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

[Fierce1]

Exactly!

The Nets players will play differently if Rob is around.
That's one thing the stats will not tell you.
It's a different game plan if Rob is around.
Without Rob, the Nets will not be afraid of attacking the basket.

Come on, Horford and Theis can't do what Rob does when it comes to rim protection.

On offense, Rob is a lob threat because he plays above the rim.
Theis and Horford are not above the rim players.

With Rob, the Celts are an elite team on offense and defense.

I think it's a mistake to underestimate the Nets.
KD and Kyrie have won championships.

We've seen the Celts fold after losing Game 1 against Miami in the east finals of 2020.

It remains to be seen if these current Celtic players can withstand playoff pressure.

[Jaqua92]

Rob Williams not being able to play really changes everything.

The offense will be slightly different and the defense will certainly be not the same.

We have seen that Rob is the difference between a top 5 defense and by far the most dominant defensive force in the NBA.

It's like people forget how stupidly impactful Rob was defensively... I think some of our fans either have not realized, or are in denial about the fact that Rob has checked out as our BEST defender by a margin, and we don't have that against Kyrie and KD. We're missing the engine of our defense. Period.


I think the Nets are bad enough to beat without him, however.

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I don’t want to minimize robs impact at all he’s quite possibly the most impactful defender in the league.

His post presence deters drivers at an unmatched level. Even when he’s not getting there just him around **** with peoples head. They pass out of lay ups or alter their shot without the need. The way he shifts both our defense and the opponents offense is unparalleled.

Though not as good without timelord I still think this is a great defense and great offense capable of beating the nets.

I agree totally with this.

Defensive rep takes a year to build, I guess. I firmly believe Rob is a generational defender. There's no great paint presence outside of Rudy in the NBA.

You hit the nail on the head with him **** with team's heads.

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[Jaqua92]

Exactly!

The Nets players will play differently if Rob is around.
That's one thing the stats will not tell you.
It's a different game plan if Rob is around.
Without Rob, the Nets will not be afraid of attacking the basket.

Come on, Horford and Theis can't do what Rob does when it comes to rim protection.

On offense, Rob is a lob threat because he plays above the rim.
Theis and Horford are not above the rim players.

With Rob, the Celts are an elite team on offense and defense.

I think it's a mistake to underestimate the Nets.
KD and Kyrie have won championships.

We've seen the Celts fold after losing Game 1 against Miami in the east finals of 2020.

It remains to be seen if these current Celtic players can withstand playoff pressure.

I think they can, and I disagree that we NEED Rob to beat them.

But I do agree we are an entirely different team without Rob.

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[Fierce1]

Exactly!

The Nets players will play differently if Rob is around.
That's one thing the stats will not tell you.
It's a different game plan if Rob is around.
Without Rob, the Nets will not be afraid of attacking the basket.

Come on, Horford and Theis can't do what Rob does when it comes to rim protection.

On offense, Rob is a lob threat because he plays above the rim.
Theis and Horford are not above the rim players.

With Rob, the Celts are an elite team on offense and defense.

I think it's a mistake to underestimate the Nets.
KD and Kyrie have won championships.

We've seen the Celts fold after losing Game 1 against Miami in the east finals of 2020.

It remains to be seen if these current Celtic players can withstand playoff pressure.

I think they can, and I disagree that we NEED Rob to beat them.

But I do agree we are an entirely different team without Rob.

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Sort of agree with you.

Celts can beat the Nets TWICE without Rob.

But to do it 4 times, it's just too hard.

The good news is it's looking like Rob can return during the Nets series.

If Rob is able to return and the series is tied 2-2, I like our chances.

[ajones9219]

Exactly!

The Nets players will play differently if Rob is around.
That's one thing the stats will not tell you.
It's a different game plan if Rob is around.
Without Rob, the Nets will not be afraid of attacking the basket.

Come on, Horford and Theis can't do what Rob does when it comes to rim protection.

On offense, Rob is a lob threat because he plays above the rim.
Theis and Horford are not above the rim players.

With Rob, the Celts are an elite team on offense and defense.

I think it's a mistake to underestimate the Nets.
KD and Kyrie have won championships.

We've seen the Celts fold after losing Game 1 against Miami in the east finals of 2020.

It remains to be seen if these current Celtic players can withstand playoff pressure.

Stats don't back this up. Horford has a better defensive rating in the paint than Williams, is a very crafty rim protector, and has shown many times that he can shut down star interior players.

