Knicks Win A Series Of Zeroes

Speaker 1: El primero de mayo. Speaker 1: forms. Speaker 1: For all content, Speaker 1: audio, Speaker 1: and visual, Speaker 1: hit up the samd.com. Speaker 1: For the visual component of this podcast and my other sports and sports media Speaker 1: thoughts and opinions, Speaker 1: check out the at the samd YouTube channel. Speaker 1: Subscribe link is in the description for all my thoughts on all things tech. Speaker 1: I'll add the at shill free tech YouTube channel. Speaker 1: Link is also in the description.

Speaker 1: Musical production done by May 1st Music. Speaker 1: Support him at SoundCloud.com slash May 1st Music. Speaker 1: 53 long years, right? Speaker 1: But more importantly, this is about zeros. Speaker 1: And not just the zeros of the lack of wins for the Cavs. Speaker 1: Not just the zeros of the zero for six in three-pointers for the beer tonight. Speaker 1: This isn't even the zeros about the zero personal fouls for Jared Allen.

Speaker 1: Tonight, by the way. Speaker 1: This is about the zero heart shown by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Speaker 1: The Cavaliers showed no heart tonight. Speaker 1: And I know today's era of basketball is different. Speaker 1: The notion of bigger, faster, stronger, better, fundamentally, more sound, better shooting, Speaker 1: Faster, more agile, better health, better nutrition, better metrics, better data, all the betters. Speaker 1: But one thing they're not better at is showing fight, is showing heart. Speaker 1: Say what you will about 80s NBA, 90s NBA, even the 2000s NBA.

Speaker 1: If you were getting your ass kicked, somehow, some way, someone was going to hit the deck. Speaker 1: Someone was going to hit the floor. Speaker 1: And for these four games, we won't count game one because we know what happened there. Speaker 1: Kenny Atkinson, you know, people were jumping out the window saying he deserved to be fired and all that. Speaker 1: And that was hyperbole for the most part. Speaker 1: But after seeing how the team responded for the next three games, I now can make the case that Kenny Atkinson does deserve to be fired. Speaker 1: And if you know Kenny Atkinson's pedigree, he's good with teams that are on the come up.

Speaker 1: He's not good with teams that are supposed to be good. Speaker 1: He's not that coach that could get you over the hump. Speaker 1: He's the team. Speaker 1: He's the coach that can get you back to relevance, get you back to where you're over 500. Speaker 1: And then after that, you need a better coach to come in and then finish the job. Speaker 1: Unfortunately, Cleveland has indebted themselves to Kenny Atkinson to thinking he's the type that can get you to get you over the hump when he's not that. Speaker 1: He's never shown you that he could be that.

Speaker 1: So what would make you think that he could be that? Speaker 1: So. Speaker 1: The lack of heart. Speaker 1: Not only do you blow the lead in game one and trick that off, and that's fine. Speaker 1: We can excuse that to a certain degree. Speaker 1: The Knicks are a good team and ultimately they were a better team. Speaker 1: They're more talented, better coached, skilled, deeper, all the things, right?

Speaker 1: But you're constantly getting blown out. Speaker 1: You're constantly getting embarrassed. Speaker 1: You're constantly being exposed for the lack of effort that goes to heart. Speaker 1: And it's not just effort. Speaker 1: Effort and heart are different things. Speaker 1: Heart is like your pride. Speaker 1: Effort is, okay, are you going to run down this court fast enough to keep up with your guy time after time after time?

Speaker 1: Pride is, we're down 29 in our own building. Speaker 1: And we're on the verge of being swept. Speaker 1: And I'm just not going to box out. Speaker 1: I'm going to throw lazy inbounds passes. Speaker 1: I'm not going to jump the passing lane. Speaker 1: I'm going to give up layups Speaker 1: That's zero heart Speaker 1: That's zero pride Speaker 1: And that's what the Cleveland Cavaliers show tonight Speaker 1: The Knicks would have been a team Speaker 1: They were going to win this series Speaker 1: The minute that the Cavaliers were able to beat the Pistons Speaker 1: In their own gym Speaker 1: To me, I was like, okay, Knicks, I'm going to get the finals Speaker 1: Because there was no scenario you could have crafted for me Speaker 1: Barring injuries Speaker 1: To where the Cavaliers could beat the Knicks Speaker 1: Four out of seven Speaker 1: I think the Pistons Speaker 1: would have been a better fight, obviously, clearly a better fight. Speaker 1: But I think they could have actually beaten the Knicks.

Speaker 1: They match up better against the Knicks. Speaker 1: But once the Pistons tricked off game seven in their own arena Speaker 1: and got their own doors blown off by a Cavalier team Speaker 1: that was inept for the last three games of this series, Speaker 1: I knew the Knicks were going to make the finals Speaker 1: and had to come to grips with that. Speaker 1: So I started asking Knicks fans, who do you want? Speaker 1: And it's a very interesting thing to see Knicks fans understand that they're good, Speaker 1: understand that they potentially could win a chip, Speaker 1: and watch their brains try to wrap around that concept, that idea. Speaker 1: Because 53 years since they have won one, 27 since they have been to one, Speaker 1: There are grown adults walking this earth that have never even seen the Knicks make the finals. Speaker 1: There are 40-year-olds. Speaker 1: There are fathers with children.

