The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Herd - Hour 3 - Game 5 of the ECF

Episode Date: May 25, 2023

Previewing game 5 of the ECF Colin discusses possible LeBron James scenarios Tomorrow's headlines today   Guest: Chris BroussardSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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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.

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Co-host, first things first. Our buddy Chris Broussard's in New York. Okay. I think I like Boston tonight. And now we find out they're going to, Miami's missing a starter. Do you like the Celtics tonight? what do you think the game looks like? I do like the Celtics.

And look, this is why you've got to get series over as soon as you can if you're up 3-0 because of potential injuries. And we know Gabe Vincent isn't a star, but in this series he's averaging 17 points and he's shooting 50% from 3. So he's a valuable player, their third leading score in the playoffs. So that's big. I'm going to go with the Celtics. And here's the thing, Colin, it's up to the Celtics.

like they are the more talented team by a wide margin, I'd say. And so the heat beat you with hustle, with grit, with heart, toughness, and execution, and being well coached. If you match the heat in heart and hustle and toughness and so on, you'll beat them if you're the more talented team. So if Boston just comes out and plays as hard as it can, as smart as it can in terms of execution, they should win this game. And look, Jason Tatum has been terrific. We know when his back is against the wall, going back to last year against Milwaukee. So I'm going to go with the Celtics to push this to a game six and then put the pressure on Miami.

You know, it's interesting. You say Boston's better by a wide gap. So it is interesting. So I would argue Spos the better coach by far. Right. Butler's the best player in the series. Tatum 2, Jalen Brown 3, Bam out of Bayou 4. and then I think you get into a Marcus smart, you know, then it's guys that are 11 a game, 12, 13.

But when I look at this Miami team with Tyler Hero coming back, have we undervalued Miami's talent? Now, they got a lot of undrafted guys, four in the rotate. I get it. But Tyler Hero's 20 a game. Bam, in the east, there's an argument. He's around that all-star level. Butler's great. Suppose the best coach.

Coaching matters. I mean, I guess if Miami seals this thing tonight without Tyler Hero and without the injured, maybe we've undervalued Miami. Well, we have. And I'm right there at the top of the list. I certainly have. And if they advance, I'm picking Denver. All right.

So I'm going to undervalue them again. But you're right. Look, they've been in how many conference finals? now the last few years, three in the last four years. This would be their second finals appearance. Part of it is that you mentioned the undrafted players. Jimmy Butler goes from being like an all-star level player in the regular season to a top five or ten player in the playoffs.

Bam out of Bayou as good as he is, and he's very good. But he's an undersized center. Yeah. They haven't shot the three well during the regular season, at least. They've been good in the playoffs with it. And you're right, Tyler Hero is a very good player. He's a score. But that's what he is.

He's not like a great defender or anything like that, but he's a score. So I think all of those things, you look at their roster next to Milwaukee's, next to Boston's, and they just come up short next to Denver's, and they'll come up short. And so I think those are the reasons we underestimate him. What I don't underestimate is their heart and their execution and Eric's bolster's coaching ability, which is why I think they give Denver a very tough serious. I just would hate to play Miami, Colin.

Like, they're just a pest. You know, they're always going to go hard. They're never going to quit, no matter how high you get up on them in terms of a margin. They're like that boxer that just won't stop swinging, and you can't knock him out. He'll take everything you've got and keep on coming. So I respect them, but I just think there are a lot of teams that have more talent.

Okay, so I didn't know Nick Wright had the same opinion, but my opinion on the LeBron to the Warriors was viewed as wacko and crazy. And my takeaway is LeBron only wants to play for titles. The Warriors love high IQ experience players who have been in crisis games. They've already said youth doesn't matter. Wiseman's gone. Comminga and Moody barely play. They've told you everything's on Steph's timeline.

