Looking Ahead to the Offseason

The New York Knicks are your NBA finals Champions first time in fifty ree years Nickix have won and all. Oh my God. Tom Havastro and I get into every single angle from this epic epic NBA finals another down to the wire game, another comeback Down sixteen this time not quite twenty nine like game for, but down sixteen points. Nix come back and win the NBA finals. So Tom and I get into this next roster, how incredible they were and then for the Spurs they did to get here, but what they have to do to get over the top sometime in the future. That's all coming up right now with me and Tom Aish. It's the best time of the year in the NBA right now with the conference finals, then the finals, then the draft and suummer League And on game time You got the advantage as a fan. It's the hack for unlocking amazing tickets and just a few taps. 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Cutch shot after clutch shot. he had the play where he just kind of shimmied stopped and started on Weemby with the lay upp. He had the floater, the drawn fall on the three O Unvable on a night where Carl Anthony Towns was in constant foul trouble. They had the Etender working against them. No Noagd Webby. I mean, you know what to me? Yeah, here we are First title in fifty three years It really is incredible. I'm watching him hug his parents now, his dad Brunson, obviously the second the assistant coach for the New York Kicks just an incredible story for the MBA. a second round pick who was passed over by just about every team in the NBA has to back up Luca Donrge for much of his career and beg the Dallas Mavericks to give him a big contract and he goes to the Kicks and becomes immortal. One of the best Nicks ever He Patrick Ewing, Walt Clyde Frasier, Willis Reid. He's now in the Mount Rushmore where just five years ago, I don't think anyone could have foreseen that Jayen Brunson not only would be a champion with the New York Kicks, fininals MVP for the New York Kicks, a guy that so many teams just said Nah and he overcame so much to be at this position in this league. It's it's a remarkable story. forty five points It's the it's the third most we've ever seen in a clinching finals performance. Janis ended a Cumpo in twenty twenty one had fifty and five blocks in that close out game against Phoenix. Bob Pettet in six seventy years ago in nineteen fifty eight he had a fifty piece with nineteen rebounds, but Jalen Brunson man at six foot two maybe. being by far the gutsiest, strongest, most steady player in a rock fight. he was as as steady as a rock as you've ever seen in an NBA finals. just incredible I mean, there are so many great athletes in New York sports history. Babe Ruth, Lawrence, Taylor Derek Jeter, Clyde Frasier, Joe Dimaggio, Mickey Mant. a lot of them for the Yankees. Joe Amoth Right? Like Eli Manning of the New York Giants. There's a long list of them. Jayen Brunson joins that list for sure. and skyrockets possibly to near the top of it, especially after a performance like this one, Tom. I mean, really it was a, you know, David versus Goli in some ways given he's going against a seven foot seven victor onebenyama and that San Antonio' first defense. and for him to score and create shots in the way in which he did down the stretch of this game. I mean, look is Tom. I mean, OG and Oi after game four, peopleople were saying, OG, maybe he's the finals MVP. He's eleven points tonight on three of eleven Carl Anthony Towns after the first two games after the Kicks took two in San Antonio Kat tonight Tw points on one of seven in twenty four minutes because he was in constant foul trouble. a lot of lot of poor foules by him. Josh Hart, thirteen points on four of eleven. M Kell Bridges fourteen points of five of ten There the Nixon didn't have a single point from a bench player until Jordan Clarkson had a shot with thirty nine seconds in the third quarter. They win this game because of Jayalen Brunson. Of course they're here because of a group team effort, but Jalen Brunson took him past the finish line and he got better throughout this series, Tom. It looked like he got hurt for game one first quarter and he continued to get better and get got to adjust, I think to Weemy in that defense with his ability to get into the mid range into the painink. just Remarkable, man. I mean, what a story Like you detailed, Tom, right? He was a backup A second round pick. four year player out of college and here he is a New York sports hero with one of the best close out games we've seen. It's just awesome. It's really it truly is awesome kids were born today with the first name Brunson. I mean I mean, come on and this guy It's it's an incredible story And I he had twenty nine points in the second half alone And we're talking about a guy who turned his ankle Not just the physical resiliency and the perseverance after Victor Webinyama clearly deserves to get a flagrant foul in the landing zone rules underneath Jayen Brunson there in the second half. And then he overcomes that hits the shot, by the way overcomes that and continues to play on an ankle that looks like a paper clip and just bending the wrong way and he did not complain at all when it came to like limping down the floor. He just kept playing And yes, he protested to the officials as he should have been because think about it You've got not only the extra free throw that you could get in that situation, not only would it susnd Victor Webanyyama But it also would You're talking about an injury rule that like was put into place because of the Zaza Pachulia thing and there's there's every reason for him to let his emotions get the best of him. And if anything It made him even sharper down the stretch. I mean, I don't know How many players in the NBA we've ever seen have that kind of mental fortitude to put the team on his back and get to the rim, hit big shots and do it on a gimpy ankle. I don't want to hear about Dereren Fox's ankle sprain anymore after what we saw from Jayen Brunson throughout this series throughout the post season, just an absolute like an Ironman performance. We just We have to sit here Kevin O'Connor and Marvel at Jayen Brunson and what he's done for this New York New York Ns franchise and the New York City I mean, as a whole He's healed a lot of wounds A lot of wounds. John Starks Larry Johnson, all these historic players, Patrick Ewing didid not win the big one and here is Jayalen Brunson healing those wounds for everyone in attendance for Alan Houston. I mean, how many Nicks fans were in attendance tonight that are looking at Jalen Brunson and saying It looked like a fifty fifty crowd tonight Tom Fin in it It sure did man. I mean, I remember like after game one, I was I attended that one I didn't attend game two. I was walking through the concourse behind before the game. I'm like, how, there's a lot of Nick fans here. must be like a quarter something like that. maybe fifteencent, twenty percent, but close to a quarter Looking at the crowd for watching from home tonight. you see a lot of blue and orange. It looked like at least forty, forty five, possibly fifty percent. You could hear it on the broadcast. the spikes and volume anytime the Nicks made a big run of many they made in the second half of that game to callraw their way back and eventually take the lead and win it all It was felt like a Nick's own game a lot of the time for this game and to see it's pretty cool to see the Nicks win it in San Antonio San Antonio doesn't want a single home game in the series to win it in San Antonio in a way that looks like a home game. I'm seeing a view right now of Jalen Brunson with Nick fans behind him in the crowd. still pretty full in the lower bowl during the ceremony It's a lot of mixed fans there. So I mean, pretty cool a lot of them were able to be there for this game tonight pretty unusual. It's not usually like this when a team wins on the road. We're about to find out we're watching this recording this immmediately post game Adam Silver at the podium. I'm assuming Jayalen Brunson against the finals MVP here. I would be shocked any other way if it weret Jalen Brunson, But ultimately like this the nextix, this team They get to this point, Tom because of the collective roster Carl Anhing Towns two amazing first two games getting