Charles Barkley Knows He ‘Sounds Stupid’ With This Celtics-Knicks Take

Charles Barkley believes Saturday afternoon’s game at Madison Square Garden is a must-win, but not for the team you might think.

After the Knicks stunned the Celtics again Wednesday and took a 2-0 lead in the teams’ best-of-seven series, Barkley couldn’t help but look back on his playing days. On two occasions in his Hall of Fame career, Barkley-led teams took 2-0 series leads in the playoffs before ultimately losing the set.

That’s why the 11-time All-Star believes it’s imperative for New York to not let Boston gain any life back when the longtime rivals meet for Game 3.

“This is gonna sound stupid — Game 3 is a must-win for the Knicks,” Barkley said Wednesday on TNT, as transcribed by NBC Sports Boston. “Boston has a better team, they’ve been up 20 (in each game). But I’m telling you, I’ve been in that situation twice, you gotta win that third game.”

Even though the Celtics face an undesirable deficit in the Eastern Conference semifinals, they probably shouldn’t be consumed with worry. The reigning NBA champion manhandled the Knicks in the regular season, and they were the better team for the vast majority of the series’ first two contests.

So, Saturday has a chance to be a “get right” game for Boston. And if Joe Mazzulla’s side really flexes its muscles in Manhattan, it could spell very bad news for New York.