The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 3 - Best duos in the NBA

Episode Date: February 27, 2024

Should the Bears take Caleb Williams or make a historic trade? Colin ranks the 10 best NBA duos   Guest: Merril HogeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

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Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fans, 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 Bole Your Mind 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 Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Well, Merrill Hodge, quite a career as an analyst and now an author, he's got a book, Find Away, three words that change my life. He played in the NFL for 10 years. We used to be teammates at ESPN.

Merrill always had the ability to cut through, and you were willing to be criticized up to the draft. And I always loved that about you, and you and I agreed on a lot. I think Tebow, Mansell, there was a lot. We disagree on Caleb Williams, but I'm going to get to him in a second. So first of all, thanks for coming on the show. Merrill. It's great to see you again, and I follow your career and you're wonderful. So let's start with a player that we both like and we'll work our way up.

So I saw Bowenicks twice. I think he's really undervalued. Everybody loves J.J. McCarthy and Caleb. And I just look at Denver. He reminds me of Drew Brees with a little mobility. you've looked at Bo Nix. Am I overvaluing him? What do you see that you like and concerns you?

Well, we're going to talk about this because there's two things as I evaluate, quarterbacks that are going from college to the National Football League. And these two things have to work in unison, accuracy and processing or decision-making. Like they have to be as one. You can't have one without the other. If you don't have one, one of those two will run you out of the league. So you at least have to have this. You've got evidence of that.

And he does do that. as well. He throws the ball well. Is there any true special unique quality in those two areas? No, but they're rock solid, you know, and you can tell that he functions, you know, under the system he's in. And that's another thing that you got to look at. You know, he plays in a really heavy college system. Yeah. You know, now you're going to NFL and that's where, that's where what I try to do, I don't look at where a guy's playing. I look at where they're going to play. Yeah.

You know, the field is going to change, the pocket is going to change, and how do they function in that? So when I take him and I look at how does he function in a pocket that's going to be like the NFL? Now, listen, there's not a lot of evidence that, but I have a machine. I can take it and create all those different scenarios. So an NFL pocket, about 70% of it is dirty, clouded, and that's about 70% of the time. And how can you function under that?

And can you process things and be accurate with that concept? And he's okay. He's not really elite in that category. So that's a big hurdle. And that's something, that's the abhorpe that he's going to play. And so if you see the struggles in college, you can't say they're going to go away. You have to acknowledge those and then realize, okay, how we're going to play out of that? How is that going to work over time? Will he get better? Yes. And then height does become an advantage or disadvantage. You know, 6-1 is about the bottom. You know, that's about the tipping point. You know, you'd love. guy around 6-3, they can play have less issues. Once you get below that, it becomes a real, a real issue. You know, last year, Bryce Young. I mean, that 5-9 and how he played from the pocket is going to be always a problem. You're never going to work your way out of that. They will always have limitations with him.

I don't care how hard he works out of how great they coach. Those are going to be limitations. How C.J. Stroud didn't go one overall is still the most mind-boggling thing that I have seen when you had those two options. Because the evidence was there. C.J. Stroud was the only first rounder that was qualified to be a first-rounder. That you would give in a first round, I gave a first-round grade two that would transition to national football. And he had all of that evidence. Yeah.

He showed that in college. If you studied him right, you knew that he wasn't going to have a problem. You knew that you're going to have a problem with Bryce Young. It's going to be, I'll always be a problem. I know he's a great kid, but that's a bonus. That is not a skill set. And he's going to always be 5'9. It doesn't matter how hard it works.

It doesn't matter what he does. He's always going to be 5'9, and it's going to create limitations game plan. Okay, so let's talk about the two top on the board. Let's go Drake May. We'll work our way up to Caleb and spend more time. Drake May, the knock on him, I saw him play two or three times. I got different versions of him. He was erratic.