them getting them to this point, putting the ball in his hands in the middle of the first round in the Atlanta series. OGian and Oie, not the best night for him in this game five, but so many clutch plays even just bides the putback at the end of the game for, even putting that aside one of the greatest rebounds in Nick's history the clutch shots at the end of the shot clock when he would bail them out throughout the series I think these guys Michuel Bridges finding himself earlier in the playoffs after struggling at many points during the regular season guysys off the bents whooseay Alvarado, a gutsy Trade deadline decision up and down this roster. Mitchell Robinson B offensive rebound afterfter the miss free throw. He just big boy Wey on the plan to grab that board. Yeah, they big boy the spurs in this in this series is when push came to shove quite literally the Kicks won those battles and I can't I don't know if we've ever had this Kev. I know since been several years that we've had F game the first four games be all in clutch Final five minutes game within five. We got another one in game five here and the next one four out of the five. And that to me is's a testament to the Kicks with Jayalen Brunson. I can't say it's just veteran leadership I think it is the resolve of these guys. They just they've had this continuity since the last few years Think about the addition to this team. usually we see with title teams, Kevin, a new player. into the fold to put them over the top. I'm thinking about Alex Carusso and Isaiah Hartenstein for the Oklahoma City Thunder last year. but we didn't really see that. I dont I don't want to count Alvarado in this conversation. What we we're really seeing is a team that got their hearts broken for by the Indiana Spurs in game seven last year fire their head coach. and what a performance by Mike Brown. I felt like Mike Brown pushed all the right buttons in this series and Mitch Johnson having Viictor Wembinyama on the bench Five minutes left in a closeout game and Der and Fox onto the floor I could not believe my eyes that we are in this position watching Victor Wbinyama on the bench as Jayalen Brunson's making play after play after play and Mike Brown trusted his guys and they delivered in the biggest moments just an incredible story for Mike Brown, Jayalen Brunson and a team that I severely doubted at many points this regular season and they just put together one of the greatest post seasons ever I'll tell you what, Tom. you know, you mentioned the gutsy decision to fire Tom Tibido and hire Mike Brown. To me, that's what this next team about it was just a series of Gutsy decision after. gussy decision, even going back to acirring Jayalen Brunson and paying him in the first place. He can talk about the CAA connection, the Rick Brunson connection and all that. There is no guarantee that Jalen Brunson after his time in Dallas would turn into the superstar that he has with the New York Nicks. It wasn't a guarantee But they took that calculated risk. They paid a lot to go get Miel Brides They made a really savvy trade to go get OGN and Obi. Emanuel quickly and RJ. Barrett who was still a very good young player at the time. like trading trrading a pick a first rouder to go get Josh Hart from Portland who seemed like a flawed player. Can he play in the playoffs? Yes, he can. He has proven that. G getting these moves around the edges. like the drafting Duce McBride grranted he didn't have the biggest playoff, but trading for Jose Alvado someome of these decisions around the edges of the roster, even add in the Landry shamot. who had some moments in the post season. for the Nicks. this Nicks for an office nailed it. with their decisions that they made year by year and ultimately it came to firing Tom Tibadau and hiring Mike Brown An unbelievable coaching upgrade. that game for The game for running with Jose Alvado down the stretch of the game. That is not something you would have seen Tibbs do. The flexibility in the moment tonight in this game five to be able to manage foul trouble around Carl Anthony Towns and pull the right strings. When to go with Mitchell Robinson, when to go with Huck Porty, when to go with smallallball with OG at the five. Sohan. Sohan. like Mike Brown. Yes. Mike Brown's a genius He like this little genius I mean, he pressed all the right buttons. We even got a Leon Rose press conference just now at the NBA finals. That's how crazy this is. The first time he's talked to the media or to the public on the record and ever as a New York Nick has that's That's what his voice sounds like. Even more of a surprising voice than Mitch Johnson Man, it the more surprised The campon connection man. Camden connection when we're talking about Uh, um We're talking about Leon Rose worldldwide West. Brunson, the North New Jersey the Elizabeth I mean, ye had Carl Anthony Towns. I laughed about. I joked about it. Just the CAA connection and everybody taking care of each other But I think there is upside there is that they have inside knowledge about these players want. their rep I mean Leon Rose was representing Carl Anthony Townsend got him the big maximum contracts that he was getting represented so many of these players in the league. He knows how these players think about what it takes to win at the highest levels and what it makes these players tick. And so I laughed about it. J like Ohh, they got OG Anonobi, another CAA guy and they got him for no first round picks into the deal It's a heist. but really, what can OGN and Obe do in this environment? Is this just another case of cronyism, of favoritism And ultimately they're getting the last laugh. Anyone who got a laugh at the Nicks and the CAA connection, you can't deny that that agency and that Leon Rose taking over for basketball operations at the time that he did Um, an amazing transformative Rign by Leon Rose. and you're right hitting on all of those moves in a time where I think many people expected It's not just Tom Tibo, maybe a player shake upp, Michuel Bridges and Carl Anthony Towns can you really rely on him as your starting five and the answer is Absolutely. They're world champions now. and they just did it over Victor Weembinyama and the referee crew in this game over the over the final seven fifty four of game five The Ns out scored the spurs twenty one to seven. in those minutes San Antonio had a thirty seven point Three. offensive rating They were three of sixteen from the field One of five at the Rim O of three from three point range One of four from the free throw line Nicks, meanwhile had a one twenty three point two offensive rating down the stretch of the game. Once again, Tom The next put the clamps on That happened, but also San Antonio justust an absolute ter collapse. It's happened throughout this finals. We saw it to the greatest extreme in game four with a twenty nine point bed when they lead when they fell in love. three pointer And it happened again tonight to a lesser extent, sixteen point lead at one point in the game and and then just completely pissing down the side of their leg. in the fourth quarter and you mentioned it in passing earlier, Tom When he goes out of the game around five minutes left And Then first play The Aaron Fox just bricks a shot. And he down the down the stretch of the game was over for four I don't really have a good explanation for why Mitch Johnson with him in the way that he did other than Two things. A, he's just one of those prototypical coaches that's like, I'm going favor my vet I'm going to favor the former all star. I'm going to favor this guy and I'm not going to trust a rookie down the stretch of the game. Dyan Harper, by the way, one to five. over these final eight minutes as well. He himself was not effective down the stretch of the game. Castle stunk it up. his only make was that pullback in the final thirty seconds of the game. to be fair to mit Johnson in the situation St here and Fox wasn't the only one struggling. Harper had an excellent game though, to be fair overall. So I'm going to ignore that end of the game situation I think Miss Johnson just Made a mistake here, Tom. It didn't feel to me like he was giving his team the best opportunity to win relying on this veteran player who's struggling. who's making bone head errors and mistakes Who is who is