The Herd with Colin Cowherd - HOUR 1 - Harden, Mavericks, Hopkins

Episode Date: May 3, 2022

Sixers G James Harden is no longer a number 1 The Mavericks need another star player Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins will miss the first 6 games of the seasonGuest: Nick WrightSee 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. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying.

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

From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 is big to me. I'm Sam Jay. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild.

I mean, it was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to The Heard Podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Herd. listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we go on a Tuesday, live in Los Angeles. It's the herd, wherever you may be and however you may be listening.

IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, FS1. Joy Taylor yesterday last night was at some comedy festival hanging out with all the funniest people in the world at the Greek theater in Los Angeles. I don't know if that's an accurate statement. I did not meet Larry David, but I was in the presence of the world. Larry David last night. Very informative. A lot of wisdom. He's a sage, a comedy sage. He's a comedy sage. Yes, it was, uh, he wasn't doing stand-up. It was like a moderated discussion. I love those. You know, his, his career. Yeah, you know, you always try and pull some gems from the greats. I like to study the greats. Yeah. Get inspired. Yes. I think that's great.

You're, you're, I'm home eating pasta and oatmeal cookies and you're out here, gleaning excellence. Well, you know, after the Miami Heat made quick work of the Sixers last night. Well, let's start with that. It may be much, much, much quicker work. Joel M. Bede is out. And last night, the Sixers really needed a gem from James Harden and they got five for 13 in lousy defense. And this is now what he is. And we've got to be okay with that. When it goes downhill, it goes downhill fast as a pro athlete. In the bubble season, he averaged 30 a year. It wasn't long ago. Four years ago, he was an MVP. But in the last 11 playoff games, he's been held under 25 points. And this is who he is. He has.

no longer a one, and frankly, very quickly, he is now no longer a two. He could be a three in a championship team. He closed too many nightclubs. He didn't take care of his body, and he's only 32. That is not coincidentally the name of the age of Cam Newton when he fell off a cliff and Russell Westbrook's age when he fell off a cliff. If you don't take care of your game and you don't take care of your body, sometimes it's both. Sometimes it's Cam just one. It ends quickly. He is now 32 and 33.

That's the age, 10 years of either neglect or just not staying current. That's what my wife always says. Stay current. Westbrook didn't struggle to hit the three. Cam's efficiency now is a huge liability. And James Harden just didn't stay in shape. Now, here's the good news. He can still be impactful.

He can still be part of a great team. There are nights. You know, he can facilitate better now. But the thing that's, I think if you're a Philadelphia 76er fan, the good news is he's got some self-awareness. He knows what he is. So I went and looked up this morning. He didn't have a single game as a 76er with over 20 shots.

You know, Westbrook's still living in the tunnel. Carmelo forever lived in the tunnel. Hardin's like, yeah, I'm not a 20 shot of game guy. I can't get those shots. So he can still be impactful, he can still be part of a championship team eventually, but they needed him last night and he's just not there. This is what James Harden is. Now, I still think the Sixers won the trade.

Why? Because he's a starter and a top three starter for Philadelphia. You had to get Ben Simmons out of the building. You're not going to play Andre Drummond much in a big spot late in the game. So the Sixers won the trade. But maybe it's not the slam dunk because he's a limited player. And if you combine M. Bede's injuries with Hardin's pretty fast erosion, he struggles now to get by people like he once did. This is not a championship team.

If M. Bede comes back, they can be a really good team. But M.B. is going to be hobling through these playoffs, even if he does come back. And this is now what Hardin is. The good news for Philadelphia, Tyrese Maxie is really good. And Tobias Harris can give you 23 points on any night of a series. but this is the reality of being a pro athlete. When you don't stay current, either you don't keep up with your game, you don't refine it, you don't sandpaper it every year,

or you don't take care of yourself. The number's like 32, 33-year-old. That, I mean, Cam Newton, wasn't very far removed from an MVP off the cliff. Like couldn't beat out Mac Jones. We'll just get him out of the room. Westbrook. I mean, it was the last three years.

stops have been painful. And it's not as painful for Hardin because he can still hit jumpers, but he can't get by guys. He just can't get by him. He can't get the shots. He knows he can't get the shots. And here's James. They needed a big game that didn't get it. They're down now and here's what he had to say. I think I can be a little bit more aggressive. They did a really good job with just boxes and elbows, you know, showing their bodies and, you know, crowding in a ball when ball screens came. So we'll watch film, find ways to get better. But I think, you know, shot making is what opens up the floor for our entire team. You make a couple shots, then our floor opens up a little bit more.

