The Herd with Colin Cowherd - HOUR 1 - Warriors, NBA, Rodgers

Episode Date: June 1, 2022

Draymond Green's comments on not being 1st Team All-Defense Colin picks the Warriors to beat the Celtics in 6 games Aaron Rodgers is skipping OTAs Guest: 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. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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, 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 I Heart 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. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was 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. 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. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we go. It is a Wednesday. We are live in Los Angeles, and it's the hurt. Wherever you may be, however you may be listening, IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, FS1. Mario Cristobal is on the show today. Joy Taylor was able to lure him into our sports den.

That's what we're calling us now, a sports den. I like that. She got him. She told him it's that we love USC's no good. We love Miami on the show. We do love Miami on the show. We do love Miami on the show. You and I like a little glamour in our lives. It's fun. You know, we like a little anarchy. USC and the U are disruptors. They're disruptors. And they're annoying to some. They're coastal. Some say. A little extra flare, a little extra swagger. Sauce, a little juice in those programs.

A little cocky. Yeah, I like that. So Mario Cristobol is going to come on the show today. today. Very excited. Peter King and Nick Wright, too. So Draymond Green's not real happy. He didn't make all first team defense in the NBA. And there's a lot of good defensive players. Marcus Smart's terrific. I mean, Celtics have a few of them. Robert Williams is terrific. Rudy Gobert, unbelievable. But it's interesting about this. Draymond Green has influence. And I think influence is what creates cultures. Influence does. And cultures are really important in winning.

In my life, the people that have had influence over me have not been the richest, often haven't been the smartest. Maybe it's values. Maybe it's the way they see the world or the way they live. Ask yourself, who's had influence over you? Most basketball fans think Carmelo Anthony is better than Draymond Green. And I just laugh at that. That's a very unsophisticated look at basketball.

Carmelo Anthony is a lousy defender. I don't see any leadership skills. Was once threatened by Jeremy Lynn as a teammate. No influence of note over any culture. Could never come to terms until the very end of what he was. And oh, by the way, he was so stubborn. He wasn't willing to even change the best part of his game, his jumper. Nope, wouldn't shoot threes.

In the prime of his career, Westbrook, John Wall, Mello, a sea of baskets, virtually all of them irrelevant. All forgettable. And then there's Draymond Green. In this last eight years, the best culture, the dynasty in the league, that actually, if not for falling apart physically against Toronto would have another title, he's their best defender. He's their most verbal player.

He is their enforcer. And every time they've made the finals, he's led them in assists as a power forward. Influence, influence, influence. This culture is a. about two people primarily. Steph's offense and selflessness, influential, and Draymondness, his verbal expertise, barking, yelling at stars, non-stars. The two guys that have had influence, Clay Thompson can hit more threes,

Draymond's got a lot more influence in the culture. And that's what are you holding in your hand right now? Most of us in America, even if you're driving half the time, an iPhone. Steve Jobs was never the smartest guy in Silicon Valley. He acknowledged there were smarter people at Apple. He was not a pioneer. A lot of phones out there before the iPhone. What he had is influence.

He created something that we didn't even know we needed, and now we can't live without it. That's what made him the richest guy. That's what made him Steve Jobs. Eventually, Apple has so much influence over us. For a while, Facebook had it, and then we bailed on that and the guy who leads them. Just ask yourself, who has influence over you? Probably a parent, right?

It could be an uncle. It could be an aunt. Dream on Green, and I think this is something that's really important. Slam Magazine will put on the guy that scores and has style and has got some juice to his game. Draymond Green has had massive influence in the greatest basketball culture over the last decade. I've said this for years about Mike Shanahan. Hall of Fame voters can be brutal at this. Bill Walsh and Mike Shanahan are arguably the most influential cultures.

Bill Belichick's a great coach, but his assistants mostly stink. What influence has Bill had beyond winning with Tom? Now that Tom's gone, where's his influence? Feels like he's behind the curve on what the game is going. weapons and quarterback play. Bill Walsh copied today. Mike Shanahan's offense is all over this league. It wins.

