BROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: Two years after Carmelo Anthony’s squad was swept by the Celtics in the first round (inset), the No. 2-seed Knicks are halfway to returning the favor entering tonight’s Game 3. (
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How sweep it would be, especially for Carmelo Anthony.
The Knicks have put themselves in position for sweep payback and a chance to close out their first round series in Boston this weekend.
The series shifts to highly charged TD Garden tonight for Game 3 in the Celtics’ first home game since the Boston Marathon bombing on April 15. The team will honor the victims with a tribute at the end of the first quarter. Anthony is one of two Knicks—along with Amar’e Stoudemire — remaining from the 2010-11 team that absorbed a 4-0 first-round series sweep against the Celtics.
“If that happens, I’ll be super duper happy and excited about that,’’ Anthony said of a sweep. “I can’t lie. But I know that’s going to be tough. Especially going back to their place.’
Oh yes, the famed parquet may tremble with the noise expected to fill the arena on Causeway Street.
“If anybody knows struggle and tragedy, it’s the city of New York,’’ Tyson Chandler said.“Weunderstand very well what they’re going through. We expect them to play with pride for their city. They’ve been doing it. These games haven’t been easy. They’ve been no walk in the park. I expect the same thing in Boston.”
No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 hole the Knicks can dump the Celtics in tonight.
“We have a great opportunity ahead of us to go in there and try to get up 3-0,’’ Anthony said. “That’s our goal.’’
When Chandler won his lone NBA title with Jason Kidd two years ago in Dallas, they also were up 2-0 on a storied Lakers franchise and swept them in the Western Conference semifinals.
“The way the team is built, the character of the team, reminds me a lot [of Dallas],’’ Chandler said. “I feel like this team has an opportunity to compete for a title.”
The Knicks have dominated the second halves of both victories — holding the Celtics to 25 points and 23 points, respectively. The 23 points allowed in Game 2 set a Knicks playoff record.
“We want us to play secondhalf defense in the first half,’’ J.R. Smith said. “We just got to keep our composure, play through everything. If we don’t get a call, got to play through it.’’
Coach Mike Woodson knows how beneficial closing the series out Sunday would be. If they make the second round, the Knicks are hopeful to incorporate Stoudemire, and that extra practice time would be beneficial.
“It would be great, it would be fantastic if that can happen,’’ Woodson said. “Having Amar’e still in his stage of progression, he could possibly get back. It will give some of our guys banged up an opportunity to rest.’’
Aside from their defensive brilliance in the second half of both wins, the Knicks outclassed Boston at the point guard position. Without Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley is Boston’s starter and has failed to run the offense.
The Knicks, meanwhile, have been led by a confident Raymond Felton, who makes the Jeremy Lin decision look better each passing playoff day.
Lin’s playoff debut has been disastrous so far, with 11 points and six turnovers through twogames. Against Boston, Felton is averaging 14.5 points, 4.0 assists, 1.0 turnovers and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 46.4 percent.
“He’s a tough kid,” Woodson said of Felton. “He’s getting better in terms of how to run a team. This year he’s really stood out in terms of running a team. When he got hurt in December that hurt us in a major way.’’
With Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and the Boston din, the Celtics won’t go down quietly.
“Boston is a talented team,’’ Kidd said. “They have enough firepower. They won a championship. We understand the series is far from over. We took care what we had to — protect home. They want to do the same thing.’’
The Celtics held leads of seven points and nine points in the second quarters of Games 1 and 2 before the Knicks blew them out. The Celtics try to crack the 80-point mark for the first time this series tonight.
“We have a veteran ball-cub,’’ Kidd said.“We were down both games and found a way to win. We have that veteran leadership.’’
That leadership will be tested in a big way tonight.
“I expect a team that’s going to fight, make some adjustments,’’ Anthony said. “They’re home. A lot is going to go into that emotionally, physically. We have to be prepared for whatever they throw at us.’’
“Their backs are against the wall being down 2-0,’’ Woodson said. “I’m sure they’re going to come out and give us everything they got. We have to match that intensity.’’