NBA Playoffs 2011: Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks Game One Post-Game Reaction
The New York Knicks fell short to the Boston Celtics in Game 1 last night, thanks to Ray Allen's heroics in the final seconds.
Amarāe Stoudemireās 28 points, 11 rebounds and near domination in the late minutes of Game 1 were not enough to seal a Knicks victory in Boston last night as Allen sunk the game-winner from behind the arc with 11.6 ticks on the clock.
The Knicks, minus timeouts, rushed up the floor for the final playāa long, desperate three from Carmelo Anthony.Ā It popped off the front of the rim with just over two seconds remaining to Kevin Garnett, who held the ball as time expired.
Both teams, and their fans, were left with more questions than answers following the game.
Can the New York Knicks Recover from the Crushing Game 1 Loss?
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Yes.Ā It is difficult to play your guts out, leave it all on the floor, lead most of the game and swallow a tough pill of a loss in the final moments. It could happen in Game 1 or Game 6.
This could be the game that analysts turn to next week and say, āThat one.Ā That was the one that did it.Ā Took the wind out of the Knicksā sails.ā
I donāt think so. Thereās plenty of positive cud for the Knicks to chew on following this one:
+ They played strong defense, especially in the first half, and still kept the Celtics from running away with it after a Boston-dominated third and fourth quarter.
+ Amarāe Stoudemire was unstoppable down the stretch and can take over single-handedly against the Celtics. He continues to show leadership off the ball.
+ Toney Douglas was dependable taking over for Chauncey Billups and Landry Fields. He went for eight points, including a critical three to give the Knicks a one-point lead with 38 seconds left.
+ Ronny Turiaf was definitely good enough in the middle, with nine points, five rebounds and four (!) blocks.Ā He played strong defense throughout much of the game, but did get a little lost down the stretch.
+ Jared Jeffries played his role perfectly off the bench: defend and rebound
+ Bill Walker played with fire.Ā If he keeps it under control, he can be a major player off the bench.
+ The Knicks stuck it to the Celtics on the road.
The Knicks can hang with the Celtics and beat them. Itās just a mind game now.Ā They must put this game behind them.
They looked nervous and frantic on that last playāevery fan felt it. Some confidence and perhaps a DāAntoni review of last-minute scenarios will repair this latest Knicks folly.
They need to walk away from this game forgetting how it ended, and remembering how well they played.Ā If the Knicks were behind the whole game, for example, and just could never catch up, they might just walk away thinking, āHey, we could totally beat this team.ā
Itās still true.
Are the Boston Celtics Overrated?
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No. They are still the team to beat.Ā They are still better than the Knicks.Ā They have more playoff experience than the Knicks.Ā They have a better coach. They are still the odds-on favorites.Ā They have all the numbers to prove it, including the W in Game 1.
This is not the same team that went to Game 7 of the Finals last year, though.
The Boston Celtics are exactly what they are since the Kendrick Perkins trade: Good. Not bad. Not great. And everybody knows it.
Their starters are awesome, going for 79 points and 36 rebounds in the first game
Doc Rivers is one of the best coaches in the league and confirmed it last night with Kevin Garnettās time-saving alley-oop off the inbound with 37 seconds left and Ray Allenās clincher. Rivers manages a team essentially without a bench and missing a still-important Shaquille OāNeal.
To be fair, this veteran team manages itself, and thatās another reason the Knicks should not lull themselves into thinking the Celtics are overrated.
Should Carmelo Anthony Be Taking the Last Shot?
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Not always. No one should always take the last shot.
The Knicks should still be comfortable with the ball in Anthonyās hands though, most of the time.Ā Even last night, Carmelo could have won itāit was more a decision error than one of skill.Ā Really, he should have taken it to the hoop.
The crowd was loud. The Knicks had no timeouts.Ā They had recently surrendered control of the game. The clock was ticking. My adrenaline was flowing, my heart pumping.Ā That is tough on the road.
Itās not the end of the world. In the same situation, Carmelo will do it again.Ā Next time, itās very possible he will make the shot or take it inside, maybe draw the foul.Ā Next time, heāll be ready.
Last night, though, it wasnāt a good play.Ā There was enough time to develop a play, but the Knicksāas a teamāwere clearly unprepared. There were still four seconds left when the shot went off.Ā Why leave time on the clock? For a second chance?Ā Stop it.Ā Leave no time on the clock.
Furthermore, Amarāe Stoudemire was the man last night.Ā It would be nice to see him taking more last minute opportunities.
To reiterate: No one should always take the last shot.Ā Thatās ridiculous. Draw up plays. Throw in some decoys. Find the open man or the hot hand.Ā Often, that is Anthony, but it doesnāt have to be.
