Nightcap Hour 1: SGA Leads Thunder PAST Knicks + Short-HANDED Celtics BEAT Hornets + UCONN STUNS Duke in COMEBACK

Summary

Nightcap – Hour 1: SGA Leads Thunder Past Knicks, Short-handed Celtics Beat Hornets, UConn Stuns Duke in Comeback

Hosts: Shannon Sharpe, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, Joe Johnson
Date: March 30, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode of Nightcap dives into the most exciting sports action from the day, focusing on the NBA and NCAA tournament. The legendary hosts immediately get into the Oklahoma City Thunder’s narrow win over the Knicks, the Boston Celtics continuing their playoff streak despite key absences, and UConn’s remarkable comeback to knock Duke out of the NCAA tournament. Over a lively banter full of wit and sports wisdom, the panel unpacks star performances, strategic shortcomings, and what it takes for teams to truly contend in the playoffs.

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Key Segments & Breakdowns

Thunder Outlast Knicks: SGA’s MVP Moment

[10:58–41:25]

• SGA’s Dominance in Clutch

  • SGA (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) scored 30 points on 8-of-18 shooting, with 13-of-16 from the free throw line.
    • “He got to the line 16 times—he made 13 of those, so he had 30…In clutch situations, under five minutes, tight game, nip and tuck, man—you know what that man gonna do? He’s gonna deliver.” — Joe Johnson [12:00]
  • Jalen Williams returned strong with 22 points.
  • Knicks’ Jalen Brunson had 32 points but lacked support.
    • “Anytime Jose Alvarado takes the third most shots behind Brunson and Bridges, you’re probably going to have a problem.” — Joe Johnson [12:33]

• OKC’s Aggressive Play & Free Throw Discrepancy

  • Thunder shot 38 free throws vs. Knicks’ 17.
    • “You’re not beating them. Unless you make a boatload of threes, I don’t know how you keep pace with that.” — Joe Johnson [14:59]

• Knicks’ Offensive Limitations

  • Panel critiques Karl-Anthony Towns (“Cat”) for not exploiting mismatches in the post:
    • “If I’m Cat, I’m running down court, sitting in the paint, big wide…I just feel like he’s so talented, he can do that. And then once you kind of catch a little rhythm in the post, make a few easy ones, all right—then you pick and pop him with the three.” — Chad Ochocinco [20:30]
  • “The thing I love about Shaq—Shaq, I wish you would put a little guy on Shaq. Shaq going to the front of the rim and he gonna bring the house down. If you got a little guy, he might get a charge, but he’s not going to let you dictate.” — Joe Johnson [21:34]

• Concerns for Knicks’ Playoff Ceiling

  • The group agrees the Knicks will struggle to beat Boston or Detroit unless Cat consistently enforces his post presence.
  • Critique of Mikal Bridges’ and O.G. Anunoby’s roles:
    • “Numbers get me good numbers that equate to winning—I don’t care nothing about no 25 points and you losing…get me good numbers that equate to winning.” — Joe Johnson [32:41]
  • Bench contributions highlighted (Alvarado, Clarkson), but lack of collective aggression seen as a concern.

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Celtics Survive Short-Handed, Extend Playoff Streak

[41:25–45:52]

• Tatum Returns to Form

  • Jason Tatum scored 32 points (plus 8 assists, 5 rebounds), picking up after Jalen Brown’s absence.
  • Peyton Pritchard contributed 28 points off the bench.
  • “He’s got to be the sixth man of the year, why you bull jabbing.” — Joe Johnson [42:10]

• Style of Modern NBA

  • Panel discusses the Celtics’ volume of three-point attempts (34 in the game; usually more), agreeing today’s game is shaped for pace and fan excitement.
    • “When I came into the league…it took you three, four games to shoot this many threes. They doing this in one game.” — Ochocinco [45:37]

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Evolution of the Game: Offense and Athleticism

[46:26–51:40]

• Game Aesthetics and Rule Changes

  • Hosts reflect on how rule tweaks and fan tastes have shifted sports toward offense and highlight plays.
    • “Fans want to see high scoring…They wanted to speed the game up.” — Ochocinco [46:33]
    • “Jordan said today…old concepts don’t work against bigger, faster players who can jump higher, players who can create…This thing called evolution.” — Joe Johnson [47:18]
  • Comparison between eras: today’s athletes recover from injuries faster, technology is advanced, and the game is more skill-dependent.

• Modern Defensive Challenges

  • Basketball: Physicality is penalized; spacing and skill are crucial (“You can’t hand check…that’s another reason why the scoring is up.” — Ochocinco [51:04])
  • Football: Rules make defense tougher (“Playing defense is that much more difficult for DBs…” — Ocho [50:13])

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System Players & Team Roles

[51:40–57:45]

• Value of Team Roleplayers
  • Draymond Green’s impact is tied to the Warriors system—his skill set wouldn’t necessarily translate everywhere:
    • “You put him with a guard that can shoot or actually play because he can play the point guard…and he knows that teams ain’t gonna guard him offensively—they don’t think he a threat. So what’s the next best thing? I’m going into a pick and roll, a dribble handoff…I think he’s been leading the warriors in assists.” — Joe Johnson [54:25]
  • Analogy: “Everybody can’t be the entree. Somebody got to be the appetizer…you a part of the meal.” — Joe Johnson [57:32]

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NCAA Madness: UConn Stuns Duke in 19-Point Comeback

[58:22–60:14]

• Recap of Instant Classic
  • UConn freshman Braylon Mullins hit a deep three to cap a comeback from 19 down—eliminating Duke, who has not reached a title game since 2016.
    • “UConn freshman Braylon Mullins stole the ball, buried a three pointer from 35ft to cap a remarkable 19 point comeback.” — Joe Johnson [58:22]
  • Banter about Duke’s failure to convert star recruitment into championships.
    • “This was an unbelievable game, Uncle Joe. For me…I’m sitting on the edge of my seat, thinking the game was over. Hell, Duke had a 19 point lead.” — Uncle Ocho [59:41]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On SGA’s Clutchness:
  “He’s gonna get to his spot, rise up and make it, get to the paint and lay it up, or you’re gonna foul him.” — Joe Johnson [12:00]

• On Modern Bigs:
  “If I’m Cat Ocho, I’m running down court, I’m sitting in the paint, big wide…If Brunson don’t throw it to me, I’m gonna get three seconds in the key—it better be known I’m here.” — Chad Ochocinco [20:31]

• On Rule Changes & Evolution:
  “Old concepts don’t work against bigger, faster players who can jump higher, players who can create…This thing called evolution.” — Joe Johnson quoting Michael Jordan [47:18]

• On System Players:
  “Everybody can’t be the entree. Somebody got to be the appetizer…you a part of the meal.” — Joe Johnson [57:32]

• On UConn’s Comeback:
  “UConn freshman Braylon Mullins stole the ball, buried a three pointer from 35ft to cap a remarkable 19 point comeback.” — Joe Johnson [58:22]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Thunder vs. Knicks Analysis: 10:58–41:25
• Celtics Beat Hornets; NBA Evolution: 41:25–51:40
• Team Roles and System Talk: 51:40–57:45
• UConn’s Comeback over Duke: 58:22–60:14

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Episode Tone & Style

Fast-paced, humorous, and deeply insightful, the episode features friendly debate and veteran locker-room wisdom. The hosts blend sharp basketball analysis (“He’s looking to pick and pop to the three. Look, and pick the pop for a 12 footer. Roll to the basket…Put pressure on him.” — Joe Johnson [21:32]) with playful banter and memorable analogies (“Everybody can’t be the entree. Somebody got to be the appetizer.” — Joe Johnson [57:32]).
The result is an episode that’s both entertaining and full of actionable sports insight, perfect for any hoops fan who wants a smart breakdown on the night’s big games and what separates mere playoff teams from true championship contenders.

