The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Best of The Week on The Herd

Episode Date: April 18, 2026

Colin gives his predictions for the NBA Playoffs. Author Alan Shipnuck joins Colin to dive into Rory McIlroy repeating at The Masters. FS1's Nick Wright drops by to preview the NBA Playoffs. Plus, the latest edition of Where Colin Was Right and Wrong!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey, guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick.

Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you. you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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.

I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on. A Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened.

That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the moment and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to SportsSlic on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slic Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Thanks for listening to the best of the herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd at Fox SportsRadio.com

or stream us live every day in the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. This is the best of the herd with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio. Colin right, Colin wrong, as we often do in a Monday. Here we go. Where Colin was right? I've said it before in sports. Parity is overrated. Rory, Tiger, Phil, Kepka, the numbers are going to prove it. Rory McElroy helps the Masters. Five of the world's top six golfers finished at least tied for third or in the top three.

It was a magical event. If you take Rory out of that and it would have been Cam Young and Scotty Schaeffler, you know it and I know it. It wouldn't have felt close to the same and the number wouldn't have been the same. Where Colin was wrong. I kind of figured the Doc Rivers thing would be fine. He's good inside the room if he's not a great schematic coach. but he's older. He'd manage egos, kind of a Joe Torrey feel to him with the Yankees.

It did not work out. It got worse. Two of the three seasons, losing record, didn't win a playoff series. So it probably couldn't have gotten worse for Doc Rivers in Milwaukee. I was wrong on that. Where Colin was right. But I said, the Celtics culture, coaching, Brad Stevens, they're still going to be really good this year. Well, they finish with the number two seed despite the Tatum injury.

And remember, they move. off four of their top nine players. Jalen Brown had a took over as he's prone to do, really talented, really aggressive. Between Brad Stevens, Missoula, the culture, the intelligence in the building. How many other teams could lose four of their nine top players and Jason Tatum for a majority of the season and still be favored to win the East? Where Colin was wrong. I keep waiting for the Eagles to trade A.J. Brown instead, they added another receiver.

Don Tavian Wicks of Green Bay, who's a big target, has kind of a case of the drops, but he's super talented. I'm not sure what it means for A.J. Brown, but the Packers have a lot of receivers. They went first round last year to get another, and Wix became expendable. It's this portend of things to come, perhaps, but another pair of, another skill guy for Jalen Hertz to maneuver with. Where Colin was right? Billy Donovan, the Bulls Cleaned House, they kept the one guy who I've been a fan of for years. Listen, they've been poorly run. They've never really had a plan.

It's kind of a make-it-up-as-you-go roster that it's unbalanced, not enough size. But the Bulls Clean House and Jerry Reinsdorf and Michael Reinsdorf came out and said, listen, Billy Donovan needs to okay the GM. He's a Hall of Fame coach. If the new GM doesn't like him, we're not hiring him. where Colin was wrong. My surprise team in the NBA this year was going to be the Dallas Mavericks, and then Anthony Davis immediately got hurt,

and Kyrie Irving never came back. Cooper Flag was remarkable, but they're terrible. A much worse record than last season. Listen, ever since they've Mark Cuban sold it, it's just felt like an unsettled franchise that can't quite get their feet or their bearings. I thought they were with Cooper Flag and, and maybe Kyrie Irving comes back late, it would be an offensive showcase, and instead it was a hazmat spill.

Where Colin was right? The NIL and the Transfer Portal, they're not perfect, but boy, they've made college basketball better. 18 and a half million viewers, Michigan, Yukon, for men's hoop, biggest audience in seven years. The Transfer Portal lets really good programs solve issues immediately. And the NIL means more players from Europe are coming over and more really good players are staying. So the quality of college basketball is better because the rosters in college basketball are much older. And it's working. It's not perfect, but it's working.

Where Colin was right? I never bought into this. Oh, Travis Hunter for the Jags. He can be corner. He can be a wide receiver. Not in today's football. There's too much good coaching. Who wants a part-time receiver?

