April 30, 2025 • 42 mins
Colin defends the NFL and the recent track record of franchise quarterbacks drafted in the first round in response to Shedeur Sanders falling to the 5th round being a "huge mistake".
He believes the Knicks struggling in their series against the Pistons points out how far they are from contending with the Celtics despite the massive moves to bring in Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges
Luka Doncic's lack of defense is hurting the Lakers
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in
noon to three eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find
your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio
dot com, or stream us live every day on the
iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Here we go. We are live in Chicago, wherever you
may be, however you may be watching or listening. Thanks
for making us part of your day. We got a
great one today, great co Sell. One hour from now,
we're gonna talk about shaduor Sanders and Jamay cow I
was thinking about this. I don't know how much more
we're gonna talk about Shuder Sander. I don't, but there
(00:47):
is something that has happened. When something crazy and unexpected happens,
people look for answers. So you and I and people
who cover the NFL over the last three or four
days are trying to provide answers. And there was more
yesterday from a Pittsburgh Post Gazette writer. Are you ready
for it?
Speaker 3 (01:05):
I'm ready?
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Okay. So the Steelers by not drafting chaduor Sanders, remember
there was only about three teams we thought were going
to take a quarterback in round one. Tennessee the Giants,
who were clearly not interested, bad interview with Shador and
then Pittsburgh for sure Cleveland by trading down. Told you
(01:26):
they may get a backup, but they're going to get
their starting quarterback next year. Well, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette
rider yesterday, I told Rich Eisen that the Steelers were
not looking at Shadoor Sanders, they were looking at backups
like the La Rams. The Steelers and Rams. This is
what I told you. I didn't buy The Rams wanted
Jackson Dart. They were interested, they thought Jackson Dart was interesting.
But the Steelers, the Rams, the Browns. Next year is
(01:50):
the year they want the quarterback. This was a backup
quarterback draft. So that's more information on Shaduur. Pittsburgh was
never in the starting quarterback market. Wanted to get the
roster ready for Aaron Rodgers draft a backup. That's why
Aaron Rodgers kind of took their word for it, but
wanted to wait. But let me just say this, Can
we stop with this narrative. It's the worst take and
(02:11):
narrative happening in sports. Now, you know, the NFL just
doesn't know what they're doing with quarterbacks. Time out. Let
me tell you first round quarterbacks currently in the NFL.
Mahomes Lamar, Burrow, Alan Herbert Stafford, Jaden Daniels, Aaron Rodgers,
c J Strowd, Jared Goff, Jordan Love, Kyler Murray. Oh,
(02:33):
by the way, Baker and Sam Darnold. Not to mention,
Drake may looks really good. Bo Nick's looks really good.
Caleb Williams is really talented. That doesn't even count the
pro bowler Tua, who I'm not a huge fan of.
Almost all ooh ooh. Jalen Hurtz fell to the second. Yeah,
(02:53):
he got benched in college, he had to transfer. He's
smaller than average and still not a great pocket quarterback
if you listen. The Greg Cosell, who I trust the
truth is in my life, Overwhelminglee Bradshaw, Aikman, Peyton Marino,
overwhelmingly mahomes Lamar. They've all been first round picks. It's
(03:17):
not easy to do this, but stop making Shadeur and
Dion Sanders the victim here. They're not. It's all really explainable.
Chador didn't hire an agent. Big mistake. He just listened
to his dad. Bigger mistake. Dion had the talent to
sandbag interviews. Shador doesn't. So. Yes, brock Purty fell to
(03:38):
the seventh but he was one in six against playoff
teams last year when many of his stars weren't healthy,
and nobody thinks brock Purdy is an elite, world class
Josh Allen athlete, He's not close. Yes, Joe Montana went
in the third round, but he doesn't win those Super
Bowls without the greatest offensive coach in the history of
the league, Bill Walsh. And Brady got a bunch of
(03:59):
Super Bowls and in the sixth round, and he doesn't
win all those early Super Bowls without the greatest coach
slash defensive coach in league history, Bill Belichick. It's all explainable, Okay.
In my life, the best quarterbacks have overwhelmingly been in
the first round. Here's the other thing to consider is
that young men personnel is hard, but judging young men
(04:24):
at eighteen, nineteen, twenty, twenty one, twenty two is hard.
Boys mature more slowly than girls. Baker Mayfield I didn't
think was ready at the time to be a franchise quarterback.
He is now. This is hard in the NBA. Best
player in the NBA is Jokich, who was a second rounder.
Best defensive player ever is Draymond second rounder. The Knicks
best player Jalen Brunson second rounder. It's hard. Young men
(04:49):
mature more slowly, frontal low brain stuff, and it's tough.
People miss all the time. And by the way, it's
not just quarterback Max Krosby, Puka Nakua. It's you just
don't know yes, should do or was underdrafted. In my opinion,
I would have taken him if I was Pittsburgh, but
I didn't know Pittsburgh. Hat and Aaron Rodgers deal the
(05:12):
story in the Pittsburgh Post Cazette. They were never really interested.
They're not going to take a quarterback, a starting quarterback
this year. So listen, take a deep breath. You can't
sandbag interviews. You can't do it. You can't not hire
an agent, you can't not work out at the combine.
You can't have, let's be honest, a cringey draft room
(05:34):
with legendary all over it. If you're a B prospect
in a really weak quarterback draft. Greg Olsen yesterday.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
As he shown at two different spots in colleges that
he could go to teams that didn't necessarily have a
great tradition of winning and turn the program around and
bring attention and energy and buzz.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Absolutely, he did it twice. So I'm not throwing him yet.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
I'm not thrown into the Wolves and saying he has
no career, But I think he needs to take a good,
hard reset and say, you know what it's all about ball.
It's all about me giving myself to have a chance
to have a career in this league, and if it
as a backup, and then I work to a starter,
whatever that path is. But the league, I think has
shown and the message was pretty clear, you better be really,
(06:20):
really talented, especially at quarterback if we're going to put
up with a lot of other attention, a lot of
other things.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
And he's just not that talented. That talented. Okay, so
Nick's pistons. I thought I thought it would be an
ugly series, but I thought the Knicks would win five.
I still think the Knicks are going to win this series,
but we have to be honest. Five points separates these
teams through five games last night. Look at the box score,
(06:51):
field goal percentage rebounds, three point percentage points in the
paint assists. These are pretty even teams. I think the
Knicks are a little better, but they gave up five
first round picks to get McHale Bridges and they thought
that would be the difference. He's a good player. But
here's a problem. The Knicks were built to They wanted
(07:13):
to build this thing to beat the Celtics, and then
something happened. Jason Tatum went from an AS to an
A plus and Peyton Pritchard went from nine a game
to the best bench player in the league. So Boston
was already better and two of their players popped, like
Brunson and Jason Tatum. Those are different level players. Okay,
no GM in the league, given a choice, would take
(07:35):
Brunson and I love him too, right, So it's like
what we're seeing with Cleveland and Boston. They're good players,
very good players, like Boston's two player, Peyton Pritchard nine
a game. Peyton Pritchard now is a threat every time
he touches the ball. McHale Bridges, same player, OG, pretty much,
same player, Josh Hart kind of same player. Brunson good,
(07:57):
same player, Cat can't defend great offense, same player, Boston
was better, and Tatum is exploded, arguably the best player
in the entire playoffs, and Peyton Pritcher's become the best
bench guy in the league. So you know, in the
Knicks have always been a little like Texas football, where
brand is big college football and the NBA are better.
(08:18):
When those teams are great, they're fascinating. You can't take
their eyes off, and they've been in wildly historic playoff games.
But since nineteen eighty the Longhorns have one trophy and
since nineteen seventy four, the Knicks have none. So I
think the Knicks should be front and center on the
honest trade and the Honis is getting moved. That was
a mess. We called that one. We like the Pacers quickly.
That series was a mess. But I think the Knicks
(08:40):
built this plot. You don't give away five first round
picks for Michale Bridges unless you think that's going to
get us right up next to the Celtics. And the
Celtics exploded, Jason Tatum exploded, Peyton Pritcher exploded, and so
I don't think they're close. I mean, again, the Knicks
are a really good team with a bunch of good players.
The Celtics now have a superstar. It took Aunt Edwards
(09:03):
I think until this playoff run and we all went,
oh oh oh he arrived. And Jason Tatum has been
an a A minus player for years, didn't have the confidence.
You watched this series, You watch this season, Hey, Jason
Tatum's a different player. He plays with a confidence we
were all hoping he would three and a half years ago.
He's playing with it now with all his talent. So
(09:24):
I think it's just one of these things. The Knicks
and Pistons, I mean, the Pistons a year ago were
in a rebuild. The Nick thought McHale Bridges was the difference.
And they're even. And I've said this, there's a certain clarity.
And give Detroit credit. They're playing their butt off. Ky
Cunningham's amazing. Good for them. It's cool. I grew up
a lot of Pistons basketball teams being great, from Bob
(09:44):
Lanier and Dave Bing to the you know, the bad boys,
all that stuff. Give them credit, But these teams were
supposed to have a gap. One year ago, one's rebuilding,
and six months ago somebody's bringing on Michale Bridges to
be the to beat the Celtics, and they're just really even.
Here's Jalen Brunson after Yeah, I go there with the
(10:05):
mindset to win, as simple as that. Regardless of how
we feel whatever tomorrow, we got to turn the page.
I think I said this before. If it's a winner,
it's the losses short time memory in the playoffs because
you got to come out the next day and figure
out what you got to do win the next one. Listen,
New York is a big, loud, emotional city and they
fell in love with this team and that's awesome, but
(10:28):
don't fall in love with this roster. It's just a
lot of good players. And look at how good Sga Jokich,
here comes Wemby. Aunt and Tatum have exploded good in
twenty twenty five, and very good is not good enough.
