← The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
THE HERD - Hour 3 - UCLA HC Mick Cronin stops by The Herd, looking at the NBA playoff match ups
00:34:34
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- [00:00]
Mick Cronin
This is an iHeart podcast.
- [00:02]
Colin Cowherd
Guaranteed Human.
- [00:07]
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson
And Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.
- [00:16]
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson's Partner
Hey everyone, check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?
- [00:20]
Colin Cowherd
Oh no.
- [00:21]
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson
We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.
- [00:27]
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson's Partner
Yeah, the bird looks out of your league anyways.
- [00:29]
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson
Only pay for what you need@libertymutual.com Liberty
- [00:32]
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Colin Cowherd
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 herd@foxsportsradio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Now let's get this party started.
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Fox Sports Radio Announcer
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
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Colin Cowherd
I've said this in the last couple years. You know, sports are cyclical outside of the NFL, which just keeps getting more popular. College football got very, very regional, very Alabama, Georgia. Now it's it's much Broader college basketball, I think in the last three years, there's just so much talent, the size of college teams. Quickness is no longer the name of the game. It's just get big. Be like Illinois and Michigan, just get big. Mick Cronin, his Bruins faced all four of these teams in the Final Four with different results. He's joining us now live. 22 years coaching in college basketball, won 70% of his games. UCLA and everywhere. Okay, let's start with Illinois. That was one of the wildest games of the year in the Sport. It was 95, 94. You beat him by a point. Your guards, they're bigs, you know, it was just a wildly entertaining game. Is there a secret to beating Illinois, Mick, or do you just have to acknowledge they're going to score on you? They're big. I mean when you, when you beat him, did you go into that game thinking, listen, this is going to be a high scoring game. It's just the way they play.
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Mick Cronin
Yeah, Colin, I thought it was going to take 80 to beat them for sure. Look, they're so well put together with Vogler at the point as a, an elite freshman. So you have the NBA guy checked. You have Kylan Boswell, the senior grizzled vet guard. You got that box checked. You got shooters all around checked. You got two 7 foot 2 guys rotating in the middle checked. And a great coach. And Brad Underwood and Stojakovic is a great slashing wing. They just got great components. What the difference for them in the tournament has been. As you guys know, their defense has really stepped up in the NCAA tournament. They don't give up twos at the rim. You got to make shots to beat them. And we were able to make double digits, three double digit threes and obviously a last second basket to beat them. But it's really hard to score on them at the rim.
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Colin Cowherd
Okay, so you narrowly lost to Arizona in a more normal game, 69, 65. But you held buries and, and a co op, you held those guys to single figures. They did not play particularly well. So Arizona, a lot of people think Arizona could win this whole thing. You had success against two of their stars and that game was different tempo. Talk a little about Arizona and the success you had slowing them down a little bit.
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Mick Cronin
Well, in fairness, playing them, and I believe it was late November, you got, you got three freshmen starting right there's so much better now. Braden Burry is played himself into the top 10 of the NBA draft. Karchenkoff is also going to be an NBA player. And co opied's gotten better as well. So again they check the box with senior grizzled point guard and Bradley and look, there are two big guys. Toby Iwako and Mo Crevas are big time strong guys now. And look, we play every year and obviously we played more than that in the PAC 12. So we know each other. So our games tend to be uglier grinded out games. But they're so much better than they were Colin back in November. It's not like when I watch them play like they don't shoot a lot of threes but. But buries Karchenkoff and Del Orso. They can do it when they need to do it. You can't just not guard those guys. So they may, they may be the most complete team right there with Michigan. I think as you see the Ken Palm thing where they. Yeah, they're two of the best. They're two of the best four teams in the last 25 years from metrically.
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Colin Cowherd
Yeah. So you played Michigan. It was your worst loss of the year. It was also Gonzaga's worst loss. My take on. I watched them last week live. I went to the United center and I was upstairs. So their passing feels like an NBA team. Their size is excellent if they're hitting shots. To me as a college team, they're virtually unbeatable if they're hitting threes. I mean sometimes there's just a team coach and you're just like, guys, I'm not sure we match up. Did it feel a little bit like that with Michigan?
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Mick Cronin
Yeah, it was 40, 38 at the half. And again, I know you got to get 80 to beat them and you know, we weren't able to keep scoring with them in the second half. They're so hard to contain offensively because they can beat you in so many ways. And look, Yoxel is a guy that would pre nil. He's in the NBA. Colin.
