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Reading: Instant Analysis: 3 Major Factors Behind Celtics Opening Night Win Over Knicks
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Home > NBA News & Analysis > Boston Celtics News & Analysis > Instant Analysis: 3 Major Factors Behind Celtics Opening Night Win Over Knicks

Instant Analysis: 3 Major Factors Behind Celtics Opening Night Win Over Knicks

The Boston Celtics picked up a 132-109 win over the New York Knicks led by a historic team-shooting performance.

Ishaan Bhattacharya
Oct 23, 2024
6 Min Read
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Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

The Boston Celtics picked up right where they left off as the 2024 NBA Champions earned a strong 132-109 win over the New York Knicks at home on ring night. The new-look Knicks didn’t stand a chance after they fell to a 19-point deficit in the first quarter, with the Celtics comfortably controlling this game for all 48 minutes.

Contents
  • The Celtics Starting Five Is Still The Best In The NBA
  • This Version Of Jayson Tatum Is An MVP Candidate
  • Three-Point Shooting Masterclass

The Celtics starters dominated the game, combining for 113 points in the win. Jayson Tatum led all scorers with 37 points and 10 assists (14-18 FG, 8-11 3PT) while Derrick White put up 24 points (8-13 FG), and Jaylen Brown had 23 points and seven rebounds (7-18 FG). Jrue Holiday scored 18 points (7-9 FG) and Al Horford opened the season with 11 points (4-7 FG). The Celtics set the new NBA record for most threes as a team with their 29 three-point makes in this win.

Knicks star and preseason MVP candidate Jalen Brunson led the team with 22 points (9-14 FG) with Miles McBride contributing 22 points off the bench (8-10 FG). New addition Mikal Bridges scored 16 points (7-13 FG) in his Knicks debut, while Karl-Anthony Towns put just 12 points and seven rebounds (5-9 FG) in his debut for the franchise. Josh Hart also had 12 points in the game (4-6 FG).

Here are the three primary factors behind the Celtics’ dominant season-opening win over the Knicks.


The Celtics Starting Five Is Still The Best In The NBA

The Celtics’ starting five might be one of the best we’ve seen in the NBA since the Golden State Warriors still had their superteam in the Western Conference. The starters, Holiday, White, Brown, Tatum, and Horford, combined for 113 points, with the players also ending the night with a positive +/-. Tatum was +26, Brown and Holiday were +23, and White was +21.

This isn’t the final Celtics starting five, as Al Horford is currently standing in for center in place of the injured Kristaps Porzingis. Nonetheless, this five-man unit with Horford still looks like the best in the NBA. Either of the stretch bigs create heaps of space for both Tatum and Brown to attack and maximize scoring opportunities. Brown struggled slightly today, but Tatum maximized his opportunities.

The Celtics went 40-65 from the field with their starting five in the win over the Knicks, showing off their offensive chemistry and rhythm after a strong preseason as well. If the Celtics starting five can remain consistent, it will be very hard to stop them.


This Version Of Jayson Tatum Is An MVP Candidate

Jayson Tatum comfortably outclassed every other player on the court today, putting on a phenomenal two-way performance. He was an offensive engine with 37 points and 10 assists, scoring with efficiency we hadn’t seen from him in the 2024 Playoffs. He went 14-18 from the field, 8-11 from three-point range, and 1-2 from the free throw line, ending the night with a 98.0 TS%.

Tatum was expected to struggle against the Knicks wing defenders such as Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, with many saying that the perimeter defense focus of the Knicks roster was to try and combat the Celtics. The multiple options the Knicks employed on Tatum were pointless as the three-time All-NBA First Team selection out-muscled and outperformed the Knicks defenders and Tom Thibodeau’s scheme.

If Tatum can show more consistency this season and continue performing with such a profound impact on the Celtics, he’ll be one of the names in contention for the regular season MVP.


Three-Point Shooting Masterclass

Ever since Joe Mazzulla took the reigns of the Celtics in 2022, the team has adopted a clear focus on outside shooting. They led the NBA in attempts from three-point range last season and over the preseason, with that philosophy living true in their season opener. The Celtics shot 29-61 (47.5%) as a team from three in this contest while the Knicks went 11-30 (36.6%). The Celtics tied the NBA record for most 3-point makes in the win and could have broken it if they hadn’t missed their last 13 attempts.

A 54-point swing on three-point makes it almost impossible for any team in the NBA to overcome. The Celtics hammered the Knicks into the ground with their outside shooting, with all starters sinking three or more outside shots efficiently. Tatum went 8-11 as the best shooter, followed by Derrick White shooting 6-10, and Jaylen Brown going 5-9 from three. Even Jrue Holiday made four three-pointers and Al Horford made three.

This encapsulates the points from before, as a consistent Tatum jumper will make him an MVP frontrunner while the starting five combining to make 26 three-pointers is a scary sign for the rest of the NBA as they look to stop the Celtics from defending their NBA title this season.

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support. 

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Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

TAGGED:Boston Celtics ArchiveJalen BrunsonJaylen BrownJayson TatumKarl-Anthony TownsMikal BridgesNew York Knicks Archive
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ByIshaan Bhattacharya
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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, Yahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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