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Now, on with the show. We saw the dumbest basketball team. This is the Rich Eisen Show. The San Antonio Spurs help the New York Knicks win this game. From the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.
Tipped by an anomi, he's put it in. The Knicks take the lead. Today's guests, Basketball Hall of Famer Chris Weber. Dutton Ranch star Hart Denton. Bengals head coach, Zach Taylor.
And now, it's Rich Eisen. That's right, everybody. Welcome to this edition of the Rich Eisen Show Live on Disney Plus, live on the ESPN app. Which Stands the reason we're live on the radio, too.
So over on ESPN Radio, coast to coast, we're on SiriusXM channel 80-844-204-Rich is the number to dial. Um I am uh I'm I'm I'm finally, you know. Coming down from last night's game, holy crap is the only thing that you can basically say. 844-204-Rich is the number to dial. Always love looking down as soon as we utter a word on this show and seeing the phone lines lit.
So much to talk about. Chris Weber, the Hall of Famer, is going to join us in less than 20 minutes' time to chop up what we saw last night. And the same thing with you. Again, 844-204-RICH, number to dial. In the middle of the show, we'll talk a little pop culture.
Dutton Ranch is the latest. From the Yellowstone World and Taylor Sheridan, Hart Denton, who's in that show, is going to be joining us in the studio in hour two. Zach Taylor will talk some football with the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals in hour three. And then again, with you throughout 844-204-H is the number to dial. We are here.
Chris Brockman is at Cage Brockman's step-up ceremony for kindergarten today. Trying to take this title, The Best Dad Ever for Me.
So in his spot, Susie Schuster, good to see you over there, Suze. Getting ready for your two a day here. There's this show for the next three hours and then Women's Sports Now later on today. That's right, but I'm excited to be here first. And for those callers who call in, I did take video of you celebrating last night.
And if you'd like to see it, just let me know because. It's maybe not for Disney Plus. Yes, I might have dropped a few words, choice words. Good to see you over there, Jason Feller. How are you?
I'm doing great. And for us both. And TJ Jefferson, I love what is on your greaseboard today. You have the floor, sir. June 11th, 1997, forever known as the flu game.
Now we have june 10th, 2006. It will forever be known as The Woo game because the Wu Chain plan ain't nothing up. Wait, okay. That's things that things did turn here on June 10th, 2026. The minute Method Man and the rest of the.
Staten Island Streetwise Troubadours, as they're known, the Wu-Tang clan. They met the best. They were there and performed at Madison Square Garden. But when they were performing at Madison Square Garden at halftime, I was staring into the abyss at the best of Knicks family last night. I've never seen anything like it, nor have you, because nobody's ever come down from 29 points down to an NBA Finals game.
It was. As historic as ever, and it sure didn't feel that way. To me, or anybody in that building. Or anybody that was rooting for the Knicks, and it certainly felt like the San Antonio Spurs were taking this back. to San Antonio.
To wrest back home court advantage from a team that took it from them in such what was thought at the time. heartbreaking and soul crushing fashion to take a two games to none lead back to Madison Square Garden. And then the Spurs could have just absolutely flipped the script. and gone back home. and taken advantage of home court advantage.
and become the first team poised to be the first team ever To come back from an 0-2 hole, having lost those two games at home in the history of the NBA Finals. It never happened, and they had a chance. to do that and they came out And just absolutely hit the Knicks in the mouth. And then the whole conversation of how this game would be officiated. Boy, did Nick fans get an infuriating answer to that With Carl Anthony Towns already having one foul on him, drives past Victor Wembunyama.
To the basket, Wembanyama's arm underneath Carl Anthony Townes's. And the Foul is on Wembunyama as Carl Anthony Towns goes right to the basket. And the Spurs challenge. And it was a brilliant challenge by Mitch Johnson because You very rarely see a challenge just a minute plus into a game. but this would put Carl Anthony Towns on the bench with two fouls.
If it was reversed, and I saw it as Wembunyama's arm being pinned underneath Carl Anthony Towns as he started. His drive to the basket, But as he drove to the basket, Wembanyama had Ample time to remove his arm. From it. Carl Mente Towns. And instead of that, Actually kept it pinned underneath him, And had his hand on Kat's stomach.
