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

Episode Date: April 5, 2023

Thoughts on the NBA new rule changes Previewing the NBA playoffs New edition of Buy, Sell, or Hold     Guest: Chris BroussardSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

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Starting point is 00:02:12 That's rare. NetSuite.com slash heard. So the Lakers have squeezed in to the playoff game, but tonight they play the Clippers, and LeBron and AD may not play, which kind of sums up what they are, good on individual nights, but there is a way in which they can win. And that is no back-to-backs, being rested, crossing your fingers on health. Chris Broussard's on First After Our Show. Listen, I've said if it was March Madness, I would love them.
Starting point is 00:02:43 Because, you know, you get, it's a one game, they can beat anybody. But in order to win the championship, you've got to go through four series minimum, potentially 28 games, probably closer to 24. And there is nothing in the last two years that tells me AD and LeBroner staying healthy. So in your eyes, what is realistic that you look at today, the highs and lows, realistically, if they just do the playing stuff, which is another game or two to get in, that doesn't play to what they want. They want fewer games less travel. What's realistic on the Lakers today?
Starting point is 00:03:19 Look, I think realistically they're a championship contender. I think the Lakers, Phoenix, and I would say Golden State are the three top contenders in the West. Obviously, all those teams have a lot of experience. If not as a group, then certainly individually. But you're right. I mean, the biggest worry about the Lakers is their health. And remember, in the playoffs, there are a lot of games you may end up playing every other night. And so that could be a problem.
Starting point is 00:03:46 I mean, this is a big game tonight. Right. Because if the Lakers, if they lose tonight, and I think, think they will if they don't have AD and LeBron, then they no longer control their destiny as far as getting out of the playing. If they went out, they could, they would likely move, they would move ahead of the Clippers and the Warriors and be either the five or the six seat. I'm sure they don't want the fifth seed because you get Phoenix, but still, they wouldn't have
Starting point is 00:04:12 the play in. If they lose it tonight and end up in the play in, as you said, one, look, I think they'll survive the play in. but anything can happen in a one-game scenario. We saw last night they almost lost to Utah without its two best players. Right. And then you also wouldn't get that rest, a week-long rest that certainly LeBron and AD could use heading into the playoffs. So the fact that they may not play tonight, that says a lot about their health and how fragile they are.
Starting point is 00:04:43 Yeah. Golden State's very interesting because Wiggins, according to Steve Kerr, has been working out. so he's in shape, just not NBA playoff shape. And I said this yesterday. Sacramento is a great opener for them. They know Mike Brown, the head coach's tendencies. For an old roster, very little travel. They're not going to get in physical games.
Starting point is 00:05:07 Sacramento's more flashing fun than physical. They're not going to beat up on the Warriors. And the truth is they have a ton of playoff experience, and the Kings have none. So I think that is a series in which Wiggins, you play them about 18 to 20 minutes. By the next series, you're up to 24, 26, because I don't think Wiggins is ready to be a 36-minute-a-night guy. Where are you on Wiggins' insertion, potentially?
Starting point is 00:05:29 It sounds like he's coming back. Where are you on how much you can ask from him? Will he fit where they're at right now? Yeah, they said, you know, Kerr said that he refused to have a personal trainer from the team go out there and work with him on conditioning. I would have liked to have seen that, but look, they did the right thing, let him do what he's got to do. do to get his mind right. So when he comes back, he's not thinking we didn't do this right or that right. We gave him his space.
Starting point is 00:05:57 Let him get mentally healthy. So I like that. But look, I would love to see him, Colin, play one of these last few games. I mean, and like you said, you maybe only play him 18 minutes. You play them 20 minutes. You hear players all the time talk about how even veterans, you haven't played in a while. It still takes a little time to get used to playing. We're talking about the playoffs.
