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- [00:00]
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Task Melts
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- [02:47]
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- [03:09]
J. Skeets
Good morning, sweet world, and welcome to the no Dunks podcast presented by FanDuel. It's Wednesday, June 10, 2026. I'm J. Skeets here in the classic factory and alongside me, as always, task melts podcast listeners.
- [03:23]
Task Melts
This is for you.
- [03:24]
J. Skeets
Next to him, it's my top shot, hot boy Trey Kirby Ayo. And over yonder, making the magic happen, super producer JD Hello. There he is. Here we are. Hello to everybody on YouTube. Hello podcast listeners. Everybody play your part. Hit the like button. Subscribe 5 star ratings and reviews Share the show we do appreciate it. On today's pod, we're previewing Game four of the NBA Finals tonight. I see some people calling it a pivotal Game four.
- [03:52]
Trey Kirby
I was wondering what word to use.
- [03:54]
J. Skeets
It's big. Crucial.
- [03:57]
Trey Kirby
I love the word crucial.
- [03:58]
J. Skeets
I like that one.
- [03:59]
Task Melts
Yeah.
- [03:59]
Trey Kirby
Critical.
- [04:00]
J. Skeets
Sure.
- [04:01]
Commercial Announcer
I like that.
- [04:01]
J. Skeets
I like that. Because we like pivotal for Game five. Crucial. Critical. That's good for Game four. It's huge. It's huge.
- [04:07]
Trey Kirby
Huge.
- [04:08]
Task Melts
Just important.
- [04:10]
J. Skeets
Just important.
- [04:11]
Trey Kirby
It's an important game for.
- [04:12]
J. Skeets
Very important. And we're gonna break that down. But yesterday we got some news. The NBA said there will be no addition sanctions against Victor Wembanyama for his first quarter. Shove smush push to Jalen Brunson in Game three. If it had been upgraded to a flagrant foul, it could have had significant ramifications on the rest of the series. Because when a player accumulates four flagrant foul points in a single postseason, he's automatically suspended for one game. Wemby currently at two flagrant foul points for the elbow he chucked at Nas Reed. So, you know, had they upgraded this, let's say, to a flagger one, then he's at three. And then it's like, ooh, you know, one more thing happens. One aggressive closeout and he gets ding for another one. Maybe he misses a game. But the NBA says, relax, relax, everybody. He's not getting a flagrant foul for this. Now, I did see Monty McCutcheon and his bow tie say, yeah, should have been a foul. Yes, like the officials missed. That should have been called a foul on Wemby, but not a flagrant ass.
- [05:15]
Task Melts
Aren't you guys happy that it wasn't upgraded? In general?
- [05:20]
J. Skeets
Yes. I don't think that was deserving of a flagrant foul. Foul, sure.
- [05:24]
Task Melts
Especially what it wasn't called in the moment. Especially when there's two wrestling matches going on at the exact same time. Pope Leo, AKA Spike Lee, jumped from the sideline to say, hey, do you see Kelden and Johnson and Cat bumping and grinding over there? Cat should be getting a foul while Victor Wembanyama smushed Jalen Brunson's head. And I know we talked yesterday about advocating for Victor Weyama defending himself to some degree, because I missed initially the tug from Jalen Brunson on Victor Wembanyama, the thing that made him mad enough to shove his head. And so we like that. And if you go through the definition, I don't know what Monty McCutcheon went into as far as the flagrant goes, but the severity of the contact, whether or not the offending player was making a legitimate play on the ball, the nature of the follow through, the potential for injury, does it meet all that? Yeah, kinda. Kinda. But at the same time, I don't. I wouldn't advocate for that. So I'm kind of happy where we are. Although I am concerned about going into game four and whether it's critical or pivotal or important and how much this contact is an issue going into tonight. Because you could start looking at everything in game three that happened and say, whoa, did you see the thing underneath the bucket where Lou Cornett and Josh Hart got into it and everybody came off the bench for the Knicks? Jose Alvarado was coming off the bench right in Luke Cornett's face. Shouldn't he be? Yeah, I'm just glad we stopped here. But we'll see what, what happens in the first quarter of game four. I think that that could be actionable. There could be a lot of stuff happening there.
- [06:54]
Trey Kirby
You think somebody's gonna be flagrant hunting beginning of game four?
- [06:57]
Task Melts
It's.
- [06:57]
Trey Kirby
That's quite possible. This is probably a flagrant. If it's not the NBA Finals, I think, you know, I think maybe Victor's getting away with a little bit of push, not punch. Like he doesn't throw a punch for sure. And he's not technically on Brunson's head. Like he's on the back of his shoulders. He's on the. The jersey patch. The finals it is. But we want physicality in the playoffs.
- [07:18]
Task Melts
Right.
- [07:19]
Trey Kirby
If this is a flagrant in the finals, you could call a flagrant on a lot of plays in the Finals because this is happening a lot. And also, look, they're just not going to punish Victor Wembanyama. It's just not going to happen. Fine for skipping his press conference. Didn't get an upgrade on the Nas Reed thing. Not getting an upgrade here. They ain't taking him out of the finals in his first finals. It's just not going to happen.
- [07:41]
Task Melts
No, I would say it had to be called in the moment. Like nothing was called in the moment. Do you want to upgrade it later? If. If there was. It wasn't a flagrant. I think everything that you just mentioned, like, yeah, he didn't get fined for going his postgame. Others have not been fined for going for not going to a post game. I think the upgrade part is just the, the harsh part.
- [08:01]
J. Skeets
Well, look, if you are upset with Wemby or maybe you're a Knicks fan, whatever it is, like you're. There's people going. All these other incidences that Wemby has come right up to the line, maybe cross and not been penalized for. You go back to game six of the Western Conference finals. There is that play where he appears to grab Lou Dort's hair while they're running back up the court. Okay, Nothing there. Game 2 of the Finals here. There's a weird box out situation with Alvarado, obviously, much smaller guy trying to box him out and Wemby sort of frustrated with that and sort of not by the neck, but, you know, chucks them and they're jostling and all that. There are these plays, the physicality, which I do love to see from both sides, where maybe some people are like, whoa, whoa, hold on. If that's anybody else. Like you're saying TK that he's maybe getting a flagrant or more of a foul called or something like that. Why is. Why is there these, like, these recurring instances where he seems to be getting away with it? That's what people are saying. And this would just be added to the list.
- [09:00]
Task Melts
I wish it was called.
- [09:01]
J. Skeets
I do not want him to be suspended by any means. Or like a flagrant foul, like for this. This is not a put, there's not a punch.
- [09:08]
Task Melts
He should have been called for a foul guy.
- [09:10]
J. Skeets
He should have been stumbled and fell over.
- [09:12]
Task Melts
The problem that we're watching here, watching the NBA Finals is sometimes it gets too physical. And that's all it is. I mean, the physicality is fun, but sometimes it's just, oh, gosh, tug of war over here, tug of war over there. And a lot of these times, like the Lou Dort one you brought up, it's initiated by Lou Dort. This one was initially initiated by Jalen Brunson. But Wemby should be called for something just so we're not over the line where we're just. That's all we're watching.
- [09:34]
J. Skeets
I think you bring up a good point. What happens tonight here in Game 4 when the Knicks inevitably clinch and grab and try and frustrate him and push him and what he does and doesn't do, how quickly is it whistle right away to like, we're not doing this tonight?
- [09:48]
Task Melts
Yeah, hopefully we'll see what the. We will get some of that. Yeah, we will.
- [09:51]
J. Skeets
All right, let's get into the actual game four here. What was your biggest takeaway from the Spurs? Game three victory. Before we get into adjustments, TK K
- [09:58]
Trey Kirby
A T is the K E Y Cat's the key. He is the key for the New York Knicks and the spurs figured it out in game three and took him out of the game. Only 45 touches for Towns in game three. That was the fourth most on the Knicks fewest touches he's had in a game during these finals. He's usually been second in touches. I think there was in game two. Bridges maybe beat him out by a couple. But you know, it has been cat as the number two offensive guy. You know, Brunson just dribbles the ball all the time, but he's become a complete afterthought, especially in fourth quarter quarters and especially in game three. Scoreless on six total shots in fourth quarter so far is Towns. He has one assist. When it comes down to winning time, they just don't even look to Carl Anthony Towns. So we need to see more aggression from this guy tonight. They need to get him some quality touches. We haven't seen any of the offense that we saw during the entirety of the Eastern Conference playoffs from the Knicks that's gone right now. The whirling cuts and two man game from Towns and from Brunson. Things have become way too stagnant for the Knicks. They're becoming too much of a one on one team and they're just thinking too much when they catch the ball. Obviously a lot of this is because of the way the spurs are defending them. Having Wemby Rome off of Josh Hart and be available as a help defender, whether on a cut or if it were going to be Towns trying To attack the inside just was not happening. It's become too easy for the spurs to defend, especially in game three. So that's the key to me, is how well does Karl Anthony Towns play? And can the Knicks find a way to. To activate this guy the way they did in the previous 13 games?
