The New York Knicks have seen a comfortable three games to none lead in their first round series against the Boston Celtics slip to just a 3-2 lead with take place in Boston on Friday night. The series went from people talking about the Knicks dominance of the “too old” Celtics to pundits trying to figure out why New York can’t close out the series.
It’s a competitive series between two heated rivals with no shortage of drama between the two teams. However, there is also some drama amongst the ranks in the New York locker room. Specifically between head coach Mike Woodson and his players.
Prior to game five on Wednesday night, the Knicks wore black to the game to symbolically attend what they viewed as the Celtics’ “funeral”. It’s a move that had Woodson pretty upset afterward.
“I’m a little upset about that, and I’ve addressed that,” Woodson said on Thursday after the team’s practice in Greenburgh, NY. “Things like that have just got to be, just kept outside the game and just concentrate on playing basketball.”
While it’s not something that
could
should tear the team apart, it wouldn’t be surprising if something like this had an effect on the team’s psyche heading into Friday’s game.
“I’ve addressed that with our players, and that’s enough,” Woodson said. “The game is played on the floor, and that’s where it should be played.”
He needs to hope his players think that way.
The Knicks haven’t won a playoff series since 2001, and won’t win one now if something trivial like this causes yet another mental lapse on the court for the third straight game. They need to win this series in game six. If not, things could get pretty ugly in New York before a game seven.