The Knicks are going to win a championship and the Spurs are handing it to them. Three of New York's four wins have been giveaways, and Game 4 was the worst of it: San Antonio up 29, jacking threes with 19 seconds on the shot clock, then coughing up the largest halftime comeback in playoff history. Sam's reason is the one he always gives. Point guards matter, and nobody on that floor knew to slow it down.
The rest of the hour: De'Aaron Fox going up for a layup instead of dribbling out the clock, Wemby playing 42 minutes in a game his team led by 30, Mike Brown working the refs after Game 3 and cashing it at the line in Game 4, OG Anunoby's case for Finals MVP, Knicks fans egging Wemby while Charles Oakley stays banned, and a closing plea to the basketball gods that costs Carmelo Anthony.
The takes
- Point guards matter and the Spurs don't have one. Fox is a scoring guard, Stephon Castle is a combo guard who isn't looking for the ball, Dylan Harper is a rookie slasher. Up 29, not one of them knew to milk the clock.
- Fox wasn't smarter than Manu Ginobili from almost 30 years ago. Dribble it out, take the foul, shoot two, go up three. They always tell you today's players are bigger, stronger, faster and more fundamentally sound. They never say smarter.
- Everyone wants to argue about the last four minutes. That game was gone in the third quarter, when the Knicks kept answering every Spurs bucket with a 5-0 or 7-0 run and San Antonio kept firing early threes anyway.
- Wemby doesn't get a pass here. He played outside himself, bricked two free throws late with a chance to stretch the lead, and ran the "I'm in Mitch Rob's head" routine before going quiet the rest of the night.
- Playing your most important and most fragile player 42 minutes in a game you led by 30 is on the coaching staff. That math was not mathing.
- Mike Brown is a fine coach who inherited the better, deeper, healthier team. When Mikal Bridges, a guy who loves minutes, allegedly goes to the front office about being run into the ground, that says more about Thibodeau than it does about Brown.
- Wemby's sidekick is not on this roster. Not Castle, not Vassell, not Harper. That's why throwing this one away stings, because a free one in the back pocket is the Duncan blueprint and nothing here is ordained. OKC had three future Hall of Famers and got one Finals.
- Knicks fans don't deserve the reputation the media hands them. They're throwing eggs at a French kid walking into his hotel and fighting in the street, and Charles Oakley is still banned while Tim Thomas gets a courtside seat.
Jump to
Full transcript 11,787 words
Speaker 1: What's good, y'all? It's the Sam D. This is the Sam D Podcast. Speaker 1: Still here on the road, still traveling for a couple more days. Speaker 1: I will be back at the home base, the home studio in time to do a NBA Finals Game 5 recap episode. Speaker 1: It may be the last game of the NBA Finals. We'll get into that in a little bit.
Speaker 1: But just want to implore you, if you haven't realized, we are live streaming the pod. Speaker 1: So if you want the visual component, tap it on the YouTube side. Speaker 1: The link to subscribe to that is in the podcast description. Speaker 1: If you like the audio-only format, just stay locked in. Speaker 1: Make sure you're following or subscribing, whatever your app of choice is asking you to do to stay locked into this podcast. Speaker 1: Go ahead and do that. Speaker 1: Subscribe and rate five stars, nothing less.
Speaker 1: Tell a friend this podcast is available on all major podcasts and platforms. Speaker 1: Man, this episode was a really good episode, but I want you to pay specific attention to the end of the episode. Speaker 1: I know we don't do this. Speaker 1: I don't ask you to do too much besides subscribe to things, but I'm asking you to make it to the end of this episode. Speaker 1: I had to do something I never thought I would have to do. Speaker 1: I had to ask the basketball gods something. Speaker 1: I had to sacrifice something or propose sacrifice something that I never thought I would have to do.
Speaker 1: I thought I was going to be able to go to my grave without having to put on the line what I put on the line for the basketball gods. Speaker 1: Because we're on the brink of something that could be extremely catastrophic. Speaker 1: And I just want to make sure the basketball gods know I am willing to exhaust any and all measures to make sure that the world does not have to succumb to what we may be on the ground. Speaker 1: the brink of witnessing. So, stay through to the end. Let me know your thoughts, and I'll talk to Speaker 1: you again after game five. What you saw last night, we can do all the hyperbole stuff, right?
The Speaker 1: biggest choke job in history, we can do all the stuff, but guess the Knicks won the game. Clearly, Speaker 1: the Spurs lost the game. They gave it away. They choked. You can do all the negative connotations, Speaker 1: adjectives, verbs you want to do for the San Antonio Spurs. Speaker 1: The Knicks are going to win an NBA championship. Speaker 1: However, it is being handed to them by the San Antonio Spurs.
Speaker 1: Three of the Knicks wins, all three, the Spurs have handed the Knicks the victory. Speaker 1: Now, if you're a Spurs fan, you could spin this and say, Speaker 1: yo, we were up in all four games. Speaker 1: We could say we were sweeping the Knicks. Speaker 1: You could say all of that, but the fact of the matter is that you had a chance in every single one of these games to not only build upon double-digit leads and put the Knicks away, Speaker 1: but you had a chance late in all of these games to hold on to leads and keep the momentum going into the next game. Speaker 1: The Spurs. Speaker 1: If you ever take anything from me and my content, especially when it comes to basketball, it is that point guards matter. Speaker 1: I have been talking ad nauseum about point guards mattering, even though we are in the era of positionless basketball.
Speaker 1: What Wardell, Stephen Curry did to the game of basketball, bastardized the point guard position. Speaker 1: To where no one wants to play point guard anymore because it's not sexy, it's not fun, it's not dynamic. Speaker 1: If you can't shoot from the logo, then what are you doing? Speaker 1: That's what the point guard position has evolved into, where there are no point guards in this league anymore. Speaker 1: what the Spurs needed last night if it hasn't been a glaring hole if it hasn't been a glaring Speaker 1: need over these four first four games is that the Spurs need a point guard I specifically talked Speaker 1: about it after game three even in a dub I say yo De'Aaron Fox he's a scoring guard that's why they Speaker 1: got him there to hit that last minute shot that's fine but Big Wemby Big Vic as he played like Big Speaker 1: last night. He didn't revert to tall Vic. He played like Speaker 1: Big Vic last night.
Some would even say Speaker 1: nasty Vic. We will get there. Speaker 1: But Big Vic needs Speaker 1: a point guard. Speaker 1: And I'm just going to now expand it. Speaker 1: Not only do Big Vic Speaker 1: need a point guard, but the Spurs Speaker 1: as a whole need Speaker 1: a point guard. Speaker 1: As I watch that lead Speaker 1: dwindle, and everyone wants to focus on the Speaker 1: fourth quarter, the last four minutes, the last three minutes, Speaker 1: the last two minutes, that game was lost Speaker 1: in the third quarter. Speaker 1: as the Knicks kept chipping away Speaker 1: and kept going on many runs.
Speaker 1: Even Brunson talked about it in the postgame Speaker 1: saying how every time they got one bucket, Speaker 1: we made sure we went on a little 5-0, 7-0 run Speaker 1: to keep cutting into that lead Speaker 1: and chipping it down and bringing it down. Speaker 1: You could even argue at the end of the second quarter, Speaker 1: the Spurs lost the game Speaker 1: when they allowed the Knicks to trim that big lead Speaker 1: down into going into the half. Speaker 1: But then they're able to build it back up briefly Speaker 1: quarter before ultimately tricking it off yet again. Point guards matter. It was right there Speaker 1: for the taking. If you have a point guard, if you had someone who can slow things down, Speaker 1: the amount of three-pointers that were put up with 15 seconds or more in the shot clock was Speaker 1: maddening to me. Now, early in the third quarter, I'm going to tell me they were heat checks because Speaker 1: they went so crazy in the first half.
