Hour 1:  Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals Game 2 Preview, plus ESPN’s Richard Jefferson

24:31Rich Eisen:Well, the first two questions and answers of our chat here, Richard, play into why Knick fans are not only out of their skulls because it feels right. It looks right. Everything is happening. But that's why Knick fans also feel queasy, pit of the stomach, that a John Starks moment is coming, that something's going to happen. Brunson, you know, left the game with a knee, and then there was an ankle and whatever. And this conversation, we are talking, at least maybe it's from me, being the Staten Island kid, as if the Spurs don't exist right now. They're not the Washington Generals here, you know what I mean?

25:09Rich Eisen:So what do we got in game two? Do you think? Well, make no mistake. Oh, I'm sorry, go ahead. No, no, that can turn this thing. What do you think? Well, make no mistake, this Antonio Spurs team was down 3-2 against the defending champions, and it had to go on the road and win a game seven. So this is the part where I say, know your opponent. There's appropriate fear. They do have a player on their side, very similar to a Shaq-style player. Now, obviously physically different. But if Wimby plays to the best of his ability, there's nothing anybody on the planet can do. That's just how special he is.

25:45If he decides that tonight is my night, I might go 40 for 20. There's not a defense. There's not a player been created. Now, where the Knicks have done an outstanding job collectively, and Carl Anthony Towns especially, their job is to make sure he doesn't have one of those nights. But no different than stopping Steph from hitting eight threes. No different than LeBron. No different than Kobe. There are certain players that are so great that sometimes it's just their night. And that's what the Knicks and the Knicks fan base, it's appropriate fear that you're going against a quality opponent. And our goal is to kind of lower what their capabilities are.

26:24And that's a big task. Know that this team doesn't quit. They had to go home and win a game. Then they had to go on the road for game seven against a defending champion against a team, OKC. They won game sevens before. They won multiple game sevens in their championship run. So game sevens weren't foreign to them. And I say all that to say is that, you know, that is a great team on the other side. That is that that's Antonio Spurs is a great team, but it also complements how strong the Knicks have been playing.

26:54Rich Eisen:Career highs and turnovers and missed shots for Victor Wembenyama in game one. What were the Knicks able to do to potentially bring that about? And that could be repeatable for game two this evening. um the knicks the the knicks what they have to do is keep understanding you know who what when and why right and i know that's no it is it's like who are the people that we want to put in a position you know what are the shots that we want that we're willing to concede to take away certain things um the win when do we help when do we go iso when do we sub there's all these little equations that go into Wimby struggling.

27:35And, you know, there's people that have been conversating about what was he fatigued? Was he tired? There's an emotional roller coaster. People have to understand your your mental emotions can also make you physically drained. And when I look at Wimby, he says he wasn't fatigued, you know, and I would agree with that. I'm not here to disagree with him, but I'm saying he didn't have his normal juice. He didn't have his normal pop. And that part, you wonder. And because of them, they had to play a game seven. The Knicks are rested. They've been rested through this whole postseason. And so when I look at Wimby, I look at can he recover?

28:12Can he get his emotions back in check? Don't forget, this was game one of the finals for the 22-year-old also. And so for him to kind of galvanize his teammates and kind of bring them back to a level of just basketball, I think that's where the San Antonio Spurs are headed.

28:28Rich Eisen:Okay, Richard Jefferson here on the Rich Eisen Show calling game number two of the NBA Finals tonight on ABC here on the Rich Eisen Show. So any similarities? And I understand you came in 2016 with the Cavs back from a 3-1 deficit, won the last three and took the whole darn shooting match. And Draymond hitting King James and his crown jewels certainly helped bring that about. But any similarities between your Cavs team? And you mentioned that things are going right for the Knicks. Any similarities that you could draw here? A bunch. A bunch of similarities. We won 10 in a row going into that postseason.

29:09You look at our Atlanta series, we broke the NBA record for most threes hit in a series. And it was only four games. So that would have been 6-7. And the record would have been maybe untouched both the way. So we had a bunch of guys collectively shooting the ball extremely well, and we were rested. And where that helped us is that as the series progressed, they were more fatigued. You had injuries to Bogut. You had back spasms for Andre Iguodala. Obviously, Draymond was famously suspended for Game 5. So we were rested, and they got more fatigued as the series went on. Now, this is a little bit different because the Knicks are jumping out in the series.

29:50We were down 0-2. But I think when I look at this Knicks team, they have all of the pieces. They have all of the players. They have everything. They've got the city behind them. And, you know, if they can pull off another one, which I believe that they are very capable, that's their goal. I can't imagine what the Garden is going to be like for game three and four. Great. Craziest crowd I've ever seen is game six in Cleveland. Outside of that, it was game seven in Oracle. but I am really, really excited to see what Madison Square Garden is going to look like if the Knicks are up 2-0. If it's 1-1, I can't imagine what this garden is going to be like.

