The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Colin Cowherd Podcast - Lakers/Grizz, Clippers/Suns, Warriors/Kings Game 1’s + Wiggins Impact w/ Marcus Thompson

Episode Date: April 17, 2023

First, Colin reacts to first round weekend NBA Playoff action, including the Lakers stealing game 1 against the Grizzlies in Memphis, the Knicks stealing the series opener in Cleveland.  Then, The Athletic NBA Writer Marcus Thompson joins Colin to discuss KD and the Suns surprising Game 1 L to Russell Westbrook and the Clippers, why Andrew Wiggins Game 1 performance has the Warriors brimming with confidence despite the loss, if the Warriors will limit Jordan Poole’s minutes due to his lackluster D, if anyone on Golden State has a problem with Draymond putting out podcasts after playoff games, how the Warriors plan to bounce back in Game 2, and if the Lakers are a serious threat to make a deep playoff run. Follow Colin and The Volume on Twitter for the latest content and updates, and check out FanDuel for the best wagering and daily fantasy action! #Herd #VolumeSee 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. The Volume. Hi, everybody. Welcome in.

Some thoughts on the Lakers Grizzlies, Nick's Cavs, Warriors Kings, Marcus Thompson, who covers the Warriors, written books on Steph, and KD will be joining us in roughly 12 minutes. So my first takeaway on the Grizzlies is generally speaking, if a two-seed, the Grizzlies, faces a seven seed the Lakers, and the series starts in the two seeds home, as it should, right? You would take the two seed to win the series. But I took the Lakers to win this series because I think there's a lot of fools gold with Memphis. And I like John Morant, but I consider them to be much like Derek Rose, and I've said this for years. I don't think those kind of players can lead you to championships. This is overwhelmingly, once the playoffs start, a winged.

big league. Refes swallowed their whistles. And the physical teams win. I mean, how effective was Anthony Davis today? How effective the Knicks rebounding over the calves? You see how effective a Robert Williams, a marginally talented player, but great defensively how he can disrupt Atlanta's offense, wings and bigs. You say, well, what about Steph Curry? The best two Warriors teams had Kevin Durant on them. And Steph Curry realized that. And so John Morant, like Derek Rose, is spectacular and dynamic, not an elite defender or rebounder. He's not going to be a rim protector, and he's still not a great shooter. He's just explosive like Derek Rose was.

And so I like the Lakers in this series, and I don't want to hear that the injury to John Morant was the difference. The Lakers had their best third quarter, perhaps the best quarter they've played against a good team on the road all season. They scored 69 points in the second half, and John Morant played 90. percent of it. He couldn't stop Rui, Reeves, AD, or LeBron. So I don't want to hear that's the difference. The Lakers had their best quarter. Ja' Morant was on the floor. He'll return in the series. We're not sure about game two. John Morant has said his availability could be in peril for game two. I can like Steve Nash as a player, but those Phoenix teams got pushed around in the playoffs. I can like Derek Rose. I can like John Morant. It's different. And so I thought the

Lakers physicality would be the difference in this series with Clark and Stephen Adams out. And it was. They mostly controlled the interior, big rebounding advantage, 11 blocks for the Lakers, and two for Memphis. And that's the series. So you're not going to get another game like that from Rui. And Reeves was red hot. But I don't want to hear any excuses here. There's a reason that most people, most people, not just me, took the Lakers in this series,

is that Memphis was virtually unbeatable at home. Now everybody's equally rested. Rim protection defense means more in the playoffs. You see who the better team is. John Morant can't play in game two of the series. I think Memphis will be very competitive. Because I don't think Rui and Reeves will probably play that well. But I've thought there's a lot of fools gold here on Memphis.

I've said the same with Denver. It's like I like Denver. But efficiency, which is Yokic's game, you got to give me more than that. I'm going to need some 35-point games. I don't trust some of the guys on that Denver team who have never delivered in the postseason. You know, if you're a Laker fan, LeBron had 21 points, a couple of big shots, a big three, but had costly turnovers.