They went so crazy in the first half that you want to make Speaker 1: sure that, okay, let's see if we can still run this in the third quarter and blow them Speaker 1: out by 40 or 50. Cool. Speaker 1: But after, after the threes, you realize, okay, we're not Speaker 1: hot anymore. All those threes that were falling in bunches, it's not happening Speaker 1: anymore. Now we need to run some sets, run some offense, run some plays, milk Speaker 1: some clock, do good possessions, good execution. Speaker 1: And the Spurs gave you none of that. Speaker 1: And the reason why is because there is nobody on that floor, not Castle, not Vassell, not Harper, and damn sure not Darren Fox, who knew, hey, boys, let's chill.
Speaker 1: Let's slow it up. Speaker 1: Let's milk the clock. Speaker 1: Every possession, we're not running our initial set until it's under 12 seconds left. Speaker 1: Because the clock is our friend. Speaker 1: The scoreboard is our friend and the clock is our friend. Speaker 1: Yet they're coming down, jacking up threes. Speaker 1: And again, Barkley gets killed because of his old head nature and old head thoughts can be a thing.
Speaker 1: Old head basketball thoughts and analysis can be problematic. Speaker 1: I'm not sitting here trying to ride for old head thoughts because when I was growing up, I heard old head thoughts about, you know, narratives in the 70s and 60s that I was supposed to adhere to coming up as an 80s baby. Speaker 1: What I am saying, though, is that if you are up damn near 30 and you see the other team chipping away because you keep jacking up threes early in the shot clock. Speaker 1: You should then realize, hey, maybe we shouldn't always just come down and take the first available three. Speaker 1: I don't have a problem if you work the clock and you work the offense in the best shot comes with under 10 seconds to go in the shot clock. Speaker 1: And it's a relatively open three. Speaker 1: I could live with that.
Speaker 1: However, what I can't stand, Speaker 1: what I can't, Speaker 1: what I'm so angry that the game has evolved into Speaker 1: is that dudes are jacking up threes up 20, Speaker 1: up 15, up 30, Speaker 1: with 19 seconds left in the shot clock. Speaker 1: What benefit does that give you? Speaker 1: How does that get you closer to a Larry OB? Speaker 1: If you make it, yeah, sure, we look it off, Speaker 1: and that's the Wardell effect. Speaker 1: That is the Wardell effect. That is the Klay effect. Speaker 1: Because they have put in our brains that someone could be so good at shooting that they could just come down, chuck it up and make it.
Speaker 1: Now we assume everyone is capable of doing that because guys are practicing to be that. Speaker 1: However, they are not the natural Nepo baby shooters that Klay and Wardell are. Speaker 1: You are not them. Speaker 1: Your father was not Michael Thompson. Speaker 1: Your father was not Del Curry. Speaker 1: You cannot come down as a sub 35% three-point shooter and just jack up threes just because. Speaker 1: Yes, it may have hit in the first half.
Speaker 1: It may be early in the third. Speaker 1: You're trying to get heat checks off. Speaker 1: But now when the other team is clearly chipping away and clearly gaining momentum with the home crowd behind them, Speaker 1: With a clearly tired Big Vic having to come out the game only to return under a minute later because you're tricking this lead off too fast. Speaker 1: That now Big Vic can't even get his rest. Speaker 1: Oh, I haven't even put my graphics in standby. Speaker 1: Production value, production value. Speaker 1: I'll hit the chat real quick as that comes up.
Speaker 1: Corey, I fell asleep at the end of the third. Speaker 1: Man, you missed a hell of a fourth. Speaker 1: You missed. Speaker 1: It was a hell of a fourth. Speaker 1: We will get there. Speaker 1: We will get there. Speaker 1: Walking through the collapse.
Speaker 1: So, Spurs are up 29. Speaker 1: Spurs are up 29. Speaker 1: And they start to jack up threes. Speaker 1: I think Barkley said they took eight straight threes when they were up more than 20. Speaker 1: And they bricked all eight. Speaker 1: And the Knicks came down and got buckets and or feed throws every single time down. Speaker 1: It was a complete disregard for a lead.
Speaker 1: It was a complete disregard for basketball IQ. Speaker 1: It was a complete disregard for controlling the tempo, controlling the game, managing the clock, understanding the rhythm, understanding where your team is. Speaker 1: This is for the fourth straight game. Speaker 1: The Spurs have come out and they have punched the Knicks in the mouth in the first quarter. Speaker 1: The Knicks and Mike Brown, who won last night, Mike Brown did his job. Speaker 1: He planted the seed after game three, talking to the refs, blaming the refs. Speaker 1: The Knicks had a huge free throw disparity in their favor in game four, which I said is problematic.
Speaker 1: It should not always work that way. But this is the NBA we're talking about. Speaker 1: Mike Brown earned his check by doing that. Speaker 1: What Mike Brown is not earning his check on is that for the fourth straight game, the Knicks get punched in the mouth in the first quarter and they have no answers for all the things the Spurs are clearly trying to do. Speaker 1: We thought we were going to get a big cat game. Speaker 1: Foul travel got him up out of there within a couple of minutes in the first quarter. Speaker 1: He was irrelevant.
Speaker 1: So you had to get a big OG and an OB game. Speaker 1: You had to get a big vintage. Speaker 1: Stephon was in the chat after game three. Speaker 1: He was asking me, what does a vintage Jalen Brunson game look like? Speaker 1: Steph, what you saw last night. Speaker 1: What you saw last night was a vintage Jalen Brunson game because it was the efficiency. Speaker 1: And he admitted as such in the postgame that this was his best game of the finals so far.
Speaker 1: And while there's a lot of narratives that people were down on Jalen Brunson, Speaker 1: no one was down with Jalen Brunson. Speaker 1: We were admitting that he was not having a good series despite his numbers looking closely, Speaker 1: you know, resembling what he normally puts up. Speaker 1: If you watch the game and you pay attention, his shots weren't falling at the normal clip that they normally do. Speaker 1: So he had to put up even more shots because he's a volume shooter. Speaker 1: What you saw last night was vintage Jalen Brunson, that he was able to go in there and shoot efficiently and still give you a couple of boards and still give you some dimes and just be that threat, especially in that second half. Speaker 1: Yet again, much like game one where he turned it on in the second half. Speaker 1: He needed someone to steady the ship in the first half till he could get going in the second half.
Speaker 1: Game one, it was OG. Speaker 1: Game four, again, it was OG. Speaker 1: OG is the team's best shooter. Speaker 1: Yet, and still the Spurs keep finding a way to leave that man open. Speaker 1: They are running Jose Alvarado off the three-point line and leaving OG and an OB open. Speaker 1: It was disgusting, maddening basketball last night. Speaker 1: And it really makes me start to question if the Spurs are a well-coached team.
Speaker 1: You could give me all the youth stuff, second most youngest team ever to make the finals and all that stuff. Speaker 1: That is cute. Speaker 1: The lack of basketball IQ, not by the players, but by the coaches is maddening. Speaker 1: And I don't know if any of them are actually listening. Speaker 1: We have some familiar ties, but regardless, I have to spit it how I saw it. Speaker 1: That looked like an undisciplined team last night. Speaker 1: It has looked like an undisciplined team Speaker 1: throughout these four games.
Speaker 1: Tricking off double-digit leads in every single game. Speaker 1: Tricking off key situations where Webbingama, Speaker 1: he did all the nonsense about he's in Mitch Rob's head. Speaker 1: He's in MAGA Mitch Rob's head. Speaker 1: And then for the rest of the game, Speaker 1: I'm not going to say he was irrelevant, Speaker 1: but he was not in the mix. Speaker 1: People were questioning his fatigue and stuff like that. Speaker 1: I'm not going to go that far. Speaker 1: But for whatever it was, he was less sufficient after he got out of himself.
