On May 18, in the sixth game of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals, the Boston Celtics lost to the New York Knicks 81-119, losing the series 2-4 and stopping in the Eastern Conference semifinals. After the game, coach Joe Mazzulla responded to the team's performance at the press conference, saying that the opponent was better and affirmed the fighting spirit of the Celtics players.

In an interview, Mazzula did not shy away from the reality of the defeat. He said bluntly: " I don't think there was anything particularly different about the opponent, but they performed better today. We encountered a very good Knicks team with strong execution in the second round, and they finally defeated us. "

In this game, the Celtics were in a passive position almost from the beginning, with a cold touch on the offensive end and frequent loopholes on the defensive end. The whole team was in a slump, and the core players failed to lead the team to regain the rhythm in time, while the Knicks played more decisively and resolutely, blossoming in multiple places, and finally delivered a nearly complete victory on the road.

Mazzula stressed that despite the disappointing result, he had no doubts about his players' effort: " Our players gave their all to achieve very high goals. I know that very well. They put in a huge effort every day, whether in training, in the games or on a mental level. "

This series was undoubtedly a heavy blow to the Celtics, especially after losing their star player Jayson Tatum (who was ruled out for the season due to a torn Achilles tendon). The team seemed powerless at critical moments, exposing certain shortcomings on both offense and defense. Although the substitutes and other main players tried to fill the gaps, the Knicks were in good shape, and the Celtics ultimately failed to complete the comeback.

Mazzula did not reveal specific plans for the upcoming offseason, but he said the team will review and look for room for improvement at the appropriate time. Looking ahead, the Celtics management may face major decisions regarding lineup depth, core reconstruction, and injury recovery.

This elimination also means that the Celtics have failed to return to the finals for two consecutive seasons, and the team will re-examine the path to the championship in the coming time. With Tatum's long-term injury, the team is facing not only tactical adjustments, but also spiritual reconstruction.

Although it is regrettable to be eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals, as Mazzula said: " The players have tried their best, and this deserves respect. " Fans can only hope that the Celtics will make a comeback in the future and challenge for the championship again.