Stephen A. Smith Dampens New York Knicks Fans Hopes with Latest Hot Take

Game 3 proved the bookies’ beliefs correct after the Celtics took one back against the Knicks at the Garden. To make things worse for Knicks fans desperate to see their team succeed, one of their most popular fans gave a scathing take that they wouldn’t like.

Stephen A. Smith dooms the New York Knicks to losing if they fail to win Game 4

Stephen A. Smith is one of the loudest Knicks fans in the world, and people will listen to his takes whether they want to or not. While he will use every excuse to put the Knicks at the top of any conversation, you know that he’s speaking from the heart.

His statements ahead of Game 4 during a recent episode of ESPN’s NBA Today should feel like a bucket of cold water poured into the heads of many Knicks fans.

Per Heavy Sports’ Adam Taylor:

“I don’t believe the Knicks can lose Game 4 and win this series,” Smith said. “But the Knicks could still possibly win Game 4. They’ll need to win Game 4 to have a chance to win this series. I believe that the Boston Celtics will take both games in New York, it will seal the Knicks’ fate, and the Knicks will lose this series.”

It’s not hard to see why SAS would have such a point of view. The Knicks do have an exciting core of players, with Jalen Brunson doing a brilliant job as the team’s offensive nucleus. However, it’s also hard to deny that solely relying on Brunson to do the work for your squad is not the ideal way to go.

Moreover, the Celtics are built to play an efficient brand of basketball. Even if Jaylen Brown is currently the only Celtic to average at least 20 PPG this series, they have a deep roster of players who can take over at any given moment.

Given the current momentum the two squads have, it’s in the Knicks’ best interests to return to the TD Garden with a 3-1 series lead. Otherwise, they might be in for a tough series.