Speaker 1: That's not him. Speaker 1: That's not Big Vic. Speaker 1: That's not Tall Vic. Speaker 1: That is not Victor Webbing Yama in terms of talking trash. Speaker 1: He does it to Chet Holmgren. Speaker 1: We know that. Speaker 1: When it's Chet, we throw everything out the window when it comes to Big Vic.
Speaker 1: But him doing the nonsense of I'm in Mitch Rob's head. Speaker 1: One, you do not want to be in MAGA Mitch Rob's head. Speaker 1: Hard stop. Speaker 1: But anyway, Victor Wemingama played outside of himself. Speaker 1: He did not in a good way. Speaker 1: He played outside of himself. Speaker 1: He was brick city.
Speaker 1: He bricked two feet those late in the fourth quarter. Speaker 1: We had a chance to extend the lead out. Speaker 1: It was extremely problematic from the POV of what the Spurs needed was someone of the five players on the court to calm everybody down. Speaker 1: And what I've been talking about is I think Stephon Castle maybe has it in him. Speaker 1: Maybe, but I haven't seen it yet. Speaker 1: And last night was yet another example. Speaker 1: The turnovers that De'Aaron Fox had.
Speaker 1: Including trying to throw a pass, a no-look pass to Stephon Castle. Speaker 1: Again, another play where Stephon Castle's not looking and a spur throws him the ball. Speaker 1: Now, in game, what was that, game two? Speaker 1: Game two, that was Tall Vic's error. Speaker 1: Last night, it was De'Aaron Fox's error, but we now have to keep figuring out why do Spurs teammates think Stephon Castle's looking for the ball when clearly he is not. Speaker 1: That's twice now, and it has cost them both times where Spurs are thinking Stephon Castle's looking for the rock and he's not looking for it. Speaker 1: Again, he's supposed to be the point guard.
Speaker 1: There are a lot of issues to contend with with the San Antonio Spurs. Speaker 1: There are a lot of problems here. Speaker 1: As much as we can laud the impact of them making the NBA Finals earlier than expected, Speaker 1: as much as we can laud the fact that they're the second youngest team ever to make the NBA Finals, Speaker 1: what you witnessed last night was a team self-destructing for the fourth game in a row Speaker 1: and being bit by it the third time out of four games. Speaker 1: everyone's going to focus on De'Aaron Fox Speaker 1: and deserve it so De'Aaron Fox was a comedy Speaker 1: of errors Speaker 1: yes he should have dribbled the clock Speaker 1: out they get lucky Speaker 1: they get the loose ball Speaker 1: he is ahead of O.G. Ananobi Speaker 1: but by no means is he clear Speaker 1: of O.G. Ananobi Speaker 1: he goes up for the layup not only Speaker 1: does he go up for the layup wrong Speaker 1: he goes up on the left side of the rim Speaker 1: when he should have tried to use the Speaker 1: basket as his friend so it wouldn't get Speaker 1: blocked like it Speaker 1: eventually did. He could have used Speaker 1: the rim as a shield to go around Speaker 1: and try to reverse on the right side.
Speaker 1: He didn't do that. He went Speaker 1: straight up on the left side thinking he could just outrun Speaker 1: OG and an OB. Speaker 1: De'Aaron Fox, you're not in Sacramento anymore. Speaker 1: These are the Speaker 1: bright lights. Speaker 1: This ain't lighting the beam. This is lifting Speaker 1: a Larry OB. And you had Speaker 1: a chance there to dribble out Speaker 1: the clock and play smart basketball, high IQ basketball, high basketball acumen.
Speaker 1: That's what you were supposed to display in that play last night. Speaker 1: And he did none of that. Speaker 1: He goes straight up. Speaker 1: He gets blocked. Speaker 1: Now, best case scenario there, he dribbles the clock out, forces the Knicks to foul. Speaker 1: They're still up one. Speaker 1: He has two fee throws.
Speaker 1: He can extend the game out to three. Speaker 1: Now, in the postgame, he mentioned, hey, well, look, I was just trying to get the layups. Speaker 1: We could go up three to force the Knicks to have to make a three. Speaker 1: Well, De'Aaron, you could have dribbled off the clock and achieved the same results. Speaker 1: You didn't have to go for the layup. Speaker 1: And now people are pulling up all these clips of all the players that were in similar positions Speaker 1: and that have done the exact opposite of what De'Aaron Fox did, including Manu Ginobili. Speaker 1: So another guy, another Spurs luminary, another guy that is around this team, that is around this front office, that is around this brain trust that has been in the same position that Darren Fox was in and did the right play.
Speaker 1: And yet I'm supposed to believe that today's players are so much better, stronger, faster, better. Speaker 1: But you know what they never say? Speaker 1: They never say smarter. Speaker 1: They always say bigger, stronger, faster, better, more fundamentally sound. Speaker 1: They never say smarter. Speaker 1: Because what you saw last night was a play where De'Aaron Fox was not smarter than Manu Ginobili from almost 30 years ago. Speaker 1: 30 years ago, players knew to dribble out the clock or to force the foul.
Speaker 1: Today's players are still trying to get their points off. Speaker 1: because why? Speaker 1: because the point guard position Speaker 1: doesn't exist anymore Speaker 1: point guards matter Speaker 1: if you ever take anything Speaker 1: from my content Speaker 1: that will be the resounding thing Speaker 1: I want that damn near on my tombstone Speaker 1: on my headstone Speaker 1: point guards matter Speaker 1: because how many times Speaker 1: do I have to keep giving you examples Speaker 1: of why a point guard matters Speaker 1: Not a scoring guard in disguise as a point guard, but an actual point guard. Speaker 1: Do you have to be Rajon Rondo? No. Speaker 1: Do you need to be Magic Johnson? No.
Speaker 1: But you could be J-Kid. Speaker 1: You could be Terrell Brandon. Speaker 1: Why can't you be that? Speaker 1: A point guard would have made sure that the Spurs were getting in good positions and getting good shots off and having good, efficient, effective positions. Speaker 1: Even if the lead is dwindling, they would have been milking that clock. Speaker 1: There were times where the Spurs in this second half were allowing the ball to dribble up the court as if they didn't want the clock to start. Speaker 1: The clock is your friend.
Speaker 1: You want the running clock. Speaker 1: You wish it was soccer where the clock keeps going. Speaker 1: Why are you letting the ball roll up? Speaker 1: That's helping the Knicks. Speaker 1: The Knicks should have been doing that. Speaker 1: The Knicks weren't even doing that. Speaker 1: You were helping them save time.
Speaker 1: I'll hit the chat. Speaker 1: Steph in the chat. Speaker 1: Biggest collapse since the 23 Falcons loss. Speaker 1: on this stage. Yeah. On this stage, I can't think of another collapse in a championship Speaker 1: like this. I can't.
I can't. And the memes were going crazy last night. The Falcons logos Speaker 1: replacing the Spurs logo. Like it's, it's all, it's all happening for the Spurs. Speaker 1: A front office and an organization that's held in high regard, like the Falcons choking that away. Speaker 1: It was peak Falcon, right? Speaker 1: Like, because the Falcons are not looked at as a serious organization.
Speaker 1: I don't know. Speaker 1: And this is why this maybe trumps it. Speaker 1: I don't know of an organization that is held in higher regard than the Spurs. Speaker 1: That have tricked this off. Speaker 1: To this degree on this stage. Speaker 1: They could legitimately make an argument. Speaker 1: I wouldn't believe it, but they could get it off where they should not only be up 3-1, but you can make a case that they should have been sweeping the Knicks.
