PLAYOFFS: Rnd 2, Gm 6 – Celtics @ Knicks – 8:00PM, Fri, May 16, 2025

[ConstableGeneva]

The Celtics came back from being down 0-3 to Miami in 2023 on an impossible putback by DWhite only to fall short in game 7 then went on to win a championship in 2024. If we force a game 7, Banner 19 incoming in 2026 (JT's Achilles miraculously healed by February)!

[Shamrock23]

As much as I want us to end New York’s dream, I’m afraid the NBA politics will take over and will secure the Knicks victory. The NBA don’t want cripple team to play the next round and they want their ratings. I’m sure they put Brown, White and Kornet in foul trouble. They will also let New York as physical as they one. The NBA is all $$$ and politics folks!

[Fencer reregistered]

Since it is likely that the Hero we deserve in......... Kornet.. can't play 48 minutes (or can he?) and Same for Al, why not give Queta a 5-8 minute stint just to crash the boards and give a hard foul or 2???

One of the biggest reasons we won was tremendous energy. Queta always plays with Energy? No one is suggesting playing him starters minutes but Damn Joe acts like he can't do anything positive.

I'm with you on that. Mazzulla has been doing this all his Head Coaching career.
He should have been playing some of these Deep Bench guys, during the Regular Season.

I'm skeptical. The price of Queta's energy is 4 teammates being slowed by not being sure he'll be in proper position. That may not be a net positive in energetic play at all.

But yes -- energy is the key issue. The Celtics have depth and health issues. The only rotation members who appear to be at full health (or rather full-this-late-in-the-season health) are White, Pritchard, Kornet and arguably the old guys (Al and Jrue). Tatum is out. Brown and Hauser are gimped.

They also could run into foul trouble, given that several of them have had foul issues in one game or the other already, especially if Thibs can find a way to increase that kind of offensive pressure.

[The Corey's]

The Celtics came back from being down 0-3 to Miami in 2023 on an impossible putback by DWhite only to fall short in game 7 then went on to win a championship in 2024. If we force a game 7, Banner 19 incoming in 2026 (JT's Achilles miraculously healed by February)!

After some research, there's no reason why Tatum shouldn't be back within 8 months.

[TheChiefsStash]

I still have the Celtics winning in 5. No one can take that away from me.

As Ernie Johnson said we could legitimately be up 5-0 right now.

[ConstableGeneva]

Since Cs have shifted to primarily single big lineups, there really is no need for a third big if Kornet is playing well. Horf and Luke combined for 50 mins. last game. They can replicate that with season on the line. Even as a proponent of the double big lineups, I don't think it's worked this series. We've played better with either Horford or Kornet at center. We couldn't rebound anyway even with double bigs. We've led most of the way this series. Issue is mainly clutch execution or holding on to big leads in the 3 losses. Like Kornet, Queta isn't a particularly strong defensive rebounder. And is much worse positional defender than either available bigs.

EDIT: If we're looking for a few minutes rest for the main guys (incl. bigs) and an energy boost, Craig is the guy I want them to try. He knows where to be on offense, has postseason experience, and is switchable on defense.

[ConstableGeneva]

I still have the Celtics winning in 5. No one can take that away from me.

As Ernie Johnson said we could legitimately be up 5-0 right now.

Exactly. This could've been our closeout game.

[Gant]

The Celtics came back from being down 0-3 to Miami in 2023 on an impossible putback by DWhite only to fall short in game 7 then went on to win a championship in 2024. If we force a game 7, Banner 19 incoming in 2026 (JT's Achilles miraculously healed by February)!

After some research, there's no reason why Tatum shouldn't be back within 8 months.

Read this article:

https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/5/15/24430310/jayson-tatum-achilles-tendon-injury-celtics-nba-playoffs-surgery-recovery-timeline

[Fierce1]

The Celtics came back from being down 0-3 to Miami in 2023 on an impossible putback by DWhite only to fall short in game 7 then went on to win a championship in 2024. If we force a game 7, Banner 19 incoming in 2026 (JT's Achilles miraculously healed by February)!

