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Colin Cowherd
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Jason McIntyre
They.
Colin Cowherd
They did. Listen, it's not a cliche when we say don't trust young teams in the playoffs. They would have been better off being on the road. They could feel it. They got tight, their coach got tight. Everybody got tight. Set. Holmgren. Wow. All right, let's start with this, okay? The Celtics lost at home. Bizarrely, they're not even that good at home. They're actually a better road team. Nick fans, I've never seen a Game one upset that means less. This is the only game the Knicks are going to win. Boston's not going to miss 45 threes. I know. Enjoy the moment, Knick fans. You are feeling it today. Oh, give me a break. Boston got a 20 point lead. They hammered this team all year. They fell asleep and then they just took bad shots. Jayson Tatum, he froze. He does that from time to time. He does it much more than any of his fanboys want to admit. It was the classic Jayson Tatum game late, where you're like, is he on the floor? Is he playing? Where's Jason Tatum? But the Knicks wings, OG Played well. Mikhail Bridges, they were running off shooters, defended well. They deserve credit. But the Celtics had the third fewest layups in the league and the fewest free throws. What does it mean, shots? They don't. They just live and die with a three. And like those great warrior teams when Stephen Clay weren't hitting them, they had bad nights. They got blown out multiple times in the finals. So, I mean, Boston, they don't get layups, they don't shoot mid range, they don't get to the free throw line. They're shooting 63s. And last night, I mean, in the second half. In overtime or second half, yeah, in overtime, yeah. They shot 49 shots. 37 were threes. And I will defend Jayson Tatum later on in this show because I think he's a little bit trapped with his team. But the reality is, you see this from Boston, and strangely, it's often at home. They're a great road team. They're a better road team than a home team. But they have these nights, and you know, Jason Tatum, nobody wants to admit it, but he has these collaborative nights where he's just settling for bad shots. And again, I think he could draw more fouls. But this is what Boston is. They're going to be fine. The Knicks have absolute offensive limitations. It's going to be okay. Boston's not going to shoot like this. I mean, the first quarter was classic Knicks. They were outplaying Boston. Boston was rusty. And the Knicks kept missing free throws. They couldn't get the free throws right. I was on Moneyline Knicks first quarter too. J Mac. They couldn't hit free throws. So the Knicks have an absolute ceiling. But Boston, they give you one of these every so often. And I've said before, they remind me a lot of the warriors team. But back when the warriors were shooting all the threes, the rest of the league was not. But Boston leads the league in threes. They don't get to the free throw line, they don't create layups or mid range shots. So when they have one of these awful shooting halves, I mean, they led by 20. They dominate this team. And we've said this all the time in the NFL, you'll see a team lead 28 to 7 at half and the game ends like 31, 27 and you're like, we were so close. And it's like, not really. It's hard to ask athletes who dominate an opponent over and over and over to always bring their A game. And Boston had a bad second half, settled for too many bad shots. And here's Jaylen Brown after the loss. I feel like we just settled in.
Jason McIntyre
The second half a lot.
Colin Cowherd
Some of them felt good, some of them felt like we may be forced.
Jason McIntyre
To issue and definitely our rhythm and our, our timing was a little bit off.
Colin Cowherd
We got a lot of great looks in those moments when other team got momentum.
Jason McIntyre
We can't just fire up threes, you know, to break up momentum.
Colin Cowherd
You got to get to the free.
Jason McIntyre
Throw line, get to the paint, get to the basketball.
Colin Cowherd
They're going to be just fine. And Jayson Tatum is going to be just fine. And I'll defend him in about 10 minutes. All right, let's go to the opposite of the Boston Celtics. Literally the opposite team, the Denver Nuggets, who as an underdog went into OKC and dominated the late game situations. The Nuggets shoot the fewest threes in the NBA. They live at the free throw line because Jokic can create so many opportunities around the basket. And Jokic, unlike Tatum, is a coach on the floor, does not care if he offends people, is mostly collaborative, but sometimes he takes over. And if you go to the fourth Quarter. OKC got tight. The young, nervous at times, terrified. Thunder at home froze. They froze. And this was Jokic at his best, coaching and playing. He is the anti Kawhi. He communicates with everybody. I mean, obviously he empowers Aaron Gordon and Russell Westbrook, but it should be noted Jamal Murray as well. I mean, this. This right now. There was a time when Michael Jordan. I've told the story before. I was on a couch watching Michael Jordan against the Phoenix Suns in the final and with a. With a. With a friend who's a great basketball player. And I said, why can't there be more Michaels? I mean, he's not the strongest player or the biggest player. He's not the best ball handler or the best shooter. The NBA average size is six. Six. He's six six, kind of thin. I mean, I know he can jump, but Dominique had a higher vertical. Michael was so much better than even Charles Barkley, you know, like even Akeem. And you watch Jokic, he is so far and away the best basketball player in the world. And now he's also the best player coach, which Bill Russell did for a while. I mean, you got Tatum, he can freeze. You got Giannis, don't trust him late, can't hit a free throw. You got Embiid, he's never healthy. You got Kawhi, weird personality. You've got Luka, who's not in great shape and is not willing to defend. And for the record, not only is Jokic flawless offensively, he's actually an improved defensive player. He looks like he's in better shape. So again, this game was not just Jokic, although he was remarkable. Westbrook once again gives you so many tools in the bag, including improved shooting. Congrats to a shooting coach. Also, Aaron Gordon is another one of these guys. I was talking before the show to JMac, that young player for Houston. I love Amend Thompson. Aaron Gordon's like a bigger, stronger, more experienced version of Amend Thompson. He just does everything. Rebounds, block shots late in games, tipping it, defending length, relentless energy. And he hits the game winner last night. And what I love about Jokic is this mentality. Here's an organization that went through a coaching change a week before the playoffs, so you can see Jokic on the sideline. He's literally like, you know, we're all like, we got to be included in this. If you go back to that Clipper Denver series, this is what the Clippers needed, and they have a great coach in Tyloo, But Kawhi doesn't provide that. And Harden certainly doesn't provide that. It's always excuses for those two. Here is Jokic saying, yeah, I'm not going to be stoic. It's not a time to be stoic. He is coaching, he is playing, he is elevating. And. But. But again, not at all a guy that has to take the last shot. It's Westbrook and Aaron Gordon who combine for the last shot. And here's Jokic after.
