The Herd with Colin CowherdEvery week QB Justin Herbert shows us how much he can overcome
Thoughts on the top NFL prospects
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Guest: Daniel Jeremiah, Chris Broussard
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By the way, as I've been talking about this, Jmax got something he wants to pass me a little note, and so listen to this story. This is one of my favorite stories ever. Now we know Hollywood, there's a lot of money in being beloved in Hollywood. Nobody's popular forever. But if you can get in that four or five year window, which Taylor Swift is in, where you're like the world's most popular person, you can make billions of dollars. So there is a theory out there, and I want you to address this, Jmax, because I hadn't heard it, and I find it utterly fascinating.
Sometimes I feel I feel bad I opened my mouth and said this to you, So I want to be clear. I don't necessarily believe this. This is a theory, be I've think got it out there. Go on TikTok and other places. So one of the few knocks on Taylor Swift, according to people on the internet, is usage of a private jet bad for the environment.
She's supposed to fly southwest.
Yeah, I don't get that. I don't understand that.
And also, hey, we got a track where Taylor Swift is, see who she's dating. Let'sollow her private jet around. Okay, So Taylor Swift now goes to a New York Jets football game. Anytime you Swift, you google Taylor Swift jet, thinking private jet. There's a billion pages of Taylor Swift at the Jets game. Look at all these photos with her friends cheering on Travis Kelch.
So it basically erased the one controversy in her life.
It buried it in Google.
You can't find Taylor Swift jet stuff on the first page of Google anymore because she was at a New York Jets football game. Now, would Taylor Swift be so crafted and thoughtful? I know you you know what the story about her family, and I know, listen, she's thoughtful and smart.
Enough, but she is strategic.
There's no way I find she is extremely hard.
She is hot, and this is not a criticism This is why she's brilliant. Her family's brilliant. She is hyper strategic. So everything's got a plan.
Let me meet some half a stance and then oh, he's playing the Jets in two weeks. If I lead with the Jets, skin, let me go to the Bears game first. Then I'll go to the Jets game and it'll erase the Google. So that's really by the way. Travis Kelsey, who is has a growing social and television personality. He's on five commercials. Maybe it's a thing. Maybe it's a you need this, I need this. I mean, he's bigger now than Aaron Rodgers. Travis Kelsey's on five national commercials. He wins games he's playing. Taylor has a movie coming out next weekend from her Era's tour.
And she doesn't want that negative stuff on the internet. Now you could argue the Jets was swift was the second game she was the week before?
Who did they play Bears Chiefs in Arrow?
Now does she have an issue with Bears?
No, but it but it would be strategic. Oh, just so I'm not doing the Jets thing. I went to a Bears game too, you know, but I just want to make it clear. I don't necessarily believe this. I don't believe her in true love. I think theyse too love each other.
Celebrities have no morals, so maybe they're just you know, hitting it.
I don't know.
Do regular people have more of Yes, oh okay, Midwest morals. Now the coastal people are out there. But you know, maybe it's just two celebrities that are hot and you know they're attracted.
But where are you on the whole private jet thing?
Though that, I think it's an interesting theory that that is worthy of three minutes, which we gave it. I think celebrities are strategic. I think Taylor Swift is brilliant. I think her family's smart. And if you got a movie coming out, I'm not saying it's true, but it it's worth the three minutes we gave it. You're y'all say this Jmax's wife.
Oh yeah, she gave this to me. I did not see it on TikTok. I refuse to get it.
Very crafty and by the way, she gives you good advice, you don't listen to it.
I definitely do not listen to the you.
Should because she's very pragmatic. You're a little ho better like twice. Yeah, but I can tell from you she's very pragmatic.
She's smarter than I am. But yeah, let's not saying much and.