Discounting Horford is silly. Are we better with Rob? Yep. Is BKN better statistically than Boston even without Rob? Literally no stats back that up. Everything shows that Boston is a better team with an without Rob.

Anyone betting on BKN is just going on name recognition and ignoring literally all evidence.

[Fencer reregistered]

Exactly!

The Nets players will play differently if Rob is around.
That's one thing the stats will not tell you.
It's a different game plan if Rob is around.
Without Rob, the Nets will not be afraid of attacking the basket.

Come on, Horford and Theis can't do what Rob does when it comes to rim protection.

On offense, Rob is a lob threat because he plays above the rim.
Theis and Horford are not above the rim players.

With Rob, the Celts are an elite team on offense and defense.

I think it's a mistake to underestimate the Nets.
KD and Kyrie have won championships.

We've seen the Celts fold after losing Game 1 against Miami in the east finals of 2020.

It remains to be seen if these current Celtic players can withstand playoff pressure.

A lot of negative takes go too far.

However, I agree with what's actually written in this one, give or take the precise timing of the Celtics' meltdowns vs. Miami.

Celts in 6, but that's a prediction that their meltdowns (which all teams have) will be short.

[zoyathedestroya]

Horford switching on Kyrie or KD might prove tricky. Would love for Horf to drop or mimic Timelord's role as a roamer/helper near the baseline/paint. But then Theis is too slow-footed and foul-prone to keep up with KD or Kyrie. Will be interested to see how they handle the KD-Bruce PnR. We might actually see more Grant than Theis even if Theis is the starter.

[Fencer reregistered]

What’s the evidence for your argument? Because they’ve been dominant with or without Rob for months. Give some substance for once.

The end of your post is either trash, unfunny, or both.

You will not agree to anything I say.

So what's the point?

It's simple, if Rob plays in this series, Celtics in 6.

If Rob is not able to play the whole series, Nets in 6.

With Rob -- Celts in 4 or 5.
Without Rob -- Celts in 6 or 7.

Durant's and Kyrie's offensive greatness implies that the Nets will win quarters against anybody. It doesn't imply they will win whole games.

[ajones9219]

What’s the evidence for your argument? Because they’ve been dominant with or without Rob for months. Give some substance for once.

The end of your post is either trash, unfunny, or both.

You will not agree to anything I say.

So what's the point?

It's simple, if Rob plays in this series, Celtics in 6.

If Rob is not able to play the whole series, Nets in 6.

With Rob -- Celts in 4 or 5.
Without Rob -- Celts in 6 or 7.

Durant's and Kyrie's offensive greatness implies that the Nets will win quarters against anybody. It doesn't imply they will win whole games.

This. Anyone picking the Nets is delusional imo.

[Fencer reregistered]

Truth be told, the Celts could well be like the 2008 team, which gelled and got better as the playoffs went along. The late-game meltdowns and so on can be construed as difficulty adjusting to top-level play from committed opponents. I think they'll learn fast, but it wouldn't shock if early rounds were bumpier than later ones.

[Fierce1]

Let's just hope that whatever the outcome of this series, Celtic fans here are man enough to admit they were wrong.

Because if the Celts win this series without Rob, I will gladly admit to being wrong about this series.

I prefer being wrong and the Celtics advance than being right and the Celts exit in the 1st round.

[jfs1000d]

One thing's for sure, if the Nets win Game 1, it's over for the Celts.

Celts win Game 1 and this will be an interesting series.

Um, no.


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[Triple7]

Ouch. No no no.

Celtic insider/media writing an article stating how the Nets can't beat the Celtics, and that the only way they do is if the Celtics don't play their best?

Why? Why release an article like this?

This is stupid.

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I dont think there is anything wrong with the article. It said that the nets can’t beat the celtics if they play right, and lose if they revert back to hero ball, or holding the ball too long and not moving. I think it’s spot on, and just reminding the players to be conscious of how they might lose this series.

Oh it's totally right...but it's not that different than what Bruce Brown did... "This is why we will be advantageous."

This is lockerroom material for the Nets. I don't want to give KD any fuel. I don't think they can beat us. Unless KD averages 38/7/10 on 66%, and I don't want the media to give him further incentive to play out of his mind.



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If you put it that way, then yeah i agree. Adding fuel won’t do us any good. Writers and boston media should stop over hyping our team. This would still be a very tough series in general.

[jfs1000d]

One thing's for sure, if the Nets win Game 1, it's over for the Celts.

Celts win Game 1 and this will be an interesting series.

If we lose game 1 it’s not over that’s crazy it would be a bummer but far from over. The team ain’t feelin that way shiieet.

