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2025 Playoffs Game Thread: Knicks @ Celtics, Game 1 – Trying to Prove That Your Conclusions Should be More Drastic

So, here’s the thing. Narratives are only written after the game. I remember in 2002, the St. Louis Cardinals dealt with the tragic loss of pitcher Darryl Kile, who died of a heart attack midseason. It was obviously a major shock, but then Kile became a rallying cry for the team. When they clinched the division, Albert Pujols carried Kile’s jersey around the field. When they won the NLDS, it seemed like they were a team of destiny. They were going to win this thing for Kile. Then…they lost in the NLCS. Because you can’t write narratives before the games. Kile’s loss was a tragedy, of course, but you can’t write some “Win one for the Gipper!” script before the games are played. That’s not how sports work.

The narratives are written after the games. Hell, the Yankees “Core Four” is really five dudes, but one of them, Bernie Williams, didn’t last long enough for the 2009 World Series, so the narrative became “Core Four” (and one of the “core” members of the “Core Four” left the Yankees, and even went to the World Series for a whole other team before returning to New York!).

Look at Cleveland/Indiana. Yes, Indiana had played Cleveland well in the regular season, but no one really gave them a shot, and then they won Game 1, and now Cleveland has lost home court advantage in the series and is dealing with major injuries to two of their key rotation players, including Evan Mobley, possibly their most important player. The narrative happens after the games.

The Celtics have handled the Knicks easily all season, we all know this, but that’s why you play the games. The narrative very well might be that the Knicks went “all in” to beat the Celtics and then ended up with a team that still couldn’t match up with the Celtics, and while failing to match up with the aging Celtics, all of the younger teams have gotten better, as well, causing problems for the Knicks in the future when the Celtics inevitably age out of contention (By the way, whatever else you think of the Knicks, do note that the Knicks are clearly very much all in their prime years. It’s not like this is a young team. This is a team filled with players who are currently in their primes. I love Jalen Brunson so very much, but Jalen Brunson is not on the upswing of his career. None of their key rotation guys are).

That could be the narrative. But that’s not determined until that actually happens. It’s like the bit from The Social Network. “If you guys were the inventors of Facebook, you’d have invented Facebook.” Similarly, if the Celtics are truly that much better than the Knicks, or can handle the Knicks so well, then they’ll do that.

But what if they can’t?

We won’t know until the games are played. Obviously, I’m hoping that the Knicks can flip the script, but hey, if they can’t, if they are what they look like they are, then fair enough. That’ll suck, but fair enough, at least the narrative will have be written based on the actual games in this series.

I’m not writing the narrative yet, and so I’m not writing them off yet either.

Let’s go, Knicks!

12 more wins to go!

The Dylan tune is “Queen Jane Approximately,” an excellent tune off of Highway 61 Revisited.

658 replies on “2025 Playoffs Game Thread: Knicks @ Celtics, Game 1 – Trying to Prove That Your Conclusions Should be More Drastic”

Nothing would please me more than to see our guys rewrite this particular narrative. Thanks for starting the evening on an up note, Brian!

Win or lose — this game and series should tell us a lot about our priorities in the off-season , that’s a good thing. LGK!!!

My anticipation for this game reminds me how I felt when a bully told me he was going to kick my ass at 3:00 pm sharp after school.

Offensively the KAT/Brunson pnr has to work like it’s 2 all nba players or we’re dead. If it’s successful, that will open up open looks for others, which they then have to knock down. Defensively, I’m sending OG under screens on Tatum and hoping he can recover quickly enough to bother him. Despite how he looked against us, Tatum is not that great of an off the dribble 3 point shooter, only 33% on the year.

I’m in such a calmer, more relaxed state than I was during the Pistons series. I’ll try to maintain that zen during the game threads…

Just to dampen your spirits, Alan, this from NBA.com:

The Knicks ran just 20.4 Brunson/Towns ball-screens per 100 possessions, down from 27.5 per 100 in the regular season, according to Second Spectrum tracking.

Let’s FGK!!!! Rewrite that narrative! Rewrite that narrative!

Deeeeuuuuce!!!

Everyone take a deep breath of hope and enjoy it while it lasts.

Go motherfucking Knicks!

If KAT wins the tip I’m taking the Knicks +750 before the first possession is over.

I was surprised to see that in their postseason history vs each other Boston is only 8-7 in playoff series vs the Knicks.

I was surprised to see that in their postseason history vs each other Boston is only 8-7 in playoff series vs the Knicks.

Stupid Jared Jeffries…

Lovely intro, Brian.

This is what I/we have been waiting for ALL YEAR. Let’s go!!!

I almost never watch the pregame with those dummies on TNT, but man, Charles just totally crapped all over the Knicks

I’m in such a calmer, more relaxed state than I was during the Pistons series. I’ll try to maintain that zen during the game threads…

I think it’s expectations.

If we lost to the Pistons the season would have felt like a dismal failure with huge question marks about what to do next.

We knew coming into the season that the Celtics were going to be a major obstacle. If we come away just being competitive, it will be a disappointment, but not an epic disaster. If we beat them, NY is going to go wild.

My anticipation for this game reminds me how I felt when a bully told me he was going to kick my ass at 3:00 pm sharp after school.

A little bit

But did you then kick HIS ass? Because that’s what we’re hoping for… Give us some hope, gk…

I can’t believe the 2013 series is seriously a dozen years ago.

