The Knicks knew this was coming.
After the Celtics blew 20-point leads in back-to-back games, the defending champions had something to prove to the basketball world and to themselves to get back into this Eastern Conference semifinal series. And they did that on Saturday, throwing a haymaker in the first quarter and never letting the Knicks get back up, in their 115-93 win in Game 3.
“We knew they would come out with aggression and we have to make sure we’re bringing aggression and force as well,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said of the lackluster first quarter. “There’s going to be runs where you’re not making shots. Get going with your defense, and then all of a sudden, you get rhythm. We have to be better, and we will be.”
That first quarter saw the Celtics shoot 58 percent, including 6-for-7 from three. Conversely, the Knicks shot just 35 percent in the opening frame and hit just one three in seven attempts.
“They were down 2-0 and you knew they were going to come out with a sense of urgency and a sense of desperation. That’s something that we should’ve did a better job with,” Josh Hart said. “We knew it was going to happen and we didn’t play with enough urgency, physicality from the jump, and make them uncomfortable.”
Hart said that a lack of urgency and physicality was the biggest thing he could point to for the team’s defensive breakdowns on Saturday before giving the Celtics credit.
“They’re the defending champs, they weren’t coming here to lay down,” he said. “We have to reset, regroup, watch the film, see where we can get better and take that to Monday.”
In the first two games in Boston, the Celtics shot a combined 25 percent from three (25-for-100). It was a huge reason for the Knicks’ massive comebacks, but when the shots started falling, it was going to be a different game. The Celtics were 50 percent from three (20-for-40), and to Hart and Thibodeau’s points, the lack of intensity on the defensive end allowed Boston to sink shots early, and built up their confidence.
“They were 20-of-40 from three. There’s not a lot I can say,” Jalen Brunson said. “There’s a lot we need to discuss tomorrow and figure out. We need to play with a better sense of urgency.”
Brunson was asked why the urgency was missing from Saturday’s game and the All-Star guard took a beat to gather his thoughts before answering.
“I don’t think we came with the mindset of being satisfied, but I think it was just subconsciously satisfied being up 2-0,” he said. “That’s not the way we need to approach the game.”
Brunson said the team didn’t cover the three-point line effectively, and any lack of communication and miscues “falls under the same umbrella” as not having enough urgency.
“The intent was there, but sometimes if you miss shots, you tend to not have the same type of energy,” Thibodeau said. “There’s a lot of different ways you can help win a game. No one is going to shoot great every night but do other things to help the team win. That’s basically what we’ve done all year. We fell short today. And we have to take a good hard look at the film and get ourselves ready for the next game.”
That next game comes on Monday back at MSG. The Knicks are 1-3 at home in these playoffs after Saturday’s loss, so it’ll be tough to take the 3-1 series lead from these Celtics, who at least for one game, put the first two blown games behind them.
But the Knicks knew this was going to be a tough series. It was highly unlikely the Knicks would sweep the Celtics even after taking the first two games, but they know they need to adjust and be better, or else risk Boston taking control of the series.
“Learn from Games 1-3, especially today,” Brunson said of Game 4’s preparation. “Just come out with some urgency and be ready to go on Monday.”
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