Prediction by Blake Griffin: Boston Celtics to overcome deficit and triumph over New York Knicks in a seven-game series
Game, Set, Maybe... Celtics? The Doubts Linger, According to Blake Griffin
Blake Griffin, the former six-time All-Star who spent his final season with the Boston Celtics, is still backing the team to pull off a win against the New York Knicks, despite their shaky start. With Griffin's familiarity with the core group, including the likes of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Al Horford, he remains optimistic about the team's prospects.
"I still got faith in the Celtics," Griffin said in an interview. "I'm gonna say seven games. I'm taking the Celtics to make a comeback."
The Celtics have dropped the first two games of the series, each by a narrow margin, and their performance has left Griffin questioning their approach. He points to their over-reliance on long-range shots, coupled with a lack of composure in the crucial moments, as major factors that have contributed to their struggles.
"They've been sort of playing like they're afraid to lose," Griffin said. "In Game 1, it felt like they reverted to one-on-one basketball, and Game 2, they just couldn't find their rhythm offensively."
The Knicks, on the other hand, have been the pace-setters, with their quick transition game and opportunistic defense keeping the Celtics on their toes. Griffin believes it's a combination of the Knicks' relentless pressure and the Celtics' inability to adapt that has resulted in their predicament.
"The Knicks have done a great job of forcing Boston to shoot outside," Griffin said. "And when you're cold from deep, like these Celtics have been, it's tough to rebound from that."
The 2017 NBA rookie of the year estimates that to beat the Knicks, the Celtics must dig deep and play four full quarters, as opposed to giving their all for three quarters or 45 minutes. With the Knicks showing no signs of letting up, he believes it's a series that will go down to the wire – a spectacle for basketball fans everywhere.
"It's gonna be a great series, no matter which way it goes," Griffin said. "The Celtics have the talent to come back, but the Knicks have shown they're not afraid to fight until the very end."
Additional Insights: The Celtics' struggles extend beyond the cold shooting streaks, as their stars – Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown – are shooting well below their season averages. Moreover, the Knicks' resilience has been nothing short of astonishing, as they have orchestrated two 20-point comebacks in consecutive games, a feat unprecedented in the play-by-play era.
- Blake Griffin, despite the Celtics' shaky start against the Knicks, maintains optimism towards their comeback, emphasizing the need for four full quarters of performance.
- Griffin, who previously played with the Celtics, points out their over-reliance on long-range shots and a lack of composure in crucial moments as key factors in their struggles.
- The Knicks, under relentless pressure, have been forcing the Celtics to shoot outside, with Griffin suggesting this as a major contributor to Boston's cold shooting streaks.
- Griffin highlights the resilience of the Knicks, who have orchestrated two 20-point comebacks in consecutive games, and believes this will make the series a spectacle for basketball fans everywhere.
