Green With Envy: Celtics vs Knicks Recap + Is It Time To Believe??

December 3, 2025 | Hosts: Will & Greg Meneakis | Notable guests: Mike Gorman (intro only)

Episode Overview

This episode centers around the Boston Celtics’ 123-117 victory over the New York Knicks, marking a high point in the team's season and sparking the debate: Is it time for Celtics fans to truly believe in this squad’s potential for a deep playoff run?
Will and Greg break down the game, analyze evolving team identities, and discuss the roles and trajectories of key players—including the young wings and Joe Mazzulla’s evolving rotation. They also forecast what the upcoming schedule and the looming return of Jason Tatum might mean for Boston’s postseason prospects.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Vibe

• Jalen Brown’s Postgame Attitude:
  • “Jalen Brown called it belts to ass. That's how this team is feeling right now.” (Will, 02:02)
  • Celtics are exuding confidence and identity, backed by strong locker room culture and energy.

Joe Mazzulla Finding His Formula (03:53 - 05:49)

• The coaching staff is zeroing in on high-leverage players for close games, particularly in the bench/wing rotation.
• Mazzulla increasingly trusts Nemi Kata as the primary (sometimes only) center, often rolling with all-wings and guards in crunch time.
• Will: “He's just leaning into, these are my best guys... regardless of position.”

Positional Versatility & Modern NBA Lineups (05:49 - 10:11)

• Greg: Celtics have a staggering +14.5 net rating without a traditional center (05:49).
• Frequent use of unconventional lineups (e.g., Josh Minot, Jaylen Brown, or Jordan Walsh at the “5”).
• Flexibility in defensive assignments: wings and guards switching onto big men—successfully.

Memorable Quote:

• Will: “Those guys are kind of just rotating on five...you're kind of comfortable. It's kind of the same.” (06:08)

Defensive Assignments vs. the Knicks (06:35 - 10:11)

• Jordan Walsh, Ugo Gonzalez, and Jaylen Brown spent the most time defending New York’s frontcourt threats.
• Mazzulla’s “break glass in case of emergency” use of Ugo, who made a substantial impact shutting down the Knicks’ bigs.

Power Ranking the Young Wings (10:11 - 12:11)

• Top Four Young Wing Contributors:
  • 1. Jordan Walsh (most impact)
  • 2. Josh Minot
  • 3. Ugo Gonzalez (Greg’s favorite)
  • 4. Bayley Sharman
• All are praised for relentless energy and adapting to “next man up” ethos.

Notable Moment:

• Greg: “It can't just be the rook, right? It has to be everybody on the roster that's playing with that Ugo energy.” (10:21)

Crunch-Time Execution (12:11 - 15:46)

• Celtics close with a daring lineup: Brown, White, Hauser, Minot, Walsh.
• Trust in rookies: Brown running pick-and-roll with Minot/Walsh, relying on their decision-making.
• Brown’s evolution as a playmaker, not just scorer.

Quote:

• Greg: “The willingness and the poise to accept two and give up the ball to Minot and Walsh in the short roll...shows how much development we've seen out of Jaylen Brown so far.” (13:41)

Jalen Brown’s Dominance & Culture Shift (15:46 - 18:12)

• Brown scores 33 in 2nd and 3rd quarters after a slow start—leads with both scoring and trust in teammates.
• Trust and belief run deep, echoed in postgame and locker-room vibes.

Quote:

• Will: “Celtics fans, I guess we gotta believe. I don't really know what else to say. But the results are the results.” (43:50)

Jordan Walsh's Legacy Quarter (17:41 - 20:20)

• Walsh’s 6:15 in the 4th is pivotal: rebounding, defense, hustle plays.
• Emerged from early-season DNPs to starter and closer—now “can’t imagine him not starting.”

Superfan Banter:

• Greg (on Walsh): "The junkyard dog... he had a huge steal at one point as well... he was everywhere in crunch time." (16:00)

The Tatum Factor & Playoff Projections (20:20 - 30:56)

• Debated impact of Jason Tatum’s return: how will his reintegration affect rotation and identity?
• Celtics appear one playable big short—a deadline trade is possible (Simons as a possible piece).
• Facing the Rap-tors (and others) in upcoming schedule will be a true test.

State of the Eastern Conference (30:56 - 43:50)

• East is wide open: Pistons, Raptors, Heat, Knicks, Magic, Cavs, Hawks, Celtics, Sixers, Bulls, Bucks make up the top 11, but only a handful are true threats.