It's made quarterbacks rich. It's made coaches rich. There are families throughout the NFL. Feels like a third of these teams run Mike Shanahan's offense. And he won Super Bowls. There are his influences everywhere over this league. Where's Belichick's? Went to last Belichick assistant that crushed

Vrable wasn't an assistant. Where's his influence? He's great. And by the way, there's nothing wrong with that. I don't think Kobe had a lot of influence. I didn't think he was great. Michael, because of his marketing and his popularity, Michael had more influence.

Steph's got more than all of them. And so we don't think about that a lot. It's buckets, it's points, it's style. It's look in your life. Look what's in your hand. Look at what wins beyond you. Look at what wins after you. all comes back to one word.

Influence. Draymond has a ton. Here's his thoughts about not making first team all-NBA defense. For me, it's a slight. I think when I look at the first team, I'm not sure I can pinpoint. Definitely not five guys that had a better defensive season than me.

What you had to see, I think it would be hard for someone to come and show me better. and especially not five guys. So it's more of a slight to me than anything. Final start tomorrow. I like Golden State, competitive series in six. So right now, and we haven't talked about it a lot, the NFL is having voluntary OTAs.

Now, the mandatory OTAs are down the road. And I have said in a perfect world, Aaron Rogers would be there for Green Bay. because just his personality, little prickly, not necessarily always trusting. And Green Bay has got a lot of new players, a lot of new receivers, some veterans, some kids. Ideally, the more practice time, the better. But Aaron's got his own personality. He's got a lot of leverage.

I get it. He's playing golf today on TV. Many of you will watch it. Matt LeFlewer, though, is not necessarily happy with a team that got bounced at home, scored one touchdown. he's not happy with how many important players have missed or are missing voluntary OTAs. He has that right to make that choice. If you're asking me, I want everybody here.

So, you know, I think some of the thought process may have changed over what's transpired over the last two years. Obviously, now, with everybody being open, and you'd like to see. as many guys as possible here. Yesterday I defended a break from my character Baker Mayfield. Today I'm going to defend Aaron Rogers. Is it possible

that a lot of things football coaches keep near and dear to their heart just don't matter? For years and years, exhibition season, I want starters out there. Very valuable. Sean McVeigh's like, that's stupid. They could get hurt. Didn't play them.

A lot of pushback. They won't be ready, they said. They started the season 8-0 with Jared Doff. Brady has skipped OTAs multiple times and often won Super Bowls in those years. Football coaches say a lot of things and over time they're proven not to be true. Here's three. Got to have guys play in exhibition. You've got to get that skin tough and you got that metal.

You got to get starters out there. And no, not really. A lot of the teams that were great last year don't play starters anymore in preseason. Here's another one. I do not want, can't win with a celebrity quarterback. Yeah, Brady shot a few holes in that one. So did Peyton Manning, so does Patrick Mahomes. I got news for you.

They're all celebrities. The third one is interceptions, turnovers are the killer. I do not want a quarterback throwing the ball around the yard. actually like Kirk Cousins, too cautious, that's the killer. The five best turnover, five best touchdown to interception ratios last year in the NFL. Aaron and Dak were part of that. Didn't want a playoff game. Joe Burrell threw a lot of interceptions.

Brady's thrown a lot of huge interceptions. Matt Stafford's doing a lot of picks. Over time, here's in 2020, what matters in football. And if you don't have these three, you're not going to win a Super Bowl. You got to have a smart coach. You got to have a really, really great quarterback. And you got to supply him with weapons. I don't want to hear offensive line anymore.

Burles was terrible. I don't want to hear. Oh, I have guys. Linebacking corps, Rams Bengals, weakness. Great coach, smart dude, really talented quarterback. And just give him a lot of offensive speed and weapons. Patriots don't have it. They won't win a Super Bowl.

Dallas doesn't have a couple of those, namely the great coach, won't win a Super Bowl. I just think OTA, voluntary OTA attendance is probably one of those things, though I wish Aaron was there and think it would be a decent idea in the end won't matter. Like won't matter at all. All right. Final. Oh, we have the anonymous scout, the anonymous coach, and anonymous executive picking the Celtics warriors. Not going to believe who they like. Uh-oh. Those anonymous polls. People just let it fly on those. 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, Clifford 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 cracking the A-Aid. 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, 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. You know, I watched a lot of baseball yesterday.

I watched the Yankees. I watched the Dodgers. I don't know the last time the Mets lost a baseball game. Swear to God. Mets Twitter is obnoxious when they're losing. Now the Mets haven't lost. Have they lost this season, I swear. Mets just keep winning.