Starting point is 00:06:21 We saw LeBron, his first game against Chicago. They didn't win because clearly he wasn't back in rhythm. So I would really like to see Wiggins play at least a little bit in one of these last few games. So then by the time the playoffs, because look, I agree with you on Sacramento. It's a great matchup. That's certainly the one they want, including the clippers and the Lakers. They want that one too. But it won't be like a cake walk just because, you know, Sacramento with Deerrin Fox is very athletic.
Starting point is 00:06:49 they can shoot the ball and get hot. Now, I don't think they beat Golden State. I don't think they have a chance to really beat Golden State, but you would have to bring some tough play to that series, and we know they've struggled on the road, even though that's a close road game. So I would like to see them play a couple of games or at least one of these regular season games before the playoffs.
Starting point is 00:07:10 I think the most interesting team in the East is probably Philly. So Embed has not had a lot of playoff success. Hardin's often been a disaster, and Doc Rivers has lost some series leads and gets a lot of criticism. So, you know, there's a lot of stuff here. I think they face a lot of pressure. Three-star, star coach, a star player, a star guard. And I don't have a lot to show for it.
Starting point is 00:07:33 Outside of Doc Rivers and the championship with the Celtics. Kind of your, you know, last night Robert Williams didn't play. I don't take a lot from it. The Celtics had beaten him three straight. That game meant a lot more for Philly than it did for Boston. Don't take a ton out of it. where are you on phillard i just don't situationally trust them i just don't in close games you mentioned the pressure and let's add if mb wins the MVP award that's just going to be more
Starting point is 00:08:02 pressure right when dirt now they won't go out in the first round but i don't know when it'll be announced but if it's announced sometime in that second round and they lose or even after that that just adds more pressure if we feel like mb's going to win it but i'm with you I saw evidence. I didn't believe in them anyway. I like Milwaukee and Boston both a lot better. But I saw evidence last night of why Philly won't win the East. If you go back to those series, they've lost to Boston twice.
Starting point is 00:08:31 Boston's been them eight out of nine games. There were years I thought Philly had the better team, and a lot of those games came down to execution late. And Brad Stevens and the Celtics executed, and Philadelphia did not. And I don't think that's changed. And last night, they're up seven with nine seconds left. They almost blew it, Colin.
Starting point is 00:08:54 They're lucky that foul call on Derek White was rescinded, right, when he hit the three-pointer. And then Jason Tatum had a great look. I actually think he should have went to the basket. You know, he faded away. But, come on. I mean, they were fortunate. When you blow a seven-point lead in nine seconds, you got issues. So Joel Embed, I liked that he was upset.
Starting point is 00:09:17 He said, look, we got to be better. I got to be, he didn't have to be better, but they got to be better. But yeah, I agree with you. I don't think they execute well down the stretch. I think Boston will and I think Milwaukee will, and they're just better than Philly. Finally, I love me some Kevin Durant. I said if you take out centers, he's a top 12 player ever for me. I think he's a significantly better version of Dirk Novitsky, who's a top 20 player for me.
Starting point is 00:09:41 And so are you a little surprised? What are they 7 and 0 with Durant now? It's been so easy. We saw that a former teammate Westbrook goes to the Lakers implodes. Kyrie goes to Dallas. It implodes. Yeah, he goes to Phoenix. An hour later, it works.
Starting point is 00:09:59 Like, are you surprised how quickly KD has fit in with guys that he has no experience with? And not at all, because he's the most malleable super-strander. star in the league and that we've seen in a long time. He's all, in some ways, he's a throwback because if you watch basketball now versus say 20 years ago or 30 years ago, what you'll know, I mean, there's a lot of differences, obviously the three-point shooting, but also the players didn't dribble as much. Right. Like they moved the ball.
Starting point is 00:10:33 You know growing up, you were taught the passes faster than the dribble. And now they dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, that's why Kyrie and Luca have issues. That's why Wade and LeBron. Took them a while because they both like to pound that ball. KD doesn't do that. B.J. Armstrong once told me the best thing about Michael Jordan was he learned to dominate the game in three dribbles or less.