30:30It doesn't matter. The garden is going to be on another level.

30:32Rich Eisen:Yeah, because in 99, I mean, the Spurs had, you know, Duncan, and they had David Robinson, and they had Sean Elliott, and I could go down the list here, even though Champagny was shooting like Mario Elliott in the first half of game one. You know, like there just wasn't a sense that the Knicks could hang with those 99 Spurs. Now they're actually up 1-0 here going into tonight. And if they come up with this win tonight, going back into the garden like that would be something and would require somebody on that team to, you know, take the bull by the horns. And I understand they're, you know, obviously they're a young team.

31:11Rich Eisen:I don't know who that might be. did LeBron turn to everybody after going down 3-1 and say something? Who said something prior to game five for you? It was really, again, that there's, when you talk about, you know, the collective group, right, you look at everybody wanted it so bad. Just like every other team in the NBA Finals, we believe we had the best player. Steph was having the best season, but we believe we had the best player. And then there was a formula. when Draymond got suspended for game five, we were like, we got, if we win game five, we truly believed like without even stepping out on the floor, you tell us after game four, we believed that we would win game six.

31:55We believed that we would win game six without even showing up. And when I say not showing up, I mean, you could, you could automate that game on two Kate and we were going to win. So the key for us was game five and we got help in game five with, with Draymond being suspended. And so Draymond goes out. We have the most epic Kyrie LeBron, 82 points between the two of them. And we win game five. We go out and have our best game in game six. And our mentality was all anything can happen in game seven. Anything can happen in game seven. And it turned out to be the best series. But your mentality still has to be on the process.

32:33When they talk about being present and being in the moment, that's what we're talking about. It's one game at a time. The Knicks are in a different position right now because they're ahead. But just like everything, one game don't get too high. One game don't get too low. So you don't look at it from that perspective of like, oh, we're going to get this done. And, oh, this is the Knicks are having one of if they're able to finish this off. In my opinion, they are having one of the top five playoff runs. currently right now they're on the top five and it'll just go up but if they're able to get this done this will be one of the top runs that we've ever seen in nba history yeah they're plus 272

33:14Rich Eisen:in this 12 game win streak coming into tonight and again yeah that's why you know it's just tough to believe what we're seeing right now you know coming into you know this series and what we've been witnessing since they were you know playing atlanta um but man they just that's wemby this Steph Castle guy. He's really friggin' good. And Harper, my gosh. I mean, you gotta think there's a bounce back for the Spurs tonight. Just really have to. You have to, but from a space, again, I give that reference point because people want to start kind of imagining mental scenarios for these players. And it's like, oh, well, they're gotta be nervous or do you think this is too much for them?

33:57I stand by, and I said this. Wimby's been in big games before for his entire life. And I don't think that the Spurs are necessarily ahead of schedule. I think last year, if Wimby had not had the blood clots, I think that team goes to the postseason. Maybe they lose in the first round. Maybe they get a second round. But we know Wimby would have won defensive player of the year last year. So you look at it as like maybe they feel like they missed an opportunity last year. So they're looking at it like this is their year. This is their year that they were supposed to be on, if not for the injury to Wimby.

34:29But I do believe that they're going to answer. Castle won a national championship with Hurley as his coach, screaming and yelling at every single game. And for you, oh, there's my boy Richie in the corner. But when you go do that and you see Castle's won a national championship, that's one and done. That's pressure. When you go look at Wimby's playing in the gold medal game, you know, at home against Steph and LeBron and the Avengers. And so these guys, these young players have been in the biggest moments in basketball. So now when you get into a game, a game seven series that are seven game series, now you're like, oh, we have room for error.

35:14So for these guys to be down three, two and then go beat the defending champs on their home in game seven, something that I'm familiar with. That is not an easy task. So I don't look at them being down 0-1. I don't even look at them necessarily being down 0-2, as in like this series is over. These young guys are resilient. They're a special group. And if anything can tell you, history can tell us something. Oklahoma City, everybody was like, oh, they're going to win three out of the next four. They're young, this group. And then here comes the Spurs. But the Spurs know the same thing, too. It could be one injury, and next year we're not able to be in this position again.

35:53So they're maximizing this and they're playing like it.

35:56Rich Eisen:Yeah. This series moves to Madison square garden next. You're right, man. I grew up in that building. There, it just has a different sound to it. The horn sounds different than any other building, you know, when Bon Yama, uh, in that environment, I can't wait to see you do me this favor. You, you could, you could use this line if you want to, you know, uh, it is the biggest French import to New York since the statue of Liberty. You could say that, you know, I, I, Yes, but this is the thing. The Statue of Liberty was a gift to America. Wembenyama isn't? Not to the Knicks fans. Not to the Knicks fans.