I watched Argo last night, stayed up last night and watched Argo. You know a movie's great. It's like a sport, a series or a game. You know a movie is great. When 10 minutes in, you start getting tense, you know how it's going to end and you're tense for the next 90 minutes. If you've never seen Argo, it's a true story. That movie is top three or four to me all time. Ben Affleck has taken some big swings and he's had whiffs.

But man, when he's hit it, when Ben Affleck has hit it, I think his three or four best movies are all in my top 20. We talked about influence. that movie Argo takes me to a place emotionally. I am so my shoulders. I'm so tense watching that movie and I've seen it seven times. Yeah, I mean, it's good when you know how it ends and you're still getting those feelings, but it's imagining being in that type of situation

and what you would do. It's absolutely incredible movie making. It is. And I hope we get an incredible series. So now it's time to go. Anonymous polls, By the way, nothing less accurate in the history of sports than anonymous polls in the NBA. But here we go.

The athletic went out. They asked a scout. They asked a coach. They ask an executive. Who do you like? So here's their reasoning. Very interesting. A lot of Boston love.

So the scout comes out anonymously and says, I like the Celtics in six. A very rough road. Competitive road to get here. Won a couple of game seven on the other guy's court. Size will be an issue in the Celtics face. favor, it will. I think Boston's bench is better. That's debatable. I think Boston's got more depth, more

size. They've risen to the moment. Scout loves the Celtics. The coach likes the Celtics in six. Boston's defense going to be good enough to limit the easy buckets that Golden State generates. Boston can play big with Robert

Williams, maybe Horford. They can play smaller with Grant Williams. They can switch a lot. They're very physical. Don't deny that at all. The executive takes the Warriors in seven. It sounds like he likes Boston, though. He says the Warriors have a home corn advantage. That'll be a big deal.

I think Boston for the league is a better defensive team overall. I'm not sure they have the weaponry to guard Golden State. My number one concern for Boston, and I think they could win it, they were second in the league and blowout wins this year, I think, to Phoenix, is that they lose leads and lose games when they outplay people. So when Golden State outshed, shoots you and outplays you, they bury you. The Warriors have played 16 playoff games in half, eight, they've blown people out.

Nine or more blown them out. The Celtics have played more games, 18, and only a third have they done that. And that's amazing because Miami was falling apart, and the Bucks were one-man team. So the Celtics allow you within arm's reach, even when they dominate you. I said this. A couple days ago. Celtics can dominate you for a quarter and they're up by nine. If the warriors dominate you for a quarter, they're up by 22. And both teams are very different. The warriors don't start quickly. Their worst quarter is the first. Then their best quarter is their third and the avalanche rolls downhill. They're a very confident team just takes a while to get going. Boston's the opposite. They're great in the first half. Then

their point differential in the fourth quarter, not nearly as special. They're often seizing control, clearly the better team, and then holding on for dear life against a lesser team in a moment. And so to me, that's the series. I think the games are close. I think both teams are too good defensively to have a lot of blowouts here. We'll have one, I'm sure. But to me, this series comes down to if Golden State outplays Boston, they will win this

series quickly. If Boston outplays Golden State a lot, I think they could lose in six. I saw them out play Miami and Milwaukee, multiple halves, not pull away, multiple games actually lose. That to me is the series. Joy Taylor with the news. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Well, we've talked a lot about Trey Lance this offseason so far as we tick closer to the story. of the NFL season with a lot of questions in San Francisco. And he knows there's a lot of talk about whether or not he is ready to take over as the 49ers quarterback, but he said he is not listening to the outside noise. In the most respectful way possible, like, I really, it doesn't change how I feel about

you guys as people, but I really don't like necessarily. It's not my job to care what you guys say or anyone else on social media. I mean, for me, it's, I care about what the guys in the locker room think and what my coaching stuff thinks. as he should. You know, I'm always, I remember Jordan Love, I kept saying, I've seen more video of Bigfoot the Jordan Love. Yes.

Like they were hiding the video. Mahomes, when he wasn't playing, Peter Schrager, you were getting video leaked on how special he was. Could somebody give me video of OTAs and him throwing the ball? Well, isn't that him right, he's right there. That's not. I want to see throws. That's him right there from OTAs. I mean, look at that.

