The New York Knicks are riding high after their thrilling run to the Eastern Conference Finals last May, a journey that saw them topple the defending champion Boston Celtics in a grueling second-round playoff series. But while Knicks fans are still basking in the glow of that hard-fought victory, Celtics legend Paul Pierce has thrown a bucket of ice water on their parade with a stinging critique that’s sure to rile up the Big Apple.
In a recent interview with Heavy’s Celtics reporter Steve Bulpett, Pierce didn’t hold back, dismissing the Knicks’ triumph as less about their skill and more about Boston’s collapse. “Yeah, I think they blew that series,” Pierce said, referring to the Celtics’ squandered 20-point leads in the first two games at home. “Absolutely. They had 20-point leads in the first two games — at home — and they lost them both? Yeah, they blew that series. That had nothing to do with the Knicks’ talent and all that.”
Pierce’s jab cuts deep, especially for a Knicks team that clawed back from those deficits to win on the road in the hostile environment of TD Garden. His comments downplay the grit and resilience New York showed, instead pinning the series loss on Boston’s inability to close out games. He went on to critique the Knicks’ playing style, pointing to their reliance on three-point shooting as a double-edged sword. “A lot of that goes on the way they play, too,” Pierce explained. “They’ve been a team over the last few years that’s given up big leads because they settle for the 3. You know, you live by it, you die by it. But when you win a championship, what you gonna say? Tell them to play something different, take it in more when this is how they won? That’s who they are.”
While Knicks fans might argue their team deserves credit for capitalizing on Boston’s mistakes and outlasting a championship-caliber squad, Pierce, a proud Celtics icon, isn’t here to hand out compliments. His loyalty lies with Boston, and his words are a reminder of the fierce rivalry that continues to burn between these two storied franchises.
Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Pierce isn’t sold on the Celtics’ chances of repeating as contenders either, citing their offseason losses and injuries. “You know, it’s hard to really gauge it because of the Tatum injury and seeing what’s left,” he told Heavy. “We’re not better than a year ago, based on what we lost. You lose three starters with Tatum, Jrue, and Porzingis, you’re not going to be as good.” Despite the optimism that typically fills NBA training camps, Pierce remains skeptical, noting that every team talks a big game about championship aspirations, whether they’re realistic or not.
For the Knicks, Pierce’s comments are sure to sting, but they also add fuel to the fire for a team looking to prove they’re more than just a flash in the pan. As New York gears up for another shot at glory, they’ll have to face a Celtics squad eager to reclaim their dominance—and a fanbase ready to remind them of Pierce’s biting words. The stage is set for another chapter in this heated rivalry, and the Knicks will be out to show they’re not just living by the three, but thriving by it.