Even after two ugly losses, Boston searched for a silver lining.
NEW YORK -- This was the full admission of a second straight collapse, delivered with a side dish of defiance.
It's not yet known whether that defiance sounds like the obnoxious cry of false bravado, or the proud bass rumblings of a father not yet ready to lose to his son for the first time. If pressed for a prediction, I'd choose the former. After all, the Boston Celtics have managed just 24 points per game during two second halves this series.
The Celtics realize just how hideous they made basketball during a Game 2 loss against the New York Knicks on Tuesday night, know they could have shot almost as accurately in the second half if wearing blindfolds and a straitjacket. They understand they don't have a healthy point guard anywhere on the roster, and they figure they don't have a prayer if required to operate in the half-court all game long. Their bench players haven't scored and don't provide much else, and their stars have been surprisingly inefficient.
Yet as the world begins to develop a conviction that Boston holds no chance in this series -- and after these latest two duds, what else could the world believe? -- the Celtics still uncaged everything remaining of their confidence.
"After these two losses," said Avery Bradley, "we feel like it's payback time. Everybody is mad in here and we cannot wait until the next game."
Added head coach Doc Rivers: "We are who we are. We can't apologize for that. That is who we have been left with and I think it is good enough to win."
"We can defend this team," explained Kevin Garnett. "Although this team does score a lot of points, we can defend them. If we're able to put some points up on the board, I like our chances."
If. During each of the past two games, Boston's offense has fallen apart worse than the final half hour of Funny People. That movie seemed like a hit at first. Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen demonstrated great chemistry. James Taylor (we'll call him "Game 2 Jason Terry") made a perfect cameo. I thought Sandler had finally regained some of his magic, but trying to squeeze a love story into the plot led to a sickening lack of humor down the stretch; the director might as well have filmed the Celtics trying to execute sets during the third and fourth quarters.
Asked if he knows what's happening at halftime to encourage such drastic measures of ineptitude, Garnett replied, "I cannot."
Indeed, underneath Boston's layer of hope resides uncertainty. The Celtics are convinced they can stop New York even with Carmelo Anthony continuing his torrid stretch of scoring, but don't seem to know what to make of their own offense. Boston hit 5-19 from the 3-point arc and mustered just 24 points in the paint during Game 2; according to ESPN Stats and Info, the latter number is tied for the lowest output in a game all season including the regular season.
The Celtics didn't commit nearly as many turnovers (11) as in Game 1, but shot just 37.1 percent (including an abominable 19.4 percent after halftime). Rivers noted that Pierce (18 points, six assists, six rebounds) needs more help, an especially valid claim considering that no other Celtic scored more than Garnett's 12 points.
"We can play better and we have to play better," said Rivers.
Added Terry: "I think they turned the pressure up and didn't allow us to get into our offense, which we have to do a much better job of maintaining our pace. We got it up-tempo in the first half, second half we slowed down a little bit."
Shortly after Game 2, Rivers implored his team to protect its home court. Boston will continue to miss Rajon Rondo's playmaking brilliance, but must figure out ways to succeed in the playoffs without him over the next two days. The first two games have devolved into drubbings.
Still, said Anthony, "Boston is a team that is not going anywhere. They will be there at the end."
That's the way it's been in the past. But this year, the sound of defiance seems to ring a little differently.