Jason McIntyre
He's the soul of this team. He's a glue guy. He probably doesn't give the much respect that he deserve, but I think he doesn't need leg attention. So he knows what he's doing, so I'm happy for him.
Colin Cowherd
A remarkable, remarkable night. And we were talking about this. There are a lot of cliches in basketball, right? In all sports, but don't trust young guys in the playoffs. People always say to me, how come you don't respect okc? It's not that I don't respect them. I don't trust them. I respect a lot of people. Love many, trust few. I don't trust OKC in a big spot. Chad Holmgren was nervous, the coach was nervous. And by the way, OKC is one of those collaborative teams. You get it and I get it. But to be honest with you, I want SGA with the ball. That's who I want. Shooting every shot. Eight straight. I wish. Tatum, you know, SGA in the regular season is a machine, but when you get into these playoff games. That's why OKC played no close games this year. Minnesota led the NBA in close games and clutch moments. So here you get OKC rolling everybody, and it's like, oh, wait, we're the favorite. Denver's older and wiser. All these great play. How many playoff games is Westbrook and Jokic and Murray and Gordon? OKC got tight. They're not in close games. This isn't college football, where if you're winning by three touchdowns, you just have better players. I mean, I would argue OKC's got a deeper roster, but if you're giving me a starting five and I get Jokic and Murray and Gordon and then I get like a Westbrook who's a spark plug. We talked about this yesterday. The betting markets have OKC as an overwhelming favorite. Time out. Young teams do not sweep veteran teams with a trophy who have been in these games. We've been trying to bury the warriors for six years. Denver's not going anywhere. That is a really good team, J. Mac, by the way, Steph didn't play last night. LeBron didn't play last night and the league was fine. Wow. It's, it's one night. We get Jalen Brunson last night, put on a. How good is Jalen? We need to start honestly putting him in context with his greatness. Jalen Brunson is magnificent to watch. I know you love him, right? Yes. I'm one of your favorite players. I really, really like him as a player. Now next hour to start, Nick Wright. But I, I am so I do four predictions before the NFL season. This will be my second. Okay, so I do the coaching and free agencies all done. And then I do the coaching, free agency, draft is all done. So 45 minutes from now, I'll tell you who, I have some changes, mostly middle and bottom of divisions. You're not going to like all of them. And then we have Nick Wright as well. Are the 49ers on your playoff? Are they in there? Just missed my six games. So we, we got a good show today. Last night was so much fun. A Rocket Mortgage lowering down payments to 1% for eligible home buyers with 1 plus. You heard right. 1% down on home ownership with 1 plus. From Rocket Mortgage, go to 804rocket or Rocket.com Rocket Mortgage licensed in all 50 states. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am.
Jason McIntyre
Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.
Colin Cowherd
At the end of the season, there's only one team that can call themselves NBA Champs. Only one player that can call themselves the number one pick in the NFL draft. Well, there's only one electric SUV worthy of the title. The ultimate. The all electric BMW ix. What I love about the IX is that it delivers legendary BMW performance. While its sleek design exudes innovative style from the inside out. Not to mention how much space and utility it provides. Over 75 cubic feet of cargo space. The IX is completely changing the game with an all electric suv. The greatest legends of sports never compromise any part of the game. So why would you settle for anything less from your suv? After all, there's only one ultimate the BMW ix. Everything you love about the ultimate driving machine. Electrified summer is almost here and you can now get almost any anything you need for your sunny days delivered with Uber Eats. Now, what do we mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well groomed lawn delivered, but you can get chicken parm delivered. A day at the lake. That's a no. A Philly cheesesteak. That's a yes. A nice tan. Sorry, a Box fan? Happily, yes. What about a day of sunshine? Not happening. How about a box of fine wines? Yeah, that's happening. Delivery's on its way. Okay. How about some clear skies? Nope. Well, how about some French fries? Yeah. So how about a freshly cut lawn? Can't help you there. But a barbecued prawn? Order it and it's on its way. Even throw in some paper towels. Clean up after the feast. So while you can't get fun in the sun delivered, don't worry because you can get pork buns delivered. Uber Eats can definitely get you that. Get almost, almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol in select markets. Product availability may vary by region. See app for details. Looking to transform your business through better HR and payroll? Meet paycor, a paychecks company. The powerhouse solution that empowers leaders to drive results. From recruiting and development to payroll and analytics, paycor connects you with the people, data and expertise you need to succeed. Their innovative platform helps you make smarter decisions about your most valuable asset, your people. Are you ready to become a Better Leader? Visit paycor.com leaders to learn more. That's paycor.com leaders. Hey, so we all make mistakes, but owning up to them is the right thing to do. So you know Degree Cool Rush deodorant, right? Well, last year they changed the formula, and it did not go over well with their fans. So Degree's whole thing is it turns up the sweat and odor protection when you turn turn up the effort. And good thing it does, because Cool Rush fans really turned up the effort to bring the original formula back. One guy even started an online petition, and Degree listened. They admitted they effed up. They're bringing back the original Cool Rush scent. They're bringing it back, and it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp, and fresh. It's back in Walmart, Target, and other stores now for under $4. There's a reason it's been the number one men's antiperspirant for the last decade. It's the same reason why people were not happy when it changed. So if you've never tried it, it might be a good time to see what the fuss is about. Head to your local Walmart, Target, and try the OG Degree Cool Rush for yourself. So, listen, I could beat up on Jason Tatum today, but there's so much I like about him. Smart, thoughtful, collaborative, good teammate, great player. So let me put this. You know, Phil Jackson is the greatest basketball coach, and Steve Kerr is pretty good. And so is Spoelstra. There's a Lot of good coaches, Popovich, but Phil Jackson was the Zen master and he did the triangle offense. But there was also times that Phil knew, I'm gonna back up. Kobe's on a heater. I'm gonna let Michael do what Michael's doing. And I say this all the time about business. You can't get too rigid. You gotta make exceptions. Every day at this company, you gotta make an