Loading summary
Host
Today we're talking about how you don't have to earn more when you can save more. Okay, so you brought me this stat. T Mobile customers had the lowest wireless bills versus Verizon and AT&T over the past five years.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
That seems surprising.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
Surprising but true. Which honestly is what people need right now. Affordable wireless service isn't a perk, it's
Host
a difference savings based on Haris X billing snapshots from Q3.21 to Q4 25 compared to AT&T and Verizon excluding discounts, credits and optional charges. For more details, see harrisx.comT Mobile Savings Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public, you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors, llc. SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete Disclosures available at public.comDisclosures lost support
Sponsor/Ad Voice
through telehealth, but it feels overwhelming and rushed. Check out orderlymeds.com now. Orderlymeds.com was built to be different. Here you connect with real doctors who take the time to understand your goals, review your eligibility and guide you through a plan that's right for you. Orderly Meds provides access to proven GLP1 medications like semaglutide and Tirzepatide, including both name brand options and personalized compound versions when appropriate. So you have choices backed by clinical oversight, not guesswork. It's a simple, more supportive telehealth experience designed around people who want clarity, care and confidence in their weight loss journey. And your medication is delivered directly to your home in discreet packaging so your experience stays private from start to finish, do your research, ask the right questions, then visit orderlymeds.com podcast for an exclusive offer. Again, that's orderlymeds.com podcast. Individual results may vary. Not medical advice, eligibility required. See C site for details.
Joe Johnson
Alton, Texas.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
A legacy is a beautiful thing, but
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
only if it survives.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
There's a difference between liking a house and actually getting it. Redfin is built to make up that difference and close the gap between finding and owning the home for you. Redfin agents close twice as many deals as other agents, so when you find a home you love, you're not a step behind when it comes to making an offer. That means less watching great homes disappear and more focus on the one you'll call home. Redfin helps turn saved listings into real addresses. Get started@redfin.com own the dream the regular
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
season is a wrap. The NBA playoffs are finally here and there's no better way to cash in on the high fly hoops action than Prize Picks, a preferred partner of the NBA. Every bucket, every dime, every win means more when you're playing on Prize Picks. So don't pass up the next shot with Prize picks and get $50 instantly in lineups when you play your first $5. Do it live in the 2026 NBA Finals sweepstakes Alert. Pick live squares during the NBA playoffs and you could win a trip or two to the NB to enter, just make a $5 lineup with at least one live NBA player pick during any part of the 2026 NBA playoffs. Live player picks are picks made after the game is already in progress. Prize Picks is simple to play. You know the playoff season. I'm all in on LA as always. Okay, see baby, LeBron is going to light you up. More, more, more. Get on the action that Prize Picks is now available in all 50 states including California, Texas, Florida and Georgia. Download the Prize Pick app today. Use Code Shannon to get 50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. That's code SHANNON to get $50 in lineups after you play YOUR first $5 lineup. Prize picks A preferred partner of the N. For another episode of Nightcap. Y' all know who I am. I'm your favorite unc, my partner and co host Liberty City Zone, a former Pro Bowler and an All Pro from the Cincinnati Bengals. That is Chad Ochocinko Johnson and the third member of the Big Three, a seven time NBA All Star from the Atlanta Hawks. That is ISO Joe Johnson. Please make sure you 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. Thank you guys. Thank you for your eyes, ears and your word of mouth. Thank you for all the support you've given us over the almost three years and hopefully you'll continue to support Nightcap. We greatly appreciate that. Those looking to purchase a bottle of Shade by Laportier head over to laportierconjac.com if it's currently unavailable in a state or city near you. It is a premium VSOP Cognac that drinks like an xo. It is the best tasting, smoothest VSOP Cognac on the market. What you should do is purchase a bottle, try it, compare it against others and you'll see what we know to be true. We have the smoothest, best tasting cognac on the market. Please, please drink responsibly and stay safe. Well, the OKC Thunder did what we thought they would do the first game they opened up a can one 108 to 90. Chad Holmgren, 24 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks. Shea was relatively quiet, is one of the first times that he scored under 20 points. 18 points, six assists, two blocks. Austin Reeves was atrocious. Uh, he was three or 16,05 from the three point line. He had more, he had more turnovers than he had field goals made and I thought that was really. And you know what, it might not even made a difference. Joe. Um, I mean I don't think we could expect LeBron James to be this efficient. I thought Rui played unbelievable game da got in foul trouble so he really wasn't stay able to stay in for extended stretches. But he had a double double, 10 points, 11 rebounds. You like to see that total go a little high. I thought Marcus Smart played okay. He did a pretty good job on sga. But with Austin Reeves giving you these, these numbers and the bench basically non existent, you're not going to be able to be OKC because when their comes in they're going to be giving you max production. Joe, what is it about the Thunder? Because we talked about it, you might be close. 3, 4 point. They got a 3 or 4 point lead and the next thing you know you call a time match, you're down 14 and we saw that tonight on several.
Joe Johnson
It's the pressure, man. It's the pressure that those guys bring not only at you offensive un oo but defensively, bro. They, they, they fuel off them turnovers that they create. Look, we know OKC can score with the best of them, but man, listen, let me tell you something. They trying to lock you down defensively, bro. They trying to lock you down defensively. Hey, and I'm with you if. If AR can't give a better effort than that. Now, we know he, you know, basketball is a rhythm and time and game, fellas, and he has been out for an extended period of time, at least a month. So, you know, when he first came back, he may have been playing off adrenaline, but, you know, it takes a while, bro, for you to gain that rhythm back. But I think that was probably the biggest difference. Like you say, I don't know if it would have helped. And I do think Brian can play like this on the whole series. I think he can be efficient like this. I don't know. I don't know if it was just me, but it seemed, the game seemed real easy for him tonight.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Well, look, Lou Dort, I mean, Lou Dorse is a tremendous defender, but at 6:3, 6, 4, he's not going to cause LeBron any problems. LeBron is going to be able to get down on the block and be able to get whatever shot he wants. You know, he got off to that great start. I think he had 10 points in the first quarter. Excuse me, got another six in the second. Then he was relatively quiet in the third quarter and hit a couple of shots in the end, the fourth, but that's not enough. Like I said, I thought, I thought Da was playing really well, but he got in foul trouble, so. Because I think he's a better offensive player than Jackson Hayes. Jackson Hayes is a better defender.
Joe Johnson
Yeah, he is.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
You'd like to be able to combine those guys and have create one player, but unfortunately you can't do that. But yeah, I think you just. I think this Oklahoma City team, Jay Mitchell, he just comes in and just, I mean, right before the half, just think about it. He ain't made. He ain't made a three pointer all night. And then with four seconds left in the half, he gets three, you know, and that is, that's. This is who. This is who they are. And like you said, Joe, I don't know even if LeBron continues to play at this efficient level and really keeps shooting the ball like he's shooting the ball, I still don't know if that is enough to overcome them because their bench, you basically getting nothing. And with Austin Reeves coming back, what it's done is kick Luke Canard out of his rhythm.
Joe Johnson
Well, I think for the Lakers, bro, they gotta the turnovers. I mean, you get six turnovers between Smart and Reeves, and these are the guys who handling the Rock, I didn't think neither one of them played well offensively. Now Marcus Smart, you know, his game is really not predicated on what he's gonna give you offensively. I think what he gives you offensively is great, that's a bonus. But I mean hell, he done a hell of a job on Shay. Uncle Ocho now held him to 18 points.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Think about that. When was the last time he broke Will's record of 120 plus games over at least 20 points? Yeah, and now he held him under 18, so kudos to him for that. But, and you know they had 17 turnovers. Marcus Martin only had two, but, but Austin Reeves, you got three made field goals, you got four turnovers. He just looked. He just looked out of source. He just looked.
Joe Johnson
I agree, I agree.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
What you like, Ocho, what did you think about the game that you watched?
Liberty City Zone
I mean, obviously what I did think is being that OKC was off so long. Uncle Joe, I'm thinking before the game started, if the Lakers are going to get a game, this would be the one. Yeah, this would be the game that you get. Because I think maybe maybe the Thunder come out maybe a little rusty. Maybe, maybe they're not going to be in rhythm and the Lakers have a chance. LeBron playing very efficient. And the thing is, Joe, you said it. That pressure, that goddamn defense, not only are they having their way offensively, but hell, they getting points defensively too. You know, making you mess up, you know, getting, getting points in transition because of the defense that they are playing. And goddamn Austin Reeves, even, even, even if he did play well tonight, Unk, I don't think it would have been enough. I don't think it would have been enough. And not only that, when goddamn OKC go to their bench, they still getting production from the bench. Production no matter what the, no matter what the star and five do, man, the Laker, the Lakers, I hate saying they one dimensional, but they damn sure is one dimensional.
Joe Johnson
Well, I mean, you playing against the defending champs, fellas. Hey, look, I know, I know Marcus smart hell shaded 18 points, but he wasn't out there forcing that. Hell, he shot 53% from the field. It wasn't like. I ain't gonna say he just shut him down. Now I do think the Lakers are using that defensive strategy that they use against Kevin Durant. Yeah, yeah, trap him a lot, make him get a ball up. Yeah, we know Hardenstein can play make. We know Chick pretty good. We know Lou Dork can make shots, but hell, you gonna have to live with them guys beating you, man, versus, you know, versus Shay going for 35, you feel me? So I, I thought Shade, I thought Shay was actually great. He, he wasn't forcing anything. He just kind of took what the defense gave him.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
But if, if I would have told you Shay was going to have 18 points and only gonna get to the free throw line, shoot three free throws. You like? Man, I really like the Lakers because that's what they did. Think about what the, Think about what OKC normally shoots from the free throw line. They're normally in the 20s. They shot 12 free throws. Yeah.
