Knicks ‘UTTERLY DOMINANT’ as they make first Finals since 1999, Should they want OKC or Spurs? | FTF

Live from New York, it's a show that went to Emmy rehearsal today.Keep talking to everybody about it.

I'm trying to make the company look good.

I don't know if we're going to win, but either way, I've got to.You're trying to get intel on the Emmy rehearsal.

I was.I am trying to.I was trying to deduce information.Like, do they know who won?Are they talking to me, like, kind of, like, conciliatorily or excitedly, all those things?But I also have to keep a game face.

You know what?I couldn't read it.But I have to keep a game face, because I have to present awards.I've got to tell you this much.If I present awards after finding out we didn't win, those are going to be very dead fish handshakes I get when I hand over the trophy.

You should know that.I'm telling you right now.If you were pumped up, it would be lead the A block.Congratulations!Anthony Edwards style.I'm out of there.

Starring Cleveland.Cavs briefly put up a fight.This guy is so happy!Calvin's loose in his mind.Cavs briefly put up a fight before folding while being overwhelmed by a Knicks team that steamrolled everyone.Everyone.

Not back to business for a while.They'll be more golfing.Led by 40 or more the most games in a postseason.The Knicks have done it four times last year's Thunder.Did it thrice.Last 30 postseasons, there's a ton of stats that says this is the most dominant playoff run of all time, Drew.

Your reaction to this run?

I mean, I do not think the 2026 Knicks are the best team in NBA history.I do not think they're better than the 83 Sixers or the 01 Lakers or the, you know, the 13 Heat, the 17 Warriors, any of those teams, or any of the Jordan Bulls.I don't think they're better than them.But they have been better this postseason than any of them were.It's crazy.They are on the most dominant from a blowing the opponent out stretch.

Not a playoff basketball.but of NBA basketball ever.No team has ever had an 11 game stretch.with this much, this many blowouts by this many points without losing regular season or playoffs.So if you listen, I understand the Hawks, I think we're a nice team, not a juggernaut.The Sixers obviously had their issues.

The Cavs were probably a good second round opponent, a below average conference finals opponent.But it's that's the 11 games.Certainly, there have been hundreds of instances across regular seasons where teams played 11 easier games in a row than the Knicks just played, where they played 9 of 11 or 10 of 11 at home, where they played tankers, where they played teams without any...And nobody has ever done what the Knicks did.And what they have done, Brew, this postseason is be so utterly dominant, leading into elimination games, that in the elimination games, All three of their opponents have quit.The Knicks won.

The Knicks last night, Brew, won their elimination game by 37 points.And it lowered their average margin of victory in elimination games.Because they have won by going into it.They had won by 51, 40, and now 37.

Yeah, it was disappointing.

So I don't, you know, I, there's so many things to talk about here and about why I think they should be optimistic about the finals, about the Knicks tortured history, which really is a tortured, more than tortured last quarter century, all of it.But we shouldn't miss the fact that for none of our lifetimes, have we ever seen a team play a more dominantmonth of basketball, because that's what it's been, than these New York Knicks just play.

And even before our lifetimes.I don't think in the 80 -year history or whatever it is of the NBA.Look, first of all, they can win the championship.No doubt.I'm not necessarily saying they will, but they can.And I don't mean can in a anything can happen in sports sort of way.

I mean, they are good enough.They are playing well enough to beat San Antonio or Oklahoma City.And when you look at them against one of those teams, just like the Western Conference representative, the Knicks are deep.The Knicks have several guys who can score 20 points on any given night.They play defense and they have that one Superstar that can get it done and Jalen Brunson is there now.I was slow to give him his props I mean obviously this year.

He's been a superstar, but I mean in the past few years he is He can do what SGA does.I'm not saying he's as good as SGA.I know SGA is a two -time MVP.But he can match SGA.Then you got Wimby, obviously.So, each of these teams gonna have that one superstar, several great players around them.

They both defend.It's gonna be interesting.This, Nick, to speak to what you said, this is a remarkable transformation.Like, it's hard for me to compare something like this.A month ago, CJ McCollum was giving them the business to the point where they were on the brink of disaster and mass firings were coming.Yes.

I mean, that was a month ago.

They were on death's door.

They were on death's door.

No one has ever responded to death's door like that.That was a big motivation.

They have not lost since death's door.Maybe the greatest motivation and above list ever in history.But the only thing I can compare it to is when Steve Kerr went to the Warriors.And that's appropriate because Mike Brown was an assistant with the Warriors for six years with Steph, Durant, all that.He was known before he went there as a great defensive coach.He went there, obviously learned offense.

