On the 71st episode of Hot Hand Theory, Geoff and XJ deliver the definitive NBA Cup Finals preview as the New York Knicks face the San Antonio Spurs, and reveal the hidden tactical battle that will decide everything. While most coverage focuses on Jalen Brunson vs Victor Wembanyama, the duo breaks down why this game will actually be won or lost on a micro-level matchup nobody's discussing: Can the Knicks' depleted perimeter defense stop Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox from living in the paint?XJ and Geoff dive into the film and data to expose the Knicks' biggest vulnerability: paint penetration. Without Deuce McBride and Landry Shamet, the Knicks will be forced to rely on subpart point-of-attack defenders to contain two of the NBA's elite guards at getting into the teeth of the defense. Castle and Fox both rank top-20 in drives per game, and if they're getting past the Knicks' first line of defense at will, they'll be able to score with the Knicks, which spells major trouble for New York.We also explore the ghost coverage chess match that will define this game: The Spurs will put Wembanyama on Josh Hart and dare him to beat them from three while the potential defensive GOAT is allowed to sit at the rim and eliminate all rim attempts. Can Hart punish the ghost coverage in ways beyond just shooting, or will the Spurs exploit this weakness like the Celtics have?The Spurs are being massively slept on after beating the 24-2 Thunder while shooting 29% from three. Wembanyama played just 21 minutes and was somehow +20. The Knicks are 9-1 in their last 10 games, but were favored in all 10—this is their first true test.We cover:🔹 Why Castle and Fox will be major determinants of the outcome of the game: Elite penetration vs depleted Knicks perimeter defense🔹 The Josh Hart ghost coverage dilemma: Can he punish Wembanyama sagging off without relying on shooting?🔹 Karl-Anthony Towns' defensive revolution: 96th percentile rim disruption and why he may surprise some by taking a turn guarding Wemby🔹 Mitchell Robinson's decline: Is he still capable of being the Wembanyama stopper (i.e., "slower downer")?🔹 Wembanyama's transition-killing gravity: Why the Knicks can't run even off makes🔹 Can Brunson still dominate against Castle's elite point-of-attack defense?🔹 The five-shooter lineup problem: Missing Deuce and Shamet forces Josh Hart into heavy minutes💬 Let us know in the comments: Which team has the tactical edge in the NBA Cup Finals? If you value strategic analysis over hot takes and want NBA breakdown that explains HOW games will be won before they happen, subscribe and catch every episode.#NBAcup #NBACupFinals #Knicks #Spurs #NewYorkKnicks #SanAntonioSpurs #VictorWembanyama #JalenBrunson #KarlAnthonyTowns #Wemby #StephonCastle #JoshHart #HotHandTheory #NBAPodcast #NBAAnalysis #KnicksBasketball #SpursBasketball #NBA #MikalBridges #BasketballAnalysis