The Herd with Colin Cowherd - HOUR 3 - Harden, Giannis

Episode Date: May 3, 2022

James Harden simply didn't take care of his body Comparing Giannis Antetokounmpo among other stars Guest: Eddie JohnsonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Yep, that's me, Clivert Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 is big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors.

Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild. I mean, 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. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days I'd put on 10 pounds, I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to The Heard Podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Herd. listening to Fox Sports Radio.

Well, I remember Eddie Johnson is a great score. He's got over 19,000 points, top 60 score in the history of the sport. And I didn't know he was going to go into broadcasting, but he went into it about 22 years ago, and he's still doing it for the Sons and playing golf and doing Suns games. That's not a bad life. I'm just here to tell you as a broadcaster. That is not. And now, now Eddie's got another good team.

You were good for a while, but not so good. You've got a good team now again. So when I watch Phoenix, I've said this. They're a little old school. They do a lot of mid-range, classic big, feisty point guard, number two guard score, a wing that can defend. I love watching them. And last night I'm watching their chemistry.

And it's on both ends, Eddie. It's so good. Do they get along as well? Because Chris Paul can be feisty. How do they get along? There's some young. There's some old. How do they get along?

They accept Chris Paul and they accept Devin Booker because both of those guys are on those guys. They discipline them all the time. Monty Williams allows that to happen. And those guys listen. They understand the nature of what they have in front of them. And not only do those two guys get on them, but they balance it, Colin.

They're always over Devin's house. Chris is always in their ear, complimenting It's a great balance to this team. And they love each other. I've been around, it's been in the NBA 40 years. So I'm not just saying this. These dudes actually love each other.

I mean, they don't go anywhere without the other. They go out as groups. It is no accident why they win. And I continually tell people that is part of the process is to be able to get to know that guy you're going to battle with every night and appreciate him and get to know him past basketball. And that's what these guys have done and it is showing on the court. Yeah.

They don't shoot a ton of threes, which I'm okay with because they're so efficient as a mid-range team. And, Eddie, I'm a believer that when the playoffs arrive, it gets much more situational. And threes are great in the regular season. But then all of a sudden it becomes more of a half-court game. And you've got to get buckets. And I think Milwaukee and Phoenix are the best at that. Are you a little worried, though, if you matched up with a war? Warriors team, you don't have this litany of three-point shooters.

That's a little bit of a hole, I guess. I don't know if it's a hole. Does that worry at all? Well, obviously, it's a concern. If you even just talk about the Warriors or, you know, if you talk about down the line of Miami Heat, these are teams that love to chuck it up from three. And so it's always a concern.

We've lost to both of those teams during the course of the year, and they were hot from three. I think the trade-off here is that, you know, we're betting that you're not going to be hot all the time. And I think it's played out for the sons over the course of the year. They've won 64 games. They have the best record over the last two years of any NBA team. And I think they ride on that. And look, if they got open shots, normally they're very consistent.

But even Colin, if they're off with their three, they're going to shoot 50% as a team. I mean, seven straight playoff games, they've shot 50% even though they have not shot the ball well from three. So that's the way they play. They're not going to change it. They take what the defense gives it. And that's why they've been successful. And look, that's old school brand of play. I love it.

And you mentioned 19,000, 202 I got. I average one three-point shot a game in my career. So I truly believe in it. Yeah. So Luke is a fascinating player. I said earlier to a guest, I said, if you told me in 15 years, he was a top score in league history or in 20 years, the kid's 29. he'll score as much as he wants to for the next decade.

I do think they need a two. I compared him earlier. I said they're a little Bitcoin. The sons are Berkshire Hathaway. I know I get my dividend check every month. The Mavs are Bitcoin. Hot, cold, up, down, streaky. They can be very reliant on Luca.

What do you make of him as a player? Does there any comp in your career to Luca? Wow. I don't think so. Not at his size. Like, you know, he's like LeBron without the athleticism. So, I mean, he plays on the floor pretty much. He doesn't jump high.