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Transcript

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[Chad Ochocinco]

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[Joe Johnson]

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[Joe Johnson]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Chad Ochocinco]

So I can breathe.

[Joe Johnson]

Why do you need to breathe? So I can think. I can think. If I can think, think, then I can win leagues. Look.

[Chad Ochocinco]

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[Joe Johnson]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Joe Johnson]

are for the NCAA tournament next week in Indy. But y' all know who I am. I'm your favorite unc. That is my partner and co host, the Liberty City legend Bingo Ring of fame honoree. He also created his own hall of fame by making his own jacket. He's a former pro bowler and an all pro. He's Chad Ochocinko Johnson. This guy here, the seven time NBA all star from the Atlanta Hawks. Little Rock, Arkansas native, a University of Arkansas alumni. Here he is, ISO Joe Johnson. Joe, what it do, man?

[Chad Ochocinco]

Slow motion. You hear me? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

To a better team. Down goes Duke. Down goes. We'll get to that in a minute. We'll get to that in a minute. 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. Hey guys, we cannot thank you enough for your support and your continued support because thanks to your eyes, ears and your word of mouth, Nightcap has become the success that it's become and we shall continue to grow thanks to you. So again, thank you for your support and your continued support. Those looking to purchase a bottle of Shade by Laportier, head over to laportierconac.com to purchase you a bottle. If it's currently unavailable in a state or city near you, remember, it is a premium BSOP cognac. The best tasting, smoothest cognac on the market. Hey, hey. French fry. So compare it against other cognacs and you'll see we have the best cognac on the market. Please, please drink responsibly. Guys, the game that just went off. The Thunder beat the Knicks by the score of 111 to 110. Shay did nothing but strengthen his MVP stranglehold. He had 30 points of 8 of 18 shooting, but he got to the line 16 times. He made 13 of those, so he had 30. Check. Chipped in with 16. Lou Dorrit had 12. Jalen Williams back, his fourth game back from that long injury. He had 22, his best game by far. In his return, Jalen Brunson did all he could to keep the Knicks in it, but it wasn't nearly enough. He didn't get enough support from the other guys. They didn't shoot the ball enough. Jalen Brunson, who had 32 points on 13 of 22, shooting on 4 of 7 from the three point line. But anytime Jose Alvarado takes the second most shots of anybody, well, third most shots behind Jalen Brunson and Mikhail Bridges, you're probably going to have a problem. He took more shot, more shots than OG he took more shots than Cat, more shots than Josh Hart. I don't think that's the recipe for success there. Joe, watching this game. What is it about the Thunder that when they get in clutch situations, they put the ball in Shay hand, he's gonna get to his spot, one or two things gonna happen. He's gonna get to his spot, rise up and make it. He's gonna get to the, he's gonna get to the paint and lay it up off the glass or you're gonna file him. And he does this and he goes on these bursts by himself. He got a file shot. He got, went to the file and made May miss, may one, missed one. And then he got all the way to the paint, he laid it up and then he hit a three. And that was basically, that basically ended it right there. You, you,

[Chad Ochocinco]

Ocho, you, you can't, you can't stop shape from getting to his spots, man. Listen, the one thing I noticed when watching these dudes play okc, they got a bunch of dogs over there, but they know Shay the lead dog, okay? Yes. And when it comes down to the clutch situations, under five minutes, tight game, nip and tuck, man. You know what that man gonna do? He's gonna deliver like you said. He either gonna score the ball or he gonna make the right play, get a assist or he gonna get a foul. And when you talk about your top player on your team, that's what you want, bro. I know a lot of people get, get on the shaker. They talking about he foul bait and all that. Dan the boy good. You can't stop him from getting where you want to on the court. And then he just got so many guys around him. Uncle Ocho, that, that, that play great. And Star in their roles, guys coming off the bench. Like, it just seems. It just seems like a great atmosphere. And they compete at the highest level. Like I say, they. They wear you down. They pick you up. Full court, wear you down. Brunson play, you know, a pretty good game, but like you said, the mother guys take it. Taking nine shots. And hey, man, you're gonna have to force the issue a little bit against these dudes if you want to beat them. You know what I mean? You talking about getting to the finals, coming out the east and trying to compete for a title. You got to go through okc, bro. Got to.

[Joe Johnson]

You look at the files. The file discrepancy. Yeah. OKC had 38 attempts, Joe. The Knicks had 17.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

You're not beating them. You're not.

[Chad Ochocinco]

You lose.

[Joe Johnson]

Plus 21 minute fireline you. Unless you make a boatload of threes, I don't know how you keep pace with that. But they put a lot of pressure on you. They try to attack the basket. They make you guard without filing because they're going to call it. They've done a great job of creating. Even if they don't get filed, they create the illusion that they are getting filed.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

And for the most part, they get the calls. And all superstars have had this stretch where they have two, three, four years where they just seemingly get every call. We saw that with Joel Embiid.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

We saw that with James Harden. We saw that with Cole. We saw that with LeBron. I mean, LeBron really never. I don't think. I don't know if he ever shot this many free throws, but he would get calls. I think the big guys have a harder time getting. Creating files because they're like, Bro, YouTube, like Shaq. Shaq probably should have been shooting 20 free throws a game.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah, yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

But because he's so big, that's like, bro. But that's not what James Naismith written in the bylaw. Well, if you big, you don't get the calls, Right. Shay has done a great job. And I. I'm just shocked because if somebody would have told me of watching him in college, if somebody would told me that he was going to be. This ain't no way in hell I'd have believed it, right? No way.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Nobody else seen that neither. Because if that's the case here, he probably number one.

[Joe Johnson]

You're right. You're right. What you got with Joe?

[Uncle Ocho]

Hey, I'm gonna say coming out the east, right. As much pressure as. Okay. As the Thunder put on you as Far as going through the free throw line, you have players like Shay, you know, they complain, Joe, about him foul baiting and him being able to manipulate the game and, and create those files, you know, get into a spot. Yeah, I mean, obviously the Knicks, the Knicks players have to understand that and they have to just do the same thing. Players have to take it upon themselves sometimes to, to be just as aggressive as he does.

