The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Best of The Herd for Aug 06, 2020

Episode Date: August 6, 2020

The Lakers are not a true #1 seedColin doesn't care about the Cowboys putting up big numbersThis 76ers thing is never going to workThe Ravens could go 16-0Colin ranks his top ten NFL offensesGuest: Tristan Thompson, NBA Champion 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. A win is a win.

A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes,

creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok's podcast network on TikTok. 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 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 IHard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Thanks for listening to the best of Heard Podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Heard. is the best of the herd with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio. Oh, here we go. It'll be our best show of the week.

We are live in Los Angeles on a Thursday, and this is The Hurd, wherever you may be, however you may be listening. I, Heart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, an FS1, new haircut boy. I had a great night's sleep. I got a new haircut. I played tennis. I am so alive. I watched the Lakers get rolled last night. Joy Taylor, how are you? I'm good. That's a very nice haircut. Thank you. He did a good job. Hyundai. I tip 40. Good. Yeah. I felt you gilted me into the big tip. Listen, you got to tip people right now.

You do. And if they're coming to your house, you should you should do a little extra. All right. So there is this misconception. OKC. Chris Paul, for the record, what did we say a couple days ago? Chris Paul deserves MVP votes. He's having a ridiculous season. This was supposed to be a tank job. Philadelphia tank for five years couldn't win. OKC tank for an hour, thanks to Chris Paul, who should be getting MVP votes. But the story today is the Western Conference. The Lakers finished with the number one seed.

There is this perception out there. Oh, it's quite an accomplishment. Now, in most years, you would be right. And I do believe the West is better than the East. It's like arguing the SEC. is the best college football conference. Can we stop arguing? It is. Next issue. The West has been better than the East for years. They have more great stars, 20 of the top 25 players. But this has been a very weird season. Now, let's just cut the season into two seasons. The regular season and the

bubble season so far. These are two seasons, okay? So let's remember what happened to the West this because the Lakers finished number one and everybody's just patting themselves on the back. In Los Angeles, look at this. It was a transition. regular season. The Clippers got two new stars, and they had to fit him in, and Paul George missed 22 games. But Houston's good. No, actually

Hardin got Westbrook, and then Tony had a whole new staff. Well, Dallas is young and fantastic, but Luca and Porzina's both got hurt. Portland is really good now, but Nurkich wasn't available, and Mello wasn't acquired until the season

had already started. Oklahoma City, what a season. Now, let's be honest, the last 20 games, they were great. It was a total rebuild, and Chris Paul didn't know the names of any of the players. What about Denver? What about them? Super young and talented. But everybody outside of Yokic got hurt this year.

Colin, you love Utah. Yeah, I do, but Mike Conley starts the season injured. They had to figure out if Donovan Mitchell could be point. It was a mess. Conley came back. They were in transition all year. Oh, by the way, Golden State. Eh, tanked.

The West was in transition all season. New coaches, new stars, new staffs, injuries. And then COVID hit. And everybody got healthy. And now the West, they don't have the issues. Nerkich is back and Mellow is feeling it. Westbrook, Hardin, they know what works and know what doesn't. Utah?

Well, they're still Utah, but Denver now's healthy. Yokich and all. Dallas, Porzingis, Luca, Arhamman, they're past their injuries. OKC is playing with house money. Clippers now, Paul George and Kauai, no load management, no days off. It is now the Lakers who have the issues. They don't have Avery Bradley. Their best offensive guard. Good luck against Portland. Good luck against Houston. The Lakers were a number one seed. But there is a misconception how impressive that was this regular season. Yes, the West is better. Yes, it's loaded. Yes, it's deeper. But everybody outside of the Lakers felt like they were in this weird transition. They dealt with injuries. And now it's the Lakers who have a huge issue. Rondo's out for still another month. Bradley's out for the

bubble. You're asking Alex Caruso to step up. I had two scouts texting me last night during this game. And the two scouts, I'm sure they know each other, but they didn't know they were texting me, one a Western Conference Scout, and what an Eastern Conference Scout. And they were like, God, this Laker team, they miss Avery Bradley. They're old, they're slow. Chris Paul's 35, he looked like the youngest guy and the best player on the floor. I mean, he was flying around last night. This is not your typical number one seat in the West.

