has juice and he says, hey, come on, of course you trade those guys. It's like, yeah, yeah, well, Kobe's right.

Yeah, like, I mean, obviously, you can blame the trade rumors, but this is called spinning. This is why companies put out PR, and they drop bad news on Friday and give you good news on Monday so the media can talk about it. Listen, the last six years, the Lakers have the worst record in the NBA. I'm not joking. Worse than the Knicks,

worse than the Sons, worse than Orlando, worse than Sacramento, worse than the Hawks. They do. I'm not joking. They were swept this year by the Knicks.

Last six years, Steve Balmer across town with the Clippers is a billionaire. Jeannie feels like a really rich millionaire. The Clippers have traded their four best players in the last three years.

They're still making the playoffs. Lakers have LeBron can't make the playoffs. Roster advantage Clippers. Front office, Jerry West, against a former agent in magic. Advantage Clippers. Listen, in their own city, it's been a bad year.

So when I see stories come out, and congratulations to all the reporters included in this, this is not an indictment on them. Stories leak when people want them out. And this is a classic, Doc is interested in the Lakers. Do I think Doc would leave the Clippers for the Lakers? No, I think he has a very strong relationship with the clipper owner, Steve Ballmer. I think Doc and Jerry West are very respectful of each other. I don't think Doc and LeBron would work, to be honest.

Doc has a strong point of view. Doc's not going to count out anybody. Doc's one of those guys that comes in your building, and he brings his own guy, sort of like LeBron. I don't think it would be a perfect fit. LeBron likes to have a little power over his coach. LeBron is not going to control a team and a bench or that flight when Doc's on it. I don't think it would work.

I think it's a tasty rumor. And I do think Dox in his mid-50s and 55-year-old men, Notre Dame football, Yankee baseball, Laker basketball, those are powerful, romanticized brands. But I think what you have with the Lakers is a massive power struggle where Jeannie Bus, likes the young guys, owns the team, likes Luke Walton, and wants growth and stability.

And Magic and Rob Polinko, want to win. So they go to Kobe, they can put stuff out, and it's a power struggle. And when you have power struggles, my entire life, as a reporter, Joy's a reporter, you seize on those, and people give you messages they want out. This last couple of months, I've had more texts, more calls, more people connected to LeBron and the Lakers and magic. They want their stuff sold to the public. So I just think it's more than a little coincidental that docked to the Lakers and Kobe blasting the young guys.

And I shouldn't say he's blasting the young guys wildly over the top supporting publicly Anthony Davis move is not a coincidence. So here's a story that broke this morning. Holy moly. Mike Trout of the Angels is going to sign a deal $430 million in like 12 years and stuff. Oh, that's a lot of money. I never begrudge people for making the most they can. Bryce Harper to the Phillies, Mani Machado to the Padres,

Mike Trout to the Angels. Great players, unruly, really mediocre to below average rosters. In the NFL, if you overpay a guy, Kirk Cousins, you can get rid of him in a year or two. In baseball, it's 12 years of quicksand. Congratulations to the Padres, the Phillies, and the Angels.

You will not be in the playoffs anytime soon. This is why I always support NBA stars who move. The public crushes Kevin Durant for joining a winner. But Kevin Durant wants to be rich, but he wants to be relevant. And Steph Curry recruited him because Steph Curry likes being rich, but he likes being relevant. 162 games, 12 years, losing another series in Texas. Congrats on being rich in her. irrelevant. This is why I always support NBA stars. What we want our athletes to be is care as much

about winning as we do as fans, right? Like that means something. We get mad when our teams lose. We want our players to be mad too. NBA guys take less money, short windows because they want to win and they want to be known as a winner and it's not just about the money. This is why I support Kevin Durant and Steph Curry and Chris Paul and LeBron James and guys that move. This is not an anti-Mike Trout take.

But I don't think Robinson Kanoe when he was a kid grew up saying, God, I want to be a Seattle Mariner. He was the second baseman for the New York Yankees. They have 27 World Series titles. The Mariners, are the third or fourth most popular team in their own city. When he went and got the money, a couple years into it,

he realized, I want to go back to the city I was really into. And he goes to New York, not the Yankees, but the Mets, but the point being, every time people bang on these NBA players, you should be putting your arms around them. They want to go play for a winner. They want to play in the playoffs. They want to be in the finals.

