Who Do the New York Knicks Want More: Cavaliers or Pistons? (w/ Tim Legler) | Stugotz and Company

追加: 2026-05-20

[00:00:00]The great and very busy Tim Leggler is with us here uh ESPN Cavs Pistons tonight. He is on the call of the game.

[00:00:07]Legs, do you like calling the games? I know you've been doing it for two years now. Do you enjoy the calling of the games? Because you seem busier than ever right now.

[00:00:15]>> Love it. Absolutely love it, man.

[00:00:16]There's just, you know, look, I my I've always approached my job whether I was doing studio or calling games as like, you know, the ability to teach. Like that's what I love to do is teach. like hopefully in some way make the viewer just smarter like the next time they watch a game or find something interesting in the game maybe that you didn't even realize was interesting. So studio work is different because it's either like pregame so you have a chance to like really think about it and then do this pre-produced piece or whatever like you put a lot of thought into or after the game it's like what just happened let's talk about it. Doing it in real time and being able to teach while it's happening is the greatest challenge um in the industry. So the adrenaline that comes with that and the energy in the building, there's nothing like it, man. So yes, this has been incredible. Last couple seasons being like a full-time game analyst has been great.

[00:01:04]>> Well, legs, you're very good at it. And as somebody like I stopped doing my uh sidelines, I think in 23 and I'm super jealous cuz I wanted to overlap with you. I wanted cuz you're one of my favorite analysts of all time and so it's just like man when you do color it's very good. So just wanted to drop that compliment in your lap while >> appreciate that man very much. Thank you. That's nice you to say. I was going to say, is there a question in there?

[00:01:25]But go ahead, Izzy.

[00:01:25]>> No, I was going to follow up with uh you did game four, right, of Knicks and um >> Yes, closeout game. Uh what are your thoughts on the Knicks and their sort of odd to say this in the playoffs, evolving offense?

[00:01:39]>> Well, yeah, it's it's gone from evolving to peak level in a very short period of time. Like that to me is what's incredible about the story. They they tweaked their offense during the season and then a bigger tweak in the middle of the Atlanta series and they're down 2-1 and you know the pressure cooker that New York represents and like what that team was facing, what Mike Brown was facing and basically they made the determination that Carl Anthony Towns he's a power player but he wants to play at the elbows top of the key a lot.

[00:02:08]That's where he's comfortable. So rather than call set stuff, which Mike Brown does not want to, >> and trying to get him touches in areas of the floor that he's comfortable, because that's just not what Mike Brown wants to do. He wants to play organically in the flow. Well, then how about we create some options offensively that take advantage of where he likes to catch it and his size and and really skill as a passer that was not really appreciated, valued, or utilized to that point. And that's really what they did in the middle of the Atlanta series. It opened up their offense. Brunson has a screener on the baseline and then coming out to get the basketball. It's like a total wrinkle they put in that Atlanta could not solve. It completely flipped the series on its head. It continued into the Philadelphia series and now what you ended up was a team that to down 2-1 verge of like just catastrophe to this team's never played better >> in a matter of six games. Like literally, that's what we're talking and and that really is what we're looking at. This is the best >> the Knicks offense has looked since the day they got Jaylen Brunson.

[00:03:14]>> And and what that does is it energizes your defense even more when you're having that kind of success and everybody's included offensively the way they are now. Your defense is actually now playing at its highest level. So you have this team that right now is an absolute buzzsaw. Certainly they have been for the teams that they played. And that's that's basically what played out at the end of the Philly series. They were limited, had some injuries. Coming off the Boston Seven Gamer, they ran into this team that is just playing with so much force, confidence, and rhythm.

[00:03:43]That's what it looks like when you get those two things collide.

[00:03:46]>> Legs, how important is OG Anobi coming back for the Knicks and him being that potential X factor, whether it's the Pistons or the Cavs in that series?

[00:03:57]critical because you know right now like this is probably the best I've ever seen OJi play. His defensive impact always been there. The offense he's been really good. He's been good since he got to New York. His role expanded leaving Toronto and he's like wow he's a better offensive player than you thought. But like what he's been doing lately and like the consistency with which he's producing. He's never done that. So yes, it's a massive loss. I do think they avoided a real problem. Like everybody kind of was waiting to holding their breath that next morning to see what was the result going to be for OJ. It sounds like it's a lot less than it could have been dayto-day. They certainly weren't going to play him in game four. The Phillies didn't need him. They might not even have played him in game five if they needed a game five back at home.

