Category: NBA

Where: Madison Square Garden (New York, NY)

When: Monday, June 8 at 8:30 PM EST

How to watch: ABC

Betting Line: NY -1.5 (subject to change), O/U 216.5 (subject to change) via FanDuel

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The NBA Draft is drawing near, and with it comes the question of whether the Phoenix Suns will stay put at No. 47 overall or once again look to move around the board. This is an organization that has shown a willingness to be aggressive on draft night.

Since Brian Gregory arrived two offseasons ago, before eventually assuming the role of general manager last offseason, Phoenix has consistently sought opportunities to maximize its draft capital. Two years ago, the Suns maneuvered around the draft board to acquire Ryan Dunn. They then used assets gained during that process to move up in the second round and select Oso Ighodaro. Last year followed a similar pattern. The Suns traded Kevin Durant and acquired the 10th overall pick, a selection Phoenix originally held. They used it to draft Khaman Maluach, then turned around and utilized additional draft assets from the Durant trade to move up to No. 31 overall, where they selected Rasheer Fleming.It was a masterclass in draft navigation.

That’s what makes this year’s draft so interesting. The Suns may only own the 47th pick at the moment, but recent history suggests they’re never content to simply sit back and let the draft come to them. If Brian Gregory and the front office identify a player they believe in, they’ve shown a willingness to get creative in order to go get him. That’s something worth remembering as draft night approaches.

It’s not a foreign concept to think the Phoenix Suns could be moving around the draft board when the NBA Draft takes place on June 23 and 24. This is no longer the James Jones era, when draft picks often felt more like an annoyance than an opportunity. That said, moving up the board comes with a cost. If the Suns want to climb from No. 47, they’ll likely have to sacrifice future draft capital to do it.

And that raises an important question. Is now the right time? For a team that doesn’t have the luxury of cap flexibility working in its favor, is it wise to add another young player whose salary could create additional financial challenges?

Take the 17th overall pick as an example. If Phoenix were to execute a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder and acquire that selection, the rookie would carry a cap hit of roughly $4.6 million for the 2026-27 season. Realistically, what is the path to meaningful minutes for that player next season?

That’s part of the equation. Every dollar matters for a team trying to bring back Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, and potentially Mark Williams. The Suns are walking a delicate line between adding youth and maintaining continuity. It’s a balancing act.

On one side sits the desire to inject more young talent into the organization. On the other sits the reality of the cap sheet and the importance of keeping together the core pieces that helped establish the team’s identity last season. 

What should the organization do? Should they move up the board and invest further in youth? Or should they stand pat at No. 47, select a player who is likely destined for a two-way contract, and continue focusing on continuity while preserving financial flexibility? That’s the question facing Phoenix as draft season approaches. That’s the question we have before you today.

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Is it over? Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?¹ Hell no! It’s not over. The Spurs are in a bad spot, down 2-0 and going on the road to Madison Square Garden, where there will be a lot of distractions, many of them having nothing to do with basketball. It’s going to be a challenge for both teams as try to play their best basketball and win a game in a legendary arena. The Spurs haven’t played a complete game in the series, but they had a terrific second half in Game 2 until the final seconds when their inexperience betrayed them with an inopportune turnover in the final seconds gave the Knicks a chance to retake the lead late, a lead that they held onto when Wembanyama’s midrange shot rimmed out as time expired.

The Spurs will need more than two good quarters tonight, and Victor Wembanyama will need to get more than 4 shots in the first half to pull out a road win. De’Aaron Fox has been looking healthier as the series goes on, and if he could get some of his lift back on his shots, it’s going to be helpful. The Knicks were a little off in the first game, but got everything going in the second game, and it wasn’t just Brunson, who was mediocre until crunch time, it took great games form Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns to pull out the win. Even Josh Hart, who had a goose egg in the scoring column, made some critical plays with rebounding and assists.

The Spurs will need more from their bench tonight, and Keldon Johnson needs to contribute more than the 3 points he scored in Game 2. It’s going to be do or die tonight. The Spur have had an incredible year so far, but they can keep it going with a win tonight and Wednesday. If the Spurs get this to a 3 game series with home court advantage, I like their chances. GO SPURS GO!!

