THE HERD - Hour 1 - Celtics blow a 3-1 lead, ranking the top 10 players in the Knicks-76ers series

The Herd with Colin Cowherd opens with a scathing critique of the Boston Celtics' collapse from a 3-1 lead against the Philadelphia 76ers, attributing their downfall to overreliance on three-point shooting and an inability to adjust when their formula failed. Cowherd argues that the Celtics' identity as a 'formula team'—built around analytics, threes, and star power—collapsed when key players like Jayson Tatum were injured and the team couldn't adapt, especially in Game 7 when they went 0-for-7 on threes down the stretch. He contrasts this with the 76ers' more balanced, athletic, and defensively sound approach, highlighting Joel Embiid’s dominance when healthy and the team’s depth with players like Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Georges Niang. The episode then shifts to the Lakers’ surprising playoff run without Anthony Davis or Luka Dončić, praising LeBron James at age 41 for carrying a roster of inconsistent role players with sheer will and leadership. Cowherd also discusses the Detroit Pistons’ dramatic 3-1 comeback over the Orlando Magic, crediting Cade Cunningham and defensive grit. The show concludes with a ranking of the top 10 players in the Knicks-76ers series, placing Joel Embiid at #1, followed by OG Anunoby, Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Brunson, and Paul George, while emphasizing the series’ emotional and physical intensity, especially around the Embiid-Carl-Anthony Towns rivalry and the importance of health and coaching adjustments.