The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Herd - Hour 3 - NBA today

Episode Date: April 11, 2023

Could the older generation play in today's NBA? Colin defends the skills of the legendary Bill Russell Some NBA playoff predictions   Guest: Eddie HouseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. The NBA play-in starts today. And so does your chance to win $1,000 playing Fox Pet Super 6. Download the free Super 6 app on your phone and enter your six predictions for Timberwolves Lakers for your chance to win big. By the way, a lot of disrespect shown to Dr. Jay by J-Mack today, and Eddie House was not here for it. Eddie got to the finals twice, 11 years in the NBA, seven playoff appearances, three conferences, three conferences. championships. He does not get the greatness of Dr. Jay. See, Jay Mack Eddie, he thinks if you didn't play yesterday, you can't play. And you and I believe you go ahead and tell him about Dr. Jay how

he would have evolved today. Oh, no doubt. Anybody that was great in that era, if you put them and give them the sports medicine, the diet, the training, the understanding how to take care of their body, they would be stars in this league as well. They would have developed. Imagine Imagine, let's use even a newer reference. What if Kevin Garnett grew up in the era where they said, hey, don't put your back to the basket, shoot threes. You don't think that he would have developed a three-point shot, a consistent one? I mean, it's just the way the game goes, man, evolution of the game.

Yeah, I remember Bill Russell, they say is too small. Then years later, the Celtics had Dave Cowens at center. Cleveland had Nate Thurman. Those guys weren't big guys. Like, to me, you can play, you can play. Dr. Jay could play. If you can play, you can play. I don't worry about that.

Jay Mack, you know, these young guys, Eddie, sometimes, you know, they get a little into the... Web behind the ears, breast-meling like Similek. Okay. So I think the pressure, and I think it's notable, is Boston. I think the pressure's on. So they rested Robert Williams a lot of the year, and I think it was smart, right? Like, get him ready for Janus and Mb, B, Bam on a Bayoum, maybe whatever, Evan Mobley, whoever they played. there's a lot of good bigs in the east, get Robert ready.

Here's the thing, though. Tatum's now, they got to the finals last year. They're not going to settle in Boston for a conference finals. They want the finals. You cover the Celtics. You work for them. You work on their broadcast. What happens if they get bounced by Milwaukee or Philadelphia?

What happens? Well, if they get bounced in the conference finals, it would be, yeah, a failure in their minds because everybody is championship of bus in the city of Boston, you know, it's the city of champions, is looking for championship banners. We don't hang Eastern Conference banners or division banners. It's only championship banners that go up there. So if you're not able to deliver one of them, the season will be looked at as a failure. But you got also just on that standpoint.

But also, if you look at it on the other side of the coin, it was a success. Your head coach at the beginning of the year comes up and you have all this outside noise right before training camp. You get a new coach. Guy who wasn't on the bench, he was actually behind the bench, working the guys out. Now he has to change how his relationship is with the star players. The star player is going to have to send his message down to the team. So to me, I think that it was, it's actually been a success. You look at where they are as far as net rating.

I believe they're number one. And in office of efficiency, number two, in defense efficiency, number two. The only time that that has happened is when the Golden State Warriors did it twice. and they end up winning the championship. So if they don't win it, it will be disappointing in that factor. But if you look at what they were able to do, Rob Williams being injured all season long, right? He came into season with a knee injury.

Then he heard a hamstring was out for a while. Al Horford doesn't play back to backs. I think that you could look at the season and say, hey, man, it was a success in its own ways. We didn't get it done. And I would never want to break up this band because look at what they've done. They've been to five conference championships. And they're still young.

