Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 3: NBA Playoffs
Release Date: April 23, 2025
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Description: The Herd with Colin Cowherd offers a thought-provoking and opinionated journey through the top sports stories of the day. In this episode, Colin Cowherd and his co-host Jason McIntyre delve deep into the exciting developments of the NBA Playoffs, analyzing team performances, player dynamics, and strategic adjustments that are shaping the postseason landscape.

1. Opening Remarks and Initial Game Analyses ([02:28] - [07:35])

Jason McIntyre:
The episode kicks off with an analysis of the recent Lakers vs. Wolves game, highlighting the physicality and officiating that left fans and analysts debating the game's intensity.

Rachel Nichols:
"The physicality was immense. I don't think the NBA will put it in their 'greatest games ever officiated' category." ([02:43])

Discussion Highlights:

• Lakers' Adjustments:
  The Lakers made a significant defensive adjustment against Anthony Edwards, playing a zone-like defense that limited Edwards' impact and passing effectiveness. This strategy resulted in Edwards recording zero assists in the game.
  "They forced him not only to not be able to get to the basket the way he wanted to... his assist numbers came down to 0." ([03:25])

• Wolves' Performance:
  The Wolves appeared less determined in their second outing, showing sloppiness and early foul trouble for Nasreen, which hindered their gameplay.
  "It's a fun adjustment to the adjustment to the adjustment." ([03:27])

• J.J. Redick's Impact:
  Redick's aggressive playstyle was a focal point, particularly his intense timeout that showcased his fiery demeanor.
  "There were so many curse words in the first like 10 seconds of the timeout... he only gets that angry a handful of times." ([03:58])

• LeBron James' Leadership:
  LeBron's strategic play and defensive intelligence continue to be pivotal for the Lakers. His ability to manage his energy and extend his career by leveraging younger talents like Luka Doncic was discussed extensively.
  "His intensity is what has really helped the Lakers throughout this season." ([04:10])

2. Kawhi Leonard and Clippers' Playstyle ([05:20] - [07:35])

Jason McIntyre:
Moving to the Clippers, McIntyre compares Kawhi Leonard to a hypothetical Michael Jordan, emphasizing Leonard's unique skill set and defensive prowess when healthy.
"If you took Kobe's personality, creativity, durability and gave it to Kawhi strength and hand size, there's your Michael Jordan." ([05:56])

Key Points:

• Health Concerns:
  Leonard's injury history raises questions about the Clippers' long-term prospects despite their current form.
  "There is a waiting for the other shoe to drop sense with this playoff run." ([06:28])

• Clippers' Defense and Offense:
  Recognized for their stingy defense and explosive offensive stars like James Harden and Kawhi, the Clippers remain a formidable team if Leonard stays healthy.
  "He is as good as anyone in the top, top tier elite conversation when he's healthy." ([07:24])

3. Knicks vs. Pistons Series and Cade Cunningham’s Role ([07:35] - [09:54])

Jason McIntyre:
The discussion transitions to the Knicks-Pistons series, focusing on Cade Cunningham's emergence as a pivotal player. McIntyre praises Cunningham's maturity and leadership, suggesting he has the potential to become a top-10 NBA player soon.
"Cade Cunningham is the best player in this series. He's in remarkable talent now." ([07:35])

Insights:

• Team Dynamics:
  Cunningham's ability to distribute the ball and involve his teammates has been crucial for the Pistons' performance.
  "The way he has grown... encouraged the younger players... given up certain things to get other guys involved has been just so high level." ([09:16])

• Future Prospects:
  While the Knicks may advance, McIntyre expresses skepticism about their ability to make a deep run against powerhouse teams like the Celtics.
  "I do not expect them, if they do win the series, I don't expect them to make a dent in the second round." ([08:28])

4. Player Perceptions and Polls ([09:54] - [12:24])

Jason McIntyre:
McIntyre addresses anonymous polls where players voted Tyrese Haliburton as the most overrated NBA player. He scrutinizes the validity of such polls, noting the small sample size and the subjective nature of player opinions.
"Only 12 out of 450 players thought he was the most overrated." ([10:59])

Discussion Highlights:

• Tyrese Haliburton:
  Despite being labeled overrated by a few, Haliburton's performance remains commendable. His humor and self-awareness help him navigate criticism.
  "Tyrese is an excellent player... he has enough good humor and sense of himself and confidence that this isn't going to rattle him." ([11:26])

• Cade Cunningham’s Underrated Status:
  Cunningham was also highlighted as the most underrated player, emphasizing his significant role in the Pistons' resurgence.
  "Cade is the engine of that team. He's a huge part of their turnaround." ([09:54])

• NBA's Competitive Nature:
  The conversation touches on the petty dynamics within the NBA, contrasting with more collective team-focused surveys in other sports like the NFL.
  "NBA is such a petty league. These guys are so petty." ([12:24])

