News Knicks Team Notes

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘You gotta beat us four times’

Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

Including quotes from ‘That Guy’ and the best rim-runner and finisher in the NBA!

In a must-win game for the Knicks, they said, the Celtics won.

In a series-swinging game, as they said and even in defeat, the Knicks still lead the series 2-1 entering Game 4 and cannot be down before Game 5.

Here’s what Coach Thibs, some Knicks, and a few bragging C’s said after Saturday’s game.

"They got the lead early. I thought we missed some shots early that impacted us. They got confidence early in the game."

Tom Thibodeau on the Knicks' Game 3 loss to the Celtics: pic.twitter.com/anpuXYvfDl

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 10, 2025​

Tom Thibodeau​

On the Knicks’ wing versatility and overall defense:

“I think when you put OG with Mikal and Josh, that wing versatility is huge. To add in what [Mitchell Robinson] has brought to that and also Karl’s defense, I think it vastly improved.”

On pick-and-roll defense evaluation:

“There’s going to be a lot of pick-and-rolls in the game. What we always do is we evaluate how many were defended well, how many weren’t defended well? How many did they make a tough shot against? Was the scheme executed properly? Was it done with the proper amount of intensity? Was everyone tied together? So we’ll look at all those things.”

On the lack of transition offense to help Anunoby on that end:

“We didn’t get stops. We didn’t get into the open floor like we would’ve liked. When we do that, that tends to get everyone easy buckets, and we can play off that better.”

On the team energy suffering from missed shots:

“If you miss shots, you tend to not have the same type of energy. There’s a lot of different ways you can help win a game. No one is going to shoot great every night. There are going to be nights you don’t shoot it well but do other things to help the team win. That’s basically what we’ve done all year. We have to take a good, hard look at the film and get ready for the next game.”

On how to deal with Boston’s Hack-a-Mitch strategy:

“You’ve gotta make a decision between five [minutes left in a quarter] and two, and then you go from there. If he’s making (FTs), he stays. If he’s not, you gotta get him out. And then there’s the impact on the game. Is it more beneficial to leave him in? So there’s a lot of factors that go into that.”

On low-energy starts becoming a worrying trend:

“It’s the urgency we have to bring to a game, to a playoff game. We knew they would come out with aggression and we gotta make sure we’re bringing aggression and force as well. And again, there’s gonna be runs where you’re not making shots, and you get going with your defense, get a couple easy baskets and all of a sudden you get rhythm. So, we gotta be better and we will be.”

On the effort after missing shots:

“The intent was there, but sometimes if you miss shots, you tend to not have the same type of energy. There’s a lot of different ways you can help win a game. No one is going to shoot great every night but do other things to help the team win. That’s basically what we’ve done all year. We fell short today. And we have to take a good hard look at the film and get ourselves ready for the next game.”

"I don't think we came with the mindset of being satisfied, but I think it was just subconsciously satisfied being up 2-0. Just not the way we need to approach the game."

- Jalen Brunson pic.twitter.com/fyNrlFQXXX

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 10, 2025​

Jalen Brunson​

On the Celtics’ three-point success:

“Obviously, they are going to shoot their 3s however they get them. Fortunately for us, they were missing in Games 1 and 2. Tonight they made them.

“When it comes to our pick-and roll-defense, we are going to have our covers and we’re going to stick to what we do and we’re going to adjust when we need to adjust, but everything we need to do has to be with more intensity and more urgency and more force. Just from that standpoint, it’s not really schematically, it’s more do we want it? And tonight obviously that wasn’t the answer.”

On the overall Game 3 effort:

“We need to play with more of a sense of urgency. I don’t think we came in with the mindset of being satisfied, but I think it was subconsciously satisfied after being up 2–0. That’s not what we need to approach the game.”

On supportting Mitch:

“It’s a tough position to be in, especially mentally. But you have to encourage. We’re going to have each other’s backs regardless.”

On the Celtics’ three-point dominance:

“They were 20-of-40 from three, so it’s about all I can say. There’s a lot to discuss tomorrow and figure out. But we need to play with more of a sense of urgency.”

On learning from the Game 3 loss:

“We have to learn from it. Obviously, it’s not a game where we did a lot of things particularly well. We have to learn from it. It’s not something you can just flush.”

On the need to avoid big deficits:

“Against any NBA team, really, it’s tough for comebacks to happen. Yes, they’re a great team. They have the experience, they’re the defending champs. They have all that. I just don’t think we want to be in a 20-point hole each game. That’s not going to suit us well.”

On bouncing back in Game 4:

“Learn from Games 1–3, especially today. Just come out with some urgency and be ready to go on Monday.”

On staying confident despite his shooting struggles:

“Continue to shoot my shot, do the things I work on, continue to stay confident, that’s the biggest thing. Just trust what I do. That’s basically it right there.”

"They were down 2-0 and you knew they were going to come out with a sense of urgency and a sense of desperation. That's something that we should've did a better job with."

Josh Hart talks about the Knicks being unable to respond to the Celtics' desperation today: pic.twitter.com/cgf7bXuZZW

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 10, 2025​

Josh Hart​

On the Knicks’ early defensive struggles in Game 3:

“It was not what it should have been. It should have been more physical, more aggressive. We let them get into a rhythm early and feeling good early. That’s something that we can’t do. We made the mistake on that and, like I said, we have to learn from it.”

On the lack of defensive energy after missing offensive chances:

“We can’t let makes and misses affect how we’re playing on the defensive end. When we’re not making shots, we’ve got to make it tough for them. We’ve got to fly around more. We’ve got to rebound the ball, we’ve got to deny them of second chance points. We’ve got to do more things. We know this was far from our best game. We’ve got to regroup and get back to it Monday.”

On Boston’s urgency:

“They’re down 2–0, and you knew they were going to come out with a sense of urgency, a sense of desperation. That’s something that we should have done a better job with.”

On rebounding from the loss:

“They’re the defending champs, they weren’t coming here to lay down. We have to reset, regroup, watch the film, see where we can get better, and take that to Monday.”

"I think we might've let human nature get to us a little bit, but I think they just came out more urgent knowing that they're down"

Mikal Bridges talks about how the Knicks can have more urgency moving forward: pic.twitter.com/nkqKlNAgzR

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 10, 2025​

Mikal Bridges​

On the Celtics’ Game 3 tone-setting:

“The fans deserve better. We should win more games at home, obviously. It’s good to be a good road team, but it should be easier for us at home.”

On the need for more urgency and a better response:

“I thought they just came out with more urgency. That’s pretty much it. They came out, set the tone and put us on our heels.”

On the Knicks’ mindset going forward:

“I think we might’ve let human nature get to us a little bit, but I think they just came out more urgent knowing that they’re down. We just got to be better. We have to come out and treat every game like it’s 0–0.”

On the Celtics’ resilience:

“They just kept going, knowing they had a couple of games they lost the lead. Credit to them. They kept fighting and kept playing.”

Karl-Anthony Towns was asked where the Knicks can find urgency from the start of games:

"It's the NBA playoffs. We've all got to walk in with that kind of urgency. It shouldn't be something that we have to tell people to do." pic.twitter.com/CDaxwzvLOJ

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 11, 2025​

Karl-Anthony Towns​

On playing through injury:

“It is what it is. I just want to do whatever I can to be out there. It is what it is. I’m gonna keep finding ways to play, so I ain’t tripping.”

On the need to play better from the get-go:

“It’s the NBA playoffs. We all gotta walk in with that kind of urgency. That shouldn’t be something that we have to tap into. It falls on all of us to come in with that kind of urgency, that desperation, that will. Not when we’re down 20.”

On the Knicks’ lack of execution in Game 3:

“[We’re] just not executing enough. I know I’m gonna say the word and y’all gonna get tired of hearing me say it, but it’s true: the team that executes the most for the longest duration usually ends up winning in the playoffs. We just didn’t execute enough early on, and we gave them confidence.”

On Boston’s Game 3 offense:

“They started hitting some shots and just unfortunately, we couldn’t match up with them with their offensive firepower at the time. So they put us in a hole we just never countered, and found ourselves, like usual, getting out of the 20-point hole and finding a way to tie the game and win the game. I told y’all last time, we can’t afford to keep doing that type of game. We know it’s gonna cost us.”

"Just process over results. You just always stick to the process of what you think gives you the best chance to win on that possession and to win in that game."

Joe Mazzulla talks about sticking with Hack-A-Mitch against Mitchell Robinson in the second half: pic.twitter.com/UkOCJ1qY2p

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 10, 2025​

Joe Mazzulla​

On OG Anunoby and how to deal with him:

“He’s a great player, so you’re not gonna be able to do that all the time. To me, he gets a lot of stuff in the half-court on your help reads, and he’s one of the best defenders in getting in passing lanes, getting out in transition. The best way to defend these guys is to attack them with proper spacing, proper reads so that we don’t have live-ball turnovers and allow them to get out in transition. You just have to take care of those margins.”

On trusting the Hack-a-Mitch thing:

“Just process over results. You just always stick to the process of what you think gives you the best chance to win on that possession and to win in that game.”

On the Celtics’ mindset entering Game 3 down 0-2:

“You just have to tap into your darkness.”

On Boston’s mental toughness through adversity:

“I’ve said it a thousand times, there’s no one way of how it’s supposed to go. You get caught up when your expectations aren’t met, and so there’s no expectations. We’re on a path of trying to go after greatness and you don’t get to dictate the test that’s in front of you.”

On enduring pressure:

“If you plan on doing this for a long time, trust me, it’ll be a lot worse than the last 72 hours, and that’s the perspective you have to have. This is the fun part. I didn’t get into the journey for it to be easy. It’s been dark, but in a good way.”

On the Celitcs’ offensive approach:

“When you can dictate a sense of tempo by getting out to your spacing as (quickly) as possible, it’s easier to see the reads that are there, and we were deliberate in that tonight. Decent in the first two games, but it was better tonight.”

Jaylen Brown was asked how the Celtics' experience has kicked in with their series deficit:

"You've got to beat us four times. That's what it comes down to. Not twice, not once, not three. You've got to win four games. There's a lot of basketball to be played." pic.twitter.com/Nl3xxr7k6J

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 10, 2025​

Jaylen Brown​

On the series outlook:

“You gotta beat us four times. That’s what it comes down to. Not twice. Not once. Not three. You gotta win four games, so it’s a lot of basketball to be played.”

On the improved Game 3 three-point shooting:

“We got open shots, shoot them with confidence, knock them down. We got great shooters on this team. … I think we can even shoot the ball even better and be even more aggressive. As we get more comfortable in this series, hopefully we’ll be able to see that.”

On execution and urgency:

“Just continue to play basketball all the way through the game. And I think we did that tonight. That’s why the result was what it was.”

On his league-best skills:

“I don’t think anybody on our team or maybe even in the league can get into the paint like I can, especially when I’m moving and my body’s feeling the way it should be. So that’s my goal: just to get in the paint, finish, make them help, make them collapse and then just find my guys for just open reads and play from there.”

Jayson Tatum on what comes with "being 'That Guy'" pic.twitter.com/IVH6lHDVz7

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 10, 2025​

Jayson Tatum​

On his better shooting performance and finally finding paydirt:

“It was just a matter of time. We’re all professionals, we work really hard on our craft, put a lot of time in. You understand there’s times where your shot might not be falling, but you know it always balances out.”

On his league-wide identity and dealing with high expectations:

“You understand… what comes with being ‘that guy’. I get a lot of praise, I get a lot of credit, I get a lot of accolades. But, you know, I’m not perfect. There’s times where, you know, I needed to play better. I needed to do more. And that’s what comes with being ‘that guy.’ People don’t just criticize me. There’s a lot of people came before me they criticize and a lot of people after me that they’ll criticize.

“So I always say, you got to be the same person when things are going great and when things aren’t going great. You can’t switch up. That’s the character of a good man.”

On the importance of the Game 3 response:

“Home court is important. Being great in front of our fans is important. You know how much we value their support. But at the same time, if you want to be special, if you want to be great, you’ve got to win some games on the road. It’s just about responding. We want to be perfect. We want to win every game. But that’s not going to happen. But how you respond to those moments is equally important as well.”

On his focus in Game 3:

“I wasn’t trying to prove anything today to anybody. It was an important game. It was important for us to respond as a team and just wanted to come out here and win. And that’s all that was really on my mind.”

"Now it's on to Game 4. We've got to have the same mindset coming in, trying to bring it to 2-2 and bring it back home."

Payton Pritchard talks about the Celtics' mindset entering today's game and what their mindset will be before Game 4: pic.twitter.com/cdv7Qorv6p

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 11, 2025​

Payton Pritchard​

On Boston’s confidence:

“We watched areas where we can clean up a little bit, but it was really just being more confident and just letting it fly. Don’t second guess a good shot. You come off a ball screen [and] it’s there? Who cares what the outside world is saying. ‘We shoot too many threes.’ Everybody’s saying that. But if you believe in your shot and you’re able to hit it, then take it confidently.”

On feeling the pressure entering Game 3:

“This is the best moment you can be in. Down 2–0, backs against the wall, you just bring it and I think we were all prepared for it. We knew what the task at hand was.”

"We got exactly what we were supposed to get. An A whooping…Boston fans are like 'See, we're the champs.' But that's OK. Because we weren't going into this thinking 'Knicks in four.’ That just sounds good. KNICKS IN FIVE!"

— Stephon Marbury pic.twitter.com/DD0NLnDrr0

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 11, 2025​

Stephon Marbury​

On the Game 3 result and the series outlook:

“Being that I’m a sore loser, I’m going to keep it real short. We got exactly what we were supposed to get—an a**whooping.

“All of us, fans included. We took a nice one. And the Boston fans, they’re not saying anything right now. They’re like, ‘See, we’re the champs.’ But that’s okay. Because we weren’t going into this thinking Knicks in four. It just sounds good when you say it.

“Knicks in five!”

And now, PLEASE WELCOME...

The starting lineup for YOUR.....

NEW..... YORK.... KNICKS! pic.twitter.com/o9GAcePbrM

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 10, 2025​

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2025/5/11/24427863/knicks-bulletin-you-gotta-beat-us-four-times

 

[New York Knicks]

Playoff Game Preview: Knicks vs Celtics, Game Four, May 12, 2025

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

Can the Knicks get back on track?

After back-to-back miracle comebacks for the New York Knicks against the Celtics, defending champions and current title favorites, reality came crashing down in Madison Square Garden on Saturday afternoon. It came in the form of a Boston three point barrage.

CELTICS SPLASH THEIR WAY TO A WIRE-TO-WIRE GAME 3 WIN!

20 3PM
Plus 45 points on 3-point margin
50.0 3P% pic.twitter.com/oYN8UKsHRH

— NBA (@NBA) May 10, 2025​

Everyone on Boston contributed - Tatum, White, Pritchard, Brown, Horford - and to be honest, game three was never close. It was only a matter of time before Boston played like their usual selves.

The Knicks struggled on the defensive end of the floor, defending the pick-and-roll poorly and rotating a step too slow on shooters. Meanwhile, the offense failed to crack the century mark once again. You simply won’t beat Boston scoring 93 points in a game on most nights.

Most importantly, Boston turned back around the momentum of this series. They outclassed the Knicks by a wide margin, and while New York still holds a 2-1 series lead, you get the feeling that tonight is a must-win for the Knickerbockers. They’re ahead in the series, but the play on the court in game three told a different story.

Jaylen Brown knows there’s a lot of ball left.

"You gotta beat us 4 times, that's what it comes down to."

-JB https://t.co/jcanDwE6sL pic.twitter.com/M00AtN7f7g

— NBA (@NBA) May 10, 2025​

In game four tonight, New York could build a commanding 3-1 series lead. That would give them three chances to win one more game, with another opportunity at home.

Lose game four, and the series is tied up, headed back to Boston for a pivotal game five. All of the good energy from the first two games would be gone. Series advantage? Evaporated.

Sure, everyone on the Knicks will have to come out strong tonight, but all eyes will be on Jalen Brunson. He’s had a solid series so far, but his offensive production has been significantly lower than it was versus the Pistons. It might take a legendary performance from him to deliver the Knicks to victory tonight. We’ll find out if the Captain can deliver.

The Knicks are fully healthy for tonight, and all fifteen bodies on the bench should be warm and ready to go. Sam Hauser is the only feature on Boston’s injury report - he’s questionable with an ankle injury sustained in game one of the series. He was just upgraded from doubtful yesterday, and might be trending towards playing. Keep an eye out.

Otherwise? May the best team win. Whoever wins this game may very well win the series outright. It’s the biggest game MSG has played host to in a long time. Don’t you dare miss it. And go Knicks.

Game Details​

Date: Monday, May 12, 2025

Time: 7:30 PM ET

Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

TV Broadcast: ESPN

Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...eview-knicks-at-celtics-game-four-may-12-2025

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks 121, Celtics 113: “Bridges best game as a Knick. Give him his roses.”

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

Brunson and Bridges become the Batman and Robin of Clutchness in the fourth game of the semis.

