The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Herd-HOUR 1-Lakers, Mahomes, LeBron, Cowboys

Episode Date: September 30, 2020

Colin discusses why he feels the Lakers will beat the Heat in 5 gamesPatrick Mahomes is great but had an easier path than mostLeBron James always knew the right time to leaveThe Cowboys don't know who they areGuest: Nick Wright Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, 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. On the Look Back at it podcast. For 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. 84 was a wild year. It was a wild year.

I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what 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 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. 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 SportsRodio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Hurd. You're listening to Fox Sports. Sports Radio. Ah, here we go in a Wednesday. NBA finals start tonight live in Los Angeles. This is The Herd.

Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, we're on Fox Sports Radio and right here on FS1, Joel Clatt will yell and argue with me in an hour. Nick Wright will do the same in 30 minutes. Finals, LeBron takes on his former team. Pat Riley and Spolstra take on their former star. tonight in the bubble to wrap up what has been an amazing, weird, strange, disjointed NBA season, but it's been great so far in the playoffs. And Joy Taylor is joining me. Joy, how are you? I'm doing great considering watching the collapse of modern society last night. But other than that,

you know, heater on tonight. Thank God. I'm excited for the finals. What a show it was last night. It was something. So glad we've got stuff to watch, not called Trump or Biden. Okay. Let's start. start with this. History matters. And it doesn't mean history always repeats itself, but it matters. And the NBA's history is really clear. If you got like a couple great players and a good enough coach, they beat the team of depth. That's just the way it works. There have been some 1970s, 6 Seattle Sonics, the Dallas Mavericks, the Detroit Pistons years ago, like 15 years ago with Rip Hamilton. but generally the stars win.

I like the Lakers to beat Miami in five games it starts the night. I think they're going to roll. I do think Miami will shoot their way from three-point land to a win in the series, potentially two, but I like the Lakers. One of the things I always do with football, basketball, I give you a top 10. Who are the 10 best players? And this matters a lot in the NBA.

When I look at the Lakers and I look at the Miami Heat and I write down their top players, the two best players in this series are both Lakers. LeBron James is one, and then Anthony Davis is number two. Then after that, it's a bunch of a Miami Heat players. Jimmy Butler would be three, Bam, out of bio would be four, Gorin Dragage would be five, Tyler Hero would be six. Then it gets really, you know, inches not feet. I'll go Rondo, KCP Kuzma.

Number 10, I'll put Andre Igwadala of Miami because he's been in this game so many times. I think his experience will be really vital. By the way, that has been the last. Laker story for the entire bubble as they've blown through it. Blown through Portland, blown through Houston, and blown through Denver. They have the two best players in every series, and then three through seven or eight. It's the other guys, and then maybe a Laker or two at the end. That's actually what's always one for the Lakers, whether it was Kareem and Shaq,

and then everybody else had like three through six, Shaq and Kobe. Everybody else had three through seven. That's NBA history. That formulas worked for the Lakers this year. Number one seat in the West, blown through the playoffs. Two stars every single night. They are clearly the Dupest players for the Lakers on the floor, and they win. That's very Shaq and Kobe.

Miami had five different guys lead them in scoring in the playoffs. That's very much the Pistons. But if you look at Miami's history, even they've done it, the Laker way. Shaq, Wade, Gary Payton. Bosch, Wade, LeBron. So what you're asking Miami to do is what they've never really done. The Pistons Way, the Sonics way, that Mavericks with Dirk and JJ Berea. We know what wins in the NBA.

Now, it is the bubble. The bubble's been quirky. The bubble's been weird. Young players have done very well in the bubble because there are no toxic road crowds. They play basketball. They play video games. They hang out. It feels like a big AAU tournament.

and of all the teams that have some young guys mixed with old guys, Miami's been the best. Dragget's been around a while. Jimmy Butler's been around a while. Andre Igwadal has been around a while surrounding young stars like Bam and Tyler Hero. But I will take the Lakers because I will take LeBron. I have not seen him. This is the one old team that got a break with the bubble. Why?

