The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 2 - NBA Finals

Episode Date: May 28, 2024

More on the legendary life and career of Bill Walton Nick Wright stops by to break down the upcoming NBA FinalsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, thank you for making us part of your team, your day. Yeah, I was thinking about this. I've never had a bad show when I'm on Red Bull. I hear a lot of things about it. Be careful about Red Bull. I've never read an obituary. Guy drank too much Red Bull.

Never read that. Chain smoking? Trouble. Bungy jumping. Dune Buggy turns over. Parachute doesn't open. A lot of ways to kick it. I've never read an obituary. Sam loved Red Bull.

He drank one too many heart exploded. I'm on Red Bull right now. I'd run through a wall. I feel like I am powerful and dynamic. I'm Aunt Edwards. Just a little more consistent with my jumper. A lot of energy. right now.

Feels like this show's heading off the rails. I'll just say, much of my early years in college, Red Bull and vodka was like the go-to staple drink because, you know, if you're looking to get inebriated pretty quickly, Red Bull and vodka will do the trick. Yeah, yeah. They go down like nothing. Red Bull ain't healthy. I haven't had one in like 15 years.

You know what, I'll be honest with you. You used to have a lot more energy. I got to save. I'm like Leo Messi, conserving my energy on the pitch and then strike when I need to to get the goal. Okay, well, it's about time to strike. I'm not sure I've ever learned less about a team than I did about the Boston Celtics in this playoff run, and I'm not blaming them. They're human. They're much better than all these teams.

We've had 13 playoff series, three sweeps, three gentlemen sweeps, and probably another tonight, meaning seven of 13 will be sweeps or gentleman sweeps, over half. So I was thinking about this. The two easiest ways to win a chip in the NBA. Number one, you know, you're part of a great dynasty, a collective. Now, they're hard to build, but once you build them, you have great talent, even a star can have an off night. And the second easiest way is as an underdog with no pressure and you catch everybody by surprise. The Raptors in Kauai, Dirk and the Mavs. The Celtics are neither.

I don't think they feel like a dynasty. They're too quirky. They lose too many home games against sometimes inferior teams. and their significant favorites. Draft Kings are minus 225. So they're not sneaking up on anybody. And I also think they have mounting pressure this year. So they were 23 and 7 against the West.

So we know they're good. They dominated the East in the regular season and the playoffs. So we know they're dominant in the East. They were also very good in the West. They have the deepest roster in the NBA, in my opinion, the most offensively skilled roster in the NBA. the Western teams, though, are only getting better. And what's interesting is if they lose this year to the Mavericks,

and that's certainly possible, what's the pressure going to be like next year? Because Tatum's going to sign the max deal. Brown's already got one. There's going to be real limitations on what this team can do with their roster. So they're better to get it now. We've already seen them fold as a younger version of this duo against the Warriors. if they fold it again against the more mature team, right? Like, they folded against the Warriors, and we kind of said,

well, it's Steph, it is the Warriors. But what if they fold again against Dallas? What is next year with the tarmac shortened going to be like? So I think it is this Celtics duo, you kind of gave him a little bit of a pass, losing the Steph and Draymond and Clay and Steve Curry, gave him a little bit of an emotional. pass. Not quite ready. Like we view Ant now. Not quite ready, but just wait. Well, the

Just Waitin's over. They're the heavy favorite. This duo has been around a lot longer than Luca and Kyrie. Here's Jalen Brown. We feel like we're a different team than we were last year and a year before that. I know everybody wants to continue to kind of pigeonhole us to what was happened in the past, but we've had a different team every single year, different coaches. We've had like three coaches in the last five years. And, And still, people want to just make it seem like it's the same. It's the same. Time is going by.

Experience has been gained. And I think we are, you know, ready to put our best foot forward. It is interesting, though. They are very much symbolic of the current NBA. Jason and I are not big romanticizers of the past. You can go back to the 30-for-30s on the Reggie Miller Pacers. He was the only guy in that team that could shoot a jumper. You know, or you go back to the Knicks where they tackled people,

but nobody, even John Starks, wasn't a great, you know, natural, elite, consistent shooter. You start looking, I mean, just think about the top 10 players in a Mavericks Celtics final. If Lucas won, Tatum's 2, Jalen Brown 3, he's more consistent than Kyrie 4, Derek White 5, Porzinger 6. I mean, then you start getting into Drew Holiday 7, PJ Washington, 8, lively, maybe 9, Al Horford, 10, Al Horford had 20-some points the other night. Al-Horford is a very dependable, big, offensively at least. So you're talking about that the offensive skill in this final is going to be absolutely sensational. If Porzingis plays, I think they're a little bit the opposite of the T-Wolves.

