The postseason historical past between the Celtics and Knicks

With the New York Knicks win over the Detroit Pistons in Sport 6, the Celtics might be dealing with off in opposition to the Knicks within the second spherical of the playoffs. Let’s have a look again on the matchups Boston has had in opposition to New York within the common season and in playoffs previous.

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Common Season Head-to-Head Matchups

The Boston Celtics confronted the New York Knicks 4 instances within the common season this 12 months and completed with an ideal 4-0 report. The primary matchup was on Opening Evening on October twenty second. It was Ring Evening for Celtics as they obtained their 2024 championship rings and raised Banner 18 to the rafters.

The Celtics proceeded to then blowout the Knicks 132-109 and tied the NBA report for 3 pointers made in a sport with 29. Jayson Tatum was the main scorer with 37 factors and it set the tone early for what the Celtics matchups with the Knicks would appear to be.

Sport 2 didn’t come once more till February eighth the place the Celtics went into Madison Sq. Backyard and proceeded to blowout the Knicks once more, this time by the rating of 131-104. With out Jrue Vacation or Kristaps Porzingis, Jayson Tatum placed on one other masterful efficiency, this time dropping 40 factors on 13-26 capturing to steer Boston to the win.

Sport 3 got here on February twenty third again in TD Backyard. It was loads nearer of a sport, however the outcome remained the identical with the Celtics profitable by a rating of 118-105. It did appear to be it was going to be a blowout early on when Boston opened up a 27-point lead mid-way by way of the second quarter however New York was capable of make a comeback and reduce the result in 4 by the start of the fourth quarter. The Celtics would proceed to go on a 21-6 run after that time which primarily ended the sport. Jayson Tatum as soon as once more led the Celtics with 25 factors and Jaylen Brown was proper there with him with 24 factors.

The ultimate sport of the common season between these two groups passed off on April eighth again in New York. This was the closest sport of the season, going into extra time to resolve a winner but it surely was in the end as soon as once more Boston by a rating of 119-117. It was a backwards and forwards sport all evening and it appeared just like the Knicks have been going to win with 11.9 seconds left in regulation when Josh Hart hit a layup to offer New York a 3-point lead. Nevertheless, it was as soon as once more Jayson Tatum arising clutch as he hit a sport tying three with 3.7 seconds left to ship the sport to extra time. Time beyond regulation was shut as effectively, but it surely was Kristaps Porzingis who would in the end hit the sport profitable three with 40.8 seconds left and the Knicks would flip it over on the subsequent possession to finish it.

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Playoff Historical past

The rivalry between Boston and New York has been a narrative that’s outdated as time so in the case of the Celtics and Knicks dealing with off within the playoffs, there may be numerous historical past. These groups have confronted off in 67 playoff video games over the course of time with the Celtics holding the higher hand with a report of 36-31. The primary time they matched up was all the best way again in 1951 the place the Knicks would win the collection 2-0 within the Jap Division Semifinals.

They’d proceed to play one another for the subsequent 4 seasons in a row the place the Knicks would win in 1952 in a 2-1 collection victory within the East Division Semifinals and in 1953 in a 3-1 collection victory within the Jap Division Finals. The Celtics would beat the Knicks twice within the Jap Spherical Robin in 1954 the place three groups would face off to play in what is basically the convention finals and beat them in 1955 in a 2-1 collection victory within the Jap Division Finals.

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The Celtics wouldn’t play the Knicks once more till 1967 the place they gained the collection 3-1 within the Jap Division Semifinals. Boston was led by Sam Jones who averaged an absurd 33.5 PPG on 55% capturing within the collection.

They’d matchup once more in 1969 within the Jap Division Finals the place the Celtics would win once more, this time in a 4-2 collection victory. John Havlicek led Boston in scoring, averaging 20.7 PPG on 43% capturing and the Celtics would go on to beat the Los Angeles Lakers within the NBA Finals, profitable the 1969 NBA Championship.

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The 70s would convey on a brand new period within the rivalry the place Boston and New York would face off in three straight seasons from 1972-1974. In 1972 it was the Knicks who lastly received their revenge, profitable the Jap Convention Finals 4-1 led by Walt Frazier who averaged 24 PPG on 53% capturing.

