Analyst Makes Bold Claim About Knicks Chances

The New York Knicks may not be second in the standings, but analysts believe that's where they stand.

Jeremy Brener | Dec 6, 2024

Dec 3, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts after a basket and a foul during the third quarter against the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

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New York Knicks

The New York Knicks are settling into the season and have comfortably moved over .500 in the past few games.

After their undefeated NBA Cup run, national analysts are starting to pay attention to the Knicks, seeing them as the best team in the Eastern Conference other than the defending champion Boston Celtics.

“Boston is the champion, they’re on another level—I get all of that. But I look at everybody else and I don’t see anybody else the Knicks can’t beat," Stephen A. Smith said on ESPN's First Take h/t Posting and Toasting. “I see Cleveland doing their thing. They came down to earth after that 15-0 start. But New York stands up.”

Smith's sentiments were also echoed by TNT's Charles Barkley.

“I personally think the Knicks are gonna be the second best team in the East when all the smoke clears, and I think Orlando has a chance," Barkley said on TNT's Inside The NBA. "I’m not sold on the Cavaliers, I don’t care what their record is, I’m not sold on it. I think these are the second and third best teams in the east and I think the Knicks are like, ‘We want you to know we’re already better than you are.’”

The Knicks currently sit fourth in the Eastern Conference standings behind the Orlando Magic, Celtics and top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, but their play as of late has inspired analysts from all over the country.

The Knicks still have a long season ahead of them, but if they can continue to grow over the course of the next several months, they may find themselves playing deep into the playoffs and make its first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000.

The Knicks return to the court tomorrow to face the Detroit Pistons at 7:30 p.m. ET inside Madison Square Garden.

Make sure you bookmark Knicks on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

Published Dec 6, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.