April 20, 2025 • 25 mins
Colin gives his instant reaction to Nuggets vs Clippers and Lakers vs Timberwolves!
He starts with the Wolves physically bullying the Lakers and the Lakers being unable to adjust, but expects the Lakers to bounce back and play aggressively going forward in the series. He explains why the Wolves transition game overwhelmed the Lakers and why Anthony Edwards deserves a ton of credit for improving his game.
Then he pivots to Nuggets/Clippers and weighs in on why playoff basketball is officiated differently and far more physical than the regular season. He details why this game was a perfect example of the full “Russell Westbrook” experience filled with ups and downs… but why Russ was a big reason the Nuggets were able to get the win.
He explains why the Nuggets ability to get second chances and offensive rebounds was key to the Nuggets win, and why Kawhi Leonard is an incredible player…but not a leader, and why Westbrook was the story of the game.
3:00 Wolves bullied the Lakers physically
6:00 Knicks were able to find intensity to come back, but the Lakers couldn’t
8:30 Wolves killed the Lakers in transition
9:15 Julius Randle has a ceiling but plays with great energy
10:30 Ant Edwards deserves a ton of credit
19:30 Playoff basketball is officiated differently, they swallow the whistle
23:00 Westbrook was key for the Nuggets
27:00Jokic is 2nd best center Colin has ever seen
29:00 Kawhi Leonard is fantastic player, but not a leader
31:30 Westbrook was the difference maker
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements.)
Follow Colin and The Volume on Twitter for the latest content and updates!
#Volume #Herd
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
The volume. Well, the surprise of the day, instant reaction,
Minnesota dominating the Lakers from about the second quarter on
and taking a one zero series lead. Uh, I mean,
I thought it was really obvious. You saw this a
(00:23):
lot today where the underdog Pistons come in with a
ton of energy, outplay the next a little bit early,
but eventually, you know, the favorites wake up, and that's
that happens a lot in the playoffs. You know, watch
Golden State's favorite over Houston. Watched Houston tomorrow night, come
in with a ton of early energy, and you know, Minnesota,
(00:47):
Minnesota reminds me a little bit of a more functional,
better coach version of Memphis. We have a dominating defensive
big size Rudy Gobert, Zach Edie like a like a
you know, a really big rim protector. You got a
lot of athletes. You got kind of a tough guy
in Randall or Desmond Baine. You got a dynamic player
(01:09):
Jahn Morant Aunt Edwards and obviously the better player right
now and had a great year shooting the three. Minnesota's
more well coached, but you got some length. You have
some athletes and one really dynamic athlete but I thought
the difference in the game was just the Lakers did
not play with a lot of physicality and a lot
(01:29):
of intensity. I didn't think they had any rhythm offensively,
and that that can happen as a favorite in game one,
but you figured by the third quarter, the fourth quarter,
they just never had it. They just didn't have it.
And JJ Reddick complained about it. They had it maybe
briefly in the third quarter, but I mean, did they
have in this game? Did they have three straight possessions
(01:52):
where you felt like the Lakers had a really good
offensive rhythm. Certainly, I don't remember in the second half
that happening. The play I think with a little bit
more energy and physicality. But again, Minnesota here is all week,
they're going to get beaten four or five games. They
come out and they did a great job of attacking
the basket, getting the ball out to open three point shooters,
(02:15):
and they hit over fifty percent, and they just got
a lot of good open looks from the perimeter, and
they hit a Jaden McDaniels played really, really well, young
kid for Minnesota, probably better than you would expect Ant's aunt.
But I thought overall, I kept waiting for the Lakers'
(02:35):
rhythm and the Lakers intensity kind of to taken next
level pop and Austin Reeves didn't do anything. You know,
Lucas scored a ton, but you know, Lebron was okay,
but I just didn't feel it. I just did just
one of those things. The favorite came in and got
out played and now worked, and I thought, you know,
(02:57):
Minnesota did not give up a lot of easy baskets
and the Lakers did, so it happens, you know, Minnesota
moving off Carl Anthony Towns for Julius Randall. My take
is I don't love either in the postseason. Carl Anthony's
a very gifted offensive player. Julius Randers a tough guy,
a really hard worker. But both their ceilings. I mean,
(03:20):
Carl Anthony town gets worked defensively and Julius Randall has
a ceiling offensively. But they're a little bit like last
year and where they're just a well coached team with
some depth of athletes. And you know, if you don't
come out to play in this league, I mean, listen
to the Knicks. We're in a dog fight against Detroit, and
(03:42):
then younger Detroit New York started hitting threes. New York
started getting a lot of turnovers by the Pistons late.
Then all of a sudden, you know, the next transition
game is in lockstep and they just blow him out.
And that game got ugly. In about a six minute
five it burst, so you kind of felt you're like,
(04:03):
come on, come on, ignite it, ignite it. And then
the Knicks did defensive intensity, started turnovers. From the turnovers transition,
they went on a run Nix went. I kept waiting
for the Lakers to do that, but they just didn't
have any defensive intensity. I just didn't sense it a
little better than the third, but not good enough. So
(04:24):
that's the upset of the day. Indiana one. I thought
that would be the case Nicks one. I think the
two series that are going to be well, now, the
Lakers Minnesota is going to be interesting, but I think
Nuggets Clippers feels very very even. Whereas the Nuggets have
the best player and the Clippers have to me better, coach,
(04:45):
better defense, So that series is going to go six
or seven. And I think the Warriors and the NBA
thinks this because they put it on Sunday night. The
Warriors Rockets is going to be fantastic. I mean, just
you know, diametrically opposed a small team with old KG
veterans and a young team with athletes and length. That's
just going to be a great series. But Minnesota and
(05:09):
the Lakers, I mean, here's one of the things that happens.
