David vs Goliath in the Western Conference Final
The NBA Western Conference Finals are promising a breathtaking Game 7 on Saturday night, with the San Antonio Spurs emerging as unlikely heroes against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Victor Wembanyama has been nothing short of spectacular, but can he sustain this level of brilliance on the road in the biggest game of his young career? Did San Antonio’s famously inconsistent defense finally find its identity at the perfect moment? Has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, last year’s championship catalyst, simply hit a wall, or is he saving something dangerous for Game 7?
The New York Knicks wait in the wings, having performed one of the most remarkable playoff runs in recent memory with 11 consecutive victories. But does extended rest sharpen a champion or erode their competitive edge? History across basketball and baseball suggests that elite teams forced into long layoffs can emerge surprisingly flat. Will ten-plus days without meaningful action actually be a hidden liability for New York? As the Western Conference survivor heads into the game carrying a full head of steam, does home court advantage tip the scales decisively against a Knicks team chasing their first title since 1973?
USA Today’s quarterback rankings have dropped, with Josh Allen earning the coveted number one spot. But does that reflect genuine supremacy, or simply the absence of a better option? Patrick Mahomes, after a comparatively ordinary season by his own standards, has tumbled to fifth. Is that a fair assessment of where the dynasty stands, or a dramatic overreaction? Does Matthew Stafford’s extension with the Rams, landing him in third place and combined with a Los Angeles Super Bowl on the horizon, make San Francisco’s Brock Purdy at 17th the most disrespected quarterback in football?
Blue and gold dominate at the College World Series, where UCLA baseball’s stunning 57-5 record has the Bruins positioned as the favorite, anchored by a shortstop who looks like a future first-round pick and bolstered by John Savage’s meticulous program-building. Can any team realistically slow down this machine? And, accompanied by UCLA softball also deep in postseason play, is this the greatest simultaneous run in Bruin athletic history?
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Transcript
Hey everybody, it’s that time again. That’s right, Fred and the Fantastics on BLEAV and on PodClips. Anything and everything in sports, and with Art, with Laura, and with you. Email us, [email protected], [email protected]. Taping this about 1 o’clock on Friday afternoon on May 29th. On Saturday night, Oklahoma City is a four-and-a-half-point pick over the Spurs of San Antonio. There’s only been really one close game among the first six. Art, do you have a thought about who might get out of here?
I think this one’s going to be a rumble in the jungle, and I like San Antonio in the four and a half. I think Wembanyama is playing great basketball right now. He’s got a supporting cast around him. I think the way they played the other night and the way they’re playing defense, which they have a tendency to not show up every once in a while defensively, but in this series, they’re playing tough. And I just don’t think that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is playing to the level he was last year when they won it all. And that’s my difference. So I’m going to take San Antonio in the points. Now, Oklahoma City might win by three, but I do see the Knicks and San Antonio playing in the NBA Finals.
Laura, I still watch the Dodgers over the NBA Playoffs. You do not. Who might win Game Seven on Saturday night, and then, of course, up against the Knicks on Wednesday evening?
You know, I agree with Art. I think San Antonio is going to take it. I thought it was so interesting in the last game that they had Wembanyama guarding SGA. You know, he’s got, like, what, eight inches over him or something? But it worked. I mean, because he is so athletic that he could actually guard him. And their defense, I mean, at the beginning of the third quarter, they just were swarming.
They shut him down, did they not?
Yeah, Oklahoma City never came back. So I think game seven is going to be really close. I don’t think it’s going to be a blowout by either team. But I like San Antonio. I’m not sure, San Antonio or Oklahoma City versus the Knicks. I mean, the Knicks look really good. It’s going to be a very interesting series, either way.
I’ve never seen a team, recently, play with the defensive intensity that the New York Knicks played with.
Yeah.
I mean, what, have they won 11 consecutive playoff games?
Yes. You know, but people are saying that’s an all-time record. Well, folks, they used to play two out of three and three out of five. So it’s totally different, everybody playing four out of seven. But let me state something. Listening to WFAN, they think it’s an advantage to have not played for 10 or 11 days. It’s not an advantage. We’ve talked about this before in baseball,
I agree.
Basketball. You become stale not playing. And the winner between San Antonio and Oklahoma City will have three days off. That’s plenty, to tell you the truth. So I think, and the Western Conference team will have home field advantage, home court advantage. So I don’t think the Knicks will get their first World Championship since 1973. They’re going to have to be just happy with the Conference Championship because I think they’re going to be stale. Art, any thoughts?
I agree with you 100%. You know, they always talk about, you know, well, you know. We watched it in football for many, many years, where you had the top two teams would get a bye and they’d have that two weeks off. Plus, you know, the end of the season, they kind of took the guys out, you know. So really, I think you want to stay in the flow. You want to stay, you know, part of the action, you know, because every once in a while, it seemed to me like one out of those four teams would come out flat as a pancake. And you need to have that competition on a daily basis, especially in basketball and baseball. Because in baseball, if you stand around and all of a sudden you have to go out and face some of these great, preeminent pitchers like Paul Skenes, or, you know, some of these guys like that, you want to be out there facing top-line pitching. And that’s just my thought on it.
All right. Let’s take a break and come back with more on Fred and the Fantastics, all straight away.
Hey, we’re back on Fred and the Fantastics with Art and with Laura. And let’s talk about USA Today rates the top 32 quarterbacks in the National Football League. Art, where do you think they’ve rated Brock Purdy of San Francisco?
