The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 1 - Luka is sending a message

Episode Date: May 31, 2024

Luka Doncic was dominate last night against the Timberwolves The Cowboys are dealing with more issues before the season even begins Thoughts on the Bears being on Hard KnocksSee 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.

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Live in Los Angeles, it's the herd. Wherever you may be, however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. J-Mex Dallas Mavericks. He was on this team at Christmas as he was unwrapping presents. Mavericks dancing in his head. They are now in the NBA. final.

Something to behold last night. That first eight, nine minutes. Yeah. Luca was just insane. I think I texted you some expletives about how good Luca was. We could stop this Anthony Edwards face of the league nonsense, okay? It's Luca. Well, let's start with that.

What's really scary about Dallas. So they opened the playoffs against old experienced L.A. Clippers. Got rid of him. Next, it was, as an underdog, the young, talented, ascending OKC Thunder. Got rid of them. And then it was the best defensive team in the league, the biggest team in the league, Minnesota. Nah, got rid of them, three for three. Next up, the Celtics.

They take the most threes. They make the most threes. But so far, three different variations. The veterans, the talented kids, and the big, intense defenders. knocked them all out. The Mavericks, because of those moves at the trade deadline, have been a very good team in an era of a lot of very good teams. We'll have our six different champion this year.

But unlike the Celtics, I actually see great. Not all the time, but I see it. And that first half for Dallas, that was all-time stuff. Luca did what he did to Phoenix a couple years ago in a game seven. And I've said this about Boston, who watched that last night with the rest of us. Boston's a very, very high-functioning team. Very good collaboration and chemistry. But I don't see great because their number one player, Jason Tatum, sometimes drifts.

He's off ball, doesn't control the game. The Mavs have a lower floor because they are dependent often on Luca. But to me, I watched last night, Dallas has a higher ceiling. Whereas the Celtics can overcome an off-Tatem night and still win by double digits. Now, some of that is the Eastern Conference. Dallas can't, I don't think, have off-Luca nights. But here's the thing, he's not really having any. Luca is the best tough shot maker I've ever seen.

You'll push back and you'll say Steph, but Steph moves so quickly. He's so nimble and twitchy and quick. He gets lots of open looks. What about Kobe? Kobe could jump over you, more athletic than Luca. Luca scores body-on-body, degree of difficult, is all-time stuff. He can get separation from time to time,

but usually it's in a crowd, bumping off somebody, leaning into somebody, a great tough shot maker. Another advantage for Dallas is the best way to win a championship, unless you're a dynasty and just have more good players, is to be a slight underdog that's actually played better competition

and beaten several teams in many close games. That builds confidence. that is not Boston. That's absolutely Dallas. Plus, we can now stop debating something. The two best players in this league, and it's going to be this way for a long time, are Yokic and Luka. Now, again, face of the league doesn't have to be the best player. Sometimes, Tim Duncan, best player for years, they don't really want to embrace it.

But Yokic and Luka are the best players in the league. What you're watching with Luka offensively, What you're watching with him offensively is Michael Jordan dominance, but a much better passer. And whereas we used to complain when LeBron came into this league and challenged MJ as the greatest all time, and it was a fair criticism early, LeBron didn't have that killer instinct. He passed up big shots too often. Yeah, that's not Luca. Luca takes it as a personal affront if a kid 30 rows in snickers at him.

he's offended by anybody that doesn't consider him the best player on the floor so dallas is a very good team that in spurts of the two teams left shows me greatness and what's scary is those spurts of greatness are getting longer and more sustained and happening more frequently and i'm not sure who i like in the finals here's kairie after I just had that utmost confidence when I was going to sleep last night, waking up and shooting around, like I said, and just feeling like we were going to play one of our best games. And you didn't know how I was going to happen, but I felt that way. And that's the type of confidence that, you know, I felt the majority of this playoffs is just, you know,

no matter what's going on in the beginning of the game, middle of the game, before the game, you know, our words, affirmation and positivity go a long way. The reason Kyrie Irving is in Dallas, is because of Luca. The truly all-time greats force the owner's hand, force the GM's hand. Kobe did this in Los Angeles,

and they went and got Powell Gasol. They took a big swing. They couldn't just sit there. I mean, Dirk Novitsky's a Hall of Famer, but Dirk got his title at 32. Luca is 25. He already has more all-NBA first-team selections

than Steph Curry and more all-time than Dirk. He's only been in the league six years. Luca isn't just a Hall of Famer. He feels like a dynasty guy, multiple title guy. You could be a little more patient with just a mere Hall of Famer like Dirk, a really nice guy. But Lucas got an edge, an impatience, an anger, and a game that even Dirk didn't have. So they sat there. Jalen Brunson takes him, along with Luke into the Western Conference finals.

