The Boston Celtics, currently the reigning NBA champions, faced a tough challenge on Monday night during their playoff journey. Despite their title, they struggled to maintain their momentum against the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

In a surprising turn of events, the Celtics relinquished a significant lead, prompting a widespread analysis of their performance and what went awry. Notably, basketball analyst Keith Smith delved into the statistics, pinpointing the Celtics’ critical issues on the court.

According to his analysis, the Celtics were 0-for-0 when facing very tight defense, 1-for-4 against tight defense, 7-for-32 on open shots, and 7-for-24 on wide-open shots. Their overall accuracy was dismal, hitting only 14-for-56, which equates to a mere 25 percent success rate on shots that were open or wide-open, significantly below their regular season average of 38 percent.

These statistics are concerning for the Celtics and raise the question: can they turn things around in Game 2?

Celtics three-point shooting in Game 1 loss vs Knicks per NBA tracking data:

0-for-0 vs very tight defense
1-for-4 vs tight defense
7-for-32 on open shots
7-for-24 on wide-open shots

14-for-56 or 25% on open to wide-open shots.

In the regular season Boston shot 38% on…

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) May 6, 2025

Throughout the game, the Celtics held a commanding 20-point lead, yet the resilient Knicks managed to stay competitive, gradually narrowing the gap and ultimately forcing the game into overtime, where they clinched a remarkable victory on the road.

Shooting efficiency plagued the Celtics all night, even when they appeared to be in control of the game. The Celtics have heavily leaned on the three-point shot throughout the season, a strategy that remained evident on Monday. Unfortunately, their shots consistently missed the mark, and they failed to adapt their game plan.

This inability to adjust provided the Knicks with an opportunity, allowing them to capitalize on the Celtics’ missteps. Head coach Joe Mazzulla, known for his strategic acumen, will certainly scrutinize these performance metrics, adjust his game plan, and seek to rectify the issues observed during Monday’s matchup.

Will the Celtics modify their style of play in Game 2? The improvement of these critical statistics is essential; otherwise, the Knicks may discover a winning formula throughout this series.

It’s time for the Celtics to reaffirm their status as one of the most formidable teams in the NBA.

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