The New York Knicks didn’t just beat the Boston Celtics. They unmade them.

It was never just about winning a series. It was about proving a point. About silencing the doubt that crept in after four straight regular-season losses. About validating every roster move, every inch of grit, and every ounce of sweat poured into this season. It was about showing the basketball world – loudly and unmistakably – that this team wasn’t just trying to contend. They were trying to conquer.

When the final buzzer sounded in Madison Square Garden and the scoreboard read 119–81, the Knicks had done just that – burying the defending champions in a Game 6 demolition and clinching their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years.

But the mission is far from over.

A blueprint forged in Celtics’ green

From the jump, New York’s front office operated with one adversary in mind: Boston. The Celtics were the gold standard, the defending champions, and the measuring stick for anyone serious about owning the East.

Leon Rose and company tailored this roster to match up directly with Boston’s strengths. They re-signed OG Anunoby and traded for Mikal Bridges – two of the league’s premier wing defenders – to neutralize Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Then came the blockbuster deal to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns, who gave the Knicks a stretch big man to go toe-to-toe with Kristaps Porzingis.

Everything was calculated. Every move had Boston’s name on it.

And yet, the regular season was a humbling reminder of how far they still had to go. The Celtics swept the Knicks 4–0, and did so with such ease that New York’s grand design felt naive. What good was a plan if the execution failed? If Boston could anticipate every counter, every scheme, every attempt at disruption?

But that’s the thing about belief – it doesn’t disappear with setbacks. It adapts. It evolves. It waits for its moment.

A series that changed everything

Heading into the second round, the Knicks were underdogs by every metric. They had a seven-man rotation, an ailing Mitchell Robinson, and a superstar in Jalen Brunson carrying an enormous load. Boston had depth, pedigree, and the confidence of having dismantled them all season.

But the Knicks weren’t interested in narratives. They were there to rewrite them.

New York stunned the Celtics by taking Games 1 and 2 in Boston – punctuated by two clutch defensive stops from Mikal Bridges. In Game 1, it was a strip of Jaylen Brown. In Game 2, it was a game-sealing closeout on Tatum. That was the turning point—when the Knicks wrestled control from the defending champs and refused to let go.

OG Anunoby was nothing short of sensational. His defense on Tatum was suffocating, but it was his offensive output that tilted the series. He punished Boston with timely threes, strong drives, and unrelenting pressure. By the end of Game 6, he had cemented himself as one of the best two-way performers of the postseason.

Karl-Anthony Towns reminded everyone why the Knicks traded for him. He provided invaluable floor spacing, softening Boston’s paint defense and making their double-big lineups less effective. His rebounding and decision-making gave the Knicks versatility they sorely lacked in previous playoff runs.

Josh Hart, the team’s emotional engine, played like a man possessed. He chased every loose ball, battled for every rebound, and made hustle plays that sent the Garden into a frenzy. In Game 6, he notched the franchise’s first playoff triple-double since 1972. He was the spirit of the Knicks personified.

Mitchell Robinson, matched against the veteran Al Horford, was a force on the glass and in the paint. His size and activity made Boston work for everything. And the Towns-Robinson pairing – while unconventional –  at times gave New York an edge in rim protection and rebounding.

Miles McBride, the fan favorite, was the exclamation point. His clutch shooting and relentless defense made the most of his minutes. The Garden roared every time he touched the ball, and in Game 6, he gave fans even more to cheer for with 10 points and relentless pressure on the perimeter.

And, of course, Jalen Brunson. The league’s Clutch Player of the Year showed why he earned that title. Whether it was a floater in traffic, a step-back jumper, or a drive through contact, Brunson delivered in every critical moment. He averaged 26.2 points in the series and captained the Knicks with poise, toughness, and swagger.

He was, and continues to be, the heart of New York’s renaissance.

More than just a win – it’s a revival

The impact of this series win goes beyond the scoreboard. It reverberated through the city. New York, a basketball town starving for success, erupted in celebration. Celebrities poured out of the Garden. Streets were flooded with fans chanting “Go New York Go New York Go!”. Timothée Chalamet – yes, even the ‘Lisan Al Gaib’ – joined in in support of his favorite NBA team

It lit up the NBA world. What was supposed to be Boston’s coronation turned into a Knicks uprising. The defending champs were outclassed, outcoached, and outworked. And the league took notice.

It reaffirmed the Knicks’ vision. Every decision, every gamble – they were worth it. This wasn’t just a team that got hot. This was a team that executed its plan to perfection when it mattered most.

– – –

However, the job is not yet done. 

The Knicks have their work cut out for them from here on out. Two series down, two series to go. Now, it’s on to Indiana.

The Pacers are no easy out. Led by All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton and a deep, versatile supporting cast, they’ve steamrolled through the playoffs with pace, ball movement, and shooting.

The Knicks, meanwhile, continue to rely on a tight, seven-man rotation. They’ll enter the series with the same urgency, the same intensity – but also with heavier legs.

It’ll be a clash of philosophies: New York’s top-heavy, defense-first grind versus Indiana’s spread attack and bench firepower. But if the Celtics series proved anything, it’s that the Knicks are more than just a system. They’re a team that believes – fiercely and completely.

They believe in each other. They believe in the plan. And now, for the first time in decades, the entire city believes alongside them.

So no, the job’s not done, but the Knicks are exactly where they believed they’d be.

And they're just getting started.