You're talking about guys under 26 years old. Yeah. So the Warriors are interesting. The chemistry has been an issue this year since the Dramon Jordan Poole incident. Now they go into the playoffs and they're going to rely on Gary Payton to play more because he'll defend the Aaron Fox. That means Jordan Poole probably plays less. He won't like it. Wiggins will now play more. That means Kaminga will play less. That's not going to, you know what I mean? So a lot of these young guys who got minutes, they're going to lose some minutes in the playoffs. And I just wonder, this team couldn't win on the road. That's a chemistry issue, not a talent issue. What do you make of inserting Wiggins? Now Peyton's going to get major minutes. How does it land for you? What do you expect from them this year, the Warriors in the playoffs? I think if you look into winning a championship, you just got to do whatever is asked of you. If you are asked to play 30 minutes, be out there and be the best you can in those 30 minutes. Well, Gary Payton, guard Deerrin Fox, believe me, that's going to be work for Deerran.

Fox. That's going to wear him down. You look at this matchup they got against Sacramento. Sacramento is not a big team. They're not an overly veteran-laden team at all. They're still young. They can't really, particularly they can't guard. That's been their Achilles Hill all season long. They can't guard. The Warriors is the worst team

to go against if you can't guard. Because they're going to move the ball. They're going to move bodies. You can play Gary Payton and Jordan Pool and Steph and Clay. You could go small because, again, Sacramento is not that big. So is it going to be, to me, I think you're going to be surprised. Golda State is going to go into Sacramento. They're going to win one of these games, one of the first two games, and then they're

going to close it out in Sacramento. A gentleman suite, 4-1, they're going to win two role games, starting their playoff runoff and get ready for the winner of the Lakers in Memphis. Listen, LeBron and A.D. just don't play together much. LeBron's aging. AD can be brittle. Let's say AD has a really nice playoff run. They beat Minnesota tonight. then they knock off Memphis and then they get beat by a Golden State or a Phoenix or a Denver. That seems reasonable. A lot of people would be like, oh, my take is LeBron's coming in, you're only getting 50 games a year from LeBron now. And if AD can give you this great last three weeks and good playoff run, it may be time to strongly consider moving him.

He's not getting younger. He averages about 55, 60 games now. my take is the Lakers are not a championship team. Cross your fingers that AED has a good playoff run and potentially make a blockbuster deal and get younger and more and healthier. But that is because I don't think they're a championship team. Do you think the Lakers are as currently constituted? Yes, I do.

I think Rob Polinka did a great job. You talk about a guy whose job was on the line. as soon as the next day, 24 hours after the All-Star break, and a couple weeks after that, and to the end of the season, he's looking like possibly exec of the year for what he's been able to construct over there. He brought all the pieces that didn't fit. He was able to get rid of those pieces and add younger pieces that did fit. You look at this roster, I think that everybody's buying into what their role is.

Anthony Davis is healthy, and he's playing like a top 75 player. We know what you're going to get from LeBron James. but you look how Schroeder is playing. You look how DeAngelo Russell, three-level point guard can make plays. A three-level score can make plays for himself, make plays for other. Him and Anthony Davidson at Pickerel is tough to guard. Vanderbilt on the wing, Hotchamora. I think this team is poised to make a run.

Now, if they stay healthy, they can make a run to the conference finals. And I believe this. Whoever comes out of that, and this is saying that they get past Memphis and Golden State gets past Sacramento, I believe whoever comes out of the. that series, Golden State and the Lakers, will represent the Western Conference in the finals. Wow. So you're not sold on the Sons. What don't you like? Well, I just don't, the only thing, what I like everything, I like a lot about what they do. You know, they haven't played that many games together. They do have the same type of injury

history that the Lakers do, but at the same time, I'm not sure if they're as deep. Okay. I'm just not sure if they're as deep as the Lakers. You know, you got, with the Lakers, you got four, four, or five guys that can really go out there and get it for you. Well, with the sons, they're going to be top heavy with Book and they're going to be top heavy with KD. Now, KD, you could never count him out because how great he is, right, phenomenal basketball player. But they're top heavy. And Chris Paul, you can't rely. Aiton has been hit and miss, you know, all depending on how he feels coming into the gym.

