NBA fans would be silly to bet against the Cleveland Cavaliers right now.
They hold a dominant 44-10 record, remain the best team in the Eastern Conference, and just committed a very impressive and perhaps massive trade for De’Andre Hunter.
They should be considered frontrunners to win the East, but there will be serious competition.
Speaking on ESPN, Kendrick Perkins said the New York Knicks will be “a legit threat” to the Cavs and he added that it’s partly due to the hard work of one player: OG Anunoby.
“OG Anunoby, I believe that he’s a 2025 version of Scottie Pippen…Come April, we’ll see the best of this Knicks team, and they’re gonna be looking eye to eye with the Cavs and Celtics,” Perkins said, per KnicksMuse.
Kendrick Perkins:
“The Knicks are a legit threat… OG Anunoby, I believe that he’s a 2025 version of Scottie Pippen… come April, we’ll see the best of this Knicks team, and they’re gonna be looking eye to eye with the Cavs and Celtics.” pic.twitter.com/qkceIOgGMz
— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) February 14, 2025
Anunoby is averaging 16.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game, shooting 48.2 percent from the field.
This is his first full season with the Knicks and he looks like a perfect fit for the team’s plans.
As a whole unit, the Knicks have been impressively consistent all season long and have held firm to their spot as the third seed in the East.
They are 36-18 right now but there is a chance they could slip past the Boston Celtics, who are second seed with 39-16.
Even with a defense that sometimes falls apart, anyone writing the Knicks off is being foolish.
There is no doubt that they’re a strong threat and the Cavaliers should take them very seriously.
Perkins believes the Knicks will only get better and thinks they’ll be in their finest form in April.
That could make life very complicated for the Cavaliers.
NEXT: Analyst Questions If Cavs Need To Show A Different Kind Of Toughness
