Will the Spurs even the series? Game 4 Preview

Summary

The Athletic NBA Daily – "Will the Spurs Even the Series? Game 4 Preview"

Date: June 10, 2026
Hosts: Zena Keita, Esfandiar Baraheni ("S"), Dave DeFore
Location: Live from Madison Square Garden, New York

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Episode Overview

The hosts break down the pivotal Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks, focusing on how the Spurs turned momentum on the road and previewing adjustments both teams must make for Game 4. Broadcasting live from Madison Square Garden, the crew delves deep into tactical shifts, standout performances (with a spotlight on Victor Wembanyama), and the broader implications for the series. They also discuss the mental approach of both teams, officiating, and what to expect moving forward.

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Atmosphere and Setting at MSG (Madison Square Garden)

[01:59–03:17]

• Hosts discuss the unique environment at Madison Square Garden, highlighting the high energy and acoustics.

• Quote:
  “MSG is a different kind of loud… more of a baritone loud… There’s a reason Billy Joel played 104 shows here. You know, it sounds really good in here.” – Dave DeFore [02:22]

• Despite the first Knicks loss at home in 13 games, the energy and crowd engagement stood out to the team.

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Spurs’ Turnaround in Game 3

[03:17–05:56]

• The Spurs bounced back from a 0-2 deficit to win at MSG, surprising many who anticipated a sweep.

• Early strategy: Get Victor Wembanyama ("Wemby") closer to the basket for easy buckets, maximizing his height advantage.

• Zena highlights the repeated Spurs' pattern: big early leads that dissipate in the second quarter, often due to lack of bench answers when the Knicks find rhythm.

• Knicks’ bench contributions have been key:
  “Last game, it was Landry Shammit. You saw Jalen Brunson, Cat [Karl-Anthony Towns], OG Anunoby, Jordan Clarkson hit some threes. Like, it just felt as if the Knicks always had an answer in that second quarter.” – Zena Keita [03:55]

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The Second Quarter Problem: Knicks’ Adjustments and Spurs’ Youth

[05:11–06:42]

• Spurs’ youth and volatile shooting lead to blown double-digit leads—a trend all postseason.

  • Stat: “They blew four double-digit leads so far in this playoffs almost. You know if they would have blown the double digit lead last night, it would have been… an NBA record for one postseason.” – Dave DeFore [05:11]

• Knicks went small (KAT at the 5), shifted to multiple guards, and surged offensively.

• Cat (KAT) had his best stint, impacting both ends.

• Ball movement and “spray” concept dissected (via John Hollinger):

  • It's about shifting the defense inside the arc, then multiple passes, not just a single drive-and-kick.

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Key Spurs Adjustments in the Second Half

[06:42–09:33]

1. Intentional Foul Drawing:

   • Spurs adjusted to get into the bonus early, strategically manipulating game flow.

2. Lineup Tweaks:

   • Shifted to smaller, dynamic lineups (Dylan Harper in for Julian Champagnie), increasing pace and rim pressure.

3. Wemby’s Defensive Presence:

   • “Wemby was just so good and so aggressive, the way that he was swatting at every shot, trying to get back and help side…” – Zena Keita [08:25]

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The Foul Disparity & Officiating Debate

[09:33–11:41]

• Spurs’ aggression led to foul differential and more free throws—24 of Wemby’s 32 points were in the paint or at the line.

• Knicks’ smaller, less physical attacks drew fewer whistles.

• “I didn’t think that the Knicks got the same whistle when they attacked as the Spurs got… Knicks attack wasn’t as physical.” – Dave DeFore [10:41]

• Physicality highlighted by a controversial Wemby play:

  • “He straight up manhandled him… the NBA is going to review that and see if they will assess it a flagrant foul post.” – Zena Keita & Esfandiar [11:29–11:34]

• Dave predicts no Wemby suspension for the Finals:

  • “Victor Wyama will not be suspended from an NBA Finals game. Let’s just go ahead and clear that up.” – Dave DeFore [11:48]

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Knicks’ Offensive Issues & What Needs to Change for Game 4

[16:19–19:17]

• Zena points out the Knicks’ recent inability to reach their high-scoring postseason norms.

• Despite the talent, their output was kept low, thanks to San Antonio’s defense.

  • “You’re keeping them two games in a row to 1:05… this is a low scoring Knicks team and your defense is doing that.” – Zena Keita [17:26]

• Discussion on KAT’s shot attempts:

  • Cowboys the talking point that the Knicks can't win unless KAT gets more shots—Zena disagrees, pointing to a blowout win where he only took 4 shots “but made 10 of 10 free throws” by being aggressive to the rim (18:45–19:11).

