The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Draymond Green Show - Playoff Weekend 1 Breakdown

Episode Date: April 22, 2024

Draymond Green returns for another episode of his podcast to discuss Anthony Edwards being THAT GUY over the weekend in the Minnesota Timberwolves win over Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns, Jalen Brunson and the Knicks outlasting Joel Embiid and the 76ers, why the Lakers are in trouble if D'Angelo Russell can't make shots, how LeBron James and Anthony Davis can adjust against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets, Damian Lillard's heroics in the Bucks victory over the Pacers, why he still believes in Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the Mavericks over James Harden and the Clippers, and much more. 0:00 Start2:00 Anthony Edwards15:00 Lakers-Nuggets19:00 Dame Time26:00 Clippers-Mavericks Produced by: Jackson Safon #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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terms and responsible gaming resources. What's up everybody? Welcome back to the Draymond Green Show. As I said to you all before, we'll be checking in with you guys throughout the playoffs, giving you my opinion on some of these games, some stuff to look for, different matchups. That could be exciting, the games within the game.

So make sure you keep tapping in here. Also make sure you are subscribed to our YouTube channel. As I may go live, during the game. You can watch me watch a game. You can get my thoughts, my natural thoughts on the game, whatever that is. So just make sure that y'all locked in, tap into that. Week one of the playoffs, I thought it was very interesting and boring that no series started. What do I mean by no series started? As you know, there's an old cliche. A series doesn't start until someone goes and went on the road.

And all eight home games, the home team won, would suck. Now, ironically, a couple of those home teams were not favorites. That is, the Los Angeles Clippers, who were without Kauai Leonard and still beat the Dallas Mavericks. Pretty good. And then also you had the Milwaukee Bucks who beat the Pacers without Janus, Antedacompo. And that one I think is very interesting So we will get into that a bit But as I said, no series has really started

Because no home teams won So we had Anthony Edwards Over the Phoenix Suns And well Anthony Edwards In the Minnesota Timberwolves over the Phoenix Suns And I said something to you all about that series Last week That I think will need to happen

And when I was a lot of, I think, I walked away from that game the other day. What I said to you all is going to need to happen more. So we're going to get a little further into that. Everyone is talking about the moment where Aunt Edwards had with KD. He had him on the left wing, sized him up, hit the Tracy in his face off the dribble, which gave him a sizable league. I think it put them up 18 at that point, 15 or 18 at that point.

and aunt was talking. Aunt had everything to say that he'd been having to say. And that was a moment. That was a very interesting moment because, as I told you all, I think Anthony Edwards is poised to be that next guy. He wanted to be that next guy. He's telling you he that next guy, and he's going to play like he, that next guy.

And I think it's something special to say when you are as good or when you are good enough to say, I'm better than you and y'all old and all of the things that Anthony Edwards says and then he goes out and prove him. Now, I saw something the other day that made me, like, I kind of really been all in on Anthony Edwards

since day one. Thought he was a special talent since day one. When I say day one, I'm going back post or, you know, pre-draft. I thought he was special. Going to Clutch Pro Day, I remember that first year Clutch ever did their own. their pro day on TV, Anthony Edwards.

And so I personally been high on Anthony Edwards, but Anthony Edwards did something yesterday or two days ago. And it had absolutely nothing to do with the game, a little bit to do with the game. But I always like to watch the game within the game, and that is what's going on around the series. What are guys saying in their press conferences? You know, what are guys posting?

