The Knicks have performed a further 50 video games since their opening evening catastrophe in Boston, largely attaining their acknowledged aim of steadily enhancing over the course of a season they started with two new beginning gamers.
Greater than three months later, the Knicks (34-17) lastly will face the defending NBA champions for a second time — and with a big likelihood to drag even within the loss column Saturday evening on the Backyard.
It additionally will mark the primary recreation for the third-seeded Knicks and the No. 2 Celtics (36-16) after each groups basically stood pat forward of Thursday’s commerce deadline.
“It’s the next test,” Tom Thibodeau mentioned after apply Friday in Tarrytown. “It’s about understanding the way you put together for every recreation and what are the strengths and weaknesses of the workforce. We now have to know them nicely.
“Obviously, they’re a dangerous team. They are the defending champion. So we have to be ready to play 48 minutes of really good basketball.”
Requested what stood out essentially the most from the season opening 132-109 loss in Boston on Oct. 22, Thibodeau replied in an understatement, “The 3-point shooting was probably the difference in the game.”
Certainly, the Celtics matched an NBA document with 29 made 3-pointers in that thrashing after elevating their championship banner, spoiling the Knicks debuts of Karl-Anthony Cities and Mikal Bridges.
“We’re a different team now,” mentioned Cities, who was named an All-Star starter for the primary time in his profession. “[It’s] simply understanding one another, the continuity, understanding what our strengths are. We [have] a unique mindset as a workforce, as nicely. … There’s been time with one another to domesticate a tradition.
“Obviously, you always want to get the best [standings] position possible, but every game, you treat it like [you’re playing] the Boston Celtics.”
Level guard Jalen Brunson additionally was named a first-time All-Star starter, giving the Knicks two stars to fight the Celtics duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Boston is coming off a house loss Thursday to the Mavericks, who nonetheless didn’t have Anthony Davis within the lineup following the blockbuster commerce that despatched Luka Doncic to the Lakers.
“It’s another stepping stone for us to see where we are,” Brunson mentioned. “Each game is a test for us to see where we can improve. … When a team wins the way they did, everyone is chasing them, so there’s a lot of respect for Boston around the league.”
The Knicks made solely a minor transfer to amass veteran wing Delon Wright from the Bucks for reserve heart Jericho Sims, a sign the Knicks are absolutely anticipating Mitchell Robinson again sooner or later from a season-long restoration from ankle surgical procedure.
“I like our group a lot,” Thibodeau mentioned. “They’ve worked extremely hard together throughout the start to where we are today. We still have a lot of work to do. We think we can get a lot better.”
Added Cities: “Our mentality has never changed. We always thought this was our team since Day One, when we started and we said what we wanted to accomplish this year. This has always been our team. We’ve always had tremendous faith that that’s what it was going to be moving forward.”
Brunson additionally mentioned he’s “more than happy” with the Knicks roster as they appear to advance deeper into the playoffs after two consecutive second-round eliminations.
“On trade deadline day, whoever wears New York across their chest is who we’re going with and who we’re trusting,” Brunson mentioned. “Regardless of what happens, this is the team we’re going with, and I have the utmost respect and confidence in them. We’re ready to go.”