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Colin Cowherd
Right, right.
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Mick Cronin
You know, he is not in. And that's. And you mentioned, you know, as we let in. Right. College basketball has gotten so much better in the last four years because guys aren't making mistakes by going pro too soon and it's going to elongate their NBA career by doing it. It's good for the players as well. Not just that they're making money. You don't have guys making mistakes, going out too soon, trying to get to so. But he is, he is so good. I mean he's the best player in the final four. And then you put, you know, Amara And Johnson are first round picks around them. And look, Trey McKinney off the bench. Like when you bring guys going to play in the NBA off the bench, which Michigan does. Trey McKinney will play in the NBA someday. That's how good they are. I agree with you. They're going to be a tough out for anybody. But look, Arizona is really good.
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Colin Cowherd
So you lost to UConn. You know, it's funny so because I used to live in Connecticut, I follow UConn and I watched them throughout the year. They had a bad loss to Marquette, but, you know, all year my takeaway is they need another guy. I don't, you know, they got an old school big Taurus Reed. He's an old school big. So I appreciate that. Are you surprised they beat you guys? Are you surprised they're here or when you played them, did you say, well, they're physical, they're UConn, they're well coached. Do you kind of thought they may end up here?
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Mick Cronin
Yeah, there's no surprise to me. I thought Duke, obviously, you know, Duke dominated most of that game, but, you know, it's college basketball and anything can happen. And in this case, it did. At the end of the game, I didn't think that they would get blown out. One thing about UConn, and I don't know how far it's going to carry them, like their fighting spirit of. In their culture that Coach Hurley has built there is so good. Imagine they're playing with a guy with two championships. Caravan, Alex. Caravan has two championships. I don't know. I mean, is Kareem. I mean, Coach Wooden's guys were the last guys to be playing for their third championship. So I mean, that just tells you like, about their DNA in their program is so deep. I mean, they just, you know, they're not going to go quietly into the night. You're going to have to play to the final Buzzer to beat UConn. But I think Illinois's got better.
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Colin Cowherd
So do I. That, that's what I, I think. I think. I'll tell you, I want to talk Keaton Wagler, the guard who came from Kansas. Nobody recruited him. Minnesota did and Illinois did. And he got onto campus. And Brad Underwood told me this week, you know, when he was playing around in the summer, the, the players on the team said, coach, you got to come see this kid is something else. Do you. Have you ever had a guy like that? Because I, it's funny, the Dallas Mavericks have the sixth pick. I said, if you put him with Cooper Flag oh my Lord. Have you ever had a kid that came onto your campus, whether it was Murray State, Cincinnati, ucla, and you're like, he is way better than we thought.
- [10:13]
Mick Cronin
Not to that extent. I've had some guys that are, have been better than you thought they were going to be, but very rarely. His parents are quoted as saying when they dropped him off to redshirt his freshman year, when they dropped him off at school, and I think they both played college basketball and they, they were all for it. You're very rarely, look, he's probably nil wise their lowest paid guy turns out to be your best player. It's a great story, you know, and good for him. He seems like an unbelievable kid. He's humble, but with his size and skill and he just plays with great pace. UConn's going to challenge him physically. The one thing that playing UConn last week up close, they're really physical with your guards. And we had great guards this year at UCLA and they threw our guards off with their physicality. But he's handled it. I mean, he's played in the Big Ten all year.
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Colin Cowherd
You know, Tommy Lloyd announced today he's staying at Arizona. And my take was there's so much fluidity to the sport now with NIL and transfer portal that if you can get a good job and you, you're aligned with your administration, you don't want to. I mean, I'm for mobility, but there's so much mobility in the sport now that I think you're better served as a coach that just stop job hopping. If you got a Good job, top 15, just stay there. Are you surprised Tommy Lloyd stayed or, or do you kind of agree? I mean, maybe you see it differently.
