Nightcap Hour 1: Nuggets BEAT Spurs in SEASON FINALE + Lakers vs Rockers PLAYOFF PREVIEW + Sixers vs Magic + Detroit Basketball is BACK

Summary

Club Shay Shay: Nightcap Hour 1 – NBA Playoff Picture & Play-In Preview (April 13, 2026)

Hosts: Shannon Sharpe, Chad "Ocho Cinco" Johnson, Joe "ISO Joe" Johnson
Theme: In-depth roundtable breakdown of the NBA playoff picture following the regular season finale, with emphasis on team matchups, star player impact, and plenty of playful betting and banter.

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into the drama and permutations of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, unpacking the clinching games, analyzing first-round matchups, and previewing the play-in tournament. The trio gives their candid takes on Western and Eastern Conference scenarios, star player performances, and which underdogs might surprise. The crew debates, disagrees, and even lays down friendly wagers on the key games.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Western Conference Playoff Scenarios

[06:54 – 15:10]

• Hosts break down the final standings:

  • Nuggets vs Timberwolves (3 vs 6)
  • Lakers vs Rockets (4 vs 5)
  • Play-in: Phoenix, Portland, Clippers, Warriors vying for 7th and 8th seeds

• Play-In Clarifications:

  • Blazers face the Suns
  • Warriors play the Clippers
  • Winners/losers slot into 7th/8th seeds, facing top seeds in the first round

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2. Nuggets vs Timberwolves: Matchup Deep-Dive

[09:28 – 15:27]

• Joe Johnson advocates for Denver:

  • "Jokic is playing at maybe the greatest level we've ever seen." (10:04)
  • Highlights Jokic’s historic year: leading league in rebounds and assists.

• Ocho Cinco and ISO Joe pick Minnesota as an upset:

  • Ocho: "I feel like Minnesota got a real chance to knock these boys off." (10:29)
  • Both stress Anthony Edwards (Ant-Man) as an X-factor: "He a different animal in the playoffs. He don’t care who he playing against." (11:44 – ISO Joe)

• Jokic’s MVP Credentials:

  • Discussion of game minimums for awards and how players balance health with eligibility.
  • "He led the league in rebounding and assists... shooting 56% from the floor—unheard of." (16:10 – Joe Johnson)

• Aaron Gordon’s Health:

  • Joe: "Gordon is the missing piece, though. That third link." (11:24)

• Key Minnesota Players:

  • McDaniels must be efficient and strong on defense.
  • Julius Randle’s consistency is critical.

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3. How to Defend Jokic? Strategic Dilemma

[18:26 – 25:04]

• Debate Over Defensive Tactics:

  • If you double Jokic, he racks up assists for open threes.
  • If you play him straight up, he might drop 40+.

  "Would you rather get hit by a dump truck or a Mack truck going 50 miles an hour? Results are the same." (18:26 – Joe Johnson, on guarding Jokic)

• Chad’s Take:

  • "Start off man up... you don’t want to get Jokic 40 and Murray 30." (24:21)

• Bigs Matchup:

  • Gobert’s foot speed and risk of foul trouble emphasized.
  • Nas Reid’s shooting could force Jokic out of the paint defensively.

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4. Lakers vs Rockets: LeBron’s Herculean Task

[29:48 – 43:06]

• LeBron's Role:

  • "Nobody in the history of the NBA past age 37 has been asked to do more than LeBron." (32:45 – Joe Johnson)
  • "He gonna have to be 2018 LeBron... that’s apex Braun." (34:00)

• Supporting Cast Questions:

  • Rui Hachimura and Aiden’s consistency and scoring are pivotal.
  • Concerns over Lakers’ offensive lulls and turnovers.

• Houston's Threat:

  • Houston "is a juggernaut," deep and young, with full roster health (35:11).

• Predictions & Wagers:

  • Ocho backs Houston for Game 1.
  • ISO Joe takes Lakers, setting up a friendly ($100) bet: “I got Houston, Game 1.” (43:31 – Ocho)
  • “I got the Lakers.” (43:38 – ISO Joe)

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5. Quick Picks: Play-In and East Playoff Preview

[44:21 – 53:00]

• Western Play-In Picks:

  • Suns over Blazers (45:01 – Ocho)
  • Clippers over Warriors (45:59 – Consensus)

• Eastern Play-In and Rounds:

  • Sixers vs. Magic: Sixers favored, even with Embiid out.

    "I like how Edgecomb and Maxey play when Embiid’s out." (46:28 – Ocho)

  • Hornets vs Heat: Ocho rides with Hornets for their shooting; ISO Joe stays loyal to Miami.
  • Hawks vs Knicks – Ocho picks Hawks, sees unpredictability and depth as their strengths.

    "We got so many guys who play-make, who can shoot the ball, who can score the ball..." (55:20 – Ocho)

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6. Detroit Basketball: Back to Relevancy?

[62:47 – 66:14]

• Pistons have gone from 14-68 to a 60-win season in two years.

• Positive notes on young core (Cade Cunningham, Thompson, Duran), solid veteran additions (Tobias, Caris Levert, Duncan Robinson).

• Their defense and depth highlighted as elite.

• Both Ocho and Joe Johnson are bullish on Detroit—though beating Boston in a series remains a tall order.

  "It's just hard... It’s hard for me to see them beating Boston in seven games." (64:18 – Joe)

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Notable Quotes

• On Jokic’s historic season:

  "Never seen a guy do this in the history of the NBA—lead in rebounds and assists, shooting 56% from the floor." – Joe Johnson [16:10]

• On defending Jokic:

  "The question is, do we try to deal with him one-on-one and let him get 40, or do we send help and let him get 28 and 15 assists?" – Joe Johnson [18:26]

• On LeBron’s playoff workload:

  "The mere fact that they still have…if he’d have got…bro, he 41! You never ask guys…" – Joe Johnson [32:45]

• On Anthony Edwards (Ant-Man):

  "He a different animal. Especially playoff time. He don’t really care who he playing against. He f* to go at you and give you that work." – ISO Joe [11:44]

• On Detroit’s turnaround:

  "Detroit back, and listen, they're back. Got a lotta guys who can play, but they gritty, blue collar—defend at the highest level." – Ocho [63:05]

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Fun & Memorable Moments

• Frequent friendly wagers between the hosts (notably Ocho and ISO Joe), layering humor and competitiveness throughout:

  "Just a friendly bet, I ain’t trying to break your pocket." (44:03 – Ocho)

• Playful banter about sending bet money early:

  "I'm gon’ send my 200 right now." – ISO Joe
  "Don’t jinx me like that!" – Ocho [51:52]

• Basketball analogies to football, with Joe Johnson explaining tempo and game control with references to NFL strategies.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Playoff Picture Setup: [06:54 – 09:24]
• Nuggets vs Timberwolves Analysis: [09:28 – 15:27]
• Defending Jokic Dilemma: [18:26 – 25:04]
• LeBron’s Playoff Burden/Lakers vs Rockets: [29:48 – 43:06]
• Play-In & East Playoff Picks: [44:21 – 53:00]
• Detroit Basketball Segment: [62:47 – 66:14]

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Summary

This Nightcap episode delivered animated analysis on the NBA's playoff outlook, with deep dives into the upcoming Timberwolves-Nuggets and Lakers-Rockets first-round series, exploration of strategic matchups (especially how to contain Jokic), and colorful exchanges about Eastern Conference surprises and the resurgence of Detroit. The hosts' unique chemistry, insights from both player and fan perspectives, and comedic betting culture create an engaging preview for anyone mapping their playoff predictions—or just wanting a thorough, entertaining recap of the 2026 playoff picture.

Transcript

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[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

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[Joe Johnson]

We good? We good over here? No, please make sure you hit that subscribe button. Please make sure you hit the like button. And do us a favor, go subscribe to the Nightcap podcast feed wherever you get your podcast from. We would like to thank each and every one of our subscribers and every one of you that has supported us over the almost last three years. We could not have done this without you. All the success that we've enjoyed, all the accolades and accomplishments, that's because of you because nothing goes on without our listeners, without our fans. So thank you for every download, thank you for every video that you watched, every video that you? Re shared, every time you've told someone about Nightcap. We greatly, greatly appreciate your support and your continued support. Those looking to purchase a bottle of Shade by Laportier head over to laportierconjac.com to purchase you a bottle if it's currently unavailable in the state or city near you. It is a Premium VSOP Cognac, the best tasting, smoothest VSOP Cognac on the market. Don't take my word for it. Try it for yourself and compare it against cognac you might have tried or looking to try and you'll see we have the best tasting, smoothest cognac on the market. It is a VSOP Cognac that more drinks, more like an exo, but at a third of the price. So please drink responsibly and stay safe despite the Lakers beating the Jazz, the Nuggets beat the spurs and the Western Conference. Some of the playoff pitchers come what set the 36 matchup will be the Nuggets taking on the Timberwolves. The 45 matchup will be the Lakers taking on the Rockets. The Thunder are the 1 spot. The Suns are in the 2 spot. So this is the way it's going to go. The number eight could be Phoenix, could be Portland. Nah, it's going to be. No, it's out of Phoenix and Portland.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Right. For the A spot.