You can love a team, two things gonna be true.
(10:50):
You can love Bronson, but if he's your one. After
watching Aunt and Tatum this year, that's not going to
hoist a trophy. And for the record, a lot of
people I think I maybe one of them. I think
Cleveland may beat Boston. I mean, they look unbelievable. At
least Orlando Hung around games for a half. J Mac,
(11:11):
I know you grew up a Knicks fan. I know
this is painful for you. I'll tell you the other thing,
the other series, which is fascinating, and I think we
knew it would be close. Clippers Nuggets. We have to
be honest here. Russell Westbrook has been huge for Denver.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
He's been very huge.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
I poured my kid some milk in their cereal this morning,
and James Harden was on the side of the milk
carton because he's.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
Missing right now. Clopper's have no idea where he is.
Speaker 5 (11:36):
He didn't show up last night, but great point by
Brun said, just lack of urgency from the Knicks last night.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Colin.
Speaker 5 (11:41):
I was devastated, man. I wanted them to wrap it up,
get ready to go play the Celtics this weekend, and
now they've got to go back to Detroit. That place
is gonna be juiced up. I don't feel great about
the Knicks right now.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Yeah, no, it's it's you know, a year ago, you
would have never guessed these two teams would have been close.
After they got Michale Bridges, You're like, they're not gonna
beat Boston, but they can take them. Yeah, and then
Tatum and Pritchard. You're like, whoa, whoa, whoa whoa. Woa.
Boston has separated from the NIXT, so you don't have
to go back to the drawing board, but you should
probably put your name in for Giannis. Make a run
(12:12):
for sure at Yannis. Okay, coming up, We've got a
lot of things to talk about. One of them is
Russell Westbrook. I mean, I've been as critical as anybody.
That dude deserves a ton of credit. He was in
the first half last night essential for Denver. Westbrook deserves love.
And the other thing is a very respected voice in
(12:35):
NBA media calls out Luca and he's right next in
the hurt.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and Noone Eastern, Non A EM Pacific on Fox Sports
Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
All right, welcome back. So you know the Luka donts trade.
I've said this about the media, and I can be
guilty of this. I try not to do this, but
we become an avalanche and nobody grabs a shovel, Like
everybody just jumps on the avalanche to bury people in
gms and but I said from day one on Luca,
he's a much better version of Carmelo Anthony, who is
(13:13):
a lobsided player as is Luca. All offense, no defense,
not in great shape. I would have considered for the
right package moving off Luca, who they were going to
have to pay seventy million plus a year. So Zach
Lowe is a really outstanding NBA analyst, excellent works for
the ringer. He's being upfront and honest about the reality
(13:36):
Laker fans are now realizing with Luca.
Speaker 6 (13:40):
Why do you have to get humiliated at the beginning
of every single playoff series before you show the world like, yeah,
I can actually put in a little bit more of
an effort on defense. I'm just tired of like, I'm
gonna be embarrassed until our backs are against the wall,
and then I'm going to show you that, yeah I
can put up a little bit of a fight. How
about you put up a fight in like game one
of the second round and now you're down three to
(14:01):
one and you're probably going home.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
And that's the thing. Kareem in his prime got traded,
So did Babe Ruth and Wayne Gretzky and Wilt Joe
Montana got traded, Okay, lou al Sinder, I mean at
Milwaukee got a boatload of picks. But it's like guys,
people get traded. So it was the return or lack
(14:25):
thereof that was truly egregious. I said, if you gave
me a d you gave me Austin Reeves and three
or four first round picks. Oh, I'd sleep on it
because guys who are not in great shape. Luca age
more quickly. Westbrook actually feels like he's getting better in
(14:46):
this series against the Clipper. He's in impeccable shape. Lebron's
lasting forever. Brady lasted forever. In a sport you get tackled.
Luca had missed back to back camps. Here's an interesting
stat the staff found this morning. Luca's rookie year, he
had twenty five dunks. Last two years combined, he's had two.
(15:06):
There's a decline, and a lot of it is he's
just not in great shape. There is reason for pause
if you have to pay him seventy five million dollars
because MJ and his prime got you trophies. Lebron and
his prime got you guaranteed to the finals. Luke and
his prime. He's gonna get your buckets and give up
(15:27):
just about his many on some nights. And I've said
this about the NFL before. There are three quarterbacks, you know, Mahomes,
Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson. I'm not even taking a phone call.
But when Joe Burrow got his second serious injury, I'll
pick up the phone. I don't want to trade Burrow.
I don't need a trade Burrow. It's nothing. I'm thinking
(15:50):
about what you got for first rounders. And I love Burrow,
I love Jalen Hurts. I'll pick up the phone. Not
picking up the phone with Lamar Allen. You know, I
think a lot of people would pick up the phone
now for Trevor Lawrence, and he was great, So it's
(16:12):
I just think it's not the idea of trading a
player who is lobsided, who was increasingly injured. More from
Zach Lowe.
Speaker 6 (16:24):
Here you can find corners of smart NBA people, team
people who would tell you the idea of getting out
ahead of this and trading Luca is not a crazy idea.
The idea of doing it without shopping him to get
nine first round draft picks in swaps and doing this
specific trade is where the logic falls apart.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
No question. But you just start looking at the history
of sports, it's hard to find great players. I mean
even Michael Jordan on the second three pet the Bulls
had decided, Yeah, this is the last one, the greatest
basketball player ever. I mean, Miami started pushing back on Lebron.
We're not going to give you everything you want. He
was a guaranteed trip to the finals, and half the
(17:07):
time it felt like you were almost you were a
favorite heading into the finals. So it's just didn't get
enough back. But if you're a Laker fan watching Luca,
you're now seeing the truth and you're you're Nico Harrison
saw that at practice, he saw it on road, he
saw it in film study. He saw the injuries, he
saw the massive decline in dunks and vertical basketball. It's
(17:29):
all there. If you watch, it's all there. Jmack with
the news.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
No, no, this is the headline news.
Speaker 5 (17:38):
All right, Colin, Let's start with what I think was
what a phenomenal story last night, Bucks Pacers, great game,
but overshadowed by this nonsense afterward. And I feel so
bad for Tyree Saliburton because his dad turned into a buffoon.
After the game, confronted, Yannis was waving a towel in
front of his face from a few feet away, apparently
(17:59):
cursing at it, and Giannis has had enough. Jannis decided,
I'm going to approach this guy and say some stuff.
Here's what Jannis and Halliburton had to say about the
incident afterwards.
Speaker 7 (18:09):
I did, I'd say is that I believe like being
humbled in victory. That's how I am. I love Tis.
I think it's a great competitor. It was his dad, sorry,
coming in the floor and showing me his son towel
with his face. This is what we do, this is
what we have been doing.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
This.
Speaker 7 (18:30):
If we do this, I feel like that's very, very disrespectful.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
The emotions of the game just got excited there.
Speaker 5 (18:38):
But I talked with him.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
I'll talk with Jannis eventually about it.
Speaker 5 (18:42):
Just you know, I don't think that.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
My papa wasn't to write at all there. Yeah, it's
been a bad couple of weeks for dads, Niko moli
Alva's dad, Shader Sanders dad, Halliburton's dad. Like it's been
a over the top It's just like it's just you know,
it's hard because I've said this before. I'm objective about
(19:04):
everything except my kids. Yeah, nobody's objective totally about their kids.
And you want to be very protective. But we've had
a bad dad stretch here.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
It's tough being a dad. Let's be real now.
Speaker 5 (19:15):
To defend Halliburton's dad just a little. He did apologize,
you know, as quickly as it took after the game
on social media for his actions. I am surprised, Colin
that Pacer security just let guys in the front row
walk on the clane.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
What is that?
Speaker 5 (19:29):
And by the way, Milwaukee Bucks, you got a franchise
superstar who everybody in the league knows is probably on
his way out. You don't like rush over to protect
him when you see that, Like Jannis had to take
this for like fifteen seconds at the beginning.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
Very strange. And Colin, again, I'm going to go back
to it. You and I.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
Disagreed Monday, But the physicality in the NBA Playoffs is
getting people amped up. There is a gladiator vibe.
Speaker 3 (19:51):
To some of these games.
Speaker 5 (19:52):
I don't like it. And I'm telling you we saw
Rockets Warriors was very close to an altercation. Jimmy Butler,
Draymond Dylan Brooks obviously, but all these series are getting
super physical and the refs need to step in or
we're gonna see something uggly. I'm I'm just putting on
warning the league needs to do something.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
Well, it's a fine line because you don't want I mean, obviously,
the NBA All Star Game is embarrassing for the league.
I mean, like Adam Silver's like this is embarrassing. And
the regular season you get like load management and apathy.
That's not good either. So I let me defend the
league here. This is working from a ratings perspective and
an interest. I mean, I can't even the game like
(20:30):
Boston was winning big last night. The games are physical,
they're hard to turn your I mean, Nick Pistons, if
you turn it on, it's hard to turn off. All
these games, Clippers Nuggets, you turn that thing on in
the third quarter, you can't turn it off. It's like
every boy, It's like football, every every down matters. But
there is a line on it. And so my take
is I think the NBA is watching this and watching
(20:53):
it progress. I'm like you, I can't believe security is
not there. But in the end, I think right now
it's working. But it is a line. I mean it.
We see NFL officials you know this, j Mac. All
officiating crews officiate differently. Some call pass interference, some don't.
And so you also have in the NBA there are
(21:15):
some officials that road teams love. Yes, they don't get
influenced by the home crowd. May Steve Jaby may have
been one of those officials where road teams did okay,
Like he was not one of these guys intimidated by
the crowd. So every officiating crew officiates a little differently.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
Just like in the NFL.