[Joe Johnson]

That's not their game though. That's only got to put pressure on you. Like that is Jalen Brunson. The other guys are not guys that put pressure on the basket. Cat is 7 foot tall, but Cat really want to stay outside and shoot threes.

[Uncle Ocho]

Right. But that, that, that's the whole point. Somebody going to have to adjust their game based on the people that they're playing. Oh, it's like if you play db, you playing certain receivers, you got to change the way you play the game based on the person you plan that specific day.

[Joe Johnson]

But let me ask you a question. If you're a DB and you play in certain receiver and you a press corner, how you looking when you play off? If you are off corner and you try to press, how you looking right at the end of the day? I understand that we want to do this, but I gotta do, I gotta do what I'm good at. And right now that's not where they're good at. Cat likes, Cat likes to play outside. That's what, that's what he is. He's a seven foot guy. And that dirt. He has that Dirk Nowitzki mentality. Dirk would post. I think Dirk posts more than Cat does, Joe.

[Chad Ochocinco]

He probably do. You look at Cat though, today on with 18 boards, it's just for me, I feel like he don't even know the mismatch that he is. If he catch it on the block or right there at the mid post and just give your man two bumps and a jump hook or a pump fake like. Yes. There's so much more that the Knicks can get out of Cat and obviously they gonna need to get it out of him if they want to, you know, advance in the postseason. Because, man, people gonna wear Brunson down, bro.

[Joe Johnson]

Yes.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah, they gonna wear him down. You need in the postseason. Y' all know the game slows down. Yeah, you need to be able to throw it down at a Cat. He either can get us a bucket or foul.

[Uncle Ocho]

Playing himself easy points, huh, Joe?

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah, you gotta have that, man. You got, you just. You gotta have a difference. I mean, if you got a difference maker on Your team in the post, why not exploit it and use it to your advantage? I seen a lot of times, man, OKC had them little bitty dudes guarding them. I'm like, hold on.

[Joe Johnson]

And where. And where was he at, man?

[Chad Ochocinco]

I know he out there straightening the

[Joe Johnson]

loan at three, but it was a

[Chad Ochocinco]

couple times he called it in the post and he made some strong moves.

[Joe Johnson]

Yes.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Why not do that almost every trip down court if they gonna try to w with these little bitty dudes, man, please. I'm punishing them.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah. I've always felt the cat let him off the hook. He let. He let teams off the hook. Ain't no way you should be that big, that skilled, seven foot tall. And just because you can shoot threes and he shoots a pretty good percent from the three.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

That doesn't mean let that be. Let that be an extension. I can do this. Okay. Y' all don't see, hey, I'm. I'm posting. I'm playing with my back to the basket. I'm gonna get to my spot. I'm gonna get some easy. But just know I got this three ball in my bag. Yeah. It's almost like I want to shoot the three. Ah, man, it ain't fault. Let me go down here now, bro, you don't. It's kind of. You don't got out of a rhythm. Get to a rhythm first.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

And he don't. And you watch him. Like you say, Joe, he can give two or three bumps. He can up and under. He can throw the jump hook or shoot. Shoot or shoot. The turnaround to fade away. But he's just so in love. And I think he's created this thing in his head that I want to be the best shooting big man of all time. But, bro, they don't get no trophies for that, bro. I'm sorry.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Nah, I want to see. I want to see more of a two man game. Cat and Brunson.

[Joe Johnson]

Yes.

[Chad Ochocinco]

And Cat not always popping to the three, man.

[Joe Johnson]

Yes.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Sometimes short roll. Set that pick sometime roll all the way to the basket.

[Joe Johnson]

Yes.

[Chad Ochocinco]

So you gotta mix up your looks, bro. You can't keep giving me a steady diet and ain't thinking I'm gonna pick up on it. I'm gonna pick up on it. You know what I mean? That's why we gonna be able to switch these little bitty dudes out on you when you set a pick and roll. Because we know you ain't gonna. You ain't gonna be demonstrative down there in the post and Demand, punish. Yeah, man. Hey, look, if I'm.

[Joe Johnson]

Punish him.

[Chad Ochocinco]

If I'm Cat Ocho, I'm running down court, I'm sitting in the paint, big wide. Look, I'm gonna get a three second call. If Brunson don't throw it to me.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, yeah.

[Chad Ochocinco]

I'm gonna get three seconds in the key. I'm gonna let y' all know I'm here, man. I just feel like he's so talented. He can do that. And then once you kind of catch a little rhythm in the post, make a few easy ones, all right?

[Joe Johnson]

Then you.

[Chad Ochocinco]

You pick and pop him with the three, pump fake, get to the basket. I just feel like he has all those tools. And in order for the Knicks to be successful, man, we already know what kind of year there's gotta be for them. They gotta at least make it to the Finals.

[Joe Johnson]

Right.

[Chad Ochocinco]

You know what I mean?

[Joe Johnson]

I don't, I don't. They can, but I don't see them beat me personally. I don't see them beating Boston or Detroit. And I think. I think sometimes an asset of yours can be a curse. I think his ability to shoot the ball is a curse to him because he don't rely on his height and his size to go down low because he'll let that three ball bail him out. And like you said, he's looking to pick and pop to the three. Look, and pick the pot for a 12 footer.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Roll to the basket.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Put pressure on him. Man, I wish they. The thing I love about Shaq. Yeah. Shaq. I wish you would put a little guy on Shaq. Shaq going to the front of the rim and he gonna bring the house down. If you got a little guy on it might get a charge. But guess what? He not gonna let you dictate to him. Oh, I gotta throw a 14 foot jump hook.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Obviously Shaq doesn't have the. The shooting skills of Cat. But I'm saying Shaq was big. He understood he was big. He understood that his size was his advantage. So if you let me take. If you let me. If his size. Cat size can be his advantage, but they he allowed to be a disadvantage because he got him shooting threes. Damn them threes.

[Uncle Ocho]

But hold on, uncle and Joe, it's the same. This is the same conversation we have every, every time towards the postseason about the Knicks, about Cat. Obviously having the tools is one thing to have the tools in your bag and not use them. Last year you were saying the same thing about him running to the goddamn three point line. Not being aggressive, not using everything he has in the toolbox to not only help himself, but help his team as well. Take some of that goddamn pressure off Brunson. What happens if the other four, the other three players aren't playing well? We got to be able to lean on you when it comes to playing the better teams in the league, like your okcs, like. Like your Pistons. I mean, whoever. Whoever else coming out the goddamn East.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, Austin.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Hey, he. He.