Through the first half of tonight’s Game Four, spicy shooting (12‑of‑24 from deep), a lopsided whistle, and a defensive answer to every push by the New York Knicks (3-1) gave the Boston Celtics (1-3) a 62‑51 halftime advantage. Boston’s 14‑point third‑quarter lead was wiped out by Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby, as the Knicks seized an 88‑85 edge heading into the fourth. From there New York maintained control with Bridges playing out of his mind, Cap’s usual heroics, and Jayson Tatum exiting on a twisted ankle, and it culminated in a 116‑104 win.

New York bludgeoned Boston inside, doubling the Celtics’ paint points 64‑32, winning the glass 43‑31 (13 offensive boards), and shooting 54 % overall. Boston lived on the perimeter—18 threes and a 19‑26 night at the line kept them afloat. (Just 12 free throw attempts for New York. . hrmm.) Both sides coughed up 12 turnovers, but the Knicks’ 25 assists and interior dominance made the difference.

For Boston, Tatum was having a helluva game before his injury. His final stat line was 42 points and eight rebounds on 16-of-28 from the field and seven triples. Derrick White and Jaylen Brown scored 23 and 20 respectively.

Quoth MalikRosefanclub: “Bridges best game as a Knick. Give him his roses.” Brunson scored more points—39 on 14-of-25 shooting—but Bridges contributed monster minutes on both ends of the floor in the second half. Mikal finished with 23 points, seven boards, four steals, three assists, one block, and a team-high +13 on 11-of-21 shooting. Somewhere in the executive offices, Leon Rose is adjusting his off-season offer sheet. . . .

Towns logged another double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds, and Anunoby logged 20 points and hit 50% from the field and deep.

So now New York heads back to Boston for Game Five and a chance to close out the series. Not exactly what was scripted, eh?!

First Half​

Boston started with a blitz—Derrick White drilled three triples and Jaylen Brown hit a mid‑range jumper, while Jayson Tatum cleaned the glass and rejected an OG Anunoby layup at the rim. Across the court, New York’s offense sputtered—not helped by two Josh Hart turnovers—but Karl‑Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson stemmed the bleeding with layups. By the time Thibs called for time at 8:38, the Shamrocks were up 13‑4.

Post-huddle, our heroes compiled a 10-3 run, capped by a Brunson longball and a Bridges jumper. Beantown coach Joe Mazzulla called a quick timeout to temper New York’s enthusiasm. The home team would not be denied, however! Josh Hart corralled a Jaylen Brown miss and OG Anunoby hit a longrange swish for the Knicks’ first lead since the end of Game Two.

Kristaps Porzingis checked in for Boston, as did Mitchell Robinson for New York. The latter dunked a Brunson alley oop and then fed Towns at the rim. The opponents briefly traded leads, but a pair of threes from Jayson Tatum, a Brunson turnover, and a couple of bricks sent the Knicks into Q2 down by nine.

To start the second period, Cameron Payne spelled Jalen Brunson and lasted about four minutes before getting the hook. On Boston’s side, Luke Kornet stepped in for Porzingis, White continued his hot shooting from deep, and a steady diet of second‑chance points allowed them to stretch the margin to 13.

Hard to play this way offensively. Just let it fly Hart. pic.twitter.com/IfFJuGEFQq

— KnicksNation (@KnicksNation) May 13, 2025​

New York scored nine unanswered to cut the score to 48-44 by midway through the quarter. But Boston answered with an 11-3 run, fueled by Jaylen Brown’s six points and six misses by the Knicks and three turnovers by Towns in the quarter. Halftime score: 62-51.

Woot woot! Scott Foster was in the house! Late in the half, Boston had 13 shot free-throw attempts and New York none. That’s almost as unexpected as the Dallas Mavericks landing the top pick in the NBA draft. . . . Boston lit up the half from deep—12‑for‑24 threes and 54 % overall—while New York shot 43 % and 7‑for‑22 perimeter. The Knicks owned the glass on their end (eight O-boards) and the points in the paint (24‑12), but they shot only four free throws and let the Celtics cash in ten points off their turnovers.

Tatum led all scorers with 20 points. For New York, Brunson had scored 13 on 50% shooting.

Porzingis CLEARLY holds OG’s left wrist while he tips in the miss

No call

Knicks have to beat the Celtics and the refs tonight pic.twitter.com/UFN7pzdnxb

— Alex B. (@KnicksCentral) May 13, 2025​

Second Half​

By the nine-minute mark of Q3, Boston jumped ahead by 14 thanks to back-to-back threes. Brunson answered with five points and benefited from a Jaylen Brown flagrant foul on a three-point attempt—he made two of three freebies and New York gained possession. Bridges hit a midrange fallback jumper to cut the deficit to five. The Knicks were knocking on the door!

White hit another triple, Tatum scored on a pick-six. Brunson and Towns swung back. So it went—New York inched closer, Boston fended them off. Then, late in the frame, New York’s five consecutive points reduced the hole to two. With a minute to go, Brunson made a contested 13-footer to tie the game (Cap scored 18 in the quarter). Finally, with 30 seconds to go, Anunoby his a right-side triple, Bridges rebounded a Tatum miss, and Hart scored a layup to give New York an 88-85 lead heading into the final 12 minutes.

Josh Hart to the rim and converts!

Knicks lead with one quarter to go! pic.twitter.com/ez1WaUnvvR

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 13, 2025​

A lead heading into the fourth?? Mine eyes were shining. While Tatum iced a sore wrist on the bench, the two teams traded hoops. Hart was dinged for a blocking foul, his fifth—a baloney call that Thibs challenged unsuccessfully. Moments later, Brown collected his fifth, too. Tatum returned to the game and promptly restored a one-point lead for Boston, but a Bridges jumper, a Robinson rebound, and a hard-charging Anunoby drive put New York up by three around the midway mark.

the mikal middy™ pic.twitter.com/WNw2ddqrBH

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 13, 2025​

Tatum double-dribbled on his way to a three-point play. So it went. Anunboy got revenge for a bogus foul call by drilling a trey. By the three-and-a-half minute mark, Bridges (a perfect Robin to Brunson’s Batman tonight) hit a clock-beating jumper to give New York a seven-point lead—their largest of the series!

After a Boston timeout Bridges, playing his best half of basketball of the season, forced a turnover that Anunoby dunked it on a breakaway. Tatum twisted an ankle in the commotion, collapsed in agony, and was assisted back to the dressing room. Tatum was in tears as they wheeled him through the tunnel in a wheelchair.

Jayson Tatum appears to have hurt his ankle on this play —

Prayers Up.

pic.twitter.com/Y8Pdxw7RG5

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 13, 2025​

Brown missed his shot, Brunson made his, and New York was up 116-104 with two minutes left. As the Boston bricked and the Garden gave a standing ovation, the Knicks closed out perhaps their biggest game in decades. You can almost smell those Eastern Conference Finals, no?

Up Next​

The series returns to the realm of chowdaheads for Game Five on Wednesday. Safe travels, you blessed Knickerbockers.

Box Score

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...idges-best-game-as-a-knick-give-him-his-roses

 

[New York Knicks]

A picture that is worth 2000 words

Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

An image within an image

First and foremost prayers go out to Jayson Tatum. As much as I want the Knicks to win this series, and they most likely will, it’s a little bittersweet that it won’t happen by beating the best at their best through the entire series. It hasn’t been announced as of this post, but I actually have a feeling that the NBA has lost one of its top players through next season also.

With that being said, before anyone fully realized that Tatum had gone down, as O.G. broke free for the slam that put the hammer down on the Celtics, 20,000 fans inside the Garden, thousands more on Seventh Avenue, and every Knicks fan watching on TV were already celebrating, before OG even took flight.

Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Multiple images of the play have already surfaced on the internet. But, the saying that a picture is worth 1000 words can really be told from both sides of the opposition from this one moment frozen in time forever.

Let’s start with the Knicks. With the exception of Derrick White, no other player on the court was even on the same side of the court. And OG knew it, and everyone watching knew that what was about to happen was going to solidify the victory. If you look at the image above, the entire Garden is already celebrating before the dunk is even complete. OG’s expression shows calm, cool confidence, a quiet focus that quickly exploded into energy as he threw down the emphatic jam, punctuated by a little extra hang on the rim. The Knicks’ lead swelled to nine with 3:01 remaining in the fourth.

If you take a closer look at the picture, focus on Derrick White’s face as he watches from a distance, helpless to intervene, fully aware that once the dunk is complete, it will likely be the final nail in the coffin for the Celtics in Game 4.

Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

If you take a deeper look in the photo, about sixty feet behind White, you can see what many did not at that exact moment, which was an injured Tatum screaming in agony.

The same image that captures one fan base celebrating more emphatically than they have since 1999 also contains a stark contrast, one of the NBA’s best players in visible, excruciating pain. In that moment, he likely ruptured his Achilles, not only ending his season but potentially ending the Celtics’ season and jeopardizing his availability for 2025–26.

Everyone will say, “Well, the Knicks would’ve won Game 7 against Indiana last year if they hadn’t dealt with their own injuries,” and they’d be right, injuries are part of the game. That said, this image of Anunoby may one day stand alongside John Starks’ “The Dunk” as one of the most iconic moments in Knicks history. It captures every Knicks fan in full celebration after a hard-fought series the team deserves to win. But in the background, a very different emotion lingers, the visible pain of a fallen star, making this image not just a Knicks moment, but a snapshot of both triumph and tragedy that will be remembered by both sides for years to come.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2025/5/13/24429364/a-picture-that-is-worth-2000-words

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘Minutes champion? Guess I got my cardio in this year‘

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

New York faces a historic chance of reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in Boston.

The day has arrived, and the Knicks can make franchise history by making the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years.

If New York wants to host that ECF Game 1, however, they need to first beat Boston on the road in Game 5 of the second-round series against the Celtics, as the Indiana Pacers wait to know their ultimate foe.

Here’s what Coach Thibs and a few other folks have said in the lead-up to tonight’s match.

A #knicks win tomorrow night would mean Eastern Conference finals would start Monday at MSG. Otherwise Game 1 is a week from tomorrow. Pacers waiting for their opponent.

— Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) May 14, 2025​

Tom Thibodeau​

On Mikal Bridges’ fourth quarter performance:

“He played hard the whole game. I thought he had some good looks that didn’t go in, but that didn’t sway him at all. He got going big time in the fourth quarter. Those were huge shots he hit.”

On the Knicks’ playoff mindset:

“Whatever the series, each game, you’ve got to go in and put the work into winning that particular game. That’s the only thing that matters.”

Jalen Brunson NBA Playoffs commercial pic.twitter.com/3hG6PaEJTo

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 14, 2025​

Jalen Brunson​

On Mikal Bridges’ growth:

“I’ve seen him since 2015. I’ve seen the way his work ethic has grown each year and I’ve seen everything he does, how psychotic he is with his work. It all pays off. I have full trust in him no matter what the situation is. That’s me and him, we don’t take things personal, we talk. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s a little ugly, but we want to win. It’s been like that since the day I met him.”

On Mitchell Robinson’s return:

“He brings a lot to this team. When he came back, obviously we wanted him back fully healthy and ready to play, but seeing how he was just being back, being healthy, being full off the court, it was great to see him. He was working his tail off to get back. Obviously, we love what he does, but him having his joy and being back and being around and contributing, that’s what we’re most happy to see.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns’ defense:

“He definitely stepped up to the challenge. As teammates, guys in the gap, guys in the help, just giving him confidence to press up and continue to play knowing that we have his back. By ‘we,’ I mean Mikal, Josh and OG … and an occasional charge from me. The way he stepped up to the plate was phenomenal. We need more of that, and I know he’s going to bring it to the table.”

On staying focused after success:

“For the longest time, whenever something’s accomplished, I’m moving forward to the next. It’s just how I’ve been. Dating back to high school, college championships, everything that I’ve ever won — there’s nothing in my house. Because I’m just looking forward to, ‘How can I be better?’ I give all the memorabilia to my parents. They can keep it. And when I’m done, I’ll look back and see everything.”

On Tatum’s injury:

“Obviously, we want to go out there and compete, but when a player of his caliber goes down and he is rolling in pain, you know something is wrong. That’s why I gave my thoughts and prayers because you don’t want to see something like that ever.”

On the Knicks’ Game 4 win:

“It means a lot. A good game for us. It’s the way we responded that I’m the most proud of. We stuck together. We didn’t quit. That’s a tough team — they’re the defending champs for a reason. But we kept finding ways.”

Mikal Bridges​

On his clutch mindset:

“It’s the will to win. That’s pretty much it. Just having the fight to win, doing whatever it takes. I think last year, for a while, I was leading the league in fourth-quarter points for a little bit.”

On building chemistry with new teammates as the Knicks keep improving:

“I think just getting better throughout the year. Obviously, JB, Josh, OG [Anunoby], guys have been here, but kind of like a new team a little bit with me and [Karl-Anthony Towns] coming in and Cam [Payne]. Just a little different, so we kind of had to figure out how to play together, the system and everything. It took some time. [The Celtics] have been together for a while. Regular season for them is just clockwork. They all know how to play off each other. Just took some time.

“The postseason, you get to know each other even more, how to play off each other. Just takes some time. I know everybody wants success early on. But we just kept getting better, all of us.”

Josh Hart on IG: pic.twitter.com/XMnVb81zV0

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 13, 2025​

Josh Hart​

On Mikal Bridges’ impact throughout the Celtics series:

“He’s been doing it all series. Huge steal Game 1. Fourth quarter and a block Game 2. This game was nothing different. Got us huge buckets in the fourth, huge stops. I’m so proud of him as a teammate, as a friend, going through all the adversity that he’s gone through this season. He’s never complained. He always comes to work happy, smiling. He deserves his credit and his flowers.”

On his “Minutes Champion” NBA award:

“Minutes champion? Guess I got my cardio in this year.”

Good morning pic.twitter.com/Y25hg76O9g

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 13, 2025​

OG Anunoby​

On the Knicks’ performance in Game 4:

“That’s what it felt like. We forced them into tough shots and moved the ball really well on offense.”

woke up likeeeeee this ‍ go KNICKS! pic.twitter.com/kC1ZhHiBF5

— KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) May 13, 2025​

Karl-Anthony Towns​

On Mitchell Robinson’s performance:

“He’s special, man. When you’re playing against him, you understand what he brings to the team. And when you’re playing as one of his teammates, you see even more the magnitude, the impact he has on the game. He was just special tonight, doing everything we needed him to do. Whether it was guarding guards, guarding their big men, or also getting big rebounds, alley-oops, timely baskets. He was able to do it all. Shoutout to him.”

On the Knicks’ win and what it takes to get past Boston:

“That team is special. They’re defending champions. It takes a whole team to beat them.”

On Tatum’s injury:

“I just put my head down and prayed to my mother, prayed to God, to put protection over him and comfort. The NBA needs that kind of superstar talent that he is. I know we’re competing at the highest level in the playoffs, but this is a brotherhood.”

Mitchell Robinson​

On the mindset heading into Game 5:

“Just reset, and try to get it.”

“Here’s what we don’t do in Boston, we don’t do mid, it’s either your a championship contender or burn it the F to the ground”

Garden Report Game 4 postgame show is still live: https://t.co/884OJkCzhI

CLNS Media Coverage️by PrizePicks & Gametime pic.twitter.com/BXon1M6zrw

— Garden Report: Celtics Postgame Show (@TheGardenReport) May 13, 2025​

Jaylen Brown​

On Celtics’ defensive struggles in Game 4:

“It was terrible defensively tonight, to be frank. Just no resistance.”

On the Celtics’ reaction to Tatum’s injury:

“I think everybody’s kind of at a loss for words, just because, not only losing the game, but obviously the concern with JT. But we pick our heads back up tomorrow and go from there.”

On the postgame mood inside Boston’s locker:

“We didn’t say much. Felt like there wasn’t a lot to say. Obviously, [Tatum], everybody’s concerned with him.”

“In Situations like this, the player reaction tells you everything, they give it away”

The guys react to Jayson Tatum’s Injury live on the Game 4 postgame show: https://t.co/884OJkCzhI

CLNS Media Coverage️by PrizePicks & Gametime pic.twitter.com/7IN1rsUCOH

— Garden Report: Celtics Postgame Show (@TheGardenReport) May 13, 2025​

Al Horford​

On adjusting without Tatum:

“No question about it. It is an uphill battle. But for our group, we have to turn that page quickly and do our first job, which is to win (Game 5) on Wednesday. That’s the mindset, and as a group, we just have to rally together because, obviously, we’ve lost our leader and the guy that gets us going. We have to come together as a group.”

On the emotional toll of Tatum’s injury:

“It’s very concerning. The care that I have for him. What he means to us. What he means to Boston. Just very tough for us. More important, it’s just really tough for him right now. Let’s see what happens. Just very tough for our group altogether.”

