The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Herd-HOUR 1-NBA, Cowboys, Ravens, 76ers

Episode Date: August 6, 2020

Chris Paul is having a great year, the Lakers are weak after LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Cowboys have a hard time beating good teams, why it's not working for the 76ers, and why the Ravens will go 16-0.Guest: Ric Bucher 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 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, Kear 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're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to. Listen and learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. On the Look Back at it podcast. For 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 is big to me.

I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a 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. 84 was a wild. 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. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Herd. Fox Sports Radio. Oh, here we go. It'll be our best show of the week. We are live in Los Angeles on a Thursday, and this is The Hurt.

Wherever you may be, however you may be listening. I heart radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1, new haircut boy. I had a great night's sleep. I got a new haircut. I played tennis. I am so alive. I watched the Lakers get rolled last night. Joy Taylor, how are you?

I'm good. That's a very nice haircut. Thank you. He did a good job. Hyundai. I tip 40. Good. That's good. I felt you gilted me into the big tip. Listen, you got to tip people right now. You do. And if they're coming to your house, you should throw a little extra. All right. So there is this misconception. OKC. Chris Paul, for the record, what did we say a couple days ago?

Chris Paul deserves MVP votes. He's having a ridiculous season. This was supposed to be a tank job. Philadelphia tank for five years couldn't win. tank for an hour. Thanks to Chris Paul, who should be getting MVP votes. But the story today is the Western Conference. The Lakers finished with the number one seed. There is this perception out there. Oh, it's quite an accomplishment. Now, in most years, you would be right. And I do believe the West is better than the East. It's like arguing the SEC is the best college football conference. Can we stop arguing? It is. Next issue. The West has been better than the East for years. They have more great stars, 20 of the top 25 players.

But this has been a very weird season. Now, let's just cut the season into two seasons. The regular season and the bubble season so far. These are two seasons, okay? So let's remember what happened to the West this year. Because the Lakers finished number one and everybody's just patting themselves on the back. In Los Angeles, look at this. It was a transition regular season.

The Clippers got two new stars and they had to fit him in. and Paul George missed 22 games. But Houston's good. No, actually, Hardin got Westbrook and then Tony had a whole new staff. Well, Dallas is young and fantastic, but Luca and Porzingas both got hurt. Portland is really good now, but Nurkich wasn't available and Mello wasn't acquired until the season had already started. Oklahoma City, what a season. Now, let's be honest.

The last 20 games, they were great. It was a total rebuild, and Chris Paul didn't know the names of any of the players. What about Denver? What about him? Super young and talented. But everybody outside of Yokic got hurt this year. Colin, you love Utah. Yeah, I do, but Mike Conley starts the season injured.

They had to figure out if Donovan Mitchell could be point. It was a mess. Conley came back. They were in transition all year. Oh, by the way, Golden State. Eh, tanked. The West was in transition all season. new coaches, new stars, new staffs, injuries.

And then COVID hit. And everybody got healthy. And now the West, they don't have the issues. Nerkich is back and Mello is feeling it. Westbrook, Hardin, they know what works and know what doesn't. Utah? Well, they're still Utah, but Denver now's healthy, Yokic and all. Dallas, Porzingis, Luca,

are humming. They're past their injuries. OKC is playing with house money. Clippers now, Paul George and Kauai. No load management. No days off. It is now the Lakers who have the issues. They don't have Avery Bradley.

Their best offensive guard. Good luck against Portland. Good luck against Houston. The Lakers were a number one seed, But there is a misconception how impressive that was this regular season. Yes, the West is better. Yes, it's loaded. Yes, it's deeper.

But everybody outside of the Lakers felt like they were in this weird transition. They dealt with injuries. And now it's the Lakers who have a huge issue. Rondo's out for still another month. Bradley's out for the bubble. You're asking Alex Caruso to step up. I had two scouts texting me last night during this game. And the two scouts, I'm sure they know each other, but they didn't know they were texting me,

won a Western Conference Scout, and what an Eastern Conference Scout. And they were like, God, this Laker team, they miss Avery Bradley. They're old, they're slow. Chris Paul's 35, he looked like the youngest guy and the best player on the floor. I mean, he was flying around last night. This is not your typical number one seat in the West. It's not. And there have been down years in the SEC.

