CelticsBlog - All Posts

17 May 2025

• 10 takeaways from the last page of this Celtics season

  The defense cracked, the legs gave out, and the effort didn’t show up when it mattered most. Between missed rebounds and missed chances, Boston left the Madison Square Garden with more questions than answers.

  #1 – Once again, lack of rebounding

  The Knicks grabbed 39.6% of their misses, once again. The Celtics knew it was coming. It was written that after a difficult Game 5, the Knicks would come as aggressive as ever on the offensive glass, and yet, the Celtics didn’t do anything about it.

  The hustle and the energy were on the Knicks’ side, and the Celtics didn’t fight for their lives to protect the ball and grab those rebounds.

  Because yes, a good defense means nothing without a rebound to close the possession. It’s great to contest shots, but none of it matters if you give up a second one right after.

  #2 – The chessboard shifts

  Tom Thibodeau made one subtle adjustment: he hunted Luke Kornet on the court.

  In the second half of Game 5, the Celtics were able to stop the Knicks’ offense while using Luke Kornet as a safety in the paint. The Knicks knew they had to find a way to force him away from the paint, so they ran plays where the Celtics were forced to give up that protection.

  This ATO was basketball chess. Celtics wanted to keep Kornet near the rim, Knicks said that sorry bro that ain't happening. pic.twitter.com/koG0doyIQe

  — Steph Noh (@StephNoh) May 17, 2025

  The Knicks came prepared after the loss. They weren’t going to give the Celtics another chance at the TD Garden.

  #3 – Broken defense

  New York took 36% of their shots at the rim, 18% in the corner. An analytical approach against a broken defense that was known to be the best at taking away those shots. To be able to perform this elite defense, you need elite players and elite execution.

  With the lack of energy, Jayson Tatum missing, and Kristaps Porziņģis’ lack of juice, this couldn’t be done.

  #4 – Jaylen, between creation and chaos

  Jaylen Brown was the primary engine on offense, and at times, the only one creating pressure. He finished with 20 points and 6 assists, but also fouled out and turned the ball over seven times.

  The usage was high, the responsibility was real, but the decision-making crumbled. It was a tough spot — and maybe too much to ask — after everything he had already given in this series, in this season.

  #5 – Jrue ran out of gas

  Brown needed a Robin, and Jrue Holiday couldn’t be one this time. After an impressively impactful Game 5, he became problematic in Game 6.

  He shot one for eight from the field, looked slow to pull the trigger, and seemed physically drained. The passing, the dribbling, and the shooting all seemed off — as if, like most of the Celtics, he had given everything he had in Game 5.

  #6 – Even Derrick White couldn’t deliver

  When the Celtics are down bad, there’s always Derrick White to lift them up and find a solution… but not last night. His shot selection was questionable, to say the least.

  And the energy, like the rest of the guys, just wasn’t there.

  #7 – A track meet they couldn’t run

  If I talk a lot about energy, it’s because of one number: on every defensive rebound following a shot attempt, the Knicks scored 1.60 points per possession.

  The Knicks outran Boston, and the champ couldn’t set their defense, couldn’t stop the ball, and couldn’t communicate in time. Some of it is effort. Some of it is fatigue. All of it is unacceptable at this stage of the Playoffs, in a must-win game.

  #8 – Maybe this was the last ride

  Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porziņģis are under long-term contracts, but in this new cap reality, nobody is untouchable — especially before a season with Jayson Tatum sidelined for a year.

  Luke Kornet is a free agent. And while it’s too soon to speculate, it’s not too soon to feel it: this might be the last time we saw this exact group together. Last night’s press conference felt like a goodbye.

  #9 – The end comes fast

  You don’t see it coming. One moment you’re breaking down a ghost screen in Game 5, the next it’s silence. A 38-point loss doesn’t give you time to process — it just shuts the door.

  And when you zoom out, it hits even harder. Jayson Tatum, injured. The CBA, looming. The locker room, maybe changing. Just a few days ago, we were looking at the Finals matchups. Now we’re looking at exit interviews, free agents, and tickets back to France without any guarantee of being back.

  I guess that’s the point of it all: it ends before you’re ready. And no matter how many games you cover, it always feels like a surprise.

  #10 – Thank you

  If you’re reading this, thanks. This was my 105th article this season. Overall, there were 750 takeaways. And not once did I feel like I was writing into the void. You made that possible.

  Covering this team from across the ocean — from my French Alps to the TD Garden press conference — was surreal. I tried to capture the angles, the numbers, the emotion. And you read it. Merci.

• Injuries, illness, and choked leads: how the Celtics’ repeat bid fell short

  After a Friday night beatdown loss against the Knicks, the Celtics became the latest defending NBA champions to lose in the second round of the playoffs or prior.

  NEW YORK — For the sixth consecutive NBA season, the defending champions have been eliminated in the second round of the playoffs (or prior). The 61-win Celtics seemed like great candidates to buck that trend — they were heavy favorites entering the series against the New York Knicks — but instead, they’ll continue that peculiar pattern.