They want to be relevant. It's not just about paying NBA guys. Major League guys, they're not dopes. Mike Trout knows that contract will limit what the Angels can do, this point forward in free agency. Albert Pooholz knew it. Josh Hamilton knew it. Joey Votto knew it.

Baseball guys, high as bitter, I'm in. Congrats. Congrats. But I look at this Mike Trout thing. If I'm the commissioner of baseball, it's not a win for us. I would love baseball to have four and five stars converge on one or two teams, take a little less and win a little more. I really think that would be great for the sport.

Instead of Machado to a bad team, Harper to the increasingly awful Phillies, Trout re-signing to the second most popular team in Los Angeles. Is it good? I will argue forever. the warriors may at times bore you, the warriors frustrate you, Katie joining Golden State seems a bit much, but they're not irrelevant. Warriors are a lot of things. They're not irrelevant. Baseball stars increasingly are two things, rich and irrelevant.

Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. By the way, Mike Trout just signed a 400-suff. million dollar contract seven years is baseball's best player one playoff hit no stolen bases i mean again a lot of rich irrelevant people in america that own waste management companies but nba guys want to make some money and they want to be relevant they want to win games they care baseball guys give me the money highest bidder i'm out nothing against mike he's a nice kid he could be in a mall in los angeles though and nobody would know because when you're not on the playoffs in baseball nobody knows who you are and i also that's why i always support these NBA guys. Well, except, you know, Westbrook. So, by the way, last night, Oklahoma City lost at home

to Miami. Oklahoma City was a third seed not long ago. They are now shrinking. They're down to a six seed, one game out of eighth place. And everybody in the West is hot, except Oklahoma City. Houston's hot. Oh, Houston's on fire. Utah's on fire. The Clippers are on fire. Houston's won nine to ten, Denver four straight, San Antonio nine straight, Jazz 7 of 10, Clippers one eight of 10, Oklahoma City. Longest current losing streak in the NBA, four wins last 13 games. It coincides with the time that Westbrook decided to shoot a lot. Westbrook got a technical the other night, banged into Clay Thompson, inexplicably, got a technical. He knew it would suspend him for a game, and that game was last night, and they lost. This is on Westbrook,

not able to play because he can't control himself. Self-awareness is an underrated talent. He doesn't have a ton of it. Westbrook, I always suspected, can play great, play nice for 60 games. Post-trading deadline, down the stretch, intensity in the NBA increases, wins matter, he unravels, and he's officially unraveling. And so are the thunder. who now, as of this morning, would open up against the Houston Rockets on the road,

and they're absolutely healthy and on fire. Games now start to matter. Being available, not suspended. Face of the franchise. Controlling your temper. Sort of matters. As I've said, don't hate Westbrook. Hate his game.

I don't always love Steph Curry. Love his game. You are your game. And right now, Oklahoma City is the only really, really good NBA team with really good players that is ice cold. Who are you going to blame? You're going to pay the star all the money. Got to take a couple of hits. That's what I've said.

His DNA unravels. Add a little pressure to it. But last night, you're losing it home to Miami. Come on. Not good enough. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day. seven days a week within the IHeart radio app.

Search heard to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. So I had dinner last night with an executive. Big NFL hot shot was in town. And, you know, when big NFL hot shots come to Los Angeles, they got to look you up for steak and beer. They reach out to me for steak and beer. And we were talking about the draft. And, you know, as this person I was talking to said and his team made the playoffs.

And about a month ago, I had dinner with somebody before the free agency. and his team was a playoff team. And he said, listen, the draft is great. It's crucial. It's cheap labor. You can add depth, he said, but for the really good football teams, what's happening in the NFL now is free agency. We've had four superstars in the NFL changed teams.

I'm not talking some linebacker from, you know, Ole Miss. We're talking about like CJ Mosley, Lavian Bell, Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham, Juan Alexander. These are world-class football players already in the NFL, already can play, already pro bowlers, So the NFL is a little bit now like the NBA where before I see a team play, I know who can play. And so I said, the draft is great and the draft will add depth and maybe a starter or two.

