Celtics

Charles Barkley calls Knicks ‘overrated’ after fans erupt in ‘We want Boston’ chants

"Y'all think you're the greatest thing since sliced bread. C'mon, y'all ain't that good in New York."

Charles Barkley called the New York Knicks "overrated" following their second-straight win against the Pacers. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images for The Match)

By Faith Pinnow

Charles Barkley doesn’t care who wins the NBA Finals, but he has a feeling about what will happen in the Eastern Conference finals.

“I would love to see them get they [expletive] stomped by the Celtics,” Barkley said about the New York Knicks on “Inside the NBA” following their 130-121 win over the Indiana Pacers Wednesday night. “I’m just saying, whoever wins this series is going to get stomped by the Celtics.”

The NBA analyst didn’t mince words when he expressed his desire for a Boston-New York showdown. With the Knicks leading the Pacers 2-0 in their second-round playoff series, they could make their first conference finals appearance since 2000.

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But as “We want Boston” chants echoed outside of Madison Square Garden Wednesday night, it’s clear that Barkley isn’t the only one pulling for a Celtics-Knicks matchup.

This year’s version of the chant, which has been used as a battle cry by Eastern fan bases hoping to advance to the next round of the playoffs, originated in Miami. Heat fans bellowed “We want Boston” throughout the Kaseya Center after their win over the Bulls in the play-in tournament ahead of the first round.

The Heat wound up losing to the Celtics in five games, with three of the four losses coming by at least 20 points.

Next, it was Cavaliers fans who chanted “We want Boston” after their Game 7 win over the Magic on Sunday. And now, the Knicks want a piece of Boston.

Barkley, however, threw his support squarely behind the top-seeded Celtics, who hold a 1-0 lead over the Cavaliers in the semifinals.

“You New Yorkers, you deserve it,” Barkley said. “Y’all think you’re the greatest thing since sliced bread. C’mon, y’all ain’t that good in New York.”

And while Barkley complimented New York’s food (specifically the pizza, bagels, and street food)), he called the city’s basketball team “overrated.”

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But as the Knicks continue to sail through the postseason, the young team has shown no signs that they’ll be “stomped” so easily. Star guard Jalen Brunson showed his doggedness Wednesday night, returning to the game after a foot injury sidelined him late in the first half.

The Knicks and the Pacers meet for Game 3 on Friday at 7 p.m. The Celtics and the Cavaliers meet Thursday night at TD Garden at 7 p.m. for Game 2.

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