The New York Knicks dismantled the Boston Celtics to clinch their first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in a quarter century, but one NBA legend believes their playoff run will end there.
The Knicks took control of Friday night’s Game 6 early, cruising to a 119-81 victory that sent the Celticshome for the offseason. The Knicks earned a rematch of their last trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2000, facing a hot Indiana Pacers team with the series starting on Wednesday in New York.
Former Celtics legend turned NBA analyst Paul Pierce has a warning for the Knicks, pointing out that they just took down a Boston team that lost star player Jayson Tatum to an Achilles injury.
Pierce predicted that this would be the end of the line for the Knicks.
“Pacers gonna pop y’all. Pacers gonna get y’all,” Pierce said in a video shared after Friday’s game. “Y’all beat an injured Celtics team.”
Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) looks to pass the ball against Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11).
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau is not taking the Pacers lightly, saying after Friday’s win that his team will need to put in a lot of preparation for Indiana.
“It’s a great win. We advance. You look at that, but you also understand you have to get ready for the next series,” Thibodeau said, via The Associated Press. “The Pacers are a terrific team and we’re going to have to be ready.”
