The New York Knicks are riding high after a hard-fought victory in Game 6 over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night, a win that sealed their place in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. This playoff series triumph marks a significant moment for the franchise and its fans, who have long awaited sustained postseason success.
However, the road ahead becomes considerably more difficult, as the Knicks now face the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the second round — a team whose strengths seem tailor-made to exploit New York’s most persistent weaknesses.Throughout the 2024–25 regular season, the Knicks struggled to consistently defend the perimeter.
Their defensive rotations often broke down under ball movement, allowing opponents to find open looks from three-point range. Against teams with elite shooting and high basketball IQ, New York’s defensive scheme has often been exposed, and unfortunately for the Knicks, no team in the NBA embodies those qualities more than the Boston Celtics.Boston dominated the league this season when it came to volume and efficiency from beyond the arc.
The Celtics led the NBA in three-point attempts by a wide margin, hoisting over 48 shots per game from deep. Not only did they shoot often, but they did so with precision, knocking down an average of 17 threes per game at a 37% clip — one of the best marks in the league. Their perimeter attack is anchored by a balanced offensive system that thrives on spacing, unselfish play, and rapid ball movement, all of which generate high-quality shots for a roster loaded with shooters.
