The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 3 - Playoff pressure

Episode Date: April 15, 2024

More thoughts on what to expect in the NBA playoffs The NBA teams that will be under the most pressure in the playoffs   Guest: Eddie HouseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Yeah, we were talking earlier about it's not just getting a star in the NBA, it's getting the right star, who's the hardest worker in the locker room because of the NBA locker rooms are so small. A star player can have massive impact on the court, off the court. And it's why Jalen Brunson is a fascinating player for the Knicks, Eddie House, Fox Sports, seven playoffs, 11 years, a couple of finals appearances. Brunson's interesting because he got that chip because second round guy, Dallas let him go. And when you watch it, when Julius Randall got hurt, it's like, oh, now the offense, he doesn't have to get anybody touches. It's him and a bunch of kids. Are the Knicks a viable playoff team, or are Eddie, are they just too Jalen Brunson dependent to do anything?

No, I think they're definitely a viable playoff team. Number one, you know, they work their sense. into that second slot. You know, if we go back a few weeks ago, they were hovering around the mid-pack of the playoffs and things like that, and they just hit that corner. The OG Anobie, they're 20 and three since he came over.

One thing about the New York Knicks, they play defense, and they get after it, they play hard on those defense, and then they test your discipline. With their offense, they test your defensive discipline, and then how they play defense,

they test your offensive discipline as well. And I think that the team just flows better with Julius Randall out. I said that earlier today on Cardin, and it kind of sounds crazy with, Julius Randall being an all-star type player, you wouldn't think that taking him away, that that opens up the floor and makes the offense flow a whole lot better. They're extremely tough, and I think moving up to the second slot, the second seed, with all the momentum they got, I think they got the most momentum going into the playoffs, and that counts for something. Well, you had Doc Rivers. You know him well. Now Janus is hurt.

Indiana plays fast. Halliburton's virtually unguardable. I mean, Milwaukee's in a weird spot where, you know, they fire a coach, had had a winning record, they bring in Doc. The dame thing hasn't been ideal. Does it feel like to you with Boston's emergence, the Nick, Knicks playing the best basketball, Dallas, Denver, does it feel like to you the Bucks window? This is an old, old team without great first round draft capital, that Eddie, sometimes these windows, they close and they close really quickly.

Boston's is going to be open for six years. Denver six years. Okay, C's is about to open. Your takeaway on the bucks right now going forward. And they did exactly the opposite of what the Knicks did. The Knicks played themselves into the second. They lost their way

to the third seat. You know, I think they're 17 and 19 since Doc's taken over. I can't quite put my finger on this team except two things. They lose Drew Holiday, and nobody talks about how they lost Grayson Allen. Those were two tough perimeter defenders. Now, and you look at this clip, look at their offense.

Everybody standing right next to each other or they're standing still. Their offense doesn't flow, and I think it all stems from their defense. They have no defensive continuity because Brooke Lopez is not the same Brooke Lopez of two years ago, because they don't have the same perimeter defense. The perimeter defense is getting killed, and they're putting a lot of pressure on Brooke Lopez, who I feel has lost a step or two, especially his lateral movements, the same so that you're able to attack them because he's going to stay in that drop coverage and with that drop coverage they're not fighting over the screen like drew holiday fought over

the screen they're not fighting over the screen like gracing allen was fighting over the screen consistently now they brought in patrick beverly it just hasn't made a change i think that they're allowed their their lack of defense to affect their offense there's just no continuity there also i don't know it could be something going on in that locker room where where guys just aren't all the way together on the same page because it is weird i won't say that their window is closed But that thing is coming down right now, for sure. So Jay Mack and I talked about this. Oklahoma City's future is amazing.

But they're 22-year-old kids. This is the youngest playoff team. We saw the Packers in the NFL playoffs. You can just tell they're a year away. And OKC, let's say they got matched up with the Lakers or an older team, like a Warriors. I tend to lean with veterans in the playoffs. They manipulate the refs. They manipulate the whistle.

They manipulate. Older guys have been around this league. They just in situational basketball are better than young teams. How do you view OKC? What if they get bounced in a seven-game series in the opening round? Is it a failed season? I would say it wouldn't be a failed season. I don't think that nobody expected them to be there.