Speaker 1: There are grandfathers walking this earth who have never seen, who have never breathed, Speaker 1: who have never ate, that have never been conscious to the Knicks winning a championship. Speaker 1: 53 long years. Speaker 1: Do you understand how long that is? Speaker 1: Over half a century. Speaker 1: Five decades. Speaker 1: You know how much has happened in 53 years? Speaker 1: But now you might be on the cusp.

Speaker 1: So I asked Knicks fans, who do you want? Speaker 1: Just to size them up. Speaker 1: And it was interesting, the reactions. Speaker 1: Most of them told me they want the Spurs. Speaker 1: Can you imagine asking for Wemby? Speaker 1: Asking for Harper, asking for Castle, asking for De'Aaron Fox, asking for that because you know what OKC can do. Speaker 1: and salute to the four-letter network.

Speaker 1: They tried to spin this as the game wrapped up. Speaker 1: All the Knicks can really win. Speaker 1: Don't just assume the winner out the West Speaker 1: is going to be the NBA champion. Speaker 1: The Knicks show tonight and in this series Speaker 1: that they can win the title. Speaker 1: No, they didn't. Speaker 1: That is not what that means. Speaker 1: What the Knicks proved tonight is Speaker 1: they can destroy the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Speaker 1: That's not saying much. Speaker 1: What they proved in the last series is that they could beat a not that good Philadelphia 76ers team. Speaker 1: That's not saying a lot. Speaker 1: This Knicks team that now everyone is assuming can actually win the NBA Finals was down 2-1 to the Atlanta Hawks. Speaker 1: C.J. McCollum was cooking them. Speaker 1: Jalen Johnson was owning them.

Speaker 1: And Knicks fans were nervous. Speaker 1: Now it's Knicks in four. Speaker 1: Every series, Knicks in four. Speaker 1: Fandom is a mental illness. Speaker 1: But Knicks fans are at the point now where they want Wemby. Speaker 1: And I think they're right. Speaker 1: You don't want to see the defending champs walk into the Mecca.

Speaker 1: As good as the Knicks have felt over these, what, they've won 10 straight? Speaker 1: You can't tell me you now think you can handle OKC. Speaker 1: And this is where the narratives are going to get spun because it is different when you're running through your own conference and your conference is by all, you know, imaginations, by all analysis, weak. Speaker 1: The East was weak when Tatum fell down and went boom last year that opened up the East for everybody. Speaker 1: And guess what happened? Everybody tried to bum rush through, including the Cavaliers who went and traded for the beard, hoping that they could capitalize on this window because Boston was supposed to be down. Speaker 1: No Indiana because of the Halliburton's injury.

No ball. You're assuming Boston's going to take a step back with no Tatum. Speaker 1: Now is the time. Speaker 1: If you're going to capitalize, now is the time. Speaker 1: So it is not a surprise that the Knicks are in the finals. Speaker 1: It is not a surprise that the Cavaliers were close to being in the finals. Speaker 1: It is not a surprise that the Pistons were thinking they could make the NBA finals Speaker 1: because this was supposed to be the year for those teams to sneak in.

Speaker 1: And the Knicks are the benefactors. Speaker 1: The Knicks are the benefactors to sneak in. Speaker 1: And while there is a lot to be said of your Jalen Brunsons, your Carl Anthony Towns, Speaker 1: it's going to be a lot of redemption stories. Speaker 1: And the thing about this being a New York team is that the New York media Speaker 1: and the New York fans are going to make this fairy tale be a thing. Speaker 1: A lot of money was spent on this team. Speaker 1: A lot of draft picks were traded to craft this team. Speaker 1: This is not a fairy tale.

Speaker 1: This ain't a whole team of Jalen Brunsons. Speaker 1: they're going to try to make it seem that way Speaker 1: with these hard luck stories Speaker 1: this is not a team of underachievers Speaker 1: even though Jalen Brunson is a Nepo baby Speaker 1: but now we're getting so many stories Speaker 1: about this hard luck story Speaker 1: like this man grew up the son of an NBA player Speaker 1: this is not a team of underachieving Jalen Brunson's Speaker 1: There's a lot of lottery picks in that starting lineup. Speaker 1: There's a lot of high-level draft picks on this team. Speaker 1: But I want to talk about how this works out for me. Speaker 1: As Chief Nick Hader number one, how does this work out for me? Speaker 1: This has been such a wonderful, peaceful NBA season for me. Speaker 1: The meniscus tearing taskmaster, Tom Thibodeau, was fired.

Speaker 1: Didn't have to worry about him this entire year. Speaker 1: The point fraud was jettisoned out of the league at 3 a.m. by Lawrence Frank. Speaker 1: Made the second half of the season so peaceful for me. Speaker 1: Now I just need one more thing to put the cherry on top for this season. Speaker 1: And that is for Knicks fans to believe. Speaker 1: That is always my thing.

