The Lohud Knicks Blog

The time for talk is over. Technically, the time for writing is just about over too — as far as predictions go — but when it came to picking a winner of the Knicks – Celtics series starting tonight, I needed every last moment.

Here’s how I see the series shaking out:

1. The Knicks will find a way to steal either game 1 or 2 in Boston. They’ll do it with a combination of poor play by Rajon Rondo and a concurrent tri-scoring bonzana from Amar’e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, and Chauncey Billups.

2. The defensive experiment using Jared Jefferies to guard Rondo will not last long enough to see the Knicks return to Madison Square Garden.

3. Stoudemire will find himself in foul trouble in at least two games — dealing with a fired up Kevin Garnett — but he will flip the script on his late-season fourth-quarter invisibility, make decisive plays in crunch time, and seal a come from behind win that will define New York’s season.

4. Carmelo Anthony will outplay and frustrate Paul Pierce throughout the series, and the latter will be blamed by the Boston media for his inability to deny ‘Melo the ball or stop him from getting to the line.

5. The referees will unfortunately play a major role in the outcome of the series, calling the games tightly and thus preventing Boston from clamping down defensively on the Knicks.

6. Both Toney Douglas and Bill Walker will score 20 points individually in different games.

7. Ray Allen will be mostly unstoppable, and the Knicks will hard pressed to answer some of his clutch 3-pointers.

So there you have it. Enjoy Game 1 y’all!

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What do you think? Let me know in the comments section or shoot me a tweet @LoHudKnicks.