exception. You can have values, you can have vision. But here's where I'm gonna defend Jayson Tatum. So we had another one of those nights where he lacked aggressiveness. And it looks like he was one in nine in fourth quarter and overtime. So listen, Steph had bad nights. I saw a finals game. Michael Jordan against Utah, he had a bad night. Kobe had bad nights. Shaq had bad nights. That's okay. What I don't want is my super talented, athletic six eight wing with great handles settling for threes. But the Celtics three point culture is demanding it. So it puts Jason Tatum, a collaborative, nice guy, in a weird spot. His free throw numbers have gone down three straight years. Why? Because the Celtics want more threes. And if you shoot threes, you don't get to the free throw line. That's why it took Jimmy Butler for the warriors to finally get to the three point line. So Tatum can easily beat guys off the dribble all night long, but he keeps getting to the free throw line less and less because the Celtics are paralyzed. They. They have this culture where they're just paralyzed. We got to shoot 55 threes, and I think it puts Jayson Tatum, a nice guy and a collaborative guy, in a weird spot. So last night, I mean, again, if Kobe was on this team, he would get Missoula fired. I mean, Michael Jordan would have Missoula going upstairs daily. Michael would fight this stuff. And Phil Jackson understood. Sometimes you just gotta let special happen. And last night, nine seconds left, game is tied. I don't want a three from Jayson Tatum. I want a bucket. Put it on the deck and beat your man. Which, by the way, he can. He's a brilliant basketball player. But the Celtics are shoot more threes. I mean, they literally last in the NBA in free throw attempts and third to last in layups. It's like when they're bad, they just settle. And so I think there are coaches sometimes. I think Jason Tatum should just impose his will and deal with the repercussions later. Who cares if Missoula yells at you? They're not going to fire Tatum. They'd move off a Coast before they'd move off Jason Tatum. But this is just. It's kind of like Bobby Knight basketball, right? Like this is the way we play basketball. Players more than any athlete, along with soccer stars, they're artists. You have to let them improvise. Basketball at its best, they call soccer the beautiful game because it is the great players, they just need opportunities. You just got to let Ronaldo do his thing, play out of structure from time to time. It doesn't mean you're blowing up structure. He you're not creating a precedent. Just Jayson Tatum's the best player. Dude, it's your ball. Next three just get to the basket, get to the line, get out of the culture in the system that's paralyzed by three. So again, Tatum is such a nice guy and he is such a great collaborative player that I watch his body language. There are times it's like and by you can watch him put the ball on the deck and immediately beat his guy. He could get to the basket all night long. But he's going to play within the system. He's a Duke guy and he's a Celtic guy and the culture does work. But last night you got nine seconds left and it's again Jason just go get fouled. He's a brilliant player who I believe at times, not all the time, but at times feels he's a little trapped by this three point culture that doesn't want mid range. I mean look at the shots. Fourth quarter and overtime. Look at the second half shots for the Celtics. I mean they just settle. That's what they do. That's why they never get to the free throw line. It's why the warriors before Jimmy, they don't get to the free throw line. Here's Tatum after.
Jason McIntyre
How do you not let your frustrating with lack of calls prevent you from attacking if you don't think you're gonna get a call? Is that connected at all?
Colin Cowherd
No, that don't connect. I mean it's the playoffs. Like you know, we probably should just play without the refs. Like we. That's how physical it is. So you know, that don't really cross my mind at all. By the way, Matt Stafford Super Bowl. Yeah. I'm not even a look where I'm throwing. Remember Sean McVay on the sidelines with Aaron Donald? Aaron's going to blow this play up. Lawrence Taylor sometimes Lawrence is going to line up where Lawrence wants to line up. I'm not anti structure but Jayson Tatum is. Can beat every guy, every wing in the league. He can beat off the dribble four out of five times. Sometimes I'm not looking for a three, I'm looking for a bucket. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific. Hey, it's Steve Covino and I'm Rich Davis, and together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 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 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 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved too. Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcast. And of course, on social media, that's Covino and Rich. At the end of the season, there's only one team that can call themselves NBA champs. Only one player that can call themselves the number one pick in the NFL draft. Well, there's only one electric SUV worthy of the title. The ultimate, the all electric BMW ix. What I love about the IX is that it delivers legendary BMW performance. While its sleek design exudes innovative style from the inside out, not to mention how much space and utility it provides. Over 75 cubic feet of cargo space. The IX is completely changing the game with an all electric suv. The greatest legends of sports never compromise any part of the game. So why would you settle for anything less from your suv? After all, there's only one ultimate the BMW ix. Everything you love about the ultimate driving machine. Electrified summer is almost here and you can now get almost anything you need for your sunny days delivered with Uber Eats. Now, what do we mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well groomed lawn delivered, but you can get chicken parm delivered. A day at the lake. That's a no. A Philly cheesesteak? That's a yes. A nice tan. Sorry a box fan? Happily, yes. What about a day of sunshine? Not happening. How about a box of fine wines? Yeah, that's happening. Delivery's on its way. Okay. How about some clear skies? Nope. Well, how about some French fries? Yeah. So how about a freshly cut lawn? Can't help you there. But a barbecued prawn? Order it and it's on its way. Even throw in some paper towels. Clean up after the feast. So while you can't get fun in the sun, deliver. Don't worry because you can get pork buns delivered. Uber Eats can definitely get you that. Get almost, almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol in select markets. Product availability may vary by region. See app for details. Looking to transform your business through better HR and payroll? Meet Paycor, a paychecks company. The powerhouse solution that empowers leaders to drive results. From recruiting and development to payroll and analytics, paycor connects you with the people, data and expertise you need to succeed. Their innovative platform helps you make smarter decisions about your most valuable asset, your people. Are you ready to become a better