The Boston Celtics concluded a standout 61 and 21 season with a depressing fall to the New York Knicks in Friday night’s game six matchup. Finishing the regular season as the second seed in the Eastern Conference, a consensus top three team in the NBA, and reigning league champions, fans felt extremely optimistic about the Celtics’ chance of repeating and winning the Larry O’Brien for the second straight season.
The first round of the playoffs reaffirmed these positive predictions, as a heavily favored Boston rolled past a physical Orlando group in five dominant games.
The Celtics cruised to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, matching up against the New York Knicks, who escaped a 4-2 series against a young Pistons squad. The NBA community predicted Boston would make short work of New York, as they had managed in every regular-season game of the year. A better starting five, deeper bench rotation, and further playoff experience marked Boston as the far superior team.
These predictions proved untrue, as New York choked out an overtime three-point triumph in game one and added a one-point win in game two. The marginal victories occurred beneath horrendous Celtic shooting efficiencies, a completely uncharacteristic deficiency among a squad of ranged threats, yet suddenly the “unbeatable” champions hung on the ropes.
Game three corrected for these outlier losses, with a dominant 22-point Celtic win following 50% three-point shooting, reassuring fans of the team’s advantage.
But in game four, everything changed. Despite the Celtics’ flowing offensively, they were overwhelmed on the other side of the ball in one of their worst defensive performances of the season. A determined Jayson Tatum carried the team with 42 points but collapsed beneath the strain in a non-contact injury in the final three minutes of the match.
Fans’ hearts dropped as the star rolled in pain, grabbing at his ankle. After calling a timeout himself, Tatum was assisted by trainers limping to the locker room, then wheelchaired to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a torn Achilles tendon. Longtime supporter and Sophomore basketball player Chase Ross said, “Seeing Tatum injured like that, I stopped thinking about the future of the series, but of our franchise.”
This specific injury is notorious in sports, requiring a nine-month recovery time and often permanently reducing a professional’s athleticism. Tatum may not return for the 2026 season, and may never play the same; though historically, hope remains, as other All-NBA players have suffered this injury and made a full return. Famously, Kevin Durant recovered to his former condition after receiving the same surgery as Tatum, from the same prestigious doctor.
The remaining Celtics’ roster, led by Jaylen Brown, managed a 25-point win in game five before being annihilated in a 38-point loss to close the series and their season.
Junior Wilson Ferguson stated, “I expected [The Celtics] to lose, but by forty; it’s concerning for next year.”
Entering the offseason, the Celtics have exited their championship window and will now cut sweltering salaries to reduce expenses. Expect massive moves from Brad Stevens, overhauling the construction of the team ahead of a season without their superstar.
The downfall of the Celtics to the underdog Knicks has brought untold change to the future of the franchise, but fans can remain optimistic beneath proven, talented management.
