Nightcap Hour 1: Rockets FORCE GAME 6 vs Lakers + Pistons AVOID ELIMINATION vs Magic + Cavs TAKE SERIES LEAD over Raptors

18:06Chad Johnson:They can go home. I know they looking forward to winning game six and coming back to L.A. for game seven. But I think Houston got a real shot at this. Yeah.

18:17Shannon Sharpe:Absolutely. Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Only four teams to start 3-0. Only four have ever forced to game seven. those teams are 0-3 even though they forced a game seven. LeBron James' team has never blown a 2-0 series lead his entire NBA career. I just, look, like you said, Joe, they didn't have, they didn't come out with that passion. I mean, they got a little lead, and then, you know, Houston took a timeout, and they just.

18:47Chad Johnson:Hey, them damn minutes that they logging night in and night out. I'm telling you, man, they're starting to catch up with them. Well, they're going to catch up with LeBron.

18:57Shannon Sharpe:LeBron played another 39 minutes. I mean, Shingun played 43 minutes. Almond Thompson played, but you're talking about guys that's 25. Yeah. You're talking about guys, I mean, LeBron Key is damn the oldest of these guys. Yeah. You got Jabari Smith Jr. played 42 minutes. You got Almond Thompson played 45 minutes. Your big guys that you're counting on, Easton came in and gave him some great minutes tonight. He gave 18 points, Joe, on 6 of 11, 2 of 6. He played really well before, what, did he foul out? No, he picked up his fifth. Did they change it? Because I started getting the dress when they called a charge on him and they challenged it.

19:31Shannon Sharpe:They changed it. I think he shot free throws behind that. Okay. I figured that as much. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. I just want to make something clear real quick, right? Yeah. LeBron is still playing, Joe. Right? Correct? Yes. It was his decision to play this far into his career, 23 years in the league at 41 years old. What we can't keep doing is using his age as a reason when things don't work out or trying to set that up as a course on why things didn't work out. He knows his legs wouldn't be the same playing at 41 years old, playing a certain amount of minutes, especially being in a situation like this.

20:09So we can't keep throwing out his age all the time, every time things don't go right. That's his decision, the one to play this long.

20:16Shannon Sharpe:Even when things go well, you're in awe that a 41-year-old is doing this because we've never seen it before. Yeah. Yeah, obviously. So even the mere fact that he's playing, because normally when guys are playing, you look at Vince Carter. Guys are averaging five points a game. He's 20. He's 25 and five. Actually, he was 26, 20.8, seven, and I think six. So you look at what he's doing. So even, yes, we're not saying that, using that as a crutch. Right. But even when he plays well at 41, you have to marvel it because we've never seen anybody play that well at 40, at 39, at 38. And what you're asking him to do, nobody has ever been asked to do what he's doing at this age.

21:06Shannon Sharpe:So let that sink in for a second. You're asking him at 41 to do something. The NBA is 70 years old. and a history, no, 80 years old. I'll take that back, 80 years old. And we've never seen the NBA ask a player at that age to do what they're asking him to do. That's not an excuse. They have to play better. But the days of him being able to single-handedly put teams on his back like he did the Cavs against Boston, like he did against Toronto, like he did against Indiana, those days are over. Yeah, yeah. And it's over for a lot. KD can't carry a team like he once could. Steph Curry can't carry a team like he once could.

21:49Shannon Sharpe:James Harden can't carry a team like he once could. Sports is a young man's game.

21:56Chad Johnson:And when you look at the game, you look down the stretch, you see how all his shots were short? Yep. Because them legs gone, bro. When them legs gone, I don't care who you are, bro. The first thing that go when them legs gone is that jump shot. That jump shot out the door. It's out the window. That's why you see a lot of his shots was at the basket, at the rim, in the paint. You know, and that's what we talk about, you know, as series goes along, because it's so physical, it's so grueling, and it's so mental, you know, it's mentally challenging that, bro, it's draining. It is draining, dog.

22:32Shannon Sharpe:And he was a great Joe. I mean, you got to give him credit, Ocho and Joe. He took to him free throw attempts. Oh, yeah. But it's hard at his age to constantly drive, to constantly drive. He can't put pressure on you like Shea. Shea 26. So he can just come at you and just keep coming and keep coming and keep coming at you. That's not LeBron. He got to pick and choose those spots. Right.

22:54Chad Johnson:I agree.

22:54Shannon Sharpe:But he's going to need other guys. He's going to need Austin. Look, it was a great game for Austin to get back. I think he'll be better in game six. He's got to realize he's been off for a month.

23:05Chad Johnson:Yeah.

23:05Shannon Sharpe:I believe he'll be better in game six than he was in game five. Hey, he put pressure on him. I love the way he attacked. Shots just didn't go down for it.

23:13Chad Johnson:Yeah. Another guy that you can put in the pick and roll who can obviously create, score, make plays for other guys. But, man, it's going to take a lot for them to put this young Houston team away, fellas. Oh, yeah, for sure.

