H20man & Friends Sports Podcast

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

S4 E4: Charles Way on the Giants Off-Season/Draft Recap; Giants to Win SB in 202X, Jaxson Dart has chance to be better QB than Lamar Jackson; Geno Smith to Disappoint

Segment 1: Charles' NFL Stats (0:43): 1995-1999, 75 games played with the Giants, 55 starts, 2,254 All Purpose Yards, 4.0 yards per carry average, 14 TDs Segment 2: Charles Recalls His Very Emotional Draft Day 1995 Experience and some Memorable Experiences his Rookie Season (1:43) * Found out he was drafted while watching TV! 6th Round out of U of Virginia; was called afterward by Coach Dan Reeves * Mindset going into his first NFL training camp, seeing players he grew up watching, not knowing he would make the team * Large Shoulder Pads Story (Self Preservation, like two rams butting heads 20x a game), avoiding stingers * Played a string of Hall of Famers rookie year including Reggie White, Ronnie Lott, great story about Derrick Thomas avoiding his blocks; storied Lambeau Field road game, has to block childhood idol Reggie White * Discusses his favorite fullbacks at the time; Mike Alstott not welcome in the fullback fraternity because he was more RB than blocker * One favorite moment from famous snowball game in 1996 vs Chargers: Charles pancake blocked Hall of Famer LB Junior Seau at goal line * Tends to recall his mistakes vs. the successes Segment 3: Insights on Giants Off-Season (17:59) * Impressed with off-season moves * Likes new Coach John Harbaugh bringing Ravens' culture of toughness especially on D * Believes Jaxson Dart has chance of being a better QB than Ravens QB Lamar Jackson * Comments about Dexter Lawrence's on-field performance last season Segment 4: Thoughts on the Giants Draft Selections (29:10) * No. 5: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State; part of team's focus on improving the defense, toughness, will be part of young nucleus, potentially akin to Ravens with LB Ray Lewis * No. 10: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami: good depth pick; doesn't have to start right away * No. 37: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee: potential lockdown corner similar to what Harbaugh coveted in Baltimore * No. 74: Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame: big, physical kid, good at contested passes, UVA transfer, size advantage vs. most CBs * No. 186: Bobby Jamison-Travis, DT, Auburn: 328-lb run stuffer * No. 192: J.C. Davis, OL, Illinois * No. 193: Jack Kelly, LB, BYU * New reality: many college football players will make MORE money in college than NFL at first * Second day picks: very productive, make plays, guys that can play on day one * Overall off-season: better team on paper, trying to infuse Harbaugh way into Giants' culture with Ravens twist * Can they resurrect former first rounder OL Evan Neal? Better athlete than Mauigoa * Charles: why do some coaches get multiple shots at being an NFL coach while others do not? Segment 5: Charles' Thoughts on the NFC East and a Giants Super Bowl Prediction (46:21) * Giants good enough to close gap in NFC East * Eagles need to part with AJ Brown, and Dallas the same w/Jerry Jones (create distractions) * Giants to win Super Bowl in 2028, SB 62 Segment 6: Rapid Fire Round (49:45) * Dart franchise QB? * Better record Jets or Giants? * Will be pleasantly surprised about the defense * Question mark for Jets regarding QB; Geno Smith to disappoint, "he's done"

