are the Knicks LEGIT contenders?!

[bluejerseyjinx]

My bad, didn't realize we were in a pissing match, I thought we were just having a not entire superficial discussion about basketball. Should I wipe it out now or has the moment gone?

And of course, you don't have any fear, just like all of the other Boston fans who feel the need to tell everyone how they're not sweeting the Knicks at all. The more times you guys feel compelled to repeat it, the more everyone believes it. It's just as compelling as talking trash and then not even being willing to back it up with something as insignificant as a sig bet on a message baord

Call me old school I guess. I grew up in the late 60's and 70's and am probably one of the oldest posters in here. Maybe I'm out of touch with the younger generations. I have never heard or even know what of a sig bet is. Just a sports junkie with cable and a land line phone. I just believe in this team more than last year. I'm telling ya, this year's Celtics team is better than last year's team when healthy.

Just a silly forum thing. We can attach signatures to each of our posts, the way you have an avatar, so we'd be betting the right to pick a new signature (or avatar) for one another. I'd probably pick a picture of Thibs smiling if we did an avatar bet, or a Josh Hart quote if it was a sig bet.

And I actually would agree that you seem stronger than last year as well...although you always have to ask questions about a team's hunger once they've actually achieved a title, aka why it's so hard to repeat...I just think the rest of the conference has made a bigger leap and you'll have a tougher path even if you are better.

I don't know how to do the avatar thing either. I was assuming you meant betting actual $$$$$$$$$$$.

[cgf]

Call me old school I guess. I grew up in the late 60's and 70's and am probably one of the oldest posters in here. Maybe I'm out of touch with the younger generations. I have never heard or even know what of a sig bet is. Just a sports junkie with cable and a land line phone. I just believe in this team more than last year. I'm telling ya, this year's Celtics team is better than last year's team when healthy.

Just a silly forum thing. We can attach signatures to each of our posts, the way you have an avatar, so we'd be betting the right to pick a new signature (or avatar) for one another. I'd probably pick a picture of Thibs smiling if we did an avatar bet, or a Josh Hart quote if it was a sig bet.

And I actually would agree that you seem stronger than last year as well...although you always have to ask questions about a team's hunger once they've actually achieved a title, aka why it's so hard to repeat...I just think the rest of the conference has made a bigger leap and you'll have a tougher path even if you are better.

I don't know how to do the avatar thing either. I was assuming you meant betting actual $$$$$$$$$$$.

Oh lol, nah. I'm not a big gambler...though it was fun in 2021 waiting for Elfrid Payton to tank the line on Knicks games before Rose came in, if you waited to bet until the first timeout you'd kill the in-game line almost every single time

But no it's just a silly bragging rights thing. In the top right corner by your notifications you should see your screen-name. If you click on that a menu comes down. If you click profile from that menu you can edit your profile and one of the options when editting your profile is to edit your avatar or signature.

[bluejerseyjinx]

You're the one who brought up this year's regular season, if you want to talk about the Pistons winning the season series against NYK we've gotta talk about the Magic winning the season series against BOS

I was talking about the Celtic's season record vs. the Knicks and Magic only. But for me its really hard on how much stock to take in. After all, as someone who watched 80 of the 82 games this year, we only had our starting 5 together for maybe 5 or 6 games all year. We always had 2 to 3 players out every night all year. I believe you are ignoring the huge advantage the Celtic have with their bench and depth.

Right, and Orlando's season record is 2-1 against you this season...or am I losing my mind? lol...I know you weren't 100% and were focused on other games when you played the Magic so their record against you doesn't mean much...but the same is true of Knicks-Pistons games. Like you we had our top 7 healthy for just a handful of games all season as such:
- Towns & Robinson missed our first loss to Detroit, when they shot 50% from 3.
- The second was game 2 of a b2b after a more important matchup with the Bucks...at least at the time, now I'd agree that Detroit is the bigger threat than Milwaukee; even if I expect to handle them in 5 or 6 gruellingly physical wars
- While this most recent match was the 1st night of a b2b before our last matchup with the Cavs...and we played without Anunoby, Hart, or Robinson.

So in none of our losses to Detroit did they face our full top 7...like they will in this series...with proper rest...like they will in this series...and with our team focused on & gameplanning against the Pistons. Does that guarantee we'll win? Of course not, but I think it does mean that you shouldn't read too much into their record against us...the same way we shouldn't read too much into Orlando's record against you.