leader? Visit paycor.com leaders to learn more. That's paycor.com leaders hey, so we all make mistakes, but owning up to them is the right thing to do. So you know Degree Cool Rush deodorant, right? Well, last year they changed the formula and it did not go over well with their fans. So Degree's whole thing is it turns up the sweat and odor protection when you turn up the effort. And good thing it does, because Cool Rush fans really turned up the effort to bring the original formula back. One guy even started an online petition and Degree listened. They admitted they effed up. They're bringing back the original Cool Rush scent. They're bringing it back and it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp, and fresh. It's back in Walmart, Target, and other stores now for under $4. There's a reason it's been the number one men's antiperspirant for the last decade. It's the same reason why people were not happ happy when it changed. So if you've never tried it, it might be a good time to see what the fuss is about. Head to your local Walmart, Target and try the OG Degree Cool Rush for yourself. When there's coaching changes and free agencies done, I give an NFL prediction. Then after the draft, yes, drafts matter, I make another prediction. Then after camp or during camps, I'll make a prediction. And then right before the season, the Thursday of the season, I make my final prediction. So I'VE got a lot of changes but most at the bottom of divisions. So let's start with the afc. So the easiest I would bet my car on this one. Bills win it. Dominant quarterback, not close and well coached. Patriots I've said this, they will be the Washington of the NFL. I predicted Washington and Denver would be the most improved teams. I'm. I'm predicting the Patriots will be the most improved team. Drake may actually has a coach and they've made major upgrades. O and D line Dolphins aren't good. They're going backwards but I'll take them over the jets where I don't like anything. All right, next up, the AFC North. Even if Aaron Rodgers shows up, they're not beating the Ravens or Bengals. Browns I think are looking for a quarterback Arch Manning in next year's draft. I like their gm. Andrew Barry and Kevin Stefanski don't like ownership. I feel pretty good about this. AFC South I'm gonna make a change. I think the Texans win it going away and the Titans are a wild card team. I will take the Jaguars third and I'll move the Colts down to fourth. I don't know who's playing quarterback for the Colts. My guess is Daniel Jones wins eventually but the Jaguars to their credit got the best player in the draft in Travis Hunter. He will make an impact. They upgraded their offensive line significantly so again it's not much but I'll take the Jaguars third and the Colts fourth and in the AFC West I feel the same way. It's inches not feet. I think the Chargers embodied empowered their run game and they're going to be a ball control offense with two great tackles, a great coach, a great quarterback and two excellent running backs. They also upgraded at tight end. I think they're going to be not as much sizzle as you may want want but they're just going to ground teams. It'll be classic Jim Harbaugh in year two you will be looking at a team that is completely different than they were two years ago. Chiefs still win 10, 11, maybe 12 but they've been a second. Broncos and Raiders didn't love the Broncos draft so my AFC playoff predictions Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers, Patriots, Bengals are new and Chiefs we go to the NFC now where I do have more changes. Eagles Commanders going away. I'm gonna put the Giants at third and the Cowboys at fourth. I thought the Giants actually got impact guys in the draft. I thought scatter boo. The running back will absolutely make an impact in Abdul Carter. Hate that he's asking for Lawrence Taylor's jersey but he's going to be an impact guy. They've already got a good D line. It'll be even better. Cowboys hiring Brian Schottenheimer, big mistake. Very Dak Reliant. I go Cowboys in the cellar. Next up NFC North I'm I'm keeping it the same. I think the Bears eke into the playoffs. I think Jordan love I like. I think they're worried about him. That's why I went a receiver in the first round. They're not quite sure they can trust Christian Watson's health. They got to make this Jordan love thing work. So they had a couple of other needs defensively and they went wide receiver again. Vikings will be a very good fourth place team. I think letting Sam Darnold go, I think they may regret it. All right, I have another change. I'm going to move Tampa from second to first to win their division. I like their draft. I always like their drafts. I did not like the Atlanta Falcons draft and I don't know what Michael Penix is by the way. I thought Emeka Igbuka to that receiving core and that offense, he will be an 80 catch guy potentially as a rookie. I think he every GM I talked to when I said did anybody reach for a mecca? They're like no, that guy could have been the fifth pick and it's a smart pick. He will deliver. Day one Bryce Young's improved Saints, they're done. And finally, yeah, you can see it. I think the Rams are going to win it. I think Seattle's defense I thought Seattle had the best draft in the NFL. I thought Arizona and Cleveland had the second best draft. Arizona's defense is going to be a handful. Their offense is fine. All also Marvin Harrison and Kyler Murray now go to a second year together that matters. I don't like what I see with the Niners. I did not like their draft at all. I think when you look at the Niners draft I see Kyle Shanahan taking some reaches here to help him and not the future he wants to win now. I didn't like the Niners draft at all. I'm not saying they're a five win team but I think Arizona can win 10, 11 games. So my playoff picture in the NFC Eagles, Lions, Bucks, Rams, Commanders, Bears, Seahawks Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific. One of our guys, Dan Woicke covers the Lakers went to every single game this year. And by the way these days in the media that doesn't always happen. You Got television broadcasters not even go to the same game. Anywho, that's a different topic. Okay, Dan, you got a lot of stuff to talk about. And let's start with the. It's a little bit of the elephant in the room, the J.J. reddick stuff.
Jason McIntyre
Okay.
Colin Cowherd
So I was saying, I had heard Bomani Jones and Nick Wright brought this up. I thought it was a fascinating take. Is that a lot of people who are anxious, they bring it on themselves. It's not external forces. JJ Got very tight in his biggest game as a college player, as an NBA player. Very good player. I think he was the 11th pick of Orlando out of the draft, but he was a different player in the playoffs. He. Not a lot of big shots, was less of a player. And then you watch him in the Lakers and he runs tight and he gets snippy. And I. And I thought to him, and they theorize is like, this is not just a comfortable college basketball job. It's 82 games. It's NBA, it's the Lakers. It's a big market media. And let's just talk about J.J. redick's personality. Is it a little bit of a concern?