Anthony Davis has a history of getting hurt. He got his body totally healthy for four months. Anthony Davis loved that four months off because he's had nicks and bruises and cuts and injured. Oh, he got four months off to get healthy. Healthyeth Anthony Davis has ever been, has been in this bubble. And LeBron is in his 17th year. He could have used four months off to hang out with his family in his pool in Brentwood and get. So this is the one old team that actually the two stars benefited greatly from time off.

And I also think not only is LeBron the most energized I've seen him, I swear to God, in about five years. listen to him. He's the most focused I've heard him perhaps ever. I'm here for one reason and one reason only, and that's to compete for a championship. And that was my mindset. Once I entered the bubble, once I entered the quarantine process, the first two days, that's just been my mindset. Throughout these, I don't even know how many days it is, whatever how many days it is, it feels like five years.

It really doesn't matter. But I've been as locked in. as I've ever been in my career. The one old team that has flourished in the bubble actually got two breaks. They're called LeBron and AD. The brittle player, healthiest he's ever been going into the playoffs, and the 17-year star needed a little rest and got it. I'll take the Lakers in five.

Peter King's been around football for a long time. He was talking about Patrick Mahalm's performance on Monday Night against the Great Ravens defense. We thought it was great. It didn't look great. it looked like pickup football seven on seven in a park and Mahomes picked it apart. And Peter King had this to say about the performance. This is going to sound idiotic, okay? And it's going to sound way too early.

I thought we were watching the Michael Jordan of football last night. That was, that's an unbelievable performance by Patrick Mahomes against, honestly, against one of best defenses in the league easily. Imagine how much better he's going to be with Andy Reed. He's really something. By the way, they both dominate the same way, but here's the big difference. It is okay to admit you had it easier than somebody else. Your journey was easier. I mean, it's easy for me to say, I'm glad I wasn't a trust fund kid, but that could have been a fun life too. trips to Europe two or three times a year on yachts and stuff.

But that's not the life I got. But it's okay to admit, I don't have any envy for that or jealousy. It's okay to admit your parents were successful. Things were easier. The difference between MJ and Mahomes is the journey. Michael joined a totally dysfunctional organization. They were called the traveling cocaine circus. They were one of the worst teams in the league.

They had an owner who liked baseball more than basketball, a GM with a chip on his shoulder. He had a couple of ball hogs who wouldn't pass Michael the ball. And oh, by the way, his first two coaches, Kevin Lockery and Stan Albrecht, have been fired over 10 times. Mahomes entered the league with a highly functional franchise. The Chiefs were 12 and 4 the year before. They haven't had a losing season in eight years.

They have great weapons, a serviceable to above average offensive line, one of the great play designers in NFL history. very little pressure, take the year off, and a ownership group that is so fantastic, the AFC championship trophy is named after them. Now, they dominate the same way, but there's a reason Michael Jordan has that metal and that body armor. His journey was incredible. It's okay to admit it's been a lot easier for Patrick Mahomes.

Andy Reed, great weapons, fastest receiver, best tight end, a B-plus offensive line in a division with lots of dysfunction. The Raiders, the chargers. Michael Jordan entered the league with the formidable pistons and the formidable Celtics, legendary coaches, legendary players. It's okay to admit. Mahomes got the key keys to a Mercedes. Man, but not brand new. It was used. it had like 32,000 miles on it, but it was mostly a Mercedes.

I watched the 10-part documentary on Michael Jordan. Joy and I sat here in the most remarkable thing about the documentary. How damn hard it was for MJ. He was the best-looking, most glamorous, best player, everything. He fought his GM. He fought the owner. He fought his teammates. He fought everybody until Phil Jackson.

