The Biggest NBA Finals Collapse Ever!!-How The Knicks Erased A 29-Point Deficit

A 29-point lead in the NBA Finals is supposed to be a finish line. Instead, we watched the Spurs drop 76 in the first half, score only 30 after halftime, and somehow lose on a sequence that felt like it belonged in a sports movie script. We hit record right after the buzzer to process what we just saw and why this Game 4 swing might be the defining moment of the series.

We dig into the biggest reasons the comeback was even possible in the first place: the three-point era and its brutal math, the way momentum snowballs when a team stops getting quality shots, and how quickly “up 20” turns into “tighten up” when the threes stop falling. We also talk Victor Wembanyama’s quiet second half, the missed free throws that opened the door, and the fundamentals that decide championships when everyone’s exhausted.

Then we get to the details that will haunt San Antonio: the final 13 seconds, the choice to take a layup instead of dribbling out and forcing fouls, the lack of box-outs on the crucial miss, and the timeout decisions that could have slowed the Knicks run. On the New York side, we give credit to the defensive pressure, timely shot-making, and the in-game lineup adjustment that helped flip the floor.

If you’re into NBA Finals analysis, coaching decisions, late-game execution, and why experience matters when the scoreboard gets tight, this one is for you. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves basketball, and leave a review with your take: what was the single biggest mistake that changed the game?

Transcript

Shock After The Final Buzzer

SPEAKER_02 0:05

Welcome in to the hoops rehab show after game four. Eric, man, what in the hell did we just witness?

SPEAKER_00 0:18

I I don't even know. I know it's been probably 45 minutes or so. Maybe I'm still like just with my mouth open, and I don't know what I just saw. Did I just see the Spurs score 30 points in the second half while scoring 76 in the first half?

SPEAKER_02 0:34

That is the largest point differential between halves ever in the NBA finals. 46 point difference.

SPEAKER_00 0:43

Damn. I mean, I honestly this show was gonna go a completely different direction than it's about to go right now, and it's just uh it's crazy. Uh I've seen some comebacks, um, obviously some really big ones and some big moments, but nothing like this finals comeback. Um, yeah, it's wow. Talk about talk about uh I mean literally two to two, two, two, three, one, it's just such a huge difference, and yeah, the way that San Antonio lost, man, crazy.

SPEAKER_02 1:14

Yeah. I mean, I'm just picturing Victor Rimbi Nyama in the first half where he's telling Mitchell Robinson that he's in his head, spurs are up at like 20 something, and now you picture the end of this game, and it just doesn't seem like the same game. Crazy.

SPEAKER_00 1:32

Yeah, it was 81 8152 with like nine minutes left in the third, you know. Obviously, a lot of time, but I mean, damn, you know, just just insane.

SPEAKER_02 1:43

Yeah, all right. So we're gonna obviously talk about this game, recap it all. We're gonna talk about some bowling head plays of the Spurs made, Darren Fox. Um we're gonna we're gonna talk about just history being made because Eric, I don't know if you remember one of the worst comebacks in uh Lakers history against the Celtics. 24, right? 24 points, and this game reminds me of that game a lot. So we're gonna get into that, and then we're just gonna get into what happens after this. I mean, are the Spurs officially done like mentally, or they got anything left in the tank for the rest of the series? Yeah, all right. So let's get it cracking.

Spurs Three-Point Avalanche In First Half

SPEAKER_02 2:30

So we go into this game, and you're thinking, Spurs are coming off a great victory in game three. What do they follow up with Encore? They come out on fire, shooting threes like crazy, making threes like crazy. They made what I think 14 threes in the first half, which was an NBA record. Um, they're up by half, that was 27, right? They're up by 27 at half. And you think this game is completely over. And then Wu Tang clan comes in at halftime and performs, and that's the only thing you can celebrate if you're a Knicks fan that you're gonna see Wu Tang on the court. Third quarter starts off, albeit a little slow, kind of back and forth. Spurs are just kind of like you know, moping around a little bit because they're up by 20 something. Then all of a sudden, the Knicks started getting hot, they kind of get some shots to fall, and then slowly start chipping away at the lead. What were your thoughts just in general going into the game and obviously how that first half went for the Spurs?

