Q: All hail the Knicks. There was no team better in the postseason. Not close. Like many, I moved from New York down here, but I never stopped believing. Good luck with Giannis Antetokounmpo, but you’re still not close. – Marty.
A: First, enjoy. Unless you are older than 53, it also might be a once-in-a-lifetime moment, because it’s not as if we can sit here and talk about dynasty for a team that caught lightning in a bottle the past two months. The Pacers, with Tyrese Haliburton and now Ivica Zubac, will be back next season. The Celtics’ Jayson Tatum will be more than a full year removed from his injury. The Pistons should continue to mature. And if the Heat can land Giannis Antetokounmpo, there could yet be another contender. All of that said, if the Thunder instead got to the NBA Finals, we might still be in the midst of the NBA Finals at the moment. That’s not taking anything away from the Knicks. They did everything required, and then some, showing Jordan Bulls-like dominance in these playoffs. But 2026-27 will be a reset for many opponents, which should keep it plenty compelling in the East, as well as the NBA, overall. We stand in an era where repeats simply aren’t a thing.
Q: Throughout the series, the best player on the floor was not Victor Wembanyama nor was it Karl-Anthony Towns. It was Jalen Brunson. He took over games, was the best floor general in any game he played. He was double- and at times triple-teamed, and he nearly always made the right play in finding open teammates with incredible passes. He was also physically assaulted and hit hard more times than I could count but he kept coming. Wemby’s and Towns’ games can be slowed and they are at least as good right now as Giannis Antetokounmpo. If the Heat had someone like Brunson added to the Heat, they would be more of a contender with the present roster than gutting talent for a great big. The Heat have a possible future All-Star in Kel’el Ware and what they need is a point guard who makes everyone else better. – Brian, Fort Lauderdale.
A: Again, if you view the Knicks as dynastic, then, yes, you build to beat the Knicks. But that simply is not the reality. And it seems fans for years have been questioning the Heat being undersized. So now the call is for a 6-foot guard? Jalen Brunson works on the Knicks because they found the right roster mix and chemistry. The Heat are far from possessing all those elements. The NBA is about different horses for different courses, and the Heat at the moment would be well served with a thoroughbred such as Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Q: Watched the Finals thinking two things: Erik Spoelstra with the Spurs would have made a huge difference, and Bam Adebayo on the Spurs would have made a huge difference. Any opportunity to get a pick and one of the Spurs young stars for Bam? – Jim, Mooresville, N.C.
A: First, it stands highly likely that the only NBA team Erik Spoelstra will coach prior to retirement will be the Heat. But the Bam Adebayo element is interesting. If the Heat don’t land Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer and instead put everything on hold, then one would have to wonder if it might not be prudent to consider Bam alternatives, considering he is starting his max extension this coming season and will be 30 in the 2027 offseason. There would be a lot worse places to start a rebuild than with Dylan Harper (and, no, that’s not happening).