J. Mac (7:12)

You know, shifty, crafty around the basket.

Colin Cowherd (7:15)

Knows how to use his body well, draws fouls. And he's been hitting the three ball.

J. Mac (7:18)

Well, too, you know, tough. Definitely a guy that, you know, you watch and you study to be better.

Colin Cowherd (7:26)

If we end up playing him down the line, but no, he's a tough cover. He's been playing some good basketball.

J. Mac (7:31)

And you got to tip your cap.

Colin Cowherd (7:32)

Absolutely. That's what you do. That's what you did with the Derrick Rose Bulls. You tip their cap. They had a bunch of dudes that could play. They had a rock star.

Paul Pierce (7:40)

They.

Colin Cowherd (7:40)

They're trying to win him mvp. They're playing their butt off. Everybody freaks out. But I didn't trust him in the postseason. LeBron came in, squashed their dreams. OKC, Luca LeBron Austin Reeves, Rui Jackson, Hayes, more experience, be a better road team than Oklahoma City is in the playoffs. Take a deep breath. I still have Boston winning at all. Okay, so this is interesting. So a former NFL GM Doug Whaley was talking on a Pittsburgh podcast and he says basically Aaron Rodgers is holding the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Giants hostage. There was a picture of Aaron Rodgers that made the Internet in Malibu and he's got earphones in and a blanket over his shoulder. It says. It is unclear if he was listening to music, a podcast, or perhaps taking a call from his agents concerning his next team. Sources tell me he was listening to the Herd. Damn right he was. Absolutely. And his takeaway is that show is fresh. And who knew Colin took magnesium? So let me defend Aaron Rodgers here. The Steelers and the Giants have backed themselves into a corner because the Giants have been reaching on quarterbacks and the Steelers have been ignoring the position until it's, you know, late free agency for a long time. These two teams, the Giants and the Steelers, are being willingly detained is the way I'd put it. And you know, Giants have made too many bad choices upstairs and the Steelers don't take quarterback seriously enough. So. And as for Aaron Rodgers, I would be walking on a beach looking very Sad if at 41 years old, the Giants and the Steelers were my last two options. There's a report out there, it could be Minnesota, but I just going to defend Aaron here. It's, it's March 13th and he was just officially released by the jets yesterday. Okay, so he's gone from darkness retreat to Egypt in the summer to walking on the beach in Malibu. I see that as personal growth. I think he's actually getting somewhere and I just, I'll tell you, and I, I don't feel bad for teams who can't get their act together. The Giants front office is bad and the Steelers lack of urgency at quarterback and tone deaf sensibility to offense is their problem. So I mean, to me, Aaron Rodgers has earned a walk on the beach to contemplate. He got officially released yesterday. He's hard guy to figure out. There's a story out there about the Minnesota Vikings. I said this yesterday and I am totally in the minority. I would take the New York Giants over the Steelers. I get an offensive coach, I get a great left tackle, I've got an excellent receiving weapon who doesn't appear to be as needy as Pittsburgh's two and the things they. And I've got some, actually some pretty decent defensive personnel. Also the Steelers spend too much money on defense, where it does feel like the Giants would rather spend money on offense. So I like the Giants, by the way. Both divisions are tough. So, yeah, you're going to have to face the Eagles and, yeah, you're going to have to face the Ravens. Yeah, you're going to have to face Jaden Daniels. Yeah, you're going to have to face Joe Burrow. It's the NFL. Not everything can be the NFC South. Okay, so my take is I'll take the offensive coach who's worked with Josh Allen. I'll take the left tackle. I'll take neighbors. I'll take. You know, the Giants need a running back and a tight end. By the way, it's a very good draft for running back and tight end. I like the Giants situation here. Was Albert Breer yesterday on Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh saying, like, we just need somebody to put us over the top of the position. So I do wonder if that's going to be a factor in his decision making. Again, only he knows, and he's very private about these things. And I don't know what the timeline is. It could happen in 10 minutes, it could happen in 10 days. But, you know, I do think, you know, we're all a product of our own experiences. And I. And I look at this like Pittsburgh offers him as something that's a little bit different than. Than what he went through with the jets, where I. I think the Giants would be asking him to do something similar to what the jets were asking him to do a couple of years ago. And to that, I would say he's right. The Giants would need him a little bit as a savior. But I'm going to make the argument Mike Tomlin and the Steelers need saving, too. Two receivers who are demanding the ball on offense, can't get the O line right, Just lost their left tackle, just lost their number one running back. Okay, so you've added drama at wide receiver, less talented at left tackle, less talented at the backfield. Pittsburgh shown no ability to get the offensive line right. We look at the Giants, we look at the New York Giants as a mess. Whoo. They need saving. I'm here to argue offensively, the Pittsburgh Steelers need saving. That's the difference here. We view the Steeler, isn't it? The last three or four playoff games the Steelers have been in, they've been behind by at least 21 points on each of them. They're not a viable AFC championship team at all. And the Giants aren't a viable team in the NFC for a championship. The difference is I get an offensive coach, a great left tackle, a good weapon, and a team willing to spend money on the right side of the ball. So I would take the Giants. I don't think that's where he's going to end up. I think he's going to go to the Steelers, but I would go with the Giants. And I know it doesn't mean anything, but I got my house, I got my left tackle, I got my coach, I got my weapon. And I do think the Giants at least understand they got to spend some money on offense because their defensive personnel actually is pretty good. Steelers defensive personnel is better. Giants isn't terrible. So there you go, J. Mac. I'm feeling it with ar that walk on the beach in Malibu, that pensive look. I like usage of pensive. Did you do magnesium last night or no? I did and I slept so well the night before. It didn't have the same effectiveness, but it still worked. It made me groggy enough to fall asleep. Okay. All right. I don't know. I'm just glad two, two folks right now are going to be irrelevant next year. The Dallas Cowboys and Aaron Rodgers. Neither of them are going to matter in the NFL. Well, I think it's, it's going to be an awesome season and we don't even need those two guys. Well, that's true. That's the power. This is not baseball or the NBA. Yeah, you need certain brands. That is true. He's out for the playoffs. It's like I thought the Steelers been are. I, I think the Steelers have been irrelevant, frankly, the last several years. I think the Cowboys were irrelevant last year. When you make the playoffs, you're relevant. But like, in terms of title contending Steelers. By the way, offensive line issues, I, I, I don't love that. I don't love their R. People think the Giants are a wreck offensively. So are the Steelers. Yeah, so are the Steelers. At least the Giants have a offensive coach and a great left tackle. At least I get that. But I mean, if you look at the Steelers and the Giants offensive ratings, it's, you know, they're both bad. They're in jets territory. That's, that's what that is right there on the screen. Yeah, they're both awful. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS1 and the iHeartRadio app with AMEX.