I didn't think LeBron played great. I didn't think the Lakers played that effectively in the first half. They couldn't shoot. So you've got to feel good if you're the Lakers. They completely utterly control the second half. outscoring Memphis, 69 to 47, 11 blocks to two for the Lakers. They were the better basketball team. Doesn't mean they were in the regular season.

But we've said this before. Postseason, refs, swallow whistles. They're going to let you bang around more. And the dynamic, wildly vertical show-stopping point guards, Westbrook, Walls, Derek Rose, John Morantz, Steve Nash wasn't highly vertical, but, you know, a two-time MVP wildly effective. they don't have the impact in the postseason.

So, you know, you're a Laker fan. You have to feel good. Remember, the Lakers are two different teams. There's the pre-trade deadline deal with Westbrook, and there's this team. And this team has more shooters, has more wings, is younger, more athletic. So you have to look at the Lakers. It's like in the NFL where sometimes you have a team, the Patriot teams, the great ones, were usually post- Thanksgiving on,

was a different Patriot team than September, October. This is a different Laker team right now. Now, I think if this series goes six or seven, maybe Jaws out for a couple of games and it's a quick series, that benefits the Lakers greatly. LeBron, you'd like to play him 32 minutes. You probably have to play him 36 minutes in the postseason, although Reeves certainly can control the offense when he's out.

but the quicker this series goes, this is not a young team, the better it is for the Lakers in the next round. All right, some thoughts on a series that I thought Cleveland had too many shot makers for the New York Knicks. And I also thought Julius Randall could miss the first two games of the series.

That's what was reported about two weeks ago. Julius Randall played. So one of the things that jumped out is not Jalen Brunson's play. He's been terrific all year. Okay, Jalen Brunson, is a really, really good player. Your classic Villanova's second round

in big national championship level games can defend a little, though he's small, but he's a great leader. He's just your classic point guard that can score, can distribute, excellent leadership skills, sets his guys up, and that didn't surprise me. What does, because I don't necessarily think

losing game one's the end of the series, it's not for the Warriors, but I do think there was something that was really noticeable. The New York Knicks, were the second best rebounding team in the league during the regular season. I think they were tied for second best rebounding team. Cleveland was middle of the pack.

How many times when Cleveland was inching back in that game did the Knicks get a second, third, and occasionally fourth look at the basket? New York, I felt like, got every big rebound in the second half. And that's a problem. Evan Mowgli's excellent. He's still young. He's still ascending. but if New York, that's Tom Thibodeau's classic team.

Play defense, slow it down a little bit, crash the boards, get some freebies underneath, limit the calves to one shot. So I still like Cleveland in the series, but if that is a pattern, and remember, the best coaches are in the playoffs, they make adjustments, right? They're going to make adjustments in Cleveland. But you can rebound your way to a series win. If you limit their second shots and you get yours second and third shots, shots frequently. So, you know, Jalen Brunson's been good all year. The Knicks have some

interesting depth. You know, they can melt. Any Nick fan will tell you, they're a team that can lose leads and melt. But I thought that rebounding edge in the second half, it was noticeable. It was stark. They were controlling the glass every time they needed a rebound. So we have a real series between the Knicks and the Cavs. That's fun. Thoughts on the Warriors. I had predicted last week on Fox Sports 1 and Premier Radio that I thought Sacramento would win game one, and I would take the better coach. Yes, Steve Kerr, four titles, the better coach. The better roster. Yes, now that Wiggins and Gary Paten are back, it's the better deeper roster and the more experienced warriors to win in 6. I thought it was going to be a hornets nest in game one. But something that really jumped out to me

is that everybody likes to brag how much basketball they know on the internet. If you think Jordan Pool is a great player. Just you don't know basketball. When you watch him on the floor, he is so bad defensively. In the second half, I thought he cost him the game. And I think on a pretty regular basis, Steve Kerr and Draymond Green call him out. And, you know, Draymond Green on the volume on his podcast, you can't give Malik Monk 30 plus points. It's okay, Deeran Fox is going to get his. Steph Curry's going to get his. Right? Jimmy Butler's going to get his in the playoffs. Donovan initial is going to get his. Anthony Davis is going to get his. You can't let role players have huge, huge games. And so I think Jordan Poole, and I've said this multiple times, it's a problem.

