The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Best of The Herd for Aug 05, 2020

Episode Date: August 5, 2020

Damian Lillard is a much better player than Russell WestbrookThe Clippers do not care about the regular seasonThe Bucs are absolutely a Super Bowl contenderCarmelo Anthony took too long to "get it"Colin plays TB or Not TBGuest: Nick Wright, FS1's First Things First Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games.

This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor? It signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to. Listen and learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying.

Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversation. with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

Thanks for listening to the best of Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox SportsRodio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeart Radio app by searching Herd. This is the best of the herd with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio. Ah, here we go. Live in Los Angeles on a Wednesday. This is The Herd.

Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, we are on Fox Sports Radio. And we are on FS1. That is great to have you in today. Nick Wright in 30 minutes. Joy Taylor is joining me. More great basketball last night. You know, I was into it because it was Westbrook against Damien Lillard, and that's a little bit of right.

They don't like each other much. I was thinking of you watching the game, watching Westbrook. I'm like, it must be such a new experience for Colin because he's liking how Westbrook is playing now. Yes, he's played very well. But you know what's interesting in this political season that campaign donations are important, right? It's hard to win an election if you don't have a lot of money.

Right. You need money. You need marketing. You need promotion as a politician. But it also helps a lot as an athlete. Marketing promotion. So Westbrook is a Michael Jordan client. Westbrook has been controversial.

Westbrook played with a superstar. Westbrook's now in a national team with a national player, James Hardin. And there's little old Damien Lillard up in the remote Pacific Northwest. He never has controversy. You know, nobody really talks about him. He's never played with a superstar. He's just rock steady. But you do get, despite all the marketing and promotion for Westbrook,

Damien Lillard once again proved last night he's the better player than Westbrook. I mean, forget the stat sheet where Russell Westbrook took two, three pointers, missed both, took 12 free throws, made five, 15 points, and a minus 10 plus minus. Whereas Dame shot 43% on threes, seven free throws made six, 21 points, and a plus three. We have a lot of examples of these guys facing each other. In fact, nine times in the last two years. Portland won three of four this year against Houston and the Blazers beat Oklahoma City in Westbrook last year. In the nine games, Westbrook is two and seven.

Dame is seven and two. Westbrook shoots 40%. Dame shoots 43%. Westbrook shoots 30% on threes. Dame shoots 42 and a half percent. Westbrook is a minus 40. Dame's a plus 49. It ain't close.

Nine meetings. Dame's a better shooter, less erratic, more dependable, a better teammate. It is not close. But Westbrook, whoa! You get a lot of whoa! You also get a lot of ugh. Ask yourself this.

On the open market, who would swallow Westbrook's contract? A handful of awful teams. Who would on an open market make an offer for Dame Lillard? About half the league. One guy is the worst three-point shooter in the bubble. The other now without Steph Curry is the best shooter in the bubble. There's only two players in the NBA. Steph Curry and Damian Lillard.

There's two in the NBA. Their shooting ranges. oh look at they entered the arena. From that point forward, they can shoot from everywhere. That is it. But one guy went to UCLA, played with KD, plays with James Hardin, was part of a national team, and one guy went to Weber State, and he's up in Portland, and he makes no news. Even the biggest shot of his life, he just looked at the camera and went, that's Dame, a significantly better player. But the politician that's got more marketing and more promotion and more donations, and the bigger budget.

I mean, listen, Oklahoma City, if you still think Westbrook's better. Westbrook left OKC. The team got better. How? I mean, every player that's left Westbrook, who, by the way, has played very well until last night in the bubble,

every player that's left him's improved. Guys have become all-stars. So think about this, Westbrook's never want to play a playoff series in his life when he was the best player. Dame won two last year. last year, too, as the best player. In the last couple of years, only four guys in the NBA have made first team,

all pro, and second team. I'll read them to you. Harden Janus K.D. And Damien Lillardt. But you go to Weber State, you're not controversial, you never play with a star, you're up in the Rose City in the corner of the country. We just, I mean, that's, you're competing against a $500 million candidate. it that's got nothing but corporate backing and national backing and national marketing.

