SPURS SPOIL KNICKS FINALS HOMECOMING & WHAT'S CONSIDERED A REAL NEW YORKER?! | S8 EP102
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Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The Spurs' victory in Game 3 was 115-111, making the series 2-1.
- ❖Mace believes the presence of Donald Trump at the game disrupted the fan atmosphere and contributed to the Knicks' loss.
- ❖Cam highlights Muel Bridges' early foul trouble and low production (1-for-5 shooting, 2 points) as a primary reason for the Knicks' defeat.
- ❖Mace suggests the Spurs' winning adjustment was keeping both Dylan Harper and De'Aaron Fox on the floor simultaneously, creating more slashing opportunities.
- ❖Cam argues that officials may be extending the NBA Finals series for financial reasons, leading to biased calls.
- ❖Mike Brown, the Knicks' coach, publicly criticized the free throw disparity (24 attempts for Spurs vs. 8 for Knicks in the second half).
- ❖Mace and Cam dismiss coaching complaints about officiating, emphasizing that players must win games through performance, not referee calls.
- ❖JLo's quote, 'You have to be born in New York to be a New Yorker and in one of the five boroughs,' sparked a heated debate.
- ❖Mace strictly agrees with JLo, stating only those born in a New York borough are true New Yorkers.
- ❖Cam offers a more nuanced view, suggesting that growing up and being 'claimed' by the community (e.g., attending school from kindergarten through high school) defines a New Yorker, citing examples like Michael Jordan (born in NY but not a 'New Yorker') and Carmelo Anthony.
- ❖Russell Wilson's retirement from the NFL to become a CBS Sports analyst is seen as a timely and strategic career move, especially after the Jets reportedly offered him a backup role.
Insights
1Spurs' Game 3 Strategy: Dual Slashers and Early Aggression
Mace identifies the Spurs' key adjustment as playing both Dylan Harper and De'Aaron Fox on the floor simultaneously in the fourth quarter. This created a 'four slasher' dynamic, making it difficult for the Knicks to defend drives, leading to open lobs for Victor Wembanyama. Cam adds that Wembanyama's aggressive start, setting the tone early, was also crucial.
Mace states, 'When you got four slashes on the court, it's going to be hard to stop that team... when you line them up on two different sides of the court, then nobody could really help because the other person is looking for a drive to the basket.' () Cam notes, 'Wim came out aggressive... he set the tone.' ()
2Knicks' Performance Issues: Muel Bridges' Absence and Brunson's Injury
Cam pinpoints Muel Bridges' early foul trouble and subsequent lack of production (1-for-5, 2 points) as the primary reason for the Knicks' loss, noting Bridges had been a significant factor in previous games. He also suggests that Jalen Brunson might be 'banged up' after a hard fall, affecting his burst to the basket and leading to reserved play.
Cam states, 'Muel Bridges was the biggest factor tonight on the Knicks not winning. You got Josh Hart who didn't score any points the other game and he comes in and he's a three-point threat all of a sudden.' () and 'Jaylen Brunson may be a little banged up. He took a hard fall in that game that he never really came back 100% in my eyes.' ()
3The 'Real New Yorker' Debate: Birth vs. Community Claiming
A quote from JLo, 'You have to be born in New York to be a New Yorker and in one of the five boroughs,' sparks a deep dive into local identity. Mace agrees, stating birth in a borough is essential. Cam, however, argues for a more nuanced definition, emphasizing growing up in the city (kindergarten through high school) and, critically, being 'claimed' by the local community, where 'the name rings out' beyond just being famous.
Mace asserts, 'You have to be born in New York. You have to be born into one of the five burrows to be a New Yorker.' () Cam counters, 'I don't think it's true that you have to be a New Yorker be born a New Yorker... It's about if [people] claim you.' () He adds, 'When you somebody from New York, the name rings out.' ()
4Russell Wilson's Strategic Retirement and Analyst Role
The hosts agree that Russell Wilson's decision to retire from the NFL and join CBS Sports as an analyst was a well-timed and strategic move. Mace highlights that retiring early preserves options, while Cam speculates that a reported offer to be Gino Smith's backup with the Jets might have pushed Wilson towards retirement.
Mace states, 'The earlier you retire the better because your options are greater. When you wait until they have to force you out, then those other opportunities that he's looking at now probably wouldn't be there.' () Cam suggests, 'When the Jets asked him to be Gino Smith's backup, he said, 'Oh, now [they're] violating.' Nah, I quit.' ()
Lessons
- Coaches and players should focus on in-game performance and strategy rather than blaming officiating for losses, especially in high-stakes championship games.
- For athletes nearing the end of their careers, a proactive and early retirement can open up more diverse and lucrative post-playing opportunities, such as media analysis roles.
- When defining community identity, consider the nuanced factors of upbringing, shared experiences, and local recognition beyond just birth location.
Quotes
"If you shut the bar off of the party and you send everybody around the back of the party and you change everything up about the venue and you change everything on the inside, you change something."
"I really believe I could coach in the NBA because Stad, if you're watching exactly what's happening in this series, it's the things I say when Wimby is taking these threes, more threes is dangerous for this team."
"If you think they want this game to be over in four games, you're stupid. They want to extend it. And the refs know that they need to extend it. This conversation has been had behind closed doors. We need this to go more than four. The more games, the more money."
"You have to be born in New York to be a New Yorker and in one of the five burrows."
"It's about if [people] claim you. That's how I feel about it. Now, if [people] be like, 'Man, where you [from] with that [person]? That man? Come on, nigga.' They, you know, [people] that claim you, they claim you like he's one of us."
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