Liberty City Zone
Hey, you see in that first half, hey, you see in that first half, you know, Shay, I'm not gonna call it foul baiting. We see Shay was, was fleeting a little bit on some of the shots
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
alone.
Liberty City Zone
They let him play.
Joe Johnson
Hey, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm happy with that too, because you can't call all that, man. You know, some of them, some of them ain't fouls. He, you know, he flailing, trying to. Right, you know, trying to get to the line. But that's, that's what the great scores in this game do, you know? Hey, but for me, man, you know, kind of like I've been stressing over last season all the way through this season. K hr if he plays at this level, Uncle Oo, this is why they'll be hard to beat, bro. I mean, he, he, he can do a little bit of everything. Shot, blocking, rebound and scoring, play making. And at his size, he may not block everything, but he'll, he, he'll alter some shots too. I just think from top to bottom, they're so complete as a team. And the Lakers got to play so damn perfect just to just, just to stay in the damn game. I'm like, man,
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
yep, you're absolutely right. And the thing is, is that when guys get broken down on defense, now all of a sudden the guy lays it up. Okay. Da comes to challenge the shot that goes unfettered, yeah. To the basket. So now you get an easy put back or you get checked dunking.
Joe Johnson
Yeah.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Hey, and so now, okay, you get broken down on defense, guys rotate. Now you're getting guys kicked for wide open. Okay. You come to trap Chet at the top. Well, he's in the middle of court. You see his eyes getting big like, guys, oh, y' all doing this. Y' all really gonna do this to me?
Liberty City Zone
Ah.
Joe Johnson
And he, he, a chick was the beneficiary of a lot of those passes from Shea, from him getting doubled too. You know, I don't know, man. OKC just got too much. It's just gonna. It's just gonna be way too hard for the Lakers, I honestly think, to win a game.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
I do. I agree. Yeah. I think. I think if they. If it ain't go. I don't. I don't think it goes past five. It might not go five. Because think about this. You held shade of 18, right? He only shot three free throws. He had seven turnovers. And you lose by 18.
Joe Johnson
Yeah.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
With no J Dub.
Joe Johnson
Yeah.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
See, LeBron James is 12 of 17, 3 of 6 from the free throw line. He only shot one free throw. He missed that because he had an A1. Four rebounds. I don't like the four rebounds because he got three of those in the quarter.
Joe Johnson
Yep.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
I was saying that because there was a long time. He went almost three. Almost three full quarters and didn't have a reason.
Joe Johnson
I agree. Right.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Which is very.
Joe Johnson
I agree. Hey, hey. But when you think about it, I know you like how he came out, how he started the game.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Oh, he was super aggressive. Super. I loved it.
Joe Johnson
I'm like, okay, yeah, he had team.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
I. I can. I can live with this. I can live with this. But if Austin Reed. You know what? This was the game for us to win. All Austin Reeves had to do is play like he been playing in the regular receiver. That 23 points that he gave us, that might have been enough to get us over the top with LeBron playing the way he played with ruin knocking down threes. Come on. I mean, you gotta be able to guard somebody. If Marcus Smart. I mean, Mitchell. So, I mean, what are you gonna do if you can't guard Mitchell? Mitchell. Mitchell.
Joe Johnson
Cooking. Hey, that, that, that. That rhythm and timing, you can't. We can't take that for granted, man. Cause that's all it is for ar. You know, if this was regular season here, he'll be split out out there. You know what I'm saying? He won't be. Hey, he be getting to it, but I just seen a lot of miscues, just little small indecisions that he was making that was kind of costing them, especially them turnovers. They was crucial. Some of them turn. Yeah, they were crucial.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
And he forcing up threes, Joe.
Joe Johnson
He tried.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
I mean, those three, not good.
Joe Johnson
I mean, you.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
I mean, you try. I mean, just because they hit a three on the other end, that don't mean you try to force up a 28 footer to get it back.
Joe Johnson
And that's, that's kind of how they've been playing on. He been, he been playing like that all season. It's just, you know, during the regular season, hell, he was making them. He was in rhythm. He wasn't dealing with nothing. You see he got banged up tonight when they hit him in that. Yeah, they hit him in that rib.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Yeah.
Joe Johnson
Hey.
Liberty City Zone
Hey. So I mean. Hey hey. Well yeah, most of this, this is not considered a fail season even though they made it this far with Luke and Austin Reeds being out, you know the, the back half of the season. Right?
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Well, no, I mean but it, no it's not. But you know, at the end of the day, whenever you got LeBron James on your team, the expectations are still through the roof.
Liberty City Zone
Yes.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
I mean the lakers were a 15 and a half point underdog in game one. It is the biggest underdog spread he's faced in any game in his 23 year career. Let this sink in even in 2018 when he was alone and he's facing Clay.
Host
Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year. You can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors llc. SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures available at public.com disclosures when
Sponsor/Ad Voice
people turn to healthcare for weight loss, they're looking for real support. That's why more people are choosing orderlymeds.com orderlymeds connects you with real doctors and access to proven GLP1 medications like semaglutide and Tirzepatide. No guessing, just a more supportive experience and all shipped directly to your door. In discreet packaging. Do your research, ask questions, then visit orderlymeds.com podcast for an exclusive offer. That's order earlymeds.com podcast. Individual results may vary. Not medical advice, eligibility required. See cite for details.
Host
You ever wonder how far an EV can take you on one charge? Well, most people drive about 40 miles a day, which means you can do all daily stuff no problem. Go to work, grab the kids at school, get the groceries and still have enough charge to visit your in laws in the next county. But they don't need to know that. And the best part? You won't have to buy gas at all. The way forward is electric. Explore EVs that fit your life at electricforall.org from sauce to dust to nuggets. Diablo Dusted Crispy Chicken Nuggets. No, they don't come in mild. That would make like zero sense with the name new Diablo Dusted Crispy Chicken Nuggets. Only a Taco bell at participating U.S. taco Bell locations for a limited time and while supplies last.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
We're lost and kickoff's coming up. I don't want to miss the lineup. I'm gonna ask that man for directions. Hi there. We're trying to get to the stadium.
Host
Well, you're gonna take a left at the old oak tree at this here road.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Nah, I'm just kidding.
Host
Let me get my phone out.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
How is their signal out here?
Host
T Mobile and US Cellular are coming together. So the network out here is huge. We get the same great signal as the city, saving a boatload with benefits. And there's a five year price guarantee too. Okay, here's the turn.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
Actually, can you pull up the way to a T Mobile store?
Host
America's best network just got bigger. Switch to T Mobile today and get built in benefits the other guys leave out. Plus our five year price guarantee. And now T Mobile is available at US Cellular stores in Hermiston. Best mobile network based on analysis by Oklo speed test intelligence data. Second half of 2025 bigger network. The combination of T Mobile's and US Cellular's network footprints will enhance the T Mobile network's coverage price guarantee on talk text and data exclusions like taxes and fees apply. CT mobile.com for details.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Stealth, Draymond and KD.
Liberty City Zone
Right.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
He was never this big of an underdog. That just lets you know what he's up for, what this team is up against.
Liberty City Zone
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, shoot.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
I mean, and, and, and I, I think you can. We. We could agree to. Joe, I think is that if they were to repeat I mean we gotta, now we gotta start looking at, okay, where are we putting this Thunder team
Liberty City Zone
against all off some of the, some
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
of the greatest teams because they won what, 64, 65 games last year they had another 62, 62 wins. 62, 63 win season. This year they're gonna have the back to back. They got the reigning. And they're about to have a back to back mvp regular season mvp. They win it, they're gonna have a finals MVP back to back.
Liberty City Zone
Right.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
At some point in time we're gonna have to start looking at, okay, we know the 80s Lakers, we know the 80s Celtics, the late 80s early 90s Pistons. We're gonna have to start looking at them in a historical term.
Joe Johnson
We, I think it's going to depend on how they finish. Meaning, like, are they gonna sweep through every round and get to the finals and sweep through the damn finals? If that, if that's the case, Uncle Ocho, now we really got, we really gotta have a real discussion, you know what I mean?
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Yeah.
Joe Johnson
Because yeah, they, they swept through the first round. Obviously. You know, this is one game, first game. But I think we all pretty think they gonna beat the Lakers. Unless Bron can go for one of them 50 point games.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
But one. Well, he, no, he, no, no, no, no, no, he, he gonna need about two or three of them. 150 point game is only gonna get you one victory. You still need three more. So he's gonna have to, he's gonna have to have a 2018 season, Joe, where he averaged 34. Eight, eight. And he had eight, 44 games. He's gonna have to have a series like he had against Toronto. A series like he had against the.
Joe Johnson
But he capable though. Like I, I thought tonight with him having 10 of the first 16 points, I said, oh bro, I'm probably gonna get at least 40 tonight. That, hey, with 40 points, you know that, that, that would have kept you in the game. Now I wouldn't anticipate Austin Reeves playing like this offensively, you know, him and Marcus smart not making shots for real, but man, that give you a chance, give you a fighting chance.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
The problem is though, Joe, as you get older, you just can't sustain it. You see man, after like a couple of trips and that pace picks up, you see how he walks up the court, you see how his chest be up and down.
Joe Johnson
You can't be checking him out.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
I mean the mind willing, but the body just.
Joe Johnson
I know, man, I know, I know it's tough. I, I just figure with them having a Few days of rest coming off that series, I thought this would have been a great game for him. Obviously he was super efficient, but probably go for one of them 40 point games, man, because, because if I'm him, I'm thinking, yeah, I want, I want to get some of these other guys involved and hopefully somebody can have a breakout game and I can match him on our squad. But the rate he was going to start the game, it just looks so easy to me. I'm like, hold on. Damn. I know OKC is a pretty damn good defensive team, arguing Ojo, but he was making, he made it look, man,
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
because Jay will J Dub is a little taller. Yeah. So he might box, but Lou Dort is not tall enough. Lou Dort and, and Houston wasn't tall enough. And he ain't grow since he got the okc. So he still ain't big enough.