J. Mac (14:52)

There's always a new experience to explore, from curating the perfect vacation and chilling in the Centurion Lounge before you get there trying out that new trendy restaurant thanks to priority notify with global dining access by resy and getting straight to the action at the big game with card member entrances at select venues with AMEX Platinum you can experience it all. That's the powerful backing of American Express. Terms apply. Access to the card member entrance not limited to the American Express Platinum card. Learn more@americanexpress.com withamx we live in a divided country.

Colin Cowherd (15:24)

I am a lifelong Republican with all.

Jeremy Hobson (15:27)

Kinds of different people.

Paul Pierce (15:28)

You know, I'm a mother, I'm a grandmother.

Jeremy Hobson (15:31)

That's why we started the Middle with Jeremy Hobson. It's about bringing voices not from the extremes, but from the vast middle into the national conversation.

Colin Cowherd (15:39)

Anna, I'm calling from Las Vegas.

Jeremy Hobson (15:41)

Each week we bring together an all star panel. Mark Cuban, so great to have you on the middle.

Colin Cowherd (15:46)

Thanks for having me, Jeremy.

Jeremy Hobson (15:47)

Neil Degrasse Tyson, welcome to the Middle.

Paul Pierce (15:49)

Thanks for having me.

Jeremy Hobson (15:50)

And hear from ordinary Americans from all over the country on the most important issues.