It's not. And there have been down years in the SEC. Like, like the number one doesn't feel quite as good for a lot of Sabin's years. Tennessee was a mess. Georgia didn't have a right coach. Florida didn't have a right coach. Auburn was a mess. I watched the Lakers last night and one of the scouts told me he goes, they're not getting, Lakers aren't getting to the Western Conference Finals. He goes they're not. They can't hit threes and they can't defend them. You cannot get to a conference finals. If you can't hit threes and you can't defend them and they don't do either. It's not that they're not good. It's not that LeBron and

AD haven't worked well. I love them. Those guys I love, but this is a very, very, limited team and the number one seed isn't nearly as impressive as previous years. So I read this story this morning. NFL history says the Cowboys will be very successful if the wide receivers in Dallas meet expectations. So Amari Cooper had over a thousand yards. Michael Gallup now looks like a steel had over a thousand yards. And last year, Randall Cobb almost did. He's gone, but they draft CD Lamb, who is a spectacular talent, a rookie out of Oklahoma. And in the history of the NFL, if you have three wide receivers over 1,000 yards, you're a Super Bowl team.

That's the kind of team you are. You're that explosive. The problem, of course, with Dallas is this is not the issue. The receiver thing is not the issue. As Lewis Riddick, sports dude at another network said yesterday on a tweet, the problem for Dallas, they had nine potential game winning or tying go-ahead fourth quarter drives last year across four games. against really good teams.

They got two field goals. Nobody in the league got less out of drives that were similar. So the question is in Dallas. Was it a Jason Garrett issue or a DAC issue? I'm a huge believer in keeping your eye on trends. And I have said this before. When I first moved to California,

I'm about a few hundred yards from the beach. I would get a coffee on Saturday mornings, go down to the beach. and I would watch surfers. And I would do it like for an hour every Saturday. And it was just therapeutic and you'd watch these surfers. And the thing I noticed about surfers and I found it metaphorical in my life is the really good surfers were patient.

They didn't waste their time jumping on average waves. They'd sit there for 15 minutes to get the perfect wave. And this is why I believe in trends. I think life is cyclical. The great times don't last forever like the great waves. Watch trends. Be patient. Watch trends. And when you see trends, jump on them fast, adapt early. Because people will catch up to those trends and they'll end quickly. So you've got to constantly watch trends. Watch trends. Watch trends. This is hot. Go for it. Jump on the wave and ride it. Trends going to end quickly.

Great times and great waves are amazing. Write them, but they don't last long. And Dallas has a trend. The last three years with Dak Prescott, here are his numbers against winning teams. These are playoff teams. These are atrocious. He's six and 12, 21 touchdowns, 19 picks with a really bad passer rating.

And this is why franchise tagging DAC made a lot of sense. Because in Dallas, there is a question we don't have an answer for yet. And the question is, whose damn fault was it? Was it Jason Garrett's or was it Dax? And we will know the answer by December. And if it's Dax's fault, they'll be looking for another quarterback or franchising. And if it was Jason Garrett's fault, Dack is going to make over $130 million. That's why would I look at the Cowboys schedule this year.

If you look at the trend, there's only eight games I care about. Do not at me. Do not tweet me when they roll the Giants. Do not at me when they beat the Falcons, Browns, Cardinals, Washington. Do not at me when they overwhelm Joe Burrow. I am only looking at eight games for the Cowboys, because the trend I see the last three years is they can't beat good teams. I want to see them at the Rams and at the Seahawks.

I want to see them at the Eagles, host of Steelers. I want to see them at Minnesota, at Baltimore, and host the Niners and host the Eagles. Exactly half their schedule. That's the trend I want. And if they're six and two or five and three, then that wave I'm jumping on. It's the DAC wave, and I'm riding it for four years.

But if not, don't waste your time tweeting me as they roll Duane Haskins or Daniel Jones or Baker Mayfield. I'm not interested. So look for trends, jump on in quickly, and realize they don't last very long. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app.

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

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined.

And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger.

So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right 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-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 a little kill. 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 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's 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 finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really?

Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games.

And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase

that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross. Because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth.

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

Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. You know, I was talking a couple of days ago, starting any business is hard. And a couple of days ago, I was on a Zoom call. Somebody invited me on a Zoom call, and there's a bunch of smart people. And one of the guys on it was Peter Churnan. Peter Churnin's an investor, an entrepreneur. And I was on this thing for 30 minutes. And at the end, I said, I got to ask you a question.