Speaker 1: And yet and still, they're down 3-1 and they look lost. Speaker 1: Wemby in the postgame, lost. Speaker 1: Darren Fox in the locker room in the postgame, lost. Speaker 1: They had nothing. Speaker 1: The Spurs coach, lost. Speaker 1: Absolutely had nothing. Speaker 1: And I know Pop, health is ailing him.
Speaker 1: You know, Becky Hammond, I mean, it was supposed to be Becky Hammond. Speaker 1: The timeline got accelerated. Speaker 1: They took too long. Speaker 1: She had to do what she had to do, which was best for herself. Speaker 1: I'm not shading it. Speaker 1: But I mean, it was supposed to be Becky Hammond. Speaker 1: Mitch ain't doing it.
Speaker 1: Mitch is not doing it. Speaker 1: He's been outcoached by Mike Brown, who was doing old school tactics from the 90s and still getting it off into 2020s. Speaker 1: When Mike Brown planted that seed and that seed grew in a span of 48 hours and the Knicks had a huge feet throw disparity in 48 hours. Speaker 1: Changed the outcome of the game, changed the complexity of the game, changed the way that the Spurs had to play. Speaker 1: Steph in the chat said, I guess Wimby's greatness couldn't overcome the immature and young mindset after all. Speaker 1: And he's part of it. Speaker 1: He's part of it.
Speaker 1: Let's not let Wimby off the hook. Speaker 1: It's not only his teammates. Speaker 1: I mean, he had a vet doing immature things last night. Speaker 1: We can't put that on Big Vic. Speaker 1: Wemby had a max player point guard, a max contract point guard on the floor throw the ball away multiple times. Speaker 1: Getting caught in the air and just throwing it away. Speaker 1: I expect that from Dylan Harper.
Speaker 1: I expect it from Stephon Castle. Speaker 1: I do not expect that from De'Aaron Fox. Speaker 1: I do not expect De'Aaron Fox to not have the presence of mind to know that he shouldn't just throw the ball away. Speaker 1: that he shouldn't just go iso ball Speaker 1: running late in the shot clock Speaker 1: without even trying to run anything. Speaker 1: He was calling 1-4 flat Speaker 1: on the Knicks' best defender. Speaker 1: Like, it worked at the end of game three, Speaker 1: but that was extremely small, Speaker 1: simple size. Speaker 1: It was for that one play.
Speaker 1: He was calling 1-4 flats Speaker 1: against OG Inobi with five minutes to go. Speaker 1: Four minutes to go. Speaker 1: Two minutes to go. Speaker 1: he was trying to go for his shine Speaker 1: whether it's because Cal was in the building Speaker 1: Coach Cal, John Calipari was in the building Speaker 1: I don't know why he was trying to go for self Speaker 1: go for Delph Speaker 1: but the man was playing outside of his scope Speaker 1: Big Vic was tired Speaker 1: Big Vic was definitely tired Speaker 1: I'm not going to blame that on Big Vic Speaker 1: it was because the lead was being killed Speaker 1: was being trimmed so fast Speaker 1: he had no choice but to get back out there Speaker 1: and played, what did he play, I think 42 minutes? Speaker 1: 42 minutes in a game that was a blowout at one point. Speaker 1: Your best player, your most important player, Speaker 1: your most fragile player, Speaker 1: played over 40 minutes in a game Speaker 1: where you were up 30. Speaker 1: Do you understand how that math doesn't math?
Speaker 1: That math was not mathing. Speaker 1: Hmm. Speaker 1: Stephanie Chad OG finals MVP Speaker 1: I think at this point you you need to give it to him he's been the most consistent Nick Speaker 1: Cat had a chance if Cat would have continued off the momentum of games one and two into three and Speaker 1: four even in a loss with three and Odub in four I think you still could have leaned and give it to Speaker 1: cat, but I think you have to give it to OG. Speaker 1: I would give it to OG. Sometimes the voters, they fall with the superstars and Speaker 1: Jalen Brunson's considered a superstar, not to me, but to the masses. Speaker 1: So he may still get that superstar vote, that superstar Speaker 1: favoritism where they just give it to him because he's the biggest Nick. He's the most impactful Speaker 1: Nick.
Although if we've learned anything in this series, and Speaker 1: even in this playoff run, to be quite honest, Speaker 1: OG and an OB is the Scotty Pippen. Speaker 1: Now Jalen Bruns is not the Michael Jordan, Speaker 1: but OG and an OB is the Scotty Pippen of this New York Knicks team. Speaker 1: So for me, you kind of have to give it to him. Speaker 1: You kind of have to give it to him. Speaker 1: It is, it goes without saying that OG is a two-way player. Speaker 1: He did this in Toronto. Speaker 1: This is who he has always been.
Speaker 1: Now, shooting-wise, he has not always been this. Speaker 1: He has improved his shooting greatly, which has taken his game to the next level. Speaker 1: He is the Knicks' best shooter. Speaker 1: OG Ninobi. Speaker 1: That was not his speed in Toronto. Speaker 1: So he has put in the work to get better. Speaker 1: But the fact that he is the more dangerous shooter, and that's why, again, Speaker 1: when it comes to the Spurs brain trust, the Spurs coaching staff, Speaker 1: the Spurs strength and conditioning staff, Speaker 1: who may or may not be watching this stream, Speaker 1: listening to the pod.
Speaker 1: You can't run off bench guys Speaker 1: when you're running away from OG and an OB. Speaker 1: Again, I'm not at the crib. Speaker 1: I'm watching this outside the country. Speaker 1: And I'm sitting here watching the game. Speaker 1: And I'm sitting here watching this league get dwindled. Speaker 1: And I'm sitting here watching possession after possession where Spurs players are running away to double. Speaker 1: And they're leaving OG and it will be open.
Speaker 1: And I'm like, have y'all not paid attention to the first three games? Speaker 1: What have you seen in film that makes you think you can leave OG and it will be open? Speaker 1: Are you still thinking he's wearing a Toronto uniform? Speaker 1: Is that a Toronto? Is that a Raptor uniform or a Nick uniform? Speaker 1: Nick, OG, and Anobi, you can't leave open. Speaker 1: Raptor, OG, and Anobi, you could.
Speaker 1: Are they falling for that trick Speaker 1: where they think no matter what jersey he's on, Speaker 1: he's still Toronto, Raptor, OG, and Anobi? Speaker 1: Because if the players think that, Speaker 1: then the coaching staff has failed. Speaker 1: If the coaches think that, Speaker 1: then the organization has failed. Speaker 1: And we have a Nick fan in the building. Speaker 1: Shout out to the homie with Greg. Speaker 1: former host of the Word with G on ESPN Radio Speaker 1: now doing his own thing with Chet It Up Sports Speaker 1: go and support him and his crew Speaker 1: doing good things over there Speaker 1: orange or blue skies where he's at Speaker 1: clear blue skies where I'm at with palm trees Speaker 1: but you know nonetheless salute Greg Speaker 1: but look Knicks fans should feel Speaker 1: ecstatic Speaker 1: after 53 years you're not only one win away Speaker 1: but you have been handed a Larry OB Speaker 1: the Knicks are in a position where they're being Speaker 1: a Larry O.B. after 53 years, Speaker 1: after the ineptitude, Speaker 1: after the mind-numbing losses, Speaker 1: after being a laughingstock Speaker 1: throughout those 53 years, Speaker 1: after having Larry O.B.
