It’s a particularly challenging place for the Boston Celtics to find themselves after losing two consecutive games to the New York Knicks. They are currently down 2-0 in their playoff series against Pittsburg. In both games, the Celtics have shown an ugly tendency, especially in “clutch time,” where they went 3-of-20 from the field. This trend of underperformance has left players and coaches alike scrambling for solutions.
In Game 1, the Celtics were the ones who surprisingly collapsed. They watched an improbable 20-point second-half lead slip away and eventually fell in overtime. The moment everything changed came when Mikal Bridges robbed Jaylen Brown. This situation caused an expensive turnover on Jaylen’s final possession. It was at that point the Knicks seized control of the game, demonstrating their fortitude to hang in and grind a tight win.
Same script Game 2, as Boston blew a 16-point lead with under 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Even though Brown pulled out all the stops to save the game with nine points in that frame, it was too little, too late. Jayson Tatum, who had been sick since Sunday, had his worst game in over five months, scoring just eight points with four rebounds and shooting 5-of-19 from the field. His performance included one more key turnover in the game’s closing minutes. Bridges mostly made it look easy, like this skillful deflection of a teammate’s dolphin diving pass.
Through two games the Celtics have only been in the lead for 12 minutes. Indeed, this dispiriting statistic illustrates just how much they are fighting to keep their grip on power. Coach Joe Mazzulla acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, stating, “They made every play … I thought we generated some good looks and then I thought we had some live-ball turnovers and they took advantage of it, so they made the necessary plays to win.”
Brown voiced his frustration at seeing the team unable to transform early leads into wins.
“Two games we’re up 20 points somehow end up not with wins is inexcusable.” – Jaylen Brown
The Celtics’ production trends lead to continued question marks on whether they can perform in the clutch. Kristaps Porzingis, who’d been under the weather himself, lamented how the lack of execution caught up with them daily over the two games.
“Just a little bit of execution here and there. There’s a couple missed shots here and there. A couple things go their way and it just adds up and it’s this result.” – Kristaps Porzingis
The Knicks have taken care of business on the road this postseason. They currently sit atop the NFC North standings with an unblemished 5-0 record, with each game decided by 3 points or less. This worrying trend makes it imperative for Boston to regroup, refocus, and re-strategize if they intend to revive their chances in the series.
“I dunno how to call it, but I’m just not feeling my best, not feeling my best at all. It’s just kills me inside that it’s happening in this moment. But who cares? Nobody feels sorry for us, sorry for me and we have to keep going.” – Kristaps Porzingis
The Knicks have proven to be formidable on the road this postseason, boasting an undefeated record of 5-0, with each victory coming by three points or less. This trend emphasizes Boston’s need to regroup and reassess their strategies if they hope to turn the series around.
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