  The Celtics choked away two consecutive 20-point leads to start the series, lost their franchise cornerstone to a ruptured Achilles in Game 4, and trailed by as many as 41 points in the final game en route to their elimination.

  And, though the signs of their looming demise were accumulating, at shootaround on Friday morning, players stressed just how much they wanted to stay alive.

  “We don’t want our season to end,” said Payton Pritchard. “I think it’s nothing worse than having to go home, and sit at home, and not play basketball right now. So we’re gonna do everything we can to keep that alive.”

  But the Jayson Tatum-less Celtics team that stepped onto the floor couldn’t compete for a second competitive game against a hungry Knicks squad that hasn’t been to the conference finals since 1999. In front of a raucous Madison Square Garden crowd, Boston fell by double-digits early, and only watched it balloon as the game continued.

  “Extremely tough night for us,” said a disappointed Kristaps Porzingis in the locker room postgame. “It felt like nothing was going our way.”

  The Celtics’ second-round exit marked a stunning turn of events few could have predicted. With the exception of five inconsistent weeks spanning from mid-December to mid-January, it was an exceptional regular season for a team fresh off a title. The Celtics had the league’s second-best defense and third-best offense. They finished with the NBA third-best record and third-best net rating — and seemed poised to make yet another deep run.

  But, injuries began to mount in the second half of the season

  Jaylen Brown began dealing with a right knee impingement that kept him out of 11 regular season games after the All-Star break. He played through the knee injury in the postseason, but clearly lacked the burst he typically has, as evidenced by his decision to lay-in shots when he’d normally dunk.

  For the postseason, he averaged 22.1 points per game on 44.1% shooting, slight declines from his previous playoff production. Brown, who said he thought he was turning a corner with his health ahead of the second round, declined to share much about his status after the Celtics’ elimination.

  “Nothing to talk about right now,” Brown said. “But we’ll kind of sit back and process and see what the next steps are.”

  Then, there was Porzingis, who contracted an unknown illness in late February that kept him out of nearly three weeks of play. The Latvian center was “available” for the entirety of the playoffs, but struggled with his breathing and lingering fatigue, and looked like a shell of his healthy self on both ends of the floor.

  In 11 postseason games, Porzingis averaged 7.7 points on 31.6% shooting, including 15.4% from three. That marked a massive decline from the 19.5 points on 48.3% shooting he averaged during the regular season. To make matter worse, he experienced a massive energy “crash” ahead of Game 1 against the Knicks that further exacerbated his on-court struggles.

  “I always try to downplay it in my own mind that ‘I’m good, I’m good,’ but I don’t know,” Porzingis said after Game 6. “My system just is not perfect right now. It’s not working the way it should be. Many, many weird things. And it might be the best thing I need right now is just to rest, just get somewhere in the sun and just let my system kind of even itself up. But it definitely was a very, very frustrating time for me, and nothing much else to add, really. It’s going to be now for me at least some time to recover from this.”

  Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

  Porzingis said he doesn’t know exactly what the illness is, but it effectively meant that the Celtics’ third-leading scorer and borderline All-Star talent was not able to contribute to winning for most of the playoffs.

  “Even right now, I played 11 minutes, but I’m gassed right now,” he said. “I could just lay down over here and take a little nap, easy. It was just extremely weird, and many symptoms that were super weird. I think nobody has a clear answer. I’ll see how I go from here.”

  Jrue Holiday, who joked earlier in the season that he was getting old, missed 19 games during the season due to a slew of injuries. He also missed three playoff games dealing with a right hamstring strain in the first round, though he was able to return in time to face the Knicks.

  Sam Hauser, a major contributor in the Celtics’ 2024 championship, battled through a lower back injury for much of the season and then missed three of six games against the Knicks with a sprained right ankle.

  The injuries made the Celtics’ path more challenging, but they don’t single-handedly explain why the Celtics fell to the Knicks in six games. The series loss can be traced to the beginning of the series, when the Celtics blew 20 20-point leads in both Games 1 and 2 at TD Garden, significantly reducing their margin of error the rest of the way.

  “It almost feels worse [than previous eliminations],” Brown said. “We were trying to do something special — go back-to-back. We had a great group. We played well all year. So this probably stings even more.”

  Jaylen Brown on losing now after having won a championship:
  
  “It feels the same, man. It almost feels worse. We were trying to do something special — go back-to-back. We had a great group. We played well all year. So this probably stings even more.”
  
  (Q: @JaredWeissNBA) pic.twitter.com/Kh3t4xPJQ4

  — Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) May 17, 2025

  With the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder both putting together historic regular seasons, there was always a question about whether the Celtics could go back-to-back.

  But, a second-round exit seemed unlikely considering the team’s sustained success all year — and this core’s track record of Eastern Conference Finals appearances. Brown has been to the Eastern Conference Finals six times in his career, and to the Finals twice. Postgame, he reflected on the unfamiliar nature of having his season end this early.

  “That’s obviously a psychological hurdle over the last, what, seven, eight years now?” Mazzulla said of defending champs losing in the second round. “So, [we’ll] spend time studying that this offseason.

  No one will deny that the final outcome was disappointing.

