The New York Knicks have been inching closer to their first Finals appearance, at the very least, of the 21st century. Since they acquired Jalen Brunson, the team has moved forward one step at a time, particularly in the playoffs.
Last year, that resulted in a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. But that wasn’t enough, and the offseason brought a plethora of moves to take the next step forward. However, noted fan and ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith doesn’t think the path is going to be easy this season either.
Why the Boston Celtics Are the New York Knicks’ Biggest Playoff Threat
Even though Tom Thibodeau was having a strong run as the team’s head coach, their back-to-back defeats to the Indiana Pacers led the organization to move on from him and appoint Mike Brown as their new head coach.
Additionally, they added depth with the signings of Jordan Clarkson and Jose Alvarado. Now, at 48-27, they are firmly sitting in third place in the Eastern Conference and have as good a chance as any other team to make the Finals.
However, Smith, who has been a huge fan of the franchise and, in turn, their biggest critic, believes there is one team that they need to worry about. On the latest episode of their flagship show, “First Take,” he made his argument.
“You’re not gonna catch the Boston Celtics by surprise this time around. They will be waiting for the Knicks, and they will be ready. It’s going to be tougher for the New York Knicks to deal with a Boston Celtics team fully loaded, meaning with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown available.”
A key reason for New York’s desperation had to stem from the fact that both Tyrese Haliburton and Tatum suffered injuries that would presumably keep them out for the 2025-26 season as well.
However, the latter made a stunning comeback well ahead of schedule. In his absence, Brown took a leap as a legitimate MVP candidate, and now the Celtics are back alive in the East, sitting two games ahead of the Knicks.
“This is not good news for me at all,” Smith said. “Boston is a bit different. This is not the same team that they were last year. Everybody better watch out.”
As Tatum continues to round into form after his return from a torn Achilles, the Celtics are rolling towards the playoffs.
It will certainly make the East a more wide-open race, but it could make the postseason even more entertaining and unpredictable.