But to the good teams, I mean, how many guys are going to come out of college football and just start for the Patriots offense? And not many, maybe one, max. And so I thought, I'll do a prediction based on what you see now in the NFL, which is team, the coaches are all set, the coordinators are all set, and the stars are all set. 90% of the guys that are going to impact games this year, they're here. The draft is the 10% stuff that adds low-cost labor, a handful of home-run stars, but not a lot of guys that change games. I mean, really, who's going to win and lose games next year out of this draft?

Maybe Kyler Murray if he goes to Arizona. Maybe. The second best quarterback, DeWain Haskins, isn't even scheduled to start if he goes to the New York Giants. So here we go. Little music, here are my predictions in the NFL, because I think 90% of the teams and the games, this is what you got. I would start in the NFC East.

I think Philadelphia, Malique Jackson next to Fletcher Cox in the Interior, best defensive line in football, Deshawn Jackson to steal for what they're paying him, a home run guy with Carson Wentz. I think Dallas lost Cole Beasley and David Irving. They bring in Jason Whitten. But I think Philadelphia is, by far and away, the best team in that division.

They'll win at 12 and 4. Dallas will be a wild card team at 10 and 6. I think they'll be a lot like last year. Confident, good, capable of beating everybody they play, but with a ceiling that's lower than Philadelphia's, Washington Giants round out the division. NFC West, I think San Francisco is the one team that doubles their wins. Why?

They added D Ford, an elite pass rusher. Kwan Alexander, one of the top athletic linebackers in football. Tevin Coleman. They now have a one-two punch at running back in Jason Verrett corner. They went out, spent some money, but upgraded the team. Rams, I think, take a step back. Roger Stafford, Lamarcus Joyner, offensive lines just getting older. Todd Gurley arthritis story. I think Seattle and Arizona are fine, though not special. NFC North, I think the Bears will win it. But I do think a lot of what Chicago did last year was Matt Nagy's smoke and mirrors,

hiding a little bit of what Mitch Trubisky can do. I have the Bears winning the NFC's North. They added Ha-ha Clinton Dix, who's a very good safety. Vic Fangio, they lost him, their defensive coordinator. You can move the graphic at any time. Bears winning the division. I think Green Bay is second. I will give Green Bay a lot of credit. A lot of people are bailing on the Packers. Excellent free agent moves. They went and got three defensive starters. I have questions, though, about Matt LaFleur, the coach. So I have them as a borderline playoff team in Green Bay. Bears win the division. I think Minnesota with Kirk Cousins, they are what we think they are. Great receivers, good coach,

lower ceiling in big games against better quarterbacks with Kirk Cousins. Matt Patricia is sort of a mess in Detroit right now. I don't trust them. NFC South. New Orleans, I think they take a step back. I think they win their division. Max Unger, retired. Mark Ingram gone. Those were power players to support Drew Brees. I think they've had back-to-back years with wildly emotional playoff losses. This division, I think, is sort of a weaker division this year. Atlanta, Carolina are fine. I don't know Cam's health. I just don't know what I get from Cam. And I think there's people in the building that are kind of worn out of Cam. I don't think it's the greatest vibe in the building. They want a little more from Cam. He comes in the least

healthy he's ever been. Tampa Bay Bruce Ariens rounds out the bottom. Let's go to the AFC. New England's got 12 draft picks. The word out of New England is Gronk is actually going to stay. And by the way, college tight ends can't block anymore because college football is all spread out. So the fact that Gronk is now an elite blocking tight end is not lost on people around football who I've talked to. They got the best blocking tight end in football who can actually catch. I think the Jets had the most impactful acquisitions of any team in the National Football League. you can't bring in

Lavian Bell C.J. Mosley. Those are star players for the Jets. Jameson Crowder, an all-pro left guard, and Adam Gase. The Jets fight for a playoff spot. Buffalo's close 7 and 9 dolphins. I think the dolphins

are in a total rebuild. 4 and 12? I think they're in a rebuild. I think they're in a complete utter rebuild for the number one pick. Somebody's going to go 4 and 12 in this league. Why not Miami? But again, but again, I think they know rookie coach bringing in Fitzpatrick

moving off Tanna Hill. I think they're tired of 8 and 8. I think Miami's like, all right, we're in a complete and utter rebuild with Ryan Fitzpatrick. It's going to be a long year for me with the Steelers and the offense. But you'll be you'll have the number one of the number two pick next year. On the AFC West, Kansas City's not going to be as dominant offensively.