Colin Cowherd (15:55)

Hi, my name is Venkat. I'm calling you from Atlanta, Georgia.

Jeremy Hobson (15:58)

And when you subscribe to the Middle, you also get an episode each week called One thing Trump did that focuses on just one item from the avalanche of news.

Paul Pierce (16:07)

We should be examining what our government.

Colin Cowherd (16:08)

Spends its money on and are these jobs necessary and what are we doing here.

Paul Pierce (16:12)

But that doesn't seem to be what.

Colin Cowherd (16:13)

We'Re doing in this situation.

Jeremy Hobson (16:15)

Listen to the Middle with Jeremy Hobson on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Colin Cowherd (16:21)

So here we go. I'm going to start today, nfc, tomorrow afc. Now you got to have four minimum total down to the end. A lot of free agent losses for the Eagles. They still have the deepest roster. I'll pick them over the commanders, but I think the commanders, Laramie Tunsil, Debo Samuel is a win now acquisition. They kept guys like Zach Ertz. So I think that's a very close competition. I'll take the better roster to win. Dallas third, not active in free agency. Still gotta pay Micah up against the cap. Dak Prescott off a second lower body injury, Giants. It doesn't matter. Really matter if Aaron goes there. Russell Wilson goes there. I think there's going to be so much pressure on the organization to win now. I'll pick the Giants for 4th NFC North. This is the toughest division for me in football. The Lions have the best roster. I'll pick them one. The Vikings have the worst roster. I'll pick them four. But and yes, Chicago's got a tough road schedule, no question, but they literally went and got Pro Bowlers on their interior O line and again, if they can get a running back with their first pick, the coaching upgrade at Chicago from what they were to what they are is going to be like the quarterback upgrade from Will Levis to Cam Ward. Like it's going to change outcomes. I have Chicago second. Here's Green Bay's tough for me because we I've got to be totally honest about this. I really fell for Jordan Love but last year against playoff teams, dude completed 60% of his throws with a passer rating at 81 and was 2 and 6 in the building at the end of the year. I watched the way they coached him. I think they lost some confidence in him. So I think Bears packers is down to the final week of the year to figure out who gets into the playoffs. NFC South I believe in Michael Penix. I don't like him not having Grady Jarrett, but I I and I don't like him losing Drew Dahlman the center. The Bucks are getting old. They're bringing back the entire offense. Sometimes that's good, sometimes it's not. I like the trajectory of Atlanta and I'm a big Michael Penix fan. Carolina will be better, but an average roster. Saints up against the kind of rigid there. I just don't like their direction. NFC west so I have the Rams winning it. I have no problem with that. Devonte Adams, one of the smartest acquisitions that will work. Their defense could be the best in the league this year if they can get a corner in the draft somewhere. Great coaching. Okay. Seahawks, Niners. I would love to watch the draft. Niners have 12 picks. Seattle's got to upgrade on the offensive line. But if you look at Seattle schedule, NFC South, AFC south, that Seahawks schedule is screaming 10, 11 wins. Niners meanwhile, 12 draft picks with a very complicated offensive system means I think they could be kind of trying to figure out what the heck they are till Thanksgiving. That is a lot of new players on the roster and they lost really good players. Seahawks, Niners like Bears. Packers I think play down to the final weekend to see who gets into the playoffs. Arizona. No massive upgrades are what they are. So my division winners, Eagles, Lions, Falcons, Rams. Falcons are a new playoff team. Wild card Commanders, Bears, Seahawks both squeak in. So I have three new playoff teams. The Falcons, the Bears and the Seahawks. You got to have four new ones every year minimum closer to six. So I don't think, you know, listen, Atlanta before Kirk Cousins fell apart, they beat Tampa Twice. I don't think I'm taking a big swing here. I like panics a lot. There you go. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app. 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.

J. Mac (21:29)

It's the last game of the season. And with amex, you can save time with card member entrances at select venues and go straight to the action so you can catch every moment. That's the powerful backing of American Express. Terms apply. Learn more@american express.com withamex we live in a divided country.

Colin Cowherd (21:47)

I am a lifelong Republican with all.

