The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Prime Cuts: Lakers Are Limited, Bears Draft Strategy, Kyler’s 2nd Act? Celtics Impress

Date: February 28, 2026
Episode Focus: Colin and guests break down the state of the Lakers and their limitations, discuss approaches to the NFL draft (with particular attention to the Bears and Seahawks), consider whether Kyler Murray could find a second act, and analyze the Celtics' resilience in the NBA.

Episode Overview

This episode centers on four main topics:

• The evolving NBA, specifically the Lakers’ struggles and Luka Doncic’s ceiling/limitations.
• The resilience and surprises of the Boston Celtics.
• NFL draft strategy, focusing on the Seahawks, Bears, and general league trends with insights from former scout John Middelkoff.
• The uncertainty around Kyler Murray’s career and what comes next.

Colin and his expert guests bring a blend of sharp analysis, colorful anecdotes, and candid opinions, particularly around leadership, team culture, and the realities of professional sports.

1️⃣ NBA Deep Dive: The Lakers, Luka Doncic, and Star Power

The Unique Bond Fans Have with NBA Stars

[03:27]

• Colin observes that fans wear basketball player merchandise more than gear from other sports, making their loyalty intensely personal.
  • “Basketball fans are more loyal to their stars … it's part of your being. You see all the warts and the flaws [on your own team].”
• This loyalty makes it tough for fans to move on from favorites, even as flaws become clear with regular exposure.

Luka Doncic’s Limitations as a Leader

[03:27–10:14]

• Talent vs. Leadership:
  • Colin questions Luka’s fitness as an "emotional bedrock" compared to greats like Duncan, MJ, or Dwyane Wade.
  • Joe Missoula (guest): “Luka's not the emotional leader of the team. It's never been really something that he's particularly gifted at.” [06:10]
• Physical Decline & Ceiling/Floor:
  • Luka is only 27, but less explosive than early-career, more reliant on skill than athleticism.
  • “He used to get a dunk every couple weeks … now it’s like he might get one a season.” – Joe Missoula [07:00]
  • Luka’s offensive ceiling is unmatched, but his floor is lower than comparable stars.
• MVP Voting & Consistency Issues:
  • Despite hype, “This is going to be like the fourth consecutive year where we went into training camp where we’re like, ‘Luka’s going to get MVP…’ and it’s like, actually, no shot. Like literally no shot.” – Joe Missoula [09:30]
• Defensive Weaknesses:
  • Among top NBA stars (Ant, Wemby, Giannis, Shay, Jokic), “he’s by far the worst defensive player in that group.” – Joe Missoula [09:45]

The Lakers Are Built for the Regular Season—Not the Playoffs

[10:14–14:10]

• Colin likens the Lakers to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins: flashy, successful against weak teams, but lacking in the traits required for playoff success.
  • “The Lakers really have no chance with the depth of OKC, the defense of Oklahoma City, facing Jokic … They really have no chance against those teams in a long series.” [13:42]
• Colin suggests LeBron and Kobe found ways to consistently impact games even when shots didn’t drop—Luka rarely does the same.
• Playoff Concerns:
  • The NBA changes dramatically in the postseason; weaknesses (rim protection, lack of wing athletes, thin bench) are magnified for the Lakers.

Why the Lakers Can’t Beat Good Teams

[14:10–18:03]

• Joe Missoula details the Lakers’ record:
  • “18 and 2 against bottom 10 teams … 16 and 20 against the rest of the league.”
  • “Against top 10 teams in point differential, they are getting outscored by 13 points per game, which ranks 28th in the NBA.” [15:30]
  • Joe: “There is a clear game plan for how to beat the Lakers. And all the good teams understand this and execute it well.” [16:40]
    • Ball pressure (wears them down, creates turnovers)
    • Deep drop coverage (forces tough twos, prevents quality threes)
    • Run in transition (worst in the NBA vs. good teams)
  • “You’re not just going to beat the Lakers, you’re going to make them quit and blow them out by 20. It is a consistent game plan…” [17:30]

2️⃣ Boston Celtics: Resilience Amidst Adversity

Surprising Strength Without Tatum & Stars

[18:03–22:01]

• Colin on Celtics: “I did not think they’d be this good defensively without [Tatum].”
• Joe Missoula:
  • “I think everyone’s surprised that they’re as good as they have been. Most of us expected them to be just kind of a middle team in the East…” [19:16]
  • Celtics culture/identity cited as key—Joe Missoula’s accountability, continuity, and defensive focus keep them elite.
  • Despite losing Holiday, Tatum, Horford, Porzingis: “They have a 120 offensive rating, second-best offense in the NBA.” [20:47]

Boston’s Basketball Culture

• “This season has been a testament to the basketball culture that [Missoula] has built … There is an accountability that he has established with this group…” [19:40]
• Veterans and role players know their roles, fight for rebounds, scrap defensively, and maintain offensive system.
• “Boston has clearly demonstrated this year that they are one of those [strong basketball culture] teams.” – Joe Missoula [21:17]

East Contenders & Tatum’s Return

• Celtics grouped with Detroit, New York, Cleveland as co-favorites; edge to Cleveland for completeness.
  • “Boston absolutely has a shot to come out of the East. It really just comes down how good Tatum is when he comes back.” – Joe Missoula [21:37]
• Tatum expected to return in early March, recently back at practice.