You really see this in a sport when you have
a long series. Certainly in the NBA, Lakers are going
to make some key adjustments and most notably, they're going
to play with much more physicality. So in the home
(05:30):
team in the playoffs usually gets the whistle. So expect
the Lakers to come out in Game two of the
series and be very physical and very aggressive and attacking
the tea Wolves because they did not bring their fastball tonight.
That was a weak home effort in Game one. You know,
(05:54):
Austin Reeves has played really, really well since they acquired,
but boy, Austin didn't. He didn't do a ton for
me tonight. I thought, just the tempo of the game.
The Timberwolves outscored the Lakers in transition twenty five to
six and fast breakpoints. And if you thought to yourself,
(06:14):
point Minnesota is scoring easily. Yeah, twenty five of their
points were in transition, and they've got very good perimeter defenders.
We've known this. Jaden McDaniels was like all defense last year,
and so they're going to make Lebron and Reeves and
Luca work for it. And then Dante di Vinentento is
(06:35):
a athletic, very resilient defender. So their way to win.
Minnesota's way to win is to be physical and play defense.
That's their way to win. You know, it's funny about
Julius Randall is that he clearly has an offensive ceiling,
but he plays with great energy and a lot of
(06:58):
that is because Julius Randall knows that's his game over
the last five years. Listen to this stat three players
of average at least twenty two to nine and five
over the last five years, Jokich, Giannis and Julius Randall. Right,
you wouldn't have guessed that. So, you know, I think
(07:19):
you just look at a team in Minnesota. They know
that they have to win with intensity and defense. They
have to win the transition game. You know, they're generally
they're not going to win a three point shooting contest
or shootouts. They know what they are and Chris Finch,
the coach, knows what they are and so sometimes in
these playoff games, it's who plays their game. And when
(07:43):
you watched Minnesota tonight, you felt like you were watching
a smartly executed game plan, and when you watch the Lakers,
you felt like it was low energy and they could
never really get into sync. So and give Minnesota credit.
Minnesota got the Lakers off their game, and they did
it with intensity and defense. We've got to give Aunt
(08:05):
Edwards a lot of credit. You can tell Minnesota has
worked on his game, and Aunt Edwards has worked on
his game. He's matured, his pacings better, his shooting's better
when he gets doubled, and he works off the ball.
He's just Aunt Edwards. And again, when you're as talented
(08:26):
as Aunt, you're not going to spend a lot of
time in college. So you're going to come into this
league and for the first couple of years, you're going
to score, you're going to show off, but you really
don't know how to play defense. You're shooting like Lebron.
It's going to take a couple of years do you
get it dialed in. But I can tell when I
watch Ant Edwards, I can tell he's well coached and
I can tell he really cares. And a lot of
(08:48):
young players A Zion comes into the league and you know,
can't get his weight under control, and Jaw comes into
the league and is just immature. Ant comes into this
league and it's a testament to the Tea Wolves and
Aunt Edwards. He has put work into his game. That
kid has put work into his game because he's athletic
enough and dynamic enough to just drop twenty five a
(09:11):
night and not give a rip about adding layers to
his game. He's that talented. You can see the layers.
I mean a shooting this year, obviously shooting the three ball,
but you can just watch him off ball. You know,
he paces himself better, plays off teammates better. And it's
you know, that's the difference in this league. Like everybody's
(09:34):
gonna get paid your top five or six picks. They've
got a lot of talent. What do you want to
do with the talent? And when I watch Aunt, I
see somebody that has put time in. It's pretty obvious.
And you know you saw it all season and you
saw it tonight in Game one. But he's not somebody
and it's not somebody that forces it. I mean the
(09:57):
Timberwolves led by eleven at half and Aunt only had
eight points. So he's not somebody he lets the game
come to him, you know. Aunt also more patient letting
the game come to him. T Wolves led by eleven
and a half, he only had eight. He finished with twenty two.
But you can just you can just see that a
(10:19):
lot of times when young players come into the game,
they force things like they they if they're have an
off shooting night, they go into the tank. Ant's just
become a really, really good player. And they won tonight comfortably,
only twenty two points, So Lakers got some work to do.
So can't wait for Game two. A little bit of
(10:41):
a shocker. I mean it just Minnesota got so many
easy transition baskets and so many open threes, and man
they were hitting them. The NBA eighty two game grind
is done. Now the real fun begins. The NBA players
love them. They're here. Time for drama, clutch moments, Steph Curry,
(11:04):
Lebron joh dropping plays. I can't wait. If you're looking
to make the playoffs even more exciting. DraftKings sports Book
Cash You Cover. They're the official sports betting partner of
the NBA. Playing games all the way to the finals.
Now's the time to back your favorite players and teams
as they chase glory. So all season long, DraftKings been
the go to spot for NBA player props. That doesn't
stop now. If you want to make your playoff experience
even more intense, try placing a bet in your favorite
(11:25):
player's performance. Will they drop thirty, forty, who knows or more?
It's your call. If you're ready to place your first bet,
download the Draft Kings sports book app. Takes ninety seconds.
Lock in your bets and let's make the playoffs unforgettable.
Here's something special for first timers. DraftKings customers that are new,
bet five bucks. That's it, five bucks and get two
hundred and bonus bets instantly. Just make it a playoff
run to remember. With DraftKings, download their sports book app.
