The New York Knicks didn’t just
beat the Boston Celtics. They unmade them.
It was never just about winning
a series. It was about proving a point. About silencing the doubt
that crept in after four straight regular-season losses. About
validating every roster move, every inch of grit, and every ounce
of sweat poured into this season. It was about showing the
basketball world – loudly and unmistakably – that this team wasn’t
just trying to contend. They were trying to conquer.
When the final buzzer sounded in
Madison Square Garden and the scoreboard read 119–81, the Knicks
had done just that – burying the defending champions in a Game 6
demolition and clinching their first Eastern Conference Finals
appearance in 25 years.
But the mission is far from
over.
A blueprint forged in Celtics’ green
From the jump, New York’s front
office operated with one adversary in mind: Boston. The Celtics
were the gold standard, the defending champions, and the measuring
stick for anyone serious about owning the East.
Leon Rose and company tailored
this roster to match up directly with Boston’s strengths. They
re-signed OG Anunoby and traded for Mikal Bridges – two of the
league’s premier wing defenders – to neutralize Jayson Tatum and
Jaylen Brown. Then came the blockbuster deal to acquire
Karl-Anthony Towns, who gave the Knicks a stretch big man to go
toe-to-toe with Kristaps Porzingis.
Everything was calculated. Every
move had Boston’s name on it.
And yet, the regular season was
a humbling reminder of how far they still had to go. The Celtics
swept the Knicks 4–0, and did so with such ease that New York’s
grand design felt naive. What good was a plan if the execution
failed? If Boston could anticipate every counter, every scheme,
every attempt at disruption?
But that’s the thing about
belief – it doesn’t disappear with setbacks. It adapts. It evolves.
It waits for its moment.
A series that changed everything
Heading into the second round,
the Knicks were underdogs by every metric. They had a seven-man
rotation, an ailing Mitchell Robinson, and a superstar in Jalen
Brunson carrying an enormous load. Boston had depth, pedigree, and
the confidence of having dismantled them all season.
But the Knicks weren’t
interested in narratives. They were there to rewrite
them.
New York stunned the Celtics by
taking Games 1 and 2 in Boston – punctuated by two clutch defensive
stops from Mikal Bridges. In Game 1, it was a strip of Jaylen
Brown. In Game 2, it was a game-sealing closeout on Tatum. That was
the turning point—when the Knicks wrestled control from the
defending champs and refused to let go.
OG Anunoby was nothing short of
sensational. His defense on Tatum was suffocating, but it was his
offensive output that tilted the series. He punished Boston with
timely threes, strong drives, and unrelenting pressure. By the end
of Game 6, he had cemented himself as one of the best two-way
performers of the postseason.
Karl-Anthony Towns reminded
everyone why the Knicks traded for him. He provided invaluable
floor spacing, softening Boston’s paint defense and making their
double-big lineups less effective. His rebounding and
decision-making gave the Knicks versatility they sorely lacked in
previous playoff runs.
Josh Hart, the team’s emotional
engine, played like a man possessed. He chased every loose ball,
battled for every rebound, and made hustle plays that sent the
Garden into a frenzy. In Game 6, he notched the franchise’s first
playoff triple-double since 1972. He was the spirit of the Knicks
personified.
Mitchell Robinson, matched
against the veteran Al Horford, was a force on the glass and in the
paint. His size and activity made Boston work for everything. And
the Towns-Robinson pairing – while unconventional – at times
gave New York an edge in rim protection and rebounding.
Miles McBride, the fan favorite,
was the exclamation point. His clutch shooting and relentless
defense made the most of his minutes. The Garden roared every time
he touched the ball, and in Game 6, he gave fans even more to cheer
for with 10 points and relentless pressure on the
perimeter.
And, of course, Jalen Brunson.
The league’s Clutch Player of the Year showed why he earned that
title. Whether it was a floater in traffic, a step-back jumper, or
a drive through contact, Brunson delivered in every critical
moment. He averaged 26.2 points in the series and captained the
Knicks with poise, toughness, and swagger.
He was, and continues to be, the
heart of New York’s renaissance.
More than just a win – it’s a revival
The impact of this series win
goes beyond the scoreboard. It reverberated through the city. New
York, a basketball town starving for success, erupted in
celebration. Celebrities poured out of the Garden. Streets were
flooded with fans chanting “Go New York Go New York Go!”. Timothée
Chalamet – yes, even the ‘Lisan Al Gaib’ – joined in in support of
his favorite NBA team
It lit up the NBA world. What
was supposed to be Boston’s coronation turned into a Knicks
uprising. The defending champs were outclassed, outcoached, and
outworked. And the league took notice.
It reaffirmed the Knicks’
vision. Every decision, every gamble – they were worth it. This
wasn’t just a team that got hot. This was a team that executed its
plan to perfection when it mattered most.
– – –
However, the job is not yet
done.
The Knicks have their work cut
out for them from here on out. Two series down, two series to go.
Now, it’s on to Indiana.
The Pacers are no easy out. Led
by All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton and a deep, versatile supporting
cast, they’ve steamrolled through the playoffs with pace, ball
movement, and shooting.
The Knicks, meanwhile, continue
to rely on a tight, seven-man rotation. They’ll enter the series
with the same urgency, the same intensity – but also with heavier
legs.
It’ll be a clash of
philosophies: New York’s top-heavy, defense-first grind versus
Indiana’s spread attack and bench firepower. But if the Celtics
series proved anything, it’s that the Knicks are more than just a
system. They’re a team that believes – fiercely and
completely.
They believe in each other. They
believe in the plan. And now, for the first time in decades, the
entire city believes alongside them.
So no, the job’s not done, but
the Knicks are exactly where they believed they’d be.
And they’re just getting
started.
