FANS BLAST NBA EXPERT FOR BOLD TAKE BEFORE CELTICS-KNICKS GAME 5

The New York Knicks will look to close out their second-round series against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday at TD Garden.

The Knicks have all the momentum with a commanding 3-1 lead. The Celtics, on the other hand, are at a huge disadvantage without Jayson Tatum, who suffered a season-ending Achilles tear in Game 4.

The Celtics will lose Tatum’s prolific production of 25.0 points, 11.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game in their semifinals matchup against the Knicks. The team, however, has enough depth to fill in the gaps with Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Payton Pritchard and Al Horford.

The 27-year-old Tatum went off for 42 points, including seven three-pointers, in Game 4. His heroic effort, however, proved costly.

 

But even without the six-time All-Star, ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst said the Celtics can still eliminate the Knicks. He noted that the defending champions were 8-2 without Tatum this season.

 

“I believe they will rally back from this,” said Windhorst. “What I learned about the Celtics over the last four years of being there a lot in the playoffs is they lose when you think they’re gonna win and they win you think they’re gonna lose.

Fans immediately slammed the veteran reporter for his bold take.

I just know he was crying hearing Tatum was out for the season,” commented a fan.

“Bro, how do you have a job? Their best player is out,” said another fan.

Only 13 teams have recovered from a 3-1 deficit in the playoffs to win a series in NBA history.

The Celtics did it first in 1968 and did it again in 1981.