Hour 3 - Ric Bucher

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Episode: Hour 3 - Ric Bucher
Release Date: March 25, 2025

---

Introduction

In this episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, host Colin Cowherd engages in a dynamic conversation with NBA analyst Jason McIntyre and guest Rick Bucher. The discussion delves deep into the current NBA season, addressing critical issues such as tanking, load management, player performances, and team strategies. Additionally, the conversation touches upon March Madness and briefly ventures into NFL topics, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of the sports landscape as of March 2025.

---

1. NBA Tanking and Load Management

Timestamp: 02:35 - 05:48

Colin Cowherd opens the discussion by referencing a story from The Athletic about the challenges NBA teams face in late March. He cites increased competition from passionate college basketball and the strategic load management by NBA teams, especially those out of playoff contention.

• Colin Cowherd (02:37):
  "March has always been a bad time... NBA teams that aren't in the playoffs are like Pelican Sixers last night. Who are these guys?"

• Jason McIntyre (05:48):
  "You're never going to get rid of it completely, but I think they've done a pretty good job with the play-in in minimizing it."

The conversation highlights how load management, particularly by star players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and young talents like Jayson Tatum and Luka Doncic, impacts team performance and fan engagement. The introduction of the play-in tournament is acknowledged as a mitigating factor, keeping more teams competitive and maintaining fan interest till the season's end.

---

2. Impact of the Play-In Tournament

Timestamp: 04:08 - 06:12

Jason McIntyre provides insights into how the play-in tournament has reshaped team strategies. He emphasizes that with more teams having a stake in the postseason, there's a reduced incentive to tank, as even middle-tier teams now have something substantial to play for.

• Jason McIntyre (05:48):
  "With the play-in, you have virtually like 12 teams in each conference that still have a chance to get into the play-in... and if you get into the playoffs, now you still have something to play for."

This segment underscores the effectiveness of the play-in system in keeping the league competitive, ensuring that teams remain motivated throughout the season, thereby enhancing the overall quality of play and maintaining fan interest.

---

3. The LeBron and Luka Show: Honeymoon Phase Diminishes

Timestamp: 06:12 - 09:05

Colin Cowherd shifts focus to the dynamic between LeBron James and Luka Doncic, exploring the initial excitement that surrounded their partnership and the recent decline in their performance.

• Colin Cowherd (06:12):
  "There's always a honeymoon phase in relationships and in pro sports. And the Luka LeBron honeymoon phase was points and smiles and rainbows and now they've lost seven of 10."

• Jason McIntyre (08:01):
  "Luka does a certain slower way in terms of getting people involved. That isn't quite the same as LeBron at his best."

The duo discusses how the initial synergy between LeBron and Luka has waned, leading to fatigue and inconsistency on the court. LeBron's reduced stamina and Luka's evolving playing style contribute to the Lakers' current struggles, reflecting the natural ebbs and flows of player partnerships in professional sports.

---

4. Player Comparisons and Emerging Stars

Timestamp: 09:05 - 18:23

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to comparing emerging talents like Cooper Flag with established stars. The conversation highlights Cooper Flag's versatile skill set, positioning him as a potential future star akin to Jason Tatum but with added grit and defensiveness.

• Jason McIntyre (17:24):
  "The beauty of him... he knows how to play within a team, knows how to move without the ball and be able to play with it in his hands and be a playmaker."

• Colin Cowherd (18:13):
  "He's got a little more grit than Jason."

The analysts explore how Cooper Flag's abilities—ranging from scoring to playmaking—position him as a multifaceted player who can adapt and thrive within team dynamics. Comparisons to Kevin Garnett and Jason Tatum highlight his potential to evolve into a cornerstone player, bringing both skill and tenacity to the game.

---

5. Team Analysis: Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, and Boston Celtics

Timestamp: 18:23 - 27:58

The discussion transitions to comprehensive analyses of key NBA teams:

• Milwaukee Bucks:
  Concerns are raised about Giannis Antetokounmpo's current performance, particularly his mid-range game and free-throw consistency. The team is perceived as aging and lacking the necessary athleticism to stay competitive.

  • Jason McIntyre (16:57):
    "Giannis looks dated. The Milwaukee Bucks look dated overall because they are older and they don't have the athleticism."

• Golden State Warriors:
  The Warriors' small-ball strategy, spearheaded by Draymond Green, is examined. Despite the lack of a traditional center, the team's defensive prowess and versatile offense keep them formidable.

  • Colin Cowherd (27:37):
    "The Warriors are still small... Draymond Green allows them to be small because he's such a great defender outside of Jokic he stops Bigs."

• Boston Celtics:
  Jason Tatum's balanced game is praised, though some critiques about his defensive grit are mentioned. The Celtics' depth and team-oriented play are highlighted as strengths.

  • Colin Cowherd (19:07):
    "We both love Jason Tatum. Without question. Great kid."

The analysts delve into each team's strategic approaches, player performances, and future prospects, providing listeners with an in-depth understanding of the current NBA power dynamics.

---

6. March Madness: Record-Breaking Ratings and Lack of Upsets

Timestamp: 25:03 - 31:20

A brief yet insightful segment covers the recent March Madness tournament, noting unprecedented viewership and a surprising absence of upsets.

• Rick Bucher (25:03):
  "March Madness just announced their ratings. Highest viewership through two rounds since 1993."

• Colin Cowherd (25:19):
  "If you could have picked one upset if you were CBS, it would have been Calipari beating Rick Matias like, the world's best upset."

