Knicks vs. Celtics: 3 takeaways from Game 3
New York Knicks' Mitchell Robinson shoots a free throw during the second half of Game 3 of a second-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics on Saturday. Credit: AP/Pamela Smith
These were the Celtics we thought they were.
The Knicks still have a 2-1 series lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series after Boston’s 115-93 victory in Game 3, but the defending champs are off the ropes.
Takeaways from a dismal Saturday for the home team and its fans:
1. If the Celtics shoot like this consistently, the Knicks will be in dire trouble
The Celtics were a combined 25-for-100 on three-point attempts in the series’ first two games. Game 3 brought a complete reversal.
Boston, a team that relies heavily on three-pointers, opened by making four in a row — from four different players.
The Celtics made six of their first seven and finished the first half 12-for-19, including Jayson Tatum’s 4-for-5.
They finished 20-for-40 from beyond the arc, with six players making at least two.
“Just a matter of time,” Tatum said. “We’re all professionals. We work really hard on our craft. Put a lot of time in. You understand there are times where your shot might not be falling. But it always balances out.”
Said Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, “They got some clean looks early, and they see it go in. That gives them confidence, and it’s hard to shut them off. So we have to have greater awareness.”
2. Mitchell Robinson’s free-throw shooting no longer is funny
It’s a shame, really, because Robinson is such a force on defense and on the boards. But his comically poor free-throw shooting remains a liability for the Knicks.
The Celtics continued to put him on the line in Game 3 and he continued to live down to his reputation.
He missed his first five free throws despite vocal support from the Garden crowd.
After one ovation to encourage him, Robinson shot an air ball, the second game in a row in which he badly missed the rim.
He did make three free throws in a row at one point but finished 4-for-12. He did not speak to reporters after the game.
“It’s a tough position to be in, especially mentally,” Jalen Brunson said. “But you have to encourage. We’re going to have each other’s backs regardless.”
Thibodeau at one point replaced Robinson with Precious Achiuwa to counter the Celtics’ hack-a-Mitch strategy.
“If he’s making, he stays; if he’s not, you’ve got to get him out,” Thibodeau said of Robinson. “And then there’s the impact on the [overall] game. Is it more beneficial to leave him in? So there’s a lot of factors that go into that.”
3. Karl-Anthony Towns’ left hand could be a problem moving forward
Something clearly is bothering Towns’ left hand, which on several occasions he shook, grabbed and winced over during Saturday’s game.
At one point, he got caught up with Boston’s Luke Kornet under the basket. Based on lip-reading, he appeared to come away saying, “I broke it,” perhaps referring to his middle finger.
Asked later about the apparent injury, Towns said, “It is what it is. I just want to do whatever I can to be out there.”
When asked about what lip-reading seemed to indicate he had said, Towns answered, “It is what it is. I’m going to keep finding ways to play, so I ain’t tripping.”
Did he get an X-ray? He said he would let the team update reporters on that rather than have it come from him. (There was no update from the team.)
Towns did play 36 minutes and finish with 21 points and 15 rebounds, but he shot 5-for-18 from the field.
“It’s the playoffs,” Thibodeau said. “People are going to get hit and you’ve got to play through things. That’s why you do it the entire season. No one’s playing 100%.
“But you have to understand that you can play well when you’re feeling less than your best. I think the mental toughness part of this is huge.”
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