Jeremy Hobson (21:50)

Kinds of different people.

Paul Pierce (21:51)

You know, I'm a mother, I'm a grandmother.

Jeremy Hobson (21:54)

That's why we started the Middle with Jeremy Hobson. It's about bringing voices not from the extremes, but from the vast middle into the national conversation.

Colin Cowherd (22:02)

Anna, I'm calling from Las Vegas.

Jeremy Hobson (22:05)

Each week we bring together an all star panel. Mark Cuban, so great to have you on the Middle.

J. Mac (22:09)

Thanks for having me.

Paul Pierce (22:10)

Jeremy.

Jeremy Hobson (22:10)

Neil Degrasse Tyson, welcome to the Middle.

Paul Pierce (22:12)

Thanks for having me.

Jeremy Hobson (22:13)

And hear from ordinary Americans from all over the country on the most important issues.

Colin Cowherd (22:18)

Hi, my name is Venkat. I'm calling you from Atlanta, Georgia.

Jeremy Hobson (22:21)

And when you subscribe to the Middle, you also get an episode each week called One Thing Trump did that focuses on just one item from the avalanche.

Colin Cowherd (22:30)

Of news, we should be examining what our government spends its money on and are these jobs necessary and what are we doing here?

Paul Pierce (22:36)

But that doesn't seem to be what.

Colin Cowherd (22:37)

We'Re doing in this situation.

Jeremy Hobson (22:38)

Listen to the middle with Jeremy Hobson on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Colin Cowherd (22:44)

Let's bring on Paul Pierce, basketball hall of Fame co host on the show. What's up? What's up? What's up, my man? Great seeing you as always.

Paul Pierce (22:53)

What up? What up? I'm checking in the game, coach. Check it out. Let's go.

Colin Cowherd (22:58)

So I'm watching a little Celtics sga.

Paul Pierce (23:01)

Yeah.

Colin Cowherd (23:01)

And SGA is just gonna score on everybody.

Paul Pierce (23:04)

You can't stop him at all.

Colin Cowherd (23:07)

So he's not as vertical as Michael or that dynamic. Did you have a guy in. In the NBA? Maybe. Maybe it was you. A guy that just got his. You know who. I'll throw a guy. Do you remember Bernard King?

Paul Pierce (23:21)

Yes, I do.

Colin Cowherd (23:22)

Okay. I remember Dominique Wilkins telling me, I love Garden. Mj. It was fun. He goes, I didn't sleep with Bernard King.

Paul Pierce (23:28)

Wow.

Colin Cowherd (23:28)

Were there guys in the NBA and you were a great defensive player. Were there guys that you did not like to play? Because I think Boston looks up and goes, he's getting 36. There's nothing we can do about it.

Paul Pierce (23:39)

I mean, was that I didn't like.

Colin Cowherd (23:41)

You didn't love the guard that just stylistically he just got 28 every time.

Paul Pierce (23:45)

You play every time. I mean, I think my era had better athletes at the perimeter. When I started looking back at like Vince Carter, Ray Allen, Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant, you know, even had Glenn Robinson. Oh, man. Maybe Jamal Mashburn. But Mashburn played out the post a lot. A lot of guys who scored 30 in our league, like that was very athletic. And not to say he's not athletic. He just knows how to get to the spot. His mid and like the league that we hearing today, how they talking about three and layups? No, he like I'm playing an old school style. I'm still mid range. He might be the best mid range shooter in the league if you gave.

Colin Cowherd (24:21)

Kawhi Leonard his touch. It feels a little bit that Kawhi is a stronger player defensively, but SGA is good defender. It just, it's. He's one of those guys. If I said to you Kiki Vandaway on steroids.

Paul Pierce (24:34)

Okay, okay. Footwork. I learned a lot of my footwork from Kiki Vanderway.

Colin Cowherd (24:38)

Coming up, Kiki was 26 a night.

Paul Pierce (24:41)

Yes, that's a good one.

Colin Cowherd (24:42)

Kiki Vandaway, but on steroids, I mean.

