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2025 Round 2 Game Thread: Knicks vs. Celtics, Game 4 –Gonna Win My Way to Wealth and Fame

The Knicks host the Boston Celtics for what now becomes the biggest game of the Knicks’ season, as a win here would put the Knicks in extremely good shape to win the series, while a loss…well, it would not put them in a particularly good position to win the series.

In Game 3, the Celtics’ threes were dropping at a high rate, so the Knicks didn’t have much of a chance, but the Celtics have got to be at least a little antsy after their pathetic collapses in Games 1 and 2, so if the Knicks could just keep it close, I imagine the Celtics will fall apart again. But can the Knicks keep it close? That, as they say, is the rub.

But hell, we’ve gotten this far, right? How do we not have faith that they’ll get further? As that dude who denied Tim McGraw was his son until he was old enough not to pay child support on him anymore famously noted, ya gotta believe!

Let’s go, Knicks!

10 more wins to go!

The Dylan tune is “‘Til I Fell in Love with You,” from Dylan’s Emmy-winning Album of the Year, Time Out of Mind.

499 replies on “2025 Round 2 Game Thread: Knicks vs. Celtics, Game 4 –Gonna Win My Way to Wealth and Fame”

Stephen A Smith in the building. Automatic loss…

In all seriousness, I just want a good start and changes to coverage and offensive sets. And more shots to go in for Knicks and less 3s to go in for Celtics.

Let’s go Knicks!

Here’s hoping it’s still a game when I get home from work, but I fully expect we’ll be down double digits halfway through Q1 and it’s over by halftime

Feeling worse than I did in G3 but I also felt this way in G1 & G2. If we can run a semi-competent offense, start Mitch to get them into foul trouble, maybe run a play to get wingstop feeling good early I’d feel better.

But we won’t so we’ll lose by 60 pts lol

Lotta talk in the player interviews about “urgency.” Let’s see it!

#ibelieve

Don’t go to the dark side, Craig. Only Pags gets to live there.

I don’t care much about the lottery, but I do have to say it would be disgusting if the Spurs got the top pick.

If Dallas gets 1, I kinda maybe sorta begin to maybe believe the Luka conspiracy theories.

Dallas and Philly about to get bailed out and SA the luckiest franchise ever. Unbelievable.

I miss being in the lottery. The most hope I’ve had this decade was that moment in 2019 where we had a 50% shot at #1.

I don’t want the Hornets to get it because they’re so useless.

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Unfuckingbelievable that Dallas gets rewarded for making such a terrible trade.

It’s hilarious to ask Rolando fucking Blackman these questions.

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I guess the other part of the Luka conspiracy would be an under the table extra slug of the TV money or somesuch, assuming Silver doesn’t have a slush fund.

But it looks mighty fishy as things stand now.

flagg on mavericks just really does not seem to work

How does he not work? They have a wide open spot at the three waiting for him.

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That is some karmic injustice right there. Beneficial to the Knicks I suppose, but blech.

Yeah. The Wizards, the Jazz, the Hornets and the pelicans were all more deserving of the top pick.

should have said it does ot work for me flagg works pretty much anywhere

Adam Silver giving Nico a lifeline after that Luka trade… which Silver probably orchestrated.

Kyrie, Cooper, and AD is nice IF they can stay healthy. And that’s a big if…

If you don’t think the NBA isn’t rigged I don’t know what to tell you. Stern at least was a ruthless gangster. Silver doesn’t impress me

Kyrie
Klay
Flagg
Davis
Lively

with PJ Washington obviously playing the 4 and Davis the 5 in crunch time.

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If you don’t think the NBA isn’t rigged I don’t know what to tell you. Stern at least was a ruthless gangster. Silver doesn’t impress me

If the NBA was rigged we’d have a much less pathetic history

should have said it does ot work for me flagg works pretty much anywhere

Oh, gotcha. Agreed there. I am still happy Hornets didn’t get him, as they would have ruined him somehow.

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Amusingly, Grimes now fits Dallas way too well, but they traded him like dummies.

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Amusingly, Grimes now fits Dallas way too well, but they traded him like dummies.

Amusingly Grimes now fits with us way too well but we traded him like dummies

Nets with he 8th pick, they got rocked tonight

And the wizards lol

In the alternate universe where we got three unprotected picks for Porzingis Knickerblogger is stoked right now

If the NBA was rigged we’d have a much less pathetic history

You can become a Nets fan

So thibs isn’t fixing the starting lineup that doesn’t work?

I suppose it’s funny that Utah didn’t get much and are still directionless.

I guess this is another one we’re losing wire to wire, Thanks Thibs

Maybe he’ll change the starting lineup when we’re down 4-2

So thibs isn’t fixing the starting lineup that doesn’t work?

doesn’t work? We’re up 2-1

lmao how do we have the same exact start every time

Derrick White would be our best player

It’s just incredible how good other teams shoot 3s at MSG. This is fucking insane.

doesn’t work? We’re up 2-1

Yeah it works great when the Celtics have a bottom 5% shooting outcome, just like any other lineup works. Does it look like that’s happening today?