Jason McIntyre
I think maybe a little bit. It is, though, kind of one of those things, Colin, where, like, if you're at a job interview and somebody asks you, like, what's your biggest weakness? And it's like, I care too much. It's like, it's also kind of flexing how much you care. Right. And I think there are certainly worse things that you can say about somebody other than they're too intense, they care too much. They're too passionate about what they're doing. They put too much into it. And I do think with JJ There is an element of this, right? Like, this is. And it's funny because that this was the type that the Lakers were sort of chasing. The other name, right? The other person who got off of the job. One. One other person got off the job is Dan Hurley. And if we talk about being wound tight and stuff like that, they were.
Colin Cowherd
Clearly looking for that.
Jason McIntyre
For that level of intensity, right. That level of passion.
Colin Cowherd
In the NBA, there's always been this theory you're either a scheme guy or you're like Joe Tory in baseball. Now, Steve Kerr is both, Spoelster is both. Or you're a good in the room guy. Now. Now, young coaches tend to be really good with the players.
Jason McIntyre
JJ Had a really good year with players.
Colin Cowherd
That's right. Is he a good scheme guy?
Jason McIntyre
I think so. I mean, I think, like, it Is, you know, look, he made a really showy decision, right? And their staff made a really showy decision to play the same five players for 24 straight minutes, and then they ran out of gas at the end of the fourth quarter. He defended that decision. I disagree with the defense of the decision. Like, tired players do miss layups, tired players do turn the ball over. But they were tired in game one when they played seven guys. They were tired in game two. They were tired, Colin, because they had to play small so much. That's why they were tired. Right. Like, Minnesota's big and Minnesota's really, really big, and they're really dynamic and they're really athletic, and it was a horrible matchup, and that's why the Lakers were tired. I do think that the. The best thing I can say about J.J. redick's season, having seen it, she mentioned, you know, you got along with him 93 games. I've known him a very long time, is that J.J. redick's coaching philosophy on day one was different than his coaching philosophy on game five, the first round of playoffs. And that doesn't mean he was soft on convictions. I think you could. Anybody who's seen JJ Rick talk knows that he's not soft on convictions. I think his primary conviction was, I need to coach to my team, and I need to coach to the strengths and the weaknesses of my team. And that is my philosophy. So when he had Anthony Davis and LeBron James, that meant shooting 23s a game. Cool. They shot 23s a game. That meant when they had Luka doncic, they shot 50. It is. There's a flexibility there, and that would give me, I think, the most confidence moving forwards is that he's going to do. To Bobani and Nick's point, he is very hard on himself. His pressure does come from within. Like, he wants to win as badly as anybody I've ever met. And he hasn't won. It's been a long time since he's won a championship. Yeah, you know, he's going to do. He's going to do everything to put himself in a position to be better, and I think that's good. Now, when the moment comes again, you know, is. Is he going to. I mean, that's part of. That's part of being who he is.
Colin Cowherd
Part of. It reminded me of Brandon Staley with the Chargers. I'm like, when you start attacking the pretty nice LA media, this isn't Philly, this isn't Boston. This isn't, you know, Chicago, Louisiana. Media is pretty Fair.
Jason McIntyre
Yeah. And I mean, look, we. We did, you know, I'd say, you know, as I'm counting it out in my head, if, if it's, you know, six preseason games, 82 regular season games, five playoff games.
Colin Cowherd
He had three bad pressers.
Jason McIntyre
93. Yeah, we. We talked to him pre and post. 93 times. There were a couple clips that. That went viral. Yeah, you know, I. I think, again, I prefer in these situations, a coach who will listen to what we ask, who will answer the questions that we ask. He told me at times this year he thought I was grasping at things. Fine, let's have it. We'll have a conversation about it. And I think, like, that part of it, to me more signaled. I think the more revealing JJ Redick press conference moment for me was before game one of the first round of playoffs when, again, he had had a week to think about a game and he looked it and he acted it in a way where the team had no. He was. So.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, they didn't scrimmage.
Jason McIntyre
Yeah. You know, they were just too. They were just. They wanted it too much or at least as a coaching staff. And like, that wasn't the right. It wasn't the right energy. Minnesota seemed much more relaxed, much more loose. Seemed like they had more fun.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
Jason McIntyre
And I think that showed off in the court.
Colin Cowherd
Okay. I've been saying this for years. I understand when people. America likes the underdog. I don't. I'm a Yankee, Dodger, Ohio State.
Jason McIntyre
You sound like LeBron.
Colin Cowherd
I'm not.
Jason McIntyre
This is the LeBron. This is the LeBron fandom list. Yeah.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. I'm not an underdog fan. You can draft TCU players. I'll draft Texas guys. I don't care. And so Brock Purdy, everybody roots for him. It gets rainy and he can't hold the ball. Austin Reeves is undrafted. There's a reason I like Austin Reeves. They don't have a big. If he's a 3, you're not winning the championship. If he's a 4, I don't think he's nearly as good as Derrick White. But if he is a four, you could maybe get to the finals. Because I'm looking at Michael Porter's a four with Westbrook playing well, he. Is he a five for Denver, their fifth best player. What is this? What is this? Are they going to move Austin Reaves and how do they view him in house?
Jason McIntyre
I don't think they're going to move them. I don't think there is a.
Colin Cowherd
He was awful against the T1 Wolves.
Jason McIntyre
He was, he had a bad series.
Colin Cowherd
And he, and by the way, they kept throwing athletes at him.
