With the Knicks set to tip off the NBA playoffs against the 76ers on Saturday, franchise great and broadcaster Clyde Frazier took a shot at Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby. Frazier will be serving as MSG Networks’ analyst for all first-round games. MSG will have live coverage of every game this series except Game 4, with exclusive and expanded pre- and postgame shows for every game.
Q: What do you think Knicks fans like about this team?
A: Defense. They’re defensive-oriented, they have a coach that’s similar to (Red) Holzman. He’s holding you accountable to playing defense, man, that’s the catalyst. If we’re gonna go anywhere, defense is gonna take us there. And I like the camaraderie, the players seem to like each other like we liked each other. It’s manifested on the court the way the ball moves. The ball is moving freely to the open man, they’re helping out on defense, they’re getting second opportunities, they’re rebounding. So there’s some similarities there to when we played.
Q: Can this team reach the Eastern Conference finals?
A: Obviously I’d be more optimistic if we had (Julius) Randle, but like Thibs (Tom Thibodeau) has been saying, I think we have enough. We have keys before the game, one of my keys is believing and achieving. Hey man, they gotta believe right now, they have to have the confidence that they can do it. They’ve done it, they were right there. So they’ve just gotta keep believing, man, that they can do it. They have their home court, that’s valuable because this is New York. The home court for them can be overwhelming both ways, it could be a catalyst and it could be a detriment. They have a lot of guys who haven’t had a lot of playoff experience. They know it’s gonna bring out the best in the opposition. They know they’re on the biggest stage, so this is what you’re up against.
Q: What would your advice be to guys that are unfamiliar with playoffs in New York?
A: That’s the learning experience. My first time in the playoffs I was hungry at halftime because I ate too soon. When I got in the playoffs, I stopped going out, I was sitting in my room, and I go, “Hey man, that ain’t for me.” So I started doing whatever I did in the regular season in the playoffs. You can’t change your routine drastically, but those are the things you have to figure out in gaining that experience — how to prepare for this different season when everything is quicker. When we played, no blood, no foul (laugh). During the regular season, it’s one thing, but now in the playoffs, man, it’s so much more physical the way they let you play the game. So all of these nuances you have to adjust to and incorporate in your game. It’s a culmination of your own experience as a player. Like they get punched in the mouth, say they lose this first game, how are they going to respond? Will they still have that confidence or are they gonna be devastated? This is a perpetual roller-coaster ride, you’re up and down, the trials and tribulations. During the playoffs we rarely practiced. Playoffs is adrenaline. It’s about adrenaline, and rest. Holzman would say, “OK guys, we’re gonna work 45 minutes. Don’t hold back, play hard and then I want you to get out of here and go home, go home and get rest.”
camaraderie similar to the teams he played on. REX/Shutterstock
Q: Where has Jalen Brunson made the greatest strides since he first became a Knick?
A: Leadership. Because would he be doing this if Randle were there? He would not be scoring this much. He’s more ball-dominant now than he would be if Randle was there. So he’s taken on that responsibility. And you see when they get the ball now who they’re looking for right away. They get it to Brunson, he’s the catalyst, let him create, let him do what he’s doing and we’ll play off of him.
Q: Do you see any similarities in his game to your game?
A: His stamina. His stamina, man. Take a lickin’, keep on tickin’, he keeps going, every time you think he’s gonna be down and out, he comes up with something new. When the Knicks signed him, I knew his career average was maybe 16 points. I was going, “Man if he averages 20 points, that’s good.” I thought like most people, if you put a taller guy on him and you double-team him, he’s gonna have trouble. And that’s gonna be amplified in the playoffs, and he’s gonna be seeing that now, but he’s seen it all year and it had no effect on the guy. He figured it out, how to get his shots off quicker, how to use his body, how to get to the free-throw line. … So his metamorphosis has been amazing, man, I’m sitting there watching it every night.
Q: He should be in the MVP conversation, right?
A: For sure.
Q: What kind of factor can OG Anunoby be in the playoffs?
A: He’s Clyde, he’s gotta bring the D. He might be on (Joel) Embiid sometimes. And obviously the other kid (Tyrese Maxey) that runs amok sometimes.