• KAT should serve as a hub, relieving pressure off Jalen Brunson, not necessarily chasing his own points.

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Specific Tactical Adjustments for the Knicks

[20:25–22:45]

• More action through KAT to free up Brunson; consider “inverted” pick-and-rolls with Brunson screening for KAT to create mismatches.
• Spurs’ defensive switches with Wemby on Josh Hart, using Steph Castle and Keldon Johnson on KAT, physically challenging him.
• “They worked really hard... trying to get the Spurs to switch off the ball to get Cat… on Fox or Champagne, one of the smaller guys…” – Dave DeFore [21:38]
• Expectation that KAT must respond with greater physicality in Game 4.

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Spurs’ Poise and Confidence; Youth Movement in the NBA

[23:49–31:18]

• Wemby’s stamina improved; did not appear tired late in Game 3, fueling his defensive dominance.
• Spurs' young stars (Harper, Castle) show notable mental toughness, unaffected by the MSG atmosphere.
• “There is an ease and a confidence to the way that the Spurs are approaching the series… They have never felt like they, they. There's any sort of pressure on. They're chill, they're relaxed. Wemby is drawing statues in the park, for Christ’s sake.” – Esfandiar [25:49]
• Youthful teams now unfazed by pressure due to years in AAU/internet spotlights; playing at MSG is no longer rare or intimidating.

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Series Outlook & Predictions

[27:03–32:48]

• Discussion references the 2021 Finals (Suns up 2-0 before losing 4 straight to Bucks), asking if the Knicks may face a similar reversal now that the Spurs have gained confidence.

• “I've already kind of put it in my mind that I do think the Spurs are going to win the next three. Wow. I do. I actually do.” – Zena Keita [27:36]

• Counterpoint from S, predicting a Knicks rebound:

  • “The Knicks are going to win game four… an onslaught, 22 threes knocked down. So it'll be three one. And then with the season on the line, San Antonio will stay alive in San Antonio. Game 5… And then game six in New York. The New York Knicks will win.” – Esfandiar [32:13]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• MSG’s unique energetic feel: “It's more of a baritone loud… there's a reason Billy Joel played 104 shows here.” – Dave DeFore [02:22]
• Wemby’s impact: “Wemby was just so good and so aggressive, the way that he was swatting at every shot…” – Zena Keita [08:25]
• Officiating/physicality theme: “I didn’t think that the Knicks got the same whistle when they attacked as the Spurs got… It just wasn’t the same.” – Dave DeFore [10:41]
• Knicks’ necessity for KAT’s aggression, not just shot volume: “It’s way less to do with how many shot attempts… it has to be if he has an opportunity, he's got to be physically aggressive to the basket… but really, he needs to be the hub again.” – Zena Keita [19:12]
• On modern youth and pressure:
  “The experience factor… it's not like players are coming from Little Rock, Arkansas, and they've never been to New York anymore… that type of player is few and far between now.” – Esfandiar [30:55]
• Predictions split:
  “I just feel like, yes, the Knicks are great, but… the margin of error is so thin that it's just enough to tip the Spurs way.” – Zena Keita [29:15]

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Key Timestamps & Segments

• [01:59] – Show intro, MSG atmosphere
• [03:17] – Spurs’ turnaround overview
• [05:11] – Spurs' blown leads & Knicks second-quarter dominance
• [06:42] – Spurs’ adjustments (bonus, lineup, Wemby)
• [09:33] – Foul disparity & officiating debate
• [16:19] – Knicks’ offensive regression
• [18:45] – KAT’s shot attempts & role analysis
• [20:25] – Knicks tactical adjustments/who guards KAT
• [23:49] – Spurs’ poise and youth; MSG pressure myth
• [27:03] – Series historical parallels/predictions

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Series Preview Takeaways

• Spurs adjustments (attacking with physicality, strategic rotations, empowering Wemby) have made the Finals competitive.
• Knicks must address turnovers, offensive stagnation, and reevaluate how to utilize KAT and Jalen Brunson against the Spurs’ length.
• Mental resilience of both teams stands as a testament to NBA’s new generation: young players arriving with confidence and big-game composure.
• Game 4 is pivotal—with predictions split, the series' outcome hinges on who best adapts and executes under pressure at MSG.

