Boston Celtics and New York Knicks Face-off Again: Sustaining New York's Momentum the Question?
In the mind-blowing second round of the NBA playoffs, the Boston Celtics find themselves struggling against the New York Knicks. The Celtics, who effortlessly won all four meetings between the two in the regular season with an average margin of victory of 16.3 points, are now at a 2-0 deficit.
The Knicks have taken the series by storm, snatching two unexpected road victories to start things off. Not only did they pull off triumphant comebacks in both games, they managed to overcome 20-point deficits during the second halves of both games.
So, how are things unfolding this way? NBC News' Andrew Greif and Rohan Nadkarni divulge the circumstances behind the series so far, and what we might expect moving forward.
Did the Knicks win these first two games or did the Celtics choke?
Nadkarni: The truth lies somewhere in the middle. While it's quite commendable that the Knicks have played with incredible heart, the Celtics should still receive more criticism for squandering the first two games.
To put it frankly, Boston's 3-point shooting simply hasn't been up to par. With a dismal 25-for-100 shooting record in this series, their numbers would still be far behind their season average, making them the worst 3-point shooting team in the NBA. So, yeah, Boston — shoot some baskets, please!
Greif: The Celtics' inability to capitalize on their leads is their downfall. Despite the Knicks' questionable playoff performance so far, they've consistently shown determination, pulling off multiple comebacks to clinch their first-round victory against Detroit.
Game 2 was a game to forget for the Knicks, with their lowest offensive output of the season, according to points scored per possession. Granted, that's not entirely surprising for a team that's fallen short by 10 points per 100 possessions in the playoffs compared to the regular season. Yet, here they are, leading the series anyway.
Who's most to blame for the Celtics being down 2-0?
Greif: Poor late-game execution from every player contributed to Boston's plight. In the critical quarter, the Celtics have surrendered 11 more field goals, made just 15% of their 3-pointers, and managed a mere 6-5 assist-to-turnover ratio.
With 18 seconds left in Game 2, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla designed a clever play to free star Jayson Tatum, leading to an easy dunk and a 90-89 advantage. But Boston needed another go-ahead basket on the final possession, and coach Mazzulla resorted to the same play - a tactic the Knicks were primed to anticipate.
Nadkarni: Ultimately, the buck stops with Boston’s star players, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Their combined 1-for-12 shooting in the fourth quarter has left much to be desired, to say the least. Coupled with excessive 3-point attempts and sloppy decision making in crunch time, it's no surprise that the Celtics currently find themselves in this precarious position.
In particular, Tatum needs to step up. He's already proven himself to be a standout playoff performer, consistently delivering impressive games in high-stress moments. If his performance this series is any indication, you wouldn't know that.
Can the Knicks keep this going?
Nadkarni: It's highly unlikely, but they don't need to. It's not mandatory to win every game in a four-game series the same way. Even if the Celtics start hitting 3's, the Knicks still stand a chance of winning the series.
I don't expect the Knicks to continue winning in their current fashion. Repeatedly creating 20-point deficits in the playoffs and miraculously pulling off comebacks every time is highly improbable. So when it comes to the Knicks' Game 1 and 2 strategy, I don't think it can be repeated, (though somehow, they somehow managed to do it after Game 1!). However, that doesn't mean they can't find other ways to win.
The Boston Celtics have received criticism for squandering the first two games of the NBA playoffs, with their 3-point shooting falling below their season average and contributing to their struggles. The Celtics' inability to capitalize on leads, poor late-game execution, and individual errors from star players have been major factors in their current 2-0 deficit against the New York Knicks. The Knicks are not expected to maintain their current tactic of repeatedly creating large deficits and staging dramatic comebacks in every game, but their resilience thus far suggests they could still win the series, even if the Celtics start playing better.