[Joe Johnson]

So, so who's, who's there? 7 8. They got a 78 right there. There it is right there. So that's going to be either the Blazers or the Suns. That'll be, that'll be the, that'll be the eight. That'll be the eight seed. Right.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

But it's the play in, they got to win the play in games.

[Joe Johnson]

Right. You win one player. So seven eight, whoever. Seven eight. That means they're the two seat. I mean the seven seed.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

And then Phoenix or whoever the Phoenix or Phoenix, Portland, the Clippers or Golden State could be the eighth seed. So two, so two play seven which could be the Phoenix or the trailblazers. And then one plays 88 which could be Phoenix, Portland, the Clippers or the Golden State Warriors. So the play in tournament starts off the playoff.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

What is tomorrow the play in starts.

[Joe Johnson]

When is the play in tournament?

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Tuesday, I think. Does it start Tuesday?

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, Tuesday.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Okay.

[Joe Johnson]

The play in tournament, Blazers play the Suns and then the warriors play the Clippers. The Nuggets v The playoff series with the Nuggets in the Wolves. Joker versus Ant Man. Be a very compelling matchup. Remember what happened a couple years ago? Oh, look, they beat. Was it last year? No, two years ago. When. Remember the Nuggets? The Nuggets got out on them. Too old, and everybody thought the series was over, and they tracked them down.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

So, Joe, who do you like? I mean, you like the Nuggets? Jokic is playing at maybe the great. I mean, even he's already won three MVPs, but it's hard to say a season in which he's played better than what he's played with this year, considering that Gordon was out a number of games. Murray was out for a number of games, and so him. Bron Brown was out for a number of games, and he was. Watson missed some time.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

And he was able to keep this team, and they're the three seed.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

So.

[Joe Johnson]

So what do you like? Who do you like winning this series and how many games you think it's going to take?

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Ocho? I think I'm. I think I'm gonna go with Minnesota on this. Yeah. I'm gonna go against the grain a little bit. I know Jokic, he. He. You know, he. He. He pretty much have his way with Goberta on there, but I just feel like Minnesota got a lot of guys they can throw at you, and Ant man is a difference. You know what I mean? Meaning he know he gonna have probably a couple of them huge games. And I don't know how healthy Denver gonna be. I'm not sure how healthy they're gonna be. Now. I know Jokic is special, but I feel like Minnesota got a real chance to, you know, knock these boys off.

[Joe Johnson]

Ojo who you like in this series.

[Uncle Ocho]

Listen, I love Jokic. I love what he's done. I mean, you two, you know, you speak highly of him. Hell, everyone else speaks highly of him. Hey, listen, he's in for the MVP race. Aaron Gordon not healthy still, huh?

[Joe Johnson]

Well, I think they're trying to rest him. I mean, the guys. I mean, Jokic was the only start, if I'm not mistaken, that played today. So they're trying to rest those guys. Gordon did come back. Watson is just coming back. He missed some more games. I think the thing is, as long as Murray, they feel very comfortable if they got Murray and Jokic. But I think Gordon is the missing piece, though. Gordon, that third link.

[Uncle Ocho]

Yeah. With Gordon missing, and even still with Gordon missing, I'm really pulling for Minnesota, and. And, man, I'm not betting Against Ant man because he's, he's a different animal. Especially playoff time. He don't really care who he playing against. He f to go at you and, and give you that work. So he likes moments like this, especially when it comes. Comes into having to prove himself. So I, I, hell, I, I got, I got the Wolves.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Hey, the only, the only reason why I think Jokish played is because he had to make the, the 60.

[Joe Johnson]

He had to play 20 plus minutes in order to get the, the, to make the, that limit the note. 65 games.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah. Yeah. I would have been playing too.

[Joe Johnson]

Hell yeah. I ain't gonna miss out on that supermax money. I gotta rb. Think about it. You, you, Luca and you led the league in score and got total points and you ain't, you ain't not eligible for no awards.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

He gonna have to, hey, he, he got, they, they gonna have to rescind that or something. I mean, he missed two, he missed two games. Children.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

And they, they might have to. I think they probably they're gonna say,

[Joe Johnson]

but yeah, what about those other games that you miss because you say you was health related? See, if you'd have played those health related games, we would be having this discussion. That will be Joe. Because see, that's the argument that you're gonna have. Because what's gonna happen is that somebody's gonna say, well, you know, my dog got sick or this got sick because you know, people are always looking to push the envelope.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

It's never somebody. It's just, I don't know, you know the old adage, if you're not cheating, trying, somebody's going to come up with something. And so I just think the thing is, and I would love for Luca because I believe he's an all NBA player and he deserved to get it. But the rules are the rules. And if you start bending them a little bit this way, guess what you're gonna have to do. Guys, bend them a little bit that way it's only a matter of time. It just is. So I guess I'm the lone wolf here. I guess I'm gonna have to take the Nuggets.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Why are you taking the Nuggets though? Give us.

[Joe Johnson]

I just, I, I just like you said, Jokic always has his way. And is there something about Jamal Murray come postseason? I don't know what it is, Joe, but he takes his game. And we saw this year he was an all star. But he plays like that all the time. He's an always at all. He's always An All Star when it comes to the post season. And we. We've seen this. He's one of the few guys that. He takes his. All his. His playoff numbers to a different level. We've seen some guys maybe average one or two more points, and Kevin Durant averaged one point more in the postseason than he does in the regular season. LeBron. But this guy averaged like 7, 8, 9 points more in the postseason than he does the regular season. So you're talking about big game. A big game player tomorrow. But I just think the thing is they have so much depth now. Now they got Valentunas that can come in and give them valuable minutes. They got Bruce. They got Bruce Brown that comes off the bench, plays defense, can knock down threes. Christian Brown has another. Brown has another year of experience on Isabel. I like straight, straight, straighter. I like Watson. I just like. I just like the pieces that they have now. But like you said, the missing link to everything is Aaron Gordon.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Because Aaron Gordon is going to be responsible for dealing with. With Drew Randall.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

He's going to be the guy that, when you collapse the pocket, that they're going to have to spin the ball and he's going to have to knock down that open three. So I believe he's going to play a big, valuable role. I. I believe he's up to the task, and I'm gonna take the Nuggets.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Okay. All right, well, listen, I understand, you know, Nuggets got a championship pedigree. They done been there, done that, so, you know, they know what it takes. But I don't know. I'm just giving the edge to Minnesota, man. I'm rolling with Timberwolves. I. I feel like Ant man ain't gonna let me down.

[Joe Johnson]

Oh, he gonna get his. Hey, but the question is if there. Oh, before you go. The question is Ant Man's gonna do what he does. Ant Man's gonna probably get somewhere between 30, 35 a night. The question is, who's going to come along with him? You. Randall's going to have to probably be something like 20 and 10. McDaniel's gonna have. Probably have to be somewhere between 15 and 20. And he's gonna have to do an outstanding job trying to stay in front of Murray.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

That.

[Joe Johnson]

Which is a lot easier said than done. Go ahead. What's your point? You're right. You're right.

[Uncle Ocho]

I just. I just want to hear what you would hear, what you were going to say, but I'm not sure you want to bet against Ant Man.

[Joe Johnson]

No, I Don't like betting against Ant Man. That's the home team. That's eve Georgia boy.

[Uncle Ocho]

But you just bet against him. You picked the Nuggets to win the series, man.

[Joe Johnson]

Do you see yoke? I mean the man led the league and rebounded in assist. Ocho, we've never, we've never seen a guy do this before in the history of the NBA. In the 80 year history. No guy has ever led the league in those two categories. We've seen guys lead the league at points of rebound and guys have led the league and, and, and points and assists. Tiny Archibald led the league in points and assists. He's the only guy to lead the league in points and assists. And we've seen big guys, we've seen will lead the league numerous times, right in points and rebounds. But we've never seen a guy lead. Think about what you have to do in order to lead the league in rebounds and assists. And he did it shooting 56% from the floor, which is unheard of. I ain't talking about a guy that just spends all his time. DeAndre Jordan used to shoot 68, 70 from the floor, but they were dunks and lobs. Yoki shooting midis. He's shooting threes and he's shooting at that percentage. And he gave you on top of that, he gave you 28, 29, 12 and 11.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah, yeah. Hey, hey, look.

[Joe Johnson]

Always cooks. Go Bear.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

I like, I like your argument and you're right. Gordon is definitely the, the key factor. But I guess McDaniels is the key factor for Minnesota. Meaning if he plays great basketball, it ain't got to be 25, 30 a night. But if it can be anywhere efficient, 16 to 22 a night and you know, he's defending well. I think they almost be impossible to beat. It's just he have games where, and I'm speaking on McDaniel where he plays great and you. It looks like Minnesota is hard to beat but then he has some games where he kind of disappear and you like hold on. You know what I mean? So I think he's the key factor for Minnesota. Ant man's gonna need McDaniels to play well too.

[Uncle Ocho]

And the funny, the funny thing about it is is Joe, you talk about McDaniel having to play well sometimes he disappearing. Hell, I think the key factor event man gonna get his. And we know what Ant man is going to do. Hell, we need Julius Randall to always be on point every single night. You really can't have no off nights now.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

He got to be 2018, he gonna have to be 2010 in this series where he gonna. Hey, they gonna have their hands full. Will go with yolk down there. They gonna have their hands full.