Like the number one doesn't feel quite as good. for a lot of Sabin's years. Tennessee was a mess. Georgia didn't have a right coach. Florida didn't have a right coach. Auburn was a mess. I watched the Lakers last night, and one of the scouts told me, he goes, they're not getting, Lakers aren't getting to the Western Conference Finals.

He goes, they're not. They can't hit threes and they can't defend them. You cannot get to a conference finals. You can't hit threes and you can't defend them, and they don't do either. It's not that they're not good. It's not that LeBron and AD haven't worked well. I love them. Those guys I love.

But this is a very limited team, and the number one seed isn't nearly as impressive as previous years. So I read this story this morning. NFL history says the Cowboys will be very successful if the wide receivers in Dallas meet expectations. So Amari Cooper had over 1,000 yards. Michael Gallup now looks like a steel had over 1,000 yards. And last year, Randall Cobb almost did. He's gone, but they draft CD Lamb, who is a spectacular talent, a rookie out of Oklahoma. And in the history of the NFL, if you have three wide receivers over a thousand yards,

you're a Super Bowl team. That's the kind of team you are. You're that explosive. The problem, of course, with Dallas is this is not the issue. The receiver thing is not the issue. As Lewis Riddick, sports dude at another network said yesterday on a tweet, the problem for Dallas, they had nine potential game winning or tying go-ahead fourth-quarter drives last year across four games.

against really good teams. They got two field goals. Nobody in the league got less out of drives that were similar. So the question is in Dallas. Was it a Jason Garrett issue or a DAC issue?

I'm a huge believer in keeping your eye on trends. And I've said this before. When I first moved to California, I'm about, you know, a few hundred yards from the beach. I would get a coffee on Saturday mornings, go down to the beach.

and I would watch surfers. And I would do it like for an hour every Saturday. And it was just therapeutic and you'd watch these surfers. And the thing I noticed about surfers and I found it metaphorical in my life is the really good surfers were patient. They didn't waste their time jumping on average waves. They'd sit there for 15 minutes to get the perfect wave. And this is why I believe in trends.

I think life is cyclical. The great times don't last forever like the great waves. Watch trends. Be patient. Watch trends. And when you see trends, jump on them fast, adapt early. Because people will catch up to those trends and they'll end quickly. So you've got to constantly watch trends. Watch trends. Watch trends. This is hot. Go for it. Jump on the wave and ride it. Trends going to end quickly. Great times and great waves are amazing. Write them, but they don't last long. And Dallas has a trend. The last three years with Dak Prescott, here are his numbers against winning teams. These are playoff teams.

These are atrocious. He's six and 12, 21 touchdowns, 19 picks with a really bad passer rating. And this is why franchise tagging DAC made a lot of sense. Because in Dallas, there is a question we don't have an answer for yet. And the question is, whose damn fault was it? Was it Jason Garrett's or was it Dax? And we will know the answer by December.

And if it's Dax's fault, they'll be looking for another quarterback or franchising. And if it was Jason Garrett's fault, Dack is going to make over $130 million. That's why would I look at the Cowboys schedule this year. If you look at the trend, there's only eight games I care about. Do not at me. Do not tweet me when they roll the Giants. Do not at me when they beat the Falcons Browns Cardinals, Washington. Do not at me when they overwhelm Joe Burrow.

I am only looking at eight games for the Cowboys, because the trend I see the last three years is they can't beat good teams. I want to see them at the Rams and at the Seahawks. I want to see them at the Eagles, host of Steelers. I want to see them at Minnesota, at Baltimore, and host the Niners and host the Eagles. Exactly half their schedule. That's the trend I want.