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Transcript

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[Zena Kaeda]

hello and welcome to the NBA Daily for June 10th, 2026. I'm Zena Kaeda, joined by Esperahini and Dave DeFore. And my guys are in Madison Square Garden where for the first time in 13 games, the Knicks woke up with a loss. We're going to break that down in just a second, Y'.

[Ad Announcer]

All.

[Zena Kaeda]

Dave S. How's msg, man?

[Esperahini]

The vibes, well, you know, maybe post game vibes weren't the greatest with the steel chairs happening outside of Madison Square Garden and everything. But otherwise the vibes inside were pretty good. It was a loud arena.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah, it was.

[Esperahini]

I mean, look, it was, it was a raucous crowd. Like it was very, very good.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah, it was intense. You know, again, the lines coming on the heels. Yeah, the lines were something. But coming on the heels of the Thunder spurs series, which, you know, the Thunder, we were all in the Thunder arena last year for the finals with how loud it is. MSG is a different kind of Loud.

[Esperahini]

It is.

[Dave DeFore]

It's like. It's more of a baritone loud. Like, it really, like. And I have to credit it to the acoustics of the building. There's a reason Billy Joel played 104 shows here. You know, it sounds really good in here.

[Zena Kaeda]

Look at the cultural history you're learning on NBA Daily.

[Dave DeFore]

Well, I just looked up at the banner. I don't know if there's a bad seat in the house. You know, we were sitting on the sky bridge, and as I'm going up, I'm thinking to myself, oh, man, we're going to be watching from space. Turns out we had, like, one of the best seats in the house for the game last night. You could see all the action. You don't really have to move your head a lot. Um, man, I love being here. It's been great.

[Zena Kaeda]

I love that. Okay, well, best seat in the house. You got to see the spurs turn it around on the road. And let's just be real. A lot of us assumed this would happen. You go down 02, the spurs are going to find a way to galvanize themselves, get themselves going, and be able to pull out a win now in front of it.

[Esperahini]

MSG predicting a sweep.

[Zena Kaeda]

Oh, yeah, right. Dave, you were. You were on a different level there with that. I was like, you gave up on our spurs fast over here. But it was a masterclass in adjustments. But the funny thing is, is that as I'm watching the game, guys, I'm literally particularly the first two buckets, right? Both in the restricted area, Wemby. And I'm like, see how easy that is? I literally out loud said to my television in the kitchen, you see how easy that is? Like, when you get Wemby closer to the basket and how easy that feels for him to just be able to utilize his height. And then the second quarter happened, and I was like, oh, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. The spurs are still gonna spur. And it. It felt as if, you know, the Knicks couldn't miss. They found some new folks to, you know, incorporate themselves into the mix. Last game, it was Landry Shammit. You saw Jalen Brunson, Cat OG Anunoby, Jordan Clarkson hit some threes. Like, it just felt as if the Knicks always had an answer in that second quarter before we get into the full. I think the majority of this game is really in the second half, which is pretty much the entirety of the series because the spurs keep going up and then losing leads. That second quarter is where I'm. I'm trying to figure Out. How do the spurs avoid that happening again? Because this feels as if it keeps happening where the Knicks jive, their offense is going, they find new opportunities off the bench and the spurs have no answer. What happen happened in that second quarter. Yalls opinion.

[Dave DeFore]

I mean listen, what happens is that in the NBA no lead is safe. And if you're a young team, I think that sometimes you just get a little bit too comfortable when you get a double digit lead. And we've seen that with the spurs. It's been the whole playoffs honestly. You know they, they've, they blew four double digit leads so far in this playoffs almost. You know if they would have blown the double digit lead last night, it would have been I think an NBA record for one postseason fifth double digit lead. So you know this, this is hallmark of their team a little bit because they're so young and they're shooting variants from quarter to quarter is wild. I mean, you know, think about that game. Julian Champeni hits five threes in the first half of a game and then did not hit the rim for the

[Zena Kaeda]

rest of the game.

[Dave DeFore]

Right. So you know, I, I chalk it up. It's part of that is the modern NBA. It is a high variance game. It's a game of runs and you know, a couple of shots and you're right back in it. But the truth is that the spurs, that's where they're inexperience and their lack of shooting bore out together.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yeah.

[Dave DeFore]

Because they, they will blow a lead.

[Esperahini]

I'll just, I'll. I'll just add, I think in that second quarter the Knicks went smaller with Carl Anthony Towns at 5. But then going to their kind of all guard lineup with Landry Shamit, Jalen Brunson, I think it was Jordan Clarkson in there for a little bit as well. Like the shot making was there for them and, and Cat had probably his best quarter in that second quarter where he was forcing turnovers, crashing the offensive glass, knock down a couple shots.

