The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 1 - Warriors win, Lakers lose

Episode Date: April 21, 2025

Colin Cowherd opens your Monday by looking at the Warriors win over Houston but wondering if they have enough in the tank to win the whole series, if the Lakers need to hit the panic button after their Game 1 loss to the Timberwolves, former Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava commits to UCLA, and more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you.

you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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 ice. Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, and on my new podcast, How Hard Can It Be? I call on my Gen X squad from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate Midlife's most fantastic BS. Unfiltered conversations from night sweats to futas to scheduling sex. Wait, what sex? Is it just me, or does every woman my age want to look at Pinterest instead of having sex sometimes? They say we can't polish a turn, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with. laughs, tears, or tears of laughter.

Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Gianna Maria Riva on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast point game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season. And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was hungry.

You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis come in to you, he's like, you know I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game 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 on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern, 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd at Fox SportsRedia.com or stream us live every day on the IHeart radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Thanks for listening to The Heard Podcast. All right, it is a Monday after a wild NBA playoff weekend NFL draft as well. George Schultz sitting in one hour from now where Colin was right, where Colin was wrong.

I sat in front of a TV all weekend long, and I will be sitting in front of a TV next weekend all weekend long for the NFL draft and NBA playoffs. So you make predictions going into the playoffs. and I may be flipping one of my predictions after one game. I don't want to do recency bias. I don't want to overreact. But what I watched last night from the Warriors Rockets is really troubling if you're a Houston fan. So let's start with this. I didn't follow my own advice.

I've always said in the playoffs, just take the experience. And I said, you know, the Warriors are old and tired. They're small. And I'm going to take the Rockets in six or seven. and they may still win. They're easy to get enamored with. They're so twitchy. They're so athletic in Houston.

Yeah, I forgot. They can't shoot. And three of their starters, this is their first playoff series. So they look the part when they get off the bus. But if you take away transition points from Houston and make them play half-court offensive basketball, man, they look lost. Jalen Green, what is he? Yeah, he's athletic.

Congrats. It's the NBA. Who isn't? He can't shoot. He's not a pure point guard. He can't put him at that position. Amen Thompson, great athlete. Don't trust him shooting.

I love Shungun, the center from Turkey. He's got a guard's touch. He's a little like Yokic, feathery touch, but you can't depend on him to beat Butler, to beat Steph Curry, to beat Steph Curry, because there's a coaching advantage with Golden State as well. And it's a prime example. Like Jalen Green and Amand Thompson,

or a prime example. They didn't go to college. They went to make some money, overtime, Elite, G League, and they made some money. But what are their games? What are their games? Like, yeah. I mean, I thought they both panicked. And again, they're fun to watch, but playoff basketball is half-court basketball. You don't get all the freebies because everybody's playing hard, the coaching is better, you're playing the same team over and over and over. So the fool's gold in the easy baskets. It doesn't work that way. Everybody is equally rested. And I watched Houston, and my takeaway was, man, do they need KD? Or even Devin Booker, they need buckets in the half-court set. So, and conversely, here are the old warriors, state Kerr, we're not going to play

Kaminga. We don't need the length. We're going to stay with our small ball lineup. No panic, even in the fourth quarter, just run through our sets. So both teams have an identity, but I think Houston has to tweak their identity, and I thought the Warriors would have to play Cominga more than they want to do to tweak theirs. Now, Houston dominates the offensive glass, so they're going to win games in this series. They played horribly in the first three quarters, and that game got down to about four points.

But you see how valuable playoff experience is. The referees, we tell you this every year, playoff basketball looks different. The referees want the players to win the games. Okay? So they swallow the whistle. They're going to allow physicality. All these young players looking for the whistle, bruh, you're not getting into playoffs.

You're not getting a whistle over Steph Curry or Jimmy Butler or Draymond Green. You're not. The veterans know how to manipulate refs. And Golden State, by the way, is 20 and one all time when they win the first game of a playoff series. I was worried about the old team. playing Houston, Rockets' home court advantage, size advantage, energy advantage. And then I watched that game.

And my only question now, do the Warriors have the stamina to get six or seven games out of this series and then go into another series? Their best players are all in their mid-30s. And the Rockets, again, they're so big in athletic, they'll win games. And Jalen Green has to play better, although it's very clear. the coaching staff for the Rockets did not trust Jalen Green late. They had no interest in him being part of the offense. So Fred Van Bleet will shoot better and play better.