- [11:44]
Mick Cronin
No, no, I told you're right on the money. Look, very rarely does do power coaches hop to other power schools. And with if you have the nil support and you have the administrative support, I think the only reason you would see somebody leave is lack of alignment with the administration. Right. Because why else would you go to think you can get better players? Like, you know, I coach him alma mater Cincinnati, 13 years, a long time. But honestly I thought I'd be able to get better players. There was no nil, there was no portal. UCLA is ucla. You know, I mean, you know how it is. You lived in la, I mean Westwoods, Bel Air, like it's such an advantage in recruiting. But then nil comes along and that now it's all business. So North North Carolina is a great job and they're going to Get a great coach, but it's not the what it used to be as far as the advantages. The advantage. You can have the same advantages at Texas Tech, you know, in Lubbock, Texas, if you have the money. So you don't. And if you're happy there and you have support, especially if you have alignment, your administration is on the same page. That's really important with, you know, it would be no different than an NBA coach with his front office and his owner. When you have that good relationship, there's just no point in leaving.
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Colin Cowherd
Okay, Michigan, Arizona. I think Arizona is going to have to shoot some threes to win. They don't necessarily. I like Michigan. Your thoughts?
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Mick Cronin
Yeah, I say pick them. I think everybody thinks what you're thinking about Arizona. You know, they're going to have to make threes. They're going to have to make threes. And what I would tell you is they do when they need to. They just don't settle for threes. So what Tommy does. They put so much pressure on the rim and the paint on every possession they call it when they shoot them, they're usually wide open. They don't shoot first pass threes and transition. They don't shoot desperation or hard shots from three. It's usually because you've helped so much in the paint that those guys are now playing horse on the outside and they can make them. Karchenkoff's gotten way better. Like we said, Braden Burry's is a different player. He's a lottery pick and even Avery Bradley can make them so. And then Del Orso comes in. So I don't think that'll be their problem. You know what simple could these games like this could come down to free throws or foul trouble in a one game shot. You know, if somebody has bad night at the line like Kansas did against Syracuse. I think back in the day when, when coach Boeheim won his title, Kansas missed like 15 to 17 free throws in that game. So it could come down to foul trouble as well because there's going to be a lot of physicality at the rim in this game and officiating is going to be important.
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Colin Cowherd
I like Illinois over Yukon. Close. Your thoughts?
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Mick Cronin
Yeah, I think it's going to be a low scoring game. I think Illinois defense has really improved and I believe in UConn's defense and their toughness. The question is going to be for me, Taurus reed has carried UConn. Colin on the interior.
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Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
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Mick Cronin
But he's playing against two seven foot two guys.
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Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
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Mick Cronin
That he hasn't seen. And is he going to be able to bull rush them and power, power layups and he had 26 last game. I mean, if he can't score inside, UConn's in trouble because they really need that because that's kind of how they're built. It's from him on out. And, you know, because Caravan is. He's got to get shots off screens and off of you doubling down on Taurus Reed. So if they're able to stop Reed, it's going to really sway in UConn's or in Illinois's favor.
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Colin Cowherd
Finally, I asked Tom Izzo about this when he was on. I said, you know, Tom, with the nil and the Portal, does it change the way it coached? Can you yell a little less? I've always said the best players ever like, like confrontation. They. They kind of like it. Your thoughts on and Patino Hurley, you know, most of the great coaches use volume. What's your take on that?
- [16:01]
Mick Cronin
Yeah, it's an interesting phenomenon that people have focused so much on, on the way people coach, you know, delivery. What I would tell you is, for instance, you know, I like, I have a guy on my team, Eric Daly. Now, it's like he said, coach, you got to be. You got to get honest more. Like, we're better when you're honest. Jaime Hawkes, I mean, he was all about it, like, all about it at all times. You Tiger Campbell, just great toughness. So I couldn't agree with you more. It's hard to have a really good team if your best players don't want you to coach them. You remember the story where Kareem had the bad game against Boston, sat in a film session, he told Pat Riley, come on, give it to me. Just give it all to me. You know, don't hold back. And then he came back and like he had saw the fountain of youth and dominated the next game. And that's why he's Kareem Abdul Jabbar.
- [16:52]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, that Jason Tatum jokes that he had a game. Krzyzewski came in at half and the whole halftime with Krzyzewski on Tatum. Tatum scored 28 in the second half at Duke. And he's like, you know, he's like, it just. He doesn't do it much to me, but about once a year, twice a year. And I, I, you know what, dad? My dad got mad at me one time. I told me he Mick, he was going, I got to tell this story. I don't think I've ever told this story. So My dad was going to work. He was an optometrist. He had the white jacket on and he was going to move the sprinkler in the yard and he said, tiger, squeeze the. Squeeze it. So that. And my dad got to it and I let it go and the sprinkler nailed my dad at 7 in the morning. Mick. I never did that again. I never did that again.