Speaker 1: It's not fun to be Chief Knick hater number one when the Knicks are good, Speaker 1: but their fans don't believe. Speaker 1: When the Knicks were the two seed with Mello and Stoudemire, Speaker 1: the Knicks were good, but the fans didn't really believe. Speaker 1: They weren't invested all the way. Speaker 1: Now they believe Speaker 1: Now the Knicks fans are invested Speaker 1: This is what I needed Speaker 1: Now, not only do I have a NBA list Speaker 1: Or a meniscus tearing taskmaster list NBA Speaker 1: Not only do I have a point fraud list NBA Speaker 1: I now have Knicks fans invested. Speaker 1: I have an NBA where the Knicks are going to think they can beat Wemby four out of seven times. Speaker 1: I have a Knicks fan base that thinks they can take out the defending champion, OKC Thunder. Speaker 1: I have confident Knicks fans.

Speaker 1: Oh, glory be to the basketball gods. Speaker 1: all praise be to the almighty basketball gods. Speaker 1: Thank you. Speaker 1: I don't know why you keep giving me this, Speaker 1: but the basketball gods keep answering Speaker 1: all of the prayers. Speaker 1: I just need them to invest, oh basketball gods, Speaker 1: and look what you have done. Speaker 1: You made Jason Tatum fall down and go boom. Speaker 1: You made Halliburton in the finals fall down and go boom.

Speaker 1: Opening up the window where the Knicks had no excuses. Speaker 1: Even if they would have faced the Celtics, it would have been no excuses. Speaker 1: Even if they would have faced the Pistons, it would have been no excuses. Speaker 1: This is supposed to be the Knicks year. Speaker 1: If ever there was a year where everything lined up perfectly, where the skies, the orange and blue skies opened, this was it. Speaker 1: And the Knicks walked through and their fans took over arena to arena to arena throughout the Easter Conference playoffs. Speaker 1: And now Knicks fans have to find out, are we going to San Antonio or are we going to Oklahoma City?

Speaker 1: to try to take over those arenas. Speaker 1: But this will be the cherry on top. Speaker 1: Because Tom Thibodeau being fired, Speaker 1: being jettisoned out the league, Speaker 1: great, amazing. Speaker 1: I sleep better at night because of it. Speaker 1: The REM sleep hits harder Speaker 1: because the meniscus tearing taskmaster Tom Thibodeau Speaker 1: is no longer in the league. Speaker 1: The point fraud gets fired in Atlanta Speaker 1: at 3 a.m. by Lawrence Frank.

Speaker 1: He gets told to go home. Speaker 1: Ty Lue doesn't want to talk to him. Speaker 1: That made the Rams sleep even deeper. Speaker 1: But if you want me to straight hibernate Speaker 1: throughout the summer, Speaker 1: let the Knicks fans continue to believe Speaker 1: no matter who walks into the Mecca. Speaker 1: You want to walk through Wemby? Speaker 1: I believe in you, Knicks fan. Speaker 1: You're going to walk through SGA?

Speaker 1: I believe in you, Nick Van. Speaker 1: I believe in you to believe that you can do it. Speaker 1: I believe in you that you think you can do it, Speaker 1: that your team is good enough that Jalen Brunson can surpass even Wemby. Speaker 1: I believe in you, Nick Van. Speaker 1: Don't you dare back away now. Speaker 1: Jalen Brunson can take down that 7'5 monster. Speaker 1: Yes, he can.

Speaker 1: Yes, he can. Speaker 1: Take it back to 08. Speaker 1: Yes, he can. Speaker 1: Jalen Brunson can walk through SGA. Speaker 1: He can walk through Jalen Williams. Speaker 1: He can walk through Chet. Speaker 1: He can do it.

Speaker 1: Don't back away now. Speaker 1: All 10 of them toes. Speaker 1: I need them down. Speaker 1: Because I need you invested. Speaker 1: I need you locked in. Speaker 1: I need you engaged like you've never been engaged before because you have a chance to erase 53 years of ineptitude. Speaker 1: You have a chance to erase 53 years of disappointment.

Speaker 1: You have a chance to tell your grandchildren where you were when it happened. Speaker 1: You have a chance to tell your great-grands where you were when it happened. Speaker 1: Don't get soft on me now, Nick Fan. Speaker 1: Don't you dare do it. Speaker 1: Don't run from the smoke. Speaker 1: This is your time, Slime. Speaker 1: I need you to believe.

Speaker 1: Because when you believe Speaker 1: and what I think is going to happen happens, Speaker 1: it will be the best sleep of my life. Speaker 1: It will be the absolute most peaceful sleep of my life. Speaker 1: To watch Knicks fans think they have a chance. Speaker 1: To think that they are this close to a championship. Speaker 1: Only to watch Wemby hoist up the Larry O.B. Speaker 1: Or only to watch SGA hoist up the Larry O.B. Speaker 1: You don't know euphoria.

Speaker 1: like that. Speaker 1: I can see it. Speaker 1: I can close my eyes Speaker 1: and see it right now. Speaker 1: Orange and blue skies Speaker 1: getting dark, gloomy, Speaker 1: cloudy, a fall coming in. Speaker 1: And out of that fog Speaker 1: comes a 7'5 alien from France Speaker 1: or comes a 6'5 Speaker 1: Canadian foul hunting demon Speaker 1: and snatches it away from you, Speaker 1: snatches that hope, Speaker 1: snatches that small sliver of opportunity, Speaker 1: closes that window shut. Speaker 1: I'm telling you the deepest sleep of my life. Speaker 1: When it happens, not if, Speaker 1: when it happens.

