Nets begin playoff journey in Boston vs. Celtics

All of the busters we givin’ y’all 5 seconds to get near a exit. It’s about to get actual ugly in right here. 5 seconds is up – let’s go!

It’s been a wild journey to get to the playoffs, however right here we’re. Going into the season, the Brooklyn Nets had been anticipated to be among the best groups within the Japanese Convention and a favourite for the NBA Championship. Due to a mini-series value of unhealthy breaks, foolishness, and every part in between, they wound up in seventh place within the standings.

They obtained right here after caring for the Cleveland Cavaliers within the first play in recreation on Tuesday night time at Barclays Middle. The highway to the NBA Finals gained’t be a simple one, however Lord is aware of this crew has handled sufficient difficulties to final a lifetime. Let’s go.

Taking the maiden voyage with the Nets would be the Boston Celtics. Led by former Nets assistant and first yr head coach, Ime Udoka, Boston has been among the best groups within the league for the reason that starting of 2022 and are hoping to get again to the Japanese Convention Finals and perhaps past. They’ve been off for per week after locking up the 2 seed with a win over the Memphis Grizzlies final Sunday night time. They’ve been dwelling resting ever since and can look to get this collection off to a superb begin.

The place to observe the sport

ABC and YES Community on TV. WFAN on radio. All eyes on us so we’re getting began after 3:30 PM.

Accidents

Joe Harris is out. Ben Simmons is out as properly. That’s it.

Robert Williams is out.

The sport

Within the common season, Brooklyn took recreation one in November whereas Boston snagged video games two and three in February and recreation 4 in March. Throw that out the window tho.

The chances favor Boston within the collection opener, nevertheless it’s gonna be tight all through.

We’ve obtained you lined all through on the preview. We talked with Jeff Clark of CelticsBlog, I talked with them, and I did a playoff collection preview information right here. Get into it!

With Time Lord out for as we speak’s recreation, the Nets will want Andre Drummond and Nic Claxton to take full benefit and assert their wills on the boards. Of their collection preview, my guys Matt Brooks and Alec Sturm wrote concerning the bigs and mentioned:

Dre is a big physique who will impose his will on the offensive glass and end with power below the basket — when he’s not attempting to be Magic Johnson on the quick break. Claxton is a nimble physique; he can swap proficiently and stick to smaller gamers on the perimeter, however will typically get despatched to the load room down low and struggles to create his personal offense.

To me, this collection is healthier fitted to Claxton. Drummond will usually get burned when deep in drop protection and doesn’t deliver a lot as a swap defender both.

The Nets will depend on them to carry the for down in opposition to the duo of Al Horford and Daniel Theis. They’ve been

Brooklyn usually obtained lax with the ball put up All-Star break (twenty sixth in turnover price), so they are going to have to be disciplined with the ball and take advantage of out of each possession. Too usually, the Nets burned possessions by being sloppy and with each possession being value its weight in gold, they should be locked in for all 48 minutes.

Boston’s 3-point protection has been among the best within the league, and that can be a crucial a part of tonight’s recreation. Seth Curry obtained shut out in opposition to the Cavs on Tuesday, however he has been the crew’s finest deep shooter since coming over from the Philadelphia 76ers and can get his fair proportion of appears to be like as we speak. Patty Mills has discovered his shot after a months lengthy stoop and if the Nets can play quick and get clear appears to be like from deep, they’ll have the ability to money in.

The hometown trustworthy will give Bruce Brown his fair proportion of hell this collection, however he’ll be prepared. Brown has been magnificent for the Nets and permits them to get as bizarre as potential with lineup development. When he performs with Clax, the Nets protection turns up a couple of notches and search for Steve Nash and the teaching workers to have him on the market for so long as potential. BB will in all probability get his fair proportion of time guarding JB. Jaylen Brown has been his standard strong self this yr.

For all of the boos Bruce Brown would possibly get, it’ll really feel like a stroll within the park in comparison with what’s ready for Kyrie Irving. We all know the story: good, however chaotic two years with the C’s, left to hitch the Nets in 2019, pissed off the Boston followers final yr, and so forth. and so forth. and so forth. It’s been a superb yr for Irving when he’s performed and he placed on a showcase in opposition to his (different) former crew on Tuesday night time. In as we speak’s recreation, the Nets will want Irving to be locked in early and looking for his shot. He struggled within the final common season matchup between these groups, however with this being the playoffs, he’ll be keyed in. With out Williams lurking within the paint, Irving will look to assault the basket early and sometimes. Boston is nice at defending the rim, however Irving is without doubt one of the finest finishers on the rim in basketball so it’ll be a pleasant recreation inside the recreation to see who has essentially the most success.

Participant to look at: Jayson Tatum

On one aspect, we’ve obtained a younger star that’s continued to steadily enhance. Jayson Tatum has been great and is without doubt one of the league’s finest, craftiest scorers. Once we final noticed JT round these elements, he placed on a 50 level masterclass as Boston obtained the win in opposition to the Nets. The Nets will throw quite a lot of appears to be like at Tatum and so they simply hope that his shot isn’t there this afternoon. Somebody like Claxton will spend a good period of time guarding Tatum as his pace and size may hassle the Celtics celebrity. It gained’t be simple, however Brooklyn will look to do every part they’ll to make it robust on him.

On the opposite, we’ve obtained a legend that’s taking part in on the peak of his powers. Kevin Durant has been on a mission since getting again and is locked in. Durant has anchored the Nets protection, has been coordinating the offense, and when all else fails and also you want a bucket, does that too. The wonderful thing about the Nets is that even when issues look bleak, you may dial 7 and he’ll be right here to avoid wasting the day. He’s been taking part in over 40 minutes a recreation in latest weeks and with the Nets being off for the previous 4 days and two days off earlier than Recreation 2, search for Nash and pals to climb on his shoulders as we speak.

From the Vault

Final time the Nets had been within the constructing for a playoff recreation, this occurred

Extra studying: CelticsBlog

Try DraftKings Sportsbook, the official sportsbook accomplice of SB Nation.