As Carl Anthony Towns went to the basket. And we come back from break, and it's like, oh, yeah, that's a second foul on Carl Anthony's house. I thought it was and I thought that at the very least that was can't tell, really can't see it. Can't figure it out. One way or the other.
Call stands. We're not putting a second foul on Carl Anthony Towns. And instead, what happened is they did that. The Knicks watched Carl Anthony Towns head to the bench. I saw this stat at the bottom of the screen from the.
from the NBA Finals outstanding coverage on ABC. It's the fastest a player has picked up two fouls in any game, regular season or playoffs. Since 1998. I miss that. That's the way this game began.
With Carl Anthony Towns getting two fouls called on him faster than any other human that's played in the National Basketball Association since 1998. And I'm like, all right. Yeah, it's like, oh, here we go. But how would the Knicks handle that adversity? They spiraled.
There's no other way to put it. They spiraled, and all the Spurs did. Was make three pointers and make their shots. They made fourtees. Yeah.
They reined him in. They just kept reining in three-point shots. They made 14 threes in the first half. Wembanyama wasn't missing. My God, Vassell wasn't missing Champagne wasn't missing.
Darren Fox wasn't missing. Dylan Harper is unbelievable. He's getting ready to take over this league in front of five-ring Ron in the stands. His dad. He was unreal.
This Spurs team. absolutely blew the doors off of Madison Square Gardens, scoring seventy six points in that half. ripping the Nicks' hearts out and showed it to them pumping. with Victor Wembanyama with forty seconds to go in the first quarter. Pointing to his skull as he's down on the ground because Mitchell Robinson flagrantly fouled him out of frustration.
And I'm sitting there thinking this is because the association didn't put a flagrant On Wembunyama in between games three and four for a clear flagrant shoving of Jalen Brunson down to the floor. and left the Knicks feeling they had to have some vigilante justice. And Wembanyama rightfully pointed to his head, saying, I'm in your skull. I'm in your head. Is what he said to Mitchell Robinson, he might as well have been saying that to every Nick fan in the building.
He was in their head. Every Spurs. player hoisting a three was in the head of the Knicks and the coaching staff and the fans. Everything was going in. Everything for the Knicks was spiraling downward.
They were going to blow that two game. advantage. And their home court advantage. They were in the process of not only blowing it, but blowing it straight to smithereens. That was the second time he did the end of his head 'cause he scored on him and he and he said the same thing to him right before he got right and he was barking and he was talking to Mitchell Robinson who took the bait.
Play that. Took the bait. And everything was going right. Mitch Johnson, brilliant challenge to start. Mitch Johnson hacking Mitchell Robinson, up 20.
Yeah. Brilliant move. Keep the Knicks off balance. Keep the fans quiet. Keep things going.
Second half hit. I don't know what the hell happened to the Spurs. The Knicks did speed them up. But the Spurs played ridiculously. unspurs like basketball.
Listen, the threes weren't going to keep dropping to that rate. I know that. But does that mean they have to keep hoisting them up? They were playing like the Celtics. I don't know what the hell they were thinking.
And, you know, obviously, De'Aaron Fox is the avatar for that, with the way this wound up going down in a fourth quarter. For the ages. As the Knicks slice things down to 15 points. By the start of the fourth quarter, But everybody out there pointing a finger at De'Aaron Fox for not holding on to the basketball with 14 seconds to go and hold on to the basketball. hoisting up that shot.
That layup that OG Ananobi blocked He could have held on to it for Forced the Knicks to foul, gone to the free throw line. If he made two, the Knicks would have been down three. The Spurs could have fouled to prevent a three-point shot. It would have been far more difficult for the Knicks to complete this at that point. Dearn Fox also made A three-point shot in the middle of all this to give the Spurs a seven-point lead.
the largest lead that they would have for the remainder of the game. He did have several turnovers. He played poorly. Everybody did. Wemba Yama missed two free throws.
Suze, I was sitting there with you. We couldn't believe he missed those free throws. We thought no way possible. No, no. We thought the game was over with those free throws.
We thought the game was over when Stefan Castle made his two. He is just a stones player. But so is Ogi Ananobi. And so is Jalen Brunson. the two of them combined.
Last night. for sixty-nine points. And in the fourth quarter, O. G. Ananobi and Jalen Brunson combined for thirty one.