Dennis Rodman would just go to Vegas right before a game. Patrick Mahomes, by the way, he's going to have a 10-part documentary, too. We just got the trailer to it. Here's what it sounds like. What if I told you? A quarterback inherited a stable franchise. A great offensive head coach. Had no pressure on him

and had an entire year to learn the system before he had to play. What if I told you? That quarterback was really good immediately. A new documentary. Easy Street, the Patrick Mahomes story. It takes nothing away from how brilliant he is. But this has been grooved for him a little. Some guys get Adam Gase, some guys get Andy Reed, Tyree Kill, Travis Kelty,

the Hunt family, a dysfunctional division, a great play designer. It's not a knock. But what makes Michael Jordan so endearing is what? he had to go through. Mahomes was in that left lane in the freeway with an easy pass. 85 miles an hour, just don't wreck it into the median. Michael Jordan was on a dirt road. A storm had knocked a few trees in the way and somebody sliced his tires before he got in the car.

That's what makes the Jordan story to me so special. That's what made the documentary so gripping. Good God, Michael had a lot to go through. Thank God he had a good mom, a great college coach, and eventually a... great head coach. Otherwise, he doesn't get there. Mahomes is great. But boy, this has been to this point, really nicely grooved for him to succeed. And to his credit, he has taken that. Focused, head down, work hard, go forward and produced. But the past so far are quite different. In fact, I'll read you a funny line. This is Michael Jordan when he first got to the Bulls. I just want to read you this line.

he said I had a preseason game. I think we were in Peoria. I was in the hotel trying to find my teammates. I was knocking on all these hotel doors. And I knocked on the door and I could hear somebody inside the room say, shh, shh, somebody's outside. And then I heard a deep voice say, who is it? I said, MJ.

And they all went, ah, he's just a rookie. Don't worry about it. I opened the door. I walk in and practically the whole team was in there. It was like things I'd never seen in my life as a kid. Lines of Coke, weed smokers, women over there. The first thing I said is, like, look, man, I'm out, because all I kept thinking was, what if the coaches walk in?

Said Michael, from that point on, I was more or less on my own. That is not the Mahom's story. Both deserve credit. Both are amazing. Both are dominating. Both are going to be first ballot. Hall of Famers. One is, one will be.

Nick Wright will argue with me about that. Plus, coming up next, LeBron wins the finals or LeBron loses the finals. Does it reshape his legacy more than we think? That's coming up. Joel Clatt, top of next hour. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.

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

A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'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. 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 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 age. 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.

Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing,

we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it, and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person

while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app.

Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. When you have power in life and make most of the decisions, you often dump people and rarely get dumped. Pat Riley didn't like it when LeBron did. dumped him and Dan Gilbert the first time in Cleveland didn't like it when LeBron dumped him. But when you are the best player in the world like LeBron James, you get to do the dumping, not the other people. LeBron has shown over the course of his career the ability and it's probably innate to make really good decisions.

I don't think he was the best player, his first three or four years in the league, maybe not until year five or six. Maybe you could argue that. He has no has had the best teammates or the best luck. but he has had the ability to make really good decisions. I've said this for years. When Carmelo Anthony was in Denver, he had a promising career. When he forced to trade in New York, he forced it.

He didn't have the self-awareness to go, I'll just play the rest of my contract out, but the Knicks had to give up so many pieces to get him that he entered a bad team. LeBron has made three decisions in his career to leave, and they were all absolutely right. He was in Cleveland. They won games. but LeBron looked around the league and said,

you can't win without a multitude of stars and nobody wants to play here and were too good to get one in the draft. So LeBron went to Miami, join stars and won. And then the heat started getting really old. Duane Wade was struggling to play well back to back, and nine guys on the heat roster were in their 10th season or longer. They were getting old, and they didn't have any young emerging stars. And then, after going to Cleveland and winning with Kyra,

he went flat earth theory and scorched earth and left. And LeBron looked around and said, well, we're still too good with me to get a good draft pick. And nobody wants to come here as a free agent. I'm leaving. And then he went to Miami, which is a huge brand.

It's been an absolute smashing home run for him for business. In fact, he just signed another mega million dollar deal yesterday with NBC. And LeBron believed I will be able to eventually lure a free agent out here, somebody, or we've got picks and young players, we can move. He was right. LeBron, I always said, talent is greatest gift. Durability is perhaps the most amazing thing.

But what is underrated in his career is the ability to know when to exit. It has been perfect. It was just the right time to exit. Dwayne Wade had about three really great years left. By the last year, Dwayd was kind of falling apart. He could see it. He knew it. Then he brought a young boss in.

