The Boston Celtics head into Game 6 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal series against the New York Knicks on May 16, 2025, with the season on the line and their championship ambitions hanging by a thread after falling behind 3-2 in a series that has exposed the inconsistencies and vulnerabilities that were masked during a dominant regular season. Despite finishing with a league-best 61-21 record, the Celtics now face a hostile Madison Square Garden crowd and a Knicks team that has found its defensive identity at the perfect time, holding Boston to under 100 points in two of the last three games. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the core of Boston’s offensive attack, have delivered scoring in stretches, but their efficiency has dropped significantly under constant pressure from OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, whose physical defense and ability to force contested shots have disrupted Boston’s rhythm and forced them into hero-ball sequences late in the shot clock. Boston’s three-point shooting, which carried them through much of the regular season, has gone cold at the worst possible time, and the team’s overreliance on perimeter scoring has resulted in scoring droughts that have allowed New York to control the pace and momentum of the series. Defensively, the Celtics have not had an answer for Jalen Brunson, who has carved them up with pick-and-roll actions, mid-range jumpers, and timely drives that have either resulted in buckets or drawn help, creating open looks for Towns, Bridges, and New York’s bench.

Boston’s interior defense has also been shaky, with the absence of consistent rim protection allowing Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein to feast on second-chance opportunities and disrupt any rhythm the Celtics try to build on the defensive glass. While Derrick White and Jrue Holiday have made strong individual defensive efforts, the lack of cohesion in Boston’s help rotations and the inability to defend without fouling has been costly in close games. Head coach Joe Mazzulla has tried to make in-series adjustments—most notably switching coverages and staggering Tatum and Brown’s minutes more—but the Celtics have yet to find a sustained rhythm against New York’s physical, grinding style of play. In order to force a Game 7, Boston must not only shoot better from deep but also make a concerted effort to attack the rim, draw fouls, and reestablish a physical tone early in the game to prevent the Knicks from setting the pace and engaging the MSG crowd. For the Celtics, Game 6 is not just about extending their season—it’s a test of character for a team that has faced repeated playoff heartbreaks over the last several years. If Tatum and Brown can play with urgency and poise, if the bench can provide meaningful minutes, and if Boston can finally win the hustle categories that the Knicks have dominated, they still have the talent to turn this series around. But if they again fall into the same trap of rushed possessions, soft interior defense, and poor late-game execution, their 2025 playoff run will end short of expectations, and questions about this team’s ability to close in high-pressure moments will resurface louder than ever. Game 6 is the ultimate gut check for a Celtics team that came into the season with title-or-bust expectations—and now has to prove it in the toughest road environment in the NBA.