NY Knicks (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
The NY Knicks have done it! They’re going to the 2021 NBA playoffs.
With the top three seeds locked up, New York will now do battle with Hawks and Heat to see who claims seeds four, five, and six.
While it’s important to pay attention to those teams down south, don’t count out the Boston Celtics as a potential playoff matchup.
Yes, they’ll be in the play-in tournament but you never know if they’ll find their way to a second-round appearance.
The NY Knicks could face off against the Boston Celtics in this year’s playoffs
Looking at both the Knicks and Celtics and their roster makeups, a playoff series seems like it could be really entertaining.
The Celtics are a formidable foe, even without All-Star Jaylen Brown available to play, but the Knicks have a few secret weapons up their sleeves.
With two different veteran impact coaches, dueling all-stars, and questions surrounding the center position, there’s a lot to evaluate.
Especially being ahead of today’s matchup between both teams, with so much on the line as far as playoff seeding…
This one could be a battle for the ages and I’m ready to watch with popcorn in hand!
Here is a Knicks vs Celtics playoff preview.
NY Knicks</a> have done it! They’re going to the 2021 NBA playoffs.</p>
<p>With the top three seeds locked up, New York will now do battle with Hawks and Heat to see who claims seeds four, five, and six.</p>
<p>While it’s important to pay attention to those teams down south, don’t count out the Boston Celtics as a potential playoff matchup.</p>
<p>Yes, they’ll be in the play-in tournament but you never know if they’ll find their way to a second-round appearance.</p>
<h2>The NY Knicks could face off against the Boston Celtics in this year’s playoffs</h2>
<p>Looking at both the Knicks and Celtics and their roster makeups, a playoff series seems like it could be really entertaining.</p>
<p>The Celtics are a formidable foe, even without All-Star Jaylen Brown available to play, but <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/16/ny-knicks-and-boston-celtics-playoff-series-preview/"https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/14/ny-knicks-3-secret-weapon-playoffs/">the Knicks have a few secret weapons</a> up their sleeves.</p>
<p>With two different veteran impact coaches, dueling all-stars, and questions surrounding the center position, there’s a lot to evaluate.</p>
<p>Especially being ahead of today’s matchup between both teams, with so much on the line as far as playoff seeding…</p>
<p>This one could be a battle for the ages and I’m ready to watch with popcorn in hand!</p>
<p>Here is a Knicks vs Celtics playoff preview.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/16/ny-knicks-and-boston-celtics-playoff-series-preview/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Tom Thibodeau vs Brad Stevens </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-118366" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/16/ny-knicks-and-boston-celtics-playoff-series-preview/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1232259225.jpeg" alt="NY Knicks" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1232259225.jpeg 1600w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1232259225-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">NY Knicks (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>A matchup between these tacticians could be one for the NY Knicks’ record books</h2>
<p>While these coaches couldn’t be more different, they’re two talents whose styles will clash if the two teams they lead match up.</p>
<p>Back in April, the Celtics thrived winning 11 out of 16 games scoring over 100 in 14 out of 16 of those games.</p>
<p>With a dual-threat of all-stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum leading in scoring and star point guard Kemba Walker running the team, it looked like the Celtics were finally finding their identity again and establishing themselves as a top-tier team.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, in May they’ve lost five of six and are a lock to be in the play-in tournament.</p>
<p>On top of that, they lost Jaylen Brown for the season putting a chip on the shoulder of <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/16/ny-knicks-and-boston-celtics-playoff-series-preview/"https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31134054/sources-boston-celtics-get-orlando-magic-evan-fournier-picks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trade deadline acquisition Evan Fournier</a> to produce.</p>
<p>While Stevens has taken this Celtics team to the Eastern Conference Finals once before, there will be a large uphill climb if he wants to do it again, especially with the coach he’s going up against.</p>
<p>On the other side of the spectrum, Tom Thibodeau has done what Knicks fans have been waiting for for years on end.</p>
<p>Take the New York Knicks to the playoffs.</p>
<p>After years of experimenting with multiple different coaches, New York has finally hit the jackpot with Coach Thibs.</p>
<p>With Boston being an offense-focused team, I see Thibs’ defensive focus being vital if these two teams happened to face one another.</p>
<p>The Knicks have been in <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/16/ny-knicks-and-boston-celtics-playoff-series-preview/"https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/defense/?sort=DEF_RATING&dir=-1%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">the top-4 in defensive rating all season</a> and with the Celtics struggling to get into a groove offensively, it shouldn’t be hard to take advantage of for Thibodeau and his squad.</p>