Speaker 1: Oh, but let's talk about the game. Speaker 1: Let's talk about the game. Speaker 1: But you heard it here first. Speaker 1: Best sleep of my life Speaker 1: when, not if, Speaker 1: it happens. Speaker 1: All right, let's talk about these quitting Cavs. Speaker 1: So, the Cavs quit, right? Speaker 1: Donovan Mitchell, 31 points.

Speaker 1: It meant nothing. Speaker 1: James Harden 0 for 6 from 3, 12 points. Speaker 1: The thing for me is, one, they didn't show heart. Speaker 1: They showed no fight. Speaker 1: Somebody from the Knicks should have been clotheslined tonight. Speaker 1: Somebody from the Knicks, i.e. Jalen Brunson, not necessarily Cat.

Speaker 1: Somebody important from the Knicks should have been clotheslined in game 3. Speaker 1: some attempt at a flagrant two should have been had Speaker 1: because just like Kenny Atkinson swallowed his whistle Speaker 1: and didn't call a timeout Speaker 1: and let the tsunami of the Knicks comeback continue to happen Speaker 1: and he didn't stop it Speaker 1: that doesn't just happen in only game scenarios Speaker 1: or in-game scenarios over a series of games Speaker 1: sometimes you need something to shift the energy Speaker 1: shift the momentum. Speaker 1: And when Kenny Atkinson refused to take a timeout Speaker 1: while Brunson's hitting threes and bunches Speaker 1: and his team is floundering going iso ball, Speaker 1: tricking off a 20-plus lead in the fourth quarter, Speaker 1: somebody in a Cleveland Cavalier jersey Speaker 1: He needed to go out in game three and change the energy, shift the momentum. Speaker 1: And if you've got to get suspended for it, then so be it. Speaker 1: Because as I look up and down this roster, none of these dudes have it in them. Speaker 1: Max Struess? No.

Speaker 1: Evan Mobley? No. Speaker 1: Jared Allen. Jared Allen, man. Speaker 1: All right, we'll get there. Speaker 1: Trust me, Jared Allen might be the worst starting center that's considered to be good in my lifetime. Speaker 1: In my lifetime.

Speaker 1: He is not good, but because the death of the big man has been a thing for the past two decades, he's considered good by default. Speaker 1: Jared Allen is not a good basketball player. Speaker 1: Jared Allen is a waste of height. Speaker 1: And I got more smoke, but we will get there. Speaker 1: Thomas Bryant. Speaker 1: Thomas Bryant, the man who famously asked for the ball when LeBron was trying to break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's scoring record. Speaker 1: Thomas Bryant, he doesn't have it in him.

Speaker 1: He has the size to be the guy who could be the one to go in there and just throw a flagrant two elbow at somebody. Speaker 1: But he's not built like that. Speaker 1: I think, unfortunately, the only person who could have done it was the only one who didn't play at all. Speaker 1: And that's Larry Nance Jr. Speaker 1: But he's injured. Speaker 1: Somebody on the Cleveland Cavaliers should have took a forearm shiver to someone in a Knicks jersey, either game three or early tonight in game four. Speaker 1: Change the momentum.

Speaker 1: Shift the tone. Speaker 1: None of that happened. Speaker 1: Absolutely none of that happened. Speaker 1: And if you want to get into just metrics, right, we can get into the metrics. Speaker 1: And I was watching the game on the ESPN app and they have the little side screen thing where you could watch the game and have the stats on the right side there. Speaker 1: And I was just paying attention to the percentages because the Knicks three came out hitting threes and bunches. Speaker 1: At one point, they were like 60% from three throughout the first half.

Speaker 1: And the Cavaliers were under 30. Speaker 1: So sometimes the game is that simple. Speaker 1: A lot of threes are going to be taken. Speaker 1: That's the nature of today's NBA. Speaker 1: Thank you, Wardell. Speaker 1: You ruined basketball. Speaker 1: And I've been on the record saying that since before it became trendy this past season.

Speaker 1: Threes are going to be taken in bunches. Speaker 1: It's a make or miss league when it comes to the threes. Speaker 1: If you make your threes, you're going to be in the game. Speaker 1: If you miss your threes, it's going to be hard for you to win a game. Speaker 1: And the Knicks are shooting 60% and the Cavs are shooting sub 30%. Speaker 1: It shouldn't shock you that the Knicks were up big. Speaker 1: So if we just look at that pure data from the standpoint that the Cavaliers were, what, 11 of 40 from three.

Speaker 1: So 27.5%, 28% will round up in a closeout game at the crib. Speaker 1: Meanwhile, the Knicks shot 44% and hit damn near 23s to the 11 for the Cavs. Speaker 1: So nine more threes. Speaker 1: That's 27 points right there. Speaker 1: And again, the Knicks overall shot almost 50% from the floor Speaker 1: because, again, the lack of effort, the lack of heart, Speaker 1: zero heart from the Cavaliers. Speaker 1: An absolute. Speaker 1: The choking from game one just continued for three more games.

Speaker 1: It was just a different type of choking. Speaker 1: Pause. Speaker 1: Because look at this. Speaker 1: If you look at what the Knicks were able to do, Speaker 1: OG had 17. Speaker 1: Call Anthony. Let me move myself over here so y'all can see what I'm looking at. Speaker 1: So you see OG over here with 17.