17th. I got the article right in front of me.
Don’t you think? I mean, I thought that was very, very low, don’t you think?
I think so, too. And I also think Hertz at like 11 or 12 is a little bit low for me as well. And I also think that, you know, you have the quarterback for Baltimore, Lamar Jackson. They had him down in around the seventh position. And I thought Stafford, personally, right now, I think Stafford’s the best quarterback in the NFL, and they had him, I believe, in the third slot, right?
Yeah. Laura, who do you think is the best quarterback right now in the National Football League?
I think, and I’ll admit that I have a bias, but I think it’s,
Hailee Steinfeld’s husband?
Yeah. I know. Yeah. Buffalo Bill’s quarterback.
Josh Allen.
Josh Allen. Well, he has the most talent. But boy, I’ll tell you what? Every once in a while, in big situations that I know. Granted, you know, he threw that pass that they still argue about against the Broncos in the playoff game. But, man, he has had some real rotten, rotten luck and made some key plays. But, yeah, I think talent-wise, he might have the most ability. But then again, you’ve got Patrick Mahomes, who they have in the fifth spot. He finally had what I consider a normal year, not a great year, last year. And he went, you know, from like, number one to number five. And Burrow is number two, I believe.
Who does it have for number one? Josh Allen?
Yeah.
Josh Allen and then Burrow.
I didn’t know. So that’s why I just.
I mean, a lot of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks in there who are not number one. I mean, that’s, you know.
Art. Why do you think they gave Stafford, or why do you think Stafford wanted the extension? I don’t quite understand that, mathematically or financially. Was there a catch in there? Tell me what it is.
I think the Rams, the Rams, really, and I think, you know, McVay really wants to win a world title. One more world title. And I think Stafford saw how close they got last year, and he looks at the team they have coming back and the moves they’ve made. And the fact that they do have, you know, the cachet and the capital to be able to go get what they need. And they’re playing the Super Bowl in L.A. next year. I think Stafford’s going to play not just one more year, but two more years. That’s my theory on that.
Laura, what do you think, he’ll play two more years?
I think it’ll depend on how he plays this coming season.
Yeah, if they win it all, he might retire on top.
Yeah. And if he doesn’t get injured, you know, he might play two more years. But I think I agree with Art. I think if they win it all, he’ll probably hang it up.
Folks, you can email us [email protected]. [email protected].
Hey, by the way, you guys, I’m getting reports out of Las Vegas that Mendoza looks really, really good.
Really good. He’s challenging Cousins for the starting position.
Cousins, yeah, Cousins can’t believe the kid’s talent and moxie. Yeah.
They’ve got Kirk Cousins listed, and Mendoza as 28th in USA Today’s ratings of the quarterback. Too low? Too high? What do you think, Art?
Kirk Cousins has been a good quarterback for a long time. You guys. I mean, given the right circumstances, with the right teams, he’s always played well. I mean, you’ve got guys like Shanahan and other coaches that are considered, you know, quarterback whisperers who’ve always liked him. You know, I’m really not enthralled with his ability to escape the pocket in modern football. But I also think that he brings up a certain amount of experience. And I think it’s going to really help Fernando Mendoza learn the game of football, having Brady and Cousins there to help look at film and watch things. Just that kind of guidance is huge. In the old days, Fred, we know, I mean, three, four years, you waited. Even Aaron Rodgers with Brett Favre, you waited your turn, and you learned. And, you know, but it’ll be interesting to see if Mendoza gets tossed right into the fire.
All right. Finally, as we speak, and we’re taping this about one o’clock on Friday afternoon right here, Fred and the Fantastics. UCLA’s in the World Series of College Baseball.
That shortstop’s amazing, Fred.
He’s amazing. And the most advantage that the Bruins have is that Mick Cronin is not their head coach. It’s 20 years of John Savage. Art, any comments?
What a great baseball program John Savage has put together. He really has. And, you know, USC’s had a bit of a rebirth this year. They’re in one of the regionals. I got to tell you, when I saw UCLA’s record, 57-5 in baseball, that’s an impressive, impressive record. And I just think they’re going to be tough, tough, tough to beat. And now you’ve got UCLA’s softball team also playing great baseball. And they can’t afford to lose any more now, and to go to the Softball World Series. So, I mean, other than football, UCLA seems to be playing some really good sports.
But Mick Cronin got the extension. Art,
What’s he making, $12 million now?
Whatever he’s making, they gave him a five-year extension, and he’s not putting it to good use.
Fred, are you going to fire off a letter to the LA Times and let them know what we think about that?
Oh, I think we should, don’t you think? Art, in 30 seconds, tell us about this weekend in Sports. Laura, go ahead.
Fred’s letters always get published!
Isn’t it amazing how he gets published? I mean, he’s got the Midas touch, I’m telling you.
Laura, give us 30 seconds in the world of sports.
Well, really looking forward to the Game 7 and the NBA playoffs; watching the French Open, which has been a lot of fun on HBO, where you don’t have to deal with commercials. And I’ve recorded the Djokovic match, so I don’t know who won that.
Hey, can you guys afford to go to a World Cup game?
You got $5,000?
It’s amazing what they’re charging for soccer.
All right. For Laura, for Art, for Mario, thank you guys and gals for listening to Fred and the Fantastics. Bye, everybody!