Once again, they played last night. Who's better? I don't think it's an argument anymore. Last nine games, it is not close. All right. So, oh, what a tremendously big moment last night in the NBA. This is the shot heard round Orlando. Here it is the always entertaining Phoenix,

and Devin Booker. They bring the double at Booker. Book on the spin. Fires for the win. Got it. Ladies and gentlemen, if you don't know, now you do. Shocker, the team that hasn't cared about the regular season all year, the Clippers, doesn't care about the regular season, even in the bubble.

This is big for Phoenix. They're 3-0 in the bubble. They're fighting for a playoff spot. It's a fun story. Phoenix are really good NBA towns. One of those NBA towns, they love their basketball. They've had bad basketball for several years. But it's a fun story for Phoenix.

It means nothing for the Clippers. I mean, the Clippers this year have told us time and again. They got beat by 26 by Memphis this year in the regular season. Clippers did. They got beat by Sacramento twice. They got beat by Phoenix now twice. They lost to Chicago and Atlanta in awful Minnesota. they don't care.

And the reason they don't care is because the man who owns the team is a get-it guy, Steve Balmer. Steve Balmer was at Microsoft in Seattle. And his entire time there, who did they battle? Apple and Steve Jobs. They write books about those relationships. Gates, Balmer, Paul Allen against Steve Jobs. and when you're battling somebody that big, you've got to have a better product.

You need wins, big wins, not subtle wins and nuance. So Balmer's been in this battle when he bought the Clippers. And he was now in a city with his apple, the Lakers. And the Lakers, their gear is all over Los Angeles. It is hard to find a Clipper hat. And think about this. How do you catch up? One way.

Get your own building and win championships. It's not about being better than the Lakers. Before this year, the Lakers six straight losing seasons. The Clippers have been very good for six years and very exciting. Hard to find a clipper hat in town. The one time in New York where the Mets were better than the Yankees, two things happened. The Yankees were awful in the 80s, and the Mets went out and got stupid. stars and won a title, a World Series title.

And for a brief time, it was a Met City. The Mets didn't get the city because they had like guys that hustle. No, they had Keith Hernandez. They had Stars. They had Doc Gooden, Daryl Strawberry. They stole the tabloids on the back page, and they won a World Series. You got to do both. So Steve Balmer, who is now going to build a new arena, went out and got Paul

George and Kauai Leonard. To get him, he had to clear some space. And then he got a star coach, you know, Doc Rivers star coach. Like he's got all of it working here. I got, I got Doc Rivers when I get here. Okay, he's a star coach. Now I got to get a couple of star players. This is what you do.

He does not care about the regular season. He doesn't care. They've had the better regular season before this year than the Lakers for six straight years. You still can't find a clipper hat in town. The way the Mets did it was Stars and Thailand. That is it. You're not beating Apple up at Microsoft because you've got a better mouse.

That's not going to do it. You've got to come out and beat them on a massive product. And so the Clippers do not care about the regular season, nor should they. The only way to shift this paradigm in Los Angeles like the Mets briefly did, stars, younger stars, and championships. Getting to the Western Conference finals is not. not enough. It's simply not enough. So the clippers are going to be more rested. They're already deeper. They've got the star coach. And by the way, we're in a bubble. There's no home court

advantage anyway. So it doesn't even matter. So when I watch Phoenix win last night, I'm very happy for Phoenix. It's a terrific NBA town. They're 3 and 0. They're playing hard. And it's great to see this bubble where these, you know, borderline teams like Phoenix, they are, this is March madness, man. They are, it is, you can sense the intensity, the sudden death feel to it. But the clippers have been telling us all year. Not really into it. So they're now into it in a bubble.

By the way, the good news, hot wings Williams, lap dance Lou, did play last night. He did, he did. We can call him either. It's either I like lap dance Lou. Joy likes hot wings Williams. Shannon said lemon pepper. Blue, I think is... We've got the third one.

It's pretty good. Want more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart Radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

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

A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement

to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment. And the next, we'll talk about life,

mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast.

I'm Sam Jay. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know.

I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for. sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years

for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Keer Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own

experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing and we're still chasing it

and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? 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, Keer Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way.