He moves pretty well. arm strength is whatever. What do you make a Drake May? You're not a huge fan. Why? No, because the two things you just mentioned there, of his processing. Now, I watch him function under pressures. I don't think I've yet to see him execute a pressure correctly. Identify it. Oftentimes he misses it.

Sometimes when you see his head in that position, then he doesn't acknowledge it and make the throw. Those are concerning. So when I talk about processing, there's not a lot of things that I'm like, I'm really confident about that he processes things well, especially pressures. He is completely erratic when it comes to throw in the football. I mean, it's a big concern. I mean, can you button those things up?

Can you get a little better? Here's what my ultimate belief is from playing in this league, coaching, studying this league for nearly 40 years. You just don't correct that. It actually is magnified when you get to the National Football League. That is when it become more erratic. And it's on all throws. short, intermediate, long.

Now, he'll do enough to dazzle you. And here's where I always felt the problem is, is that you say, I'm going to fix that. I'm making him smarter. I'll make you more accurate. And that's where people get fired when you do that. And I just, there's just too much there that would, I wouldn't give him a first round grade.

I wouldn't take him in the first round. And if I did, then I would be very concerned of, you know, how long I'm going to be around as a coach or a GM. Okay, so the player we disagree. with, and one of the things I stated earlier, is that we think of USC as this great brand, Texas, USC, Georgia. They have had in the two years he led the nation in offense, one elite player on the entire offense, Jordan Addison, a small receiver who's pretty darn good, tight end, suboptimal,

running backs, O-line, really average. Now, Lincoln Riley's obviously a good play caller and designer, but he basically scored about 40 a weekend in the best pack 12 I've seen in 20 years with one. really elite NFL player. So that's my takeaway is he did more lifting than people subscribe to. But you do point out a couple of things with him that two weeks ago I went on the air and said, okay, yeah, that's a good point. Merrill's pretty good at this, that he doesn't take the easy stuff enough, which Mahomes' first

year to similarly leaned into great. Now he's gotten rid of that. Now Mahomes is he'll give you everything. So let's go into Caleb. What was one of the first things you saw, and you went, pump the brakes? Okay, well, the word special is different for everybody. Okay, so the reason I say is not special, he's not special. He's not special in where you must be special.

If you have to show evidence, you've got a chance to transition to the national football league. So I'll give you that. There's two guys in the last five to six years that have had that, Joe Burrell and C.J. Straub. They just demonstrated that in college. And what am I talking about? How they played from the pocket. They're processing, their accuracy, their anticipation. And I go back to the processing.

You just mentioned it. Rather, it's a clouded pocket. Rather, it's a clean pocket. He does a lot of that. You know, the slant's there. He doesn't throw the slant because he's done the one thing that has made him exciting. And I think people lean to saying he's special. He's extremely a lucy.

And let me point out one thing that he does have out of all these other quarterbacks that I do love, and it is rare. his accuracy is elite. And I'm going to tell you this. That right there puts him above everybody else and gives him the edge. Now let's go to the hurdle why the special thing. He doesn't function from the pocket like he's going to have to in the National Football League. Now he's a guy who's 6-1.

When you look at a dirty pocket, you look at a clean pocket, and you look at the different plays that he gives up where he should be throwing the football. But he goes and makes a play by running around. You're not going to survive in the National Football League doing that. That is his biggest hurdle. Being able to manage the gift that he has, he is extremely elusive. I'm not going to deny that.

And I think that's a value. But it could be the thing that holds him back from being able to be successful in the National Football League because he'll lead plays on the field that shouldn't be left there. And he's going to have to learn to manage that. Now, people comparing to Patrick Mahomes, the two things that you didn't mention, Patrick Mahomes sat a year.

Yes. Some of the best coaching here in the National Football League. Right. And in that year of growth, you're exactly right. And then how he has developed over the years. This is what makes Tom Brady, people always say, what makes Tom Brady the greatest in the history of the game? One reason.

