Knicks Stumble, But Who Needs a Finals Run More?

Knicks Lose Third Straight, Face Tough Playoff Questions

The New York Knicks suffered a tough 119-94 loss to the Houston Rockets last night, marking their third consecutive defeat. Houston controlled the game from start to finish, leading by double digits for most of the contest. This slump puts pressure on the Knicks, who now hold just a one-game lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers for the third seed in the Eastern Conference. The question on everyone’s mind: who do they want to face in the playoffs?

Pistons or Celtics: A Tough Choice for New York

Stephen A. Smith believes the Detroit Pistons present a tougher matchup for the Knicks than the Boston Celtics. “The Pistons have shown them no respect this year,” Smith argued. “They’ve punked the New York Knicks when they won against them on at least two occasions.” He pointed out that Detroit beat New York by an average of 28 points in their three meetings this season. Smith feels the Pistons are hungrier and feistier, especially with home-court advantage, making them a bigger threat.

Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, however, sees it differently. He thinks the Celtics pose a greater challenge. “Boston has obviously played in the final, won a championship,” Russo stated. “They’d be mad, but they get the chance, a little revenge against the Knicks.” He recalled how Jayson Tatum got hurt in last year’s playoff series and believes Boston, with a healthy Tatum, would be a much tougher opponent than the Pistons, who have only won two playoff games in their history and might struggle to advance past the first round.

Seeds and Momentum: What’s Best for the Knicks?

The discussion then turned to playoff seeding. If the season ended today, the Knicks would face the Atlanta Hawks, a team that has been playing well recently. The Knicks are also just one game ahead of the Cavaliers, meaning they could drop to the fourth seed. This raises the question: would it be better for New York to fall to the fourth spot to avoid a potentially surging Celtics team in the Eastern Conference Semifinals?

Smith, a Knicks fan, suggested staying in the third seed to face Boston, hoping to replicate last year’s success. “I don’t want to go into the playoffs reeling,” he said, emphasizing the importance of momentum. “I want to go into the playoffs with a little momentum. I don’t want to go into the playoffs reeling and having Cleveland over and taking me.” He believes maintaining the third seed gives them a better chance to build momentum heading into the postseason.

Russo agreed, preferring the third seed and a potential matchup against the Celtics. “Detroit is a different beast. It’s a different animal,” he warned. “This is a team that has been telling the Knicks, ‘We’re coming for you.'” Russo feels the Pistons bring an extra level of intensity against New York, and he’d rather avoid that “smoke” and face Boston instead.

Donovan Mitchell or Jalen Brunson: Who Needs a Finals Run More?

The conversation shifted to which star player needs a deep playoff run more: Jalen Brunson of the Knicks or Donovan Mitchell of the Cavaliers. The Knicks reached the Eastern Conference Finals last year, while the Cavaliers fell short of expectations.

Stephen A. Smith firmly believes Donovan Mitchell is the one under more pressure. “Look, Donovan Mitchell is a star in this league. I love him, but on too many occasions, you know, when his teams haven’t won, whether it be in Utah or Cleveland, we’ve looked at him,” Smith explained. He recalled last year’s playoff series where the Cavaliers’ inconsistent health and strategy hampered their chances, despite Mitchell’s efforts. “In the case of Donovan Mitchell, whatever expectations you have, as good as he is, as great as the moments that he has had, there still find yourself looking at him when things have gone arry for the Cleveland Cavaliers overall,” Smith concluded.

Russo echoed Smith’s sentiment. “Stars are aligned. Steve and I are on the same page. I agree with him 100%,” he stated. Russo highlighted Brunson’s immediate impact on the Knicks, saying he’s done so well that he gets a “complete pass.” He pointed out that Mitchell has never advanced past the second round of the playoffs, including last year’s loss to the Knicks. “So I think a little bit more pressure goes to Mitchell than it does to Brunson,” Russo added.

The panel concluded that while the entire Knicks team might feel pressure, especially after a coaching change, Donovan Mitchell is the player who arguably needs a successful playoff run more than Jalen Brunson.

“Donovan Mitchell needs a run even more so than Brunson.”

Stephen A. Smith

Source: Does Jalen Brunson or Donovan Mitchell need a Finals run more?! 🤔 | First Take YouTube Exclusive (YouTube)