Draymond Green Issues ‘Misery’ Warning to Knicks in Playoffs Midway through Conference Semifinals…But NBA Analyst Slams ‘Lazy Take**’

Draymond Green is unconvinced by the New York Knicks’ chances in the NBA playoffs this season, saying their appearance in the conference semifinals is just a “chance.”

The Knicks are coming off one of the best regular seasons in their history, accumulating 50 wins for the first time in over a decade to enter the playoffs as serious contenders to go all the way and win the championship.

Jalen Brunson, who finished fifth in 2023-24 MVP voting, helped New York dream of a first title in 51 years after posting career-best numbers averaging 28.7 points on 48 shooting percent and 6.7 assists per game.

Tom Thibodeau’s men have since continued their fine form in the playoffs, overtaking the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round before taking a 2-0 lead against the Indiana Pacers in the second.

However, Green believes the Knicks need a reality check in the coming weeks, comparing their playoff run to the 2020-21 Atlanta Hawks team that reached the conference finals and didn’t get past the first tour since.

Draymond Green isn’t convinced by the Knicks’ chances in this season’s NBA playoffs

Jalen Brunson and Co currently lead the Indiana Pacers 2-0 in the NBA conference semifinals

Green told Knicks fan Jason Calacanis that his team would soon be brought back to earth.

“You can get to the conference finals, like the Atlanta Hawks, playing on very middle-of-the-road teams, so that’s kind of what you’re doing right now,” the Golden State Warriors star told Knicks fan Jason Calacanis in his “Draymond.” Green Show Podcast.

“And I think that prepares you for what happened to the Atlanta Hawks three years ago when they reached the conference finals and never came back.

“Another team that did that, to give you an idea, was the Portland Trail Blazers years ago, when they had Al-Farouq Aminu, Allen Crabbe, all these guys… they had all these guys and they went to the conference finals – and we pretty much swept them without Steph Curry.

“They ran out and paid all these guys because they thought they had a team, they had a chance, and it was a fluke.

“And so that’s what the Knicks are preparing you for right now, and it’s probably going to be another 15 years of misery, and then we’re all going to sit around and laugh at the Knicks fans with their delusion.”

Calacanis quickly shut down Green’s assessment of his beloved Knicks, insisting they now have a “top team” that is only on an upward trajectory.

The American entrepreneur isn’t the only one to disagree with Draymond, however, with former NBA star and ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins being even more critical of him in the latest installment of First Take.

“It’s a** lazy take by Draymond Green, let me say that first of all,” Perkins said.

Former NBA star Kendrick Perkins (R) called Green’s assessment a ‘lazy take’

When asked by Stephen A. Smith why Green’s opinion was “lazy,” he replied, “Because why call it a fluke?” Why call it a fluke when you look at a team that was built the right way?

“As far as coaching goes, when we watch Leon Rose and World Wide Wes (William Wesley) go out there and hire Tom Thibodeau, when we watch them go out there and recruit Jalen Brunson, who some say has been one of the best off-season signings probably in the last four or five years.

“So now all of a sudden you look at what they’re doing right now, without their other All-Star in Julius Randle, and they’re making waves — and they’re only going to continue to get better.”