KFTV Roundtable: Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals

Omar: 6/10. This is clearly the Knicks’ biggest challenge all postseason. Wemby poses so many issues, and the way the guards have played throughout the playoffs is another concern for the Knicks. That being said, I've never felt better about a Knicks team than I do this one. They can win this series.

Geoffrey: 7.5. I still feel the Knicks are the better team, but both teams are playing better than when they faced each other during their regular-season matchups. I think OKC struggled defensively against Harper, Castle, Champagnie, and Vassell, but that's where the Knicks have an edge. I trust that OG, Mikal, Hart, Deuce, Shamet, Clarkson, and Alvarado will neutralize that threat.

Joseph: I'm feeling a high 7. The Spurs, in ways, are similar to the Knicks, given the experience of veteran players (Harrison Barnes, Luke Kornet, etc.) compared to New York's (Anunoby, plus Brunson and Hart at Villanova). San Antonio feels very much like a beatable team if the Knicks can run back some matchups similar to the NBA Cup. Overall, this should be a very fun NBA Finals to watch.

Remi: 7. I feel pretty good about the defenders we can throw at Wemby and San Antonio’s wings. New York matched up well against the Spurs this season, and they've taken a leap since then.

Jalen: 7.5. The Spurs are on a roll, and a lot of my unsureness comes from Mitch’s health situation. But generally, I think this is a really winnable series for the Knicks. It’s still crazy we’re even here.

Omar: Obviously, it's Victor Wembanyama. He is everything to the function of the Spurs, both offensively and defensively. He will impact drives and corner threes when the Knicks are on offense, and his ability offensively as a lob threat is a huge concern defensively. It will be very interesting to see who Brown throws at him defensively. My money is on us seeing a lot of OG of Wemby.

Geoffrey: I don't think you can stop Wemby, but I think if you manage to keep him out of the paint and make him work more defensively than OKC did, you'll have a better shot.

Joseph: This one is going to Victor Wembanyama simply due to the unclear impact of Mitchell Robinson. Wembanyama has dominated against the Knicks on multiple levels, and he'll get his buckets no matter what. The question at stake is: how early do the Knicks let him dominate before changes are made?

Remi: It's Wembanyama, of course. It was incredible to watch him impose his will on games against OKC, so containing him is the most important part of any winning strategy.

Jalen: As crazy as it is to say, I don’t want to see Julian Champagnie get hot. He’s their most important shooter, and his three-point volume will be important to them. If New York crossmatches to have OG on Wemby, KAT will most likely have Champagnie. There’s a lot of potential for him to take advantage there.

Omar: Mikal Bridges. I know the obvious answer here is Brunson. But considering the way Mikal has been defending and shooting the ball, I think there is a decent chance he delivers a great Finals performance. The Spurs were prone to giving up some corner threes against OKC last series, which will be a great opportunity for Mikal. Also, I would imagine seeing him deployed on Castle and Harper throughout, utilizing his length to try and deny passes to Wemby. This will be a huge Mikal series.

Geoffrey: KAT. I think we see the culmination of his transformation since the beginning of the playoffs. He will need to be a force on the boards and be a threat from three to create good spacing for the Knicks’ guards and wings. Everything we’ve seen from him thus far makes me a believer that the best is yet to come.

Joseph: He was born to play basketball, and his name is Jalen Brunson. The 6'2 guard has been electric during the postseason, putting himself in categories alongside Kobe Bryant and Stephen Curry. Nobody just does that during an 11-game stretch. Brunson is the kind of player who will find his matchups and attack the basket in a multitude of ways.

Remi: If we're talking about destiny, it's Jalen Brunson. He got this team this far, and it should continue. But OG Anunoby’s potential defensive matchup with Wembanyama makes him a dark horse to steal headlines.