Jason McIntyre
Bad series. But still Colin, I mean, like, I mean, bad series to the eye test, more so than the numbers. Certainly couldn't get to the line, you know, I think. And some of that, like this sounds like an excuse and it is what it is. If you're on the court, you're on the court. He was playing through a pretty severe foot injury, pretty severe toe injury in games, uh, 4 and 5. I think the thing with Austin, there's a couple things. One, this is a guy who every time they've, a challenge has been kind of issued to him. Yeah, he's answered, he's answered it right? From being undrafted to being, can he be a rotation player to being a starter. Can he be, can he play with Luke, can he play with Luka? Can he be, you know, at times the second best offensive player on this team? Yeah, you know, I think at the contract he's at, certainly the relationship he has within the organization with, with people in the organization. The relationship he has with his, in the locker room is sort of like the bridge between the LeBron tier of the locker room and say like the bottom tier of the locker room. Like he's the, the glue of all of this. Right? He is the guy that everybody can talk to and he's a problem solver and they believe in him. They really believe in him. They think this was a bad series.
Colin Cowherd
They want to, they want an all star back.
Jason McIntyre
He's. I mean, yeah, like this is like tippy top. I mean this is a, they view him as an all star level player who makes $15 million. So at, at the early stages of his prime now, because I don't think.
Colin Cowherd
You can run this team back. LeBron is hit and miss.
Jason McIntyre
They need a center. There's no doubt about it. I mean, and there's no doubt about.
Colin Cowherd
JJ Reddick doesn't play Jackson Hayes. He's telling the front office, get me a legit bit.
Jason McIntyre
So if there, if there was a center, Colin, that was like a big time needle mover. Not just like he's a good center because we need. That's not a big, not a big. I mean they're good players and they're players that would fit what the Lakers are doing. They're not players that the Lakers would part with.
Colin Cowherd
Austin Reeves for Nate Claxton. They wouldn't.
Jason McIntyre
No.
Colin Cowherd
Okay.
Jason McIntyre
I don't believe so.
Colin Cowherd
Okay, here's another one. There are certain things where people don't change like, you can get. You can get. Like for instance, you could tell somebody, hey, if you don't stop smoking, you're going to die. And they will stop smoking. Or you need to lose weight. You're unhealthy in your appearance.
Jason McIntyre
Do you have my medical files back there? Seems like you might. Did somebody violate hipaa? Okay.
Colin Cowherd
There are other things that people are what they are. Yeah. And I'll give you an example. Work ethic. You either grind or you don't. If you're. If you're wake and bake guy or you've always been party guy on campus, I love you, but that's who you are.
Jason McIntyre
Sure.
Colin Cowherd
It gets to all the guys that were party guys in college that kind of. They are what they are.
Jason McIntyre
Yeah.
Colin Cowherd
So defense. James Harden has never cared about it. Carmelo Anthony never cared about it, and Luca doesn't care about it. Now Jokic has made an improvement. He's never going to be great defensive.
Jason McIntyre
I have two. There's another name of mine knock is.
Colin Cowherd
If you're having these meetings with Luka and you're like, listen, we need you to be blank defensively, this is what he is now. He can be a better version of this, but how many years do I have to see teams attack him before we just acknowledge he's been playing basketball for 18 years? This is what he is defensively.
Jason McIntyre
Yeah. I think the frustrating part with Luka Doncic defense is that in. In flashes like you see, you know, the six foot seven guy, use his body well, position it well, move his feet, get, get in, get into the spots that he's. Use his brain. Right. To be an active defender. You see it at times. You saw it for lightning bolt flashes in this series when the stakes were highest. It wasn't consistent enough. The Lakers know it. Luka Doncic knows it. The Dallas Mavericks knew it. Nico Harrison knew it.
Colin Cowherd
The league knows.
Jason McIntyre
The league knows it. This is why you. This is the big. The. One of the biggest differences between last year's playoffs versus this year's playoffs when it came to Minnesota, was that they went at Luka Dodgy Charter this year. They. They put him in that position. And quite frankly, the way you need to do it is that you need to build the right kind of team defense around him and you can get away with it.
Colin Cowherd
Dallas gave you the roadmap, so that's. Yeah, Kyrie and Luka were together. They started tanking to get. And then the next year in the trade deadline, they went and got big. You have. So the Lakers liability is the opposite of what works with Luca. You need RIM protect.
Jason McIntyre
Yeah. Colin and I think, you know, that, that sort of, you know, Hollywood Summit or meeting or whatever you want to call it, between Luka and Rob Polink and J.J. redick. It was about all this stuff, right? It was the trade happens, right? And it is about getting Luka Doncic as comfortable as possible, as fast as possible. After having like, you know, his entire professional, like, world just like kind of ripped down, right? Like, because that's what this was. He didn't expect to be traded. He was going to finish his career in Dallas and then all of a sudden he's not. Right. He's somewhere totally new, really playing for the third team in his life. As a, as a. Since he was 15, this is the third different team he's ever played for. So I think the season was about getting him as adjusted, as comfortable as possible and trying to maximize a roster that quite frankly wasn't built for him. Right. And he's the kind of player who, when given a roster built for him. We saw what happened last year in Dallas and I think, you know, my understanding is what that meeting was, was not just JJ and Rob telling him, put down the bread basket, like, you know, we're going to go keto this summer. That's not what it was. It was what? Let's talk basketball now. Now we can get into the part of this you're here, we think you're going to be here a long time. How do we make you the best version of yourself? What can we do to maximize your skills? What kind of players do you want to see around you? Let's get to work on building this thing out. And we've talked about it. They need more length and athleticism on the wings, more two way players. They need more size. Easier said than done. Most teams want those things. They don't have a ton of assets to get it. But I think there is a belief, at least from the dodgy camp in sort of what a LeBron, Luca, Austin, Reeves core can do, I think. And then building around it, I think.
Colin Cowherd
You got to move off Austin if you want to get a legit big. That's an uncomfortable conversation.
Jason McIntyre
It is. I just think that, like, by the.
Colin Cowherd
Way, OKC is younger and better. Cleveland's younger and better, Indy's younger and I think better. Boston's better. At some point you just got to say, guys, we won the Luca trade by a mile. We could lose a little.