  “It sucks,” said Derrick White. “We’ll never get this season back. We’ll never have the same team again.”

  The early exit was the result of back-to-back two fourth quarter collapses combined with a slew of injuries that made the adversity insurmountable.

  It was the result of an excellent Knicks team with physical wings that never stopped fighting.

  It was the result of a very good team simply not making enough winning plays.

  “I didn’t see anything different,” Mazzulla said of this year’s Celtics team. “I saw something better throughout the season. Everybody had the right mindset and the right process towards going after it.”

  Asked Joe Mazzulla if he felt like anything was different about this year’s team — or if it was more about just not being able to replicate winning plays from last season:
  
  “I didn't see anything different. I saw something better throughout the season. Everybody had the right… pic.twitter.com/unwCSzubEe

  — Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) May 17, 2025

  Mazzulla also credited New York: “We just ran into a great team in the second round. They got the best of us.”

  But, this wasn’t about a locker room in turmoil.

  “A bunch of great, selfless guys, about winning, that put their bodies on the line, that came into work every day, that just added to the group,” Brown said. “No situations, no headaches, no turmoil or anything like that.”

  The Celtics’ future is uncertain

  Jayson Tatum could miss all of next season recovering from his Achilles tendon repair, and the Celtics very well could look to shed money to get below the second apron, meaning that players like Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, among others, could be on the trade block. In addition, Al Horford and Luke Kornet — both key members of the current rotation — are free agents.

  Through the uncertainty, Brown had a message to the fans at the podium after the Celtics’ defeat.

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

  Jaylen Brown: “I know Boston — it looks gloomy right now, obviously with JT being now, 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.”
  
  (Q: @GwashburnGlobe) pic.twitter.com/jobe2l1Lwf

  — Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) May 17, 2025

• Celtics eliminated from playoffs after Game 6 loss, Knicks win 119-81

  Boston’s season started against Knicks, and it comes to an end in New York.

  It was always going to be an uphill battle after the Celtics fell behind 3-1 in the series. That climb became even steeper with the devastating news that Jayson Tatum had ruptured his right Achilles. Despite a strong Game 5 win over New York in Boston, the Celtics couldn’t finish the job on the road, losing to the Knicks 119-81.

  Boston started Game 6 on their back foot, opening with two turnovers and three missed shots. Jaylen Brown finally got the Celtics on the board with a straightaway three-pointer just over nine minutes into the first quarter. A Jrue Holiday steal led to a Brown layup that gave Boston its first lead, 5–4, at the 8:36 mark.

  But momentum quickly swung back to the Knicks. A Mikal Bridges corner three sparked a 7–0 run and forced a Celtics timeout with 7:04 remaining in the quarter. Boston shot just 2-for-10 from the field over the first five minutes.

  Looking for a spark, head coach Joe Mazzulla made a triple substitution midway through the quarter, bringing in Kristaps Porziņģis, Payton Pritchard, and Sam Hauser. Boston was 3-of-14 from the floor when Brown converted an and-1 to cut the Knicks’ lead to 13–10.

  With 4:34 left and the Knicks in the bonus, the Celtics turned to a “hack-a-Robinson” strategy. Mitchell Robinson, who shot well from the line in Game 5, hit 1-of-2 before being subbed out for Karl-Anthony Towns.

  Porziņģis tied the game at 16 with a straightaway three, then immediately made his presence felt on the defensive end, blocking Towns’ next attempt—followed, predictably, by a Towns protest to the officials.

  Kristaps Porzingis with a 29 feet 3-pointers and a block on the other end... but so far it hasn't been really convincing... without being problematic. pic.twitter.com/ryvoTc24PS

  — Azad (@azmatlanba) May 17, 2025

  New York responded with an 8–0 run in the final minute of the quarter, capped by a pair of threes, to take a 24–16 lead. Brown sliced the deficit to six with a euro-step layup just before the buzzer, and Boston trailed 26–20 after one.

  The Knicks opened the second quarter with another 7–0 run, prompting another Mazzulla timeout. Boston was 8-of-26 from the floor at that point, with Brown (13 points on 5-of-8 shooting) the only Celtic to make more than one shot.

  Brown’s been solid but some really tough plays so far and this has been the toughest. Gotta get this shot off pic.twitter.com/vquldsSQhh

  — Bobby Manning (@RealBobManning) May 17, 2025

  Second-chance points continued to plague Boston. According to MassLive’s Brian Robb, the Knicks secured offensive rebounds on 47% of their missed shots.

  Knicks are grabbing offensive rebounds on 47 percent of their misses so far.

  — Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) May 17, 2025

  New York’s 33–20 advantage was its largest lead of the series to that point. Boston shot just 2-of-7 to open the second quarter, including 0-of-4 from three, and the deficit ballooned to 16 with under seven minutes remaining in the half.