And if they're six and two or five and three, then that wave I'm jumping on. It's the DAC wave, and I'm riding it for four years. But if not, don't waste your time tweeting me as they roll Duane Haskins or Daniel Jones or Baker Mayfield. I'm not interested. So look for trends, jump on in quickly, and realize they don't last very long. All right, coming up.

If anything's really hard for a really long time, get out of it. Don't get me wrong. Every relationship, every business is tough initially. But if it's hard, if you can't just sit on the couch and watch TV and enjoy each other's company, at some point if you can't do that, it's the wrong relationship. That's what I feel in Philadelphia. That's coming up. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio,

FS1, and the I-Hard 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. Human 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 what you need to be. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs?

Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with a little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s.

To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you 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 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, 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 Hardway. Open your free, Our Heart Radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Loz, do-it-yourself projects at home, and we're spending more time at home than ever do it yourself go to loz.com show us your transformations with your do it yourself project at

lows goals i tell you i get a haircut man i feel younger i feel like i got more energy there's eight pounds of hair off me feel fantastic good to have you in you know i was talking a couple of days ago starting any business is hard and a couple of days ago i was on a zoom call with somebody invited me on a zoom call and there's a bunch of smart people and one of the guys on it was peter churning peter chernan Peter Chernin's an investor, an entrepreneur, and I was on this thing for 30 minutes. And at the end, I said, I got to ask you a question. What's the one thing you should know about, like, building a business? And he said, he goes, listen, it's always hard in the first year.

He goes, 80% of the stuff that you think this is brilliant. He goes, you better be ready to pivot because you'll be out the door in six months. 80% of the stuff doesn't work. Can you pivot to what works? And whatever works, double down on what doesn't get rid of it. He goes now over time, if it's still hard years later, it's not a good business. And I've always felt that. Like, you know, I mean, any relationship, go to therapy, figure it out.

But if you're nine years in and you have to go to therapy twice a week, it's just too damn hard. Last night, Philadelphia beats Washington. Washington's the worst team in the bubble. Washington's awful. And Ben Simmons is limping off. And they're, you know, they should have put this game away. literally six minutes in. I mean, I don't think Washington has a player

that could be in the Sixers' top six rotation. Philadelphia should roll them. Simmons gets hurt a couple days ago. I said M. B'd was yelling at one of his teammates. This is too hard. It's just too hard. This is the classic example of, this is the third year.

Like, it's got to work now. I mean, just think about this. Think about all the things that don't work. Why are they awful on the road? They're a terrible road team. Why? Chemistry's not good. They had to switch Ben Simmons position as they entered the bubble.

Now he's a forward. They're constantly rearranging their pieces. They let go erratic. They bring an Al Horford. Every year they've got to rearrange the deck chairs. Brett Brown's on the hot seat every year. He's struggling to make Embed and Simmons get along. And oh, by the way, Ben Simmons and Joel Embed do not fit together.

I'm sorry, but A.D. and LeB. I mean, Joy and I laughed. Like three games in, you're like, oh, it's perfect. Chris Paul had a bunch of guys he'd never seen before. 20 games in, you're like, oh, it works. Kawai and Paul George felt like 15 games in it worked. I mean, LeBron and D. Wade's games weren't perfectly fit together. They're kind of the same guy.

And 17 games in, they started winning all their games. You start looking at Kemba and the Celtics. Worked instantly. By the way, Kevin Durrana, superstar of Golden State. That could have been problematic. Two weeks in, it worked. Peyton Manning the Denver, great September. Manuel Sanders last year, the Niners insert them into the wide receiving core, first game in it works.

Like, nothing can be this hard. You know, you look at Shaq and Kobe. But Shaq and Kobe were kids. I mean, Kobe was really literally a kid. And then Del Harris had them. And they're young. But they kept getting better. And then Phil Jackson comes in.

And they keep getting better. And you get a dynasty. And by the end, they wore each other out. but you kept seeing growth. Embeddon Simmons are three years in. Multiple teammates in. They keep rearranging the roster. Like, Philadelphia's talent is incredible.