The conversation highlights how consistent performances from favored teams have dominated the tournament, contributing to record-breaking viewership numbers. This phenomenon underscores the evolving landscape of college basketball, where established programs maintain their dominance amidst rising competition.

---

7. NFL Insights: Tennessee Titans and Cam Ward

Timestamp: 30:46 - 32:20

Shifting gears, the discussion touches upon NFL developments, particularly focusing on the Tennessee Titans' interest in quarterback Cam Ward.

• Rick Bucher (30:19):
  "The Titans are scheduled to have another private workout with Cam Ward... I don’t think there’s any debate here. They’re taking Cam Ward."

• Colin Cowherd (31:18):
  "I think it's a good call. I wish he had more games as a pure pocket guy."

The analysts evaluate the Titans' strategic moves to bolster their quarterback position, assessing Cam Ward's potential impact on the team’s performance. The conversation reflects the interconnectedness of decision-making processes in team management across different sports leagues.

---

Conclusion

This episode of The Herd offers a thorough examination of pressing issues in the NBA, from team strategies and player performances to broader league dynamics like load management and the play-in tournament's influence. Colin Cowherd and his guests provide a nuanced perspective on both established and emerging talents, offering listeners a blend of analysis, critique, and forward-looking insights. Additionally, brief interludes into March Madness and NFL developments round out the discussion, ensuring a well-rounded sports discourse.

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Colin Cowherd (02:37):
  "March has always been a bad time... NBA teams that aren't in the playoffs are like Pelican Sixers last night. Who are these guys?"

• Jason McIntyre (05:48):
  "You're never going to get rid of it completely, but I think they've done a pretty good job with the play-in in minimizing it."

• Colin Cowherd (06:12):
  "There's always a honeymoon phase in relationships and in pro sports. And the Luka LeBron honeymoon phase was points and smiles and rainbows and now they've lost seven of 10."

• Jason McIntyre (17:24):
  "The beauty of him... he knows how to play within a team, knows how to move without the ball and be able to play with it in his hands and be a playmaker."

• Colin Cowherd (18:13):
  "He's got a little more grit than Jason."

• Jason McIntyre (16:57):
  "Giannis looks dated. The Milwaukee Bucks look dated overall because they are older and they don't have the athleticism."

• Rick Bucher (25:03):
  "March Madness just announced their ratings. Highest viewership through two rounds since 1993."

• Colin Cowherd (31:18):
  "I think it's a good call. I wish he had more games as a pure pocket guy."

---

Key Takeaways

• The NBA faces ongoing challenges with tanking and load management, though mechanisms like the play-in tournament have mitigated some issues.

• The partnership between LeBron James and Luka Doncic is experiencing a decline, affecting team performance and fan sentiment.

• Emerging players like Cooper Flag are drawing comparisons to established stars, indicating a promising future for new talent in the league.

• March Madness is witnessing record-breaking viewership, though the lack of upsets has dominated the narrative.

• NFL teams, notably the Tennessee Titans, are actively seeking to strengthen key positions, reflecting strategic team-building efforts.

---

This comprehensive analysis provided by The Herd equips listeners with a deep understanding of current sports trends, player dynamics, and the strategic movements shaping the future of professional leagues.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

You 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. Acquired card has no cash access and expires in six months. As a renter, do you ever feel like you're just throwing money away? Think you'll never be able to save enough to buy your own home? Then check out Rent Rewards from Rocket Mortgage. They're helping you put your monthly rent payments toward home ownership. And for the first time, you can save up to $5,000 off the cost of your home just by paying rent only at Rocket Mortgage. Learn more today at 804Rocket or just visit rocket.com Rocket Mortgage LLC equal housing.

[Rick Bucher]

Lender licensed in all 50 states.

[Colin Cowherd]

NMLS consumeraccess.org Number 3030 it's the last.

[Rick Bucher]

Game of the season and with Amex you can save time with card member entrances at select venues and go straight.

[Colin Cowherd]

To the action so you can catch every moment.

[Rick Bucher]

That's the powerful backing of American Express.

[Colin Cowherd]

Terms apply.

[Rick Bucher]

Learn more@American Express.com with Amex.

[Colin Cowherd]

Virgin Voyages isn't your average cruise. It's a masterclass in luxury all in. Voyage pricing includes over $1,000 in value, Wi fi, tips, entertainment, even specialty dining. No hidden fees, no surprises. The cabins are next level. Private terraces, virgin red hammocks, unbeatable sea views. Add in the adults only factor. No kids. That's right, just relaxation. It's no surprise they're award winning. And the destinations Caribbean this winter, Iceland, North America and the Mediterranean in 2025 and 2026. Virgin Voyages is where luxury meets travel. Book it and see what you've been missing. Learn [e-mail] or contact your travel advisor. Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports radio at noon to 3 eastern to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd atfox sports radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.

[Jason McIntyre]

Now let's get this party started.

[Colin Cowherd]

You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Covering the NBA since the early 90s, Fox Sports NBA analyst our friend Rick Buer. You know, it's I read a really Interesting story the other day in the the Athletic. A writer I did not know, but I thought it was an interesting point. He said March has always been a bad time. Late March is bad for the NBA because college basketball is playing with all this passion and intensity and NBA teams that aren't in the playoffs are like Pelican Sixers last night. Who are these guys? I had talked about this earlier load management. Most of the young guys like playing Tatum and sj, they want to play. A lot of the old guys like Giannis want nights off. I get it. I think you can as they tweaked it with the awards 65 games you can tweak load management. I do not believe watching Bill Simmons Celtic City with Larry Bird last night. Bad team, get Bird great team. I don't think you can control it. It's the unsolvable problem. We knew two years ago, three years ago Cooper flag was good. Four years ago Wemby was teams plan like a three year plan by Popovich to get Wemby. You can argue when they didn't sign to Shante Murray. So my takeaw is on all this is that there is an unsolvable problem in the NBA. Football's got violence, you can't solve it.