Mr. White’s middle name will always be “fuckin’.” As in, “Derrick fuckin’ White, man.”

Whoever could’ve guessed the starting lineup would get off to a poor start?

I honestly thought it would take at least 4 minutes to lose this game but we managed to do it in 3.

Keep trying this starting lineup, Thibs! Its net rating is only literally minus fucking twenty

It’s amazing how often injuries lead to a better draft position and that in turn puts a potentially top player on a team that is already very good. Having your top players get hurt may be a better approach to winning than tanking. 😉

At least I’ll get to watch a real offense at 930 when the Yankee game starts…

So no adjustments made at all. Got it.

Josh Hart is playing like a scared bitch.

Someone named Tina just got a seat upgrade at MSG. If it’s not a pretty picture is it better to be close to it?

@raven i truly believe this Boston team is extremely beatable but we have a coaching staff that refuses to do what needs to be done to do that.

So far, sagging off the shooters is a bad idea considering Boston’s two main guys can’t shoot a middy if they were wide open lol.

If the NBA was rigged we’d have a much less pathetic history

This.

I mean the conspiracy theories are “fun” I guess?

I’m bummed the Wizards didn’t get Flagg, would like to live in a world where we actually get a first round pick from them. And glad the fucking Spurs didn’t win the lottery. Ugh.

I’m bummed the Wizards didn’t get Flagg, would like to live in a world where we actually get a first round pick from them. And glad the fucking Spurs didn’t win the lottery. Ugh.

They don’t need to win the lottery, getting this generation’s LeBron plus RoY plus the #2 plus probably Giannis is plenty

These guys need some fucking pride at least. Really going to do this shit to your home crowd again?

Doris Burke outros kill me

But nice little comeback after we plugged that bloody nose

Just let ‘em tank and let the chips fall where they may. End the lottery. It doesn’t make anything any better.

The first signs of grit since game 2!

“I mean the conspiracy theories are “fun” I guess?”

Interest keeps sports interesting
Fair is for religions!

I want the Knicks to win just to hear the Garden rock. Man is it loud.

So the trash lineup is playing like trash

People will say don’t blame Thibs, what can he do?

*the starting 5 has been bad since January

Somebody needs to punch that bald hillbilly in the nose.

OMG Jalen to Mitch alley oop!! Since when???

Not since the year of the big rain.

Seeing white shoot over Brunson there just makes you realize how small he is

Knicks have to start playing discipline defensively. They’re playing their asses off but can’t be so reckless.

Not sure what OG was doing on the layup but ended well

Heard we didn’t like his passing so he went for the Kobe assist

I was all ready to celebrate not being down double figures after the first. Welp.

When they start draining 30 foot threes, not much you can do.

Those were contested 3s at the end. Terrible shots that went in. The first couple of minutes were poor defense. Those last minutes they were just jacking it up and it went in

Credit to Doris mentioning the last 90 seconds of quarters being so important to Mazzula. Cue 12-0 run. Oof.

Don’t care about the score, if our offense keeps this up we’ll be in a good spot

They. Can’t. Miss.
That’s how good they can be.
Frustrating.
We need to be more physical with them. Bother them. Make them feel you. Being “in the vicinity” is not enough!

When they start draining 30 foot threes, not much you can do.

Well we know the one thing you can never do is use your own great shooter to take those shots.

So, has the C’s bad 3 point shooting now balanced out? I sure hope so.

And game over. Maybe we should try this three-point shot thing at some point

None of those threes were easy looks either. Three of those last four were from 30’ and the one by Pritchard was at least somewhat contested.

Maybe they’re using up all of their luck now and will go on a brickfest again in the second half

They. Can’t. Miss.

Crazy they didn’t stop shooting after they missed so many.

Well we know the one thing you can never do is use your own great shooter to take those shots.

Unfortunately KAT has a very low release point.

Being down only 11 feels like being up 30. We can win tonight.

EDIT: Oops just saw the OG news. No bueno

Uh, the C’s aren’t “liking the rims” at MSG, they’re liking the nets. As is, that’s all their 3 pointers are hitting.

Hubert, don’t know what you’re complaining about. KAT has two layups so far…

And now season over with OG injured right on schedule

Delete your account

He’s back on the bench already you gormless moron

When OG was in the locker room I was resigned to losing 4 straight but now he’s back in the bench and Mitch is dominating so I’m making Finals plans

I truly hate how the Celtics play.

I don’t think May do, its spamming of 3’s. No actual basketball plays

Refs doing the “give the Knicks no free throws in the first half” thing again.

That flurry of Boston threes at the end of the quarter killed us.