Paul Pierce (24:45)

I would give him more like Kobe without the athleticism. Yeah, I mean, he just gets to the line, pivots one way, people's the other way, then shoots over you, gets to the middle.

Colin Cowherd (24:56)

Now, I, I have said this before. I'm going to take Boston to win again. I think the biggest obstacle is Cleveland, but they don't really have a weakness.

Paul Pierce (25:02)

Here's how they have a weakness though, huh? They have a weak.

Colin Cowherd (25:05)

What's their weakness?

Paul Pierce (25:06)

I mean, we saw it last night and this is the one thing that concerns me. So when the shots aren't falling, they gotta find other ways to score. Because like when you look at the best scorers in the league that don't have a great shoot night, but you look up, they still got 30 is because they got to the line. They got to the line like 15 times. We saw that. Yeah, you look up like James Harden have. He would be 5 for 20, but 30 points because he made 18 free throws. So you got to do something that just like negates you having a bad shooting. Good night. And that's what I see from Boston. So when you look up and they only have nine free throws because they're not being aggressive. Now, the threes they take are, are good threes, and that's who they are. That's their identity.

Colin Cowherd (25:50)

But they don't manufacture enough free throws and scoring beyond the three.

Paul Pierce (25:55)

Yeah. Because it's going to be nice like that where the shots ain't falling. We saw that a night ago. So I just hope they keep in mind just to find a better, a better balance. Because I knew at nights when I didn't have my shot going, if I missed my first two threes, I might not take another three the rest of the game. Like, that just was my mentality. Cause I'm like, they're driving.

Colin Cowherd (26:14)

They know LeBron's like that.

Paul Pierce (26:15)

Yeah. Like, yeah. Unless I'm just like wide open. I'm not like forcing no more threes. You know what? I'm. Because I got to my mid range, I got to my mid post and I'm attack the paint and I knew where I could be effective. So, you know, this is a fine line and you got to stay true to who you are because Boston's a three point shooting team.

Colin Cowherd (26:31)

That's right.

Paul Pierce (26:31)

That's right. You got to stay true to who you are. But you got to sell some nights that, listen, we Got to change a game plan. Let's start attacking. We got advantages everywhere. We can attack.

Colin Cowherd (26:39)

Yeah, I. I would give SGA the MVP over Jokic. Why? Because I think SGA is arguably the second best player in the year. In the league, Jokic is the best player, but A, SGA's team is much better. B, his number two player, Chet Holmgren gets hurt a lot. C, it's the third youngest team in the league. He's babysitting these guys. I do.

Paul Pierce (26:59)

They were the number one team last year in the West. They were. Yeah. So coming in, they were the favorite to be number one. But you give it to them. Not because of he's averaging leading the league. And yeah, I mean, he. He playing with two all stars. Joker is not. Doesn't have another all star, so you can't just eliminate him. But the reason you give SGA the MVP is because he has the signature moments. Like last night was a signature moment. The other night versus Denver. Signature moment. 40, 40 prime time. 40 points on prime time. You look at those deals.

Colin Cowherd (27:30)

Right? Right.

Paul Pierce (27:30)

You know what I'm saying?

Colin Cowherd (27:31)

Sunday, I was at home, I went to the game.

Paul Pierce (27:34)

Yeah.

Colin Cowherd (27:34)

I'm like, okay, this. I'm gonna make my MVP decision on the game.

Paul Pierce (27:38)

National televised game. Oh, he got 40. Oh, he sealed it.

Colin Cowherd (27:41)

That's what I said.

Paul Pierce (27:42)

You know what I'm saying? But then Joker comes back and the next one, he has a big game. So like, oh, not so fast. But then you come back versus the Celtics on the road without your second leading score plan, and you deliver. So right now, he got the advantage.

Colin Cowherd (27:58)

So the Knicks team is not as good as your Celtics team, but they have one thing in common. Is that one? I wish. So basically, Mikhail Bridges went to Tibbs and said, you got players less. I had heard because kgu, Ray Allen and Rondo. I had heard Doc Rivers. And you tell me if I'm wrong. Let's say in a road trip, if we win the opener, no practice, you can just play the next game. Yeah, that Doc would basically, guys, give me everything you got in the opener. And if we keep winning, I won't give you practice. Is that true?

