H20man & Friends Sports Podcast

S4 E9 NY Knicks Are NBA Champions!

Segment 1: The chronology of a championship (starts at 1:31) * First title since 1973, one of the most dominant playoff runs in NBA history (15-3, 13 wins in a row) * Leon Rose hired as head of basketball operations as the architect in March, 2020 * Signed Jalen Brunson as a free agent, traded for Josh Hart from the TrailBlazers, OG Anunoby arrived from Toronto (trade), traded 5 No. 1 picks -- 4 wasn't enough? -- for Mikal Bridges, fired head coach Tom Thibodeau, hired Mike Brown, final piece of championship piece was the trade for Karl-Anthony Towns * You could call this team the (Villa)nova Knicks (Brunson, Hart and Bridges played together at Villanova and won two NCAA championships...Brunson and Bridges 2, Hart 1) Segment 2: Thoughts on Game 5, Series (14:03) * Spurs have great talent and a very bright future * Expect Wemby to get bigger, stronger and better conditioned, needs to make better shot selections * Horrific, one-sided officiating throughout the series, protecting Wemby * Wemby committed some fouls that would be considered a penalty in hockey, obvious flagrant fouls not called so he would not miss a game (another flagrant and he would have served a one game suspension) * Spurs the more talented team, but the best player/closer on the floor was Jalen Brunson (45 points in Game 5, most in franchise history in the NBA Finals) * San Antonio still learning how to win, how to close games * Not one player hit two consecutive free throws in the last two minutes * Wemby went 44-104 from the floor, and 9-33 from downtown in the series * Rinse, lather, repeat: each game Spurs built a lead and the Knicks chipped away and found ways to win * Basketball IQ: Brunson drew several fouls when shooting 3s by using fakes, led to many free throws * Emotional moment after the game: Brunson hugging his father (Knicks assistant coach) * "Tired legs can't hit jumpers" * Knicks won all four series clinching games on the road * Savor the only Knicks championship in many fan's lives so far Segment 3: Wemby Post Game Remarks (30:00) * Wemby sound bite

NBA Finals: Historic Comeback In Game 4

Segment 1: Knicks' comeback for the ages leads to a 3-1 series lead (1:54) * A number of records set in Game 4, Knicks 107, Spurs 106 * The largest comeback in NBA Finals history (29 points) * Spurs 76-49 lead at halftime was the largest lead by a road team in NBA Finals history * Spurs' 14 three-pointers were the most in a first half in Finals history * Knicks now one win away from their first championship since 1973 * Game 4 highlights * This series reminiscent of NBA physical play in the 1990s * Disasterous first quarter from a Knicks perspective * KAT called for two quick fouls, on the bench for the majority of the this half * Spurs led 41-22 after 1, 76-49 at the half * Mitchell Robinson's flagrant foul against Wemby was too obvious, yet somewhat satisfying based on Wemby's physical and sometimes cheap shot play (throwing down Jalen Brunson, no foul call) * Major challenge for Spurs to keep hitting 3's at that torrid pace. Would likely revert back to the mean * Second half: * Knicks cut the lead to 15 after 3 * Spurs outscored 58-30 in the second half * Experience from both a coaching and player standpoint favored the Knicks * San Antonio kept shooting, did not milk the clock * Where were the adjustments when the Spurs got cold from the field? * why not bring in a few 7 footers on the floor on the Knicks final possession? * Big plays * Wemby missed two free throws at 1:47 (went 4-7 from the line) * exhausted, played 44 minutes, which led the team * his shooting in the first half typically better than second half (energy?) * Wemby: 8-27 from downtown in the series so far * Jalen Brunson floater gave the Knicks their first lead of the game (1:22 left) * Stephon Castle hit a pair of clutch free throws with 30.3 second left, SA up by one after offensive rebound * Josh Hart: two rough moments * missing wide open layup/dunk...indecisive whether to jam * did not box out Castle which led to a foul and 2 free throws * OG made two huge plays * first defensively: 16.1 second left, Fox takes a shot OG blocks it, instead of holding the ball to run the clock and force a foul to stop the clock * 5 second left: OG inbounds to Brunson who misses a deep 31-foot 3-pointer, OG sprints to the basket, jumps over two Spurs and taps in the game-winner * OG and Brunson combined for 69 points, rest of team scored 38 * Wemby inexperience * Game 2: Wemby turnover and missed last shot * Game 4: Misses two crucial free throws late in game * Continues to fire up and miss the majority of 3-pointers * Not blocking shots late in game due to exhaustion * Part of very young, talented team, could be the start of a dynasty Segment 2: Game 3 Recap (28:30), Spurs 115, Knicks 111 * Wemby: 32 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks, 2 steals * why have Knicks big men not been more physical with him? * frustrating officiating clearly favoring Wemby (calls and non-calls) * seen committing two flagrant fouls, including grabbing and throwing Brunson to the floor * Castle the best player on the court * Spurs consistently get two hands on a player and push...clear fouls Segment 3: Game 5 Preview (32:40) * Expect the Spurs to come out flying, play well on their home court * 5 point lead/deficit at the half: would like the Knicks' chances * Knicks need to play better from the start and have Hart, Bridges, Shamet et al contribute way more than Game 4 * Nigel: Deuce McBride could "not hit a school with a guided missile" * Dylan Harper having a great series