Liberty City Zone
I mean, the way leron made it. Look at the beginning, Joe, you know, and I, I, I didn't have them to win the series. I said maybe they would get a game, maybe two, because this Oklahoma has too much to deal with offensively and defensively. I said, maybe it got to be, it got to be tonight's game because they had, because it's not. They had so many days off, it got to be tonight's game.
Joe Johnson
Yeah.
Liberty City Zone
And man, and boys ain't miss a beat.
Joe Johnson
They did, man.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
I mean, because think about, they led a large part of the fourth, the first quarter.
Joe Johnson
Yeah, they did.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Yeah. And then what you call them, and then what you call them, Hit him with a run. And now you go in, you down at the end of the first. And so this is what they do to you. The end of each quarter, they go on a little spurt. So now all of a sudden, a game that was close, that was tied to, you're down four, okay? You, you back and forth, you back and forth. They go on another spur to end the first, second quarter. Now you look up, you find yourself down like, damn, we down eight. You play good all the way through the third quarter. They go on another spurt. You look back up and start the fourth. We down 14 damn points and we playing pretty good.
Joe Johnson
That's the crazy part. And, and when you look at it, the Lakers are not built to come from behind, bro. They not. Once they get down, it's like, damn, they get down by 10 or 12 points, I'll be thinking the game over with. They just don't have enough firepower or. I, I wouldn't necessarily say firepower. They just can't get stops. They can't get multiple stops against this OKC team.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
That's the problem, Joe, is that they don't have the defenders that you can turn up the intensity and get. I mean, LeBron played the passing lane and got a steal, you know, Got a steal, but they didn't get a whole lot of runouts. And you got guys that can handle the ball. So it's not like a Houston where guys, you see when they was down game three and they got six points in the final 30 seconds because they don't have guys that can handle the ball, but in a situation, in a situation like what they were dealing with tonight, shake and handle the ball. They got ball handles in that situation. So it's just going to be tough. I mean, they got to. Basically, they got to go into the third, the fourth quarter, up a couple of points and then get it to clutch situation, last. The last two minutes. They need to. They still need to be up five
Joe Johnson
points in the last two minutes.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Yeah, hey, because, look, they just don't. They just don't have enough. Jared Vanderbilt suffered a full dislocation of his right pink finger. Persam's Lakers lose game one, but Vando tonight, no timetable is set for a possibility of his return. Man, the next game, huh?
Liberty City Zone
Man, if he don't wrap that thing up right here next to that finger, man, and go play some ball.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
And plus, it's his right hand, it's not his left hand, and maybe that would help. Yeah, he good his shooting, Joe.
Joe Johnson
Yeah, okay. Oh, Joe. Yeah. He played for six minutes. It was like he out there raising some hell now.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Exactly. So how about. How much are we going? How much are they gonna miss him? Right?
Joe Johnson
Right?
Liberty City Zone
Yeah, man. You know. Hey, tape. Hey, Joe, man, take them two together right there, man. You'll be. You're gonna be just fine.
Joe Johnson
See, the thing is, though, in basketball, when you. Even when you tape them, they gonna get hit. Cause that's just part of the game, you know, trying to rebound, grab the ball, using your hands for defense. It's just so much so I know it's gonna linger. But, hell, he ain't no offensive guy, man. He a body that they need. That energy and effort. He. That's what they need.
Liberty City Zone
Yeah.
Joe Johnson
Yes. So I'm sure he'll be playing next game. I. I can't see him sitting there.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Well, well, you know, that's what we do, Ocho. We take them fingers together and people don't realize how hard it is to catch a ball when you can't change your fingers. Yeah. Because you used to being able to do this and all of a sudden.
Joe Johnson
Yeah, with that.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Yeah. And just that little bit throws it off. But I played with thumb guard because I had, you know, I would dislocate or dislocated my thumb one time. So I played with a thumb guard.
Joe Johnson
Yeah.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
And you.
Joe Johnson
Hey, you never know how. How important that thumb is, boy, until you hurt that boy. Please.
Liberty City Zone
You can't use it.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Oh, you ain't gotta tell me nothing. Try brushing. You try doing anything without the thumb, your thumb. Hey, hey, you try to brush your teeth like this here. Hey, you tried to. You tried to shower with
Joe Johnson
that thumb in that damn big toe, boy. Hey.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Hell yeah. But the Lakers lose. Even though the OKC did not play their best game, they still find a way to win by 18 points. Lets you know just how talented, how good this team is. When you can play subs by your standard subpar basketball and still win by damn near 20.
Joe Johnson
You're damn good. Yeah, you legit. Yeah, I agree.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Them boys SGA had 18 points, which is the first time he scored under 20 this season. The last time SGA scored under 20 points was in game three against the Denver in the 2025 play. Hey, so damn near a whole year he.
Joe Johnson
He had seven damn turnovers too. That let. Hey, I'm telling you that, that defense that they play, bro, it confuses you, man. Yeah, hey, we.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
You.
Joe Johnson
You look at. Statistically, you look at Kevin Durant's turnovers. Hell, how many he had when he had eight, eight, nine. Damn, Turner.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Yeah, nine. I think eight.
Joe Johnson
Because it scores, bro. The last thing you really want to do is get up off that damn ball. You know, you got. Hey, guys who like to score the ball, bro, they gonna hold on to it as long as possible to see are you gonna continue to bring this trap. And I thought it confused Shay a few times, obviously because he has seven turnovers. I think the Lakers got a good strategy defensively. Uncle Ocho, they just gotta find a way, bro, to, to. To string some stops together so they can stay close. They can't. Once they get down by 10 or 14, it's a wrap. It's a wrap.
Liberty City Zone
And it ain't got the offense to be able to crawl back into the game.
Joe Johnson
You don't.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
And the pro. The. The problem that they have is that they turn the ball over Joe and they take some ill advised shots. At times I'm looking like, Austin, why would you take that shot? Yeah, I'm like. And then I'm looking at like, Rui. I'm like. And I thought Rui played okay.
Joe Johnson
Yeah, he did.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
I really did. I thought he made some big time plays, but I'm like, that's not the shot that we need right now.
Liberty City Zone
Yeah, you know what? You know what?
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Because all you're gonna do, you. They already got the momentum. And I guess, I guess sometimes Joe, you, you know, you want to quail some of that momentum, so you want to come right back at them.
Liberty City Zone
You hit him right away.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
If you miss now, they right back at you. And what was 10, 9, 12. And then this thing, you know, that, that crowd started going crazy and they never, never was really able to overcome that. Go ahead, Ocho. What do you want to say?
Liberty City Zone
I was going to say it all comes down to shot selection. You know, when you, when you're in, you're in situations like that, you know, being confident, being able to get to your spot instead of just taking elevated shot because they hit one, now you try to go down and get one. But if let's, let's not get it from three, man, put the ball on the floor, take somebody to the hole to try to get yourself back into the floor of the game or get yourself back in rhythm instead of just shooting them goddamn shots up like that.
Joe Johnson
Hey, shots come far. Few in between against this OKC team. So when guys see a crease or an opportunity, Uncle Ocho, hell, they trying to get one off. Hey, hey, them boys sitting down, man, they going. They got great, they got great guys who play individual defense, but they are great. Yeah, defensively, they're a great team defensively. So it's gonna be tough. It's. I think they gonna, they gonna always make it, make it tough on Reeves and Smart. They gotta find ways to continue to be effective. Obviously, we know Smart Will, but they gotta find a way to get Austin Reeves into a rhythm, bro, asap.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
And, and, and, and, and, and Da is gonna have to stay in the game. He's gonna have to just keep his hands up and not foul because it really hurt. Cause I thought he was playing really good. He was hitting the turnaround jumper. He's doing great on the glass. He was challenging shots, but when he goes out. Now you, now that's a big body that you don't have in the game. And at least you can give him the ball. He'll face up. He can put, you know, he can shoot the little six to eight footer. That's not, that's not Jackson Hayes game. Jackson Hayes is a lob Put energy, effort. And if he's not getting those. Had some turnover, some ill advised turnovers tonight. But look, it's one game. I don't, I'm not sure they could. I'm not so sure it's going to be. It might be much worse. What is that?
Joe Johnson
Yeah, Thursday.
Liberty City Zone
But we go, hey, which game you going to? You're not, you're not going, you're not going to submit yourself that type of
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
game four next Monday.
Liberty City Zone
Okay, so that's like the game they might get swept in.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
That might be.
Joe Johnson
Damn.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
And the thing is. Hey, Ocho man.
Liberty City Zone
Yes, sir?
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Every time I've seen the Lakers play okc. Yeah, they lost.
Liberty City Zone
Hey, how about you just don't go.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
I thought about it. Yeah.
Liberty City Zone
Just.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
He just went with LeBron. When, LeBron. When, LeBron. When LeBron broke the score record. Yeah, they played OKC. They lost.
Liberty City Zone
Damn.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
I was at that game. Oh. I mean, he had like 30. He. I think he had like 36, 38.
Joe Johnson
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Liberty City Zone
He sent me that ball.
Joe Johnson
Yeah. Hey, but you just went to a game and they won.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Yeah, but not when they play okc. Hey, it's two teams without watching. Hey, Memphis, they beat hell out Memphis. Be a playoffs be it regular season, right? Who else they beat? The Hawks. I saw him beat the brakes off the Hawks too.