SPEAKER_00 3:39

Sorry, I was on mute there. Yeah, I mean, obviously, a picture perfect start to the game, first half for the Spurs. It was already 2-2 in everybody's mind. It was like, wow, like the Spurs have figured out the Knicks. Um, you know, and and it's it's now an even series. I was I was really I really just about to get on here and talk about how Knicks got to do their best to just be like, hey, if we came into the finals and we we you told us it was gonna be 2-2 after four with three to go, we would probably take it. And so I went from that to like, damn, you know, we're on the cusp of of history. Obviously, it's been 53 years or so. But yeah, I mean, there's nothing really you can uh say other than the Spurs came out ready to play. I mean, most of the time when you're up 29 or whatever, you know, up 20 plus, you're gonna win that game. We talked about the Lakers, and I think the Lakers were actually the same thing. I think they would have tied the series 2-2 that year against Boston. I think it was yeah, it went down 3-1.

SPEAKER_02 4:35

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 4:37

2 2 3 1 is the probably one of the biggest differences in a series, obviously. Yeah, I mean 2-1-3-0 is obviously pretty big too, but um, there's just something about that two, two, three, one. And I I don't know, I just think it was a little bit of everything, a little bit of magic on the uh Knicks side, a little bit of Spurs just kind of going away from what they were doing all game long, a little bit of Spurs were extremely hot from three in the first half, and it just didn't carry on in the second half.

SPEAKER_02 5:02

Yeah.

How The Three-Point Era Fuels Comebacks

SPEAKER_02 5:03

Um we talked about this too in the first half, just like the amount of threes that are shot in the NBA now, and like the game has changed so much. What what were you trying to tell me earlier, Eric?

SPEAKER_00 5:17

Yeah, I mean, I guess I was just kind of thinking like the there's been a lot of game sevens as of late that where the road team has won, and of course, in history that's happened, but it just feels like there's been a lot less like a home court advantage. And I know tonight's game it's probably not the best example because obviously the crowd was just ridiculous towards the end, but I was just kind of thinking, like, I think the the difference is is like just that three-point line, that equalizer. Any given night, you could just get extremely hot from three. Um, and you're and teams are gonna shoot a lot of threes, it's just the name of the game. And so uh if a road team comes out hot from three, it doesn't matter if they're playing on Mars, you know, they're gonna most likely win um if they're out shooting, if it's uh obviously a uh a big difference between you know three-pointers and uh as far as like percentage with the two teams, and so the first half that proved to be true, but I guess just like it can it can make you, it could definitely break you, and that's exactly what happened in the second half. And um, although New York was hitting some threes, I even thought they were probably shooting too many when they were making their comeback because I'm like, damn, you do have a lot of time left. Yeah, but I get it. Sometimes you want to like hit those big daggers and and come back in chunks, but yeah, I really think the three-point line and just the volume that the you know teams are shooting it now, it just makes for even playing field, um, you know, especially in particular in the playoffs.

SPEAKER_02 6:44

Yeah, and in the same vein, comebacks are so prevalent now because of the three-point guy. Like, literally, the Knicks had a 22-point comeback in the fourth quarter in this playoff run already, and we thought that was the biggest comeback ever. Little did we know that was the precursor to the most ridiculous comeback in the finals history. So I just think the game has changed, like like you said, the game has changed because of the three-point line, and so teams are just never out

Wembanyama Vanishes And Spurs Panic

SPEAKER_02 7:14

of a game. I mean, Spurs, gosh, they were up 29 points. How do you lose a finals game like that? Two things three-point line, second in experience and youth, man. That's the only thing I can chuck up this loss to. Uh, they got very just through the motions. Like they they were chucking up some threes that I was like, why are you guys even shooting those shots? They didn't get into their actions, they didn't get into the high picking roles of Wimby. They didn't get I I personally don't remember Wimby in the post in the second half. That's how bad the second half was for Wimby. Like, I do you remember? I mean, I just I can't recall a possession where he said, Give me the ball on the post, and he did not do that in the second half.

