The New York Knicks vs the defending champions game has been nothing short of entertainment. Complete flip of what’s expected at home as both teams are losing where they should win. But reset back, in Game 2 of the Conference semis, the Knicks didn’t just walk into Boston. They stormed the garden, silenced the crowd, and stole two wins to take them to New York in fashion! Down in both games, the Knicks clawed back to win with ice in their veins. Even the Celtics’ crowd, known for its ruthlessness, tipped their hats as New York staged two unreal comebacks on their floor. But fans weren’t the only ones cheering for them; legends like Dwyane Wade joined in.

And also, the loudest voice in sports, Stephen A. Smith, lost his mind over the comebacks. In a viral video posted on 8th May, SAS screamed himself hoarse, flailing in pure Knicks euphoria before belting, “GO NEW YORK, GO NEW YORK!” like a hype man at the Garden. On Wynetwork by Wade, in a recent podcast before game 3, Dwyane Wade and Co. didn’t hold back at all from pouring in commendations.

Dorell Wright began by saying, “I feel like what New York, the New York Knicks have done, go in somebody else’s home, the defending champs. Yeah. I need that. I need that.” They earned next-level respect for bouncing back from deficits in the home arena of their opponents. He continued by adding, “Dillon Brunson has been impeccable. Cat has been good. OG has been good. The guy who’s been even amazing is Josh Hart. He’s been all over the place. Mikael Bridges, all over the place, man.” Well, everyone on that squad gave it their all. He captured the vibe: “So that New York feel, ‘bring your hard hat.’ That’s the feel that I’m getting from this scene.”

Chris Johnson then continued shedding some light on the whole dynamic of the team. He said, “You know what I see? I see a lot of trust. Yeah. A lot of chemistry. And it goes back to those guys playing at Villanova. Winning championships. Together.” Emphasizing how it’s not the first rodeo for the Knicks and that they’ve shone through it before. However, all of those praises went empty as the Knicks’ early magic faded in Game 3. The Celtics, fueled by pride, dominated by a 115-93 rout. It was a harsh reminder of how the playoff momentum shifts fast. What about the people who got a little too excited, though?

Dwayne Wade hilariously displayed what he and the Orange and Blue crew felt last night: pure shock. He posted an Instagram Story with a stunned expression, eyebrows raised, mouth forming a perfect “O” the textbook definition of disbelief. He then captioned: “How I’m looking at Knicks fans after Game 3.” The jab came after Boston’s dominant 115-93 win, a stark contrast to New York’s earlier comeback heroics. Playfully mocking the fanbase that had been riding sky-high after two straight comeback wins.

Dwyane Wade simply let his face do the talking. Not just for himself, but on behalf of every heartbroken fan out there. We wonder if there’s something that the Knicks should do to avoid disappointing the ones rooting for them again…

As race heats up, Knicks’ starting five needs a rethink

The Knicks’ 2-1 series lead feels more fragile than the numbers suggest. While they’ve successfully snatched two dramatic wins, Boston has dominated the underlying metrics. Outscoring New York by 18 points overall and leading for a staggering 85% of total game time. Those comeback victories relied heavily on Celtics shooting slumps (just 25% from three) and late-game heroics that are usually hard to sustain over a seven-game series.

The starting lineup of Brunson, Hart, Bridges, Anunoby, and Towns has been particularly concerning. I mean, not getting outscored by 29 points in just 68 minutes together? This five-man unit’s struggles highlight how New York’s wins have come despite being systematically outplayed for long stretches.

Analysts recommend that a strategic adjustment could involve starting Robinson over Hart. The Knicks don’t need to abandon their starters, but they do need to deploy them smarter. Without adjustments to counter Boston’s superior shot quality and flow, Game 3’s 22-point loss may become the rule rather than the exception as the series progresses. So who are you rallying behind in Game 4? Can the Knicks make it 3-1, or will the Celtics reflect who they are to level it 2-2? Do let us know in the comments.