The Jags announced last week, he's going to be a full-time corner. Listen, it's hard to find corners. It's easy to find wide receivers. So this is probably the right move. The kid is super talented. But I don't really buy into the two-way thing in football. It works for Otani. He can pitch and he can hit.

But in football, how many quarterbacks and offensive coordinators want a part-time star wide receiver? It never felt right for me where Colin was right. Colin was wrong. 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. Hey, it's Rob Parker and Kelvin Washington from the Odd Couple on Fox Sports Radio. And in addition to hearing us live weeknights from 7 to 10 p.m. Eastern on Fox Sports Radio, we are excited to announce brand new YouTube channel for the show. That's right. You can now watch the Odd Couple live on. on YouTube every day.

All you got to do, search Odd Couple FSR on YouTube. Again, YouTube, just search Odd Couple FSR. Check us out on YouTube and subscribe. Hey, it's us to Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts. We're starting a trend. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas, guys?

I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast where people could call in and say, hey Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential.

title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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 I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis. And I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs.

And on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris. every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on Clay. Jen she won. I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lena Rabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now, and I actually can win on any surface because if she's serving, well, good luck.

Consider this your court side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs Tennis Podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. 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. Well, timing's important in life, and Alan Shipnuck, 30 plus years is the golf rider, New York Times bestselling author, just came out with a Rory McElroy book, which I finished last week. It's really fascinating. And, you know, and let's bring Alan.

He's finally back home, and I'm undisclosed location, but I'm jealous beyond words, and I'll just leave it at that. You know, the Rory book is many things, but golf Allen has had a reputation for years. I didn't golf as a kid. We didn't have the money. I didn't buy golf courses. It's kind of elitist. But then there's Arnold Palmer, who was an every man. And then I think Rory has that in that he's a very vulnerable guy.

You know, Scotty Schaeffler a couple years ago said after a big win, he's like, it's not the most important thing to me. And it's like, Rory, I know it's the most important thing to him. and has that always been the case? I would argue the drought has made him more emotional, or has this always been who he is? Yeah, I mean, even when he was a kid who took on the golf world as this incredible prodigy, he was still crying after the victories. It's always meant so much to him.

Like, he was a can't miss kid from the time he was five or six years old in Northern Ireland. And the burden of genius is a real thing. And he's always felt that way to. expectation. And so, yeah, last year the Masters was catharsis. You know, this year it was joy. And but it, he, as you say, he just burns to fulfill this destiny of his. And that's why we're so invested in it. You know, Shephler, it's like he's checking off a to-do list. Okay, let me win the Masters. Let me win the PGA championship. For Rory, there's so much emotion built into it, that incredible hug with his parents. And that was only a second time his mom, Rosie had been at one of his

major championship victories. And you could just see this lifelong quest fulfilled by this whole family. It really is a special part of his story. You know, he was 10 over on par fives. He hit 31 fairways, which is like bizarrely low. I think it's the lowest ever for a champion. I mean, did he, I mean, there were portions of it. I mean, if somebody said, how would you describe this master's for Rory, I would say it was the recovery. championship. It was recover. I mean, how would you describe it? In some ways, it's his most impressive victory on the big stage because he never really had his A game. And we know that Rory's driver is his superpower. It's the differentiator. And he did not overwhelm this golf course with his

driver. He was chipping, putting, it was managing himself. It was squeezing the most out of his rounds on Thursday and Friday. And then when the jacket was there for the taking on Sunday, when Everything was going sideways. He'd made that double bogey. He bogey six, but the whole tournament's been thrown into chaos. Then he found it, and he started flushing the ball. And he hit great shots, obviously, on seven. That six iron into number eight was world class.

The shot he hit into 12 was kind of going to be the defining birdie. That's the scariest shot in championship golf. He went right at that flag. So when he needed it most, he kind of accessed his genius. But then he was still holding on coming in. We saw it on 17 and 18. 17 and 18, those were great escapes. It was just he never had his best stuff.