SPEAKER_00 7:57

Yeah, he was like uh have it here. The second half, he was three for 14 from the field, minus 27. I'm sure a lot of Spurs were minus points because they got they lost 20 uh elite in 29. But yeah, I was kind of thinking that. So I there's something about and and and I I say this, I know soon it's gonna be different, especially with Wimbayama as he gets experience. But there's just something different about like a guard or like ball dominant type of player just being like uh their your best player, right? Um, you know, just because like you can kind of really control the game, and so I was thinking that too. I'm like, they like part of it was probably because uh what I was gonna say is they really were just really not going to Wemby at all, uh down the stretch. And part of it was probably like you have um Alvarado in there, and you have obviously Brunson, and so they're two small guards compared to the Spurs guards, and I get that they're probably trying to take advantage of that mismatch, sure. But come on, you got the 7-10 or whatever alien, like best player in the league. I mean, honestly, I felt like I I know it wasn't the case, but offensively, he was just felt like he just wasn't out there uh towards the end. Yeah, no post-up, like you said, no demanding the ball. Um, and that's something that you know it's all part of it, and you'll probably learn.

SPEAKER_02 9:15

But and he missed two big free throws down the stretch, and that's something that's so uncharacteristic out of him. Yeah, and those free throws are just huge because I gave the Knicks the chance that they needed, you know, they're only down by one essentially.

SPEAKER_00 9:27

Yeah, I mean it made up for the the Josh Hart um. So so because when he missed that, Wimby got fouled on the very next possession, and he missed two free throws, so he kind of like was kind of took him off the hook, you know, their heart. Because I mean, come on, you know, I get it, the motions and all that, and you're probably worried about like a block from behind. But I was just about to say, man, like it would be a bummer to lose a game where you know you you kind of really just literally blow a layup. But yeah, the two free throws were just as crucial. Um, and you know, it's when you lose by so there's been the Knicks have one have won two games by one point, right?

SPEAKER_02 10:03

If I'm not mistaken, and yeah, so game two, uh, when we missed the jumper at the end, probably the same. I mean the the Spurs have had a double-digit lead in every single game of the series, yeah, all four games, and they've had a first quarter lead in all four games, and they are down three to one. Like, how do you explain that besides just being young and dumb? I don't know how to explain that. You you've literally had a lead in every game, and this has got to be one of the best 3-1 series I've ever seen in NBA Finals history, just based on how it is. I mean, obviously, the Cavs coming back you know, 3-1 um and winning in seven against the Warriors is arguably going to be the best. Um, but just right now, where we stand, these four games have been some of the best NBA finals basketball.

SPEAKER_00 10:56

Oh, yeah. I mean, you know, it's uh like it's it's nice just being a spectator. I went from like, man, uh early in the game, I'm glad I'm not a Knicks fan. I would not be able to deal with losing two out at home when you just won two on the road. But and then I went to damn, I wish I was a Knicks fan tonight because I'm sure just a feeling of of that comeback. And so yeah, I like you you look at a series a lot, and a lot of times you have close games and you lose them, and you you kind of hang your hat on, man, we we had it, we didn't get it done. But yeah, these four games uh like it was about to be obviously the first like real big blowout of the series, and we're gonna kind of see where it goes. But yeah, I hope um I don't know. I mean, we'll see what happens the rest of the series. Obviously, we hope we at least get maybe a couple more of these, yeah. But yeah, I I would imagine the NBA is pretty pretty happy of the product uh that we got you know going on right now in these finals.

SPEAKER_02 11:50

Yeah, it is wild. It's it's been some of the best basketball I've seen in the playoffs, essentially. The OKC San Antonio series is was pretty good, but you also had a bunch of clunkers throughout that series. This one has been nail biters each game. Yeah, and we thought this game was like, all right, they finally Spurs finally got him, they got a big lead. We're gonna go back 2-2. The series gonna was gonna be completely different, Eric.

The Final 13 Seconds Breakdown

SPEAKER_02 12:14

But with 13 seconds left, and he didn't do what you tell every young kid to do dribble out the ball and get fouled. He instead went for a layup, and of course, OG blocked him, and OG got the tip, right? To win the game. Yeah, so what were your thoughts on that play immediately? Uh, were you just surprised, or were you just like, well, he was wiped out of the basket, just laid up, and you know, whatever happens, happens. What were your thoughts on that?