What's the one thing you should know about, like, building a business? And he said, he goes, listen, it's always hard in the first year. He goes, 80% of the stuff that you think this is brilliant. He goes, you better be ready to pivot because you'll be out the door in six months. 80% of the stuff doesn't work. Can you pivot to what works? And whatever works, double down on what doesn't get rid of it. He goes now over time, if it's still hard years later, it's not a good business.

And I've always felt that. Like, you know, I mean, any relationship, go to therapy, figure it out. But if you're nine years in and you have to go to therapy twice a week, it's just too damn hard. Last night, Philadelphia beats Washington. Washington's the worst team in the bubble. Washington's awful. And Ben Simmons is limping off. And they're, you know, they should have put this game away.

literally six minutes in. I mean, I don't think Washington has a player that could be in the Sixers' top six rotation. Philadelphia should roll them. Simmons gets hurt a couple days ago. I said M. Bede was yelling at one of his teammates. This is too hard. It's just too hard.

This is the classic example of, this is the third year. Like, it's got to work now. I mean, just think about this. Think about all the things that don't work. Why are they awful on the road? They're a terrible road team. Why? Chemistry's not good.

They had to switch Ben Simmons position as they entered the bubble. Now he's a forward. They're constantly rearranging their pieces. They let go erratic. They bring an Al Horford. Every year they've got to rearrange the deck chairs. Brett Brown's on the hot seat every year. He's struggling to make Embed and Simmons get along.

And oh, by the way, Ben Simmons and Joel Embed do not fit together. I'm sorry, but A.D. and LeB. I mean, Joy and I laugh, like three games in, you're like, oh, it's perfect. Chris Paul had a bunch of guys he'd never seen before. 20 games in, you're like, oh, it works. Kauai and Paul George felt like 15 games in it worked. I mean, LeBron and D. Wade's games weren't perfectly fit together. They're kind of the same guy.

And 17 games in, they started winning all their games. You start looking at Kemba and the Celtics. Worked instantly. By the way, Kevin Durrana, superstar of Golden State. That could have been problematic. Two weeks in, it worked. Peyton Manning the Denver, great September. Manuel Sanders last year, the Niners inserted into the wide receiving core, first game in it works.

Like, nothing can be this hard. You know, you look at Shaq and Kobe. But Shaq and Kobe were kids. I mean, Kobe was really literally a kid. And then Del Harris had him. And they're young. But they kept getting better. And then Phil Jackson comes in.

And they keep getting better. And you get a dynasty. And by the end, they wore each other out. but you kept seeing growth. Embeddon Simmons are three years in, multiple teammates in. They keep rearranging the roster. Like Philadelphia's talent is incredible. Why are they scraping around with crappy Washington?

Why are teammates yon at each other? If you're nine years into a marriage and you're still at therapy twice, three times a month, maybe it's too hard. Just maybe it's not meant to be. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd, Weekdays and New Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. So I think Baltimore is going to go 16 and 0, and I think they're going to fly through the playoffs and win the Super Bowl.

I've never predicted that. There are three great rosters in football. There's a lot of good ones, but there's three rosters that are different. And credit goes to the owner, the GM, the coach, who haves? San Francisco's loaded. Very few flaws. Kansas City stacked Baltimore. Interesting.

Baltimore, Hollywood Brown. A speedy wide receiver gained 23 pounds of muscle during this offseason. Remember last year how Lamar Jackson completely transformed his body? Now, of the three great teams, I am a believer that tough childhood equals better adulthood. I'll give you a fascinating study. They did a study on 300 millionaires. in Great Britain to find out how they think. And they looked at their childhood,

they looked at their communication skills, their flaws and weaknesses. And what the study discovered is that 40% of the millionaires, not 40 of 300, almost half of them were dyslexic. Why would that be? Now think about that if you're driving

and listening to me on radio. What the hell would that be? because dyslexic kids are often humiliated. Dyslexic kids feel ostracized. Dyslexic kids, it's never easy. Nothing. Reading a menu can be humiliating. It's hard.

