Nightcap Hour 1: Knicks SWEEP Cavs & ADVANCE to NBA FINALS + Donovan Mitchell GOES OFF on Teammates

26 May 2026 · 1 h · 22 chapters

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In short

The Knicks’ path to the NBA Finals after sweeping the Cavaliers, plus a harsh breakdown of Cleveland’s effort and roster fit—especially Donovan Mitchell and James Harden—during the postseason.

Guest backgrounds

The hosts are Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson (former NFL Pro Bowl/All-Pro receiver) and “ISO Joe” Johnson (former NBA All-Star guard). They speak as former athletes/analysts, with “Unc” and “Joe” as recurring voices.

Key claims

  • Cleveland’s effort was “pathetic,” with low urgency, poor body language, and defensive shortcomings.
  • The Knicks’ success is credited to “by committee” offense led by Jalen Brunson, plus timely scoring from OG Anunobi, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, Carl Anthony Towns, and Miles McBride.
  • Cleveland should not keep the current core as-is; Evan Mobley and Jared Allen “don’t play together,” and Harden’s postseason habit is turnovers and disappearing under pressure.
  • Harden’s game should be reduced/adjusted (less ball-dominant), potentially with LeBron (speculated) as a playmaking orchestrator.

Notable examples

  • Knicks’ 20+ points off turnovers allowed by Cleveland across 10 playoff games (most since 1997).
  • Knicks closeout wins by an average 39.3 (claimed NBA history best).
  • Harden’s repeated stat pattern: turnovers matching field goals made; Donovan “came to play,” Harden did not.

Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.

Chapters

Tap a time to open that second in VO

Analyzing the Knicks' NBA Finals Return

9:30 to 12:00

Explore the Knicks' impressive playoff run and their journey to the Finals.

“For the first time in 27 years, the New York Knicks are headed back to the NBA Finals.”

Cavs' Disappointing Performance Analysis

12:00 to 14:00

Discuss the Cavaliers' lackluster effort and their future prospects.

“The little tweaks that Mike Brown has made has made them a lot more dangerous.”

Cleveland's Struggles and Roster Concerns

14:00 to 14:50

Analysis of the Cleveland Cavaliers' performance and roster issues.

“back to oh cleveland that effort that there's no way in hell yeah i'm bringing this team back is currently constructed.”

James Harden's Playoff Performance

14:50 to 16:00

Discussion on James Harden's repeated struggles in playoff games.

“That's over and over, and it's getting repetitive.”

The Inconsistent Effort of Evan Mobley

16:00 to 18:00

Examination of Evan Mobley's performance and expectations in the playoffs.

“Because they made it to the Eastern Conference Finals.”

Evaluating James Harden's Future

18:00 to 20:00

Debate on Harden's future with the team after disappointing playoff performances.

“You needed another guy to come along with Donovan.”

The Challenge of Aging Athletes

20:00 to 22:40

Discussion about how aging affects athletes' performance, using Harden as an example.

“For$90 million, do you believe I can find me another player that can give me 12 points, go 0-6 from the three-point line, have more turnovers than field goal?”

Greatness vs. Expectations in the Postseason

22:40 to 24:40

Exploring the gap between regular-season greatness and postseason performance.

“The scoring titles, you can't take that from him.”

LeBron James and Team Dynamics

24:40 to 28:00

Speculation on LeBron James' potential role in Cleveland and team dynamics.

“I'm going to empty the gun and if I'm out of bullets, I'm going to throw the gun.”

Assessing LeBron's Role in Cleveland

28:00 to 29:20

The hosts discuss LeBron's potential role as a third option in Cleveland and his ability to play off the ball.

“feel that confidence from him, you know, in his game.”
Show all 22 chapters

Navigating Changes for Aging Players

30:58 to 40:50

A discussion on how aging players like James Harden adapt their game as they age.

“Today we're diving into a fascinating conversation with Stefano Pallard, head of fan development for Scuderia Ferrari HP.”

Knicks Advance to NBA Finals

40:50 to 42:00

The hosts celebrate the Knicks' victory and discuss their current roster and playoff performance.

“You got to realize who James Harden was.”

Knicks' Historic Playoff Performance

42:00 to 43:01

Learn about the Knicks' impressive playoff statistics and historical context.

“Jalen Brunson wins Eastern Conference Finals MVP.”

Hypothetical Front Porch Showdown

43:01 to 44:46

A humorous discussion on defending one's home and the spirit of competition.

“So they don't know nothing about the next bid to the finals.”

Key Players in Knicks' Success

44:46 to 46:05

Explore the contributions of key Knicks players in their playoff run.

“I mean, they had, what, six guys in double figures?”

Knicks' Advantages in the Finals

46:05 to 47:25

Discussion on the Knicks' potential advantages heading into the NBA Finals.

“you know, in this playoffs with that hammy or whatever it was he had.”

Analyzing Knicks' Matchups Against the West

47:25 to 49:07

Insights into how the Knicks might fare against potential Western Conference opponents.

“I had the Knicks win the finals, period.”

The Knicks' Potential Against the Spurs

49:07 to 53:06

A deep dive into the potential challenges the Knicks might face against the Spurs.

“Hey, Uncle Joe, as great as the Spurs are, Castle and Vassell being able to sit in that chair and play defense.”

Balancing Tradition and Digital Engagement

57:51 to 58:32

Explore how Ferrari engages fans through digital channels.

“But what I was able to learn from Stefano was the importance of engaging the Tifosi, the Ferrari superfans in the digital age.”

Donovan Mitchell's Performance Analysis

59:20 to 1:03:00

Analysis of Donovan Mitchell's actions during a critical game.

“I don't want to say Donovan McNabb so bad.”

Critique of Cavaliers' Performance

1:03:00 to 1:07:26

Discussion on the Cavaliers' lackluster performance in recent games.

“is charge 10 people to come into the game and watch the game on the big screen at MSG.”

Team Loyalty and Dual Citizenship in Sports

1:07:26 to 1:08:49

Debate on team loyalty and the idea of supporting multiple teams.

“So you not going back, so when the Phoenix, you not going to celebrate that championship?”
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Transcript

Automatic transcript. May contain errors.

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5:32Shannon Sharpe:Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you for joining us for another episode of Nightcap. What a pathetic, awful performance by the Cleveland Cavaliers when they were on the brink of elimination. To come out and give that kind of performance, that kind of effort is totally unacceptable. And we're going to dive into it in a little bit, Joe, but there's no way in hell I'm bringing that team back exactly the same as currently constructed. Ain't no way in hell is Jared Allen, Evan Mobley playing together again. James Harden, I got to thank Long and Harden. I know I gave up Garland because we've had too many performances like this in meaningful moments for it to mean something and for him to keep giving us these types of performances.

6:11Shannon Sharpe:Thank you guys for joining us for another episode of Nightcap. Y 'all know who I am. I'm your favorite unk. And the guy in the red hat, hopefully he's going to make nightcap great again. He's a six-time Pro Bowl player from the Cincinnati Beagle. He's a former All-Pro and a Pro Bowl player. A, the best route runner, they call him the route runner extraordinaire, from Liberty City, that is Chad Ochocinco Johnson, and the Silky Smooth shooting guard, a seven-time NBA All-Star from the Atlanta Hawks, the University of Arkansas alum. That is ISO Joe Johnson. Please make sure you hit that subscribe button.