SPEAKER_00 12:49

I mean, I was obviously just uh surprised, and I'm sure he was surprised that he had like literally like an open lane to the basket, and he's he's he's probably thinking, like, well, you know, I gotta knock down two free throws versus getting this layup. But as you said, as a young fella, just uh at any level, you're kind of taught there. The most the one thing you gotta do, the worst case scenario is you gotta be going to that free throw line. You can't, you know, turn the ball over, you can't, you know, get miss a gimme. Um, and he just look, like it's not like he was driving the lane with three guys in there, and he thought he had a chance, but it just one of those things. I I think he was too open. If he had if like let's say the play would have uh would have happened and somehow like a Nick got back, and it was like him and that player, he probably would have went to the corner, but it's just the fact that he had an open lane, but still, regardless, you know, you're you're taught to do that, and yeah, he's getting killed right now for sure. Now, yeah, obviously, you got to still knock your free throws down, which you know he's a good free throw shooter, and then you're still up, you're up three, and you never know what could happen, right? Um, but we saw um obviously a three-pointer missed uh there by Brunson. Um, so obviously, if if that if it would have if he would have made the free throws, he would have missed a three. That tip in wouldn't have mattered, right?

SPEAKER_02 14:13

So it's fundamentally, and when you look at that play with OG's tip-in, not one person on the Spurs is boxing out, boxing out, yeah. Right. And like so, you look at just fundamentally, like what are what were they missing? And those are two huge plays. Yes, the OG flying in from the three-point line, yeah, that's hard to box out. I'm not saying that like he wasn't, but if you would have boxed out the other guys, I could have limited him from where he was gonna be in space and just boxing people out to the this where space where OG was come flying into, right? I mean, Wimby wasn't, Castle wasn't, Vassel wasn't, nobody was, right? They were just looking up at the ball, Dylan Harper trying to grab the rebound and not boxing out like fundamentals, what you're supposed to do as a basketball player.

SPEAKER_00 15:01

Yeah, and I'm sure, you know, uh one uh thought is like, man, we got this like 7-4-7-5 guy, like you do you gotta get down there and get that rebound. You know what I mean? And so that's just the name of the game, right? We're gonna pick apart every single play. And I understand like his three-pointer was pretty deep, and I understand when there's a miss, that ball just goes wherever it wants to go, and it that's probably the one of the tougher rebounds to recover. And obviously, you got guys that are just crashing the board, they're super athletic. Not an easy play, but oh great tip.

SPEAKER_02 15:35

Yeah, you're a lifetime tip.

SPEAKER_00 15:36

But you know, when you see guys kind of pause and you know, probably just looking to see if that ball goes in. Um, you know, you kind of know that yeah, they weren't really focusing on that box out. And so, you know, look, he made the shot. Obviously, there was a second and change left. Um, it was gonna be tough for the Spurs. I think they talked about obviously just throwing it up to I think uh Richard Jefferson kept saying, like, oh, there's no goaltending um in an inbounds play. So I'm like, oh man, they're gonna just throw it up there to Wimby, right? The last second and kind of see what happens. But obviously, I don't even think they got a shot off.

SPEAKER_02 16:08

Yeah, well, when you look at that last play and you look at the replay, Kat got a fingertip on that because if you look at where the trajectory of the ball, Castle actually has a wide open dunk if he throws that lob and it's not tipped by Kat. So big ups to Kat because he got a little bit of a finger on there that derailed the ball, and that was the end of the game right there.

SPEAKER_00 16:27

Yeah, it's funny because I I did as the play was progressing, I was kind of thinking, okay, I like that. You know, you have that big guy just making it just tough enough to throw because they knew they were gonna throw it, throw it high, right? It wasn't gonna be a pass like this, they're gonna throw it high. And hey, why not have like a super tall guy? Obviously, they're gonna have um uh Mitchell Robinson on on Wemby, right? They weren't gonna have uh Robinson be the guy that tries to tip it. Um, and so yeah, obviously it's uh literally a game in it eventually like it is in football. And so if he doesn't tip that, it's an easy two um right for the Spurs. And we're we're singing a different tune tonight, and uh yeah, it's still still unbelievable.

Timeouts, Coaching, And Young Team Errors

SPEAKER_02 17:10

Yeah, and you you know who who who still has two timeouts in his pocket, Eric.

SPEAKER_00 17:18

Oh no, uh we've seen that we've seen this often, we've seen that a couple of times.

