Celtics (19-17) at Nets (24-13) Game #37 3/11/21

[slamtheking]

We failed the litmus test. Can't beat that team without KD we got problems. Might as well wait until ne  Danny.

One game means nothing.  There’s no litmus test.

agreed.  Kemba/Brown combined for 10-35 and only had 2 3 pointers between them.   14-22 at the FT line including an atrocious 0-4 from Thompson.  add in bad passing and ball handling by Jaylen, Jayson and Kemba. 

Brooklyn doesn't scare me.  what does worry me is the Celtics themselves.  we've seen these players play better than this.  we'll need to see that better play the rest of this season or our postseason is going to be real short

[Goldstar88]

I’m not a Kyrie fan by any means, but the guy is a superstar..
He shows up for big games. Wish I could say the same for Kemba.

What big games has Kyrie shown up for recently? His last playoff performance was genuinely terrible. Like, Russell Westbrook tier of playoff choke

This season Kyrie has played well against the better teams in the league and he absolutely torched the Celtics both games. Boston had Smart for both games and he still put up 37 and 40 Pts.

So, regular season games? Kemba had four 37+ point games last season, all against playoff teams. You're inventing some really amazing double standards here.

Kyrie shows up in big games by putting up points in regular season outings, but Kemba doesn't, even though he does the same thing? Ludicrous

Tonight was a big game for the C’s and Kemba was nowhere to be found. 11pts and 2 ast while shooting 5-12 from the field and 1-7 from 3pt.  Kyrie on the other hand goes 15-23 from the field and 5-8 from 3pt for 40pts. Smart and Jaylen couldn’t even slow him down. Kemba is a good player, but Let’s not pretend that he’s in the same class as Kyrie. He’s just not.

[gouki88]

I’m not a Kyrie fan by any means, but the guy is a superstar..
He shows up for big games. Wish I could say the same for Kemba.

What big games has Kyrie shown up for recently? His last playoff performance was genuinely terrible. Like, Russell Westbrook tier of playoff choke

This season Kyrie has played well against the better teams in the league and he absolutely torched the Celtics both games. Boston had Smart for both games and he still put up 37 and 40 Pts.

So, regular season games? Kemba had four 37+ point games last season, all against playoff teams. You're inventing some really amazing double standards here.

Kyrie shows up in big games by putting up points in regular season outings, but Kemba doesn't, even though he does the same thing? Ludicrous

Tonight was a big game for the C’s and Kemba was nowhere to be found. 11pts and 2 ast while shooting 5-12 from the field and 1-7 from 3pt.  Kyrie on the other hand goes 15-23 from the field and 5-8 from 3pt for 40pts. Smart and Jaylen couldn’t even slow him down. Kemba is a good player, but Let’s not pretend that he’s in the same class as Kyrie. He’s just not.

Now you're moving the goalposts, well done

[RodyTur10]

I'm tired of G. Williams inconsistent play.  Trade him please.

Why would anyone want him? He’s awful lol

Trade him ASAP and if you can't then don't pick up his team option.

Grant Williams and Carsen Edwards are the two guys on rookie contracts who won't have a role in the Celtics future for sure. Showcase and trade them.

[SHAQATTACK]

kyrie  was awesome ,  two years to rehab his issues,  only his mental issues can stop his team . Danny had the right idea ,  Horford, Irving and Hayward .  Timing and injuries is everything.

It appears the GO or Blow method , all in for everything to get a team of superstars is going to work for the Nets .   it’s the Laker philosophy of team building , throw everything into a win now situation , no asset is untouchable .

With the top 10 players now gravitating to play on the same teams  , no other choice if you want to complete more than once in 50 years period .

[jambr380]

I’m not a Kyrie fan by any means, but the guy is a superstar..
He shows up for big games. Wish I could say the same for Kemba.

What big games has Kyrie shown up for recently? His last playoff performance was genuinely terrible. Like, Russell Westbrook tier of playoff choke

This season Kyrie has played well against the better teams in the league and he absolutely torched the Celtics both games. Boston had Smart for both games and he still put up 37 and 40 Pts.

So, regular season games? Kemba had four 37+ point games last season, all against playoff teams. You're inventing some really amazing double standards here.