[Joe Johnson]

Because he always. Look, the thing is, basically, he's gonna. The qu. The question is. And this is the dilemma and Webster defined dilemma is two equally perplexing situations. Would you rather get hit by a dump truck or a mack truck going 50 miles an hour? The results are the same. You just as deep. One of the Mac truck and the other the dump truck. So what do we. What do we do, Joe? Do we let go Bear, try to deal with his man one on one and let him go get 35, 40? Or do we try to send help and allow him to get 28, 15? Because, you know, in some of those 15 assists, some of those are going to be threes. They're not going to be all twos. They're not going to be all Jordan in the dunker spot, Brown in the dunker spot, getting dunks and layups. Some he's going to swing that ball, and some guy is going to be hitting corner threes.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

So that is the dilemma. Do. Do we let him. But the qu. But here's the problem. As the Clippers found out, you might say, okay, let him go get one on one. And now he still gives you 50 and 10.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah, yeah. Well, look, you got to look at it like this. Uncle Ojo, you know, he. He's probably more than likely going to get his numbers, right? You got to make.

[Joe Johnson]

Oh, yo, he getting those numbers.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

You got to make it as uncomfortable for him as possible. So what you cannot do is get that man a steady diet of one. Look, yeah, you can't get yokesh that, bro. You're gonna have to mix it up throughout the game. Okay, look, this quarter, we may come on the first dribble. This the next quarter, we may come on the catch. Third quarter, you may have him by yourself, you know what I mean? I feel like you gotta keep him guessing just as well as he gonna keep you guessing on defense, you know what I mean? You gonna have to show him different looks. Never let him get comfortable. Cause he gonna expose you each and every time. Especially if you figure out your coverage and you never change it, man. Gonna. Hey, he gonna have one of them 40, 40 20s and 16 triple doubles. And that ain't what you want, bro. That ain't what you want.

[Joe Johnson]

On the season, he averaged 28 on 57% shooting. He was 38 from the three. He averaged 13 rebounds, 11 assists. And Gobert, because Gobert is not the fleetest of foot. So he gonna get go. Gobert gonna have to be trouble. He gonna have to be careful and not to get in foul trouble.

[Uncle Ocho]

Trouble early.

[Joe Johnson]

Cause Nas Reed is not big enough in the back pocket to deal with him down on the block.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

He. You know what Nas Reed ain't, but he got a little bit more mobility to where he can kind of keep him in front. Look, they ain't gonna stop him, but they gonna have to make it tough for him. You're gonna have to wear him down, you know what I mean? I ain't saying he ain't gonna score 30, which he probably will, but at the same time, you're gonna have to make him work on defense just as much work on offense. You can't let him rest. You let him rest.

[Joe Johnson]

But here's the thing. How Rudy gonna make it work on offense? Well, that's, I mean, on defense, he gonna have.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

And he gonna have to be rim running, playing hard. He gonna have to be doing a lot.

[Uncle Ocho]

Hey, you know, Rudy. Rudy can mess around and give you 27 too. Now out the blue.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah. Oh, no, no.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

He.

[Joe Johnson]

That was a one time thing. Oh, Joe. That was a one time thing.

[Uncle Ocho]

Hey, it was.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

It was.

[Uncle Ocho]

I know.

[Joe Johnson]

You saw what he did with the Lakers. That was a one time thing, Joe.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Uncle Ocho]

Hey, hey, hey, Joe. Another thing was funny, right? As you talk about having to give jokers different looks, you know, and different sets and, and making it a thinking man's game for him. But the funny thing about it is, you think about, he plays a whole a full season, right?

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Uncle Ocho]

He seasons, he didn't seen every look possible. And he always had to answer for every goddamn thing you throw at him. So I think what Minnesota got to worry about is like, listen, we know he gonna get his. We know he gonna get his. We gonna do what we can, but we're gonna worry about the other folk. We gonna find a way to maintain and control the other foe and let him do what he needs to do. Because there's really no way to stop him. There's really no way to contain him, slow him down.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

You're right, Ocho. Ain't nobody been able to crack the code. But here's the difference. In the playoffs, this is the only team that we're playing right now. We're gonna have to dissect everything that they do offensively.

[Uncle Ocho]

Yeah.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

And defensively. And we got to make them pay, bro. You know what I mean? Like Minnesota Gonna have to find. They're gonna have to find a way to win in. In Denver. Who got the home court advantage? Denver does, right?

[Joe Johnson]

Denver. Yeah. Three. Minnesota's the six.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah. So I. I look forward to seeing Minnesota go in, especially game one, you know, trying to steal the first game, but it's going to be hard to stop them, Ocho. It is. But I think they going to hone in, you know, more on this series because this is the only team that they're facing right now. So, you know, you. After the first game, you'll see some adjustments, you know, depending on how Minnesota plays. But yeah, I definitely think, Ocho, they cannot give yoga. Just steady. Died of the same look every play down court. You got to mix it up, bro. The great was going to expose you

[Joe Johnson]

the problem that Minnesota potentially runs into. Joe, you say make it tough on him. Try to make it as inefficient as you possibly can. The problem is he's shooting 57%. So you say, you know what? We're gonna make him shoot 5% less than what he normally shoots. He shoot 52%. So he's still making over half his shot. Most guys shoot in the. They shoot. Let's just say for the sake of argument, they let's. They shoot high 40s. And you say, you know what, we're going to make it tough on him, and so we're going to make him inefficient. Now they're in the. Down there in the mid to low 40s. If you make him shoot 5% less than what he normally shoots, he's shooting 52% from the floor. He shoots 38% from the three. That is absurd. A man his size shooting like that. So when you factor in he's shooting 38% from the 3, he's shooting 57% from the 2. And I just think the thing is, like you said now, the problem. The problem that he has on defense is that he has to guard Nas Reed.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Because Nas can pull him out to the three point line.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Keep his ass from being under the basket. Now I can pull him out here. Now I can use my quickness and get by him.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Because he can't slap. He can't slack off because Nas can knock down the three.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yes, sir.

[Joe Johnson]

It ain't no. Just no, hey, hey. Just show or, you know, show or head. No, no, you can't do that. You got to get up on him because he could knock down the three.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah. N. N's gonna have to play huge, too, but yes, I agree with you. You know, it's. It's gonna be tough, you know, trying to stop yic. Me personally, Uncle Oo. I say start off man up, you know what I mean? Because what you don't want to do, you don't want to get YIC 40 and Jamal Murray got 30, and then Gordon got 25. You ain't got a chance of winning like that. You may have a good chance of winning if, you know, jokic go for 50. But everybody else, you know, keep coming, you keep them low pro. So I don't know, I'm curious to see how, how Minnesota is going, going to approach this series or how they going to start off on Jokic because they understand they got to slow them down some way somehow.

[Julian Edelman]

This is Julian Edelman from Dudes on Dudes with Gronk and Jewels. All right, real quick, take a look at yourself right now.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Why?

[Joe Johnson]

What's wrong?

[Julian Edelman]

Nothing's wrong. You look like a guy running on three hours of sleep and vibes. Okay, yeah, I'm tired, kind of cranky, and very thirsty. Congrats. Those are some of the potential signs of mild dehydration. And I bet your last bathroom break showed you another sign your body might be throwing you a penalty flag. So what's the play? Call Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier 1 stick in water. Helps hydrate faster than water alone. Okay, but where's the proof? Liquid IVs, clinical studies, not just a guy I know. Real science. Results you can trust.

[Joe Johnson]

Well, take a look at me now. Liquid IV is officially part of my daily hydration routine. Pass the firecracker. Popsicle flavor.

[Julian Edelman]

Stay hydrated like a pro, not like Jack before this. Stock up on Liquid IV hydration multiplieriquid-iv.com and use the promo code nuthouse for 20% off your first purchase.

[Lily Herman]

We're lost and kickoff's coming up. I don't want to miss the lineup. I'm going to ask that man for directions. Hi there. We're trying to get to the stadium.

[Julian Edelman]

Well, you're going to take a left

[T-Mobile Representative]

at the old oak tree at this here road.

[Julian Edelman]

Nah, I'm just kidding. Let me get my phone out.

[Lily Herman]

How is there signal out here?

[T-Mobile Representative]

T Mobile and US Cellular are coming together. So the network out here is huge. We get the same great signal as the city, saving a boatload with benefits. And there's a five year price guarantee, too. Okay, here's the turn.

[Lily Herman]

Actually, can you pull up the way to a T Mobile store?

[T-Mobile Representative]

America's best network just got bigger switch to T Mobile today and get built in benefits the other guys leave out. Plus our five year price guarantee. And now T Mobile is available at US Cellular stores in Hermiston. Best Mobile Network based on analysis by Ooklo Speed test intelligence data second half of 2025 bigger network the combination of T Mobile's and US Cellular's network footprints will enhance the T Mobile network's coverage price guarantee on talk, text and data exclusions like taxes and fees. Apply c t mobile.com for details.

[Lily Herman]

Ready for a different take on Formula One? Look no further than no Grip, a new podcast tackling the culture of motor racing's most coveted series. Join me, Lily Herman, as we dive into the underexplored pockets of F1, including the astrology of the current grid. Lewis Hamilton Capricorn Sun Cancer Moon Wouldn't you know it?

[Joe Johnson]

Michael Schumacher is also a Capricorn Sun Cancer Moon.