36:32Certainly not the Thunder.

36:35Rich Eisen:Not to Madison Square. I don't know. But just maybe the NBA writ large. He's a gift. Oh, no. To sports in general. Sure. To sports in general. And I look at Shohei Ohtani, right? He is a gift to sports in general. Like to have a player with that type of capability, Wimbledon Yama, you know, that type. He's one of those players that like people from all around the world should want to come see. We've never seen something like this. This is a marvel of human ability, that size, that ability, that temperament, that type of mobility. So while he is a gift to America, he's a gift to the world right now.

37:15He is not a gift to MSG. He is not a gift to the New York Knicks. So as a New Yorker, don't marvel too much. Because if Wimby starts to be Wimby, you're going to be like, oh, what is this guy doing here? We don't want him. But he is truly a gift to sports in general, not just basketball.

37:36Rich Eisen:Yeah, after the Knicks comeback went over the Cavs in game one of the ECF, fans are out there on 7th Avenue chanting, we want Wimby. I'm like, oh, no, no, no. We don't want to do that. but you can use that line use that line if you want you don't have to you can discard no no and i will cite my source give me your tired your poor your tony brothers that's what it says right there wait a minute no that's the thunder that's the thunder fans saying oh my god i don't know if i can reference tony brothers though i might get a phone call if i if i reference my guy i did that for you so all right i don't mean to drag you down to my level but thanks for the time i know you're calling the game tonight i really appreciate it uh i am a big fan i do love listening to you and legler and and breen uh who obviously i've been listening to for a very long time and and lisa salter is one of my favorite people on the planet so go for it keep crushing i appreciate i appreciate this i grew up watching you like i said when i was a kid watching you know you and stewart scott and and the entire crew on on sports center i promise you half of the times i would dunk.

38:37I would sprint home to watch ESPN SportsCenter. Just pray. Just pray one of you guys would say my name. That's what I grew up on. That's how I knew I accomplished something when I made it. And I would hear Stuart Scott say, hey, it's not a SportsCenter unless there's a Richard Jefferson highlight. When that moment, that was the moment that I felt like I made it to the league and I was significant. So you and your entire crew of guys that were doing SportsCenters in the 90s and that was, it was a golden era of basketball. It was a golden era of sports. So thank you. I appreciate. Wow.

39:07Rich Eisen:Wow. I will take that. I appreciate that. Thanks very much. And you, you know, I would tell you to keep going on because you must be butter. You're on a roll. He's on a roll. He's on a roll. All right, Richard, go, go crush it tonight. I appreciate the time. All right. Thank you guys. That's Richard Jefferson right here on the Rich Eisen show. That was a delight. It was a blast. Let's take a break. Your phone calls, 844-204-RICH. Number to dial. We're going to take some phone calls on Disney Plus and ESPN next. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.

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40:16Rich Eisen:Come together on a Windows 11 PC. And for a limited time, college students get the best of both worlds. Get the Unreal College Deal. Everything you need to study and play with select Windows 11 PCs. Eligible students get a year of Microsoft 365 Premium and a year of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate with a custom color Xbox wireless controller. Learn more at windows.com slash student offer. While supplies last, ends June 30th. Terms at aka.ms slash college PC. Back on our simulcast here on ESPN Cable and ESPN the app and Disney Plus, as well as ESPN Radio, Sirius XM Channel 80. Let's take some phone calls here.

40:56Rich Eisen:Miles in Sioux Falls. Miles? South Dakota. Miles? South Dakota. We want to hear from you. South Dakota. Oh, which Miles? Is this Garrett? Miles? Miles, which Garrett? Is this you, Miles? Here I am. Oh, hey. I thought you were here in Los Angeles. No. So, yeah, I'm calling from kind of Minnesota sportsman purgatory here up in the north. It's been a particularly brutal year for Minnesota sports fans. Watching Cat do his thing in the finals, watching Sam Darnold go in the Super Bowl, the Twins do a fire sale of their entire team last year. So I guess my question is, will Minnesota sports ever get out of sports purgatory?

41:41And if so, which team is most likely to do it?

41:44Rich Eisen:How does the Minnesota Lynx down to you right now? 8-2 atop the WNBA standings, 11 miles, crushing it. I think she nailed 15 three-pointers the other day. Listen, oh, boy. I understand you're watching. By the way, just understand this, Miles, and I know this isn't going to help you, but Carl Anthony Towns going from Minnesota to the Knicks to win a championship for the Knicks, does that make up for the Jets sending Sam Darnold elsewhere and watching him go somewhere else? Is it like a circle of life thing? I mean, someone from Seattle or New York's got to go to Minnesota. Maybe it will be Julius Randall.

