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00:00Now, live here on Shine Time, the outstanding beat reporter for the New York Post does an
00:06unbelievable job covering the Knicks. My guy, Steph Bondi, who joins us live from San Antonio.
00:13Steph, how are you? I'm great. You know, it's not as warm or as hot as it was yesterday,
00:18but San Antonio is one of my favorite NBA cities, and I'm here to cover my first finals
00:23involving the Knicks, so it's pretty cool. Yeah, really cool. No question about it. I mean,
00:28for you, it's a first. Mike Breen, it's a first. You know, there's so much here in terms of
00:33ultimately, you know, a lot of people have been around this game and, you know, grew up around
00:38it, and New Yorkers are now doing this on big-time levels, so I love that, Steph. Absolutely love it.
00:45Let's get to the top story, if you will, in terms of information from you. What's the latest on
00:51Mitchell Robinson's health and availability? Well, it sounds like he's going to play.
00:56The expectation is that he will play. You know, we've been reporting all along that there was
01:02certainly a lot of hope and optimism that this would happen, and, you know, the thing that,
01:08as people surprised, but I reported it days ago, it's not really a broken pinky. It's a broken hand.
01:15Mitchell Robinson fractured the fifth metacarpal in his shooting hand. As you see there on the videos,
01:22he's wearing kind of like a black sleeve slash brace. I watched him at the beginning of practice
01:27yesterday, and as you see there, he seems to hold the ball comfortably. Now, you know, we're not seeing
01:32him absorb contact. We haven't seen him hit the rim or anything like that, so that remains to be seen
01:38how effective he'll be catching lobs, finishing lobs, catching offensive rebounds, stuff like that,
01:44but the expectation is that he will be available for game one. So, that's excellent if you're a Knicks
01:50fan. I also am paying attention to your reporting and also your word choice as we're talking,
01:55because, Steph, this is a fear that I have. I never want to play doctor on YouTube or on television
02:01or
02:01on radio, but of course, to me, Mitch is always going to play. That's who he is. He's a dog.
02:07He wants
02:07to be out there. I'm concerned about him exacerbating the injury and then availability the rest of the
02:15series. Is that a thought process or a concern for the Knicks at all?
02:20If it is, listen, it quite frankly could very much be, but I don't know. Nobody's divulged that
02:26information just in terms of fears of it getting worse, impacting him in the long term. I don't know
02:33the answers to that. Listen, but if you go through history with players who've had this injury, and
02:40there have been a few, there's never been a case that I have seen where guys played, turned around
02:46this quickly, and stepped on the court. So, certainly, if you just go by that, we're looking
02:53at something unprecedented, and there would be fears that something bad could happen to that hand. Yeah,
03:00sure. Steph, let's get into the layoff here, because, you know, it's a thing. It's a topic
03:06for conversation. Knicks enter here on an all-time heater, winners of 11 straight, and you look at
03:13their plus-minus in terms of point differential, it's all-time, right? Now, the last time the Knicks
03:19had a layoff, they started slow in game one against Cleveland, albeit that was a game where they had an
03:23epic comeback and a win. Anything different in preparation from Mike Brown? What's fair
03:30to expect if you're a Knicks fan early tonight? Yeah, they did make some adjustments, because
03:36they understood that they did not. That first two quarters against the Cavs, especially maybe
03:41the first three quarters, you know, that was the worst they've played since the Atlanta
03:46series. They understood that they could tackle things differently, and they did. And they
03:53understand how important it is to come out in game one and set the tone, because this is not the
03:58Eastern Conference anymore, okay? This series could come down to one half of game one. That could mean
04:05the difference between being a champion or leaving or going home the runner-up. That's how good the
04:10Spurs are. That's how good the Knicks are. And, you know, this, you know, I've said it before,
04:15but it's very much true. This is lining up for the Knicks, right? This is their opportunity. They have
04:20to look at this like do or die, because the Spurs, there's not as much sense of urgency. They're very
04:26young. Victor Wimbanyama is 22 years old or 23 years old. Stephon Castle, who, in my opinion,
04:31is their second best player, is also very young. You think they're going to be there again. With the
04:36Knicks, yeah, you know, they're all about in their prime, you know, 28, 29, 30 years old. But it lines
04:43up perfectly right now for them. With the way the Eastern Conference unfolded, with Jason Tatum being hurt for
04:49most of the season, Tyrese Halliburton being hurt all the season, with the way that the Eastern
04:54Conference playoffs unfolded, with them dominating the way that they did, this is their best opportunity.