It actually feels like we played kind of well in this game yet we’re down 13

Celtics are getting away with moving screens on every possession. This is fucking ridiculous

It would be nice if the Knicks got free throws at some point. The Knicks are in the paint ALL the time. No calls.

I just looked and the Celtics are 6-9 on fts. Knicks 0-0. Sometimes exaggerations aren’t…

Celtics in Championship gear
We’re Competing hard but it ain’t enough

If we get even a remotely fair whistle this game is gonna go down to the wire. If Celtics stop shooting 8000% from 3 we’ll win.

I don’t know what you want Towns to do. He either gets whacked and no call or gets called for an offensive foul

Knicks are keeping pace with 3PT volume at least. Sucks that they can’t make one.

The refs on both our home games have been missing so many calls. Silver isn’t even hiding the fact he wants this 2-2 going back to Boston

Celtics are getting away with moving screens on every possession.

Maybe we should try some of our own.

I don’t know what KAT has to do to get a foul call

If he got decapitated they might at least take a look at it.

Bridges actually trying to draw a foul but the refs just laugh at him. He’s playing his ass off though.

Maybe we should try some of our own.

Yes. And to push those screens on defense.

At least we’re fighting back every time they build the lead. First half energy for us feels way different than the first three games.

I almost dare Jaylen Brown to drive to the hoop. He has a terrible handle and isn’t as quick with the bum knee. Stay up on shooters.

Come on guys, it’s there to be had.

First half energy for us feels way different than the first three games.

Agreed. Let’s close this quarter well.

KAT had to have banged a refs wife it’s the only explanation I have for the calls he doesn’t get.

I really try to avoid ref whining but KAT has the most legitimate beef I’ve ever seen

I really try to avoid ref whining but KAT has the most legitimate beef I’ve ever seen

Yeah, but he’s too demonstrative. Just digs his hole deeper.

I mean for the love of God stop leaving Celtic shooters in the corners.

I do not complain about refereeing but this is really embarrassingly bad.

The Celtics have to be worried these refs won’t send Mitch to the line when they hack him.

Man these games have been annoying but at least Mitch is Beasting. Any of y’all on watch Tok randomly? I saw Moses the jeweler is 3 rows back. Mazalito iykyk

CLOSE THIS QUARTER!!!

Porzingis clearly holding/pulling OG’s arm on that tip in.

Are they going to put on a run again at the end of this quarter?

This KAT whistle is pathetic. I mean he is getting NOTHING on one end, and every thing is called against him on defense

Last game was dispiriting but this is just frustrating.

Our screens suck and they are playing Offense Line but never get called for it. Frustrating.

Have to decide soon on putting my 6 year old to bed or letting him watch….

Honestly thought we were pretty good in that half. C’s just had that one great minute at the end of the 1st.

One of the more unjust 11 point halftime leads in playoffs history

Okay, they could have called that on Hart. Doesn’t make up for the many tens of other blown calls the other way.

We played with belief and energy. Offense was good, better than previous games, but we missed a lot of easy ones. There we several breakdowns on defense but the biggest problem is that we couldn’t break Boston’s rhythm and allowed Tatum to go crazy.

12-23 vs 7-22 three pointers is the difference as well as the ridiculous FT discrepancy. 15-4, come on refs!

Yeah, I agree with Hubert overall. Would be nice if a Celtic ever got called for fouling KAT

Didn’t hate the way we played, definitely mad about the whistle, but at a certain point I do have to ask why Mikal Bridges has a birthright to 40 minutes every night

I will say if the Knicks play with this level of effort for rest of the series they’ll force a Game 7.

We are playing hard and if it wasn’t for that 3 point barrage at the end of the 1st we are probably even.

But we can’t win if the refs are gonna call the game like this.

… and let’s hope Brunson/OG aren’t banged up.

Breen pointedly mentioning no Knick free throws for 22 minutes.

Is it the corporate stiffs and influencers or the real fans who like to chant “airball” no matter what the score?

Hard to beat the Celts shooting 50% from 3 plus the refs giving them 15 FTs to Knicks 4. Riles would be all over this ….

Brian Windhorst just said about the free throw disparity that the Celtics do a good job of avoiding contact (on defense).

Huh? Are we watching the same game or is he doing his usual clickbait nonsense? ESPN is such a loser org these days, especially with their basketball coverage

We’re beating these fuckers today. They are going to regret they weren’t up by more than 11 at the half

At least they’re playing hard so far. I’d the Celtics have a drought we could do well in the second half.

Jordan just signed to NBC, ESPN basketball coverage is going to continue to fall big time ..

Im watching the in arena stream and cam is out there putting up shots solo and bricked 5 above the break 3s a row lmao

Spurs and Mavs moving up in the lottery is really starting to annoy me the more I think about it. Un fuckin believable.