[Uncle Ocho]

I'm sure if we always have this conversation for the Knicks, every time when it gets close to the postseason and he's still not doing it, then it just. It's just not any.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, we have this conversation about him. Not just the postseason. We have this conversation about him. All the. Only. That's really the knock that we have forecast.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah. Yeah. I just think, you know, scoring 100 points these days, that's very low, fellas. You know what I mean? And with OG and Bridges, you know, they definitely have to pick it up. One of them have to play probably above their head. I like the additions that they made with Alvarado and Clarkson. They give them great, great scoring punch off the bench, so I think they can score the ball. They just have to be willing to do the small things. Whether it's Cat, I seen how he was getting double team tonight, making the right play. But sometimes, man, you're gonna kind of have to force the issue, you know what I mean? You're gonna have to be aggressive. You're gonna have to assert yourself so that. That way you can put your stamp on the game. And they know you out here, you know what I mean? We game planning for Cat. We don't want to get him going, man. You punish some of them dudes down there in that post and then get that media and that three going, I promise you, bro, the Knicks, they'll probably look a lot better, you know, more. More competitive, especially going into the Eastern steps, especially going into the playoffs. So in order for them to have success, man, he got to. He gonna have to be a new player, bro.

[Uncle Ocho]

Yeah. Hey, hey, Joe. If he ain't done it by now, he ain't gonna do it. He making himself one dimensional. It's easy when you're done one dimensional to do the same thing every goddamn time and don't take advantage of your size.

[Chad Ochocinco]

He gonna have to. Ocho. He gonna have. He got to be a post presence, bro. They gonna need that. I promise you.

[Joe Johnson]

Anybody other than. Anybody other than Wimby that guards Cat, he should view it as disrespectful.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Man.

[Joe Johnson]

That's how skilled he is. Yeah, Those big Joe, you remember back in the day, Shaq was looking at it. Boy, if you don't give me Elijah Juan, if you don't give me David Robinson, if you don't give me one of these elite big mans, you. What are you doing?

[Chad Ochocinco]

I'm gonna punish you. Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

That's how catch you look at it. If you didn't give me your best cover guy. Oh, oh, so. Really? So y' all got a linebacker. That's what y' all think of me, huh?

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

What they look like? They're not giving you one. They not give you the number one corner. They got this. They got the A. They got their number two, number three on you. So you. So that's what you think of me right now, right?

[Chad Ochocinco]

Hey, and that's why. That's why Shaq always talking about the bigs nowadays, you know, not. Not demanding that ball in the post, not being a post presence, not taking advantage of the barbecue chicken that you got on you. You understand? That's why he always be on them, bro. Because when you watch the game, you can already see, you know, where guys can be effective. And for me, with Cat, OKC place, they play a lot small, and it was too many times, bro, he let a little guy guard him.

[Joe Johnson]

He got Caruso. How you let Caruso guard you? Or they put that. They switch. I like. Come on. Not. Not Caruso, man. I know he's got. I understand, Chet. I understand Hardenstein. They're bigs. But, bro, look, here, give me. Let me get that. Let me get that. Ready, Joe? No, this chat legs. That chat legs right there. And you got that, man. You let that man root you up out of there.

[Uncle Ocho]

Hold on. Hey, what. What if the problem is what you guys see? Hey, Joe. What you see with Cat and uncle. What you see with Cat and saying some of the things that he should do. Maybe he can't do it.

[Joe Johnson]

No, he can do it. We've seen it. Oo. You realize cat is score 60 points in a game?

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

He's had. He's had multiple games in the 40s. I think he has. I think if I'm not mistaken, I could be wrong, but I think he has a 40, 20 game, man. Cat is skill. You don't find very many seven footers that is agile, that can move like he can.

[Uncle Ocho]

Yeah, I'm confused. Then what's the issue? Why not? If. If you. If you're skilled. If he's as skilled as he is. Is he not confident in his post game? Is he not confident, you know, in his mid range? It has to be some.

[Chad Ochocinco]

My thing is we've seen him, you know, over the years, even this season, we've seen him put up 20, 20, 20 games, you know, so we know he can rebound and we also know he can score. That's my thing. I don't ever think it should be, you know, a time to where he's in single digits. That's in, in points. That should never.

[Joe Johnson]

Or rebounds.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Or rebounds. You should never be. Joe, you seven foot tall. How the hell you get single digit rebounds at seven foot?

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah, he, he should always. But it's because he floats around at the three a lot so he ain't able to get, you know, down there

[Joe Johnson]

and get rebound to come out as well.

[Chad Ochocinco]

But I think he, I think he's the big difference maker for the Knicks. For me, man, he, he has probably the, the, the best upside, especially in the post season when it comes to a guy who you can really play through. Cause I just feel like Brunson at some point, you know, he gonna wear down. Yeah, he gonna play great. He gonna have some good numbers.

[Joe Johnson]

But.

[Chad Ochocinco]

But he gonna need some help, bro. He gonna need some help.

[Joe Johnson]

Well, the help is. Look, if you look at what they gave up to get Mel Bridges and Mel Bridges, they gave up all these draft pick, these first round draft picks. Joe, he got to show up.

[Uncle Ocho]

He got to show up.

[Joe Johnson]

Miss with him and I, I don't know. I. I really don't. I really don't know. I mean, he had 15 points. This is one of his better games. He has not played well this year.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

I think when you give up four or five, what are we trying so hard?

[Chad Ochocinco]

So I can breathe.

[Joe Johnson]

Why do you need to breathe? So I can think. If I can breathe. If I can breathe, I can think.

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Joe Johnson]

If I can think if I can think then I can win. Rated r in theaters April 10th.

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[Joe Johnson]

Nah, I'm just kidding.

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[Joe Johnson]

i think they gave up how many first round draft. I bet they gave up three, four. First round draft pick. Man, you're supposed to be. Boy, look here.

[Uncle Ocho]

Hey, hey, hey, Uncle. Oh, Joe. Where was Mikhail, Bridget, before he came to the Knicks?

[Joe Johnson]

He was at the Nets.

[Uncle Ocho]

He was playing really well when he was there, huh?

[Joe Johnson]

Well, they got him from. They got him from the Phoenix and he was on that team with Book Them and Chris Paul that went to the NBA Finals. They ended up losing. They won the first two, and then they lost four straight to the. The Bucks.

[Chad Ochocinco]

The problem is in Brooklyn, he wasn't playing no meaningful basketball. So he may have had decent numbers at 17, 18 a game, something like that.

[Uncle Ocho]

Ah, so it wasn't.

[Chad Ochocinco]

No.

[Uncle Ocho]

So it wasn't no pressure, right?

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yes.

[Joe Johnson]

When you play, it's different guys.

[Chad Ochocinco]

No, he's playing.

[Joe Johnson]

He was playing on a losing team. It's easy to get numbers when you playing on a losing team. And don't nobody give an ish about you.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah. Okay. Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Now you in a situation where they're, like you said, Ocho expectations.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Now getting 20 points on a losing team is a whole different ball game than getting 17 on the winning team.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Because you just arbitrarily just jacking up shots. Don't nobody care. Don't nobody care.

[Chad Ochocinco]

No.

[Joe Johnson]

So. And people are. Oh, man. Yeah, man. He averaged 25. Yeah. But they won 23 games.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Right. Fact.

