Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to three Eastern nine am to noone Pacific. Find your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.

Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to three Eastern nine am to noone Pacific. Find your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.

This is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowver on Fox Sports Radio.

This is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowver on Fox Sports Radio.

All Right, here we go. It is a Tuesday. We are ready to roll live in Los Angeles. Sits the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making How's part of your day? Nick right one hour from now, My buddy John Middletop is joining me. Yesterday, today and tomorrow. John, we had a great show yesterday. It flew by. There's a lot of things going on. The draft is tomorrow. Rick Patino's gonna join us, which is sway is how lucky are we? Really? Smart guy and a great personnel guy. Rick Patino joins us tomorrow and we're gonna go through the top eight or nine picks. Smarter than a Rick on all this stuff. He faceful lot of those guys, But John did you enjoy your first and in the chair.

All Right, here we go. It is a Tuesday. We are ready to roll live in Los Angeles. Sits the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making How's part of your day? Nick right one hour from now, My buddy John Middletop is joining me. Yesterday, today and tomorrow. John, we had a great show yesterday. It flew by. There's a lot of things going on. The draft is tomorrow. Rick Patino's gonna join us, which is sway is how lucky are we? Really? Smart guy and a great personnel guy. Rick Patino joins us tomorrow and we're gonna go through the top eight or nine picks. Smarter than a Rick on all this stuff. He faceful lot of those guys, But John did you enjoy your first and in the chair.

I did.

I did.

I was surprised my key card work this morning, but I'm here, so I hit the building.

I was surprised my key card work this morning, but I'm here, so I hit the building.

If king card worked again. So I saw this story. The draft is tomorrow and Cooper Flag is going to go number one. So he played at Duke So obviously you, me and our dogs watched Cooper Flag play a few times and he was in the tournament. He's a great player. I think he's a better version eventually, not now, but eventually have like a Jason Tatum, Brian Scalabriney who does a really good job. He's a broadcaster in Boston. You we've had him on the show before. He was talking about what is game? What? What? What? What? Cooper Flag's game is.

If king card worked again. So I saw this story. The draft is tomorrow and Cooper Flag is going to go number one. So he played at Duke So obviously you, me and our dogs watched Cooper Flag play a few times and he was in the tournament. He's a great player. I think he's a better version eventually, not now, but eventually have like a Jason Tatum, Brian Scalabriney who does a really good job. He's a broadcaster in Boston. You we've had him on the show before. He was talking about what is game? What? What? What? What? Cooper Flag's game is.

Like Lebron has scored fifty thousand points, doesn't have a go to shot. I'm not sure he has a go to shot. It's just a basketball player that makes things happen. Lebron's a freak of nature. Defensively, he's a freak of nature. Defensively, Lebron can run point. He can run point sixty eight point guards sixty eight point guard like like.

Like Lebron has scored fifty thousand points, doesn't have a go to shot. I'm not sure he has a go to shot. It's just a basketball player that makes things happen. Lebron's a freak of nature. Defensively, he's a freak of nature. Defensively, Lebron can run point. He can run point sixty eight point guards sixty eight point guard like like.

That. I have never been into guys with an absolute go to move. The best restaurants I've ever been at don't have a signature dish. They just do everything well. You can get a cob salad, you can get a chicken palm. The cocktails are good, so are the desserts. Everything's good. That's a good restaurant. And I always remember this when I was in college. Might When I was in college, I wanted to be a baseball announcer. I wanted to be like a you know, like a Vince Scully or something right, or a Dick Enburg. And I remember everybody had a home run call. Everybody had a home run call. And the two favorite guys when I was in college, my two favorite broadcasters were a young Bob Costas and a young al Michaels. And they didn't They didn't need a gimmick. I didn't need a fly ball to left, followed by get out through Spats, Little Graham all we're making fried potatoes and ash just call the game. Be good at everything. I don't need a signature home run call. He started watching UFC twenty years ago. Every fighter had like one style. They were a kickboxer, a wrestler, or a boxer. Now, the best fighters can do everything. Quarterbacks. I want mobility. I want you to be good in the pocket. I want you to be good pre snap. Jaden Daniels is good at everything. Yeah, I he can run. He's great in the pocket. He's smart, he's good pre snap, he's good early in games. He's good in the two minute drill. Like, I'm not looking for specialization. I don't need a bag. James Harden's game feels shicky. He'll finish as one of the great scorers of all time. Carmelo Anthony would never take two steps back and hit a three, like he didn't play defense. I think he'll be a good broadcaster, but his game, I don't need definition on one move if you have one like Kareem Well, Colin, what about Kareem? Yeah, but Kareem wasn't a ball handler. He wasn't a playmaker. He didn't have the ball in his hands much. Back in his era, the point guard ran the show and always had the ball. You would never let the center or the power forward touch it until they got the ball down low. So Kareem had to develop a signature move and it was great for him. But the best guys now like Wemby Wemby can put it on the floor, he can shoot at three, he can drive, he can do everything. And that's Cooper Flag. I look at it this way. If I want specialization, it'll be for a surgeon, a heart surgeon, a brain surgeon. But I want my basketball players to be like a general practitioner. I got poison ivy. I broke my wrist, can you help me with both? I got a rash, help me fix it? I broke my ankle, can you mend it. That's what I'm looking for, So I don't need a go to move. I think Cooper Flag is a more aggressive version of Jason Tatum. And what if I always said about Jason Tatum, he's an A player. If he was more aggressive, he'd be an a plus player. So that's what I think he's going to be. I don't need a signature dish at a restaurant, and I don't need a signature move. Kareem had to have one. But in today's basketball, Lebron James led the NBA last year. Think about this. Lebron James at his age led the NBA in getting a bucket in the fourth quarter, and the knock on Lebron is well, he doesn't have a signature move. That's because he's a better ball handler than Michael Jordan or Kareem He's a better ball handler. He elevates others, He's smart. Lebron always gets a really good shot when you need him to get a good shot. He's not limited or boxed in or marginalized by having to go to a signature move. So I think Cooper Flag is going to get drafted. I think he's going to average almost twenty a game as a rookie. I think he's going to have a great back wall of defense in Dallas and their bigs behind him. And the thing I like most about him, he doesn't have a go to move. He's not concerned about having a bag. And now this story, and I feel like it's the thirteenth time I've done this story. The Boston Celtics worked another NBA team on a trade as soon as the season ended. Between Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens, they seemingly work every team. It's like Howie Roseman and the Eagles don't pick the phone up, just don't pick it up. So Drew Holliday, I've always liked Drew Holiday, but he got really old, really fast. And the Celtics have new owners and their books are all messed up. They gotta go work on their cap sheet. So yesterday they called Portland. Portland took his monstrous contract and he's not the same player. He didn't make an All defensive team last year. And this happens with guys that played defense at a high level. You can age very quickly. Defense is hard. Defense becomes injuries. Defense you're on the floor. Defense is hard work. And Drew Holiday has been a great defensive player and for five years I think it was all defense. Right, he didn't make it. He didn't make it last year and he looked suddenly kind of old. So the Celtics have to clean up their books. They move him, and they get and they get a younger player, a cheaper player, a better offensive player from Portland, and Forrety Simons, who they're going to rent for one year because Tatum's gone and they need his scoring and then he's out. Now, Simon's doesn't really necessarily fit Boston's culture. He's not a great defender, he doesn't elevate others, but he can shoot threes, and nobody shoots more threes. Than Boston, so he'll be a good fit. But mostly what they did is got Drew Holiday off the books. They got second rounders in this deal, a couple of them. They got a younger, cheaper player with an expiring contract. How do they do it? But I'll tell you what's happening in the NFL and in the NBA. It's not just the big swing. You got to win on the margins because you know, the salary cap in the NFL is pretty tight. And with the new aprons and CBA. In the NBA, Phoenix went big with Katie and Bradley Beal and it was a disaster. Dame Lillard Milwaukee didn't work. But look at what Indiana did with Obi Toppin for a couple second round picks. That was a great move. TJ McConnell, and go look at Sam prest He's getting Isaiah Hartenstein or Alex Caruso. It's winning on the margins. Now you are limited on the big swings. And I said this yesterday. Most of our lives in the NBA, we knew, like Jerry West was a general manager, or pat Riley became a GM. N talk GMS. When talk, I mean one of the great gms in league history. Ninety percent of sports fans wouldn't know whose San Antonio's GM was. R. C. Buford. He was like the Howie Roseman of the NBA. We wait hadn't talk about it. Now, figure out who the gms are. You have got to make the the smart moves. Remember Denver wins a title a couple of years ago, and I fell for it. I'm like, okay, Yo Kich is the best player in the world. Gordon's a great defensive player. By the way, Gordon was one of those margin moves. But all of a sudden they lost KCP. Well, KCP was their shot maker late of if Yo Kitch wasn't and they lose it was it Bruce Brown. They lost another and you start losing those guys. Well, Yo Kich is still great, Gordon's still great, Porter, still Porter, Jamal Murray still Jamal Murray, Malone can still coach. It was the guys on the edges they got bad. They got worse defensively, they became too yokicch dependent. If Murray got hurt, they didn't have another shot creator. So it is now becoming a margins league. And this is what Boston just did. They got a guy who's aging off the books. They get draft picks busted O's against multiple draft picks. They get a younger, cheaper player with an expiring contract who can shoot a bunch of threes the day the season ends. The minute the season ends. They don't do it during like Phoenix, they don't do it. You know, Houston and Phoenix, they're doing it day of the finals. Lee does not like that. The minute the season ends. Brad Stevens oooh, next day, got a deal, draft picks younger chiefer player off the books in the year as Tatum's hurt. So you can go big game hunting. And I'm not opposed to big game hunting, but I don't consider Katie the Houston big game hunting. Jannie is big game hunting. But when I look at KD, you are accentuating a strength, you move some pieces, but you don't have to pay a five year max for KD. That doesn't feel like big game hunting. It's smart hunting. But boy, Boston does it. Danny Ainge, Brad Stevens, it's got This is what the NFL is really all about, you know. It's like, that's why I kept saying for Chicago, they went and got DJ Moore, didn't win any more games. Watched Joe Tooney, Drew Dollman, the center, Joonah Dak all those interior offensive linemen feel more like, well, kind of marginal moves. We don't talk guards on this show. Watch Chicago improve dramatically. It's not just the wide receiver, the left tackle in the quarterback. So the Celtics do it again. You know you you know this as a former you work for the Philadelphia Eagles. You know this is that the media, myself included, we love the big swing, but a lot of times it's it's fixing your guard center guard combination. And then the NBA it's it's getting that first guy off the bench and adding depth. It's becoming a depth league because you can't stack your roster.

