June 5, 2025 • 41 mins
Jason McIntyre fills in for Colin to make the case that the underdog Pacers have a real chance to pull off the upset against the Thunder.
He points out the media coverage surrounding Shedeur Sanders as he fights for reps in Browns OTAs and why people need to accept he will struggle to make the roster, let alone start games this season
Guest: Anthony Slater
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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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
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Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Oh, it's sending me a final Thursday.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Everybody.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Are you as excited as I am?
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Everybody, I'm back.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
It's The Herd on Thursday. It's me Jason McIntyre in
Colin Cowherd, although Colin will make an appearance here in
the opening segment.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
While You're Gonna Love It, You're gonna love It.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
Enjoyed Today by Alex Hurry. Alex, I know you're geeked.
I mean last night apparently the Stanley cuff happened.
Speaker 5 (00:52):
I don't know, Oilers taking it Game one and ot
Wild Stutson the King's Last too. So I always kind
of like ask myself, is it better if you lose
to the team that ends up winning it all? Like
then it's like, okay, that's okay because they ended up
winning the whole thing. So it's like they're the champions. Yeah,
you kind of feel feel that way. So like as
(01:13):
a Kings fan and used to cover the team for
a while, it's like, it's okay, it's the champs.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Last time I got into the show, Young Sheldon. Have
you seen it?
Speaker 4 (01:21):
I never really knew about it, but I guess it's
old and my kids started watching Young Sheldon. Listen, no
NBA last night. I'm sorry, I'm not watching hockey. It's
Benson found with the kids, Young Sheldon, good show.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
I highly recommend it.
Speaker 6 (01:33):
Funny.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
We have a great show today.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
So Tom pellisaw NFL Network will come in in the
final hour. You're gonna want to hear some of his stuff,
especially on the Vikings, who I gassed up this week?
And what's happening at Cleveland, which you'll get too shortly.
Eddie House, you guys don't have a big Eddie House guy.
Eddie House mysteriously ghosting me since the Celtics got bounced
by the Knicks. We'll talk to him next hour, but
I got to start the show obviously with the NBA Finals, Pacers,
(02:01):
Thunder feel the excitement. Listen, Folks to say Okac is
an overwhelming favorite, is an understatement.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
They are minus seven hundred currently to win the series.
It was minus eight.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Some money came in on the Pacers, but essentially that
means you want to win one hundred dollars, You got
a bet seven hundred dollars on OKAC.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
It's dumb.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
They are massive favorites. Game one I saw the line
was ten, are you kidding me?
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Now?
Speaker 4 (02:27):
Don't just run to bet the Pacers in game one
of the series. I will make a case for Indiana.
But it kind of sort of feels like a coronation
has already begun. I mean, everybody online and anywhere you go, radio, TV,
on the internet, everybody's picking OKAC. I haven't seen anyone
take the Pacers yet. And why would you? I mean,
Okayse won sixty eight games, and frankly, did you hear
(02:50):
Tyrese Haliburton yesterday at Media Day talking about Oka see
take a listener Tyrese Haliburton of the Pacers.
Speaker 7 (02:56):
They're historically great on both sides of the ball. The MVP.
I mean, there's so many different things that you could
name down the list of why they are so great
at what they do and why they're such a great team.
You want to go through the best team. You want
to go through the best challenge. So this is the
best challenge. And this is the best team in the NBA,
has been the best team in the NBA all year.
And they're well coached, They just they just do everything
(03:17):
so well. So there's no shortcuts to beating this team.
And we know the odds are stacked against us, but
you know, it is what it is.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Geez.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
The way you hear that, I mean, it's like they
could take down the ninety seven Bulls. They might sweep
the KD. Curry Warriors at this rate. Everybody loves Okase.
By the way, did you hear OKC twenty nine and
one against the East this year? Hello, They're gonna be
a blood bath, right, you know it? This is right
where the Pacers want to be. Nobody really gave them
(03:47):
a chance against Cleveland except this guy.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
I was one of the few.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
Out there who picked the Pacers to take take down
the Caves. Now, I didn't pick them to beat the Knicks.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Few did. They were underdogs. And what did they do.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
They just went into Cleveland first two games, Give me those.
Then they go on to New York.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
For two games.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
I'll take those and they won the series. And folks,
let's just put things in perspective. Have you seen the
fallout when you lose to the Indiana Pacers in these playoffs?
So the Pacers beat the Bucks in the first round.
Obviously Dame went down, obviously not great. And Milwaukee Bucks.
All we've heard from them since then is so where
(04:23):
do we trade Giannis?
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Where do we start over?
Speaker 4 (04:25):
Where do we hit the detonation on this team? Pacers
wiped them out. Then the Pacers beat Cleveland and there
was basically a fan mutiny in Cleveland. Cleveland was the
number one seed in the East almost all season. They
run away with the conference. Everybody thinks, oh, we can
make the finals. And now it's like, oh.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Mike, we lost to the Pacers. We got embarrassed by them.
Do we blow it up? Do we fire the coach?
Speaker 2 (04:47):
What do we do?
Speaker 3 (04:48):
Trade Donovan Mitchell? The Pacers are in disarray and my knicks.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Of course, after losing to the Pacers, within three days,
Tom Thibodau has fired. Wait to hear some of the
reports coming out about j Alan Brunson's dad. We'll get
to those later in the show, Like oh my gosh,
Carl Anthony Towns escapegoat the Pacers do this to you.
They shocked the world by shooting forty from three in
the playoffs. Nobody's sniffing that. And they were just a
(05:13):
good three point shooting team this season. I think they
were like ninth or tenth in the league, now by
a mile Theyer one. And I know the regular season
matchups didn't go their way, but I could counter nobody
tries in the regular season except okay see, remember the
Knicks got broomed by the Celtics and then turned the
tables in the playoffs. So like, let's not read too
much into okay see destroying Indiana.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
In the regular season.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
I'm of the belief that the Pacers everything okay See
does well, Indiana.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Can match that. Okay see, you got depth, so do we?
Speaker 4 (05:45):
Did you notice in the Cleveland series the Pacers had
a different leading scorer in every game. I'm telling you
they they run eight or nine deep. I like how
they can throw multiple bodies. Nie Smith, Nemhard coming off
the bench, Ben Shephard, the mustache dude who doesn't look
like much of a player, and then it's like, oh shucks,
he just put the muzzle on Jalen Brunson for four minutes. Like,
(06:08):
the Pacers got guys, They push tempo, they can hang
with threes, they got depth, they got a great coach too. Oh,
by the way, is the guy who threw a zone
at Lebron and the Heatles in the finals, who threw
JJ bray at Lebron? Rick Carlos's got some stuff cooked up.
I'm here to tell you give me the Pacers in six.
(06:28):
I know that's not going to be popular and okay, see,
but they already hate me there, so who cares.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
All right, let's move to Cleveland, which is.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
Basically ground zero for NFL OTAs, and the Shadeur Sanders
drama continues. Folks, I listen, you never want to overreact
to Can we call it imaginary football in June? I mean,
they're not playing with like real effort. It's just basic stuff.
And the division that.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
We're seeing is so it's massive.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
The gulf of what you see people saying about shaduor Sanders,
you would think he's ready to start Week one. I mean,
you see former NFL quarterbacks on social media breaking down
every pass. Oh my gosh, look at the movement in
the pocket, Look at that canon. This is why Shaduur
is the man. You see, our very own Colin Coward,
who oh, by the way, is not even on this
(07:21):
continent and is checking in on Shadeur Sanders OTAs. This
is what Colin Coward put on social media yesterday. No
reason to overwork a future Hall of Famer in OTAs.
Let's get him some rest for week one. Obviously he's
saying that in jest. But the whole overwork thing is
because despite all the hype for Shaduur, he's the only
(07:44):
quarterback on the Browns who wasn't playing with the ones.
Kevin Stefanski said, you go over there and work with
the backups and the guys who are you know, off
off season FedEx drivers, you know, who were trying to
make an NFL roster at your speed, Shador. And the
more that Kevin Stefanski does this, I think it empowers
(08:05):
all the Sadour guys who are putting on their capes
say why is an East store, Why is Kenny Pickett
getting reps over Shador? Well, here's Kevin Stefanski earlier this
week on Shador and the other rookie, Dylan Gabriel.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Those guys are doing great.
Speaker 8 (08:21):
They are both wired to get in early, get stay late,
put in whatever work is required. There's sponges in the
meeting room, which I think is really fun for me
and my vantage point. I get to sit there and
watch the two young guys look over and there's Joe
forty years old, one super Bowl. There's Kenny Pickett just
going into year four, but first round draft pick that's
(08:44):
been on a couple of teams, won a super Bowl
last year. There's Deshaun had a ton of success in
his career. They can kind of feed off of all
those guys. So that's the thing I'm really it's fun
for me to watch them get better sometimes just by listening.
Speaker 4 (08:59):
Did you see I mean he's framing Kenny Pickett as
a super Bowl winner who is a former first round pick.
Talk to any NFL fan and the first word that
comes up with Kenny Pickett, oh, bum, he's nothing.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Well, come on, give me a break.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
And Kevin Stefanski says he won a Super Bowl and
was a first round pick.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
You guys need to do some more homework before your crown.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
Shador Sanders And in the morning meeting today, you know,
I'm going all in on Schodro. I'm like, listen, he's
not getting first team reps. We need to pump the brakes.
And somebody smart said, you know, Shaduur is like the latest.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
iPhone that comes out, Right, the new iPhone comes out.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
It's gonna be amazing, it might even be legendary. And
then you get the iPhone and it's like, oh, this
is cool. It's nothing special. It's not that dramatically different.
It's not going to change my life. And I wonder
if that's where Shadure is kind of trending. I mean,
I mean, the guy's got be Legendary is his motto.
(09:59):
He's throwing really lavish NFL draft parties, and he's fourth
on the depth chart decidedly. And you know the other
argument is, well, Jay, they're treating him like a fifth
round quarterback. And I'm like, yeah, that's what they're doing.