[Zena Kaeda]

OG cat. Yeah, they all did it in the second quarter. Yeah, it just felt as if one you get, you get 42 points on 23 possessions. The ball movement was superb for, for the Knicks like they kept. And what I really loved. I don't know who it was that broke down. Oh, maybe it was John Hollinger. I was reading John Hollinger on the athletic. He was breaking down the spray, the concept of a spray and it's for me and I think a lot of folks think, you know, the spray all has to do with touching the paint Then executing the pass out and finding a way in. And he broke it down to the Knicks. When they think about the spray, it's not necessarily just getting inside the arc and getting it out. It's getting inside the arc, shifting the defense, getting it out. And it might be another pass pass before you actually get the benefits of the spray. And I just love that, the way that he broke that down, because I thought the second quarter, Knicks pretty much put that on display and how efficient they were in finding buckets. And then this third and fourth quarter happened, and I. So, number one, I thought in the first half, I understand this concept of let Josh Hart shoot. I get it. I get why you're doing that, right? The percentages tell us, the statistics tell us. Let him shoot that shot. We'll see if he makes it. Dare him to shoot that shot. But it bothered me after he's going like, you know, three or four in the first half. Okay, he's winning the dare. He's winning the dare, y'. All. And it felt as if they weren't, you know, they hadn't adjusted to that. Then in the sec, the second half, you're seeing the Spurs, I think, think less on defense about what the Knicks are doing and more about what they wanted to do. And it felt like they were so much more intentional. Number one, their ability to get in the bonus fast, like that was so smart. You talk about the Knicks going small. The spurs went small, and they went to that lineup that, I mean, we haven't seen a ton of it, but, you know, we put in Dylan Harper instead of Julian Chimpani, and you're getting a lot more dynamic ball movement, faster, you know, pushes to the basket, more attacks and pressure on the rim. I felt like that was an. A very intentional shift as well that I noticed in the second half. And then three, Wemby. Wemby. Wemby was just so good and so aggressive, the way that he was swatting at every shot, trying to get back and help side, or just playing incredibly well at remaining low and trying not to get pulled out to the perimeter. Those were the three things I noticed in the second half. But I want to start with the bonus. Like, getting into, like, the foul aspect. Yeah, it felt intentional to me of how quickly they wanted to get the Knicks in foul trouble in the second half. What did it feel like for you all?

[Esperahini]

Well, there's going to be a lot of talk about the officiating in this game because of how lopsided the calls were in the second half, but I agree with you. I do think it has to do with the spurs physicality and, and how aggressive they were. Wembanyama, 24 of his 32 points in that game either came in the paint or off of free throws. So that comes down to just being aggressive, getting into the paint, getting inside. And also it's about forcing the officials to make the call.

[Dave DeFore]

Harper and Castle are so good at getting into your body, and they put you in a disadvantageous position and you start guarding with your hands. And our video is giving us all kinds of emoji feedback. For some reason, they're happy about Fox

[Zena Kaeda]

Castle,

[Dave DeFore]

but they're so good. They're so good at getting into your body that it really puts you off balance. And, and they catch guys reaching, right, like trying to make a play. And, you know, I don't want to go. The, the refs called it one way or the other, but there was a disparity. And I, and I believe in the calls. There was a disparity. I was talking about this with the Knicks.

[Esperahini]

They feel like it was a disparity.

[Dave DeFore]

You know, I didn't, I didn't think that the Knicks got the same whistle when they attacked as the spurs got. I mean, it just wasn't the same. And part of that is the Knicks attack wasn't as physical, Right?

[Zena Kaeda]

That's true.

[Dave DeFore]

Kel Bridges barely looked at the rim when he had the ball with an opportunity to score. So, you know, part of this is it's again, I keep calling this Knicks team like boxers. Well, in boxing, you have to push the pace. Like, yeah, the spurs were rewarded for actually having more activity, being more physical on the offensive end. And I think that, you know, if, if the Knicks, when they, they come back for Game 4, I bet that's one of the things that we see out of them to start is extra physicality. You know, the, the spurs, there's a couple of, you know, there's Wemby kind of giving Brunson a little bit of the business and.

[Zena Kaeda]

Did you say kinda that wasn't kind of d. I mean.

[Esperahini]

Yeah, stop it.

[Zena Kaeda]

He straight up manhandled him.

[Esperahini]

The, the update on that is that the, the NBA is going to review that and see if they will assess it. A flagrant foul post.

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Sure.