23:28Shannon Sharpe:Because, like I said, they got confidence now. They believe. And, Joe, we talked about it the other night, Ocho. We talked about how the Cavaliers, when they were down 3-1, they said, okay, let's get this game. Okay, now we're going to go. we're going to get game five there. Now we're going to come back home and get game six here. Now all the pressure goes on them because no team has ever given up a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals. No team in NBA playoff history has given up a 3-0 lead. All the pressure goes to the team, especially if you're at home. You're at home.

24:10Chad Johnson:Hey, listen to this. If OKC, they at the house like this here rubbing their hands together. Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Because as soon as y 'all come out this grueling series right here against the Rockets, whoever. You got to deal with us. They probably going to play next Tuesday.

24:24Shannon Sharpe:Because you got Friday, Sunday. Oh, they playing next Tuesday. Yeah. And damn who wins. They playing, well, the Rockets or the Lakers. They're playing next Tuesday. NBA don't want to put the schedule out, but they playing next Tuesday. You're not going that much farther.

24:40Chad Johnson:Hey, the boys resting. They kind of healing up some of them wounds they got. Yeah. It's going to be a dangerous team, bro. I mean, that's what you don't want. Hey, Unger and Joe. What's up? Yes. What do we got regardless of who makes it out of this series, whether it's the Lakers?

24:53Shannon Sharpe:Neither team. Both teams getting swept if they play OKC. Okay. I just want to see what you're going to give it. A gentleman's sweep.

25:02Chad Johnson:No, 4-0. Ain't no gentleman. So you don't think OKC going to get a challenge until they get to the Western Conference? That is correct. Finals?

25:12Shannon Sharpe:Yeah. Yes. They're just too good. They're just too good. Too much depth, shit. And that guy, that guy, the head of the snake. He nice. He ain't playing no silly games, is he, man? Nope. Nope. He's in attack mode. He's in attack mode. He's in attack mode. Those guys are defending. They're defending. They're defending. They're defending at an elite level. Guys understand their role. They understand their responsibility. They're not envious of each other. Hey, all the guys have gotten contracts. So, hey, Chet got his money. Jay got his money. Obviously, Shea got his money. Hardenstein came with the fridge, and so he got his money.

25:55Shannon Sharpe:Everybody paid.

25:56Chad Johnson:And they know it's his stake. You know, to be able to go back to back.

25:59Shannon Sharpe:You want to be great? You got to go back to back. that's why the Spurs don't get the credit that they deserve they won five but they never went back to back yeah that goddamn SGA Joe y 'all probably correct me if I'm wrong does his game, his style of play the way he plays on the court does he not have that same killer mentality like Jordan or goddamn Kobe

26:23Chad Johnson:or am I tripping nah he got that killer instinct you know I think it's more of a it's more of a confidence thing. Okay, Ocho, you know, just knowing that it don't matter who y 'all put on me. Bro, this dude can't check me. He can't stay in front of me. He can't stop me from getting to my spots, period, point blank. I mean, he had the last game in Phoenix where he had like 15 assists. Man. He had like 15 assists. So he can do more than just score. I think he knows that with J-Dub being out, he's going to have to do a little more. You know, they're going to have to have other guys step up. But, okay, Ocho, I got faith in the Lakers, bro.

27:02Chad Johnson:I think they'll win. They'll probably more than like them. Hold on, Joe. How you got faith in the Lakers? Not, not, not. Don't have faith in them. I'm saying I think they'll answer the bill in this series against the Rockets. That's what I'm saying. You know what I mean? Is it going to be challenging? Yeah, but I think they have – they can do it. That's what I'm saying. I think they can do it. I think Houston just being such a young team, obviously they learn from their mistakes. And Houston could easily be up in this series, fellas. They could easily be up in the series. So, but Joe, you do realize is that because the Lakers start off so slow,

27:39Shannon Sharpe:when you're an older team, it's harder for you to get back. You can't summons up that energy.

27:43Chad Johnson:Yeah, can't get behind.

27:45Shannon Sharpe:Yes. Not deep. You fall behind, young teams can chase you down because they got guys they can keep coming. They got the 26 and under guys, and they can just keep coming, keep coming.

27:55Chad Johnson:Right.

27:57Shannon Sharpe:Your best player is 41. Austin Reeves is coming back after a month and you don't have guys that are really knock down shooters. You got guys that are streaky and can get hot. Take that back. Luke Kennard is a shooter. You don't win a three, three point percentage of the field goal percentages and not be a good three point shooter. But the other guys, Austin, not Austin Reeves, Marcus Mark is streaky. Rui is streaky. But when you fall behind and you fall behind by double digits, it's one thing if you can keep it six or seven. But when you think about it, you've got – and the problem is they don't defend particularly well.

28:34Shannon Sharpe:So you fall behind, Joe. You make a couple of threes. Okay, you down 13. You make a couple of threes. Okay, you get it down to seven. Guess what happens? A layup is nine. Another layup is 11. And you've expended a lot of energy to cut over two minutes only to whittle the lead down two points. Yeah. And that's what they did tonight. Think about it. They cut it to three. Yeah. And the next thing you know, it's back up to seven.

29:06Chad Johnson:Yeah. It was too late.