So they already exceeded their expectations that everybody had coming into the season. I would say with what they have done, I would have, if I had a vote, I will vote SGA for the MVP because nobody expected them to be number one. Yeah, you probably, the bottom half of the, you know, maybe six, five, six somewhere around there, maybe four if they got hot and got lucky a few games. But to be number one and be floating at the top of the Western Conference all season long, and SGA balling the way he has, I would say that it wouldn't be a failure, maybe in their eyes, because it looks like they believe. They believe in their coach. They play together. They have trust with one another and trust within their coach.

The one thing about it is you don't know until you get there, right? So I lean towards experience as well. But the one thing about these young players, they haven't been there, but maybe they don't care. And maybe having that reckless don't care type of approach to the game, maybe that helps them get over the hump in a seven-game series against a tough veteran team. So I'm not going to count them out. You've got to believe what you see all season long. You don't stay at the time.

top of any conference in the NBA without being a real basketball team. Yeah. So here we go. Is it the end? Warrior Steph or LeBron? LeBron and Steph have been in 11 finals in 13 years. It does feel like to me that the league is now making a pivot is that outside of Milwaukee, Boston's younger, players in their prime, Denver's younger, OKC's younger, the T-Wolves best player

as a kid. And I'm looking at the Hardens and the LeBron's and the Steffs and the Clays and Dremont. I kind of feel like this point forward, it's a new league. It's more international. It's more young stars and young teams. Do you think Steph and LeBron's teams

are viable or maybe last year and the year before when the warrior stole that Celtics final? Is the league moving on? And I'm talking like playoff success on from Steph and LeBron. I mean, it sort of looks like it to where they're in the playing game.

You wouldn't expect with the roster that they got constructed, you know, pretty much the same guys coming back and they're in the playing game, right? One has got to win two games to get the eighth seed. So when I look at it in that light, the way you gave me that question, I do got to say that it looks like the league is kind of pivoting from that. But I would never bet against neither one of those teams. Like, LeBron would have a triple double yesterday. I mean, come on.

And you've got to be careful. You got to listen to what LeBron say because he is very cryptic. He said, I have to do everything. And I think that that was lightweight of shot at the rest of his teammates. Like, man, I got to assist. I got a rebound. I got to play defense. I got to score.

I need some help. I think that was a subliminal shot to them. But as long as he's on the floor, you can't count them out. Anthony Davis got to be healthy. As long as Steph Curry is on the floor. And by the way, the last couple weeks, I would say this, that the Golden State Warriors have been playing their best brand of basketball. I think Clay Thompson finally after dealing with two lower extremity injuries,

the Achilles and the knee finally has his legs underneath him. It takes a long time for that trust to come. And while you're trying to get that trust, you're still trying to work on your game. I think he's got his legs and the trust of his legs. Now the rest of his game is starting to come around. He looks like himself. He's getting shots in the way that he normally gets shots, in the position that he gets shots.

And he looks like he's starting to move a whole lot better and trust his game. So I would never count those two guys out, but the league is in a fantastic place. All them guys you name, I mean, talk about Orlando and their young players they got. Palo Ban Carroll, I mean, he's a baller. I mean, the league is in a great place right now with young talent.

Is there, finally, you do Celtics games, is there one Eastern team that maybe not beats Boston, but matches up well, that they could give them headaches? I mean, Indiana could be a matchup problem for everybody. But is there a team you look at and think, you know, they match out with Boston pretty well? I would say the Knicks is probably the most dangerous team right now, just the way they're playing. Number one, they're super physical. Yeah.

Just Thursday. On Thursday, they played the Celtics and outrebounded us by 16. I think it was 17 to 2, second chance points, something like that. They really get after it. It's just adding OG Ananobe, their defense identity has changed. Brunson puts a lot of pressure. on you with the pick and roll. I think that that game on Thursday,

the Celtics were able to try to get some footage on how they'll give him different looks. You can't give him the same look. But I have to say that it is the Knicks just on the fact that they're playing the best basketball in the league right now. They have all the momentum going in and they believe they play hard and they're just super, super physical. Eddie House, first things first after us.

As always, good seeing you, man. Thanks for having me, man. You bet. Knicks are interesting because they're not terribly functional offensively when Jalen Brunson's not on the floor, much like the Warriors without Steph, not really functional. So the offense in Golden State has to go through Steph, in New York has to go through Brunson. But in the regular season, what's great about the playoffs, J. Mack, and this is why we like it, it looks different. Major League Baseball, in the playoffs, maybe the crowds are bigger.