3️⃣ NFL Draft Strategy & League Trends

Seattle Seahawks: Draft Dominance & Big Decisions

[28:08–31:50]

• Colin and John Middelkoff discuss Seattle GM John Schneider’s reputation as the NFL’s best drafter since Pete Carroll’s departure.
• Schneider is “riding high,” with tons of cap space, lots of young players under contract, and full confidence in quarterback Sam Howell.
  • “They are all in on the human being [Sam Howell]. … Their confidence in Sam the person is clear.” – John Middelkoff [31:34]
• Running back Kenneth Walker’s future is questionable:
  • “I personally would probably let Kenneth Walker walk … you can kind of find running backs [in that system].” – John Middelkoff [30:34]

Quarterbacks and the Second-Chance League

[31:50–36:02]

• Colin: The NFL now sees QBs like Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold find second lives with the right offensive coaching.
• Kyler Murray: Difficult trade value, branding problems as a teammate, and concerns about commitment.
  • “He does have a branding problem right now … throughout the league, he’s not viewed very highly as a player on or off the field.” – John Middelkoff [33:45]
  • Suggests Kyler take a minimum deal in a winning culture (like the Chiefs, Ravens) to repair his image.

Bears, Lions, and Trading Culture

[36:02–39:54]

• Ben Johnson (Lions HC) and Ryan Poles (Bears GM) are discussed for their reputations, confidence, and culture building.
• Bears may need to move an offensive piece (DJ Moore mentioned).
• NFC North is tough: “The Vikings and Lions are pretty well-established cultures … if the Packers just can keep some guys healthy, clearly they’re one of the best teams in the league.” – John Middelkoff [38:22]

NFL: Evolving into a Wheeler-Dealer League

[39:54–41:18]

• Trades are now as common as in MLB/NBA; GMs increasingly aggressive.
  • “All these GMs … are ready to trade. There’s a lot of action, which I think stalls some deals because it gets so expensive.” – John Middelkoff [40:54]

🔑 Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “Luka’s not the emotional leader of the team. It’s never been really something that he’s particularly gifted at.” – Joe Missoula [06:10]
• “The difference between him and Shay and him and Jokic at this point is Luka is way more prone to bad games.” – Joe Missoula [08:49]
• “This is going to be like the fourth consecutive year where we went into training camp where we’re like, ‘Luka’s going to get MVP…’ and it’s like, actually, no shot. Like literally no shot.” – Joe Missoula [09:30]
• “The Lakers really have no chance with the depth of OKC, the defense of Oklahoma City, facing Jokic … They really have no chance against those teams in a long series.” – Colin Cowherd [13:42]
• “There is a clear game plan for how to beat the Lakers. And all of the good teams understand this … pick them up full court, run on them all day, run that deep, drop coverage. … You’re going to make them quit and blow them out by 20.” – Joe Missoula [17:30]
• “This season has been a testament to the basketball culture that [Missoula] has built.” – Joe Missoula [19:40]
• “They have a 120 offensive rating, their second best offense in the NBA”. – Joe Missoula [20:47]
• “Kyler Murray … does have a branding problem right now … throughout the league, he’s not viewed very highly as a player on or off the field.” – John Middelkoff [33:45]
• “All these GMs … are ready to trade. There’s a lot of action, which I think stalls some deals because it gets so expensive.” – John Middelkoff [40:54]

⏩ Key Timestamps

• [03:27–10:14] — NBA: Loyalty, Luka’s limitations, Lakers’ playoff prospects
• [14:10–18:03] — NBA: Why the Lakers can’t beat elite teams; flaws exposed
• [18:03–22:04] — NBA: Celtics’ surprising success, team culture, Tatum’s return
• [28:08–31:50] — NFL: Seahawks’ draft strategy, Kenneth Walker’s value, John Schneider’s reputation
• [31:50–36:02] — NFL: QB second lives, Kyler Murray’s branding issues, fit for rehab
• [36:02–39:54] — NFL: Bears’ draft/trade options, NFC North competitiveness
• [39:54–41:18] — NFL: New age of trades/GMs’ aggressiveness

⚡️ Memorable Moments

• Colin comparing Lakers to “the Miami Dolphins when they made the playoffs … nobody thought they’re going to go up north in the cold and win a playoff game.” [13:20]
• Joe Missoula’s detailed blueprint on how good teams dismantle the Lakers—“You’re not just going to beat the Lakers, you’re going to make them quit and blow them out by 20.” [17:30]
• John Middelkoff’s advice for Kyler Murray: Take a minimum deal with someone like Andy Reid or Sean Payton to reset his image and career. [34:50]

Summary

The episode offers a no-holds-barred diagnosis of the Lakers’ and Luka Doncic’s limitations, explaining why L.A. doesn’t measure up to true contenders and why Luka doesn’t reach MVP status. The Celtics are highlighted as a paragon of culture, resilience, and system. In the NFL, insights focus on the Bears’ and Seahawks’ strategic choices, as well as how the league’s QB landscape and GM trading mentality has shifted. Kyler Murray’s career crossroads is a study in modern branding—and the necessity of humility and fit.

If you missed this episode, you now know why the Lakers are fool’s gold, how the Celtics keep rolling, and how the NFL’s new era of trades and QB rehabs is played behind the scenes.