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Can the Boston Celtics Win the Series Without a Bench?
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I donāt see how they can take a long series.Ā This could be the very Achillesā heel of the Celtics postseason hopes: Their bench stinks. Period.Ā Itās a big problem and reared its ugly head in Game 1.
Bostonās bogus bench had eight measly points and three meek assists in a combined 59 minutes.Ā Egad.Ā That is awful. The one bright spot: Jeff Greenās go-ahead jumper in the fourth to give Boston its first lead since the middle of the second period.
The Knicks, on the other hand, got 23 points and five assists in a nicely-paced 85 minutes.Ā This came in especially handy when Bill Walker filled in solidly for Anthony, who was forced to sit early with two quick fouls.
The Celtics Big Three (and Rondo), at home, avoided foul trouble.Ā What happens when these guys have to sit? Nothing offensively. What happens when they play in New York?Ā They will get called.
How many minutes can 33-year-old Paul Pierce, 34-year-old Kevin Garnett and 35-year-old Ray Allen continue to play?
This is where Shaqās injury comes into play, too.Ā Having either OāNeal come off the bench would be an upgrade.
The Bench: A big Knick advantage.
One thingās for certain:Ā The Celtics might get past Round 1, but wonāt get very far in the playoffs without some more substantial bench minutes.
Will Chauncey Billups Return?
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It doesnāt sound good for Game 2.
Knicks fans collectively held their breath when Chauncey Billups went down grimacing and clutching his wrapped knee late in the fourth.Ā They know without Chaucney, if it aināt over, itās close.
It wasnāt the leg bruise heās been nursing.Ā Billupsā knee just gave out. And the postgame interview didnāt look promising.
Chauncey waxed pessimistic about seeing how it will feel in the morning, saying "I don't know" in the postgame press conference on TNT in regards to whether he'll play tomorrow in Game 2.
"I'm in a lot of pain right now," Billups said. "That's to be expected. If I can get out there and help any I'll be out there. We'll just have to see."
The Knicks can survive a game or even two without Billups, but theyāll never win it without him. His experience is irreplaceable.
And did you see him bang that easy three from the top to give the Knicks a 78-75 lead with four minutes to go?
The Knicks might need a Willis Reed moment from Chauncey.
Will Shaquille O'Neal Return?
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It doesnāt look good for Game 2.
Shaquille was noticeably limping before the game, still nursing a calf injury that, according to TNT, is in a location lacking proper blood flowāa condition that is extending the big manās recovery time.
Shaquille is fragile.Ā He played only half the season. Heās already had multiple comebacks in the regular season.Ā I would not be surprised if he did not return for this series.
OāNeal did look good though in those five minutes of his last returnāsolid and surprisingly nimble and energetic.Ā Thatās the only indication that Shaq might still have enough in those legs to make it back, and be effective, if the Celtics advance.
Which they can without him.Ā While the Knicks are in serious trouble without Billups, the Celtics can still escape Round 1 without Shaquille OāNeal.
If Jermaine OāNeal plays the rest of the series as he did last nightāphysical, defensive (four blocks) and offensive (12 points)āBoston will be in good shape.Ā They donāt need to have big men on the floor all the time to compete with the undersized Knicks.
Should the New York Knicks Start Toney Douglas over Landry Fields?
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Yes. The time has come.
Douglas played more minutes in Game 1 anyway, and it was the right move, even though it makes the Knicks smaller.
Landry Fields was shot before last nightās game and then sported a statline of one rebound (thatās it) in 19 minutes.
Fields finished the season scoring 10 points or more in just three of his last 13 games and grabbing more than five rebounds only five times in the same period. Itās a long season for a rookie. Heās fatigued. He looked playoff-bitten.
Douglas has two years under his belt, and it makes a difference.Ā Heās also the better player right now and heās more versatileāa good quality to have in the playoffs.
Sure, Landry Fields has his moments, is bigger and can rebound and score, but Douglas can score too, heās dishing better, can hit the three reliably and has come through in the clutch numerous times, including last night.
Douglasā game is more realized than Fields, and the playoffs are not the place for player development.
Go with Toney and bang out bigger Landry off the bench.
Conclusion: CAN'T WAIT! for Game 2
8 of 8Thereās still a lot of basketball to play.
Though the Knicks lost Game 1, they have proven they can compete with the 2010 Eastern Conference champs in the playoffs now.
In some ways New York is superior.Ā They have a better bench and a better offense.
But Boston is still the better team.Ā The Celtics can score too. They play better defense. They have all the experience. They are so clutch and they are still fierce.
Which team do you think is more concerned right now?Ā Which, more confident?Ā Both and both.
It can go either way.
āCANāT WAIT!ā for Game 2.
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