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2024-25 Game Thread: Knicks vs. Celtics – Stand Around and Boast

The Celtics are in town, and they could have easily rested most of their starters tonight, but they seem to want to make a statement against the Knicks, so now is the time for the Knicks to make a statement right back and kick their asses!

Let’s go, Knicks!

The Dylan tune is the classic “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues.”

265 replies on “2024-25 Game Thread: Knicks vs. Celtics – Stand Around and Boast”

What I’m watching for:

– Celtics lead the NBA in 3 point attempts at 48 while the Knicks are bottom 5 with 34 attempts per game. If you want to compete you have to close that gap.

This year the Celtics have made the most 3’s in history and attempted the most as well. Will Thibs get his team to defend the 3 point line?

Not a good idea from OG to try to pass the ball between the 2 Celtics that were near him.

Knicks effort on defense has been beyond embarrassing, getting really lucky Boston can’t make anything so far.

If the Celtics miss wide open 3’s in every playoff game I think we have a chance

That’s two defensive rebounds that the Celts took right out of the Knicks Hands (Hart, then OG) that led to baskets. Unacceptable. They are known for doing that, you have to protect the ball and expect the hard strip and flash into passing lane before looking to pass.

Kevin Harlan’s voice is in the most annoying perma-excitement mode. It’s like the most thrilling thing in the world is “Jalen Brunson dribbles up the court…”

The good news is that Towns may force the Celtics to change their defense. The bad news is that Boston is close despite shooting horribly and they are not going to shoot badly all game.

Anyone know if there is a way to watch the Knicks Celtics game whereby I can hear play by play via Clyde or Breen or ANYONE other than the Dreaded Kevin Harlan?

How is that not an “and 1”?

These refs must have bet the Celtics

I like the way we’re playing, but the Celts obviously aren’t coasting in this one, at least not yet.

Kevin Harlan sounds like he spent a lot of time as a kid pretending he was a formula one driver and got stuck that way.

It’s so surprising to me that Luke Kornet has had a real NBA career

I don’t mind Harlan but maybe I will now

I’m embarrassed to admit some of the things I’d do if it meant ensuring a healthy Mitch in the playoffs

I never really care that much about who the announcers are unless they are clearly incompetent, abject homers, or biased against the Knicks. Harlan is grating but fine. Reggie hates the Knicks but has tried to be pretty fair.

KAT falls down on literally every drive to the basket

It’s a little unnerving

Horford’s inactive for the game, don’t know the back story.

Was going to shit on Shamet, but everyone else got there first…

If Knicks are going to realistically beat Boston in the playoffs they might have to go with a 7 man rotation.

Well, Shamet is being abused on defense, but at least he’s sucking on offense as well

Yeah, the homeless couple need to go back to their bus bench.

Well the nice thing is even with some boneheaded play we’re still up six.

Putting aside the frustrating defensive possessions it really is incredibly difficult defending this Celtics offense.

When Mikal fades away with the ball in midrange, I hear “ka-ching.”

Bullshit call — definite shove by Tatum. He even complained afterward, clear evidence he fouled someone.

If we are going to beat this team, Mikal and OG have to hit those kinds of shots.

Now I wonder if Thibs could have challenged the result of that challenge…

Maybe it’s not quite playoff intensity, but very entertaining game thus far, definitely a good preview of likely round 2 matchup.

Knicks offense was not perfect but good enough. We scored 58 points against a very good defense, and KAT was on a mission. At the same time, Knicks defense was good but not good enough. We controlled the boards but there were too many breakdowns and miscommunications against an extremely smart offense which is ready to literally exploit anything you give them and frustrate you. They seem to always make the right play. Good thing they missed open shots.

The Celtics came to the Garden in full strength, obviously wanting to make a statement for a potential playoff matchup. Well, we went toe to toe with them which is excellent for this Knicks roster. There is still a second half though.

4th seed gets you a questionable Lillard and the Cavs who the Pacers have performed well against in the Reg season.

It’s only one half of basketball, but the question of whether OG can play at his recent level vs superior competition is sorta being answered.

But let’s see how he does in the second half.

It’d be nice to see Good OG next quarter. He had one good drive, a couple of clankers, but taking four shots in the first half isn’t the new OG.

It’s not only us who were watching OG recently. Boston was watching him, too.

Slammed his head onto the court. Hopefully just knocked himself out and has a concussion.

It’s pretty simple – when Boston is missing shots we can kind of hang with them, when they’re making shots we have no chance

The Towns falling down under the rim and not getting back on defense is becoming a thing

There’s OG.

