Nightcap Hour 1: Spurs CHOKE vs Knicks in GAME 2 of NBA Finals + Wemby TOO YOUNG to Win? + Rick Brunson CONFRONTS De’Aaron Fox

Summary

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Nightcap Podcast Summary

Episode: Nightcap Hour 1 – Spurs CHOKE vs Knicks in GAME 2 of NBA Finals + Wemby TOO YOUNG to Win? + Rick Brunson CONFRONTS De’Aaron Fox

Date: June 6, 2026
Hosts: Shannon Sharpe, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, and Joe “ISO Joe” Johnson

Episode Overview

This episode unpacks Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Finals, where the San Antonio Spurs lost a heartbreaking 105-104 game to the New York Knicks. The hosts—Shannon Sharpe, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, and Joe Johnson—give instant, unfiltered takes on the decisive moments, the evolving legacy of Victor Wembanyama (“Wemby”), the Knicks’ team identity, and a courtside confrontation featuring Knicks assistant Rick Brunson and De’Aaron Fox. The pod is rich with analysis, critique of coaching decisions, and classic banter.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Knicks vs. Spurs Game 2 Breakdown

[05:39–12:00]

• The Knicks pull out a 105-104 win, up 2-0 in the Finals, now heading to MSG.
• Spurs’ key issue: turnovers at crucial moments (“Joe: The turnovers did them in again.” [05:40])
• Jalen Brunson highlighted for clutch performances despite not having his best shooting night.
  • “Brunson hadn’t played great in neither one of these games, fellas, but he's managed to still put his stamp on the game and obviously be a closer.” — Ocho [10:15]
• Knicks have major bench contributions, especially from Landry Shamet (consistent made threes and strong defense).
• Knicks praised for resilience, overcoming double-digit deficits.

Notable Quotes

• “But the Knicks prevail by one at the end of the day. The turnovers did them in again.” – Joe [05:39]
• “The Spurs look very inexperienced. I call them The Y’ns versus the Knicks, who are the OGs, bro.” – Ocho [08:46]

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Wemby, Youth, and Execution in Crunch Time

[12:00–21:00]

• Spurs' inexperience and questionable late-game decisions dissected.
• Wemby’s costly late turnover in focus (“Wimby, that was a horrible, horrible, horrible turnover.” – Joe [11:58])
• Hosts criticize isolation sets for Wemby, calling it “premature” for him to shoulder such late-game responsibilities.
  • “To just put Wimby in isolation situations, fellas, he just not ready for that right now. I’m just gonna keep it real.” – Ocho [12:16]
• Emphasis on coaching: Should the final play have really gone to Wemby?
  • “That play had to be drawn up for Wemby. It had to be.” – Joe [15:03]

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Notable Quotes

• “Why would you pass it ahead? Tell me, why would you pass it ahead? I just want to know that.” – Joe [11:59]
• “When you play in the final... you have to minimize your mistakes. And you have to be great in moments. It’s all about the moments.” – Guest Analyst [13:07]

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Knicks’ Team Identity & Critical Matchups

[19:47–27:00]

• Contrasting team philosophies: Knicks’ maturity and ball movement vs Spurs “hero ball.”
  • “It’s one pass shot, maybe two pass shot, clear out, let me go at my man. And that's just the signs of a young team, bro.” – Ocho [18:44]
• Knicks praised for defensive schemes on Wemby, establishing physicality, and playing “winning basketball.”
• Big focus on Carl Anthony Towns (“Cat”): emerging Finals MVP candidate, outworking Wemby, taking on the defensive challenge.
  • “He is out working out working Wimby, bro. He outworking him. He out hustling him.” – Ocho [19:47]
• Knicks’ strategy to keep a body on Wemby at all times and force him into tough midrange shots.

Notable Quotes

• “That’s mature basketball. That’s winning basketball.” – Joe, on Knicks’ ball movement [19:47]
• “Cat is winning MVP.” – Guest Analyst [30:17]

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Turnout, Mental Mistakes, and Spurs’ Young Core

[28:07–32:30]

• Fault Spurs’ lack of bench production and mental mistakes—especially by Castle and other young players.
• “Castle commits too many dumb fouls early.” – Joe [17:05]
• Knicks capitalized on all Spurs’ miscues, including critical missed free throws and loose defensive possessions.

Notable Quotes

• “Ultimately, the further you go in any sport, whatever your weakness is, it gets exacerbated.” – Joe [20:50]
• “They make too many mental mistakes. When they get up, it’s like, yes, it's my turn to get a bucket... Versus just milking the clock and just keep getting great shots, bro. But as a young team, this is kind of what you have to deal with.” – Ocho [59:34]

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Legacy Watch: Knicks’ Playoff Run & Cat’s Ascendancy

[30:08–39:02]

• Knicks have won 13 straight playoff games—joining elite company (2017 Warriors).
• Cat’s two-way performance redefines his career: “No tag along ring,” big-time rebounding, physicality, and defending Wemby at a high level.
• Panel expects Cat to win Finals MVP if he continues this level of play.

Notable Quotes

• “He planted that seed... this is the best version of Cat.” – Joe [24:39]
• “He just settles far too much—now, he's not settling. He's not.” – Joe [43:56]

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Spurs’ Late-Game Woes & Wemby’s Postgame Comments

[47:08–55:40]

• Hosts play and analyze Wemby’s postgame remarks:
  • “I need to have more poise, more control over the game... it’s a make-or-miss league. I shot the ball, it didn’t go in.” – Wemby (paraphrased) [49:56]
• Echo criticism that late-game execution is “coach’s fault” — plays for Wemby when Fox had the hot hand.
  • “That’s coach fault though.” – Guest Analyst [51:51]
  • “Let’s make the game easy—have him set the pick maybe... But to just put him in those situations, I mean, damn...” – Ocho [52:23]
• Spurs should’ve kept riding Fox’s momentum:
  • “Dearon Fox with a floater from 8ft is a better shot than Wimby from 17-18. Even if he makes it.” – Joe [54:25]

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Historic Perspective & Series Outlook

[56:01–62:45]

• Spurs join short list of Finals teams who lose Games 1 & 2 at home (bad omen: historical sweeps or losses).
• Hosts debate: Can the Spurs come back in the series or even steal a game in New York?
  • “Teams in NBA Finals history to lose games one and two at home... don’t do well.” – Joe [56:35]
  • “You don’t win on the road turning the ball over.” – Joe [58:42]
• Spurs’ future is bright, but learning curve is hitting hard on the biggest stage.

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Rick Brunson vs. De’Aaron Fox – Courtside Drama

[62:45–66:16]

• Knicks assistant Rick Brunson confronted De’Aaron Fox after Fox got into it with Jalen Brunson (his son).
  • “When I’m watching the Knicks and I see Rick Brunson and Jalen Brunson huddled up... I just think it's such a great moment, bro.” – Ocho [63:15]
  • “Bro, I understand he a coach, but I’m a dad before I was a damn coach.” – Joe [63:39]
• General love for the father-son dynamic—calling it “a movie script in itself.” [66:08]

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Most Memorable Moments & Quotes

Carl Anthony Towns’ Finals Emergence

• “He is not selling. He is out working out working Wimby, bro.” – Ocho [19:47]
• “No tag along ring for Cat. And people go look at—people will look at him different. Everybody sees how he's playing Wimby.” – Joe [34:27]

On the Spurs’ Youth:

• “The Spurs look very inexperienced. I call them The Y’ns versus the Knicks, who are the OGs.” – Ocho [08:46]

On Wemby’s Turnover:

• “Why would women crash the ball ahead? Castle is not even looking at you.” – Joe [21:17]

On Coach’s Decision-Making:

• “That’s coach fault though... overcomplicating the situation.” – Guest Analyst [51:51]

Historic Run:

• “The 2026 Knicks, they won 13 straight playoff wins, the second most ever, the highest point differential in a postseason—and they're up 2-0. The Knicks have joined the 2017 Warriors as the only teams in NBA history to win 13 straight games in a single postseason.” – Joe [45:01]

On Rick & Jalen Brunson:

• “That’s a movie script in itself, for it to happen in real life. That’s dope.” – Guest Analyst [66:08]

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Important Timestamps

• Game analysis and opening breakdown: [05:39–10:45]
• Crunch time, Wemby’s late turnover, Spurs coaching debate: [10:45–18:44]
• Knicks’ team play vs. Spurs individualism, Cat’s impact: [19:47–26:34]
• Wemby’s postgame on final plays: [49:56–51:24]
• Courtside confrontation (Rick Brunson vs. Fox): [63:05–66:16]

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Tone & Style

Casual but expert, with candid player-to-player insights, a touch of locker-room humor, and straight-shooting analysis. The hosts blend respect for greatness with sharp critique for mistakes, always looking at the big picture and the legacy at stake.

