The Celtics need to catch up with the Knicks

When the Celtics entered the 2025 2nd round vs. the Knicks, it felt like they were on a different level than New York. That was proven wrong and since that point, it has become clear that it is New York who is on a different level than Boston.

Three wins away from their first championship in 53 years, the Knicks look like they tower over everyone else in the Eastern Conference.

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It became very clear as the 76ers, who came back from down 3-1 vs. the Celtics, were not only swept by New York, but embarrassed by them, that the gap between Boston and New York was bigger than any of us thought it was.

It is up to Brad Stevens and company to close that gap this summer.

Does making a marginal move like trading Sam Hauser for a center help the Celtics? Yes, but we need to be thinking bigger.

The trio of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White has shown us they are good enough to win at the highest level. Get more of a contribution from the younger players in the playoffs and the Celtics could be back at the top of the East next year. Maybe you think the Celtics’ exit and the Knicks run are both flukey and that Boston shouldn’t panic.

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Is that something that the Celtics should be betting on?

The roster is just not good enough as is and when you have Jayson Tatum on your team, you owe it to him and yourself to be doing everything to win the championship every year.

BOSTON – MAY 6: Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) is forced to pass after he is guarded by Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36), Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) and Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the second quarter. The Boston Celtics host the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals at TD Garden in Boston on May 6, 2019. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images

That is why so many, myself included, feel that trading Jaylen Brown for Giannis Antetokounmpo is something Boston should be exploring.

Antetokounmpo would give the Celtics so many different layers to both their offense and defense that Brown doesn’t, including…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/celtics-catch-knicks-114200472.html

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Publish date : 2026-06-05 11:42:00

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