They let Jalen Brunson leave, right? He moves to New York, and he starts crushing. And now it's embarrassing. And Nico Harrison and Mark Cuban think, okay, this isn't Dirk. This is Dirk plus jet fuel. This is Dirk playing with 25 more pounds, stronger, a little better, with 12 red bulls in him.

This is different. Luca's different. I don't just throw out the MJ thing. This is what MJ looked like. MJ more vertical, Luca the better passer. Like the best world's best athletes can't stop him. I mean, games over. First 153 seconds, 10 points.

NBA game. Against the best defensive team in the league. And so they take a swing and they needed to take a swing and when they took it, I remember going on the air and saying, you've got to do something. Don't do Andrew Luck.

And play the patient game. Go out and get star receivers, edge rushers. You got to take a big swing. Kyrie blew up the Celtics, blew up the calves with LeBron. He blew up Brooklyn. And I said, you got to do it. You got to take a swing. And they did.

And it's worked. I don't think it's going to be a 35-year marriage. This is not going to last forever. They'll be divorce proceedings eventually. I mean, let's be honest. In May of 2017, Kyrie came out and said he and LeBron had the kind of special relationship

and trust that you could never find in the league. In July, he requested a trade. Okay. So he's a very emotional guy, and it may not work forever. But, bro, it's working now. And when it's working, like last night, and in that first half,

there's nothing like it in the league. there is nothing like this in the league and I said it then and I'll say it again not every relationship you can date and you can marry you can date trade you can do a 401k Kyrie's not lasting forever it doesn't have to

but for the time for the moment he's in his essence and Dallas is humming and here's Jason Kidd after to be able to have a talented young man like Kai who's playing at a high level A lot of people missed on it, but it's all right because now they're writing about that it does fit.

But those two worked at it. It just didn't happen overnight, and that's a beautiful thing. And so it's all right to be wrong. We're not always right, but it's a beautiful combination. Those two play off of each other, and you can see that they care about one another. When they're talking about me or saying things about me as a teammate, it's been a lot of people. You know, I don't want, it's too many people to name. But that's not where my focus has been.

It's always been on making sure my teammates understand who I am and what I want to accomplish with them. And being selfless in my approach and also realizing that, you know, everyone's going to have a past. Everyone's going to be judged for that. But I think putting your best foot forward and focus on the future is the best place to be. You know, all the stories and narratives are going to exist. forever. I'm sure I'll hear it until I retire. I mean, let's be honest. He had no market. Kyrie Irving out of Brooklyn was a hazmat spill with a jumper.

But because of that, Dallas didn't have to give hardly anything up. We looked it up this morning. The average cost to acquire an All-Star, three or four top picks, pick swaps, high-level players. Dallas gave up one first rounder and two vets. That's it. They took a huge swing. Huge swings in life don't have to pay off forever.

They have to pay off now, especially if you don't surrender much to get them. J. Mack, we are going to have, I think we're going to have an all-time final. This is going to be one of those. I remember, old enough to remember, when Jordan met, do you? Utah Jazz in the finals the first time. And the feeling was, I remember this being reported, Utah is a small market, nobody will watch. And it is, I think it remains the highest rated NBA finals ever. You had the small market guys against the legend, the dynasty.

You had Utah was a physical team that gave Michael trouble. Michael could struggle at times against them. You had controversial plays and calls and star power. And this finals may not be. be a Lakers, you know, Knicks. It may not be the heat, but it is four stars, three domestic, the hottest player on the planet, the team we keep thinking is supposed to win, the big brand. To me, this is a great final.

If you go best 10 players in this final, you're getting to eight or nine, and then you're like, you're getting to eight, and you're like, Drew Holiday in this thing. This is your first four players are all Hall of Famers. Yeah. Your first four Hall of Famers. You're getting a five and you're like, okay, poor Zingas. Wait, wait. Derek White drew Holiday.