Starting point is 00:10:57 You know, a couple dribbles pull up mid-range. That's what KD does. A couple dribbles or just catching shoot. And so he's easy to put into your offense. Yeah. And look, Colin, Devin Booker has been better with KD. A lot of people who wonder, oh, wow, Booker's been used to being the lead and score. How's he going to react to KD being there?
Starting point is 00:11:16 He's been better with KD because it's easier for him because now they have to pay so much attention to Durant. So they're dangerous. Look, I like Golden State against them in a series. I think they got defenders to throw against Durant. They obviously know his tendencies. That'd be a heck of a series for many reasons. We know that. But, yeah, they're dangerous and, yeah, I'm not surprised he's fit in so well.
Starting point is 00:11:39 By the way, there's the new collective bargaining agreement thing here. And I said this, Chris, this week. Every sport has a whole. NFL's got concussions. NASCAR's audience is too old. Hockey is always battling relevance. College basketball's got the one and done. UFC's got, you know, a level of violence that turns some people off.
Starting point is 00:11:58 Every sport's got an issue. The NBA's issue is mostly a, hey, analytics are now telling you in health, guys should be playing 65 games, not 82. And listen, the doctors. know it, the GMs know it, the players know it, their agents know it. These guys don't want to play 75 games. I get it. They have, I mean, these guys are 6-11. It's hard to travel. It's, it's a grind every night. So I, this is something we suggested about a year ago, which is just make them play so many games to win awards. But I still wonder, awards, there's so much money now in social
Starting point is 00:12:35 media, shoes, your contracts. Guys are like, what do I care about an all-NBA award? I want to make sure I get another contract. Do you think a new CBA and the game limit will have any impact? Right. Yeah, the 65 game limit. I
Starting point is 00:12:51 like it. Look, I've talked about they should just lower the season to 65 games if the science is telling them they can't play that much. Sadly, Colin, you know what I think? You probably agree with me. If they had a 65 game schedule guys would still miss games.
Starting point is 00:13:07 They still would probably load manage. I really believe that. But I do think the awards matter. Number one, we know that a lot of, you know, the Supermax and all that stuff, contract you can get is based on like all NBA teams and things, MVP's, things like that. So that's a factor. So I think it matters in that regard.
Starting point is 00:13:27 But, you know, some guys have already gotten that and you wonder once they're into their contract. But I do think, I hope it helps. And I think it will because guys are competitive and they want to be all NBA. They want to, you know, we know how much NBA wants this MVP award. And so I think 65 is a low number. But years ago, not too long ago, Alan Iverson was the lowest, he played the fewest amount of games for a guy to win the MVP. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:13:58 Since writers started voting in 1980, and that was 70. Now it looks like Yolkich, NB, and Yonis, neither of them will play 70 games. And so I like it. I hope it works. And I think it will. Because I just think it means something to guys to be named All-NBA, to be the defensive player of the year, the MVP, stuff like that. So I'm hoping that it does change things.
Starting point is 00:14:24 By the way, if you did your All-NBA team this year, now they're going to do positionless down the road, but they're not there yet. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd, weekdays, at 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.
Starting point is 00:14:45 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.
Starting point is 00:15:05 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, 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,
Starting point is 00:15:30 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 Cliverts Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you're
Starting point is 00:16:00 wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tontons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of too. Listen to Stuff to Bo Your Mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. On Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeard Radio app. So who would be your all NBA guards right now?
Starting point is 00:16:46 Yeah, you know, I'm going to sit down. I am a voter. I'm going to sit down Saturday and really look at everything. I know my front court's going to, people might not like it, but it's the same as last year, Yokic, Yonis, and M. B. My guards, I got a, I got a, I got a, I'm a, I, I'm a, I, I'm not sure yet, because the guards are close. Puff. Did Steph play enough? That's right. Jai, you know, he had his time away.