But that metal. And they also found that dyslexic kids are more strategic, realizing they struggle with reading. They tend to hop ahead of other kids, time alone, work ethic, strategic ideas. And how does that tie to Baltimore? Because of the three great teams in the league,

it's actually been fairly easy for Kansas City. Patrick Mahomes learns from Alex Smith. Next year, it's the AFC championship. Next year, they win the Super Bowl. That's pretty quick. Didn't work that quick for Peyton Manning, Eli Manning. Then there's San Francisco.

First year, Jimmy Garoppolo and Kyle Shanahan have a year together, they roll the good teams. They humiliate Green Bay twice, and they end up going to the Super Bowl. But it's been different from Baltimore. Now, you think to yourself, Colin, come on, Lamar is the MVP. No, no, no, no, no. Of the three great rosters, it's actually been more of a struggle than you think. Well, they're great, but they can't beat Mahomes.

They're o' and two. Well, they get to the playoffs. and they've been humiliated both times. Lamar is the MVP. He can't play from behind. He's not. He can't throw. It pissed him off.

You listen to Lamar. The scariest thing in the world is pro sports is great people who have been humiliated get out of their way. The AFC is a two-team race. one of them's holding champagne parties and parades. The other in Baltimore has been humiliated. Watch it.

I've never said this in my life. Baltimore is the two scariest things in football. Stacked and pissed. Because it's been hard. I mean, Lamar Jackson, he can't throw. Don't say it. He can't play from behind. Nobody says that about Mahomes.

Nobody says that about Garoppolo. I mean, is Tyree Kill putting on 24 pounds? Is Dante Pettison, San Francisco? We all look at this road for Baltimore and we say, you know, it's just been, oh, my God, it's just win after win. No, it's not. Lamar Jackson was MVP. He's the only MVP in my life that we have said the following offseason, I think he'll regress. Oh, is he old?

No, he's actually just coming in. into his prime. There's never been an MVP. Half the league doesn't buy into Lamar Jackson. Hell, I can say more than half the league. That's never happened to my life. We didn't doubt a young Peyton or a young Farrv or a young Mahomes or a young. That dyslexic study is fascinating. Look it up. You're more strategic. You learn to work alone. You got that little bitter chip, that little bit of resentment. Raven 16 and no. count on it. Want more herd?

The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHard radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Yesterday, Joy, at the end of the show, I was really, I found this tedious. I like lists. Yes. I'm very much, all-time. Very bothered by this list. Yeah, yeah, I like all-time lists, all-time.

I like this stuff. It's what I'm into. So the athletic is a subscription service with a bunch of, sports riders, right? And they ranked every offense 1 to 32. I found it so outrageous. They had Kansas City 1 in Washington 32. Outside of that,

I thought it was a mess. How in God's name it could have Cleveland at 18, which is the Noah's Ark of the NFL. They got two of everything. They got Tennessee at 9. What? Ryan Tanya, they have Seattle, 5.

Seattle has the 28th ranked offense. Rashad Penny at running back's been a bust. And if not, basically Seattle's offense, which looks like a 1984 offense, is where water is coming onto the ship, Russell, bail it, and get us to the end zone. So I am going to present, before I get to Mark Schlarith, to me, the 10 best offenses, a very redeemable list here. Let's just go one through 10. Let's start. These are the 10 best offenses in the NFL. Let's not even argue about Kansas City. Number one. Okay. Not only is Andy, read the best schematic guy in the NFL along with Sean Peyton.

They had the number one scoring offense for their skill people made the Pro Bowl. Patrick Mahomes as a baby had the highest pass rating in the league history and the most passing yards per game in NFL history. 303. This is it. This is like the greatest show on turf, but way more talented. Let's not argue over this. Number two.

Number two. The Ravens. Listen, they ran for 3,300 yards. That was the most in the NFL. They're the first team since 1950 in a passing league to throw for over 200 yards a game and to rush on average for over 200 yards a game. And by the way, the critics of Lamar Jackson, here's all you need to know. Not in the first half of the season.

When everybody's seen film on him, in the second half of the season, the final eight games, you know what he was? 25 TDs, one pick, pass-a-rating 130. He's getting better, folks. He's not getting worse. Number three. There's a drop-off. now and it goes to the Saints.

It's Casey Baltimore. Saints don't throw the ball deep downfield because the Drew Brees has limitations throwing the ball. But they were the third highest scoring offense. Michael Thomas is hard to cover. They added Emmanuel Sanders, who's a savvy smart veteran who will step right in and make 75 catches. I like their offensive line a lot.