You know, he just plays with good contact. He gets good separation from you with his body. So you don't really want him to get skinny. And so, no, he just has a great feel for the game. Like, watching him last night, the way he was scoring, like everybody can't score like that. Like, a lot of guys try to score like he does. they're going to get this shot blocked. I mean, this guy has an uncanny way of just getting a shot off,

understanding the presence of defenders around him, and not losing concentration. He is simply an amazing offensive player. And what I mean by offensive player, he can score and he can pass it. He's just not one-dimensional in that area. You know, for years and years, I loved Janus, but Eddie, I was a little bit of a cynic. I said, listen, he's got to become a better facilitator.

He's got to shoot better. I don't trust him at the free throw line. And then in the playoffs last year, it's like, oh, okay, all right. He started checking boxes. And I watched him over the last year. And I think he's not only the best player. He's getting into a space that Jordan had for a while and that LeBron had for a while is that he's not only the best player.

I'm not sure anybody's quite close on a nightly basis. I mean, he'll be the best offensive player and the best defensive player and the most guaranteed bucket. I kind of feel like he's separated a little from the KD, the LeBron, do you? Yeah, without a doubt. I mean, look, LeBron is going to be, what, 37, 38, of course. I mean, you know, you've got to separate yourself from the old guy. And I thought KD had him early in the part of this year. I really thought it the way KD was playing.

and Brooklyn, you know, with number one seed in the east. But as a season went along and at the end, you kind of see like how you can maybe take advantage of KD. And I've said that all along with him is that he has a hard time getting open. He needs the ball and then he creates his opportunity. With Yonis, he takes the ball and he's just straight gangsters you, man. Like, and he's gotten to the point now, well, he'll pull up, he'll take the little 10-footer and he's not afraid to go to the free throw line.

You remember when Carl Malone first got in the league, Carl hated to get fouled to be the pre-co line. That's right. Now, Yonis embraces it. Yeah. And in embracing it, his free throw percentage is better. And he makes them when he needs to make them. So, yeah, I would say right now he's grabbed the lead in it because he's maniacal, man.

Like, this dude hurts people. He truly hurts people. And I think a lot of players are intimidated by him. Yeah. So Draymond Green has always been a little Rodman. he's a little more skilled offensively. And, I mean, there's been guys like Ben Wallace. I remember when I was a kid,

Bobby Jones of the Sixers, was like a defensive player, but Bobby could score. Dremon Green, he's not as valuable as Steph, but he's such a catalyst. When you see Dremont as a guy that really knows the sport, you've been playing it or broadcasting it

for good Lord, 40-some years, what do you see that most fans don't with Dremont? Because they look at that average, and they guy's giving me seven, eight points. It's way more than that. He's one of the smartest players that we've, that we've had in this league. He, he understands his limitations and he works on the things that he's very good at. I wish all players did that. And so, yeah, Draymond might get the criticism for things he can't

do, but he's, he's proven that it doesn't matter because he can do some things that you can't do, and he'll do it at a high level. and that's the difference in him. And he's a little bit crazy. So, I mean, you need crazy on your team. You need crazy on your team, without a doubt. And he has it big time. Give me somebody crazy.

So you played with the Suns, King, Sonics, Rockets, Pacer,'s, Hornets. Give me a little crazy on one of your teams. Gary Payton was crazy. Without a doubt, he was crazy. Larry Johnson was crazy Oh, yeah Lanzo Morning was crazy I liked all those guys

Dale Davis and Antonio Davis was crazy Yeah Yeah, they get in fights They're feisty Eddie, you weren't feisty You had to keep that baritone voice You didn't want to get any of those fights No

That faces that... I started fights but I didn't fight Well, he's been doing it forever And he's just terrific at it Eddie Johnson. And, oh, you know, I was going to ask you this. So you've always been in good shape. So I was saying this with James Harden as a pro athlete, if you don't take care of your game or you don't take care of yourself, about 33 years old, you get old fast.

And Hardin now, Hardin's a three. And listen, I got no problem with closing nightclubs. They're not my scene, but I got no problem with it. But I tell you, he can't get past people, Eddie. and so when I look at him, the thing I'll give Harden credit for, he's not shooting 20 times a game. I think he knows. He's like, hey, this is, this is, when did you know?

I can't take 20 shots a game. When was your realization? Tell me, go back to your career when you thought, you know, I can score. 37 with the Rockets. Yeah. Charles threw me a pass across. Charles Barkley threw me a pass across court. And I stuck.