Q: What did you think of the trade?
A: Like everybody else, I was doubtful in the beginning. I wasn’t sure. I liked (RJ) Barrett, especially (Immanuel) Quickley, I was like, “Who’s gonna take up the slack for Quickley, what he brought off the bench?” We didn’t know about Precious’ (Achiuwa) ability. We knew he was a pretty good player, I didn’t know about his shot-blocking prowess, rebounding, what he’s brought to the game as well.
Q: Your thoughts on Donte DiVincenzo?
A: He’s the second coming of John Starks, man, he’s tenacious like Starks and hellacious. I like his defense, he creates a little havoc on the defense, he’s excellent at getting in the passing lane, huffing and stuffing. He’s an exciting player that can ignite a crowd, and the team as well.
Q: How about Josh Hart?
A: He’s a Clyde. He’s an all-around player, he doesn’t score like I do but he brings other intangibles that I brought to the game … rebounding, defense, he can push it in transition. Hart has to be consistent. Especially DiVo. He can’t go 4-for-14, 4-for-16. He’s gotta be pretty consistent like he’s been near the end of the season. We know he’s our chief 3-baller. That’s been a big advantage for us, especially when we get behind and he gets hot, like two or three of those, the crowd is crazy, then he goes in for a dunk. I view him a lot like Starks, man, he plays the game with reckless abandon. (Isaiah) Hartenstein, the same thing that he brings. He’s underrated as a passer, so he does a lot of little picking-and-roll, picking-and popping, his defense has picked up blocking shots. So all of these guys have to stay at the level they are now. They’ve all had like career years, and they’ve gotta carry that into the playoffs, they gotta come in with that confidence.
Q: What have you noticed about Deuce McBride?
A: Deuce is a defensive guy, so if he’s not scoring, he’s gonna bring the defense. They’re not relying on his scoring, his scoring is an asset.
Q: Thoughts on the bench?
A: We mentioned Precious off the bench. Bogie (Bogdan Bogdanovic) has proven that he can bring some offense. (Alec) Burks I don’t know, Burks had the injury and then he was kind of out of the rotation. Those guys have to be more instrumental, especially Bogie, he’s gotta bring some offense off the bench.
Q: Does Mitchell Robinson look in condition?
A: Like I say, this is all about adrenaline now, man, he’ll be ready. Embiid’s a big guy, man, so Robinson can keep him from dominating underneath the basket. Making Embiid a perimeter player. Not letting him post and toast, come inside and dominate. He’s got the bulk to do it and the size.
Q: Anunoby can help with Emboid and Maxey, right?
A: Yeah, he’s gonna have to, right.? See because they don’t want Brunson on Maxey, or Maxey on Brunson (chuckle). They’re gonna be trying to save those guys. We have Hart as well. Hart can move in there, maybe Precious, I don’t know. Thibs is gonna be very open-minded about what he has to do. But he has the guys to do it, he has the versatility, the players that he can come up with to try to stop these guys, give ‘em a different look. If Maxey gets hot, (Thibodeau) has OG, he can also put Hart, he can put different guys on him and try to slow him down.
Q: Why would you have liked playing for Thibs?
A: Because I played for Red. I see a lot of the similarities there, no-nonsense, team-oriented, do your job, work hard you get in the game. He never lambasts his players in public.
he played for Red Holzman, he said. Charles Wenzelberg
Q: The single key to the series would be what?
A: Embiid. The fear of everybody when Embiid came back, why they don’t want to play Philly. He has a perimeter game, he can go inside, he’s a good free-throw shooter, he blocks shots, so he’s very catalytic.
Q: You like the Knicks to win because of home court, or why?
A: The parity is uncanny, you see how all of these teams are ranked right there together. … To me, that’s the difference.
Q: Would the Knicks have been better off with the 3 seed and losing the regular-season finale to the Bulls?
A: I’ve been toying with that. Joe Louis said you can run but you can’t hide, man. Sooner or later you gotta go against them. Plus we get the home-court advantage in the second round if it comes to that.
Q: Describe the atmosphere you expect at the Garden for Game 1 at 6 o’clock Saturday.