And LeBron, though he can't dominate, I suggested. The Lakers owner and GM would like to get some. powerback. It's LeBron's franchise. And, you know, Wiggins, Pool, Coominga. Cuminga didn't play in the playoffs. Poole's expensive, but the Lakers with Austin Reeves and Poole, Anthony Davis-Ruey and Wiggins. You can't tell me that's not a good team. Why is this so crazy?

Do you think it's wacko? I don't think it's wacko because, first of all, from Golden State standpoint, yeah, they look like they're saying, okay, we tried to build on the let's win now. and then let's build for, you know, the future, and we can't do it. We have to go all in on now. Why else would they want to bring back a Draymond Green and a Clay Thompson and on contract extensions? So you're going for it.

You're going to maximize Steph's prime while he's there, which I think is smart. So, yeah, go out and get a LeBron James. For the Lakers, obviously, well, I won't say obviously. If you trade at LeBron, there aren't a. ton of teams that are going to give you everything for him. Because that team has to be right there and able to win it next season, right? And a lot

of those teams won't have the youth or maybe the draft picks that the or Lakers would be looking for. Wiggins is a very, he's not a number one, but he's a great number three. And Poole average, I believe, 26 points a game when Steph's injured. So

pool for all his warts and he's young, he'll grow, he'll mature, and you get him away from Draymind, that's probably a thing. Look, Colin, I like the idea, and I'm not necessarily pushing this, but I do like the idea of LeBron playing with the Warriors now better

than had he done it, say, six, seven years ago in his prime. And not just because it would have been over for the rest of the league, but LeBron would have been dominating the ball, that beautiful offense would have ceased to exist, and Steph and Clay would have been

spot-up shooters. They would have won just because they would have had such great talent. But it wouldn't have been as fun to watch. If he were to go there now, and I don't think it's going to happen, but if he somehow ended up there, he could play that Kevin Looney position and obviously he's going to score 20, 25 points a game, rebound, you know, play defense. Like, he would be great there now because he's willing to fit into a system now rather than come in and be the system and everything revolves around him.

The question is, a lot of people wouldn't like to see that. that Colin. And a lot of people would rip LeBron for that because it's like, well, you went to Miami stacked the deck. You went to Cleveland made sure they got Kevin Love for Andrew Wiggins. You went to Los Angeles made sure they got Anthony Davis.

Now you're joining Steph. Like these are the two preeminent players of this era. This would be like magic running to play with Bird or Bird running to play with Magic. And so he would get a lot of heat for that. But hey, a

Rings a ring. So he would win rings, I'll tell you that much. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast'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, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football,

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

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

follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tauntons and wampas on the ice planet hot,

or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Kyrie Irving situation, he goes to Laker Games, we talk about it, then he's upset, we talk about it. When you hear that, I do think he fits. Now, I would take Trey Young over him because Trey is more durable, plays more minutes, is a younger version,

I don't think he's quite as erratic personally. So I would, I would, I don't know if the Lakers have anything to get Trey Young. But the Kairie stuff to the Lakers, he does fit. Would they take the call and consider it? Yeah, look, I wouldn't want to give up Austin Reeves and Rui Hachamore. So if I could get Kyrie and keep those guys, there's a few others I'd love to keep, but definitely those two. And I think it would be important for the Lakers to have. have control of the situation.

Meaning that you don't give up all your players for Kyrie. You certainly don't give up, like the guys I mentioned, and now you're top heavy with AD, LeBron, and Kyrie because all those guys are injury prone. And so if you have no depth, you would be in trouble in the regular season if one or two of those guys gets hurt, not to mention the playoffs.

But I definitely look at it. My ideal, if I'm the Lakers, is for Kyrie to fit in at $32 million a year, you know, starting at that salary. Now that's $15 million less than he can get in a max deal, so I don't know that he'll like it. But look, Kyrie, for his Instagram post, I haven't made my decision. It's not really his decision that much. He's obviously got to say, but it's not like teams are going to be bending over backwards to get Kyrie Irving. I mean, maybe Phoenix.

