Nightcap - Hour 1: Thunder Take WCF Game 1 + Shaq Proves NBA is Rigged?

Summary

Club Shay Shay: Nightcap - Hour 1: Thunder Take WCF Game 1 + Shaq Proves NBA is Rigged?

Release Date: May 21, 2025

Hosts:

• Shannon Sharpe – NFL legend, 3x Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee.
• Chad Ochocinco Johnson – Former NFL player.
• Nick Van Exel – Former NBA All-Star and University of Cincinnati’s retired number holder.

---

1. Introduction to Game 1: Thunder vs. Timberwolves

Timestamp: [02:24]

Shannon Sharpe kicks off the episode by recapping the Western Conference Finals Game 1, where the Oklahoma City Thunder triumphed over the Minnesota Timberwolves with a decisive score of 114-88. Shaquille O'Neal (referred to as "Shea") delivered a standout performance alongside contributions from Chad Ochocinco Johnson, Jayla Williams, and Isaiah Hartenstein.

Shannon Sharpe:
"The first 30 point game of a Western Conference finals by a Thunder player since KD in 2016." [03:27]

2. Game Analysis: Thunder’s Dominance

Timestamp: [04:00]

Shannon and Nick delve into the factors that led to Thunder's overwhelming victory. They highlight the Thunder's ability to intensify their gameplay in the second half, exploiting turnovers and capitalizing on Minnesota's defensive shortcomings.

Shannon Sharpe:
"For every time they turned the ball over, they made them play. The ultimate price they cashed in." [04:30]

Nick Van Exel:
"Minnesota kept the ball above the free-throw line, making it easy for OKC to defend with box-and-elbow strategies, limiting driving lanes and cutting opportunities." [05:00]

3. Timberwolves’ Offensive Struggles

Timestamp: [06:00]

The discussion shifts to the Timberwolves' offensive performance. Shannon critiques the limited scoring from key players, noting that only two players reached double figures compared to OKC's four.

Shannon Sharpe:
"They only had two guys in double figures, leaving a lot to make up from the bench." [06:20]

Chad Ochocinco Johnson:
"Offensively, I need Ant man to be more aggressive and for the starters to have better movement. The Thunder smothered their shots, making it difficult for Timberwolves to get good opportunities." [07:14]

4. Defensive Strategies and Adjustments

Timestamp: [08:00]

Nick and Chad discuss how Thunder's defensive adjustments in the second half disrupted Minnesota's strategy, forcing them into low-percentage shots and limiting their rebounding capabilities.

Shannon Sharpe:
"OKC has an elite defensive lineup with multiple players capable of defending at a high level, making it tough for Timberwolves to create space." [09:09]

Nick Van Exel:
"They shifted their offense from the top to the corner, creating more space and easier shot opportunities." [10:30]

5. Player Performance and Turnovers

Timestamp: [11:24]

The conversation moves to individual performances and the impact of turnovers on the game's outcome.

Shannon Sharpe:
"Julius Randle was efficient with 28 points, but turnovers from key players like Randle, McDaniels, and Ant hampered their chances." [12:00]

Chad Ochocinco Johnson:
"Ant's ankle tweak might have affected his shooting efficiency, but the team needs to move the ball faster to avoid excessive turnovers." [13:14]

6. Future of the Series and Team Adjustments

Timestamp: [20:12]

Nick expresses optimism about the series, believing that both teams will make necessary adjustments moving forward.

Nick Van Exel:
"This series is going to be a long one, and Minnesota has enough to make it even. They'll need to adjust their offense and capitalize on their strengths." [20:23]

7. Celtics' Absence from Eastern Conference Finals

Timestamp: [29:27]

Shannon discusses the surprising absence of the Boston Celtics from the Eastern Conference Finals, referencing LeBron James’ comments about the team possibly getting bored.

Shannon Sharpe:
"LeBron mentioned that the Celtics might have gotten bored, which is hard to believe given their talent and championship aspirations." [29:27]

Nick Van Exel:
"I think they lost their edge during the series, not that they got bored." [30:30]

8. NBA Draft Lottery Conspiracy Theories

Timestamp: [59:54]

Shannon introduces a hot topic by sharing Shaquille O'Neal’s anecdote about a conversation with then-Commissioner David Stern, suggesting possible manipulation in the 1992 NBA draft lottery favoring Shaq's entry into the league.

Shannon Sharpe:
"Shaq shared details of a conversation with David Stern where he was asked if he wanted to play where it's cold or hot. He chose hot, and Orlando won the lottery three months later." [59:54]

Nick Van Exel:
"While it may seem fishy, there's no concrete evidence to prove the NBA draft lottery is rigged." [60:21]

Chad Ochocinco Johnson:
"It's definitely a fix. The coincidence around Luka Doncic's trade and the number one pick seems too close to ignore." [61:15]

9. Donovan Mitchell and Team Dynamics

Timestamp: [63:27]

Shannon brings up Kendrick Perkins’ critique of Donovan Mitchell’s performance, questioning whether injuries or mentality issues are affecting Mitchell's play.

Shannon Sharpe:
"Donovan Mitchell is a superstar, but if he continues to underperform despite his caliber and contract, it raises concerns about his impact on the team’s success." [48:03]

Nick Van Exel:
"Jimmy Butler, similar to Mitchell, has the capability to be a scoring leader but sometimes chooses to facilitate instead, which can be detrimental in clutch moments." [52:47]

10. Closing Remarks and Anecdotes

Timestamp: [27:00]

The hosts share personal anecdotes and engage in light-hearted banter, reinforcing their camaraderie and the show's entertaining dynamic.

Chad Ochocinco Johnson:
"Let’s just say I’m a better basketball player than a football player." [36:47]

Shannon Sharpe:
"I’ve had both hips replaced and no intention of getting anything else done." [39:31]

---

Notable Quotes:

• Shannon Sharpe:
  "OKC is loaded with defenders; you won't find that anywhere else in the NBA." [19:55]

• Chad Ochocinco Johnson:
  "Donovan doesn’t take bad shots, he always does the right thing." [52:47]

• Nick Van Exel:
  "This series is going to go a long way. Minnesota has enough to make it an even series." [20:23]

---

Conclusion:

In this episode of Club Shay Shay, Shannon Sharpe, Chad Ochocinco Johnson, and Nick Van Exel provide an in-depth analysis of the Thunder's commanding victory over the Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. They dissect the strategic adjustments, player performances, and defensive prowess that led to the outcome, while also touching upon broader NBA topics like the Celtics' playoff performance and ongoing conspiracy theories surrounding the NBA draft lottery. The hosts' dynamic interplay and personal stories add a layer of entertainment, making complex sports discussions accessible and engaging for all listeners.

Transcript

[Shannon Sharpe]

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[Shannon Sharpe]

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[Shannon Sharpe]

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[Shannon Sharpe]

Hello Ladies and gentlemen and thank you for joining us for another episode of Nightcap. The Western Conference finals got under away and what was a very close game at the half the OKC Thunder run away with it in the second half and win by 26114 to 88. Shea was sensational again, but he got contribution from Chad Holgren, Jayla Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein as they win 114 to 88. Y' all know me, I am your favorite unc. Shannon Sharp, my partner and co host, Lord help him. Liberty's Own. Although he's not in Liberty City now.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

I'm at. Hey, I'm at work.

[Ocho]

I'm in Houston.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I know exactly where you are.