And what Kerr did with that, he took a good team that was a 50 plus win team, general second round, playoff type team, and turned them into an awesome team.That's what Mike Brown has done, and he's done it the same way.They took, before Kerr got there, Steph Curry played like every other point guard.Could bring the ball down, high pick and roll, and his numbers were great.24 and eight and a half assists.That was his career high in assists.

Yep.All right.Steve Kerr said, look, we're going to get you off the ball more.You're going to run around off screens.Other players going to be moving.The ball is going to be moving.

We got a versatile forward in Draymond Green who can facilitate the offense.That is exactly what we're seeing with the Knicks in this last month.They got Jalen off the ball somewhat.He's running around a little more.The other players, Mikael Bridges, Josh Hart, O .G.

Ananobi, are moving more off the ball, and they have a forward in Carl Anthony Towns who can facilitate the offense.I've said it many times.In this day and age where the majority of teams have one or two players creating all their offense, if you play five -man basketball, You can win big.The Warriors proved it.The Spurs proved it at times in their past, and now the Knicks are proving it.

We talked so much about all the dominance of the playoff run.There was another record set last night.Speaking to your point brew most points in a playoff game without anyone scoring 20.It is scored a hundred and thirty.O .G.

at 17.Cat had 19.McHale had 15.Jalen Bronson had 15.Which Shaman has Shaman.Yeah.

He's the bride came out at 11.It's just it.This is going to be the most absurd analysis and it might cost us the Emmy.at the same time.

It's okay.

At the same time, 100 % right.It's a lot like a company bowling party.Okay, company bowling party.There's you didn't say this three.There's one good bowler.He or she is throwing strikes.

But then all of a sudden, the lane gets hot.Then all of a sudden, everyone starts throwing like, did we just throw four strikes in a row next person.There is an infectious flow state zone that is happening that when the starter sat, And Cole, it came in like here comes cool.These are going to go in.Yeah, there's something special matters in sports.

And this seems flying with the look.I want the rest.If I'm the Knicks.I want the other teams in the West to beat each other up.But the only fear is here.What you just said is cool off.

Do we cool off?Because they did this is funny.You showed us a historical like this is something we have never seen before.

Can I can I spend can you give me 90 seconds here to talk about the for what, why this is particularly special for Knicks fans.Are you going to talk about like the fifties?No, no, he's he, when he went to see Patrick, I'm not going to, no, I'm not going to say, well, that is, listen, I, as a kid, I get, listen, Knicks fans, I get none of this.I do not get to claim any of this, but Brew is referencing, Brew is referencing, that's not what I'm trying to do here.The, the, but it is not just because it's New York city.that this is a special moment for the NBA.

It is because this is one of the only major, major American cities where I would argue basketball's number one.I know it doesn't, sometimes it feels like baseball here because the Yankees have been so successful.When the Giants are good, it didn't feel like it.Basketball is a New York City's game.And I'm not gonna talk about the 50s, in the 70s, the Knicks, played the Lakers in four out of three or three out of four years in the finals.They won two of them.

And then in the 90s, where a lot of people watching this show, a lot of people our general age, who are Knicks fans, watched in the 90s.And it was a different type of sports pain every year.Jordan beat you in 90, then beat you in 91.Then in 92, you took him to seven and lost.And then in 93, you were up 2 -0 and lost four straight.Then he leaves.

And in 94, you're in the finals.And Akeem gets Stark's shot in game six, and then Starks goes two for 18.And then in 95, Ewing misses the finger roll.And in 97, you have the suspensions against the Heat.And in 99, Jordan's gone, and it's open for you.You have the amazing series against the Heat, the four -point play, and Patrick Ewing tears his damn Achilles.

And you're drawing dead in those finals.And then after that, you had one more year.And then from 2001 until Jalen Brunton walked in the door, you won one series.You had 13 coaches in one playoff series victory, and Brunson's here, and you win a series every year, and then by year three, you're back in the conference finals, and year four, you're in the NBA finals with one of the most dominant runs of basketball ever.It is, and you mentioned Brunson's a superstar.He is an A -level superstar when the playoffs start.

He is as much of a playoff riser as any active in their prime player that we have.He is you.I don't know if there is anyone else in the league that if you said hey.The circumstances tie game headed into the fourth quarter.Take the guy you want.

He might be your number one pick.I think I'd probably go with him.

It's remarkable.And he was.And it's I know people kill the Mavs like he was a second round pick.He didn't start consistently until year four in the NBA.

You know why.Why?Because of your boy.

Well, no, that's not why he was a second -round pick.

No, I know.And that's not why he couldn't shine with.Well, I love Luke.He's great, but he couldn't shine with him.But I also shine when Luca was hurt in the playoffs.Yeah, but that was by year.