Derek White's making 19 large a year next year and would be a two on most teams. He could be the sixth best player in the series. Well, I hope Derek lively makes your top ten. Luca tried to hand him the MVP trophy last night. Like, hey. That kid, how about that? As a rookie. Out of college basketball.

It's not like he came out in the old days of junior or senior. You got one year of college at Duke walked in. in pressure, high leverage situations. Awesome. I mean, if you're Dallas, you're Nico, you take a swing on Kyrie, trade deadline, then this becomes the rookie out of Duke? And to your point about always getting off stuff that doesn't work? Remember, last summer they got Grant Williams.

That's right. In Boston, Grant Williams at like six or seven threes in a game seven against the bucks. Yeah. Great pickup. Grant Williams. Wasn't working trade deadline. Let's get him out of here. Let's go.

Routed. And that goes to your theory about it. If it's not working down. If something works, double down. If it doesn't, don't. Don't fall in love with your idea. Just get off it. Grant Williams didn't work.

Just get off it. Do you want to guess the spread for game one? If you haven't lost. All right, right, right. Don't tell me. Don't tell me. Don't tell me. Oh, my God.

I would not. Boston has been, I like Dallas to win game one. Wow. Okay. Well, I think they're underdogs. I mean, I would say Boston favored by three and a half. It's six and a half.

Oh, I love Dallas. I love Dallas. Okay. I mean, Dallas is, I mean, even the Minnesota's series. had multiple really intense close games. They did lose game one against the paper clips and OKC. But they're not the same team. They're playing with a level of confidence.

Who would you say Boston's more like? Minnesota or OKC? I don't think they're like either. I think they're like the Warriors. They're very three-reliant. And now without Porzingis 100% healthy, they're a smaller team. Well, Porzegis should be back, right? If you're not, that's a huge.

If you don't play at all, and then you enter a finals against the Dallas team that's playing defense like it hasn't played forever, This is not the kind of series that you can just merge on to the freeway and you're just going 80 like everybody else. This is an all-timer. I watched that last night and I'm like, I never see great with Boston. I see incredibly fluid, collaborative chemistry.

Very good could win. Like Dallas has these spurts. You're like, yeah, this stuff is way up. I think Boston feels like the Warriors, but without the confidence. They play like the Warriors. Without Porzinger, they're small like the war, but they don't have that attitude. They don't got Draymond, Steph, Clay, especially KD.

They don't have that vibe, that feel, that confidence. Yeah, that's a good comparison. Dallas doesn't feel like Dallas is just. They're flexible. They can be any, we can match up with Biggs, we got wings, we got guards. I'll be with you actually. If Horford play, if Porzegis doesn't play, I'll take Dallas. I'll take Dallas in game one, yeah.

Because you can hide Luca on Al Horford. Well, you're going to pick and roll Boston to death. Without poor Zingis. Poor Horford will get crushed. That's crazy. 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 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, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show.

This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment. And the next, we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be.

Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. 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-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to? do a little kill. Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jett. And I'm Alex English.

Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 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 that there's a through line. We also have a 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. Oh, it is great to have you in on a Friday. We've had a good week. Rachel Nichols will be joining us top of next hour. listen Minnesota beat Denver this year and in the game seven and looked great

and took the game over late so let's not freak out about Minnesota love the way they're constructed tweaking not a rebuild here was aunt after the loss I've never played this deep into a basketball season so now I know like okay in order for me to be able to be dominant in the third round and if we get past the worst coming finally to go to the finals I got to train like I'm

I'm going to go to the playoff. So I wish we could still play. I wish we was going back to Dallas for game six. But those guys came out and they competed at a high level. And like I said, man, big shout out to them. But it's super fun and I'm looking forward to being back right in the situation next year. So Minnesota needs a tweak. Mike Conley's getting old at point guard.

He's been great, but you've got to draft somebody, get somebody behind him. Carl Anthony Towns, the T-Wolves were plus 49 when Cat was off the floor. I've said this for years about it. He commits the strangest fouls. He's super talented, but emotionally, production, little hot and cold. You've got to get a more dependable number two score. It could be a Mikhail Bridges, who maybe not have as much talent. But they need to be more consistent offensively and not as reliant.