Joe Johnson
Oh, okay. Lakers.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean I, I haven't seen him have one of those. Like I was, I was almost gonna go to the game they played. It was a Saturday game and they played the Warriors. That was the game. Joe, he dropped 56 on the Warriors. I was like, damn it, let's do it.
Joe Johnson
He going, hey, hey.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
I mean, he was having an unbelievable. Because he was having an unbelievable season that year. That's the year he averaged 30. And him and Joel Embiid was going down for the. Going back and forth for the scoring title. The Pistons beat the Cavs 111 to 101. K Cunningham had 23. Tobias Harris kept up his hot streak. I got it. He had 20. Duncan Robinson chipped in with 19.
Host
Support for the show comes from public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On public, you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index. With AI, it all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers, growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors, llc SEC Registered Advisors. Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete Disclosures available at public.comDisclosures Last support
Sponsor/Ad Voice
through Telehealth, but it feels overwhelming and rushed. Check out Orderlymeds.com now. Orderlymeds.com was built to be different. Here you connect with real doctors who take the time to understand your goals, review your eligibility and guide you through a plan that's right for you. Orderly Meds provides access to proven GLP1 medications like semaglutide and Tirzepatide, including both name brand options and personalized compound versions when appropriate. So you have choices backed by clinical oversight, not guesswork. It's a simpler, more supportive telehealth experience designed around people who want clarity, care and confidence in their weight loss journey. And your medication is delivered directly to your home in discreet packaging so your experience stays private from start to finish. Do your research, ask the right questions, then visit orderlymeds.com podcast for an exclusive offer. Again, that's orderlymeds.com podcast. Individual results may vary. Not medical advice, eligibility required. See Cite for details.
Host
You ever wonder how far an EV can take you on one charge? Well, most people drive about 40 miles a day, which means you can do all daily stuff no problem. Go to work, grab the kids at school, get the groceries and still have enough charge to visit your in laws in the next county. But they don't need to know that. And the best part? You won't have to buy gas at all. The way forward is electric. Explore EVs that fit your life at electricforall.org
Sponsor/Ad Voice
we're lost and kickoff's coming up. I don't want to miss the lineup. I'm going to ask that man for directions. Hi there. We're trying to get to the stadium.
Host
Well you're going to take a left at the old oak tree at this here road.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Nah, I'm just kidding.
Host
Let me get my phone out.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
How is there signal out here?
Host
T Mobile and US Cellular are coming together. So the network out here is huge. We get the same great signal as the city, saving a boatload with benefits. And there's a five year price guarantee too. Okay, here's the turn.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
Actually, can you pull up the way to a T Mobile store?
Host
America's best network just got bigger. Switch to T Mobile today and get built in benefits the other guys leave out plus our five year price guarantee. And now T Mobile is available at U S Cellular stores in Hermiston. Best mobile network Based on analysis by Ooklo Speed test intelligence data. Second half of 2025 bigger network. The combination of T Mobile's and US Cellular's network footprints will enhance the T Mobile network's coverage price guarantee on talk text and data exclusions like taxes and fees apply. See t mobile.com for details.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Folks knew the colonel approved of his new honey, chili crisp and jalapeno ranch sauces the moment he tasted them and said, that's right. No notes, just absolute silence. Turns out some flavors don't need explaining, they just need dipping. It's saucy season at KFC with new
Host
honey chili crisp and jalapeno ranch.
Joe Johnson
Get dipping with a boneless wine bucket today.
Host
Prices and participation vary.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Pistons in an NBA record tying 12 game postseason losing streak against a single opponent. A drought that dated back to the 2007 Eastern Conference finals. Well, we know LeBron was a part of that. Game two is Thursday night in Detroit. Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points ending his NBA record streak of scoring 30 plus points and nine straight season openers. Jared Allen was limited to two points and three rebounds coming off a 2219 performance in an elimination game against Toronto. I thought that was really the difference of the. In the ball game.
Joe Johnson
Yeah.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Is that he really didn't give him anything. I don't. Joe, I need you to help me out. What is it with Harden in these turnovers, man?
Joe Johnson
Oh, you, you What?
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
He got 43 in eight games. He got 43 turnovers in eight games, Joe.
Liberty City Zone
What, he had seven a night, huh?
Joe Johnson
Hey, listen, do y' all see the pressure that them boys putting on him? Everybody know now. You know what it is, uncle. Oo, they pick his ass up full court. They wear him down, bro. That's what they do. And you know, Detroit look as great as K is offensively. He's one of them guys who pick up full court. You look at Amman Thompson, he au Thompson, he's he. He's a guy who pick up full court. That youth, that youth comes into play Hell, how old is James?
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
30? Gotta be like 34. 35.
Joe Johnson
34, 35, 35, 36. But yeah, them young. Hey, man, them young boys picking up full court, making them work. Yeah, they're making it work. They making them work. So, you know, hey, hey, hey, they
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
got making Donald Mitchell work too.
Joe Johnson
Yeah, yeah. Because, hey, look, at one point, neither one of them was really playing well. I. I think they was able to get back in the game here. They tied the game in the fourth quarter, and then Detroit took off on another run. But I just. I don't know what it is about Cleveland, man. I mean, Jared, I mean, Allen coming off that huge game and then how he come out here and give you
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
this two and three.
Joe Johnson
Come on, bro.
Liberty City Zone
That's it.
Joe Johnson
Did he get hurt? Because he only played 18 minutes, but damn.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
And looking at his numbers, that was 18 more than he should have played.
Joe Johnson
Right? I think what happened, Strews came off the bench and he caught on. He called hot. He called. Maybe they were playing Mobley at the 5 a lot, but I think, you know, Struth came in, gave him great energy. Schroeder did, too. Cleveland, they. They got enough to win. They just can't get consistency from. From certain guys.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
The big.
Joe Johnson
Yeah, they can't get. Do you need your bigs?
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Well, if you really think about it, you need your bigs. Them.
Joe Johnson
Them bigs, Mobley and Allen, you need them consistently be dominant, Uncle Ojo. You need them to.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Bro, they should be with those two guys together. Should give you somewhere. Somewhere between 30 points and 20 to 28 rebounds a game between the two of them. Yeah, you got two seven footers. Yeah, they should own the glass. They got 12 rebounds between the two of them.
Joe Johnson
I agree.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
They got 16 points between the two of them. That's not enough. And considering they only playing with one big. They played him with Duran. So that means Tobias or somebody else got to take Mobley. Yeah, Mobley with Tobias Harris on you, you simp.
Joe Johnson
Hey, it's looking.
Liberty City Zone
But hold on.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Only.
Liberty City Zone
Only one of them is an offensive presence, though. Jared Allen, more of a defensive presence. So having. Having. I mean, between the two of them, having them 30. I mean, Allen might give you a game like that. What, every so often.
Joe Johnson
Yeah, he.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
He should be Joe, even. I'm not counting on him because I'm not running play for him.
Joe Johnson
Right.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
But I don't think it's asking an awful lot for him to give us 12 points a night off the glass to give us 18.
Joe Johnson
I don't think it's not. And when you look at it right, Detroit didn't even really play great, you know, and for them to win like this, like I said, I think with like four or five minutes left, Uncle Ocho, it was a tight game. I seen Harden at the line shooting two free throws, but I don't know, man. I, I, you know, Cleveland got to find some consistency somewhere just to get a game. It's going to be tough to beat these boys because they've been tried and tested in that first round. You know, sometimes they wake you up
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
tonight with James. James Harden's 181st playoff game of his career. It was the 45th playoff game that he's had as many or more turnovers than field goals, which is exactly 25 of his career postseason games. He's turned the ball over as many or more times than he's had. Maybe.
Liberty City Zone
Yeah, man. They keep track of all that, huh?
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Absolutely.
Joe Johnson
Hey, hey, hey.
Liberty City Zone
Damn.
Joe Johnson
And he got a tone that. I'm saying he has to tone that down because the turnovers that I seen that he had, bro, they, they need
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
to eat the buckets.
Joe Johnson
They led to points. And you're right. He has to find a way to, to cut that down to about two, two, maybe three, you know, in order for them to, to even stay in the game in this series. Bro, them turnovers, man, these young teams gonna fuel off that.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Yeah, yeah. But you know what? I know, but here, the, the thing that he's running into, Joe, and correct me if I'm wrong, see, when he's in Houston, he had to do a lot more. Bro, you were the better team. Now, even when you with the Clippers, you were the better team. You don't. You shouldn't have to think that I have to do more because you have more help. He's still thinking he's in Houston, where he doesn't have the help that he has now on Cleveland that he has with the Clippers that he had with Sixers or he had with. Let that sink. Yeah. 45 of his 181 games in the postseason, he's had as many turnovers or more than made buckets.
Joe Johnson
Yeah.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
That is James Harden. One of the greatest scores this game has ever seen. Joe, we were having conversations just five to six years ago. Who's a better one on one score, James Harden, Michael Jordan, or Kobe Bryant? We were having serious discussions. Not just us. Everybody was.
Joe Johnson
Yeah.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Because we watched James Harden go 25, 30 straight games or giving you 30. He was the first guy with a 60 point triple double. We watched him just, just go crazy. And we like, have we ever seen. I'm talking about ISO. Have we ever seen anybody that's a better ISO score than James Harden?
Joe Johnson
Maybe not, bro, not.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
But, but we get him in the playoffs. We saw him against the, the Warriors. I think he got the record. I think he got 14 turnovers in a game, Joe. How many double. How many playoff games did he have? Double digit turnovers? I think he got like five or six, which is crazy. Hey, and I understand he's going to have a high usage rate. He's led the league in usage. He has the ball in his hands. But when you turn the ball over that much.
