Jalen Brunson: “A lot of great things happen, you know when we’re down one and you miss a wide open layup.”
-Josh Hart: “For me, I wanted to set up an epic last possession. We wouldn’t have that OG tip in without that missed layup.”
They are never gonna let him go for that
It’s kinda funny cause there’s also no tip in if Brunson makes that three!
We would have had the first Triple Bang
Breen might still be Banging right now if he hit that
I’m so torn on wanting Brunson to have swished that three for the triple bang, vs the glorious OG tip in we got. I’m happy OG got his moment and then the captain did his thing in the closeout.
me personally OG has always been my favorite knick and im glad he will never again be underrated among nba fans
The tip is way more memorable than just making the shot. Lots of game winning shots in finals history, not as many plays like that.
Plus the tip in gave the Spurs less time to work with
Can you imagine if they won off Brunson’s three instead? Somehow that would’ve been even more epic than the tip in
Honestly, idk…coming from where he did on the court, the height he reached to get it, the softness on the touch…OG’s tip-in is up there with the greatest tip-ins ever. I’d have to research, but it’s got to be no. 1 or close to it! I prefer the OG tip-in over the potential Brunson 3 to be real
nah. a brunson 3 would’ve been godlike
OG tip in would be a movie scene that’s how Iconic it is.
Brunson hit an amazing three to start the final stretch of the game. That was god like cuz you know exactly what’s about to happen. God I can’t believe this timeline dawg
Yeah to me, it’s so much more dramatic than if Jalen hit the three. And it’s just a moment that will become certified iconic in time if not already.
I think it was much more interesting as well. Of course the 3 would’ve been nuts, but the tip in was perfect.
I was trying to explain to my wife right afterwards just how hard it is to even get your hand on the ball at that point when several other people are also jostling to get it. Much less to put it in the hoop with such precision. It was amazing.
Plus it’s a near mirror of the play OG got injured on in college so there’s a little full circle moment with that at well.
I’m so happy that Josh won’t have that hanging over his head anymore. Would be absolutely brutal.
It’s the good ending of Starks in 94.
Riley letting Starks throw brick after brick is EXACTLY what Mitch Johnson did in Game 4.
I still wake up screaming “just pass the ball to Derek Harper one time” every morning
It’s funny that Hart wears 3 like Starks because I think of them as kind of similar players. A lot of underdog/hustle but also very emotional to their benefit and detriment. The big difference being that Hart will get in his own head, totally lose confidence, and completely stop shooting the ball which totally screws up the offense. And Starks is the opposite and will get angry and won’t stop shooting even if he shoots you out of the game.
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That’s such a bullshit, revisionist take. He wasn’t the most efficient offensive player but he was an excellent 3 point shooter. More importantly, in his prime Starks was both a “secondary” playmaker and a great defender (was All NBA Defensive second team in 1993, which is still great considering the first team maybe the best in NBA history: Pippen, Jordan, Dumars, Rodman, and Hakeem). Secondary is only in quotes because a few of those years he led the team in assists, while Doc Rivers and Greg Anthony would alternate starting as point guards.
Oh man, the first starks reference I’ve seen on here this run. My all time fave player in any sport. Think he works for the team now, hope he enjoys the ring.
Yeah Starks works for the team. Been having the time of his life cheering for them and damn near getting them T’d up for fan interference.
Oh I love that, thank you. I saw Ewing there but didn’t see John before. 🫶
same, he’s my goat
I loved playing as him in NBA Give ‘n Go on the SNES
he owns car dealerships now … John Starks Kia & Ford
I feel like its more Charles Smith 1993
mayor Muslim, bagel Jewish, Christian dior, Starks in 94
It’s really a blessing. Josh is such a beloved player in NY, but one mistake like that can taint a whole legacy. Think of Bill Buckner. It’s such a joy that that’s not what’s going to happen here, that he’ll only be remembered as a champion who played with his whole heart.
Yeah I would hate to have to remember his mistakes as the thing that cost us a ring rather than something funny
Honestly, between that and not boxing castle out on what could have been the game winning FTs, dude could have been enemy number 1 in NY.
He played real well, but there a world where it’s Spurs 3-2 and he’s hating himself for missing the layup, fouling Castle, and then missing the big free throw and the dagger 3 in game 5. He had a good series, but that could have been a brutal back to back had things not gone the Knicks way.
well, he did have a strong series. Game 5 funny enough ended up playing better cause Mitch’s rebound lead to them being up 4 with more time removed. Him and Mikal contributed key baskets to the win there.