[Jason McIntyre]

Right.

[Colin Cowherd]

Baseball's got no urgency is I. I just think we have to get used to the bottom half of the NBA is going to tank.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah, I don't think it's the entire. It's not the bottom half. I, I agree with you in that the, the impact of a single player is so great in the NBA that you're never going to get rid of completely. Teams at the end of the year saying we don't have anything else to play for, let's play for that guy. And they're going to roll out lineups of guys, as you said, that you've never heard of before. But they have done a great job of minimizing that because it used to be half of the league would be angling in that direction. Now with the play in you have virtually like 12 teams in each conference that still have a chance to get into the play in. And if you get into the play in then you get an extra, you know, potentially an extra game at home. That's money. And if you get into the playoffs now you still have something to play for. And so those middle range teams that their odds are long to get that number one pick anyway are going to say we might as well try. We're going to be a mid range, mid first round pick anyway. The Difference between being in the lottery or being 16 or 17 is so minimal. Why don't we just go ahead and see if we can make the play in and, and like the Chicago Bulls right now, normally in their situation they'd be like, let's play for the lottery. But if they can sneak into the play in and they win, they, they, they have put the position themselves where they only have to win one play in game and now we're in the playoffs. That's a plus for the front office and for everybody else. So I think they've done as much as they possibly can. You're always going to have teams like Philadelphia and New Orleans that have no hope.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Jason McIntyre]

But again, as long as it's minimized with a particular team like Detroit. Now, Detroit was there for two or three years, now they're not. Yeah, they've turned that around. They got a Cade Cunningham, they've been smart in their picks. So I, I, you're never going to completely get rid of it, but I think they've done a pretty good job with the play in, in minimizing it.

[Colin Cowherd]

So there's always a honeymoon phase in relationships and in pro sports. And the Luka lebron honeymoon phase was points and smiles and rainbows and now they've lost seven of 10. And LeBron's not at 100%. Is that, is, is, is that something that could explain suddenly the Lakers looking exhausted and joyless?

[Jason McIntyre]

Well, first of all, I just appreciate that the honeymoon era with me and this show has not ended and it's been going on for years. I mean, it's just, it's a beautiful thing. You're welcome, America. Yes. When LeBron or when Luka first got there, there was the euphoria of, oh my God, we got luka doncic. And LeBron and Luka were doing their best to try to figure out how do we play together. And more importantly, they got everybody involved. And what happened when LeBron stepped out is it became the Luca show.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes.

[Jason McIntyre]

Much like it was in Dallas.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes.

[Jason McIntyre]

And you heard the grumblings for years, like, love, Luka, great player, great teammate, but, but boy, is he ball dominant.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes.

[Jason McIntyre]

We stand around a lot waiting to see what he's going to do.

[Colin Cowherd]

J Mac, are you hearing this?

[Jason McIntyre]

And so when LeBron stepped out, it became the Luca show.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes.

[Jason McIntyre]

And it looked like Dallas. Yes. And the reason that you had everybody defending as hard as they were, because.

[Colin Cowherd]

They were included, because they were touching.

[Jason McIntyre]

The ball, they knew that if they ran the floor, the ball was going to be Passed ahead and I might get a fast break. LeBron has done as much of that as. As anybody said.

[Colin Cowherd]

LeBron's always been more magic than Michael. 100 he is the leader of an orchestra. 100 Luke is a lead sing.

[Jason McIntyre]

100%. But this is the tricky part.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Jason McIntyre]

Here where they are right now. LeBron at 40, can't do all the things. He doesn't draw double teams. He's not attacking off the bounce and creating havoc defensively. Luka does that. He does it at a slower pace, but he's still attracting far more attention. And so that's where they're kind of stuck, is that Luka plays a certain slower way in terms of getting people involved. That isn't quite the same as LeBron at his best. And LeBron can't do it anymore. So he needs Luka to do that, but he needs Luka to do it faster. And Luka was doing that initially. But you take LeBron out of the equation and now it's like. And just getting a little more comfortable.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[Jason McIntyre]

I'm going to do it my way. I need to get the numbers I needed to justify why I'm here.

[Colin Cowherd]

First month on the job, everybody's on their basket.

[Jason McIntyre]

Absolutely. Trying to make everybody look good. I'm the best teammate.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[Jason McIntyre]

Look, we're paying you X amount. We need you to deliver. Oh, okay. All right. I need to augur in.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Jason McIntyre]

That's what you're saying.

[Colin Cowherd]

I may be a little delusional because I, you know, I. I loved. I love Steph, and I love Kerr and the warriors culture. And Draymond, I gotta tell you, Kaminga now back in tow. I really like the warriors in the postseason. I really like them. And I know. I'm thinking, okay, honeymoon phase, but actually, it's different because Jimmy is a better playoff guy. Yes. And Jimmy will set the hard screens in the playoffs. Yes. Is that this honeymoon? Let's be honest. Butler hasn't played well, hasn't shot well.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

So my take is I really like the Warriors a lot. Is that just. Is that confirmation bias on a trade I love?

