Hour 3 – Matthew Stafford

Summary

The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 3: Matthew Stafford

Release Date: February 28, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Duration: Approximately 51 minutes

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1. Introduction and Opening Remarks

The episode begins with Colin Cowherd warmly welcoming listeners from Los Angeles and elsewhere, setting the stage for a deep dive into current sports narratives, primarily focusing on NFL and NBA developments.

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2. Matthew Stafford Remains with the LA Rams

Timestamp: [00:58] – [12:51]

Colin Cowherd discusses the significant NFL news that quarterback Matthew Stafford has decided to stay with the LA Rams. This decision comes amidst interest from other teams, notably the New York Giants expressing interest in NFL star Aaron Rodgers.

• Stafford's Contract:

  • Colin: "Matt Stafford staying with the Rams, new contract, couple years, I guess. 100 million guaranteed, two years." ([11:32])
  • Insight: Stafford was contemplating his future, considering offers from both the Rams and the Raiders. The decision to stay was influenced by his strong relationship with coach Sean McVay and the team's competitive roster.

• Aaron Rodgers Speculation:

  • Colin: "The Giants reportedly now they will shift their attention to Aaron Rodgers." ([12:51])
  • Colin's Take: Rodgers may prefer to remain in New York due to personal ties. Colin expresses skepticism about Rodgers joining teams like the Jets or Steelers, emphasizing the cultural and organizational fit.

• Impact on the Rams:

  • Colin: "We are not going to be the same football team without Matt Stafford. We are not going to be the same franchise." ([11:32])
  • Analysis: Stafford's retention is pivotal for the Rams' prospects, enhancing their offensive capabilities and solidifying their chance to compete for championships in the coming years.

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3. LeBron James' Outstanding Performance

Timestamp: [9:50] – [11:32]

The discussion shifts to NBA superstar LeBron James, highlighting his recent exceptional performance and comparing his current play to that of younger athletes.

• LeBron's Statistics:

  • Colin: "LeBron in February, 29 and a half points, 10 rebounds, seven and a half assists. Shooting 55% from the floor, 46 on three pointers and playing elite on ball defense." ([11:32])
  • LeBron's Persistence: At 40 years old, LeBron continues to defy expectations, showcasing an elevated level of energy, defense, and scoring ability compared to his younger counterparts.

• LeBron's Evolution:

  • Colin: "LeBron's fourth quarter energy, it doesn't even make sense. His on ball defense right now, this is the best defense he's played in eight years." ([11:32])
  • Colin's Observation: LeBron's improved defensive play and unwavering energy are critical factors in the Lakers' current success, positioning him as a key player in their championship aspirations.

• LeBron's Statement:

  • LeBron James: "We know we could have been a lot better offensively, but you know, we've been hanging our hat on our defense..." ([11:07])
  • Context: LeBron acknowledges the team's defensive focus and their ability to secure wins through timely stops, despite offensive inconsistencies.

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4. NBA Playoffs and Team Performances

Timestamp: [13:15] – [48:21]

Colin and guest analysts delve into the performances and prospects of various NBA teams, assessing strengths, weaknesses, and future potentials.

• Phoenix Suns Turmoil:

  • Rick Bucher: "According to NBA insider Chris Haynes... Devin Booker versus the coach... It hasn't looked good in that match." ([34:17])
  • Colin's Take: The Suns are struggling defensively, ranking 27th, and facing internal conflicts between key players and coaching staff, casting doubt on their playoff viability.

• Dallas Mavericks Outlook:

  • Colin: "If AD And Lively come back, I think they can beat anybody in the league." ([44:10])
  • Rick: "With Kyrie and A.D., they've got remarkable size. If this team gets healthy, they can be dangerous." ([45:06])
  • Analysis: The Mavericks' potential hinges on the health and performance of stars like Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving. If they remain healthy, Dallas could pose a significant threat in the playoffs.

• Los Angeles Lakers Dominance:

  • Rick: "They have their core four — LeBron, Kawhi, etc. They are a very dynamic team offensively..." ([46:17])
  • Colin: "LeBron's been outplaying Jokic and Kyrie and Luka in the last week." ([46:41])
  • Insight: The Lakers' balanced roster, led by a revitalized LeBron, secure their position as a top contender, with strong defensive and offensive strategies driving their success.

• Boston Celtics Consistency:

  • Rick: "This Boston team is so stacked, no way I'm picking against him." ([48:21])
  • Colin: "They are very well coached. They like each other... Jason Tatum is accomplishing stuff that took guys their entire career to do." ([47:56])
  • Evaluation: The Celtics remain a powerhouse due to their cohesive team dynamics, exceptional coaching, and the stellar performance of Jason Tatum, making them a formidable team in the league.

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5. NFL Draft and Emerging Quarterbacks

Timestamp: [33:05] – [39:50]

The conversation transitions back to the NFL, focusing on the upcoming draft and promising quarterback prospects.

• Travis Hunter and Will Johnson:

  • Rick Bucher: "Mason Graham are both play right away. He's a complete game changer." ([33:48])
  • Colin: "Jackson Dart has two advantages... coached in the NFL and played in the SEC... he is the best cornerback in the draft." ([38:34])
  • Analysis: Both Hunter and Johnson are highlighted as top prospects capable of making immediate impacts, with Jackson Dart particularly noted for his defensive prowess.

• Jackson Dart's Potential:

  • Colin: "Jackson Dart's got talent... but he’s not ready to carry a franchise." ([39:07])
  • Rick: "If the Rams take Jackson Dart in the third round, he's going to be good." ([39:50])
  • Insight: Dart is recognized for his intelligence and adaptability, making him a valuable pick, though not necessarily a franchise quarterback from the outset.

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6. Controversial Coaching Decisions and Team Dynamics

Timestamp: [34:17] – [37:05]

The episode addresses internal team conflicts and coaching decisions affecting team performance.

• Phoenix Suns' Coaching Conflict:
  • Rick: "Mike Budenholzer asked Booker to tone down his vocal presence... Booker shocked by the directive." ([34:17])
  • Colin: "Budenholzer is in a little trouble. It's not working." ([35:33])
  • Analysis: The tension between Coach Budenholzer and Devin Booker is undermining team cohesion, leading to potential coaching changes and strategic overhauls.

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7. Media and Player Relationships

Timestamp: [29:30] – [32:24]

Discussion on how media interactions and player personalities influence public perception and player marketability.

