Two games in, and the script has been flipped, shredded, and tossed into the TD Garden rafters. The New York Knicks, fueled by a tenacity that feels almost tangible, have stunned the basketball world by taking a 2-0 lead over the seemingly invincible Boston Celtics in Boston. While the series is far from over, this unexpected turn of events has inevitably reignited a familiar debate: Were last year’s Celtics truly the juggernaut we crowned them, or did a confluence of unfortunate injuries pave their golden path?

Let’s not mince words. The Celtics’ championship run last season was dominant, culminating in a Finals dispatching of the Dallas Mavericks. ¹ But a closer look at their Eastern Conference journey reveals a trail littered with fallen stars. Joel Embiid’s lingering ailments hampered the Sixers. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s untimely injury derailed the Bucks. Dame Lillard, newly arrived in Milwaukee, was visibly compromised. The Miami Heat, their Finals opponent the year prior, were without Jimmy Butler for a crucial stretch. Even the Knicks themselves, while valiant, saw Jalen Brunson battle through a nagging wrist issue.  

Now, facing a healthy and hungry Knicks squad, even the absence of Kristaps Porzingis for Boston feels less like an excuse and more like an exposure of deeper vulnerabilities. The Celtics, for all their talent, appear disjointed, their offensive flow stifled by the Knicks’ relentless defense and Brunson’s masterful control. The air of inevitability that once surrounded them has dissipated, replaced by a palpable tension and a growing sense of unease within the confines of their home court.

As the series shifts to the electric atmosphere of Madison Square Garden for Games 3 and 4, the possibility of an improbable Knicks sweep, or at the very least a prolonged and grueling battle, feels increasingly real. This isn’t to diminish the Celtics’ accomplishments, but it does force a re-evaluation. Were they the undisputed kings of the league, or did circumstance play a more significant role in their coronation?More broadly, this Knicks’ surge injects a thrilling dose of unpredictability into the championship landscape. If the Celtics, the presumed standard-bearers, can be toppled in such decisive fashion on their own turf, it begs the question: who else is capable of hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy? The Western Conference boasts its own gauntlet of contenders, and the Knicks’ unexpected dominance serves as a potent reminder that in the playoffs, desire, grit, and a little bit of magic can often trump even the most formidable talent. The narrative of an open field, where any number of teams could realistically contend, suddenly feels less like a hopeful fantasy and more like a distinct possibility. The basketball world watches with bated breath to see if the Knicks can continue their stunning ascent and further dismantle the notion of a Celtics dynasty, ushering in an era of thrilling uncertainty.