[Jason McIntyre]

They're better. They're better. And they're more potentially lethal than I thought they would be. I thought that Jimmy Butler would give them a little bit of a bump. I think it's more than that, but it still stands on. And this is for everybody in the Western Conference. Who do you get matched up with, and when do you get matched up with them? Because size is still going to be an issue for them, even with Jimmy Butler. If they see Denver or they see Minnesota, I that there's potential trouble there because they just don't have size. Not not at their best, Jimmy Butler playing the four and then Draymond Green playing the five. Like that's sort of them at their best. And so it just depends on who they see and when they see them. But there are plenty of teams out there, the Houstons, the Memphis's, the Okcs, even where I like the warriors chances. But that's with everybody. Like there's just certain teams that are built to play smaller and faster and there are teams that are bigger and like Denver can't necessarily play fast. And so it's going to be a chess match there in terms of which wins out.

[Colin Cowherd]

Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and.

[Rick Bucher]

The iHeartRadio app welcome to a day in the life of an amex Gold Card Member. 7:00am Iced coffee with up to $84 back annually at Dunkin locations 12:00 pesto zoodles with four times Membership Rewards points on purchases at US restaurants up to $50,000.

[Colin Cowherd]

This is so good.

[Rick Bucher]

And to finish strong, the freshest sushi spot with up to $100 back annually on eligible purchases at US Frezzi restaurants.

[Colin Cowherd]

What a day. That's the powerful backing of American Express Chart Supply Cap applies. Learn [e-mail] withamx all you renters out there, here's something from Rocket Mortgage you're going to want to hear now. Anyone who has ever rented before knows that feeling you get every month. Your hard earned cash gone. It's like throwing money away. Even more frustrating is the knowledge that every dollar you spent on rent is a dollar you could have put towards your future. It can make it feel like you'll never be able to save enough to afford a home of your own. And that's what makes what Rocket Mortgage is doing so special. Rocket Mortgage is now helping you put your monthly rent payments towards home ownership. It's called Rent Rewards and for the first time, you can save up to $5,000 off the cost of your home just by paying rent. Only at Rocket Mortgage. If this sounds like something that could make a difference in your life, call 804Rocket or visit Rocket.com learn more about rent rewards. That's 804Rocket or Rocket.com Rocket Mortgage LLC.

[Rick Bucher]

Equal housing lender licensed in all 50 states.

[Colin Cowherd]

NMLS ConsumerAccess.org number 3030 this podcast is brought to you by Pfizer. If you're 50 or older, getting sick can keep you away from where you need to be. You don't want surprises like pneumococcal pneumonia or invasive pneumococcal disease. You're 6.4 times more likely to get pneumococcal pneumonia compared with adults 18 to 49. It's recommended that people 50 or older get vaccinated. Being sick could get between you and the people who rely on you. So schedule your [e-mail] youm can count on T Mobile to help keep you connected from big cities to 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. So we had this topic a week ago, and you may have put this in my ear. Maybe I heard you say it somewhere else. I don't recall. Sorry if it wasn't Rick, but somebody had said on the platforms that I listened to that every time Giannis gets brought up, Buck fans hate the national media because it's always, hey, when's he gonna be a Knick or a Warrior? Yeah, but I think there's a bigger issue, and I thought I saw this when the Bucks played the warriors, is that this league changes fast. I mean, Dwight Howard's unstoppable, and now he can't play. Like, we don't need rebounders. Can you hit a three?

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

This is a cruel league. NFL has always been tough guys blocking and tackling, and at the heart of it in baseball, throw strikes, get people out. Basketball changes. And with Jokic and Wemby coming into the league, who can hit their point centers, Giannis, with no jumper, looks a little limited. And when Draymond shuts him down. Yeah, you're like, damn, that was fast. From the next Kareem to kind of a limited player who, by the way, can't shoot free throws even though he's at the line constantly. And it does feel like he's aged quickly, right?

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah. Well, look, if you think about where he started, he's grown immensely.

[Colin Cowherd]

Unbelievable, right?

[Jason McIntyre]

I mean, his game has evolved, but when we saw him at 24 and 25 and now he's playing in the finals and he's winning championships or winning a championship, the thought was he's going to continue to evolve. And quite honestly, that hasn't happened at the rate that we expected. I'm not so much worried about the three point shot as I am the mid range. He has to have a reliable mid range and that hasn't happened.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's right.

[Jason McIntyre]

And he has to be able to consistently knock down a free throw. And I am just. It is. I sometimes just watch Giannis's free throw form through the course of a season and it changes like 18 times. He's trying something different like every two weeks and there's no consistency in doing that. And so, yes, you make a great point in terms of we have these bigs now, we've evolved from point guards to point forwards to now point centers. And Giannis ultimately in today's game should be that. But for him to be. And I don't think he's a great passer, but for him simply to operate in that mid post area where he can get everybody involved, he has to be a scoring threat from there. And right now he's not. And so, yeah, Giannis looks dated. The Milwaukee Bucks look dated overall because they are older and they don't have the athleticism.

[Colin Cowherd]

The Stars game looks a bit antiquated, but it's also.

[Jason McIntyre]

Giannis is at the heart of it. If Giannis develops a mid range, just a consistent mid range, they can knock down free throws and the Milwaukee Bucks wouldn't look nearly as old and out of contention as they do.

[Colin Cowherd]

What are your NBA scouts and executives and people in your ecosystem saying about Cooper Flagg?

[Jason McIntyre]

He. He's the complete package.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Jason McIntyre]

And that, the, the beauty of him. I would, I would compare him to Paolo Banchero in terms of a guy coming in who can play, who has the individual game and yet also knows how to play within a team. It's not all him.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right, Right.