Jason McIntyre
I just think that's the question to me is just still Again is like where the big is and who the big is. And I, and I think like Gafford for Austin Reeves. I think they can get Gafford without Austin Reeves.
Colin Cowherd
All right.
Jason McIntyre
I mean that's. Honestly, they have a, they, they have a first round pick. You know, they have a, a player in Dalton Connect that, that has some value. I think that can kind of get you there on the starting point. I think, you know, you have your swaps, you can be more creative. You have like you have in a roster building thing. Right. And it's, it'll be interesting how different the team is to. You know, we don't know what LeBron's long term future is. Yeah, I mean we do. It's retirement eventually. But, but you know, when you have a player you can count on around $15 million and you've got your, your, your megamax guy, you have more flexibility than it might appear. And, and I think I'm curious to see what the Lakers do with their expiring money. They have some expiring contracts. They have a first round pick they can trade. Yeah, they can get a little creative in that. And I think, you know, they felt one of the other things and it's funny how much 5 games and 4 losses can change things. But you know, going into this playoffs, Colin, like I've been around teams that have said they think they can win championships and we all know they couldn't. This Lakers team had that belief like they had really had that belief is.
Colin Cowherd
Belief is.
Jason McIntyre
No, but like an authentic belief. Like a truly authentic belief.
Colin Cowherd
I think you can authentically believe a lot. That doesn't make it true.
Jason McIntyre
Sure. And I think, I think when they will approach this offseason, they need to do so with. This is the hard part about team building in the NBA. You don't want to be, react. You don't want to be too reactionary to what just happened. But you have to look at yourself in the mirror and know where you're, where you're soft.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. And they don't. Rams are really good at looking at themselves and asking hard questions. I'm not sure the Lakers are.
Jason McIntyre
I mean the Lakers lost the first round series three years ago, three years ago, three or four years ago to the Phoenix Suns.
Colin Cowherd
Right.
Jason McIntyre
And decided that the best course of action was to trade for Russell Westbrook. That was an overreaction. It was an over calculation. It was an overreaction to what had happened the season before. They thought they needed more punch, they needed another ball handler. They needed all these things they needed to make a big change. That big change set back the organization multiple years and they were given a.
Colin Cowherd
Way out this year. What you're largely saying is, and this is true, the Lakers have always been at their best taking huge swings.
Jason McIntyre
They get, they get the big stuff, right?
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. If you're not.
Jason McIntyre
They got to get the small stuff right.
Colin Cowherd
You're not willing to move Austin Reeves, you're not taking a swing. Oklahoma City will be marketably like Cleveland. They'll be better next year. Like, they're not going backwards.
Jason McIntyre
Sure. Like San Antonio is going to. San Antonio's coming. Everybody knows that's gonna happen.
Colin Cowherd
We're gonna keep Austin, but we're gonna find. Okay. You need to have.
Jason McIntyre
You have to believe in Luca. You have to believe in like, you have to believe in Luca. Luka Doncic one. And you have to believe in Austin Reeves.
Colin Cowherd
LeBron's not getting younger. Sure. Luka will never be a great defender. And Austin is undrafted. Good. But he's undrafted. He was physically worked.
Jason McIntyre
Yeah. I think this is. And when J.J. redick says things like we need to be in championship condition, like he's not just talking about Luka Nagic. Like it. It is a more of a roster wide thing where they need to be, they need to be in a better position. Should, should they have to play that style again for the amount of time that they did now perfect world. You don't have to play that style. You get the big. You get the right guy in there. You keep your core together. And that's the plan. And that's the plan.
Colin Cowherd
The Lakers are becoming the Clippers.
Jason McIntyre
They're not going to like that.
Colin Cowherd
Hey, you know what? Next year when Kawhi comes back. No, no. Kawhi will play 40 games.
Jason McIntyre
Sure.
Colin Cowherd
Well, James Harden will be James Harden. The Clippers now are trying to talk them. People do this all the time.
Jason McIntyre
But like Luka Dodge is. Collin doesn't lose in the first round of the playoffs. This is the anomaly.
Colin Cowherd
That's great.
Jason McIntyre
This is the anomaly.
Colin Cowherd
Older Austin's undrafted and JJ Redick's got a ways to go be an elite coach. Those things do not change.
Jason McIntyre
Yeah, I agree with you and I think that I, I think you're higher.
Colin Cowherd
On the Lakers than I am.
Jason McIntyre
I think what I think I, I think I believe in a, in a Donich. Like I've seen enough of like what Luca at the core of a team can be when, when it's not a.
Colin Cowherd
Great fit with a great center rotation.
Jason McIntyre
But when it was not a great fit, he Went to the Western Conference finals. Like when. With a really good center.
Colin Cowherd
With a really good, better coach. Absolutely. And a great center rotation. Lakers don't have one center they trust. Not one.
Jason McIntyre
I know. And that's, and that is the task this offseason. That is top line number one.
Colin Cowherd
But you can't get there without moving on.
Jason McIntyre
I think you can. I. You mentioned Nick. If Nick Claxton to you answers that question, I'm just saying you can get Nick Claxton without trading Austin Reeves like you can. You have expiring money, you have a first round pick that'll get you Nick Claxton like they, they were. I mean, if Mark Williams, if they felt better about what they saw with Mark Williams, knees and ankles and stuff like that. They get Mark Williams with Dalton, connect in a first round pick and the problem solved, they can get there. I, I think that it is going to be a very focused thing. The, the caution I would say is again, is that on paper they can the Lakers win the off season all the time. On paper. Doesn't mean anything.
Colin Cowherd
No.
