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

[kivancb]

Ladies and gents, we got ourselves a Game 7:

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[tfmiii]

Honestly I think Boston can do it, BUT, I fear the Refs and Brunson's flops more than the actual Knick players. Regardless of what happens, I am so in Love with the Fight they put up. If they fight anywhere near as good again, Win or lose I will be so Proud!!

I fear Joe's rotations more.

Start Kornet and Prichard,
NO KP,
play some bench, at minimum: Al, Hauser... possibly Craig?... Queta?

[Triple M]

Ladies and gents, we got ourselves a Game 7:

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I thought this was an announcement of Foster reffing tonight

[bisme37]

Celtics wearing JT armbands

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[Larry_Russell]

If the Celtics can come back and beat the Knicks in this series, it would be my Championship for this year. lol.

[Celts17Pride]

Ladies and gents, we got ourselves a Game 7:

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Team seems very loose. Playing with house money.

[Celts17Pride]

If the Celtics can come back and beat the Knicks in this series, it would be my Championship for this year. lol.

Until the Celtics beat the Pacers, then .........

[Froob]

Here we go. One game season. Just win

[jmr07019]

[x]

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[Celts17Pride]

[x]

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Going to go out on a limb and say Jaylen won't catch Big Al this year.

[bisme37]

https://www.nba.com/news/starting-5-may-16-2025

Jaylen Brown reminded New York about the gravity of the task at hand. Against the defending champions, it’s a daunting one.

“You’ve got to beat us four times,” Brown said after Boston’s Game 3 victory.

With or without Jayson Tatum, that truth remains. And Wednesday showed the Knicks what the challenge in front of them truly entails.

Tonight (8 ET, ESPN), the series shifts back to Madison Square Garden for Game 6 with New York carrying a 3-2 lead, again in position to reach the East Finals for the first time since 2000. Boston dodged elimination in Game 5 by trusting its depth to defend the parquet.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla: “Whatever it is that we’ve got to go through, there’s no bunch of people I’d rather do it with than the guys in that locker room. It’s that simple.”

The C’s march onward as Tatum exits the equation. In his absence, a triumphant trio emerged to extend the squad’s season.

Pocket Full Of 3s: Derrick White – en route to a Playoff-high 34 points – shot 7-for-13 from 3 in Game 4. The team is now 27-3 this season (reg + post) when draining 20+ 3-pointers

Luke Skyblocker: Luke Kornet blocked a career-high seven shots to spearhead a defensive effort that held Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby to a shared 5-for-26 shooting

JB Ballin’: Brown stepped into a facilitating role, becoming the first Celtic since 1998 to post 25+ points, 12+ assists and a plus/minus of 28 or better

“That one’s for JT. Get well bro,” Brown said

....

Still, the Knicks sit in the driver’s seat. They’ll need Brunson and Towns to bounce back to finish the job in Game 6.

King of NY: The group is 5-1 this postseason when Brunson drops 30+ points. He did so in five of six games last series but only has once (Game 4) thus far in the semifinals

KAT Critical: Similarly, New York’s success relies on Towns’ efficiency. It’s 5-2 in these Playoffs when he shoots 45% or better from the field
“You don’t flush it,” said Josh Hart about Game 5. “You watch it, you learn from it and you get better next game.”

....

Luke leads the way: Can Boston's bench deliver again?

The halftime score stood at a tie. With one half separating Boston from season’s end or an extended series, Mazzulla made one change.

He started Luke Kornet in the 3rd quarter.

Elevating the reserve center into the lineup proved to be a stroke of genius, as Kornet put on a defensive clinic throughout the frame and well into the 4th. He spearheaded an effort Wednesday night that staved off elimination.

Pre-Luke: The Celtics surrendered 10 second-chance points off of six offensive rebounds in the opening half

Post-Luke: While playing all 12 minutes of the 3rd, Kornet racked up five blocks and rebounds apiece as Boston allowed just four second-chance points the rest of the way

“He’s just good at being in the right place at the right time, anticipating the play on both ends,” Mazzulla said. “It’s just his basketball IQ.”