Some games, he's a monster. And you're like, wow, even though he's averaging 18 to 10 for his career, you still look like, you feel like he could, you could get. more out of him. And I just feel like Anthony Davis could take him away from the basket. He could put it on the floor. He could also post him up. You could put him in pick and roll if you match up against them. I just feel like the sons just don't have enough. That's not saying that they're not good. And getting to the Western Conference Finals is damn good. But do I think that they can beat a Warriors or Lakers team in a seven-game series at that particular time with both team healthy? That's a no for me. Okay, I'm going Milwaukee Phoenix Finals. What say you?

Oh, well, I say Milwaukee and Phoenix. I don't think Phoenix is going to get there again. I think the team that I would be most fearful for is Golden State. I know their regular season record is what it is, but playoffs are different. Monster preparation is different. You get a day in between each game or maybe two days depending on what it is. They're going to be coming in healthy. The Warriors, like I said, it's between the Lakers and the Warriors who wins that series

if the Lakers are able to get past Memphis. but wherever comes out of that second round, whatever it is, if it's the Warriors, I've got the Warriors going into the finals. And I've got to go with the Celtics. I think the Celtics are probably the deepest team in the, and that's not just saying that because I've covered them and I won a championship with them. It's because I feel like they're the deeper team.

They are the hungrier team as well. You've got to think the Lassie taste they had name out. They're young, they're deep. You talk about Brobden coming in. You talk about Derek White. You talk about Rob Williams. There's so many different lineups that you could go out. with that team. You could go a double big. You could go five out, five out with Al Horford out there,

or you could go four out, one in with Rob Williams, or you could go three guards, or you could go four guards. And you could do so many different things with that lineup. They're deep. They're one of the best defensive teams in the league, one of the best offensive teams in the league. And to me, that screams a team that's poised to make a deep run in these playoffs and get to the NBA championship again and possibly winning. Eddie House. He's got Celtics against the Warriors. I'll take sons in the bucks. Good seeing you, bud. Nice seeing you too, man. Take care. I mean, perfect for the NBA would be the Celtics brand against Steph Curry.

It's just, I just, I think what's going to happen is the Warriors are going to play the Kings. And the Warriors are going to make it, they're going to play real defense. They're going to get in Sacramento's face. They're going to try to intimidate them, push them around, and everybody's going to freak out. But in the playoffs, folks, the refs swallow the whistle. It's why veteran teams usually win. Refs step out of the way, let the guys play. You don't get cheap whistle.

everybody in Sacramento is going to say, you can see it a mile away. Old teams have always done well in the playoffs. You don't even have to be deep. Can you get physical? Can you muddy up the game? Can you take young players, get them off their spots? That's what the Warriors will do with the Kings,

and you'll think it's the refs. Right now, if you're Mike Brown coach and the Kings, you got to tell the guys. You used to be on the Warriors bench. They're going to make it physical. Draymond's going to get in your head, he's going to push you around, and they're not going to call it, and they didn't call it on Rodman, and they didn't call it on Lambere, and they didn't call it on Rambus, they're going to let you push a little in the postseason.

It's going to be a little chippy, and young guys don't react to that. Veterans in the NBA playoffs manipulate younger players, they manipulate game plans, and to some degree, the officials. That's why I'm going to take Milwaukee, Boston, or Phoenix Golden State, the veteran teams. is too young, Memphis too young, Cleveland, too young, Philadelphia, don't trust. 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 what 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.

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No, no, no, no, turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Let's start with some Aaron Rogers and the Jets, because, you know, you haven't done a lot of it on the show. Packers' President Mark Murphy has been involved in discussion so far. And before he left on the team's annual Wisconsin bus tour,

I believe this was this morning, he spoke about what he expects to hear from fans along the way. Questions, and I anticipate saying that there is no update. It is interesting. You know, 15 years ago, we're in a similar situation. I'm really glad that Aaron Rogers turned out to be such a good quarterback, and I'm hopeful that Jordan Love turns out to be a similar quarterback. And with that, I'll leave.