And for Rory to conquer Augusta National to dust, Scotty Schaeffler, when he's not driving it well, it really is a delicious turn of events. And it's tantalizing to look forward because he's become such a complete golfer. He knows how to win on these stages. And we know he's going to start driving well soon enough. And then it's really fun to think about how far, how deep can Rory take this? Yeah, 10 under on the par five's, my bad. But he struggled putting early.

recovery shots only hit 31 fareways 10 under on the par fives if um you know it's it's i talked about like john elway mj otani there are these audacious talents and in the immense pressure and then they win and everything gets a little easier um you know if when you were around rory um over the course of the last four to five days did it did it to you when you were in his space did he just feel different than the Rory you'd known previously or a year ago. I think we talked about this. The last time you had a conversation early in Master's Week that Rory had a jauntiness early in the week.

And no one's ever enjoyed being defending champ as much as Rory did. He was just swanning around in the green jacket. He was at the drive-trip and putt. He was at the women's amateur. Of course, a Tuesday night dinner. He was having so much fun. He was so relaxed. That's when I knew he was going to contend.

And then he came out and he squeezed a lot of his rounds on Thursday and Friday. But I think all that disappeared on Master's Saturday when it was like, okay, this is really happened. I can win this thing. And then the clench factor. And part of what makes Roy so compelling is there is a fragility there. There is a vulnerability. He is not a machine like tiger.

And it's always going to be a high wire act with Rory. And of course, we saw that again and again. Like apparently he's always going to make a double bogey on Sunday. he wins the master. Like most people cannot survive that, but Rory has died a thousand deaths on the golf course at this point in his life. And he's unfazed. He just keeps marching forward.

And that tenacity and that resilience is probably his most incredible trait as an athlete, more than anything to do with his ball striking. And so he was three down through six holes on the final round, but he just kept coming. And as he's making birdies, everyone else started to retreat. And he just grabbed the tournament by the throat. And it was tremendous performance under pressure. And it just shows how much he's matured as a player and as a competitor.

Mickelson never won the U.S. Open, finished second six times. As you noted, Mickelson was never number one. That's mostly because of Tiger. But I would say the depth and quality of golfers that Rory faces is feels like as good and as deep as it's ever been. I kind of feel Rory Mickelson could be a coin flip. I kind of think another master's win puts Rory ahead of Mickleson. I mean, not that this is the be-all end-all argument, but it is fascinating because I think he's in that rarefied air now. Maybe not Jack Tiger, but then there's the Faldos and the Micklesons and the Palmer's.

Where are we on Rory's legacy? Well, respectfully, I would say he's already surpassed Phil because of, you know, Phil never got to number one. he never won a money title. Rory's won three money titles in the U.S. He's won seven in Europe. He's the greatest global golfer, you know, since Gary player. He's done all these things that Phil couldn't do,

including when the U.S. Open. And the only thing that Phil has on his resume is more PGA tour victories. But when you factor in what Rory's done in Europe, that's a wash anyway. The weight of the career grand slam, it moves them past Mickelson, past Faldo, past Trino.

These are all guys who have six major championships. I mean, Rory's in very rarefied. air. The guys with one seven, you know, that's a Mount Rushmore. It's Palmer, it's Sneed, it's Sarazin, Bobby Jones, if you don't count the amateur victories. So there's, Rory has a chance to be one of the top five golfers of all time. He needs probably two more majors and he's there. So he, what he's doing is, you know, 13 months ago, you'd say Rory might have underachieved a little bit in his career. And now with the Grand Slam, going back to back at Augusta, which only three other players have ever done.