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most talked about second round series…that was a bit of a stretch for Kevin whatever his name was…

damn, we get to listen to reggie miller shit on us for how ever long this series go…

That 2013 Game 6 4th quarter near collapse was a torture to watch.

I’m expecting one of our trademark starts where we’re trailing like 19-5 halfway through the first quarter so I guess anything else would be a pleasant surprise.

Then again, Thibs must go so I’ll also feel disappointed if that doesn’t happen.

Every outcome but the impossible is going to feel shitty here so I guess I’m just hoping for this to be over quickly.

Invisible Sixth Man for the win! White bricked two wiiiiiiide open threes.

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derrick white is really good at basketball…dang, probably better than jrue at this stage if their careers…

1-6 to start for the Celtics. That’s good.

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Josh should have gotten 1.5 points for that three that went in and came back out.

Bold strategy by the Knicks just fouling Boston on every possession so they only make FTs instead of 3s.

Why does KAT always have to get the ball 30 feet from the fucking basket?

We are winning! But how long before we have every player foul out?!

Thank goodness the Celtics are bricking free throws.

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Didn’t think it was possible to have a worse refereed series than vs Detroit but guess I was wrong.

That was 100% a foul by KAT. A stupid foul at that.

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Bold strategy by the Knicks just fouling Boston on every possession so they only make FTs instead of 3s.

Lol

The ‘Nova 4 commercial is a really good commercial.

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Oh well, good effort. I’m going to bed.

No! They need all of us 😉

I have tickets to a 9pm show and I’ve been telling my friends all day that I won’t go if the Knicks-Celtics game is close at halftime. So far, so good. But that second KAT foul really upped the odds that I’m there for the opening curtain.

Needed that OG three so badly. Weird that they played off of him.

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I know it doesn’t look like it but Tatum really isn’t a good pull up 3pt shooter.

Hopefully Deuce speed ran a Ayahuasca retreat with the rest days or something. Looks better!

If Hart stays in foul trouble and KAT doesn’t Thibs might be forced to play the all shooter lineup everyone wants to see.

The Celtics will continue to miss every shot, right?

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I guess we didn’t learn from the last series about not passing to Mitch…

Remember when Kornet didn’t really play for us.
I have a vague memory

Not sure Celtics will continue to shoot less than 30% fg

I guess we didn’t turn it over enough throwing it to Mitch in the paint in the last series, gotta get those numbers up there

It will be very hard to win if we keep doing stupid things.

— that bounce bass turnover from Brunson
— that poor pass turnover from OG
— that bad pass turnover from Payne

Okay, so they watched some film about passing, but I’m not sure they practiced it

When your margin of error is zero it’s not a great idea to have multiple turnovers that would be embarrassing for the 2019-2020 team

That pass to Mitch was like throwing it against a tree branch.

I don’t think it’s insane to throw to Mitch, but passes like THAT to him are insane.

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We’re shooting 50% from 3 and Boston is shooting 25% but they have 12 shots and we have 8 so the advantage is negligible.

Wow, the Celtics are cursed at the hoop at the moment! I love it!

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The worst part of this series is listening to that idiot Reggie

Payne bailed out by a fugly foul by Horford.

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There seems to be a lid on the Celtics’ rim. So we got that going for us.

Being up when when they’re shooting 25% from 3 and we’re shooting 50% is fine right?

The worst part of this series is listening to that idiot Reggie

I hope that’s the worst part.

Has Payne really played for 10 different teams? Wow

Is it too much to ask a grown man who gets paid millions of dollars to play basketball to, you know, learn how to shoot free throws?

We should just count every offensive touch Mitch gets as a turnover at this point

I can’t believe I seriously think I might prefer Precious playing over Mitch right now…

I am clearly on a tape delay, so I’ll shut up for the night. Carry on gents, have to go release 20% of the smallest rodent in North America shortly anyway…

The positive way of looking at this is that Mich may inspire them to all foul out

My memory is like a goldfish but I cannot recall rim protecting Kornet on the Knicks

Always so strange when I watch a Celtics game and think, we could really use Luke Kornet

Three fouls on Kornet is actually very important.

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That’s what I wanna see with KAT, give him the ball on the block

Getting killed on the glass by shitting rebounding teams is a big part of what we do here now, apparently

When Mitch was a rookie he had an extended stretch where he was above 70% from the line. We discussed it extensively here. Not sure I know of anyone else who peaked at what seems like such a learnable skill as a rookie.

I can’t believe I seriously think I might prefer Precious playing over Mitch right now…

I thought the same thing.

Knicks get the ball to start the second and third, at least.

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Great hands, OG! Big slam, KAT!

Edit: oh well, nice try

That wasn’t that bad.

Or maybe it was and the Celtics just missed a bunch of really easy shots.

We’ll see.

That wasn’t that bad.

Or maybe it was and the Celtics just missed a bunch of really easy shots.

We’ll see.

Right? It was a confusing quarter.

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Who would have thought posting up against a smaller defender was a good idea?

[ayne has not relly played for 10 different teams knicks are his 7th

It does seem like we’re finally attacking the guard-KAT-with-a-wing strategy. He’ll need to clean up for us to have a prayer.

Brown looks like he has no idea how to shoot a free throw.

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Very close whistle does not favor Knicks. live by the close whistle die by it Brown

If only that bullshit foul had been on Hart we could have finally seen 5-out.

Didn’t anyone ever teach Mitch how to set a screen?

That’s why we miss I-Hart so much

How the fuck is that a foul on KAT?