- [17:36]
Mick Cronin
I'm sure you did. Well, I can tell you, my dad's the greatest of all time. I had great parents and I wouldn't be here if he wasn't hard on me, I can tell you. You know, there's some stories. It was a little bit different growing up in our era, Colin. A little bit different than it is now.
- [17:51]
Colin Cowherd
Great seeing you, Coach.
- [17:53]
Mick Cronin
You too. Thanks for having me.
- [17:55]
Colin Cowherd
You bet. Yeah. You know, Rachel, I. To this day, dad went out there and he was moving that sprinkler and I don't know what got into me and I let it go and it just started and o. Oh, he was. Glasses, jacket. But I never did it again. I. I was coachable. I made a mistake and I was coachable.
- [18:14]
Fox Sports Radio Announcer
Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.
- [18:23]
Rob Parker
Hey, it's me, Rob Parker. Check out my weekly MLB podcast, Inside the Parker for 22 minutes of piping hot baseball talk featuring the biggest names and newsmakers in the sport. Whether you believe in analytics or the eye test, we've got all the bases covered. New episodes drop every Thursday, so do yourself a favor and listen to Inside the Parker with Rob Parker on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast.
- [18:53]
Colin Cowherd
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- [19:25]
Fox Sports Radio Announcer
Hey, Donald, really flying on that treadmill.
- [19:27]
Colin Cowherd
I'm trying to run as fast AS T mobile 5G home Internet, Zach.
- [19:30]
Fox Sports Radio Announcer
Well, you better pick it up because now T Mobile has the fastest 5G home Internet according to OOKLA speed test.
- [19:36]
Colin Cowherd
Really? How's this?
- [19:37]
Fox Sports Radio Announcer
T Mobile's faster than that. Bud, speed up.
- [19:40]
AT&T Business Wireless Spokesperson
No.
- [19:41]
Fox Sports Radio Announcer
Plus, they've got a five year price guarantee. Come on, faster.
- [19:44]
Colin Cowherd
How can I go any faster?
- [19:46]
Fox Sports Radio Announcer
Channel the speed of t mobile. 5G home Internet. Think 100 meter dash fast. Think drag racing fast. Think speed skating fast. Now let's bump up your speed a notch.
- [19:57]
Colin Cowherd
Hey. Whoa, whoa. That's too fast.
- [20:01]
Fox Sports Radio Announcer
You'll be all right. Just walk it off.
- [20:03]
Colin Cowherd
Get on the fast track. T Mobile now has the fastest 5G home Internet. And for a limited time, it starts at just 30 bucks a month with autopay and a voice line. Plus a five year price guarantee plus taxes and fees.
- [20:16]
T-Mobile Spokesperson
Fastest according to Ooklo Speed test intelligence data. Second half 2025.
- [20:19]
Colin Cowherd
All rights reserved.
- [20:19]
T-Mobile Spokesperson
Guarantee for monthly price of 5G Internet data on eligible plans. Find except exclusions and details@t mobile.com
- [20:27]
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson
and Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.
- [20:36]
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson's Partner
Hey, everyone, check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?
- [20:40]
Colin Cowherd
Oh, no.
- [20:40]
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson
We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual Together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.
- [20:46]
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson's Partner
Yeah, the bird looks out of your league anyways.
- [20:49]
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson
Only pay for what you need@libertymutual.com Liberty.
- [20:52]
Colin Cowherd
Liberty.
- [20:52]
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson's Partner
Liberty.
- [20:53]
Colin Cowherd
Liberty.
- [20:57]
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson
And Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.
- [21:06]
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson's Partner
Hey, everyone, check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?
- [21:10]
Colin Cowherd
Oh, no.
- [21:11]
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson
We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual Together we're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.
- [21:17]
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson's Partner
Yeah, the bird looks out of your league anyways.
- [21:19]
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson
Only pay for what you need@libertymutual.com Liberty.
- [21:22]
Colin Cowherd
Liberty. Liberty. Liberty.
- [21:24]
Rachel with the news.
- [21:27]
Mick Cronin
No, no, no.
- [21:28]
AT&T Business Wireless Spokesperson
Turn on the news.
- [21:29]
Fox Sports Radio Announcer
This is the herd line news.