[Ocho]

Okay?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Bingering a fan, moderate Pro Bowler, All Pro. That's Chad Ochocinko Johnson. And joining us tonight, it's been a while since I talked to the gentleman. We go back to our Denver days. I arrived first, he arrived shortly after me. So we go way, way back. Nick the Quick University. He's one of the, Well, I think 10 players to have their number retired for the University of Cincinnati. Laker Grady, The All Star, 13 years in the NBA. Nick Van Exel. Nick, thanks for joining us tonight, man. We appreciate that, man.

[Ocho]

I appreciate y' all having me, man, but I gotta get something off my chest, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

All right, let's get through this and we'll let you get it off your chest. Please make sure y' all hit that subscribe button. Please make sure you hit the like button and go subscribe to the Nightcap podcast feed wherever you get your podcast from. We want to thank you, sincerely, everybody at Nightcap, especially Ocho and I, for all the support, all the continued support and the loyalty that you've shown us through the first two years of this podcast. Thank you very much. Because of you, you allow us to be us and do great things. So thank you so much again for your support. Make sure you check out Shea by La Portier. We do have it in stock now. If you cannot find Chez Ballet Portier in a store, a city or state near you, order it online. We'll ship it directly to your door. Best tasting VSOP cognac on the market. Please drink responsibly and stay safe. Go follow my media company page on all of its platforms. Shay Shay Media and my clothing company, 84. 84 being spelled out and the link is pinned in the chat. Supplies are limited, so once the supplies are gone, they're gone. So please grab yours while supplies last. Thunder beat the Wolves SGA in game one. 31 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals. The first 30 point game of the Western Conference finals by a Thunder player since KD in 2016. Points in the paint Thunder 54, T Wolves 20. Nick, as I mentioned earlier in the re in the lead in. This was a very close game at the half and, and in the second half it's like the Thunder stepped on the gas and made, made the Wolves play. For every time they turned the ball over, they made them play. The ultimate price they cashed in. They let laying it up, they got fouled. They making threes. What is it that. How are the Thunder able to do this? They like get able to get to a gear and seemingly other teams can't keep up with them.

[Ocho]

I think tonight, you know, I think Minnesota played right into their hands and Minnesota kept the ball above the free throw line pretty much the whole night. So it was easy for, for OKC's defense to play boxes and elbows. So anytime they had the ball up top, you know, they, they, they're looking at three defenders, a guy on the ball and two, you know, at the elbows. And they had no driving lanes and they didn't cut. So anytime somebody put the ball on the ground, you know, OKC got active hands, extra hands, they gonna get deflections and that those deflections normally turn into steel. So I think, you know, that first game is a field game. You know, they got, they're gonna figure it out as far as what adjustments they need to make both teams. But Minnesota got to move the ball and they got to change their offense a little bit.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. Cause I'm looking at. They only had two guys in double figures. Ant was 5 of 13, 3 of 8 from the three. Julius Randall was great again, 28 points. He was 9 of 13 from the floor, 5 of 6 from the three point line, 5 of 6 from the free throw line. He had 28 big points. But you got seven points from McDaniels, two points from Rudy Gobert, seven points from Mike Conley. Like I said, only two players in double figures. And when you got the opposing team, they got four players in double figures. That leaves a lot, that leaves a lot for you to try to make up from your bench. And, and if you look at it, OKC has the better of the two benches. So now you're going to really need to rely heavily on your starters in order for you to have a chance to win this game. Ocho, you looking at Timberwolves. I know you like the Timberwolves. And Ant, man, what disappointed you most about what you saw from the OKC Thunder tonight?

[Ocho]

Obviously from the Thunder, I mean, excuse.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Me, the deep Wolves tonight.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

The Wolves. About the Wolves.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Well, first offensively, right, Everybody. The game started off very slow. Obviously Julius Durandal had a Good first half, but I need Ant man to be a little bit more aggressive offensively. The rest of the team collectively as a group. I'm not talking about the bench, I'm talking about the starters. Before we even get to the bench, I need offensively, I need them to have better movement. You know, it seemed like everybody was very stagnant standing in one place. I understand the pick and rolls, but it. Nothing seemed like it was flowing smoothly and they weren't working as a unit, you know, cohesively outside of that. Listen, the Thunder did what they needed to do defensively, they smothered them. And it seemed like every shot. Nick. I know, I'm not tripping. Every shot that the Wolves tried to take it, not only was it contested, it seemed like it was difficult for them to even get a goddamn shot off.

[Ocho]

Yeah, it was.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. I'm looking at.

[Ocho]

Every time they put the ball.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Before you go, Nick, I'm looking at. You had. Julius Randle had 13 shot attempts. Ant man had 13 shot attempts. Nas Reed was 1 for 11. DiVincenzo was 3 of 14. Nikhil Alexander Walker was 3 of 11. That's not nearly enough shot attempts for your two best players. Y' all in the low teens. 13 and 14 and 13 and 13. Respect. And you got two row. You got bench players that's getting more shots than you guys. They're definitely going to have to change the game plan and do something differently. Like you said, Julius Randle played really, really well tonight. But Ant man, they're going to need two or three guys to come along with Julius Randle if Randall's going to continue to play this well. And I don't see any reason why he's not because they don't have anybody on the opposing team that can take it. He's too big of a body. He's too strong. He's too powerful. He's hitting his three point and when he put three point shot and when he puts the ball on the floor, who can stop him? But when you look at this, when you look at this, Nick, and you see a team, they held him to 35% from the three, two from the floor, 29% from the three point line. You're not beating OKC with those percentages.

[Ocho]

Well, you're not going to beat OKC with that, with that offense. That's, that's one. So their offense was so predictable. OK, just, just loaded up on them. So I'm, I'm watching that game and they're going to have to find a way to get Anthony Edwards out of the corners more, you know what I'm saying? Coming up and then getting downhill. Him playing at the top of the court with, with two guys on this side waiting, it's not going to work. And they're, they're, they. They got a good enough coach. They're going to go watch film, they're going to make adjustments and all of that. Like with those guys getting those extra shots with Con and they, with them getting those, it's, that's not a problem because tonight they forced them to take those shots, right? They forced them because they said, ant, you're not going to beat us. And especially with you just playing in one spot on the court, they got to move them around a little bit, get them in better spots. And you. I saw the second half or okc, what they did, they started coming out of the corners, getting more ball movement, creating a single side a little bit easier, and they was able to get easier shots. So once, once they look at the field, Coach Finch is pretty good to make that adjustment. So game one, you know, okc, hell, hell served. But I think Minnesota will come back. Game two.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Great. So what was your point you wanted to make?

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Now all I was going to say, like Nick said earlier, obviously it's game one. You want to me really win game one. For me, obviously, being a Wolves fan and really going for the Wolves to win this game is probably going to go to 7. I hate the fact that it did lose it to me, it kind of puts you behind the eight ball. But again, I like when boxing the first four rounds, what's the first thing you got to do, Nick? You know, you feel your person out, you see what they like to do. Try to find a rhythm, try to find a tempo. Trying to find what works for you and what doesn't. The fact that the Wolves lost, it kind of. It kind of. It got me a little antsy, a little upset, but I think we gonna be all right next time. Ant, obviously 13 shots wasn't enough. Julius Durant was very efficient and the rest of the team collectively, besides the fuck the bench, excuse my language. Forget the bench. The starters need to. Need to do what they need to do before we even worry about the bench. Even though Thunder have a better bench.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Than the Wolves, I mean, you got yours. Ram has 28. The rest of the guys that played had 60. You're not, you're not beating OKC with two guys in double figures. That's not going to happen. Points in the paint. Thunder 54, Wolves 20 Ant man was scoreless in the fourth quarter. And I thought they did look, I thought they did a good job on shay. Shay had 31 points, but it took him 27 shots to get those, Nick. So I, hey, I'm cool, I'm cool. I'm making him work for everything that he's getting. Jalen Williams 7 to 18, I can live with that. I can live with that. But if I'm going to make their two best players be that inefficient, well, that means I need to be efficient, I need to take better care of the ball. Because like you now, when you playing at the top of the key, you got shape. Who's top three in steals. You got Lou Dort on ball, can defend. You got Jalen Williams, can defend. You bring in Carson Wallace, that can defend. You bring in Wiggins, that can defend. You bring in Isaiah Joe, that can defend. You got Chet Hardenstein that can protect the rim. You better get some cut. I'm talking about some hard cuts. I ain't talking about no lazy ass cuts. I'm talking about some hard cut diving. Hey, pick it and getting down the hill in a hurry because if you don't, they're going to leave you around. You're going to stay around the three point line and then, hey, again, 51 point threes, that's not the Timberwolves game. 51.3 is not their game.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