Let me throw this out. Will Jordan Love be Jason as good as Kirk Cousins? No. Okay. Jack Prescott. No. Ryan Tannihill. No.

Zach Wilson. Yes. You don't think so. I don't know. I'll make you a huge guarantee. So here. Here's my question. Will he be as good as James Winston?

So will he never, will he never make the playoffs? Yeah, I think that's a reasonable expectation. Over under one and a half playoff appearances in his career for Jordan Love. Over. As a starter, not as a backup. Over. Over for sure, with confidence. NFC is weak.

I think there is, every time I watch his highlights and watch these highlights. Yeah. It's the same highlights against the Eagles because he threw 25 passes last week. Chris, no, watch it. Look at size. Oh, Christian Watson. It was a catch and go. It was 60 yards after the catch.

Oh, that's beautiful throw right there. He's big enough. He moves well. He's been in the system. I'm not banging on the guy. I just, look it. It's all yak. He's not doing it.

Show me a tight window throat. Show me anything impressive. Okay, okay. Let's keep watching the highlights here. It's about all he had last season. Look at this. Look at this frozen rope. Boom.

Wide open, Christian Watson across the middle. The highlight we just saw like three minutes ago. Because he had so few, Colin. Well, our editing team showed a lot of bubble screens. Mark Murphy, the president of the Packers, is leaving on a Wisconsin bus tour. Like, what, four weeks, three weeks before the NFL draft? By the way, why do you get in a war room? Why do you have to go out and trump up interest on the Packers?

They sell out every game. If I run the Packers, they say it's time for the bus tour to promote the Packers. I'd say it's called television. Watch it. Yeah. What I'm promoting what? Everybody in the state loves them. Don't do it three weeks before the drafts.

That's like promoting cheese or dairy in Wisconsin. And you don't have to. People buy it, eat it, and love it. Are you a cheese guy? Not that much. Really? Really? I can't.

You know, I'm limited. I can't do dairy. I'm not lactose. What do you mean you're limited? I'm just, uh, it doesn't, dairy stuff doesn't work for me. I got, I got very lucky I can do almost anything. When was the last time you got a glass of milk?

Oh, eight years old. You haven't had milk in that long? I used to have Greek yogurt. You're talking 40 years you haven't had milk. I don't drink milk. I never liked milk as a kid unless it was chocolate milk. I don't like the taste of milk. You just learn something new every day on the show.

And I do oat milk. A little bit of oat milk. Are you an almond milk guy? You're one of those characters? Yeah. Oats a little heavier than almond. I just try to avoid dairy at all costs. I've had a pint of ice cream in my fridge for two months.

And about once every 10 days I'll have one bite. And that's all I can do. One bite of ice cream? I can't. You know, everybody's got something. Mine is dairy's not a friend. My kids don't like it either. Okay, fair enough.

Let's move on to Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat. Playing the Hawks tonight in a play-in game. Miami's not expected to be in the mix to win it all this year. If memory serves, they lost game seven last year against the Celtics. They're going to be a close game at the end. I'm going to be honest with you. I think they're going to be disruptive in the playoffs. Interesting.

Butler is not embracing the underdog narrative as the seven seed. Nope, it's all the same. Didn't about pick us to win last year either, so who cares? Y'all not going to pick us to win this year. Still don't give it down. In 10 years, y'all still not going to pick us. Still don't give it down. I'm going to do whatever it takes for my team to win, night in and night out.

And honestly, I could care less when anybody writes. If I'm a good basketball player or a bad basketball player, coach bat and coach bow, then bring me here because of what y'all write in the most respectful way possible. I like that. I love Jimmy Butler. He said more in that interview than I've heard from Kauai Leonard in the last, I don't know, four years. Jimmy Butler is everything you want in a superstar. I know they haven't won a title, but he did go to the finals with the heat against the Lakers.

They lost in the conference finals last year. Like, I'm a big Jimmy Butler guy. I am betting against them tonight. Final story. The Lakers calling. And by the way, quick update. Somebody just texted me, the line for the Lakers games up to nine and a half. That's about it.

