The Knicks have been in Boston on Wednesday evening for Sport 5 with a 3-1 sequence lead. Jayson Tatum ruptured his Achilles on the finish of Sport 4 and was unavailable for the Celtics.
Regardless of Boston being down their prime participant, they rallied in Sport 5 for a 127-102 win. Nonetheless, the Celtics are nonetheless down 3-2 within the sequence and are in New York for Sport 6. Forward of Friday’s matchup, Knicks legend Charles Oakley defended head coach Tom Thibodeau for his teaching type. Oakley believes within the rotation that New York has been utilizing this postseason.
Can the Knicks shut out the sequence at residence in Sport 6?
Knicks wish to do one thing in Sport 6 that they haven’t carried out since 1999: clinch a playoff sequence at residence 😳
Will they get it carried out, or is that this sequence going to seven video games?
Celtics-Knicks Sport 6 | Friday at 8 PM ET on ESPN 🍿 pic.twitter.com/wlcGK68Iks
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) Might 15, 2025
All through the 2024-25 common season, Knicks’ head coach Tom Thibodeau was closely criticized for his rotation of gamers. Three of New York’s 5 starters completed prime 5 for minutes averaged per sport. All 5 of their starters have been within the prime 20. At instances this season, it appeared like Knicks gamers have been worn down from the heavy minutes they performed every evening.
Within the 2925 playoffs, Thibodeau has performed his starters with elevated minutes. Knicks legend Charles Oakley defended Thibodeau’s rotation forward of Sport 6 on Friday. Oakley mentioned the most effective gamers needs to be on the courtroom for 38-42 minutes per sport. That’s virtually precisely what Tom Thibodeau’s rotation seems to be like within the 2025 postseason. The Knicks legend talked about how the crew is making an attempt to run its system.
That entails taking part in the starters in heavy minutes. New York doesn’t have the identical bench presence as different groups within the 2025 playoffs. Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride are the one bench gamers who see constant minutes for the Knicks. Sport 6 is Friday evening, and the Knicks have an opportunity to make historical past. They will clinch a playoff sequence at residence for the primary time since 1999. Tune in to ESPN at 7:00 p.m. EST to look at Celtics vs. Knicks.