1. The Germans did not, in fact, bomb Pearl Harbor. [Forget it, he’s rolling.] But that’s the opening line in Bluto’s [played by John Belushi] famous speech in the movie Animal House, where he convinced the members of Delta Tau Chi [aka Animal House] to engage in a really futile and stupid gesture to counter the actions of Dean Wormer.

Game Prediction:

Jalen Brunson get the final shot and misses it, and doesn’t even draw a foul, which is the first time that’s happened, ever. As far as I can tell.

San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks, NBA Finals, Game 3
June 8, 2026 | 7:30 PM CT
Streaming: ESPN
TV: ABC
Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.

Another day, another player who played in the bubble telling everyone how impressive that title was.

Time and time again, whenever players who actually took part in the bubble sit down and talk about it, they repeatedly tell everyone how difficult it was to win that title. It’s not even restricted to Lakers from that team, who would obviously make a point to defend their ring.

This time, it was Danny Green who sat down and talked about the team’s entire 2019-20 season in a video for Bleacher Report. It was a great video that included lots of anecdotes about the season, but it also included him presenting the case for that ring being the toughest of his career.

“It was by far the hardest championship that I had to achieve. To make that adjustment playing through COVID, having your family and friends not really there, not being able to even celebrate it properly. We went to the same restaurant that we go to every day and celebrated as a team but, after that, no real parade. So, it was just different. In the bubble, a lot of different things were going on where the walls start closing in on you mentally and emotionally. It was a hard-fought win. Also the physical task of every other day playing, which wears on you. By far the hardest because, again, mentally taxing.”

To add further credence to Green’s case, he’s someone who has won multiple rings in multiple places, so this is a statement that holds some weight. He also contended that, even if the bubble — and a global pandemic — didn’t exist, the Lakers would have won the title, calling it an “iconic, legendary team.”

Game 5 game-winning shot

Green didn’t shy away from the elephant in the room, either, when talking about the Finals. Prior to the Lakers coming out victorious in Game 6 against the Heat, Green had a shot to end the series and win a title in Game 5.

The shot missed and Green and the Lakers had to regroup. Green talked about the shot and the moment in the interview. The biggest takeaway was that he didn’t realize how much time was left when he took the shot, admitting he rushed it as a result.

Even after that missed opportunity, he said the vibe around the team was that they would bounce back and win in Game 6. Fortunately, that turned out to be the case.

Anthony Davis’ game-winner vs. Denver

To get to the Finals, the Lakers had to go through the Nuggets. That memorable series included one of the long-lasting highlights of Anthony Davis’ career.

In Game 2 with the Lakers down one, AD knocked down a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Instead of being tied in the series 1-1, the Lakers took a 2-0 lead and used that to go on and win the series.

Green talked about that shot and what it did for both the Lakers and Nuggets.

“With that game-winner, it gave us the momentum and confidence and everything we needed and also kind of put them in a — like that’s a devastating play to experience on the other side. When you lose by a game-winner, it’s really hard to bounce back from it. That was the play that, pretty much, I think, won us the championship. No disrespect to Miami. Miami was a very good team but I think this was the hardest overall team that we faced during that playoff run.”

The whole interview is worth a watch, if for no other reason than to take a trip down memory lane.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

The New York juggernaut keeps rolling on, as the Knicks won both games in San Antonio to make it 13 straight postseason victories. The series now shifts to Madison Square Garden, where tickets on secondary market are going for $10k and the blood of a firstborn child. The last time a team came back from down 0-2 to win the Finals was 2021, when Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks over the Phoenix Suns. A starter on that Suns team? Mikal Bridges. Could history repeat itself for the Sixer-for-less-than-an-hour?

Honestly, the Knicks just look like the team of destiny right now. The Spurs’ young squad looked a little shook by the big moment and that was when the games were in San Antonio. Now the crowd will be going bonkers in the Garden. Karl-Anthony Towns has been playing great against Victor Wembanyama, who has had a much tougher time against the stronger Towns than Chet Holmgren in the previous series. We haven’t even seen a dynamite Jalen Brunson game yet. He shot just 7-of-25 in Game 2, after 12-of-31 in Game 1 (albeit with an incredible fourth quarter to carry the Knicks across the line). The Spurs have the stable of tall, athletic guards to throw at Brunson defensively, but you still assume he has at least one huge game, even in a less-than-ideal matchup.