• LeBron's Aura vs. Jason Tatum's Persona:

  • Colin: "LeBron has an aura... Jason Tatum doesn't have the charisma." ([32:03] – [32:24])
  • Unnamed Analyst: Emphasizes the importance of both talent and personality in becoming the face of the league.
  • Insight: While Tatum is highly skilled, the lack of a charismatic persona limits his marketability compared to players like LeBron James, who combine talent with a strong personal brand.

• Media's Role in Athlete Perception:

  • Colin: "The media coverage often puts players on pedestals they haven't earned, leading to unfair criticisms." ([29:30] – [32:24])
  • Analysis: The media's portrayal of athletes can inflate their reputations, making subsequent critiques seem harsher and less justified.

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8. Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts

Timestamp: [49:32] – [51:00]

Colin wraps up the episode by summarizing key points, highlighting the complexities of player-team dynamics, and reiterating the importance of strategic decisions in both the NFL and NBA.

• Final Take on Aaron Rodgers:

  • Colin: "Aaron Rodgers prefers staying with the Giants, but compatibility issues make it unlikely." ([49:32])
  • Rick: "Aaron Rodgers is a Hall of Famer but may not fit culturally with certain teams." ([49:32])

• Overall Reflection:

  • Colin: "Sports narratives are continuously evolving, and strategic decisions by teams and players shape the future landscape of both the NFL and NBA." ([50:59])

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Notable Quotes

• Colin Cowherd on Stafford’s Decision:

  "He's trying to make things uncomfortable for the Rams, and he probably got more money." ([10:30])

• LeBron James on Team Defense:

  "We've been hanging our hat on our defense... get stops and come out with the win." ([11:07])

• Steph Curry on Shooting:

  "Make some noise for the greatest shooter of all time, Steph Curry." ([17:21])

• Colin Cowherd on Media Influence:

  "You have all of these young players... they get put on pedestals they haven't earned, and then they get knocked off." ([30:35])

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Conclusion

In this episode, Colin Cowherd provides an in-depth analysis of Matthew Stafford's decision to remain with the LA Rams, Aaron Rodgers' uncertain future, and LeBron James' remarkable performance at 40. The discussion extends to team dynamics within the NBA, media influence on player reputations, and emerging talents in the NFL draft. Colin, alongside guests like Rick Bucher and unnamed analysts, offers insightful commentary on the strategic decisions shaping the current sports landscape, making this episode a comprehensive guide for fans seeking to understand the intricate narratives in professional sports.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

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[J. Mac]

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[Colin Cowherd]

It feels like everyone is talking about how the American dream of home ownership has become out of reach. Well, Rocket is trying to give more people a chance to own their homes. They're making home ownership simpler and more accessible to more people, turning renters into owners. Rocket believes that everybody deserves a shot at the American Dream. So are you ready? Own the dream. Visit Rocket.com or call 800-4Rocket. Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio at noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the [e-mail] or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. All right, here we go. It's hour three live in Los Angeles, it's the herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, thanks for making us part of your day. Matt Stafford is staying with the LA Rams. New York Giants reportedly now interested in Aaron Rodgers. I'm not sure I feel about that yet. He's obviously better than what they have in the building. Aaron may want to stay in New York and not come west. He's got a place there, I'm not sure. But the bigger story with a better team is the RA retained Matt Stafford. I thought they had the money because they don't pay anybody on defense. So that doesn't surprise me. I. I will tell you, I was told yesterday that Stafford and his people thought it was a 50, 50 proposition. Whether he stayed. It got a little bit contentious with. With Matt Stafford, and contentious maybe is the wrong word, but they. They had a market and they. And they made sure they kicked the tires on the Raiders. That's why they went skiing. And I told you this. Why did that skiing thing get out? Because Stafford, his agent, wanted it out. Stuff gets out when people want it out. So Stafford and his agent wanted everybody to know that he and Tom were up skiing in Montana. But to me, that was the signal that he really wanted to be a Ram. If that doesn't get out, that, you know, I mean, ask yourself this stuff gets out when you want it out. If it does it. There's a lot of secrets in the world that don't get out. Nobody wants them out. So when I. When I saw that, my takeaway. He's trying to make things uncomfortable for the Rams, and he probably got more money. But once I heard the Raiders and the Giants did not offer Stafford a third year, what's the point of leaving? That's. That's. That's the advantage. If you give me another 50 million that I wasn't gonna get from the Rams, I'm taking the money, especially in Nevada with no state tax and I'm playing indoors, So I would take the money. So Stafford is in. This is a guy that has a chance the next two years. If you look at that roster, if they can get a left tackle in a corner, they have a chance to win another trophy. That's a real team. So this is not. This is not a small bit of news. This is a big deal. And Stafford is intellectually in a very elite group in this league. And McVay makes his quarterbacks be dialed in and prepared. And Stafford, I mean, you've seen those social media clips. There's been a little documentary on Stafford's work ethic, it is very aligned with McVeigh. It was funny. McVeigh went out and during contract negotiations, usually your bosses don't say good things about you because you know they're trying to, you know, they don't want to tell you how great you are. McVay came out and said, yeah, yeah, like he's unbelievable. So what it's telling you is McVay wanted it to happen, but Stan Kroenke ultimately makes the call. The owners writing the checks. So McVay wanted it out there that Stan Kroenke knew. Yet there's nobody. We are not going to be the same football team without Matt Stafford. We are not going to be the same franchise. So for Sean McVay to give flowers, you know, a week before they signed him, that was a message to Stan Kroenke. And the Rams are rolling. I mean, you got, you got Harbaugh and Herbert in the same stadium. You don't want a Hammond Egger at quarterback. I do think they thought about Aaron Rodgers, but you know, I saw a story yesterday that Aaron was interested in bringing Devonte Adams. They're already, they've already got a receiver in Cooper cup they're trying to move off of. They don't want another expensive receiver. So this feels like the right fit. Well, let's be honest, coming off an injury, Luka is not playing great right now. He's one for nine last night from three point land. But everybody hedges their bet in the media. We've all been doing this for years, including me on LeBron. We just don't want to say, you know, is LeBron like the second best player in the league? Nobody wants to say that. Right? It's hey, Jokic, Giannis. I have watched LeBron in the last week outplay Ant Edwards, Luca Jokic and Kyrie Irving. He has been the best player in the NBA in the last week on every single night. Is LeBron the best player in the league? No. On any given night, is LeBron the best player in the league? Yeah. His defense right now, it looks like he's 27. It's insane. His energy better than Luka. His shooting right now better than Luka, his on ball defense, his scoring. LeBron at 40 years old has better consistent energy than any other Laker. Now Austin Reaves is close. Austin plays hard all the time. But LeBron's fourth quarter energy, it doesn't even make sense. His on ball defense right now, this is the best defense he's played in eight years. He's a better defender at 40 than Luka is at 26. His energy, I'm telling you right now, is LeBron showing off. And I'll get to Steph in a second. It feels like Steph is kind of showing off to Jimmy Butler. Like, listen, old man, you know, And I feel when Tom Brady beat Mahomes at Arrowhead Stadium in the AFC championship, and then he beat him in the super bowl, everybody by then was falling in love and sort of was saying it, you know, like Brady's old Brady, you know, not a lot left in the tank for old Tommy. Mahomes is the new king, and Brady beat him twice in Arrowhead and overtime and in the Super Bowl. Tom Brady reminding you, yeah, it goes through me. And LeBron is reminding everybody right now, yeah, the west for 10 years. The east went through me 10, 12 years. However long he was over there, now the west is going to go through me. So at minimum, and I understand that Luca got hurt, hadn't played for a long time. He's playing himself back into shape. Like, I get it. And he'll be a better shooter. His jumper right now is short consistently. That's like cardio. That's legs his jumper short. But at 40 years old, LeBron James last year had last year, at 39 years old, LeBron had 84 dunks. When Michael Jordan was 39, MJ had 21 four times the dunks of a guy known for dunks, Michael Jordan at the same age. And I think LeBron this year is better than LeBron last year. And the other thing is, because AD was traded to Dallas, LeBron is hyper aware that he has to play better defense because Luka is a lousy defensive player and Austin Reaves is Limited. So LeBron is like, oh, oh, you need me to do that too? All right. His defense is insane. So he's averaging 25, 8, 9. That's not what. That's not the part that's blowing me away. It's the energy and the defense. And you know, this. It's. I feel like I've said this for years. I think the NBA playoffs should be a three game first round and then five games, even through the finals, I think create urgency. I mean, March Madness college basketball doesn't have much talent and it gets tremendous ratings. Why there's urgency. I mean, you know, Cooper flag, take him off Duke. They got a couple of decent players. But a Duke game with Cooper flag against Xavier will get a better rating maybe than like the Western Conference or Eastern Conference finals because it's like, you have to watch. You got two and a half hours, somebody's out. Could be Duke and Cooper flag. And so I think there needs to be no more urgency. And I also think in the NBA regular season, I'd cut it down to 68 games, start it six weeks later, get away from college and pro football, you know, start playing Christmas. Start playing Christmas, not your first TV game. Start playing then. So I understand that if you're LeBron, you're Steph Curry and you're not with a championship team on a treadmill to nowhere. It is so clear between Stephen LeBron that these moves have absolutely energized these guys. And just watch LeBron's defense, it is elite. And he has outplayed Ant Luca, Kyrie and Jokic in the last week. He has been the best player on the floor. And Here is, here's LeBron after.