Dallas, but I think Dallas has more leverage than they seem to know, and the Lakers. That's maybe it. If the teams with Max Capspace are young, Orlando, Charlotte, they have Lamello Ball, San Antonio, about to bring in Wimbanyama. Like, they're not going to want Houston. I don't see them wanting Kyrie Irving. So the Lakers, I do believe, should explore this if they can get him for the right money or get him without losing some of their other players,

then I would definitely look at it. Because Colin, what cost them against Denver, one of the main things, was they couldn't close. All right, those games were close. Yeah. And Denver had a closer in Jamal Murray, and by that I mean, like LeBron obviously can close games. But he has to get to the rim and hit a layup to close the game at this point.

He might hit a jumper, might, but he's not a great shooter. What they had in Denver was a great shooter that could create his own shot and give him a little space and he's going to hit it, Jamal Murray. That's what Kyrie Irving is. Like AD, you can't count on him to close. LeBron, you're not always going to be able to get to the rim. Kyrie Irving can create the space and hit the shot in the clutch and that's what they need. And nobody knows that better than LeBron. Chris Brousard, co-hosts First Things First, does the odd couple with Rob Parker on radio?

as always my friend, great seeing you. Thanks, Colin. You enjoyed it. You bet. Kyrie Irving, yay or nay, Jay Mack. Can I save, I'm saving it for headlines. We may talk about Kyrie Erring. Come on, you know how I feel about that guy.

Come on. Jayman, Quinn the News. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the Heard Line News. All right, here's this NFL story. I teased a little earlier. Within the last 90 minutes,

the Raiders, Josh McDaniel spoke to the media and announced that the reason Jimmy Garoppolo is not at OTAs is that he's recovering from foot surgery. Colin, he had foot surgery in March after signing with the Raiders. McDaniels would not comment on what the procedure was, but he said Garoppolo could be out until training camp. But that's okay. This comes on the heels of Devante Adams sounding off recently. You have to wonder if he caught wind of this and was like,

We dump my guy car and now we bring in damaged goods. Remember, Garapolo got hurt last year and they said, oh, well, he doesn't need surgery. Maybe he can come back if they make the Super Bowl. And then the Raiders took one look at him and was like, he needs surgery. Colin, this is a guy who's hurt every year. No, I mean, the interesting thing about the Raiders is this. I think we all look at Garoppolo is a two-year plan. The Raiders don't have a backup, which leads me back to my belief that if you look at their September schedule

and it goes sideways. If it goes sideways, as long as Josh McDaniel has an agreement with Mark Davis, you go to the backup, you move Garoppolo to a team that's good that loses a quarterback. And you move Adams, too, and you full-on tank? And you go get a quarterback. Let me tell you something. Do you think Daniels can sell that? How many years has he been?

Is this only his second or third year? No, I'm saying you have to have an agreement from the owner. And just say, listen, we're 0 and 3. Jimmy is damage goods, but good enough to, and then you sit around and wait in September and October for seven, eight weeks. What playoff team is willing to eat Jimmy's contract for a year or two? Well, I have talked to one coach who has been on this show, been at this network for a while. He got an assurance from an owner, hey, if we bring in this guy, I don't want him. And if we bring him in, is my job safe.

Owner told him, of course. And then they went south. The owners are all crazy. They're all liars. Come on. These billionaires, they're going to do what they want. Like, I don't... A lot of been written about the Raiders' finances, you know, ownership that can't afford to fire coaches.

This is just not good. This is... You're starting off with a guy who needed surgery right out the gate. Yeah. Well, I mean, it's not throwing shoulder surgery. I mean, Brock Purdy had literally his soup bone go sideways, and he's going to start week one. It was January. Well, that was a serious injury.