Kristaps Porzingis on how to manage the emotional toll:

“Nah, we’re grown men. Obviously its tough to see but who hasn’t had injuries. It’s a part of this sport, a part of this game… we have to move forward. He don’t want us to be over here sad and not play our best… pic.twitter.com/sArQ3TKwml

— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) May 13, 2025​

Kristaps Porzingis​

On the Celtics’ talent still being there without Tatum:

“That’s the thing, we have the talent, we have a lot of talent. Even with JT out, even me maybe playing 10–15 minutes, we have the guys and we’ve shown in the past that we can play still really good basketball. Obviously, like, there’s no replacement for this guy, no? Like, this is a big hit for us, 100 percent. But again, we have to play with the hand we’re dealt right now, and this is it. Going forward, maybe not, maybe not. Who knows? I don’t know. But we’re gonna play with what we have.”

On moving forward as a team:

“We’re grown men, you know? Who hasn’t had injuries? It’s a part of this sport, part of this game, and we feel for him, of course. But we have to move forward. He doesn’t want us to be sad and not playing our best basketball. So we’re going to go out there and leave it all out there and live with the results. Again, these things happen. Obviously we all felt for him in that moment, but we just have to keep going, we have to keep playing. Obviously we all realized in our heads what this could mean, but again, this is part of the sport, it’s tough, and it’s hard to see and hard to accept the truth but it is what it is and we have to go forward with what we have now.”

I’m just a kid from Coney Island, living among my brothers and sisters on the streets of New York, right in front of the world-famous (MSG) @thegarden Go New York, go New York, go! pic.twitter.com/O7EOT04w4u

— I AM PEACE STAR (@StarburyMarbury) May 13, 2025​

Bill Simmons​

On the Celtics’ Game 4 loss:

“Tonight was not a good night for Celtics fans, holy sh-t. This could go down—we’ll see what happens with Tatum—but this could go down as one of the darker Celtic days.”

On Tatum’s injury:

“Not gonna speculate too much on the Tatum thing but it did not look good. Worst case scenario is an Achilles, best-case scenario is like torn ligaments in his ankle or some sort of bad ankle injury but, either way, done for the series, and God only knows how long.”

On Tatum’s career trajectory post-injury:

“Not to mention, he’s at the peak of his career, he’s never had a major injury. If this is like a major one, it doesn’t just take him out for this playoffs, but it takes him out for, I think, all of next year too. You just wonder: Is he going to be able to get back to the point that he was at tonight?”

On the bigger picture for the Celtics:

“We’ll see what happens with Tatum. This speaks to: A) How hard it is to win a title. B) How important injury luck is. C) How hard it is to put together some really good years in a row.”

One more W pic.twitter.com/tBlCaPa0fz

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 14, 2025​

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...s-champion-guess-i-got-my-cardio-in-this-year

 

[New York Knicks]

Celtics 127, Knicks 102: “Dikornet Mutombo.”

Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images

No Tatum, no problem. The Knicks get whalloped in the second half of a close out game . . . that picture says it all.

Knicks fans brought the noise at TD Garden tonight, and the team gave them plenty to cheer in the first quarter. New York overcame an early deficit with hustle plays, three-pointers, and clutch free throws—especially from Mitchell Robinson and a battered Josh Hart. Despite Derrick White’s balling and a late first-half surge by Boston, the Knicks controlled the paint, forced turnovers, and matched the Celtics’ shot-making to enter halftime tied at 59. The Celtics, playing without their leader and desperate to prolong the series, rode White’s hot shooting and four blocks by Luke Kornet to win the third frame 32-17. Boston blew the game open with a 23-point lead midway through the fourth, as Brunson fouled out and Kornet lost his ever-lovin’ mind. Final score, 127-102.

Quoth Hojo3030: “Dikornet Mutombo.” Kinda crazy, but true. Off the bench, Kornet dominated with a stat line of 10 points, nine rebounds, seven blocks, and a steal in 26 minutes. Hats off to him, Derrick White (34 points, 9-of-16 FG, 7-of-13 3PT), Jaylen Brown (26 points, 12 assists, 9-of-17 FG), and Jrue Holiday (14 points, seven rebounds). They ran all over New York in the second half, which they won 68-43.

Brunson’s foul trouble cost New York, but that’s not the whole story. He finished with 22 points on 7-of-17 shooting. Boston’s defense kept him from finding that clutch gear we’ve grown accustomed to, and he logged nine points post-intermission. Josh Hart played pretty well, too, making five of his nine three-point attempts and finishing with 24 points and seven rebounds. Off the bench Mitchell Robinson was a highlight, grabbing 13 boards, eight points, two steals, and a block—and making all six free throws.

Karl-Anthony Towns posted some fair numbers (22 points, eight boards) but was a target of Boston’s offense, especially after early foul trouble. And check this out: Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, combined to shoot 5-of-26 and scored 15 points. Their defense was strong, as memory serves, and OG grabbed eight boards, but that kind of offensive production is insufficient. Especially when the bench provides so little.

Now up 3-2, New York travels home for another chance to close it out on Friday. Here’s your recap.

First Half

Knicks fans were as vociferous as Boston backers at TD Garden tonight. Our heroes gave them plenty to cheer. Although the green team jumped out to an 8-4 lead, New York answered with a 7-0 run of buckets from Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart. New York’s finest scrambled for loose balls and forced Boston into five first-quarter turnovers, playing like a team within sniffing distance of the ECF.

Luke Kornet checked in and sparked a 10-2 run by Boston. His elbow caught Hart’s eyebrow on a drive, and the blood that followed came straight out of a Tom Savini splatter bag. No sweat: Josh donned a clean jersey and, after a delay, coolly drilled two freebies.

Josh Hart takes an elbow to the face

Hart changed clothes and stayed in game pic.twitter.com/tKdPLY6VzQ

— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) May 14, 2025​

Mitchell Robinson checked in around the three-minute mark. Without delay, Boston fouled him—and Mitch, also, hit two no-sweat free-throws, exciting a noisy percentage of the enemy’s arena. At the tail end of the quarter, our guy was fouled chasing an offensive board and swished those free throws, too. Foh-foh-Foh from the line! Eat that, Maz.

Derrick White was smoking through the quarter—collecting 14 points on 5-of-6 from the field—as was the whole team, shooting 7-of-14 from the perimeter. That couldn’t stop our heroes, though. Despite shooting 37% from the floor, the Knicks won their first first-quarter of the series, 32-30.

FOUR triples in the opening 7 minutes for Derrick White!

Trying to keep the Celtics season alive on TNT pic.twitter.com/pKVBjppnTx

— NBA (@NBA) May 14, 2025​

In the second period, Bridges and Robinson continued to hustle on defense, deflecting anything that came within ten feet. Karl-Anthony Towns collected his third foul early in the period, but New York was rolling. When Deuce McBride drilled his second trey of the game, an eight-point lead compelled Celtics skipper Joe Mazzulla to beg for a timeout.

A 10-3 run gave our ‘Bockers a nine-point lead, but seven unanswered from Boston shrank it. Cam Payne spelled Brunson for five minutes during that rocky stretch and posted zeroes across the board, save for three fouls. (It’s cool—his Game One performance against Detroit earned him an extended pass.) From there, Jaylen Brown sank back-to-back buckets that gave Boston a slim lead; that goofy goober Payton Pritchard traded triples with Josh Hart; and then White traded threes with Hart. The Celtics couldn’t miss and ended the half with a 26-17 run to knot the score at 59 by intermission.

Through the half, Boston hit 50% from the field and 48% (12-of-25) from downtown. New York kept the pace by making eight of 17 three-point attempts and 13 of 15 free throws. The teams were even on the glass, but the Knicks forced more turnovers and controlled the paint. Derrick White led all scorers with 19, having shot 5-of-9 from deep, and Jaylen Brown added 17; for New York, Brunson had 13 and Hart had 12. (Psst: OG Anunoby had missed eight of nine shots.)

Mitchell Robinson, known free throw sniper pic.twitter.com/sYdYATmw4E

— KNICKS BEAST (@KnicksBeast) May 14, 2025​

Second Half​

Josh Hart began the second half with a deep three, but Boston responded quickly—Holiday scored inside, Kornet tipped in a miss, and Brown stripped Brunson to get to the line.

After Hart tied it again with another three, White drilled one to ignite a Boston surge. He punished the Knicks with more points at the stripe and a corner three, Kornet blocked KAT at the rim, and by the time White hit his third triple of the quarter, Boston had built a 75–68 lead, forcing a Knicks timeout. Derrick would score 13 points in the quarter.

Brown was all over on this sequence:

This is who Celtics fans want traded. pic.twitter.com/cr6rvecDtE

— (@BOSFred7) May 15, 2025​

A 16-3 run put New York behind 84-70, aided by three Kornet blocks and misses by Hart, Bridges, and Towns. The Knicks needed a hero. Maybe one of the seven-foot variety . . . Robinson checked in with three-ish minutes to go, was fouled, and hit two more frickin free throws!

That couldn’t stop Boston’s momentum. Jalen Brunson picked up his fifth foul, Kornet kept swatting (four in the period), and New York turned over the ball at inopportune times. With the captain in foul trouble and watching from the bench, the Knicks could find no offensive rhythm and the game got out of hand. Outscored 32-17 in the quarter, they entered the final frame down 91-76.

30 seconds of Luke Kornet being the greatest center in NBA history
pic.twitter.com/8hKLALlUbu

— CelticsGlobe (@PlayoffCeltics) May 15, 2025​

With five points by Al Horford, Boston went ahead by 20 to start the quarter. When Holiday hit a triple, it was 22. By 7:36, their lead was 23. At 7:19, Brunson fouled out. Thibs challenged the call but just to show support for his best player. The Knicks were doomed, and mostly by Kornet who had the game of his life. At just under five minutes left, the visitors were down by 24 with Brunson out, Hart’s eye closing up, Anunoby and Bridges and Deuce unable to hit the rim, and Karl-Anthony Towns looking lost. To the trashcan it goes.

Up Next​

Let’s try it again on Friday at MSG. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.

Box Score

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2025/5/14/24430468/celtics-127-knicks-102-dikornet-mutombo

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘That’s such a stupid question, bro’

Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

What better way to make it to the ECF than doing so inside MSG?

The Celtics rallied under Jayson Tatum’s absence after his long-term injury was announced and beat the Knicks clearly and easily, 127-102, on Wednesday.

Good for New York, the City will host Game 6 on Friday with the Knicks still leading the series 3-2 and two chances at punching their tickets to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Here’s what Coach Thibs and a few other folks said before and after the Game 5 failure.

Tom Thibodeau was asked what most disappointed him tonight:

"That we didn't play for 48 minutes." pic.twitter.com/gmlkZi5KT0

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 15, 2025​

Tom Thibodeau​

On failing to properly defend against the Celtics:

“I think it’s the commitment to sprint back and then communicate to make sure that we understand what’s going on, and we can’t have any personal dilemmas of if you’re missing a shot or it’s not going well for you offensively that you’re jogging back. You got to sprint back, you got to communicate, and we got to be matched up. If one guy’s slow, you’re going to give him an open shot. You can’t do that against this team.”

On the physicality of Game 5 and the high-foul count:

“I knew the type of aggression that would be involved in this game. So I think we’ve got to understand that and it’s a battle on every possession.”

On what went wrong in Game 5’s loss:

“The start of the second quarter, we didn’t play well. We had a lead. Didn’t play tough with the lead. Came out to start the third, didn’t play well there. Can’t afford to do that.”

On the need for a better offense-defense balance:

“The big thing is we gotta get stops. The first half, we scored fine. We scored 59 [in the first half], that wasn’t the issue. The issue was the defense. To start the third [quarter], we got in a hole and tried to get on track, but you gotta get some stops so that you can get into the open floor. I thought that probably hurt us as well.”

On Boston’s many threats even with Tatum out:

“They have a lot of shooting on the floor, that’s going to remain the same. The thing about their team is they are a great defensive team as well. We can’t be slow getting back and you can’t give open shots to them. We have to be closer with our closeouts and be better with our communication.”

"They're a team, a well-oiled machine, that has been in situations where they've played without him and they've played well. We need to understand that. Trust the gameplan and play accordingly. It's that simple."

- Jalen Brunson on the Celtics pic.twitter.com/QTWG4jOlty

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 15, 2025​

Jalen Brunson​

On Game 5 disappointment:

“A lot. They came out with a sense of urgency that we need.”

On the Celtics’ threat without Tatum:

“[Tatum’s injury] doesn’t impact how we prepare. We have to have the same mentality, same focus. They’re still the defending champions. They still have championship pedigree. They still have a lot of weapons that are dangerous, so there can’t be a difference of how we approach it.”

On Tatum’s absence not really changing anything:

“Yes, they are missing a big piece. But like I said before, they are a team, a well-oiled machine that has been situations where they have played without him. And so, they’ve played well and we need to understand that and trust the game plan and play to win. It’s that simple.”

On officiating and committing five fouls in a lone period:

“Five fouls in one quarter? I don’t know what you want me to say to that. I’m not even gonna say anything. I’m sorry.”

On the Celtics’ pedigree and skill set making it a tough series:

“Well, first, talk about who we’re playing. Let’s talk about the Celtics—the defending champs, a team with a lot of experience, a team that, obviously, we’ve seen what they’ve been able to do the past couple years. Obviously, they won last year. You gotta understand who we’re facing. And we need to be better, flat out.”

On not paying attention to other playoff series and potential rivals:

“Every playoff series is a battle no matter what. So that’s why you can’t — in your head — think about what’s going on with other series or anything like that. Yes, you’re aware of it, but you’ve gotta be focused on what you have to do because anything can happen.”

On PJ Tucker’s leadership:

“He’s brought a lot of shoes. He’s brought a lot of shoes. In all seriousness he’s been great. The way he talks, the way he leads. Obviously, he’s been around the league a long time and he has a lot of experience and so when he talks we listen, so having a guy like that on our team has been remarkable for us. He’s been fantastic since he’s been there.”

On PJ Tucker helping point out halftime adjustments:

“Obviously we want to play well throughout the entire game, but when we get to halftime, we try to adjust what we were doing incorrectly and we try to fix it. So we come out in the second half, you do it with a little more intensity, a little more communication, more focus. That’s it. You have to come back better. You have to realize what you’re doing wrong, realize what’s working, and come back. It’s a time to sit there, catch your breath and reflect and see where we can be better. We just take that time and we come out with more energy and see how we attack the game.”

On the meaning of Tatum’s injury and the NBA’s loss:

“I feel for him. It’s an unfortunate situation for a player like him. The NBA needs Jayson Tatum. What he’s been able to do in his career has been remarkable, and he still has a long, long way to go in his — I mean, he still has a lot to do in his career. Meaning he has a lot of time left to make an impact for his legacy and what he’s done is special, so when you see a player like that go down, it’s just not good for the game.”

"They're the defending champs. Jayson Tatum went down, you thought they were just going to lay down? Nah. You knew they were going to come out swinging."

- Josh Hart on the Celtics pic.twitter.com/w2YBu5EljO

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 15, 2025​

Josh Hart​

On the Celtics intensity in Game 5 and expecting them to go all-in:

“I mean, we were up 3–1, and this game could have ended their season. So obviously they were going to come out with unbelievable intensity and energy no matter who’s playing. So I don’t think that’s any added thing. I think they came out aggressive. Obviously they don’t want their season to end. They’re the defending champs.”

On Wednesday’s third quarter collapse:

“Third quarter was terrible—offensively, defensively. Watch film and figure it out.”

On the need for some urgency in Game 6:

“That’s such a stupid question. Every game you want to win, bro. Every game, you want to go out and compete. Obviously we didn’t do that. But the next game is the next game, and that’s all we’re focusing on.”

On Brunson’s clutch play:

“He’s someone that you’re only going to hold him down for so long. Once he figures it out, once he sees the ball go through the (net) it’s going to be tough for any opponent. He did what we needed him to do. We need him to bring that on Wednesday.”

On his Most Minutes trophy:

“I didn’t know that was an award until [Knicks media relations director] Derek [Lapinski] brought it to me. I think that might be one of my only individual accolades or trophies I’ll get from my time in the league. I might cherish that a little bit, put it in the front row of my trophy case. I think it’s the second most important trophy for Thibs in his career. The first is his championship. The second is my trophy.”

On PJ Tucker:

“Shout-out to P.J. Tucker for making sure we’re up and talking. He brought that championship pedigree to us. He deserves a big shout-out. He’s just someone that always talks to us. He’s a champion and he’s bringing that mentality.”

Karl-Anthony Towns on the difference in playing the Celtics without Jayson Tatum:

"They're defending champions, so obviously losing Tatum is a big blow for their team but we know they're capable of beating anyone on any night" pic.twitter.com/bK1IzTHGDl

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 15, 2025​

Karl-Anthony Towns​

On the Game 5 loss:

“They’re the defending champions. Obviously, losing Tatum is a big blow for their team, but we know that they’re more than capable of beating anyone on any night. We just didn’t do enough to win.”

