Knicks vs. Celtics Round 2: What to Expect

Having dispatched the Detroit Pistons 4-2 in the first round, the New York Knicks will now turn their attention to a second-round showdown against the Boston Celtics.

Jalen Brunson and Jayson Tatum

With their first-round triumph over Detroit in the books, the New York Knicks will now be facing the second-seeded Boston Celtics. Boston has swept New York 4-0 in the regular season, winning by an average of 16.3 points per game. That's quite the concern for what's coming ahead.

This storied rivalry kicks into high gear on the playoff stage, blending excitement and anxiety for fans on both sides. With Jrue Holiday currently sidelined due to a hamstring injury, the focus shifts to players who are healthy and currently in the lineup. Let’s dive in and break down each matchup in depth, from dynamic shooters like Jalen Brunson and Jayson Tatum to elite wings, the bigs, the bench, and of course, what New York will need to tweak to stand a chance against Beantown.

Floor Generals: Jalen Brunson vs. Jayson Tatum

When it comes to Jalen Brunson, he combines his phenomenal three-point shooting, his crafty turnaround fade-aways at the mid-range, and his fearless drives no matter the pressure instilled on him. He thrives best in pick-and-rolls, utilizing his quick first step to confuse and split defenders and finish with floaters or pull-up jumpers. Yet Boston’s length and athleticism can bait him into contested shots or rushed passes that turn into damaging turnovers. This is especially the case for when he is double-teamed by Jayson Tatum and Al Horford. If Brunson can remain composed and continue making smart reads under pressure (i.e., swinging the ball to involve his teammates rather than just looking to score on most plays) he can take advantage of Boston’s tendency to over-help on drives.

On the other hand, Boston's Jayson Tatum epitomizes modern versatility, blending three-point shooting, mid-range creation, and post-up finesse. He uses his size as a leverage in isolation to punish sluggish defenders and flourishes in ball-screen actions, stepping back for rhythm triples or attacking with physicality in closeouts. Still, when Tatum’s streak falters, which is typically after back-to-back defensive lapses, his efficiency depletes dramatically, and he can become into a turnover machine against active on-ball pressure by valuable defensive players much like OG Anunoby.

Wing Warriors and Guards: Bridges & Anunoby & Hart vs. Brown & White

Mikal Bridges is known as a 3-and-D menace who utilizes off-ball movement to generate open looks and fights through screens with immense effort. He usually has reliable catch-and-shoot mechanics, but two issues come with that. First, during the first round against Detroit, he struggled to hit shots from beyond the arc, even on open looks. And second, he can disappear in crunch time if Boston’s length closes passing lanes. As a whole, he's been a pleasure defensively, but offensively? He's going to need to show up more, especially against a team like Boston. Because when he finds his rhythm, just look at how impactful he can be for New York against Boston:

However, the Knicks also have OG Anunoby in their pockets. Anunoby shows up on both wings with staggering physicality, stifling penetrators and flashing corner threes (that have been proven to be deadly in Game 1 against Detroit). Yet, his aggression on occasion results in over-committing and rotation lapses. Sometimes too, he can be somewhat of a streaky player: if he's not hot, then he simply just isn't for the rest of the game.

As for the Celtics, Jaylen Brown attacks with explosive first steps and powerful finishing at the rim, forcing matchups to be suffocated with his smart slashing. And let's not forget his defensive versatility, which allows him to guard multiple positions all at once. On the other side though, his off-ball focus can be quite shaky, which leaves room for open shooters to cause extensive damage over him.

But, the Celtics also possess Derrick White, who is a perfect balance of everything: impressive shot-making (averaging 16.4 per game), lockdown perimeter defense with secondary playmaking (averaging 4.8 assists per game), pokes at ball-handlers effectively, and flies quick on fast breaks. But, with the help of forces such as a Knicks line-up full of two bigs (Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson), he may struggle to score against a powerful duo like that.

While the Celtics have White on their court, the Knicks have their own player who does a little of everything too: Josh Hart. Beyond his rebounding prowess (averaging 7.5 boards per game against Detroit in the playoffs), his hard-to-ignore hustle on plays, and his quick sprints on fast breaks, he can also be a streaky three-ball player when he's in rhythm. So where there is a Derrick White, there's a Josh Hart too.

The Bigs Battle: Towns and Robinson vs. Porziņģis and Horford

Karl-Anthony Towns stretches defenses with his 42% three-point accuracy, forcing closeouts that open driving lanes. Setting aside his effortless three-point shooting, KAT possesses other skills that most traditional fives don’t. This includes his soft touch around the rim and back-to-the-basket moves, visibly seen through his fancy spin moves and smooth, submerging fadeaways, which all create havoc in his matchups. Defensively, however, Towns can be slow in weak-side rotations and drop-coverages, and his effort can decline drastically on help, leading to offensive rebounds from Boston. If he can commit fully to balancing rim protection, boxing out, and staying aggressive on offense, New York has a real chance to win both the battle in the paint and on the scoreboard.

Another name to keep in mind is Mitchell Robinson. His presence in the paint can dramatically change every shot at the rim. His elite shot-blocking timing, coupled with his explosive vertical, gives the Knicks a true defensive anchor. And his relentless pursuit of second-chance opportunities allows New York to maximize each possession. Offensively, Robinson’s help during pick-and-roll situations helps collapse defensive sets. Robinson placed perhaps his best game of the postseason in Game 5 against the Pistons with 13 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks and steals. Yet his absent mid-range game and sub-par 52.2% free-throw shooting can stall New York’s half-court flow when he faces physical, mobile bigs such as the multifaceted Kristaps Porzingis.

