The NBA Finals return to MSG tonight. Spurs vs. Knicks. Let’s go.
Who: San Antonio Spurs (2-1) vs. New York Knicks (1-2)
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
When: 5:30 PM PT / 8:30 PM ET
Watch: ABC
We’ll see how everything plays out tonight, but the Spurs aren’t done yet? Game 3 featured several familiar elements for Kings fans. De’Aaron Fox, after struggling all series, came through in the biggest moments. And Mike Brown, on the receiving end of questionable officiating, had some choice words for the officials postgame. Ah, just like old times.
I’m rooting for a long series above all else, so, let’s go Spurs.
Prediction: Spurs 109, Knicks 107
Rooting for the Spurs tonight solely because I want this series to keep going and I think it’s pretty much over if the Knicks take this one. This Knicks team is pretty incredible though, and the Spurs are going to be around for a while so this might not be the last time we see these two match up in the Finals.
It’s a mix for me as well. I would like to see this very good ‘Nova Knicks (Wildcats and KAT) win this. Good for the Association as well, methinks. I am old enough to have been fanning hard for the ’70 and ’73 squads under Red Holzman. Along the way I moved to Sacramento and the rest is basketball Hell.
As much I like Brunson, Hart and Bridges, and how nice it is to see the talent of KAT produce something – OG Annunoby might be the Knick I am digging the most right now. He is their Dave Debuschere.
On the other hand… I can’t root against The Alien. Can’t. Won’t. And then there are the legacy buffs who just have to compare and contrast every damn thing – if Spurs go to Finals and don’t win – well, he ain’t no Michael Jordan (went to the Finals six times, and won every single time). Wemby will just have to get 7 rings, I suppose.
Even the NBA champion King, William Felton Russell can’t say that (HA! 13 year career, went to the NBA Finals 12 times! Won 11 of the 12 times (lost to the ’58 St. Louis Hawks with Bob Petit and Cliff Hagan. Hawks draft Russell in ’56, traded him on draft day for Cliff Hagan and Easy Ed McCauley. Russell wins the ’57 Championship, loses to Hawks the next season and then wins 8 straight, Eight! The only other year he didn’t win was to the ’67 76ers and Wilt/Billy C./Hal Greer/Chet Walker who had a 68 game season. Celtics and Russell (player/coach, no 7 assistant coaches, no Red Auerbach) win in ’68 and ’69. Russell retires.
TGJR probably remembers this stuff too. ElRonToro was probably there.
Should be big fun tonight. Knicks in Six.
Badge Legend