I couldn't move. I do. I was done. Really? And James Hardin is pretty much exhausted everything he could have had if he'd taken care of himself better. You know, you have to take care of yourself even to a higher level as you get older. And James didn't do that. Right.

And now he's paying a price. And he's trying to get it back and he's finding that he can't. He can't get around people like he used to. He's not as strong as he used to be. You can't mess with the game. George Carl used to always say it, Larry Brown. if you mess with the game, it's going to mess with you. And that's what James Harden sits right now.

I'm not shocked that he's struggling because if you don't take care of yourself, it's going to happen. The reason why LeBron has been able to do what he's done because he takes care of himself. Chris Paul is doing now what he's doing at this age because he takes care of himself now. You have to be able to persevere through farther time to play this game. This game is hard on your body. You're dealing with young players.

now that want your drama, they want what you got. And if you're not ready to fight with them, they're going to embarrass you. And that's what we're seeing right now with James Harden. Great seeing you, Eddie. Continued success for the Sons and you. And followed your career. I love having you on, man. Thank you.

Thanks, Colin. Appreciate it. Eddie Johnson, boy, he could get a bucket. Eddie Johnson could get a bucket for a long time. You know, he's talking to me. He was on those Sonics teams, I remember. He may have been, I'm not sure, but was he with, Sean Kemp, there's a guy that didn't quite take care.

You know, he just age really quickly. Sean Kemp in his prime. Yikes. I mean, he's still got YouTube dunks that look like it's a movie. Like it's that, what's that stuff to do with movies where stuff flies through the air and CGI? Like, Sean Kemp's got some dunks that are still the top three or four dunks in the history of basketball.

But, you know, you got to take care of your game. You got to stay current. You got to stay on top of it. So you can just see. Nick Wright talked about this. He was ahead of me by a couple of months because he sits there. He'll watch every NBA game. Like Harden just can't get that first step.

Players now don't buy it. Can't get fouled. The NBA is increasingly not calling that foul. And he went here to there really quick. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. 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 Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clipper Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey, from basketball to college football or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined.

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

And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars. fan so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of 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 podcast. 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 kill? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill,

waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so you're just so you. 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, oh. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. Uh, joy with the news. No. No. No. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Well, no one really expected Matt Ryan to part ways with the Falcons, at least in this particular offseason, particularly Matt Ryan himself. But then the Deshawn Watson situation happened and that changed things. And he was recently on the Ryan Rosillo podcast and was asked if he would still be in Atlanta if that hadn't happened.

Had none of this gone down, there's probably a chance, you know, a pretty good chance. But it did, you know. So, you know, when it does, when the situations change and the circumstances change, you know, I had always thought, like everybody, when you're drafted there and you play there, this is where I'm going to play my entire career. For 14 years every day I woke up, it was to try and help the Falcons win a championship. And, you know, that have been reciprocated on the other end for me. And so when that changed, you know, I had to look into it. It's also why it's just, it's so laughable, the idea that the Falcons just, we were just, you know, we were just doing our due diligence on Deshaun Watson.

Like, okay, well, I'm sure. Yeah, the Chargers weren't doing their due diligence for them. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Well, Ryan was traded to the Colts in exchange for a third round pick in this year's draft. The Falcons obviously did not end up signing Watson and said they signed Marcus Marietta to a two-year deal. And, you know, now both of these organizations are kind of on different paths.

I find a lot of the teams going after this, which was pretty insane offseason, a lot of teams to be very interesting. Like the cult of Matt Ryan is interesting to me. I've got to see what he does there. Because we were so out on Matt Ryan. Well, we like their roster. They need another receiver and they got it in the draft.

But I mean, it's, I kind of feel like the question isn't whether the cults are capable. It's will they beat themselves? like in Wendt, they beat themselves. So if I looked up at the end of the year and the Colts were 12 and 5 in that division, would not be shocked at all. Right. At all. But what can they do in the postseason?

Again, limitations, mostly because they're, the bottom line, the high end of the AFC is insane. It is. But the thing about as the season goes on, you have all of these teams. It's a long season. we have all these expectations of teams going into the season. There's never going to be injuries. How does that change the landscape of things?