Total BS. In his ear piece, Ref heard Reggie say the only thing to throw off Towns is foul trouble -> whistle.

Mitch is playing really bad. His inability to contest that Pritchard 3PA was alarming.

I really do think we need to dust off Precious for his switching prowess but he’s probably in an inescapable dungeon.

Watching Mitch since his return from injury makes me very grateful we traded for KAT.

If you’re gonna win an away game in the playoffs you have to make your FTs

Mitch used to be quite reliable. Rebounds, defense, missed fts, fouls. His up and down showings this year are kind of interesting.

The Celtics are so smart. Not hitting their threes, so they’re going to hit twos instead.

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Because Pritchard is destroying us Mazzula can leave Tatum on the bench.

Not good.

If ever there was a Knick who should not try to shoot over a double team, it’s Mikal Bridges.

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This game is getting dangerously close to being over by halftime…

You all know I love ripping the other team’s coach, but, well, I can’t in this one. Joe Mazzulla hasn’t really made a bad decision yet.

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How do the refs not make the call?! That’s some weak shit. You can say it’s weak to intentionally foul, but when they do it, you have to call it.

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Players should learn to shoot free throws but I do not think it’s good for the game to allow for this

They corrected it, but they never should have needed to have it corrected.

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Hack a Robinson is a cheap strategy
Make em Mitch! Punish them!

There is one coach too thickheaded and stupid enough not to go to the next center in his lineup and it’s Fucking Thibs.

Like the Warriors with the Rockets, the Celtics want Mitch off the court. So it’s really tricky for Thibs.

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WTF is thibodeau doing. Get him out of the game! That’s why we are rushing our offense

the Celtics want Mitch off the court

I don’t know, I think they want him on the court as much as possible.

That’s what offensive rebounds do for you!

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Knicks have played okay at times but this is turning into a boat race. It feels like they’re just going to keep pulling away from us like this.

Bridges could not be having a worse half, how the hell does he not grab that rebound??

Bridges had a very good series vs Detroit, but has been trash so far tonight

They’re not hitting their threes, and they’re up 8 with the ball. That’s not ideal.

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Bridges has done zero positive things on the defensive end …. Plus my kingdom for a free throw. I can’t tell if we’re playing great D or if Boston is just playing down to us, it feels like the latter. Hart is out there grinding, if only Bridges had Hart’s competitiveness

There is one coach too thickheaded and stupid enough not to go to the next center in his lineup and it’s Fucking Thibs.

He obviously should have had a plan for this because we’ve been talking about how Mitch could become a problem in the playoffs for several years.

The Celtics are smartly making Brunson shoot over the double team. Mazzulla is showing Bickerstaff how poorly Bickerstaff coaches in games.

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Bridges held the ball for 4 seconds, took one dribble forward, passed to Brunson.

Bridges tweaked something in the first minute or so. Something might be bothering him.

I know Hart does dumb stuff, but I don’t really want to hear it

Though he does need to make his damn FTs

The Knicks FT percentage is just 0.4% higher than their 3PT percentage.

Great job by Brunson to shoot before they could double him.

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Derrick White is a fucking basketball genius.

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Think it’s time to watch the Yankees for the rest of the night…

That was almost a worst-case scenario first half in that we proved utterly incapable of capitalizing on shitty Boston shooting

How the fuck are they down 16? Boston laid brick almost the whole half. Jesus.

I’ve been on the Derrick White train for a while, probably the most underrated and underpaid player in the league

This game is over but there was enough good stuff from KAT before he picked up 3 fouls to make me roll over some hope to game 2.

Well the “Boston is playing like shit and still winning by 1” narrative changed in a hurry

Precious was -7 in 5 minutes.

Now, did Mazzulla appreciate the strategy of Mitch missing all of his free throws? Of course, but he also wanted Precious out there or OG playing Center, as well.

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He obviously should have had a plan for this …

My favorite thing about Thibs is how he keeps all this players engaged and connected to the team by finding minutes for everyone throughout the season. That way neither foul trouble nor injury can ever really affect us. Everyone is always ready to step up because they never go too many games without seeing the floor. Thibs is a master at roster management.

How the fuck are they down 16? Boston laid brick almost the whole half. Jesus.

It’s craaaaaaaazy.

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You had to go to Towns regardless of the fouls or you were gonna be toast. And now you’re toast

Boston missing a ton of 3s and still up double digits is not great. Absolutely no hope of beating Boston if you lose the possession battle

The fascinating thing about Derrick White to me is that when you hear him interviewed, he doesn’t even come off as that insightful. I was telling my wife how smart this dude was, so I played her some interviews and it really doesn’t come off in interviews (unlike Jrue Holiday, who plays brilliantly on the court, and is also a really great interview). But on the court, he’s a fucking GENIUS.

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All the usual stupidity.
Towns picking up dumb fouls
Mitch can’t make a FT, neither can Payne
Bridges playing like crap
OG, inconsistent to non existent O

If Boston was playing their usual game we’d be down 30

No matter what strategy, no matter how good or bad we play, and we played like shit in this first half, Boston’s roster is sooo much better than ours! The weaknesses of the Knicks roster are magnified every time we play Boston.

No bench, Thibs hands are tied and only fools can’t see that!

Now, did Mazzulla appreciate the strategy of Mitch missing all of his free throws? Of course, but he also wanted Precious out there or OG playing Center, as well.

