Eastern Conference | Round 1 | (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Brooklyn Nets

[AussieCeltic]

Let Celtics celebrate, but people should remember that was the worst KD in a long time. The chances of it happening again this series are pretty slim. I don’t see him being held in check that much in another game. He’s going to come out pissed off next game. A 25 point first half wouldn’t surprise me. I think Nets will take game 2 and this series will still go 7.

Was also one of Jaylen's worst games. And Tatum only had 3 shot attempts in the 4th, including the game winner. Neither will happen again.

And Horford having 20/15 etc. Multiple unusual things. I just trust Kyrie+KD a lot more in the playoffs than Brown and Tatum who haven’t carried their teams to series wins and titles in big moments like the Nets duo.

Did you watch the game?

Horford dominated because the Nets have no one decent big. Drummond is a big body who can rebounds but awful defender. Claxton is ok but still young. Then the Nets stayed with 3 guards a lot which meant easy offensive rebounds for Horford.

Plus Brown and Tatum have carried their teams to 2 conference finals (3 for Brown) at a young age. Now they’re coming into their primes and you think they haven’t been in bigs games??

[Saciid11]

This series is far from over. Nets can still steal game 2 with a better performance from KD.

The pressure is on Celtics who got lucky tonight with Durant having off night ... If I'm Nets I would feel good about my chances winning this series.

[Riot Randolph]

Timelord plays this series is wraps...I'm not sure Simmons playstyle benefits this team

[DarkXaero]

As a Nets fan, I'm afraid it's hard to psychologically recover from a loss like this. Celtics got an enormous confidence booster with this win today, while Nets will be demoralized losing in this fashion. I hope I'm wrong but it's a soul crushing loss.

[picc]

Average bet says KD is going the **** off next game while Kyrie cools down.

But wouldn't be surprised to see Kyrie continue due to his boston crowd hatred powers being activated.

[jfs1000d]

Nets legitimately blew it. May have cost them the series.

Seems like a growing up moment for Tatum. He sonned KD today.

Eh I thought KD just didnt get some shots to fall in the first half. Second half they got much more physical with him though.

KD had maybe two open shots today. Everything else was contested. Great D in him.

Barkley had great point in postgame. They gotta have Durant and Irving go nuclear to win.


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[DroseReturnChi]

Kyrie doesn't deserve this, KD is awful

Durant is dog****. i told ya all kyrie was the best player and he proved it. brown and tatum are not better. he needs to leave for a title.

[picc]

As a Nets fan, I'm afraid it's hard to psychologically recover from a loss like this. Celtics got an enormous confidence booster with this win today, while Nets will be demoralized losing in this fashion. I hope I'm wrong but it's a soul crushing loss.

Don't see it that way at all. They were down big and came back. Should have won with their best player looking drunk all night. KD is more likely to be angry than deflated, and I don't think Kyrie's mentality changes win or lose. Just because you're mentally fragile doesn't mean they are.

Last part was a joke, but only kind of. They're going to be fine.

[SeniorWalker]

Guys mad at Kyrie? Guys mad at Durant? Sometimes great games happen.

That was just great coaching by Idoka. Sent the double at kyrie. Tatum guarded Durant.

And he didn’t over coach.


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The only issue I have is with Kyrie running down the clock with ISO ball instead of some pick and roll/pick and pop with KD and try to get a nice open shot. He passed it to KD with under 3 seconds left in the shot clock and expected a bail out shot.

He tired to get by the defense but it wasn't there.

Kyrie made enough clutch shots.

Defense decided to let Jaylen Brown run right to the rim. And then nobody helped on Tatum.

Thats what cost the game.

Yeah that jaylen Brown play blew my mind. That's the kind of play you allow when you're up multiple possessions and time is running out, he cut it to a 1 pt game with a wide open layup with plenty of time.

[stormi]

Kyring nation, lift your heads. We're back Wednesday.

If they ever get Simmons to play they lock to win it all ... They just need to defend better and rebound. Their offense with KD and Durant is just unstoppable...

I think the chances Ben Simmons saw that intensity and wants to get involved is closer to 0.

I 100% agree though - the addition of Ben would swing this series. They need his size/defending/athleticism/rebounding. And if he scores 8-10 points it's a cherry on top.

[Jaqua92]

I was watching MJ highlights earlier, and even though Kyrie shows flashes of that, particularly with his post game/footwork, MJ still moved more fluildly and more quickly despite being a lot bigger.