Speaker 1: Cat 19 and 14. Speaker 1: Bridges with 15. Brunson with 15. Speaker 1: So MVP for Brunson and he had 15 and 5. Speaker 1: They didn't even need Brunson to go crazy. Speaker 1: Brunson did not have that great of a game, but just his presence on the floor with the fact that the Cavaliers had no answer. Speaker 1: The answer should have been a forearm shiver in game three or early in game four, but they had no answer just for the presence of Brunson.

Speaker 1: The fact that Josh Hart is out here getting double doubles was on his way to a triple double if this game was actually competitive. Speaker 1: Carl Anthony Towns had a quiet double-double, 25-14, and it was a quiet 25-14 because Jared Allen had nothing for him in the paint. Speaker 1: Jared Allen, all right, let's just get into it. Speaker 1: Jared Allen is going to be making about $30-plus million next year. Speaker 1: I think his extension kicks in. Speaker 1: I think he's getting like $90 million. Speaker 1: He's over $90 million.

Speaker 1: I'm not asking for Jared Allen to somehow put on 60, 70 pounds next year and become Shaq. Speaker 1: or even Zubach. Speaker 1: I just think, and when the hell did he become 6'9"? Speaker 1: That can't be accurate. Speaker 1: Jared Allen's not 6'9". Speaker 1: This is NBA.com. Speaker 1: How are they going to have Jared Allen at 6'9"?

Speaker 1: Anywho. Speaker 1: Jared Allen. Speaker 1: I know Hakeem Olajuwon made a lot of money Speaker 1: off that big man post-up camp. Speaker 1: Bronwyn went down there after he couldn't post up J.J. Barea in the finals. Speaker 1: And it worked for him. Speaker 1: He's not dominant in the post, but he's certainly more comfortable.

Speaker 1: There is something Jared Allen is lacking. Speaker 1: And it's not, look, him putting on weight is a foregone conclusion. Speaker 1: The man is almost 30 years old. Speaker 1: He's been in the league eight years already. Speaker 1: So if he hasn't put the weight on by now, it ain't going to happen. Speaker 1: But there is something to just dexterity. Speaker 1: There is something to just hold your ground, stand your ground.

Speaker 1: He is too easy to move. Speaker 1: Kevin Durant, who is also slim and slender like Jared Allen, holds his ground way better than Jared Allen. Speaker 1: I don't know why he keeps falling. Speaker 1: A man who is a footer, who doesn't extend himself outside the paint unless he's setting a screen, should not so easily be boxed out by everybody. Speaker 1: I know Josh Hart is a strong dude, but Josh Hart should not be able to keep Jared Allen out the paint. Speaker 1: Should Josh Hart be able to box out Jared Allen easily? Speaker 1: Should Trey McBride be able to box out Jared Allen easily?

Speaker 1: There's been tall, slender dudes who get it in. Speaker 1: Jared Allen needs to go watch some tape of Ralph Sampson. Speaker 1: Ralph Sampson was a slender dude, but he could throw them hands. Speaker 1: Fuck around if you want to. Speaker 1: Ralph Sampson would lay you out with a two piece real quick. Speaker 1: No hesitation. Speaker 1: That is what's missing.

Speaker 1: And it's rampant throughout the entire Cavalier roster. Speaker 1: as they lay down and let the Knicks and their fans take over their building, Speaker 1: chant Knicks in four, and actually make that a reality. Speaker 1: With not even a glimpse of fight, not even an iotum of pushback. Speaker 1: Absolutely horrific, terrible, piss-poor performance by the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight. Speaker 1: And this is where the narratives start. Speaker 1: Greatest Nick of all time. Speaker 1: Jalen Brunson.

Speaker 1: Jalen Brunson. Speaker 1: And this is the problem. Speaker 1: And obviously this is meant to get clicks and retweets and things of that nature. Speaker 1: But if you're 27, if you're 27 years old and you have never seen, you've never lived to see the Knicks in the finals prior to tonight, you might believe this. Speaker 1: Even though there are literally two better Knicks handing the trophy over to Jalen Brunson. Speaker 1: There are literally two better Knicks in Walt Clyde Frazier and Patrick Ewing. Speaker 1: But the title will still be the post and the capture will still be greatest Knicks of all time.

Speaker 1: Greatest Knick of all time? Speaker 1: Question mark. Speaker 1: Both these guys have been to more finals than Jalen Brunson. Speaker 1: I think Clyde went three times. Speaker 1: And Patrick went twice. Speaker 1: But yet somehow Jalen Brunson is the greatest Knick of all time because he made it once. Speaker 1: And again, we're just making stuff up for clicks and retweets, taking circumstantial stuff and trying to make it into something more.

Speaker 1: For the fourth year in a row, the Eastern Conference champion lost in the Eastern Conference finals the year before. Speaker 1: So with all that being said, they're now trying to tell me the Cavaliers are going to make the finals next year. Speaker 1: What about tonight? Speaker 1: Makes you think the Cavaliers are going to make the finals next year. Speaker 1: At least when the Knicks lost last year, you saw the core was there and a core that could be really good. Speaker 1: And then once Halliburton goes down, that takes Indiana out the mix. Speaker 1: Tatum went down against the Knicks.