I mean, even the Mavs have Luca drop in 36, but they can have Kyrie drop in 36. I mean, Kyrie's got his issues, but he played defense this year. And you know kind of what you're getting offensively every night. With cat you don't. I've said he's a little bit like Rashid Wallace, who I covered, wildly talented, but hot and cold. On nights you don't expect that he could drop 40. On nights you need him, he could drop 17 and get a T. So I think this is a tweak team.

When the Celtics lost to the Warriors in the finals a few years ago, they didn't blow it up. They brought the band back. It's just a series of tweaking and tweaking. Rudy Goe Bear can defend most people. He can't defend Luca. Okay, that's okay. again Conley I like Get somebody behind him

I would tweak it I don't think you have to But O KC is getting better Denver is the favorite to win Dallas is playing with a confidence potentially of a champion But don't don't forget You just lost to a red hot team

With a player that's putting up Michael Jordan performances It happens It happens all the time We see number one seeds Lose to number eight seeds in March Madness It happens. Teams get hot. They play with confidence. There's just Dallas right now on fire.

So I don't think you have to make any big changes in Minnesota. Coach, roster, construct, size, lot I like. By the way, Ant went from 19 as a rookie a game to 21 to 25 in an All-Star to 26 now in an All-Star. He's a better defender than last year. He's a better playmaker. He's a more efficient player. So my guess is he's going to land at about 20. 27 points a game, 28 points a game, and an elite two-way player who is more efficient.

That's going to be what Ant lands at. And wildly spectacular, the Dunk King in the League, which I think will propel him and Wembe to potential faces of the league. Maybe not Luca the score, maybe not as vast a repertoire as Yokic, but a great player, an excellent construct, tweak. Don't tear anything down. J. Mack with the news. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. See, I'm largely with you.

Yeah, they got a great team, great roster. However, that's easy for us to say. The owner is going to look at the luxury tax bill, which could be anywhere from $25 to $75 million, and say, hey, bud, you hit the second apron. You've got to write a check to the NBA. Let's just say for $40 million. Is the owner going to want to do that, Colin?

Because there's one way to get off giving a $40 million. million dollar check. And that's dump Carl Anthony Towns. Yeah. And Shed Salad. So it's a fascinating situation unfolding. They got a good team, but if they bring this team back, are they getting by Dallas next to? No, I don't think they're getting by Denver, for sure. They were down 20 on the road in game seven. Yeah. So, but again, it's not like Kat isn't a productive player. There are teams that could use him. Oh, yeah. I mean, Phoenix could use a big that can score and take the load off. And by the way, you could argue that, you know, Knicks?

Jalen Brunson? Nix could use him until there's a lot of places, cat fits, and I like him as a player. I've used the Rashid Wallace comp. Rashid was a tremendous player. But when you're plus 48, when he's off the floor, it gives you an idea about the future of the team. Yeah. All right, let's get started with Pittsburgh Steelers and Russell Wilson.

He's expected to start for the Steelers this season, but they will have some competition in that quarterback room. Justin Fields now in Pittsburgh. We discussed how Fields will not be returning kicks this season. However, but he could be used in a slash role as a playmaker, something Russ believes would strike fear into some defenses. Now, you know the slash role was popularized by Cordell Stewart back in the day. He was a young guy.

They were like, oh, we'll put him in the slot, and then we'll put it in the backfield, and we'll put him on third and short, tricks, plays, gadget stuff. I don't know that that's the move for Justin Fields. I'm surprised Russ would be on board with this. This is one of those situations that we just have to watch it. If Russ comes out and is clicking, then you figure it out. I don't think you commit to doing anything with Justin Fields. I think you figure out Russell Wilson and let it play out.

You start winning games, things solve themselves. Problems disappear when you start winning games. Because Justin Fields, if they go in a four-game heater, doesn't want to disrupt the locker room. And Russell, if they're on a four-game heater, is playing well. And so, things have a way of solving themselves if you win. So if Mike Tomlin wins, he will not be on the hot seat. Russell's feeling good. And then you may get into games where you're winning comfortably and Justin Fields get snaps.

But I'm not committing to anything. I want deniability across the board if I run the Steelers. How about like a red zone package for Fields? Use his legs more Russ, not as elusive as he once was. Would you be on board with that? Or is that the kind of thing that Russell Wilson gets ticked off at? I got us to the Red Zone. Now you're pulling me out of the game?