He executes the play. If you tell him he's got to give you six checkdowns, he'll give you six checkdowns in a row. And guess what, the second that you make a mistake on it, then you're going to go over the top. He's not going to hold the ball and sit down and go, I'm going to try to throw the goal. It's really not there, but I want that.

Now we're second and ten. He's always moving the change. And that's what you have to do in the national football league. And so from a pocket presence perspective, he is not special. Now, his accuracy against elite. He's his elusive as Barry Sanders in some scenarios, more than Patrick Mahomes. That doesn't make him better than Patrick Mahomes. That's also a good.

But that might be the thing that hinders him more than anything is him learning to manage that and only go to it later. Now, I don't expect him to do this right off the back. That's going to be a development thing. And listen, those things I think you can't coach. I don't think there's any doubt you can coach those, develop those, but then that relies on good coaching and the kid. The kid has to be in that. And then the mental toughness that he's going to have to have in this scenario.

Because what are the bears? If the bears get him, what's I expect them to do? What is everybody going to say? We made up for our mistake. We got our Patrick Mahomes. We're not a playoff team. He's going to start right away. And that right there, those scenarios are completely different

than what Patrick Mahomes experienced. And those are arduous hurdles to overcome. Yeah. 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. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

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

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

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

stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, This is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. 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 Jek. And I'm Alex English. We pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s.

To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people.

Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. By the way, one more thing. You played Steelers, Bears, talk Pittsburgh for a second. I think Russell Wilson actually works in Pittsburgh because in Seattle and Pittsburgh, he's not the center of the culture. Both defensive coaches create the culture.

I thought when he went to Denver because of what they paid him in the draft picks, they wanted him to be front and center. And, you know, he's kind of, and I say this as somebody that likes Russell. He can be almost overly optimistic. You know, there's like zero cynicism. And, you know, the NFL is guys like you be authentic and real. And sometimes Russ, who some people comes off is a little bit, you know, a little cringy. But I like Pittsburgh because Tomlin sets the culture. Russell is mature and committed

and a lot of those Steeler offensive players are young and sometimes a bit juvenile I think he's the adult in the room in Pittsburgh and I honestly think of every team in the league it may be the best fit for him what say you well I actually think that

there's still a strong belief in Kenny Pickett I will tell you this in all fairness and having been around that organization and close to it there is his skill set is good enough to help you win a championship. Was it a broding towards before he got hurt? Yes. I mean, he was playing fast. He wasn't letting things develop. I mean, he was completely out of character how he came out of college and how he started to play, which actually happens

to a lot of players. This thing, I believe, ruins more players, special quarterbacks than anything. You get ruined mentally way before you get ruined physically. Best thing that probably happened to him is that he got hurt. You got to pull him out of that blender and he got to sit there and watch Mason Rudolph actually function how you have to function in this league to play and how he played from the pocket. So I just don't think he'll end up there. I just think there's still a belief in Kenny Pickett, and I think with the changes they've made offensively, the youth that you just described that they have, he has a great rapport with that. He has a charisma about him and a leadership, too, that he's probably not talked about, you know,

outside of the arena of Pittsburgh that people recognize and acknowledge that he has with players. you know and the team itself and you know i think this training camp will be pivotal for him but um i don't see i don't see him turn their back on him and i think if you go get russells wilson um it would create more issues than it would solve good stuff his book is find away three words that changed my life you see the hat merrill it's always great to see i may see on a ski slope in utah in the near future and it's a it's a pleasure to have you on that's a must Thanks, Colin. Always appreciate it, pal.

You bet. Merrill Hodge. So he did say one thing that jumped out to me. It's very hard when you're in college and your accuracy is all over the board. And then you go to the NFL where the windows are smaller, hash marks different, and you become very accurate. He said, Caleb is really accurate. So if you're accurate and athletic, I think you always work in this league. You can figure it out, if you can process stuff.

but that's what I worry about Drake May is because I watched them two or three times and I got kind of a different version. Like I always said, if you get hurt in college at any position, you're going to get hurt in the NFL. It's a much more physical game. If you're inaccurate in college, you're not going to get more accurate in the NFL. So that's the thing about Drake May where I'm like, like Herbert was accurate in college. Caleb's accurate. Like most two-o was accurate in college. You're rolling your eyes.