[Lily Herman]

The story of the sport's most consequential driver Strike. We have one man who, upon hearing that he was going to be fired, freaked out and apparently climbed out the window of the bathroom. And was Daniel Ricardo's illustrious F1 1 career a success story, a cautionary tale, or some combination of both? He started getting all this attention and he maybe started to think, I'm bigger than this, I'm better. And plenty of other mishaps, scandals and sagas that have made Formula One a delightful decadent dumpster fire for more than 75 years. Listen to no Grip on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Julian Edelman]

This is Julian Edelman, host of Games With Names. On our latest episode we got comedian Blake Anderson from Workaholics and the hilarious this is Important podcast. Let's go.

[Joe Johnson]

We did beat him in improv.

[Julian Edelman]

You had an improv against the team?

[Joe Johnson]

Yes.

[Julian Edelman]

We would pull up, their schools would

[Joe Johnson]

be there with signs for us. It's competition. What you would win is a bottle of Goldschlager. James Fester threw it out of a van because he didn't want us drinking it.

[Julian Edelman]

For more games with names, Visit Visit the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast.

[John Green]

I'm John Green. You may know me as the author of the Fault in Our Stars and now I guess also as the co host of the Away End, a brand new world soccer podcast.

[Daniel Alarcon]

I'm Daniel Alarcon, a writer and journalist and John and I have known each other since we were kids. My first World cup was Mexico 86. I was nine years old. I watched every game and I Fell in love. On our new podcast, the Away End, we'll share with you the magic of international football, all leading up to the 2026 World Cup. For us.

[John Green]

Soccer. Football is a story we've shared for over 30 years, since Daniel was the star player on our high school soccer team.

[Joe Johnson]

Very debatable.

[John Green]

And I was their most loyal and sometimes only fan. I love this game. I love its history, its hope, its heartbreak, and above all, its beauty.

[Daniel Alarcon]

Together, we'll find out why. Of all the unimportant things football, soccer is the most important.

[John Green]

Listen to the Away End with Daniel Alarcon and John green on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, you're right about that. The next the Lakers take on the rockets in the 4, 5 matchup. LeBron James without the. Without. He's gonna. He's the lead dog. And what we've seen, Joe, he must have heard us being aggressive.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

There you go.

[Joe Johnson]

Fifteen shots in the first half. You saw the game before he did. What was it? 2812, 2813. And, and, and, and, and, 7 or 8.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

In the game before that. So we see being in the lead spot that now I got to be aggressive. The sis gonna come because I'm. I'm. When I get down the lane, I'm gonna pull coverage. I'm gonna drop the ball off the D A. They're gonna come. I'm gonna be able to swing the ball. Who do you like in this series and how many games you think it takes?

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Oh, man. Without Luca and ar, it's just tough. But I know Lakers had a lot of great success against the Rockets this year.

[Joe Johnson]

Yes.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

They guard Kevin Durant. I haven't seen many teams guard him like that and be successful at the same time.

[Joe Johnson]

Man,

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

can Aiden keep this up? Can he continue to give you 22 and 10 a night in a playoff series? I mean, in order for the Lakers to win this series, like I've always said, Braun got to be aggressive, and those other guys gonna have to come along. But can you get this type of production from Rui and big Aiden for a playoff series? Because that's what you're gonna need to win, bro. They gonna have to be. They gonna have to be special. Them two guys gonna have to be special.

[Uncle Ocho]

What you think?

[Joe Johnson]

If you think about it, what I've looked like, what I like is that is when Luke Canard is aggressive, when they try to close out on him, Ocho, he ain't just sidestepping, selling for the Three. Joe, he'll put the ball on the floor. He tried to get all the way to the rim, and then when you come, he'll kick it. Yeah, he's been really, really aggressive. And I've never seen. And I'm like, damn, bro, you had this in your bag all these years and you just been shooting threes. I've never seen him put the ball on the floor as much as I've seen him put the ball on the floor. Since he's been with the Lakers. Yeah, he's normally a spot a catch and shoot or spot up shooter. That's normally what he is. But since he's been with the Lakers, he's been extremely aggressive. Now, Rui shot 44% from the 3. He's been. He's been aggressive when the Lakers are aggressive. And they do a great job of taking care of the basketball because sometimes they can get really sloppy and, and they have. They have turnover after turnover after turnover and they have these lulls, Joe. Oo. They have these stretches where they'll go three, four, five minutes and don't score a. A field goal. You can't have that in the playoffs. You can't have that. LeBron's gonna have to go back. For so long he's been in the leads, he's been the driver, and this season he wasn't the driver. He wasn't even in the passenger seat. He wasn't even in the catbird seat. He was riding in the back in the what?

[Uncle Ocho]

The worst.

[Joe Johnson]

The catbird seat, which is a. A favorable position. So he was. Hey, hey, Joe, you know you used to ride with your homeboy. Yeah, it is the one out the window. Be hard to try to holler at everybody. He ain't got no car. He ain't even the driver's seat. He got the one. Hey. Hey, what's up? What's your name is LeBron. They had LeBron in the back. Yeah, but unfortunately Luca got dinged. AR is dinged, and LeBron has been thrust back into that now. Nobody is. Nobody in the history of the NBA past the age of 37 has been asked to do more than one. LeBron, Ramon, James. The mere fact that they still have. Well, if he'd have got. Bro, he 41. You never ask guys, what guy did you have that kind of. Did you have that on even when Kareem. I think Kareem won a Finals MVP? Kareem might have been what, 35, 36 when he won the Finals MVP. But they weren't counting on Kareem to do that.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Right.

[Joe Johnson]

That was magic, that was worthy and Kareem did that. So now he has all this on his plate.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah,

[Joe Johnson]

it's going to take a Herculean ever. It's going to. It's going to take guys playing above ruin's going to have to play great every game. Laravia is going to have to do a great, unbelievable job because I think he and Marcus Marks going to have the assignment of dealing with KD and LeBron is going to have to be. LeBron is going to have to be 2018 LeBron. I think that is the apex. Look, people go back and say, nah, it's 2012, 2013 Braun. I think 2018 Braun was the greatest Braun we had ever seen. Because you're looking at a guy that averaged 34, 8 and 8 in the postseason with eight 40 point games and he got that team to the NBA Finals. He's gonna have to be that Joe.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Damn, that's eight years ago. You think he can get back to that?

[Joe Johnson]

I don't know if he can, but he's gonna need anything less will be uncivilized.

[Uncle Ocho]

Yeah, that too.

[Joe Johnson]

Without that Joe, they can't go any further because the. The Rockets are at full strength. They got Shingoon, they got kd, they got Thompson.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Uncle Ocho]

You know what? Hey, Joe and all that. He's a chosen one, ain't he?

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

[Uncle Ocho]

But we call him King James for a reason, right? Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Yes.

[Uncle Ocho]

What we can't do is we can't bring in the fact. We can't fact in. Oh, he's 41. He's playing at a high level for a reason. He's LeBron James for a reason. So if he's still in the NBA, he's expected to look a certain way. He's expected to play a certain way.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Uncle Ocho]

Obviously now unfortunate circumstances have occurred. AR is out and Luke is out.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Uncle Ocho]

So we're expecting LeBron to look exactly like he always has.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Think about what you're saying.

[Uncle Ocho]

28. Whether it was 2018 or whether it's 2013. That's what we're expecting. Because he's still actually playing basketball even at 41.

[Joe Johnson]

Yes. You're asking a man that's 41. Something in the history of basketball, nobody else has been asked to do well.

[Uncle Ocho]

Nobody else had opportunity and nobody else has been King James.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah. They've been supporting year olds. He's still for you. Yeah. See, I think the thing is. See, that's the thing. Ocho, he's been so great You've, he's been so great for so long. You forget that he's. You know, you and I both know what it's like to be. Get old. You better expand to the people it. I don't care who you were. Father Time don't wait on you. Because the thing is the, the, the problem that he has. Okay, when I, when we were great, as we were starting to age, what we could, what I could do, I'll just speak for me, yeah, I could give you a herculean effort, but I'm gonna need about three or four weeks before I give you another one. As opposed, as opposed to when I was in my, you know, when I was in my 20s, I put them things back to back.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Hey, I want that 23 year old, Shannon. He don't exist no more. He don't live here. I don't know what happened to him. I don't know what happened to him later, but he gone. So just take this 35 year old

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

and be happy with it.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Hey, listen, I, I agree, I agree with you. He gonna have to, he gonna have to be Hercules. And, and, and I think he knows that though. I think he's relishing this moment and I think he gonna really try and take advantage of it and show people like, man, y' all must forgot, bro. Y' all must have forgot him. I heard him say, he said, man, taking it back to the old days. I heard him say that. So I know, you know, he understands. And from the past two games, how aggressive he started out the games. I bet you.

[Joe Johnson]

Yes.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Come on. He gonna come out guns ablazing. He has to. He has no choice. I'm talking about in the playoffs. He gonna have to shoot that thing about 25, 30 times, easy. Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

And the thing is, Joe as. And people like, well, he should just. Do you understand how much effort it takes to just drive the basketball when you constantly getting beat up? You got to go through the, you got to go through a body, you got to beat one guy and then you getting met at the rim. It takes a lot out of you. The same thing with a running back. As he start to get old. I can't give him the ball 35, 40 times a game. Ocho and Joe back to back to back, like I could when he was in his first or second year. Now he's in his eighth or ninth or 10th year. I can't give him the ball like that. I can't. But I'm gonna, I ain't gonna have him down the stretch,

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

you know.

