Stephen A. Smith knew before his beloved Knicks took the floor for Game 6 against the Heat on Friday night inside the Kaseya Center that New York faced a difficult task of defeating Miami to force a winner-take-all Game 7 at Madison Square Garden.
But even before the ESPN commentator picked the Heat to win on NBA on ESPN ahead of Friday’s game, Smith led a dramatic, die-hard plea for his Knicks with the hope that it would give them the boost they needed. While others thought the Knicks’ road to a comeback from down 3–2 in the series was unlikely, Smith chose to keep faith in his hometown team.
“I choose to believe because it ain’t over until it’s over,” Smith said before the game. “History says Miami Heat up 3–1 in the postseason are 14-0 all-time. History says New York Knicks down 3-1 in postseason 0-14 all-time. This is not just a chance to change history, it’s a chance to make history. What you going to do? This orange and blue. This time, all you need is one game. … all your soul… all your blood… your effort.. one game… to get them back to the garden. How much do you want it? How much do you need it?”
Yet, the Knicks, as they have done many times before, disappointed Smith and lost 96–92 to be eliminated from the playoffs. Following the loss, the Heat made sure to remind Smith that his hope for a championship run would have to wait another year.
You’ll be going back to the Garden @stephenasmith… next season. #WINNING 👋 pic.twitter.com/t2MyDHbpiu
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) May 13, 2023
Despite the loss, Jalen Brunson finished with 41 points to become the fourth player in NBA history to make more field goals than the rest of his team combined in an elimination game. Only three other players—LeBron James on two occasions, the late Kobe Bryant and Penny Hardaway—have done so.
The loss even prompted Smith to take a moment to himself before once again expressing his frustrations with the Knicks and already starting his recruiting of Damian Lillard.
“I always knew the New York Knicks would lose,” Smith said in a video after the game. “Tom Thibodeau, the team can’t shoot but you only played Evan Fournier 27 games this season. Don’t give him a second of time in the playoffs. … Jalen Brunson spectacular, 41 points, but he was the only one who showed up.
“RJ Barrett, 1-for-10 shooting from the field, really? You got the nerve to be sensitive about criticism? Julius Randle, Julius Randle, Julius Randle, 3-for-14, once again, playoffs arrive, once again you fold. Done. Done. It’s time to trade Julius Randle. It is time for him to go. I want Damian Lillard. I don’t care what you got to do to get him, I want Damian Lillard. Good bye.
Pain.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) May 13, 2023
I want Dame. pic.twitter.com/KAvmQI4hCX
