Hour 1: Knicks Comeback/Spurs Collapse Reaction, plus Hall of Famer Chris Webber

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24:43Rich Eisen:back here on the rich eyes and show he's a hall of famer he's chris weber he's here on the program how are you good to see you man how you doing hey everybody you got suz here too

24:53Chris Webber:hey my favorite person on the show this is why you and i are like this awesome yeah yeah rich is cool and the cowboys fan i'm here too chris i don't know i'm here too i said the cowboys fan All right.

25:08Rich Eisen:I give my Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and Shrine E. Friend the floor on game four. What do you got? What do you think?

25:16Chris Webber:I think, you know, I love Barkley so much. A lot of times we share the same opinion and talking to coaches and others. That was just, you know, probably the dumbest game. And I like to say most arrogant game. The seven, you know, one that's ever been played and with the stakes this high. and you got to give credit to New York for not, you know, falling forward or feeling sorry or looking forward to game five. The heart that it took to come back in that game is incredible. And San Antonio, you know, you come down, you shoot 8-3. It just shows how you really have to have really on the court feeling, not just analytics, because I don't think analytics would tell you to shoot the ball eight times in a row if you made it seven times in a row, let alone you miss and taking shots early in the shot clock, you know, Hall of Fame coach texts me, you know, they're not playing against cones today because he hates the fact that practicing is so much against cones and not real game experience.

26:15Chris Webber:And so it was just, it was just a wonderful game to watch as someone that really admires the Knicks heart. And then, you know, as, as a basketball purist, you know, What San Antonio did kind of is unforgivable as a team. You have so many players that can make so many decisions for no one to say, hey, let's get a good shot. Or, by the way, we have the tallest player on the floor on our team. Let's go inside. It just shows that there needs to be some common sense along with the wonderful skill that's in this game.

26:49Rich Eisen:Yeah, I mean, and Wembenyama is a superb free throw shooter, and the Spurs were in the bonus without the Knicks having a single foul called on them in the fourth quarter with seven minutes to go. And, you know, I find it interesting you agree with Barkley calling it dumb basketball, but appreciate the other word that you used, the adjective you used of arrogant, not only because it points out the difference between educations at Auburn and Michigan, but it also is an interesting choice of words that I'd love for you to expand upon here. What do you mean by arrogant brand of basketball?

27:22Chris Webber:You know, I have a lot of pitchers, friends that are pitchers, and they talk about, you know, they don't remember ever throwing a home run. If, you know, pitching a home run, you have to forget about the next pitch. Well, that's positive. To me, that's positive arrogance because you can't deal on the last play. However, when there's time, space and game left and there's players and you understand where you are in the nuance and how hard it is to get back in the game. And at that time, you're supposed to not start milking the clock, but play deliberate, thoughtful basketball. Steph Curry is the best three-point shooter we've ever seen.

28:01Chris Webber:And he's one of the best finishers. He never gets credit for that. Because as soon as you think that you deny him, he goes back door and makes a layup. That's the brilliance of him shooting threes. He's not just a specialist. And when you have guys taking Harden-like step backs and bad shots, it really made me angry. And if we go through this, then you have to go back and you have to say, that whole team played like Harden. You have to say it. It's the same way Harden and Houston played, I think, in Game 7 against Golden State when they took 17 threes. right and and so i just don't understand when captains or coaches don't realize that you understand it's a run happening and a lot of basketball players know that if it was a run you went to turn five or you threw it in the shack got a double team he got a file he slowed it down your team's complaining with the refs and it just keeps that momentum going it was almost like i was talking to a friend last night i was like it's like they are the uh seattle team that I wouldn't give it to be smoke.

29:12Chris Webber:Like each time, like you're down here in this area is fourth and one, fourth and inches, and you keep on trying to throw a bomb. You know, it's incredible to me that it just wasn't. You have the tallest player on the floor. Like that's just, we give him so much credit for being the great player that he is. And he is. And the reason why he's such a great player is because he's taller than everybody. And if you don't use that player's main skill, then, you know, I think you're going to be in that position. And saying all of that, what heart that New York had, man, coming back and kind of taking over and taking that game.

29:51Chris Webber:And I text another friend last night. You see, I was busy texting that. They lose with Wu-Tang performing at halftime. There's no chance. and give Method Man credit. He said Nixon 5 when they were down 29 at halftime. So, you know, when you guys, you know, the people coming out room for you like that in the heart of the team, you know, flu game, woo game. I love it.