[Uncle Ocho]

You know what? LeBron has played so long, he gonna know when he needs to insert himself. He's gonna know when he needs to be aggressive. I think he's gonna pick and choose those moments when he needs to do what?

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Oh, for sure.

[Uncle Ocho]

Gonna base it off how everyone else is responding in game. Yeah, that, that, that's all. I mean, that's all. But the way he, the way he came out tonight and the other night also.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah, I'm talking about miss or make though. Okay. Oh, I don't care if he has first four five shots, just keep letting it go.

[Joe Johnson]

Joe, you gotta stress the defense as

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

though he just made his last 4 5. That's what I'm saying. Yeah. He got to let it go. Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

But the thing that, that he does so well, that he's probably done better than anybody in the history of the game is that he can control the game.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yep.

[Joe Johnson]

He's going to dictate the speed in which the game is going to be played at. He not finna let you just get up and down. Cause guess what? He'll walk the ball up. I'm not gonna listen, I'm not finna get into a race with Thailbreance when that's not what I have to run with on my side.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

There you go.

[Joe Johnson]

So I'm gonna control the pace if he have to. Okay. Yeah. If there, if there's an opportunity to get a transition bucket, okay, fine. But we're not just gonna get up and down. We're not gonna get in that. Okay. We'll put you. Let's, let's, let's see how well you can mentally function running your half court set over and over and over and over and over again. Because in football, Ocho, what we try to do, minimize the big plays.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

What, what? How did the Giants beat the Patriots? They minimized the big play. They didn't let Randy get over the top.

[Uncle Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

If you're a big play offense, okay. Instead of getting one to two plays in your ass in the end zone doing that, let's see if you could do that. Let's see if you could do the same thing. Hojo, if you take you 12, 13 plays, because I believe you'll make a mistake if you have to consistently do that as opposed to give you one, two big strikes over the top. So he's going to control the tempo. That's what he's always been good at.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Oh, yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

And they're going to try to speed him up. They're going to Try to coax him and let's run. Hey, nah, we don't need to do that.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Hey, and then. And then you got to look at it from this side. We get two of the top 10 scores in NBA history. History. Against each other again, Captain Durant and LeBron James. Yeah, man, this is. This is gonna be a great series. I. I'm. I'm. I think. I hope. I hope the Lakers can get two games, bro. I hope. I, I just think. I. I don't know. I mean, Braun gonna have to be so great just to keep them around, because I just. Houston is a juggernaut. They got a bunch of young guys who could play. They. I, I feel like they're gonna take advantage of the moment playing at home, getting a chance to. Oh, no, the Lakers got the home court advantage.

[Joe Johnson]

They got home court.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

They might have a good chance. Yeah, have a good chance. You can't. Hey, look, I tell you what. If you're the Lakers, you can. You got to win both of these games at home. The first two, because Houston coming in. They coming in disrupt something.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah.

[Uncle Ocho]

So hold on, hold on, Joe. Let's. Let's be clear now, Uncle. You got this series. Now you got. Obviously, you know, I'm going for the Laker. Joe, who you got? Joe.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Ojo. I'm probably. I'm going. I'm probably gonna go with Houston. Ain't gonna lie to y'.

[Uncle Ocho]

All.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

I'm gonna. Houston, I think. I think Singoon, bro. Single. I don't know how the hell they gonna stop him, man.

[Uncle Ocho]

DeAndre. Aiden finna have an out of body experience. What you mean, how they gonna stop him? Huh, man? Aiden gonna give you 20. 25, 25 at night.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Hell, Unc, don't even believe that.

[Joe Johnson]

No, I'm just hoping. I'm just hoping. I just wanted to catch the ball. If you catch the ball, he might give us 2010. We can live with 2010. We can live with 1812.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

He been catching it in the past couple games. Hey, he in playoff mode. He ready.

[Joe Johnson]

The mere fact that y' all got me trying to put my faith and confidence in this man.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

What other choice you got?

[Uncle Ocho]

No choice.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Y' all at home. Y' all got home court advantage,

[Joe Johnson]

Guys to be more careful.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

I want to be the first game. I kind of. I kind of.

[Joe Johnson]

If anybody. If anybody could do it. Go, James, go. I tell you what, I just need somebody to give me a game. Go, James. To do the rest. Okay, Somebody give me a game. Somebody have another Luke Canard. Go, go. Six for Ten from the three. Laravia. Have. Have a. Have a game. I'm gonna need somebody. Somebody to give me a game.

[Uncle Ocho]

Hold on, Joe.

[Joe Johnson]

Go James. Do the rest.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

What's up?

[Uncle Ocho]

Don't think I ain't just hear you now.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

What?

[Uncle Ocho]

Make it light on yourself. What you trying to do?

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

You got the Lakers?

[Uncle Ocho]

Who, me?

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Uncle Ocho]

I mean, honestly, I ain't really got no horse in this race, but whoever you got, I'm gonna pick the opposite just so we can push it down on it. Who you got?

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

I got. I got Houston. Game one. Let go.

[Joe Johnson]

Game.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

The game. Game.

[Uncle Ocho]

Game. Okay. Let's make it easy, though. That's easy. That's easy.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

I got Houston. I got Houston. Game one.

[Uncle Ocho]

Okay, I got the Lakers.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

There you go.

[Joe Johnson]

That's what I'm saying.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Hey, hey, hold on, hold on. You got Ocha. You know he janky as hell. You got that man riding with you.

[Joe Johnson]

Come on, man. He got it a per. He got it a perfect. He got on purple today, so he got it Gotta be Lakers.

[Uncle Ocho]

What we talking about? Hey, Joe. How much? How much we talking, Joe? So I know how much to put aside

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

number like a little hunter. Just a friendly bit, Ocho. I ain't trying to break your pocket, but I want a nice little friendly bit.

[Uncle Ocho]

I appreciate that, but, Joe, I'm not one pocket you could break. But I mean.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah, I understand. I understand. I understand. My bad. My bad. I ain't mean to word it like that, but. Yeah.

[Uncle Ocho]

Hey, I don't really tolerate no disrespect, though.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Okay. Okay, I see. I see.

[Joe Johnson]

I see. Okay. The playoffs. The number seven matchup. Sixers versus the Magic. The winner goes to the number seven seed, and they play the number two seed, which is the Boston Celtics. And so the loser, now they await the. The winner. The winner of the Heat Hornets. Heat matchup. So who you got. Who you got in the. I forgot to ask you guys. Who you got in the. Who you got in the.

[Uncle Ocho]

What? The plan.

[Joe Johnson]

The seven. So Phoenix. Portland, they kick it off. Who you got, Joe? You got Phoenix or you got Portland?

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

I got Phoenix. Phoenix. Hell, I think they healthy now.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

If I ain't mistaken. But I. I got Phoenix. I don't know how they dropped all the way down to. What is. What.

[Uncle Ocho]

What.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

What spot they in on seven.

[Joe Johnson]

They played. They play. They're the seven, and then Portland eight.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah, I got. I got Phoenix. I got Phoenix beating Portland. I know Portland been. You know, despite everything that went on this year, they didn't play pretty good basketball. But I got I got Phoenix beating them.

[Joe Johnson]

Okay. Clippers, Warriors, Clippers.

[Uncle Ocho]

What you mean they ain't got enough firepower over there in. Down there in the bay? No doubt.

[Joe Johnson]

They got Chef Steph.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Outside of Kawhi, what the Clippers got.

[Joe Johnson]

I know.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

They got little Darius Garland, too.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

It's a toss up to me what they. Oh, they playing in la.

[Joe Johnson]

They're playing. They're playing into it.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

I'll probably. Yeah, I'm gonna go Clippers. I got Clippers. I got Clippers.

[Uncle Ocho]

See? Told you. Come on.

[Joe Johnson]

Who you got on your. You got. You take the Clippers also.

[Uncle Ocho]

I said the Clippers right away.

[John Green]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

I'm gonna go with childhood also. Yeah, but damn, boys. Can't believe we bet against Chef Steph, man.

[Uncle Ocho]

He can't do. He can't do it all by himself.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

He gonna try.

[Joe Johnson]

I mean, she'll make you think he can get out there, get the cooking. All right, Joe, So in the 7C matchup, you got sixers. Magic, who you got?

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

I'm going sixes, bro. I. I don't think MB Playing, but I don't even care about that, Uncle Ocho, because I like how Edgecomb and Maxie play when MB we got in there. Yeah. And because they got. They got backup bigs who can. You know, they're not going to put up embiid numbers, but they going to play hard. They going to do their job. And I think they got enough. They got enough guys on the perimeter who can score the basketball to where I feel like they can beat Orlando Hornets heat.

[Uncle Ocho]

Come on, Joe. Make the right decision now.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Ocho. I like Ocho.

[Uncle Ocho]

Joe. Joe, don't do that. Don't do me like that. You used to wear this jersey, Joe.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Ocho, I know, I. Look, I'm a part of.

