Stephen A. declares his Knicks as the Celtics’ biggest obstacle to the Finals 👀 | NBA Countdown

NBA Countdown’s Malika Andrews, Stephen A. Smith, Michael Wilbon and Kendrick Perkins debate what the biggest obstacle facing the Boston Celtics as they look to return to the NBA Finals.
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[@terencew7716]

Boston's biggest obstacle is themselves

[@adriankendrick4281]

That is the obvious answer to this question.

[@johnlinks]

Knicks would be a problem if they had randle

[@mike91mdk45]

Absolutely. It's maddening how high the highs and low the lows are with them. Jekyll and hyde.

[@coreyhansen9711]

@@johnlinks They're arguably better without him right now

[@avthecool129]

frrrrrrr

[@ThomasBragdon-cm2jz]

I just believe the Celtics will not only make the finals they will win #18 💚🍀💚🍀

[@tudormiller887]

Go Celtics! 👍👨🍀🏀🏆

[@brettduncan15]

Celtics only obstacle is themselves they are the best team in the league this year. As long as Tatum and Brown don’t play stupid like they did in the 2022 finals and last year ECF we good

[@emoneyizhereson]

So what you’re saying is y’all are in trouble lol

[@brettduncan15]

@@emoneyizhereson yikes reading comprehension is tough

[@DuhShazey]

@@brettduncan15 No his is fine. You just dont realize you typed a whole joke in your comment and didn't even realize it and I guess still dont.

[@brettduncan15]

@@DuhShazey Watch the playoffs and see what happens.

[@emoneyizhereson]

@@brettduncan15 "as long as Tatum and Brown don't play stupid" is kinda like saying "as long as the clippers are healthy in the playoffs"

[@champiana513__]

STAY OFF THE WEED STEPHEN A. SMITH. STAY OFF THE FREAKIN’ WEED.

[@Hunned1000Trill]

You beat me to this exact comment

[@nickdemoura8588]

Whats wrong with the knicks?

[@Bklyn_menace]

Knicks in 6

[@judithmais4643]

@@nickdemoura8588 Be prepared for another disappointed year for the Knicks!

[@BallerTeevee]

@@Bklyn_menacebiggest cap I’ve heard in my life 🧢🧢🧢💀💀💀

[@natedagreat658]

If Randle was healthy Boston would have a problem

[@user-nn6ow3xt5o]

Dang that man Quintin grimes is gonna be the X factor right Stephen A?

[@NarutoUzumaki-rv1ld]

Grimes on the raptors

[@user-nn6ow3xt5o]

@@NarutoUzumaki-rv1ld it was a joke because Stephen A didn’t know that yet he claims he’s a Knicks fan.

[@NarutoUzumaki-rv1ld]

@@user-nn6ow3xt5o oh shi lmao

[@chrisssmith92]

This joke is so overused and unfunny

[@user-nn6ow3xt5o]

@@chrisssmith92 sounds like your mom

[@keithscanlan14]

Can't wait for first take after the 76ers knock the Knicks put

[@ethandean4]

He’s not a real knicks fan…they don’t need to be hated because of this clown

[@vision8641]

6ers are losing in 5 get real bozo

[@chrisneedom3275]

Read what you wrote

[@mamkep]

​@@vision8641😂😂😂😂😂 ima come find this comment after 6ers win 🤡

[@briangatto4565]

Can't wait for the Knicks to beat the Sixers in 5. LGK!!!

[@tonyezzat664]

The team in the East that can most disrupt Boston is the Heat. After the first round, Boston will actually have an easier time dispatching Cleveland/Knicks/Sixers/Bucks to get to the Finals.

[@gregoryadamo1956]

Loving my Knicks this year. So fun to watch these hard working men. (Note: THE only bad thing about being a New York Knick fan is putting up with the blowhard Stephen A. Smith.)

[@mike91mdk45]

It's Boston vs their playoff demons, then everyone else.

