Dave Portnoy slammed over 'lame excuse' for Celtics playoff defeat
By OLIVER SALT
Dave Portnoy has been blasted by fans online for claiming the New York Knicks only got the better of his beloved Boston Celtics because Jayson Tatum wasn't available.
The Knicks destroyed the Celtics in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference semifinal, running out huge 119-81 winners at Madison Square Garden to reach the finals for the first time since 2000.
Despite New York's resounding victory on the night, Portnoy - a longtime Boston fan - couldn't resist pointing out that his team were without their star player in Tatum, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Game 4.
Along with a video message, the Barstool Sports founder wrote on X: 'Congrats to the Knicks. They kicked our a**es inside out and were the better team*,' before adding the asterisk '*without Tatum'.
However, fans were quick to shut Portnoy down, highlighting the fact that the Knicks were minutes away from moving 3-1 ahead in the series before Tatum's injury.
One user replied: 'Yall were down 2-1 in the series and losing in the game when he got hurt. Lame excuses lmaoooooo'.
Dave Portnoy
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Dave Portnoy has been slammed for blaming the Celtics' playoff exit on Jayson Tatum's injury
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Another put: 'Grow up it was 3-1 with Tatum.'
'I mean Tatum could have 30 right now and you’d still be down 5,' argued a third.
'With or without Tatum — your Celtics couldn’t stop the Knicks,' said a fourth.
While one simply commented: 'No asterisk here you got washed'.
Portnoy also said in his video message: 'I'm not a spin-zone guy, I'm a man of honor and integrity. So hand up, you beat us. The Knicks beat us, I tip my cap.
'Knicks fans haven't won f***ing d*** in a thousand years, it feels good to be a Knicks fan.'
He then added: 'I do think the world is kind of a better place and the NBA is more fun when the Knicks are good.
'This was a fun series back and forth, you beat us, and like I said... I don't make excuses. [But] I will say, obviously, if Tatum, who's our best player, didn't get hurt, this doesn't go down like this.
'If you told me Tatum was gonna blow out his Achilles I would say we have no chance to win the title, and that's exactly what happened. That's not an excuse it's a fact.
Tatum left Game 4 in a wheelchair after tearing his Achilles minutes before Boston's defeat
Jaylen Brown and the Celtics failed to retain their title after winning last year's championship
'But injuries are a part of the game and the Knicks took advantage of it.'
Without Tatum, who left Game 4 in a wheelchair after tearing his Achilles, the Celtics struggled - shooting 36 percent in the loss.
Meanwhile, the Knicks' core showed out - with Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby leading the way with 23 points.
It's the largest playoff win in franchise history that puts the Knicks back in the conference finals for the first time since 2000. They'll play the same team they faced that series, the Indiana Pacers.
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