[Dave DeFore]

But you don't get any points for that if they do it after points.

[Esperahini]

But he might get closer to a suspension, which, you know, is, is one

[Dave DeFore]

of those things I would just say right now on the record. My, my prediction, Victor Wyama will not be suspended from an NBA Finals game. Let's just go ahead and clear that up. But, but there is, there's a lot of stuff there right where the spurs getting a little chippy. And I think the Knicks didn't respond to that, which is surprising because this Knicks team is kind of tough. Right? Like they all come to work in their Timberland booths.

[Esperahini]

It's surprising because if we remember Game one, one of the big quotes from Game one was Mike Brown saying, rick Brunson told us to shut up about the officiating and we all shut up. And I think that actually affected them more in this game where the call's not going their way, forced them to play a different way.

[Dave DeFore]

Sure.

[Esperahini]

Well, they, they were going into a little bit outside shooting. I don't know.

[Dave DeFore]

I, I feel like they played like Tom Thibodeau was still coaching him.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yeah, okay, we'll take a break and ruminate on that one and we'll come right back to find out. What did the Knicks do well or what do they need to fix before they go into Game four?

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[Esperahini]

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[Zena Kaeda]

All right, let's keep this conversation going and like kind of talk up on the Knick side a little bit because I feel like, I don't know, I might be on the opposite send side of things when I'm looking at this, this partnership between the Knicks and the spurs in terms of what's going out on the floor here. A lot of folks are saying, oh you know, the Knicks are going to go back to what they were doing for these win streak that they were on. They're not going to have a game in which they have 13 turnovers and give up over 20 points off of those. They're not going to have a game where Mikhail Bridges only has two points. They're not going to have a game where, you know, Carl Anthony towns only has 10 shot attempts. And I'm like, okay, maybe, maybe they might not, but here's the way I'm looking at it and why I feel like the spurs are in a really great position to flip the script on pretty much everything we've known historically about the Finals and take game four. If you're looking at the way that New York has scored up until this series, I mean, they've been killing dudes. 130, 120, 140 being put up on Atlanta and Philly.

[Esperahini]

Number one offense in the playoffs, number

[Zena Kaeda]

one offense in the playoffs. And you're keeping them two games in a row to 1:05. And then, you know, getting to a place even in this, this last game where you got there because you're trying to close the game out and people were putting up free throws or whatever. But this is a, this is a low scoring Knicks team and your defense is doing that and you're proving to yourself, okay, our defense can be as physical as we want and all we have to do is make our shots and we have to be aggressive getting to the basket. So I feel like mentally the spurs are in a really great place to just do what they've always done this season to get them to 62 wins, which is play your defense, hopefully your offense will come off of it, which is what happened in game three, this argument that Carl Anthony Towns needs more shots. I want to talk to you guys about this because that's been like a really big focal point. You can't win if Carl Anthony towns, who's averaged 17 points through the playoffs, only has 10 shot attempts out. Evidence point to you to evidence 1A. I don't know how they bring things in court, but against Atlanta in game six of the Eastern Conference in the first series, excuse me. The Knicks won 140 to 89 in that game. Guess how many shot attempts Karl Anthony Towns had.

[Esperahini]

I'm gonna say nine, Dave.

[Dave DeFore]

Eight.

[Zena Kaeda]

He had four get four shot attempts in that game. They won by 140. 89. Tell me how many field goals he made of the four. Two, Dave?

[Dave DeFore]

I don't know. Was he one for four in the game?

[Zena Kaeda]

He was one for four in that game. You want to know the difference? He made 10 of 10 free throws, right?

[Dave DeFore]

Right.

[Zena Kaeda]

He was aggressive to the basket. That's how he made his 12 points.

[Esperahini]

He probably had like six or seven assists too, right?

[Zena Kaeda]

Well, he had a triple double he had 12 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists. I think with Carl Anthony Towns, it's way less to do with how many shot attempts is he going to get, how many opportunities at the basket, Number one. It has to be if he has an opportunity, he's got to be physically aggressive to the basket. He's got to force the issue with the refs, make the ref uncomfortable with their whistle in their mouth. Ooh, is that I got to call it. That's what he needs to be doing from an offensive perspective, but really offensively, he needs to be the hub again. He needs to be someone that they can utilize to relieve pressure off of Jalen Brunson. Because that all night long, like up and down the court, Jalen Brunson being chased around, being trying to get to the half court, being thrown doubles at him at the, you know, half court line, like that's a lot to deal with. And I really think that if Carl Anthony Towns can be in a position where he's a reliever, he's someone that maybe takes the ball off the rim, brings it up, just shifts the defense defensive attention a little bit, that I think can be a huge changer for the Knicks going into game four.

