The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Draymond Green Show - Dray's 2022 NBA Awards

Episode Date: April 5, 2022

Dray discusses the Golden State Warriors getting back on track with their wins over the Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings before explaining why Jordan Poole should win Most Improved Player this season. Then Dray gives out his picks for the rest of the major NBA awards debating between people like Devin Booker and Joel Embiid for MVP, Marcus Smart and Mikal Bridges for DPOY, Ime Udoka and Doc Rivers for Coach of the Year, and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The volume. The Draymond Green Show is presented by Fandual Sportsbook. There's no better place to bet the action than on Fandual Sportsbook during the football season. It's easy to use. It's safe and secure. You get payouts in as fast as two hours. There's so many bet types. My favorite same game parlay bets.

There's live betting, player props, futures. If you're new, just download the Fandual Sportsbook app. To get started now, sign up. Please use the promo code, Colin. C-O-L-I-N. Fandul, Sportsbook makes it easy. 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, Street or Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter.

Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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, 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, unfilled of 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 I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok's podcast network on TikTok. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashed.

Leaching Human Potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all?

You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host Kier Games. This space is about black men's experiences, honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor. It signals to the world that you not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to. Listen to learn the hard way on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your

podcast. What's up everybody? Welcome back to the Draymond Green Show. This is our 20th episode. And as we said last week, we're testing out splitting the Lodeman. episodes into two parts, the top of the show, where I'm sharing my thoughts on several things, and then also the guest interview. We've thought the guest interviews has kind of created their own lane, and it's been

great conversation in themselves, and just wanted to split the two up. So here's another week of testing that out, which means we got this episode, and then tomorrow we'll drop our conversation with Seth Curry, which was an amazing one. We talked a lot about Seth's journey and how he had to, how most people think, you know, your Dale Curry's son, your Steph, you know, your Steph Curry's brother, that you just get a pass into the NBA. And that starts to work against you.

We spoke about that, the Nets, fatherhood. We spoke about a lot of things. So I thought, you know, that was a great conversation. But we also have a lot to get into here. And number one is the Warriors. We have one, two straight, while having three games left. Two big ones, by the way,

the win against Utah was huge because most importantly, it gave us the tiebreaker and where we would have been, if I'm not mistaken, I think our record would have been the same had we lost to them or one game ahead,

but the tiebreaker, it would have come down to more than just the head-to-head matchup. I think the next thing after the head-to-head matchup is who has the best record in their division, if I'm not mistaken.

And so, number one, was the tiebreaker. But I think even more importantly than that was weak, you know, over the course of the last three games, the Phoenix game included in which we lost. Like there was just a sense. Like we had 21 turnover, so that was terrible. But yeah, we lost by, I think, four points

in a game that we could have and should have won. You felt like ourselves again. It felt like we defended the right way. It felt like we had good intentions. on moving the ball. We missed a ton of shots. And so that one, you just kind of felt and had a sense of like, okay, we're kind of getting back to the Warriors that we were earlier in the year where we were the number one defense in the league. Like, you can see that coming. And it's coming out a great time. Like we always say, you want to roll into the playoffs. You don't want to stumble into

the playoffs. And so to get that win against Utah with what was at stake and also with, with the way we had been playing. We hadn't won any meaningful games. We hadn't won really any games at all. And so to kind of work ourselves out of the rut, that was a huge win. That's also a team that we can face in a playoffs. And you always say when you're facing the team

that you can face in the playoffs, you want to send a message. You want that team to think about the last time they played you and what happened. And so I think it was great from that standpoint as well. I think we also found some things that we can, more things that we can rely on with and go to while Steph is out.

You know, Jordan Poole has been playing incredible. By the way, Jordan Poole for most improved player, which we're going to discuss because that deserves his own segment on this top of the show. So we're going to discuss that. But I think with just the way we came out of that and then rolling into yesterday, which was the win against the Sacramento Kings, that game would have been a lot tougher had we not built the momentum and we built the night before that.