  The Knicks pushed the lead to 20 after back-to-back and-1 finishes from Josh Hart. Momentum was squarely with New York, and Boston’s cold shooting only energized the Madison Square Garden crowd.

  just witness the difference in execution and energy
  
  two offensive boards and a transition block from the Knicks while most of the Celtics are standing
  
  thanks for the memories but I think that's good night pic.twitter.com/gOSa428Ffb

  — Azad (@azmatlanba) May 17, 2025

  Miles McBride’s three-pointer just before halftime put an exclamation point on a dominant first half, sending the Knicks into the break with a 64–37 lead.

  Boston managed only 17 points in the second quarter and got virtually nothing from its backcourt duo of Jrue Holiday and Derrick White, who combined for just six points on 2-of-14 shooting, along with two turnovers.

  Jaylen Brown was the lone bright spot offensively, finishing the half with 18 points and three assists. But even he wasn’t immune to mistakes—Brown committed six of Boston’s first-half turnovers.

  As bad as the Celtics offense has been, and it's been plenty bad, the defense is right there too. Knicks are getting whatever they want.

  — Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) May 17, 2025

  The Celtics went from trailing by 27 to down 32 in just over a minute to start the second half.

  Derrick White finally showed signs of life, hitting back-to-back threes to trim the deficit to 26 with 9:46 remaining in the third quarter.

  Moments later, a missed kick-ball call led to a Mikal Bridges layup, followed by an offensive foul on Jaylen Brown. On the next possession, Jalen Brunson drained a three, prompting another timeout from Joe Mazzulla.

  It was one of those nights—Boston came out flat on both ends, and the Knicks capitalized. New York executed its game plan to near perfection, shooting efficiently and pushing the lead as high as 41 in the quarter.

  Jaylen Brown fouled out with 2:50 left in the third. He finished with 20 points, six assists, six rebounds, and seven turnovers.

  Mazzulla emptied the bench shortly after, pulling the remaining starters and giving minutes to deep rotation players and end-of-bench guys.

  New York carried a commanding 92–57 lead into the fourth.

  Despite the margin, the Knicks kept their starters on the floor well into the fourth quarter, continuing to dominate the glass. That effort led to second-chance opportunities and open threes, which they consistently knocked down.

  This is VERY over and the Knicks really need to empty the bench. You have the biggest games coming. No need for a single rotation guy to be out there still, never mind checking back in.

  — Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) May 17, 2025

  In a season where hopes of a repeat were real, tonight was a harsh reminder: winning a championship is incredibly difficult—and sometimes, you just need a little luck.

  Boston entered the playoffs healthy, but injuries piled up quickly. Jayson Tatum suffered two different injuries, Kristaps Porziņģis came down with an unexplained illness, and Jrue Holiday strained his hamstring in Game 1. Those aren’t excuses—they’re just the reality.

  As disappointing as this loss is, it’s worth remembering that until someone else hoists the trophy, the Celtics are still the reigning champions.

• Boston Celtics (2-3) at New York Knicks (3-2) Round 2 Game 6 5/16/25

  img al="‘We didn’t want to go out like that’: With season on the line and their superstar sidelined, Celtics dig deep and demolish Knicks" src=" /> "

  The Celtics look to even the series as they shift back to New York for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals

  After an inspired 127-102 Celtics win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday in Boston, the series now shifts back to New York for Game 6. The Celtics still trail the Knicks 2 games to 3 in the series and are looking to tie the series and send it back to Boston for Game 7.

  The Celtics held a 20 point lead in both Games 1 and 2 at home. In both games they lost that 20 point lead and allowed the Knicks to steal the games. They lost 108-105 in overtime in Game 1 and 91-90 in the final seconds of Game 2. In Game 3, they opened up a 31 point lead at one point and held on for a 115-93 win.

  The Celtics shot well for the most part in Game 4, but they struggled to stop the Knicks who shot 54.3% from the field and 35.3% from beyond the arc. The Celtics built a 14 point lead in this game but once again, couldn’t hold on and not only lost the game, but also lost Jayson Tatum. The Knicks were up 9 points with less than 3 minutes to go in the game when Jayson Tatum went down with a torn Achilles.

  Only 5 teams have won a series after losing the first 2 games at home. This includes the 2017 Celtics, who won the series after going down 0-2 at home to the Chicago Bulls. Of 293 teams that have been down 1-3 in a series, only 13 have gone on to win the series. The 1968 Celtics came back from 1-3 against the 76ers and the 1981 Celtics also came back from down 1-3 to win the series, also against the 76ers. Both of those teams won the championship that year.

  The Celtics have already won Game 3 in New York, but they had Jayson Tatum at the time. They are 10-2 on the season without Jayson Tatum, and that includes 2 games in these playoffs. They won Game 2 against the Magic without him and they won Game 5 against the Knicks without him.

  Sam Hauser returned to the rotation for Game 5 after missing 3 games with a sprained ankle that he suffered just 4 minutes into Game 1 of this series. Kristaps Porzingis has struggled with a respiratory illness that kept him out of 11 games down the stretch of the season. He started Game 5 but was unable to finish the game. Luke Kornet started the second half and played very well. I had guessed that Luke would start Game 5 but Porzingis started that game. I’m once again guessing that Kornet will start this game since he played so well in Game 5 and Porzingis is still struggling.

