Slipping Up: Contenders Boston Struggle Following Squandering Substantial Advantages in Matches
Rewritten Article:
The recent nail-biting losses to the New York Knicks have got Celtics fans on edge. After dropping their first playoff series since 2023, the Celtics faced another near-identical downfall against a team they beat four times in the regular season.
"Dropping two games after a 20-point lead? That's inexcusable," asserted Jaylen Brown. "But we're not making excuses. We're learning from it and we're gonna respond."
Remember the Celtics of last year who stormed through the playoffs with an impressive 16-3 record? Led by Brown and Jayson Tatum, they clinched the club's record-breaking 18th NBA title.
However, Wednesday night saw them crumble, missing 14 out of their last 15 shots in the final moments of the game. The three-point kings, who once set fire to the court, missed 80 shots from beyond the arc across both games.
Tatum, the team's key scorer, has slipped to a dismal 12 for 42 in these first two games. In the closing seconds of Wednesday's defeat, Mikal Bridges landed a crucial steal to seal the 91-90 Knicks victory.
"I take full blame for my performance so far," admitted Tatum. "Can't sugarcoat it. I need to step up my game, and I will."
With the NBA playoffs mom hitting the fan, it's clear that the Celtics need to get their act together. The Knicks' upset has driven ticket prices sky-high, with courtside seats going for upwards of $40,000.
As the team heads to Madison Square Garden, center Kristaps Porzingis believes the pressure is off. "It's almost a free hit," he claims. "If you look at the odds, the Knicks might be the favorites now. But we've been a road-dominant team this season, so we're not gonna back down."
History shows that coming back from a 0-2 deficit in an NBA playoff series may seem impossible, but it's not out of the question. The Celtics have proven in the past they can pull off a stunning comeback, securing the final title for Bill Russell in 1969[4].
Tatum echoes Porzingis, "We've still got a lot of basketball ahead of us. Our season isn't even close to over. If you're a competitor, you'll look forward to the challenge."
© 2025 AFP
[4] Note: historically, the Boston Celtics have come back from a 0-2 deficit to win the NBA Finals once in 1969, led by the legendary Bill Russell.]
In the midst of their struggling playoff run, the Celtics, who once broke the NBA record with 18 titles, are now facing a challenging situation against the Knicks. With Jayson Tatum's shooting percentage struggling, the team must revitalize their basketball skills, particularly their three-point shots, if they hope to make a remarkable comeback in the NBA playoffs, emulating their 1969 triumph led by Bill Russell.