[LeBron James]

We know we could have been a lot better offensively, but you know, we've been hanging our hat on our, on our defense, under the defensive end. And you know, when you don't shoot the ball well, you got to be able to get stops. And they made a run. They're really good team. We saw what they did a couple nights ago against OKC when they was down big and those young guys came in, sparked them, gave them good energy. So, you know, they cut it down to three, I believe at one point. But we was able to execute after that, get some timely stops and was able to come out with the win.

[Colin Cowherd]

So LeBron in February, 29 and a half points, 10 rebounds, seven and a half assists. Shooting 55% from the floor, 46 on three pointers and playing elite on ball defense. At 40, at 39, he had 84 dunks. At 39, MJ had 21. Like that, you're watching. This is unprecedented. You know, we're always looking ahead. Don't just live in this moment. What you're watching doesn't make any sense. It makes, it's. It's Brady in Tampa. It makes no sense that Brady was that year first second best quarterback in the league. All right, once again, the breaking news happened 30, 25 minutes ago. Matt Stafford staying with the Rams, new contract, couple years, I guess. 100 million guaranteed, two years. J. Mac says a little tastier than that. I do not know if you're the New York Giants or reportedly now they will shift their attention to Aaron Rodgers. Now my take is I got him with the Rams and I got Aaron Rodgers with the Jets. Like those two, I get, I'M not sure if he wants to go to another franchise that can't get its act together. That is an ugly way to end it for Aaron Rodgers. I don't. I think I would call it a career if the Giants is the only thing I had.

[Rick Bucher]

I remember that day. Bowl historically likes mobile quarterbacks. Josh Allen, Daniel Jones. Rogers isn't mobile. I don't think he fits what the Giants really want to do. Can you turn him into a pocket passer when you can't protect the quarterback? Their offensive line is one of the worst in league. Thomas was good, but other than that and very shaky. I think the Raiders kind of become interesting here. Would he work with the Raiders? Like.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, they don't want devonte Adams back, do they? So that's kind of a win.

[Rick Bucher]

Yeah, that would be awkward. And maybe Devonte Adams kind of poisoned the Raiders for Rogers knowing what's going on in the organization. Although some things have changed, obviously, right?

[Colin Cowherd]

I. I don't. I just don't. If I'm Aaron Rodgers, I just got my first taste the last two years of a dysfunctional operation. I want to. I want to go to one that's even worse. I mean, at least the jets have a roster that's redeemable. The jets have some players and Aaron played well down the stretch. Even the left tackle, who I like a lot for the Giants. He's had health issues. Yeah, he gets better. Thomas gets banged up.

[Rick Bucher]

He does.

[Colin Cowherd]

But Pittsburgh Steelers and Aaron Rodgers doesn't fit at all. At all.

[Rick Bucher]

Culturally.

[Colin Cowherd]

Just doesn't work at all. They can't get their old line right. It's all about defense, prima donna, wide receiver stuff. Like, I don't think Pittsburgh and Aaron fit at all.

[Rick Bucher]

I don't know where he goes.

[Colin Cowherd]

I think Vegas are bust, but I. I'm not. And you could say, well, why would he? Because it's closer West. It's Pete Carroll, it's Chip Kelly, it's Brock Bowers. They've got their left tackle. I think the Raiders actually have some really good pieces. Go watch them play. Go watch the replays of those Kansas City Raider games with bad quarterback play. They went toe to toe with the Chiefs in Arrowhead. So I don't. Aaron Rodgers, Giants. I just do not see that. I don't. I think Aaron could call it a.

[Rick Bucher]

Career going out with this.

[Colin Cowherd]

I wouldn't want to.

