Celtics Series Deficit is Due to Massive Offensive Issue

The reigning champion Boston Celtics found themselves in a surprising 0-2 hole — despite playing both those contests at home — for their second-round playoff semifinal series against the lower-seeded New York Knicks.

Boston has looked entirely out of sorts in allowing the Knicks to notch a pair of 20-point comeback rallies in both bouts.

Regular season starting center Kristaps Porzingis, struggling with aftereffects from a March illness, has been reduced to a bench role behind 38-year-old Al Horford.

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Sharpshooting bench forward Sam Hauser proved largely ineffective in Game 1 and sat out Game 2 entirely with an ankle injury. Hauser was also ruled out for Game 3, with the series shifting to Madison Square Garden.

Although they've often looked great defensively, Celtics All-Stars Jayson Tatum — dealing with a wrist issue — and Jaylen Brown — playing through a knee impingement — have struggled mightily to score. Tatum has gone just 5-of-20 from distance (25 percent) in the first two bouts, while Brown has shot just 3-for-17 (17.6 percent).

All-Defensive Team guard Jrue Holiday, playing through a hamstring injury, has been more limited than usual.

Boston is banged up, thanks to perhaps to mileage accrued during a long run to the championship last season and summer Olympic appearances for Tatum, Holiday and All-Defensive guard Derrick White.

The club's overreliance on 3-point shooting has appeared especially costly through two games.

With All-Defensive wings OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, plus energetic shooting guard Josh Hart, sealing off the perimeter, the Celtics have gone ice cold from distance.

Boston has gone just 25-for-100 from long range, at home, in Games 1 and 2. During the regular season, Boston forced up a whopping 48.2 triple tries, converting 36.8 percent of them (17.8).