- [21:32]
Colin Cowherd
I like imagining mischievous young pollen. I think that's good. All right, let's keep the college basketball conversation going. Breaking news in the last hour. Tommy Lloyd reportedly agreeing to a new five year deal with the Wildcats. This comes after, of course, North Carolina was in hot pursuit. Here is Lloyd on staying with Arizona.
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T-Mobile Spokesperson
I'm a simple guy. I'm kind of just one thing at a time. I'm not a multitasker. You can ask my wife. So I'm 100% locked in on Arizona basketball right now. And I'm excited to see what this team can do. I have a real strong belief in this team and this team deserves my full attention, so that's what I'm giving them.
- [22:14]
Colin Cowherd
Good for him. I'm happy for him.
- [22:16]
Yeah. I mean, look, you've been big. All show on. This is good for Lloyd. This is good for Arizona. What do you think this means for North Carolina, though?
- [22:24]
Well, it's a great job. I, you know, I. I'm a believer in Billy Donovan, the Chicago Bulls coach who was at okc. I think Billy's tremendous. I think the Bulls are a frustrating franchise as a season ticket holder. No, I am. I. But I. This is a good draft, so we'll see what transpires. But I would call. Billy Donovan has always been my first choice. I think he's intense. I think it's very hard for competitive people when they're not competitive in the current environment. And I'm not sure the Bulls can win in the next two or three years. So that would be my call.
- [22:53]
No, not. Not at all. And what I like about the Billy suggestion as well is like, I know it's been a while since he was in college basketball, but first of all, he's clearly a winner. And college basketball, because of what you've been talking about, all show with the nil has really changed. So a guy who's been out of college ball for a long time previous, it was like, can he still recruit? It's translated in the same way anymore. Right. And by the way, North Carolina has a lot of money, so I like that, too. All right. NBA. Luka Doncic, as we've been talking about, injured his hamstring last night. There has not been an update yet on the severity of the injury column. We expect that later today. But I personally, I have a hard time seeing the Lakers not playing it safe here with, you know, how long he's out.
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Agreed.
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Remember, he had actually a hamstring tweak in the first half of this game. Yeah. And the medical staff was like, no, you're clear to go into the second half. And they. Absolutely. I certainly they have medical degrees. I don't know. But considering then what happened happened and the timeframes, even if it's a minor injury, they say one to two weeks. The average in the NBA this year has actually been more like 22 days, which would put them to Game 3 of the NBA playoffs first round. We don't know if it's more severe, if it's just even a grade two. They say three to six weeks. And that would obviously, I think, end.
- [24:08]
Wow.
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The Lakers playoff chances kind of right there I don't know. I mean, I, I certainly. This conversation of will he come back and play that one more game he needs for the regular season to make awards, I can't see that happen.
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Well, I mean, Rachel, they are so dependent on his offense. I mean, like last night, luka gets hurt. LeBron only takes seven shots. So this is, we've talked about it all year. It's a lopsided roster that needs somebody beyond Marcus Smart to be an elite defender. And so they have been so beholden to his offense, which was remarkable. But he's number one in the NBA usage rate by a long shot. So to me, last night, his body gave out. It wasn't banging up against guys his body gave out.
- [24:46]
I mean, there's certainly a lot of argument for that. And remember, this is the same hamstring that he hurt earlier this season. So it was already a little bit tenuous. I don't know, man. I mean, going into last night's game there was a lot of like, hey, maybe LeBron should stay with the Lakers. He can embrace this third guy role. All of this stuff, we don't need to make major roster changes. I think the Thunder certainly put some of the lie to that in terms of where they need to be in that Louis Vuitton echelon you mentioned. And then we'll have to see if Luka gets hurt. I can see some bigger changes coming there too, so we'll have to see what's going on there. All right, ufl, we have some awesome week one stuff that we've been talking about and now we're going to get to week two tonight. Last week we saw right the first four point field goal over 60 yards. You get four points and Austin Reed set the eight single game pass record. So that's fun with pass yards. I think we're going to get more tonight. The DC defenders, that's my team, Colin. They take on the Columbus Aviators at 8 Eastern on Fox. And the Aviators are a new team this year. So this will actually be this franchise's first home game ever. So that's pretty cool as well. I don't know. Are you psyched for this week?
- [25:54]
Yep. 46 guys last year in the UFL played made NFL roster. So we've been saying this every single year the quality of play gets better and I don't. There's no exception here. These, these. If you watch the games, you can see elite players. There's a lot of guys out there that are going to end up playing on Sundays.
