Stephen A. is CONCERNED for the New York Knicks if they don’t have OG Anunoby 😬 | First Take

Why don't we start less than a mile away at Madison Square Garden, where they're probably still partying out on 7th Avenue.The Knicks outlasting the 76ers 108 -102 yesterday.Joellen Bede was ruled out on Wednesday afternoon with an ankle and hip injury.Jalen Brunson pulling off more fourth -quarter heroics and led New York with 26 points.But as Stephen A alluded to, the win may be overshadowed by some potential injury news.The Knicks Lost forward OG Anenoubi with about three minutes remaining in the game, an apparent right leg injury after a dunk attempt.

Post -game, Mike Brown didn't really provide much of an update on Anenoubi's status.And it was a back -and -forth battle in New York all night with 25 lead changes in Game 2.That's the most in a playoff game in 11 years.And it was also featured Dana had 14 ties, neither team here led by more than seven points in this game.So Stephen A, the bigger headline here, the Knicks coming out on top or the fact that they have a 2 -0 lead in the series and knowing that O .G.

Ananobi in the injury news is still up in the air.

Well, it's a lot.It's the latter because of O .J.because the reality is, is that we expected the New York Knicks to be up to hold a second that we heard Joel Embiid was going to be out for game two.They better have won that damn game.So we anticipated that the New York Knicks would be up to.

Oh, we anticipated that big body Brunson, as you so elegantly call him, would do his thing.We anticipated that O .G.and Anobi shoot better than 50 percent from the field.Dropped twenty -four points last night would do his thing.I saw that stroke late from McHale Bridges.

Very proud of that brother.Got on him.Got on him for weeks.God damn it.He has shown up.You understand since game five of the Atlanta Hawks series.

Mikel Bridges has shown up.Let me keep that same energy.We'll bar and give him the love that he deserves.Got inspired a brother.Got to push him.Got to prod him.

Got to inspire him.And Josh Hart and the rest of the crew are doing that thing.Mitchell Robson and play last night.You didn't have that.protection.Didn't have that back of point guard called Anthony Towns got in foul trouble 27 minutes still in all they managed to close the deal because the New York Knicks was supposed to the real issue here is OG because of how important he has been to the New York Knicks success.

Make no mistake.We need him.Got to remember had a hamstring injury earlier this season in November into December.He missed 10 games.He missed 10 games because that is the regular season is the postseason, but we always hear about how hamstring injuries linger, whatever.I'm trying to get to the NBA finals.

That's what I'm trying to do.If I'm in New York next and I need og in order to pull that off.So to me right now awaiting this news waiting to hear what the situation here is involving him is far more important right now.That is the story for me at this moment in time.

Well, Stephen a Whatever you want to be today, look, I'm down with it, but you better continue to pray.Because Jalen Brunson is the best player, big -body Brunson.Carl Anthony Towns is the most important player.But O .G.Ananobis is the X -Factor.

And the New York Knicks are not making it out of the East without O .G.Ananobis being healthy.And to be honest with you, with O .G.and Inouye and the way he's been playing of this entire postseason, one could argue that the Knicks could win it all.

I said it last week, and I really stand on that and believe that.Here's the bigger topic.Put me up on the screen with everybody, because I need to see this.I know I'm a ruff of the feathers.Hey, Legend, what's going on, Legend?What's going on, Legend?

Good morning to you.Big bro, listen.The bigger issue is, is that it woke me up when I saw O .J.and Anobi had to be taken out the game last night.And I know I've been critical of Steve's courage.

comments.I've been critical of Greg Popovich for starting low management.But we got a bigger issue here.And I'm starting to lean more towards what they've been saying over the past.You know, one, we might need to take out this 62 -game rule that the NBA has put in place.Because if you look at the history, 65 game, excuse me.

If you look at the history of what's been happening with soft tissue injuries, okay?Aaron Gordon, soft tissue injury.J -Dub.Hamstring.Luca.Hamstring.

Jason Tatum.I know that's a little different, but still.On the other side, calf strain, right?He was out.So you start to think about Anthony Edwards, and you look at Steph Curry in the play -in tournament, and I googled runner's knee.And the first word that popped up was overuse.