Schematically, what did Miami do to prevent you from getting to the free throw line as often as you do? Thanks, question. All right. Now we move to the Suns Mavericks. I said I wanted to watch the first game of the series and see how the matchup went. I felt Dallas had to win one of the first couple of games in the series. They're not terribly deep. They're going to rely heavily on Luca.

so you're not going to win a seven-game series. The longer it goes, the worse it is for Dallas, because they're so reliant on Luca. While I watched last night, this series is big trouble for Dallas. Number one is Phoenix is going to control the boards. They did. Phoenix is not reliant on one player.

So as the series extends, you get a better, rested, a deeper team. Dallas is actually in the exact same spot they were with Dirk Novitsky. They've got a transfermortmational player. Luca is better than Dirk, but they've got a transformational player, and now they've got to find a two. And because he's great, the expectations will always be high, but the gap between, you know, Brunson and Spencer Dinwiddie and Luca is the Grand Canyon. And if you look around the NBA right now, Phoenix has three legitimate scores.

Milwaukee's got three legitimate scores. Golden State, depending on Jordan, Poole, or Wiggins can have four legitimate scores. even Philadelphia with M.B. Tirees, Maxie, and Harris or Harden, each being a half, you've got about three, three and a half scores. Dallas has one. And the problem for Dallas is they're a little Bitcoin. They've got to play above themselves and get spikes to win. They need a 48 point game from Luca. They need Spencer, Dinwiddie to hit six threes. They need these spikes to be successful. Phoenix is Berkshire-Hathaway. mid-range jumpers, same performance every night, seven straight playoff games, shot over 50%. You know exactly what you're getting with the Phoenix Suns. They hit more mid-range jumpers last night, this is true,

against Dallas than Utah hitting the entire series against Dallas. So Phoenix is a nightmare for Dallas. They're going to give the exact same game, multiple scores, everybody's got a roll, they don't need any spikes to win, Nobody has to be amazing to win. Dallas needs guys to play over their head to get these eight three point quarters. They've got to get some big breaks. They're going to be up and down in this series.

And despite last night's score I watched every second, it's just not, it wasn't very competitive. And this is where all five Phoenix starters in double figures shot over 50%, never singularly reliant on any player. So Phoenix is a really tough matchup. You know, we always look in the NBA at star power. But what you see is Phoenix's chemistry on both ends of the floor is fantastic. And it's funny how chemistry works. It's sort of like if couples hang out together and they build a stronger relationship,

it's sort of that way with basketball teams. Like Phoenix guys didn't take a lot of games off. They like played together all season long. Everybody's playing at least 70 games. What a shock. Look how good the chemistry for Phoenix is. Look at how they pass. And now Golden State had guys that missed a lot of games, but they've been playing together now for 10 years.

So look at how good the chemistry is with Golden State. I said that yesterday. They moved the ball so well. They know where everybody's going to be. Kevin Durant and Kyrie, they're stars. They don't play together enough. It's like Philadelphia. Now Embed's hurt.

A lot of balls to juggle. Some chemistry issues. So you start looking around this league, and I know everybody thinks the NBA is star power, but, you know, Boston looked really good against Brooklyn. Jalen Brown, Marcus Mark, Jason Tatum, played together for five years. You start looking at Milwaukee. Core group of guys mostly played together for five years. You look at Phoenix last night.

It's just you get the exact same performance out of the suns. You're going to get double figures, Chris Paul. Booker's going to have over 20. McHale Bridge's great defender gives you about 14. Last night, D'Andre Aiton had his way. I know exactly what I get from Phoenix. And I don't even need him to play well. if they just give me what they give me every night

I win the series in five games Dallas may steal a couple games Dinwiddy gets hot Jalen Brunson plays over his head but I watched that thing last night and as Jason kid said after the game you got to give him something more than

Luca. He got whatever he wanted when you look at the shots you know in the pain behind the arc mid-range And then also I thought you guys teammates some great looks that

we normally have made but I thought he played great. We just got to help him get someone to join the party. As it was with Dirk, as it'll be with Luca. When they find that great two, then it's a championship team.

Until then, it feels like Bitcoin to me. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeard Radio app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

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

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

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

The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast.

Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tauntons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith Rule of Two.

Listen to Stuff to Blow Your Mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast.

I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line.

We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app. Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

So there's a big headline yesterday, and I didn't think it would change much in the NFL, but the headline was saucy. DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona receiver, suspended six games for violating the NFL's PED policy. It's a classic. The headline is bigger than the reality. First of all, he'll be rested and ready to go by the mid and later portions of the year. That's the key to great receivers. Are they healthy and ready to go late?

