In basketball, the outcome often comes down to two simple factors: who scores more points and who wants it more. Doc Rivers and the Celtics had both areas covered on Friday night, delivering a 113-96 blow to the New York Knicks in Game 3 to give them a commanding 3-0 series lead. The game plan? Doc and company just kept it simple.
"We got stops and then offensively we kept the game simple," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "I thought it was one of our best jobs setting picks, maybe this year."
That simplicity allowed Paul Pierce to go off for 38 points, Ray Allen to put up 32 points and Rajon Rondo to record yet another triple double, finishing with 15 points, 20 assists and 11 rebounds in the blowout win.
Pierce and company will look to finish off the Knicks in Game 4 on Sunday night, which would mark the first time the Celtics have swept an opponent out of the playoffs since 1992 when they eliminated the Indiana Pacers in three games.