Open your free, our heart radio app. Search, learn the hard way, and listen now. So, LeShon McCoy is very, very good, and very good player. And the Bucs picked him up, played with Kansas City last year, good situational running back, after they're running back depth,

which is kind of a weakness for Tampa last year. And Lashon McCoy has been very talkative in regards to Tom Brady. He admits the weather in Tom Brady, that's why he came. And yesterday he was talking about the early practices so far with the goat, Tom Brady. To actually see him work, I mean, he's like a general, you know, leading the troops, teaching him what he wants in the routes, things like that. He looked real good. I mean, and as he's throwing the ball,

I heard a couple of guys whispered like, dang, how many years you think he'll play? And that's how good he looked, seriously. To really construct an opinion on Tom Brady in Tampa, you have to go back to last year because outside of that town, nobody watches them. Nobody watches Tampa. They don't show up on national TV games. Even in their own division, Atlanta and Cam Newton for years and Breeze and the Saints are much bigger TV draws.

I mean, it's a college football town. Mostly. Not anymore. But let's go back to last year where Tampa was fairly predictable. Bruce Ariens head coach, Todd Bowles, defensive coordinator, were in their first year. It's a very young roster. Predictably, they were bad in the first half of the season, two and six in the first eight. Young roster, new system, new coaches. Let's start, though, November 10th on a Sunday against Arizona. From that point forward, the second half of the season, the part Belichick always says really is the season, no experimenting now.

New coach, new defensive coordinator, new team. Now guys are eight games in with an exhibition season, and they were five and three, won all three road games, and defensively top two or three team in the league with key analytic stats. Their only losses were to the division champion Saints, the division champion Texans, and an overtime loss to Atlanta. Shocker, James Winston, through a pick six and OT.

This was an above-average team down the stretch that only needed an adult at quarterback. Now they've added Tom, maybe the best blocking tight end in Gronk, LaShawn McCoy at Running Back, upgraded right tackle, which was the offense's weakness. And oh, by the way, Bruce Ariens and Todd Bowles in their second year. And this should be noted because schedules matter. They get a massive schedule break. Every schedule, this is a team that's going to score a lot of points.

Pro football focus has them with the fifth best roster in the sport. They've got six games, I would call. call go-either-way games. Denver, Chargers, Packers, Rams, Chiefs, Vikings. These are really good teams. Five are at home. And Green Bay, they get 10 days to prepare. That is a huge scheduling break. You're not winning that game at Arrowhead. It'll be hard enough to win it in Tampa. You're not winning it in Arrowhead. Oh, it's in Tampa. They've got to go to Denver. Then their last five go-either-way games are all at home. Chargers, Packers, Rams, Chiefs and Vikings.

I mean, that November 29th game in Kansas City, blowing sideways, you're not winning that game. Down in Tampa, you got a shot. So I said it yesterday. Baltimore and Tampa Bay would not shock me one bit if they ended up playing in Tampa the site of this year Super Bowl. 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 apps. for Nick Wright today. Once again, last nine times Damian Lillard has faced Westbrook. It's been humiliating for Westbrook. And once again, the better player surfaced with a W last night.

Brought to you by Mercedes Ben's the best or nothing. I want to hear this. So, all right, Mr. Westbrook and Houston. I mean, nine times they've met in the last two years. It's seven wins for Dane. I'm already annoyed. I mean, it's incredible. I mean, what more do you need?

Okay. Listen, I don't know why you insist on doing this. My guess is you're just obfuscating to try to avoid giving Carmelo Anthony his due after you've crushed Syracuse legend, greatest U.S. Olympic basketball player of all time for the better part of 10 years. But let's do this. Let's talk Russ and Hardin. Because one's the ninth best player in the world.

I'm sorry, Russ and Hardin, Russ and Lillard. One's the ninth best basketball player in the world. Once the 11th best basketball player in the world. It's very, very close. But I think this year is a great example as to why it's totally legitimate to hold Russ in equal, if not higher esteem than Dame.

Dame dealt with injuries this year around his team did. They didn't have their full roster. They didn't have a ton of talent. How'd that work out for him? Because they were eight games under 500 headed into the bubble. When Russ had KD leave, what did he do?

He put a team on his back, averaged a triple double, the first of three straight years and carried them to the playoffs. Now, if you're making the argument, if you have a stacked roster who would better contribute to winning, you can make that argument for Dame. But to me, I'm going to use two of my media mentors, one from younger in life and one from right now. Who's the better broadcaster? Bob Costas or Colin Cowher? Well, I guess it depends on what you're trying to do. If you're hosting the Olympics, with respect to you, Colin, I'll take Bob. Yeah.