NBA Finals: Knicks Up 2-0, Games 3 and 4 at MSG

Segment 1: NBA Finals Recap of Games 1 and 2 (starts at 0:30) * Spurs heavy favorites going into the NBA Finals; that changed after Game 1 win by Knicks * Knicks sweep games 1 and 2, lead 2-0 going home for games 3 and 4 at MSG * Quick comparison of last Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals in 1999 * Game 1: Knicks 105, Spurs 95 - 13th straight playoff win, second longest streak in NBA playoff history * Scary when Knicks star Jalen Brunson went down twice with knee and ankle injuries; he was money late when it counted most, led all scorers with 30 points (12-31 FG, 2-9 from 3) after rough shooting night * KAT played well (18 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists) * Josh Hart game 1 unsung hero with 15 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and 1 block, despite 3 points scored * Knicks turned up defensive intensity when needed in second half * Knicks erased another huge deficit -- this time 14 points late in the game * Wemby led team with 26 points * Game 2: Knicks 105, Spurs 104 * Strong start for the Spurs by going to the rim relentlessly, leveraging their speed advantage * Coaching mistakes: * why let Wemby dribble upcourt? Key turnover late in game, dribbled ball off his foot earlier in contest * Wemby took potential game-winning shot (and missed 20-footer) after crucial turnover; needed to get shot off earlier to provide opp for offensive rebound * Foul calls clearly one-sided in favor of San Antonio; Spurs very physical * Critical call by Knicks bench to challenge non-foul call on OG 3-pointer; call overturned, led to 3 points by OG at the line, for a 100-97 Knicks lead * Major issue: Spurs don't have a player they can count on to score outside of Wemby * Fox could be that player, clearly impacted by high ankle sprain suffered in Western Conf finals * Game 1: 7 points, 3-13 FG, 0-4 from 3 * Game 2: 20 points * Mitchell Robinson scored 7 points which helped; Bridges four 3-pointers were huge * Josh Hart had rough game: 5 fouls, no points * Series Observations * KAT outplaying Wemby based on the first two games (21 points. 13 rebounds in game 2) * Wemby appears tired (emotionally and physically?) since Game 7 win in Western Conf Finals in OKC * Knicks D able to make stops and generate extra offensive possessions, though playing inconsistently * Spurs forced 16 turnovers and lost Game 2...not a great indicator they can win at MSG, though team came back from 3-2 deficit and beat the defending champs including game 6 in OKC * Wemby taking many 3-point shots not the best strategy; want him in the paint for easy buckets, offensive rebounds and creating fouls on Knicks' front line; Wemby through two games: 4-15 from downtown * Knicks playoff experience becoming a key factor in this series vs. young, playoff-inexperienced Spurs * Knicks larger front line competing well vs taller, leaner San Antonio big men * Impressed with KAT's leadership on the court, on the bench (in interviews talks about his late Mom, feeling her energy); KAT's huddle talk much different vs. Wemby's Segment 2: Preview of Games 3 and 4 (22:00) * Spurs streaky shooting, causing turnovers, then running out of gas late in games. Will that continue? * San Antonio doesn't need many adjustments, one shot away from being 1-1 * Wemby needs to be fresher at crunch time * Fox or Champagnie needs to be the No. 2 scorer to take pressure off of Wemby * Expect to see more of Dylan Harper * Spurs Coach Mitch Johnson's message to his team could be: * we beat OKC in Game 7 * we came back down 3-2 in that series * we let the Knicks win two games on our floor * let's get game 3 and then take the series back home * Games 3 and 4: * Expect foul calls to be more even at MSG than the lopsided ones favoring the Spurs in San Antonio * Anticipate Spurs going at KAT to get him in foul trouble early * Mike Brown outcoaching Spurs' Mitch Johnson; will that continue? * No team has ever come back from 3-0 down in the NBA Finals and won * Game 3 obviously critical for San Antonio; can the Knicks sweep?