That. I have never been into guys with an absolute go to move. The best restaurants I've ever been at don't have a signature dish. They just do everything well. You can get a cob salad, you can get a chicken palm. The cocktails are good, so are the desserts. Everything's good. That's a good restaurant. And I always remember this when I was in college. Might When I was in college, I wanted to be a baseball announcer. I wanted to be like a you know, like a Vince Scully or something right, or a Dick Enburg. And I remember everybody had a home run call. Everybody had a home run call. And the two favorite guys when I was in college, my two favorite broadcasters were a young Bob Costas and a young al Michaels. And they didn't They didn't need a gimmick. I didn't need a fly ball to left, followed by get out through Spats, Little Graham all we're making fried potatoes and ash just call the game. Be good at everything. I don't need a signature home run call. He started watching UFC twenty years ago. Every fighter had like one style. They were a kickboxer, a wrestler, or a boxer. Now, the best fighters can do everything. Quarterbacks. I want mobility. I want you to be good in the pocket. I want you to be good pre snap. Jaden Daniels is good at everything. Yeah, I he can run. He's great in the pocket. He's smart, he's good pre snap, he's good early in games. He's good in the two minute drill. Like, I'm not looking for specialization. I don't need a bag. James Harden's game feels shicky. He'll finish as one of the great scorers of all time. Carmelo Anthony would never take two steps back and hit a three, like he didn't play defense. I think he'll be a good broadcaster, but his game, I don't need definition on one move if you have one like Kareem Well, Colin, what about Kareem? Yeah, but Kareem wasn't a ball handler. He wasn't a playmaker. He didn't have the ball in his hands much. Back in his era, the point guard ran the show and always had the ball. You would never let the center or the power forward touch it until they got the ball down low. So Kareem had to develop a signature move and it was great for him. But the best guys now like Wemby Wemby can put it on the floor, he can shoot at three, he can drive, he can do everything. And that's Cooper Flag. I look at it this way. If I want specialization, it'll be for a surgeon, a heart surgeon, a brain surgeon. But I want my basketball players to be like a general practitioner. I got poison ivy. I broke my wrist, can you help me with both? I got a rash, help me fix it? I broke my ankle, can you mend it. That's what I'm looking for, So I don't need a go to move. I think Cooper Flag is a more aggressive version of Jason Tatum. And what if I always said about Jason Tatum, he's an A player. If he was more aggressive, he'd be an a plus player. So that's what I think he's going to be. I don't need a signature dish at a restaurant, and I don't need a signature move. Kareem had to have one. But in today's basketball, Lebron James led the NBA last year. Think about this. Lebron James at his age led the NBA in getting a bucket in the fourth quarter, and the knock on Lebron is well, he doesn't have a signature move. That's because he's a better ball handler than Michael Jordan or Kareem He's a better ball handler. He elevates others, He's smart. Lebron always gets a really good shot when you need him to get a good shot. He's not limited or boxed in or marginalized by having to go to a signature move. So I think Cooper Flag is going to get drafted. I think he's going to average almost twenty a game as a rookie. I think he's going to have a great back wall of defense in Dallas and their bigs behind him. And the thing I like most about him, he doesn't have a go to move. He's not concerned about having a bag. And now this story, and I feel like it's the thirteenth time I've done this story. The Boston Celtics worked another NBA team on a trade as soon as the season ended. Between Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens, they seemingly work every team. It's like Howie Roseman and the Eagles don't pick the phone up, just don't pick it up. So Drew Holliday, I've always liked Drew Holiday, but he got really old, really fast. And the Celtics have new owners and their books are all messed up. They gotta go work on their cap sheet. So yesterday they called Portland. Portland took his monstrous contract and he's not the same player. He didn't make an All defensive team last year. And this happens with guys that played defense at a high level. You can age very quickly. Defense is hard. Defense becomes injuries. Defense you're on the floor. Defense is hard work. And Drew Holiday has been a great defensive player and for five years I think it was all defense. Right, he didn't make it. He didn't make it last year and he looked suddenly kind of old. So the Celtics have to clean up their books. They move him, and they get and they get a younger player, a cheaper player, a better offensive player from Portland, and Forrety Simons, who they're going to rent for one year because Tatum's gone and they need his scoring and then he's out. Now, Simon's doesn't really necessarily fit Boston's culture. He's not a great defender, he doesn't elevate others, but he can shoot threes, and nobody shoots more threes. Than Boston, so he'll be a good fit. But mostly what they did is got Drew Holiday off the books. They got second rounders in this deal, a couple of them. They got a younger, cheaper player with an expiring contract. How do they do it? But I'll tell you what's happening in the NFL and in the NBA. It's not just the big swing. You got to win on the margins because you know, the salary cap in the NFL is pretty tight. And with the new aprons and CBA. In the NBA, Phoenix went big with Katie and Bradley Beal and it was a disaster. Dame Lillard Milwaukee didn't work. But look at what Indiana did with Obi Toppin for a couple second round picks. That was a great move. TJ McConnell, and go look at Sam prest He's getting Isaiah Hartenstein or Alex Caruso. It's winning on the margins. Now you are limited on the big swings. And I said this yesterday. Most of our lives in the NBA, we knew, like Jerry West was a general manager, or pat Riley became a GM. N talk GMS. When talk, I mean one of the great gms in league history. Ninety percent of sports fans wouldn't know whose San Antonio's GM was. R. C. Buford. He was like the Howie Roseman of the NBA. We wait hadn't talk about it. Now, figure out who the gms are. You have got to make the the smart moves. Remember Denver wins a title a couple of years ago, and I fell for it. I'm like, okay, Yo Kich is the best player in the world. Gordon's a great defensive player. By the way, Gordon was one of those margin moves. But all of a sudden they lost KCP. Well, KCP was their shot maker late of if Yo Kitch wasn't and they lose it was it Bruce Brown. They lost another and you start losing those guys. Well, Yo Kich is still great, Gordon's still great, Porter, still Porter, Jamal Murray still Jamal Murray, Malone can still coach. It was the guys on the edges they got bad. They got worse defensively, they became too yokicch dependent. If Murray got hurt, they didn't have another shot creator. So it is now becoming a margins league. And this is what Boston just did. They got a guy who's aging off the books. They get draft picks busted O's against multiple draft picks. They get a younger, cheaper player with an expiring contract who can shoot a bunch of threes the day the season ends. The minute the season ends. They don't do it during like Phoenix, they don't do it. You know, Houston and Phoenix, they're doing it day of the finals. Lee does not like that. The minute the season ends. Brad Stevens oooh, next day, got a deal, draft picks younger chiefer player off the books in the year as Tatum's hurt. So you can go big game hunting. And I'm not opposed to big game hunting, but I don't consider Katie the Houston big game hunting. Jannie is big game hunting. But when I look at KD, you are accentuating a strength, you move some pieces, but you don't have to pay a five year max for KD. That doesn't feel like big game hunting. It's smart hunting. But boy, Boston does it. Danny Ainge, Brad Stevens, it's got This is what the NFL is really all about, you know. It's like, that's why I kept saying for Chicago, they went and got DJ Moore, didn't win any more games. Watched Joe Tooney, Drew Dollman, the center, Joonah Dak all those interior offensive linemen feel more like, well, kind of marginal moves. We don't talk guards on this show. Watch Chicago improve dramatically. It's not just the wide receiver, the left tackle in the quarterback. So the Celtics do it again. You know you you know this as a former you work for the Philadelphia Eagles. You know this is that the media, myself included, we love the big swing, but a lot of times it's it's fixing your guard center guard combination. And then the NBA it's it's getting that first guy off the bench and adding depth. It's becoming a depth league because you can't stack your roster.