- [26:11]
Plus you know, tonight on Fox, this is my team, the D.C. team. They won the championship last year. Their favorites to win again. So everybody should watch and cheer for my team.
- [26:19]
Yeah, I think that's reasonable. Rachel with the news.
- [26:23]
Fox Sports Radio Announcer
Well, that's the news and thanks for stopping by. The Herd lie news.
- [26:27]
Colin Cowherd
Minnesota moving up. Rockets moving down. The playoffs. If they were to begin tomorrow, Rachel and I are going to go series to series. There won't be a lot of changes going forward. That's next. It's the Herd.
- [26:42]
Fox Sports Radio Announcer
Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific.
- [26:47]
Colin Cowherd
So I had said a couple, maybe it was last week I said, I think there's only three teams that can win it. Spurs, Celtics and OKC. OKC's defense, spurs depth is insane. And Wemby and I think the Celtics offensive efficiency, they just don't commit turnovers. It's a very clean, smart Jalen Brown and Tatum, very heady guys. So it's a very clean, smart, efficient team. They don't have a real weakness. They got a little old with Horford and Porzingis and they moved off them. Now they're younger, more nimble in the front court. So I really like the Celtics. So Rachel, she's got an MVP vote. She is in arenas all over this country on a regular basis. We always have to call and say, hey, are you available? If not, she's in somewhere on a plane going to this. So let's start. We can have a little light NBA music. Let's start with the Eastern Conference. I'll set it up for you. All right. Pistons one seed, Hornets eight seed. Who do you like and why?
- [27:50]
I'm putting an asterisk on my pick here. I have the Pistons coming out of this, but it really depends on Cade Cunningham. The expectation is he's back for the playoffs, but with a collapsed lung. It's not like you can do conditioning in the meantime. Right. If you have like a shoulder injury, you can still run in the meantime. You can't do that when you have a collapsed lung. So I'm very curious to see what he looks like when he comes back because even though this is the number two rated defense in the NBA, he's what makes that offense run. Without him, the Hornets have been spicy, man. Colin, I don't know how much you've been paying attention. They are 258 in their last 33 games and that's, by the way, like 40% of the season. So if Cade isn't himself or if he certainly isn't back. I might go back on this, but for now, I gotta say Pistons for that one.
- [28:33]
Yeah, they're a better defensive team. They're very physical team. I think Carolina's been a great story. I don't think they're ready to beat Detroit. I think Detroit's just got. Just got a little more time tested, so I'll take Detroit. Okay. Cavs, Hawks. I never know what to make of this Cavs team. Cavs, Hawks, what do you got?
- [28:53]
I'm going to go Cavs here. No asterisks, no reservations. I mean, the Hawks have had some plucky moments this season, but I like the idea of James Harden on this Cavaliers team. I'll continue to talk about this through this segment, but we've seen Harden run out of gas in the playoffs, right when he's had this crazy high usage rate during the season. He's now not going to be the primary offensive guy, and he wasn't with Kawhi, but Kawhi was in and out during the playoffs because of injuries. Donovan Mitchell has had a rockstar season. I just saw them the other night and I'm curious to see what James can do next to Donovan. They obviously have some strong defensive play there, you know, with the big guys. So I think this will actually be pretty easy for the Caps to handle this first round.
- [29:32]
All right. Knicks very reliant in their starting five. Not much bench scoring. Don't generate free throws attempts either. So they, they, they need Jalen, Brunson and Cat to deliver. They take on the Sixers. I like New York. What say you?
- [29:44]
I like New York, but I gotta tell you, I am conflicted about this one because New York has not beaten a team with a winning record in nearly a month. Colin and the floor just fell out on them the other night versus Houston. They didn't look good against the Thunder. They're having some of the stagnation issues they had last year. They're still falling. Seems to be a bit of a role thing with Kat. What does he do? And Brunson's undergone some criticism and all of that. So. Look, Philadelphia certainly has looked so much better in recent weeks. They've got all their guys back. Joel's sick right now, but in general, Paul George had 40 points the other night. Yeah, I just. I got to give the Knicks the edge. They were the preseason pick to come out of this conference. But this is going to be very spicy and I think it's going to be one of the most fun first round matchups.