Think she is. But you know if you like she is. I've got a great parlay for you this weekend thanks to Draftking Sportsbook. New users use the code heard ah r D when you download the app. Let's have some fun. My parlay picks of the week via Draft King sports Book. I'm gonna take the Eagles minus four at the Rams. The crowd will be sixty forty Eagles anyway, a semi home game. They're undefeated for a reason. I don't know how the Rams offensive front matches up with the Eagles defensive front. I'll take the Eagles minus four. I'll take the Jets plus two at Denver. The Broncos last week had some offense of success because they played the Bears, step up in class best defense they faced. Zach Wilson righted the ship a little even though they lost. I'll take the Jets plus two. Cowboys plus three and a half of the Niners all take Dallas. Listen Defensively, opposing quarterbacks have a fifty five passer rating. Niners are better, especially in the red zone offensively, but the Cowboys have the better quarterback, offensive line, special teams, and a little revenge. I'll take Dallas. If you want to take the Herd parlay, check out DraftKings Sportsbook. New users use the code AGRD Herd when you download the app.
Twenty one plus in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply. Gambling problem called one eight hundred gambler in New York call eight seven seven eight hope and wire text hope and Y four six seven three sixty nine. See show notes for full details.
Well, he was a scout for three different teams. Now he's one of the radio voices of the Chargers. He's on the NFL Network, highly respected DJ Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Network US got a podcast Move the Sticks with Bucky Brooks, one of our buddies. We want to talk NFL. I want to. I want to start with the Chargers because you do their broadcast. You know this team very well, and I said this a couple of weeks ago. They should have beaten Miami, and you know, the Chargers historically make us sweat for even the good game, So that's just kind of part of their identity. But tell people who have not watched Justin Herbert, I do believe that this is the kind of thing you can see because you're up above, you're watching the entire field. What has Kellen Moore done for Justin that is a former scout and somebody that watches game film that maybe the casual fan wouldn't see.
He's given a lot of freedom, Colin. He's put a lot on his plate. They're running with more tempo. They're getting to the line of scrimmage, and that you know, people see tempo, it's like, oh, we get We're trying to get the defense on their heels and they can't communicate. Now sometimes it's get up to the line of scrimmage so we can let our incredibly bright quarterbacks survey the landscape and get us into the proper play. So he's given him more control there, and then you know they're also because the offensive line is healthier with Rashaun Slater. They're picking their spots, but then they're able to get some of these chunk plays back in the offense. You saw it last week to end the game to Josh Palmer, So It's been a really good marriage between those two guys. And I think you've seen over the last two weeks that Justin Start uses legs a little bit more too, yes, which can take this offense to a whole nother level.
Okay, so you were a scout and a very successful one. There's this kid who I saw play in college at BYU in Washington and named Pooka Nikua. Now people think Cooper Cup was like an under the radar player, but he wasn't. Everybody in the league, the Chargers and the Rams both liked him, because I've talked to both gms. Everybody like Cooper Cup, Pooka Naku had been banged up. Was he fast enough? He is shattering NFL records. What do you make of it? Fifth round shattering records?
Well, I'll tell you, Colin, we saw him at the Senior Bowl and the first day of PRAC this nobody could cover him. In fact, if you went back and listened to the broadcast, I even said, this reminded me of of Cooper Kupp at the Senior Bowl, where he came in there and you're like, I don't know, he's not really fast, but mane, he's got a ton of production. He's really kind of instinctive. How we doing one on ones and then nobody could cover Cooper well the first day pooking the kud the exact same thing, and then unfortunately he got hobbled and couldn't participate in the rest of the week. So I think if he had been able to finish out that week the way it was headed, I think you would have seen more attention go his way. But I'll give t J. Huschman Zad a lot of credit as well because he worked with him and Michael Wilson. Those are the two guys. He really really spent a lot of time with him the run up to the draft and uh and when when TJ gives you his stamp on a guy, it means something. He did the same thing with te Higgins when he was coming out. And this kid is he's ready to play man. He is. He's been rolling guys, leading the league in receptions. It's incredible. C J.
Stroud is another TJ. Hushman Zada Jim So I had heard his comp and I trust the scout to tell me this. He was Jared maybe with a little more mobility. Well that's a heck. Of a comp Jared Goff has never been embraced. He's a really good quarterback. There's not twelve guys in the world better. Are you surprised, though, with a banged up on line, that he's been error free? I will say this, I'm not a scout, Daniel, but he does see the field like I watch him play very composed. What was your grade? Are you shocked he's this good? This early?