Not sure about the latter part. He probably just thinks Thibs is not going to do this.

They should try OG at the 5 more.

You had to go to Towns regardless of the fouls or you were gonna be toast. And now you’re toast

You know what those last two minutes were like? Like the Detroit game where Towns and Brunson were on the sidelines as the Knicks were being brutalized. Just excruciating.

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At least Trent Grisham hit a himer against his former team

And Islanders won the 1 pick if your into NHL

Just wondering how folks are going to pin this KAT performance on Thibs’ poor coaching…

The score is certainly not surprising but they got to it in unusual fashion. Good first quarter, I guess. Something to build on!

The Knicks don’t really need to run Thibs in this series, let the assistant take over

It’s kind of funny that the Randle-I-Hart Knicks were a much better matchup with Boston because of their ability to play bullyball.

How do we get Thibs to unleash the demon Delon Wright?

He should def play in this series

Brian, does -750 seem all that crazy now..

Honestly? Still yes. -750 is craaaaaaaaaazy high odds.

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It’s kind of funny that the Randle-I-Hart Knicks were a much better matchup with Boston because of their ability to play bullyball.

Assuming Randle showed up in the playoffs

But that lineup would’ve just got spaced out for 3 after 3. I- Hart got cooked by Turner. Kp would do the same

Ok get your bets in: 3rd quarter of doom, or fakest of fake comebacks?

Ok get your bets in: 3rd quarter of doom, or fakest of fake comebacks?

If this was any other team in the NBA, I’d say comeback in the third, so I guess I shouldn’t change my position just because it’s the Knicks, so I say comeback.

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Yeah, Precious, Wright, even Kolek should come in to beat the Boston Celtics. Yeah, this is the answer, sure!

Letting the Unikornet walk for nothing was the worst thing the Knicks have done in 20 years

Just wondering how folks are going to pin this KAT performance on Thibs’ poor coaching…

KAT has 10 pts on 4-5 shooting to go with 3 rebounds and a steal.

His +/- is even in a game the Knicks trail by 16.

Islanders won the 1 pick if your into NHL

Holy shit! Best sports news I’m likely to get tonight. Is there a consensus number one or was this a shit year to have good luck? Isles have been unwatchable last couple of years.

Pags predictions looking immaculate so far.

You know you’re drawing dead when they shoot 21% from 3 on *half* their shot attempts but are still on pace to win by 32.

Surely Thibs can’t survive a whole series of this

What was Brown thinking with that long three?

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Holy shit! Best sports news I’m likely to get tonight. Is there a consensus number one or was this a shit year to have good luck? Isles have been unwatchable last couple of years.

Reports are Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa are tremendous prizes at the top of the draft, and both are projected to become franchise cornerstones.

The Knicks are being helped by some surprisingly sloppy Celtics play.

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Is bridges a shooting guard?

To me his natural position is SF. His handles are to weak at the 2

We should have kept playing mitch so they’d run out of fouls. I’m not even joking. Thibs let them get us to miss the FT and then did exactly what Mazulla wanted just like always.

He’s practically an assistant coach for the opposition at this point

The Celtics are stupidly trying highlight passes.

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Steal – turnover
Steal – blocked shot

This is not how you win games

The Celtics are passing up easy twos for threes. Not smart.

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KAT, dude, you can’t get defended that easily by a small.

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Adam Silver should order the refs to help us a bit.
This is going to be a bloodbath series

We should have kept playing mitch so they’d run out of fouls. I’m not even joking. Thibs let them get us to miss the FT and then did exactly what Mazulla wanted just like always.

I basically agree. Mazzulla wanted Thibs to go to Precious, and I hate giving him what he wanted.

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Do I recall any folks here saying that KAT was a better offensive player than Patrick Ewing?

It’s okay, when they put their bench in we’ll make a run

Oh wait….

KAT goes off … but fouls out in Q4

Sorry, I meant “KAT *is off *and fouls out in *Q3”

Do I recall any folks here saying that KAT was a better offensive player than Patrick Ewing?

Definitely not a good night for KAT fans, that’s for sure.

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“KAT has 10 pts on 4-5 shooting to go with 3 rebounds and a steal.

His +/- is even in a game the Knicks trail by 16.”

I figured as much.

KaT really has no go to moves. He shoots the 3, but what is his go to move beyond bully ball

People realize this team didn’t look coached right vs Detroit, they just snuck it out on talent.

That will not work against….

MLB forced this Yankees game and now Rondon most likely is out of the game.

Suck it, Boston! Mitch with the first free throw!

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It’s not going to be a good week if the competition between
Z-Man and Pags for who can be the most self-aggrandizing narcissist continues being closer than the games.

Unfortunately Yankees in a rain delay up 2-0 in the 4th inning so back to the Knicks game…

FWIW, I don’t like the idea of taking out key guys due to foul trouble in a series like this. If we’re risk averse, we lose.

KaT really has no go to moves. He shoots the 3, but what is his go to move beyond bully ball

Bully ball? I wouldn’t use that to describe KAT.

If we’re risk averse, we lose.

You do know who is coaching the Knicks… Right?

Celtics are definitely forced to let us get back in the game!

We look sooo much better and settled with Mitch at the center. Until the hack-a-Mitch starts, of course.

Celtics are definitely forced to let us get back in the game!

It really is weird how the Celtics truly do seem like they are going out of their way to get the Knicks back in the game.