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Remember the Chiefs Bills when they announced, like who the
referees were, It was a big story. When they're doing
that in the NBA, you know, it's not great when
the focus leading up to the game, for instance, Lakers
Timberwolves tonight is like who are the refs?
Speaker 3 (21:45):
Like that? That's not what you want for the NBA.
Speaker 5 (21:47):
All right, let's go to the NFL colin where the
league has announced that the Atlanta Falcons have been fined
two hundred and fifty large and defensive coordinator Jeff Obrick
one hundred thousand dollars in response to Obrick's son prank
calling Shador Sanders on Draft Day. The NFL attributed to
the fines to failing to prevent the disclosure of confidential
information distributed to the club. Now, besides this, Adam Schefter's
(22:12):
come out with other guys were prank called.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
I saw Abdul Carter was Tyler Warren.
Speaker 5 (22:17):
Obviously not a great look for the Falcons here, and
some people are starting to put them to get stuff
together on the falcons. They've had a lot of these
fines for just not being buttoned up over the last
I think, like nine years.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
I thought the media overreacted a little bit to this,
but I think these are appropriate fines. Kids do dumb stuff,
But I have no problem finding the falcons a quarter,
you know, two hundred and fifty grand. I have no
problem with that, Like do a better job. I have
no problem with Jeff Olbrick being fine. Twenty one year
old kids do dumb stuff. You put things in front
(22:51):
of twenty one year old men, they're gonna steal them
sometimes and do dumb stuff and a bad judgment. I
think I don't want to be too punitive on the
kid who did something really dumb. He did upologize, but
I got no problem finding the team and the coach
that that to me feels appropriate.
Speaker 5 (23:04):
Okay, So my issue is who cares about a find
Arthur blank is what a billionaire who the two undred
fifty thousand is nothing?
Speaker 3 (23:11):
He finds that in sofa cushions. Take Away a draft pick.
Speaker 5 (23:14):
Tell me if every computer's not locked and locked down
leading up to next year's draft, take away a draft pick.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
That's a real pet define Well, no, because here here's
the thing. Like a spygate feels like a plan of
attack by a team. Take away a draft pick. A
kid stealing a phone number off a laptop doesn't feel
like it was planned by it. But it's just a mistake.
So I mean again, when you have something called gate, okay,
(23:41):
that's different. I'll take a draft pick that sounds like,
top down, there was a plan, like they thought the
flate gate was that that was nonsense. Spygate though, let's
be honest about that. That. Okay, this isn't premeditated. It's
a mistake in life, and we all make them.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
That's fair.
Speaker 5 (23:57):
That's a good counter by you, all right, finals Glory
Colin speaking of the Falcons.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
So they did trade back.
Speaker 5 (24:04):
Into the first round with the Rams, giving the Rams
next year twenty twenty six an extra first, so they
have two first next year. Obviously, this least to speculation.
How old is Matthew Stafford? You know he's getting Social
Security checks starting this summer. Okay, what does that all mean? Well,
Diana Russini reports less Need in LA made the move
(24:25):
to get the extra first next year.
Speaker 3 (24:27):
Possibly with eyes on one arch manning your thoughts.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Well, outside of failing to draft a corner, they have
a roster next year built to give up both first.
I mean next year they have two first, a second,
a third, two fifths, two six, two sevens. They have
been eyeing this for three years. They knew Stafford was aging.
(24:56):
I told you this. They thought Jackson DRT was a
good player. They did not think this. Les Sneed was
honest about it. They did not think this was a
year to get a starting quarterback. They weren't going to
move up to get cam Mood, who thought was really good. This.
Steelers felt the same way. This was a backup year.
A lot of Kyle McCord's out there, a lot of
Riley Leonards. It's a backup year. So but if you
(25:17):
look at the Rams draft picks next year, they could
give up two first, a second, two fifths to move
up because their roster, especially on defense.
Speaker 4 (25:26):
J Mack.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
They've got all those young guys under contract. They're not
paying him, so they have a chance here to give
somebody a boatload of picks. You know, by the way
they have Atlanta's pick, they may not have to move
up that far. I mean, what if Atlanta ends up
drafting ninth? Is that shock you?
Speaker 5 (25:45):
Well, Pennix, you know, well, we'll see. With Pennix and
Bjeon Ropt they've got good dudes. I like the defense.
I think they win the division. But yes, there is
a world where they win seven games because they're.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
The yest, the Atlanta Falcons, and that's.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
What they do. Also, there is a satchel I read
a story. Yes, there's a saturation point in the NFL.
Very few teams needed a quarterback this year. Go to
next year. Now the Titans are off the board. The
Giants are off the board for at least two years.
With Joah who Pittsburgh rams Although what a stafford with
this loaded roster knocks it out of the park.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
So it just so happens.
Speaker 5 (26:20):
Colin Fox asked me to do a twenty twenty six
NFL mock Draft. I submitted it last night. I'm gonna
put some stop laughing, some teams that could be in
the mix. Obviously, the Jets after Justin Fields, the Giants.
If Dable and Shane get fired. I'm sorry, Jackson Dart
is not gonna be the new guy's gonna won his
own quarterback Carolina with Bryce Young. This will be year
(26:42):
three for Bryce Young. It's a make or break year
for him. We'll see what the New Orleans Saints. It's
potentially a quarterback ritch draft. When it goes live, I'll
send it to you. I know you're interested. I don't
think Manning one, Yeah, I mean I don't think.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
I think the Clemson quarterback could go two or three.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Really, you like him that much?
Speaker 1 (27:02):
I like him better than most of this year's quarterbacks.
I don't love him, but I like him. Drew Aller
at Penn State, I like him. I don't love him.
You know, I think there's three guys right now that
if they improve, which twenty two year old kids usually do,
they could all be first round high first round quarterback.
Speaker 5 (27:20):
There's a couple sec guys in there you're missing. And also, hey,
the Carson Beck transfers to Miami. Who's supposed to be
the number one pick this year, remember a year ago.
Who everybody's gassed up about him.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
I don't know. I don't have him in my first round.
I'll just put that out there. He's got some work
to do.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
Jmack with a news.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
Well that's the news, and thanks for stopping by.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
The Herd Line News, Greg Cosell, top of the hour.
So we'll go back and look at some of this
stuff on multiple quarterbacks. So last night Denver beat the Clippers,
and you know, they kind of pulled away better energy.
But say what you will about Russell Westbrook. He plays
(28:01):
every time he's on the floor, sometimes to his detriment.
He plays with unbelievable energy, the kind of energy that
if you play with Westbrook and you don't play hard,
you feel guilty. The guy's also hitting three point shots.
So I don't know what's going on there. But James Harden,
who's more gifted offensively, was a hologram. Where did he go?
(28:23):
He was invisible. He had no energy, and therefore either
did the Clippers. So Westbrook in the first half had
sixteen points and thirteen minutes, and again he's doing it rebounding, driving.
He is really the tone setter because you get into
these games, the altitude you're going from La, you're going
to Denver. I mean, listen, I get tired after one flight.
These teams going back and forth. Energy guys become really important,
(28:48):
and Westbrook is arguably the best energy guy in the
league right now. As an older player, he's a now.
Again it's to his detriment a lot, but he set
the te last night. And this is one of the
downsides of Kawhi Leonard. He's a tremendous talent, not a leader,
not really a tone center. He just gets you a
(29:08):
bucket and a stop. But this was a night that
the Clippers needed leadership. They needed leadership, they needed heavy
emotion because Westbrook stole all the emotion on the floor
in the first half. Then he handed the baton to
Jamal Murray, who had the best half of his career.
And sometimes guys get hot. I mean Kawhi earlier in
(29:29):
this series had a half. You just can't stop him,
but you Westbrook deserves a ton Murray stuff is obvious,
but it was a great example of why we don't
trust the Clippers. Harden just not engaged. Kawhi can be distant,
aloof quiet, nonverbal. Last night they needed verbal, they needed leadership.
(29:55):
They needed Kawhi to call out James Harden. So I
mean it just but I go back to Westbrook and
I've been critical of him. He suddenly now He's always
been a confidence player, Like when it goes south, it
goes south fast. And when he's hot, he gets really hot.
But like I'm watching him shoot threes and I'm like, yeah,
(30:17):
I'm comfortable with it, and I've never felt that with Westbrook.
But this series, Russell deserves a ton of credit. Playoff
games are hard. We've seen good teams come into these
games and have bad halfs. And it was like Westbrook
last night would not allow it. He would not allow
a bad half, and the Clippers just came in with
(30:40):
a lot of nothing. And we tried to be fair
on this show. Here was Russ on the wind.
Speaker 8 (30:49):
Always tell myself before every night to have fun. And
my fune may look a little different than everybody else's.
It may not be with a smile, it may not
be running around slapping hands bo. When I'm intense and
I'm competing at the high level, I'm having the best time,
and that to me is the best part of the game.
And even year seventeen, I still have so much fun
(31:13):
going on competing and I'm a competitor in one of
the you know, best competitors in the world, and I
live live for moments and live to talk a little
mess and competing along with it.
Speaker 1 (31:25):
It's a great line. My fun may look a little
different than everybody else is fun. But I mean, yes,
Jamal Murray was on fire, and great players Tatum's had
one of these, Kawhi's had one of these, Jokich and
you know, these great players take over games. But I'm
gonna give Westbrook all the credit in the world because
that first half he set an absolute tone for the game.
(31:47):
And I don't know where he found confidence and a
stroke on a three pointer. He's hit some big ones
in this series. It's the hurd.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and neon Easter not a Empacific.
Speaker 9 (32:00):
Hey, Steve Covino and I'm Rich David, and together we're
Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You could catch
us weekdays from five to seven pm Eastern two to
four Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and of course the
iHeartRadio app. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich.