In the NFL, there's more intensity. NBA basketball, playoff basketball does not feel. like regular season basketball. It doesn't at all. And that's why I'm reluctant to keep saying stuff like, oh, the Lakers smash the Pelicans three times in the regular season. Beat them. I think there are three wins each by 10 or more points. It was like handily beating them. And I just, I don't know. Postseason is different. I mean, Zion Williamson, did you see his effort in the season finale Sunday? Barely trying. Yeah, like eight points. I don't think we're going to see that in the playing,

right? He's going to be a different guy. Postseason, different animal, Colin. 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. 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, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way,

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

J-Mack, quit the news. No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Let's start with the bills, and they moved off Stefan Diggs this offseason, trading him to the Texans. Draft is two, less than two weeks away. Buffalo probably going to get a receiver early, but what about with the 28th pick?

Von Miller posted this AI-generated clip of Buffalo's GM with a caption, Brandon Bean arriving to the 2024 NFL draft to trade up for a receiver. In Bean, we trust. I saw this clip everywhere over the weekend, not just Bean. People did it with the guy from the Masters, Sheffler. Is this AI work? Yeah, it's AI work. AI's getting dangerous, man.

It's really good. Is that what AI can do? Oh, dude, have you seen some of the other clips? Oh, insane. Yeah, it's really impressive. Bill's trading up for a receiver? Trading up for receiver? I wouldn't.

I think there's so many good receivers. I was talking to somebody in the league this weekend, just texting him, texting, talking. And I mentioned a certain receiver, and he's like, way too high. You'll get him in the third. And I'm like, that kind of third? Was that Ladd-McConkie, by any chance? Georgia. He's got a lot of chatter. He may be like

early second roundback. I don't necessarily see it. I'm just making sure he's not out there. So the guy that I'm kind of into usually with the draft, when you don't hear people talking about him, that's when there's real buzz, right? They don't want it out there. Keep an eye on Devantes Walker, the kid from UNC who was catching passes from Drake May. Weirdly, not a lot of buzz. Looks the part. I mean, he's

like jacked. He didn't play a lot because of some beef with the NCAA, but just keep an eye on this kid. Would not be shocked if Buffalo took a gamble. He's like Gabe Davis, but can run better routes. I like it. Buffalo needs a receiver badly. Oh, no, they arguably need two.

I mean, they got tied in, running back, quarterback, O-line's okay, lost their center. It's a great center draft. But they, I mean, Buffalo's got some questions. They have to go out and get a corner. Who do you think gets second in the division? Buffalo or Miami? Second in the division?

Yeah, first is Jets. We know that. Well, Buffalo's going to win the division. If Aaron plays 17 games, if Aaron Rogers plays 17 games, I think the Jets have a chance at two. Have a chance. Let's not do steak dinners anymore. You owe me too many. We'll just start the slate fresh.

We'll do like a, what do we do? You do ice cream? Do you not? Can't do ice cream, unfortunately. We need something to wager that the Jets will win the division because they are. Have you seen the roster? It's stacked. It's so good.

If Aaron plays, it's a good team. The Bills of the Dolphins lost a lot of guys. Bills are a better team. Anyways, let's move to the NBA. Oh, this is fun. This is really good. So, Jamal Marie was asked about NBA duos, and he believes he and Yokic are the best duo in the league.

In an interview with USA Today, Murray said the Nuggets duo is undoubtedly, undoubtedly, number one ahead of LeBron and AD, Yonis and Dame, Luca, and Kyrie. So we thought we do our top five, Colin. Here are mine. Obviously, Yokic and Murray defending champs number one. I have Luca Kairi 2.

When they play together, it's game over. LeBron and AD3. I have Tatum and Brown 4. I'm sure you don't even have them on your list. And then I have KD and Booker 5. The only reason I don't have Janus and Dame on there is because the little I saw this year I didn't like. Now, you could argue they've had two coaches. That's unfair.

The talents there, but I'm sorry. They didn't just miss out, along with Fox and Sabonis, who just missed out. So what's my, here's my, do we have mine yet? I filled one out, maybe. Okay, so. Oh, you do have Tatum and Brown on there. I'm impressed. Yeah, I have them a slot higher than you.

I have Embed and Maxie. No, Luca Kyrie on top duos? Well, I'd like to see them, they're six. You know how much I like Maxi. So I get a big and a guard. You just get two ball-centric shooters. This is not NBA jam two-on-two, man. Well, I like getting some diverse.

