Hour 1 – Spurs Win Game 3, Tim Legler

Summary

The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 1 – Spurs Win Game 3, Tim Legler (June 9, 2026)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the dramatic Game 3 victory by the San Antonio Spurs over the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals. Host Dan Patrick and the Danettes unpack the pivotal moments from the game, the surprising resilience of the young Spurs team, the controversy around officiating and foul calls, and the shifting series momentum. NBA analyst Tim Legler joins to break down X’s and O’s, the psychological swings, and what to expect as the Finals progress.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Spurs Pull Off a Statement Win in NYC (01:41–07:41)

• Dan Patrick recaps the rollercoaster of Game 3, highlighting the Spurs' 115-111 win and Victor Wembanyama’s 32-point performance.
• Dan notes the unexpected composure and maturity of the Spurs' young core, emphasizing their refusal to fold under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden:
  • “Desperate times, desperate measures. They played that way and they eke out the win… The Spurs did what they needed to do.” (02:30)
  • “It’s a game of chess. Not checkers. The Spurs know what the Knicks are going to do now—they’re going to be physical right from the beginning.” (03:45)
• Recurring Knicks issues include continual slow starts (down double digits in all three games), dependence on Jalen Brunson, and subpar games from key contributors (Mikal Bridges, Karl-Anthony Towns, Landry Shamet).
• “It’s like all the ingredients to make a great meal. They just didn’t have a chef.” (04:23)
• The Spurs’ physical defense and key contributions from Stefan Castle and Dylan Harper are praised as essential for making the Finals a real series.

2. Officiating & Foul Disparity Debate (09:56–12:47)

• Knicks coach Mike Brown’s post-game criticism of officiating takes center stage:
  • “There were opportunities for fouls to be called... That’s tough to overcome when you’re playing against a great team.” (Mike Brown, 09:56)
• Dan and Paulie discuss the ongoing gamesmanship of working the referees through the media, referencing classic Phil Jackson tactics, and analyzing whether such comments actually influence future calls.
• Statistical context is provided: Spurs attempted 32 free throws versus the Knicks’ 22 at home, unusual for a home team in the Finals.

3. The Spurs’ Youth & Poise on the Big Stage (08:04, 12:47–15:43, 37:47–39:36)

• Paulie details how the narrative of the moment being “too big” for the Spurs’ young roster didn’t bear out, crediting NBA bloodlines (Dylan Harper), big-tournament experience (Stefan Castle), and Wemby’s European pro journey.
• Marvin observes how the Spurs’ fast start “completely tak[es] the crowd out” (12:47), neutralizing the fabled Garden energy.
• Dan and Legler later reinforce the point: “Their top three players are 22 and under, and they went into that environment last night and played their best game” (Dan Patrick, quoting Legler, 34:28).

4. Tim Legler’s Detailed NBA Finals Analysis (22:40–39:36)

Physicality and Officiating Context

• Legler asserts the game was physical on both sides—not a one-sided whistle:
  • “If you and I went frame by frame and looked at the game like a Zapruder film, we’re going to see a lot of physicality on both ends.” (Tim Legler, 23:10)
• Acknowledges the growing physicality in these playoffs, and that ramped-up intensity is classic NBA postseason basketball.
• On foul disparity: Spurs have been aggressive all season/postseason; Knicks have a lower free-throw rate by nature.

Series Pressure & Momentum

• Legler explains that Spurs benefitted from going on the road, focusing better after missed opportunities in Games 1 and 2.
• On the Knicks: “I thought the Knicks offense was very predictable… it hurt them.” (Legler, 27:49)
• On the psychological impact of expectations and pressure in NYC, especially with the President and celebrities in attendance.

X’s and O’s: What Changed in Game 3?

• Spurs’ stars set the tone early by attacking the paint, calming the young team.
• Halftime served as a valuable reset for the Spurs after a Knicks 42-point second quarter surge.
• Spurs “recalibrated” and regained control with defense and low turnovers, showing rare composure for such a young group.

How To Adjust and Win Moving Forward

• Legler says the Knicks must diversify their offense and take some ball-handling pressure off Jalen Brunson, who’s been worn down by elite defense and high usage.
• Notes Karl-Anthony Towns was under-utilized in Game 3.
• Credits the Spurs’ Dylan Harper for his physical presence and poise despite his youth.
• “Their purpose was better than the Knicks last night.” (Tim Legler, 38:24)

Officiating Commentary’s Effectiveness

• Legler doubts postgame officiating gripes change much:
  • “I’ve never thought it helps. That’s just been my opinion my entire career as a player and covering this for the last 25 years.” (31:19)
  • He warns against a “pendulum” correction, noting that every night, one fanbase feels wronged.

Garden Environment

• Describes MSG’s atmosphere: “It felt to me before the game like the court had shrunk… activity and environment was around the sidelines and baseline.” (Tim Legler, 35:35)
• Emphasizes how Spurs nullified this by taking control early.

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Dan Patrick, 04:23: “It’s like all the ingredients to make a great meal. They just didn’t have a chef.”
• Mike Brown, Knicks Head Coach, 09:56: “There were opportunities for fouls to be called to at least try to even the free throws out... That’s tough to overcome when you’re playing against a great team.”
• Tim Legler, 23:10: “If you and I went frame by frame and looked at the game last night like a Zapruder film, we’re going to see a lot of physicality on both ends of the floor.”
• Dan Patrick, 34:28: “Their top three players are 22 and under, and they went into that environment last night and played their best game of the series.”
• Tim Legler, 35:35: “It felt to me before the game like the court had shrunk. That’s how much activity and environment was around the sidelines and baseline.”
• Play of the Day, Spurs Radio Network, 43:24: “Victor back to Castle’s got to force it up—right wing three… Got it! Steph Castle drains a right wing three!”