Starting point is 00:17:07 Shea Gildes-Alexander has been phenomenal, but they, you know, they're going to play. And Donovan Mitchell. Donovan Mitchell. Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell will probably be on that first team. Darren Fox has an argument. Like, it's going to be really challenging with the guards. Yeah, no, Donovan Mitchell has been such a perfect fit.
Starting point is 00:17:27 They needed a closer. They had a young big. Garland, they needed a closer. Donovan Mitchell has been literally one of the great acquisitions for an NBA team in a long time. I think I would have to put him the more I think about it. Colin, he's better than I thought. Like, I knew we knew he was good. That's right.
Starting point is 00:17:45 But I didn't think he was this good. He's much better than I thought. Yeah. I mean, Jalen Brunson's a little better than we thought in New York. Donovan Mitchell's better than we thought in Cleveland. All right, great stuff, Brew. Good talking to you. First things first after our show.
Starting point is 00:17:57 Thanks, man. Yep, you too. Yeah, well, I think I would. He's been so good in big spot. And Deerrin Fox is the best fourth quarter guard in the league. I think you have to go, Steph. Oh, boy, it's tough. Steph, Donovan Mitchell?
Starting point is 00:18:13 You know, what do you do with Luca? It's hard. Steph, Luca, Donovan Mitchell. There's a lot of good guards in this league. Like a lot. For endless hot water, oh, my bad. Ryan with the news. No, no, no, no.
Starting point is 00:18:28 Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Let's turn our attention to the NFL with this first story. The Dolphins have been active this offseason, trying to keep up with the talent and the tough AFC. After reaching the playoffs and Mike McDaniel's first season as head coach, expectations are high for Miami to continue to improve. And one NFL exec thinks their moves so far could be setting the dolphins up for a championship run. The exec said, I like what they have done.
Starting point is 00:18:54 You can tell there are directives from the owner of being all in, or at least that is what it looks like. It almost feels like this is a, this is, it's this year or a bust. They see the window. Can you make something happen this year? Obviously, the biggest of these moves for the dolphins was trading for Jalen Ramsey. Yeah, I don't think they needed a second great corner. With Tua's concussion concerns, I would have probably spent money on the offensive front. I think Big Fangio is the best acquisition nobody's talking about.
Starting point is 00:19:30 I mean, they got, they're fine. Braxton Barrios is kind of a slippery little player from the slot to go with Jalen Waddle and Tyreek Hill. They're going to score a lot of points. That's why the whole Aaron Rogers to the Jets thing, folks, if two is upright for 15 games, they're going to be a playoff team. Vic Fangio will absolutely solve that. Fangio is the classic great vice president, not built to be a president, but they're going to solve most of their defensive issues. you can do it in this league. I mean, remember when Brian Flores came there? Literally special teams and defense, he solved in about seven weeks.
Starting point is 00:20:09 So Fangio, like Flores, is just great on that side of the ball. Neither perhaps are perfect for head coaching spots. Miami's going to be a playoff team if Tua starts 15 weeks. 14 to 15 weeks, they're a playoff team. Mike White's capable of winning a backup as a game or two. It's all about keeping that quarterback healthy down in Miami. And now let's turn our attention to the Falcons. Defensive end, Calais Campbell,
Starting point is 00:20:36 signed a one-year deal with Atlanta this off season, and the Falcons haven't had a winning record or made the playoffs since the 2017 season. But Campbell believes this is a team... I don't know if it's like, you know, this kind of surprise a lot of people this year. This team's going to be a, you know, a very competitive, tough team. You know, won a lot of ball games.
Starting point is 00:20:54 This team definitely, you know, plays in, you know, in a division I feel like is wide open. They play in a, you know, a conference, you know, that, you know, I feel like, you know, it's just you get to playoffs and then we're going to go. And once you get the playoffs, it's a football, especially 10, it plays good defense that can run the ball. That's playoff football. And so I feel like this team, you know, definitely has a, you know, if Witter continues
Starting point is 00:21:15 to continue to develop and be who I think he can be, you know, I mean, you know, I wouldn't be surprised if we're playing late January and potentially February. You could argue there are more good teams. More good teams potentially. If Aaron Rogers becomes a jet, there'll be more good teams in the AFC East, Bills, Jets, Dolphins, than there are in the NFC, the entire conference. Because if Aaron with that defense, they're going to be really good. 9-10 wins.
