This seemed destined to happen.
Eventually, the Celtics found their rhythm with open three-pointers, despite not having too many sharpshooters on the squad.
One choice by Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau might have triggered this shift.
After going 100-25-25 in the opening two games of the series, the Celtics succeeded in hitting 50% of their three-point attempts (40-20) during a 115-93 Game 3 defeat at Madison Square Garden. In stark contrast, the Knicks only managed a dismal 20.0% (25-5) beyond the arc, resulting in a 45-point deficit for three-pointers.
“It was just a matter of time,” Jason Tatum remarked. “We all practice diligently and spend a lot of time on our craft. It’s true that not every shot goes in, but we know it eventually balances out.”
The Knicks’ five three-pointers were their fewest in this postseason, only matching a few regular season games.
In the previous two games of the series, the Celtics had only managed to hit 25% (12-for-48) from wide-open three-point territory (with the nearest defender being six feet away).
During the regular season, the Celtics fared better against the Knicks, with a 46.3% (37-80) success rate from the same distance.
On Saturday, the Celtics finally capitalized on those chances.
“We take open shots, shoot with confidence, and can knock them down,” Jalen Brown said. “We have excellent shooters on this team…I think we can improve and be even more aggressive. As we gain confidence, we hope to see that reflected.”
After opting for a switch defense in the first two games, the Knicks reverted to drop coverage during Game 3.
This strategy had been primarily used in the regular season, with mixed results, but had troubled the Celtics early on in this series.
“They do shoot threes, and they look to get those shots,” Jalen Brunson commented. “Luckily for us, they didn’t find the mark in Games 1 and 2. But tonight they did. Regarding our pick-and-roll defense, we have our strategies in place.”
Thibodeau’s choice raised some eyebrows.
“There are plenty of pick-and-rolls in the game,” Thibodeau explained. “What we focus on is how well we contain, how many shots are contested, and if the scheme was executed with the right intensity.”