[Rick Bucher]

But is there a quarterback he could shove out? Maybe in Seattle? Would you dump Geno Smith and get on board with Aaron Rodgers? Does that keep dk? DK Metcalf around. There's a lot of chatter about him and Lockett maybe being done in Seattle. I don't they could be in flux.

[Colin Cowherd]

All worth discussion, but Stafford is a ram. Live in Atlanta, it's the Herd. 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, Steve Covino. And I'm Rich Dav 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 Kohvino and Rich wherever you get your podcast. And of course, on social media, that's Covino and Rich.

[J. Mac]

This one's for the food obsessed, for the phone eats first person, for the influencer who knows about a new spot before it's popping. And for the person who's all in on dining out with AMEX Gold, you can earn four times points at restaurants up to $50,000 and up to $100 back annually in statement credits on eligible purchases at US resi restaurants so you can get rewarded for eating what you love. That's the powerful backing of American Express. Terms apply. Cap applies. Learn more@american express.com With AmEx, you can.

[Colin Cowherd]

Count on T Mobile to help keep you connected from big cities to small towns on America's largest 5G network. Switch the T Mobile keep your phone and they'll pay it off up to 800 bucks per line via prepaid card. Learn more@t mobile.com Keep and switch up to four lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device credit service port in 90 plus days with device and eligible carrier and timely redemption required card has no cash access and expires in six months.

[Steph Curry]

Make some noise for the greatest shooter of all time, Steph Curry. We went live from All Star Weekend for a new podcast called Goat Greatest of Their Era, and we ranked our top five shooters from the 2000s.

[Peja Stojaković]

Peja 5, Dirk Ford.

[Colin Cowherd]

Peja is elite.

[Steph Curry]

Okay, okay.

[Colin Cowherd]

I mad him. I left him off my list, but I still like my list.

[Steph Curry]

You won't believe who Steph left off his list.

[Peja Stojaković]

That's so tough. That's why we have these conversations.

[Steph Curry]

Yes, absolutely.

[Peja Stojaković]

Love it.

[Steph Curry]

Steph talked about what separates the truly elite NBA shooters.

[Peja Stojaković]

When you have a scouting report and you're on the list as not just a shooter, but we have specific rules for how we guard you. There's a fear factor that's associated with anytime you're wide open. Like, you might as well just count that and get on back on defense.

[Steph Curry]

Listen to Goat G O T E Greatest of their era on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Colin Cowherd]

Listen. I think the Mavericks made a bad, bad trade. Rick Bucher joining us live. Fox Sports NBA analyst. I took a lot of heat. I said, but if you've watched the first five games, and I know he was inactive since Christmas, there is a little bit of what Dallas was fearful of. He's not a defender. He's not in great shape. Yeah, his energy level gets sapped very quickly. He looked exhausted in that fourth quarter against the Mavs. And then a story comes out today that they called Minnesota for Ant and they were like, minnesota said, no, thank you. Which I would have said, I know the Lakers stole him, but if you watch him. Can I make just the argument if AD was healthy right now, yeah. Dallas would be a more complete team than the Lakers, who are very heavy playmakers, but still are going to run into a big log jam where they won't stop bigs in the playoffs.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Yeah, no, it's hypothetical, but I agree with you. We wouldn't be looking at this as a lopsided trade if AD was available. We saw. We saw a glimpse of it right.

[Colin Cowherd]

When they played Houston when he first came out.

[Unnamed Analyst]

You're like, oh, my God. And it's why, you know, most of us covering the league were like, you know what? Dallas is going to be really good. I think so for the next year or two. That's the gambler. And that's how. Why anybody who's judging this now, you can't judge this over the next five, six games or the next few months, it is going to be who wins a championship if, if Luka comes to la, and especially if they, you know, if they win it this year, which I still still think is a reach. But if he wins a championship over the next five years in LA and the, and the Mavericks are basically betting short, they're going to win it in the next year or two, that's their best opportunity. If Dallas wins a championship in the next year or two, then, then I'm saying they won the. Won the trade.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Unnamed Analyst]

And they're simply what they decided was one of, one of the reasons Minnesota wasn't willing to make that is because it's not what Luca has done to this point, it's what he's going to do for the next five years. And you're going to invest $345 million in. So is he going to be LeBron James or Steph Curry in terms of durability?

[Colin Cowherd]

No.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Or is he going to be closer to Joel Embider? Zion Williamson, who you look at signed max deals and ended up. That's a regrettable decision in both. In both cases. So based on what he's done at this point, I'm not making a comparison in terms of what Joel and Zion have done. Luka has defied that. But when he was coming out, look, when I looked at what he did in Europe going into. Into the draft, there should have been no question he was the number one pick. It should have been like Cooper Flag this year or LeBron coming out. Deandre Ayton and, and like you're going to take him over, over, over Luka. But the question was his lifestyle, his conditioning even then and his body coming out. Yeah, people had questions.

[Colin Cowherd]

I remember, I remember looking at the video and, and saying on the air, is he athletic enough? He just looks blocky?

[Unnamed Analyst]

No, he's look IQ off the charts. And that's the biggest element to his game and why he's dominated in the NBA. He's just, he's so smart. He makes you play his game right. And he has been terrific to this point. But I. There's two parts here and we're seeing it. This is not the first player that a team was looking at having to give a max contract, a supermax contract at this point and said, we're not going to do it. LA Clippers did it with Paul George. We'd rather let him walk than give him the supermax.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Miami Heat would rather let Jimmy Butler walk or take less on the dollar than give him A Max. And Luka Doncic is in that same category.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, I threw this out, Rick. It's one thing when you paid LeBron 40 million, once the number's 75 million, is that I think you're going to see more stars move. Because once I have to pay you 75 million, now, your conditioning matters, your injury history matters, you're going to make more than Patrick Mahomes. I don't care if you're a billionaire. 40 million feels more like a rounding error for Steve Ballmer. 75 million guaranteed, five years is not a rounding error to any billionaire, including Elon Musk.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

And I think what's going to happen is the players saw themselves. It's a win. No, it's a microscope.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Now I'm counting everything, and when I have four calf injuries and you are a bad defensive player.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

I can even move. Luca.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Sure.

[Colin Cowherd]

I don't think he's the last star to get moved.