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Summary Takeaway

The Knicks are showing the world what mature, collective basketball looks like, riding a historic playoff hot streak. Carl Anthony Towns is rewriting his reputation with Finals MVP-level play, while the Spurs’ youth—embodied by Wemby—shows both flashes of brilliance and costly inexperience. Coaching decisions and late-game poise loom large. The series moves to New York with the Spurs desperate for answers and the Knicks riding championship momentum, all underlined by the human drama of fathers and sons, redemption, and the ever-present pressure of legacy.

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Listen to Nightcap for unfiltered, instant reactions and the blend of sports insight only legends like Shannon, Ocho, and ISO Joe can deliver.

Transcript

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[Ocho]

Game.

[Joe]

What a game. What a game. But the Knicks prevail by one at the end of the day. Joe, the turnovers did them in again. And we talked about this in the last series and almost cost him, but it cost him really big in this last game, right in this f. In game two they could have played for overtime, maybe one in the regulation, but they turned it over. Foul. Jalen Brunson. He makes one or two and they win 105 to 104. Y' all know who I am. I'm your favorite UN. This is my partners and co host number one. He's the Liberty City legend, the Bingo ring of Fame honoree. He's a former Pro Bowler and an all Pro. He's the route runner extraordinaire. That is Chad Ochocinko Johnson and the third member of the Big 3A, a smooth shooting guard from the University of Arkansas, Little Rock, Arkansas native. Clutch bucket.

[Ocho]

Hello getter.

[Joe]

Y' all know him? Seven time NBA all star from the Atlanta Hawks. That is ISO Joe Johnson. Please make sure you hit that subscribe button. Please make sure you hit the like button and go subscribe to the Nightcap podcast feed wherever you get your podcast from. We would like to thank you, each and every one of you, for your support and your continued support because you make this worthwhile. You make this as entertaining, as fun for us as hopefully we make it for you. So again, thank you for your support and your continued support. Those looking to purchase a bottle of Shea by La Portier, head over to laportier cognac.com to purchase you a bottle if it's currently unavailable in a state or city near you. It is a premium VSOP Cognac. The best tasting, smoothest VSOP Cognac on the market. But it drinks like an exo. And we have it in two sizes. The 750 which is the OG, and the 375 which is the Junior. It's the same great taste, same quality, the same smoothness. Please, please drink responsibly and stay safe. The Knicks crush every fan's heart to win 105 to 104. Knicks get a huge defensive stop to win game two. They won 13 straight and lead the lead the finals with a 20 lead heading back for the next two game at MSG, Jalen Brunson made one or two free throws, but he made a big bucket to tie the ball game up. And then he made a free throw. He's the first player since 2014 to record those numbers. 20 points, five rebounds, six assists, two steals and two made three point shots. But they also had OG Cat played phenomenal again. 21 points, 13 rebounds, eight of 12, three or five from the three point line. Also, Mikhail Bridges had 20 points. Landry Shamrock. In the last four games, he has four made threes, four made threes, three made threes, three made three. He's been outstanding off the bench and they put him in for defensive stopper. And I thought they played really, really well. Give the spurs credit. They fought back, but they just didn't do enough to get over the hump. Joe, we talked about this. The last thing where you said, eventually it's going to catch up with you. You can't keep turning the ball over. And all turnovers aren't created equal. The miss free throws, but none bigger than that. Wimby, you get a great defense. You, you get a, you get a, you get a stop and then you go and you turn. I mean, Wimy, what are you thinking? The guy's running ahead and you pass it to him. Yeah, go ahead, Joe.

[Ocho]

Hey, hey, hey. For me, Uncle Ocho. The spurs look very inexperienced. Yes, they look very inexperienced. I call them The Y ends versus the Knicks. Who are the. The OGs, bro. You know, the, the, the Knicks, they understand what it takes. You know, they're playing great basketball. They're playing together. They playing solid defense and they making it tough on Wimy, bro. I know he had a 29 and 9 tonight, but for the most part they making it tough. And if you can cut out some of the mother guys around him, I think they've done a great job with that. But the spurs were up 13. They were up double figures again in game two. And the Knicks stay resilient, bro. They stay locked in and able to fight back in the game and get back in it. And just when you thought it looked bliss for the Knicks that they were going to pull away from this thing because they got up a nice lead in that fourth quarter. The spurs come fighting back. And you thinking, you know, I know I was thinking that they was going to have a chance to win the game, which they did. But that inexperience, bro, I just think the spurs don't have a rhyme or reason to what it is. They're trying to do offensively because you put Wimby in these predicaments to where he's shooting these 17, 18 foot jump shots, man. This ain't gonna win no games, bro. Hey, ain't gonna win no games. We. Hey, hey, if I'm the Knicks, I'm, I'm, I'm happy. He's, he, he's shooting these contested jump shots. Cause that's what we want, Ocho. We not going to let that man get in here and dunk some finger

[Joe]

rolls at the basket.

[Ocho]

Yeah, no, sir. No, sir. So give the credit, give Knicks the credit. They've been playing great all playoffs and tonight was carbon copy, bro. Defensively, they so locked in and they play together, you really don't know who going to beat you. Brunson hadn't played great in neither one of these games, fellas, but he's managed to still put his stamp on the game and obviously be a closer. But just a bad, bad turnover by Wimy right there at the end, bro. And it cost it, it really cost you the game.

[Joe]

But I'm not so sure. Okay, I get it, cuz, you know, game one last time against the Thunder, they got the rebound and they didn't call a timeout and he let Wimby walked into a 3. In this situation, I'm calling a timeout because like you said, Joe, this is a young, inexperienced team and in this situation, Darren Fox is going to take the last shot. De' Aaron Fox had already got by Bridges. He got by him and threw it back out to Wimby. Why would I do that? Why? When I'm right there at the basket, why would I throw the ball back this way? I'm not. No, no, no. Fox had already gotten by Bridges. He's cat quick. He had him on the perimeter. No, and I know more. I know dear. And Fox, I've seen him make these floaters. I've seen him make these clutch baskets time and time again. Look, I don't, look, I'm not a coach, but I think in this situation, I think Ms. Johnson tried to do too much. It's okay if women don't take the last game winning shot for you. It is okay. Sometimes we get caught up in Ocho. We feel we got to give that guy that opportunity. You don't, you don't have to. Especially in the situation because he got it going to it in the fourth quarter. You see him hit that three. You see him start getting into the lane. He started using that quickness. I disagree with that. Wimby, that was a horrible, horrible, horrible turnover.

[Guest Analyst]

I don't know.

[Joe]

Why would you pass it ahead? Tell me, why would you pass it ahead? I just want to know that. I just want to know your rationale. I would love to hear his comments once he get to the podium or why would he pass it ahead? He was not getting pressured. You got all this time on the clock. What is the rush? What is the rush?