[Joe Johnson]

So those numbers get. Get me good numbers that equate to winning. I don't care nothing about no 25 points. And you losing damn near every. Every. Every what, four out of six games? They don't do nothing for me. Right.

[Chad Ochocinco]

You got low efficiency.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah. Yeah. And like I said, this was one of his better games. He was 6 of 11, 2 for 5 from the 3.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Me personally, I think some of his defenses slipped as well.

[Chad Ochocinco]

You think so?

[Joe Johnson]

I do. Yeah.

[Chad Ochocinco]

I think. I think they can be better all around.

[Joe Johnson]

I think they're gonna have to.

[Chad Ochocinco]

They can be better all around. I mean, that was a good test for him tonight, you know, playing at okc, you know, just keeping. Keeping the game close. At the end, they kind of got away from him because they. Okc got the MVP in shade, bro. You can't stop that. You. You ain't. I Don't care what you do, Ocho. Now if you run two at me, you know, I already know I got snipers on the backside out there. Oh, y, they ready to tie you up. So you all, you don't even want to get into them problems. So you're gonna have to deal with this. You got to deal with it.

[Joe Johnson]

You, they got it. Like I said, I don't know. I don't know if they can beat Boston. I don't know if they can beat Detroit. I, I think Detroit, I mean, look, we, we'll see what K situation is. How soon can he get back? Obviously they're not going to play them in the first round, but I don't, I, I, I, I would not put any amount of money that meant anything to me of them beating Boston in a seven, in a seven game series. Not with Tatum rounding back. And because he's going to have probably 15, 18 games up under his belt by the time they hit the playoffs. So by the time they would have to face the Knicks, probably would be the second round.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah, I wouldn't have them beating Boston neither. But, but Detroit scary too. They've been playing well.

[Joe Johnson]

Yes.

[Chad Ochocinco]

No K. Been out. That little Jenkins kid who been starting at the Point, I don't even know where he come from. Ocho. I don't either. Hey, but when you put him in, he cutting up. If you blink, if you squint your eyes a little bit, you might see John Moran out there. You're like, hello, who is that? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Well, he showed me something when he played the Lakers. He showed me something because they put the ball in his hands.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

And he went and got to his spot and, and I understand Cade wasn't there, but they didn't play through Duran. They didn't, they, hey, they didn't try to run nothing for Hoarder. They ain't trying to run anything for Robinson.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Ball in this kid's hand.

[Joe Johnson]

Hey. And he went at Austin Reeves. But I, I think overall, look, I'm not concerned about Jalen Brunson. I'm never going to be concerned about him because he's always going to play well. Yeah. If he's on the court and he's, he gonna play well.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Right.

[Joe Johnson]

I worry about the other guys. They got to come along with him. I'm not worried about Brunson. These other guys, OG and Cat and Hart and Bridges, they're gonna have to come with him. And when one of these and they guys go to the bench, they're going to need Jordan Clarkson to step up because they got him for bench production. Coming off the bench, we know he can go on a heater. Yeah, yeah. He can score 10, 15 points in the, In a quarter, easy.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yes. Yes, sir. Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Alvarado needs to be that piss and, and, and, and knock down open shots when given the opportunity. But they're going to have to play better collectively if they want to go further than what they went last year.

[Chad Ochocinco]

I agree, I agree. They, they, they, they got the personnel, they, they got the tools, bro. They just have to, you know, put the attitude with it, you know, And I'm, I'm really speaking on Cat, you know, I, I like Clarkson, Alvarado coming off the bench, and I know in a playoff series, I know one of them gonna win me at least a game or two. On, yeah, but I think they'll win you a game or two. But if I got Cat playing the right way, being demonstrative down there in that post, bro, and working the perimeter when need be, he can be unstoppable, bro. He can make the game easier for everybody. And I think that's another. I think that's why, you know, you don't see. I think you see Bridges and OG kind of struggle a little bit because they need somebody who can demand a double team, bro, so you can get them guys some open shots, some back door cuts, you know. They cut us, Uncle Ocho.

[Joe Johnson]

Yes.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Instead of leaving it all on Brunson to play make and score. We gotta get this ball to Cat a few times. Hey, hey, big fella. We need you to get to that bump, bump, jump, hook, pump fake. We need you to do something so these dudes will start doubling you. And now you can start to spray out. And now we can back and get some easy.

[Joe Johnson]

I ain't doubling his big ass from the three point line. We'll get his big ass down on the block. I might consider doubling.

[Chad Ochocinco]

That's all I'm so.

[Joe Johnson]

Until he get his ass down there. A joke. And then like you said, now one of those guys, because like you said, there are slashers. Mikhail Bridges, slasher cutter. You can dive to the basket. He and OG get some easy buckets. But when you out there, where they at? Yeah, I ain't w. I packed the paint. Hey, hey.

[Uncle Ocho]

Anga and Joe, when it comes, when it comes to creating their own shot or getting it off the muscle without any help, I'm not saying really calling played and calling ISO, Bridges, Bridges and OG not good at that, huh?

[Chad Ochocinco]

They can do it, Ocho, but it. You Know that ain't they strong part. You know, they'll give you flash or they'll have games to where they go off the dribble a few times, get by their man, you know, pull up for a jump or get to the bucket dunk on you or something. But for the most part, them guys gonna be space and they gonna be cutting. They catch and shoot. They D guys, they gonna defend, play the passing lane. They gotta make it tough for your top scores on the other team. That's really what you need them for because you brought them really to the Knicks because of Tatum and Brown. If we just want to keep it 100, you know what I'm saying? You want to be able to match up with them two wing guys if you ever meet them in the postseason, right? So until then, that's when they gonna need to show up, bro.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, but. But the problem is today, OG is not quick enough to stay in front of Shay. That matchup, I'm gonna. That's what. That's bridges. This is what we got you for. Yeah, this is what we got you for. OG is not fleet. OG is a better matchup for a big body guy, a bigger guy, a three or four. He ain't. He ain't dealing with no point or no two that can take it off the bounds. He too. He too. That's not him. Lateral is not good enough.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Hell, who go. Who can go and shade, huh?

[Joe Johnson]

No, but he definitely not. He too big. Hey, listen, do you see? Did you see how easy Shay was getting on the edges of him, man?

[Chad Ochocinco]

Listen, once he get. Once he get lower than you, it's just for me, when I watch Shay, okay, Ojo, it's like he look at the defender. Not necessarily even looking at the guy who guard him, bro. He looking at where the help is possibly gonna be coming from as soon as I blow by this man right here, you know what I'm saying? He already two, three steps ahead of the game. Great scores. They never worried about the guy who's in front of them. They just wanna know, okay, when I beat him, who gonna step up and try to stop me next? Okay, Boom. If he do, then I'm gonna spray out for three. Or I'm gonna throw the lob or I'm gonna yam this thing or get to my floater. I just feel like he's so great at that anticipating, you know what I mean? Getting by his man, luring him to sleep, going from slow to fast to when he hit them brakes. Yeah, you. All he need is A split second. He gonna get two, three seconds when he hit them brakes on you, hit you with that snatch back. And you now motor and touch earth. It's a rap. He got too much in his bag, bro. He got too much in his bag.