[Unnamed Analyst]

I. I'm with you. Or the last star who's facing, like, we got to give him a supermax. You know what? I think we'd like to get off of that and get something else. Because what we have seen with the teams that are winning is the balance of your team. You can't. I mean, we keep. We're still in this mindset of big threes. Like, if I have a big three and I can fill the rest, I can't afford to have a big three. Like, I. If I do that, then I have no other pieces. I have no other money to spend. And that's just not the way you get to a championship these days. And if you are going to go that direction, if you are going to give supermaxes to two guys, then they be. They better be available 70 to 75 games during the regular season, and they better be able to play an additional 20 games in the postseason.

[Colin Cowherd]

Are you. Because analytics. I had said this about six to eight weeks ago. Just get Jimmy Butler with staff. Get him in the building. He's a very intentional player. He's the anti Wiggins. Is that every. Every possession is intense.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

And you. You remember every one of his points. Wiggins can give you 28. And I don't remember three baskets.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

And I'm like, he's the anti wiggins. Get him in the building. I don't care what analytics say, because analytics were like, nah. Are you a little surprised that it's been this seamless?

[Unnamed Analyst]

I'm not surprised that it's been this seamless. I've been Surprised. And I think I would disagree with you on the analytics. I believe that Jimmy has answered the analytics as well, because he's filled gaps that Andrew simply did not. Yeah, number one, he gets to the.

[Colin Cowherd]

Free throw a lot. Yes, they were the warriors when Steph was. I mean, they just didn't get to the line.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Yeah, they were last. I checked, they were still last in free throw percentage, and they were 23rd in free throw attempts. And that's since Jimmy's come on averaging nine free throws a game. So they had to have been in the bottom five. Right, right. And when you have 30 somethings like Jimmy and Steph and Draymond, when you're getting to the free throw line, one, that's built in rest during the course of the game, and two, it allows you to set your defense so you're not getting beat in transition, which the warriors were getting a lot of early on. The other element that doesn't fit in analytics, that's the intangible, is Jimmy comes with swagger and Draymond Green, since his game has fallen off a little bit, he always provided that bravado. The bravado doesn't play as loud when you're not quite as impactful. Jimmy comes in and now doubles down. Now you have two loud bravado guys. That adds to the entire atmosphere and environment. So you add the free throws also finishes at the rim. Wiggins, they have about the same finishing percentage at the rim, but Jimmy takes almost more than a third of his shots at the rim.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Andrew did not do that.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[Unnamed Analyst]

So he's. He's. He's filled a lot of gaps that they did not that that needed to be filled. And it has made a huge difference.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right, fine. This is a big topic. So yesterday I said, Tom Cruise is a movie star. Jeremy Irons is a great actor. John Malkovic is a great actor. Jeremy Irons, great actor. Denzel and Tom Cruise walk into a room. Those are stars. Jason Tatum is a. Is a great NBA player. He is not a face of the league. He has no aura. I have seen him play live four times, and we. I've seen him play four times. Yeah, he's been excellent. Yeah, there have been times. Jalen Brown, like, talk to the hand. I'm going to control, and I'm like, that's not a face of the league guy. Yeah.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Why not? No, not.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Not at all. I mean, it's why we. We kind of shoehorned Anthony Edwards into this. Can he be the face of the league? Because he's got the attitude that you want. He's got the dynamic.

[Colin Cowherd]

He's aggressive.

[Unnamed Analyst]

He's got the dynamic game and personality that you want as the face of the league. He just doesn't have the resume like Jason Tatum has the resume.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[Unnamed Analyst]

But he doesn't have the Persona.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Unnamed Analyst]

And you, you have to have both.

[Colin Cowherd]

There's a formula to it. LeBron, Magic and Michael, all great businessmen. Very early on, they got the value of corporate America. Shoe deal. Get on TV. Make yourself available for interview. LeBron to this day is always available. After, I mean, literally can be a sideline reporter in Orlando. LeBron walks right over outside of the Luka game in LA against the Mavericks, where he left so that Luca could get the shine on that and get the, get the love. So let me, let me throw this out there. Here's our final topic. So he and I disagree on this. I think inside the NBA is an entertainment show. Barkley acknowledges he doesn't watch all the games. They are one of the. They are, to me, the only NBA show of note that has bite and teeth and will call players out, load management and crap.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Other than that, because nobody wants to lose access. It's a bit of a fawning media coverage leak. NFL reporters are hard. They're hard on everybody, including Lamar Jackson. NBA meetings, a little fawning. So LeBron said this about the face of the league conversation.

[LeBron James]

Want to be the face of the league. When all, all the, all the people that, you know, that cover our game and talk about our game on a day to day basis, on everybody, that responsibility, that's. It's just weird. It's weird energy from the people that, you know, I don't know. But Channing, he said it, he said it perfectly.

[Unnamed Analyst]

No, no, Channing did not say it perfectly.

[Colin Cowherd]

I think it's. I think this stuff is overstated. 90% of NBA coverage, even on the inside the NBA, they like the players. But if you don't call your crap.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Out, this is, this is, this is the problem. The problem is that you have all of these young players coming in and we look at statistics, particularly offensive statistics, and we have people out there saying, fawning media saying, oh, this guy. In fact, we just had this conversation. This guy is better than this guy. And we talk about a legend.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Unnamed Analyst]

J. Mac just had me on his podcast.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Unnamed Analyst]

He said, you're not gonna like this. Paolo Banquero is better than Karl Malone. I'm like, what are we doing? What are we doing? And the problem is, is that when you Then say that. Then there's the pushback. I love Paolo Banchero. Yeah, he's in, he's in the book that I'm working on right now. Love everything about him. Immensely talented. I think he's a winning player. I think Orlando's got a future. Don't tell me he's better than Karl Malone. He's got, he's done nothing to justify that. So what happens is we put him on that pedestal and then anybody who actually looks at the league in entirety goes, no, he's not. And so now you end up criticizing or taking apart Palo Ben Caro when that's was never my intention.

[Colin Cowherd]

My take is there's two sports where athletes really believe the media is too hard. International soccer stars and NBA stars. Why? Because they're both star driven. And so we're constantly comparing iconic stars.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

In football it's like outside of Mahomes Brady, it's a team structure. Yeah. We don't really. We're just like, yeah, Josh Allen's great. We bang on the coaches, the. We talk coordinators in the NFL.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

So when you're a star driven sport, Messi, Ronaldo, Rooney in his prime. Mbappe will deal with this. Or if you're LeBron, Steph or Ant in those two worlds, Star Drivet, they make the most money.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

NFL, you don't make the money. You don't make the money. So when you're starred, it's like Hollywood.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Well, the other part is with the NFL, there is no access. You're not trying to protect any access because by and large your access, if.