Kareem Hunt's out of town. Tyreek Hill will be. I still think it's a great coach, a great quarterback. There is so much I like about them. Kansas City's interesting. They've had the guts in recent years to move off people like Alex Smith. They moved off D. Ford, Justin Houston, Eric Berry. Those are hard moves to make in a small market like Kansas City, but they've got the guts to do it because they got Andy Reed and they got Patrick Mahomes. They have Travis Kelsey. They have three stars. And they're moving off a lot of

the expensive guys. I have a lot of respect for that. Chargers, again, I think the Chargers are good. Here's what I worry about with the Chargers. You keep playing in this small stadium and psychologically, how long can you keep playing in a soccer stadium? It's novel for a year or two, but I think there is some fatigue them feeling like we're the road team for 16 games a year. Denver and the Raiders round out. I think Flacco will be fine.

They'll fight for 500. I don't buy a lot of the Raiders stuff. I think a lot of it's just been overpaying for people. The most controversial pick I'll make today. I have Pittsburgh still winning the division. Let's go to the AFC North. Cleveland will be better, but Joey and I talked about this yesterday.

They finished in third last year. They had a losing record. They got blown out four times. They added OBJ. I like him. And Kareem Hunt by week eight. I like them. This is still a losing culture with a rookie head coach

that I'm not sure is not going to be totally in golf. I think Cleveland's better and fights for a playoff spot. I'll take Pittsburgh's owner, their quarterback, Kevin Colbert, their general manager, and they still have the best offensive line in that division. I'll take Pittsburgh to win it. Lamar Jackson takes a step back. Cincinnati's a mess.

And finally, the A.S. FC South, I think it'll look a lot like last year. I think Nick Foles is going to figure out that once he loses Doug Peterson and his great owner and his great GM in Philadelphia, Nick Foles reverts back to Nick Foles. They round out the rear. I think the Colts have they have a ton of picks, 75 million left in cap space. The Colts need a number two receiver. They got Devin Funches. They need to get an edge rusher. They will in the draft. I hope they draft another corner, but they're a very good team, getting better. Never forget, they won nine of their last 11. Marlon Mac emerged as a real running back. So here's how my NFL

playoff predictions would look today. And again, we've got a draft. Somebody may make a splashy move and pick up two or three great college players, but I think your division winners in the NFC are Philly, San Francisco, Chicago, and the Saints, Cowboys, Rams, and the Wild Card. I think in the AFC, it's Patriots, Chief, Steelers, Colts, Chargers, Texans, wildcard. I think two teams in the NFL will double their wins, San Francisco and the Jets. And I think a couple of teams, obviously I've picked a couple of teams to take a step back. Like Baltimore, I think, takes a step back. And who else that I have taken a step back?

Jags, well, they'll be the Jacks. So we go. Rams, I have the Rams taking a little step back. Wild card, they'll go on the road for the playoffs. What's up, everybody? John Middlecough, three-and-out podcast. Brought to you by Colin Cowards Podcast Network. You like Collins Show.

You'll like mine. I talk football, football, and then more football. How much pressure is on Freddie Kitchens now that Odo Beckham's in town? Analytics say that the Raiders won the Mac trade? Are you serious? And Big Ben's reputation. Could it get any worse? Talk about it all on the three-and-out podcast.

So there's a story, Ezekiel Elliott's been with the Dallas Cowboys for three years. They're not paying him anything. One more year than an option year. And there's discussions in Dallas what you should do with Zeke long-term because you're going to have to pay him a fortune. Let me tell you one of the secrets the smart teams in the NFL do, and I watched it in free agency. If I was a Dallas Cowboys today,

I would sign Ezekiel Elliott now before I have to. One of the secrets, the smart teams, and they do it in the NFL, sign your own stars early, take it on the chin for a year, but by year two, three, and four for a running back, you're stealing money. Zeke is great. and this whole thing about we pay so much attention

to quarterbacks and wide receivers. A, B, and Derek Carr, Baker Mayfield and OBJ, but quarterback and star running back equals wins. It just doesn't get the headlines. Drew Breeze was just patting stats in New Orleans. They got Alvin Camera. They're good enough to win the Super Bowl.

