S4 E6: NBA Finals Preview: Knicks vs. Spurs

Segment 1: Western Conference Finals Observations (starts at 1:00) Spurs' special season continues, coming back from a 3-2 deficit against the defending champs San Antonio had 7 players in double figures, doing a great job spreading the ball OKC players gassed in the 4th quarter, missed two of their key players for Games 6 and 7: guards Jalen Williams (left hammy strain), Ajay Mitchell (left calf/soleus strain...what the heck is a soleus?)  Questionable game plan and coaching by OKC (burned through timeouts early and used up both challenges by mid 3rd quarter), having SGA go 1-on-3 Thunder managed just 14 points from their frontcourt starters -- 7 from their starting forwards combined -- did not get the needed production from the bench including Caruso who had a good series Spurs moved the ball around, very "Knicks-like" though a bit sloppy handling the ball with a lead No love lost between Spurs star center Victor Wemanyama and Chet Holmgren, who was not a factor in Game 7 or the series Segment 2: Knicks on a Historic Playoff Run (14:06) Knicks have won 11 straight playoff wins, all by double digits, won all 3 series on the road Have outscored playoff opponents by 19.4 PPG, best point differential in NBA playoff history Back in the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years Major changes have worked out: hired Mike Brown the right coach/leader (likely the 7th or 8th choice) to replace Tom Thibodeau after the team made the Eastern Conference Finals last year; sent message to players and fans to raise expectations; and trading for Karl Anthony Towns swapping Julius Randle Knick players stepping up big-time compared to regular season including Mikal Bridges, playing their best basketball Two teams met 3 times during the season, NYK winning the season series 2-1, including the in-season tournament and a dominant 114-89 win at MSG. Segment 3: Key Matchups (21:30): Rematch of the In-Season Tournament Final Wemby vs. Brunson Spurs built completely around Wemby; Knicks bigs KAT and Mitchell Robinson vs. Wemby...critical Knicks don't get in foul trouble early on. Will need both KAT and Robinson to lean on Wemby Jalen Brunson vs. Spurs guards...can Brunson get to his spots and score Knicks offense vs. Wemby: Knicks go the basket well...need to get Wemby away from the rim to open us the Knicks offense. KAT will play a key role here Key question: how effective will Mitchell Robinson be dealing with the broken right pinky Are the Knicks a team of destiny? Check out Nigel's hilarious Sopranos' analogy And Nigel is focused: will not answer any group chat messages while watching the NBA Finals Will Knicks come out flat after a 9 day layoff during most of Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 vs. Cleveland?