What do you think? Do the Knicks take care of business back home or can the Spurs return the favor and steal a game on the road? Let us know in the comments and follow along with all the Game 3 action.

Game Details

When: June 8, 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: Madison Square Garden
Watch: ABC
Radio: ESPN Radio
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Tonight, the Washington Mystics host the Indiana Fever. Watch it on Monumental Sports Network at 7:30 p.m. ET. Then Game 3 of the NBA Finals is at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC (WJLA-TV) in the DMV. Enjoy!

Editor's Note:Click here for live coverage and all the latest news from Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.

The New York Knicks didn't have to search too far for a halftime performer.

The Knicks tapped Grammy award-winning rapper and New York native Cardi B to provide halftime entertainment for Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden on Monday, June 8, a person with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.

The person spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.

There's always celebrities in the arena whenever the Knicks play at home, but the star power has turned up a notch as the team hosts its first NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden since 1999. In addition to Cardi B, a variety of celebrities and dignitaries are set to attend Game 3 on Monday, ranging from President Donald Trump, to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and actor Ben Stiller.

NBA FINALS GAME 3: Celebrities, politicians pack the house at Madison Square Garden

Cardi B is the latest New York native to turn the basketball court into her stage. Singer Mary J. Blige served as the halftime performer during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals last year.

The rapper recently wrapped her critically-acclaimed Little Miss Drama Tour, which featured two stops in New York at Madison Square Garden in March. It's not clear which songs she'll perform, but Cardi B's discography includes hit songs "Bodak Yellow" and "Hello" among many others.

Cardi B has attended several Knicks games over the years, including Game 4 of the Eastern Conference last year alongside NFL beau Stefon Diggs.

Contributing: Lorenzo Reyes

Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cardi B set for Knicks vs Spurs NBA Finals Game 3 halftime show at MSG

Monday was the dawn of a new era for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Out is Daryl Morey, who served as the franchise’s president of basketball operations for six seasons. In is Mike Gansey, who previously served as the general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Gansey spoke to reporters for the first time at the team’s practice facility in Camden. He didn’t divulge much (who needs a “we sold high” type of quote on their first day?), but made it clear he wants to build around the team’s Big 4 while fostering a positive culture from the front office on down.

After Gansey’s introductory presser, Bob Myers and the newly-promoted Jameer Nelson spoke as well. Here are five takeaways from the day.

Building around the Big 4

Again, there wasn’t a ton of clarity as far as the direction Gansey wants to go, but there were plenty of questions surrounding Joel Embiid and the team’s ability to be a contender with three max contracts.

The main goal is obvious — though it’s easier said than done.

“I’ve had a lot of good conversations with him so far,” Gansey said of the former MVP. “Excited to meet with him this week. … With him and the roster we have, that’s who we have. We got to get those guys on the floor, we got to create an identity and just get them to play basketball.”

Gansey pointed to the fact that the Sixers were 24-14 with Embiid on the floor and to the upset of the Boston Celtics in the first round of the postseason. He didn’t sugarcoat things (more on that in a bit) or attempt to gaslight the fan base. The reality is there’s little other recourse. Embiid is owed a lot of money over the next three seasons and Paul George over the next two.

It makes sense to not obsess over the dual timeline situation and just build the best team possible with the resources at hand.

“I don’t look at it as a timeline,” Gansey said, “I just look at like we have those four and we got to maximize those four. Obviously, VJ [Edgecombe] and Tyrese [Maxey] are younger, but Paul and Joel can still play at a high level. … We gotta rely on those four, and obviously keep them on the floor, and then just build around them.”

Building the culture

Morey has long been known as one of the smartest minds in basketball. It’s an earned reputation.

With that said, the biggest criticism of Morey is how cold and calculated he could be. The Jared McCain trade — which did not go over well in the Sixers’ locker room — is a decent example. You could understand some of the basketball reasons for the decision, but, ultimately, it might’ve been a bit shortsighted.

Gansey seems like he’s viewed as an antidote to the disconnect between the front office and the players — and really everyone else in the organization.

“My philosophy is simple: build a culture rooted in character, work ethic, competitiveness, accountability and teamwork,” Gansey said in his opening statement. “Our fans deserve a team that they can be proud of. There will be alignment throughout the entire organization with a relentless focus on putting our players and staff in the best position to succeed.”