[Ocho]

And, and, and when you look at it, Castle had really just came back in the game. He had been sitting out for quite some time. You know what I mean? I know Castle is probably thinking, let me just get over here to the corner and why not just keep the ball in Fox hands or Harper hands. Y' all run the pick and roll. Wimby will get a shot off the pick and roll. Hell, if you run it right, if you run it with some thrust, if you run it with some effort, like they had been doing to get him easy looks, but to just put him in ice, just to put Wimby in isolation situations, fellas, he just not ready for that right now. I'm just gonna keep real. I think this Knicks team is prepared for what it, whatever the spurs try to throw at them, and they are prepared to guard Wimby, bro. They're gonna be hella physical with him, and we gonna live with him taking 17 to 18 foot jump shots. That's not gonna beat the Knicks, bro.

[Joe]

Ocho.

[Guest Analyst]

Well, I'm not one to actually say I told you so for the rest of the chat. I, I told you so. Listen, the Knicks, Brunson, Brunson didn't really have a good game tonight. If you look at his numbers, he was 7 for 20, 7 for 25. He had, he had 20 points. But when it mattered most, he had certain shots that he needed to hit. As far as the Knicks and playing defense on Wimby, the scout report on how to play Wimby is out. Despite him being the alien, despite him being as good as he is, being aggressive, being aggressive, trying to do everything, everything you can to frustrate him, not let him inside the paint lot, not let him, you know, inside the block, allowing to play with his back to the basket, but forcing them to take those shots like you said tonight, and for them, for Wimby, for the spurs, they have to minimize their mistakes, especially in these, these, these, these, these moments. Because when you play a game like this, when you're playing in the final, when you're playing anything where it's a final or the end of something, you have to minimize my. Minimize your mistakes. And you have to be great in moments. It's all about the moments. And I'm not saying that I don't want to use the excuse that we. Well, they're too young. I mean, they understand the moment. And in the time that they're in, it is a final. And the head coach knows that in these moments you have to go to your big gun. And your big gun is Wimby. That's what we've all talked about. He's something we haven't seen before. Therefore, when it comes to those big moments, that's who you want the ball. You want the ball in his hands during those times. So maybe he's overthinking it a little bit and the coach overthinking it. You know, the team isn't playing as freely as they should. In specific moments when Fox shouldn't be kicking it back out, he should be taking that floater without. Without having to think twice.

[Joe]

Yeah. But for him to do what he did, that had that play had to be called for Wimy, Joe.

[Ocho]

Absolutely.

[Guest Analyst]

Absolutely.

[Joe]

There's no. Yeah, you.

[Ocho]

What you talking about? You talking about that clear out just then toward the end.

[Joe]

Yes. When Fox had it, he had beat Bridget and turned around and passed it back out to Wimy. That that play had to be drawn up for Wimy. It had to be. But again, turnovers. We saw Castle earlier in the fourth quarter turn the ball over. They trying to go. A lot of times they trying to go, listen, OG is their best defender and they try to go and Harper goes at him, get it blocked. Castle go at him, get it blocked, bro. It's okay. I thought a lot too. During the fourth quarter. They started playing hero ball a lot. Wimby started taking on. And when I, what I noticed with Wimy, when Wimby gets tired, he tries to do a lot of just touching the ball and put it in. He won't grab it. He had Landry Shammit. They throwed it over the top and he tried to tap it into the basket, just grab it and dunk it. But I noticed that when he gets tired, he does a lot of that.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe]

Also notice when they got that lead, all of a sudden now it's like, I ain't running no plays. Let me try to. Let me try to get it back. Okay, you try to get it back. Okay, you try to get it back. And the Knicks run. What they run they don't get. Like you said, Joe, again, they got a double digit lead. And here Go the Knicks. Nick said, hey, we know y' all young. We know y' all gonna start to make. Y' all gonna start feeling good about yourselves, and y' all will start turning the ball over. And right on cue, they've got to cut down on these turnovers. They got to. They do.

[Ocho]

They do. I agree. And because when you look at it, it was for the longest. I know Josh Hart, he had a donut tonight. But when you look at Bridges, he had a donut for the majority part of the game until the end of that second quarter. And. And then he started to get these turnovers from the Spurs. Now, next thing you know, Bridges get a couple wide open threes. Now he got it going. Hell, you look up, he got 20 points, you know what I mean, at an efficient rate, 8 for 13. Now they got three guys scoring a dub, plus you got OG with 17. And then you get 20.

[Guest Analyst]

What?

[Ocho]

You get 28 points, 29 points off your bench. And the spurs just not getting enough from their bench, bro. You have to rely so much for Harper, and nobody else can come in and give you anything.

[Joe]

Pass the bar. Five minutes and he gets his cardio in. Luke, connect. Luke Cornett comes in and does what he does. They don't. It doesn't look like they're really confident in Kelton Johnson or Carter Bryant. Cause they're playing. They're playing fewer and fewer minutes. The bench is getting smaller and smaller. But Castle's gonna. Castle commits too many dumb fouls early. Joe. Joe is too. Come on, bro. You falling in the back court. The man 90ft from the basketball. So many of those plays are just you, you look, I. I understand. And Joe, you talk about it all the time. I don't want to take his aggressiveness away, but if I. But he doesn't. He. He doesn't do me any good. He's on the bench for eight minutes of the second quarter into the half.

[Ocho]

He doesn't do me any good.

[Joe]

I gotta take. First of all, I gotta take him out in the first quarter because he picks up two fouls. So now he's not in a rhythm to begin with. And he comes in in the second quarter and he picks up a foolish foul. So now he's got to go to the rest of the half. He's got to go to the bench.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah, remember that was last series? I asked. I asked about that. How do you coach him? How do you slow him down, you know, and getting. And getting him to play with controlled aggression, but he just playing with aggression with no no control because you wouldn't pick up those foul, you know, those early fouls. And I say, how do you, how do you, how do you coach him and talk to him to, to, to, to make sure you don't take that edge that he has away from in his game. But also getting to understand you costing us because you costing us having to go to the bench.

[Joe]

Yes.

[Guest Analyst]

Be out there doing what you do best, playing on both side, playing on both sides of the court. And I mean, it, it, it, it hurts, it hurts them. It hurts the team.

[Ocho]

It does, man. It does. I, I think the spurs have to figure out a way how they can get some type of rhyme or reason with that offense. And I ain't talking about just clear outs and isolations because obviously it's not working. The, the Knicks are playing pretty good defense. You have to, you look, you look at the Knicks, bro, when they playing and they throw at the cat at the top. They setting back picks, they setting down screens, you know, they making you guard. And hell, they probably gonna use up a lot of the shot clock until they get a great shot. The spurs are not like that. It's one pass shot, maybe two pass shot, clear out, let me go at my man. And that's just the signs of a young team, bro. I mean, you, you, you can call it what you want. The Knicks are very experienced. They've been there before. You know, I, for the most part, I feel like they understand and they know what it takes to win, bro. They playing great winning basketball. And give Cat all the credit in the world. He is not selling. He is out working out working Wimby, bro. He outworking him. He out hustling him. He out, he just out working him flat out.

[Joe]

And there was a play, I think it was the second quarter when the ball, I mean, they, they went around the corner, they went around the horn about six times and then bridges hit a corner three. As time runs out, they're like, nah, there's. There's a better shot to be had than the one I can take right now. And they just keep moving. It's like hot potato. No, you take it. Hey, going around, you boom and boom. Hey, guy in the lane. Nah, that ain't a good shot. Hey, pass it to him. He runs him off the spot. He pass it, he gets it back. That is mature basketball. That is winning basketball. And I think sometimes, as you mentioned, Joe, I think the spurs do play sometimes. They try to play hero ball, Wemby Castle and it's like, bro, it's Unnecessary. Cause think about it. Y' all not playing this way to get these double digit leads early in the ball game. Y' all are moving the basketball and then somehow they start turning it over. Knicks get out in trans, get easy buckets or they get start to file. They send them to the free throw line and again they missed eight free throws tonight. Joe.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe]

Eventually the, the. The further you go in any sport, whatever your weakness is, it gets exacerbated. We know the spurs being, the spurs being young, they're going to turn the ball over. You just hope they don't come at crucial times. And what happened tonight? When you list when you least needed a turnover, Wimby turns it over. Why would women crash the ball ahead? Castle is not even looking at you.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Joe]

He's not saying give me the ball. You just arbitrarily just throw it ahead. Why?

