The Celtics are, in the first sense of the term, an injured beast. By being led 3-1 in this series and having lost Jayson Tatum in Game 4, affected by the Achilles tendon. Therefore, as we know, an injured beast is often even more dangerous. THE Knicks Can confirm this, after missing and lost this game 5 in Boston.
“It's a very good team, even without a tatum. We were not in the fight, we did not communicate in defense and we gave confidence to our opponent ”,, regret Mikal Bridges. “We must talk about the Celtics, they are the reigning champions, it's a team that has a lot of experience, and we have seen what she has done in recent years. We must understand who we are dealing with. We have to do better “announces Jalen Brunson.
The Knicks playmaker regretted the attitude of the referees in the third quarter, who then whistled five faults against him! “Five in a quarter? I won't say anything about it ”he slips. “This is not a question of arbitrator”Mikal Bridges slice. “We were not in defense and it was not they who control our efforts. »»
New York cannot afford to decrease in intensity
What was the problem then? The defense yes, as well as the 15 small points at 5/27 in the bridges shoot and OB Anunoby who did not help. But both are linked.
“We have to make stops in defense, it's essential. The first half was going. We scored 59 points so it was not a concern. The problem was defense. We fell into a hole at the start of the third quarter and tried to get out. But for that, you have to defend, which allows you to run. It hurt us ”notes Tom Thibodeau. ” I don't know. I think we have to stop ”confirms Mikal Bridges on this lack of impact on his part.
Who says lack of impact in defense, says lack of aggressiveness. Did the Knicks thought that the case was already in the bag? In any case, they did not play this match with the desire and the intensity necessary to repel a team of Boston who will give everything to stay alive.
“They played this third quarter with a sense of urgency that we need”laments Jalen Brunson. “We were not good at the start of the second quarter, nor at the start of the third and we cannot afford it”adds Tom Thibodeau. “We have to play in desperate way and we did not do it. We must be aggressive the whole meeting ”concludes Mikal Bridges.