If you, it's like, hey, I got three hours in a microphone and a new network, I'll take you. Yeah. So if there you go, exactly. So if you're going to have a stacked roster, maybe Dame's efficiency wins out. But if you need someone to take on the workload himself and make sure you're never a 30-win team as the Blazers were pacing to be, well, then maybe Russ is the answer. So the Clippers lost last night. And I could literally, as I'm watching it, I'm thinking, oh, Nick literally, literally, went and got a second Bud Light. He is having the time of his life. And to this, I say, I say,

the Clippers lost to Minnesota, Chicago, Atlanta, Phoenix, Sacramento twice. They lost to Memphis by 26. They didn't care about the regular season in L.A. They sure is how they don't care about it in a bubble. Like, this is who they are, right? Like, we know they don't care about that game against Phoenix. Man, man, I can't imagine. What a wonderful life your amazing children must have had whenever they bring home a test. If they get an A, they were trying, and if they failed, well, they must not, they didn't care about it. Like, either way, they win. It's just great. If you operate under the premise of whenever a team loses, they didn't care, well, then every team's awesome. And my question would be, when are you going to start caring? Like, if you didn't care,

maybe don't play Kauai 37 minutes, which for him is essentially two games worth of playing. If you don't care, maybe you don't rush Lou Williams back with his fresh off his trip to the strip club and the wings. But he did play. You're a team built to stop perimeter scoring and a perimeter score dropped 35 on your head primarily guarded by your future goat, Kauai Leonard and Paul George. Like at some point, the warning signs have to matter. And I guess they're not going to matter for America until the clippers are down three, two, and the second. round of the playoffs and it's like, oh, wait, they didn't care in the regular season. So they didn't build chemistry. They didn't flush out their rotation fully. They didn't ever get an answer for a

real interior rim protector. And so why they've been treated, like look even at the end of the game. It's like, how did they get back in the game? Paul George air balls a three that Kauai's lucky enough to get the rebound for. Like, they're a good, not great team that's been anointed for reasons I will never understand and people aren't going to believe it until they're going home sometime probably before the conference finals. Well, we disagree there. So I'm watching last night, they put the standings up. They put the standings up in the West and, you know, the East doesn't matter because somebody from the West will win it. So they put the standing up in the West and Memphis just lost one of their better players a couple days ago, Jaron Jackson. So Memphis is in big trouble.

Yeah, yeah, he's out. So he's their second best player to John Morant. So they got troubles. And Portland now, Nurkich is back. Mello's playing. very well. I acknowledge it took him 36 years old, but he finally decided to get on a treadmill. And the point being is that let's be honest about this. When's the last time you looked, Portland's going to be the eight, LA, the one. You have to acknowledge this is probably the most dangerous eight seed. Now with no Avery Bradley for the Lakers orondo, that's a frightening first round for the Lakers, right? Well, listen, of the possible eight seeds, I think Portland could be the most dangerous, well, the most problematic, if you will. New Orleans also,

by the way, New Orleans might steal this thing. Their last five games, you should pull it up. I think it's twice against Sacramento. They get Washington. I think they get Orlando and San Antonio. I think that's their last five. They could go five and oh now that Zion's playing. But here is the problem for Portland in a first round series against the Lakers. If you were to line up all 30 teams in the NBA and say front of the line, line, who is the roster most equipped to slow down LeBron? Front of the line probably be the Clippers, because they have Kauai and Paul George, Marcus Morris, they build their team around that. The very last team in line would not be the

Knicks, would not be the Hawks. It would be Portland now that Trevor Aries is not in the bubble. They do not have a single person who can guard LeBron. Their starting lineup, I guess it would be Carmelo Anthony, who I know you think so high. of now. They coming off the bench, Gary Trent Jr. has been a revelation three point shooting wise. He can't guard LeBron. They don't have a single person on their roster to guard LeBron to even slow him down. And so while, yeah, the Lakers would I'm sure prefer to face the sons or the Kings and have an easy five game sweep. LeBron's clearly easing himself into the bubble. And if you want him to be up and running by round two, give him Portland.

in round one, he'll average 35 a game in that series because they got no answer for him whatsoever. So that's the long way of saying they don't scare me. Could they, would it be a gentleman sweep instead of a sweep? Sure. But they just, the lack of Areza kills them as far as even having a single person to throw at LeBron James. So years ago, when LeBron went from Miami to Cleveland again, he moved off of Andrew Wiggins. They had a chance to draft Andrew Wiggins. But the word was that LeBron didn't like Wiggins because he didn't have any dog in him. He wasn't going to be that. And for the record, LeBron's been right.