[Joe Johnson]

And the thing is, he shoot the three well enough that you can't go under.

[Chad Ochocinco]

There you go.

[Joe Johnson]

Because he's gonna call for that. He gonna call for the pick with Hardenstein. He gonna call for the pick with a Chet, and you go, what you gonna do?

[Chad Ochocinco]

Nothing. Nothing.

[Joe Johnson]

The best thing, I mean, the only thing you probably can do, Joe, is probably trapping to get the ball out of his hands. But like you said, they got guys that can shoot the ball well enough. And just at some point in time, I'm gonna say, you know what, Chad Hardenstein, Lou, you gotta beat me. Hey, look, Chad is proven to check. Check and beat you.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

I mean, excuse me. Is proven. Yeah, I. I got to take my chance with somebody else, Ojo, Joe.

[Chad Ochocinco]

But my thing is those guys, when I'm talking about Chick and Hardenstein, they've already showed that they know, okay, Boom. If the defense changed the coverage, coverage, and they go to a trap on Shay, and I'm the man that's open. Soon as I catch it, I'm looking right to the rim because I know I got check under the goal or Hardenstein on the goal. We gonna play the two man. Or if the wing drop in, I'm spraying out the three. They play that three, man, they three on two.

[Joe Johnson]

So.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Well, yes, it's hard to trap him. That's why y' all never see teams trapping him. You know what I mean? Cause they gonna make you pay. And they playing.

[Joe Johnson]

You got those big ass. You got these big ass guys. You got seven footers at the dunker spot.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah. And they. They make great decisions when they handling the ball. That's the biggest difference they can playmate. And they gonna make it that three on two. You ain't gonna be able to do nothing. Two seven footers and a guy out there shooting the leather off that thing. Boy, you in trouble.

[Joe Johnson]

The Celtics are headed to the playoffs after beating the hornets today. That's 12 straight season in which the Celtics has made the playoffs. That's the longest active streak in the NBA. Jason Tatum today, 32 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 12 of 23 from the floor, 5 of 10 from the three. He was plus 15 in 31 minutes. Jalen Brown didn't play, but in his absence, Peyton Pritchard, 28 points, 10 of 18 from the floor, two or six from the three point line, six of six from the free throw line, and a plus 12. And you know, hey, you know, you got 32 from Tatum, you got 17 for Quetta. You got. But it was, it was Peyton Pritchard and that guy, man, look, man, he got to be the sixth man of the year. Why you bull jabbing. Who? Pritchard. Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Uncle Ocho]

Hey, hey, he nice boy.

[Chad Ochocinco]

He, he definitely, he definitely got to be the sixth man of the year. Hey, and if you're a young hoop out there, man, just watch this dude, man. Watch Peyton Pritchard, bro. It don't matter if he start, if he come off the bench attitude. The same game, still the same.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah.

[Chad Ochocinco]

You know what I mean? It don't matter who out there with him, whether it's jb, Jason Tatum, or he out there by himself. That man going for yard, you hear me? Yeah. He gonna do his thing. Regardless. I, I love watching him play. And he compete on both ends, bro.

[Joe Johnson]

I love it and love it.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Compete on both ends.

[Uncle Ocho]

Hey, I'm, I'm trying to understand how young Bull, I think what he. He Maybe is week three for him. Goddamn. Jason Tatum, he coming off ACL. You know, he started that good start at 14. Then he got, then he went to Achilles. My bad. And then he got about 18. But we about in week three right now, JB don't play. And Tatum done took over 32 tonight.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, yeah.

[Chad Ochocinco]

In 30 minutes.

[Uncle Ocho]

And man, buddy, nice boy.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

His efficiency is coming back. You know, it was going to take him. It's going to take him a couple of weeks. I understand that he's been, you know, in the tub and getting up shots and everything. Yeah. But it ain't the same as when bodies banging on you and you running into people. You're getting up and you're coming off picks and you're doing all this stuff and you got to slide your feet and guard people. So you got to get your conditioning because the hardest thing to do, everybody can shoot the ball when they, when they rested. Yeah.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

That's. That's what separates the good ones.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

And the great ones is being able to shoot the ball when you're fatigued. Yeah. Everybody run fast in the first quarter. How fast you run it in the fourth quarter. Oh, yeah.

[Uncle Ocho]

You know what else, too?

[Joe Johnson]

Not.

[Uncle Ocho]

Not only that you're conditioning, but having your legs up underneath you, too.

[Joe Johnson]

Yes.

[Uncle Ocho]

Once you get your legs up underneath you. And the only way to do that is by actually, you know, playing the game. I Don't care how much you practice.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah, this.

[Joe Johnson]

Go ahead, Joe. Go ahead.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Basketball is a rhythm and timing game, fellas. You know what I mean? And the layoff that Jason Tatum has had, it's going to affect you. I don't care who you are. You know what I'm saying? When you come back, especially, you know, late in the season like this. Yeah. It's going to take you a few weeks to kind of get your bounce back, get that swag back, but you won't.

[Joe Johnson]

He.

[Chad Ochocinco]

He was willing to do that to try and to gain momentum and confidence and rhythm before the postseason gets here, because he know how important and he know the chances, opportunity they have to. To get back to the finals. And then, man, he looked good, bro. He looked good. He don't look like he's lost a step, right. He just looked like he's a bit rusty and his timing has been off.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah.

[Chad Ochocinco]

But for the most part, he hadn't really. Outside of that, man, it would look like he right back on track.

[Joe Johnson]

And, like, I mean, anytime you and you can have, you know, like you said, you. You put Praying Prison in the starting lineup, you bring him off the bench, you know what he's gonna give you. You. He will give you great effort on both ends. Probably gonna get you somewhere between 12 and 20 points on a given night and can give you as many as 35, 40 if you're not careful.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Hello. Hello.

[Joe Johnson]

But their bench, you know, a charman. Look 14. And they shoot the three. How did they shoot the three? Really well, now they gonna get up a bunch of them now. I mean, they only got up 34. They only got up 34 threes. They're normally in the 40s, Joe. You know, they normally in the 40s. Missoula tried to get up 53 tonight.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Hey, listen, you said only 34. Three.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, only 34.

[Chad Ochocinco]

It was just never like this, bro. When I came into the league, Uncle Ocho, you. It took you three, four games to shoot this many threes.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, yeah.

[Chad Ochocinco]

They doing this in one game and. Yeah, you right. Typically, they a lot. It's a lot higher. They in the 40s, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

They got 77 threes between the two teams, man. You go a week, you go a week. That's why if you go back, go chart it and look at the number of threes that's being taken. And every year is going up. Yep, every year it goes up. Hell, I remember when they put the three in at 79, man. Boy, the only time you shot the 3:24 second clock about to go off or at the end of the quarter or a half. That's it. Boy, do you shoot a three? If you want to come here, you want to shoot that shot, come on over here with me.

