Madison Square Garden is one of the more historic venues in the NBA. It’s an arena that saw the game’s greats such as Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Patrick Ewing, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and many others put on amazing performances in front of one of the more passionate fan bases in the league.
Currently, it stands empty as the league continues to work through playing in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic that puts restrictions on large gatherings until the virus can be controlled.
As the Philadelphia 76ers invade The Garden on Saturday night to take on the New York Knicks, coach Doc Rivers had some strange feelings entering that arena with no fans. Rivers played for the Knicks in the early ’90s so he has some experience playing in New York.
“Strange, it just really is,” said Rivers pregame. “I played in the era of ‘Go New York, go New York go’ and the place was on fire. The whole city was electric, but the Rangers were phenomenal as well with (Mark) Messier and we had obviously Patrick Ewing and it was just a great environment. Right now, going through the city, very few cars, very few people walking. Walking in the Garden to no sound is just different.”
For a Knicks team that has been struggling for quite a while, they see this is as a bit of an advantage for them. Second-year guard RJ Barrett said that opposing teams really get up and play the Knicks at The Garden and now that the fans are not there, maybe they won’t have the same incentive to get up and play.
RJ Barrett says having no fans at MSG may be an advantage for NYK because opposing players always come to the Garden looking to have big games in front of the crowd. I think he’s right. Other coaches/players have said over the years that opponents always want to play well at MSG
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) December 26, 2020
Rivers added that he understood what Barrett was saying and he may be on to something with that.
“It’s Madison Square Garden,” the coach added. “You get Spike Lee and everyone else in the audience. It’s the one arena left from the original ones. Kids grow up wanting to play in MSG. The fact that there’s no fans, I think he may have a point, we’ll see. It’s still the Garden and for some of these guys, it may be their first time, so we’ll see but he may be on to something. I hope he’s wrong, at least tonight.”
Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. EST as the Sixers look to build a road identity.
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