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe]

And then you make a horrible play. You file Brunson.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Joe]

Play defense. You don't gotta foul, just play defense.

[Ocho]

I mean fellas, when you look at it, if you look at the Minnesota series that the spurs played in, they weren't at full strength. They weren't healthy. You look at who they played before that.

[Joe]

Thunder. They played, they played Portland and then they played Thunder.

[Ocho]

The Thunder, Thunder wasn't fully healthy. This damn Knicks team healthy, man. And they have a plethora of guys who've been playing well all playoffs long, bro. They. Hey, hey, hey, hey. They giving the spurs hell. And I'm talking about they doing it in San Antonio. I think that's the most disheartening thing. When I'm watching they beating, they beating them boys at the crib. I'm talking about beating them at their own game. Just out working them, bro. They want, it's. If you ask me, it seemed like the Knicks wanted more.

[Guest Analyst]

Hey Joe. And huh. Listen to me. That's the problem with y'. All. Y' all old folk. Y' all don't listen. I told you before the series started what would happen. I said Nixon 6. I didn't know. Honestly.

[Joe]

I'm.

[Guest Analyst]

I'm going to be honest with you, Joe. I really thought, you know, San Antonio being able to play the second game at home, they would win tonight. This makes it that much more difficult. Them boys.

[Joe]

I don't see us, me personally, Joe, I don't see a scenario. They come back to play another game in San Antonio.

[Ocho]

You saying they finna get sweat.

[Joe]

I don't see how.

[Guest Analyst]

Hey Joe, what you clean your house with when you got dust on the floor, huh? A broom.

[Ocho]

A broom, huh? I told you New York.

[Guest Analyst]

I told you New York City will be flipped upside down and the Statue of Liberty is going to walk for the first time. She coming up out that water, I'm telling you.

[Ocho]

Hey, listen, Ojo, The Knicks playing great ball. I'm gonna give him that. I mean, everybody who comes in the game for them are. Are contributing, you know, at a. At a high rate. I mean, Everybody, bro, from McBride to Shammy, I mean, shame is still hot. You know, he making timely threes, knocking down shots. For a guy who was on the training camp, you know, on the training camp squad, they didn't even know he was gonna have a guaranteed contract to be playing these type of minutes in the finals, bro, Is. Is. Is great for him. I mean, he's been. He's been amazing for the Knicks, bro. Another. Another shot maker. A guy who you gotta honor. You know, it gives room for guys like Brunson to be able to, you know, break cats down and be able to make plays. But for me, man, it's Cat, bro. It's Carl Anthony Towns, 21 points, 13

[Joe]

rebounds, forces tonight 18 points, 12 rebounds, four assists. He's shooting 56, 43. 156 from the floor, 43 from the three. And he's shooting 100 from the free throw line. He's been outstanding. He's taking the challenge to defend Carla, to defend Wimby. He's punishing Wimby. And that's why you see Wimby tonight, caught. Because what Cat did in game one, put the ball on the floor, going around him. Now he has Wimby apprehensive about running out there. He's going out there with his hand down. What's he doing?

[Ocho]

Draining the three, knocking it down. Yeah.

[Joe]

See what he did?

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe]

He planted that seed.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe]

Come out here already with your hand up if you want to. I'm gonna go around you. And that's what he's doing.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe]

He gets a smaller guy on him. They get a bit across, a cross, a switch. He punishing whoever it is. Yeah. If it's. It's Versaille, if it's Champagne, if it's Harper, it does not matter if it's Castle. He's punishing him. He is not selling. He is not selling.

[Ocho]

He's not, bro. He's not. And.

[Joe]

And that's all. We knew he had it in him. He just showed. He's showing you right now that, man, when I don't settle. Yeah, we know you can shoot the ball, Cat, but this Is the best version of Cat. A guy that's played because Cat didn't want to play no defense. Cat rarely played defense.

[Ocho]

He worked.

[Joe]

He working. He's making Wimby work.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah, I mean, talk about Wimby. It was about Cat understand, huh? Cat understand. What's that State? Well, we coming. How to we come out of here with two games on, on Nate Court and they got to come to the Garden. Man, stop playing, man. It makes the game that much easier. You know how, you know how, how you know how much of advantage we have when you have home court advantage? You got that crowd behind you.

[Joe]

Yep.

[Guest Analyst]

Come on, man.

[Ocho]

Yeah, but, but, but you got to look at the, when you look at Cat, bro, you got to look at the challenge that he's taking. He's starting off on Wimy, Ocho. I mean, I didn't see that, I didn't see that to start off. He's done that in both games and hell, he's been, he's been great. I think his defense, him being assertive on defense, taking that challenge, it's kind of got him going offensively as well, you know what I mean? Because he had, I'm talking about when the rebounds go up, he out hustling Wimble on the rebounds, getting extra possessions with his tip backs, layups, kick out for threes. He's just doing a lot for this Knicks team, bro. I'm talking about a lot.

[Joe]

And even, even. And even if he doesn't get the rebound, he's doing a good job of keeping Wimby from getting a rebound. And you saw, you know, the first game, the Thunder let him roam around. He got 24 rebounds now he got his rebounds. But I thought they did a great job. I think, I think the Knicks are doing an unbelievable job of finding Wimy and everybody putting up somebody putting a body on it. It does not matter who it is. Yeah, the majority of the time is Cat because Cat is defending him. But when they get the cross, they get the, the switches. Other guys are doing a great job of putting OG put about on him. Mikhail Bridges will put about it hard. It does not matter. And that. That's a well coached team. They understand the task at hand. Look, when they got that first game, you know, they probably had a conversation, man, let's go ahead and be greedy. I ain't trying to come back to San Antonio. There ain't really nothing here for me. Ain't like we're in Miami. Ain't like we're in la. It's not like we're in Vegas that we got ish to do. Let's go ahead and finish. Let's go ahead, get greedy. Let's take sweepstakes and do you know

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[Joe]

Warning.

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[Narrator/Advertiser]

I turned off news altogether.

[Joe]

I hate to say it, but I don't trust much of anything.

[Ocho]

It's the rage bait.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

It feels like it's trying to divide people.

[Joe]

We got clear facts. Maybe we could calm down a little.

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[Joe]

The next game is Monday. The following game is Wednesday. A hell, let's go out in the city on Wednesday nights we win the championship. That's how I would be thinking.

[Guest Analyst]

And you know what? When you think about it too, in this series, Jalen Brunson, the first two games he really had had a great, great game. I know you look at it, but you look at how many shots he's had to take to get the numbers that he does have. OG has been consistent. Cat right now, if this was the final tonight, the final game, Cat is winning mvp.

[Joe]

Absolutely.

[Ocho]

He's probably still gonna win.

[Guest Analyst]

How he's playing. OG has been consistent as well. We still haven't had one of those game from Josh Hart yet. We. He give you 16, 18, sometime 21. We ain't even had that yet. So one of those games is coming and it probably gonna be back at home.

[Joe]

He got in foul trouble.

[Ocho]

Yes.

[Guest Analyst]

He hadn't had offensive spurt because he wouldn't do him defensively. And so many other things, so many other things on the court that don't show up in the stat sheet. He's been special. Jaylen Brunson is still gonna have one of those games. They're going to come.

[Ocho]

Hey, it's gonna be hard, Joe, I

[Joe]

believe for Brunson to have those game because they got such elite defenders. Castle making it extremely hard. A Vesel can defend at an elite level. Harper is not the defender that those two guys are, but he's a big body. He does a great job of bodying and using his lower body, I think. Look, Jalen, that shot that Jalen Brunson hit the tie the game up. That's a tough ass shot, man. I keep. Hey, coach, I. I can't play it any better than what I played. Yeah, I can't play better.