And my thing is, is that we have to put something in place because in the postseason, I want to see people at their full strengths.I want to see teams fully healthy.And we're not seeing that right now.It's a problem in our league.And I know the old heads today, you, the legend Mike Wilborn, y 'all know y 'all used to, you know, guys playing 82 games and playing through a season, but it's a lot different now.The pace of the play has picked up, so it's a different conversation.

Herc, I don't disagree with you, but you know the only adjustment that can be made is shortening the regular season, which neither side is going to do.The owners don't want to give up 10, you know, 10 dates, maybe five home dates.The players are going to want to have their paychecks rearranged.So it's not going to happen.You are a hundred percent.Right?

If the season was 70 games, you get a lot better product.Look at the injuries have taken over.postseason.By the way, it's not just the this isn't the only one we started seeing this.I don't know back when Durant and Klay Thompson and Steph had seven to miss time in the playoffs several times Giannis.We're talking about the biggest stars in the game future first ballot Hall of Famers Kawhi.

I won't let Stephen a get started, but all of these guys have missed playoff games and this playoff run.It's like, okay, I'm scared to sit there and watch a game because somebody's going to go limping off.And I agree with you guys on an Adobe.I don't know given what the Pistons have done to the Knicks already Courtney.I don't know.They want to go into that.

They certainly don't want to go into it without an Adobe.Can they get past the Sixers without an Adobe probably even though I expect Philadelphia to rebound for one game for game three, but Anna Nobis injury last night when he signaled the bench and limped off the floor and back to the locker room pass where I was standing.That was not a good situation.

Even a I know you mentioned his history with hamstring injuries and something to keep an eye on here.It affected him in the playoffs before and that Indiana Pacers series a couple of years ago.But Stephen a like if he has to miss a game if he has to miss two games, whatever it is, who do the New York Knicks need to look to in Ognjena Nobis absence because he's been the best player in the playoffs so far for his team.

Well, there's going to be more opportunities for a guy like Mikael Bridges.I would say so.I mean, you know, and listen, let me get at it again.He should step up.four unprotected first -round picks.I have not forgotten.

I'm not going off of what I'm saying.I'm very proud of what I've been seeing him over do over the last couple of games.But all you're showing is that you are capable.So guess what?Step it up and be even more capable in the absence of OGM.And know me, it's not going to be just one guy's going to be a committee.

You don't have cats coming off the business client to make their contributions.Certainly.Josh Hart's going to be up in there.You're going to look for him to do something.a little bit more.But Mikhail Bridges to me is going to be the key because I think that the more opportunities that are thrown in his direction, if he answers the call, then he'll, you know, it'll be a key that.

And obviously, listen, he'll get more opportunities.But call Anthony Towns got to stay out of foul trouble.Charles Barkley is absolutely right.Call Anthony Towns is driving me crazy with the stupid fouls that he gets on himself.He's got to find a way to avoid that.He's too important.

We need them on the basketball court.But I would say it's the combination of both of them.It'd be Cat and Mikael Bridges.

Well, let me jump in and say something about Bridges for a second.I haven't had a chance to get at Stephen A about this.Stephen A, your annoyance with Mikael Bridges is completely misdirected.What if the compensation is the problem directed to the person who made the deal not in Malik not not not at all at Bridges who was a vital part of a team to reach the finals something your Knicks haven't done in about 50 plus years.You got him.But for the compensation for the first round picks he didn't trade him for himself.

Get on your guy who made the deal and gave a four round pick.They're going to need Bridges Bridges.We knew what Bridges was when he was on Phoenix.We saw exactly what he was he was he wasn't going to start being Scottie Pippen when he arrived in New York because somebody gave up four picks for him.We know what Bridges is and he's good enough to help this team get past Philadelphia.And you're right about this.

He is going to have to be the guy but to continually get on him.Cause somebody traded four picks for him.That's not on him.

Excuse me.Excuse a couple of things.Number one, America.You see, this is the, this is the, this is where humility kicks in because you know, I might be the number one morning show, but damn it.I ain't number one.That's that man right there.

That's PTR baby.That's number one for the last 25.Thank you.My brother.Okay.Not just as always.

Secondly, he's now he's setting me up.I got to go on the Roper though.I might beat him.I might be the big brother to other people, but damn it.I'm the little brother to him.So I can see what I'm saying.