[Colin Cowherd]

You'Re covering the league, it's with the.

[Unnamed Analyst]

GMs and the coaches. Right, right. It's not with the players. The players aren't going to say anything anyway. So I agree with you. I think that the attempt to maintain access has us saying things about players in the game today. I'm just like, look, I like that guy, but don't tell me he's better than so and so. And usually we're going to have that like with a Jason Tatum. Yeah, we're going to have that conversation about guys who are in the conversation for Face of the League. The best players are going to be compared to yesteryear's greatest players and they're going to be put on a pedestal that they haven't warranted and then they're going to get knocked off of that. And so it makes it look like they're being unfairly criticized.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. I've been in a room with LeBron LeBron has an aura. I've been in a room with Magic. Magic's got a aura. I've been in a scrum, a media scrum with Michael Jordan. I watched Jason Tatum four different times. I've gone and watched him play on the court. He used a really talented guy.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Like, that's just the reality of his game. It's not a knock on him. He's just a really talented guy without any charisma.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Yeah, no, he's. I mean, he's a really good guy. His game is not expl. Like, tell me the number of Jayson Tatum plays.

[Colin Cowherd]

You remember I said this yesterday. Close your eyes and think of Magic Johnson. You can see the highlights. Oh, yeah.

[Unnamed Analyst]

You can do it with Anthony Edwards. Be honest with you.

[Colin Cowherd]

Close your eyes on Jayson Tatum. And I just see 26 a night.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Good, good, good. A very willing defender.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Would love to have him on my team, but am I marketing my team? I might need to get somebody else along with him.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right, good stuff. Bukes J. Mac with the news.

[LeBron James]

No, no, no, no.

[Colin Cowherd]

Heard on the news. This is the Herd line that really irritated Jack.

[Rick Bucher]

Biting my tongue. Really hot under my collar. Jason Tatum. Oh, my God. All right, let's go to Travis Hunter and the NFL draft. Colin combines popping offs. A lot of draft boards have Travis Hunter near the top, but Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, All American in college, MVP of the Natty two seasons ago, feels like he's the best corner in the draft. Here's his quote. A lot of respect for him. He's won the Heisman, did a lot of great things, but I know I'm the best corner in this draft. I'm going to just wait until I get on the field and let my play do the talking. Colin, unequivocally, he's not wrong. He is the best cornerback in this draft.

[Colin Cowherd]

No, it's not a great draft, but he and Mason Graham are both play right away. Guys, he's excellent. He was banged up a little bit at Michigan, but when he was on the field, he was a complete game changer.

[Rick Bucher]

Yeah, no, he's kind of in the Richard Sherman mold. Long rangy.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yep.

[Rick Bucher]

And this guy's gonna. I think he's a top 10 pick. Maybe might slide a little bit, DEP on trades, but I. I like this kid a lot. He's immensely talented. Second story is just breaking recently. Colin. And this is getting ugly in Phoenix.

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh.

[Rick Bucher]

According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, a few weeks ago, Mike Budenholzer, remember, he got hired because they fired a Coach. After one season, Bud called a meeting with Devin Booker, telling him to be less vocal on the court and in huddles. Telling your star, be less vocal on the court and in huddles, Coach Bud asked Booker to vocally tone it down and allow the coaches to be heard. Well, Booker was shocked. He came out and was.

[Unnamed Analyst]

He was.

[Rick Bucher]

Oh, my gosh.

[Colin Cowherd]

What?

[Rick Bucher]

Last night, the Suns lost their 10th in a row and Booker talked about communication postgame.

[LeBron James]

Oh, everybody has to be on the, on the same page. You know, you can starts with the leaders of the team, obviously me, Brad and K and coach, but you know, from, from my history, there's, you know, there's 15, 20 guys on the sidelines that know the game plan, that know what's going on and in the huddles, you know, just constant communication, skipping over the details and, you know, always taking the, you know, get them next game mentality. At some point you got to draw a line and should have been drawn a long time ago.

[Rick Bucher]

Well, that is, that's not good.

[Colin Cowherd]

Budenholes are in a little trouble.

[Rick Bucher]

I don't think you could fire another coach back to back.

[Colin Cowherd]

No, I think what you can do.

[Rick Bucher]

Is try to blow this whole thing up. Kevin Durant. See ya, Booker.

[Colin Cowherd]

See ya. No, I think that's what's gonna happen. It's not working. So let's, let's. I mean that ISHBA has proven he not. He not a real patient person. Like they're gonna make moves.

[Rick Bucher]

It's like the whole Mark Zuckerberg thing at Facebook was moving. Move fast and break things. A lot of people think that works. The Suns have tried that. Hey, let's just get stars. Let's get. None of it's working. They got swept last year. They're probably not going to make the playoffs this year with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, two Hall of Fame locks, Olympians. Colin, this is really ugly now, the coach squabbling with Booker. But who do you keep on that team? Booker or KD or. Neither.

[Colin Cowherd]

I think, I think it's a good question. I, I could move everybody there.

[Rick Bucher]

Well, except Bradley Beal because his contract.

[Colin Cowherd]

I would get younger. It's a good NBA city. You got a very wealthy owner. I think you have to start over. I'd consider anything. I think you have to start over. And by the way, Booker is going to have a huge market.

[Rick Bucher]

And listen, I know you don't.

[Colin Cowherd]

Booker is going to have a massive, huge market.

[Rick Bucher]

I know you don't need high school hoops a lot, but there are some Major, big time, like Cooper, flag level wings who are coming up in the high school ranks. Gilbert Arenas's son is one of them. So if you tear it down starting now, you could get like a super. I'm talking like, these are big time guys coming out of high school.

[Colin Cowherd]

You could get, you could get a very good player and two number one picks for Booker. Booker is a bucket.

[Rick Bucher]

Yeah. And he's still in his prime.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, no, I mean, Booker is going to get you a haul.

[Rick Bucher]

Would he be a number one on a team?

[Colin Cowherd]

No, he's a great two. He is a great two on a championship team. Like, like, I'll give you an example.

[Rick Bucher]

To the finals and he'll give you an example.

[Colin Cowherd]

If you, if you sent Carl Anthony Towns to Phoenix, you get a, The Knicks make a move and say, okay, we're gonna get, we're gonna get Booker in the wing. We'll get rid of Carl Anthony Towns because he just gets exposed in the pick and rule. I'm just throwing a team out, but I, I'm, I'm, I would. Booker's going to get a lot better.

[Rick Bucher]

I would keep an eye on the Miami Heat. You know, There you go.