Why are they scraping around with crappy Washington? Why are teammates yon at each other? If you're nine years into a marriage and you're still at therapy twice, three times a month, maybe it's too hard. Just maybe it's not meant to be. Joy Taylor with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news.

This is the herd line news. Well, this show is America's destination for everything Tom Brady and the Bucks. Yes, it is. You broke the story. Yeah, the story. We did, actually. You have called it Bucks to the Super Bowl this year. You're all in.

So I want to how you feel about this. Tom Brady, obviously, most accomplished quarterback of all time. Many feel the greatest quarterback of all time. Bruce Ariens, however, is taking a page at a Bill Belichick's book, even though he's usually the fun guy and a players coach. He is not giving Brady any special treatment in Tampa. Oh, no, he's just another guy. You know, he gets cussed out like everybody else.

So it's no different that way. I don't know if I buy that entirely. I do think Brazarians probably cusses everyone out at the same level. But I do think that Brady is a self-starter. So I think he probably avoids a little bit of the chastising from coach. You know what I was given great advice years ago by somebody at another sports company. He said if you ever get rich as an on-air person, don't drive your nice car to work. Don't drive the Lambo to work.

You are one of a community. Just be humble. Everybody knows you're doing very well. Don't put it in people's faces. I am a huge believer. yell at your star quarterback in front of the backup running backs. This is the way it has to work. By the way, I've heard this about Dwayne Wade.

Pat Riley was tougher and loved Dwayne Wade. But Dwayne Wade was so great and understood the value of him getting scolded that everybody's like, well, Dwayne's getting scolded. There is incredible value in being one of the guys when you're probably not one of the guys. You're right, because everybody knows what athletes make. Everybody knows what Tom Brady's accomplished. And he's at Jeter's place. Right, and if you're in certain businesses,

people have a general idea of how well you're doing and what your status is. But if you're a part of a team, you want people to feel like they are a part of that team. You're accountable. You get held accountable. That's the difference between a leader and an individual talent, and we see that all the time.

It's not so much that you need to be humble in a way that's disingenuous, because sometimes people go to the other end of it. Like, oh, no, I am just one of the guys. Like, no, you're not. But you do allow the coach to, because it's really what it is, because I mean, Brady's going there. So they obviously had a conversation.

You allow yourself to be in that situation so that everyone can feel like this is fair. And we're working together as opposed to like he gets his own special treatment. But I also think those guys that are excel at those levels. And I mean, I'm not putting myself in Tom Brady's category. But I know myself, whatever accomplishment I have, I still want to be critiqued from people. that I respect. I still want coaching. I still want to continue to learn. Yes. But you're not for the

record, Joy, that's not everybody is like that. What? I don't think you get better if you're not like that. Of course. And those guys, Wade, Brady, they want to be coached and coached hard. But you're smart enough and self-aware enough that you see that. I've been in this business 30 years. Not everybody thinks like you. That's not the way it works. No, she is glorious. So it seemed like late rounder undrafted rookies would be at a disadvantage in the NFL this year without the normal offseason or preseason games. This is kind of interesting, though, because that was my thinking. It's going to be really rough on the undrafted rookies or vets that are trying to get on team. But practice squads are expanding from 10 to 16. And Doug Peterson thinks that those players are actually in a great

position to succeed this year. We're going to get some really good opportunities here in these next coming weeks. They're going to learn a lot from the veterans. The way I've got the schedule set up is for them to learn and to be successful. And then once we get into the padded portion of training camp is where we really get to see, you know, where these guys are. We truly feel that these young guys are going to be the ones that are going to have to help us, you know, throughout the entire season. You know, the Rams started something a couple years ago, kind of giving veterans camp off. The reality is that's become kind of a trend that free age talk about the veterans don't get all the snaps, especially line play veterans. You can walk into a camp

as a young guy, and if you want the snaps, you'll get the snaps. Yeah, the veterans don't need to learn how to play football. Right. They just need the calluses that camp gives you that when you get out on the field, you're not on the sideline right away because you're not in football shape, but they don't need to learn the playbook. They don't need to learn the system, the guys that you've already had there or the veterans that can pick up a playbook quickly. Tom, Telesco talked about this yesterday on our show as well. This was a, like, a real concern for a lot of people, like, not having preseason, having these, you know, the camps be eliminated.