If we get down 2-0 heading to Brooklyn then we can maybe start talking about being ****. Not after game 1 tho give our guys some credit.

Rob Williams not being able to play really changes everything.

The offense will be slightly different and the defense will certainly be not the same.

Sigh. Can people look at metrics? Theis Horford is an excellent defensive pairing.


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[jfs1000d]

Nets players outside of cupcake and lil sage have to show up too. I have more faith in our guys then that group from the local church the nets got suiting up.

We'll know more in a few days.

IMO, Celts made a big mistake by not dodging the Nets.

Last year Durant nearly carried the Nets to victory over Bucks by himself - literally failed because of toe touching the line. I have legitimate fear of that dude.

However, he has been injured this year, is older, has been forced to log over 40 min. Despite a colossal collapse by Bulls the Nets still couldn’t catch them. They went 6-4 in last 10 games with Ky and KD playing playoff minutes and playing all out to win. The Celtics finished the year 26-6 with 2 losses due to resting >3 starters. The Nets third best scorer Curry is injured. Their third best player is a 6-4 big man drafted in second round. Ben Simmons is a big time talent and if he could play 35 mpg like he did in 2017 he could upset the dynamic in a big way. I like their chances to win it all with a healthy Ben Simmons …. next year.

I don’t like the nets team. Missing Simmons and shooting.


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[jfs1000d]

I would guess they’ll start out with Bruce Brown on him in single coverage, but it he comes out and is hitting his shots, I think you’ll see them either go blitz heavy on him, or zone. Which if they want to go zone when Tatum is in the game, go ahead.

For the Nets to have a good shot in this series, they NEED Claxton to play really well.

Yeah Drummond and Claxton are going to clog the paint. Durant himself is one of the better shot blocking Centers when it's the playoffs and he needs to be on a team. It's going to be tough to finish in there against a set defense.

I do think ironically a lot of our offense will be decided by Tatum mid range shots when he's not passing it or we're running a set that doesn't start with Tatum.

And I'm no coach so I don't know if they will but to me whether it's Brown or Durant running a pick and roll with Smart as the pick setter having Irving on him seems legit.

Or anyone who has Irving on him.

Irving doesn't want to play real defense, and even if they try to hide him on Theis that's a pick and roll straight into an alley oop to Theis at the rim. Not that Theis can jump much higher than Irving but Irving isn't gonna challenge that at all lol.

Drummond is a drop big, Tatum will light them up anytime he’s in. He’s a poor rim defender as well. Claxton is much more versatile defensively, but you can overpower him at the rim.

I don’t expect much Tatum from midrange, he’s almost entirely cut it out of his game. When the Nets play drop coverage, it’s bombs away from three for Tatum and Jaylen. If they go switch heavy, Tatum will live at the rim, and if they go blitz heavy/zone, you’ll see a lot of ball movement for open threes or good looks at the rim, and Jaylen would do serious damage.

Celtics should be able to get whatever they want offensively, as long as everyone makes quick decisions. Nets have made it clear that obviously slowing down Tatum is their first and second priority, but they aren’t the type of defense who can dictate much.

Do people not know nets personnel. Who in their rotation out of kd and Kylie is a rotation player here? Seth Curry?


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[jfs1000d]

Would be typical for Simmons to come back. We will get fully healthy Brooklyn while not being healthy ourselves and should they advance their healthy will crumble against everyone else. A repeat of last season again.


That said. Not sure how much a just returned and unfit Simmons will really do in the intensity of a playoff series in Boston.

Simmons returning will be a disaster.he has never even scrimmaged with these guys before. Uneven see how Olympic team struggle since their is no chemistry?


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[jfs1000d]

What’s the evidence for your argument? Because they’ve been dominant with or without Rob for months. Give some substance for once.

The end of your post is either trash, unfunny, or both.

You will not agree to anything I say.

So what's the point?

It's simple, if Rob plays in this series, Celtics in 6.

If Rob is not able to play the whole series, Nets in 6.

Yo. Rob has a low usage. We are a very good defensive team without Williams. He makes the defense great, but theis does replace Rob at a competent level.


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[jfs1000d]

So no Simmons before game 4 ! if he even plays at all

this is significant. the one thing he can do at an elite level is defend ...and you don't really need to practice alot or ramp up to play 15-20 mins a game

I can’t take it. Y’all afraid of ghosts. Zero chance he is effective defensively in 20 minutes. Dude hasn’t played in a year.


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[Marvel]

Nets getting Simmons back will literally destroy them. So yeah we should be hoping he comes back lol.