Huh?<\/p>\n
He also repeated some nonsense he was told on what could have been if the games were 46 minutes long.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
One would think that someone coming from the San Antonio Spurs would have more humility in defeat. It\u2019s inconceivable how instantly giving the champions credit isn\u2019t the first thing coming to mind when the series didn\u2019t even go six games.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Knicks are champions and the Spurs are not because New York was hands-down the better team, being mentally stronger \u2014 keep in mind that the Spurs led by double digits in every game, but folded when it mattered.<\/p>\n
Interestingly, it seems Sweeney thinks the more intense media obligations in the Finals wore on the players. He said, \u201cThose guys like all year, if they have a longer media session, it\u2019s because they\u2019ve done something good. Like you don\u2019t have 15 minutes of answering, like why didn\u2019t you make this play\u2026 I think that\u2019s like a different deal and can obviously contribute to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another reason for New York\u2019s first championship in 53 years is that Jalen Brunson was the real deal and better than every Spur. Uncommonly, he was the third small guard in NBA history to be the best player on a title team after Isiah Thomas and Stephen Curry.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Jun 13, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots as New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby (8) and Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) defend during game five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n
Perhaps the series would have been extended if one coach on the Spurs\u2019 bench had a clue that Dylan Harper is a better player than De\u2019Aaron Fox. Or maybe if Victor Wembanyama lived up to his reputation, but it\u2019s fine if Sweeney doesn\u2019t expand on those things, since he wouldn\u2019t compromise those relationships.<\/p>\n
It shouldn\u2019t be ignored, either, that while Sweeney was associate head coach with the Spurs, and had high influence on the schemes, the team was allowing 18.1 wide-open 3-pointers per game, which was the fifth-most of the playoffs, and opponents made 38.4 percent of those shots.<\/p>\n
Going forward with Orlando, Sweeney needs to ensure they stay near the bottom of allowed wide-open 3-pointers. An incalculable amount of large leads are vaporized because teams don\u2019t protect the arc, and remarkably, it wasn\u2019t one of the Magic\u2019s problem in their blown 3-1 lead against the Detroit Pistons.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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