CLEVELAND — These Knicks remind Clyde Frazier and Spike Lee of the versions in the 1970s.
So to no surprise, both are predicting an end to the 53-year championship drought — regardless of whether the opponent is the Thunder or Spurs.
“The way we’re playing now, I don’t think it matters who we play,” Frazier said after the Knicks beat the Cavs 130-93 on Monday, advancing to their first NBA Finals since 1999. “Their suffocating defense, the ball movement. [Coach Mike] Brown came in wanting to run pace and space. But that was one thing they didn’t do. Now the last 11 games, the way they’re getting up and down the court, Bridges, Hart, they’re just moving and grooving.”
Lee, the original Knicks celebrity superfan, offered similar analysis of a team that has captured a franchise record 11 consecutive playoff games. They steamrolled the Eastern Conference.
“I don’t care about San Antonio. OKC. We’re going to win. May 8, 1970 [the first Knicks championship]. I was at the Willis Reed game. Thirteen years old,” Lee said. “So going to keep it going. This is a team of destiny, heart, drive. … It reminds me of Willis, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley, Dick Barnett, Cazzie Russell. I’m going back. I’m old, though.”
Frazier, arguably the greatest Knick in history, fittingly handed the conference finals MVP trophy to Jalen Brunson on Monday. It was a passing-the-torch moment alongside another Knicks legend, Patrick Ewing.
But as Frazier explained, the job’s not finished.
“It’s been a long time. Carrying on a tradition. Passing it down to Jalen so he’s the guy now who has to carry it,” Frazier said. “But you got to capitalize when you get there. So we’re going to stay on him. As Red Holzman would tell us at this point, ‘Hey, Clyde, we haven’t won nothing yet.’ ”
