Celtics (36-16) at Knicks (34-17) Game #53 2/8/25

[SparzWizard]

Big win, especially as close as the standings are. We just need to win one of the final two to have the tiebreaker, too, which may be big for having home court advantage in the second round.

I think the C's play better or more motivated on the road, we can spot the Knicks hosting Games 1 and 2. And steal both games. 

[Goldstar88]

Beat down! That was fun. TP?s for all!

[Silas]

TPs for a dominant win against a good team.

[blink]

great great WIN CELTICS!!!!
super dominant.   Great def, great shooting, excellent play by the bench.
Couldn't have wished for a better game.

TPs for Everyone!

[Phantom255x]

KAT is a legit all-star and probably the 2nd best big man in the entire East behind Giannis (3rd if Embiid was more healthy)

He?s also not an ideal matchup against the Celtics

That doesn?t bode well for New York at all.

And we didn?t even have Porzingis in both matchups this season.

Also Mikal was said to be a Tatum stopper but Tatum has cooked him too both times

[ozgod]

So which is the real Celtics team? This team? Which is the same team as the one that came back from 26 vs Philly, the one that beat Cleveland at home, that looks controlled, composed and resilient, and most importantly interested? Or is it the team that showed up against a weakened Dallas, lost to Toronto, lost to all those nobody teams, going through the motions, looking bored and not caring about the result of the game?

Will the real Celtics team please stand up! 


Let's assume that the real Celtics team is this team, because it feels better that way. If this is the team we will get in the playoffs then there's nothing for us to worry about because other than OKC I don't think there's any team that can beat this team (forget about their shooting, I'm talking about their mindset, health and attitude) in a seven game series.

TPs for all!

[liam]

Wait, wait, wait - did I just hear Jefferson making excuses for the Knicks by saying that they don't have a bench player in Mitchell and we should we wait until they do to judge them, despite us playing opening night without KP and tonight without KP or Jrue?! What kind of madness is this?

People have been making excuses for the Knicks for 50 years. Me and my wife got together the night Houston beat the Knicks and have been together ever since!

[Atzar]

Put the belt on that ass in their own house.  Game started with Tatum putting Achiuwa in the basket and the night didn't get better for the Knicks from there. 

Great win.

[ozgod]

Big win, especially as close as the standings are. We just need to win one of the final two to have the tiebreaker, too, which may be big for having home court advantage in the second round.

I think the C's play better or more motivated on the road, we can spot the Knicks hosting Games 1 and 2. And steal both games. 

They play better whenver you Z-rate them, so keep it up Sparz, you're oou're Lucky the Leprechaun in reverse 

[Silas]

Really enjoyed this game.....

[blink]

Queta with 11/8/ 1 block 1 steal...and a lot of energy and hustle all game.
Kornet wit 14/12/1 assist, 1 steal,  3 blocks and played a super smart game with great def.

Hats off to those 2.    Great games from our backup bigs

[Phantom255x]

Kornet may still have his deficiencies on defense but have to say, he?s been a MENACE on the glass on both ends and is also blocking shots.

Dare I say he could be a viable 3rd big in the playoffs for spot minutes?

[hodgy03038]

What a great win. I wasn't feeling good with Jrue & KP out but...

Taatum was a beast'
Pritchard was fantastic

I have to say that Kornet was a major factor in this game as well as Queta an Big Al on defense and boards.


Such a great win even though they kept putting Brunson at the line. This was the game that the Knicks were supposed to show us that they were better in front of all their front row celebrities.

Tatum played the Reggie Miller role at MSG---so sweet.

[SCeltic34]

Queta with 11/8/ 1 block 1 steal...and a lot of energy and hustle all game.
Kornet wit 14/12/1 assist, 1 steal,  3 blocks and played a super smart game with great def.

Hats off to those 2.    Great games from our backup bigs

They outperform their contracts.  Kornet has been terrific in his role since last season.  I used to rip into the guy but he's grown into his role and plays it so well now.

[ozgod]

When the Cs play like this they won't lose a series. They just have to channel it consistently.

It's just an attitude and mindset thing. Because the way they're constructed they have very few weaknesses, certainly not over a 7 game series. Even the overreliance on 3s is mitigated by the fact that we have won games not shooting well which we haven't in the past. It's the top two inches - when they are focused and care about the result, they are a much better team, because when they're not they just go through the motions and it's obvious like the Toronto game, the Dallas game, the first half of the Philly game.

In a way it kind of makes you think, why can't they do this all the time...I guess we are all human, including them, just like we don't always approach every day at work with the same energy and verve, some days we just feel like sleeping in all day or vegging around, they probably have those days. But as long as this is the team we will get come playoff time - focused, resilient, confident and in control - I don't think any team can beat us in a 7 game series if we are healthy and have the right mindset. Maybe OKC. But I would still back us against them.