Like, that's really going to affect a lot of guys. But because they've expanded the practice squad, it's going to, that's more jobs. Like, that's what Telasco said yesterday. It's really actually a great situation. You have a better chance of making a team. One of the things in kind of just life that drives me nuts is when people do things because your grandpa did them. And this whole thing about, oh, if you, if you don't have four preseason games,

And everybody now is like, yeah, it's funny. You have all these Zoom meetings. And if you really study, guys are right. You know, like people are like in the NBA bubble, we were like, oh, these guys won't be. The offenses have looked so good. Now, defense may be defense about effort. But in terms of polish and refinement, the NBA offenses have looked great. The idea that you need all these shootarounds for teams during the regular season, stop it.

These are pros. The idea you need four preseason games, these are men. you Zoom meeting you can go you can get so much film I think the one the one thing that a lot of people have taken out of this time is all those meetings we were having maybe a little bit unnecessary maybe I'm not a huge meeting person I'm like if it can be done in a text over a call do it me if it can be done over a call over a meeting call me like it just let's just all be more efficient with our time meetings are great but not always necessary finally Kevin Duran is giving his prediction for this year's NBA champion

He said he doesn't like to guess what will happen because obviously you never know what is going to happen, especially in this situation. But if he had to choose, he would pick the bucks and the clippers to reach the finals. He gives the edge to the Clippers to win the title because the team is so deep. So, yeah, me and Kevin Durant have the same prediction. Yeah, you know what? I was Clippers Celtics. Yeah, you were Celtics at the beginning. The Celtics have a huge problem.

I've watched them now against teams with size. They don't match up. They just don't match up with Milwaukee. Boston cannot beat Milwaukee four times in two weeks. I don't. I literally watched this bubble and I'm like, I'm sorry. It's Milwaukee Clippers. That's how I feel this morning.

Yeah, I mean, that's how I felt the beginning of the season. It's, it's, I mean, obviously all things being equal, the bubble stays the way that it is and there's nothing dramatic that happens. I think that that's like a safe prediction to go in that direction, especially watching what's happening with the Lakers. But the depth with the Clippers was always what was interesting to me. And generally, it's not really about depth in the playoffs, right? Like, we talk about, like, oh, how deep they are, how deep they are.

It really comes down to the stars. But because the Clippers have such high level at their depth, it just makes it a huge difference. And there's so many shooters, like, they match up so well with so many different teams. I think it's the Clippers championship to lose. Good stuff, Joy Taylor with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Lie News.

Rick Buecker's been covering the NBA since the early 90s. He's our Fox Sports NBA analyst, and he joins us, brought to you my Mercedes Ben's, the best or nothing. So last night I'm watching the Lakers, and I have two NBA scouts, a Western Conference and an Eastern Conference scout. And they don't, I don't even know if they know each other, but it was funny to watch their techs for the same thing. They're like, this Laker team can't hit threes and they can't defend the three. And God, they're going to miss Avery Bradley. And Chris Paul is just lighting them up last night. And I said this to start the show today, Rick.

It was a weird year. We usually look, if you're a number one seed in the West, you're a great team. But the Warriors tanked and the Clippers, Paul George was out and they had stars. And OKC was kind of a rebuild early. And Portland didn't have Nurkich. And Mike Conley got hurt for the jazz. And I look at it and I think they're a number one seed, but it doesn't feel like your typical Western Conference number one seed.

Is that fair? Yeah, no, they remind me a lot of the old Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs teams where because of their leadership, because of what was at stake, they would always play as close to their potential on a nightly basis more so than anybody else. And so as a result, their regular season record would always look really good. And we would have all these expectations. All those years, we were like, oh, you keep trying to stick a fork in the spurs.