[@glenncombs6958]

Everyone seems to agree that the Celtics biggest obstacle is themselves. But specifically how is that manifested ? For me, it's several factors : 1) Tatum doesn't have enough heart. He plays soft in critical situations and too many times plays hero ball ; 2) The Celtics over-reliance on 3s. Invariably when the 3s aren't falling, it allows the opposition to go on long runs ; 3) Their bigs are not great rebounders and as a team rebounding is a weakness ; 4) Mazzula has progressed somewhat since his first season, but any current NBA coach could have led the Celtics to a 64 win season. Mazzula, too often fails to make in game adjustments, is reluctant to use time outs in critical moments and for some reason allows Tatum to go 1 on 3 at the end of close games.

[@timothypolanco8622]

Steven A need to hope his knicks can get out of the first round before he thinks about them going up against the leprechauns. The only true answer here is the HEAT !! The only team to be a true rival to them in the past 5 years if we're being honest 💯

[@Alka-ow2bo]

Lol

[@Alilmis0]

Heat is their biggest obstacle. Grit beat talent

[@user-nn6ow3xt5o]

The Knicks are literally a gritty hard nosed team lol.

[@Alilmis0]

@@user-nn6ow3xt5o They dont got length

[@darrylanderson4764]

Hope Larry Legend shows up

[@studynowPH]

Heat will always be Celtic's nightmare

[@BladimirRivas-rh1ty]

Lost every game against Boston this season and Celtics beat them to make it to the Finals. You make it seem like Boston always loses to Heat

[@TristanBrunet-ec8ks]

:eyes:

[@krobinson8627]

Knicks will be home soon!

[@Alka-ow2bo]

Yea to get ready for the second round lol

[@DCoopVideos]

Boston gotta realize we never had all our current players playing together against them until that blowout a week ago lol. Plus we still have Randle out.

[@tonypreston7278]

The same SAS who fabricated reports about Dame being unhappy in Milwaukee? Who takes this clown seriously anymore?

[@HARVEY_1988]

Yea dude definitely delusional or high… Or both!

[@dragonslayerthegod9284]

Fabricated? It’s a known fact Milwaukee wasn’t his 1st choice , he’s simply reporting on the back of that. Theres a story and the dudes job is to talk about it , whats your beef? Lol

[@tonypreston7278]

@@dragonslayerthegod9284 which Dame refuted today

[@stephyfra1243]

He's clearly unhappy in Miami 😂 imagine wanting to go to the heat and you wind up in Milwaukee

[@shizile1238]

@@tonypreston7278 Just because he said it does not mean it true🤦🤦🤦

[@LoganMcBride325]

I think Cleveland actually poses the biggest (external) threat in the eastern conference.

[@AllinSBlack]

celtics being sent home first round against heat with or without jimmy butler

[@The_Real_Kal-El]

I truly believe Boston wants the Heat this year so they can get their revenge. Good luck you better hope Miami can shoot 50% from 3pt throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs again, that was an outlier performance.

[@donvolio4089]

Which Boston team is going to show up?

[@whatlurks_]

Jrue & D White will do enough on the Defensive end to help control, not stop, Brunson. Celtics in 5

[@xxkingxdijonxx8118]

Any picks for Saturday? Hit me up. They hit I'll break you off

[@SuperBigBrother10]

I agree with Stephen A. it is the New York Knicks that is Boston's biggest obstacle.

[@aarondavis1481]

The New York Knicks are the Dallas Cowboys of the NBA

[@nickdemoura8588]

How? They’ve been horrible for the past 20 years

[@kylemiller2781]

You know they have to actually win regular season games

[@andrewoliver9686]

The Celtics are the Cowboys of the NBA. You clearly don't watch enough basketball.

