The Boston Celtics find themselves in a familiar and frustrating position. After blowing back-to-back 20-point leads to the New York Knicks at home, the reigning champs are staring down a 0-2 series deficit in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Now, they’re hoping to become just the 35th team in NBA history to come back from such a hole in a best-of-seven playoff series.
Déjà Vu: Echoes of 2023’s Celtics Collapse vs. Miami
For Celtics fans, this isn’t just about losing, it’s about how eerily similar these losses feel compared to the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat.
Last year, Boston entered the series as heavy favorites against the No. 8 seed Heat. But Jimmy Butler and a crew of unheralded role players stunned the Celtics by taking a 3-0 lead. Though Boston clawed its way back to force a Game 7, Butler crushed the dream of a historic comeback on Boston’s home floor.
Now, it’s Jalen Brunson playing the Butler role. The Knicks guard is carving up the Celtics in the clutch, regardless of whether it’s Al Horford or Jrue Holiday trying to slow him down. His ability to control the tempo and hit big shots mirrors Butler’s takeover ability in last year’s series.
Outlier Shooting & Role Player Takeovers
What’s really killing Boston is how much the Knicks’ role players have stepped up, again, just like the Heat’s did in 2023.
- Miles McBride is hitting 50% from three.
- OG Anunoby is shooting nearly 47%.
- Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson have both been efficient from deep.
This echoes the scorching-hot stretches we saw from Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, and Caleb Martin that year, when Miami’s supporting cast torched Boston’s defense.
The Knicks may not have controlled both games from start to finish, but they’ve taken advantage of Boston’s lapses. Despite trailing most of the time, New York delivered knockout punches late, and that’s what matters.
Coaching Gap: Mazzulla vs. Thibodeau
One major storyline that keeps resurfacing: Joe Mazzulla being outcoached.
In 2023, it was understandable. Mazzulla had just taken over after the Ime Udoka situation and was in his first playoff run. He was up against Erik Spoelstra, arguably the best coach in the league.
But now? There are no such excuses.
Tom Thibodeau has made timely adjustments, maximized his bench, and turned a gritty Knicks team into a poised unit. Meanwhile, Mazzulla’s rotations and in-game decisions are under the microscope again. If Boston fails to recover, his job security may come into question, title or not.
Boston’s journey back from a 0-2 hole won’t be easy. But the Celtics have been here before. Game 3 is where we’ll see it unfold.
