Jayson Tatum and the Celtics have struggled to find daylight in the critical moments through two games vs. New York. Nobody could have predicted what would happen in the first two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals series between the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks.

The Celtics now find themselves in a 0-2 hole vs. the Knicks in their 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals second round series currently underway, and will need to win four of the five remaining contests left in the East Semis series to advance to the 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Finals to face the winner of the concurrent Indiana Pacers - Cleveland Cavaliers East Semis series.

The Boston Celtics entered their Eastern Conference semifinal against the New York Knicks as overwhelming favorites to advance. In each of the first two games of the series, the Celtics led by at least 20.

Pierce was so dedicated to showing that he was a man of his word that his former Celtics teammate and fellow Basketball Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett appeared to come and check on him while driving by. After Garnett saw Pierce was OK, he just egged him on to keep going while Pierce chuckled:

Former Celtics great Paul Pierce was so confident in his team in Game 2 against the Knicks, he said he would walk to work barefoot “in my robe” if they lost for a second straight game in the second-round series.