We talk about everything life, sports, relationships, what's going on
in the world. We have a lot of fun talking
about the stories behind the stories in the world of
(32:21):
sports and pop culture, stories that well other shows don't
seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact
that we've been friends for the last twenty years and
still work together, I mean that says something, right, So
check us out. We like to get you involved too,
take your phone calls, chop it up. As they say,
I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio,
maybe the most interactive show on planetar. Be sure to
(32:42):
check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports Radio
and the iHeartRadio app from five to seven pm Eastern
two to four Pacific, And if you miss any of
the live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you
get your podcasts, and of course on social media. That's
Covino and Rich Saturday, seven eastern on Fox.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
So you know, we've discussed on this show that the
NBA it's not a problem, but many of their best
players it feels like a majority of the top four
or five players are international, and it would probably be
beneficial to have a great domestic player. And I do
believe that Jason Tatum and Aunt have kind of separated
(33:21):
over the last two weeks as the top two domestic players.
And it's taken Jason Tatum eight years. They just beat
the Magic, they knocked him out. Tatum had a remarkable series.
It's taken him eight years. But he feels like the
star we were told he was four years ago. And
it's all about confidence. I mean, if he had Russell
(33:41):
Westbrook's confidence, we'd have seen this three or four years ago,
because he's always had the game. But he's one of
those guys that has always let too often the game
come to him. He doesn't have this irrational confidence that
sometimes is a benefit to be a superstar. He's really smart,
he's really patient, and I think that can work against
you in the NBA. If you look at the first
(34:02):
quarter scoring against Orlando, it's his best ever. Why it's
not because he's more talented. First quarter scoring is about confidence.
He's going for the knockout. He is a confident boxer.
He's going for the knockout. And so I think, and
I really believe this was held and has been held
(34:22):
against Steph Curry before because Steph, like Tatum, can defer, smart, patient,
and in twenty twenty five attention getting attention in my
business in the NBA, it's currency. And Steph's just great,
(34:43):
Mary Kids quiet. He doesn't seek attention, his game provides it.
Tatum's the same way, kind of a smart, thoughtful, patient guy,
can defer to others at times. He's not seeking clicks,
and NBA fans historically they reward aggression. Michael Jordan punched
a teammate, people are like, yeah, it's my guy, and like,
(35:08):
I get it, And that's not Tatum. He's just a
very thoughtful guy. I don't like the fact that for
years he let the game come to him. I think
my criticism was fair, Like, dude, go get the game.
You're the best player on the floor. I've been to
three or four games, Celtic games. He's always the first
guy out. He's worked on his game. It's finally tuned.
He was this good last year, but he didn't play
(35:31):
with this confidence last year. He's always been a very
collaborative guy. For the record, Steph Curry, despite his talent's
been very collaborative KD. You take the shot. A couple
of nights ago, POD's Butler, you take the shot, and
I think it's hurt Steph. We like our NBA stars
and we like our We like our NFL stars to
(35:51):
be alpha and aggressive and sometimes not always nice. But
I mean, I'm I'm I'm watching Tatum in this series
and he was this talent to the year ago or
two years ago. But his confidence, he is attacking the
game first quarter, if this is my team, my ball,
and that's exactly what we were waiting for last year.
(36:14):
So as he came up with four new moves, he's
just a more aggressive version of last year's Tatum. Here
he is at for the win.
Speaker 10 (36:22):
You know, this season was like the most relaxed and
care free that I've been in my career. Understanding that,
you know, we won last year and we accomplished the
ultimate goal and you kind of got that monkey off
your back. So you know, obviously the goal is still
the same this year to win and compete for a championship.
(36:45):
But you know, I've just enjoyed this season of you know,
playing care free basketball.
Speaker 1 (36:52):
I mean, even there, it's just chill. You know, you
just sit there and answer questions, but he plays. Here's
the other thing that the NBA he's got going for it,
j Mac. Both Tatum and Aunt are not load management guys.
Those dudes play hard, and that matters. I've said this.
I think a lot of NBA ratings talk is nonsense,
but I do think load management is awful. When the
(37:15):
NBA guys are making twenty eight million a year and
you take your family, people want to see guys play.
Tatum plays every night. Ant plays every night. It matters.
Speaker 5 (37:23):
So I think twenty five years old, come on, of
course they got to play every night.
Speaker 3 (37:27):
But I do think I do.
Speaker 5 (37:28):
Want to uplaud you nice job for finally giving Jason
Tatum as props. I mean, twenty two seven and seven
in the NBA Finals wasn't enough for you average thirty
one in the conference finals last year when they swept
the Pacers.
Speaker 3 (37:42):
Get the brooms out. Listen. Tatum versus Aunt. I think
you're trying to make it a thing here.
Speaker 1 (37:46):
I like it.
Speaker 3 (37:47):
I think those are the best two young players in
the game.
Speaker 5 (37:49):
Then cool Flag and Webbin Yama, you know, will change
that equation a little bit.
Speaker 3 (37:53):
But American, I think you're right.
Speaker 5 (37:55):
Tatum and Aunt Edwards are just awesome, fascinating young players.
Speaker 1 (38:00):
The NBA ratings, they're still international stars crushing. But market
size does help. It does matter that the Lakers, San Francisco,
the Knicks, the Celta, it does matter. If you take
out the NFL, market size matters and domestic stars matter.
It does. Like, oh, Tawni, it's great, But you know
what also is great, Aaron Judge, I'm sorry, that's great too.
(38:24):
So it's listen. If you look at Olympic ratings, Canadians
are thoughtful people. They're rooting for Canadians to win in
the Olympics. We're rooting for Americans. Italians are rooting for Italians.
That's not xenophobic. That's pride that we're all a little
patriotic and tribal. We want our domestic basketball stars. And
the other thing we have to be about Tatum and Ant.
(38:47):
I've said this three years ago. Almost every GM probably
would have taken Ja Morant over Ant. But the difference
is this league thought they did have Tatum and ant
Zion and John Morant. Everybody thought in the league office,
we got our guys. Want maturity. Struggle with both both
(39:07):
and and Sands. Some off court stuff. But the guy
plays hard, he's a good kid, he's a good teammate. Yeah,
I mean what guys do when they get rich at
twenty two. I'm not gonna be really highly judgmental.
Speaker 6 (39:16):
Well, he's not.
Speaker 1 (39:17):
You know, he plays his butt off, he's a good teammate,
he's a good kid. There's hiccups, but it does matter
that Celtics t Wolves domestic players being great. It helps
the league, There's no doubt.
Speaker 5 (39:30):
I do want to say, you took a couple jabs
at Jalen Brunson earlier saying he's not in this class.
I will say there is a Curry element to Jalen
Brunson where fans can look at him and.
Speaker 3 (39:40):
Be like, how is this guy the most clutch player
in the league.
Speaker 5 (39:43):
He's like a six foot one point guard with a
mid range game, which is a throwback, and he's kind
of like the inverse.
Speaker 3 (39:49):
Of Curry, who is hitting thirty footers.
Speaker 5 (39:51):
I think Brunson's in that class of American young ish
players that fans love. Jalen Brunson is so clutch, a
winner head down, no drama off the court.
Speaker 3 (40:01):
He's in that class buddy.
Speaker 1 (40:03):
In popularity, absolutely, but if you're telling me Tatum ant
Brunson take in order, he's third on everybody's list. I'm
not talking likability through the roof. Villanova guys are all.
I mean we literally there's a term in the NBA
Villanova guy. So like, I think Brunson's great and by
the way, he can be a one A. I think
(40:24):
if you went Giannis Brunson, that just feels like a
team that can get to the finals. Kat Brunson og
doesn't not with Cleveland and Boston. I mean, remember the
next went zero for ten Calves. Celtics thunder like they're
not there. They're just not there.
Speaker 5 (40:40):
It doesn't seem like they'll be able to take down
the Celtic. That would be a tall order.
Speaker 3 (40:43):
I mean, maybe they get two games from Boston. Can
they get two assuming they get by destroited? Sorry not
to disrespect.
Speaker 1 (40:50):
Slow down on the projection for the Knicks. The I
mean think about this. A year ago, the Pistons were
going to rebuild, the Knicks got Michaleen thought we're beating Boston,
and now that the same team. I think the Knicks
are a little better, but last night the numbers tell
you it's the same it's the same stuff. I mean,
the Knicks, I think just have I feel like there
(41:12):
are times Caid Cunningham really becomes important in every game.
I do feel like if Kat didn't play particularly great,
Mikhale Bridges, Josh hart Og Brunson, they can win a
game where Kat was off. I mean like like the
Pistons Margins are smaller, like if Kaid Cunningham doesn't play well,
(41:32):
they're not winning a game. They just don't have Tobias Harris.
Speaker 5 (41:36):
The limitations there, I'll say, the fifty nine percent on
free throws and you just can't do that.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
And the other thing.
Speaker 5 (41:41):
For the second night in a row, we saw the
hack a shack employed. They got Mitchell Robinson, who's a
good rebounder, good defender, they got him off the court
and then there's no rim protection for the next because
we know Kat Camp Ky Camp block shots at the rim.
So I thought it was smart coaching by Bickerstaff. Detroit
is on the on the cup up and by the way,
Caid Cunningham for Jah Morant, we called that. I think
last week it's not even close anymore.
Speaker 3 (42:03):
Kate Cunningham is a player.
Speaker 1 (42:04):
Yeah, Well, Kate Cunningham also has in this matters. This
has never been a small man's league in terms of
winning titles. Cade's a big professional athlete. I said this
to you last week. If you walked into a party
in New York and you didn't follow sports, and you
looked at Jalen Brunson, you're like, oh, what do you do?
