KEYPOINTS SUMMARY
- Celtics face Knicks in East semifinal clash that starts Monday night
- Boston dominated New York in regular season, winning all 4 games
- Jalen Brunson is red-hot, averaging 31.5 points per game in playoffs
- Jrue Holiday returns from injury just in time for Game 1
- Celtics set NBA 3-point record in regular season, but struggled from deep vs. Orlando
- Porzingis faces Knicks in playoffs for first time since being traded
- Knicks haven’t reached East Finals since 2000 — can they break the curse?
- Celtics are healthy, focused, and determined to defend their title
Can Celtics Win Playoffs 2025? East Semis vs. Knicks Could Make or Break Their Repeat Dream
Boston fans, it’s officially go time.
The 2025 NBA Playoffs are heating up fast, and the defending champion Boston Celtics are back in the spotlight, ready to prove once again why they’re the most dangerous team in the East.
But first, they’ll have to get past a red-hot New York Knicks squad, led by clutch king Jalen Brunson, in what’s shaping up to be a must-watch Eastern Conference semifinal.
The two teams tip off their series Monday night, and while Boston enters as the clear favorite, the Knicks are loaded with confidence, grit, and revenge on their minds.
So let’s ask the question everyone’s buzzing about…
Can the Celtics win the playoffs in 2025 — and go back-to-back as NBA champs?
Regular Season Domination Means Nothing Now
On paper, this should be easy. The Celtics have absolutely owned the Knicks for the past two seasons.
Boston went 4-0 against New York this year, beating them by an average of 16.5 points per game. And that’s after going 4-1 against them during last season’s title run.
But don’t tell that to Derrick White, one of Boston’s playoff warriors.
“This is the playoffs,” White said. “Everything we did in the regular season doesn’t really mean a whole lot now.”
He’s right. The Knicks are not the same team they were in November. And playoff basketball? That’s a whole different beast.
Jalen Brunson: The Knicks’ Game-Changing X-Factor
The main reason Boston isn’t taking this series lightly? His name is Jalen Brunson.
The newly crowned NBA Clutch Player of the Year is averaging 31.5 points, 8.2 assists, and 4 rebounds per game in the playoffs. He dropped 40 points and the game-winner in New York’s Game 6 closeout against Detroit.
“He’s a big-time player,” Derrick White admitted. “He’s had an unbelievable year. He’s taken it to another level.”
Boston plans to throw multiple defenders at Brunson, but slowing him down for 48 minutes? Easier said than done.
Porzingis vs. Knicks: A Personal Playoff Grudge Match
Oh, and there’s one more juicy subplot.
This will be the first playoff series where Kristaps Porzingis faces the team that drafted him back in 2015 — and then traded him in 2019.
The 7-foot-3 center has returned to Madison Square Garden many times since, but now he’s doing it in the Celtics’ green — and in the postseason spotlight.
“My first couple of games there were pretty crazy — all the boos,” Porzingis said. “But now? It’s just fun.”
Don’t expect Porzingis to get emotional. But expect him to make a statement.
Celtics Finally Healthy at the Right Time
The best news for Boston? They’re finally healthy — and just in time for this critical series.
- Jrue Holiday is back after missing three games with a strained hamstring
- Jaylen Brown, who’s been dealing with a knee issue, is good to go
- No Celtics player was on the injury report heading into Game 1
Holiday’s return adds elite defense and championship experience to a Celtics team that’s already loaded with firepower.
In his first two playoff games, he averaged 10 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.5 rebounds. He doesn’t need to be a scorer — just a tone-setter.
Magic May Have Revealed a Celtics Weakness
The Celtics beat Orlando in five games. But the Magic did reveal a blueprint that Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau may try to copy.
Boston set an NBA record for made 3-pointers (1,457) and attempts (3,955) this season, averaging 48.2 threes per game.
Against the Magic? That number dropped to just 31.2 attempts per game, and they hit 10 or fewer in four of the five games.
Thibodeau says the Knicks will embrace the underdog role — and they’ll do whatever it takes to make this a battle.
“We don’t care about the praise or criticism,” Thibodeau said. “All that matters is what we believe.”
Knicks’ 25-Year Drought Adds Extra Pressure
Let’s be real — it’s been a long time since New York made a deep playoff run.
- They haven’t reached the Eastern Conference Finals since 2000
- They were eliminated by Miami in 2023
- They lost Game 7 to Indiana last year at home with a Finals trip on the line
This team is desperate to break the curse, and Brunson, Julius Randle, and the Knicks’ hungry roster are ready to fight for every possession.
They’re not here just to compete. They want revenge.
Key Matchups to Watch in Game 1 and Beyond
Here’s where the series could be won — or lost:
- Brunson vs. Holiday/White: The defensive pressure must start early
- Tatum vs. Randle: Can Tatum stay aggressive while also distributing?
- 3-point battle: If Boston rediscovers their deep ball, it’s game over
- Rebounding war: Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein vs. Horford and Porzingis — who wins the paint?
What’s at Stake for the Celtics? Everything.
The Celtics won the title last year. But this is not just about defending the crown.
It’s about:
- Proving they’re still the best in a deeper Eastern Conference
- Building a modern dynasty
- And silencing doubters who think they’re vulnerable without the 3-ball falling
They’ve got Tatum, Brown, Porzingis, Holiday, White — and a deep bench. The only thing standing between them and a return to the Finals?
A New York team with nothing to lose.
Can Celtics Win Playoffs 2025? The Battle Begins Now
The Celtics vs. Knicks showdown is more than just a playoff series — it’s a collision of basketball royalty, old rivalries, and rising stars.
So — can Celtics win playoffs 2025?
They’ve got the tools. They’ve got the health. And they’ve got the hunger.
But the Knicks are no joke, and if Game 1 turns into a dogfight, this series could go longer — and get nastier — than anyone expected.
Game 1 tips off Monday night. Get your popcorn.