You're coming off a loss. Last night gets way to. tougher than it was. And, you know, no NBA game is easy. You still got to go out there and win the game. You're still playing against NBA players. And so we're playing against the Sacramento Kings team who's headed on vacation pretty soon here in the next week. But the thing about playing against teams in that position is they just come out and play free. You know, they come out there, they're firing shots. You know, guys are just loose and free because nothing matters. Like you you can do whatever you want

and there's really no repercussions and so they were playing that way. I think we punched them early and we were able to kind of hold on to that grip for the majority of the game. They went on one run there in the fourth quarter but for the most part, we really controlled the entire pace of the game.

And so to have those two games and kind of get those on our belt, get those two wins under our belt and kind of rebuild the confidence of this team, I think is great. Which is heading into these last three games We got the Lakers coming up at home on Thursday, and then we head out for a back-to-back, San Antonio and New Orleans,

to close out the season. I think the beautiful thing about all three of these games is they all have playoff implications, which means our guys, once again, who don't have a ton of experience, will get and have three opportunities to fill that intensity, whereas, you know, still will be different in the playoffs, but you'll fill a playoff like atmosphere.

And I think it's great for guys to fill that head and into the real thing because, you know, you get slapped in the face by stepping out there. You know, we play rookies, part of our rotation. And so you want guys to get that experience and kind of feel that atmosphere and feel how you need to take that level of competition up a notch, how you need to take that level of focus up or not. Everything in the playoff is ramped up a notch. And every round you go is ramped up even more.

And so I think it's great for guys to be able to have to. had an opportunity to fill that over the course these next three games. We play the Lakers, the Spurs, and the Pelicans. All three of those teams are battling for the nine and ten spot. And so those are very important games. You know, all three of those teams are going to come out swinging, given all they got. I think if the Lakers, the Lakers could actually be eliminated, if I'm not mistaken, by Thursday because they play Phoenix tomorrow or by the time this drop.

it'll be them playing Phoenix today. So we'll see. But no matter what, the Spurs and the Pelicans are fighting for playoff position. So those will be two tough games. And we're still fighting for playoff position as well. And so I think it's a very interesting week ahead. I think it's a great week ahead for us. The Spurs have kind of had our number this year.

So that'll be a good game for us as well. And I'm really looking forward to it. For everybody who hated on the playing tournament, it seems to be making it for a great week, week and a half of basketball leading up to the playoffs again. And I know a lot of people hated it and didn't like the idea of a play in tournament, and the NBA said, yep, we're going to stick with it.

And it keeps creating these interesting situations. So for those that don't like to play in tournament, I think you should get used to it because from the looks of it is probably here to stay. I mean, last year you had LeBron James, Steph Curry, John Morant in the playing tournament. This year and Jason Tatum in the playing tournament last year. And I'm sure I'm missing some very prominent name.

This year, you have possibly LeBron James. You have Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irwin for sure. You have possibly Lamello Ball for sure. Carl Anthony Towns possibly, or possibly Donovan Mitchell, Paul George. Like, you're actually ending up with stars in these playing games. And last year, if I'm not mistaken, the two playing games are two of the highest rated games of the season for certain. And so, for those of you that don't like to play in a game,

you may want to get used to it because it's creating some interesting situations and it is here to stay. 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 IHard 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 tontons and wampas on the ice planet hot,

or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith Rule of Two. Listen to Stuff to Blow Your Mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking.

What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jett. 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 all day, but just so y'all know.

I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. 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. And moving forward, let's talk about Jordan Pool for the Most Improved Player at War. How isn't he? Guys, I had 20 points in what, 20-something straight games joining Kevin Durant and Steph Curry as the only warrior to do that in the last 30 years, if I'm not mistaken. Playing meaningful basketball. It's not like he's doing this on a team that's 28 and 50.

You know, he's doing this on a team that's 50 and 29 or 50 and 28 or whatever we are. He's playing an incredible basketball. About a year ago, he was almost out of the NBA. He was sent to the G League because no one felt like he had it together. No one felt like he had figured it out or we're figuring it out. And look at him now. Every night he's putting on the show, had we been winning some games, he would have probably, he wouldn't have 100% been the player,

the month in March in the Western Conference, not not rookie of the month, the player of the month in the Western Conference, but due to injuries and a bunch of different things, our rotations all over the place, me coming back into the lineup, Steph Curry going out of the lineup, blah, blah, blah.