(11:47):
Takes ninety seconds to code's Colin Coli n that is
code Colin. New customers get two hundred bucks in bonus
bets betting just five only on DraftKings.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
The Crown is Yours gambling problem called one a tendred
gambler in New York called eight seven seven eight hope
and wire text Hope and y four six seven three
six nine in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling
called eight eight eight seven eight nine seven seven seven
seven or visit CCPG dot org. Please play responsibly on
behalf of Boothill Casino in Resorting, Kansas twenty one on
over agent eligibility varies by jurisdiction, Void and Ontario New
(12:18):
customers only. Bonus bets expire one hundred and sixty eight
hours after issuance. Four additional terms and responsible gaming resources
see dkang dot co. Slash audio.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
An instant reaction as the Nuggets beat the Clippers one twelve,
one ten in overtime. I'll be doing a lot of these,
as you know. I do it in the NFL season,
I do it in the NBA playoffs and sometimes after
you know, big events, I do instant reactions. So this
is you know, it's funny. My wife's like in Chicago
and she's like, what are you doing this weekend? And
(12:57):
I said, sitting on the couch watching NBA playoff basketball?
And you know, I made my predictions on my social media.
I had the Clippers winning this in six or seven.
I just thought they were a much better defensive team
and I thought tylu is worth a win in the series.
This is a go either way game. In fact, for
the first three quarters, I really thought the Clippers had momentum,
(13:19):
playing very well. And then Denver's a very good come
from behind team, a very good clutch team. You know,
they've got a lot of veterans, and there's so many
ways to talk about this game. First of all, I
get kind of tired of fans complaining about officiating. It's
why I don't like watching games with fans is that
it's kind of a you problem if you don't understand
that NBA playoff basketball is officiated differently it has been
(13:41):
since I started watching in nineteen seventy two. They want
the play the league wants, the coaches want the players,
want the players to decide games. They're going to allow
more contact. They're just going to you're not going to
get the regular season whistle. And I think NBA playoff
basketball is very, very hard to officiate. It's like a
(14:02):
pass interference judgment call on every possession because a there's
tons of intensity and nobody wants the league, the players,
the fans a foul called on every play. You let
players play, and that's why outside of the COVID year,
the COVID bubble, when all the old married players were
depressed and played like crap. Veteran NBA teams win in
the playoffs. It's why I don't think Okc's gonna win.
(14:24):
I think they're too young. I thought Cleveland the last
two years was really good, but too young in spots.
And what made this game tough to officiate Denver and
the Clippers are that's a veteran team. I mean, Zubat's
been in the league ten years, and Kawhi Leonard and
James Harden and Batoom and then you've got on the
(14:44):
other side, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon's been around more than
a few minutes. Yo Kich has been around. So you've
got these veteran players who are physical. They've been in
NBA weight rooms on weight programs for ten years, and
they're gonna they're going to bang around in there. Those rebounds,
they're all sorts of contact. You don't want for the
(15:06):
esthetics of the league to be at the free throw
line for the last five minutes of the game, and
so they let more contact go. Kawhi Leonard was complaining
about a non call on an inbounds play. I watched it,
and I'm like, no, in the playoffs, you're not calling that.
You're just not calling that. So you just you have
to deal with it. That's up to you as a
coaching staff and players. You've got to deal with it.
(15:27):
I mean, I picked the Clippers in that series. Kawhi
can complain, you're not that. You're not getting that call
in the playoffs very infrequently, so I think it's very
hard to officiate it. And these are veteran teams with
guys who have been around the block, and they're going
to push the refs. They're gonna be more physical than
they're going to be in the regular season because they
know they're going to be allowed to be more physical.
(15:50):
So everybody likes to bang in officials these playoff games.
It's like a pass interference call. You could call so
many more than you do in the NFL, but you
got to let players play. You're gonna let hand to
hand combat go, especially in big playoff games in the NFL.
And so my other take is Russell Westbrook. I mean,
you get the full Russell Westbrook experience when he plays. Listen,
(16:11):
he gives you incredible energy, He's one of the best
rebounding guards in a long time. He's a physical player.
I mean sometimes situationally, circumstantially he's got blinders on. Then
they have a ton of self awareness. I love that
he hit that big three. There was a reason he
was wide open. You're gonna give him that. But Westbrook
was key rebounding, extending possessions. But you get the full
(16:33):
Westbrook experience that he's you know, he's going a thousand
miles an hour and sometimes you just want him to downshift,
put on the governor, slow down, and that's just not
the way he plays. And then you make a decision
when you put Westbrook in laden games. But I'll tell
you this, he's a veteran and he plays with great energy,
and I'll take him. And that was one of the
things that you know, Malone wanted Westbrook on the floor reportedly,
(16:54):
and you know the GM during the regular season wanted
to play some younger guys. It's like, no, this playoff basketball.
I want the old, strong, physical veterans on the floor.
And Westbrook made several huge, huge plays. Forget just the
three pointer, rebound, extra possessions, hustle plays. He was great
(17:16):
I've been a critic of Westbrook forever, and you know
he's now kind of a bounce around the league guy.
But hey man, you can't deny how valuable he was.
And now he's a much different player than Gordon, but
he can extend possessions. He's just got an energy. Gordon's
the same way. Gordon's got great length, but just extends opportunities.
(17:37):
And you're just looking for extra possessions. And again, Denver's
a very good team in these clutch moments. You know.
The other thing is I watched this guy. I mean
I wrote down about six different moments in the last
five minutes alone. In that it's a pretty easy series
to look at. I mean, it's gonna be really close.
It's gonna be offensively, it's gonna be Jamal Murray and Jokic.
