Regardless of being down 2-0 and occurring the highway to Madison Sq. Backyard, there isn’t a motive 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 capturing and their capability to adapt below strain. The Celtics should rediscover their championship kind to keep away from an early exit from the postseason.
Boston radio hosts blame the Celtics first 2 losses on “not taking the Knicks severely.”
“They’re not taking them severely. Positively works towards them. I’m not taking them severely… 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 capturing, has faltered at a essential juncture. In Recreation 1, the Celtics set an NBA playoff file by lacking 45 three-point makes an attempt, changing simply 15 of 60. Recreation 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 deal with perimeter protection and disrupt Boston’s rhythm. The Celtics’ incapability to diversify their offensive method has turn out to be a obtrusive vulnerability, one which New York has exploited to grab management of the sequence. However it’s exhausting to disregard how good Boston has been all season, and it’s exhausting to disregard the truth that mathematical averages exist for a motive.
Recreation 3 up subsequent. pic.twitter.com/xwmQ2jwF5U
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) Might 9, 2025
Whereas Boston’s capturing 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 capturing 5-for-19 in Recreation 2. Kristaps Porziņģis’ restricted impression attributable to sickness additional compounds Boston’s challenges. The Celtics’ incapability to capitalize on their leads and modify to New York’s defensive schemes has left them weak 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 photographs 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 result of this sequence but additionally 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 motive for the Celtics to panic. If you wish to guess on the most effective capturing 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 remains to be -100 to win the sequence in Vegas, regardless of dropping two video games at dwelling. The truth is that they dominated each video games at occasions whereas surviving horrible capturing 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 received a title with a 2-0 sequence lead earlier than they’ve reached the Japanese Convention finals, they could wish to think about the information. This Celtics workforce is a hazard to your entire league whereas their season is alive.