[Ocho]

You can't, bro. You can't. And that's why even though he hasn't played great, he's made timely shots down the stretch. He's been huge down the stretch. Whether it's making shots, obviously, you know, getting to the foul line, making free throws, man, he has the Knicks.

[Joe]

He hasn't played great, but when he's needed to be great, he's been.

[Ocho]

There you go.

[Joe]

That fourth quarter in game one, the big shot he put. They put the ball in his hand. He tied it up because he missed that. Who knows? They get the rebound. Maybe they Go down, make a three. Maybe they go up, make get a two. Maybe it's a two possession game. Yeah. But now, hey, we tied up.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe]

In that situation, I still don't know. I don't know. I'm going to need to hear women. Hopefully before we go off the air, we can hear what he was thinking when he passed the ball ahead. But because the guy wasn't even looking

[Ocho]

he pro, he, he, he, he, he pro. He probably going to take ownership and say he's bad. He know, he know that was a bad pass. But man, you got, we, we got to get a refs credit because they holding that whistle. Let them boys play. Hey, hey, when you talking about being handsy, you don't really see that, that, man, this, this 80s 90s basketball. Oo the way them guys out there, he, they letting them play defense on the perimeter, touch, do a little holding, you know, it's physical, bro. So I think they've, they've done a great job in bottling Brunson up throughout the entire game, making it tough on him. Hell, he's having to take tough shots, he's having to make tough shots. I think, I think they've done a great job on him. I just think these other guys around in the Bridges, OG Cat, those guys have been huge in these first two games.

[Joe]

Last four guards, they have 25. 5 and 5. 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals. Ran Rondo, Allen Iverson, Michael Jordan. Tonight Jalen Brunson joined that group. That's what, that's, that's what you have to have guys. That's what, you know, every time, you know, it would like to be a situation, I think I read in the stat where Michael Jordan scored at least 20 points. Did he score 20 points in all 35 of his finals games? Something like that?

[Ocho]

Did he? Oh, he probably did something like that.

[Joe]

Jokes. No, Joe, but it's when like I'm not at my best, can my teammates be at their best, Right. Or can they be better? And you look at what Cat has been giving you these two games. You look at Josh Hart gave you. He didn't give you the points the first game, but he gave you an overall outstanding game with the rebound, the assists, the steals. You look at og, OG has been sensational playing both ends of the court. Doesn't take a whole lot of shots, but he makes the shots that he take. He makes those count. Cat has been phenomenal. This is the Cat and I. But I get it though, Joe, because once you get a taste of that scoring bug in your mouth, boy. It's hard for you to go like, yeah, I'm gonna play some defense tonight.

[Ocho]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Joe]

He understands. Man, I am so close. This is close as I've ever been. And I might not ever be back here again. Let me get that ring. Because getting a ring with the way I'm playing, it's gonna be hard for them to deny me. Hey, he was no tag along. This ain't gonna be no tag along ring for Cat.

[Guest Analyst]

Big contributor now.

[Joe]

And people go look at, people will look at him different. Everybody sees how he's playing Wimby. Everybody's seeing the contribution that he's making on the defensive end and what he's doing on the offensive end. He's averaging 12 rebounds a game, basically 2012 and four. Yeah, that's what he's aver. And playing outstanding defense.

[Guest Analyst]

Yes.

[Ocho]

On Wimby, you're absolutely right. And, and being the fact that he's from Jersey, Uncle Ocho, to, to be able to get a title in New York, bro, I mean, obviously they all gonna have a damn key to the city, but, man, this, this is, this is, I mean, this is legacy, you know, this, this big time, bro. You know, you, you, you win a title for the Knicks. But man, I've been impressed, bro. I ain't gonna lie. I, I, I didn't see this. I didn't see them out playing the spurs the way they've outplayed them. I didn't see them out, out muscling them out physical. I didn't see that, bro. And they showed me the Nick showed me. I think it's really Cat because we're so used to him floating around,

[Joe]

hey,

[Ocho]

yeah, playing that finesse game. But he, he switched from women.

[Guest Analyst]

Understanding the assignment, Joe. Understanding what it's going to take, what it's going to take. It's going to take for you having to change your game, it's going to have to take, going to take you having a. Use your body, sit in the chair a little bit, you know, nullify this young fella who they call the alien, huh? Hey, be his kryptonite, Cat. You got to be his kryptonite. And that's where he's been these past two games, his kryptonite.

[Ocho]

And when you look at it, he's probably the only center that the spurs have played in this postseason who can shoot the three. He's probably only one. He's the only one. So when we can't just float and play free safety and really help, you know, the way he's been doing in the past series. Because you gotta honor Cat, bro. And he's shooting at a high clip.

[Joe]

Clinging. Clinging can shoot the three, but he can't shoot it at the clip. That cat can. Clinging ain't really trying to put the ball. Cat showed you in game one. And this is why I think he was effective game too from the three is that I put it on the floor and get on the edge on. You think about how many times he put the ball on the floor and got by Wimby. How many times he put on the floor and got by Cornette. And if he didn't get the basket, he got the foul. So now I've got that seed planted. Damn. I can't, I can't be all in running. You know, I got to be down the step where my hands down. Cat can shoot it. Cat ain't really shooting. It's really a set shot, Joe. You know what I'm saying?

[Ocho]

It's like a. Yeah, it is, it is. But he get it off quick.

[Joe]

Absolutely, absolutely.

[Ocho]

Yeah, he'll throw that pump fake in there because you know, you gotta honor. And next thing you know, he buy you now he able to spray out for three or get to the basket, get foul. It's just so many options in that. And it's good to see him playing high level basketball, bro, because he, I

[Joe]

mean, he's taking some unfair. Joe, he's taking some unfair criticism because you know that with the Jimmy Butler situation, how he took some backups and he beat the starters and you know, everybody say, what cad is soft. My thing was I didn't think it was soft, but I just think I, I did think that he hung around the three point line. He was so interested in trying to convince people he was a better shooter than Dirk when he has an advantage in the paint or he has an advantage where he can put the ball on the, on the floor and get to the paint. Yeah, he would sell because he was so gung ho. And I want to prove I'm the greatest shooting big man. But if you don't win no championship like Dirk, who gonna care?

[Ocho]

Yeah, yeah, you're right. Hey, but when you look at it though, Uncle Ojo, with him playing in Minnesota, playing next to Gobert, it's kind of hard for him to really, what I would say, attack the basket like he is. Now he has to play the five. That's where he has the advantage at. Put him at the five. He's a stretch five. A guy who can knock down Shots. Not only that, he ain't selling when he catch it in the post, he making strong heals. It may not lead to points, but it leads to somebody getting a great damn shot.

[Joe]

I ain't never seen Nobody go, go 100. Go 100 miles. Go 100. 100ft in two steps. Like cat. I'm like, y' all sure this man not walking? Joe? That Joe got the ball. I think he a running back. Joe. He got the ball up.

[Ocho]

He got them long strides.

[Joe]

Yeah, but no, I. I think also, Joe, I think, look, he came into the league and, like, you know, he was scoring so much. It's. And you know, he's dropping 50, he's getting 40, he's getting 60. They're like, well, I kind of like it like this. And they was like, well, you know, we gonna bring Rudy Gobert, which is going to require you to play even less defense. But like you said. Now, he like, bro, you look, we gonna give you a blow, but you gotta play some defense. You gotta deter some people from coming into the paint. And when. And when Brunson is not. Doesn't have it going, we're gonna need you to have it going. But I think in this series, he's been phenomenal. I know Jaylen Brunson, that clutch. That performance that he put on last night, and he had a big, clutch basket tonight. But I don't. We cannot speak in glowing terms enough about Carl Anthony Towns, because he's been phenomenal. OG has been every bit. OG has been what o. What we expect OG to be. He's gonna play outstanding defense, and he's shooting the three ball really well, too, Joe.