SPEAKER_02 17:22

I know I so with I think it was about 30 was it, 33 seconds or 35 seconds, somewhere around there, where it was just like Knicks just made a basket, they're up by one, you need to call timeout. Like it was just like one of those moments where like you need to call timeout, and he didn't, right? Like, or even when the Knicks are making their comeback, it's just like, hey, you need to stop this momentum, you need to stop it early in the fourth, you need to stop it later in the fourth, and he did not use those timeouts wisely. Um and I thought at least in that last 30-some seconds, he should have definitely called a timeout, and he didn't. Um, and I think that's an inexperience that you know a young coach, a young team is gonna go through.

SPEAKER_00 18:08

Yeah, I was kind of thinking it. Obviously, you you you anticipate a close game and you want to have one right saved for for uh the end, but I was kind of thinking like just throughout that comeback, and although you know it was um the third quarter, there was quite a bit of a quick run, but then the fourth quarter was just like a grinded out, like slow kind of comeback, you know, like from 20 to 15 back to 18, 18 to 13 back to 16, sure, you know, 16 to like nine, and then all of a sudden, once it got to like 10 or 9, it just I thought was like so many or a couple opportunities, just to time out, you know, just kind of settle in. And so yeah, you don't you don't get to take those home, unfortunately. And so yeah, I mean game two, Spurs obviously made a pretty decent comeback, but kind of you know, kind of a couple bonehead plays there at the end. This time, you know, Knicks make a comeback, but again, Spurs, uh just a couple tough, tough plays. Um, and you know, this game, I don't not that I don't blame them, but when you lose a 29-point lead, I think you're shell-shocked and you're just praying that somehow we get out of here with a win, and and they didn't. And so um, nobody, you know, obviously, not nobody. There's there's been a team, as you mentioned, has come back from 3-1. So they wouldn't be uh too it wouldn't be super daunting, but um yeah, it's you know, you got two games at home, two of the three, yeah. But just the way things are going, it's it's gonna be tough, I think, to win three straight against the Knicks.

SPEAKER_02 19:38

Yeah, for sure.

Game 5 Pressure And Series Prognosis

SPEAKER_02 19:40

Um yeah, going to that, right? Going into game five, do you man? I feel like I always think the Spurs are rattled, like right, like you know, after the first two, I'm like, ah, there's no way they're gonna win game three, or you know, go to New York and you're not gonna play well. And they seem to be battle tested in that way. This is a whole nother level, I think. This loss, and usually this destroys a young team. They are going home and you're gonna have a great crowd in San Antonio. Do you think they can you know get it together and at least pull out that game and and feel better about themselves going into game six?

SPEAKER_00 20:19

Yeah, I mean, I think the extra day again, kind of like between game two and three, is gonna help matters. Um, I know that's gonna probably they're gonna probably be thinking about it more and they probably want to get out there right now and play. But I think it is. Uh I mean, I know naturally you would probably say, all right, well, San Antonio's gonna win game five, and then maybe Knicks finish it off in six, right? That's probably what the thought's gonna be. Um, but I don't know. I I just don't know if they're gonna like it's gonna be crazy to think if they lose three home games. But um I just I just think Knicks, you cannot mess around with this game because obviously the longer the series goes, just the the more dangerous it is. Because again, it'll come down like say say Knicks kind of you know have a clunker and they lose big time in game five, it'll be bam once again, like crazy pressure in game six is obviously game seven's back in San Antonio. Yeah, you know, so here we are. Obviously up three-one, you're in a great spot. I mean, you just gotta win one of the last three. You probably prefer to win one of the first two, and so um I don't know like what tactically you could do different on the San Antonio side. Obviously, they've been playing their game and they've been playing well uh enough to win probably all four games, but uh I'll be interested to see like if it's very close at the end, you know, have they learned from their mistakes? You know, I think if San Antonio's gonna win, I think it's gonna have to be like a double digit victory. Um, and then we'll kind of see what happens, you know, Tuesday. But what are your thoughts? Like, what's your kind of early prognosis? Um, yeah, you think it's over?

SPEAKER_02 21:54

I mean, as far as the series, I think it's a basically 95% chance the Knicks win, right. I'll give I'll give the Spurs the five percent is for this, right? Technically, you'll have two of the three games at home. Yes. From now on out, you have two days full rest in between games.