6:49Shannon Sharpe:Please make sure you hit the like button and go subscribe to the Nightcap Podcast feed wherever you get your podcasts from. We would like to thank each and every one of you for your support and your continued support. Thanks to your eyes, ears, and your word of mouth, Nightcap has become the success that we've become the number one sports podcast in the world. That's what we've become, the number one sports podcast in the world. Believe it or not. And I want to thank you guys for your support because you guys made it possible. No matter how informative we are, no matter how educational we are, no matter how entertaining, it does not matter without eyes, without ears, and without word of mouth.

7:27Shannon Sharpe:And so we at the Nightcap family cannot thank you enough. Those looking to purchase a bottle of Shea by LaPortier, head up to LaPortierCognac.com to purchase you a bottle if it's currently unavailable in a state or city near you. It is a premium BSOP cognac, drinks like an XO, and we have it in two sizes. The OG, which is a 750, and the junior, which is a 375. Same great quality, same great taste, the same smoothness. Before we go any further, we want to thank those young men, those brave service men and women. This is your day. Thank you for your support, whether you're serving domestically or abroad.

8:04Shannon Sharpe:We cannot thank you enough, and sometimes I think it goes unnoticed. whatever needs to be said it doesn't get said enough because we can't thank you for your support enough and to our gold star families we understand and we empathize with your plight so thank you for all the young men and women that have sacrificed so much so we get to sacrifice so little so again to all our service men and women thank you thank you thank you from night cap hey man look at joe's line joe get that made like a nightclub he got the face hey hey hey hey okay hey hey hey hey it's a little blurry but it's a little good hey hey why you gotta start hating man god don't worry about it i'm gonna fix all that don't worry about that i got you i got you hey baby but you look i appreciate it i appreciate it i appreciate it i appreciate it

8:56Chad Johnson:that's all yeah that thing ain't gonna lie i mean once you start getting your trophies and everything you start putting that back hey it's like it's like i'm starting from scratch i'm starting all over again so look i'm looking yeah yeah you about to get your first award your first remember your

9:11Shannon Sharpe:first basketball yeah yeah proud of that thing so you got the night camp side now you just got to put the shelf there and put the the awards in the backdrop that thing gonna be looking nice man we ready i'm locked in baby what's up what's up fellas hey i can't wait that i get some awards I don't know what's going to happen, Ocho. I don't know when that's going to happen. For the first time in 27 years, the New York Knicks are headed back to the NBA Finals. The Cavs have allowed 20-plus points of turnovers in 10 games this postseason. That is the most in one playoff run since 1997. And when you look at it, they got off.

9:50Shannon Sharpe:Hey, look, Donald Mitchell got off to a great start, but it was met. OG from three. Carl Anthony Towns from three. Mikael Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Landry Shammott. No, I mean, what's the little young guard? Miles McBride couldn't miss from three. And you could just tell. They would put everything they had, Joe, in the first five minutes of the game. And the Knicks said, nah, not tonight. And they just wilted. They folded. They folded like a laundry. They did, man. And it was really embarrassing to see. It was. And we talked about this when it happened the first game, the likelihood of them being able to overcome that performance that they gave in game one, being up by 22 at one point in time, 16 with under seven minutes to go and to lose the game in the fashion in which they lost it.

10:38Shannon Sharpe:I didn't think they could overcome. I don't think any of us thought they could overcome that. Joe, let's take the Knicks first. Let's give them their kudos. Congratulations, New York Knicks. Yes. Because you played an unbelievable – this playoffs has been as good – I mean, think about it. They've won what? seven, eight, nine playoff games in a row. Yeah. So with that being said, they played their best ball when it absolutely had to have it and when it meant the most. Joe, what has been most impressive about what you've seen from the New York Knicks?

11:07Chad Johnson:What's been most impressive about the Knicks? It's, you know, it's been obviously by committee, but Brunson has been leading the charge. And it's like he's been a constant, but every – It seems like every game he has somebody who steps up and becomes the unsung hero. Whether it's OG, who has been pretty consistent, you know, throughout this whole postseason. Bridges coming along. Ever since they got out of this damn Atlanta Hawks series. Y 'all know it. Y 'all know it too here.

11:39Shannon Sharpe:Ever since game three, he's been on fire.

11:40Chad Johnson:Man, he has been unconscious. They hadn't lost a game since the first round. Man, hey, listen. They playing good ball, man. They're hitting on the offsets. I like what Mike Brown done. Put the ball in Cat Hand. Let him be a playmaker because you got to honor him because he can shoot it from way back there. And they have been great. The little tweaks that Mike Brown has made has made them a lot more dangerous. And, you know, obviously, man, they've just been kicking butt in the Eastern Conference. Kudos to the Knicks, bro. They look good. I don't know what the hell Cleven out there doing, though.

12:15That's just, ugh. That's pathetic. Hey, Uncle Joe, that was embarrassing. Come on, man.

12:20Chad Johnson:Uncle Joe. It is. I've had a lot of losing during my time when I played. But there's one thing that it didn't take, even in losing, is effort and want to and actually trying. And being one, even in a losing effort, you will show when you turn that film on and there are people watching, I still got that name on the back of that jersey.

12:42Shannon Sharpe:Correct. I can't embarrass myself, Joe. I don't care if we are losing. I'm going to be going balls to the wall in that loss. I mean, what I saw tonight, not just tonight's game, hell, the previous game before that is pathetic, especially on defense. It's like you look at everybody's mannerisms. You look at their energy. Body language. It's like their body language. Joe, they're not even trying. They're out there, but they're not out there.

13:06Chad Johnson:Hey, Ocho, it's like me talking to my kids when they playing sports. Damn, just fix your body language out there. It just look bad. You know what I mean? Hey, man, I don't know how. You know, I felt Donovan came to play tonight. Okay, okay. He did. He's the only one that came to play. He's the only one. I just don't understand how the Knicks run you out your own damn building, bro. They look two, three steps ahead of the Cavs. It wasn't even funny, bro. It wasn't even funny.

13:37Shannon Sharpe:Joe, if you look at it, they turned the ball over. Guys jogging back. There's no sense of urgency. like oh well we let's be resigned to our fate it's over i mean what's the likely it's like what is the likelihood of us winning four games in a row do we really want to get on a plane and go back to new york or in order for it to end there and then have to get on the plane and fly back to oh cleveland that effort that there's no way in hell yeah i'm bringing this team back is currently constructed. No way, Joe. No way. How you get rebounded? You got a seven-footer and a 6 '9", and you get out-rebounded by 27.

14:20Shannon Sharpe:James Harden again. He had it again, y 'all. He had five. Guess what? Hey, so that means we got it right on prize picks, huh? Again, more turnovers than field goals made. How many times have we had this conversation, Chad? How many times? The third round. So you had the opening round, then you had the semifinals, and then you had the finals. How many times have you heard me come out here, James Harden had more turnovers than field goals made? James Harden had as many turnovers as field goals made. That's over and over, and it's getting repetitive. It's getting repetitive. And guess what? It's not going away.

14:57Shannon Sharpe:There is not a situation where he can go to that the pressure is still not going to be there. Okay, Houston, you go to the Knicks. excuse me, the Nets, you go to Philly, you go to the Clippers, you, I don't, excuse me, sorry, Chad, there is no way you can run James Harden that you're going to be able to outrun expectations that you set up because you've been great. Yes. You've been a great regular season player, but far too many times in the postseason, we've seen pathetic performances like this and you're far too good of a player to have this happen. They say we are what we repeatedly do. Therefore, it's not a singular act.

15:37Shannon Sharpe:It is a habit. How many times have we seen this to say this is an isolated incident from James Harden?