They don't even share where the ball goes. Well, they could be flipping it over. That was too. It didn't go over very well. I want video, clear video. I'd like to see some video released of him throwing the ball because that's my concern. See, you like practice video. I think practice video is irrelevant.

No one's going 100%. Like I defended the dolphins on that Tua Tyree Kill video. No one's going 100%. There's no defense. I don't care if a guy looks awesome in practice or if he looks terrible. in practice on camera. What difference does it make? Nobody's actually playing. You're very much Alan Iverson. No, I think practice matters, especially for young players, but I don't, I'm not going to base whether I think that they can play off of what I see in practice. There's no defense. There's

no one's running after you. You're protected more than ever when you are in practice. The thing with Trey Lance that would make me feel good is if the Niners just came out and said, yeah, he's the guy. We're definitely trading Jimmy. Everyone knows it. We're not, we're not playing any games with that. We were going to move him. We're waiting until some things should. change, but Terry Lance is ready and we can't wait to see what he's going to do. Nothing that happens with Jimmy is going to change how I feel about Terry Lance. Just one of those kind of comments. One.

Yeah, I mean, that's not hard to do. One. But they haven't done that. So the video to me doesn't mean anything. It's what you're saying in this situation. I make my Super Bowl picks on practice video alone. You love practice video. I do.

I really do. So the Steelers drafted Kenny Pickett with a 20th overall pick. Kind of a surprise to everyone because they did a little smoke screen with Malik Willis. but he will eventually be the starter, we're assuming, but he acknowledges that he'll have to wait until the time is right. He said, I didn't think I was going to walk in and be the number one. It's kind of what I was expecting, just come in here and earn everything I get. It's just kind of how it goes in life and the game, so I'm excited to be here.

Now, you know, usually I want young players to play right away. Yeah. I have a limit. I think if you're drafted in the top 10 or there's nobody there, you should be playing right away because there's no points in losing reps. If you drafted a young quarterback in the first round, you are in a situation where you have a little bit of time to develop. There's a grace with fans.

There should be grace with your ownership and the coaching. So you're in a situation where it'll be a little bumpy, but that's to be expected. Reps are more important. Live reps in game, not practice reps, are more important and the confidence that you give a young quarterback when you make him the starter. This is a very tough division.

Mitchell Tribesky is a proven bridge guy. You know, you say it's a tough division. Cleveland's not going to have their quarterback, either not for the year or not until Thanksgiving. Baltimore's had a weird off season where I'm not sure what's going on with Lamar. If everyone's healthy, Baltimore's going to be good. Don't judge it off last year. Everyone got injured last year.

I know. But I think Pittsburgh and Cincinnati has no history of winning consistently. They have a nice offseason, though. Great off season, and I think they will win the division. But it is interesting. I think that, like, I look at the AFC West and I'm like, Mahalms,

Russell, Carr. Yeah, I mean, that's a different. Okay. And I look at Shanahan, McVeigh, Kyler Murray. I'm like, that's good. I think this division could be interesting, but I'm not sure it is. If Deshawn doesn't play, we've got a bad team. Right.

I think Pittsburgh could be way more formidable than we think, and I think Tribisky is going to work to a large degree. So I just think Pittsburgh's an interesting team to watch. I think Tribusky completely fits this culture, low maintenance. Yeah, everyone was freaking out about Trubisky. I'm like, this is a good move for the Steelers. No, I think it is too. I think it is.

Don't love Trubis. They needed him in Chicago to make plays. They don't need him to be great for Pittsburgh to make the playoffs. Ben Rothesberger was the quarterback last year. And was awful for much of it. He's retired now. They don't need that at all. And they were a formidable team last year.

He has been working out as a third team quarterback in OTAs behind Mitchell Chubisky and Mason Rudolph. And Mike Tomlin said that Pickett will get his chance to compete for the starting job, but there is no timeline. So they are a team that you're going to have to pay close attention to once we get to training camp. So the Sixers announced yesterday that Joelle and Bede underwent surgery for the torn ligament. in his right thumb. He suffered the injury

in the first round of the playoffs against Toronto. He also had a procedure done to a parent injury in his left index finger, which was not a previously disclosed injury. He's not expected to have

surgery on his face from the fracture that he suffered in the first round. He was dragging up and down that floor by the end of their playoff run. But I had to give him all the respect. I think he had an amazing season.