- [11:32]
Task Melts
Yeah, they know that they've got to move it more. And Mike Brown said it after game three, we got to get Cat more involved. And it's not just the fourth quarter, just more involved, period. The assists went down, the passes went down. It's clear that has to be high on the priority list.
- [11:45]
J. Skeets
Outside of that, like, great second quarter where they were obviously humming Game three, the Knicks offense did feel a lot more like the offense we saw from the Knicks in games two and three versus the Hawks way back in the first round of the series, where it was way more unpredictable over dribbling Brunson possessions. And until they unlocked Cat in that series and everything started clicking, that's what it was similar to now. Yeah. Huge credit, of course, to the spurs defense. Like that switch up of Castle playing Cat a lot more obviously. Kelton Johnson coming in and bodying him up. Yeah, it seemed to, like, take Cat out of this game a little bit and to almost like, spear the Knicks into the direction of, like, Captain Clutch. Just go nuts, man. You take us home. But that's not when the Knicks are at their best. So, yeah, that is a. That's a huge takeaway from game three, and we'll see if the Knicks can get out of that funk in game four or if the spurs keep them there and keep them like they did against the Thunder and sga. You brought this up, TK of like, we're just taking away everybody else. We don't believe Shay can do it by himself, especially when they were short a couple of guys and creators. We're trying to do that with the Knicks to see if Jalen Brunson can beat it by himself. Take away everybody else for sure. Any other takeaways from game three?
- [12:53]
Task Melts
I think the Knicks defense just looks so much more different because they were so worried about Wemby. And it wasn't even so much when Wemby was at the rim, but when he was involved in picks or just up there up top. They had two bodies go to him right off the top in the first quarter, and they allowed open three point shots, every single one to start. Stefan Castle left open because Cat faded to Wemby. Julian Champagne got an open three because Brunson faded to Wemby. Denver Sell had two open threes. They were slow to get out to him because the defense was just bad in general. I mean, they just didn't know what they were doing defensively. Again, in general. Like when they had a made basket and Wemby was literally unguarded at the three point line and they said, oh, cat's not here, OG comes on over and then that's when Wemby gets to the rim. So maybe they've got this first game at home out of their system where they just have to be out on perimeter players in general. But we saw Spawn Castle turned it up. All the guards, everybody on the perimeter allowed to get open shots to start this game. And that hurt.
- [13:51]
J. Skeets
And especially when you pair it with. They're giving up open looks from three. But also Wemby's just alley ooping and dunking and laying it in. In the first five minutes of this game, like it's gotta be one of the other. Like if you're shading and helping and trying to take away Wemby, okay, then there's gonna be three point shots. But like, yeah, the spurs were getting the best of both worlds good looks and Wemby was dominating inside. So obviously you're gonna have to try and take away one or the other. Do you have a justice?
- [14:15]
Trey Kirby
I think that's tough though, because the way the spurs were attacking the Knicks was putting Brunson and Town to every single pick and roll. They were having Brunson's man and Wemby go up and set the screen and that leads Brunson either like trying to switch onto Wemby, that's not going to work. Or try and communicate the tag. That's not going to work. Towns is trying to step out to the perimeter defender. That's not going to work. Like, you need to put both of those guys into these pick and rolls if you're the Spurs. And the Knicks are going to have to find out a way to defend with their two worst defenders guarding the most important play because that's why they were getting so many open threes. It was like scramble mode to take away Wemby after he got so many dunks. So then he's getting easy kickouts for threes as well. The spurs didn't shoot it all that well. They could shoot better for sure. So I'm not really sure what the adjustment is for the Knicks to be able to do this other than be on point with your rotations. The communication was just a little bit off. They just looked a little bit Slow in game three. And this was the most that the Knicks have been attacked with Brunson and Towns as like the main defenders there. And that's who you should be going against if you're the offensive team.
- [15:18]
J. Skeets
And then the Knicks not doing themselves any favors on the other end, throwing the ball away a couple of times, leading to some easy or bucket buckets for the San Antonio spurs as they got some offense.
- [15:26]
Task Melts
Just a bad game overall. Maybe it's just that first game at home, little, little thing they got to get over because there's just a lot of things. All you have to do is tag on the perimeter way more. I mean just be in front of somebody way more and not throw the ball out of bounds like you said. Like there is just maybe it was the lights the first quarter because they got better as the game went along.
- [15:48]
J. Skeets
I would think they, they would say, you know, the, the whistle they were getting with their physicality also put them at a disadvantage for these early fouls in and the physicality off the ball and tagging and fighting through screens and stuff like that. I think they were like Mike Brown talking about the frustration of that as well, of how they were not being allowed in their minds to sort of try and guard this and take this away. So again, it's going to, you know, it's an important part of how this game's going to be officiated in game four. We don't want to talk about the officiating, but it's true. It's a huge element to way these two teams play.
- [16:18]
Task Melts
Yeah, but the open shots in this to start this game, that had nothing to do with the tags. I mean literally those you could go down every single three point shot in the opening quarter. That, that wasn't physicality, that was just get out up on him. And they were just concerned. They knew that the spurs were going through Wemby and that every ball was going to go through him. So they went to go run after him. Whether it was, you know, at the rim or even on the perimeter where they just, they just sagged way too much. They just weren't ready like they were in games one and games two.
- [16:45]
J. Skeets
Before I ask you this next question about adjustments, I do want to say Nixon spurs have played three very close games here, like thrilling games back and forth games that all became one possession contests at some point in like the final minutes of these games, the aggregate score. I saw TK break this down in substack article this morning. Knicks 321, Spurs 314. So a seven point difference again across three games. So I say that because at this point it's like these are very close games. What, like adjustments? Yeah, in the margins, sure. But like both teams feel like, hey, we've done enough here to win these games. We could be up 3, 0. Both squads probably pick that. But do you have something specific, tk an adjustment from either side that maybe a coach would implement or a switch up or a rotation or whatever?
- [17:28]
Trey Kirby
A couple of non adjustments I think are big. San Antonio needs to keep Wemby off Towns. Having him roam off of Josh Hart and sometimes Mikhail Bridges is good for the Spurs. It just makes the defense a lot easier. It keeps the Knicks into a one on one game and it helps conserve Wemby's offense or his energy for offense. So keep Wemby as the Roamer. That's easy. Keep screening for Victor Wembanyama, have him set these screens and roll to the hoop as well. The way that they moved the players around on the perimeter is the reason why they got so many of these open threes. There's like one man to try and tag and you got Vassal hanging out in the corner. You got Champagne hanging out in the corner and there's just the one guy. So that was pretty smart from Mitch Johnson as well. If I'm saying things I want to change, it's more so on the Knicks side. I think Mikhail Bridges needs to bring the ball up quite a bit in this game. Brunson wore down throughout game three. I think he's wearing down through the series in general because they're making him defend a lot more. The spurs are picking up the ball full court, making him work to even get into the offense for New York. So I think Bridges needs to kind of initiate the offense. It's a good way to get him involved. The Knicks look their best when Bridges is doing something out there. He was taken out of the game in game three, partly cause of fouls and partly he was just drifting. For the most part, it saves Brunson for the fourth quarter. So have Bridges bring the ball up, pass it to Carl Anthony Towns out on the elbow, extended run. Those two man actions we saw, even if they get blown up a few times, at least it's not Brunson just having to do everything and it just gets everybody involved. The Knicks are a lot harder to defend when everybody feels like a threat.
- [18:58]
Task Melts
Absolutely. Yeah. They got to move the ball. Whether Cat has a little guy on him, he has to touch the ball. I think it's as simple as that. Mikhail Bridges bring it up in a non fourth quarter minutes. Definitely a good way of going around that or getting around. Jalen Brunson having to bring it up every single time. A worry about Mikhail Bridges bringing it up in fourth quarter minutes like he did when he gave it away in game two in that late game possession. But even though, again, Cat has a little guy on him, you got to move it. New York assisted on 45% of their made baskets in game three, compared to nearly 65% in games one and games two. And there's a reason for that. They stopped moving it. That throw that threw them off to have, whether it was Stefan Castle or Kelvin Johnson on Cat, they got to do that and they can't pass the ball out of bounds.
- [19:45]
Trey Kirby
Yeah, no turnovers.
- [19:46]
Task Melts
Those are some weird ones.