After some research, there's no reason why Tatum shouldn't be back within 8 months.

Read this article:

https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/5/15/24430310/jayson-tatum-achilles-tendon-injury-celtics-nba-playoffs-surgery-recovery-timeline

That's good news.

It's now up to Brad to make sure the Cs are in a position to fight for another chip when JT returns.

[Roger Federer]

No way we win this game. Refs will do everything in their power to help the Nix and the Nix earned it by gong up 2-0. This is the end of the road, at least there is hope the team won’t look atrocious under JB next season.

[exculpatory]

**** all of this negativity.
**** the NBA & its politics.

There WILL be a G7 on Mon (which we will also win).

[jfs1000d]

I've watched enough basketball to know this is where it likely ends. However, we are playing the Knicks so if there was ever a time for an exception it's against them.

Boston is better team even without Tatum. Knicks have been down 20 points in Four of five games and 14 in another.


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[NYCelticsfan136]

This feels like a waste of a season watching OKC they look beatable. Losing JT sucks.

[NYCelticsfan136]

I've watched enough basketball to know this is where it likely ends. However, we are playing the Knicks so if there was ever a time for an exception it's against them.

Boston is better team even without Tatum. Knicks have been down 20 points in Four of five games and 14 in another.


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Idk about that. Are they gonna get great scoring from anotber player again besides brown? I would feel better if KP was giving us something but nada. Thah means white has to go off again.

[jfs1000d]

I still have the Celtics winning in 5. No one can take that away from me.

They have outplayed Knicks in all 5 games.


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[Roger Federer]

I still have the Celtics winning in 5. No one can take that away from me.

They have outplayed Knicks in all 5 games.


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And choked against them in 3. Nix just need to play 1 good quarter in the next 8 to close out this series. I like those odds better than the odds of us playing 8 perfect quarters in a row but maybe that’s just me.

[NYCelticsfan136]

I still have the Celtics winning in 5. No one can take that away from me.

They have outplayed Knicks in all 5 games.


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And choked against them in 3. Nix just need to play 1 good quarter in the next 8 to close out this series. I like those odds better than the odds of us playing 8 perfect quarters in a row but maybe that’s just me.

It doesn’t help when you’re not getting **** from KP. He’s the big X factor here. I don’t know if white can go for 30 again.

[Tyakack]

I've watched enough basketball to know this is where it likely ends. However, we are playing the Knicks so if there was ever a time for an exception it's against them.

Boston is better team even without Tatum. Knicks have been down 20 points in Four of five games and 14 in another.


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Idk about that. With Tatum I agree. Without him I don't think so. Maybe if our team was fully healthy outside of Tatum.. And even if you are the better team, you can and probably will lose once you go down in a series 1-3. Also, building big leads doesn't make you better if you blow that lead almost every time. It's a 48min game. Not a, "first to build a 20 point lead wins" game.

[shi-woo]

Yeah, it's sad because it's not just Tatum but KP as well. We're essentially down our 1st and 3rd option this series, and have compromised the team every game giving KP a chance to see what he has for the day.

Even without JT I think we are equal to this Knicks team, but only if KP is able to go.

It still think we can win this game, we need to hit our shots and not turn the ball over, but i'm not getting too excited about it. Like everyone else, I expect the refs to let the game be physical, which only helps the home team and the team with the guard that flops.

I'm expecting 2 quickies on Brown, but am hoping the team shows more heart, and with a better idea of where we are rotationally, we can outplay these guys. Pritchard is still the X factor, and should have been getting 30 mins since game 1, which has been Joes biggest blunder outside of playing Kristaps this series. Payton can help smooth the offense and is out best shooter. Knicks don't have many ways to abuse him on D.

In our 2 wins, Payton played 30+ mins. In our 3 loses, he's played just over 20 mins. Give Pritchard the green light and 30 minutes to let it fly Joe.

[MaxwellSmart]

They seem to be moving the ball and themselves better without JT....Maybe this is the start of something good.