Jason McIntyre
You might wake up on July 2nd and Clint Capella is on your team and Brook Lopez is on your team and you're like, we've got centers. They might not be the right fits if you watch the, if you watch the playoffs. Colin, this is the biggest thing for me when I look around at the playoffs last night and I was talking yesterday to a scout about this. Look at a guy like Isaiah Hartenstein, right guarded Jokic. Last night, the Clippers, like, chose John Wall instead of Isaiah Hartenstein. Isaiah Hartenstein was on the Knicks and no longer on the Knicks. Isaiah Hartenstein was on the Rockets and no longer on the Rockets. You got to get role players at the right time at the right situation. He wasn't then. You got to get him at the right time in the right situation. And that's where the best executives do their best work. The getting Luka is the most important part. What matters most is what you put around him.
Colin Cowherd
All right, 30 seconds. KD, 30 seconds. Where's he end up?
Jason McIntyre
I think it's Houston. Just seems like the most logical San Antonio if we want to get really wild.
Colin Cowherd
They got a lot of. Well, I mean, Houston's not getting both of them.
Jason McIntyre
Like I, I mean, like I, I, if, if, if Giannis wants to win, that's a fun pathway to winning. If he wants to go to a big market, it gets a little trickier.
Colin Cowherd
Well, yeah, big markets don't matter anymore, I don't think. I mean, I think it helps quality of life.
Jason McIntyre
It matters quality of life. People at a certain point when they where they want to live. But like I think, I think Giannis is fat. Like Giannis is fascinating because he has maximized his opportunity in Milwaukee. He's enjoyed it there. He's been great for that community. There's tons of like, the ties are really strong there. We'll see. I mean Miami, you could build around him pretty easily there.
Colin Cowherd
What do they have to give me?
Jason McIntyre
Tyler Hero, Milwaukee Zone. Wisconsin legend. Tyler Hero.
Colin Cowherd
Miami doesn't have enough to give it picks.
Jason McIntyre
I mean like, it's gonna have to be like. I mean the teams that have the.
Colin Cowherd
Stuff I want Shen Gooner. We're not. I'm hanging the phone up.
Jason McIntyre
Oh, Houston would do that in a second for Shangun.
Colin Cowherd
No Shengoon. I'm not getting them in. I want Shengun.
Jason McIntyre
You're starting with a men Thompson. That is where that conversation.
Colin Cowherd
They're not moving him. I wouldn't move.
Jason McIntyre
Maybe they don't get Giannis. Like that's where you don't have to trade.
Colin Cowherd
Never trade a man Thompson.
Jason McIntyre
You don't want to put yourself in the Nico position where you don't end up with the players you want. You got to get. Well, he got the player one. It was Anthony Davis. You have to get the young players you want if you're going to trade.
Colin Cowherd
Giannis, Shen Goon, Jalen Green. Three first round picks.
Jason McIntyre
Not enough.
Colin Cowherd
And Jabari Smith.
Jason McIntyre
Not enough.
Colin Cowherd
Not enough.
Jason McIntyre
Not enough. Not for Giannis.
Colin Cowherd
Who can offer more than that? Because I'm Looking at chat GPT the most draft capital next five years. OkC Brooklyn.
Jason McIntyre
I mean OkC. OkC can get there. That's OKC can get there. Fun. And they can get there quickly.
Colin Cowherd
They could win next year anyway.
Jason McIntyre
We'll see. They got some big game work to do.
Colin Cowherd
Well, yeah, that's.
Jason McIntyre
We'll see. They got some big game work.
Colin Cowherd
One guy on this set thought Denver had a shot in this series. That's right, the old gray haired guy.
Jason McIntyre
Not the former smoker with the weight problem. That's good. I'm glad it wasn't him.
Colin Cowherd
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Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – "Best of The Herd" (May 6, 2025)
The Herd with Colin Cowherd, hosted by iHeartPodcasts and The Volume, offers a dynamic and opinionated exploration of the day's top sports stories. In the "Best of The Herd" episode released on May 6, 2025, Colin Cowherd engages in in-depth discussions with guest Jason McIntyre, covering pivotal moments from the NBA playoffs, team performances, player evaluations, and coaching philosophies. This summary captures the episode's key points, insightful analyses, and notable quotes, providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't tuned in.
Overview: The episode opens with a critical analysis of the playoff game between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks. Colin and Jason dissect Boston's surprising home loss, emphasizing the team's reliance on three-point shots and their defensive shortcomings.
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Overview: The conversation shifts to the Denver Nuggets' playoff performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Colin praises Nuggets' strategic play, highlighting Nikola Jokic's leadership and the team's effective use of the free throw line.
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Overview: A significant portion of the episode delves into the Los Angeles Lakers' playoff exit. Colin and Jason evaluate the team's performance, center on LeBron James and Luka Doncic, and speculate on potential offseason moves.
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Overview: The episode explores different coaching styles and their effectiveness in high-stakes playoff environments. Colin and Jason compare historical coaching figures to contemporary ones, emphasizing flexibility and adaptability.
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Overview: Towards the episode's conclusion, Colin and Jason offer insights into player performances, potential trades, and future team strategies across the NBA. They discuss the importance of building around star players and making strategic offseason decisions.
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Overview: An in-depth conversation about J.J. Redick’s tenure as the Lakers' coach, his coaching philosophy, and the challenges he faces in balancing team dynamics and performance under pressure.
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The "Best of The Herd" episode provides a comprehensive analysis of recent NBA playoff developments, focusing on team performances, coaching strategies, and player evaluations. Colin Cowherd and Jason McIntyre offer nuanced perspectives, blending statistical analysis with personal insights to deliver an engaging and informative discussion. Notable moments include critiques of Boston's shooting strategy, praise for Denver Nuggets’ cohesive play, and a detailed examination of the Lakers' coaching challenges. This episode serves as a valuable resource for sports enthusiasts seeking in-depth commentary on the ever-evolving landscape of professional basketball.
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This detailed summary encapsulates the essence of the "Best of The Herd" episode, highlighting the critical discussions and analyses that Colin Cowherd and Jason McIntyre provide on the current state of the NBA playoffs and team dynamics. Whether you're a casual fan or a dedicated follower of basketball, this episode offers valuable insights into the strategies and performances shaping the league.