Like a team like Jacksonville. I am so interested to see what Jacksonville looks like this year. They signed a bunch of free agents. Trevor Lawrence in his second year, completely giving him a pass in the first year. Doug Peterson, how does all this come together? There's just a lot of really fun storylines going into the NFL season. And because of all the movements,

the expectations are going to be different for all these teams as well. So the Panthers added some quarterback depth. They drafted Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral in the third round. That doesn't mean that they're out on pursuing a veteran as well. According to Albert Brewer expects the Panthers to kick around the idea of adding a veteran quarterback. They've had some reported interest in Baker Mayfield or Jimmy G. And the Bears released Nick Foles last week. So he might be another possibility.

I was certain they were taking Malig Willis at six. And then I was certain that the Steelers were taking Malie Willis. And they went with Kenny Pickett. So by drafting Corral, they're probably not going to get a veteran quarterback. It doesn't really seem like that's the directions they're going in this year. I think it's actually a good sign for Carolina that they didn't take a quarterback that high. It would have felt like a reach to begin with. But also, you know, that kind of tells me that Matt Rule maybe isn't in the hot seat that everybody thinks that he's in.

He does have a really long contract. He's a seven-year deal. But they've struggled his first two years there. So what are they doing? Are they doing sort of the Seattle thing where they're just building up the roster? and then they're going to go take a big swing on a guy next year. That's kind of what I feel like they're doing. Because they have Sam Darnold, and he was not great last year.

And what other options are you looking at here? Like maybe Matt Carrell ends up being good enough to start. Who knows? If that's the case, you got him a steal in a third round. Well, it's interesting. The division's so bad. Like, I think Atlanta and Seattle really feel like it wouldn't drive. them crazy if they went three and

14. Whereas I think Carolina with that owner, they want to win some games. And because of that, I think they will. So I'm not saying, I saw a story yesterday, Joy, the over-under on first round quarterbacks taken next year is six and a half.

So it's a really, really good quarterback draft. So Carolina is going to get one. The question is, are three of those, like, yeah, they can start. Are you going to get the right one? Yeah. Can you get some So, like, Kentucky's got one, and Florida has one, and Ohio State has one, and Alabama has one.

So, like, next year, next year's draft is going to get bafo ratings. Well, AJ Brown was officially introduced as a new member of the Eagles yesterday, and he said he's been working to establish a relationship with his new quarterback. I get to play with my best friend, and it's great to be a part of this great organization. Man, it's going to be real special, man. I'm so excited. playing with someone who thinks like me. I talk to him every day, regardless of this football stuff,

but I'm so excited to play with him. And he's a quarterback to him receiver, so we get on the same page, please. So they've been friends for a while. He herds tried to recruit him to Alabama, and he went to Ole Miss instead. But as far as getting on the same page on the field, I think that's a huge thing, that they already have a relationship. Yeah. And we'll be able to work together.

So they acquired Brown. The Eagles did from the Titans in exchange for 18th and 101st pick in the first round of the drafts. Well, both A.J. Brown and Hollywood Brown are friends with a quarterback. That has to have. I think it helps. Yeah, absolutely. It helps. Devonty Adams and Derek Carr.

I think having a relationship. I mean, we've seen this a lot throughout the league, but I think, you know, the best example of this is probably, of course, the goat and Tom Brady. When you have a really strong relationship with your weapons, with your receivers, with your tight ends, there's a trust factor there. There's a nonverbal communication that operates at a higher level when you have an actual relationship

with your teammates like that. And, you know, the Eagles obviously needed a wide receiver. They had the fewest targets, the second fewest receptions, and the third fewest receiving yards last season. So this was a huge addition for them. No Eagles wide receiver had more than 65 receptions last season. And you want to find out what you haven't hurts.

Everyone's not 100% sure if he's the guy moving forward, bringing in someone like A.J. Brown is an incredible addition for them. I don't really know what the Titans were thinking, but I love this for the Eagles. Yeah, the Titans is interesting because we kind of feel like, like A.J. Brown, Tana Hill without A.J. Brown's a little DAC without Amari. I'm like, that feels like you go down a half grade. You're from A and a half to B plus really fast. Yeah, I don't love that.