Would have been nice to blow them out, but it’s the Celtics. It was always going to be a grind.

Leaving Porzingis as open as we always seem to leave him simply cannot be the best option, even if they’re all bad

Cavs
Celtics
OKC

Not having 1 win against them can’t be good for the resume

KAT drives me nuts. He didn’t budge on that loose ball, then just let KP walk into a 3.

Porzingis having way too much fun out there someone needs to knock him on his ass

How does this game not pump you up for the playoffs?! This is awesome, win or lose (win would be better)!

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BBA, going for Most Fair Weather Fan of the Year award…

We’re playing them even. We were punching them, they punched back, now we’ve punched back in return.

In all seriousness I can’t even get mad at KP killing us, I always liked him and don’t think we have any real reason to hate him. Remember the day he got traded was kinda a surreal, odd feeling about the whole situation.

OG is a box of chocolates…

Especially when he’s 3rd or 4th option standing around a lot.

This is one of those games where I’m not sure how different things would be if Frank Ntilikina were playing instead of Mikal Bridges. Too many of those.

Delon Wright should get some minutes with OG and Bridges, why not even try it..

Brunson has officially ruined OG & Bridges

Yeah we need to get rid of that bum

The no Towns or Brunson for over 5 minutes was quite a strategy by Thibs

Brunson has officially ruined OG & Bridges

Even when he’s not on the floor, right?

Brunson has officially ruined OG & Bridges

Yeah we need to get rid of that bum

Towns also. That would be so crazy we’d make Dallas look sane, but we might have a better team if we brought back the right players. 😉

White would’ve just drove right by KAT drawing help defenders then he would’ve kicked it out to an open 3pt shooter and the same result would’ve happened.

“White would’ve just drove right by KAT drawing help defenders then he would’ve kicked it out to an open 3pt shooter and the same result would’ve happened.”

That’s a bullshit excuse. He has to challenge that shot, and if he gets driven by, bust your ass to rotate to someone else. That’s how defense works.

I agree with you but the Knicks defense always thinks to guard against the drive first rather than the 3pter.

I’m liking the way we are playing, they’re a tough team to win against. Of course we need to be even better than this in the playoffs, if we want to stand a chance.

“I agree with you but the Knicks defense always thinks to guard against the drive first rather than the 3pter.”

Not on that play. See: Mitchell Robinson vs. Jayson Tatum

We’re likely to lose this, but I’m okay with it not because the Celtics are good (which is very true), but because we have NO idea yet how to have Brunson and the good versions of Mikal and OG happen in the same game.

It’s going to take not only the remaining games, but I’d guess much of the first round to get it figured out. If we don’t figure it out, we don’t win in the second round. If we do, chances are decent we could.

They are very disciplined. Prichard has become annoyingly good. He gets points in the paint and key offensive rebounds….

I mean, with all our pieces finally in place here you can see how the front office constructed this team to battle Boston. We’re hanging in there and matching up pretty well. But it feels like it’s just not quiet enough yet to overcome the Celtics juggernaut.

Was it good D?

OG was doing great things

Not sure why Bridges was on him earlier

I was sooooo close to complimenting KAT’s perimeter D, maybe that’s why he never puts his hands up

Every one of Tatum’s baskets has been contested. You can’t stop that shit.

Josh Hart panic three probably not the best choice there.

Does Thibs work on last shot scenarios in practice? Because we never get a good shot off or it’s the wrong player.

The Delta between Knicks and Celts not that great, but the ATO play and OG’s D on Tatum make differences in games like this.

Can’t stand the Celtics. I went to Boston in Feb to watch them ruin the Knicks, Tatum is just too fierce. And up close you can just see him punching his defender as he dribbles. I hate it.

Boston not even using their best lineup in OT.

Brown is hurt, it seems.

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What was White thinking there?! And what was Porzingis thinking not putting that down?

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On the last play of regulation time, Josh Hart cannot be on the court. We want anyone other than Hart to shoot and they know that. That’s why he got stuck taking the shot. You need 5 shooters on the court.

Error: Thibs

That was a bad move by Brunson to hit Porzingis on the way down. He was super lucky they didn’t’ call it.

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Every fucking play is Brunson and Hart 2 man game while the other 3 much better players than Hart stand around twiddling their thumbs.