[00:04:42]Just rest him as long as you can. We're all going to wait and see what this looks like at the start of the series, but he is he is a force, man. he can guard anybody on the floor. And now you combine it with this guy that's getting to 20 plus every night shooting at the way he is from the three-point line. You have like this is what an all star player looks like, you know, an all league caliber player looks like. What he's doing right now. Now, I will say this, some of his loss has been tempered by the fact that Male Bridges found his offense toward the end of the Atlanta series that carried over into the Philly series and he's on a heater of all heaters right now. what that guy is shooting over the past five games is mindblowing and it is helped offset in the short term missing OG Anobi but long-term win the East win a title you're going to need OG Anobi out there playing the way that he was uh legs where are you on rest versus Russ because the Knicks are playing so well offensively I know they get to wait around for the winner of the uh of the Pistons in the Cavs series uh which is a great position to be in but that team is playing so well when the Sixers series was over. I wanted them to play the next day. I don't like them waiting around here for 7 to 10 days for the next moment. Yes. Yes. Exactly.

[00:05:53]>> Well, how do you feel?

[00:05:54]>> Well, I'm I'm always going to lean on the on the side of rest. Always. And if you want like the most conclusive argument >> to that, take a look at what Oklahoma City does to people in game one of the next round when they typically make short work of the of the previous round and they're sitting there waiting. It looks a lot like if you threw like a whole tuna into a piranha tank. That's what it looks like with Oklahoma City.

[00:06:20]So like to me that's the greatest example of like what Here's here's the thing. There is no substitute for fresh legs.

[00:06:29]>> Okay.

[00:06:29]>> There just isn't >> cuz rhythm rhythm will come back pretty quickly to a team that's been sitting around for a while. You cannot find fresh legs if you never get an opportunity to recharge them. So for me, it's always about rest. It's always makes you better and more energized, even if the shot making isn't great at the start of the next round.

[00:06:51]>> I smiled when he said fresh legs. So did Izzy. I have no idea why I smiled just because it had to be your nickname, right? Like it had to be your double nickname like in the pros.

[00:06:59]>> Then we got fresh legs.

[00:07:00]>> It's such an easy thing to work into any basketball segment, isn't it? Like it's just so easy.

[00:07:06]>> Uh no, Tim. But hold on. I understand what he's saying here, Izzy. But but Legs, when he played when he was on fire, like Legs wanted to stay in the gym. He didn't want to leave the gym and get rest. He wanted to shoot more. And I guess that's all I'm saying on the Knicks. I want them to play.

[00:07:19]>> But here's what here's what here's real quick. Here's what I'm going to say to you. Like you're talking about a different category player. Role players.

[00:07:25]Absolutely, man. Let's keep playing. If I got it going, please let me play tomorrow and I'll play every day if I'm playing 20 24 minutes a game. the guys that have to play 30 to 40 minutes a game have a lot more on their plate really on both ends. No, your team is going to be a hell of a lot better if those guys feel a little recharged.

[00:07:44]>> Legs, I am Am I wrong? I've got you as a Philly guy. Are you a Philly guy?

[00:07:48]>> Well, I get called that all the time because I went to college in Philly, but I grew up in the Baltimore like DMV area, DC, Richmond. Like I played high school basketball in Richmond. I went to Philly to go to college and then just basically establish roots there forever.

[00:08:03]Um, and so yes, it's always Philly guy, Philly guy, Philly guy until people realize when football comes up and how much I love the Eagles and how much I love the Commanders, that's when it starts to hit home for people. I'm not a Philly guy, I guess, but I love the city, man. All of my closest friends are up there. My children raised up there.

[00:08:21]So, yeah. The reason I asked is because I was thinking like Tobias Harris has not looked like this since like maybe five, six years ago with Philly in the postseason. I didn't think he was capable of being a reliable number two scorer for the Pistons. Is he enough for them to get past this round, the next round even, or is this kind of exactly what we feared if Tobias Harris is your second leading scoreer or second option?

[00:08:45]Yeah, Izzy, it's kind of incredible to think what this guy has done in the postseason because, by the way, let's go back to Philly. He had he did have one postseason with Philly that was the only only year that surpassed the numbers he's putting up now. But for the most part, when their season would end or even a game within a series, the first place that everybody would go on Sports Talk Radio in Philly or the media, the fan base was Tobias Harris. Let's just go in on Tobias Harris, right? Because he he had that big contract. They thought automatically that's supposed to lead to X numbers every night and easy.