Well, I first want to see Russell Wilson has an inability to score in the Red Zone. If Russell was 0 for 8 in the Red Zone through three games, then I would broach it. But if Russell's fine in the Red Zone, they have two good running backs, upgraded their offensive line. The receiver room is shaking. think they're going to struggle in the red zone. I think between the 20s, does the offense work? I don't think Pittsburgh's going to steal being physical. They're not going to struggle being physical at the eight-yard line. I don't worry about that. Russell's still elusive,

more so than the average quarterback. But there are things in life. Sometimes, you know, management doesn't give you an answer. They don't want to give you an answer. They want the liability. And so I think this, I don't want to commit to anything. Russell's the starter. We'll see how it plays out. Next up, sticking in that division, Lamar Jackson made headlines this offseason after dropping some weight. Coming off the MVP season, if you remember last year, he was kind of like not with the team waiting for his big money contract and he got it. Well, guess what? Lamar has only attended one of five OTA sessions as far this offseason, something John Harbaugh addressed yesterday. Now listen closely to this. It's this time of year. You know, it's a voluntary time.

it's really not something that we comment on. We can't. And that's just the time of year it is, so I can't speak for anybody that's not here. You know, I pretty much know the different reasons guys aren't here most of the time, but not always. You know, nobody's required to tell you exactly what's going on. Is there expectation you might be here next week,

or is that kind of like the wait and see situation? Yeah, it's just not something I'm really able to comment on, you know, so I don't know. We'll see what happens. The media has a right to ask the questions, but the people being asked the questions have a right to be vague. And that's exactly how you handle it. They're not going to talk about it.

I would do John Harbaugh. I'd be like, this is the time of the year. It's not mandatory. It wants to show up great. It's tough to find out how many years Brady showed up for OTAs. Maybe we can ask him when he shows up in this too much. I got to tell you some. Leadership, Colin?

Come on. You're Lamar Jackson. You got paid. You got your wide receiver room. You got everything you wanted. You're the MVP of the league. you're not showing up for four or five optionals? You had all offseason, bro,

to travel and do whatever the heck you want it. Can't show up for five sessions? Well, I would prefer he shows up, but... I'm not crushing the guy. I'm just saying, like, come on, dude. You're the franchise. You're the face of the franchise. Could you show up for optional OTAs? Is that too big of an ask? No, that's fair.

I think OTAs, you want to get a look at the young guys. I think it's important for offensive lines to kind of... You know who the young guys want to get a look at? Lamar Jackson, the leader of the team. I'm sure they want to meet him. I don't know. If I'm John Harbaugh, the way he's answering that was just like, I can't really comment. That's like a, I got handed to poop burger. I got to eat this thing now. Jeez, thanks for not showing up, Lamar.

Because, by the way, nobody's getting on Mark Andrews case if he doesn't show up. Nobody cares. Like, Patrick Mahomes, you're not showing up for OTAs? Well, okay, you're coming off a Super Bowl, you know. Maybe we'll give you an excuse there, but I don't know. It's fair. Selling by Reagan. Ravenstall.

Hot take, strong take. Right in the middle. Right in the middle. It's lukewarm takes. That's what the audience loves. Final story, Mavs blowing out the Timberwolves last night. Just a bloodbath. Luca Donchich was phenomenal.

I'm sure you saw a fan showed up with a handkerchief, an older gentleman. Luca, you're crying. Here's your handkerchief. And Luca scored and said, who's crying now, M.F her right in his face. It was awesome. Oh, my. And you could hear it. The cameras were right on, Luca.

Anyways, Boston is favorite in the finals, minus 225 to win the series. I think Dallas, whether they win or not. Dallas is the side. Dallas is the bet. You sure? Oh, boy, they're playing well. They're playing well. It was six.

It's down to six and a half. Listen, some of us may have gotten the Mavs at plus 855 to win the West. Some of us might have. I don't know about this series. This is a tough one. I almost want to watch game one. So I'm the same way. Sometimes you want to go to a fight.

Can I bet after round two? Yeah. Yeah, it's a hard series. Boston's very reliant on the three. Dallas is reliant on Luca. They both play good defense. But I will say this. Dallas gets to be the dog.