I don’t love the threes by Brunson there, but I’ll chalk that up to rust

Knicks still could lose out drop to 4th seed and avoid an embarrassing 2nd rd series vs Boston…

TheRant, totally with you on Tatum. What a talent, but what a dick in the shadows. What he did with OG on the jump ball is a great example.

Well at least we’re headed in the right direction. We now need to learn to finish against the best teams, hard to get reps at that when we’ve been blown out in every one of them…

This Boston team is deep and lethal, and it’s great for us that we are up there with them till the end. Tatum was making shots with the defense allover him. Unfortunately, Porzingis got loose and damaged us. That was our fault, but again, they have lethal shooters 1 through 9 on their roster. Pick your poison, that is.

How many Boston players would need to be injured for the Knicks to have a chance at a competitive playoff series?

Would have been nice to get the W but considering Tatum and Porzingis were totally unconscious, not the worst result in the end

How many Boston players would need to be injured for the Knicks to have a chance at a competitive playoff series?

From what we saw tonight, Porzingis is enough. And this is a real possibility. Actually, with Porzinis out I would like our chances.

From what we saw tonight, Porzingis is enough. And this is a real possibility.

As long as Horford remains out

How many Boston players would need to be injured for the Knicks to have a chance at a competitive playoff series?

Al Horford? This was a game we would have won if we made some 3s.

TheRant, totally with you on Tatum. What a talent, but what a dick in the shadows. What he did with OG on the jump ball is a great example.

So I went to see Knicks Celtics in Boston because my daughter lives there and works a second job at a fancy North end restaurant.

Everyone in the restaurant business HATES Tatum, even the Celtics fans. He’s known to be a total dick.

Example: after winning the championship, Tatum showed up at a Boston bar and publicly ordered a round of drinks for everyone, on him. He then ran out on the check — the staff had to pay for everyone’s drinks.

A giant flaming turd. But an astounding offensive weapon.

I’m sorry man I know I’ve been in a bad mood all night but honestly how can you view this game as a positive? Boston had no reason whatsoever to give a shit about this game, Knicks were at home playing like it was Game 7 and they still lost.

I mean shit I’ll be rooting hard and hoping like crazy we can beat them in the playoffs but there’s no reason whatsoever for us to honestly believe it’ll be anything better than Boston in 5.

What I’m watching for:

– Celtics lead the NBA in 3 point attempts at 48 while the Knicks are bottom 5 with 34 attempts per game. If you want to compete you have to close that gap.

This year the Celtics have made the most 3’s in history and attempted the most as well. Will Thibs get his team to defend the 3 point line?

Celtics won the 3 pt battle by 24 points. Shocking

IMO this Boston team is not much better than us.

They have two main advantages over us.

1. They are way more seasoned from years of deep playoff runs and a championship. They do fewer stupid things and have more players comfortable taking shots under pressure.

2. Thibs is good at getting the Knicks to win games on effort. We beat all the less talented teams at a high rate because we play hard most nights and he coaches like every game in game 7. But he’s not a very good strategic coach or X and O coach. The good teams come to play against us and almost always have a better plan.

I don’t think you can win a championship on effort because it’s not like the other team is going to lay down in the playoffs like they may occasionally do in the regular season.

A big part of me is hoping we put it all together in the playoffs because I like a lot of about this team, but there’s a very small part of me that’s hoping we KO’d in first round so Leon understands we need a significant change.

BBA and Educate, I’ll just post what I said earlier, which is really a post-game analysis:

‘We’re likely to lose this, but I’m okay with it not because the Celtics are good (which is very true), but because we have NO idea yet how to have Brunson and the good versions of Mikal and OG happen in the same game.

It’s going to take not only the remaining games, but I’d guess much of the first round to get it figured out. If we don’t figure it out, we don’t win in the second round. If we do, chances are decent we could.’

I’ll add we can also lose in the first round if we don’t figure it out. Maybe not. But that will be the key to advancing. We clearly don’t have it yet. The announcers were saying five games so far with the full panoply of Knicks available. So, you know, losing by two to the Celtics in overtime?

BBA, Boston is the best team in the NBA, so yeah, we will probably lose to them. But why would you be more down now than you were at the start of the season? That was crystal clear to any objective observer. And whatever, Boston actually played like they deeply cared, reasons be damned. They wanted to send a message and they did. It was a great measuring stick game.

Tonight we proved that we indeed have a puncher’s chance. We mada a lot of correctible mistakes. It took a great shot against our best defensive player (who made an uncharacteristic mistake) to beat us. We got some data on how they will defend us. Only one of our starters showed up offensively. There’s definitely some stuff to build on.