But I don't know. I looked at this and I thought 85 points was a season low and they're going to get to the 90s. They're going to have better games. They're obviously, playoff basketball is all about adjustments. But Houston's got a problem. Again, they look great off the bus. but half court offense, they're really young, and what are they?

They're just really athletic. And then you're watching the Warriors, just stay patient, stay with their sets. Every time Golden State comes down the floor late, they got a good look. Man, you can count on one hand how many great looks Houston got when they needed it in the fourth quarter. Here was Steve Kerr on Steph Curry after. He just made some amazing plays and obviously carried us offensively. Players win games. It's our job to try to help them along a little bit here and there.

I've coached Steph Curry and Draymond Green for 11 years. So of course, we've got a lot of playoff wins. So I do worry about the rockets going forward. I may have just missed on that. Now let's talk Lakers losing the opener to Minnesota. I'm not worried about the Lakers. I don't think. But J.J. Reddick, welcome to playoff basketball.

He didn't pull enough levers. So unlike the Rockets, the T. Wolves can shoot. In fact, they had 42 open threes. They just got great looks, and they hit a lot of them. But it was more about the Lakers' lack of energy and urgency and especially physicality. You just kept waiting for the Lakers to kind of shift. into a second gear, and they never did.

So Minnesota is a little like the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL, where they're at their best, sometimes playing ugly, really physical, a lot of tough guys play with a ton of physicality and energy, and it's not always pretty. You know, the Lakers, when they're at their best with Luca LeBron Austin, it's pretty. They're getting to the free throw line. But the Lakers big three, Luca, yeah, he scored a bunch of points.

He had one assist. It can't just be points. Austin Reeves, totally out of rhythm. Again, T. Wolves beat up on him physically. And LeBron, you know, I thought he did a job. He's kept waiting for the game to come to him a little bit, and it's like, bro, you look disengaged. And so it was just ugly.

And remember, the T-wolves have played Luca before. This is a really good coaching staff. So, and the other thing that makes you wonder about the Lakers, the Lakers, not everything from the regular season, carries over, but a lot does. Like Houston didn't shoot well in the regular season, Houston didn't shoot well yesterday. The Lakers are a bad road team. They were sub-500 on the road, and they just lost home court advantage. Minnesota, like those Ravens, they can win on the road. Why? Because physicality in all sports, like baseball and pitching, physicality in basketball and football,

travels. All right, so Minnesota is going to give you a very consistent effort. not to mention Aunt Edwards, you know, unlike John Morant has grown, improved, he's more refined, his pacing, his tempo, he's a patient player. So, like, maybe it's just a bad matchup for the Lakers. I think we're going to get a more physical, engaged Laker team. That's what I think. So no sign of panic. If I'm the Rockets, though, this morning, I don't know if we can beat, I don't know if we can beat the Warriors

with our half-court offense. The Lakers can run. The Lakers can shoot. The Lakers can play defense, but it worries you a little. Jackson Hayes didn't play much, so Reddick doesn't think he didn't give him any minutes, and the Laker, Minnesota's big to begin with.

You take Jackson Hayes off the floor. It's like, do we have to match up problem for the Lakers? No reason to panic, but here is J.J. Reddick after. We were mentally ready. I thought our spirit was right. I thought even when they made runs, our huddles were great you know the communication was great

I'm not sure physically we were ready if that makes sense and really when they started playing with a lot of thrust and physicality like we just didn't respond immediately to that and that if you

watch that game this was an easy one to scout if you had an assignment to scout the game you're like Minnesota took the game to the Lakers and they wanted to be a little ugly. They wanted to be physical. You know, they got size. They got tough guys. So that was totally Minnesota's

game. And then when you add in them shooting as well as they did, so you know, LeBron said after, maybe it just takes us a game to get ready. That's entirely possible. Odds makers are usually not terribly wrong. I mean, they like

the Warriors to win it. I'm watching that game thinking, yeah, they had it right. But DeFincenzo, Julius Randall, and Edwards. A lot of dudes. Didn't always have to be pretty, but it was not only physical, it was physical and pretty for Minnesota.

So that's a little troubling if you're a Laker fan. They play tomorrow night in game two. We have all sorts of stuff that has developed. This is, of course, draft week. Daniel Jeremiah, 50 minutes from now, former NFL scout for three different teams. He's the one that labeled it. He said it's not a star draft.