30:13Rich Eisen:Yeah, I know TJ and you don't vibe on the Cowboys-Lions front, but TJ was pointing out that it's almost the anniversary of the flu game. Actually, today is the anniversary of the flu game in 97. But it's now known as the Woo Game, Chris.

30:33Chris Webber:Wow, I can see Scottie Pippen taking Jordan over to the bench right now. And I can see, you know, Ray Kwan holding up the W and being there for that game. But yeah, man, that was exciting energy. And I'm so glad the fans there, you know, for New York fans and for my boys that are so crazy New York and arrogant and all that great stuff. If it's ever a time that they deserve to win and deserve to talk junk about in a true way and not overdo it, they can't overdo the story. They were the underdog. They were down 30. They won two on the road. I mean, this, you know, and, you know, why not win the next game?

31:10Chris Webber:I think, too, for future teams, you know, if this was wrestling, we'd see the villain being built up. And I definitely think that everybody's going to have to rethink their overreaction of trading the big fella from OKC. Teams in the West are going to look at this team differently. You know, when you look at the guard play, other guards are going to attack differently. They don't necessarily think that maybe some of your guards, though they have accolades, are as great as they appear to be. So with this, there's a whole resettling of a narrative and a resettling of kind of your aspirations for next year.

31:51Chris Webber:And I know OKC is kicking themselves in the butt because this is when you would have had an SGA get you a foul or get to the free throw line or get a layup, you know. And so it's definitely going to be interesting. I think it resets the narrative in the West for who's the best next year.

32:09Rich Eisen:Wow. Chris Weber, you're going next level on that one. okay but screw it let's dig into that what you really think that watching the Spurs blow that lead last night in game four and again it is it is the largest disparity in the history of the NBA playoffs certainly the finals of a point differential between first and second half 76 in the first 30 in the second half. There's never been a minus 46 ever. Oh, by the way, great stuff by Smitsch here. To half and half not is the board right now. The difference of 46-point differential. You think this change, like Sam Presti sitting there, even if he thought for a second, although his press conference this past week, he was talking up Chet Holmgren.

33:02Rich Eisen:You think this changes the way Nuggets, Lakers, T-Wolves go down the line, looks at the spurs based on what just happened in madison square garden last night i think it changes the

33:15Chris Webber:way players do because i know players in the way that i looked at the game you know you are your reputation what you kept doing um and so this is the only um uh you know kind of evidence of who they are so you're going to rely on that but if i'm okc specifically i've always said that i'm not trading Chet. Chet has a unique body type. He can play defense, and I'm not looking for him to score 30 in game seven. And the only reason why people, I think, depended on him to do that was because he had players out and he was the next guy up. And if they didn't have injured players, if I'm OKC, I just, you know, I just feel good about, you know, what we have.

33:59Chris Webber:And OK, we had a little down season we were hurt but we'll be right back at the top because these guys don't know what

34:06Rich Eisen:it takes okay um now what the knicks did let's just linger on that a little bit in our remaining time chris weber what did they do um a lot of folks are looking at the insertion of jose alvarado uh for bridges who's obviously such a crucial player for this team but what what what what did that unlock unless I'm missing something Chris well it unlocked ball movement but again

34:32Chris Webber:New York took it and they took it because of the shot selection of San Antonio so San Antonio I always say your offense your offensive shot selection really helps your defense and if you're just shooting threes one on four early in the shot clock one you're not like putting any pressure on me too. You're not putting any pressure on our defense as a whole. You're not moving it side to side. And it's kind of giving up on the play, taking the early three bad shot just because you're allowed to. And so I think that that allowed New York to get out and run. And when you run, what happens? You get the crowd into it.

35:11Chris Webber:You get to the free throw line. You get a flagrant foul. You get people angry because now the pace is really a great pace. And I don't think San Antonio has to play fast when they're up 30. That's when you play slower and get it into your big fellow who's a really good passer. I think they need to find another way to use him, having him at the three-point line, not as a rebounder, not as putting pressure on anybody, but 45 % of your offensive plays, it's a waste for anyone, unless you're Curry, Thompson, Kyrie, for any player, let alone someone that can dominate inside. So I think they They took advantage of the opportunities.