In a league where everybody's looking for a number one receiver. Don't give them up. Yeah, probably just running his money. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lie News. 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, I'm Doug Gottlie. 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 Alib on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcast. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds.

I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions,

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

The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related

episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of taun tons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do a little kill? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it

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

of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. 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. All right, this will be fun. We're going to call it the Greek versus the Great. Joy is going to ask me. she's going to give me an NBA legend.

And I will tell you if I would take Janus now and his ascending career. Because I think he just entered his prime. He's going to have six to seven more years of this and he never gets hurt. I mean, LeBron's prime lasted way longer than everybody thought. And he's got kind of LeBron's genetic fortune that he doesn't get banged up a lot, flexible. So the all-time greats prime or Janus's prime, I guess Janus's prime is prim is primed. now in year two of his prime. So here we go.

Janice or Kevin Durant? Janice. First of all, he's going to age better and have a longer prime. Now, KD's the great offensive player, but he's been nicked up now for about four years. Also, he's a wander. You never know, can you really build around KD? I know I can build around Janus for the next 10 years in Milwaukee,

and that has huge value to me. Janus or Steph Curry Tough but I would take Janus I'm going to roll the dice on Janus First of all I told you I think the bucks are going to have a dynasty So Steph has seen as transformational as a three-point shooter But he's always been a defensive liability And increasingly in the last four years

Injuries are a part of it Now Steph's ceiling And the ability to shoot will extend his career I'm not saying it's not close But you have to hide Steph on the defensive end And I know defense is only about 30% of the NBA. Offense is 70. But Janus is so dominating as a facilitator, defender, score.

He literally stopped Boston's entire offense Sunday. You will not score anything down low. When you can discombobulate an efficient offense like Boston, that is nobody else in the game can do that now. Janice or James Hardin. Easy. Hardin's peak was really quick. Really fun, but Hardin never did anything on the defensive end.

And frankly, again, he was so ball-centric. He was exhausted by the time the postseason came around. Janus or Shaq? I'm going to go Shaq here. So it's Shaq's ceiling is hard to, he was so dominant. First of all, like Janus, he didn't look like anything in the sport. Right. On the break, down low.

I mean, he's still top 15 all time in points, rebounds, blocks, field goal percentage. There was really no answer for him. He would get everybody in foul trouble. I always said Shaq had to overcome the officials because they didn't know how to officiate Shaq. If Shaq would have Arvita Sabonis hanging on him, but it wouldn't bother him. Guys bounced off Shaq for 10 years and there weren't foul calls. With any other player, it would have knocked him to the floor. And with Shaq, they just bounced off.

Shaq was fouled more than any player in league history. Janice or Dirk? Janus. You know, Dirk is a great score and a wonderful guy, but I think, you know, again, the ability for Janus to do so many things well and control the tempo. I mean, Janus now is a de facto point guard, center, defender who totally controls the game on both ends. Janus or Tim Duncan?

It's close, but not as close as you think, and here's why. First of all, Duncan had a lot more help. Tony Parker, Manu Genoblee, and maybe the best coach of his generation. But Duncan never, only averaged over 25 once. Duncan was the great fundamental, but he's not going to give you 40 and 50 point games in big spots. Duncan had one season averaging over 25. Yonis has averaged over that for five straight years. So I think Yonis is, Yonis going to have an eight-year ceiling.

Now, he may not be, I think these dynasties are going to look the exact same. In fact, Boudintholzer comes from San Antonio. I don't know. I got to go with Duncan there. Janice or Kevin Garnett? Janice. I mean, Garnett was great, but he wasted so many years on bad teams. So that one's not that that one's not that close. Janus or Kobe. Now, again, I'm in Los Angeles.

Remember, Kobe was a volume score. He was not efficient. Yonis is efficient. Also, Kobe was a very good defender for about five years. But early on in his career and late, he wasn't. This is hard. Come on. These are not easy questions.

No, it's not hard for me on Kobe, Steph, or Duncan. See, I don't like Flash and glamour. I like the mid-range. No, listen, Janice. Okay, let's do the last one. Janice or LeBron? LeBron. Okay.