also hurt as well It's either just sticking with the veterans. O talked about agencies with the Kicks with CAA or it's just a clutch sports thing because Mitch Johnson is clutch sports and the Aaron Fowx is clutch sports. and so is the GM, by the way, Brian Wright I just fail to understand how they didn' it ptimize their chances of winning this game in this series by leaning more on Harper who is by far over the duration of the game, the far more effective guard and shock creator. Oh and Julian Champannei should have gotten way more minutes down the stretch and ability to hit Threes. He's the only guy who could hit shots down in this game And a lot of those minutes were going to Derin Fox who in this in this four quarters with the season on the line. before this game, Mitch Johnson gave him the utmost the strongest endorsement by saying At the end of the game in game five I'm going to put the ball in deer in Fox's hands and he fumbled it away. threeree of fifteen in this game. he had in the last half two of eight shooting in the game four two of eight shootings, so that's fiveive of twenty three in the last six quarters with five turnovers and I didn't feel like that It was that good. like to twenty three seems like even better than I thought it would be considering how many open shots that he bricked in the last couple games. It's not that he was taking tough shots at the rim and continuously making place for Victor Weembinyama and just kind of making these positive plays out there and it's just not going in I didn't feel like he was making positive EV plays. throughout the night and Ken Tell it to Jayalen Brunson that Darren Fox's ankle was too tough too much in pain to perform at a high level. And I brought it up in the last stream after game four. I was there when Ericsolstra way too conservative when it came to yanking Mike Bibby in twenty eleven. Mike Bibby acquired at. The deadline was waved by the Washington Wizards. The Miami Heat picked him up and started him the rest of that season and Eric Bolstra and the Miami Heat just time and time again him out on the floor And then finally in the final game of the season made the switch. to remove Mike Baby from the starting lineup and he didn't play a single minute in that game and he relied on Mario Chalmers who was out playing him throughout the postseason and it was too late, too little too late And that's what entered my mind, Kevin Wing this performance again from Daron Fox, the bone headed plays, the Miss cues, the push in the back into Josh Hart in the open court to get a flgrrant thought he should have been benchced the rest of the game right there. What a what a dumb play by a veteran who' brought in be a stabilizing performer in the biggest moments and just a complete rookie move, a complete rookie last six quarters for Dierin Fox. and he should have gotten the Mike Bibby treatment down the stretch. But already, Mitch Johnson was doubling down And he was going down burning the boats with with Darren Fox and unfortunately, it sunk them in this game. And we'll be right back after this break Having the right people in your corner for life's biggest milestones makes all the difference. Like a friend who's there when you're househunting or checking out a new ride, State Farm is there too, helping you choose the coverage you need. With a state Farm agent, you know someone is there to help you along the way. And with so many coverage options, it's nice knowing you have help choosing a plan that fits your needs so you can continue celebrating all of life's milestones. Head to statefarm. com to get a quote. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there Maybe we're being too apologetic for Victor Wembonyama. We haven't talked about him, but Dier and Fox is the one who shot three of fifteen in this game and was a total non factactor and Victor Wembenyama, unfortunately Just It was not the dynamic performance down the stretch that we all imaginine. If he's getting those breaks every two minutes you would at least expect some better performances down the stretch, but getting bullied by Mitch Robinson under the basket was one of those Oh my God moments that he will be up at night seeing Mitchell Robinson for days, weeks over the summer. And then he went one for two from the free throw line as well. I thought there was a chance he might go for two again like he did last game. I thought that might actually have a shot at happening. He obviously made the second one. took two big deep breaths for that one. He took his time Tom, unlike aim four as he described after that game Yeah, look, everything you said about Fox, you know, I agree with. We can talk a little bit later about what the Surs should do with him spil alar. They should trade his ass Um We can we can save that for later. I think I do want to hit Wemby now though Wendy Obviously sensational player I'm a Wemby guy I voted him MVP And he's in the finals at twenty two years old in the third year of his career. So like he's got a lot of growing to do and most of the all time greats do take their lumps first. They don't win their finals on a first shot. Never mind make the finals in their first playoff So it's an accomplishment in its own right to be here saidad The pass off the back of castle. att the end of game two The choke at the end of game four The inability to create his own shot And the durability aspect, he had five blocks and what? The first fifteen minutes of the game, none after that. I felt like there's been a lot of times where he's just got pushed around, including on the Mitchell Robinson offensive board in the final minute. you can say that Mitch Johnson should have had Cornett on M Mitchell Robinson and Wendby is the guy to clean up the board. You could argue that, but Wendby was in that position and he failed to hold off Mitel Rominson The inability to create a shot the strength does does does go to show Tom How far He still has to come as a player, particularly on the offense at the end of the floor He does not have a go to move. He does not have a go to spot. that he wants to get to on the floor too often. I still feel like he falls in love with the jumper. He had that a mid range fadeaw away at one point, eararlier in the fourth quarter, I think it was the seven twenty mark or something like that. And this is around the time where the Kicks were really building momentum. is at the start of their ten z run. And that seven minute mark And it was shortly before Brunson had that crazy finish where he stopped and started to create space against Victor Wembenyama. And I think after that Wemby If I remember correctly after that Wby fade away. Brunson got the ball and beat Wendby up the floor And there's just so many times I'm like, D't, why are you settling? That's a win for the defense. There was to Tim Legler, I think pointed it out at one of the points in the second half of that game. Weby took a three point or was kind of like holding the ball L around, looking around and then hoisted up a three pointer and Legs or RJ had mentioned. That's a tough three to make when you're stationary and then you launch it. Wey I felt like he was just givven the spur the micks exactly what they wanted a lot of the times in the game and that's where experience and growth needs to happen. But boy He's got a long way to go offensively in order to come through in these clutch end game situations this level of basketball Okay, I'm gonna u I had some stray thoughts here. I really had this thought in the middle of this game Do they need Chris Paul because I couldn't believe how hard it was to get Weby the ball in the paint. And I know we've gotten a lot of laughs at Chris Paul expense in San Antonio last year I couldn't believe how difficult it was. There was so there was a Stean Castle drive late in the game where he had an easy loob. for Victor Wembinyama when they collapsed on a castle just he could not get the ball. two shots into the paint in the fourth quarter three pointers. He had twenty seven three pointers three point attempts in this series. secondcond most by any player against a team that the New York Knicks No one's confusing them for the twin towers of of the rockets or of the San Antonio sppurs with David Robinson and Tim Duncan. Victor Webanyama has to get better positioning, certainly