He wasn't a first round pick. I would have taken
him in the first, but I didn't know all the
(10:19):
don nonsense. Well, Jay, you know Dak Prescott was a
third round pick and he got the start. I'm sorry,
Dak Prescott, fourth round pick. This is where it gets
real good. So I started looking into Dak. How did
Dak start as a rookie? Dak was drafted in the
fourth round in Dallas. He started out fourth on the
depth chart. These are all the things that needed to
(10:41):
happen for Dak Prescott to get started and for him
to become now the richest quarterback in NFL history. Kellen Moore,
who was the backup to Tony Romeo. Kellen Moore broke
his leg in training camp, so instantly it's like, oh,
who's going to be the backup? So Dak was then
battling someone named Jamille Showers, not familiar with his work.
He was the second year guy, and Dak outplayed him
(11:04):
in a preseason game. That's it, out played him in one,
and all of a sudden, Dak went from fourth to
the backup.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
It's like, wow, what a rise. Well, you know what
happened after that.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
Tony Romo broke his back literally in preseason week three,
and presto fourth round. Dak Prescott, who six weeks prior
was fourth string. Next thing you know, he's starting for
the Cowboys and he got his chance and he made
the most of it. That's gonna be the kind of
chain of events that's gonna take Shador Sanders from fourth string.
(11:33):
I'm not gonna count to Sean Watson because nobody thinks
he's really gonna play. The owner has kind of written
him off. But that's what it's gonna take for Chadur
to overtake Dylan Gabriel and Kenny Pickett or Joe Flacco.
I mean, I think we all agree Flacco's a pro.
Stefanski loves him. Flacco led them to the playoffs a
couple of years ago.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
He's safe. Maybe you flip Picket.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
To another team and you can scrounge up a third
or fourth round draftick who knows. Unlikely, but maybe. And
then there's Dylan Gabriel, who Stefanski loves. And oh, by
the way, oh see Tommy Reese Notre Dame legend, not
a legend, but I'm throwing around legendary because that's what
Shador likes. Anyways, here's Tommy Reese on Dylan Gabriel, Shador
(12:15):
Sanders and the hullabalop.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
You can see them all when in the job, I think, right.
Speaker 6 (12:19):
And so in terms of the competition, we're so early
in the process, we're so early and evaluating that. Yeah,
I think you know, we have a good group of
guys in a continue to push one another, and by
the time September rolls around, will be ready to go.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
Oh boy, oh boy. Not a lot of love for
mister Shadoor Sanders.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
So my guess here, and I haven't seen this line
hung anywhere in Vegas? How many starts for Shador standers? Like, again,
it's way too early to hang a line like that,
But I've been lower than the market, lower than the
everyone else out there. I'm on like a one and
a half. I think it's over under one and a
half for Shador. Now that's in June. Could that easily
change should there be an injury, a.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Trade, YadA, YadA, YadA.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
Is there a world where all of a sudden, shad
maybe starts five games? You know, I don't see it, guys.
I'm just gonna remind you. Drake May was a first
round pick last year for the Patriots. He didn't sniff
a start in September. Now, obviously the coach knew had
no clue what he was doing. They run him out
of town. And Drake May's really really good. I don't
(13:22):
quite think that's the case with Stefanski and Shador.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
Now it's June. I'm not trying to overreact.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
But man, you gotta love the quarterback drama in Cleveland
coming up next year. On The Herd, Finals get under
way tonight, Big points spread, big love for SGA. Can
we stop putting his name in the same sentence as
Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan because of the mid range.
I'll tell you who SGA is next here on the Herd.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and noon Easter not a em Pacific.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
You are now entering the noble Zone sponsored by credible
great rates with none of the bull.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Definitely no bs coming here, folks.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
SGA is an incredible basketball player. He is currently minus
six hundred to win the NBA Finals MVPUS six hundred, guys.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
That's come on, nobody else is winning the award.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
It's SGA unless he gets hurt or the Pacers win, right,
that's what the market's telling you. And a great producer,
Ryan Music had an amazing stat today. So if SGA
wins the Finals and the Finals MVP, he will become
the fourth player in NBA history to lead the NBA
in scoring in a season win the MVP, win the
(14:39):
title and the finals MVP. Only three guys have done that. Okay,
these three guys are kind of a big deal. Kareem
Abdul Jabbar, my dad's favorite player who I loved for
the few years I could see him before he retired.
This guy named Michael Jordan, the second greatest player in
NBA history. And Shaquille O'Neill. That's the company SGA joins
(15:02):
if he wins a title and a finals MVP, which
according to the gambling market seems very likely. So instantly
we're putting SGA in this hallowed territory. We're gonna do that.
That's what the media does. They need to crown somebody.
We need the next guy because Kd's old. Yeah, KD,
(15:22):
I saw your comment online. Lebron's old, Curry's old. We
need that next dude. And it may not be Anthony Edwards,
you know, maybe it is the Canadian SGA, or, as
I like to call him, the Canadian James Harden, because
I'm here to tell you, as good as SGA is
to me, he's James Harden two point zero.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
Okay, that's not a knock.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
James Harden, You guys, forget seven eight years ago, was
eviscerating the NBA.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
He was unstoppable offensively.
Speaker 4 (15:52):
There were credible discussions started by Daryl Morey, but nevertheless
that James Harden was the best score of the NBA
had seen since Michael Jordan. He was averaging thirty five
a game, led the league in scoring I believe four
straight years, led the league in assist once. And this
is my favorite stat courtesy of someone in one of
our great stat guys. James Harden led the league in
(16:12):
free throws seven times in eight years. James Harden was
a free throw merchant before SGA and some other interesting stats,
and you got to kind of drill down on these,
but there's now a billion stats in the NBA, right,
there's all this tracking data. James Harden was like leading
the league in isolations, drives to the basket, all these
(16:35):
stats that are basically like I'm a ball hog, nobody
can stop me, and I'm going to the ten. SGA
is doing the exact same thing. Nobody isolates now more
than SGA.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
Now.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
The big difference in their two games on offense is
Harden would hit the three usually the step back SGA
has made the mid rains. He's not as good as
a three point shooter. That's the only difference. Otherwise they're
the same pound the ball can take you to the hoop.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
And I'm gonna I'm gonna.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
Do the theatrics and flop you guys think Lebron flopps.
Take a look at the free throw merchant. He is
always drawing the foul. He does that hook move.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
I'm just telling you saw this.
Speaker 4 (17:11):
Hurky jerky stuff. There's a good comedian, Sebastian Manuscula who
does all these theatrics. That's who kind of SGA reminds
me of sometimes when he's driving to the basket and
he gets these calls and you.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Could see the Timberwolves were pissed.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
Jade McDaniels got so frustrated he just outright shoved him
at one point. Now, I know this isn't gonna be popular,
and I can already hear people say, well, what do
you know, James Harden never played a lick of defense.
He was not a great defender. I get you, guys,
SGA is on a great defensive team. He's loaded. Hey man,
you gotta get buy me fine. Ched Holmgrin on the background,
(17:45):
he's got my back, I got Alex Cruz, Okay.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
Sond Wall.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
They have a really really good defensive team. So SGA
doesn't have to be a great defender. He is he
better than Harden a defense, I would probably. I don't
have any metrics to back that up, nor do you,
but yes, on the surface, SGA is a better defender.
I asked Jovon Buha here earlier this week if he
thinks SGA is hard and two point zero.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
I think it is.
Speaker 7 (18:10):
Just because.
Speaker 9 (18:12):
Because of the playoff track record at this point we've
seen with Harden when you look at some of his
notable playoff performances, especially in games five to seven, game
six performances, game seven performances, like he shrinks from the moment,
And so I think with Shay already, I mean, Harden's
been to the finals, but he was in the finals
(18:34):
as a sixth man. He hasn't been to the finals
as the guy. He hasn't gotten over that hump yet.
So I know it's a bit reductive and I don't
but like, we have the track record, right.
Speaker 4 (18:44):
That's fair And a lot of people will disagree with
this take. I'm sure a lot of people disagree with
my NBA takes this week very strange.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
Usually everybody just agrees with me.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
I mean it's like universal j Mack, I got you,
I see you, King, but not a lot this week.
Just a reminder SG really really good. I'm not diminishing
his day. Calling him James Harden is not a knock.
James Harden probably one of the twenty five to thirty
best players in the history of the sport.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
You know, he's got to be one of the best
players in league history without a ring. He's done a ton.
Speaker 4 (19:16):
Just because SGA is gonna do something historical, it doesn't
mean he's a historic great. Okay, Robert or my guy
won seven rings. I don't think anybody says he's better
than Jordan. He has more rings, he's better than I
don't think we're doing that. So like when SGA wins
the title and finals MVP and he gets put in
(19:36):
the same category as Kareem Shack and Jordan, let's let's
just let sanity prevail and just say, man, he had
a great season.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Maybe this is an outliar.
Speaker 4 (19:46):
I mean, maybe there's another season they do plicate this,
but let's pump them. If anything, SGA, James Harden two
point zero. Let's go to Alex Curry with the news.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Turn on the news is the herd Line News.
Speaker 10 (20:01):
You're cracking me up with these NBA takes playing.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
He's just like, I got that before my daughter.
Speaker 5 (20:08):
But she says, like I was gonna say that was
like apparently it's not cool to.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
Say sligh whatever else.
Speaker 5 (20:14):
I mean, I'm like to the party, who if you
do it with confidence, that's any like any kind of trend,
Like as long as you're like confident what you wear
and what you do, it's gonna be cool. Okay, let's
start with OTA's Miami Dolphins have a ton of questions
on the roster, but for wide receiver Jalen Wall quarterback,
isn't one of them. Take a listen to Wattle talk
about Scuby one.
Speaker 7 (20:35):
He's excited to play, man, I think all of us are.
Speaker 4 (20:39):
He looked confident coming out with you know different swag
got dyeing his hair most off, so.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
They he looked like he.
Speaker 5 (20:49):
I mean, there's just always going to be that giant
elephant in the room with Tua.
Speaker 10 (20:57):
One more big hit in his career could be over.
Speaker 5 (21:00):
Like I honestly am like nervous and scared watching his
games if he's not sliding right, if he takes a
big hit, Like I love hearing that he's confident and
he's doing great, But at any moment, like one one
more big hit for Tua and like that could be
it not just for your starting quarterback, but his career.
Speaker 10 (21:23):
And possibly like really affecting his life.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
Yeah, that's where it's tough for me. I don't know.
Speaker 4 (21:29):
I kind of like this, this attitude that Tua has.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
I'm gonna live in the moment. I guess is it
over with another concussion?
Speaker 2 (21:37):
It's my brain mush.
