Celtics Favored to Beat Knicks in Playoff Series

The Boston Celtics enter their Eastern Conference Semifinals matchup against the New York Knicks as heavy favorites, with sportsbooks giving Boston strong odds to advance and predicting a potential five- or six-game series. The Celtics, who swept the Knicks in the regular season and recently dispatched the Orlando Magic, are viewed as having a deeper and more versatile roster, especially on defense, compared to the Knicks' shallower rotation. Analysts highlight that the Knicks' starters, particularly Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson, and Karl-Anthony Towns, will need to log heavy minutes and deliver strong performances to keep the series competitive. Boston's defensive strengths, including perimeter defenders like Jrue Holiday and Derrick White, are expected to challenge the Knicks' isolation-heavy offense, while New York may struggle to match Boston's bench depth. Despite the odds, experts suggest the Knicks have enough talent to avoid an embarrassing defeat and may push the series to six games. The series opens with Game 1 on May 5 in Boston, where the physicality and matchups between both teams' stars will be key factors.