The second round of the NBA playoffs began yesterday when the Indiana Pacers took a 1-0 series lead over the East’s top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.
The other series in the Eastern Conference begins tonight when the reigning champion Boston Celtics take on their longtime Atlantic Division rival, the New York Knicks.
Boston was able to make quick work of the Orlando Magic with a 4-1 series victory. Meanwhile, New York won its third straight opening-round matchup by downing the Detroit Pistons 4-2.
Let’s take a look at how the semifinals will unfold in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
#2 Boston Celtics vs. #3 New York Knicks
This is a nightmare matchup for the Knicks. Dating back to the start of the 2023 season, the Knickerbockers are 1-8 against the Celtics, with their lone win coming over a year ago.
New York’s deficiencies against top-flight competition are well-documented. Only four teams finished the regular season with a better record than the Knicks (the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Houston Rockets). Their record against those teams is 1-11 combined. More importantly, they are 0-8 this year against Boston and Cleveland.
When the Knicks and Celtics have played each other this season, it has not been particularly close. Boston has an average margin of victory of 16.25 points per game against New York this year. The closest game in the season series did come last month (a 119-117 Celtics win). Unfortunately, the Knicks were leading 107-104 with 11.2 seconds to go in the game, and they still managed to lose!
79% of bets and 73% of the money is on the Celtics ML for Game 1 against the Knicks tonight 😳 pic.twitter.com/SLLei9Kb4S
— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) May 5, 2025
There is a clear mental block impacting the Knicks. I think they know that they have struggled against the better teams in the NBA. That’s why all six of their most recent losses have come against playoff teams (the Pistons, Celtics, and Cavaliers twice). I think the ceiling for the 2024-25 Knicks was always making it to the second round before getting bounced out of the postseason by either the Cavs or the Celtics.
A big area of concern for the Knicks will be passing. They are averaging the third-fewest assists per game among all postseason teams, while the Celtics are allowing the fewest assists per game in the postseason. New York should also be worried about hitting its baskets. They converted 45% of their shots in the first round, which is less than their shooting percentage against Boston during the regular season (46.9%). Their overall field goal percentage is down 3.6% from the regular season, meaning the Knicks’ shooting has gotten worse as the season has gone on.
There is only one way the Knicks pull off this series victory. They need to win Game One in Boston. That would immediately build this team’s confidence and send them back to New York with the series tied 1-1. Unfortunately, the Knickerbockers are 4-8 in their last 12 games in Boston, including 1-4 over the last two seasons.
I don’t think the Knicks have the firepower to take down the buzzsaw that is the Boston Celtics. They didn’t have it during the regular season, and I don’t expect them to suddenly flip a switch in the playoffs when the lights burn the brightest.
Celtics win 4-2