I have another thing. Are either one of you worried? I'm not really worried. I'm just saying about ant tweaking his ankle just a little bit. I think that might have affected him as far as his shooting and being efficient as well. Not really able to play the game he really wanted to play. After messing it, hurting and hurting himself a little bit, I'm sure he probably went in there, got it wrapped up, maybe took a shot, whatever they needed to do just so we can get back in the game. Do you think that's going to affect him the rest of the series at any point?

[Ocho]

I don't think he will. I think he'd be all right. He get that day off tomorrow. So whenever they play again, I think he'll be fine. But what punk said, man, they got to move that rock, man, and they got to play faster, you know what I'm saying? Yeah. If they hold Okc, the one shot, they got to get that thing up the court and they got to go. They got to create easier opportunities. If not, they going to be playing half court. And if that off and you're playing 504.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Cause Rudy Gobert is not an option for you.

[Ocho]

Yeah, but he need to get every goddamn rebound. And, and I, I'll let that thing like Kurt Ramis and Kevin Love and let's go.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He had A guy played 21 minutes. He's 7 foot 2 inches tall. He had three rebounds tonight. He only had three more rebounds than me. And I got on. I got on. This is what I had on. This is what I had on the whole game right here. He had three more rebounds than me in these.

[Ocho]

So, so this is what I say about that. Because he's always in a health position, right? So he's always coming up to the free throw line or the smiley face so he's out of position to rebound. So I, I in, in his defense, I'll give him that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hell, they missed 41 shots. He got. They missed 41 shots. And, and, and you missed 50, missed 54 shots. So there's 93 shots that you had a chance to get a rebound and you only got three of the 90. The 91 3. Damn, Nick.

[Ocho]

I just gave you the best, the best description I can to help you make it out and see which one we do.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Hey, hey. You know what? Another issue is also for the Wolf as you get further into the playoffs. Obviously the teams you play, they get much better.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

So not only do the Wolves need to do better shooting efficiently, and Julius Randle obviously was good tonight, but the supporting cast, including Anthony Edwards, who I say still, I will keep saying is the face of the NBA, but Minnesota, they got to. You pay. You pay double for your turnovers as well. Double for your turnovers. Especially in a game like this where you have a team where the SGA can go off. Even though they kind of smothered him in the first half and he didn't really get going. He had 31, but hell, it took him 200 shots just to get a 31. But they got to limit the turnovers on the offense and capitalize on, on, on. On the, on the board as well.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, they had 17 turnovers, but three of them came from. But 12 of them came from three players. Drew Randall had five, McDaniels had three, and Ant, man had four. Now I'm not really concerned because like Julius Randle and, and, and, and Ant gonna have turnovers because they handle the ball. They're your primary ball handlers. So they're gonna probably be three, probably four game. It would be nice if they kept it to three or under. That would be nice. But they're really not true point guards. And so they're going to have. They're going to have turnover. The Jew gonna get a couple charging. He gonna get. He gonna get a walk because he go. He forget that his right foot is the pivot and he gonna pivot back to the left and then he gonna try to dip up under you and they gonna like. And he's like, yeah, yeah, we, we got you, bro. But Nick, you said something very interesting. You said they need to play faster, they need to play fast, but they don't need to be in a hurry. Because if you play in a hurry, you're gonna play right into OKC hands. And now they're getting the ball out and like over. You got to realize you got three guys at the top. You turn it over, they gone. Them ain't big. That's not Hardenstein. That's not Chad Hungren. You got three guards at the top. You turn it over, they get a deflection and two, three dribbles. They at the rim.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Easy basket.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Easy basket. Easy basket. I thought, like you said, I thought they played right into OKC hand. This game would very big. I said, okay, we might have a game. Cause I was hoping after game seven, it used to be, oh, game seven, Game seven, man. Game seven has been being blowouts lately. So that being said, now let's go back to our originally scheduled programming. I thought we was going to have a really good game, Nick. I really did. At the half, they were playing really well. And then with like four minutes into the third quarter, OKC stepped on the gas and what was a four point lead for Minnesota all of a sudden turned into a three point lead for OKC, a seven point lead. And next thing you know, it's 12.

[Ocho]

Yeah, yeah. I, I saw a quick adjustment though, in, in, in the second half from the first half, and that was from OKC's offense. They, okay, they moved the ball at a different position as, as the start. So the whole game, Minnesota's offense started out so high out on the court, and they never adjusted. OKC was pretty much playing the same way in the first half. But the coach, coach went in, made some adjustments, started the offense a little bit, you know, from the top to the corner, then back up to the top, and they created a little bit more space. Then guys, once you get that space, man, you're able to knock down them open shots. And in Minnesota, they never had space all night. It was always clogged up for those guys.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They're going to get. First of all, they're going to contest everything because they got. Because at worst case scenario, you going to have three defenders on the court. I didn't even mention Caruso, who might be arguably their best defender. When you look at him and what he does as far as taking charges, as far as guarding the perimeter, guarding the big. It does not matter. We saw what he did with yoke. They played an old boxing one. Nick, I can't remember when was the last time you saw a boxing one? Had to be high school, but they played a boxing one primarily the entire game. And he did an unbelievable job. Yo would feel for him on his left and the next day, you know, he's already in front of him, going to the right. He feel touch him on the right. Now he's back to the left. He did a great job of that. And so when you look at what OKC has of their 12, 13 guys that primarily play, six of them can defend at an extremely high level. You're not going to find that anywhere else in the NBA when you could come off the bench and you got four guys that can defend at an elite level and they can defend at the wing position, which very few teams have wing defenders. Everybody. I want a 3&D guy. How many 3&D guys they got? They got Caruso, they got Williams, they got Dort, they got Wallace, they got Wiggins, they. I mean, they're loaded at that position. And you got two big guys that will protect the rim. They rebound, they understand their job to the fullest. OKC is going to be a tough out. And I agree with you, Nick. I think they're going to have to look. Chris Finch is very good. I think he was named coach of the year a couple years back. Has he been coach of the year? Oh, Ash. Ash. Oh. Oh, Ocho, you got cigar ash on your face.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

I do.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. Your name Ocho, right?

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Hey, I appreciate you, man. I appreciate you. Because that mess up damn makeup I got on Fenty right now too.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I. I don't know what. What that is, but it. You need to get it off.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

But I look, I'm good now.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes. So, Nick, what the big adjustment even with that adjustment, do you think the Wolves have enough to deal with the. With the Thunder?

