The New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics meet for Game 3 of their NBA Playoff meeting at 8 p.m. ET. Since ESPN is going to show this game, you know what that means? Live streams are available online. First, let's look at the matchup.
The Knicks have the advantage so far in this series. They are up 2-0 and the Celtics desperately need a win as the Knicks have their eyes set on the second round of the playoffs. Many believe the Celtics will rise to the occasion. This is their first game played at home since the marathon bombing and analysts believe that they will be playing motivated basketball.
Honestly, the Celtics will need more than motivation to defeat these Knicks. Carmelo Anthony is proving to be the star many expected as he single handedly has ripped Boston apart with consecutive 30-plus point performances. Motivation will have to drive the Celtics to play defense against Anthony and when he's on the bench, they have to also find a way to stop J.R. Smith and prevent Kenyon Martin from beating them to the boards.
Kevin Garnett has been playing relative to his age, while Paul Pierce simply doesn't have the supporting cast around him to consistenly build on his performances night after night. Another thing plaguing the Celtics in the playoffs is their lack of scoring in the second half. In Game 1, the totaled only 25 points in the second half, followed by just 23 in Game 2. When the Knicks defense steps up, the Celtics don't have an answer for them.
One thing the Knicks will have to do in this game is start out hot early. It probably won't be as easy with the crowd of the TD Garden against you, to come back from a deficit. The Knicks have trailed, though not by many points, at the end of the first half in both games played against the Celtcs.
Brandon Bass is a key player that has to step up as he played a major part in the Celtics' playoff run last season.