Keith ranks Knicks eighth on list of top NBA contenders for next season
With most of sports in a lull during the MLB All-Star break, Keith decided to take part of Thursday's show to rank the top 10 contenders in the NBA after the bulk of the offseason moves have been made, and his list likely won't sit well with Knicks fans.
Keith ranked New York eighth on his list, behind the 76ers, Mavericks, and Bucks. Number one was the Celtics, just ahead of the Timberwolves, Nuggets, and Thunder.
"You're up there, but let's look at the East and the West and break it down and see who's actually been there before, who's made it past the second round," Keith said. "Ohh, they about to be mad at me…on paper, it sounds great, and in theory, it's amazing what they've been able to do.
"OG Anunoby has been hurt a ton. You had to pay him because of what you gave up for him in RJ Barrett and IQ. But I was watching the guy last year. He had an elbow and a hamstring. He's gonna have something again next year, let's just hope it's not late in the season."
Keith wants to see the Tom Thibodeau's group hold up physically through a deep playoff run, and wants to see Jalen Brunson earn his immense praise when it really counts in the Eastern Conference Final and NBA Finals before calling the Knicks one of the top contenders in the Association.
"Let's see it. This is what you wanted, Mikal Bridges. Let's see if the iron man streak continues. Let's see how many minutes and games he plays," Keith said. "Let's see how many minutes and games they all play.
"I get it, Jalen Brunson is the king of New York…but you guys have crowned a king that hasn't been able to get out of the second round. I love the guy's story…but to put a king at the top that lost to the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers, they got to get out of the second round this season. Maybe they will, but I'm putting the Knicks at No. 8."