---

Important Timestamps

• 01:41 — Show proper begins, game recap, setting the stakes for Spurs/Knicks series.
• 04:23 — Dan’s memorable “ingredients/chef” analogy about the Knicks’ failed opportunity.
• 07:49 — Dan and Dylan discuss in-game bets and the unpredictability of Finals basketball.
• 09:56 — Coach Mike Brown’s press conference quote on officiating and foul disparity.
• 12:47 — Marvin: Spurs’ fast start silenced the MSG crowd.
• 15:16–15:43 — Discussion of controversial replay calls, flagrant fouls, and the impact on game swing.
• 22:40 — Tim Legler joins, gives official’s perspective and physicality analysis.
• 27:49 — Legler critiques the Knicks’ offense; discusses psychological and tactical rebounds.
• 34:28 — Legler and Dan highlight the age and composure of Spurs’ stars.
• 35:35 — Legler paints a picture of the Garden’s “shrinking” under playoff atmosphere.
• 43:24 — Play of the Day: Stef Castle’s clutch 3-pointer for San Antonio.

---

Additional Topics & Listener Calls

• Value of early leads and controlling game tempo in a hostile playoff environment.
• Spurs’ historical significance: second youngest duo (Wembanyama & Castle) with 20+ points in an NBA Finals game.
• Poll question: “Which team do you have more faith in—Knicks or Golden Knights?” (44:01)
• Dramatic drops in Game 4 ticket prices described.
• Listener feedback—praise for Spurs’ poise, criticism of Knicks’ rotation decisions (Landry Shamet), and brief detour to NCAA football “Brendan Sorsby saga.”

---

Conclusion

Hour 1 of The Dan Patrick Show spotlights a watershed moment in the 2026 NBA Finals. The Spurs have stormed back into the series with a statement win led by their young stars, resetting the pressure in what many expected to be a Knicks coronation. Lively debate about physical play, coaching mind games, and the mental swing for both teams sets the tone for the next pivotal contest. Insightful analysis from Tim Legler provides added depth, with particular emphasis on composure under fire and tactical adjustments for the games ahead.

---

For listeners or readers catching up, this episode is a masterclass in dissecting playoff basketball drama—with Dan Patrick’s signature humor and energy keeping things both informed and entertaining.

Transcript

[Dan Patrick]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Paulie]

Guaranteed Human. I turned off news altogether. I hate to say it, but I don't trust much of anything. It's the rage bait. It feels like it's trying to divide people.

[Dan Patrick]

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

[NBC News Announcer]

NBC News brings you clear reporting. Let's meet at the Facts. Let's move forward from there. NBC News reporting for America.

[Paulie]

Lot to celebrate this summer. And why not take the beverage with you that loves to celebrate with you. Keep it classic. It's Miller Lite. Whether you're toasting the birth of our nation, our soccer team, or maybe just a warm evening on the deck, it's Miller time in America. That's why I reach for a Miller Lite. And you should, too. All American summer starts with an all American beer. Go to millerlight.com Patrick Find delivery options near you or pick up Miller Lite pretty much anywhere that they sell beer. It's Miller Time. Celebrate response responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 96 calories, 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces. Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile with a message for everyone paying big wireless way too much. Please, for the love of everything good in this world, stop with Mint. You can get premium wireless for just $15 a month. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying. No judgments. But that's weird. Okay, one judgment anyway. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment

[Funko Pop Advertiser]

of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per rate. First 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full [e-mail] tires matter.

[Paulie]

They're the only part of your vehicle that touches the road. Tread confidently with new tires from Tire Rack. Whether you're looking for expert recommendations or know exactly what you want, Tire Rack makes it really easy. Fast. Free shipping, free road hazard protection, convenient installation options and the best selection of Goodyear tires. Go to tirerack.com dam see their goodyear test results, tire ratings and reviews. Be sure to check out all the special offers. Tirerack.com the way Tire buying should be. You are listening to the Dan Patrick show on Fox Sports Radio. Well, well, well, do we have a series now? Welcome to the program, hour one on this Tuesday, Dan and the Danette's Dan Patrick Show. We got you covered. Recapping the game, Tim Legler from the mothership, their lead NBA analyst will join us. Coming up a little bit, Christopher Mad Dog Russo will stop by as well. And the Hurricanes at my Golden Knights game 4. What can they do for an encore this crazy series so far that'll be coming up tonight? 877-3DP show operator Tyler sitting around doing nothing but taking your phone calls. We have a poll question. Play of the day Stat of the day or two all of that forthcoming. Good morning. If you're watching the program we're on Peacock and NBC Sports Network and our radio affiliates around the country. Over 400 radio stations around the country that carry this award nominated program. Stat of the day is always brought to you by Panini America. The official trading carts of the Dan Patrick show and tire rack is ready to help you like they've been helping other people for 40 years. The right tires for how and what and where you drive ship fast and free. Backed by free road hazard protection. Convenient installation options like mobile tire installation. Tirerack.com the way tire buying should be. Well, the spurs did what they needed to do. Desperate times, desperate measures. They played that way and they eke out the win 115 to 11132 for Victor Wembanyama. And in case you're wondering, I was curious. The spurs were only a two and a half point underdog last night and the spurs are two and a half point underdogs tomorrow night. The series is far from over in my opinion. I didn't think the spurs would get swept. Still might be a six game series but now you have a little bit of doubt. And I said yesterday to start the show the pressure was going to be on the Knicks. Everybody showed up. The President's there, you got all your celebrities. This is a mere formality. The spurs are broken. We're gonna win. We're at home, we're in the Garden and then all of a sudden you forgot to deliver. You had everything there. It's like all the ingredients to make a great meal. They just didn't have a chef. Because the spurs took it to the Knicks last night. And yes. Are there going to be complaints about the disparity in fouls called? You know they were very similar in the number of fouls that were were called. It was just what fouls were and weren't called called. I think that was the big question mark that I would have. Were the spurs physical? Absolutely. Did Wemby get away with a push on Jaylen Brunson? Absolutely. It's going to be this way in Game 4. Now it's the Knicks turn. It's a game of chess. It's not checkers. Now this burrs know what the Knicks are going to do. They're going to be physical right from the beginning. Here's the trend that would concern me if I'm a knicks fan. Game one, the Knicks were down by 14. Game two, down by 12. Game three, the Knicks down by 12. So you needed Brunson master class in closing games one and two to survive. Now they came back in the second quarter and put up 42. But you can't have this seesaw back and forth. You can't let San Antonio get up and then all that energy it takes to come back from down 12. Now they survived games one and two, certainly two last night. The spurs played great defense, physical defense. Wemby was great. Stefan Castle, Dylan Harper. This is the contributions that you need if you're going to make this a six or seven game series. But the Knicks last night, they didn't have it. Mikhail Bridges didn't have it. Brunson is still going to shoot, not shooting a good percentage. Carl Anthony Towns didn't have a good game. Landry Shamut didn't have a good game. This was one of those games where you say, all right, that's one. That's one where we didn't look good. We had won 13 in a row. Let's go back to what we did during that winning streak. But San Antonio knows, they know they let game two slip away. I thought they had a great look. And Wemby with a pick and a pop and he should have made that shot. And we could be looking at San Antonio up two games to one. It's a strange thing happen on the way to the coronation. Strange thing happened on the way to the parade. You gotta make sure it's one game at a time. The spurs aren't broken. The spurs aren't going to be a mere formality. I mean, Wemby won't allow that to happen. He's had a really good. If you look at his numbers, they're really good. That's how great he is, that he's really good. And we think he's had a subpar performance in the NBA Finals. Still a lot of basketball left to be played now, the Knicks winning tomorrow night. You'd probably expect that. I expected the spurs to win last night. Why? I've been doing this for a long time. It's just weird things happen. You get a weird feeling. I even said to Dylan Dill I'd go moneyline on the Spurs. How did you do last night?