And again, like Kansas City schematically, they're kind of on a different level. Number four. I don't even know how you dispute this. Tampa. And I think they may be better, but I. I just don't know if they'll be better early, so I'll give it to New Orleans at three. They have the best receiving core in the league, Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. I think they have the best tight-in group in the league.

I thought they were thin at running back, and they drafted it, and they addressed it. They also solved right tackle. Gromk, maybe one of the best blocking tight ends in football, so he'll be terrific in the red zone, and Bruce Ariens will challenge Tom to air it out. I like him a lot. Number five. I put San Francisco five. They run with ease.

It's a Kyle Shanahan offense. It's really a run offense. Masquerading as an explosive pass offense. Second highest scoring team in the league at 29.9 points a game. They have added left tackle Trent Williams, who is, believe it or not, an upgrade over Joe Staley. Brandon I.Uk is a first round wide receiver who is wild explosive out of Arizona State. And listen, for all you Garoppolo critics, slow down. He's the only quarterback to rank top five in completion percentage, passing yards per attempt, and passing touch.

downs. Garoppolo's fine. The issue to this team is secondary, is reliability at wide receiver. It's not quarterback. Number six. Cleveland. Folks, where's the hole? I mean, at this point, it's Baker because Nick Chubbs is probably the most underrated running back. They upgraded at tight end and they were already good with David and Joku. Now they have Austin Hooper from Atlanta. Jarvis Landry is a monster volume receiver. Odell Beckham is finally healthy, and they solve their tackle issue. They also have J.C. Tredderett guard, who I think is way above average. This is a Pro Bowl offense.

This is nothing but stars. And if Baker can be a slightly more coachable, a little less ad-libbing, it can be a play-action pass offense over a pass-first offense. They could set records. This could be the best offense in the history of Cleveland Brown football. Number seven. You may be surprised. I think the Raiders' offensive line is probably the most underrated in football.

It's a really good offensive line. The Raiders rookie last year. They're rookies. We're number one in scrimmage yards, scrimmage touchdowns, rushing yards, catches, and sacks. This is a very young team. Derek Carr is somewhere near top 10 to top 12 quarterbacks. They also went and got Henry Ruggs, the speed receiver. Keep your eye on the Raiders.

Number eight. Cowboys. Dak can drive me crazy and the offensive line is getting older. But you may have the potential for 3,000-yard wide receivers. Michael Gallup now. Was he a third-round pick? Looks like an absolute steel. He's a burner out of Colorado State's become a really nice player. I don't know a ton about tight end, but Mike McCarthy and C.D. Lamb should add juice to an already potent offense.

Number nine. Green Bay. Now, there's a drop-off here. but they do have a number one receiver, a top quarterback, and a top running back. And Matt LaFleure is a progressive young offensive coach. PFF also puts their offensive line at number four in the NFL. So before I hear this, woes me, Aaron doesn't have anything to work with. He's got a great back, a really good offensive line, a star receiver, and a smart young coach.

Number 10. Philadelphia. Carson Wentz had to carry deck chairs last year at the end of the year, but Wentz was the first quarterback with 4,000 passing yards ever, despite not having single receiver catch over 500 yards. It shows you the immense talent. I also think Doug Peterson and Wence, they really work well together. Doug is really clever.

Offensive line, hopefully it's not patchwork like it was last year. But those are your top 10 often. Russell Wilson saving the Seahawks bacon every third down is not a great offense. It's a great player in an offense. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd. Weekdays and noon Easter. 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged.

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

A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clivert 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 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 was 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 finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games.

And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, We get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth.

Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Keir Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app, search Learn the Hardway, and listen now. Tristan Thompson has played for almost a decade in the NBA, a former number four pick.

This year, 12 and 10, he went to four straight finals with LeBron James. They're still tight, and Tristan is joining us. The Cavs Center via the Coward Global Satellite Network. You know, it's interesting. With LeBron, I always said this, Tristan. First of all, it's great to have you on the Fox team. So thank you so much for stopping by. You look great.

