Knicks · NBA Finals Game 1: @SAS, LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED! 6/3/26 8:30PM (ABC) (page 5)

BlueKnickers @ 6/2/2026 8:49 PM
DLeethal wrote:I might be crazy, but I think the Knicks are gonna have an easy time with SAS. My heart is ready for the contrary, but my mind actually thinks they are gonna win in 5. There are so many advantages we have against this team.

Talking to a colleague today who is pretty savvy sports person and a coach himself. He said he's picking the Spurs in 7. I told him don't be surprised if the Knicks win in 5.

As I've said earlier, if the Knicks are locked in at the level they've risen to lately you will not beat them. But that is not a given. If SA disrupts us with their defense and we don't counter with greater defensive pressure then anything is possible.

But if the Knicks stay their current course, I've got them for a split in SA and then holding home court with three opportunities to close it out in 5, 6 or 7.

Wemby is already an epic player and I think he will win many rings, but this is the Knicks year. Wemby will only get stronger and better so we should make it now or nothing and leave no doubt about whom is the better team this year.

BlueKnickers @ 6/2/2026 8:51 PM
Rookie wrote:
martin wrote:

Grateful he didn’t break his d*ck

He did. They said he broke "Pinky"

BlueKnickers @ 6/2/2026 8:55 PM
fitzfarm wrote:I can’t wait for us to destroy the spurs and see how the media responds lol a lot of the
So called experts are going to look like fools when we win in 4 and not just win… crush the spurs . I think this team will go down as the greatest championship team in the history of the NBA … the fact that we are 4 pt underdogs is crazy. But I love it, we use it as fuel and just blow them out of the water .

4 point underdogs?

What kind of fugazi low IQ drooling bum would have us at minus 4?

Nah, really?

martin @ 6/2/2026 9:49 PM
Mmm hmm

BlueKnickers @ 6/2/2026 10:12 PM
martin wrote:Mmm hmm


Chandler @ 6/3/2026 7:02 AM
I think this series is going to be judged by the back court more so than the front court. We need to defend fox’s speed and all their size and more importantly keep them off the offensive glass. We also need Shamet McBride and Clarkson to contribute and hopefully one or more to go nuclear

I do think it would be a mistake for the spurs to play wemby on Hart for multiple reasons and if they do that opens multiple opportunities. And if they keep him on KAT that will be fun to watch

Knixkik @ 6/3/2026 8:02 AM
Today is the day. 27 years in the making. If the Knicks simply carry their level of play they’ve had throughout the playoffs (starting game 4 vs Atlanta) they have a really good shot to win the whole thing.
Nalod @ 6/3/2026 8:33 AM
martin wrote:“(If you could) go into a lab and create…the physical profile you need to have a chance against him, it probably would look a lot like OG Anunoby.”

On NBA Finals on ABC conference call, analysts Tim Legler and Richard Jefferson were asked about OG Anunoby potentially defending Victor Wembanyama. Legler and Jefferson's full thoughts on Anunoby defending Wembayama:

Legler: “Just looking at Wemby all year and sort of the evolution of his career…if you could have a physical profile that you would go into a lab and create and say, this is sort of the physical profile you need to have a chance against him, it probably would look a lot like OG Anunoby. A guy that has enough size and length - it can't be in that 6-4, 6-5 range; (it’s) got to be bigger than that – lateral mobility for a bigger guy and then the physical strength to be able to get into Wemby and sort of move him around the best that you can. None of this stuff is easy; it's a very complicated thing, and it's a team thing.

"But for me, OG Anunoby - even the way that he's guarded him this year - is the type of defender that you have to have (in order to have) a chance. Because of (Anunoby’s) combination of just agility laterally, which you need - length to contest as much as you can from a guy that's 7-5 with a high release point, and then the physical strength and determination. You have to have a guy that is so committed to that end of the floor; and in this case, it's unique because (Anunoby) isn't a guy who's a sacrificial lamb defensively, where you don't worry about his offense. (The Knicks) need his offense too, on the other end of the floor.

"So it's a major task for him and the minutes he's on the court; he'll be the primary guy on him. And I think in this situation the Knicks are probably going to do what they can to kind of keep him on (Wembanyama) as much as they can. Certainly, sometimes you have to switch or there’s a cross match. but he is the guy that they would want to have. I think they've got about as good a defender as you can for this type of matchup/responsibility.”