- [19:47]
Trey Kirby
Cat was killing small guys, though, in game one and two. Yeah, like post ups, offensive rebounds. Anytime they had the mismatch, he was inside. That was not the case at all in game three.
- [19:59]
J. Skeets
And like you said, it's like, you know, after game three in a very quiet Cat game and they lose. It's a close game, but they lose. Like there wasn't a lot of like, what are you doing, Cat? You're blowing everything. This is all on you. It's like, no, he deserves a pass here for sure, with how incredible he's played, obviously through the first two games and, and through the entire postseason. But, you know, you can't have another one of those, I'd say a stinker or a quiet game where you have no sort of impact on it. Then I think those, you know, those cat calls, pun intended, I guess, would get a little louder on. Come on, Cat. Come on, Carl. Like, let's go here. So we'll see. I would expect them to really try and set a tone with him. All the things Mike Brown was saying after that game, it's like, yeah, he's important. We need to get him involved. We might have to force that at times. He has to do it, but we got to get it to him as well. So we'll see.
- [20:46]
Trey Kirby
Another thing I think is the Knicks should play small more often. They had success at the end of the second quarter in Game three, and Mitchell Robinson just isn't doing much in this series. You can say he got the two stops on Wemby if you want, at the end of game too. He was there challenging the jumpers. Wemby just missed, if you're asking me. But he's been pretty bad, I think. And Wemby's eyes light up when he sees Robinson guarding him. It sticks out when Mitchell stops Wemby for sure when he stands him up. Victor can't get into spin moves or anything like that, but I think he's a minus 27 so far on the series. He's a foul magnet. As soon as he comes in, it's like, how worried are the Knicks that he's going to go to the line immediately? I think that's a concern. So I I was impressed with the way OG played against Wemby. You're going to give up some alley oops for sure if you play small ball against the 7 foot 5 guy, but they looked quick and putting that much shooting out there really stresses out Wemby and the spurs defensively.
- [21:41]
Task Melts
Yeah, small ball encourages the passes, that's for sure. In Game two to end it, end the second quarter, Game three to end the second quarter, just more of more of it. Just the sprays come out that that everyone is calling those multiple passes for the Knicks when small ball is out there.
- [21:57]
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- [22:30]
Trey Kirby
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J. Skeets
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Trey Kirby
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J. Skeets
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J. Skeets
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J. Skeets
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J. Skeets
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J. Skeets
Again?
- [24:26]
Trey Kirby
Really?
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- [24:30]
J. Skeets
Do you have a favorite stat from the NBA Finals so far? Start with you?
- [24:34]
Task Melts
I like when the eye test matches the numbers. And that happened with the passes per game, which is a real raw number. But it's happened throughout the Knicks playoffs. So you go all the way back to when they struggled against the Atlanta Hawks to start this thing. They had 257 passes per game in games one through three. Then with Carl up top in games four through six, it jumped up to 285 in the second round, they had 283 per game. In the conference finals, they had 290 per game in games one. In games two against the spurs when they're passing it 295 and 301. And it dropped to 270 in games three. And sometimes those numbers are just numbers, but that was clear when watching these games. The assist went down, the passes went down.
- [25:17]
J. Skeets
You're just going to be sitting there tonight tracking.
- [25:19]
Task Melts
Tracking a pass. I know. It's such a stupid thing. Like a pass is literally an inbound. Yeah, yeah. Sometimes it's.
- [25:27]
Trey Kirby
You can use the past stats easily.
- [25:28]
Task Melts
You can just three man weave up
- [25:30]
Trey Kirby
the court every single time. Well, 500 passes in a game.
- [25:33]
J. Skeets
No, but there are possessions. Like the point of like. Like nobody is passing it. It's. It is just dribble, dribble, dribble up top. Or maybe there's one to obviously get it up the floor. But yeah, there's gotta be. There's gotta be more movement is what you're saying. Obviously.
- [25:46]
Task Melts
Yeah, yeah, it's. It's it's really raw dogging it when it comes to these numbers. But then when you watch it on the floor, it matches. The assist numbers also matched. They do have to get involved. Every single player on that roster. That's what NBA basketball is now. And that's what the Knicks at their optimal version of themselves is. So they gotta move it.
- [26:06]
J. Skeets
What about you favorite stat?
- [26:07]
Trey Kirby
Oh, I got. I got a lot of Jalen Brunson. 82 points on 81 shots. 13 turnovers, the 13 assists. Yeah, that just shows how well the spurs are playing him. And even though Brunson has been, you know, he's the leader for Finals MVP according to the fanduel odds, he has not really put his stamp on this series outside of being the man at the end of game one, I would say. But spurs are just defending him really well. And that's a big credit to guys like Castle and Harper, Vassell and Champagne to a lesser extent. But they're really making this guy work, I think. Towns 0 4th quarter points is a super interesting stat.
- [26:42]
Task Melts
That's an interesting stat.
- [26:43]
Trey Kirby
He's taking six shots.
- [26:45]
J. Skeets
Fourth quarter wild. That is wild.
- [26:47]
Trey Kirby
Passing the ball. Played three games now one assist. Like he's just. He's just out there. He's out there to defend Wemby in the fourth quarters. And he's doing a good job though, actually. Is he? I don't know. I guess Wemby's probably the second leading scorer in fourth quarters would be my imagination. He's been pretty sweet in the fourth quarters, but he needs to get involved. How about Wemby? 39 minutes per game. He played 39 or more minutes twice in the regular season. That's awesome.
- [27:11]
J. Skeets
And just off of that, I heard the hoop collective say this is a good point. This gap here between game three and four was the only one real day off from here on out. So it's two days between every game, you know, so that's. I don't know who that favors more, but if Wemby is not used to this heavy load in these heavy minutes, I would lean towards. That's probably good for him with the. The longer. The elongated break in between games as we move forward here in five, six, seven.
- [27:37]
Task Melts
It's like the NHL final schedule. There you go, spreading it out, spreading it out.
- [27:40]
Trey Kirby
What else game last night?
- [27:41]
Task Melts
Yeah, it's going good.
- [27:43]
J. Skeets
They're saying. They're saying the greatest Stanley Cup Final ever.
- [27:46]
Trey Kirby
Every game's super exciting.
- [27:48]
J. Skeets
That's what the streets are saying, man.
- [27:50]
Task Melts
It's been rocking.
- [27:50]
J. Skeets
Yeah, you got any other.
- [27:52]
Trey Kirby
Yeah, my other one was Dylan Harper, 30.7 minutes per game in the finals. He played over 31 time in the regular season.
- [27:58]
J. Skeets
Wow.
- [28:00]
Trey Kirby
We're down to the last couple of games here and both coaches are like, we're playing our best guys as many minutes as possible. That's awesome.
- [28:05]
J. Skeets
I've got one more here. It's just a fun one. I got a little trivia question off of it, too. Wemby registered three blocks in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. That brings his total blocks this postseason to 70. Which passes Dikembe Mutombo. The late, great Dikembe Mutombo, who had 69 blocks during the 94 playoffs for the most in a postseason debut since blocks were starting to be tracked in 1974. So first time in the postseason Wemby's got that record 70. But can you guys name the four hall of Fame players to have 70 plus blocks or more in a single postseason? Obviously not their first postseason because Wendy's got that record. Yeah, yeah. Have a go at it. I think it's. I think you'll get there.
- [28:49]
Task Melts
So it's. They're all modern because they have. This is when they track 74. Yeah, yeah.
- [28:54]
J. Skeets
Modern in that sense. There's no Wilts eliminating all of them. Yeah, yeah.
- [28:59]
Task Melts
I mean, did Tim Duncan get that high?
- [29:01]
J. Skeets
Yes, he did. 79 blocks in the 0203 playoffs. 24 games. Yeah. I mean, that's. That's a lot. That's second second most ever in a postseason. Hakeem, number one with a bullet. 92 blocks in 93. 94 for the dream.
- [29:18]
Trey Kirby
Wow.
- [29:19]
Task Melts
Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
- [29:20]
J. Skeets
It's incredible. Two more names hall of Fame centers.
- [29:24]
Trey Kirby
I said David Robinson.
- [29:26]
J. Skeets
No, Patrick Ewing. Patrick Ewing is correct. Also 93. 94. When they were taking on the Rockets there. That was a seven game series too. Right. In the finals. And then one more. Don't overthink it because I already said his name when asking the question.
- [29:42]
Trey Kirby
Shaquille O'. Neal.
- [29:43]
J. Skeets
No.
- [29:43]
Task Melts
Oh, Dikembe.