Kyrie shows up in big games by putting up points in regular season outings, but Kemba doesn't, even though he does the same thing? Ludicrous

Tonight was a big game for the C’s and Kemba was nowhere to be found. 11pts and 2 ast while shooting 5-12 from the field and 1-7 from 3pt.  Kyrie on the other hand goes 15-23 from the field and 5-8 from 3pt for 40pts. Smart and Jaylen couldn’t even slow him down. Kemba is a good player, but Let’s not pretend that he’s in the same class as Kyrie. He’s just not.

Eh, Kemba wasn't good, but he wasn't historically bad like Brown was. Kemba got off to a good start and really didn't get another shot until the 4th quarter when he had become ice cold and just took a few 3s. Obviously Kyrie blew him away, but I would say it was more of a scheming problem than a Kemba sucks problem.

Also, people keep lumping Kemba (5-12) in with Brown (5-23). While Brown was more impactful in other ways, his awful shooting prevented the Cs from taking control during several portions of the game. I thought the All-Star break would help him get back on track, but he is seemingly even worse now. It's really unfortunate.

[NKY fan]

Why do people keep piling on the Nets’ defense being horrible ?
They seem very capable of playing average if not above average defense their last 10 games or so

[cltc5]

We failed the litmus test. Can't beat that team without KD we got problems. Might as well wait until ne  Danny.

One game means nothing.  There’s no litmus test.

We lost to Atlanta and Detroit twice. The nets twice, once when we were at full roster and the nets were down a man.  How’s that for a litmus test?

[#1P4P]

The Celtics have to play the Nets like they play the Raptors.

Because the Raptors are so stout in their half court defense, the Celtics switch to an up-tempo offense getting out in transition often; it forces the Raptors to be worried about their transition defense, then the Celtics force them to play against an above average and set half-court defense (which is part of the reason why we've built big leads on them in the past few season).

It's the basis of the style the 2020 Lakers used to run through the NBA in the playoffs. It fatigues the opposing team in the process and requires great conditioning, time management, and depth to avoid succumbing to fatigue themselves.

The Nets are going to score on any defense, to beat them, this team (or any other) is going to have to wear them down by forcing KD, Kyrie, and Harden to constantly get back on defense, dial back our own defensive effort for 3 quarters (to not exhaust our players in the process), and do our best to put up 120+ every night.

[Goldstar88]

We failed the litmus test. Can't beat that team without KD we got problems. Might as well wait until ne  Danny.

One game means nothing.  There’s no litmus test.

We lost to Atlanta and Detroit twice. The nets twice, once when we were at full roster and the nets were down a man.  How’s that for a litmus test?

It wasn’t one game. They lost early in the season to the Nets without Harden. C’s didn’t have Kemba for that game. Then last night the C’s at full strength lost to the Nets without KD. I you can’t win when your opponent is missing their best player, that’s a problem.

[bello_man09]

not the biggest fan of Jaylen brown I think he's not always engaged.hes skill level is gone up for sure but i think he needs smart to yell at him again.

[liam]

not the biggest fan of Jaylen brown I think he's not always engaged.hes skill level is gone up for sure but i think he needs smart to yell at him again.

Jaylen needs to learn from Smart how to sell that contact. Marcus is the best on our team at selling fouls. He should teach a class.

[Ogaju]

not the biggest fan of Jaylen brown I think he's not always engaged.hes skill level is gone up for sure but i think he needs smart to yell at him again.

From all indications that did not work out well last time.

[Celtics4ever]

Jaylen needs to learn from Smart how to sell that contact. Marcus is the best on our team at selling fouls. He should teach a class.

One has to have an innate ability and desire to make contact for this to work.  A lot of guys don't have that ability like  Marcus.   Flopping around means learning to fall and not get hurt not a skill all guys have or want.

[liam]

Jaylen needs to learn from Smart how to sell that contact. Marcus is the best on our team at selling fouls. He should teach a class.

One has to have an innate ability and desire to make contact for this to work.  A lot of guys don't have that ability like  Marcus.   Flopping around means learning to fall and not get hurt not a skill all guys have or want.

Brown's getting clobbered  so he needs so sell that contact to the half blind refs.