Secondly, Fox Bet did not change their win total whatsoever. And that was my suspicion. So there's three things to know about Arizona. Number one, their depth chart offensively is about as good as anybody in the league. They just keep doubling down on offense. I liked it last year. They drafted the number one tight end in college football to go behind Zach Ertz. They brought in Hollywood Brown who played with Kyler Murray at Oklahoma.

So their offensive skill chart is crazy. Number two, D'Andre Hopkins had only 42 catches last year, and they still made the playoffs. And three, Rondale Moore is emerging as a star. He had 54 catches last year, but Christian Kirk was gobbling up some of his production in the slot. He's gone. Expect Rondale Moore to have in the 60s or 70s as far as catches. He's a star in the making. So the reality is DeAndre Hopkins is the headliner, but he's not carrying the movie.

Also in this division, Seattle is in a complete and utter rebuild. Also, Arizona obviously knows between the injuries and the PED stuff, he's become a less reliable player. Remember, D'Andre Hopkins is one of those guys. He's not Randy Moss. He's not a burner. He's a guy more like Devonte Adams. You put him with a good quarterback.

He makes a lot of really, really big plays. But he doesn't pull away from people. He's increasingly hurt. I like him a lot. and I love him on the team. But if you look at what they've drafted and they've acquired, I don't think it changes this team whatsoever. He'll be healthy for the second half.

The key of this franchise right now, Kyler Murray's feet. When Kyler Murray played in the playoff game, and because of a fear of injury decided I'm not running, they couldn't move the football. Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray's feet were the key to those offenses for a year. They're both good throwers of the football. They'll keep plays alive. But I think Arizona smartly has seen.

started doubling and tripling down on their offensive pieces, and it is an incredible depth chart at wide receiver, tied-in. Oh, by the way, James Conner at 18 touchdowns last year. Joy, Taylor with the news. No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Well, it was thought that the 49ers would trade Jimmy G this offseason, but GM John Lynch said that his surgery caused a big change of plans when it came to that. I felt like, you know, we were close in some discussions and then, you know, the decision was made to have surgery. And that made everyone.

That just brought things to a screeching halt. People just don't do that, even with a likelihood that all, you know, that everything's going to be good. But, you know, we continue to get calls about Jimmy. And, you know, one thing we kind of, as a group got together, he's too good of a player. He's got a lot of great tape out there. So you don't just let guys like that walk out the door. He's not a receiver. Yeah, well, Jimmy G's got one thing going on.

He's not a running back. That Baker doesn't. People do think you can push him into your culture. He's a nice guy. Oh, I mean, if I have to choose between Jimmy Garoppolo or Baker Mayfield, I'm 100% choosing Jimmy Garoppel. He'll find a spot. It's not going to find it on the Niners timeline.

What's the difference? Jimmy Garoppel played in a Super Bowl. Right. And he also is a guy you can bend into the way you see the world. Of course. When I always say this about Westbrook and Baker, it's like, this is my game. this is who I am, and this is how I got here. That's great and did make you rich.

The downside is, though, I can't fit you into my culture. You're your own culture. Well, sometimes what gets you there can get you out. Yep. So it's important to be authentic, but when it comes to what you do for your job... You can be a little inauthentic. Yeah, it's not even about being inauthentic. You're not that good.

Yeah. Russell Westbrook is not a champion. Baker Mayfield is not even played in a championship game. So you can, you know, bang on your... your chest and talk about all the things that got you to where you are, and that is important, and it probably did. But if you want to get to the next level, there's another gear you have to hit. I would, of course, take Jimmy Garapolo, despite the injury history. But what I don't understand is why they're talking about not letting him walk out the door. First of all, you were about

to trade him. So the reason that you're keeping him now is because, obviously, you're not getting the trade offers that you want, which I wouldn't be greedy about him because of the cap hit that he has, $24.2 million in base salary with the Niners this season. He has almost a $27 million cap hit. Yeah. And they can. could use another corner and another receiver. It's suspicious to me. It is suspicious. Well, it, yeah.

I mean, it's, we're getting to a point now where I just want to see the camp. I told you, I think Trey can play. I think he can too, but why would you keep Jimmy Garapolo if he could? Well, it does sound like they were trying to move him. They were getting close to moving him. But he's right. There's plenty of tape on Jimmy Garapolo. Like, we know what Jimmy Garapolo is despite this injury.

