Knicks legend Charles Oakley believes Tom Thibodeau's game plan ahead of Friday's Game 6

The Knicks led the 3-1 series in Boston on Wednesday night. Jayson Tatum broke his fatal weakness at the end of Game 4, which the Celtics couldn't get.

Despite Boston defeating their top players, they won a 127-102 victory in Game 5. However, the Celtics still fell 3-2 in the series and competed in Game 6 in New York. Before Friday's game, Knicks legend Charles Oakley defended head coach Tom Thibodeau's coaching style. Oakley believes New York has been using this playoff rotation.

Can the Knicks close the series at home in Game 6?

The Knicks hope to do something they have never done since 1999 in Game 6: Win the playoff series at home 😳

Will they do it, or will this series compete in seven games?

Celtic Knicks Game 6 | 8pm ET on ESPN🍿 pic.twitter.com/wlcgk68iks

– NBA on ESPN (@epnnba) May 15, 2025

Throughout the 2024-25 regular season, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau has been severely criticized for his rotation. Three of New York's five starters averaged the top five in each game. All five of their starters made the top 20. This season sometimes, the Knicks players play a lot of minutes each night.

In 2925 playoffs, Thibodeau played his starter with a few more minutes of play. Knicks legend Charles Oakley defended Thibodeau's rotation ahead of Game 6 on Friday. Oakley said the best players should be on the court 38-42 minutes in every game. This is almost exactly the rotation of Tom Thibodeau in the 2025 playoffs. The Knicks legend mentioned the way the team tried to run its system.

This involves playing the starter in a large number of minutes. New York has no bench for other teams in the 2025 playoffs. Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride were the only substitutes to see the Knicks unanimously. Game 6 is Friday night, and the Knicks have the chance to make history. They can win the playoff series at home for the first time since 1999. Watch the Celtics and the Knicks at ESPN at 7:00 pm EST.