Speaker 4 (21:38):
Yeah, but you know what I'm gonna I'm gonna do
me and have fun in his choice.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
And yeah, he could actually walk away from the game.
Who's a guy who walked away from the Lions this week?
Speaker 9 (21:47):
Drag?
Speaker 2 (21:47):
Now, yeah, just retire.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
I've been retired too, I could do that. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Yeah, I don't know what to make of Like it's
interesting you see that bug on the screen? No, uh no,
Tyreek kill Tyreek Hill is.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
He's the second biggest help.
Speaker 5 (22:04):
Yeah, do you never know what you're gonna get on
or off the field, But like he has more drama
off the field, and then you got away, like is
it worth it with what you get on the field.
Speaker 4 (22:16):
It feels like maybe Tua has had a good run
under McDaniel, but maybe it's coming to an end.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
I don't you know.
Speaker 4 (22:24):
The teams started to figure them out, and his numbers
went down a little last year, and they clearly have
been passed by the Bills.
Speaker 5 (22:31):
I mean, yeah, they're definitely not finishing first in the
AFC East, But.
Speaker 10 (22:37):
I mean, depending how your Jets do.
Speaker 5 (22:40):
Like again, a lot of question Mark people are really
high on the Patriots. Miami comes down to Kent Tua
stay healthy and what are you gonna get from Patrick
Hill if he's actually figure and he's on the field.
Speaker 10 (22:51):
But again, I love Tua.
Speaker 5 (22:53):
I've loved him since like before he got drafted, his
whole draft story. I think Fox did a whole documentary
on him, like following.
Speaker 10 (22:59):
His draft story.
Speaker 5 (23:00):
So I've been like a big too a fan. I
love who he is as a person. I just fear
for his life every time he's off the field, and
I am not comfortable watching his games.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
But it's okay.
Speaker 5 (23:11):
I hope he does well and I hope he doesn't
get another concussion. But let's switch gears to college football.
J Mac, I know you're a big gambler, but I
bet this is going to blow your mind.
Speaker 10 (23:21):
North Carolina right now.
Speaker 5 (23:22):
Has the most underwin total bets in college football, with
the wind total set at seven and a half. But
there's another interesting nugget here. So according to the Athletic,
before April fifteenth, seventy nine percent of the bets were
on the over. Since April fifteenth, eighty nine percent of
the bets have been on the under. Now, April fifteenth
(23:43):
is right around the time that the world became aware.
Speaker 10 (23:47):
Of Belichick's relationship.
Speaker 5 (23:49):
With Jordan Now, honestly, I'm not surprised here. Bill is
going against everything he's ever stood for, his biggest thing
when he was in the NFL, and we've heard a
lot of former players say this, do not be a distraction.
Bill Belichick is the biggest distraction in college football right now.
(24:10):
New England Bill Belichick would fire North Carolina Bill Belichick
like this. This is not the Bill we grew up
watching take a Dynasty to where it became the topic.
This is a completely different Bill Belichick, and the world
saw it, and people are kind of betting against it
(24:31):
right now.
Speaker 10 (24:32):
So wild, But.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
I'm not what am I missing?
Speaker 4 (24:34):
Why would you all of a sudden bet against North
Carolina just because he has a girlfriend who By the way,
did you guys notice Alex referred to her as Jordan.
I didn't know she was on a one new basis
like Kylie or I love these other people's She is
a big deal, are you guys friends?
Speaker 2 (24:53):
By the way?
Speaker 3 (24:54):
On ig or no? No, okay, just had a chat.
Speaker 10 (24:56):
No again.
Speaker 5 (24:58):
I love strong women in men's lives.
Speaker 10 (25:01):
I think it's really important.
Speaker 5 (25:04):
But the Bill that we knew before, and everything he
preached on the field and off the field, is no distractions.
This is all we're talking about with his new position
in North Carolina is his relationship.
Speaker 10 (25:15):
This is the biggest distraction.
Speaker 5 (25:17):
I don't have a problem with her being his your agent,
running his social media, connecting to the youth, but it's
once it bleeds onto the football field. We've seen her
on the football field, We've seen with the documentary and
everything that's been shot behind.
Speaker 10 (25:30):
The scenes being there.
Speaker 5 (25:31):
It's just there has to be some sort of a talents.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
I have a good question just listening.
Speaker 4 (25:38):
To you break it down, and I don't I don't
know how to relate to this, Yeah, because I don't
know any seventy.
Speaker 10 (25:47):
Year old guy.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
He's dating twenty year old woman. I'm going to ask
you if one of your girlfriends.
Speaker 4 (25:52):
Gold Um was like, oh, Alexai, yeah, I gotta tell
you I met this guy. He's seventy three and I'm
dating him. Yeah, what would your reaction, bet be? Honest,
don't hold back here.
Speaker 5 (26:04):
I mean I have really dear friends of all ages
that are way younger than me, that are in their
sixties and seventies.
Speaker 10 (26:11):
Like, age doesn't bother me.
Speaker 5 (26:14):
This is a little when you see like when she
was born and how old. Bill Belichick was like that
comparison is a little strange. But again, like who am
I to judge? If they love each other and this
is what it is like. But I mean as if
I was like a parent and that a child one
like older than me, that's a little strange.
Speaker 10 (26:36):
But again it's no, I don't, I don't know. I
don't know the relationship.
Speaker 4 (26:39):
But again, do you have again fifty year age gaps.
Speaker 10 (26:43):
I don't want pretty big age.
Speaker 5 (26:45):
Gaps, not anywhere close to No, that's definitely the biggest.
Speaker 10 (26:49):
But again, like I.
Speaker 5 (26:50):
Don't, I don't know anything about it, Like I don't.
Speaker 10 (26:52):
I don't judge ages. That's that's their things, not mine
a right.
Speaker 5 (26:58):
But again, if it was like so when close to
me and like my daughter or a family member different,
you have a little more inside information.
Speaker 10 (27:07):
On the situation. We don't know the situation. All we
see is the outside.
Speaker 5 (27:11):
So unless you're like close to them and like no
both sides.
Speaker 10 (27:14):
I don't think you can really have an emporion on that.
Speaker 5 (27:16):
But let's head back to the NFL. Peyton Manning spent
a lot of time around Joe Burrow last season, as
Burrow is going to be one of the stars of
Manning's Netflix show Quarterback Now. Manning was recently asked about
Burrow and said, there are expectations that come with being
a franchise quarterback, but Joe is well aware of those
and he can carry that burden and wants those expectations
on his shoulders. I know he fully expects as I do,
(27:39):
to bring a championship here to Cincinnati. Now, we all
know Burrow has the talent to win, but does he
have the support around him?
Speaker 10 (27:47):
Does he have strong enough off on the blind, does
he have a strong enough defense.
Speaker 5 (27:49):
Is the Bengals organization putting him in a position to
help him succeed. I mean, history says no, it sounds
good saying it in June. But he also he hasn't
had a strong start to the season. He's one and
eleven in his first two weeks. He's gotten to the
super Bowl but lost in Matthew Stafford and the Rams,
and then besides that, he needs to continue to get
(28:11):
past Mahomes and Lamar Jackson to get there. So do
you over under one super Bowl?
Speaker 3 (28:18):
Superb one super Bowl win?
Speaker 2 (28:20):
Yeah?
Speaker 10 (28:20):
One super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
So what's tricky is like Marino went there in year two. Yeah,
never got back.
Speaker 6 (28:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (28:26):
The Bengals are similar, heavily on the offense, terrible defense.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
Problem is Lamar.
Speaker 10 (28:32):
That's what I'm saying. You got you got to get
through a lot of guys to get there.
Speaker 3 (28:38):
I will reluctantly say, no super Bowl wins, just rude all.
Speaker 10 (28:42):
It's kind of similar to what the Jordan era.
Speaker 5 (28:45):
There's some great, great teams and great players playing with Jordan,
but it's like, I'm sorry that you're playing in a
time where you have someone that's just like in a
league of his own.
Speaker 10 (28:56):
It's hard to get by him.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
And Patrick ewing. My guy never got to ring Alex
at the news.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
Well that's the news, and thanks for stopping byord Line News.
Speaker 3 (29:07):
All right, NBA Finals Game one is tonight.
Speaker 4 (29:10):
We head to Okac to talk to a reporter who's
been on the scene.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
Sounds like it's quite a vibe there.
Speaker 4 (29:17):
I don't know how my Okac takes are gonna take
go for him, but we'll find out shortly.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
at noon eastern nn am Pacific.
Speaker 11 (29:26):
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
(29:48):
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, to
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
(30:09):
check out Cavino 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 kobeen on Rich wherever you
get your podcasts, and of course on social media. That's
Cavino and Rich.
Speaker 4 (30:27):
Back here on the Herd. Jason McIntyre in for Colin.
We got a great guest right now to break down
the NBA Finals live from Oklahoma City. Anthony Slater covers
the NBA to the athletic.
Speaker 3 (30:42):
This is fun.
Speaker 4 (30:42):
He used to work at the Oklahoma and way back
I used to have him on my radio show. He
was covering the Thunder then he covered the Warriors. He's
been around, Anthony. What's a vibe around Gabe?
Speaker 3 (30:53):
One of the finals right now?
Speaker 12 (30:56):
It's excited in downtown Oklahoma City. Obviously, I went to
an event last night. Actually Trey Young was around because
Trey Young lives in Norman. But it's just the NBA
world has descended upon Oklahoma City. Now, it was tough
travel in with the you know, the severe weather. You
probably heard about the Pacers, right, they had to divert
their their flight and go to Tulsa, And there was
(31:17):
a lot of delays for a lot of the media.
And like NBA world that has come to Oklahoma City.
So maybe a slight level of frustration on getting in.
But I think there's a freshness to the matchup and
sure that you know, the ratings may not be spectacular,
we'll see, but I do think the people who are
like you know, are are you know, worried about the
product on the floor, like and you know, love basketball.
(31:38):
I think are excited about the style of plays between
these two teams, the depth, the the you know, the
fast paced nature of what we think will be maybe
not a super competitive, deep series, but I think a
fun series.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
It's interesting.
Speaker 4 (31:50):
You know, you mentioned like kind of fresh blood here
in the finals, So Anthony, I don't know.
Speaker 3 (31:54):
I went on a bit of a rant that I
love super teams.