Dallas has had tougher games. They're more battle tested. This is their third straight series opening without home court advantage. But they also get a great layoff. I mean, the next two days, I mean, if you're the Mavericks, you're just like, dude, two days, I don't want to see you near a facility. Get out of here and rest and hydrate.

Here's the other thing. We'll see a Friday. love about the Boston defensive guys. Luke has gone through Paul George, who's a top-tier wing defender, Lou Dort, one of the best defensive guards in the league, and Jaden McDaniels, a second team all-defensive guy. Nobody has stopped Luca Donchage. Are we to believe that Derek White and Jalen Brown suddenly are going to stop Luke?

No, you don't stop. Brian Russell gave, made Michael Jordan work harder for it. That guy never made an all-defensive team in his life, but, okay, let's hype him up. Sorry. Sorry, take a jab there. Nobody's going to stop, Luke. Can you make his degree of difficult? Can you have him shoot 44% not 52? But he's going to get his points.

I think it's just, I still am amazed that Lively's this good as a rookie. I'm just 19, 20-year-old kid, and everything's working for Dallas. It is. Everything except the Cowboys is working in Dallas. Stars are winning. The full-season numbers suggest Boston's the side. But if you look since the trade deadline, like I don't care what happened before that to Dallas.

They're an amazing defensive team and Luca just manipulates the offense, gets in the lane, and just tosses alley-oops, and they're just dunking everything. Did you see the al-A-oop numbers in the postseason? They got like 50 more than any other team. Luca leads the playoffs in points,

rebounds, and assists. I don't know how you go against Dallas here. And I feel bad because you know Tatum is my guy and I rue for him. If they don't win the series, it's going to look kind of bad for Tatum. Well, it's not necessarily bad for him. What do you mean?

They're, I mean, I just, I think, let's let it play out. But I think it's, I think Yokic and Luca are clearly, clearly the best two basketball players in the world. Clearly, we can start at three. And then Tatum can be an argument of about seven guys. But I would say Janus when he's healthy as three. But let's let it play out. Again, if Tatum is great and loses in seven because Luca averages 39 points, that's different. That's different, obviously.

But if Tatum disappears in a crucial game six at home, then you go back to the Warriors final and say, you know, you're the guy, you want the max. Who's the coaching advantage here? Missoula or Jason Kidd? Kidd. Okay. Missoula's got a good staff, but I'd say kid. Who's a pressure on individual player-wise in the series? Tatum.

Right. So some things not lining up great. Well, but who gets home court advantage? Who gets game seven? What does home court advantage really mean? Not much. I don't know. I mean, Dallas can win anywhere and Boston isn't great at home.

Exactly. I don't know, man. I'm worried about the Celtics. Not that I should. I'm not a Celtics state. It's going to be an all-timer. It's going to be an all-time series. It should be really good.

J-Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Lie News. Luxury SUVs now. with a luxury of choice. Mercedes-Benz has electric gas and plug-in hybrid offerings.

Go to MBUSA.com slash special offers. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Two NBA insiders podcasting twice a week to plug you right into the NBA

great vibe. All happening in only one place. This league uncut. The new NBA podcast with me, Chris Haines. And me. Mark Stein. Join us as we team up to expound on everything we're covering, hearing, and chasing. Listen to This League Uncut with Chris Haynes and Mark Stein

on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or 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 is a win. I don't care which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions,

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

The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right what 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. 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 taun tons 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, George Bush got to do a little kill. Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast.

I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all 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. Baseball night in America on Fox as the Cardinals take on Bryce Harper and the NL East leading Phillies or the Reds-Bellel.

the Cald's Your Angels Mariners. It all begins at 70s, turn on Fox. Check for the game in your area. Hopefully nobody goes 0 for 34. Anywho. Micah Parsons of the Cowboys, like Lamar Jackson, has been absent from the OTAs

and head coach Mike McCarthy, not overjoyed with it. I think any time you have a chance to be together, it's an operational. opportunity to improve, whether it's in the mental realm, the physical realm. It's a long year. Training camp is really the heightened focus for all that. But yeah, it's definitely an opportunity that's been missed. I mean, at the end of the day, everybody has a responsibility. I mean, this is our jobs. Obviously, we have this period of time to do football activity. I don't

say, unfortunately, but, you know, 98% of our football team's been here, you know, 100% of the time. The downside to being a Dallas cowboy is that you get more attention than you often earn. This is a franchise that hasn't been to the NFC championship in, I lost count, 25 plus years. Attention doesn't make a very good player great or a good player very good. Dak is good. He's paid like he's great. That's a problem. We have a salary cap.

