ESPN Analyst Kendrick Perkins was on ESPN today and said the following about Boston. “The Celtics are done. They’re not coming back in this series. The Celtics will be lucky to get one game.” Perkins also pointed out that he thinks the atmosphere in Boston will bring out the best in New York, not in Boston.
Game Three Is A Must-Win for Celtics
While Kendrick Perkins might have over-exaggerated his take a bit, there is some truth to what he’s saying. Boston can’t afford to be down 3-0 in the series for obvious reasons; a 3-0 deficit is nearly impossible to come back from. Considering how clutch Jalen Brunson has been in these playoffs, Perkins’ statement has a lot of material and weight behind it. Despite Boston being down 2-0 in the series, Game Two was a one-point contest. The Knicks have done a great job making clutch buckets when needed in the first two games of the series. Boston’s defense has completely collapsed, blowing huge leads at the end of each game.
A Crazy Stat From the First Two Games
Here’s a crazy stat about the first two games of this playoff series. The Knicks have only had a lead in twelve minutes through the first two games and are up 2-0 in the series. That pretty much paints the picture right there. Boston has had a sizeable lead in both contests and could not put the dagger into New York in either game. It’s just been a complete defensive breakdown. Amazingly, these games have even been close, because the Celtics’ offense has been just as bad. The Celtics missed a playoff record 45 three-pointers in Game One, according to Yahoo Sports.
Final Thoughts
Now, you must be thankful but aggressive if you’re the New York Knicks. Boston gifted you both wins in this series, and you’re in their heads. The Knicks have to clean up a lot in their game and continue to get into Boston’s head. The Celtics are too good to keep playing like this and will adjust. Game Three is just as crucial for the Celtics as for the Knicks. The Knicks are in the driver’s seat in this series if they can clean up their game from top to bottom. The mental toll that these losses have had on Boston can’t be ignored. We’ll see what happens in Game Three.
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