Hour 2: The Knicks Opponent

In this episode of The Michael K Show, host Michael Kay breaks down the conclusion of the 2026 NBA regular season, focusing on the Knicks' first-round matchup against the Atlanta Hawks. Despite the Knicks' 2-1 regular-season edge over Atlanta, Kay expresses concern that the Hawks' decision to rest their starters in their final game—resulting in a loss to the Heat—forced the Knicks into a tougher series than anticipated. He critiques the widespread use of load management and tanking, arguing that it has devalued the regular season and turned games into meaningless exhibitions. Kay highlights a surprising poll from The Athletic showing that only 50% of anonymous NBA players believe the Oklahoma City Thunder will win the title, with the Knicks notably absent from the top nine picks—fueling a sense of underdog motivation. He also discusses Mikael Bridges' 638-game consecutive start streak, questioning its luster after he played just 23 seconds in a meaningless game. The episode features listener calls debating tanking, load management, and the need for drastic penalties like losing draft picks for intentional losing. Kay advocates for structural changes, such as awarding the top draft pick to the best play-in team, to eliminate incentives for tanking. He also reflects on the broader culture of sports fandom, urging fans to avoid panic after early-season struggles and emphasizing that baseball and basketball are marathons, not sprints.