Paul Pierce (28:33)

Yeah. I mean, we would do more walkthroughs once we got on the road, once the season started, you know, you win the game because we are we going to stay true to who we were. A defensive unit. We going to play the same way versus everybody. The league is a lot different now. You know, we don't play the same defensive principles where the defensive principles are different. And so win the game on the road. All right, we'll get the next night off, but then on game day, the next day, we're going to have shoot around and walk through. So we'll still get to get to the game plan, but there's no need to practice and run up and down and bang with each other. When your season is toward the end of the season and you need healthy bodies.

Colin Cowherd (29:09)

I mean, I watch the Knicks and the Blazers. I do. Here's the advantage for The Knicks being 0 and 10 against the best teams. The advantage is everybody in the building knows we need another dude. Like in the NBA, you get in trouble when the GM thinks one thing, the owner thinks another, the coach thinks another. Everybody knows we probably got to upgrade off Cat or some piece. Do you think there is a piece in the league right now? Who would you part with to get another piece in New York? Oh, so they move Randall to get Cat. Cat's the easier, more effortless offensive player. Randall's better defense. Is there a guy you like? Like, I'll give you one.

Paul Pierce (29:50)

I got one.

Colin Cowherd (29:51)

Kd.

Paul Pierce (29:53)

I mean, Katie can help anybody who's right on the fly, but I mean.

Colin Cowherd (29:56)

Don'T they kind of need a catch and shoot?

Paul Pierce (29:59)

They can use kd, but I was thinking more like Zion Williamson.

Colin Cowherd (30:04)

That's interesting.

Paul Pierce (30:05)

That would be because, you know, Cat can still stretch the floor. The way he shoots the ball like you have those two imposing big guys and he brings some star power to New York and I think he needs some fresh air anyway out of New Orleans.

Colin Cowherd (30:17)

The other thing is because of his injuries, you wouldn't have to give up the farm, right?

Paul Pierce (30:22)

Yeah, he might be, you know, somebody you can kind of steal from.

Colin Cowherd (30:26)

What's the average? 45, 55 games a year. So you think Zion, I'll take a chance.

Paul Pierce (30:30)

A high risk, high reward for New York. And then it brings some excitement.

Colin Cowherd (30:35)

That's really good. So tonight the warriors get Kaminga back. I think it's a TNT game. So coming, you know, because Paul, the NBA is so young now. You know, in the NFL you're drafting guys that have played three to four years. They're married, they're 23.

Paul Pierce (30:53)

Right.

Colin Cowherd (30:54)

College basketball, you're getting Cooper flag for a year. Dude, he's 18, 19 coming to the league. So it's a developmental league.

Paul Pierce (31:01)

Right.

Colin Cowherd (31:01)

And so we've all kind of been waiting on Kaminga. Now for the record, he's 20 a game this year, but I feel like I've been waiting forever to get to 24 SGA. Was a guy the Clippers bailed on and he. And he literally became a star. Did you get a sense, even with young guys, could you sense by the second year of a young guy, this guy's ceiling is 16? Like, it's coming.

Paul Pierce (31:31)

Should be able to.

Colin Cowherd (31:32)

Does Kaminga have another level?

Paul Pierce (31:34)

What year is he?

Colin Cowherd (31:36)

Is he four?

Paul Pierce (31:40)

Wow, that's a good question. Because usually you know who somebody is by, like, if they're going to be a star. Star. By the second, third year.

Colin Cowherd (31:47)

Kevin Garnett.

Paul Pierce (31:49)

Yeah.

Colin Cowherd (31:49)

By the All Star Game second year, I'm like, oh, this is gonna work. Yeah, for a long time.

Paul Pierce (31:54)

Yeah. You see it early with the guys who are up there now. Can Kaminga be, like an All Star one day in a good situation? Maybe he has that type of potential. He has athleticism, and it seems like his game is starting to come around. You know, he's shooting, shooting the ball better. We already know his athleticism is high level, long athletic. So he has the tools to be really, really good.

