Boston guard Marcus Good, thought of a candidate for defensive participant of the yr, may have his fingers full when guarding Kyrie Irving within the Celtics’ first-round collection towards the Nets. Steven Senne/Related Press
When the Boston Celtics opted to not sit their star gamers in Sunday’s common season finale towards Memphis, it despatched a message to the remainder of the Japanese Convention.
Who Boston performed within the first spherical of the playoffs wasn’t vital. The main target was on locking up that No. 2 seed, securing residence court docket benefit for at the least the primary two rounds of the playoffs, and persevering with to show that they’re a real title contender.
Regardless of the current absence of beginning huge man and defensive anchor Robert Williams, the Celtics have been arguably the league’s finest staff in 2022. Since Jan.1 Boston is 34-12 – behind solely Phoenix (37-10) and Dallas (35-12) – to go along with the league’s finest defensive score at 106.9 (tied with Golden State).
The swift in-season turnaround beneath Coach Ime Udoka has been nothing wanting spectacular. Their reward? A primary-round matchup with the ever-imposing Brooklyn Nets beginning Sunday afternoon. However it’s not hyperbole to say that this may very well be probably the most aggressive 2-7 playoff matchup in NBA historical past. It’s the Celtics towards the Nets and two of the all-time nice scorers in postseason historical past in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
It’s just like final yr’s Suns-Lakers matchup wherein the dominant Suns confronted off towards LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and a Lakers staff that struggled within the common season as a result of accidents – comparable in that sense to what Brooklyn went by means of.
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Will the Celtics prevail just like the Suns did a yr in the past? Positive, they gained the season collection, 3-1. However in two of these video games, Irving wasn’t enjoying due to New York vaccine mandates. And in one other, James Harden was nonetheless in Brooklyn. The one recreation that featured all present gamers was in early March, when Jayson Tatum wanted 54 factors to assist the Celtics to a 126-120 victory at residence.
Durant had 37 and Irving had 18 – however one thing clicked for the latter. Following his 18 factors, Irving completed the season averaging 30.8 factors.
Irving is a generational expertise, however towards Boston he’ll have line up towards defensive participant of the yr candidate Marcus Good, with fellow defensive specialist Derrick White taking his activate Irving at instances as properly.
WHILE KYRIE Irving mentioned he hopes Boston followers can transfer previous his time in Boston, the place he performed from 2017-19, he isn’t precisely serving to his trigger.
The final time he was in Boston, when the Celtics beat the Nets 126-120, Irving referred to as Celtics followers the “scorned girlfriend that simply needs an evidence on why I left however nonetheless hoping for a textual content again.”
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Then there’s final season’s first-round collection the place Irving stepped on “Fortunate” the Leprechaun whereas a fan additionally threw a water bottle at him after Recreation 4.
“All is truthful in competitors,” Irving mentioned Friday when requested about stepping on “Fortunate.”
“When feelings are working excessive, something can occur. I believe I simply wish to go in there with the poise and composure, and simply not take note of any of the additional noise. I can converse on so many various issues, however I’m going to decide on to not.”
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