"From a losing record to a winning one over the years...it's just great to be here"

- Mitchell Robinson pic.twitter.com/bvEmRYl2iG

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 14, 2025​

Mitchell Robinson​

On Tatum’s injury and how to approach the rehab:

“First off, I want to [send] prayers out to JT for that injury. I’ve been through a lot myself. I know how that feels. It’s not a great feeling to be in. I mean, just to got to keep going.”

On his own rehab and returning to the court:

“It’s a lot of emotions that go on. Ups and downs. Really, the hard part is trying to stay afloat, trying to stay focused, because you can’t really do too much when you’re injured.”

On how he goes about body maintenance:

“For me now, it’s [important to] keep my body fresh with the rehab, treatment and stuff like that. That’s kind of what I’ve been focusing on a little more, so I could be fresh.”

On being the longest-tenured NYK player and the current Knicks’ playoff position compared to their standing then:

“It feels good to be in this position that we are in right now, especially because I’ve been here seven years. To get to see that and experience that is great.”

Mikal Bridges on heading back to MSG with another chance to move onto the Eastern Conference Finals:

"Just got to play desperate, I don't think we did that. We've got to come out aggressive throughout the whole game" pic.twitter.com/WaNIFtNFJl

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 15, 2025​

Mikal Bridges​

On Game 5 defensive lapses:

“I don’t know, I think it’s more us not getting stops. Pretty much just worried about not getting stops out there.”

On the Knicks’ poor effort in Game 5:

“They’re a really good team, even without [Tatum]. We just didn’t bring that fight, we didn’t talk to each other defensively and [we] gave everybody confidence.”

On bad third-quarter defense:

“Nothing to do with the refs. We just didn’t bring it defensively. Refs can’t control how hard we play.”

On the mentality entering Game 6:

“We just gotta play desperate. I don’t think we did that. We gotta come out aggressive throughout the whole game.”

"You don't get to pick the tests that you have. You just pick how you respond to them. That's kind of how life works."

Joe Mazzulla talks about the Celtics having their backs against the wall and attempting to come back from a 3-1 deficit: pic.twitter.com/mQ0rOWOvP7

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 15, 2025​

Joe Mazzulla​

On the team’s connection:

“It’s tough to say, this team has been around a long time and done stuff together. We did what was necessary to get back to New York … everybody in that locker room has another layer they can get to, and they did as the game went on. They just have to continue to do that.”

On the Game 5 outlook:

“Four hours ago, we just had to win one game. Now we have to win one game. That’s just how you have to look at it.”

On the team’s character to pull off the Game 5 win without Tatum:

“It’s just who they are as people, the character of the guys. At the end of the day, you don’t get to pick out the test that you have. You just pick how you respond to them. That’s how life works.”

On removing Porzingis and the Latvthe ian not playing second half:

“I mean (Porzingis) couldn’t breathe, so he was available if absolutely necessary. That was a decision between me and him. He was having just difficulty breathing. He wanted to be out there. If we absolutely needed him, we would’ve been able to go to him and rely on him.”

On Tatum’s message before Game 5:

“I’m not telling you that.” (on what Tatum told his team)

Jaylen Brown talks about the narrative of the series being "over" once Jayson Tatum went down with a torn Achilles:

"It's easy to kind of write things off. Obviously unfortunate what happened to JT, but we've still got basketball to be played. Don't count us out just yet" pic.twitter.com/fQLBdWtuCs

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 15, 2025​

Jaylen Brown​

On taking on a larger leadership role with Tatum out:

“The goal is to just lead and to just be myself. I’ve always preached team. I’ve done whatever to kind of push this team forward. So whatever is needed in me, I’m excited to be able to facilitate or whatever role.”

On the Game 5 atmosphere at TD Garden:

“I can only speak for myself, I’m not sure about the rest of the guys, but what I will say is I appreciate the fans that showed up tonight. It was a great atmosphere. It was loud. It’s easy to kind of write things off. Obviously, it’s unfortunate what happened to JT, but we still got basketball to be played.”

On Tatum’s injury news:

“The air kind of left the room after hearing the news. We didn’t want to go out like that. We didn’t want to make no excuses. We didn’t want to come out and give up or just turn the season in what everybody else probably would expect.”

On the Celtics’ mindset before Game 5:

“We just said to the guys, said to each other, ‘Let’s come out, keep an open mind.’ Just come out, play basketball … and guard your ass off.”

“There’s always talk… We came in yesterday watched film and looked each other in eye ready to go”

-Derrick White on the outside noise post Jayson Tatum injury pic.twitter.com/KywAKnFSXP

— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) May 15, 2025​

Derrick White​

On playing without Tatum:

“Honestly, losing JT is tough, especially for how much work he puts into the game, works on his body, everything he does to compete night after night. Seeing him go down is tough, but we have a lot of guys out here who are highly competitive. Lot of talent in that room. Seeing your brother go down was tough. He texted us today. He’s cheering us on.”

On blocking the outside noise:

“I didn’t hear nothin’. There’s always talk. Good talk. Bad talk. I try to just block it all out. I came in yesterday, watched film, and we kind of looked each other in the eye, and (were) ready to go. We got a lot of guys who won a lot of games at a high level. Obviously, there’s no replacing JT and what he does for us, but we did it with the guys we got.”

On Luke Kornet’s Game 5 takeover:

“He was unbelievable.”

Luke Kornet to @WindhorstESPN on how he would approach starting for the Celtics:

"Throughout my time of the Celtics and throughout my career whatever coach asked me to do, I'm just there to do it."

Kornet started over Porzingis in the 2nd half of Game 5. pic.twitter.com/ync3naFUhX

— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) May 15, 2025​

Luke Kornet​

On stepping up in Game 5:

“Obviously, our season was on the line, so I was trying to have a lot of energy and make plays. I’m very grateful just to be able to have the opportunity to play and obviously to make a big impact. I feel like it’s just really special to be a part of when you’re doing it, you just kind of get lost in it.”

pic.twitter.com/Di3xwJQjrR

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 14, 2025​

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...cks-bulletin-thats-such-a-stupid-question-bro

 

[New York Knicks]

Playoff Game Thread: Knicks at Celtics, Game Five, May 14, 2025

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

Knicks look to close out the reigning champs in Boston.

The Knicks head to Boston tonight with a 3-1 series lead and a chance to eliminate the Shamrocks on their home floor. Jalen Brunson continues to dominate, carrying New York’s offense and controlling the tempo, while OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Mitchell Robinson have anchored their defense. With Jayson Tatum injured, the pressure falls on Jaylen Brown and Boston’s supporting cast to keep the season alive.

Game time is 7:00 p.m. EST on TNT. This is your game thread. This is CelticsBlog. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Enjoy yourselves. And go Knickerbockers!

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...hread-knicks-at-celtics-game-five-may-14-2025

 

[New York Knicks]

Why the Knicks need to win Game Six, what they must do, and why you should believe in them

Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images

In what a lot of people thought would be the Celtics’ last game of the season, they played maybe their most impressive game of basketball this year. It was filled with incredible defensive energy from Luke Kornet, amazing shot-making from Derrick White, and a complete two-way statement game from Jaylen Brown. But for every bit as impressive as the Celtics’ performance was, the Knicks’ performance was just as embarrassing. Now, their once seemingly comfortable 3-1 lead has been narrowed down by one game, and the fear of the what-if has started to creep up on some Knicks fans. And that has many asking: just how important is Game Six; what must the Knicks do to win tonight, and how confident, if at all, should Knicks fans be?

First, we’ll tackle the importance of Game Six. Obviously, with it being a playoff game, no discussions need to be had about whether it’s important or not. And given all of the potentially disastrous results that could await the Knicks if they lose tonight, it’s almost a foregone conclusion that Game Six is the Knicks’ biggest game of the season up until this point. And when you really look at it, there’s a very strong argument to be made that this is the most important game the Knicks have played in 25 years. But why exactly is that?

The most significant reason has to be the downright frightening reality that if they lose tonight, the Knicks would have to play a Game Seven in Boston with the potential to blow a 3-1 lead. It would be an embarrassing collapse of historic proportions, and quite frankly, would be a pretty Knicks thing to do. And in a sport where anything can happen on any given night, gambling the fate of this team and its season on one game where the home team is an experienced team of winners, feels like a risk I’d rather not see play out.

And think of the circumstances that would lead to such a game. Having a Game Seven would mean that Boston won Game Six on the road just 48 hours after winning game five. That would surely mean that all of the momentum would have swung back in the Celtics’ favor, while the Knicks took on a whole lot more pressure in the meantime.

Making things feel even more dire is the fact that the Pacers already took care of business against a hobbled Cavaliers team. If the Knicks have a true championship, and at the very least finals, aspirations, it would behoove them to do the same to the Celtics. The longer they take to eliminate the Celtics, the harder their series against the Pacers will be given their tendency to play at a fast, and frantic pace-and that’s if the Knicks can win one of the next two games.

So what can the Knicks do to make sure that they don’t give the Celtics more momentum and avoid the dreaded blown 3-1 series lead? It starts with Tom Thibodeau. The Knicks head coach has had a pretty solid postseason. His decisions to play more double big minutes, switch more on defense, and trust Mikal Bridges with the ball in his hands to start the fourth quarter have all paid off and is a big reason the Knicks were able to take a 3-1 lead. But he’s also been a big reason that they have now dropped two games to the Celtics, with the second coming against a Jayson Tatum-less team whose season should’ve ended two nights ago.

In their losses, Thibodeau has gone away from the switch-reliant defense, for more hedging and drop coverage again for some reason, and he’s done very little to assist what looked like the kind of offense run at a pickup game at a local gym in games three and five. And in game five, he watched and did little to nothing while the team collapsed in the third quarter once again. He didn’t make any scheme changes, and he didn’t sub in Mitchell Robinson or Deuce McBride despite both of them having superb first halves. Not to mention he’s also somehow failed to get his team to come out with the right urgency and focus in both of those losses.

If New York is to win Game Six and end this series before it gets too close for comfort, they’ll need Thibodeau to coach a much cleaner game by making sure the players come out with urgency (and yes I know that’s just as much on the players as it is Thibodeau), reverting back to a switch-heavy defense, adjusting to the Celtics game plan without Tatum, and getting the offense going with more sets for OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Town, and Bridges. And do not be afraid to use your top two guys on the bench. This starting lineup as a collective unit has not been good for the majority of the season. But a lot of the lineups with one, or both of, Robinson and McBride have been. So use them.

But let’s be honest. While there is a lot Thibodeau can, and should do differently, and better, it still comes down to the players. Anunoby was a complete no-show on both ends. Towns continues to take himself out of games with silly fouls. Brunson’s process on the offensive end was putrid for a good chunk of the game. Bridges was not great. And Josh Hart, despite making multiple threes, had some inexplicable defensive errors. Thibodeau can press all the right buttons, but if the starters play that bad, that energy-less, that disorganized, and that undisciplined, then it won’t matter.

This team needs all of those guys to step up. Anunoby has to find the perfect balance of aggression and patience on offense and be the elite defender we know him as. They need Towns to be a force on the offensive end to make up for his lackluster defense. They need Brunson to be the floor general, and not only score, but get guys in the right spots, and do so earlier in the shot clock. They need Bridges to be better on both sides of the ball. And they need Hart to continue being aggressive and not have so many defensive lapses.

Despite there being some concerns and urgency around tonight’s game though, there are also reasons why Knicks fans should be confident. And it starts with Brunson. Per Tommy Beer, Brunson is averaging an absurd 34.5PPG, and 8APG in 11 games following a Knicks postseason loss when you exclude the game in which he left early with a broken hand. And in those 11 games, the Knicks are an astounding 9-2.

Excluding the game he broke his hand in last year vs. the Pacers, in the 11 games following a Knicks postseason loss since Jalen Brunson arrived in NYC, JB is averaging:
34.5 points,
8.0 assists and
4.7 rebounds

The Knicks are 9-2 in those 11 contests.

— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) May 15, 2025​

Over the last few seasons, on the rare occasion that Brunson struggles, it’s become almost customary for him to have a big bounce-back game. While the Celtics will once again be playing hard with their season on the line, Knicks fans should have the utmost confidence that the captain will answer the call and step up like he has done so many times.

But it doesn’t stop with Brunson. These Knicks have had some disappointing games from time to time where they look out of it and lack the necessary focus. But during these playoffs, they’ve been able to follow up those games with a statement performance. That’s not to say that it’ll be aesthetically pleasing, or that they’ll dominate the game and blow out the Celtics. But whether it’s games three, and six in the Pistons series, or game four in the Celtics series, this team has responded accordingly following their disappointing losses.

There’s also an argument to be made that with just one day in between the games, the lack of rest actually favors the Knicks for once. New York, and more specifically, Thibodeau, has long been ridiculed for playing the starters too much as it often leads to injuries later on in the season. But this year, they’ve had the luxury of having everyone healthy (knock on wood). The same cannot be said for Boston. They are already without Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porzingis all have dealt with an injury or an ailment of some sort in the last few weeks. And on top of that, there’s Al Horford, who isn’t injured but has looked old at times. With just one day off, which was spent making the short trip back to New York, New York, there’s a chance that the quick turnaround actually benefits New York this time.

With the Knicks, hopefully, coming in with more urgency, and focus, and having the chance to clinch a playoff series at home for the first time since 1999, they should have enough to win Game Six. But they’ll need to do more than just show up. As stated above, Thibodeau needs to press the right buttons and put his guys in the position to succeed, and the players simply need to play better, and smarter. Because if they don’t, the Celtics can, as they proved in game five, beat the Knicks handily. And if they do, we’ll have to have some pretty uncomfortable conversations about what’ll likely be a very uncomfortable Game Seven.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...ey-must-do-and-why-you-should-believe-in-them

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks 119, Celtics 81: Scenes from a beatdown to beat beantown

Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

New York delivers their most dominant game of the year to beat Boston in six.

Embrace your darkness, Joe Maz. . . . Let its cold arms envelop you like a ghoulish shroud. . . . While you sink into the black depths of misery . . . OUR KNICKERBOCKERS ARE HEADED TO THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 25 YEARS. Shout about it, Knicks fans!!!

This was a smackdown from the starter’s gun. In the first half, New York outscored the Celtics by 27 points, limiting them to 37 points and harassing them into 4-of-19 shooting from deep. In the third quarter, New York pushed the lead to 41 and Jaylen Brown fouled out. In typical Thibs fashion, the starters stayed in longer than they should have in the fourth, but if anyone complained, who could hear it? The noise of the Garden was registering on the Richter scale. Final score: 119-81.

In a hyperactive first quarter, the Knicks opened with four straight points, Boston answered with five (all from Jaylen Brown), and New York followed with seven. The wings were hot early—OG Anunoby logged two blocks and a steal, and Mikal Bridges poured in seven points in the first five minutes.

MIKAL MOTHERFUCKING BRIDGES
pic.twitter.com/BZVxJ91S76

— (@AbdulCarterMVP) May 17, 2025​

Mitchell Robinson and Deuce McBride checked in at the 4:30 mark. Ten seconds later, Mitch was at the line—hack-a-Mitch persists. (He made one.)

Karl-Anthony Towns was a force, posting 11 points and four boards in the quarter. He capped a Knicks 10–4 run with a deep three. New York led 26–20 after one. The villains shot poorly (33% and 30%); our heroes shot worse (37% and 21%).

To open the second, the Knicks rattled off seven straight and Mitch blocked Brown at the arc, stretching the lead to 13. You gotta see it:

Probably the Knicks best defensive possession of the season.

WOW pic.twitter.com/E7qhw7HxUj

— KnicksNation (@KnicksNation) May 17, 2025​

From there, the Knicks went full bully-ball—scrapping for loose balls, dominating the glass, and holding Boston to one-and-dones. For once, they looked determined to win the series. Deuce McBride soared to block Derrick White at the rim, the Celtics bricked a pile of threes, and Josh Hart rattled off five straight to help push the lead to 23 with under four minutes left. (McBride had 10 points and was a +20 in his 32 minutes off the bench.)

JOSH HART pic.twitter.com/MOA9gBRkM9

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 17, 2025​

Cap splashed a three around the two-minute mark, Deuce turned an Anunoby steal into an and-one, and the lead ballooned to 27. It’s a strange feeling, being on the right side of a blowout. Next, Deuce knocked down a corner three to close the half with the Knicks up 64–37.

The Knicks had dominated behind 47% shooting and a 32–18 rebounding advantage. They doubled Boston’s points in the paint (32–18), led fast breaks 10–2, and committed fewer turnovers (8–11). The Celtics couldn’t find the rim, shooting just 33.3% from the field and 21.1% from deep.

OG opened the second half with six quick points to stretch the lead to 32. Bridges picked up his fourth foul and White hit back-to-back threes, but it didn’t matter—Bridges, Brunson, Hart, and KAT responded with an 11-0 run to push the lead to 37. Mikal would log 22 points, four boards, three assists, two blocks, and a steal in his 35 minutes.

