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Move over, “Ewing Theory,” if the Boston Celtics are able to overcome a 3-1 deficit and come back to beat the New York Knicks, it may be time for Bill Simmons to introduce the “Tatum Theory.” And Boston’s 127-102 victory over the Knicks in Game 5 may well have been the first step toward that becoming a reality.
For the uninitiated, let’s explain what Ewing Theory is. The idea comes from sports media mogul and famed Boston sports fan Bill Simmons. Simmons, who admittedly took the idea from a friend, first introduced the theory to the public in May of 2001. The basis of the theory is simple:
“1. A star athlete receives an inordinate amount of media attention and fan interest, and yet his teams never win anything substantial with him (other than maybe some early-round playoff series).
2. That same athlete leaves his team (either by injury, trade, graduation, free agency or retirement) — and both the media and fans immediately write off the team for the following season.”
The name, of course, refers to basketball legend Patrick Ewings, whose Georgetown New York Knicks teams “inexplicably played better when Ewing was either injured or missing extended stretches because of foul trouble,” according to Simmons.
Simmons cites the Knicks’ run to the 1999 NBA Finals, which only occurred after Ewing tore his achilles, as the prime example of this.
The Ewing Theory Committee has officially been notified and will be in attendance at Game 6 of the Celtics-Knicks series pic.twitter.com/8Qqfl4HBuW
— The r/BillSimmons Podcast (@rBillSimmonsPod) May 15, 2025
Fast forward to 2025, and we just may have another example brewing. The Celtics were down 2-1 and well on their way to trailing 3-1 when Jayson Tatum tore his achilles in Game 4. Boston then responded with its best team performance yet to win Game 5. It now heads into Game 6 in New York with the Knicks facing all the pressure to close the series out at home.
Could Tatum’s injury have unlocked something for the Celtics? Time will tell. But it certainly looked like a real possibility in Game 5. And it would only be fitting for Simmons’ theory to be proven true, as his favorite team downs the team from which the theory was born.