NBA Playoffs, Rnd 1: Nets @ Celtics – 3:30pm ET, Sun, April 17, 2022

[UNCBlue012]

I stress because well... duh but I think Celtics in six.

[sam_I_am]

I hope Simmons play early. Hack a ben! Hack a Ben! Surely he would **** their offense.

I don’t think will work because Ben is only cleared for 1 on 0 play so there wouldn’t be anyone on the court to hack him.

[itrsteve]

I don't like us (fans) being cocky, just a couple of months ago we had some terrible habbits. Hopefully s*** doesn't hit the fan and we revert back to those habbits. If the Cs are mentally at 100% and trust each other we'll win this series, but i never count out KD.

To me the worst habit was not showing up against “lesser” teams/players. Certainly not how they would view Brooklyn.

My gut says C’s in 6 but who really knows. It’s going to be a stressful one for sure.

[tfribs45]

Nets already giving the C's more bulletin board. They don't respect this C's team..... Hope these boys are ready to send a strong message to the East! Lets GO!!!!!!!

[Tyakack]

I'm gonna change my prediction one more time back to celtics in 6. xD. I still think KD wins one game by himself and we have a game where we just don't play that well which allows the nets to get one more win. We got this though. Wake me up when it's sunday.

[sam_I_am]

Can’t let the Nets steal game 1. The Celtics have to show up ready to play and keep the Garden faithful rocking. Limiting Kyrie form going off early would seem to be an important goal. I assume they will target him relentlessly as the weak link on defense. He will gamble for steals to overcome his laziness on defense but he can be successful so gotta take care of the ball at all times.

[makubesu]

KD’s play making against Cleveland was very unnerving. He was really using his length to make passes.

I don’t know what to make I’m of this series, but I hope we give it to them.

[Larry_Russell]

Report:

Ben Simmons has been practicing in the Net's facility trying to get shots up in an empty gym. Reports are that he has yet to make one as he keeps passing it every time he is open.

[chrisab123]

I hope you're right because it would be really depressing if the Celts exit in the 1st round after an excellent regular season.

The Nets aren't a real 7 seed though. They had a stretch where injuries took their toll and they went 3-17. This is a top team in the east and probably the worst draw for the Celtics. I'm not sure I'd favor them with Rob let alone without him. But the Celtics do have more than a punchers chance in this one. For sure.

It would have been a sweep if Rob was healthy. Now I say 5 games. They win 1 out of the 2 in Brooklyn and we close it out at home.

Disagree. I know the Celtics were rolling and are a really good team. I think we all forget how good KD is. His team isn't getting rolled in 4 or 5 even with a healthy rob. This is going to be a dog fight. I didn't want to see the Nets until the next round but is what it is.

[BleedGreen1989]

Brooklyn Nets are 36-19 this season with Kevin Durant.

He missed a good chunk of time and their record reflects that. This is not a usual play in team.

[SatchSanders]

I'm more worried about the refs...they gonna foul out Theis in the first quarter.

It's a little tough for me to see the NBA allowing Brooklyn to lose in Game 6 on their home floor, and then I'd be nervous about KD in Game 7 up here.

Though if Stern were still Commissioner I'd be really concerned about how the NBA sees this moving forward. Do they see the League's fortunes as better off with KD and Kyrie up against Milwaukee in a rematch? Or should they use those two like established older prizefighters taking a fall to validate an up-and-coming Celtics team?

I don't think there's so much in shenanigans now (of course apologies to Chris Paul re Foster), but I'll be nervous if I see Tony Brothers show up in Brooklyn for Game 3. I do hope the players themselves accept now that KD and Kyrie are going to get superstar calls, JT and JB will not, and the Celtics have to play through that. If they do so then I think the Celtics will be OK, maybe even in 5 (2 in Boston, split in Brooklyn, finish in Boston).

[Larry_Russell]

I'm more worried about the refs...they gonna foul out Theis in the first quarter.

It's a little tough for me to see the NBA allowing Brooklyn to lose in Game 6 on their home floor, and then I'd be nervous about KD in Game 7 up here.

Though if Stern were still Commissioner I'd be really concerned about how the NBA sees this moving forward. Do they see the League's fortunes as better off with KD and Kyrie up against Milwaukee in a rematch? Or should they use those two like established older prizefighters taking a fall to validate an up-and-coming Celtics team?

I don't think there's so much in shenanigans now (of course apologies to Chris Paul re Foster), but I'll be nervous if I see Tony Brothers show up in Brooklyn for Game 3. I do hope the players themselves accept now that KD and Kyrie are going to get superstar calls, JT and JB will not, and the Celtics have to play through that. If they do so then I think the Celtics will be OK, maybe even in 5 (2 in Boston, split in Brooklyn, finish in Boston).

