Inside the Mind of an Insane Knicks Fan: Game 6 Commentary and Reaction

I'll write my little intro, it is 1:35 AM here on the East Coast. The Knicks, somehow, won this basketball game. I typically write these after the games, ya know, like normal people. My notes for the game turned into a display of emotions that I couldn't capture if I wrote it after the fact. I'm insane, we're all insane, for caring this much. But I'm more insane. You'll see. I edited for spelling until the end where I just kinda let it rip, and some of the parentheticals I added reading through to add context where I didn't make any sense. I'll put stars for the parentheticals I added after the fact, I hope you enjoy.

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Is Jay Wright at this game? I need to know this before I write this mea cupla intro to game 6. As my devoted readers who got to the last paragraph of my Eastern Conference Preview know, I picked the Knicks in six and a half, depending on whether Jay Wright was at game 6. 

I’m nervous. Scott Foster (this entire paragraph is a jinx) doesn’t make me nervous. Embiid doesn’t make me nervous. Maxey doesn’t make me nervous because I know how he’ll play. I’m not nervous about our shooting, the centers guarding Embiid, whether Precious will play. I’m not nervous because of the 50/50 nature of game seven (and the 50/50 nature of every game in this series). 

 I’m nervous about the narrative concerning Jalen if we lose this series. 

We’ve all watched the games. I’m assuming if you’re reading this, you’re among the top one percent of Knicks fans. I’ve been here reading comments and seeing commentary from people, who I assume, don’t watch every game and haven’t seen this past season. The “Jalen needs to pass the ball more” narrative is inherently flawed, especially in OT. I ask you this: who do you want to have the ball in OT in game 5? 

Certainly not Donte Divenchenzo, as Draymond Green pontificates about Jalen needing to get him the ball more. The inside the NBA crew, while a flawed resource, do have two legends of basketball arguing different points. There was one before game 5, and they were arguing about Embiid. The point they were arguing is whether it is on the star player to get the others involved, or whether it is on the others to get themselves involved. I love Donte, I love any shot Donte takes. Donte has taken ten shots in three games, eleven shots in one game, and seven shots in the remaining game throughout this series against the seventy sixers. You know the last regular season game Donte shot only 10 times? We have to go back to January, against the heat, where he shot 4/10. Does the increase in Duce minutes get mentioned? Of course, Duce has been playing incredibly well this series, but we’ll get to him. Get your shots up Donte, I won’t question a single one. 

OG has a case to be made here. The man who takes mid range pull ups and jumps again because he thinks he left it short, willing the ball to just keep going over the rim. OG in the half court hasn’t been perfect, a lot of dribbling the ball off his feet going on in game 5. I mean, if you think that this is the best option, I don’t mind that. You’re wrong, but I don’t mind it. 

This is a brief interlude to suggest that I am bitter we lost and all your options are valid. 

Moving on, Josh, no, Hartenstein, perhaps, Mitch, no. Maybe Duce. Do you all trust Duce enough to do this? I actually could get behind duce. 

Okay. I like the Jalen Duce Donte OG Center lineups by the way. I can’t speak for who Donte is guarding in this line up, but the OG Center size isn’t terrible, and Donte can guard Kelly Ubre (obre?) right? Right?

I am cold. It is 8:30. I need this game to start. 

Okay, I played a game of chess. Guy hung an easy tactic, little knight check into taking both his rooks. I’m around 1250 on Chess.com, which is mid, but it is a mid I’m proud of. Game is about to start, just saw JB run out of the tunnel. 61 4 and 2. That’s his line tonight. FUCKCKCKKCKCKCK HERE WE GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

(first commercial break) Nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, DONTEDONTEDONTEDONTEHOLYSHITDONTEHOLYSHITLETSFUCKINGGO nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter.

Jalen is shooting free throws. OG is absurd. First he attempts to rip the ball down low from Obre, and then he just bocks his ass. THE SAME HAND. It’s insane. He’s insane. Proud of JB getting that rebound by the way. 

Who made that call on Hartenstein? Billy Kennedy? NOTED. 

Who made that call for brunson and one? NOTED. 

Who made that call on Harenstein? Scott? NOTED. I MEAN JESUS.

Please challenge it. Please. I beg you. OG MAKE YOUR FREETHROWS.

Okay, Sixers time out. The score is something like 28-9 Knicks. I ask you all to see the paragraph supra (the one that says: “Nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, DONTEDONTEDONTEDONTEHOLYSHITDONTEHOLYSHITLETSFUCKINGGO nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter, nothing matters until the fourth quarter.”).

Campaign. 

JALEN MAKE YOUR FREETHROWS.

22-36. First Quarter. I mean, Embiid went back to the locker room, probably preparing his (latest excuse) knee for the upcoming war that’s about to occur. Brunson is passing more, so maybe y’all were right? Donte is three for three, which, ya know, I predicted from the start above (this is a joke, asshat). Nick Nurse saying “Get your hands on them” is like, I mean, chef’s kiss. Like they have been doing that all series and it just never gets called. Especially you, Batum. 