Speaker 1: So you're like, oh, yeah, it makes sense that, again, that the Knicks were able to get back to the Eastern Conference Finals and get to the NBA Finals. Speaker 1: It makes sense. Speaker 1: show me the path of how the Cavaliers Speaker 1: get to the finals next year, Speaker 1: barring huge changes. Speaker 1: And if you want to get into what those potential changes might be, Speaker 1: let's have a look at this. Speaker 1: DeBeard has a 42.3 player option, Speaker 1: not team option, player option. Speaker 1: Why would DeBeard opt out of that? Speaker 1: Why would the beard not take that 42.3 mil?

Speaker 1: Now, unless someone guarantees him more, Speaker 1: because do I think the beard wants to spend another year in Cleveland, Ohio? Speaker 1: No. Speaker 1: But I also don't know at this point in his career, Speaker 1: with yet another playoff disappointing performance, Speaker 1: I don't know who's going to give him more than 42.3. Speaker 1: Unrestricted free agents. Speaker 1: You have Wade, Ellis, and Bryant. Speaker 1: All three of those guys can go. Speaker 1: Porter Jr.

has a team option. Speaker 1: If I'm them, I'm turning that down. Speaker 1: I think this is a real scenario where you clean house. Speaker 1: Allen's three-year. Speaker 1: Yes, and I was right. Speaker 1: Three years, $91 million extension kicks in. Speaker 1: You have to find the sucker for that Jared Allen contract.

Speaker 1: You cannot be taken serious. Speaker 1: Because not only did he have the thing a couple years ago where he admitted that the lights were too bright. Speaker 1: So he had that a couple of years ago where that was like, that's a weird thing to admit out loud. Speaker 1: But I appreciate that honesty. Speaker 1: I don't like it if I'm a Cavs fan or if I'm a Cavs player or Cavs management. Speaker 1: But as a person that's in the media and someone that is a fan of just transparency, I appreciate it. Speaker 1: But that was a very troubling statement.

Speaker 1: The lights were too bright. Speaker 1: Now, you got to pay this man $91 million over the next three years. Speaker 1: and this is NBA money, it's all guaranteed. Speaker 1: They have to find a sucker for that. Speaker 1: Even if I would even give up, Speaker 1: I don't know how many first round picks they have, if any, Speaker 1: with all the trades they've made. Speaker 1: If I have to package a first, Speaker 1: attach a first to Jared Allen, I would do it. Speaker 1: It's an addition by subtraction scenario for me.

Speaker 1: I would do it. Speaker 1: But as it stands right now, Speaker 1: if you are to be taken serious next year and going forward, Speaker 1: you cannot start next season with Jarrett Allen as your starting center. Speaker 1: You will not be taken seriously. Speaker 1: You will not be in contention. Speaker 1: Again, if the goal is to actually contend, Speaker 1: because if the goal is to actually contend, Speaker 1: you're also going to fire Kenny Atkinson Speaker 1: because Kenny Atkinson has gone the highest he can go. Speaker 1: Because like I was saying in my preamble while people were filling in here, Kenny Atkinson can only get you so far. Speaker 1: He is a guy that can take a rebuilding team and get them into contention, but he is not the coach to take you from contention to a chip.

Speaker 1: So he has done a really good job coming in and kind of fine tuning this Cavs thing into making them into something that we thought they could be if everything worked out perfectly. Speaker 1: He has done enough Speaker 1: He has gotten them to contention Speaker 1: But Kenny Atkinson Speaker 1: In my opinion Speaker 1: And I think it's been proven multiple times now Speaker 1: He is not the guy to get you over the hump Speaker 1: He is not the guy to get you into the NBA Finals Speaker 1: He is not a guy to get you hoisting up the Larry O.B. Speaker 1: He is not that Speaker 1: He now needs to go to another team Speaker 1: That needs to be cleaned up Speaker 1: And figured out Speaker 1: Hell, Chicago's looking for one Speaker 1: Atkinson be perfect there Speaker 1: Two, three years Speaker 1: He'll have them up and running, and then they'll keep running into the same glass ceiling that the Cavs are running into right now. Speaker 1: This is the Kenny Atkinson experience. Speaker 1: You see the Cavs are locked in. Speaker 1: Mitchell, Mobley, Struis, Schroeder, and Merrill are all under contract. Speaker 1: No one is untouchable.

Speaker 1: Yes, that includes Mitchell and Mobley. Speaker 1: The window was only open for this year. Speaker 1: The window low-key was closed even last year. Speaker 1: But again, Halliburton goes down, Tatum goes down, the window opened back up slightly. Speaker 1: And they were almost able to sneak through. Speaker 1: But now that they were not able to sneak through, because the Knicks were able to sneak through, Speaker 1: now their window is back to being closed. Speaker 1: Because Halliburton comes back next year, Tatum will be more recovered.

Speaker 1: and will have more of his win back next year Speaker 1: so the Celtics will be back where they're supposed to be. Speaker 1: Things will be righted next year. Speaker 1: That means Cleveland goes back to being in that 4-6 range. Speaker 1: Even if they bring everybody back. Speaker 1: Even if the beer picks up this option, Speaker 1: you're stuck with Allen and can bring that core group back. Speaker 1: They're in that 4-6 range. Speaker 1: I tear it all down.