And then Kyrie flakes out. He goes and says, I still don't think I have a good owner. He goes to a dysfunctional brand in L.A. that he felt he could lure somebody or trade for somebody. And by the way, who represented Anthony Davis, LeBron's buddy, Rich Paul. So he knew they could get him over. So a lot of times you can be great, Carmelo Anthony, Blake Griffin. I mean, you can fall into the right spot.

But do you have the ability, self-awareness and the innate understanding of when to leave, when to enter, when to say bye, when to say hello, decision-making? LeBron has been a great decision-making. He can feel the temperature in the room before anybody else does. And sometimes people like Pat Riley and owners of teams are mad because that's due to they've been dumpers forever and somebody dumped them and they don't like it. Joy Taylor with the news. No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news.

Breakups aren't fun. Especially when you've always been able to break up, and then somebody walks in and says, I'm over you, Pat Riley, it got bitter. But that's the reality. It never works. The door is not one way for your entire life. Even the handsome Lothario gets older and somebody dumps him.

It always happens. So the Patriots travel to Kansas City this weekend to take on the Chiefs. And after watching, Yet another impressive performance by the defending champs on Monday nights. Belichick says New England will have to be their very best on Sunday. They're a very explosive group, you know, played to Ravens well defensively. So, you know, they're a good football team, very talented, well coached, play with a lot of boys and discipline. So, you know, we know we're going to have our work cut out for us in Kansas City.

It's a championship football team, and we're going to have to play our best game. Nothing. Nothing we didn't know. Well, yeah, everyone's going to have to give Kansas City their best. The line is down to six and a half. The money's pouring in on New England, Joy. Belichick is seven and three overall against Andy Reed teams, including the playoffs. And why is the line?

A lot of money coming in big on New England. To cover? because look, I don't want to overreact to that performance on Monday night. How about this one? There's only one number one seat. Kansas City had one game circled on their calendar, and they're better than Baltimore, and they beat them. New England only had one game on their early calendar.

That's this week against Kansas City, because they were the big dog, and Kansas City's the new big dog. So Kansas City is now playing the week. after their circle game. New England, this is their circle game in October. There's a trap game. I mean, that's what I'm saying. I don't want to overreact to how great they were on Monday night. We know what the Chiefs are capable of. You know what Patrick Mahomes is capable of. But that said, the Ravens are a great team and they played unbelievable football on Monday night. So they are going to come down a little bit, I believe.

Yes. The Patriots are going to give the Chiefs their best. I think it will be a good game. I'm still going to go with the Chiefs in this game, though. I'll throw this at you. Belichick has now faced this version of Kansas City's offense multiple times. This Kansas City team has not faced the Cam Newton New England Patriots once. That is true. That is true.

Very interesting. The money is pouring in on New England. Well, we'll see what Nick Wright has to say about that. So the relationship between Aaron Rogers and Matt LaFlor seems to be a lot smoother in their second year together, which is pretty surprising because it seemed a little rocky during the offseason. in. Certainly threw me off. Yeah. But Rogers still takes matters into his own hands sometimes.

During an appearance on the Pat McAfee show, Aaron Rogers said he will often pretend the communication system and his helmet is broken so he can call his own plays. Oh, that's interesting. He did admit that sometimes the helmet actually doesn't work, and in the past two years, he's had to switch up to a backup helmet several times. But sometimes it is working. He just wants to do his own thing.

Well, I do, listen, I actually don't. think this is probably that uncommon. Now, admitting it is a different situation, but I wouldn't be surprised if some of the top guys in the league are like, oh, I can't hear you, I can't hear you, and then go to play. When Brady left New England, one of the knocks was, I don't get any input in the game plans. I mean, if I was Patrick Mahomes level or Aaron Rogers or Russell Wilson, I mean, Russell Wilson made it very clear to the Seahawks. He didn't do it publicly, but Russell Wilson and his agent made it very clear to Seattle. They wanted more input.