I think they want to move him. Somebody will overpay for him. Somebody will lock him into a deal. But that series came down to Jordan Poole on the floor late in the game and just surrendering too many easy buckets and momentum for the Kings. Listen, Sacramento is certainly capable of winning this series. It's going to be really hard for Golden State to win on the road. But I think everybody noticed, with Wiggins now available, that gives them two wings, Wiggins and Cominga. They've only already had Cominga for a while now.

Dante D. Vincenzo, Gary Payton, although he's banged up, they got plenty of depth now. They're fine. It's a really nice eight-man rotation if Peyton is okay. He got banged up. But one of the only things that really surprised me in that game is that Andrew Wiggins was that effective. Obviously, he missed, you know, most past the trade deadline. I thought he was really effective. But again, he's a super high IQ player that's been around. That's why he fits so easily is that, you know, Golden State asks a lot of its players on both ends of the floor.

It's a catch and react offense. It's, you know, they're going to make switches on defense. You have got to be paying attention. Jordan Poole doesn't. Andrew Wiggins does. And that's why he was so effective. I think the warriors are going to be. fine. But I had said last week, the words I used, it's going to be a feisty series. If you can give Wiggins and Gary Payton real minutes, I think the Warriors are win, their experience and their roster. I think what they're going to do in the next game in the series is they're going to be much more physical, just too many easy buckets for the Kings. So I think the Warriors are going to be physical, and I think officials will play a part in this series. The Dynasty gets the whistle.

But overall, I thought it was a great weekend. And let's talk more on the Warriors, bringing Marcus Thompson from the athletic who has covered this team multiple years, part of this dynasty for many years. The NBA playoffs are upon us. Twenty teams get in all trying to get that one crown. For last minute, amazing deals to watch your favorite NBA team. It can be the warriors, it could be the kings, it could be the Sixers, it could be the Bucks, To get great last minute deals on amazing tickets, check out GameTime, the fastest growing

ticketing app in the United States. It's called Game Time. It doesn't stop, by the way, with the NBA. They've got NHL tickets, Major League Baseball tickets. They've also got concerts and comedy shows. Game Time. Download the Game Time app, and the Redeem code is Colin, C-O-L-I-N. $20 off your first purchase.

Terms apply. Download the GameTime app. Enter the code Colin, C-O-L-I-N for $20 off. NBA playoffs, baseball season just starting here in April, NHL as well, no matter where you live, get out, have some fun this week and this year. Download the GameTime app, last minute ticket deals. Lowest prices guaranteed. Imagine an Olympic.

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. Now we bring in the great Marcus Thompson. We use him as often as we can. He's a busy guy. We'll get to the Warriors in a couple of minutes. I got to tell you, the end of the Sun's game was fascinating to me. First of all, Kevin Durant, and I hadn't lost a regular season game since November.

He's now lost seven straight playoff games. He disappeared for the last four minutes, which I don't know if I put it on KD. Maybe I should. Monty Williams, Chris Paul, Devin Booker, can we get him the ball? That was shocking. So let's start with that. Who do I put the blame on for Kevin Durant, not getting more looks in the last four minutes? You know who put the blame on?

I got the answer for you. His name is Russell Westbrook. That's who you put the blame on. That's the one who came in and said, you know what? I'm going to take over this game. All the shade Russell Westbrook has endured all these years. I mean, that was the greatest three for 19 playoff performance of all time. I mean, think about it.

You had three for 19 and he completely down. dominated the game. He had, he played great on Kevin Durant, turned him into a passer, like, facilitator. He had Russell Westbrook, like, I mean, he had, uh, Devin Booker bothered. And that play at the end with the block and then throwing it off Booker and like showing the world his heart. I mean, Russell Westbrook is the blame for all of it. They had no answer for Russ. Can you believe it? Well, and Devin Booker's interesting because you trail by three with 17 seconds left. A layup does of no good, shoot the three. Yes, that was weird.

And the second thing, you know, situationally, that was bizarre. And Booker complains a lot to the refs. So it's like, dude, if you get your shot blocked, don't complain to the ref. Finish the play. Like, that is a moment that a star can't allow to happen. Like, you can't be in dialogue with an official as a play late in the game is going on. Like, that's on book. And I like him.

But that was situationally really bad. basketball. That was my takeaway. And Russ deserves great credit. That was a tremendous play. But that's bad situational basketball by Phoenix, isn't it? Oh, yeah, no question. I mean, they made some questionable decisions down the stretch. And that's, I mean, that's Bookers and Mo. Right. I mean, that's, that's what the modern player does. They, they stop playing to complain, right? They stop playing to argue with the reps. We see Luca do it. We see all of them do it. But there's something about playoff basketball. You just got to play through that.

have to play through that. And bottom line is, like you said, this is solved by getting Kevin to rent the ball. Like that's, that's the answer. And so if you're going to say, all right, I got this, I'm a take over. I got Westbrook run or one. I'm taking them. And it don't work out. Then you need to get back and play some. He played great D. That's the crazy part. Booker played great D. He was incredible defense. But at the end of games, when it didn't go his way, it just wasn't. It was a great play by Westbrook, not a great play by. by Devin Booker, and I feel like Russell Westbrook deserves that. Let's pivot now to the Warriors because we're going to get 12 to 15 minutes with you on the Warriors.

I came out last week, and I thought Sacramento would win the opener. I'll take the Warriors in six. My question was, how much do you get out of Andrew Wiggins? Were you surprised how effective Andrew Wiggins was, having not played for two, three months? I was. I mean, he's such a freak athlete that, like, how do you do that? Like he's bouncing around He had three blocks

He's playing defense He's rebounding He's getting to his spots And it looks like normal It is waxy Even if you know Like this dude is a unique athlete Like really he is special

In a very like Created in a lab kind of way Right He can run all day Before this year He'd never miss games Like he's just a guy Who can just play all day

And he looked like that It did catch up with him Right he was winded I think it was one for eight from three. He missed the three that would have won the game, basically, wide over from the corner. So you could see, like, the effects of it. But, man, let me tell you, Collier, after the game, in a loss, you could feel that they're like, oh, we got Wiggins back.

Oh, okay. Like, even after a loss, they were like, oh, we got, we got Wiggins back. And that was kind of the sentiment, like, we're fine. Our whole squad is here. and Wiggins looks like that already? Okay, we're pretty good. That's one of the words to never get down. They very rarely get down.

That's still one of the higher moments I felt in that locker room after a loss where they felt like brooding confidence. Well, now with Kaminga and Wiggins, Peyton will get to him in a second. And Dante DiVincenzo, they do have a seven to an eight-man rotation here of, you know, veteran players. You know, a player, the Warriors don't have to mention Jordan Poole by name, but it's pretty obvious. Kerr and Draymond take turns, you know, firing shots at him.

Defensively, Marcus, it's a problem. Like, he's not engaged. I thought he had three or four lapses defensively, and I honestly thought it cost them the game. Are his minutes, I mean, last year in the playoffs, Mark, Marcus, the longer they went, the fewer minutes he played. Like, was there, do you think there's real concern about what he gives up on the defensive end? He's just not engaged a lot. I don't know if it matters if he's engaged or not.

He's just not very good at it. So it doesn't matter at this level, right? Like, you can be as intuitive as you want. He made a few good plays, but in the end, he's not guard Deere and Fox. So what, he's not guard Malik Monk. So the thing that is important for him is to be able to go back at you. Like they need somebody to go back at it. They don't have a guy outside of Steph Curry who can catch the ball at the three-point line and end up at the rim.

He's the only other guy who can do it. He's the only other guy who can dribble well enough and create. So they need him for that, but he also gives up stuff on defense. And that's kind of the catch 22 with Jordan Poole. If he's rolling and his shot is falling, all right. You've row with him. Like there was a stretch where they couldn't score and it was him and Malik Muck going at each other. And it was like, what the heck is this?

Is this Michigan versus Kentucky? I know. But crunch time, you just get the sense in this series against the most efficient offense, the team that could explode like this. He probably won't be playing down the stretch, not that much. He didn't play that much this game. Like, he just wasn't there. And Steve Kerr is going to lead defense.

