Knicks' slow title defense splits ESPN's panel as New York heads back to Philadelphia

The New York Knicks opened their title defense with three straight losses. That was enough for some people to say the champions won't get out of the first round. ESPN put that claim to two of its writers in a roundup of early-season overreactions, and they came down on opposite sides.

Zach Kram called it an overreaction. He pointed out that he had predicted a dip in regular-season wins, so the sub-.500 start against a hard schedule did not surprise him. The real problem, in his view, is an offense that ranked 25th. Its weak spot has been the midrange: citing Cleaning the Glass, Kram noted that New York was hitting just 30 percent of those shots, last in the league, after ranking fifth at 45 percent a year ago with mostly the same players. He expects that number to bounce back. He added that it would take a far bigger sample before he stopped seeing the Knicks as favorites in any Eastern Conference series.

Ben Golliver took the other side, and admitted his case rests more on feel than on data. He agreed the opening week was tough. But he said the close losses to Philadelphia and Boston showed "just how charmed their 2026 postseason was from start to finish," with Jalen Brunson's late shots and OG Anunoby's tip-in covering for a habit of falling behind. Golliver doubts that formula holds up with a target on the team's back. He also pointed to how much repeat runs have worn down younger teams, and to an owner, James Dolan, who has seemed content with one ring.

The Knicks have strengthened Kram's side since the debate was written. After beating Detroit 111-97 on Tuesday for the Pistons' first loss, New York won 133-127 in Chicago on Wednesday, as CBS Chicago reported. Brunson scored 38 with seven assists, Anunoby added 23 and Karl-Anthony Towns had 19 points and 13 rebounds. It also fed Golliver's comeback theme. Sofascore noted that the Bulls led by as many as 19 and were still up six after three quarters before New York scored 43 in the fourth.

What it means for Friday in Philadelphia

At 2-3, the Knicks go back to the team that started their slide. Philadelphia won the opener 106-100, the first of three straight losses by single digits to Philadelphia, Boston and Orlando by a combined 18 points. Friday's game, on Prime Video, is a quick chance to make up for one of the close losses Golliver pointed to. It is also a test of whether the midrange shots Kram expects to fall are starting to go in.

The market leans toward New York. On the board for the game, the Knicks are favored at -115 on Novig, with the 76ers at +113. The best price anywhere on Philadelphia is +114 at BetRivers, so that side differs by only a point across the 12 venues tracked. On the spread, Novig has New York -1.5 at -111. BetRivers offers -0.5 at -137, and BetMGM has Philadelphia +2.5 at -118. The total sits at 227.5 on Novig at -102 either way, with BetMGM at 228.5. Sportsbook hold runs from 2.9 to 5.3 percent on the moneyline.

A narrow favorite on the road against a team that has already beaten them fits the tone of ESPN's debate. One more win in Philadelphia would put the Knicks back at .500.