I like what the Pistons are building and thought they could be this good last year, you can check my posting history to see me hyping them before last season started. So I don't mean this to disrespect them, and think they absolutely could pull off the upset, especially if they can out tough us...but I think this series is more likely to echo the 2023 series with Cleveland than I do last season's defeat to the upstart Pacers.

Did you guys have a bulls eye on your back all year for being the defending champions? Something to consider.

[cgf]

I was talking about the Celtic's season record vs. the Knicks and Magic only. But for me its really hard on how much stock to take in. After all, as someone who watched 80 of the 82 games this year, we only had our starting 5 together for maybe 5 or 6 games all year. We always had 2 to 3 players out every night all year. I believe you are ignoring the huge advantage the Celtic have with their bench and depth.

Right, and Orlando's season record is 2-1 against you this season...or am I losing my mind? lol...I know you weren't 100% and were focused on other games when you played the Magic so their record against you doesn't mean much...but the same is true of Knicks-Pistons games. Like you we had our top 7 healthy for just a handful of games all season as such:
- Towns & Robinson missed our first loss to Detroit, when they shot 50% from 3.
- The second was game 2 of a b2b after a more important matchup with the Bucks...at least at the time, now I'd agree that Detroit is the bigger threat than Milwaukee; even if I expect to handle them in 5 or 6 gruellingly physical wars
- While this most recent match was the 1st night of a b2b before our last matchup with the Cavs...and we played without Anunoby, Hart, or Robinson.

So in none of our losses to Detroit did they face our full top 7...like they will in this series...with proper rest...like they will in this series...and with our team focused on & gameplanning against the Pistons. Does that guarantee we'll win? Of course not, but I think it does mean that you shouldn't read too much into their record against us...the same way we shouldn't read too much into Orlando's record against you.

I like what the Pistons are building and thought they could be this good last year, you can check my posting history to see me hyping them before last season started. So I don't mean this to disrespect them, and think they absolutely could pull off the upset, especially if they can out tough us...but I think this series is more likely to echo the 2023 series with Cleveland than I do last season's defeat to the upstart Pacers.

Did you guys have a bulls eye on your back all year for being the defending champions? Something to consider.

There's a reason I don't expect to beat you, you have just been better than us, but opposing teams always get hyped to play at the Garden and it looks like we could be playing our best basketball of the season by the time we run into you. So if I had to bet my savings & home on a Knicks-Celtics series I would bet on Boston, but I'd hate the person forcing me to make that bet because I think there's a very real chance that finally having our top 7 healthy and rested lets us pull it out if you don't bring your A-game from the start.

[bluejerseyjinx]

Right, and Orlando's season record is 2-1 against you this season...or am I losing my mind? lol...I know you weren't 100% and were focused on other games when you played the Magic so their record against you doesn't mean much...but the same is true of Knicks-Pistons games. Like you we had our top 7 healthy for just a handful of games all season as such:
- Towns & Robinson missed our first loss to Detroit, when they shot 50% from 3.
- The second was game 2 of a b2b after a more important matchup with the Bucks...at least at the time, now I'd agree that Detroit is the bigger threat than Milwaukee; even if I expect to handle them in 5 or 6 gruellingly physical wars
- While this most recent match was the 1st night of a b2b before our last matchup with the Cavs...and we played without Anunoby, Hart, or Robinson.

So in none of our losses to Detroit did they face our full top 7...like they will in this series...with proper rest...like they will in this series...and with our team focused on & gameplanning against the Pistons. Does that guarantee we'll win? Of course not, but I think it does mean that you shouldn't read too much into their record against us...the same way we shouldn't read too much into Orlando's record against you.

I like what the Pistons are building and thought they could be this good last year, you can check my posting history to see me hyping them before last season started. So I don't mean this to disrespect them, and think they absolutely could pull off the upset, especially if they can out tough us...but I think this series is more likely to echo the 2023 series with Cleveland than I do last season's defeat to the upstart Pacers.

Did you guys have a bulls eye on your back all year for being the defending champions? Something to consider.

There's a reason I don't expect to beat you, you have just been better than us, but opposing teams always get hyped to play at the Garden and it looks like we could be playing our best basketball of the season by the time we run into you. So if I had to bet my savings & home on a Knicks-Celtics series I would bet on Boston, but I'd hate the person forcing me to make that bet because I think there's a very real chance that finally having our top 7 healthy and rested lets us pull it out if you don't bring your A-game from the start.