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Haha, Fair@ educate … , I couldn’t think of a better word for slow stumble rumble to the rim after a shot fake or big booty posts

The Knicks threes are WIDE open looks, as well. Boston is just falling behind a bit in this quarter.

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Don’t be fooled, Adam Silver called Boston to keep viewers tuned in

#It really is weird how the Celtics truly do seem like they are going out of their way to get the Knicks back in the game.#

Probably TNT or Silver! Or even Trump called Mazzula!

Tatum shot 33% on pull up 3s this season. Those are ok shots to let him take.

Oh no, please don’t keep Sam Hauser out there.

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Tatum just elbowed Hart in the mouth and no call. And then Horford hits a 3.

Then Hart gets torched by Tatum leading to a Horford 3 to close the quarter and kill the Knicks momentum…

Should have been a flagrant on Hauser.

First mistake of the game by Mazzulla, sticking with Hauser there as he was killing them.

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Ouch on that 3 ….. Hart has played his ass off, no complaints there.

This whole run came because Thibs did the thing where he keeps the starters in against the other team’s bench. Fair play to Coach, it was a really effective use of that tactic.

BBA I don’t want to hear anything negative about Hart. If you can’t see how big an impact he’s making you’re not seeing the game.

Any other team in the NBA, I would assume a big third quarter comeback, so I’m glad the Knicks are at least as good as any other team in the NBA. 🙂

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It’s not going to be a good week if the competition between
Z-Man and Pags for who can be the most self-aggrandizing narcissist continues being closer than the games.

Lack of self awareness… something, something.

43-23 3PAs is not going to cut it.

No surprise here. I’d hire Mike D’Antoni for the rest of this series

So the new wrinkle was “let the Celtics miss everything”

Ok it’s working!

What insanely stupid offense is Boston running?

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Great timeout by Mazzulla. His team looks like a bunch of fools out there.

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I’d bet money that it’s fixed to be competitive but I’ll take it!

The Celtics are more talented than us, but just as dumb

Deuce just can’t string together consecutive makes from 3 but having said that this is by far his best game of the playoffs.

Can we re-shoot that ATT commercial and have Brunson and Hart trade Mikal for DDV?

Sometimes the Celtics play like there’s an NBA rule that you’re only allowed to shoot 3 pointers

The Celtics are more talented than us, but just as dumb

Some of their players are dumb, some are smart. But yeah, the dumb ones often do some REALLY dumb shit.

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Hart saved his spot for next season, let’s see who else makes it

Can’t complain when Deuce is 3-6 from deep but that last miss was painful.

Some of their players are dumb, some are smart. But yeah, the dumb ones often do some REALLY dumb shit.

That Jaylen Brown airball. Ouch.

Everytime Deuce McBride shoots, I ask, why isn’t anyone else shooting the ball?

He’s seriously giving off Starks 2-19 vibes, except for the whole playoffs.

Haha, keep shooting threes no matter what, morons!

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OG! And then a foul by Kornet!! Oh man, this is amazing.

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What an annoying fake comeback. Mazzulla must be playing the long game, letting us back in so Thibs won’t get fired and he can keep owning him for the next five years.

20+point loas still guaranteed.

I’m sure Mazzulla was screaming at them, “Go to the fucking basket, you idiots!”

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Knicks have played pretty good D for most of the night.

First quarter and since the second half of the third.

Collapse starts now we will never be this close again

Neither team realizing getting two scores in a row is not a bad thing

Except our Lord and saviour OG

As Miller jokes, there is a lid on the basket for the Celtics. Then why don’t they go to the basket?!

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The good thing is that now they seem to believe. Their body language was not good in the first half and in the third quarter.

Okay, I guess you had to take that wiiiiiiiiide open three if you’re Holliday.

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KAT has not been the answer tonight.

Unless the question is, who is the most overpaid Knicks?

Garbage offensive play followed by the “KAT never lands on his feet” power play 3

Every fucking time Knicks get within a possession with the ball they have an awful offensive possession.

Garbage offensive play followed by the “KAT never lands on his feet” power play 3

Yeah, that was definitely not ideal.

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A single possession game at this point is still amazing.

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Horford actually had a handful of the back of KAT’s jersey on that drive with his off hand. That’s a foul but it’s also a really smart one no one’s ever looking behind the play.

This is the worst possible outcome, a fake comeback loss that keeps Thibs employed. Total momentum shift now is guaranteed

Boston’s like, “If we just keep chucking ugly threes, we’ll eventually win, right?”

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Man this late game collapse is really gonna hurt

Do we need a rebounder in there over Bridges? These second chances could kill us.

I am sure Mazzulla was screaming at them, “Go to the basket” during the timeout.

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That was just a great shot by Brunson. Horford played him well.

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Ok now it’s making sense, collapse resuming. Silver wanted ratings but still a Boston win

Okay, again, if it’s a look THAT good, you have to take it. Otherwise, Mazzulla is making it clear to these morons to go to the hoop.

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Mazzulla is one of those coaches who you KNOW his team kills him sometimes. Where the timeouts are, like, “Okay, everything you guys were doing? Keep doing that, only the exact opposite.”

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Three bad offensive possessions in a row and Boston goes on a 7-0 run.

Ok turning off, game over. This was so much worse than a blowout

Why does this moron keep taking these dumb threes?!

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The Knicks should clear out and let Tatum take another fucking moronic three.

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Again why is OG pump faking fucking 3s especially after he just made one!?!?

Tatum is WAY too talented to keep falling back on just taking ugly threes.

