In Game 1 of the East semifinal series, the top-seeded Boston Celtics lost to the New York Knicks 108-105 despite leading by 16 at halftime. The Celtics set an NBA playoff record by missing 45 three-point attempts during the game. Their strategy of taking an excessive number of three-pointers, which comprises 54% of their shots this season, backfired as they continued to miss key opportunities in the second half and overtime, illustrating a troubling lack of offensive adaptability. Fan frustrations peaked as the team seemingly froze under pressure, leading to a disappointing start to the series.
The Celtics led by 16 at halftime and lost Game 1 108-105, missing an unprecedented 45 three-point attempts in a single playoff game.
Boston's three-point-heavy strategy suffered from a team-wide lapse into obsessive compulsion, leading to missed shots and a breakdown in the final minutes.
This approach worked last season when the Celtics won the Finals, but in Game 1, they attempted 49 shots after halftime, with 37 being threes.
Celtics fans were left with frustration as despite their flawed shooting strategy, the game slipped away due to a lack of crucial defensive plays.
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