Jalen: I’ll cheat and predict one Mikal Bridges’ midrange masterclass and an OG Anunoby defensive performance of a lifetime. Preferably, they happen in separate games. Mikal will likely have De’Aaron Fox on him, giving him a height advantage on his shots, and the world watching OG guard Wemby will see up close why he’s a top-five defender in the league.

Omar: 7/10. If there was one player you were okay with a hand or finger injury happening to, it's probably Mitch: never a shooting threat, and the free-throw percentage was already bad, so how much worse can it realistically get? I think we'll still see high effort defense and rebounding from him, which is all you want from Mitch in this series.

Geoffrey: 6.5. The Knicks are never the most transparent with injury news, but I can't help feeling like this injury is going to impact Mitch. He's gonna need that right hand for blocks, hand checking, lobs, pretty much everything.

Joseph: I'm giving it a 6 simply because Mitch doesn't need to be on the court for long stretches until the Knicks put him in scenarios where he needs to be on the court for long stretches. If Towns can stay out of foul trouble during this series, the need for Robinson will become less and less apparent, further running the risk of him not appearing in any games after Game 1.

Remi: 6. It feels like we'd have a lot more doom and gloom coming out of the beat if this injury had people concerned. I think Mitch is too tough to let a pinky hold him back.

Jalen: I don’t know, 5? He’ll get hit in the hand on every offensive board he grabs. It’ll get ugly there. I hope they have the painkillers next to his Gatorade.

Omar: Forcing the young guards to make mistakes. Castle has been turnover-prone at times, and Harper has had some games where he wasn't comfortable throughout the playoffs. Mike Brown needs to focus on deploying as much disruption to both of them as possible, which will have some trickle-down effects on Wemby's touches.

Geoffrey: Mike Brown needs to scheme Wemby out of the paint so that Brunson & Co. can drive to the hoop. Part of the reason OKC lost was that Shai was limited in what he could do offensively. The second key to winning the series is that the Knicks’ bench needs to capitalize during non-Wemby minutes.

Joseph: I said it in the last series, and I'll say it again: pace. When New York controls the tempo of a basketball game, it has resulted in winning basketball. The Spurs are a team that loves to run on the transition and get out to fast-break opportunities. Not allowing them to set up their defense, let alone offense, gives the Knicks more time to be agile, alert, and aware of everything that's going on.

Remi: I've already mentioned slowing Wemby down, so I'll add a thought on offense. The Spurs don't have great transition defense, and the Knicks should be looking to press a fast break advantage that limits Wembanyama’s ability to defend the rim. Make San Antonio chase!

Jalen: The deployment of Josh Hart will be put to the test. Wemby will roam around the court, and it’s up to Hart to make the Spurs pay for that. But it’s also up to Mike Brown to make changes when necessary. Maybe that means more 5-out than ever. He’s gotta read the room.

Omar: Knicks in 7. I believe in this team; it just feels like a special group. There is a sense that this Finals will be billed as a sort of Wemby coronation, and I would like nothing more than seeing these Knicks play spoiler to that and exact vengeance for 1999. It will be tough, but this group can get it done.

Geoffrey: Knicks in 6. This will by far be their biggest test. The Spurs will want to avenge their loss during the NBA Cup. Both teams are playing their best at the right time, but I feel the Knicks are just a bit deeper and more prepared for the moment.

Joseph: For the first time since 1973, the New York Knicks are defeating the San Antonio Spurs in six games, and none other than Jalen Brunson will hoist the trophy high and mighty in front of a raucous New York crowd.

Remi: Knicks in 6, though I'm wishing for the Knicks to do something ridiculous and gentleman-sweep the Spurs to silence any discussions about their easy path to the finals.

Jalen: Knicks win in a cinematic six games to end the 53-year drought. Jalen Brunson becomes the new exception to the “small guards can’t win” narrative and solidifies himself as a first ballot Hall of Famer with his Finals MVP. (It’s the Basketball Hall of Fame, and he’s a top-15 college player ever.)