A Big Thud to Start Season. Boston 132 NY 109

The Knicks started the season with a big thud — showing no real chemistry or defense in getting killed by the defending Champ Boston Celtics 132-109 in Boston on a Tuesday night.

It was a new-look Knick team — having retooled in the off season after Isaiah Hartenstein left due to free agency, NY traded for Mikal Bridges, and acquired Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.

NY went 4-1 in the pre-season but the fire and intensity and teamwork weren’t there on this night, as the new team played its first regular-season game together. Meanwhile Boston rained 3’s all night — hitting seemingly everything they took — until they were about to break the record for 3’s in a game and missed their last 13.

“The NBA needs to drug test all of them,” said Josh Hart afterwards. “I’ll tell you that right now. I ain’t ever seen nothing like that before.’

“You got to give them credit,” Hart added. “They’re already an explosive team, and the energy in the arena was contagious. They played extremely well offensively.”

“We’ll look at it; we’ll learn from it,” continued Hart. “We’ll look at some of the defensive mishaps that we had that led to their shots. It’s game 1.”

1. Boston Hit 3 After 3

The Knicks looked lackluster from the start, while Boston was playing a crisp offensive game and hitting in-motion 3’s all over the place.

The Knicks were missing Mitchell Robinson of course — resting his surgically repaired ankle until December — and also without Precious Achiuwa, who is out 3-4 weeks with a hamstring pull. And with Randle, Hartenstein, and Divo gone — that’s a lot of intense players missing.

Meanwhile Boston was the same team that won last year’s title, sans Kristaps Porzingis out until December after knee surgery — but he only played 6 playoff games last year anyway.

Al Horford started in his place, and was his usual tough hombre self down low — making all the right plays as Boston got off to a splintering start.

Al Horford still does many things that don’t show up in the box score,” noted NBA Analyst Ross Kreines. “Whether that’s setting screens that not only create good space for others but leads to easier looks, getting the hockey assist, finding a body when a shot goes up, communication on defense and competing. Winning.”

All the other Celtic starters played free and easy and hit 3 after 3:

2. McBride & Brunson the Lone Knick Assailants Early

Meanwhile Jalen Brunson and Miles McBride were the lone Knicks getting it done on offense for NY — Brunson penetrating and scoring as usual, and McBride hitting 3’s.

Both would finish with 22 points to lead NY — Brunson on 9-14 (1-2 from 3) shooting; McBride on 8-10 (4-5 from 3) shooting.

3. Mikal a Tough 1st Half; Good 2nd Half

Mikal Bridges had a TOUGH first half — going 0-5 from 3 to start, with much of Knicks Twitter complaining about a retooled jumper that he apparently has. There was also a lot of complaints about Karl-Anthony Towns‘ defense and motor.

Mikal rebounded with a good 2nd half, and finished shooting 7-13 (2-7 from 3) for 16 points. Karl Anthony Towns had 12 points on 5-9 shooting in 24 minutes.

Boston was up by 19 at the end of the 1st quarter, went up by 20-something points throughout the 2nd quarter, were up by 26 after 3 quarters, and romped to the win.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401704627

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