Like, he is marching up the ladder of the all-time greats. And it's awesome that we get to watch it in real time. You know, it's crazy. So I had said earlier, there was the prodigy stage, the rock star stage, the drought stage. This is the legendary stage. But if you look at his physical, his body, he's obviously disciplined. Whereas with Phil Mickelson, his lifestyle choices and his golf could be undisciplined, right? with Rory sometimes like on the 18 I'm like dude grab a five wood just get it down the middle don't

give us all the heart attack just get it and just hit it 208 just and yet he goes and it's like super aggressive I guess my take is with Mickelson I understood the lack of discipline I saw it all the time reading your book Phil I read it sometimes with Rory I'm like where does this wild side come from. It's just the way he plays the game. The driver is his favorite club. And so if you're the caddy and you say, I don't like driver here, what you're saying to Rory is, I don't think you're good enough in this moment.

You don't want to put that thought into his head. It's like, yes, you're a generational driver of the golf ball. Just do what you do. Now, obviously he didn't. But he had because he had, you know, a stroke to play with, you could make boge and still win the green jacket. The thing about Augusta, they actually treat. the trees. These guys always have a shot because they clip the branches. They want you to go for it.

They want the hero recovery shots. Like if you go, I was just down at the players championship. Those trees are so thick. You can't hit those shots. Augusta literally thins out the branches because they want you to have a window. Now, you might set yourself on fire, but it's exciting to watch. And so I think Rory kind of knew no matter where he drove it, he's going to be able to make five. And it turns out he was right. Yeah. Okay. You, uh, you know, your new book, Rory, the heartache and triumph of golf's most human superstar, just came out. And it's a great read. There's a moment where Rory is very unhappy with Alan.

There is a depth to him, a humanity to him. And my staff just reminded me of this. I don't know how much you follow the New York Jets, but Rory McElroy has won the Masters twice since the Jets had an interception. So he's sorry, Jason, I apologize for that. I hope the book's going well. And when's the last time you saw it, Rory? Did you have any interaction the last time you saw him? Yeah, so that was, the last time he really had a chance to talk as humans was at Pebble Beach earlier this year.

And I had given him a copy of the book early that week. And I said, I wouldn't give it to you so far ahead of publication if I thought you were going to hate it. And he was appreciative, but I bumped him to him Sunday night. He ran into each other. And he told me he started reading it and he liked it, it made him laugh. And that kind of speaks to Rory, even though he'd been spiky throughout the reporting of it. In the end, he always carries himself with a certain amount of grace and humanity. And so I think that was his way of burying the hatchet.

So I'm in a good place to Rory. But yeah, it's kind of fun that he won this week when it comes to the book. But it's not about me calling it. I'm just a servant of the golf fans out there. So I'm happy that it's going to give this book a little more life. because I think it's a feel-good story. I mean, those images of Rory and his parents, like if you don't get misty-eyed at that,

you're probably dead on the inside because it's just the ultimate sort of rags or riches story. And he's a champion that we can celebrate. I mean, you look at the last 30 years in golf, it's Tiger, it's Phil, it's Rory. And two of them have been so diminished by scandal and addiction and greed. And Rory just, he's a great champion.

And I actually think he'll become a member of Augusta National. I think they're going to tap on shoulder. And it's only been Arnie Jack and Ben Crenshaw, I've been given that honor. But he's such a great ambassador. He looks good in green. It's just the way that Rory moves to the world. It's so impressive. Alan, you're great. New York Times bestselling

author of the book is Rory. Highly recommend it. Always a pleasure to see you. Thank you. Thanks for having me. I appreciate it. 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. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what?

We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts.

Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. And, well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes.

I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis, and I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs, and on the Renee Stubbs Tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris. Every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on clay. Jen she won.

I mean, she went down at three to Rovachina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lina Rubakina is arguably the best player in the world right now and I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Here are my five NBA playoff predictions. I'm not throwing you a lot of off speed stuff. There's no knuckler in the rotation. Number one is the Lakers losing the first round.