Like, what's, what is the. What is the reveal? Well, it's like Nikobe Dean in the draft didn't get a pre-draft surgery. There's tape that he's unbelievable. But injury, here's why injuries scare people. Because if it doesn't go right, everybody goes, he was hurt. Don't you? You get ripped pretty harsh as an executive if you trade for an injured player.

But here's the problem. Here's where I'm running into an issue with the Niners. First of all, Kyle Shanahan is always playing these little shell games with everybody. Right. Right? Like, oh, he's the starter. He's not the starter. we don't know.

It's a competition in camp. We're not sure. So he doesn't ever want to declare a starter. Jimmy Garoppolo is a massive cap hit. We obviously know what they traded for Tray Lance. Yes. Everyone knows what Jimmy Garapolo is. Everyone knows he's injury prone.

You got him for a second round pick and got to a Super Bowl. Yes. So you got more than enough out of him. There's no point in being greedy. If I was... It's not a position that you want to of. Right. Yeah.

I think they want to move him. I just don't think they have a ton of taker. I don't think they have a lot of takers, but I also think they're waiting to see how things go in camp with Trey Lance as well. So the league announced yesterday that they will not downgrade Dramon Green's flagrant two foul from game one with the Grizzlies, and Dramon said it is not going to impact how he plays. I'm never going to change the way I play basketball. It's got me this far. It's got me three championships, four all-stars, defensive player a year.

Not going to change now. My reputation is a badge of honor. Not everybody can earn that reputation. So. Jamie Holmes called for a flagrant, too, for unnecessary and excessive contact on Brandon Clark. He said he felt like it was a little bit of a reputation call.

I would tend to agree. I do also think if you're aiding someone to the floor by pulling their jersey, they kind of put the roughs in a tough spot there. Yeah, especially when you're in Memphis. That's going to that's, I don't think the NBA is rigged, but I think there are home calls, the proximity of fans

to the floor, their swayed, college and pro. There should be. There should be an advantage to being a higher seat and having home court advantage. There should be a little bit of extra energy that way. All right. Well, play better during the season and get the home games first. Like, I don't have any sympathy for teams in that spot. You know that that happens.

That's why you have home court advantage. I don't think Draymond meant to hurt him here, but to Draymond's point does have a reputation. And like, he's pulled on his jersey. That could have gone really badly. Yeah. The intent doesn't always matter. It's the action in these calls.

So he will receive two flag. points for Sunday's ejection. You have to be careful with that. That's what led to the Game 5 suspension in 2016, having too many flagrant points. Game 2 is tonight, and the Warriors are currently favored by 2, according to Fox Bet. Marcus Smart was already dealing with a quad contusion entering game one and took two shots to the same injury in game one. He will be listed as questionable going into tonight's game.

The official injury report won't come out until later this afternoon. He was defensive player of the year. This is a big loss if he's not able to play. in game one he played 33 minutes had 10 points and 6 assists game two is tonight's and the Celtics are favored by 5 according to fox bet uh yeah good stuff joy with the news well that's the news and thanks for stopping by the herd lie news Celtics favored by 5 you know we don't get nick right much on tuesdays and we never get him in studio but nick right is joining us in studio let's hear it for nick right is very exciting have you noticed

Nick has done something over the last couple of months with his hair. Every time. Well, listen, the reason I'm in studio is because you were, clearly, let's be honest, you and I are close, close friends. You're my close friends in the world, so we can be honest with each other. You were offended by the fact that my last appearance on your show, I wore a t-shirt. Now, it was a designer t-shirt. It was very nice, but you were clearly bothered.

So I said, I need to fly out to L.A. to make it up to come. So I'm here, just to show you the respect and gratitude I have for this show in this platform that it should make it up for you wearing the full suit, the whole thing looking you eye to eye, so hopefully we can move past it because I hear from bosses who are in the room, you were not pleased. My gut feeling is your wife is opening up a boutique in Hollywood. That's probably why you're here. No, that's not happening.

However, my, at least not yet, my older daughter might be looking at some schools in Southern California, one of which you might be, I don't know, the most famous unpaid booster for these days, the University of Southern California. So maybe Uncle Colin can, you know, grease the skid to be. bit, it could be helpful, but we can talk about that off the air. How are you? I'm great. Let me throw this at you. I've just listed to Draymond Green. Yeah. And I think it's important when people stand for something.