[Uncle Ocho]

Based on your decision, you're not going to be able to come back to Miami. Be careful.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

I'm a part of Heat culture, but, boy, I like them Hornets, man. I ain't going to lie to you. Okay. With yo them boys balling, man.

[Joe Johnson]

Hey, they be letting that three ball go. You know, can and. And mellow finish one, two, and threes, 273 to 272.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Give me the Hornets, bro. Let's go, Hornets.

[Uncle Ocho]

I knew you were gonna do that.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah, now, boy, but what we betting on that game? What we betting on this game?

[Uncle Ocho]

I can't even. You know, I'm going with the Heat now. Now I see Lamelo. Hey, passing up goddamn twos, going out to the goddamn three.

[Joe Johnson]

He don't pass up the twos. He passed up a layup, went to the three and.

[Uncle Ocho]

But you know, Joe, let's make it light. I'm going heat no matter what.

[Joe Johnson]

Okay?

[Uncle Ocho]

I don't care who they was playing, but we. We can make it like a light nut. A 100, so 200 in the hole right now.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Bet, bet, bet.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah. Hey, listen, man, mellow out there. He playing a video game. Seem like they got some talent. They got. They got some nice young talent who can explode, and I think they gonna play well in this. Play in. I'm. Hey, the horn has been hooping.

[Joe Johnson]

They got. They shoot that three ball, man, really well. They can shoot you out the building from the three they get. And they got like five, six guys that could easily on a given night, make eight threes. You got Lamelo, you got Knipple, you got Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, you got Kobe White. Kobe White came in today, gave another 19 off the bench. Man, they. Ooh, I think.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

I think the most underrated thing about the Hornets, not only can they shoot the three, and they got some guys who can do it at a high clip, but all of those same guys, Uncle Ocho, they can go off the bounce. Yes, off the bounce. Yeah, you're looking. Go off the bounce. Bridges can go off the bounce. I ain't talking about just to create for themselves like they create for others, too, which makes them so difficult to guard. And it seems like they enjoy playing with one another. Their games complement each other. You know what I mean? I think. And they got some hard working bigs down there. Yeah, yeah, they. Hey, they gonna make some noise, bro.

[Uncle Ocho]

Hey, statistically, right, as as many threes as they do put up as many three point shooters as the Hornets have, what do they compare, like, when it comes to the Celtics with the threes that they put up a game,

[Joe Johnson]

it's close. I mean, The Celtics made 29. Made 20 what? 29 threes today. 25. 26. 29 threes today.

[Uncle Ocho]

Basically shoot at the same clip. Basically.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah, yeah, they getting them up.

[Joe Johnson]

Both of them try to get up 50 a game.

[Julian Edelman]

This is Julian Edelman from Dudes on Dudes with Gronk and Jewels. All right, real quick, take a look at yourself right now.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Why?

[Joe Johnson]

What's wrong?

[Julian Edelman]

Nothing's wrong. You look like a guy running on three hours of sleep and vibes. Okay. Yeah, I'm tired, kind of cranky, and very thirsty. Congrats. Those are some of the potential signs of mild dehydration. And I bet your last bathroom break showed you another sign Your body might be throwing you a penalty flag. So what's the play? Call Liquid IV hydration multiplier. One stick in water helps hydrate faster than water alone. Okay, but where's the proof? Liquid IV's clinical studies. Not just a guy I know. Real science. Results you can trust.

[Joe Johnson]

Well, take a look at me now. Liquid IV is officially part of my daily hydration routine. Pass the firecracker. Popsicle flavor.

[Julian Edelman]

Stay hydrated like a pro. Not like Jack. Before this. Stock up on Liquid IV hydration multiplieriquid-iv.com and use the promo code nuthouse for 20% off your first purchase.

[Lily Herman]

We're lost and kickoff's coming up. I don't want to miss the lineup. I'm going to ask that man for directions. Hi there. We're trying to get to the stadium.

[Julian Edelman]

Well, you're going to take a left

[T-Mobile Representative]

at the old oak tree at this here road.

[Julian Edelman]

Nah, I'm just kidding. Let me get my phone out.

[Lily Herman]

How is there signal out here?

[T-Mobile Representative]

T Mobile and US Cellular are coming together. So the network out here is huge. We get the same great signal as the city, saving a boatload with benefits. And there's a five year price guarantee too. Okay, here's the turn.

[Lily Herman]

Actually, can you pull up the way to a T Mobile store?

[T-Mobile Representative]

America's best network just got bigger. Switch to T Mobile today and get built in benefits. The other guys leave out out. Plus our five year price guarantee. And now T Mobile is available at US Cellular stores in Hermiston. Best mobile network based on analysis by Ooklove Speed test intelligence data second half of 2025 bigger network. The combination of T Mobile's and US Cellular's network footprints will enhance the T mobile network's coverage price guarantee on talk text and data exclusions like taxes and fees apply. See t mobile.com for details.

[Lily Herman]

Ready for a different take on Formula 1? Look no further than no Grip. A new podcast tackling the culture of motor racing's most coveted series. Join me, Lily Herman as we dive into the underexplored pockets of F1, including the astrology of the current grid. Lewis Hamilton, Capricorn Sun, Cancer Moon.

[Joe Johnson]

Wouldn't you know it? Michael Schumacher is also a Capricorn Sun, Cancer Moon.

[Lily Herman]

The story of the sport's most consequential driver strike. We have one man who upon hearing that he was going to be fired, freaked out and apparently climbed out the window of the bathroom and was Daniel Ricardo's illustrious fox. One career a success story, a cautionary tale or some combination of Both he started getting all this attention and he maybe started to think, I'm bigger than this. I'm better. And plenty of other mishaps, scandals and sagas that have made Formula One a delightful, decadent dumpster fire for more than 75 years. Listen to no Grip on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Julian Edelman]

This is Julian Edelman, host of Games With Names. On our latest episode, we got comedian Blake Anderson from Workaholics and the hilarious this is important podcast.

[Uncle Ocho]

Let's go.

[Joe Johnson]

We did beat him in improv.

[Julian Edelman]

You had an improv against the team?

[Joe Johnson]

Yes.

[Julian Edelman]

We would pull up, their schools would

[Joe Johnson]

be there with signs for us. It's competition. What you would win is a bottle of Goldschlager. James Fester threw it out of a van because he didn't want us drinking it.

[Julian Edelman]

For more games with names, visit the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast.

[John Green]

I'm John Green. You may know me as the author of the Fault in Our Stars. And now, I guess also as the co host of the Away End, a brand new world soccer podcast.

[Daniel Alarcon]

I'm Daniel Alarcon, a writer and journalist, and John and I have known each other since we were kids. My first World cup was Mexico 86. I was nine years old. I watched every game and I fell in love. On our new podcast, the Away End, we'll share with you the magic of international football, all leading up to the 2026 World Cup for us, soccer football

[John Green]

is a story we've shared for over 30 years, since Daniel was the star player on our high school soccer team.

[Joe Johnson]

Very debatable.

[John Green]

And I was their most loyal and sometimes only fan. I love this game. I love its history, its hope, its heartbreak, and above all, its beauty.

[Daniel Alarcon]

Together we'll find out why. Of all the unimportant things football, soccer is the most important.

[John Green]

Listen to the Away End with Daniel Alarcon and John green on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Joe Johnson]

Hold on.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah, I don't know if the Heat got enough firepower. Ocho.

[Uncle Ocho]

Joe, don't do that. Joe.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

I'm just keeping it. I said I don't know. They can prove me wrong, but I'm just saying I don't know. I know. Bam. He went for 83 now.

[Uncle Ocho]

But hey, hey, we bet on the first game. Now, we ain't talking about the series.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

No, we bet. We just been the first game.

[Uncle Ocho]

Oh, yeah. Well, you lost that. You know me.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

We're gonna Play that one game. That's not gonna be no series with Miami. That's a one game to go on to see who get the seventh spot.

[Uncle Ocho]

That mean I'm gonna have 200? Basically.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

They playing in Charlotte.

[Uncle Ocho]

What that mean? What we talk about the Heat? What.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

What that mean?

[Uncle Ocho]

Okay. They the last person that played for the Heat that didn't believe in us. You know what happened?

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

What happened, bro?

[Uncle Ocho]

You lost.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Who I lost to.

[Uncle Ocho]

I'm telling you, you finna lose right now. And now, I'm not saying I'm Cleo, I'm not. I'm not saying I can tell the future, but I'm just telling you Pat Riley's heat, Sposher's heat is going down to Charlotte. Wait, the Hornets in Charlotte, ain't it?

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Yes.

[Uncle Ocho]

All right, matter of fact, let's make it 200.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Bet.

[Joe Johnson]

Bet it.

[Uncle Ocho]

Make it 200. That's how confident. That's how confident I am in your team. That's how confident I am in my city.

[Joe Johnson]

What you call them? The Hornets made the most threes this year.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Hey, most threes per game, they make about six little about 16 and a half threes per game. They made 13. They made 1300 threes.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Hey, hey, un. They say it's a sucker born every minute. 58.

[Uncle Ocho]

Hold on. Where you at?

[Joe Johnson]

Oo.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

What's up, baby?

[Uncle Ocho]

Hey, just to show you. Just to show you how serious I am, matter of fact, you know what do. I'm gonna send you my money ahead of time.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

No, no, no. Wait, wait. You mean after I win?