  Coach Mazzulla played 9 players in Game 1 with Hauser playing just 4 minutes. In Games 2, and 4. he also went with 8 players. He went with 8 players in Game 3 until he emptied the bench with just over 2 minutes to go in the game. In Game 5, he went with 8 players once again but emptied the bench with about 2.5 minutes left in the game. With no Tatum and a very limited Porzingis, I’m not sure who Mazzulla will turn to in this one. The Knicks once again have no injuries to report.

  Probable Celtics Starters

  PG: Jrue Holiday
  SG: Derrick White
  SF: Jaylen Brown
  PF: Al Horford
  C: Luke Kornet

  Celtics Reserves
  Payton Pritchard
  Neemias Queta
  Baylor Scheierman
  Jordan Walsh
  Torrey Craig
  Xavier Tillman, Sr
  JD Davison
  Kristaps Porzingis

  2 Way Players
  Drew Peterson
  Miles Norris

  Injuries/Out
  Sam Hauser (ankle) probable
  Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out

  Head Coach
  Joe Mazzulla

  Probable Knicks Starters

  PG: Jalen Brunson
  SG: Mikal Bridges
  SF: Josh Hart
  PF: OG Anunoby
  C: Karl-Anthony Towns

  Knicks Reserves
  Delon Wright
  Cameron Payne
  Miles McBride
  Pacome Dadiet
  Precious Achiuwa
  Tyler Kolek
  PJ Tucker
  Mitchell Robinson
  Landry Shamet
  Ariel Hukporti

  2 Way Players
  MarJon Beauchamp
  Kevin McCullar, Jr
  Anton Watson

  Injuries/Out
  None Listed

  Head Coach
  Tom Thibodeau

  Key Matchups

  Jrue Holiday vs Jalen Brunson
  In Game 1, Brunson finished with 29 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals while shooting 39.1% from the field and 55.6% from beyond the arc. In Game 2, Brunson finished with 17 points, 3 rebounds and 7 assists while shooting 31.6% from the field and 22.2% from beyond the arc. In Game 3, he finished with 27 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal while shooting 42.9% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc. In Game 4, he finished with 39 points, 5 rebounds, and 12 assists while shooting 56% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc. In Game 5, he finished with 22 points, 1 rebound and 6 assists while shooting 41.2% from the field and 25% from beyond the arc. He fouled out in the 4th quarter but still played almost 33 minutes.

  Luke Kornet vs Karl Anthony Towns
  Towns gives the Knicks a strong presence in the paint along with the ability to spread the floor. In Game 1, Towns struggled with foul trouble but still finished with 14 points, 13 rebounds, and 1 steal. He shot 46.2% from the field but was just 0-1 on threes. In Game 2, he finished with 21 points, 17 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block while shooting 56.3% from the field and 0-1 on threes. In Game 3, he finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds while shooting 27.8% from the field and 20% on threes. In Game 4, he finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block while shooting 73.3% from the field and hitting his only 3. In Game 5, he finished with 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 steal while shooting 45.5% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. I’m guessing that, after his play in Game 5, Kornet will get the start, but it may be Porzingis or Horford starting here instead.

  Honorable Mention
  Al Horford vs Josh Hart
  In Game 1, Hart finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals, while shooting 55.6% from the field and 20% from beyond the arc. In Game 2, Hart finished with 23 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks while shooting 60% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc. In Game 5, he finished with 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists while shooting 46.7% from the field and 55.6% from beyond the arc.

  Keys to the Game
  Defense - Defense is the key to winning every game. Defense is important in the regular season, but even more so in the playoffs. In the playoffs so far, Boston has a defensive rating of 106.4 (2nd) while New York has a defensive rating of 112.8 (9th). Defense was a big reason for the Celtics win in Game 3. They held the Knicks to 20% from beyond the arc and just 40% from the field. Defense was also a big reason for the game 5 win, holding the Knicks to 35.8% from the field. Lack of defense was one of the main reasons for their loss in Game 4. They allowed the Knicks to shoot 54.3% from the field and 35.3% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to play tough team defense in this game.

  Rebound - The Celtics can’t score if they don’t have the ball, and the best way to get the ball is to grab rebounds. The Celtics need to rebound as a team with every Celtic battling on the boards. The Celtics are 45-10 when tied or out-rebounding their opponents. The Celtics out-rebounded the Knicks 59-49 in Game 1 and 51-46 in Game 2 and that may be the only reason that they were so close even though they shot so poorly. In Game 3, the Knicks out-rebounded the Celtics 43-42. In Game 4, the Knicks once again out-rebounded the Celtics 43-31. In Game 5, the Celtics had 44 rebounds to 40 for the Knicks. Rebounding takes effort and energy and the Celtics have to put out extra effort on the boards in this one in order to win the game.

  Play as a Team - Without Jayson Tatum, there is no one player who can bail them out and win the game. However, if all of the players play together and each one of them steps up, they can make up for what they are missing without Tatum and to outplay the Knicks. They kept the ball moving very well in Game 5 and that makes them harder to defend. They need to do the same thing in this game and keep the ball moving and to play as a team on both ends of the floor.