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Losing in OT is even worse than the fake comeback why must it always be the most painful thing possible

Hahahaha, they seriously did it! They seriously just had him take an ugly three!

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oh baby, was that an all defense lineup? I like an all defense lineup

Hate TNT, don’t even mention the offense/defense lines

Losing in OT is even worse than the fake comeback why must it always be the most painful thing possible

👍👍

No ref has ever called a TO as quick as these last 2 Boston rebounds

It’s amazing that the Knicks had a foul to give.

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The foul to give was the key there, as the Celtics knew they couldn’t really take a REAL shot, since the Knicks were going to foul them as soon as they caught it.

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I feel like Horford was actually in a good spot to contest that shot? Reggie is acting like it was a gimme.

At least we can lose in overtime….

This is such a brutal loss. 9-0 Celtics run to start OT is guaranteed

Brunson needs help he can’t go all hero ball for the entire overtime

Brunson makes that shot 99% of the time

looked like ever so slight indecision betw floater and glass

I know this might look stupid when Brunson goes on a tear but can we maybe let some other guys shoot the ball?

love how they pick Bridges up knowing there is no way he could be hurt
TOWNS!

There’s just a lid on the basket for Boston.

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Holy shit that was so smart but I don’t think KAT did it on purpose he looked pretty guilty

Holy shit that was so smart but I don’t think KAT did it on purpose he looked pretty guilty

Agreed. Just lucky.

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Holy fucking shit i never reverse jinxed so hard in my life i am spent

WOW

Going immediately to Wingstop for dinner.

What a show on defense by Bridges and all around by OG

Shoutout to Mitch and his +13

I feel quite confident in the Knicks’ chances if Boston misses 45 trifectas every game.

Thibs’ one trick literally turned the game around for us. Bravo, Coach!

I got my Christmas wish! I was dreaming about this moment for months! Honestly!

One of the best Knicks games, ever.
That was so special, I’m so freaking pumped up right now!!

Have to get game 2 since we play so shitty at home now.

The two last defensive possessions by Mikal are worth at least a couple of first rounders.

CARDIAC F’N KNICKS!
My God that was thrilling and stressful!
Do we have 3 more games like that in us?

For two and a half quarters I was lamenting this team. Same old Knicks! We were in the mud with no hope. We go down by 20, KAT sits with his fourth foul, and suddenly a different Knicks team shows up! Wow. Exceptional defense! We were clearly the superior team since the middle of the third quarter and rightfully won this game.

Whatever criticism these Knicks deserve you can never say again they’re not as gritty and tough as last year’s team.

The ball game goes to Brian… don’t believe in before the game narratives! That’s why we play the games!

The two last defensive possessions by Mikal are worth at least a couple of first rounders.

He started paying off his trade debt in the playoffs for sure. OG also paid off his huge contract. Wow.

round 2 or not, might not get another sports night like this. had to start late bc 8 year playing soccer playoff game. smallest kid on the field, team win 4-3 in OT, he scores all 4. come home to this. literally caught up to the live stream on the last ot possession. lfg!

We really had to win this game.

We were shooting well from 3 and they weren’t. That’s the Goldilocks scenario, but the FTs and key OREBs kept them in the game. We really could not afford to lose on a night they were shooting poorly.

Baiting Tatum into pull up 3s is a pretty good strategy. He’ll kill you a few times, but it should pay off.

And I don’t know what KP got but I hope it’s contagious.

A bad case of punchinthemouthitis

OG was really terrific. He’s playing some excellent ball.

This was a 3pt variance win but it still feels great.

smallest kid on the field, team win 4-3 in OT, he scores all 4.

Congratulations to both you. That must be quite a feeling.

All four second round matchups are total bangers.

I had the least hope for our series actually being good, but it’s on now!

Obviously Boston will not always shoot this poorly. But a LOT of shots from deep were so bad. They don’t shoot 40% on pull up 3s. And how many of those did they have?

We really had to win this game.

We were shooting well from 3 and they weren’t. That’s the Goldilocks scenario, but the FTs and key OREBs kept them in the game. We really could not afford to lose on a night they were shooting poorly.

100%.

The threes were crazy, but more importantly, Mazzulla is one of the best game-planners in the league, but when he loses a key rotation guy early on, it suddenly changes the gameplan IN-GAME, and that’s very hard to adjust. Like, if he knew he had no KP, it’d be one thing, but to lose him in-game throws everything out of whack. For instance, he wouldn’t have had Kornet take all of those early fouls if he knew he had no KP.

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Do people still think the Knicks wouldn’t be able to get something good back for OG in a trade or the Knicks would be better off with RJ and IQ?

Can you even IMAGINE taking that shot Tatum did with the game fucking tied at the end of regulation?!

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Tatum has to be one of the dumbest superstars in the NBA. Maybe one post up the entire game and only 7 FT’s.

That said, the Knicks – Brunson specifically – also took some crazy shots at the end of the fourth. The difference is that he made them.

Can you even IMAGINE taking that shot Tatum did with the game fucking tied at the end of regulation?!

Tatum took a ton of stupid shots, step back way beyond the arc with a hand in his face. He was making them last time at MSG. Not tonight!

99th percentile game from OG on both sides today. Best player on the court.

The ball game goes to Brian… don’t believe in before the game narratives! That’s why we play the games!

Of course i meant “Game ball” and not “ball game”.