I like diversification in my portfolio. So I think Embed, the classic center, and Maxi, the dynamic guard. Yeah, I mean, I think we mostly agree. You have, I mean, you love Luca and Kyrie. What about PG-13 and Kauai? Say what? Paul George and Kauai. That, I replace them with Embedd-and-M-Band-M-E.

Fair. And then Luca and Kiree. I still, listen. I know Luca's great. I want to see him in the playoffs. I can't wait to watch the Mavs Clippers. Because I think the Clippers tend to be a little odd and inconsistent, where I kind of think Luca and Kyrie,

but you have to be careful about late season winning streaks. So here's two things. The bad teams don't mind losing. So if you play 11 games at the end of the season and seven or non-playoff teams, those teams don't mind losing, if you know what I'm saying. And the other teams, the good teams, may very well if they have seating locked, not play all their stars. So I'm always a little suspicious when a team like Dallas rolls in their last 18 games.

Do they play winning teams? Are they playing tanking teams? Are they playing teams they meet in the playoffs? You have to be careful in the NBA about it. You and I know, you get 20 games left in the end. This is not the NFL. well, suddenly substitution patterns. Teams rest people.

Well, that's true, but also the Mavs made some moves at the deadline. They have basically two new starters. Yes. They did not have for the first half of the season. They're a much better defensive team than a year ago. 100%. Totally different defense. By the way, eighth best duo, Wembenyama and McIntyre.

We could probably be dominant just with what he was. They won 22 games. It just goes to show you. You get the best prospect ever in the NBA, arguably. But certainly in a short list. 22 wins. And that's the difference between the NFL and NBA draft. You get C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson.

The Texans go from the laughing stock of the league to playoffs and a playoff win over a good Cleveland team in the AFC. I mean, that's why the NFL draft is insane. This NBA draft has like three players people like. Well, it's not great. There's no one bin Jama in it. No, there's... You know, we need one. Wehambayama good fast because I don't want to hear any more of this OKC Denver stuff. I am all in on Wemba, by the way.

Do you love him or not? He's a transcendent kid. So fun to watch. He's great, great. He doesn't look or play like anybody else in the planet. All right, final story is the paper clips are set to host the Mabbs in the first round of the playoffs. I'm still waiting for you to text me that you got us tickets to this game. I mean, this must-see TV.

But they could be without Kauai Leonard. Has not played this month, Colin. knee inflammation, status uncertain. Tyloo says, hopefully, Kauai will be ready for game. This is every year, is it not? I'm Steve Balmer, a very intense guy, not known for patience. Aren't you over this? Well, Kauai did play in 68 games.

We'll give him the benefit of the day. By far and away, the most since 2017. 2017, yes. Third most in his career. I'm over it. Paul George, I get an effort. I get more games. He's not as enigmatic.

So, Kauai's locked in. They signed into a deal, a bit of a team-friendly deal, which is understandable from Kauai. If they lose to the Mavs, we'll see what happens with Paul George and James Hart. I don't know.

You're going to the new building. Steve Balmer was legendarily demanding and impatient at Microsoft. This is not working. And they have not played great basketball. A little unlucky. Unlucky. But, yeah, they're in trouble.

I don't see how they beat the maps. Now, just be careful about Dallas being red hot. Have you inspected who they're beating? I have not done that, but it doesn't matter. They have the best player in the series of Luca Donch it. They do. You want to go to a clip? Let's go to a paper clips map game.

I would go to a clipper maps game. I would go to that. Absolutely. No, last time you announced a game, they hooked you up with tickets. Can you use your spoo superpowers to make that happen again? Do you still have a sunburn from the seat you sat in? the crypto arena. You were so close to the sun. Awful seats. I mean, yeah.

Yeah, I'm excited for that series. That's the best, I think the best. Oh, Nuggets, Lakers. You should have seen my UFC seats. Are they good? Smoking. Well, you think I'm going to go sit upstairs? Come on. Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd line news.

It hooks me up, but I've got to tell you something. You know, the only downside when I go to UFC. So whatever they do, and it's probably a safety precaution, that you can't take pictures or video and send it out during the fight. I can never, so I always think, you know, when somebody furnishes me with great seats, I want to show people, you know, this is awesome. And I can do it before or after. But for whatever reasons, while I'm at the UFC fight for three and a half hours,

none of my stuff gets out of the building. My guess is it's a safety precaution. No. It's, they want people to buy the pay-per-view. Oh, wait, so you're telling me, you don't take pictures of food, but you want to flex. Look at my seats at U.S. No, no, no. I'm showing people like I like people to see the experience.

