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

[ajones9219]

It's crazy that if just 3 months ago, you said that the Celtics and Nets would be playing in the 1st round of the playoffs in the #2 vs # 7 match-up and you asked NBA fans which seed the Nets would be. Most would have been like The Nets slipped to the #2 seed?

I would be a bit nervous if I was a Celtics fan.

Ummmm…..it’s the Nets that slipped to 7 seed, not the other way around. Even at their best last year, the Nets were just a 48 win team. They won just one playoff series last year against a 36-36 Celtic team. At their best….the Nets with Kyrie and Durant have done absolutely nothing! This is year 3 of this experiment and every year it’s been a dumpster fire. Yet you guys talk about them like they are the 1996 Bulls or the 2017 Warriors. There is no reason to be nervous at all. This series will be a fight. Durant and Kyrie are great players but literally no reason to dodge a team that has accomplished so little.

Even with all the Kyrie stuff, the Nets still would have been a top 2 seed this season if Durant hadn't missed 27 games. That's the point.

Even with Kyrie missing 53 games and Durant missing 27 games, the Celtics only finished 7 games ahead of the Nets. All I am saying is I would be a bit nervous if I was a Celtics fan.

You're basing that on a whole lot of nothing. Plus it's pretty easy to play that game. Boston could have won 60+ games easy without the injury and covid problems the first half of the season. Hell the Bulls could have a better record than the Nets without all the injuries.

Every team deals with issues and it's literally useless to project based on "what ifs."

What we do know is that Kyrie and KD have played in 37 games over 3 seasons not counting ones with Harden and they are 20-17.

A bunch of those wins are against lottery teams.

Side note: I know there are more games if you include Harden but damn that's a lot of money per game.

[Pachinko_]

As someone who also fasts during Ramadan, I expect game 1 to be a rough one for Kyrie. The entire game will be prior to sundown, as compared to the 7pm or 7:30 games which are starting right around when he can start eating and drinking. I expect the Celtics to win the first game convincingly.

Jaylen Brown also fasts apparently. So it might even out.

But will be tough.

Kyrie did drop 42 his last afternoon game though while fasting.

Oh wow I didn’t know that. That’s a super interesting dynamic to follow in this series.

It's easy to get through a fast. 10s of thousands of years people were not eating every day and still had to do physical labour, walk miles, hunt, whatever. The body remembers quickly if you give it a chance, it's in our genes.

[Fencer reregistered]

It's weird that you don't see why playing injury prone guys 40mpg and absolutely needing that to win every game is not good.

ok then, i look forward you celtics giving their star players rest days in the play-offs.

Tatum averaged 36 minutes this year and sat several fourth quarters. Nobody is talking about resting stars.

Tatum and Brown are also not injury prone. Durant and Irving have had several very serious injuries. Nets fans should know better than anyone.

Careful. Brown and Tatum have had nagging injuries for much of the year. Tatum missed the last Bucks game to rest from one.

[celtxman]

In the end if it helps the Bucks win a Championship, nobody is going to remember or care that they sat players for the final game. They did earn the ability to choose that destiny by beating Boston, Brooklyn, and Philly to end the season

Well, they won't be up there with Rudy Tomjonovich's "never underestimate the heart of a champion" LOL, but sure if they repeat........not many will remember. There was at least a little chatter to allow the team that earned the tiebreaker the choice in the future. That would be wild and fun.
There is also absolutely a scenario where people will remember the Bucks decision for a long time. Celtics are fortunate enough to beat the Nets. They then get to set the tone with first two games in Boston against the Bucks. Game 7 in Boston. 100% people will remember if Celts beat the Bucks in round 2.
If

Celtics had a lot of familiar names and faces on that team that got spanked 4-1. Regular season switching defensive scheme is very effective if you have the personnel to run it. The problem with the Celtics is their coach never experimented with other things, if they get punched in the mouth with their plan A they could easily flail out.

think you need to re-read my post. Paraphrasing, if Bucks win, 1.)people will likely forget they ducked the Nets in the first round. 2.) Nets beat Celtics - while not a good look to duck the Nets, win or lose, they'll be OK. 3.) Celtics beat Nets then Celtics beat the Bucks? Uh-oh.....EVERYONE remembers by ducking the Nets they gave up homecourt to the Celtics