Patrick Mahomes, with Andy Reid, is one of the most talented young quarterback since Brett Farve. When Kareem Hunt got hurt, that's with Tyree Kill. with any reed, with Travis Kelsey, with all those guys. When Kareem Hunt got hurt, his completion percentage dropped 5%. Passer rating down 15 points.

Passing yards went down 40 a game, and they were 4 and 3 without him. And that's Patrick Mahomes with great players around him. Dak without Zeke two years ago, five touchdown, seven picks. Passer rating dropped to the mid-70s. Andrew Luck last year, last 11 games went 9 and 2. Why? Remember he got off to a bad start. Then the Colts got red hot. Why? The emergence of Marlon Mack. At the end of the year, Colts got a running game. Marlon Mack emerged as a running back for them and Andrew Luck's numbers exploded. Quarterback wide receiver will always get the headlines. Perimeter players, OBJ, Antonio Branden are like track stars. Big 60, 70 yard touchdowns. Those don't produce wins. Objay's last 16 games were the Giants. They were four. and 12. His biggest games, his 10 biggest games, there were three and seven. Running back, quarterback equals wins. Mahomes, never the same last year when Mahomes left. Dax's not the same

without Zeke. Jared Goff was not nearly as dynamic in the last seven weeks when Todd Gurley had his arthritis that just got reported. Andrew Luck popped when Marlon Mack emerged. And by the way, the Steelers had Antonio Brown for 15 weeks. What they didn't have is Labian Bell, they missed the playoffs. All right. So if I was Dallas and Zeke, I'd sign him early. I'd sign him early. 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. A couple years ago, I took my, I used to work for Disney, and I took my kids to, like, Disney World. And, you know, when you're an employee, I bought the VIP pass and stuff, and you got, like, behind the scenes look at Disney, right? And the good news is we could go on the roller coasters over and over and over. Didn't have to wait in lines. It was awesome. The bad news is it doesn't feel quite as magical when you see Goofy with his head off smoking

during lunch break. It's just a place with roller coasters. The magic wears off. And Paul Pierce yesterday talked about LeBron James. And much like Jeff Van Gundy said, well, here it is. If the Lakers get the number one pick, what are they going to do? What should they do? If the Lakers got the-

They're going to take Zion, but what should they do? The Lakers got the number one pick. Here we go. I would trade LeBron James. At least he kept it real out here. I'm just, sometimes he doesn't say that. Are you talking about three years left of LeBron or 15 years left of Zion? Let's go.

And here's what's interesting about it. Paul Pierce and Jeff Van Gundy have suggested move on. Walt Frasher called him a bad leader. Unnamed NBA executives last week said they wouldn't trade for him. Local L.A. media is saying he's disengaged. For the first time in 15 years, the magic's gone, and it's not returning. Once you see Goofy and Snow White out of their outfits smoking during lunch break, Disneyland's still cool, but it's not as magical.

And that's the reality of where we are with LeBron James. Wow. Titles. Mortal. Don't get me wrong. They may add a player. They're not going to add two. They may add one.

It'll be fun. But we've seen goofy smoking. We've seen Snow White. Knocking down a butt light at lunch. They're just characters now. And they're mortal. And they're not magical. And LeBron for 15 years, there was an armor.

there was an impenetrability. There was a bulletproof vest. It was magical. Like, we used to say this all the time. You could put LeBron on any team and they get to the finals. He is on any team and they can't make the playoffs. In fact, they may end up as the second worst team in the national basketball association, third worst, fourth. So the magic's gone, the body armor, the superhero.

It's all been exposed this year. It doesn't mean goofy and Snow White and LeBron. It still works. LeBron's a 28-8-8 guy. But you can't deny this. It's not the same. Like this year exposed stuff. It's not the same.

And the qualities of LeBron, like when Michael Jordan moved to the Wizards, he was still really good. But he wasn't bulletproof. Like he lost the armor. He couldn't finish in first. or second in his division. Forget the conference.