[Jason McIntyre]

And got a mature game, very mature game. Understands it. Knows how to play within a team, knows how to move without the ball and be able to play with it in his hands and be a playmaker. And obviously has the size and athleticism. So look, is he on the freakish level of a wembanyama? Not quite.

[Colin Cowherd]

I'll throw this at you. He's Jason Tatum, but more developed at this age that he does everything well. I don't know if he's great at anything. He's very good at everything.

[Jason McIntyre]

I would agree with that. And I think he's got a little more grit than Jason.

[Colin Cowherd]

I think he does, too.

[Jason McIntyre]

He's got a little nasty in him.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's exactly right.

[Jason McIntyre]

Jason doesn't have it. I have to say, I was so gratified to hear. I saw a clip of Jason Tatum's dad saying, you know, can your dad. He was asked, can your son evolve? And he was like, yes, he can. He needs to get a little more. He used different words, but he needs to get nastier. And I was like, yeah. Thank you for all those knuckleheads out there who are like, you've been so.

[Colin Cowherd]

Negative about Jason Tatum. He's got this da, da, da, da.

[Jason McIntyre]

I was like, no, he's. He's too nice of a guy.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Jason McIntyre]

His dad is saying he's too nice of a guy. So if you're complaining about anybody who points that out, sit the bleep down.

[Colin Cowherd]

Thank you. And by the way, we both love Jason Tatum. Without question. Great kid.

[Jason McIntyre]

I thought he should be the. I thought he should be the Finals mvp. He was there. Do everything.

[Colin Cowherd]

Guys, he's having his best year ever.

[Jason McIntyre]

I know, Jalen.

[Colin Cowherd]

I know.

[Jason McIntyre]

Look, Jaylen Brown has that. I want to be the closer. Has more of that. Has more of that. Nasty. That's the. That's the one thing he has over Jason Tatum. But Jason Tatum does everything for the Boston Celtics. I. I'm not. He's. He has this sprain that's a little questionable.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. And he never gets hurt.

[Jason McIntyre]

Never gets hurt. And it looked like a high sprain, which takes longer.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Jason McIntyre]

But they can get through the first round without him, the way the Eastern Conference is. So he's got a good four weeks. I think they're okay.

[Colin Cowherd]

Do you play the brackets at all the.

[Jason McIntyre]

With the NBA or the ncaa?

[Colin Cowherd]

Ncaa.

[Jason McIntyre]

Ncaa. And for the first time ever, I know the least about college basketball. This year, I'm in. Last I checked, I was tied for first in my. In my bracket. I filled out two. One is in last place, the other one's in first place. So you can tell me. I went wild on one, and I went conventional on the other. And conventional is. That's a whole other subject. Conventional now is. Is the way to go. Because all of the star power, thanks to the money, is being allocated in major programs.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's funny, when NIL came out, there was, you know, there was different opinions on it.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

But what it's done is the same thing AI is going to do.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah. Centralize things.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. It's just. The big dogs will win, like AI. It's going to be six companies that Microsoft will control it and, you know, Google will have theirs.

[Jason McIntyre]

And everybody thinks it's going to spread the wealth and it's going to make, make it equal. It's, it's going to do the exact opposite. It's going to consolidate.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. Good stuff today. Thank you. Met your son as well. He's a football player on the East Coast. Well, let me guess, let me guess. Linebacker.

[Jason McIntyre]

Bingo. Very good. Well done.

[Colin Cowherd]

He's got should, he's got shoulders.

[Jason McIntyre]

I got, Yeah. I have to, I have to negotiate my way with him now. Can't put him in this place.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's my life experience. Everything with JMAC is negotiation, and I mean that lovingly. All right. Good stuff. Rick Bucher live in Los Angeles. It's the Herd. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific.

[Jason McIntyre]

Hey, it's Steve Covino and I'm Rich Davis.

[Colin Cowherd]

And together we're Covino and Rich on FOX Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5.

[Jason McIntyre]

To 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific.

[Colin Cowherd]

On Fox Sports Radio. And of course, the iHeartRadio app. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich? We talk about everything, anything, Life, sports.

[Jason McIntyre]

Relationships, what's going on in the world.

[Colin Cowherd]

We have a lot of fun talking.

[Jason McIntyre]

About the stories behind the stories in.

[Colin Cowherd]

The world of sports and pop culture.

[Jason McIntyre]

Stories that, well, other shows don't seem.

[Colin Cowherd]

To have the time to discuss.

[Jason McIntyre]

And the fact that we've been friends.

[Colin Cowherd]

For the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out.

[Jason McIntyre]

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.

[Colin Cowherd]

Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino and.

[Jason McIntyre]

Rich live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific.

[Colin Cowherd]

And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich.

[Jason McIntyre]

Wherever you get your podcast.

[Colin Cowherd]

And of course, on social media, that's Covino and Rich with AMEX Gold.

[Rick Bucher]

You get up to $100 back annually on eligible purchases at resi restaurants.

[Colin Cowherd]

So party of two, right this way.

[Rick Bucher]

Is music to your ears. That's the powerful backing of American Express enrollment required terms apply.

