(2)Boston Celtics vs. (7)Brooklyn Nets Game 1: Sunday, April 17 Nets at Celtics 2:30pm ABC Game 2: Wednesday, April 20 Nets at Celtics 6:00pm TNT Game 3: Saturday, April 23 Celtics at Nets 6:30pm ESPN Game 4: Monday, April 25 Celtics at Nets Game 5* Wednesday, April 27 Nets at Celtics Game 6* Friday, April 29 Celtics at Nets Game 7* Sunday, May 1 Nets at Celtics *All times Central
If the Celtics could get Robert Williams back quickly, that would be a big boost for them. Celtics have been on fire the second half of the season
This is probably the primetime series for the first round as it could really go either way...then you have the specter of Ben Simmons popping into the series at some point apparently and how that might affect it. I think it's probably a 7 game series that favors the Nets because the Nets big two are better than the C's big two.
I picked the Nets in 7 because I’m a KD fan but I don’t see how they beat the Celts. I’m hoping though. Tatum gave them fits last year in the playoffs and this year in the regular season. He’s starting to grow into that guy.
Nets in 6. Star power and experience prove to be too much. Celtics take Game 1 and 2, Nets take the next 4
John Hollinger: https://theathletic.com/3248347/2022/04/15/hollinger-2022-nba-playoffs-suns/ (2) Boston vs. (7) Brooklyn Boston was possibly forced into grabbing the second seed — one that Milwaukee seemed willing to let it have — because of the uncertain vaccination status of its roster (unvaccinated players would not be available for games in Canada against a dangerous Toronto team). That could have made facing the Nets seem like the lesser evil, especially since it conveyed home-court advantage against Milwaukee. This is the part I don’t understand. If you truly believe the Celtics and Bucks are the two best teams in the East — as many do right now — then the best move for both Boston and Milwaukee is optimizing their chances of winning that series and not sweating the rest. As far as this series is concerned, I think the Nets have a puncher’s chance with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but I’m not sure I can give them any more than that. The two teams played in their current alignments (Irving on the court for Brooklyn, Robert Williams out for Boston) a month ago, and the Celtics still prevailed, 126-120. Brooklyn did smoke Boston, 123-104, in an early-season meeting where James Harden played but Irving didn’t; the other two meetings were Boston blowouts, but none of Brooklyn’s All-Stars played. Taking a wider view, it’s hard for me to see how a Nets team so consistently small across the board will have much success defending a brutish Celtics squad with two big, All-Star-caliber wings. Hiding all three of Irving, Seth Curry and Patty Mills at the same time is an unwinnable game of matchup Whac-A-Mole. Brooklyn may score enough that its defense doesn’t matter. The Nets averaged a jaw-dropping 122.8 points per 100 possessions in minutes when Durant and Irving shared the floor. However, that is based on a small sample and drops to more human levels in Durant-only or Irving-only minutes. Also, there’s the little matter of replicating the torrid scoring pace against these Boston rottweilers. I’m not sure the Nets’ base strategy of not really running much, iso-ing Irving and Durant and spreading small shooters around the perimeter, can scale up to solving a defense of this caliber. The Nets are better than at least a couple of teams that will make the second round of the playoffs. Unfortunately, they aren’t better than this opponent, and that’s who they drew after lazing through the regular season. Pick: Celtics in seven
https://theathletic.com/3250581/2022/04/14/predictions-celtics-nets-grizzlies-timberwolves/ No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Brooklyn Nets Scout’s outlook: “The Nets’ Play-In victory over Cleveland showed why Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant are so dangerous. The two of them played so great, but that’s what greatness is. They were spectacular. That gives the Nets a chance in any series, as was amply demonstrated against the Cavs. Irving and Durant, they were just brilliant. “Durant criticized Bruce Brown for his comments, and rightly so, about Robert Williams III not being there (for the Celtics). But (Williams’ absence) certainly makes it quite a bit easier for Brooklyn, though the Celtics’ midseason trade to get (Daniel) Theis is now looking even better since Theis is more than competent. He’s not the shot-blocker or quite the physical force that Williams is, but he’s solid. “Boston was playing at a very, very high level on both sides of the ball for several months. How much is that going to be sustained in the absence of