It's gone up three points in two days. What am I missing? Are the wolves just laying down and say we're not going to play? Well, the Lakers are a very popular brand. Some West Coast brands get overbett in Vegas. Raiders always have. USC gets overbet a little bit. Lakers do. Everybody loves them.

Darvanham, he's trying to keep the Lakers focused, even though their Timberwolves won't have Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, Nas Reed, but you got to stay focused. Lakers, here's Darwinham. I don't think it's a distraction. You know, it's not Laker business. we all focus on liquor's business and some fortunate situation but I really don't have an opinion on it we just focus on trying to be the best version of ourselves and what we got to do is not about what we plan it's about how we play and putting our best foot forward so unfortunate situation but you know we got

to prepare for us to be the best version of ourselves and make sure we come out right with the right energy the right urgency the right effort um and be the most competitive together team for 48 minutes I think he's had a good year. I think he's done a good job. People on the Internet are brutal. You NBA guys, you get all too caught up on, like, rotations and substitution patterns. A lot of it's who's healthy, who's not, what are the matchups? Darwin Ham was dealt a bad hand.

Trading deadline gets a new roster. Immediately their defense is viable. Their efficiency ratings on both ends are better. I think he's done a really good job, and he's had to deal with injuries and LeBron and I think he's done a good job. I mean, to get a new team, basically. And by the way, LeBron hasn't played with these guys that much. I think Darwin Hams had a really good year.

And he wasn't reportedly, was he like the second or third choice? I don't know. I think he's on a good job. Interesting. Well, you don't think Jared Vanderbilt's getting enough minutes. Are you one of those guys? No, no. You know, I questioned some of the rotations a little while ago.

Listen, you're allowed to do that. Can't? Is that out about it? He was playing Troy Brown into. the ground. There was a reason for it. Maybe there's limitations on who is healthy and they want to... Okay, that's fair.

And they want to experiment a little bit and see if a guy... You could do that in the regular season. It's interesting. The Lakers did a lot of tweaking during the regular season because guys were hurt. And as a result, the top three seeds in the West, like nobody's picking them to go to the finals. Denver, Memphis, Sacramento, nobody is picking them, Colin. Everyone has Warriors, Sons, Lakers.

This is a weird, this is going to be very telling. Because what happens if those three teams are the top of the West Miss? Regular season next year, hey, we just got to get into the playoffs, we'll be fine. Who cares? About the eight or two games. We know, outside of the bubble season, young teams shrink in the playoffs, old teams elevate. Now, the bubble was weird. Now, the Lakers did win with age.

But all the old teams, remember they missed their families and their kids? It was a weird year where you were asking all these like 30-year-old guys with kids and families to move away from their family for seven weeks. weeks and they weren't you know when you get older you become more of a creature of habit so young teams in the bubble a lot of them had great seasons it was a very weird in my entire life young teams don't work in the playoffs it's all the old guys so who are the old teams phoenix the warriors lakers got some age uh Milwaukee Boston Miami so I think I think the regular season is a marathon and youth matters Cleveland young legs You can play back-to-backs.

I think old teams in the regular season, it's a long season. In the playoffs, everybody's equally rested. You get a couple of days off. So don't be shocked if Sacramento, Denver, Memphis, or Cleveland take a step back because now everybody's rested. Regular season's a marathon. Playoffs are a sprint. I don't want to hype the nuggets too much,

but did you see end of the season they started to, like, lose some games? and all of a sudden you see Yokic and Murray and Porter kind of resting. I think I want to pick the nuggets in the West Colin. I really do. You say they're young. This is a team that's been in the playoffs. This group three or three years ago.

Oh, hell yes. I love Jamal Murray. Dude, that guy is awesome. Very talented. Very talented. Do you trust him? Little hot and cold? Do you trust him?