Dallas didn't match up great with Denver. They match up very well with Minnesota. Minnesota in half-court offense is awful consistently. Boston is sometimes engaged, sometimes not on the defensive end, but they're almost always good enough offensively to win a game. So a lot of times Dallas just let Minnesota fumble over themselves offensively. Boston doesn't do that. Now, if Porzingis isn't healthy, Dallas could pick and roll them to death.

But my guess is this is the time a deeper offensive roster, not as reliant on one or two guys, but historically, the two best closers in a series, Shaq and Kobe, win the series. With that, Nick Wright joins us live. I will say this. You have been, I think, I have questioned at times Tatum. You at times have questioned the Celtics.

I said this earlier, that history tells me the Alpha wins, whether it's Mahomes in the fourth quarter, Brady, LeBron, Steph, Kobe, MJ. The Celtics are more collaborative. They're more 20-24 basketball. Is that sometimes Tatum floats. He's off-ball. He doesn't have usage.

And I say to myself, this final is a classic matchup of modern collaborative basketball and a little old-school Luca Kyrie. Give me the ball. Get out of the way. Set me a screen. Do you have a strong opinion about this series going into it when the Mavs finish off The T-Wolves? Yeah, I mean, I'm biased because going into the playoffs, I think I was probably one of the only people in the country that was picking the Mavs to win the championship.

And so, yeah, I like how the Mavs look, and I like that they're getting healthy. I know Lively is out, but they're going to be getting – or Lively's out right now, but he should be back for the finals. They could be getting Maxie Kleba, who was a big loss for them. They just haven't shown that back as well. And your point about going with the Alpha is the best. best player in the series does not always win. But if the best player, if you're going to overcome the other team having the best player, you need to have a legendary or at least legendary adjacent team or the other team

needs to be going through significant injury issues or turmoil. And so the Celtics have the resume of a legendary team. They have the point differential of one of the 10 best teams ever. have the record of one of the 15 best teams ever. I don't see that when I watch them. Yeah. And maybe part of that is because all of the teams that are on those lists have a guy who is a guaranteed statue in front of the arena when the moment he's done playing guy. And this Celtics team does not have that. They have a Hall of Famer in Jason Tatum, an awesome number two in Jalen Brown, and obviously a.

very well-constructed roster and maybe the best starting five in basketball. But as you and I have discussed previously, if Jason Tatum is the sixth or seventh best player in the league, NBA history tells us typically that doesn't win the championship. In the last 40 years, the only teams to win the championship with the sixth or seventh best player in the league as their best player are, the only teams. 04 pistons where you had the Lakers lose their entire wing, not wing, pardon me, power forward rotation to injury, and they were clearly sick of each other. The 08 Celtics that did it with KG, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, three awesome players, but none

best player in the league level, beating Kobe when he was on that level. And the 2011 Mavs, those would be the examples. And the 2011 Mavs, we attribute to LeBron melting down as people were. call it in that series. That's the entire list of the last 40 years. Every other champion has had a guy like Luca, a guy who is going to be in the top 20 at a minimum all-time discussion. So that is my hang up with Boston. And Boston's gaudy record against three middling teams with all of which without their best player for part or all of the series was not enough to sway me from that initially.

So, you know, it's interesting. And maybe I shouldn't juxtapose this, but it just popped into my head. We celebrated and honored the very unique, outspoken Bill Walton in his passing yesterday. Anti-war, anti-establishment, never antisocial, sit-ins politically at UCLA. And we celebrated it. Kyrie Irving similarly push back on our government in a vaccine. I may disagree with him strongly and agree with Walton's stance on the Vietnam more extensively.

