The Knicks sixth man in the Finals is time

“And David put his hand in his bag,” wrote the anonymous or eponymous author of the book of Samuel, “and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone.”

David made due with what he had and it was enough. The NBA version of David would be the 2004 Pistons, who upset the Shaq/Kobe Lakers and their seemingly destined fate to four-peat. Los Angeles was a mess, what with Shaq hating Kobe, Kobe hating Shaq, both players hating Phil Jackson, the child rapist sexually harassing the accused rapist’s wife with a “joke” about little girls, etcetera. They were their for the taking, and the Pistons made sure they got took.

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The Lakers lost Game 1 at home, then trailed by six with 36 seconds left before rallying to force overtime and win Game 2. But the next three games were in Michigan, one of the busiest hubs on the railroad that runs where dreams go to die, and whatever lingering fantasies they flew in with were laid to rest after three straight Ls. It’s not a perfect fit. It’ll do.

The San Antonio Spurs lost Game 1 of this year’s Finals at home, then very nearly staged an incredible comeback to win Game 2. To my knowledge Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox get along well enough. Mitch Johnson seems inoffensive, if not likable. And I’ve never heard a single salacious thing about Stephon Castle. So I’m not saying the Knicks and Spurs are David vs. Goliath II. I’m saying what New York’s has done/is doing is more impressive. A slingshot blast to the dome? That’s like porn, or Stalinism — effective, but only so far as you either ignore or adore the brutality.

The Knicks are doing unto others what’s been done to them the past two postseasons. When they played Indiana in 2024, Tyrese Haliburton led Pacers in minutes (235). Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo all eclipsed that mark, with Isaiah Hartenstein nearly joining them. Nine Pacers averaged a dozen or more minutes over the seven games; only…

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Publish date : 2026-06-07 04:19:00

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