04:59And so I feel, they feel and they understand that they have to attack this with a sense of urgency.
05:04I think you nailed it. I mean, we're sharing a brain on that from a Knicks standpoint. Now,
05:08I'm curious to get your take on this. I've called Cats the most important player in this series. I mean,
05:14you know, it's been a minute since we've talked about foul trouble or bad fouls for Carl Anthony Towns or
05:19Cat not playing with aggressiveness or intelligence. I think he's the most important player in this
05:24series. What's your take on that statement and how has Cat during this winning streak really become
05:30elite? Yeah, you know, I don't know if I would call him the most important player in this series
05:35because to me, it's always going to be Jalen Brunson. But one thing that I actually just got
05:41off the phone with former Knicks coach and former Pistons coach Larry Brown, and one thing he was
05:46telling me about was how elite, maybe not elite's not the right word, but how great Cat has been
05:52playing on defense. And that is not, remember if you go back to a year ago, a big reason why
05:58the Knicks
05:59lost to the Pacers was because of Cat's defense. And that was evident throughout that entire playoff run
06:05last year. This year, we're seeing a whole different commitment level from Cat. I don't know if it's his
06:09conditioning or whatever it is, but he is committed to playing defense at a level that I have not seen
06:15from him since he joined the Knicks. And I think that gets overlooked a lot when you talk about how
06:20offensively he's playing at the elbows, the facilitator and all that. But defensively as well,
06:25he's been super important. And what it's meant is that they haven't had to play Mitchell Robinson
06:30as much. I mean, they haven't needed that rim protection from Mitchell Robinson because Cat's
06:36giving them so much on the defensive end. And so, especially if you're looking at, you know,
06:42a hobbled Mitch, a Mitch who's not playing at a hundred percent, you're going to need that
06:46defensive effort from Cat in this series as well. Listen, I love what you said there about Brunson.
06:51I think he's Derek Jeter in terms of an impact for this team. And I'm with you also in terms
06:58of this
06:58is the moment for the Knicks to season and win a championship. And, you know, first time since 73,
07:04you cover him, you deal with him. What makes Jalen Brunson so special for these Knicks?
07:12Well, I mean, it's the way he's wired. And I've said this story before,
07:17and it just, it's always stuck with me. The story of him winning a high school championship.
07:21What happened as a junior is they lost in the final. And a newspaper reporter found a picture
07:27of Jalen Brunson, took a picture of Jalen Brunson and became the cover of the newspaper.
07:32Jalen Brunson then used that photo as a screensaver for a full year. He just stared at it for a
07:37full
07:37year to remind him what that felt like, what that pain felt like. And he was motivated by that pain
07:44that he did. He is not going to fail. That's his mindset. Cause it's that painful for him.
07:49And that's what he did the next year. He won the high school championship. We know what he did in
07:53college. Um, the guy is just, uh, he's wired that way. And he, for whatever reason, and I can't explain
08:01this in any human being, he doesn't bend at all the pressure. He embraces the pressure. Nothing phases
08:06him. Uh, if I were to pick any player in this series, maybe even throughout the entire NBA to give
08:12the,
08:12who I want to give the ball with the game on the line, it's Jalen Brunson. Yeah. And, and that's
08:17not
08:17hyperbole. I said the same thing. And Victor Ramayama would be the best player in this series,
08:22quote unquote, and I not even quote unquote, he's the best player of this series. The guy who I would
08:27want on my team, if we're picking sides for this series, that's Jalen Brunson. So we're, we're
08:33totally on the same page and you obviously are around him all the time. So you understand what
08:37makes him tick. Look, I was certainly one of those after game three of the Atlanta series,
08:43wondering how much longer can Mike Brown keep Mikkel Bridges in the lineup? And Steph,
08:48just so you understand, I love the trade. I defended the trade because I thought he was a missing
08:54winning piece. Now we're seeing it. Do you think Mikkel Bridges can keep it going? How has Mikkel
09:02Bridges become the player Leon Rose hoped he was acquiring? Well, he's, he's been great since that
09:08game six in Atlanta. And I was with you, you know, before that, before that game, I know they were
09:14discussing the Knicks internally about switching the starting lineup. He was that bad. Um, but they
09:19decided to stick with it. I think the front office even had some input on that one and it's worked
09:24wonders. Um, now listen, I think this will be a much more difficult series for Mikkel Bridges. When
09:31you look up and down the Spurs, um, perimeters players, I think that's one of the more underrated
09:36things about this series is how fast, how athletic and how great the Spurs perimeter defense is.