29:08Shannon Sharpe:And they burnt. They gassed.

29:10Chad Johnson:Yeah. Yeah. A couple crucial turnovers.

29:13Shannon Sharpe:Yes.

29:14Chad Johnson:You know, it'll bite you every time. But, man, get this young Rockets team credit, bro. They can't. They did what they were supposed to do. Like you say, on Taurus Eastern, I thought he played great for them. He was tough. He made shots, and he guarded, just like Thompson, just like Smith. I thought all those guys really, really show promise tonight as far as that they want to continue their season. And if they go home and take care of home court, who knows what will happen in Game 7? Who knows?

29:45Shannon Sharpe:I believe it's going to be a Game 7.

29:46Chad Johnson:You think so?

29:47Shannon Sharpe:I do. I do.

29:52Chad Johnson:Boy, they game seven going to be tough, man, because you only going to get a day of rest, and then you got to go play OKC.

29:58Shannon Sharpe:Well, we saw what happened when they played that overtime game, remember? Yeah. We saw how the Lakers look. Yeah, yeah. Now, this will be – they play again on Friday night. Think about that. LeBron James has played 40 minutes, back-to-back games. Monday night Wednesday night gonna play again on Friday night yeah hey hey that's three and a half

30:27Chad Johnson:four miles fellas a game

30:29Shannon Sharpe:yes

30:30Chad Johnson:yeah he gonna have to be on his horses what good

30:36Shannon Sharpe:I don't think they'll leave I think they'll leave tomorrow I think they'll give the guys like hey go home get up hey sleep in your own bed We'll leave. We'll come in and watch tape, see what we did. We'll leave tomorrow and get ready to go and get ready to try to close this thing out on Friday. I believe that'll be their schedule, the Lakers schedule.

30:55Chad Johnson:What's up with KD? Does he have any chance of coming back this year? Yeah, I think he does. So if he coming back, hell, I think game six is the perfect time for him to be coming back, don't you think? Yeah. I mean, what better position to be in, bro, for real. Seriously, I mean, I don't know the significance of his injury, but if he can get out there and give them anything, you know.

31:17Shannon Sharpe:But they play different with KD. They watch KD.

31:20Chad Johnson:I know. I know.

31:22Shannon Sharpe:That's the thing when you have a great player. You stand around watching. Yeah. Let me see what he's going to do. No, move. The hell? Go back and look at the games in which KD played and when they double KD. I agree. He got Thompson and Eason standing right next to each other. Ain't nobody dive to the basket. Ain't nobody run to the three-point line. Ain't nobody trying to come help him get the ball. Don't nobody know where to go. Now watch tonight when Shingun got double. Back go, Pete.

31:51Chad Johnson:Everybody moving. Yeah. Well, it's different.

31:53Shannon Sharpe:Watch the flare.

31:56Chad Johnson:It's different. It's different because KD handles the ball a lot. As soon as he crossed half court handling the rock, they send a double. They make him give it up. So now you got a four on three on the backside if you Houston. You just got to be able to make the right decisions, which they hadn't been able to do in the regular season or the postseason when KD has been playing. Now that KD isn't playing and you double Singoon, Singoon got catching the ball at the top of the key on the block. Yes. He ain't going to – yeah, he'll be out there the three of times, but they ain't really doubling him out there.

32:27Chad Johnson:They doubling him when – They got KD pushed so far out, Joe. There you go. There you go. So I agree with you on that. It's two totally different defensive coverages when he play. But if I'm Houston, boy, if I could get him to suit up, huh? Oh, yeah, for sure.

32:42Shannon Sharpe:Because if you think about it, Joe, they're trapping KD at the timeline on one side of the court. Yeah. If you look at where they're trapping him, they're trapping Shingun, he's getting the ball down there at the nail or at worst case scenario, the top of the key.

32:56Chad Johnson:Yeah, yeah. And so now when he, hey, you come with the double,

33:01Shannon Sharpe:he see, look at my back cut. But, oh, hey, I'm just flaring to the three-point line, Reed Shepard.

33:08Chad Johnson:Yeah.

33:08Shannon Sharpe:Tari Eason all the way backside. Let me get it to it. Yeah. Shingun is a better passer than KD. And a lot of those – Joe, you know a lot of those European big men, they are great passers. Oh, yeah.

33:22Chad Johnson:Oh, yeah.

33:22Shannon Sharpe:You look at Jokic. You look at Shingun. You look at guys, Busevich. They can pass out of the double team.

33:29Chad Johnson:Hey, that's probably one of the most underrated attributes you can have in your game, especially as a big man, as a center. Yes. If you got a center, bro, who has a high IQ and he knows how to play the game and he can pass, he can make the game easy for everybody around him. Yeah. I agree. I think Singoon, he's great at that. Not only is he a good passer, but he's a willing passer. And, you know, they got life, bro. Like you said, confidence is a mug, especially, you know, in the postseason. Now Lakers got to find a way to try to get a game. Confidence is everything in pro sports. Man. Copenhagen's spit-free pouches are packed full of American-grown tobacco.