Joe Johnson
Yeah, it's gonna be hard to win. And you know what's crazy is James is a great off ball. He can play off. Donovan Mitchell, he can play off the ball. It ain't like he can't catch and shoot, Uncle Ocho. He can catch and shoot with some of the best of them. But the problem is that what you have is once a guy like that gives the ball up, I'm face guarding him, bro. Y' all playing four on four. So he understands that that's gonna keep him. He ain't gonna be engaged in the game if he just continue to play off of Donovan and Mobley and Allen. So he, you know, some certain situations, certain situations he kind of force it, you know what I mean? So I think he has to find a happy medium in that. And they got to find ways, man, take some of that pressure off of him, getting some easy baskets because twice he'd be, he'd be forcing, he'd be forcing some stuff out there time, from time to time.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
But here's the thing though, Joe, and it's really hard and I think you got to give LeBron some credit. It. When you used to having the ball. James Harden has had the ball in his hands for a decade and now you ask him to give it up and play off of it. It's harder than you think. It's like being a number one receiver and all of a sudden, don't you. They say, we'll go to number two, right, or go to number three.
Joe Johnson
Yeah.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
What you mean, hold on. What you mean? I ain't the first read. Whoa, whoa, whoa. I'm used to hearing hold up. I used to hear xd. I'm used to hear you tag something. Yeah, I'm here to use. I'm here to hear you say Z out. Whoa, whoa, hold up now. You said X dig. Why shallow Z out. That Means I'm laughing. I'm third, right? So that means if. If Ocho is available. So that means if he's available, I ain't gonna get. I ain't getting the ball. But if he's not available, and here come the Y. I still ain't getting the. Whoa, whoa, hold on. Time out, man. It gets. People don't understand. And people are like, oh, it'll be eat. No, it's not right. When you've been the man and all of a sudden you not the man. Hey, because guess what, Ocho, all they still see is harden on the back of that Jersey. They see 13 or whatever number he is, and they expect you to do exactly what you're doing, even though you don't have this ball in your hand to be able to do it right. How you expect me to get you 1500 yards and I'm catching 50 passes down for my night? The hell.
Joe Johnson
Hey, hey. They gotta take. They. They see, taking the ball out of his hand is gonna take his usage rate down, which, yes, it's gonna take his scoring down. And now and then everybody gonna be like, oh, damn. Well, this ain't the same James he used to be. Well, of course he's not. He's playing on a much better team now. He's probably just giving you 19, 20 points a game versus giving you 27, 28. Well, damn, your usage rate change the same, bro. We don't need that.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
But guess what, Joe, you give me 45.50 with seven turnovers. I'm overlooking that. What turnovers? I ain't see no turnovers now, Joe, you give me 19 points and you got seven turnovers. I'm looking at your stuff with a microscope.
Joe Johnson
Yeah.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
So for so long, he put up those gaudy numbers, man, you ain't thinking about no turnovers. It's kind of like Luca Luka has a high turnover ratio, but he's so proficient at scoring the basketball, man, damn. I don't damn them turnovers.
Joe Johnson
Right.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
And you don't really think about them until they late in the ball game or they cost you a game, and then you like, well, damn, Luca had this many turnovers, but you wouldn't say anything when he had dropped 45 at that point. And so I think that it's hard for Jay. It's hard to reinvent yourself when you. When you've been this way one time. What? Basically, since he left okc, he's been the guy.
Joe Johnson
Yeah.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
And he's been the guy.
Joe Johnson
He's used his. All his Offense has been his defense, Uncle Ocho, because he could outscore anybody he's played against. But. But now, you know, with that toning down a little bit, hell, man, hey, you gotta sacrifice a little bit. You know, you. You say you want to win, your numbers may not look as gaudy as you would want them to. You know what I'm saying? So.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
No, but that's. That's the sacrifice that comes along with it. You got to be willing to. You have to be willing to give up something.
Liberty City Zone
Yeah.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
And you know, KD going to okc. Excuse me. Going to Warriors. Even Steph. Steph sacrificed his game. KD sacrificed some of his game. Clayton, all of a sudden, he went from the second option to the third option. Yeah, but in order to win, if I'm trying to win a championship, if my goal. Because everybody says they want to win a championship, right? But a lot of times, Joe, they want to win a championship their way. I want to win this championship, but I still need to get my 32. I ain't trying to get 24 in this. Cause y' all ain't gonna be the same.
Liberty City Zone
And you know what? And you know what, Uncle Joe, that add even more pressure. Not only is it the playoffs, right?
Joe Johnson
Yeah.
Liberty City Zone
Then we taking the ball out your hand, then you got the. Now you worried about turning the ball over. And then on top of that, you got to be efficient because you ain't got the ball. Being able to shoot like you want to. Like you. Like you did before.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
That's correct.
Joe Johnson
Yeah.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Hey, look, but he's aggressive. I mean, think about it. He went to the free. He went to the free throw line nine times. Donovan Mitchell only went to the free throw line twice. Shot two free throws. Oh.
Joe Johnson
Oh. You know, can't nobody seek out contact better than James Harden.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
You know, you.
Joe Johnson
You watch the game. I'm talking about. He uses your aggression to his advantage every time. I'm talking about every time you make a mistake on defense, Uncle Ocho, he gonna make your ass to the line.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
You.
Joe Johnson
You come out there with one of them wild ass closeouts trying to stop me. Yeah. I'm going right by you. We touch shoulder to shoulder.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
I'm coming.
Joe Johnson
I'm coming up through like this.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Yes.
Joe Johnson
So.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
And don't. And don't. Hey, don't be reaching out when he out there like this here. Cause all he gonna do is he.
Liberty City Zone
He.
Joe Johnson
He has mastered craftiness. He's super crafty. Hell, he a lefty. He already got an advantage. We know how lefties are. Any damn Way we feel like they got the advantage, all of them.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
I ain't never seen one that wasn't crafty scored in the basketball.
Joe Johnson
So. Hey, so I think James got to figure it out. Hey, I got a question. Do you think he can. Do you, do you think he still got it in the Monk to give you a game where he go for 40?
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Yeah, he can. Yeah, he could. I still believe he have it in. Yeah, I think he can give you a game like that. He could, he could, he could. He could rewind the hands of time. We saw it in Philly when he was there in Philly, gave you that 50 point game. I think it was game six, game five, game six. We've seen him have a monster, have monster games. What's his highest output game in with the Clippers,
Joe Johnson
I wonder. It's gonna be hard to do that against this Detroit team, though.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Yeah. Yeah. Because they got, I mean, because you got Cade or you got Thompson on him. Yeah. And both of those guys are elite defenders.
Joe Johnson
Yeah, man. And they ain't giving up nothing easy neither.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
And nope.
Joe Johnson
I'm talking about it's so physical out there just to run a pick and roll, so. Let alone trying to score 20 points. I have, I don't know if he can give you 40 in this series. It'll be tough. He gonna have to be hot as fish grease, boy. I'm talking about
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
you say give you 40. I thought you said could he give you 40. I thought you talking about like at any point in time. But you talk about this.
Joe Johnson
Yeah, he gonna believe that. That's what I'm talking about. He gonna need one in this area.
Liberty City Zone
Oh, hey, look, he can see, can sum it up. He can summons it up once. Especially if them shots start falling early. He definitely could somebody summons it up once.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
But the thing is, it's the, you know, I look at Paulo and how Paulo gave you 45, but Paulo was doing it in a, he was getting to the midi, was going. His A three ball was going. I mean he got like three and ones back to back to back. And then they play up off him and now they drop off him and now he pull up with the three. He just had one of those. He's just having one of those out of bodies.
Joe Johnson
I don't, hey.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
And I think he can give you 30. I think he can give you a game where you get 30 and 10.
Joe Johnson
Yeah, I, I, I think that's possible. But you know what I see is James Harden foot speed. It ain't fast as these guys For. For the Pistons, man, You know, like he crafty enough to get by you and get a foul, but if you telling me he can go 12 for 16 or something like that, that's gonna be tough, man. That's gonna be tough.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
I don't know.
Joe Johnson
It's gonna be tough.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
His most. His highest scoring game at The Clippers is 32. 30. He got 33 and a 32. And one of those was with the Clippers.
Joe Johnson
That was it. That's the highest he ever scored with the Clippers.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Oh, yeah, but he did have a 50 point playoff game against in Philly, right?
Joe Johnson
Yeah, he did. Okay.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Yeah, he had fort like 245, 244. And what that was against Boston. Remember? He rewind the hands of time back against Boston, had everybody. Oh, James, James, James. And then he came out there that game seven and gave you like eight points.
Joe Johnson
Hey, hey, you talking about br. Do a lot of walking. I'll be checking James out too now.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Oh, yeah, yeah.
Liberty City Zone
He be out there chilling, you know.
Joe Johnson
See, here's the thing. When you know the play ain't for you, you just kind of just, you know, you just walking around. You just out there here. I noticed that a lot. I noticed that a lot. Cause when to play for you. Hell, you in another gear when it ain't for you. Uncle Ocho, you out there.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
You.
Joe Johnson
You give me that false ass.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Ocho, how we do when the rock? When the rock they call our number. We spread out the whole lady. Hey, hey, man, I definitely get the delay. A game to play ain't for me. I'm like third of the progression. I'm damn. They're getting the delay a game. Get to the line. Hey, come on.
Liberty City Zone
Hey, you, you getting the ball. You give everything away, but you owe you all hype and happy. Hey, uncle, you getting to the line, you know. Re strapping your gloves.
Joe Johnson
Hey, the hell the man guard you. He know the damn play for you. Damn sharpie, he knows, he know it's coming.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
I think the thing plus Joe. Oh no, Joe. I think the thing with Braun. Braun be so hyped early, especially if he get a basket and the next thing you know he get a steal or they in transition, he laid up. But you expect. I give you pr. Look at game three, you see how he started out. Up and down, up and down. Then all of a sudden. You gotta. Hey, you gotta pay.