I believe that dog is developed, you know, somewhere between seven years old and 12. And if you don't have it, you don't develop it. I mean, if you take Magic in LeBron's DNA, it's been leadership first day in the league. If you take the late Kobe and MJ's relentlessness, obsessiveness, it starts in childhood on, first day in the league. Anthony Davis is talented. Nick, he disappears in fourth quarters. He shoots like 40% this year in the fourth.

He doesn't have any dog in him, and that's what wins in the postseason. Aren't you a little concerned? Four times against the Clippers. He evaporated in the fourth. And despite that, listen, the Lakers were tied with six minutes left, first game of the year. Second game of the year against the Clippers. It comes down to a ridiculous overturned call in LeBron's potentially game-tying shot, and they won the next two.

I would be concerned if Anthony Davis had to be your best player, but he doesn't. And he is a way overqualified Robin. And so what you're going to have is Anthony Davis playing the biggest games of his life. Anthony Davis have some of, I'm sure, the biggest failures and successes he's ever had in the NBA in these playoffs. And I think he'll come out on the other side a champion and a changed player. But when you have America, I guess, and I wouldn't think you would be part of it, has forgotten the single most reliable thing in sports is LeBron James in the playoffs over the last decade. What he gives you night in, night out. The last time we saw him in the playoffs, he carried an atrocious Cavs team to the finals, culminating in the 51 point performance in game one before he broke his hand out of frustration. Like, you don't need Anthony Davis to take over in the fourth.

Because LeBron will do that. And I think Anthony Davis maybe has a little more dog than you're giving him credit for. But I think whatever it is, he will learn and gain so much from this deep championship playoff run that in the years to come, he'll be able to be that fourth quarter guy that right now the Lakers are relying on LeBron to be. Yeah, I was going to ask you a question about the Buccaneers, but you have disagreed with me on everything. There's no chance.

You know, I think it's funny. I was saying this about Tampa Bay. Last year was very predictable. Young roster, new coach, new coordinator. I love their defensive coordinator and their head coach. They were bad early. Two and six. At the second after the season, the young roster, oh, they were five and three and really only lost.

We're beaten by the Saints and the Texans. Those were very good teams with quarterbacks with some real star power. I look at this Tampa team and I think Todd Bull's second year, Aryan second year, Maybe the best blocking tight end. Tom. I look at Tampa today and I think, you know, I start looking around the NFC. Everybody's got a hold. Can Carson Wednesday healthy?

Russell Wilson's basically bailing out bad line play. Aaron Rogers. Do we know what Matt LaFleur can do? Can you at least acknowledge? Tampa's going to be a playoff team with Brady. They're going to be a playoff team. Well, here's all go a step further and not quite as far. Tampa has, listen, last six weeks of the year, they had a top five defense.

I like erringes and left which. I agree with you entirely on that. Gronk will be good for them even if he's not vintage gronk. They might have, certainly it's in the argument, the best pair of receivers in football, and they improved the offensive line. So the question just is, Colin, are the Buccaneers a quarterback away from being a Super Bowl contender? They thought so. And so they thought, they think they brought that quarterback.

in. I think Tom Brady's 43 years old and we have seen significant deterioration each of the last three years, from MVP to good but not great to downright bad last year. If Tom Brady is what you and many others think he will be this year, yeah, the Bucks can win 11, 12 games and can be a Super Bowl contender. But if they're not, it will be because of Brady. Because I agree with every point you made. They have built, they have flushed out this roster. the defense surged at the end of the year. They're not going to be kneecapped by interceptions like they were last season. So, yeah, let's just see what, you know, Tampa Bay can do.

And I'm excited to see it. Maybe I'll be wrong. I got nothing against Brady. I think he's got some curious choices in his social group and friends. But aside from that, I got no problem with Brady. I just, I want to see him do it. And we'll be able to see because he's on an excellent roster. I agree with you there.

Look at him. He looks 31 years old. He just, he is, his body shape, he's just very, very good. Listen, you know, you and I just, we don't agree on a lot. We don't, our lifestyles are different. Our, our, what we, at night, what we drink is different. Are, are, you know, I mean, some guys, I go to better. Did you finish that, did you drink that bottle of tequila I left you?