The word “alignment” came up an awful lot. With the turmoil surrounding the Sixers for the last decade or so, it’s fair to wonder how much “alignment” there’s been.

Gansey seems intent on changing the culture here. He talked about wanting to be “attached at the hip” to head coach Nick Nurse and speaking with all of the players about what this team needs. Will it lead to more wins? Who knows? But the organization clearly needs to try something different.

“I want guys that want to be in Philly, first and foremost,” he said. “Obviously, guys that can fit around our players that we have currently under contract, and I want fountains, not drains. I want guys with high character, guys with high work ethics, and guys that want to be in Philadelphia.”

Building an identity

But it wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies.

The reality is the Sixers are in one of the weirdest spots in the league. They had what could be considered a decent season, upsetting the second-seeded Celtics in the first round. They were also handily swept in the second round by the New York Knicks, who currently hold a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals. It’s clear the gap between the Sixers and Knicks is massive.

Gansey is now charged with bridging that gap.

“They got swept in the second round, so it’s not a championship-caliber team right now,” Gansey said, “but we’re going to work on that. Getting the Big 4 together on the floor, but we’re going to do everything we can to bring players in here that fit, and that obviously can help. … We got a great staff here, and we’re going to do everything we can to get the best players in here to help us get to the mountaintop.”

“Identity” was another buzzword used by all of Gansey, Myers and Nelson. With all the uncertainty surrounding the statuses of Embiid and George, it was nearly impossible for the 2025-26 team to create one. They were essentially middle-of-the-pack by most statistical measures.

There wasn’t any one thing they could hang their hat on.

“We gotta find an identity. We just don’t have one,” Myers said. “I mean, that’s maybe a harsh thing to say, but look at the numbers. I mean, we were not elite offensively or defensively, and … if you’re gonna win at the highest level, you gotta be great at something. We have the capabilities, I think, and we have the players and some of the talent, but in order to see what we are, we’ve got to be on the floor.”

The front office triumvirate

For those unfamiliar, Gansey was a very good college basketball player at Saint Bonaventure before transferring to West Virginia. He then spent a few years bouncing around playing in the G League, overseas and getting NBA summer league invites.

Myers, who stands at 6-foot-7, had a decent college career at UCLA, helping the Bruins reach the Elite Eight in 1996-97.

And we’re all familiar with Nelson’s playing career.

It’s an interesting dynamic. The franchise has gone from more analytics-driven executives like Sam Hinkie and Morey to people who played the game at a high level. That doesn’t mean analytics won’t be involved in the decision-making (they will) or that it will lead to success.

But it does change things for an organization in desperate need of a shake-up.

“I think it’s helped me a lot throughout my career,” Gansey said, “just because I’ve been in the locker room, I’ve been in wars, I played with some of the guys who are still playing in this league a little bit in college, so I think my understanding of maybe what they’re going through day to day. They’re going through training camp, or they’re exhausted, or the travel, or their confidence is low, like I can kind of relate to them a little bit, and say, ‘hey, I didn’t play at the highest level, but I played at a pretty good level,’ where they can come to me and ask me questions, and I can relate to them a little bit more than maybe someone that didn’t play.”

What’s next?

The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft will take place on June 23. The Sixers will have the 22nd overall selection — a pick they received in the McCain trade that originally belonged to the Houston Rockets.

For so many reasons, it’s crucial for the Sixers to nail this pick. Right after that will be free agency.

“I think with where we’re at now … we have pick 22 in the draft, we got to hit on that,” Gansey said. “We got to get a good player there. Just building depth. We got to get guys in here in free agency that we like, we got to get minimum guys, and then the big part is just internal development with Tyrese, VJ, and some of our other young guys, they got to get better too. I think it’s internal growth, 22 and then free agency, and trying to add as much depth as we can to this roster.”

The good news for the Sixers is Gansey has already been doing draft prep for the Cavaliers, who hold the 29th overall pick. If there’s one area where you can see Gansey’s fingerprints with Cleveland, it’s the draft.

“I ran the draft in Cleveland, so I was really big on the player personnel and the valuation, but I’m a connector. I build relationships with everyone in the building, all the way from our star player to the janitor.”