[Dave DeFore]

Well, doesn't that make things easier for everybody? Right? Like Jalen Brunson even, you know, they could run. And Xena, look, you, you know, the warriors offense, Draymond Green, have we seen a single split cut in this series from the Knicks yet? You know, I think that there's a lot they could do there. And they have been setting Jalen Brunson up with some pre switching, you know, getting into their half court stuff. But ultimately, I think you're absolutely right. Cat has to play better. I mean, the first two games of the series, he, he was the best player in the series. And in, in the game last night, you know, it was just, you didn't feel him. He made a couple of defensive plays, but the three ball didn't drop. You know, he had been shooting 48% in the playoffs up until last night, and he just wasn't as aggressive attacking the rim. Yeah, and part of that is, you know, they've, they've just changed the way that they're guarding. They, they've committed to Wemby on Josh Hart, and now it's Steph Castle. Steph Castle. Is Kelton Johnson more physical? They're bigger. They can just beat him up a little bit more. And I think it's just a harder time now. The, the, the counter there is a little bit of all Right, Cat, this is what you paid to do and you got to just put your boots on and go to work. And so I think in game four, I don't expect the spurs to all of a sudden say, oh well, guarding Josh Hart with Wemby works so great for us. Let's just go away from that. I assume that we're going to see him stay on Josh Hart and that the primary guys guarding Cat are going to be Castle, Johnson. Johnson and who? And who? Whatever other big body they're trying to throw at him. But I don't know if you noticed the cena, they worked really hard. The Knicks were working really hard trying to get the spurs to switch off the ball to get Cat, you know, on Fox or Champagne, one of the smaller guys, Vassell even.

[Esperahini]

And the one, one time that he got it right. Yeah, the one time that he got Fox is when he scored in that fourth quarter, had that like tough little runner.

[Dave DeFore]

So I think that there are counters that they tried in the game. They just didn't do them aggressively enough. They didn't go to them often enough. And I almost think if there's a little bit of, you know, we, we've talked about this with Wemby. Can the spurs do something to set up his post ups to get, make it easier screen for him as he's coming across the lane? I, I wouldn't be shocked if we see some of that. Maybe some OG Carl Anthony Town's two man game.

[Esperahini]

I was actually gonna say, I, I would like to see. And we saw a little bit of this in game one, but inverted screen, some inverted pick and rolls. Have Jalen Brunson be the guy, you know, kind of setting the screen for him, popping out. That also weaponizes Jalen Brunson off of the ball. So he can be a little bit more of a catch and shoot guy or catch and go guy. I, I just think that opens things up. And also to your point, it opens the switch, right? You can now get whoever is guarding Brunson to switch onto Cat and you have an easier advantage to go. I, I agree with you, Zena, that it's not about him necessarily looking for a shot, but him being the hub, him being aggressive in the sense that he's looking to make plays. I mean, the bread and butter for the Knicks throughout this massive historic run was that flex action that wasn't as available to them tonight or I guess in Game 3, partially because of Castle, his physicality getting under him. But also I think the Knicks did a. The Spurs Did a really good job off of the ball, switching those actions, making it so that there isn't a back door cut available or Brunson popping out to above the break. There were just so many better answers.

[Dave DeFore]

But also the, the biggest thing, the biggest factor in the game. Victor Wyama didn't look tired. He didn't, he wasn't as gas.

[Esperahini]

There was a moment quarter where he, you saw him love, but he wasn't

[Dave DeFore]

as gassed as he was in game one and two. His activity was high, you know, it was more like we expect out of him.

[Zena Kaeda]

It felt like he was pushing through,

[Dave DeFore]

he was swatting at everything.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And it felt like he was like really exploding still in the second half. So I do agree with you that, with that Dave, like even if he was tired, it felt as if he was, he was like fighting through it. He just like refused to go down.03 and that's where, you know, that was the well from which he was pulling to get through the last half of that game. I want to close this out as we think about, you know, the next game, Game four, obviously still in Madison Square Garden. That atmosphere is not gonna go away. And I thought it was interesting that Dylan Harper and speaking to Scott Van Pelt last night, Scott was like talking about free throws and being able to hit free throws and Victor Wembanyama being really key in that, particularly in the second half of the game. And he was like, you know, paraphrasing here, but Scott was like, you know, isn't that a lot, you know, rather than being in an empty gym? And Dylan made a really great point. He was like, well, sometimes just you and the ball in an empty gym can be way more pressure than just being in the raucous atmosphere of, you know, a crowd like msg. And it felt as if that's what the spurs had, like it might have almost helped them. And even though, yes, Victor Weminyama did say that playing at MSG is like being, you know, five against six and being at home is like being six against five. Sure, he can say that, but I felt like there was just this lock in bubble around them at msg and I felt, I don't know if you guys sensed that at all in your, in the post game or pregame commentary that you guys got from the, the, the guys, but it just felt like they were, they understood how to insulate themselves against the craziness around them.