A couple of things:
-Four straight playoff road wins.
-Deuce was very solid, hit some big 3’s, kept things afloat while Hart sat with foul trouble.
-Mikal looked better going 3-13 than KAT did going 5-9. To be fair, KAT made some good plays on both ends, but he needs to be WAAAAY better.
-After a terrible first half, very few turnovers in the second half and OT.
-Hart made a billion hustle plays.
-Why didn’t the Celts foul Mitch more?

The dumbest part of the game was when Brown and Tatum would both get KAT on them, and they both just would hold the ball, like, sort of just assuming KAT will, what, run up and foul them for no reason?! Then they would each just take ugly threes. Earlier in the game, they were getting KAT in foul trouble by going at him, and then they just…stopped doing that.

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If we get a decent lead in game 2 there are gonna be some tight sphincters at TD

(Oh and go fuck yourself Charles)

-Why didn’t the Celts foul Mitch more?

With KP out, Mazzulla was running out of fouls.

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Very good presser by Thibs. Reset, you don’t play the series, just play to win game 2. Think what you need to do to win game 2. Of course, “the game tells you what to do,” and so on. Lol!

Shots in overtime, btw:

Brunson – miss
Bridges – miss
OG – make (hart assist)
Bridges – make (OG assist)
Brunson – miss
Towns – make (off rebound)
Brunson – miss

I hate saying Brunson needs to shoot less in these spots but one-on-one with Jrue ain’t the best matchup and that screen action with Josh Hart just sucks. If we’re going to run it so much you have to pass back to Josh sometimes to keep ’em honest.

What a nice NBA playoff record set by the Celts! Forty-five missed three pointers. Oleeee!!!!!

Is it just me or did Thibs turn to a more switch heavy defense towards the end of the game after mostly refusing for 88.75 games?

In any event I am now exponentially more excited for game 3. Holy FUCK I still cannot believe we stole game 1.

Also, 37 3PA isn’t too shabby. I’d prefer 40+ but beggars, choosers, etc.

Idk Hubert we were getting Horford on Brunson on those Hart screens isn’t that exactly what we want?

Boston’s second to last possession of OT was so stupid (the one where KAT almost fouled Brown in the act of shooting). They didn’t do anything for 15 seconds and made the Knicks’ life so easy.

“With KP out, Mazzulla was running out of fouls.”

They could have thrown Queta or Tillman in there for that purpose.

Speaking of which, Mitch’s FT shooting is a deal-breaker for me. He has to be traded this off-season.

Jrue was soft doubling every single one of those, D-Mar. There were lots of times Jalen could have passed it back and Josh would have had a clear path to the basket but Jalen never even looked at him.

I don’t understand why we use Hart instead of Towns as the screener there but it doesn’t matter who the screener is if they know Jalen’s not going to pass.

I hate saying Jalen needs to pass more bc he will probably make me look stupid for doing so but there’s so much attention on him all he has to do is give up the ball and the Celtics will be in scramble mode immediately.

It’s brutal to watch but if the Celtics want to put themselves in foul trouble all game by hacking Mitch in the first quarter they should keep doing it

During the first quarter I was thinking we’re playing them even but we’ve seen this in the regular season; we play them even for a while and then they go on a run. Then, in the second quarter they went on that run and at the half I was thinking we’re need to show them we can go on a run too, but that’s very unlikely. But then we did go on a run, and I’m not sure how we did it. Our defense was better but we were still down at the end of the third. But our defense was even better in the fourth quarter!!! We held on to win it. I was happy and amazed. Let’s go Knicks!!!

I admit I was close to bailing early in the third, but so so so happy I stuck it out – that was easy a top 5 Knicks playoff game.

Mikal bought himself a lot of goodwill! I’ve never seen a game end like that – he just straight up pulled the ball off Brown. Wow. And credit to Thibs, who did try to run things through KAT, the way we thought he should – KAT just wasn’t up to it. But he played decent D in the 4th, just a couple missed rotations, but active hands and a little luck. Hart was the engine, the guy who wouldn’t quit when they were down 20 and probably every one of us thought they were cooked.

Really, the only ones who had bad games were Mikal and KAT, and Mikal redeemed himself completely at the end. Just a great team win.

I don’t understand why we use Hart instead of Towns as the screener there but it doesn’t matter who the screener is if they know Jalen’s not going to pass.

It’s to bring the Celtics’ C to the action and avoid them packing the paint. It hasn’t worked that well, but it got Jalen the Horford matchup he was seeking.

Boston’s second to last possession of OT was so stupid (the one where KAT almost fouled Brown in the act of shooting). They didn’t do anything for 15 seconds and made the Knicks’ life so easy.

Agreed. They couldn’t possibly be doing what Mazzulla was telling them to do.

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I’m sure he can cook and suck a dick at the same time. It’s called multitasking.

I’m sure he can cook and suck a dick at the same time. It’s called multitasking.

You talking about me? Because… I can.

Holy shit!

What a comeback. Celtics are the champs and elite but they have never been tested going back to last year. If we can claw back like this when they go on their inevitable runs and have it close at the end of the game, I like our chances. Our guys just got tested by a very physical Detroit team and, even though it might look ugly at times, I feel like we found our identity in that series.

Look Boston may blow us out the next 4 games but until game two is gonna ask that we all fucking enjoy this bc this could the high water mark of the season. I’m proud of our guys and proud to be a Knicks fan tonight.

