How Knicks Feel Going Up 2-0 Vs. Celtics: ‘Whatever It Takes’

The Boston Celtics are competing for the title of the most arrogant and unaware team in NBA history, as the reigning champions scripted their self-destruction for the second straight time in their Eastern Conference semifinals duel.

Boston knew its objective, but committed with buckled knees in front of the altar. They had Kristaps Porzingis back, they had New York’s Mikal Bridges scoreless through the first three quarters and they had all the chances in the world to even up the series, 1-1, before taking off for Madison Square Garden. Yet, somehow, someway, the Celtics squandered another 20-point lead to the Knicks in Game 2.

It was ugly, inexplicable and contended for an all-time low in the Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown chapter of Celtics basketball.

Everything was going Boston’s way — in a déjà vu fashion — only this time, the Celtics didn’t collapse in the third quarter. The defending champions took a 12-point lead into the fourth quarter and instead of applying the learning lessons that head coach Joe Mazzulla adamantly preaches about time and time again, Boston punted on being a student of the game. The Celtics whipped out their too-cool-for-school demeanor and went scoreless for nearly eight minutes, while the Knicks made TD Garden their home.

“I’m not sure (what happened),” Brown told reporters postgame, per CLNS Media. “We’ve gotten off to great starts. We guarded. We played with physical energy today. To start the fourth quarter, I thought we got like four or five great looks in a row that didn’t go in and maybe affected us. But what’s done is done. Now we got an opportunity to see what we’re made of and come out and try to make something happen in Game 3.”

No team in NBA history has ever managed to overcome a 3-0 series deficit, so if the Celtics viewed Game 2 as must-win, then they should throw the kitchen sink at Game 3. If not, then Tatum, Brown and Mazzulla can expect an offseason filled with (warranted) scrutiny and criticism with a dash of disbelief as owner-in-line Bill Chisholm begins to lead an organizational change better suited for ownership’s interest.

Here’s how New York felt after its 91-90 Game 2 win over Boston:

Jalen Brunson
“I think it’s been like that just going back to our days in college,” Brunson said of Mikal Bridges, per SNY video. “It’s the way that we’ve practiced and we’ve prepared for games. It was more mental than anything. And so, when you get to the real game situations, you practice it, you get prepared for it, you’ve just been through moments like that. … He has the ability to block out the noise and no matter what happens, we’re going to be together as a team. We’re going to have each other’s back regardless. It doesn’t matter what a single person or us collectively are going through.”

Karl-Anthony Towns
“We gotta obviously play better,” Towns said, per SNY video. “I talked about it before the game, we have to play at a higher level. We did our best. We obviously didn’t do as well as we wanted to, but this team is special. The guys in here, we stay connected, even through the bad. And we just find a way, so shoutout to them but we’re playing a really, really good team. We can’t keep spotting 20-point leads.”

Mitchell Robinson
“Pretty epic,” Robinson said of Tatum’s game-ending turnover, per SNY video. “I mean, he’s a great player, so we gotta do whatever it takes to get it done.”

Robinson continued: “We’re just defending the city. Just out there playing basketball, making sure we’re getting the job done.”

Josh Hart
“When you’re not making shots, you’ve got to find ways to impact the game in a positive way,” Hart said, per SNY video. “That can be an offensive rebound, a kick-out for another opportunity, a defensive steal to get you out in transition on the break, and get an easy bucket. And those things are momentum plays, and they really compound and inspire your teammates. That’s something that we all try to do and when it gets close at the end of the game — it’s a one-possession game — we’re very comfortable. We’ve got Captain Clutch (Brunson).”