Not one person watching the Boston Celtics run the New York Knicks out of the building Tuesday night could overlook Reggie Miller’s glee.
Miller, the former Knick-killer, called the game for TNT alongside the great Kevin Harlan, who—contrary to popular belief—has at least some regard for humanity. And the more the 2024-25 NBA season opener materialized, Miller’s foaming-at-the-mouth vibes became more apparent.
A 3-point bonanza
The defending champions drained 29 3-point field goals en route to tying an NBA record and blasting the new-look Knicks 132-109.
Oct. 22, 2024: Final
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If only Reggie could play in this brave-new NBA world where “pop-a-shot” reigns supreme; imagine how Spike Lee would actually feel then.
More incredible than Boston tying the 3-point record is the fact that they didn’t smash it. Al Horford’s three-pointer at the 8:54 mark of the fourth quarter tied the record set by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2020, yet 14 attempts thereafter failed to set a brand-new record.
At that point, obviously, the damage had been done.
All told, Boston shot a ridiculous 47.5% from three-point land in the game (29-61). Discounting the final 14 misses that were aiming to break the record, the Celtics three-point mark was a red-hot 61.7%. (For comparison’s sake, the Bucks shot 29 of 51 from three-point land in their record-breaking performance, good enough for 56.9%.)
Jayson Tatum finished 8 of 11 from three-point land with a game-high 37 points. Derrick White shot 6-10 from deep, finishing with 24 points, whereas Olympic snub Jaylen Brown went 5-9 from beyond the arc and 23 points.
There wasn’t a single moment in the game that allowed Knicks fans to feel like a potential run was on the horizon, which is extremely unusual for the NBA.
The Knicks defensive angle
Not only did the Knicks and their fans have to watch the Celtics receive their NBA title rings before tip-off, but they also had to endure one of the worst first quarters in recent memory.
Boston drubbed New York to the tune of a 43-24 lead after a single quarter of play. From a coaching perspective, offensive inconsistency isn’t too much of an issue when starting a season with a new-look squad, but Tom Thibodeau couldn’t be even a little pleased with his team’s defensive integrity out of the gate.
A lack of chemistry, communication and overall feel led to far too many open threes. Yes, Thibodeau’s defensive system lends itself to more of a sagging, protect-the-hole-type structure, but Tuesday night’s effort wasn’t indicative of the usually-stout Knicks defense.
Sure, the Celtics would have most likely torn through any opponent on this night—courtesy of their fantastical shooting—but there’s much to clean up on the defensive end.
The only positive was the Knicks offense.
Offensive chemistry
Despite the two big additions making their debuts, the Knicks looked fluid on the offensive end of the floor.
New York shot a respectable 55.1% from the floor to go with a 36.7% mark from downtown. Jalen Brunson tied for the Knicks’ game-high with 22 points on 9 of 14 from the field (2 assists, 1 rebound).
Newcomer Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in with 12 points on 5 of 9 shooting, and the origins for what should be a lethal pick-and-pop look with Brunson began to take hold. Meanwhile, after starting a bit shaky, Mikal Bridges picked it up with his funky jumper, collecting 16 points on 7-13 shooting.
The most pleasant surprise on this night was newly-minted sixth man Miles McBride, who provided instant energy off the bench. McBride was the only Knick who could match Boston’s absurd shooting from deep, finishing 4 of 5 from beyond the arc and 22 points (tying Brunson for the team-high).
What’s next?
Oct. 25, 7:30 pm: Matchup
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There’s no question about it: This was an all-time stinker. Sure, the Celtics shot the ball in a way that happens once or twice a year (or a decade, for that matter), but the Knicks have a long way to go.
Questions about the team’s overall depth in the rotation will undoubtedly linger. But what cannot linger is the squad’s defensive integrity. That just won’t fly over the long haul, new-look team or not.
Next up for the Knickerbockers is their home opener against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on Friday night. (Indiana opens its season in Detroit on Wednesday.)