I was with the Eagles when they signed Non the awesome Wah didn't go well last last year. How he signed Zach Bahn, all Pro Super Bowl Special Teams guy, four million dollars. You know that's that.

I was with the Eagles when they signed Non the awesome Wah didn't go well last last year. How he signed Zach Bahn, all Pro Super Bowl Special Teams guy, four million dollars. You know that's that.

That that it's a remarkable how this stuff works so good for Boston. We got a lot of stuff today. Caitlin Clark smartly turns down an offer. We find out today, draft tomorrow, and one play I think is pulling a little bit of a Shador Sanders and I don't love it. We'll talk about that.

That that it's a remarkable how this stuff works so good for Boston. We got a lot of stuff today. Caitlin Clark smartly turns down an offer. We find out today, draft tomorrow, and one play I think is pulling a little bit of a Shador Sanders and I don't love it. We'll talk about that.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and neon Eastern non am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and neon Eastern non am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

Hi, this is Jay.

Hi, this is Jay.

I'm the producer of the Paula and Toni Fusco Show. Usually in these promos they ask you to listen to the show. I'm here to ask you please, don't listen to the show. The hosts are two absolute morons who have the dumbest takes on sports, imagicable. Don't listen to the show so it can get camps.

I'm the producer of the Paula and Toni Fusco Show. Usually in these promos they ask you to listen to the show. I'm here to ask you please, don't listen to the show. The hosts are two absolute morons who have the dumbest takes on sports, imagicable. Don't listen to the show so it can get camps.

What the hell are you doing our studio get him?

What the hell are you doing our studio get him?

Paula, Ignore that fool. Listen to the Pauline Tony Fusco Show on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast.

Paula, Ignore that fool. Listen to the Pauline Tony Fusco Show on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast.

He's still Moving.

He's still Moving.

Sunday on Fox with the Gold Cup quarterfinal as the US men's national team takes on Costa Rica. No Easy Pat, No Second Chances. Coverage begins Sunday at six pm Eastern on Fox.

Sunday on Fox with the Gold Cup quarterfinal as the US men's national team takes on Costa Rica. No Easy Pat, No Second Chances. Coverage begins Sunday at six pm Eastern on Fox.

Nick Wright joining us top of next hour, so a lot of things going on. Rick pit Tino will join us tomorrow. I am told it is a very good draft. Last year was very international. You know my take on this, I think going forward, college basketball players will mostly dominate the draft, where it's been very internationally driven many times. And my theory is is that the NIL, not that it saved college basketball, but it has made college basketball much better. NIL. Now American colleges are able to go buy the best European players at eighteen, and there's been stories that they may consider shuddering the Spanish League because American colleges now with the NIL, are buying up their best players. So they come over here and play, they get excellent coaching. Also, the G League, which I've always thought is nonsense. It was like trying to hurt college basketball and marginalize it. Very few G League players Amn Thompson is one of the few G League guys I really really love. Most of them never kind of define their games. These finals were all about guys went to college for at least two years. SGA is an exception, Chet Holmgren was an exception, but it was a lot of two and three year players. So I think college basketball is being empowered. And Rick Patino, we'll talk about the draft. It is Rutger guys, and it's Arizona guys, and it's Duke guys. And I think that helps the NBA. That's what makes college football in the NFL so great. As the marriage is that you're rooting four against Baker Mayfield, but you know who he is. You're viscerally connected to Baker Mayfield or Caleb Williams. You may not like Lincoln Riley, but you were interested in Kayleb Williams because of Lincoln Riley. And these college guys there's just you know they're either not they're going international, they're going G League, They're gonna play college basketball. You're going to see him at least one year in March. But like a Zach Edy, Purdue can pony up some money and he can stand another year. And I was interested to watch Zach Edy last year in college basketball. If Purdue was on, I was watching. I think this is gonna empower college basketball. The drafts going forward are gonna be more It's not that they're gonna be more domestic, but there's gonna be higher quality, more mature players like Cooper Flag that can help you immediately. And I think Cooper Flag with that great back front line for Dallas, I think he comes in averages eighteen a game. They're a playoff team. I think Dallas of healthy will be the second best team in the West next year. It'll go, you know, oksee Houston in Dallas gonna be very good. John, you're looking at me, You ready to go? I'm ready, Okay, I'm just gab fest over here. So we're gonna do af seed today, We're gonna do NFCED tomorrow. These are our surprises. These would be surprising moves and big headlines if they happen all start. I think Kansas City is a wild card team. And Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers now they have their running back situation and offensive tackles set upgrade at receiver. Last year, the only thing they were missing was juice. Offensively, their defense almost near the top of the league. It went from last to near first in one year. They built the culture last year. But free agency and a draft, and you know, you know, Harbaugh's good at the draft. I think they're going to be one of the better teams in the league. I think they're an eleven twelve win team, and the Chiefs come into the season, which would concern me with offensive line issues. So I like the Chargers to win the division.

Nick Wright joining us top of next hour, so a lot of things going on. Rick pit Tino will join us tomorrow. I am told it is a very good draft. Last year was very international. You know my take on this, I think going forward, college basketball players will mostly dominate the draft, where it's been very internationally driven many times. And my theory is is that the NIL, not that it saved college basketball, but it has made college basketball much better. NIL. Now American colleges are able to go buy the best European players at eighteen, and there's been stories that they may consider shuddering the Spanish League because American colleges now with the NIL, are buying up their best players. So they come over here and play, they get excellent coaching. Also, the G League, which I've always thought is nonsense. It was like trying to hurt college basketball and marginalize it. Very few G League players Amn Thompson is one of the few G League guys I really really love. Most of them never kind of define their games. These finals were all about guys went to college for at least two years. SGA is an exception, Chet Holmgren was an exception, but it was a lot of two and three year players. So I think college basketball is being empowered. And Rick Patino, we'll talk about the draft. It is Rutger guys, and it's Arizona guys, and it's Duke guys. And I think that helps the NBA. That's what makes college football in the NFL so great. As the marriage is that you're rooting four against Baker Mayfield, but you know who he is. You're viscerally connected to Baker Mayfield or Caleb Williams. You may not like Lincoln Riley, but you were interested in Kayleb Williams because of Lincoln Riley. And these college guys there's just you know they're either not they're going international, they're going G League, They're gonna play college basketball. You're going to see him at least one year in March. But like a Zach Edy, Purdue can pony up some money and he can stand another year. And I was interested to watch Zach Edy last year in college basketball. If Purdue was on, I was watching. I think this is gonna empower college basketball. The drafts going forward are gonna be more It's not that they're gonna be more domestic, but there's gonna be higher quality, more mature players like Cooper Flag that can help you immediately. And I think Cooper Flag with that great back front line for Dallas, I think he comes in averages eighteen a game. They're a playoff team. I think Dallas of healthy will be the second best team in the West next year. It'll go, you know, oksee Houston in Dallas gonna be very good. John, you're looking at me, You ready to go? I'm ready, Okay, I'm just gab fest over here. So we're gonna do af seed today, We're gonna do NFCED tomorrow. These are our surprises. These would be surprising moves and big headlines if they happen all start. I think Kansas City is a wild card team. And Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers now they have their running back situation and offensive tackles set upgrade at receiver. Last year, the only thing they were missing was juice. Offensively, their defense almost near the top of the league. It went from last to near first in one year. They built the culture last year. But free agency and a draft, and you know, you know, Harbaugh's good at the draft. I think they're going to be one of the better teams in the league. I think they're an eleven twelve win team, and the Chiefs come into the season, which would concern me with offensive line issues. So I like the Chargers to win the division.