[Colin Cowherd]

Learn more@american express.com with AmEx, you know, buying a home used to be a huge headache. You had to go to different places for listings, pre approval financing. It was exhausting and confusing. But now Rocket is putting everything you need in one place. Rocket.com, a single seamless home ownership platform to help you find, buy, sell, finance, even refinance your home. You'll find smarter tools, personalized dashboards, real time insights and more. All the things you need to make the kind of informed decisions that can make a big difference for you and your family. So whether you're buying your first home, managing home ownership tasks, or unlocking equity for future opportunities, there's only one destination that has everything you need all under one roof. Every home at 1addressRocket.com the new home for all things home ownership. Whether you're buying or refinancing, you have to just give a look because it's all there. Rocket Own the Dream this podcast is brought to you by Pfizer. If you're 50 or older, getting sick can keep you away from where you need to be. You don't want surprises like pneumococcal pneumonia or invasive pneumococcal disease. You're 6.4 times more likely to get pneumococcal pneumonia compared with adults 18 to 49. It's recommended that people 50 or older get vaccinated. Being sick could get between you and the people who rely on you. So schedule your [e-mail] youm 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. Card has no cash access and expires in six months. Lively show today, Nick Wright. We acknowledge Bronnie was playing really well. The Cooper Flag stuff's really exciting. It is. Of course I'm selfishly I want to see him go to Chicago because I do think right now New York, Philly, San Francisco, Louisiana. I think Dallas next year is going to be outstanding. I think you could have a big Midwest market. Chicago gets a Cooper flag. I think it'd be great for the sport.

[Rick Bucher]

By the way, to your point on Cooper Flag being a star, March Madness just announced their ratings. Highest viewership through two rounds since 1993. 1993, Colin that's over 30 years. The ratings are through the roof.

[Colin Cowherd]

And by the way, is it all favorites?

[Rick Bucher]

Is it a lot of Cooper Flags?

[Colin Cowherd]

Let's ask you this, what would happen this year. Oh, there were no upsets.

[Rick Bucher]

That's another.

[Colin Cowherd]

In fact. In fact, I would argue if you could have picked one upset if you were cbs, it would have been Calipari, a villain, beating Rick Matias like, the world's best upset. And Arkansas's got, like, NBA dudes. Like, they. When you watch them play, they got a good roster.

[Rick Bucher]

They're dangerous.

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh, no, no. They. They started poorly. They had a bunch of injuries. I watched Arkansas. I'm like, I'm not sure. I think they're better than St. John's like, they look better than me.

[Rick Bucher]

So your Thursday and Friday nights are kind of locked in this week. These are good games.

[Colin Cowherd]

No, it's great because I have to fly to Chicago Thursday. I get to watch games. Oh, on the fly. How good is that?

[Rick Bucher]

You better make sure your airline has. Has that Duke.

[Colin Cowherd]

No, no, no, no, no, no. You know I do. Fubo.

[Rick Bucher]

Oh, yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, I love that.

[Rick Bucher]

That's right.

[Colin Cowherd]

That is. I just charged. I got earphones charged up, ready to go. J. Mac with the news. No, no, no.

[Jason McIntyre]

Turn on the news.

[Colin Cowherd]

This is the Herd line news.

[Rick Bucher]

Jimmy Butler returns to Miami tonight. Colin, now listen, this is a little bit of a story. Previously, he said that Heat had taken his joy out of basketball before the deal. So now he's returning, and some people are saying there's a big shot at Pat Riley in the Heat. You take a listen, let me know what you think. You get some guys that buy in, you get some really good players, and you get the opportunity. Opportunity to talk about Heat culture a little bit more. I'm not saying it to talk down or anything, but I think whenever you have really good players, you can name it and you can name it whatever you want. So he's kind of saying Heat culture overrated. Your thoughts?

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, I think it's a real thing. Is. Is. Is it talked about more than it deserves? It's almost like small ball. It's like, yeah, it was Stephen Clay. Everybody else tried it. Big guys dominate the league. I don't think it's overrated because I think Mickey, Harrison, Spolster, and Riley are excellent and super smart guys. So I. I don't. But I will say in the end, the minute Jimmy Butler leaves, they don't have their dog and they're not a good team.

[Rick Bucher]

Yes, it's the butler dealers, 6 and 17.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, I mean, I've watched them. They're just. Don't have. They don't. They don't have a dude.

[Jason McIntyre]

But.

[Rick Bucher]

But historically, Heat culture seemed like A thing, didn't it? But when you done as Haslam was there I think.

[Colin Cowherd]

And by the way, the warriors are still small. They don't have a true center like Wiseman didn't work. They shipped him off. So there is some component to small ball Steve Kerr has created. Draymond Green allows them to be small because he's such a great defender outside of Jokic he stops Biggs. So there's truth to it but it has probably been overplayed by people like us in the media.

[Rick Bucher]

Are you going to do like a Jimmy Butler over points bet tonight for his return against Miami? Just to stick it to tell you.

[Colin Cowherd]

If you had best watches in the league. I love watching the warriors play.

[Rick Bucher]

Yeah, we don't know. I think Curry's going to go tonight but nothing confirmed yet on that front. Should be a good game. Next up is Doc Rivers. Colin, he's had an interesting career but one of the pieces of his legacy with the fact he's blown several 3 to 1 series leads. Bit of a choke artist doc told andscape quote no one tells a real story and I'm fine with that. It's unfair in some ways. I don't get enough credit for getting the three wins. I get credit for losing. I always say what if we had lost to Houston and six no one cares. One of the things that I'm proud of is that we've never been swept. All the coaches have been swept in the playoffs. My teams achieve a lot of them overachieve and I'm proud of that. Is this a guy just saying too much?

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, no, I think Doc like all coaches has strengths. He gets, he gets old guys to play and play hard. He can create chemistry. I think sometimes people have questioned situational basketball decisions. You know he's not Steve Kerr that way. So you know I think it's. I also think Doc has coached in a lot of high profile series.

