Oh, it really is a great time in the Big Apple after the New York Knicks eliminate the defending NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, in six games, making their first appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years.
NBA Champions’ Curse Back At It Again
The Knicks’ joyful celebration after their 119-81 game 6 victory to close the series was felt inside the roaring Madison Square Garden, but for the C’s, it was a very unfortunate day.
Boston, without Jayson Tatum (who tore his achilles back in game 4), showed some signs of life in game 5 and even won by a landslide at home. However, losing one of their top two players proved to be catastrophic for the 2024 champs. Facing a healthy Knicks squad in New York, without their superstar, is the last thing they want to do in the semifinals. Game 6 came on Saturday, and it was an obvious elimination with the Knicks controlling the game. Eventually, the New York Knicks finally ended the No.2 seed Celtics’ underwhelming season with a blowout win at home.
Some say the champions’ curse is once again on full scale, given that no championship team since 2019 have won back-to-back titles or even return to the Finals after winning a chip. Needless to say, the Celtics are out of playoff contention—an unfortunate but beneficial look for the league.
On the other hand, New York is back in the Conference Finals, and die-hard Knicks fans can’t wait to get another chance at the Larry O’Brien Trophy after decades of heartbreak.
The Eastern Conference Finals Rematch, 25 Years in the Making
After eliminating the Celtics, the Knicks are back in the Conference Finals for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. It’s already been more than two and a half decades, and it’s only now that they finally have a chance to win it all.
Surprisingly, they’ll face the Indiana Pacers, who just easily cruised past the Milwaukee Bucks and the No.1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers in the first two rounds. The Pacers were the same team the Knicks faced in the Conference Finals in 2000, but New York came up short against a well-rounded team featuring Reggie Miller and Jalen Rose, who were coached by the legend himself, Larry Bird.
Once again, 25 years later, the Knicks and the Pacers will meet in the Eastern Conference Finals. This time, the New York Knicks have the opportunity of either beating Indiana to reach the NBA Finals again, or crumble against a star guard for the second time around.