I thought he had a chance to be a really good player. Now I don't think anybody would have seen the early success that they've had on that team, missing the pieces that they're missing. But you know, you go back to the combine and said, at the combine is the best throwing session I've ever seen at the combine setting? And it wasn't because you know, I've seen guys throw it further than him. I've seen guys throw up more velocity. But every throw was pinpoint accurate. It had the right trajectory, it had the right pace. He's just a naturally gifted thrower. Now, you know, you go back in the draft process, Colin, it was like, ohka, I don't know how i athletic he is. And then the Georgia game comes along and he showed you he can get out of some trouble when they're playing against better players and kind of answered that question. So, I mean, I guess we shouldn't be surprised that he's having success because he's just the game is slow for him. He plays with poise, he plays with a certain calm. But I mean Colin, I mean, no interceptions and what he's doing making that team competitive each and every week. I don't think anybody could foresee that coming.
Okay, we know Caleb Williams is going to be the number one pick. I counted again this morning. There's eight or nine teams that I know are going to draft quarterbacks five or six in the first round. The kid. That's interesting that a lot of the country's not seeing because Washington is geographically up in the corner in because USC and Oregon steel. So much of the love in the Pac twelve is Michael Pennix. He's got a great coach, two NFL receivers. For those who haven't seen Mike, I think he throws the prettiest ball of all the quarterbacks I've seen. You've looked at film. You're breaking him down as a former Ski out. What do you make of him?
Well, first of all, he's like a different human being from the one we saw as a young player at Indiana where he was running around making plays with his legs. This is a sturdy two hundred and twenty five pound pocket passer. He's got that little three quarter delivery release. Colin. The ball absolutely jumps out of his hand and he can really really drive the football. You watch the Michigan State game, he's five yards deep in the end zone, hanging on his back foot and he throws a post over the fifty yard line just easy. So he's got a huge arm. He's seeing the whole field. You talk about, you know, working left to right in full field rereads. He shows you that he can do that. And he's older, he's more mature, and I think that's one of the components. If you look at guys that are having success early on, for the most part, they've played a lot of football, They've got a lot of snaps under their belt. And he's gonna enter the league in a very experienced quarterback, maybe a little older. You have to navigate around some of the health issues, the injury issues. Do your homework there. But Colin, he's a first round pick. All.
Oh yeah, so Drake may Is as well, didn't play quite as well early and again, sometimes at Carolina you're not going to get the publicity of a Notre Dame quarterback USC Georgia whatever.
I mean.
I saw him last year and my takeaway is big moves, well, good arm, all the traits you want. Anything I should look for with Drake may who many suspect could be the second player picked after Caleb Yeah.
I think he is. I mean, I think he's the second guy. You know. Gosh, I was bummed out when his receiver, you know, they couldn't get him eligible, and Mac Brown, you know, made his his feelings pretty well known on that one. So he doesn't have an all Star Cassidy's throwing the rock to Josh Downs was there last year. He's gone. But everything you want the checklist, big athletic, can make every throw. He's good in clutch moments. He beat my Alma mater in overtime in a really close game this year against app State where he kind of made the plays that he needed to make. To me, he's a he's a prototype. He's not a hard one to scout. Colin.
Yeah, finally, we know Caleb's going number one if healthy. I am not bothered. So I said this yesterday. There's been three stages of player empowerment in the last couple of years. Players missing Bowl games, stars, I was okay with it, especially running backs, transfer, portal explosion, I'm okay with it. Coaches move all the time, and I l I'm okay with it. The fourth stage, and this will make people really uncomfortable. Is a star quarterback every few years saying yeah, I'm not playing for that NFL team. There are there are rumors that Caleb and his dad are like Arizona Chicago Giants. No thanks, it doesn't bother me. El Way, Eli Manning, How do you is somebody that's worked knows the college game and works in the pro game. How do you think that plays to NFL people?
Well, you know, it's hard because there's only ever so often you can get somebody of that caliber that could try and maybe pull that type of a move. But I feel like it's been discussed with players in the past. We talked about with Joe Burrow, right, Ah, he's you know, maybe he's the one. He's not going to want to go to Cincinnati and then I think Joe Burrow going to Cincinnati, taking them to a super Bowl, multiple AFC Championship games, has proven that, Look, there's so much parody in the NFL. If you're that guy, if you're that good, if you're Caleb Williams, you have all this ability, which he does. He can go on there and change any of these organizations. So I don't know if they will be followed through there. The only difference now is that he's in a situation with some of the nil money that he has maybe a little more leverage on his side than anybody in history has had.