Speaker 4 (31:57):
I like the excitement of Kevin r going to the
Warriors and the Warriors being hated and Lebron forming a
team and everybody hating those guys. Like the super teams
to me were interesting and just easily generated discussion.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
I don't know that you get that with this matchup.
Do you think you need it?
Speaker 12 (32:15):
Yeah, yeah, it's I think there's pros and cons to it.
Where you know you mentioned I covered the Durant tea.
The best playoffs I ever covered was twenty sixteen when
it was Durant's thunder against the Warriors and then obviously
the snowball effect of that create creating the storylines that
you're talking about. But I will say when I covered
the Durant Warriors teams, they were fun to talk about,
(32:36):
but then they went sweep, sweep sweep in the West
playoffs and like those weren't you know, I remember them
in Utah. I was like Game three in Utah, you could, like,
even the home crowd in Utah I thought there was
no chance that the Jazz were gonna win it, and
so they Like if I think back to those playoffs,
there were such a lack of competitive drama to it,
even though the teams and the you know, the personalities
(32:57):
were fun to cover. So, uh, it's a given a
because I actually think these NBA playoffs have been really fun.
And obviously the Thunders kind of considered the goliath type team,
but they had a seven game series in the second round,
and I thought the East playoffs, even the East finals
of the second round, like there was a lot to
it competitively, even if, as you mentioned, you know, the
big brand names, the Lebron's, the steps are kind of
(33:18):
fading out a little bit.
Speaker 4 (33:19):
Yeah, let me ask you said that competitive series against Denver. So,
if memory serves, it was two to Anthony Game five
in OKC. Denver led by nine in the fourth quarter,
and at that point, I've got my choke Lahoma tweets
all lined up, and then loud Dort gets volcanic and
hits three straight threes, and loud Dort basically saved OKAC.
If you have to go down three two to Denver
(33:41):
and Yokich's at home, it might have been a rap.
Speaker 3 (33:44):
So how great is this OKAC team?
Speaker 12 (33:47):
Yeah, it's an interesting point because I remember I was
in Minnesota at the time covering the Timberwolves Warrior series,
and we're with a bunch of reporters in a bar
watching that Game five, and everybody was discussing like there
had been a moment prior to that that you actually
thought Denver was gonna win the series. And there was
a moment I think you mentioned it in that second
half where you're like, would you pick Denver at this
(34:08):
exact point, and I think the answer was yes, Yeah.
I think the battle scars that Oklahoma City went through helped.
You know, we just talked to Jalen Williams because they
had a long lea aft before that game won and
then blew that Game one and you wonder about the
long lay aft tonight before the game and he mentioned
they just had some clock management trouble. You probably remember
the foul and O three, the way they screwed up
(34:29):
that Game one. I think that's what really extended that series.
The Thunder should have won that and gave it away.
And also like maybe we should just credit Jokic and
the Nuggets. Maybe they were the best you know, competitive
you know, foil to the Thunder in these playoffs, because
Minnesota certainly didn't seem like it in the West Final.
So there was never a moment in that series you
thought the Timberwolves really had a shot. So we'll see,
(34:50):
like maybe maybe this isn't you know, the this Thunder
team is equivalent to sixty eight win teams of the
past that you know, I depended on what you think
of that. But like there, I think or one of
the heavier favorites ever in Vegas heading into the finals
right now. So if they just rolled through this finals,
it's just statistically one of the greatest seasons in NBA history.
Speaker 4 (35:09):
It is, But I don't do I mean, do you
think they're like an all time great Like I asked
this question of a couple of guests this week, who
would you take in a seven game series? Last year's
Celtics that won the title was this year's Thunder And
I think that's pretty clearly the Celtics.
Speaker 7 (35:24):
Right.
Speaker 12 (35:26):
It's a great question. I'm not sure I would have
loved to see them play a full throttle Celtics team
this season. Obviously they didn't get that chance because the
Celtics were loaded d Waite Porzingis was playing. It is
a good point, but I mean, how do you reconcile
looking at what they did from the best point differential
ever tied for the best net rating with the seventy
two Bowls seams, and then you know, within the playoffs,
(35:48):
all the continued double digit wins. They I believe. Now
I have sixty one wins by ten or more points,
which is an NBA record, where the twenty seventeen Warriors,
the Durant Warriors, who just blasted teams, had sixty that's
the team they surpassed for most double digit wins ever
in a full season plus playoffs. So like, I get
the point, but I'm also like, you know, when does
win Do the numbers and the records and what they've
(36:10):
done to the rest of the league matter in the conversation?
Speaker 3 (36:13):
Yeah, No, that's a great point. I didn't know that
SAT sixty one wins.
Speaker 4 (36:16):
Wow, So how much of that is Well, listen, this
was kind of a strange year. Luca gets traded mid season,
Joel Embiido was the MVP of five minutes ago, total
non factor out for the whole year. The Paul George
trade blows up the Phoenix Suns, who have a super
team with all NBA guys Bradley ve O Booker. Correct,
they don't even make the playoffs. You know, was it
(36:38):
a weird year? Or I don't know, are the thunder
that freaking good? Because the eye test tells me, yeah,
they're really good, But I don't know, would you take
them over the bubble Lakers with Ad and Lebron?
Speaker 12 (36:49):
I think I would.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
Wait, they were number russo for.
Speaker 3 (36:52):
Number one in the West before COVID hit, I think yeah.
Speaker 12 (36:55):
I mean, funny Caruso was like, you know, the Lakers
defensive eggs that time. The Thunders Now, obviously I probably would.
It's so tough to know, but you know, like I
think you obviously mentioned a few of the disaster situations
in the league this year that they crumbled, but like
it was a deep Like the West was extremely deep
with you know, loads of good teams, and I think
(37:16):
part of the reason some of those you know you
mentioned the Suns, like, part of the reason the Suns
had such a bad season is because there were so
many good West teams above them that they just couldn't
beat on a nightly basis. And those were the same
teams that Thunder were just wiping off the floor with
twenty point wins. And one of the things I would
say to remember about the Thunder season, Chet Holmgren only
plays thirty two games. That's their third best player. Isaiah Hartenstein,
(37:37):
who was at backup center, missed like twenty five games,
they went out stretch of games without a center and
were playing Jalen Williams at center. They could play so
many different ways, and I just think the difference between
them and maybe some of the past Goliath type teams
that were mentioning it is they don't meant necessarily have
the star scoring right, but defensively they you know, they
they caused turnovers more than basically any team you know
(37:59):
since since steels have been recorded, that type of stuff.
I think that is what sets them apart. Their defense
is just ferocious.
Speaker 4 (38:06):
How much of this has to do with larger issues
mac gros stuff around the league, like, hey, if you
stay with your team that drafts you, you can.
Speaker 3 (38:15):
Sign on super Max and make three hundred million.
Speaker 4 (38:18):
And of course that doesn't apply to okay see because
SGA wasn't drafted by them. But at the same time,
the whole second Apron stuff, you know, some of these teams,
like the Celtics were already looking, how are we gonna
get off these contracts of bucks.
Speaker 3 (38:33):
We got to unload Yiannis sons, we got to blow
it up.
Speaker 4 (38:36):
Like it just feels like the league is now set
up for some more parody as opposed to what we
had when you were like covering the Warriors.
Speaker 12 (38:45):
Yeah, they're set up to break up the teams, right,
It's set up to make it so that Steve Balmers
can't just overpay and overpay and overpay or Joe Lakob right,
you know, break up a Warriors type team from the past.
The Thunder is uniquely built to maybe have an extended
run here. But they're you know, Chet Holmgren and Jalen
Williams were in the same draft. They're going to be
extension eligible this summer. I would imagine both would be
(39:08):
asking for Max. They have the same agent, Bill Duffy.
Those extensions wouldn't kick in for another season after this,
So they clearly have this you know finals right here
and next year with two of their three best players
being on cheap rookie deals. But once they're not, and
once Shay gets this you know next super Max, which
is huge money, they're going to have you know, apron
issues down the line, and where they're probably gonna have
(39:31):
to get off some of their you know, kind of
mid tier type deals, the Heart and Stunt deal, the
Caruso type deal, the Dort deals, what Sam Presty has done,
is he's built this war chest to first round picks,
where theoretically the plan would be to replenish under them,
which like Cason Wallace is a great example. Like Cason Wallace,
uh is is going to be on a rookie deal
(39:51):
for for two more seasons after this. Uh he would
seem to be kind of in that dork Caruso mold
to kind of you know, expand his role under them
is And the idea would be if Press he can
keep using all of his draft capital to keep cheap
role players under the stars, because that's you know, at
this point with the league, if you're gonna have three
(40:12):
guys being paid Max is like you just don't have
money elsewhere.
Speaker 3 (40:15):
All right, last question, we got about a minute left.
Speaker 4 (40:17):
I compared SG eight to basically James Harden two point zero,
just trading the threes for the mid range. Both get
to the foul line a ton, they're heavy, iso they
drive to the basket, just similar to me.
Speaker 12 (40:29):
Your thoughts, Yeah, I mean it's it's like kind of
a controlling, somewhat heliocentric way to play. Now, I would say,
like Sja shares it more, it's more of a you know,
democratic offense than those Rockets teams where it was just
park PJ. Tucker in the corner, Park tremor Resa in
the corner, picking rolls every single time. Like that was
just more like on a one trick pony that those
(40:52):
those D'Antoni teams where SGA. Also, it's a variety of
the mid range. It's you know, he could go baseline,
he could post you up, he could get to twelve feet,
he can go to eighteen. He will shoot the three.
He is a three level score. It's just that that
extra level. I don't know, do you like seeing a
mid range operator more than just kind of your shoot
threes every time type of that more old school.
Speaker 3 (41:13):
I'm a three point guy. You know, Curry's my favorite player.
I play playing basketball. I love threes. I'm not a
mid range guy, don't.
Speaker 7 (41:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 12 (41:21):
I mean I would say, like there's just more variety
to the Thunders offensive attack beyond SGA than those Houston teams. Definitely,
And I think that's.
Speaker 4 (41:31):
You know, matters all right, Anthony Slater, the athletic great stuff.
Speaker 3 (41:35):
Enjoy the games and the series. Thanks a lot of
Anthony good stuff.
Speaker 12 (41:39):
Yep, thanks for having all right.
