The Boston Celtics, perhaps more than any other team in NBA history, live and die by the three-point shot. While this strategy often leads to success, they suffered a historic failure in Game 1 against the New York Knicks, falling 108-105 in overtime. Their shooting from beyond the arc was unprecedentedly poor: they missed a record-setting 45 three-pointers on 60 attempts in an NBA playoff game.
Remarkably, the Celtics missed 45 out of their 60 three-point tries, both figures being playoff records. Despite building a 20-point lead by the middle of the third quarter, Boston continued to rely almost exclusively on three-pointers when the Knicks began their comeback, attempting only 12 two-point shots throughout the entire second half and overtime period combined.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla defended the team`s shot selection, stating, “I thought for the most part we fought for good looks throughout the game… To me, I look at the shot quality. Our shot quality was high… There`s probably eight to 10 shots that we can be better at.”
There is some validity to his point; Boston did get some decent looks, both self-created and off catches. Three-point shooting is fundamental to their game, and with their roster of capable shooters, the percentages usually favor them over time. If just a few more of their typical makes had fallen, they likely would have won the game.
However, they didn`t, while the Knicks were successful, sinking 17 threes at a 45.9% rate. Boston`s 25% finish from three created a 20% efficiency gap, which has been a decisive factor this season. According to CBS Sports research, teams with a 20% or greater three-point efficiency advantage finished the regular season 98-0 and are 5-0 so far in the playoffs.
Whether attributed to good or bad luck, the reality is the Celtics employ a highly one-dimensional style. While the math often favors their three-point volume over a full season, a team heavily reliant on perimeter shooting needs a contingency plan for nights when the shots simply aren`t falling, especially in the playoffs.
The Celtics lacked this crucial Plan B. Jayson Tatum struggled significantly down the stretch, continually attempting threes hoping one would connect, but he finished a poor 4-of-15 from deep, missing all five of his fourth-quarter attempts. Jaylen Brown went 1 for 10, and Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford collectively missed 20 three-pointers.
Credit must also be given to the New York Knicks. They built their roster with this matchup in mind, featuring numerous long, switchable two-way wings capable of matching up with Boston`s personnel, complemented by a superstar scorer and a stretch big man. For at least one game, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, and OG Anunoby made Leon Rose`s roster construction look brilliant.
New York`s defense, inconsistent during the regular season, proved effective. They managed to contain Boston`s drives while still recovering effectively to contest outside shooters. The relentless effort from the Knicks` wings was palpable; Bridges, playing 51 minutes, still had the energy for critical plays in overtime.
For the Knicks, this Game 1 victory provided a potential blueprint for success: defend the three-point line aggressively, hope Boston has an off shooting night, rely on Jalen Brunson to be the game`s best player (which he was, finishing with 29 points and five threes while dominating late), and get a key offensive contribution from another wing. Anunoby fulfilled this role, scoring 29 points, including 11 in the crucial fourth quarter and overtime periods.
The key questions moving forward are whether the Knicks can sustain this defensive performance and shooting efficiency, and crucially, if the Celtics` three-point struggles continue, will they finally adapt and develop a Plan B?
Jasper Hawthorne