Hart said something on the lines of “Thanks to OG for saving me a lifetime of regret”. It was during post game press conference
Reminds me of Danny Green in 2020 game 5 vs Miami. Thought Knicks weren’t heavy favorites so it’s arguably bigger here
Team chemistry is off the charts. For a team built mainly by trades, its remarkable.
And then to hire a player’s coach who listens earnestly to his players, chef’s kiss
Thinking about it now, Mike Brown was basically the perfect hire. Seeing some of the breakdowns of how their offense works and the way it leans directly into the chemistry those guys already had makes it seem like a stroke of genius. He’s also just a players coach who also isn’t afraid to call out himself or his players when someone makes a mistake. This entire sub was deadass wrong about him
I certainly was
This entire sub was deadass wrong about him
And basing it off of his Kings tenure where he had nowhere near the same talent to work with & still got them to 3rd in the West.
Felt like I was being gaslit when I was saying at the time that SAC was stupid for firing the NBA’s first ever (only ever) unanimous coach of the year.
I’m still salty about that and I’m not even a Kings fan. Regardless he got him a championship which is awesome and makes up for everything.
The players reactions was so funny when the audience started doing the Mike! Mike! thing at Jimmy Fallon. They clearly actually get along.
It’s the most homegrown traded for team in league history
these guys are so likeable even a Masshole like myself can’t hate.
i feel like having Hart and Brunson together is a really big piece in establishing it. those guys already had a bond and they’re both tough players
Almost like they’re old college buddies or something
For real, they’re likable AF and hard to root against.
I mean a good chunk of them are college classmates
College roommates. All the Villanova basketball players live on the same floor in the same dorm.
Jay Wright created this Knicks chemistry back in 2016.
What a nightmare if you ever want a break from your teammates lol. Fantastic and a college kids dream if you get along with them though.
It helps when you trade for guys who are friends already.
Mikal putting his head on Josh’s shoulder lmao
He might just be trying to get some sleep though
Josh Hart finding a way to turn a blown layup in to calculated, galaxy-brain set up for a game-winner is peak chemistry
Best team personality chemistry
I still can’t get over that layup
I’d have sent him to Portland if that cost us
You know how glad we would’ve been about that.
I ain’t mean to the team, just to your city via cannon
Portland, Maine
Portland, Ohio
I’d hang out with Josh Hart at Laurelhurst Park
Good guy Josh Hart, the ultimate teammate
Honestly a good point by Hart
ngl the Brunson-Hart banter is peak content. That’s the kind of chemistry you can’t fake — you only get that after you’ve been through the war together. Hart setting up the joke and Brunson playing along perfectly, it’s the same reason they trust each other in those clutch moments. Love seeing this side of the champs.
Yeah, normally Brunson plays the straight man in the routine.
Josh knew that the book being written about this team needed some absolute bullshit nobody would believe if they didn’t watch it. A true storyteller.
Any Knicks fan would know this story can’t be told without experiencing a play just like that, it’s like the one last demon that needed exorcising, and KAT/JB/Jose quashed it instantly.
Thank god he won’t have that on him anymore
I love these guys so much.
Damn! Hart’s ring finger looks like he’s been playing professionally for 20yrs!
Injury that needs a surgery he never got. Wouldn’t be surprised if he got it this offseason
I thought he did get surgery before this season
I’m pretty sure he pushed it off
We are both right. Josh Hart underwent a surgical procedure on his right ring finger to repair an injury sustained during the playoffs. He re-injured the finger shortly before training camp but opted to delay further surgery so he could play the season.
lol that’s funny, I do vaguely remember both those events
OG took this interview off and got some sleep lol
He did it for the plot
The vibes are immaculate
Just give me an entire season of Curb revolving the Finals run 😂
Jesus Josh’s fingers look fucked up
Power of friendship
jesus christ, somehow his finger looks far more messed up than we saw at the start of the season.
for those who don’t know he needed to get surgery on that finger but didn’t want to mess up team chemistry from the season tip, not knowing when he’d be back. so he decided to play through it.
He would have replaced Ewings fingertip missed shot.
I really liked this response from both of them
V’s Up!