Starting point is 00:21:47 Miami, 2 is upright. 10-11 wins. Buffalo is going to be 11, 12 wins. Those are all high-end teams. Elite players, elite side of the ball. Philly's good. Niners should be based on quarterback. Which we have no idea to start the season.
Starting point is 00:22:06 We don't know who number three is. Like Atlanta's greatest gift is the conference in the division. It's not a good roster. Most people will expect the Rams should be back in some former fashion, but still a question mark, no guarantee. We'll finish it up with this in the NBA. The Lakers and Clippers face off in a huge matchup tonight. Both teams enter at 41 and 38 with playoff implications on the line.
Starting point is 00:22:27 Clippers are currently the sixth seed in the West. The Lakers are the seventh. Clippers coach Tailu said this game is the most meaningful. They've played against the Lakers this season because there is so much at stake. Really coming down to the wire here in the Western Conference, as you mentioned earlier, the Lakers are in the playing game,
Starting point is 00:22:46 but obviously trying to work their way above that and get into the playoffs without having to go through that play in tournament. My guess is AD won't play tonight, and LeBron plays a lot. little based on how his foot feels, but that's where they're at. I mean, that's why I always kind of roll my eyes at Laker fans that love AD. I'm like, you do get at this point in his career, he doesn't play back-to-backs. That's your franchise? I can't play back. Donovan Mitchell plays back-to-backs. Yonis can play back-to-backs. You can't have a guy that can't play back-to-backs.
Starting point is 00:23:17 That's like Charles Barkley at the end of his career. So it's, it's, you can like Anthony Davis, but that's what he's become. I mean, he even said it last night, he goes, I just don't play back-to-back. Okay, you're out of your prime then. Because in your prime, you play back to backs. If you're a Laker franchise, you're building around players who can actually play in two consecutive games. You know,
Starting point is 00:23:40 that the league still has them, you've got to be available for some of them. Ryan with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd lie news. For endless hot water, easy on the environment,
Starting point is 00:23:53 15-year limited warranty. Go to tankless, Madesimble.com, tankless madesimble.com, high efficiency, Navian. Look it up. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, it's me, Rob Parker. Check out my weekly MLB podcast inside the Parker for 22 minutes of pipe and hot baseball talk, featuring the biggest names and newsmakers in the sport.
Starting point is 00:24:19 Whether you believe in analytics or the eye test, we've got all the bases covered. New episodes drop every Thursday, so do yourself for favor and listen to Inside the Parker with Rob Parker on the IHeart Radio app 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.
Starting point is 00:24:57 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,
Starting point is 00:25:15 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
Starting point is 00:25:33 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,
Starting point is 00:25:50 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 taun tons and wampas on the ice planet hot,
Starting point is 00:26:28 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. NBA fans, you have a chance to win $5,000 for free tonight playing Fox Bet's Super 6. Download the Super 6 app on your phone and enter. your six game predictions for a chance to win big. Time for another edition of Buy, Sell or Hold. I'm your broker. Buy, sell, or hold. You ready to go?
Starting point is 00:27:05 Buy Sell or Hold? Joe Ellen Bede will win NBA MVP. I'm going to say somewhere between buy and hold. Hold. Now, he is the leading score for the second consecutive season. And his game has flash, and he's the best story because he's been a runner-up. Did last night's game seal it, potentially, or did missing the Yokic game in Denver cancel him? To me, that felt like it canceled him.
