Semifinals Matchup Set: Knicks vs Celtics

[Gant]

If Cowens and Silas control the boards, the Celtics will get their fastbreak going and win easily. But if Willis and DeBusschere are strong down low, that'll allow Frazier, Barnett and Monroe to start cooking in the half court.

Gotta watch out for Havlicek. He always kills Bradley. Jerry Lucas's long ball could be a factor. Its too bad the three point line hasn't been invented yet.

[Jeff Van Gully]

If Cowens and Silas control the boards, the Celtics will get their fastbreak going and win easily. But if Willis and DeBusschere are strong down low, that'll allow Frazier, Barnett and Monroe to start cooking in the half court.

Gotta watch out for Havlicek. He always kills Bradley. Jerry Lucas's long ball could be a factor. Its too bad the three point line hasn't been invented yet.

Big Body Clyde will be the difference

[TKKnicks1]

I was looking for subtle adjustments from Thibs the entire series against the Pistons and was left severely disappointed. The offense got worse as the series went on. Thibs regressed to playing the starters crazy minutes and refused to go deeper into the bench despite the horrible play from McBride. I have zero faith in Thibs. The players will have to win and overcome his coaching. I don't think it's possible against Boston. I say it will be a gentlemans sweep. Boston in 5.

[YouthMovement]

back to reality

[Wildcat]

Whatever happens, all I know is when the dust settles, Deuce will still suck.

[KnixinSix]

Hey with the way the Knicks played vs a clearly inferior team I dont know how anyone can rightfully expect to beat the Celts. The Celts would feast on our broken defense with the way they pass they basketball. But Brunson is the type of player that can rise above bad coaching sometimes...so while I dont think they win the series there is a chance they could steal a game or 2.

The unexpected would be Thibs actually makes smart adjustments and surprises us and we actually give the Celts a true run for their money.

[RHODEY]

Celtics in 4; Thibs can't adjust

And apparently ...neither can you

[LFGK]

I was looking for subtle adjustments from Thibs the entire series against the Pistons and was left severely disappointed. The offense got worse as the series went on. Thibs regressed to playing the starters crazy minutes and refused to go deeper into the bench despite the horrible play from McBride. I have zero faith in Thibs. The players will have to win and overcome his coaching. I don't think it's possible against Boston. I say it will be a gentlemans sweep. Boston in 5.

brother what did you want? NOBODY was doing anything off the bench, McBride has been BRUTAL.

[TKKnicks1]

I was looking for subtle adjustments from Thibs the entire series against the Pistons and was left severely disappointed. The offense got worse as the series went on. Thibs regressed to playing the starters crazy minutes and refused to go deeper into the bench despite the horrible play from McBride. I have zero faith in Thibs. The players will have to win and overcome his coaching. I don't think it's possible against Boston. I say it will be a gentlemans sweep. Boston in 5.

brother what did you want? NOBODY was doing anything off the bench, McBride has been BRUTAL.

It's easy to sit there and say nobody on the bench was going to do anything than actually play some of your bench and see if they will do anything. Thibs continues to take the first approach which leads to the starters playing 40+ minutes and getting burnt out. You think this is a sustainable formula for success?

[Red Vines]

With great coaching I think we could take Boston to 7 but how we are playing we'll be lucky to win 1. Unlike Detroit iso ball won't work, lucky breaks in the 4th won't get you the W, erasing double digit deficits will take twice the effort, and Boston will make open & contested 3's.

Something unexpected has to happen, maybe we stumble onto a new offensive scheme that involves JB & KAT they're not prepared for. We know whatever we tried before didn't work, might as well experiment. Going to need a lot of ball and body movement and going to need the bench. Please just try something different, don't take the easy way out putting it all on Brunson.

[nedleeds]

[TKKnicks1]

With great coaching I think we could take Boston to 7 but how we are playing we'll be lucky to win 1. Unlike Detroit iso ball won't work, lucky breaks in the 4th won't get you the W, erasing double digit deficits will take twice the effort, and Boston will make open & contested 3's.

Something unexpected has to happen, maybe we stumble onto a new offensive scheme that involves JB & KAT they're not prepared for. We know whatever we tried before didn't work, might as well experiment. Going to need a lot of ball and body movement and going to need the bench. Please just try something different, don't take the easy way out putting it all on Brunson.