C.D. Lam and Micah Parsons want to be paid top of the league. in my opinion Micah Parsons is not T.J. Watt, nor is he Miles Garrett, and I don't think he's Nick Bosa. I don't. In fact, I think I have questions if he's Aiden Hushison.

Now, Aiden Hutchison from Detroit had 11.5 sacks. Micah had 14. Micah did get two and a half against Carolina and two against the Jets offensive line. But in the big game, Micah against the Packers at home in the playoffs,

vanished, blocked, disappeared. No sacks, only one quarterback hit. Meanwhile, Aidan Hutchison with the Lions led the NFL in playoff sacks with three. Sorry, but October sacks mean more than September October sacks. Nick Bosa for the Niners led the entire NFL playoffs in quarterback pressures and hits. Hutchison led them in sacks. In one game against Green Bay, Micah Parsons, as a favorite, vanished. So very on-brand for Micah Parsons and the Cowboys.

When it mattered, they didn't do anything. So, you know, again, it does matter. Where do you get your sacks? If you're a number one receiver, I do need some catches against a really good secondary. So if you're getting four and a half, five of your 14 sacks off Carolina. and the Jets, and then you vanish against Green Bay, yeah, it's different. Because I watch Bosa, I watch T.J. Watt. I watch Miles Garrett.

I watch Aiden Hutchison in their biggest games, take them over and be very difficult to block. But that's sort of the deal in Dallas. Big brand. Players who are good think they're very good, very good think they should be top of the league, and I just don't. I thought this was interesting. So, hard knocks for most of the last 10 years has been a hard pass for me. The Rex Ryan Jet stuff was interesting, gobbling up M&Ms, trash talking, a lot of swearing.

Outside of that, you're trying to sell me something I'm not interested in. But the Chicago Bears and Caleb Williams will be this year's HBO's Hard Knocks. And I'm into it. I think this one's good. I think there's a lot of things going on. I think you have a lot of ingredients, and you've got to figure out of all the ingredients mesh, the defensive coach, the prodigy out of USC, Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, D.J. Moore, D. Andre Swift, Cole Comet. You have a defensive culture and a surplus of offensive talent.

And I think this is really, really interesting. The bears are due for a rebirth. Sorry, but it's time to pivot off celebrating Mike Ditka and the 85 defense. It's time to join the party. So I looked up this this morning. The Chicago Bears have been outside of the top 20. Okay. Outside of the top 20 in offensive yards, nine of the last 10 years.

They have been a gas guzzler on a freeway next to electric vehicles. They're out of place. They are Jurassic. They don't feel like they're of this age. And I think Caleb Williams is going to change that. I think there'll be an up-the-field, vertical, athletic, good on third down. One of the things I always said about Justin Fields, if you've got the right quarterback, you can play with a lead, you can play from behind, you can play on the road.

The bears under fields were awful in the fourth quarter. There was one way to win, get a lead, and hold on for dear life. I do not think that's what we'll have. has been a hard pass for me. I think they're going to be a vertical, clever team. I think you got the young star with pressure, the big city, the defensive coach. This defense in the last six, seven weeks was top-rated defense in the NFL. So it does appear that they're pivoting to the 21st century in Chicago, a city I love.

It feels like the Bears. This is a hard knocks. You can get your arms around. The last good hard knocks was Rex Ryan and the Jets. And, you know, that story was good for a couple years. and then, you know, it, you know, Rex does what Rex does and wears everybody out. But very exciting times. Michael Parsons isn't showing up.

Lamar Jackson isn't showing up. And the Bears will be showing up on HBO's hard knocks. Rachel Nichols next hour. So as I was watching the game last night, Jback is a big Mavericks fan. You know what you forget, because these series last solo. The NBA does actually a very good job. Whereas baseball lasts forever. and then the playoffs are done in a heartbeat, that's not the way to do it.