[Uncle Ocho]

Come sit down.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, right here. Hey, I got a spot for you. Hey.

[Uncle Ocho]

Hey, Joe. Hey, what you think about how the game was when you played and how the game is now? You think the game has evolved for the better?

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah, I think it has evolved for the better, Ocho, because what, what the consumers, meaning the fans, what they want to see is they want to see exciting high flying up and down. They want to see a great pace. They want to see high scoring.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah.

[Chad Ochocinco]

They want to see lives. They want to see the threes. They don't. Hey, look, the fans, the one who pay the bills, you know what I mean? So they wanted to speed the game up. They wanted to look better versus just, just walking the ball up the court, throwing it in the post and living and dying off that now.

[Uncle Ocho]

Right.

[Chad Ochocinco]

You know, it's just, it's pick and roll. If you can't run the pick and roll, if you can't catch and shoot the three, if you can't run and rim, run and catch a lob.

[Uncle Ocho]

Right.

[Chad Ochocinco]

It's hard to play nowadays, bro. It's hard to play.

[Joe Johnson]

It is. And I think the thing is, is that when you look at it, Joe and my. And Jordan said something that today. Hold on, let me pull this quote up because you know people. Because when I say this, people like, oh, but you don't know what you're talking about. You don't know what you're talking about. That Jordan said today. Jordan said players 20 years, players 20 years couldn't do the things players can do today. Old concepts don't work against bigger, faster players who can jump higher, players who can create. Yeah, they had great shooters. There's just more of them now. Yeah, they had big players back then. There's just more of them now. They had fast players back then. There's just more of them now. This thing called evolution.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah, yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Getting bigger, faster, stronger. They know more technology. An ACL would ruin a NFL players career, Ocho. Not guys coming back in seven months.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Achilles was a death sentence for an athlete. Now Jason Tatum back playing looking like Jason Tatum. Yeah. Tommy John surgery. Look at, not look at Tommy John, look at what they can do. Dr. Neil Ellatroch and all these, these noted orthopedics. So this notion, I get it. I get this thing called evolution. Guys in the 20s were better than the guys in the tens. And you got. In baseball, you got the 30s, the 40s, the 50s, and 60s.

[Chad Ochocinco]

60s.

[Joe Johnson]

Now, the batting average is because, like Joe said. Oh, so you said. What do fans want to see? They want to see home run. Don't give them. If you strike out 50 times, just hit two over the fence. You see how far he hit it? Yeah. They used to track distance on no damn home run. Now they got exit velocity. He hit the ball out the park at 110 miles an hour. It went 472ft. In football, now they got all these things. How fast a guy running? No choke. We have nobody. They tell you how. You know how fast he running.

[Uncle Ocho]

They clock. Hey, they clocking everything. They taking. Taking all data because what people.

[Joe Johnson]

Fans like that? Yeah, man. Oh, man. You see how fast Ocho running, man? Ocho Red. 22 miles an hour. They like that. So guess what? That's what you like. I'm gonna give you that. So guess what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna change the rules. I don't want you to see. I. Hey, it's still a physical game. But that incidental contact. We don't want you landing on the quarterback, Brady. And we want these guys to play. Yeah. You know, we. We don't want you, to the fans, like offense. So every league has created. So the offense is in play.

[Uncle Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

So you look at basketball, look at all these points. You look at football, you look at all these points. Man, don't nobody want to see no damn 10, seven ball game. No. 13, no. 14, no 17, 14 ball game. Yeah, I'm trying to see 31, 35. I'm trying to see 45, 40. That's.

[Uncle Ocho]

You know, what they done. Uncle Joe especially. I can only speak on the football. Part of things is they. They've made playing defense that much difficult for DBs, for D tackles, you know, for linebackers, because now you got to be cautious, and you can't really play the game the way it's supposed to be played. They've handicapped everybody on the defensive end. Hell, they've handicapped the coach, that coach on the defense, you know, on defensive end, because you can't play the game the way it's supposed to be played, because now you got to be careful and weary about everything you do, whether it's tackling, whether it's hidden. The quarterback. Now you. Hey, you can't even tackle the quarterback, and you can't lay on him. I mean, it's like you got to

[Joe Johnson]

fall to the side. You want me to hurt myself instead of hurting him?

[Uncle Ocho]

Yeah.

[Chad Ochocinco]

It's the same thing in basketball, though, Uncle Ocho, you know, you can't. You can't hand check. You really can't touch a guy for real. That's why. That's another reason why the scoring is up.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, we got.

[Chad Ochocinco]

It's more spacing because you don't have a four and fives just clogged up in the paint. Everybody always kind of spaced out. It's like a four hour one in. You got one guy who may be posting or picking, rolling and diving, but for the most part, it's the same thing, man. You can't be physical. It's hard to bust through screen. You know what I'm saying? You bust through a screen, that's gonna be a foul. Now you guard your man, you may give him a little body check. That's a foul. You can't hand check. Like, it's so many different rules to where now you have to. You see guys that guarding like this, he's like, man, I ain't touching. Hell, I'm gonna score it on you every time you go out like this with your hands up.

[Joe Johnson]

But also, Joe, back then in the 80s and 90s, it was all about physicality. See, they thought they were sliding their feet. They just wanted to beat hell out. You come down the lane, they file your ass hard. They like, oh, yeah, that was great defense. Now you can't do that. Now you got to be really skilled. You see, if you notice most guys that play, you just can't be a defense. You got to be able to knock down a three. You got to be able to do something other than five hell out of somebody. They used to be Joe, you know, these damn guys, all his sole purpose was to do was to file rebound. Yeah, yeah, boy, you better be able to do something offensively now to get your ass on the court.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Oh, yeah. Cause you. Hey, it's gonna be hard to play because if you a liability, I don't care what team you play against, they gonna expose you if you can't shoot. Okay, You. You roam and you guarding him. I'm guarding Ocho. Ocho can't shoot. I ain't guarding you, Ocho. I'm gonna roam around. I'm gonna help Unc. I'm.

[Uncle Ocho]

Yeah, right, right.

[Chad Ochocinco]

You know what I mean? So therefore, you. You turn into, I think, the player the most who has been rewarded the most behind it or who uses it the best is Draymond. Because if you don't Guard Draymond. And he got the ball. He going to a dribble handoff. And then now you got Steph coming out for a three, and ain't nobody nowhere to be found. You feel what I'm saying? And he subconsciously, he knows that when he get the ball, he wish you would be not guarding him. He going straight to Steph. He going to find him. You know what I mean? I think that plays great for them. Cause Steph, obviously being the best shooter that God has ever created, and Draymond, you know, being so smart and savvy and high iq, he's understood how to make himself valuable in that system. You know what I mean? So, yep, everybody, I think. I think we take that for granted. Well, a lot of people take for granted when they watch Draymond, but when I watch him, that's exactly what I see. Boy, I love to have somebody like that on my team. You hear me?

[Joe Johnson]

Hey, hey, hey.