I thought he was the MVP. He finished second in Lika Laiokic for voting for the second straight season. He was the first senator to lead the NBA in scoring since Shaq in 2000, finishing the season with the career high 30.6 points per game. He is not the question to me with the Sixers. He's had injury history for forever, so that's always going to be a factor with him.

But the Sixers are kind of one of those teams where I just don't know where direction they go in now. Because you have to make a decision on James Hardin, who was a disaster in the postseason. Yeah. Do you give him that money? Oh, no. Oh, God. no. Oh, God, no. I don't know if they have a choice. What do you do? So this is just a difference

in opinion. I think Embed is a one. Maxi by next year is going to feel like a legitimate two. Tobias Harris is a good three to four. I don't think they need Hardin's distraction or lack of defense. I like the team construct way better than all the NBA experts. I also have an elite defensive player in Thibble. So I love their construct. I think they need better rotation. players off the bench. Yes. And I think because I think they can be very good defensively and athletic, I think they need another.

I don't think they need a two. I think Maxie's going to become there too by the All-Star break. I mean, he's going to be a 23-point-of-game guy. He'll be there too. What you can't have with this culture is a guy that's not dependable, got ego, doesn't fit the chemistry. Because I like the coach, the star, the emerging star, the rotate. They need a better bench.

and they need a guy that's committed to an us guy, not a me guy. I don't think they lost to Miami because they had less talent. I don't think their culture with Hardin's good now. They did not have enough for Miami. I mean, talent is fine. There's lots of talented teams that don't go deep in the playoffs. You can't just have talents.

That's what I'm saying. They weren't a better team than Miami at all. Well, they weren't a better culture. No, they weren't a better team. Well, I think they have more scores. A lot better scores. They didn't score more points in enough games to move on. That's right, because Hardin's awful defensively and bad for the culture.

I think Philly's talent. I don't know. I just feel like I've just been hearing it with Philly since forever. I love Jewel and Bede as a player. I think he's like so fun to watch and such a complete basketball player. I'd like to see him have some success. I just don't know. I just feel like I hear it every year with Philly.

I get it. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. Thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lie News. I've never understood the shade thrown at Steph Curry. I think he is the most influential player in the last 10 years in the NBA. I think he's the most influential player on the best basketball culture in the NBA for the last decade.

He's not a great defensive player, but he is so good at so many other things. IQ, ball handling, distribution, shooting, scoring. I don't get it, but I think there's a lot of NBA fans, even NBA players. even NBA players that have never kind of given him kind of the respect he deserves. Nick Wright is now joining us, co-host, first things first. I do not believe he has to win some award,

some plaque to validate his legacy. I think if the Warriors win, and he's not the MVP, he's still great. Some people are never going to put him in the top 10. Some will always put him, me in the top 10, whatever. Where do you fall in this? Warriors win.

He doesn't get the MVP, though. is it a ding on his legacy? It's not a ding, but it's just, Colin, when you and your fellow moguls get together and you're all talking about, you know, your multiple palatial estates and your boats and things, if all of you have a nice boat and one guy doesn't, don't you guys look around and be like,

why didn't he have a boat? Boats are cool? Or maybe you're the guy without the boat. I am. Like, when the 10 greatest, okay, yeah, And they're like, hey, cowards, it's so weird. It's got three ski lodges, no boat. What an odd guy. So here's the thing. Like, every player that's on your top 10 list, no matter who it is, who was eligible

for their entire career for finals MVP, has one. Except Steph. That's weird. The only other guy you could say is Dr. Jay, but Dr. Jay's got two of the ABA equivalent, and he's been half his career there. So I don't think he has to have it. I think Steph is the 10th best player of the modern era. Of Kareem to now, I think Steph's 10th, as he sits there today.

