This game has played out as expected so far. It was always going to be almost impossible to win this game. Celtics were due, their season is on the line, the Knicks maybe not in the right frame of mind. Many reasons today was going to be a long game for the Knicks. You cannot be competitive being outrebounded 19-12 (8 O bounds for Boston already), plus the Knicks are 4-11 from the FT line, and they're shooting 36% overall, 1-9 from 3P range. This series will be decided by game 4, I felt that way since they won game 2. I expect the Knicks to play their best game of the series in game 4, and the Celts to come down a bit from today. Game 4 is the game, and the Knicks will play really well I feel.
You can't keep chasing the game constantly in every single game. Thibs needs to make a change in the starting lineup for the next game.
I see it differently, and I'm truthfully not sweating today's game at all. Just like the Cavs and Pacers, this game was going to be rough. The Celts hitting everything was due to happen after games 1 & 2. The Knicks also haven't made anything. They are 2-17 from 3P range (11.8%) and shooting 40.4% overall. The Celts are 15-29 from 3P range and shooting 50.8% overall. This was all due to happen. On top of that, all you'll get now until Monday night is the Knicks are done, Boston cannot lose, it's over, etc. The Knicks should hear every word of it the next couple of days and use it. Today was expected by me, maybe that's why I am not sweating it. The Celtics weren't getting swept and weren't going to rollover, they are a top team in the NBA (maybe the top team). This series will be all about game 4. I'm not saying the Knicks will win game 4, I am saying they will play much better, the Celts won't hit everything, and we'll see who wins. The team that wins game 4 will win the series.
And the Knicks big men staying out of foul trouble and making their FT's would be nice a well. Tibs needs to be smart with Robinson, like in game 2. Play him so the Celts waste fouls until the penalty. Then you have to play him less, so he doesn't miss FT after FT, which is in his head now. Celts now 16-30 from 3P range, that is not sustainable over games. Brunson is due for a big efficient game, Towns did not play well today and was in foul trouble again, OG hasn't shown up in games 2 or 3 (he is due), Bridges didn't do much in games 2 or 3 outside of 1 quarter. Hart has been very invisible. A lot of Knicks due for a good game 4. Do not panic, be ready to play from the start. Game 4 is a new day.
Thinking it was highly doubtful the Knicks could win this game, I'm happy they get beaten badly rather than by a few points. I would say, losing the way the Knicks did is better than a close frustrating loss. This kind of L should get their attention you'd think. If the Celtics, or any team, shoots 50% from 3PT range on 40 shots, 20-40, they are going to win. It's made even worse when the Knicks shoot 20% from 3PT range, 5-25 (that's worse than the Celts in games 1 & 2). If that continues in game 4, the Knicks will lose. My head says the Celts will shoot at least a little worse, and the Knicks will shoot at least a little better. Headlines I'm seeing: Celtics demolish the Knicks; Celtics trash the Knicks; Celtics thrash the Knicks. Pretty strong words, one would think the Knicks will read those words and use them in game 4. Maybe the Knicks simply aren't good enough and still lose game 4, certainly possible, but win or lose I feel confident we are going to see a much better performance and the Knicks best game of the series in game 4. You take what you can from this game, including some extra motivation, and you flush it and move onto game 4. Every single Knick fan would have signed up for a 2-1 series lead after 3 games, with game 4 at MSG. That's the spot we are in, now go play your best game in game 4 and let the chips fall where they may, but if we play a very good game, we will have a fair chance to win I feel.
I knew the Cavs weren't as good as their regular season record, and said they were a level below Boston and OKC, but their performance tonight was terrible. Indiana is good team, but come on now, the Cavs with a major no show in virtually a must win game. Indiana will be a tough out in the ECF. Let's hope the Knicks series continues to mirror the Pacers/Cavs series. Not sure if it will be good enough to win, but after their "performance" and "effort" in game 3, you have to think the Knicks will be ready to play a strong game in game 4. If they don't, you really have to question Tibs and the players. To me, the Celts are the best team in the NBA, slightly ahead of OKC, but I do feel confident we'll see the Knicks play their best game of the series and start the game much better as well. I want to see a big performance out of Brunson, and maybe OG will show up, only 2 points in game 3, and 7 points in games 2 & 3 combined, obviously need a lot more from him. 1-3 at home, please show up tomorrow night and give the MSG crowd something to cheer about. Get a win, and strong chance they'll be in the ECF. I 100% believe the winner of game 4 will win the series.
That game played out exactly like I thought it would. I knew the Knicks were going to play well tonight, and play their best game of the series, especially after the awful game 3 performance. Didn't know if they'd win for sure since Boston is a very good team, but I knew the Knicks would play well. On top of that, when they were only down 11 at the half despite Boston shooting 12-24 from 3P range while the Knicks were 7-19 from 3P range, and the Boston attempted 15 FT's to the Knicks only attempting 4 FT's, I thought the Knicks were in a great spot despite trailing by 11. I felt we were sitting on a Brunson big game; he was due. OG was due as I mentioned earlier. Towns and Bridges got it done. And kudos to Tibs for sticking to the formula that I mentioned after game 1, Robinson and McBride both need to play 20 minutes +/- for the Knicks to be at their best, Robinson played 25 & McBride played 20. Perfect. I agree Grey, that looked like a torn achilles to me as well. Those non-contact injuries are the worst, and almost always means something popped and tore. Add in he was in anguish, couldn't put any weight on it, was in a wheelchair after the game, and had his head in his hands, I'd say he's done for a long while, and most likely he'll miss next season. If Tatum is out, and I'd say 99% he is, this series is over. No shot Boston comes back from down 3-1 without him. They may win game 5 in Boston, but the Knicks end it in 6 worst case if Tatum is done. How crazy is it both the Cavs and Celts, by far the two best teams in the East (and 2 of the big 3 teams in the NBA), trail 3-1 and both appear to be done in round 2. Upsets like that NEVER happen in the NBA, certainly not in round 2. Even crazier, the Knicks will have home court in the ECF if the Pacers and Knicks finish off their series, a rematch of round 2 last season (with Mitchell hurting I'd be shocked if the Pacers don't hold on just like us). This is for another day, but if they both hold on, the Pacers series is going to be very tough, they are a very good team, better than last season. At best it is a tossup series. A potential ECF trip, with home court, very exciting stuff. Don't take anything for granted or get overconfident, finish your business and move on. It's good for the Knicks we have a quick turnaround to game 5 on Wednesday night, no extra day off helps the Knicks IMO.
