尼克斯在NBA总决赛手握2比0领先优势返回麦迪逊广场花园，但米卡尔·布里奇斯丝毫没有得意。因为他比谁都清楚，2比0领先反而是一段最危险的比分——当年他身披太阳战袍时，同样以2比0领先雄鹿，随后连吞四败，眼睁睁看着拉里·奥布莱恩杯从指尖滑落。（原文：He learned that the hard way when the Phoenix Suns were also ahead 2-0 against the Milwaukee Bucks but proceeded to lose four straight games and give up the Larry O'Brien trophy.）
而这一次，让他保持警惕的核心原因只有一个：维克托·文班亚马。布里奇斯在接受The Athletic记者马库斯·汤普森二世采访时直言，即便尼克斯占据历史与主场双重优势，文班亚马依然是那个不可低估的异类。“他的身高臂展无可匹敌，”布里奇斯说，“而且篮球智商很高，这肯定会制造麻烦。他拿**防守球员是有原因的。”（原文："His length is unmatched and he's got good IQ. It definitely causes trouble. He's DPOY for a reason," Bridges declared.）
事实上，文班亚马确实在用自己的方式持续施压。系列赛至今，他场均砍下职业生涯季后赛新高的27.5分，投篮命中率40.5%。防守端更是一柱擎天：场均1.5次抢断、3.5次盖帽，外加10.5个篮板。（原文：He is averaging a career NBA Playoffs-high 27.5 points on a 40.5% clip from the field. The Knicks have also been bothered by his defense which gets 1.5 steals and 3.5 blocks a night alongside a whopping 10.5 rebounds.）赢球暂时没有到来，但数据单摆在眼前，尼克斯全队心知肚明——他们还没解决掉这个最大的麻烦。
迈克·布朗教练目前的应对策略是让尼克斯球员散开至角落区域，在攻防两端将文班亚马的影响力剥离出去，这套打法为布伦森、布里奇斯等人创造了可观的发挥空间。但系列赛仍在继续，马刺的调整随时可能到来，届时胜负天平会不会重新倾斜？这是尼克斯在庆祝之前必须回答的问题。（原文：So far, the game plan by Coach Mike Brown is to make Wembanyama a non-factor on both ends of the floor through spreading the Knicks in the corners. The plan has worked to the advantage of Jalen Brunson, Bridges, and the rest of the Knicks but there surely will be adjustments introduced so that the Spurs can strike back in this NBA Finals series.）
