BOSTON -- Throughout this highly strange series...
With [Luke] Kornet in the game to replace an ineffective Kristaps Porzingis, Boston opted to place guard Jrue Holiday on sharpshooting Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, who has managed just two triples all series.
Doing so, and having Kornet hang near the basket as a help defender and rim protector, gave New York problems. As a roamer, he swatted five shots in the third quarter alone. For context, the Knicks made a total of four shots in that entire span.
The Celtics, on the other hand, had all kinds of space for their looks, both in the paint and from deep. White got loose for a pair of triples and had 13 points by himself in that span. The ball moved beautifully, with Boston logging seven assists on eight makes. The Celtics also collected 12 points at the line.
Excellent piece by Chris Herring, ESPN
*And sometimes, like when you start T. Jackson-Davis, your opponent laughs at you.