- [29:44]
J. Skeets
Dikembe Mutombo. 4. When did he do it? Oh, one. That's correct, guys. 2001 postseason with 72 blocks. So you know what? There could be. I don't think he's catching. Akeem Olajuwon.
- [29:58]
Task Melts
Do.
- [29:59]
J. Skeets
Wemby's been known to have like a 10 or 11 block game in him.
- [30:01]
Trey Kirby
Yeah.
- [30:02]
J. Skeets
Probably not catching. Catching Akeem, because he needs 22 more blocks to tie him over four games at most. Yeah. But the other. I think everybody else is within striking distance, so maybe wembia gets to 80 blocks or something like that.
- [30:17]
Trey Kirby
92.
- [30:18]
Task Melts
Okay, that's a lot in 94.
- [30:21]
J. Skeets
That's right.
- [30:22]
Task Melts
That's right. That's how I remember.
- [30:24]
J. Skeets
Always remember, you'll never forget it.
- [30:26]
Trey Kirby
And he was the two time defensive player of the year at that point. So what were people thinking? Did we just not figure out you can't attack the shop locker. What's going on there?
- [30:35]
J. Skeets
That good man. A lot more inside shots back in the, in the day. Yeah. True. Game 4 predictions, tasks, who you got tonight, Who's a unsung hero, who's the, you know, whatever. Let's call your shot.
- [30:48]
Task Melts
Listen, I'll take the Knicks again. I think they will make up for what happened in game three.
- [30:53]
J. Skeets
Okay.
- [30:53]
Task Melts
Everybody can show up as a fan whenever you want. The place will be rocking from the get go and they will have get gotten game three out of their system. But I could be wrong. I could be very wrong with. I, I think I've been wrong every game. It's hard to predict.
- [31:11]
J. Skeets
Okay, but you did predict the next thing back here.
- [31:15]
Task Melts
Yeah, yeah.
- [31:15]
J. Skeets
Okay.
- [31:16]
Trey Kirby
Which team's under the most pressure tonight?
- [31:18]
J. Skeets
Knicks.
- [31:21]
Trey Kirby
For the Knicks. I mean it must win for the Spurs I would say as well.
- [31:25]
J. Skeets
Yeah, yeah. But I don't know, like just the Knicks fans were feeling pretty good after taking two games on the road. And then you're probably thinking we just gotta win one of these in Madison Square Garden and then we just gotta win one of the next three, we're fine. But you know, if this is a best of three suddenly with home court advantage, even though it means nothing right now, back to San Antonio. Yeah, I think the Knicks are probably feeling it a little bit more oddly. But you're right, you can't go down 3:1. But a part of that, part of that though is we all feel like the Knicks have to win this championship this season or like good luck moving forward with Wemby and the spurs with still SG and the Thunder and who, who knows what other teams on the come up. It's like this sort of feels like it's got to be the Knicks title to me. But that's why the pressure is maybe more.
- [32:12]
Task Melts
And after the post game interviews I always try and speculate what does this guy feel and because that's something that we can't feel here as, as, as fans. If K A T is a K E Y And he is asked about the fourth quarter and how you don't shoot the ball and he said, hey, I'm playing in the system Playing to win and that's what we're doing. Does that get to him a little bit? I mean, just that. Just the pressure of everything. Is that more of a Knicks thing? Is it at all, the spurs thing where Victor is going out and drawn things in parks like is. Is. Is everybody comfortable? Is everybody confident?
- [32:49]
J. Skeets
I don't know.
- [32:50]
Task Melts
I don't know if the pressure is going to get to New York. I'm not. Is it. Is the. The pressure from game three to game four here where it's. Everything's on them. This is a must win. It sure feels like.
- [33:00]
Trey Kirby
Yeah. I thought the Knicks were feeling the pressure more in game three. I thought the spurs did a great job of coming out, getting off to a hot start and take the crowd out of it for the most part. Like it could have been. You heard the guys on the broadcast as the Knicks were running onto the court. They were amazed at how loud Madison Square Garden was. But then it was a quick start for San Antonio and it was just normal basketball from that point on. It wasn't a crazy environment. It didn't totally feel like. Not like, not more so than they saw against the Thunder in game seven, that kind of thing. So I thought the spurs were ready for that. I do think game four will be a more normal game. Right. Like no Trump areno in town. You're probably getting some more affordable tickets. So you're getting some real Knicks fans there. It's not just going to be all celebrities sitting in on their phones. It's going to be people that are into the game. It's going to feel more like a Knicks game. It's not the first game in 27 years in the finals. Like this is more normal for the Knicks going into game four. So they should be able to play pretty free, I would think. I think a team hits 20 or more threes, I think this is our first blow up. Wow.
- [34:03]
J. Skeets
I know. I hope not. I hope you're wrong on that.
- [34:05]
Task Melts
But for the next, I ain't making
- [34:07]
Trey Kirby
a pick on that way. Just somebody splashes blowout tonight.
- [34:11]
J. Skeets
Yeah, well, like we brought up like the start for the spurs in the third quarter and yeah, I do think the Knicks were like because of whatever the energy in the building, it was too much. I don't know. They were over amped as we talked about just throwing it away, especially in the first couple of possessions. But that has been a trend in this final so far. The spurs have won every quarter, first quarter in every game. They're up at the end of the first Quarter. I mean, Wemby. Wemby generally in the first couple minutes comes out pretty aggressive. And they go to him right away. Why wouldn't you? And see if he's got it that night or how he's getting his shots and all that. But, yeah, I'd like, you know, that's something to watch. Can the Knicks finally win a first quarter here and not having to come back, as they usually are, down 8, 9, 10, whatever it is, at the end of the first quarter? No, they have every single game. They always do. But maybe that's flipped on its head tonight here in game four. Or maybe that trend continues.
- [34:55]
Trey Kirby
Knicks should start Landry Shamet for Josh Hart.
- [34:58]
J. Skeets
I wouldn't. I mean, you just won 13 straight games and Shamit was on fire for literally two months. And like Josh Hart, Hart was good in game three, too. And, you know, at least in the first half, I know I wouldn't do that. I get the thinking maybe this idea of just a bunch of shooters and that's the best way to beat Wemby in the spurs defense, just have everybody as a threat out there. But I'd prefer, like, Hart will take them. And as he, as you showed in game three, can hit them. And also this goes back to Cat being able to take some more or hit some more Bridges just being involved. OG's played his part, no problem. So I don't think I'm overreacting.
- [35:32]
Task Melts
No.
- [35:32]
J. Skeets
In game four here to a starting a Shame it.
- [35:35]
Task Melts
And the spurs definitely like going at Landry Shammon. As much as he's been good on the one end, they are taking advantage of him at times on the other end. So that'd be a tough way to.
- [35:43]
J. Skeets
I mean, shame it was in early in game three because of the Bridges foul trouble. He had to be pulled super early.
- [35:48]
Task Melts
Yeah. And Brunson had gotten some foul trouble, too, in game three and was on the bench. Maybe that back stiffened a little bit. Maybe it'll benefit him to not sit and not get in foul trouble.
- [35:59]
J. Skeets
Well, I hope your prediction is wrong, tk that this is like, are we due for a blowout here in the finals? At least in one of these games? I want to continue with this trend of, like, clutch minutes, huge shots, every play magnified down the stretch. It's been very entertaining. All right, let's hear from you guys out there. Who takes game four? Who's the unsung hero? Is this the Deuce McBride game? You know, is there, like, a weird guy? He's. He's been. Yeah, he's sort of been bad, isn't he? He's like 2 for 14, I want to say, in the. The finals.
- [36:26]
Trey Kirby
And one of his makes was a. Yeah, one should have been a miss, basically.
- [36:29]
J. Skeets
One for 15 or one for 14.
- [36:32]
Trey Kirby
But it makes you think, like, we're due for like a random great game from somebody that you're not expecting.
- [36:37]
Task Melts
Yeah.
- [36:37]
Trey Kirby
You know, Kelton Johnson goes for 25, I think would be surprising as well. Deuce catching fire.
- [36:42]
J. Skeets
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I keep. I keep waiting. At some point, I'm just convinced there is a monster, monster Brunson game too. Like where he has struggled, obviously from the field. 37%, 32 from deep. All the turnovers. I mean, I, you know, I just. I think it's in him still. Not. Maybe, maybe not because the fatigue and the great defense. But I. I got. I think he's still affordable.
- [37:02]
Trey Kirby
I keep forgetting he got hurt immediately to start this series.
- [37:06]
Task Melts
Yeah. Seems like a while ago to the thing.
- [37:08]
Trey Kirby
Put a knee brace on. He said, I don't want that. Then he got hurt again. And then he played two more games after that. I keep forgetting. Yeah, he was banged up.