So, I mean, I don't blame somebody who's great at something like Aaron saying, can I have a little input here? I know I'm not the coach, but a little. Don't you and I want to have a say in what the lead story is in our show every day? Oh, of course. But you're going to perform better in situations where you feel the most comfortable. Yes. Now, obviously, if you have a really close relationship with your offensive coordinator

or your head coach, whoever's calling the plays, and you guys are, you know, on the same page, then you probably won't have to do that that often. Or if you want to audible and call your own play, you should have that leeway. So obviously he doesn't. Otherwise, he wouldn't feel the need to do that to pretend like his communication system is down.

So that's really what the story is. Because obviously, you're right. Like, if you're forcing any kind of talent into a situation, they don't feel entirely comfortable, they're not going to perform at the highest level. And they're also going to grow resentful. So let's get along because... Here and there, it's going to push you to be better.

here and there is going to push you outside of your comfort zone and may actually make you grow. But Aaron Rodgers knows what he's doing. Finally, the Clippers made a surprising move to part ways with Doc Rivers on Monday. But before the decision was made, Steve Balmer reportedly spoke with several players, including Kauai and Paul George,

about moving on from the coach. The report said the player's opinion did not change Balmer's mind and it was ultimately his decision to move on from Doc. I disagreed with moving on from Doc. I did too. Both Kauai and Paul George have player options after next season.

The rumored candidates for the Clippers' next head coach of Tailu, Sam Cassell, and Jeff Van Gundy. The thing about this situation is I feel like there's enough blame to go around that there really wasn't, I didn't think it was time to make a dramatic move with the Clippers. Like I could have tolerated another year with this group of Clippers, even Paul George in the way he performed. Like the league looks a little different every year. Like next year, let's not forget, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant are coming back. They're both still really great at basketball.

Kevin Durant is an unbelievable player. We haven't talked about all year. He's been injured. Like, the league's going to look a little bit different next year. Mightn't remind you about the Golden State Warriors who will be back in their full health. Like, this is going to look different next year. There's going to be players that haven't been around

that are going to be contributing. So I would have tolerated another year with the doctor. Rivers Clippers the way they were assembled. I think making a change that dramatic might not be the been the right move. All right, Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by.

The Heard Line News. Let's bring him on. brought to you by Mercedes-Benz, the best or nothing. His name is Nick Wright. First things first. Okay, NBA finals. The history of this league is when you've got multiple star. Oh, brother.

What? What? What's wrong? Can you acknowledge how I forgot. Oh, I forgot. I forgot. I forgot. Sorry, we got to be real professional over here. No fun. Nothing going on. Sorry. What were you saying? Okay. So all to the history of the league, even in Miami, we know the Lakers have always done it with stars, not role players. But even in Miami, it's been with stars when they've won. I like the Lakers in five. I think it could be, it looked a lot like Denver, that it could be kind of a steam roll effect where you really never feel after game one. You really feel like the Lakers in five. I think it could be, it looked a lot like Denver. That it could be kind of a steamroll effect where you really feel like the. You really feel like the. Lakers are clearly the better team. Your thoughts? I agree with you almost wholeheartedly with the only tweak being. I think the Lakers might lose tonight. The Heat have to win tonight to have any shot in the series. Joy Taylor's beloved Miami Heat are a great story and a very good team. They know they have to,

if they're going to win a championship, they have to do it within six games. Because if they're playing a game seven against LeBron, that's a loss. No one has done that. One in that scenario since George W. Bush was president. So that's not going to happen. For them to win in six, they got to win game one. The Lakers, on the other hand, lost in game one against Portland. There was a very, very smart, relatively good-looking radio television host, so I think Portland to win the series after that.

I can't remember who that is. They lost game one against Houston. They didn't lose again that series. So the Lakers can lose tonight and still win the series. I understand folks want to bring up the 04 Pistons, when a great collection beat. you know, a great top two talent. But the reason everyone has to bring up the O4 Pistons is because how rare that is,

and the difference between the 2004 Lakers and the 2020 Lakers is the 2004 Lakers hated each other, and this team seems to really, really love each other. And oh, yeah, by the way, they've got a guy who hasn't lost a playoff series where he's been the favorite since 2011. So I'll go with him. I also agree with you. I think it's Lakers in five. By the way, Clippers moved off Doc Rivers.