Also why doesn’t Towns ever settle for a 10 footer. Why is he always taking and extra dribble into 2 defenders. Very maddening.

Lebron on twitter laughing at the lottery results is a bad look for Silver

KAT tried hard but missed defensive assignments that led to 3 point makes. Hart, too.

I fear the halftime adjustments.

Just don’t give up like a 10-0 run out of the gate here please

I love how Jalen dribbles until the crowd falls completely asleep before he starts a move.

Love a 5 point swing from a ref no call.

Also we clearly need Mitch in there to stop the KAT exploitation.

Braindead play defense by Brunson followed by a lazy pass by KAT. They absolutely can’t have unforced errors.

It’s fucking ridiculous how Knicks make a run and Boston immediately answers with back to back 3s.

I still cannot believe that no one has read the scouting report on Tatum only being able to hit screened 3s and just continuing let them do so by switching on dumb screens.

Make Al Horford beat you taking threes. Stay pasted on the other guys.

Credit where it’s due. Refs came out in the second half ready to even the score.

Next Knick who leaves White open for a 3 should run a suicide during the game.

They need to just live with switching Brunson on defense. The hedging is leading to open threes all night long.

Just have to eliminate the stupid plays and turnovers and we can win. That’s a big ask though.

They’re tryna make us believe

EDIT: love how the Garden crowd was warning Bridges that Pritchard was coming. hahaha

We were sleepwalking the last 3 games compared to tonight.

Brunson showing why nobody on the floor is on his level.

Jalen got that last bucket so the Garden didn’t punch his friend Mikal for the quick-brick before it.

Rest Brunson and OG for a few minutes to start 4th. Need them for the stretch run

For once, an incredible third quarter. I’m running out of superlatives to describe Brunson.

Rest Brunson and OG for a few minutes to start 4th.

THEY CAN REST WHEN THEY’RE DEAD

Tatum cooled down at the end of the quarter. Let’s hope he stays like this.

The Brunson “fuck he’s injured” to “he’s cooking” pipeline is undefeated

They’re only outshooting us (volume wise) on threes 36-30, we have 18 assists to their 11, and we have 12 offensive rebounds to their 6.

Looked like a charge

I do think Mitch landed on Prichard. That looked like a foul

We can’t even get the 5 out lineup with 5 fouls on Josh, huh?

EDIT: Probably the right call, actually. Mitch is too important.

Mikal’s playoff midrange game seems to be a thing

Tatum can’t miss though

Kat to Mitch alley oop has got to make us smile!

EDIT: with Foster — This season, 4-1 — thx

Tatum has gotten away with three or four push offs this game

No fucking whistle, man. OG should’ve gotten an and-1. this is maddening.

Up 3. Need to keep it up. Keep battling. If Tatum can hit enough 3s with someone in his face to win it you just have to tip the cap.

If OG’s hamstring is bothering him he’s doing a helluva job playing thru it, major props to him.

Jesus we still have 6.5 minutes and these refs are on a mission.

EDIT: as they give Tatum an and-1 instead of a double dribble.

I love Old Knicks Row…Starbury losing his mind, LJ and Spree, Starks looking like he’s working the Pro Shop…

Underrated wrinkle by Thibs. Taking out Towns to sure up D on Tatum pick and roll. Robinson much better defending it

Seems like KAT’s sitting this one out. Thibs is gonna play this his way. I admire the stones, and he’s making all the right moves tonight.

Smart by Thibs taking a double time out to give his guys a 3 minute blow that have played the entire half…

AND DOWN GOES TATUM

I wish him a speedy & full recovery but wouldn’t mind if it takes one week.

Hope he’s ok and hope people remember we were up 2-1 and up 9 with 3 to play in game 5 when he went down

Sorry to see that for Tatum, brutal timing on his injuries in the playoffs. Total non contact injury.

Hope he’s alright. Either way, let’s bring it home.

Not gonna lie, I was celebrating for a second, but that’s looks bad for Tatum.

This was legitimately a Thibs masterpiece. For the second time in this series I am saying Bravo, Coach!

Masterful second half performance!

We wish Tatum well. It looks unfortunately serious. I think we would have won anyway tonight. If Tatum is out for the series, I don’t see any way they are coming back.

I can’t believe it. We’re up 3-1 against the Celtics and Tatum is injured. Are we going to be able to get our revenge against the fucking Pacers??????!!!

Tatum injury is a damper but I am ecstatic right now.

I don’t think the Knicks have lost a game in the playoffs where they’ve reached 100 first.

I hate the Tatum injury also because it will dominate the news when the Knicks just had a masterful performance.

Lord I am so happy with this team. And I wish Tatum a LONG summer to get healthy and reflect. One more win needed, though, and they will play like MFers in Boston. Hopefully the Refs won’t take sides.

NY Knicks!

We flat out beat them in the second half. They didn’t lose bc Tatum went down. Guys gotta feel good.