Game 5 of the East Semifinals may go down as “The Luke Kornet Game” for the Boston faithful, but they’ve seen production from the 8th-year center all season long.

No Opportunity Wasted: Kornet – who began his career as a Knick for two seasons – wrapped this past regular season with the 2nd-best DefRtg (106.5) among reserve centers

Big-Man Bonus: His value extends well beyond his position. For reserve players overall, Kornet’s 14.3 NetRtg also ranked 2nd-best in the league

Al Horford: “His presence is what got us through that moment.”

....

The very depth that allowed Kornet to take center stage Wednesday was a definitive characteristic of the Celtics’ dominant run to last year’s title.

Looking Back: In the 2024 Finals, Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday steered the ship in Games 1 and 2, respectively. Then it was the combination of Tatum/Brown in Game 3 and Tatum alone in Game 5, ultimately raising Banner 18

Nearly all members of that championship squad returned for the back-to-back pursuit. Fittingly, Boston’s bench again proved to be one of the Association’s finest.

Second-Unit Strength: Guided by Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard, the group submitted a 60.7 TS% matched by no other team, and a 2nd-best NetRtg of 4.2

Perfectly Balanced: Five different Celtics boasted a +20 or better in Game 5, marking the franchise’s first such occurrence in the postseason since May 13, 2023

[Kalela]

I’m not as confident about the Celtics winning this one as I was with Game 5. White and Brown pretty much need to be flawless for them to pull it off. Or someone else needs to step up big time. Hopefully they prove me wrong.

[brackdan70]

Ladies and gents, we got ourselves a Game 7:

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This is no joke!!! Kornet is loose and ready to go full Dikembe “Not in my House” even though it’s not his house.

[NYCelticsfan136]

I’m not as confident about the Celtics winning this one as I was with Game 5. White and Brown pretty much need to be flawless for them to pull it off. Or someone else needs to step up big time. Hopefully they prove me wrong.

I woul feel confident if softzingis woke up and gave us over 20 . He’s the big X factor but he has given them no scoring.

[bisme37]

The KP situation sucks and I'm a softy and everything, but if I was trying to play for my team in the midst of a serious illness that prevented me from breathing, my feelings would be quite hurt to see strangers relentlessly insulting me.

[playa-hater]

Ladies and gents, we got ourselves a Game 7:

Read on Twitter

?s=46

This is no joke!!! Kornet is loose and ready to go full Dikembe “Not in my House” even though it’s not his house.

OK I have my issues with Kornet the player at times, but he is quickly becoming my favorite Celtic personality ever! Even more than Greg Kite

Sign Luke, cut JT if w have to

[playa-hater]

Honestly I think Boston can do it, BUT, I fear the Refs and Brunson's flops more than the actual Knick players. Regardless of what happens, I am so in Love with the Fight they put up. If they fight anywhere near as good again, Win or lose I will be so Proud!!

I fear Joe's rotations more.

Start Kornet and Prichard,
NO KP,
play some bench, at minimum: Al, Hauser... possibly Craig?... Queta?

I agree with what you are saying, but Boston has some control with that (come-on Joe) but have no control of the incoming Refs taking the game out of Boston's hands etc..

Hope I am wrong.

[brackdan70]

The league is against us, the refs are against us, but the inspirational underdog quotes are on our side
“"They have no idea we're coming. They have no reason to expect us. If we can make it to the ground, we'll take the next chance. And the next. On and on until we win... or the chances are spent."

[Hal14]

Would it really be that crazy if this team won the title this year? Especially if all of those guys are healthy:

C KP
F Horford
Wing JB
G Jrue
G White

Bench: Pritchard, Hauser, Kornet

Deep bench if needed: Craig

In case of emergency: Queta, Scheierman

[Tyakack]

The KP situation sucks and I'm a softy and everything, but if I was trying to play for my team in the midst of a serious illness that prevented me from breathing, my feelings would be quite hurt to see strangers relentlessly insulting me.

I get that, however, him playing is hurting the team. Like REALLY hurting the team. If he was a net positive or hell, even SLIGHTLY hurting us, then maybe. He is absolutely KILLING us. He needs to sit period.