The NBA is officially back on Tuesday, October 22. The defending champion Boston Celtics will face the New York Knicks at 7:30 p.m. EST at the TD Garden in Boston. The Boston Celtics will receive their 2024 NBA Championship rings, and the Knicks will attempt to spoil the celebration. These teams were the one and two seeds in the Eastern Conference last season but did not meet in the playoffs. So this is a highly anticipated matchup. It’s a playoff series that never happened in 2024 and one that many believe could happen in 2025.
What To Expect
The Boston Celtics and New York Knicks are both vying for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. So, on opening night, expect both teams to come out firing. The Celtics are bringing back most of their championship core, so their chemistry and spacing should be similar to last year, as long as they can knock off any rust. Meanwhile, the Knicks made multiple big moves this offseason, losing Donte DiVincenzo, Julius Randle, and Isaiah Hartenstein but adding Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges.
It will be the first time seeing the new-look Knicks in action. Seeing how Karl-Anthony Towns factors into a Tom Thibodeau-coached team will be interesting. Moving from Isaiah Hartenstein, a physical, rebounding, and defensive big, to Towns, a big man who can move and stretch the floor as a second scoring option, will surely change the Knicks’ style of play. But the Knicks will still try to be physical against the Celtics, as their physicality and grit are part of what made them so successful last season.
Keys for the Boston Celtics
For the Boston Celtics, their keys to success revolve around the three-point shot. The Celtics shot more threes than any team in the NBA last season, and that statistic does not look like it will change in the new season. So, if the Celtics can shoot the ball efficiently and generate good looks, they will be successful. To get good shots, Boston relies on extensive drives and kicks from Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. So, Tatum and Brown will need to be aggressive, getting to the basket and scoring or kicking out to open shooters. If the Boston Celtics’ stars stagnate into isolation, the offense will struggle with inefficient shots.
The Celtics defense will also be a critical factor. Jrue Holiday and Derrick White will be tasked with defending the Knicks point guard, Jaylen Brunson. Brunson is one of the most dynamic guards in the NBA and is the engine that makes the New York Knicks run. Guarding him will be critical, but another interesting matchup is Karl-Anthony Towns. The Celtics could put their center, Al Horford, on Towns, but Towns would have a height and speed advantage. So, this could be something Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla tools around with, perhaps putting Jayson Tatum on Towns or experimenting with other defensive looks.
Keys for the New York Knicks
The New York Knicks success will involve snuffing out the Boston Celtics’ offense. Closing out on shooters, running the Celtics off the three-point line, and pesky on-ball defense. The Knicks have the players to match up well against Boston defensively, with O.G. Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges likely defending Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. If they can force Boston into a slow, physical game and force bad shots, they can get the win.
Offensively, a key for the Knicks will be their new additions, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges. Jalen Brunson is going to get his buckets no matter what, but if the Knicks can flex the firepower of their new team, it will go a long way. If Towns can exploit defensive mismatches and Bridges can shoot the ball well, the Knicks will excel offensively.
Final Thoughts
The Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks are set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. EST, and the new NBA season will be underway. With the Boston Celtics defending their championship and the New York Knicks wanting to prove themselves as the top team in the Eastern Conference, this game will be one to watch.
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