No more afternoon games this series. Just sayin’

We flat out beat them in the second half. They didn’t lose bc Tatum went down. Guys gotta feel good.

It was a dominant half. Their best performance of 2025 so far?

That’s an ACL? Broken Ankle? Achilles? for Tatum. Hate that for him. But we played great and deserve it.

Unbelievable win! Can’t believe this team is in this position now.

Tatum’s injury cannot mar a gritty smart win. Please don’t get complacent if Tatum is out for rest of series.

The focus down the stretch was so impressive, that was a legit, well deserved win.

One more!

Finally a good all around effort, despite some torture in the first half and terrible reffing. Big effort from just about everyone.

Knicks haters: but..but Tatum got hurt

Conveniently forgetting we were pulling away when he got hurt.

But seriously, that injury looked Achilles-like. I hope that’s not the case. You hate to see stuff like that..especially when it happens to a great player. Tatum was killin us on both ends

I have to think the Knicks found something on offense in the second half. They generated good shot after good shot.

Every time we are down on this fucking Knicks roster, they rise from the dead to prove us wrong! Regular season, first round, now second round, and I still don’t know what to make of them! I’m out!

I have to think the Knicks found something on offense in the second half.

Obvs they read the blog and did what we said ;-$

Their best performance of 2025 so far?

I think the only other contender is our blowout win against Memphis before they fired their coach and fucked up their season.

That’s an ACL for Tatum.

He was grabbing his ankle so I would assume it’s his Achilles.

tatum injury is brutal but this was also an all time win for the knicks. jalen had 39 and 12 on 29 true shots and 1 tov. absolutely love that mitch got to play a huge role in it.

Can’t keep our foot off the gas, even with Tatum probably out for the series. They can still shoot the 3 and refs have been on their side. We need to stay hungry and stay healthy. OG and Brunson had tweaks tonight and hopefully we can make it unscathed and close out this series.

That puncher’s chance feels more Bustery than ever right now

Shoutout to OG. Brunson and Bridges get the flowers, deservedly, but OG was excellent tonight

And yeah, Mitch plus six.

After the non-calls and White’s corner 3, I was ready to give up. They really showed heart tonight.

We won playing 5 on 8. Masterful second half.

Now I want everyone to go back and read the last thread and come back here and apologize.

I’ll start. Sorry…

You hate to see injuries, but hey, sucks to suck! Fuck you, Boston!

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We’re beating these fuckers today. They are going to regret they weren’t up by more than 11 at the half

This aged well

Can’t wait for the “Tatum was “hurt” so it doesn’t count narrative all day tomorrow even though he was the best player on our team from mid 3Q till he flopped and hurt himself.

Close them out in front of their shit racist ass dans so we can rest for the eventual Bruja Voodoo Pacers series.

with the way the Equalizer was reffing, I thought we were done in the first half, but this team keeps surprising me and refusing to give up… just an incredible feeling.

sad for Tatum, never want to see a guy go down like that, specially since we were beating them with a great game by him, but oh well, that’s sports, guys get hurt.

I would run through a wall for Jalen Brunson, but also have to highlight that everyone showed up for today, after a blowout it just shows this team has somehow manufactured some real mental strength out of what seemed to be a broken locker room earlier in the season.

Porzingis-Horford-Holliday-Brown-White will still be a massive headache.

Can’t wait for the “Tatum was “hurt” so it doesn’t count narrative all day tomorrow even though he was the best player on our team from mid 3Q till he flopped and hurt himself.

That’s not going to be any rational person’s narrative.

You hate to see injuries, but hey, sucks to suck! Fuck you, Boston!

We’d have beaten them tonight anyway and be up 3-1, but now they will have the excuse why they will lose this series.

On a human level I feel bad for Tatum tearing his achilles but we would have won anyhow, what a game

I’m going to be at the Yankees/Mets game on Friday, so just get it down in five, Knicks!

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That punchers chance feels more Bustery than ever right now

Ha Ha!

But on a deeper level, if this is a serious (Achilles) injury to Tatum, it really screws the Celts for this season and cripples them for next season where they have to make several long term decisions this summer.

We were pretty good in the first half, too, despite the score.

Forget best Knicks win of the year. How about best Knicks win of the century?

That was a legitmate, no BS, straight up win against a Celtics team that played really well. We took their best and we beat them going away.

And Thibs. Fucking Thibs. He was masterful. He should play some Sinatra tonight. He did it his way.

Particularly because they are the defending world champs, you’d want to say you beat them straight-up and not have that “asterik” of their best guy getting hurt midway through the series.

That said…
A. you can only beat the team and players that suits up in front of you.
B. Indiana isn’t giving back their Game 7 win last year when the last of our healthy guys dropped like flies.
C. All championship-aspiring teams need some luck here and there.