15:45Chad Johnson:Has it happened before? Yeah. More time than not. I got a question for you. Yes. You think about how difficult it is to construct a roster to be able to compete in the regular season. Now you talk about constructing a roster for the Cavs in the playoffs. Well, who are you going to go get? Because they made it to the Eastern Conference Finals. And now you're saying tearing it down.

16:13Shannon Sharpe:So that's setting you back. It's not good enough. All I know is that the way this roster is constructed, yeah, I got there, but that's not good enough. Look at the investment that I've made. Jared Allen has three years at$90 million left on his contract. Donovan Mitchell is about to get a ginormous extension. Evan Mobley is on a$200 million extension. James Harden is going to want three years,$90 million. I'm not doling out that kind of money to get to the Eastern Conference Finals. First and second of all, if you look at Evan Mobley and Jared, they don't play together. They don't play like Harden, Stein and Chet.

16:52Shannon Sharpe:That should be your blueprint of how two bigs should play off of each other. Ain't no way in hell Evan Mobley at that height, at that size, is letting Josh Hart push him off the block. Make him settle for threes. No way in hell, Joe. Hey, hey.

17:11Chad Johnson:You know what I think? I don't think Evan Mobley is the guy who we all think he can be. He's not that guy. I don't think he's that guy. I'm just being 100. Because of his size and with his skill set, he's supposed to be dominating. He's supposed to dominate in this series, bro. Ain't no way in hell Josh Hart and him supposed to be guarding this man. You know what I mean? So I just think, I don't think he is who they want him to be, which is probably their second best player. I just, it's just too inconsistent, bro. Too inconsistent. You let these little bitty dudes guard you. They got more dog than you.

17:50Chad Johnson:I mean, it's killing their team, bro. You going to need 30. You needed 30 from Donovan and him tonight.

17:59Shannon Sharpe:Yes. You needed two guys. You needed another guy to come along with Donovan. Donovan came to play tonight. But Harden did not come to play. Excuse me, Ocho, go ahead. The other guy's supposed to be Harden. That was the point of bringing him here. That's the point. If Garland is gone, you're bringing Harden, and especially Harden, with Harden wanting a payday, Unc and Joe, after this season, this is your proven season. You can't base it off what you did when you was in Houston.

18:28Chad Johnson:Oh, Joe. We can't base it off. You got to update your resume. Unc, you say it all the goddamn time. But when it comes to basketball, the market is what the market is, and most of the time it's based off what you've done in the past as opposed to what you're doing right now. I honestly, I like James, but I don't think he got that gear that we think he can get in. He can't get in that next gear no more, fellas. It's too hard, bro. I'm watching. I know he's trying. But, you know, as you age, man, you think you still got it. What you do, it just ain't like it used to be. You can't summons it when you want to like you used to.

19:06Chad Johnson:Yeah, man.

19:07Shannon Sharpe:We talk about it all the time, Ocho. You already know. Yeah. Your boy used to high dive off the dresser. Yeah. Yeah. Hey. Now I walk in there with the lights off. Hey. Hey. The UK. Hey. I used to be up there beating my 80s. Boy, you thought I was King Kong on the Empire State Building, the way I would beat my champs back when I was in my 20s and 30s. Now I come in that thing like a church mouse. Hey. I tell you what, James Arden can get a job out here in Vegas. He can get a residency out here in Vegas. Copperfield gave up his residency. Nah, nah. Cause he pulled a disappear in that game of year in the postseason.

19:43Shannon Sharpe:Nah, nah, nah, nah.

Read the full transcript

19:44Chad Johnson:James, listen, he gonna get another contract, Ark and Ojo. I mean, it ain't gonna be no big deal, but I think you gotta keep him around, bro. You gotta keep him around. To do what? To help orchestrate something, Ark, what you do? If you let him go, what you got? What you going to do? Nothing. Let me ask you a question, Joe.

20:02Shannon Sharpe:Ain't that not there? Let me ask you a question, Joe. You trying to improve the team, huh? Okay, let me ask you this. For$90 million, do you believe I can find me another player that can give me 12 points, go 0-6 from the three-point line, have more turnovers than field goal? Do you, yes or no, that you believe I can find me another player that makes somewhere between$30 and$35 million that can give me what James Harden has given me this postseason? You probably can find a guy. So see, the thing is, we've got to be careful holding on to a name. Yeah. That's what he is now in the postseason. He's a name.

20:41Shannon Sharpe:Far too many times we have not seen the regular season James Harden show up in the postseason. He struggled at times, Joe and Ocho when he was at his absolute apex in Houston with these type of performances. Now he's seven, eight, nine years removed. If we asking him, you know what, James, go give us 30, 15, and eight. James, give us 40, 46, and seven. That's not him anymore. He's not getting by guys. If you think about it, think about how many times he's got to dribble at least 15 times just before he gets into the lane. Man, James Harden used to put that ball and he in the lane. Now it's back up, back out.

21:26Shannon Sharpe:Damn, you still here? Damn, you still here? Damn!

21:32Chad Johnson:Listen, listen, listen. I think he can put... You know what's discouraging is that he is getting some wide open looks and he's just not making them, bro. And that's just not like him. But if they talking about bringing Brun back here, you might as well keep him at the point.

21:51Shannon Sharpe:No, I give me – Bron will give you better production than James Harden and probably – I don't know what they're going to do. I don't know how much they can pay LeBron. But you know what James Harden is? You already know you've been on the phone with somebody and they call and you say, hey, hold on. And you're like – and you're on the phone for like five, ten minutes and they're still there. You're like, damn, you're still here? That's how James Harden is when he's trying to get by somebody. Like, damn, man, you still in front of me? You got to chill. Man, I want the man to succeed so bad because he is, no matter what you think of his postseason, he's earned the respect.

22:33Shannon Sharpe:He's a top 75 player, and you're basing it on what he's done in the regular season. The MVP, you can't take that from him. The scoring titles, you can't take that from him. The assist titles, you can't take that from him. He's been a great player. but far far I don't know have we ever seen a great player as great as James Harden come up as consistently as small in the postseason Jodo based on what he's given us in the regular season nah I don't think so I don't think so you know he's had huge expectations and uh placed on him by himself based on his plate that's not us Joe yeah he did that when his play in the regular season.

23:18Shannon Sharpe:When he went to Houston and we saw the first 30 games in which he played in Houston, you're like, this dude different. Man, you're like, hold on. Y 'all had that guy coming off the beat?

23:29Chad Johnson:Yeah.

23:30Shannon Sharpe:But obviously you got KD and Russ. They were great players in their own right. He was never going to be able to do that.

23:36Chad Johnson:Look, they always said he wasn't going to be able to win a championship with this style of play. You know, and it's been proven to me. It's hard to argue. He's been proven to be right because he's played with some grace, bro. He's played with – he's been on some hell of a team. He just didn't get it done.

23:56Shannon Sharpe:You know, maybe he had a little bad luck. Kyrie got hurt when he was at the Nets. He got fed up with that, the situation, and we all know what transpired, the COVID year and everything and blah, blah, blah. We don't need to rehash that. Kyrie gets hurt. they had the lead and then the Milwaukee wins the next two games or something like that so he's had some bad luck but we watched him in Philly play great and then the game seven he pulled a disappear back Joe we watched him with the Clippers so we've seen far too many times that he's done this and then tonight The effort tonight? Man, come on, man.

