Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd Episode: Hoops Tonight - Damian Lillard Injury Reaction: Bucks Down Bad, Will Giannis Get Traded This Summer? Release Date: March 27, 2025
Introduction
In this episode of Hoops Tonight hosted by The Volume, the discussion centers around significant developments in the NBA, including the recent injury to Damian Lillard, the diminishing prospects of the Milwaukee Bucks, and the potential trade of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Additionally, the show delves into LeBron James' controversial comments about Giannis, highlights Bronny James' emerging performance, and provides in-depth analyses of recent NBA games involving the Thunder and the Rockets.
Damian Lillard's Injury and the Bucks' Future
The episode opens with a critical update on Damian Lillard's status, who is currently out indefinitely due to a blood clot in his calf muscle. The host emphasizes the severity of the situation and its implications for both Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks.
- Host: "Damian Lillard is out indefinitely due to a blood clot in his calf muscle. This is just a huge bummer, and let's all just hope that he can be back in time for the playoffs." [02:54]
The host expresses concern over the Bucks' current trajectory, suggesting that even without Lillard's injury, Milwaukee may not be among the top championship contenders.
- Host: "Things look more than bleak for Milwaukee right now. Even healthy, I have the Bucks firmly outside of my top tier of championship contenders." [05:30]
He further speculates on the potential trade of Giannis Antetokounmpo, citing the Bucks' probable disappointing playoff performance as a catalyst for trade rumors.
- Host: "I think it's possible that we end up seeing a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade this summer." [08:15]
The discussion includes a detailed scenario where the Oklahoma City Thunder might pursue Giannis to complement their existing core, highlighting the strategic fit and potential impact on the team's future success.
- Host: "They are a perfect complement to Chet Holmgren. As a matter of fact, you could argue that the Hartenstein salary is the best vehicle with which to facilitate that sort of trade." [12:45]
LeBron's Comments on Giannis: A Contested Perspective
The conversation shifts to recent remarks made by LeBron James about Giannis, specifically LeBron's claim that Giannis would average 250 points per game if he played in the 1970s.
- Host: "LeBron goes on Pat McAfee show and he starts pontificating about Giannis and what he would average in the '70s. And like, frankly, I just don't see the point in this." [16:20]
The host criticizes the futility of comparing players across different eras, arguing that the evolution of the game makes such comparisons irrelevant and unproductive.
- Host: "Comparing eras is completely pointless. Jalen Green basically has the same career true shooting percentage as Kobe Bryant. Does that mean Jalen Green was just as efficient putting the ball in the basket as Kobe Bryant? No." [19:00]
He underscores the importance of focusing on current performances rather than engaging in speculative and divisive debates about past and present players.
Course Correction Segment: Bronny James' Rise Amidst Challenges
In the Course Correction segment, sponsored by Microsoft, the spotlight turns to Bronny James. The host commends Bronny's recent performances while acknowledging the immense pressure and scrutiny he faces due to his father's legacy.
- Host: "Bronny James was the 20th ranked prospect in the nation in his high school class. He was absolutely unquestionably on an NBA trajectory before he experienced cardiac arrest at USC." [22:30]
The discussion highlights Bronny's resilience and improvement, noting his impressive stats and the challenges posed by media scrutiny and personal health setbacks.
- Host: "He's starting to break through on the other side of this and show some of that pedigree that he demonstrated when he was in high school." [26:10]
The host empathizes with Bronny's situation, drawing parallels to his own experiences with injuries and emphasizing the non-linear nature of athletic development.
- Host: "I was thinking about this with my buddy Richmond Weaver on the radio earlier this morning. I remember when I broke my foot... How that could potentially scare you, how that could affect your willingness or ability to compete." [28:50]
Game Analysis: Thunder vs. Kings
The host provides a comprehensive breakdown of the recent Thunder vs. Kings game, highlighting strategic plays and player performances that led to the Thunder's convincing victory.
- Host: "The Thunder just completely outclassed the Kings right out of the gate. They put Keegan Murray on Chet Holmgren to start in." [02:54]
Key moments include effective screen plays that created scoring opportunities for players like Chet Holmgren and the strategic use of bigs in off-ball actions.
- Host: "Chet is kind of a cheat code in these off-ball actions for a couple of reasons. One, he's a big, so teams are most likely not going to switch guards on him." [10:25]
Defensive prowess is also emphasized, with standout performances from players like Alex Caruso, whose defensive tactics significantly disrupted the Kings' offense.
- Host: "Alex Caruso is amazing at this concept of disrupting all three phases of a shot. It's a very important detail that puts a defensive player into another stratosphere." [17:40]
The Thunder's ability to control the game despite missing key players like J.D. and their ongoing winning streak are discussed, underscoring their potential as a dominant force this season.
- Host: "The Thunder have won seven in a row now. They're the first team in the league this year to get to 60 wins." [21:00]
Game Analysis: Rockets vs. Hawks
Shifting focus to the Rockets vs. Hawks game, the host analyzes the Rockets' strategic use of zone defense and the standout performance of Jalen Green.
- Host: "The Rockets ran a ton of zone in this game, and they've been running a ton of zone as of late. They've run 242 possessions of zone in the last 14 games." [24:08]
Jalen Green's exceptional scoring ability is highlighted, detailing his impactful plays and his role in maintaining the Rockets' offensive momentum.
- Host: "Jalen Green goes off for 32 points in this one. He's getting to the rim at will. He found some matchups that he liked throughout the game." [27:15]
The effectiveness of the Rockets' adjusted zone defense, particularly against teams with strong offensive strategies, is examined, illustrating how it contributes to their defensive ranking.
- Host: "They are allowing just 0.86 points per possession with their zone defense. That's the third best in the entire NBA." [30:50]
The overall team performance, including contributions from multiple players and the strategic flexibility of the Rockets, is praised as indicators of their potential as a playoff threat.
- Host: "The offense is the interesting trend though because if they can continue to maintain that level of offensive production against elite competition, they become way more dangerous as a playoff threat." [34:30]
Conclusion
Wrapping up the episode, the host reiterates appreciation for the listeners and encourages engagement through ratings and reviews. He previews upcoming live show content and emphasizes the ongoing analysis of key NBA matchups.
- Host: "As always, I sincerely appreciate you guys for supporting me and supporting the show." [38:00]
- Host: "The game plan as of right now, we're going live tonight on YouTube after the final buzzer of Celtics Suns to break that game down as well as the Lakers Pacers game." [39:06]
The episode concludes with final thoughts on the discussed topics and a reminder of future content availability across various platforms.
Notable Quotes
- Host: "Damian Lillard is out indefinitely due to a blood clot in his calf muscle. This is just a huge bummer, and let's all just hope that he can be back in time for the playoffs." [02:54]
- Host: "Comparing eras is completely pointless. Jalen Green basically has the same career true shooting percentage as Kobe Bryant. Does that mean Jalen Green was just as efficient putting the ball in the basket as Kobe Bryant? No." [19:00]
- Host: "Alex Caruso is amazing at this concept of disrupting all three phases of a shot. It's a very important detail that puts a defensive player into another stratosphere." [17:40]
Final Thoughts
This episode of Hoops Tonight offers a deep dive into some of the most pressing topics in the NBA, blending insightful analysis with passionate commentary. From the potential seismic shifts in team rosters to the nuanced breakdown of recent games, listeners are provided with a comprehensive overview of the current state and future possibilities within the league.
For more detailed discussions and live analyses, subscribe to the Hoops Tonight YouTube channel and follow @_jasonlt on Twitter.