Yeah, all right, further record, Brandon Staley, you know he's taken a lot of heat on this fourth down stuff. I believe in analytics. I believe in them. NBA Baseball, I think analytics are important. I also think contextualization matters. If the opposing quarterback is a rookie and cut and Khalil Mack is unblockable, you may want to punt it. Do you worry at all with the Chargers? And I know you're the voice of them, but when you make these moves, if you win, nobody cares. But how do you think they play? Because there's some big swings here by Brandon.
Yeah, he's done it consistently. You know. The interesting thing is, you saw it in Cleveland last year. You've seen it for the last two weeks where they didn't get it, and they won all three of those games. So we talked to him after the game and he brought up an interesting point just kind of in passing, was like, Hey, at some point in time, we got to get a yard, you know, you know, we got to kind of make a play here and get that yard. It shouldn't be as hard as we're making that out to be. But that's just kind of who he's been. They've been aggressive. The defense has responded when he's made those decisions. I'm old school, so I'm kind of more of a more conservative let's punt it away and put the defense out there. But he you know, look, he knows his team and that's you know, they've been able to respond even when it hasn't worked. So I don't see that really changing. I know our time's coming to an end here, Collins. I do have to bring up one thing, j Mac. You know, if you're gonna be cooking a sixty year old architect from the South Bay on the basketball court. We don't need video. We don't need to see the video of that. Okay, come on enough.
I mean, he thinks he's dame because he can hit an occasional three. He's really he literally thinks he's dame.
You know, Daniel Jeremiah is a big time former basketball player, right, big time in high school, AAU all that stuff.
Yeah, I played with like superstars.
Yeah yeah you didn't.
I did think I knocked out.
My last high school game was against Baron Davis. I think I had about eight points and he had about thirty eight points, so it didn't quite go well. But I will say this, Colin, he does such a good job because if you look at the video when he's playing basketball, he crops out there walkers on the side.
It is just the players, the AARP magazines on the bench. They come over and read all right, good seeing your dj as alas all sorts of fun.
You know.
It is like Brandon Staley. And again, I know I come across as too hard on this, but I think in analytics you have to just contextualize everything. So last week, on a fourth and one, playing a rookie quarterback a touchdown lead and they can't block Khalil Mack. Just punt it Minnesota. I felt the same thing. Minnesota could not block the pass rush of and it was a touchdown lead. Just get it out of there. But they've won both games. So the truth is, you lose both of those, you could have lost the locker room. In this sport, you win the game. If the Jets beat the Chiefs, we have a even with the fumble. Even with the fumble, the fumbles not a discussion Monday. Instead, it's a primary part. So the thing about the NBA, because you have a scarcity of games, there's so few. I mean, baseball's got one hundred and sixty two, right, you know, NBA's got eighty two minimum in the playoffs, Hockey eighty two right, playoffs, Baseball, Basketball, of NFL. You just don't have any games. So the game not only gets played, it gets discussed until the next game. So if you're an NBA coach, you know Boston last year, coach Butcher's a game against the heat, you know you could play two days later and we're on to the next game. But because there's a scarcity in the NFL, if you make a decision and it fails, it will in Chicago. I'll be on sports talk radio for four straight days until Friday when you move to the next game. So that's why these analytic decisions you have to remember as a coach, as a player, that's going to be discussed for a block. That's why in baseball, a bad outing, who cares go to the middle relief people forget about it. Nine innings, four more pitchers come out, You got to start in three days. You don't see a lot of that. We don't talk a lot about analytics stuff with baseball. You're angry driving home from the game and you call your sports radio station tomorrow, you got another game. JMCK with a news no, no, no, turn on the news.
This is the herd Line News.
Daniel as good as agains. Yeah, yeah, yeah, all right.
Let's start with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They're in their bye week, but they're three and one. One of the big surprises. Remember that with all that talk we had about they were going to be selling off players at the at the.
Time, back player of the Year Baker Mayfield a month.
You know, well the kid from Hamlin from Buffalo was.