[Uncle Ocho]

No, no, no, no, no.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Hold on.

[Uncle Ocho]

I'm gonna see you my 200 right now.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Don't jinx me like that. Don't jinx me like that. No, no, wait.

[Joe Johnson]

Let's let the game.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Let's let the game.

[Joe Johnson]

I want you.

[Uncle Ocho]

I want you to send me 400 back.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

I don't know. Where I'm from, we don't do business like that. Okay, okay, hold on.

[Uncle Ocho]

I just don't want you to say, oh, he go. He don't. He don't pay. He don't pay. So I'm. I'm gonna send it to you early. Just.

[Joe Johnson]

He tried to get you to burn the money, Joe. He tried to get you to burn the money.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

I already know what he's trying to do.

[Uncle Ocho]

Nah, hey, I mean, I just want to see more come to me, that's all.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Man.

[Uncle Ocho]

Hey, you don't even believe in yourself, huh?

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Hey, look, so I already told you,

[Uncle Ocho]

bro, and you got your phone on you?

[Joe Johnson]

The six the Sixers in the Eastern Conference. Seven eight between the Magic. The loser will wait the winner of the heats Hornet Same thing with the in the Western Conference Portland Phoenix play the winner is the seven seed they play the the San Antonio Spurs. The loser awaits Golden State LA Clippers.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah, yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Who do we like? Okay, six is magic. You Joe, you say you like six? Yeah, Joe, I mean Ocho, who you like six of the Magic?

[Uncle Ocho]

Yeah, I like like sixes too. I like 60. I, you know. Yeah, I like sixes. What happened? Hey, Joe, what happened? If indeed played

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

every.

[Uncle Ocho]

Everything changed, especially Maxi numbers.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

He's not playing. He's not playing? No. Easy. He got a serious injury.

[Joe Johnson]

He got it? Yeah, he got appendicitis. Don't you remember? He had his appendix taken out.

[Uncle Ocho]

But you only told me that was a few days now.

[Joe Johnson]

No, ain't no few days. That thing anywhere from 10 to 14 days.

[Uncle Ocho]

Okay.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

And here they play what, Wednesday? Tuesday? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

He gonna be gone for a minute.

[Uncle Ocho]

Yeah, Maxi, Maxi finna go crazy about 30, okay?

[Joe Johnson]

Oh, okay, Joe. The Halts and the Knicks.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Knicks?

[Joe Johnson]

What? Man, that was quick. Whoa, whoa, whoa. You bet?

[Uncle Ocho]

Hold on. You betting against big big body Brunson?

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Boy, I got the HKs all day long. I don't care who the HWKs was playing. I think they could beat anybody. I got the Hogs.

[Uncle Ocho]

You see, you see how he is?

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

I got the Hawks.

[Uncle Ocho]

Now you delusional like I was.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Ain't no delusional. Ain't no delusion. I'm just keeping a 100. Oo.

[Uncle Ocho]

So why you ain't keeping 100?

[Joe Johnson]

When?

[Uncle Ocho]

When we talked about the goddamn heat just now.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Well, I did kept a 100. I'm going with the Hornets, okay?

[Uncle Ocho]

Hey, hey, check your phone real quick, man.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Nah, don't send me nothing, bro.

[Uncle Ocho]

Send it back to me.

[Joe Johnson]

Hey, that joker got no joke, Joe. He's trying to get you to burn the money, Joe.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

What's wrong with him?

[Uncle Ocho]

Hey, hey. Gotcha.

[Joe Johnson]

Did Joe send it to dirty boy? Hey, hey.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Oh, oh. He tried to put that candy wrap around my head like I'm some type of stuff.

[Uncle Ocho]

No, no, no joke. No, no, Joe. I'm letting you hold the money, Joe.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

I don't need to hold the money. Let's let the game happen, baby. When the game happening, we win.

[Uncle Ocho]

Hey, you don't believe in yourself.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Hey, I got, I got the Hogs beating the Knicks. Is it going to be a tough task? Yes, it's going to be a Tough task. But I think we got guys who are very hungry. We have a team that's very, I want to say unpredictable as far as, like, how you can game plan for them. Because we can beat you in so many ways. You ain't. You can't load up on nobody.

[Joe Johnson]

You ain't. You know, we.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

We got so many guys who play make, who can shoot the ball, who can score the ball, who gonna defend at a high level. I think we're gonna be able to cause havoc. The thing is, we're gonna have to slow Brunson down. That's period, point blank. That's the head of the snake. We slow Brunson down, we gonna be all right. We give ourselves a chance.

[Joe Johnson]

Well, I'm.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

I'm.

[Joe Johnson]

I'm. I'm pretty sure Dyson Daniels is going to start out on Brunson.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

He's a big. He's a big long guy, six, seven, and. And. And he's gonna have to. Because the thing is, you look at Brunson and you're like, oh, man, he's. Yeah. But he's got a body that can play through contact.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yes, There you go.

[Uncle Ocho]

Like a little pit.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah, yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

He built a body that could play through contact. People look at his size. But he put together now.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

And so he gonna take contact. He's gonna initiate contact. And all he wants is a little separation so he can get that shot off. Yeah, he's really cracking. I don't know what it is. I think it's just like I've never seen a left handed ball, a Hooper that wasn't crafty.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

You're right.

[Joe Johnson]

You look at James Harden, you look at Sharona's marcelos, you look at Manu Ginobly, you look at Brunson, look at all Nate Arch. Look at. Go back and study the left handed player and all of them.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Like, damn, How y' all do that?

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

They got some craftiness to their game.

[Joe Johnson]

They do.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

They do. You're right. Hey, you're right. Because his body, he built for the BS that you're gonna throw at it. Meaning you want to play physical. Okay. I'm built for that. You know, he gonna post up, he gonna be in the pick and roll. He gonna be all over the damn court. But we gotta make it tough. He gotta see bodies, you know, show hands. Because he gonna flail. Once you do try to create some contact with him. You know how it is. He gonna flail a little bit, but we. I think we should be able to handle all that, but.

[Joe Johnson]

And plus Joe Nocho, you got to keep him at the free throw line.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Uncle Ocho]

Oh.

[Joe Johnson]

Because he can be inefficient, but go and go to the free throw line and shoot 15 free throws.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah, yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

He's another. He gonna get his shots.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

So if you think, oh, man, he ain't gonna take with 10 shots. Bull jive. He gonna be somewhere between 15 and 20. He might be. You might be able to pimp him in somewhere between 18 and 27 shots a game come postseason. He's getting his shots up.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

You're right. You're right.

[Uncle Ocho]

Hey, Uncle Joe, I'm gonna need a cat to get off that three point line.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Don't tell him to get off the damn three point line now. Let him stay his ass out there.

[Uncle Ocho]

No, no, no, no. I'm being serious.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

I'm being, I am too.

[Joe Johnson]

That's like telling the pigeon in New York to get off the window seal. Well, he there all the time. You ever see the pigeon not shoo. As soon as you shoot, guess where he go? He come right back. Soon as you turn and walk around, he come right back. Get right back where he was.

[Uncle Ocho]

I need, I need him to assert himself down in the block, down in the post, whether it's high or low. Insert yourself there. And then once you become efficient at that point, then if you want to go out there to the three, if you want to do your MIDI and do whatever you need to do out

[Joe Johnson]

there, then do that. Hey, I mean, they ain't got nobody big but a Congo. Who the. Who the other big. They got Joe in Atlanta.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

No, no, no. You, you. Hey, look, you Ocho, right? I think we don't we outside of Congo. We just signed the kid from Indiana. I played with him in Utah. I forgot his dang on name. Big kid.

[Joe Johnson]

Oh, oh, yeah, the kid from North Carolina. Bradley.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah, yeah, Bradley.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

We just signed him because we gonna need the body. That's the one thing that New York kind of, kind of scares me because of that, that paint presence that they have with Mitchell Robinson.

[Joe Johnson]

They got Mitchell Robinson. You know, Mitchell Robinson ain't looking to do nothing but grab some reaper. Grab the board, man. He's gonna give him multiple second chance points. I want opportunity. Excuse me.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

I just watched. You know, we just played the Knicks probably about a week or so ago, and Mitchell Robinson killed us. He killed us. Yeah, so I, I, I, I'm sure that's gonna be in the back of these guys. Mind my biggest thing out this whole series, Uncle Ocho, the leap that I have to. That we have to see Jalen Johnson make in order for us to make it to the next round. Meaning, because he gonna have to play a lot of the four spot and we're gonna need him to rebound, we're gonna need him to defend, we're gonna need him to do every damn thing. Score playmate. He gonna have to do everything. So I'm looking forward for his numbers to be real gotti in this first, first round playoff series against the Knicks. Because outside of that, it's gonna be tough. It's gonna be tough on us, bro. He gonna. He gonna have to deliver for us.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, you definitely. Because you definitely don't want to lose the rebounding it. I mean, you're probably gonna lose it because they're gonna. They're big team and they looking to crash the board because you got a guy like Josh Hart can give you 10 rebounds. We know cat just by, just by size alone. Mitchell Robinson is looking to do nothing but rebound and defend. Yeah, he'll roll to the basket, but he's looking there to defend the paint and rebound the basketball.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah, yeah, it's. And another thing that worries me is that I know the Knicks got home court advantage, but hell, when they come here and play the Atlanta man, it's gonna be so many damn New York fans in there. It's gonna be number orange and blue. I'm like, oh my God, man, you

[Joe Johnson]

know, they don't came down, Joe. They done left the city, they don't left New York and can't move to Atlanta. But they still got ties to the Knicks.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

They still love their Knicks, man. Every time it was bad about a week ago, I'm talking about in. In State Farm arena, bro. It was nothing. Nothing but Knicks fans. I couldn't believe it. So I know it's gonna be. They gonna pack it. They gonna pack us out. But we, we gotta some way, somehow we gotta get through this.