What's the game around the game? In the game around the game the other day for me that Anthony Edwards did, that you just don't see young guys do that ain't ready to take that next step, man. Anthony Edwards posted on his Instagram story, 15 more. That was the caption. 15 more. Why is that interesting? Because half of your favorite players that's young

and y'all think ready to take that next step don't even realize that you need 16 wins for a championship. We used to always talk about when building these championship roster, you need a mix of 82 game players and 16 game players. 82 game players, you got a regular season, 82 games, is super long, a lot of nights that guys are just, when you're playing for a championship year in and you're out, a lot of nights that guys are just tired,

don't have it because it's the same thing over and over again. You need some 82 night guys that's going to step up for you on those nights that can give it to you those nights. But those 82 night guys, when they're specifically an 82 night guy, they don't play in the playoffs. They can't play in the playoffs, not ready for the playoffs. And there's a lot of guys out there.

there on some of your favorite teams. That's 82 night guys and now they're in the 16, 16 game time. They're in the 16 and they don't know what to do. Some of your favorite players, some of the star players on this team are 82 night guys, not necessarily 16. And so Anthony Edwards said 15 more. I said, oh, he different because he's been in Minnesota, Rodden, right like Minnesota has not had a good go at it for years

and they've turned that around but for him to already be thinking like oh 15 more man I mean these boys been talking about winning the championship and he's standing on that 15 more after game one he's been paying attention I mean he's been watching year after year guys compete for championship saying I want to do that

some of your favorite players these young guys that y'all like don't even watch basketball. That means he'd been watching the game within the game. Jimmy Butler posts 15 more. You got guys post that, like, that they've been competing for championships. He's been watching the game within the game. So, man, the stock is high on Ant Man right now,

and you should be buying. You should be buying stock in Amman, because it is. Sometimes you, there's no saying you buy low and sell high. sometimes you miss the boating, you have to buy high. It ain't as high as it's going to get on Ant Man right now, but it should be high. Still get in now because this is still. Ant Man is different.

And he carrying them boys. Now, I saw something in that series that I think is interesting. As I told you all, Kevin Durand is going to have to guard Anthony Edwards. Not Carl Times. Anthony Edwards is also, oh, remember I talked about the game within the game that Anthony Evans is playing? I saw an interview where Anthony Edwards said Carl Anthony Towns is the most important player in the series

Carl Anthony Towns is going to make sure we win. I'm here to tell y'all, Carl Anthony Towns is not the most important player in the series. Kyle Anthony Towns is an important player. But Anthony Edwards is the most important player in the series for the Timberwolf. Carl Anthony Towns could have still been out. Anthony Edwards still was going to be doing this,

making a lot harder for them to beat the Phoenix Sun with Carl Anthony Towns out. but Anthony Edwards is the man. However, Anthony Edwards telling you all in the meeting, yo, he the media, yo, he the guy. Go over there and focus on him. So what does the Phoenix Suns do they come out the gate with? Kevin Durant on Carl Anthony Times.

As I told you all before, Brad Bill is a good defender. Brad Bill said, I don't check, he guard, he compete. Like, I love that. And this will go for some other guys that we're going to talk about in this segment, but it's a reason guys start putting long wings on these guards. The shot-making ability is too crazy. This ain't 2000.

This ain't 1984. This ain't the 80s and 90s where guys were great. Don't get me wrong. But the shot-making ability today is way more complex than it used to be. And that's why guys start putting the shot, the shot creating ability, I should say, is way more complex, and the shot making ability is top tier.

And that's why guys start putting long wings with length on these guards. And that is why you need Kevin Durant. Now, however, Katie is in year 17, 18, something like that. And so what happens is you still see like Katie, Brown, these guys, stuff different. stuff is smaller, not carrying as much weight, limbs is different. You see these guys still playing at an insane level, which they are.