It is a starter draft. I had dinner with an NFL offensive coordinator over the weekend, and there's a lot of good players in this draft. A lot of good players. There's just not a lot of star power at the top. And we know Tennessee's taking Cam Ward number two. We know Cleveland number – Cam Ward's going number one to Tennessee. Number two, Cleveland's taking Travis Hunter.

The draft kind of starts with the New York Giants, and they've done a ton of homework on Jackson Dart and Shadour Sanders. So my guess is probably take a defensive player. I'm just guessing. I could see if they would take Chador. I think I would take Chador Sanders if I was the Giants. But I think they would. I also think the New York Giants,

because the draft's going to sort of start with them, because we know the first two picks, I think if I was the Giants, I would take calls. And if somebody wants Chadour Sanders, and I think they should, it's never been more of a quarterback league there's seven or eight teams that desperately need upgrades at quarterback and tennessee's going to solve that with the first pick of the draft so this is a very very fun week coming up next the best playoff series the most even series is denver and the

clippers plus cam newton sounds off on a decision by a young man that took money over common sense we'll talk about that coming up live in l a it's the hurt Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Hey, it's Steve Kavino. And I'm Rich Davis. And together we're Kavino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and, of course, the IHeart Radio app. Why should you listen to Kavino and Rich?

We talk about everything, life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world? We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world. the sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved, too.

Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio. Maybe the most interactive show on Planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports Radio on the IHeart Radio app from 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino. Rich wherever you get your podcast and of course on social media. That's Cabino and Rich. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news?

Huge news. We created our own podcast called Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast. Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it and well we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas

Brothers was this is how you guys remember it going down yes I have a very different memory of this we were talking about a thing a bit for the podcast for people could call in and say hey Jonas and then I wrote down on my little notepad hey Jonas and offered it up as a potential title

for the podcast but thanks for remembering that guys listen to hey Jonas on the iHeart radio app Apple Podcasts or wherever or you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened.

That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down,

give you context and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicalife-12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis, and I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs, and on the Renee Stubbs Tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris. Every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on clay. Jen should win.

I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lina Rabakina is arguably the best player in the world. right now and I actually can win on any surface because if she's serving well good luck consider this your court side seat to the French Open listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the iHeart radio app Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcasts presented by capital one founding partner of iHeart women's sports so we told you a story was going to happen um last week

i think it was Wednesday or Thursday I said this really talented kid Nico I Maliava He's a quarterback at Tennessee, and he bailed on him. And he said, I told you, I was told by somebody close to the family, he was going to be UCLA Bruin. Well, it was made official yesterday. Listen, I don't love the decision because Tennessee's got $149 million of annual revenue. They have better coaching staff, better facilities, better players. I mean, in the SEC, they've won nine plus games in three straight seasons. so the coaching staff's pretty good.

UCLA in the last decade has won nine games once. And the market did not materialize when he said, I want more money. Now, they're arguing the family's saying it's not about money, but I don't know. Tennessee is like, why would you leave Tennessee? Well, it's about the offense. Well, Tennessee's putting their last couple of quarterbacks in the NFL. That's all I know.

Tennessee quarterbacks end up in the NFL. Doesn't mean they end up being as good as, you know, Jayden Daniels, but you play in the FCC, you get to the NFL, they're doing something right with quarterbacks. So this feels, like I said it last week, quarterback dad is now pageant mom, and this feels very much like, you know, dad made a big decision. I don't love it. Cam Newton voiced his opinion on this. Whoever advised this kid to sit out and chase in hopes for more money is a fool. Because the reality is this, and I'll need to tell everybody about, what NIL was and is intended for.

It's just to make your college experience comfortable. This is not forever money. You have to understand that. Even though you're talking about millions and millions and millions of money. By the way, a couple million bucks in L.A., welcome to the 45% tax bracket minimum. I mean, so that stuff, I mean, trust me, I live out here. A smoothie cost you about $16, a good one. In Tennessee, it probably costs you six, and there's no state tax there.

So the money goes nowhere in L.A., and it goes a long way. But, I mean, just to me, if I'm a quarterback, if I was coming out of high school or a young quarterback, there are programs I would go to. And it would be programs that put NFL offensive linemen in the NFL, like, you know, Ohio State, Notre Dame, And, you know, Georgia, I'm going to a place where I get protection, where I've got, you know, really good playmakers, so I'm not sitting there running for my life, throwing it like guys that are unrestricted free agent level guys in the NFL. That's Tennessee. That's not UCLA. UCLA put some guys in the NFL, but Tennessee is a better football program.

