Boston - All-Star Kevin Garnett was tradedfromthe Minnesota TimberwolvestoBoston on Tuesday for fiveplayers and twodraft picks, adealthat transforms the Celticsinto an instant contender.
Last week, after the Knicks beat the Celtics handily in Boston, a handful of Knick players including Smith, who's made a point of going to the basket more frequently against them suggested their Atlantic Division foe isn't nearly as strong defensively in the paint without Garnett there.
The Lakers fell at the final hurdle last year when they were beaten 4-2 by the BostonCeltics in the finals, a loss which had an impact on all the players and provided inspiration for 2009's victorious run according to the 30-year-old shooting guard.
As such, the Knicks' role players struggled mightily against the Pacers and, before that, the BostonCeltics, a pair of teams that pride themselves on making opponents shoot from midrange, by far the most inefficient area of the court.