Colin Cowherd Podcast - Lakers Injury Disaster, Nuggets vs. Spurs OT Thriller, Michigan vs. UConn Preview, NBA’s Tanking Problem

All right, Jason’s here, and we’re jumping right into LeBron’s Memphis comments; I get why a city bristles, but Milwaukee catching strays made no sense to me, and I’m fine with LeBron being candid—how did it hit you?

I can’t speak to Memphis specifically, but the outrage felt misplaced; people beg for honesty, then torch him for saying a road swing he doesn’t enjoy isn’t for his family, which is a very human take from a 41‑year‑old tired of the grind.

As content folks, we want those behind‑the‑velvet‑rope moments; Memphis got defensive, sure, but I’m more stuck on the Lakers’ OKC debacle and the rush to blame JJ Redick for minutes when he was chasing chemistry and offense in March.

The JJ pile‑on was silly; Luka grimaced all year, Austin’s injury was a contact play, and March minutes were high but came with a plan to grab the three seed, avoid OKC later, and finally get their big trio reps—durability, not intent, is the real separator between stars.

That’s why I never loved the Luka‑to‑LA deal without extra picks; he’s a transcendent scorer with Carmelo‑like defense issues and recurring dings, and AD has aged fast too—so who scares you in round one?

Minnesota would sweep them; injuries and thin ball‑handling make them vulnerable, and their only puncher’s chance would have been a healthy draw against Houston’s softer targets.

Because of the tournament, people might’ve missed Denver–San Antonio going to overtime; Jokic looked like the best player alive, but did the Spurs let one slip?

San Antonio is good enough to win it all, but their late‑game flaw is top‑end creation; Jokic scored on Wemby one‑on‑one and the Nuggets walked them to high‑value looks, and we might actually get that matchup again in round two.

They’re like Houston—talent everywhere but not a true organizer in clutch time; switching to college hoops, Michigan overwhelmed Arizona, and I think they can muscle with UConn—what stood out to you?

Michigan matched Arizona’s power with more skill up front and then crushed them on the perimeter; against UConn, Hurley’s actions can put Michigan’s slower bigs in a blender, so if the Huskies make shots and hold up enough physically, the upset is live.

I watched that big fella and thought, that old‑school, NFL‑shouldered center can play in today’s league, and Hurley’s pro‑style physicality will translate.

Modern fives come in many flavors, and a strong, smart bruiser who punishes switches still matters; Hurley’s system teaches read‑and‑react hoops, and that IQ on a rookie deal is gold for contenders.

Let’s land on this: Friday’s slate had too many non‑games, tanking stunk up the product, and I get why teams do it—but what’s the fix?

Soft‑tanking hurts everyone, so I’d play everyone twice to about 58 games, then post‑All‑Star split the schedule so contenders sharpen against contenders while rebuilds face each other; also trim and space the season to protect stars and improve national TV games.

Tweaks work—baseball proved it; shave a few games, extend the calendar, even consider halves and earlier finishes, and you solve health, rhythm, and the TV window without losing what we love.

Kill back‑to‑backs, add recovery and practice, and you can keep media value by shifting where those games live.

Small swings can turn quickly into better theater, and I’m here for it.