The Knicks hit a rough patch on Saturday, losing their chance for error.
After two remarkable comebacks in Boston, they had some breathing room. However, they couldn’t maintain that momentum in Game 3.
Josh Hart referred to the performance as “unacceptable.”
Looking ahead to Monday night, the Knicks need to step up—improving their defense against three-pointers, rebounding better, and creating more offensive opportunities.
If they win, they’ll regain control in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, inching closer to a potential trip to the conference finals for the first time in 25 years.
A loss would make the series tied, giving the Celtics the upper hand.
“That’s the nature of the playoffs. They push you in so many ways,” coach Tom Thibodeau remarked. “You can be knocked down; you have to get back up and keep fighting. Emotional highs and lows are part of the journey.”
The Knicks’ postseason has certainly been challenging.
They’ve capitalized on all their playoff victories in just six quarters. Though they struggled at home, they’ve been flawless on the road, winning all five games by fewer than three points.
A strong start would be beneficial. In all three games of the series, they’ve trailed by at least 20 points.
They’re continually climbing uphill. While it worked in TD Garden, Game 3 showcased the pitfalls of that strategy. In 128 minutes, the Knicks only led for a mere 17 seconds.
As a unit, they’ve been outscored by 29 points in this series, with a playoff net rating of minus 7.0 (meaning they’re trailing by 7 points for every 100 possessions). Shockingly, in this series, that rating plummets to minus 20.7 over 68 minutes.
“We’re not effectively imposing ourselves on the game from the get-go,” Hart noted. “I dealt with similar issues in Detroit, holding onto a lead only to see it disappear in the first few minutes after halftime.”
It was somewhat expected after the Celtics made three late shots in Game 3, especially considering they hadn’t made nearly as many attempts in the earlier games. Yet, the Knicks missed opportunities to challenge their defense.
Too many open shots were allowed, and their pick-and-roll defense lacked structure.
The Celtics quickly found their rhythm in Boston, hitting six of their first seven shots, going 20/20 overall.
However, the Knicks’ offense faltered too. Jalen Brunson had a sluggish start, while OG Anunoby managed just 7 points in the last two games. Hart struggled mightily in Game 3.
Everyone knows improvements are necessary, and time is of the essence.
Interestingly, if you’d told Thibodeau or his players a week ago that they’d be in a 2-1 position, they would have taken it. They were in a strong spot.
“It’s the playoffs. This is what you dream about,” Hart shared. “We must embrace that urgency. We can discuss it, but ultimately, it’s about the players’ heart. I feel like we’re ready for Monday night.”