has to play more in the paint. He can't blame this all on the guards For Jarin Fox to get a max contract to be acquired at yes last year's deadline to be the replacement for Chris Paul and be the guy who's going to get Victor Weembonyama those los and those downhill attacks and making sure he gets the ball on those post ups Zn Fox is not a pure point card N was a per point card And I'm starting to wonder Is Stefon Castle going to be able to develop in this area enough? and Dylan Harper certainly, as far as bully downhill drivers, I can't think of many others that have been this good since Derek Rose, Pak Russell Westbrook, just the ability Pake Jon Morant where the ability to get to the cup and finish strong We never see a guy this young do this. It's the most points by a twenty twenty year old or or younger since Magic Johnson What he's done in this finals as a score certainly is just about unprecedented in the modern era Kevin Victor Webinyama has to be stronger and the point guards have to be better at getting him. Yeah, you're seeing it here. ninety points by Dylan Harper in the finals. most. ever oututside of Magic Johnson in nineteen eighty, of course with one hundred and twenty nine points in that in that incredible performance from Magic forty five years ago Now what we're seeing is Are the spurs going to be okay with Viictor Weminyama getting just two shots in the paint in the fourth quarter of a close out game or they're going to have to upgrade and get a more I don't know. Jose Alvarado, a guy who's just out there to get his best players the ball in the right places. It it's things like that. I'm sitting there watching the game and just wondering Can they get somebody to get Wemby the ball. And of course he has to be better He can't settle for for mid range jumpers and three pointers every time. but I also believe the Spurs have a playmaking problem that was exposed by the strength and the leadership by the by the New York Knicks they refuseed to let Weemy get the ball in the paint. And that was one of the biggest reasons why they dropped this game and down the stretch canan't get him high percentage shots somehow Yeah. I think that I think that spot on Tom. I mean, that is a portion of it here. partart of it is going to just have to be on Webby when when, you know, you and I at different points have both called him the best player in the world. The best player in the world needs to be able to create his own shot. and I'm not quite sure he showed the best player in the world in this series. That's just the reality of it. I think it's up for grabs. I think it still still could be SGA. still could be Ookach, still could be Weemby. I think he's in that conversation still given how special he is on the defensive end of the floor. But I do think the Nicks did show a bit of a formula here figuring it out over the course of the series, stretching him out at times, pulling him out of the paint basasing him out Kat with those first two games of the series as well was really effective. So I do think We did see a little bit of the formula against Victor Wbanyab in this game on top of the fact as Jeremy Sohan said before the series rough him up. be tough with them. He gets tired That happens did happen His defensive impact did diminish. over the course of these games. It was ten out of ten in the first quarter. I mean, it's not a coincidence. Burs went up ten points in all five games in the first quarter. That's in part because of that early impact you see from Wem Binyama on the defensive end of the floor, but it's almost like a little bit of ropad dope in some ways, you know, let them punch punch themselves out of it and and and I think that's we saw a bit of that here with Wendby and ultimately for him, he's got a lot of growing to do ur team. I think like Devin the cell like Castle had a crabby game five, but he was really good overall. There's questions about Keldon Johnson, the sixth man of the year How impactful is he at the playoff level at this deep level of basketball. and Daron Fox, of course I mean, look, he's got a big max contract coming up and he's supposed to be your betterter in the guy to your point supposed to be creating easy shot opportunities for Victor Webinana. and he's unable to do that. He does not make up for it defensively. He made so many just bonehe decisions of our Spurs Vant Tom. Oh man. if I were a Spurse fan, I would have so much hate in my heart for Darn Fox. I'm not gonna lie. I mean, if I were a Spurse fan, I would I would I want to be able to watch in a Spurs jersey next season. He has to go if I'm a Surs fan. And when I put myself in the shoes of those fans, I just don't see how you could expect this team to reach the next level would be Aaron Fox. I don't. I don't. I don't care that he was hurt. Do your pointoint Tom. Brunson was hurt. There's a bunch of guys hurt. We're going to hear about injuries to guys that we don't know about Dearred Fox He didn't play like the veteran. He played like the rookie, the inexperienced player And ultimately for San Antonio, when he's got that massive salary They got to turn that into something in order to take the next step. That's what these teams do the Nicks, they traded Randall for Carl Anthony Towns. a big move because they felt like that wasn't enough to take the next step They they make these smart additions around the edges of the team and the big one Randall for Kat The Spurs need to make that move now. That's what they learned in this post season, particularly in these finals in order to take the next step. It can't be the Aaron Fox for my own sanity if I'm a Spurs fan, but also just from a pure team building perspective, it's not going to work with him. He's not the guy He's not the guy. And I wrote about it after game four that they have a deer and Fox problem and people thought I was being too harsh. that they don't get to where they are without Darin Fox And I would argue they got to where they are not in spite of Deron Fox, but it certainly wasn't because of Daron Fox. I think he was an above average player for much of that season, but certainly not worth a max contract, certainly not worth all of that the capital that they put into him. And when we've he heard Rich Paul, the CEO of Clutch Sports on his podcast talk about how they kind of diagrammed this years in advance of saying I want one of my guys to be one of my clients to be on the Victor Weembinyama team. And whether it was Darius Garland, Darius Garland didn't want to do that. He didn't want to be the second fiddle reportedly U And Dereren Fox said, I want to be there And now you're saying why? Because they gave him a two hundred twenty million dollars contract that pays him fifty million dollars next year and sixty million dollars in twenty twenty nine, twenty three and twenty and twenty thirty. And look Yes, the cap is going up. But that's going to be a huge area of concern. If you are Mitch Johnson And and Brian, right, when you're looking at this organization Can you expect that Dar and Fox is going to be better next year when He is not the same athleticism that he used to be. He used to be the fastest guy in the NBA and you saw that OG play at the end of game four. he thinks He's that guy. He's not that guy He's not a guy anymore And I think it's going to take a realization. You make a great point about the Julius Randall Com is that the Kicks decided Carl Anthony Town certainly has his warts. He has had not the best moments in the post season. U But we still think that he can be an acquisition that can get us over the top And the San Antonio Spurs have to find that player who is going to get them over the and over the top that Julius Randall is the Daron Fox for that next team and now you're going to see the San Antonio Spurs have to go figure out who's going to take this deer and Fox contract. notot going to be easy easy. And what you're seeing is a league that just watched Ear and Fox collapse down the stretch and really not be able to play at a high level. and it's only going to get more expensive on your caps. So my question is You know, we talked about this on Yahoo Sports Daily yesterday U is when or on Friday rather. When it came to Darn Fox Sotors What do you do You got to throw some picks into there to make it worthwhile for another team. The team that I isolated in this didentified in this was Dallas Mavericks with Kyrie Irving and PJ Washington Oh disgusting. Cab. Gross two hundred twenty million dollars. Are you going to be able to stomach that more than Kyrie and PJ Washington going forward? No no, I'm saying I'm I' Dallas I throwing up in my mouth. No I want I want to recovery. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. That's the tough part here. It's really hard. We can sit herent our face is blue that they need to get rid of Tar and Fox, but ultimately it's going to have to take a suiter And that's the problem when you do a max extension before you see how he fits with the organization. They got to the NBA finals And now they have serious questions like every team that doesn't hoist the Larry O B. They've got some serious questions, but the thing is it's a good problem to have because they got Stepan Castle and they got Dylan Harper And that's what's most bufuddling of this of all is that you had two guys who could take those minutes at Dar and Fox in these last few games and ultimately Mitch Johnson just went down with his vet. and And I think it costs them It definitely costs them. I mean, look, I don't I don't have the answer off the top of my head. I mean,ve I've done some scrolling through the salaries, like high priceed players target, I just don't. I don't know who's going to want to eararn Fox and I don't think that answer would be quite clear until after the draft And so I think that's where it's worth keeping in mind what the nature of this draft class is. It is a guard heavy draft class. There are a lot of good guards that are going to be drafted in the top ten. in the next ten picks in the back end of the first round. There's going to be good quality guards from, you know, Darren Peterson and Darius Ap, the big names, you know to Christian Anderson and Bennett Sturts and Le Baron Fyon and Abuco Corey Michael Brown. there's a lot of guards this year. and so If you're a guard needy team I don't I don't know what you're going to be looking for other than a player in this draft class. Like I think that's where you're probably investing. So unless it's Miami but what's Miami giving? I don't know. I don't know. I don't know the answer for San Antonio. and I don't think that's going to become clear until we really get an idea of where Eonis goes and also where some of these prospects are going to go and who remains guard needy after. It might just be to the sppurs are stuck with them That might be the reality of it at the end of this. It might just be that the Spurs are stuck with the Aaron Fowx because nobody wants to trade for a twenty nine year old point guard who is speed and athleticism reliant and is about to begin a four year two hundred twenty one point seven six Million dollar contract extension. Boy That hurts to say. I mean, Y That's tough. Well' Iike We've had our eighth champion in eight years. mayaybe the ninth is going to be the Surs next year be. Um Fly help Nakespeare could be healthy, mayaybe he comes off the bench as the vet. We've seen that before. It's not unprecedented. Andre Gadala comes to mind with the with the Golden State Wriors who just said, look, I twenty five other teams. I'm the starter, but I will come off the bench and be that that veteran. Playmaker off the bench but he's much better defensively than Dereren Fox. that's part of the problem is at that size, if you don't have your wheels you become an albatross contract very quickly in this NBA. And we're approaching that point with Darin Fox where if you don't have that athleticism end to end athleticism and the three point shooting just was not there this post season It's just going to be really ugly. And I think we have to give the Nix credit because They had Jayalen Brunson as their guy who's not a max player. It is crazy to think that Darren Fox is going to get paid more money next year than D than than then shhade Gil just Alexander and Jalen Brunson and that's what's the reality is for the San Antonio Spurs. I really believe that the Wimby window window was so important that they were getting Victor Weminyama at a rookie scale contract and you should absolutely go and get a max contract guy Cab they just picked the wrong one. Yeah. and I think that's right. I mean, would Ween be still on his rooookie scale Castle and Harpper still on their rookie scale. It's a good time to take advantage. It's going to get a lot tougher on to team build once those guys are all up for their max contracts. And then like with Castle at that point, the conversation now is oh yeah young guy in the second year of his career who' a gritty hard nosose player. The conversation with him is going to change if in three years when he's on a max deal And he's shooting thirty percent from three in a series, thirty seven percent from the field going one for ten in a must win finals game, suddenly the conversation at that point will turn from oh Nice, gritty young player with bright future too Oh, is he way overpaid And that's where this is the time to take advantage for San Antonio and and why they were in the spot in the finals and why even though it's a great thing for them to be here getting through Oklahoma City, beating the defending champions. It does still feel like a missed opportunity given how close these games were, given the fact that they Choked portions of game two the pass off the back of Castle. they blow a twenty nine point lead in game four. They blow a sixteen point lead in game five. This series in an alternate universe might be three two San Antonio right now or maybe San Antonio want it for one in an alternate universe. It was really a close competitive series and ultimately For us, you know, if you're not a Nicks fan and you're you're feeling on a high right now and if you're a Spurs fan, you're feeling depressed. but for anybody else watching this finals This was amazing This was incredible basketball to watch. I had so much fun watching each of these five basketball games, Tom. It was just start to finish Ts hardard ns, sometimes prison ball with them swallowing the whistles. It's like they just turn the fall setting off a lot of the time and I Look, I know a lot of people think oh, maybe it was too much. I loved it. I thought it was so It just felt the purest form of basketball to me in my opinion, with this blend of the spacing and the fluidity and the flow of modern basketball, with the toughness and letting these guys play, letting them push I loved it I really did and I hope the NBA takes notes of the massive massive ratings they had aside from it just being Nicks and aside from it just being Weemby. I think it that also was rooted in just the quality of these games. It felt good to watch. I think for anybody who's a fan of any generation of basketball one hundred percent. I thought the officiating for the most part, letting them play through it was great Man. We would have had quite a different postgame show. Oh would have. I got my my notes, my Etender notes. Oh my God, dude. L the Scott Foster Not calling the Victor Weembonyama landing zone foul on Jalen Brunson was one of the most gobbsmacking plays I have seen in a long time The fact that you had a guy Victor Weembonanyyama, who is coming into the game. everyone wanting to know if he was going to pick up a flaggrant in this, which would have suspended him for the following game And it was the clearest day This wasn't Josh Hart This wasn't Landrys shamot. This was Jaylen Runson's ankle And the king of New York ant clutch in this game game five opportunity rises up, hits the three point shot and then lands on Victor Wembiniyam's foot. Clearly underneath Jalen Brunson, illegal play, dangerous play and Scott Foster did not make the call. None of the referees made the call and unfortunately for the Kicks, it's non reviewable because there was no There was no call on the floor So this was u Just a go awful play for them because I think the conversation would have gotten really ugly after the game. the NBA in that instance, by the way, would have had the ability to upgrade that to a flaggrant. But Kev did you would they have in this they would have done. I don't think they would have. I think they would have said it was a foul, but just like they did in the previous one. they they said it was a