[@DOMLEAFY]

@@andrewoliver9686You clearly don’t watch either sport enough 2 make dat comparison. When’s the last time da Cowboys made an NFC Championship or even went 2 da Super Bowl 😂 when da Celtics win Banner 18 in June, I hope all of this horrible commentary ceases smh

[@lightningjuniorsuper]

The 76ers are the cowboys of the nba

[@markhunter7814]

Miami is Boston's biggest obstacle in the playoffs not saying theyll beat Boston this year however they'll give them a run for they're money...better not mess around with them dudes and give them guys hope,

[@The_Real_Kal-El]

I truly believe Boston wants the Heat this year so they can get their revenge.

[@musicalmelodies3595]

Stephen A thinks the Knicks are the Celtics biggest obstacle? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 A very Stephen A statement

[@KrisGarland]

Sixers in 6

[@lukesmith3618]

I can’t wait for the Knicks to lose in round 1.

[@Alka-ow2bo]

He's not a Knicks fan. Don't let them fool you.

[@reesebeast1949]

Me too

[@jdxsr85]

On paper Knicks are the better team. Its facts and they don't care about your feelings. Sorry. It won't be a cakewalk for Philly like you think it will be.

[@reesebeast1949]

@@jdxsr85 you win by an inch or a mile winning is winning and losing is losing. Facts over feelings.

[@ethandean4]

Stop considering him a knicks fan

[@kennethfuentes8311]

Miami heat, they were wrong last year, they will also wrong this year.

[@The_Real_Kal-El]

I truly believe Boston wants the Heat this year so they can get their revenge. Good luck you better hope Miami can shoot 50% from 3pt throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs again, that was an outlier performance.

[@brucelau2023]

if we actually don't lose to the sixers and if we play Milwaukee in the semis

[@The_Real_Kal-El]

All these Heat fans think their team is going to shoot another historic 50% from 3 again and make it to the finals. That was an outlier performance.

[@kyleandretti4232]

Knicks are not a problem for the Celtics

[@STECHGUY]

Boston is sporadic? Then how did they only lose 18 games? Knicks ain't getting it done.

[@RealTalkTone]

This man find any way to bring up the Knicks 😂

[@tknick90]

The "Boston beats themselves" narrative is a garbage take for this years team. Last year, I'd say you have a point. This year is not the same team.

[@remy12]

Knickerbocker please!!!

[@giffondhall9214]

HE got it backwards lol

[@notacat7127]

Sounding like a cowboys fan rn Stevie

[@seds94]

Heat are not a walk in the park. Celtics will have a hard time beating them

[@The_Real_Kal-El]

I truly believe Boston wants the Heat this year so they can get their revenge. Good luck you better hope Miami can shoot 50% from 3pt throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs again, that was an outlier performance.

[@The_Real_Kal-El]

Marcus Smart is not playing for Boston anymore. Who are you going to leave open?

[@bless8861]

I mean they don’t have Randle going to be rough

[@Aneeshtherave]

Randle sucks in the playoffs.

[@tudormiller887]

Go Celtics! 👨🏀🍀🏆

[@liellis5]

Just to be sure the Celtics has beating the knicks 4 time to only 1 loss and which they didn’t even try to win

[@larryribic3609]

Knicks are a pebble on the road

[@comradeyellow6781]

The Knicks are going home in the first round man lmao As far as Boston's biggest obastacle in the east it's easily themselves. With the guys they have they should go to the finals with 0 problems.

[@Alka-ow2bo]

Excuse me?

[@judithmais4643]

Boston Celtics always play very well in the Regular Season and fall apart in Playoffs! Especially last year!!!!

[@The_Real_Kal-El]

They tend make it to ECF finals every year bro 😂. Only Miami outside of Boston has done that in the East. Last year everyone lost because the Heat shot an all time best 50% from 3pts that has had never happened. When they cooled down and shot their average in the Finals they lost 4-1.

[@ricardomarques4213]

Miami has two starters out, Boston better sweep them 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@epicantfee]

Yall lookn at Boston but have the 6ers n front of yall face...forgetting about Nick Nurse who can draw up a gameplan to slowdown the best player.. 76ers have defenders they cud throw on Brunson Knicks might mess around nd loose this series 😂😂😂

[@FM_Chatti]

The biggest obstacle the Celtics have is themselves. Not the Heat, Bucks, and definitely not the Knicks. Its themselves.

