The New York Knicks have had a great season. But in Round 2 of the Playoffs, they’re running into a brick wall, the Boston Celtics. As good as the Knicks are, the Celtics are just better.

First, let’s talk about talent. The Celtics have a whole lot more of it. Their best players, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, are all-stars. They can score, play defense, and take over games. The Knicks have a star too, Jalen Brunson. He’s been amazing this season. But he doesn’t have the same kind of help that Tatum and Brown do. The Celtics have a deep team. That means they have good players coming off the bench, while the Knicks mostly rely on their starters.

Now, let’s look at defense and offense. The Celtics are good at both. They score a lot, but they also know how to stop other teams from scoring. During the regular season, they beat the Knicks every time they played. Two were blowouts where the Celtics won by more than 25 points. That shows just how strong Boston is on both sides of the court.

Another big reason the Knicks are in trouble is how much they depend on Jalen Brunson. He has to do everything: score, pass, and lead. If he has a bad game, the Knicks have a bad game. The Celtics, on the other hand, have multiple players who can lead the team and step up on any given night. If Tatum has a quiet night, Brown or Derrick White can lead the way. With this ability, the Celtics are hard to beat. 

Let’s not forget about experience. The Celtics have been in the playoffs many times. They’ve been in the finals twice in 4 years and are coming off an NBA championship, and they know what it takes to win big games. The Knicks are still learning. They play hard, but they haven’t been this deep in the playoffs very often. That matters in close games and in tough moments.

To be clear, the Knicks won’t give up. They’re tough. They’ll fight for every win. But this Celtics team looks like it’s on a mission to win another championship. If the Knicks can win one or even two games, that would be a success. But winning the whole series? It’s not likely.

In the end, Boston is bigger, stronger, and deeper. That’s why the Knicks probably won’t beat them in Round 2. The future is bright for New York, but this year belongs to Boston.