09:42Um, they're going to be rotating like heck and those open jump shots and open opportunities that
09:47Mikkel Bridges was getting in transition or on the perimeter are not going to be there against the
09:51Spurs. So he needs to get more, more creative and be more aggressive in the way that he plays
09:56offense to get the kind of points and production that he was getting certainly against the Cavaliers
10:01and the Sixers. Um, but you know, we'll see. I mean, I think a lot of this series is going
10:08to be
10:08dictated by will the Knicks be hitting their three point shots because you know, Victor Wemenyama is
10:14going to roam. They're probably going to put Victor on Josh Hart. They're going to, they're going to
10:19allow, they're going to want Victor to roam around the perimeter to protect the rim. And so that means
10:24there will be an open player on the perimeter at some point. And that player after they, you know,
10:29rotate and throw it around, it has to hit that three point shot. I think that's going to be a
10:33big key to this series. And the Knicks, you know, they don't have to be elite, um, and hit 45%,
10:39but they can have games where they shoot 25% from three. They're going to lose that game every time.
10:44Absolutely. And I'm with you too, on those, you know, perimeter players for San Antonio. We talked
10:48about that earlier. I think Bridges and OG will continue to play great, but they're going to have
10:53to go into their bag and get creative. There's no question about it. They certainly have a tough matchup
10:58against those guys from the San Antonio Spurs. All right, Steph, before we let you go,
11:02give me your prediction on tonight's, give me your prediction on the series.
11:08I have the Knicks winning tonight and I have the Knicks winning the series in six. And I know,
11:13um, Rick Brunson even accused me of being a Homer, but, uh, it is what it is. I've watched this
11:19team
11:20throughout this playoffs. I've been pretty spot on. I thought they were going to just steamroll the
11:24Sixers. They did. I thought they were going to steamroll the Cavs. They did. Uh, I thought they were
11:28going to beat the Hawks in six. They did. So I'm predicting the Knicks in six over the Spurs.
11:33Yeah. I've got the Knicks winning tonight. I've got the Knicks winning a championship in seven games.
11:38Steph, you're amazing. We appreciate the time. You're doing an unbelievable job unearthing all
11:42these great stories and nuggets. We can't wait to read you tomorrow in the New York Post. And
11:47we appreciate it as always. And I'll talk to you again real soon.
11:50All right. Thank you.
11:51You got it. Steph Bondi, who is just the absolute best when it comes to covering the Knicks.
11:56Listen, I can't wait to hear what our guy Dan has to say about that ambiance in,
12:01in San Antonio. So Dan, the fans in San Antonio are special. They're unbelievable. They're passionate.
12:09They're knowledgeable. You know it better than anyone. What's that ambiance going to be like
12:13tonight?
12:15It's going to be awesome, Adam. And I mean, I think first and foremost, you're getting
12:19the Fiesta again tonight, which I know the fans have enjoyed here through the first three rounds
12:25of the playoffs. It's really just only a shame that we can't wear the Fiesta uniforms and have
12:30the Fiesta court as we've had for the first two rounds of the playoffs. But if there is an
12:37environment that almost depicts a soccer-like party atmosphere, it's what you're going to see inside
12:43the Frostbank Center. I mean, you've got flags waving, you've got horns, you've got
12:49Rubasuelas like you'll see at the World Cup coming up here next week. I mean, it is a party-like
12:54atmosphere. For this organization who, you know, is returning to the finals for the first time since
13:012014 in what truly is an unexpected, I think, run to the finals for a group that is making as
13:10a core
13:10their playoffs, I think the fans are certainly relishing and salivating at the opportunity to
13:17be inside the building tonight.
