NEW YORK — It’s the most compelling playoff series in the Eastern Conference, and Reggie Miller isn’t buying the betting odds that show the Knicks as a healthy underdog against Cleveland.
“It’s a pick-em series,” Miller, the former Knicks nemesis and now an analyst on TNT, said Thursday in a conference call.
Still, Miller acknowledged that the health of Julius Randle — who remained a limited participant in practice Tuesday because of a sprained ankle — can easily swing the pendulum.
“Either way, one of these teams are going to be disappointed if they lose,” said Miller, who is calling Game 2 of the series on Tuesday for TNT. “The health of Julius Randle, to me — I want to see how he’s moving in Game 1 [on Saturday in Cleveland] and throughout this series. Because before this injury, he was playing at an All-Pro level. He puts so much pressure on the opposing team’s defense.
“So if that’s taken away, sure it leans towards Cleveland if he’s not 100 percent. But who is 100 percent at this time of the year? No one. No one is 100 percent at this time of the year. You can’t feel sorry for them. That’s not Cleveland’s fault.”
Greg Anthony, a former Knick, also called a close series but leaned toward the Cavs because of their star power.
“I think the Knicks have a better and more complete roster when you go 1 thru 10,” Anthony, also a TNT analyst, said. “They have more guys in that regard. But I think Cleveland is just better at the top. I think this series for me, Donovan Mitchell is the best player. And what they get from their bigs [Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley] in terms of defensive pressure in the paint, not allowing you to live there, the shot blocking. I think that gives them an edge.”
Miller noted that neither team carries much playoff experience. Of the starters on both rosters, only Mitchell and Jalen Brunson have logged more than nine postseason appearances. Brunson, who led the Mavericks to the conference finals last year, is the only Knick in the rotation with more than five playoff games.
“[Cleveland] is still an unproven commodity come playoff time,” Miller said. “I love the pairing and Mitchell and [Darius] Garland. I love their bigs. But let’s face it, they also don’t have playoff experience, along with the New York Knicks. But Jalen Brunson — we all saw what he did last year with Luka [Doncic] in Dallas. That’s why, to me, it’s a pick-em series.”
Neither Miller nor Anthony subscribed to the storyline of the series serving as an indictment on the Mitchell trade over the summer, when the Knicks stopped short of the finish line in negotiations and allowed Cleveland to swoop in.
Win or lose, according to Anthony, both franchises are in a good position. The Knicks still have draft assets and prospects to pull off a trade for a star, although it’ll certainly be difficult to find a player as talented as Mitchell.
“We can play plug-in and play and talk about woulda-coulda. But the reality is I think both teams are in a great position,” Anthony said. “Not just for this series, but moving forward. Their young players are getting better. ….They still have their best basketball ahead of them. And they can continue to tinker with the lineup of the roster.”
Miller, who used to torture Knicks fans in the playoffs, agreed.
“The Cavs have the talent to make a run. So does New York, too,” Miller said. “I can’t believe I’m saying this about the Knicks. But they’re that good.”