• Jalen Brown making a case for All-NBA honors:

  “Last five games: 34 points, 7.2 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, over 53% effective field goal…” (Will, 26:04)

• Overall, majority of the roster has exceeded expectations (except Simmons, Boucher, maybe White).

Insightful Analysis:

• Minot’s ugly-but-effective 3-point stroke compared to Grant Williams in the playoffs.
• Will: “Is a Jalen Johnson team going to the finals? I don't know. Maybe. It's a weird, weird year.”

Schedule Watch & What’s Next (38:05 - 43:50)

• Crucial stretch coming: games vs. Toronto, Milwaukee, Detroit, Miami.
• Raptors viewed as both stylistic rival and possible playoff roadblock—Barnes, Ingram, RJ Barrett, and depth highlighted.
• More time for practice due to cup game rescheduling—a blessing for integrating Tatum and new lineups.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• "Jalen Brown called it belts to ass." (Will, 02:02)
• “Have you been watching the clips of the Celtics in the locker room after these games?” (Greg, 02:29)
• "Mazzulla is starting to figure it out. The first quarter of the season is always the time to experiment..." (Greg, 02:43)
• "Nemi K is the only guy that Joe Mazzulla trusts on the front line." (Will, 04:59)
• "Lineups with Josh Minot at the 5, Jaylen Brown at the 5, Jordan Walsh at the 5..." (Greg, 05:49)
• "Is there a difference between Mikal Bridges the defender and Jordan Walsh? Like, I don't know that there is." (Greg, 17:14)
• "We gotta obviously talk about Jalen Brown’s just ridiculous performance, but I want to stick with this Jordan Walsh, Josh Minot and Ugo Gonzalez...wing rotation." (Will, 08:54)
• "It can't just be the rook, right? It has to be everybody on the roster that's playing with that Ugo energy." (Greg, 10:21)
• “These are the things that get built up behind the scenes. ...it has been really remarkable to see how quickly Jordan Walsh has gone from DNPs...to starting the last nine games.” (Will, 19:41)
• "I think Ugo is my favorite [young wing]." (Greg, 10:38)
• "I started thinking Josh Minot from the corner...starting to remind you a little bit of Grant Williams." (Greg, 28:19)
• "There's nobody in the east that I would be scared of if we have Jaylen Brown, Tatum, Derrick White & these young wings." (Greg, 25:00)
• "[Jalen Brown] is just on absolutely the most special run...of his career." (Will, 26:04)
• "Outside of those two [Brown/White], you might mix and match...whoever the other three are that need to be out there. And I like that from a coach." (Will, 29:40)
• “East is wide open. Celtics fans, I guess we gotta believe.” (Will, 43:50)

Timeline of Important Segments

• [01:01] - Opening and recap themes (“Is it time to believe?”)
• [02:02] - Jalen Brown’s postgame energy; team confidence and vibes
• [03:53] - Rotation, coaching decisions, Missoula’s experimentation
• [05:49] - Net ratings without a center; lineup flexibility
• [08:54] - Ranking the young wings; who’s made the biggest leap
• [12:11] - Knicks crunch-time lineup; trust in young players
• [15:01] - Brown’s huge night, redemption arc from Knicks playoff series
• [17:41] - Jordan Walsh’s fourth-quarter impact
• [20:20] - Looking at the impact of Tatum’s impending return
• [21:42] - Is it time to believe? Who can the Celtics beat out East?
• [24:09] - Jalen Brown All-NBA debate and implications for Celtics' ceiling
• [28:19] - Minot’s shooting and expectations for sustainable success
• [30:56] - Missoula’s use of bench and mixing closing lineups
• [38:05] - Upcoming key schedule, rescheduled cup games, and practice time
• [39:47] - Raptors as best Eastern comp; specific matchups to watch
• [41:54] - Who in the East is a real threat? Tiering the conference
• [43:41] - Final thoughts on the Cavs and Eastern Conference chaos
• [44:22] - When will Tatum return?

Takeaways & Conclusion

• Celtics are building a real identity: Strong culture, trust in young role players, and a willingness to experiment from Mazzulla.
• Jalen Brown is on an All-NBA trajectory, and young wings like Jordan Walsh are proving themselves nightly.
• East is more open than ever—Celtics, with a returning Tatum and maybe one more dependable big, should be true contenders.
• The next stretch (Raptors, Milwaukee, Detroit, Miami) will be a legitimate litmus test for this group’s staying power.
• The fan base, like the hosts, is being called on to finally believe.

For Celtics fans and NBA observers, the message of this episode is clear and infectious: the results so far—and the spirit in Boston—justify real belief.