- [30:27]
Number two in Offensive efficiency, Celtics and the Raptors. Pretty obvious here, right?
- [30:31]
Yeah. I mean, look, I'm picking the Celtics to come out of the East. We'll see that in a minute. And I don't think this is going to be. If it's not a sweep, it might be a gentleman's one.
- [30:39]
Yeah. Okay, then we go back to the top, the number four. Now we go Pistons, Cavs again. If Cade's healthy. I like Detroit. What about you?
- [30:49]
I'm going to go with the Cavs on this one. I'm not going to pick them to win the East. You'll see that. But I do think that this is a stronger team than people think. And I do think if Jarrett Allen can stay healthy and in there, I think that they will do some damage here. And the Pistons just. They still don't have quite the offense that they need to get as far in the playoffs as I think their fan base deserves. And I'm interested to see what they do in the off season because I don't think they were at their best at the trade deadline. And I think the Cavs will come out of this winners.
- [31:19]
So, again, the Knicks are very reliant on their starting five. They don't get to the free throw line. They don't have a lot of points in the paint. Kind of depends on if Brunson and Cat are hot sometimes. Cat won't be in the game late. I think this. I don't like the matchup here for New York against Boston, do you?
- [31:34]
I do not. And look, you know, New York was legitimately beating the Celtics last season when Jayson Tatum got hurt. So I think they would have won that playoff series anyway. But this is a different year, different teams, different coach. And I just think the way Tatum has so seamlessly come back in is shot making isn't exactly what it used to be. But that doesn't have to be that way. I'm picking the Celtics in this one, and I'm. I'm not. I'm not conflicted about that one.
- [31:58]
A lot of talent. Boston and Cleveland in the Eastern Conference final. Again, you just. Tatum and Brown had been in so many big games. They. I think they had the fewest turnovers in the league. They're a clean team if they're. They're like Michigan basketball if they're shooting well. I mean, they could win this thing in four or five games. Your thoughts on it?
- [32:17]
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, they have an elite coach. They have elite players. Jaylen Brown is going to be an MVP conversation this year. Tatum, obviously we know what he can do and it is boring, Colin, when they just launch all these three after threes, but it is effective. The math problem we talk about in the NBA, three is worth more than two. I think that they will be able to overpower anyone that they see in the east. And they're just. I mean, the more you see them play, they're the class of the conference.
- [32:40]
Yep. All right, let's go to the west, which is considered certainly middle up the better conference Number one Thunder against the Blazers. Is it a sweep? What do you think?
- [32:50]
Yes. I never like to say sweep. You never know. People can be gritty, but man, the Thunder are all about their business. You saw that last night and they are just so consistent. They've got a bunch of injured players who've come back and I see this as a super easily handleable series for them.
- [33:06]
Okay. Denver, if they're healthy, is a handful. I think they could end up in the conference finals. Houston has a big issue, whereas they don't have a true point guard. They're bad in clutch situation and you're not blowing Denver out. Rockets are a fun team for me to watch, but they're also frustrating. Who do you like here?
- [33:23]
Nuggets, certainly. I mean, look, the Rockets did have another great win the other night over the Knicks, but I just don't think when you face Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray when he's in the playoffs and the way that team has gotten more depth this year, I picked the Nuggets pretty easily in this one.
- [33:36]
Okay. I think the most interesting first round series in either conference is Lakers T Wolves. Now, you know Ant is going to hunt down Austin Reaves in Luka. There's a little wild card here. How many games does Luka play in the series? With the hamstring, he possibly won't be in great shape when he plays. I think. I think it's a really, really interesting series. I think JJ Redick's a better coach today than he was a year ago today. Yeah, I think it's a close series. What do you think?
- [34:04]
I think it's close and I'm putting an asterisk on my Lakers pick because of the Luka factor. But I don't think. I actually don't think that if Luka is at full strength, this is going to be as close as you do. We'll have to see who's right. But you know, the Lakers have handled the Timberwolves all season. I think they're 30 against them. And the last time that they played. The Timberwolves couldn't shoot their way out of a paper bag. I just think over time a seven game series, the Lakers offensive firepower will win out in this one. But it will be close for sure and it could go six or seven games and if Lucas hurts then absolutely. I see Anthony Edwards running rough shot there.
- [34:41]
Phoenix was good for them. Surprisingly interesting this year. I mean we thought it was a tire fire for Phoenix about a year ago. We're like. And they actually played their butts off. The chemistry was good. Good luck against the Spurs. What's the series going to look like?
