Are The Celtics Doomed?

Joel Piton
May 8
4 min read

Is it only a matter of time before the Boston Celtics fumble? After losing the first two games of the series in narrow bouts—both on their home court—panic is beginning to set in for everyone who bleeds green. If they can’t protect home court, how can they possibly be prepared for the roaring crowd that awaits at Madison Square Garden? With the series shifting to New York and Game 3 looming as a must-win, the Celtics find themselves backed into a corner. But all hope isn’t lost. Here’s what Boston must do to reclaim momentum and keep their title hopes alive.

The Celtics still have the talent, depth, and on-paper matchups to win four of the next five games. But as 2023's series against the Miami Heat reminded us, talent alone doesn’t win playoff basketball—execution does. And right now, New York is simply out-executing Boston. They're leaning into their strengths and exploiting every visible weakness, starting with how O.G. Anunoby has neutralized Jayson Tatum. Despite scoring just five points in Game 2, Anunoby’s defensive impact has been enormous—hounding Tatum into a miserable 12-for-42 shooting performance over two games, including just 25% from beyond the arc. This is a far cry from the 31 points per game Tatum averaged against Orlando in the first round. Whether it’s the physical pressure, the spacing, or his own thoughts, Tatum looks uncomfortable, stiff, and unrecognizable compared to the All-NBA force fans expect him to be.

Another glaring opportunity lies in the Knicks’ frontcourt—specifically when Karl-Anthony Towns is off the floor. While Mitchell Robinson brings defensive grit and rim protection, his offensive contributions are dangerously minimal. In fact, Towns has outperformed him on the offensive glass in this series as well. When Robinson checks in, the Celtics need to seize the mismatch. Al Horford and Luke Kornet have a clear window to dominate in those stretches, but Boston’s reactive “Hack-a-Mitch” strategy is coming far too late—often when the game is already slipping. They must force Robinson to the free throw line earlier, using it as a proactive disruption rather than a last-ditch bail. But that only works if Boston’s own bigs step up their game. The Porzingis situation is scary, and Horford, who is meant to fill in that gap, is struggling. The 38-year-old veteran posted just four points in Game 2, shooting a disappointing 2-for-11 from the field and missing all five of his three-point attempts. And that leads us to the Celtics' next pressing issue: shooting.

Boston’s three-point shooting in this series has been nothing short of disastrous. Despite setting records during the regular season as one of the most prolific three-point shooting team in NBA history, the Celtics have gone ice cold when it matters most—shooting just 25% from beyond the arc through two games. Even more troubling, they’ve remained relentlessly trigger-happy. If the shots aren’t falling, Joe Mazzulla has to adjust and shift the offense inside. Only Payton Pritchard, the NBA's Sixth Man, has shown any consistency from deep—hardly a surprise given his role. Meanwhile, Jaylen Brown went 1-for-10 from downtown in Game 1, and Derrick White, though averaging a solid 19 points per game, is hovering around a shaky 29% from three. When every one of your shooters is under 30%, stretching the floor becomes a liability, not a weapon. The Celtics can shoot—they’ve proven that—but right now, they’re living and dying by a broken offensive rhythm.

The Celtics also desperately need a healthy Kristaps Porzingis. His absence isn’t just noticeable—it’s pivotal. Without a 7’2” shot-blocking, floor-stretching anchor, Boston looks significantly less dynamic on both ends of the court. Porzingis has been virtually invisible this series—and arguably all postseason—managing just eight points so far in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. After missing eight straight games earlier this year due to a viral upper respiratory illness, speculation has grown that this issue has come back at the worst possible time. It’s a frustrating setback for a player who averaged 19 points per game on over 40% shooting from three during the regular season. Porzingis himself has voiced his disappointment in not being able to perform at full strength, and fans are feeling it too. For Boston to turn this series around, they need his presence—not under restricted minutes, but in full.

Josh Hart emerged as the unexpected villain in Game 2, picking up the slack for Mikal Bridges, who laid a first-half goose egg and has struggled to make an offensive impact overall. It’s a testament to New York’s depth—when one wing falters, another steps up. The Knicks have a rotation full of players capable of dropping 20 on any given night, and it’s beginning to show. Anunoby dropped 29 points on 50% shooting in Game 1, exposing Boston’s perimeter defense in ways that shouldn’t be possible. Both Tatum and Brown have the length and defensive tools to shut down wings like Anunoby and Hart, yet here we are—scrambling against role players turned temporary stars. This shouldn't be happening, not in the second round, not with this roster. And as for Jalen Brunson, he remains a puzzle. Jrue Holiday—this year’s Social Justice Award winner and one of the NBA’s most disciplined defenders—has done admirable work limiting Brunson's production, as he made just six of his nineteen shots in Game 2. But Brunson doesn’t have to score efficiently to be dangerous. He scores when it matters, and that’s what gave him the Clutch Player of the Year honors. What happened in overtime of Game 1 cannot happen again.

It’s not over yet for Boston—and if there’s any team built to weather the storm on the road, it’s this one. The Celtics were a historically dominant road squad during the regular season, notching a franchise-record 33 wins away from home. That 33–8 mark tied for the second-best road record in NBA history. The only problem? The next stop is Madison Square Garden—arguably the most unforgiving playoff environment in the league. With New York up 2–0, this series has officially become must-see TV. Boston remains the more talented team on paper, but the question now is mental toughness. After two gut-wrenching losses at home, the Celtics must regroup, refocus, and respond. A comeback is only possible if they believe it’s still in reach. And as someone who passionately bleeds green, I still do.