So I wish him well. It's certainly a big ad for UCLA. There's no question about that. But the market did not materialize. There was not a huge market. Belichick turned off. I talked to another person at a top 10 program really turned off by it. And this was such a public story.

It's going to stick to the kid. So he's going to have to really play well. A lot of this stuff, we don't see how the sausage is made. It's kind of ugly. This NIL stuff, it's kind of ugly. But we don't see how it, we don't really see what happens. But this was so public that it's going to stick to the kid. So he's going to have to be great at UCLA.

And UCLA doesn't have great talent. All right. So in the big 10, I mean, I'll throw it out off the top of my head. What are they? The seventh to eighth best football program. Tennessee is as well funded as anybody in the SEC. That isn't a big boy adult football program.

So I don't love to move. Chasing money is folks, even in the NFL. You don't make real money in the NFL to your second contract. And Cam points out, this is not forever money in the NIL. It's to make college more reasonable and more comfortable. and pizzas on me, if you're looking to get rich in college and you're just going to take the biggest check,

I think most of the time that's not going to be the right fit. The football's about fit and about coaching and about support systems, not just about get me mine. You know, talk to guys who have played in good organizations like the Eagles and the Packers and the Rams and they go chase money and free agency. Go ask them how happy they are, right?

It's not Jordan with news, No, no, no, no, turn on the news. This is the herd line news. On the NFL draft kicks off Thursday, and one of the biggest question marks is in the top five, whether the Browns and Giants will both pass on taking a quarterback. Now, according to Daniel Jeremiah, who will be on the show today. It's almost a game of chicken of who's going to pay the biggest price and how much they love one of these quarterbacks.

Reference, Giants have Tommy DeVille. James Winston, Russell Wilson, Browns, obviously, Deshawn, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett. Now, I believe that should the Giants pass, should the Giants take Shador Sanders and pass on Abdul Carter, I believe the Patriots would then take Abdul Carter at 4 because I know they're really like Will Campbell. They've done a lot of homework on them, the offensive tackle at LSU. But Abdul Carter is viewed as a generational player. And even though the Patriots have Harold Landry, they have Keanu, on White to pass on Abdul Carter at four would be a big, big deal.

Yeah, I think NFL people that I talked to this weekend, they view Cam Ward as a sure thing, Travis Hunter is a sure thing, Abdul Carter is a sure thing. And then the draft becomes, should be a really good player. I don't think Shador Sanders and most quarterbacks are viewed as a sure thing. So the giants are sitting there thinking, well, Abdul Carter's a sure thing. He's going to start day one and be a really good player. And they're absolutely right. Shadur, though, is a quarterback and we'll touch the ball 65 times a game.

He'll win us games. So, I mean, the Giants have had a good D-line for years and can't sniff the playoffs. So you can get all the defensive ends and rush ends you want. You've got to move the chains, right? You've got to move the sticks. So it's a tough situation where the Giants can take a sure thing, but it won't change outcomes. Or they can go in a 60-40 proposition, but it will change outcomes. And this matters to me.

You start looking at this division now. Philadelphia with Jalen Hertz, Washington with Jaden Daniels. You can't have a ham and egg or a quarterback. Right. To me, you go get a Schnoor Sanders. You get four or five years now to load up the roster. Because you have a lot of ground to make up on Washington and Philadelphia. You're not doing it with Abdul Carter.

Yeah. That's one guy that's worth if he becomes a pro bowler. worth half a point a game. You can get a pass rush or in free agency. It is almost impossible to get a franchise changing quarterback other than the draft. Now, Shador Sanders might not be a sure thing, but he feels Taylor made for New York. And I know that that building, there are people in that building that really like him.

I also think there are people in that building. I've been told it like Jackson Dart. Yeah, Jackson Dart's also interesting. Maybe second round, maybe you come back up. The Giants, that's where the draft starts. You said earlier, that to me is where the draft starts. at three. Sticking with the draft,

the Raiders, Pete Carroll, hold the six overall pick and have been heavily linked to Ashton Genti. Speaking at their pre-draft presser, GM John Spitech was asked specifically about drafting the Boisey State running back. Take a listen. Ashton Genty can talk about in the top ten

about pretty much everybody's put together in my draft. What do you think about him in particular makes him so special to where he might be. I'm going to be careful about talking about any specific player, But, you know, more broadly to the running back question, I mean, we just saw Sequin Barclay just changed the Eagles in one year. Now they had a great team around them. And, you know, it was adding an elite player. And I think when you sit where we sit, I mean, the idea is to add elite players at any position.