He put me in this bad spot, but that doesn't mean I don't get to call you to the carpet for misrepresenting my.What I have said about, listen, I've gotten on McHale bridges because my God was he in.I mean, it was just, he was just playing badly and we all knew it.And then Mike Brown confirmed it when he put his behind on the bench and Clarkson and others were coming off the bench and they were playing more minutes than McHale bridges for a few games because that's how lack that that's how much he lacked an efficiency of productivity.That's number one.Number two what I was saying is this for first round unprotected picks two swaps six picks overall.

I'm saying to you if you Mikkel Bridges you know what they gave up for you.Do what at least what you did in Phoenix.Do be that player.Be what you want.That's all I was saying about you on where I was where I was holding cats accountable.Mike Wilburn in terms of the actual deal.

It wasn't Mikkel Bridges with one hundred and fifty million.You know that I had no problem with one hundred and fifty million today's economy.He deserves every dollar every dollar that paper right there.Right.What I was pointing to was Jalen Brunson because obviously you're the face of the franchise.You could have signed a a five -year, $270 million deal.

You signed a year earlier, four years, $156 million.You saved the New York Knicks $114 million.I get all of that.But the flip side to it is that if you want them to do that, if you do that because you want them to go out and get your boy, you know what?You don't let them trade the whole damn farm for him, six picks, four unprotected, for a non -All -Star.That's a little bit much, Leon Rose.

And what I was saying about Jalen Brunson and Leon Rose was that, damn, that's a lot.Because we had a chance to get Giannis this summer and you didn't have the assets to pull that off.I know we can still try to pull it off this summer, but you didn't have the assets.So I was pointing to the compilation of all of those things will bond and saying damn McHale bridges.Your name is attached to that.You can't be averaging seven points on 28 percent.

when that comes with you because you better than that.Just be who you've been.Be that 18 to 20 point per game scorer who's giving you about 75 games a year, who's on the court for 35 minutes, being an elite defender.Give us that at least.That's all I was saying.

He's giving you 82, by the way.He's going to give you 82 every year.That's all he's giving you.He's going to give you 82.And I appreciate the great back and forth.I always like to see you get what you're worth.

I have to just agitate.You know I got to agitate.

Because Stephen A is not here, Perk, so I got to open the bottom a little bit.No, no.I always like the energy.What you always say?Getting truckling?Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah.That's what he say.But look, you're wishing on a star.Right now, it's not orange and blue skies in New York right now.Everybody is worried.Again, we could talk about Mikael Bridges stepping up, but it's no replacing O .

G.Ananobi.I agree.I said this last year.I'm gonna say it again.He's the 2026 version of Scottie Pippen.

And his versatility, you cannot replace, especially on the defensive end.We saw last night when the Knicks went small.When they went small, who was playing the center position?O .G.Ananobi.

That's how versatile he is on both ends of the floor.He does, but he's knocking down the trade ball.He has done an outstanding job for us.The new offensive set that they're running for us, like, quote unquote, the Golden State system.He has benefited from that.If O .

G.Ananobi is not healthy, then y 'all have no shot in hell.and winning an NBA championship this year.

I totally agree with you.Nobody's knocking that, but here's how you work around that, in my estimation.You got him off that court.The minute he asked you out, you got him off the court.Yes, and just to put a bow on that.The Knicks could afford to be out without OG for the next two games.

Two games, I agree.I'd hold him out.I'm with you on that.And you know what?Don't bring him in.before game five at the Garden.

I agree, Steven.Give him that rest.Give him the rest of the week.Let's see how it goes and we go from there.

what Mikhail Bridges has done.38 minutes last night gave me 18 points on 9 -13 shooting.If you get more of that, you can survive in the short term.Let's work.I want to look at the other side of this game because J. Will was on the show the other day and said something pretty interesting about Joel Embiid.He said he doesn't feel like he's the player that you can win a title with.

And then last night, we see that Embiid doesn't play.Find out that there's ankle and hip injuries that come up.He misses game two.He has now missed 12 career playoff games.throughout his time with the 76ers.

Does he deserve criticism for missing game two?

Obviously, we don't want to like question injuries here, but his team needed him.