It might be an Jap Convention Finals rematch in 1973 with the identical outcome because the Knicks gained once more, this time in a 4-3 collection the place Frazier led New York once more in scoring at 26.1 PPG. One other enjoyable reality about this collection specifically is that the Knicks would beat the Lakers within the NBA Finals and it was the final time New York gained a championship.

In 1974 it was one other Jap Convention Finals rematch, nevertheless the Celtics would win the collection this time 4-1. John Havlicek led the Celtics in scoring at 29.6 PPG on 60% capturing and would lead Boston to the NBA Championship over the Milwaukee Bucks.

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The 80s solely noticed two matchups, the primary being in 1984 within the Jap Convention Semifinals. Boston would win the collection 4-3 led by Larry Hen who averaged 30.4 PPG, 10.6 REB, and seven.1 AST on 59% capturing from the sector. In Sport 7, Hen dropped a 39-point triple-double on the Knicks in TD Backyard to advance them to the convention finals. The Celtics would beat the Bucks within the Jap Convention Finals and beat the Lakers within the NBA Finals.

The subsequent matchup got here in 1988 Jap Convention First Spherical the place the Celtics would as soon as once more the collection, this time 3-1. Boston was led by Larry Hen once more who averaged 28.3 PPG and eight AST on 48% capturing from the sector. The Celtics would make it to the convention finals however shedding to the Detroit Pistons.

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The subsequent matchup wouldn’t come once more till 1990 within the Jap Convention First Spherical and for the primary time 1973, the Knicks would win the collection 3-2. New York was led by Patrick Ewing who averaged 31.6 PPG and 11.4 REB on 57% capturing from the sector. Within the deciding Sport 5, Ewing would rating 31 factors in TD Backyard to steer the Knicks to the collection victory. Larry Hen led the Celtics once more with 24.4 PPG, 9.2 REB, and eight.8 AST however this was a time the place Boston’s dynasty years of the 80’s have been beginning to wind down.

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It took 21 years till the Celtics matched up with the Knicks once more, this time within the 2011 Jap Convention First Spherical. Boston would proceed to brush the Knicks 4-0 led by Paul Pierce who averaged 22.3 PPG on 46% capturing from the sector and 50% from three in addition to Ray Allen who averaged 22 PPG on 57% capturing from the sector and an insane 65% from three. Within the deciding Sport 4, Kevin Garnett dropped 26 factors on 10-16 to steer the Celtics in a 101-89 victory and face off in opposition to the Miami Warmth within the second spherical the place Boston would lose.

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The newest matchup to occur between Boston and New York was in 2013 within the Jap Convention First Spherical. This time it could be the Knicks profitable the collection 4-2 led by Carmelo Anthony who averaged 29.2 PPG and Raymond Felton who averaged 17.2 PPG on 47% capturing from the sector. Jeff Inexperienced was the main scorer for the Celtics on this collection at 20.3 PPG on 43% capturing from the sector and 45% capturing from three but it surely was not sufficient.

It was the twilight years of the Large 3 period Celtics this could be the final playoff collection Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce could be part of taking part in in Boston. Garnett and Pierce could be traded to the Brooklyn Nets within the offseason which might in flip give the Celtics the draft picks that might find yourself being Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum so it comes full circle.

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Collection Prediction

The Knicks are a a lot better staff than the Magic are. Nevertheless, with the Celtics success in opposition to them this season, I’ve a tough time pondering this collection gained’t be extra of the identical. With that stated I believe the Celtics are going to beat the Knicks in 5 video games.

Jalen Brunson has proven that he’s a playoff performer during the last two seasons and his clutch time shot making is nothing to take calmly. Nevertheless, Jayson Tatum is coming off of possibly the perfect playoff collection of his profession and has destroyed the Knicks this season in each single matchup.

There are some issues in case you are the Celtics on this collection, primarily the accidents to Jaylen Brown and Jrue Vacation. Brown performed effectively within the Magic collection, however remains to be coping with a proper knee harm that might hinder his explosiveness. Vacation alternatively missed the final three video games of the Magic collection with a proper hamstring pressure and his standing for the Knicks collection is unknown as of proper now.

I hope this collection is far of the identical from the common season and the Celtics have a straightforward time in opposition to the Knicks protection, however I gained’t overlook New York as an opponent. Nevertheless, Knicks followers have began to chant “We Need Boston” once more and to this point each staff that has wished Boston has misplaced to Boston so I suppose we’ll must see the way it all performs out.