Something seems to be going terribly wrong with the Boston Celtics. For the second straight game, they took a 20-point lead against the New York Knicks. The Celtics also withdrew from shooting a heavy volume of threes. Still, the Knicks battled their way back yet again. This time, Jalen Brunson hit a pair of clutch free throws, and Mikal Bridges put on a stunning fourth-quarter performance. On the other side, Boston lost its way when composure mattered most.
The Celtics had an abysmal final stretch, shooting just 20.8% from the field in the fourth quarter. In the last five minutes, when keeping the scoreboard ticking was required, the Celtics only scored five points. The Knicks didn’t make the same errors. Their turnaround came from their determination on both sides of the floor.
Led by Bridges’ flurry, they went on a 17-2 run to get within striking distance. When the time came, they went for the kill and got the aim spot on. The last two meltdowns have put the Celtics in a major dilemma. Just what is going wrong, and who is to blame for these results? Joe Mazzulla took accountability and even felt his players needed to do better.
However, he couldn’t help but address the fiery spirit of the Knicks. “Oh, yeah. I mean, you got to give them credit. They’re a well-coached, good team. So, yeah, I mean, I think it’s both. I think it’s on us. Uh, it’s on it’s on it’s on me to call better plays. It’s on them, our guys, to make better reads. And obviously, you know, the Knicks are doing a good job defending us,” he said of the Celtics’ Game 2 performance.
Feb 11, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla and forward Jayson Tatum (0) during a timeout the second half at Kaseya Center against the Miami Heat. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
The Knicks have zeroed in on Boston’s deadliest weapon—three-point shooting. It’s been the backbone of the Celtics’ dominance since last season. But in this series? New York has flipped the script, holding them to a dismal 25% from deep across two games. That’s where the tide turned.
But flip the lens, and it’s also where Jayson Tatum and the Celtics let two home games slip. The Knicks didn’t just win at TD Garden—they took those games, while Boston’s shooting went cold and their rhythm fell apart.
The Celtics need to change
After they crumbled in Game 1, analysts were quick to raise fingers at one player. Jayson Tatum became the target, despite him arguably being the best player for the Celtics during the postseason. But the Duke product has struggled. His inefficiencies have posed several troubles for the Celtics’ offense.
And it might have also led to self-doubt. According to media members, Tatum refrained from shooting the ball during the second half. They alluded to the Celtics’ three-point splurge gone wrong in Game 1. Mazzulla, though, doesn’t see it that way. He believes in Tatum’s ability to read the game.
“I think he just tries to make the right play or the right read on each and every possession,” the Celtics head coach noted.
Feb 23, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) drives to the basket while Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) defends during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
During this series, Jayson Tatum hasn’t even come close to being his best version. But the problem is nobody on the Celtics has stepped up. During a highly physical series against the Magic, JT led from the front. Now that he is struggling, none of the other Celtics have been able to take the load off him, even momentarily, for him to hunt for ways to be effective.
In addition, the Celtics are still preaching the same ploys. They shot 40 threes tonight, making just ten of them. The Knicks’ OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges empty their tanks defending the perimeter. Moreover, the tenacious Josh Hart is also running around for the entirety of the game.
The Knicks’ high endurance and play style have been challenging for the Celtics to get past. But Jayson Tatum alone isn’t to blame. The reigning champions need to change something or many things. Because with their schemes right now, the Knicks feel like one rampant run could turn the tide for them.
Game 3 might not be an official elimination game, but for the Celtics, it sure feels like one. With ticket prices at Madison Square Garden hitting an all-time high, the Knicks are primed to pounce—fueled by a rabid home crowd ready to explode at the slightest Celtics stumble.
Boston hasn’t felt pressure like this since that brutal collapse against Miami in the 2023 East Finals. Now, with momentum slipping and the noise growing louder, it’s on Jayson Tatum to deliver—because anything less than his A-game, and the defending champs might be staring down a nightmare.
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