Clippers are sleeper threat of NBA, talks LeBron trade odds, Joel Embiid’s injury | NBA | THE HERD
Senior writer Sports Illustrated our friend Chris manx joins us now live so let’s talk about the LeBron thing he had a a Nick towel draped over his shoulder which I thought was so LeBron it was funny um when you your takeaway is consider trading them and
Give me a big why here why would you why would you consider that well Colin all all the things you said about you know the positives of the Lakers are true LeBron is playing great Anthony Davis is playing great Austin Reed is on a good stretch right now and the
Lakers over the last couple of games have played some of the best basketball they’ve played all season in spite of that they are in ninth place in the Western Conference the most competitive Western Conference that we’ve seen maybe ever certainly in the last couple of decades so even with these guys playing
At this level they are a playin team at the moment so look I don’t believe that LE LeBron is going to be traded You Know Rich Paul came out and said last week LeBron is not asking for a trade and he’s not going to be traded and if you
Know the influence that rich Paul has in that Lakers organization you can take that effectively as gospel my position is that if you’re going into this trade deadline and you can’t find a deal that makes you significantly better you have to at least explore the possibility of a
Deal that might bring back a good young player in say Jonathan kaminga three first round draft picks in a deal that could be had with the New York Knicks or some creative deals with the Philadelphia 76ers I think it is important for the Lakers to at least
Consider these options so I watched them uh and the Clippers Hammer the Celtics you know Boston well um they had their starters uh really flat what am I supposed to do with a team that at home can get rolled is it just is it coaching I don’t it’s
Not considered one of the top four or five coaches what do you make of Boston at home getting rolled by both La teams yeah the Laker game weird game right like they saw LeBron they saw ad out and they came out flat whereas every person the Lakers put on the floor
Played brilliantly from Austin Reeves to D’angelo Russell everybody played good basketball uh in that game the Clipper game I think was concerning yes Chris as porzingis was not playing in that game for the Celtics and he’s instrumental to their success and what they do especially uh offensively but the
Clippers I think Expos some things the lack of depth that the Celtics have they’re really six deep and sometimes they go seven maybe eight um and the lack of athleticism you know especially with guys that are coming off the bench you can expand it even further Colin you
Go back a couple of weeks the other loss the Celtics had on their home floor was against Denver and so if you’re talking about a team that is looking to win a championship Denver the LA Clippers these are the two teams that the Celtics are going to have to go through so I
Think they have more than enough Firepower to get through the Eastern Conference I think their top six is legit but when they get to a final series what I learned from the Nuggets game and certainly from the Clippers game is that they may need to be proactive going into Thursday to add a
Reliable seventh eighth man to this rotation so I want to talk about Joel embiid’s injury so jmck is like this is outrageous he shouldn’t be forced to play and my take is the reason the NBA came out with this you got to play 79% of your games that you won’t get your
Bonuses is because too many stars were taking off big Saturday and Friday games it’s not good for the fans it’s a turnoff whenever I see embiid joic Giannis not playing I mean I’ve literally made decisions as a viewer I’m not even going to the game I’m not going
To watch the game what’s the point so where do you land on players outraged that he felt like he was forced to play nobody’s forced to play and I think the team you know needs to take a bigger role when guys are actually hurt you know they shouldn’t let guys go out
There when they have injuries that could potentially get worse all that being said I I don’t I don’t have the same level of outrage that some do at this 65 game threshold I mean missing 20% of the Season should probably take you out of consideration for the
Top level Awards now I I personally as an awards voter usually make 60 games the threshold if a guy’s playing in the 50s he’s GNA have to have an incredible season for me to consider him for all NBA for MVP for any of the top Awards
Voting but I don’t consider 65 to be this outrageous number yes this year it’s been front and center because Joel embi has kind of forced himself out there and now you have Tyrese halberton who missed a chunk of the season with that hamstring injury and he could be ineligible for postseason Awards because
He might come in just under that 65 inch game threshold these were all problems that the NBA was going to face but I I I personally don’t have a problem with creating this number as the threshold for award voting um I got to ask you I
It’s so funny the other night I went out and uh I sat down at a place and I was watching an NBA game and I looked to my right it was Lawrence Frank of the Clippers we sat there and talked for an hour and I said man did I miss on the
James Harden deal I didn’t like it at all and then over the last eight or nine games I’ve watched you and your offense there’s so much more fluidity it just the ball moves better and I’m like Terrence man now Westbrook’s Off the Bench are the Clippers a championship
Level I mean I got to be honest with you they took it to the Celtics I just missed on it how do you view them right now um I I missed on the James Harden deal as well I thought Harden would come in and I thought he’d be effective but I
