Having dropped two straight games to the Boston Celtics after jumping to a 3-0 lead in the first round of the Easter Conference playoffs, the New York Knicks have a chance to eliminate the Celtics on their own court, and avoid a fever pitch Game 7.
No NBA team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in a playoff series; this was also said to the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball in 2004, before they silenced doubters and ran off four straight wins against the loathed New York Yankees. If the Knicks fail to get the job done tonight at TD Garden, the pressure at home in Game 7 could be enough to crack them.
Jason Terry, who has nestled under the skin of Knicks sixth man J.R. Smith, has only been in Boston for one season but knows of the Red Sox 2004 feat. "We're well aware of what happened with the Red Sox. If this happens, it'll be very similar. I'm very familiar with what they did and the history they made. Is that a motivating factor for us? It helps, but that alone is not going to win the series for us."
A cocky Knicks team donned all black attire when they arrived for Game 5 at Madison Square Garden, a move that head coach Mike Woodson was unaware of that made the Knicks look foolish after playing poorly and losing the game.
Woodson was angry at the time and said if he were aware of their plans he would have forbidden the funeral garb. Now, though, he and his team must focus on the task at hand.
"Hey, there's a sense of urgency," Woodson said. "It's not going to be easy by any means going to Boston and getting a win there, but again, we still control our own destiny. We have won in Boston, so we've got to see what we're made of now."
The game will tip off at 7:00 p.m., and will be broadcast on ESPN. It can be live streamed for free here as well or at WatchESPN.com. Knicks fans can listen to the game at 98.7 FM ESPN Radio and while Celtics fans should tune into WEEI 93.7 FM.
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