Like a messiah reviving the scrappy Knicks pride, Tom Thibodeau stormed into Madison Square Garden and reawakened a sleeping giant. Thibodeau has transformed the Knicks. Under his watch, stars like Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby have ascended, and the playoffs have become a birthright. Now, the echoes of past legends like Pat Riley grow louder with each victory. Now, with a contract extension sealing his reign through 2028, the move signals the organization’s trust in his vision for the long term.

Tom Thibodeau’s patience and work ethic showed up spectacularly in Game 1. Down 20 in the third quarter, on Boston’s floor, against the defending champs? No problem. Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby (29 points apiece) turned TD Garden into their own personal proving ground. Mikal Bridges wrapped the game up with a game-sealing steal. The Celtics’ stars were locked down and smothered by New York’s relentless defense. This display of defensive tactics had legends talking about it.

On the Timeout podcast on 11 May, 2025, Wade and Co. were spotted discussing the Celtics’ crushing loss in game one against the Knicks. Surprisingly, they blamed the architect of the Knicks’ defense, Tom Thibodeau, rather than Boston’s shooters. Rather, they held Tom Thibodeau responsible, the winning squad’s coach. Dwyane Wade began by asking, “What Boston need to do? They need to do a little bit. Come on over here?” He implied the lack of the Boston Celtics’ movement past the 3-point line, near the paint. To his question, Dorell Wright responded without any hesitation. “They need to go to the damn basket and drive the paint.”

Wade responded by shedding light on the emphasis of the Celtics’ squad on shooting threes. “That’s okay, but they do what they do, too, now, they shoot that.” However, it is well known that it can become a limitation when adaptability is needed in high-pressure moments. Without a pause, Chris Johnson said, “But you know what they they they do attack the basket.” Here, he took the chance to relieve the Celtics from a position of incompetence or low effort. He continued to explain the real reason behind their failure to score: ” That’s why the credit goes to the Knicks. If you know Thibs and you know how he builds a stick high hand shell package. It’s all built on heavy gap protection. And through heavy gap protection, it eliminates driving lanes.

Here’s where coach Tom Thibodeau’s strategy crystallized. According to them, the Celtics didn’t just miss shots; they were dismantled by Tom Thibodeau’s defensive scheme. The key is “Heavy gap protection.” A defensive philosophy that turns the paint into a fortress and dares opponents to beat you from the outside. Which basically forced the Celtics to focus more on the three pointers, as stated by Dwyane Wade. So, the game was more about the Knicks’ strong defense, courtesy of coach Thibs, than the Celtics’ missing offense.

Celtics Game 3 comeback

All of coach Tom Thibodeau’s defensive tactics fell weak. Because last night, the Boston Celtics silenced Madison Square Garden with a dominant 115–93 victory, proving their resilience after dropping the first two games. A blistering 20-of-40 performance from three-point range. It was led by Payton Pritchard’s playoff career-high 23 points, he flipped the script on New York’s stifling defense. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown finally found their rhythm, combining for 41 points and showcasing the offensive firepower that makes Boston so dangerous.

Defensively, the Celtics suffocated the Knicks, holding them to just 5-of-25 from deep. Jalen Brunson’s 27 points came too late, as Boston’s early barrage buried New York in a hole they couldn’t escape. Karl-Anthony Towns’ 21-point, 15-rebound effort wasn’t enough to spark a rally, exposing the Knicks’ lack of energy. The Celtics’ adjustments, limiting turnovers and tightening rotations, proved decisive in reclaiming control of the series. Needless to say, Tom Thibodeau was disappointed.

Coach Joe Mazzulla’s emphasis on ball security and execution paid off, as Boston minimized live-ball turnovers and capitalized on critical possessions. The Celtics’ ball movement was crisp, their shot selection sharp, and their defensive intensity was relentless. After struggling in Games 1 and 2, this performance was a statement. Boston isn’t going away quietly.

With momentum now on their side, the Celtics head into Game 4 with a chance to even the series. If they maintain this level of shooting and defensive discipline, the Knicks squad and Tom Thibodeau will need a major response. Boston’s Game 3 explosion wasn’t just a win, it was a warning. The defending champs have awakened, and this series just got a whole lot more unpredictable.