But it is interesting is that the NBA has always been the sport that allows for some social opinion. And there was almost no market for Kyrie Irving out of Brooklyn. And in retrospect, is that fair? is that fair because he took a stance many did on the vaccine the Boston thing didn't work but let's be honest not every star to a new team works in the history of the league Michael Jordan ran through coaches he just stayed in Chicago what is your view not today on Kyrie because it's working but sort of going into Dallas how did you what was your opinion on how it would work and his career pre this so listen I the I have

I don't even know if it's adjusted my opinion so much as I have new information. The Mavs were my pick to win the title last season. And then they traded for Kairi, and I was so down on it. I said, well, now they can't win the title because Kyrie had been a negative when it came to winning for six consecutive years. That is not who he is now. So I think the fair reading of Kyrie's history, if I may, this. will take a moment is this. Kyrie, before LeBron got to Cleveland, hadn't been a part of winning basketball

at the professional level. He gets to Cleveland. They have this dynamic partnership that seems to work brilliantly and beautifully. In the press conference, after the final game they play together in the finals in 2017, Kyrie says, basically, put some respect on LeBron James' name. He just averaged a triple double in these finals. I can't wait to continue playing with and learning from him. Before they set foot on a court together again,

he reportedly said, I so badly don't want to be here. I will have knee surgery if you don't trade me. So that seemed to be a very quick, you know, kind of flip of the pendulum out of nowhere. He then gets to Boston, and it flatly does not work. His first year there,

he's oddly not on the bench for their playoffs when he's hurt. His second year there, he demands to guard Janice in the playoffs and they get cooked. He then releases a commercial saying, I hope to be here forever, then demands another trade. In that time frame, right? He scolds the media for saying, how dare you say Kevin Durant and I were plotting to get together in that hallway at the All-Star? I was just two friends talking when it turns out they were exactly doing what he said they weren't doing. Gets to Brooklyn, says we don't need a coach. We're all coaches.

Steve Nash's co-coach. That doesn't work out. While in Brooklyn, yes, the vaccine, but then also the very odd stubbornness about not backing down about that documentary that he promoted, that to this day, I don't think he actually watched. And I don't think he believes those awful things

that were in that documentary. I just think he felt boxed stand and was like, I'm not going to apologize because that's not who I am. So all of that was the data we had about a player who had dealt with injuries who hadn't been a part of winning outside of the three years with LeBron. That's the data we had. The data we have since then is getting to Dallas, teaming up with Jason Kidd, the relationship with Luca,

and his own personal maturation and evolution as a person on and off the court, you are getting the very best version of Kyrie Erdin. A socially conscious, thoughtful, good-hearted guy who is not letting so much of the other stuff kind of tear him off the basketball court. And when you have that version of Kyrie, Colin, he's one of the most dynamic under 6'4 players in league history. And so I have massive respect for what Kyrie's done. I have massive respect for Kyrie Irving kind of finding in the public eye who he wants to be. and Kyrie Irving, the basketball player, when he's been available, has always been special to watch. And so, yeah, this is a into his 30s kind of evolution and reinvention. And of course, he deserves enormous credit for that.

So I grew up in the Pacific Northwest. The first team I fell in love with was probably in my region was maybe the Merino's Sonics, and then it was the Blazers. The 70s, it was very kind of the Pacific Northwest. Downtown Freddie Brown, Jack, Sykma, Gus Williams, into Bill Walton, Jeff Petrie, Dave Tawoodsick, all that stuff. Jack Ramsey, the legendary coach. But the league was not televised to the level it is today.

I live between equidistant, between Seattle and Portland, but I was in Washington State, so I got Sonic stuff. But I would occasionally hear Bill Shonley, the Portland radio announcer, who was much more colorful than the Seattle broadcaster. And Walton was this 1974, 75, 76. He was this quirky figure, mythological almost, because you didn't see him in the regular season. You just heard about this hippie in Portland who nobody could stop and you'd seen him in college. So this is really the beginning of me watching television in the early 70s.

