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The NBA season is upon us, and the excitement tips off on Tuesday, October 22 with a TNT doubleheader, first featuring an Eastern Conference showdown between the New York Knicks and the reigning champions, the Boston Celtics, which starts at 7:30 PM ET from the TD Garden.
This matchup is one of the most anticipated opening night games, with both teams harboring title aspirations. The Knicks, fresh off a transformative offseason, will be eager to prove themselves against a Celtics team that dominated the league last year.
The Knicks have been aggressive this offseason, adding significant firepower to their already talented roster. The biggest moves included acquiring Mikal Bridges from Brooklyn and Karl-Anthony Towns from Minnesota. Bridges, known for his elite perimeter defense and growing offensive repertoire, adds depth to the wing alongside OG Anunoby, another defensive standout. These two, paired with Josh Hart’s versatility and Jalen Brunson’s leadership at point guard, make the Knicks one of the most balanced teams in the league.
Towns, one of the premier big men in the NBA, brings a combination of inside scoring, outside shooting and rebounding to the team. His ability to stretch the floor will open up driving lanes for Brunson and the other perimeter threats. With these additions, the Knicks are positioning themselves as serious contenders in the East.
The Celtics are coming off a 64-18 season, capped by an NBA Finals victory. However, they start the new campaign with a significant absence — Kristaps Porzingis, one of their key stretch big men, who will miss this game due to injury. Without Porzingis’ size, shooting and defense in the Celtics’ frontcourt, there is a noticeable gap, especially against a Knicks team stacked with versatility.
Despite this setback, the Celtics remain one of the most talented teams in the league, headlined by their star duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Tatum, along with veteran point guard Jrue Holiday and breakout star Derrick White, had a long summer, competing in the Olympics after winning the NBA championship, which may affect their energy levels early in the season. Brown, on the other hand, enters the season with a chip on his shoulder after being snubbed from the Olympic team. Expect Brown to come out aggressive and hungry.
The Celtics’ offense heavily relies on three-point shooting, and while it has brought them great success, it can be a feast-or-famine approach. On opening night, they face a Knicks team that boasts elite wing defenders in Bridges and Anunoby, which could make life difficult for Boston’s perimeter shooters. Without Porzingis to stretch the floor, the Celtics may struggle to generate their usual offensive rhythm.
The Knicks’ size, particularly with Towns in the middle, could also cause problems for the Celtics. Al Horford, the Celtics’ veteran big man, continues to defy age, but against a player like Towns, the Celtics’ frontcourt may be at a disadvantage. This game could be determined by how well the Knicks’ defense can disrupt the Celtics’ long-range attack.
While the Knicks made significant offseason changes, the key for their success on opening night will be how well their new pieces mesh together. Head coach Tom Thibodeau is known for his defensive-minded approach, and the additions of Bridges and Anunoby fit perfectly into that system. However, integrating Towns into the offense will be critical. Towns thrives with the ball in his hands, but he will need to adapt to playing alongside Brunson and the other playmakers.
Despite the chemistry concerns, the Knicks have a strong foundation. Brunson’s steady hand at point guard and the team’s commitment to defense will make them a formidable opponent for the Celtics, especially with Porzingis out of the lineup.
This game has all the makings of an early-season statement for the Knicks. While the Celtics are the reigning champions, they could be dealing with a championship hangover. Expect this game to stay under 223 points, as both teams may experience some early-season rust. Ultimately, the Knicks’ offseason additions should help them keep Boston’s Jayson Tatum in check, and if he does still have some fatigue issues from the Olympics and NBA Finals run, New York is unlikely to make life easy for him.
Zach has been a published sports writer since 2018 specializing in college football & basketball, MLB and NFL content for multiple publications.