[Uncle Ocho]

So what we got, what we got on that?

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Would you want another little honey on that?

[Uncle Ocho]

Yeah. So you want me to send another 100 to you?

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Nah, let me put this in my notes. I gotta put this in my notes. I gotta put this. Don't be. Hey, don't send me no money, bro.

[Uncle Ocho]

I saw you check your phone.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

I don't know. I don't know what account that stuff going to. I don't know, but it ain't mine. I'm saying don't send me nothing. I'm cool.

[Uncle Ocho]

Hold on. It said you registered.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Was there no no, no, hey, hold on.

[Joe Johnson]

That.

[Uncle Ocho]

That wasn't you.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Nah, they weren me, bro.

[Uncle Ocho]

Oh, hold on. Let me stop that payment.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah, yeah, Slow that down.

[Joe Johnson]

Late.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah, Turbo.

[Uncle Ocho]

Now I say went through.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Uncle Ocho]

Oh, yeah. Hey, Yoga Yoga, llc. That's you.

[Joe Johnson]

Hey, that's you.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Hey, you got chill, bro.

[Uncle Ocho]

No excuses.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Oh, wow. You know what? And I play. I really blame myself for even dealing with this joker. Like, all right, you know what I'm saying? I should never got in the car with this joker. I don't even know why I'm messing with her, Joe.

[Uncle Ocho]

I'm just. I'm not gonna play. But I ain't gonna play about no money. So I'm sending it to you ahead of time, so you can send it.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

But who does that, Ojo? Who pays before the. Before the game even.

[Uncle Ocho]

That's how confident. That's how confident I am in my teams that I'm picking you. Not confident. You just said it yourself. What happened to State Farm arena the last time Atlanta Hawks played the Knicks? What happened, man? So you think a seven game series gonna be any different somehow? Delusion. That's being naive. Somebody better than that.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Somebody please help this man.

[Uncle Ocho]

Oh, man. Listen. Hey, y' all wanted me to get into basketball. I'm into it now. I'm ready.

[Joe Johnson]

Come on. Because you got money on. So you got to watch the game. You gotta watch the game.

[Uncle Ocho]

Listen, I'm gonna be on here talking like I'm Doris Burke or George sedano.

[Joe Johnson]

During the 2023, 202324 season, the Pistons finished with the worst record in franchise history, 1468. Two seasons later, Detroit finished 1622, the third 60 win season in franchise history. Joe, is Detroit basketball. Are they back?

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah, yeah, they back. Detroit back. And listen, they're back. They got a lot of guys obviously who can play, but they gritty, they tough, blue collar, hard working cats who gonna defend at the highest level. And man, they've been playing great basketball even when K has been out, bro, they got guys. The kid that come out, the bitch Jenkins.

[Uncle Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Yes.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

I don't know where he came from, but boy, when I tell y' all he been hooping, man, he been balling. These guys have played significant minutes when Cade has been out. So I. I feel like they're ready for the moment for sure.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, they're definitely back. I mean, they look, you draft K number one overall, you get Thompson, you get Duran. They, they. Hey, and they got got. They. They brought back Tobias Caris Lavert, they go get Duncan Robinson, they get Horta they get guys that can knock down the threes. They defend, as you said, Joe, they defend at an elite level.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

But protecting the paint, they got guys that can pick you up. And so, yeah, I, I think they're back. I. I think. I think they're back. But do I. It's just hard. As great as they play in the 60 wins or 60 wins, it's just hard for me to see them beating Boston in seven games.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

I know, man. I. It's, it's, it. It'll be a tough challenge for them. Un. But I think they have a shot in the dark. They really have a. They really have a shot. I think they've been the best team in the east, obviously. Boston just getting back full, full throttle with Tatum coming back. Yes. It's gonna be tough to beat them, but I think Detroit can do it.

[Joe Johnson]

And that joker, man, Detroit. You see, hold on. I think Boston made like 29 threes today against, Against Orlando.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Did he? And they ain't even. Hell, they ain't even had none of these starters out there for real.

[Joe Johnson]

See what this thing. I'm almost certain they did. Cause they was a. Because I. I glanced up.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Let me see.

[Uncle Ocho]

Hey, Joe, what's that? Hey, that goddamn K. Cunningham boy. Boy, he nice.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Boy, he real nice. Oh, Joe, nice, man. They got Harper.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, Joe, you got shine. Hit another one.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

That boy had.

[Joe Johnson]

Ron Harper Jr. Had 27. Luke Garza had 27. So they made 8, 11, 12, 13, 16. They was. They were 19 or 50 from the three with backups.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

They got a deep team, man. They got a lot of guys who could play.

[Joe Johnson]

Hell yeah.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Oh, yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

I mean, Garza gave him 27, 10 of 18. Ron Harper Jr. 2710 or 20. Shireman 38 of 28 of 26 of 14

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

guys. Hey, you know, you know them hard. Them the hardest teams to play against. Guys who you don't really game playing for.

[Joe Johnson]

No.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

You know, you don't really. So you like. Okay, we just gonna see what they gonna do. She didn't came out all them three guys and gave you 30 on crazy.

[Joe Johnson]

Yes.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

And

[Joe Johnson]

so that's what makes them dangerous. Yeah. Okay.

[Uncle Ocho]

Ch.

[Julian Edelman]

This is Julian Edelman from Dudes on Dudes with Gronk and Jules.

[Joe Johnson]

I don't know why everyone keeps asking.

[Julian Edelman]

I feel totally fine. You had two coffees, no water, and you're mad at the chair. You're sitting on the chair started it. You're probably dehydrated. Your body might be throwing you a penalty flag. So hydration matters even when it's not game day. Hydration matters every day. That's why I use Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier. One stick in water helps hydrate faster than water alone.

[Joe Johnson]

Hold up.

[Julian Edelman]

It's legit, clinically tested, backed by a scientific advisory board.

[Joe Johnson]

Say less. Pass me the pina colada flavor.

[Julian Edelman]

Stay hydrated. Stock up on Liquid IV hydration multiplier@liquid IV.com and use the promo code nuthouse for 20% off your first order.

[Lily Herman]

Ready for a different take on Formula 1? Look no further than no Grip, a new podcast tackling the culture of motor racing's most coveted series. Join me, Lily Herman, as we dive into the underexplored pockets of F1, including the astrology of the current grid, the story of the sport's most consequential driver strike, and plenty of other mishaps, scandals and sagas that have made Formula One a delightful, decadent dumpster fire for more than 75 years. Listen to no Grip on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Peace to the planet. Charlamagne Tha God here. And listen. We are back. The Black Effect Podcast Festival is back in Atlanta on April 25th at Pullman. Y', yeah, and the full lineup is nuts. We got the Grits and Age podcast, Deontay Kyle and Big Ice Cup Cat. We got Club 520 with Jeff Teague in the gang. Don't call Me White Girl. Mona will be there. Keep it positive, Sweetie with Crystal Renee. We got Reality with the King with Carlos King. And yes, Drink champs will be in the building.

[Joe Johnson]

Okay.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Plus, you know we're gonna have a lot of guests, so you need to join us. And we got the Black Effect Marketplace, the picture podcast and everything you expect from the Black Effect Podcast Festival. Tickets are on sale right now. Go get [e-mail] podcast festival. Don't play yourself. Okay, pull up.

[Daniel Alarcon]

I'm Daniel Alarcon and this is my friend. He's much more famous than I am.

[John Green]

I wouldn't go that far, but I'm John Green, co host of the podcast the Away End with my old friend Daniel.

[Daniel Alarcon]

On our podcast the Away End, we'll share with you the magic of international football, all leading up to the 2026 World Cup. Together we'll find out why. Of all the unimportant things football, soccer is the most important.

[John Green]

Listen to the Away End with Daniel Alarcon and John green on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Joe Johnson]

Will Ferrell's big money players.

[Lily Herman]

And iheart Podcast presents Soccer Moms. So, I'm Leigh Ann.

[Uncle Ocho]

Yeah.

[Lily Herman]

This is my best friend, Janet.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Hey.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

And we have been joined at the

[Lily Herman]

hip since high school.

[Joe Johnson]

High school, absolutely.

[Lily Herman]

A redacted amount of years later, we're still joined at the hip. Just a little bit bigger hips.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

This is a podcast. We're recording it as we tailgate our

[Lily Herman]

youth soccer games in the back of my Honda Odyssey with all the snacks and drinks.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Why did you get hard seltzer instead of beer?

[Julian Edelman]

Well, they had a bogo.

[Uncle Ocho]

Well, then you got them.

[Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)]

Listen to soccer moms on the iHeartRadio

[Joe Johnson]

app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.