Dont start blaming refs.

Also, it wont go to game 6

[sam_I_am]

Brooklyn Nets are 36-19 this season with Kevin Durant.

He missed a good chunk of time and their record reflects that. This is not a usual play in team.

Durant is probably still the best player in the NBA. That said, the team that crushed us got 41 ppg from Harden and Harris and also had Jeff Green’s length to bother Tatum. Who is going to bring that this year?

The Nets are dangerous and probably as tough a first round match as there will be except for perhaps the Raptors who are probably the second hottest team in East heading into playoffs. Their record since 2022 is as good as Nets record with Durant.

For the Celtics, unlike most emerging young teams, this isn't about a deep run. Jaylen Brown has been to ECF 3 out of 4 years he’s been to playoffs. This guy isn’t a KAT who disappears in the biggest games. Ditto Marcus, Tatum and Big Al. Our championship window cracked open in January. It is now officially finals or bust. We are the team to beat in the East and we are the team playing the best even without Rob. It doesn’t matter which round we lose in if we don’t go all the way to finals. The Nets and Durant have to be dealt with and the Celtics are the best equipped team to do it. Now is as good a time as ever. I think the coach and players wanted this matchup.

[Celts17Pride]

The Nets are going to force the ball out of Jayson Tatum's hands. Jaylen Brown is going to do what Jaylen Brown does which is efficient scoring at about 23-25 ppg.

This series and the playoffs are going to come down to Horford, Pritchard, G Williams, Smart, D White and Theis making shots. Those 6 players are going to be open a ton.

If the group of Horford, G Williams, Smart, Pritchard, Theis and D White shoot 37-40% from three point range the Celtics are going to the NBA Finals. If that group struggles shooting the ball then the Celtics will struggle. Maybe Nesmith and Hauser can provide some timely shooting.

I think the playoffs are pretty simple for the Celtics.

[playa-hater]

If Tatum does indeed get "trapped" and/or doubled, PP needs extended playing time. I trust him knocking down open looks more than anyone right now.

SPACING SPACING SPACING

[sam_I_am]

The Nets are going to force the ball out of Jayson Tatum's hands. Jaylen Brown is going to do what Jaylen Brown does which is efficient scoring at about 23-25 ppg.

This series and the playoffs are going to come down to Horford, Pritchard, G Williams, Smart, D White and Theis making shots. Those 6 players are going to be open a ton.

If the group of Horford, G Williams, Smart, Pritchard, Theis and D White shoot 37-40% from three point range the Celtics are going to the NBA Finals. If that group struggles shooting the ball then the Celtics will struggle. Maybe Nesmith and Hauser can provide some timely shooting.

I think the playoffs are pretty simple for the Celtics.

The Nets can’t impose their will on Celtics defensively. The Celtics are going to score. In order to win I think they have to stop Durant and Kyrie from shooting 3s and also keep their FG% from midrange and the paint under 50%.

[DogBentley14]

I had meniscus surgery on March 28th. I am not a doctor but was told that my injury was fairly benign when it comes to meniscus tears. The first three days, my knee was swollen and it sucked. But by day 7 the swelling was 95% gone. This Sunday is Easter but I plan on playing in my Sunday league on the 24th and could definitely play this Sunday. I am 50. Time Lord is 24. Now of course we are different people and so on but if he is doing two a days then I think he is healed and he will play.

Just my 2-cents

PS - Javonte Green came back three weeks after similar surgery and I can see why.

[Fantaxp7]

10 pages in....And Sunday is still a long ways away.

[Fantaxp7]

I had meniscus surgery on March 28th. I am not a doctor but was told that my injury was fairly benign when it comes to meniscus tears. The first three days, my knee was swollen and it sucked. But by day 7 the swelling was 95% gone. This Sunday is Easter but I plan on playing in my Sunday league on the 24th and could definitely play this Sunday. I am 50. Time Lord is 24. Now of course we are different people and so on but if he is doing two a days then I think he is healed and he will play.

Just my 2-cents

PS - Javonte Green came back three weeks after similar surgery and I can see why.

That's crazy how fast that is vs a complete tear.

I had a complete ACL and Meniscus tear coming up on two years since the surgery...I still can't run haha. Almost there though.

[DogBentley14]

Yep. Not all surgeries and injuries are the same. And again, I am 50 aka old and I healed pretty fast. Shocked me too.