And look, here they are again. They got one of the top records in the Western Conference. And then we would get to the playoffs. and everybody would put their A game out there, and suddenly we realized, oh, the Spurs have been giving us their A game. They don't have another level to go to. And I suspect on some level that LeBron knew that and knew what he had,

that the playoffs with this Lakers team was going to be an absolute crapshoot. He was relying on so many guys who have never done it before, that he was like, you know what, I need to prove that I can do it in the West just like I did it in the East. And if I'm going to prove that, I better do it during the regular season. Because I don't know that this team is going to get me where I need to go to make that point in the postseason. You know, it's a really good point. LeBron's always been a little ahead in terms of players and analytics.

And, I mean, he went to the three-pointer 12 years ago. He figured it out in his last few years the first time in Cleveland. And a lot of guys did not. It's interesting. people look at Portland and it took Carmelo years to figure out exactly where he fit perfectly, but he's found it. Nurkich is really good. Dame to me is the best hit a shot from deep in the bubble. You know, a lot of people are saying Portland can't defend LeBron, but I've got to tell you, nobody for the Lakers can defend Dame.

Yeah. That, it looks like it's going to be a series. Lakers, Blazers. Your thoughts on it. I'm not convinced that the Blazers can. win the series. But I am convinced that they can extend it and make it a lot harder on the Lakers than they would want and that LeBron at 35 would want. If you look at all of the years that he has gone to the finals and or won a championship, he's always eased through the first round. It's been a sweep or it's been five games. There was only one year when it wasn't, when the

Pacers took him to seven games, and he had nothing. left by the time that they got to the Warriors and they got swept out. So I believe that the same thing could happen here. Yes, they're going to have an issue defending LeBron. They don't have that one guy. If they had Rodney Hood or Trevor Roriza, I think they'd have a better chance at that. But they do have a thing that the Lakers have relied on all year, which is size. And they actually may have better size on the front line and more talented size on the front line. AD accepted than almost any other team. And then the Lakers do.

I mean, Nurkits and Hassan Whiteside and Zach Collins, I'm going to take that over Javel McGee. Oh, yeah. And Dwight Howard. Yeah. So they have, and then don't sleep on Anthony Simons and Gary Trent Jr. Yeah. They have depth and versatility.

And I think that that's going to make this a series a lot like the Warriors last year. They needed to get through the Clippers fast. And when it took six games, it was like, they're expending energy now that they were going to need later. And ultimately, it did cost them. Yeah, Gary Trent Jr.'s been surprising from outside, and they have tremendous size and depth. I think Portland is, and they're playing with house money, man.

When you're an eight seed and you're facing a one, you have nothing to lose. Hey, and Colin, don't underestimate in 2018, Anthony Davis and the Pelicans swept them out and upset them as the third seed. don't think that that doesn't stick in Damian Lillard's crawl, C.J. McCollum, Yusuf Nerkich, who got abused by Anthony Davis. Like, if they see the Lakers in Anthony Davis, they are going to have a point to be that they want to prove. You know, I was saying this about if anything's too hard, it's not right.

And every business when you start, you have to pivot. No business goes right. We look at Amazon and Netflix. You're great examples. They rule America. but they've, you know, it was a tough struggle. But if something is hard 10 years in, it's not right. Or after you've done it a while.

And I'm watching M. Bid and Simmons. They've moved Simmons to a new position. Brett Brown's on the hot seat. M. Beds arguing with teammates the other day. Simmons is hurt last night. They struggled against Washington. They had to rearrange the deck chairs again with their roster, bringing Al Hortford. And I look at this, Rick, and I'm like, I'm watching them last night.