SPEAKER_00 22:14

We talked about that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 22:16

That was gonna be huge regardless for Wimby, right? And and for the Spurs. Um and if they would have tied this, I mean, like they're pretty much planning to, and what they had the lead 2-2. I mean, that was gonna be a lot in the Spurs' favor, right? Yeah, it's not over, but it's definitely not looking good. And like you said, if I'm the Knicks, I I want to finish it off in game five. I don't want to say, oh yeah, let's win in New York, baby.

SPEAKER_00 22:43

Like let's have a I know we don't want to see it, but that's gonna be fun.

SPEAKER_02 22:48

Like we want to see that, but I don't think this is a team that you want to allow to come back to to New York, right? Because all it takes is one slip up in game six, and then you're all of a sudden in a game seven in San Antonio, and I think that would be definitely, definitely tough for the Knicks if they ever got to that situation.

SPEAKER_00 23:11

Yeah, and and I think like kind of to go back to the last topic, like just thinking about it. I think the the Spurs, like they've had a lot of roadblocks and they've they've definitely been able to get through them. And I think they're just so young that and kind of like dumb and I mean in a positive way.

SPEAKER_01 23:25

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 23:25

I I feel like this loss, like it, I don't know if it I don't I don't think it's gonna really mean a lot in in game five. It means a lot in terms of the stay of the series, it's 3-1, and you're probably done. But um, I just kind of see them turning the page, it's just kind of what they've done. And a guy like Wemby and just these young players, like they just don't have really anything to lose right now. Yeah, um, you know, like not literally, but right. And so uh yeah, I I think while the world would probably and the Knicks fans would probably love to see New York finish it off in six, but I'm pretty sure every New York fan would take of them finishing it off in game five before anything else. Because again, as a series goes along, you never know what could happen. When if game six, like I just talked about, when if Spurs make 23 pointers, right? They go ballistic, and you're like shit, we're in game seven now. Yeah, and so um, I think they gotta finish it off, right? Gotta handle business. Will they? I mean, obviously, we don't know, but um, I if I had to guess, I would I I'm leaning towards Knicks and six, my original pick, and I kind of saw it like this. I didn't think Spurt Knicks were gonna win two in uh in San Antonio. I kind of figured it 3-1, San Antonio, maybe San Antonio wins game five, and then Knicks finish off in six.

SPEAKER_02 24:44

Yeah, no, that's a good point. Uh I would say like a veteran team, when you lose like this, it's almost like they're ready to pack their bags, right? Like it breaks them, but you're right. Being a young team that you you know, you're like a little puppy. You don't really discipline, and and then next thing you're you're chewing up a shoe again, right? Like you don't understand the dynamics of it, which I think is a good thing, yes, right? So you take take a day, take tonight, take the plane ride, you're probably pissed off, regroup, you know, get into practice. I'm sure pop will talk to him again, um, and just have that like you know, let's go, let's let's throw it out the window, and and let's get game five. So we'll we'll see. I mean, I'm not too positive it gets back to San Antonio or you know, to a game seven or anything like that. Yeah, um, the Knicks just seem like a team of destiny at this point, the way they have been playing in these playoffs. And I think finally the Knicks, after all these years, are gonna be celebrating on the streets.

SPEAKER_00 25:45

Yeah, no, I think so too. I mean, we talked about it. There's something about like just that will to want to win it. And I know the Spurs want to win it too, and um, I know they're gonna probably have other opportunities, but nothing is ever guaranteed, and sometimes it's your only chance. Although for San Antonio, I doubt it. Um, but you never know, and so I think that's part of it too. I think if it was like the Knicks that had blown the lead with a chance to go up 3-1 and then becomes 2-2, I think I'd be probably saying, like, yeah, this is gonna be, you know, kind of get in their heads because they're kind of the I don't want to say like I just think they're the less like talented team. I'm not saying the better, worse or better team. Obviously, they're the better team right now, but when it's like a less talented team and they blow that lead, I think it would be really tough. But since it was in reverse, I see San Antonio like whatever happens in game five, I just think it'll be an isolated game, and the Knicks could win it. And you know, I would not be shocked if they just end this thing on Saturday night.

SPEAKER_01 26:43

Yeah.