I had a small set. I left to an unopened bottle. Oh, that's a lie. That's a lie. By the way, I'm glad you're incorporating into the show, all-time chiefs great and champion, Lechon McCoy. I assume he'll go into the Hall of Fame as a chief, since that's who we won a Super Bowl with.

Just had to fit that in. Get out of here. Nick Wright, first, things first. Good seeing you. See you. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. A lot of you think I don't like Carmelo Anthony. Carmelo Anthony frustrated me.

But last night, he hit big shots for Portland. And at 36 years old at the end of the road, he's finally in shape and he has found a perfect spot to play in. You know, I always tell my wife, you got the good me. There was me in my 20s. That was my first wife. And I was so obsessed with my career and I was so tunnel vision. And now I'm older.

You know, I'm beaten down as a broadcaster. I'm like, you get the good me. I'm more fun. I like vacations. I like to hang out. I, you know, I cannot think about work all the time. Damian Lillard got the good Carmelo Anthony. He doesn't have options.

He's not the player he once was. He knows he's not Dame. And this Carmelo I like. It's a little late, but I like it. And Damian Lillard talked about his performance. He hit the big shot of the game last night. Here's Dame. He's a Hall of Famer.

You know, I think it's more disappointing that people are surprised by it. You know what I mean? He's a Hall of Famer, like I said, he's a great teammate. And that's what we expect from him. You know, we put him in those positions because we expect him to make those shots. We believe he's going to make those shots. And we brought him here because we knew he would make a difference for our team. and he's been doing that.

First of all, he is a Hall of Famer. That's not even disputable. It's called the Basketball Hall of Fame. And even if it wasn't, he would make it. But Syracuse National Champion, 10-time All-Star, top 20 all-time score, three gold medals in the Olympics, and he was very good in the Olympics.

Of course, he's a Hall of Famer. And again, Dame's getting the good mellow. We all mature, we all grow. He's not getting the 23-year-old mellow. here's the interesting thing. When I think about NBA stars, and Mello's certainly a star, they always fall in two categories.

Now, I'm not talking NBA players. Those fall in multiple categories, but stars. Dame's a star. LeBron's a star. A.D.'s a star. Kauai. Chris Paul. Carmelo Anthony.

They always fall into two categories. Winning stars and stat stars. And the difference is not talent. The difference is not talent. The winning star, are Kobe and LeBron and Steph Curry and Dwayne Wade and

Magic Johnson and Bird the stat stars are Tracy McGradie and Dominique Wilkins and Carmelo Anthony I wrote a few down this morning T-Mack, George Gervin who I loved as a kid. It is not talent. Carmelo is more talented

than Steph Curry, bigger, stronger, more talented. Dominique Wilkins to me is more gifted physically than even D. Wade. It is not about that. It is about self-awareness and the winning stars have it at a very early age. Do I give them credit or their parents? Hell if I know. But this league is about kids coming in. This is not college football when you come in at 24. You're coming at 19, 20, 21 years old. Do you have at 19, 20, 21 years old, latest 22, do you understand how valuable coaching is? Do you understand how hard you

have to work to be able to be good on the offensive and defensive end. Do you understand some nights take fewer shots, even though you can get the points to get teammates involved? Do you have the self-awareness to understand how valuable everybody is beyond yourself? Because to get to the NBA at 21, you were the best high school player, the best AAU player, the best college player. I mean, you are literally like a prodigy. I mean, think about this. In America, every year, there's about eight basketball players. How many times do you watch people play basketball, young people? Eight of them a year from America make the NBA.

I mean, like play. You're a prodigy. You're like a music prodigy. Like the kid that goes to Harvard at 15 years old or MIT at 17, right? 15, 17. So, and that's my knock. This is not a knock on Carmelo Dominique, but there were moments in time that Carmelho kept showing me.

He just didn't have the self-awareness. I'll give you an example. When LeBron went from Cleveland to Miami, Miami back to Cleveland, he didn't demand trades because he manipulated the situation so he would join good players. When Carmelo left Denver, instead of just being a little more patient, he demanded a trade and the Knicks had to give up all sorts of talent and all sorts of pick, all sorts of players, guaranteeing they weren't going to be a championship team. Self-awareness.