What you want to do is have a long playoff, and people can complain about that, but the NBA gets, they milk two months out of their playoffs. In fact, we don't have the first game until next week. Like, they milk, and there have been a lot of sweeps and gentlemen sweeps, which is not great for the company that has the rights. They're scrambling now, hoping for a game seven. But I will say watching that last night is that there are things about the NBA that are true. they've got, they have what baseball doesn't.

They have great pace, lots of stars, and their stars always have the ball. Baseball's got a slower pace. There's not many stars that are recognizable. And you're Shohei Otani, D.Hing, you're on the camera for five minutes of a two-hour, 55-minute game. Luca, Tatum, Brown, Kyrie, you know, they're playing 42 minutes. They have the ball in their hands, just like a quarterback in the NFL. So there's a lot about the NBA to like. The European thing is I'm watching thinking,

Yokic and Luca are easily the two best players in the game. And they're kind of grounded players. They're not real vertical. But I got to tell you, when I watch it, I think it's fascinating. I think it's a lot of angles, body-on-body, clever passing, smart basketball, not as reliant on jumping over people, which can be fun as well. But I do think the league is pivoting to a bit more grounded league with higher-skilled players. So, you know, I mean, when John Morant,

came into this league, John Morant's old school. He's flying through the air. Wild dunks, but kind of inefficient. This basketball is efficient, highly skilled, remarkable passing, unbelievable shooting. The European

fusion of our basketball and the European version, it used to be 10 years ago, the knock on Europeans were, they were soft, and they heard it. And so, Luke is not soft. Yokic isn't soft. The European players now have higher skill level than our college guys do because they play against older players at an earlier age in the academies.

So they have a higher skill level and they come in now tough and physical and trash talking. And it's something to why. I mean, if I said to you top five players in the league, Yokic, Luca Yonis feel like the top three in the league. Who is for? I mean, I would say just from a scoring perspective, SGA is really special. He is hard to stop. SGA or Tatum.

I would take SGA as a pure score. It's not a pure score. He's got a little more dog in him. Also, by the way, he's playing 14 Canada this summer in the Olympics. So, no, I would say, Yokic, Luca, I think Yonis. A lot of people like Embed, you and I are... I'm not. That's not my mind.

You and I are not there. You got to deliver at some point in your career in big games. You got to do that. That's part of the NBA is what you do in May and June. And so you get to, I think the three is established. The fourth best player, I think, SGA. Well, people want to lean on Kevin Durant and LeBron's still.

At this stage, I don't know that they're Steph Curry. Does he crack your top five? And also those players, holistically, are a bit needier. You know, LeBron's running two coaches. KD's the ultimate, don't want to lead, just want to score. Luca wants the whole thing. Yokic wants the whole thing. To your point about the Europeans,

there was a story a little while back about when Porzingis was with the Mavericks. The Mavericks went to him with all these analytics and they're like, hey, we can't post you up, bro. But Post-ups don't work. They're not working for you. And he's like, I want to post up.

Porzegas didn't want to fall in line. They get rid of him. He goes to Boston. Hey, here are the real analytics, Porzengis. You shoot threes. That's what we want from you. You don't see Porzengis posting up in Boston. He's shooting threes, pace and space.

So he's like getting with the program now. And I think there's a bigger story here. NBA is now heavily analytics and Europeans. They're dominating the league. Should Americans be worried? Is this going to be a turnoff? I don't. I think that's all overblown a little bit.

No, I think it will be cyclical. Like Europeans were soft. They're no longer soft. I think the American players who tend to be a bit more distracted, a bit more coddled in our AAU system come in, not hard coach. Don't have the hard college coach and high school coach. It's coddling in the AAU. Too many games. None of them matter.

Friends with everybody. You don't kind of grow that competitive spirit. You get your shoes. You get your stuff. You got your game. You got your handles. but there's like it takes Jalen Green that kid everybody thought was going to be the next great player and it takes him like until year two until you're like okay he plays winning basketball he includes

others so I think it's cyclical I think I think American players you know are going to watch and read and listen and be coachable and it'll be fine but it we are watching a major pivot in the NBA and it's it's fascinating hour two next 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, S&L'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. 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. 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 podcast. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which 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, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

So let's get to it. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok's podcast network on TikTok. This is an IHeart podcast,

Guaranteed Human.