You don't remember what he would decimated? Was it the paper clips in a bubble playoffs? I like him. I like 50. I don't dislike them. By the way, you know your take? These old guys couldn't play in the NBA. Oh, here we go.

ABA stuff. Okay, I tell you, but these old guys weren't this and that. You do get the two-time reigning MVP can't defend or jump. You can either play the game or you can't. The two-time MVP can't jump or defend, Janus, or Yokic. But what can he do? Pass, high percentage efficiency. What do you say?

Artists Gilmore would just thrive in the current NBA? No, I'm saying is. that we over, oh, the old guys couldn't play. Bill Russell could play. Bill Russell. All of a sudden, I'm a hater on Bill Russell. I'm not. And, you know.

You reduced Dr. J. to a role player off the Hawks bench. But to be fair, I don't want to any house is like, oh, well, if you put the training and all this stuff, like, stop it. If you take Bill Russell, Mr. Nine or 15 championships, whatever, and you put him in today's NBA. Yeah. Who is he?

Is he Draymond Green or Rudy Gobert? He's one of those two. All-N-B-A-first team. He runs the floor well. 17 points a game, all-N-B-A-1st-team defense. And you know who he's on? First-team defense. You know where he's on?

He goes to the University of San Francisco, and the Warriors draft him, and he's one of the smartest players in the league, and he is the Draymond Green. Bill Russell could be Dreybon Green right now, right? Except more often. Except Nick Wright had him in the top ten players all time. What we just established, he's Dremont Green in this era. No, no, he'd be Dremon Green with points. How is he scoring?

He's 6-9. He had no moves. moves outside the paint. Bill Russell, immensely talented, great human being, RIP. Again, the reality is he's not like stepping out. Dremont had 30 points in game seven against the Cavs when he was stepping out. If you're six, nine and a half long, smart, run the floor, and a great defensive player, you're going to star in this league. Yeah, you're going to be a wing. You've got to defend on the wing. You're not defending the paint. He'd be an all-N-Bay-A-forward. He wouldn't be a center. Maybe he's McKell Bridges. By the way, by the NBA has gone small.

so you could argue Russell's the perfect center for today, six, nine and a half. And Draymond defends Yolkis well, so maybe... Do you think he's as good as Bill Russell's as good as Kvon Lune? He starts for the Warriors. He's probably better than K. Probably. He was the best college basketball player.

Some thought at the time... What was that, 1948? I don't know the years. The San Francisco dons. Dons, yeah, yeah, yeah. But literally, he won a national title in college basketball with the University of San Francisco. How good do you...

And that's what? Kentucky was great. Oh, the big Oklahoma stayed. The Russell was awesome. Whoever was good in the 50s. The perception is going to be, Jason. You hate Bill Russell. You're an idiot.

If Kvon Luni can start for a dynasty, Bill Russell could star for a dynasty. Start? He would be a 16 point in game. He would be Draymond Green with more points and a little bigger. And Draymond is a catalyst for their offense. Bill Russell or Jabbar? Well, Jabbar is the best player, arguably ever.

Just making sure we're clear on that. Wilts translates, I think, to this era way better than Bill Russell. Wilt was a flake. You couldn't depend on Wilt. When he played, he was just doing whatever he wanted. Yeah, when Zion plays, he's great too. Wilt was in the...

I think Wilt translates to this era better than Bill Russell does. Would you agree with that? On the court. All I know is this. Russell would play every night. He'd play defense. He'd be coachable. I would get no flakiness.

I'd get toughness and resiliency. I'd take Bill Russell. Okay. Again, you've reduced him to a role player. He's got a roll. I'll stop. Go continue. All right.

Jay Mac with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd Lie News. You've got to stick up for the ABA and Bill Russell. Baby. Save big in your water bills with Navian. 15-year warranty.

Go to tanklessmaid symbol.com. Tanklessmaidsimple.com. Hot water. Never runs out. They only heat it when you need it. Have you. 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. What do you get when you combine a three-time manager of the year at a three-time national sports writer of the year?