Well, I mean, what number of surgery is this for Garoppolo? Two, three, four? When he gets banged up, he does. Banged up. All right, let's go back to the Lakers. They were one of the best teams in the second half of the season after Polinka retooled that roster at the deadline. They got to the Western Conference Finals, as you said,

exceeded expectations. AD's defense phenomenal. Polinka hopes to keep the core players together. After the trade deadline, we had one of the top records in the league. I think keeping that continuity is going to be very important. We ultimately got knocked out. a team that has great continuity. They've got a group of players that have been together for several seasons, and it shows in the way they play. But that's a high priority for us. We feel like we've

got a group of special players in the locker room. They enjoy playing with each other. Darvin enjoys coaching them. We know there's more growth and improvement in that group, especially if we get a training camp together. So I would say that's a high priority to keep our core players together. I mean, that's what you're hoping. Is Rui Hachimor a core player? Yes, he is now. Austin Reed. I think they have four. They have four.

A.D. LeBron, Reeves, and Rui are their core four. Danzae Russell. No way. Everything else is movable. Truder? No. Troy Brown. Nope. Nothing. I think they want to keep Lonnie Walker. Want to keep him around. I think he's limited,

but they like him. Nice kid. So Rui, a core guy. Yes. He's length. His ability to hit threes. I mean, let me tell you something. There are knights, like he and Reeves were their three points shoots. I mean, he won at least one playoff game. Yeah, no, no. Rui's a core piece. Rui Rui Reeves, LeBron A.D. How do they get, I mean, that's why the Kyrie thing makes sense. How can they go get another star? Kyrie's on the market. They don't have to give anything up. But apparently you can't afford to keep Rui if you bring on Kyrie because of the cap and all that

stuff. So, you know, Rui can be valuable when AD goes down. Not if, but when a AD needs time off because he can play center and defend. Yeah, we'll have something in headlines here shortly about a way to keep Rui. Final story, Celtics tonight, no room for error. I got to win. I got to win. This one, then two more. Game five tonight back in Boston.

Charles Barkley thinks the home team is going to wait for it, run away with the win. I think game five is going to be a cakewalk for the Celtics. I think they're going to have so much energy because, not getting swept is not a cuck they don't get a cookie but now they're going to go back home that place is going to be loud

and incredible I think they're going to kill Miami next game he's often loud and wrong yeah sometimes when is the last time Miami got killed

does Jimmy Butler allow its team to get killed I think it's a you like Barclay a lot more than I do right he's an entertainer we get that but his predictions are horrible if anyone listens to him

for gambling advice No, he's bad for gambling. Awful. So this makes me wonder, like, does Miami win tonight? I think there... You did take the points, right? You can't be down two shooters. Come on, two?

On the road? I think Boston wins tonight. The question is, do they win by six or 12? What does a bolster cookup that Missoula is going to be dumbfounded? How about this? You know what I always believe in games like this? Just rest all your starters and go home to win. Oh, gosh.

No coach does that. Nobody's doing that. JMAQ with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lye News. Colin, you've got to compete. Sometimes just Colin's sick.

Ice cream headache. Migraine something. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. On Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeard Radio app. Two NBA insiders podcasting twice a week to plug you right into the NBA great buy. All happening in only one place. This League Uncut.

The new NBA podcast with me, Chris Haines. And me, Mark Stein. Join us as we team up to expound on everything we're covering, hearing, and chasing. Listen to This League Uncut with Chris Haynes and Mark Stein. On the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

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

A win is a win. I don't care what I'll say. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment. And the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your

podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of taun tons and wampas on the ice planet hot,

or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to Stuff to Blow Your Mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your part. podcast. Saturday is baseball night in America on Fox. The Red Sox take on the Diamondbacks. The Reds battle the Cubs or Cardinals, Guardians. Catch the action at 70s turn on Fox.

Check for the game in your area. Go to netsuite.com slash heard. NetSuite by Oracle. No payments or financing. Six months. No interest six months. NetSuite.com slash heard. All right.

Well, Jason McIntyre was just running a blog years ago. and running headlines left and right. And I said, this young man, you've got to kick that to the curb and come join me in the digital TV world. And that's what he's done. And so every Friday, Thursday today, because we're both off tomorrow, we do what we call tomorrow's headlines today. He's the former headline writer in the news biz. Are you ready to go? I think so.