In the fourth quarter. That Brunson three reigned over Wembanyama down four, 104 to 100 and make it a one-point game. I was screaming my head off. I couldn't believe he was doing it again. And Jalen Brunson showed up.
In a crucial spot. Pardon me. I was looking at their plus-minus. They combined for 17 points in the fourth quarter. 17.
And then Jose Alvarado. You mentioned him multiple times yesterday, Rich. Mike Brown deciding to put Alvarado on the court in the fourth quarter over McCall Bridges. Mm-hmm. was a brilliant move because it allowed Brunson to have another ball handler.
Of note out on the floor, it created some spacing, an Alvarado in that fourth quarter. three of three from the floor, he made both of his threes, he also facilitated three assists. including one bounce pass to Aninobi in the corner for a three. It also gave them speed. I mean, that's what I saw, is that it it not only going smaller, they went faster and created more opportunity in the open floor.
And that ma that sped the Spurs up too. Mm-hmm. Which is why I think De'Aaron Fox decided to go for the layup. They were just playing fast. They just got out of their rhythm.
The garden crowd might have had something to do with it as well. But I mean we could go on and on and on. I don't know how the hell it happened But Thanks to Castle's two free throws, The Spurs did have the lead. and the Nicks had to come up with one more basket. And We're not even mentioning Josh Hart having a clear path to the basket to give the Knicks their first lead of the night.
And him blowing that layup. And later on in the show, I'll revisit why this particular moment. Caused Knicks fans to need a seance. It was like the Patrick Ewing. Bingo, sir.
I said it at the time. This felt like this generation's version of Patrick Ewing finger rolling one off the back. Of the rim. It was the same end of the floor that he finger rolled one off the back rim in game seven. of the Eastern Conference finals to the Indiana Pacers, one of the many ghosts.
That clank around Madison Square Garden, but I digress. Jalen Brunson, with seconds to go, decides to hoist a damn near Logo 3. It goes off the front rim, and OG Ananobi, who came from the inbounds passing position, nobody caught him. De'Aaron Fox is also being. called out for Watching the paint dry on this moment, Because he was the one who could have gotten in the way of Ananobi rather than trying to double Brunson with Wembanyama on him.
But Ananobi, with one right hand. Enters New York sports lore. 1.2. Ticks to go. Gives the Knicks to l the lead with a remarkable play.
Unbelievable. I will never forget this moment. Knicks fans will never forget this moment. This is going to be the type of stuff. you know that So, legends will be talked about forever in New York City.
This is how legends are born.
Now they've got to finish things off. I get it. But it's the largest comeback in NBA Finals history. They come back from that far down. We have the I mean, it was just a litany of firsts that we have not.
Seen before That's just one of them. I think we have a board on that front that we uh put in the hands of the great Shawn Mitchell. pops it up right here. The board of all the records, the Madison Square Garden Miracle or the Wu game, as you referred to it, TJ. Indeed.
It's the second twenty plus point comeback in NBA Finals history. The twenty four points the Celtics came back on in their 2008 Doc Rivers and KG in everybody's season. That's now been eclipsed. It's largest halftime comeback in playoff history. And remarkably, it's the second.
Single point Finish. In a single NBA Finals game. It's the second finals in NBA history. With multiple games decided by a single point, 1975. was the only other one.
Would you call this the greatest choke in history? You know what? Is that the Brockman seat talking? I mean, I am from New England. I mean, how can you not refer to it that way?
All we're talking about is the greatest comeback. But that game seemed done. I mean, it's seemed done. No, I know that. How about this?
Okay, because on top of it, this. Here's what the Spurs are gonna have to deal with. On top of it, They were in the bonus in the fourth quarter, meaning shooting free throws every foul the Knicks would. Commit. They were in the bonus in the fourth quarter for the second straight time.
Both games in Madison Square Garden. The Spurs were so. early in the bonus of shooting free throws on every nick foul. For the second straight game, it happened. when they didn't have a single foul called on them.
At that point in time, they were shooting free throws in the bonus with seven and change to go. Last game, it was nine and change to go. They finished that one off. Saying over and over again, I cannot believe we have another game with the most unbalanced fouls.