Speaker 4 (41:43):
Coming up next They asked me to rank the top
ten players in this series. Obviously SGA is one, but two, three,
four That was not easy.
Speaker 3 (41:52):
That's next year on the
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 3 (00:26):
Oh, it's sending me a final Thursday.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Everybody.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Are you as excited as I am?
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Everybody, I'm back.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
It's The Herd on Thursday. It's me Jason McIntyre in
Colin Cowherd, although Colin will make an appearance here in
the opening segment.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
While You're Gonna Love It, You're gonna love It.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
Enjoyed Today by Alex Hurry. Alex, I know you're geeked.
I mean last night apparently the Stanley cuff happened.
Speaker 5 (00:52):
I don't know, Oilers taking it Game one and ot
Wild Stutson the King's Last too. So I always kind
of like ask myself, is it better if you lose
to the team that ends up winning it all? Like
then it's like, okay, that's okay because they ended up
winning the whole thing. So it's like they're the champions. Yeah,
you kind of feel feel that way. So like as
(01:13):
a Kings fan and used to cover the team for
a while, it's like, it's okay, it's the champs.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Last time I got into the show, Young Sheldon. Have
you seen it?
Speaker 4 (01:21):
I never really knew about it, but I guess it's
old and my kids started watching Young Sheldon. Listen, no
NBA last night. I'm sorry, I'm not watching hockey. It's
Benson found with the kids, Young Sheldon, good show.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
I highly recommend it.
Speaker 6 (01:33):
Funny.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
We have a great show today.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
So Tom pellisaw NFL Network will come in in the
final hour. You're gonna want to hear some of his stuff,
especially on the Vikings, who I gassed up this week?
And what's happening at Cleveland, which you'll get too shortly.
Eddie House, you guys don't have a big Eddie House guy.
Eddie House mysteriously ghosting me since the Celtics got bounced
by the Knicks. We'll talk to him next hour, but
I got to start the show obviously with the NBA Finals, Pacers,
(02:01):
Thunder feel the excitement. Listen, Folks to say Okac is
an overwhelming favorite, is an understatement.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
They are minus seven hundred currently to win the series.
It was minus eight.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Some money came in on the Pacers, but essentially that
means you want to win one hundred dollars, You got
a bet seven hundred dollars on OKAC.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
It's dumb.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
They are massive favorites. Game one I saw the line
was ten, are you kidding me?
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Now?
Speaker 4 (02:27):
Don't just run to bet the Pacers in game one
of the series. I will make a case for Indiana.
But it kind of sort of feels like a coronation
has already begun. I mean, everybody online and anywhere you go, radio, TV,
on the internet, everybody's picking OKAC. I haven't seen anyone
take the Pacers yet. And why would you? I mean,
Okayse won sixty eight games, and frankly, did you hear
(02:50):
Tyrese Haliburton yesterday at Media Day talking about Oka see
take a listener Tyrese Haliburton of the Pacers.
Speaker 7 (02:56):
They're historically great on both sides of the ball. The MVP.
I mean, there's so many different things that you could
name down the list of why they are so great
at what they do and why they're such a great team.
You want to go through the best team. You want
to go through the best challenge. So this is the
best challenge. And this is the best team in the NBA,
has been the best team in the NBA all year.
And they're well coached, They just they just do everything
(03:17):
so well. So there's no shortcuts to beating this team.
And we know the odds are stacked against us, but
you know, it is what it is.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Geez.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
The way you hear that, I mean, it's like they
could take down the ninety seven Bulls. They might sweep
the KD. Curry Warriors at this rate. Everybody loves Okase.
By the way, did you hear OKC twenty nine and
one against the East this year? Hello, They're gonna be
a blood bath, right, you know it? This is right
where the Pacers want to be. Nobody really gave them
(03:47):
a chance against Cleveland except this guy.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
I was one of the few.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
Out there who picked the Pacers to take take down
the Caves. Now, I didn't pick them to beat the Knicks.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Few did. They were underdogs. And what did they do.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
They just went into Cleveland first two games, Give me those.
Then they go on to New York.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
For two games.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
I'll take those and they won the series. And folks,
let's just put things in perspective. Have you seen the
fallout when you lose to the Indiana Pacers in these playoffs?
So the Pacers beat the Bucks in the first round.
Obviously Dame went down, obviously not great. And Milwaukee Bucks.
All we've heard from them since then is so where
(04:23):
do we trade Giannis?
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Where do we start over?
Speaker 4 (04:25):
Where do we hit the detonation on this team? Pacers
wiped them out. Then the Pacers beat Cleveland and there
was basically a fan mutiny in Cleveland. Cleveland was the
number one seed in the East almost all season. They
run away with the conference. Everybody thinks, oh, we can
make the finals. And now it's like, oh.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Mike, we lost to the Pacers. We got embarrassed by them.
Do we blow it up? Do we fire the coach?
Speaker 2 (04:47):
What do we do?
Speaker 3 (04:48):
Trade Donovan Mitchell? The Pacers are in disarray and my knicks.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Of course, after losing to the Pacers, within three days,
Tom Thibodau has fired. Wait to hear some of the
reports coming out about j Alan Brunson's dad. We'll get
to those later in the show, Like oh my gosh,
Carl Anthony Towns escapegoat the Pacers do this to you.
They shocked the world by shooting forty from three in
the playoffs. Nobody's sniffing that. And they were just a
(05:13):
good three point shooting team this season. I think they
were like ninth or tenth in the league, now by
a mile Theyer one. And I know the regular season
matchups didn't go their way, but I could counter nobody
tries in the regular season except okay see, remember the
Knicks got broomed by the Celtics and then turned the
tables in the playoffs. So like, let's not read too
much into okay see destroying Indiana.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
In the regular season.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
I'm of the belief that the Pacers everything okay See
does well, Indiana.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Can match that. Okay see, you got depth, so do we?
Speaker 4 (05:45):
Did you notice in the Cleveland series the Pacers had
a different leading scorer in every game. I'm telling you
they they run eight or nine deep. I like how
they can throw multiple bodies. Nie Smith, Nemhard coming off
the bench, Ben Shephard, the mustache dude who doesn't look
like much of a player, and then it's like, oh shucks,
he just put the muzzle on Jalen Brunson for four minutes. Like,
(06:08):
the Pacers got guys, They push tempo, they can hang
with threes, they got depth, they got a great coach too. Oh,
by the way, is the guy who threw a zone
at Lebron and the Heatles in the finals, who threw
JJ bray at Lebron? Rick Carlos's got some stuff cooked up.
I'm here to tell you give me the Pacers in six.
(06:28):
I know that's not going to be popular and okay, see,
but they already hate me there, so who cares.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
All right, let's move to Cleveland, which is.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
Basically ground zero for NFL OTAs, and the Shadeur Sanders
drama continues. Folks, I listen, you never want to overreact
to Can we call it imaginary football in June? I mean,
they're not playing with like real effort. It's just basic stuff.
And the division that.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
We're seeing is so it's massive.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
The gulf of what you see people saying about shaduor Sanders,
you would think he's ready to start Week one. I mean,
you see former NFL quarterbacks on social media breaking down
every pass. Oh my gosh, look at the movement in
the pocket, Look at that canon. This is why Shaduur
is the man. You see, our very own Colin Coward,
who oh, by the way, is not even on this
(07:21):
continent and is checking in on Shadeur Sanders OTAs. This
is what Colin Coward put on social media yesterday. No
reason to overwork a future Hall of Famer in OTAs.
Let's get him some rest for week one. Obviously he's
saying that in jest. But the whole overwork thing is
because despite all the hype for Shaduur, he's the only
(07:44):
quarterback on the Browns who wasn't playing with the ones.
Kevin Stefanski said, you go over there and work with
the backups and the guys who are you know, off
off season FedEx drivers, you know, who were trying to
make an NFL roster at your speed, Shador. And the
more that Kevin Stefanski does this, I think it empowers
(08:05):
all the Sadour guys who are putting on their capes
say why is an East store, Why is Kenny Pickett
getting reps over Shador? Well, here's Kevin Stefanski earlier this
week on Shador and the other rookie, Dylan Gabriel.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Those guys are doing great.
Speaker 8 (08:21):
They are both wired to get in early, get stay late,
put in whatever work is required. There's sponges in the
meeting room, which I think is really fun for me
and my vantage point. I get to sit there and
watch the two young guys look over and there's Joe
forty years old, one super Bowl. There's Kenny Pickett just
going into year four, but first round draft pick that's
(08:44):
been on a couple of teams, won a super Bowl
last year. There's Deshaun had a ton of success in
his career. They can kind of feed off of all
those guys. So that's the thing I'm really it's fun
for me to watch them get better sometimes just by listening.
Speaker 4 (08:59):
Did you see I mean he's framing Kenny Pickett as
a super Bowl winner who is a former first round pick.
Talk to any NFL fan and the first word that
comes up with Kenny Pickett, oh, bum, he's nothing.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Well, come on, give me a break.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
And Kevin Stefanski says he won a Super Bowl and
was a first round pick.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
You guys need to do some more homework before your crown.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
Shador Sanders And in the morning meeting today, you know,
I'm going all in on Schodro. I'm like, listen, he's
not getting first team reps. We need to pump the brakes.
And somebody smart said, you know, Shaduur is like the latest.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
iPhone that comes out, Right, the new iPhone comes out.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
It's gonna be amazing, it might even be legendary. And
then you get the iPhone and it's like, oh, this
is cool. It's nothing special. It's not that dramatically different.
It's not going to change my life. And I wonder
if that's where Shadure is kind of trending. I mean,
I mean, the guy's got be Legendary is his motto.
(09:59):
He's throwing really lavish NFL draft parties, and he's fourth
on the depth chart decidedly. And you know the other
argument is, well, Jay, they're treating him like a fifth
round quarterback. And I'm like, yeah, that's what they're doing.
He wasn't a first round pick. I would have taken
him in the first, but I didn't know all the
(10:19):
don nonsense. Well, Jay, you know Dak Prescott was a
third round pick and he got the start. I'm sorry,
Dak Prescott, fourth round pick. This is where it gets
real good. So I started looking into Dak. How did
Dak start as a rookie? Dak was drafted in the
fourth round in Dallas. He started out fourth on the
depth chart. These are all the things that needed to
(10:41):
happen for Dak Prescott to get started and for him
to become now the richest quarterback in NFL history. Kellen Moore,
who was the backup to Tony Romeo. Kellen Moore broke
his leg in training camp, so instantly it's like, oh,
who's going to be the backup? So Dak was then
battling someone named Jamille Showers, not familiar with his work.
