Which second unit can be trusted more -- Knicks or Spurs?
Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones Jr. debate on which Finals team has the deeper bench -- Spurs or Knicks . Check out the full conversation on “The Dunker Spot” and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube or wherever you listen .
Video Transcript
But I think just in general, whose second unit do you trust more heading into this series?
'Cause they both have been very good for their respective teams throughout this postseason run.
And we've seen swings from both sides.
I mean, here's the thing.
I think the, the tricky part is you probably would lean San Antonio because of how well Dylan Harper's played and how much force Keldon Johnson's played with.
I think with the Knicks, their bench has bought in and been a key part of it.
It's just, okay, whose series is this gonna be?
Mitchell Robinson's inju- injury is gonna play through, but that looms.
So is this a Deuce McBride series?
Is this a Landry Shamet series?
Like, who's the person that's gonna make things elevate?
And what's the rotation look like?
'Cause I think what's sneaky is, right, one, if you're San Antonio, you just need to hope Luke Kornet doesn't look anything like he did against Thunder, 'cause Thunder saw him on the court and said, "Hey, man, we're just gonna go to work," and that is what it is.
You have to take that off the table if, if, if you are San Antonio.
You gotta get him back in because San Antonio's strength is kind of, okay, Wemby can have some weird rotation runs where he has a big stint, sits, comes back to end the first, starts the second.
The Knicks kind of worked their way into, because KAT was in foul trouble early in the playoffs, KAT, you start the second quarter.
And that had a lot of success for them.
But is that gonna be a clash to where, hey, KAT, those minutes that you, you have in the start of the second, Victor Wembanyama's out here.
So you need to prepare for that.
So it's like But again, y- as that, as that Thunder series rolled on, we tal- we-- I know we already covered it, but the funniest part of that second half of game seven was Mitch Johnson trying desperately to avoid giving Luke Kornet minutes and being forced into giving Luke Kornet minutes in that fourth quarter.
And so I think there's just a lot of That, that little Lego piece is what's interesting to me.
No, I'm right there with you.
I think to the Knicks portion, I feel like I, I immediately go to Landry Shamet about, like, whose series it could be, 'cause I feel like he would be the most natural sub in for Josh Hart if it is a series in which Josh Hart does not play well.
I think if we're talking X factors, he is going to loom the largest for the Knicks again, just because Wemby's gonna roam off of him.
He's going to have to not only make shots, but ultimately make quick decisions.
If I'm not shooting threes, I'm driving.
If I'm not driving, I'm flowing into handoffs immediately, et cetera, et cetera.
And so if it is any kind of catch and hold for Josh Hart, or if Josh Hart starts the first three games of the series, he's four of 15 from three.
I think that's where Landry Shamet's like, "Okay, we're kind of like size.
I can defend, but I will just spread the floor in a way to where you c- it makes the roaming a little bit more uncomfortable."
So I go there first with the Knicks, to get to the first part of your question.
Beyond that, I probably also lean Spurs, and I wonder, like, how comfortable some of the second unit guys are gonna be.
'Cause you mentioned Keldon Johnson, and I think he certainly perked up as the Thunder series went on.
It's kinda felt like an up and down postseason run for him overall, which has been kinda odd.
But I wonder, especially with Mitch Robinson, we'll say at least being a little hindered.
We'll see how much the pinky affects him, et cetera.
I'm curious to see, like, when Keldon Johnson checks in.