Yeah, there's a lot there to take in. I think he may, I really do. I think if I, I said this last week, I did a, if I was general manager, here's who I would take. And I think once you committed to Gino Smith and Chip Kelly, it makes drafting Ashton Genty redeemable because Gino is a very capable quarterback on play action. Translation, solid run game. Well, the Raiders have no run game. So you've got to solve that. I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if they get Ashton Genty in the first round.

And in the fifth or sixth round, they go get another back. So Gino Smith is two quarterbacks. There is time to throw with a prominent run game, Gino. And this is a little Sam Darnel, too. And then there is frenetic, throwing on third and long, and then Sam and Gino become really ordinary players. So this, to me, is not just about solving running back. It's elevating Gino Smith,

who you're in a relationship with for probably two years. What's interesting is you go back to the Anthony Richardson year. Pete Carroll was taking selfies with all the quarterbacks, including Richardson, up taking Devon Witherspoon with the fifth pick. This could very well be a smokescreen. You never really know with Pete. You just don't.

He loves corners. He loves cornerbacks early in the draft. But this might be a little high. Oh, it is. Will Johnson. Yeah, Will's not a burner. Right. He's his own guy.

He's terrific. Terrific. But he's not a four-four guy. Yeah, you're not going to put. He's not shutting people down. Will's just the best corner in this draft. We don't have a superstar corner. We have Michigan has one, Texas.

has one, they're really good players. There's a lot of good corners, but there's no superstar. So I don't think, and I am a huge Will Johnson fan. I have him going nine of the Saints. Yeah. But Ashton Genty to me, you could roll the dice. I do think the Raiders would consider this. The Raiders would consider, listen, number six is a little rich.

We got to get better as a football team. We're going to trade down. Yeah, yeah. Like maybe only to 11, and then you get another draft pick and you take the North Carolina running back, Hampton. Yeah, he's. I could see that. If I had somebody this weekend tell me they thought he was a better version of Joe Mixer. Yeah, you know, yeah.

You mentioned Hampton also. Then you can jump right ahead of Dallas because you worry about Dallas taking him at 12 because they need a running back. The other part, too, is a big part of Gino wanting to be a raider was the relationship with Pete, but also Chip Kelly. And if you think about Chip Kelly, he has always loved great running backs. In fact, LaShawn's, McCoy's two best years were with Chip Kelly. They could be extremely creative with a running game. Regardless of if the Raiders take Gentie at 6, if they hold that pick, Colin, they got to get at least one, maybe two running backs to your point. We talked a lot about Caitlin Clark last week, a lot.

Specifically, she was snubbed from Time 100's most influential list. Colin, you love this. we all know how influential Clark has been, and here's some more proof. According to Fanatics, she had the second highest jersey among selling, among all basketball players, behind only Steph Curry. That put her ahead of Tatum, LeBron, Michael Jordan, Wimby, Luca. What an absolute disgrace that she was not most influential. She should be in the top 20.

Yeah, I mean, I said this last week. Michael Jordan obviously was influential, but Magic and Bird get a lot of credit for many beliefs saving the NBA. I don't think they saved it, but, I mean, Magic and Bird are icons for a reason. They had a rivalry and they played in college. So Michael didn't save the NBA. He elevated it. Michael made it global.

But Tiger Woods, as Jack Nicholas was getting older, golf needed a guy. Yeah. Tiger-like doubled purses. like that's changing a sport. I mean, golf would have always survived, but guys, you know, guys like Mark O'Meara figured that out very quickly. Hey, everybody, this dude is getting, we're going to all get rich on this guy.

And he's a great guy. So Tiger changed a sport. Caitlin changed a sport. They used to have commercial flights. Yeah. She arrived, they all fly now private. That's the Caitlin Clark effect. Think about that.

As great as Michael was, it was magic and bird that got you. on better flights, right? Yeah, you mentioned Clark, too, and how cool MJ was. There isn't a confidence about Caitlin Clark that you just don't see, and we haven't seen in the WMBA. There's a swagger to her, not just her game, but her confidence. And I actually see some of that with Paige Becker, so I'm really excited about where the league is going,

but the Caitlin Clark commission, Colin, was catastrophic for any list. Yeah, Time magazine thought too much. Don't outthink the room. Influential. Influential is the word you used. She is the most influential WNBA player, and I'm not even sure who is second. I'm not sure there is a second.

Jordan with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd line news. So through the years, I've always had a problem with six, four, or under point guards or guards that can't shoot, that are hyper athletic.

Derek Rose, John Wall, Westbrook. It's like, okay, John Morant. I'm like, okay, you can't shoot, so you're going to have to score at the rim, and that means you're going to go up against Biggs, and you're going to get injured, and Westbrook has been a player that's super talented, but can drive me crazy. He doesn't have a lot of – he's got one gear, which, by the way, sometimes you need that gear, and he's going to be a Hall of Famer.

I would not doubt that. But it was very interesting. Nuggets, Clippers, Clippers outplayed him for about three quarters, and then the Nuggets made a decision in the fourth quarter. We're going with Russ. and you got the full Russell Westbrook experience, hero baskets, insane energy, turnovers, questionable decisions. But man, you got rebounding, man, you got energy.

And for a 6-4 guy, in a league of people that are seven feet tall, you can't miss him. So he's got this quality where when you watch him, and he's on your favorite team, you're holding your breath a little. But I thought Denver needed his energy, and the coaching staff, deserves credit. They're like, we're playing him and we're getting him out there. And I thought he was incredibly valuable. And again, if you run down his plays, it's a lot of hit and miss. He was one for six from the field in the first three quarters. And the Denver staff is like, now we're going to go with Ross. And this team is so Yokic dependent. It's a one-man,

Shokic, that they need another gear. And I like Jamal Murray, but he's never been an all-star. sort of illustrates Denver's dilemma that there's so much about Yokic and Murray's a good player, but he's not a great player that they don't trust Michael Porter clearly. He's not getting minutes late. And so, you know, you're sitting around there like, okay, we know Yokch is great. Who's giving us energy of Jamal Murray's just a little off? And we, you know, we can't ask him to go bucket to bucket with Hardin and Kauai. And so it's like, like let's put rush in. And I thought, uh, I still like the clippers in the series, but you got to be fair in this business is that, you know,

players that can drive me crazy, Westbrook's rebounding, his energy, his production was absolutely necessary. And he deserves credit. If he doesn't play it in the fourth quarter, they don't win that game. I really believe that. They don't win that game. And, you know, again, it was the full Russell Westbrook experience, but, you know, we can't always use the hammer here. Sometimes we got to be fair, and I don't think they win the game without him. And I don't, you know, he could play in game two and have several key turnovers. He plays full speed all the time. And I've said this. In a world of load management, Russell Westbrook is ready to go on the floor any time you ask him. And here's the Denver

coach after the GEO win. Russ is Russ. Defensively, he was absolutely incredible. He was playing free safety out there. I thought a lot of the reasons why the turnovers happened, even if it wasn't him forcing it, just the way he was roaming around and impacting the game, you know, was great for us. And then offensively, you know, a couple of times I thought he attacked. Maybe we could have pulled it out and executed, but that's what Russ does. He's going to play in attack mode. So I don't think he's going to change after 17 years.

Yeah, Russellmania is perfect. He's just going to play one speed. He's going 100 miles an hour. And guess what? playoff basketball is intense basketball. And Denver, the rest of that offense, outside of Yokic sometimes, can get a little lethargic and a little stale, and Russell's never stale. And I always have believed that the really profound players in this league, when they're on the

floor, they jump off the TV screen. Luca does that. You can tell when Luca's on the floor. And Russell, again, in a world of 6-7, 6-8-6-9 guys at 6-4, he plays. way above his size. So good for him. Don't forget, top of the hour. Daniel Jeremiah stops by where Colin was right, where Colin was wrong. Boy, Jimmy Butler delivered, did he not? We'll talk about that coming up. Tankless made simple.com. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays at noon

Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, it's us, the Jonas brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, huge news? We created our own podcast called Hays. Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to... We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special.

So how did we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band. Before Jonas Brothers was... This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this.

We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it.

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. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in.

I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise. Breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context and ask the questions everybody wants answered.

SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slic Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis. And I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs. And on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening. at Roland Garris, every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on Clay.

Jen she went. I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lerna Rubakina is arguably the best player in the world right now, and I actually can win on any surface, because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court-side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the I-Heart Radio app.

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. So NBA playoffs will continue. The one series where I watched the Warriors play at the end of the year, and they just looked tired and small. And Steve Curran said at the time, like, we need some days off. Well, you watched a very energized team against Houston, and Houston's really, really talented, but young.

and the Warriors game plan was, don't give them any transition points. Make them beat you in the half court, and Houston can't. Now, they'll be better in game two. Houston has to be in the half court. I mean, you're looking up in the third quarter, you're like, how many points of the, how many points of the rockets have? 30 what? But I thought Jimmy Butler's value was on full display.

Get a bucket, Jimmy. So in the fourth quarter where Houston was making a run, because Golden State dominates the first three quarters, and all of a sudden here in the fourth quarter, Houston makes a run. It's not about getting a three from Curry. It's about getting a bucket. You're on the road. So they have two guys, Golden State, that Steve Kerr trusts to get a bucket,

one's Curry and one's Butler. And in the final two minutes, Jimmy had an offensive rebound, forced to turn over and scored six points. In fact, I don't know if people realize this. In the last five minutes of the game, Steph Curry didn't score and only took one shot. Think about that. I thought I told you that.

Yeah, the game's going to get tight. they're mugging Curry. He won't score and he'll take one shot. And it was fine because of Jimmy Butler. And Draymond's great, but you can't depend on Draymond offensively. So I just, I think what you watch, Steve Kerr is telling you who he trusts by who he plays. And Jonathan Cominga, who I think has to play some minutes in the series eventually, they're not playing.

They didn't play against the clippers. He didn't play the playing. They don't trust him. And it's amazing that Jimmy Butler arrived and immediately you can play or you can't. Kurt trusts him. And Curry trusts him. So the fact that Steph Curry did not score in the final five minutes on the road and took one shot and they won comfortably, all you need to know about Jimmy Butler's influence, and here he is after the game.

We're still young. I mean, I think Seth is 37. I'm 35. Dre is like 35, but we got some young guns that also get it done as well. Stayed in it, gave up a little run, but in the end we won. Something else. I don't want to pick on anybody here. But three years ago, and I've said this before,

I understand that in the NBA, you know, football is about winning. College or pro. If you win games, I don't care what it looks like. Win games. I mean, the Chiefs were much more fun to watch with Tyreek Hill. They went back-to-back Super Bowls without him. Miami's fun to watch. They don't win enough.

All right. So basketball's different, though. Optics matter. Aesthetics matter. Guys make the Hall of Fame that aren't winning players. So everybody, when John Morant breaks into the league, everybody's like, wow. John Morant three years ago was a better basketball player than Aunt Edwards. And I didn't think it was necessarily close.

Ant Edwards now is a significantly better player than John Morant. And it shows you what focus and maturity and dedication does. Yeah, it's not, when they came into the league, Jod's average in almost 28. Anthony Edwards was averaged in 21 and couldn't shoot. It's a totally different ball player now. Aunt Edwards, not a GM in the league that would take John Morant over Aunt Edwards. And Jod's spectacular, but he's gotten worse shooting the last three years.

and aunt in his rookie season was a guy you didn't want taking threes. This year he led the NBA and three-pointers made. And that's credit to Ann Edwards. You can see the time and the dedication and the focus that he has put into his game. And you can watch. He is a leader of that team. He is the unquestioned leader. Doesn't mean he's the best rebounder.

Doesn't always mean he's the best defender. But they're giving him the ball to take a shot. And three years ago, everybody in the league would have taken Jha Moran. Nobody in the NBA now is taking Jha over Ann Edwards. And again, Jaws young. I understand that. These guys, they come into the league at 19, 20 years old. Ant's still only 23 years old.

But you got the hand grenade thing and the grenade celebrations and the videos on IG with Jha Morant. And it's like Michael Jordan got famous most of all because he was great at basketball. When you worry too much about the famous celebrity thing, keep the thing, the thing, and you can see the time that Aunt Edwards has put into basketball. He is a completely patient, smart, well-rounded, focused, mature player, and you can see that the team feeds off him.

He's a leader. John Moran's super talented, but I look at Jaws' numbers over the last three years. He shoots worse every year. Well, why? You got to get in the gym, bro. That's what it's about. That's what this league's about. Keep the thing, the thing.

And I watched Oklahoma City, and they're just a dysfunctional operation. Would they have been a dysfunctional operation? Once your star underachieves or your star gets into trouble, the coaching staff's done. The coaching staff is, it's like drafting a quarterback. If it goes sideways, everybody gets fired. So in the NBA, Aunt Edwards, he's going to ensure guys get contracts, the front office stays the same, Chris Finch gets extensions. That's because you can see the coaching with Ant and you can see the dedication by Aunt. And it's, again, I'm not trying to take a shot at John Morant, but it's like small guys that shoot poorly and it gets worse, playoffs is not going to work.

Now, again, Oklahoma City is really good. Oklahoma City, and I was watching Oklahoma City hammer them. And my takeover the weekend is, listen, Oklahoma City may end up being, could they be a dynasty, could they do a Celtics? Or are they going to be kind of like a Milwaukee or a Denver, and they win a title, and they have to pay everybody, and some guys leave or they have injuries? But Oklahoma City is really good and really deep.

And they create turnovers, and they don't commit many, and they got a great GM, a smart young. coach and a star in SGA. So there's no, you know, it's not the end of the world getting clubbed by Oklahoma City. They blew people out all year. They just come in waves defensively. But it, you know, you're watching that game and you're like, man, it feels like Memphis is rudderless.

And that's on the star. Now, it's just like the NFL. If the quarterback works, everything else, easy to, you know, you get Jayden Daniel's right with the Washington commanders. Think how bad the commanders were for 20 years. They bring in new everybody and you'd think, oh, it takes a year, you know, to kind of get up and running and create a culture. Now, Jaden Daniels is really good. Even without a great roster, get to the NFC championship. If the star delivers, it just makes everything easier for general managers, coaches, assistant coaches, teammates. You watch Minnesota, those.

Those players and those coaches love Aunt Edwards. And he's brilliant as an athlete, but he's patient. I mean, Minnesota led by, I think it was 11 at half. He only had eight points. He let the game come to him. And again, that's listening to coaching. It's just impressive to watch. These young guys come in.

I mean, Ant's still only 23 years old. So they're kids. But, I mean, it's, by the way, this also happened earlier today. Cooper Flag of Duke has declared for the NBA draft, which was not exactly a secret. He'll be the number one pick. It was interesting, the show before us, the facility was saying they were arguing

whether he's going to be a star or not. He's going to be a star. He's essentially Jason Tatum, where he's B plus at everything, A minus at everything. Doesn't necessarily mean he's A plus at anything, but he doesn't have a lot of holes in his game. Probably has to be maybe a little better ball handler

because the NBA is so fast. and but Cooper flag is going to be really good. I think, because I like the NBA, the Jazz, the Wizards, the Hornets have the best chance to get him. I would trust him with Danny Aange and the Jazz historically, a well-run franchise. He's going to be good anywhere he goes, but I think there are certain places that he'll really excel.

Utah, San Antonio. I kind of like Chicago's young players. maybe I have a homework because I have season tickets, but Cooper flag has announced today. Now, back to the NFL draft, Jordan Schultz on today, J. Mack, back tomorrow. We have talked about this, and we're doing this,

because I think we're both hearing kind of the same things. What we're hearing is Cam Ward, Tennessee, Travis Hunter, Cleveland, that's done. The draft starts with the New York Giants at number three. And as of now, this is not ideal. I think there are discussions in the building on who to take. Now, Abdul Carter is represented by the very persuasive Drew Rosenhouse, who gets his guys drafted high.

And I think in the Giants building, my takeaway, Jordan, I don't know what you're hearing, but, you know, there's some Shadur fans, there's some Jackson Dart fans, and then there's also people saying neither one is worth the third pick. I would take Shadur. What do you think happens? So I still think. Mike, turn your mic on? My apologies. I still think Carter is the favorite to go three. I believe that. But there has been a contingent building for Shador Sanders within the Giants building. That doesn't mean they're not going to take Carter. It just means that three, four days out, Shador is still in the conversation. And because of that, and because of the history with Dion, the fact that he can really be a star in New York, there's a lot, a lot to consider at three.

Yeah, as good as Abdul Carter is, the Giants have had a great D-line for years. What has it done? Nothing. If Shador Sanders was a B to a B plus, that's three more wins, or four. I mean, take the prioritized position to me. Hey, guys, it's us and the Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick.

And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. First people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know, tired and sick.

Tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's,

Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an 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. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast point game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season. And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments.

If we didn't talk ever again, I was funny. You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis coming to you, he's like, you know I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball.

So listen to Point Game on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, and on my new podcast, How Hard Can It Be? I call on my Gen X squad from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate Midlife's most fantastic BS. Unfiltered Conversations from Nicarious. night sweats to futas, to scheduling sex. Wait, what sex? Is it just me or does every woman my age want to look at Pinterest instead of having sex sometimes? They say we can't polish a turn, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears, or tears of laughter. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Diana Maria Riva on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.