Listen, we got to get Hodge back on right before the draft. Can we do that? Because you've got to pin him down on some of this stuff. I was texting the producers. It sounds like he just hates all the quarter. He doesn't like anybody. He doesn't want to draft anybody. He's like, you draft this guy, you're going to get fired.

That's not how it works, bro. He said, Bo Nix, because of processing and accuracy, some limitations physically will be successful. He said Caleb is accurate, and there are things you can teach him. We know. Drake, May he didn't like. Okay, fine. Merrill, you got the second pick of the draft. Who you take it? You better take a quarterback. You know, because you don't have one on the roster.

Go talk to Arthur Smith about that, right? In Atlanta, we got Desmond Ritter. He's our guy. Arthur Smith fired. Well, you know, like, you have to draft. Peter King says yesterday, trade down and get drafted. Yeah, that's what you did. Trade down. I want a quarterback. I want a quarterback.

You need a quarterback. Everyone needs a quarterback. Look at the teams that made the playoffs this year. And then go look at their quarterbacks and tell me if you need a quarterback in this league. You're going to like our last segment. First, though, J-Mack with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news.

I think my last segment's going to drive you. I don't get driven. I mean, Merrill Hodge was ticking me off. I had to bite my tongue there. Some of the stuff, I don't like Drake Me. Come on. Well, he is kind of inconsistent. I know Hodges hit some, he's had some home runs.

He's hit some big home. We all hit home runs. Come on. And we also whiff a lot, too. I like Bryce Young. I called Zach Wilson the Mormon Mahomes on the show. I was so fired up about him going to New York. and yeah.

Anyways, let's go to running backs. How about that? We don't talk a lot of running backs. A lot of them are going to hit the market in free agency. And Colin, there doesn't seem to be a lot of interest. According to reports, not a single big name running back, we'll get a franchise tag this season and what will be a loaded class. Some of the big names, Sequin Barkley, Derek Henry, Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard, Austin Eckler.

Now, remember, last year, Barkley and... Jacobs got franchise tag. Both were disasters. I do like Josh Jacobs. What do you like about him? He's a good player. But two years ago, yeah, this past year, what have you done for me lately?

Well, it wasn't the most robust offense. Now we're going to blame the off of now. The quarterback can't throw, crowd the box, make him beat you with a run. So, I mean, if the quarterback was more dynamic, it would help the run game. Do we think that running backs are so, there's just so much negativity around

them now they're almost undervalued assets. Remember, tight ends were making more money last year than running backs and free agents. So you're a GM and you hit in three years, you hit 10 home runs in the draft. Now that's unrealistic. You're in the whole thing. Right, right, right. So let's say, let's say you hit seven home runs. So what are the seven most, so you know you're going to, you're become a GM and you get three years. And in three years, we say seven positions, you hit home runs. So we would both say, quarterbacked, edge rusher,

a weapon on the perimeter, left tackle. Those are your four. Right. Most people would say, corner is five or six. I've always thought center, the guy that calls all the audibles,

is way undervalued. So my takeaway is, I like running back, but I don't have it in the top seven. I don't. So if you told me I had, Now, Detroit hit a home run with running back, and it's absolutely helped Jared Gough. There's no question.

Josh Allen finally got a running back. It helped them. So I'm not saying they don't have value. But I tend to go quarterback, left tackle, edge, weapon or two on the perimeter, center corner, and then I go to a running back at like eight. I think it makes more sense to draft a running back, not necessarily early like Gibbs to Detroit, and then run him into the ground, you know, three, four years, and then you move on. I know that sounds negative, but remember the Rams last year?