That was by his fifth year.I'm saying or my point is he came into this league as a guy that was fringed to make the team and that's with or without you just because any second -round pick and for him to turn into this is borderline unprecedented.And they are in a great position to win the championship.

Finals will start June 3rd in either San Antonio or OKC.Knicks will have eight days to rest up, Drew.First game in New York will be June 8th with a get -in price at MSG is around $4 ,000.It's a rough one there.Courtside.105.

Yeah.

Promo code right 10, not 10 % off that.Up to $20.Up to $20.Up to $20.Hey, everybody got it.That's a good point.

But who would they be more excited to play regular season?Knicks were winless against the Thunder, but 2 -1 against the Spurs.The Kordaks scored 23 more points against San Antonio than OKC.One of those wins was in the NBA Cup Championship.Man, two championships against the Spurs one year?Yeah.

Unprecedented.Who should the Knicks want to play?

It's a hard question to answer because of the injuries out west.Like, they obviously fared better against the Spurs than OKC, but...OKC is without Jalen Williams, who's questionable for tonight, so maybe he'll be back.But that's a hamstring strain.

He's not going to be 100%.

Yeah.I mean, who knows what he'll be.AJ Mitchell's flat out out tonight.He's got the calf strain.So he may not play again the rest of the playoffs.So if you take those two guys out, then I'd rather see Oklahoma City because, like I said, Jalen can match what Shay does.

Shay may be great.Jalen can be just as good or very close.Kat can play with or outplay Chet.the depth of the Thunder would get cut a little bit as if they have those injuries and then the Knicks could maybe match that.So I think they match up well against them.The Spurs.

Obviously, they've played well against you like the fact this could be where if the Spurs survive this series that inexperience kicks in because the the Knicks are not, like the Thunder are more experienced than the Spurs, but they're still very young themselves, even though they have a championship.The Knicks are veterans who've really been around, haven't won a ring, but they've been around.And so maybe that would, you know, the youth would show in the Spurs.The thing is with the Spurs, they've got, I don't know what you call it, the X factor, whatever.Who knows what Wimby could do?You know what I mean?

Like he obviously is a gamer.He wants this big stage, the big moment.He might just go wild in a finals or something.So he's kind of this X factor that you don't know what might happen.So I would, I would rather see Oklahoma City if I'm the Knicks.

I understand what you're saying about Oklahoma City because of the injuries.But if Oklahoma City makes it to the finals, either the injuries are better or they overcame them, you know, the somebody's somebody'sup.They really leaned on that depth.Dagnold, who's an excellent coach, figured out, okay, we're going to run more of this without our other secondary ball handlers or offensive initiators.And I also think that between right now and a week from Wednesday, which is when the finals start, I would imagine one of those two guys, probably J -Dub, would be back, even if it's just temporarily.

Because the weird thing about J -Dub, when he came back, his first game back, he was awesome.Yeah, 26.Right.

I mean, so he had been out for a long time.Right.

He didn't look hampered, though, is my point.He came back, looked great, and then got hurt again.My answer is San Antonio because, you're right, Wimby is scary for anybody.There's no question about it.But I do think the Knicks, success against the Spurs this year wasn't random or a fluke.I think it was they have the exact type of big men.

you want to have if you're going to have to deal with Wimby, which is one who can draw him on, draw him to the outside and make it to where he has to guard the perimeter or just give up open jumpers to somebody.They probably try to get him matched up on Josh Hart, but Josh Hart say, because, but if you put a small on cat, because they go small outside of women and you put a small on cat, then he might do damage to you.And another big, who's not going to play a ton of minutes, but in his minutes, Wimby's going to feel him in Mitchell Robinson.And I think also one of one of Wimby's cheat codes, the best skills is probably the best way to put it.That is his rebounding on both sides, offensive and defensive rebounding.Mitchell Robinson might be this side of Steven Adams as good of an offensive rebounder as there is in the league.

So he can neutralize that to a degree.And I, as great as those Spurs defensive guards are,are, I don't, nobody wants Jalen Brunson.Nobody's, nobody's going to be strong.None of those guards are stronger than Jalen Brunson.They might be better athletes.

They're definitely better recruits, but he, he's going to be able to get to his spot.So I just think, I think the Knicks would prefer to play the Spurs because I think the Knicks feel like We're better than the Spurs.They might feel like they're better than everyone right now, but it's hard to definitively feel like you're better than Oklahoma City, when even though the last game was 103 -101, you play them twice, they beat you twice.

The Spurs, the last two times you played them, you beat them.All right, quickly to Cleveland.The Cavs got swept.Hard to argue this was a close sweep or even analytically close, if you crunch the numbers.Nevertheless, James Harden, buckle up, bro, says Cleveland was the better team.Lost by 37.