And I've said this about the NBA. Dennis Rodman, for all his quirkiness, was as good as anybody ever at being annoying and rebounding. And that to me has more value than Carmelo Anthony's talent, which is much greater. If I said to you today, career, Westbrook, Draymond Green, whose would you take? Who, oh, wow. Best defensive player for a decade, three titles, stands for something beloved in the barrier. This is what we call leading the witness. I think it's clear you would take Draymond.

He is beloved. Yeah, Hall of Fame podcaster too, I hear. One of the best out there. So, listen, I think, so I'm doing for my podcast, the 50 best players last 50 years. Westbrooks on the list, Draymond is not. However, that doesn't mean I'm saying that. I wouldn't, whose career would I rather have? That's a different question than necessarily who had the greater career.

Winning an MVP, being first team all NBA, winning scoring titles, winning assist titles, those things matter. And Westbrook did all those. Draymond was, I think, I think he is showing he was the second most important piece of the Warriors dynasty. And he also, Steph than Draymond. He also, when Westbrook now leaves a city, this is what people do. whew. Yes.

Draymond stands for something. He is an authentic, game-changing best of a decade player. That's all true. Let me just give maybe a bit of a devil's advocate. Westbrook has shown, for good and for bad, Russell Westbrook's play translates basically anywhere until this season. Like he's going to, there's going to be a ceiling to it, but he's going to drag a mediocre collection and talent to the playoffs.

he's going to get his numbers, he's going to be box office, all those things. Do you think it's fair to say if Draymond Green instead of being in, remember they almost, what if they would have been, what if they would have done the Clay Thompson Kevin Love Trade, Draymond could have been thrown into that. And Draymond, if he's in Minnesota, not in a winning culture, not under the team playing for titles, not in a team that goes to the playoffs, is a possible Draymond Green is a guy no one knows or cares about? I say that is possible. I think Drayman was in the perfect spot and made the most of it.

Russ would have made any spot work for him to a degree. For him. It would work for him. Yeah, but it's also, right now, Russ, it's obviously gone south on him. But there was a period of time where he was, people need to go back and look at some of the playoff runs with Durant. He was not always the bad guy. He was not always a problem.

He was a really, really good player for a period of time. And then 2017 happens where Durant leaves. Russ gets the MVP, gets the triple double, and in those people, 2017 postseason, it plays five games, averages 37, 13, and 12. And they lose in five.

That's the fork in the road moment of Russ's career. He either could have learned. Okay, I just averaged 37, 13, and 12. I had a 50-point triple double in these playoffs, and we lost. I need to adjust. Instead, the lesson he learned is, this is dope as hell.

It's so much fun. Everyone else needs to get on my level. And that's why the last five years have been bad. Russell Westbrook has never elevated a teammate. Draymond is literally elevated the best dynasty in 20 years. And that's the difference. I think the people in our business that I respect have elevated people beyond themselves. Okay, but let's talk about our business for a minute.

Because so I am Draymond Green. No, no, no, no, no, no. I'm a good defender, but I elevate others. See, so that's not. So you could have a guy who. is a dynamite guest with you, but if he had his own show, it would never work. Some people might say you're talking to him right now,

but I don't think that's the case. Is that more valuable than someone who could do what you do, just a worse version of it? Do you understand what I mean? Like somebody, like, Draymond is one of the greatest complimentary pieces ever. Is that better than being, an average leading man. Well, if you ask people, and I've talked to players about this through the years,

who faced the Bulls, it was Jordan and not Pippin. It was Jordan and Rodman. At the end, sure. People were like, magic will tell you. Rodman was completely annoying. Jordan was on another galaxy. Pippin would get his 18. It was Rodman's ability to disrupt and discombobulate

a Laker Piston Celtic offense that he was actually totally undervalued. And I think we don't understand, like if you ever worked with somebody in any job you've ever had, it's almost like our mothers. And they do all the thankless crap. And you're like, they don't get a lot of headlines. Sure. But you think to yourself, man, they run the house. They run the.

Draymond has got a Marcus Smart appeal. who's the hardest guy to guard? I'll take him. And he adds a toughness to a finesse team. Oh, they're the skinny jeans team of the decade. And what they do, his synergy with Steph is unbelievable because he's an underrated passer. I think Draymond should have three defensive player of the year awards.

I used to say that and people would think I was hating on Kauai Leonard because Kauai won two of them, Dramon finished second. I think Dremont's been the most impactful defensive player of this generation. I totally agree. And he's a... a smart enough offensive player that the fact that he hasn't been able to shoot in five years, he doesn't kill you on offense. You know what I mean?