[Esperahini]

I, I, this is something I mentioned last night too, but there is an ease and a confidence to the way that the spurs are approaching the series. They have never felt like they, they. There's any sort of pressure on. They're chill, they're relaxed. Wemby is drawing statues in the park, for Christ's sake.

[Zena Kaeda]

Right. With his sister.

[Esperahini]

Genuinely Right. Like there is a confidence to the process for the Spurs. And I think that alludes to something you mentioned earlier, Zena, where it's like the margin has been so thin in these games where the spurs feel like they could be the ones up to one instead of the Knicks. And so I, I feel that goes back to. I know Kenny Atkinson got a lot of, you know, he got dog. Oh, here we go for the analytically winning 2:1. But I feel like the spurs have a little bit of that in the sense that they're like, hey, we should be up in this.

[Dave DeFore]

Well, they could easily be up 3 0.

[Esperahini]

Right.

[Dave DeFore]

They blew leads in the first two games and they managed exactly right. And, and so as good as the Knicks have been at pulling those, those

[Esperahini]

wins out and because they again, they have made this series look, all three of us predicted Spurs.

[Dave DeFore]

Right.

[Esperahini]

The Knicks have made this series way more competitive. They have flipped the advantage. They are a tough matchup for the spurs at the same time though.

[Dave DeFore]

Okay, let me ask you guys a question here.

[Esperahini]

Yeah.

[Dave DeFore]

All right. You remember the. The Suns buck series.

[Esperahini]

Of course.

[Dave DeFore]

Suns win the first two games. All the talk is Chris Paul's going to get a ring. Wow. Chris Paul's getting a ring. Finally.

[Esperahini]

Point God.

[Dave DeFore]

Bucks run off fourth straight. Yeah.

[Zena Kaeda]

And then Chris joins the Warriors.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah. Could that happen here? Xena, do you think you feel like that? I would say the spurs win the

[Esperahini]

next more historic than that because that

[Dave DeFore]

losing them at home by far.

[Zena Kaeda]

Right. I've already kind of put it in my mind that I do think the spurs are going to win the next three. Wow. I do. I actually do. And I, I genuinely, I'm telling you there is something about the way one like listening to Victor Womenyama tell Lisa Salters, which by the way, if you have not seen that interview, it is so funny from Lisa Salter's arm just being the only thing you can see of her in the screen. But Victor Weimanyama telling like she's asking like, how's your confidence shake from. That was hilarious. Victor Waymiama's like saying that, you know, our confidence hasn't changed. Like we're, we're always confident. Like we're not stressed. So I'm just watching because I'm not there. Right. So I'm only I can only watch these interviews. So Victor Emanyama says what he says. Then Stefan Castle joins the guys and, you know, the inside the NBA guys, and he's really like. Like, yeah, answering his questions. Super poised, super dry. Nothing. He's not chill. And. And then Scott Van Pelt goes on and asks Dylan Harper about, like, you know, the no celebration, et cetera. And it's funny because Dylan Harper mentions that, like, Jay Z walked behind him. And there's moments, of course, these guys are young. They're having their msg. There's. It's a list, celebrities everywhere. I'm sure there's moments Dylan mentioned that he couldn't even do his prayer pregame because he was just so. There was so much going on. It was so much distraction around him. So there's moments. But there is a way right now that these spurs are showing up in a. And they don't, quote, know any better. They don't know any better than to be worried. They don't know any better than to.

[Dave DeFore]

They don't know they're not supposed to be here.

[Zena Kaeda]

Exactly. That's a great point. I don't know, y'. All. I might be crazy, but I just feel like, yes, the Knicks are great, but the. As you. I think the s. You said it. The margin of error is so thin that it's just enough to tip the spurs way.

[Esperahini]

I'll just. I'll say one more thing about the they don't know any better. I think we're seeing a trend across the NBA of young teams that don't know better. And I think this comes down to the camera being in their face for all of their lives.

[Zena Kaeda]

The entirety of their lives. Yeah.

