The New York Knicks are the knocking on the door of the Eastern Conference Finals! Up 2-0 against the Boston Celtics, can the Knicks do the unthinkable?
The Knicks are leading the series thanks to the Celtics’ poor three-point shooting. One of their keys to victory is attempting an abundance of threes, which that was instrumental to them winning the 2023-2024 NBA Championship. They led the NBA in three-point attempts in the regular season with 48.2 per game, shooting 36.8 percent, which was top 10 this season. In game 1, they were 15/60 from three. In game 2, they shot 10/40. Shooting 25% in both games, the Celtics are not on the same trajectory that made them champions.
Jayson Tatum, Boston’s star forward, has not been playing like himself. In game one, he shot 30.4% and in game two, he shot even worse, at 26.3%. If the Celtics want a chance to compete in this series, Tatum must be efficient on the offensive end. Despite averaging 18 points, 15 rebounds and 5.5 assists, he needs to step it up notch before his Celtics lose their opportunity to win back-to-back titles.
Mikal Bridges has been the “dark horse” for the Knicks this postseason. His defensive efforts down the stretch in both games. Game one, he stole the ball from Celtics star Jaylen Brown to seal the deal and in game two, he intercepted a pass from Tatum to Jaylen Brown to run out the clock.
Let’s not forget the man himself: Jalen Brunson.
In these two games, Brunson has averaged 23 points, six assists and 3.5 rebounds. His impact on the floor is undeniable, especially in the fourth quarter. Last round, he sent the Detroit Pistons packing with an ice-cold three pointer that won them the game 116-113. He was voted the NBA’s most clutch player this season, and so far in the playoffs, he has been nothing short of that.
The Celtics aren’t out yet, but time is ticking. If Boston can’t rediscover their rhythm from beyond the arc—and if Tatum continues to fade under the lights—the Knicks might just rewrite the script. With Brunson’s clutch gene activated and Bridges locking down the perimeter, New York is two wins away from breaking a narrative that’s shadowed the franchise for decades. Not to mention, no team has ever come back from a 3 game deficit. Game 3 will show us if this Knicks team is a fluke, a force, or the beginning of something bigger.