Kristaps Porzingis blends perimeter shooting (shooting at an average of 41.2% during the regular season) with intelligent shot-blocking instincts (averaging 1.5 blocks per game during the regular season). He out-duels Towns when he can dictate spacing, raining down corner threes and affecting conversion rates at the rim. Yet his mobility issues and foul susceptibility in pick-and-pop coverages leave him stranded in the dark and at risk, making him vulnerable against Towns’ pump-fakes and quick post moves. It's important to note that in four out of five games in the first round against the Orlando Magic, Porzingis did not make a single three-point shot (he could only afford to shoot 11.8% in total in the series against Orlando). Forcing Porzingis into early foul trouble could swing momentum towards New York’s way.

Al Horford elevates Boston’s veteran front-court with savvy rotations and reliable mid-range shooting. His ability to hedge ball-screens and recover is on another level, and he spots up in the corners with precision, like a dart hitting a dartboard. But Horford’s age can catch up to him at times. This is seen during bursts of sluggishness, especially when he’s tasked with chasing Towns off the arc. This can put him in a vulnerable position, often leading to late closeouts and increased foul risk.

Bench Brigade: New York’s Role-Players vs. Boston’s Reserves

Miles McBride injects energy into the lineup with relentless on-ball pressure, aggressive ball-screen traps, and the ability to turn tipped passes into turnovers with his quick hands. While he proved valuable offensively in last year’s postseason, his inconsistent shooting against Detroit highlights that his offensive game is still a work in progress. He averaged just 3.8 points per game in this year’s first round compared to 11.3 per game last season against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Then there's Cameron Payne, who brings veteran poise into playoff contention. When he’s at his best, he pushes the pace in transition and knocks down clutch pull-up threes. However, his lapses on defense can be costly, especially when he struggles to keep up with quick wings. There’s also Landry Shamet, who can provide a shooting spark when he’s in rhythm, similar to the end of the regular season when he was knocking down shots with ease. His confident corner looks have triggered rallies in tight moments, but defensive lapses can often negate the impact of his scoring bursts.

Boston can counter with their second-unit: Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, and Luke Kornet.

Pritchard (who won Sixth Man of the Year) brings instant catch-and-shoot prowess thanks to his stealthy off-ball movement (an advantage that stems from his smaller six-foot-one frame). His quick release can punish any late rotations on the Knicks' behalf, yet his decision-making under playoff stress can be predictable, leading to contested attempts instead of rhythm shots. And Hauser’s high-arcing triples keep defenses sharp on their toes. However, it's worth noting that Hauser has only made two threes so far in their first round against the Orlando Magic. In the meantime, Luke Kornet serves as the roll-man deterrent. More specifically, his length alters close-range shots and causes bank boards to fall out of range, yet his faulty athleticism can be exploited in pick-and-roll coverages.

Strategic Adjustments: Knocking Boston Off Balance

1. Hybrid Screen Coverage on Tatum: Mixing drop and hard-hedge schemes can force Jayson Tatum into contested shots instead of easy, open pull-ups. This will make him work for every bucket and could disrupt any rhythm he’s managed to build.

2. Lock Down Streaky Players: If Kristaps Porzingis or Sam Hauser heat up, the Knicks should go under ball-screens and collapse immediately on catch-and-shoot threats. Quick rotations from the weak side (especially from Anunoby and Bridges) can deny them clean looks and upset Boston’s spacing.

3. The Bench Must Bring Energy & Scoring: Miles McBride’s on-ball pressure and last season’s offensive spark need to resurface, while Cameron Payne must lead by pushing the pace and knocking down timely threes. Landry Shamet’s shooting has to ignite and stay in rhythm, especially from the corners where his threes can shift momentum. Ultimately, consistent production from the bench is key to sustaining the team’s overall intensity.

4. Third-Quarter Tightening: Boston often comes out strong in the third quarter, while New York tends to falter. The Knicks must counter that by using timely timeouts, making targeted defensive substitutions, and taking smart, efficient shots to shift momentum in their favour.

   
   

Final Thoughts For Knicks/Celtics

This second-round showdown against Boston will be a true test of New York’s strength and depth. The Knicks must harness Brunson’s poise to counter Tatum’s scoring arsenal, control the paint with Towns and Robinson against Porzingis and Horford, and lean on Bridges and Anunoby to lock down Boston’s wings. Equally vital energy and timely shots from the second unit (Deuce, Payne, and Shamet) plus disciplined rotations to stifle any hot streaks from Porzingis or Hauser is just as important.

To make matters more concerning, the Celtics attempt significantly more threes than the Knicks and have a length advantage across multiple positions. Even more alarming, Boston led the league in three-pointers made during the regular season, while New York ranked just 24th in opponent three-point percentage.

And above all, tightening up in the third quarter and executing with level-headed composure down the stretch will be the difference-maker between a short series and an Eastern Conference Finals run. Because one slip, one missed rotation, or one cold stretch could be all it takes for Boston to take control and never give it back. It’s up to New York to make sure that moment never comes.