Speaker 1: snatched away from you. Speaker 1: Knicks fans like Greg remember Speaker 1: John Starks game seven against Houston. Speaker 1: Wow, John Starks is now treated Speaker 1: like a Knicks god, a Knicks luminary. Speaker 1: He cost the Knicks a Larry O.B. Speaker 1: they even brought out Speaker 1: Marcus Camby last night Speaker 1: they're bringing back the 99 Speaker 1: Knicks who lost Speaker 1: in 5 to the same Spurs organization Speaker 1: they're bringing anybody Speaker 1: out Speaker 1: to make this thing pop Speaker 1: you know who wasn't in the building last night Speaker 1: Charles Oakley Speaker 1: Charles Oakley Speaker 1: was not in the building last night Speaker 1: Charles Oakley is still banned Speaker 1: Latrell Sprewell gets to walk into the Mecca anytime he wants Speaker 1: Marcus Cammie can even come through Speaker 1: Tim Thomas was in the building last night Speaker 1: but Oak Speaker 1: who was actually Speaker 1: a legendary Nick Speaker 1: who was actually Speaker 1: a Nick that mattered Speaker 1: that helped build up all my friends Speaker 1: growing up who are Nick fans Speaker 1: he was part of the heart and soul Speaker 1: of that Nick organization Speaker 1: he's not just a luminary he was damn near a mascot of what the Knicks were Speaker 1: tough gritty hard nosed not afraid to mix it up Speaker 1: even though Knick fans are out here throwing eggs at Wemby Speaker 1: as he goes back to the Spurs team hotel despicable display Speaker 1: do better Knick fan 53 years you've been waiting for it Speaker 1: and how you celebrate it is egging Wemby that's the best you got Speaker 1: Nick fans and New York fans overall love to shit on Philly fans because of their behavior. Speaker 1: You're no better. Speaker 1: You're no better.
Speaker 1: You're egging Wemby. Speaker 1: You're no better than the Philly fan narrative. Speaker 1: He ain't even from here. Speaker 1: That man is French. Speaker 1: And you throwing eggs at him? Speaker 1: Despicable job by Nick fans. Speaker 1: And this is why people don't like you.
Speaker 1: This is exhibit A of why people like myself, even though I have family that are Knick fans, I have friends that are Knick fans like Greg and others. Speaker 1: This is why as a whole, you are despised because the basketball media world heaps all this praise onto New York and New York sports fans and how smart they are and how knowledgeable they are and how passionate they are. Speaker 1: And they know ball. If they know ball, why are they throwing eggs at Wemby? Speaker 1: if they know ball why they fighting in the street Speaker 1: Greg in the chat Speaker 1: Tim Thomas is always around low key Speaker 1: I mean he's from Jersey so I get it Speaker 1: I get why he's always around Speaker 1: my thing is he's not a Nick Speaker 1: luminary Speaker 1: like he's not a legendary Nick Speaker 1: like Stephon Marbury legendary New Yorker Speaker 1: and legendary Nick. Speaker 1: Tim Thomas, legendary tri-state area guy, Speaker 1: legendary Jersey basketball player. Speaker 1: He's not a legendary Nick.
Speaker 1: Marcus Canby, a legendary Nick? Speaker 1: I wouldn't say that. Speaker 1: Sprewell, legendary Nick, small sample size, but sure. Speaker 1: Allen Houston, same deal. Speaker 1: Legendary Nick, small sample size, but getting still. Speaker 1: Tim Thomas? Speaker 1: Like, if that's the case, then where's John Wallace?
Speaker 1: Like if we're going to bring back Knicks from that era and just bring back anybody, where is John Wallace? Speaker 1: Where's Kurt Thomas? Speaker 1: Where's LeVar Postel? Speaker 1: Like if we're just going to bring back any old Nick, Jeremy Lin's getting media gigs. Speaker 1: Like if we're just bringing back any old Nick, where's Othello Harrington? Speaker 1: Michael Sweetney, where are they? Speaker 1: Where's Patrick Ewan Jr.?
He was a Nick for a little bit. Speaker 1: Like, wait, what, like, what, what, what are we doing? Speaker 1: What are we doing? Speaker 1: Anywho, I do have some graphics. Speaker 1: We could get the comeback graphic up. Speaker 1: Let's see. Speaker 1: We're going to go here.
Speaker 1: Give this a beat to load up because we are not at the crib. Speaker 1: Okay, and then we do that. Speaker 1: All right, so you see it here on the screen, the comeback. Speaker 1: Corey was, Corey fell asleep during the comeback, Speaker 1: But this is just a surmising of all the things that took place. Speaker 1: They trailed by as much as 29 points. Speaker 1: Second 20-point comeback in finals history. Speaker 1: The largest halftime comeback in playoff history.
Speaker 1: The second finals game in NBA history. Speaker 1: With multiple games decided by a single point. Speaker 1: This is where we are if you're the Spurs. Speaker 1: You had a chance to put the Knicks away and to take it back to San Antonio tied at two with home court. Speaker 1: And you have to feel uber confident because, again, I legitimately said after game three, yo, the Spurs can argue they should be up to one. Speaker 1: And damn near three. Speaker 1: And after last night, they went back to the crib.
Speaker 1: All right, we tied at two when we know we should be up at least three one. Speaker 1: We could make a case that this series should be over. Speaker 1: But best case scenario, 3-1, but we're here 2-2. Speaker 1: OK, we got home court. Speaker 1: We just got to win the next two out of three and we got a Larry OB. Speaker 1: They could have sold that to themselves and they could have sold that to me. Speaker 1: They could have sold that to you.
Speaker 1: They could have sold that to all of us. Speaker 1: But yet and still, because of their lack of tempo, their lack of pace, their lack of knowing when to slow the rock up, knowing when to milk the clock. Speaker 1: I tell you, every time I saw either De'Aaron Fox or Stephon Castle let that ball get rolled up the court and they're not touching it when they're up double digits and the Knicks are fighting their way back into this game, I couldn't yell because I'm in a hotel room. Speaker 1: But I was yelling internally, what the fuck are y'all doing? Speaker 1: Internally, I was combusting. Speaker 1: The hell are you doing? Speaker 1: piss poor basketball IQ Speaker 1: piss poor Speaker 1: absolutely piss poor Speaker 1: Stephanie Chat Speaker 1: is Mike Brown the Steve Kerr Speaker 1: or Tibbs or Mark Jackson Speaker 1: or is Mike more Speaker 1: impactful to the culture Speaker 1: or the franchise than Steve Speaker 1: no actually I just think Speaker 1: he's just a different voice Speaker 1: than the meniscus tearing taskmaster Tom Thibodeau.
Speaker 1: I really think that's all this was Speaker 1: because look, when Mikhail Bridges Speaker 1: allegedly Speaker 1: when Mikhail Bridges Speaker 1: who loves to play Speaker 1: who loves to play a lot of minutes Speaker 1: when he allegedly Speaker 1: goes to the front office and says Speaker 1: Tom Thibodeau's playing me too much Speaker 1: that should tell you something. Speaker 1: When the guy who likes to lead or like to be one of the league leaders in minutes played. Speaker 1: Goes to the organization, goes to the front office and says, we need a new coach because he's playing me too much. Speaker 1: It was just whoever the next voice was was going to get these guys to buy in. Speaker 1: The meniscus tearing taskmaster had run these guys into the ground. Speaker 1: Now, he didn't leave the cartilage lying in wake like he has in Minnesota and certainly in Chicago before. Speaker 1: But with what Thibodeau was trending towards doing, it was only a matter of time.
Speaker 1: It was only a matter of time because it had hurt the Knicks prior where the two seasons prior where the Knicks were making playoff runs. Speaker 1: They were never fully healthy. Speaker 1: As they went deeper into the playoffs, part of the reason why the Knicks are on the verge of winning the NBA. Speaker 1: championship is their health. Speaker 1: Their health has maintained. Speaker 1: Their health has held up. Speaker 1: What the Knicks have been able to do Speaker 1: is that while you can look at OKC Speaker 1: which lost their second best player.