I'm not showing them. I'm not filming during the fight. Right, right, right. I'm watching the fight. But when fighters come out, where I'm sitting, you see guys walk right past me. I want to give people like, hey, look at this, man. This is great. But I think you're right.

They shut it down so you have to buy the pay-per-view, which I don't blame them for doing it. What do they do? They collect your phones? No, it's just when I push my video and I'll take like these 30, 40-second things, showing people the celebrities. And every time I go, to UFC because, you know, I get good seats. I want to show everybody.

This is great. It's fun, right? But they don't, something's wrong with my wife tried. She's like, I can't get my stuff. Now, after the fight, next morning, before the fight, you show, but during the fight. I don't know the reason for it. But generally, if somebody furnishes with a seat, and I don't do a lot of that, but if they do it. I don't even know where this was.

Was it ESPN Plus? They want people to subscribe to them. Right, right, right. Which I do. about three or four times a year. This is my fourth UFC fight, and then I buy four or five or whatever. But I've got to say,

this whole streaming stuff is starting to get frustrating because there's so many different ways. No, it drives me nuts. And I don't want to pay $4.99 a rent-a-movie. I would rather buy a UFC pay-per-view, a one-off. I don't mind doing that at all.

I don't want to be on 32 streaming services. If I want something, I'll just go buy UFC. I do that all the time. I'm totally comfortable with it. I don't want 13 streaming services. Yeah. It's just confusing.

I will pay for a great sporting event. If I had to pay for the NFL draft, that's an interesting topic. What would you pay for in sports? I would pay for the Super Bowl. Both conference, I would pay for play for playoff games. I'd pay for you. I do pay for UFC. I would pay for some NBA game sixes and sevens in the playoffs.

I would pay for big college football games. So you would pay for the NFL draft? Yeah, I would. Interesting. At least the first two days. Some reporters leak the picks before they're even announced on the TV. Watch it. I like the announcement.

analysis. I would have paid for a couple of Yukon games and then the Caitlin Clark game. There's stuff I'll absolutely pay for. But there's a lot of stuff, you know. I don't mind buying a, I've been my whole life I bought fights. So I kind of feel like I just, I do that five, six times a year. I just don't buy fights. I buy UFC now.

Anyway. Wrap it up next to Herd. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd, Weekdays and Noon Eastern 9 a.m. Two NBA insiders podcasting twice a week to plug you right into the NBA great buy. 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 Haynes and Mark Stein. On the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, 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 you're 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 Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok. Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast.

Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tauntons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith Rule of Two. Listen to Stuff to Blow Your Mind on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. High, medium, low. We're going to play a game here. NBA postseason pressure cooker. Is the pressure high? You got to win. You've got to make a championship run. Is it medium?

You can't be one and done, but there's realistic expectations. Or is the pressure cooker pretty low? Nobody thinks you're a championship team. You ready to go? NBA postseason pressure cooker. You ready? Yes, sir. What level of pressure is on stiff curry and the Warriors?

I think it's medium for this reason. They've had so much success. Many believe that Celtics championship was sort of icing on the cake. But they weren't a viable team after that. Six finals, eight years. We kind of know they need to make a big pivot. You don't want to be ousted in the play-in, but I think it's pretty medium. All right.

The level of pressure is on Deerrin Fox and the Kings. Again, there's some pressure because they disappointed last year, but I think it's medium. They haven't won a playoff series in 19 seasons. So I think people have come to terms with OKC's futures better, Denver's better now, T. Wolves better now. I think there's pressure, but it's limited. All right, let's get to pressure. How much of it's on LeBron and the Lakers? I think it's high because LeBron had the most fourth quarter baskets in the league.

Is he going to do that again in year, what, 22? AD, by the way, J. Mack, was healthy all season. Played 75 games. Are we going to run that back? Is that going to happen again? I don't know if D-Lo's in the future. What about Darvin Ham? If they get bounced badly in the first round or the playing,

you don't think there's going to be... Even if it's by Denver? If it's ugly, five games four not competitive, I think there's pressure on the leg. AD, 75 games. this year. It's been great, but I don't think history tells you you can't rely on them. What level of pressure is on Zion and the Pelicans? Medium. Again, I don't even think they match up with the Lakers particularly.