If Caid Cunningham was in the room, You're like, Oh,
who's the pro athlete? Like he's just he looks Justin
(42:27):
Herbert looks like a professional athlete. You don't have any
buddies that are six five, two forty and ripped. Most
of us don't, right, Okay, Greg Cosell coming up and
interesting news with Eli Manning and the New York Giants.
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in
noon to three eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find
your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio
dot com, or stream us live every day on the
iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Here we go. We are live in Chicago, wherever you
may be, however you may be watching or listening. Thanks
for making us part of your day. We got a
great one today, great co Sell. One hour from now,
we're gonna talk about shaduor Sanders and Jamay cow I
was thinking about this. I don't know how much more
we're gonna talk about Shuder Sander. I don't, but there
(00:47):
is something that has happened. When something crazy and unexpected happens,
people look for answers. So you and I and people
who cover the NFL over the last three or four
days are trying to provide answers. And there was more
yesterday from a Pittsburgh Post Gazette writer. Are you ready
for it?
Speaker 3 (01:05):
I'm ready?
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Okay. So the Steelers by not drafting chaduor Sanders, remember
there was only about three teams we thought were going
to take a quarterback in round one. Tennessee the Giants,
who were clearly not interested, bad interview with Shador and
then Pittsburgh for sure Cleveland by trading down. Told you
(01:26):
they may get a backup, but they're going to get
their starting quarterback next year. Well, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette
rider yesterday, I told Rich Eisen that the Steelers were
not looking at Shadoor Sanders, they were looking at backups
like the La Rams. The Steelers and Rams. This is
what I told you. I didn't buy The Rams wanted
Jackson Dart. They were interested, they thought Jackson Dart was interesting.
But the Steelers, the Rams, the Browns. Next year is
(01:50):
the year they want the quarterback. This was a backup
quarterback draft. So that's more information on Shaduur. Pittsburgh was
never in the starting quarterback market. Wanted to get the
roster ready for Aaron Rodgers draft a backup. That's why
Aaron Rodgers kind of took their word for it, but
wanted to wait. But let me just say this, Can
we stop with this narrative. It's the worst take and
(02:11):
narrative happening in sports. Now, you know, the NFL just
doesn't know what they're doing with quarterbacks. Time out. Let
me tell you first round quarterbacks currently in the NFL.
Mahomes Lamar, Burrow, Alan Herbert Stafford, Jaden Daniels, Aaron Rodgers,
c J Strowd, Jared Goff, Jordan Love, Kyler Murray. Oh,
(02:33):
by the way, Baker and Sam Darnold. Not to mention,
Drake may looks really good. Bo Nick's looks really good.
Caleb Williams is really talented. That doesn't even count the
pro bowler Tua, who I'm not a huge fan of.
Almost all ooh ooh. Jalen Hurtz fell to the second. Yeah,
(02:53):
he got benched in college, he had to transfer. He's
smaller than average and still not a great pocket quarterback
if you listen. The Greg Cosell, who I trust the
truth is in my life, Overwhelminglee Bradshaw, Aikman, Peyton Marino,
overwhelmingly mahomes Lamar. They've all been first round picks. It's
(03:17):
not easy to do this, but stop making Shadeur and
Dion Sanders the victim here. They're not. It's all really explainable.
Chador didn't hire an agent. Big mistake. He just listened
to his dad. Bigger mistake. Dion had the talent to
sandbag interviews. Shador doesn't. So. Yes, brock Purty fell to
(03:38):
the seventh but he was one in six against playoff
teams last year when many of his stars weren't healthy,
and nobody thinks brock Purdy is an elite, world class
Josh Allen athlete, He's not close. Yes, Joe Montana went
in the third round, but he doesn't win those Super
Bowls without the greatest offensive coach in the history of
the league, Bill Walsh. And Brady got a bunch of
(03:59):
Super Bowls and in the sixth round, and he doesn't
win all those early Super Bowls without the greatest coach
slash defensive coach in league history, Bill Belichick. It's all explainable, Okay.
In my life, the best quarterbacks have overwhelmingly been in
the first round. Here's the other thing to consider is
that young men personnel is hard, but judging young men
(04:24):
at eighteen, nineteen, twenty, twenty one, twenty two is hard.
Boys mature more slowly than girls. Baker Mayfield I didn't
think was ready at the time to be a franchise quarterback.
He is now. This is hard in the NBA. Best
player in the NBA is Jokich, who was a second rounder.
Best defensive player ever is Draymond second rounder. The Knicks
best player Jalen Brunson second rounder. It's hard. Young men
(04:49):
mature more slowly, frontal low brain stuff, and it's tough.
People miss all the time. And by the way, it's
not just quarterback Max Krosby, Puka Nakua. It's you just
don't know yes, should do or was underdrafted. In my opinion,
I would have taken him if I was Pittsburgh, but
I didn't know Pittsburgh. Hat and Aaron Rodgers deal the
(05:12):
story in the Pittsburgh Post Cazette. They were never really interested.
They're not going to take a quarterback, a starting quarterback
this year. So listen, take a deep breath. You can't
sandbag interviews. You can't do it. You can't not hire
an agent, you can't not work out at the combine.
You can't have, let's be honest, a cringey draft room
(05:34):
with legendary all over it. If you're a B prospect
in a really weak quarterback draft. Greg Olsen yesterday.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
As he shown at two different spots in colleges that
he could go to teams that didn't necessarily have a
great tradition of winning and turn the program around and
bring attention and energy and buzz.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Absolutely, he did it twice. So I'm not throwing him yet.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
I'm not thrown into the Wolves and saying he has
no career, But I think he needs to take a good,
hard reset and say, you know what it's all about ball.
It's all about me giving myself to have a chance
to have a career in this league, and if it
as a backup, and then I work to a starter,
whatever that path is. But the league, I think has
shown and the message was pretty clear, you better be really,
(06:20):
really talented, especially at quarterback if we're going to put
up with a lot of other attention, a lot of
other things.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
And he's just not that talented. That talented. Okay, so
Nick's pistons. I thought I thought it would be an
ugly series, but I thought the Knicks would win five.
I still think the Knicks are going to win this series,
but we have to be honest. Five points separates these
teams through five games last night. Look at the box score,
(06:51):
field goal percentage rebounds, three point percentage points in the
paint assists. These are pretty even teams. I think the
Knicks are a little better, but they gave up five
first round picks to get McHale Bridges and they thought
that would be the difference. He's a good player. But
here's a problem. The Knicks were built to They wanted
(07:13):
to build this thing to beat the Celtics, and then
something happened. Jason Tatum went from an AS to an
A plus and Peyton Pritchard went from nine a game
to the best bench player in the league. So Boston
was already better and two of their players popped, like
Brunson and Jason Tatum. Those are different level players. Okay,
no GM in the league, given a choice, would take
(07:35):
Brunson and I love him too, right, So it's like
what we're seeing with Cleveland and Boston. They're good players,
very good players, like Boston's two player, Peyton Pritchard nine
a game. Peyton Pritchard now is a threat every time
he touches the ball. McHale Bridges, same player, OG, pretty much,
same player, Josh Hart kind of same player. Brunson good,
(07:57):
same player, Cat can't defend great offense, same player, Boston
was better, and Tatum is exploded, arguably the best player
in the entire playoffs, and Peyton Pritcher's become the best
bench guy in the league. So you know, in the
Knicks have always been a little like Texas football, where
brand is big college football and the NBA are better.
(08:18):
When those teams are great, they're fascinating. You can't take
their eyes off, and they've been in wildly historic playoff games.
But since nineteen eighty the Longhorns have one trophy and
since nineteen seventy four, the Knicks have none. So I
think the Knicks should be front and center on the
honest trade and the Honis is getting moved. That was
a mess. We called that one. We like the Pacers quickly.
That series was a mess. But I think the Knicks
(08:40):
built this plot. You don't give away five first round
picks for Michale Bridges unless you think that's going to
get us right up next to the Celtics. And the
Celtics exploded, Jason Tatum exploded, Peyton Pritcher exploded, and so
I don't think they're close. I mean, again, the Knicks
are a really good team with a bunch of good players.
The Celtics now have a superstar. It took Aunt Edwards
(09:03):
I think until this playoff run and we all went,
oh oh oh he arrived. And Jason Tatum has been
an a A minus player for years, didn't have the confidence.
You watched this series, You watch this season, Hey, Jason
Tatum's a different player. He plays with a confidence we
were all hoping he would three and a half years ago.
He's playing with it now with all his talent. So
(09:24):
I think it's just one of these things. The Knicks
and Pistons, I mean, the Pistons a year ago were
in a rebuild. The Nick thought McHale Bridges was the difference.
And they're even. And I've said this, there's a certain clarity.
And give Detroit credit. They're playing their butt off. Ky
Cunningham's amazing. Good for them. It's cool. I grew up
a lot of Pistons basketball teams being great, from Bob
(09:44):
Lanier and Dave Bing to the you know, the bad boys,
all that stuff. Give them credit, But these teams were
supposed to have a gap. One year ago, one's rebuilding,
and six months ago somebody's bringing on Michale Bridges to
be the to beat the Celtics, and they're just really even.
Here's Jalen Brunson after Yeah, I go there with the
(10:05):
mindset to win, as simple as that. Regardless of how
we feel whatever tomorrow, we got to turn the page.
I think I said this before. If it's a winner,
it's the losses short time memory in the playoffs because
you got to come out the next day and figure
out what you got to do win the next one. Listen,
New York is a big, loud, emotional city and they
fell in love with this team and that's awesome, but
(10:28):
don't fall in love with this roster. It's just a
lot of good players. And look at how good Sga Jokich,
here comes Wemby. Aunt and Tatum have exploded good in
twenty twenty five, and very good is not good enough.
You can love a team, two things gonna be true.
