Before the playoffs officially began, major media outlets still ranked the power of this year's playoff teams.

ESPN is the most authoritative media outlet, and their rankings have been the most watched over the years.

First: The Thunder

Second: the Bulls

Third: Spurs

Fourth: The Cavaliers

Fifth: Lakers

Sixth: Suns

Seventh: The Heat

Eighth: The Pacers

……

TNT, another major sports outlet, has had some differences from ESPN's rankings in previous years, but this year, they are strikingly similar to ESPN.

In TNT's latest episode, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and their new partners also had a "sparkling" debate on the list.

"LeBron's departure has moved the league from an era of domination to a fragmentation of the league, and honestly, I think it made this year's playoffs even more exciting." Kenny Smith is an honest man, and he tells the truth as soon as he opens his mouth.

"Yes, of course, the Thunder, the Bulls, the Lakers, the Spurs, after last season, the team management set a goal to win against the Cavaliers who looked invincible, but now, LeBron's departure has made their opponent 'biu' disappear in one fell swoop, and it will make the situation extremely complicated." O'Neill followed.

"We're not going to talk about LeBron, we're talking about this list, guys!" Barkley pulls the conversation back.

"There is no doubt that the Thunder are the favorites to win the championship, and I think that as long as they can come out of the West this year, the championship is theirs, in fact, they have already reached the Western Conference Finals last year, according to the normal script, this should be their championship."

"Yes, normal script, but the Bulls aren't going to make it that easy, their defense, their Derrick Rose, oh my God, why is that guy so strong, I think it's time for Chicago to start a new Bulls dynasty." O'Neill retorted.

"Hey, why are you leaving the defending champions out of the air, I think the Cavaliers will still easily win three in a row." Kenny Smith abruptly interrupted the two.

"Kenny, are you a rocket fan or a Tang Tian fan? After the Cavaliers lost LeBron, their forward line was too vulnerable, 34-year-old Vince plus a 22-year-old Jimmy Butler, and a very old Battier and Artest, they worked in the regular season, but in the playoffs, it was the stars who fought for it, what did they do to block the forward firepower of Cameron and Stoudemire? Barkley couldn't help but complain.

"So do you think New Yorkers can stop Yao and Paul? They can't even stop Jeremy Lim. Smith retorted.

"Don't be that dude! That's just a role player! All right! I just want to say that Tang Tian and his Cavaliers are likely to fall into a fierce battle in the first round, or even lose the game, and they are now not on the same level as the Thunder and Bulls. Barkley continued to complain.

"No, I don't think the Knicks have a chance." Smith was-for-tat.

"Hey! Guys! O'Neill saw the two arguing, and then spoke directly, "Why don't you make a bet?" ”

As soon as O'Neal spoke, Barkley and Smith looked at each other, and then they both burst into laughter.

They hadn't gambled for a long time, and looking at each other, one of them had a donkey butt in their eyes, and the other was a sexy Victoria's Secret lingerie.

"Okay, let's play smaller, how about the loser take off his pants directly in the studio?" O'Neill had an expression that didn't make a big deal to see the excitement.

"Dude! Is this called smaller? Smith had a "" expression.

"I think that's a good idea." Barkley nodded.

Chance, that's a subtle word, not a generalization, and in a way, as long as the Knicks win their first two on the road, or make it 2-2, it's a chance.

So this gamble is actually a great chance of him winning.

"Hey, Kenny! Believe in yourself! I'm here for you! O'Neill egged on.

"Really?" Smith looked at O'Neill suspiciously, and the show was full of points.

"Of course, compared to your ...... Charles's ass is sexy enough. O'Neill said, squinting his eyes downward.

Barkley and Smith burst out laughing.

"Okay, okay! That's it! Smith shouted as he slapped the table one last time.

……

Two similar strength rankings, a program with explosive effects, before the playoffs began, the media had completely stirred up the atmosphere.

And because of this show, New York fans are more sought after than ever before for Barkley.

The first game of the series will kick off at Cleveland Quickloan Arena, and the Knicks have arrived in Cleveland the day before the game.

The media hyped up this group of duels, and reporters naturally did not let go of the opportunity to interview during training.

"Hey, JR, can you give us an interview?" Before practice began, a reporter caught the Knicks' backup point guard J.R. Smith.

Smith greeted Anthony and stopped.

He seemed to be in a good mood.

"Tomorrow night is going to be tough, are you ready?"

'Of course, Melo and I are ready to beat the opponent and yes, we will give the opponent a knockdown tomorrow night and we will win the game.' Smith was confident.

'Amare has just recovered from injury, how is he doing?' The reporter continued to ask.

"He's fine, he's fully recovered, and he's able to help me and Melo with firepower."

Smith's answer stunned reporters, and Smith seemed to think that this Knicks team was his and Anthony's team.

"Earlier Charles said on the show that the Knicks have a chance to beat the Cavaliers in the series, what do you think?" The reporter changed the subject.

"Nope." Smith shook his head directly.

The reporter was stunned, he really felt that Smith was not a little wrong in his brain.

"We're better than the Cavaliers right now, and we had a lot of injuries because Melo and I had a long injury when we didn't have a good record, but even then we made the playoffs as seventh and now we're all healthy, so we don't have a chance, we're going to win the series."

The reporter's eyes widened after hearing this, this Smith's idea is really too different from others.

However, from Smith's tone, he could tell that the latter was very confident.

At the end of the interview, the reporter stayed where he was and watched the Knicks' practice.

The atmosphere throughout the training session was relaxed, and most of the Knicks players had smiles on their faces.

Smith is not the only one who can see the confidence, and it seems that everyone on this team thinks they can advance to the next round.

The reporter watched the training all morning, and in the afternoon, he turned around and went to the Cavaliers' training camp a few kilometers away.

The Cavaliers' training is also open to the public.

It's just that compared to the Knicks' ease, their training is obviously much more serious.

From time to time, head coach Tang Tian loudly pointed out the mistakes of his players on the sidelines, as if they were the No. 7 seeds.