The Celtics had no answers for the Knicks bench, and they let them take over the fourth quarter which in the end cost them the game. The trio of JR Smith, Kenyon Martin and Jason Kidd proved to be unstoppable, and each had a hand in making sure the Celtics couldn't attempt a comeback in the fourth quarter.
Sloppy plays on the defensive side cost the Celtics the second half of the game. Failing to box out the Celtics missed out on second chance points, and they also allowed the Knicks to get a ton of second chance opportunities. Also, they were unable to pull off the hustle plays which led to some wide open three point shots (the shot the Knicks love the most) and they took advantage of all the Celtics miscues.
The Celtics made some horrendous turnovers in the fourth quarter. There was terrible passing that led to easy steals and buckets by the Knicks, and the Celtics couldn't seem to hold on to the ball at all. Boston had every opportunity to take over in the final five minutes of the game, but they couldn't take over as the turnovers did them in.
Jason Terry, who the Celtics brought in to be the spark of the bench was an absolute no show. In twenty minutes of play Terry had no points. Even worse the entire Boston bench was nowhere to be found, and they were outscored by the Knicks bench by twenty-nine points. Shooting guard Courtney Lee was the only person off the Celtics bench to score he had four points.
Jeff Green looked like he came to play, he erupted in the first half scoring twenty points. Then in the second half, he could only muster to put up six points. Green took ten shots in the first half making seven of them, but he took just five in the second making only one. He clearly did not look like the player from the first two quarters, he was settling for jump shots instead of going to the basket. Green, who is not known for his aggressiveness regressed in the second half, and it cost the Celtics as they leaned on his offense for most of the game.
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