We had a tough month. That does not stop what he did and how much he has improved. So I would love to know who the voters could possibly think deserves it over him because in looking at his entire body of work he had one little stretch in the season where he where clay came back he was moved to the bench he kind of had to

figure that roll out had a few bad games but for the most part of the season he's been doing exactly what he's doing now on a playoff team one of the top playoff teams I think Jordan pool has to be at the top of that conversation for most improved player I thought early in the year, Miles Bridges was leading it. I thought earlier in the year, Darius Garland was leading. But when you're, the award is most improved. Miles Bridges, who's my little bro? Improved a bunch.

Improved a bunch. He didn't have to make as big of improvement as Jordan Poole had to make. Darius Garland, who is my little bro, who improved a bunch, be an all-star in his league for a long time. He didn't have to improve as much as Jordan Poole had to improve. And so it's not that those two guys aren't in a race because I think those two guys are right up there at the top as well with George. But I think when you say the words most improve,

see, it goes back to this conversation of what is the criteria. There's no real criteria. It's kind of just what someone feels. When you say most improve, who improved the most? I have to say Jordan Poole improved the most, and he deserves the award. So I'm interested in seeing where that goes as we head down the stretch. MVP, my MVP is Devin Booker.

I think Book has been consistent all year. I think with as good as their team has been, again, we go back to the conversation. There's no criteria. some years it is the best player on the best team. Some years it's, you know, Russell Westbrook's teams were in sixth place, but he won, and don't get me wrong, he deserved to win. But we just all wonder what's the criteria.

And so, however, for me, from my criteria, Devin Booker is the MVP of the NBA with as consistent as he's been. He's faced injuries. He's come back, hasn't missed the beat. Their team has continued to win. They're leading the NBA in first place by a long shot. Got to go with Devin Booker as my MVP. Defensive player of the year is tricky for me.

The reason defensive player of the year is tricky for me is because, like I said before, through 33 games I had to award one, when I look at the following the 33 games to follow that, I can't tell you within those 30-year-games or who I'm like, oh, maybe that guy. Like, that guy should win now. Like, I didn't really see anyone separate themselves. So because of that, I struggle with who to pick.

But if I want to put some type of criteria in, then you say, all right, look at what the Boston Celtics has done and how, you know, their defense changed their season. And then you look up and everybody saying, Marcus Smart, which I think Marcus Smart is a hell of a defender. I think he's an incredible defender. But before Robert Williams got hurt a week ago, everyone was saying Robert Williams was the key to the defense.

And so that's where I kind of struggle there. I think Marcus Smart is a hell of a defender. Don't get me wrong. But I'm just saying a week ago before the injury, the narrative was Robert Williams was the key to their defense and why everybody is able to support. switch and just funnel everything to him and he cleans all the mistakes at the rim. And then once he got hurt, now all of a sudden everybody's like, oh, Marcus Smart's the

defensive player a year. Hell of a defender. Great defender. But how did the narrative change so fast is what I don't understand. That's my only question about Marcus Smart. But definitely should be in the conversation. Could be deserving. McHale Bridges has to be in the conversation.

probably is the winner with the way he's guard. I've seen him guard the hell out of some guys. What I like about Mikhail Bridges is he's a good defender. He's not a good on-ball defender. He's a good on the ball. He's good off the ball. He can block shots weak side.

He can play passing lanes. He's in the right spot. He's always in help. He's a good defender. See, there are some defenders that compromises your defense in order to be good defenders. Michael Bridges don't compromise your defense to be a good defender. So Michael Bridges has to be in the conversation,

and it's probably deserving to be the winner of it. Coach of the year, and I struggle with this one, it has to be one of two guys. Ah, one of three guys. Eme, you doca, because Eme, see, it wasn't like the Boston Celtics was handed him after last year as the Boston Celtics that we all know. They were not very good last year. And they were in the playing tournament,

and people were talking about trade, Marcus Smart, and trade Jalen Brown, and all of this stuff. They started off the season rough, and they figured it out. I got to give a lot of credit to EMA for that. So EMA is in the race. Doc Rivers is in the race,

but everything that team was going through with the Ben situation, to stay right at the top of the Eastern Conference. That's a hell of a coaching job. They've got to keep everybody on a straight and narrow in order to accomplish that. So Doc Rivers has to be in the conversation. And then J.B. Bickerstaff has to be in the conversation.