I mean, come on. LeBron is, like, I would take Michael. I would take Shaq. I would take LeBron. I would probably take Wilt. Kareem. I would take Kareem. Boy, it gets.

And then there's the, we could argue about it. I would take magic over Yannis. I would take magic because he completely controlled the whole league. Bird would be close, but he wouldn't beat him. But I would take about seven guys over Yannis. That's how highly I think of him for the next six years.

Now, the close ones are Steph and Kobe because they're so exhilarating to watch. But you've got to remember. What's hard for me with, well, Steph, to me, he's won the championships. Like he has the hardware. Yes.

You know, and he's been the glue for that organization. So I've seen him do it. It's like with Duncan. Like Duncan won five championships. I can't just, like,

I don't know if you're going to come close to that. Kobe never. What if you honest ones too? Kobe never shot over 47%. Let me look it up here. Kobe never shot over 40% in a single season of his 20 year career. So Kobe was a volume.

I mean, Laker fans had about two-year period. They were getting mad at him because when Shaq left before Gasol got there, Kobe would shoot 35 times. He didn't care. And so Kobe is so iconic. I understand the Duncan Kobe arguments. And again,

I'm playing on the tarmac being long on the Duncan argument. Where I appreciate Kobe, I always felt like we had Kobe, it was Michael, and he was a stronger, better defender. But Kobe was more artistic than Michael. Kobe would go down. There was a blank canvas,

left hand, right hand. Kobe is really a unique player. But the efficiency wasn't. Like, I always thought Michael could be highly efficient in the postseason. Kobe, you just had to give up eight bad shots. Like, he was going to come down and just take some shots. You were like, yeah, it is what it is. Yonis has now, when you watch Yonis Sunday against Boston,

he literally took this hot team that swept them. And Boston was completely discombobulated for two and a half hour. They didn't know what to do. He said, you're not going to score anything within eight feet of the basket. That is like, that's Kareem. Janus is incredible. There's just, there's no, this isn't a downgrade of Janus. Like, we are mostly splitting hairs here, unless we're talking about Michael and

LeBron. Let me read the Duncan stuff for all the haters. So the Spurs still put the Janus Duncan thing up. So the Spurs still had a winning record in games played without Duncan. Oh, because they had such. I can't do it. Colin, what? He was a three-time NBA Finals MVP, two-time

league MVP, 15-time All-Star, 10-time all-N-B-A-first team. So Duncan... Five-time champion. Okay, but Duncan never averaged five assists a game. So Janus is a better facilitator. Yonis is a better pure score. Eight-time NBA all-defensive first team. Yeah, they just make that crap up. Oh, come on. Yonis has made more three-pointers in the playoffs, 54, than Duncan made in 19 years. And he's a game away from doubling it.

So Janus is better three. Janus is a better facilitator. Janus is a better, more dynamic score. And it didn't have nearly the staff around him. Did I convince you? No. Not on Duncan yet. And I love Janus.

Well, the Kobe one's harder for me because they're so different. Yes. Yeah, it's kind of hard to compare them. Yeah. With Kobe, it's like, yeah. It's hard to compare staff to Janus. Yeah. Like, but Kobe is so unique.

He was so fun. He was so. and he was so there was such an alpha with Kobe like I liked that Kobe was you know like when he literally walked to the line after he tore his like ACL or something it's like he had so many dramatic moments well I guess it's I'm again I'm I'm looking at the results of these yes I'm projecting you're projecting yon because I think yonis is going to win it probably this yonnes will win three of the next five and then this we're going to do this segment in five years and people will be like oh Colin is a crystal ball. This morning, it looks like I'm a complete moron. I don't know what. No, no. Yonis is incredible.

It's not that. It's just when you're talking about, you know, five rings. A lot. It's a lot. Five is a lot. It was interesting. Spurs never won back-to-backers. And that's why I think Milwaukee.

I could see Milwaukee like Phoenix beats him this year. Milwaukee comes back and wins it. And then Golden State beats him. And then Milwaukee comes back. They feel very much like the Spurs. They're going to win them. They're going to be narrow. They're not going to be pretty.

We'll see you tomorrow. It's the herd. 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,

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On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it with our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s.

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I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw,

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