(10:50):
You can love Bronson, but if he's your one. After
watching Aunt and Tatum this year, that's not going to
hoist a trophy. And for the record, a lot of
people I think I maybe one of them. I think
Cleveland may beat Boston. I mean, they look unbelievable. At
least Orlando Hung around games for a half. J Mac,
(11:11):
I know you grew up a Knicks fan. I know
this is painful for you. I'll tell you the other thing,
the other series, which is fascinating, and I think we
knew it would be close. Clippers Nuggets. We have to
be honest here. Russell Westbrook has been huge for Denver.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
He's been very huge.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
I poured my kid some milk in their cereal this morning,
and James Harden was on the side of the milk
carton because he's.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
Missing right now. Clopper's have no idea where he is.
Speaker 5 (11:36):
He didn't show up last night, but great point by
Brun said, just lack of urgency from the Knicks last night.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Colin.
Speaker 5 (11:41):
I was devastated, man. I wanted them to wrap it up,
get ready to go play the Celtics this weekend, and
now they've got to go back to Detroit. That place
is gonna be juiced up. I don't feel great about
the Knicks right now.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Yeah, no, it's it's you know, a year ago, you
would have never guessed these two teams would have been close.
After they got Michale Bridges, You're like, they're not gonna
beat Boston, but they can take them. Yeah, and then
Tatum and Pritchard. You're like, whoa, whoa, whoa whoa. Woa.
Boston has separated from the NIXT, so you don't have
to go back to the drawing board, but you should
probably put your name in for Giannis. Make a run
(12:12):
for sure at Yannis. Okay, coming up, We've got a
lot of things to talk about. One of them is
Russell Westbrook. I mean, I've been as critical as anybody.
That dude deserves a ton of credit. He was in
the first half last night essential for Denver. Westbrook deserves love.
And the other thing is a very respected voice in
(12:35):
NBA media calls out Luca and he's right next in
the hurt.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and Noone Eastern, Non A EM Pacific on Fox Sports
Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
All right, welcome back. So you know the Luka donts trade.
I've said this about the media, and I can be
guilty of this. I try not to do this, but
we become an avalanche and nobody grabs a shovel, Like
everybody just jumps on the avalanche to bury people in
gms and but I said from day one on Luca,
he's a much better version of Carmelo Anthony, who is
(13:13):
a lobsided player as is Luca. All offense, no defense,
not in great shape. I would have considered for the
right package moving off Luca, who they were going to
have to pay seventy million plus a year. So Zach
Lowe is a really outstanding NBA analyst, excellent works for
the ringer. He's being upfront and honest about the reality
(13:36):
Laker fans are now realizing with Luca.
Speaker 6 (13:40):
Why do you have to get humiliated at the beginning
of every single playoff series before you show the world like, yeah,
I can actually put in a little bit more of
an effort on defense. I'm just tired of like, I'm
gonna be embarrassed until our backs are against the wall,
and then I'm going to show you that, yeah I
can put up a little bit of a fight. How
about you put up a fight in like game one
of the second round and now you're down three to
(14:01):
one and you're probably going home.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
And that's the thing. Kareem in his prime got traded,
So did Babe Ruth and Wayne Gretzky and Wilt Joe
Montana got traded, Okay, lou al Sinder, I mean at
Milwaukee got a boatload of picks. But it's like guys,
people get traded. So it was the return or lack
(14:25):
thereof that was truly egregious. I said, if you gave
me a d you gave me Austin Reeves and three
or four first round picks. Oh, I'd sleep on it
because guys who are not in great shape. Luca age
more quickly. Westbrook actually feels like he's getting better in
(14:46):
this series against the Clipper. He's in impeccable shape. Lebron's
lasting forever. Brady lasted forever. In a sport you get tackled.
Luca had missed back to back camps. Here's an interesting
stat the staff found this morning. Luca's rookie year, he
had twenty five dunks. Last two years combined, he's had two.
(15:06):
There's a decline, and a lot of it is he's
just not in great shape. There is reason for pause
if you have to pay him seventy five million dollars
because MJ and his prime got you trophies. Lebron and
his prime got you guaranteed to the finals. Luke and
his prime. He's gonna get your buckets and give up
(15:27):
just about his many on some nights. And I've said
this about the NFL before. There are three quarterbacks, you know, Mahomes,
Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson. I'm not even taking a phone call.
But when Joe Burrow got his second serious injury, I'll
pick up the phone. I don't want to trade Burrow.
I don't need a trade Burrow. It's nothing. I'm thinking
(15:50):
about what you got for first rounders. And I love Burrow,
I love Jalen Hurts. I'll pick up the phone. Not
picking up the phone with Lamar Allen. You know, I
think a lot of people would pick up the phone
now for Trevor Lawrence, and he was great, So it's
(16:12):
I just think it's not the idea of trading a
player who is lobsided, who was increasingly injured. More from
Zach Lowe.
Speaker 6 (16:24):
Here you can find corners of smart NBA people, team
people who would tell you the idea of getting out
ahead of this and trading Luca is not a crazy idea.
The idea of doing it without shopping him to get
nine first round draft picks in swaps and doing this
specific trade is where the logic falls apart.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
No question. But you just start looking at the history
of sports, it's hard to find great players. I mean
even Michael Jordan on the second three pet the Bulls
had decided, Yeah, this is the last one, the greatest
basketball player ever. I mean, Miami started pushing back on Lebron.
We're not going to give you everything you want. He
was a guaranteed trip to the finals, and half the
(17:07):
time it felt like you were almost you were a
favorite heading into the finals. So it's just didn't get
enough back. But if you're a Laker fan watching Luca,
you're now seeing the truth and you're you're Nico Harrison
saw that at practice, he saw it on road, he
saw it in film study. He saw the injuries, he
saw the massive decline in dunks and vertical basketball. It's
(17:29):
all there. If you watch, it's all there. Jmack with
the news.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
No, no, this is the headline news.
Speaker 5 (17:38):
All right, Colin, Let's start with what I think was
what a phenomenal story last night, Bucks Pacers, great game,
but overshadowed by this nonsense afterward. And I feel so
bad for Tyree Saliburton because his dad turned into a buffoon.
After the game, confronted, Yannis was waving a towel in
front of his face from a few feet away, apparently
(17:59):
cursing at it, and Giannis has had enough. Jannis decided,
I'm going to approach this guy and say some stuff.
Here's what Jannis and Halliburton had to say about the
incident afterwards.
Speaker 7 (18:09):
I did, I'd say is that I believe like being
humbled in victory. That's how I am. I love Tis.
I think it's a great competitor. It was his dad, sorry,
coming in the floor and showing me his son towel
with his face. This is what we do, this is
what we have been doing.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
This.
Speaker 7 (18:30):
If we do this, I feel like that's very, very disrespectful.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
The emotions of the game just got excited there.
Speaker 5 (18:38):
But I talked with him.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
I'll talk with Jannis eventually about it.
Speaker 5 (18:42):
Just you know, I don't think that.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
My papa wasn't to write at all there. Yeah, it's
been a bad couple of weeks for dads, Niko moli
Alva's dad, Shader Sanders dad, Halliburton's dad. Like it's been
a over the top It's just like it's just you know,
it's hard because I've said this before. I'm objective about
(19:04):
everything except my kids. Yeah, nobody's objective totally about their kids.
And you want to be very protective. But we've had
a bad dad stretch here.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
It's tough being a dad. Let's be real now.
Speaker 5 (19:15):
To defend Halliburton's dad just a little. He did apologize,
you know, as quickly as it took after the game
on social media for his actions. I am surprised, Colin
that Pacer security just let guys in the front row
walk on the clane.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
What is that?
Speaker 5 (19:29):
And by the way, Milwaukee Bucks, you got a franchise
superstar who everybody in the league knows is probably on
his way out. You don't like rush over to protect
him when you see that, Like Jannis had to take
this for like fifteen seconds at the beginning.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
Very strange. And Colin, again, I'm going to go back
to it. You and I.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
Disagreed Monday, But the physicality in the NBA Playoffs is
getting people amped up. There is a gladiator vibe.
Speaker 3 (19:51):
To some of these games.
Speaker 5 (19:52):
I don't like it. And I'm telling you we saw
Rockets Warriors was very close to an altercation. Jimmy Butler,
Draymond Dylan Brooks obviously, but all these series are getting
super physical and the refs need to step in or
we're gonna see something uggly. I'm I'm just putting on
warning the league needs to do something.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
Well, it's a fine line because you don't want I mean, obviously,
the NBA All Star Game is embarrassing for the league.
I mean, like Adam Silver's like this is embarrassing. And
the regular season you get like load management and apathy.
That's not good either. So I let me defend the
league here. This is working from a ratings perspective and
an interest. I mean, I can't even the game like
(20:30):
Boston was winning big last night. The games are physical,
they're hard to turn your I mean, Nick Pistons, if
you turn it on, it's hard to turn off. All
these games, Clippers Nuggets, you turn that thing on in
the third quarter, you can't turn it off. It's like
every boy, It's like football, every every down matters. But
there is a line on it. And so my take
is I think the NBA is watching this and watching
(20:53):
it progress. I'm like you, I can't believe security is
not there. But in the end, I think right now
it's working. But it is a line. I mean it.
We see NFL officials you know this, j Mac. All
officiating crews officiate differently. Some call pass interference, some don't.
And so you also have in the NBA there are
(21:15):
some officials that road teams love. Yes, they don't get
influenced by the home crowd. May Steve Jaby may have
been one of those officials where road teams did okay,
Like he was not one of these guys intimidated by
the crowd. So every officiating crew officiates a little differently.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
Just like in the NFL.
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Remember the Chiefs Bills when they announced, like who the
referees were, It was a big story. When they're doing
that in the NBA, you know, it's not great when
the focus leading up to the game, for instance, Lakers
Timberwolves tonight is like who are the refs?