But the guy ninth, for example, is Shaq. And Shaq, over a three-year stretch, averaged in the finals, 36 and 13. Seff's never had that. And now it is overrated that's, oh, Steph's been terrible in the finals. That's not true. He was bad in one finals, 2016. He was good to very good in the other four. But what's also true is this, Colin.

if we were to say, guys, Steph's clearly better than, like Dwayne Wade or Dirk, and there's others we could list, Janus, he's had a better career than Janus. All of those guys have reached greater heights in the finals than Steph. Steph has only had one truly transcendent finals game, and they lost it. It was the 40-70 scored against Toronto. If you look at, I was talking about this this morning on the show, all his playoff games, sorted by game score, of the 10. 10 best, only one is a finals game, and it's a game they lost, the one I mentioned against

Toronto, and of his 10 worst playoff games of his career, four or finals games. So it's not a myth to say that compared to the other greatest players of all time, he doesn't have this long list of great finals moments, and it is odd, he doesn't have a finals MVP. Despite all of that, I still think he's the 10th best guy of the modern era, and if you want to talk all time, that probably puts him 13th or 14th all time when you had Wilton, Russell, and Jerry. But I don't think it's being unfair, and I don't think it's being irrational to say

everyone else has one. Steph should go get one. All right. Katie and Dremon had kind of a friendly Tiff yesterday. You know, about influence. Yeah, it started. I didn't start it. It's just on the volume, my podcast network.

Dremont talked. I knew it was going to get Katie worked up. The minute he said it, I knew it was going to get him worked up. What did you make of the Tiff? if it could be called that. Here's what I make of it. I've decided, I've come around here. I've decided I'm a KD guy now.

Once he ditched the burners and he's just totally transparent, he's like, hey, guess what? I'm relatively young, I'm rich, ostensibly single, telling Letterman, you know what I like to do in my spare time? Smoke weed and play video games. You know what I also like to do? Get on the old social media and argue with people. I'm like, Katie, he's just like us. Like he's unapologetically himself.

So I got no problem with it. And I do think Draymond, you know, listen, I get it, Dremont's your guy, and Dremont, I also have massive respect for Dremont. He does tend to pick this scab a lot, doesn't he? Like, and I don't think Dremond was just being totally innocuous when he said Steph got double teams seven times as much as Duran. I don't think that's totally accurate or fair. I do think the calves were more focused on stopping Steph.

But I also think an argument would be that's because it's been demonstrated you might be able to stop Steph. Well, maybe the argument is even if we're focused on stopping Katie, if he's on, there's no stopping him. So why send a double team at him? So I don't mind Draymond saying what he said. And Draymond is a loyal guy in his first loyalty is obviously Steph. I also don't mind. Katie's going to argue with anybody. He'll argue with you, with me, with James Worthy,

with anonymous people on Twitter or Draymond Green. If you mention Kevin Durant's name, he's like a candy man. You say his name three times. He's showing up in your mentions, and you're going to have to deal with him. Yeah. So I'm fine with it. Well, I'm glad you pivoted because I actually love KD. I hated his decision to leave the Warriors, but I'm going to get to that later today.

And I try to theorize why it would be on the Draymond stuff. So I think the legacies are kind of set for Golden State. Not that there's not pressure, but they got their money, they got their rings. have their legacies. Dremont's going to make the Hall of Fame. Clay is, staff, Kerr, blah, blah, blah, blah. Whereas Boston, this is a big one, because Middleton's coming back, Philly may be better. Daryl Morey's a dealmaker. Um, you know, Miami'll add a piece. Like, this is important. We thought Oklahoma City was going to get to a bunch of finals. And they never got back. And it's like, this is a big one for Boston. So I think the pressure, the pressure is on.

You made a list today about most to gain in this series. I want you to talk. talk about it. Yeah, I just think, listen, it's Tatum's number one. And I start there because Colin, he's 24. A guy, the list of guys who have won a title and made a first team all NBA before their 25th birthday, Michael didn't, LeBron didn't, Janice didn't. It is a short list. Tatum would join that list. You know, Magic did it, Bird did it, Kareem did it, Kareem did it. It's, it's, in, Keem never did it. Shaq never did it. Kobe did do it.

So for Tatum, a guy who, to me, as recently as three months ago, I was talking with you, like, listen, Jason Tatum is on the tier with Donovan Mitchell and Devin Booker and Trey Young that somewhere in the 13 to 17 range of NBA player. Feels low. Well, not if they win this title. Right. Well, you told me at the time, I'll give you credit. it, at the time you told you told me it feels low, and now it clearly was low. He has now

elevated himself to where he's clearly a top 10 guy in the league. And if they win the title, and he went through KD and then Janus and then Jimmy, and I'm not going to leave out Jimmy, because I'm not going to catch that heat from Joy Taylor. She got you with a moment ago, calling the heat, the inferior team. Listen, the heat culture permeates all the way to Los Angeles if Joy's involves the joy, I'm giving her, I'm giving Jimmy respect. But, but, But to go through those three wings, KD. Janus, then Jimmy, and then if he wins the title going through the Warriors, I think he has the most to gain.

