Best of The Herd

Colin Cowherd delivers a blistering analysis of the NBA Conference Finals, centering on the Knicks' strategic pivot to reduce Jalen Brunson's usage rate—preserving his energy and transforming Carl Anthony Towns into a playmaker. Cowherd argues that high-usage stars like Brunson, Harden, and Luka Dončić are inherently unsustainable in deep playoff runs due to defensive liabilities and physical wear, calling it a 'regressing asset' model. He contrasts the Knicks' evolution with the Lakers' roster flaws: over-indexing on ball-dominant, poor defenders like Luka and Harden while lacking rim protectors and switchable wings. Cowherd warns that LeBron James' refusal to take a veteran minimum could cap the Lakers' championship ceiling, framing it as a structural failure. He then shifts to college football, advocating for a 14-team playoff with auto-bids for all conference champs (no more than four losses) and 14 at-large spots—arguing it would preserve non-revenue sports and end the NFL's interference in the national title race. His take on Lamar Jackson skipping camp? A non-issue. The Chiefs' backloaded schedule, he says, is a deliberate strategy to protect Patrick Mahomes' health. Finally, he hails Aaron Rodgers' return to the Steelers as a game-changer, envisioning a 2015 Broncos-style offense built around protection and execution.