From there, the Knicks kept their foot on the gas and dominated the glass. Brown fouled out with just under three minutes left in the quarter, and after KAT and Hart cleaned up more Celtics misses, Anunoby buried back-to-back threes to make it a 41-point game.

Cap would finish the night with 23 points, six rebounds and assists, and 8-of-14 shooting.

Calm.
Cool.
Collected.

Jalen Brunson now with 14 PTS on 6-9 FGM pic.twitter.com/cK8p6Vc1tP

— NBA (@NBA) May 17, 2025​

Entering the final frame of Boston’s season, the score was 92-57. Thibs still had the starters in. Our heroes eclipsed 100 points at the nine-minute mark. Still had the starters in. Josh Hart, simply ravenous for loose balls tonight, achieved a 10-11-11 triple-double with about eight minutes left. Boston called a timeout, down by 36 points. What changes did Thibs make? He sent Precious Achiuwa and Deuce in to play with KAT, Mikal, and OG. Towns wrapped up his evening with a 21-point, 12-board double-double in 35 minutes.

The crowd cheered for Knicks in Six. They cheered for PJ Tucker. They got what they wanted on both counts. With four minutes left, OG finally subbed out; PJ, Landry Shamet, and Cam Payne came in. When rookie Tyler Kolek swished a three-pointer with 30 seconds left, the series was truly, fully, completely over.

Nice tribute from the Garden faithful for OG—23 points, nine boards, two steals blocks, and assists, and 7-of-18 shooting in 37 minutes. He deserved every clap.

PJ Tucker replaces OG Anunoby as the Garden gives love to both pic.twitter.com/WqDf2DQMev

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 17, 2025​

Up Next​

The master scribe, Matthew Miranda, is sharpening his quills for a proper recap. Meanwhile, the Knicks will host the Indiana Pacers next Wednesday. In the Eastern Conference Finals. Rest up, you glorious Knickerbockers, you princes of New York, you kings of the five boroughs.

Box Score

The last time the Knicks made the Eastern Conference Finals, Jalen Brunson’s dad was on the team. pic.twitter.com/NMsg36wKcA

— ENJ Y (@EnjoyBBall) May 17, 2025​

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...cs-81-scenes-from-a-beatdown-to-beat-beantown

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘We have way more to go’

Photo by Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images

New York is four games away from reaching the biggest NBA stage.

EASTERN.

CONFERENCE.

FINALISTS.

Tom Thibodeau on tonight's performance:

"We knew we would have to play 48 minutes against them. They're terrific on both sides of the ball... They're not going to hand you anything, you have to earn it and I felt that we did that" pic.twitter.com/is4eMybkD8

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 17, 2025​

Tom Thibodeau​

On the Celtics and Game 6 performance:

“We knew we would have to play 48 minutes against them. They’re terrific on both sides of the ball... They’re not going to hand you anything, you have to earn it and I felt that we did that.”

On game-to-game mentality and adapting to the situation:

“No, you’ve got to win games different ways. Every game is different. There’s really no carry over from one game to the next.”

On Josh Hart’s impact:

“People get stuck on ‘you didn’t shoot the ball’ or ‘you didn’t do this’ but Josh, what he is is a basketball player. It’s transition, it’s the pace, it’s playing out of the pocket.”

On the Pacers matchup:

“They’re an excellent basketball team. Strong on both sides of the ball, their ability to push the ball to defensive transition... You’ve got to be very disciplined in your approach.”

On the Knicks’ mindset before Game 6:

“That’s what the playoffs are. There’s a lot of emotional highs and lows and you’ve got to deal with those things and I think it’s important to be disciplined. I think the discipline gets you past any distractions. Got to play with toughness. Each game you got to reset. What is going to go into winning that game? So there’s no carryover from previous game. Just lock into what’s in front of you. You have to give maximum effort but you also need maximum concentration. And you have to remain disciplined and play with toughness and aggression, and that’s what playoffs is all about.”

On the Knicks’ Game 6 dominance:

“We knew we’d have to play 48 minutes against them. They’re terrific on both sides of the ball. They play their style no matter what. They’re not going to hand you anything. You have to earn it, and I thought we did that.”

On the Knicks’ long-term playoff goals:

“The goal is always to win a championship. We’ve got eight wins. You need 16. And each one gets harder and harder, so you’ve got to keep fighting. And you’ve got to understand how important that is.”

On the mindset heading into the ecf:

“It’s how you respond to the challenge that’s in front of you. We can’t get carried away. Obviously, it’s a great win, and we advance, and you look at that, but you also understand that you have to get ready for the next series. We know Indiana is a terrific team, and we’re going to have to be ready.”

On Miles McBride’s role:

“He doesn’t shoot well every game. Nobody does. Just keep playing, trust your game, the work you put in. Defensively, the ball pressure is terrific. He plays fast and you can go on runs with him. And be a catalyst. That’s what he does for us. Picks up full-court. If you’re open, shoot. If you’re guarded well, make a play for somebody else.”

Josh Hart on facing the Pacers in the playoffs for a second year in a row:

"It's going to be a tough opponent... We can build off this game. I feel like our defensive transition, our communication was great today" pic.twitter.com/fbq92HLdcA

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 17, 2025​

Josh Hart​

On facing the Pacers again:

“It’s going to be a tough opponent... We can build off this game. I feel like our defensive transition, our communication was great today.”

On learning from Game 5 loss:

“No, you don’t flush it. You learn from it. You go watch film, you see where we messed up, and there were a lot of mess-ups in terms of communication and execution. So you don’t flush it. You watch it, you learn from it and you get better next game.”

"I felt like they gave us energy, a lot of energy tonight."

Deuce McBride talks about the crowd at Madison Square Garden: pic.twitter.com/1dO3mTOMQ9

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 17, 2025​

Deuce McBride ​

On the playoffs being an entirely different beast:

“It’s not about what you do in the regular season all the time. At the end of the day, it’s what you do in April, May and June.”

On the Knicks leaders and believing:

“We have a lot of great leaders in this locker room, a lot of guys that have been through Finals, won championships. We all felt like we have a chance to do something special. We all felt like it was time.”

On the last time the Knicks make the ECF:

“I don’t even know if I was alive.”

On the MSG crowd in Game 6:

“I felt like they gave us energy, a lot of energy tonight.”

"The way they've been supporting us all year, it's been remarkable."

Jalen Brunson on the positive reception he's felt from Knicks fans this season: pic.twitter.com/H7zZP40PeC

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 17, 2025​

Jalen Brunson​

On Game 6 performance:

“I feel like we played 48 minutes tonight. Just the way we competed and communicated, definitely one of the better performances. I feel like we have a long way to go. Just the confidence we have in each other and everything. Just knowing who we are. We have to be unsatisfied.”

On rebounding from Game 5:

“Just the way, the whole day of Game 5, it just wasn’t us. And we knew that, we reflected on it, and we came back and we said we need to be ready, we need to be better. The way we prepared, the way we talked out there, the way we made it an emphasis to have each other’s back and to continue to cover for each other. It’s focused on the defensive side of the ball, and when we’re doing that and offense, we’re flowing. So we’ve just gotta focus on the little things, and we did that.”

On whether the series win over Boston felt like an upset: “Upset or not, whatever it is, we beat a great team. They obviously lost a huge piece but regardless the way they came out in Game 5, they’re still a great team.”

On the team’s confidence after Game 6:

“The way we competed and communicated out there, it’s definitely one of our better performances. But I still feel like we have a long way to go. This confidence we have in each other and everything, just being where we are … we’re going to continue to be unsatisfied.”

On Stephen A. Smith picking the Celtics:

“‘I have nothing to say to you.’”

"Making an emphasis to come out with a lot of energy, fly around, and just correct what we saw on film and maintain it for the whole game."

OG Anunoby talks about what propelled the Knicks to their big win tonight: pic.twitter.com/1zsGKVmloy

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 17, 2025​

OG Anunoby​

On adjustments after Game 5:

“Just watching the film and responding to it, not being happy with it and making it an emphasis to just coming out with a lot of energy, flying around. Just correct what we saw on film and maintain it for the whole game.”

"When you're in these situations, especially in the playoffs, we talk about that New York grit, that unrelenting belief that we will never lose. We showed it this series"

- Karl-Anthony Towns pic.twitter.com/VvRSin0nTm

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 17, 2025​

Karl-Anthony Towns​

On the team never losing their belief:

“As long as we believe in each other, we can do something special. And as long as the belief in that locker room is that, we don’t care what anyone outside that locker room says.”

On the Knicks’ resilience:

“When you’re in these situations, especially in the playoffs, you gotta — you know, we talk about that, that New York grit, that relentless belief that we will never lose. When you want to go deeper into the playoffs, you have to have that, and we showed it this series. And I think that was really special for us. … This team has tremendous belief in each other, and we believe that any time we step on the court, we have a chance to win.”

On the Knicks’ championship hopes:

“We believe that we can do something special.”

To Stephen A. Smith:

“You picked the wrong team.”

Mikal Bridges talks about the lack of celebration from the Knicks after winning the series tonight:

"More to go, we're not done" pic.twitter.com/XLlsaGOPZr

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 17, 2025​

Mikal Bridges​

On the Knicks fans firing the team up:

“I think Josh showed me a video walking here of a guy climbing up a light post. Yeah it’s crazy man but yeah, great for them, happy for them. Obviously I’m new here but I just know how much New York loves their sports, especially the Knicks, so just all excited to be a part of it. They’re enjoying it now for us, but we have way more to go.”

On the Knicks’ mentality heading into the Pacers series:

“Yeah, there’s more to go. We’re not done. That’s what it is. We came out there tonight to play hard and handle business, but our season’s not over. We’ve got so much more to go and we play on Wednesday so get ready to prepare for them. Whole different team and a whole new series.”

On the mindset entering the ECF:

“More to go, you know? We’re not done. And that’s what it is. We came out there tonight, played hard, handled biz. But season’s not over. We got so much more to go.”

"That guy's a lifer, man. He's everything a coach is all about and he deserves it."

- Joe Mazzulla on Tom Thibodeau pic.twitter.com/Enmtia8Pwx

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 17, 2025​

Joe Mazzulla​

On the Knicks series win:

“You’ve got to tip your hats off to the Knicks. They played a great series. They’ve been great all year. Thibs is a great coach.”

On Tom Thibodeau’s chops:

“That guy’s a lifer, man. He’s everything a coach is all about and he deserves it.”

On falling short of the championship goal:

“There’s a perspective at the end of the day, we set a goal out, we didn’t achieve that goal. But (that) shouldn’t take away from the mindset and the effort that the players put in. We have a responsibility and an ownership, we didn’t do it, but the approach, the process to it, you can’t ask for any more from the guys. … This is the price you pay for trying to go after something, and that’s how it goes.”

On the team’s growth:

“I didn’t see anything different. I saw something better throughout the season. Everybody had the right mindset and the right process towards going after it. We just ran into a great team in the second round. They got the best of us.”

On fatigue and performance in Game 6:

“Obviously I saw [fatigue] tonight a little bit, but I didn’t see that throughout the season, I didn’t see that throughout the series. They outplayed us. They played better.”

On playoff expectations vs. the Knicks:

“One thing that you anticipate is that you’re going to get the Knicks’ absolute best game. You have to be able to dictate the environment, minimize [bad plays] and maximize the plays we need to make through our execution and our toughness. They’re obviously going to fight better than they did last game, and we need to find ways to do that as well.”

On navigating highs and lows:

“If you’re coaching for a long time, you’re going to have a lot more heartbreaks than joyful moments.”

"Losing to the Knicks feels like death, but I was always taught that there's life after death, so we'll get ready for whatever's next. Whatever's next in the journey, I'll be ready for."

- Jaylen Brown pic.twitter.com/Ur1O61cOT7

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 17, 2025​

Jaylen Brown​

On losing to the Knicks:

“Losing to the Knicks feels like death, but I was always taught that there’s life after death, so we’ll get ready for whatever’s next. Whatever’s next in the journey, I’ll be ready for.”

On falling early:

“It just wasn’t our year.”

On his message to Boston fans after imploding in the playoffs:

“I know, Boston, it looks gloomy right now, obviously with JT being down, and us ending the year, but it’s a lot to look forward to. I want the city to feel excited about that. This is not the end.”

On the mixed emotions after the Game 6 loss:

“It hurt to see the emotions of all the guys, being a leader, not being able to carry everybody to the promise land. It sucks, but it just wasn’t our year.”

On the Celtics’ effort in Game 6:

“I’m proud of our guys, they came out and fought.”

"The support from the Knicks fans was through the roof tonight and all throughout the playoffs. Unbelievable fans, unbelievable city and there's a side of me that's very very happy for them"

- Kristaps Porzingis pic.twitter.com/x3zPbEVcUb

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 17, 2025​

Kristaps Porzingis​

On the Game 6 performance and team struggles:

“Extremely tough night for us. Felt like nothing was going our way and just the game was easy for them. Many things that just were not we’re not clicking for us. From the beginning, they just created that lead. We didn’t really have good moments in the game to kind of get back there. It was just a tough night. Tough way to end on this night.”

On playing without Tatum:

“Especially with [Jayson Tatum] going out, just not being too much of a help just hurts deep inside here. It really sucks. It really really sucks.”

On the Knicks fans and New York City:

“The support from the Knicks fans was through the roof tonight and all throughout the playoffs. Unbelievable fans, unbelievable city and there’s a side of me that’s very very happy for them.”

Derrick White:

“It sucks. Never gonna get this season back. Never gonna have the exact same team again.” pic.twitter.com/jjZSMZILYS

— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) May 17, 2025​

Derrick White​

On the early struggles in Game 6 killing any chance of a Celtics comeback:

“It seemed like it went left pretty quick.”

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2025/5/17/24431474/knicks-bulletin-we-have-way-more-to-go

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks 119, Celtics 81: ECF!!!

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

New York improves to 4-12 against the NBA’s 3 best teams

If a picture’s worth a thousand words, the lead trackers from the first and last games the Knicks and Celtics played this season — in October and last night — are all the story you need.

nba.com

nba.com

If you’re still reading, I imagine you won’t mind soaking in a few more words on a win that sounds like the sweetest word problem in the history of math.

Jalen and his friends scored 119 points. Jaylen and his friends scored 81. By winning this game and the series, which of the following did Jalen and friends achieve?

A) The Knicks’ biggest win since Game 7 in Miami in 2000
B) Their first series-clinching win at MSG since 1999
C) Their first series win over a 60-plus win team since 1973, when they beat two, the Celtics and Lakers
D) The Knicks will host the Eastern finals for the first time since 1994. They also knocked off the defending champs for the first time since that year
E) This is the first time the Knicks have eliminated the Celtics in New York since 1951
F) All of the above

I bet you can guess the answer!

I’m not as sure — but am starting to suspect — the dethroning of the Association’s regalest royals has to be the biggest upset the Knicks have pulled off since . . . we’ll get back to that.

The Knicks beat the Celtics! Our beloved, bespoke, ill-spoke-of Knicks, the ones who didn’t defend well enough or go deep enough, who played too few too many minutes, who just weren’t good enough, faced hardwood’s Hercules head-on and left him clutching for a fig leaf. Mixed metaphors not your thing? Afraid you’ve jumped out of the frying pan without a paddle, friend — we’re as mixed up as the Knicks and Celtics. It’s like the cat said: we’re all mad here, else we wouldn’t be here.

Consider: this series started less than two weeks ago. Doesn’t it seem longer? The Knicks were coming off a commercially popular series win over the Pistons whose critical reviews were mixed at best. Nobody and I mean nobody had the Knicks even lasting six games this round, much less winning in that many.

Meanwhile, the Celtics weren’t just another 61-win team; they were the defending champs, built to withstand the new apron-heavy collective bargaining rules well enough for multiple more title runs. This is a franchise lauded for everything they do. Brad Stevens is Siddhartha. Joe Mazzulla has his players practice in Timbs so the games will seem that much easier. Jaylen Brown is so terrifyingly good entire Olympic committees conspire against him. They feature two players from the old Jeff Hornacek Knick teams and are still this good. And the Knicks beat them anyway.

And they did it right last night: they got up big early and never let up. Only way they could have lost would have been to let the Celtics hang around a while. They never did. They beat them in every way possible. Dominated the glass. More assists. Fewer turnovers. Outscored the Cs by 12 at the line, 12 behind the arc and 14 inside it. If there were 4-pointers the Knicks would have won by 50.

There are wins and then there are statement wins, and the manner and magnitude of this miracle made manifest certainly made a statement. New York makes its return to the big time having not merely evicted the champs, but eviscerated them. Even left one comparing it to dying.

Jaylen Brown: “Losing to the Knicks feels like death, but I was always taught that there's life after death. We’ll get ready for whatever’s next. Whatever's next in the journey, I'll be ready for.”

— Michael Scotto (@mikeascotto.bsky.social) 2025-05-17T03:44:29.940Z

All season there were doubts, particularly after the 0-10 facet began reflecting more of the national attention. The wins over Detroit only seemed to exacerbate the worst fears — Thibs burned out his guys in the regular-season again; they don’t have another gear to go to and now they’re in trouble. Tobias Harris called them soft. Tobias Harris.