Speaker 1: When you look at the Celtics Speaker 1: who got their alleged best player back Speaker 1: halfway through the season Speaker 1: and was trying to work himself Speaker 1: still into shape. Speaker 1: The Pistons had injuries. Speaker 1: The Cavs had injuries. Speaker 1: A lot of these teams were falling down and going boom. Speaker 1: But you can argue the two healthiest teams remaining are the two teams that are playing for Larry OB. Speaker 1: In years past, the Knicks were not that because they had the meniscus tearing taskmaster Tom Thibodeau as their head coach. Speaker 1: So I don't think Mike Brown has done anything special, like, you know, to be quite transparent.
Speaker 1: My girl, my girl asked me last night, how's Mike Brown as a coach? Speaker 1: and I was like he alright Speaker 1: he's solid he's nothing special he doesn't bring anything to the table Speaker 1: that is you know outside the box thinking or super relatable like he's not Speaker 1: Mr. Players Coach guy or he's not Mr. Scheme guy he's not X's and O's guys Speaker 1: he's not any of that he's just an okay coach Speaker 1: but this Nick team that we all talked about Speaker 1: after game two is the better deeper team Speaker 1: he just has the better deeper team and he's able to understand Speaker 1: I don't need to run these guys into the ground Speaker 1: the Knicks don't all they need to be in the top 5 Speaker 1: in minutes played in league every year just cause Speaker 1: you think the meniscus tearing taskmaster Speaker 1: would have had Alvarado out there with under 4 minutes to go Speaker 1: in the 4th quarter of an NBA Finals game Speaker 1: if you want to talk about the difference Speaker 1: Mike Brown and Tom Thibodeau Speaker 1: it's that last night Speaker 1: the meniscus tearing taskmaster Tom Thibodeau does not Speaker 1: have Jose Alvarado on the floor Speaker 1: with under four minutes to go Speaker 1: with his team potentially be able to go up Speaker 1: 3-1 in the NBA finals at the crib Speaker 1: there's absolutely no way Speaker 1: but Mike Brown Speaker 1: because he's allowed guys like Alvarado Speaker 1: to play minutes to find a role Speaker 1: he has the confidence to put him in there Speaker 1: especially when he's rolling to change up the look Speaker 1: that was the one schematic thing you could bring up Speaker 1: in the game last night is that the Knicks had two point guards Speaker 1: or essentially two ball handlers Speaker 1: because the Spurs were trying to trap Brunson every time he Speaker 1: touched the rock to get the ball out of his hands. Now you got Alvarado Speaker 1: who's able to also set stuff up, be aggressive, be a Speaker 1: ball handler and get other guys involved. That changed the dynamic Speaker 1: of the Spurs defense. Now you can't just sit and wait Speaker 1: to trap Jalen Brunson and all the other guys are, Speaker 1: I won't say inferior ball handlers, Speaker 1: but lesser ball handlers compared to Jalen Brunson.
Speaker 1: But now you have another guy out there in Alvarado, Speaker 1: who, again, not the same level of ball handler as Jalen Brunson, Speaker 1: but certainly more natural and more accustomed to handling the rock Speaker 1: than the other guys, than the wings. Speaker 1: So is Mike Brown this great coach? No. Speaker 1: But he's better than the meniscus tearing taskmaster Tom Thibodeau, Speaker 1: and he was a breath of fresh air for those players Speaker 1: who again were used to leading the league in minutes Speaker 1: but even they felt the meniscus tarantash master Speaker 1: Tom Thibodeau was pushing them too hard Speaker 1: alright let's see where we at here Speaker 1: alright we about 40-something minutes in Speaker 1: alright I appreciate those pulling up Speaker 1: if you have not hit the like button do so Speaker 1: we have been doing this Speaker 1: for about 10 years. Speaker 1: I looked back and looked. Speaker 1: About 10 years, we've been doing recaps Speaker 1: after every NBA Finals game. Speaker 1: I love doing this.
Speaker 1: I love giving y'all this instant reaction. Speaker 1: I love hearing from y'all with the feedback, Speaker 1: and that's why I try to bring the live stream component Speaker 1: into this. Speaker 1: This has been a really fun run. Speaker 1: I'm going to keep doing these, clearly, Speaker 1: but I really want to know from you guys in the chat. Speaker 1: One, is it over? Speaker 1: I know what Greg thinks. Speaker 1: We all know what Greg thinks, Speaker 1: Or what he's hopeful for.
Speaker 1: I'll give him that fallback. Speaker 1: Do you think this series is over? Speaker 1: After what you saw last night. Speaker 1: Clearly, Big Vic is talking all the right stuff. Speaker 1: He's media trained to a high level. Speaker 1: He's not going to give you anything in the postgame. Speaker 1: Darren Fox talked like someone who knows he fucked up, but doesn't want to admit that he fucked up.
Speaker 1: Dylan Harper looked like he didn't know what was going on. Speaker 1: And again, the Spurs coach has done a real weird job in monitoring the minutes of Dylan Harper. Speaker 1: I don't know what's going on there. Speaker 1: Again, I think it was either, I don't know if it was game one or game two, Speaker 1: but there was a scenario where Harper wasn't on the floor for a large chunk of the second half. Speaker 1: Last night was almost akin to that again. Speaker 1: I don't know what he's doing with the minutes, especially when Castle was in foul trouble for a little bit. Speaker 1: But dispersed brain trust needs to reexamine what's going on.
Speaker 1: I'm not Mr. Fire Everybody guy, but I do think sometimes coaches get exposed in big moments. Speaker 1: And again, it's not like, again, y'all just heard me say about Mike Brown. Speaker 1: I'm not holding Mike Brown to the highest degree in terms of coaching acumen. Speaker 1: And you're getting out coached. Speaker 1: When Mike Brown comes out there with the Pat Rowley, Phil Jackson, poker, poker drop, Speaker 1: when he comes out there with his big joker of, hey, my guys ain't getting no calls tonight. Speaker 1: As the coach on the other team, you got to say something.
Speaker 1: You can't just let that fly. Speaker 1: I know the Spurs way is different. Speaker 1: Coach Pop was different. Speaker 1: Coach Pop is a top tier coach. Speaker 1: He can move however he wants to move because he earned that. Speaker 1: this dude Speaker 1: this Spurs coach Speaker 1: he ain't that Speaker 1: he don't got that acumen Speaker 1: he don't got that built in pedigree Speaker 1: he don't got that built in Speaker 1: you know Speaker 1: rep Speaker 1: to just not say nothing Speaker 1: just because it's the Spurs way Speaker 1: like no Speaker 1: Mike Brown's playing the move Speaker 1: what are you trying to do Speaker 1: hang on one second Speaker 1: All right. Speaker 1: So the Spurs brain trust needs to reexamine what is happening when it comes to what the Spurs are able to do when it comes from a coaching perspective.
Speaker 1: Again, I'm not Mr. Fire Everybody, but I am. Speaker 1: You need to reexamine if you have the right person in place. Speaker 1: Again, I told y'all, even before the finals, how I had a conversation with Knick fans who were scared of Stephon Castle. Speaker 1: And he's played well. Speaker 1: But I have all already said off rip, Victor Webinyama's sidekick, his Scottie Pippen, his whatever, isn't on this roster yet. Speaker 1: I don't think it's going to be Castle.