[Esperahini]

I mean, right now, as we speak, AJ DeBonsa is doing pressers. He's about to be the probably the number one overall pick in 2026. That is the type of exposure this guy and anybody at his talent level has been dealing with since he was 10 years old. So the experience does not matter. They were asking him about Madison Square Garden. He's like, ye, I've played here five times. You know, so it just. It does not matter.

[Zena Kaeda]

Like, Stefan Castle has played a title game in msg. Like, he. Yeah, when he hit that three that, you know, when Victor Romanyama had that awkward pass because he got locked up a little bit, and he passed it out to Stefan Castle. He hits that 28, 29, 30 footer, and he just presses down. Y' all see him presses the air down to be like, settle down. And he walked off And I'm telling you, I was like, this kid's. Oh, yeah. Not even like in the philosophical way of he's been here before. No, he quite literally has been. Literally has been here before at msg. Right. Like, this isn't a new news to him.

[Esperahini]

It's one of those things where it's like they still make young mistakes. Like, the pass in game two was clearly young mistake. The turnovers, those are still young mistakes.

[Zena Kaeda]

Outlets.

[Esperahini]

Right. But the experience factor, it's not like, it's not like players are coming from Little Rock, Arkansas, and they've never been to New York anymore. You know what I mean? And they haven't seen anything anymore that doesn't exist. Like, that type of player is few and far between now. It's guys who have had exposure, have been on Instagram since they were seven years old. Like, that's the type of NBA players that we're seeing now.

[Dave DeFore]

There's high school kids playing in this gym. Yeah.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yeah. Okay, Dave, prediction Game four, I think

[Dave DeFore]

Spurs, I think that they, they discovered themselves a little bit and the, the adjustment of having Wemby not be as active in rotation on defense and allowing him to do just. Hey, his job right now is to protect the brim.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yeah.

[Dave DeFore]

Right.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yep.

[Dave DeFore]

And that is something that we haven't seen a team figure out yet. So I'm, I'm, I'm looking forward to the Knicks bouncing back, though, because this series is so close. Like, I, I can't. It's hard to pick them. Yeah. You know, if the Knicks come out, that was their. I think that was their bad game, if I'm being honest. I think that shooting night is their bad shooting night. And I think that if I'm the Spurs, I'm nervous about the Knicks coming out and hitting 20, 22 threes in the next game. So. But I don't know. I'm going to go with Spurs. I just, I like where they're at right now.

[Esperahini]

This is exactly how the series is going to play out. I promise you guys. They call me Nostra estimus, whatever you want to call it. The Knicks are going to win game four. And it's going to be, like you said, an onslaught, 22 threes knock down. So it'll be three one. And then with the season on the line, San Antonio will stay alive in San Antonio. Game 5. It will be a close game, but Wemby will be very, very excited. They'll pull it out. And then game six in New York. The New York Knicks will win the.

[Dave DeFore]

This is Wish casting. That is Wishcasting, because I will be

[Esperahini]

back here for Game six live. Everybody tune in to the Athletic NBA Daily.

[Dave DeFore]

S Is S is off the road for the next two games.

[Zena Kaeda]

And speaking of which, you all will be going live after Game four. So everyone listening. Make sure you are tapped in with that. It's always fun to be able to hear the immediate reactions after these games, especially because they've been so close. Well, I appreciate you guys being on site giving us the insights. It's been fun, even though I'm desperately jealous that I'm not there. But that's okay. Y' all are holding.

[Esperahini]

We miss you. We miss you a lot.

[Zena Kaeda]

I miss you guys. I know y' all are having fun. All right, everyone, thank you so much.

[Dave DeFore]

Everybody's asking us where you're at.

[Zena Kaeda]

Oh, well, they're just gonna have to tune in and go see my face on YouTube, including you all listening. Okay? Appreciate you guys tuning in. Thank you, Dave. Thank you, S. On behalf of all of us at the Athletic. Please go read our stuff. Go tap into the live show and we'll talk to you guys later. Enjoy the rest of your day and thanks for waking up with.

[Dave DeFore]

Thanks for listening. Make sure you hit the subscribe or follow button so you never miss an episode if you enjoyed it. Drop a like leave a rating or let us know in the comments. Thank you guys for waking up with us. It's smart to always have a few financial goals and a really smart one. You can set earning cash back on what you buy every day. And with Discover, you can get this. Discover automatically matches all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. Seriously, all of it. And we trust you to make smart decisions. After all, you listen to this show. See [e-mail] creditcard ever been at the

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