A 3-1 lead, and a recently injured Jayson Tatum, things should look easy for the New York Knicks going forward, but are they? While it may look like the path ahead is clearing up, history reminds us that things aren’t always as simple as they seem. According to USA Today Sports, only 13 teams have ever managed to come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a series. That means teams with a 3-1 advantage go on to clinch the series a whopping 95.6 percent of the time. Still, Knicks legend Amar’e Stoudemire isn’t ready to call it a wrap just yet.
Now, there is no doubting the fact that the Villanova boys–Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart–pairing with Karl Anthony Towns did work its magic after all. The star trio stepped up on different occasions, and now after two and a half decades, the Knicks might once again be in the conference finals. However, the team might want to listen to former Knicks star Amar’e Stoudemire.
“Well, you can’t feel sorry… I know… It’s tough to see a player go down, but you have to go in and get the job done. And so therefore, when you do that, you now get ready for the West Eastern Conference finals. But it won’t be easy. Boston’s going to be ready to go. The fans, they’re going to be electric. But we have to go in and take advantage of the opportunity and get the series over with,” Amar’e told TMZ Sports.
And that warning comes despite Boston’s current struggle. Jayson Tatum went down in the last game, and head coach Joe Mazzulla confirmed he’s set for an MRI on Tuesday. Celtics swingman Jaylen Brown shared his thoughts, saying, “I think tonight is tough,” and added, “I think everybody’s kind of at a loss for words, just because, one losing the game, but obviously the concern with JT. But we pick our heads back up tomorrow and go from there.”
Now, hearing that, you can feel that the Celtics are still in no mood to give up. And if you ask Amar’e Stoudemire, that’s exactly the thing that New York should concern itself with. They’ve got momentum, sure—but this is still the playoffs. There are certain ends that the New York Knicks can not let loose.
Mistakes That the Knicks Should Avoid at All Costs in Game 5 Against the Celtics
Let’s be honest—this Knicks-Celtics series has been anything but predictable. In Games 1 and 2, the Knicks found themselves buried early at TD Garden. Most teams would’ve folded. But New York? They clawed their way back to pull off two jaw-dropping comeback wins that had fans on their feet. Then came Game 3—a brutal wake-up call.
Boston flipped the script, came out blazing from beyond the arc, and simply didn’t let up. The Knicks couldn’t find their rhythm, and five different Celtics players hit double digits as they drained an insane 20 of their 40 three-point attempts. That kind of performance doesn’t leave much room for a miracle comeback. To their credit, the Knicks bounced back in Game 4, edging out a gritty 121-113 win and taking a strong 3-1 series lead. But here’s the catch—yes, it was another comeback, but at this point in the series, New York can’t afford to keep digging early holes.
They’ve got to start strong and stay sharp throughout. Boston isn’t just any team—they’ve got depth, experience, and a history of stepping up in high-stakes moments. Remember, New York hasn’t held that championship trophy since 1973. One bad quarter could flip the energy back in Boston’s favor. So, if the Knicks want to close this out in Game 5, avoiding those big early deficits is non-negotiable.
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