24:46Shannon Sharpe:Look, Joe, look here. I'm going to empty the gun and if I'm out of bullets, I'm going to throw the gun. I ain't leaving nothing. You got to empty the clip, bro. Yeah. You got to. Maybe I can hit him upside the head and knock him out or something, Joe. I done missed all the shots, but I'm leaving nothing. I'm coming home with Absolutely nothing. And this is why, like, when I used to train, I said, I don't drop breadcrumbs because this ain't no Hansel and Gretel Ryan. I ain't saving nothing for the trip home. Bro, come on, James. You too good of a player. In order to have these type of small moments far too many times, look, nobody is going to score 35, 40 points every game.

25:37Shannon Sharpe:Jordan has some games in which he's shot six of 19. And Kobe has some bad games. And LeBron and Steph and all the greats have. But a guy this great to come up this small so many times is very disheartening.

25:54Chad Johnson:It is, because he's such a great talent. And like you say, he's a top 75 player. I say Cleveland going to bring him back another reason because they traded for him midseason. They're going to give him a full year. They're going to give him a full season. Now, if that entails a new contract, then oh well. But I don't see him going nowhere, man. I don't see him going nowhere. I think they got to add something now. I don't really know how serious it is if LeBron is going to come there. But I think he'll play great. He will play great off him.

26:33Shannon Sharpe:Who will play great off him?

26:34Chad Johnson:I think James can play off LeBron.

26:37Shannon Sharpe:Man, James got to have the ball. James ain't no off the ball player. That's why he got to – think about who he had. He had Chris Paul. He didn't want Chris Paul. He had Russ.

26:46Chad Johnson:He didn't want Russ. It's different now. He's going to be 37 years old. Man, you can't pound the air out that ball all damn game. You're going to have to do this sometime, but yeah. Who's the last one to see our greatness lead?

27:01Shannon Sharpe:Us. Yeah. I guarantee you I inject him with truth serum put him under the light, got the CIA interrogating him with the threat of waterboarding him and sending his ass to Guantanamo Bay I guarantee you he'll tell you he's still the same player that he was in Houston, he just doesn't have the opportunities

27:18Chad Johnson:Nah, he ain't he ain't gonna say that Nah, hey what Braun already showed you can play off the ball, he ain't got to have the ball in his hands so just hypothetically speaking if Braun is able to go there and go back they'll still allow James to control the ball and do what he needs to do. Take the shots when necessary. Honestly, I think he done lost his confidence a little bit. Just a little bit. It ain't just him. For me, Evan Mobley, he plays so indecisive on what it is he want to do. Sometimes he'll catch it. He should just go to a catch and shoot, but he'll catch, hit, hesitate, and now he's all out of rhythm.

27:59Chad Johnson:I just don't feel that confidence from him, you know, in his game. I don't feel it oozing out of him. You know what I mean? And he the one I felt got to make the leap to make it easier for James and Donovan. Donovan? Let me ask you this. You think LeBron James...

28:18Shannon Sharpe:I'm going to ask you both to ask this. You think LeBron James want to go somewhere else and be the third option?

28:23Chad Johnson:Nah, nah. He ain't doing that. So what option is he going to be in Cleveland? He's going to be the orchestrator. He's going to be like... Well, how are you going to orchestrate if he ain't got the ball, Joe? If he ain't going to have the ball, what you mean? Well, James going to play off the ball? LeBron?

28:40Shannon Sharpe:They are. I say that. Yeah, LeBron has shown he can play off the ball. Right. Have James shown you in his 16 years, 15 years, that he can play off the ball, Joe? Yeah, somewhat. Somewhat. Early in his career, yeah, when he was with OKC. did he really have a choice? Russ had the ball a lot. They give him the ball some but since he's been in Houston when he got to the Nets, what did they do? They kicked Kyrie to the two, they put him at the point. Yeah. When he got, when they got, I don't know if he and Ben Simmons overlapped. I don't think they did. No, they traded for one another. Copenhagen's spit-free pouches are packed full of American-grown tobacco.

29:27Made for welders. Stuck behind masks. More mechanics. Stuck on a fused spark plug. The long-haul trucker stuck in gridlock. Performing. Working late at the field office. Or anytime there's no time or space to spit, there's Copenhagen Spit-Free Pouches. Find them in stores today. Not all varieties available in all geographies. Warning, this product can cause mouth cancer. When it comes to advancing your education, you have more options than you think. At Rasmussen University, we find ways to remove barriers, not build them, like a new laptop if you're eligible, and enroll in select online or on-campus programs.

30:05That means flexible and engaging online courses and resources, tuition savings options if you qualify, exceptional student support, and much more. Online nationally or check out their 20 campuses across six states. Start when you're ready and get the support you need. Visit rasmussen.edu. When you own your own business, you own every decision. catch the red eye or take the 6am make a new hire or promote internally celebrate a win with the toast at the gate or unwind at the lounge big props to this team some decisions are a win-win like earning 8x points on Chase Travel Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business the business card that gives back all you put in visit chase.com slash reserve business to learn more cards issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank any member of DIC subject to credit approval terms apply Hello, hello, this is Malcolm Glaubel from Smart Talks with IBM.

30:59Today we're diving into a fascinating conversation with Stefano Pallard, head of fan development for Scuderia Ferrari HP. Your pronunciation is strongly American. It's more Scuderia Ferrari. I'm still working on rolling my R's. But what I was able to learn from Stefano was the importance of engaging the Tifosi, the Ferrari superfans in the digital age. Ferrari fans and super fans want to be part of something, want to belong to something. So they want to be part of a community and ultimately they want to be part of a winning team. You've got Ferrari, which has a long history, design history. And now you're interacting in a kind of digital space.

31:43I'm curious how you balance those two traditions. When it comes to fan engagement, it's really digital technology and digital channels are being able to create a deeper connection with our fans. To learn more about how Ferrari and IBM are using technology to build deeper connections with fans, visit ibm.com slash Ferrari.

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33:07Shannon Sharpe:They traded for one another. He got the point. When he got to the Clippers, what did they do? Kicked them to the point. When he got to the Cavs, what did they do? so are we sure that he can play off the ball? Because guess what? He don't cut. I can't put him in the dunker spot because he can't elevate. Yeah. So what do I do? Is he going to be a catch-and-shoot guy?

33:34Chad Johnson:Is he going to be Trey Thompson? He's got to go back to some of that. He can't be a ball-dominant guard anymore. Now I'm no damn 37 years old, man. This is a young man's game, bro. Hold on, Joe. Then he ain't got the legs to be able to do anything else off the ball either. Yeah, he can catch it. He can catch and shoot. It ain't like he can't make no shot. He can catch and shoot. Hey, listen, he just ain't going to be high usage guy, meaning, hell, he'll probably be there at about 16, 17 points a game. Like, he ain't going to be in no 23, 25 points a game no more, no. Okay, hold on. Well, if he playing off the ball right and he a catch and shoot guy and he give him 16, 17 doing that, well, hell, he doing that right now with the ball in his hands.

34:13Shannon Sharpe:So we still get the same person. Well, hey, maybe we cut down on his turnovers by not having the ball in. There you go. Seriously. So maybe that 16 to 20 that he give us now minus the five to seven turnovers. Yeah. Right.

34:27Chad Johnson:Hey, man, I'm telling you. I'm telling you. I don't know. I know, man. It's hard. You know, it's just hard to watch when you just – when it seems like guys out there dogging and giving you piss poor effort, bro. I mean, that's it. Like, I can live. I can live with us not making shots, but getting out of work, that's something you can bring every game, bro.

