As the New York Knicks prepare for their Eastern Conference semifinal clash with the Boston Celtics, head coach Tom Thibodeau made it clear that consistency, balance, and focus will be critical if his squad hopes to advance.
Speaking to reporters, Thibodeau emphasized the importance of composure against a deep and dynamic Boston team.
“You can’t have any mental breakdowns where you have a bad two or three-minute stretch because of their ability to go on runs,” Thibodeau said. “You have to minimize that.”
The Knicks dropped all four games to the Celtics during the regular season, but Thibodeau noted how competitive those matchups were.
“Game three, it’s a four-point game in the fourth quarter in Boston. Game four, I thought we played well and could have easily won that,” he said. “That’s why I mentioned the thing about 48 minutes.”
Boston enters the series after eliminating the Orlando Magic in five games, with Jayson Tatum averaging over 35 points across the final three contests.
Asked about preparing for the Celtics’ bench contributors, Thibodeau highlighted their versatility and floor spacing.
“Hauser’s played really well for them. Kornet’s given them good minutes,” he said. “Usually they have five three-point shooters on the floor. So containment of the dribble, challenging shots, blocking out — all of that is critical.”
Mitchell Robinson, who returned late in the season, could play a pivotal role defensively.
“Mitch gives us rim protection. He gives us versatility — the rebounding, the offensive rebounding. But switchability on pick and rolls is, I think, important,” Thibodeau explained.
The Knicks held Detroit to a low volume of three-point attempts in their previous series, and Thibodeau expects the same defensive discipline to be needed against Boston.
“I always feel that the best way to defend the three is to prevent the three,” he said. “You don’t want a big discrepancy between your made threes and their made threes.”
Asked if Precious Achiuwa could factor into the matchup, Thibodeau was noncommittal but left the door open.
“It’s more matchups, but you need everybody. So right now he’s not in the rotation, but be ready — it can change at any moment.”
The veteran coach also downplayed any outside narratives surrounding the Knicks being underdogs.
“We always have the belief that whether it’s praise or criticism, it doesn’t matter,” Thibodeau said. “The only thing that really matters is what we think.”
With Game 1 set for Monday night in Boston, the Knicks will lean on their playoff-tested core and look to carry the momentum built during their first-round series.
“We know we have to play well on both sides of the ball. Nothing’s changing,” Thibodeau concluded. “Fight to win every possession. So that’s what we have to do.”
