Around the NBA:2025-6

[Monster]

Gritty win by the Knicks. Wemby's offense starting to get shakier and shakier in each successive series as his minutes pile up. They really needed Fox to step up to match Brunson or at least partially offset his 4th quarter heroics. Iso-ball at its finest!

I'll add that Harper was their only bench guy that did much of anything on offense. They need more from a couple of those guys on that end.

[60WinTim]

The Wolves beat the Spurs in game one, too. Just sayin’…

[Q-is-here]

Gritty win by the Knicks. Wemby's offense starting to get shakier and shakier in each successive series as his minutes pile up. They really needed Fox to step up to match Brunson or at least partially offset his 4th quarter heroics. Iso-ball at its finest!

I'll add that Harper was their only bench guy that did much of anything on offense. They need more from a couple of those guys on that end.

I haven't gone on any Spurs boards, but I wonder if fans are lamenting not having Harper in for Fox in the final four minutes. The dude is a legit two-way star in the making. Can't believe how good he is on both ends as a young rookie. The one ding is a shakey 3-point shot (kinda flat looking), but Fox is even worse from out there.

That Fox/Harper tension is something hopefully some dumb GM from another franchise doesn't solve for the Spurs. No one take Fox off the Spurs hands please!

(Don't get me wrong, Fox is still a net positive player and he really helped seal the deal in Game 7 against OKC, but that contract is going to be a real problem in the future).

[Lipoli390]

Gritty win by the Knicks. Wemby's offense starting to get shakier and shakier in each successive series as his minutes pile up. They really needed Fox to step up to match Brunson or at least partially offset his 4th quarter heroics. Iso-ball at its finest!

I'll add that Harper was their only bench guy that did much of anything on offense. They need more from a couple of those guys on that end.

I haven't gone on any Spurs boards, but I wonder if fans are lamenting not having Harper in for Fox in the final four minutes. The dude is a legit two-way star in the making. Can't believe how good he is on both ends as a young rookie. The one ding is a shakey 3-point shot (kinda flat looking), but Fox is even worse from out there.

That Fox/Harper tension is something hopefully some dumb GM from another franchise doesn't solve for the Spurs. No one take Fox off the Spurs hands please!

(Don't get me wrong, Fox is still a net positive player and he really helped seal the deal in Game 7 against OKC, but that contract is going to be a real problem in the future).

I’m with you in hoping no team, including the Wolves, relieves the Spurs of the Fox burden.

[Lipoli390]

After watching KAT during this postseason simply get utilized correctly and Finch coppin pleas for Randle saying HE didn't get him prepared better, I'm more and more OK with Finch AND Randle not coming back.

I think I agree with you on this, Wild.

[Wolvesfan21]

After watching KAT during this postseason simply get utilized correctly and Finch coppin pleas for Randle saying HE didn't get him prepared better, I'm more and more OK with Finch AND Randle not coming back.

I think I agree with you on this, Wild.

It's starting to look worse and worse for Finch!!! Although Finches success here has been relatively good, KAT winning it all after leaving here in NY of all places would be a death nail in his coffin. That said any coach can coach Ant and Rudy to solid success. I mean look at those two talents and Rudys history of being a perennial winner. The dude just wins.

The thing is though KAT did mostly suck ass in the playoffs as a Wolves player. He fouled too much keeping him off the court, played suspect defense because of foul troubles and simply played every other game like a rookie. I remember enough 10 point 5 foul games to think, what are we doing here?

Was it Finches fault or KAT's or what?

[rapsuperstar31]

After watching KAT during this postseason simply get utilized correctly and Finch coppin pleas for Randle saying HE didn't get him prepared better, I'm more and more OK with Finch AND Randle not coming back.

I think I agree with you on this, Wild.

It's starting to look worse and worse for Finch!!! Although Finches success here has been relatively good, KAT winning it all after leaving here in NY of all places would be a death nail in his coffin. That said any coach can coach Ant and Rudy to solid success. I mean look at those two talents and Rudys history of being a perennial winner. The dude just wins.

The thing is though KAT did mostly suck ass in the playoffs as a Wolves player. He fouled too much keeping him off the court, played suspect defense because of foul troubles and simply played every other game like a rookie. I remember enough 10 point 5 foul games to think, what are we doing here?

Was it Finches fault or KAT's or what?

Kat didn't exactly light it up with multiple coaches here, not just Finch. His playoff history minus the Denver series and to some extent the Phoenix series, and the injuries were the main reason most wanted him gone. It's also the main reason why some want Randle gone now, Wiggins in the past etc. Had KAT played average in the Dallas series, we probably gentlemen sweep the Mavericks that year and make the finals. The Knicks players right now are all in the optimal championship age window of 28-31 years old. The Knicks window is really the next 2-3 years at most.

[WildWolf2813]

I think I agree with you on this, Wild.

It's starting to look worse and worse for Finch!!! Although Finches success here has been relatively good, KAT winning it all after leaving here in NY of all places would be a death nail in his coffin. That said any coach can coach Ant and Rudy to solid success. I mean look at those two talents and Rudys history of being a perennial winner. The dude just wins.

The thing is though KAT did mostly suck ass in the playoffs as a Wolves player. He fouled too much keeping him off the court, played suspect defense because of foul troubles and simply played every other game like a rookie. I remember enough 10 point 5 foul games to think, what are we doing here?