(17:58):
That's gonna be it for the Nuggets. If they hit
big baskets, Jamal Murray hit a big shot late, it
goes their way. It's going to be Leonard, Kawhi, Leonard
and Harden taking the big shots for the Clippers late,
and so you kind of know what you're getting. All
these guys have been around the block. I do think
the Clippers are a much better defensive team, and I
think that will over the course of a series, pay dividends.
(18:21):
But that was a fantastic first game of a playoff series,
and you know, I was thinking about watching it. How
so much I love playoff basketball is that it's a
different sport. Like you have to in hockey or in football,
you got to play hard all the timer. You'll get hurt.
In baseball, it's so much about pitcher and hitter, and
you know, guys don't want to be embarrassed. So I mean,
(18:43):
you certainly manage differently in postseason baseball. But in NBA basketball,
it's a long season. There's a lot of wear and
tearing your body. Most people are not six foot nine
inches tall. That's a lot. I mean, it's life's harder
at six'. Nine you can make a lot of money
if you're a pro basketball but it beats up your.
Body i've seen so many OLDER, nba FORMER nba guys six,' ten.
(19:05):
Six eleven. They're. Hobbling man it's it's rough on. The
body and so there are times guys play at a.
Different level and you saw it in the second half
of this game that every possession. WAS huge i thought
it was interesting that of all these great, veteran players
it Was A christian Brown, from kansas the young guy
who made that save as the ball was going at
(19:25):
a bounds and then he came back and hit a.
HUGE jumper i thought, that was, you know as important
as any two possessions late in. The GAME but i
think what you're watching is in, this series these are
going to be close games with a lot. Of veterans
they're going to be. Physical games you're going to get
some complaining. About Physicality, you're denver you're gonna Get that
(19:47):
kawhi non call. At home you probably don't get It In.
Los angeles it is a you problem at this point
if you can't figure that, Out right like that's THE
way nba playoff basketball. War works it was just so
much fun, to watch and, You know yokich is a.
FASCINATING player i thought he played better defense in the.
(20:09):
Second half, you know in the, FIRST half i watched
hard and fly by him about. Four times he's the
second Best center i've ever seen play in terms of.
Overall skill the Best is kareem and he. Loves BASKETBALL
he's i think one of the things that happens IN. The,
nba now the athletes are better. Than ever there's no,
hand checking and if you're a big, you know he
(20:32):
uses his size to his, advantage offensively and sometimes his
size is a. Disadvantage DEFENSIVELY but i do think in he,
is situationally he can be an. Okay defender he's just.
So BIG and, i think, you know in the end of,
the game in the last, TEN possessions i thought he
made a good effort in the. First half, you know
(20:54):
it's a long, basketball game and he's handling the ball.
So often on the, offensive end, you know it's, defenses work,
defensive effort, offensive skill and so what you watched in
the last five minutes of, this game everybody was all.
In defensively AND again i circle back to these are
hard games. To officiate you're going to get those little
go either. Way calls maybe, at home you're not going
(21:16):
to get him on. The road and in, the end
all these extra Possessions, for denver, You know westbrook grabbing,
A Rebound gordon jokic keeping. Balls alive you just get.
Extra possessions that is. The key THAT'S why I like
houston To Beat. GOLDEN state I think they're going to
get so many extra possessions because they're a, much bigger
longer athletic TEAM that I think houston is just going
(21:39):
to get more possessions and in, playoff basketball that is.
So crucial but this was about as entertaining as a
game one. CAN be i just enjoyed the hell out.
Of it and, you know my other Takeaway Is kawhi
leonard is such an all time. UNIQUE player, i mean he's.
(21:59):
Literally nonverbal he's really. Really GOOD but i think like
when you ask him to be sort of, the leader
it's weird when you ask him to just, be great Like,
in toronto. He's Fantastic san antonio wanted him to be
more of a leader as all the, you know the
legends aged and With, the clippers You, Know Tylu, James Harden, Kawhi,
(22:26):
Leonard batoom zubats like. You got you've got a lot
of guys who have. Been around it's it's they played
so well late in the SEASON and i do think.
THEY'LL rebound I think game two is going to be fantastic.
AS well i think eventually over the course of, this
series coaching, and DEFENSE and i KNOW the nba is An,
offensive LEAGUE but i just Like the clippers coaching, and
(22:48):
DEFENSE and i think it may, go SEVEN but i
Think the clippers style will work. OVER time i just
think over the course of, SEVEN games i give them
a very. Slight EDGE now i Picked the pacers to Beat.
The bucks they blew them Out in. GAME one I think,
indiana's better younger. AND better i think the two. Best
(23:10):
series one of them is. This one the other one
will Be the Dubs, and rockets so and. In both
you know with this one that's this is an. Old
series these are old veteran players And the warriors And
the rockets, young team. OLD team i almost always take the,
older Team But golden state is. REDEFINING old, i mean everybody,
(23:33):
feels like, you know all their, Big, Buckets draymond butler
and staff are all. Mid thirties that's. Too old and
they down the stretch they looked. Too old and now
that the comingas, you know in and out of THE.
ROTATION dnps i don't think they Can beat houston over
six or, seven GAMES but i hope You enjoyed. GAME
one i get all my. Notes here It is westbrook
(23:56):
can drive, you crazy, BUT god i have six different
TIMES here I write westbrook in my NOTES and i
Only have jokic a couple of. THEM late, I mean
westbrook was just, that energy you know when he when
he WENT to ucla and came into, the league nobody
quite knew what to do. With him is he a?
Point guard he's not a good enough shooter to be a.
TOO energy, i mean if if you've Never seen westbrook
(24:20):
play and somebody said what's, he like, you'd, say well for,
a guard he's not a very. Good, shooter, physical, rebounding, production.