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Basketball bettors are in a New York state of mind for Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

The New York Knicks are home and holding a 2-0 series edge over the San Antonio Spurs, who enter what will be a madhouse inside Madison Square Garden tonight.

My Spurs vs. Knicks same-game parlay isn’t getting in the way of New York and loves these two role players – one veteran and one rookie – to blow up their scoring props in the Big Apple.

Here are my best NBA picks and Spurs vs. Knicks predictions on Monday, June 8.

Our best Spurs vs Knicks SGP for Game 3

SGP leg #1: Knicks moneyline

The New York Knicks have the San Antonio Spurs on their heels, proving they’re the tougher team physically and mentally. The Knicks have outworked the Spurs for almost every 50/50 ball while also showing their experience edge in crunch time. New York is making big shots late in games while San Antonio is stumbling with massive miscues, burying itself in a 0-2 hole.

We saw the New York bench put in work in Game 2, and that was a big X-factor entering the series, playing a bigger role as the finals roll on. With a healthy lift from an insane crowd at MSG, the Knicks put San Antonio on the ropes with another strong team effort on both ends in Game 3.

SGP leg #2: Dylan Harper Over 12.5 points

Rookie guard Dylan Harper is a “rookie” in title only. We’ve seen his maturation during the playoffs, and Game 2 proved he could be San Antonio’s second-best scorer. While most of the Spurs shrank in crunch time, Harper made the most of the extra minutes in the fourth quarter, attacking the rim and igniting a late surge. His size and speed are a tough blend for the Knicks defense to deal with, and models call for as many as 15+ points in Game 3.

SGP leg #3: Mikal Bridges Over 13.5 points

Mikal Bridges was huge for New York in Game 2, and his mid-range game is the perfect foil for the Spurs, who pack the paint and hope the Knicks miss outside shots. He’s getting good looks with San Antonio focusing on Jalen Brunson and has scored 14+ in five of his last six games and nine of his last 11 outings. Most models call for close to 15 points from Bridges tonight.

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Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Spurs vs. Knicks predictions for Game 3.

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NEW YORK – President Donald Trump's planned visit to Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks has added to the hype and hassle around Madison Square Garden.

The 8:30 p.m. June 8 game is expected to mark the first time that a seated U.S. president has attended the NBA Finals. And, as with any high-profile presidential appearance, this trip comes with added layers of security.

USA TODAY will have live updates from inside MSG as the president takes in the game, which will be broadcast live on ABC.

How President Trump will enter and exit Madison Square Garden

The presidential motorcade will drive up the five-story entrance ramp that players and coaches use to arrive, where President Trump will be escorted to elevators and taken to a suite, where he will watch the game.

While the President is being whisked up, the wing where the corresponding elevator is will be momentarily blocked off to foot traffic. Similar protocols will be followed when Trump leaves the arena.

–Lorenzo Reyes

Is there extra security at Game 3 of the NBA Finals?

The NBA warned fans that U.S. President Donald Trump's expected appearance at NBA Finals Game 3 would lead to extra security measures, and they were already visible around Madison Square Garden nearly 12 hours before the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs tip off on June 8.

A security wall around the perimeter of the "World's Most Famous Arena" in midtown Manhattan is in place. NYPD officials said during a news conference about 12 hours before the scheduled start time for Game 3 that the police's security perimeter will run from West 35th Street to West 30th Street between Sixth Avenue and Eighth Avenue around Madison Square Garden.

All fans will encounter TSA-style magnetometer screening before entering the arena, according to Matt McCool of the U.S. Secret Service, who encouraged those attending Game 3 of the NBA Finals to arrive at MSG at least two hours before Monday's 8:30 p.m. ET tip.

Read more on the extra security at Madison Square Garden here.

– Mark Giannotto

New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change.

New York City has waited a long time for tonight — 27 years, to be exact.

Game 3 of the NBA Finals are tonight, June 8, on the Knicks’ home court at Madison Square Garden. It’s the first NBA Finals game to be hosted at the World’s Most Famous Arena since the 1999 Finals.

In addition to extending their postseason win streak to an incredible 12 games, the Knicks are now up 2-0 over the San Antonio Spurs.

