Stephen A. is UNHAPPY with NY Knicks + PRAISES Donovan Mitchell for Cavs’ success | NBA Countdown

Stephen A. is UNHAPPY with NY Knicks + PRAISES Donovan Mitchell for Cavs’ success | NBA Countdown

Getting you set for a match up between the Cavaliers and the New York Knicks remember the Cavs they sit at the number two seed in the Eastern Conference and the New York Knicks they are at number four as we pull up the standings to take a look at the complete picture here of

The Eastern Conference it’s been a little bit Stephen A since we’ve had a temperature check ask how you felt about your squad I’m depressed about him yeah uh and I think that’s the appropriate word here in all honesty because I think what’s important to recognize is this

The New York Knicks are just injured um it’s not a situ one of those rare moments that I can’t point the finger any I can’t point the finger at Leon Rose I think he’s done an outstanding job him and his staff Tom Lio clearly has done an exceptional job as the coach

Of this franchise when you saw OG anobi arrive in New York City uh the New York Knicks had gone the month of January like 12- two best record in the NBA they were balling defensive efficiency went from like 18th or 19th to number one okay and then all the injuries took

Place OG goes down Julius Randle goes down Mitchell Robinson’s has been out for most of the Season Etc and so when you look at it from that perspective and then you think about the pickup of bonovich and you think about the pickup of Burks with the way jayen Brunson is

Playing if those three guys were in the line of healthy I think the Knicks would be standing here right now as the number two seed in the easn conference so I look at it from that standpoint I say what can you say I would love to I I I’m

Not love it but I would definitely crucify the Knicks under normal circumstances they don’t deserve that here they’re just injured yeah and and and look very measured take there and I think appropriate this Knicks team has done everything right the front office has been great they’ve done a nice job

We saw when healthy what this team could be and we saw it over the stretch of the whole month when they were fantastic in January no team can overcome injuries this is especially in basketball Jaylen Brunson has done as much as he possibly could but they’ve lost seven of their

Last 10 and you can attribute it to health and OG anobi we saw how great he was when he was playing Randle was playing great the hard thing is is I don’t know what’s going to happen is Randall coming back is he not coming back and and and the other thing about the

Knicks is we’re not going to get to find out when you’re an executive in a sport you get clarity when you’re healthy when you’re healthy you lose you know when you’re not healthy then you go into the off season and say well what about January we were good so the hardest

Thing is if this team goes into the playoffs not healthy they’re not going to really know how good they could well and Tom Tibido said before the game that Julius Randall has started to take L contact but nothing with a player in practice yet he’s just doing some work

With with pads that’s the point that he’s at well well yeah look the Knicks are not healthy both of y’all had great points about the Knicks but what about the number two seat that that they’re playing against the clevel Cavaliers what’s what’s up with them so no Donovan

Mitchell tonight but but but what’s up with them and and why I say that who are they right they’ve been up and down since the allstar break we’re looking we’re looking at or can they play uh Jared Allen and Evan moley at the same time sometimes majority of the time if

It’s a close game we watching Evan Moy on the bench like why why can’t they why can’t they figure that out and what’s up with Donovan Mitchell is he hurt like is he injured like what’s the three of the last six games but okay but like the inconsistency from like him being

Available like it’s a lot of question marks and for a young team that’s trying to make strides that’s trying to do some things in the Eastern Conference and today is an important game for them and I know the Knicks are not healthy but this is the same Nicks team with the

Same leader and Jaylen Brunson that sent them home last season so you got to come in here staying on business we watched what Jaylen Brown said on national TV about how the Celtics were holding it against Bob Myers Golden State Warriors and we saw what he’s how they stood on B

It’s the same thing the Cavs need to do I don’t know why we had to go to that situation I’m not sure how that was even we get that much more Cleveland Cavaliers Knicks a six and eight without both Randall and OG and noi in the

Lineup over the last 14 games Cavs are three and three with you know since the allstar break and obviously 3 and six without Donovan Mitchell when you look at him from that St three of the six games I’m sorry he’s missed you got to look at it from this perspective I’m

Just of the mindset when it comes to Donovan Mitchell and what you just brought up let’s give him the benefit of the doubt this is not a brother that just misses games sure when he misses games there’s a reason for that now there are some people whose’s names I

Will not bring up because I want to be nice that every time they sitting on a bench looking like the like male models and stuff like that they tick me off to no end okay because it’s like it’s they will run to the bank to get their make

Sure their check is in is is in their account but they can’t get on the basketball court that’s not Donovan Mitchell Donovan Mitchell is missing games I’m going to take that seriously they want an 18-2 run before the All-Star break they were balling and he

Was a big reason why I got to look at it and give him the benefit of Doubt Cleveland s and 12 against the other play of tip caliber teams in the Eastern Conference uh you know in recent memory but I just gota look at them but Stephen

A Stephen A the East is wide open outside of the Celtics the East is outside of the Celtics big outside no but I’m just I’m just saying it’s it’s wide open for somebody to make a push you wouldn’t y’all all agree if the Cavs make it to the Conference Finals they

Had a successful yes okay so yes yes whe and I think you said earlier who are they that’s fair right what are the Cs we we do this we all do this um we we exaggerate what a team did the previous year in the playoffs we’re still hanging

On to what they did I don’t know if you guys are but no I I think I think what happens then is we don’t believe it until we see it with the Cav they’ve been 21- six since January 1st so they’re not B we’ve been quietly whether

We like it or not played pretty good basketball right that’s TI for the best record in the NBA in that span with the Celtics we just don’t now I won’t speak for everybody else nobody’s buying it right because then what we saw last year that’s what yeah right we saw what

Happened so so until and that’s okay Cleveland got to own that and say okay we’re going to show you in the in the postseason what we’re capable of Donovan Mitchell we’ve seen him have some amazing postseasons like exceeding regular and and still fall short right we have we have okay we have witnessed

Donovan Le teams fall short in the postseason now phenomenal regular season and what I’m saying is this young Group after the allstar break when we’re watching everybody else starting to click all the teams that are considered title contenders starting what cuz I’m asking you why you tripping last time I

Checked it’s March the playoffs they begin I got your argument is profound you’re right on point we’re talking ail of the playin tournament Stephen A we could it don’t matter they need to stay there they only up by half a game okay what they three what are you guys

Arguing about I don’t even know what your argu I don’t even know you you bringing up Donovan Mitch like today’s playoff playf of all people Donovan Mitchell is the most acutely aware of the lack of success that he’s had in the postseason and the Cavaliers are also

Aware that there is so much on the line including Donovan Mitchell’s future in Cleveland that hangs in the balance for this post by the way the producers want us to be nicer I will remind The Producers we’re in a very good mood considering how long we’ve been we’re in

A very good somebody somebody get touch talk we’re good somebody get Sensitive

Stephen A. Smith, Bob Myers and Kendrick Perkins join Malika Andrews on NBA Countdown to preview tonight’s matchup between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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