And he was against the war and outspoken and iconoclastic and all this stuff. I said this morning, I believe he's several generations ahead of his time. Not one, that he was Yokic, but a better defender 50 years ago, is that if the injuries didn't plate place, and this is hyperbolic perhaps, we would say is the second best center ever to Kareem. He would never score like Kareem, but the second best center ever. Oh, I think that's legit. You think so, too. Go ahead. I'm sorry. I just think he was on that track. Yeah. I just, listen, if I may about, because you and I have oddly different formative experiences with Bill Walton, which I'll get to. but his playing career I saw none of. But because I consider myself a bit of an NBA historian and basketball historian,

what should be noted is this. If you ask someone who is the greatest college basketball player of all time, and they give any answer other than Lou Alcindor or Bill Walton, they're wrong. Those are the only two eligible answers. Bill Walton did not lose a basketball game from the middle of, of his junior year of high school until the middle of his year of middle of his senior year of college. He had an 88 game collegiate winning streak. He was the most outstanding player in back-to-back final fours. He played arguably the greatest game ever, the 21 of 22, 44 points.

He then, in the national championship game, he then walks into the league. And in 1977, is the best player on the champion, beating Kareem and then beating Dr. J when Dr. J might have been the best player in the world. The next year is the NBA MVP and he breaks his foot. And the career is never the same. So my experience with Bill Walton, Colin, and I don't think I've ever told you this, is, and you'll laugh at me when I, you'll laugh when I tell you this, when I was a little kid and I told people what I wanted to do when I was.

grew up, I wanted to be Bill Walton because I didn't know that to be the color commentator, you needed to either play or coach. But what he did on the NBC broadcast with Steve Snapper Jones, I thought was the coolest thing ever. And it is part of me falling in love with basketball. He's the soundtrack of it. I'm sad that I never once got to cross pass with him to tell him this anecdote. I remember vividly being a little kid watching the NBA playoffs, watching a bulls game. And my mom's saying, like seeing a look on my face that I was upset. And she was like, what's wrong? And I'm like, man, Steve Jones is being so mean to Bill again because I didn't know they were like good friends and they were always giving each other a hard time. And so he is,

and for his broadcasting career, the stories that he's, he's, he's, and for his broadcasting career, the stories that he has the stances that he took that were dangerous and risky and he stayed true to himself and oh yeah by the way was the greatest passing big man ever yes until yokic and maybe including yokech a legendary life and a legendary career yeah it's um he was so perfectly connected to the pacific northwest you know which i grew up in the pacific northwest it's grainy It's a, it's got, you know, it's a little counterculture. You know what I mean? There's no question.

He grew up in California, which has always been left of center in America. And then he went up for the Pacific Northwest. That's the only place more left than California. More left. Yeah. Yeah. And then he got Jack Ramsey, one of the great teachers. I mean, can you imagine that your two coaches?

He may have literally had the perfect coaches. Oh, that's right. John Wooden, the ultimate teacher, who kind of brought him back on the fairway. Bill could get a little sideways, brought him back on the fairway. And then Jack Ramsey, who was always from his dress, Jack Ramsey legendary for these wild

like disco pants, that Jack Ramsey kind of leaned in to the unique personality of Bill. And the pro game's always been a little bit more about the player than the coach. But it's fascinating that Walton loved both the restrictive

mentor in college, the conservative mentor and then the colorful NBA coach and it shows the dexterity of his personality that they both loved him and he loved both it would be like going Andy Reid to Belichick and you got along with both and I just I think that speaks so well a hundred percent and then the one other kind of final act of his playing career he wins sixth man of the year for what a lot of people consider the greatest team ever the 1980 six Celtics. Yes, great team. And adds, you know, and finds a way to fit in with that very

unique culture absolutely seamlessly. This is, you and I talked about this a couple weeks ago, oddly, on your podcast. He's one of the reasons why when Damien Lillard left the Portland Trailblazers and every story was written as greatest blazer ever, I was like, you've got to be kidding me. Like Bill Walton played for them, and not to mention, Drexler, no, he, and he was, he more so than Grant Hill, more so than Tracy McGrady, more so than Derek Rose. He is the biggest, what if he stayed healthy in NBA history, is Bill Walt. Yeah, that's a great way to put it. In the history, and I'm trying to think, you know,

Roberto Clemente and baseball, the plane crash. I didn't grow up with Roberto Clemente, although I love those pirates teams that were extended beyond him for years and years and years. But I think people, look at Roberto Clementian go, oh, that would have been maybe the greatest player of all time. And we've seen this with musical stars who have either taken their life or there have been tragedies beyond their control. But I think in sports, it's very rare that you have an athlete and everybody summarily agrees, oh, God, if he would have been healthy.

