The Boston Celtics discover themselves in unfamiliar territory, down 2-0 at dwelling within the Jap Convention semifinals after two gorgeous comebacks by the New York Knicks.
In each Recreation 1 and Recreation 2, Boston constructed commanding 20-point leads solely to observe them vanish underneath the burden of their very own errors and New York’s relentless late-game execution.
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What’s behind the Celtics’ collapse?
The Knicks have made NBA historical past with their resilience, changing into the primary crew ever to erase 20-point deficits in consecutive playoff video games.
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In the meantime, the Celtics have landed on the flawed facet of the document books, becoming a member of the 1996-97 Clippers as the one crew to undergo such collapses twice in a single postseason.
In clutch time, outlined as the ultimate 5 minutes of a recreation inside 5 factors, New York has thrived, whereas Boston has faltered badly.
Boston’s points in crunch time have been obvious.
They personal a -26.7 internet score in these key moments and are taking pictures simply 24.1% from the sphere and 9.1% from past the arc throughout these stretches, the bottom marks of any playoff crew this yr.
The Celtics’ offense tightens up when it issues most, and their go-to gamers are struggling to ship.
A lot of Boston’s hassle stems from the absence, or diminished presence, of Kristaps Porziis.
Battling by means of sickness, Porziis has performed restricted minutes in each video games, eradicating a key flooring spacer and inside defender from the Celtics’ rotation.
With out him, the Knicks’ bigs are clogging the paint and difficult pictures with out worry of outdoor punishment.
Jayson Tatum, anticipated to be the most effective participant on this collection, hasn’t met that normal.
He is scored simply 36 factors on 42 pictures and did not impose his will late in video games.
Whereas Jaylen Brown and Porziis have bodily excuses, Tatum’s quiet fourth quarters have been a serious concern, particularly in Recreation 2 the place he shot simply 1-of-5 within the last interval.
Credit score should additionally go to New York.
Their defensive core, led by Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Mitchell Robinson, has tightened the screws when Boston seems able to run away.
Josh Hart has been all over the place, and Jalen Brunson, the league’s Clutch Participant of the 12 months, continues to return by means of when it counts most.
For Boston to climb again into the collection, it begins with cleaner execution and a extra assertive Tatum.
They’re going to want smarter decision-making in clutch time, stronger bench manufacturing, and, most critically, a wholesome Porziis presence.
In any other case, this collection might slip away earlier than they ever actually get going.