Because he's such a good passer. Absolutely. So I'm not here. I just think your, the comparison with Russ is so difficult because they are so drastically different. I could have thrown out Carmelo Anthony, but Westbrook is more relevant because he's a Laker and is because he's been polarizing. Yeah, but you also are. I feel like I once upon a time heard you argue that Julian Edelman over.

Calvin Johnson. That was, first of all, I'd been drinking the night before it came in. I had very little sleep. But that's the same type of thing, right? The transcendent talent versus the contributor. Yeah, Calvin Johnson's better than Edelman. But I said in life, Edelman's career, I'd take over his. I won championships.

I was part of the greatest dynasty. It stands for something. Edelman is the most memorable, not Moss, he's the most memorable. Gronk and Edelman are Brady's running mates for the dynasty. And it just, there's value in these people that maybe don't have the great singing voice or the great vertical leap. But you're like, man, we don't win it without them. Their toughness, their guile, their ability to say, hey, I'll go over the middle and get smoked. I'll have three concussions in two years, but I'll make the catch. And then the sideline guy prances up, makes the touchdowns. We love him.

but the reason the safety's late to that guy because Edelman's underneath all game doing drag routes with 13 catches. And I guess what it is, as there's such value to so many people in sports, it's the defensive coordinator in college football who's kind of frumpy and never gets offered a head coaching job. But I grew up with one of those guys, Jim Lambry, that stayed for Washington for 30 years.

And we had bad offenses. We never had a bad defense. And he tried to be a head coach and it failed. So I'm sticking up for the guy. No, yeah, listen, Colin Coward always been champion of the underdog. We know this. It's part of your brand. The underdog and Tom Brady.

That's your brand. All right. So let's segue to this. Yeah. Is that Boston's very interesting. So out west you got the Splash Brothers. And not quite the puddle created by Boston's Tatum, Jalen Brown, and Marcus Smart. Five years together, no titles.

If they lose tonight, series is over. Yep. And Yonis is going nowhere. Yep. And they're becoming the Raptors, which. is not one until LeBron leaves. They had to make a big swing to get Kauai got their title. If you lose tonight in your Boston and Yannis is moving into his peak,

there's going to be a lot of players that say I want to play with him. If you lose tonight in the series, do you say, listen, the Jalen, Marcus, Jason thing is great. We got to take a big swing and move one. Well, so that's what people were talking about them doing right around New Year's and then they reeled off this stretch of basketball or the best team in the league record-wise. And I wouldn't do that. I'd been advocating for them to do that for years.

Right now, I wouldn't do it because, for the first time in his career, I am seeing enough out of Tatum that I'm like, okay, like can Tatum be the best player on a champion? If you have the perfect team around him, maybe, and I think they're trying to build that team around him. But here's what happened in Boston. And it tricked the media. It tricked Vegas, which usually doesn't get tricked.

The aftershock of the Nets being so overrated, had a kickdown effect of Boston being overrated. Because everyone was like, oh, my God, you swept Brooklyn. You must be better than Milwaukee when the reality was, Brooklyn has been the Atlanta Hawks for the last two years with slightly less playoff success. The same regular season success? Hawks been to a conference finals.

also lost this year in round one, except the Hawks at least got a game. They didn't get swept. But people were so enamored by what they did to Brooklyn. They thought that, oh, and no Middleton, what they failed to recognize was this. Boston played a Brooklyn team that has no rim protection. Milwaukee's got the best. That does not run any offense. Milwaukee knows exactly what they're running and takes the dumbest shots in basketball,

long contested twos. Milwaukee takes nothing but threes and shots at the rim, the smartest shots in basketball. And, oh yeah, by the way, they have the apex predator of the NBA. Like Janus tonight, I think Janice knows we win tonight the series is over. So I would, and I bet this bets out there, I would bet Janus over 20 first half points. I think Janus goes out tonight. It's like, you know what? He does a LeBron.

Yes. What LeBron at his apex would do would be like he would always be good to very good in playoff games. But then there would be certain playoff games where it's like, oh, he understands the gravity of the situation. And I think that's Janice tonight. I think he has a monster game. Yeah. So good stuff. I'm going to hold you for the next segment.

I got to know where to go. You're very, very busy. Are you flying back right after the show? Flying back tomorrow. I got more things to do tomorrow. So I'm here tomorrow. Flying back tomorrow. That's why I'm on with you today.

Okay. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, I'm Doug Gottlie. the podcast is called All Ball. We usually talk all basketball all the time, but it's more about the stories about what made these people love their sport

and all the interesting interactions along the way. We talk to coaches, we talk to players, we tell you stories. You download it, you listen to it, I think you like it. Listen to All Ball with Doug Ghalib on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcast.