Can’t believe they won that game. After that first quarter barrage and the inconsistent yet again refs I thought we were done.

A. you can only beat the team and players that suits up in front of you.
B. Indiana isn’t giving back their Game 7 win last year when the last of our healthy guys dropped like flies.
C. All championship-aspiring teams need some luck here and there.

100%. You can’t even remotely consider it.

You think anyone would have slightly cared if the Knicks had won it all in 1994 with Jordan playing baseball? No way.

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Credit Where Credit is Due Hubert is one of my favorite Huberts.

What was so great about the coaching in your mind H? I loved that he rode the starters in the third but went to the bench right away in the fourth – he maximized Mitch while taking away the hacking nonsense.

This aged well

That was good JK but not as good as this:

ess-dogsays:
May 12, 2025 at 21:30
I love the injuring Tatum idea…

39-12 in a huge game 4 at home against the current champs. Love you, Brunson.

For the first time in the series we beat them handily on the boards, 52-41. We got 13 OR to their 7. That was huge.

FT attempts 26-12 for Boston. At MSG! I am not a conspiracy theorist but this is outrageous.

Are the Celtics cold hearted enough to trade ruptured Achilles Tatum for Giannis?

Why did C’s not go hack-a-Mitch?

I think it is bad for the psyche of your team, literally telling them the world’s champions have to go to a gimmick to beat the 3 seed.

What was the Celtics biggest lead in the 3rd? 16?

Yes and then Thibs did his thing again! That’s two times this series he changed the game by leaving the starters in all quarter.

Why did C’s not go hack-a-Mitch

Because the refs weren’t calling any fouls on them all game!

In the 2Q they were too far away from the bonus. Thibs didn’t play him in the 3Q. In the 4Q they had like 2 team fouls 9 minutes in.

Are the Celtics cold hearted enough to trade ruptured Achilles Tatum for Giannis?

Isaiah Thomas says yes.

The Tatum injury and Brunson’s superstar playoff games means the NBA will have the officials tip the series in our favor. They want the big names battling it out.

Are the Celtics cold hearted enough to trade ruptured Achilles Tatum for Giannis?

Of course they are because Giannis is a better player, but why would the Bucks do that? The Pellies own their first round pick the next 2 seasons . Any move to trade for Giannis is likely to contain those picks, whether in a 3 way or direct.

I don’t know about the 1st half, but they waited to bring Mitch in to start the 4th instead of the end of the 3rd. Still weird they didn’t start closer to the end of the quarter.

I know Tatum wasn’t hurt on the same type of play, but I instantly thought of ‘Nique. Dude was never the same. Of course- technology is way better now, so Tatum should be himself again if it was his Achilles

Damn, if only Thibs did what hubert said the series would be over. Hard to believe we could scratch out a win despite not doing what hubert said.

I’m an old dude who’s been going to games longer than some of you have probably been alive, and without a doubt that was one of the best games I’ve ever been to, hands down. Just an incredible gutsy performance by our guys.

And I believe Tatum got hurt when we were up 7 so I don’t want to hear any fucking excuses.

This was an entirely different kind of game from the start, even when we were down. We were visibly playing far, far better than we had played at any time in the playoffs. We were moving the ball, shooting 3’s, and crashing the offensive boards. Boston ended up taking 48 threes to our 34 but a bunch of those were heaves at the end of the game when they were desperate. Terrible whistle in almost unfathomable ways, but we kept our cool and kept grinding.

I didn’t think this bunch had this kind of performance in them, because they haven’t often given us reasons to believe they had this kind of performance in them. But they sure as hell did. And now you HAVE to believe, at least a little bit. This was the team we have been waiting for.

Weirdly feel badly for the Celtics fans and talking heads (even ones I despise). They are already talking about this being the end of this team’s run. I wouldn’t like to see it happen on an injury.

why would the Bucks do that?

Because Tatum is (perhaps) the best player they could get back and he’s 26.

The Pellies own their first round pick the next 2 seasons

Didn’t know that, definitely would be a better gambit for the Bucks if they had their own pick.

Already been a lot of smoke about the Celtics needing to make major changes due to their second apron status. If Tatum is out for the year, that changes things.

And I believe Tatum got hurt when we were up 7 so I don’t want to hear any fucking excuses.

Actually 9 with 3:06 left because OG had already stolen the ball and was on his way to a jam.

at a certain point I do have to ask why Mikal Bridges has a birthright to 40 minutes every night

Because of 4th Q Bridges, baby. Great game from him. Did exactly what he was brought here to do – generate offense while Jalen rested.

Read through the thread and was right with JK – at the half I liked how they were playing and felt we had a good chance. The refs were ridiculous, but we kept playing, and once we got close the Celtics did their usual start playing dumb things – a bunch of tight 3s, etc. But now they weren’t making them, and they didn’t have much of a plan B even they stop dropping.