Here we are again.Different year, same story when it comes to Joel Embiid.And J. Will's right.You can't win a championship with Joel Embiid being one of the faces of your franchise because you can't trust him.Right?You can't trust him to be available.

And I understand his history is long when it comes to his injuries in the past, but Anthony Edwards has set the bar, in my opinion.Right?And when you think about him saying, you know, the doctors were holding him out.He wanted to play, but the organization said no.Well, Anthony Edwards showed us that the player ultimately has the last word.And to me, If you're Joel Embiid, we can't look at him, we can't look at his prime like everybody else's prime, right?

You only have a short window to max him out.And right now, yes, we have the Knicks, a lot of us have the Knicks' favor to win this series, and rightfully so.But let's be honest, Joel Embiid on the floor is a difference maker.Joel Embiidon that floor last night is a huge difference maker, especially when the Knicks went cold, I mean, excuse me, the 76ers went cold in the fourth quarter and couldn't make a shot.Joel Embiid brings that balance of being able to get some buckets and get to the free throw line when you're struggling from shooting from the outside.

So again, when you look at Joel Embiid, I'm saying to myself, Hey bro, at some point you gotta put your foot down.If you wanted to play, get out there.Take a shot, put it on the line.Lay it all out on the line for your team and get out there on the floor.So again, yes, he should take some criticism for missing game two.Perk, let me jump in for a second.

Having been at Madison Square Garden last night, one of the things that the Philly folks were thinking after they found out mid -afternoon that Joel would miss that game, they probably wish they would hindsight sat him Monday night for game one.Because obviously Monday was a physical struggle coming off the game seven with Boston.If they let him sit out Monday night, they'd have had him back for last night.We saw what happened in the previous series, even in the Boston series.Remember, he didn't play that whole series, missed the first three games of that.So, but here's why I am reluctant to criticize Joel.

His body is not going to, is not stood up for him.and apparently is not capable of standing up to the rigors of an 82 -game, really 100 -game, we count playoffs, nearly 100 -game schedule.It just isn't.We've seen this.We see this with Anthony Davis.We saw this with the great Hall of Famer Bill Walton.

There are guys, particularly seven -footers, and I know, Perk, you know this firsthand because you played against these guys, and you were one of these guys having to play through this grind.There are certain guys, despite being just lavishly talented, whose bodies do not, cannot,stand up to the demands of a nearly 100 game season.And that's been Joel Embiid.You reminded me of this early on.He missed his first two seasons.

He couldn't be out there and play.I don't think he's played 70 games once if he has only one time.So we shouldn't have been surprised by last night.The Sixers players know how to play without him.They nearly got away with one more than one thing can be true.with Joel Embiid in that game last night.

Max he's not hang dog tired.Paul George is not hang dog tired.Those guys ran out of gas late with Embiid on the floor.That is unlikely to happen.But I I would bet you he'll be out there Friday night.And this series if it gets to two one it's still a series.

I'm with Will Bond on this.The most games that Joel Embiid has ever played in his career in a season is 68.of all the years that he has been in the NBA perk, 10 years playing, the first two years he missed completely.The last 10 years he's played, only four times has he played more than 60 games.And he's never played more than 68.The man, his body can't take it.

Everybody can't be Ant -Man.Ant -Man, the way Ant -Man came down in that first round series, all right, we thought he was gonna be out a hell of a lot longer.But Ant -Man is different.And yes, you're absolutely right.players for the most part.You got to make that call.

No question.I want to hear about no medical staff team all of a sudden.No you you're going to make that determination.But Joel Embiid is the exception where you put your foot down as an organization because of how fragile he is.And those two times his teammates fell into his knee in game one.Both of those were legitimate

incidents that could have led to him being out the rest of the damn series.To be honest especially when Maxi fell into.I'm just making the point that I can't listen if you're somebody that that has durability that usually has durability on your side and you've shown an ability to overcome it that would be different.everything about this man's entire career.

He just can't deal with it.But how about how about many restrictions?Right.That's what we're seeing from Anthony Edwards.I'm saying your your window for him being able to when you talk about His window for his prime is not the same as everyone else's.The Philadelphia 76ers, whether we believe it or not, I guarantee you they have belief in that locker room that they could win the NBA championship.

They're probably preaching that.He wouldn't have came back against Boston and did what he did if they didn't.