Are the Knicks, in fact, back and ready to make a run to the Finals?

The Knicks are BACK, BABEEEEEEEE!!!!

Or at least so says The Kid Mero.

The senior Knicks correspondent was here to spread New York propaganda on Tuesday’s edition of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz.

Game 1 was a hard fought battle, as the Knicks rallied to defeat the Pacers, but the officiating became part of the story and the league admitted that a crucial kicked ball call was wrong late in the game. What was The Kid Mero’s response to this?

“It is what it is.”

Well, OK then. Mero goes on to explain that at any given time one fanbase is going to complain about the officials. Until we get robots, he says, there’s always going to be an issue. And he’s with Thibs — forget about the two-minute report, let’s focus on the 46-minute report!

Dan points out that New York is falling in love with this Knicks team, specifically Jalen Brunson, with Stugotz adding that Carmelo Anthony was never as loved at the Garden as Jalen Brunson is. Mero says New York loves the underdog and Melo was already Melo when he arrived in the trade from Denver. Meanwhile, Brunson has been consistently doubted to point where maybe he’s feeling like he has go out there and top MJ with the 40-point performances to shut people up. Not to mention, the vibes are IMMACULATE right now at MSG. Starbury, Spree and Starks are all there, there is a different kind of energy in the Garden right now, Mero says.

Even when it looked like TJ McConnell of all people was going to sink the Knicks, Mero wasn’t worried. He knew the Knicks had this. He’s got a different level of confidence right now (even if Stugotz didn’t share that confidence). Mero does admit that Knicks fans are kind of like a rescue dog — skittish and weary of good things. But now they’re living the good life rooting on the Villanova Knicks! Oh, and he has one more thing to say …

Check out the full discussion above and make sure to tune into The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. ET on DraftKings Network!

SHOW BREAKDOWN

Local Hour: The Nü Bag Eucalyptus Spray

• Today’s cast: Dan, Stugotz, Greg, Chris, Amin, Billy, JuJu, Lucy, and Mike. The NBA world is continuing to fall in love with Anthony Edwards after the Timberwolves took down the Nuggets to go up 2-0 in their 2nd round series, and our crew is included in that group. Then, Stugotz delivers his Top 5 Pain Killing Devices which leads us down a rabbit hole to old show sponsors. Plus, how do players like Jimmy Butler and Jalen Brunson put up Michael Jordan numbers in the postseason? Is it just because of the way the game is changing or are we witnessing historic playoff performers?

Big Suey: A Guy In Japan Eating a Sandwich

• The Kid Mero drops by to declare THE KNICKS ARE F****** BACK. He discussing why “the energy is love” in New York, Jalen Brunson’s excellence, the T.J. McConnell game, and Obi Toppin’s dunk. Then, it’s time to talk Florida Panthers and their frustrating Game 1 loss to the Bruins. Who is actually the better team? Plus, Ron Magill is here to discuss a huge win for wildlife advocates, a domestic zebra surviving in the mountains, the most nervous animal, and a guy in Japan eating a sandwich.

Hour 1: The Greg vs. Lucy Feud

• Greg, Mike, and Dan lead the crew through a discussion on Pat Riley’s comments at yesterday’s year-end press conference and what it could mean for the future of Jimmy Butler in Miami. Then, Pablo Torre is here to chat with us about eye boogers, hear about Lucy’s remarkably detailed dental routine, to shame the crew for not advancing their cleansing technology, and to teach us about harness racing. Plus, after a conversation about makeup proves Greg wrong, he lashes out and ends up in a feud with Lucy. Will Greg apologize? For anything…? Ever……?

Hour 2: The Great Child Birth Debate of 2024

• Stugotz kicks off Hour 2 with his day-late Weekend Observations that include MULTIPLE Top 5 lists. Then, it’s the sports debate of all sports debates: should an athlete miss the birth of their child for a playoff game? The crew discusses Rudy Gobert skipping Game 2 and the details to contextualize this specific child birth circumstance, and their opinions may surprise you… Plus, was the Gobert trade still a bad trade if the Timberwolves win a championship?

Postgame Show: Spliff Notes (In-Person!)

• JuJu is in-studio in Miami and has been seeing what the fans have to say about today’s show on social media. Did show fans find the Nü Bag? Did we need more Greg Cote today? Find out now!

VIDEO:

Check out the Le Batard and Friends YouTube page for more and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow the show on X at @LeBatardShow.

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