Seeing Kyrie do what he did tonight, and then seeing MJ on another level is just wild to consider - human beings are fricken cool man

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[Hello Brooklyn]

Are LMA and Blake injured or are they bench placeholders now?

Not injured.

LMA is so bad on defense they don't play him anymore.

Griffin should be playing. But Nash refuses to even try playing him for no good reason.

[JoeyLightYears]

Kyring nation, lift your heads. We're back Wednesday.

If they ever get Simmons to play they lock to win it all ... They just need to defend better and rebound. Their offense with KD and Durant is just unstoppable...

I'm not sure who will win this series (JK, it'll be Celtics in 4 or 5), but I do know that Ben Simmons will make zero difference. The guy is a walking anxiety attack, can you imagine him in a game 7 on the road? Hack-a-Ben is free possessions whenever Boston wants them.

[Feed Your Head]

Yikes.

Read on Twitter

?s=20&t=yLuxHB2QJLrwzWNb8n7dRA

Is there an assembly of such unlikeable characters on one team

Kyrie shouldn't be cursing while fasting.

SMH.

[jfs1000d]

Let Celtics celebrate, but people should remember that was the worst KD in a long time. The chances of it happening again this series are pretty slim. I don’t see him being held in check that much in another game. He’s going to come out pissed off next game. A 25 point first half wouldn’t surprise me. I think Nets will take game 2 and this series will still go 7.

Was also one of Jaylen's worst games. And Tatum only had 3 shot attempts in the 4th, including the game winner. Neither will happen again.

And Horford having 20/15 etc. Multiple unusual things. I just trust Kyrie+KD a lot more in the playoffs than Brown and Tatum who haven’t carried their teams to series wins and titles in big moments like the Nets duo.

Horford 20/15. It unusual. It isn’t every game, but he has had some really good games this year. He is getting more points and rebounds becuase picking up slack for no Williams.


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[Jaqua92]

This series is far from over. Nets can still steal game 2 with a better performance from KD.

The pressure is on Celtics who got lucky tonight with Durant having off night ... If I'm Nets I would feel good about my chances winning this series.

Brown had another off night tonight as well. Bench was not productive. Dragic had his best game, and Rob Williams is still out.

Celtics have a lot more room for improvement than Nets do. Id guess game 2 is a double digit win for Boston as everything equalizes. Nets tie it up in Brooklyn, and the rest of the series is determined by if Rob comes back imo.

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[G R E Y]

Claxton just had to make one of those free throws!!!

Unbelievable.

Both teams missed five FTs so that evened out.

The adage 'every play counts' comes alive in close games like this. You don't really consider the missed bunnies or missed D assignments early in the 1ST Q as counting for much, but then they're some of the things in film that get pointed out.

Like look at all the missed bunnies for the Cs in the 4TH Q. Just butter fingers. Or all the O board putbacks the Nets allowed. They were outrebounded 43-29(!), including 14-5(!) on O boards. That's a huge disparity even if the Nets shot only 78 FGAs(!) on crazy efficient 53.8%.

Fundamentals are sexy - boxing out, using the glass, help D, making FTs, making the extra pass, etc., etc. I love them all lol

[GSP]

I was watching MJ highlights earlier, and even though Kyrie shows flashes of that, particularly with his post game/footwork, MJ still moved more fluildly and more quickly despite being a lot bigger.

Seeing Kyrie do what he did tonight, and then seeing MJ on another level is just wild to consider - human beings are fricken cool man

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Thats what makes Mj Mj.....He has the skill level as high as anyone......and he combines that with freak athleticism weve seen by just about anyone too.......and hes a psychopathic competitor who works as hard as anyone too

[BenoUdrihFTL]

Kyrie is sensational. Probably the greatest scoring threat in NBA history.

He completely botched the Nets' final possession tho by burning the shotclock trying to iso out of a double. Mind you he did this while having Kevin F'n Durant as an option

Kyrie is an all-time elite one-on-one offensive player, he's even a decent man defender, but his BBIQ is missing something when it comes to the team game

KD sucked and Tatum was reading all of his moves

Well KD ended up with the final shot anyways. So I guess the question is: would you rather have the ball in KD's hands in a 4v3 scenario with sufficient time or a KD desperation 25 foot heave to beat the shotclock buzzer?

[bballcool34]

Tatums defense on KD may have been the most impressive part of a very impressive night