First of all, Luca had owned the Rockets this year. He was a bad matchup for them. He won't play. If he does, it's late in the series, and he won't be in great shape. You know, two teams headed in opposite directions. Lakers are all banged up. They'll be overly reliant on LeBron, who I'm sure will have one or two great games. But the Rockets, who are hard to figure out this year of won nine of their last 10 games.

so I don't think it's a terribly competitive series. I'd like to see the Lakers win one of the first two games, push it to a five, fifth game. Can Luca come back and give you something? Because he was so good against the Rockets this year, Lakers lose round one. Number two is Wemby's going to play a lot of minutes. So, I mean, it's the first player ever in NBA history

to play less than 30 minutes a game and average 25 and 10. I think they've been resting him because of the playoffs. I think they're going to start playing him 34, 35 minutes, which doesn't sound like much, it's a lot for Wemby. He comes into the playoffs well-rested. They're 28 and 2 over his last 30 games. I have them in the finals, by the way, as well. My third prediction,

Nick's losing the second round to Boston. They beat Boston this year. I think three out of four games, but Brown and Tatum both didn't play in the games. I think they don't have a bench. All right, so that means Jalen Brunson. We're going to need more from you. Carl Anthony Towns also had a down year.

Mikhail Bridges kind of had a down year. That's more of a load on Jalen Brunson. The other thing is they don't defend threes, and the Celtics are great defensively, and they shoot a lot of threes and hit a lot. I don't think it's a great matchup. Number four predictions, Spurs Nuggets by far and away the best series, the best defensive player in Wembe,

the best offensive player, if you count the entire package in Yokic, two hottest teams entering the playoffs. I think it's just going to be a fantastic, eventually a fantastic meeting. And the fifth prediction is, and this is an easy one, I don't think the pistons have the firepower to beat Boston, and I don't think the Knicks have the bench or the defense to beat Boston. So I think the Celtics are going to get into the finals.

Good enough, I think, to make it competitive against OKC, but can't beat them, could potentially beat a very young Spurs team. If I had to pick what I want to watch, it's the Celtics and the Denver Nuggets in the finals. I would love to watch that. That would be a go-either-way series. And with that, Nick Wright, I imagine, you know, Nick wants me to go out there.

And, you know, he wants me to get, you want me to have KD in the finals, right? No, I just, I mean, we might have broken new ground here in sports television history. I don't know that we've ever had a list of five predictions like this where the first one, is a minus 800 Vegas probability, and it might not be your safest pick of them all.

You mean Wimby is going to average at least one more minute per game in the playoffs? No. The Knicks are going to lose in round two to a Boston team that you have making the finals. Of course they're going to lose your round two. They play your finals team in round. Colin. Listen, now, in your defense, I agree with all of these. I think these are five good predictions.

I'm just surprised you didn't have OKC makes it out of round one in there as well. The Hornets won't win the title. My God. I didn't call them bold predictions. It just says Collins' NBA predictions. I do think it's going to be, I thought the Rockets, Lakers, was going to be a fascinating series, and I like the Lakers. Because as well as Houston's playing, they don't have a true point guard, they can struggle to get into their offense.

people have been talking about like i think lebron's legacy is set and i mostly think k d's is i think kd is such a fascinating player what if i mean what are we going to say with k d i don't think they're going to lose the series but i think they're i don't think they have the firepower or the back court strength to win a second series where are we on kd's legacy well well listen if they lose this series they being houston it's a catastrophe yes um I mean, listen, I know people can say I'm biased. I think, and I think he's shown it over the last couple weeks since he had to assume this alpha role again.

I think LeBron is the best player in the series. The problem is the next five best players are on the Rockets. And so this would be a catastrophic loss for the Rockets, for Eme Udoka, and for Durant. And I do, I really like Durant. I think he is, you know, I don't have to do the list right now, but about the 16th greatest player of all time. He is one of the greatest natural scores, one of the two or three in the history of the league.