Knicks Adjustments And The Alvarado Gamble

SPEAKER_02 26:45

Man, I I don't know what it is about the Knicks, and like they're just never out of it. Like, I I think one, they just they really hunker down on defense, like that's their their calling card, right? And then they just hit these big shots where you're just like, what is going on? Like slowly coming back. But I thought what they they did well was because the Spurs have been rolling out that three-guard lineup a lot with Dylan Harper, Steven Castle, and um Fox. Yeah, and I thought going to Alvarado and making a three-guard lineup with Josh Hart, I thought that helped them essentially get back in this game and really, really just open up the court. Um, not that Mikhail Bridges hasn't playing been playing well in this series, but just like for a five-minute stretch, it just you had a lot of speed on the court with that backcourt, and I thought they were able to not take out Wimby can completely from defense, but you're able to move them around and have them stay on the perimeter a lot more with that lineup than they have in the in with the previous lineup.

SPEAKER_00 27:50

Yeah, I mean, something about in-game adjustments. I guarantee you coming into the game, there probably wasn't a thought of having you know Colorado play, you know, such such big minutes. And uh, I mean you got to give it to Mike Brown. Obviously, you when you're down so much, you you can kind of like mess around with lineups. Um, just want to see how many minutes uh he played 16. I felt like he played 40, 40 minutes, but the big the big probably eight minutes in that fourth quarter that was like and it's funny because he was like he had taken a taken a couple bad shots and things like I even texted, I was like, Man, you can't win a damn game with sorry with Alvarado in the game, but little do I know, right? I mean, that's why they get paid the big bucks to make those big decisions. He obviously saw what what what you're talking about, like the three guard lineup out there, and he tried to match up. And um, at the end of the day, that's that's what ended up working. And so it's like the uh obviously the kind of the the chess match with within the the games, you know. So obviously we know there's adjustments game to game, but there's that that in-game adjustments that you know halftime or whatever that are that are almost just as important, and it to be honest, it probably um won them the game tonight.

SPEAKER_02 28:58

Yeah, just amazing what what we saw out of both teams, and just he had one ridiculous first half and a ridiculous second half, and now we got a 3-1 lead by the Knicks. Unbelievable, Eric.

SPEAKER_00 29:13

Unreal man, I could only imagine the streets of NYC tonight. Good Lord Almighty.

SPEAKER_02 29:18

Yeah, I mean, I thought we were gonna go into this this postgame and talk about you know, the Knicks fans are gonna talk about how bad the foul fouls were in the first half, you know, can't get like in one minute. They're complaining about the refs, they're complaining about that, and then all of a sudden, it's just totally different half, and now we're talking about the collapse of a young Spurs team. Almost we almost crowned Wemby, I think, this game where you're just like, yeah, that's the dude. He's gonna win this chip, he's gonna win so many more, right? But like you said, you're never guaranteed to get to the finals. So even if you're San Antonio right now, you gotta just throw this out and start back over three-game series right now, and you essentially need to win three.

SPEAKER_00 30:03

Yeah, what like it's cliche, but one game at a time, you got a home game, and you lost your first two at home, so you figure we're not gonna go out like that, we're gonna at least win one. But yeah, I mean, my the notes I took for three quarters, like may as well like I think I just crumbled it and and threw it out because uh the the you know the like the topics of the show like completely changed, obviously. And so yeah, here we go. Another couple of days off, and uh we got a big, big game five.

SPEAKER_02 30:30

All right.

World Cup Detour And Wrap-Up

SPEAKER_02 30:31

So anything else before we get out here, Eric?

SPEAKER_00 30:35

No, other than like can't believe the world cup starts tomorrow, just to change subjects a little bit. So it's uh it's gonna be fun. It's obviously in the North America, Mexico, predominantly US and Canada. So that that's like I I think tonight today was the first day I got a little bit pumped up about it. So we got the finals, we got the World Cup, uh Stanley Cup finals.

SPEAKER_02 30:54

If you guys are into hockey, yeah, that's actually been a hell of a series. I mean, I don't really watch hockey as much, but man, every game seems as like high scoring and back and forth. So we got a lot of great sports going on right now. And yes, USA, come on, do something in the World Cup. Please get out of the first round um bracket. Um then let's see what they can do at home.

SPEAKER_00 31:17

Yes, sir. We'll see what happens.

SPEAKER_02 31:20

All right, so we will be back on soon with a new episode. We got a special guest coming on to talk about everything going on with this series. But until then, we'll see you guys soon.

SPEAKER_00 31:31

Peace out, peace out, everyone.