Starting point is 00:27:36 That's why they pushed so hard last night to get him over 50 and have a spectacular night. I still think it's a hold on Embed MVP. By seller hold, Mike Brown will win Coach of the Year. Foxbet says yes, they are the most improved team. I kind of feel hold. I mean, there's also Mike Malone at Denver. They're the number one seed most of the year in the West. I think the thing about Mike Brown, he's so light.
Starting point is 00:28:05 And the other thing that may help him, look how bad the Warriors defense is since he left. So I think if you combine that with what he's done at Sacramento, he should be the ons-on-fay. I should probably have a buy there. He'll probably win it. The conversion, or as they've converged two stories, Warriors' defense went into the tank, Sacramento's a playoff team probably gets it for them. By sell or hold, the Lakers will make it further than the Clippers in the playoffs.
Starting point is 00:28:35 I'm a little bit of a sell on this. Sell, sell, sell. Do you know when Kauai and Paul George play, the Clippers are 24 and 14 with a plus 9 net rating? So if Paul George comes back somewhere, late first round of the playoffs or second round, they're going to win games. The league now is about flexibility, wing defenders, and scores. LeBron and AD are both nursing foot injuries.
Starting point is 00:29:00 I don't think either gets through the playoffs healthy. By sell or hold, LeBron and AD will start and finish every playoff game. That's a sell for me. That's not going to happen. Sell, sell, sell. Now, by the way, they are 12 and 14 without AD, 13 and 14, LeBron. Austin Reeves has helped when LeBron is gone because he can kind of run the offense, but there's nothing. I mean, AD's played 53 games this season. That's the most since the
Starting point is 00:29:29 bubble title year. Folks, he is, he's not a back-to-backer, so I think there's very little chance. Even if he played great in every game he played, there's going to be a point if they take a big series lead, a 2-0 lead on Denver. They're not going to play them. They don't have to plan. Buy, sell, or hold. The NBA finals winner will come from the Eastern Conference. That I feel strongly about. That's a buy.
Starting point is 00:29:55 Buy, bye, buy. Milwaukee, though not super athletic, should be the favorite. Three of the four best records are from the East. The Celtics would be returning. I just feel the better size. There's more dependable teams, healthier teams. I could argue the four. The fourth best team in the East is Cleveland, and on any given night, they would match
Starting point is 00:30:21 up with anybody in the West. So I just think it's one of those years. I know exactly what I'm getting from the East. I get Biggs, I get defense, I get some veteran coaches outside of Boston, so I kind of like the East this year. Buy sell or hold, the Nuggets will make it to the Western Conference Finals. Hold, they are 12 and 3 against the West. the top seeds in the West, the Grizzly, Sons, Kings, Clippers.
Starting point is 00:30:49 And they're 27 and 2 when Yokic goes off and has a triple double. So I think the West is so flimsy this year. The chances are fairly high. But again, if you get KD, Booker, D'Andre 8, and Chris Paul, I would take the Sons over him, so it's a hold. By sell or hold, the Celtics will make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. Buy, buy, buy, I mean, they have the highest net rating plus seven in the NBA, only team ranked top three offense and defense. And I'll say this, they match up with the 76ers and bucks.
Starting point is 00:31:29 Well, they're five and one against the 76ers and bucks and really match up well when healthy against Philadelphia and are more athletic on the wing than Milwaukee. So, yeah, yes, the answer is they'll get at least to the conference finals. Sell or hold, the Kings will win at least one playoff series. Let's hold. Oh, please. Bad defensive team. They haven't won a playoff series since 2004. Again, they're offensive.
Starting point is 00:31:59 They average over 121 points a game. They have a great offensive net rating. Deeran Fox is a good closer, leads the NBA in fourth quarter points and clutch scoring. So I don't doubt they're going to score points. But we've seen this before. We've seen teams. Remember the Phoenix team with Steve Nash?
Starting point is 00:32:15 teams that just run up and down the floor, then all of a sudden you get to the playoffs, teams target one or two players to get into foul trouble, depth doesn't matter as much, home court doesn't matter as much, it's more about situational basketball, great offensive teams don't always win the finals. They're just not good enough defensively.