42:23Rich Eisen:I don't know. You could have a parade for him. I mean, when Ray Bork won a cup finally with the Avalanche, the city of Boston threw him a parade. That's because you were so desperate for a parade at the time. That wouldn't happen now. That wouldn't happen now. Would not happen now. But at the time, you know, it made perfect sense. Miles, does that help at all? I'd be happy for that. Probably doesn't. I mean, we love to watch Cat, you know, do his thing. But I'm 28 years old, and I've never seen a team in Minnesota win a championship. So I love watching all these former players go get their flowers.

42:56But, I mean, one of these days, one of our teams has got to get it done.

42:58Rich Eisen:Thank you, Miles. And Sue Falls here on the Rich Eisen Show. Let's go to Kenye in Washington, D.C. here on the Rich Eisen Show. What's up, sir? How are you doing? Shaolin Rich. Hey, baby boy. How you doing? The aforementioned Shaolin Rich baby boy is fine. Thank you for asking. How are you? But I'm good, man. I'm good. I just wanted to, your guys told me I didn't have enough time to talk about the other stuff, but I'm willing to do the win-loss Eagles schedule right now. Okay. Here we go. All right. Win-loss game for your Philadelphia Eagles defending NFC East champs, getting one and done by the San Francisco 49ers.

43:33Rich Eisen:Going to have the music, please. Jason Feller. Here we go. Kenny in Washington, D.C. What happens when you open up at home against Washington? That's going to be a W. We're going to win that. All right. What happens when you then visit Tennessee? We're going to win that back in my hometown of Nashville. Yes, sir. We're now 2-0 heading into Chicago, Illinois on a Monday night. We are going to get our Black Friday revenge, and we're going to win that as well. You're now 3-0 hosting the Rams. We are even going to win, even with the Miles Garrett acquisition. All right, there we go. 4-0 now taking on Jacksonville and Tottenham in the U.K.

44:12Rich Eisen:What's happening there? We still have Jeff Seals' number from the Saquon League, so we're going to win that one also. That's 5-0, home for the Panthers. Going to win that one too. That's a 6-0 start, hosting the Cowboys on a Monday night on ESPN, ABC. Who wins that?

44:31I think we're going to go ahead and get those cowgirls.

44:35Rich Eisen:That's a win? 7-0 at the Commanders. Did you sweep them? Yes, we're definitely sweeping them. 8-0 after a Sunday night went on NBC. Home for the Giants. We are beating the Giants. That's 9-0. Home for the Steelers and Aaron Rodgers. We're beating the Steelers, baby. That's 10-0. Going into Thanksgiving in Dallas. Do it. We are going to sweep the Cowboys. Yes, that's 11-0, TJ. At the Cardinals. He's feeling it. We're going to beat the Steelers, baby. That's 12-0. Home for the Colts. Man, we're going to beat the Colts, too. That's 13-0. Here come the defending champion Seahawks on a Saturday. What's going on?

45:20We might just slow down a little bit. We might lose that.

45:23Rich Eisen:Oh, wow. All right. Now you're taking on the Texans on Christmas Eve. We're going to win. All right. Now you've got the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco. We're going to be looking for a get-back, so we will definitely win that. All right. You're now 15-1 taking on the Giants to wrap things up in New Jersey. We're going to sweep the Giants also, man. 16-1. Kenny in Washington, D.C., thank you for the call. And I need a 16-1 drop. 16-1, the Philadelphia Eagles. Can you imagine? I cannot imagine. TJ, what do you think of that? Let's see. We've got a photograph of TJ. What does he think of it?

46:07Rich Eisen:Ah, yes. That's what Carl Anthony Towns diehard Eagle fan sent you after the Eagles beat your Cowboys. Delete that. What do you mean delete that? It happened. Carl Anthony Towns loves you, man. Matt Hardy voice. Delete that. Three wins. Three wins away from winning by putting a Larry OB next to his Lombardi. That's fine. And I'm cool with that. But the other thing I'm not cool with, you know. Man. 16 and 1. Thank you so much. That's what happens in the win-loss game. You think, you know what? I'm going to call in. I'm going to be a little. I'm going to have my head on, you know. Illusional Eagles fans.

46:42Rich Eisen:And then he winds up 16-1 at the end of the day. Tom Pelissero coming up in hour number two of the Rich Eisen Show. The Rich Eisen Show podcast. The Stanley Cup Final on ABC is more than a quest for the cup. It's 134 years of putting it all on the line and the heaviest 35 pounds ever lifted. It's broken curses and broken hearts. But for those chasing it, it's everything. The only question is, who will take it? You just have to watch the Stanley Cup Final presented by GEICO on ABC and the ESPN app.