The NBA playoff matchup between the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks has turned into a surprising series, with the Knicks leading 2-0 despite losing all four regular-season games to the Celtics by an average of over 16 points. The Knicks achieved this lead by staging remarkable comebacks from 20-point deficits in both games. Analysts Andrew Greif and Rohan Nadkarni dissect the situation, attributing the Knicks’ victories to a mix of their resilience and the Celtics’ shortcomings.
While the Knicks have shown grit, including a playoff trend of comebacks, they’ve also struggled offensively, ranking lower in scoring during the playoffs. Conversely, the Celtics’ poor shooting, particularly from beyond the arc (25% in the series), has contributed to their downfall. Late-game execution issues also plague Boston, as star players Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have underperformed. Tatum’s shooting percentage is alarmingly low (under 30%), and both players failed to deliver crucial points in tight moments.
Going forward, while the Knicks have performed admirably, maintaining this high level seems improbable, especially if the Celtics start converting more shots. The Celtics’ path to winning lies in improving their shooting efficiency and sticking to their strengths, despite recent struggles. Notably, they have historically performed better on the road during playoffs.
The series also highlights key player dynamics, namely Knicks center Mitchell Robinson’s impact on defense and Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis’s recent illness limiting his effectiveness. With only 34 of 463 playoff series leading to comeback victories from a 2-0 deficit, Boston faces an uphill battle to reclaim control in the series.
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