Who was the guy they had out of Notre Dame? Well, William. Kyron Williams. He changed their team mid-season when he got healthy again, remember? Well, you know, he wasn't a first round. First two rounds get quarterbacks power in size, get speed, third round and on. So the feeling by most GMs, and there, Nick Chubb was a second rounder. He's been worth it.

But the feeling is you can get your running backs rounds three and on. You can get your corners and safeties, round three and on. Now, Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore, first round, has been great. If there's a guy that you really see as, if it's a huge need in these, Ed Reed, Kyle Hamilton, go get them. But generally, size, unique, size, power, or quarterbacks in the first two rounds the way to do it. So if you could tell me that Jim Harbaugh is going to draft a running back, let's just say hypothetically, the Michigan Kid, Corum. Third. Right.

Okay. Second or third round. The second or third round. And then I get Sequin Barclay also in free agency on a specific deal that's going to fit my cap situation. that's a massive home run because you know Harbaugh likes to run the football. He loves to run the ball. They're, I mean, not that I have inside Intel, it's been published. They want to create a big time run game.

So they have to get a center and another running back. Those two positions, they're going to acquire. Their center was hurt last year. No, he's done. He's over. Career over, yeah, that was a killer. Not great. But I'm with you.

I kind of like the Chargers. Next up, Daniel Jones. Hey, remember last summer, or last off season, four years, 160. and he was, shall we say, pretty terrible before tearing his ACL in week nine. There are reports, now this is report season in the NFL that indicate the Giants could target a quarterback in the draft if the right situation presents itself. This is not a shock to you and I. We don't like Daniel Jones.

Yeah, I would move off him, but I don't think they will. They'll go get a receiver. But they're not, he's not long for the Giants with that contract. Again, they have a lot of things I like. They have a good left tackle. They have an edge rusher. I like their defensive line. I like their coach.

They're not, they have a star running back. There are things the Giants have, I like. They absolutely have to upgrade wide receiver. They're just not dynamic enough. I think the kid Hyatt from Tennessee had a solid rookie year. He's a two. He's fine. But they got to get better at receiver.

But they don't have a quarterback to get them the ball. I think what they're going to do is draft a quarterback about the third or fourth round. And by Thanksgiving may just pull the plug. But I don't think they've got, they're not fast enough on the perimeter. to threaten teams like San Francisco, Philadelphia. They've got to get faster. They're like New England in the NFC. They're just not on the perimeter.

They don't scare anybody so you can defend them much more easily. They're not dynamic. This is an interesting offseason for Brian Dable. Remember, goes to the Giants, get to the playoffs. Everything's looking good. Regress badly. Now they look for a quarterback. Are they the worst team in that division, Colin?

We both like Washington. No, I think they are. I'm picking the commanders doing the division. Bold. and Dallas to make the playoffs. So Eagles miss? Eagles miss, Giants miss. Siriani fired.

Yep. I'm not rooting for it. You're asking me to make a prediction. Yeah. Predictions in February for the upcoming NFL season. And I don't think it's a dayball issue. I think he should retain his job. I think he didn't draft Daniel Jones.

That's he inherited it. You do the best you can with what's inherited. And the Mara family is all in on Daniel Jones because I think he looks like Eli. I mean, I can't figure it out. And so it's like he's a more mobile Eli. So it's like, okay, whatever. But you're telling me I have to win with this guy. I'm doing the best.

I got him to the playoffs. I mean, Matt Nagy got Trubiski into the playoffs twice. You fire him. I didn't draft him. I'll just do the best I can with him. It's fair. Final story is the Niners. And that's a defensive coordinator job.

Apparently the last remaining coordinator vacancy in the league. Kyle Shanahan expects to finish up interviews and make a hire this week. and there is a new name who has finished an interview. Your friend, Brandon Staley. There's no reason. Former Chargers head coach. There's nothing wrong. A lot of people are excellent coordinators.

He was a very good coordinator. I thought Raheim Morris was better. I thought he was excellent for the Rams. A bunch of Aaron Donald and a bunch of kids. Yes, Morris is right. But there's no reason to pile on. I'm not piling. What are you piling on?