Wow what a game! Never really thought we had a chance tonight and was honestly expecting a (true) gentleman’s sweep. OG was the best player on the floor for us, I love him. I love Brunson too but he really needs to get the rest of the team involved. He ultimately helped us win but he very nearly lost the game for us. Now I really do think we could make it to the ECF and even the Finals!

“You talking about me? Because…”

If I was talking about human dicks, maybe. Pags is in the horsedick category. (Don’t even go there, Clarence…)

Whatever criticism these Knicks deserve you can never say again they’re not as gritty and tough as last year’s team.

Agreed. So many times this season they seemed to lack consistent intensity, grit, will – other than JB, most of the time. But in the playoffs they do seem much tougher than I have then credit for. Not sure if that’s new, or they just weren’t trying that hard in the regular season.

The Celts were up 75-55 with 5:47 to go in the third quarter. They scored 30 more points in the next 22:47. Incredible!

Mazzula (from what my Celtics fan friends complain about) is not really a great in game coach, he is a great motivator and him and the staff put together good game plans. I guess they could be wrong, it’s sort of hard to argue witht he Mazzula years results.

Look Boston may blow us out the next 4 games but until game two is gonna ask that we all fucking enjoy this bc this could the high water mark of the season. I’m proud of our guys and proud to be a Knicks fan tonight.

+1

Mazzula (from what my Celtics fan friends complain about) is not really a great in game coach, he is a great motivator and him and the staff put together good game plans. I guess they could be wrong, it’s sort of hard to argue witht he Mazzula years results.

It’s weird. He’s not great with adjustments, but he’s also really good with ATO plays. It’s a weird mixture. But yes, he often trusts his players too much in my book.

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It’s to bring the Celtics’ C to the action and avoid them packing the paint. It hasn’t worked that well, but it got Jalen the Horford matchup he was seeking.

But it actually got us Jalen v Horford and Jrue.

Using that play starting from the 3 minute mark we got the following results:

Brunson turnover
Brunson turnover
Brunson assist to OG for a three
[OT]
Brunson miss
Brunson miss
Brunson miss (KAT OReb)
Brunson miss

I’m not saying don’t run the play but Jalen’s got to give the ball back more to keep ’em honest. It’s not like Josh isn’t making things happen. He had the assist to OG for the 3 pt play and he also had a hockey assist on the Bridges three.

Mazzulla is probably benefiting from coaching a team that doesn’t need much coaching. I don’t think he’s been really tested yet.

Maybe, just maybe, it took some games that actually mattered for wingstop to truly find its groove. Mikal had some incredible defensive plays and what can you say about OG? Dude is a cold blooded assassin.

Mazzulla is probably benefiting from coaching a team that doesn’t need much coaching. I don’t think he’s been really tested yet.

Exactly! Not gonna provoke the Thibs haters, but give this roster to Spoelstra and ask who beats them.

There’s no question that we have to play better to win additional games. But there’s no denying that this was a magnificent win, from the players to the coaching staff. Maybe this is the high water mark, maybe not. But this is a night for unbridled celebration and optimism.

I guess we won despite Thibs’ poor coaching. Right.

😉 okay, okay.

FWIW Thibs’s after timeout play to get Brunson the good look for the win in regulation was stellar. I see you Thibs. Growth mentality.

Imagine if we had RJ instead of OG, we would have won by 20. If you don’t believe me, ask E. (If he’s still among us)

I’m not saying don’t run the play but Jalen’s got to give the ball back more to keep ’em honest. It’s not like Josh isn’t making things happen. He had the assist to OG for the 3 pt play and he also had a hockey assist on the Bridges three.

Agree. Brunson getting Horford on him is already a win even when he passes to Hart as it means the paint is not as well defended, and there will likely be some help opening up shooters. They missed a few open shooters when Brunson passed the ball (I think KAT missed an open OG in a critical possession in the 4th).

At this point you gotta think OG and Brunson are a pretty good core to build around. OG is two way dynamite. Guy is game changing…and underpaid.

Z-man, I’d say that this is the biggest franchise win since the 2000 playoff run when they last went to the ECF.

I mean, honestly, I can’t think of another one. Closing out Cleveland two years ago was big bc it ended our playoff series drought but this is massive.

Shai never seems to get called for pushing off defenders to create separation. He does it all the time!

Closing out Cleveland two years ago was big bc it ended our playoff series drought but this is massive.

Let’s go get game 2 and then this win will be massive.

Bridges shot like crap but had 5 stocks (including the steal to end the game) and a huge 3 in OT

Wingstop pretty damn effective tonight

Shai never seems to get called for pushing off defenders to create separation. He does it all the time!

It’s a leaguewide problem he’s just one of the more adept practicioners. Tatum does it a ton too.

I guess Mazzulla didn’t pay close enough attention to his nerd lessons:

Haha. I’ve read that guy’s book, The Art of Learning. I remember liking it 😉

Another classic game. What a good night of basketball.

I remember as a kid we used to call folks whom parted their hair down the middle as having the marijuana split…

mark diagneault is dangerously close to rocking one of those…

edit: okay, who am I kidding, I’m jealous of any hairstyle…

holy shit geo, hubby and I were just saying the same thing… that middle part is a choice… or is it natural and he had to navigate reality

Thunder probably still win the series comfortably. They have an incredible defense but Jokic vs anyone on the team is just BBQ chicken.

You could argue that Brunson’s shot v Detroit won two games bc there’s probably no way we win tonight if we had played a game 7 two days ago.

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