foul, but it didn't it didn't rise to the level of a flgrrant And they would have hid behind that. I really believe that Be would have said Brunson unnatural motion extending his leg. That's what they would have said. even even though he lands like that all the time. I hate when people say, Oh, that's unnatural. Shoters land wide all the time. It's not it is natural I just I can't imagine that the league would take Weemby off the. One thing is Draymond Green who had a history of these for years history of nut shots. be We be developing a little of a history in these playoffs it's not the same thing as Draymond Green for years doing it. But yes, he's developing but that's how he he did say hard fs. remember hard falls. remember that at the end of a game against OKC. I mean He is developing a little bit of a reputation I like that I like that when he's tough and dirty. I don't want him to be picture perfect Glden boy as the face of the league. I want him to be feared and tough. I don't m mind this. I don't want dirty players. I don't want players getting hurt because of these actions of course But I don't mind one of the best players in the league being L like this. You know what I'm saying wantanting to elbow dudes in the face because he's so angry and like I like Yeah. I like this I think it's great for the league. Like Kev, let's take a step back. The New York Kicks. are NBA champions And they just filled up half the bowl in in San Antonio on the road We haven't been in this place as a covering the league that the Kicks are the reigning NBA champions. Let's start there as what a story that is for the league based in New York, all the history in New York. I did the great a top ten greatest Nicks of all time ranking last week heading into the series couldn't even put Jalen Brunson in the top three. because of how much amazing lore and history there is in the New York Kicks uniform and at Madison Square Garden with Willis Reed, Wal Clyde Frasier, Patrick Ewing and now Jayen Brunson. They're reigning champions in the NBA. What an amazing story that is And oh, by the way, Mrter Webonyama is a villain and is going to do the whole spend the off season in the in the dark Ru like just not able to sleep and just creating this villain roll comeback redemption arc cannot wait for game one of the season next year Nicks versus the San Antonio Spurs. I hope Darren Fox is on another team for the spurs sake. But I can't wait for the theatater, the drama of the league right now. And we're not even talking about the Yonest trade already, I cannot wait for next year. We can't really say that about last year as good as Indiana OKC was There wasn't as much animosity between those two teams as we have with the NBA Cup By the way, our first NBA double NBA Cup champion and NBA finals champion to legitimize the NBA Cup. We just had a repeat of these two teams And it's just beginning because Jayalen Brunon is not going anywhere. Carl Anthony Towns not going anywhere OGN and Obi headading into this game in my opinion was the finals NVP made a couple great defensive plays down the stretch Yes, he missed a free throw down the stretch, but man, OGN and Oi. They're still young enough that they will be right back in the thick of things next year. I might not put them at number one. We'll see what happens going into next season, but they just uncork the greatest post season ever in terms of point differential and Weby's coming man. he is going to learn from this But I still think that he's going to be entering next season as the best player in the NBA And u Now he's got a chip on his shoulder. I can't wait couple of other things some So now Pth towns is a champion Andrew Wiggins He's a champion You know, who's not Jimmy Butler They were all teammates once before in Minnesota and Jimmy Butler infamously, of course at of practice before an interview with Rachel Nichols onnce ripped into those young Young kids. Andrew Wiggins He thought he knew how he thought how he knew how to win That has been proven not to be the case. Carl Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins have rings on their fingers. Jimmy Butler still is ringless and ever since really, those earlier days in Miami when he did have some great highs in the postseason has underwhelmed and as one of the most overrated playoff performers in NBA history mister thirteen shots per a game Jimmy Butler, I hope he gets back from that Torn ACL gets another opportunity to make a run, whether it's with Golden Sate or somebody else because Jimmy at his best is a very fun player The way things ended in Minnesota It is quite something else, maybe a bit of karma in some ways that you see Andrew Wiggins and Carl Anthony Towns hoisting that trophy but not Jimmy Butler Wow I did it did not occur to me that that had happened but Great point. We'll be right back Having the right people in your corner for life's biggest milestones makes all the difference. Like a friend who's there when you're house hunting or checking out a new ride, State Farm is there too, helping you choose the coverage you need. With a state Farm agent, you know someone is there to help you along the way. and with so many coverage options, it's nice knowing you have help choosing a plan that fits your needs so you can continue celebrating all of life's milestones. Head to statefarm. com to get a quote. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there I'll say Carl Anthony Towns, I think he might be still the plus minus leader of this NBA finals, although wasn't his best performance, certainly not scoring when he finished in this game with two points on seven shots and Jimmy Butler is just got to be praying that people will remember that rather than him having a championship ring. He's not. He's got he's got a ring and Jimmy Butler doesn't U It's just it's a great story arc for Carl Anthony Towns, the number one overall pink. his his experience at Kentucky. I felt that he had a lot more defensive upside that he showed at Kentucky and thought that his NBA career would be a lot better on that end of the floor and then just gets this this reputation of a guy who's soft defensively, doesn't want to play the five, not willing to play as a rim protector like he was at Kentucky. and he has vindicated and quieted all those doubters now. You can't say that after he was for much of this postseason, the best player on the New York Kicks and that's saying something with a guy like Jalen Brunson had forty five points in a close out game. And those stats are hideous. I'm just going to say it. C callall Anthony Towns two points one to seven shooting, fouled out, five turnovers U, but canan't say that Victor Wembinyama poor series in his debut in the NBA finals and not give credits to Carlinthony Towns, who was guarding him more than any other player And I thought going into the series that OGN andobi would be the guy and Carlinthian Towns not only took on that assignment But he did admirably guarding the tallest guy in the NBA and just did a great job of pulling him out of the paint. And I think goes to show that like plus minus captures a lot of things that don't show up in the box score poulling a guy. out of the paint like Viictor Weembenanyyama with your three point shooting that you're a forty plus three point shooter counts in the box score in that plus minus column. You're not going to see that in any other statistical category. And so when he leads in plus minus is telling because of the function of him on the on the offensive end. There's just not a lot of guys who can do that consistently pull a guy like Vic out of the paint as much as he does. I mean U two way guy who can do that it's it's Yokitch Miles Turner at his peak, but not certainly consistently, but the prototype is Carl Anthony Towns and he's a champion now and did it with a as a Nicks fan growing up, just what a story for Carl Anthony Towns, Jayalen Brunson It's just great. It's You know, as as people who cover this league, We get jaded about, you know, the emotional aspect of this game and the story and the character of these players But it's hard not to root for guys like Carl Anthony Towns and Jayalen Brunson who hadad a lot of ties to the New York Knicks organization and Leon Rose and they finally get over the hemp and win the championship in a New York