Was it Finches fault or KAT's or what?

Kat didn't exactly light it up with multiple coaches here, not just Finch. His playoff history minus the Denver series and to some extent the Phoenix series, and the injuries were the main reason most wanted him gone. It's also the main reason why some want Randle gone now, Wiggins in the past etc. Had KAT played average in the Dallas series, we probably gentlemen sweep the Mavericks that year and make the finals. The Knicks players right now are all in the optimal championship age window of 28-31 years old. The Knicks window is really the next 2-3 years at most.

A running theme throughout the Knicks season was KAT and Mike Brown constantly clashing over how KAT was going to be used on offense. KAT from training camp would vocally wonder what was happening to his role and what was asked of him. It finally clicked and the offense is running smoothly. They win big games. Even when KAT gets foul happy it doesn't hurt the Knicks in the way even a lesser player like JMac hurts us when he gets foul prone. They go down 14 or more and you assume they'll come back. We can be up 8 with a minute to go and we've proven to blow even those games.



Randle and Wiggins we want/ed gone for a different reason: their effort was sorry. KAT's issue was execution, not effort. Wiggins clicked in Golden State because Kerr finally convinced him to rebound and he had the shining playoffs he's never repeated since. Randle's shortcomings are like Harden's shortcomings; he won't win in big spots because it's not in him. Randle's failing with a coach who believes in him more than anyone he's had before or after. If Randle can't do it with Finch, then it's never gonna happen and if Finch is blaming himself for Randle's shortcomings, then it's reasonable to assume it's never gonna happen with the two of them together.

[AbeVigodaLive]

What a gritty win for the Knicks.

- They were very unhappy with the whistle. You could see it the most with Brunson from jumping at Foster to yell at him after Kornet landed on his ankle to when he pointed at all three (seemingly) after making a contested fallaway late to walking up to Foster to talk to him immediately as the final horn sounded.

There was one frenetic series of plays that ended with the Spurs hitting a bucket to tie it at 76-76 where I believe 3 Knicks players were sent sprawling to the ground. Yet, they persevered.

- Towns played a great all-around game. His footwork on defense was exemplary, and he mostly held back from silly reaches. He attacked Wemby offensively just enough. He passed to open teammates. He mostly avoided “stray voltage” stuff.

It was the complete Karl Anthony Towns package though. His postgame interview with the Inside the NBA crew was cringeworthy. He’s just not as deep as he wants to be. But that’s ok. I think he’s authentically inauthentic… if that makes sense. And he might be creating a newfound legacy for himself in the process. Yesterday was a huge 1st step.

- EVERYONE is asking today… Why was Wembanyama guarding Towns? We’ve all seen Towns vs. physical smaller guys. We’re seeing Wemby’s impact anywhere close to the rim. The Spurs started to switch it up... I expect to see even more of it moving forward.

- Brunson is incredible. I thought he struggled a lot early, with shooting and his decision-making. But he seemed to figure it out more and more. I don’t know if it’s because I’m watching him play more often, or subconscious because I want the Knicks to win… but I was amazed at the pace he plays with. He gets to where HE wants to go. When he wants to get there. He’s in complete control, knowing what’s going to happen 10 seconds later. Very impressive stuff.

- Every Knicks player contributed positively. Brunson. Towns. Anunoby got going offensively late. Bridges had a great defensive game. Shamet continued his hot run shooting while playing 33+ minutes without falling apart completely defensively. And then you have a guy like Josh Hart… 15 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and only 2 points in 26 minutes.

I’ll always be a Wolves fan 1st… and Celtics fan 2nd. I’ll never be a Knicks fan. But damn… this team is almost endearing.

- I know it’ll get old and annoying, but it’s fun to see the Knicks fans taking over opposing arenas right now, even if it’s just super rich people and celebrities. First in Philly, then in Cleveland. But in Game 1 of the NBA Finals?!?! You could see them of course, but I was shocked you could HEAR them.

- OFF TOPIC. You could see Ben Stiller in the crowd. He looked like… well… Ben Stiller. Then, they showed a trailer from his upcoming Fockers movie. He looked like a manufactured Ken Barbie doll version of Ben Stiller. Why is this such a craze? He looks artificial… and horrible. Yet we’re seeing this trend from Hollywood to D.C. Heck, I even know people who are into fillers and everything else to try to stay ahead of the aging curve. Only it often makes people look… well… weird.

There might be a meta/irony angle here where people are making themselves look artificial at the same time as our society has become more artificial (social media, technology, celebrity obsession, et al).

[Q-is-here]

I think the big area of improvement for KAT - and this started a year or two before he was traded - is defense. A big part of that is filling out and getting man strength and another part is learning the nuances of positioning and using his size and length without fouling. It has taken him YEARS to get to this point where he can be effective as a full-time Center.

The other thing that's been key is much more recent and literally happened in the middle of this playoff run and that's using him as a primary offensive facilitator from the top of the 3-point circle. His assists are way up from the regular season and his points are down. It's a fascinating development.

He's still fouling a fair amount, he still doesn't shoot many 3's, and the stray voltage still shows up from time to time. He's just matured as a defender and being used in a way that has been really effective.