The Knicks won in Boston in a Game 1 dismissed by many as a fluke. So they went out and did it all over again in Game 2 just to prove the first weren’t no fluke, and still all the talk after was what the Celtics didn’t do, usually do, would do again. Why just a glitch in the machine, those Knick Ws! Once the Cs’ 3s started splashing, all that nonsense settles and it’s smooth sailing straight ahead.

Imagine being on the Titanic as it’s sinking thinking the iceberg’s a glitch.

Deuce McBride with a chasedown block! Josh Hart with an and-1! Knicks are up BIG in the first half

— Dime (@dimeuproxx.bsky.social) 2025-05-17T01:13:34.662Z

The Knicks were the iceberg, and with no Jayson Tatum the Celtic shot selection took on too much randomness, guys taking shots they had to rather than the looks their offense is designed to create. On the other end, Jalen Brunson looked positively springy, more feline than in months. Karl-Anthony Towns played like he knew he was the biggest man on the floor. If you’re still worried about who the Nets are going to pick 28th in 2029, I can’t help you and I’m sorry you’re missing out on Mikal Bridges.

I’m speechless. Patterns and precedent are my mother tongues, and because the Knicks have stunk for so much of my time covering them I often look for parallels between events happening now and since I started following this team in 1990. Creating consistency gives me grounding. So know that I’ve thought about this for more than a little bit before concluding I’ve never seen what I’m seeing now.

I think winning this series is probably the biggest upset in Knick history. The ‘99 Heat were a 1-seed in name only; by then Knicks/Heat games were their own sport, the records irrelevant. Wanna say the ‘98 Heat? Maybe. But even with Patrick Ewing out for that series, Miami was never seen as superior, not to anyone who followed the teams.

But what came to a head last night? The Knicks consistently outplaying a team who more people — including Knicks fans — would have picked to sweep this series than lose it? I’ve never seen this team do what they’re doing. I knew it was possible. I just didn’t think it would happen.

It has, so enjoy it. Those who laughed at your hope and your faith are exposed as the fools you’ve long suspected. All those years as a fan where you knew the odds were against your team, yet you’d seen enough to know there was something special there, something secret and sacred that only you could see because only you believed hard enough — and your team didn’t justify your belief? Never justifies that belief? These Knicks do.

The Celtics are done, gone, and may a house fall on top of them and their ruby slippers for good measure. The Pacers await. If the Nuggets beat the Thunder Sunday, the Knicks will have homecourt the rest of the playoffs. The Knicks are in the ECF. THE KNICKS ARE IN THE ECF!!!!!!!!!

Totally normal behavior going on outside MSG:

— Fred Katz (@fredkatz.bsky.social) 2025-05-17T03:34:32.748Z

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2025/5/17/24431977/knicks-119-celtics-81-ecf

 

[New York Knicks]

The emotion of being a young Knicks fan right now

Photo by Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images

That was awesome, and it’s not over yet.

I always want to remove emotion from my articles. If you’re gonna write about sports, you have to remove your biases and your opinions as best you can. Nobody wants to hear a homer in dark times, nobody wants to hear a doomer in great times. Personal stuff is mostly put to the side.

This is an exception.

I was not alive when the Knicks last advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. My older brother was in middle school, my parents hadn’t met yet, and I know all of your lives have changed tremendously in the last 25 years, even if you did witness the 2000 ECF.

After the win, I scrolled through the comments of Russ’s “scenes” post and Andrew’s brief but fitting article after the final buzzer (side note: he wanted to publish it after Game 1, but waiting was such a great call). It was dozens and dozens of longtime P&T people celebrating the gigantic weight off the franchise’s shoulders and referencing decade-old running jokes that I wouldn’t understand being a relative newbie here.

I know many of you reading this have, in fact, seen this team advance this far. Some of you, I just know, are just like me. Young adults who haven’t seen the franchise you love win two playoff rounds. While it is a tragic low bar, I hope we can all reminisce on the road that got us here. We have home court advantage in the Eastern Conference Finals, for crying out loud! That hasn’t happened since ‘94!!!

Right now, an older fan would talk about the dark years after the Ewings and Houstons of the world fizzled out. The Isiah Thomas years. The late 2000s, before the brief revival, brought about by Amare’ Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony. That brief revival is where my story begins.

I started watching basketball in those winning times. A much younger me idolized Carmelo Anthony. He had such an influence on my basketball fandom that growing up playing rec basketball, I’d be yelled at by my older brother when I did his three-to-the-dome after making a shot. I loved Linsanity, I loved the hope that Knickstape brought. I played NBA 2K14 on my Kindle Fire and specifically remember really liking to use Beno Udrih to shoot threes. When everything fell apart in that 2013-14 season, I was too young to understand it beyond that my team had suddenly crashed and burned overnight.

Like many, I didn’t like the draft pick of Kristaps Porzingis, although I didn’t know much about him. That 2016-17 season, when Derrick Rose said we were a superteam? I ate it all up. I erroneously believed in those Jeff Hornacek teams with Melo halfway out the door, and the dysfunction turned up to 10. I didn’t care.

Phil Jackson was trying to force the two pillars of the franchise out at separate times. The day Melo got traded broke my heart. A younger me stupidly ripped apart one of his jerseys with scissors, mostly because I got inspiration from a YouTuber who did the same for Kevin Durant (shoutout LostNUnbound). At that point, I put all my basketball fandom into Porzingis, a man who today sat helplessly as the Garden that once saw him as their savior celebrated in pure ecstasy over toppling the 7’3” Latvian’s team.

When Porzingis came out on fire in 2017-18, I paraded “Porzingod” as an MVP candidate. Remember when he was averaging 30? Growing up near Philadelphia, I’d always compare him to Joel Embiid and say our franchise big man was better every step of the way.

Now, something we all share are some heavy delusions we picked up during the dark days. My big one was believing that Porzingis and Willy Hernangomez were going to be a top-shelf PF/C tandem for a decade. That was fun for a little while. One day at a game (I think it was 1/14/2018 against New Orleans), they did a postgame meet-and-greet with two players. To perfectly encapsulate Knicks basketball at the time, it was Damyean Dotson and Ron Baker. I believed in Dotson a lot, to the point where I was hyped when he came back for like two weeks in 2021-22. My dad hated Baker, for some reason.

Remember my rec basketball mention earlier? On February 6, 2018, I walked out of practice one day to see a Bleacher Report notification saying Porzingis left the game with a knee injury. That night, his Knicks career ended with a torn ACL. It also began the darkest year and a half imaginable for Knicks basketball.

Here are some names. Noah Vonleh. Emmanuel Mudiay. Mindaugas Kuzminskas. Dennis Smith Jr. Doug McDermott. Kyle O’Quinn. Henry Ellenson. Kadeem Allen. I went to and watched a bunch of games with those guys playing.

As for the picks during this time, yeesh. I was at a Knicks watch party in 2017 for Frank Ntilikina, whom I had no idea who he was. I hated the Kevin Knox pick, mostly because I wanted Villanova boy Mikal Bridges. The draft lottery was a yearly torture mechanism, by the way. Hope Mavs fans know how lucky they are.

Speaking of, that 2019 delusion was something. Remember when we thought we could get KD, Kyrie, and Zion? Turns out, the draft lottery gave us the third pick, and the two max slots we opened up were for nothing. I got bullied mercilessly after the Nets swiped the stars that should’ve been ours. In the end, we came out better!

The 2020-21 season will always hold a place in my heart, and so will most players from that team. When you only had faint memories of the last Knicks’ playoff run, being able to watch a winning team again was so fun, especially when I got to go to my first playoff game in the unfortunate beginning of Trae Young’s New York villain era.

My delusion came back that offseason. We got Fournier! We got Kemba! We finally beat the hated Sixers for the first time in four years! Oh boy, that season sucked. As much as I badly held onto hope they’d figure it out, they just never did.

I consider myself a long-term optimist with my sports teams. Even when the sky was falling early in 22-23, I still believed the Knicks were gonna be fine. However, not even I could envision the magic that began on December 4, 2022, when Donovan Mitchell missed this shot.

If Spida made this, everything might be different. And i mean, everything. Thibs might’ve been fired. Randle might’ve been traded sooner. The joy we feel right now might never have happened.

The way 2023 ended was heartbreaking. The choke last year with a mountain of injuries was devastating. It felt genuinely weird that the Knicks entered this season with real expectations, and that boiled over into frustration when they underperformed.

But now, as we go through the middle of May, the Knicks have conquered the beast they’ve been attempting to slay since the very beginning. The narratives of being soft, overpaid, and overrated are gone. And it’s just incredible.

Think about this. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges are the 3rd and 4th options for this team. For most of my life, they’d be running the show on the teams I’ve watched. That’s just insane.

Everything that transpired to get to this point is why I’m so grateful for the pillars of this Knicks revival. It’s why I shy away from calling out Leon Rose or Tom Thibodeau sometimes. It’s why I hold Derrick Rose and Julius Randle in high regard. It’s why Jalen Brunson means so much to me.

You probably could’ve gone without opening this article and reading these 1300 words of rambling. But I hope you gained an understanding of a fan that’s finally seeing his franchise do things he only could’ve dreamed of.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...ght-now-ecf-brunson-carmelo-anthony-porzingis

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘You have to earn your wins’

Photo by Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images

Wednesday can’t come soon enough.

Thomas. Joseph. Thibodeau. Jr.

Knicks. In. Six.

ECF.

NYPD was stacked for the Knicks postgame pic.twitter.com/avfrpECLvI

— Big Knick Energy (@BigKnickEnergy_) May 18, 2025​

Tom Thibodeau​

On beating the Celtics:

“(The Celtics are) not going to hand you anything. You have to earn it, and I felt we did that.”

On what worked in Game 6 and Karl-Anthony Towns’s exploits:

“(Towns) helped set the tone for the game. He got established (offensively), and then the rebounding and his pick-and-roll defense was outstanding. We were able to play off that.”

On Josh Hart’s all-around play:

“That’s who he is. He impacts the game in a lot of different ways. Sometimes people get stuck on, ‘Well, he didn’t shoot the ball, or he didn’t do this.’ Well, what he is is a basketball player, so it’s transition. It’s the pace. It’s playing out of pocket. It’s making corner 3s. It’s doing all the dribble-handoff, hustle plays, offensive rebounds. And then, defensively being everywhere and coming up with big rebounds. I think when you play with that kind of effort, it’s inspiring to the team.”

On the team’s defensive execution through the second round of the playoffs:

“He’s very athletic, he anticipates well. But I thought overall our team commitment and defensive transition, guys were covering for each other, they were communicating really well, they understood what we had to take away in order to win. It doesn’t really matter whether you’re talking about defensive transition or you’re talking about pick-and-roll defense. It has to be clean, it has to be concise and it has to be tied together. When you do that, particularly against a team that’s as well-versed as they are and their ability to shoot and spread you out, you have to be very disciplined. I thought we were tonight.”

On the bigger picture and the meaning of beating Boston:

“I think the way you have to look at it is whatever your ceiling is, that’s what you’re striving for. You’re trying to go past whatever the expectations are for you. If everyone commits to that, the challenge is to bring the best out of everybody. The goal is always to win a championship. We’ve got eight wins. We need 16. And each one gets harder and harder. So you’ve got to keep fighting, and you’ve got to understand how important that is.”

On what’s next:

“The important thing is to understand what goes into winning. It starts with your preparation. We have to know Indiana extremely well and just concentrate on being ready for that first game. In the playoffs, you have to earn your wins. They’re not going to be given to you because you’re at home or on the road. You have to earn them with your play. So I think that’s the most important thing, understanding what goes into your preparation.”

On Indiana’s strengths:

“Style of play, they’re an excellent basketball team. When you look at the guard play, with Haliburton, [Andrew] Nembhard and [T.J.] McConnell, they can push it and break you down off the dribble. So you have to be very disciplined in your approach. They can spread you out. [Pascal] Siakam and [Myles] Turner are very talented bigs. We understand what the challenge is.”

NEW YORK KNICKS FANS BEST IN THE WORLD pic.twitter.com/tMbH6LjIfD

— . (@PatronFromNYC) May 17, 2025​

Josh Hart​

On the Pacers and the next series:

“It’s going to be a tough opponent. They push the pace. They run on makes, misses. And it’s going to be a huge communication series for us. We are going to have to be locked in on every possession. Have to get back defensively. So we can build off this game. I feel our communication was great today and that’s something we can carry into that series. We just have to make sure we are prepared.”

On the adjustments made after Game 5 vs. Boston:

“I feel like we just watched the film [of Game 5] and we kind of discussed our communication and effort and our sense of urgency to start the game. It’s something we knew we had to fix. We had to get stops and we have to communicate better in transition and get out there and play fast and have fun. I think that’s the biggest thing. We focused on communication and defensive transition.”

Caught Mitch pulling out last night! What a mob scene! pic.twitter.com/AIdKCrdJio

— BUDA (@budalichious) May 17, 2025​

OG Anunoby​

On the Knicks’ Game 6 performance:

“We made the emphasis to come out with a lot of energy, to fly around. We corrected what we saw on film and maintained it for the whole game.”

On the team’s outlook going forward:

“[Getting to the conference finals is] awesome, but we want to keep going. We’re not content. We want to keep playing.”

Knicks fans are wilding after eliminating the Celtics pic.twitter.com/kRXmN7ZqHL

— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) May 17, 2025​

Jalen Brunson​

On the massive fan support:

“We definitely felt the energy. The way that they’ve been supporting us all year, it’s been remarkable. I’m really happy that we were able to do that.”

On the team’s shift after Game 5:

“The whole day of Game 5, it just wasn’t us. And we knew that. We reflected on it, and we came back and we said, ‘We need to be ready. We need to be better.’ The way we prepared, the way we talked out there, the way we made it an emphasis to have each other’s back and to continue to cover for each other … focus on the little things, and we did that.”

On the team’s current mindset:

“I feel like we have a long way to go. Just the confidence we have in each other and everything. Just knowing who we are. We tend to be unsatisfied.”

On the Knicks defense:

“The way we prepared, the way we talked out there, the way we made it an emphasis to have each other’s back and to continue to cover for each other (was important). It’s focused on the defensive side of the ball, and when we’re doing that and offense, we’re flowing.”

"They're locked in"

Knicks turned down free bottles of champagne while celebrating their series win over Boston Friday

Timothée Chalamet & Russell Wilson joined Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Deuce McBride, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges & others downtown after Game 6 pic.twitter.com/yQbXr4eW9p

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 18, 2025​

Deuce McBride​

On the Game 6 ridiculous effort:

“We just went out there with a different type of energy.”

On playing with much more urgency on Friday:

“It was time. It was time for us to play with the lead and play tough with the lead, and be the more physical team and outlast them.”

On celebrating cautiously:

“I always like to live by the 24-hour rule. Enjoy it for the night and tomorrow, heal up and get ready for [the next round].”

On what comes next:

“It’s just one step. We’re not satisfied at all. We want to do the same thing next series—get four more.”

This view of Knicks fans.

NYC is truly one of a kind

(via @andruyeung)

pic.twitter.com/EWpD1zIodi

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 17, 2025​

Karl-Anthony Towns​

On the team’s playoff mindset:

“You have that fundamentalist belief that you’ll never lose … (If) you wanna go deep into the playoffs, you gotta have that. And we showed it this series. I think that was really special for us.”

On team belief:

“As long as we believe in each other, we can do something special. And as long as the belief in that locker room is that, we don’t care what anyone outside that locker room says.”

On teammates trusting him in Game 6 and paying them back:

“My teammates trusted me in positions to score, and I’m glad I was able to repay their trust with some buckets. So it’s really a testament to my teammates keeping me involved and allowing me to be aggressive.”

This Knicks fan did Windy dirty

(h/t @mirthee1st) pic.twitter.com/WoHj8dhM1R

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 17, 2025​

Mikal Bridges​

On what lies ahead:

“There’s more to do. We’re not done. That’s what it is. We came out there tonight to play hard and handle business, but our season’s not over. We’ve got so much more to go and we play on Wednesday. So get ready to prepare for them. Whole different team and a whole new series.”

On being part of the New York fam:

“Obviously, I’m new here, but I just know how much New York loves their sports, especially the Knicks, so just all excited to be a part of it.”

Knicks fans haven't felt this in 25 years ️ pic.twitter.com/oTsIoWAQJk

— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) May 17, 2025​

Tyrese Haliburton​

On making back-to-back ECF appearances:

“Something I’ve learned from my vets and just being in the NBA for enough time is to not take winning for granted. This is a special time. Back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals. We’re not done. We’ve still got a ways to go, but it’s a special feeling.”

On the Pacers’ identity:

“We’re different than every other team in the NBA. We don’t just have one guy who scores all the points. We defeat teams in different ways. We move the ball. The ball’s flying. We’ve got a lot of different guys making shots, making plays.”