  Stay Focused and Play Hard 48 Minutes- The Celtics need to stay focused on taking good shots and on making them. They have to focus on crashing the boards and grabbing rebounds as a team. They also have to focus on making every defensive assignment and not allow the Knicks to get any easy shots. They also have to play hard for 48 minutes with no let up. They have to come out strong to start the game and play hard till the final buzzer.

  X-Factors
  On the Road - The Celtics are playing on the road, where they played better in the regular season than they did at home with a 33-8 record on the road. They won one game in NY already in this series. They need to overcome the distractions of playing on the road and in front of a hostile crowd and stay focused on playing the right way. They have to come out playing hard right from the beginning as they did in Game 3 to keep the Knicks’ crowd from getting into the game.

  Injuries- The Celtics will definitely miss Jayson Tatum, but they have to focus on playing hard and as a team to make up for his points, rebounds and assists, as well as his defense. Sam Hauser returned to the rotation for Game 5 and hopefully he will be back to close to 100%. Jaylen Brown has been playing with knee and finger issues and has to continue to play through those injuries. The biggest question mark is Kristaps Porzingis, who has been a shell of himself in this series due to a respiratory illness. If he is still limited, the Celtics will need more from Kornet and Horford once again in this game.

  Officiating- Officiating always has the potential to be an x-factor. Each officiating crew calls the game differently. Some refs call it tight and constantly call fouls while others let them play with few fouls called. Some refs just make terrible head-scratching calls. The Celtics will be on the road and so they can expect the Knicks to get a favorable whistle in their arena. The Celtics need to adjust to how the refs are calling the game and not allow bad calls or no calls to take away their focus.

  Official Report
  Crew Chief - James Capers - Capers has a home win/loss record of 22-16 this season. He calls 49.1% of fouls on the road team. The Celtics are 2-1- this season and 6-1 over the past 2 seasons with Capers as an official. The Knicks are 2-1 this season and 5-8 over the past 2 seasons with Capers. In the anonymous player poll, 4.6% of the players named Capers as one of the best referees. He called Game 2 against New York in this series.

  Referee - Tyler Ford - Ford has been a ref for 11 years. His home win/loss record is 34-39. He calls 49.3% of fouls on the road team. The Celtics are 2-3 this season and 6-3 over the last 2 years with Ford as a ref. The Knicks are 1-4 this year and 2-5 over the past 2 years with Ford. In the player poll, 6.8% of the players felt he was one of the worst refs. He called Game 4 in the first round against the Magic.

  Umpire - Ed Malloy - Malloy called 6 games for the Celtics this season, going 3-3 in those 6 games. They were 10-4 over the past 2 seasons with Malloy as a ref. The Knicks were 4-2 this season and 6-4 over the past 2 seasons with Malloy. He calls 50.8% of fouls on the road team. His home win/loss record this season is 42-24. In that anonymous player survey, 3.4% of players named Malloy as one of the worst refs. He called Game 2 in the first round against the Magic.

  And make sure to check out CelticsBlog’s Playback stream for a live conversation about the game. To participate, just create a free account, connect your LP sub if you have it, and join our community.

  celticsblog

  new Playback.Embed("playback-embed", { room: "celticsblog", style: { height: "100%", width: "100%" }, });

• What Jayson Tatum’s injury means for Jaylen Brown

  Jaylen Brown has long expressed confidence in his ability to lead a team. Jayson Tatum’s Achilles tear gives him the opportunity to stabilize the Celtics through his absence.

  Jaylen Brown and Al Horford led a team meeting leading up to Celtics-Knicks Game 5. They wanted to refocus the team on the present moment, trying to come back down 1-3 in the series. They and Joe Mazzulla struck a balance between showing their concern and compassion for Jayson Tatum following his Achilles tear and identifying how they can win each remaining game.

  “The air left the room after hearing the news with J.T., so we didn’t want to go out like that,” Brown said. “We didn’t want to make no excuses. We didn’t wanna come out and give up, or just turn the season in like everybody else would probably expect. So we just said to the guys, said to each other, ‘let’s come out, keep an open mind, come out, play basketball and be ready to go. And guard your ass off and take it from there.’”

  The Celtics held Jalen Brunson to 7-for-17 shooting and the Knicks to 35.8% while saving their season. Brown scored 26 points with 8 rebounds and 12 assists, thriving in the lead role for Boston for the second time this postseason after posting a double-double in Game 2 against Orlando with Tatum out.

  Tatum will miss much of next year for the Celtics following surgery, and Brown will receive an opportunity he’s long expressed confidence in filling. Brown will become Boston’s tone-setter, shot creator and leader through what could be a turbulent season.

  First, he’ll try to complete the 14th comeback by a team trailing 1-3 in an NBA series. That’s all that occupied on Brown’s mind when he reached the podium on Wednesday night after an emotional Game 5 win. More often, he’ll become the last speaker on game nights, the one establishing the message for the Celtics and taking responsibility when things don’t go well.