Joe Johnson
Hey.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
But you. It's hard. It's hard because people don't realize like when you run it, when you run it around you don't breathe. Yeah, you like. People like. Thank you.
Joe Johnson
Yeah.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Nah.
Joe Johnson
Yeah. Nah,
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
don't breathe.
Joe Johnson
The going on.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
But he's got to do a better job though, Joe. He's just got to do a better job taking care of the basketball and their bigs. Got to do a better job than what they get. Hey, you, come on, man. I can't get no damn 16 points and 12 rebounds from my two bigs. I got two seven footers. They got one.
Joe Johnson
I know, man. They. Hey, Cleveland got to do better. I mean, this is. I mean, this carbon copy what we've been talking about them, you know, being consistent, being them big. I mean, I think Mobley got the talent, Uncle Ocho to where hell, he could get you 22 to 25 a night. I think that should be a given, bro, considering the talent that this kid got. He's just not aggressive a lot of the times, you know what I mean? It's kind of like he defers a lot to Donovan and James Harden and you don't need to, bro. He got to be aggressive. He has to be one of the guys. He got to feel like he is the guy.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Yes. And it's just hard, Joe, when you're a young player and you got veteran players. James has been an all star. He's an all NBA, he's an mvp. Donovan been an all star and all an all NBA selection. It's just hard for a young player to say, you know what? Hey, it's my time now. Hey,
Liberty City Zone
they got to insert theyself. Especially when the two veteran players not shooting well. They not efficient shoot.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
You take. You take the lead.
Liberty City Zone
Well, maybe you're not allowed to do that.
Joe Johnson
No, you can. It just depends on your demeanor. He just doesn't. He just doesn't have that type of game and it's just not his mindset, you know, it's like he'll he a great piece to a team and he occasionally, you know, had these monster games. But when you look at him and you watch him play, you like. I mean, hell, look at tonight, bro. He was the highest plus, minus. He was a minus. Damn. 18 tonight. Dang. You can't have that from your beat, you know, Not. Not one of the guys who you relying on not, you know, for scoring and. And defense. Like he's a guy who you can go to. Yeah. Oh, he scored the he in the last series. They went to him at the end of the game. You know what I mean? It ain't like.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Yes, in game six, the overtime together.
Joe Johnson
Yeah, they Went to him and you know, he made a strong move score with the left hand. I just feel like he has to assert himself a little more.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
I agree, I agree, Joe. But I think the thing is, is that this joker here, man, I'm like, Bro, YouTube. I, I don't know, I don't, I don't know what it is about Donovan Mitchell's game is that. And like I said, it's one game. Let's see how it plays out. But yeah, we've kind of seen this movie, man. I don't know what it is about. I don't know what it is about him, but it's. Look, Joe, when you really think about. Ain't been a whole lot of small. I don't know how tall is Donovan?
Joe Johnson
Yeah. 563.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Yeah, they, they've only been, They've only. If you really look at it, they've been really two guys that have been six, four under that lead their team to championships. That's D. Wade, that's Steph Curry. Yeah. All the other been big ass guards. Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan.
Joe Johnson
Yeah.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Guard.
Joe Johnson
Let.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
And Isaiah Thomas. I take that back. Three, Isaiah. So think about that. In the history of the game, where you getting a guard that's leading your team to a championship? Hey, it's only been done by three in the 80 year history.
Joe Johnson
Well, Donovan's comparison.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Donovan, Donovan. Six two. Yeah, six two. That's it.
Joe Johnson
He played big though, bro.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Yeah. Oh, he got, he got, he got,
Joe Johnson
he got bunnies and he got long ass arms. Yeah. I don't know if y' all really pay attention, but to basketball players, when you short like that and like Donovan, okay, if he's 6 2, 6 3, got about a 68 wingspan. You feel what I'm saying?
Liberty City Zone
Yeah.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Yes. So cuz Joe, you watch him. Hey, I watch this. I'm like, bro, I don't know when you started doing this, but he'll get the ball.
Joe Johnson
Yeah.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
And come over the top and you
Joe Johnson
know, you know who they compared? They compared him to D. Wade. That was D wad move he stole, man. They, that was his. That's his comparison coming into the NBA, Dwayne way he stole.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Right about that. I forgot about that. It sure is. He said a friend of mine got fine for talking about flop. I feel like that's what I got to do at this point. I'm just not getting the calls. I don't know why I don't. And I don't flop.
Joe Johnson
Maybe that's why Donovan said that they
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
found they remember jb. Jalen Brown complained about Joel Embiid flopping. They find it $50,000. So he. I guess he's talking. He's making reference to JB talking about flopping and got fired. But he says, hey, maybe that's what I need to do. Excuse me. To get some of these calls is flop a little bit.
Liberty City Zone
They find him for that.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Oh, you can't criticize the officiating. They're fine.
Joe Johnson
Yeah, I don't necessarily think he. It's not really flopping. It's more of like a little subtle flail, you know? I want, like, flopping is just that. That out of control. Like, just acting like somebody then punched you in your. In the back of your head, right? That's flopping like. Like, you know what I mean?
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
But.
Joe Johnson
But the great scores, bro, they do. They got a little flailing in their game now. I mean, hell, he better take a page out of James Harden book. Cause he do it with the best of them.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
But you. But as you get older, though, Joe, they don't give you them cards.
Joe Johnson
But you know what? And if that ain't your game, bro, it's hard to play like that, Uncle Ocho. You know, I was a guy who. Who loves going to basketball, but I ain't. Hell, I probably averaged about three to four, maybe five free throws. You know, these guys not averaging shell 12 free throws a night, man.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Shay's like, one time shot 24, 25 free throws. Hell, bam.
Joe Johnson
It's like they contact seekers, bro. Like, it. I wasn't. I wasn't one of them guys. I wasn't one of them guys who used to seek contact like that. I mean, yeah, I made contact, but I'm trying to initiate it. I ain't necessarily trying to, you know, receive it and then flail. I'm, you know, I'm using it for momentum. So it just depends on, you know, some guys understand it, and some, you know, are just natural born scores.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
No, not me. Ocho and I were a lot of, like. I wasn't seeking no contact because I ain't want to get close to you. So you grab me because I already know what you're gonna do. You're gonna grab the holy. You're holding beat.
Joe Johnson
Don't.
Liberty City Zone
Don't.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
So I already know what you're gonna do. I ain't playing bumper. That's a. If you look at, like, big guys like Gronk. Yeah, I call bumper car.
Liberty City Zone
Yeah.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
He bump into you and Buck good off you. Jason will play like that. Godzales play like that? Nah, bro, I'm 225, bro. I can't let you get your hands on me. You the whole hell out of me. And then what I'm gonna do, I'm gonna be looking at coach like, hey, he holding. Yeah, you. You using your speed. I'm using speed. I'm getting skinny. I'm half a man. Hey, you see this, right? Hey, you never gonna get this right here, you get this. You gonna get this or you getting that? That's what you get.
Liberty City Zone
That's it.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Hey, Joe, I wax on, wax off. Wow.
Joe Johnson
Nah, hell no.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
They hold too much. But like you said, see, and that would. That would throw me off because the first thing they do. Cuz now I did what I would do, especially a defensive lineman. Like if I'm trying to cut a defensive lineman off, I would grab him and slingshot. So I would. You. I would take. I would grab the waist, try to cut him off and pull myself forward. Yeah, right here. Rev. You suck the brother. Stop complaining, man. No big 300 pound ass calling real time. I held you. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Oh, hey, but yeah, man, hey, all that. You gotta learn the tricks of the trade, bro.
Joe Johnson
When you first come into the league, you don't really know them, but I. I think like for me, playing with veteran guys, Antoine Walker, Paul Pierce, guys who love to score, you start to find little nuances of the game. Like, damn, you know, you start to pick up on it because, you know, they use it against you in practice and all that. So once you pick up on it and you get it, you right, you gotta find them little ways that you can score and get easy buckets. I was one of them. I was one of them guys, right? Hey, look, I'm trying to learn every day I'm a sponge. I'm out here. Anything I can pick up or I can steal from your game and add to mine.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Yeah.
Joe Johnson
Yep, I'm doing it.
Liberty City Zone
Yeah. No, I got some tools in the toolbox, Joe. You could use it in the big three.
Joe Johnson
Yeah, what you got, you gonna see
Liberty City Zone
when I use it on your ass.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Hey, it's the subtle stuff. It's amazing how many times guys are by. Yeah, bro. Anytime a man watch his weight, bro, ain't nobody. Look, you a special db. And you a special db if you looking at that guy's waist, that ain't nobody. I mean, that's what Re I and Reavis had to be watching that because that joke was so patient. Reus ain't going nowhere. He Ain't biting the first move. Hey, all he gonna do is get log ass off. That's another one. He walking the arm knuckle, scrubbing the ground, Joe. I mean, you look at that joker like, ain't no way that man arms that long.
Joe Johnson
Yeah, little. Yeah, that's a huge advantage, bro, when you got them long arms for a db.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Yeah, man, and he's strong. He's strong. His hands, his hands are really, really strong. So now he can control you. He can do this.
Joe Johnson
Yeah, yeah.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Because all he's gonna do, hey, he gonna get on top of you. He go, hey, he gonna ride you and you're gonna look back. And as he's looking back, he's riding your ass right out of bounds.
Joe Johnson
Hey, you know, in basketball, they. It's taught the same way, you know, Watch his waist, you know what I'm saying? Hell, he can't go nowhere without that waist. Don't watch that ball. That ball gonna have you on the damn float. You need to watch his ways here. He can't get. He can't go nowhere without that waist.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Hey, I had a coach tell me, say, son, give him that little head. What man can resist head?