S4 E6: NBA Finals Preview: Knicks vs. Spurs

Segment 1: Western Conference Finals Observations (starts at 1:00) * Spurs' special season continues, coming back from a 3-2 deficit against the defending champs * San Antonio had 7 players in double figures, doing a great job spreading the ball * OKC players gassed in the 4th quarter, missed two of their key players for Games 6 and 7: guards Jalen Williams (left hammy strain), Ajay Mitchell (left calf/soleus strain...what the heck is a soleus?) * Questionable game plan and coaching by OKC (burned through timeouts early and used up both challenges by mid 3rd quarter), having SGA go 1-on-3 * Thunder managed just 14 points from their frontcourt starters -- 7 from their starting forwards combined -- did not get the needed production from the bench including Caruso who had a good series * Spurs moved the ball around, very "Knicks-like" though a bit sloppy handling the ball with a lead * No love lost between Spurs star center Victor Wemanyama and Chet Holmgren, who was not a factor in Game 7 or the series Segment 2: Knicks on a Historic Playoff Run (14:06) * Knicks have won 11 straight playoff wins, all by double digits, won all 3 series on the road * Have outscored playoff opponents by 19.4 PPG, best point differential in NBA playoff history * Back in the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years * Major changes have worked out: hired Mike Brown the right coach/leader (likely the 7th or 8th choice) to replace Tom Thibodeau after the team made the Eastern Conference Finals last year; sent message to players and fans to raise expectations; and trading for Karl Anthony Towns swapping Julius Randle * Knick players stepping up big-time compared to regular season including Mikal Bridges, playing their best basketball * Two teams met 3 times during the season, NYK winning the season series 2-1, including the in-season tournament and a dominant 114-89 win at MSG. Segment 3: Key Matchups (21:30): Rematch of the In-Season Tournament Final * Wemby vs. Brunson * Spurs built completely around Wemby; Knicks bigs KAT and Mitchell Robinson vs. Wemby...critical Knicks don't get in foul trouble early on. Will need both KAT and Robinson to lean on Wemby * Jalen Brunson vs. Spurs guards...can Brunson get to his spots and score * Knicks offense vs. Wemby: Knicks go the basket well...need to get Wemby away from the rim to open us the Knicks offense. KAT will play a key role here * Key question: how effective will Mitchell Robinson be dealing with the broken right pinky * Are the Knicks a team of destiny? * Check out Nigel's hilarious Sopranos' analogy * And Nigel is focused: will not answer any group chat messages while watching the NBA Finals * Will Knicks come out flat after a 9 day layoff during most of Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 vs. Cleveland?

S4 E5: NBA Eastern Conf F Game 1 Thriller, Jets 2026 Season Schedule is Out and...