You're gonna think I'm nuts.

You're gonna think I'm nuts.

Daniel Jones leads the Colts to the playoffs. This race is over. He's gonna be the starting quarterback. You would have said two years ago. Baker Mayfield leads Tampa to the playoffs, no chance. Last year, Sam Darnold leads the Minnesota Vikings the fourteen wins. No chance.

Daniel Jones leads the Colts to the playoffs. This race is over. He's gonna be the starting quarterback. You would have said two years ago. Baker Mayfield leads Tampa to the playoffs, no chance. Last year, Sam Darnold leads the Minnesota Vikings the fourteen wins. No chance.

What does he get in an Indy an.

What does he get in an Indy an.

Offensive coach who created the start of Jalen Hurts's career. Yes, a great running game, a lot like a couple of years ago when he had a healthy sake one Barkley. Jonathan Taylor almost had fifteen hundred yards last year. The division stinks. The Jags haven't been good ever. Obviously, the Houston Texas life a lot of moving parts, a lot of question marks with the offense, and the Titans no death. So when you just look at the division, you look at recent high picks who've resurrected their career. The Colts have pretty good players, and just a couple of years ago, Lou Ammaruno. They're a new defensive coordinator, one of the best defensive coordinators in the league. Did he just get dumb overnight. No, the Bengals let all their players go, so I think the Colts Daniel Jones a little like Alex Smith when Jim Harbaugh got to the Niners. They're not gonna ask them to do some They're not looking for forty touchdowns here, throw me twenty.

Offensive coach who created the start of Jalen Hurts's career. Yes, a great running game, a lot like a couple of years ago when he had a healthy sake one Barkley. Jonathan Taylor almost had fifteen hundred yards last year. The division stinks. The Jags haven't been good ever. Obviously, the Houston Texas life a lot of moving parts, a lot of question marks with the offense, and the Titans no death. So when you just look at the division, you look at recent high picks who've resurrected their career. The Colts have pretty good players, and just a couple of years ago, Lou Ammaruno. They're a new defensive coordinator, one of the best defensive coordinators in the league. Did he just get dumb overnight. No, the Bengals let all their players go, so I think the Colts Daniel Jones a little like Alex Smith when Jim Harbaugh got to the Niners. They're not gonna ask them to do some They're not looking for forty touchdowns here, throw me twenty.

Interesting Mike Tomlin and the Steelers after eighteen years when a losing record will have one. First of all, I think Baltimore, now they've upgraded their secondary, may have the second best roster to Philadelphia in the sport. I think Joe Burrow maybe the best quarterback on any Sunday in the sport. Aaron Rodgers the quarterback, well, he was five and twelve last year. He didn't do well with the defensive culture in New York. There's less dysfunction in Pittsburgh, but not necessarily on the offensive side. They lost their leading rusher, their left tackle, their leading receiver. I like DK Metcalf, but he can me Booty too. I just think the reality is they spend too much money on defense, not enough on offense. The TJ. Watt contract extension will be hovering over their head. I don't think they're going to be a six win team, but I think eight is probably the number. Mike Tomlin finally losing record.

Interesting Mike Tomlin and the Steelers after eighteen years when a losing record will have one. First of all, I think Baltimore, now they've upgraded their secondary, may have the second best roster to Philadelphia in the sport. I think Joe Burrow maybe the best quarterback on any Sunday in the sport. Aaron Rodgers the quarterback, well, he was five and twelve last year. He didn't do well with the defensive culture in New York. There's less dysfunction in Pittsburgh, but not necessarily on the offensive side. They lost their leading rusher, their left tackle, their leading receiver. I like DK Metcalf, but he can me Booty too. I just think the reality is they spend too much money on defense, not enough on offense. The TJ. Watt contract extension will be hovering over their head. I don't think they're going to be a six win team, but I think eight is probably the number. Mike Tomlin finally losing record.

Zach Taylor seems like a good guy, but I think this will be his last season in Cincinnati. The Bengals will have a new coach twenty twenty six. This team feels like an NBA team, star players everywhere, high price.

Zach Taylor seems like a good guy, but I think this will be his last season in Cincinnati. The Bengals will have a new coach twenty twenty six. This team feels like an NBA team, star players everywhere, high price.

Something's missing.

Something's missing.

I mean their star defensive player, which you kind of need. A pass rusher nowhere to be found. The guy they drafted to replace him showed up said I'm out. I mean classic Bengals Joe Burrow. We saw him throw a bunch of touchdowns last year, have an incredible offensive season. They still couldn't make the playoffs. Crazy divisions hard, We're all going to pick the Ravens. The conference is really hard. How good the AFC West is now? The Patriots are going to be much better. We think that the AFC South would be a little morempetitive. I just think this Bengals thing, you could see it coming from a mile away. And the other thing, when you have Joe Burrow and you have Jamar Chase. Some of these guys in their contract, think how desirable that job would be for some of these coaches. And I just think that Zach Taylor again.

I mean their star defensive player, which you kind of need. A pass rusher nowhere to be found. The guy they drafted to replace him showed up said I'm out. I mean classic Bengals Joe Burrow. We saw him throw a bunch of touchdowns last year, have an incredible offensive season. They still couldn't make the playoffs. Crazy divisions hard, We're all going to pick the Ravens. The conference is really hard. How good the AFC West is now? The Patriots are going to be much better. We think that the AFC South would be a little morempetitive. I just think this Bengals thing, you could see it coming from a mile away. And the other thing, when you have Joe Burrow and you have Jamar Chase. Some of these guys in their contract, think how desirable that job would be for some of these coaches. And I just think that Zach Taylor again.

Seems like a nice guy.

Seems like a nice guy.

They always start slow, and they do a lot of negative momentum. I feel like coming into this season for the Bengals.

They always start slow, and they do a lot of negative momentum. I feel like coming into this season for the Bengals.

And my final one Dolphins blowout, Mike McDaniel and the GM. They went from number two scoring offense to twenty two last year. Inexplicably bad offensive line and no backup to Tua. If you have two as a quarterback, the two things you have to have are a good old line and a capable backup. They have neither. They overpaid for Jalen Ramsey. Now they're looking, you know, Tyreek Hill. A lot of splashy moves. I don't feel like there's a lot of steak. It's a lot of sizzle. The best teams in this league none of them have bad old lines. They just lost Armstead just retired, So I don't like their direction. I think McDaniels this is a team that's run through coaches. Scott Greer, don't know him, but I haven't loved the moves. I think both Greer Chris Greer. I think Chris Greer and Mike McDaniel are gone after eight. Remember New England now is really good, potentially really good. Buffalo is winning the division, third place against both the GM and the coach removed.

