Best of The Herd

The Herd with Colin Cowherd45mJune 11, 2026
AI-Generated Summary

The Herd with Colin Cowherd delivers a scathing critique of the San Antonio Spurs' collapse in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, arguing that the loss wasn't just due to youth or talent, but a catastrophic failure of coaching and player management. Cowherd zeroes in on head coach Mitch Johnson's inability to adjust during the second half, particularly the decision to keep 7'4" Victor Wemby on the floor for 44 minutes despite clear signs of exhaustion, and the failure to rest him even during a 27-point lead. He calls out the Spurs' continued reliance on three-point shooting in the fourth quarter when they were in the bonus, the lack of offensive design for young guard Dylan Harper, and the dangerous defensive mismatch that allowed OG Anunobi to score the game-winning tip-in. Cowherd frames the series not as a tale of young talent versus experience, but as a clash between wisdom and inexperience, where the Knicks' maturity, situational IQ, and cohesion—especially in clutch moments—proved decisive. The episode builds to a powerful indictment: in the modern NBA, where 20-point leads evaporate in minutes, coaching isn't just about strategy—it's about managing energy, making intentional substitutions, and knowing when to stop playing the game you're winning.

Key Takeaways
1

Coaching is more critical than talent in close games—San Antonio’s youth and star power couldn’t overcome poor in-game decisions by rookie head coach Mitch Johnson.

2

Victor Wemby played 44 minutes in Game 4 despite being gassed; his conditioning and minutes management were a team-wide failure, not just his own.

3

The Spurs’ decision to take 12 three-pointers in the third quarter while leading by 27 was a strategic error that cost them momentum and control.

4

Dylan Harper had zero shot attempts in the final 10 minutes—despite being a key young talent—highlighting a lack of offensive design and trust in the system.

5

The Knicks’ victory was fueled by hustle plays, not star power: OG Anunobi’s game-winning tip-in was the culmination of relentless effort, not a single highlight.

…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus

Chapters
2:30
4 min

The Spurs' Collapse: A Coaching Catastrophe

You've got Wemby. By the way, Wemby played almost the entire second half. He was completely gassed. You have a double figures lead, one day's rest on the road, find him three and a half minutes into the third quarter.

Highlight
6:40
4 min

The Knicks' Run: IQ, Hustle, and Cohesion

There's a connectivity between fans, team, veteran. A lot of this is IQ and situational to me.

Highlight
10:50
4 min

Wemby’s Conditioning: A Team Failure

Cowherd emphasizes that Wemby’s poor performance in the final minutes wasn’t just fatigue—it was a failure of the organization to ramp up his minutes during the regular season. He argues that a 7'4" player needs to be conditioned for 40+ minutes in the playoffs, and the Spurs didn’t prepare him.

15:00
5 min

The Real Difference: Coaching IQ vs. Youth

Cowherd contrasts the Spurs’ inexperience with the Knicks’ maturity, arguing that veteran teams like the Warriors or Celtics win not because of talent, but because of coaching wisdom, situational awareness, and the ability to manage pressure. He calls out the Spurs’ lack of a clear offensive plan in crunch time.

20:00
5 min

The Inbound Play: A Tactical Disaster

If somebody was guarding him on the inbounds pass, then at least you could have prevented him even for a split second from having an open pat to the basket, that could be the difference between winning and losing.

Highlight
High-Impact Quotes
You've got Wemby. By the way, Wemby played almost the entire second half. He was completely gassed. You have a double figures lead, one day's rest on the road, find him three and a half minutes into the third quarter.
Colin Cowherd3:50
If somebody was guarding him on the inbounds pass, then at least you could have prevented him even for a split second from having an open pat to the basket, that could be the difference between winning and losing.
Colin Cowherd33:09
The real problem is over the course of the last several games, the Spurs were getting better shots than the Knicks for a long time there. It wasn't until that final lineup with Jose Alvarado where I was like, oh man, the Knicks are getting some really good looks.
Jason Timpf50:57
Speakers

Host

Colin Cowherd

Guests

Frank IsolaJason Timpf
Topics Discussed
nba finals95%spurs coaching90%victor wemby88%knicks vs spurs85%coaching in sports80%player conditioning75%nba playoffs70%sports psychology65%
People & Brands

victor wemby

person

20xNeutral

colin cowherd

person

15xNeutral

mitch johnson

person

12xNegative

iheartradio

organization

12xNeutral

jalen brunson

person

12xPositive

de'aaron fox

person

10xNegative

og anunobi

person

10xPositive

dylan harper

person

8xNeutral

fox sports radio

organization

6xNeutral

jason timpf

person

6xPositive

Start discovering podcast insights today

Start with a 7-day trial and explore a growing catalog of popular podcasts. No credit card required.

No credit card required • 7-day trial • Cancel anytime