Colin Cowherd (32:15)

Are you surprised Jimmy Butler has been this important?

Paul Pierce (32:20)

Yeah, I didn't know he was going to have this type of impact. It's like it gave Steph a jolt in the arm. It's like he took a shot and was like, oh, I'm re. Energized. But you know what Jimmy brings? He brings a level of toughness, of physicality that I noticed Paul piercing him. Yeah, for sure. I would say, like, Jimmy is one of my comparables, actually, because of his attitude, the way he plays, he's under control and his demeanor, you know, so he brings a physicality to the team on the offensive end, and then you got Draymond on the other. On the other end giving you that defensive physicality. And that's what the warriors needed, because I looked at them before Jimmy got there as like a finesse team, you.

Colin Cowherd (32:57)

Know, they didn't get to the line.

Paul Pierce (32:58)

No, they were a finesse team. They hit or miss, you know, and then it's going to be nice. Step will be on, and most nights he'll be on, but then those nights are off. There's no physicality brought to the game, and he's bringing that, and that's going to be dangerous. And then you're going to have Steph close you out. He keep it close, keep it. Like, Jimmy is like the guy in the box. Arena just give you body blows, you know what I'm saying? Like, it's just. It's like it just starts wearing on you. You know what I'm saying? By the by the 10th round, you just can't take it no more.

Colin Cowherd (33:24)

So I said, this OKC will be a good home team in the playoffs. I don't trust young guys on the road. Go to your Celtics teams. Tell me the. Okay. Remember the Bulls with Derrick Rose? Everybody kept telling me, oh. And I was like, they play so hard in the regular season because they got no trophy.

Paul Pierce (33:45)

Yeah.

Colin Cowherd (33:45)

Was there a team when you played that you knew you'd beat him in a playoff series? But, man, they brought. Brought an intensity on a Tuesday night. And they were. You know, they were a really good team in the regular season, but it never quite translated, man. Remember that Cleveland team Jordan used to face all the time? That. Remember that Price team?

Paul Pierce (34:10)

Mark Price and those guys?

Colin Cowherd (34:11)

Oh, dude, they chew people up. They could never get past Chicago. Oh.

Paul Pierce (34:16)

I mean, the young Cleveland team with LeBron was like that.

Colin Cowherd (34:19)

Were they.

Paul Pierce (34:19)

Yeah, they were really good. Like, even in the last year we went to the Finals, they were still young and fast, and they were the number one team in the East. And we were like. We actually lost some games. We. We. We could have been, like, saw them in the conference finals or second round. We chose to lose a couple games to see them in the second round because we knew we could get them in a playoff set.

Colin Cowherd (34:40)

Right?

Paul Pierce (34:41)

So you know, that. That's. They remind me of that team right there, because Cleveland was. This was 2010. Right. And this is when Cleveland was number one seed in the East. They won, like, 60.

Colin Cowherd (34:50)

Okay. So I'm. I'm gonna throw a crazy theory at you, Okay. I want you to have an open mind to my theory.

Paul Pierce (34:56)

Okay?

Colin Cowherd (34:57)

So LeBron at 40 years old, was carrying the Lakers. They make the move to get Luca. He's not in shape. He's playing in shape. Then Jackson Hayes and Rui get banged up, and Austin Reeves, and LeBron goes to play. The Celtics has a great first half. Boston pulls away. He feels a little tweak in his groin. And LeBron says, Daddy's going to take some time off. You young guys get healthy. I'm looking at the schedule. It's outrageous.

Paul Pierce (35:29)

Yeah.

Colin Cowherd (35:30)

And that LeBron could play. And I am defending LeBron on this. It's like a baseball team in August. A starter's like, yeah, my elbow's a little sore. I'll wait till the playoffs. That. That look. And I'm not saying LeBron's dogged it, but I'm saying he's like, you know, it's a little tweak. I've been carrying you guys for three And a half months.