[Colin Cowherd]

There you go.

[Rick Bucher]

Destination. They're smart. Yeah. Yeah. Very interesting to follow. Final story is back to the NFL. Ole Miss quarterback Jackson Dart doing a media tour at the combine when he was asked who his favorite quarterback to watch right now is. Take a listen to this one.

[LeBron James]

I feel like it's a little bit of a cop out because you just won the super bowl. But, you know, I love Jay Hertz and what he does. I feel like I'm very similar in my playstyle to him. I feel like we, we can do a lot of the same things. You know, obviously he's an elite player and I'm trying to reach that level, but, you know, he's been somebody that I've, you know, try to resemble my game after just because of his versatility, being able to run and throw the ball and just, you know, how strong he is in the pocket. I think that that's something that I've had a lot of fun, you know, watching and observing his play style.

[Colin Cowherd]

Jackson Dart has two advantages. Lane Kiffin's coached in the NFL, so we got real coaching and he played in the sec, which is generally the best defensive conference. So he's an NFL quarterback. I don't, I don't know where he is, but he is one of those Riley Leonard, Kyle McCord guys that he probably isn't going to play year one, but he got real NFL coaching with Lane Kiffin and that absolutely matters.

[Rick Bucher]

How to break these quarterbacks down is so tough. I mean, it's just increasingly difficult. Was it the system for Dart or does he have actual tricks that translate great to the NFL?

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, no, he. He throws an NFL ball, that's that. I've seen him play. I've seen him in person at a camp. Jackson Dart's got talent. Yeah, there's no doubt about that. But he's, you know, it's like I think he's a better I think he's a better prospect than Will Levis, and Will Levis went in the second round. I was never I think Jackson Dart can play in the NFL. I don't think he's ready to carry a franchise.

[Rick Bucher]

I which but nobody thought Jalen Hurts was ready to carry franchise and by like year what, four, he's in the super bowl and then year six or whatever the numbers are, he's already won a Super Bowl. It's tough, man. Quarterback really is difficult. Now. Where he goes matters. I'll tell you right now. If the Rams take Jackson Dart in the third round, he's going to be good. You go to McVeigh, you're going to be good.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. J. Mac Lanous well, that's the news and thanks for stopping by the Herd Herd Line News Herd Line news is over, but J. Mac, tomorrow's headlines today. Next, be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific.

[J. Mac]

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 atamericanexpress express.com With Amex, you.

[Colin Cowherd]

Can count on T Mobile to help keep you connected from big cities to small towns on America's largest 5G network. Switch the T Mobile keep your phone and they'll pay it off up to 800 bucks per line via prepaid card. Learn more@t mobile.com heap and switch up to four lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device credit service port in 90 plus days with device and eligible carrier and timely redemption required. Cart has no cash access and expires in six months.

[Steph Curry]

Make some noise for the greatest shooter of all time, Steph Curry. We went live from All Star Weekend for a new podcast called Goat Greatest of Their Era and we ranked our top five shooters from the 2000s.

[Peja Stojaković]

Peja 5 Dirk Ford Peja is elite okay, okay.

[Colin Cowherd]

I'm mad him. I left him off my list, but I still like my list.

[Steph Curry]

You won't believe who Steph left off his list.

[Peja Stojaković]

That's so tough. That's why we have these conversations.

[Steph Curry]

Yes, Absolutely.

[Peja Stojaković]

Love it.

[Steph Curry]

Steph talked about what separates the truly elite NBA shooters.

[Peja Stojaković]

When you have a scouting report and you're on the list as not just a shooter, but we have specific rules for how we guard you. There's a fear factor that's associated with anytime you're wide open. Like, you might as well just count that and get on back on defense.

[Steph Curry]

Listen to Go T E Greatest of Their Era on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right. We are in the heart of the NBA season. You've noticed that with some of our topics this week. Matt Stafford's deal, according to Ian Rapoport, agreed and finalized over the next couple of weeks around free agency. But they have agreed to terms. They'll get it all finalized. That's the way contracts work. We call it Tomorrow's headlines today. J. Mac, let's do some NBA. What's the headline headline for these suddenly temperamental Phoenix Suns?

[Rick Bucher]

Yeah, we just talked about that. Devin Booker versus the coach they almost tried to trade Kevin Durant. Things are going sideways. The headline will be not all sunshine and rainbows. Katie's reign ends in the rain. Yeah, Colin, I think it's over for the Suns. I'm looking. They are 27th in the league in defense. 27th. Can't make the playoffs with that. They are two and a half outside of the 10th spot. I don't see them making a big push here over the final 26 games. You got the infighting, the uncertainty. Kevin Durant's got one foot out the door. Anybody who covers the NBA knows right now Kevin Durant is the bell of the ball this offseason. I don't know where he goes, but I have a feeling in July we'll be talking about him. I think it's over for the Suns. This was a unmitigated disaster. They tried. The Big Three failed.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yep. Took a swing. It missed. It's okay. I appreciate the swing. Tomorrow's headlines today, a team I'm out on headline for the turbulent 76ers reeling 10 straight losses. Wow.

[Rick Bucher]

Eric Gordon just had surgery. They got everybody injured. The headline for Philadelphia will be Liberty hell. Philly's crack finally crumbles. Colin, 22nd in the league in offense when you've got Paul George, Joel Embiid And Tyrese Maxey. The problem is they keep getting hurt. Embiid's missed 19 games. Joel Em beads missed 41. Jared McCain, the young kid from Duke who. Tick tock sensation. Really talented player, shooter could have been rookie of the year. He got hurt. He's done. This has been really bad for Moria. I know he's your guy. And again, another team who took a big swing. Hey, let's go, big three. Paul George, Embiid. Max.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, I like the Paul George move I did.

[Rick Bucher]

It has been. You know, I. I don't want to pin this fully on Embiid because injuries happen and when is a team losers a team? But Embiid is the guy who pushed for that MVP two seasons ago, and he's never been the same.

[Colin Cowherd]

Tomorrow's headlines today, no AD but how about the Mavs?

[Rick Bucher]

So this is one of your. I feel like this is your Denver Broncos Washington commanders pick. You think there's something.

[Colin Cowherd]

I think if AD And Lively come back, I think they can beat anybody in the league. Even the Celtics. I think they're that good.

[Rick Bucher]

Sounds like Lively's out the rest of the regular season.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right?