He was the second year guy, and Dak outplayed him
(11:04):
in a preseason game. That's it, out played him in one,
and all of a sudden, Dak went from fourth to
the backup.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
It's like, wow, what a rise. Well, you know what
happened after that.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
Tony Romo broke his back literally in preseason week three,
and presto fourth round. Dak Prescott, who six weeks prior
was fourth string. Next thing you know, he's starting for
the Cowboys and he got his chance and he made
the most of it. That's gonna be the kind of
chain of events that's gonna take Shador Sanders from fourth string.
(11:33):
I'm not gonna count to Sean Watson because nobody thinks
he's really gonna play. The owner has kind of written
him off. But that's what it's gonna take for Chadur
to overtake Dylan Gabriel and Kenny Pickett or Joe Flacco.
I mean, I think we all agree Flacco's a pro.
Stefanski loves him. Flacco led them to the playoffs a
couple of years ago.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
He's safe. Maybe you flip Picket.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
To another team and you can scrounge up a third
or fourth round draftick who knows. Unlikely, but maybe. And
then there's Dylan Gabriel, who Stefanski loves. And oh, by
the way, oh see Tommy Reese Notre Dame legend, not
a legend, but I'm throwing around legendary because that's what
Shador likes. Anyways, here's Tommy Reese on Dylan Gabriel, Shador
(12:15):
Sanders and the hullabalop.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
You can see them all when in the job, I think, right.
Speaker 6 (12:19):
And so in terms of the competition, we're so early
in the process, we're so early and evaluating that. Yeah,
I think you know, we have a good group of
guys in a continue to push one another, and by
the time September rolls around, will be ready to go.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
Oh boy, oh boy. Not a lot of love for
mister Shadoor Sanders.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
So my guess here, and I haven't seen this line
hung anywhere in Vegas? How many starts for Shador standers? Like, again,
it's way too early to hang a line like that,
But I've been lower than the market, lower than the
everyone else out there. I'm on like a one and
a half. I think it's over under one and a
half for Shador. Now that's in June. Could that easily
change should there be an injury, a.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Trade, YadA, YadA, YadA.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
Is there a world where all of a sudden, shad
maybe starts five games? You know, I don't see it, guys.
I'm just gonna remind you. Drake May was a first
round pick last year for the Patriots. He didn't sniff
a start in September. Now, obviously the coach knew had
no clue what he was doing. They run him out
of town. And Drake May's really really good. I don't
(13:22):
quite think that's the case with Stefanski and Shador.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
Now it's June. I'm not trying to overreact.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
But man, you gotta love the quarterback drama in Cleveland
coming up next year. On The Herd, Finals get under
way tonight, Big points spread, big love for SGA. Can
we stop putting his name in the same sentence as
Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan because of the mid range.
I'll tell you who SGA is next here on the Herd.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and noon Easter not a em Pacific.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
You are now entering the noble Zone sponsored by credible
great rates with none of the bull.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Definitely no bs coming here, folks.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
SGA is an incredible basketball player. He is currently minus
six hundred to win the NBA Finals MVPUS six hundred, guys.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
That's come on, nobody else is winning the award.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
It's SGA unless he gets hurt or the Pacers win, right,
that's what the market's telling you. And a great producer,
Ryan Music had an amazing stat today. So if SGA
wins the Finals and the Finals MVP, he will become
the fourth player in NBA history to lead the NBA
in scoring in a season win the MVP, win the
(14:39):
title and the finals MVP. Only three guys have done that. Okay,
these three guys are kind of a big deal. Kareem
Abdul Jabbar, my dad's favorite player who I loved for
the few years I could see him before he retired.
This guy named Michael Jordan, the second greatest player in
NBA history. And Shaquille O'Neill. That's the company SGA joins
(15:02):
if he wins a title and a finals MVP, which
according to the gambling market seems very likely. So instantly
we're putting SGA in this hallowed territory. We're gonna do that.
That's what the media does. They need to crown somebody.
We need the next guy because Kd's old. Yeah, KD,
(15:22):
I saw your comment online. Lebron's old, Curry's old. We
need that next dude. And it may not be Anthony Edwards,
you know, maybe it is the Canadian SGA, or, as
I like to call him, the Canadian James Harden, because
I'm here to tell you, as good as SGA is
to me, he's James Harden two point zero.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
Okay, that's not a knock.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
James Harden, You guys, forget seven eight years ago, was
eviscerating the NBA.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
He was unstoppable offensively.
Speaker 4 (15:52):
There were credible discussions started by Daryl Morey, but nevertheless
that James Harden was the best score of the NBA
had seen since Michael Jordan. He was averaging thirty five
a game, led the league in scoring I believe four
straight years, led the league in assist once. And this
is my favorite stat courtesy of someone in one of
our great stat guys. James Harden led the league in
(16:12):
free throws seven times in eight years. James Harden was
a free throw merchant before SGA and some other interesting stats,
and you got to kind of drill down on these,
but there's now a billion stats in the NBA, right,
there's all this tracking data. James Harden was like leading
the league in isolations, drives to the basket, all these
(16:35):
stats that are basically like I'm a ball hog, nobody
can stop me, and I'm going to the ten. SGA
is doing the exact same thing. Nobody isolates now more
than SGA.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
Now.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
The big difference in their two games on offense is
Harden would hit the three usually the step back SGA
has made the mid rains. He's not as good as
a three point shooter. That's the only difference. Otherwise they're
the same pound the ball can take you to the hoop.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
And I'm gonna I'm gonna.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
Do the theatrics and flop you guys think Lebron flopps.
Take a look at the free throw merchant. He is
always drawing the foul. He does that hook move.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
I'm just telling you saw this.
Speaker 4 (17:11):
Hurky jerky stuff. There's a good comedian, Sebastian Manuscula who
does all these theatrics. That's who kind of SGA reminds
me of sometimes when he's driving to the basket and
he gets these calls and you.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Could see the Timberwolves were pissed.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
Jade McDaniels got so frustrated he just outright shoved him
at one point. Now, I know this isn't gonna be popular,
and I can already hear people say, well, what do
you know, James Harden never played a lick of defense.
He was not a great defender. I get you, guys,
SGA is on a great defensive team. He's loaded. Hey man,
you gotta get buy me fine. Ched Holmgrin on the background,
(17:45):
he's got my back, I got Alex Cruz, Okay.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
Sond Wall.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
They have a really really good defensive team. So SGA
doesn't have to be a great defender. He is he
better than Harden a defense, I would probably. I don't
have any metrics to back that up, nor do you,
but yes, on the surface, SGA is a better defender.
I asked Jovon Buha here earlier this week if he
thinks SGA is hard and two point zero.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
I think it is.
Speaker 7 (18:10):
Just because.
Speaker 9 (18:12):
Because of the playoff track record at this point we've
seen with Harden when you look at some of his
notable playoff performances, especially in games five to seven, game
six performances, game seven performances, like he shrinks from the moment,
And so I think with Shay already, I mean, Harden's
been to the finals, but he was in the finals
(18:34):
as a sixth man. He hasn't been to the finals
as the guy. He hasn't gotten over that hump yet.
So I know it's a bit reductive and I don't
but like, we have the track record, right.
Speaker 4 (18:44):
That's fair And a lot of people will disagree with
this take. I'm sure a lot of people disagree with
my NBA takes this week very strange.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
Usually everybody just agrees with me.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
I mean it's like universal j Mack, I got you,
I see you, King, but not a lot this week.
Just a reminder SG really really good. I'm not diminishing
his day. Calling him James Harden is not a knock.
James Harden probably one of the twenty five to thirty
best players in the history of the sport.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
You know, he's got to be one of the best
players in league history without a ring. He's done a ton.
Speaker 4 (19:16):
Just because SGA is gonna do something historical, it doesn't
mean he's a historic great. Okay, Robert or my guy
won seven rings. I don't think anybody says he's better
than Jordan. He has more rings, he's better than I
don't think we're doing that. So like when SGA wins
the title and finals MVP and he gets put in
(19:36):
the same category as Kareem Shack and Jordan, let's let's
just let sanity prevail and just say, man, he had
a great season.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Maybe this is an outliar.
Speaker 4 (19:46):
I mean, maybe there's another season they do plicate this,
but let's pump them. If anything, SGA, James Harden two
point zero. Let's go to Alex Curry with the news.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Turn on the news is the herd Line News.
Speaker 10 (20:01):
You're cracking me up with these NBA takes playing.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
He's just like, I got that before my daughter.
Speaker 5 (20:08):
But she says, like I was gonna say that was
like apparently it's not cool to.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
Say sligh whatever else.
Speaker 5 (20:14):
I mean, I'm like to the party, who if you
do it with confidence, that's any like any kind of trend,
Like as long as you're like confident what you wear
and what you do, it's gonna be cool. Okay, let's
start with OTA's Miami Dolphins have a ton of questions
on the roster, but for wide receiver Jalen Wall quarterback,
isn't one of them. Take a listen to Wattle talk
about Scuby one.
Speaker 7 (20:35):
He's excited to play, man, I think all of us are.
Speaker 4 (20:39):
He looked confident coming out with you know different swag
got dyeing his hair most off, so.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
They he looked like he.
Speaker 5 (20:49):
I mean, there's just always going to be that giant
elephant in the room with Tua.
Speaker 10 (20:57):
One more big hit in his career could be over.
Speaker 5 (21:00):
Like I honestly am like nervous and scared watching his
games if he's not sliding right, if he takes a
big hit, Like I love hearing that he's confident and
he's doing great, But at any moment, like one one
more big hit for Tua and like that could be
it not just for your starting quarterback, but his career.
Speaker 10 (21:23):
And possibly like really affecting his life.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
Yeah, that's where it's tough for me. I don't know.
Speaker 4 (21:29):
I kind of like this, this attitude that Tua has.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
I'm gonna live in the moment. I guess is it
over with another concussion?
Speaker 2 (21:37):
It's my brain mush.
Speaker 4 (21:38):
Yeah, but you know what I'm gonna I'm gonna do
me and have fun in his choice.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
And yeah, he could actually walk away from the game.
