The Knicks need to win two games just to play the NBA Finals. Even if they did that, Stephen A. Smith doesn’t believe they have a chance.
The New York Knicks are enjoying their most successful season of 25 years. They’re down 3-2 to Indiana for Game 6, but the Knicks believe they can win.
Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns matched Kobe-Shaq’s record with Game 5 wins. The duo excels during this playoff run and managed to achieve even greater things.
Bill Simmons explained what the Knicks understood in Game 5. If they can take advantage of that advantage and earn games 6 and 7, then the historic comeback is complete.
But even the biggest Knicks fans have doubts about their championship aspirations.
If Branson and the company overcome the Indiana Pacers, the Oklahoma City Thunder will be the opponent in the final. And SAS thinks they’re sure they’ll lose.
“If they make it to the finals, we’ll give them a zero chance to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, zero,” Smith said in his first take.
“A few days ago, I was like, ‘Hey, we got a chance.’ And I had to look at OKC and cover the Western Conference Finals.
“Then we see the playstyle and lack of personnel for the New York Knicks, and we just look at it in the way Oklahoma City defends.
“You get there, I’m everything for that. But I’m a New York Knicks fan and I don’t think there’s any intervention other than God’s intervention driving them.”
Some may suggest that Stephen A is too negative. But for everyone who has seen thunder 68 wins this season, it doesn’t sound hyperbolic.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is an MVP, and he averages a whopping 29.8 points and 6.9 assists per game. He leads from the front.
Jalen Williams found his rhythm at the Western Conference Finals, averaging 21.2 points per game. Chet Holmgren is equally impressive.
Alex Caruso has earned praise from NBA legends like Paul Pierce. And his defenses held back Anthony Edwards completely alongside the defenses of Lou Dort and Casson Wallace.
It’s very difficult to imagine them defeating this Oklahoma City team if the Knicks made it.