NY Knicks and Boston Celtics Playoff Series Preview

Both the NY Knicks and Boston Celtics have concerns surrounding the 5 spot

A struggle shared by both the Knicks and Celtics is question marks surrounding the center position.

In regard to the Knicks, the orange and blue were hoping that Mitchell Robinson would be their starting center for the duration of the season.

Instead, Mitch has suffered both a fractured hand and foot and if he comes back it won’t be until sometime in much later on in the playoffs if at all.

With this being the case, Nerlens Noel has stepped up as the team’s new starting center.

Noel has started 38 of the 61 games he’s played in averaging five points per game along with about just over six rebounds, one steal, and just over two blocks per game (3rd in the NBA).

If the Knicks want to take care of the C’s they’re going to need Noel to continue his consistency as the man in the middle.

In regard to Noel’s opponent, you will likely see Tristan Thompson or Robert Williams.

While Williams does play like a big, he’s only 6’8 which would be good for a guy like Noel who struggles on multiple occasions to out-rebound opposing bigs.

If not Williams, Noel will go up against Tristan Thompson, the former Cleveland Cavalier.

Thompson averages seven and three a game and definitely isn’t a threat to overwhelm Nerlens in any circumstance.

To summarize, I would definitely give the advantage to the Knicks in this potential series due to the recent loss and struggles of late that are surrounding the Boston Celtics.

Again, however, if the Knicks do meet with Boston it would be beyond the first round which means the Celtics would have to click somewhere so they should definitely not be taken lightly.

To be continued…