  A different play style already became evident in Game 5, increasing his drives by 1.5 over his playoff average, and seeing his touches increase slightly — from his average of 57.9 to 64. Yet he still deferred to Derrick White (75) and the team’s other playmakers without forcing it for himself.

  “Just be who I am,” Brown said. “I think that’s it. Just be myself, come out, be aggressive and get it done in multiple ways. It’s a team, we’ve always been a team, I’ve always preached team, I’ve done whatever to push this team forward. So whatever’s needed from me — I’m excited to be able to facilitate in whatever role, so it could change each game, each night, defensively, offensively, but the goal is to just lead, to be myself.”

  Brown has long discussed his need to sacrifice to play on a team as talented as the Celtics. He expressed confidence in succeeding with the opportunity to lead his own team. But he’s also acknowledged that the grass isn’t greener, and embraced having the chance to win by leading alongside Tatum. And that involved sometimes taking a back seat offensively. Both stars made concessions to fit Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday into the team upon arrival.

  He also signed a five-year contract extension in 2023 that made him the sixth highest-paid player in the NBA this season. That contract came with some scrutiny, particularly following his collapse in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against Miami.

  Signing two super max contracts would challenge the Celtics’ ability to build around Brown and Tatum. But it also ensured they retained both players and their diverse skill sets, impacts and personalities. And if one ever went down — the other could pick up the slack.

  “Just continuing to be aggressive,” Brown said. “Continuing to trust in my game and my development. Tonight, we were able to find a flow, a rhythm in the game. We played with a different pace. Defensively, we got stops... just mindset, mentality, next play, faith, consistency and hard work pays off.”

  Difficult decisions await this summer for the Celtics. They’re already $4-million over the second apron line, $22-million over the tax threshold and facing a $500 million payroll if they retain their signed players and fill out the rest of the roster. It’s possible multiple teammates depart this summer, further stripping the team beyond the impact of Tatum’s injury. The superstar’s ability to thrive in a variety of lineups, including some that never played together previously until late this season, remains one of the greatest luxurious regarding his impact.

  Brown-led lineups have shown more mixed results over the seasons before to his recent uptick in playmaking. There’ll be times where he steps off-ball and leaves other playmakers like Payton Pritchard to carry the offense, and that led to a series-high 284.4 passes per 100 possessions. Brown increased his passing share from 32.1 to 37 in Game 5. He provided the vintage play of the win, diving into the Celtics’ bench after stripping Brunson. With Tatum out, Brown commanded the most important defensive matchup. Sam Hauser, returning from injury, saw that as a tone-setter.

  “Jaylen’s the ultimate competitor, warrior mentality,” he said. “You can trust that when you go into a battle, he’s gonna be up front leading by example and by his voice. So when a guy’s doing that, picking up full court, making big time plays on the offensive end, it’s hard not to follow.”

• Manifest in the arena

  Kristaps Porzingis returns to where it all started with a chance to make a difference in this series and reverse his reputation in Boston.

  This will be The Kristaps Porzingis Game.

  I fully admit that this is an attempt to speak this into existence. I’m not above trying to conjure the spirits of Celtics old or praying to the basketball gods for a little rain. We need this. I need this.

  Let tonight be one of those playoff nights that Porzingis has his breath; we’ve been holding ours for nearly a year since his masterful return in Game 1 of the 2024 Finals. It seems so cruel that Kristaps, who arguably loves being a thread in the fabric of this franchise more than anyone we’ve seen in a long time, has been robbed of two straight opportunities to deliver in the postseason with both a rare foot injury and a mysterious illness.

  Kristaps Porzingis working in the post during Celtics shoot-around
  
  CLNS Media⚡️ by PrizePicks & Gametime https://t.co/R4D2kc2HfA pic.twitter.com/je8CBEXEmm

  — Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) May 16, 2025

  It’s not like this is an unrealistic request. Remember that this is the Kristaps Porzingis that gave the Knicks fits this season. In an overtime thriller at Madison Square Garden just last month, he scored 34 points and shot 8-of-13 from behind the arc.

  I’m not even asking for that level of a miracle. Just let him be out there. We don't need him to score 30+ or hit a bunch of threes. With whatever energy he's got tonight, let him have a flurry — a block and an and-1 and maybe a pick-and-pop three that he and Tatum connected on so many times in the past.

  Game 5's emotional win tamped down a lot of the talk about a post-Tatum era and what next year might look like. I'm not ready for that. Frankly, I don't think I'll ever be. But for now, I just want a reminder to everybody just how much Porzingis unlocks this roster. Sure, they raised Banner 18 largely without him in April and May, but they also ran roughshod through the entire NBA in to back-to-back 60-plus win regular seasons.

  To the writers of history and the fates, give him a chance to flip the narrative and write the last chapters of this storybook. Nine years ago, Porzingis was drafted #4 behind the 2015 top-overall pick, Karl-Anthony Towns. There’s a poetry with how this has all played out with the local kid coming come to play for his hometown Knicks and former coach. I love that for Towns and Thibs.

  But on the other side of providence’s coin is Porzingis. So far, this hasn’t been the duel of unicorns that would have made this an epic battle. KAT has certainly been a force. No doubt. Porzingis hasn’t been as lucky.