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38:14Shannon Sharpe:Boy, we had a game. We had a game. We had a game. Cade Cunningham scores 45 against the Magic Stave off elimination and force a game six. Cade Cunningham scored a franchise playoff record, 45 points, including a step back jumper with 32 seconds. Orlando leads the series 3-2 and will head home on Friday night. The Magic fell to 0-10 in franchise history with a game five on the road. Paulo Bancaro, this is what we needed to see from you. 45 points, nine rebounds, seven assists on 17 of 31 shooting, six of 10 from the three, but he was terrible from the free throw line, and that might have really hurt him.

38:54Shannon Sharpe:Cade, 45 points, five assists, four rebounds on 13 of 23 field goals, five of eight from the three, 14 of 14, a perfect 14 of 14 from the free throw line. This is what I love to see when two guys got it going. Yeah. I mean, you remember when Donovan Mitchell and Jamal Murray were going back and forth. You remember LeBron, even though they ended up losing that game three, LeBron and KD were going back and forth. There's nothing like when two guys, we saw Bron and Paul Pierce have it going a couple of times in the playoffs. There's nothing like when two guys got it going, Anything you can do, I can do it better.

39:33Shannon Sharpe:Man. Joe, what did you like about the Pistons won this game? What did you like about the Pistons, and how did they win this game?

39:39Chad Johnson:I like the fight. I like the fight that the Pistons had, obviously, just being resilient, knowing that, you know, they was on their home floor. They had to take care of it because they weren't trying to, you know, lose and the series be over with. They were fighting to get back to Orlando. I like what Tobias Harris gave them tonight. Okay, Ocho, I thought he was great.

39:58Shannon Sharpe:He's been playing well, Joe.

39:58Chad Johnson:He has the past couple games. He's been playing well. He's been lifting them up. He's been giving Cade that second guy who he can really depend on. But I'm going to be honest with y 'all, man. They ain't really getting a whole lot from, you know, these other guys, bro. I mean, Durham was decent tonight. Duncan Robinson was decent. I just – Orlando, to beat them in Orlando? Yeah. That's going to be tough. I mean, because that's what they up against. They got to win two more games. Can Detroit go to Orlando, win a game, and come back home for a game? I don't believe they can.

40:32Shannon Sharpe:They need Thompson. Thompson was tremendous on the boards tonight. He was tremendous. They killed him on the boards tonight. They revert 49-33. Thompson only took three shots. Excuse me, he took five shots. He had 15 boards, six assists, five steals, two blocks. He's sensational on the defensive end. He and his brother are outstanding defensive players. His brother is a little bit more advanced offensively than him.

40:58Chad Johnson:Yeah.

40:59Shannon Sharpe:But K Cunningham.

41:01Chad Johnson:A young boy. A young boy. Nice, Uncle Joe. Hey, Ocho. Nice. Yeah. The boy got everything in his toolbox. You hear me? I'm talking about, listen, that's who, hell, if I was Orlando, I'd be sending that double in his ass when he cross half court. The way he got it going, you know what I mean? Because he operates well in traffic. He operates well in isolation. and he's a great catch and shoot guy. Yeah. I just, 45 points is awesome. I think, I don't know if he could do that again in Orlando, but he's going to have to be special for them to win. Just like, look, if he's going to play anywhere like this, they got a great chance of winning.

41:40Shannon Sharpe:Yeah.

41:41Chad Johnson:Remember, Joe, what was that game one? He had 39.

41:44Shannon Sharpe:Yeah. So he's more than capable of producing big numbers. But I don't – and Tobias Harris has been unbelievable in this series. Yes. He's played really well. And when you were expecting – and Durin gave you – he gave you 12. He only took six shots, nine rebounds. So he gave you a little more than what he normally does. But Tobias Harris has been unbelievable. They did get a little more out of Duncan Robinson. He's a kind of liability on the defensive end. So it's really hard for him to play him because they're going to attack him at every chance they get. he's that you know the cub he's that little animal the fox that they try to circle they try to get your attention over here and they try to steal him away because he unprotected because he can't protect himself and that's how they attack him I thought Stu came in and gave some quality minutes on the boards

42:40Chad Johnson:this was about Cade tonight oh yeah Pistons gotta have somebody come off their bench they can give them a little off you know I'm talking about cuz in Orlando bro I think depending on K to try and get you 40 50 points yeah I don't know if that's

42:56Shannon Sharpe:gonna happen I ain't saying that kind of points on the road Joe that don't happen very often a guy goes on the road and hit a monster number like that yeah but maybe you don't need him to hit 45 you need everybody else to come to the party huh that's it can Tobias Harris contribute the way he did tonight well continue to contribute and be consistent yeah Duncan Robinson you you You're supposed to be a shooter from the clip. Shoot it from the clip. I mean, it's one thing to say it, but then go out there and do it. Jalen Duren, he been up and down.

43:27Chad Johnson:Yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah. He been up and down, all goddamn series. So, I mean, that goddamn K, boy. Hey, if I'm – Hey, he nice. But if I'm Orlando, fellas, we not going back to Detroit. No? Hell no, we not going back to Detroit.