LeBron had it, Mello didn't. How about the fact that LeBron, I mean, 13 years ago, watch the game and went, I'm going to start working on my three-point shot. Carmelo begrudgingly, never wanted to take an extra step and a half back. He didn't like it. He wouldn't do it.

He wouldn't embrace it like LeBron did. How about the fact that when he went to Oklahoma City? Off the bench? Yeah, I'm a bench player. Well, actually on that team, he were a bench player. It's not that Mello's lacked talent. I mean, he's a 10-time All-Star. Three Golds, Syracuse.

But there have been multiple instances where Jeremy Lynn, remember when the Knicks for about a month caught fire, they were the talk of basketball with Jeremy Lynn. Mello came back instead of embracing Jeremy Lynn and the winning streak. He's like, no, I'm not going to play that offense. Dude, this is about winning games. Time and time again, Mello lacked the self-awareness. And this is the gap to me between the Kobe's, the Wades and the George Gervens and their nice guys and the Niques and the Mneeks and the Meeks and the Meeks and the Males. mellows. Now, they may have the self-awareness at 28 and at 34 and now in their 50s. But when they were 22 and 23 and 21 and 20 and they were building that reputation,

they turn people off. Remember, your prime in this league is 22 to about 28, maybe 29, 30. Now, LeBron's like Brady exceptional. But that's the difference. He's a Hall of Famer. Dame is now getting the good mellow. more mature mellow, that not as talented mellow. We don't need you to score 20 mellow. You got to occasionally play some defense mel. And this is a good mellow. I mean, he can fill it up.

He's talented. There's no, I mean, they got no wing scores. They need mellow bad. They got a great back court in Nurkage. So they have a humongous hole in their team. I mean, I talked to somebody up in Portland that covers them when they got mellow and they're like, no, this is going to work.

Like, we just need a guy in the wing, six, seven guy that can shoot jumpers. So it's that, that cell phone work. Sports is incredible. cruel. In almost every business in the world, you become a millionaire. Your prime is 42 to 55. You can make all those mistakes when you're 20 years old. Pro sports is different. You have to be smart, self-aware, focused. You don't get to have a social life like an average 22-year-old. Oh, you're carrying the franchise. Figure all the difficult stuff out. For guys, like me, I didn't have to worry about that. That was 40.

Pro athletes have to figure it out at 19, 20, 20 years old, like Luca Donchitz. 20 years old, dude, you are the face of the Dallas Mavericks. Mark Cuban's number one business. You're the face. The hell, I wasn't ready for that at 20. Were you? Luca is. And that was Mello's

thing. He's now, it just took longer for him to kind of get the big picture. Now he's perfect. But there was a lot of years in there where forcing a trade, not embracing Jeremy Lynn, kind of laughing at those who suggested you come off the bench, not really working on that 15 years ago,

working on that three-point shot. That was clearly the future of the league. And that's why he'll make the Hall of Fame, but he won't be in that other category of stars, to me, the winning stars. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart radio app.

Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win. A win is a win. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment. And the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast.

It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs?

Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it.

Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because, of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now.

Thank you finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your 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, Tript Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person

while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing,

growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app, Search learn the hard way and listen now. Today's best for last is, you know, the old saying to be or not to be. Wasn't that Shakespeare or something? This is TB or not TB. What will Tom Brady accomplish in his first year or not accomplish?

Joy, here we go. Tom Brady throws for 30 plus touchdown passes to TB or not to be. I think he'll start potentially slow, but it'll be TB. Okay. So he has averaged 31 in his career. James threw 33 last year and that doesn't count the 60 through to the other team. So this is not just a good receiving group.

This has been, this is now the top tight end and receiving group, an upgrade on the offensive line and a better running back group. So, and LaShawn McCoy can catch. He had 30 catches last year. He's just got a lot of available targets. He's got a lot of people, a lot of mouse to feed, and nobody sprinkles it around quite. By the way, the targets are also.

big. Mike Evans is 6-6. Gronk is 6-6. He's got big O.J. Howard, big targets in the red zone. And there's not a lot of feeling that there's like ego involved at this point. Tom Brady throws for 4,000 plus yards, TB or

not TB? Okay. He's thrown TB. He's thrown for 4,000 yards in 8 of 9 years. I don't even know what he threw for last year, but James threw for 5,100 yards last year. So Brady had 4,000. thousand last year. Think about this. He had no

tight end, really. They had no deep threat. Did Edelman play every gamer? He had more drops than he'd ever had. So he threw last year and they and they had some offensive line issues and no fullback, so no running game. So he was often throwing third and long and Brady got to 4,000 yards last year.