S4 E3 2026 NFL Draft Jets Recap, Insights, Observations

Segment 1: Jets NFL Draft Insights and Observations (0:41) * Key Observations: * NFL execs believe the 2027 anticipated draft class will be special; despite all the trades, not one 2027 first rounder was traded * Jets chose talented players with college football post-season experience, and focused on size with their OL and DL selections * Priority of production over potential in many cases * Not sure we have the right head coach, but we have the right GM * Goal: come away with 4 starters and playmakers for the Jets...check * No. 2 overall pick: Texas Tech Edge David Bailey (vs. Avrell Reese, Ohio State LB); Micah Parsons quoted Bailey was the right choice * No. 16: Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq (only 4th TE taken by the Jets in first round) and No. 30 Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. provide much needed playmakers for one of the worst offensives in the NFL last season, and a crucial complement to WR Garrett Wilson; Sadiq explosive, versatile: 13 catches for 20+ yards at Oregon last season, chess piece for new OC Frank Reich, who likes using multiple TE sets * No. 30: Omar Cooper, Jr. Team traded back into first round, providing 5th year option; led Big 10 with YAC, go-to weapon for college football champs and QB Fernando Mendoza * No. 50 (after trade down from No. 44): Indiana CB D'Angelo Ponds. Only one penalty all season. Sure tackler against great competition; 7 INTs in college, blocked two punts; pick 6 against Oregon in college playoffs set the tone for Indiana's rout * No third rounder (wince), in trade for former Eagles edge Haason Reddick * No. 103: Florida State DT Darrell Jackson, Jr., 6'6" 315 lbs, part of reconstituted D line * No. 110: Clemson QB Cade Klubnik, traded up 18 spots and gave up two 4th rounders...head scratcher. Nigel: Belichick model: draft QBs every year, develop and add depth. Neil: worth taking a flyer on him in 4th round * No 5th rounder * No. 188: Miami G Anez Cooper: played in national championship game, fellow OL Francis Mauigoa (brother of Jets LB) on right side drafted No. 10 overall by the Giants; very good pass blocker: allowed only one QB pressure and no sacks in over 500 pass plays; potential starter with RT sized body to play guard strong pick in 6th round * No. 228: Kansas State S VJ Payne: 6-3, 206, good size for a safety, depth in safety room * GM Darren Mougey had a plan and executed on it Segment 2: Good, Bad and Ugly Segment (39:30) * Good: picks based on results on the field, not at combine; production not just potential, brought in talent playmakers that are winners, postseason experience; D line much better improved; desperatedly had to -- and did -- add WR talent (and TE); provided weapons for new QB Geno Smith * Bad: Not much. Gave up too many picks trading up, no LB selected, though tough to address all needs in one draft * Ugly: Bailey and Avrell Reese's careers inextricably links. Watch Reese be a superstar and help the Giants win Super Bowls...; trading up 18 spots for a likely backup QB * Note: Omar Cooper Jr. played his entire college football career at Indiana. Fernando Mendoza played at Cal before Indiana. Indiana Head Coach Curt Cignetti coached at JMU (52-9 record), and brought some key starters to Indiana including star CB D'Angelo Ponds Segment 3: Who Had a Better Draft: Jets or Giants (50:13) * Cards taking Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love at No. 3 changed the first round, so Reese fell to Giants at No. 5 * Very close. Both very good, quality drafts * Giants get Reese, No. 10 overall selection of Miami OL Mauigoa and 6-4 WR Malachi Fields, Notre Dame * Raiders and Browns had very good drafts Segment 4: (Semi-) Lightning Round (56:20) * Jets GM Darren Mougey draft rating * Best Jets draft pick: Sadiq (Nigel, HW) and Bailey (Neil) * What people are not talking about they should: strong improvements on defense especially the D line and defensive backfield, Reich having weapons to work with...assimilating 10 new coaches * 2026 draft class chance to be cornerstones and foundation for next several seasons * Impact on NIL on college football players compensation vs. going into NFL draft and potentially less income and guaranteed money * Great situation for QB Ty Simpson to learn behind future HOF Matthew Stafford and Rams Coach Sean McVay * Do the Jets get out of the AFC East cellar, leapfrog the Dolphins? * AFC West talk, Broncos to revert back to mean (won most games in 4th quarter), KC question mark re: Mahomes injury, Raiders much improved, no one talking about the Chargers Segment 5: What Moves Should the Jets Make Before Training Camp (1:11) * Signing vet QB, TE, deal with Breece Hall franchise tag * See how shakes loose in training camp * Never too many edge rushers * April 2026: Vegas oddsmakers: Jets over/under number of wins: 5/5