In a Game 2 defined by a down-to-the-wire finish, the Knicks relied on their veteran poise to survive a fierce counterpunch from San Antonio. Karl-Anthony Towns was magnificent for New York, finishing with a team-high 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Mikal Bridges delivered a highly efficient 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists to help New York steal both games on the road.

There will be extra eyes on tonight’s matchup since President Donald Trump plans to attend. Security is tight inside and around Madison Square Garden and watch parties in the area are being cancelled.

Spurs vs. Knicks start time:

Tonight’s (June 8) NBA Finals Game 3 is scheduled to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET.

NBA Finals Game 3 streaming: How to watch Spurs vs. Knicks for free

If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the game for free.

DIRECTV is our top pick for watching basketball live for free — its five-day free trial includes ABC, where every game of the NBA Finals will air. When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $44.99/month and gain access to over 90 live channels.

Sling TV is another affordable way to watch TV live and stream NBA games; its Select plan includes ABC and starts at $19.99/month.

NBA Finals schedule 2026

All games will air on ABC at 8:30 p.m. ET.

• Game 1: Knicks 105, Spurs 95
• Game 2: Knicks 105, Spurs 104
• Game 3: Monday, June 8
• Game 4: Wednesday, June 10
• Game 5: Saturday, June 13*
• Game 6: Tuesday, June 16*
• Game 7: Friday, June 19*

* if necessary

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This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.

Quin Snyder is getting rewarded thanks in part to some moderate playoff success against the Knicks.

The Atlanta Hawks coach, 59, signed a new multiyear contract extension, the team announced Monday, after they were eliminated from the playoffs in a six-game first-round series against the Knicks.

After going 46-36, the Hawks were the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and once led the Knicks 2-1 in the best-of-seven series before the Knicks won three straight to begin a 13-game winning streak that they’ve ridden to a 2-0 NBA Finals lead over the Spurs.

The Hawks also traded four-time All-Star Trae Young this season, but were able to pry Nickeil Alexander-Walker away from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a sign-and-trade deal that helped change their trajectory and defensive prowess.

Atlanta had the 12th-best total net rating in all of basketball during the regular season, which was actually better than the 53-29 Lakers.

The Hawks hope to continue developing their young players, including Jalen Johnson, who just made the All-NBA third team.

Atlanta made some moves at the trade deadline and competed in the playoffs against the eventual Eastern Conference champions, who haven’t lost a game since.

After the Knicks won three straight against the Hawks, Snyder tipped his metaphorical hat to the Knicks, calling what Mike Brown’s group did to the Hawks the “perfect storm.”

Snyder was hired by the Hawks in February 2023 after they fired Nate McMillan midseason. Snyder resigned from the Jazz at the end of the previous season following an eight-year run. He was a Hawks assistant for one season before becoming Utah’s head coach.

A tectonic shift may be required to change the course of the 2026 NBA Finals

Two Games, Same Story

Twice in this series, San Antonio has built significant leads. Twice, it hasn’t mattered.

Through two games, the Spurs have been good enough to control stretches but not disciplined enough to finish them. That distinction has defined the Finals so far.

The Knicks have reduced the game to its simplest elements and executed them better. Their three-point production comes from three repeatable sources: Karl-Anthony Towns above the break, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges mainly in the corners, and Landry Shamet as a rhythm shooter.

Nothing exotic. Just precision.

The Wembanyama Problem

Victor Wembanyama’s Finals performance has, by his standards, been underwhelming, not just in output, but in impact.

I have aggregated the “concussion” and the “flagrant 2” games into one, thus counting 16 games pre-Finals. 

Finals vs. rest of the post season:

Points: 27.5 vs 24.6

• Rebounds: 10.5 vs 11.4
• Blocks: 3.8 vs 3.5
• Assists: 2.0 vs 2.9
• Steals: 1.5 vs 1.0
• Turnovers: 5.0 vs 2.9
• PF: 2.0 vs 2.75
• FG%: 40.5% vs 50.9%
• 3PT%: 26.7% vs 37%
• FT%: 81% vs 87%

Compared to earlier rounds, his efficiency is down, turnovers are up, and his influence has diminished. The eye test confirms it: less force, less inevitability, fewer moments where the game bends around him.