He couldn't make the playoffs. And Kobe in the end with all those players, he scored 60. He was still great. But they were awful. And that's where we're at with LeBron. They're going to reboot this and they're going to add a player. It's going to be Anthony Davis. And they're going to be more interesting.

But you know, you see a Disney character having a smoke break. It's hard to convince your 12-year-olds. Really, it's a goofy. likes nicotine. It doesn't work. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. So I'm bringing in Kenyon Martin. By the way, Kmart

listen to this. I read this. I saw this this morning. You're the last American-born college senior to be drafted number one because everybody leaves now. Yeah, early. I have to. And you would leave now. I would have to. Why? And I probably wouldn't be ready as

a freshman. I wasn't ready as a freshman. Yeah. Or a sophomore. Like I couldn't, I played hard. I was athletic and gifted, but I had to work on my offensive game. So that's why I stayed around college. And it benefited me. Like, I went from averaging three points as a freshman to 19 as a senior. What about Zion?

Would you leave or stay? I'm out of there. Like, all the hype and all the things that's surrounding basketball nowadays, it doesn't get more better than that. He's going to go no more, no matter who, because it's, it's, at this day and age, it's about putting bodies in the seats. And people want to see him play. So you wouldn't stick around if you were Zion?

No, not at all. There's no need to right now. They're going to pick holes in this game. The longer you stay in college, no matter how gifted you are right now, it tells you to leave because they're going to just pick holes in your game. It's everything that you can't do. Like, just say if he doesn't develop into a good shooter, well, I'm saying within the next three years.

The NBA is going to say, all right, we're done with you. But if you're in college, they just, oh, well, he can't shoot. He hasn't got better, so his draft stock will fall. What do you think about his game? I like him. He's aggressive. He imposes his will on people. I need to see more because right now you just have this

25 game analysis that you have to go on right now. I just need to see more, but I like his energy. I like how he approaches the game. I like his attitude, how he speaks about his teammates, how he wants to be there with them, and

And the fact, he could have shut it down. He could have easily shut it down and listen to critics, listen to people, but he's a competitor. And he proves that every time he steps on the floor from what I've seen. By the way, you made a comparison during the break. People forget there were Skinny Shack and then L.A. Shack. When Shaq broke into the league, you were there. Yeah, he was dominant.

Shack would get the rebound. And push it. I'm saying, them Orlando clips, like you said, you cover the magic. So I'm saying, them clips of him in Orlando getting the ball off. the rim pushing. Taking up the floor. Yeah, making passes and making plays on the break. Looks a little like Zion. Zion is just 6-6. So that might be a knock. I'm saying, that might

somebody might have a knock on that. He's 6, 6, 6, 6, 7, however tall he is. But he plays big. Yeah, he plays beyond his size. Still has body, I'm saying, baby fat on it, man. To him get to the league, you really start eating and paying attention to your diet. And, like, so he's going to thin out. He might grow some more. He's only 18. By the way. 18 years old. So he might grow or you never know.

Kenyon, Charles Barkley's only about six, four and a half. Yeah, and he dominated the league, man. He imposed his will at a time where basketball was more physical. So we'll see, man, but he's gifted as they come. Not too many people can jump off each foot and attack the rim in that manner, you know. He moves without the ball too. Yeah, which gives him an advantage. But now, he has a motor man that you can't teach that.

You can't coach that. So you can help him become a better shooter. That's something he can work. at getting up a thousand shots a day. Right. I'm saying things like that. You know, he can get better at that, but you can't teach people how to play hard or that mode or that will to want to go out and compete. You can't teach that.

Well, you've told me this before. Not everybody loves a game. Not at all. Like LeBron comes into the league. You're like, oh, this kid loves the game. He loves the game of basketball. Zion loves the game of basketball. So his upside is tremendous. So I'm excited for him, man. Hopefully that it translates, and the skies

the limit for him with a lot of work. All right. Big rumor in the NBA. Right at the morning so it has to be true. Doc Rivers rumored potentially headed to the Lakers. Would you do it if you were Doc? Would you do it if he was the Lakers? Would you do it if you were the Lakers?