It's the Book of Joe podcast. Hey, this is Tom Verducci from Fox Sports, MLB Network, and Sports Illustrated. And I'm Joe Madden, and we're going to be around to talk a little bit about managerial decisions, playoff games, and what may have occurred in the dugout, maybe in the 19th. I can't wait for this, Joe. We're going to dive into what goes on in the dugout and behind the scenes in Major League Baseball. Cars, whined, whatever else we want to talk about. Listen to the Booker Joe podcast on the IHeart Radio app, on 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 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'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 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-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 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 on day, but just so you know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table. right now.

Thank you for finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. By the way, my buddy

is sending me he's a Bill Russell diehard. My buddy, Mike, in New England. He said Russell was 610, so he's bigger than you think. And he said he had a 7-4 wing span. and a great second bounce. And my buddy's a basketball scout. He said Bill Russell would rock today. Yeah, it reminds me of when people were touting Bob Coosy as one of the great point guards of all time.

Well, time out. Now, I didn't say that. I know, I know. But it reminds me of when J.J. Reddick goes, Bob Coosie could not dribble with his left hand. Bob Coosie was like an iconic point guard in the 60s. Okay. But Bill Russell had a 74-inch wing span was the centerpiece of those teams. And Coosie was fine.

but let's, I mean, I'm not comparing them. Not at all. Not everybody translates. Bill Russell's an all-time great. He would play in any. Historically, the top 15 player all time. Walter Payton was playing today, rest in peace. If Walter Payton played today, he'd be the best running back in the NFL. It's the best running back I've ever seen.

He played behind garbage offensive lines outside of Noah Jackson. It was a good guard, I think, for him, number 65. Pulling bears offensive linemen from a native. Don't flip this switch never goes off. You know, a running back. from the 80s translates fine to today. Like, I don't think there's a humongous difference. I think in the NBA, we're seeing a massive evolution in the sport.

When you look at the 50s, don't look at the YouTube. I don't think we are. Bill Walton would dominate today. Bill Walton was Yokic, but had a better touch. I mean, and Yolkich has a touch. Bill Walton was unbelievably. He fell apart physically. I think everybody, I think great is great.

I think one of the things in baseball that's crazy is everybody throws 98 now. like when I was a kid if you had one guy that threw mid-90s the Cincinnati Reds were the best baseball team for like six years they had bench Perez George Foster Concepcion I mean Don Gullet was the only guy that threw mid-90s you go to the angel you can go to a second tier team everybody throws 93 half the team throws 99 that's why you've got to lower the mound or something I mean just it's it's amazing how big baseball players have gotten all the pitchers are six five they're throwing downhill but I think I think great is great. Jim Brown would play in the NFL today. No doubt in my mind. I think great is great. Now, I think obviously you can use the argument if those guys had the nutritional, whatever. But if you win 11 championships in any era, you're not good.

There were like nine teams in the league. I know he won 11 times. There were like 9, 10, 12 teams in the league. That's right. So the guys, you couldn't fool anybody. You didn't travel as much. Everybody knew your game. You play the same teams over and over.

I could argue it's a disadvantage. Now, you've got a million teams. You're traveling all the time. Guys are tired. It's a global sport now, Calor. I mean, basketball is totally different than it was. No, no. We all know athletes are better today.

Nobody, but I'm saying if I go to the best running back, I absolutely believe Bill Russell would star today. I absolutely believe Pete Rose would be a 300 hitter today. I absolutely believe Sandy Kofax would be an ace. I absolutely believe Jim Brown would be a star. Now, not a lot of guys do that, but I think in basketball, I love the NBA in the 70s. It's much more skilled now, much more global. Everybody can shoot.

But the great players in the 70s, I mean, they were great for a reason. Dr. Jay would star today. Bill Walton would start today. And we're out of time. I am defending old guys today. See you tomorrow. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guide. 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 IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only. 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 and learn the hard. with your favorite therapist and host, Kier 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 IHard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHart podcast.

Guaranteed human.