With 5:41 left within the third quarter of Recreation One, and three:12 left within the third quarter of Recreation Two, the Celtics held 20-point leads over the New York Knicks. They misplaced each video games. That doesn’t simply occur by probability.
When trying on the second-half collapses in each video games, they had been practically similar. Whereas the Knicks are a gifted group that deserves loads of respect, these collapses had been extra of the Celtics capturing themselves within the foot than the rest.
Let’s identification the widespread themes that led to those collapses.
Function gamers opening the floodgates
In both recreation, the Knicks’ position gamers cracked open the sport when the Celtics had been up large.
In Recreation One, it was OG Anunoby. When OG scored his first bucket of the third quarter, the C’s had been up by 17. Anunoby ended up scoring 10 within the third quarter altogether, sparking the Knicks’ comeback, the place they trailed by simply 9 to shut the quarter.
An analogous story unfolded in Recreation Two. With 11:12 to go within the fourth quarter, Mikal Bridges hit a shot to place the Knicks inside 13. An ensuing 14-point quarter from him had an analogous impact for New York. To not point out, he stole and blocked the ball to seal each video games.
In playoff video games, you by no means need to give the opposite group life. When you may have them on the ropes, it’s essential knock them out. Permitting guys like OG and Bridges gave the remainder of New York’s stars — particularly Jalen Brunson — a brand new air of confidence. That’s the very last thing the Celtics need.
Delayed offensive motion late in video games
Late in each video games, the Celtics have slowed issues down considerably, however that’s not atypical. When issues get tight in crunch time, each group tends to be extra calculated, methodical, and sluggish. Nevertheless, Boston hasn’t been calculated or methodical. They’ve simply been sluggish.
Moderately than instantly entering into various offensive actions to maneuver the Knicks’ protection, the Celtics have been dribbling throughout the perimeter or holding the ball whereas the protection settles.
On this clip beneath, the C’s get two probabilities, each of which they go away Tatum on an island to determine it out himself. Whereas the ball-handler — on this case Tatum — tries to power some kind of motion, the remainder of the group has been watching:
The Celtics did barely higher in Recreation Two of making motion and getting higher photographs down the stretch; nevertheless, it was nonetheless to not the extent they’re able to — particularly on the final possession.
These stagnant possessions result in pressured, poor photographs from the perimeter that merely don’t represent environment friendly offense, particularly once you desperately want a bucket.
Don’t cease seal-hunting
The Knicks have two of the NBA’s worst defenders of their beginning lineup. With each probability they’ve, the Celtics needs to be attacking Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Cities. In truth, they will typically get each of them in a pick-and-roll, selecting which one they need to expose.
Each Celtic is at fault for this one, however let’s simply concentrate on Jayson Tatum particularly.
It began in Recreation One. With the sport tied at 89, Tatum obtained KAT on a change with a transparent right-hand driving lane to the ring — at worst, he would draw a foul. As a substitute, he launched a step-back three. Then, up 98–97, he obtained Brunson on a change, with one other clear lane. Missed step-back three. Then, with the sport nonetheless at 98–97 with a minute and a half left, Tatum drew Brunson once more. You guessed it — missed step-back three. Final, and positively not least, with Mitchell Robinson on an island, the sport tied with 10 seconds left, Tatum launched one more step-back brick:
It wasn’t a lot totally different in recreation two. Tatum wasn’t hoisting up step-back threes, nevertheless, Boston’s ineptitude for exposing mismatches was related. Simply look right here, a intelligent display screen drew Brunson protection for Tatum, and he offers up the ball with little struggle:
It’s not that they aren’t discovering the seals, it’s that they aren’t attacking them. Boston must comply with their philosophy and expose New York’s weak hyperlinks with intentionality.
