Hall of Famer Paul Pierce believes the Boston Celtics’ early playoff exit had little to do with the New York Knicks ’ talent and everything to do with Boston’s own collapse.

In an interview with Heavy Sports, the former Celtics forward said his old team squandered their second-round series against New York by blowing sizable leads at home.

“Yeah, I think they blew that series,” Pierce told Heavy on Celtics. “Absolutely. They had 20-point leads in the first two games — at home — and they lost them both? Yeah, they blew that series. That had nothing to do with the Knicks’ talent and all that.”

The defending champions saw their 2024 NBA title defense end in six games , sending New York to its first Eastern Conference finals since 2000 . The series turned further when Celtics s

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