Hustle Energy When russell westbrook's on, the floor. He pops
he can be the smallest guy on the floor and
you can. SEE him i mean he IS always i
(24:41):
always felt like that was, my knock, you Know On.
Jason Tatum sometimes, i'm Like is tatum on? The floor
like aggressive wins and aggressive. Is, important westbrook there's, an
argument is as aggressive as any player under six four in.
LEAGUE history, i mean he is a street fighter. Out
there he is is every possession and sometimes it's. His
(25:02):
undoing but he was really. Really key he'll drive, you
nuts but you gotta. Be, Fair now westbrook was essential
In the Nuggets winning. This puppy the volume
The volume. Well, the surprise of the day, instant reaction,
Minnesota dominating the Lakers from about the second quarter on
and taking a one zero series lead. Uh, I mean,
I thought it was really obvious. You saw this a
(00:23):
lot today where the underdog Pistons come in with a
ton of energy, outplay the next a little bit early,
but eventually, you know, the favorites wake up, and that's
that happens a lot in the playoffs. You know, watch
Golden State's favorite over Houston. Watched Houston tomorrow night, come
in with a ton of early energy, and you know, Minnesota,
(00:47):
Minnesota reminds me a little bit of a more functional,
better coach version of Memphis. We have a dominating defensive
big size Rudy Gobert, Zach Edie like a like a
you know, a really big rim protector. You got a
lot of athletes. You got kind of a tough guy
in Randall or Desmond Baine. You got a dynamic player
(01:09):
Jahn Morant Aunt Edwards and obviously the better player right
now and had a great year shooting the three. Minnesota's
more well coached, but you got some length. You have
some athletes and one really dynamic athlete but I thought
the difference in the game was just the Lakers did
not play with a lot of physicality and a lot
(01:29):
of intensity. I didn't think they had any rhythm offensively,
and that that can happen as a favorite in game one,
but you figured by the third quarter, the fourth quarter,
they just never had it. They just didn't have it.
And JJ Reddick complained about it. They had it maybe
briefly in the third quarter, but I mean, did they
have in this game? Did they have three straight possessions
(01:52):
where you felt like the Lakers had a really good
offensive rhythm. Certainly, I don't remember in the second half
that happening. The play I think with a little bit
more energy and physicality. But again, Minnesota here is all week,
they're going to get beaten four or five games. They
come out and they did a great job of attacking
the basket, getting the ball out to open three point shooters,
(02:15):
and they hit over fifty percent, and they just got
a lot of good open looks from the perimeter, and
they hit a Jaden McDaniels played really, really well, young
kid for Minnesota, probably better than you would expect Ant's aunt.
But I thought overall, I kept waiting for the Lakers'
(02:35):
rhythm and the Lakers intensity kind of to taken next
level pop and Austin Reeves didn't do anything. You know,
Lucas scored a ton, but you know, Lebron was okay,
but I just didn't feel it. I just did just
one of those things. The favorite came in and got
out played and now worked, and I thought, you know,
(02:57):
Minnesota did not give up a lot of easy baskets
and the Lakers did, so it happens, you know, Minnesota
moving off Carl Anthony Towns for Julius Randall. My take
is I don't love either in the postseason. Carl Anthony's
a very gifted offensive player. Julius Randers a tough guy,
a really hard worker. But both their ceilings. I mean,
(03:20):
Carl Anthony town gets worked defensively and Julius Randall has
a ceiling offensively. But they're a little bit like last
year and where they're just a well coached team with
some depth of athletes. And you know, if you don't
come out to play in this league, I mean, listen
to the Knicks. We're in a dog fight against Detroit, and
(03:42):
then younger Detroit New York started hitting threes. New York
started getting a lot of turnovers by the Pistons late.
Then all of a sudden, you know, the next transition
game is in lockstep and they just blow him out.
And that game got ugly. In about a six minute
five it burst, so you kind of felt you're like,
(04:03):
come on, come on, ignite it, ignite it. And then
the Knicks did defensive intensity, started turnovers. From the turnovers transition,
they went on a run Nix went. I kept waiting
for the Lakers to do that, but they just didn't
have any defensive intensity. I just didn't sense it a
little better than the third, but not good enough. So
(04:24):
that's the upset of the day. Indiana one. I thought
that would be the case Nicks one. I think the
two series that are going to be well, now, the
Lakers Minnesota is going to be interesting, but I think
Nuggets Clippers feels very very even. Whereas the Nuggets have
the best player and the Clippers have to me better, coach,
(04:45):
better defense, So that series is going to go six
or seven. And I think the Warriors and the NBA
thinks this because they put it on Sunday night. The
Warriors Rockets is going to be fantastic. I mean, just
you know, diametrically opposed a small team with old KG
veterans and a young team with athletes and length. That's
just going to be a great series. But Minnesota and
(05:09):
the Lakers, I mean, here's one of the things that happens.
You really see this in a sport when you have
a long series. Certainly in the NBA, Lakers are going
to make some key adjustments and most notably, they're going
to play with much more physicality. So in the home
(05:30):
team in the playoffs usually gets the whistle. So expect
the Lakers to come out in Game two of the
series and be very physical and very aggressive and attacking
the tea Wolves because they did not bring their fastball tonight.
That was a weak home effort in Game one. You know,
(05:54):
Austin Reeves has played really, really well since they acquired,
but boy, Austin didn't. He didn't do a ton for
me tonight. I thought, just the tempo of the game.
The Timberwolves outscored the Lakers in transition twenty five to
six and fast breakpoints. And if you thought to yourself,
(06:14):
point Minnesota is scoring easily. Yeah, twenty five of their
points were in transition, and they've got very good perimeter defenders.