My friend felt like a jab. I think that subtle. Daley would be a good hire, no? I have no problem with him. We've beaten up Brandon Staley enough. I mean, I moved off the Baker. Actually, I don't think we have. The Baker heat after a while.

You know, we're not here to be bullies. Probably should move off Justin Fields. I've, you know, been pretty tough for about a month. Okay, so tomorrow, rest of the week, no Russell Wilson, no Fields. I don't, I didn't, wasn't critical. I gave Russell very positive for years. Yeah. Probably too positive.

Maybe, arguable. JAMAC with the news Well, that's the news And thanks for stopping by The Herd Lye News This next segment will be brilliant But may not be well received by JMAC

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Weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific Hey, I'm Doug Gautil The podcast is called All Ball. We usually talk all basketball all the time, but it's more about the stories about what made these people love their sport and all the interesting interactions along the way. We talk to coaches, we talk to players,

we tell you stories. You download it, you listen to it, I think you like it. Listen to All Ball with Doug Ghalib on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged.

It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win. A win is a win. Okay, what you're saying? Yep, that's me, Cliford 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. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast.

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

Mark this is the second episode where we've discussed crack so I'm starting to see there's a through line We also have AIDS on the table right now so Thank you for finishing that sentence

I don't think there's a more important year for black people Really? Yeah for me it's one of the most important years for black people in American history Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app

Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts So I admitted yesterday that I didn't think Luke and Kyrie. I didn't trust him. Kyrie too much drama misses too many games. They're off to a, they're having a great week. A great two, three week stretch, actually. In their last seven, eight games, they've been on fire.

And Kyrie's been on fire. And so I was thinking about this is we only have yesterday 25, 24 games left in the NBA regular season. So this is when everybody tightens up the screws. You kind of, you start watching NBA games this week. We'll have a Celtics Sixers game, a Warriors Knicks games. now's the time you kind of pivoted into NBA, watch it. It's going to look like playoff basketball for some of the seating here. So I thought 10 through 1, let's go to the best duos in the NBA.

J. Mack, are you ready? Yes, sir. Number 10, Aunt Edwards, Carl Anthony Towns. Edwards average in 26, number one seat in the West. My concern with these two, I do not trust Carl Anthony Towns in a big spot. I just, I've always thought he can be emotional. Sometimes you lose him. He goes off the fairway, but I have them at number 10 duo.

Number nine, Janice, Damian Lillard. My concern is not a very good team defensively, but they are the third highest scoring duo in the league this year. Janus has been a dominant fourth quarter score. I worry a little bit about Dame's health. They haven't necessarily fit brilliantly together yet, and again, some defensive concerns that are nine. Eight, Chet Holmgren and SGA.

Now, their youth is a concern in the playoffs. But Holmgren quietly, because everybody's paying attention to Wembe, Jeff Holmgren's had a great year. And SGA is the second leading score in the NBA. So between these two, by the way, and this is one of the advantages of youth, they play every night. They've missed one game combined all season. Number seven, Luke and Kyrie.

Now, here's my knock. They don't play defense, and Kyrie has missed 22 of 57 games, but on their good nights, when they're both hitting, it's hard to stop. Now, in terms of usage rate, Lucas got the ball in his hands, highest usage rate in the league. And I always think when you play like James Hart, he's a little James Harden, you wear out in May and June, you just wear out. You have the ball in your hands?

But I put them at seven. Number six, Steph Curry and Draymond. Say what you want. Have you noticed how good this team is since Draymond Green Return? Since Draymond Green returned, their top 10 in offensive rating, defensive rating, and net rating. I'm sorry all you haters. Draymond after Steph is the sole of this franchise. Curry leads the NBA in three-point score.

