'Never Doubt NY:' Long Islanders Cheer On New York Knicks Ahead Of Saturday's Game

LONG ISLAND, NY — New York Knicks' fans rocked the Garden on Wednesday night, and the uproar could be heard well beyond Manhattan.

After the New York Knicks won NBA Finals game four and moved within one victory of their first championship in decades, fans across Long Island believe the title is within reach.

New Yorkers have been waiting 53 years for the Knicks to take home the title once again, with year after year of disappointment. Long Islanders said the past two years of the Knicks feel like watching a new era.

Long Island resident Diane Bentivegna said she has been cheering on her team since she was a sophomore in Sewanhaka High School.

"When the Knicks win, all New Yorkers win," she said. "The engaging spirit of this team ignited a fire in all our hearts. This team successfully reminds us that, regardless of our backgrounds and personal stories, together we are stronger."

Despite challenges, she hopes New Yorkers can stay strong.

"They united us then, and they have done it again," she said. "Remember, we don't have just the championship to celebrate. Let's celebrate that spirit of being the best we can be for each other."

A Huntington resident said she has stuck by the Knicks all these years, as well.

"I was in college during the Knicks' glory days of the early 1970s," she said. "The players were super popular not only on the court, but they ruled New York as fashion icons. Ten years later, all anyone could talk about was hockey, especially the Islanders. It's nice having the Knicks on top again."

After he started watching basketball with his dad, an Oyster Bay resident said he's been rooting for the team since. He said the past two years of the Knicks feel like watching a new era.

"I remember when one of the best seasons in years was making only the first round of playoffs with Carmelo Anthony, and we lost," he said. "And now, years later, we're 3-1 in the finals."

The current Knicks players have been underestimated most of their lives, and many have stuck by their side, community members said.

"It was the greatest comeback," Lisa Zelniker said. "Never doubt New York."

Joe Wade from Massapequa added that this could be a turning point for the state's teams, much like when the Mets and Jets both won championships in 1969.

"Shows there is hope for other New York sports teams," he said.

Huntington resident Robert Balina said he is thrilled to see his team thriving, especially seeing what they have accomplished in the past five years.

"I think long-suffering Knicks fans are finally able to be happy and proud of their team," he said. "But watching them for 20 years has been very painful and consisted of misled optimism. Which is why this playoff run and being so close to the goal are so surreal and amazing."

Although most fans are celebrating safely, Balina said there are always some who may cause a scene in the streets of Manhattan.

"Of course, there will be a few bad eggs of fans who will cause chaos just for the sake of causing it. Using it as an excuse to do whatever they please," he said. "I don’t think the violence is indicative of true Knicks fans; in fact, I think most just want to do it for social media clout. But at the end of the day, the city is starved for a Knicks championship, and hopefully we get it this Saturday."

A Massapequa resident agreed, adding that New York City fans are giving New York a bad rap.

"Making a mockery of us New York fans," the resident said, adding that whether the team wins or loses, fans will create an uproar.

For those concerned about traveling safely on Saturday to and from Manhattan, Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder shared a statement ahead of Saturday's game five:

"We will be heading up extra patrols and we will also be in areas of concern which includes Long Island railroad stations. We want to make sure that everyone enjoys the victory of the New York Knicks"