Sports Takes II

At this point, give me Thor's hammer and the super serum Captain America took to stop Victor Wembanyama, I mean, what a series we are having. The Knicks are cooking, but are they really? Because the Eastern Conference isn't stacked, and did James Harden play in these playoffs? Because I didn't see him.

OKC vs Spurs

Game 5 just happened, and OKC have a 3-2 lead, but this game is 100% going to be better than the Finals because I don't see how the Knicks are going to beat either team.

Starting off with Wemby, he is spectacular to watch. 7'4 with three-point range and the ability to do anything is just mesmerizing, and I can see why Ant said he's the face of the league. However, sometimes I actually think Wemby and Holmgren aren't as aggressive in this series. I know that might not make sense because Wemby hasn't dropped below 20 points and even had a 40-point game. However, in this Game 5, Wemby has already taken 26 3-pointers and sometimes doesn't attack the rim. He's a great teammate and leader. You can see in the huddles, he's the one commanding the team, he's the one hyping everyone up. However, even though Wemby can make three-pointers, it doesn't mean he should be taking those shots. Yes, if they are wide open or he's in a rhythm, that is a different thing, but forcing the three is something I don't understand. The Spurs have insane squad depth with the likes of Fox, Castle, Champagnie, and even Vassell. So I understand that the primary pick-and-roll lob threat is the way to go with Wemby, but they sometimes just shoot a bunch of threes to try and reduce a deficit.

The thing that is sometimes hard for me to grasp is, why is Wemby passive at times? Why doesn't he become the slasher? He gets doubled or doesn't have an open look, but sometimes you just need to back yourself. To be fair, I am nitpicking his game, but I just want to see him be more dominant. Another reason could be fatigue. I mean, he is the same age as me, and he has a lot of time. Either way, it has been a great series so far.

Knicks vs Cavs

The Knicks vs. Cavs was also entertaining, but the Cavs got swept. The main issue for me was the fact that the Cavs had no motive, no engine, and no desire to win this series. They have a stacked team, but there were so many issues. It just wasn't a fun series to watch as a neutral.

I understand that I'm not a professional basketball player, but James Harden showed no heart, no motive to win a game in this series. And the worst part is that he said he thinks he did well, even defensively, when Jalen Brunson cooked him. Trading Darius Garland for a 36-year-old Harden was stupid. Yes, the Cavs had to play two Game 7 series. Yes, they were up against an amazing Knicks team, but where was the effort? What was the game plan?

In my opinion, I think he has to be a player who comes off the bench because there's no intensity in his game. It's not 100% his fault either. We think every great player should be able to perform at 36, 37, and 40, but just because LeBron and Steph are doing it doesn't mean the rest of the league has to as well.

Besides Harden, what happens to the Cavs? Does Donovan Mitchell stay? Do they trade their players or give this team another chance? The interesting thing about this Cavs team is that all possibilities make sense. I can see trading Mitchell or Evan Mobley, but giving it one last chance also makes sense. This team doesn't lack talent, it lacks teamwork and effort, things that are fixable. But what may not be fixable is leadership. Can Donovan Mitchell lead this team to a chip? Not everyone is a born leader, and the Cavs need an SGA, a Wemby, Brunson, or Ant, someone who wants to take over the franchise and call the shots.

A quick last take is that "if your best player is small, you're not winning." This is targeted at Jalen Brunson, the point guard for the Knicks, a 6'2 guard. Obviously, the counterargument is Stephen Curry. I just think the whole idea of a guard being 6'2 isn't a limiting factor. Yes, he's a defensive liability, but did you see him taking charges? Did you see KAT, Robinson, and Josh Hart on the defensive end of the floor? The problem isn't the height, it's how much of a liability he is. Personally, I don't think he is because he can take the charges and get help when needed. I mean, James Harden is 6'5 and he got cooked, so…

Entertaining Finals nonetheless. Congrats to New York. Please don't destroy the city though, Knicks fans.