- [37:14]
Task Melts
Knee and an ankle. Yeah. There will be a surprise game. It's got to happen at some point. Somebody like Darren Fox, even though he hit a key shot at the end of game three. Also, you just reminded me, Skeets, when you said Brunson's numbers. Darren Fox shooting 18 from 3, 38.5 from the floor. Not good number 13 points per game so far. But he's coming off a series where he also averaged 11 points per game against OKC. And they still won. Yeah.
- [37:39]
J. Skeets
And of course, injury. Yeah. With his high ankle sprain. So. Can't wait. Game four tonight. We'll be breaking it down on tomorrow's podcast. Let's take a break and then a little, you know, history lesson, I guess we'll call it. On the biggest stage in the world, FanDuel is changing the game because sometimes your player gets subbed off and your bet goes with them. I'm not talking basketball here. I'm talking soccer. I'm talking football, the beautiful game. Well, not anymore. Because with FanDuel's super sub, if your player is subbed out, your bet stays in. That's right. If your player leaves the match, maybe you've got a player prop on goals or whatever points, your bet continues with the substitute for said player. Because they're very specific in soccer. Football. Right. About like, tas out, I'm in. You know, like they tell you who
- [38:32]
Task Melts
is replacing that's on that digital board.
- [38:34]
J. Skeets
That's right. That's right. So you're in it until the final whistle with FanDuel. So that's sort of interesting. So visit FanDuel.com/no dunks to get started now. Just go to FanDuel.com let there be goals this summer.
- [38:48]
Task Melts
Okay.
- [38:49]
Trey Kirby
Let there be.
- [38:50]
J. Skeets
Let there be goals is the tagline. I guess I was. So there's gonna be a lot of goals. A lot of goals, guys. How many goals?
- [38:58]
Task Melts
I don't know because there's so many.
- [38:59]
J. Skeets
What's the over under our total goals in the World Cup?
- [39:01]
Trey Kirby
How many games did they play?
- [39:03]
J. Skeets
Well, there's 48 teams. Yeah.
- [39:04]
Task Melts
Yeah.
- [39:05]
J. Skeets
There's a lot of games.
- [39:06]
Trey Kirby
A lot of games. So however many games there are, multiply at times two. That's how many goals I think there will be.
- [39:11]
J. Skeets
Okay. I think. Wow. I might even say more.
- [39:14]
Trey Kirby
That's where I would set the line. Yeah, it's probably an over. Sure. Because there will be like a 60 game or something like that. But I was very close to ordering me a Team USA Soccer jersey last night. I don't know any of the players.
- [39:25]
J. Skeets
Hey, I'll admit I'm getting some World cup fever here over the last little bit. I don't know if it's because the finals are obviously coming to an end, but. And the World cup starts on Thursday. But it's here for me. It's hitting now. I'm looking at the groups. I'm picking my teams. Who am I back in?
- [39:41]
Trey Kirby
I do like that USA has a defender whose last name is Trustee. I don't know if he's good, but I would have a lot of confidence with that guy playing the back line. That plays the back line. Don't know.
- [39:51]
J. Skeets
Yeah. Yeah. What would be the best name for a defender? Trustee is good. Wall.
- [39:57]
Trey Kirby
Wall's a great. Right.
- [39:58]
Task Melts
Yeah.
- [39:59]
J. Skeets
John Wall was a soccer player. Would have been perfect.
- [40:01]
Trey Kirby
He would have been in a pretty solid soccer player, I would think. Great attacker. That's right.
- [40:06]
J. Skeets
All right, well, I'm sure we'll be talking more World cup after this thing gets underway, but check out FanDuel. All right. So rarely has an all time great been in the position that Victor Wembanyama found himself in between games two and three here of the 2026 NBA Finals. And what I mean by that is down two zero after a pair of home games. You know, be it on the road or at home. Pretty crazy series now, obviously 21 Knicks. But the hole was. And Is still the hole. So for Wemby to climb out, the spurs led by him. They have to win, you know, four out of the next five. They took care of one. They got to win three more. Well, according to Ben Rohrbeck at Yahoo. Sports, only five other times in NBA history has the best player in a series making his first finals appearance fallen behind 2 0. And I thought it'd be fun to go through these series and wonder and figure out has history taught us anything from such series with the best player in his first finals appearance down 2 0. Again, I want to stress that here because I can gloss over you. Best player in the series, which we all agree Wemby is. I think as much as we love Brunson and Cat, it's Wemby making his first finals appearance, and his team was down 2 0. So right away, Shaquille O' Neal and Charles Barkley, they were down 20 in the finals in the first finals, but they weren't the best players in the series. Hakeem was in his prime, and as we went through it, was dominating. So I'm sorry, it was Akeem Olajuan over Shaq, A younger Shaq at that. And then Charles Barkley was playing against this guy named Michael Jordan. So that's important to remember.
- [41:41]
Task Melts
Okay.
- [41:42]
J. Skeets
And. And there will be a few debates maybe like, was he the best player in that series? But we can get into it. So let's start only five instances. First finals appearance for the best player down two zero. Okay. 2024. Not long ago, the Celtics defeated Lucas. Dallas Mavericks took care of business in five games. So Lucas Mavs lost the first two games on the road to the Celtics in Dallas. The Celtics were a big. In game three of you remember this, then blew a 21 point lead in like 11 minutes. It was suddenly like a game. But the Celtics came through. Tatum scored 31. Brown had 30. They held off the furious rally. That was the game where Luka picked up his sixth foul with like four minutes to go. A bit of a game changer in that one that they needed to win. The Mavericks responded with one of the largest blowout victories in NBA Finals history in Game 4. Completely forgotten because they go on to lose, but they beat them 122, 84. Oh, yeah, the old gentleman sweep we had. Luka was awesome in that game. He had 25 of his 29 in the first half. But the Celtics won in game five decisively. And Jalen Brown was the Finals MVP. But, like, look, I don't know if Luca was The best player in the finals. You know, Tatum was good. Jalen Brown won Finals MVP. Lucas still averaged 29, 9 and 6 with 2 1/2 steals and shot 48, 47 from the floor. So he was still good, but he was like, he was the best guy going into the series.
- [43:07]
Trey Kirby
Yes.
- [43:08]
J. Skeets
So, yeah, he's included here. And, you know, it was a series where Lucas struggled with his three ball. He could not hit a three in that series. In the finals, 11 for 45. Like Brunson, he had 28 assists to 23 turnovers against the Celtics in the five game loss. And I guess, like Brunson and like some of these other guys, Luca was suffering from a lot of, like, injuries in the finals. Not to make excuses for the guy. I don't remember him sort of saying it, but, like, he had a chest injury, he had a knee injury, he had an ankle injury throughout that postseason. So Celtics defeat Lucas Mass not long ago.
- [43:42]
Trey Kirby
Yeah. Two things I really think about with this series are the Celtics, like, completely dominating the regular season. And they're. They maybe they had the best net rating in NBA history at the time or something like that. And it was kind of like, hey, trust the analytics. They've been the best team for the entire year. And guess what? They were the best team in the finals as well. And I think actually Luca's Mavericks this year were kind of in the same position that the Knicks are in where, like, the Western Conference was down that season. It was the first year the Thunder were a one seed. They didn't make it to the finals, obviously. The.
- [44:11]
J. Skeets
The.
- [44:11]
Trey Kirby
The Mavs made. I think they were. They must have been a five seed, six seed, something like that. Yeah, they were highly seen because they
- [44:17]
J. Skeets
made all the trades at the deadline.
- [44:19]
Task Melts
They beat him in the second round, so they must have been a five, right?
- [44:22]
J. Skeets
I think they were a five seat.
- [44:23]
Task Melts
Yeah. Because they beat the OKC in the second round, right?
- [44:26]
Trey Kirby
Yeah.
- [44:26]
Task Melts
So, yeah, they'd be a four or five.
- [44:28]
Trey Kirby
And then they beat the. The Timberwolves in the conference finals. So, yeah, I think it was like role reversal a little bit. And the other thing I remember is Brian Windhorse saying that Luca was over with the losers in the other tunnel. Remember that? That called him out, like, massively.
- [44:41]
J. Skeets
Yeah, yeah.
- [44:43]
Trey Kirby
That's pretty crazy.
- [44:44]
J. Skeets
My other takeaways from less than a year later. Yeah, yeah. Well, that would have been. Was that the whole. He's having the beer after the conference finals.
- [44:53]
Task Melts
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Got yanked from his hand.
