I think the Celts clearly will take less 3's in game 2, and they will clearly shoot better in game 2, simple law of averages says that. I also think the Knicks will rebound better, the Celts won't have 19 O bounds, and the Knicks will shoot FT's better. I would also think Towns will stay on the court and out of foul trouble in game 2. All of that seems logical based on averages. With that said, I'd be surprised if game 2 is close in the final minutes, I would expect the Celts to bring their A game, and the Knicks to have a little letdown. It is beyond difficult for me to fathom the Knicks winning game 2, or even keeping it somewhat close throughout, I would put my money on a big Boston win. I believe game 3 will be the telling game in this series, will it be a long or short series. For my money, I still think Boston is the best team in the NBA, the only team I see on the same level is OKC, I have Boston 1 and OKC 2, then a drop to the next level. I said it during round 1, the Cavs played over their heads this season and are not on the same level as Boston or OKC. Don't get me wrong, the Cavs are good, they are just not on the top level of two teams. Their choke job tonight was an all-time epic collapse. If they played the final 2 minutes of the game 100 times, the Cavs win 99 of the 100. It was that epic of a collapse. Good for Indiana.
Everyone and their mother expects Boston to come out strong for Game 2 but there's absolutely no pressure on the Knicks now after one of the greatest comeback wins in NBA history. Brunson has made more playoff clutch shots than any Knick I've watched, Towns needs to get involved and stop being a wallflower.
I'm not so sure Boston won't suck shooting the ball from 3 again if the Knicks play some hard defense against them.
Just unbelievable. Celtics a hideous 1-14 to close the fourth and choke another one away. Need to go back to MSG for game three and kick them in the balls.
Have to give the Knicks tons of credit. No way did I think they'd be up 2-0 going home. What has separated the teams is the Knicks ability to make clutch plays late in the game, they have thrived at it all playoffs. Meanwhile the Celts have wilted down the stretch in both games. The Knicks were better on the glass tonight, shot FT's much better, and Towns was clearly better tonight. The Celts struggled shooting the ball again, but you have to start giving the Knicks at least some credit for their poor shooting. The Knicks should keep playing with a chip on their shoulder. Pre-series, and through two games, everything is told from Boston's POV. What did they do wrong, how they cannot shoot poorly again, how they are still a big favorite. The Knicks have gotten very little respect thus far. I would expect that will change now going home up 2-0, but I am sure a lot of people still expect Boston to win the series, and either way the Knicks need to keep that underdog mentality in place for game 3 and beyond. Keep playing the role of the big underdog. The Knicks team as a whole is finally playing up to their individual talent level. I also have to tip my cap to Tibs for playing 7 strong in each game so far. Robinson and McBride need to continue playing 20 mpg +/- each, that is the recipe for success, don't go back to playing no bench Tibs. One thing to remember, the Knicks tried to build this team to compete with Boston and their wing talent. That is why they added OG and Bridges, both good to very good wings, who excel on D, and we have seen that in both games, and Bridges has made huge defensive plays to end each game. Great to see, defensive wins championships. Now the Knicks go back home where they were 1-2 against Detroit, they are 5-0 on the road in the playoffs. Like the Rangers, the Knicks have been better on the road in big spots, that needs to change on Saturday. Do not let up, do not get full of yourselves going home. Cannot expect a sweep but absolutely need to win one of two at home and go back to Boston up 3-1. If they do that, I think the Knicks will find a way to win the series, if Boston wins both in NY, I would expect Boston to win the series. Go NY Go NY Go!!!
I don't want to hear about how Boston did this and that poorly, and it's on them for losing. OG had a down game, Brunson had a down game by his standards, and while Bridges had a big 4th Q, overall he had a down game, and yet the Knicks still won. It goes both ways, as I expect Boston will have a game where the 3's are falling, but I also expect the Knicks main guys to be better. It balances out. I hate the game Saturday is at 3:30. Talk about terrible scheduling, the NBA decided Minny at GS was the better more high-profile game due to Curry and made that the night game over Boston/NY, extremely stupid. Now it's even worse as Curry is out for the game. Even Barkley said, how is that not a night game in NYC. Dumb.
Obviously, I want the Knicks to win anyway, but if you watched or read anything the past few days it should fuel you even more. Basically, this series is the Celtics vs. the Celtics, and the Knicks are an afterthought. You would think the Knicks are a college team playing the best team in the history of the NBA. Other than Perk on ESPN, everyone is picking the Celts to win still, the only reason the Knicks are up 2-0 is because the Celts lost, and every story or analysis is told from the Celts POV. Tatum is amazing, Brunson is whatever. It really is kind of disgusting. The Knicks should use every bit of it to help keep them focused and motivated and they need to continue playing with the same underdog mindset. Show everyone you are legit, you are a force, you deserve respect, and there are actually two teams in this series. What's being missed here is the Knicks have talent. They have two stars, three good to very good players (who all play D), and a rare big off the bench who plays D and is tough downlow. As we have discussed, they don't always play up to their talent level, which is why they struggled against the best this season, but they deserve more respect after games 1 & 2 than they are getting. Just like with the Cavs/Pacers last night, I think game 3 is going to be extremely difficult for the Knicks to win. If Boston doesn't win today the series is over, and they know it, so they are playing for their season. I believe game 4 will be the game that decides this series, if the Knicks go up 3-1, I think they'll win the series. BTW, the Knicks should have watched the Cavs/Pacers game closely as it's almost an identical situation and should be a good guide to what the Knicks are up against today, they will get the Celtics best in game 3. I don't think this series is over, and I think winning game 3 will be very difficult, maybe even unlikely, but that isn't the point. The lack of respect, and all about Boston is disrespectful, and the Knicks need to use that as fuel. Cannot lose both games 3 & 4, win one of the next two games, and they are in great shape. And I think they have a solid shot to win game 4 and go up 3-1.
Round 2 of the playoffs have been really exciting so far. The NBA is known for favorites always winning, and short series in rounds 1 & 2, but so far in this round you are seeing the underdog teams play well. Pacers up 2-1; Knicks up 2-0; Nuggets up 2-1 all three of those teams were really big dogs. Great to see the NBA playoffs can add some excitement before the CF's or Finals, which a lot of times aren't that great either. Unlike the NHL playoffs, the NBA playoffs are usually all about talent, the most talented team wins, usually pretty easily, and there is a major lack of upsets due to that. This round has been a lot of fun, let's see if any of the three teams can actually hold on and win the series.
The NBA finally wised up with their lousy officiating parameters and let teams play defense, no more flopping and no more contorting your body into an unsuspecting defender to draw a foul after throwing up a wild shot. This Knicks team has heart and are fun to watch, Go NY Go NY Go!
Well said, I hate when they call cheap fouls. Especially when the shooter very clearly jumps into the defender and they call a foul on the defender. Sometimes it's like they don't allow D in the NBA. Let them play. Go NY Go NY Go!!!!
Boston could easily roll off 4 wins. The fact the Knicks were down by 20 in both games is concerning. Best thing they have going for them is that the Celtics appear to be like the Knicks last year. Battling injuries but not as bad.
Tibs gets killed for the regular season minutes he plays but in the 4th quarter the Knicks have looked fresher than Detroit or Boston.