[@kevin_roh]

come on..... no way.....

[@Noahvelli21]

This is only true if you think Giannis and Embiid will be too hurt when their teams need them the most.

[@us2together794]

Let’s go celtics

[@darrylanderson4764]

Mother in laws can stop the Collin bins

[@JimWelniak]

SAS has hit Skip level stupidity

[@davidjones5547]

If the Celtics are focused, there is no series in the east, including the Knicks that should go more than 5 games.

[@andrewholm49]

Cavs in the 2nd round could be tricky though. Cavs have the length and matchup really well vs Boston I don’t think the Knicks are a threat to Boston

[@andrewholm49]

Cavs could beat them

[@jdxsr85]

Is this the same Cavs team who ducked the Sixers/Heat?

[@olivermccall7331]

Embiid can beat the Celtics.

[@donelgwapo]

Hey Stephen A., you got it all wrong! Miami will defeat Boston.

[@CoachRJ334]

It does not matter the Cs will choke

[@foualter102]

To Knicks fans there, PLEASE BE REALISTIC, you have no one to guard embiid... Beat first 76ers and lets see what will happen

[@emeraldcrowley9837]

If the Celtics don't make the finals say goodbye to coach Joe Mazzulla

[@nicholaseaster58]

And Jaylen Brown. They will be going out for Steph Curry in the summer

[@gkatusared]

Long time fan..we are not going to finals...and thats ok.

[@allenballen7]

You're not even sure if the knicks are getting past the sixers. tf you talking bout 💀💀💀

[@codyhuffman8243]

Fire Malika

[@adriankendrick4281]

Their biggest obstacle is themselves.

[@darrylanderson4764]

Si remember

[@ilphi08]

Stephen A acts like a Knicks fan, not a sports analyst

[@jamerelong6153]

Y’all keep Sleeping on the cavs

[@ReyMartinez1980]

I’m actually convinced that the biggest threat to NY is Stephan A. He might be the biggest jinx in sports history. Please my guy just stop speaking

[@kylemiller2781]

Bros has to worry about the sixers and bucks first😂 both those teams can take em out

[@MH-mc3pp]

What is SA talking about? First the knicks have to get through Philly, and then probably Bucks. And they may not do either. Then if you compare Celtics and knicks, what have the knicks achieved in decades? Nothing.

[@terrysezells6000]

Smh Steven A don't sell us out 😢with the fox

[@BLACKMAAT]

"BLACK BOYCOTT OF STEPHEN A SMITH " BEGINS SUNDAY APRIL 21,2024 1.BLACK BOYCOTT OF STEPHEN A SMITH ON ESPN NBA COUNTDOWN 2.BLACK BOYCOTT OF STEPHEN A SMITH ON ESPN:FIRST TAKE 3.BLACK BOYCOTT OF STEPHEN A SMITH PODCAST

[@adamscott7492]

I think 76ers could be

[@1758game]

It must really suck to like the Dallas cowboys nba version😂😂 Talk about delusional 😂😂

[@jrod132]

The biggest threat to Boston in the east are the Bucks. The east have too many loopholes and Boston being the 1 seed should go to the finals but they’re going to choke to Denver. SAS is wrong his Knicks are losing to the Bucks in the second round

[@gbone1812]

Celtics vs Nuggets patiently waiting for

[@Kzmotivo]

Suns beating Nuggets 2nd round.

[@siyanhall3142]

Bandwagon SAS is getting ahead of himself for ratings. Real Knicks fan will take it one game at a time. SAS is taking his Knicks meds.

[@foualter102]

Nope, thats not how Knicks fan think... I have seen and spotted many Knicks fans comments saying they are the one that will make the NBA finals like they forget celtics there...

[@siyanhall3142]

@@foualter102I highly doubt your perception. We are not all SAS.

[@SUNSoverWOLVES.]

