3. Worry About the “Others”
Jalen Brunson was named the 2024-2025 NBA’s Most Clutch Player and deservingly so. He’s carried the Knicks all season and into the playoffs, averaging 31.5 points and 8.2 assists. Brunson is an elite scorer and will always find a way to put the ball in the basket.
Just like they did with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, the Celtics shouldn’t put Brunson into any double-team situations; instead, let him get his points. Their attention should be on Towns, Anunoby, and Bridges.
Banchero and Wagner combined for an average of 55.2 points versus the Celtics. Both of them were scoring, but no one else could get it going. Besides those two, Wendell Carter Jr. and Anthony Black were the only players to score double figures in multiple games.
The Celtics turned their attention to the other guys, knowing they weren’t healthy and that Banchero and Wagner couldn’t do it all themselves. The Celtics used this same approach against the Knicks in the regular season.
While Brunson averaged 26.8 points and 5.3 assists, Anunoby and Bridges were awful against the Celtics. Anunoby averaged nine points on 29.6% shooting from three, and Bridges averaged 13.8 points on 42.9% from the field.
This tactic should be continued as it’s been a factor in the Celtics’ success against the Knicks. While you want to limit and contain Brunson, he’s the kind of player who’ll get his points no matter what.
The Celtics should try and gas Brunson by making him do it all and rely on the others to step up. Until proven otherwise, the Celtics must focus on Towns, Bridges, and Anunoby to make it difficult for them to contribute anything.