Uh, well it's a great story, but Baker's the quarterback Tua fine Tula has to be saying, but Tula was Pro Bowl votes last year. Baker Mayfield we thought was done. We thought this was a tank team.
Career Baker number one, career high sixty nine.
I guess Hamlin emotionally because of what he overcame would win it. I think he'd win the award.
He's a heavy favorite in Vegas. Tua is the next.
I mean, he's barely played this season, but Tua is, you know, the other guy at Baker.
It's early.
Let's settle that six is a better story. Yeah, so you're gonna it's a better story. But it is interesting that Baker now in a weird way. If they win eight games, they're out of a quarterback lottery.
They're not winning in games. Okay, let's let's slow down, all right. He's off to a good start eight.
Hundred and eighty two passing yards, seven touchdowns. Bowles has liked what he's seen from his quarterback so far.
Baker's tough. I said up there all the time. You know, I'm taking too many of those. But he's tough, he's gritty, he's very smart football player. He's a competitor. He's been like that his whole life. It hasn't changed. He has a lot to prove. He's having fun out there, he understands the offense, he's using every piece of weapon that we give him, and he's having a good time.
Yes, I mean you think they have eight wins? Maybe I just think I meant a couple of these people by.
Supporting essentially what we're watching. It's way early, but it's a little Geno Smith. Now I think Baker. Baker in Cleveland was better than Gino in New York. But I mean, good God, look at these numbers. They're insane. He's your career high. Yeah, it's not like he's just playing.
He's faced the Vikings and Bears, well, two directs of the league.
His numbers are those are not just average numbers. Those are fantastic numbers.
Are you ready for reality? So after the bye, faces Detroit. It's at home. I think Detroit will be favored, so so Atlanta.
So again, big game. Wow, that's Buffalo.
That's a big loss.
Well, that's a hard game.
A shelled Houston which is now plucky Tennessee.
I hate I hate Baker, and you're right. The Hamlin story feels bigger, more emotional for all of us. So if he just plays a little, I think we'd give him the award. But I think and maybe I'm over compensating because everybody thinks I hate Baker. But he has been a good story. It's been a Noel. It's been more than a good story. He's been pretty good. He unraveled against Philadelphia in the second half, but he's been really good.
Yeah, you want what should we do a sidewager on eight wins or not?
I save?
Well, I'll think so I'll take under.
Yeah, I take seven or more? You take six?
Well, you're now you're moving the golfs.
He said, eight wins like misspoke. I have a right on live TV and radio to miss happen.
Seven seven, Okay, that's more seven and ten reasonable than was the play.
I say seven or more, you say six or few.
But this is what the the thing that Tampa fans don't get. You don't want to win seven games. Now you take yourself out of a quarterback. You're screwing yourself in the future.
What are we doing?
And Todd Bowles probably gonna get kept like it's not good to win seven games no.
Well, now you you did. It's good for Baker, it's good for his brand.
You give him, you give him Daniel Jones.
But all right, next up, let's talk about another crap team, the Raiders. They've lost three straight since that lucky season opening went over the Broncos.
Uh.
Fans are calling for Josh McDaniels firing.
Uh, even going as far as to straight to Mark Davis's face. Here's a video at the game over the weekend Chargers Raiders or a fan came up to Mark Davis and was like saying, stuff, look at.
This, No fans, that's what. What are they yelling at him for?
What?
What are they matter? What do you mean?
They're upset with Garoppolo, they're upset with McDaniel's sign.
Garoppolo was on the market. He's been to a Super Bowl.
Said, nobody likes McDaniel's man.
Nobody, Well, whatever I mean, I thought, I don't think Josh McDaniels in the last five years has been.
The primary problems fans.
In the list of problems, he's about eight.
It's a fair point o line.
Can't block anybody.
Yeah, by the way, did you see there's also Radiers video Sidney Crosby.
After that guy decked Herbert out of bounds and got ejected. Sydney, is it Sidney Cross? But Max Crosby, I'm sorry. Max Crosby goes up to Herbert and is like, man, that was a messed up thing that he did. It was a pretty nice thing. Raiders guys.
You know Max and I are buddies. Crosby I think he's a huge dude.
Man the Super Bowl.
I see him three times a year at UFC fights. Max is my guy?