But this is, he was brought there to be the final piece. Now, Van Vliet gets hurt and then Stephen Adams has surgery, so that lowered their ceiling. But they were the two seed last year, and granted they did lose in round one, so winning the first round, would be a step further, but I feel like most people were expecting them to lose in round one until the Lakers got decimated by injury. He really needs this Houston stop to work because Brooklyn ended so poorly. Phoenix was a disaster from the beginning, and it does feel like Houston's season. They steadied themselves at the end, but went awry with his, you know, texting scandal, if you will, talking trash on teams.

teammates. And as the veteran leader on the team and the guy that a bunch of his teammates looked up emulating, that's just brutal for a team's ability to go through the playoff cauldron of it all. And can I add an extra little take on this? It's also why, because the Lakers are so injured and the Rockets are so shaky, it's why I found the Spurs punting that final game of the year against Denver. And allowing Denver into their side of the bracket one of the most outrageous decisions of the NBA season. The Spurs, all they had to do was beat the Denver backups,

play Wimby, 20 minutes, let him get 30 points like he did on Friday night, and you put the nuggets with the thunder on the opposite side of the bracket, and you are smooth sailing to the competition. conference finals. Instead, you lose to the backup nuggets because you sit, Wimby, and Cornett, and now I agree with you. I think that Spurs Nuggets series could be a series of the playoffs, and I lean nuggets in that. I saw them play a few weeks ago at full strength, and Joker won. I just thought that was so bizarre, such a bizarre decision by the Spurs. You know, you're known as somebody who's always had LeBron's back, and, you know, I did say that

sometimes you need clarity and that Oklahoma City loss and LeBron only takes like seven shots and Luca and Austin Hurt, you're like, yeah, we're a long way away. We're not like a player away. Let's just say the Lakers, they get swept. It's possible. Let's say they get swept. Like the okay C game, it's just an ugly series. I do think when you have new ownership, those things matter. You know, Jeannie Bus, LeBron has been so impactful since he arrived in town. AD was never, quite consistently as good as we thought. LeBron was arguably better than Lucas' first year. Like at some point, Jeannie Buss felt like, you know, this guy's been incredibly hardworking,

dependable. These new owners don't care. What if this is, what if it's a sweep and the Lakers, LeBron gives you a couple good games, but he can't. He doesn't have the armory here. What do you think happens and how long before we hear LeBron's not coming back? So, you know, I think it's really interesting because I would have loved. And I think it's a shame.

We're not going to be able to see what this team was going to look like in the playoffs. You might be right that the OKC game was a window, that they were a second round ceiling team anyway. I happen to think they would have had a real shot against San Antonio in the semifinals. But then whoever they played in the conference finals, whether it was in that scenario, OKC or Denver, was potentially going to be problematic. So here's what I find the most interesting about LeBron's future. LeBron took on that Swiss Army Knife third option role out of necessity. It was because Luca can only play great one way. Austin has one outstanding skill set.

Neither of those guys could do what LeBron did as the third option. And I think he was fine with it because they were winning and because he loves Austin. Austin Reeves is one of LeBron's longest tenured teammates of his entire career. played seven years with him. It's unbelievable. And he and Luke have a great relationship. But I don't know if that's the role he wants for the final days of his basketball life, especially because the moment. Here's a crazy stat for you, Colin.

The first three games that Austin and Luca were out when LeBron went immediately back to being the number one option, he had not had a three-game stretch with that many points, and that many assists since the Lakers won the title six years ago. He instantly was able to keep back into number one option offensive engine mode. And it sure seems like that's the way he likes to play the most. So I do think places like New York or Golden State or even Denver, where he might not be the number one option, but he would clearly be a top two option,

alongside Jalen, alongside Steph, alongside Joker, I think might be more appealing than signing up for the final years of his basketball life being this third,

you know, being basically a rich man's Draymond Green with no disrespect to Draymond. That's not, I don't think, how he wants to end his basketball career.

