10 takeaways from the Celtics’ tactical edge over the Knicks

#1 – Hunting KAT

The Celtics usually hunt guards to punish their lack of strength and size through post-ups and isolation. Yet, yesterday, the first target was a 7-foot center: Karl-Anthony Towns. The former Timberwolf is very important to the Knicks’ offense and makes them one of the best teams in the East, but his defensive weaknesses create a lot of problems on the other side of the court.

Thanks to Jayson Tatum’s great pick-and-roll game and the Celtics’ strong screeners, Boston tortured KAT with a simple but deadly approach. As Karl-Anthony Towns struggled to navigate screens and adjust his body position in drop coverage, the Celtics used two screens to make it impossible for him to keep up.

The first screen is a ram screen, forcing Karl-Anthony Towns to start low and begin the possession already behind. Queta was savvy enough to trick the Knicks center, forcing him to get stuck on the screen.

Then comes Queta’s (or Kornet’s) ball screen while KAT is already trying to catch up. Queta’s quick movement was crucial. In the example below, he flips the side of the ball screen at the last second, making it even harder for KAT to keep up.

KAT’s heavy steps and inability to orient his hips and step at the correct angle make him an easy target for such a good offense. Jayson Tatum continues to master the pick-and-roll, and Boston has excellent screeners to optimize his skills—and exploit opponents’ weaknesses.

#2 – Hunting Brunson

Speaking of weaknesses, KAT wasn’t the only player the Celtics could target defensively. Often, they even used both KAT and Brunson as targets on the same action. Brunson was forced to defend White because he couldn’t stay in front of Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum and was too small to guard Horford or Kornet.

The Celtics also used Derrick White as a screener to force Brunson into defensive actions. This left the Knicks with two bad choices: switch or concede a gap that the Celtics would exploit with poise.

With OG Anunoby out, the Knicks’ defense faced an enormous dilemma with KAT and Brunson. Both are essential for their offense—without them, there’s no creation and no spacing. Yet, with them, 40% of their lineup consists of obvious defensive targets.

Former Celtics assistant coach and defensive specialist Tom Thibodeau has a lot of work to do if the Knicks want to have a chance in the playoffs.

#3 – Boston’s defensive positioning

While the Knicks struggled defensively, the Celtics organized their defense with a clear goal: limiting access to the rim. They assigned Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown to Karl-Anthony Towns, while Josh Hart was considered a non-shooter by Al Horford. Kornet roamed in the paint, ignoring Precious Achiuwa.

Did it work? Well, the Knicks made only 41% of their shots at the rim, far from their usual 66% efficiency. Yes, OG Anunoby’s absence played a role, but the Celtics knew how to disrupt their spacing, forcing them into difficult shots at the rim or desperate jumpers.

#4 – Brunson’s pick-and-roll defense

The Knicks were forced to rely on Jalen Brunson’s pick-and-roll threat to drag the Celtics’ centers outside the paint. To counter that, the Celtics only switched if it was with Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, or Derrick White. Otherwise, they used drop coverage, keeping their bigs as safety nets in the paint.

This forced Brunson to rely on pull-up threes and limited his ability to drive or pass effectively. Yet, Jalen Brunson remains one of the best players in the world and still found ways to generate offense. However, this approach minimized the impact of his teammates, and Brunson’s scoring alone wasn’t enough to keep up with the Celtics.

#5 – Luke Kornet’s dominance

Days go by, and Luke Kornet’s impact keeps growing. Last night at the Garden, he was the guardian of the rim, disrupting the Knicks’ layups and dunk attempts. His length, smart movement, and positioning made him the goalkeeper the Celtics needed in Kristaps Porzingis’ absence.

But there’s more. Offensively, as a trailer in transition, he has great timing on his cuts. His screening ability opens up so much for the Celtics, and his short-roll game keeps improving. Not to mention his tremendous impact on offensive rebounds.

Overall, he scored 14 points on perfect efficiency, grabbed five offensive rebounds, and blocked three shots. According to NBA tracking stats, he generated 17 points off his screens. A near-perfect game for the former Knick at the Garden.

#6 – Good shot quality despite non-shooters

Like the Knicks, the Celtics faced spacing challenges when Queta and Kornet were on the floor. Yet, the coaching staff found ways to generate quality shots. In the play below, they started with a double-drag screen that turned into a veer screen by Kornet and a curl to the corner for Pritchard.

By moving quickly and attacking open space, the Celtics forced the Knicks to overthink their coverage and collapse for a few milliseconds—which is fatal against a team like Boston. Despite playing without Porzingis, the Celtics had above-average rim efficiency on high volume and scored 120 points per 100 half-court possessions. Great coaching and preparation.

#7 – Derrick White’s versatile impact

Derrick White’s impact might not always show up in the box score, but he was crucial for both the Celtics’ offense and defense. With Jrue Holiday out, he was tasked with slowing down Brunson as much as possible—without fouling or getting lost in the Knicks’ screens.

He held his own defensively and contributed offensively as well. As mentioned earlier, his screening helped force Brunson into switches on Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum. When left open due to Tatum’s gravity, White was in the right place at the right time.

By the end of the game, he had 17 points and four assists on just nine shot attempts in 25 minutes. Mister Efficiency.

#8 – Winning the possession battle

The Knicks are known for dominating the possession battle with offensive rebounds—but the Celtics came prepared. With double-big lineups and a commitment to extending possessions, they were ready.

Overall, they committed only 11 turnovers and grabbed offensive rebounds on 33% of their misses. The Knicks’ best shot at keeping up with the Celtics’ efficiency was to limit possessions, but they couldn’t.

Once again, great preparation from Joe Mazzulla and his staff.

#9 – A wild third quarter

The third quarter was eventful and could have been disastrous for the Celtics. Initially, Boston led by more than 10 points, but the Knicks fought back, cutting the lead to five. Then, Jayson Tatum took over.

As discussed in #1 and #2, the Celtics spammed the pick-and-roll with Tatum to attack KAT and Brunson. The Knicks’ defense couldn’t keep up. The All-NBA First Teamer scored 19 points in the third quarter, proving he can carry an offense on his own.

#10 – Jaylen Brown’s offensive struggles

On the other end of the Jays duo, JB’s offensive struggles continue. Among players with his usage this season, he ranks among the least efficient, alongside RJ Barrett and Dejounte Murray. Last night, the ball wasn’t going in, and he forced a few tough mid-range shots.

That said, he showed flashes of strong playmaking, particularly on Spain pick-and-roll actions, leading the team with five assists. It’ll be interesting to see how the coaching staff adjusts his game to help him find his rhythm.