[Ocho]

Yeah, he is.

[NBC News Announcer]

He.

[Joe]

Hell.

[Ocho]

He been shooting. Oh, he. Against. Against the Hawks in their first series. The man barely missed, bro.

[Joe]

Barely missed a shot.

[Ocho]

Damn.

[Joe]

He barely missed a shot.

[Ocho]

Yeah, he barely misses. He went and he didn't play in the Philly series, and he came back in the Cleveland series. But for the most part, man, he's been super solid for them all. All playoffs.

[Joe]

He picked right up where he left off against your Hawks. We came back, who they play? Who they play.

[Ocho]

CLE you laughing at Ojo.

[Guest Analyst]

Laughing at what Unc said he picked up after. After your Hawks

[Ocho]

act like he ain't rolling with the house too. You gotta come on, man.

[Joe]

I was rolling with the. Oh, you want me to roll with the Hogs now?

[Ocho]

Yeah. Who you go? Who else you gonna run with, bro? For the lead? La.

[Joe]

I don't know if I can get down with the Hawk, man. The Hogs used to be so sorry before they got Dominique, man. Lord have mercy. Hey, you put on some sneakers, they might put your ass in the game. They would have a 15 people there. Somebody found a lot. They're like, hey, can you play? Hey, sign this waiver. No, I, I, I, I, I. You know, we got, We've got to give, look for all the things that we say the spurs did wrong. Yeah, I think we have to give that kind of praise to what the, what the, the Knicks did. Right?

[Guest Analyst]

Right.

[Ocho]

Yes. Right.

[Joe]

Because we've heard so many times say, and we can say that about the spurs, the spur. The game was right there for the taking.

[Ocho]

Yep.

[Joe]

But you didn't take it every time. So if you go back and look, look at the calves. Every time somebody has presented the Knicks with an opportunity to win the game, they cashed it in.

[Ocho]

Absolutely.

[Joe]

They were down 20.

[Ocho]

Absolutely.

[Joe]

Once they got down by 22 of the calves and they came back and beat the calf, the series wasn't even close after that. Yeah, it wasn't even close. I mean, they get down. They've been down double digits in both of the first two games, and before you know it, they go on a 70 or 120 run and, and boom, fellas, this.

[Ocho]

12 straight wins in the postseason, man, by the Knicks, this is unheard of from a team who, you know, I wouldn't say they struggled against the house because they, they, they beat us bad in game six. But you didn't see this coming, bro. You didn't see them just pulling away from teams like this. And then you get into the Finals, and as great as the spurs have been all season and in this postseason, you mean to tell me they go to San Antonio and win two games?

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah, I mean, I told you that was gonna happen. Joe. See you, A.C. joe, you, you, you looking at it from a different lens, huh? You look at you, you, you think, you think it with your, with your, with your, with your heart, in a sense, you know, based on everything you just said. Uncle Joe, I told you what was going to happen. You hear me? And I don't know if people that listen to me, if, if you betting and you're betting the house and you, you're trying to make a extra money. I hope you don't follow everything I've said the entirety of the playoffs, because right now you'll be rich.

[Ocho]

Huh?

[Guest Analyst]

And I'm telling you gonna be. I'm telling you ahead of time, if there's a way to gamble about who the MVP gonna be, Cat's Gonna win it. Cat ain't gonna win the MVP because we seeing a different version of him we haven't seen before because he hadn't had to play this way.

[Ocho]

Hey. Oo. If he keep playing like this, being assertive, attacking the basket, not settling for jump shots, taking it when it, when he has it. I, I can see it. I can see it. Keep, keep getting a double. Double.

[Joe]

Thing is, Joe the proxy, we look at the play, we look at the finals MVP and we think it's just for the finals. They be voting for the totality of it.

[Ocho]

Hey, can't keep playing.

[Joe]

See, I think the thing is, Joe, you said something. Ocho, you said that Cat. What? No. Cat didn't want to play like this. They wanted him.

[Guest Analyst]

It's always been. It's always been in him.

[Joe]

Yes, Joe, and I've been saying it. He the first pick of the damn draft. He's seven foot tall. Yes, he can shoot, but he can put the ball on the floor. He can. He just settles far too much now. He's not settling. He's not.

[Ocho]

And, and not only that, he's being disruptive. Meaning every time the ball goes up, bro, he's jockeying for position. He trying to get a put back. He trying to get an extra rebound, offensive rebound. He doing the little stuff that's, you know, that a lot of times won't show up. Like Unc say, man, they keeping a body on Wimby so he can't affect the game. You know, from a rebounding standpoint, hell, I don't think he had a double double in these first two games, fellas.

[Joe]

He hasn't.

[Ocho]

You know what I mean? So that, that, I mean, that's saying a lot, bro. That's saying that the Knicks are coming to play. They're being ultra physical in, in, in. In the low post and on the perimeter. I just think all around, they played. They playing a great basketball game, great game plan.

[Joe]

The 2026 Knicks, they won 13 straight playoff wins, the second most ever, the second most road playoff wins ever, the highest point differential in a postseason, and they're up to. Oh, The Knicks have joined the 2017 warriors as the only teams in NBA history to win 13 straight games in a single postseason. The Knicks are two wins away from winning a championship. A run that's starting to look legendary.

[Ocho]

Yeah, I agree, I agree. They look great. They look great. They do.

[Joe]

They, they, they.

[Guest Analyst]

Hey, quiet as.

[Joe]

I mean, think about they've lost two games.

[Ocho]

That's.

[Joe]

I mean, do you think, do you think about it? You need to win 16. You need to win 16 games to be a champion. There's a chance they're going to be 16 and 2 in the postseason. That'll be I mean what I mean I remember remember shocking it was what, 15:1 in the postseason.

[Ocho]

Yeah yeah yeah.

[Joe]

You don't the Warriors. I think the WAR because the warriors lost. I know they lost one game to to the Cavaliers, but I don't think they lost anymore. I wonder what they were in 2028. I think you know because I think I know when one one series they they would they they be end up beating the the Rockets four three Joe and I don't know if that was 18 because they swept the Cavaliers in 18. They they beat them, you know four one and 17. But man this and, and it's and it's the way they're winning. They they could they, they they can score 140 or they can score 102 and beat you by three and you score 99. Yeah they're just finding so many different ways to win. Joe.

[Ocho]

Yeah, they beating you by committee. They get they having so many guys step up and and you don't know who it's going to be on a night to night basis.

[Joe]

Here's Wim on the last three possessions of the game. Let's take a listen what he had to say. Just wanted you to take us through the list.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

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[Joe]

Warning.

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[Narrator/Advertiser]

I turned off news altogether.

[Joe]

I hate to say it, but I don't trust much of anything.

[Ocho]

It's the rage bait.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

It feels like it's trying to divide people.

[Joe]

If we got clear facts, maybe we could calm down a little.

[NBC News Announcer]

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[Guest Analyst]

Pets age 0 to 10, three possessions,

[Joe]

the two misses from mid range and

[Guest Analyst]

the turnover with Castle. What did you see and how can you guys react?

[Joe]

I'm still very blurry and that's the whole problem. You know, we, I need to have more poise, more control over the game. I'm not going to go through the whole positions. But that's the general image. No, I mean you say, look, it's a make or miss league. I shot the ball, it didn't go in. Okay, that's it. Like you said, you need to have more poise on, on, on, on, on passing the ball. Why would. But Joe, I, I still, I, I what I'm trying to figure out why would you pass it. There's nobody picking you up, bro. You got 14, 15 seconds in the game.

[Ocho]

Yeah, yeah, I agree. He, he shouldn't have passed it. He should have brought it up and then at some point maybe even give it to the guard. But I don't give a damn what Nobody say them 17, 18 foot jump shots he's shooting. Yeah, I know he can make them, but at the time he's shooting them, Uncle Ocho, man, them ain't good shots, bro. I Mean at the end of the game, that last one? Yeah, we would. I guess you got to live with that. But to do a clear out for him to have it at 18, 19 foot and shoot a pull up jump shot. No, bro, put that ball in them guard's hand, Fox hands, let them guys run that pick and roll and you try to get something great out of that. You know, I just, I just didn't think them were great shots. Them last two possessions that he had, I didn't think they were great shots.