But once you get to that age, you can only do it in spurts, a la Damien Liller last night, great first half, can give you that in spurts, which we'll talk about that as well. So with KD, can give you that 48 minutes straight every night. Although it helps during the playoffs that you get those days in between, it's impossible both ends of the floor kd the best defender on that team and the best offensive player one of the best offensive players we've ever seen yes devon booker's a great offensive player like top tier brad bill great scores whole career but kd is just different kd is seven

feet we've seen this movie before what the phoenix sons are going to have to do is they're going to have to play kd on anthony edwards the entire series that has to be his matchup and what what Phoenix has to do is they have to rely on Devin Booker, Bradley Bill, Grayson Allen, you're going to have to hit some shots. And they're going to have to rely on those guys

to carry the low offensively. Because to ask Kevin to go try to lock up Anthony Edwards and then go carry the load on the offensive end in the year 18 and ain't happening every night. He may give you that one night, two nights of a series, but he can't give you that every night because the years are going to. getting up there, man. The legs is different.

And what you need Kevin Durant for is to say, hey, we need you to go stop him. We need you to go stop him. Don't worry about the offensive end. If you get some stuff in the flow of the offensive end, great. I know this is like, oh, man, that's Kevin Durant. You should never tell him, but Kay capable of doing that defensively. And

Devin Booker capable of carrying the load offensively. So is Bradley Bill. Grayson Allen just got that extension. He got to make these shots in the playoffs now can't just be an 82 game player got to be 16 got to be 16 if i'm not mistaken grace and allen won the championship before i'm not certain on that i thought he won with milwaukee bucks i could be wrong however the kids are winner went to duke played in milwaukee for years meaningful years kids are winner you got to play these 16 you got to hit shots especially this series okay if you get stuff in the flow cool but we're not about to depend on kevin duran on the

offensive end. We need him to lock down defensively tonight. That's the role we need in this series. So when I said that, the beginning of the series, I still think that's true. And you know what? It ain't Carl Anthony Towns that's winning you this series. It's Anthony Edwards. And you need to go put Kevin Durant there. So that's Minnesota. The New York Knicks take the Philadelphia 76ers in a game where Joe L&B in 37 minutes was plus 14. In the 11 minutes, he was now on the floor. They lost by 21, minus 21. Not going to work.

My series prediction at the beginning of that series was, I think, Philly. Who going to stop Joelle? I'm feeling right about that. Who going to stop Joelle? But them 11 minutes that Joel was out, how many minutes you're going to play him? He's still coming off that knee injury. What Philly's going to need is they're going to need a better maxi for 48 minutes. Because that team that I was talking to you all about that didn't have Joel anymore a couple months back,

Like, ah, they might be cashing it in when they got rid of Patrick Beverly. Nick Batum had a game in that playing game. He gave them more than he was supposed to, more than he have been. And they won it. But you got to do that for seven games now. You need some other guys to step up. Minutes 21, 11 minutes. That's going to kill you every time in the playoffs.

So they're going to have to figure that out. Jalen Brunson did not have a good game and the Knicks still won. However, I think Philly going to keep having Nick Batumhound Jalen Brunson. They're going to put Kelly Ubrae there to hound him with Lane. They're going to throw guys at Jailen Brunsson with Lane. This ain't going to be the only game that Jailen Brunson struggles in this series. However, for the Knicks to go up 1-0 with Jailen Brunson struggling like that, says a lot about their team.

However, I'm still rolling with the best player. I don't believe in that Philly team at all. it's a very good team, as I've told you all before. But I think I'm still rolling with that prediction. The Lakers versus the Nuggets. The Nuggets, Lakers may be in some trouble because Brian had a great game, AD had a great game, and they never stood a chance at winning the game after the first half. And so that's trouble for the Lakers.

They're going to need a better DiAngelo Russell. You can't just say, oh, man, shots ain't going to. in when that's starting to be a trend in these 16 games. Can't just say that. Got shots got to go in. And DiAngelo Russell score, they need a better Austin Rees. You're on a Scotland report now. Getting you a bag now.

Got to play better. But DeAngelo Russell make shots. Lakers win games. DeAngelo Russell don't make shots. Lakers don't win games. That's the reason the Lakers was in the position that they was in. talking about DeAngelo Russell on a trading block because they needed a better DeAngelo Russell.

