NBA Playoffs 2013: New York Knicks Finally Advance To Second Round, Defeat Boston Celtics 88-80 In Game 6

May 3, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) celebrates with guard/forward J.R. Smith (8) after defeating the Boston Celtics 88-80 in game six of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

If you saw this game, you might be shaking. Maybe your hands. Maybe your head. I don’t know. But, if you are a big NBA fan, this game was special. The Knicks won 88-80 but if you didn’t watch the game, you missed something cool, even in a losing effort. I’d say watch a replay or if you DVR’d it, then great. All you need is the fourth quarter.

I won’t lie, I wasn’t able to start watching until the last few minutes of the 2nd quarter. And, judging by the terribly low scoring game, there wasn’t much to be excited over. What seemed clear to me was that the Celtics were done. Reviewing the game that I missed, I saw that indeed they weren’t shooting very well. But heck, neither team made it to 40 points by the half so the Knicks weren’t lighting up the score board.

Even in the 3rd quarter, the Knicks maintained a manageable lead. It appeared that the Celtics were indeed at the end. They went down by 18 at one point and ultimately entered the 4th quarter down 20.

The reason why the recap was brief for the first three quarters is because the 4th quarter changed everything we knew about the game’s pace. For the first few minutes of the quarter, Knicks built a 26 point lead. Goodnight. Time to sit down, Celtics. You had a good run. But nah, Celtics were all like, “It ain’t over, bro” and proceeded to make a stunning 20-0 run in about 90 seconds of game time. WOW.

Is was an amazing combination of missed shots by the Knicks and turnovers or great steals by the Celtics. And quite a few of the misses from the Knicks were just sad. There was one particular play where the Knicks tipped the ball for what had to be 4 times, trying to get the ball into the basket. Nothing. Jeff Green led the charge during this time.

Celtics kept getting closer and closer and I, along with many folks, I’m sure, were stunned. It was just a random explosion. Celtics only got within four points of the Knicks though and the Knicks were able to hold off the Celtics’ furious run.

I’m going to congratulate the Knicks in a second but I gotta say, even as a 76ers fan (and history will tell you that these teams don’t get along at all), I felt myself rooting for the Celtics. Here was a team that was not really given a chance by anybody to win the series. And really, after the first year that the Big 3 came together in ’08, everybody was labeling them off. So the C’s were used to it by now. Anyway, they went down 0-3. They could’ve said “F it” and called it a day. But no, they fought back in OT and won. Great, but surely that’s it. Nope, they stormed back yet again. Folks were talking about how in the MLB and NHL, teams that actually did come back from being down 0-3 just so happened to be Boston teams. I have much respect for those guys for not quitting. Boston Strong indeed.

And now for the Knicks…FINALLY. They move into the second round for the first time since 2000. So yeah, it’s been a while. Knicks fans have seen some hell during this time and even after getting Carmelo and Amar’e, they still couldn’t get it done in the playoffs. And while they had some inappropriate moments cough funeral cough, they fought their way to the top…or at least second place in the East and took out division rival Celtics in what turned into an interesting series. It’s confirmed that they will face the Pacers who also ended their series in a game 6 on the road.

A slight preview for the series has me favoring the Pacers, if only for their defense. The Knicks’ collapse int he fourth quarter exposed some flaws that the Pacers’ defense is capable of exploiting. Less ISO and more team ball is the Knicks’ best chance to move into the ECF in a most likely match-up with the Heat.

Dante Nelson is a staff writer for Sir Charles In Charge. You may follow him on Twitter at @dantewrites