They have one playoff series win over the last 16 years, 15 years. Again, I think they're just happy that Zion's available now. I think it's a football city tempered expectations. All right, what level of pressure is on KD and the Suns? I think it has to be high just because of age. Beale's been hurt. They've played well recently, but KD has a history of injuries. You have one great player in their prime, and it's Booker. You know, they don't have a bench, so there's limitations,

and they're the third oldest team in the league. But, I mean, old teams, like a Milwaukee or Phoenix, you've got to win now. So I think it's high. What level of pressure is on Luca and the Mavericks? You would think it would be higher, but I think because of Denver and Boston, there's an understanding that at best of the third best team in the league. So I say it's medium. They can't get ousted. I don't think they'll get ousted.

And Luca is the best pure score. I think everybody's very satisfied with this. The Kyrie issue's been solved. Six months ago, we didn't know if this thing was going to work. Now it's cooking. So I think if they beat the clippers, they can battle in the next series for six or seven. I think you go away saying love our future. OKC would be awaiting in the second round.

That's a Dallas win. What level of pressures on Kauai and the paper clips? It has to be high. It's an old team. They're not getting healthier. You're moving into a new arena. I mean, Westbrook off the bench has been one of the things I love. You know I love Paul George.

But, I mean, Kauai played 68 games. That's the most he's played since like 2017. It could get worse. Hardin's been, you know, typically the enigma on every team. So I think they have to win. I think Balmer, Balmer's supposed to be impatient guy.

We think he likes this if Kauai doesn't play in the Dallas series and they get beaten five games? Probably not. What level of pressure is on Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves? Medium. They can't get one and done because they had too good of a season. The big contracts with them start next season, and I do think they're going to move

Carl Anthony Towns. They figured out the Gobert situation. They can't be one in done, but if they, if they, if they, if they, if they, if they want a series and then lost in seven in the next series, nobody's getting fired. Well, they're playing the sun. So like, is there any harm? If they win that series, you're fine. And if they lose? Then it's a different ballgame. So that's why they have medium pressure, not low. Okay, well, level of pressures on Yokic and the defending champion nuggets. I think they're viewed

high because I think they're viewed as the best starting five in the NBA last year and this year. Again, you could say because they won, but if you have the best player in the league and duo in the league and you have I mean I think we we could acknowledge they are very good in clutch time games they're basically Boston except we trust them more that's what they are they're not as deep as bought there's the Celtics but we trust them more so I think the pressure is pretty high that they need to get to the championship we say the youngest for last what level of pressure is on SGA and the Thunder super low do you know this is I think it's the youngest team to be a number one see let me ever ever

I mean, they have the second least experience of any playoff team. I think if they go in and I just don't think young teams outside of the bubble do well. I think if they went seven games in the first round and lost, I think you'd say this is the natural steper progression. As a one seed? Yeah, but not all one seeds are the same. Remember Duncan in his prime with the spurs, they weren't always a one seed. Okay, so if OKC loses in the first round

Seven game series? Six, seven, whatever. Does the GM say, I don't know, we can't just run this back? Why don't we open up that war chest of picks and go after Donovan Mitchell, Carl Anthony Town. Do we go after a big star? I think they like, OKC is a small market.

They love their college football, their college basketball. If you are a consistent playoff team in that market, you're selling tickets. That's the big show in town. I think Sam Presting, that organization has an unbelievable future. They've got a star in SGA.

They've got their version of Wemby. I got a war chest of picks. I told you, if I had a bet on two teams the next 10 years, I'd take Denver Celtics next five. I'd take OKC next 10. And there you go. Pressure cooker. Phoenix, you know, Phoenix is just weird.

Because they have played well later. But they're so inconsistent. Remember how Devin Booker like, what, two years ago was considered the best young American guy and now Anthony Edwards passed him? I just, that head to head is going to be very interesting in this series. Remember how good Booker was for about eight games in the playoffs last year? Remember they had that streak? What about when they went to the finals? I mean, he was unbelievable.

Yeah. No, he's a great score. There's a little bit of Luca where I don't think Luke is a great athlete or Booker's this world-class twitchy athlete. They're just guys that walk into an arena and you can get 38 on any given. night. He's a great score. Great, great score. All right, we'll be back tomorrow. First Things First is around the corner on a Monday. Live in L.A. It's been to heard. 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.

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