I don't know if he's face of the league guy. I think that's still Janus, but he's clearly top five guy. And then the last person on that list, just real quick, Colin, maybe this isn't for the show, just off the air look at it. If Al Horford wins this title, he's going to make the Hall of Fame. And people can say that's crazy. Put up Al Horford's resume next to Reggie Miller's. They have the same number of All-Star.

appearances. Keep in mind, college performances count. He won two titles in college. He's 15 a game in his career. Reggie was 18 a game in his career. Nobody doubts Reggie's a Hall of Famer. If they win the title, Al Horford, whether he should or shouldn't, is going to be in the Hall of Fame. I don't know. The Hall of Fame, the Basketball Hall of Fame is very forgiving of lack of influence. Well, you're putting Draymond. When you said when you said, when you said Draymond's going to be a Hall of Famer. Was it basketball or podcast? Which one?

Both? Both. Yeah. Both. Two-way Hall of Famer? Okay. Okay. So I'll let you make your final predictions on your show.

I don't need that. I do want your opinion on this. I said yesterday, we have coaches, owners, and GMs that will give people second chances, and they're not even good people. Like they have injuries. They're bad people. They're bad for locker.

Antonio Brown. Right, right, right. Zion's a good guy. He's been like wilt when he's healthy. And the Pelicans are like, we're not giving you a five-year guaranteed deal, which I wouldn't either. He's played 38% of the potential games. I think people are going to call for him. And I think the Pelicans gave Phoenix trouble.

And they're ascending. They're fun. They're interesting. They got great chemistry. If Zion says, I want five years guaranteed, would you give it to him? I'd give him almost exactly what he wants. So people are like, oh, Joel Embedde didn't get it. Joel Embed, first of all, had more significant injury concerns than Zion,

and Joel Embedd signed a bad contract. The con for Zion is not the Embedd contract from a few years ago. It's the Michael Porter Jr. contract from last summer. Michael Porter, Jr., who was, they were both great high school prospects. Michael Porter, Jr., then did nothing in college because of injuries, fell in the draft because of injuries. Zion was amazing in college of number one pick. Michael Porter Jr. barely played more up to that point in his career than Zion has.

He got five for 172 and five for 145 fully guaranteed. The fifth year was partially guaranteed. I would absolutely give Zion that. The idea that we're going to give him a contract that you could void based on weight clauses or injuries, no, I'm not signing that if I'm Zion. And if the Pelicans want to be anything more than what you described, oh, they're fun, they're cute, they're entertaining. You can't have, they lucked out in the Chris Paul drafts that he fell to where he did and they got it.

and then he left his first chance. They lucked out winning the lottery with Anthony Davis, then he left his first chance. You can't risk souring the well with Zion. So, yeah, I would roll the dice. Because if Zion, I guess the three options are this. You make Zion happy, he stays healthy, and you're a real contending team.

Option, that's the only good option. Option two is you make Zion happy, he gets hurt, well, then you're screwed. Option three is you anger him. He leaves first chance. But just save money, but you're screwed anyway. So I'd pay him. Five for 170 with everything guaranteed by the fifth year.

I think Zion would take that. What do you mean? You wouldn't? Let me ask you this, Colin. Let me just ask you this real quick. Shea Gilgis Alexander, who everybody seems to love, but nobody watches play because he plays in Oklahoma City. He got five for 170.

Right now, would you trade Zion for SGA? Because I wouldn't if I were New Orleans. and New Orleans, if you were in New Orleans, I would do it, and they paid him. Like, Zia, if SGA is worth $5 for $1.70, so is Zion even with the questions. I like dependable assets. I don't like, I don't do Bitcoin. I don't do, I don't do unregulated currency. I like things.

Yeah, I don't like, here's a bunch of money. Yeah, that's because you're already rich, buddy. You're not the pelicans. You know, if you're someone that's been struggling forever, you might put a few shekels in the old crypto market trying to hit it big. Yeah, you can give me a T-Bond because I can get 4% at all taken. That's not how the Pelicans live. Give me a break.