35:49Chris Webber:They stayed focused, and they moved the ball. It wasn't just one guy dribbling around trying to get others involved, but the faster the pace got because of bad shots, gave energy to the team, to the crowd, and that momentum went on to get them to get the last possession of a game. When you have great players, you know, they're a really good team. You can tell these guys like each other, but the pieces fit. And when you saw OG attacking the basket the way he did, I mean, was anybody – I'm surprised they won the game, but was anybody surprised that he tipped it in? I don't think so.

36:22Rich Eisen:He's unbelievable. I mean, he's the one with the ring. He got the ring from Toronto, and that means something. And then Brunson wants the ring so damn bad, you could see it. You could feel it. He's got Kobe vibes, you know what I mean? Like he just sits there. He doesn't want to even hear about the fact that they're one game away, four quarters away. They're up three to one. They got another game, and Madison Square Garden is a backstop. He just doesn't want to even hear it. I want to, what's your opinion of Jalen Brunson now, four games into this finals and three plus series into these playoffs, Chris?

36:54Chris Webber:Well, I've always been a Jalen Brunson fan. I played with his dad growing up, the McDonald's game in college, all of that. Ever since I've watched Jalen, I knew he was a dog. And to me, that's the number one trait you have to have. There are many skilled individuals, but do you have the work ethic? can you be long suffering can you not listen to what people say and those are skills that are usually earned the hard way and he had a great example of his dad being on and saying that to him but he also lived it if you looked at his career and so I'm his biggest fan and just want to reemphasize because a lot of athletes watch this show Well, Brunson is not a specialist.

37:44Chris Webber:He's a bucket getter. And a lot of you in this generation better get back to getting buckets instead of trying to be a specialist because you practice with cones and you can shoot out the corner. Because what happens when the ball is in your hands and it's time to get a bucket? And I think Brunson, SGA, of course, the Durant Hardens, Kyries, all those people before, you know, show that. but I think it just reinforces the hardest thing to stop in this game is a guy that can go two dribbles and pull up a guy that can pump fake it to the hole a guy that's not scared of contact and oh by the way he can shoot threes just as great as everyone else however he knows the mid-range he puts much more pressure on the offense and so I hope players start getting smarter and recognizing with their IQ it's not just about going with a trainer playing with cones it's about understanding how to get buckets, where to get buckets and the nuances of an offense and to really embrace the talent because there's so much great talent today.

38:45He has touch. When you watch him play in the open court and you can see that natural feel that he has and the way he's able to create, I think you're 100 % right that that doesn't come from a private trainer and somebody helping you out. That's instinct, right? That's instinct. and the question that wasn't asked of him last night on inside the NBA as they were all sitting out there and it was chaos and great to watch. But there was a moment, Chris, where, God, I wish I'd been there because he was just kind of staring off into space. And I wish somebody had just said to him, Jalen, what are you thinking right now?

39:25Like, what's going on? Because you could see in his head, like, you know, anybody who's been on those courts, I spent a lot of time with you. Like you're seeing a player and they're somewhere else. And I wish somebody had said, what are you thinking right now? What do you think he was thinking?

39:41Chris Webber:Yeah, I've been caught in one of those moments before. And I was just trying to take a mental picture of the moment because so many times in sports, we're taught to forget your last win and go forward. And so he has a couple of hours to enjoy it. And so I think that, you know, the garden maybe has never been like that in his opinion. and I bet he was just trying to take all that came in. I mean, a 30-point win, the largest win, you know, a comeback. I know they said besides the bubble, but I just can't imagine what he was thinking inside because I can't imagine winning like that in a place that's so thirsty for you to get a championship and you just came back, you know, when the odds were against you.

40:24Chris Webber:Hopefully it was some great thoughts because it was a great moment.

40:28Rich Eisen:Chris Webber, the anti-Cone. Chris Webber taking shots at cones. No, no, no. I wanted to do the cones. I loved it.

40:37Chris Webber:But you got to play one-on-one, too. You got to get back to the backyard. Go to the park. You got to play against people so that you know how to play against people. Yeah, because those cones really post up, huh? Those cones really play great defense. You know what the other thing you said that was so true was, like, what they did was antithetical to the game of basketball last night by staying out in the periphery and about going so shallow into the shot clock. I mean, it was such bad time management. But also, you're a high-percentage shooter yourself. Like, the high percentage is down low. So what are you doing, like, constantly putting it up so early?

41:13Or in your spot.

