The second round of the NBA playoffs has featured a surprising matchup between the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks. Despite the Celtics sweeping the Knicks in the regular season with an average win margin of 16.3 points, the Knicks have taken a 2-0 lead in the playoff series, winning both games while overcoming 20-point deficits in each. This turn of events raises the question: Did the Knicks win, or did the Celtics lose? Analysts Andrew Greif and Rohan Nadkarni suggest it’s a mix of both, but Boston’s poor shooting—just 25 of 100 from three-point range—plays a significant role in their struggles.
The Celtics have suffered from late-game execution issues and inconsistent performances from stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, both of whom are shooting poorly. Tatum’s performance is particularly scrutinized, as he has historically excelled in high-pressure situations. Meanwhile, the Knicks’ early success is attributed to their defensive resilience, even if their offensive play has also faltered.
Looking ahead, while the Knicks’ current form seems unlikely to continue, they don’t need to replicate their comeback strategy to win the series. The Celtics, on the other hand, must return to their dominant shooting form and build leads early, a strategy that has generally proven effective for them historically.
Key factors also include the performance of opposing centers, with Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson significantly impacting the games defensively, while Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis struggles with an illness. As Boston aims to reverse their 0-2 deficit, they need better shooting and consistent effort from their key players, acknowledging that history shows the difficulty of overcoming a two-game playoff deficit.
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