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

I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th.

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

music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun,

thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tontons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith Rule of Two. Listen to Stuff to Blow Your Mind on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people.

I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack.

I'm down to talk about crack on day but just so y'all know I mean at this point Mark this is the second episode where we've discussed crack so I'm starting to see there's a through line We also have AIDS

on the table right now So Thank you finishing that sentence I don't think there's a more important year for black people Really? Yeah for me It's one of the most important years

For black people in American history Listen to look back at it On the IHeart Radio app Apple Podcasts Or wherever you get your podcast So I watched almost every second of the Sun's Mavs last night, went to bed or upstairs at about three minutes left. And the final score made it look like it was close. It wasn't.

My takeaway is real simple. Dallas is Bitcoin. They're going to need spikes to beat Phoenix. Phoenix is Berkshire Hathaway. Same performance. Every game, I get the exact same. Five guys double figures. And I think Dallas is going to steal games because Spencer Dinwiddie will get hot and Luke will score 49.

But, man, night in and night out. They can't beat that Phoenix team four times. I can't see it. All right. I think they can because I don't, I think in a odd way, in a world of sports hyperbole, I think Luca Donchich is underrated. How about this? I got a couple of Luca facts for you, my friend.

All right, I'm ready. So every single day of the last 35 years, if you went to basketball reference and you looked up, who's the all-time leader in playoff points per game? Every day for 35 years straight, the answer has been Michael Drew. Jordan until this morning, where he's tied with Luca Donchage. Oh, that's interesting. How about this? All time leader in playoff points, assists, rebounds per game combined.

The top three for the last 15 years has been LeBron James 3, Michael Jordan 2, Wilk Chamberlain won. Wilts been one forever. This morning, if you check it, all those guys are dropped down a peg because Luca is number one. So I say how to say this, Chris Paul after the game was asked about Luca. Took a little shot. And he was like, a lot of good players on the team. No, there's not.

He's one. He's one. And he's the guy who dropped 45, 12, and 8 on you. And we were like, oh, that's what Phoenix wanted. That is not what Phoenix wanted. They did not want Dallas score 114 points. That's the highest, that's the most points they've scored in these playoffs. There is no answer for Luca.

And if you have the best player on the court, I think you have more than a puncher's chance. I think yesterday the problem was Dallas's defense, which had been excellent all year under Jason Kidd, was non-existent. Andre Aiton did whatever he wanted. But I think Chris Paul, Chris Paul knows that in his career, there has not been many times when he's looked across the court and said, I'm not the best point guard.

And he's not the best point guard in this series. Luca is flatly better than Chris Paul. So I think Dallas has a real shot. I'm like the only person that believes it, I believe they have a real shot. You know, it's really interesting. Between Janus playing point and Luca playing point, the European game was always thought of as more skilled,

but we put those European guys down low. They're now carrying the ball at 6-9, 6-11. I mean, I watched Janus the other day, and I'm like, that's ridiculous. We thought magic at 6-8. When he came out, the knock-on magic was, Jerry West said he's too tall. Yonix, the longest player maybe in league history is bringing the ball. I just find it. Luca is, it's size, his girth, the elbows.

He's a much better player than Dirk Nevsky. People in Dallas don't want to probably admit it. significantly better than Dirk and Dirk was an all-time. Dirk's the sixth all-time leading score. I mean, Dirk's a MVP, a finals MVP. He is, Luca to me, could become the all-time NBA leading score in 15 years.

I mean, because nobody scored this much this quickly. No, no, there's the, we'll see where LeBron leaves the record, but he listen, the other thing with Luca, and you saw it already, is Jay Crowder kicked him. Yeah. So you guys were talking earlier about

Draymond's flagrant foul accumulation. If you guys don't think that Chris Paul is going to get irritated and might get thrown out of one of these games for doing something dirty to Luca. I mean, because Luca is snarling. He yells at the refs every play of the game. Every single play he's angry at the refs even when he gets the call. And he plays such a unique, he plays at his speed, Colin. Because he's not that athletic. He can't jump that high.

But you just, I mean, he's going slow and getting past people. And because he's 6'8, he can pass over the top of the defense. I think he's the second best player in the league. Everyone's arguing who the best, we all know who the best player in the league is. It's been Janice. He scored 50 to win the finals, and people were still like, ah, does he have a hezzy Jimbo like Kevin Durant? I don't know.

