The Herd with Colin Cowherd THE HERD - Hour 1 - Lakers Streak Snapped
Mar 24, 2026
Colin champions Fernando Mendoza as the presumptive top draft pick and debates draft smokescreens. He breaks down what the Lakers' loss reveals about matchup vulnerabilities and why late-season streaks can be misleading. A debate over wide receiver pay versus consistency surfaces, and there's a deep dive into Victor Wembanyama as a potential defensive gamechanger.
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Fernando Mendoza Is A Clearer QB Prospect
- Fernando Mendoza is an easier QB evaluation because his performance improved with more film study and experience late in the season.
- Colin compares Mendoza to a bigger, stronger Matt Ryan with Daniel Jones mobility and Andrew Luck aggressiveness, citing 35 college starts and ~75% completion in his last six starts.
Late NBA Streaks Can Be Misleading
- Late regular-season NBA winning streaks are often misleading because tanking, resting stars, and known seedings distort competition.
- Colin notes examples: Bucks and Lakers hot stretches last year meant little when they bounced early in playoffs.
Pistons Blueprint Exposes Lakers Weakness
- The Pistons offer a tactical blueprint for beating the Lakers by playing physical, ugly half-court basketball that disrupts the Lakers' aesthetic style.
- Colin points out Detroit is 4-0 against L.A. recently and hunted down defenders like Luka to force uncomfortable matchups.