13:18Absolutely. And you reference it. Let's slam it home. We talk about it all the time, how teams in
13:23the NBA historically never skip steps, right? Now, we started talking about the Spurs as a real title
13:29contender in February, right? While still, for the sake of honesty and fairness, thinking it would
13:34be OKC. Now, you have seen every single game. When did you start to get the feel and the look
13:42around this team?
13:44It was actually, believe it or not, around the time of the NBA Cup when the Spurs knocked off
13:49Oklahoma City in the semifinals. The Thunder had only lost team were really kind of embraced,
13:59embracing the fact of being in the NBA Cup, because as a young team, as a team that really
14:05hadn't played in many significant games as a core, you know, for the previous two to three seasons,
14:11this was a chance for them, like the NBA has created, to go out and win something during the
14:17course of the season. So I give a lot of credit to the NBA for putting the NBA Cup during
14:22the season,
14:22because it's meant for, you know, teams to have an opportunity to go win something during the year.
14:28So the Spurs go out, they knock off Oklahoma City by two in the semifinal round, and that matchup
14:34against about as good of a regular season game as you're going to get, you know, on a Tuesday in
14:42December. And the disappointment and frustration for the Spurs losing that game, you know, really clicked
14:50in with me after the fact that they were on that point, I think really on a mission to be
14:57as good
14:58as they could be during the course of the regular season. And they proved it a couple of weeks later
15:02with back-to-back wins against the Thunder, and then would go on to have a 30-4 run from
15:09the end
15:09of January, all through the end of the season. Dan, I need a thesaurus here. I've described Wembe as a
15:14combo of Shaq meets Steph meets Paul Bunyan. How do you characterize, you get to be the soundtrack of
15:20all his genius and greatness, how do you characterize this generational, out-of-this-world, face of the NBA talent?
15:29There are no words, Adam, but I will just say, as somebody who, you know, grew up watching and getting
15:37my love of NBA basketball in the 80s and the 90s, I have never seen anybody impact the defensive end
15:47of the floor the way this guy does at any level of basketball, NBA, college, high school, amateur,
15:55go down the line. What he does to impact the game on the defensive end of the floor is just
16:00is simply
16:02indescribable. And it's more of the plays that, you know, whether they call them the, you know,
16:07no thanks or whatever preferable adjective you prefer to use, they're the plays that don't show
16:12up on the box score because shots aren't even being taken or attempted. And that's his impact. I mean,
16:18you know, the kick out by Shea Gilgis-Alexander in the final minute, you know, with a game on the
16:24line
16:24and the two-time MVP having a chance to try to will his team back into the game in seconds
16:30and he
16:31drives into the paint and kicks out. I mean, to me, that's just, that's unbelievable impact on that
16:37end of the floor. And then, oh, by the way, everything he did on the off the floor from the
16:43reverse tops and you name it, the step back threes from, you know, 30 plus feet away, just an
16:50unbelievable player to watch. What a treat every night. I've always loved Stefan Castle going back
16:55to his UConn days. How is he taking, I'm such a fan, his game to a totally different level? Always
17:02been great. I just love how he's playing, Dan, this postseason. He's just a dog at him on the
17:08defensive end of the floor. And I think that's where it starts for him. I think if you could get,
17:12you know, NBA players to embrace even just half the level of defensive intensity from Stefan Castle
17:19on every single possession, man, what an NBA regular season and playoffs we would have every
17:25single year because he doesn't take a possession off. I mean, he is willing to accept the challenge
17:31of every single player that comes his way. Times than not, he's going to come out victorious
17:38because of his strength, because of his length, because of his athleticism. So his defense is
17:44phenomenal. Elite defender. And then on the offensive end, just superb at getting downhill,
17:50tremendous finisher around the rim. He's got this deceleration move that from just many seems to allow
17:57him to navigate around the bigger defenders down low in the paint to get that extra second to get his
18:03shot off. So between him, De'Aaron Fox's speed, Dylan Harper's savvy and creativeness around the
18:10rim, you've got three guards who just make it a nightmare for opposing defenses on most nights.
18:17Dan, unbelievable stuff. Appreciate it. As always, my friend, I can't wait for game one coming up
18:23tonight. And listen, enjoy every single second. We'll talk to you again real soon.
18:28Thanks, Adam. Appreciate it.
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