I don't think. Yeah. You know, we were talking about this earlier about the Knicks. When, outside of Aaron Judge, and maybe Juan Soto

who's hurt now, it's really a starless, sports city. Breonna Stewart, New York could be one of the bigger stars. And so what happens, because New York's such a large, passionate, a lot of media, a lot of voices, talk radio sports market, is you turn and convince yourself good players are very good and very good players are great. Mikhail Bridges is good. I'm not sure he's very good, but they gave up five first round picks and 140, $150 million. He's good. He's not very good. Didn't have a great year. Jalen Brunson's very good. he's not great. If you look at the teams in the playoffs, their best player is Wembe and Yokic

and Ant. Right now, LeBron, Tatum and Brown, he just doesn't, he doesn't, he's not that guy. He's not that guy. And so I look at the New York Knicks, and this is why the Yonnas discussion is so relevant, is that Jalen Brunson has to be a number two on a great team of three. But I think New York is convinced, hey, he's one of the best Knicks of all time. You live in the city. Cats had a down year. I don't think this team can beat Detroit or Boston. I don't think they match up with either, in my opinion. What say you? All right.

The last point, listen, I don't think they can beat Boston. I don't know that anyone's beating Boston, to be totally honest. Certainly not in the east, and I don't know about in the West either. I think you are short-changing Jalen Brunson a bit. Listen, there is a ceiling on a player his size. That's just the fact of the matter. Becky Hammond said it two years ago. Everyone killed her for it.

All of league history tells us that that is true. There are two small players ever who have led teams to championships, Isaiah Thomas and Steph Curry. Isaiah Thomas had one of the greatest defensive teams ever. Steph's the greatest shooter ever. And they're both bigger than Jalen Brunson. Steph's considerably bigger than Jalen Brunson. So, I mean, I still think, though, if he's a deserving perennial All-MBA guy.

I don't think on a great team, he's the third best player. I think you can be a great team and him be the second best player, probably really hard for him to be the best player and you win a championship unless you fill out the rest of the roster perfectly, which the Knicks thought they did. And that's to me, to me, the Knicks not being a touch better is less about Jalen Brunson and more about what you said. Mikhail Bridge is not an amazing year.

O.G. and Anobi, a really good player in his specific role. Towns is who Towns is. Nobody ascended. And the Knicks also thought, those of us that thought the Knicks could have a special season, part of it was belief in the Knicks, and part of it was, well, Boston's going to be, you know, in this weird 40-win zone without Tatum all year. And instead, Boston was excellent, and Detroit jumped the line. So I think the Knicks are going to be in a really tricky spot because they won more games in last year. They had a slightly better offense, slightly better defense. They're healthy. And yet last year they make the conference finals beating Boston in round two.

And this year, I think they're going to lose to Boston in round two. And it's going to feel like a step backwards. Yeah. You know, it's funny. I've said this. I think Jason Tatum's really good. I don't think he has much of an aura. I said yesterday.

Some actors just pop. And some, like Michael Jordan, the look, the style, the flaredes. the player, the game, the persona, the clothes, the earring, the smile, that's a star. Magic Johnson, that's a star. Steph Curry's got that. LeBron's got that. Ant is really good, but doesn't want to be it. And Jason Tatum wants to be it, but there's no aura. He just no.

And he comes back and everybody goes, yeah, people say, Colin. I mean, look what Tatum's done. I think the opposite. I think Tatum left, and because their GM, their coach, and Jalen Brown has always been a bit underrated is so good, they're going. their culture is the star of their team. Brunson and Jalen Brown and Tatum are both excellent players. But the fact that one of them can be gone, the other is a MVP discussion, and they're still the best team.

It doesn't tell me that Tatum's great. It tells me this is a much like we give so much credit to Mahomes. It's Brett Veach. It's Andy Reed. It's Spags. I mean, when he doesn't have protection, Mahomes can get blown. out in a Super Bowl. They literally, Tatum is the icing.