And nobody fights it. Like every basketball historian is like, yeah, like, he was 21 and 22 against Memphis in a national championship game. 21 of 22. By the way, by the way, after that was after being undefeated on the freshman team and to finish his second straight undefeated year for the, you know, the varsity team at UCLA, he had never lost the game, was going for his second straight title, and was 21 of 22. Yeah, there is a, the other athlete that comes to mind, I guess, would be Bo Jackson, where people are like, oh, man, what would have been? But Walton absolutely was on that level.

and that to me is a testament to the beauty of his spirit, and I'm really glad we're spending the time on this, is that he didn't become bitter or jaded because of that. He instead transitioned to, okay, I'll make the most of what's left of my NBA career and then be associated. He went from calling the NBA finals to doing Pact 12 after dark

and loved every minute of it. And so God bless him and his friends and friends, family. I went back yesterday and watched 30, 35 minutes of old Blazer and UCLA. Anything I could get my hands on. He was on the Clippers. And I'm glad you gave them credit. The best iteration of that Celtics team could have very well been the 86 team. And he was, I mean, it's just, Walton was just a phenomenal player. And, you know, the only positive that ever comes out of a sudden death or one that surprises us is that it becomes a history lesson.

And Walton is teaching us so much about getting along, viewing the world, willing to compromise your own goals, sacrificing for others. Bill's a bit of a walking history lesson. And the more you read about him, the better

person you want to be. Like I read things on Bill yesterday, I'm like, you know, I've got to be better at that. I've got to be a better teammate. And I think that's a great acknowledgement of Bill is that you read things about him and think, I need to be a little better person. And he might be, and I know we've got to go, he might be the main character, or he is the main character of what might be the greatest sports book ever written, breaks of the game by Tom Hoverson.

And so if people want to kind of, they followed the 77 Blazers around for a year, and Walton's at the center of that. And so now, I mean, goodness, it's almost a 50-year-old book at this point. But I don't know that any sports books ever topped it. It's definitely worth people's time if they want to know more about that era of basketball and also Bill Walton and that blazer. Give that book one more pop because I'm going to buy it on Amazon. What's it called? Oh, breaks of the game. Breaks of the game.

I mean, it's probably the most famous sports book of the at least, I don't know, man, pre-Friday Night Lights, maybe ever. Breaks of the game by Tom Halvers. How I'm going to mispronaged name. Habersram, pardon me, is probably the greatest sports book ever written. Yeah, there you go. Free plug. Hey, great to see you, buddy. Yeah, you too. See you later, Cal.

All right. Luxury SUVs now come with a luxury of choice. Mercedes-Benz has gas electric plug-in hybrid offerings. Learn more about the E-Class SUVs at your local dealer at mbUSA.com slash special offers. Want more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. 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-Hart 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,

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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-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 a little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jek.

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I stand corrected by my staff. Roberto Clemente's life was cut short, but it was late 30s, so he had a fully formed career over 3,000 hits. But Bill Walton is one of those great athletes that we saw his greatness in high school college and pro. Obviously back then, you didn't see much of his LaMesa high school stuff. But you saw his greatness, it was reduced because of injuries. but what a gift he continued to be throughout his life as a broadcaster and is just a really interesting human. And J-MAC with the news. No, no, no, no.

Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. From one interesting human to another, let's go to Jim Harbaugh entering his first season with the Chargers' high expectations, but this isn't the first time he's looked to turn around an NFL franchise. Remember, he went to San Francisco, turned that around. Vernon Davis played under Harbaugh when he was with. the Niners and believes Harbaugh can do it again with the chargers. Harbaugh has the ability to get guys to rally behind him. His energy, his enthusiasm, everything that he brings is like when he walks in the morning,

you know what you're going to get. He's always upbeat. I mean, he's just the type of coach that knows how to get guys going. He just has an ability to be able to do that. And he figured it out. And I think that's how he's been able to achieve the ample amount of success that he's been able to achieve both in college and the pros. Repetition, motivation,