Well, in that regard, though, too, Suze, just to be fair and balanced on that, the Knicks got eight more free throws than the Spurs did. But There's a disparity at the point where their most important defensive player in Carl Anthony Towns. Gets sat down with the two fastest whistles anybody's gotten in a game since 1998. And then the Spurs were in the bonus. Early again.
Early again with the Knicks not anywhere near the bonus. And all they did was keep hoisting threes. They weren't going to the net. They weren't like slashing to the basket. They were just pulling up.
And going And hoisting up shots would 20, 15, 20 seconds left in the 24? At one point, Legler's like, you know what? They're taking the threes, and the Knicks will take it. It was fast. They need possessions.
The Knicks didn't make some shots to start the fourth quarter either. I mean, the Spurs had a chance to just clamp that thing down and make it a 20-point lead again, and they didn't do it.
So, yeah, Suze, you have to call it the biggest choke job ever. Yep. And OG Aninobi, I mean, this is funny. You were talking about watching his chat with our. Friend.
Lisa Salters afterwards on the uh on the game coverage. He's just He's flatliner, man. You can't tell when he's up there and he was up there at the podium afterwards. You just hit the game-winning shot in an NBA Finals game in front of your home crowd. How does that feel?
Uh it feels cool. I mean everyone's pretty excited. Um I'm excited too. I'm excited too. Uh we're all excited.
Uh we're enjoying it right now, but We'll just focus on the next game now. He's really excited. Feels cool. We're having our fun with Brunson, right? About how he's just like, we're 0-0, and the Knicks are just saying, we're 0-0.
This means nothing. This means nothing. I mean, OG Ananobi's name will now be talked about forever. I mean, Larry Johnson's talked about for a four-point shot in Madison Square Garden in a series, they lost the Spurs by, you know, four games to one. Big hell.
Now this guy's putting the Knicks up three games to one. I mean, every time anybody ever teaches the game of basketball, and you talk about crashing the boards. You're going to see a picture of him. Had he not done his job the way he did his job so effectively. Because there was a lot of ball watching last night.
Yeah, Hart was popped. The one that Castle put back in to get the two free throws, Legler called him out. Or no, it was Richard Jefferson called him out for ball watching. Yes, that happened. And and heart um you know, at the end of the game, uh was effectively screened by Victor Wembanyama, Castle had a wide open dunk if Carl Anthony Towns had not tipped that inbounds pass with 1.2 seconds to go.
There's so many ways this could have gone. But it went the Knicks way. And I am over the moon as a Knicks fan. And I know there's a lot of Spurs fans out there listening to this right now. You know, if this was the end of the series.
Your time will come, my God. You've got so many incredible young players. Wimbunyama is just flat-out unstoppable. And Mitch Johnson might have learned something as a young coach last night, too. Our learning process.
Right. My God, was that a matter of time? Yeah. I don't know.
Well, he might meet them at the airport. He's probably. Or he might have already met them at the airport. They got their hands full. Because the Knicks are feeling destined, and they've now got to win three in a row against a team that won 13 in a row before that game three loss.
Also, Rich, speaking about Alvarado, do you realize that he and Brunson entering that game had played zero minutes together in the playoffs?
So think about Mike Brown popping.
Well, Mike Brown was going to a third strand. He had to, he was going to Jeremy Soshan. I mean, like, guys were the Knicks. The Knicks hadn't played in forever, were out there on a court in a game four that they had to win to avoid. Resetting this series, which is no longer reset.
You saw Mitch Robinson early once Cat got out. He was. Out of breath, he was he needed a break, and they had to go to the third and the fourth center.
So much to talk about. We're going to do it with Chris Weber, who is zooming in right now. Hall of Famer Chris Weber, what does he think about what happened last night? We will chat with C Webb next, right here on the Rich Eisen Show, The Rich Eisen Show podcast. Rich Eisen here.
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Auto parts. Back here on the Rich Eisen show. He's a Hall of Famer. He's Chris Weber. He's here on the program.
How are you, C-Web? Good to see you, man. Hey, good. How are you doing? Hey, everybody.
You got Sue's here too. C-Web. Hey, Sue. My favorite person on the show. This is why you and I are like this.
Awesome. Yeah, yeah. Rich is cool and the Cowboys fan. I'm here too, Chris. I don't know.