Game was pretty much over.

He was two for eight with five turnovers in the elimination.

Hold on, that's great news for Kenny Atkinson.He's buying what Kenny Atkinson is selling.There is no doubt about it.What kind of analytics do they have in Cleveland?I want them.Right?

I want those analytics.

Especially if we don't win the Emmy tonight.We're the best show.

I don't know what in the world is going on in Cleveland.Look, I kind of get Clearly, they're not the better team.I mean, they didn't just get swept.They got my wasn't even a close sweep.No, it was not a close to you.Now.

You guys know there are differences in sweet.

Yes.

All right.This wasn't even a close point.This was a ridiculous week, but I do get a professional athlete.He's going to looks like he's going to be back next year kind of just I think we're better than him.We obviously had a bad series.We didn't show up, whatever you want to say.

But I think we're better.I'm not going to kill, even if he doesn't really believe that, maybe he's trying to send a message to his teammates, whatever.I'm not gonna kill him for that.What I'll kill him for is the way he played.I mean, these stats, this was arguably his worst series since he went to Houston and became a superstar.Three assists a game.

This is James Harden, one of the great playmakers of all time.Three assists a game, shot 18 % from three, 39 % overall.Those two assists, the three -point percentage, his worst in any series since he left Oklahoma City.The points per game, Nick, is his lowest outside of the series in Brooklyn against Milwaukee.He had a hamstring injury.He gutted it out and played.

I'll give him credit for that, but he wasn't himself.So this was arguably the worst series of his career.And so that's what I would criticize him for.If he wants to say, you know, motivate himself for his teammates, whatever.

But it's the way he's playing.I don't think that's happening at all, actually.I think that's the opposite.What do you think?I don't think when you get swept and demolished and quit, and you basically You obviously quit last night and you quit in Game 3 with the Brunson layup that we saw.Donovan talked about how really your soul was snatched after the comeback in Game 1.

And I think they still would have gotten beat handily, even if they had won Game 1.

But there's a point where, how much of a motivation is it when you're like, actually, we're better?Like, don't you want to hear, we've got to get better?This wasn't close.Look, we're a new team.We only played, you know, 25 games together.We're going to get together in the offseason.

I've got to get better.I'm getting older.I'm not the same player, but there's stuff I can do.We can get better as a unit.Donna can better.We can coach better.

This like actually going to someone else's press conference.

If that's what you want.

This guy is I mean, that's not what I'm not.Just nuts.

I'm saving some of the graphics for later in the show because people have seen him.He has never been Mr. Accountability on that type of stuff.Listen, you don't have the career he had without having a work ethic and a lot of things and I understand all that but Why didn't this stop work out?Why didn't this playoff run work out?It's never, it's very rarely with James been like, yeah, that's my bad.I was two for eight again.

And so it's been other stuff.Glass, one tenth full.

Sure.

Four years ago, the Heat lost in the conference finals and came back the next year and made the finals.Then the Celtics lost in the conference finals, came back the next year and one made the finals.Then the Pacers lost in the conference finals, came back the next year and made the finals.And last year, the Knicks lost in the conference finals, came back last year and made the finals.

Nope.

Okay, I'm just telling you that's what happened.No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no Yeah, they did force a game seven after that and then came back and won the championship again.I do not believe that is what's going to happen with the Cleveland Cavaliers.Just change the coach which the Knicks did run it back and we'll be fine.

You think they're definitely changing the coach.

I think we're I think we're probably like 96 hours away from a lot of smoke about even if I don't think it's happening of LeBron to Cleveland because I think Kenny Atkinson is going to get fired and I think Jason Kidd is going to get hired and LeBron won a championship with Jason Kidd has advocated for Jason Kidd before and I think people will start connecting those possibilities but so I but regardless.

With Harden there?

I mean Harden.I think is going to be there.No matter what LeBron and Harden are not going to get down with this stuff.

He's getting down with Luka.Hold on.Luka is not a player.Luke is not playing.I'm not talking.I'm not if LeBron is there with Donovan Mitchell and let's say right now.

It's Evan Mobley can handle Harden scoring seven points in the playoffs because I LeBron is going to do his thing and so are the other two.

I guess so.

Harden just moves down the line.You know, we rely on you even less.So, go ahead, go too far.I don't know.DeAndre Ayton was fired.And you could put the ball in LeBron's hands, too.

Again, I don't...I'm not saying I think that's what's gonna...Like, LeBron's getting up there.What I'm saying is I think there will be more smoke if they fire Kenny Atkinson and if Jason Kidd gets attached to that job.

That's right.Good job, Jason.Kidding on you.Kid has me.