[Rick Bucher]

He's had good teams. Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

And he's had good jobs and so it's like Andy Reid, Andy Reid's clock management is terrible. Would it have been as terrible? You know they don't talk about it in Kansas City when he's got Mahomes. Nobody talks about clock management. So I mean I always thought, you know Blake Griffin's a funny guy and is a great player but like wasn't really a perimeter shooter as the league was turning into a space and shoot league and DeAndre Jordan was basically needed Chris Paul to score. Still up city was a lot. The, the. The marquee was better than the team and he got blamed for that. They had one great complete player, Paul. They had a great athlete in Blake and DeAndre Jordan was a little overstated and everybody's like, well, well why aren't you winning more? They were overrated. They weren't that good.

[Rick Bucher]

So you go up three one in a series, it's best of seven. You've got to win one game to close it out. And he just keeps losing these series. Other coaches blown this many.

[Colin Cowherd]

I think the criticism is fair, but there's some circumstances in, you know, that Lob City thing I always thought got way more love than it deserved. I just didn't like the makeup of the team as much as everybody else.

[Rick Bucher]

Well, at the time they were better than the Lakers. The Lakers were in that like.

[Colin Cowherd]

And that's why they got talked.

[Rick Bucher]

They got major.

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh, Lob City. No, just because of the LA basketball team's good, it doesn't mean it's going to end like the Lakers.

[Rick Bucher]

Our final story is Adam Schefter is reporting. The Titans are scheduled to have another private workout with Cam Ward. According to Schefter, the Titans have been more and more impressed with Ward and it would now take a stronger package to get the 1 pick from Tennessee. I, I don't think there's any debate here. They're taking Cam Ward. They're not trading this pick. They need a quarterback. Callahan's gotta win after that 2 and 15 debacle. I mean I think they were 2 and 15 against the spread. It was bad. And Camborg, we like him a lot. Man, this guy's good.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, he's very good.

[Rick Bucher]

I think they can win the division with Ward.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, I think your, your belief is that Tennessee's the dark horse team in the NFL. I would feel a little more. I think it's a good pick actually. It's a good call. I'd feel a little more because our schedule's not very strong in the divisions.

[Rick Bucher]

Week because you nailed Washington with the number one pick rising. So now I'm trying to find a quarterback that's going to go to a team.

[Colin Cowherd]

I think it's a good call. I wish he had more games as a pure pocket guy. Jeff Schwartz talked about that. He's been a little bit of an ad lib guy. But I do think it's one of your, I think, I think the Patriots in Tennessee, if they both doubled their wins, you'd go, yeah, that kind of makes sense. They had money, they upgraded quarterback coach or, you know, I think Tennessee is Going to be a live dog. They're going to be picked to win five and a half to six and a half games and they'll probably win nine. I think that's fair.

[Rick Bucher]

Other picks on the offensive line, they've got to protect. Cam Ward. I like him a lot. I think he's a really talented quarterback and I like Callahan is it was a great OC with the Bengals.

[Colin Cowherd]

Smart, sharp guy on the right side of the ball.

[Rick Bucher]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

J. Mac with the news. Well, that's the news and thanks for stopping by the herd lie news. So I, I talked about it my show today. I think Aaron Rodgers is being smart, being patient. Now there a lot of people think that he's going to announce in Pittsburgh he's going to be a Steeler any May. But it's weird. Wouldn't that get out if it was true? Like, wouldn't that get out? Somebody would hear, I mean, Aaron Rodgers stuff. He had a darkness retreat and we knew where it was. Like everything gets out with Aaron Rodgers. People are taking pictures of him, paparazzi. So maybe he signed with the Steelers. It just feels like you couldn't hide that for two weeks. That's not something you could hide. But it may happen. Wouldn't surprise me. I think, I think he should wait till after the draft. Let's see how the Brock Purdy contract goes. Let's see how the quarterbacks in the draft fall. If Kirk Cousins would have been more patient, he wouldn't have gone to Atlanta. Right. Maybe he got a better situation. So here's Nick Wright earlier on. Aaron and his pending decision. I believe Aaron Rodgers is going to be a Pittsburgh Steeler. I think the Steelers know it. I think Aaron knows it. So then the question is, what is gained by waiting? And the answer is, well, one thing that could be gained is just raw, unadulterated ego. I think he knows the only place he's going to play football this year is the Pittsburgh Steelers. Florio postulated that he's trying to make some grand announcement at a live show in Pittsburgh in a couple weeks maybe. But I think Aaron has known it's Pittsburgh for a long time. I think the Steelers have mostly known and he's dragging this out because he can and because it serves Aaron Rodgers. Yeah, I think that's, you know, that's a take. I don't know if that's true. I, you know, I mean if he was that concerned about branding, you know, he lost some of his commercials with his vaccine stance and so if he was that concerned with branding I think he would do things differently. I don't think he cares too much about marketing and branding. I think he sort of goes to the beat of his own drummer. Yeah, we'll see. I, I, you know, it's funny about it. I'm talking about it a lot. It's a slow time of the year for us. Little college basketball, little NBA draft coming up in three and a half, four weeks. But I don't think it'll change much. I would say the Pittsburgh Steelers right now feel like an eight and a half win over under. And I think with Aaron Rodgers they would be a nine and a half over under. And I think I'd bet the under in both. Would bet the under. I think they're going to be around 500. They ended the season so poorly with Russell Wilson and not enough to win a playoff game. Maybe backdoor it, but remember Harbaugh and Justin Herbert, year two. Okay. Sean Payton, Bo Nix, year two. I think you're getting three playoff teams from the AFC West. I think that's very possible. Well, at last year you did Kansas City Chargers in Denver, you got three playoff teams last year from the AFC West. I think you're going to do it again. And I think New England's going to be a playoff team. So there's just not a lot of space. And I think Cincinnati is going to be a playoff team if Joe Burrow is upright. So the other topic today we've talked about is I think Cooper Flag and Wemby in the last couple of drafts, when players are so great and they're tagged early at like 14, 15 years old, they're going to be great that you can't, you can't really avoid the tanking issue. Go ahead. All the owners are billionaires. Fine em a million dollars. It doesn't mean anything. That's why they created that second apron, because they realize guys like Ballmer, you could, you could literally, you could take away $300 million for tanking. They don't care. That's a good day at Microsoft stock. And Nick Wright also talked about the NBA and the tanking issue. The fix would be the way that they can, you know, that they enforce other rules, which is real financial penalties for teams the league hit. Who did they hit recently? Utah, I think with a hundred. They hit somebody with $100,000. Fine. And I'm sure the Jazz were like, have you seen, with respect, the Sixers the last three weeks? Where's their fine? When you're talking about issues with the NBA, I don't think tanking is high on the fans list. I think good teams whose good players rest load load management. I think that is a far greater fan concern than the bad teams throwing games at the end of the year. There you go. All right. You know that brawny story today? Every time we talked about that, I could see a glint in your eye. I could see just you were getting. Because you probably played rec games on that same floor.