Thanks for coming on. No, thank you for having me. Thank you for having me. I'm trying to look as good as you. Thank you. So, you know, I was talking about this with LeBron. Like, obviously he and Chris Bosch worked, but LeBron likes an open lane so he can drive to the basket,

and Chris Bosch sometimes got pushed out. Kevin Love. LeBron likes the open lane. Sometimes he pushed Kevin a little. out. But Anthony Davis and LeBron have really worked from almost day one. What do you think the magic is with Anthony and LeBron because it doesn't feel like Anthony is giving up any of his game for LeBron? Yeah, no, with LeBron, I know this for sure is that he wants to surround the offense around AD. I think it was very similar to when we had Kyrie and K. Love where he wanted, you know,

Kyrie and Kay loved to get going early. And then, you know, once that happens and they have a good rhythm and flow, then LeBron can kind of play his game. You know, he's such a mastermind in terms of like how he approaches the game on, you know, early. Let's get the Lakers. Let's get AD going, you know, turn five early, turn four. Let's get him going.

Let's let him, you know, get his rhythm and cause a mismatch problems. And then LeBron is a point guard for their team. He's going to be able to open it up and run, pick and roll and put pressure on the rim. What I worry about with the Lakers, Tristan, You know this having been in four straight finals. We know LeBron and A-D-L score. But this league is often about somebody steps up and grabs that number three guy steps up. It was Shane Badiere, maybe in Miami or a Ray Allen, or a Matthew Delavadova.

Sometimes or you, you have a knight, and it is a game in which who's the three, who's the four? Can I trust Kyle Kuzma? What do I know about Danny Green? Who's L.A.'s three? Yeah, I think it's funny. It's very similar to when K. Love went down in 2015 with the shoulder injury against Boston. You know, a lot of teams are wondering, you know, who's going to be that third guy to step up? And I think for the Lakers, it's going to be by committee.

I think every night will be a different guy. I think depends on the matchup. You know, one thing about the playoffs is all about matchups. So certain matches benefit other players. You know, it could be, they have a matchup where, you know, their bigs are going to be dominant where it could be a guy like Dwight Howard that has 10 and 8 off the bench or Jafel McGee that has a double-double. It all depends on the matchups. But one thing about the Lakers, we know is that they have guys that with championship DNA,

whether it's Danny Green, Rondo, J.R. Smith. And you got guys that have their backs against the wall, like Dion, those guys have something to prove. So when it comes down to who will be the third star, I think it varies every night. Of course, yes, from the beginning of season, it's going to be Kyle Kuzma. Everyone's been saying that about him. But also, we don't want to put the pressure on him. I think for him, if I'm his teammate, it's like, you know, just go out there and play your game. We know it's your first time in the playoffs.

We're going to do it as a group to we're all going to be the base of the third star. Doc Rivers and Tailu are guys that have championships as coaches. The Clippers are fascinating. They put two stars into the team, Paul George and Kauai. never played together. And Paul had an injury and Kauai take some time off. So the team hasn't played a lot together, Tristan. Is that concern you that there isn't really great chemistry yet? Can they flip the switch in your opinion? I think they can flip the switch. I play for T. Liu and T. Liu is definitely a disciple of Doc Rivers and comes from that regime and that umbrella

where, you know, Doc's whole thing, similar Tilu is let's just make sure everyone's healthy going to the playoffs, whether they're the two seed, the three seed, the four seed, T. Liu would tell us, I don't care what seed were in, because when we get to the playoffs, nobody wants to see us, and our dogs will be ready to go. So I think Doc has the mentality where he's got pit bulls on his team. He's got, you know, we know they got the Kauai and PG, but he's got pit bulls. He's got Pat Bev. He's got Lou Williams, you know, Montrez is playing with a lot of motivation and hungry. So I think with their team is just, just get healthy and get to the playoffs. And I think they'll figure it out. They're coaching staff and the players that they got. They're all,

going to rally together and be able to flip that switch. Zion's an amazing player, but he's been on minute limits. He's been hurt several times. And Tristan, you've been in this league long enough to know. Some dudes just get hurt a lot. That's just the way their body is genetically. Some guys don't. Some guys can just, they just ball and they don't get hurt.

The guy running the pelicans, you know David Griffin, their GM. You know him well. I've always liked him. Do you think they're handling Zion the right way? Oh, well, Griff, Griff knows basketball to a T. You know, he's worked under Calangelo in Phoenix, and I've known Griff since Adidas Nations in high school, him coming to watch he play as a scout for Phoenix.