Doc is good coach, good motivator, great person. But what has Doc done with the talent that he's had besides the one Celtics team? And you got potentially four Hall of Famers, great defensive mind and tips,

You thought he underachieved a little? With the talent that he's had? I'm just saying, if I'm in the Lakers, I just don't see the need for Doc Rivers. I'm saying? So you'd go Tailu, you'd go kid. Just the other way. I'm not saying those guys, I got great relationship with those guys, but I'm going to explore other options. So maybe a new face.

I'm saying, you never know. I just. Do you think Doc, you know his personality? Do you think Doc and LeBron work? Because Doc's not going to get pushed around. Doc's got an ego. You know, dog gonna do it his way. So with that aspect work, you know.

I don't know. So it's a lot to go into that, but I just don't, I don't sit. I think it's just moving furniture, to be honest with you. Oh, that's a good call. I'm saying? I think you're just moving the chair here, moving the table, and calling the new look, you know what I'm saying?

Like, hey, I got a new apartment. Like, no, you just move your furniture around. I'm saying, you add to the chandelier. Like, no, that's just, but Doc's a great motivated, good people person. I get all that. Yeah. So maybe they're looking at that aspect.

Maybe he can develop the young. young guys, but you're trying to ship the young guys. So what is it? What are you doing here? What's your plan? What is the plan? If that is the choice, like, what is the plan there? I like that, moving furniture. Paul Pierce, he's a very good player. He's out of the

league now. He's a broadcaster. I was talking, some think it's nonsense. Others may buy into it, but it's increasingly we're hearing stuff like this. Here's Paul Pierce. If the Lakers get the number one pick, what are they going to do? What should they do?

If the Lakers got the number one pick. The Lakers got the number one pick. There we go. I would trade LeBron James. At least he kept it real out here. I'm just. Oh my God. Are you talking about three years left of LeBron or 15 years left of Zion?

Let's go. What he'd make of that? Paul out his mind, man. Like Paul, you just give people some time to think man. and you overthink, and this is one of them situations of overthinking. Like, why would,

if you need a LeBron James with a Zion Williamson, like, LeBron can make Zion better. Oh, no question. His best attribute is what? Passing. LeBron James, like, he wants to get off the ball. Zions, an athlete, likes to run,

get out on the wing. Hey, here you go, young fella, go do your thing. I get in the half court, but I'm going to help you get better in transition and all that. No, it's absurd, man. think that you would trade LeBron James if you had the number one pick unless you're getting

some who else you're going to let you get Katie Anthony all is back for that pick the multiple teams involved and Paul is out of his mind well I will say this LeBron and Zion I actually think I didn't think this was a great year for LeBron as a leader I thought he was a little distracted this year a lot going on a lot going on a lot of project and then the injury happened it's a bad year it's a bad yeah so it's a lot going on so it's okay so but actually if you told me there's an NBA star that will play with Zion for the first three years in his career

I'd probably pick LeBron Yeah definitely why wouldn't you Smart guy knows the league Here's how to grow up I've been as... Came in with the same height Like dude He would be a great

Like Kauai Leonard doesn't talk Kyrie's a little flaky Kevin Durant's a little odd Steph or LeBron would be perfect for him Yeah so why not I just yeah Or going to a situation where you got a Greg Popperfish as your coach.

Like, but it's not going to happen. That's not going to happen. So, but no, I just think it'll be the right fit if, if the Lakers were somehow to get the number one pick. But they're not going to get the number one pick. So all right. Here we go. So now it's time to get uncomfortable. Everybody I bring on in the NBA, I'm the bad guy because I'm critical that I've said this, Westbrook's a talent, but he's unhinged.

Okay. And when you get into the playoffs, composure, self-awareness, you know, control your emotions. These are close games, the best coaches, the best players. So Westbrook has a technical the other night. It loses it against Clay Thompson, who's not an easy guy to like, gets suspended because it's a 16 technical. They lose last night at home. They're one game out of the eight spot.

That was a big lot. Now they play Toronto back-to-back games. would you at least acknowledge that composure is a part of basketball and that Westbrook at times is unhinged? I'm glad you started with one key words you used in your first statement. What? Playoffs, right? Okay.