Yes. Okay. So game five tonight, heat up 3-1. They move back to Boston. tomorrow's headlines today. The headline tomorrow for the heat and the Celtics. So the Gabe Vincent news is, it's kind of significant, right? Starting guard playing heavy minutes.

Boston going home. They've been spotty at home. The headline will be, better eat your heaties. Butler and Bam too big and strong for Celtics. Listen, I think Miami ultimately wins this series. Colin, I'm just a Jimmy Butler guy. You know that. And Spolstrom, Missoula, is.

Really, this is like a massive coaching mismatch. We've seen it. Miami threw the zone at Boston and Missoula. I look rattled. I like Tatum a lot. One of my favorite players ever to play sports in Boston. This is just a disappointing series. And you might be on to something with the Jalen Brown hand injury.

I saw a stat on mid-range jumpers in the series. He's like 7 of 37. Yeah, he's hurt. Some ridiculously bad number. That's just out of character for him. So maybe it is a hand and he's not overthinking it. But he was on the trade market for KD. Last summer, now there's like, could you move him for Dame or someone else?

We'll see what happens. Interesting offseason ahead in Boston. All right. Tomorrow's headlines today. A lot of stuff out there. Trade rumors, retirement. LeBron James, I can't wait for this headline. LeBron might retire.

You know, it was a big, big talk. The headline will be the Hunger James. Braun refills plate for 21st time. Obviously, a Hunger Games fan. I actually like those movies. At any rate, I got the numbers for you. LeBron, in this regular season, 28, 8, and 6. In the playoffs, 24, 9, and 6.

Are those the numbers of somebody who's going to retire? No, man, he's coming back. I think what you really need to do is take a burden off him by adding someone who's not Kyrie Irving. Can you imagine LeBron basically being a babysitter of Kyrie Irving? Like in Cleveland, that's okay. Can you go get Kyle Kuzma again or something? Well, there is a player.

I think that we're going to be targeting here shortly, but as long as the Lakers don't start 2 and 10, have that friction. Remember how odd the locker room was with Russell Westbrook and LeBron? There was a lot of beef and it was just a tough season. That's going to wear on a guy like LeBron at this age in his career

and I don't think it's over for LeBron winning titles. They were right there against a really good Denver team, took down the defending champion warriors, took down Memphis, the number two seed. I think LeBron returns and the Lakers are contenders once again. All right, there's another name out there

in the free agent world. Fred Van Vleet. Tomorrow's headlines today. The Raptor, who's just gotten better and better. What's the headline? So Van Vleet averaged 19 and 7. Yeah. Second best player on the Raptors.

The best player was Pascal Seacom. So, like, Van Vleet's not getting a ton of open shots. Where could he go and just plug in and plays great defense and shoot? The headline will be Fred Zeppelin. Lakers show Van Vleet. A whole lot of love. How about that? Fred Van Vlead and the Lakers.

I know it's not as sexy as Kyrie or. Right? That's what everybody wants. But he defends. You know who's also reliable? Fred Van Fleet. You think Polinka's got a worry at night. Jeez, oh, it's Kyrie going to show up tomorrow? Does he need a day off to do go see his sister's birthday or whatever?

Kyrie Irving is just unreliable. So I think Lakers fans need to be realistic. By the way, that'd make Austin Reeves a very good four. Oh my gosh. And by the way, Dennis Schroeder was like their defensive hound, but he wasn't giving you enough offense. Van Vleet can score. I know he had a down year from three. But when they won the title with Kowai Leonard, he was as arguably,

their second best player on that team. He averaged, I believe, 14 in that series, but his defense on Curry was instrumental. And again, he's a pros, pro. I know he's got a lot of minutes logged, still under 30. Lakers fans, if you can get Van Vleet, who is now a clutch client, okay? LeBron does

not like kids. By the way, you could say Austin Reeves is young, but he played college for four. LeBron likes highly smart, functional guys. He doesn't have to mentor and teach basketball. And you want to keep Rui Hachimora. You can afford him when you keep when you add Fred VanVille.