Hate the Achilles injury for Tatum, but we were winning going away. As Hubert said, a well-coached game from Thibs, and probably our most complete performance of the year.

I didn’t think this bunch had this kind of performance in them, because they haven’t often given us reasons to believe they had this kind of performance in them.

My frustration has been that I believe they have the talent to do this fairly regularly but it took until tonight to see it happen in the playoffs. There’s so much talent in that starting 5, but the way they were playing was so unproductive. Tonight there was movement and they hit shots.

The Pacers are playing very well, but come on, this is setting up really nicely for the Knicks.

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Also, I’m pretty sure that the landing zone foul on Brown pissed off Brunson – he was having a good game, but from that point on until his rest he was unstoppable, and also calling his number a lot. He crushed the Celtics in the third and was a big part of why we evened it up. He wasn’t as sharp after he returned, but we didn’t need him at much then because Mikal had been so strong. And we continued to defend well.

I’m no saying anything earth shattering here, but can we give huge props to Captain Jalen Brunson, who went toe to toe with Tatum on a night Tatum couldn’t miss?

The guy is a fucking beast.

Tatum got hurt when we were up 7 so I don’t want to hear any fucking excuses.

+1

Same offensive game plan. Players played better.

But all of a sudden, Thibs is a genius.

So fucking tedious.

What was so great about the coaching in your mind H? I loved that he rode the starters in the third but went to the bench right away in the fourth – he maximized Mitch while taking away the hacking nonsense.

Everything you said, tastycakes, plus an excellent reading of the game in the 4th when he sat Towns. Tatum was attacking him relentlessly and would have kept at it the whole rest of the way. It was ballsy AF to sit KAT in that situation. Folks like me would have killed him if our offense stalled down the stretch. But he recognized that this was going to be a Tatum game. The Celtics were minimizing Jrue and White so we could afford to play Brunson and Deuce against them. He decided the most important thing was to give Tatum no weak spot because he recognized that Tatum was likely to keep attacking anyway. It was really, really good recognition. And it could have backfired a number of ways, so it was rather aggressive, too.

Because Tatum is (perhaps) the best player they could get back and he’s 26.

He’s actually 27 and if he has an Achilles tear, he becomes a big risk. The list of players returning from such injuries isn’t impressive:

DeMarcus Cousins
Rudy Gay
Chauncey Billups
Kobe
Dominique
Klay
Durant

With Durant the only one who returned to anything near his former self.

Tatum is not Isiah Thomas. I don’t think the Celtics would let him go. They are likely trading KP this offseason to save money, maybe Jrue too with Pritchard taking his spot in the starting lineup. They should keep them and trade Brown instead.

What’s nice is winning games. The Knicks are tough af. They’re able to take bad beats without tilting. They’re TOUGH AS FUCK.

But our offense sucks thanks to our shitty coach, at least according to several passionate posters, so how did we put up 121 points against the defending champions in a must win game for them without changing a thing? Just lucky, I guess.

While we still have one more win to go, an unexpected narrative has emerged… a team wanting to get rid of their coach but it’s not the Knicks.

I’ve had my issues with Thibs all year but he’s pushing the right buttons at the right moments. I still don’t think he’s the coach for this team long term but he’s getting enough out them for this run

Watching highlights I think JB made 2 easy shots all night, the rest e has elite defenders draped all over him and he just cooks them.

an unexpected narrative has emerged… a team wanting to get rid of their coach but it’s not the Knicks.

Not exactly unexpected, Mazulla has been shaky since he took over after the weird Udoka situation.

That was good JK but not as good as this:

ess-dogsays:
May 12, 2025 at 21:30
I love the injuring Tatum idea…

Hehe…?

Actually do hate to see it tho. I hope it’s not a tear, but it’s not looking good. But I’m also worried that the Cs could rally around this.

Watching highlights I think JB made 2 easy shots all night

JB, Hart, and Mikal all had some really incredulous layups, just magnificent, acrobatic stuff.

No one cried for us when Julius blew out his shoulder, or Mitch blew out his ankle, or OG blew out his hammy, or Jalen broke his hand, or Josh tore an abdominal. Rub o’ the green. Get well soon Tatum. Fuck the Celtics.

BTW I don’t think anyone should pencil us in to the conference finals. The Celts are a wounded animal right now. They still have plenty of talent.

Z-Man in here doing some weird, non-stop and quite unsightly gotchas after one of the most amazing Knicks win in years, if not decades.

Don’t be that crotchety old man, Z-Man.

Same offensive game plan. Players played better.

But all of a sudden, Thibs is a genius.

Thibs is FAR from an offensive genius, but for whatever reason, there was more purposeful movement of the ball and players. That creates subtly better shots that you hope they should make at a higher rate over the long haul. Tonight they also shot better. If you can’t see that the offense was functioning better tonight over and above shotmaking I think you missed what’s been missing. Maybe it was just a higher level of energy, but the movement was better and what we needed.