Thought he’d be a net negative defensively I thought his presence would eventually lead to the Clippers need to part ways with Russell Westbrook because him being taken out of the rotation taking on a reduced role I thought that was going to be problematic none of those things have come to fruition they
Had a rough stretch at the very beginning as they tried to incorporate James Harden but they have been lights out and that’s a credit to both the guys that I mentioned one James Harden as he did in Philadelphia he has been facilitator first and foremost with that
Group Russell Westbrook did not sulk did not you know throw a fit he went out and accepted that sixthman role and even though there’s been some bumpy moments for Westbrook over the last couple of months he has largely excelled in that role Off the Bench the fact that these
Guys who have been pretty obstinate to change for most of their careers guys that have been like you know I’m me I’m going to do me and that’s kind of the way it’s going to be yeah they have adapted beautifully in this role for the Clippers I think that’s a big reason why
La is where they are all right Doc Rivers gets the Bucks job and listen I think the team is a bit flawed they have a great interior player and a great exterior player perimeter player and I do think they needed the shot making of Dame uh they don’t necessarily defend
The wing at all they’re a bit old Dame didn’t make them younger they’re not as good defensively uh I like them I think they could make a move I think they’re exactly what I thought they would be with Dame more explosive in the perimeter Giannis is a
Star doc hasn’t gotten off to a great start but he just unpacked his bags about an hour ago what do you make of the doc joining the Bucks A lot of people don’t like it he’s always worked well with veterans you covered him with Boston with all the old Stars what do
You make of it yeah I understood the move because if nothing else Doc Rivers is pretty good in a locker room with star players he’s had some bumps along the way the end in LA with Chris Paul wasn’t great the end in Philly with James Harden wasn’t great
But to your point he won a championship with three pretty big Personalities in Boston four really if you includ what Rajan Rondo was at that point so he knows how to manage a locker room the key for Milwaukee though Colin is can they get their defense just serviceable
It doesn’t need to be and it can’t be a top five defense it it’s not going to be that with Damen Lillard in the lineup but if they can get it inside the top 15 to like 11 12 13th in defensive efficiency they’re going to be able to
Pull out some uh pull out big games they’re not in my opinion they’re not going to be able to do that with the roster they currently have that’s why John hor and that front office is among the most aggressive over the last you know 24 48 hours to try to get help on
That perimeter they are in the mix for a guy like dejonte Mario they are in the mix for Dorian finny Smith in Brooklyn uh for Royce O’Neal in Brooklyn they are trying to get their hands on some kind of perimeter Defender because they are so good at the rim with Brook Lopez and
Yanis tend compo they just need some line of defense on the perimeter that’s better than Lillard Chris Middleton Malik Beasley if they can get one of those guys that defense I think will be shored up enough to make them a contender hey by the way I want to
Circle back to embiid so I thought was the closest thing I’ve ever seen to Shaq uh a little better from the perimeter but I mean he just the ability to put it on the floor overpower people has a little bit of a finesse game there’s a
Lot of things here if embiid never gets to a finals uh post injury he’s an Allstar player but this sort of you know the knock is he can’t win a second playoff series what is his legacy is he an all-time 30 player I don’t see it but
There’s a he’s got a lot of fans what do you make if he never return turns to his level or never gets to a final what is he historically yeah it’s a good question because the team with the team with Ben Simmons should have beaten that Atlanta
Hawks team a few years ago the team last year up 3-2 at home should have beaten the Boston Celtics now the blame pie is big on all those Ben Simmons gets some Harden Doc Rivers get some but Joel embiid if you look at some of these performances especially down the stretch
In game six last year in game seven where the Sixers laid an egg he has played a big part in their demise so I you know I can’t make a list right now but I wouldn’t put him in as a top 30 player despite all the accolades and all
The individual success at least get your team yeah into a Conference Finals when you have a team around you that’s capable of getting there yeah I mean Shaq’s got titles and ae’s got titles and Russell has titles and Wilt has titles and Kareem has titles so if
You’re if you’re you know he kind of f now he’s more offensively gifted but there’s sort of a a bobler kind of feel like we all know he’s great and they don’t have games that match but I I grew up with Bob lanir and I was like oh he
Was always a great Center but if you don’t give me a trophy you’re just a really talented guy who played around guys who got titles so I I I do think it really matters for alltime Bigs Chris manx Sports Illustrated as always buddy great seeing you hi everybody it’s me
Uncle Colin subscribe here to get the latest from the herd including exclusive behind the scenes videos and more wherever you may be however you may be watching thanks again for making us part of your day
Chris Mannix joins Colin Cowherd on The Herd to discuss the latest in NBA news, including the rumors surrounding LeBron James, and whether he’ll remain with the Los Angeles Lakers, who at best look like a play-in team. Mannix tells Colin whether there’s even a market for LeBron, and whether or any team would be willing to give up enough capital to acquire a player like LeBron. Plus, Joel Emiid’s injury could be a season ender for the Philadelphia 76ers, meanwhile the Los Angeles Clippers are looking like a sleeper hit with James Harden on the roster.