Scott Foster. Really? That one on Hart? I blame Scott for that little run. Not JB being on the bench. I refuse. Duce making one of those would have been fun. Imagine having Donte and Duce going in the same game? Magic. 

Up 12. Nothing matters. Nothing. They’ll come back and we’ll be up 4 heading into halftime. I mean, that’s just what this series is. 

Great pass Josh (to Donte). 

Our second timeout. See above. I hope it is four at this point (I actually don’t hope it is four, I hope it’s 17 and we just can’t miss coming out of this break). I think OG needs to just shoot the corner three on the catch. The refs are gonna fuck us if we don’t get it to 10. This needs to be at least 10 by the time this is over. Also, (and I tempt thy fate) nothing can hurt me as much as last game. I feel calm. I also have had like nervous chest pains this entire game. 

If that’s a foul on OG, what the fuck is marginal contact? It’s after the play, after he shot. 

Okay, it be half time. We are down three. Buddy Heild has infinite points. Duce didn’t make a shot, Jalen can’t make a three, OG blew multiple fast breaks when he was alone, we can’t guard Embiid. We are going to lose this game. Onto Game 7. LIke if this was a fair fight I’d think this next half if fifty fifty. But it's not. Ref show inbound. 

So, what does Game 7 have? MSG you have to think is a plus. But with all the fans you’re worried you get an Oracle in game 7 NBA Finals vibe where everyone is nervous. The 76ers are playing with a ton of confidence, but we may get some calls. Perchance. If we lose, I’ll probably go walk off a bridge. That’s nice to think about. A dark abyss. Nothingness. I refuse to look at twitter, which I’m happy about. I probably won’t go on twitter all day. Sad. I also refuse to listen to Inside the NBA at halftime. Pain. I am about to experience so much pain. I shout just be apathetic, like I am with most things. Just leave myself room to breathe. Maybe I don’t watch this game. Maybe I just turn it off. Buddy Heild has 17 by the way. 

Still halftime. Duce and OG. Duce and OG. And hartenstien let’s fucking go dude LOCK THE FUCK IN YOU PASSING WIZARD. 

I am a Tom Thibs lover. I will stand by that man. I am just not sure you need that time out there. Maybe some of these time outs are required. I have no idea. I just don’t think you need it. I would enjoy having more timeouts later. We lose this game. Embiid has it going too well, and Maxey hasn’t popped off yet. 

I turned the sound off, a much more relaxing game at this point. Donte hit a three. 

That was a clear travel on tobias harris. 

Okay, can Jalen make some free throws? Let’s find out. This whole no volume thing is a game changer. I’m relaxed. 

These Hartenstein fosters (***read through edit, floaters, although Hartenstein fosters was too good to cut)  give me a heart attack everytime he shoots them. OG create in the post! Do it! Aw man. 

I mean. How can you call that on Hartenstein??? (this one was a joke). Mitch time. 

I didn’t see a foul on the Payne one. Hart is currently shooting free throws. Terrible angle though. Hart is due, the guy gets so much contact. 

Great shot OG. Timeout 76ers. Nurse scheming up some shit for Mitch instead of Hartenstein. I may not go back to hartenstein. Actually it's (***the timeout Nurse took) for defense where they will now trap Brunson. We have it at 3, their ball. I will not get excited unless we take the lead. Too many times. Campaign is going to kill me.

Is Scott just preping to fuck us or was that a helpful call???? Mitch is fighting his ass off here. 

Make these Free Throws jalen. Please. That was a filthy move by jalen, its too bad he doesn’t make any of those. IDK how we got that ball but OOOOGGGG.

Tied after 3. This series is ridiculous. 

Okay, what is this article about? Love of the game? How I had to turn the volume off of this game to calm myself? Will I turn the volume back on? I will let you know as soon as I do. It won’t happen, because we are going to lose and we still haven’t taken the lead. I think they get the ball in the fourth, Embiid will shoot some free throws, and we’ll get blown out. Fuck us, man. The Knicks fan. Waiting my entire life for this team, for these likable-tenacious players. And we’re going to lose again. I have no access to the outside world. I have not checked twitter, my phone is on do not disturb, and I am not listening to the commentators. I’m just watching, waiting, seeing if my heart gets ripped out. And you can’t measure heart. I obviously can’t hear him, but shut up Nick Nurse.

Buddy Heild back in. We have taken the lead doing some Knicks things, but I still will not believe, Embiid is not in the game. Guy in the orange shirt courtside calling timeout is a stupid idiot face (***it turns out, later in this game, that this guy is a Knicks fan (I still stand by this opinion)(also, some of these parentheticals are actually me in the moment, some of them are while I am editing, this one is obviously when I am editing)). I think we’re up four. Although I have no idea. I do see Hartenstein checking in. Interesting. I’ve been wrong before (see me, yelling about Josh Hart being in the game in game one), but I love having Mitch on the floor. 

