Regardless of being down 2-0 and occurring the highway to Madison Sq. Backyard, there isn’t a cause for the defending NBA Champion Boston Celtics to panic.
Within the unpredictable panorama of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics discover themselves in an unexpected predicament. Regardless of a dominant common season and a sweep of the New York Knicks, the Celtics have squandered 20-point leads in back-to-back video games, now trailing 0-2 within the sequence. Because the sequence shifts to Madison Sq. Backyard, questions loom about Boston’s reliance on three-point taking pictures and their means to adapt beneath stress. The Celtics should rediscover their championship type to keep away from an early exit from the postseason.
Boston radio hosts blame the Celtics first 2 losses on “not taking the Knicks critically.”
“They’re not taking them critically. Positively works in opposition to them. I’m not taking them critically… the Knicks nonetheless blow… they’re trash. They’re rubbish.” pic.twitter.com/0UXfXkJWnX
— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) Might 9, 2025
The Perils of Perimeter Dependence
Boston’s offensive technique, closely reliant on three-point taking pictures, has faltered at a essential juncture. In Sport 1, the Celtics set an NBA playoff file by lacking 45 three-point makes an attempt, changing simply 15 of 60. Sport 2 noticed a slight enchancment, but they nonetheless managed solely 10 of 40 from past the arc. This overreliance has rendered their offense predictable, permitting the Knicks to concentrate on perimeter protection and disrupt Boston’s rhythm. The Celtics’ lack of ability to diversify their offensive method has turn into a obtrusive vulnerability, one which New York has exploited to grab management of the sequence. Nevertheless it’s arduous to disregard how good Boston has been all season, and it’s arduous to disregard the truth that mathematical averages exist for a cause.
Sport 3 up subsequent. pic.twitter.com/xwmQ2jwF5U
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) Might 9, 2025
Whereas Boston’s taking pictures woes are evident, the Knicks’ defensive tenacity has been instrumental of their comeback victories. Mikal Bridges, regardless of offensive struggles, has delivered clutch defensive performs, together with game-sealing steals in each contests. The Celtics’ stars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, have struggled to seek out their footing, with Tatum taking pictures 5-for-19 in Sport 2. Kristaps Porziņģis’ restricted affect attributable to sickness additional compounds Boston’s challenges. The Celtics’ lack of ability to capitalize on their leads and modify to New York’s defensive schemes has left them susceptible and looking for solutions.
A Crossroads within the Championship Journey
Trailing 0-2, the Celtics face a pivotal second of their quest to defend their title. Traditionally, groups on this place have a steep hill to climb, with solely a handful managing to reverse such deficits. Boston’s path ahead requires introspection and flexibility. They need to reassess their offensive technique, maybe lowering their dependency on three-point pictures and specializing in creating high-percentage alternatives.
Defensively, containing New York’s key contributors like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Cities is paramount. The Celtics’ response within the upcoming video games won’t solely decide the end result of this sequence but in addition outline their resilience and championship mettle.
New York up subsequent ✈️ pic.twitter.com/NBpRJQwJlC
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) Might 9, 2025
The truth is that there’s simply no cause for the Celtics to panic. If you wish to guess on probably the greatest taking pictures groups of all time to proceed this horrid stretch through which they misplaced two video games by a mixed 4 factors, go for it. However not me. Boston continues to be -100 to win the sequence in Vegas, regardless of dropping two video games at house. The truth is that they dominated each video games at occasions whereas surviving horrible taking pictures stretches. One factor is evident. The Celtics are able to blowing out the Knicks. The Kicks don’t look able to reversing that. So whereas Knicks followers do what they do, have fun like they’ve gained a title with a 2-0 sequence lead earlier than they’ve reached the Jap Convention finals, they might wish to contemplate the info. This Celtics staff is a hazard to your complete league whereas their season is alive.