And I'm thinking myself, geez, it's three years in. It still doesn't work right. can't they just acknowledge? Break them up and start over. Because the talent is too great and I don't know that you could get it back and they invested four years of losing to get this roster. So it's really hard when you've made that kind of a sacrifice and then you admit, you know what? The process and all that we went through and what we got out of it, not really delivering. And this is the heart of it. And by the way, America, this is why you have to watch the entire, hire show with Colin Calhurt because everything weaves together. There are big themes being discussed here

and they go from sport to sport. And the point you are making with joy about Tom Brady and Bruce Ariens being able to yell at the best player and Dwayne Wade taking it from Pat Riley, that ultimately is at the heart of the Philadelphia 76ers problem. I think you could probably find a way to make Ben Simmons and Joelle M. B. work together, and I do think moving Ben to point forward is a move that needed to be made, but the heart of it is they do not have a leader. And Brett Brown can't yell at Ben Simmons.

He can't yell at Joelle M.B. He can't make demands. And look, Ben Simmons has had year upon year upon year to develop a three-point shot. to develop a jump shot of any kind. And he has resisted that. And when Brett has brought it up, he's fought it. You simply can't have that from the guy that's supposed to be your floor leader and your leader in general.

And Joelle is just still kind of a goofy kid. That's not going to fly. Honestly, losing JJ. JJ Reddick was probably the biggest leader that they had on the team. and when they lost him, that's never going to work anyway. You need your best players to be your leaders, but at least they had that element. I look at them now, and that's the missing ingredient. Who's driving the bus?

They got a lot of talent, but they don't have somebody who calls everybody out and says, look, this isn't good enough. We need to do it this way. So this is a depressing story. Dr. Brian's Sutterer of Sports Injury YouTube fame. He's a doctor. And he talked about Zion Williamson, who I think we both love. And he said, quote, he's in a race against his own body.

He goes, nobody will call it like they see it. He is, right now, I'll read this. If you watch Duke highlights compared to now, the difference is profound. Athleticism, conditioning have regressed substantially, less explosive, less condition, slower on defense. Already a portion of his meniscus has been removed from his knee after an injury. he's still under close monitoring. What do you make of that?

Well, I love the fact that we have a YouTube sensation in Zion being diagnosed by a YouTube doctor. Somehow that seems like the world is in sync. Look, he says nobody will say it. I've been saying. Everybody talks about we've never seen somebody like Zion in the NBA. Yeah, there's a reason because bodies built like his that, play explosively the way he does generally don't work playing the way the NBA game is played. And it's exciting and it's amazing, but is it sustainable?

That is the big question. And let's be realistic here. Charles Barkley had a lot of the same thing, 6-4-65 explosive, but Charles had a complete game. Charles could shoot from range. Charles could pass it. Charles didn't always have to be explosive to get what he needed. And the game has played different now.

There are so many more possessions. It is so up and down. Like you look at all the guys that are, even the bigs, it's all about losing weight. It's all about staying light. Even guys like Danila Golanari. Like they are skinny compared to where they were five, six years ago. That's what we're not seeing with Zion is, you know,

We saw the Instagram posts of him. And I don't need photos. I don't need beach muscles. I need to, I need video of you running wind sprints and trimming down that way and getting condition that way. And what we're seeing is, honestly, when I watch him on defense, there's a little bit of that Greg Oden. He looks like he's being ginger on his, on his knees and his movement.

And especially defensively. That's why you and I had this conversation. I mean, people questioning why they were playing in limited minutes, I think part of it's conditioning, but part of it, too, is, like, defense is about effort, energy, and being able to stay in front of your guy. And he simply has not demonstrated that he can do that on a consistent basis. Rick Buecker, good stuff, buddy. Thanks again for stopping by.

My pleasure. We are the show that weaves in and out of big topics. And Rick, we appreciate it. that if you're a parent and your son or daughter was dyslexic you would be concerned fearful of their future statistically they're more likely to be millionaires and that explains why baltimore is going 16 and oh and winning the super bowl i'll tie that together next be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays at noon eastern nine 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 podcasts.

A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep. That's me, Clifford Taylor the fourth. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement

to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about

Life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam 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 on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line.