100%. The Celtics are far better coached and have far better talent than the Pistons. They got how to defend us on lock already. Thibs has to throw them a monkey wrench and I got zero confidence in this happening.

[Spree2Houston]

Everyone will be prepping this weekend for game 1. Brunson and Hart will come out with a new episode of the Roommates Podcast. Thibs will be at his beach house drawing Brunson iso plays in the sand. Jordyn Woods going to take KAT shopping. Payne will be getting another terrible fade. Mitch will be drifting in his truck and bodybuilding. McBride will be throwing up shots on his crate hoop. OG will be doing basketball drills and watching game tape.

[LFGK]

I was looking for subtle adjustments from Thibs the entire series against the Pistons and was left severely disappointed. The offense got worse as the series went on. Thibs regressed to playing the starters crazy minutes and refused to go deeper into the bench despite the horrible play from McBride. I have zero faith in Thibs. The players will have to win and overcome his coaching. I don't think it's possible against Boston. I say it will be a gentlemans sweep. Boston in 5.

brother what did you want? NOBODY was doing anything off the bench, McBride has been BRUTAL.

It's easy to sit there and say nobody on the bench was going to do anything than actually play some of your bench and see if they will do anything. Thibs continues to take the first approach which leads to the starters playing 40+ minutes and getting burnt out. You think this is a sustainable formula for success?

I don't get what ppl want, they play they don't produce, how long do you keep giving em minutes? the best players play this time of the year, OG is 2nd in minutes, Brunson 9th, KAT 22nd. Top players play

[Zero-in-box]

Hey with the way the Knicks played vs a clearly inferior team I dont know how anyone can rightfully expect to beat the Celts. The Celts would feast on our broken defense with the way they pass they basketball. But Brunson is the type of player that can rise above bad coaching sometimes...so while I dont think they win the series there is a chance they could steal a game or 2.

The unexpected would be Thibs actually makes smart adjustments and surprises us and we actually give the Celts a true run for their money.

I said Celts in 5- but this is the question. I don’t think Detroit was a clearly inferior team - I think they were a team better than their record and I think the posed a match up problem.

Did we play down to a team, or did we play up? Because in the regular season, we were 1 & 3 vs Detroit and that first win happened early in the season when they were still adjusting to their roster and new coach - I know you can say the same about us- but with Thibs, lot more continuity.

SO I think we actually played up which is potentially encouraging for taking on a Boston team that completely owned us during the regular season.

Again, I didn’t think the Knicks were going to beat the Pistons and certainly not in 6 after how we performed in game 5.

[Reign23]

love that we won, but this could get really ugly If we don't step it up BIG time.

[Zero-in-box]

brother what did you want? NOBODY was doing anything off the bench, McBride has been BRUTAL.

It's easy to sit there and say nobody on the bench was going to do anything than actually play some of your bench and see if they will do anything. Thibs continues to take the first approach which leads to the starters playing 40+ minutes and getting burnt out. You think this is a sustainable formula for success?

I don't get what ppl want, they play they don't produce, how long do you keep giving em minutes? the best players play this time of the year, OG is 2nd in minutes, Brunson 9th, KAT 22nd. Top players play

I agree- but would like to see Delon maybe get dusted off and inserted to see if he can help. McBride is not right, either physically or mentally.

[nedleeds]

They obliterated us in the regular season with various injuries in some cases. The Knicks are 0-15 vs. the elite teams like Cavs, Cs, OKC, LA teams, and 24-0 against Bullets, 76ers, Raptors, Nets, Heat, Suns, Blazers, Pels ... we almost swept the bobcats.

Whole team, staff, record label and crew are built on fake wins. Peon Rose will dodge the press and keep the fire hose of money from Dolan's wallet into his and his kids pocket.



This whole thread is a LARP. Cs matchup perfectly against us, everyone can shoot and defend in space. They have an elite rim protector. They have smart players. Their PG is big enough to just stand in front of Jalen Burke and bother him.

[Riot Randolph]

Call it wishful thinking but I wouldn’t be surprised if Thibs preparation focus going into the playoffs was predominantly on Boston …I can defintely see him neglecting Detroit…celts in 6

[nedleeds]

Call it wishful thinking but I wouldn’t be surprised if Thibs preparation focus going into the playoffs was predominantly on Boston …I can defintely see him neglecting Detroit…celts in 6

He went 0-4 against them. If he had anything he would have tried to win the regular season games and murdered our players to do it.

In those games this was Thibs.