Really? Oh?
I love Max Crossey.
He's one of my five favorite football players.
Can you get him to do a good team?
Tell him them, Like, well, first of all, he's having a great career. Why would I want to screw with that. I'm not anti Raiders. Whoever wins wins, I'm trying any.
I'm trying to get him to a good team because I like that guy. He's a good player.
Story.
Let's go to the NBA Los Angeles Lakers, fifth on Cowherd's list of title contenders earlier today.
They kept their roster mostly intact.
They added some decent pieces, but Lebron had an interesting comment this week about passing the torch to Anthony Davis.
Even calling Ad the face of the franchise.
He's right, he is the face, you know, and he's another you know. You look at all these numbers that's around this facility, all the grace that's come here, and eighty is one of them, you know. So you know, I was very very happy and extremely proud and like just super dope to see him get that extension to be a part of this franchise for years and years and years, And it's been a treat so far playing alongside of him, and I hope we can do some great things.
Yeah, I have them number five on my power list because everybody thinks I'm too hard in LA on the Lakers, and I did think last year they overachieved. I don't think they're Phoenix, Denver, Boston, Milwaukee, but I think they're still better than Sack. I think Golden State is got smaller. I love Golden State, but they got smaller with Chris Paul. So the league is getting bigger, they got smaller.
Did you see the comments from Steve Curry. They're gonna play Klay Thompson and power forward. He's gonna defend power forwards. Okay, They're like the numbers say he did a good job last year.
You know I love Curry more than anybody.
I am the Steph Curry fan in sports media, and I'm telling you that team this year is not gonna be good.
I think I know Draymond's your guy.
No, I know, but I worry. I can't wait to watch it. I can't wait to watch Chris Paul on the floor of an NBA game with Steph Curry. Really, Oh, I can't wait. I got my NBA package. I'm ready to go. Don't mess around with me. I'm ready to go.
Hey, you remember you're looking for the team of destiny this year? Now, Well, spicier who Indiana Pacers.
I just bet they're over win total.
What's the wind total?
I don't remember.
I'll have to go on the thing, but I think the Pacers are a playoff team, top eight in.
The They're bench scoring is excellent.
Did you guys see the roll of eyes on Indiana Facers?
Tyrese Halliburton, he's good, he's a baller.
Yeah. J Mack with a news.
Well that's the news, and thanks for stopping by The Herd Live. One more Heard 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.
Hey, this is Tom Berducci from Fox Sports, MLB Network and Sports Illustrated.
And I'm Joe Madden, and we're going to be around to talk a little bit about managerial decisions and what may have occurred to the dougot maybe in the nineteen eighties.
It's the Book of Joe Podcasts.
I can't wait for this, Joe.
We're going to dive into what goes on in the dugout and behind the scenes in Major.
League Baseball, cars, wind whatever else we want to talk about.
Yeah, well, there are no boundaries, right. Listen to the Book of Joe podcast on the iHeartRadio app, on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Show sponsored by Betterhelp Therapy ten percent off your first month online therapy Private b E T T E R eight dot com, slash hurt. He is part of a great show that's on fire. First things first, Chris Bruce, sorry is joining us. By the way, I thought dame to Milwaukee. I said this in Junior July. The guys had it on tape. I said Dame I thought fit Milwaukee better than Miami, But then when Drew Holliday went to the Celtics, I'm like, oh, wait a minute, that's the best team to me in the East. I got four guys who can hit a bucket. Did you feel the same way that for about a day, Milwaukee was the best, but I felt Boston jump on them.
I definitely feel like Dame got off great, right. I think he's in a better situation in Milwaukee than he would have.
Been in Miami. And I hear you on the Boston deal.
I'd said before it was made that that's where I'd like to see Drew Holliday go. My only concern though about the Celtics is their lack of size, and obviously under Joe Missoula, they're like all in or we're gonna outscore you. All right, We're not tough anymore. They defend on the perimeter. Drew Holliday obviously is a great defender, as is Derek White, and then Tatum and Brown are solid defenders too, so they can defend, and christaphs Warzenis can predict the protect the rim.
But they're not tough. They're not intimidating they're not big in you.