[sam_I_am]

Ummmm…..it’s the Nets that slipped to 7 seed, not the other way around. Even at their best last year, the Nets were just a 48 win team. They won just one playoff series last year against a 36-36 Celtic team. At their best….the Nets with Kyrie and Durant have done absolutely nothing! This is year 3 of this experiment and every year it’s been a dumpster fire. Yet you guys talk about them like they are the 1996 Bulls or the 2017 Warriors. There is no reason to be nervous at all. This series will be a fight. Durant and Kyrie are great players but literally no reason to dodge a team that has accomplished so little.

Even with all the Kyrie stuff, the Nets still would have been a top 2 seed this season if Durant hadn't missed 27 games. That's the point.

Even with Kyrie missing 53 games and Durant missing 27 games, the Celtics only finished 7 games ahead of the Nets. All I am saying is I would be a bit nervous if I was a Celtics fan.

You're basing that on a whole lot of nothing. Plus it's pretty easy to play that game. Boston could have won 60+ games easy without the injury and covid problems the first half of the season. Hell the Bulls could have a better record than the Nets without all the injuries.

Every team deals with issues and it's literally useless to project based on "what ifs."

What we do know is that Kyrie and KD have played in 37 games over 3 seasons not counting ones with Harden and they are 20-17.

A bunch of those wins are against lottery teams.

Side note: I know there are more games if you include Harden but damn that's a lot of money per game.

I think the level the Celtics played at to go from 25-25 and 11th seed to the day they crushed the Grizzlies to secure the 1 seed in a matter of 30 games was special. I get that the Nets record with Durant healthy was better than their current record and that the Nets are more dangerous than a typical play in team. But they weren’t #1 defensive and offensive ranked team during that stretch and they weren’t beating teams by 15 point differential or twice that of the Phoenix Suns. The Celtics have played that well since reworking team and rotations and getting healthier. They are playing like a true contender so it never made sense for them to do anything but play for themselves and secure best seeding possible. It’s finals or bust - you won’t see Celtics fans brag about anything if they get knocked out in second round - so might as well take on the Nets now. There has been no statistical drop off in their dominance without Rob so the argument they should dodge the Nets until he got healthy is a weak one, even though anybody with eyes knows they are worse without him.

[Jaqua92]

At the beginning of the series, I believe the Nets goal will be to play Theis off the floor and force the Celtics to go smaller with Grant Williams.

If the Celtics put Tatum on Durant and Brown and Smart on KAI/Curry, then that leaves Theis for Bruce Brown and Horford on Drummond(to start the game). The Nets will 100% run Bruce Brown as the screener, for KAI/KD and that will put Boston in a bind and KD/KAI will be going at Theis over and over. If the Celtics decide to trap/double off this action(like the Cavs did) we saw how great both KD and KAI is at passing the ball out of doubles and Bruce Brown as a Draymond role can be super effective. The Nets have also shown willingness to have Brown initiate the action which results in the same thing: KD/KAI attacking Theis.

The Celtics can counter by either switching the matchups to force Curry or Drummond be the screener. This will probably result in more 3's for Seth and Bruce Brown or Drummond with great match-ups at the rim. I think Drummond can avg a double double this series, unless the Celtics target him defensively(which they should).
They can also go smaller with Williams, which I think the Nets won't mind either option.

On the other end, I think the Celtics will relentlessly hunt Curry and also exploit Kyrie on Tatum. That's a huge advantage and I expect if it happens often, Clax mins will go up dramatically or might even start by game 3. He is probably the only one who can make things tough on Tatum other than KD(disregard Simmons until he plays). Foul trouble will be huge if Claxton racks up fouls because Tatum ight avg 40+pts in the series