Liberty City Zone
Ah, that little indicator.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
They bite it every time. No, you don't, bro. I was gonna go there. I was thinking about going inside. But you know what? You beat me to that point.
Joe Johnson
You gotta bet him.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
But yeah, you gotta learn those trades this trial. Especially if you don't have a veteran play a veteran player. That teach you? I. I mean, I. I mean, I. The guys, they wasn't receiving. Tight Ends that I played with, they were blockers. So I gotta learn everything. I gotta. I'm trying stuff in practice. Hell, if it worked, I'll try it again. If it didn't work, gotta stop that dude. Cover the hell out of me on that plate. Yeah, you gotta. Trial and error. The NB. The 2026 NBA playoffs delivered the most watched first round in 33 years. Game 7 of the 76ers Celtics on May 2nd is the most watched first round game 7, averaging 11 million viewers on NBC and Peacock. The first round average 4 million viewers per game across ABC, ESPN, Amazon Prime Video and NBC. Peacock. Joe, what is it about this year's playoffs that got people and everybody, man, they got these games all spread out, man, I ain't paying all that money. Get somebody paying something because they watch. Is the most watched in 33 years.
Joe Johnson
Hey, it's. It's exciting. You don't. I think it's the unknown for real. I Mean, as much as, you know, everybody got OKC winning it. Hell, you really don't know, because San Antonio's scary. You know what I mean? I think with Jason Tatum coming back and giving Boston that edge kind of catapulted them into, you know, making it to the NBA Finals at the East. And now I think everybody is. Is. Is intrigued to, you know, what may happen. So I. I'm glad the ratings is up, but I don't know how the hell they up due to the games on all these different damn apps. Like, okay, if the ratings up, then Peacock and Amazon, they making a damn killing, ain't they?
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Oh, yeah, yeah. Damn, they'd be getting on us talking about, man, uncle, you got too many ads. Hell, y' all gonna tell them that worth that? How many ads you see in the super bowl? They run 200 ads in the Super Bowl.
Liberty City Zone
Oh, yeah.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
$8 million of ass and y' all sit right there and watch them. I got a little. I got like four or five ads in there. You talking about. Oh, man. And hey, that's cold shadow. Yeah, that's cold. Shattered. Download the app today. Yeah, hey, but. But I. I agree. I think you look at it, and Detroit, I think Detroit being. And. And look, they love Detroit. Basketball in the back. Yeah, the spurs, they're back. Look, the Lakers are the Lakers. The Knicks are the Knicks.
Liberty City Zone
Right?
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
You got these fan bases that no matter what, Knicks, Lakers, Celtics.
Liberty City Zone
Philly.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Philly. Yeah, Philly. But when you get these young teams like, oh, my team finally in the playoffs after a long time, think about San Antonio hadn't been in the playoffs in a long, long time. Yes, they're back. You got Detroit. They've been in the playoffs a couple. But people, their fan base believe, man, we got a realistic chance to get to the NBA Finals, right?
Joe Johnson
Yeah.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Orlando, I'm. I'm glad. I'm glad. I'm glad.
Joe Johnson
These. It's.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
It's looking like this. It's. I'm glad. The NBA, because, look, they. They. These Amazon and, And. And.
Host
And.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
And NBC and Peacock, they spent a lot of money. Espn, they spent a lot of money. What? Seven billion. Seven billion dollars.
Joe Johnson
Damn.
Liberty City Zone
That's why you want your superstars playing on.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
That's why.
Liberty City Zone
That's why you want your superstars playing. Joe, the product is the product that's on the court. You know, the player. They have the playoffs every single year, but the product that's on the court this year, it has people wondering.
Joe Johnson
I agree.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
I agree.
Liberty City Zone
We want to see this game. We want to See Ant, man, we want to see Brunson, we want to see Embiid and Maxi.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Yeah, you want. That's why the numbers going up.
Liberty City Zone
Hey, but hell, if they.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
If they.
Liberty City Zone
If they not playing or the product that's on the court is not good or who the hell tuning in.
Joe Johnson
I agree, man.
Liberty City Zone
Outside of like avid.
Joe Johnson
Avid?
Liberty City Zone
Yeah, basketball scene. Basketball.
Joe Johnson
I agree, I agree. That's why we got to get the. We got to get the big three ratings up, man. We. We gotta. We need more. We need more stars to come play.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
They scared. Hey, I mean, who.
Joe Johnson
Who. See, the thing is. The thing is a lot of cats, you gotta really love it, bro, because a lot of us are kind of up in age. And hell, if you didn't play 12, 15, 18 years in the NBA, you ain't. You ain't. You ain't. Because you ain't trying to keep your body in that type of shape. And you see that with a lot of these guys who retire, bro, they just kind of, you know, let themselves go. See, I ain't one. I love staying in shape. That's why I can still enjoy playing the game. It's when. It's when you got all these. You bogged down with all these injuries and you stay out of shape is that the game is not fun to you no more. You know what I mean? But hell, we're on a national stage, bro. You know, we just need to. We need a couple stars to come join the league. Boost. Boost the ratings up a little bit. Get us out there, you know?
Liberty City Zone
Okay. Hey, Joe, listen to me now. You know, I check my availability, man.
Joe Johnson
You don't need to worry about nobody but me, partner. That's it. You don't. You don't need to worry about nobody but me.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
A couple years, Joe, Brian might come out there and join y'.
Joe Johnson
All. Yeah, he might. I can see his ass doing that. They'll pay him big money to come out there and play. I'm gonna have to hit him, let him know, hey, man, I'm still be kicking. God damn. Hey, don't forget your boy. Go run with me.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
But yeah, I mean, this, this has been very exciting because the game, you think about some of the. The closeness of the games. Games have been very, very interesting. Yeah, you've had some blowouts, but you think about all these game Sevens.
Joe Johnson
Yeah, that's a. A More basketball. More basketball. Yeah.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Cleveland was a game seven. Philly was a Game seven. Orlando Detroit was a Game seven. Now, we didn't get any Game Sevens in the Western Conference.
Joe Johnson
But you got some good damn games because they start study.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
We got some because we had some good.
Joe Johnson
The west so stacked from top to bottom. Hell, first round, you got Minnesota playing Denver. Hell, everybody want to see that.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
And then you got LeBron and KD going head to head.
Joe Johnson
The ratings would have been a lot better too, with that. I mean, they probably was still high
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
series because of LeBron.
Joe Johnson
But, hell, if you had KD out there and they made that thing a series and they went by seven, we.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Yep.
Joe Johnson
Yeah.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Or mess around and get let Chef Steph sneak in. But he would have. Well, Steph, if you'd have been in the playoff, man, you wouldn't have been able to. Went to the Met Gala. So it's. You did all right.
Joe Johnson
You did.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
You did all right. Did y' all see the video? J. R Smith getting knocked over by Knicks fans?
Joe Johnson
I seen that.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Let's take a look at this video.
Liberty City Zone
Hey, that was funny. JR Were like, hey, Cheer, relax, relax.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Damn. Ain't nobody gonna help the man.
Joe Johnson
Hey, let me tell y' all something. Yeah, I know them. Damn, them damn Knicks fans, boy. They don't play by their Knicks, bro.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
They. They.
Joe Johnson
They real fanatics over there. Hey, look, Uncle Ocho, I. I lived in Manhattan when I played for the Nets. And, man, me and my son, we. We had these electric scooters we used to ride down through Manhattan. Y' all know it. Stay busy. I had a dude ride past me. He was like, the Nets. This Knicks country. You in Manhattan? Yeah. He yelled this out his window. Them folks don't play boy by their nick. So I don't know what Jay. I was thinking about being out there in gym pop like that.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Especially after a game, like, weird. I mean, can you imagine? You try to go out to your team, win a big game, or you win the super bowl, or you win the World Series, the NBA championship, and you take your ass out there and celebrate with them faces, man, they standing on top of cars, they flipping police cars. They bad.
Joe Johnson
Hell, listen, bro, you bet.
Liberty City Zone
You better be ready.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
I'm gonna be in my window, bro. Oh, boy, they crazy down there.
Joe Johnson
Oh, listen, we talk about if the Knicks make the finals. Damn the finals. If the Knicks get out this round and get back to the Eastern Conference finals, they gonna act a fool, bro.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
I don't even. Joe, look here. I don't even wanna. I don't even want to imagine what that thing will be about. They get to the NBA Finals. Joe. Hey, you gotta realize how long it's
Joe Johnson
got that National Guard out There, Ocho.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Hey, Joe, man, what you call about be out there with him, Spike Lee and Tracy Morgan. Everything I do.
Joe Johnson
Yeah, yeah. They will tear that city up, bro.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
They will flip it for a championship. Do you understand what a championship mean to the Knicks? I mean, for the, for the New York.
Joe Johnson
Yeah, man, hold on.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
It goes. If the Yankees and the Knicks, then the Giants. Listen, Jets, I'm sorry Jetson met. I'm y' all out there on the island, Y' all Long island, stuff like that. But the Yankees, the Knicks and the Giants.
Joe Johnson
Lord have me listen. Not only would it be huge for New York if the Knicks got to the finals and wanted. That should have been. Oh, that should be huge for basketball, period, bro. Hey, but they gonna tear New York up. I'm talking about Brunson. They gonna have the whole next thing. They gonna, they gonna, they gonna, they gonna be on Mount Rushmore up there, like the whole team. Yeah.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Oh, he. Oh, oh. If Brunson take this team and they win the fight. Oh, he absolutely. He up there with Willis Reed and Clyde and. Yes, yeah. Absolutely. Yes. He'. I'm sorry. He go kick Patrick.