BTW, as much as I can’t ever stop hating him, I thought Reggie did an excellent job tonight.

The defending champion Celtics have won 75% of their games over 2 years, they are a really, really nasty team. If we can get out of the first round and they’re healthy they’re probably going to beat us. It is what it is.

Problem is Boston is really good defensively, OG and Bridges aren’t going to get easy baskets. Knicks should’ve kept posting up KAT instead of constantly running Brunson Hart 2 man games. At least have KAT or Bridges setting the screens for Brunson not constantly involving Hart on every play which is playing into Boston’s hands.

Every fucking play is Brunson and Hart 2 man game while the other 3 much better players than Hart stand around twiddling their thumbs.

He should never be on the court when we need a basket..like EVER. He belongs on our bench, but we don’t have the starting PF we need.

Agree, Z-Man. I thought Reggie was thoughtful and smart. I hate him, but at least every sentence doesn’t end with an exclamation point.

+1 on your longer post above Z-man, except that I think it’s not fair to say only one player showed up offensively. Brunson was pretty solid also.

Z-Man you know when I’m talking for real I have one of the most positive outlooks on this Knicks team but Boston is just so damn good and well coached that it’s really disheartening watching them play each other.

But I’ll always remember 1992 and how the defending champion Bulls swept all 4 regular season games from the Knicks but we shockingly managed to force a Game 7 in an epic playoff series so I’ll be positive when the time comes.

Holy shit Bucks were down 24 in 4th quarter but beat Minnesota by 7. I guess they really want Indiana instead of the Knicks!

Problem is Boston is really good defensively, OG and Bridges aren’t going to get easy baskets. Knicks should’ve kept posting up KAT instead of constantly running Brunson Hart 2 man games.

OG was defended very well tonight. He was 0-5 from 3. I didn’t pay attention to every one of them, but 2-3 were very tough. I knew he was going to miss them as soon as he put them up. He lead the team with a -7.

I couldn’t watch final seconds of regulation but why did Knicks not foul while they were up 3 and win this at the line?

I also remember the 1990 game 5 win against the aging Bird-McHale-Parish Celts with Patrick hitting a fallaway 3 and heroes abound, including one of my fave unsung players, Johnny Newman. We were significant underdogs but clawed our way to an unlikely series win. Alas, we were no match for the championship Pistons, but that was the dawn of an amazing era of Knicks basketball.

“I couldn’t watch final seconds of regulation but why did Knicks not foul while they were up 3 and win this at the line?”

Excellent question.

But why would you be more down now than you were at the start of the season?

We knew that the Knicks were not going to be as good as the Celtics on paper, but the plan was to at least play them in the Conference Finals, but the Cavs leaping to #1 was the surprise bit. So now they have to beat the Celtics just to get to the Conference Finals!

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That 1990 series vs Boston was my first memory of watching the Knicks! I remember Bird missed a 3 at the buzzer in Game 3 then Ewing destroyed them in Game 4 before the historic win at Boston Garden to win the series.

Only game Knicks won vs Detroit was Ewing scoring his playoff career high 45 pts.

‘We’re likely to lose this, but I’m okay with it not because the Celtics are good (which is very true), but because we have NO idea yet how to have Brunson and the good versions of Mikal and OG happen in the same game.

I’m still not sure that’s possible.

To begin with, as I keep saying, there are only so many shots in a game. When Brunson is on the court, he controls the ball and is the number option that dribbles a lot. He also likes to work with Hart and Towns. So on average Mikal and OG are going to have the ball less often and take fewer shots when Brunson plays. We can live with that as long as Brunson/Towns are highly efficient (which they typically are) and OG and Mikal remain in a good rhythm and are getting the same quality shots. It’s this latter part I question. When you are standing around watching instead of moving, cutting, driving and beign very active and aggressive like they were while Brunson was out I think it has a hard to prove negative impact on your game. The problem is NOT them. They are what they are. They are 3rd option players that can slide into the 2nd option role if needed. It’s on Brunson to change his game, but I don’t think he can. He’s a scorer. You could even see it at the end of this game.

I’m sorry man I know I’ve been in a bad mood all night but honestly how can you view this game as a positive? Boston had no reason whatsoever to give a shit about this game, Knicks were at home playing like it was Game 7 and they still lost.

Boston also played like it was playoff Basketball. And they made some very difficult shots to tie it up and then to win it. Boston has a much better road record than home tecord, so this game was a fair test against them. We came very close, so although I’m disappointed, I’m also relieved.

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