Celtics two losses away from proving critical narrative was right all along

Before this Eastern Conference semifinal series between the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks began, no one could have predicted the Knicks winning both games at TD Garden and taking a commanding 2-0 lead. But the Celtics' two blown 20-point leads were not simply a result of happenstance, and should they lose this series, it will force us to have a hard conversation about their strategy to go all-in on the three-ball.

When "Mazzulla Ball" works, it's extremely pleasing to the eye. Many have complained and will continue to complain about NBA teams like the Celtics "shooting too many threes," and at times, those criticisms can be warranted. But not when Boston is generating extremely good looks and torching their opponents with their expertise in shooting from distance. When your shooting is on, have at it. Light up your opponents with as many three-pointers as you can.

But the situation the Celtics have encountered in this series against the Knicks is one where they've lost just a little of their common sense. It's absolutely a situation where their shot selection does warrant a bit of criticism, in my opinion.

Boston being eliminated would force us to re-think Mazzulla Ball

Again, you don't go up by 20 or more points in two consecutive contests and blow them both just by accident. It was Boston's insistence on continuing to rely on their three-point shots that put them in this situation.

It's obviously common sense that the three-point shot is a very make-or-break element to any team's offensive approach. It's literally the reason why the phrase "live and die by the three" exists. When you're the Celtics and you're blowing an opponent out by 20, you have to understand that although the three may be what got you that lead, it doesn't necessarily have to be what brings you to the finish line.

I'm not here saying that I'm out on the three-point revolution or on Mazzulla Ball overall. Those things still won Boston a championship, at the end of the day. But there is certainly something to be said for picking your spots more carefully, especially in a high-stakes playoff environment.

So maybe next time the Celtics are up by a lot in a third quarter, go to more of those post-ups with Jayson Tatum, or find something off the dribble that gets you a solid look at the rim. I'm never going to advocate for totally minimizing the three-point shot with this kind of roster, but the name of the game is simply going to be reading the room just a bit better when it comes to shot selection in these situations.