The Boston Celtics, seeded second in the Eastern Conference semifinals, are making unsettling history by squandering significant leads against the New York Knicks. Following a disheartening loss after blowing a 20-point advantage in the previous game, the Celtics repeated the same mistake in a subsequent match. This surprising trend persisted until Jayson Tatum’s last-minute attempt was thwarted by a Mikal Bridges steal, mirroring the conclusion of Game 1.
With the Celtics now trailing 0-2 in the series, despite having amassed a 40-point lead across two games, their defending champions status from the previous year offers some respite from intense criticism. Their performance has been so disappointing that even the Cleveland Cavaliers might empathize with their plight.
In a first for the NBA’s play-by-play era, the Celtics have lost two games in a single postseason after holding at least a 20-point lead, consecutively in this case. This unprecedented feat underscores the Celtics’ collapse and places them in uncharted territory.
The anticipation of a Celtics-Cavaliers showdown in the Eastern Conference finals has given way to a reality where both teams are trailing 0-2 against supposedly weaker opponents. The Cavaliers, top-seeded, are also struggling against the Indiana Pacers, with both teams facing a deficit seldom seen in NBA playoff history.
Contrary to their regular-season performance, where they rarely squandered leads, the Celtics have now faltered twice in critical postseason games. Bridges’ pivotal steals and scoring spree for the Knicks further compounded the Celtics’ misery, culminating in a playoff career high for the determined player.
The Celtics’ setbacks are emblematic of a broader postseason trend characterized by remarkable comebacks from significant deficits. This postseason has already witnessed five such remarkable turnarounds, setting a new record and highlighting the unpredictable nature of playoff basketball. Notably, the Pacers and the Celtics have been central figures in these dramatic shifts, underscoring the volatility and excitement of the current NBA playoffs.
Reaching the conference semifinals, this year’s playoffs have already produced a remarkable number of comebacks and two Game 7s. One can only imagine what other surprises are yet to come.