He scored 50 damn points to win the title. I'll give it to Janus. I think Lucas' second best player in the sport, so I think they got a real shot. Okay, James Harden. You know, I had said earlier, James actually has what I wish Westbrook did, which is self-awareness. James now does not shoot 20 times a game. I think he knows, I can't get past people.

Maxie's emerging. Tobias Harris is a very solid player. I think Hardin knows it. I think he's nightclubbed his way out of his prime quickly. That's okay. I said Cam Westbrook Hardin, either don't take care of your game or yourself. In about 33 years old, it ends fast. He is now, to me, they can still win the series, but he's a three.

That's what it looks like. That's what it looks like. And so I think a couple things happen with Hardin. one is for a six-year stretch, he played more basketball than anybody because he was playing all 80 or 80 plus and 40 minutes. So he was out of the nightclubs, didn't matter, he'd come in and drop 35 points, play heavy minutes. So there's a lot of miles.

The second thing is he had never been injured. So guys who are never hurt once they do get hurt, you saw this with LeBron. LeBron went 16 years, 15 years without getting hurt. Torr is growing his first year in L.A. Came back, didn't look anything like himself. You wonder why I think. Didn't know how to rehab an injury.

He's never had one. No, that's a good point. So Hardin had never been hurt. Then he tears or messes up his hamstring. And it's been a year and a half. He doesn't seem right. He still seems like that hamstring's bothering him. And so, yes, he is into, right now it looks like a different phase of his career.

If I'm Philly, though, I am not despondent about what happened last night. they're up one at the half. If Doc Rivers can realize what everyone who watches basketball realize, which is DeAndre Jordan, has been done for three years. Steve Nash, who's not exactly right, Arbach figured it out. Frank Vogel figured it out. And Doc Rivers is DeAndre played four first half minutes, minus 12. In the 20 minutes, they didn't play Philly was plus 13.

And Doc's answer was more DeAndre in the second half. So it got out of hand. If he just goes small in game two, Philly can win game two. and even if they're down O2 because the series is Miami's home court, you don't have to win one of those first two anyway. If Embed's back by game three, they have a real shot, but you're right. It probably has to be Embed, Maxie, then Harden, with the occasional time Hardin is your second best guy.

I think his days of being the best guy are over with. Over with. Nick Wright 90 seconds. I did kind of roll my eyes at the people that thought Kansas City would take a big step back without Tyreek. Thank you. Now I watch their receiving court. And I'm like, did they upgrade?

What in the world is happening? Smart people figured out. Well, a couple things. And I don't know if you're going to like to hear this or not, but the Chiefs did two very smart things on draft day. What? First one was they made a trade with the Patriots. The second one was they made another trade with the Patriots.

Like when I play poker, try to find the sucker at the table. And for a decade in the draft, Bill Belichick's been the sucker at the table. So I like the trades just before I even saw what they got back. The other thing is people were like, oh, they're going to use the capital they got for Tyreek to trade up and get a. a receiver. That makes no sense. If you use the capital to get a receiver, you keep Tyree Kill. Instead, they said, here's a

crazy idea. Let's try to have a good defense for the first time in Mahomes' entire career. And so, if they nailed those draft picks, they took a kid from Washington who I assume you like the corner. If they nail those picks, the kid from Iowa, or Purdue, I'm sorry, the pass rusher, then all of a sudden you have a cheap,

good defense. Mahomes is worth 30 points. They're going to score 30, no matter the receiving court is. Yesterday, James Jones came on the air and told me Sky Moore's the best receiver in the draft. How about this? Five-nine biggest hands in the draft. That seems odd. I don't know what it means, but I like it. I like big hands. I like big necks. Trevor Lawrence got the big neck. Sky Moore's got the big hands.

I trust it. Out on Jared Goff, out on the kid Pittsburgh drafted tiny hands, like big hands, big necks of my athletes. Yeah. Well, that's an interesting take. Ask Mike Vic about it. He agrees. You ever seen Mike Vick's neck? Oh, yeah. Yeah. Great athletes. Yeah. I'm right, Joy. Let me bake that one for a while. I'm not sure that means anything. It means something. I don't know what.

You got a big neck. Yeah, I don't know. I mean something. Yeah. All right, it's Nick Wright. We're going to have to make some calls to that school and down the road. I'll see you, buddy. Excellent school.

Hour two coming up next. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel 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. On the Look Back at it podcast. 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's big to me. I'm Sam J.

And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill. on the 80s. 84 was a wild year.

I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the 4th.

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

Guaranteed Human.