NBA Playoffs 2011: Boston Celtics Keys to Defeating New York Knicks in Round 1

The Boston Celtics' playoff season is off to an impressive start, as the Green are looking to answer the big question of whether or not they can return to the NBA Finals.

Okay, so “impressive” may not be the best word since Game 1 was filled with chaos and spectacle. There were some captivating highlights nonetheless, and mainly a Celtics victory. 

Did anyone expect such high ratings for the Jermaine O’Neal show or expect an invite to Ronny Turiaf’s block party? I know I didn’t. 

While it's easy to joke about it now, questions remain moving forward:

Where do we go from here, and what’s going to happen throughout the remainder of the series? Will there be more zaniness? Can the Celtics play effectively in New York?

These are all valid concerns, so the Celtics will have to consider them in order to defeat the Knicks.

Game 2

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BOSTON, MA - APRIL 17: Kevin Garnett #5 of the Boston Celtics tries to knock the ball away from Amare Stoudemire #1 of the New York Knicks in Game One of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs on April 17, 2011 at the TD Garden i

Thanks to the invention of videotape, the Celtics will be able to come to practice on Monday and review all of the things they failed to do correctly in Game 1. 

The Celtics aren’t going to win if they cannot achieve the following:

• Make open shots

• Create momentum swings

• Limit turnovers

• Break down the zone (passing)

Rebounding was about the only thing the Celtics did well, and they still had some issues in that department.

The inability to make clean passes against the Knicks was the major issue. Too many times, a bad pass led to a turnover or a scrum on the floor that led to a poor shot.

The Celtics must not beat themselves in Boston, which is the way they were playing in the first game.

Limit the mistakes—win the game.

Game 3

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BOSTON, MA - APRIL 17: Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics fights for the loose ball with Toney Douglas #23 of the New York Knicks in Game One of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs on April 17, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston

Knick fans should be pretty charged up when the games move to the Big Apple. After all, New York hasn’t won a playoff series since the days of Mirsad Turkcan and Chris Dudley, so you’d think that the fan factor should come into play.

There’s a pretty good chance that Spike Lee and Kevin Garnett will have some words during timeouts. There’s also a pretty good chance the entire arena will have words for Glen Davis, who was quoted in the NY Post as saying, “It’s really not that hard [to guard Amar'e Stoudemire].”

Everyone is always looking for motivational fodder to further their efforts, so the Knicks should come up with a victory in Game 3, led by playing off pure heart.

Game 4

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BOSTON, MA - APRIL 17: Glen Davis #11 of the Boston Celtics tries to hang on to the rebound as teammate Paul Pierce and Ronny Turiaf #14 of the New York Knicks fight for position in Game One of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoff

Unlike Game 3, where the Celtics were heading into hostile territory, things should calm down and allow the Celtics to settle into a groove.

The team was 2-0 in New York during the regular season (4-0 overall), so playing in Madison Square Garden isn’t going to overwhelm Boston, even if Game 3 tells a different story.

What it comes down to in New York is tempo, and the Celtics need to dictate the tempo in MSG. The fast-paced style of the Knicks is what wins them ball games.

If the Celtics can figure out how to force the Knicks into a slower, more controlled offensive scheme, the series will head back to Boston with the Celts ahead 3-1.

Game 5

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BOSTON, MA - APRIL 17: Rajon Rondo #9 of the Boston Celtics grabs the ball as Amare Stoudemire #1 of the New York Knicks defends in Game One of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs on April 17, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Ma

Game 5 swings back to Boston, which will help the Celtics close out the series. 

If the team can earn a split in New York, nothing should stop them from driving home another victory.

As poorly as the team played in Game 1, it still won the game. So if the Celtics can win while playing badly and correct their mistakes in Game 2, the final game in Boston will prove to be successful.

Boston Wins 4-1

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BOSTON, MA - APRIL 17: Kevin Garnett #5 of the Boston Celtics rallies the fans before the opening tipoff against the New York Knicks in Game One of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs on April 17, 2011 at the TD Garden in Bosto

There really is no reason the Celtics cannot win this series in convincing fashion despite the faults they displayed in Game 1.

This series will not come down to statistics—simply execution. The Celtics must execute at a higher level if they are going to prove to anyone outside of Boston that they can compete with Chicago and Miami.