Share and Follow
The New York Knicks have been making headlines with their remarkable performance in the NBA playoffs, leaving fans and analysts alike wondering if they can maintain their momentum. After a stunning sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers, culminating in a commanding 144-114 victory on Sunday, discussions have turned to the possibility of the Knicks advancing to the NBA Finals. Mike Brown’s team is certainly on the rise, but the looming Eastern Conference finals present a new set of challenges.
As the Knicks prepare to face either the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Detroit Pistons, the “Inside the NBA” panel has weighed in on what lies ahead. Kenny Smith offered a word of caution, noting that the upcoming match-ups may not be as straightforward as their recent triumphs suggest. “It gets real again in the next round for the Knicks,” Smith remarked, emphasizing that both Cleveland and Detroit have posed significant challenges for New York throughout the season.
Reflecting on the potential showdown, Smith compared it to the Knicks’ previous encounter with the Atlanta Hawks, which required a hard-fought six games to conquer. This suggests that while the Knicks are riding high, they must be prepared for a more formidable battle.
However, Shaquille O’Neal has expressed a contrasting view, asserting that no team in the Eastern Conference appears capable of halting the Knicks’ current surge. With the Knicks on a seven-game winning streak after initially trailing 2-1 against Atlanta, O’Neal’s confidence in their ability to dominate is understandable.
As the excitement builds, all eyes are on whether the Knicks can continue their impressive run or if they will face a sobering reality check in the next round. The stakes are high, and the basketball world is eagerly anticipating the outcome of this thrilling series.
“They’ve shown me they are ready,” O’Neal said. “And I have to disagree with both guys, I think they’ll breeze through whoever the next opponent is if they play like this.”
Charles Barkley said the Knicks “had a cakewalk” to the Eastern Conference finals, calling the Hawks “not ready for primetime” while the 76ers dealt with injuries.
“Whoever they play next is a very difficult series,” Barkley said.
“Knicks going to the finals,” O’Neal said, interrupting Barkley.
It’s been total annihilation in the Knicks’ last seven games as they’re firing on all cylinders, tying a record for 3-pointers in an NBA playoff game on Sunday with 25.
The Knicks also have the best point differential (+194) in NBA playoff history through a team’s first 10 playoff games, besting the 2017 Golden State Warriors, who added Kevin Durant to a team that went 73-9 in the regular season the year prior.
The wild ride will come to a halt for the next week or so as the Knicks await the winner of the Cavaliers vs. Pistons series, which Detroit currently leads 2-1 with Game 4 in Cleveland on Monday night.