34:54Shannon Sharpe:Joe, you know this, Joe. It is really, really hard for a great player to see himself as something other than great. That's why when great players fall off, they normally go. Role players, Ocho, think about it. Role players, guys played 14, 15 years, started 10 games. Mm-hmm. but you have to understand Joe and I know you and Ocho we understand this when you a great player they still expect greatness they don't give a damn if you the same thing with LeBron they hold LeBron at 41 to the same standard at 27 at 30 at 33 at 35 they're going to hold James Harden to that same standard so why do you say man he can't pound the ball like that he 37 that's not what they're expecting because they're paying him to beat that guy.

35:48Shannon Sharpe:You don't give somebody$30 million and say, well, you know, hey, you know, we're going to try to get him like 10 to 12 shots a game because he's not the most efficient player.

35:57Chad Johnson:Well, hey, that high usage rate, man, had them turnovers high as hell too. It's hard to win without them damn turnovers. So you got to cut down some of that, man. Hey, as you age, bro, you got to change your game up a little bit if you want to continue to play this game. I know he'll top the scoring list, but shit, you got to change your game, bro, to continue to play this game at a higher age.

36:23Shannon Sharpe:Yeah. You do, but it's hard, Joe. Man, it's hard, Joe. Man, I had this ball. Hey, I mean, Joe, was it hard for you to go from getting 22 shots a night in Atlanta, then all of a sudden you're at Miami like, I'm like, damn, boy, I gotta make these things count. Let me try to get me my four or five layups in this thing, because hey, they gonna snatch me if I shoot too much and they don't go in. You, hey, Joey have no regard, don't come on that fast, like, ha, woo, miss that one, come back down, get another one. Hey, you start getting older, they're like, whoa, whoa, whoa, hey, hey, Iso. Mm-mm.

37:02Chad Johnson:Yeah, yeah.

37:03Shannon Sharpe:So they look at you different on your, I'm like, oh, hey, I'm starting to get old. i'm like i remember when i first in my prime i'm looking at that place i'm like first 15. like damn boy 84 all over this thing i'm like yeah okay first drive like two maybe we hey we get a touchdown we get we don't go in i got about two or three more i'm looking at the first two three drives oh jojo bad up i'm catching right now hey hey you start adding up your yards and all I'm looking at it. Hey, this is a 10-yard route. Hey, if I just fall down, that's 13 yards right there. Hey, I break a tackle 20. Boy, hey, I go and come back.

37:42Shannon Sharpe:First 15, got one play with Sharp on it. And then I might be the second option. Hell, I ain't even fast no more. The hell?

37:53Chad Johnson:Hey, listen. I know exactly what you mean. But here's what I'm saying, bro. I ain't had no ego when I was playing Uncle Ocho. Like, I thoroughly enjoyed the game, bro. So, you know, if I have to adapt, cool, I can do that. I've adapted so many times throughout my career that it didn't matter. Hell, I wasn't shooting that many shots until I got to Atlanta. I played off a lot of the great guys, you know what I mean? So then when I did leave Atlanta and went to Brooklyn, and I'm playing with D. Will, Brooke Lopez, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, I already knew how to fit in and make it work, you know what I mean?

38:27Chad Johnson:and yeah when I went to Miami of course my shots are going to be limited but I'm going to make them count high efficiency rate I ain't going to be taking a lot of wild shots a lot of unorthodox shots I'm going to make all of them count so look if I was used to getting 15 to 17 now I know I'm only getting about 8 to 10 shots I'm making them count so how many step back 3's were you taking in there because you know he got to get my 3 or another You only get to shoot them step backs if you done made a couple in a row. You know, you feel high. Man, look, you think you just going to come down and you out of rhythm, ain't got a bucket, and your first shot going to be a high, high side step?

39:09Chad Johnson:No step back three?

39:10Shannon Sharpe:No. No, I get it. But, Joe, it's hard, man. I know, bro. Think about how long he was the man. Think about it. You had to learn how to play in the beginning in Boston, not being the man. You had to learn how to play in Phoenix, not being the man. And then you go. So now you had already known how to play without being the man. It's easier. Just imagine. James Harden had the highest usage rate year after year after year. I've been the guy. There's not a shot that I can't take and nobody look at me crazy. Yeah.

39:53Chad Johnson:It's different now, bro. real tall and his age

39:57Shannon Sharpe:we looking at it every day do he see that is different that is the question it doesn't matter what nightcap me you and Ocho think what does he think I think he does I think he sees it Uncle Joe because when you watch the film it's right there the eye in the sky don't lie the tape don't lie man yeah you as a player you got to come to a realization you know what I'm not the same as I once was but I got to find a way to navigate it I got to find a way to evolve my game and be able to adapt, being that I'm not as twitchy as I was. My first step is not as quick as it used to be. I can't get people off the spot the way I used to back in the day.

40:36So now I got to figure out other ways to do it.

40:40Shannon Sharpe:You know, everybody tell me what he did is OKC. Everybody can't be a head coach, have success, win a championship, being a head coach, and then all of a sudden go back to being an assistant.

40:51Chad Johnson:Yeah.

40:56Shannon Sharpe:You got to realize who James Harden was. I don't think y 'all realize that. Y 'all just looking at him as a guy. He was not a guy. He was the guy. He ain't a regular.

41:05Chad Johnson:Yeah.

41:07Shannon Sharpe:So now you're going to ask him, you're going to like, hold on. You're going to like, hold on. You macro managing me now?

41:12Chad Johnson:Come on, bro.

41:13Shannon Sharpe:A top 75 player, a many-time scoring champion. We get all that. A top 75 player.

41:18Chad Johnson:We get all that. Hey, hey, hey. We got to pull the reins back a little bit, though. You know, you want to, hey, hey. You about to be 37. You want to play until you 40? Hey, man, you're going to have to live with this 16 to 18 points a night, high efficiency rate. You know, we bring in some help. But, man, you can't keep going in season after season as he keep aging, thinking, oh, yeah, well, he's going to be back at 25, 27 points a night. That ain't happening, bro. No. No.

41:49Shannon Sharpe:But the Knicks. Now let's get to the Knicks. Hey. Let's go. I told you. Huh? I mean. I told you. They, the Cav 20 points, that's the most in the playoff run. Jalen Brunson wins Eastern Conference Finals MVP. Walt Frazier presented him the Larry Bird Trophy. Brunson took$113 million pay cut in the summer 2024. The Knicks used that cap space to add Cat, Mikael Bridges, and extend OG and Danube. and now they are a legit championship contending team. Brunson all-time gamble paid off. The New York Knicks are headed to the NBA Finals. The Knicks have won their closeout games this postseason by an average of 39.3.

42:37Shannon Sharpe:That is the greatest margin in NBA history. The last time the Knicks were in the Finals, Jalen Brunson was two. OG Ananobi was one. Josh Hart was four. Carl Anthony Towns was three. Mikael Bridges was two. That's crazy. So they don't know nothing about the next bid to the finals. Somebody had to tell them.

43:11Chad Johnson:They don't remember nothing. Hey, can you imagine somebody coming on your front porch, knocking on your door, say, hey, Ocho, come outside. I got this ass whooping lined up for you. They come on your front porch. What you going to do? Boy, you going to fight like hell on your front porch, AJ Man. Yeah. Every dog fight harder than his own yard. You know that, Joe. Look. That too. Hold on. Hey, what make it even worse, Joe, is think about if it's in today's society, if in today's area, somebody come on your porch. And you know people like that, you know what they got ready too? They got those cameras out.