mix uniform I don't know what. what Manhattan is like right now. I can only imagine, but Kev, this is great for the NBA. It's great for NBA fans. evenven if you hate the Kicks It is way more compelling league right now than it was yesterday Well, and this is also a very likeable team regardless of the jersey they're wearing. This is just a likekable group of guys. I mean, I think with even the OGN Oy putback, one of the things we missed on Thursday, I saw someone post us on X. It's s prettyt remarkable that the put backack that he had came from a very similar situation when he was in college and he tre his ACL crashed the boards from the left wing And while running into the paint poor as ACL very similar situation to the play in which he had the p backack in game four. So like kind of this like cosmic moments where one of the lowest points of his basketball career leads to One of the greatest moments It is the greatest moment of his basketball career in that game for and like Oh Gee's just such a likeable player. He's got Toronto behind him as well. the year the rappers won the championship, he wasn't able to play because of the surgery he had and You know, Miuel Bridges He fell short with the sunons. Suns fans are always going to love him. like Carl Anthony Towns from Minnesota. I don't know a Wolves fan that was rooting against Kat. They still really love Kat I mean, this is a very likeable team with guys that came from different situations from really good fan bases who now w a championship and they just played a really likeable style. They're very tough. They're fun. They keep the ball moving. They found a flow this post season with with Brunson Ball but also being able to play through cat and playing with motion, drive and kick. it's just a a fun basketball team, man and for them to do it. Against the spurs, a team that most people were picking and that were the favorites that took down the defending champions with Wendby this Big scary Monster seven foot seven you you you know it, Tom. likeike you picked him to go to the finals early on. You were on San Antonio very early and yet Here we are now with Viictor Wbenyama Viictor Wabanyama is on a real trend here of runner up finishes. You go back to twenty nineteen The FIBA U sixteen European Championship, he won silver medal Falls to span in the finals. twenty twenty one. Phoiba Uneen World Cup with France took home silver after a two point loss to the United States. That's the game where he was crying really mad after he fouled out against Chck Honggren. twenty twenty three. with the M ninety two They lost in the finals in the French League twenty twenty four in the Olympics, France Silver Medal to Team USA NBA cup twenty twenty five. secondcond place to the Kicks and then the NBA finals, twenty twenty six Second place. to the New York Kicks. So Victor Wanyama The number one pick where's the number one on his jersey has yet to truly experience the feeling being a champion at any level of basketball And that is going to be part of his story here, Tom Webby is going to now have to overcome That's what that's what the story is going to have to be like it is for many, many great players in the history of basketball and he hasn't at any other level Yes Whereas a little guy like Brunson has won at every level. He won a high school level. He won two titles at Danova. He's now an NBA champion Different stories, different trajectories. and just I can't wait to see the way this story continues to unfold, man. Yeah, this was quite a chapter this was though The New York Knicks are a great example of playing for each other. I think I think head coaches, basketball coaches are rejoicing today Because even if you're not a icks fan, they play the right way I think it calls back to the twenty, you know, the twenty fourteen San Antonio spurs and the way that they won the championship against the Miami Heat was very reminiscent of that team Popovch, Boris Do, Manag youobly, Tim Duncan, Kaui Leonard, Tony Parker. The way that they played for each other is very reminiscent of this next team And I think you know, the winning quality that you have with with Jayalen Brunson, a winner throughout his entire life is something that is going to be studied I think When we talk about winners, when you look at Josh Hart and what he did for this next team, putting his body on the line routinely, getting those threes, getting those opportunities, the offensive rebounds, the rebounds in general defense Mcel Bridges is not wanting You know, twenty shots a game like he had in Brooklyn and wanting something more by downsizing his role and saying I'd rather play in a winning environment where I'm only taking ten shots, mid range shots, open threes and be kind of this do it all player rather than have to be a first option on a team. sameame with OGN and Oi, Carl Anthony Towns all these guys could be twenty point scores on other teams and they have chosen this this challenge with the New York Kicks. The way they move without the ball There are a few possessions tonight where the ball was humming And then when it came down to crunch time, It was Captain Clutch I just He Isaiah Thomas. The Detroit piston is certainly smiling right now about the idea that, you know it's you can't win at the highest levels. Becky Hammon famously saying Jayen Brunson can't be the best player on a championship team. which just too small And forty five points tied for the most in a clinch game on the road to Michael Jordan says differently forty five points in this game. Michael Jordan and Jalen Brunson the most on the road in a clinching game in the NBA finals Just an incredible performance. and I think Basketball coaches everywhere are going to crunch the tape on the New York Kicks and show their teams a very long time. what it's like what it looks like to play winning basketball because that is a team full of guys who on other teams would be getting a lot more points per game, but came to the next because they wanted to win and they did ultimately more than anybody else in NBA history with that point differential real quick, Tom, going to circle back to something we talked about earlier.. I was doing a quick scroll of player salaries some fox targets for you Give me a yes or no to each of these names as I dearon Fox. partner from the Spurs perspective. So from San Antonio's perspective Do you want to target this player? Yes or no Zion Williamson Yes Franz Wagner with a bunch of picks as well, like giving up a lot with Fx Michael P. Both of those guys are playmakers at the fore. whichich I think is something that they need that like they have the guard play. they have the shooters. what they don't have is that guy like like Julius Randall for what the Nicks were Randall is on my list. Randall's on the list. Let's bring him in. Julius Randall Well That's a tough one, right Oh man, Darren Fox at the Max or Julius Randolet. what's his number going forward? Let's sees Julius Randall. I mean, he's he's going to be a thirty three million If you give me Julius Randall Dante Di Vincenzo No, they wouldn't do it Minnota wouldn't do it. I mean, you got to Randall has have two years left with a player option for the year after next Tough one. That's a tough one o to the next one. Let me think on that Michael Porter j Jr Yes Yes. Tyler herero B That's about It's just it's just that's all I get for you That much for me, it's just a lot of redundancy just He doesn't, I mean He's not a he's not a pass I want more of a passer. If you're going to give me a guy Zion, Franz Wagner, those make sense because at the four position you want more playmaking next to Weemby, but they they do lack that. likeike when you're relying on Julian Champani to be their for Vll to be your for, you might want a little bit more size. I mean Zion on this team would be sensational. I would love to have that big swing for the San Antonio sppurs. And maybe Joe Dumars just looks at a guy like Daron Fox and says that's That's an opportunity to buy low Um, That's a huge contract. I can't imagine they would do that, but maybe maybe they would Plus they already have Deante Murray as well. and he was pretty solid to finish the year after coming back from his ruptured Achilles too. So little bit of overlap there with a Murray Fx back court I don't know. I'm not expecting