[Dylan]

I did take your advice there. I had the Spurs. I live bet them also when they were down. But I threw in A couple Deer and Fox I have a. I have a problem with. I had a couple of parlays where that was the only leg that. Which is. You know what, Shame on me.

[Paulie]

But he did hit maybe the biggest shot of the night, either him or Stefan Castle. And I'm thinking the last guy I think is going to hit a shot is de' Aaron Fox. And he hit a. He hit a big shot when they needed it. But also Castle had a big shot as well in the final two minutes. Remember, this is supposed to be too big of a stage for the young Spurs. Well, when this series started, I said, Dylan Harper's dad played in the NBA. He's from Jersey, he's played in the Garden. Stefan Castle played there at UConn Biggie's tournaments, NCAA tournament games. And Wemby's been a pro for a few years, not only in the NBA, but back home in France. Like, okay, you know, the only person I thought maybe it's a too big a moment was Mitch Johnson, the Spurs head coach, because you haven't been in this situation before. But I don't think the spurs are crumbling here. If the Knicks play great, then they're going to win game four. But I've yet to see them actually play a great game. But it's coming, and Brunson is going to have one of those games where you go, where's this been? Spurs know what they're doing on defense. These kids are playing great defense, physical defense, tough defense, and they'll continue to do that. Now it's up to Brunson, because when he makes those shots, we go, wow, those are great shots. When he misses them, we're like, man, he's out of control. Well, you could imagine that after the game, everybody wanted to talk about the officiating here is, well, if you want to hear somebody get fined while they're delivering their line in the post game press conference, here's the Knicks head coach, Mike Brown.

[Dan Patrick]

There were opportunities for fouls to be called to at least try to even the free throws out to go 24 free throw attempts in a second half. That's 48 for the game. If you think about it the way that they called that second half, compared to eight, all the shots we took, we got fouled four times, roughly for eight free throw attempts. Again, I don't complain much. I never thought I'd see that in an NBA Finals game, and I saw it tonight. That's tough to overcome when you're playing against a great team.

[Paulie]

Yeah, he's going to get fined for that. I understand what he's saying, but this is strategy. Now I'm going to talk to Tim Legolor. He'll join us in about 15 minutes from now. I don't know how this impacts the officiating for the next game. I know Phil Jackson was a master at this. And back then they weren't fining you for saying things. Phil would say it in his Zen like manner. Be nice if we got some of those calls that they're getting. I mean, that. That's all it would take for Phil. But this is different. The commissioner's there and you know all we've talked about flopping. And that's not really a conversation during the NBA Finals. It was with okc, but that's only because of one player. I don't think flop. Flopping is an epidemic. I think it is with sga, but not in the NBA Finals. We haven't heard anything about that, which is good. I'm fine with that. But you start to look at the free throw disparity. Spurs had 32, the Knicks had 22 at home. That normally doesn't happen. Doesn't happen in the postseason. But I'm going to give credit to the spurs aggressiveness. I thought the Knicks lacked a little bit of that. We got to win this now because if you win last night, now, you know you're winning the title. You know it. They're not going to beat us four consecutive games. And I would have played with that sense of urgency. And that's why I was saying the Knicks have more pressure because these Wemby even talked after the game. He goes, we're young. We don't know what we're not supposed to know or do. Damn, he sounds way more mature than 22 when you hear him. Like he's got a thought behind everything that he says. And then you find out that he spent his day in Gramercy park, which is. I don't know how he got the key to Gramercy Park. You're supposed to have a key to open up the gate and then you go in there. It's not a big park. And he went in there and he was painting. Did he have a beret on? An easel? Easel. Easy easel, yes. He's going to be doing nudes there. Yes, Marvin.

[Marvin]

And I think a really important thing for the spurs was getting off to a hot start and completely taking the crowd out because they were pumped the entire pregame, two hours before the game started. And they took him out of the Game asap.

[Paulie]

Yeah, and I wondered about that because the crowd, you. You want that crowd on your side. It's. You don't want that crowd against you at the Garden because they came there to, you know, watch the coronation. Like we're winning like this. This is Christmas Eve. We're open up presents. Then all of a sudden you realize you don't get to open up the present. You got to wait the next day. And now you have to win this next game. There's the pressure again, because San Antonio gets to go back home. Guaranteed, they get to go back home. And do you think the Knicks are going to win again in San Antonio? Has any NBA team, I'm just wondering out loud, won three road games in the NBA Finals? Yes. Marvin. Man, don't quote me, but I'm going to.

[Marvin]

Okay, I think maybe the 93 finals, that was one of the crazier ones. I think the first three games were won by the road team.

[Paulie]

Okay, but did the eventual champion win three road games?

