Best of The Herd

Here we go on a Monday with the World Cup rolling and a fresh wrap on the NBA season, and I’m starting with the Knicks, a team built from moves everyone side‑eyed that turned into a title driven by culture, toughness, and constant adjustments rather than copy‑paste, three‑happy basketball.

They stayed healthy, caught some scheduling breaks, handled OKC’s late‑game frays, defended better than anyone, toggled between Brunson and Towns as engines when needed, and turned early chemistry noise into playoff clarity.

Then to the United States men, because it wasn’t just that we won, it was the way we bossed the first half with confident possession, layered movement, and final‑third conviction that looked like a top European power, with Balogun finishing and Pulisic orchestrating.

It’s special to look around and know different guys can make plays, and the connection feels real right now; Flo got the headlines, but his hold‑up work, the fights he picked with center backs, and the fouls he drew set a tone that a lot of guys matched.

We’ve called it a scrap for years, but that was genuinely attractive football, the kind that makes you believe we can ride home soil, take the group, and swing hard in the knockouts.

The stadium shook on that second Balogun strike, and once the third went in before halftime it felt less like survival and more like a statement that this group can actually make a run.

You could see the respect from elite opponents too, because when you carry that much threat they can’t overcommit without getting burned, and the Germany match already hinted at that shift.

Dest and Pulisic looked untouchable, Paraguay were a step late all over the field, and the tactical prep clearly left them guessing from the start.

Quick hits for Colin Right, Colin Wrong: I said this USMNT would look different, roll the group, and have the talent to stand with almost anyone, and that first half backed it up; I missed big on the Knicks by underrating Brunson, overrating Wemby’s readiness, and doubting moves that ended up meshing around OG, who I did love as their true two‑way linchpin.

I still think the Warriors are a clean basketball fit for LeBron, the Chiefs keep winning the contract game by resetting Mahomes early, Brunson flipped the script on high‑usage guards by closing stronger as the series deepened, baseball’s parity is fine despite big‑brand noise, and the NCAA’s uneven response on gambling discipline invites chaos the conferences then have to clean up.

Brian, I whiffed on Brunson’s ceiling as a closer; did you see him hitting that rare air when it mattered most?

He’s always had the winning wiring, and while he doesn’t have the same physical gifts as the all‑timers, his fourth‑quarter poise and decision‑making are right there, which is why he kept delivering when others tightened up.

On Wemby, do we need to stop expecting a classic back‑to‑the‑basket big and think more evolution and face‑up creation over time?

He’s not turning into an old‑school post giant, but like Dirk after early playoff scars, he can grow into an unguardable version of himself, and this was still a valuable season with real lessons.

Are the Knicks a one‑year spark or the team to beat, and how should Boston be thinking about closing that gap?

New York’s game travels in May and June because Bridges ramps up, OG was a steal, and KAT is a matchup problem, so I’d list them as favorites, while Boston will reload but probably not by swinging for Giannis.

I’m big on man‑over‑math in late‑game spots; would a move like Giannis actually free Boston from three‑or‑bust habits?

Titles come down to adaptability and the small winning plays, and while Giannis would change their shot profile, the cost and their usual approach make that path unlikely.

Last one, why did the coaching change work so well for the Knicks?

Narratives aside, the difference was flexibility and a collaborative staff that flipped the defensive switch mid‑run and stopped forcing plans that weren’t working.

Good stuff, Brian—always appreciate the insight.