Knicks vs Celtics Predictions

[SBR Andy]

The #3 New York Knicks take on the #2 Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.

Series Odds via DraftKings: Celtics -800 / Knicks +550

Can the Knicks challenge the Celtics or will Boston's depth wear them down? Post your series and game predictions in this thread!

[SBR Andy]

Knicks vs Celtics AI series prediction from ChatGPT:

Celtics in five games (+220 FanDuel)

"The Celtics enter this series not just as favorites but as a well-oiled machine that has consistently exposed the Knicks’ weaknesses all season. Boston swept the regular-season series 4-0, largely by overwhelming New York’s defense with efficient, balanced scoring. Jayson Tatum torched the Knicks for 33.5 points per game on 53.5% shooting, while Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis took turns exploiting mismatches.

The Celtics’ top-five defense will now hone in on Jalen Brunson, who carried New York through the first round but will face much stiffer resistance from Boston’s perimeter stoppers, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White. Even if Brunson continues his playoff heroics, the Knicks’ secondary scorers - OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns - must drastically outperform their tepid regular-season efforts against Boston. That’s a tall order against a Celtics team that not only limits opponents’ efficiency but rarely beats itself, ranking among the NBA’s best in turnover rate and defensive rebounding.

For New York to have a real chance, it'll need to grind the game to a halt, control the glass, and hope Towns can stretch Boston’s bigs away from the rim to open driving lanes. The Knicks' best hope lies in slowing the Celtics’ pace and turning this into a physical, half-court slugfest. But even then, the Celtics’ versatility and depth - boasting one of the league’s most productive benches - should keep them comfortably ahead."