43:43Shannon Sharpe:If they make their free throw, they wouldn't have went back tonight. Joe, they missed 14 free throws, Joe. Cade missed seven.

43:51Chad Johnson:You mean Ben Carroll missed seven?

43:55Shannon Sharpe:I mean Ben Carroll, yeah. Ben Carroll missed seven. Jamal Cade was three of seven. Cade was five of 12. Jalen Sugg was 0 for one. De Silva was one of two. Black was one of two. They was 16 of 30.

44:10Chad Johnson:Hey, listen. Hey, good game, Detroit. But in Orlando, if I'm the Magic, we finna go balls to the wall, boy, game six. You hear me? I'm talking about we finna let it all hang out. No way you can go back to Detroit, bro. You can't – what the Lakers did tonight, Orlando can't do that.

44:33Shannon Sharpe:Hell of a game, though. Detroit didn't shoot any better from the free throw line. They missed 13, Joe. They missed 27 free throws between the two of them.

44:41Chad Johnson:Damn.

44:44Shannon Sharpe:It's a good game. Oh, this was an unbelievable game. And this is what you like. Look, man, I'm watching Paulo Bancaro. He come down with a three. Oh, y 'all hugging up on me, okay? I'm going to put this on the floor. And one. I'm going to put it on the floor again. And one. Now I'm going to hit you with a step back. Whop.

45:00Chad Johnson:He had it going. He had it going. He had it going.

45:05Shannon Sharpe:Joe, this is what we've been talking about. Yeah, but you didn't. Instead of selling for all those threes, get your ass down there on that block. Drive that ball. They can't get it. They can't stop you.

45:14Chad Johnson:Hey, he seems to kind of understand that. Ever since that bad-ass loss they had against Philly, he's been a totally different – he's been the player that we've been looking for. You know, he stepped up. He's answered every challenge. He's been playing great. And to come out with 45-9-7, 6-4-11 from the three, shh. Hey, it's going to be tough. Detroit, they got some work to do.

45:43Shannon Sharpe:That would have been a 50-point. He had a 50-ball in him. He makes some of the break. What?

45:48Chad Johnson:Hey, when you look at – when you see the stat sheet and you say, I have 45, and what, I missed five free throws? Seven. Seven free throws? Yeah, that hurt. That hurt.

46:00Shannon Sharpe:That hurt. And, you know, they played without Wagner. So, we don't know if he's coming back for game six, if it's something that's going to keep him out of game six, potentially can come back game seven, or is this something that keeps him out of the rest of the playoffs or at least keeps him out of the rest of this series?

46:16Chad Johnson:And it's a problem with Orlando because they got so many other key guys that hasn't played a lot this season. They all been injured for whatever reason. And, man, it's just hard to win like that. This is why I feel like they're giving Detroit a run for their money because they're really not an AC Ocho.

46:34Shannon Sharpe:No.

46:34Chad Johnson:You know, just dealing with all these injuries has kind of had them bogged down throughout the season to where all the key guys have missed significant, you know, amount of time. Yes. And, you know, they're somewhat healthy at this point. But to get Wagner back, yeah, that'll be huge for them.

46:52Shannon Sharpe:And you look at it, Joe. Cade played 44 minutes. Thompson played 36. Durin only 28. Robinson 25. Tobias played 31 minutes. They gave some quality minutes to their backups. You look at Stu, played 20 minutes. Devontae Green played 15 minutes. Karis LeVert played 25 minutes. And Jenkins played 16. Yeah. Anthony Black played 39 minutes off the bench. That's crazy.

47:19Chad Johnson:Yeah. I mean, they ain't really dependent on but about six guys for real.

47:24Shannon Sharpe:Yeah, yeah. They went eight deep. At least, what you call it, went deep in their back. What you call it, went Detroit. Look, you not look. All that, that's funny games in the regular season. Oh, man, they deep. They play 10 players. They play 11 players. Okay. The playoff start, you're going to probably be nine. Next round, you'll be eight. The next – that thing ain't going to be a seven-man rotation. There you go. Unless it's a blowout one way or another.

47:47Chad Johnson:There you go. Coaches really ain't going no deeper than that in the postseason unless you just got a really great veteran team and you got guys really producing. But for the most part, you ain't going no more in 7-8 deep, bro.

48:00Shannon Sharpe:Yeah. Unless you OKC. There you go. Unless you OKC. It ain't but one OKC. But this was an unbelievable game. I mean, the shot making by those two players going, young players, that's what you like to see. You like to see this back and forth. They're like, oh, you thought you did something, huh? Give me that damn ball. Give me show Paulo something. He ain't going to come in here. He ain't going to come in here and show his ass at my house.

