Will the Knicks ride the wave or get a reality check in the Eastern Conference finals?

They embarrassed the 76ers in the second round of the NBA playoffs after a sweep was solidified with a 144-114 route on Sunday, and the “Inside the NBA” crew began discussing a potential NBA Finals appearance for Mike Brown’s surging group.

“It gets real again in the next round for the Knicks,” Kenny Smith said as the Knicks will face the Cavaliers or Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals. “Cleveland and the Pistons have caused problems for the Knicks this year.”

Smith added that the next round will look very similar to the Hawks series, which the Knicks won in six games.

Shaquille O’Neal, though, doesn’t think anyone in the East can contend right now with the Knicks, who have won seven straight games after falling behind 2-1 against Atlanta.

“They’ve shown me they are ready,” O’Neal said. “And I have to disagree with both guys, I think they’ll breeze through whoever the next opponent is if they play like this.”

Charles Barkley said the Knicks “had a cakewalk” to the Eastern Conference finals, calling the Hawks “not ready for primetime” while the 76ers dealt with injuries.

Kenny "Gets real again next round for Knicks…Cade such big guard…Cavs possibly most explosive backcourt NBA. This round…cakewalk
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Shaq "They'll breeze thru whoever next if they play like this
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Chuck "Had cakewalk…Whoever next v difficult
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Shaq "Knicks going to Finals" pic.twitter.com/y31zkDBi9K

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 11, 2026

“Whoever they play next is a very difficult series,” Barkley said.

“Knicks going to the finals,” O’Neal said, interrupting Barkley.

It’s been total annihilation in the Knicks’ last seven games as they’re firing on all cylinders, tying a record for 3-pointers in an NBA playoff game on Sunday with 25.

The Knicks also have the best point differential (+194) in NBA playoff history through a team’s first 10 playoff games, besting the 2017 Golden State Warriors, who added Kevin Durant to a team that went 73-9 in the regular season the year prior.

The wild ride will come to a halt for the next week or so as the Knicks await the winner of the Cavaliers vs. Pistons series, which Detroit currently leads 2-1 with Game 4 in Cleveland on Monday night.