LAKERS vs CELTICS LAKERS IN 6.

[@Ick.-]

“:eyes:”

[@vision8641]

Fully healthy yes my Knicks could beat the Celtics but without Randle ? No.

[@foualter102]

Randle? 😂😂😂😂 Common we all know Randle when its playoffs time ...

[@vision8641]

@@foualter102 25 10 and 5 yes Randle.

[@vision8641]

@@foualter102 last season he was so injured he needed surgery in the offseason, the first season he was in the playoffs we had no Brunson so people were able to load up on him. This was going to be the season he proved himself playing himself into a rhythm . Randle is a rhythm player. He either looks like lebron james or looks like the worst player that crept into the nba. No inbetween.

[@TristanBrunet-ec8ks]

👀

[@eatandrateitkstrading9065]

Knicks in 6

[@ely578]

Knicks will be humiliated by Philadelphia

[@elai3147]

celtics biggest obstacle is tatum

[@reesebeast1949]

The New York Knicks are the Cowboys of the NBA, horrible fanbase first round exit

[@jdxsr85]

Silly comment. Knicks just started getting to the playoffs and getting farther each year whereas Cowboys always get to the playoffs and fail. There's still time to delete your silly comment.

[@aidenroqz]

Shows how much you know about football and basketball. Cowboys are perennial favorites to make the playoffs and possibly win a SB. While the Knicks hadn't made the playoffs consistently until recently. Stupid take. And btw, if you take SAS's opinion of the Knicks and think he speaks for the rest of us true Knicks fans you're really out of your mind. This man is not a true Knicks fan, he knows what brings clicks and talking like he is a Knicks fan and jumping in the bandwagon is gonna bring an audience that hates him from both sides. At least I can speak from a true Knicks fan perspective and tell you, whatever this man's opinion of the Knicks is, 99.9% of us don't agree with him. Just watch a video of him talking about 2 players he praised for being a "crucial" part of the Knicks success even though neither were on the team for months.

[@najeemodest3774]

Stop comparing football & basketball it makes zero sense

[@Davidstone568]

Boston has tatum...the choking booker of the east

[@ormgordon]

Stephen A has jumped the shark. Did you see his pod comparing Trump's criminality to MLK's civil rights? Cant even listen to the brother anymore.

[@shizzoflex3121]

The Knicks gone lose to the sixers lol

[@foualter102]

What???? The Knicks??? Another DELUSIONAL TAKE BY SAS AND THOSE KNICKS FANS.... 😂😂😂😂Lets face it, the only thing that can stop Celtics making it in the finals is Themselves...

[@BCWEASEL252]

I guaranteed you a healthy heat team would destroy the Celtics but the heat cannot stay healthy.

[@tylerfitzgerald3612]

- I don’t know ball

[@procopiomacaspac3087]

Dont live in the past! Will destroy? Ha ha

[@gbone1812]

This is a different Heat team

[@BCWEASEL252]

@@gbone1812 true but health is a concern

[@brucelau2023]

yeah and with Jimmy out sorry but this heat team is getting swept/gentleman's sweep

[@bencromwell707]

Stephen A 😂smh 😂😂😂

[@chillwill7]

Anybody who watches Boston games knows the biggest threat outside of turnovers is the magic

[@Hunned1000Trill]

Stay off the crack Stephen A

[@derrickablair1368]

Agreed!! Only the celtics is their own obstacle. And why Malika dress like construction worker

[@crob949]

Lmao, Stephen A is tripping, it will come down to Milwaukee or Boston

[@dazzle1933]

Stephen A smith a delusion nauseating NY Knicks fan. I can't stand them, they disgust me. There is nothing worse than a Knicks fan. I can't stand them

[@ChristianRamos-ln9zz]

76ers with Joel embid will sweep the new York Knicks 😂

[@gkatusared]

SAS is an Fing jinx...NOT a real knicks fan...proved it time anytime again this year alone

[@ZT2783]

:eyes: