The expectations after reaching their first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years went off the roof for the New York Knicks. However, it proved to be short-lived as the Knicks saw back-to-back defeats and now find themselves on the brink of elimination. This does not look good for New York as they now have a mountain to climb, that too, away from their home. However, we’ve seen crazier things happen in the league.
But even as they face a difficult situation, things might just get trickier for the Knicks after what appeared to be another ankle injury to their superstar point guard, Jalen Brunson. So, what’s the update?
After what looked like a devastating blow to New York’s title hopes in Game 2, Jalen Brunson is all set to take part in Game 3. This news will give a sigh of relief to the New York faithful, as they hope their team is able to bounce back from this massive setback. It has been a difficult series for the Knicks so far, with not much going their way.
The Pacers have dominated them in both games and are in the driver’s seat for the series. On the other hand, the Knicks have been lackluster. So, what can New York change? Well, changes need to be made if they want to reach the finals.
While Tom Thibodeau and the players figure out a way, the fans seem to be finding other ways to support this team. Recently, the league announced that the infamous Scott Foster will be the crew chief for Game 3 between the Pacers and the Knicks. You might think, what’s that got to do with New York? If you are not aware, the NBA considers Foster a top official.
But the fans and players say otherwise. The official has been voted as the worst referee by anonymous player polls twice and finished second once. So, he’s a unique character. But how can he help the Knicks?
Game 3 officials: Crew chief Scott Foster, Sean Wright & Ed Malloy pic.twitter.com/BKKhMCCnRJ
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 25, 2025
The fans think that he can be their savior in a do-or-die matchup in Indiana. “We might be back, fellas.” A user wrote. He suggested that the appointment of Scott Foster could be the X-factor for the Knicks. Well, that’s because Foster is known to help trailing teams, although there’s no proof of this accusation. But the fans seem to believe the rumors.
Keeping that in mind, the New York faithful think that this might be helpful for them, as they hope to land their first W in the series. Meanwhile, other fans also had their say on Scott Foster’s appointment as the Crew Chief.
The New York Knicks fans believe in ‘The Extender’ ahead of Game 3
Scott Foster has been one of the most talked-about referees in the history of the league. Not for the reasons, of course, but still, he’s remained a top official for the league. In fact, he has officiated more playoff games than any other active official in the league, at 255. However, in the process of doing so, he’s gained an unusual reputation. “Haliburton dark magic vs Scott Foster ‘The extender‘” one fan commented.
Well, ‘The Extender’ is a nickname that has been bestowed upon Foster by the Hoops Community. Why? You might ask. That’s because more often than not, the games officiated by him end with the trailing team grabbing the win to extend the series.
May 7, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Official Scott Foster runs down the court during the second quarter of game two of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs between the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
So, the Knicks fans believe that he might be the lucky charm for their team. Another fan echoed a similar thought. “The Extender is here.” One user wrote with a sarcastic movie poster-like edit with featured league governor, Adam Silver, as the poster took a subtle jab at him. It claimed that Silver calls Foster whenever a series seems lopsided.
However, not all fans were satisfied with the appointment, with some raising concerns for their team. “He loves not to give Knicks calls and helps the other team all the time,” a fan pointed out. He stated that Scott Foster does not help New York. On the contrary, he gives calls to their opposition.
The Extender is here pic.twitter.com/xFsgDaMezi
— Scrap_Says (@Scrap_Says) May 25, 2025
Meanwhile, a fan took a subtle jab at a recent incident involving Foster. “This mofo better watch out for another bloody nose,” he wrote. He pointed out that Foster was on the receiving end of a lot more than just criticism.
The NBA referee took a hit from Minnesota’s Julius Randle and Oklahoma City’s Lu Dort during a jump ball, resulting in a painful nosebleed. However, that did not stop him from officiating the game. So, it will be interesting to see how the appointment of Scott Foster affects this Eastern Conference Finals series between the Pacers and the Knicks, as everyone awaits tip-off at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
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