JEFFERSON: "I would agree…. And understand, there is no stopping players in the NBA. That's not a real thing. I told a story a little bit ago about Kobe Bryant; (he) said Tony Allen was the best player to ever guard him. And Kobe averaged 29 (points per game) on Tony Allen. So while OG is a perfect player, in my opinion, to guard Wemby, the size, the consistency, the competitiveness in which he brings, he's still giving up a foot. So it's one of those things that, it's the physicality aspect, and can you maintain that consistently? What I love about OG is that he felt like he should have been on the first team all-defensive team. Well, you know, you get to go out there and prove it on the world's biggest stage. So I always love players with a little bit of an edge that (have) something to prove.”


Cool read. Wemby will get his. He alone can't do it. OG will do his best to keep the ball from reaching that high point, if so Wemby has no peer at that altitude. Wemby is not frail, but he is light. He can score and we can win. OG has to exhaust him and in a close game his fatigue becomes a factor to make poor decisions, or innaccurate passes/shots. Sort of a rope a dope?

Knicks need to be smarter in the 4th. Experience? Talent? conditioning? All comes together. SAS is formitable. and has earned its odds on advantage. They took the crown from the champs. That deserves respect.

All the posturing, analysis, predictions, prayers, and dreams all become reality at the opening tip.
Good luck fellas!

nycericanguy @ 6/3/2026 9:03 AM
cant believe we're gonna watch a finals game today. Brunson finally getting respect as top 5 guy. OG, this is his chance to really show out on a big stage and prove he's DPOY/1st team D

this team can own NYC if they bring this home.

SergioNYK @ 6/3/2026 9:12 AM
My Knicks PTSD is real and I have no idea how I'm going to manage these next few weeks. Barely slept last night! Too anxious!! Wish I could relax and enjoy this!

I need us to win this series in 5 games max. I don't think I can handle a long series.

Game 1 is a must win. We RARELY win a series if we lose the first game. The only time it's ever happened off the top of my head was in 1998 against Miami. At worst we must steal one of the first two. I know for a fact we are winless when we've been down 0-2. We saw how slow we started after a long break against Cleveland in that first game. We didn't wake up until midway through the 4th down 22. Cannot get down tonight against these Spurs! Hopefully these guys managed the long break a lot better.

I think 3pt defense is the key in this series. Wemby will get his. If we contain Champagie, Vassell, Harper, Castle and Johnson from three, we'll give ourselves a good chance to win this. If we allow them to hit a lot a threes, we don't stand a chance.

VCoug @ 6/3/2026 9:49 AM
Let's fucking go! I haven't been this excited for a Knicks game since the 90s! Knicks in 6 so we can win in MSG!
martin @ 6/3/2026 10:00 AM
SergioNYK wrote:My Knicks PTSD is real and I have no idea how I'm going to manage these next few weeks. Barely slept last night! Too anxious!! Wish I could relax and enjoy this!

I need us to win this series in 5 games max. I don't think I can handle a long series.

Game 1 is a must win. We RARELY win a series if we lose the first game. The only time it's ever happened off the top of my head was in 1998 against Miami. At worst we must steal one of the first two. I know for a fact we are winless when we've been down 0-2. We saw how slow we started after a long break against Cleveland in that first game. We didn't wake up until midway through the 4th down 22. Cannot get down tonight against these Spurs! Hopefully these guys managed the long break a lot better.

I think 3pt defense is the key in this series. Wemby will get his. If we contain Champagie, Vassell, Harper, Castle and Johnson from three, we'll give ourselves a good chance to win this. If we allow them to hit a lot a threes, we don't stand a chance.

haha true to form. LETS GOOOO get coffee!!!! On no sleep

martin @ 6/3/2026 10:07 AM
martin @ 6/3/2026 10:08 AM
martin @ 6/3/2026 10:08 AM
martin @ 6/3/2026 10:09 AM
Man I we got all the advanced scout/trojan horses on the team just in case. Sochan better bring the goods

martin @ 6/3/2026 10:11 AM
martin @ 6/3/2026 10:11 AM
martin @ 6/3/2026 10:12 AM
martin @ 6/3/2026 10:12 AM
martin @ 6/3/2026 10:12 AM
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