A couple of historic rivals are set to face off in the second round, and one team might have more pressure to perform.
The Boston Celtics and New York Knicks each punched their tickets to the second round over the past week and are looking to make a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. While the Celtics have made it to that stage in each of the past three seasons, the Knicks are looking to win two playoff series for the first time since 2000.
Considering it’s been over two decades since the Knicks made it within four games of the NBA Finals, it would be long overdue for the team in the league’s biggest market to make a deep run. Of course, the table is stacked against the Knicks as they face the defending champions and are a heavy underdog in the second-round showdown.
While the Knicks’ lack of success in recent years might make it seem like they have the most pressure, former Knick and current Celtics big Kristaps Porzingis feels the opposite.
“If anything, it’s us who have more to lose because we’re supposed to win,” Porzingis said.
As the heavy favorites against the Knicks, it’s hard to argue with Boston’s starting center. The Celtics won each of the four matchups against the Knicks in the regular season, mostly in dominant fashion.
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As the Celtics move closer toward winning their second straight title, their opponents will only get tougher. Considering the expectations for Boston to compete for a championship, there are also expectations for it to beat the Knicks and do so in convincing fashion.
It would be shocking to see the Knicks pull off the upset, which only adds to Porzingis’ point. Although the Knicks are looking to make a historic run, anything but a trip to the conference finals would be viewed as a failure for the Celtics.
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