I would bet money the same situation he could be at that technical threshold, whatever it is for the playoffs, and he would react different. You think he knew he was doing that? Yeah. To make a point. Yeah, to make a point. Like he didn't get the tech because he hit Clay He got the tech because of what he said to the ref

Call the bleeping fire And he said it again That's what got him to tech You know what I'm saying? So you think he got more control than I do Yeah I do People don't get like he's smarter than what people give him credit for No no I'm not saying it's not intelligent

It's not a smart thing Yeah so that situation I think he knew what it was And then the fact that he was kicking himself After the game trust me Like man I'm saying now I got to deal with this and then they turn around and lose to the Miami Heat

it's now he's even more kicking himself I'm saying like he's mad at himself trust me like I didn't be in them situation where I ain't get suspended but like I got kicked out of the game we probably need it again whatever the case may be and I'm mad at myself trust me he's mad at himself for the whole situation

or putting himself in that situation then you got to answer the questions and then your team mess around and lose and now you said you won't game out of eighth So now it's a lot of implications with that suspension other than you just getting suspended. Trust him, he regrets it. But you would rather have him that way than not. I like the not part.

No, you can't like the not part. I don't like the unhinged part. You have to, he wouldn't be the same Russell Rusbrook. Well, James Hardin is more laid back. James is not the same kind of, it's a different approach. Right. I'm saying? I wouldn't have been the same player I was without that edge.

like I wouldn't have been in the league if I didn't have had that edge. My talent wasn't enough just to get me there. His talent is not just enough to get him, but you had had his something other, like it's intangibles that come with that talent. Did you ever play with a guy that was on the edge and sometimes the edge heard him? You know, I covered Rashid Wallace.

No, more than me. On the edge more on the team, no, two of us wouldn't work on the same team. Rashid Walls. Like two, two of me on the edge? No, that wouldn't work. It's not enough room for one Canyon, one Russ, one Rashid, one Dennis Rodman, one Draymond Green on the team. They got two now, like, with buggy.

But there's only one room, it's only room for one of us on each team, I think. And so when you were going through these things and getting teas, were you aware of it, or was it I've lost a little control? Sometimes I'm aware of it, and you're making a statement. All right. Like, I didn't did stuff to, like, like, I felt. I got a filed on one end, right? Like they didn't call it.

Yeah. So the person who filed me got the ball on the other end, so I'll make it blatant what a foul is. And look at the ref to you that that's a file. That's not. But it might be a hard file where we're resorting the tech. I'm saying? Like, that's a fight.

I'm making a statement. That's not a great statement. It's a great, for me, at the time, it's an immaccony statement. Because you understand what I'm doing, what I'm saying to you, at that time. I'm saying?

Like, so you blew that call on another end. It might have been a touch file. Okay, I get it. But it was a file. I'd have said, Kenyon, if I was a coach, I'd have said fewer statements. Give me 15 points.

And guess what I would have told you? What? Sit yo down and leave me. Yeah. That's what you had told me. What? Straight up. Man, leave me alone, man.

You're very tough to coach. Straight up. No, no, I'm easy to get along with, but if I'm out to listen, if I'm making a statement and I'm doing my job each and every night, listen, it wasn't a night

that I didn't show up I didn't do my job. Now you always played hard. I did my job each and every time I stepped on the floor. I knew the game plan I was going to bring it

each and every night so like, easy to coach. I only had a problem of one coach. Who? Who cares? Not saying his name?

He doesn't marry me saying his name ever again. All right. So one coach ever in life. Everybody else. I've been playing basketball

since I've been nine years old. One coach. I'm 41. One coach had that I had a problem. with. So what does that tell you? Most liked your statements. And the way I play the game of basketball, it ain't about my statement. It's the what I

can do for you. And that 94-50 is what Kenya can do for you. I get it. You got to like me. That's fine. I might not like you. I would have sat you down a few times. I made my statement. And then you would have had another problem to deal with. And that's management, because listen, and that's management, though. It's about wins

and losses. I can't make a statement as a code. And you lose it? Kenyon, I'm going to make a statement after your statement. Come sit next to me. And you lose it? Whatever. Yeah, Jack. Sometimes you got to make a statement.

Yeah, okay. Me too. 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,

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