The Celtics are set to face the Knicks in the second round of the NBA playoffs, and though the Celtics swept the four-game matchup in the regular season, Joe Mazzulla told reporters that doesn’t necessarily put them at an advantage heading into the postseason.
“Every game takes on a life of its own,” Mazzulla said. “Every series takes on a life of its own. Right now, the series is 0-0. It’s two good teams getting ready to play.”
Derrick White echoed his coach’s sentiments: “Everything we did in the regular season doesn’t really mean a whole lot.”
The Celtics head coach made clear that once again, the playoff series will come down to the margins.
“You have to be able to defend without fouling, rebound, take care of the ball, execute, be able to get to different stuff defensively, because of their ability to put pressure on the rim and get great shots,” he said.
New York’s biggest offensive weapons
The Knicks’ offense will be a change of pace from the Celtics’ first-round series against Orlando. The Knicks had the fifth-best offensive rating during the regular season (117.3) while the Magic had the 27th-best rating (109.1).
“Their offensive numbers are better,” Mazzulla said. “Their ability to change defenses is good. They have two guys that can score at all three levels. They got role guys that could really impact the game.”
The Knicks had five players average in the double-figures in their six-game first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons: Jalen Brunson (31.5 points), Karl Anthony-Towns (19.7 points), OG Anunoby (17.3 points), Mikal Bridges (16.2 points), and Josh Hart (11.8 points).
“Great coach, great depth, great team,” Mazzulla said. “You see what they’ve been able to do over the course of the season, and in the playoffs thus far, with their two guys — but also the way that the others are able to impact the game.”
While New York was swept by Boston during the season, they nonetheless had the league’s fifth-best record during the regular season, finishing the year 51-31.
“It’s the playoffs,” White said. “They’re here for a reason. They’re really good team, and it’s gonna be a big challenge.”
The challenge of limiting Jalen Brunson
Mazzulla recognizes that limiting Jalen Brunson could be one of the series’s greatest challenges. Brunson, who was named the NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year, has shouldered the offensive load down for the Knicks down the stretch of games, exploding for 40 points in the clinching Game 6, plus the game-winner.
Brunson averaged 31.5 points (on 43.6% shooting and 33.3% from three) alongside 8.2 assists and 4 rebounds in the first round of the playoffs against Detroit, and Mazzulla said that limiting him will be a full-team effort.
“You can’t do it with one guy, right?” he said. “It takes a team — takes different matchups, takes different coverages, but there’s got to be a level of physicality, a level of discipline, a level of attention to detail on tendencies at the same time.”
Some of Brunson’s scoring is controllable, Mazzulla said, but some, the Celtics will just have to live with.
“If you add up all the points, there are a number of points to which you can work to be disciplined and work to control,” he said. “At the same time, he’s a great player, and he’s going to make plays.”
Jrue Holiday remains day-to-day with hamstring injury
Mazzulla said that Jrue Holiday, who has missed the last three games with a hamstring strain, remains day-to-day.
So a return for Monday’s Game 1 against the Knicks is not out of the question.
.@realbobmanning asked Joe Mazzulla about whether Jrue Holiday is on track to play Monday:
“Day-to-day. Just getting better every day, doing whatever he can to make sure he puts himself in position to come back as fast as he can. He’s working hard.” pic.twitter.com/UU4VgAa4Ry
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) May 2, 2025
In the meantime, Holiday and the rest of the Celtics are still using the time to prepare for the next round, regardless of whether or not they are actually practicing.
“There’s always ways to get better, whether it’s on the practice court, whether it’s in the film room, whether it’s on walkthroughs, whether it’s getting up and down,” Mazzulla said. “You just have to take it, take advantage of all the ways you could learn and institute a game plan. It’s the playoffs. No one’s 100%.”
As the Celtics prepare for the next round, the message remains the same despite the changing opponent.
“You still have to rebound, you have to take care of the basketball,” Mazzulla said. “You have to be able to defend without fouling. You have to execute. You have to set good screens. You have to sprint in transition. You have to get to the corners. You have to sprint back. You have to keep it 5-on-5. You have to protect the paint. Have to box out. All those details are super important.”