41:13Chris Webber:Or in your spot. Like, some guys, you're like, oh, don't let Steph Curry catch it right here by the logo. Or don't let, you know, Kevin Durant catch it here or dribble to left. Everyone has their spot. And you just want him to go to his spot. That's all. Every play. You know, if he was maybe a veteran, again, he's doing some incredible things. If he was a veteran, maybe he would have said, listen, the ball comes to me the next two or three times. I mean, I've heard Shaq do that when we were coming back, you know. So I've seen these things, you know, work in person. And it's just from an admiration of his game that today it's so cool to do everything else except what hurts the other team.

41:51Chris Webber:and what would hurt the other team is him being inside where no one can check him, where he's so skilled, where if he just did a reverse pivot, he could shoot off the backboard or face up or whatever he wants to do. But your coach has to put you in that position, and I think that's why they'll be kicking themselves in the butt because they had a chance in all three games. But so many teams have a chance in all the games.

42:14Rich Eisen:That's right. There you go. Chris, thanks for the time. Greatly appreciate it. We've got to run it, which is also good news because I think David Cohn's about to call in and you're very upset about... Good to see you, Chris. Have a good one, thanks. Bye, Chris. All right, brother. C-Web, everybody right here on The Rich Eisen Show. We're back in a flash. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.

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43:40Rich Eisen:We're back on our radio feed. There's only one person I want to hear from today. And he loves you. So clearly, you being here to soften the blow about what happened to Spurs last night. I know who it is. Jimmy in San Antonio is back on The Rich Ones. Hi, Jimmy. Como estamos, familia? Are you okay? Hola, muchacha. Are you okay? I'm not sober.

44:12Rich Eisen:Jimmy, man, I was thinking that. I'm sorry, Paul. Hold on. Before we get to it, Susie, email me the video of Rich overreacting, please. Okay, I'll send it to you. Overreacting. It wasn't overreacting. It was real. And by the way, I thought of you last night because I did have a Clasa Azul on the rocks with extra lime. So I think I thought, am I tipping it in San Antonio's direction by drinking that with my husband? But you love Wemby. You want him to win. You know, you're a Francophile, and you like athletes with a brain and a heart and a zen, you know, with your years with Phil Jackson. But at the end of the day, though, Jimmy, this is something I've been waiting for my entire life.

44:56Rich Eisen:But I know on the flip side, there's somebody like yourself kind of gutted. So I give you the floor. Okay, so this is where my confliction falls because, as you know, I picked the Knicks before the Western Conference Finals was over. Yes, sir. My other problem is, Susie, I don't know if you know this, Rich and I made a bet, and you're going to win my dog, Bex. Now, she eats two cups a day, and she'll put herself to bed around 5 Pacific time. What kind of dog? So she's a pit boxer. She's about 60 pounds. Great. Little. Yeah, right. Okay. Can I have a little bit for the Spurs? Because, number one, C-Webb, you said that we weren't ready for the moment.

45:41And I agree. And if you're going to have a guest that's not ready for the moment in situational awareness, I guess C-Webb would be the perfect one.

45:48Rich Eisen:Look at you taking a swipe at Chris Webber. Okay. Work it all out, Jimmy. Work it all out. I understand. No, I'm almost there. Jimmy, you can take swipes at Rich all you want, but you can't come at C-Web. Get away with it. I'm a Duke fan, so I'm all about it. Got it. We can go to dinner and talk. Okay. All right. Yeah. It wasn't a comeback. It was a gift. It was another gift from France. You have the Statue of Liberty, and now San Antonio and Wemby has given you an NBA championship. You're welcome. Jimmy and San Antonio. Thanks for the call, Jimmy, I mean, I give you one of those famed Rich Eisen show bro hugs.

46:27Rich Eisen:I hope you're feeling better. I'll take it. You know. Listen, the Spurs absolutely gifted the Knicks the ability to come back. The Knicks had to make shots. They did. In the same way that the Spurs were, they fell in love with their threes. Why not? They made 14 of them in the first half. But, I mean, with the bonus and Victor Wimbanyama and his unstoppability and his great free throw shooting, every time that someone was hoisting a three, it was a gift. Thanks for listening to The Rich Eisen Show podcast. You can watch and listen to The Rich Eisen Show live weekdays from noon to 3 Eastern on ESPN Radio, Disney +, and on the ESPN app.

47:10Rich Eisen:The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.

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