Paul Pierce (35:50)

Yeah. I look at it like. I mean, it's pretty brilliant, actually, because he said, all right, you know, they were in the fourth or fifth seed. Luca comes, they make a push. They push all the way to the second seed. They're like, all right, we got some cushion. All right, we have a month, three weeks left. You know what? Second seed is great, but the most important thing is we need to be healthy. So we don't even care. We. We made our push. We're going to be in the playoffs as long as we're not in the play in. So now if we slide all the way to five, we don't. We don't mind. Because if we go into the playoffs as a healthy team, the Lakers are still going to be dangerous.

Colin Cowherd (36:28)

Yes.

Paul Pierce (36:28)

You know, because look who's ahead of them. Who do you trust ahead of them? Even at 5, who do you trust? Houston?

Colin Cowherd (36:34)

No, I trust Golden State.

Paul Pierce (36:36)

Okay. But they won't play Golden State.

Colin Cowherd (36:38)

Right.

Paul Pierce (36:39)

You know, Golden State will probably come in at that six. But Memphis, you trust them versus the Lakers?

Colin Cowherd (36:46)

Houston.

Paul Pierce (36:47)

Yeah. The only team that you're like, I mean, okc, they're young. Like, come on, you gotta understand, listen, as a young team, when. When the production start and what I call the production, it's the playoffs. It's the production. Now you go, okay, see, y'all gonna go from like two or three reporters in your locker room to see all these reporters now, they're going, when y'all play the Lakers, there's gonna be a hundred of them now. And I just remember this when I was in the playoffs, just like, whoa, so many cameras, so many lights. And that can overwhelm a young team. Just the bright lights.

Colin Cowherd (37:17)

Also, when you play poorly, you get ripped all night on TV and radio.

Paul Pierce (37:20)

Oh, my God. And that. That type of pressure, you know, as a young team can get to them, you know, and the aura that the Lakers bring. So I'm looking at okc, Lakers. Only team that can cause the Lakers. I think trouble is the Denver Nuggets.

Colin Cowherd (37:33)

Yeah.

Paul Pierce (37:33)

Size, because of what they've done in the past.

Colin Cowherd (37:36)

Can't stop.

Paul Pierce (37:37)

Yeah. So it's going to get interesting. LeBron, rest up. You know, I would even rest up. Luca, on the rest of this trip. Let's just. Let's get healthy. Let's get healthy.

Colin Cowherd (37:46)

Yeah.

Paul Pierce (37:47)

And come back home and get these gimme gangs that we post to get.

Colin Cowherd (37:50)

After this road trip, get back to a three seed.

Paul Pierce (37:52)

Yeah. I mean, it'll matter. They could drop the five. Go ahead. They just want to be LeBron and.

Colin Cowherd (37:57)

Luka can win on the road. Yes, OKC. I got my questions with Houston. I got my questions with right. Paul Pierce is always great. Speak after us. Live in la, it's the Herd. This is Nikki Glaser from the Nikki Glaser Podcast. On a more serious note, I'm still thinking about that commercial with Tom Brady and Snoop Dogg hating on each other. Because when you listen to the reasons for hating someone or something, you realize just how stupid they really are. There is too much hate in this country and it's gotta stop. So join us at iHeart in standing up to it. If you see hate, speak up, call it out and you can learn more by following at what's up with Hate?

Greg Rosenthal (38:32)

What's up everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs, mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday, keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Jeremy Hobson (39:03)

We live in a divided country, and our media couldn't be more polarizing. That's why we started the Middle with Jeremy Hobson. It's about bringing voices not from the extremes, but from the vast middle into the national conversation. Each week we hear from ordinary Americans from all over the country. And when you subscribe to the Middle, you also get an episode each week called One Thing Trump did that focuses on just one item from the avalanche of news. Listen to the Middle with Jeremy Hobson on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Colin Cowherd (39:33)

What's up, everyone? Julie S.W. banks here, along with former NHL player Nate Thompson. We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go. The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb. Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right? Exactly.

J. Mac (39:50)

And you'll never know who will drop.

Colin Cowherd (39:51)

By to join us. Julie is pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe. Listen to Energy Line with Nate and.

J. Mac (39:59)

Jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts.

Colin Cowherd (40:02)

Or wherever you get your podcasts.