[Ocho]

I. I think it's going to be a long series and I think they do. Like I said, I think they are going to make them adjustments. Chris Fence and the coaching staff, they gonna go watch film and they're going to see all the mistakes that they made offensively. And you know, you made a good point about, you know, OKC's perimeter defenders, their wing defenders and what makes them even better is they're good team defenders. Yeah, sometimes these guys can be good on ball defenders and they can just stick to their man and not be in hell position not being big position. You know what I'm saying? Those guys not only do they defend the ball good, they defend the help side good and that makes them, makes it even tougher to, to, to go against them guys. But oh Minnesota, they have enough, they have enough to, to make it an even series. And you know, I'm not too much worried about that game one because game one is like Ocho said earlier, it's a fill out, you know. So now they got to go and make their adjustments. I think this series is going to go a long way.

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Nick Van Exel]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile with a message for everyone paying Big Wireless way too much.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Please, for the love of everything good.

[Ryan Seacrest]

In this world, stop with Mint. You can get premium wireless for just $15 a month. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No judgments.

[Ryan Seacrest]

But that's weird. Okay, one judgment anyway. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of $45 for three month plan equivalent to $15 per month required Intro rate first three months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full [e-mail].

[Shannon Sharpe]

I was thinking because the Thunder just got out of the extended series. Seven long games, a short day of rest. Minnesota, they've been wrestling, they've been off, damn near weak. I was like, man, they about to come in and run up and down the court. But it looked like that, it looked like it was reversed. Those guys were the guys that had heavy legs and OKC was getting up and down the court.

[Ocho]

You know, I never figured that out because that's always been a thing, right? They'd be like, well, they got rest, they gonna be well rested. Well, sometimes, motherfucker, you too tired. And that other team that just came out that game seven, guess what? They in the flow. It can work against who knows how. It really works, you know what I'm saying? And tonight I was expecting OKC to come out the way they did. Slow. They came out real slow. But they did that because Minnesota didn't do anything. So as they came out slow, you knew at some point OKC was going to pick it up. I was just like, damn OKC fans. They sitting on their hands right now. Minnesota got to take advantage of that. And they never did. They never did.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

But hold on, Nick, you say the game going seven, right?

[Ocho]

You said good. I think it's going to be a long series, Ocho.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

It's going to be a long series, but I want to know who you got.

[Ocho]

I like Minnesota. I Like Minnesota.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Like the Wolves. Okay, okay, okay. You know your business. You know your business.

[Ocho]

I like Minnesota. But I'm going to tell you this, though. So all four of these teams, that's in the playoffs, man, anybody can win it. Anybody to win a championship. That's. That's the beauty of this one. So it ain't like there's no clear cut favorite. You know, any other team, you may be, like, all the Lakers favorite or Boston favorite. This is. You got four teams in this thing right now that they all can win it. So I like that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Nick, you had a story. We was talking off camera. You said you got a story to tell. You wanted to tell the story. What's the story you wanted to tell?

[Ocho]

Both of y' all, man. Both of y' all played me like I was a little peon, man. Ocho. A couple years ago, Ocho, I'm walking through the Cincinnati airport. You got your shades on. You probably couldn't see. You know what I'm saying? And you walking so goddamn fast. I did like, what up, Ocho? You hit me with. And you walking. So I'm looking behind him like, damn, is Ray Lewis chasing you or something? And then I had to call you. I had to call you. I said, no, he just walked through. He said, yeah, yeah, that was me. I said, I just walked by, right by me. Like, oh, okay.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

And I know. And I probably said, oh, I ain't know. I'm probably late for my flight.

[Ocho]

See, and that's the funny thing about it, though, man. That's messed up, man. You treated me like. God damn.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hold on.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

But one. You got to understand, Nick, you said I had my sunglasses on, right Then. You said I was walking fast. So if I got my sunglasses on and I'm walking fast, that mean I'm late for my goddamn spirit flight.

[Ocho]

You see how he doing me on? I saw that, but you did me dirty. Listen.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Where was I at?

[Ocho]

We was in Vegas at 8 at the cigar bar.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That is right.

[Ocho]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Hey. Hey. I got. I got my drink, My new drink. It just came out, right about three, four.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes, yes.

[Ocho]

I got my new drink. I'm gonna run up to the room, I'm gonna grab a couple of bottles. I said, okay, cool. So we sitting over there smoking. You walk in, you had about three bottles with you. You in the VIP room. Of course, you know, that might have been 20.

[Shannon Sharpe]

20, 20, 21.

[Ocho]

Yeah, yeah, you came 20, 22.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Ocho]

You came back with about three, four bottles. I'm sitting there with my guys you know, we sitting there smoking. You came in with the bottles. You looked at me and then went straight to the room. I'm like, damn. Well, maybe he gonna come out and bring me a little glass or something. So about five minutes go by, you know what I'm saying? I go up to the door, the goddamn door lock. I'm like, they go wireless security guard. Hey, I'm trying to get a little bit of that drink. He's like, nah, we ain't having no guests. And close the door.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, he closed the door.

[Ocho]

Close the door.

[Shannon Sharpe]

All right. That's all. But you know what we gonna do now? I'm gonna get you a couple of bottles, I'm gonna get your information, and I'm gonna get you a couple of bottles to make sure you know what the best tasting VSOP cognac on the market. Let you see what it tastes like, and you can judge it for yourself. But that's on me. That's on me.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

See that. See, that was bad.

[Ocho]

That was bad.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

That was.

[Ocho]

Nick.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

I apologize. I had on.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I just said, I'm gonna get him some kayjack. Damn.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

He talking about. I walked by him in the airport. At least I was. I was going to a flight, and I was late. And I ain't realized it was him. Cause, you know, I'm like 6 5, so I ain't seen. But that's the difference. So you did him real dirty. Cause you had security.

[Ocho]

I don't.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

I don't even got security.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I didn't have the. The Cigar eight. Cigar eight has security. I have no damn security. When you ever see me with security?

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Nick.

[Ocho]

Nick.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They.

[Ocho]

Close the door. You know, my man, he cracked the door. I said, I'm trying to be a little drink. Okay, okay, cool.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

God damn.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, Ocho.

[Ocho]

They.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They had me. I couldn't get in there for a minute. I said, man, you know, hey, Nick.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

You know how it be when they get. When they. Hollywood, they reaching tax brackets, they start acting funny.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Now, that was. That was all. That was. That was undisputed up. That was undisputed up, man.

[Ocho]

Hey, check this out.

[Shannon Sharpe]

For the first time since 2021. The 202021 season, the Boston Celtics will not be in the Eastern Conference finals. During a recent conversation with Steve Nash on Mind the Game podcast, LeBron said he thinks the Celtics got bored. It seems like sometimes. It seems like they got bored sometimes with the. I don't want to say the process, because, I mean, ish. They are who they are. When you look at Tatum, you look at Brown this is the year, year to year, and they punched their 10,000 hours. But sometimes it seems like they got a little bored because of how great they are. Not only do those two individuals, but as a team, sometimes it looked like they got bored. How you get bored? They won one championship. I can see if they won like three. They went back to back like Shaq. Like Shaq and Kobe, Lakers, or like the. The bulls in the 90s, or let's just say. Let's just say for the sake of arbit, Nick, they were like the Cavaliers. Eight straight finals, six straight finals. How the hell you get bored? You won one championship.

[Ocho]

I don't think they got bored. I just think they.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I think they got their ass whipped.

[Ocho]

I think they lost. Like, I mean, you look at the first two games, they up a dub, they up 20.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, you're right. You're right. Okay.

