After the New York Knicks’ 115-93 loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Jalen Brunson addressed his team’s lack of urgency and the struggles on defense that led to the large deficit. The Celtics hit 20 of 40 three-pointers, a shooting performance that was difficult for the Knicks to counter.
Brunson acknowledged the defensive issues, particularly the team’s inability to defend the perimeter effectively. “They were 20 of 40 from three,” Brunson said. “There’s not a lot I can say. We need to discuss a lot tomorrow and figure it out, but we need to play with more of a sense of urgency.”
While the Knicks were able to mount comebacks in earlier games, Game 3 was different. “We need to have more urgency,” Brunson continued. “I don’t think we came with the mindset of being satisfied, but I think we were subconsciously satisfied being up 2. That’s not the way we need to approach the game.”
Brunson, known for his ability to block out external distractions, shared his approach to overcoming adversity. “It’s not really a flush situation,” he said when asked about moving on from the loss. “We got to learn from it. It’s not something we can just flush.”
The defensive struggles were a key factor in the game, with Brunson reflecting on the team’s defense. “We need to cover the three-point line better,” he said. “There was a lot of switching on the post, and I tried to force tough contested twos, but we need to do better at defending the three.”
Brunson didn’t shy away from acknowledging the mistakes on both ends. “We just have to play with more intensity, more urgency,” he said. “It’s not about the scheme; it’s about whether we want it.”
The Knicks’ pick-and-roll defense also came under scrutiny, with Brunson pointing out that Boston’s shooters found their rhythm early. “We let them get in a rhythm,” Brunson said. “You can’t give them the green light to shoot. When that happens, it’s hard to stop them.”
Reflecting on the Knicks’ consistent struggles in the first half of games, Brunson noted that falling behind early is not sustainable against a team like the Celtics. “The first half needs to be a lot better,” he said. “You can’t keep playing catch-up with a team like this.”
Looking ahead to Game 4, Brunson urged his team to use the loss as a lesson. “We just have to learn from today, from the previous games, and come out with more urgency,” he said.