He's going to lean defense every time. They scored 123 points. They should win that game. They gave up 126. That was the problem. What are they going to get now from Peyton who left the game, some sort of core injury? What's the latest on him? He seemed to be fine.

He said he felt good. He came back in. He just, you know, Peyton is one of them dudes. He's like a football player in a sense, like his running back. Like he's all, his whole body's on the line. He's running. He's jumping. He's falling.

He's playing big. And you just feel like, man, he's got a few years of. this so you need to get him because there's always something with him right he's just he's so physical with the way he plays and he's he's a he's revelatory he changes everything to them he gives him something i feel like he might get a lot of pool minutes if it's not wiggins it'll be gary peyton i honestly think that patent's a better fit i think when i when i watch pool on the floor with the warriors i can i feel like draymond's body language isn't great sometimes curr's isn't.

I feel like they hold their breath a little with Jordan Poole. They don't trust him. They know he's gifted, but they don't trust him. I think they trust Peyton, though he's limited. Yeah, the problem with Jordan is he's just very young. And the mistakes and the stuff he's got to learn, there's literally no other way around it. Like he gets the ball at the end of the quarter in the game,

and Steph is on a court and is Jordan Poole. And he goes one-on-one with Fox and he turns it over. And it's like, you got to get a ball of stuff in that situation, right? But in the same vein, he's taking that play and he's gotten a bucket out of it. He just does so many things that nobody else in a team can do. So they got to live with it. And you know what? Here's the reality.

They created that monster, right? They taught him out to play. So if he's taking bad shots, he watched him take bad shots. he learned from them, right? His swagger, his confidence, they breeded it. So this is just part of it. Like, it reminds me of like, you know, you're messing with a teenager, right? Like, you're raising a teenager.

Like, there's just parts of raising a teenager that are tough. You got a young dude with that much talent, that much confidence, that much arrogance, that much belief in himself, and also that many flaws. You just got to live with it because they can't win without them. But also, it's a lot of it. some things on the court that frustrates you. And they're all 30 plus years old. They've got four championships.

They're veterans, right? You know, they make mistakes too. So they just have to live with it. I feel like they just have to live with it no matter what. Because bottom line, if Gary Payton's out there, that's one less score. And if Clay's not making his shots, like he wasn't, especially down the stretch, now it's just all on Steph. They run a boxing one on Steph.

Who creates offense at that point? Now it's like, yo, you kind of need your pool in the game. So figure out what to do on defense. is, but that dude can go get a bucket. So Draymond does podcast right after the games. He did last year. You know, I see people take shots at him. It's not like he divulges game plans.

How does it sit, though, with the team? I mean, Draymond gives you insight that literally nobody in basketball gives you. He's off the floor for the dynasty. Does it sit uncomfortably with the team? How do they feel about it? I don't think so. number if there's one thing the i mean first off the only people who could possibly say something are like the o gs right step curry clay thompson andre right but yeah anybody else it probably

doesn't matter what they say is there any team more brand conscious than the warriors right is there anything that spends as much time building like who they are i mean clay's riding boats to games right like he's got his whole stick step you know has his thing like even Andre Igadalas, the super smart tech guy, right? Like, they look at Dremont as that's Dremont's thing. As long as he's playing well, it's fine. I haven't heard anything negative about it, right? And, you know, Dremont is a guy who will do some things that irritates people.

The podcast ain't one of them from what I can hear. It's just Dremont. Plus, I don't know how much of this is like, yo, this is Dremont. We've known this dude for 10 years now. Like, why we get mad about the sky being blue? Like, Draymond likes to talk. He's going to talk. He's pretty smart.

So he knows what he's doing. It's going to be calculated. Why, like, why worry about it? I think the fans don't like it more than the players don't. Yeah, I think you nailed it. I think he's very measured and calculated. He knows exactly what he's saying. I love it.