relentlessness, positivity, can beat schemes. And I think that's what Harbaugh does. He's got really a, who's got it better than us, let's compete, let's be relentless, get everything out of every day. When I had dinner with Dean Spanos,

name drop, the owner of the Chargers, I said, you know, he's a quirky personality and he just said, every part of Jim has been great. What he does to our building, the positivity, the optimism, the energy. He goes, there's just no downside to it. You know, when you hire a new employee,

there are always things, you know, especially a high profile one. There are some things you know you're getting. And then there are additional values that you maybe didn't predict. And I think that's a lot of it with Harbaugh, is that there's a lot of about Jim that you just don't understand about him until you get him in the room. And he really does change the temperature for all other employees. Geez. If I close my eyes there, I thought you were talking about me, with all that gushiness, about how I changed things.

A change agent. But yeah, I'm with you. I'm looking at the roster. The church's roster isn't what, remember they had like the best roster in the league like two years ago? Yeah. They're not the best roster. No. Well, they moved off a lot of skill people. Yeah. I think they're going to be okay. I'm optimistic, but there's a world where people just say, hey, we don't trust your receivers. we dare you to throw the ball, Justin Herbert. Yeah, and I think Harbaugh has always been willing to make moves. I could see a trade deadline move or a camp move at wide receiver. There's no question. I mean, he added some additional running backs.

They're good enough at tight end. O line, with Joe Alt, they improve. But I do think, I think they'll be, I think they'll feel different. I think you'll feel like last two years with Brandon Staley, you felt like they were underachieving. I think you'll feel like this team at some level is overachieving but won't have the firepower of other teams on the perimeter. They're not a special team on the perimeter yet.

That's one more free agency period. And it felt like they would have to move off Derwin James or Mack somebody on that defense and they didn't. So I wonder if Harbaal says, listen, for the scheme I want to do this, what we want to plan, we've got the guy. So something's going on. I think they're one of the most interesting teams in the league for sure. Not just Harbaal, but.

You know, the hype for Herbert, I was bagging on Lamar earlier. At some point, Herbert, we need to kind of see it, you know? Well, this is his third head coach and his best. So I think, I almost feel like I'm judging Herbert today on. I think he got. I got blank slate for him. Well, I mean, again, when you get Andy Reed as your first coach, it's amazing how well it works. When you get Kyle Shanahan or Sean McVe, it didn't work that way.

He got two coaches that one of them was very good guy. Another one was off-putting, arrogant, and over his skis and a defensive coach. So I feel like today, forward, is how I'll judge Justin Herbert. Not everybody gets Andy. Yeah, it's weird. I consider Herbert like a top five-ish guy. I think most people do. But then again, like, I don't have questions about Brock Purdy.

I know you do. And a lot of people seem too on the internet, but I have no issues with Purdy. I've seen him deliver in the playoffs, regular season, whatever. Whatever. Like, he's a, to me, I have no concerns. We've seen some issues with Herbert. Like, I mean, they blew a 27-3 lead, or whatever it was. Well, remember, he didn't play defense. Well, that's not like the offense pulled when did anything in the second half. Well, if you scored 27 points on the road in the playoff game, you sort of feel like your job is done.

Wow. Could you add a couple field goals maybe? That was a, that was a regressing defense. I mean, that, you can't put that on Herbert. It's not on him, but the job's not done at halftime of 27 any. It's like the NBA. No score is safe, right? I mean, geez.

Next up, Brandon Ayuk. Colin, this is going to be an issue for the Niners. He's a no-show at OTA so far. He's looking for a long-term deal. This is where it gets interesting. Reports indicate the sides are not close, and Ayuk wants more money than Amara St. Brown's $120 million. dollars. Ayuk is set to make

14 million this season so he's looking to double his salary I mean we're all looking to double our salary but Brandon come on bro this is insane. Well again this is

that's why the runway for this 9 or team they really need their first round receiver to hit they really need it because if he does they can move off the more chronically injured Debo and keep Ayyou Although, you know, IUC is a down-the-field receiver. I don't think that's Brock Purdy's specialty.

