The Boston Celtics have had an embarrassing showing over the first two games of their second-round matchup with the New York Knicks. They became the first team in NBA history to blow a 20-point lead in back-to-back postseason games.
The defending champions find themselves in a hole as their two stars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, have both struggled tremendously to begin the series. A former Celtics champion appeared on ESPN's "First Take", claiming that this is a legacy-defining series for the duo.
"We're talking about city of champions here," ESPN's Kendrick Perkins claimed Thursday. "And if you know what it means to be a Boston Celtic, we're not just sold on getting one championship. That's not why they brought this entire roster back. This is not why the whole starting five -- when you include Kristaps Porzingis -- is making close to about $1 billion in salary overall. No, you run it back because you want to win multiple titles. And when you have this duo that's supposed to be the best duo in the league, you're definitely not supposed to get sent out in the (second) round, especially (by) a team, from top to bottom, that you're better than... What are we talking about right now? You were up 20 points, twice, at the crib and blew out. Yes, this is a legacy-defining moment for Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum."
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Boston's two stars have both struggled tremendously over the first two games of the series. Tatum has averaged 18.0 points, 15.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 28.6% from the field, 25.0% from three-point range and 77.8% from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, Brown has averaged 21.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.0 apg and 1.0 spg on 34.9/17.6/71.4 shooting splits.
The Celtics, as a whole, have struggled from three-point range, shooting just 25-100 over the first two games. Payton Pritchard, who is shooting 35.7% from deep, is the only player to attempt at least two threes who is shooting over 30.0%.
More NBA: Former Celtics NBA champion calls out Jayson Tatum, claims he lacks 'dog'