And my final one Dolphins blowout, Mike McDaniel and the GM. They went from number two scoring offense to twenty two last year. Inexplicably bad offensive line and no backup to Tua. If you have two as a quarterback, the two things you have to have are a good old line and a capable backup. They have neither. They overpaid for Jalen Ramsey. Now they're looking, you know, Tyreek Hill. A lot of splashy moves. I don't feel like there's a lot of steak. It's a lot of sizzle. The best teams in this league none of them have bad old lines. They just lost Armstead just retired, So I don't like their direction. I think McDaniels this is a team that's run through coaches. Scott Greer, don't know him, but I haven't loved the moves. I think both Greer Chris Greer. I think Chris Greer and Mike McDaniel are gone after eight. Remember New England now is really good, potentially really good. Buffalo is winning the division, third place against both the GM and the coach removed.

Speaking of the Patriots, I think they make the playoffs. I mean, is there a bigger coaching upgrade? I mean Pete Carroll and Mike Frable, But Mike Frable's got more to work with. Like you said, the defense stinks. And the other thing is they got an offensive coordinator to go with Drake Mate Josh McDaniels. Not a great head coach, excellent offensive coordinator. Patriots schedule not very difficult. I like the Patriots to be playing some games in January like old.

Speaking of the Patriots, I think they make the playoffs. I mean, is there a bigger coaching upgrade? I mean Pete Carroll and Mike Frable, But Mike Frable's got more to work with. Like you said, the defense stinks. And the other thing is they got an offensive coordinator to go with Drake Mate Josh McDaniels. Not a great head coach, excellent offensive coordinator. Patriots schedule not very difficult. I like the Patriots to be playing some games in January like old.

Times, you know. So here we go. I got the Chargers winning the AFC West. The Steelers will have a losing record, probably eight and nine. The Dolphins start over, total reboot, and then John I don't think Daniel Jones leading the coach to the playoffs. They made the playoffs in New.

Times, you know. So here we go. I got the Chargers winning the AFC West. The Steelers will have a losing record, probably eight and nine. The Dolphins start over, total reboot, and then John I don't think Daniel Jones leading the coach to the playoffs. They made the playoffs in New.

York, I know, and way more talent on this roster. Again, they're just looking nine ten wins. I'm not talking twelve, thirteen. Could he save Chris Ballard and change Sichin's career. Owners you passed away recently. Obviously the girls are now in charge.

York, I know, and way more talent on this roster. Again, they're just looking nine ten wins. I'm not talking twelve, thirteen. Could he save Chris Ballard and change Sichin's career. Owners you passed away recently. Obviously the girls are now in charge.

I've said that, you know, I think I've said this. You've heard me say this. I like everything about the Colts. They when Andrew Luck retired, they get Wentz. It was pretty good, and then they get Philip Rivers. For a year it was actually excellent, but they felt like the late owner had a strong opinion on the quarterback situation. And Andrew Luck leaving really illustrates how hard it is to find a quarterback because they're old. Line's good, they get a pass rush, they've got nice receivers, they have a star backfield. They have maybe the first or second mess guard in the league in quit Now they have really good pieces. But when Andrew Luck retired, they did a remarkable job Wentz into Philip Rivers. They're just trying. It's a life preserver offense situation, and Daniel Jones may be it. We're not talking thirteen wins, but playoffs in that division may be nine for sure. Nick right around the corner.

I've said that, you know, I think I've said this. You've heard me say this. I like everything about the Colts. They when Andrew Luck retired, they get Wentz. It was pretty good, and then they get Philip Rivers. For a year it was actually excellent, but they felt like the late owner had a strong opinion on the quarterback situation. And Andrew Luck leaving really illustrates how hard it is to find a quarterback because they're old. Line's good, they get a pass rush, they've got nice receivers, they have a star backfield. They have maybe the first or second mess guard in the league in quit Now they have really good pieces. But when Andrew Luck retired, they did a remarkable job Wentz into Philip Rivers. They're just trying. It's a life preserver offense situation, and Daniel Jones may be it. We're not talking thirteen wins, but playoffs in that division may be nine for sure. Nick right around the corner.

One more herd. The herd streams twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, within the iHeartRadio app, Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you like.

One more herd. The herd streams twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, within the iHeartRadio app, Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you like.

Here we go. It's hour two tomorrow at this time. Rick Patino, NBA draft Nick right in five minutes live. We're in Los Angeles today. It's the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day, you know, John, Like everybody else, I have to be on my phone from time to time. I'm not a huge fan of sort of the sky is falling, sort of narrative constantly on the phone. It gets a lot of clicks. It's grievance, it's outrage. It's the sky is falling, it's doom. I don't buy into that. My favorite sandwich is still peanut butter and jelly. I take naps every day. I still watch television. I've been hearing for years dying. Everything's up on TV. So I was thinking about this a number, John, and you to You're like me when everybody says you got to get rid of your cable, I'm like, I like college football. How do I get rid of cable? Yeah? I need to watch my Big Dead football. There's games on cable, so I was thinking about this game seven on ABC delivered the most watched NBA Finals game in six years. People are starving for content. I've been hearing for you. Oh, television is dying. I don't know. I watch a lot of it. The NFL's up, the WNBA is up, Indy car Racing is up, the Gold Cup, Our B team against Haiti was up from last year. I don't know. Everything's up. Baseball's up now. I do think there are challenges in hockey and basketball and baseball during the regular season because we're becoming a very much an event country. But I've never bought into the television it's going away. I heard that about newspapers forty years ago, and I have never been a subscriber to more newspapers than I am today. I like content. The other thing I don't buy into is the NBA is doomed. Global league, seventy six billion dollar TV deal, Amazon and NBC and ESPNS involved. The Lakers just sold for ten billion dollars and their number one sponsor is YouTube. The NBA is just fine. The other thing I don't believe in is that market size. For years and years I banged on this, stop being afraid of New York. Look at the NFL the last five years. You could argue that two New York teams in Chicago were the biggest tire fires. You know who's great, Buffalo, Kansas City, Green Bay, I say Buffalo. Look at the NBA, Indye, Oklahoma City, Boring, Denver. I mean Boston actually didn't get the number. Okase and Indie just got. Look at the WNBA. The Indiana Fever and their star players from Iowa never bought into. The NBA's dying. Everybody is getting rich in the NBA. It works with young people. It's amazing on social Look at how much money the players now make on shoes in apparel. The league is fine. You may not like it, but there's a lot of fourteen to thirty three year olds. It's their favorite sport. It's fine. The TV deal shows that, and the rating shows that. The other thing is, you know, big markets. The league is rig for big markets. Let me tell you. If the NFL and the NBA are rigged for big markets, they're doing an atrocious job. The NFL's dominated by small markets. I mean, Cincinnati should have made the playoffs with Joe Burrow. We already got Buffalo Baltimore, Green Bay, Kansas City. The New York team stink. I'd argue the New York teams are the most hopeless in the NFL this year, the two New York teams. So, I mean, we had a pack twelve with all big markets. La San Francisco Seattle had dried up. They moved over to the Big ten because there's a lot more money in the Big ten than the glamor is Pac twelve. With the La San Francisco, Seattle markets, We're all gonna be okay. Shaq talked about market size recently.