Williams? The other guy who looked great the other night for Brooklyn was (Nic) Claxton. He was Robert Williams. I mean, he was a real factor defensively. If he can maintain that, he gives the Nets something that they probably didn’t expect they were going to get. … “That (win over Cleveland) was one game against a depleted team. The Celtics have two superstars, also, and more depth and home-court advantage. … I would say that series evened up more. To me, it’s an even series. … I’ll go with Brooklyn in seven.” Coach’s outlook: “It’s crazy to say, but I think it actually goes to the Nets in six. “The Celtics have the ability to switch pick-and-rolls and switch and cause problems, and most teams are in trouble when you can do that. Robert Williams III, if he doesn’t come back, that’s going to hurt them dearly. But the other side of it is that Boston thrives on switching, and switching mainly causes mismatch problems, or it gets you into isolation. What people fail to realize is that the Nets have two of the best scoring people in the NBA. So now you’re allowing them to do exactly what they’re capable of doing, which is go one-on-one against a matchup that a defense might not like. “Most teams don’t have a guy, or guys, that can say, ‘I’m going to go give you 30 a night.’ … The Nets have two of them. And you see what happens when you try to double-team one; the other one goes off. You try to double-team the other one, and the other one goes off. And if you play normal coverages, they let other people beat you. Bruce Brown had a phenomenal game against the Cavs, because that was the Cavs’ plan: Go after Kyrie, go after Kyrie. … Those ‘others’ on the Nets are pretty good, and now you add Seth Curry in his role with his shooting. Someone else can also give you numbers. So that’s why it’s going to be a tough hit for Boston, because that switching causes isolation, and the Nets have major isolation talent.” Executive’s outlook: “Boston’s whole season really shifted at some point right after midseason, and they became this juggernaut on defense. It’s a testament to the players’ adaptability and to the coaches’ messaging finally sinking in and becoming how they wanted to play. “Then, Brooklyn is such a dangerous team because they have two players who are incredible. The one thing to be wary of from Brooklyn’s standpoint is when they go to the second unit, do they have an ability to maintain a certain level of play as they get into the series? One of the things that Boston’s been able to figure out is rotations and maintaining a level of play throughout games. “The key matchup, and I think everyone would say this, is Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum. Durant’s ability to impact the game on both ends in the playoffs is so unique. He’s such a great defender; I don’t think he gets enough credit for that. And then, he’s just such a great offensive player, and he’s so fun to watch. So I would imagine this series is going to be fun to watch. I think there’s going to be a lot of really strong and good playoff-caliber basketball played. I would give the slight advantage to Boston, and it’s based on Brooklyn’s lack of depth. … “But you can’t put it past Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant to win a game on their own. You can really say that about Boston, too, with Tatum and Jaylen Brown. I think it’s going to be Boston in seven games.” Scout’s pick: Nets in seven Coach’s pick: Nets in six Executive’s pick: Celtics in seven Consensus advancing team: Nets
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33720582/nba-playoffs-experts-picks-every-first-round-series Boston Celtics (2) vs. Brooklyn Nets (7) Kendra Andrews: Celtics in 7 Jerry Bembry: Nets in 6 Jamal Collier: Celtics in 7 Nick DePaula: Nets in 6 Nick Friedell: Nets in 7 Kirk Goldsberry: Celtics in 7 Israel Gutierrez: Celtics in 7 Richard Jefferson: Nets in 7 Tim Legler: Celtics in 7 Andrew Lopez: Nets in 7 Zach Lowe: Celtics in 6 Tim MacMahon: Celtics in 7 Bobby Marks: Celtics in 7 Dave McMenamin: Nets in 7 Kevin Pelton: Celtics in 7 Omar Raja: Nets in 7 Jorge Sedano: Nets in 7 Ramona Shelburne: Celtics in 7 André Snellings: Celtics in 7 Marc J. Spears: Nets in 7 Ohm Youngmisuk: Nets in 6 Final tally: Celtics 11, Nets 10
this is the only game I’m truly interested in today I’ll check out the rest, and if they happen to be good games, then great
Yea, my expectations for Miami Atlanta and Chicago Milwaukee are very low. I have no idea how this one turns out, although I'm surprised not a single analyst above picked Brooklyn.
This will come down to the whistle Will Smart be allowed to man handle Kyrie? I doubt it. If the Celtics are allowed to be overly aggressive on defense they have a shot Rocket River