[Rick Bucher]

Stop it. I have not. Let me ask you. So I went on chat gbt Colin to say, give me a comparison looking at Cooper Flag based on his size, age, length, all this stuff. They came up with a bunch of interesting names.

[Colin Cowherd]

I want to hear this.

[Rick Bucher]

Andre Kinko, who you probably remember from back in the day, very toolsy guy. Jason Tatum was one of them.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes.

[Rick Bucher]

The spiciest name which one staff member here does not like for Cooper Flag comparison is Kevin Garnett. Kevin Garnett, fiery, long, awesome defensive player. Cooper Flag checks a lot of boxes. Remember KG made the leap right to the pros. Cooper flag's only 18 when he's gonna be drafted.

[Colin Cowherd]

I think his, I think his offensive game has.

[Rick Bucher]

It's better than Kevin Garnett's at 18.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, it's got more dexterity.

[Rick Bucher]

He's pulling up and hitting threes.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes. Yeah. There. It's just he's doing more now than Kevin Garnett did. Yeah. I always considered Kevin a pure post. Like, like you could do some things, but it was kind of 16. Feeding in is that's what he did.

[Rick Bucher]

Yeah. But Cooper Flag, legitimately, it has, you know, five tool baseball player.

[Jason McIntyre]

Right.

[Rick Bucher]

Can do everything. That's what Cooper Flag is. I'm just telling you. Watch him. He will bring the ball up on the fast break and go around, guys.

[Colin Cowherd]

And he, he, he buer mentioned this. He's a little better finisher and nastier at this age than Tatum was.

[Rick Bucher]

Yeah, he got some dog in him. No.

[Colin Cowherd]

And he'll. He'll go and he'll talk trash and finish.

[Jason McIntyre]

Right.

[Colin Cowherd]

And he likes the ball late. He wants the ball got an edge. See you tomorrow. This is Nikki Glaser from the Nikki Glaser podcast. Have you guys seen this new commercial from Stand up to All Hate? It's basically Snoop Dogg and Tom Brady going back and forth with reasons that they hate each other. But then when you really listen to them, the reasons for the hate are just so stupid. I don't know. This, this commercial really got me. It's a strong reminder that hate in our country continues to be out of control. So join us at iheart and Standing up to It. If you see hate, speak up. Call it out. Your voice is a powerful tool in this fight. You can learn more by following ot'supwithhate with the Stock up sale at Safeway and Albertsons. Stock up and earn four times points at your local store when you purchase participating products. Save on family snack favorites like Frito Lay chips, Tim's Cascade Chips, Dan and Yogurt, and Oreos. Clip the offer in the app for event savings and look for participating items throughout the store. Shop in store or online. Plus you can even have your groceries delivered or use Drive up and go to have your groceries brought to your car at the store. Restrictions and exclusions apply. Visit Albertsons or Safeway.com for more details. We live in a divided country, and our media couldn't be more polarizing. That's why we started the Middle with Jeremy Hobson.

[Rick Bucher]

It's about bringing voices not from the extremes, but from the vast middle into the national conversation. Each week we hear from ordinary Americans.

[Colin Cowherd]

From all over the country.

[Rick Bucher]

And when you subscribe to the Middle, you you also get an episode each week called One Thing Trump did that.

[Colin Cowherd]

Focuses on just one item from the avalanche of news. Listen to the Middle with Jeremy Hobson on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jason McIntyre]

I'm Tomer Cohen, LinkedIn's chief product officer. If you're just as curious as I am about the way things are built, then tune into my podcast Building One. I speak with some of the best product builders out there.

[Colin Cowherd]

I've always been inspired by frustration. It came back to my own personal pain point. So we had to go out to farmers and convince them. Following that, curiosity is a superpower.

[Jason McIntyre]

You have to be obsessed with the human condition.

[Rick Bucher]

Listen to Building One on the iHeartRadio.

[Colin Cowherd]

App, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.