Celtics and Knicks Face Pivotal Game 4 in Eastern Conference Semifinals
The Boston Celtics and New York Knicks are set to face off in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series on Monday, with both teams eager to gain the upper hand. The Celtics are looking to avoid falling into a 3-1 hole, a deficit that no team has come back from in the last five years. Meanwhile, the Knicks are keen to maintain their series lead and home-court advantage.
According to the NBA’s official website, the Celtics’ performance in the playoffs has been inconsistent so far, with the team still searching for the form that took them 16-3 on their way to winning banner No. 18 last season. As noted by the source, the Celtics were dominant in last year’s playoffs, with a purposeful offense that consistently created advantages. However, this year, they have struggled with shot selection, with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown ranking 34th and 35th in effective field goal percentage among 37 players with at least 30 field goal attempts in the conference semifinals.
One of the key challenges for the Knicks is creating better shots. As reported by the source, they rank last in shot quality in the playoffs, lower than the eight teams that were eliminated in the first round. In the regular season, the Knicks ranked fifth in offensive efficiency, but just 22nd in shot quality. They have overperformed in terms of field goal percentage, but this has not carried over into the playoffs. The Knicks will need to find a way to generate better shots against the Celtics’ defense, which has been effective in limiting their opponents’ scoring opportunities.
The Celtics’ offense has also been inconsistent, with Tatum and Brown struggling to find their rhythm. As highlighted by the source, the Celtics’ shot selection has been a concern, with Brown settling for stepback 3-point attempts instead of attacking the basket. The team’s transition opportunities are also critical, with the winner of each of the first three games being the team that has scored more points in transition. The Knicks had 17 and 22 transition points in Games 1 and 2, respectively, but had just eight points on 11 transition possessions in Game 3.
The availability of Kristaps Porziņģis and Karl-Anthony Towns, the typical starting centers for the Celtics and Knicks, respectively, is also uncertain. Porziņģis has been dealing with an illness and has only played 46 minutes through the first three games, while Towns suffered a left hand injury in Game 3 and his effectiveness may be limited. As noted by the source, both players are critical to their teams’ success, and their performance could be a key factor in determining the outcome of Game 4.
In conclusion, Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals series between the Celtics and Knicks promises to be a pivotal matchup. Both teams will need to be at their best to gain the upper hand, and several key factors will determine the outcome. As reported by the NBA’s official website, "the Celtics don’t want to fall into a 3-1 hole that no team has come back from in the last five years. The Knicks don’t want to give up their series lead and cede home-court advantage back to the defending champs." With both teams evenly matched, Game 4 is set to be an intense and closely contested matchup.
The Celtics and Knicks have been evenly matched throughout the series, with each team pushing the other to their limits. As noted by John Schuhmann, a senior stats analyst for the NBA’s official website, "the Knicks need to get off to a better start and avoid another 20-point deficit. The Celtics need to be more consistent with their decision-making on offense." With the series evenly poised, Game 4 promises to be a thrilling encounter that will determine the momentum of the series.
As the teams take to the court, they will be aware of the importance of this game. The Celtics will be looking to draw on their experience from last season, when they dominated the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Knicks will be eager to build on their regular season form and take control of the series. With so much at stake, Game 4 is set to be an unmissable matchup.
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Source: https://www.nba.com/news/celtics-knicks-4-things-to-look-for-game-4