[Ocho]

You ain't getting bored. You got bored with the game and you started. You kept taking them badass threes as opposed touching the paint and taking threes. You want to take step back threes with the defense guard. You contest, and then you got the other four guys inside ready to rebound. In New York, you play right into their hands. They got an assassin. Jalen Brunson, fourth quarter assassin. So I don't think they was bored with the series or they couldn't have been bored with winning, like you said. I just think they got bored during those two games. But at the end of the day, they are a dub in. In games one and two.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Hey, Nick, I asked Unc too. I told Unc and ISO Joe. And I was saying, listen, everything they do is one dimensional. Why not run plays? Why not do something else? And listen, they say they live, they live and they die by the three. That's how they gonna die.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Because here's the thing, Ocho, because if you look at it, the Knicks want to play all the Knicks saying, let us get to the last five minutes of the game. We believe with Brunson, who we believe is the best clutch player in the NBA. We believe if we can get you to the last five minutes of the ball game, and the game is close, we can beat you. You see the problem the Celtics have. Once those threes don't start falling, it's hard for them to get into a set in the last five minutes of the game because they really haven't run a whole lot of sets. To begin with, it's three, eight, jb. It's your turn to take two. Three threes in a row down all Right. Jt, you up next? Okay, Derrick White, what you got for us? Al Horford. And the thing is, it's hard when you really haven't run a whole lot of offense. Now all of a sudden, Ocho, it's like you, hey, bro, let me touch the ball early. Now. O came to you the whole game. Four corner. All right, Ocho, what you like? I like for this game to be over. Cause y' all been dicking around the whole day, and now y' all want me to work magic. Well, that's the Celtics y' all been dilling down. Y' all taking 5060 threes now in the last two, three minutes of the ball game. And you need to run a set. You're not conditioned, you're not wired to run anything. You still want to run behind that three point line and jack up a shot. And it caught up with him.

[Ocho]

Big facts, big facts. I, I, I was saying that throughout, you know, this season, like, yes, it's, it's cute. In the, in the regular season, you can get away with it. It's cute. But what Ocho just said, as you go deeper in the playoffs, the teams get better. You know what I'm saying? If they, in the first round, they go up 20, they may, and they go down 10 or whatever, they probably can come back and still win that game. But when they playing against the Knicks, a team that's a grimy, greedy team, it's going to be a little bit tougher. You're going to have to change the way of thinking.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's exactly right. And the thing is, like you said, oh, they took the most threes, they made the most threes. Okay, like you said, okay, you playing Orlando one night, you admired Miami the next night. Then you come up to the east coast trip, you got Charlotte, Atlanta. Now. We had a seven game series. You got two games here, you ain't got ain't nobody going nowhere. We locked in. We know what you do. You know what we do. Okay, execute. It comes down to execute. Honestly, I hate watching the Celtics play. Cause all I know is they're gonna jack up a whole bunch of badass threes now if they go in. Oh, the Celtics. That's the new era. That's the new wave. Okay? Y' all keep on thinking, y' all Stephen Clay, and you see what it get you.

[Ocho]

Even in game four in New York, you know, before Jason Tatum went down, they was about to lose that game. They lost them.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They was gonna lose.

[Ocho]

Yes. They started 42, 40 went down.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They was already down five or six.

[Ocho]

Yep, yep.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And we know in a close, and we know in a close ball game against the Knicks, the reason why they blew out the Knicks in game three. But in game four, and we had already saw the blueprint because they had that big lead in game four, we saw them have the big leading lead in game one and two. And what happened slow walked them down still. Because here's the thing, that three point shouting is a blessing and a curse because you can get a big lead. Nick, you know, when you first got to the league, team got 20, 20, 25 point leads, it wasn't no coming back. You might get 12 comebacks a year. Now with the three point shot, you go cold and then you up 20, you go cold from the three and you take a couple of bad threes. Now all of a sudden they hit three in a row, get an and one and a layup. Now 20 point lead is down to six easy. Now you looking like damn. What happened? What happened is that you kept taking bad shots, you didn't run any time, and you taking threes early in the shot clock. 16 seconds on the clock, you letting the three go, you get. I saw them get a situation, Nick. They shot a three, they missed it, got the rebound, kicked it out, shot it again, got the rebound again, passed it to the corner. Al shot it, got the rebound again. I said, well, damn, if somebody go like, hey, oh, whoa, whoa. Let's slow this thing down. Let's get a good shot. Hey, let's, hey, one four flat. Let's run something. Hey, hey, let's run. Let's run a pick and roll.

[Ocho]

Let me, Let me see that form again. Oh, no, that's all, that's all.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, Nick, now we look, we pulled up the Georgia High Schools Association. I'm one of the few guys that's ever scored 50 points in the ball game. I ain't telling you, boy. I have the triple double I got. I can show the clips. Shannon Sharp led Glenville high to a 31 points, 19 rebounds, 52 points, 37, 36. I got it.

[Ocho]

Let me listen, let me ask you this. So. So your co host, right? He be doing. He be doing a lot of like he did. Who? Who? Y' all two one on one. Who, Who, Who I need to bet on.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Man.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

We got NBA players can't even beat me playing. You talking about me playing? Unk, man, why you tighten up, man? Tighten up? This is what I do. Nick, I asked you to play me. What's the first thing you said? Oh, no, I'm.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I'm.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

I'm good. I'm good. What we talking about?

[Ocho]

I mean, like, that's like me asking you, like, let's run some routes, man. I'm gonna check you. Like. Come on, man, I ain't finna waste my time on you, man. I may get hurt, man. I ain't got time for that, man. I'm trying to fake off.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

I mean, you gonna get hurt anyway. You gonna get hurt anyway doing anything with me, competitive. This is what I do. Like, I'm. I'm a better basketball player than a football player. I just. I just happen to take the route of football, that's all.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's my story. That's my story. I was a better. I was a better basketball player than football.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Here you go. Hey, I was in high school in. Right, you know, I went to Miami beach, right? Listen, every time we played, nick, I was 56, 12, and 10. A bad night for me was probably 48.

[Ocho]

Now, now, now, if. If you. If you say quick, man, you know what? I. I was like 32, 9 and 8. That's more believable. The greats in the NBA ain't even do that in. In high school, man. Like you saying some crazy.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

You talk about the greats, the greatest, but they wasn't me in high school. That's. What does that tell you?

[Ocho]

They wasn't me, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He probably came off the bench.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Who came off the bench?

[Shannon Sharpe]

You.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

I mean, it's a lot of teams in the NBA right now could use me coming off the bench.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Nah, anybody can use you coming out the bench.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

You crazy here, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You coming out the bench to get them towels, get their jacket, make sure their jacket turned right side out. They don't need you for anything. They don't need you for anything else.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Leave me one on one. Play me one on one.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Don't waste your time.

[Ocho]

So the last time I hooped, right, the last time I hoop, I was coaching with the Atlanta Hawks, and I hadn't hooped in years, man. And the only reason I said I ain't hooping no more, because I ain't gonna have no more knee surgeries, so.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Oh, your knees messed up.

[Ocho]

Yeah. So the damn. So the damn assistant coaches and, you know, managers, and they. They just chirping all year. They chirp. So around December 21, December 22, I'm like, you know what? We. We finna. We finna hoop today. So I went out there and hoop, man. Next thing you know, I put my quad 10. Hey, yeah. And I did it on. The simplest move that you can ever think of didn't just snap. I was like, oh, man, I'm done. I ain't. I ain't. Yeah, they playing ball again.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Nah, I ain't the horse type. I need to be moving. I need to be active.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, Nick, them muscles and tendons, they don't have the elasticity they once had.

[Ocho]

Come on, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They. They. I ain't getting out of there anyway. Cause I already got both hips replaced. And I ain't trying to get nothing else replaced.

[Ocho]

No, sir. No, sir.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

You know why y' all.