48:28Chad Johnson:Oh, no. Oh, no. It was beautiful to watch the way K operated, it the way Ben Carroll you know kept answering the bell hey at one point I ain't gonna lie I thought Orlando was gonna pull it out because they pretty much they had control of this game you know they did for a lot of for a lot of the time I was like hold on Orlando gonna come in Detroit and end these boys a number one seed but you know Detroit ended up finding their swag and was able to pull it out but it's gonna they still got a lot more work to do fellas they do but you

49:02Shannon Sharpe:You have to feel good if you're Orlando. Look, there ain't no good losses. But they didn't get blowed out. They said, look, we made some few mistakes here. We left a couple of guys open, and they knocked down some big shots. We got to do a better job on the glass. I mean, we got out-rebounded by 16. We got out-rebounded by 16. They had 16 offensive rebounds. We had eight. So they doubled us up there. That means they got a couple of extra second-chance points that they probably didn't deserve.

49:36Chad Johnson:That's that desperation that the Pistons was playing with. Yes. Any missed shots, we crash in the glass. Like you say, 16 offensive rebounds. Hell, it's hard to beat any team. You give up 16 offensive rebounds because those second-chance points, I'm sure that they capitalized on.

49:54Shannon Sharpe:Absolutely, on some of them that had to.

49:56Chad Johnson:Yeah.

49:56Shannon Sharpe:So, yeah, Orlando, look, can Paulo go play another game like this? Maybe not. Maybe he doesn't have to.

50:05Chad Johnson:That's what I'm saying. The question is, am I Detroit?

50:11Shannon Sharpe:You guys really haven't looked that well on the road. Yeah. You try to make a run late in the ball game, but you're going to have to give yourself some wiggle room. You can't fall down by like you thought fell behind and try to mount a comeback. It gets harder and harder to do that.

50:27Chad Johnson:I agree. I agree. If Detroit, I don't want to speak this into existence, but let's say they don't get out this series, they probably going to have to make a change or two, Ojo. I know they're number one seed, 60 wins, but they need some more scoring. Kade needs some help, bro. He needs some help. I know Tobias has been great these past two to three games, but hell you're gonna need somebody else who you can really depend on and what about kd i'm no no

50:59Shannon Sharpe:no no no no no no no kd you think what if i what what what what if i send to buy what if i send tobias harris and uh nah go get young bull out there in arizona and bring him on down there to detroit and give him a pair of cardiers booker book no they're not letting book go

51:21Chad Johnson:they gotta do something they gotta do something yeah damn

51:32Chad Johnson:I thought he said with that little remedy he had it was gonna be gone by the day

51:39Shannon Sharpe:the bull here stay in your system in about 3-5 days

51:41Chad Johnson:come on now but this is a good series This is a good series. This is a good series.

51:49Shannon Sharpe:Look. All the series look like they're going to six. They're going to six. Look, Toronto going seven.

51:57Chad Johnson:Oh.

51:59Shannon Sharpe:Let's go ahead and talk about that.

52:05Shannon Sharpe:Hell, I thought Toronto was going to win this game too.

52:08Chad Johnson:I did too.

52:10Shannon Sharpe:The Cavaliers.

52:15Shannon Sharpe:125. one game away from advancing to the second round. They win 125-120. Thanks to Dennis Schroeder came off the bench and played unbelievable for him. He's been in big games before. He's not in awe of the moment. 7 of 11 from the floor, 3 of 6 from the 3, and 2 of 2 from the free throw line. He and Evan Mobley were huge tonight. Evan Mobley played unbelievable. 8 of 13 from the floor, 3 of 3 from the 3-point line. Harden played well. He had 23 points, 4 of 8 from the 3-point line, 5-6 for the free throw line. Donovan Mitchell struggled a little bit with his shot, and he has in this series, but he was 3-5 from the three-point line.

52:54Shannon Sharpe:They were 50 % from the three. Brandon Ingram got hurt, left his game early. I thought RJ Bagg played really well. Walter played well. Look, they got – I just feel this game – I just feel he's going seven. I just feel – Joe, I just feel – I just don't see Cleveland going to Toronto and winning on their court.

53:15Chad Johnson:I think he's going seven. Yeah, it's going to be tough. Shout out to Cleveland. But when you look at Cleveland's bench, like you need a guy. That's what I'm talking about. You need a guy who can come off that bench and give you a spark. If we ain't really going, because Toronto pretty much had control of this game too, Uncle Ocho. Yes, they did. Yeah, until Schroeder came in. He changed it with his energy and effort. Mobley played great. I just feel like, man, you can't just always depend on your big guns to deliver. It's going to be nice, bro. They're not going to have it. or the defense is geared to slow them down to an extent.

53:50Chad Johnson:So, okay, boom, if you got Mitchell and Harden drawing all this attention, then we're going to need somebody to step up who can make some shots, who can make some plays, who can create some offense for other guys as well. And I thought Cleveland got that. Now, with Toronto, they just got a lot of weapons, dog. They got a lot of weapons from Barnes to Barrett. Obviously, you know, Ingram hasn't been great. But you look at these guys, Sheed, Sneed. What's his name? Sheed?

54:18Shannon Sharpe:Yeah, Sheed.

54:19Chad Johnson:Who come off the bench?

54:20Shannon Sharpe:Yeah.