Speaker 3 (21:45):
Like that? That's not what you want for the NBA.
Speaker 5 (21:47):
All right, let's go to the NFL colin where the
league has announced that the Atlanta Falcons have been fined
two hundred and fifty large and defensive coordinator Jeff Obrick
one hundred thousand dollars in response to Obrick's son prank
calling Shador Sanders on Draft Day. The NFL attributed to
the fines to failing to prevent the disclosure of confidential
information distributed to the club. Now, besides this, Adam Schefter's
(22:12):
come out with other guys were prank called.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
I saw Abdul Carter was Tyler Warren.
Speaker 5 (22:17):
Obviously not a great look for the Falcons here, and
some people are starting to put them to get stuff
together on the falcons. They've had a lot of these
fines for just not being buttoned up over the last
I think, like nine years.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
I thought the media overreacted a little bit to this,
but I think these are appropriate fines. Kids do dumb stuff,
But I have no problem finding the falcons a quarter,
you know, two hundred and fifty grand. I have no
problem with that, Like do a better job. I have
no problem with Jeff Olbrick being fine. Twenty one year
old kids do dumb stuff. You put things in front
(22:51):
of twenty one year old men, they're gonna steal them
sometimes and do dumb stuff and a bad judgment. I
think I don't want to be too punitive on the
kid who did something really dumb. He did upologize, but
I got no problem finding the team and the coach
that that to me feels appropriate.
Speaker 5 (23:04):
Okay, So my issue is who cares about a find
Arthur blank is what a billionaire who the two undred
fifty thousand is nothing?
Speaker 3 (23:11):
He finds that in sofa cushions. Take Away a draft pick.
Speaker 5 (23:14):
Tell me if every computer's not locked and locked down
leading up to next year's draft, take away a draft pick.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
That's a real pet define Well, no, because here here's
the thing. Like a spygate feels like a plan of
attack by a team. Take away a draft pick. A
kid stealing a phone number off a laptop doesn't feel
like it was planned by it. But it's just a mistake.
So I mean again, when you have something called gate, okay,
(23:41):
that's different. I'll take a draft pick that sounds like,
top down, there was a plan, like they thought the
flate gate was that that was nonsense. Spygate though, let's
be honest about that. That. Okay, this isn't premeditated. It's
a mistake in life, and we all make them.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
That's fair.
Speaker 5 (23:57):
That's a good counter by you, all right, finals Glory
Colin speaking of the Falcons.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
So they did trade back.
Speaker 5 (24:04):
Into the first round with the Rams, giving the Rams
next year twenty twenty six an extra first, so they
have two first next year. Obviously, this least to speculation.
How old is Matthew Stafford? You know he's getting Social
Security checks starting this summer. Okay, what does that all mean? Well,
Diana Russini reports less Need in LA made the move
(24:25):
to get the extra first next year.
Speaker 3 (24:27):
Possibly with eyes on one arch manning your thoughts.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Well, outside of failing to draft a corner, they have
a roster next year built to give up both first.
I mean next year they have two first, a second,
a third, two fifths, two six, two sevens. They have
been eyeing this for three years. They knew Stafford was aging.
(24:56):
I told you this. They thought Jackson DRT was a
good player. They did not think this. Les Sneed was
honest about it. They did not think this was a
year to get a starting quarterback. They weren't going to
move up to get cam Mood, who thought was really good. This.
Steelers felt the same way. This was a backup year.
A lot of Kyle McCord's out there, a lot of
Riley Leonards. It's a backup year. So but if you
(25:17):
look at the Rams draft picks next year, they could
give up two first, a second, two fifths to move
up because their roster, especially on defense.
Speaker 4 (25:26):
J Mack.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
They've got all those young guys under contract. They're not
paying him, so they have a chance here to give
somebody a boatload of picks. You know, by the way
they have Atlanta's pick, they may not have to move
up that far. I mean, what if Atlanta ends up
drafting ninth? Is that shock you?
Speaker 5 (25:45):
Well, Pennix, you know, well, we'll see. With Pennix and
Bjeon Ropt they've got good dudes. I like the defense.
I think they win the division. But yes, there is
a world where they win seven games because they're.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
The yest, the Atlanta Falcons, and that's.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
What they do. Also, there is a satchel I read
a story. Yes, there's a saturation point in the NFL.
Very few teams needed a quarterback this year. Go to
next year. Now the Titans are off the board. The
Giants are off the board for at least two years.
With Joah who Pittsburgh rams Although what a stafford with
this loaded roster knocks it out of the park.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
So it just so happens.
Speaker 5 (26:20):
Colin Fox asked me to do a twenty twenty six
NFL mock Draft. I submitted it last night. I'm gonna
put some stop laughing, some teams that could be in
the mix. Obviously, the Jets after Justin Fields, the Giants.
If Dable and Shane get fired. I'm sorry, Jackson Dart
is not gonna be the new guy's gonna won his
own quarterback Carolina with Bryce Young. This will be year
(26:42):
three for Bryce Young. It's a make or break year
for him. We'll see what the New Orleans Saints. It's
potentially a quarterback ritch draft. When it goes live, I'll
send it to you. I know you're interested. I don't
think Manning one, Yeah, I mean I don't think.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
I think the Clemson quarterback could go two or three.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Really, you like him that much?
Speaker 1 (27:02):
I like him better than most of this year's quarterbacks.
I don't love him, but I like him. Drew Aller
at Penn State, I like him. I don't love him.
You know, I think there's three guys right now that
if they improve, which twenty two year old kids usually do,
they could all be first round high first round quarterback.
Speaker 5 (27:20):
There's a couple sec guys in there you're missing. And also, hey,
the Carson Beck transfers to Miami. Who's supposed to be
the number one pick this year, remember a year ago.
Who everybody's gassed up about him.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
I don't know. I don't have him in my first round.
I'll just put that out there. He's got some work
to do.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
Jmack with a news.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
Well that's the news, and thanks for stopping by.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
The Herd Line News, Greg Cosell, top of the hour.
So we'll go back and look at some of this
stuff on multiple quarterbacks. So last night Denver beat the Clippers,
and you know, they kind of pulled away better energy.
But say what you will about Russell Westbrook. He plays
(28:01):
every time he's on the floor, sometimes to his detriment.
He plays with unbelievable energy, the kind of energy that
if you play with Westbrook and you don't play hard,
you feel guilty. The guy's also hitting three point shots.
So I don't know what's going on there. But James Harden,
who's more gifted offensively, was a hologram. Where did he go?
(28:23):
He was invisible. He had no energy, and therefore either
did the Clippers. So Westbrook in the first half had
sixteen points and thirteen minutes, and again he's doing it rebounding, driving.
He is really the tone setter because you get into
these games, the altitude you're going from La, you're going
to Denver. I mean, listen, I get tired after one flight.
These teams going back and forth. Energy guys become really important,
(28:48):
and Westbrook is arguably the best energy guy in the
league right now. As an older player, he's a now.
Again it's to his detriment a lot, but he set
the te last night. And this is one of the
downsides of Kawhi Leonard. He's a tremendous talent, not a leader,
not really a tone center. He just gets you a
(29:08):
bucket and a stop. But this was a night that
the Clippers needed leadership. They needed leadership, they needed heavy
emotion because Westbrook stole all the emotion on the floor
in the first half. Then he handed the baton to
Jamal Murray, who had the best half of his career.
And sometimes guys get hot. I mean Kawhi earlier in
(29:29):
this series had a half. You just can't stop him,
but you Westbrook deserves a ton Murray stuff is obvious,
but it was a great example of why we don't
trust the Clippers. Harden just not engaged. Kawhi can be distant,
aloof quiet, nonverbal. Last night they needed verbal, they needed leadership.
(29:55):
They needed Kawhi to call out James Harden. So I
mean it just but I go back to Westbrook and
I've been critical of him. He suddenly now He's always
been a confidence player, Like when it goes south, it
goes south fast. And when he's hot, he gets really hot.
But like I'm watching him shoot threes and I'm like, yeah,
(30:17):
I'm comfortable with it, and I've never felt that with Westbrook.
But this series, Russell deserves a ton of credit. Playoff
games are hard. We've seen good teams come into these
games and have bad halfs. And it was like Westbrook
last night would not allow it. He would not allow
a bad half, and the Clippers just came in with
(30:40):
a lot of nothing. And we tried to be fair
on this show. Here was Russ on the wind.
Speaker 8 (30:49):
Always tell myself before every night to have fun. And
my fune may look a little different than everybody else's.
It may not be with a smile, it may not
be running around slapping hands bo. When I'm intense and
I'm competing at the high level, I'm having the best time,
and that to me is the best part of the game.
And even year seventeen, I still have so much fun
(31:13):
going on competing and I'm a competitor in one of
the you know, best competitors in the world, and I
live live for moments and live to talk a little
mess and competing along with it.
Speaker 1 (31:25):
It's a great line. My fun may look a little
different than everybody else is fun. But I mean, yes,
Jamal Murray was on fire, and great players Tatum's had
one of these, Kawhi's had one of these, Jokich and
you know, these great players take over games. But I'm
gonna give Westbrook all the credit in the world because
that first half he set an absolute tone for the game.
(31:47):
And I don't know where he found confidence and a
stroke on a three pointer. He's hit some big ones
in this series. It's the hurd.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and neon Easter not a Empacific.
Speaker 9 (32:00):
Hey, Steve Covino and I'm Rich David, and together we're
Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You could catch
us weekdays from five to seven pm Eastern two to
four Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and of course the
iHeartRadio app. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich.