[Ocho]

Me and you played our sports hard. Yes. So we had surgeries and we beat. We beat up. Cause we played hard. Some people ain't really. They really still run on tracks and all that? Yes.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Yeah, I do all that. You know what? Y' all got hurt. Y' all know y' all got hurt. Cause your bones weak. Cause your nutrition was bad. That's the problem. Yeah. You ain't never built a callus in your body, eating all that healthy shit. That's the problem. That's what's wrong with you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Y' all was broke.

[Ocho]

I ain't eating.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I did from 93 on. I ate healthy. Not. Not the first three years, but the last. The last 11 years. Yes.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

See, that's the problem. The last 11 years is why you need hip surgery.

[Shannon Sharpe]

First of all, I played longer than you did.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

I played. Let me ask how long you played.

[Shannon Sharpe]

14.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Well, hold on. I play actually 13. Because I played in Mexico and I played in Canada.

[Shannon Sharpe]

14. See, you still. They play 14.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Well, I played flag football after.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And you only played one year of college. You was ineligible for two years.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Yeah, I was a knucklehead.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, you got one year juco. You got one year juco. And one year of Oregon State.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

I got two years of juco.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You got two years of juco.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

You better count Link. Gotta count Link from university.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I got kicked out.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

I know, but still count.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, it don't count. You didn't play.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

It still count.

[Ocho]

I was there.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It only counts. How you gonna count something when you didn't do it?

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

I'm in the yearbook.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But you didn't play. I can't say I joined the army just because I went down to take the recruiting test. No, I got to be in the Army. Yes.

[Ocho]

You can't.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

They give you a shirt. If you get you a shirt, that means you was a part of that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, I didn't give me no shirt. I. I was gonna go down to the office. I ain't I ain't. I ain't nothing. Sign nothing. Check this out. Let me know what you think about this. Nick D. Wade was not impressed by Jimmy Butler's performance against the Timberwolves. I think the thing with Jimmy is I didn't like the way he approached the game. I know Jimmy is a pass first guy I know he's about getting his teammate the ball, and I want to see them shine. But it's a point where you're getting 60 million. This ain't working. You gotta go and he won't look at the basket. I've seen this before, and I've seen it in a Heat jersey. Jimmy's too good of a basketball player to not have his imprint on the game. And sorry, sir, when it's time for you to take over, you just have to. And even if you can't do it from the standpoint of you ain't. You ain't making no shots, I don't care. Shoot bad offense if you're not shooting good to close at the paint, but not getting the ball up to the basket, that's just bad offense. What do you think about G D Wade saying about what he saw from Jimmy Butler in the. In the warriors uniform, minus Steph? Is there any credence to what D. Wade is saying?

[Ocho]

I agree 1,000%. And the reason is because I've seen him do it too much, you know what I'm saying? Because I think Jimmy is a guy. If Jimmy wanted to, he can be up there as a scoring leader in the NBA for a season if he wanted to. But he has the mindset of he's not in the kill mode all the time. And what D. Wade and what Pat Riley was saying, you know, for Jimmy is like, we're paying you that money to be that guy, to be 25, 27 a night, not just in the playoffs, because if you don't want to do it in the regular season, we in the play, in games, yeah. And we got Jimmy Butler, you know, making his bread. He deserves it. Took him to two finals. He deserves the bread. But as a franchise, we see you as being a guy who is the guy, and we need you to do that. And I've been saying that for years about Jimmy, and I think he's a hell of a player, you know, and you. Donna said it best. He's a smart player. Because what Jimmy did and I played against him is when I was coaching with the Hawks in the playoffs, man, this dude wasn't doing nothing but taking the ball to the basket and making layups and to me if you're able to do that, it's some form of intimidation from the other side to where they keep letting you get to the goddamn basket and shoot fucking layups like you got put a body on somebody at some point. But he lived in the paint and was just finishing and I think Jimmy, if he wanted to, he can do that every night if he wanted to. So I agree with what D. Wade said. But you know I love Jimmy's game.

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Unknown]

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[Nick Van Exel]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway now through June 17th. Shop in store or online for your favorite personal care Items and save $5 when you spend $15 or more. Stock up on items like Dove Body Wash, Degree Motion Sense Deodorant Tresemme Hairspray, Dove Shampoo, Dove bar Soap, Dove Men's Body Face Wash and Dollar Shave Club Blades and save $5 when you spend $15 or more. Hurry in before these deals are gone. Offer ends June 17. Promotions may vary. Restrictions apply. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[Unknown]

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[Shannon Sharpe]

Because you're looking at yeah, we're in the playing or we're the or we're six seed or we're way down and now we're trying to play catch up. We never have home court and like you said and we've seen him do it, we see him go on the road and do what they did to the Celtics, we saw what they did to Milwaukee. We know what he's capable of doing. But at this point in time when we playing you 60 million, we don't want Magic Johnson, we don't want John Stockton, we want Michael, we want guys that's going to Kobe. We want you to have that mentality damn the rest of them because the rest of them can't make enough shots in order to win the game. Their imprint is not going to win you no game. And plus they're not the guys making 60 million. We playing you 60 million.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Hey Nick, is there at any point at a player of Jimmy's caliber when you're making that kind of money and we know what you can do and you're not doing it? Do you think injury comes into play where you become gun shy and don't want to pull a trigger and shooting and cause if you do lose the game it kind of the onus of it and losing is because of you and you lose a little bit of confidence?

[Ocho]

I don't think so man. Because Jimmy, I've seen him play like that and then come right back and do his thing. It's like when Steph went down, he had a big game in Golden State where they needed him. So he's very capable of doing it. I don't know if it's a mental thing, like, you know, I don't. I just don't want to go out here and shoot 20 shots. I don't want to feel like I'm a ball hog, whatever it is. But if I'm on Jimmy Butler's team and I'm the point guard, hey, dog, you got to shoot that thing about 25 times tonight. You got.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Ocho]

You got to.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You notice we don't never say that about Shay. We don't never say, well, Shay, man wasn't aggressive enough. Man. Shay ain't getting enough shots up. Shay gonna be in the 20s. Hell, he might be in the 30s. And that's the approach Jimmy needs to take. We saw Jimmy. What was that game against Milwaukee? He had like 56, 57.

[Ocho]

He couldn't miss.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Super aggressive. We watched him in game five.

[Ocho]

Was it game five?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, game five. We watched him in game five. He go toe to toe with LeBron. Everything LeBron. LeBron had a triple double. You saw that one. He's leaning on the table. He's exhausted, but he getting to it. He ain't passing.

[Ocho]

Ish.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He's shooting the basketball. He getting in the paint. He drawing fouls. Now all of a sudden, I'm cool being Robin. Nah, bro. Robert. Hey. Robert ain't have no Robin. They have nothing but a suit. He have no Robin. Where's Robin belt? Robert ain't got no car. He ain't got no robbing mobile. He ain't got no Butler. Nah, hell nah. We need you to be Batman. Cause Superman is out, so you need to step up. Ain't no more Bat. Ain't no more Robin.

[Ocho]

But Robin got the little things on his eyes, though, right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

When last time you saw them make a series about Robin? I see all these Batmans, and they not one of them. All the Batmans that I made, ain't none of them had no Robin in it.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Okay, but he Alfred, then.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Nah, hell nah. He need to be Steph Curry. Superman, we need another superhero. What? The comic book with Robin in it? I ain't never seen no comic book with Robin.

[Ocho]

Especially.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You ever seen the comic book with.

