That might’ve been the most fun I’ve ever had watching a Knicks playoff game. Thibs did his best to kill the vibe by leaving starters in way too long. Seeing OG sub in up 40 had me thinking he’d finally lost his marbles. But whatever. It all worked out, and that game ended about as perfectly as any Knicks fan could dream.
I could break down player stats, but let’s be real, everybody ate. Every single Knick played their role and took turns beating down a shorthanded Celtics squad while the Garden went fully nuclear in a home series clincher.
Now it’s on to the next one. Knicks-Pacers. Revenge tour mode fully activated.
So the Celtics are officially toasted, and this season is over.
The game was tied 16-16 midway through the first quarter, but from that point on, the Celtics totally collapsed. It turned into one of their worst all-around efforts of the entire season. Right when they needed to be locked in. Outside of Jaylen Brown, no one showed up. They got outworked and outplayed in every possible way, and once the Knicks got into a rhythm, it was a wrap. Credit to New York. They did exactly what a team needs to do to close a series. Boston, on the other hand, kept playing sloppy ball. They gave up too many second-chance points, turned the ball over way too much, and couldn’t hit a shot. It was like a brutal mash-up of their worst moments this series and last year’s Game 7 meltdown.
It was a total no-show from the Celtics in their biggest game of the year. just a full-blown disappointment, and that was tough to watch. And it wasn’t only because Jayson Tatum was out. They didn’t have him in Game 5 either, but they came to play then. This time, they got outclassed in every part of the game. Even Jaylen Brown fouling out in just three quarters showed how off they were. By the time Coach Joe benched the squad with two minutes left in the third, it was already clear they were getting cooked.
To win a game like this, the Celtics needed everyone to contribute like they did back in Game 5. Instead, they completely missed the mark. The trio of White, Holiday, and Pritchard started out a brutal 1-for-18 from the floor. Hauser couldn’t knock down his open looks, and while Porziņģis had a few decent possessions, he wasn’t much of a factor overall. Deep down, this was the nightmare scenario: a bad shooting night knocking them out. But it wasn’t just that, it was the careless play, the missed details, all of it piling up. Losing Games 1 and 2 despite having Tatum and big leads? That’s what set the tone. They messed around early, and the playoffs made sure they paid for it.
Sometimes, when you play sloppy, you get wrecked.
I’m gonna need a minute to process this total beatdown, so I’ll check back in tomorrow. For now, I’ll let the comment section cook.
At least we’ll always have 2024, and thank the lord for that.
As far as the Knicks go, the best part of a big Knicks win is always the wild scene on Seventh Avenue afterward. I expected some serious chaos tonight, especially with the classic Boston-New York rivalry in play. But honestly, watching it all unfold has me low-key worried about what happens if the Knicks keep advancing.
Like, if kids are already climbing billboards in Midtown wearing slides just because they won a second-round series, what’s it gonna look like if they actually reach the Finals? I’m almost scared to find out, especially with this kind of madness already popping off.
For years, the best part after the Knicks scored a big W was the wild circus on Seventh Ave. I knew tonight would be extra chaotic, especially with the Boston-New York beef. But watching all this go down has me kinda worried if the Knicks can keep the streak alive in the playoffs.
Like, if kids are already climbing billboards in Midtown rocking slides after just a second-round win, what’s the vibe gonna be if the Knicks hit the Finals? Not sure I’m ready to see that madness, especially with stuff like this already going down.
Does making the Finals get us to Level 5 Mobilization, or do the Knicks need to actually snag a championship first? Like, what even is Level 5 Mobilization? Is that some kinda Wanted Stars vibe from Grand Theft Auto? There are always more questions than answers in moments like this, but hopefully we get the scoop in a month or so and then some.
Till then, y’all stay safe and look out for each other, especially since The King of New York’s sister is too shook to leave her castle.
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