We've known this. Jaden McDaniels was like all defense last year,
and so they're going to make Lebron and Reeves and
Luca work for it. And then Dante di Vinentento is
(06:35):
a athletic, very resilient defender. So their way to win.
Minnesota's way to win is to be physical and play defense.
That's their way to win. You know, it's funny about
Julius Randall is that he clearly has an offensive ceiling,
but he plays with great energy and a lot of
(06:58):
that is because Julius Randall knows that's his game over
the last five years. Listen to this stat three players
of average at least twenty two to nine and five
over the last five years, Jokich, Giannis and Julius Randall. Right,
you wouldn't have guessed that. So, you know, I think
(07:19):
you just look at a team in Minnesota. They know
that they have to win with intensity and defense. They
have to win the transition game. You know, they're generally
they're not going to win a three point shooting contest
or shootouts. They know what they are and Chris Finch,
the coach, knows what they are and so sometimes in
these playoff games, it's who plays their game. And when
(07:43):
you watched Minnesota tonight, you felt like you were watching
a smartly executed game plan, and when you watch the Lakers,
you felt like it was low energy and they could
never really get into sync. So and give Minnesota credit.
Minnesota got the Lakers off their game, and they did
it with intensity and defense. We've got to give Aunt
(08:05):
Edwards a lot of credit. You can tell Minnesota has
worked on his game, and Aunt Edwards has worked on
his game. He's matured, his pacings better, his shooting's better
when he gets doubled, and he works off the ball.
He's just Aunt Edwards. And again, when you're as talented
(08:26):
as Aunt, you're not going to spend a lot of
time in college. So you're going to come into this
league and for the first couple of years, you're going
to score, you're going to show off, but you really
don't know how to play defense. You're shooting like Lebron.
It's going to take a couple of years do you
get it dialed in. But I can tell when I
watch Ant Edwards, I can tell he's well coached and
I can tell he really cares. And a lot of
(08:48):
young players A Zion comes into the league and you know,
can't get his weight under control, and Jaw comes into
the league and is just immature. Ant comes into this
league and it's a testament to the Tea Wolves and
Aunt Edwards. He has put work into his game. That
kid has put work into his game because he's athletic
enough and dynamic enough to just drop twenty five a
(09:11):
night and not give a rip about adding layers to
his game. He's that talented. You can see the layers.
I mean a shooting this year, obviously shooting the three ball,
but you can just watch him off ball. You know,
he paces himself better, plays off teammates better. And it's
you know, that's the difference in this league. Like everybody's
(09:34):
gonna get paid your top five or six picks. They've
got a lot of talent. What do you want to
do with the talent? And when I watch Aunt, I
see somebody that has put time in. It's pretty obvious.
And you know you saw it all season and you
saw it tonight in Game one. But he's not somebody
and it's not somebody that forces it. I mean the
(09:57):
Timberwolves led by eleven at half and Aunt only had
eight points. So he's not somebody he lets the game
come to him, you know. Aunt also more patient letting
the game come to him. T Wolves led by eleven
and a half, he only had eight. He finished with twenty two.
But you can just you can just see that a
(10:19):
lot of times when young players come into the game,
they force things like they they if they're have an
off shooting night, they go into the tank. Ant's just
become a really, really good player. And they won tonight comfortably,
only twenty two points, So Lakers got some work to do.
So can't wait for Game two. A little bit of
(10:41):
a shocker. I mean it just Minnesota got so many
easy transition baskets and so many open threes, and man
they were hitting them. The NBA eighty two game grind
is done. Now the real fun begins. The NBA players
love them. They're here. Time for drama, clutch moments, Steph Curry,
(11:04):
Lebron joh dropping plays. I can't wait. If you're looking
to make the playoffs even more exciting. DraftKings sports Book
Cash You Cover. They're the official sports betting partner of
the NBA. Playing games all the way to the finals.
Now's the time to back your favorite players and teams
as they chase glory. So all season long, DraftKings been
the go to spot for NBA player props. That doesn't
stop now. If you want to make your playoff experience
even more intense, try placing a bet in your favorite
(11:25):
player's performance. Will they drop thirty, forty, who knows or more?
It's your call. If you're ready to place your first bet,
download the Draft Kings sports book app. Takes ninety seconds.
Lock in your bets and let's make the playoffs unforgettable.
Here's something special for first timers. DraftKings customers that are new,
bet five bucks. That's it, five bucks and get two
hundred and bonus bets instantly. Just make it a playoff
run to remember. With DraftKings, download their sports book app.
(11:47):
Takes ninety seconds to code's Colin Coli n that is
code Colin. New customers get two hundred bucks in bonus
bets betting just five only on DraftKings.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
The Crown is Yours gambling problem called one a tendred
gambler in New York called eight seven seven eight hope
and wire text Hope and y four six seven three
six nine in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling
called eight eight eight seven eight nine seven seven seven
seven or visit CCPG dot org. Please play responsibly on
behalf of Boothill Casino in Resorting, Kansas twenty one on
over agent eligibility varies by jurisdiction, Void and Ontario New
(12:18):
customers only. Bonus bets expire one hundred and sixty eight
hours after issuance. Four additional terms and responsible gaming resources
see dkang dot co. Slash audio.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
An instant reaction as the Nuggets beat the Clippers one twelve,
one ten in overtime. I'll be doing a lot of these,
as you know. I do it in the NFL season,
I do it in the NBA playoffs and sometimes after
you know, big events, I do instant reactions. So this
is you know, it's funny. My wife's like in Chicago
and she's like, what are you doing this weekend? And
(12:57):
I said, sitting on the couch watching NBA playoff basketball?