54:21Chad Johnson:Man, he come in with great energy. He plays with a lot of passion. And they are a confident bunch, too. I don't think Cleveland can win in Toronto. I really don't. I don't think they can win in Toronto. That's why I say I'm with Unc. I think this is going to go 7-2. It's going to be right back in Cleveland for a game 7. And it's going to be up in the air. Because Toronto has been playing great, man. Hey, just think about it. Ingram hadn't been – he hadn't been – what did he hurt? By the time I got there, he was already gone. Me too. I said, damn, what happened? But if they could get anything that's decent from him, this series probably would be over, fellas, if I'm just keeping it 100.

55:03Chad Johnson:But they getting good contribution from guys off the bench. Toronto a dangerous team, man. They are. They're a really dangerous team.

55:11Shannon Sharpe:They play hard.

55:17Shannon Sharpe:they play really hard. And like I said, R.J. Barrett, that lefty, he be getting it. Yeah, and Barnes, you look at Barnes, you look how 6 '8", 6 '9",

55:30Chad Johnson:he can play the point, great passer, great defender, great rebounder. He don't really have a weakness in his game, Uncle Ocho. Go ahead. He doesn't really have the most aesthetically pleasing game.

55:42Shannon Sharpe:He don't. He don't.

55:44Chad Johnson:But, hey, he don't. He don't.

55:47Shannon Sharpe:But it's effective, Joe.

55:47Chad Johnson:But he's super effective because at his height at 6 '8", 6 '9", with that long wingspan and being a hell of a defender, it's tough because that's a lot of times that's who's guarding James or that's who's guarding Donovan, you know, to make it tough on him. So Toronto got a good game plan, man. They just got to stick with it.

56:09Shannon Sharpe:the Cavaliers trail the Raptors ended the fourth quarter in game six they had lost their last 22 playoff games trailing ended the fourth quarter before tonight but it was Schroeder's energy yeah and he's done this before we've seen it with the Lakers we've seen it with other teams where was he at

56:30Chad Johnson:Sacramento he was in Sacramento

56:31Shannon Sharpe:yeah we see look this is what he is yeah this is what he's a really solid player He's had an outstanding career. You watch him in FIBA and that kind of play, he was the most outstanding player for FIBA. Those guys have played together for a number of years, basically their whole career. Joe, you come up playing in international, and you play together, and these guys are built. So Schroeder, he's unbelievable.

56:58Chad Johnson:Yeah, his energy and effort is contagious, man. And that's what I've been talking about. You know, you got to have somebody. if we come out a little lackluster, flat, then can we put somebody in the game who can kind of rejuvenize us and kind of get us going? You know what I mean? I think he's been – look, he had 19 points in 21 minutes, fella. In 21 minutes. That's crazy efficient. You know what I mean? Like 21 minutes, you give me 19 points? Like, I mean, as soon as he's checking the game, it ain't no – oh, let me warm up. Hell, he coming in and getting right to it. Yeah.

57:30Shannon Sharpe:But he understands this. He understands his role. He understands the assignment and what is asked of him in that moment.

57:39Chad Johnson:Yeah.

57:39Shannon Sharpe:I need you to put pressure. I need you to speed this thing up.

57:43Chad Johnson:Yeah. Yeah.

57:44Shannon Sharpe:Plus, he's another ball handler that I don't have to have the ball in James' hand. I don't have to have the ball in Donovan's hands. Yeah. He can make plays. He can create for himself, but he can also create for others.

57:57Chad Johnson:Absolutely. And I like what Cleveland done. They left him in the game with Donovan, with James Harden.

58:04Shannon Sharpe:Yes.

58:04Chad Johnson:You know, they had all three of those guys in together. That way, it's so much attention on Harden and Mitchell that, okay, boom, we can put it in Schroeder's hand, run this pick and roll, and we're able to get, you know, maybe get James some wide open threes, get Donovan some easy shots. If not, then we know Schroeder can get in the paint. He can shoot his floater. He can shoot his pull-up. He's going to make sure the bigs get a little something. So I think he was a perfect fit for Cleveland. Obviously, I think he's been playing pretty well for them in this postseason, especially tonight because they needed that.

58:36Shannon Sharpe:He's bounced around. I don't know why. And he always plays. If his teams make the playoffs, he always plays well. I don't know why he hasn't really found a home. Ever since that situation with the Lakers where reportedly he turned down a boatload of money, he's kind of been a journeyman ever since.

58:51Chad Johnson:Yeah.

58:52Shannon Sharpe:And I don't know why, Joe, because he's a solid player, Joe. He plays really well when given the opportunities.

58:58Chad Johnson:You're right. I really don't know. I think he was in Detroit for a little minute last year.

59:04Shannon Sharpe:He was. Wasn't he last year? Yeah.

59:06Chad Johnson:Yeah, he was in Detroit.

59:08Shannon Sharpe:And he played well. He played well against the Knicks.

59:10Chad Johnson:Yeah, I really don't know what it is. But every team that he goes to, he's definitely effective. I think what kind of hurt him in the Sacramento is when they signed Russell Westbrook. You know, kind of put him on that back burner a little bit. I think they kind of knew they was going to get rid of him. But he's a hell of a contributor to a team. I mean, this is perfect for Cleveland for sure.

59:35So we got three game sixes, right?