[Pauly]

Yeah, Paulie, I had the 93 Bulls winning Games 1, 2 and 5 at Phoenix, and I got the 90 Pistons.

[Paulie]

Can I quote you, Marvin? Now?

[Marvin]

You can now.

[Paulie]

Okay, well, that's a great bloop. Yeah. So you're trying to win three games on the road. Okay. Yes. Yes. Dylan.

[Dylan]

I don't know, though. The Knicks look pretty comfortable in San Antonio the first two games, especially compared to last night.

[Paulie]

Well, I don't think in game two, they look comfortable.

[Dylan]

Okay, not comfortable. But hey, they won.

[Paulie]

Yes, they did. Yes, they did. Well, I look at San Antonio lost that game. Yeah, game one. Give that to the Knicks. So now you have the spurs winning a game and they, they win in the most hostile atmosphere these kids have ever been in. And they are kids. And they did it. Everybody's there, all the celebrities, the President's there, Robert Kraft is there, the Patriots owner Jimmy Johnson is there. Like there are a couple of randos. And I go, wait a minute. Jimmy Johnson, Robert Kraft. Yes. Paulie.

[Pauly]

There are a couple replays, though. I know you're complaining about the refs if you're a Knicks guy, but there was a replay maybe eight minutes left in the fourth where Wemby hit that three and got fouled.

[Paulie]

Yeah.

[Pauly]

About to be a four point play and I didn't see it. They called offensive foul on Keldon Johnson and it was a great replay and it worked in the Knicks favor. And then there was a replay, maybe two minutes to go. Ball went out of bounds off Dylan Harper, but it was called off the Knicks at first and then they replayed it. So the replays went in the Knicks favor.

[Paulie]

Yeah, the Knicks got some calls. You tend to look at the totality of the game, but you know, these calls, when they were called, you, you're thinking, wow, you know, the basketball gods are against us. You got two calls that were the correct calls. Yes, Marvin.

[Marvin]

I think two things that are really going to stand out is the non flagrant call on Stefan Castle and the flagrant call on Jalen Brunson.

[Paulie]

Well, Brunson, I think it's a flagrant if you impede somebody's landing area after taking a shot. So it's not a foul. I believe that is a flagrant. And even though he's doesn't look like he's trying to do it, it doesn't matter. You did it and you know, you got in his space. Didn't Brunson get the call or no sga, I think got a call in the previous series where it looked Darren Fox, I think they called him for kind of, you know, getting in. And I'm fine with that call. Anybody who's been up for a jump shot and all of a sudden somebody sticks. Now, players used to stick their foot out. Not that you would land on their foot, but you would think about that foot when you're coming down. So they did. Knicks did get some calls. The Wemby call, you know, somebody had to be up late at night for the Knicks. Editing all of these different plays together to send to the NBA today.

[Pauly]

Yes, Paulie, going back to that flagrant on Brunson. Brunson goes to Cloud close out champagne and he sticks his foot out and actually hits the back of Brunson's leg on the landing. Like he initiated the landing. Contact. And Brunson got called.

[Paulie]

Yeah, but that's what Reggie Miller made a career out of that. He was going to get you up or he was going to flail into you. And some players you're taught if you're going up and somebody's into you, then you can, you know, be a little more overly dramatic. And they got the call. Yes, Marvin.

[Marvin]

No, you're right about the actual rules, but I'm just talking about the optics and how it looks like. Wait, Castle running Brunson over wasn't a flagrant. I know, but Brunson turning his head and having his foot there was a flag. I'm just talking about the optics, not the rules.

[Paulie]

Well, even Cornet knocking, you know, Josh Hart down. And I'm like, at least help him up. Don't make it so obvious. It was like made basket and they blasted him like. Okay. All right. Legs will join us. We'll have a poll question for the first hour of the program. Christopher Mad Dog Russo will join us next hour. Your phone calls as well. We're back after this Dan PATRICK Show. Be sure to catch the live edition of the Dan Patrick show, weekdays at 9am Eastern, 6am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio in the iHeartRadio app.

[Dan Patrick]

Hey, it's Rob Parker and Kelvin Washington from the Odd Couple on FOX Sports Radio.

[Paulie]

And in addition to hearing us live

[Dan Patrick]

weeknights from 7 to 10pm Eastern on

[Paulie]

Fox Sports Radio, we are excited to announce brand new YouTube channel for the show.

[Dan Patrick]

That's right. You can now watch the Odd couple live on YouTube every day.

[Paulie]

All you got to do, search Odd Couple FSR on YouTube again.

[Dan Patrick]

YouTube.

[Paulie]

Just search Odd Couple FSR. Check us out on YouTube and subscribe. Lot to celebrate this summer. And you can do so in style with Miller Lite. If you're going to celebrate the birth of our nation, that's 250 years. Well, Miller Light's been around 50 of those 250. What did we do the other 200 years without it? If our soccer team is scoring a big goal or just a warm evening on the deck, it's Miller time in America. That's why I reach for a Miller Lite and you should, too. Miller Lite is perfect to kick off the summer or a sporting event. 96 calories, 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces. It's a great choice without weighing you down. Simple ingredients, malted barley for that rich balanced toffee. Note flavors and you know, that iconic golden color. And all American summer starts with an all American beer Miller lite. Go to millerlight.com Patrick and find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories, 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces. I turned off news altogether. I hate to say it, but I don't trust much of anything. It's the rage bait. It feels like it's trying to divide people.

[Dan Patrick]

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

[NBC News Announcer]

NBC News brings you clear reporting. Let's meet at the facts. Let's move forward from there. NBC News reporting for America.

[Tav Ramos]

This is Tav Ramos from inside American Soccer. And this summer, topgolf is turning into the ultimate soccer destination. They're not just throwing games on in the background. Topgolf is going all in on soccer. They've got a new soccer themed game you can play with your group, special in venue activations, exclusive food and drink items inspired by the global game and at more than 60 locations. They've even installed full size soccer goals so you can try to hit golf balls right into the net. And every match all summer long will be on throughout the venue. So it's a great place to watch with friends, hang out, compete a little bit and enjoy the atmosphere. And if you want to keep the fun going all summer, you can get the topgolf Summer Fun Pass which lets you play every single day and bring up to five guests every single every visit. Get yours now at topgolf.com funpass Summer hits different at Topgolf.