Segment 1: Knicks Thrilling Comeback/Cavs Epic Collapse in Game 1, Eastern Conference Finals (starts at 0:36) * Knicks rust evident after not playing for 9 days * Unbelievable run in the 4th: very "unJets-like" finish for the Knicks * Cavs Head Coach Kenny Atkinson inexplicably watched and did nothing as 22-point lead evaporated and the Knicks went on an 18-1 run as Jalen Brunson played 1-1 with an overmatched James Harden * Cavs went ice cold and made just 4-18 from the field, showed tired legs in the 4th quarter after back-to-back tough 7-game series * Harden 1-8 from 3, missed all of his 3s in the 4th, led team with 8 turnovers * Jalen Brunson showed his grit, leadership and will to win; Cavs star Donovan Mitchell not so much and didn't demand the ball like stars do * How do you let the one guy (Brunson) you can't let beat you...beat you! * Historic comeback * ESPN Insights: Knicks probability of winning was 0.1% when down 22 points in the 4th; the past 595 times that has happened, teams went 1-594 in those situations * Outscored Cavs 44-11 over the last 13 minutes Segment 2: Concerns after Game 1 (16:40) * Knicks 10-32 from 3 point land...can they improve that * Cavs 16-50 from downtown, otherwise no comeback..."tired legs can't hit jumpers" * How does Cleveland respond * Does KAT come back and be a bigger presence on offense and defense (Cavs two bigs tough matchup for KAT) * difference between tall and big * plays better against smaller big men * OG back after long layoff nursing hamstring injury; 2-9 from field, 1-6 from 3, did not look fully comfortable physically * Josh Hart: Knicks outscored by 23 in his 31 minutes, tough matchup guarding Donovan Mitchell, on the bench during historic comeback Segment 3: Thoughts on the NY Jets Recently Announced 2026 Season Schedule (27:10) * No prime time games on Thursday, Sunday or Monday nights, no international travel * All games on Sundays at 1 pm, only two in 4 pm window due to travel teo AZ and CA * Love the NFL schedule diss: great bulletin board material, should help motivation after 3 win season * Open on the road in Tennessee Week 1 facing former NY Jets HC Robert Saleh * huge game for Jets because Weeks 2-4 they play the NFC North: Green Bay, at Detroit and at Chicago * starting 0-4 a real possibility * possible good news: Micah Parsons could be placed on PUP list, if so he'll miss first 4 games including Jets as he recovers from torn ACL; Packers 0-5 after Parsons' injury last season * Weeks 5-8 easier with 3 home games: Browns, at Patriots, Dolphins and Raiders: if the football gods comply, best case scenario 4-4 record which any Jets fan would take in an NFL heartbeat * Week 9: Jets play the Chiefs and possibly former Jets QB now backup QB Justin Fields? * Week 10: Bills at MetLife * Week 11: Jets first West Coast trip: at LA and play the Chargers * Week 12: At Miami * Week 13: Bye Week (bye favored over Jets by 3.5) * Week 14: Jets host Denver, 7th straight season playing the Broncos in scheduling quirk * Not much being reported on Broncos QB Bo Nix's recovery from injury * Week 15-18: At Arizona to face new HC Mike Lafleur (Saleh's first OC with Jets), then host Patriots and Vikings, and finish season regular season for 6th straight time in frigid western NY at Buffalo * Chiefs TE Travis Kelce final contract: basically a 1-year, $12M deal (3 years, up to $57M), $40M roster bonus in 2028 that likely will not be paid given expected retirement before then Segment 4: Final Thoughts (49:03) * Looking forward to preseason to see how the rookies play * Jets wins in 2026: over/under 5.5 * Expectation Jets QB Geno Smith plays better than horrific QB play last season from Justin Fields given veteran experience, additional offensive weapons and better offensive line than 2025 Raiders * Neil cranky Jets let K Nick Folk leave for the Falcons on two-year deal after great 2025 season; underappreciated asset