Who's a guy who walked away from the Lions this week?
Speaker 9 (21:47):
Drag?
Speaker 2 (21:47):
Now, yeah, just retire.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
I've been retired too, I could do that. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Yeah, I don't know what to make of Like it's
interesting you see that bug on the screen? No, uh no,
Tyreek kill Tyreek Hill is.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
He's the second biggest help.
Speaker 5 (22:04):
Yeah, do you never know what you're gonna get on
or off the field, But like he has more drama
off the field, and then you got away, like is
it worth it with what you get on the field.
Speaker 4 (22:16):
It feels like maybe Tua has had a good run
under McDaniel, but maybe it's coming to an end.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
I don't you know.
Speaker 4 (22:24):
The teams started to figure them out, and his numbers
went down a little last year, and they clearly have
been passed by the Bills.
Speaker 5 (22:31):
I mean, yeah, they're definitely not finishing first in the
AFC East, But.
Speaker 10 (22:37):
I mean, depending how your Jets do.
Speaker 5 (22:40):
Like again, a lot of question Mark people are really
high on the Patriots. Miami comes down to Kent Tua
stay healthy and what are you gonna get from Patrick
Hill if he's actually figure and he's on the field.
Speaker 10 (22:51):
But again, I love Tua.
Speaker 5 (22:53):
I've loved him since like before he got drafted, his
whole draft story. I think Fox did a whole documentary
on him, like following.
Speaker 10 (22:59):
His draft story.
Speaker 5 (23:00):
So I've been like a big too a fan. I
love who he is as a person. I just fear
for his life every time he's off the field, and
I am not comfortable watching his games.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
But it's okay.
Speaker 5 (23:11):
I hope he does well and I hope he doesn't
get another concussion. But let's switch gears to college football.
J Mac, I know you're a big gambler, but I
bet this is going to blow your mind.
Speaker 10 (23:21):
North Carolina right now.
Speaker 5 (23:22):
Has the most underwin total bets in college football, with
the wind total set at seven and a half. But
there's another interesting nugget here. So according to the Athletic,
before April fifteenth, seventy nine percent of the bets were
on the over. Since April fifteenth, eighty nine percent of
the bets have been on the under. Now, April fifteenth
(23:43):
is right around the time that the world became aware.
Speaker 10 (23:47):
Of Belichick's relationship.
Speaker 5 (23:49):
With Jordan Now, honestly, I'm not surprised here. Bill is
going against everything he's ever stood for, his biggest thing
when he was in the NFL, and we've heard a
lot of former players say this, do not be a distraction.
Bill Belichick is the biggest distraction in college football right now.
(24:10):
New England Bill Belichick would fire North Carolina Bill Belichick
like this. This is not the Bill we grew up
watching take a Dynasty to where it became the topic.
This is a completely different Bill Belichick, and the world
saw it, and people are kind of betting against it
(24:31):
right now.
Speaker 10 (24:32):
So wild, But.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
I'm not what am I missing?
Speaker 4 (24:34):
Why would you all of a sudden bet against North
Carolina just because he has a girlfriend who By the way,
did you guys notice Alex referred to her as Jordan.
I didn't know she was on a one new basis
like Kylie or I love these other people's She is
a big deal, are you guys friends?
Speaker 2 (24:53):
By the way?
Speaker 3 (24:54):
On ig or no? No, okay, just had a chat.
Speaker 10 (24:56):
No again.
Speaker 5 (24:58):
I love strong women in men's lives.
Speaker 10 (25:01):
I think it's really important.
Speaker 5 (25:04):
But the Bill that we knew before, and everything he
preached on the field and off the field, is no distractions.
This is all we're talking about with his new position
in North Carolina is his relationship.
Speaker 10 (25:15):
This is the biggest distraction.
Speaker 5 (25:17):
I don't have a problem with her being his your agent,
running his social media, connecting to the youth, but it's
once it bleeds onto the football field. We've seen her
on the football field, We've seen with the documentary and
everything that's been shot behind.
Speaker 10 (25:30):
The scenes being there.
Speaker 5 (25:31):
It's just there has to be some sort of a talents.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
I have a good question just listening.
Speaker 4 (25:38):
To you break it down, and I don't I don't
know how to relate to this, Yeah, because I don't
know any seventy.
Speaker 10 (25:47):
Year old guy.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
He's dating twenty year old woman. I'm going to ask
you if one of your girlfriends.
Speaker 4 (25:52):
Gold Um was like, oh, Alexai, yeah, I gotta tell
you I met this guy. He's seventy three and I'm
dating him. Yeah, what would your reaction, bet be? Honest,
don't hold back here.
Speaker 5 (26:04):
I mean I have really dear friends of all ages
that are way younger than me, that are in their
sixties and seventies.
Speaker 10 (26:11):
Like, age doesn't bother me.
Speaker 5 (26:14):
This is a little when you see like when she
was born and how old. Bill Belichick was like that
comparison is a little strange. But again, like who am
I to judge? If they love each other and this
is what it is like. But I mean as if
I was like a parent and that a child one
like older than me, that's a little strange.
Speaker 10 (26:36):
But again it's no, I don't, I don't know. I
don't know the relationship.
Speaker 4 (26:39):
But again, do you have again fifty year age gaps.
Speaker 10 (26:43):
I don't want pretty big age.
Speaker 5 (26:45):
Gaps, not anywhere close to No, that's definitely the biggest.
Speaker 10 (26:49):
But again, like I.
Speaker 5 (26:50):
Don't, I don't know anything about it, Like I don't.
Speaker 10 (26:52):
I don't judge ages. That's that's their things, not mine
a right.
Speaker 5 (26:58):
But again, if it was like so when close to
me and like my daughter or a family member different,
you have a little more inside information.
Speaker 10 (27:07):
On the situation. We don't know the situation. All we
see is the outside.
Speaker 5 (27:11):
So unless you're like close to them and like no
both sides.
Speaker 10 (27:14):
I don't think you can really have an emporion on that.
Speaker 5 (27:16):
But let's head back to the NFL. Peyton Manning spent
a lot of time around Joe Burrow last season, as
Burrow is going to be one of the stars of
Manning's Netflix show Quarterback Now. Manning was recently asked about
Burrow and said, there are expectations that come with being
a franchise quarterback, but Joe is well aware of those
and he can carry that burden and wants those expectations
on his shoulders. I know he fully expects as I do,
(27:39):
to bring a championship here to Cincinnati. Now, we all
know Burrow has the talent to win, but does he
have the support around him?
Speaker 10 (27:47):
Does he have strong enough off on the blind, does
he have a strong enough defense.
Speaker 5 (27:49):
Is the Bengals organization putting him in a position to
help him succeed. I mean, history says no, it sounds
good saying it in June. But he also he hasn't
had a strong start to the season. He's one and
eleven in his first two weeks. He's gotten to the
super Bowl but lost in Matthew Stafford and the Rams,
and then besides that, he needs to continue to get
(28:11):
past Mahomes and Lamar Jackson to get there. So do
you over under one super Bowl?
Speaker 3 (28:18):
Superb one super Bowl win?
Speaker 2 (28:20):
Yeah?
Speaker 10 (28:20):
One super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
So what's tricky is like Marino went there in year two. Yeah,
never got back.
Speaker 6 (28:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (28:26):
The Bengals are similar, heavily on the offense, terrible defense.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
Problem is Lamar.
Speaker 10 (28:32):
That's what I'm saying. You got you got to get
through a lot of guys to get there.
Speaker 3 (28:38):
I will reluctantly say, no super Bowl wins, just rude all.
Speaker 10 (28:42):
It's kind of similar to what the Jordan era.
Speaker 5 (28:45):
There's some great, great teams and great players playing with Jordan,
but it's like, I'm sorry that you're playing in a
time where you have someone that's just like in a
league of his own.
Speaker 10 (28:56):
It's hard to get by him.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
And Patrick ewing. My guy never got to ring Alex
at the news.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
Well that's the news, and thanks for stopping byord Line News.
Speaker 3 (29:07):
All right, NBA Finals Game one is tonight.
Speaker 4 (29:10):
We head to Okac to talk to a reporter who's
been on the scene.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
Sounds like it's quite a vibe there.
Speaker 4 (29:17):
I don't know how my Okac takes are gonna take
go for him, but we'll find out shortly.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
at noon eastern nn am Pacific.
Speaker 11 (29:26):
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
(29:48):
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, to
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
(30:09):
check out Cavino 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 kobeen on Rich wherever you
get your podcasts, and of course on social media. That's
Cavino and Rich.
Speaker 4 (30:27):
Back here on the Herd. Jason McIntyre in for Colin.
We got a great guest right now to break down
the NBA Finals live from Oklahoma City. Anthony Slater covers
the NBA to the athletic.
Speaker 3 (30:42):
This is fun.
Speaker 4 (30:42):
He used to work at the Oklahoma and way back
I used to have him on my radio show. He
was covering the Thunder then he covered the Warriors. He's
been around, Anthony. What's a vibe around Gabe?
Speaker 3 (30:53):
One of the finals right now?
Speaker 12 (30:56):
It's excited in downtown Oklahoma City. Obviously, I went to
an event last night. Actually Trey Young was around because
Trey Young lives in Norman. But it's just the NBA
world has descended upon Oklahoma City. Now, it was tough
travel in with the you know, the severe weather. You
probably heard about the Pacers, right, they had to divert
their their flight and go to Tulsa, And there was
(31:17):
a lot of delays for a lot of the media.
And like NBA world that has come to Oklahoma City.
So maybe a slight level of frustration on getting in.
But I think there's a freshness to the matchup and
sure that you know, the ratings may not be spectacular,
we'll see, but I do think the people who are
like you know, are are you know, worried about the
product on the floor, like and you know, love basketball.
(31:38):
I think are excited about the style of plays between
these two teams, the depth, the the you know, the
fast paced nature of what we think will be maybe
not a super competitive, deep series, but I think a
fun series.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
It's interesting.
Speaker 4 (31:50):
You know, you mentioned like kind of fresh blood here
in the finals, So Anthony, I don't know.
Speaker 3 (31:54):
I went on a bit of a rant that I
love super teams.
Speaker 4 (31:57):
I like the excitement of Kevin r going to the
Warriors and the Warriors being hated and Lebron forming a
team and everybody hating those guys. Like the super teams
to me were interesting and just easily generated discussion.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
I don't know that you get that with this matchup.