[Chase Sapphire Advertiser]

When you own your own business, you need to keep things moving. Need to book a last minute flight? Earn a $300 travel credit to cover that. Need to take a meeting before takeoff? Do it from the comfort of the Chase Sapphire Lounge by the club. Need to catch your breath before you board? Done. Chase Sapphire reserved for business. The business card that gives back all you put in. Visit chase.com Reserve Business to learn more. Cards issued by JP Morgan Chase Bank. Any member of DIC subject to credit approval terms apply.

[Paulie]

We'll get to your phone calls. We'll settle on a poll question. 8773-DP-SHoVE Email address [e-mail] Twitter handle @DP-SHoVE Fritz, you just checked with the NBA that it's not always a flagrant foul, but any contact that impedes an airborne shooter's landing space is a defensive foul. It only escalates to flagrant foul if the contact is deemed unnecessary, excessive or reckless by the referee. Tim Legler, Shooter ESPN Lead NBA Analyst I didn't know that. I thought that that was just kind of a blanket flagrant foul. If you impede, you don't allow somebody to come down in their space after taking a shot.

[Dan Patrick]

No, I think the main thing they're looking for Dan is and a word you'll often hear when they're looking at those is reckless. That's, that's the word that you're looking for them to say if they feel like you had a general disregard for like where your foot was and it was in somehow, you know, dangerous to the shooter. You're going to get a flag or foul. But it doesn't always have to be

[Paulie]

the physicality didn't surprise me from the spurs, but I wonder if it surprised the officials last night that.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, I don't know. Yeah, I don't know if it surprised the officials. I think, look, this, this is a very physical team, but in general, the playoffs have been extremely physical. It's a lot different than what you're watching in the regular season. There's no question about it. And guess what? It has always been that way in the NBA. I can't think of a year in which that wasn't the case. And so. And now here we are in the Finals. So you're talking about. We've Already gone through three rounds, 14 teams have already been eliminated. And so we've seen game after game after game and the physicality has ramped up throughout the postseason. Last night, what we saw was an extremely physical game. But it's to me as physical as what we've been watching and certainly what we've watched in the first three games of the NBA Finals. And I think the physicality is allowed on both ends of the floor. It's not just San Antonio that's getting away with being physical. The Knicks are also being physical. And if you and I went frame by frame and we looked at the game last night like a Zapruder film, we're going to see a lot of physicality on both ends of the floor. San Antonio has some defenders. It's a big part of what they are and who they are in their DNA. And it's better for them, certainly because of their size, their strength, their lateral mobility. If they can be more physical in the point of attack on the ball, it's going to help those guys because of the physical profile that they have. And I think, I think people are looking at the game last night and thinking in some way this was just one end of the floor. And I didn't see it as just a one sided whistle all night long. It's an extremely physical game from the jump. And San Antonio Spurs, I think were the more physical team last night and they set the tone early in the game.

[Paulie]

I mentioned this yesterday to start the show. People, I think were surprised. I thought there was more pressure on the Knicks last night because the spurs, okay, we lost two at home. Now let's just play the Knicks. Mean where? Hey, they're talking about sweeping. Hey, is Brunson going to get a statue? Hey, there's going to be a parade. The President's here. Like there was so much there. And I thought the spurs were probably going to just go and play where the Knicks. It just felt like, I think they were kind of look at each other. Like, when are we starting here? When are you going to do something? Or how about you do something? Meanwhile, the spurs went out and played, you know, pretty much a complete team game.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. Look, I think sometimes the best thing you can do as a team when you're. When you're going through, you know, some difficulties, and clearly San Antonio at home, two games, they can't close both games winnable. They don't get it done. The best thing you could do is get out on the road. It almost narrows your focus. The. The pressure cooker that was the Garden last night. There's no doubt it was palpable, the expectation level for the home team and being on the precipice of this and how badly this fan base wants it and the environment in there last night. Yeah. And we talked about that. Like, it's going to be. It's gonna be wild. Like, people think, wow, you're going into some sort of a wood chipper here if you're an opponent. Right. It's.

[Tav Ramos]

It's.

[Dan Patrick]

If you feel that as a home team, too. And they felt that, no doubt. But I don't even know that that was really what did it last night. For me. It was the San Antonio spurs at the start of that game, got something from their two best players that I think settled their entire team. When Victor Wembanyama, Stefan Castle come out, and their intent is to play in the paint, get high percentage shots, show you that they're in control. It calms your entire team down. Your head coach, your roster, the role players. Everybody's like, hey, man, our two best guys are here tonight, and they're operating. We're in a good place now. They got hit with the left hook in the second quarter. And I said on SVP last night, sometimes your best friend is halftime. Because if that quarter had continued another four minutes, the way the Knicks were playing, they might be down 15. So, like, the best thing was to look up and see zeros on the clock. You're only down 7 if you're the Spurs. Now, they still had to come out for the third quarter, and that first six minutes was going to be very telling for me. What happens here? Does this go out to 15, 18, and now it's 30 and this series is over, or can San Antonio almost recalibrate their offense again? Get back to playing in the paint. Get back to the way they played at the start of the game, and that's exactly what they did. At the same time, I thought the Knicks offense was very predictable. Last night in the second half of that game, I thought it hurt them

[Paulie]

talking to Tim Legler from the Mothership, their lead NBA analyst. Here's another concerning Trend here. Game one, Nicks down by 14. Game two, Nicks trail by 12. Game three, they trailed by 12 great teams. I mean, it's hard to keep getting down and then coming back. And this is a good San Antonio team now I wonder. And the pressure's back on the Knicks. Like, you have to win this game tomorrow night, right?