[Rick Bucher]

AD Expected maybe to give it a go in like a week. We'll see. The headline for Dallas will be we gonna rock down to electric Mavenu. We wish our seed was higher. I got Dallas in the play in. I don't think they can get out of the play in. Colin, it's. The warriors are too hot right now and I don't think Dallas is going to get enough guys back. That being said, if they're the eight seed. Oh, remember the Lakers made the conference finals two years ago as a seven seed.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Rick Bucher]

Dallas is going to be a threat.

[Colin Cowherd]

If you've got Kyrie and A.D. they've got remarkable size. Really nice Spencer Dinwiddie, P.J. washington. And an unstoppable force in Kyrie.

[Rick Bucher]

Good role players. And don't forget about my man Max Christie, AKA Super Max Christie. Yeah, they're calling him to Dallas. They love him. If this team gets healthy. And you didn't even mention Klay Thompson, who. Right there. Still a great shooter. We saw his second half against the Lakers. This Mavs team can be dangerous. But are we going to see AD survive, you know, through the regular season and then the playoffs? I would be very nervous if I was OKC facing this Dallas team. That's. That. That's not gonna be a five game series. That's probably gonna go six or seven.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yep. Tomorrow's headlines today. How about those Playmakers in Los Angeles.

[Rick Bucher]

Yep. You know I love me some Lakers right now. They are I think 16 and 20 or 16 and four in their last 20 games. Yeah, number one defense in the league during that duration. That's, that's a fourth of the league, fourth of the season. Colin, the headline for the Lakers will be take the ring, leave the cannoli. Don Luca re crowned the king. Yes. A little Godfather actually. I got to work on my accent there. Sorry, Alex. Colin, this is just such a diverse team and I've broken this down with a lot of hoops. Guys out here in LA love this. So we know that they have their core four closing RUI, LeBron Lucas.

[Colin Cowherd]

They can score.

[Rick Bucher]

Last night we saw Jared Vanderbilt get under Anthony Edwards skin, hit a couple of big shots. You know, it might be against the Warriors, a Gabe Vincent game chasing around Steph Curry. It could be a adult and connect game. They are versatile, they've got options. They listen, they're going to have the two best players in any series in the west right now. The way LeBron's playing, you said he's like MVP LeBron from his prime.

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh, he's been. I've seen him outplay Jokic and Kyrie and Luka in the last week.

[Rick Bucher]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

And guess what?

[Rick Bucher]

Luke is going to get healthy. They're going to, they're not going to do them. These back to backs that they got coming up. They're not going to do that. Luka gets healthy, reaves LeBron. They win the west, buddy. They're going to the finals.

[Colin Cowherd]

They are a very dynamic team offensively. They've got three different playmakers and really from the corner is a dead eye shooter. Tomorrow's headlines today. Listen, I know you don't want to hear it folks, but the Celtics remain the king.

[Rick Bucher]

They've been quiet all season. Yeah. Let the Cavs run out to a big league. We don't care. We're good. The headline for the Celtics will be Irish. Hello. Celtics sneak into O'Brien again. It's tough to pick against Boston. I know. I just want to warn people who are picking the Cavs and the Thunder guys take a deeper. It's the regular season. Boston just won a title. Their foot is off the gas. Who's their fifth best player? Colin? Is it Derrick White? No, it would be a 3 on like 99 of teams in the league. He's our fifth best guy.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, they're, they're really. And by the way, we worried about are they well coached? Because it was like a coach.

[Rick Bucher]

Oh, Missoula. Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, they're well coached.

[Rick Bucher]

He knows what he's doing.

[Colin Cowherd]

He knows what he's doing.

[Rick Bucher]

I know people don't love the threes. They're going to shoot 50 threes in a game. You know what? They're one of the best three point shooting.

[Colin Cowherd]

And they also. They're a fairly egoless team for a championship team. Yeah, like they, they. I mean, this is one of Tatum's gifts is they're a very giving team. Jrue Holiday, that's why he was such a great get. Drew Holiday works with everybody. Porzingis had a bad rap, but actually he works with a team. They. It is a. It is a really high character, high EQ team. Like they like each other.

[Rick Bucher]

Yeah, it's like, you know, we look around the league and oh, that guy's got swag. And look at John Moran's dunks and Anthony Edwards dribbling. Taylor doesn't care about that stuff. He's like, you know what? I'd rather win. And by the way, Jason Tatum is in line. Colin to win his to. To be first team all NBA for the fourth year. Okay. Fourth straight year, first team, meaning he's the best in his league at his position. You know. How many for Dirk Nowitzki? First team all NBAs. Dwyane Wade, go look him up. Jason Tatum is accomplishing stuff that took guys their entire career to do. Tatum's still in his prime.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Rick Bucher]

I'm telling you, this Boston team is so stacked, no way I'm picking against him. I thought the Knicks could push him, but it hasn't looked good in that match.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right, IndyCar practice is next. Very fast cars. I want to throw this out. Adam Schefter reporting. With Matt Stafford remaining with the Rams, the Raiders are going to now investigate Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Sam Darnold, according to sources. So Darnold is the best of those three. In his prime, athletically, good arm. Fields is a lively athlete. We don't know in the pocket if he's consistent enough. Russell and Pete again feels a little clunky.

[Rick Bucher]

Well, one name is missing. Aaron Rodgers.

[Colin Cowherd]

No, no, no. Good, good, good gap.

[Rick Bucher]

Why would they not include him? They don't want to get in that business.

[Colin Cowherd]

I just don't. I think that's. That's right. Listen, remember the jets and I had a source on this? The jets said, we don't want to get into Aaron the football player or Aaron the guy business. They wanted to get out of that business. Aaron comes, he's a moody player. It's not taking shots at him. He can be prickly, he can be moody. He is not for everybody. And yes, he'll be a hall of famer. IndyCar practice is next. Have a great weekend. A wonderful, safe weekend. Live in la, it's the Hurt. 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 and Standing up to it. If you see hate, speak up, call it out and you can learn more by following OTs upwithhate.

[Steph Curry]

Make some noise. For the greatest shooter of all time, Steph Curry, we went live from All Star Weekend for a new podcast called Go Greatest of Their Era and we ranked our top five shooters from the.

[Peja Stojaković]

2000S Peja 5 Dirt Ford.

[Colin Cowherd]

Paja is a. Okay.

[Steph Curry]

You won't believe who Steph left off his list.

[Peja Stojaković]

That's so tough. That's why we have these conversations.

[Steph Curry]

Yes.

[Peja Stojaković]

Why we absolutely love it.

[Steph Curry]

Listen to Go T E Greatest of Their Era on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.