Raven, The ghouls are hiding tonight and they seem apologetic, but they’ll be back in full force after the first loss. This is who they are.

Now what I need is for a desperate Clevealnd team to up the physicality in game 5

The thing about Buster Douglas is that he was actually a very talented fighter. He was big, had a dominating jab, moved well for a guy his size, and had excellent boxing skills. He was often out of shape and unmotivated, and spent most of his career not taking advantage of his natural talent.

When he put it all together, he was brilliant. It wasn’t a fluke that he beat Tyson. He had exactly the right style to beat Tyson, and enough talent to pull it off. Sometimes an upset occurs because an underachiever finally puts it all together at the right time.

Now what I need is for a desperate Clevealnd team to up the physicality in game 5

Would love if that series goes the distance somehow

Sorry Raven, if you don’t like my posts just skip over them. You didn’t have a lot to say when folks were coming at me in the last couple of days, so really, butt out.

“When he put it all together, he was brilliant. It wasn’t a fluke that he beat Tyson. He had exactly the right style to beat Tyson, and enough talent to pull it off. Sometimes an upset occurs because an underachiever finally puts it all together at the right time.”

…even when his future HOF coach has a shitty game plan, according to folks who don’t know the first thing about boxing.

Only bad thing about these games is I can’t get to sleep afterwards and I have to wake up early for work lol

In the postgame, sitting next to Brunson, Mikal was asked about Jalen being Captain Clutch and if he has “some of that gene” since he too has had so many end of game heroics. Mikal took a beat and laughed, looked down, and said, “Well last year I was leading the league in fourth quarter points there for a while, but then different things happened.” Hahaha. Bridges wants it.

Re Thibs: he was asked why he went to Kat and Mitch together, which worked so well, and he said “Josh got in foul trouble, so I had to do it.” Maybe we owe the refs a thank you?

“If you can’t see that the offense was functioning better tonight over and above shotmaking I think you missed what’s been missing.”

And if you can’t see that the offense was functioning better tonight because they simply made shots they were previously missing, then I think you missed what’s been missing.

Nothing about the offensive game plan changed much at all. They just executed it better. Stop trying to spin things.

Just got home. Game 4. MSG. I was also at game 3. I don’t post often. Was in depression after game 3. almost sold my tickets and didn’t go to game 4. Felt I was a curse. Felt I couldn’t go through the anxiety and agita of the game. But my god. Top 5 nyc experience for me. Lost my voice. After the doldrums of game 3. The euphoria of this game. And I don’t know what will be the final diagnosis with Tatum, but man Ewing tearing his Achilles in 1999. We deserve this. So much heartache. I’m turning 50 in 1 month. God please give me this. This team I love them. Brunson, all of them. They are New York. We deserve this. I’m exhausted. Let’s go Knicks.

Nice to see old friend Julius Randle defeat the slander that he can’t play in the postseason (at least for now)

Next Knick who leaves White open for a 3 should run a suicide during the game.

ha, the visual of this had me laughing like crazy…seriously though, white is such a skilled and smart player…

our roster AND coach are
holding up…seven deep plus emergency precious/payne…

still hoping to see mitch starting, KAT needs it…deuce is looking very ready for prime time: homegrown

“deuce is looking very ready for prime time: homegrown”

There was one 3 attempt that would have brought the house down. I love me some Deuce.

llcoolbp, that was as lit of a crowd as I have ever seen, especially in the “ticket prices beyond blue collar means” era. Best game for me since 1994 Game 5.

Every rotation player had their moments, and Brunson was obviously the superstar, but Mikal’s 2pt performance was what made the difference. He hit shot after shot after shot and drove the MSG crowd into a frenzy. Even though the efficiency numbers don’t jump off the page, he was worth all of those picks tonight.

Would it really be our beloved knickerblogger if there wasn’t some squabbling over esoteric beefs after the best win in decades

also,

FUCK YOU BOSTON (with the exception of one Mssr. Tatum, may he rest in peace)

Z man. Insane crown and experience. Agreed. Also agreed with nobody cries for us. We lost our entire starting lineup last season by the end of the playoffs. The media talking about what a tough break the Celtics have. Boo hoo. Fuck the Celtics. Stay strong Knicks. I hope for once, dear god, we stay healthy and can outlast the rest of the league.

I have caught almost nothing of the actual basketball of this series, but the Jekyll and Hydeing of this blog day to day and moment to moment is wild and even better spectator entertainment than the games (cause the refs don’t have any control)

(cause the refs don’t have any control)

True. They banned Doogie, and then he came back as anti-Doogie. No control.

Tatum likely missing next season, and Cleveland being totally unreliable in the playoffs also makes next season wide open, right? The Knicks might legit win a title this year and then be a number one seed next season! Talk about a wild turn of events in a week!

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