Speaker 1: I tear it all down if I'm Cleveland. Speaker 1: And no, LeBron's not coming back. Speaker 1: If LeBron were to leave LA, I don't think it's for Cleveland. Speaker 1: And if he did, it would be silly. Speaker 1: But LeBron does silly things. Speaker 1: So it would not shock me. Speaker 1: It just doesn't make basketball sense.

Speaker 1: LeBron tries to make the basketball savvy move in all facets. Speaker 1: And the most business savvy moves as well. Speaker 1: But I think even now at this point, especially as we as now he's even admitting that he's at the end or he's close to the end. Speaker 1: It makes no sense to go to Cleveland. Speaker 1: And I'll tell you this, if he goes to Cleveland, Jared Allen will definitely be gone. Speaker 1: Ain't no way Brown's going to have his last year. Speaker 1: I mean, he'd rather deal with Jackson Hayes.

Speaker 1: LeBron would rather deal with Jackson Hayes than Jared Allen. Speaker 1: insane times we're in absolutely insane times we're in Speaker 1: so game one and two will be in the west so games three and four will be at the mecca Speaker 1: Games three and four will be at the Mecca. Speaker 1: And I'm telling you, Nick fans, I want you to believe. Speaker 1: I need you to believe. Speaker 1: I need you to be so high up. Speaker 1: So that when the inevitable happens, you come crashing down. Speaker 1: You don't know how much.

Speaker 1: That's going to warm my heart. Speaker 1: And put a cherry. Speaker 1: This outside of when I was still a fan of the Chicago Bulls. Speaker 1: If what I think is going to happen comes to fruition and happens. Speaker 1: This, that will officially be. Speaker 1: Yeah, I can say it. Speaker 1: I can say it.

Speaker 1: That will be the most enjoy. Speaker 1: This will be the most enjoyable. Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm really trying to make sure there hasn't been any other years that I really enjoy. Speaker 1: this will be the most satisfying. Speaker 1: I think that that's the word. Speaker 1: If what I think is going to happen happens, Speaker 1: this will definitely certify and confirm to be the most satisfying NBA season Speaker 1: for me since Jordan walked away in 98. Speaker 1: Yeah.

Speaker 1: We're this close, Speaker 1: this close. Speaker 1: Eat it. Speaker 1: Thank you, Speaker 1: basketball guys for even the opportunity. Speaker 1: for even the opportunity, Speaker 1: I thank you, Speaker 1: the almighty basketball gods. Speaker 1: Donovan Mitchell Speaker 1: on potentially signing an extension. Speaker 1: I love it here. Speaker 1: I don't know how else to say it, Speaker 1: but I love it here.

Speaker 1: We have unfinished business. Speaker 1: Dog, you've been saying that Speaker 1: for how many seasons? Speaker 1: Every time they get eliminated, Speaker 1: they got unfinished business. Speaker 1: The city deserves a ring Speaker 1: and we're just going to keep it going. Speaker 1: James Harden also said he wants to be back in Cleveland, but that's clearly up to him. Speaker 1: He's the one with the opt-in. Speaker 1: He has the player option.

Speaker 1: Yeah, this is why I need that slumber. Speaker 1: This is why. Speaker 1: All these Knicks fans are like under 30. Speaker 1: This is all they know. Speaker 1: This team, the relevance of this team is all they know. Speaker 1: This is all they know. Speaker 1: Harden was asked to self-access his playoff run.

I think it did pretty good defensively, Speaker 1: been extremely solid and offensively getting guys shot to fitting into a system that was already in Speaker 1: place. So that's a subtle shot at Kenny Atkinson. That's a subtle shot at Spider Mitchell. That's a Speaker 1: subtle shot. That is a jab. Don't let that fool you. And fitting into a system that was already in place.

Speaker 1: That's very telling. Speaker 1: James Harden on if the Knicks are better than the Cavs. It was 4-0, but I don't think we had a chance Speaker 1: as far as our best shot. Genuinely, I do feel like we are the better team. Series-wise, we didn't show Speaker 1: it. Yeah, James is out here just saying anything. James is out here saying whatever.

This is Speaker 1: nonsense. Nonsensical answers from the beard, but that's just who he is. Kenny Atkinson. Speaker 1: And if this season was a success, yes, absolutely. That was the task. Take another step. We jumped Speaker 1: a barrier that we were stuck on.

And you know who can't get you over that next barrier? Speaker 1: Kenny Atkinson. Kenny Atkinson is not going to be the one to get you over that next step. Speaker 1: He's not going to be the one Speaker 1: He ain't him bro Speaker 1: Alright Speaker 1: So I was trying to bring up the chat window Speaker 1: Don't know if we have any comments Speaker 1: So that is a thing on me Speaker 1: So if you have been in the chat Speaker 1: I for whatever reason YouTube is not showing them to me Speaker 1: So that is a problem Speaker 1: I will have to navigate that after the stream Speaker 1: To make sure that's cleaned up for the next one Speaker 1: But you know what it is Speaker 1: As we get closer to the NBA Finals, it's become a yearly tradition where I do recaps after every NBA Finals game. Speaker 1: Depending on schedule, that may or may not happen to where it could be an instantaneous recap. Speaker 1: It will certainly be recaps the day before, the day after, excuse me. Speaker 1: So especially now with the Knicks in it, obviously me being chief Nick Hader, number one, I got to do what is that will be asked of me and ultimately required of me, which is to be front and center.

