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Boston Celtics battling unique challenge with Knicks in playoffs

New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics: This NBA prediction features our best bet of the game.AP

The Celtics will meet the Knicks in the playoffs for the first time since 2013 as plenty of eyes will be on the second-round matchup. But the C’s face a unique challenge when it comes to the series: they swept the Knicks in the regular season, so some teams could get complacent.

Three out of the four games were double-digit victories for the Celtics. The lone close game was back on April 8, an overtime Boston victory at Madison Square Garden. The C’s are also heavy favorites to advance to the East Finals over the Knicks as the outside chatter expects a relatively quick series. But, of course, Boston coach Joe Mazzulla isn’t looking at it in that view.

“Every game takes on a life of its own, every series takes on a life of its own,” Mazzulla said. “Right now, the series is 0-0. It’s two good teams getting ready to play. We have to be able to execute at a high, high level all the things that are in the process of winning.”

The Celtics shot away on 3-pointers against the Knicks as that’s looking like a strength going into the series. In comparison, the Magic kept the Celtics off the 3-point line, forcing the defending champs to play a different style of basketball. So how the Knicks defend the arc will be important, though for now, that’s looking like an advantage for the Celtics.

Fortunately, the C’s aren’t a team that’ll relax just because they swept the Knicks in the regular season. This iteration of the Celtics, over the past two playoffs, haven’t let their focus wane against any opponent. They haven’t let a series go longer than five games, only dropping one clinching game, which was Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Otherwise, they’re 5-1 in closeout games to eliminate their opponent.

“This is the playoffs,” Derrick White said. “So everything we did in the regular season doesn’t really mean a whole lot now. It’s not like we get to start up 1-0 or something like that. Just understanding it’s the playoffs. They’re here for a reason. They’re a really good team. It’s going to be a big challenge.”

The Knicks will pose challenges. Guard Jalen Brunson has been otherworldly, especially in the clutch. He showed those skills in a hardly-fought series against the Pistons, which the Knicks won in six games. Brunson’s 3-pointer in Game 6 lifted his team to the second round. The Celtics will throw multiple bodies at Brunson throughout the series as Mazzulla said it won’t be just one player stopping the All-Star guard.

The Celtics also get a boost from a rest advantage having beat the Magic in five games. That’s much-needed for them considering their injuries to guys like Jayson Tatum (wrist), Jaylen Brown (knee) and Jrue Holiday (hamstring). On the flip side, the Knicks do get a few days off after winning Thursday in Detroit, though they’ll have to be in Boston by Monday for Game 1 at TD Garden.

“Obviously, great coach,” Mazzulla said. “Great depth. Great team. You see what they were able to do over the course of the season and in the playoffs thus far with their two guys. But also the way the others are able to impact the game. It’ll be a physical series. It’ll come down to the margins.”