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. I mean, listen, I'm not going to sit here and say they can't win the series if they lose tomorrow night. My goodness. Because if they lose tomorrow night, we're. We're four games in. No home team has won a game. So, you know, it's only one. I think only one other time. If I saw the graphic right. This morning, I was kind of, my eyes were blurry. I kind of grabbed the remote, put on Sports Center. I think it said there's only second time that we've had no home team win a game through the first three of the Finals. You got to go back to the 93 finals, I believe so. Like, this is incredibly unusual territory. So I'm not going to make any predictions on what's going to happen if the Knicks lose game four. You're. Then you're in a best of three and nobody's won a home game yet. It almost be. Honestly would almost be at that point, Dan, there would be so much pressure on every home team to hold it down. I don't even know what that would feel like. So I'm not going to say that. But yeah, clearly, look, you went out. Even if you just get one of the two, you've done your job. If you're the Knicks on the road to start this series because at that point you're going, we don't have to win another game on the road. Right. That's a great feeling. So. And now you win two. Well, you've got, you got that luxury now twice now at home. You just need a split at home and you're in the same boat. Listen. Yes, a lot of pressure, without question. And they're going to have to play better. I think one thing that's been apparent to me, Jalen Brunson is being guarded and hounded and she's expending so much energy as a primary bar handler. He has yet to have an efficient game in this series. And he is a superstar offensive player. And the way he's built and his balance and his strength and you think he's not going to wear down. You wear down when your usage rate is as high as it was last night and you're being handed off from one guy to the next that are elite defenders and these are big guys, are stronger, physical. Oh, and by the way, if you do get by them, you've got a 7, 5 guy at the rim waiting for you. So I thought the usage rate was through the roof last night. They got away from Karl Anthony Towns touching the ball in the high post and some of the ways that he had been affected the first couple games and throughout the playoffs. They got away from that last night. They've got to go look at their offense and I think they've got to make it somehow a little bit easier on Jalen Brunson so he can find his efficiency because it hasn't been there through three games.

[Paulie]

Help me understand this. And having been around Phil Jackson when he did it, certainly with the Bulls, but when you say something in a post game press conference where you talk about the officials, I don't know, it worked for Phil, but he also had Mike and Scotty. So, you know, Mike Brown said, you know, he's never seen this happen in an NBA game, the Finals. But I don't know if I'm an official, like, how do I take this if I'm the commissioner, like my players, like, is that message more for the fans than it is anybody else? Because I can't imagine these officials going, you know, I think Mike's right. We didn't do a good job in that game. They don't want to be told that they did a bad job.

[Dan Patrick]

I've never thought it helps that. That's just been my opinion my entire career as a player and covering this for the last 25 years, I just never thought it's really helpful here. Here's some things that you need to remember. People are just, you know, and I shouldn't say people because it's really just. It's people that support the Knicks that are Knicks fans. Like, that's where you're going to hear the noise today. For the most part, if you're completely objective in this, you got to look at some numbers. So in the regular season, look at the two teams. The San Antonio spurs were middle of the pack. Not just under 25 free throws a game. They were 13th in the NBA in free throw attempts per game. In some ways, that does sort of talk to your style of play. The New York Knicks were 25th in free throw attempts per game at 21 a game in the postseason, San Antonio, the 16 teams that have played in the postseason, on average, free throws per game, San Antonio is fourth of those 16 teams, the Knicks are seventh. So to think that it. Because I think sometimes the narrative all of a sudden can suddenly people like, like this was so wildly out of the narrative of how these two teams play. And I just didn't see it that way. Look, I understand Mike's point. That is a pretty big discrepancy in one half. Discrepancy in 1/2, 24 to 8. There's no doubt about it. But I don't think that that is ultimately helpful to your point. I don't think that all of a sudden people go, okay, there's going to have to be a market correction in the next game. And then, by the way, what if that happens? What if the New York knicks, in game four four, shoot 12 more free throws than the Spurs? Are we automatically to assume right here as we sit here before the game starts, all of those calls are correct? I mean, it just, that's, that's why you start playing this game, the pendulum game. It, it, you're not going to win it because every night the opponent's fan base is upset if they get the short end of the stick on the officiating. And also I think when you start talking like that, it's one thing to say, I thought the game was poorly officiated. That's different than the narrative of our team got the short end of the stick. Because you're basically almost saying, like, the rest care who wins.

[Paulie]

Yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

And that's, that's when it starts to get dicey, because I generally don't believe that. I think they're out there trying to do the best job they can. They have let it ramp up to a level that if everything was called that should be right now, we literally, it would be the most boring broadcast in the history of sports, if that's what we did. It has really ramped up. Can they set the tone early, Dan, with some calls to try to rein it in a little bit with the, with the physicality off ball, the grabs, the on ball, two hands. They probably could rein it in early and the players will probably adjust that on a given night. But you also could get some star players immediately in foul trouble and miss eight minutes of the first quarter, and you don't want that either. So I think that you got to be careful with this narrative. And just look at the numbers for these two teams in terms of free throws on a nightly basis and how they play. And look, San Antonio outplayed them last night. I just think that should be the headline.

[Paulie]

Who wins tomorrow night.

[Dan Patrick]

Oh, I'm not making predictions. I. Not anymore. When I'm in studio. When I'm in a studio role, I could do that. I don't make predictions now calling the game. Look, I will say this to finish with this, about last night. I just think we have to give the spurs an awful lot of credit, man. This is an incredibly young team. They had two games at home where they were up one with two minutes to go with the ball lost, tie game with the ball inside 15 seconds and lost. Those are things that young teams may. Might not recover from. And now you go into what we saw last night, which was the. One of the wildest home court environments and energized I've ever seen, and you play that well at the start of the game. That was incredible to me to sort of set the tone and then survived the big punch. They did that too. You got to give this young team a lot of credit, man. Their. Their top three players are 22 and under, and they went into that environment last night and they played their best game of the series.

[Paulie]

How would you describe that atmosphere if somebody didn't watch or wasn't there?