  His skillset has never been in question. At his best, he’s one of the league’s best shooting big men, a matchup nightmare in the post, and a defensive anchor as a rim protector. With rumors swirling that he could be a cap cut this summer, at least give him this reprieve and maybe the boo birds will take pause before hitting the trade machine.

  If there’s ever a time for clear lungs and full hearts, it’s tonight. Get us to Game 7, KP.

• Jayson Tatum reunited with Celtics teammates in New York City after surgery

  Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser said that Tatum was in good spirits after undergoing surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles.

  NEW YORK — The Celtics visited Jayson Tatum on Thursday in New York City ahead of their Game 6 matchup against the New York Knicks.

  Tatum underwent surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles on Tuesday in New York after suffering the injury in Monday night’s Game 4. So, he was still at the team hotel when the Celtics arrived.

  “It was really good seeing him,” Pritchard said. “Obviously he’s out of surgery. It seemed like he was in really good spirits. He’s probably about to be stir crazy for a while now, but it’s just good when you see one of your brothers and teammates go through a situation like that, you just want to be there to comfort anything he needs.”

  Payton Pritchard said it was really good to see Jayson Tatum:
  
  “It seemed like he was in really good spirits.”
  
  “When you see one of your brothers & teammates go through a situation like that, you just want to be there to comfort anything he needs.”
  
  (Q: @RealBobManning) pic.twitter.com/b0CN5G2htO

  — Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) May 16, 2025

  While their leading scorer, rebounder, and playmaker recovers, the rest of the Celtics will look to keep their season alive tonight in Madison Square Garden. But, as they reunited with Tatum, the conversation didn’t touch on the current situation the team is in.’

  “We didn’t talk about basketball at all,” Pritchard said. “That stuff is bigger in basketball now — it’s just seeing how he is in person, how he’s feeling and stuff. The basketball side, we’ll handle that. But just wanted to check in as a friend.”

  Pritchard said that, as they face elimination once again, the Celtics are ready for war.

  “We just don’t want to go home,” Pritchard said. “We’re gonna do everything we can to lay it all on the line every second of the game. If it’s a rebound, we’re gonna go after, if it’s a loose ball, we’re going after that. This group is a bunch of competitors, people that love to play ball, and it’s fun to go to war with people like that.”

  Sam Hauser said that it was good to see Tatum, and agreed with Pritchard that he was in good spirits. In his absence, the Celtics are hoping to keep their season alive.

  “It sucks to see someone like that go down,” Hauser said. “He doesn’t deserve it, but he wouldn’t want anything more than us to just keep winning.”

• Derrick White isn’t a role player — he’s a shapeshifter

  White’s scalability on offense allows him to flow between the 1st and 5th option, depending on what the Celtics need.

  Derrick White has never made an All-Star Game, but calling him a role player doesn’t adequately capture his value to the Celtics. Some nights, the game calls for him to take on a smaller role. But others, like Wednesday against the Knicks, he’s asked to be a star.

  By most definitions, the term “role player” refers to someone that has a clear set of responsibilities, and is counted on to fulfill them. They aren’t expected to go above and beyond that role, but just excel at what you do and be there to make life easier for the team’s best players.

  “Connector” or “amplifier” are titles that get tossed around to explain players of his caliber in a more thoughtful way. White is exceptionally good at filling in the cracks of a lineup, and supporting the stars. He can also flip a game on its head with elite shotmaking both on and off the ball. Derrick is more like a shapeshifter — a basketball chameleon — in his ability to adapt.

  If 23 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists are the conference semifinal averages for someone filling their role, maybe everyone is a role player. That doesn’t even take into account White’s skill as a team and individual defender, where he is at the very top of the league at his position.

  He may not fit the traditional idea of a star, considering the big scoring explosions aren’t a nightly occurrence. Any time that Boston needs him to step up though, he’s always ready for that moment.

  Ladies and gentlemen… Derrick White pic.twitter.com/oebnBKMlax

  — Pull up shoot  (@NElGHT_) May 15, 2025

  His scalability on offense is special. White has no problem sliding anywhere from the 1st to 5th scoring option depending on who he’s sharing the court with. You almost couldn’t ask for a more unselfish player, who also feels confident enough to understand when it’s his time to shine.

  White gave the Magic 30 in the playoff opener, and helped save Boston’s season with a game-high 34 against the Knicks. Everything in between has been as consistent as any third option in the league.

  With Jayson Tatum’s injury and a 3-1 deficit looming over the team, White was dominant and lit New York up from behind the three-point line. He also had 11 free-throw attempts, the second most of his career.

  There was a time—particularly in his first year with the Celtics—where Derrick was hesitant and deferential, occasionally to a fault. Those days are long gone, and it’s infinitely more likely to see him launch up a contested heat check, then pass up an open shot. He can be depended on as little or as often as necessary, and he’s developed a keen sense of what each moment requires.

  Derrick won’t be a star by name until the league votes him as one — he has graduated the role-player classification though. He’s a fringe star, a White Dwarf, if you will.