[Ocho]

Just Robin, Especially when Steph was out, man. Okay, we went and got you if Stephen. 15 to 20 games next year and you're healthy. This is why we got you, so we can stay in that three to six spot, you know? What I'm saying, this is why we got you. So we can stay right there. We didn't get you for. If Steph goes out now, we don't slid to the ninth and 10th spot, you know what I'm saying? So in order for to stay at the 3, 6 spot or win playoff games without Steph, he gotta be Batman.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Gotta be, he's gotta be the super. He has to take the same approach. I mean, look, we, I understand that his role, his role somewhat changes on a team with Steph, but I gotta have that mind, I gotta have that, that same mindset that, hey man, Steph.

[Ocho]

Ain'T in, I need to get him. The role don't change, you know what I'm saying? Cause Steph is gonna be stepping right and Steph is going to need you to take that load off. So if you 15 and you still shoot 20 with Steph, you, you don't take as Jimmy Butler, he don't take bad shots. So you still can get up 20 shots. And we as a team, we gonna live with that because we know they not gonna be crazy shots, you know what I'm saying? So even if Stephen's there, you still can do your thing.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Cause we look at our game, Ocho, remember we had the game. Jimmy took nine shots. Jimmy had another game, he took 11 shots. What the hell is that? Yeah, guys off the bench. You got pods. He's getting up 18, 19 shots. And you be Kaminga getting up 20 shots. And you mean to tell me you supposed to be the guy. You making 60 million and you getting the ball up nine times and you're not getting to the free throw line, so at least, okay, you would take nine shots, okay, get to the free throw line 20 times. Get to the free throw line 15, 17 times. Okay, I can understand. Nine shots. You see what you call Shay? Shay got up 27 shots and still got to the fire line 14 times.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

You know what else, Nick, you know about Jimmy? He don't take bad shots, he don't take ill advised shots. He's gonna always, he's gonna always either facilitate to somebody else or take the right shot. Yeah, always. He's always been that way. Now when he put that motherfucker on the floor, oh, my bad. When he put the ball on the floor and he want to put his head down and go to the basket, he gonna do just that. No matter who it is. I'm just not sure. That's why I think he was injured. I think he was injured and he just didn't Say anything.

[Ocho]

I said everybody injured right now.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Exactly.

[Ocho]

Everybody injured.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Everybody done played a ass load of games, Ocho. You figured they got 82. They don't play. They was in the play in tournament. The warriors were. They got past the first round. They went seven games.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Everybody exhausted.

[Ocho]

Yep. Everybody.

[Shannon Sharpe]

During Sunday's game seven between the Thunder and the Nuggets, Trey Young took the X with a subtle jab at Knicks fans. Hot take. But not OKC fans are louder than Knick fans. Happy Sunday, Nick. I don't know if you played in that arena. They might have shut that down by the time. By the time. By the time you got. Nah, you might have played there.

[Ocho]

You think? I ain't that old, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hold on, hold on, hold on. First of all, you played 13.

[Ocho]

I played in that arena, man. God damn.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You came in. You came in a couple years after me, Nick.

[Ocho]

I retired in 06, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They came.

[Ocho]

I got two years in that arena. Chris Paul was over there. He crossed me up about five times in one play. He was over there. Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hold on. No, Nick, they could have been there because they didn't move until 08.

[Ocho]

They had the Hornets, remember the New Orleans. Or somebody went over there. They had a ticket over there.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay. Okay. Yeah, that might have been a situation. Nah, but they played in the same. When they played in San Antonio. You talking about with Katrina?

[Ocho]

They played in OKC.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They might have did, but I know the SuperSonics. I don't think the SuperSonics moved to KD's second year.

[Ocho]

Right, right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

KD came in in 08, and I think they moved in 09.

[Ocho]

Yeah, they.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They, they moved in 08. Okay. Katie was drafted in 07, and then they moved in 08, which was Russ's rookie year, because Harden came in 09. Okay, so how loud is. I mean, look you. So I know you played in MSG and you played in a lot of arenas. Is OKC the loudest? One of the loudest. Is there any truth to what Trey Young was saying?

[Ocho]

Yeah, it's definitely one of the loudest. I don't know if I never played him in the playoffs, so that'd be different.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay.

[Ocho]

When you talk about NBA arenas like that gives you a college feel.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Ocho]

And most of the time, college arenas are more loud. They more drunk. You know what I'm saying? More hype. And OKC gives you that college atmosphere and they get up and they cheer. They got their little chance and everything. So OKC definitely is consistently loud. You know what I'm saying? It's a lot of arenas where a team can stink and it ain't as loud. They only get loud when that team is winning. They got a good record, but OKC is consistently loud.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And plus, like, there's nothing else going on in okc.

[Ocho]

Exactly.

[Shannon Sharpe]

What you gonna see in okc? You ain't finna see. No. You're not finna see no NFL game. You're not fitting to see no MLB game, you're not fitting to see hockey. And it ain't football season, so you got a long way of time to wait to go see the old the Sooners or the Cowboys. So now what? So that's all you got. And a lot of times it's kind of like Green Bay. What. What else are you going to do?

[Ocho]

Hey, hey, hey. Don't do that. Don't do that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

What else are you gonna do?

[Ocho]

Don't do that. Don't do that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

The Lakers, you know, the Lakers, I mean, look, you got. I mean, you got all. Everything going on. You got the Clippers, you know, they ain't making no noise. You know, they ain't doing nothing. But you got the Kings, you got. You got the Dodgers. I mean, you got, you know, you got Venice beach, you got Samo, you got. You got Malibu, man. You got all. And half. And the people that buy the stuff, like, it's not like. Like msg. You look at those guys, man. Tracy. Tracy Morgan going crazy. Spike going crazy. Was it Ben still? Ben Stiller. Ben Stiller. You see those slams are going crazy. Ain't like that. Ain't like that in la. Nah.

[Ocho]

La, they still.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I come in, I get a crunk. I get a crunk. You know, I get. I get crunk.

[Ocho]

They ain't getting to the game at halftime in la. Then after half, oh, that's Miami.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They leaving.

[Ocho]

Huh?

[Shannon Sharpe]

I said Miami. You know, they don't get there till the third quarter.

[Ocho]

Y. Y. Yeah, always.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

And don't be losing. They gonna leave. They gonna leave early.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, well, you saw what happened when they. When Rally hit that shot. Everybody tried to come back, tried to come back.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Too late.

[Ocho]

They almost lock the door on people trying to get back in.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, but when you. When you. When you think about it. So how. Because you hear it like, okay, role players play better at home. The crowd's gonna get you into it. How important is it to keep the crowd at bay when you're on the road in a playoff series, Nick?

[Ocho]

Like, it's huge. It's huge. And I thought Minnesota did a great job in the first Half, because that. That's one of the things I was paying attention to, is they ain't letting the crowd affect the game. But, you know, once that's. That second half came and they made that first run, you pretty much knew it was going to be downhill just because of the offense. The offense was just so stagnant. And we know okc, you know, they get them steals and deflections and easy, easy, fast break points, get the crowd going. It's going to be tough, man. So anytime you can keep the crowd chilling to where they. Not a factor that's going to be big for the road team.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Shaq added fuel to the NBA draft lottery conspiracy theories. He shared the details of a conversation between himself and then commissioner David Stern that occurred three months before the 1992 draft. Stern says to me, hey, can't wait for you to come to the NBA. Then he pulled me off to the side. You want to play where it's cold or where it's hot? He asked me that. Yeah, he did. He asked me that. And I was like, hot. And he smiled and I smiled. Shaq ultimately got his wish when Orlando won that year's lottery with Charlotte and Minnesota getting the second and third picks, respectively. You hear a lot of conspiracy theories, and there are a lot of situations that can make these situations sound good and sound true. It's very interesting how it's all played out. Nick, is the NBA draft lottery rigged?