[Uncle Ocho]

So, Joe, when you say something like that, talk about the system and the system that Draymond is in. Obviously there are certain players that play on certain teams and they work well in a certain system, but they go to another team and they don't play as well. They don't adapt as well to another system. So you're saying what Draymond does with the warriors, if he went to any other. Any of the other teams, he would still have the same type of success?

[Joe Johnson]

No.

[Uncle Ocho]

Based on what he's able to do

[Joe Johnson]

there, if they implement that system?

[Chad Ochocinco]

I think. I think it depends on what team we talking about. Now, if you throw them with the Chicago Bulls. Hell, no. You know what I'm saying?

[Joe Johnson]

He right. He ain't.

[Chad Ochocinco]

He probably ain't gonna look good in that system. But you put him with a guard that can shoot or actually play because he can play the point guard. And like I said, he knows that teams ain't gonna guard him offensively. They don't think he a threat. So what's the next best thing? I'm going into a pick and roll, a dribble handoff. I'm always be a playmaker out here. So I think out the hell. I think he been leading the warriors in assists over the past few years. Okay, Ocho, like, you know, but it

[Joe Johnson]

has to be a guy, Joe. But you said it right, though. It's gonna have to be a guy that you can hand the ball off to and he can shoot the ball. Now, if he played with Dame Lillard. Absolutely, because that's another guy that can catch that. Can you Take the ball out your hands. Yeah, Draymond does a great job. You think he about to hand it off? He'll keep his dribble alive and go to the basket over.

[Chad Ochocinco]

There you go. There you go.

[Joe Johnson]

So, yes, it better be somebody that can shoot a guard that can shoot the basketball. Cause he is extremely smart. He. And he knows. He's been in this system so long, Draymond will catch the ball and automatically know. So you know what? Steph in the far corner, and he'll just get the ball and turn.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah, yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

And here comes Steph letting it go.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah, yeah. Very intense.

[Joe Johnson]

But you. You have. But he. He's created a system, and it's okay. Had I not gone to a team that didn't have the H back position, I don't know if I'm the player that I became. I went to a team, one of the three teams in the NFL that had that. That had an H back position. What if I go to a team that they just want to run the football? What good are the 200, 225, a 220 pound tight end. What the hell are you doing?

[Chad Ochocinco]

Right?

[Joe Johnson]

Getting in the way. So Draymond was in a situation, and he made the most of the situation. Don't be mad at Draymond. Be mad at other guys that's not as talented, that teams are trying to make them shape, that are trying to make them Luca or James Harden. Yeah, be mad at them. Don't be mad at Draymond. Because Steve Kerr had a system that says, you know what? You gonna be our Scottie Pippen. We can run the offense through you.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Yeah, yeah, you're right. And he took their role and ran with it. I'm talking about starred in it, became an all star in it. Like he. He has, man, look, if I'm a dude who can't score, all I'm bringing is energy and effort and. And hopefully I get into a situation to where I'm playing with some good vets, you know what I mean? To where I can put my imprint stamp on the game. Like, it's. It's so many different basketball type players that you can become nowadays to be effective and make a lot of money, bro, you ain't just got to be a score, but whatever it is that you do, you got to be damn good.

[Uncle Ocho]

Yeah, you got to do it well.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Got to be damn good.

[Joe Johnson]

But everybody but, you know, hey, everybody like offense. When they said baseball, what the chicks dig Ocho. The long ball.

[Uncle Ocho]

The long ball.

[Joe Johnson]

Hey, you. Hey, you talk to some girl. You told her you play football. What you play? What you play? You quarterback. You running back. You wide receiver.

[Uncle Ocho]

Receiver.

[Joe Johnson]

Ah, you know, they got other positions on the damn field. Linebacker, but D. Tackle. Oh, you score touchdowns? Nah, I prevent them from scoring touchdowns, so. But no Draymond. You look at Draymond. Ain't a whole. I don't look. And plus, he don't get upset about no shots. I mean, there was sometimes Draymond have two points. Yeah, but he might have nine rebounds, eight assists.

[Chad Ochocinco]

There you go.

[Joe Johnson]

Two steals and two blocks.

[Chad Ochocinco]

There you go.

[Uncle Ocho]

He good on defense, too.

[Joe Johnson]

Now, you gotta have your role. What is your role? And look here. Everybody can't be. Everybody can't be the entree. Somebody got to be the appetizer.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Hello.

[Joe Johnson]

Somebody got to be the bread. Everybody can't be steak. Everybody can't be crab leg lobster. Well, damn. You don't want to be the dinner salad. You a part of the meal.

[Chad Ochocinco]

We gotta all play a role.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, we gotta play a role in this.

[Chad Ochocinco]

But everybody went back.

[Joe Johnson]

We gotta sell bags, man. If I can't be the meat and potatoes, I'll be like, oh. Oh, man. You know it. That gets so many guys caught up, man. They. Man, they need to give me the rock in front of Chase, in front of Boss Jerry, man. Man, I'm telling you, bro. Hey, if they give me that rock, bro. You do realize we see you in practice, right?

[Uncle Ocho]

Yeah. It ain't what you think it is.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, yeah. Trust me. They ever. They ever give you the ball, I promise you, if the top. If all 40 receivers get hurt, they bringing somebody in before they put you out there. I just. I'm just being honest with you, bro. I'm just being honest with you. So 36 years after Kristen Layton hit the butter buzzer beater at UConn in the Elite Eight to send Duke to the final four, the Huskies got their revenge. Yukon freshman Braylon Mullins stole the ball. Bird a three pointer from 35ft to cut cap a remarkable 19 point comeback to give the Huskies the 7372 victory. Duke has zero titles or title game appearances since 201516 despite having. Look at these names. Joe and Ocho.

[Uncle Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Brandon Ingram, Luke Kennard, Jason Tatum, Frank Jackson, Marvin Bagley III, Garrett Trent, Jr. Trayvon Duvall, Wendell Carter Jr. Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett, Cam Reddish, Trey Zone Jones, Vernon Carey Jr. Jalen Johnson, Paulo Bankero, Mark Williams, Kyle Filipowski, Derek Lively, Jared McLean, Cooper Flagg. Con Canople. Come on. Malachi Scion Jones and Cameron Boozer.

[Chad Ochocinco]

Damn, man.

[Uncle Ocho]

Hey, this was an unbelievable game, Uncle Joe. This was the unbelievable game. But I mean, for me, I'm sitting there on the edge of my seat, I'm thinking the game was over. Hell, if they had a 19 point lead. I'm sitting here playing the game. I'm sitting here playing the game. I ain't paying. I ain't paying no, man. Boy, I look up and they wait. They didn't close the gap by two.

[Joe Johnson]

Yep. When that dude got that and one, I said, duke, y' all in trouble. Hey, when they got that thing? When they got when dude got that and one. Joe yeah.

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[Joe Johnson]

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[Chad Ochocinco]

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[Joe Johnson]

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[Joe Johnson]

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[Joe Johnson]

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