So that's interesting. It's not like a $40 million a year guy. So that's interesting. So LeBron and AD are your two best players. Van Vleet's three, Austin Reeves four, Rui, 5. Now you got something. That's a real team. I mean, again, you bring on Kyrie, you're probably going to have to lose Rui.

And Kyrie's like, how often is he going to show up for you? I like that. That's pretty good. It's not super sexy, but Fred Van Vleet and the Lakers, warm up to it, L.A. Make it happen. All right. Speaking of Kyrie Irving, he doesn't. and like social.

Waity does. Tomorrow's headlines today. How do you make of that? His rant about like, hey, don't listen to these guys. Don't listen to McIntyre and Cowherd.

They don't know. But you're right. He shows up front row to a Lakers game. What he wants to do? Just so happened to, you know, just happen to be there. You know,

I'm not a huge Kyrie guy. Yeah, I know that. The headline will be always Kyrie Cash Mavs podium up to keep Irving. Kyrie has said he wants to get paid. Mark Cuban's been backed into a corner.

You lose Porzingis. You lose Brunson. You can't lose Kyrie too, or you might lose Luca Donchage. So you have to overpay. There's a lot of chatter in the NBA circles about there's like a handshake deal between Mark Cuban and Kyrie are like,

we're going to pay you, you're going to stay. Listen, when he showed up, Colin, they cratered in the West. Maybe it was the getting used to one another, the your turn, my turn, which never really works among superstars. I don't like this if I'm Luca. You know, I'm a Luca.

I said, Luke is the best player in the league for the last couple of years. I look like an idiot when they don't even make the playoffs. But they got to keep Kyrie. They're going to pay. I don't like this at all. I don't like it. I like the headline. The headline's very funny.

These are bad defensive players who both need the ball. That's not a chance. That's not even a playoff team. It's only a matter of time before the honeymoon ends. Kyrie's starting to get a little sideways and I don't know, man. Some of these hype makes and you got me all hyped up on that Fred Van Vleet deal. You like that, huh? What's wrong with point cards right now?

John Morant, immature. Kyrie Irving, James Harding. Erick. Won't play defense. Van Vleet, you know what he is? He's a grown-up. Yeah. You know who else is? Deerrin Fox.

Jamal Murray. These guys are there and reliable and tough, and you don't have to worry about him. Now, one of my guys, we both love Dame. Yes. He's mature. Oh, he's got a lot of things going on. He is older.

Tomorrow's headline today, what is it on Damien Litter to the Blazers? I've been pushing Dame to the heat, and Miami fans are like, it's not happening. We can't afford him. So you look around the league, you're like, okay, it's yours landing spot for Damien Lillard. The headline will be, say my Dane, say my Dane. Lillard's destiny is in Philly. Now, this picture is iconic for sure.

Joel Embed plus Damien Lillard. Listen, that's a tandem I can rock with. Now, it's probably going to cost you, Tyrese Max. Oh, I don't like that. Well, I mean, you could try Tobias Harris and all the picks in the world, but Portland's probably going to be able to get something better. Listen, Maxie's good, but are you winning with him? Show me the awesome game he had.

He had one pretty good game against Boston. Damien Lillard, I know he's been hurt the last two years. Damien Lillard and Joel Embed could be. And Tobias Harris is your three. Yeah, as your three. But Lillard and Embed, I don't want to say it's Jamal-Marie and Yokic, but it is probably one of the best duos in the league. It's what you thought Harden and Embed would be.

I mean, Dame and Embed in the pick and roll, Colin, Dame's range spacing the floor for Joel Embed. Remember when Boston started to, like, cramp Embed style the last two games and he just was like five for 18? You can't do that with Damien Lillard on the floor. I like the idea of Dame to Philly. Let's see if Lillard waves his like, I want to stay in Portland strategy, which I don't think is working.