I said this. When Doc, I think in the NFL you have to have a great quarterback or even Andy Reed, Pete Carolyn Belichick get fired. You don't win titles without it. In the NBA, you need a clutch number two. A lot of people have great stars in this league. But when Phil had Kobe as a two to Shaq or Pippin as a two to MJ or Gasol a two to Kobe and they were reliable, well, they won titles.

When Doc had a reliable two in Paul Pierce and a hell of a three in Ray Allen and then he won. When he had Blake Griffin and Paul George as is two, he didn't win. This to me is a Paul George issue more than a Doc Rivers issue. Your thoughts. So a couple things. One is you're right about the history there, but you shouldn't need a great number two to in seven years with the Clippers make a single conference finals. Like, here's a stat that I'm going to tell you, Colin.

You're not going to believe me, but I promise it's true. Frank Vogel has won as many playoff series with the Lakers as Doc Rivers won with the clippers. That's a true story right there as amazing as that sounds. And Frank Vogel's been there one year. With that said, yes, this meltdown is more on the players than the coach. Because people wouldn't say, oh, it's the bubble. It was lack of continuity. You all were up 19 in game 5 and couldn't close, up 16 in game 6 and couldn't close,

and then up a dozen in game 7 and fell apart. I never believe this team could win the title, but while I picked the Nuggets to beat them, they clearly could have beaten the Nuggets and would have beaten the Nuggets if just either Paul George or Kauai sees the moment. But if you want to blame Paul George, it's fair, and I will add something to it, Colin. I wonder if Paul George's commentary after the series of we never viewed this as championship or bust, how do you think that sat with Steve Balmer? And what do you?

I think it's totally in place. Steve Ballmer said, wait, what? My message was not getting communicated then. Because I didn't buy 20 million backpacks to distribute to the children of Los Angeles to try to turn them to Clippers fans so we could lose in round two. It absolutely was championship or bust to the owner. and so when the second best player says it wasn't, I wonder how much that hurt Doc. And I also wonder how much he was,

Balmer was waiting to see. Well, let's see how the Nuggets do against the Lakers. Like, if the Nuggets had beaten the Lakers, maybe Doc still has his job. Ryan Hollins made that point. I think it's a good one. But when the Lakers dispatch of them easily, it's harder to keep Doc.

So Monday night football, I said it's one of those things you can't unsee. Last year I saw the Niners crush the Packers. I mean, it looked like a mismatch in an octagon you have. see fight. I could not unsee it. It didn't matter the Packers won their next five. It didn't matter. It didn't matter they got to the NFC championship. I couldn't take them seriously. They physically got thrown. Like it was like big brother, little brother. I can't unsee Monday

night. I can't unsee the fact that Lamar Jackson, when trailing and everybody knows he's going to throw is not, the gap's getting bigger between him and Mahomes. Is that fair? Is there, I do think, and I said this too, I said, I said, I said that Mahomes is, Mahomes is on a escalator going up and Lamar's on a people mover at an airport going faster but you can't get to the top floor on a people mover like am I wrong that's a great one no uh and I hope I really hope you asked me about the chiefs rant you went on earlier okay on the Ravens I want to give you credit because I think it was you who first said was it you that made the Lamar Janus comparison I think you said that a few weeks ago probably I'm usually brilliant yeah

Yeah, sure. Go ahead and give me credit for it. I'll take it. You bet. Okay. All right. Well, listen, if it wasn't you, it was me, I can't remember. I thought I stole it from you. Maybe you stole it from me. Who knows? It's a perfect comparison, which is, I don't think LeBron included. There is a player you would rather have in the NBA over the course of the entire regular season. And there isn't a player who you'd rather have with a 10-point lead than Janus on Denikumpo with everything working going downhill. But I think there might be six, seven, eight guys. You'd rather have if your team was trailing 10 going into the second half of a playoff game. That's where I'm at with Lamar right now. On any given week, he's probably the most dangerous player in the league. And he is without a question, even over Mahomes, the guy you would want if the team is up 10 at halftime.