DeAngelo Russell on trading block showed up. The rest of the season. Guess what? It's no longer 82. It's 16 now. Got to show up. So DeAngelo Russell played better. Lakers have a chance.

DeAngelo Russell don't play better. Lakers don't stand a chance. That's just what it is. And by the way, remember the guys getting up there in years? Brian is one of them. Are you going to ask him to have a game like he had in game one every night? We know he's capable, but can you expect that? Can you rely on that night in and night out when guys are getting to the number of years that they get into?

AD showed up. So it's on D-Lo. What did you make of Darwin Ham's quote after the game? He said he still has a, he had a few adjustments on Yokeet that he's, he's saying, You've talked a lot about game one being a feel-out game of a series sometimes. What do you make of a coach saying, I have some adjustments that I could have used in this game that we had a chance in, but I'm going to save them for later in the series.

I thought it was an interesting thing to say. I think that's an interesting quote because the reality is you can't throw the kitchen sink at game one. You can't throw all your adjustments at game one thinking that's what's going to get you to win. throughout seven game series. Now, we'll get into this Milwaukee and Pacers game because I think they threw one of their adjustments too soon in a game that they had no chance at winning because they were down 30 points at halftime.

And they threw one of their adjustments to kind of make the game respectable. But you showed your adjustment for game two. And so I do agree with Darwin that you don't want to show everything in game one. However, I think they probably needed to throw a little more because that game one was a game one that they could have won, that changes the series,

and that changes their confidence, being that they've lost nine straight to the nuggets, including four of those nine, or last five of those nine being in playoffs, changes the psyche. You go on get game one. And now your psyche is still, man, we can't get over the hump. So be that you could win,

I thought you needed to throw one of those adjustments, but I thought one of their biggest, I mean, what's your adjustment now? Like, your adjustment could be throwing AD on Joker and not having AD on Aaron Gordon. But, like, I think your biggest adjustment was actually the opposite way, right? Like, you start AD on Joker and then go to AD on Aaron Gordon and let him plug and, like, see how they deal with that. But to switch it to other way, like, that's kind of throwing everything because where you go after that if AD don't get it done. And so I think that's, you know, you don't.

throw everything in game one. But that was a very winnable game one for them in that first half and even in the third quarter and they couldn't quite pull it off. It's going to make it a lot tougher to get game two. A lot of these games you see been a blowout. These coaches and these blowouts are having a heart attack, the winning teams and these are the winning coaches of these teams. Because when you blow somebody out in game one, that team that you blew out, come back

pissed off in game two and you naturally go relax in game two, thinking you've done. done something. And so I respect it, you know, got to have the adjustments, but I thought one of the biggest adjustments they could make would be plugging off Aaron Gordon with AD and they did that and it didn't work ultimately. So we shall see.

Pacers bucks. Pacers talked a lot after going four and five and oh in the regular season, including the end-season tournament. And the reality is, Dame has something to say, say you have in your moment, be humble when you have in that moment.

It was like Gandhi quoted some shit. I thought it was very interesting when Dane said that, come full circle. Dane go for 35 in the first half. Don't score in the second half. Didn't really need to score in the second half. But, boy, again,

we go back to these wings being on these guards. I like Andrew Nimhart and compete. I've talked about him on the pod before. Don't have enough size to get guards. Damien Liller. I'm sorry. Dame

took his foot off the gas pedal in the second half. Wasn't aggressive, wasn't trying to bring the ball up because he didn't feel like he needed to. I'm here to tell Dame, Patrick Beverly running the point when the game starts in game two, you better be back on Dane time

because Patrick Beverly running the point and they're going to get it done in game two like he did in the second half. Y'all would just kind of stay on the flow. But they're going to need that same day. one interesting thing about Dame in game one is that's the Damiener we've seen in Portland

and you put Dame on this team this team right now without Yanis is still the best team Dame has ever been on in this career so Dame can go out and do that again are you going to ask Dame to do that Dame is the same year as me to give it to you for 48 minutes

is a little tough all the time like you got and so however Dame is capable of that. Again, we've seen Dame do that over and over again. And this is the best team, even without Yonis,

this is the best team that Dame has had. So Dave can go win you this series. Dame has actually played his best basketball all year when Yonis wasn't on the floor. So if I'm the Pacers, I'm a little word. I know what Dame's capable of. Yeah, it's only 1-0 and you're on the road, so you got to go win one row game.