[Joe]

Here's Wimby on the last shot on that play. How'd the execution go?

[Narrator/Advertiser]

Did you like the shot you got?

[Joe]

Yeah, of course I like the shot, but I feel like in this moment you need to shoot to score. And in moments like this, it's like results matter more than process, if you know what I mean. See, like. Hey, Fox, you go ahead and take that shot. What it sound like to you, Joe?

[Ocho]

Yeah, that's what it sound like. Hey, he's saying all the right things.

[Guest Analyst]

Hey. Yes, that's coach fault though. It is coach's fault, Joe, because when they drew it up, coach on the sideline overthinking it over, complicating the situation to where now Fox is thinking, well, I done got by my man. But wait a minute. Coach said he got to go to Wimby. Therefore, even though I have a free, I have free will to the lane and can get my floater or put it on the glass, I'm gonna kick it back out to him.

[Ocho]

Right, right. I think, yeah, I think coach drew up them plays.

[Joe]

I think.

[Ocho]

I don't know if it's overthinking it. Oo. I just think you, you, you. I just think he looks. Coach Ms. Johnson looks at Wimy as the best player on the team, which he is. But in certain situations, bro, you can't put him in those situations. I mean, damn, man, make. Let. Let's make the game easy, you know what I mean? Have him set the pick maybe. Man, it was a few times tonight that he set the pick and one of them little guards was guarding him and he just stayed floated out around.

[Joe]

He don't roll. He don't. Yes, yes, you, you gotta. Hey, hey.

[Ocho]

When you get that switch, you gotta beeline, man. And when they throw it to you, all you gotta do is keep it up high. What the hell them little bitty gonna do?

[Joe]

What they gonna do? If you notice Joe, when he gets tired and they pass it to him, he tried all in one motion. He'll try to Catch it and shoot it or he'll try to guide it in.

[Ocho]

Yeah, yeah, that's you're right.

[Joe]

He's tired. I noticed that about. I thought dearon Fox had one of his best games. He was eight or 12. He was perfect from the three. He's perfect from the free throw line. I'm look. Hey they got hey. Fox is having a pretty good game coach. He's only missed four shots.

[Guest Analyst]

He's perfect from the let him go while he hot now he got the

[Joe]

hot hand and if you go think about it though his the last couple of possessions that they gave the ball to Fox what he do, he, he hit a three, forced the timeout. They give him the ball. Boop boop. Off the glass. Yeah.

[Ocho]

Hey, hey. He, he, he was playing. Fox was playing with that thrust tonight. I like the little mix up that he got with, with, with, with Brunson when they got in each other's face and it seemed like after that he didn't let Brunson ass off the hook. Not one time after that. You know what I mean? He was getting straight to it. So I, I, I, I agree. I thought they should have rolled Fox hot hand down the stretch bro. Miss a mate you just to put Wimby in those situations. Obviously he gonna be able to get a good shot. But that's 17, 18 foot jump shot in those times if he make it. Hell we, we cheering, clapping our hands.

[Joe]

But man you get something better dear and Fox with a floater from 8ft is a better shot than women from 1718. Even if he makes it. See people see sometimes Ocho Joe you the results all you get the results. Results. Look at the results. Yes you can get positive results and it's still not and it still not be the right choice because now you, you fall in love with that. Let me make the right play. The right play was de'.

[Ocho]

Aaron.

[Joe]

Fox was cooking. He had gotten by, he had gotten enough of step on bridges and he could have got to his floater. He's left handed. He got bridges on his right hip.

[Ocho]

Yeah, you're right, you're right, you're right. I say, I say, I say, I say keep it in them guards hands, man. There's just the way the game was going. The way Fox had it going, even Dylan Harper the way he had it going. They couldn't stop those guys from getting in the paint. Fellas you know they could get in the paint at will and by them getting in the paint you have you create so many options not only for yourself But. But you could throw the lob to Wimby now. You could kick it out to Champagne or Castle or. Or whoever. You know, for wide open threes, you have so many options when you have a guard who can get in that paint and live in that paint. And Fox and Harper are two of the best at that.

[Joe]

And Joe, what's the. Wimby called for the ball in the back court. He called for the ball for somebody to give it up to him after the rebound. And then he passes the head when the guy not looking when. Why you called for the ball?

[Ocho]

I don't know, man. Damn.

[Joe]

That. That's gonna hurt, Joe. This one gonna hurt.

[Ocho]

Hurt, hurt. They, they. They big hurting. Unc, you lose two at home, man. Listen, that's demoralizing, bro. I'm telling you from experience. I've been there. I promise you. It's hard to come back from that, bro. Now they gotta try to find a way to muster up. Obviously, you won't take it one game at a time, try and win game three, but you got to go on the. You got to go to New York, bro, thinking you can win two and a half.

[Guest Analyst]

Win game who.

[Ocho]

I'm just. I'm just saying, Ocho, it's a little different on the road, huh?

[Joe]

Teams in the NBA Finals history to lose game one and two at home. Spurs have lost game one and two in 2026. The Magic lost games one and two. They got swept. The Suns lost game one and two and they lost in six.

[Ocho]

Whoo.

[Joe]

I just. Like I said, I just think the thing is, although the. The young guy was really. And. And. And it's okay. I. I think sometimes we. We bestow so much on women, and he's going to be great. And he's already great, but I think he's going to be even greater. And sometimes I think he. I need to bring the ball up to show everybody. No, you don't let Harper. Let. Let one of those small guys bring the ball up. Me personally, I'm putting the ball in Fox hand. I've seen Fox make more clutch shots than I've seen anybody else on that team.

[Ocho]

And he had it going. Yeah, he did.

[Joe]

There's no way. There's no look. And that's not to take look. Wimby is. Wimby is going to be phenomenal. Wimby has made some big buckets. But tonight should have been about Fox because of the way he played game one and the way he had. Can't come. Had came back and redeemed himself.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah,

[Joe]

I, I just love the way. And he, hey, he, he probably, Honestly, honestly, Fox probably should have been 11 or 12. He missed some shots. I'm talking about Joe right there. I'm talking about right there at the basket. He never missed after he shook the guy and got there after my point blank. He probably should have been 11 or 12. He was 8 or 12. He probably should have been 11 or 12 because a few, the couple of the shots that he missed, he don't normally miss those.

[Ocho]

Right, right. I'm talking about Cat Quick. I've yet to see anybody from the Knicks stand in front of him. He just has to will his. He has to will himself to be able to be great, bro. And I know they down 02 and everybody's saying the series over, this, that and the third. Hey, bro. The spurs are talented enough to go to New York and win two games.

[Joe]

They are, Joe, but not Joe.

[Guest Analyst]

All right, Joe, that's cute.

[Joe]

You don't win on the road turning the ball over.

[Ocho]

You don't, you don't. You got to take care of the road.

[Joe]

And they're not, they're a young team and young teams make young mistakes, especially on the road. Joe, if that. I mean, we don't know what happens if they don't turn the ball over those last couple of possessions. We don't know what happens. But you don't even give yourself a chance. But, and the thing was, listen, you know, the coach used to tell us all the time, son, don't, don't, don't make a bad situation worse. Wimby, you turned the ball over. Why would you foul Brunson? You got him trapped on the baseline. You got him trapped. Joe, where is he going? Yeah, he done dribble to pick the dribble. He picked his dribble up. You got him trapped. Why would you nudge?

[Ocho]

You're absolutely right.

[Joe]

And you know, if you get really, really close, he gonna sell it. But you didn't even have.

[Ocho]

He gonna do that.

[Joe]

Do that.