On the franchise growth since getting to Indy:

“I remember being our representative at the [NBA Draft] Lottery a couple years ago and not wanting to go back. It’s special, man. This group is special. This has been built by many different moves. Adding [Siakam] has been huge for us, and we just kind of went from there. I don’t take this for granted.”

JUS SMITH x @nyknicks WALK EM DOWN!!! pic.twitter.com/ku73IAkUdg

— Jus Smith (@_JusSmith) May 17, 2025​

Pascal Siakam​

On the Pacers' mindset entering the ECF:

“When we got in the summer, we talked about getting better. This is the opportunity, now, to get better, to make sure we take a step. That’s the mentality that we have going into the next game. We have a real opportunity, and we can’t take it for granted.”

a movie pic.twitter.com/Hu0rz9UhC3

— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) May 17, 2025​

Rick Carlisle​

On the narrative of these playoffs:

“Cleveland’s banged up. That’s well-documented. But I heard this one time in the year we won in Dallas, and [there was] a lot of stuff about the other team losing the series. Somebody made the comment: The winning team writes the script. I just have to give our guys credit. They earned this.”

New Sidetalk: "Boston Blows" pic.twitter.com/yENcyTow9d

— NBA Dracos (@NBADracos) May 17, 2025​

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2025/5/18/24432465/knicks-bulletin-you-have-to-earn-your-wins

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘We understand what the challenge is’

Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

New York enters the most important week in the last 25 years of Knicks franchise history.

It’s ECF Week.

The Knicks are part of it.

Believe that.

Knicks legacy pic.twitter.com/nUGaGCtV69

— KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) May 18, 2025​

Tom Thibodeau​

On the Pacers’ strengths and upcoming series:

“Style of play—and they’re an excellent basketball team. Strong on both sides of the ball. Their ability to push it in transition, that’s key. You’ve got to be great in defensive transition.

“When you look at the guard play—with [Tyrese] Haliburton, Nembhard, [T.J.] McConnell—they can all push and break you down off the dribble. So you’ve got to be very disciplined in your approach. They can spread you out. [Pascal] Siakam and [Myles] Turner are very talented bigs.

“We understand what the challenge is.”

It’s almost like we wrote it… https://t.co/Erzr2M5ndZ pic.twitter.com/MmUh4zsd0A

— Triple H (@TripleH) May 18, 2025​

Miles McBride​

On the Pacers’ offensive threat:

“With a team like them, they get out in transition, they get a lot of threes up, and they play well together as a team. So we just want to make sure we’re locked in, communicating, and understanding that we have to set a defensive presence.”

whole city behind us pic.twitter.com/D00P8ofPoq

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 18, 2025​

Rick Carlisle​

On the matchup with the Knicks:

“It’s a different team at a different time with different dynamics. There are a lot of new elements to it.”

On New York’s offensive rebounding and second-chance scoring:

“They have a real system for doing it. (And) when they get second-chance points, their efficiency levels are unprecedentedly high. That’s going to be an enormous key to the series.”

KAT at Yankee Stadium pic.twitter.com/iuzKEdhOM6

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 19, 2025​

Tyrese Haliburton​

On the new-look Knicks:

“Obviously, they’ve added Mikal from last season. Mitchell Robinson’s health. He wasn’t healthy last year. KAT’s obviously a huge addition.”

Mitchell Robinson on IG: “‘He’s cooked’ lol” pic.twitter.com/glSVUQZJwm

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 19, 2025​

Myles Turner​

On the Knicks’ rebounding and physical style of play:

“You can’t overstate the importance of rebounding.

“It’s a hard-nosed team. They dictate the pace of the game and are going to play a half-court style. They have Hart and all those guys who do the dirty work.

“We have our work cut out for us.”

The vibes might not be entirely immaculate ️ pic.twitter.com/uBrpWQ6kc3

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 19, 2025​

Fat Joe​

On the Knicks’ current success:

“Right now, it’s an incredible time in New York City and the best time ever to be a New Yorker. When the Knicks are winning and thriving, it’s like a feeling of euphoria and magic.”

On the years of struggle in New York:

“But from 2001 to 2020, those were some painful memories. The Knicks would be competitive at times, but they would always lose games in the clutch and just break your heart.”

On the ongoing payoff run:

“They would raise your blood pressure too high sometimes, but that’s what makes you appreciate the last couple years of greatness.”

"The outcome that no one in the NBA saw coming"

– New Game 6 footage from Knicks social

Watch full: https://t.co/bYJHec3pfO pic.twitter.com/lBIhHsCZBU

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 19, 2025​

Spike Lee​

On his Knicks fandom and trying to relive those games:

“That’s it, that’s all I’ve got to say. I was at Game 7, May 8, 1970, the Willis Reed game. Also, the Walt Frazier game. I was 13 years old.”

Knicks fan with his human outside MSG Friday

( : Anthony Espinoza) pic.twitter.com/AT6E4CV5Gn

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 18, 2025​

Kevin Garnett​

On Jalen Brunson’s playoff chops:

“Man, he’s top five. He’s gonna go down as one of the best in the playoffs… When the playoffs come, he steps his game up. When playoffs come, Brunson steps his game up. If you gotta take somebody out of the game, you gotta take the ball out of his hands. If you don’t do that, then he’s too good to go one-on-one. He’s in the zone, bro.”

“The better team won”

— Brian Windhorst on Threads pic.twitter.com/c8UYETZIN3

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 18, 2025​

Paul Pierce​

On the Knicks beating a depleted Celtics team and the next series outlook:

“Pacers ‘gon pop ya’ll, though. Ya’ll know that, right? Ya’ll know that the Pacers is gonna get ya’ll. So I don’t even want hear all that, like, ya’ll feeling good, ya’ll beat an injured Celtics team. Ya’ll beat a Celtics injured team. We didn’t have our All-NBA player, First Team, MVP candidate, who led us in all these categories. Ya know, whatever. But shoutout to New York.”

“If only everyone knew the year we had. If only everyone knew the 40+ years you two spent making your dream a reality, together. Deserving is an understatement. Love you”

— Leon Rose’s daughter @broookeleah on IG pic.twitter.com/ZeceozgwUN

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 18, 2025​

Larry Brown​

On Tom Thibodeau and coaching standards:

“Tom’s a great coach. A lot of people that are doing this are really good coaches that haven’t won it all. When you have the better team, you are generally capable of winning. He has a team that is capable of winning.”

On the Minutes Police narrative:

“People are always saying Tom wears his players out, but your best players want to be on the court. When I coached Allen Iverson, he averaged well over 40 minutes a game and he was mad every time I took him out. The great players I’ve been around don’t want to be sitting on the bench. He’s had kids that have played a lot of minutes during the year and now they are in the finals of the Eastern Conference and healthy right now. That’s a real positive for them.”

On the Knicks-Pacers matchup pitting two great coaches against each other:

“What I like is both teams are healthy right now and in the finals of the Eastern Conference. That’s a real positive for me. I think both can win it. I hope they don’t define how a coach does based on the championships. You should be judged on if you get the most out of the talent you’ve been given. They’ve both done an amazing job.”

10 years ago the Knicks went 17-65

Where are those Knicks now? pic.twitter.com/aNCgJYUHMD

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 18, 2025​

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...-bulletin-we-understand-what-the-challenge-is

 

[New York Knicks]

Looking back at the long postseason history of the Knicks vs. Pacers

Photo by Keith Torrie/NY Daily News via Getty Images

Is this one of the most underrated sports rivalry of all time?

The Knicks and Pacers rivalry is one that doesn’t often get brought up in the greatest sports rivalries conversation. And rightfully so. It doesn’t compare to Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, Yankees vs. Red Sox, Dodgers vs. Giants, Duke vs. UNC, Ohio State vs. Michigan, Lakers vs. Celtics, Packers vs. Bears, or many other intense rivalries within the sports world. It might not even be the most talked about rivalry the Knicks have since that honor probably goes to the Nets or Heat. But do not get it twisted. The Knicks and Pacers, despite only meeting in the playoffs once in the last decade, do have a lot of history, and anyone who has been a Knicks fan for longer than a couple of seasons will tell you as much.

Since the two teams clashed for the first time in the playoffs in 1993, there’s been a lot of close battles. Eight series, of which the Pacers have won five, 48 games, of which the Pacers have won 26 to be exact. And despite the players, coaches, and front offices changing throughout the years, this rivalry always feels somewhat similar- a matchup between two teams, and cities, that are so similar, yet so different.

The Pacers, who often get overlooked by the national media, embrace the Midwestern “us vs. the world” mentality. Meanwhile, the Knicks, who are often rooted against by other fanbases, do the same, but with a few dashes of the big city flare mixed in. Indiana wears its deep basketball history, highlighted by the movie, and team, The Hoosiers, proudly, while New York often refers to Madison Square Garden as The Mecca of Basketball. The result is often an intense, emotional, physical, passionate back-and-forth between two franchises with a lot of history. But what exactly has taken place during those series that has gotten us to where we are now?

As mentioned earlier, it all started in 1993, when the eastern conference’s top-seeded Knicks took on a 41-41 Pacers team that earned a playoff spot via a tiebreaker. New York won the first two games at home and looked like they were on their way to completing a sweep of the Pacers. But in game three, John Starks, who was growing visibly frustrated with Reggie Miller’s physical defense, headbutted the Pacers guard, leading him to be ejected in a 116-93 loss. The Knicks did eventually go on to win game four 109-100 and advanced to the next round. Little did anyone know, this was going to be the first of many clashes.

The following year, the two teams met up again. But this time, the stakes were raised as a trip to the finals was on the line. The 57-25 Knicks had locked up the second seed, while the Pacers had improved on their record from the year prior, and had jumped up to the fifth seed with a 47-35 record. Much like they did the season prior, New York won the first two matchups and did so in convincing fashion. In the Knicks’ 11-point game one victory, Patrick Ewing scored 28 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and blocked six shots, while Charles Oakley scored 20 points, and grabbed 13 rebounds of his own. In game two, the Knicks rode the trio of Ewing, Oakley, and Derek Harper, who scored 67 of their 89 points, to victory.

With their backs against the wall though, the Pacers reeled off three straight wins propelled by a 31-point game four, and 39-poing game five from Miller, the latter of which has gone down in NBA history as one of the more memorable choke jobs by a team ever. The Knicks had a commanding 70-58 lead through three quarters, but Miller, who had been quietly up until that point, scored 25 points in the final period to rally the Pacers back. Thankfully for the Knicks and their fans, New York did manage to retake control of the series and ultimately ended up winning the series in seven games.

As if that series didn’t have enough drama though, the very next season, the two teams met up yet again. And somehow, the Pacers, and more specifically, Miller, one-upped himself by pulling off one of the most improbable comebacks in NBA history. With the Knicks up 105-99 in the closing seconds of game one, Miller hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to three with 16 seconds left. Anthony Mason then threw an inbound pass to a falling Greg Anthony, which landed right into the hands of, yup you guessed it, Miller, who recalled the pass as, “the best chest pass from either team”. He quickly proceeded to dribble back beyond the three-point line and knock down a big three to tie the game.

Sam Mitchell, a future NBA coach, inadvertently fouled Starks soon after though. And it looked for a second like the Knicks may escape a disastrous collapse. But the Knicks’ nightmare was far from over. Starks went on to miss both free throws. And when Ewing got a difficult, but more than makeable shot from the paint to take the lead, he left it a bit short. That miss landed in the hands of Miller, who was, of course, fouled by Starks. The sharpshooter went on to hit two free throws and steal the Game One victory from the Knicks’ hands. New York did what they could to claw their way back into the series, tying it at three games apiece after back-to-back wins in Games Five and Six, but fell short to the Pacers in a two-point game seven loss where Ewing, who missed a point black finger roll at the end of regulation, and Miller went back-and-forth, scoring 29-points a piece.

A few years went by before another memorable, franchise-defining play happened between these two teams. But in 1999, it was finally the Knicks’ turn to hand the Pacers a gut-wrenching loss and be on the right side of history. In game three of the ‘99 conference finals, the eight-seed Knicks were trailing the Pacers 91-88. With just seconds left in the game, things looked dire from New York. Until Larry Johnson, better known as LJ, hit one of the biggest shots in NBA history. The Knicks forward hit a three-point shot from the left elbow as the Pacers’ Antonio Davis fouled him. After Madison Square Garden erupted in pandemonium, Johnson calmly hit the free throw to complete one of, if not, the most clutch, and most significant four-point play ever, to cap off a comeback win. The Knicks rode that momentum to beat the Pacers and move on to the finals where they eventually fell to the San Antonio Spurs.

While the Knicks and Pacers met up in the conference finals once again the following year, it lacked some of the excitement and series-changing moments as the Pacers were on the rise, and the Knicks were visibly on the decline. That trend would continue over the next decade or so as the Pacers weaved in and out of playoff contention, while the Knicks went through one of the darkest and loss-filled decades in sports history. The Knicks were perpetually in the lottery thanks in large part to an infatuation with big names, and quick-fix trades, and it often led to paying large salaries for over-the-hill, injury-riddled stars, head-scratching personnel decisions, and most importantly, disastrous results.

The two teams did briefly rekindle their rivalry in 2013 when the Knicks’ one-year blip of success in the 2010s came when the franchise surrounded star Carmelo Anthony with a roster of veterans, shooters, and defenders. While that team looked incredibly good during the regular season, they ran into a physical, team-oriented, defensive-minded Pacers team that matched up incredibly well against the Knicks, who looked a step slow after their first-round matchup against the Celtics.

In the last few years, both teams have gone through complete overhauls. The Pacers found their franchise star in Tyrese Haliburton and paired him up with Pascal Siakam. While the Knicks, with a new front office, and a star franchise point guard by the name of Jalen Brunson, have had their first run of sustained success since the late 90s. That culminated in a seven-game series last year when the Pacers defeated the Knicks to move on to the conference finals.

With there being such a rich history of franchise-altering moments, and big games between these two teams, it’s fair to expect another incredible series this year. And with the stage being the conference finals instead of the second round like last year, it should only amplify the pressure, and hype surrounding this matchup. Indiana is looking to make their first finals appearance since 2000 and solidify their place among the league’s best. While the Knicks, who feel like they didn’t get a fair shot at the Pacers last year due to injuries, are looking to make their first finals appearance since 1999 and do what many thought was impossible. Regardless of how the series pans out, it should be an incredibly fun, but also nerve-wracking one for the players and the fanbases.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...ng-postseason-history-of-the-knicks-vs-pacers

 

[New York Knicks]

EC Round Three Playoff Series Preview: Knicks vs. Pacers

Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

As weird as it may be, this will likely be the first series these playoffs where the Knicks are heavily favored. Many people had the Knicks beating the Pistons, but a significant amount of analysts and media personalities still picked the Pistons because they thought, for some reason, that Cade Cunningham would be the best player in the series. And, in the Knicks’ second-round matchup against the Celtics, they were considered heavy underdogs, with many thinking that the series wouldn’t even get to seven games. But things have flipped for the Knicks’ upcoming series against the Pacers.

Is it because the media and other fanbases have started to believe a bit more in the Knicks? Or is it because people don’t really believe in Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers? Truth be told, I’m not sure. But if I had to guess, it’s probably the latter. A lot of people outside of the Knicks fan base still believe that the Celtics were the superior team and that they simply just choked the series away. Meanwhile, a lot of the talk surrounding the Pacers has been about how Haliburton isn’t a star, or that they just aren’t good enough.

And I understand- to a degree. They lack the starpower, and championship pedigree that the Celtics have. They aren’t the Pistons, whose best player in Cade Cunningham is often ranked ahead of Haliburton, and whose defense and nothing-to-lose mentality were scary in their own way. They benefited even more than the Knicks did from playing two teams who were battling significant injuries. And people remember that the Pacers needed seven games to eliminate a hobbled Knicks team just a year ago. But I fear people are sleeping on the Pacers.

Playoff Halfcourt Offense & Defense Landscape 2024-25...

Better Halfcourt Defense
Better Halfcourt Offense

What stands out? pic.twitter.com/3WDaUVP8gM

— NBA University (@NBA_University) May 19, 2025​

Indiana is a very good team. Let’s get that out of the way. The Pacers finished the season as one of the best offenses in basketball yet again, and they’ve only ramped up in the playoffs as seen above. They prioritize passing, fast reads, movement, and spacing resulting in a deadly offense that is admittedly fun to watch, and hard to stop. Unsurprisingly, they lead the postseason in passes made per game, assists per game, and assist percentage, and do so by quite a significant margin. And as you can see below, they also happen to be one of the best three-point shooting teams right now as well.

Best 3P% in the Playoffs so far…

What stands out? pic.twitter.com/Jdcvlulbwc

— NBA University (@NBA_University) May 19, 2025​

What makes this series incredibly interesting though is the fact that these two teams couldn’t be more different schematically, and philosophically. The Knicks, unlike the Pacers, prioritize slow, and deliberate possessions. They run more pick and rolls, more isolations, fewer cuts, and rely much more on creating advantages through individual talent. That has resulted in them being last in the postseason in assist percentage and ranking in the bottom half in assists per game, and passes made per game.

