When the Boston Celtics left New York last month, they had just finished a season sweep of the Knicks that made it seem as if a postseason meeting would be a simple step on their climb back to the NBA Finals.

The Celtics may battle their way to two more wins in a refusal to go out silently, but New York has reduced them to an erratic collection of deep gunners who cannot find consistency on offense. Boston’s interior game looks even less effective with Kristaps Porzingis trying to work through an illness.

The Boston Celtics find themselves facing a surprising 2-0 deficit as they prepare for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday in New York. Boston had swept the four-game regular season series from the Knicks but lost the first two games in the current series at home in historic fashion.