Joe Johnson
Yeah, yeah.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Or Champ. Man, look here. Those teams like that, they, they revere champions over, man. I don't care how good win a
Joe Johnson
championship, man, that boy be that not only Brunson, but they team will be beloved in New York, bro. They gonna be.
Liberty City Zone
Hey, never have to pay for anything ever again, Joe.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Never, ever again. Never.
Joe Johnson
Them folks don't play about them nicks.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
You see? You see what it did for Jeta? You see what it did for Straight?
Liberty City Zone
Yes, sir.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Stray is a D lineman and get love. Can you imagine if Stray was a quarterback or a wide receiver,
Liberty City Zone
man?
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Man, that ninja been mayor, a governor, or whatever he wanted to be. Look at Gina. Just imagine if Aaron Judge brings a world. Look how they look at Eli. Eli don't even talk.
Joe Johnson
Hey, the Yankees still.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Eli don't got a paper.
Joe Johnson
Still got Sting over there. Is he still over there, too?
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Giancarlo, Stat.
Liberty City Zone
Yeah, yeah, he's still there.
Joe Johnson
Oh, is he?
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Yeah, he. He wound tighter than guitar strings. He always pull us up back hamstring, quad something.
Liberty City Zone
Yeah, I, I'm, I, I'm, I. I'm just picturing the goddamn Knicks understanding what New York City gonna be upside down.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
But, man, I'm talking about Ben Stiller. Tracy Morgan.
Liberty City Zone
Yes, sir.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Man, ain't no telling what them jokers do. Jimmy Fallon, hey, gonna lose his mind because Spike Lee ain't seen a championship since spike was probably 2020. 2. When they last won the championship with Willis Reed, man, Spike Lee lose his damn mind.
Liberty City Zone
Now, y' all don't be surprised now, I didn't say it first. Now them boy, when they got down, they win that goddamn chip and you see the goddamn Statue of Liberty being carried through the city.
Joe Johnson
All right.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
No.
Joe Johnson
All right, yeah. You might though. You might. Ain't no telling, boy.
Liberty City Zone
Hey, ain't no telling. Don't put it past him now.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Oh my goodness. Spike Lee gonna be out of his mind. Cause hey, they won a game and Spike Lee over there celebrating. Can you imagine? They win a championship, man, you ain't gonna be a hit spiking ass with a red apple.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
Are you trying to get weight loss support through telehealth? But it feels overwhelming and rushed. Check out orderlymeds.com now. Orderlymeds.com was built to be different. Here you connect with real doctors who take the time to goals, review your eligibility, and guide you through a plan that's right for you. Orderly Meds provides access to proven GLP1 medications like semaglutide and Tirzepatide, including both name brand options and personalized compound versions when appropriate. So you have choices backed by clinical oversight, not guesswork. It's a simpler, more supportive telehealth experience designed around people who want clarity, care and confidence in their weight loss journey. And your medication is delivered directly to your home in discreet packaging so your experience stays private from start to finish. Do your research, ask the right questions, then visit orderlymeds.com podcast for an exclusive offer. Again, that's orderlymeds.com podcast. Individual results may vary. Not medical advice, eligibility required. See C site for details. Hear that? That's the sound of your skin silently
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
crying out for hydration.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
Luckily, Dr. Teals has just the thing
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
to get you glowing in no time.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
Meet Dr. Teals Skin renewal Deep Hydration,
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
made with a proprietary triple magnesium complex
Sponsor/Ad Voice
plus skincare actives for 50% improved skin
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
hydration after just one bath, the words dry and dehydrated are about to be wiped from your vocabulary.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
Find Dr. Teals all dressed in blue in your local bath aisle. Dr. Teals.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Yep, you needed that.
Host
You know how it's never really about where you're going, it's about who you're going with. The right people can turn any drive
Joe Johnson
into a great memory.
Host
That's something Toyota really believes. They design vehicles around real life and real people, the ones who make plans happen and bring everyone together inside. Everything's built with passengers in mind. Comfortable seating, smart layouts and space that actually works so everyone can relax and enjoy the ride. There's room for the people, room for the stuff, and room for the moments that happen along the way. Because when people are the destination, your ride is important. Learn more@toyota.com and find the vehicle that fits your people at CVS.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
It matters that we're not just in your community, but that we're part of it. It matters that we're here for you when you need us, day or night, and we want everyone to feel welcomed and rewarded. It matters that CVS is here to fill your prescriptions and here to fill your craving for a taste of and, yeah, healthy snack. At cvs, we're proud to serve your community because we believe where you get your medicine matters. So Visit us@cvs.com or just come by our store. We can't wait to meet you. Store hours vary by location. Garnier is proudly partnering with the National park foundation, the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service. Garnier's support of the National Park Foundation Service Corps program is enabling young adults and veterans to help care for and enhance the national parks that we all love. Want to lend a hand? Explore Garnier's partnership with the National park foundation and learn how you can help support our national parks@garnierusa.com NPF.
Date Recorded: May 6, 2026
This episode delivers immediate, unfiltered reactions to a wild night in basketball. Shannon Sharpe, Chad Ochocinco Johnson, and Joe Johnson break down OKC’s dominant Game 1 win over the Lakers, Detroit’s commanding postseason victory against Cleveland, and the reasons behind all-time-high NBA playoff TV ratings. The crew also shares memories, jokes, and classic stories, including the viral clip of JR Smith getting swarmed by Knicks fans.
Thunder’s Defensive Pressure and Depth
Shannon Sharpe sets the tone:
“The OKC Thunder did what we thought they would do. They opened up a can. 108 to 90.” (06:51)
Lakers: One-Dimensional and Outmanned Ochocinco:
“The Lakers, I hate saying they one-dimensional, but they damn sure is one dimensional.” (11:24)
LeBron’s Challenge
“He was never this big of an underdog. That just lets you know what he’s up for, what this team is up against.” (20:33)
Joe Johnson:
“It’s the pressure, man. It’s the pressure that those guys bring...they fuel off them turnovers they create.” (07:13)
Shannon Sharpe:
“If Austin Reeves had just played like he played in the regular season, that might have been enough to get us over the top with LeBron playing the way he played…” (15:14)
Detroit’s Breakthrough
Cavs’ Frustrations
“Them bigs, Mobley and Allen, you need them consistently to be dominant … should give you between 30 points and 20 to 28 rebounds a game.” – Shannon (41:25)
“He got 43 [turnovers] in 8 games, Joe.” (39:25),
and,
“It was the 45th playoff game that he’s had as many or more turnovers than field goals…” (43:13)
Joe Johnson:
“[Detroit’s young guards] pick his ass up full court. They wear him down… that youth comes into play. Hell, how old is James?” (39:31)
Liberty City Zone:
“Outside of like avid, basketball scene, basketball, I agree, I agree. That’s why we got to get the big three ratings up, man.” (71:56)
NBA Ratings Hit 33-Year Highs
Why Are Ratings Up?
Importance of Superstars & Product On Court
“That’s why you want your superstars playing. The product is the product that’s on the court.” (71:20)
“We want to see Ant-Man, we want to see Brunson, we want to see Embiid and Maxey. That’s why the numbers going up.” (71:35)
The Business of Basketball
“They run 200 ads in the Super Bowl...I got like four or five ads in there. You talkin’ about ‘Oh man, that’s cold shadow.’” (69:37)
“Damn. Ain’t nobody gonna help the man.” – Chad, as JR gets mobbed by Knicks fans (74:58)
“Let me tell y’all something. Them damn Knicks fans, boy. They don’t play by their Knicks, bro.” (75:23)
“They will flip [the city] for a championship. Do you understand what a championship mean to the Knicks?” – Chad (77:06)
On OKC’s Depth/Pressure:
“You call a time out, you’re down 14… That OKC team just hits you with them spurts.”
— Chad Ochocinco Johnson (24:30)
On Harden’s Playoff Woes:
“For so long, he put up those gaudy numbers, man, you ain’t thinking about no turnovers.”
— Shannon Sharpe (49:20)
On NBA Playoff Energy:
“It’s the unknown for real. I mean, as much as everybody got OKC winning it, hell, you really don’t know…”
— Joe Johnson (68:55)
On JR Smith and NYC:
“If the Knicks make the finals—damn the finals—if the Knicks get out this round and make the conference finals, they gonna act a fool, bro.”
— Joe Johnson (76:24)
| Timestamp | Segment | Key Topics/Events | |-------------|------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------| | 06:51 | OKC-Lakers Game 1 Recap | Thunder’s defense, Lakers’ struggles | | 09:30 | Lakers’ turnovers | Smart/Reaves struggle; OKC capitalizes | | 14:28 | Series outlook | Lakers’ slim odds, LeBron’s challenge | | 20:33 | Biggest underdog spread for LeBron | Historical context | | 38:39 | Pistons snap losing streak to Cavs | Detroit’s youth/energy; Allen & Harden criticism | | 41:25 | Cavs’ bigs underwhelm | Expectations for Mobley & Allen | | 43:13 | Harden’s playoff turnover woes | Usage vs. efficiency | | 67:43 | Record-breaking NBA ratings | Why fans are tuning in | | 70:27 | Legacy teams and young contenders | Importance of compelling narratives | | 74:58 | JR Smith trampled by Knicks fans | NY fandom, city-wide implications if Knicks win |
“Nightcap” brings vibes of late-night, barbershop sports talk—honest, irreverent, fun, and punctuated by real debate and laughter. The crew doesn’t sugarcoat failings (Harden, the Lakers, the Cavs’ bigs). They celebrate great defense, smart team-building, and the unpredictable energy sweeping this postseason. Highlighting personal experiences—both on the court and in the city—gives everything a warm, authentic feel that’s just as much about community as it is basketball.
If you missed the episode, this summary gives you all the analysis, context, and hottest takes—no ads, just action and insight.