<p>While it is important to pay respect to Stevens and his track record, I think Thibs can easily outcoach Stevens in a seven-game set.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/16/ny-knicks-and-boston-celtics-playoff-series-preview/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Jayson Tatum vs Julius Randle </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-118367" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/16/ny-knicks-and-boston-celtics-playoff-series-preview/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2071,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1188466897.jpeg" alt="NY Knicks" width="3200" height="2071" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1188466897.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1188466897-768x497.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">NY Knicks (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Jayson Tatum vs Julius Randle should produce fireworks for NY Knicks fans</h2>
<p>If this series were to occur, we would be presented with a duel between two all-stars that both mean a great deal to their respective cities.</p>
<p>In regard to Tatum, he’s definitely had a great season putting up 26.4 points per game with 7.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists.</p>
<p>While Tatum will obviously be the team leader come playoff time when it comes to putting points on the board, he will also be relied upon to make the role players better and help them impact the game on both sides of the floor.</p>
<p>With Kemba having one of his worst seasons in years and Jaylen Brown being absent, the pressure on Tatum has definitely been exacerbated.</p>
<p>I’m just going to come out and say it. <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/16/ny-knicks-and-boston-celtics-playoff-series-preview/"https://dailyknicks.com/2021/01/14/knicks-julius-randle-playing-carmelo-anthony-shouldve/">Julius Randle is New York’s biggest hero since Carmelo Anthony</a>.</p>
<p>He’s averaging 24 points per game this season along with 10.3 boards and 5.9 assists. All team highs.</p>
<p>He’s not just another Kristaps Porzingis who puts up numbers in losing efforts either.</p>
<p>While Randle has been a menace all season, he would simply be too much to handle for any defense the Celtics throw his way.</p>
<p>Boston’s current starting power forward is the aforementioned Jayson Tatum who at 202 pounds weighs over 40 pounds less than Julius Randle.</p>
<p>In an iso-type matchup, Randle can easily exploit Tatum and score down in the post or kick it out to Reggie Bullock or RJ Barrett for a corner three.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/16/ny-knicks-and-boston-celtics-playoff-series-preview/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Question marks at the center position for both teams </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-118368" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/16/ny-knicks-and-boston-celtics-playoff-series-preview/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1296907947.jpeg" alt="NY Knicks" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1296907947.jpeg 1600w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1296907947-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">NY Knicks (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Both the NY Knicks and Boston Celtics have concerns surrounding the 5 spot</h2>
<p>A struggle shared by both the Knicks and Celtics is question marks surrounding the center position.</p>
<p>In regard to the Knicks, the orange and blue were hoping that Mitchell Robinson would be their starting center for the duration of the season.</p>
<p>Instead, Mitch has suffered both a fractured hand and foot and if he comes back it won’t be until sometime in much later on in the playoffs if at all.</p>
<p>With this being the case, Nerlens Noel has stepped up as the team’s new starting center.</p>
<p>Noel has started 38 of the 61 games he’s played in averaging five points per game along with about just over six rebounds, one steal, and just over two blocks per game (3rd in the NBA).</p>
<p>If the Knicks want to take care of the C’s they’re going to need Noel to continue his consistency as the man in the middle.</p>
<p>In regard to Noel’s opponent, you will likely see Tristan Thompson or Robert Williams.</p>
<p>While Williams does play like a big, he’s only 6’8 which would be good for a guy like Noel who struggles on multiple occasions to out-rebound opposing bigs.</p>
<p>If not Williams, Noel will go up against Tristan Thompson, the former Cleveland Cavalier.</p>
<p>Thompson averages seven and three a game and definitely isn’t a threat to overwhelm Nerlens in any circumstance.</p>
<p>To summarize, I would definitely give the advantage to the Knicks in this potential series due to the recent loss and struggles of late that are surrounding the Boston Celtics.</p>
<p>Again, however, if the Knicks do meet with Boston it would be beyond the first round which means the Celtics would have to click somewhere so they should definitely not be taken lightly.</p>
<p>To be continued…</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="The 3 most unlikely players to be on next year's roster" data-url="https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/14/ny-knicks-the-3-most-unlikely-players-to-be-on-next-years-roster/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/16/ny-knicks-and-boston-celtics-playoff-series-preview/"https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/14/ny-knicks-the-3-most-unlikely-players-to-be-on-next-years-roster/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> The 3 most unlikely players to be on next year's roster </a> </div>
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