Celtics Fans Will Love Tirade From ‘Concerned’ Stephen A. Smith

The Knicks had all of the momentum in the world heading into Wednesday night’s contest at TD Garden.

Now, pressure is starting to mount for New York.

Jalen Brunson and company made their latest trip to Boston with a commanding 3-1 second-round series lead over the Celtics. Furthermore, Game 5 marked the start of a run for a diminished version of the reigning NBA champions, who lost Jayson Tatum to a ruptured Achilles on Monday night.

But not only did the C’s keep their season alive, they stuffed the Knicks in a locker to the tune of a 25-point triumph on Causeway Street. The lopsided verdict didn’t sit well with diehard New York fan Stephen A. Smith.

“We’re very concerned,” Smith said Thursday on ESPN’s “Get Up,” as transcribed by MassLive. “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!”

Smith continued: “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 threes, that’s a problem.”

Oddsmakers aren’t terribly bullish about the Knicks’ chances of finishing the job Friday night. Even with New York on its home floor and Boston playing without Tatum, Tom Thibodeau’s team is a slim 2.5-point betting favorite at FanDuel Sportsbook for Game 6.

The Knicks also have yet to truly outclass the Celtics in this Eastern Conference semifinals set. Thus, there’s a good chance Smith will be consumed with nerves for the majority of Friday’s matchup.