I'll get back to you if you beat Detroit and advance. We will be very rested and waiting for you.

[cgf]

Did you guys have a bulls eye on your back all year for being the defending champions? Something to consider.

There's a reason I don't expect to beat you, you have just been better than us, but opposing teams always get hyped to play at the Garden and it looks like we could be playing our best basketball of the season by the time we run into you. So if I had to bet my savings & home on a Knicks-Celtics series I would bet on Boston, but I'd hate the person forcing me to make that bet because I think there's a very real chance that finally having our top 7 healthy and rested lets us pull it out if you don't bring your A-game from the start.

I'll get back to you if you beat Detroit and advance. We will be very rested and waiting for you.

Hopefully the Magic don’t take too much out of you

[1993Playoffs]

Yeah

[uncleduck13]

Eastern conference favorite as of 5/7/25

[Bank Shot]

They're probably the favorites in the East right now, so absolutely.

[bbms]

kat never inspired me trust, even though he's really talented and unique.

tbh the best basketball of the round has been played between indiana and cleveland. i'd say it's not a strecth to say indiana has played the best basketball of these playoffs.

[jkvonny]

Wow! The Knicks are a scrappy bunch! lol

Same for the Pacers.

Could be vintage ECF matchup from the '90s/early '00s again. Pacers vs Knicks

[knicksfan974]

To all doubters: I told you this team can win the championship! They really can do it!

[baldur]

They have a better starter 5 than the celtics to be honest. Brunson is the best player anyway.

[Mr Puddles]

The Knicks overpaid like crazy for Mikal Bridges but if they can bring back OG they'll have the best defensive forward duo assembled since Pippen/Rodman.

Bridges and OG 's defensive styles complement each other as well. Bridges excels against the quick players whereas OG is a better physical defender.

Pretty legit team.

[Yoshun]

Wow! The Knicks are a scrappy bunch! lol

Same for the Pacers.

Could be vintage ECF matchup from the '90s/early '00s again. Pacers vs Knicks

I'd love and old school Knicks/Pacers series.

[jkvonny]

Wow! The Knicks are a scrappy bunch! lol

Same for the Pacers.

Could be vintage ECF matchup from the '90s/early '00s again. Pacers vs Knicks

I'd love and old school Knicks/Pacers series.

Same!

[cgf]

Did you guys have a bulls eye on your back all year for being the defending champions? Something to consider.

There's a reason I don't expect to beat you, you have just been better than us, but opposing teams always get hyped to play at the Garden and it looks like we could be playing our best basketball of the season by the time we run into you. So if I had to bet my savings & home on a Knicks-Celtics series I would bet on Boston, but I'd hate the person forcing me to make that bet because I think there's a very real chance that finally having our top 7 healthy and rested lets us pull it out if you don't bring your A-game from the start.

I'll get back to you if you beat Detroit and advance. We will be very rested and waiting for you.

[FarBeyondDriven]

have to give the Knicks credit. They have long defenders that prevent scoring from the inside on drives and they make teams beat them from three. Unfortunately for the Celtics they're simply missing (badly) dozens of wide open threes. The offensive sets are working and open looks are generated but players need to hit open shots. It's not coaching it's the players. But Fire Joe amirite?!!

[RHODEY]

kat never inspired me trust, even though he's really talented and unique.

tbh the best basketball of the round has been played between indiana and cleveland. i'd say it's not a strecth to say indiana has played the best basketball of these playoffs.

Its easy to play your best basketball versus compromised teams.

[cgf]

have to give the Knicks credit. They have long defenders that prevent scoring from the inside on drives and they make teams beat them from three. Unfortunately for the Celtics they're simply missing (badly) dozens of wide open threes. The offensive sets are working and open looks are generated but players need to hit open shots. It's not coaching it's the players. But Fire Joe amirite?!!

They're not getting that many open rhythm 3s. They're rushing down, jacking up the first open-ish pull up 3 they can find so they don't have to get worked by OG & Mikal, and then wondering why they aren't going in. Those aren't good shots unless you're an elite shooter, and Boston doesn't have many truly elite high volume 3pt shooters. They can get hot and make those, but if Joe thinks they're getting good shots he deserves to be fired