The cake there is the culture. That's something of the Celtic Star is the cult. They lost four of their nine guys in the rotation. They're still excellent. So I understand what you're saying. Here is the distinction I would draw. And then I'm going to throw something at you on Tatum. I think what you saw this year was the roster that Brad

Stevens puts together the intensity and strategy that Missoula brings to the table gives Boston about as high of a floor as any team in the league. I agree with that. But they had, in my opinion, a zero percent chance. I don't care what their record was. A zero percent chance to actually win the championship before Jason Tatum came back. Jalen Brown was having a great year. They were a great story. There was no shot that team was going to win four straight rounds and win a championship. If Jason Tatum doesn't have, arguably, the fastest and thus far most successful, quick turnaround Achilles recovery ever. And he did it knowing he was opening himself up to massive criticism, a guy who was the best player on their team for years but didn't win finals MVP. And then the team is

rolling and Jalen Brown's having the best year of his career. Tatum came back knowing I'm not at 100 percent. Jalen will be the number one option. And if things go sideways, I think some fans, I think they'd be foolish, but some fans would be like, man, things sure were rolling well before Jason came back. All that. He did it anyway because I think he knew and the team knew this is our only chance to win a championship. And if Boston does. end up in the finals as you are predicting. Yeah. Then they, if you're in the finals, you can win the championship. If they do, then I think you've got to consider reframing how, like, some of the Tatum

analysis. And that you might be right that he doesn't have like the genusayqueur of an Anthony Edwards, like the, you know what I mean? You're calling it aura of the star power. But neither did Tim Duncan. And I'm not calling him Tim Duncan, but a guy who has, been a consistent winner, consistently available, suffered one major injury, came back faster than any of us expected. If he is the final piece that puts the team over the top to potentially win a second range, that's something else. Okay, here's my pushback. If Brown would have been hurt and Tatum would have been their only MVP level star, they would have had zero chance to win a championship, is that they're much closer, they're different personalities. Brown's more aggressive, Tatum's more

skilled. They're both high IQ EQ players. They're totally committed professional athletes. They're great. But they wouldn't know one without Brown in his aggressiveness. And I don't think they can win without Tatum. I think Brown and Tatum are much closer than we consider.

Brown's a little stronger and he's more aggressive. Tatum is more gifted and skilled. But they're very close. Well, so listen, I think Jalen Brown's an excellent player having an excellent season. Tatum is, though, a better rebounder and passer. I think, you know, pre-injury, they were equivalent defenders.

Obviously, right now, Jalen Brown's the better defender because Tatum's still getting his athleticism back. I agree with you that you take either one of them out. They can't win the title. But you took Jamal Murray away from Nikoliyokic for two post seasons. That team couldn't win a playoff series. It doesn't mean Murray is as good as Yokic. Fair. And so, listen, I think Tatum is a top 10 player, or talking healthy Jason Tatum, not this moment, but this time next year.

He's a top eight player in the week. Seven years. Yes. And Jalen Brown is top 15. That's what I would say. Like, I off the top of my head, Jason Tatum, seven or eight, Jalen Brown 13 or 14. That's how I would slot it. And I do think that Jalen Brown's job historically on offense,

was made easier by Tatum being there, which is why Jalen Brown's production this year so impressive. Everyone knows he's the number one option. He's still delivering. He deserves a ton of credit for that. But it's just very, I know we're going long. It's very interesting, Colin. You're in my entire life. It has been about how many rings can you get?

Bird has three. Magic has five. Jordan has six. Kobe has five. Duncan has five, Shaq has four, Brown has four. This generation, everyone's stuck at one. No one's gotten to two. Yannis got one, Joker got one, Tateman Brown got one, Shay got one.

It's an interesting, Luke is still at zero. It's an interesting race to see who's going to be the first to two. Because I don't know that anyone from this generation's going to get to four or five because it's so much harder to win multiple rings. Yeah, it's hard to make trade. It would be interesting if these guys beat Joker or Shea or obviously Janus, who's out of the mix now, as the first team with the second championship of this little mini post-warriors era. Good stuff. Nick Wright, first things first after us. It went a little long, but that's okay. It was all good stuff, buddy. Good seeing you. Great to see you. Can't wait for your next five bold predictions. Oh, my goodness gracious. See you, Kyle.

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