The New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks are tied 2-2 in the first round. If New York finds a way to advance, the Boston Celtics could wait in the second round, and the debate is already beginning on what the Knicks need to do.
On the First Take X account, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith made his position clear. The seven-game series loss to Boston in the semifinals should not be used as a reason to gut the roster or fire the coach.
"If the New York Knicks go, and they lose in the semi-finals in a 7-game series against the Boston Celtics, I don't think there's any reason to say, 'The coach has to go. These players have to go.'"
But Stephen A didn't stop at defending the Knicks. He emphasized why Boston deserves such an honor in the first place. Tatum is recovering from sports. Brown is playing like an MVP candidate. And the difference between this Celtics team and the team that beat New York last year is real.
"If we're being honest, there's no shame in losing to the Boston Celtics despite the fact that you beat Boston last year. If Jayson Tatum is healthy, which he looks better and better, and Jalen Brown is an MVP candidate, the Boston Celtics are no joke. The Boston Celtics are capable of winning the chip."
Stephen A. Why Smith thinks the Celtics are still a championship threat in 2026
It's not just Tatum and Brown. Stephen A went through the entire roster, coaching staff and front office and explained why Boston is built differently, and the first thing he pointed out was how many ways this team can hurt you.
"In a lot of people's eyes they live and die with the three. But the thing that has to amaze us is that we have to run, and I don't forget to mention the Peyton Pritchetts of the world and the Derek Whites of the world and what they bring to the table, and Joey Mazzola and Sam Cassell, and those brothers and how exceptionally well they coach."
Then she gave her flowers to Brad Stevens.
"But the thing that amazes me about Boston, I can't forget to mention Brad Stevens, who knows what he's doing as an executive, who is inheritor of the work that the great Nanny Engel did in Boston. He deserves a lot of credit."
Then came the part that redefines everything. Tatum and Brown are not veterans retiring. They are still climbing.
"Jalen Brown is on the verge of going to his seventh conference finals. Jayson Tatum is on the verge of going to his sixth conference finals. And did you know that neither of them are 30 years old yet? Think about it. Neither of them are 30 years old."
"None of them are like, you know, it's like we've forgotten that all these brothers are still young. They're not some age. We look at them and we're amazed when KD is healthy, KD is 37. We're looking at Steph Curry, 37, 38. We're looking at LeBron James, 41. Jalen Brown and Jayson Tatum are not 30 years old. “Actually, they’re not 29.”
This brought him back to where he started.
"So I'm looking at them. I feel like, if the New York Knicks go and they lose in the semi-finals to the Boston Celtics in a seven-game series, I don't think there's any reason to say the coach has to go. These players have to go, blah, blah, blah."
The Knicks defeated Boston last year, but Tatum was lost in Game 4 with an Achilles injury. He is now back and healthy. Losing to this version of the Celtics in seven games would not be a failure for New York. This would mean that they would be playing on a team that is built to win championships.
