In New York, Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla shared on Saturday that the period leading up to Game 3 of their initial playoff series against the New York Knicks felt anything but challenging. Despite the Celtics trailing 2-0 after letting go of two significant 20-point leads at home, Mazzulla described it as `the enjoyable phase.` `You don`t embark on this journey expecting it to be straightforward. It`s been intense, yes, but in a positive sense.`
He added that in such circumstances, `you simply need to access your inner resolve, and that`s the key.`
This perspective isn`t surprising from Mazzulla, known for motivating the Celtics with clips of predators like hyenas and killer whales on the hunt. However, according to guard Payton Pritchard, the team maintained a simple, even lighthearted, approach after Game 2.
`We reviewed areas where we could tighten things up a bit, but the real focus was on being more assured and letting shots fly,` Pritchard explained. `Don`t second-guess a good opportunity. If you come off a screen and the shot is there, ignore the outside noise. Everyone talks about us shooting too many 3s, but if you believe in your shot and can make it, then take it with conviction.`
Boston certainly played with confidence in Game 3. Just three days after a poor 10-for-40 performance from beyond the arc at TD Garden, they hit 20-for-40 from deep at Madison Square Garden. Pritchard perfectly embodied this shift, finishing the 115-93 victory with 23 points on 8-of-16 shooting (5-of-10 from three) in 35 minutes. It was a performance characteristic of the Sixth Man of the Year he was this season.
Pritchard`s first long attempt, a pull-up in transition contested by Jalen Brunson, didn`t fall. A few possessions later, he found himself wide open following a pair of screens. Despite being well behind the arc, he launched it, giving Boston a 32-16 advantage late in the first quarter.
Following Game 2, Mazzulla had emphasized to his team the critical importance of finishing quarters strongly and minimizing turnovers.
`It`s all about managing the plays that swing momentum,` Pritchard commented.
The Celtics needed to prevent the Knicks` transition opportunities and avoid the defensive lapses that had fueled New York`s late-game surges in the first two contests. Boston wasn`t flawless in Game 3, but they largely controlled these aspects. Jaylen Brown had just one live-ball turnover, Jrue Holiday had two, and that was nearly the extent of it. On the final play of the first quarter, Pritchard drove the length of the court and calmly sank a baseline jumper, extending the lead and maintaining Boston`s positive momentum.
Neither Jayson Tatum nor Brown had a particularly efficient or high-scoring outing, but it proved inconsequential, largely thanks to Pritchard`s impact. Late in the second quarter, he drove against Brunson, drew a help defender, and set up a three-pointer for Brown. Later in the third, Pritchard isolated against Knicks center Mitchell Robinson after a switch, created space with a move, and drained another three. Shortly after, Pritchard attacked downhill against Miles McBride, stopped abruptly, and executed a graceful reverse layup.
`Payton was enormous, Payton was fantastic,` Brown stated. `[The Knicks] play physically; they have imposing guards and wings who focus on challenging the ball-handler. The level of physical contact is elevated, so you need to be able to execute those passes and plays, and Payton did a stellar job tonight.`
Pritchard mentioned his focus was on staying aggressive.
`Any opportunity I get, I look to attack the paint,` he said, `but always be seeking the three-point shot, naturally.`
His ability to create plays – combined with Boston`s strong defense – significantly eased the offensive burden on Tatum and Brown in Game 3. Looking back, one might wonder if he should have played more crunch-time minutes in Game 2. Perhaps, but the more relevant question now is whether Pritchard will continue to see significant playing time moving forward. Given Mazzulla`s emphasis on pace, spacing, and limiting mistakes, it`s a valid consideration.
After Game 3, Mazzulla noted that the `obvious takeaway` is the Celtics` improved shooting percentages. They converted their open looks far better than in the first two games, but that wasn`t the complete picture: Boston played a cleaner, more strategically sound game. However, from a process standpoint, the Celtics still had some difficulties effectively attacking switches, and there were moments when possessions became stagnant isolation plays, concluding with Tatum or Brown taking contested jumpers one-on-one.
A less optimistic view of Saturday`s game is that Pritchard`s stellar shooting, New York`s poor shooting performance, and the rim protection provided by Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis may have concealed the fact that, over three games, Boston`s primary stars haven`t looked as comfortable offensively as anticipated.
Nevertheless, setting aside the two instances of late-game collapse, the Celtics have generally outplayed the Knicks. They secured a dominant 22-point road victory despite neither Tatum nor Brown having a stellar scoring night. While they suffered some puzzling losses at home during the regular season, they also frequently had wins that resembled this one. The winning performances were much more commonplace.
Jasper Hawthorne