[Ocho]

So we just talked about this on my pod. Quick to the point, Nick. Vanessa, pod. Quick to the point. Check it out. YouTube. But we just talked about this because I've thought in the past it seemed a little fishy, you know what I'm saying? But this one, this one, I can't say so because you want to help a situation to where you think that player is going to really elevate that set.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right? Right.

[Ocho]

And to me, Cooper flag, he would have been perfect in Utah. You can't tell me no different. He would have been perfect in Utah. And Dallas, they already got a championship team. They come back healthy. By the time January, February come around and they all healthy, we gonna be talking about Dallas as a championship contending team. So with them getting that number one pick and, you know, Cooper Flag, of course, you know, being the number one pick that everybody says Cooper flag may not even come in and help them right away in the playoffs. You know what I'm saying? That's a. That's a real thing. He may not help them in the playoffs. And him going in Utah, in my eyes, was the ideal situation. So I can't see this one being a fix. That's just me.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Nah, that's.

[Ocho]

That's.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

That's definitely a fix, Nick. That's definitely a fix.

[Ocho]

Obviously.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

I mean, come on now. Just a coincidence they get rid of Lucas, right? And just so happened, of all teams that are in the larger to get the number one pick, it just so happened, coincidentally, is Dallas.

[Ocho]

Okay, I mean, I mean, let me ask you this.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Honestly. Honestly, it's so obvious.

[Ocho]

Okay, let me. Let me ask you this. Why? What's the point for the NBA to do that? Like, what's the point?

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

I have no idea. We would never know what the point is. Yeah, I mean, me personally, I would never know what the point is. But obviously you get rid of Luca and all of a sudden you have nothing left. You got. You got ads gonna be by itself Katie. I mean, not Katie. Kyrie's coming back at some point when he. He gets a little better off his acl. Then there's nothing. There's nothing else.

[Ocho]

Yeah. See, everybody I talk to about it, like, they don't have a real, like the reasoning for them.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

We don't know the reason. We don't know the reason for it. We just know it makes no sense. And it's too.

[Ocho]

But normally you don't say something like, well, they gave up Luka to the Lakers. Now the Lakers, we gave them another future player, you know, after LeBron leaves. And now we're going to do this favor for you guys. I don't see that. You know what I'm saying? Because they're already a championship team if they come back healthy. So that's. That's just my thinking. Like I. I've thought before the David Robinson, San Antonio. Yeah. Tim Duncan, San Antonio. You know, there's Cleveland, LeBron. Like I've thought some before, but this one, you couldn't. You couldn't tell me that the number one pick one going to Utah and Cooper flags was going to be in Utah next year just because.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, people. People felt the same thing with Zion. Zion going to New Orleans the same year they lost Ad. Well, everybody swore if. If they don't think anything else was rigged in 85, the first year they had the lottery and Patrick Ewing goes to the Knicks. They swear that was rigged.

[Ocho]

Now, now, now, see that you can. You can say like New York, big media market, we need a big time player. You know what I'm saying? Like they have a reason to say that for that, right? O2 ain't gave me no reason Yet. So I can't roll with you, Ocho.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

I know you can't roll with me. To me and just, you know, if, if it's smoked, there's a fire somewhere. And when it comes to that one, I, I could be wrong, but it's just, it's just, it's, it's too close. It's too close.

[Ocho]

Okay.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Kendrick Perkins called out Donovan Mitchell saying, hey, Donovan. And Donovan Mitchell led team has never been to the conference finals. Donovan Mitchell. Donovan Mitchell. You got a coach fired. You got J.B. bickerstaff fired. This is a fact. You had no communication with that man while he was there. So you didn't like him, right? As soon as he got fired, you signed a contract extension, right? You extended with the calves. Nick, is there any truth to what Big Perk is saying?

[Ocho]

I think Big Perk, you know, is entitled to his opinion. Yes, I'm saying, and I see a little truth to that, but here's my thinking on that. When you get rid of J.B. bickerstaff, you substituted a defensive gritty, you know what I'm saying? We gonna come at you kind of a coach, you know what I'm saying? That took Cleveland from where they were nothing and started building that thing up to, yes, they got an identity, right? And Kenny, Kenny Atkinson is a great coach. I worked with him in Atlanta. He's a great coach. Great with the X's and O's, but he's more of an offensive minded coach, right? Yeah, he's, he's more of a, he's more of a laid back. You can see his demeanor on the sideline. He's more of a laid back players kind of a coach. Well, JB going, he gonna, hey, no hats in the meetings, you know what I'm saying? We still going to do defensive slides in practice, you know what I'm saying? So he created an identity that to me, I think they lost. I think they wanted more offense and they lost they grit, they griminess and they lost to a team in Indiana who I thought was going to beat them anyway because of the way they played.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But.

[Ocho]

Garland set out a game, Hunter sat out a game, the big guy sat out again. Like, I don't think they sit out those games if, if they got that greediness still in them with a coach like that, you know what I'm saying? So it's untrue to what Perk is saying, but I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna come at, at, at my man like that because I think he balled his butt off. You know what I'm saying? And sometimes you. You need some help. You need some help. But I think they substituted offense for defense, and they lost a lot of that greediness with Coach Bickerstaff left.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But at some point in time, Dom is going to have to get a team to the conference finals because he's had the better team on several occasions. You win 60, 64 games this year and you get bounced in the second round. You lose three games at home. We saw in Utah, he had great situations up 02. I mean, I had a team down too old. The Clippers, they lose. So at some point in time, if he's a superstar, that's what we do with superstars. We put that blame. When KD didn't get it done, we blame KD. When LeBron didn't get it done, we Blame LeBron. If Donovan Mitchell is a superstar, you can't win 64 games and go home, lose three games and lose three games at home.

[Ocho]

Three. Yeah, that was tough. That was tough. And then the way they lost game two was, you know, once they lost game two, you. I knew it was over then it was over. Once they lost game two. Yeah, that just broke their spirit.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It is. I mean, they had the game in hand in game one, and they lost it. You're like, okay, hey, one game. Hey, you go back, we win game two. Now we go to Indiana, we get game, we back all square. And like you said, when Halliburton hit that shot, like, nah, all right, you.

[Ocho]

Know, well, Halliburton, he's from Wisconsin, right? Top play.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Ocho]

That's what we do. That's what we do. Hit big shots.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, Lord, there we go.

[Ocho]

That's what we do.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Hold on, hold on.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Where you, you.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Where you from?

[Ocho]

That's what we do. Hit big shots.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

You from Wisconsin? I ain't know that.

[Ocho]

Yeah, cheesy. Okay, we can't talk about no packers, none of that. We have. We have one of the greatest receivers in history. He's finally. Hey, man, he finally got in the hall of Fame, man. My man in the hall of Fame. His graph, his numbers. Better than my other place. 15 years, man. Stop playing the volume, okay? Have you heard about this? Last year, Degree changed the formula for their Cool Rush deodorant. The fans rebelled and wanted the old scent back. And Degree listened, and that doesn't happen often. They admitted they effed up and are bringing the original Cool Rush scent back. And it's exactly how you remember it. Cool crisp and fresh. There's a reason why it's the number one men's antiperspirant and it's back in Walmart, Target and other stores now for under $4. So try it and see what the fuss is about. Head to your local Walmart, Target and try to OG cool rush for yourself.

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Unknown]

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[Shannon Sharpe]

You're listening to an iHeart podcast.