[Dan Patrick]

It was. I personally have never felt. It felt to me before the game like the court had shrunk. That's how much activity and environment was around the sidelines and baseline. It felt like there wasn't 94 by 50 anymore. It was like 37 by 18. That's what the court felt like because of the amount of activity that was around the court, you know, and the palpable energy. I thought Mike Breen had a great line. He's like, you can't necessarily measure it, but if you could, I don't know where you'd ever find it higher in an NBA setting than it was last night in that building. And that's why it was so critical for the spurs to come out and not allow that energy that was built up prior to tip to just continue into the first eight, nine minutes of the game, you know, and you're down 26 to 12 because it could have been lights out. They came out with such a calm demeanor about the way they were running their offense. And plus they have nine turnovers, I believe, on the night, nine on the road in that kind of environment with a young team. And they're also, by the way, prone to turnovers. And they have a game that clean where they control. They Take care of the ball and they make shots. I just thought that you have to give them all the credit in the world. I know that a lot of you, a lot talk about the officiated today, and that's fine. Maybe people think it's too physical. I would probably agree. Overall, the physicality of what's being allowed is too much. I would agree with that. But we can't get away from how well the spurs played last night. They outplayed the Knicks, and the Knicks now have to figure out a way to get back to their normal rhythm offensively because that's just three games in a row that the San Antonio spurs have limited that, some of that efficiency.

[Paulie]

Yeah, I thought the ball should have gone through Carl Anthony Towns more like. It's almost like they got off script. And I've been saying for Wemby, I need you inside to then come outside. I don't need threes. It feels like when he needs a breather, he pulls up for three instead of. I mean, it takes a lot of energy to get inside, get banged around, but, you know, you throw it up high enough, nobody's going to get it but him.

[Dan Patrick]

And Dan. Dan, I get a couple things you want to point out, like if you're, you know, if you're a Knick fan today. Let's also go back and watch the game again and look at some of the mistakes the Knicks made in the first six, seven minutes of the game. Defensively, they were overextended. You're trapping on the ball at half court. And then Wemby twice was left in the middle of the lane as, like, an outlet pass for the guy that was trapped with nobody there. His first four touches were right at the rim. That hasn't been the case in the first two games. And that wasn't because of officiating. That was because of mistakes or intent on the part of Victor Wembanyama, intent on the part of the San Antonio spurs.

[Paulie]

And.

[Dan Patrick]

And you don't know if you're going to make jump shots necessarily. That's. That's a fickle thing in the NBA. So that's why getting higher percentage shots and playing more to your strengths was key. And then they got, you know, this Dylan Harper. I can't say enough about, like, how good this guy is going to be, particularly if he figures out the deep shot. His, his physical presence, his speed, his power, his rebounding and ability to then push it out of that is special. And he's 20 and he, he got into that environment last night. And he looked like, very comfortable, like he could have had his pajamas on. He was very comfortable last night in that environment for a 20 year old. Very unusual to not be rattled at all. And he didn't look like he was other than the fact he could make it three. But that's still the weakness in his game that'll come down the road. I just thought, I just thought overall they, their purpose was better than the Knicks last night. And look, the Knicks can adjust to that, get back to a little bit more off ball movement, less dominant ball handling by Jalen Brunson against top flight defenders and see if their offense can get humming a little bit more.

[Paulie]

Again, great stuff. Thanks for sharing.

[Dan Patrick]

Always, Dan. Anytime.

[Paulie]

That's Tim Legler on the call, NBA analyst for the NBA Finals there. Yeah, it's one of those, the Knicks getting off to a good start. Then you start to put a little doubt into the San Antonio Spurs. When San Antonio got off to the good start, I'm like, okay, now you've taken the crowd out of it. Now the players are like, wait a minute, this is supposed to be a cakewalk. They're down, oh two. We're in our building. Everybody's here. We're supposed to win this. We're, we're going to sweep and be mentioned among the greatest single season teams of all time. And then all of a sudden now we got game four and even more pressure on the Knicks. We'll take a break, your phone calls, we'll settle on our poll question. Our play of the day is next. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our [e-mail] and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to listen live. I turned off news altogether. I hate to say it, but I don't trust much of anything. It's the rage bait. It feels like it's trying to divide people.

[Dan Patrick]

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

[NBC News Announcer]

NBC News brings you clear reporting. Let's meet at the Facts. Let's move forward from there. NBC News reporting for America.

[Tav Ramos]

This is Tav Ramos from inside American Soccer. And this summer, topgolf is turning into the ultimate soccer destination. They're not just throwing games on in the background. Topgolf is going all in on soccer. They've got a new soccer themed game you can play with your group. Special in venue activations, exclusive food and drink items inspired by the global game. And at more than 60 locations. They've even installed full size soccer goals. So you can try to hit golf balls right into the net and every match all summer long will be on throughout the venue. So it's a great place to watch with friends, hang out, compete a little bit and enjoy the atmosphere. And if you want to keep the fun going all summer, you can get the topgolf Summer Fun Pass which lets you play every single day and bring up to five guests every single every visit. Get yours now at topgolf.com funpass Summer hits different at Topgolf when you own

[Chase Sapphire Advertiser]

your own business, you need to keep things moving. Need to book a last minute flight? Earn a $300 travel credit to cover that. Need to take a meeting before takeoff? Do it from the comfort of the Chase Sapphire Lounge by the club. Need to catch your breath before you board? Done. Chase Sapphire Reserved for business. The business card that gives back all you put in. Visit chase.com ReserveBusiness to learn more. Cards issued by JPMorgan Chase bank and a member FDIC subject to credit approval

[Funko Pop Advertiser]

terms apply this year it's pop's turn for a laugh. So celebrate Father's Day with a gift that really pops a customized Funko Pop of him. First, think of all the things that make your dad the man. Then turn those ideas into a personalized Funko Pop. Select hair, clothing and skin tone options to match his fit. Don't forget to show off his favorite hobbies and sports with amazing accessories. You can even add his best friend. Start Creating [e-mail] Be unique, not anyone else.

[Dan Patrick]

Express it now. Just pop yourself.

[Funko Pop Advertiser]

That's funko.com oh my God.

[Paulie]

The play of the Day. Check this out. Calling for Dylan Harper. Wen Benyama with three with two. Victor back to Castle's Got to force it up right wing three.

[Dan Patrick]

Got it.

[Paulie]

Steph Castle drains a right wing three

[Dan Patrick]

and just in time. Was pretty much forced to throw that one up there.