Speaker 1: I don't think it's going to be Vassell. Speaker 1: I don't think it's going to be Dylan Harper. Speaker 1: His sidekick that's going to eventually potentially get him Larry Obees is not on that roster. Speaker 1: and that's why I'm Speaker 1: it's so maddening to watch them trick away this one Speaker 1: this is a free one for Wemby Speaker 1: he could have stole Hilario B Speaker 1: because his team is not ready Speaker 1: clearly Speaker 1: they had a chance to steal Hilario B Speaker 1: he had a chance to take it from LeBron Speaker 1: and say okay it's my league now Speaker 1: everyone else on my 7 foot 5 shoulders Speaker 1: and I'm going to carry us for the next decade plus Speaker 1: but because he has Speaker 1: a scoring guard that's playing shooting guard Speaker 1: and a scoring guard that's playing point guard in De'Aaron Fox Speaker 1: because he has Dylan Harper who's a rook Speaker 1: who is a slasher doesn't have the Jimmy yet Speaker 1: because he has Stephon Castle who is kind of in this Speaker 1: evolutionary guard position of a combo guard a hybrid guard Speaker 1: and he's not really a point guard but he's not really a shooting guard either Speaker 1: but he's really good defensively and he's aggressive offensively Speaker 1: so you want him on the floor again that hybrid evolution thing Speaker 1: positionless basketball nonsense. It is not what it's supposed to be. Speaker 1: He had a chance to steal a Larry OB. Speaker 1: And he couldn't get it.
And I hate to keep bringing this up, Speaker 1: but it's not guaranteed Wemby's going to get championships. Speaker 1: It's not ordained. This is not an automatic Speaker 1: thing where Wemby's going to leave the game of basketball with Speaker 1: three, four, five chips. It's not automatic. Speaker 1: As much as it looked the part of, you know, Parker, Ginobili, Tim Duncan, and you could put in Harper, Castle, Wemby. Speaker 1: That ain't automatic. Speaker 1: OKC was running out here with three future Hall of Famers and only got the one NBA Finals.
Speaker 1: Hella young, same type of deal. Speaker 1: Hella young. Speaker 1: They had chances in some of those games against the Heat, but you could just see it. Speaker 1: They weren't ready yet. Speaker 1: And they never got back there. Speaker 1: So I don't know what's going to happen. Speaker 1: Game five is Saturday.
Speaker 1: I'll be back at the crib. Speaker 1: But this was extremely troubling because they were so close to being able to take Larry OB. Speaker 1: And just have one in the tuck. Speaker 1: Then when the team and the roster gets finalized, gets caramelized, then it's on. Speaker 1: Then it's lit. It's like D-Wade. You get the one early.
Speaker 1: Just off the humble. And then you spend a block back with LeBron and them and go get a couple more. Speaker 1: Wemby was in that position. I'm a get one early. Speaker 1: Hell, Duncan can say the same thing. I'm a get one early with an old David Robinson, Avery Johnson. Speaker 1: and I'm not sure if Sean Elliott was still there Speaker 1: but it was the old Spurs Speaker 1: it was the old Spurs Speaker 1: roster that Speaker 1: beat the Knicks in 99 Speaker 1: and then Duncan Speaker 1: spun the block with his real squad Speaker 1: with a better Speaker 1: Manu, a better Tony Speaker 1: a young Kawhi Speaker 1: and then that was the group Speaker 1: Wemby had a chance to run that blueprint Speaker 1: back, I'm a still one Speaker 1: with Vassell.
Speaker 1: I'm a steal one with Keldon Johnson. Speaker 1: I'm a steal one Speaker 1: with Luke Cornett. Speaker 1: I'm a go steal one. Speaker 1: I just had that one in my back pocket Speaker 1: while we make the real maneuver Speaker 1: and go get the real roster. Speaker 1: And then I really take over the league. Speaker 1: But they tricked it off. Speaker 1: Absolutely tricked it off.
Speaker 1: I'll hit the chat before wrapping up. Speaker 1: Told y'all I've got about a hard hour Speaker 1: and we're getting right up on that hour. Speaker 1: Greg in the chat, can we get less Deuce Speaker 1: and more Jose and Clarkson? Speaker 1: I mean, I think you got Alvarado late last night Speaker 1: and I think that's Mike Brown falling into that. Speaker 1: I think that's Mike Brown understanding the assignment. Speaker 1: So I think you got that towards the end there. Speaker 1: Let me come off that.
Speaker 1: All right, and we'll take that down. Speaker 1: able to put this one up as we wrap up all right let's see Stefan ranking the game where does this Speaker 1: rank for you in terms of impressiveness is it better than Dirk's um you mean in regards to what Speaker 1: Jalen did if you're talking about just in terms of impressiveness in terms of Dirk being able to Speaker 1: get that ring against the Heat, the Heedles. Speaker 1: I'm not putting it there. Speaker 1: This is not an impressive, and that's kind of my point. Speaker 1: This is not an impressive championship for the Knicks. Speaker 1: It's a championship. Speaker 1: Look, you haven't won one in 53 years.
Speaker 1: A championship's a championship. Speaker 1: Knicks fans won't care how impressive it is to me. Speaker 1: But watching those games, if you know ball, you know damn well that the Spurs could have Speaker 1: won every single game. Speaker 1: And the Knicks were able to capitalize to win the Spurs eventually fucked up. Speaker 1: So credit to them. Speaker 1: But in terms of this wasn't a dominant Knick performance, this wasn't them just running through. Speaker 1: They ran through the East, but they're not running through the Spurs.
Speaker 1: At times, they look like they can. Speaker 1: It just looks like they're so much better and deeper than them and more poised and more mature than them that they know when to snatch a game from them. Speaker 1: We know when it's time up, here they come. Speaker 1: They're tricking it off. Speaker 1: Let's go snatch it. Speaker 1: And they've done it three out of the four games. Speaker 1: Steph, Spurs may be demoralized at this point.
Speaker 1: Multiple blown double-digit leads. Speaker 1: It's over. Speaker 1: Yeah, I agree. Speaker 1: And that's sad to me because I think this series had a chance to go seven games. Speaker 1: Because if the Spurs tie it up at two, I could see the Knicks getting five. Speaker 1: And then the Spurs having to fight off getting six back at the Mecca. Speaker 1: And then, you know, one game for it all in game seven back in San Antonio.
Speaker 1: Like it could have happened in any of any of those types of ways. Speaker 1: But this had seven games written on it. Speaker 1: Everyone was kind of, you know, Knicks fans were Knicks in four, Knicks in four. Speaker 1: Then they lost Knicks in five, Knicks in five. Speaker 1: And it may ultimately be that. Speaker 1: But these games were too close to just assume you could take this team out in four or five games. Speaker 1: Greg, who is a Knicks fan, so take it for what it's worth.
Speaker 1: Series is definitely, is certainly not over as a New York fan. Speaker 1: It ain't even over until it's officially over. Speaker 1: Could certainly spit the bit, gotta finish. Speaker 1: I mean, look, that's why I respect Greg's opinion. Speaker 1: He's not one of those over-the-top Knicks fans. Speaker 1: He may want to be internally, but he knows better. Speaker 1: This Knicks team has taught him over the years to not be that.
Speaker 1: but yeah I think this is one of those things where Speaker 1: if you are a Nick fan you have to be quietly Speaker 1: confident because Speaker 1: Nick's can't blow a 3-1 lead right Speaker 1: basketball gods Speaker 1: you want to do something funny Speaker 1: the almighty basketball guys want to do something great Speaker 1: something grand Speaker 1: as the habitual nut header Draymond Green was sitting right next to Jalen Brunson Speaker 1: in the post game Speaker 1: basketball gods Speaker 1: if you want to smile down upon thee Speaker 1: it would be amazing Speaker 1: I'm going to let that phone ring Speaker 1: let's see here Speaker 1: wrapping up with Steph last one in the chat Speaker 1: Spurs way is to look Speaker 1: a lot like the Patriot way once Tom Speaker 1: and Pop stepped away Speaker 1: it wasn't really the same Speaker 1: that's fair, that's certainly fair, certainly with the Patriots Speaker 1: I think Spurs, they keep falling into these legendary guys like getting David Robinson, then getting Tim Duncan, then sneaking in there and getting the Kawhi. Speaker 1: And now you get a Wemby. I think that is very impressive. So I'll leave it at that. Speaker 1: I got a hard out and that out is now. But I want to thank all of y'all in the chat. Speaker 1: If you haven't hit the like button already, go ahead and tap in and hit that like button.
