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via Imago

via Imago

After years of suffering and despair, fans of the New York Knicks finally have a team that they can get behind and cheer for. The Knicks established themselves as a legitimate title contender after they clinched the 2nd spot in the Eastern Conference standings, with 50 wins from 82 games. They are scheduled to face the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. And by the looks of it, it’s already getting feisty.

The first match will be played at Madison Square Garden on 20th April. In a recent press conference, Sixers’ Kelly Oubre Jr. expressed his thoughts on playing at MSG, widely regarded as the Mecca of basketball. He said, “The fans are pretty crazy. They have a really good culture of being wild and loving basketball. The lights are super bright.” However, he accused the Knicks of giving out free tickets to celebrities who have no interest in basketball. He added, “They’re going to give celebrities those $100,000 free tickets just to be there and not care about the game.”

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Kelly Oubre’s recent remarks have sent the Knicks fans into a frenzy. Those familiar with the passionate Knicks fanbase understand the level of dedication shown by celebrity Knicks fans. Celebrities like Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, Tracy Morgan, Howard Stern, John McEnroe, and many more are all die-hard Knicks fans. Several Knicks supporters believe that Kelly Oubre doesn’t have a clue about the Knicks fanbase. One fan even wrote via his X account, “Knicks fans will not tolerate and slander directed at Ben Stiller or Tracy Morgan, etc.”

It is safe to suggest that Knicks supporters adore their celebrity counterparts, and any uninformed remarks wouldn’t go down well with the Knicks faithful. With the 2024 playoffs right around the corner, several notable names might find their way to Madison Square Garden to cheer on the Knicks in impressive form.

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New York Knicks vs Philadelphia 76ers: A mouth-watering playoff clash

The 2024 playoffs are set to get underway in less than 36 hours, and one of the most highly anticipated matchups will be Knicks vs Sixers. While the Knicks hold the home-court advantage, the Philadelphia 76ers would be a formidable foe, especially with a fit and healthy Joel Embiid. The New York Knicks go into the series as slight favorites. But Philly’s recent performances could be a source of concern for them.

USA Today via Reuters

The Sixers have won 9 consecutive games on the bounce, which also includes their comeback win over the Miami Heat in the play-in tournament. Nevertheless, the Knicks themselves go into the playoffs on the back of five consecutive victories. It would surely be an entertaining series, prompting neutral spectators to keep an eye out.

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Despite being regarded as slight favorites, the Knicks would severely miss the services of Julius Randle, who’s probably their second-best player after Jalen Brunson. However, on the positive side of things, new recruit OG Anunoby has returned from a long injury layoff because of an elbow injury. The Knicks have won 20 out of the 23 games that Anunoby has started in. The Knicks go into the postseason with a lot of optimism and anything less than a conference final will be viewed as a failure. So, will they live up to the expectation?