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Clippers are sleeper threat of NBA, talks LeBron trade odds, Joel Embiid’s injury | NBA | THE HERD
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
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46 Comments
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The Clippers aint going to win the West. Denver is going to repeat!!
Where is the weird Indian guy that hates on the Clippers all the time?
Read between the lines, they're just applying jinx to Clippers…
I’m time to end the circus in Milwaukee, it’s time to fire Doc
FINALLY CHRIS MANNIX AND ALL THE OTHER CLIPPER FAITHFUL CAN SAY THAT CLIPPERS HAVE A CHANCE, AFTER 5 YEARS OF CLAIMING IT!
Don't forget that Boston has rolled the clippers as well and still have an amazing home record. Every team will have a few weird games here and there, it happens 🙂
Embiid's knee had flared up a while back. But he chose to play on it the game before Denver and then chickened out at the last minute? Nah dude. If that knee was bothering you, you rest before Denver and show up for that game. I'm not going to cry for you.
I haven't heard of one non player complaining about the 65 game limit. It's a great rule and it's a start. Players complaining about it show how divorced from reality they are.
Bro if the clippers win a championship this guy has to eat all his bullshxt
Stupid title to this segment. Clippers are have 2nd best odds to win championship according to Vegas. They’re not sleepers.
1. LA Clippers
2. Los Angeles Lakers
3. Denver Nuggets
4. Boston Celtics
5. Miami Heat
6. New York Knicks
7. Minnesota Timberwolves
8. Cleveland Cavaliers
9. Milwaukee Bucks
10. Phoenix Suns
Poor Philly but they’re done. Even if Embiid returns, they’ll fail to advance to the ECF. I’m completely out on Philly. They haven’t caught a lucky break since trusting the process. They’re basically the Clippers of the East. Same red, white, and blue. Same bad luck and usually from their star’s injury.
I know Miami doesn’t look all that good. I think Orlando can take the division. But that was the same case last year when Miami came from an 8th seed and surprised everyone. They’ve beaten Boston and Milwaukee multiple times in the playoffs these last few years and have beaten Philly and NY before. Never underestimate Miami ever again. I saw their odds go down slightly. So I’m thinking Vegas knows something and a trade is brewing.
The big omission for me is OKC. I just don’t believe in them that much. They’re not big enough like Minny and Denver and they lack experience. They’re basically this year’s Memphis and Sacramento. This is who Lakers are targeting in the First Round. Now I believe Shai is better than Ja. He let’s his game speak for him and not his mouth. But remember that win against Denver? They almost lost that game. I can see the inexperience. If it’s the playoffs, Denver is not losing to a team like OKC. They know too much and have been in more real battles than OKC has been in.
Phoenix, similar to Cleveland, is a dark horse. The problem is they don’t have a true point guard. Beal and Booker are SGs. Who can initiate the offense when the game slows down? Nurkic isn’t very good anymore and he’s always injured like Beal is. I don’t see it. They’re too small and Book and Beal are almost the same player. Lots of iso ball between those three stars and I’ve never been a big Beal fan. Neither one are in the top 10 among current players and neither is KD anymore.
Clippers or Lakers will win the 2024 championship. Since it’s an election year, it’s probably already SCRIPTED for the Lakers to win. Start wearing those Black Lives Matters shirts. Start to pom-pom for Biden for re-election. F the Lakers and F Democrats or Demonrats. Whatever it takes to prevent the Clippers from ever winning a championship because LeBron whined to LeAdam about it. So give the Lakers over 30 more FTs in every game.
One of the flaws to my Clippers other than lacking size and rim protection is if let’s say only one of the big three shows up, we lose the game. The second game against the Lakers, only Paul showed up. Kawhi and James were awful. We lost. We need two of those three to show up or we’ll have a tough time winning the game. You can’t let Kawhi be the only one holding the bag.
My biggest concerns is Paul, James, and Russ’ reputation in the playoffs. Russ just isn’t skilled enough, so it’s expected he’ll brick shots. But Paul and James are skilled but sometimes they don’t show up. They disappear or they’re inefficient laying brick after brick. Lakers can easily lockdown two of those three. If that’s the case, Clippers have to do the same to them and turn it into a defensive standstill.
But if it starts to become a defensive standstill and whoever can score the most points in the paint or at the FT line, my Clippers are in trouble. We’re just not big enough and the Lakers’ bigger size will wear them out. And my Clippers tends to chuck too many jumpers when it’s better to go for a layup or a dunk instead of jacking jumper after jumper.
Even if my Clippers got Kelly Olynyk, do you really think he’s good enough to close the games for us? I doubt Lue will use him much once we’re in the playoffs. He’ll go small ball because that’s all he knows. That lineup of Harden, Powell, George, Leonard, and Zubac. Or sometimes he’ll remove Zu and insert Mann or Russ to keep it really small. He got used to having 6’9 Tristan Thompson as his center for the Cavs. But the Cavs were lucky because those Dubs teams were never big.
In my mind, I see us losing to Denver but I made my bets on my team. Jokic is in the prime of his career. He’s Shaq with Magic’s vision. And I’m not 100% sure we’ll beat the Lakers or the Timberwolves. Same old Clippers. Always getting clipped at the end. No different than the LA Chargers and Detroit Lions.
This is ridiculous 😂
That wouldn’t be a good trade for NY…. They would have to trade half the team to meet salary
Boston need to hire coach bud from bucks or Laurence frank step down coach.
How is a kawhi leonard lead team a "sleeper threat"?
Denver will have the fuel of the chiefs . Champs that get disrespected during the year are always dangerous. I was hoping nobody caught on to the clips and that they snuck up in the playoffs but they are being noticed and that will have to be something they work through and stay focused
Clippers have 4 future Hall of Fame All Stars on the team and everyone applauds. What a joke
we dont know if embiid was force to play or not…
but to some, embiid , haliburton, LBJ dont like the 65game rule means, they want to be in that awards also, and also, the paycheck..
Lakers are living in the clippers shadow right now
Chris mannix saying west most competitive in decades? What? In 2008 or around that time a 50 win team missed the playoffs. That50 win team wouldve been the 3rd seed in the Leastern conference. From 1999-2018 the west had like a 10%+ winning percentage against the east.
Not a sleeper. They are the best team in the league.
I know he did not just refer to himself as “Uncle Colin”😂😂😂
Stop watching this beta clown
Oh no Colin is not now referring to himself as uncle Colin, let’s leave the Unc talk to Shannon
This guy lost all credibility in the first 30 second’s
Clippers are the Dallas Cowboys of the NBA. Wait for it…
We didn’t have big Zu 7 foot center rim protector and on a back to back cmon now
Stick to boxing Chris
Uncle Colin literally every year picks the clippers to do damage. This man never learns.
Here we go, buying into Clipper/Harden hype. Tale as old as time. Let's see where we are in April
Clippers are MORE than just a "sleeper" team in the WC!
Emiid isn't the closest we've seen to Shaq.. We've never seen anything like Shaq.. Emiid is a straight product of Hakeem and David Robinson. Now they are right there with Shaq all time but Embiid plays like them. No one plays like Shaq. Compare where comparisons are due.. Hakeem and Shaq are neck and neck all time. But you can compare Embiid to Hakeem, you can't compare him to Shaq.
Sleepers? They have a big 4…
It’s laughable that Doc Rivers gets so much credit for a team with possibly 4 HoFers on it 😆😂 “He won a ring with 4 big personalities” yea, winning 1 ring with that team is underachieving there bud. lol
I would say Embiid career would be just like Dominque Wilkins he won a scoring title and was a top player but never made the conference finals
Russ understands aging and decline gracefully meanwhile some are following in the AI and Melo way of navigating it to the end like klay🤓
As long as it's not Rick Bucher, I can listen to nba segments
So when Celtics beat clippers by a cagillion it meant nothing… media HATES the Celtics
Lol hardin is a joke….he will choke 😂😂
" The most competitive Western Conference ever. Maybe several decades." He's joking right?? Between 2010-2015 there were several teams in the West with 50 wins that couldn't even get in the playoffs or within only 1/2 game behind the #8 spot.
In what way are the clippers sleepers 😂😂😂
W
60 games would make sense. There should be a minimum
The Cavs are the sleeper, that no one is talking about!
Your late to the party! Clippers are not sleepers! They are the favorites! This team is the best roster since the 2018 warriors!