Do you think you need it?
Speaker 12 (32:15):
Yeah, yeah, it's I think there's pros and cons to it.
Where you know you mentioned I covered the Durant tea.
The best playoffs I ever covered was twenty sixteen when
it was Durant's thunder against the Warriors and then obviously
the snowball effect of that create creating the storylines that
you're talking about. But I will say when I covered
the Durant Warriors teams, they were fun to talk about,
(32:36):
but then they went sweep, sweep sweep in the West
playoffs and like those weren't you know, I remember them
in Utah. I was like Game three in Utah, you could, like,
even the home crowd in Utah I thought there was
no chance that the Jazz were gonna win it, and
so they Like if I think back to those playoffs,
there were such a lack of competitive drama to it,
even though the teams and the you know, the personalities
(32:57):
were fun to cover. So, uh, it's a given a
because I actually think these NBA playoffs have been really fun.
And obviously the Thunders kind of considered the goliath type team,
but they had a seven game series in the second round,
and I thought the East playoffs, even the East finals
of the second round, like there was a lot to
it competitively, even if, as you mentioned, you know, the
big brand names, the Lebron's, the steps are kind of
(33:18):
fading out a little bit.
Speaker 4 (33:19):
Yeah, let me ask you said that competitive series against Denver. So,
if memory serves, it was two to Anthony Game five
in OKC. Denver led by nine in the fourth quarter,
and at that point, I've got my choke Lahoma tweets
all lined up, and then loud Dort gets volcanic and
hits three straight threes, and loud Dort basically saved OKAC.
If you have to go down three two to Denver
(33:41):
and Yokich's at home, it might have been a rap.
Speaker 3 (33:44):
So how great is this OKAC team?
Speaker 12 (33:47):
Yeah, it's an interesting point because I remember I was
in Minnesota at the time covering the Timberwolves Warrior series,
and we're with a bunch of reporters in a bar
watching that Game five, and everybody was discussing like there
had been a moment prior to that that you actually
thought Denver was gonna win the series. And there was
a moment I think you mentioned it in that second
half where you're like, would you pick Denver at this
(34:08):
exact point, and I think the answer was yes, Yeah.
I think the battle scars that Oklahoma City went through helped.
You know, we just talked to Jalen Williams because they
had a long lea aft before that game won and
then blew that Game one and you wonder about the
long lay aft tonight before the game and he mentioned
they just had some clock management trouble. You probably remember
the foul and O three, the way they screwed up
(34:29):
that Game one. I think that's what really extended that series.
The Thunder should have won that and gave it away.
And also like maybe we should just credit Jokic and
the Nuggets. Maybe they were the best you know, competitive
you know, foil to the Thunder in these playoffs, because
Minnesota certainly didn't seem like it in the West Final.
So there was never a moment in that series you
thought the Timberwolves really had a shot. So we'll see,
(34:50):
like maybe maybe this isn't you know, the this Thunder
team is equivalent to sixty eight win teams of the
past that you know, I depended on what you think
of that. But like there, I think or one of
the heavier favorites ever in Vegas heading into the finals
right now. So if they just rolled through this finals,
it's just statistically one of the greatest seasons in NBA history.
Speaker 4 (35:09):
It is, But I don't do I mean, do you
think they're like an all time great Like I asked
this question of a couple of guests this week, who
would you take in a seven game series? Last year's
Celtics that won the title was this year's Thunder And
I think that's pretty clearly the Celtics.
Speaker 7 (35:24):
Right.
Speaker 12 (35:26):
It's a great question. I'm not sure I would have
loved to see them play a full throttle Celtics team
this season. Obviously they didn't get that chance because the
Celtics were loaded d Waite Porzingis was playing. It is
a good point, but I mean, how do you reconcile
looking at what they did from the best point differential
ever tied for the best net rating with the seventy
two Bowls seams, and then you know, within the playoffs,
(35:48):
all the continued double digit wins. They I believe. Now
I have sixty one wins by ten or more points,
which is an NBA record, where the twenty seventeen Warriors,
the Durant Warriors, who just blasted teams, had sixty that's
the team they surpassed for most double digit wins ever
in a full season plus playoffs. So like, I get
the point, but I'm also like, you know, when does
win Do the numbers and the records and what they've
(36:10):
done to the rest of the league matter in the conversation?
Speaker 3 (36:13):
Yeah, No, that's a great point. I didn't know that
SAT sixty one wins.
Speaker 4 (36:16):
Wow, So how much of that is Well, listen, this
was kind of a strange year. Luca gets traded mid season,
Joel Embiido was the MVP of five minutes ago, total
non factor out for the whole year. The Paul George
trade blows up the Phoenix Suns, who have a super
team with all NBA guys Bradley ve O Booker. Correct,
they don't even make the playoffs. You know, was it
(36:38):
a weird year? Or I don't know, are the thunder
that freaking good? Because the eye test tells me, yeah,
they're really good, But I don't know, would you take
them over the bubble Lakers with Ad and Lebron?
Speaker 12 (36:49):
I think I would.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
Wait, they were number russo for.
Speaker 3 (36:52):
Number one in the West before COVID hit, I think yeah.
Speaker 12 (36:55):
I mean, funny Caruso was like, you know, the Lakers
defensive eggs that time. The Thunders Now, obviously I probably would.
It's so tough to know, but you know, like I
think you obviously mentioned a few of the disaster situations
in the league this year that they crumbled, but like
it was a deep Like the West was extremely deep
with you know, loads of good teams, and I think
(37:16):
part of the reason some of those you know you
mentioned the Suns, like, part of the reason the Suns
had such a bad season is because there were so
many good West teams above them that they just couldn't
beat on a nightly basis. And those were the same
teams that Thunder were just wiping off the floor with
twenty point wins. And one of the things I would
say to remember about the Thunder season, Chet Holmgren only
plays thirty two games. That's their third best player. Isaiah Hartenstein,
(37:37):
who was at backup center, missed like twenty five games,
they went out stretch of games without a center and
were playing Jalen Williams at center. They could play so
many different ways, and I just think the difference between
them and maybe some of the past Goliath type teams
that were mentioning it is they don't meant necessarily have
the star scoring right, but defensively they you know, they
they caused turnovers more than basically any team you know
(37:59):
since since steels have been recorded, that type of stuff.
I think that is what sets them apart. Their defense
is just ferocious.
Speaker 4 (38:06):
How much of this has to do with larger issues
mac gros stuff around the league, like, hey, if you
stay with your team that drafts you, you can.
Speaker 3 (38:15):
Sign on super Max and make three hundred million.
Speaker 4 (38:18):
And of course that doesn't apply to okay see because
SGA wasn't drafted by them. But at the same time,
the whole second Apron stuff, you know, some of these teams,
like the Celtics were already looking, how are we gonna
get off these contracts of bucks.
Speaker 3 (38:33):
We got to unload Yiannis sons, we got to blow
it up.
Speaker 4 (38:36):
Like it just feels like the league is now set
up for some more parody as opposed to what we
had when you were like covering the Warriors.
Speaker 12 (38:45):
Yeah, they're set up to break up the teams, right,
It's set up to make it so that Steve Balmers
can't just overpay and overpay and overpay or Joe Lakob right,
you know, break up a Warriors type team from the past.
The Thunder is uniquely built to maybe have an extended
run here. But they're you know, Chet Holmgren and Jalen
Williams were in the same draft. They're going to be
extension eligible this summer. I would imagine both would be
(39:08):
asking for Max. They have the same agent, Bill Duffy.
Those extensions wouldn't kick in for another season after this,
So they clearly have this you know finals right here
and next year with two of their three best players
being on cheap rookie deals. But once they're not, and
once Shay gets this you know next super Max, which
is huge money, they're going to have you know, apron
issues down the line, and where they're probably gonna have
(39:31):
to get off some of their you know, kind of
mid tier type deals, the Heart and Stunt deal, the
Caruso type deal, the Dort deals, what Sam Presty has done,
is he's built this war chest to first round picks,
where theoretically the plan would be to replenish under them,
which like Cason Wallace is a great example. Like Cason Wallace,
uh is is going to be on a rookie deal
(39:51):
for for two more seasons after this. Uh he would
seem to be kind of in that dork Caruso mold
to kind of you know, expand his role under them
is And the idea would be if Press he can
keep using all of his draft capital to keep cheap
role players under the stars, because that's you know, at
this point with the league, if you're gonna have three
(40:12):
guys being paid Max is like you just don't have
money elsewhere.
Speaker 3 (40:15):
All right, last question, we got about a minute left.
Speaker 4 (40:17):
I compared SG eight to basically James Harden two point zero,
just trading the threes for the mid range. Both get
to the foul line a ton, they're heavy, iso they
drive to the basket, just similar to me.
Speaker 12 (40:29):
Your thoughts, Yeah, I mean it's it's like kind of
a controlling, somewhat heliocentric way to play. Now, I would say,
like Sja shares it more, it's more of a you know,
democratic offense than those Rockets teams where it was just
park PJ. Tucker in the corner, Park tremor Resa in
the corner, picking rolls every single time. Like that was
just more like on a one trick pony that those
(40:52):
those D'Antoni teams where SGA. Also, it's a variety of
the mid range. It's you know, he could go baseline,
he could post you up, he could get to twelve feet,
he can go to eighteen. He will shoot the three.
He is a three level score. It's just that that
extra level. I don't know, do you like seeing a
mid range operator more than just kind of your shoot
threes every time type of that more old school.
Speaker 3 (41:13):
I'm a three point guy. You know, Curry's my favorite player.
I play playing basketball. I love threes. I'm not a
mid range guy, don't.
Speaker 7 (41:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 12 (41:21):
I mean I would say, like there's just more variety
to the Thunders offensive attack beyond SGA than those Houston teams. Definitely,
And I think that's.
Speaker 4 (41:31):
You know, matters all right, Anthony Slater, the athletic great stuff.
Speaker 3 (41:35):
Enjoy the games and the series. Thanks a lot of
Anthony good stuff.
Speaker 12 (41:39):
Yep, thanks for having all right.
Speaker 4 (41:43):
Coming up next They asked me to rank the top
ten players in this series. Obviously SGA is one, but two, three,
four That was not easy.
Speaker 3 (41:52):
That's next year on the
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Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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