I was just thinking about this. So let's say, without two starters, the Miami Heat, go back to Boston and beat Jalen Brown and Tatum. In a weird way, the Jalen Brown injury keeps them together. Because you can say Jalen Brown literally shot 28%. If Jalen Brown, Marcus Smart, Robert Williams, Horford, Tatum are healthy. and Miami missing two starters, two shooters, goes up there and wins. That is, you've got to break those guys up.

The injury, now, Tatum last year in the finals, remember, Boston used that to say Tatum was worn down. That's why they tried to scale back some numbers. So everybody was like, settle down, they outplayed the Warriors, Tatum fell apart, so nobody freaked out. And this year, similarly, Jalen Brown's hurt. There's a difference between reasons. That's a reason, not an excuse. So in a weird way, what keeps them together in the Big Max is his hand injury. Otherwise, if they went in, Miami went in tonight without two starters and beat them,

that is break it up. It's easy to say break it up, but. Jalen Brown's got a... What are you going to get for Jalen Brown? Like, he's a wing who can defend multiple positions. He's an all-N-B-A guy. when healthy, he's very good. You could get a ton for him.

Really? I've said this before. A guy who's an all-N-B-A caliber player? Or do you want a bunch of spare parts to fit around Taylor? Okay, you tell me, Wiggins, Jordan Poole, and draft picks? You wouldn't consider it? Poole's 25 a game. Wiggins is no all-N-B-A player.

Jordan Poole's no all-N-A player. I'm not giving you two really good starters and a draft pick. Does Poo fit with Tatum? He's just going to watch him go to work? All of a sudden you get really bad defense. He doesn't fit great with Jalen Brown. What do you mean? They went to the finals, another in the Easter conference finals.

Yeah, because they, you know, again, good organization. They're good together. They're clearly not great together. They're down three one. They went to the finals. They were up to one. Isn't that great? No, great is hoisting the trophy.

Denver's very good. They win, you start saying, boy, that's a great team. They win a second one. You're like, they are a great team. So the problem is McCollum and Lillard in Portland. They kept them together for like seven years. They kept getting to the playoffs. That's in the conference finals once.

Two guards. They kept them together. Similar games. It's similar except both of these guys are all NBA. I don't think McCollum. Also, both of these guys in Boston are excellent defenders. Lillard and McCullough were not. The poor defenders.

It's tough for Brad Stevens to break them up. I know. But the question, did Missoula save his job with one win in the final in the conference finals? I mean, we laugh, but probably. Maybe. So tonight, I'm taking Boston by six. Yeah, I'm not betting on the side.

I'll bet over Jimmy Butler. You bet a lot of props. I think you could find an edge in props. These sides have been crazy. You've been very good on props. I would go Butler. Butler over 28 and a half. Now the concern is without this guy Vincent,

all of a sudden Miami starts slowly. They fall behind 15 and they just, like you say, mail it in, let's hit the guys. Butler's got no shot. Yeah, I'm a mailed in guy. If you get down 12. You're a mail it in guy? I would literally. The guy who works like 300 days a year, you're mail it in guy.

No, I would go to Jimmy Butler. I got a Delta flight, leaves in an hour, get out of here. Get back at some treatment. No, but I banged on the Lakers for that. Once you're down 15 and you're on the road and you're not healthy, get guys off the floor. Well, the heat has six double-digit comebacks for wins in these playoffs. So, like, that's when they relish the fact that they're down 12.

We can overcome this. You know Boston, if they lead by like five or six late. They're getting tight. A little tight. Getting tight. Boston gets all up. Very rigid. All right.

We're off tomorrow. We'll see you soon. Oof. 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, S&L'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 eye, Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win.

A win is a win. I don't care 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 Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

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Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10. 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an I-Hart podcast. Guaranteed Human.