That's how I live, Nick Wright. First things first. He's got a new podcast with his son. It's great. Listen to it. Nick Wright, great seeing you, buddy. Take a break back at a second. Be sure to catch live editions of the.

heard weekdays in noon eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, what's up everybody? It's me, three-time Pro Bowl of LeVarrington, and I couldn't be more excited to announce a new podcast called Up on Game. What is Up on Game, you ask? Along with my fellow Pro Bowler, T.J. Hushman Zada and Super Bowl champion. Yep, that's right, Plexico Burris. You can only name a show with that type of talent on it. Up on Game. We're going to be sharing our real-life experiences loaded with Teachable, moments. Listen to Up On Game with me, LaVar Arington, T.J. Hushmanzada, and Plexico Burris on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast from.

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. 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 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 Bush got to do that? 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 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. Yes. 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. You know, it is interesting. Like the Michael Porter contract of the Denver Nuggets, I thought was a terrible contract. I think giving Zion five years would be a terrible decision. I've said this before. You cannot win a championship in the NBA with a terrible contract.

Find me the exception. Golden State doesn't have one. Boston doesn't have one. Dallas had one. They got rid of it and they got better. Milwaukee doesn't have one. Find me, that's why, I mean, the Lakers now have two terrible contracts. LeBron's contract's fine.

It's great. I'd pay LeBron anything. Even now, he gets the max. Russell Westbrook's contract is disastrous. And I think Anthony Davis is kind of. contract's bad. He's not a leader. He's not as committed as LeBron, and he's never available. It's a bad contract. I don't want to hear about the bubble championship. He got a four-month sabbatical in the middle of a season because of the pandemic. It's the only time he's ever been

healthy. You give Zion all this money. I don't like the idea of I have to pay you guaranteed money and I get no guarantees on the other end. That's a bad contract. That's not an even relationship. It'll create resentment within the organization if you're paying him a ton. and then he'll start to resent you back because it's not his fault. He got hurt. And so you'll have all this weird, weird vibes in the organization. Right now with Denver, there's weird vibes with Michael Porter. Like they resent him.

He resents them. They want him back sooner. He doesn't want to come back before he's healthy. And it's a weird situation. Michael Porter's always been. The issues with Michael Porter have never been the game. It's mostly been him, the individual, the personality. Is he a team guy?

I think Zion's got all those things. But just look around sports. Find me all the bad contracts on championship teams. Not all championship teams are great defensively. Not all are great offensively. Not all championship teams are great teams. What you don't see is right in the middle of that team is that is a horrible contract. You just don't see it.

That's why there's an argument to be made that the Lakers should just keep Westbrook until the trading deadline and move him and just deal with an awful, awful first. six months of the season or first, you know, to the trading deadline, first few months. And then you got rid of the worst contract. I've been on this trade Anthony Davis for years. He's not a leader. He's not available. He's not committed.

Say what you want about Eli Manning. There every Sunday. Every Sunday was there. Say what you want about Farrb. There every Sunday. But I think you create resentment when I give you guarantees. Can you imagine you pay me a big salary? You guarantee me.

I can. Changes my life. and you get no guarantees out of it as an employer. And maybe, by the way, sometimes you pay players a lot of money and, you know, it changes them. They're like, I'm not quite, but now, most don't. Most really care about winning. But money can change a lot of things. Desire, urgency, chemistry.

I, you know, I think Anthony Davis, since he got the big contract, I don't feel he's quite the same player. I don't think he plays for the same urgency. This past year, he was a terrible shooter from the perimeter. He's less willing to go down low. When he wasn't rich, he would go down low. I think Anthony Davis, the money's changed him. I don't think he plays with urgency. All right.

Peter King's around the corner. Mario Cristobal coach of the Miami Hurricanes. Joy is Miami Hurricanes. Hour two on a Wednesday. It's the herd in L.A. 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 IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

On the Look Back at a podcast. That was a big moment for me. 84 was 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. 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. A win is a win. A win is a win. Yep, that's me, Cliford 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 Cliford Show. This is a place for raw, unfills 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 Cliford 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 Podcast Network on TikTok. This is an IHeart podcast, guaranteed human.