Workers predictions for the 2nd spherical collection in opposition to the New York Knicks.
Jeff Clark
The Knicks have some nice gamers they usually completely have the expertise to steal a sport or two from the Celtics on this collection – particularly if there’s capturing variance in any explicit sport. Nonetheless, I’m going to name this shot now. Celtics will get the sweep. Not solely is that this a horrible matchup for the Knicks, however they’re additionally catching the Celtics proper after a collection with the Magic that may act like a bat weight does to a hitter within the on deck circle. The Boston offense goes to really feel like a weight has been lifted and they’ll knock the quilt off the ball. Celtics in 4.
Mark Aboyoun
Though Boston took care of the Knicks within the common season, I imagine the Knicks had been constructed for the postseason. In my view, the Knicks are one or two seasons early of their championship window whereas the Celtics are within the midst of it. I believe expertise will play an element with the sting going to Boston. The matchup I sit up for probably the most is White/Vacation guarding Brunson. We’ve had hassle, at instances, guarding larger physique guards and Brunson is among the finest. If Vacation is match and able to play that shall be a enjoyable matchup to look at. I wouldn’t thoughts throwing Jaylen Brown at him every now and then both. Needs to be a enjoyable collection, however I’ve Boston profitable in six at MSG.
Ian Inangelo
The Knicks are a fantastic crew and confirmed of their matchup with the Pistons that they’ll get it completed within the postseason on the again of Jalen Brunson. The common season doesn’t essentially imply all the pieces in the case of how they performed Boston however the Celtics did sweep them in 4 common season video games. Tatum additionally averaged 33.5 PPG in opposition to the Knicks this yr and is coming off arguably his finest playoff collection in opposition to the Magic so I believe he’s going to have one other enormous collection. I’m going to say Celtics in 5 video games simply because I believe the Knicks don’t have the defenders to maintain up with Brown and Tatum they usually’re going to have to select their poison. Both play like Orlando did and drive the Celtics off of the three level line however play isolation ball with Brown and Tatum or ship a double to the Jays and danger the Celtics raining threes
Jake Issenberg
Within the offseason, the New York Knicks tried to construct a crew that would problem the Boston Celtics. As an alternative, they constructed a crew that the Celtics have thrived in opposition to. There is no such thing as a “blueprint” to beating this iteration of the Boston Celtics, however if you’d like any hope of beating them, you may have to have the ability to decelerate their offense. The New York Knicks can not do that. The Celtics had a 132.7 offensive score in opposition to the Knicks of their 4 matchups within the common season. That will be the most effective offense within the league’s historical past, by a large margin. OG Ananouby is a good defender, however that’s not sufficient to compensate for the weak hyperlinks in Karl Anthony Cities and Jalen Brunson. On the opposite finish, the Celtics will look to neutralise Cities’ three-point capturing by switching a mix of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Jrue Vacation onto the large man. Whereas forcing Brunson to try to beat them with robust, contested two-point jumpers. The Celtics have extra top-end expertise and depth, and they’re a horrible schematic matchup for the Knicks. Sweeps are arduous, although. Celtics in 5.
Jack Anderson
I believe the Celtics current a ton of points for New York. The best way they (Tatum) can assault Brunson and Cities is one thing that has given the Knicks points all season. Mikal Bridges had points overlaying them (once more, Tatum) all season. How the Celtics guard Jalen Brunson shall be an enormous issue within the collection as properly. Brunson has turn into Mr. Clutch, harking back to Isaiah Thomas being the King of the 4th, he’s lethal late in video games. Additionally, stopping Cities threes shall be vital for Boston, ensuring he’s taking 2 level pictures is one thing the Celtics have completed properly this season. With that stated, Celtics in 5.
Nirav Barman
There’s little doubt that the Knicks have a really proficient crew. If I’m being trustworthy, I used to be just a little apprehensive about their skill to rival the Celtics earlier than the season began. That worry has since dissipated, given their incapacity to beat Boston within the common season, and their efficiency in opposition to the Detroit Pistons of their first-round matchup. At this level, I’m undecided the Knicks will have the ability to push this collection past 5 video games, and that one sport they get will doubtless come from a top-tier efficiency by them on the identical night time that we play properly under our requirements. Having three of your must-play gamers (Brunson, Hart, and KAT) be mismatched in opposition to Boston is just not a recipe for fulfillment, particularly when New York lacks depth. They’ll want some severe offensive explosions to compete. I’m selecting Celtics in 5.
Trevor Hass
It looks like these groups have been destined to fulfill at this stage ever because the Knicks made a big splash this offseason. New York retooled with the Celtics in thoughts, figuring out it could take far more than what it needed to make the Finals. Now, it’s a severe matchup. Properly, no less than it appeared like one, till the Celtics swept the regular-season collection. However don’t let that deceive you. The Celtics ought to completely be favored on this collection, and can doubtless win it, however I’d be shocked if it’s a cakewalk. I count on it to be forwards and backwards, with big-time solutions from each side alongside the way in which. Jrue Vacation’s well being is a serious X-factor, as a result of the Celtics actually need him to assist decelerate Jalen Brunson. I additionally assume Karl-Anthony Cities might be a significant issue for the Celtics. He’s taking part in impressed basketball and is a matchup nightmare for any crew. With that stated, I’m assured the Celtics will determine it out, as they nearly all the time do, and discover a option to win a extremely entertaining and aggressive collection in six video games.
