Minutes before he was set to go on the air with “First Take,” Stephen A. Smith crashed another ESPN program to go off about the New York Knicks.
After watching the Boston Celtics run away with Game 5, the longtime ESPN talking head (and Knicks fan), hijacked a segment on “Get Up” to send a message.
“We’re very concerned,” Smith said. “They’ve got to win tomorrow night. You can’t go back to Boston for a Game 7. You gotta close the deal tomorrow night. Show up! Show up!”
New York remains up 3-2 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. However, Smith was concerned by what he saw from Boston, particularly the way the team adjusted after losing Jayson Tatum to a torn Achilles tendon.
Smith took issue with co-host Udonis Haslem claiming earlier in the show that the Knicks would be all right.
“No, it’s not all right! I don’t like what I saw. I have not seen the Boston Celtics move the basketball like that with Tatum on the floor. But without him, all of a sudden, they’re sharing and they’re caring.It concerns me. Because if they’re sharing and caring, and they’re making the 3’s, that’s a problem.”
Smith highlighted the ways that the Celtics shared the load offensively after losing Tatum to injury. He noted that Jaylen Brown stood out as the Celtics start best equipped to step up in the moment. He also highlighted guard Derrick White.
However, Smith was dismissive of the rest of the Celtics roster – even after saying Luke Kornet looked like the next coming of Bill Walton in Game 5.
Smith, who walked on set with a microphone in hand, said that Game 6 is pivotal Friday night.
“Tomorrow night, New York, the Garden. This is what it is. Everybody ain’t made for that moment. Jaylen Brown (is) ready for that moment. He’s ready for that moment. Derek White ain’t no joke. But the rest of them? Handle your – where’s the camera? – handle your business.”
Friday’s game is set to start at 8 p.m. EDT from Madison Square Garden and will air on ESPN.