I'm here too. You know what I'm saying? I said the Cowboys fan, you know. All right. I give my Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and Shriney friend the floor on game four.
What do you got? What do you think? I think I love Barclays so much, and a lot of times we share the same opinion and then talking to coaches and others. That was just probably the dumbest game and I'd like to say most arrogant game. That's one that's having played with the stakes this high.
And you got to give credit to New York for not falling forward or feeling sorry or looking forward to game five. The heart that it took to come back in that game is incredible. And San Antonio, you come by and you shoot 8-3. It just shows how you really have to have real on-the-court feel and not just analytics, because I don't think analytics would tell you. To shoot the ball eight times in a row if you made it seven times in a row, let alone you miss and taking shots early in the shot clock, you know.
Hall of Fame coach. Text me, you know, they're not playing against Combs today because he hates the fact that practicing is so much against Cones and not real game experience. And so it was just a wonderful game to watch as someone that really admires the Knicks' heart. And then, you know, as a basketball peer. You know, what San Antonio did kind of is unforgivable as a team.
You have so many players that can make so many decisions for no one to say, hey, let's get a good shot, or by the way. We have the tallest player on the floor on our team. Let's go inside. It just shows that there needs to be some common sense along with the wonderful skill that's in this game. Yeah, I mean, it's in Wembunyama's a superb free throw shooter, and the Spurs were in the bonus without the Knicks having a single foul called on them in the fourth quarter with seven minutes to go.
And, you know, I find it interesting you agree with Barkley calling it dumb basketball. But appreciate the other word that you used, the adjective you used of arrogant. Not only because it points out the difference between educations at Auburn and Michigan, but it also is an interesting choice of words that I'd love for you to expand upon here. What do you mean by arrogant brand of basketball? You know, I have a lot of pitchers, friends that are pitchers, and they talk about, you know, they don't remember ever throwing a home run if, you know, pitching the home run.
You have to forget about the next pitch. But that's positive to me, that's positive arrogance because you can't deal on the last play.
However, when there's time, space, and game left, and there's players, and you understand where you are on the nuance and how hard it is to get back in the game. At that time, you're supposed to not start milking the clock, but play deliberate, thoughtful basketball. Steph Curry is the best three point shooter we've ever seen. And he's one of the best finishers. He never gets credit for that.
Because as soon as you think that you deny him, he goes back door and he makes a layup. That's the brilliance of him shooting threes. He's not just a specialist. And when you have guys taking hard and light step backs and bad shots, There's no uh address It really made me angry, you know. And then, you know, and if we go through this, then you have to go back and you have to say that whole team played like Hardin.
You you have to say it, right? It is no it's it's You know, it's the same way Harden and Houston played, and I think in game seven against Golden State, when they took 17 threes, right? And so I just don't understand when captains or coaches. Don't realize that. You understand it's a run happening.
And a lot of basketball players know that if it was a run, you went to turn five or you threw it in the shack, got a double team. He got a foul, he slowed it down. Your team's complaining with the refs, and it just keeps that momentum going. It was almost like I was talking to a friend last night. I was like, it's like they are the Seattle.
Team that wouldn't give it to beast mode. Like each time, like you're down here in this area, it's fourth and one, fourth and inches, and you keep on trying to throw a bomb. You know, it's incredible to me that it just wasn't you have the tallest player on the floor. Like, that's just, we give him so much credit for being the great player that he is, and he is. And the reason why he's such a great player is because he's taller than everybody.
And if you don't use that player's main skill, Then, um You know, I think you're going to be in that position. And saying all of that, what heart that New York had, man, coming back and kind of taking over and taking that game. And I text another friend last night. You see, I was busy texting that if they lose with Wu-Tang performing at halftime, then there's no chance. And give Method Man credit, he said, Nick's in five when they were down 29 at halftime.
So, you know, when you guys, you know, the people coming out room for you like that in the heart of the team, you know, flu game, woo game. I love it. Yeah, I know. I know, I know, TJ and you don't vibe on the Cowboys Lions front, but. TJ was pointing that is almost to the anniversary of the flu game.
Actually, today is the anniversary of the flu game in 97. But it's now known as the Wu game. Chris, wow, I can see Scotty Pippen taking Jordan over to the bench right now, and I can see you know Ray Quine holding up the W and being there for that game. But yeah, man, that was exciting energy, and I'm so glad the fans are there. You know, for New York fans and for my boys, the soul.