From the Knicks’ perspective, Towns’ shooting (43% from deep) stretches the Spurs’ defense because it is embedded in structure, rhythmic, balanced, with options. KAT’s long threes, top of the key, are in rhythm and he always maintain his triple-threat options, which has led to some impressive drives to the rim leaving Vic behind, or he timely passes the ball (4 assists per game) to his teammates. 

On the other end, Victor’s attempts look like the threes a SG or a PG would take, especially someone like Curry. Wembanyama’s threes are often high difficulty attempts that disconnect possessions when they miss.

A Matchup the Knicks Are Winning

Karl-Anthony Towns has contained Wembanyama effectively. He is mobile enough to stay in front, disciplined with fouls, and large enough to contest. KAT has reduced his “silly” fouls to a point where it doesn’t impact him anymore and he can maintain defensive pressure for 48 minutes.

Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson have limited second chances. Individually small wins, collectively significant. The result is a version of Wembanyama that feels manageable.

Vic’s troubles are not just behind the 3-point line, they can also be found in ISO situations when he faces the basket. Too many dribbles leading to turnovers and difficult shot attempts, especially in Game 1.

The Paradox of His Development

At 15, Wembanyama turned down Barcelona’s academy offer. He explained he did not want to be confined to a traditional center role. He chose development built on versatility, ball-handling, shooting, and freedom. Vic has given his youth coaches at Nanterre a lot of credit for giving him this freedom to experiment and develop skills rarely seen in prospects of his height.

Beyond his unique skillsets, Victor Wembanyama has showed a maturity, a drive to succeed, and work ethics never seen before from such a young person. What die-hard Spurs fans have known for almost 3 years now, is that Vic’s unique abilities come with some downfalls. There have been games where Vic will shoot too many threes or will take too many dribbles in traffic. 

That path created extraordinary upside, but also a tension. His game is built on optionality, not constraint. For three seasons, that balance favoured the upside. In this series, it has shifted.And unfortunately for Vic and the Spurs, the Knicks are clearly banking on this, and it’s working.

His youth coaches and his family’s open-mindedness supported his unique development. It might be time for Victor to demonstrate some open-mindedness of his own and make some changes. 

What once gave him an edge may now require recalibration.

Down 0–2, the Spurs have no margin for error. Their ceiling runs through Wembanyama.

The “Big Fundamental” Adjustment. Not long-term. Immediate.

Since Victor Wembanyama joined the Spurs organization, many fans have been left wondering what kind of signature move, he could / should add to his arsenal. There are games where he seems unstoppable and others where he looks like a mere mortal rather than an Alien.

With 2 games left to avoid a sweep, there is no time to develop a Kareem Sky Hook or a Timmy Bank Shot. Many fans have been asking for something like this, but it would take hours in the gym to perfect such moves.

Victor’s incremental adjustment that I think is required would already be a Big Fundamental Shift for him. Vic needs to work in the low post, not facing the basket, but playing his back against his defender and the rim. We keep hearing that Vic is not strong enough to gain positioning in the low post. Well, after battling the likes of Clingan, Gobert, Randle, Hartenstein, Holmgren, Dort, KAT and Robinson, I disagree. 

Vic has managed to get the ball in the high post; there is no reason he could not position himself in the low post. He has the will power to do so. Establishing deeper position in the low post is the key here.

Second incremental change, after receiving the ball, he needs to stay tall on the catch. So far, the Finals referees have been better than those he experienced in the Western Conference playoffs, they will protect him to some extent. Otherwise, when he receives the ball, he has a tendency to lower his center of gravity, to avoid to be pushed around, but he immediately loses his height advantage.

Final adjustment, Vic needs to use his Hakeem’s moves. Vic’s mobility and length are better than anybody of his height in the world. 9 times out 10 he would win this battle and would get a chance to score, being so much closer to the rim. 

Down 2-0, only a drastic adjustment can change the course of history, and it must come from Victor Wembanayma. The coaching staff might even consider bringing Mason Plumlee for short sequences to add a banging body in the paint when Victor is establishing position. 

I don’t think the Spurs can now win the Finals without a 40-20 game from Vic. To pull this off, especially at the Madison Square Garden, he needs to demonstrate he can adjust his skillset to the circumstances.

Simple, but critical.

There is still a path. Narrow, but real.

If Wembanyama simplifies, anchors, and imposes himself, the series changes. Until it doesn’t.

Spurs in seven.