[Ocho]

Wimby, you gonna do. They, he gonna. Hey, listen. And you and the spurs, look, it ain't like they getting their ass whoop, fellas, you know, they, I mean, they've had double digit leads in both games. I like to mix up what they do with Brunson on the pick and roll. Sometimes they play him straight up. Sometimes they trap him just to, just to put that indecision in his brain, you know? So when he do come off the pick and roll, he can hesitate a little bit. I think they're doing a great job at that. I just think they. They make too many mental mistakes. When they get up, it's like, yes, it's my turn. Yes, it's my turn. It's my turn to get a bucket. It's my turn to get a bucket. Versus just milking the clock and just keep getting great shots, bro. But as a young team, you, you, you. This is kind of what you'd have to deal with.

[Joe]

Joe. We. We had the conversation. I say, joe, they won the game. We said. I think we said this about two times. I said, joe, they won the game. But, man, they take far too many shots so early in the shot clock. I mean, the clock. Shot clock is 18, and they letting off a three. I'm like, but. And see people look at it. Hey, but they won the game. You never accept anything in a win. You wouldn't in a loss. Those quick shots, okay, tonight you lost with those turn up because, hey, man, they won the game. Be quiet. As athletes, you know what will cost you inevitably in a ball game? Ocho and Joe, Absolutely. Those mistakes like that. And you play a good team. You got your head in hand, you slamming it down on the helmet. You slam it against the wall. Walking in the locker room, man, we had them ends, man. They not that good.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe]

And you know what I'm saying on the other side. Yeah. Y' all thought y' all had us, ain't it? We not that good. We better than y' all today.

[Guest Analyst]

Hey, hey, Chat y' all now. Y'.

[Joe]

All.

[Guest Analyst]

Y' all heard what Joe said now? Hey, uncle, you heard Joe, huh? Before.

[Joe]

What'd y' all say?

[Guest Analyst]

What Joe just said. Oh, the spurs good enough. They go to New York and win two games.

[Joe]

They are

[Guest Analyst]

absolutely not. But I like Joe. See, Joe is what we gonna call. We gonna call him naive and delusional.

[Joe]

Huh?

[Guest Analyst]

You said the spurs were going to win the series. I told you what was going to happen. Now, you got a small sample size of before sweep two games, and we talk about some of the things that went wrong with the Spur.

[Joe]

But that's. That's.

[Guest Analyst]

That's a part of basketball. That's a part of basketball. You're gonna have errors, you're gonna have mistakes. When it matters most, what team comes out on top.

[Ocho]

Ojo dang. It ain't like they getting their ass.

[Guest Analyst]

We in the finals. Ain't nobody gonna get their ass whooped. There's a reason why they in the finals.

[Ocho]

What I'm saying is the spurs still have a fighting chance. That's all I'm saying. I know. I know. You look at it. Oh, the Knicks up, too? None. They didn't want to in San Antonio. You don't think they coming back to

[Joe]

San Antonio not read off to you?

[Guest Analyst]

In the history of the NBA down O2, how many of them come back from that, huh?

[Ocho]

Well, they. Hey, hey, I'm not. Listen, listen, listen. For them to come back and win the series, they're gonna have to do something special. But I still think they can. I think they can go to New York and win a game, or if not, give them a game because the

[Joe]

NBA got bills to pay, and so do. So do Nightcap. So they need to give us a couple of games, huh? Come on, give us a couple of games. Joe Ocho, what do you think about Rick Brunson coming down the court to confront de' Aaron Fox after he got in Jalen's face? Rick told Brunson, you ain't tough. Don't. Don't do that.

[Ocho]

Hey, I like it. You talking about Rick.

[Joe]

He came. Got down there in Fox space. Cause, you know, he. He was in his son Jalen face.

[Ocho]

Hey, man, I'm sorry, but. But when I'm watching the Knicks and I see. I see Rick Brunson and Jalen Brunson huddled up and they talking, discussing the game plan. He telling Brunson. He's telling Jalen what he should. What he should be doing. Man, I just think it's such a great moment, bro. And as a father, those instincts naturally kick in. You see your son down there getting into a little confrontation. Hell, I'm taking my ass down there.

[Joe]

Hey, you know, that's. Bro, I understand he'll coach, but I'm a dad before I was a dad, but way before I was a damn coach. And that's my son. That's.

[Ocho]

That's still his baby boy.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Ocho]

At the end of the day.

[Joe]

Hey, don't do that. Hey, don't do that.

[Ocho]

Yeah, yeah. You need to slow that down.

[Guest Analyst]

Okay.

[Joe]

Hey, I get Fox. Hey, Fox like, hey, I'm gonna meet intensity with intensity. It's that type of game. I'm not. Hey, we not shying away from this. You. We're not gonna let you get comfortable tonight, Jalen.

[Ocho]

Hello.

[Joe]

You're not gonna get comfortable.

[Ocho]

Hello. And Fox turned it up after that, too. Okay, but you know what I like,

[Joe]

because a lot of times, guys, teams don't want to do this. Their best player on the defensive series. What you call. Wasn't in the game, was it? Jalen Brunson we had a very similar situation with the Lakers that one of their worst defenders was in the game. Who was that? Austin Reeves. When you should have had Vando in the game, you had Austin Reeves in the game, and the guy got the bucket on Reeves. Yeah, I like that. I understand Jalen Brunson, but Jalen Brunson is not one of your better defenders. I want my five best defenders on, on the court.

[Ocho]

Absolutely.

[Joe]

It's the same reason. Oh, they put, they put Randy Moss back there on a Hail Mary Mary.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Joe]

They put Gronk. I don't know, but they put Gronk. And Gronk got broke up. You remember the, the Miami. What they call it? The Miami Miracle.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe]

With the guy they, they called it. And they laterally killed Drake. Yeah. But no, it was, it was a situation that. I understand. I understand you as much as you try, but. Because I'm sure there's a lot of times he's thinking his court like, man, I got. Let me stay my ass on this bench. I know that's my boy, and I. Oh, I want to do something bad to you, boy, but, hey, this is the NBA, and I, I, I'm. I'm trying. I don't, I don't. I don't know if he. I don't think he really wants a head coaching job. He kind of likes the situation. I'm sure he would take one. But, you know, being able to coach with your son and go to work with your son every day.

[Ocho]

None. None better than that.

[Joe]

To go with you. Go to. You go to work with your son every day.

[Guest Analyst]

Ooh, that's dope.

[Joe]

And come pick me up. I ain't driving.

[Ocho]

Listen, listen, listen. Rick Brunson made it to the finals with the Knicks. Obviously, he didn't get much clock, but. But to be back in this position coaching his son.

[Joe]

On the Knicks.

[Ocho]

On the Knicks.

[Joe]

Come on, bro.

[Ocho]

Man, what we talking about?

[Guest Analyst]

That's a movie script in itself for it to happen in real life. That's dope. That's dope.

[Ocho]

Damn.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

Do you know the symptoms of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, or osa, in adults with obesity? They may be happening to you without you knowing. If anyone has ever said you snore loudly, or if you spend your days fighting off excessive tiredness, irritability, and concentration issues, it may be due to osa. OSA is a serious condition where your airway partially or completely collapses during sleep, which may cause breathing interruptions and oxygen deprivation. Learn more at don'tsleep onosa.com this information is provided by Lilly, a medicine company.

[OnPlus Nicotine Advertiser]

OnPlus nicotine pouches present comfort chronicles at 10 o' clock tea time. How comfortable you show up in stretchy shorts, breathable tee and maybe no socks. Let the dogs breathe while other sweat and pleated khakis you're in your coat comfort zone bombing drives and in your pocket. On nicotine pouches the softest pouch on the planet. Buy a can at on nicotine.com Products for tobacco consumers 21 years of age or older Warning. This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

[NBC News Announcer]

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[Joe]

Honestly.

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[Joe]

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[Joe]

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[Guest Analyst]

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[Guest Analyst]

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