43:44Chad Johnson:Mm-hmm. Oh, wait, I'm going to go viral? Oh, I'm fighting for my life. I'm fighting for my life. And what you don't want to hear - What do they tell you, Ocho? You know what else? You know what you don't want to hear in the background, you don't want to hear nobody scream, Worldstar.

44:01Shannon Sharpe:Oh, hell no. But I'm fighting for my life. Hey, when somebody come to your home and they start to get getting crazy, what do you tell them? Man, don't disrespect my house now. Don't disrespect me in my house. You let them mofos come to your house and disrespect you. Go use the bathroom. Don't flush. Put their feet up on it. Come on, little bitch. Come on, now. Hey, they don't spray. They don't do no spray. They don't do nothing. Got their shoes on. You done told them to take the shoes off at the door. They got their shoes on. And they walk across your grass to get in the house. Nah, hell nah, man.

44:43Shannon Sharpe:Man, this was embarrassing. But the Knicks, they got balance scoring. I mean, they had, what, six guys in double figures? Josh Hart was his Josh Hart. Only took five shots, but he had 11 rebounds, six assists, two steals, six points. OG, doing what OG does. Cat, Cat has been phenomenal this postseason. 19 points, another double-double, 19 points, 14 rebounds. Mikael Bridges. Mikael Bridges had his worst game to date. He finally looked human, Joe. Yeah. Hey. He finally looked human. 4-16. He was 6-6 for the free throw line. Brunson, 6-14, but they didn't need it. I mean, think about it. You got 18 minutes.

45:35Shannon Sharpe:Mitchell Robinson got 10 rebounds in 18 minutes. Josh Hart got 11 rebounds in 24 minutes. Cat got 14 in 26 minutes.

45:44Chad Johnson:Yeah, and Shaman just been balling.

45:47Shannon Sharpe:Oh, man, he been on the – man, he out his damn mind shooting three. What the hell? Hey, you were four for four for me.

45:54Chad Johnson:Hey, listen, he didn't even play in the first series against the Hawks, bro. He didn't touch the flow. I don't remember him even touching the flow getting in the game. Hey, man, the Knicks got a – they got a lot of guys outside of OG getting hurt, you know, in this playoffs with that hammy or whatever it was he had. they probably going to be the healthiest team in the finals bro if we just got to keep it 100 yes you know what I'm going to say too Joe you know what's a good thing for the Knicks too is the fact that they got that boxing match going on I'm talking about they ain't no regular I'm talking about a boxing match they beating each other up right and why they beating each other up hey nah we get the rest up we get to relax I say so the Knicks are at an advantage especially once this series does start because whoever they're playing, whether it's the Spurs or whether it's the Thunder, they're going to be beat the hell up.

46:51Shannon Sharpe:Based on what I've seen with the Knicks, what we thought would be a foregone conclusion, the Western Conference winner, I ain't so sure anymore, Joe. The Knicks play like this. If the Knicks play like they played, the last 10, 11 ball games, they can beat anybody in the West. That includes the Thunder or the Spurs. If they play like they played the last 11 games.

47:16Chad Johnson:Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on, hold on, hold on. Ocho. Now, hey, hey, hey, hey. The game just went out, so I'm going to kind of say, y 'all, prisoners of the moment, right? Nah, Joe. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Listen, listen. Prisoner of the moment, Joe. I had the Knicks win the finals, period. What you talking about? Prisoner of the moment. Yeah, I think you're going to be wrong. I think because Cleveland does not have any perimeter defense at all. to guard nothing. Can't guard none of them boys. Them two teams over in the Western Conference, they gonna guard, bro. But let me ask you a question.

47:52Chad Johnson:Could Atlanta guard? Semi. That's what.

47:55Shannon Sharpe:Did Philly have decent perimeter guys? Semi.

47:57Chad Johnson:That's why we won two games.

48:00Shannon Sharpe:Yeah. So, and think about it. Those two teams out there, they can defend. And guess what? It's 2-2. And can the Knicks defend? Yeah. Yeah.

48:11Chad Johnson:Brunson, I mean, he... Brunson liability on defense now. Yes. But he going to light somebody ass up on offense. I just think... Light him up. I think that's... I ain't saying he ain't going to play well for us, but I don't think it's going to be easy for him like it was this series. I mean... Who said that last series, Joe? Who they played? Philly? Yeah. Hey, Ocho, damn, he went to college in Philly. That's like going home. He felt good. He felt good. in Philly, hell. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, Philly, Philly ain't put up no damn resistance here. Man, we ain't talking about that. Listen. And you talk about both teams gonna be banged up, Joe.

48:53Chad Johnson:Yeah, they gonna be banged up, but they still gonna have some guys who can go. Listen, if they play the Spurs, hey, I'm gonna be real with you. The Knicks might not win a game. Oh, here we go. I'm gonna keep it.

49:10Shannon Sharpe:I'm not saying the Knicks gonna win but I'm saying I believe based on what I've seen Joe man and do you know what happens Joe when you play with the confidence they believe they believe Mike Brown give Mike Brown credit he's got them playing on the string they playing complimentary basketball they rebound the basketball about at an elite level. Hey, Uncle Joe, as great as the Spurs are, Castle and Vassell being able to sit in that chair and play defense. Obviously, that goddamn alien Wimby. As great as the Thunder are, especially defensively, being able to do it by committee, especially probably having the deepest bench, I still got the Knicks winning for some reason.

50:00For some reason, I think this is the Knicks year, which is why I continue to pick the Knicks since the playoff started. Every time, and I've been right. Joe and the fact that I've been right the entirety of the playoffs and the fact that you still are going against the grain yet again, Joe Johnson, you know, I mean, it's beyond despite despite your knowledge.

50:21Chad Johnson:Listen, I love the energy and effort that the Knicks play with. I love seeing Bridges and Hart and OG, them guys out there guarding, they butt off picking up full court. They made it tough as hell on Donovan and James this whole series. But guess what? Them teams in that West, they going to match their energy, partner. You know what I mean? I'm talking about picking up full court, making you uncomfortable. Like the Cavs weren't doing nothing. they picking their man up at half court while the Knicks was dogging them the whole game. You know what I'm saying? It's going to be a different story, bro.

50:57Chad Johnson:I'm telling you, it's going to be a different story in the finals. Kudos to the Knicks for making it. It's going to be great for basketball. I'm sure New York City is going crazy right now, but this thing ain't going to be as sweet as y 'all think, no. Hey, Joe, we didn't say it was going to be sweet. I'm just telling you, you bases off, I'm not going to say analytics but you're using common sense and logic you're using basketball knowledge and the fact that you're using basketball knowledge that's why you've been wrong the whole time that's what I'm trying to tell you

51:31Shannon Sharpe:the Knicks are going to shock the world the Knicks did beat the Spurs in the cup, the NBA cup the Knicks beat them now last year we saw Indiana take them seven games now do we believe Indiana is that much better than the Knicks are this year? Or was it just a magical run? A magical run. Could have been a magical run. Because I think Mike Brown has said, hold on. They're not unbeatable. They play defense. Look, you got OG that can defend. Mikael Bridges is going to probably start on Shea. He's a long, wiry, rangy guy. Quick feet. Heart, hey, heart on Hartenstein. He like, Like, hey, man, I just guarded Evan Mobley.