I find the access fascinating. But there's like a, there's like a other element too to it. I think that people should probably know. Like, like he's essentially putting. his team on notice, right? Like, if he's out there talking, they kind of got to go back him up, right? And the only reason you would complain about him's doing that

is if you are afraid you can't back it up. And that's just not Warriors basketball, right? They're going to go into an arena and they're going to talk, and then they're all going to back up the one who's talking. Like, that's just how it is. So I do think there's a little bit of, like, an ulterior motive that's like, all right, I'm going to put us. on notice and we're going to have to live, we're going to have to rise up to the occasion

because nobody else on the team will do that. I do feel like this is a little bit of team chemistry situation as well. Well, you mentioned Malik Monks 32, which is he's right about this. You can give up 40 to a Donovan Mitchell or a Kerr. Oh, yeah. You can't give up 32 to Malik Monk. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashed. Others say it's unleashed. human potential. Either way, the podcast Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clever 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.

I believe, I felt going into this series, that the way to win this series, I think they're going to get a little physical. I think they'll get the dynasty whistle. I think they'll get the veteran whistle. Do you think we'll see a different kind of game, too, in Sacramento? Oh, yeah, I definitely. I mean, that's playoffs in general. It's going to change a little bit. But I also think it's going to work the other way.

Like, Steph Curry got two free throws and Malik Muck got 14. So I think Curry's going to get to the line more, right? Like, at some point, you got to start saying, hey, this dude is just driving a lot. I definitely think their answer is to get more aggressive, get more physical. Yes. I don't think you'll see, I think you'll see very physical defenders on Deer Fox and Malik Muck. It won't be like the guys who are good staying in the front, but don't make you feel them. Like Dante DiVincenzo or Clay Thompson, like Gary Payton, Draymond Green, Jonathan Cominga,

Like they wear on you, they're physical, they foul you, like you know they're there. I think you'll see that type of guy. I think Trey Liles, they'll be looking for him. And mostly they feel like they got punked, like on the board. So the only way to respond is to kind of punch back. But I wouldn't be surprised if somebody gets two quick fouls, though, because it was too free flow, and it was fun. It was exciting.

Like, you know, you know we're going to get that 95-97 game at some point. Yeah, I mean, I thought the one. Like I still think the Warriors are fine. I think Phoenix is fine. People adjust. I think the one game over the weekend that I did take a step back is the Knicks ability to dominate the glass in multiple key situations. They were the second best rebounding team in the league. They have to rebound well.

And I watched that and I thought, wow, that's something that's repeatable. People are looking at Jalen Brunson. and he's been great all year. We know that. That I don't doubt. But the New York Knicks ability to kind of push Cleveland around and get rebounds, I'm like, wow, are we looking at a different series here? Was there any outside of the Warriors, was there any takeaway for you this weekend, Marcus,

that was anything you took a step back and went, you know, once Yannis got hurt, it's going to be a different game. Celtics are going to dispose very quickly. Philadelphia is going to dispose of Brooklyn very quickly. anything surprised you at all. Not necessarily surprising. I thought Memphis would be a tougher fight. The Lakers kind of waxed them.

I mean, it wasn't even a broad. It was like Rory and Reeds, right? Like, they were cooking. The Lakers looked like, uh-oh, but you're reminded of the ceiling they had, right? They've played below it for so long. you forget they have it, but it's like, wait a second, if this thing clicks, it might click, click, right?

They could, like, if Memphis doesn't put up a fight here and the Warriors Kings go six or seven of a bra track race right now, whoever comes out of it, you got to deal with the size and feel the physicality of the Lakers, you can see this kind of, kind of shaping up for them in a way that's a little bit like, wow, we just would have never throughout this. two months ago. We would have never thought they would have this ride to the Western Conference Finals.

I was, I'm interested in the Miami-Mewa-Mewa-Waquis series. I think this was more of a blue kind of game one. Like I think even without Janus, the Bucks are so used to playing with them that they might figure something out. So I'm interested to see what they have left.

I think this is a phenomenon. The team that comes in off the play in, usually a little bit rolling. and now, you know, I remember, I think it was Memphis, got game one against Utah after they, if you went two games to get into the playoffs, your nice little rhythm and you're playing the team that was just sitting, was just rested. I think that's a little bit of thing. So I really want to see what Miami has.