I get that. But I'm telling you, Dame can do that again. they're going to have to put one of their wings with lane on Dane Andrew Nimhart don't have enough length Dame is from the era where they started putting the the wings on the point guards so I know they did it years ago

and all of that but like I told y'all I remember CP coming to our best saying dang y'all putting six, seven guys on me now like when Clay switched I remember that so I'm just saying Dane from that error So, yeah, I like Andrew Nimhard, and you may be, you know, having him guard, Dane to take some legs away, you know, and do all of that. He's picking up full court, but it can't be 48 minutes of just Dame seeing him.

Don't have enough length to bother Dame shot. The Pacers, to go back to what you were saying before, about 16 game versus 82 game, I don't want to have too big of an overreaction after just one game with the playoffs, obviously. But do the Pacers sort of feel like an 82 game team compared to a 16 game team? But the way that their offense is so built on speed and it doesn't feel like a playoff. They don't have a lot of defense. As a team, it feels like an 82 game team. Am I wrong there? 100%.

They don't defend. They haven't defended anybody all year. They had a one, if I'm not mistaken, a 142 to 140 game this year in regulation. It took you 142 points to win in regulation. by two is absolutely insane. They haven't guarded all year yet their offense has been so high power. And I like some of those young guys they got on that team. But as I said, to start this series,

you got to defend when it comes playoff time. You can't just run in transition. You're going to have to execute in the half court because the other team is going to not just turn the ball over. This is the playoffs. They're not going to take a bunch of bad shots, create shot turnovers. So you're going to have to execute in a half court. and you're going to have to defend in the half-quarter.

Either, you know, yes, their offense was high power. Yes, it was off the charts, ratings, you know, the numbers. But a lot of that was because they were just outrunning teams. You got to execute now. That's a different thing, you know? And so I do think the Pacers are an 82 game team, not a 16 game team, not overreacting to one game. I told you all this before.

But they can't make many adjustments to what they do. You're a running team when you don't defend. You're not changing that in game 84, 85, or whatever it is. That is who you are. And so they're going to just have to run and try to outscort them. And maybe you win a game or two in the series like that, but that ain't going to get you the series. In my opinion, obviously the Bucks need a great Damien Liller each night without Alianas.

I think Dames's capable of giving them that four times to win four games. But, yeah, no, I don't, they are an 82 game team, not a 16-game team, in my opinion. Glipper's Mass, a series that I think is going to be great. Kauai Leonard does not play game one and the Clippers blast the Mavericks. I don't look too much into that That's how the series is going to be One thing is for certain is I know that the Clippers

Excuse me that the Mavericks were preparing For the Clippers with Kawhi Leonard And when you go into a game Compare for a Star Excuse me Preparing for a Star And that Star doesn't play It's almost like you've prepared for a team

That you're not planning it So Dallas is now going to that game Finding out the night before the Kauai is out And their game plan is set up for Kauai to be out They get blasted. Seen that movie before. Plenty times, but in recent memory, when we played the Grizzlies, the year we won a championship in 2022 and Joddened and play,

and we lost by 50. And then we won the next game to close a series. When you're preparing for that start, you're playing against a totally different team. And I think that could have affected Dallas, in my opinion. Now you got one more game on the road that no Kauai Lennon would be there. This is your chance to show. shift the series. Dollis is a great home team. Role players didn't play well.