Joe Dumars to do anything super bright necessarily given his tenure so far Um So I mean, like Sacramento. I don't think they'd want Fox back. They're going to tryrump probably and all likehood try to draft the guard, whether it's Sterryus ACf or somebody else. Like I said, there's just not a lot of teams that Need a guard or would want a veteran guard making that type of money and any team that does need a guard is probably going to draft one because Take your pick. There's a lot of them in this year's draft class. So that's That's going to be a big, big, big, big storyline for San Antonio unless You have Brian Wright come out and pull a Mitchohnson. Mitch Johnson said before game five. We're still going to play through Daron Fox at the end of the game. They did over four. he sunk it up. Brian Ry comes out at his exit interview with thepurs and says Darren Fox is our guy and we're sticking with him Good luck to Sanntonio if that's what they decide to do, especially given the potential asent we could see from Dylan Harper next year. I mean, look San Antonio they're a young team. goodood for them to make it to the finals this year Uh like getting through Oklahoma City, getting through Minnesota teams that are grizzled and been been through deep runs before, but ultimately This next team man. They were a special special group, thirteen wins in a row I had And then they drop one And then they win their final two to win it all, man. I'm always going to remember this series for that game for U stillill like to me, it felt like the next one the championship that night, mayaybe many years from now I'll remember this series as if they had won it that night But I think it's pretty cool that they won that series won that game twenty nine point comeback at home at Madison Square Garden in a party for twenty minutes after the game. Nobody leaving just constant goosebumps I'll never forget that feeling that game forward MSG. But then to go to game five on the road in San Antonio with fortycent to fifty percent of the crowd being your fans traveling to the game to support you and winning it in San Antonio Seet winning all three games on the road in the series, just Hell of a team, man I mean I don't I can't think of an example of a recent champion like this. fifty three wins is like, no joke. I'm not. dismissing what they did during the season, but this Up and down team All year long, you're in, you're out, you're in, you're out I had Jonathan Macreon, the great Nicks podcaster for Micks Film School a couple of weeks ago before the finals began. and he's like You know, people were on me because, you know, he said they were on me because I said around deadline time. I'm done with this team. I can't wait u til they blow it up this summer. That's the type of year it was for the Kicks And then for them, just to roll. They steam rolled through the east and then they beat the Spurs a sixty plus win team in five games I've never seen a turnaround like this, Tom. This is It's crazy to me that this is actually the way they did end up winning it Think about this. They could lose the next game just in a hypothetical situation. They the Kicks could have lost game six by fifty two points and they would still have the best point differential in NBA history Wow. They've they have plus two eighty three. They've outscore the opponent in this postseason run by two hundred eighty three points Best ever we've ever seen was the Golden State Warriors in twenty sixteen seventeen season with with Kevin Durant. and Stephen Curry They outscored opponents six in sixteen to one record Plus two thirty This next team is at two eighty three So they fifty three points better than the greatest point differential we've ever seen. This New York N team And he can't just say it was an easy east They just took down the San Antonio Spurs in five games, a team that beat the reigning champion. Oklahoma City Thunder and going to update two things after this. I'm going to update my all time greatest Nick column that I did U stay tuned of where I have Jalen Brunson. I had' at fourth going into this series Given that he won a championship, We'll see if I'm willing to put him over Pat Ewing now Um I'm also going to update the asterisk column Cv. You're ask toall this triggers everybody. It's so funny every single time. What's what's the asterisk with Jayen Williams and AJ Mitchell if they're healthy. If the if the thunder are healthy And they beat the spurs trying to keep a straight face here. If they're healthy and beat the sppurs The Nicks didn't beat the defending champion. They didn't beat Sgel just Alexander. They didn't beat the best team in the NBA this year. That's the Oklahoma City Thunder. And if Jayalen Williams and AJ Mitchell don't go down in that series. They beat the sppurs and then the New York Kicks, it's a whole different story. So Derearren Fox also missed two games in the Western confonerence finals Come on That was you get a happy Barn Fox, Kev Yeah you gott to keep them coming, Tom Yeah, you got to keep from coming How do you put an asterisk on this one? it'ss tough. It's tough. For all the doubters are like, oh, it's too easy in the East. They just beat the Western confference team For those who said it was Uh, you know, the next time J James Harden Donovan Mitchell. It doesn't matter who they face. They come out on top. And so It's u They just outscored the KD Warriors by fifty three points in point differential. It's insane razy Crazy. Tom What a year man. I this is a this is a hell of a playoff Um I had a lot of fun Part of me is disappointed that it's over because this is such a great series. Could could have used two more of these Part of me is happy the way it ended, you know, because I think, you know, it's like a TV series. Sometimes it goes on a little too long and it doesn't end. The way it began And this one from one through five this was a ten out of ten finals for me. I know I know like it doesn't necessarily compare to some of the seven gamame series, right? Like we I saw three one come back a decade ago. Cleveland oververgen state last year, we had theatrics between Indiana in Oklahoma City. likeike a seven game series is always the best, but This was a ten out of ten five game series with some truly memorable games that I'll always always remember moving forward for a next team. It just feels fitting The way they won this one in the manner that they did And look, the East wins again. The East gets another finals. lastast year it was OKC, but two out of three years now The Eastern confonerence has come out on top Tom conference imbalance seems to be a thing during the full regular season, but Not so much during the NBA finals with some of the best teams in the league. So just something to keep in mind And when it comes to assessing these teams moving forward. I can't wait til the summer, man Our team's going to reload What are they going to do? Wh are we going to get a Yonest trade Could there be some other surprises? Could there be other big name players on the move Is Detroit going to do something or are they going to wait till next year to trade their picks? Are they going to wait tntill next year? Is Cleveland going to make big moves? Are they going to dangle Mly or they going Uh Jared Allen or what are they going to do? What what's Is there a surprise out there for Atlanta? I remember I had Tim Bon Temps on my podcast A few weeks ago at the beginning of the NBA finals, and I said to him, Nobody's talking about Atlanta forty six wins. They have the eighth pick in the twenty third pick this year They have they can get in some action here to bolster their roster and and take a big step next season. Miami Orlando, Charlotte. they have a bunch of picks And neverever mind everybody in the Western conference. what's the Thunder going to do? What are the Lakers going to do? Where is the Bron James going to But I mean, there's just so much that could happen. this off season in Houston. How much are they going to mix it up? Minnesota. they seem to be wanting to make big moves Is Denver going to do anything? and they going to reload around Yokage This could be a transformative NBA off season, Tom. and I can't wait to see how it all unfolds. I think the league is going to look dramatically different a month from now. than it does today