Key stats for the Nets:
1) Last 15 games, the Nets have an awesome(for them haha) 105.2 defensive rating in 332 mins with Nic Claxton on the floor
2) Last 15 games, the 3 man lineup of KD-Brown-Clax have a +15.9 net rating(114 OFF; 98 DEF)
3) Seth Curry is shooting 40% from 3 (5 ATT) vs the Celtics with the Nets.
4) Patty Mills is shooting 47% from 3 (4.8 ATT) vs the Celtics
5) Drummond avgs 5 O-rebs per 100 possessions with Al Horford in the game

Worrying stats for the Nets (2 games the Nets were depleted):
1) Tatum vs the Nets: ~30pts on 48-38-80 +8.3
2) Marcus Smart is shooting 50% from 3 (8 ATT!!!) vs the Nets this season
3) Smart-Brown-Tatum-Horford-Theis lineup in 4 games(59 mins): +33.9 Net Rating(129 OFF; 95.2 DEF)

Celtics defense switches everything and switches off screen, this really won't work. It may not be as effective without Rob, but WITH Rob, his weakside thread and safety screen roll makes it very very difficult to get any match you want.

It may be different without Rob, but generally, Celtics defense is constantly switching switching switching. You don't go hunting out matchups.

No Rob? It'll be easier for you.

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[GiannisAnte34]

Well, they won't be up there with Rudy Tomjonovich's "never underestimate the heart of a champion" LOL, but sure if they repeat........not many will remember. There was at least a little chatter to allow the team that earned the tiebreaker the choice in the future. That would be wild and fun.
There is also absolutely a scenario where people will remember the Bucks decision for a long time. Celtics are fortunate enough to beat the Nets. They then get to set the tone with first two games in Boston against the Bucks. Game 7 in Boston. 100% people will remember if Celts beat the Bucks in round 2.
If

Celtics had a lot of familiar names and faces on that team that got spanked 4-1. Regular season switching defensive scheme is very effective if you have the personnel to run it. The problem with the Celtics is their coach never experimented with other things, if they get punched in the mouth with their plan A they could easily flail out.

think you need to re-read my post. Paraphrasing, if Bucks win, 1.)people will likely forget they ducked the Nets in the first round. 2.) Nets beat Celtics - while not a good look to duck the Nets, win or lose, they'll be OK. 3.) Celtics beat Nets then Celtics beat the Bucks? Uh-oh.....EVERYONE remembers by ducking the Nets they gave up homecourt to the Celtics

I think you need to reevaluate what I’m implying. The Celtics have 4 of the same starters that got smashed by the Bucks without Jrue (Bledsoe instead) What have they really done to improve enough that suddenly they’re going to win a series against the Bucks? White instead of Rozier, no Morris, Kyrie, or Baynes and instead Pritchard and Grant? I don’t see how a hobbled Timelord and 36 year old Horford is a genuine threat to defending Giannis from imposing his will at the rim. The Celtics would need to shoot well from 3 and the Bucks shoot poorly from 3 to have a chance.

[Jaqua92]

This thread is basically one or two posters just arguing with Hello Brooklyn while every other discussion point gets burried lol

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[jordb2k7]

Celtics had a lot of familiar names and faces on that team that got spanked 4-1. Regular season switching defensive scheme is very effective if you have the personnel to run it. The problem with the Celtics is their coach never experimented with other things, if they get punched in the mouth with their plan A they could easily flail out.

think you need to re-read my post. Paraphrasing, if Bucks win, 1.)people will likely forget they ducked the Nets in the first round. 2.) Nets beat Celtics - while not a good look to duck the Nets, win or lose, they'll be OK. 3.) Celtics beat Nets then Celtics beat the Bucks? Uh-oh.....EVERYONE remembers by ducking the Nets they gave up homecourt to the Celtics

I think you need to reevaluate what I’m implying. The Celtics have 4 of the same starters that got smashed by the Bucks without Jrue (Bledsoe instead) What have they really done to improve enough that suddenly they’re going to win a series against the Bucks? White instead of Rozier, no Morris, Kyrie, or Baynes and instead Pritchard and Grant? I don’t see how a hobbled Timelord and 36 year old Horford is a genuine threat to defending Giannis from imposing his will at the rim. The Celtics would need to shoot well from 3 and the Bucks shoot poorly from 3 to have a chance.