Speaker 1: If you have not subscribed, go ahead and hit that button as well. Speaker 1: I'll go by the name of DCMD Speaker 1: this has been the DCMD podcast Speaker 1: I will talk to y'all after Speaker 1: game 5 we may be celebrating Speaker 1: a Knicks tape championship Speaker 1: basketball gods be damned Speaker 1: basketball gods Speaker 1: I was hoping it would not come to this Speaker 1: but these are desperate times Speaker 1: almighty basketball gods Speaker 1: I am one of your most humble Speaker 1: most truest Speaker 1: most obedient of servants Speaker 1: I have had my faith in you Speaker 1: even when most abandoned you. Speaker 1: I believed when many did not. Speaker 1: I believed when it was cool not to believe. Speaker 1: I stayed true. Speaker 1: I stayed down. Speaker 1: Ten toes, some would say.
Speaker 1: I put all my faith in you, Speaker 1: almighty basketball guys, Speaker 1: and you have been the most truest. Speaker 1: You have been the almighty. Speaker 1: But these are the most damnedest of times. Speaker 1: We are on the verge of Armageddon. Speaker 1: We are on the verge of something unforeseen. Speaker 1: We are on the verge of something that is unprecedented. Speaker 1: For 53 seasons, you have kept a fan base in check.
Speaker 1: For 53 years, you have made sure a fan base lives their truth. Speaker 1: For 53 years, you have given a fan base their reality check. Speaker 1: But almighty basketball guys, we are on the cusp of something that I thought I would never see. Speaker 1: Almighty basketball guys, we are on the brink of something some would say was unprecedented. Speaker 1: Almighty basketball guys, we are on the verge of something that the bulk of my audience thought pigs would fly. Speaker 1: when this would happen. Speaker 1: Yet here we are Speaker 1: on the brink Speaker 1: and not one piece of pork Speaker 1: flying through the air.
Speaker 1: Almighty basketball guys, Speaker 1: I come to you Speaker 1: a humble servant. Speaker 1: And if need be, Speaker 1: I am willing to make a sacrifice. Speaker 1: Almighty basketball guys, Speaker 1: I am willing to part Speaker 1: with something I hold most dear to me. Speaker 1: basketball gods if need be I am willing to jettison Speaker 1: one of my own Speaker 1: almighty basketball gods if it so Speaker 1: pleases you I will wish this Speaker 1: person to damnation I will wish this Speaker 1: person to hell I will Speaker 1: vanquish this person from my congregation Speaker 1: you say the word and so shall it be done Speaker 1: Almighty Basketball Gods because I believe in you that much. Speaker 1: I am willing to forego someone I hold as close to me as if he were a son. Speaker 1: Someone that I have defended on national airwaves. Speaker 1: Someone that I have defended on national television.
Speaker 1: Someone that I have gone to the mat for in a myriad of group chats. Speaker 1: But for you, almighty basketball guys, I am willing. Speaker 1: I am willing to let him go. Speaker 1: I am willing to vanquish him. Speaker 1: I am willing to sacrifice, at one point in time, Speaker 1: the 19th leading scorer in NBA history, Camilo Anthony. Speaker 1: I know. I'm sorry.
I know. Speaker 1: but we're that close Speaker 1: we are this close to the unthinkable Speaker 1: we are this close to the unfathomable Speaker 1: this cannot happen basketball guys Speaker 1: do you understand what's going to happen to 8th Avenue Speaker 1: do you understand what's going to happen to the halal trucks Speaker 1: on 33rd Speaker 1: do you understand what's going to happen to Penn Station Speaker 1: do you understand what's going to happen Speaker 1: to the king of heroes during the parade Speaker 1: Do you understand what lies ahead of us? Speaker 1: If you don't step in now, basketball gods, Speaker 1: all I'm asking for is to get us to game six. Speaker 1: Do your will. Speaker 1: Do your bidding to get us through game five. Speaker 1: Just get us to game six. Speaker 1: I will not question you, almighty basketball gods, Speaker 1: but I am willing to put my man, my Mello, Camillo Anthony, Speaker 1: into your arms and let him go.
Speaker 1: I have held this man near and dear to me. Speaker 1: I have held his reputation near and dear to me. Speaker 1: When this man was cut from Team USA, Speaker 1: I rode for him. Speaker 1: When this man was cut from team to team to team Speaker 1: and they said he was washed, Speaker 1: I rode for him. Speaker 1: When this man had a secret baby and was... Speaker 1: Sorry, basketball gods. Speaker 1: Let me focus.
Speaker 1: Be that as it may, Speaker 1: I have protected this man. Speaker 1: I have lauded this man. Speaker 1: Even though he is now being treated like a Nick Luminary, Speaker 1: when the Nick fans were killing him, Speaker 1: when the Nick fans were chiding him, Speaker 1: when the Nick fans were destroying his credibility that he so masterfully built, Speaker 1: I stood by his side. Speaker 1: And now Nick fans are loving him as if they never vanquished that man in the first place. Speaker 1: And you want to reward these fans? Speaker 1: These are the fans you want to reward? Speaker 1: This fan base that has a racist as a owner?
Speaker 1: This fan base that allows the orange man to fall asleep in the arena? Speaker 1: To vanquish their watch parties? Speaker 1: This is the fan base you want to reward? Speaker 1: With the Larry OB? Speaker 1: And I know Almighty Basketball Guys, you have thought 53 seasons is enough. Speaker 1: We have taught them a lesson. Speaker 1: they now see the ways Speaker 1: they now know how to act Speaker 1: they now know how to be humble Speaker 1: basketball guys did you see what they did to Wemby Speaker 1: did you see them throwing eggs at Wemby Speaker 1: did you see them tearing up a five guys Speaker 1: almighty basketball guys Speaker 1: these fans have not yet learned the lesson Speaker 1: 53 seasons clearly has not been enough Speaker 1: I speak to you as directly as possible Speaker 1: please do not let this happen Speaker 1: these fans have not learned Speaker 1: these fans have not heeded your messages Speaker 1: these fans have not Speaker 1: heeded to the 53 years of lessons Speaker 1: you have bestowed upon them Speaker 1: they clearly do not get it Speaker 1: they clearly won't get it Speaker 1: almighty basketball guys Speaker 1: I will give you Carmelo Anthony Speaker 1: you can have him Speaker 1: and to do with him of what you will Speaker 1: and I will no longer Speaker 1: fight for his behalf.
Speaker 1: Let the Knicks fans reclaim him Speaker 1: when they wanted to get rid of him Speaker 1: just like they did with Stephon Marbury, Speaker 1: just like they did with Patrick Ewing. Speaker 1: Every time they get a star Speaker 1: and that star doesn't make it, Speaker 1: they kill him on the way out Speaker 1: only for them to spin the block Speaker 1: a number of years later Speaker 1: and all of a sudden Speaker 1: they're Knicks luminaries. Speaker 1: And yet again, basketball guys, Speaker 1: I ask of you, Speaker 1: this is the fan base you want to reward. Speaker 1: I was hoping I would not have to come this far Speaker 1: basketball guys but Speaker 1: De'Aaron Fox wouldn't let it be Speaker 1: Stephon Castle wouldn't let it be Speaker 1: Mitch Johnson wouldn't let it be Speaker 1: so here we are Speaker 1: give me a sign basketball guys Speaker 1: give me a sign that you are hearing me Speaker 2: a sign that you are receiving the message that I am sending Speaker 2: because we are on the cusp of Armageddon and we cannot have this.