After going winless against Boston in the regular season, Jalen Brunson acknowledges the Knicks must elevate their game and take lessons from their improved effort in the final matchup as they prepare for a tougher second-round test.
With the second round of the NBA playoffs set to tip off, New York Knicks players are well aware that their next opponent—the Boston Celtics—will pose a significantly tougher challenge than the first-round matchup. According to Peter Botte of The New York Post, the Knicks are preparing for a much more demanding series, and the numbers from the regular season support that sentiment.
The Knicks went 0-4 against Boston this year, including a trio of blowout losses by a combined 63 points before narrowly falling in an overtime thriller in April.
Speaking ahead of the series, Jalen Brunson, New York’s floor general and leader, didn’t shy away from the challenge ahead.
“Obviously, we have to play better than we did against them throughout the regular season,” Brunson admitted. “Be better, ready to do it from the jump, knowing it’s going to be a game of runs, knowing that they’re capable of doing a lot of great things.”
Building from the Final Regular Season Meeting
Despite the overall record, the Knicks did show signs of improvement in their final encounter with Boston. Brunson reflected on that April overtime loss as a potential stepping stone:
“I feel like we played better in that fourth game. We adjusted from the first three times we played them. Obviously, still not getting it done, but definitely played better and competed better than the first three games. So that’s something we can look at and build off of.”
Brunson’s words speak to the mentality of a team that knows what’s at stake and understands the caliber of opponent they’re up against. The Celtics, with their depth, elite two-way play, and postseason experience, will test every facet of New York’s game plan.
As Game 1 approaches, the Knicks will aim to translate their growth and adjustments into tangible success—knowing that against a powerhouse like Boston, anything less than their best won’t be enough.