Number five, if they're available, Kauai and Paul George. I mean, listen, they both defend. They can both score. And here's the other thing this year, J-Mack. They're not missing games. They've only missed nine total all season. and the Clippers have the best record and the highest offense rating in the West since December. So that's the one thing if you watch the Clippers, you can't deny.

They move the ball. Hardin has finally given them a legitimate veteran point guard, an assist guy. Paul George Kauai at 5. 4. Durant & Booker. Best mid-range duo in forever. They're the only duo, both averaging over 27 a night. Listen, you guys all bang on Kevin Durant.

Nobody gives Booker props. But there's nothing like playoff basketball. We all talk about threes. You know what happens in the playoffs? Get me a bucket. Booker and Durant are buckets. That's why I think they'll be very good in the playoffs. I put them at five.

Jason Tatum, Jalen Brown, better defenders probably than those two. put him at three. Listen, they're great at home. Net ratings fantastic. Four conference finals in seven years. They've got playoff experience. You know, Tatum sometimes, I think, can shrink a little in big spots, but I put them three. Two, you're going to go crazy.

LeBron and AD. AD's not missing games. So, AD is the best defensive player in the league, I think. And I think LeBron on any given night to top five offensive player. And the bottom line is these guys aren't made for a seven game playoff series, but they won the in-season tournament for a reason. When AD and LeBron can give you 38 minutes each, they can beat anybody. They went to Boston without these two and beat the Celtics.

So I put them as the number two duo. Now, I think by next year they may drop to seven because of their age, but right now number two and number one, Jamal Murray and Yokic. And I don't think they're, they also have a great supporting cast, but I get a big man who on any given night can have 15 assists, 15 rebounds, and 30 points. And Jabal Murray, although never been a big All-Star game guy, J. Mack was on him two, three years ago. He is a great get-a-bucket guy. You saw that against the Warriors in the fourth quarter.

You need a bucket. Jamal Murray gets him. Yokech best player in the league. All right, where's your big disagreement? People will say you have LeBron and AD do high, but as I say duos, what I'm thinking is when we get into the playoffs, it's a game six must win. I would say Yokich Murray won. I'd take LeBron and AD to win a game too. Okay. The biggest mistake here is not giving us enough time to debate it. One massive error. I don't know how you miss this. I don't

know how the staff allowed this to happen. So the Miami heat had two guys on their team who've been to the finals twice in the last four years. Jimmy Butler and Bamad Amaya. They absolutely a thousand percent deserve to be on this list. I'm sorry. They carry the franchise. So you're going to put them over the number one seed in the West,

Ann Edwards and Carl Anthony. I love Ann Edwards. They don't have any playoff wins. Well, I'm not talking last year. SGA and Chet. What are the heat right now is a seed?

It doesn't matter. It's a playoffs. These guys are regular cities. This list is today, not the last four years. Oh, dear. They're sixth. They're sixth in the east.

Steph Curry is my favorite player of all time. I'm sorry. They're not top 10. Draymond, come on. Sam, Sam, of Draymond being back for like eight minutes.

I think you need Bam and Jimmy Butler on there. The other one, your guy Deeran Fox and DeMontasabonis. I mean, goodness, gracious. Sabonis can't shoot. Shooters league. Can't shoot.

Hoo-hoo! You know, you guys all light the beam. How about you light up some playoff wins? Gap I had to hear you and Nick right on light the beam. By the way, Janice and Dame Lillard at 9? I mean, I don't know where you, You've got to get them lower than that.

But this is a solid list. Solid, not your worst. C. I'll give a C plus. I like Bam and Jimmy Butler. They're 11. They're 11. It's like Brock Purdy.

He's the 16th best quarterback. Almost makes the top 50s. Who's the worst player on this list? There is no worst player. There has to be. If you're ranking the players. There is no. Chet Holmgren doesn't have a long runway of games.

They're not top 10. I'm sorry. You don't, SGA leaves the league in scoring. Who. Number two seed in the West. And you aren't worked up about Bam on a bayou? Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite.

Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter.

Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends. on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all,

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