Knicks’ Success Against Celtics Depends on Solving Major Josh Hart Issue

Josh Hart remains an essential piece of the New York Knicks puzzle. He brings energy, sets the pace, and serves as an emotional leader. He’s also arguably their second-best passer and had the team’s best on-off rating in the first-round series against Detroit. But as they prepare to face the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals, Hart also presents a tactical challenge that could determine the Knicks’ fate.

The issue lies in how teams, particularly Boston, defend him. Opponents often assign big men to guard Hart, daring him to shoot and clogging up New York’s offensive flow. The Pistons used Jalen Duren in this role last series, and while Hart held his own, the Knicks’ offense dipped to just 1.04 points per possession when Duren was on him—far below their regular-season average of 1.20.

Against Boston, the problem worsens. When Kristaps Porzingis guarded Hart, the Knicks averaged only 0.98 points per possession. With Al Horford, that figure dropped to 0.92. The Celtics’ size and defensive strategy significantly slow New York’s offense.

Solutions exist but come with trade-offs. Reducing Hart’s minutes in favor of Deuce McBride might prevent Boston’s bigs from roaming, but McBride’s shooting isn’t consistent enough. Using Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson together could help with offensive rebounding, but Robinson isn’t fully fit and offers no floor spacing. Landry Shamet might provide shooting, but he’s at a defensive disadvantage against Boston’s perimeter threats.

Ultimately, these fixes require head coach Tom Thibodeau to scale back Hart’s role—a scenario that seems unlikely. Unless adjustments are made, the Knicks will struggle to crack Boston’s defense and pull off the upset.