So he knows his basketball, and at the end of the day, I think what they're doing is the right thing. At the end of the day, Zion is their franchise player, and you want to do what's best to get the most out of the kid long term. You know, if they try to run, run them to the ground right now, it's unfair to the kid, and it's unfair to their franchise, and it's unfair to their fans, because, listen, of course, do they want to win a championship this year? Would they love to? Of course. But are they built to win a championship this year?

If they fall short and they make the playoffs to lose first round, I don't think Griff would be upset. I think for him, he's looking at where is this team going to be three years from now, two years from now? And I think that's how their approach is with Zion. So Philadelphia is a team with a ton of talent, but I just don't think Simmons and Ambide work together. That doesn't mean they're not both great. But there are times in the NBA where dudes don't play together well. They don't work. I think Simmons is not a shooter, so he needs an open lane, but I want M-Bed in the lane because that's where he's dominant. Is it when you play the Sixers? I mean, they've moved a lot of parts, Tristan, do you kind of feel when you play them, super talented,

but it just doesn't fit always that well together? Well, obviously, with Ben now, who knows, who knows how long is he'll be out for with his knee injury. That obviously changes their whole team dynamic. When we play Philly, they really want to get the big fella going and get Joel going to cause mismatch problems and command a double team. But I know a lot of people wonder, can Ben and Jewel play together? I think they can. I think you have to, we know these two guys are the franchise pieces. They're the cornerstone, right? So as Brett Brown, you just got to figure out which pieces can we align them with to bring the best out of them. So yes, you know, Ben Simmons is not a three-point shooter right now in his career.

And we know Joel wants to, you know, handle everything in the paint. So we just got to find guys that can make shots. That's why they brought Tobias to be able to make shots. Josh Richardson, he's another guy that can make shots. So that's what they have to figure out. I think right now what they're doing putting Ben at the four is getting him on the second-side action, which can cause mismatches. You know, they run to play A to B where they have the handoff with the point.

point guard to kick it back to Ben on the opposite elbow where he goes to a dribble handoff with either Josh or Tobias. And I think getting Ben in those actions on the second side is where with him not being a three point threat as of right now, it can still work in their offense. So I think what Brett Brown is doing, trying him at the four could cause mismatch problems to get him on the second side to be a primary ball handler to force the mismatches, especially with the shot clock winding down to, you know, down the tendon below. You know, it's funny. When you're with LeBron, for all those years.

I get a C game LeBron. You got to see hang out on the road and practice LeBron. Take our audience, Tristan. Was he an intense practice player? What do you miss about LeBron the dude? Just being it that you guys were rock stars in America. You're the traveling band in America. Beyond, you know, playing in finals, what do you miss about that experience?

I just miss just having, in my, as one of the greatest players of all time to be able to, actually, a great story is when, when LeBron first came back and, you know, it's me, Kyrie and Deon, training candles to start until end of September. So he texts us in a group chat like, hey, after Labor Day, let's get back to work. So I think it's like September 6th. So me and Kyrie, we come in there, Dion, we get in there. I think workouts start at 11. We're in there around 10 years. 30 and LeBron's in a full drenched sweat. And for us as 21-year-olds, 20-year-olds, we're like, man, like the best player in our game, he's in a full-drenched sweat from just lifting and he's there before all of us. And just seeing that as a young player, that's greatness right now. That's, that's a guy that understands what it takes to be great and what builds a real culture in a franchise. And seeing that there, you know, you missed that. So for myself and guys that have played with him, I think we just try to be a sponge. and try to show that to the younger guys falling behind us.

Because at the end of day, LeBron, he's great, and he wants to pay his knowledge forward, so that younger generations can understand how to treat this game, and what you put in is what you get out. So I always miss just having that, you know, one of the great players in your locker room every day just to pick his brain and, you know, obviously great dinners, and, you know, he's known all the good food spots

and he knows his red wine, so I miss those. So now it's on Ken to pick the wine. Hey, it's great seeing you. Congrats. We love having you on the Fox team. Tristan Thompson. Thanks, my man. No, I appreciate it. Thank you. 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 put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, 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 Cliver Show.

This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes, creators and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the 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. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hardway with your favorite therapist and host Kear Games.

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