[Paulie]

111, 104 might have been the biggest shot of the night. That's courtesy of the Spurs Radio Network. That's your Play of the Day. Play of the Day brought to you by Maguire's Luxury Collection. Whole car air refreshers. Perfect way to fight that funky odor and redefine your drive. McGuire's celebrating 125 years of keeping cars clean, shiny and smelling great. Some phone calls here. Poll question for the first hour is

[Dylan]

what Dylan well, we've got some options, Dan. For starters, which team do you have more faith in? Right now your Golden Knights are my Knicks. Both up to one,

[Paulie]

huh? I'm gonna say the Knicks slightly. That the, you know, this hockey Stanley cup final, I think scoring seven games probably is going to be tied three, three, two minutes to go in the final period in game seven. I just think they're so evenly matched. I'm going to give the Knicks a little bit of an edge here.

[Caller]

All right.

[Dylan]

Yeah, I get that. I feel like there's like there's a little more series long parody. It feels like in hockey maybe like going down doesn't necessarily feel. Although that game, that loss for the Knicks, that felt they're up to one still, but that felt like a shifting tide a little bit.

[Paulie]

As of 10:50 Eastern Time last night, get in for game four was $13,758. An hour later, the exact same seat, $6,400. 53% drop as of 12:50. So two hours later, the same ticket was down 60%. The get in was $5,500. A couple of phone calls here. Andrew in Washington. Hi, Andrew, what do you have for me?

[Caller]

Oh, good morning, Dan Dennett. Thanks for taking my call. I just think that the spurs played what they could equate as a perfect game, especially underneath the circumstances of Madison Square Garden and that crowd and just all the hype that went into it. I think they really showed some poise for being a young team. And just down the stretch they actually controlled the tempo and that was going to be very important because that's what the Knicks had done throughout this whole time. Like you mentioned, the Knicks had come from behind in many, many games during that 13 game span. And they did it by controlling the tempo and determining how the offensive sets would be run in. Kind of flipped that script last night. A couple of things that, that show how young the spurs are. Victor Wembanyama is only the. He's the second youngest player to have a 35 assist and five rebound game behind Magic Johnson, who is younger. And then Stefan Castle and Victor were the only two teammates to have 20 plus points in a game and be under 22 years old in the final. So shows how young they are then. I have one request. Maybe during this podcast snaffle we can get one Todd cast just uploaded to another Dan Patrick show network podcast just so we can have a Todd cast before everything gets turned out.

[Paulie]

All right, Dylan, what's, what's the process here? What's the reason? What's the hold up here with the Todd cast?

[Dylan]

It's a marketing ploy, Dan. No, it's. I, it was. I accidentally merged the Todd cast with the gambling podcast feed.

[Caller]

Mm.

[Dylan]

In an attempt to Shift it over to a different hosting thing. So it's being worked out by smarter people at the moment, and we should be up and running any day now.

[Paulie]

Yeah, I don't like the sounds of that.

[Dylan]

That's all that. I'm just relaying the information that I have.

[Paulie]

Okay.

[Dylan]

It's gonna be a good one, though.

[Paulie]

Alrighty. PJ in Atlanta. I. Pj, what's on your mind today?

[Caller]

Landry Comet, whatever his name is, he doesn't need to play 23 minutes and go 1 for 8 and get five fouls. That's why they lost. You got to make your free throws. I know they had probably 10 more, but you got to make your free throws. And yet just. You don't need to play that guy that much. That's why they lost.

[Paulie]

Yeah. But the bench has been playing well. Landry Shammond, you know, they've had contributions here, so I'm okay with that. Although he's the kind of guy that I don't say, hey, keep shooting. I want to know if you're hitting your first couple and then you can keep shooting. Zach in Knoxville. Hi, Zach.

[Caller]

Adp, thanks for taking my call. Just to switch gears a little bit and bring up the Brendan Sourceby saga that's going on, do you think that the NCAA playoff committee, if they happen to have a season worthy of making it to the cfp, do you think that they would possibly do something to keep them out?

[Paulie]

I don't know. This is far from over, and I still. And we'll have more on this later, but I still think this comes down to each conference should govern itself and the fallout from Brendan Sorsby being able to play this upcoming season. I think it's truly an embarrassment for Texas Tech. I think it's an embarrassment ncaa. Oh, my goodness. More on this coming up a little bit later on. I'm going in the confessional, Hour two right after this. Paramount plus is now the home of all your BET favorites.

[Dan Patrick]

What? Yeah.

[Paulie]

With all new episodes of Tyler Perry's Divorce. Sisters you've always liked, a little drama, plus a whole new world of movies like Gladiator 2. Now I will control an empire. Original series like the Shy. Just make sure we protect each other. And live sports like ufc.

[Dan Patrick]

Welcome to the history books.

[Paulie]

New home, same family. Your BET favorites are now on Paramount. Subscribe now.

[Dan Patrick]

I'm U.S. transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

[Pauly]

The sound of a seatbelt.

[Dan Patrick]

It's one of the most important sounds in our car. It means everyone is ready and everyone is safe. Make it a priority. Buckle up every time, hear the sound,

[Paulie]

make it a habit Paid for by NHTSA here's the truth.

[Sheba Cat Food Advertiser]

You could literally be adored by everyone and then come home and still get completely ignored by your own cat. It's classic cat behavior, but new Shiba Premium Puree is a lickable treat that changes all that. They're protein rich, made with bone broth and have the smooth, creamy texture cats go crazy for, especially when it's hand fed. Yeah, it's more than a treat. It's a fast pass to favorite human status. So feed your cat Sheba and go from totally ignored to truly adored in just 12 days guaranteed or your money back. Learn [e-mail] when you're a maintenance engineer

[Funko Pop Advertiser]

in a beverage manufacturing plant, you keep production lines moving and quality on track because there is no room for slowdown. With Grainger's vast selection of high quality motors, sensors, belts and hard to find parts, you can get what you need fast and all in one place so nothing gets in the way of getting the job done. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickranger.com or to stop by Grainger for the ones who get it

[Paulie]

done, this is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.