Celtics @ Knicks Game 6 Preview

Zak Drapeau
May 16
3 min read

by Zak Drapeau 5/16/25 FansOnlySportz

BIG, BIG GAME TONIGHT.

The Celtics rallied together as a team and without Jayson Tatum, won Game 5 at home by a score of 127-102. The team band together and played great team basketball centered around their best players, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard.

White would lead all players in points, 3-pointers made and minutes. He would also tally a +26 +/- in the game only second to his teammate Jaylen Brown. Speaking of Brown, a 26-12-8 statline in 37 minutes shooting above .500 made for Brown's best game of the series EASILY.

Do the Celtics Play Better Without Tatum?

Celtics played 10 games without Tatum this season where the team went 8-2, (opponents combined record was 322-498 or 39.3 win%).

It makes sense the Celtics sat their best player against weaker teams in their conference but the team still did well in those games nonetheless. Let's look at some major differences in the games the Celtics played with Tatum versus the games they played without him.

Positives:

PaPG goes down 5.5 per game

Rebounds go up 3.5 per game

Steals go up 1.3 per game

The Celtics defense definitely plays better without Tatum, increasing their rebounds and steals per game and lowering their opponents points per game at the same time. The dramatic rate of over 3.5 MORE rebounds per game and just under 1.3 MORE steals per game is really telling and shows a better rotation of defenders and the Celtics' willingness to defend.

Negatives:

FG% goes down .8%

3P% goes down .73%

TOV goes up 1.3 per game

If the Celtics' defense is better without Tatum, their offense certainly takes a hit. With shooting percentages noticeably down and an increase in turnovers, the Celtics are much less efficient without their star. The one good thing you could say about their offense is an increase in touches and shots for other players and better ball movement. Tatum is the overwhelmingly ball dominant player on the team ranking 5th in the league in usage rate, (31.1%) and when he's out, players like Brown, White Pritchard and Holiday benefit from more touches.

All About the 4th Quarter

Many have asked if the Celtics can even win in New York. Well the short answer is of course yes, having already done so in Game 3, but that was with Tatum. Tatum's 42 points in Game 4 despite a loss seems to prove the opposite without him but when you realize his +/- was -9, there could still be hope.

The big statistic in this series is 4th Quarter Scoring. Whoever scores most in the 4th Quarter are 4-1 in the series with the Knicks outscoring them 137-116 in total and the Celtics outscoring the Knicks in the 4th ONLY in Game 5... without Tatum.

The only game the team with the better score in the 4th DIDN'T win was Game 3, where the Knicks outscored the Celtics by 4 but lost the game by 22.

With the Celtics dismantling of the Knicks in Game 5 and efficiency in the 4th, it's suffice to say they absolutely have what it takes to win this game, especially with their heightened defense.

Madison Square Garden, 8:00 pm Tonight. Celtics vs Knicks in the BIGGEST playoff game so far this season. Win or Go Home for the Celtics and a truly MUST WIN for the Knicks. You can't write drama like this...