59:40Shannon Sharpe:So we got a game six in Houston. We got a game six in Toronto. And we got a game six in Orlando. And all these games are taking place on Friday, right? We got more basketball, fellas.

59:56Chad Johnson:More basketball.

1:00:00Shannon Sharpe:Right, that's what I'm saying, yeah, yeah. Yeah, so we got three game sixes tomorrow, and we got three game sixes on Friday, guys. Damn, yeah.

1:00:10Chad Johnson:Close outs. Yo, what you got?

1:00:14Shannon Sharpe:Yeah, NBA, like y 'all in the middle of time.

1:00:16Chad Johnson:Who play tomorrow? Let me see. What's tomorrow?

1:00:18Shannon Sharpe:Boston, Philly.

1:00:20Chad Johnson:Oh yeah, my Hawks play tomorrow.

1:00:23Shannon Sharpe:Tim, Knicks, Hawks, and T-Wolves, and Nuggets. yeah hey joe what that bet looking like joe we are what you mean what it look like i mean for

1:00:32Chad Johnson:tomorrow we bet we got the 500 for the game six tomorrow you sure yeah i'm positive positive i just want i just want to clarify okay yeah yeah yeah i'm positive positive what you what you think gonna happen uh game six uh boston and philly tomorrow in philly

1:00:53are you telling me that boston's gonna shoot that terrible from the three again

1:00:59Shannon Sharpe:yeah because they're a three-point shooting team joe they make threes you're not beating them because they get up so many i mean you got to give philly credit credit uh what did philly held them to 39 threes yeah they normally getting up in the 50s yeah so you get up 53s joe you make let's just say for the sake of argument, you make somewhere between 19 and 24. It's hard for a team to keep up with that volume and that many makes.

1:01:26Chad Johnson:Right.

1:01:27Shannon Sharpe:Unless they take and make that many.

1:01:29Chad Johnson:Yeah, yeah. They shot lights out in game 4-2 in Philly.

1:01:32Shannon Sharpe:Yes. They shot lights out. And you got Joel Embiid did what he does. And then you got Tyrese Maxey. Paul George has been solid. He hasn't given you, you know, 25. He's not the Paul George he once was, but he's a solid. He's the third best player on the team.

1:01:47Chad Johnson:Yeah. Yeah.

1:01:48Shannon Sharpe:But he's been giving them solid minutes. Edge can come in and deal with it. But it was Quentin Grimes off the bench that was hitting bomb threes that really flipped this game, that really gave them the cushion. Right. Once they caught the Celtics and got that lead, it was just Grimes just bombing.

1:02:05Chad Johnson:Yeah. Yeah. Hey, it's getting good now, fellas. You know, this postseason now, it's just starting to wind down to, win or go home games. I'm curious to see how Minnesota is going to respond to Denver because I think this is their best chance right here at game six.

1:02:31Shannon Sharpe:I wouldn't bet no amount of money that they'd go into Denver and win a game seven. I agree with you. I think this is their best chance to win. You're asking an awful lot. Drew Randall is going to have to play. Drew Reynolds is going to need to give you 30. Ayo is going to need to have a game. I'm not saying he needs to have 40, but he needs to have a... He needs to get up more shots than when he got up in Denver. He didn't shoot bad from the field, Joe. He had 18 points. What the hell? He didn't take a whole bunch of shots.

1:02:59Chad Johnson:He didn't. You're going to need... Hey, you need McDaniels to step up. Yes. You're going to need him to... He's going to need about 18 to 25. Yes. You're going to be asking quite a bit for some guys, but But to continue to keep playing, that's what you're going to need because you mess around and squander this game away at home, boy, it's going to be hell to pay you go to Denver. Exactly. Or game seven.

1:03:26Shannon Sharpe:Gobert is going to have to do like he did in games two, three, and four against Jokic. We know that's not an easy task, Joe. We understand what he's up against.

1:03:37Chad Johnson:Yeah. I don't know, man.

1:03:40Shannon Sharpe:We absolutely understand what he's up against.

1:03:44Chad Johnson:Denver, they look too comfortable now. You know, I mean, they're champions, Ocho. You know, they've been there. They've been down this road. You know, they know what it's like. They know what it takes. You know, they faced adversity before. And this is no different, bro. They win this game six, they're going to be moving on.

1:04:10Shannon Sharpe:and but the thing is with you see the other night joe what they have last night he had 16 assists you can't give him that you can't if you go back and look at the games they won they held they had an assist total under 10 yeah you start letting him get you let him get his average which was 27 and you gave him 15 assists well you didn't give him but i'm saying he got 15 assists, that means guys are making shots.

1:04:39Chad Johnson:Yeah.

1:04:40Shannon Sharpe:You don't want that.

1:04:42Chad Johnson:You can't have it. I mean, but that's the desperation. You know, that was what was needed for them to win that game, though, Arke Ocho. You know, I don't know how many times Denver has been on the brink. I know they won seven games with OKC last year, right? They did. Yeah, I mean, you can probably see the best Denver team we've seen in a while under these conditions, considering the fact that they've been in these situations before. True. Yeah.

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