Not as successful a start as the off-season for the New York Knicks and the fans such as Kendrick Perkins are now worried. Now some of you might wonder why Perk would be a Knicks fan rather than his former team, Celtics. Well, the rumors of the rift between the two parties started after Perk was allegedly banned from the Boston Celtics’ parade following the championship win. His further absence from the team’s banner night and rather visiting Knicks vs Houston Rockets added fuel to the speculations. But his support for New York recently took a hit.

The 3-4 start to the regular season has been anything but impressive for the Knicks. And to add insult to injury was Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young with his comments after securing a 121-116 win the team. “I hope these New York fans find their way to the exit real real quick… Boo, take y’all a**es home,” he said after the game. Following the loss against Hawks, came Perkins’ response to the recent developments. “I have REAL CONCERNS about my Knicks!!!” he wrote on X.

After uniting Mikal Bridges with his Villanova buddies on the roster and then landing Karl Anthony Towns, there’s not much you can ask for from an offseason. But if you still struggle at the very start of the season, the concerns from the supporters seem valid. Especially, when you were expecting no other team but last season’s champions to be better in their conference.

“The Knicks are the second-best team in the Eastern Conference. It’s the Boston Celtics and then the New York Knicks…” Perkins earlier said. But before the Knicks can even think of competing with the champs, it seems they have to perfect the Cleveland Cavaliers challenge that stands in front of them. More than the Knicks’ 104-110 loss against the Cavs, their opponents’ one-sided domination is an issue of concern.

Team USA’s former lead analyst feels Cavaliers can upset the Knicks

As mentioned earlier, when New York grabbed Bridges and KAT, it looked like they were building an Eastern powerhouse. Something that many believed could even be Boston’s biggest threat. But it seems the same people had been sleeping on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Under new coach Kenny Atkinson, Cavs have come out blazing with a perfect 9-0 start. Something they’ve never done in their 55-year history.

No wonder that on The Bill Simmons Podcast, former Team USA analyst Kirk Goldsberry didn’t hold back his belief that Cleveland could be a real threat. “I think Cleveland (has) … a chance to upset the Knicks,” he shared, calling out the Cavs’ unique strengths. With Jarrett Allen dominating in defense and Evan Mobley contributing as a second rim protector, Cleveland’s defense isn’t something you want to mess with.

And it’s not just the defense. Goldsberry was quick to point out the stellar play of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, saying if they keep this level up, Cleveland could easily find themselves in the race for the East’s second spot. This further makes it clear why Kendrick Perkins would be concerned for the Knicks.