Crazy New York and Arrogan and all that great stuff. If it's ever a time that they deserve to win and deserve to talk junk about in a true way and not overdo it, they can't overdo this story. They were the underdog. They were down 30. They won two on the road.
I mean, this, you know, and, you know, why not win the next game? I think, too, for future teams, you know, if this was wrestling, we'd see the villain being built up. And I definitely think that everybody's going to have to rethink their over. reaction of trading the big fella from OKC. Um Teams in the West are going to look at this team differently.
You know, when you look at the guard play, other guards are going to attack differently. They don't necessarily think that maybe some of your guards, though they have accolades, are as great as they. Appear to be.
So, with this, there's a whole resettling of a narrative and a resettling of kind of your aspirations for next year. And I know OKC is kicking themselves in the butt because this is when you would have had an SGA get you a file or get to the free throw line or get a layup. You know, and so it's definitely going to be interesting. I think it resets the narrative in the West for who's the best next year. Wow, crazy.
Chris Weber, you're going next level on that one.
Okay. But um Oh, screw it. Let's dig into that. What you really think that watching the Spurs blow that lead last night. in game four.
And again, it is the largest disparity in the history of the NBA playoffs, certainly the finals. Um of A point differential between first and second halves: 76 in the first, 30 in the second half. There's never been a minus 46. Ever oh, by the way. Great stuff by Smitch here to half and half not is the board right now.
The difference. A 46-point differential. You think this change, like Sam Presty sitting there, even if he thought for a second, although his press conference this past week, he was talking up Chet Holmgren. Um you you you think this changes the way Nuggets, Lakers. T-Wolves go down the line, looks at the Spurs based on what just happened in Madison Square Garden last night.
I think it changes the way players do it. Because I know players, and the way that I looked at the game, you know, you are your reputation, what you kept doing. And so, this is the only kind of evidence of who they are.
So, you're going to rely on that. But if I'm OKC specifically, I've always said that I'm not trading Chet. Chet has a unique body type, he can play defense, and I'm not looking for him to score 30 in game seven. And the only reason why people I think depending on him to do that was because he had players out and he was the next guy up. And if they didn't have injured players, if I'm OKC, I just, you know, I just feel good about what we have.
And okay, we had a little downseason. We were hurt, but we'll be right back at the top because these guys don't know what it takes.
Now, what the Knicks did. Let's just linger on that a little bit in our remaining time, Chris Weber. What did they do? Um, a lot of folks are looking at the insertion of Jose Alvarado. Um for Bridges, who's obviously such a crucial player for this team.
But what what What what did that unlock? Um unless I'm missing something. Chris?
Well, it unlocked ball movement, but again New York took it, and they took it because of the shot selection of San Antonio.
So, San Antonio, I always say your offense, your offensive shot selection really helps your defense. And if you're just shooting threes, one on four early in the shot clock, one, you're not. Like putting any pressure on me, too. Two, you're not putting any pressure on our defense as a whole. You're not moving it side to side.
And, you know, it's kind of giving up on a play, taking an early three bad shot just because you're allowed to. And so I think that that allowed New York to get out and run. And when you run, what happens? You get the crowd into it, you get to the free throw line, you get a flagrant foul, you get people angry because now the pace is really a great pace. And I don't think San Antonio.
Has to play fast when they're up 30. That's when you play slower and get it into your big fellow who's a really good passer. I think they need to find another way to use him, having him at the three-point line, not as a rebounder, not as putting pressure on anybody, but 45% of your offensive plays, it's a waste. For anyone, unless you're Curry Thompson, you know, guy Kyrie, for any player, let alone someone that can dominate inside.
So I think they took advantage of the opportunities, they stayed focused, and they moved the ball. It wasn't just one guy dribbling around trying to get others involved, but the faster the pace got because of bad shots, gave energy to the team, to the crowd, and that momentum went on to get them to get the last possession of a game when you have great players, you know. They're a really good team. You could tell these guys like each other, but the pieces fit. And when you saw OG attacking the basket the way he did, I mean, was anybody?
I'm surprised they won the game, but was anybody surprised that he tipped it in? I don't think so. He's unbelievable. I mean, he's the one with the ring. He got the ring from Toronto and that means something, and then Brunson wants the ring so damn bad.
You could see it, you could feel it. He's got Kobe vibes, you know what I mean? Like, he just sits there, he doesn't want to even hear about the fact that they're one game away, four quarters away, they're up three to one, they got another game, and Madison Square Gunner is a backstop. He just doesn't want to even hear it. I want to, what's your opinion of Jalen Brunson now, uh, four games into this finals?
And Three plus series into these playoffs, Chris?
Well, I've always been a Jalen Brunson fan. I played with his dad growing up, the McDonald's game and college, all of that. Ever since I've watched Jalen, I knew he was a dog. And to me, that's the number one trait you have to have. There are many skilled individuals, but do you have the work ethic?
Can you be long-suffering? Can you not listen to what people say? And those are skills that are usually earned the hard way. And he had a great example of his dad being on him and saying that to him, but he also lived it if you looked at his career. And so I'm his biggest fan.
And just want to re-emphasize, because a lot of athletes watch this show. Yeah. Brunson is not a specialist, he's a bucket getter. And a lot of you in this generation better get back to getting buckets. Instead of trying to be a specialist, because you practice with cones and you can shoot out the corner.
Because what happens when the ball is in your hands in this time to get a bucket? And I think Brunson, SGA, of course, the Durant Hardens, Kyrie's, all those people before, you know, show that. But I think it just reinforces the hardest thing to stop in this game is a guy that can go two dribbles and pull up, a guy that can pump fake, get to the hole, a guy that's not scared of contact. And oh, by the way, he can shoot threes just as great as everyone else.
However, he knows the mid-range, he puts much more pressure on the offense. And so I hope players start getting smarter and recognizing with their IQ, it's not just about going with a trainer, playing with cones. It's about understanding how to get buckets, where to get buckets, and the nuances of an offense and to really embrace the talent because there's so much great talent today. He has touch. Like, you know, he, when you watch him play in the open court and you can see like that natural feel that he has, and the way he's able to create.
I think you're 100% right that That doesn't come from a private trainer and, you know, like somebody helping you out. That's instinct, right? That's instinct. And The question that wasn't asked of him last night on Inside the NBA, as they were all sitting out there, and it was chaos and great to watch. But there was a moment, Chris, where God, I wish I'd been there, because he was just kind of staring off into space.
And I wish somebody had just said to him, Jalen, what are you thinking right now? Like, what's going on? Because you could see in his head, like, you know, anybody who's been on those courts, I spent a lot of time with you. Like you're seeing a player and they're somewhere else. And I wish somebody had said, What are you thinking right now?
What do you think he was thinking? Yeah, I've been caught in one of those moments before, and I was just trying to take a mental picture. Of the moment, because so many times in sports we're taught to forget your last win and go forward. And so he has a couple of hours to enjoy it. And so I think that, you know, the Garden maybe has never been like that, in his opinion.
And I bet he was just trying to take all that came in. I mean, a 30-point win. The largest win, you know, a comeback. I know they said besides a bubble, but I just can't, I can't imagine what he was thinking inside because I can't imagine winning like that in a place that's so thirsty for you to get a championship and you just came back, you know, when the odds were against you. Hopefully, hopefully, it was some great thoughts because it was a great moment.
Chris Weber, the anti-cone, Chris Weber, taking shots at Cones. No, no, no. I want you to do the cones. You just take shots. I loved it.
But you got to play one-on-one, too. You got to get back to the backyard. Go to the park. You got to play against people so that you know how to play against people. Yeah, because those cones really post up, huh?
Those cones really play great defense. You know, the other thing you said that was so true was like what they did was antithetical to the game of basketball last night by staying on the periphery and about going so shallow into the shot clock. I mean, it was such bad time management, but also. you're a high percentage shooter yourself, like the high percentage is down low.
So, what are you doing? Like, constantly putting it in the middle of your life. Or in your spot. Or in your spot. Like, some guys, you're like, oh, don't let Steph Curry catch it right here by the logo.
Or don't let Kevin Durant catch it here or dribble to the left. Everyone has their spot. And you just want him to go to his spot. That's all. Every play, you know, if he was maybe a veteran, again, he's doing some incredible things.
If he was a veteran, maybe he would have said, listen, the ball comes to me the next two or three times. I mean, I've heard Chaq do that when we were coming back, you know.
So I've seen these things, you know, work in person. And it's just from an admiration of his game that today it's so cool to do everything else except. What hurts the other team, and what will hurt the other team is him being inside where no one can check him, where he's so skilled. Where if he just did a reverse pivot, he could shoot off the backboard or face up or whatever he wants to do.
So, uh, but your coach has to put you in that position, and I think, um, you know, that's why you know they'll be kicking themselves uh in the butt because they had a chance in all three games. But you know, so many teams have a chance in all the games. That's right, there you go, Chris. Thanks for the time, greatly appreciate it. We got to run it, which is also good news because I think David Cohn's about to call in very, very upset about uh good to see you, Chris.
Thank you, Chris. Hi, brother. See, Web, everybody right here on the Rich Eisen Show. We're back in the flash, The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast. As you know, managing maintenance, repair, and operations is never easy.
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The Stanley Cup final on ABC is more than a quest for the cup. It's 134 years of putting it all on the line and the heaviest 35 pounds ever lifted. It's broken curses and broken hearts. But for those chasing it, it's everything. The only question is, who will take it?
You just have to watch the Stanley Cup final presented by Geico on ABC and the ESPN app. We're back on our radio feed. There's only Sue's one person I want to hear from today, and he loves you.
So, clearly, you being here to soften the blow about what happened as Spurs last night. I know who it is. Jimmy in San Antonio is back on the rich ones. Hi, Jimmy. Como estamos, familia.
Are you okay? Are you okay? I'm not sober. Jimmy, man, I was hold on. Before we get to it, Susie, email me the video of Rich overreacting, please.
It wasn't overreacting. It was it was real. And by the way, I thought of you last night because I did have a Claasa Azul on the rocks with extra lime.
So I thought I thought, am I tipping it in San Antonio's direction by drinking that with my husband? But you love Wemby. You want him to win. You know, you're you're. You're a francophile.
And you like athletes you like athletes with a brain. and a heart and a zen. you know, with your years with Phil Jackson, but um At the end of the day, though, Jimmy, this is something I've been waiting for my entire life. But I know on the flip side, there's somebody like yourself kind of gutted.
So I give you the floor.
Okay, so this is where my confliction falls because, as you know, I picked the Knicks before the Western Conference finals was over. Yes, sir. My other problem is, Susie, I don't know if you know this, Rich and I made a bet. And you're going to win my dog, Bex.
Now, she eats two cups a day and she'll put herself to bed around five Pacific time. What kind of dog?
So, she's a pit boxer, she's about 60 pounds. Great, little. Yeah, in the right okay. Can I have a little bit for the Spurs? Because Number one, C Web, you said that we weren't ready for the moment.
And I agree. And if you're going to have a guest that's not ready for the moment in situational awareness, I guess C-Web would be the perfect. Look at you taking a swipe at Chris Weber.
Okay. Ke work it all out, Jimmy. Work it all out. I understand. Jimmy, you can take swipes at Rich all you want, but you can't come at C-Web.
Yeah. Mm-hmm. I'm a Duke fan, so I'm all about it. Webb, we can go to dinner and talk.
Okay. All right. Yeah. It wasn't a comeback, it was a gift. It was another gift from France.
You have the Statue of Liberty, and now San Antonio and Wemby is giving you an NBA championship. You're welcome. Jimmy and San Antonio. Thanks for the call, Jimmy. And I give you one of those.
Famed Rich Eyes and Show Bro Hugs. I hope you are feeling better. You know. Listen, the Spurs absolutely gifted the Knicks. The ability to come back.
The Knicks had to make shots, they did. In the same way that the Spurs were, they fell in love with their threes. And why not? They made 14 of them in the first half, but uh. I mean, with the bonus and Victor Wembanyama and his unstoppability and his great free throw shooting.
Every time that someone was hoisting a three, it was a gift. Thanks for listening to the Rich Eisen Show Podcast. You can watch and listen to The Rich Eisen Show live weekdays from noon to 3 Eastern on ESPN Radio, Disney Plus, and on the ESPN app, The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast. I'm Kiana, and I leveled up my business with Shopify. Once I figured out that Shopify was a thing, I never turned back.
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