Welcome back to The OFF-Ball Forum! It has been a while since our last post, which was during the NFL draft. Life king of got in the way of things the last two months. I am now a graduate of Indiana University and now trying to find my footing in the “real world”.

Anyway, I wanted get on here and discuss a few things in the sports world. First and foremost being the new NBA Champions, the New York Knicks, while getting into the NBA draft tonight. Then we will get into my thoughts on Wyndham Clark’s wire to wire finish at the US Open. As well as the new PGA Tour competitive structure that is set to debut in 2028.

A Historic PLayoff Run

What the New York Knicks just did to win the NBA Finals is up there with some of the NBA’s greatest runs to a Championship. 16-3 playoff record with a 12 game winning streak in the middle of it. After the Atlanta Hawks tied the series up at 2-2, there were some serious doubts from the media and even me included. It looked like the same regular season Knicks that still could not figure it out. Instead it was a team ready to explode on a 12 game winning streak, with a courtesy to Mike Brown’s adjustments and a Patrick Ewing pep talk before Game 5 against the hawks.

A team I will never forget. As a fan, who thought would never see this happen. But now the city of New York has what it wanted most for the last 53 years, a New York Knicks NBA title. A team that was built for the city, with their effort each and every night no matter the score. Giving the fans some of the most memorable moments in the sport with a 22 point comeback against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. And of course when everyone thought the series against the Spurs was going to be tied up 2-2 going back to San Antonio. They did the unthinkable with a 29 point comeback cemented by an OG Anunoby block and tip in. A New York Knick moment that encapsulated the city of New York, with players who were born to be Knicks.

Finally, in game 5 where the Knicks needed their captain the most. He came through once again to seal the Knicks as NBA Champions with 45 points, 3 assist, and 3 rebounds. A player who came in saying “I’m not a savior” and took a $113 million pay cut just led the Knicks to a Championship, which he dreamed of his whole life. Doubted his whole life, but that night he proved to everyone that he was one word, A Winner. Jalen Brunson you may not think your a savior, but to me, my dad, and everyone else who is a Knick fan you are!

NBA Draft

The draft sneaks up on me each and every year. To be honest I found out the draft was today a couple of hours ago. I don’t know if my feed is just full of golf at the moment or the marketing has been terrible. Probably a bit of both. Anyway I am incredibly excited about this draft because for one thing I don’t have to worry about what pick the Knicks get in the top 10. As well as how good the top half of this draft is, probably the most talented group we have seen in total. The top 10 will mostly be all freshman, but when we get past that it will be a good mix. I know we just saw a trade with the Brooklyn Nets acquiring the 28th pick, but other than that I doubt we see anyone move from their top 10 pick, unless they get the right price for it.

Most of the early draft talk was about who was going to go number 1 between Dybantsa and Peterson. I think that talk has dwindled with so much question marks about Peterson, you have to take the guy that will be a flat out star. No doubt is Peterson 2 in my opinion. Just too good of a talent to pass up on even with all the speculation during this year.

Now here is where things can get interesting. I do not think the Grizzlies can go “wrong” here essentially, but one guys ceiling is way higher than the others for me personally. I think we already know what your getting with Cam Boozer and no doubt he will have a successful career like his father did. If I’m Memphis in this spot I’m looking at a guy who will embrace the culture and buy in immediately like he did at North Carolina. Caleb Wilson I absolutely love here and Memphis will embrace his character a lot. Which means the Chicago Bulls will have a reunion with the Boozer’s. It might not be the glorious pick Bulls fans want, but I just don’t think he can drop to 5.

At number 5, is where the second part of this draft comes in after the consensus 4 get off the board. The guards in this draft are exceptional and anyone of them can become a superstar. I like Keaton Wagler here for the Clippers, just fits better than any of the other guards. He needs to get stronger in my opinion, but I think with time that will improve. He can flat out score and play make, while being very lengthy.

For 6 through 10 I’m not gonna write a paragraph for them but just give names. I did not do enough research to get past 10, even though I could still give my input, I just don’t think its worth.

6. Brooklyn Nets- Darius Acuff Jr.

7. Sacramento Kings- Mikel Brown Jr.

8. Atlanta Hawks- Kingston Flemings

9. Dallas Mavericks- Brayden Burries

10. Milwaukee Bucks- Nate Ament

Overall 6-10 most likely will play out differently than I think. Would not be surprised if Brayden Burries goes higher than 9. Nate Ament could fall out of the top 10, but overall I like where I have them placed. The Knicks have the 24th pick tonight, I would love to see a Tarris Reed Jr or a Zuby Ejiofor. With the consensus that Mitchell Robinson is moving on. An off season after a Championship is weird and I can’t really wrap my head around it yet.

Wyndam’s Battle against Long Island

The US Open just left us this past weekend with a lot of opinions people want to discuss. Wyndham Clark, the USGA, NBC, and of course the Long Island golf “fans”.

I don’t know if its me, but more and more golf coverage continues to be underwhelming. Just felt like we never got to see the guys making a move on Saturday to be in contention on Sunday. All for showing the leaders, as you should, but show some other important golf swings for those trying to stay in the hunt to win a MAJOR.

After Thursday’s round, there was a ton of opinions on how the USGA handled setting up the golf course. I was one on Twitter not particularly happy about it, but I understand how hard it is to set up course like Shinnecock(already incredibly hard) in 30-40 mile per hour winds. They did not want to get close to line of losing the golf course on the first day, which is understandable. They did a good job overall with the course set up and I think everyone needs to tip their hat to Wyndam.

With that said, going into Sunday I was rooting for a mishap from him, but quietly at home. Just wanted it to get a little interesting down the stretch which it did for the most part. Sam Burns and Tom Kim made a solid run to keep him thinking, but in the end he came up clutch. Working at Oakmont last year I got to see the damage of those lockers. I did not like him before that and even more after. With that said, I think I may have just done a 180 with him. With what he had to endure on Sunday, while blowing a six shot lead, it was an incredibly gutsy win. And to handle the talk on 18 like he did with humility and grace to the Long Island fans was cool and a better am than me.

There’s been a ton of discussion with NY golf “fans” this past week. This incident and what happened at the Ryder Cup(I’m all for some chirping, but gets to a point) kind of shows the state of the Golf world. I’m not sitting here and saying “Don’t play another event in New York”, which is quite benign and stupid. It’s a sport of tradition and respect, which has been lost in some sense. I’m all for “growing the game”, but in the right way so we can preserve the game I grew up playing and watching.

A new PGA Tour MOve

Just today, the PGA Tour came out with an article about their new competitive structure coming in 2028. For the most part I think is one of the best moves the tour has made in some while. First off, one thing that is clear in this, they are going back to 120 player events with cuts. No more no-cut events to counter LIV which is why they did that in the first place. Next thing I absolutely love is how they are doing the Tour Championship. We finally are getting match play back and in a big way. With rotating golf courses like Pine Valley, Seminole, and Cypress Point. Not just East Lake every year, which is awesome and shows some golf course most fans have never seen.

I need some more information on the rest of it, but overall it sounds like the Tour is going in the right direction with this move. Somethings that look like they will be lost is the Korn Ferry Tour and sponsored exemptions. If you have time, go look at the PGA Tour article for more information. Other than that, I hope you guys enjoyed the read. I’ll try to be more consistent on here with maybe some World Cup discussion and definitely more golf with more one more major left. As well as those Hoosiers are a couple months away from taking the field. Have a lovely Tuesday everyone.