5. LeBron James and the Lakers’ Strategic Evolution ([15:21] - [18:25])

Jason McIntyre:
McIntyre revisits the Lakers’ strategy, particularly LeBron James' reliance on younger talents like Anthony Davis and Luka Doncic to sustain the team's competitiveness while managing his own legacy.
"LeBron wants wins." ([16:16])

Key Points:

• Energy Management:
  LeBron strategically uses his energy and defensive IQ to impact games without overexerting himself, which is crucial given his age and career longevity.
  "He made sure that defensively he was still so on point, just with his iq, the effort on defense." ([17:30])

• Future Implications:
  Speculation surrounds whether the Lakers can capture more titles and how this might influence LeBron’s standing in the all-time greats conversation.
  "What if he gets two more titles, and then the Jordan conversation starts up again in a very different way." ([17:31])

6. Upcoming Games and Team Strategies ([18:25] - [20:40])

Jason McIntyre and Unknown Speaker:
The hosts preview upcoming playoff games, predicting heightened physicality and intense matchups. Highlights include:

• Boston vs. Orlando:
  Anticipation of heated confrontations and strategic adjustments.

• Clippers vs. Nuggets:
  Praise for the Clippers’ full-court pressure and defensive tactics, contrasting with the Nuggets' less disciplined approach.

Notable Quote:
"The NBA needs scoring. You can't have these 87, 84 games in the playoffs. That's not good for business." ([20:24])

7. Atlanta Hawks and Trae Young’s Future ([20:40] - [23:53])

Jason McIntyre:
The conversation shifts to the Atlanta Hawks, particularly focusing on Trae Young’s contract and the potential for the Hawks to move away from their star player.
"Trae Young is not a winning player." ([21:42])

Discussion Highlights:

• Contract Considerations:
  With the new CBA and escalating player salaries, the Hawks might reconsider extending Young’s contract despite his on-court prowess.
  "If you want to build a team, you can't pay your wide receivers too much. Similarly, NBA teams might hesitate to offer exorbitant contracts to individual stars like Trae." ([22:25])

• Team Dynamics:
  The Hawks’ management might prioritize team balance over individual star power, especially considering past experiences with high-maintenance players.
  "There are some interesting things happening behind the scenes in the NBA." ([22:48])

8. Oklahoma City Thunder Dominance ([23:53] - [24:50])

Jason McIntyre:
Highlighting the Oklahoma City Thunder’s unprecedented performance, McIntyre praises their dominance over the Memphis Grizzlies.
"OKC has absolutely dominated hapless Memphis." ([23:53])

Key Points:

• Point Differential:
  The Thunder hold a +70 point differential in the series, marking one of the largest in NBA playoff history.

• Future Challenges:
  The discussion speculates on which Western Conference teams can challenge the Thunder’s formidable performance.
  "Who's challenging OKC in the West? Lakers. Clippers." ([24:06])

9. Concluding Discussions and Insights ([24:50] - [38:05])

Jason McIntyre and Colin Cowherd:
The episode wraps up with a blend of light-hearted banter, advertising snippets, and crossover discussions touching on the NFL Draft, team trades, and player potential. Highlights include:

• Draft Predictions:
  McIntyre shares his mock draft insights, targeting key picks and potential trades that could reshape teams' futures.

• Player Evaluations:
  Detailed analysis of players like Jackson Dart and George Pickens, debating their draft prospects and team fit.

Notable Quote:
"Never move up in the draft. I think I would take Pickens for a year again." ([35:01])

Final Thoughts:
McIntyre emphasizes the importance of strategic drafting and team-building, highlighting the unpredictable nature of player development and team chemistry.

Conclusion

In this episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, hosts Colin Cowherd and Jason McIntyre provide an in-depth analysis of the NBA Playoffs, covering key games, player performances, and strategic adjustments. From LeBron James' enduring leadership with the Lakers to Kawhi Leonard's critical role for the Clippers, the discussion offers valuable insights for basketball enthusiasts. Additionally, the episode touches on broader NBA trends, including player valuations and team dynamics, making it a comprehensive guide for those seeking to understand the current playoff landscape.

Notable Quotes:

• "His intensity is what has really helped the Lakers throughout this season." – Rachel Nichols ([07:35])
• "If you took Kobe's personality, creativity, durability and gave it to Kawhi strength and hand size, there's your Michael Jordan." – Jason McIntyre ([05:56])
• "Cade Cunningham is the engine of that team. He's a huge part of their turnaround." – Unknown Speaker ([09:54])

For listeners who missed the episode, this summary encapsulates the critical discussions and expert opinions that drive the conversation around the NBA Playoffs, providing a clear and engaging overview of the episode's content.