Starting point is 00:32:35 By sell or hole, the Knicks will win at least one playoff series. I'd sell that, I think. Sell, sell, sell. Well, they're going to be on the road in the first round, and they would play the calves. I think the calves are a bad matchup, too many scores. They don't have a lot of depth.
Starting point is 00:32:53 So if they're on the road, I mean, they don't, their bench scoring is like bottom of the league. And remember last year, wasn't it Julius Randall a couple years ago struggling in the playoffs? They have, I feel like with the Knicks, they win a lot of games on effort. But in the playoffs, everybody plays hard. So I think I would like to see the Knicks. They play differently, but I just, I think they effort that they give in the regular season is not the advantage. It would be in the postseason. By sell or hold, Anthony Davis will be a Laker next season.
Starting point is 00:33:30 Hold. I would move him, even if he's great in the playoffs. The Lakers, I don't know if they have the courage to move him. I still contend if Golden State gets bounced, they're going to make a run at Anthony Davis, because he'll only give you 55 games, but they'll have the depth that they won't necessarily need him with Kavon, Looney, you know, Wiggins, they'll move a part or two. I think he works for the Warriors.
Starting point is 00:33:57 I mean, he gives you 25 and 10. He's very much like Janice in the West. You get 25 and 10 with him. Not a lot of him on the market. But I've said this before. He's not a good fit with LeBron because LeBron now is only giving you 55 games. LeBron has to play with younger stars.
Starting point is 00:34:13 You know, I'll just throw it. LeBron and Deerrin Fox would be great, or LeBron and Donovan Mitchell would be great. LeBron and anybody, Luca, would be great. You've got to have a guy that plays 70 games because LeBron's giving you 55. So if AD doesn't play back-to-backs, LeBron and AD, when they play together, it's excellent. But LeBron now has to have, as his number one running mate, because Austin Reeves will give you 75 games. He's got to have somebody that plays every night. That's just the reality of who LeBron is going forward.
Starting point is 00:34:42 And there you are. Chris Broussard stopped today. Mike Sando, Lance Zerline, Ryan Rosillo, all stopped by today. I do appreciate it. Next couple of days, I'm going to go hang out with my wife, take a couple of days off. Jay Mack and I will return on Monday. So the Masters this weekend will be exceptional. And tonight's actually a fairly big game for the Lakers.
Starting point is 00:35:03 They play the Clippers at the Staples. And my hunch, AD, won't play. He doesn't do back-to-backs. LeBron, if his foot's okay, plays 25 minutes. And we'll see how it works out. I, the two teams, the Celtics and the Clippers. So if the Celtics struggle in the playoffs and to them struggling would be not getting to the finals, I'm interested to see what they do with the organization upstairs.
Starting point is 00:35:27 Do you move off Al Horford? Do you get younger, get a more dependable athletic big behind Robert Williams? Do you move Jalen Brown? And I also think the clipper, Steve Balmer is like David Tepper of Carolina. He's aggressive. They've rolled the dice on it. Kauai is hard to play with as a coach, as a teammate. I've been told this by multiple people that they just don't know.
Starting point is 00:35:50 He's not verbal. They never know quite when he's going to play. And when he's not, he's very unorthodox as a personality. And Paul George, who's way better than everybody tells you he is in the playoffs, probably a two, not a one. So if the clippers struggle, they're not getting rid of Tailu, I would be interested with that deep roster if they make a big, swing and a big move.
Starting point is 00:36:14 All right, end of your first year. Discover credit cards automatically double all the cash back you have earned. Check it out at discover.com slash match. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends.
Starting point is 00:36:32 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.
Starting point is 00:36:48 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. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 is big to me. I'm Sam Jay. And I'm Alex English.
Starting point is 00:37:04 Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Starting point is 00:37:26 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 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.
Starting point is 00:37:43 This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.

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