During the 2024-25 regular season, the Celtics were a perfect 4-0 vs Zanicks. Many analysts were hoping for the Boston and New York meetings in the 2025 playoffs.
The Knicks were on the road for a game 1 vs. Celtics Monday night. Boston built a 20-point lead in the second half, but cold shots opened the door for New York’s revival. By the fourth quarter, the Knicks had tied the game and forced an OT. Boston lost 108-105 and New York stole Game 1. On Monday evening, the Celtics missed the 3-pointer vs. Zanicks on the NBA playoff record 45.
Will Boston change the offensive strategy for the Game 2 vs. Knicks?
The Celtics missed 45 threes tonight.
Most in playoff games. pic.twitter.com/xowbcvsdbr
– statmuse (@statmuse) May 6, 2025
It is essential to create a large amount of 3-pointers for the Celtics’ success over the past two seasons. Boston won the championship in 2024, averaging 40.2 3-pointers per game in postseason runs. They shot .360% over the arc in their final attempt from the postseason. The Celtics are a team that is willing to live and die beyond the arc.
I saw it with the Knicks in Game 1 on Monday night. Boston scored a 3-pointer for the NBA playoff record 60. But they also missed 3-pointer vs New York on the NBA playoff record 45. After the game, Jaylen Brown spoke to the media about the shots Boston made in Game 1. He believed the team got some quality looks but not capitalized. “Our rhythm and our timing were a little off.”
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst pointed out that Boston scored 45 “uncontested” three-pointers on Monday, missing out on 32. Jalen Brown was right in his ratings for his team, who had a quality look. Brown was 1-10 beyond Game 1 arc. Jason Tatum was 4-15, while Derrick White was 5-16 from Deep. Jalen Brown said in hindsight that the team should have pushed the ball into more basketball. We’ll see if the Celtics will change their Game 2 game plan on Wednesday night.