KENDRICK Perkins demanded respect for Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks – as Shannon Sharpe picked them to lose their second-round NBA playoff series to the Indiana Pacers.
The second-place Knicks face the Pacers after dispatching the Philadelphia 76ers in six games.
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Sharpe, 55, suggested Indiana advance to the Eastern Conference Finals despite acknowledging Brunson’s excellent form heading into the 2023-24 NBA season.
“Man, it’s really hard to pick against Jalen Brunson because he’s been sensational,” the NFL Hall of Famer said to begin his analysis.
But he was quickly interrupted by Perkins, 39, who raised his eyebrows and gave a sarcastic response.
“Then don’t do that,” Perk said, making host Christine Williamson laugh.
There followed an uncomfortable pause from Sharpe.
“Well, I’m about to do it,” the three-time Super Bowl champion finally said before predicting a Game 7 victory for the Pacers.
Sharpe said he expects both teams to deliver an “epic series” and called Brunson the best player on either lineup.
But he suggested Indiana’s depth and pace could be too much for the Knicks to overcome.
“I don’t know what else Jalen Brunson, good friend Brunson and the Knicks need to do to get people [to] respect [them] – especially Unc [Sharpe]” said Perkins next.
“But it’s the Knicks in six and I’m really undecided if I’ll beat them in five.”
Perk emphasized New York’s perimeter defenders and their ability to switch pick-and-rolls to explain his confidence in the Knicks.
He said that unlike the Milwaukee Bucks, who lost their first-round series with the Pacers in six games, they won’t allow Pacers guard TJ McConnell to “look like Steve Nash.”
McConnell scored 20 points on 77.8% shooting while recording nine assists and four steals in Game 6 against the Bucks.
“I understand, everyone is looking at the depth and how [Knicks head coach] Tom Thibodeau is going to play against your players for a lot of minutes,” the retired NBA center added.
First look at the numbers
First Take has grown from strength to strength under the guidance of Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim over the past year.
ESPN’s weekday debate show averaged 496,000 viewers in 2023 — making it the most-watched year in the show’s history.
The December average of 611,000 represented a 24% annual increase compared to 2022.
The show has also recorded more than 250 million views on YouTube.
First Take was helped by the addition of Shannon Sharpe alongside Smith and Qerim after he left Fox Sports’ Undisputed.
“But these guys were made for this.”
Perkins predicted that the matchup between Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby would be the deciding factor of the series.
The 2008 NBA champion also highlighted the atmosphere at Madison Square Garden and the fact that the Knicks entered the series with home field advantage.
And, he noted, Brunson and company showed they can perform under pressure, overcoming great performances from Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid to beat the Sixers in the first round.
Brunson averaged 35.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 9.0 assists against Philadelphia.
The Knicks lost the regular season series with the Pacers 2–1.
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