[00:09:20]Guy's a >> Yeah, he's a consumate pro. If you really look at his career postseason numbers, 16 points, eight boards, just under 50% from the field.

[00:09:30]>> 40%ish from the three or a little bit like pretty damn good numbers, but he had moments in series that were so important. Two two series, game five, here comes a one for 11. Let's go in on Tobias Harris, right? So, for him to do this, eight straight 20 point games, he had a 30point game, seven, if he doesn't play the way he's playing with Jaylen Duran going through these offensive struggles, if he doesn't pick up the slack to the extent he did, I got news for you. A 60 win one seed would have lost to an eight seed. Y >> Tobias Harris, Kate Cunningham is spectacular, but they still don't win the series if you don't get the offense from somewhere on an offensively limited team. Jaylen Durren's production has been cut in half in the postseason.

[00:10:18]Where's it going to come from? There's your answer. Tomas Harris hasn't missed a turnaround jumper in this postseason, it feels like. Um, so I just give the guy all the credit in the world, man.

[00:10:27]Yeah, it's incredible like the way this guy has played and he may need he may need a couple more of those to survive this round with with the Cavs that it's now 2-2 and u you know game five tonight's going to be just incredibly dramatic to see what happens. Can Cleveland finally win a road game in the postseason? They're 0 and5 6 and0 at home. I don't know. Can can Detroit get another one of those games out of Tobias? Because if they don't, they might lose game five, go get closed out on the road in game six. That's what's on the line tonight, I think, in Detroit. Uh, Legs, what team should Nick fans be rooting for to face in the Eastern Conference Finals? Meaning, which team do they match up better with, the Pistons or the Cavs?

[00:11:02]>> Clear.

[00:11:02]>> Well, clearly Cleveland for two reasons.

[00:11:05]One, if it's the Cavs, the Knicks have home court. So, that's a big that's a big deal.

[00:11:11]>> That's big.

[00:11:11]>> You know, just like just like in the last series, like you're sitting there watching Philly Boston and you're going, "Well, if Boston wins that series, the Knicks go on the road to start the series." Instead, Philly wins game seven over. you're sitting there watching the game. If you're a Nick and you're that coaching staff, all of a sudden you go from going on the road to play Boston game one to we're hosting now the Philadelphia 76ers in game one. Like that's what's at stake in this series as well. If Cleveland wins, New York hosts the Eastern Conference Finals. Um and that's one reason. The other reason is that Detroit Pistons just absolutely physically dominated the Knicks in the regular season. Um and so that to me, look, and they're going to always say, you're always going to say, "Oh, we don't care who we play." But just look at to me those two reasons alone even if and even if you the business didn't do that to you. The fact that you'd get home court will be enough to kind of secretly root for the Cavaliers to pull this out.

[00:12:03]>> Speaking of the Cavs, um I'm sure you've had plenty of opportunity to have the James Harden discussion over the last few weeks. Um just wondering where you land because it Chris cracks me up, Tim, where people just like, "Oh, he had a good game. Now everybody shut up." No, he had four terrible games and it's just one of those deals where it's like, hey, what is James Harden right now? Is he this guy who's still, you know, all-star level type of player or is he a guy that maybe you shouldn't have give that much responsibility to because he's lost a step? Where do you stand on James?

[00:12:34]>> I think that look, I go back to the trade they made. I said at the time and I believe it, the risk was worth it. He, you know, over Darius Garland. Darius Scar is a really good player. He's been an all-star in this league. He's a different type of player. James Harden can do things physically to a defense that Daryus Garland could not. He can make plays for other people.

[00:12:53]>> Yeah. His size, strength, the velocity that he can put on the ball to shooters on the weak side, the the lob threat that he represents to their bigs. Like that's not Darius Garland's game. And so for me to add that other element to their team offensively, I said, you know what, it's worth it to make that trade when they made it. Now you with that you have to understand there are going to be some playoff moments where you're just you need more out of James Harden and he's already had some of those for Cleveland in this postseason but and he's had them throughout his career and he's gotten beaten up for it when he's had those nights and he's he had him in Houston he had him in Philadelphia had him in Brooklyn was hurt more often than Brooklyn than not but I look at Philly and Houston more than any he had those moments like man we really needed more out of him tonight to win this game Having said that, if he gets it done, then we need to pat this guy on the back in the last two games. He came through late in game three. They lose that game if he doesn't have eight critical points in the fourth quarter of that game. And now they're down three 0. They're not winning the series. They win the game.