But when you're 0 and 5 in games, your team's trail by double digits, when you're 21 and 1 in your career in the regular season, and oh, except for against the Chiefs, and 5 in your career against the Chiefs or the playoffs, which are your biggest games essentially up to this point, it's concerning. It doesn't mean you write him off. It doesn't mean he won't get better. It just means like Janus, he is a guy right now that while is the number one draft pick in certain scenarios, I think Mahomes, Russell, you could say Deshawn, there might be a long list of quarterbacks where it's like, man, we're down 10, midway through the third quarter. Can you come back? He hasn't shown us that yet. And that's not hating on Lamar.

That's just recognizing right now he has a hole in his game like Janus's lack of a jump shot. Yeah, no, I totally agree. I think that was your idea first, not mine. Very good. So money is now pouring in on the Patriots, pouring in on New England. I'm going to stay away. I'm not betting against Kansas City until they lose, okay? So I'm staying away from it. But I will say this. Peter King yesterday said MJ is Mahomes. And they are like, they look like just different than everybody else that plays their sport.

But I do think that you have to at least acknowledge. And it's okay to admit I'm not a trust fund kid. Maybe I wish I was. That between Andy Reid and the Hunt family and the weapons and the O line and the dysfunctional division, it's been a little easier for Mahomes than most quarterbacks entering the league. No? Okay, so there's a lot to unpack here. One is just so America knows when Colin Coward says money is pouring in on the Patriots

and the line is moved, that probably just means Colin made a medium-sized wager by his standards and moved it. So just so everybody knows. That's what he means. That's first of all. Second of all, on the Jordan part. I really love how you've painted Michael Jordan's story of rags to riches because he had to overcome, you know, the coaching from Dean Smith, then Phil Jackson, and getting Scotty Pippen by year four. I mean, the mountains Michael Jordan had to climb. It's just unbelievable. I just love it. I love that. How could he do it in college? He's got the greatest coach ever and James Worthy to his right. Can you imagine they even made the tournament? Now on Mahomes. Obviously, Mahomes being drafted by Andy Reid with a team that has Tyree Kill and Travis Kelsey has set him up for massive success.

No one would deny that. But your idea that he went to this pristine franchise, I will not let you write that history. Okay. I went to those playoff games. Before Patrick Mahomes took over, the Chiefs were one in ten in their last 11 playoff games. and the one was a win over a Bill O'Brien coach team, so I don't think it counts. They hadn't been to a conference championship game in a quarter century, hadn't been to a Super Bowl in a half century.

So this idea that's like, oh, well, the trophy's named after the deer departed Lamar Hunt. So this is one of the just pristine franchises in the league. It's nonsense. And Mahomes has solved quite a bit for them. And while the offense has been very good, they had those weapons with Alex Smith, and they lost a Marcus Marriota in the playoffs, and the defense up until this year was mediocre at best. So Patrick Mahomes does get quite a lot of that credit,

even though I understand he has certainly had it easier than, say, Deshaun Watson, who's dealing with the mess down in Houston. All right. That was very. You know, Nick is from Kansas City, so he's got that labyrinth of stats. He can just, you know, look at that. I mean, you were so good. And now, look at you. I got a new hat, too.

Hold on. Let me get it. Oh, that's even worse. You put it on. Is that better? No, no. You're not even hireable now. I mean, not even employable with that look. All right.

Sorry. My bad. See you later, Colin. Nick Wright, first things first. Kansas City Chief, heart, soul, great stuff. All right, coming up next, Cowboys and the Browns. They actually both have an identity. Why I'm worried about one.

That's coming up. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd. Weekdays and 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'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 podcast. A win is a win. A win is a win.

I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clivert 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 a TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jett.

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 was big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, 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. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history.

Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Keer Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing

and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth or are you a good person because you're afraid?

Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast,

Learn the Hardway. Open your free, I Heart Radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Cleveland's at Dallas this weekend. They both have an identity. The question is, which identity, which identity would you rather have? So Cleveland runs the ball a ton.