We also have AIDS on the table right now. They're 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

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, Tript 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, as 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 hard way and listen now.

Whether you're working from home, business, having fun, going for a job, fitness, whatever. Try Raycon's wireless earbuds. 15% off by Raycon.com slash heard. Joy, I'm off tomorrow. Are you? Yes. Okay, cool. All right.

So we're off tomorrow. Goulet, you get back here and work. Anywho. So I think Baltimore is going to go 16 and 0, and I think they're going to fly through the playoffs and win the Super Bowl. I've never predicted that. There are three great rosters in football. There's a lot of good ones, but there's three rosters that are different. And credit goes to the owner, the GM, the coach, who has?

San Francisco's loaded. Very few flaws. Kansas City stacked Baltimore. Interesting. Baltimore, Hollywood Brown, a speedy wide receiver, gained 23 pounds of muscle during this off-season. Remember last year how Lamar Jackson completely transformed his body? Now, of the three great teams, I am a believer that tough childhood equals better adulthood. I'll give you a fascinating study. They did a study on 300 millionaires in Great

Britain to find out how they think. And they looked at their childhood, they looked at their communication skills, their flaws and weaknesses. And what the study discovered is that 40% of the millionaires, not 40 of 300, almost half of them were dyslexic. Why would that be? Now think about that if you're driving and listening to me on radio. What the hell would that be?

because dyslexic kids are often humiliated. Dyslexic kids feel ostracized. Dyslexic kids, it's never easy. Nothing. Reading a menu can be humiliating. It's hard. But that metal. And they also found that dyslexic kids are more strategic,

realizing they struggle with reading. They tend to hop ahead of other kids time alone, work ethic, strategic ideas. And how does that tie to Baltimore? Because of the three great teams in the league, it's actually been fairly easy for Kansas City. Patrick Mahomes learns from Alex Smith. Next year, it's the AFC Championship.

Next year, they win the Super Bowl. That's pretty quick. Didn't work that quick for Peyton Manning, Eli Manning. Then there's San Francisco. First year, Jimmy Garoppolo and Kyle Shanahan have a year together, they roll the good teams. They humiliate Green Bay twice, and they end up going to the Super Bowl.

But it's been different from Baltimore. And you think to yourself, Colin, come on, Lamar is the MVP. No, no, no, no. Of the three great rosters, it's actually been more of a struggle than you think. Well, they're great, but they can't beat Mahomes. They're o' and two. Well, they get to the playoffs. And they've been humiliated both times.

Lamar is the MVP. He can't play it from behind. He's not. He can't throw. It pissed him off. You listen to Lamar. The scariest thing in the world is pro sports is great people who have been humiliated.

Get out of their way. the AFC is a two-team race. One of them's holding champagne parties and parades. The other in Baltimore has been humiliated. Watch it. I've never said this in my life. Baltimore is the two scariest things in football. Stacked and pissed.

Because it's been hard. I mean, Lamar Jackson, he can't throw, don't say it. He can't play from behind. Nobody says that about Mahomes. Nobody says that about Garoppolo. I mean, is Tyree Kill putting on 24 pounds? Is Dante Pettison, San Francisco? We all look at this road for Baltimore and we say, you know, it's just been, oh, my God, it's just win after win.

No, it's not. Lamar Jackson was MVP. He's the only MVP in my life that we have said. the following off season. I think he'll regress. Oh, is he old? No, he's actually just coming into his prime. There's never been an MVP.

Half the league doesn't buy into Lamar Jackson. Hell, I can say more than half the league. That's never happened to my life. We didn't doubt a young Peyton or a young Favre or a young Mahomes or a young. That dyslexic study is fascinating. Look it up. You're more strategic. You learn to work alone.

Got that little bitter chip, that little bit of resentment. Raven 16 and no. Count on it. 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 band. 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 IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hardway with your favorite therapist and host Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that'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're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to.

Listen and learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. On the Look Back at it podcast. For 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 is big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors.

Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild 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. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.