[00:13:57]Then he goes back with 24-1 in game four. And then obviously Mitchell was the story, 39 points in the second half.

[00:14:03]He went off at the same time. But they're not sitting here 2-2 without James Harden the way he's played the last two games. So it's really at the point is he where you kind of go I don't know what which version we get tonight.

[00:14:14]What I here's how I've always described James Harden for me for a superstar talent which he absolutely is. His floor to ceiling variance is too great.

[00:14:26]>> Right?

[00:14:27]>> In other words, you might get a great player that's a 20 point scorer. He'll get to 20, but he took 24 shots on a given night. You're like, "Okay, had a bad night. He still got to 20." Like Hard would have nights in Philly or Houston, Philly in particular, where you know, three for 10. He's not even the same player. He's not aggressive. He was six turnovers. Like his floor was so bad it didn't give you a chance to win.

[00:14:50]That's how I've seen him throughout his career. But I'm going to give him all the credit in the world because he always carries that going into every playoff game. People just waiting to jump on James Harden and not play well.

[00:15:00]So when he does like he did the last two games, we need to pat this guy in the back, man, and give him credit because they're not sitting here at 2-2 with a chance to to win this series potentially and get to the conference final without what he did in the last two games.

[00:15:11]>> Now I've got living in these vaulted ceilings just >> Well, no. And the problem with patting him on the back is, you know, the floor is right around the corner. I mean, that's right. That's the problem, right?

[00:15:22]I mean, >> yeah. Look, again, you don't know from night to night. Now, where I've always where I've always liked James Harden the most >> is in this lane, which is >> yes, it'd be great if he plays well because it could make them almost unbeatable if if he and Mitchell both play well, right?

[00:15:39]>> But the fact that he's got Mitchell, he doesn't have to necessarily play great, right?

[00:15:45]>> Pick spots >> because you've got this other guy that's going to get a lot more recruiting. Look at Mitchell's going to go from, you know, 19 20 shots in the regular season to 2425 in playoff games. One thing about Donov Mitchell, he's not going to disappear in terms of his aggressiveness. He might have a bad shooting night. He's going to actually up his aggressiveness because that's what's required of of who he is. So, for Harden to be in this lane, I like him better here where he can have moments that really matter, but he doesn't necessarily have to go get 30 and 10 the way that I felt he did in Philly or Houston. leg. Switching to another Mitchell in the postseason. AJ Mitchell's emergence in OKC.

[00:16:24]You're looking at some of the Thunder contracts coming up. Dort uh Hart and Sin have club options this off season.

[00:16:31]Is any part of you thinking that the Thunder should explore a trade for for Jaylen Williams before you have to pay his supermex?

[00:16:38]>> I think that all that's on the table for that team. It just you just can't pay everybody.

[00:16:43]>> You can't pay everybody. And what they give those three their three best players got, you know, something close to a billion dollars guaranteed. You know, all the money that they gave those three guys and their age and their the fact that they win, they're great guys, high character guys. It all fits great.

[00:16:57]Let's do it. That means you're not going to be able to pay everybody else. So, they're going to have some tough decisions to make. There's no doubt in my mind that AJ Mitchell going forward at some point will be a starting point guard on a team that is a legit solid playoff team. Two upwards maybe of a contending team. He's that good. You know, Dylan Harper's going to be in this boat down the road. You know, unless you keep Dylan Harper and Webby together for 10 years and that that could be an incredible combination. But you've got Fox there. You've got Castle there already. these guys that are like coming off the bench, these young guards that are so good. At some point, the opportunity has to change for them and that means really that won't be for Harper. Harper's going to be a superstar. AJ Mitchell is definitely going to be a starting point guard on a really good team. When that happens, I don't know, but it means tough decisions on their current starters or on Mitchell going forward for that organization.

[00:17:49]There's other guys, too. Caruso, Hartinstein, Dort, like all those guys.

[00:17:52]There's going to be decisions made on >> uh legs. Is every other team playing for second place? It seems like Oklahoma City is just going to run away with the NBA finals here. Is is are we all playing for second place here?

[00:18:01]>> I mean, I do think they deserve the respect to say that they're definitely on a different tier. You have to give them that, man. They're not only defending champs, they're they're they're unbeaten. They haven't been super ch tested. You get a Phoenix team in the first round, um you know, you're supposed to do that to them. You you get a Lakers team without Luca, you should do this to them. So, the big test is coming. Um, and San Antonio clearly, you know, assuming they win this series, but they got work to do. I'm not going to rule out Minnesota, but looks like San Antonio, Oklahoma City are sort of headed for this collision course. If you get that, that's going to be their biggest test at this point. And then you're going to have to obviously win the NBA finals. They are, they deserve to be given the credit because of how clean they play, how good they are on both ends. Their depth >> for me that and you know how exceptionally well coached they are that you have to give them the respect and say they should be looked at as the favorite. The road is going to get tougher for them from this point on.

[00:18:53]Obviously, >> like there's so much talk about Wemi when it comes to the Spurs. Obviously, he's transformational, but you just mentioned De'aran Fox and even that name kind of gets lost in my head cuz I'm like, man, Stefon Castle, man, Harper's really good. They've got so many good players and it just makes me wonder like do you think that they're that they're ready now even if himself might not be ready, the team as a whole is ready now to start their championship run perhaps?

[00:19:18]Yeah, to be honest with you, Izzy, I'm more likely to give them like the just even the benefit of the doubt that they could win it this year because of the rest of the team, >> right?

[00:19:30]>> Not even about WBY for me, as great as he is and and what this he's going to do to this league for the for the next 10, 15 years. We all know what that looks like. The fact that they're this good around them, but this is this I mean, find a better trio of guards in the NBA than what they have. Darren Fox, people remember, Darren Fox averaged 25 points a game multiple times in Sacramento, okay? Didn't have a lot of playoff experience because he was on a team that couldn't compete.

[00:19:57]>> This is a guy that has sacrificed offensively until you get to this point in the year and he can do things when he needs to within a game. Stefan Castle, rookie of the year, one of the best physical specimens I've seen come into this league at the guard spot in a long time. Just physically dominant on both ends. And then you have Harper who I've already described as a budding superstar. It's and it's Vassel. It's it's Kell Johnson, six man of the year and the toughness he brings. It's they went out and picked up Luke Cornet. Such a great addition as a backup to Wy. Like I just love the depth of their team, how complete they are to beat you on both ends of the floor. And it's more for me about the supporting cast than it even is about WBY. Honestly, if they didn't have those guys, I'm not sure Wii would be ready right now to take this across the finish line. that that supporting cast means maybe maybe they are ready already which is scary for the league.

[00:20:48]>> Uh do you think uh do you think the referees are having difficulties officiating WBY because they've never seen anything like WBY?

[00:20:55]>> Definitely with the the block shots calls.

[00:20:57]>> Yes.

[00:20:58]>> Well, look, he he's I think that he's so long that like you have guys now that are big players that like their top of their head is is hitting him like right like the middle of his chest. And so like their where their center of gravity is is like just different. Like they're used to putting a forearm into another big to hold them off on on a box out or or post them up and they're putting that nor used to putting that elbow right into somebody's chest. They're putting their elbow like into his waist and like it's and even even boxing him out like it. So it's different where he's absorbing the contact. It's different to officiate a guy like this. And I just think in general like the playoffs are so difficult to officiate in general because which is what we all want the what you allow just becomes so much greater because that's what that's what fans want to see. They don't want to see a parade to the foul line. They want to see guys play through contact. But I'm telling you right now like I you there are literally multiple fouls being committed on every trip up the floor that are that would be called definitely in the regular season. And so now you add into the component this guy that's seven foot five and you know a couple hundred pounds and it's like this looks different. I don't know. It's just like when Shaq used to play because he was a unique one of one >> and you're like you're like this guy's getting hammered but it doesn't seem to be knocking him off balance so maybe we shouldn't call that then.

[00:22:22]>> Yes.

[00:22:23]With Wambi, it's it's it's kind of like the same thing. Like he he could maybe really get displaced with a little bit of contact and you're like I was, you know, was that enough or is it just because of how little he weighs? So, >> it's a challenge, man. There's no doubt.

[00:22:39]Um he's he's incredible force, man. He's incredibly entertaining and he's he's so unique to watch.

[00:22:45]>> Uh the NBA finals that Tim Leggler thinks would be the most competitive is Blake.

[00:22:51]>> Oh, man. Look, I think I think it's going to be right now the way that the Knicks are playing, I just think that that is the team that's the closest to the best version of themselves and they've got an incredibly talented starting lineup. So, whoever would come out of the West and you know, whether that's OKC or if you think it's going to be OKC San Antonio, like it's going to require that to give us the best version of an NBA Finals against whoever comes out of the Western Conference. So right now that would be the Knicks. I just think the Knicks are playing as well as anybody in this league. And I think there was a time when I thought, you know, earlier in the season I thought it's a foregone conclusion. Whoever represents the East, they can't beat whoever wins the West, >> right?

[00:23:35]>> That's kind of how and I and I actually at the time I was putting Denver into that category as well with Oklahoma City and San Antonio. Um and and I I think the Knicks have kind of changed that narrative. The way they're playing, the way that they finished these last two series, man, it's like wow. Like how do you slow that down? the rhythm they have, >> right? I don't want to put words in his mouth, Taylor, but it seems like Tim Leggler feels like the Knicks match up very well with Oklahoma City. I mean, how about that?

[00:23:58]>> I know it's hard to tell, Tim, but Taylor's never been more excited.

[00:24:01]>> Yes. I also don't want to get ahead of myself. They have another series to play, but I say this is exciting. I mean, >> well, look, you think about you think about this and and whether it's whether it's Cleveland, Detroit, or obviously the Knicks are already in the conference finals. So whether it's Cleveland Detroit with Kate Cunningham, Donovan Mitchell/James Harden or Jaylen Brunson, you know, and if it's Oklahoma City that ended up being the finals against Shay Gilers Alexander, I mean, you know, you it's like the best of the best at that position.

[00:24:29]>> Yes.

[00:24:29]>> You know, it's it's it's just like, you know, and the way that those guys control everything for their teams. But look, I'm not getting ahead of myself, man. You know, and calling games means you're it's you're le lot less likely to get ahead of yourself. You're in studio, you can say whatever, and then tomorrow I'll say whatever else and the next day I'll say something different.

[00:24:48]>> Yes. Yes.

[00:24:48]>> Calling games is a little bit different because you go into them giving teams the benefit of the doubt, right? And you want to you don't know how it's about to go and we have we have the Knicks already sitting there. I don't know who's going to win this Detroit Cleveland series. I don't know who's going to win San Antonio and um Minnesota either, man. There's work to be done uh for San Antonio to even get the the the good fortune of playing Oklahoma City. And then obviously tonight is tonight is I think is like the pivotal game obviously in this series with Detroit Cleveland.

[00:25:17]>> Not quite as big as the game, but pivotal. No, no. Game two to me is the second most important game of the series. Like so I mean what do you think?

[00:25:24]>> Well, we all know we all know game two.

[00:25:26]So I mean you know >> everyone how many champions in history did not win game two.

[00:25:31]>> Yes. Yes. I mean, it's a game that can really dictate the rest of the series.

[00:25:34]You're down 10 and that game two becomes, you know, vastly important. You know, that's why game two there's so much emphasis. And if you're up 10, you can end the series on a game two. How about that?

[00:25:44]>> I think if you went and really charted all of this, the second inning in baseball, like game two of a hockey series, the second round in boxing, >> right? All of these things are very >> uh determinate and who ends up ultimately winning. I think game two in the NBA at the top of the list of important musthaves.

[00:26:02]>> Well, thank you, Legs. I appreciate that. Keep your eye on the second hole of the PGA Championship this weekend, guys. It's a big hole. I'm telling you, that's exactly what Sue's going to do is chart all of this.

[00:26:11]>> Yeah, Taylor, Taylor has a quick point.

[00:26:14]Hold on. We'll get legs out of here in just a second. Taylor has a quick point.

[00:26:16]Go ahead, Taylor.

[00:26:17]>> Yeah, I was just going to clarify. I haven't been this excited about the Knicks do since they won the NBA Cup.

[00:26:22]>> Right. Okay.

[00:26:26]>> He has the cup right there. legs. Yes.

[00:26:27]>> Listen, you think think about it, man.

[00:26:29]Like you got, you know, a team that this this that a city that loves basketball this much, a franchise like the Knicks, >> 53 years. I mean, that's what we're talking about. Yes.

[00:26:41]>> I think since those glory days, we went four straight Eastern Conference finals, I think, from 71 to 74. Two finals appearances. Since then, I think this is their seventh conference finals appearance. They've been to the finals a couple times, have not been able to get it across the finish line. Um, I think the way this team is playing right now.

[00:27:01]I I think all Nick fans feel exactly the same way. They feel like this could be the end of this drought.

[00:27:08]>> I don't know what I would do if the Dolphins won a Super Bowl, but I imagine it's close to what Taylor feels like right now cuz it's as close as he's ever been.

[00:27:16]>> Well, think about this guy.

[00:27:18]The Commanders are my squad as everybody knows. It's been it's been since 91.

[00:27:22]>> So you're talking about 35 years. And guess what? You got to tack on 18 more to get to the Knicks. I mean, so this is this is this is how long this has been, man.

[00:27:34]>> Yes. Yes. Yes. We're we're starting for it. Go ahead. Is >> we've been talking a lot of playoffs. So I was looking cuz I was like, man, you were in a playoff series that I loved and then I realized that's your only playoff series in your career. Not your fault.

[00:27:44]>> It was, man. Like not your fault. No.

[00:27:46]No. And and look, it it's honestly that like the course of my career changed when I you know the height of my career when I was 29 and I thought I was the best shooter in the league and I blew my knee out man badly and I just I never really recovered from that. I retired at a younger age or else you know you never know where your career would lead you what team you could go to later in your career and compete for a championship.

[00:28:06]It wasn't able to happen for me but it's it's it's okay. It's okay.

[00:28:10]>> Ste I don't know if you remember this series. This was Chris Weber, Joan Howard, Cal Cheney, uh Rod Strickland on that team against of course the Bulls of 93 97 97 >> 96 97 97. Yeah.

[00:28:24]>> And it was three games, so it was a sweep. Man, they were all amazing. What was your favorite memory of that? And why was it Michael Jordan dropping 55?

[00:28:32]>> Well, Jordan dropped 55 in game one, I believe it was. That was certainly memorable, but it was for me it was it was >> of course big game >> going into the arena then at home when the series shifted first two were in Chicago. We go to Washington and we go into the arena and I just like played there for four years. I never felt anything like the electricity getting even to the arena that night like it was like the Bulls were in town for a playoff series. That was the best home environment that particular night I ever experienced when I was playing in Washington. and um we took them right to the wire. I think Scotty Pippen had a three-point play and inside of a minute to go that gave them the lead and they were able to hold on. They beat us three straight, but after the game, Michael Jordan famously said, "The Bullets are the next team to look out for in the Eastern Conference because of all of the young big talent we had." And then we proceeded to trade it all away after that. So, >> dumb. It was the closest sweep I've ever watched.

[00:29:30]>> Closest sweep I've ever watched.

[00:29:31]>> Yeah.

[00:29:32]>> Yeah. We traded Weber. We traded, We had already traded Rasheed at that point after one year. We traded Ben Wallace away. We traded Weber. Uh, everybody left. Man, >> wait till gets there. LeBron gets there.

[00:29:44]>> Well, hold on. We'll get to that in a second. Uh, when Jordan says you're close, what you do is you trade away all your best players. That That's what you do. Uh, we'll let Tim get out of here in just a second. Taylor has a theory here.

[00:29:53]The only way that LeBron can catch Jordan is if he go if he does something that Jordan couldn't do. go to Washington and win an NBA title. How do you feel about that if he were to pull that off?

[00:30:04]>> I think everybody would probably put him there if he pulls that off. I mean, that's they're just looking at where they are right now. They've already have a bunch of lottery picks. They just added the number one pick in the draft, but they're they're so young. They seem so far away. If LeBron were able to go there in one year and do that, pairing up with AD again, um yeah, I think a lot of people would put LeBron there.

[00:30:25]>> Looks like they got a hole in the small forward spot. I think it's perfect for him.

[00:30:29]They got to hold the power forward. He's always injured. Anyway, uh I'm Listen, it's the right thing to say. Just say yes because he knows LeBron's not going to do it. Meaning go to Washington.

[00:30:39]That's not where he's going. All right.

[00:30:40]Yes. Uh game five tonight. Cavs and Pistons. Tim Leggler is on the call. Uh he is excellent. He knows more basketball than any person I know by a lot except for Israel Gutierrez. Close second. Uh Tim, thanks for the time. We appreciate it. Were you nervous before that game too in the playoffs? Were you nervous? The game, you know. Always game two is the one, man. You know that.

[00:31:03]>> All right, L. We We appreciate the time during a busy time. Thank you for doing this, man.

[00:31:07]>> You got it. Anytime, guys.