And the clear contrasting styles are on full display when looking at the best players, and the engines, of both teams. Haliburton is a more traditional point guard who puppeteers both opposing defenses, and his own teammates to create a controlled havoc filled with backdoor cuts, short rolls, and cross-court passes. And in Brunson, the Knicks have one of the deadliest one-on-one players in the league, who does more of his damage scoring the ball than he does as a passer. That’s not to say that Haliburton can’t, or won’t, win games with his scoring, or that Brunson can’t, or won’t, do the same with his passing. But it’s clear that both players go about impacting the game in completely different ways.

Fun Fact: Mitchell Robinson is averaging the most offensive rebounds per minute (0.2) ever in a postseason run (min. 200 MIN) pic.twitter.com/1HCEpAkjf0

— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 20, 2025​

But for as much as everyone will talk about the marquee point guard matchup, this series may actually be decided by the big men. Not just a single one, but all of them. How will Karl-Anthony Towns hold up against a Pacers offense that should have a relatively easy time taking advantage of his defensive miscues? And will he be able to dominate enough offensively to negate his defensive woes? Can Mitchell Robinson, who is averaging the most offensive rebounds per minute ever during a postseason, overcome his past struggles against stretch fives, and have the kind of dominating series he just had against the Celtics? Conversely, can Myles Turner repeat the performance he had against the Knicks last postseason when he torched Isaiah Hartenstein and the Knicks? And can Pascal Siakam, who has been one of the best isolation scorers this postseason, continue to serve as an emergency option when they need a basket?

Prediction​

The questions don’t end there. Do the Pacers risk unleashing the Towns pick-and-pop game by putting Turner on him, or do they dare put a smaller defender on him? Do they want to hide Haliburton on Hart, or do they want to put a center on him like other teams have? And on the Knicks’ side, will Tom Thibodeau play Deuce McBride more given his screen navigation skills, and spacing? When the Pacers screen with Towns’ man, will New York play drop coverage, or let Towns switch on to Haliburton, and pray that he’ll hold up more times than not? Will they go a bit deeper into their bench given the fast and frantic pace that the Pacers play with? How effective will the Knicks be against the Pacers’ full-court defense?

As you can see, both teams have some very tough decisions to make, which could mean that the series ultimately comes down to coaching. And that may be a bit of a scary thought for some Knicks fans. But I have the Knicks winning for a multitude of reasons. The Knicks have the best player in the series, and likely, the two best players in the series. After Brunson and Towns, it does get a bit more interesting, as Haliburton, Siakam, and Turner are probably three of the next four best players with Anunoby in there somewhere. But Bridges, if he can replicate, or even come close to the kind of impact he had in the Celtics series, is up there too, and we cannot overlook just how good Robinson, who missed last year’s series against the Pacers, has been either.

New York took this Pacers team to seven games last season with no Julius Randle, no Mitchell Robinson, and a hobbled Hart, and Anunoby. If they can take everything they’ve learned from the Pistons and Celtics series, and combine the physicality from the former, and the switching and defensive discipline from the latter, I think they just have too much in their favor.

I do want to stress once again though, if I wasn’t clear so far, that the Pacers are good, and they will test the Knicks in different ways than the Pistons, and Celtics did. Their offense looks unstoppable when it is rolling, and they have collective buy-in starting from their best player to the last player on their bench. They, and especially Haliburton, are exceptionally good down the stretch, and they are playing with a level of confidence that the Pistons and Celtics never seemed to fully find.

Ultimately, as has been the case in the first two series, I have the Knicks in six. And yes, I know in the roundtable, I picked them in seven. But I grow more confident by the day, that this team, which feels like one of destiny given the close games, and the Pope-Villanova connection, will pull through and make its first finals appearance since 1999.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...three-playoff-series-preview-knicks-vs-pacers

 

[New York Knicks]

The past does not matter in the Eastern Conference Finals

Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

As we saw with Boston, conventional wisdom goes out the window come playoff time.

The Knicks are going to play in an Eastern Conference Finals game tomorrow. Just reflect on that before anything else.

-

Alright, where were we?

Before every playoff series in any sport, one of the top things that is looked at as part of the pre-series analysis is the recent history between the two teams in question. Specifically, the season series.

The Knicks went 2-1 against the Indiana Pacers in the regular season, winning by 25 and 13 in their two victories. Good sign, right?

Well, the Knicks went 1-7 in the regular season against the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics before going a combined 8-4 against them in the postseason. Further, the Knicks and Pacers have met once since Thanksgiving and zero times since the All-Star break. It’s been over three months since the last time they met. That’s an eternity in basketball.

The Pacers defeated the Knicks in the postseason last May, but an assortment of injuries and an offseason roster overhaul changed that dynamic, too.

The fact is that no matter how people try to spin this series and compare it to what we’ve seen already, it’s incredibly unpredictable.

First, with the season series, the Knicks’ regular-season losses to Detroit and Boston were completely different.

With Detroit, the Knicks lost matchups where they weren’t whole. In one, Karl-Anthony Towns sat. In another, the team was essentially mailing in the rest of the regular season by sitting Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Mitchell Robinson to keep them healthy for the playoffs. The Pistons became a trendy upset pick because of a sample size that included zero games played by Mitchell Robinson and a late-season game that saw Precious Achiuwa and PJ Tucker play 67 combined minutes. In the six-game series, the dynamic duo combined to play as many seconds as you and me.

With Boston, it was a complete reversal of the regular season, but that was due to multiple factors. The Knicks completely changed their defensive scheme, going from drop coverage to switching everything and forcing the C’s into repeated isolation offense. There was also regression to the mean. It turns out that Jayson Tatum, who shot 33% on pull-up threes in the regular season, was not going to shoot 53% on them against the Knicks like he did in the season series. Who knew?

There are things that translated, of course. The Pistons proved to be incredibly feisty for a young team, and they played confidently with their regular-season success. The Celtics still abused multiple Knicks weaknesses throughout the series at times. Can the same happen with the Knicks-Pacers series?

Well, Indiana shot just 30.8% from 3 against the Knicks this season. They also played two of the three games during their cold streak to start the season before they started playing like one of the best teams in the sport. There’s a lot that can change, especially with a team that just dismantled a 64-win team.

But with last year, how much can be translated?

Brunson will be guarded by the same guys, Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard. Rick Carlisle and Tom Thibodeau will have their same tendencies. Other than that, things are very different.

Looking back at the series, the Knicks return five of their likely eight-man rotation from last season (Brunson, Anunoby, Robinson, McBride, Hart). However, Anunoby and Robinson combined to play just three games in the series, taking a huge chunk out of the Knicks’ defensive game plan that predictably fell apart after Game 2. They can guard Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam a lot easier without a backline of Isaiah Hartenstein (who has really struggled vs versatile bigs) and Precious Achiuwa.

That brings me to the main point: injuries. Did the Pacers miss Bennedict Mathurin last year? Sure. You remember who the Knicks were missing?

Julius Randle (shoulder): all seven games

Bogdan Bogdanovic (ankle): all seven games

Mitchell Robinson (ankle): six games

OG Anunoby (hamstring): five games

Josh Hart (abdomen): played at 50% for the last 1.5 games

Jalen Brunson (hand): half of Game 7

The Knicks would’ve had NINE active players for Game 1 of the ECF if they had beaten the Pacers:

Deuce McBride
Donte DiVincenzo
Alec Burks
Precious Achiuwa
Isaiah Hartenstein

Shake Milton
Daquan Jeffries
Mamadi Diakite
Jericho Sims

Brunson, Randle, Anunoby, Hart, Robinson, and… https://t.co/WHqyBnDlQn pic.twitter.com/Em5rlc64Uq

— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) August 22, 2024​

All of these guys were in the rotation. The Knicks were stretched extremely thin. If the Knicks stay healthy this year, the series will look totally different than when the Knicks were digging deep in their bench out of desperation.

Which is to say that the recent history between these two teams just doesn’t matter as much as you’d think it does. The Knicks had hella depth last year before injuries, now they have barely any at the expense of having high-end talent. There are a ton of ways this series can go, but I’d be surprised if any of them mirror the 2024 series or this year’s season series in the way it’s played.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...finals-knicks-pacers-brunson-haliburton-towns

 

[New York Knicks]

ECF Playoff Game Preview: Knicks vs Pacers, Game One, May 21, 2025

Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Brunson, Knicks look to set the tone vs. Pacers

The New York Knicks are back in the Eastern Conference Finals, and they didn’t just sneak in—they kicked the door down. After dispatching the Celtics with a wire-to-wire beatdown in Game Six, New York rolls into tonight’s opener at Madison Square Garden with momentum, muscle, and maniacal crowd support.

From the outset, their chances seem pretty good. The Knicks won the regular season series against the Pacers 2–1. They dominated the first matchup with a 123–98 blowout, fell in the second game 132–121 after giving up 40 points in the fourth quarter, and bounced back to take the third game decisively. New York’s average margin of victory in their two wins was 19 points.



Jalen Brunson, the NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year, has been the most reliable bucket-getter left in the playoffs. He’s averaging nearly 29 points and over seven assists per game and has eclipsed 30 points six times so far this postseason. Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart all stepped up in the Boston series, and the Knicks received timely bench support from Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride.

Despite being voted Most Overrated by his peers, Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton had a strong 2024–25 season, further solidifying himself as one of the NBA’s premier playmakers. He averaged around 19 points and nine assists per game, led the league in assists for much of the year, and was the engine behind Indiana’s top-ranked offense. Haliburton earned his second All-Star nod and continued to evolve as a pick-and-roll maestro, pushing the tempo and spreading the floor with elite vision.

Andrew Nembhard has emerged as a key two-way contributor for the Pacers this season, stepping up, especially in the playoffs. Known for his poise and defense, he takes tough assignments while also hitting timely shots. His shooting fell to 29% from three this season, but he can run the offense in stretches, particularly when Haliburton rests. Expect him to guard Captain Clutch through this series.

Aaron Nesmith has carved out a key role for the Pacers as a versatile wing defender and energy guy who can knock down open shots—this season, he shot 43% from deep on about four attempts per game. This season, he further distinguished himself on the defensive end, often guarding the opposing team’s best scorer. His athleticism and hustle make him a disruptive presence on both ends.

Pascal Siakam averaged 20 points, seven rebounds, and about three assists in 78 games this season. He and OG Anunoby are well-acquainted, having played together in Toronto, so they should be very familiar with each other’s tendencies. Siakam brings championship experience, scoring versatility, and leadership to a young roster. He gives Indiana a physical, playoff-tested presence who can create his own shot and defend multiple positions.

Center Myles Turner averaged about 16 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks this season while shooting 40% from deep on about five attempts per game. He’s a rim protector who can space the floor—but he can also space out at times. Still, Turner’s rim protection and ability to switch onto smaller players have been crucial in a system that often relies on pace and space. It will be fun to watch him bump in the paint with Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson.

Prediction​

ESPN.com likes New York to win at 53%. It could be that close. Indiana’s offense is fast and fluid, but New York showed discipline and grit through their rounds against Detroit and Boston. Expect Game One to be fiery, physical, and close—with the Knicks to be the ones pulling it out down the stretch. New York by +3 in a thriller.

Game Details​

Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Time: 8:00 PM ET

Venue: Madison Square Garden, NYC

TV Broadcast: TNT

Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...preview-knicks-vs-pacers-game-one-may-21-2025

 

[New York Knicks]

A comprehensive list of everything that had to go wrong to lose Game 1

Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

The Knicks had the win if any of these things didn’t happen.

Well, that sucked.

Few losses just leave you utterly bewildered, like what happened last night. As a Yankee fan, I unfortunately saw one of those in the World Series last year. This isn’t the first rodeo for the Knicks, either.

They blew a nine-point lead in 35 seconds to Luka Doncic and the Mavericks in December 2022. They blew a six-point lead with 25 seconds left to Tyrese Maxey and the Sixers in Game 5 last year. This was somehow worse than both.

First blown 9+ point lead in the final minute in playoff history. First blown 14+ point lead with under 3 minutes left. First blown 15+ point second-half lead by the Knicks in any game since April 2023 (also against Indiana).

The number of things that had to go catastrophically wrong to lose this game was incredible. You can take it in stride that the Knicks were the better team and needed a one-in-a-million collapse to lose, or you can be utterly devastated, as most are. That’s up to you.

I wouldn’t want to read this either, so I don’t blame you if you don’t want to relive that, but as part of the “flush it” mentality that the Knicks need to still win this series, I’m going through it anyway.

Aaron F****** Nesmith​

Baseball fans, especially AL East ones, know how the words “Bucky f-cking Dent” and “Aaron f-cking Boone” are symbolic of two of the biggest swings in the history of The Rivalry, both go-ahead bombs to eliminate the Red Sox in the postseason that were similarly crushing during the Curse of the Bambino. Unfortunately, if the Knicks lose this series, Aaron Nesmith will likely join such infamy.

Nesmith went 8-for-9 from three in this game, including six in the fourth quarter. As much as the Knicks played some dreadful perimeter defense down the stretch, sometimes guys just can’t miss. It’s truly incredible, too, because it came out of absolutely nowhere. He’s the first player in NBA history to make six threes in the fourth quarter of a playoff game. He hit five in less than three minutes!!!

Hart slipped, but this is still a heat check. If Nesmith misses one of these threes (or Haliburton misses, we’ll get to that), the game is over. It was the hot streak of all hot streaks.

OG’s Turnover Under The Basket​

This one is two-fold. The Knicks should’ve held the ball and forced Indiana to foul with under 40 seconds left and down by 5, but Brunson found OG for a wide open dunk... until he just dropped the ball.

It’s a terrible, miserable mistake, but what I don’t understand is: How was this overturned from a loose ball foul?

A huge possession was lost on this successful challenge by Indiana.

Thought the left hand grabbing the jersey would ensure it wouldn’t be overturned, but there are legitimately 0 excuses either way.

IT WAS STILL A 5-POINT LEAD WITH 22 SECONDS!!! pic.twitter.com/GrpcJBj2yf

— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) May 22, 2025​

Sure, it’s clean on the ball. But Siakam is clearly pushing Anunoby with his left arm while going for the ball, as well as grabbing his jersey on the way down. Is this not still a loose ball foul?

If OG catches that and either dunks it or draws a foul, it’s a 6 or 7 point game with 30 seconds left. Come on.

Karl-Anthony Towns misses a free throw​

KAT missed a free throw with 14 seconds left. If he made it, the Knicks either foul up 4 (much better situation) or force Indiana to make a seventh three-pointer. Towns is an 83% FT shooter.

Aaron Nesmith is out of bounds​

This is bang-bang so it’s really nothing. Anunoby doesn’t let the scorching hot Nesmith shoot a potential game-tying three and fouls with 12 seconds left, but it appeared Nesmith touched the end line at the same time. It’s not reviewable, even if NYK still had a challenge, but what if the ref saw it first?

OG Anunoby misses a free throw​

Anunoby made a lot of bad plays late. I mean, what was he doing on defense when Nesmith was making everything?

His worst one was missing a free throw here. With just seven seconds remaining, the Knicks are firmly in the driver’s seat with a make.

With two makes, it’s a three-point game. The Knicks would foul a Pacers team going 94 feet and would likely secure the rebound on an assumed intentional miss. I mean, KAT-Mitch lineups had a 72 REB%.

Tyrese Haliburton’s Improbable Make​

I don’t know what to say about this. I’ve seen, occasionally, shots take bounces like these. I have never, ever, ever seen a shot like this go in to tie or win a game, especially a damn playoff game. Kawhi’s game-winner in 2019 was close, but it didn’t bounce this damn high and swish. Not to mention, he nearly lost the ball before this.

The odds of Haliburton clanking this off the back rim, it bouncing 20 feet in the air, and perfectly swishing through the rim is extremely improbable. Maybe somebody smarter than me can actually calculate how improbable it was scientifically. Holy hell.

The Missed Goaltending​

All of what I just said was the Knicks’ fault, mostly. Defend better. Execute better. Make shots. This is out of their control.

The biggest sin imaginable from an official is getting a call wrong that cannot be overturned via review, an open floor no-call.

In late game scenarios, all called goaltends are reviewable. However, a no-call is not reviewable or challengeable. If there’s even a chance you think this is goaltending, you have to call it. The Knicks would’ve gone up by six with all the momentum, likely forcing an Indiana timeout, with three minutes left. Instead, the no-call led to an open transition three by Andrew Nembhard, which is out of the Knicks’ control due to the natural momentum of the play leading to numbers the other way.

Now, Indiana clearly can come back from this. That said, a five-point swing in a game that came down to the final possession is inexcusable work from Zach Zarba and company.

All of this, unfortunately, means nothing. There’s no going back and the Pacers have a 1-0 series lead. It’s up to the Knicks, and only the Knicks, to make this something we laugh about down the road, just like the Maxey game.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...cks-pacers-ecf-nba-brunson-nesmith-haliburton