Second most in the NFL. Dallas throws the ball a ton, 66% of the time. So here's what's interesting. the teams that run the most are the Rams, Browns, Patriots, Ravens, Titans. And this is where the problem is. They both have an identity. All winning teams. Here's the teams with the highest pass percentage.

They're all losing teams. The Giants, the Bengals, the Texans, the Cowboys, and the Broncos. You feel like actually, you think to yourself, well, Cleveland has to run because they have two good backs on an average quarterback. Dallas doesn't have to pass because Zeke is great and Dax pretty good. They just have amazing weapons. So when you say it out loud, do you think to yourself, well, I'd rather be Dallas. Dallas could run and win games, but they elect a pass because the receiving core is the best in football. And then you hear Cleveland, you're like, we can't, they could not pass the ball 45 times and win.

We saw that last year. Baker Mayfield's not good enough. They make too many bad throws, too many turnovers. you think to yourself, wow, Cleveland is limited. And I think actually they are limited. They're not Pittsburgh. They're not Kansas City. They're not Baltimore.

They're not the Packers. They're not the Seahawks. I do think Cleveland is more limited. But the choice they make to run the ball clearly wins games in the NFL instead of just throwing it a ton. this is the problem. Dallas and Mike McCarthy have gotten into a really, really bad habit. In 2016, the Cowboys were 13 and 3.

They led the NFL in running. In 2017, they were very good. They were third in running. In 2018, they ranked 10th, last year, 12th, now 29th. You've got a bad, bad reboot needed in Dallas. the more they asked Dack to carry them, the less they win. They can run the ball. Mike McCarthy, this was the knock on him in Green Bay.

He never developed a running game. What has Matt Lefleur done in a little over a year in Green Bay? Developed Aaron Jones and a great running game. It sounds like Dallas has a much better, higher ceiling. Cleveland runs because they have to. They're limited at quarterback. Dallas passes because they want to.

They're not limited at quarterback mostly or running back. So what is it? It's the identity. I believe Dallas needs a reboot of their identity. The last five years, they run it less and less and less and less. And then you combine that with Mike McCarthy's history in Green Bay. where he ran it less and less and less and less.

And put it up again, the teams that run in this league control the clock, control the score, control the tempo. All five teams, Rams, Browns, Patriots, Ravens, Titans. Those right now would be playoff teams. I know it's early. All five passing teams make more mistakes, balls in the air, you don't eat the clock, you don't control the tempo. It's all the bad teams. It's the Giants and it's the Bengals and it's the talented. Cowboys. So they both have an identity. Cleveland's got an identity and I think there's a ceiling on it,

but they have found theirs very early. Dallas has an identity too. I just think it's the wrong one, but I think their ceiling is much higher. So I think it's time for a reboot. Something else to watch this weekend. And it may not happen this weekend, but keep your eye on it. Mahomes is obviously great. Russell Wilson's great. Aaron Rogers is great. But remember during COVID, Who got to work out during COVID? Quarterbacks receivers tight ends. We saw Tom Brady in Tampa at a high school with his tight ends and his running backs and his wide receiver. We saw Derek Carr in Las Vegas with his wide receivers in the desert.

You know who doesn't work out in the desert? Middle linebackers. Pass rushers. You don't hear middle linebackers calling up each other. Hey, you want to meet at the high school and practice our drops into coverage? You don't hear pass rushers. hey, we don't have any offensive linemen around. You want to practice your pass rush over at a Jesuit high school?

No. What you're seeing more than ever is what COVID did to the NBA. It creates a bubble which helps young players. COVID really helped the offenses because the offensive guys with no preseason, they can go out to a high school, college, and throw the ball around. The offense is the highest scoring league ever. It's hard to practice as a cornerback your drops into coverage. As a safety, your blitzes, as a pass rush or your technique.

You can go to the wait room, you can get in shape and run up a hill. But I think over the next month, watch the defenses start to make a bigger impact in this lead. Joel Klatz around the corner hour too. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.

Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, 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.

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 here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. with our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors.

Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. It was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win.

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