Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce isn’t worried about the New York Knicks.
The 2025 NBA playoff bracket for the Eastern Conference is set and it will feature the Boston Celtics locking horns with the New York Knicks in the second round.
Although it’s a matchup between the second and third seeds, many feel that the Celtics are the overwhelming favorites in the series.
For starters, the Celtics are the defending champions of the NBA. On top of that, they have a superior roster, at least on paper.
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesPaul Pierce writes off the NY Knicks
If the regular-season series was any indication, the C’s shouldn’t have any trouble dealing with the Knicks. After all, the Celtics were 4-0 against the Knicks in the 2024-25 NBA season.
Keeping that same energy in mind, franchise legend Paul Pierce recently shared his feelings on the battle of the Eastern Conference juggernauts in the second round.
“We not worried about this little Knick energy. They don’t play well against any of the top teams. They don’t have depth, they going to get ran into the ground. Celtics in five,” Pierce said, via SPEAK.
The Knicks are coming off the heels of a phenomenal series win over the Detroit Pistons, but Pierce doesn’t think their energy will translate against the Celtics.
As a result, Pierce predicts the C’s to wrap things up in just five games and secure a spot in the conference finals.
Ric Bucher draws a Lakers-Timberwolves comparison
Similar to Pierce, co-host Ric Bucher also picked the Celtics to dominate the Knicks in the upcoming series.
Bucher also compared the matchup to the Western Conference contest between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“Brunson’s not going to be enough, the rest of the match-ups tilt in favor of the Celtics. Boston and New York is the same as Minnesota against the Lakers, it’s just a matter of how long Boston wants the series to go,” he claimed.
Now, that’s a huge claim. It will be interesting to see if it lights a fire under the Knicks or if Pierce and Bucher’s brutal prediction remains true.