The Herd with Colin Cowherd: Episode Summary

Episode: Hour 1 - The Warriors Keep Winning
Release Date: March 14, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd
Co-Host: Joy Taylor
Platform: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

1. Golden State Warriors’ Continued Dominance

The episode kicks off with an in-depth analysis of the Golden State Warriors' impressive winning streak. Colin Cowherd delves into the strategic moves that have kept the team at the pinnacle of the NBA.

Trade Analysis:
Colin discusses the recent trade of Andrew Wiggins for Jimmy Butler, emphasizing the impact of this change.

Colin Cowherd [03:47]: "They traded, got him out of town. Andrew Wiggins, wing player, 18 points a game in his career. They brought in Jimmy Butler, wing player, career 18 points a game. That shouldn't radically change the team, right? 18 points leaves 18 points arrives. Nope."

Jimmy Butler’s Influence:
Highlighting Butler’s qualitative difference from Wiggins, Colin explains how Butler adds more value beyond just scoring.

Colin Cowherd [04:00]: "Butler generates double teams. He's creative. He gets guys shots. He, he is an attacking player. Every possession he creates advantages."

Steph Curry’s Leadership:
Steph Curry’s role remains pivotal. Despite not performing exceptionally in some games, his leadership and influence keep the Warriors formidable.

Colin Cowherd [03:47]: "Steph Curry was asked about retirement and a great quote. He said it's not about stats or anything. It will be. Can I still dominate a game? Here's the good news. He didn't last night and they blew out another team."

2. The Steelers Betting Frenzy: A House Advantage

Transitioning to the NFL, Colin and Joy Taylor dissect why the Pittsburgh Steelers have become the second most bet team to win the Super Bowl, despite skepticism surrounding recent decisions.

Aaron Rodgers’ Integration:
Colin criticizes the heavy betting on the Steelers, attributing it to the allure of Aaron Rodgers joining the team, despite Rodgers' recent performance decline.

Colin Cowherd [07:00]: "Aaron Rodgers, last 30 starts, he's 11 and 19. Passer rating under 90, completing 63% of his throws and has not won a playoff game since like 2021."

Mike Tomlin’s Coaching Under Scrutiny:
The discussion highlights concerns over Coach Mike Tomlin’s ability to lead the team effectively in high-stakes situations.

Colin Cowherd [12:41]: "Mike Tomlin's a motivator. Right? That's why his teams play well as underdogs, but not as favorites."

Public Perception vs. Reality:
Colin argues that the betting public is influenced more by team legacy and star power than actual performance metrics.

Colin Cowherd [14:09]: "This is why the house always wins, because the general public is not that smart. Huh? Like, that's a straight up dumb bet."

3. Cooper Kupp’s Free Agency Dilemma

The episode shifts focus to Cooper Kupp’s release from the LA Rams and speculation about his next destination.

Performance Concerns:
Colin critiques Kupp’s declining performance and questions the logic behind potential team signings like the Denver Broncos or Dallas Cowboys.

Colin Cowherd [27:42]: "He just doesn't get open anymore. Now in zone coverage, could he be a decent third down receiver? Yeah, but he, he just doesn't run the same."

Potential Fit Issues:
Discussing the improbability of Kupp fitting into teams heavily reliant on specific offensive schemes.

Colin Cowherd [28:13]: "I think you can work as hard as you want, but there are numbers and age limitations. To what? Wide receivers."

4. Dallas Cowboys: A Culture Misalignment

Colin offers a scathing critique of the Dallas Cowboys’ organizational culture under Jerry Jones, drawing parallels to a failing marriage where promises don’t align with reality.

Overpaying and Mismanagement:
He highlights instances of overpaying key players without corresponding performance improvements.

Colin Cowherd [31:00]: "Waiting too long on Dak’s contract, having to overpay him. Don't have a second weapon. Offensively weakest running back room in the league."

Fan Disillusionment:
Colin expresses the frustration of long-term players like DeMarcus Lawrence, who feel disillusioned with the lack of tangible success despite long-term commitments.

Colin Cowherd [35:20]: "If you're in a relationship at a company, I was at a previous company for 10 and a half, 11 years... there's a lot of good in the truth. But you don't tell me DeMarcus Lawrence doesn't know, as they say, where the skeletons are buried."

5. The Role of Analytics in Modern Sports

A significant portion of the conversation centers on the limitations of analytics in evaluating player performance and team success.

Analytics vs. Intangible Qualities:
Colin argues that analytics fail to capture critical aspects like leadership, creativity, and situational brilliance.

Colin Cowherd [14:21]: "Analytics does not measure all this stuff. Wing players, 18 a game. No, totally different players."

Case Studies:
He contrasts players like Jimmy Butler, who create in-game advantages, with others who might have similar statistics but lack impactful contributions.

Colin Cowherd [04:30]: "You'd think Wiggins and Jimmy Butler, if you just looked at the analytics, you'd about the same size, 18 a game. One guy's obviously more of a creator. Totally different players."

Playoff Performance:
Highlighting how analytics-driven strategies can falter in the playoffs where adaptability and clutch performance are paramount.

Colin Cowherd [45:20]: "Baseball is a great example. Over a course of 162 games, baseball analytics work. You get into the postseason, you're gonna, you're gonna use a starter in the bullpen to win a game."

6. Additional Highlights and Insights

Towards the latter part of the episode, Colin touches upon various other topics, including:

• LeBron James’ Indispensable Role in the Lakers:
  Emphasizing LeBron’s multifaceted contribution beyond statistics.

  Colin Cowherd [30:00]: "LeBron is the Swiss army knife. He's the coach on the floor. You could have Luca, you can have Austin, you could have Rui, you could have anybody. LeBron's not on the floor."

• Brock Purdy’s Leadership with the 49ers:
  Predicting a successful future for Purdy based on his cognitive sharpness and leadership qualities.

  Joy Taylor [23:09]: "Brock Purdy will be an NFL coach winner. Everything that's come out of San Francisco is he's a leader in the locker room."

• NBA’s Small Ball Strategy Critique:
  Colin criticizes the overreliance on three-point shooting, arguing that it’s ineffective in a league where height and physicality are crucial.

  Colin Cowherd [37:30]: "Stephen Curry hit his 4,000th three-point shot yesterday. ... It's a tall man's league. It would be like if the NFL had a trend because there was one superstar player, tiny football. I want smaller, less physical NFL players. That's the opposite of the league."

Conclusion

Colin Cowherd’s episode provides a comprehensive analysis of both NBA and NFL dynamics, emphasizing the nuanced differences between raw statistics and the intangible qualities that drive team success. From the Warriors' strategic trades to the pitfalls of over-reliance on analytics in sports betting and team management, the discussion offers listeners a deeper understanding of the underlying factors that influence game outcomes and team fortunes.

Notable Quotes:

• On Jimmy Butler vs. Andrew Wiggins:

  "Butler generates double teams. He's creative. He gets guys shots. He, he is an attacking player. Every possession he creates advantages." [04:00]

• On Steelers Betting Market:

  "This is why the house always wins, because the general public is not that smart. Huh? Like, that's a straight up dumb bet." [14:09]

• On the Limitations of Analytics:

  "Analytics does not measure all this stuff. Wing players, 18 a game. No, totally different players." [04:30]

• On LeBron James’ Impact:

  "LeBron is the Swiss army knife. He's the coach on the floor." [30:00]

This episode serves as an essential listen for sports enthusiasts seeking a blend of statistical analysis and on-the-ground insights, delivered with Colin Cowherd’s characteristic blend of candor and expertise.