PJ, I love the way he was guarding Paul George, finished with 11 and 7. But the only two guys that really play well, Dante Exum looked like he didn't belong out there. Maxie Kleber looked like he didn't belong out there. Role players don't typically play well in the playoffs on a row. Now, you need them to be halfway decent so you can go still one in game two. They'll play better at home. Don't doubt that at all. this is your chance to go still one on the road and take home court advantage in a series that the Maveris' favorite.

They got to go get it done. I think they got to go get it done this game. No, you got Kyrie Irving and Luca Donchitz. You can always go win a road game, even with Kauai. But I think this is a great opportunity for them to go get it done. Russell Westbrook still, I think, is the key to that team, the energy that he brings. James Hardin is capable of having.

a night like that. You know, that's what you're running too against these clippers. Wise out. James is capable of giving you a night. Russ is capable of giving you a night. And so that's what makes this clippers seem dangerous.

Paul George got it going there in the second half. You don't want to see that. Start hitting tough shots. He's going to come out firing in game two with the way that he finished game once. So that series, that's a fun series. What adjustments can the clippers make?

I think, I think the clip what the Clippers excuse me what the Maverings can do is I think they can put Big Daniel Gaffert on Terrence Man Terrence Man is a good defender

he's hounding their guys you play off him plug off him make him shoot and he want to look at the rim all year make him shoot they struggle with Zubach and you put Big Daniel Gaffert on Terrence Man

you just stand at the rim brother if Terrence man hit 10 3 is great we should have lost but he go guard him you got to put somebody now on Zubach. And you just front Zubach with that guy, and you play Daniel Gaffer behind.

Front Zubach, Zubach gave him problems. Now Daniel Gaffer's a rebound position. Zubach had a lot of rebounds. And you play Terrence Mann off the floor. That's their defender. You play him off the floor, make things easier for Luca. He's picking him up full court every time.

Now you got Paul Georgia, Russ, nose guys, having to guard Luca, taking a little lay legs for the offense event. You know, and so I think you can do that. I think that's adjustment that the Mavericks can make. That may win you one or two games. I don't think that will win you the whole series because then they'll take Terrence Man out

and you've got to make another adjustment. But I think that's something that they can do for themselves, especially with Kauai not in the game. It also helps you load up and be ready to double team, Paul George and James. Harden. Now you get James Harden off the three-point line. You force him to the rim because we don't know he got two guys built in. So could possibly play Zubatch off the floor because now if you take him away offensively,

if you could play, I'm putting picking, also I think for me offensively, if I'm the Mavericks, I'm putting James Harden and picking roles with Luca. And I'm putting Zubotch and picking roles with Kyrie. Now, Kyrie's more dynamic. See, Luca's going to get to where he get a shot. but Kyrie is more mixed in Zubosh making him out to move and making him struggling that way you can possibly play him off the floor. And so that's just a couple things I see in that Clippers math series that could possibly be taking advantage of for the maps.

Clippers, you're feeling good about game one, especially with no Kauai, trying to buy time. How much times you can buy the better for Kauai. So that's the Clippers and the Mavericks. Boston we don't even need to talk about. That is not looking good for Boston. I mean, for the heat, they need Jimmy bad. I don't see the heat winning the game without Jimmy Butler.

Boston is too good for them without Jimmy. So we're not going to talk much about that. And I think that is a wrap. So as we move forward, the home teams that I got not winning their next game is Clipper. I think the Mavs take game two and get that series started. Boston will win.

I think Philly goes in and get game two. Get that series started. And then I think everyone else goes up to O. It's a big game from Minnesota. You do not want to go to Phoenix 101. You want to go to Phoenix 2O, rolling off game one. Got to go get it done.

Maybe you get a big game from Carltony towns. as Anthony Edwards said, but I'm still expecting M.A. to carry the load there. That's a wrap from this episode of the Draymond Green Show. Top in. Next, later this week,

we'll be chopping it up above more games. Peace.