We talk about everything life, sports, relationships, what's going on
in the world. We have a lot of fun talking
about the stories behind the stories in the world of
(32:21):
sports and pop culture, stories that well other shows don't
seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact
that we've been friends for the last twenty years and
still work together, I mean that says something, right, So
check us out. We like to get you involved too,
take your phone calls, chop it up. As they say,
I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio,
maybe the most interactive show on planetar. Be sure to
(32:42):
check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports Radio
and the iHeartRadio app from five to seven pm Eastern
two to four Pacific, And if you miss any of
the live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you
get your podcasts, and of course on social media. That's
Covino and Rich Saturday, seven eastern on Fox.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
So you know, we've discussed on this show that the
NBA it's not a problem, but many of their best
players it feels like a majority of the top four
or five players are international, and it would probably be
beneficial to have a great domestic player. And I do
believe that Jason Tatum and Aunt have kind of separated
(33:21):
over the last two weeks as the top two domestic players.
And it's taken Jason Tatum eight years. They just beat
the Magic, they knocked him out. Tatum had a remarkable series.
It's taken him eight years. But he feels like the
star we were told he was four years ago. And
it's all about confidence. I mean, if he had Russell
(33:41):
Westbrook's confidence, we'd have seen this three or four years ago,
because he's always had the game. But he's one of
those guys that has always let too often the game
come to him. He doesn't have this irrational confidence that
sometimes is a benefit to be a superstar. He's really smart,
he's really patient, and I think that can work against
you in the NBA. If you look at the first
(34:02):
quarter scoring against Orlando, it's his best ever. Why it's
not because he's more talented. First quarter scoring is about confidence.
He's going for the knockout. He is a confident boxer.
He's going for the knockout. And so I think, and
I really believe this was held and has been held
(34:22):
against Steph Curry before because Steph, like Tatum, can defer, smart, patient,
and in twenty twenty five attention getting attention in my
business in the NBA, it's currency. And Steph's just great,
(34:43):
Mary Kids quiet. He doesn't seek attention, his game provides it.
Tatum's the same way, kind of a smart, thoughtful, patient guy,
can defer to others at times. He's not seeking clicks,
and NBA fans historically they reward aggression. Michael Jordan punched
a teammate, people are like, yeah, it's my guy, and like,
(35:08):
I get it, And that's not Tatum. He's just a
very thoughtful guy. I don't like the fact that for
years he let the game come to him. I think
my criticism was fair, Like, dude, go get the game.
You're the best player on the floor. I've been to
three or four games, Celtic games. He's always the first
guy out. He's worked on his game. It's finally tuned.
He was this good last year, but he didn't play
(35:31):
with this confidence last year. He's always been a very
collaborative guy. For the record, Steph Curry, despite his talent's
been very collaborative KD. You take the shot. A couple
of nights ago, POD's Butler, you take the shot, and
I think it's hurt Steph. We like our NBA stars
and we like our We like our NFL stars to
(35:51):
be alpha and aggressive and sometimes not always nice. But
I mean, I'm I'm I'm watching Tatum in this series
and he was this talent to the year ago or
two years ago. But his confidence, he is attacking the
game first quarter, if this is my team, my ball,
and that's exactly what we were waiting for last year.
(36:14):
So as he came up with four new moves, he's
just a more aggressive version of last year's Tatum. Here
he is at for the win.
Speaker 10 (36:22):
You know, this season was like the most relaxed and
care free that I've been in my career. Understanding that,
you know, we won last year and we accomplished the
ultimate goal and you kind of got that monkey off
your back. So you know, obviously the goal is still
the same this year to win and compete for a championship.
(36:45):
But you know, I've just enjoyed this season of you know,
playing care free basketball.
Speaker 1 (36:52):
I mean, even there, it's just chill. You know, you
just sit there and answer questions, but he plays. Here's
the other thing that the NBA he's got going for it,
j Mac. Both Tatum and Aunt are not load management guys.
Those dudes play hard, and that matters. I've said this.
I think a lot of NBA ratings talk is nonsense,
but I do think load management is awful. When the
(37:15):
NBA guys are making twenty eight million a year and
you take your family, people want to see guys play.
Tatum plays every night. Ant plays every night. It matters.
Speaker 5 (37:23):
So I think twenty five years old, come on, of
course they got to play every night.
Speaker 3 (37:27):
But I do think I do.
Speaker 5 (37:28):
Want to uplaud you nice job for finally giving Jason
Tatum as props. I mean, twenty two seven and seven
in the NBA Finals wasn't enough for you average thirty
one in the conference finals last year when they swept
the Pacers.
Speaker 3 (37:42):
Get the brooms out. Listen. Tatum versus Aunt. I think
you're trying to make it a thing here.
Speaker 1 (37:46):
I like it.
Speaker 3 (37:47):
I think those are the best two young players in
the game.
Speaker 5 (37:49):
Then cool Flag and Webbin Yama, you know, will change
that equation a little bit.
Speaker 3 (37:53):
But American, I think you're right.
Speaker 5 (37:55):
Tatum and Aunt Edwards are just awesome, fascinating young players.
Speaker 1 (38:00):
The NBA ratings, they're still international stars crushing. But market
size does help. It does matter that the Lakers, San Francisco,
the Knicks, the Celta, it does matter. If you take
out the NFL, market size matters and domestic stars matter.
It does. Like, oh, Tawni, it's great, But you know
what also is great, Aaron Judge, I'm sorry, that's great too.
(38:24):
So it's listen. If you look at Olympic ratings, Canadians
are thoughtful people. They're rooting for Canadians to win in
the Olympics. We're rooting for Americans. Italians are rooting for Italians.
That's not xenophobic. That's pride that we're all a little
patriotic and tribal. We want our domestic basketball stars. And
the other thing we have to be about Tatum and Ant.
(38:47):
I've said this three years ago. Almost every GM probably
would have taken Ja Morant over Ant. But the difference
is this league thought they did have Tatum and ant
Zion and John Morant. Everybody thought in the league office,
we got our guys. Want maturity. Struggle with both both
(39:07):
and and Sands. Some off court stuff. But the guy
plays hard, he's a good kid, he's a good teammate. Yeah,
I mean what guys do when they get rich at
twenty two. I'm not gonna be really highly judgmental.
Speaker 6 (39:16):
Well, he's not.
Speaker 1 (39:17):
You know, he plays his butt off, he's a good teammate,
he's a good kid. There's hiccups, but it does matter
that Celtics t Wolves domestic players being great. It helps
the league, There's no doubt.
Speaker 5 (39:30):
I do want to say, you took a couple jabs
at Jalen Brunson earlier saying he's not in this class.
I will say there is a Curry element to Jalen
Brunson where fans can look at him and.
Speaker 3 (39:40):
Be like, how is this guy the most clutch player
in the league.
Speaker 5 (39:43):
He's like a six foot one point guard with a
mid range game, which is a throwback, and he's kind
of like the inverse.
Speaker 3 (39:49):
Of Curry, who is hitting thirty footers.
Speaker 5 (39:51):
I think Brunson's in that class of American young ish
players that fans love. Jalen Brunson is so clutch, a
winner head down, no drama off the court.
Speaker 3 (40:01):
He's in that class buddy.
Speaker 1 (40:03):
In popularity, absolutely, but if you're telling me Tatum ant
Brunson take in order, he's third on everybody's list. I'm
not talking likability through the roof. Villanova guys are all.
I mean we literally there's a term in the NBA
Villanova guy. So like, I think Brunson's great and by
the way, he can be a one A. I think
(40:24):
if you went Giannis Brunson, that just feels like a
team that can get to the finals. Kat Brunson og
doesn't not with Cleveland and Boston. I mean, remember the
next went zero for ten Calves. Celtics thunder like they're
not there. They're just not there.
Speaker 5 (40:40):
It doesn't seem like they'll be able to take down
the Celtic. That would be a tall order.
Speaker 3 (40:43):
I mean, maybe they get two games from Boston. Can
they get two assuming they get by destroited? Sorry not
to disrespect.
Speaker 1 (40:50):
Slow down on the projection for the Knicks. The I
mean think about this. A year ago, the Pistons were
going to rebuild, the Knicks got Michaleen thought we're beating Boston,
and now that the same team. I think the Knicks
are a little better, but last night the numbers tell
you it's the same it's the same stuff. I mean,
the Knicks, I think just have I feel like there
(41:12):
are times Caid Cunningham really becomes important in every game.
I do feel like if Kat didn't play particularly great,
Mikhale Bridges, Josh hart Og Brunson, they can win a
game where Kat was off. I mean like like the
Pistons Margins are smaller, like if Kaid Cunningham doesn't play well,
(41:32):
they're not winning a game. They just don't have Tobias Harris.
Speaker 5 (41:36):
The limitations there, I'll say, the fifty nine percent on
free throws and you just can't do that.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
And the other thing.
Speaker 5 (41:41):
For the second night in a row, we saw the
hack a shack employed. They got Mitchell Robinson, who's a
good rebounder, good defender, they got him off the court
and then there's no rim protection for the next because
we know Kat Camp Ky Camp block shots at the rim.
So I thought it was smart coaching by Bickerstaff. Detroit
is on the on the cup up and by the way,
Caid Cunningham for Jah Morant, we called that. I think
last week it's not even close anymore.
Speaker 3 (42:03):
Kate Cunningham is a player.
Speaker 1 (42:04):
Yeah, Well, Kate Cunningham also has in this matters. This
has never been a small man's league in terms of
winning titles. Cade's a big professional athlete. I said this
to you last week. If you walked into a party
in New York and you didn't follow sports, and you
looked at Jalen Brunson, you're like, oh, what do you do?
If Caid Cunningham was in the room, You're like, Oh,
who's the pro athlete? Like he's just he looks Justin
(42:27):
Herbert looks like a professional athlete. You don't have any
buddies that are six five, two forty and ripped. Most
of us don't, right, Okay, Greg Cosell coming up and
interesting news with Eli Manning and the New York Giants.
Hosts And Creators
Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!