I mean, nobody expect, and I know they've been losing as of late. But if you would have told the Cleveland Cavaliers or anyone else that they would be in the playing game this year and possibly with an opportunity to still be a top six seed in the playoff, everybody would have jumped at it. They were probably the 14th number of. 13 or 14 in the Eastern Conference last year. So I got to give a lot of credit to J.B. Bickersstow. And of those three, I would...

No, Monty? My only thing with Monty is they played in the NBA finals last year. Okay. Like, who won it last year? Tibbs, I think. Which I thought, I thought Monty should have won it last year. Me too. But like, but like, I thought it was a number.

no brainer they should have won, Moni should have won it last year. But for me to say now Moni should win it just because he didn't win it last year, they played in NBA finals last year, lost in six games. And so I kind of expected them to come out this year like this. You're pissed off, you got the same team, you added some pieces, Javelle McGee, who I thought was a big ad, like you added some pieces, but you got your continuity. I expected that from them this year, what they've done. And so, not. taking anything away from Manny with what he's done with that organization and turn everything around.

It's insane. So I'm not taking anything away from Manny. But I'm just like, who's done like the job this year that no one saw coming? It's usually who I like to go with Coach of the Year, which is why Mani would have been in it last year for me. No one saw the Phoenix Sons going to the NBA finals last year coming into the season. And so that's why Mani would have been there for me. And they were a top two seed battling for one seed.

So that's why this year I have to go with I'ma Yudoka. I think E.M.A. is the coach of the year. It's his first year coaching to take Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown from what everybody thought should be a thing of the past to a thing of the future is a big time thing. that's two young guys that you're trying to get the buy-in. In what case that both guys could think, no, I should be the number one guy. And you get them to buy in and that team to be playing how they're playing to get Marcus Smart to looking like the point guard.

Everyone thought Marcus Smart would be coming out. See, now, Marcus Smart, I don't know if people remember Marcus Smart coming out of Oklahoma State, but was the ultimate winner, was going to USA camps, destroying everybody still as a college kid. I'm talking that Marcus Smart. Market Smart this year is playing the type of basketball that that Markets Smart played.

And that's no discredit to the basketball that Marcus Smart has played this old career. Marcus Smart has had a very good career. But I think now Marcus Smart is playing the basketball that everyone thought Marcus Smart would play when he first came out. And it's so beautiful to see. And you know what it's showing up in? Remember what I said? Markets Smart was back then? Marcus Smart played basketball like the ultimate winner.

Whoa, what's the Boston Seltz is doing now? They're winning. I think Mark and Smart have a huge, huge, huge thing to do with that. And so, Ema Edoca has to be the coach of the year. And my rookie of the year is Evan Mowgli. He's playing on a winning team that's going to be in the playoffs. The basketball that he's played all year, he's consistently gotten better. I also think he's the star that draft.

I think he is going to be insanely good. I actually thought this before this year, but Evan Mowby's my rookie of the year for sure. So that's who I got for this year's awards. We'll see how it all plays out. I'm interested in seeing how it plays out because I think, you know, Jackson and I decided whether we were going to do the awards this week or not,

not. And it's funny because we decided that we were going to do them next week because we still think the races are still playing out. Like there's so many, there's still meaningful games left in this season down the stretch that could sway someone one way or another. And so we said we were doing this next week, but then I started talking about Jordan Poole. And I'm like, well, if I'm talking about Jordan Poole, then we might as well talk about all awards. So, Jordan Poole, 100 percent, most improved player. But that's it, man. That's the top of the show.

Hope y'all enjoyed it. That's my thoughts. That's my takes. Playoffs right around the corner. Warriors back to 50 wins. Clinch the playoffs spot. I never really appreciated the playoffs so much since my rookie year. But after not planning the playoffs for two years, I need it.

So I'm excited. That's it. I actually catch y'all tomorrow with the Seth Curry interview. Make sure y'all lock into that one as well. Draymond Green Show It's a wrap Talk to y'all later, peace 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. 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, 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, unfilled 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 I Heart 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. 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 IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host Care Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor?

It signals to the world that you not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to, listen to learn the hard way on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHart podcast, guaranteed human.