Speaker 1: When the basketball gods ultimately give me yet another gift. Speaker 1: Because when the Knicks fall. Speaker 1: And they will fall. Speaker 1: When the Knicks fall. Speaker 1: And those orange and blue skies get gloomy. Speaker 1: When all those celebs slowly walk out and have to wait for their expensive cars to be pulled out the valet. Speaker 1: When all the people that are dressed up in Nick paraphernalia have to make that slow trek to the LIRR.

Speaker 1: When they spill out into the streets trying to get Ubers and those premium rates hit their phones. Speaker 1: And when a $20 ride becomes a $80 ride because it's the NBA finals and this next take in that reality check seeps in. Speaker 1: I will be up in Connecticut. Speaker 1: Having the best sleep of my life. Speaker 1: All praise be Speaker 1: To the almighty basketball gods Speaker 1: I go by the name of the CMD Speaker 1: The Knicks are in the finals for the first time in 27 years Speaker 1: With a chance to win their first championship in 53 years Speaker 1: They did it by being the better team Speaker 1: The better executing team Speaker 1: And by beating a team that quit Speaker 1: After one game Speaker 1: They did it by beating a team that had no pride Speaker 1: That had zero heart in addition to zero threes from James Harden Speaker 1: In addition to having zero personal fouls from Jared Allen Speaker 1: The Knicks did it in the easiest way possible Speaker 1: But nobody cares Speaker 1: They did it Speaker 1: If they would have stumbled and tricked it off Speaker 1: I would have called them out for it Speaker 1: So now since they didn't trick it off, I gave them their props. Speaker 1: Now you got one more step. Speaker 1: Can you beat the 7-5 alien?

Speaker 1: Or can you beat the Canadian foul hunting demon? Speaker 1: Four out of seven. Speaker 1: That's the key here. Speaker 1: The Knicks will get a game or two against either of those teams. Speaker 1: But four out of seven, best sleep of my life soon come. Speaker 1: All right. Speaker 1: I'll go by the name of these, Sandy.

Speaker 1: Thank you for those who are able to pull up, even if it was for a quick check-in or whatnot. Speaker 1: If you were in the chat, I apologize for whatever reason. Speaker 1: The chat is not loading up for me to see who is in the chat. Speaker 1: I will get that fixed for the next stream. Speaker 1: But I'll have this out as a podcast for those who have not been able to check in and tap in the SamD podcast available wherever you get your podcast. Speaker 1: And also. Speaker 1: Have successfully launched a second YouTube channel.

Speaker 1: It's more tech technology centric. Speaker 1: So if you're into technology. Speaker 1: I'll add at shill free tech at shill free tech on YouTube channels growing nicely. Speaker 1: Got about four or five videos out there. Speaker 1: Just drop one today. Speaker 1: So if you want to tap in over there at shill free tech. Speaker 1: Appreciate it.

Speaker 1: All right. Speaker 1: As the now we shift to the final to the actual finals. Speaker 1: As we shift to the Western Conference finals. Speaker 1: I'll be putting more and more content out here. Speaker 1: Faster in a hurry. Speaker 1: Fine tuning the setup. Speaker 1: We got a lot of things cooked up.

Speaker 1: Very happy for it. Speaker 1: So stay locked in. Speaker 1: We're doing a lot of long form. Speaker 1: Going to be doing a lot more short form. Speaker 1: So stay locked in here. Speaker 1: If you haven't subscribed, subscribe. Speaker 1: Do all the like stuff.

Speaker 1: Hit the like button. Speaker 1: Turn the bell off notifications. Speaker 1: All the usual YouTube stuff. Speaker 1: I go by the name of the Sam D. Speaker 1: This has been Timeline T. Speaker 1: Knicks are in the finals. Speaker 1: Thank you.

Speaker 1: Thank you, Cleveland, for allowing the Knicks to walk through. Speaker 1: Because we're one step closer to the basketball gods giving me yet another gift. Speaker 1: I go by the name of the Sam D. Speaker 1: Good night. Speaker 1: You know what it is. Speaker 1: This has been the V Sandy podcast, a podcast that is talking about sports and sports media. Speaker 1: In addition to other things, soon we will be talking those other things.

Speaker 1: The brand is growing. Speaker 1: The brand is evolving. Speaker 1: Walk with me. Speaker 1: Stay with me. Speaker 1: This podcast is available on all major podcasts and platforms. Speaker 1: Don't forget to subscribe and rate. Speaker 1: Five stars, nothing less.

Speaker 1: Tell a friend. Speaker 1: If you're into the visual component, Speaker 1: holler at the The Sam D YouTube channel. Speaker 1: At The Sam D. Speaker 1: That's T-H-E-E-S-A-M-D. Speaker 1: For all my thoughts on tech, Speaker 1: that channel is now up and running and is strong. Speaker 1: At shill free tech on YouTube. Speaker 1: Thank you again for listening to this episode.

Speaker 2: I will catch you again on the next one. Speaker 2: I go by the name of The Sam D. Speaker 2: This has been The Sam D Podcast. Speaker 2: I'm out.