And you know, I made my predictions on my social media.
I had the Clippers winning this in six or seven.
I just thought they were a much better defensive team
and I thought tylu is worth a win in the series.
This is a go either way game. In fact, for
the first three quarters, I really thought the Clippers had momentum,
(13:19):
playing very well. And then Denver's a very good come
from behind team, a very good clutch team. You know,
they've got a lot of veterans, and there's so many
ways to talk about this game. First of all, I
get kind of tired of fans complaining about officiating. It's
why I don't like watching games with fans is that
it's kind of a you problem if you don't understand
that NBA playoff basketball is officiated differently it has been
(13:41):
since I started watching in nineteen seventy two. They want
the play the league wants, the coaches want the players,
want the players to decide games. They're going to allow
more contact. They're just going to you're not going to
get the regular season whistle. And I think NBA playoff
basketball is very, very hard to officiate. It's like a
(14:02):
pass interference judgment call on every possession because a there's
tons of intensity and nobody wants the league, the players,
the fans a foul called on every play. You let
players play, and that's why outside of the COVID year,
the COVID bubble, when all the old married players were
depressed and played like crap. Veteran NBA teams win in
the playoffs. It's why I don't think Okc's gonna win.
(14:24):
I think they're too young. I thought Cleveland the last
two years was really good, but too young in spots.
And what made this game tough to officiate Denver and
the Clippers are that's a veteran team. I mean, Zubat's
been in the league ten years, and Kawhi Leonard and
James Harden and Batoom and then you've got on the
(14:44):
other side, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon's been around more than
a few minutes. Yo Kich has been around. So you've
got these veteran players who are physical. They've been in
NBA weight rooms on weight programs for ten years, and
they're gonna they're going to bang around in there. Those rebounds,
they're all sorts of contact. You don't want for the
(15:06):
esthetics of the league to be at the free throw
line for the last five minutes of the game, and
so they let more contact go. Kawhi Leonard was complaining
about a non call on an inbounds play. I watched it,
and I'm like, no, in the playoffs, you're not calling that.
You're just not calling that. So you just you have
to deal with it. That's up to you as a
coaching staff and players. You've got to deal with it.
(15:27):
I mean, I picked the Clippers in that series. Kawhi
can complain, you're not that. You're not getting that call
in the playoffs very infrequently, so I think it's very
hard to officiate it. And these are veteran teams with
guys who have been around the block, and they're going
to push the refs. They're gonna be more physical than
they're going to be in the regular season because they
know they're going to be allowed to be more physical.
(15:50):
So everybody likes to bang in officials these playoff games.
It's like a pass interference call. You could call so
many more than you do in the NFL, but you
got to let players play. You're gonna let hand to
hand combat go, especially in big playoff games in the NFL.
And so my other take is Russell Westbrook. I mean,
you get the full Russell Westbrook experience when he plays. Listen,
(16:11):
he gives you incredible energy, He's one of the best
rebounding guards in a long time. He's a physical player.
I mean sometimes situationally, circumstantially he's got blinders on. Then
they have a ton of self awareness. I love that
he hit that big three. There was a reason he
was wide open. You're gonna give him that. But Westbrook
was key rebounding, extending possessions. But you get the full
(16:33):
Westbrook experience that he's you know, he's going a thousand
miles an hour and sometimes you just want him to downshift,
put on the governor, slow down, and that's just not
the way he plays. And then you make a decision
when you put Westbrook in laden games. But I'll tell
you this, he's a veteran and he plays with great energy,
and I'll take him. And that was one of the
things that you know, Malone wanted Westbrook on the floor reportedly,
(16:54):
and you know the GM during the regular season wanted
to play some younger guys. It's like, no, this playoff basketball.
I want the old, strong, physical veterans on the floor.
And Westbrook made several huge, huge plays. Forget just the
three pointer, rebound, extra possessions, hustle plays. He was great
(17:16):
I've been a critic of Westbrook forever, and you know
he's now kind of a bounce around the league guy.
But hey man, you can't deny how valuable he was.
And now he's a much different player than Gordon, but
he can extend possessions. He's just got an energy. Gordon's
the same way. Gordon's got great length, but just extends opportunities.
(17:37):
And you're just looking for extra possessions. And again, Denver's
a very good team in these clutch moments. You know.
The other thing is I watched this guy. I mean
I wrote down about six different moments in the last
five minutes alone. In that it's a pretty easy series
to look at. I mean, it's gonna be really close.
It's gonna be offensively, it's gonna be Jamal Murray and Jokic.
(17:58):
That's gonna be it for the Nuggets. If they hit
big baskets, Jamal Murray hit a big shot late, it
goes their way. It's going to be Leonard, Kawhi, Leonard
and Harden taking the big shots for the Clippers late,
and so you kind of know what you're getting. All
these guys have been around the block. I do think
the Clippers are a much better defensive team, and I
think that will over the course of a series, pay dividends.
(18:21):
But that was a fantastic first game of a playoff series,
and you know, I was thinking about watching it. How
so much I love playoff basketball is that it's a
different sport. Like you have to in hockey or in football,
you got to play hard all the timer. You'll get hurt.
In baseball, it's so much about pitcher and hitter, and
you know, guys don't want to be embarrassed. So I mean,
(18:43):
you certainly manage differently in postseason baseball. But in NBA basketball,
it's a long season. There's a lot of wear and
tearing your body. Most people are not six foot nine
inches tall. That's a lot. I mean, it's life's harder
at six'. Nine you can make a lot of money
if you're a pro basketball but it beats up your.
