SportsMall previews Tuesday's NBA matchup between the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks, including predictions, team news and a form guide.
He boston celts The defense of the NBA Championship begins as they go head to head. New York Knicks Tuesday at TD Garden in the first game of the 2024-25 regular season.
While the Knicks look to prove themselves as serious Eastern championship contenders in 2025, they should first look to Boston to wear rings and lift Banner 18 following their title-winning streak in 2023-24.
Competition Preview
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After advancing to their first NBA championship since 2008 and winning their 18th title last season, the Boston Celtics will enter a new campaign looking to defend their crown.
The Celtics simply soldiered on, finishing the regular season with a 64-18 record and first place in the East, before going 16-3 in the playoffs to complete an 82-win campaign and their first Larry O' . Bryan Championship Trophy.
Led by the deadly tag team Jayson Tatum AND Jaylen Brown, Joe MazzullaThey swept the Miami Heat (4-1) and Cleveland Cavaliers (4-1) en route to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they showed off their title credentials against the Indiana Pacers.
After splitting the first two games of the Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, the Celtics won each of the next three games of the series by at least seven points (and held Dallas to under 100 points in all three games).
Keeping its core roster intact, Boston is the favorite to go all the way this season and defend its crown, last achieved in 1969 and most recently by the Golden State Warriors in 2018.
The Celtics enter the 2024-25 season on the back of a strong preseason campaign, where they finished on a 4-1 run while averaging 121.8 points per game, ranking only above the Indiana Pacers (124.0). .
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As for the New York Knicks, they will enter the new season looking to build on a positive 2023-24 campaign in which they finished behind the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference standings with a 50-32 record.
However, injuries plagued the Knicks in the postseason, as a bright start to the playoffs ended their quest for a third straight championship in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
with Jalen Brunson Leading the way on the court, the New York Knicks held off the challenge of the Philadelphia 76ers with a 4-2 loss to the Indiana Pacers in a surprising six-game losing streak.
To the general director Leon Ross and head coach Tom ThibodeauIt was a big step in the right direction for a franchise that had restructured in the offseason while chasing the Larry O'Brien championship trophy since 1973.
Like the Celtics, the New York Knicks finished the preseason 4-1, with their only loss coming in Saturday's final exhibition game, a 118-117 loss to the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena.
While they look to establish themselves as legitimate championship contenders, their first task is against a Boston Celtics team that has won five of its last six meetings dating back to last October.
Interestingly, the Knicks' only win during that time came in their most recent matchup on April 12, when Brunson scored 39 points on 15-of-23 shooting in a 118-109 loss to the Celtics. TD Gordon.
Boston Celtics Preseason Form:
New York Knicks preseason form:
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Although the Boston Celtics had a quiet offseason in terms of moves and trades, they added the former guard. Lonnie Walker IV About the Brooklyn Nets and the draft Baylor Shearman 30th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Brown was named NBA Finals MVP after averaging 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game, and the 27-year-old will once again lead Tatum on one of the best two-way rosters in the game. league.
As for injuries, the Celtics will begin the season without the 29-year-old center Kristaps PorzingisSidelined with a foot injury since June, he is not expected to return until December at the earliest.
The New York Knicks reorganized ahead of the new campaign, even as Boston stagnated during the season. Mikal BridgesPlaying alongside Brunson, who should provide versatility, depth and team chemistry. jose hart On the 2016 Villanova Wildcats championship team.
The Knicks have also re-signed and AnunofiThe 27-year-old forward, who averaged 14.7 points per game last season along with 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists, received the second-largest contract in franchise history.
Thibodeau's men also made one of the biggest moves of the offseason in a trade. Donte Di Vincenzo, Julio Randle AND Geeta Bates-Diop In exchange for the Minnesota Timberwolves Carl-Anthony Cities When they put together a list of challengers for the title.
The Knicks have also had their fair share of injury concerns michel robinson While recovering from an ankle problem Beautiful Achihua Big doubt after suffering a hamstring injury in the last preseason game against the Wizards.
5 possible Boston Celts:
Vacation, White, Brown, Tatum, Al Harford
Top 5 possible New York Knicks:
Brunson, Hart, Bridges, Anunoby, Cities
We say: Boston Celtics win by 3+ points
A revamped New York Knicks team is looking to make an early statement and make a splash as legitimate contenders arrive in 2025, and the Boston Celtics are the perfect team to do it.
However, a dominant pre-season has shown that Mazzulla's men are not willing to rest on their laurels as they chase Banner 19 and we see them take it in a tough battle.
