The Knicks were greatly tested in Round 1 of the NBA playoffs, but that challenge probably will pale in comparison to what awaits New York in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Jalen Brunson is well aware of that notion.
The Knicks needed six games to dispatch the sixth-seeded Pistons, and three of their four wins were by three points or less. Detroit had a lot of trouble executing late in close games, which makes sense for a franchise that hadn’t been to the postseason since the 2018-19 campaign.
New York won’t have a chance to capitalize on that weakness in Round 2, as the Boston Celtics are as battle-tested as they come.
“We’re playing against the defending champs next time, so it’s going to be a lot different,” Brunson told reporters after the Knicks’ close-out win Thursday, per USA Today. “Playing this team that we just played — I’m not discrediting them at all — but the Celtics have experience. Playing these guys, they were just physical. They brought the fight to us and we had to respond. And then we did.
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” … You have to respect each opponent you play and then you have to go from there and make adjustments. Everything is going to be different.”
Oddsmakers certainly aren’t bullish on Brunson and company’s chances of upsetting the reigning NBA champions. The Celtics are a significant 10-1 favorite to win the second-round, best-of-seven series and advance to the Eastern Conference finals for a fourth straight campaign.
New York will try to pressure Boston on Monday when the longtime rivals meet for Game 1 at TD Garden.
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Featured image via Wendell Cruz/Imagn Images