- [44:55]
J. Skeets
From his hand. Just let him have his beer and Then maybe one of the show also. This was a weird. This was the weird Porzingis finals. Like where he was like he came back. Yeah, he actually played really well. But then he was back out. They were still winning without him. Like it was strange. Drew Holiday was really instrumental in a few of the games. But it was the Jays led them though. Of course.
- [45:15]
Task Melts
Yeah. Not a fun NBA Finals as a fan. It's just a spanker.
- [45:20]
J. Skeets
It was, I remember saying this. It was one of them. It was. There were not a lot of close games. I mean, I think that one crazy comeback was like the most entertaining game. The game three. They rallied at least. It got interesting. Celtics still won handily.
- [45:34]
Trey Kirby
And like the Porzingis first half of game one. Yeah, Game one, that was maybe the biggest moment as well.
- [45:41]
J. Skeets
All right, next one, next one. 2021. This was a better Finals. Giannis and his Bucks defeat the Suns 4 to 2. So Giannis's team drops the first two games of the 2021 Finals against the Phoenix Suns on the road in Phoenix, but they won games three and four at home and then they rolled to the six game series victory. So not only down two. Oh, but then one four straight. That's what the spurs are obviously going to try and do here. That's what Castle's saying they can do. I don't know if you saw that quote after they won game three, Castle like, yeah, we're just going to win the next three. Obviously the confidence is there. But this one Chris Middleton monster in game four when he went for the 40 burger and he scored 10 down the stretch to tie the series. Two, two. It is, it is forgotten a little bit also. Same game where it looked like the Suns were completing an alley oop to Deandre Ayton. And that's where Giannis screamed back, swooped back and blocked it and they went in transition the other way. And then in game six, everybody remembers this. Giannis ended one of the greatest NBA Finals ever for an individual performance. 50 points, 14 rebounds, 5 block shots. Yanis averaged 35, 13 and 5 while shooting 62% in the six game finals victory.
- [46:56]
Trey Kirby
Yeah, pretty good numbers. This is the single best performance by a player in the finals in the 2000s so far. Yeah, Giannis, yeah, he dominated especially that game six. What he was like 17 for 19 on free throws.
- [47:07]
J. Skeets
On free throws.
- [47:08]
Trey Kirby
50 points in a clincher. That was sick.
- [47:10]
Task Melts
And coming back into that NBA Finals after that big hyperextended knee injury, we didn't know if he'd be playing in game One that happened just a week earlier against the Hawks in the conference finals. Then the guy comes back and is cooking. You know, the first two games he started slow in the. In game one. He had 20 in the first game when they lost. And so there was the worry, is this going to happen? But then he dropped 42 in game two and it started to cook. And then games three through six and eight with a 50 burger. But Chris Milton definitely overlooked burgers were in this series.
- [47:42]
J. Skeets
We said Giannis had a couple. You're right. Then the 50. Middleton had one. Booker must have had one or two.
- [47:47]
Trey Kirby
I remember he had 42, too. Middleton wasn't even the leading scorer that game.
- [47:51]
J. Skeets
Yeah. Okay.
- [47:51]
Task Melts
Wow.
- [47:52]
J. Skeets
Yeah, a lot of scoring.
- [47:53]
Task Melts
Yeah. So all the talk is Janice, but I guess that's why Middleton. It's kind of forgotten in a way, but extremely key.
- [48:01]
Trey Kirby
Huge second guy.
- [48:03]
J. Skeets
Yeah, I bring it up. I mean, the spurs are going to do this. Maybe. Yeah, maybe there's a monster Middleton like game from a another Spur, not a Wemby here tonight in a similar situation. Down two one, the Bucks became the fifth team to win the NBA Finals after trailing two zero. So that was the second time that postseason that the Bucks came back from down two zero, I think as well. So they had already done it before in one of the matchups. Who the hell would that have been?
- [48:27]
Trey Kirby
Would have probably been the. Against the Nets.
- [48:29]
J. Skeets
I would have to imagine the Nets. That sounds right.
- [48:31]
Task Melts
Oh, yeah. The seven game series. Yeah, I think you're right. Yeah.
- [48:35]
J. Skeets
Incredible. Okay. All right. So we're. Well, right now we're one one in terms of, you know, that best player in their first finals being able to come back from a 20 deficit.
- [48:45]
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- [49:16]
Trey Kirby
Whether you're dressing it up or down, staying cozy indoors or layering up on the go. Viori's loungewear pieces prove that comfort and elevated style can go hand in hand, or better yet, leg in leg. Because you know, the core shorts come through in the clutch when it's playoff time. Whether you're getting a pump in or relaxing on the couch. The core shorts will hold you down from training to commuting in style errands to workouts, Vuori is built for comfort, performance and everyday wear. Incredibly versatile and comfortable, Vuori is an investment in your happiness for our listeners. They're offering 20% off your first purchase. So get yourself some of the most comfortable and versatile clothing on The Planet at vuori.com nodunks that's V-U-O-R-I.com no Dunks get 20% off your first purchase at vuori.com no Dunks and discover the versatility of Vuori clothing exclusions. Apply. Visit the website for full terms and conditions. Is it just me or is it
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Task Melts
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Trey Kirby
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J. Skeets
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J. Skeets
Mommy's walk.
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I think kid is walking up the slide.
- [50:58]
Trey Kirby
Really?
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Commercial Announcer
Autotrader? Buy your car online. Really?
- [51:02]
J. Skeets
2007 spurs defeat LeBron's Cavaliers in the sweep. You know the Cavs dropped the first two games in San Antonio and then they lost games three and four at home and they got swept. Game three, the lowest scoring finals game since 1955. Score was 75 to 72. That was like, I mean LeBron missed a potential game tying three like a bomb. It was, it was deep. LeBron was only 22 years old, so you know Wemby like he was playing in his fourth season. It was his second playoffs but his first go in the finals. And as many as noted, you know, LeBron probably carrying an ill equipped team to the finals. This was not a very good Cavaliers team going up against a great spurs team. Now you might push back and say was was LeBron actually the best player heading into that finals? You know Duncan I guess technically finished higher than LeBron in the MVP vote that year. I think fourth to fifth. So sure. But this is, you know, Duncan a little bit older on this is LeBron obviously starting to turn into the crazy Lebron I. You know, you're splitting hairs, I guess. I think the spurs just had a much, much better team, of course. And we even had Duncan after this sweep in the. The bowels of the arena, seeking out LeBron, saying, this is going to be your league in a little while, but I appreciate you letting us get one. And a little tap there. The cool moment. Camera. So, yeah, they get swept.
- [52:36]
Task Melts
That was the rando. Tony Parker, Finals mvp. That's right. Series two came out of nowhere. What I want to know is, how did Jawad Williams play? There's a callback for. For us going through the Cleveland lineup of how did Sasha Pavlovich.
- [52:51]
Trey Kirby
The only thing I like had 13 in that 75 to 72 percentage. Really good.
- [52:57]
J. Skeets
That, like, it's tough to remember real things from this series. I mean, it's obviously almost 20 years ago, but like Booby Gibson was a storyline. I know that.
- [53:06]
Trey Kirby
Sure.
- [53:06]
J. Skeets
He got inserted, I think into the. Into the starting lineup. They went to Booby, needed some more shooting.
- [53:13]
Task Melts
Yeah, yeah.
- [53:13]
J. Skeets
Ex. Yeah. Yeah.
- [53:15]
Trey Kirby
10 points in game four. Two for six from three plus two. It wasn't his fault.
- [53:21]
Task Melts
That's because Larry Hughes wasn't cooking.
- [53:22]
J. Skeets
I'm doing my.
- [53:23]
Trey Kirby
I'm doing my part out here.
- [53:24]
J. Skeets
LeBron had, you know, not a great series. It was not bad, though. I think he had a bad game one and sort of turned it on and got to his. Probably scored 25 points or something from there on out, which in these low scoring games, I guess was a lot.
- [53:37]
Task Melts
Larry, he's didn't play in games three and games four. Did Daniel Booby Gibson enter because he was hurt, because Larry was hurt or because they needed shooting? I don't remember. But Larry was not cooking. Maybe he was just yanked. He had two points through two games as a starter. Dude.
- [53:52]
Trey Kirby
Larry.
- [53:53]
Task Melts
Larry.
- [53:54]
Trey Kirby
Wow. And you know, he's getting the shots up.
- [53:56]
J. Skeets
Yeah. He must have got hurt then, eh?
- [53:58]
Trey Kirby
Yeah.
- [54:00]
Task Melts
If he didn't play at all.
- [54:01]
J. Skeets
Yeah. That'd be really strange.
- [54:03]
Task Melts
Yeah. Does seem weird. They just want more Jawad Williams minutes. Like it. I mean, that's.
