Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley calling out Knicks during 8-game win streak is ice cold

After a 10-13 start and serious questions about the direction of the franchise, the New York Knicks have rattled off eight straight victories (with four different high scorers) and now sit at 18-13. What a thrill.

Now, let us not overlook the fact there exists a sect of New York fans that are anointing this current streak as the rebirth of the Knicks/the plan that was always supposed to come to fruition to help this team get back to true contender status. It’s no different from any other fandom. This is the way it is.

But most logical, everyday Knicks viewers are just happy to be here. Eight straight wins?! Over teams like the Cavs, Hawks, Kings, Pacers and Warriors?! That’s something! It’s especially encouraging because of the changes head coach Tom Thibodeau made with the rotation since the disastrous loss to the Mavericks on Dec. 3.

So unless Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley had their day interrupted by delusional Knicks fans camping outside Madison Square Garden and already planning their June around an NBA Finals trip, it’s unclear why they decided to take a shot at the hottest team in the NBA during TNT’s pregame show.

Shaq, already looking ahead to the playoffs, said he didn’t think the Knicks would get out of the first round. Barkley added that they’re not even the best team in their own city.

Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley don’t believe in the New York Knicks

What followed this callout? A 132-94 dismantling of Golden State with six players scoring double-digit points. Even with the Dubs missing Steph Curry, that’s an impressive win. It’s not like the Knicks are leaps and bounds more talented than the Warriors without Curry on the floor. This team won the Finals last year!

Considering this is a classic game the Knicks would usually drop after mustering significant momentum, it’s fairly easy to see how the narrative might’ve done a 180 over the past couple weeks.

The funny thing is that the Knicks were already a fringe playoff team entering the 2022-2023 season. The consensus was that they’d have a tough time battling the top of the Eastern Conference in the first round of the playoffs. Now they’re legitimately looking like one of the best well-oiled machines in the league and we’re not budging on what their potential might look like in four months?!

If the Nets are that much better, then why are they only one game up on the Knicks in the standings (thanks to a 9-1 run over their last 10 games)? They’re quite literally just as moderately impressive as the Knicks, if we’re talking “contenders.”

Additionally, if the playoffs were to start today, the Knicks would face the Cavaliers in the first round. That’s not a winnable seven-game series? For any playoff team in the east?

Come on Shaq and Chuck. You know better than to wake up Knicks fans and give them more unneeded fuel.

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