I think it's 20 yards and in. Well, I know a lot of people say, oh, you can move off Debo. I'm just saying the stuff I've heard about that locker room is Debo and Trent Williams run things in the locker room. They are the alphas. Everybody looks to them. They're the first out on the field. They're the ones hyping everybody up. You can't just move off Debo.

I think that would be a horrendous idea. Now, Lynch and Shinnah, I know the locker room better than anybody. but this idea that, oh, we got Ricky Purso. I would just be a little cautious. I'd be more concerned with Christian McCaffrey. I totaled it up, Colin. He had over 400 touches. Regular season and playoffs last year.

I think 417. No, it's like a pitcher who has 280 in back-to-back years. At some point, there's arm fatigue. You can only take so many shots of the running back. I know people hate the idea of load management in the NBA. I want to load manage Christian McCaffrey next year. Honestly, if he has to sit out of game, Sorry, fantasy guys.

You're going to need McCaffrey in the Super Bowl. Final story, Colin. This one is starting to get interesting. Bronny James, NBA draft is, what, like four weeks away? Well, Shams reports, Brony has been invited by 10 different teams to pre-draft workouts. He's declined all of them except for two. The Sun's in the Lakers.

The Suns have the 22nd pick. Colin, guy averaged four points a game in college. He's declining invites left and right. Don't love it. Well, something's going on. Does he have a promise from the Sons or Lakers? That's what it feels like.

Well, I mean, he's a late second-round pick, so it's, you know, 55th pick. So he's basically pulling the... Thank you for your invite, Utah and Orlando. It doesn't make him terribly likable. So he's already got his dad's brand hovering over him. If you're a top 10 guy, yeah, I get it. Decline the invites to anyone outside the lottery. Well, I mean, some guys don't go to the NFL Combine.

I get it. But I think if I was brawny, I'd want to make the league. I still contend. I read somebody on the Internet. I apologize for not remembering what it was. But they watched his combine, and they said, that jump shot is just too slow. If it's 6-4-65, it's an advantage.

It's six foot and a half. That jumper is too slow. He speeds it up or he's not an NBA player. To be clear, I'm rooting for him. I think he is going to be in the league. I think he can be easily a 10-year guy. It does feel like entitlement. I mean, I tend to be a LeBron supporter.

This feels like entitlement. I don't like this. This would be like a sixth round wide receiver in the NFL saying Combine, talk to the hand. It's like, dude, you're a six round. I don't care who dad is. You're a six round wide receiver. You need the exposure. In a good draft, Brony's not draftable currently.

In a good draft. Let me play devil's advocate. Bronny goes to these private workouts and teams are looking to kind of expose him. We want you to play this guy one-on-one. Bronte gets smoked. Then it goes to the media. LeBron, the kid got destroyed by this guy. Well, their private workout, so not a lot of people would, they let that out.

There's still a lot of people in the gym, you know? Like, this NBA draft stuff is political. I feel like I'm going to, I got to fire off some Texas of people who might have an idea what's going on here. But declining invites, if you're Ronnie, I'm just surprised. Not only declining, just saying two teams get my services. That feels like something's. Like, you remember poor Zingis when he was coming into the draft, the Sixers wanted him, and he was like, I'm not giving you my medicals.

We're not. Don't draft me. I don't want to go there. They pass. The Knicks end up getting it. Like, I can get that if you're like a top 10 pick. You want to kind of steer things. Bron, it's not like he's got a million options here.

He's not a top 35 pick. Something's going on. Every team in the legal pass on him once. Most twice. I don't know, man. Sons have the 20-second pick. Maybe KD. I don't know.

know, I don't know what's going on. Ish Bia thinks that we can get LeBron if we get brawny? I don't see how they could afford that, but. For the record, let me just, you know I don't do conspiracy. Yes, let's, yes, let's put that tinfoil hat on. LeBron, this gets leaked by somebody. Why did the suns end up in that leak? Certainly benefits Leverage with the Lakers for the contract.

Somebody leaks this. I'm not pointing fingers at who. But why did the sons end up on that list of two teams? A place that has shown interest in LeBron. I've got two leaks between somebody with the last name James and the Sons. The son and dad. It feels like something. They have three guys taking up all their cap.

How can they afford LeBron? Could they get off Beals? He has a no-trade. Beal, you want to go to L.A.? I believe he has a house out here with some... LeBron's not going to go. to Phoenix. That's nonsense. In L.A., Phoenix just isn't

enough. Are you going, or it's Phoenix behind the Lakers in the West? That's a legitimate question. Lakers went to the conference finals last year. They at least got one off Denver this year. It was close. I was wrong on two teams all year in the NBA. Dallas and Phoenix. I was too high on Phoenix and too low on Dallas.

My opinion is not redeemable on either. I'm just trying to course correct on the Mavs. J. Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lye News. For hot water that never runs out, go to tankless made simple.com,

Navian tankless water heaters with a 15-year limited warranty. 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. Two NBA insiders podcasting twice a week to plug you right into the NBA Great Fight. All happening in only one place. This League Uncut. The new NBA podcast with me, Chris Haines. And me, Mark Stein.

Join us as we team up to expound on everything we're covering, hearing, and chasing. Listen to This League Uncut with Chris Haines and Mark Stein. On the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. 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. Clever 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 bowl 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 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's big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day But just so y'all know I mean at this point Mark this is the second episode where we've discussed crack So I'm starting to see that there's a through line We also have AIDS on the table right now

So Thank you finishing that sentence And 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 podcast continues this weekend on Fox in a regular season finale Saturday in a playoff preview

the San Antonio Brahma's take on the St. Louis Battlehawks at 4 Eastern, then on Sunday, the Houston Roughnecks battle the Memphis showboats at 7. It all kicks off on Fox and the Fox Sports app. Spent a lot of time on Bill Walton. It's so rare when you get a great

player who becomes a great broadcaster, Charles Barclay, or a great coach who becomes a great broadcaster, John Madden. Bill Walton was both. Bill was so unique. Nick Wright earlier today about the injuries and what could have been with Bill Walton's already great career. He's one of the reasons why when Damien Lillard left the Portland Trailblazers and every story was written as greatest blazer ever, I was like, you've got to be kidding me. Like Bill Walton played for

them and not to mention Clyde Drexler, no, he and he was, he more so than Grant Hill, more so than Tracy McGrady, more so than Derek Rose. He is the biggest, what if he stayed healthy in NBA history is Bill Walt. Yeah, almost all players suffer injuries, even the great ones. Some, it's not even a footnote in their career with Brady or Michael Jordan, but Walton it was the opposite. It was just early and career in Portland. And it just, it seemed like, I can remember seeing Walton at multiple

broadcast during NBA games and I would be in the arena and just how much difficulty he had walking around the arena. He had such intense back pain at some point in his life that he did contemplate suicide. I read that yesterday and I think I'd read that previously.

But it just, a lot of chronic pain and chronic injuries. But again, just such a redeemable personality and redeemable life. And I think it is more than just a footnote that he was the opposite of stick to sports. And though many are honoring and celebrating his personality today, if he entered the sports spectrum today, the galaxy, whether it's college or pro, many would not view him favorably, which I think speaks poorly of us, not of Bill Walton.

But I just, I love watching. I love so much watching that 76er Blazer highlights, because that's, you know, for me selfishly, that's where I started watching basketball in the 70s. And those 76ers teams and Bobby Jones and George McGuinness and Steve Mix and Dr. Jay and I think Mo Cheeks was around. And then for the Blazers, it was Lionel Hollins and Dave Twardsick and Bill Walton and Maurice Lucas, I think Dennis Autry may have.

been around. Steal, was it, Henry Steele, may have gotten that wrong. Jeff Petrie. That was my formative of years as I was growing up with NBA basketball and falling in love with it. I collected basketball cards. I had some baseball cards, but I was more into basketball cards. And I don't know why, just the personalities and I think the, Wilt was the first legend.

Dr. Jay was my favorite player. And the first real quirky personality was Bill Walton, the late and good. great, Bill Walton. So our final hours coming up, Logan Ryan, what a pleasure. We get him in studio today. One of the smartest guys, most thoughtful NFL guys that's been around, I hope he pivots into a broadcasting career. And maybe

you take a couple days off here. I can just slide him right in. You give him some days off. Hey, all right. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy. Not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Kirk 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

I-heart 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. say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all,

embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new weekend.

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. On the Look Back at it podcast. In 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. It 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. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.