Celtics could have used the Heimlich Maneuver before choking away another big lead to Knicks
Up by as many as 25 points over the New York Knicks, the Celtics end up losing 108-105, becoming one of two NBA teams to lose four times this season after leading by at least 15 points.
The Boston Celtics’ latest trip to the Big Apple delivered yet another big collapse; as in, “Is there anyone in the building who knows the Heimlich Maneuver?” kind of collapse as Boston coughed up a 25-point lead before losing at the buzzer, 108-105, to the New York Knicks.
The Celtics (18-21) join one of the more dubious clubs in the league following its latest choke job.
According to ESPN Stats & Info, the Celtics and the New Orleans Pelicans are the only teams this season to have lost four games when leading by at least 15 points.
Boston losing at the buzzer wasn’t all that shocking, either.
Not only have they choked away big leads, but they have seemingly been at their worst in close, down-to-the-wire games. The Celtics have lost six of their last seven games that were decided in the clutch (the score within five points in the last five minutes of the game).
And while the upcoming schedule has the look and feel of success (their next three games are against teams with a losing record) for Boston, fnas have learned that nothing about this team should be taken for granted when it comes to winning games.
Far too often, they have found a way to squander successful runs, resulting in one choke job after another.
Here are the Stars, Studs and Duds from Boston’s loss to the Knicks.
STARS
Evan Fournier: Usually former Celtics save their best revenge game for when they return to the TD Garden. But Fournier continues to be a one-man wrecking crew against the Celtics, home or away. What he did on Thursday was indeed special as he scored a career-high 41points, which bettered the previous career-high of 32 points set against the Celtics last month.
Jayson Tatum: The game-tying jumper with 1.5 seconds to play was a great look for Tatum. But this was another game in which Tatum’s shot-making, while efficient (12-for-21), still wasn’t enough to carry the day and get the win. He would finish with a team-high 36 points along with nine assists and six rebounds. This was a game that Tatum needed a little more help in order to help lead the Celtics to victory.
STUDS
Dennis Schröder: His impact as a reserve is undeniable, playing at a level akin to what we saw in Oklahoma City a couple of years ago when he was a runner-up for the league’s Sixth Man of the Year award. Schröder had 20 points, five rebounds and three assists. He had a bad turnover in the fourth (his only turnover of the game) but for the most part, Schröder was a solid contributor for Boston.
DUDS
Ime Udoka: While it is refreshing to hear Udoka push to light a fire under his players in his post-game press conferences, he too must step his game up. Against the Knicks, this was yet another game in which the Celtics' lack of leadership and ability to close out a bad team, was on display. Udoka talked about it during his post-game press conference, but we're too deep into the season to keep having these conversations, over and over again. He wants better leadership and a tighter close-out-the-game mindset at work. Well if it's not going to start with his players which is looking to be the case, he has to be that change that he wants to see. Knowing what the problem is, is a good start. Fixing it remains an issue that Udoka needs to figure...FAST!!