Stephen A. Smith Sends Blunt Message About Knicks' NBA Finals Chances

Stephen A. Smith might be a New York Knicks’ fan, but he’s not betting the farm on their title hopes.

Despite the Knicks staving off elimination with a 111-94 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Thursday, Smith expressed little confidence in their chances should they reach the NBA Finals.

“If they advance, I give them zero chance, zero, of beating the Oklahoma City Thunder,” Smith said Friday on First Take. “I see those bodies they throw at you, the way Oklahoma City defends, and the Knicks’ lack of personnel. That’s taken the luster off my championship aspirations.”

Oklahoma City has momentum on their side after downing the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games. MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and former Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein have put OKC back in the final as a potential favorite. The Thunder also swept the Knicks during the regular season by a combined 35 points.

Smith went on a long rant about the Knicks, but admits that a Finals appearance would be meaningful. Winning it all, however, would require “divine intervention.”

With 80 wins this year, the Thunder are already drawing comparisons to some of the league’s greatest teams. Should New York overcome its 3-2 deficit against Indiana, there would be a tough turnaround after a Game 7 matchup.

“There is no basketball element, ingredient, snippet, nothing, that makes me believe they can beat Oklahoma City,” Smith said.

But this is the NBA playoffs, and surprises do happen. Even when Stephen A. says otherwise.