This is the easiest one. He'll throw over over 4,000 yards. Bucks will have a top three offense. TB or not TV? This is an easy TB. First of all, they were number three last year, which is hard to believe, right? You're like, with all those interceptions, they've added Gromk, they've added Brady, they've upgraded the right tackle, they've added LaShawn McCoy. Again, this is a, to construct an opinion on Tampa, you have to go back to last

year. They were a really good team at the end of the year. They were just a turnover-prone mess offensively, but their defense was better. They haven't had good special teams in forever, so that, that to me is their biggest hang-up in New England. They always had great special teams. Tampa special teams historically are a mess. That's the fault with the team. It's not that, but they will have a top three offense. Bucks will make the playoffs, TV or not TV. Well, that's a TV.

Yeah, okay, so again, seven teams now make the playoffs. Seven, that's an extra team. So you can look at about four or five teams. We know Arizona is going to be a little over at skis in that division. We know that Caroline is kind of rebuilding. We know Washington is rebuilding. Joe Judge has never coached the game in the NFL. Of the 16 teams, I can take about four to five.

You talk yourself out of very quickly. And I do believe they have better personnel significantly on offense than Atlanta. So, yeah, this is a playoff team. The Bucks will win the NFC South TB or not TB. That's a not TB. First of all, the Bucks are, the Saints are favored. The Saints have won it three years in a row. And the Saints may be the best team in the NFC.

When I say that, the Saints have a better O-line. than the bucks and it's been together longer and frankly I think they have a better consistent pass rush than Tampa does. So if you give me a better O-line, D-line and Sean Payton and

they also added Emmanuel Sanders so they got plenty of firepower. They will not throw the ball down the field as well as Tampa but they'll be incredibly efficient and Tampa's defensive front is really good. The Bucks will reach the Super Bowl. T.B.

or not TB? I'm going to say TB. Wild card teams can make it. Okay, so NFC, ask yourself this. The NFC's up for grabs. Who is significantly better? Green Bay? Not really.

San Francisco. Absolutely. There's no question. But they also play in the toughest division in football, and it's very possible. Losers of Super Bowls often have a hangover a little. What if San Francisco wins 10 or 11? Tampa wins 12.

New Orleans 13. and the game's in Tampa. That's interesting. Tom Brady makes the Pro Bowl. TB or not TV? No, that's not. There's just too many good quarterbacks. I mean, just think.

Russell Wilson's going to make it. I mean, you can write that down. Aaron Rogers, Jimmy Garoppolo, Jared Goff, Carson and Wants. Dax's going to put up good numbers. Who else? Drew Breeze, Matt Ryan, Matt Stafford. There's just too much.

I mean, Kirk Cousins, by the way, will put up good numbers. There's just too many good quarterbacks. He won't get that. You're going all in with Tampa this year, huh? I don't see. You know what it is? I think the two best teams in the NFL are arguably in the AFC.

Ravens and Chiefs. Yes. And then I think San Francisco depends. Don't love their secondary. Let's see if Brandon Ayyuk, the wide receiver from Arizona State, can play. They lost Emmanuel Sanders. Dante Pettis hasn't been what they've. thought. Let's see how their

wide receiving core adapts if Kittle can stay healthy, if Garoppolo takes another step. But I think the top of the AFC is really great. I think the NFC on Fox is way better. Is it as deep?

I mean, NFC is deeper. Is it as good at time? I don't know. Like, I'll give you an example. I love Seattle. Their offensive lines am mess. Pro football focus ranks their defensive line as 30 seconds. it.

Philadelphia. Carson Wentz stay healthy. A lot of new pieces on the perimeter offensively. Everybody that's good, even San Francisco, Emmanuel Sanders leaves, George Kittl can get hurt, can they stay healthy on the weapon side? That's like a real issue for them. I just, I think that they are a playoff team. I think it's a wild card situation.

Yeah. I don't know if they can. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smite. and friends, me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

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

You're listening to learn the hard weight with your favorite therapist and hosts Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor? It signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to.

Listen to learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media.

Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Cliford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to The Cliford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifference. and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. This is an IHeart podcast, guaranteed human.