- [54:07]
Trey Kirby
No, man, he wasn't there till the next season, bro. I think actually maybe two seasons out of that. I don't know. But I did look up his basketball reference real quick. How many career playoff points does Jawad Williams have?
- [54:20]
J. Skeets
It's.
- [54:20]
Trey Kirby
It's a getable number.
- [54:22]
J. Skeets
Zero.
- [54:22]
Trey Kirby
Yep.
- [54:25]
J. Skeets
But he's played.
- [54:26]
Trey Kirby
He has played in the playoffs. Yeah.
- [54:29]
J. Skeets
All right, next one here. We're going way back, 1977, before all of us were born. Bill Walton's Trailblazers defeated the 76ers 4, 2. And as Ben Rohrbach wrote on Yahoo. Sports, Walton's Blazers from 77 are actually the closest facsimile to the San Antonio Spurs. They are Walton's Blazers, the only team younger than the spurs to reach the NBA Finals, which is pretty crazy. They too fell into a 2, 0 hole, albeit on the road to the Sixers. But then they won their next four games to take the crown. Walton averaged 19, 19 and 5 with 3.7 blocks per game, capturing Finals MVP and then the next season would go on to win regular season MVP at the age of 23. So this was the best of Bill Walton, obviously the healthiest of Bill Walton. Maybe you push back on this one. Say, hold on, wasn't Dr. J, Julius Irving the best player heading into that finals? That was Dr. J's first NBA season. You know, he had obviously lit up the ABA, but this was his first year with Philadelphia. Both Walton and Dr. J made all NBA second team in 76, 77. I think Walton was though, because he was the MVP runner up to Kareem. Dr. J finished fifth. So I think it, I think it checks out here. Game two from this series though, absolute batshit crazy. I gotta read this to you. In the final five minutes of game two, Big Sixers win. Philadelphia's Daryl Dawkins and Portland's Bob Gross both went up for a rebound and they wrestled each other to the floor. The two then, and you got to seek out the clip. They literally square up with each other. Straight, square up, both benches clear, including the coaches. And then in the middle of like this, like squaring up in fracas, Marcus, excuse me, Maurice Lucas, I guess in an act of team unity, he comes over and slaps Daryl Dawkins from behind, challenges him. He's like, don't mess with Bob Gross.
- [56:34]
Trey Kirby
Don't mess with Bob Gross.
- [56:36]
J. Skeets
So they sort of get into it. They're ejected. Doug Collins gets four stitches after he caught a punch from Dawkins. I mean, it's just a melee. Dawkins and Lucas got fined, but the brawl is seen as the turning point in the series because Portland like took offense to it. They're down two zero. This was the end of game two. And they're like, we're not going to get punked. We're not going to humiliated like this. And they came back and won the next four games. Pure nuts.
- [57:02]
Trey Kirby
It sounds awesome.
- [57:03]
J. Skeets
Yeah, it sounds cool. Like it's so funny when in doing the little research for this, like we're debating, should Wemby be tossed in a flagrant foul for pushing a guy like, then go watch this. They got fined. They played the next game. They're literally full on brawl. Yeah. So different time.
- [57:20]
Task Melts
I get it, but that's exactly what I'm I thinking split screen of now. Josh Hort, Josh Hart and Luke Cornett got into the other altercation. Hands down. I want to split screen of guys hands down and hands up, like 40 years, 50 years ago.
- [57:33]
J. Skeets
Yeah. I got another fun fact. Another fun fact from this series. The deciding game six of the finals was played at noon Pacific time. Okay, this is. This is true.
- [57:45]
Task Melts
Good.
- [57:45]
J. Skeets
CBS Sports wanted them to play the game even earlier at 10:30 Pacific time. They wanted. Blazers owners were like, we're not doing that. Like, we've already told our ticket holders we're playing at noon. We're playing at noon. So they pushed back, but CBS Sports wanted it to be earlier because they had the Kemper Open, which is a golf tournament that they were airing later that afternoon, and because the game stayed at 12 Pacific time. And then, you know, obviously went a couple hours, and then this Kemper Open was going on in North Carolina. CBS cuts immediately after the game ends. There is no post game celebrations, no post game interviews. We just go right from the Blazers win Game 6. They're the titles, the champions, right to the Kemper Open. It's crazy. If you're a Blazers fan watching this in 1977, and they're like, oh, you get nothing. We just came back and won four straight games.
- [58:41]
Task Melts
Great.
- [58:42]
J. Skeets
Sorry, we gotta go to golfing.
- [58:44]
Task Melts
What a different time. Greater than basketball in the eyes of cbs.
- [58:49]
J. Skeets
Yeah, I guess at the time, yeah. I didn't even know the Kemper Open was a thing.
- [58:53]
Task Melts
I'd never even heard it.
- [58:54]
J. Skeets
I think it's done now. It's defunct now, but yeah, yeah, they
- [58:57]
Trey Kirby
cut it off after 2006. Tough stuff. Imagine how exciting it must have been to. To see the game be taking place and then see Tom Weiskopf win his third Kemper Open.
- [59:07]
J. Skeets
Oh, is that by two strokes? Oh, close.
- [59:10]
Trey Kirby
Man, that would have been crazy.
- [59:11]
Task Melts
Yeah.
- [59:12]
J. Skeets
So much better than seeing Bill Walton celebrating a lot.
- [59:15]
Task Melts
Ye. Well, to circle back to the fight and how you say it's a pivotal moment in this series, is there any merit to people saying that Jalen Brunson not fighting back or the Knicks. Excuse me, not fighting back against Victor Wenyama hitting Jalen Brunson can act as a moment where the Knicks kind of crumbled and won't fight Back and Draymond Green is saying that primarily is the guy that you gotta step up and fight back. It's not quite the Toronto Raptors moment from this season against Dejante Murray.
- [59:46]
J. Skeets
Right, right.
- [59:47]
Task Melts
But you know, there wasn't response. They're also busy doing other stuff on the court. I mean, they're playing, but I, I don't buy that.
- [59:54]
J. Skeets
I've heard comments from Jose Alvarado saying, you know, we're not going to forget this. You know, sort of availed a threat. I guess it's gonna be spicy tonight.
- [60:03]
Trey Kirby
Yeah, absolutely.
- [60:04]
J. Skeets
Yeah.
- [60:04]
Task Melts
Like Bill Walton said, his quote was, it's not about where you've been, it's about where you are right now. And that's what they got to say to each other. Well, we're going to fight through this
- [60:13]
J. Skeets
like, like the Blazers did.
- [60:14]
Task Melts
Coming down from two, zip.
- [60:15]
J. Skeets
Yep. Okay, so, so two two here after four, you know, finals where a team was down two zero with the best player in the first finals appearance. Final one though is 1964 and it's the Celtics defeating Wilt Chamberlain's San Francisco Warriors 4 to 1. Wilts warriors only won game three at home in the five game series against Bill Russell. Bill Russell's Celtics. As Ben wrote for Yahoo, we could argue all day about whether who was the better player between Will Chamberlain and Bill Russell, but in 1964, Wilt did finish ahead of Russell in the MVP race. That was the year Oscar Robertson won. It went Wilt two, Russell three. Russell Celtics were just a much, much better team and deeper team than the warriors that season. So I think this is fair. Also Wilt did average 29 and 27 in the five game series that they lost. Bill Russell scored much less but, but a ton of rebounds and obviously he's out there for defensive purposes. So yeah, you know, not, not much from that one. I guess more similar to the Luca Celtics defeat there from the Mavs in terms of just the best guy and coming up short in five. So there we go. That's it.
- [61:23]
Trey Kirby
That's it.
- [61:23]
J. Skeets
Entire NBA history.
- [61:26]
Trey Kirby
Exciting, exciting times.
- [61:27]
J. Skeets
You know, we're probably, we're adding, we're adding to this list here number six in women. Yama. We'll see what the result is. Can they, can they make it 33 be interesting or is it going to be 42 for that? You know, not being able to come back from the 2o hole.
- [61:40]
Task Melts
It's fun stuff here.
- [61:41]
J. Skeets
Might be decided tonight.
- [61:42]
Trey Kirby
Stuff is fun.
- [61:43]
J. Skeets
Yeah. A little trip down memory lane.
- [61:45]
Trey Kirby
I just keep thinking like the podcast during the 1976 summer must have been insane. You got Bill Walton coming to the NBA after dominating in college. Ucla, like the greatest team of all time. And this guy was hyped.
- [61:58]
J. Skeets
Yeah.
- [62:00]
Trey Kirby
Though I don't think that was his rookie year. Nonetheless, his first appearance in the finals. But he was a notable player. He got Dr. J coming from the ABA off of multiple MVPs in the ABA. Probably the most exciting basketball player on the earth, and then they actually meet in the Finals.
