Boston Celtics: 2 ideal first-round playoff matchups

Boston Celtics ideal matchup No. 2) New York Knicks

The fact that the New York Knicks are a legitimate contender to make the postseason this year is absolutely astonishing and, in all seriousness, head coach Tom Thibodeau should be commended for the work he’s done with turning around this franchise.

That said, even with these kind words, by no means do we at HH believe this team as currently constructed poses any real threat to make a deep run should they actually make the playoffs and, should they square off against the Boston Celtics in round one, their series would likely end rather quickly.

This is not really an insult to the Knickerbockers but, rather, a testimony to just how much talent the Cs have on their roster.

From Jayson Tatum to Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown to Marcus Smart, the Cs have numerous players in tow who can take over a game at a moment’s notice.

The Knicks, on the other hand, really have just Julius Randle who fits into this category, and even he hasn’t really proven capable of playing such a role to guide the team through a seven-game series.

The bulk of New York’s offensive scheme runs through the All-Star, for he serves as somewhat of a point-forward within their scheme.

Getting up into Randle’s airspace and cutting off the majority of passing lanes — which, of course, is easier said than done but, nonetheless, are just two objectives to zero in on — would force him into playing “hero ball”, which has not proven to be sustainable for both the big man and the ball club.

Ranked dead last in pace and 22nd in possessions, pushing the tempo and forcing the Knicks into playing a bit faster could also work in Boston’s favor, as it likely would result in a higher-frequency of mistakes and overall sloppier play.

In terms of simple game planning, the Boston Celtics could win this series with ease by forcing the Knicks to shoot from a distence (rank 28th in 3-point attempts), picking up the pace, and taking away passing opportunities from Randle.

Outside of such schematics, Beantown’s starpower alone gives them the overwhelming edge against New York and, unless they go cold on offense, this hypothetical series could easily find itself ending in a sweep.