52:20Shannon Sharpe:He has better offensive game. Now, he might not hustle. He's going to do a great job, but I can tell you this, Josh Hart hustled too. He understands that he's playing a guy that just has a motor just like he does.

52:32Chad Johnson:But I'm out working. Hey, the difference is I don't think them guys can stop Shea from getting to his spots, and they ain't got no damn Wimby back there. No, you're right.

52:43Shannon Sharpe:You're right about that now.

52:44Chad Johnson:They ain't got no damn Wimby back there. So now they can get back to regular scheduled programming. Now we can get in here and shoot our normal shots, our pull-ups, our floaters getting into the lane. Filetting all.

53:00So now you just totally disrespecting the Knicks now. That's basically what you're saying. I ain't disrespecting the Knicks, bro. That's the way you're saying it. You're talking about – hold on. Hold on. You're saying, okay, we done got past the Spurs or the Thunder got past the Spurs or the Spurs get past the Thunder not because they play in the Knicks. Now they get back to their regics at the program. So you're just saying they chop liver.

53:19Chad Johnson:The Thunder get back. Now, I'm saying that the Spurs has something nobody else has here.

53:29Shannon Sharpe:Yeah, you're right. I mean, Wimby is a cheat code. Yeah, whatever you want to call it. But I'm telling you, man, Brunson's going to get to his spot too. now you know he can draw some files too now with that lefty that herky-jerky motion jojo yeah yeah

53:48Chad Johnson:hey hey they call him big body brunson for a reason you know how to use that body to create

53:53Shannon Sharpe:some space now you can do that with the best of them and you hey he'll put that shoulder into your leg just like shea yeah create that separation and the thing is he left-handed man you know them lefty they crafty for the fourth year in a row the eastern conference champion had lost in the Eastern Conference the year before. The Knicks in 2026, they lost to the Pacers last year. In 25, they lost in 24. The Celtics lost in 23 and the Heat lost in 22. So, I guess Cleveland, y 'all next. Not. Hey.

54:38Chad Johnson:Hey, Brown go back to Cleveland. You're going to be rooting for Cleveland, bro. I'll be rooting for Brown. You're going to have to root for Cleveland.

54:47Shannon Sharpe:I'll go today. I guess I'll have to, you know, pull my old land, my land, a Brown jersey out, my T-shirt.

54:57Shannon Sharpe:But this is embarrassing. It was, bro. And look, I'm happy for Mike Brown, you know, that he got an opportunity. I don't know why they fired that man in Sacramento I don't I don't know Joe I don't know and I don't know Doug Christie but I know he played for the organization but it seemed like they were not better under Doug Christie than they were Mike Brown and Mike Brown had just took them to the playoffs as a matter of fact didn't they go like seven games and ended up losing to Steph when Steph had that historic that great game seven.

55:36Chad Johnson:Oh, you're talking about Sacramento when they had D. Fox and Sabonis now. Yeah.

55:41Shannon Sharpe:Yeah. I mean, think about it. D. Fox wanted to leave Sabonis. Sabonis has been hurt lately. I don't know what they got going on over there. I don't either. I don't. I don't either.

55:59Copenhagen's spit-free pouches are packed full of American-grown tobacco. Made for welders. Stuck behind masks. More mechanics. Stuck on a fused spark plug. The long-haul trucker stuck in gridlock. Performing. Working late at the field office. Or anytime there's no time or space to spit, there's Copenhagen Spit-Free Pouches. Find them in stores today. Not all varieties available in all geographies. Warning, this product can cause mouth cancer. When it comes to advancing your education, you have more options than you think. At Rasmussen University, we find ways to remove barriers, not build them.

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57:32Hello, hello, this is Malcolm Glaibble from Smart Talks with IBM. Today we're diving into a fascinating conversation with Stefano Pallard, head of fan development for Scuderia Ferrari HP. Your pronunciation is strongly American. It's more Scuderia Ferrari. I'm still working on rolling my R's. But what I was able to learn from Stefano was the importance of engaging the Tifosi, the Ferrari superfans in the digital age. Ferrari fans and super fans want to be part of something, want to belong to something. So they want to be part of a community and ultimately they want to be part of a winning team.

58:09You've got Ferrari, which has a long history, design history. And now you're interacting in a kind of digital space. I'm curious how you balance those two traditions. When it comes to fan engagement, it's really digital technology and digital channels are being able to create a deeper connection with our fans. To learn more about how Ferrari and IBM are using technology to build deeper connections with fans, visit ibm.com slash Ferrari.

58:43Shannon Sharpe:Now streaming on Paramount+. From executive producer Lena Waithe, the acclaimed series The Shy reaches its final chapter. For seven seasons, we've lived these stories, walked these streets, become part of this community. Now it all leads to this. Friendships will be tested, families will evolve, and secrets refuse to stay buried. As the past catches up and the future comes into focus, one truth remains, The Chi is more than a series. It's a legacy. Don't miss the final season of The Chi. Now streaming on the Paramount Plus Premium Plan. Here's a video of Donovan McNabb. I don't want to say Donovan McNabb so bad.

59:23Shannon Sharpe:Donovan Mitchell going off on the Cavs in the second quarter down by 20. Let's look at the video.

59:54a

59:57Chad Johnson:AD Hey, Mitch, if you see this, bruh, don't even sweat it, man. You and Coco Jones, man. Y 'all gone, gone. Y 'all nice vacation. You know what I'm saying? Hey, hey, hey. You came to play tonight. I don't know what the hell the mother boy was doing, though. Me did. Hey, he was snapping on that sideline, boy. Not enough. Too late. They were down 20 in the second quarter, fellas, at home. Boy, hey, they were packed up.

1:00:26Shannon Sharpe:Once, you know, they got out to that great start, Donovan hit a couple of threes, you know, got to the basket, did the swipe over the top. Once the Knicks weathered that two minutes and they go on their own 12-0 run. It was a wrap. You ain't seen up a tail light. They kicked up a duck, kicked up a duck up in your eyes.

1:00:48Chad Johnson:It seemed like.

1:00:50Shannon Sharpe:And that's, look. I got to do that. I'm just saying, man. These guys, man, I don't know, man. It don't seem like losing hurt people enough anymore. Man, I'm telling you, man, that ish bothered me. Man, we lose. I couldn't sleep.

1:01:07Chad Johnson:Yeah.

1:01:09Shannon Sharpe:I'm playing all the plays. Man, damn, I could have did this. I'm playing all this ish in my mind. It don't hurt enough people to lose. So it tells me if it don't hurt you enough to lose, you ain't put a dumb enough into it. because I promise you, somebody lose money. It hurt them, don't it, don't you? Ocho, you say, if I lose$25, you know why it hurt? Because you know how hard you work for that damn money.

1:01:33Chad Johnson:Yeah. Damn. You right, man. It's just, you know, when you at home, bro, in the postseason, and then got this far Eastern Conference Finals, and then come out there and just get a fence, that piss poor effort, bro, I couldn't believe it. I ain't going to lie to you. I'm talking about to start the game, I couldn't believe it. You know, the Knicks just was – I'm talking about scoring their will, and then it seems like once the Cavs get down, their comeback game ain't about nothing. They crack. Yep. They crack. Yeah, their comeback game ain't about nothing. It's like everybody just start – like, oh, what's going on?

1:02:16Shannon Sharpe:Everybody start trying to go one-on-one. Everybody's like, well, hey, we already down 10-15. Hell, let me get my shot. When them damn turnovers started happening, next thing you know, you're down 30. Exactly. Out there getting run outs. Alvarado, come in and get a run out. Bunch of cops steal the ball, get a run out. I say, man, shh.

