Boston's Celtics Foreseen by Blake Griffin for Comeback Win Against New York Knicks in Seven-Game Series
Revamped Article:
Blake Griffin's Confident Outlook on the Celtics' Playoff Run
Looks like Blake Griffin ain't giving up on the Boston Celtics just yet. As a former teammate of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Al Horford, Griffin isn't sold on their current playoff woes. Despite trailing 2-0 against the New York Knicks, Griffin still predicts a seven-game series victory for the Celtics.
"I reckon it goes seven games, mate," Griffin says in a candid interview. "I'm backing the Celtics all the way. I believe it."
Despite the Celtics' struggles so far, they managed to lead by 16 points in the first half of Game 1 and by 12 points entering the final quarter in Game 2. Yet, they dropped both matches by an aggregate of just four points. In Game 1, they attempted a hefty 60 three-pointers, connecting on only 25%, while Game 2 saw them go cold, making a single basket in the final eight minutes of the game.
Griffin emphasizes the Celtics' tendency to play defensively when they feel pressure, which has affected their natural flow of play.
"When you've got a lead, sometimes you can get a bit too cautious," Griffin explains. "You start straying away from your game plan, not sticking to the drives, kicks, and offense that brought you success in the first three quarters. In Game 1, it felt to me like they leaned too heavily on isolation plays instead."
The fourth quarter has posed a significant challenge for the Celtics, and Griffin believes they need to return to their original strategy to beat the Knicks.
"The fourth quarter has been a real trouble spot for them, but it feels like they've drifted away from their usual style," Griffin adds. "In the first three quarters, they were putting up plenty of threes. I think they changed their gameplan under pressure. They need to figure out a solution - I'm confident they still can."
Though Griffin points out the Celtics' shortcomings in the face of the Knicks, he admits praise to the Knicks for forcing the Boston team to struggle.
"Kudos to the Knicks, as they've made the Celtics work for it," Griffin says. "Offensively, the Knicks just took off and ran. After they scored, they earned fouls, and they managed to put the Celtics on the back foot. I think it's a combination of factors at play."
In Griffin's opinion, the Knicks are well-coached, requiring a full 48 minutes of effort from the opposition to secure a win.
"The Knicks are just built for the long haul," Griffin says. "You can't play three good quarters or 45 minutes against them. You got to play a full 48 because they always find a way to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. I think they're used to playing that style against the Celtics."
While Griffin has thrown his support behind the defending champions, he acknowledges that the series will be an exciting one regardless of the outcome.
"As a fan of the game, this has the potential to be a fantastic series," Griffin says.
- Despite Blake Griffin's confidence, the Boston Celtics, with players like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, are still trailing 2-0 against the New York Knicks in the NBA.
- Griffin believes the Celtics, who struggled in the fourth quarter, need to return to their original strategy of drive, kicks, and offense to beat the Knicks.
- Griffin admits that the Knicks have been impressively forcing the Celtics, using their offensive capabilities and securing fouls to put Boston on the back foot in the NBA competition.
- Regardless of the series' outcome, Griffin, who still predicts a seven-game series victory for the Celtics, sees potential for an exciting NBA matchup between the Celtics and the Knicks.
