Molly Qerim took the “First Take” faithful to task.
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo was making his customary Wednesday morning appearance on the ESPN program with Stephen A. Smith when the debate turned to the Celtics.
Smith believes the Celtics should be the favorites to win the 2024 NBA championship, while Russo was not buying the argument considering Boston did not even win the Eastern Conference this past season.
Toward the end of the debate, Smith made the argument that Kristaps Porzingis is a major acquisition for the Celtics.
Russo interjected that Porzingis has been in the league since 2015 and never played in a playoff game.
“Can I see him in a big game before we …” Russo asked, before Smith interrupted him.
“Everybody surrounding him has played in a big game,” Smith said.
Russo waved Smith off and said, “C’mon, that doesn’t mean anything.”
Qerim interjected, “That’s a fair point, to say we haven’t seen what he does in the playoffs.”
Russo continued to bark, noting that the Knicks, Mavericks and Wizards have all been OK letting Porzingis play elsewhere, as Smith countered that the expectations for him in Boston would be lower as a third option behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
At this point, Qerim informed Smith and Russo that they were about to “take it to the streets” and reveal the results of a viewer poll over which man was winning the debate.
Smith won, 55 percent to Mad Dog’s 45 percent.
“Awwww this is BS! This is BS!” Qerim said. “You know why it’s biased? Stephen A. has been doing this show for a million years, and they’re just voting for him.”
Smith wasn’t having it.
“We’re going to stop doing this poll,” he told Qerim. “Because every time I win, you just say people are biased. I happen to be right. You’re gonna give me credit for that! … I am right! I am right! Anybody who knows basketball know I’m making the right case.”
And that settles that.