Actually, they lost one and one-in-one-one. But I want to see if Miami's legit, if they could really extend the series. That changes the entire East and Milwaukee's out. Entire East, it blows everything up. Now another team can sneak in like the Knicks into the East Finals. I don't know. I don't think they will, but going back to what you said about the Lakers, I thought they'd beat Minnesota and I thought they'd beat Memphis. But I did feel like the longer it goes, it's more of a disadvantage because if you could get in and out of this series with Memphis and five games and LeBron gets like four days to rest, then you have a real chance to win game one against whoever you play.

Like I think whoever you play. There is a path that the Lakers need to hit to win. The Warriors don't. You know, a lot of the good teams don't. The Lakers do. There's a path to success and it's getting rid of Memphis fast. But does it look feasible? I mean, like even like Jock got hurt and this is becoming a thing.

Jock gets hurt, right? This is obviously a thing where this is now the second playoffs in a row. He got hurt. And remember before they were like better without them. They like played in a way where it was like, oh, they actually lock it in on defense. But no Stephen Adams, no Brandon Clark. That, that's a problem.

Memphis might be in trouble. Even if Joss somehow plays, you're down 0-1 and they've got Anthony Davis who could at any moment just drop 40 on you. Right? Like they got the guy who could do it. And LeBron could just drop 40 on you. in trouble. Yeah, I mean, they were trailing by four. That was an offensive foul on Jha. The Lakers were getting the ball and were hot. And by the way, the Lakers had their best quarter

of the season in the third quarter and Jahl was on the floor. So he's not, he wasn't stopping anybody. I thought the Lakers got so many good looks. I mean, the first half, the whole game they got them. They just didn't hit him in the first half, but they were getting phenomenal looks. Their ball movement, was excellent. That's the part, though, that makes you think, how real is this? I mean, is Ruri hitting all those the whole series? He won't.

No. You're not sold on the Hachamura bandwag. You're not hopping on? You're not ready for the 24, average of 24 for the series for Hachamor? I'm signing up. Rory Hachamor is average of 24 for this entire series. Put me down.

I got... Yeah. But I will say, their third leading score, Russell, Rui, Reeves. They've got a collection of guys who are all, I mean, DeAngelo Russell is capable to drop 26 points. He's going to give you a game, right? Yeah, no question.

No question. He can be a little. Yep, Dennis Schrooter. By the way, the playing game, Dennis Schrooter was their third guy. So they don't have a nail down three. But, I mean, listen, the Celtics got to the finals last year, and Marcus Smart is hot and cold. know exactly what you're getting offensively from Marcus Smart.

So, I mean, if you have two legitimate scores, I mean, what's impressive? You can do the number three by committee, right? You can kind of do it by committee. So, all right, so you still feel good about the Warriors before we let you go. I still think they won it in six. I mean, this is how I played it out. Like, I think they'd lose the first game. I just felt like Sacramento was going to make everything.

This was like everybody to be like Sherman Club, right? This was 35 years of wanting and won't. and won't. Like, they've been waiting for this moment forever. I felt like they were going to make every shot. And there was a stretch when they did. And now the adjustments happen. Let's see if they can handle it.

I feel like Warriors get game two, hold serve at home, and we go back. We either go back to Sacramento tied to two, or we go back to Sacramento with them playing for their lives to stay alive. That's how I see it shaking out. I wouldn't be shocked, though, if Sacramento won. Because I don't know, Sabonis was kind of terrible in that game. Maybe he rebounds. All right, Marcus Thompson, the athletic.

Just 15, 18 great minutes from him. He's a busy guy. We're going to let him go. Thanks for coming on, buddy. I'm about to write about Clay Thompson. I'm about to get my bag. Let's go. Make sure to check out the Dramon Green show.

I brought Dramon Green into the volume because one of the more entertaining voices in sports, unique perspective, understands behind the rope. Also chops up with guests like Gary Payton, Zach Levine, Tracy McGrady, Make sure download the Draymond Green Show wherever you get your podcast, only on the volume podcast network. 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 acapella 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 it. 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. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.