Less than a minute into the New York Knicks second-round series against the Boston Celtics, it’s clear why coach Tom Thibodeau decided to utilize a switching defense.

Mikal Bridges began the defensive possession against Derrick White but quickly switched to match up against Jayson Tatum, then Kristaps Porzingis. Despite Porzingis’s height advantage, Bridges managed to block his attempt at the rim.

The Knicks didn’t find themselves at a disadvantage despite Porzingis’s eight-inch height edge over Bridges. They avoided double-teaming the ball and managed their defensive shifts efficiently.

In fact, this strategy mirrors the Orlando Magic’s defense against the Celtics in the first round, focusing on limiting their three-point shooting. While they succeeded, Boston managed to win that contest by 31 points, averaging 120 points per 100 possessions throughout the series.

The defending champions pose unique challenges for their opponents, forcing them to make difficult adjustments. In recent matchups, opponents have often chosen to let their big men defend guards while smaller players take on bigger roles, aware that any alternative might yield worse results.

Thibodeau acknowledged the difficult aspects of defending against the Celtics while emphasizing the need to limit three-point attempts. However, the Knicks failed to restrict Boston’s three-point shots in Game 1, as the Celtics took 60 attempts, converting just 15.

State aspects of Knicks’ defensive strategy unintentionally created mismatches, leading to open shots for Boston. The Celtics shot poorly, going 7 for 24 on wide-open three-point attempts, but the risk of giving Boston favorable matchups was evident as Towns’ defensive fouls piled up quickly in the opening frame.

As the series progresses, the Knicks must adapt their defensive strategies to avoid similar pitfalls, lest they face dire consequences.