For the first time since 2004, the sixth-seeded New York Knicks (42–40) are in the playoffs, and they face their old-time rivals and defending Eastern Conference Champions the Boston Celtics (56–26), with Game 1 on Sunday night at 7:00 p.m. in Boston.
A lot has changed since the Garden last hosted a Knick’s playoff game. Lenny Wilkens was roaming the sidelines at the time, while 21-year-old Amar'e Stoudemire and 19-year-old Carmelo Anthony’s stars’ were just beginning to shine out west.
Chauncey Billups was named Finals MVP after his Pistons topped the Lakers, and right here in New York, Jason Kidd’s Nets swept the Knickerbockers in the first round. The Knicks haven’t been heard from since.
Boston, on the other hand, certainly has.
Winners of two of the last three Eastern Conference championships, the playoff-seasoned Celtics enter the series having won 8 of their last 10 postseason series dating back to their NBA Championship run of 2008.
But these Celtics are suddenly a little different, having traded away their anchor in the middle, center Kendrick Perkins, in exchange for forward Jeff Green.
Boston was 41–14 at the time of the deal, and were a mediocre 15–12 afterward as aging-center Shaquille O'Neal has been unable to fill the void ... literally.
A lot has changed since the Garden last hosted a Knick’s playoff game. Lenny Wilkens was roaming the sidelines at the time, while 21-year-old Amar'e Stoudemire and 19-year-old Carmelo Anthony’s stars’ were just beginning to shine out west.
Chauncey Billups was named Finals MVP after his Pistons topped the Lakers, and right here in New York, Jason Kidd’s Nets swept the Knickerbockers in the first round. The Knicks haven’t been heard from since.
Boston, on the other hand, certainly has.
Winners of two of the last three Eastern Conference championships, the playoff-seasoned Celtics enter the series having won 8 of their last 10 postseason series dating back to their NBA Championship run of 2008.
But these Celtics are suddenly a little different, having traded away their anchor in the middle, center Kendrick Perkins, in exchange for forward Jeff Green.
Boston was 41–14 at the time of the deal, and were a mediocre 15–12 afterward as aging-center Shaquille O'Neal has been unable to fill the void ... literally.