Here we go. It's hour two tomorrow at this time. Rick Patino, NBA draft Nick right in five minutes live. We're in Los Angeles today. It's the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day, you know, John, Like everybody else, I have to be on my phone from time to time. I'm not a huge fan of sort of the sky is falling, sort of narrative constantly on the phone. It gets a lot of clicks. It's grievance, it's outrage. It's the sky is falling, it's doom. I don't buy into that. My favorite sandwich is still peanut butter and jelly. I take naps every day. I still watch television. I've been hearing for years dying. Everything's up on TV. So I was thinking about this a number, John, and you to You're like me when everybody says you got to get rid of your cable, I'm like, I like college football. How do I get rid of cable? Yeah? I need to watch my Big Dead football. There's games on cable, so I was thinking about this game seven on ABC delivered the most watched NBA Finals game in six years. People are starving for content. I've been hearing for you. Oh, television is dying. I don't know. I watch a lot of it. The NFL's up, the WNBA is up, Indy car Racing is up, the Gold Cup, Our B team against Haiti was up from last year. I don't know. Everything's up. Baseball's up now. I do think there are challenges in hockey and basketball and baseball during the regular season because we're becoming a very much an event country. But I've never bought into the television it's going away. I heard that about newspapers forty years ago, and I have never been a subscriber to more newspapers than I am today. I like content. The other thing I don't buy into is the NBA is doomed. Global league, seventy six billion dollar TV deal, Amazon and NBC and ESPNS involved. The Lakers just sold for ten billion dollars and their number one sponsor is YouTube. The NBA is just fine. The other thing I don't believe in is that market size. For years and years I banged on this, stop being afraid of New York. Look at the NFL the last five years. You could argue that two New York teams in Chicago were the biggest tire fires. You know who's great, Buffalo, Kansas City, Green Bay, I say Buffalo. Look at the NBA, Indye, Oklahoma City, Boring, Denver. I mean Boston actually didn't get the number. Okase and Indie just got. Look at the WNBA. The Indiana Fever and their star players from Iowa never bought into. The NBA's dying. Everybody is getting rich in the NBA. It works with young people. It's amazing on social Look at how much money the players now make on shoes in apparel. The league is fine. You may not like it, but there's a lot of fourteen to thirty three year olds. It's their favorite sport. It's fine. The TV deal shows that, and the rating shows that. The other thing is, you know, big markets. The league is rig for big markets. Let me tell you. If the NFL and the NBA are rigged for big markets, they're doing an atrocious job. The NFL's dominated by small markets. I mean, Cincinnati should have made the playoffs with Joe Burrow. We already got Buffalo Baltimore, Green Bay, Kansas City. The New York team stink. I'd argue the New York teams are the most hopeless in the NFL this year, the two New York teams. So, I mean, we had a pack twelve with all big markets. La San Francisco Seattle had dried up. They moved over to the Big ten because there's a lot more money in the Big ten than the glamor is Pac twelve. With the La San Francisco, Seattle markets, We're all gonna be okay. Shaq talked about market size recently.

Yeah, when I was coming up, it was small market. You're too small. You probably need to go to a big market. I'm taking pins of them. But now every market is the same. Nobody cares with city here and anymore. This ain't the nineties. Bigger market doesn't matter. Social media is the market now.

Yeah, when I was coming up, it was small market. You're too small. You probably need to go to a big market. I'm taking pins of them. But now every market is the same. Nobody cares with city here and anymore. This ain't the nineties. Bigger market doesn't matter. Social media is the market now.

Yep, social media is the market. So yesterday, I don't know why I got heat for this. I thought it was incredibly rational. I said, over the last seven years, we've had seven different champions. We know they're not as good as the KD Splash Brothers, Draymond team. We know they're not as good as the Duncan, Janobli, Parker Popovich. We know they're not MJ's bulls. They're not Shaq and Kobe, they're not Showtime, they're not the Michale Bird the Walton team, we know they're not that. It's more seventies, which I grew up with. I love the rick Berry Warriors and the Bill Walton Blazers in the DJ and Gus Williams, Jack Sick Masonics. I love those teams. The Washington Bullets with Unsealed Hayes, Shaneer, Bobby Dandridge. I love those teams. But the following decade sort of there was a rebirth of the NBA. So Nick Wright is joining me. So yesterday I ranked I ranked the last seven champions, catching a lot.

Yep, social media is the market. So yesterday, I don't know why I got heat for this. I thought it was incredibly rational. I said, over the last seven years, we've had seven different champions. We know they're not as good as the KD Splash Brothers, Draymond team. We know they're not as good as the Duncan, Janobli, Parker Popovich. We know they're not MJ's bulls. They're not Shaq and Kobe, they're not Showtime, they're not the Michale Bird the Walton team, we know they're not that. It's more seventies, which I grew up with. I love the rick Berry Warriors and the Bill Walton Blazers in the DJ and Gus Williams, Jack Sick Masonics. I love those teams. The Washington Bullets with Unsealed Hayes, Shaneer, Bobby Dandridge. I love those teams. But the following decade sort of there was a rebirth of the NBA. So Nick Wright is joining me. So yesterday I ranked I ranked the last seven champions, catching a lot.

Of heat, Colin, which I know, I listen. I know you're not checking your mentions, but I know you got plenty of people on your multiple staffs that come to you and they're like, Colin, the internet's ripping you. So can I if I just can jump in? Yeah, my only major gripe would be I would I would at the very least flip flop Thunder Warriors. I think you're under selling the Thunder a bit, and I think that Warriors team. It was a great postseason run and Steph was unbelievable, But when their second best offensive players, Andrew Wiggins, I think that there's and they weren't a dominant regular season team. So I would have the Thunder at least at four, if not at three. But what people are ripping you for is a version of Lebron James derangement syndrome. How could you have the twenty twenty Lakers number one when here are the facts about one of the most disrespected champions, maybe the most disrespected champion of the last twenty five years. Agree that Laker team started the year twenty four and three.

Of heat, Colin, which I know, I listen. I know you're not checking your mentions, but I know you got plenty of people on your multiple staffs that come to you and they're like, Colin, the internet's ripping you. So can I if I just can jump in? Yeah, my only major gripe would be I would I would at the very least flip flop Thunder Warriors. I think you're under selling the Thunder a bit, and I think that Warriors team. It was a great postseason run and Steph was unbelievable, But when their second best offensive players, Andrew Wiggins, I think that there's and they weren't a dominant regular season team. So I would have the Thunder at least at four, if not at three. But what people are ripping you for is a version of Lebron James derangement syndrome. How could you have the twenty twenty Lakers number one when here are the facts about one of the most disrespected champions, maybe the most disrespected champion of the last twenty five years. Agree that Laker team started the year twenty four and three.

They earned home.

They earned home.

Court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs, did not get that home court advantage because it was in the bubble, and still swept through the West in five games in every series, and then won the finals in an easy six despite remarkable Jimmy Butler performance. They then followed that up, well, how did they defend their title the day Lebron James got hurt when Solomon Hill did a somersault into his ankle. The Los Angeles Lakers, it was they were twenty eight and thirteen. It was the midway point of the next season. They had the best record in the entire NBA halfway through the season following their title.

Court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs, did not get that home court advantage because it was in the bubble, and still swept through the West in five games in every series, and then won the finals in an easy six despite remarkable Jimmy Butler performance. They then followed that up, well, how did they defend their title the day Lebron James got hurt when Solomon Hill did a somersault into his ankle. The Los Angeles Lakers, it was they were twenty eight and thirteen. It was the midway point of the next season. They had the best record in the entire NBA halfway through the season following their title.

I would then.

I would then.

Add this, Take the best player on all of those champions twenty twenty. Lebron is eye to eye with twenty three Joker and twenty one Giannis. And take the second best player on all those champions twenty twenty Anthony Davis is markedly better than any of these other team's second best player. That was so that is here's the deal, Colin. Here's why you know that there is a fan and some media obsession with misremembering the career of Lebron James.

Add this, Take the best player on all of those champions twenty twenty. Lebron is eye to eye with twenty three Joker and twenty one Giannis. And take the second best player on all those champions twenty twenty Anthony Davis is markedly better than any of these other team's second best player. That was so that is here's the deal, Colin. Here's why you know that there is a fan and some media obsession with misremembering the career of Lebron James.

Almost all of.

Almost all of.

The NBA's biggest myths biggest lies either have to do with tearing down Lebron or uplifting a guy he's competing with. There isn't a single NBA myth or lie that you're like, oh, oh, that's interesting that one works in Lebron's favor.

The NBA's biggest myths biggest lies either have to do with tearing down Lebron or uplifting a guy he's competing with. There isn't a single NBA myth or lie that you're like, oh, oh, that's interesting that one works in Lebron's favor.

No, they all go in one direction.

No, they all go in one direction.

And the idea that the twenty twenty Lakers got lucky by the bubble being no home court advantage when they had home court advantage is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard, but it's what everybody says.

And the idea that the twenty twenty Lakers got lucky by the bubble being no home court advantage when they had home court advantage is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard, but it's what everybody says.

And by the way, it should be noted it was the only time in my life in the playoffs where young teams overwhelmingly flourished because the older married players missed their kids and family, and the Lakers were an old team. They were the only old NBA team with veterans that crushed all the other So they had to fight, you know, because as you get older, you get kids and family. You have kids and family, you don't want to go to four week roady in Orlando. So the bottom line is, I'm with you. People forget how good they were to start that season. They were dominant through twenty seven to thirty games. Okay, yeah, go ahead, absolutely, go ahead.