A: It’s gonna be electric. The expectations, the positivity. Normally going into the playoffs this time of the year the Knick fans aren’t sure (chuckle). But I think right now we’re very optimistic we have a team that can compete and go in the playoffs, so they’re gonna let the team know that. It’s gonna be similar to COVID, when they came back from COVID. Remember the expectations there, the place was electric and … it kinda overwhelmed our guys because they didn’t know that aspect.
Q: Is the playoff crowd different from the regular-season crowd?
A: Yeah, yeah, they’re more vociferous from the beginning. They’re gonna be there early, they’re not gonna come late (laugh). They’re gonna be there early, they’ll be in their seats waiting, anticipating.
for postseason games at the Garden. FilmMagic
Q: What effect did that playoff crowd have on Walt (Clyde) Frazier?
A: 36 and 19 … 36 and 19, man! They made us believe we could do anything. I’ll never forget the one year we lost (1971 Game 7, Eastern Conference Finals) to the Bullets when they (Wes Unseld) blocked Bill’s (Bradley’s) shot, no one left the arena. People just sat there mesmerized, dumbfounded. How could we lose? We never thought we could ever lose at home, that’s how invincible the crowd made us feel.
Q: Aside from your 36-point, 19-assist Game 7 1970 NBA Finals game against the Lakers, do you have another favorite playoff memory?
A: Game 5 when Willis (Reed) went down. Bill Bradley told (Red) Holzman, “Let’s run a 3-2 offense,” which is more like a college offense to try to get (Wilt) Chamberlain on the perimeter to bring him on the perimeter, we had (Dave) Stallworth at the center, Stallworth kept going around Chamberlain, so that was a crucial game for us pulling that game off. Remember we got pulverized in Game 6. Lucky we had that home-court advantage coming back home.
Q: What makes the Celtics the team to beat?
A: They have it all — experience, they’ve been there. The last three years I’ve had them going all the way. This is a crucial year for them. To me they’re where Milwaukee was a few years ago. Remember Milwaukee was supposed to do it and they kept getting there and they didn’t, then they finally won. This is where the Celtics are right now. (Jayson) Tatum has been stupendous in the regular season but in the playoffs, he’s been very questionable in some games. So this is a make-or-break for the Celtics, they’ve gotta do it. They’ve got everything going for them.
beat in the NBA playoffs. SplashNews.com
Q: John Sterling announced his retirement at 85.
A: He’s making me the oldest announcer around now (laugh). Obviously John was my idol … 85? I wonder who’s dressing him. Sometimes I’m getting dressed and I can’t get my shirt collar down, my fingers, man. And then I see Hubie Brown, man. What is Hubie, 90? I’m going, “Man, this is amazing!” Not only that, these guys are still articulate. God bless ’em, man. A lot of the former players come to me, they see me, they go, “Clyde, damn, you look good man, you give me hope (laugh).” So John and Hubie give me hope, man, they give me hope.
Q: You plan on going (11 more years) until the age of 90, I would think.
A: I’m cutting back now trying to prolong my career. I’m still enjoying what I do, man.
Q: On this current roster, who could pull off wearing Clyde Wear?
A: (Laugh) I never see these guys dressed, they’re always in warm-ups. Let’s see, who could pull it off? I don’t know, maybe Precious, maybe Hart.
Q: I’d like to see the coach in one of your outfits.
A: (Laugh) That would be like Red, Red always wore the black suit. We used to tease Red all the time, so Red used to tell me, “Clyde, I keep it long enough, it’ll come back in style (laugh).”
playoff games as the MSG analyst. Getty Images
Q: Do you have a favorite outfit?
A: I guess the cow suit, because that was the favorite for the fans. And I haven’t worn it yet, I gotta break the cow suit out, I haven’t worn it, so …
Q: So we might see that for Game 1?
A: Yeah we might see that for Game 1 depending on the weather. The weather’s been a little warm, but if it gets a little cooler, I might have to bring out the cow.
round of the NBA playoffs “to make it a good season.” WireImage
Q: Would anything short of the Eastern Conference finals be a failure?
A: I don’t think so because of overcoming the loss of Randle. I think the people will give them the benefit of the doubt. But obviously I think we have to get past the first round to make it a good season.