I mean this is so ridiculous I hate that I’m even spending time responding. Kyrie intentionally threw that series no question. Bucks still probably win that one because that Celtics team was lousy. For some reason I get the feeling that having a guy that should be first team all nba this year on the team makes a difference. You’re completely dismissing improvement internally.

[sam_I_am]

At the beginning of the series, I believe the Nets goal will be to play Theis off the floor and force the Celtics to go smaller with Grant Williams.

If the Celtics put Tatum on Durant and Brown and Smart on KAI/Curry, then that leaves Theis for Bruce Brown and Horford on Drummond(to start the game). The Nets will 100% run Bruce Brown as the screener, for KAI/KD and that will put Boston in a bind and KD/KAI will be going at Theis over and over. If the Celtics decide to trap/double off this action(like the Cavs did) we saw how great both KD and KAI is at passing the ball out of doubles and Bruce Brown as a Draymond role can be super effective. The Nets have also shown willingness to have Brown initiate the action which results in the same thing: KD/KAI attacking Theis.

The Celtics can counter by either switching the matchups to force Curry or Drummond be the screener. This will probably result in more 3's for Seth and Bruce Brown or Drummond with great match-ups at the rim. I think Drummond can avg a double double this series, unless the Celtics target him defensively(which they should).
They can also go smaller with Williams, which I think the Nets won't mind either option.

On the other end, I think the Celtics will relentlessly hunt Curry and also exploit Kyrie on Tatum. That's a huge advantage and I expect if it happens often, Clax mins will go up dramatically or might even start by game 3. He is probably the only one who can make things tough on Tatum other than KD(disregard Simmons until he plays). Foul trouble will be huge if Claxton racks up fouls because Tatum ight avg 40+pts in the series

Key stats for the Nets:
1) Last 15 games, the Nets have an awesome(for them haha) 105.2 defensive rating in 332 mins with Nic Claxton on the floor
2) Last 15 games, the 3 man lineup of KD-Brown-Clax have a +15.9 net rating(114 OFF; 98 DEF)
3) Seth Curry is shooting 40% from 3 (5 ATT) vs the Celtics with the Nets.
4) Patty Mills is shooting 47% from 3 (4.8 ATT) vs the Celtics
5) Drummond avgs 5 O-rebs per 100 possessions with Al Horford in the game

Worrying stats for the Nets (2 games the Nets were depleted):
1) Tatum vs the Nets: ~30pts on 48-38-80 +8.3
2) Marcus Smart is shooting 50% from 3 (8 ATT!!!) vs the Nets this season
3) Smart-Brown-Tatum-Horford-Theis lineup in 4 games(59 mins): +33.9 Net Rating(129 OFF; 95.2 DEF)

Celtics defense switches everything and switches off screen, this really won't work. It may not be as effective without Rob, but WITH Rob, his weakside thread and safety screen roll makes it very very difficult to get any match you want.

It may be different without Rob, but generally, Celtics defense is constantly switching switching switching. You don't go hunting out matchups.

No Rob? It'll be easier for you.

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In the last 15 games, the 15 man lineup known as the Boston Celtics has a +15 net rating.

The Celtics starting 5 of Horford, Theis, Tatum, Brown and Smart has a +33.9 net rating but small sample. When Grant Williams and DWhite replace Horford/Brown it goes up to +38.

[danvato]

It's weird that you don't see why playing injury prone guys 40mpg and absolutely needing that to win every game is not good.

ok then, i look forward you celtics giving their star players rest days in the play-offs.

Tatum averaged 36 minutes this year and sat several fourth quarters. Nobody is talking about resting stars.

Tatum and Brown are also not injury prone. Durant and Irving have had several very serious injuries. Nets fans should know better than anyone.

it's the play-offs, wave up. every player worth a damn will be playing 40 min. i don't know what you're even trying to say here, injury prone, blah, blaah.

[hoosierdaddy34]

The Nets have the two best players in this series. It’s tough to pick against a team that has an advantage like that. Took Nets in 6.

[Jaqua92]

The Nets have the two best players in this series. It’s tough to pick against a team that has an advantage like that. Took Nets in 6.