So it's really like two teams going in different directions. Milwaukee, we're huge and we're offense and they can play defense, or we're huge if we defend, even though Dave's aren't a great defender, they're gonna be a great defensive team.
And Boston's going we're small.
Even our big christaphs Worzingis plays small and he can protect the rim, but he plays small offensively, and they're gonna outscore you. So I like Milwaukee slightly, but those two teams are clearly the class of the Eastern College. Yeah.
What worries me a little with Milwaukee as Dame is older, Middleton's had injuries, Lopez is older, Yanni's aging, whereas I feel like Tatum and j Brown are really in their prime. And I do think over a season, I worry about Milwaukee's age injuries as the season extends. Okay, let's go to the West. It's really hard to win back to back in this league. But I do think Denver sort of built Their star is not a guy that wants to be a celebrity. They're very like under the radar, a Rocky Mountain team. I think Phoenix is gonna be the best watch in the league. I think time has passed for Golden State. I feel like Denver is a little like the Duncan Spurs. They're kind of built to repeat. They'll still come into this year. We're gonna fall in love with Boston, Milwaukee, Phoenix, and we're still not gonna give Denver respect. That's how it feels for me.
You no, I agree, And it's interesting you you mentioned San Antonio they never repeat it, which is crazy, but obviously they.
Were right there in the hunt every year.
But I agree in that San Antonio was viewed as kind of a dull team because their superstar Tim Duncan was he just wasn't out there and charismatic and like that in the public eye. And jokicch is similar. I do like watching this Denver team more than that Spurs team. I think they are more exciting, like their fun because Jokic, even though he can't jump and he's not quick, he's fun to watch because he is so skilled. He's a great passer and I like watching him. And then of course you have Jamal Murray and some other players.
So I agree. I think Denver's got a great shot.
You know, and we've seen some teams repeat lately, obviously Golden State, you have Miami, you know, so there's been some repeats lately, so I think they do have a good shot.
I agree.
I think Phoenix is their biggest challenger in the West, and then the Lakers after them.
All right.
I did my power five, my preseason NBA Power five, where I had you know, Denver of Phoenix. I think Phoenix. I don't care about their bench. I think they're gonna be really fun to watch a lot of high end skill. Then I went buston Milwaukee Lakers Lakers two higher low. Where do you What do you make of the Lakers?
I think the Lakers, you have them in the right space space. I would put I like Milwaukee more than you. And you made a good point about the age. That's legitimate. But obviously Boston's got some injury questions. Two with porzingis, they're counting on him being healthy. He's their biggest he's their only player of consequence taller than six ' nine wow. And then their other big Al Horford's thirty seven years old, so they could have some injury issues as well.
But I would have Milwaukee one.
Denver two, Phoenix three, Boston four, and then the Lakers five.
But those are five terrific teams.
Yeah, and man, it's gonna be fun to see how this plays out.
Yeah, Nicks, Miami, Cleveland, Sacramento, Golden State Clippers, all very interesting. Brow, you're doing great first things for co hosts. Oh, it was crushed. Say hi to Nick and Kevin. Wild's good seeing you, buddy, you two, Colin, thanks man all right. By the way, James Harden showed up for camp today after a brief absence for the seventy six ers.
So did he have glitter on uh on his beard or anything like that or.
I don't know. You know, he's a different personality. We on this show. We are here for different person.
I'm a huge hardened fan. I would love to hang with the guy. He's clearly got the all the right spots.
I go to bed at eight fifty, so I couldn't hang.
We could extend that one night to you push it nice, couldn't sell.
The last time I went to bed and the sun was coming up. Had a couple of days like that in Vegas?
What what like in nineteen ninety four or something?
Yeah around there? Good call.
I was just kidding.
Yeez.
Yeah, in nineteen ninety four, I can remember the last time I remember it. It was quite a nice wow. I was in a convertible in Las Vegas, a Mazda RX seven driving. The sun was coming up Sunset Mountains. I was driving over the overpass. Caesar's was to my right.
Do you want to say who was riding?
I'm not going to get into that. It was just quite a night. I remember the I remember the song.
Was it, Oh What a Night? By the Four Seasons. That's a classic. That's a banger.
As the kids say, what I remember, the car, the moment, the sun, not much else. All right, see you tomorrow.