- [34:58]
By the way, I'm going to recommend that the Suns marketing staff put that on a poster to season ticket holders. Colin Cowherd, Phoenix. Good for them. But yeah, I totally agree with you. Look, I have been very impressed with what they have done this season. Devin Booker is a pro man, he is just so good. But I don't think they would stand a chance in this. And you know I've been on Victor Wembanyama before he even got drafted. I think he's going to be a top 10 top 5 player of all time and he is out for blood in this playoffs for sure.
- [35:27]
Okay, OKC Denver, your thoughts?
- [35:30]
Yeah, I'm gonna go with OKC here. Just Denver, you know, there's been enough little issues and little tells. Now these guys had a great playoff series last season. It could have gone either way. I gotta give the Thunder the edge. Reigning champions, just all the sort of complete play that they have. But Nikola Jokic, man, I still think if, you know, if he's not the best player in the NBA, he's one of two. So I think this will be another six or seven gamer.
- [35:54]
I also think okc, you saw it last night, will shift gears. I think once you win a title, you don't get the true team in the regular season. Season. I think OKC is, is going to shift gears and going to look clearly in that series better. Lakers, spurs again, wildly entertaining. A lot of veteran Laker players, very young spurs team. What do you got?
- [36:13]
Yeah, I'm going Spurs on this one. I know a lot of Lakers fans, especially before last night were like, oh, we could beat the spurs, you know, we could probably beat the Thunder. I don't think so. I mean again look, we'll see and it's fun to have a big offensive output series if that's what this turns out to be. And I, I would trust Luka in the last 30 seconds of any game. Yeah, that being said, I Just so firmly believe in the spurs team. If anybody can break the sort of NBA truism of you gotta fail in the playoffs to win in the playoffs, I think it's this team. And I just love Wembanyama's focus and the way he's so determined this season to not just do better than last year, but do best.
- [36:49]
Yeah. So the spurs for the record have eight players averaging double figures. In the history of the NBA that has never happened. So they're definitely is unbelievable. They also have the greatest defensive player of all time, Wemby. I like San Antonio over OKC in a six game series. What say you?
- [37:05]
It's you and me in the dark, Colin. I am with you. And we are pretty much the only ones. Most people you know looking at this matchup will pick the Thunder. I'm with you. I think that the, that the spurs obviously we saw what they did to Oklahoma City this season. I think they won three out of four and I just think Wemby is unanswerable and I actually think the longer a series goes, the more advantage he has. The strength of playing against Wemby right now is you can throw him things he hasn't quite seen before. That's not going to happen for three or four games in a row because he will have seen it and then he adjusts and he's shown that over and over again.
- [37:39]
Finally this will be a great final. The very young emerging spurs against the veteran Boston Celtics. I think this will be now this is where Boston has an advantage. Missoula's been there, the roster's been there. I think it's a really good series. I probably, probably go San Antonio. You.
- [37:57]
I'm going San Antonio. I'm going to. I'm, I'm, I'm. This. I'd rather be early than late on this team. And you know, I think super highly of the Celtics, but I'd love to see the energy in the NBA that shift you're talking about. Generationally. If the spurs can go out and win this, I mean how great would that be for the league and, and to have Wemby just sort of reigning over it all.
- [38:16]
Yeah. And Stefan Castle since the all star break is shooting the lights out on the three point shot. He's always had every other element to his game. Defense, aggressive, can finish at the rim. Stefan Castle is on an absolute two month heater from the perimeter. And I think that is the difference because Boston's going to have those games.
- [38:36]
Yeah.
- [38:36]
When they are on fire, you got to have somebody to match them. I don't worry about the spurs on the interior.
- [38:42]
Yeah.
- [38:42]
Rachel Nichols filling in today for. You were great. Thank you so much on late notice for filling in.
- [38:48]
Absolutely.
- [38:49]
Great stuff. Nice shows. Good, good week. Mick Cronin stopped by. Daniel Jeremiah. You know, the draft next week, we really start getting closer to the draft. The NBA playoffs are around the corner. We'll keep you updated on Luka Doncic and that situation. Mri. We'll wait for results. We'll see you Monday.
- [39:10]
Mick Cronin
This is an iHeart podcast.
- [39:13]
Colin Cowherd
Guaranteed Human.