Tatum is clearly better than Kyrie at this point

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[KOTC]

I think Boston is going to win. I've seen polls from YouTube, real GM and many other places of people saying the nets are going to win.

Heres why I think Boston is going to win: Marcus smart the dpoy candidate can easily lock up kyrie and Horford and Robert Williams could lock up kd and they could lock Drummond. The celtics have really good perimeter defense so seth curry, Goran, kyrie and kd wont be able to shoot from 3 (most of the time)

The celtics offense is not that bad as what other people think Tatum could score from 3 inside and midrange so can jaylen brown and brown's athleticism can bypass defenders easily. Smarts offense is also not that bad.

[hoosierdaddy34]

The Nets have the two best players in this series. It’s tough to pick against a team that has an advantage like that. Took Nets in 6.

Tatum is clearly better than Kyrie at this point

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Yeah I don’t know that that is true. And Kyrie is the more efficient scorer. And Im fairly certain he’s going to have a chip on his shoulder about taking it to Boston.

[Fencer reregistered]

Celtics had a lot of familiar names and faces on that team that got spanked 4-1. Regular season switching defensive scheme is very effective if you have the personnel to run it. The problem with the Celtics is their coach never experimented with other things, if they get punched in the mouth with their plan A they could easily flail out.

think you need to re-read my post. Paraphrasing, if Bucks win, 1.)people will likely forget they ducked the Nets in the first round. 2.) Nets beat Celtics - while not a good look to duck the Nets, win or lose, they'll be OK. 3.) Celtics beat Nets then Celtics beat the Bucks? Uh-oh.....EVERYONE remembers by ducking the Nets they gave up homecourt to the Celtics

I think you need to reevaluate what I’m implying. The Celtics have 4 of the same starters that got smashed by the Bucks without Jrue (Bledsoe instead) What have they really done to improve enough that suddenly they’re going to win a series against the Bucks? White instead of Rozier, no Morris, Kyrie, or Baynes and instead Pritchard and Grant? I don’t see how a hobbled Timelord and 36 year old Horford is a genuine threat to defending Giannis from imposing his will at the rim. The Celtics would need to shoot well from 3 and the Bucks shoot poorly from 3 to have a chance.

Celtics opponents commonly shoot badly from 3 and Bucks opponents commonly shoot well from 3. If there's a sharp deviation from those trends in the Bucks' favor, you're right to think that would be good for the Bucks.

Your point?

[jordb2k7]

The Nets have the two best players in this series. It’s tough to pick against a team that has an advantage like that. Took Nets in 6.

Tatum is clearly better than Kyrie at this point

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Yeah I don’t know that that is true. And Kyrie is the more efficient scorer. And Im fairly certain he’s going to have a chip on his shoulder about taking it to Boston.

Just because you don’t believe it doesn’t meant it’s not true.

[bisme37]

The Nets have the two best players in this series. It’s tough to pick against a team that has an advantage like that. Took Nets in 6.

Tatum is clearly better than Kyrie at this point

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Yeah I don’t know that that is true. And Kyrie is the more efficient scorer. And Im fairly certain he’s going to have a chip on his shoulder about taking it to Boston.

Well I hope you watch and enjoy the series so you'll find out it is in fact true.

[Perseus1966]

I think Boston is going to win. I've seen polls from YouTube, real GM and many other places of people saying the nets are going to win.

Heres why I think Boston is going to win: Marcus smart the dpoy candidate can easily lock up kyrie and Horford and Robert Williams could lock up kd and they could lock Drummond. The celtics have really good perimeter defense so seth curry, Goran, kyrie and kd wont be able to shoot from 3 (most of the time)

The celtics offense is not that bad as what other people think Tatum could score from 3 inside and midrange so can jaylen brown and brown's athleticism can bypass defenders easily. Smarts offense is also not that bad.

Horford to lock up Kd ? no i dont think so.

[hoosierdaddy34]

Tatum is clearly better than Kyrie at this point

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Yeah I don’t know that that is true. And Kyrie is the more efficient scorer. And Im fairly certain he’s going to have a chip on his shoulder about taking it to Boston.

Just because you don’t believe it doesn’t meant it’s not true.

Ditto