Body i've seen so many OLDER, nba FORMER nba guys six,' ten.
(19:05):
Six eleven. They're. Hobbling man it's it's rough on. The
body and so there are times guys play at a.
Different level and you saw it in the second half
of this game that every possession. WAS huge i thought
it was interesting that of all these great, veteran players
it Was A christian Brown, from kansas the young guy
who made that save as the ball was going at
(19:25):
a bounds and then he came back and hit a.
HUGE jumper i thought, that was, you know as important
as any two possessions late in. The GAME but i
think what you're watching is in, this series these are
going to be close games with a lot. Of veterans
they're going to be. Physical games you're going to get
some complaining. About Physicality, you're denver you're gonna Get that
(19:47):
kawhi non call. At home you probably don't get It In.
Los angeles it is a you problem at this point
if you can't figure that, Out right like that's THE
way nba playoff basketball. War works it was just so
much fun, to watch and, You know yokich is a.
FASCINATING player i thought he played better defense in the.
(20:09):
Second half, you know in the, FIRST half i watched
hard and fly by him about. Four times he's the
second Best center i've ever seen play in terms of.
Overall skill the Best is kareem and he. Loves BASKETBALL
he's i think one of the things that happens IN. The,
nba now the athletes are better. Than ever there's no,
hand checking and if you're a big, you know he
(20:32):
uses his size to his, advantage offensively and sometimes his
size is a. Disadvantage DEFENSIVELY but i do think in he,
is situationally he can be an. Okay defender he's just.
So BIG and, i think, you know in the end of,
the game in the last, TEN possessions i thought he
made a good effort in the. First half, you know
(20:54):
it's a long, basketball game and he's handling the ball.
So often on the, offensive end, you know it's, defenses work,
defensive effort, offensive skill and so what you watched in
the last five minutes of, this game everybody was all.
In defensively AND again i circle back to these are
hard games. To officiate you're going to get those little
go either. Way calls maybe, at home you're not going
(21:16):
to get him on. The road and in, the end
all these extra Possessions, for denver, You know westbrook grabbing,
A Rebound gordon jokic keeping. Balls alive you just get.
Extra possessions that is. The key THAT'S why I like
houston To Beat. GOLDEN state I think they're going to
get so many extra possessions because they're a, much bigger
longer athletic TEAM that I think houston is just going
(21:39):
to get more possessions and in, playoff basketball that is.
So crucial but this was about as entertaining as a
game one. CAN be i just enjoyed the hell out.
Of it and, you know my other Takeaway Is kawhi
leonard is such an all time. UNIQUE player, i mean he's.
(21:59):
Literally nonverbal he's really. Really GOOD but i think like
when you ask him to be sort of, the leader
it's weird when you ask him to just, be great Like,
in toronto. He's Fantastic san antonio wanted him to be
more of a leader as all the, you know the
legends aged and With, the clippers You, Know Tylu, James Harden, Kawhi,
(22:26):
Leonard batoom zubats like. You got you've got a lot
of guys who have. Been around it's it's they played
so well late in the SEASON and i do think.
THEY'LL rebound I think game two is going to be fantastic.
AS well i think eventually over the course of, this
series coaching, and DEFENSE and i KNOW the nba is An,
offensive LEAGUE but i just Like the clippers coaching, and
(22:48):
DEFENSE and i think it may, go SEVEN but i
Think the clippers style will work. OVER time i just
think over the course of, SEVEN games i give them
a very. Slight EDGE now i Picked the pacers to Beat.
The bucks they blew them Out in. GAME one I think,
indiana's better younger. AND better i think the two. Best
(23:10):
series one of them is. This one the other one
will Be the Dubs, and rockets so and. In both
you know with this one that's this is an. Old
series these are old veteran players And the warriors And
the rockets, young team. OLD team i almost always take the,
older Team But golden state is. REDEFINING old, i mean everybody,
(23:33):
feels like, you know all their, Big, Buckets draymond butler
and staff are all. Mid thirties that's. Too old and
they down the stretch they looked. Too old and now
that the comingas, you know in and out of THE.
ROTATION dnps i don't think they Can beat houston over
six or, seven GAMES but i hope You enjoyed. GAME
one i get all my. Notes here It is westbrook
(23:56):
can drive, you crazy, BUT god i have six different
TIMES here I write westbrook in my NOTES and i
Only have jokic a couple of. THEM late, I mean
westbrook was just, that energy you know when he when
he WENT to ucla and came into, the league nobody
quite knew what to do. With him is he a?
Point guard he's not a good enough shooter to be a.
TOO energy, i mean if if you've Never seen westbrook
(24:20):
play and somebody said what's, he like, you'd, say well for,
a guard he's not a very. Good, shooter, physical, rebounding, production.
Hustle Energy When russell westbrook's on, the floor. He pops
he can be the smallest guy on the floor and
you can. SEE him i mean he IS always i
(24:41):
always felt like that was, my knock, you Know On.
Jason Tatum sometimes, i'm Like is tatum on? The floor
like aggressive wins and aggressive. Is, important westbrook there's, an
argument is as aggressive as any player under six four in.
LEAGUE history, i mean he is a street fighter. Out
there he is is every possession and sometimes it's. His
(25:02):
undoing but he was really. Really key he'll drive, you
nuts but you gotta. Be, Fair now westbrook was essential
In the Nuggets winning. This puppy the volume
Host
Colin Cowherd
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
40s and Free Agents: NFL Draft Season
Daniel Jeremiah of Move the Sticks and Gregg Rosenthal of NFL Daily join forces to break down every team's needs this offseason.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.