Wait for iHart later. I still think we are going to lose this game, the volume is still not on, Kelly Obre hitting that three makes me mad. Anything else? Josh Hart is him. No Duce in the second half. 8:54 left up 4. I was dead wrong Duce is in. It’s a one point game. Duce paras thres (***I was looking for tres). 

We are tied. Less than 7 on the clock. Mitch for iHart should have happened by now. It may never come, I know Thibs knows a hell of a lot more than me. My belief, as much as I am trying not to, came back as soon as we tied it. I was lying the whole time. I know y’all know that. FUCK. Back to despair, Nick Nurse talking about how great of a series it was after they win game seven just made me know we are going to lose (***this was an imaginary thought I had that was real to me). Oh How did I forget Scott Foster is here and we’re going to lose? Fuck me, okay I’m fine, this game is already over. Still no volume. 

Jalen just hit two threes, the game is still over, still heartbreak coming. Josh is hurt. I have no idea what is going on, OG is putting his shoes on??? Jalen playing hero ball again leads to a Maxey and one. FUCK. 5:20 98 101 Knicks, this game is over, home juice flowing, Philly can’t lose. 

We have two men on the floor holding their faces, Scott waits until the second one. I assume, based on Nick Nurse’s face (actually, I can’t assume that, because that’s his face the whole time), I assume, based on the fact that Philly called a timeout right after this that it is going to be reviewed. So I assume we are in a review of a play I really didn’t see that well. I see Ludacris is in someone’s home that is flooding, I hope he is doing well, the Last of a Dying Breed song slaps by Luda (***a commercial). iHart is bleeding profusely, I can’t hear Scott, but based on that fat Philly fan reaction, I assume it is good for us. 

Up 7, 4 to go, volume off, I’ll die. Batum is shooting free throws that I assume I was writitng for? This is going to be mispelled I’m sorry. 

Up 8, less than four but more than 3 minutes left (I think). I will die if we lose this game. I will die. Death will happen. Perish, I shall. A few days ago I wrote into a group of academics that were discussing “historical” Jesus, I’ll see if I go a response email. I did not. Probably the funniest thing I have ever written. You’ll never see it. How long is this time out? It’s like 3:26 left. Something like that. My hands are shaking as I type this. This Airbnb commercials are incredible. Maybe the best commercials I have ever seen. My foot is going to sleep because I have crossed my legs for good luck. I just had a bad jinxing thought. FUCK. My bad (***I am trying to remember the thought, I think it had something to do with Jalen at the podium after the game after we had won, but honestly I can’t remember, and I didn’t jinx it!!!!). 

Embiid to the line. 3:13, 107 101, actually way closer I may not kill myself if we lose now. 

Kinda wish I had the volume on for the OG dunk. HOLY FUCK. Make it. He misses, on me, I didn’t say make the freethrow. 

Okay so it's a one point game. One min left. We are going to lose again.

Jalen Brunson and one, please no challenges. Make your free throws Jalen 111-108, 53.8 left. 

MAKE it please, he missed. 

Maxey and one? At least freethrows, I am shaking. No volume, I am shaking. It is and and one, and we’re tied, and they get the last shot, and we’re going to lose again. FUCK [edited in post for content] HOW DOES THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN FUCKCKCKFKJSDFKJSGJHGKJRGHSKRFJHAEOUFHSRKJGHRSKGJKJFHDKHJFRGUIRSHFGOSEHHFKGJHSEIFUHAEFOUEHFFUCKFUCKFUCKUFCKUFD volume still off. Tie game 35 second to go. 

I mean this absolutely is a terrible way to lose. I mean just horrendous. 35 seconds is such a shitty amount of time. Like do you use 24 and leave them 10 seconds? Do you go quick? Going quick is dumb. I just talked myself out of going quick. Scott Foster Embiid freethrows on the way. WE ARE SO FUCKED. I can’t beleive this i just can’t I’m going to die. 

Okay, Josh hits a three, 24 on the clock. If I’m Philly, I go quick, make us shoot freethrows. JOsh Fucking Hart. I may still kill myself. Real possibility, especially now. THE VOLUME IS OFF. IT WILL REMAIN OFF. If we lose, we lose. We are going to lose. Maxey bomb to kill us. I did not write this before MAxy hit a bomb to kill us. 

Make you rfreethrwos donte. We esestillay just gave a layup I am shkakisrngas Make your freethrows donte. He’s goig to miss. He is going to miss the second one. 

I know Duce is going to foul reightaway after last time (the spellin gher is because I am shaking) (***hi, after the fact, tried not to edit anything in the last few PGs but I found it hilarious) but like way to early. 

7.7, make your freethrows Jalen. Jalen has shot terribly from the line tonight, I would honestly not be shocked if he misses both. At least the second one, I mean he hasn’t amde two in a rouw

Volume on.