And by the way, it should be noted it was the only time in my life in the playoffs where young teams overwhelmingly flourished because the older married players missed their kids and family, and the Lakers were an old team. They were the only old NBA team with veterans that crushed all the other So they had to fight, you know, because as you get older, you get kids and family. You have kids and family, you don't want to go to four week roady in Orlando. So the bottom line is, I'm with you. People forget how good they were to start that season. They were dominant through twenty seven to thirty games. Okay, yeah, go ahead, absolutely, go ahead.

No, no, no, they were dominant that year.

No, no, no, they were dominant that year.

They rolled through the playoffs.

They rolled through the playoffs.

They then had the best record in the NBA at the midway point of the next season, they were the favorites the day Lebron got hurt, they were the Vegas favorites to go back to back. And so it's just total recreation of history. We all agree that with I think the only real other controversy you're probably understelling thunder a bit, but otherwise finalists, you shouldn't gotten dragged on Twitter.

They then had the best record in the NBA at the midway point of the next season, they were the favorites the day Lebron got hurt, they were the Vegas favorites to go back to back. And so it's just total recreation of history. We all agree that with I think the only real other controversy you're probably understelling thunder a bit, but otherwise finalists, you shouldn't gotten dragged on Twitter.

I have your back, Okay. So I said this about Kevin Durant is that I didn't understand his lack of market. I'm like, listen, players like him. He doesn't need the ball in his hands. He's arguably the best jump shooter in the league. He's not a great defender. But Houston has so much damn length, and so does San Antonio. I'm like, this guy is a this is a You don't have to bake him. He's a microwave player. You need about four practices in two games and he'll give you twenty five. I think Houston is a great fit. Let's start with this. Were you surprised at the pushback on well, you'd have to sign a couple of big years. I'm like, bench guys make fifteen million. I was surprised that there wasn't a livelier market.

I have your back, Okay. So I said this about Kevin Durant is that I didn't understand his lack of market. I'm like, listen, players like him. He doesn't need the ball in his hands. He's arguably the best jump shooter in the league. He's not a great defender. But Houston has so much damn length, and so does San Antonio. I'm like, this guy is a this is a You don't have to bake him. He's a microwave player. You need about four practices in two games and he'll give you twenty five. I think Houston is a great fit. Let's start with this. Were you surprised at the pushback on well, you'd have to sign a couple of big years. I'm like, bench guys make fifteen million. I was surprised that there wasn't a livelier market.

Well, so I wasn't surprised by the market, because I do think you have to thread the needle of like. I don't think Kevin Durant would have made as much since for San Antonio or Miami because neither one of those teams are Kevin Durant away from winning a championship, and when you trade for him, what you are really trading for is this coming season, and you hope next season as well, the twenty seven season, and then after that he'll be forty and it's probably in a difference in situation. So I understood the market, but I agree with you wholeheartedly in this regard. This is the perfect trade for Houston. So Houston replaces Jalen Green, who in the playoffs, despite having I think a thirty seven point single game, averaged thirteen points on less than forty percent from the field, less than thirty percent from three. He could not make a shot, he could not create a shot, and you replace him with one of the best shot makers and shot creators for himself in the history of the league. You have now a starting lineup of Van Vliet, who's a steady champ, I'm in Thompson, who is a future star defensive player of the your caliber guy, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith, the top five pick, and Shngoon. And you didn't decimate your bench. Coming off the bench, you still have Tarry Eason, Steven Adams, Reed Shepherd, who they took in the top five last year. But Udoka didn't, you know, want to play a rookie, but he'll play a lot in cam Whitmore. You go nine deep, you can defend, you have a great coach. You now have a bucket at the end of games. And Shingoon is the connector. And so the critique on Durant has been about leadership stuff. Udoka will take care of that. I think right as we sit here today, and you know it's early. Obviously season ended two days ago, but when I look at next year, I think the Rockets have a real path to being the Western Conference champion, and I would I miss seeing Kevin Durant in big games. Some of that has been bad luck. Some of that's been bad choices, some of that's been bad teams. Like you know, it's a big stew Some of it's on him, some of it's not. But the fact of the matter is this Colin. In the six years before he went to Golden State, his final six in Oklahoma City, he made the conference fin finals four of those six years, in the NBA finals once in the three years in Golden State obviously three straight NBA finals. In the six years since then, he has won two playoff series. He has never been out of round two. For a guy who lived at you know, mid May, end of May, beginning of June NBA playoff basketball for the first decade of his career. I want him to have one last act. And I still think he's right around the tenth best player in the league.

Well, so I wasn't surprised by the market, because I do think you have to thread the needle of like. I don't think Kevin Durant would have made as much since for San Antonio or Miami because neither one of those teams are Kevin Durant away from winning a championship, and when you trade for him, what you are really trading for is this coming season, and you hope next season as well, the twenty seven season, and then after that he'll be forty and it's probably in a difference in situation. So I understood the market, but I agree with you wholeheartedly in this regard. This is the perfect trade for Houston. So Houston replaces Jalen Green, who in the playoffs, despite having I think a thirty seven point single game, averaged thirteen points on less than forty percent from the field, less than thirty percent from three. He could not make a shot, he could not create a shot, and you replace him with one of the best shot makers and shot creators for himself in the history of the league. You have now a starting lineup of Van Vliet, who's a steady champ, I'm in Thompson, who is a future star defensive player of the your caliber guy, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith, the top five pick, and Shngoon. And you didn't decimate your bench. Coming off the bench, you still have Tarry Eason, Steven Adams, Reed Shepherd, who they took in the top five last year. But Udoka didn't, you know, want to play a rookie, but he'll play a lot in cam Whitmore. You go nine deep, you can defend, you have a great coach. You now have a bucket at the end of games. And Shingoon is the connector. And so the critique on Durant has been about leadership stuff. Udoka will take care of that. I think right as we sit here today, and you know it's early. Obviously season ended two days ago, but when I look at next year, I think the Rockets have a real path to being the Western Conference champion, and I would I miss seeing Kevin Durant in big games. Some of that has been bad luck. Some of that's been bad choices, some of that's been bad teams. Like you know, it's a big stew Some of it's on him, some of it's not. But the fact of the matter is this Colin. In the six years before he went to Golden State, his final six in Oklahoma City, he made the conference fin finals four of those six years, in the NBA finals once in the three years in Golden State obviously three straight NBA finals. In the six years since then, he has won two playoff series. He has never been out of round two. For a guy who lived at you know, mid May, end of May, beginning of June NBA playoff basketball for the first decade of his career. I want him to have one last act. And I still think he's right around the tenth best player in the league.

He is.

He is.

It is a great addition, and I do not think they gave up too much at all.

It is a great addition, and I do not think they gave up too much at all.

Okay, So I'm looking at my topics here. I don't you get so agitated when I pick the Chargers over the Chiefs so as you do it every year, I am, and it's not home.

Okay, So I'm looking at my topics here. I don't you get so agitated when I pick the Chargers over the Chiefs so as you do it every year, I am, and it's not home.

I don't And by the way, it's not out of Chiefs defense. It's out of Colin Coward protectionism. You know how much you've meant to me, You know how much I love you, and I hate that every year you do this to yourself, that every year it's either the Bronco and you flip a coin. Is it Sean Baiton and the Broncos, or is it my friends the Chargers who are gonna beat the Chiefs. And then you're just wrong? But go ahead, I'll let you do it again, I guess.

I don't And by the way, it's not out of Chiefs defense. It's out of Colin Coward protectionism. You know how much you've meant to me, You know how much I love you, and I hate that every year you do this to yourself, that every year it's either the Bronco and you flip a coin. Is it Sean Baiton and the Broncos, or is it my friends the Chargers who are gonna beat the Chiefs. And then you're just wrong? But go ahead, I'll let you do it again, I guess.

Okay, So John and I John Middlakoff. Do you know John? Have you met John before?

Okay, So John and I John Middlakoff. Do you know John? Have you met John before?

Yeah?

Yeah?

Of course, never in person, but I obviously know Johnny does a great job. And his three bold predictions made a lot of sense, unlike yours.

Of course, never in person, but I obviously know Johnny does a great job. And his three bold predictions made a lot of sense, unlike yours.