1:02:38Chad Johnson:Nick's partying right now as we speak.

1:02:40Shannon Sharpe:Can you imagine what New York like? Oh, my God. Because they had the police all lined up. Because they already.

1:02:48Chad Johnson:Yeah. They getting ready, they know. Check them out. Golly. Yeah, man.

1:02:58Shannon Sharpe:They know. The Knicks, what they should have did, Joe, is charge 10 people to come into the game and watch the game on the big screen at MSG.

1:03:07Chad Johnson:Yeah, they could have made a little money for that. They'd have packed it out. Yeah! They probably had something going on up there. I like that. That's dope. that's dope hey when they when they when they win the finals yeah i'm going i'm going to new york to celebrate with the boys because oh how you going to celebrate hey because i hey i picked them boys since the playoffs started everybody laughing at me joe he every time i pick the dick joe go opposite of me and he talking about why they gonna lose hey hey hey and here we go again you know you know the finals coming up he's still picking whether it's the spurs or the thunder he's still picking against the goddamn knicks he learned a lesson hey listen don't get your ass trampled down there man going yeah it'd be like jr don't get that well now i'm gonna be good i think i blend it i blend in so well they won't even know what's going on and put on a new york hat you know put on a nice little jersey.

1:04:07Dang on.

1:04:12Shannon Sharpe:That is dope. Well, I tell you what. When we win the Super Bowl, I'm definitely going to celebrate.

1:04:18Chad Johnson:Well, who win?

1:04:22Shannon Sharpe:Ah, damn. Joao? Hey, I was going to say that. Who are you talking about? Don't you say a word. Hold on, hold on. You said when you win the Super Bowl. He's talking about the Ravens. He's got to be talking about the Ravens. It don't matter. I got two teams. No, you don't. You got one team. Who a team? Your team is pro. Joe, why you do that, man? You played for the Ravens for one week. You used to at least talk about that one. Hey, hey, hey.

1:04:47Chad Johnson:And he's slick, too, because it depends on who win that day. That's who he going for. I don't read the people's game. I see what he got going on.

1:04:55Shannon Sharpe:I mean, I got two teams, Joe. I mean, I won with both teams, man. I mean, what you want me to do, Joe? You want me to renounce my... I mean, look here. I'm a guy that got dual citizenship. I mean, you know, sometimes you could be born in a place and get American citizenship, and you got Nigerian citizenship, and you got—I got dual citizenship.

1:05:12Chad Johnson:That's two hell of a team to have, boy.

1:05:16Shannon Sharpe:I'm sorry, Ocho. Your team, the Guppies and the Bungles, I'm sorry. Don't worry about it. You already know the Guppies. You ain't going to be celebrating nothing in Miami. The Guppies going to be pissed. He ain't even going to go to no games this year. I don't blame him. Hey, listen, honestly, if you look at the league in itself, there may be eight teams out of the 32, right? There are eight teams that are competing to lift that Lombardi. Everybody else is just trying to make as much money as they can this season. I'm just being honest. That's what it comes down to because you know your team is not constructed to compete at the highest level to even think about the goddamn playoffs or raising that damn trophy.

1:06:03Shannon Sharpe:you're just not I mean you can't have two teams yeah I can let's just say for the sake of argument Ocho I go to undergrad I get my degree undergrad at Harvard yes sir but I get my post grad from Yale so what am I supposed to do wherever you started first huh so so what did Yale? Yale got my money too yeah but it doesn't I understand that part but wherever you start that journey that is always your team you do realize in order you have to start a new journey if you get a postgraduate degree also right you can really understand that but where your journey first starts when you're thinking about getting that degree is the one you always latch on to that's just the way it goes no they don't go like that you can't make up your own rules huh yes the first team you played for that is your team now if you just know that it is i i support the broncos when the record as long as If the Ravens don't play the Broncos, I'm rooting for the Ravens.

1:07:02Shannon Sharpe:Okay, all right.

1:07:04Chad Johnson:Oh yeah, he's slick with it now.

1:07:08Shannon Sharpe:Ain't no slick, Ocho, I mean Joe Adeo. Real slick with it boy. Yeah, you real, you real, flip floppy. So let me ask you a question. You win a championship with Phoenix, but you have your best year. So let's just say for the sake of argument, that year that you got hurt, y 'all win the championship, but you go on to play with Atlanta. What you doing? What you mean what I'm doing? Hey, what you doing? So you not going back, so when the Phoenix, you not going to celebrate that championship? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So are you a Phoenix Sun or you an Atlanta Hawk? Cause you got the name ISO with the Hawks.

1:07:44Shannon Sharpe:So what you doing? I'm running with both. I'm running with both.

1:07:49Chad Johnson:Oh, champ, y 'all hear what this man say. This man told me he's running with both. I'm saying, I'm going to cheer for both. You know what I mean? i'm a cheerful both i'm a cheerful bowl but i see i don't see i've seen some of the moves you to made though i know how you moving out here you know what i mean i see i seen the broncos go down and the ravens winning you all raven i seen the ravens play bad they doing all them damn fumbles and all that he act like he don't know nothing about the raven no more hey flip floppy here you There you go. See what I'm talking about? Hey Joe, when they come in the Bengals, win or loss, I'm right there.

1:08:26I'm right there.

1:08:27Shannon Sharpe:No, no, ain't a whole lot of wins going on. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, Joe, I don't piggyback on, I don't piggyback on the winning this success. I don't piggyback on none of that. Yeah, bottom one. BMO, y 'all see that right there? Yeah. Do they say, hey, the Bengals see y 'all, see you stuff like this at home, Joe? Hey, I got a key to the building, man. Don't play at me. I got a key to the building. You hear me? I got the code to steal, get in the locker room. This is my key right here, Joe. Well. Hey, how you doing, Shannon?

1:09:01Shannon Sharpe:Hey, remember you in high school, how you took your senior picture on Joe? You hold that helmet like that right here. Oh yeah. Shannon Sharp, senior. Tight end.

1:09:13Chad Johnson:Check it out, check it out.

1:09:15Shannon Sharpe:Or you at homecoming, You hold that bag up in front of y 'all like this here, Joe. Oh, Joe. I can't wait to football. I can't wait to football season. I can't believe you. I can't wait to football season, bro. You should be able to wait. Cowboys, baby. I already know y 'all going to be some stir fry.

1:09:35Chad Johnson:Who are you talking about? Y 'all. Okay. Okay. All right. Copenhagen's Spit Free packs American-grown tobacco into pouches

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1:10:33Online nationally or check out their 20 campuses across six states. Start when you're ready and get the support you need. Visit rasmussen.edu. When you own your own business, you own every decision. Catch the red eye or take the 6 a.m. Make a new hire or promote internally. Celebrate a win with the toast at the gate or unwind at the lounge. Big props to this team. Some decisions are a win-win, like earning eight times points on Chase Travel. Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business, the business card that gives back all you put in. Visit chase.com slash reserve business to learn more. Cards issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank.

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From the publisher

Shannon Sharpe, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and Iso Joe Johnson react to the Knicks advancing to first finals in 27 years and Donovan Michell goes off on teammates in huddle

Subscribe to Nightcap presented by PrizePicks so you don’t miss out on any new drops! Download the PrizePicks app today and use code SHANNON to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup! Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/NI...

00:00 - Introduction
08:08 - Knicks beat Cavs
49:44 - Donovan Mitchell goes off on team in huddle

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