- [62:14]
J. Skeets
Huge.
- [62:15]
Trey Kirby
I mean, the YouTube views must have been insane.
- [62:19]
J. Skeets
The carrier pigeons were going nuts, sending things back and forth.
- [62:23]
Trey Kirby
Plus, you got Weiskopf going nuts at the Kemper. What a time to be a sports fan.
- [62:29]
J. Skeets
Weisskopf going for his third Kemper. Are you kidding me?
- [62:32]
Trey Kirby
Nobody's won more than him at the Kemper specifically.
- [62:35]
J. Skeets
Oh, really?
- [62:35]
Trey Kirby
Yeah, of course.
- [62:36]
Task Melts
Duh.
- [62:37]
J. Skeets
Was he from North Carolina? Did he know the course?
- [62:39]
Trey Kirby
Tom?
- [62:40]
J. Skeets
I don't know.
- [62:41]
Trey Kirby
If it wasn't. Tom's from Mass a lot. Ohio, of course.
- [62:44]
Task Melts
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [62:45]
J. Skeets
Wow.
- [62:46]
Trey Kirby
You know, he was the WAR runner up at the Masters four times. I always thought he would get over the hump, but just couldn't do it.
- [62:51]
J. Skeets
He never won the green jacket.
- [62:52]
Trey Kirby
Never won the green jacket.
- [62:54]
J. Skeets
Well, he just crumbled under the pressure. Eh.
- [62:57]
Task Melts
It's been long.
- [62:57]
Trey Kirby
69, 72, 74, 75. Second.
- [63:00]
J. Skeets
Damn.
- [63:01]
Trey Kirby
He did win the Open Championship.
- [63:03]
J. Skeets
So who's beating them? Jack Nicklaus.
- [63:05]
Trey Kirby
The 1975 master.
- [63:07]
J. Skeets
Ben Hogan.
- [63:08]
Trey Kirby
Yeah, it was Jack.
- [63:09]
J. Skeets
It was Jackie. 75. Of course.
- [63:12]
Trey Kirby
74.
- [63:13]
J. Skeets
Oh.
- [63:13]
Trey Kirby
One of the great names in golf. Gary Player.
- [63:16]
J. Skeets
Oh, great.
- [63:17]
Task Melts
Good name.
- [63:18]
Trey Kirby
He could be any sport. He's good friends.
- [63:21]
Task Melts
He's a player.
- [63:23]
J. Skeets
Or cigarettes.
- [63:24]
Trey Kirby
Jack Nicklaus. He did it in 72. He's always keeping Weiss cough out of the jacket. Yeah, see, George Archer, you picked the wrong sport. But he was good. He was good in the 69 Masters.
- [63:35]
Task Melts
Matt Kemper. Haven't heard that name since we worked at Time Warner Media. Kempner. Kempner. Yeah.
- [63:43]
J. Skeets
Really good. All right, we'll call it there. That's probably a good spot to call it. Looking forward to game four tonight. We're back here in the Classic Factory, obviously, at 10:00am Eastern to recap it all like only no dunks can, hitting you with the. Our takeaways from the game and a bunch of random notes as we usually do. If you got a question about the NBA Finals, hey, send it in. I think there's gonna be some time here the rest of the week to hit the beach. So no Dunks, Inc. That's incmail.com to send in any of your NBA Finals or NBA related questions. Otherwise, enjoy that game. We'll see you tomorrow. Club of bros. You heard it here first. Have a great time. Turn up. Love you guys.
- [64:20]
Trey Kirby
Awesome.
- [64:21]
Task Melts
Thanks for joining us. And remember the NHL final? It's two. Two. Jordan Stahl that goal or he's fallen over. That's pretty cool.
- [64:28]
J. Skeets
That was crazy. Yeah, I saw that.
- [64:30]
Task Melts
And the backhand as he falls over. They brought.
- [64:32]
J. Skeets
They brought in another goalie. I saw too. I guess the Canes did switch it up. Switched it up. Bussy with the boys.
- [64:40]
Task Melts
With the boys between the pipes to start the game.
- [64:43]
J. Skeets
You're saying or. I think so.
- [64:44]
Task Melts
Okay.
- [64:44]
J. Skeets
Yeah, sure. I think so.
- [64:45]
Task Melts
I didn't know.
- [64:46]
J. Skeets
I switched it up. Sorry I interrupted you.
- [64:48]
Task Melts
No, no, that's. That's okay. What I was going to say is not all that important, but because I haven't really been in hockey. I thought Jordan Stahl was Eric Stahl's son, but I just wanted to point out just his brother.
- [64:58]
J. Skeets
Just a. Oh, they are related.
- [64:59]
Task Melts
Yeah. He's been playing for 20 years.
- [65:02]
Trey Kirby
Jordan Stahl.
- [65:02]
Task Melts
Jordan Stahl's been playing for 20 seasons.
- [65:05]
Trey Kirby
I think it's his. I think it's been 17 years since he was last in the Stanley cup final. I think they said at one point.
- [65:11]
Task Melts
Yeah, because he's got an Eric Stall as a brother, Jared Stahl as a brother, Mark Stahl as a brother. All played.
- [65:17]
J. Skeets
Eric Stahl. Horrible name for a driver. For a car racer.
- [65:21]
Trey Kirby
Really bad.
- [65:22]
J. Skeets
Pick the right sport.
- [65:24]
Task Melts
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [65:25]
J. Skeets
Cuz good name for a soccer player though. Sort of a lot of stalls.
- [65:29]
Trey Kirby
Yes, that would be a good name. I agree.
- [65:31]
Task Melts
This.
- [65:32]
J. Skeets
Yeah.
- [65:32]
Task Melts
And so Leaf, Pitcher maybe. Yeah. And not. It doesn't make for good nicknames. The Stall. Some of the. I see a nickname here on Hockey Reference. Staller. You don't want that to be your nickname. But you can see.
- [65:43]
J. Skeets
You can see. Isn't that every hockey. Yeah, every hockey nicknames. Yeah.
- [65:49]
Task Melts
What about Stall? Bunyan.
- [65:52]
Trey Kirby
I actually like it.
- [65:53]
J. Skeets
That's on there.
- [65:54]
Task Melts
It is good. Gronk, Shorty, Jordy. Jordy Jordo style. Bunyan, Stalzi and Staller.
- [66:01]
J. Skeets
I mean you said he played for 20 years.
- [66:03]
Task Melts
This is 20 years. 20 right now.
- [66:06]
J. Skeets
Okay. Well, started when he was that long. It's fair enough to have that many.
- [66:09]
Task Melts
That's true. So good for him.
- [66:11]
J. Skeets
We're gonna have a hell of a sports weekend on the docket here. Right. With you know, NBA finals. We know we're getting a game five on Saturday. We got the World cup starting and then what is it? Two. Two in the Stanley Cup. Sports Gary Player must be loving this. Is he alive? Quick, quick check here.
- [66:31]
Trey Kirby
Quick check. He's loving this.
- [66:34]
J. Skeets
He is loving it. He's son of a Enjoy the sports Gary. Embrace the day people
- [66:42]
OnNicotine Pouches Advertiser
on nicotine pouches present comfort chronicles a 10 o' clock tea time. How comfortable you show up in stretchy shorts or breathable tea. And maybe no so let the dogs breathe. Well, other sweat and pleated khakis. You're in your comfort zone. Bombing drives and in your pocket ON plus 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.
- [67:12]
Trey Kirby
Whether you're dressing it up or down, staying cozy indoors or layering up on the go, Viori's loungewear pieces prove that comfort and elevated style can go hand in hand or better yet, leg in leg. Because you know the core shorts come through in the clutch when it's playoff time. Whether you're getting a pump in or relaxing on the couch, the core shorts will hold you down. From training to commuting in style, errands to workouts, Vuori is built for comfort, performance and everyday wear. Incredibly versatile and comfortable, Vuori is an investment in your happiness. For our listeners. They're offering 20 off your first purchase, so get yourself some of the most comfortable and versatile clothing on The Planet at vuori.com nodunks that's V-U-O-R-I.com no dunks. Get 20% off your first purchase at vuori.com no dunks and discover the versatility of Vuori Clothing exclusions apply. Visit the website for the full terms and conditions.
- [68:14]
J. Skeets
I'm U.S. transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. We all seem to be in a rush these days, but when you're behind the wheel, please do not speed.
- [68:22]
Trey Kirby
So follow the speed limit. A few minutes saved by going faster
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J. Skeets
is never worth the risk. Paid for by NHTSA when you're a
- [68:30]
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