So let's just go to mind. Let's not let's not throw shade at John. So no, John's were great, okay, and you and you probably do agree. The Dolphins are no steak in a lot of sizzle. I think they're gonna. I think they're they're gonna and I think to so. The one that bothers you are the Chargers when the AFC West. And here's my take is that I've watched Harbaugh and year two everywhere. First year he builds the culture, but he needs two years to build the roster. And their roster is now really, really good. And I don't know what the Chief's O line is. I don't know what it is. They're receivers. I hope they stay out of personal issues. But that's been sketchy. Don't you think it's time? Didn't you see the vulnerability of the Chiefs last year.

So let's just go to mind. Let's not let's not throw shade at John. So no, John's were great, okay, and you and you probably do agree. The Dolphins are no steak in a lot of sizzle. I think they're gonna. I think they're they're gonna and I think to so. The one that bothers you are the Chargers when the AFC West. And here's my take is that I've watched Harbaugh and year two everywhere. First year he builds the culture, but he needs two years to build the roster. And their roster is now really, really good. And I don't know what the Chief's O line is. I don't know what it is. They're receivers. I hope they stay out of personal issues. But that's been sketchy. Don't you think it's time? Didn't you see the vulnerability of the Chiefs last year.

When Mahomes played and they went fifteen and one and were seventeen and one. Mahomes playing going into the Super Bowl. Yeah, listen, I said it before and I'll say it again. The twenty twenty four of Kansas City Chiefs were, without a doubt, the worst one loss two time defending champion I've ever seen. Now they're the only one lost two time defending champion. But yeah, but I just somebody and the I know the Chiefs looked bad in the Super Bowl.

When Mahomes played and they went fifteen and one and were seventeen and one. Mahomes playing going into the Super Bowl. Yeah, listen, I said it before and I'll say it again. The twenty twenty four of Kansas City Chiefs were, without a doubt, the worst one loss two time defending champion I've ever seen. Now they're the only one lost two time defending champion. But yeah, but I just somebody and the I know the Chiefs looked bad in the Super Bowl.

They did.

They did.

I also know your beloved Justin Herbert is. I think he just threw another pick against the Texans. That game's been over for four months. But I'm sure they're flying high going into the offseason. But here is the problem. The problem is this. Patrick Mahomes in his career is thirty five and five against the AFC West. Patrick Mahomes in his career has started seven years. They have won the division seven times. They have played in the AFC Championship seven times. They have won the conference five times. To pick against Reid and Mahomes is just lunacy. And I would evidence it by whenever you do your other divisions, every other team in the league that you believe clearly has the best coach and quarterback in its division, you will pick to win that division. Except for the team that always wins the division, that is always there. And so I think that I do think like maybe because sometimes you know, there's like take Osmosis and j Mack has just been he's you know, he is playing, he's betting zero on the roulette wheel every time. He's like, when it comes up, I'm gonna.

I also know your beloved Justin Herbert is. I think he just threw another pick against the Texans. That game's been over for four months. But I'm sure they're flying high going into the offseason. But here is the problem. The problem is this. Patrick Mahomes in his career is thirty five and five against the AFC West. Patrick Mahomes in his career has started seven years. They have won the division seven times. They have played in the AFC Championship seven times. They have won the conference five times. To pick against Reid and Mahomes is just lunacy. And I would evidence it by whenever you do your other divisions, every other team in the league that you believe clearly has the best coach and quarterback in its division, you will pick to win that division. Except for the team that always wins the division, that is always there. And so I think that I do think like maybe because sometimes you know, there's like take Osmosis and j Mack has just been he's you know, he is playing, he's betting zero on the roulette wheel every time. He's like, when it comes up, I'm gonna.

Be a genius.

Be a genius.

And so he says better into the Chiefs every year, and I think it is rubbed off on you a bit now. So maybe with middle coolf there now, I thought John's predictions were excellent. I also though if he has the Patriots and who's the other team he has in the playoffs.

And so he says better into the Chiefs every year, and I think it is rubbed off on you a bit now. So maybe with middle coolf there now, I thought John's predictions were excellent. I also though if he has the Patriots and who's the other team he has in the playoffs.

Oh, the Colts.

Oh, the Colts.

I respect that because that's going to mean there are some teams everyone has penciled into the playoffs that are going to be left without a chair, and so obviously the Bengals are one of them, according to John. So I do respect a non Chalky prediction.

I respect that because that's going to mean there are some teams everyone has penciled into the playoffs that are going to be left without a chair, and so obviously the Bengals are one of them, according to John. So I do respect a non Chalky prediction.

But I'll tell you this much.

But I'll tell you this much.

It's not gonna be the Chiefs without a chair. And it's not gonna be the Chiefs not winning their division.

It's not gonna be the Chiefs without a chair. And it's not gonna be the Chiefs not winning their division.

Okay, that's fair, let's see. Okay, one more thing. The draft is tomorrow, I said, earlier. I always defect. I never like going to a restaurant that's got a signature dish, like just do everything well. Last night, I by the way, overlooking palm trees in the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica, I had a vhy swat a nice lockdown thinking of you, and as I had dinner, I was in a restaurant where everybody ordered a bunch of stuff and it was all amazing. And my take is, I don't want to go to a place that's got a sixteen egg omelet. Just dude. And I've always said Lebron doesn't have a signature move, and my take is, because he does everything well, I don't need the skyhook. He just gets the best players the best shots. So they're saying Cooper Flag doesn't have a bag, and my take is it's been the most overrated thing of my life. Kareem had one because he didn't have the ball in his hands. You didn't give centers the ball like you do now at mid court, like you had to wait for the ball late in the shot clock. What do you make about the criticism. You know, Lebron, he didn't have a go to signature move like Jay.

Okay, that's fair, let's see. Okay, one more thing. The draft is tomorrow, I said, earlier. I always defect. I never like going to a restaurant that's got a signature dish, like just do everything well. Last night, I by the way, overlooking palm trees in the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica, I had a vhy swat a nice lockdown thinking of you, and as I had dinner, I was in a restaurant where everybody ordered a bunch of stuff and it was all amazing. And my take is, I don't want to go to a place that's got a sixteen egg omelet. Just dude. And I've always said Lebron doesn't have a signature move, and my take is, because he does everything well, I don't need the skyhook. He just gets the best players the best shots. So they're saying Cooper Flag doesn't have a bag, and my take is it's been the most overrated thing of my life. Kareem had one because he didn't have the ball in his hands. You didn't give centers the ball like you do now at mid court, like you had to wait for the ball late in the shot clock. What do you make about the criticism. You know, Lebron, he didn't have a go to signature move like Jay.

Yeah, so I also again this right, of course this is but this is again to go back to what I first said, Every NBA myth starts and ends with the same theme. We must elevate Michael Jordan at the expense of Lebron James. And so there's just there there. It's never the other direction on the myts.

Yeah, so I also again this right, of course this is but this is again to go back to what I first said, Every NBA myth starts and ends with the same theme. We must elevate Michael Jordan at the expense of Lebron James. And so there's just there there. It's never the other direction on the myts.

There's some of that on the facts, but not the myths.

There's some of that on the facts, but not the myths.

So like, does Lebron have one single move, Like you close your eyes and you think of Lebron, that's what he did. And the answer to that question is it's actually probably a chase down block, right, that's you close your eyes, you think of it. But on offense, when you can do everything, then you don't have to do any one thing specifically. People will say for Jordan, his signature move was the mid range turnaround, but that's only only young people think young Ish people think that because that was a ninety six to ninety eight Jordan's signature post baseball, Jordan's signature early in his career was I'm gonna go down the middle of the lane, jump in the air, and figure it out about force seconds later because I can hang and I'm such a great athlete that I can figure this out on the fly. He wasn't this mid range assassin he became later in his career. Here is what I will say about Cooper Flag. There is not a single person alive who was a finished product at what they ended up being at eighteen and a half years old. The most important number with Cooper Flag is his date of birth. He reclassified he is when he gets to the league. Since we're talking about Lebron, he will be only two weeks older, two weeks older than Lebron was when Lebron entered the league and Lebron skipped college. He turns nineteen nineteen in December of his rookie year. So the fact that Cooper Flag does basically everything pretty well is to me a brilliant place to start. He'll figure out a couple things.