2021-22 Celtics Playoffs Discussion

[Donoghus]

Celtics-Nets Game 1 is Sunday at 3:30 PM EST (ABC)

Rest of schedule will be finalized later I think, obviously to account for whatever happens in the coming days with the other games too

I'm down with the Easter Sunday matinee.

Although, I've always loved the Marathon Monday night home playoff game. 

[gouki88]

Celtics-Nets Game 1 is Sunday at 3:30 PM EST (ABC)

Rest of schedule will be finalized later I think, obviously to account for whatever happens in the coming days with the other games too

Ugh, 3:30EST is a brutal time for me! Dang it

Is that 5:30 AM in AUS? Toughen up!

Also on a side note I have a colleague who went to Australia recently to visit his family for a month (he’s from there) and he was saying how it was always raining/cloudy there and tons of flooding. He went back in February and early March

Indeed it is

Recently, it has been. Unprecedented levels of flooding right now, influenced by the unprecedented fires we've had recently too.

[Goldstar88]

Bruce Brown post play-in win: “They have less of a presence in the paint and we are going to attack Horford and Theis.”

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KgJV15tEfLs

[colincb]

 ESPN's stat guru Kevin Pelton:

"With the current versions of these teams closer than their records indicate, I think the outcome of the series will ultimately depend on Brooklyn's ability to reach a higher level than we've seen in the last few weeks. The Nets didn't exactly dominate a series of teams that were lottery-bound, short-handed or both.

Still, we've seen Brooklyn do more even after the Harden trade. Their 129-100 win in Philadelphia facing Harden for the first time was the crowning example, but they also won by 15 in Miami in late March. That version of the Nets will be difficult for anyone in the East to beat.

The real question is whether Brooklyn can sustain that level of effort and intensity for a full, seven-game series. My guess is that they can't against a team as good and well-coached as the Celtics. I'm picking Boston in seven."

It's a ESPN+ article, so I can only post a brief excerpt periodically.

I'll take Cs in 7, but either could win in 6. IOW, a tight series on paper that will garner the most attention if it plays out the way the media talking heads so far think it will.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

It's awesome that Boston worked so hard and did so well in order to earn the No. 2 seed and get rewarded with a cupca—

Wait, they play the Nets in the first round?!?

[colincb]

It's awesome that Boston worked so hard and did so well in order to earn the No. 2 seed and get rewarded with a cupca—

Wait, they play the Nets in the first round?!?

...and the defending champs in the second round!

[vjcsmoke]

Well the Celtics just faced the #2 team in the West - the Grizzlies, and not only beat them but took their lunch money on top of that.  It wasn't even close.  I'm pretty confident the Celtics are making a deep run no matter who they face. 

That said, I wouldn't mind if the Nets had been knocked out in that playin game.

But yes, I believe we can beat the Nets in a best of 7 with homecourt advantage.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

It's awesome that Boston worked so hard and did so well in order to earn the No. 2 seed and get rewarded with a cupca—

Wait, they play the Nets in the first round?!?

...and the defending champs in the second round!

Has the No. 2 seed ever been such a nonpositive thing? lol

[Neurotic Guy]

It's awesome that Boston worked so hard and did so well in order to earn the No. 2 seed and get rewarded with a cupca—

Wait, they play the Nets in the first round?!?

...and the defending champs in the second round!

Has the No. 2 seed ever been such a nonpositive thing? lol

It’s a terrible draw and the possibility that they have a uniquely intense first round followed by the Bucks having a relatively easy time is unfortunate. But you also never know till it plays out.  It’s fair to say that the 2007-8 Celtics had a heck of a time in the first round v. #8 Atlanta.

I’m expecting a very tough first round and I don’t see how it doesn’t take a toll on the Cs.  But I’m looking forward to seeing it play out.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

It's awesome that Boston worked so hard and did so well in order to earn the No. 2 seed and get rewarded with a cupca—

Wait, they play the Nets in the first round?!?

...and the defending champs in the second round!

Has the No. 2 seed ever been such a nonpositive thing? lol

It’s a terrible draw and the possibility that they have a uniquely intense first round followed by the Bucks having a relatively easy time is unfortunate. But you also never know till it plays out.  It’s fair to say that the 2007-8 Celtics had a heck of a time in the first round v. #8 Atlanta.

I’m expecting a very tough first round and I don’t see how it doesn’t take a toll on the Cs.  But I’m looking forward to seeing it play out.

True, we don't know until we know. And I remember that 07-08 battle against the Hawks (of course, I would argue that Boston should not have had such a hard time against Atlanta in that series, but I digress).

Time will tell, and I understand certain rah-rah talk about how playing and beating such a tough team in the first round could propel Boston to greater heights, but I still say it's a bad draw and certainly not the way "the system" is supposed to work. I'm not sure that I'm looking forward to it; I mean, if the Cs win the series, great, but they could be worn out and then have to play the reigning champs; and if they lose to the Nets, well ... that would be regrettable, in many ways.

[colincb]

Over the course of the season, Boston has a plus-7.1 net rating with Horford on the court and Williams on the bench according to NBA Advanced Stats. The Nets with both their stars are +8.0 in point differential. The two stats are not the same, but they are both similar and good. Additionally, the Cs have HCA and Nets will have to 40 mpg from Kyrie since their bench players aren't as good. As for Simmons being 100% if he comes back after supposedly not playing at all recently? He may do more harm than good.  It looks like a tough series, but we are clearly the better defensive team and defense usually travels well in the playoffs.

[pokeKingCurtis]

Bruce Brown post play-in win: “They have less of a presence in the paint and we are going to attack Horford and Theis.”

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KgJV15tEfLs

I'm only reading this guy's comment and I already hate him

[ozgod]

Bruce Brown post play-in win: “They have less of a presence in the paint and we are going to attack Horford and Theis.”

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KgJV15tEfLs

I'm only reading this guy's comment and I already hate him

He was just being a bit too honest, he is from Dorchie after all 

Here's KD's take, grizzled old vet that he is.

So when Durant heard Nets guard Bruce Brown's critique of the Boston Celtics, saying that the Nets can attack them down low in their upcoming Eastern Conference quarterfinals series because of the absence of Celtics big man Robert Williams III, Durant was quick to rebuke his young teammate's comments.

"We respect our opponents," Durant said after the Nets finished off a 115-108 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Tuesday night's play-in game. "We don't need to talk about what we're going to do to them. I just don't like that, but that's how Bruce is. He comes in and keeps the same energy throughout the whole season so -- but we don't need to say s--- like that. Let's just go out there and hoop."

Brown's comments came after he was asked what he felt the biggest key will be to slowing down the Celtics in the series, which starts in Boston on Sunday afternoon.

"We can't let [Jayson] Tatum get 50," Brown said. "We got to be physical with them. Now they don't have Robert Williams, so they have less of a presence in the paint, and we could attack Al Horford and [Daniel] Theis. So them not having Robert Williams is huge."

Durant, who took the dais for the postgame news conference after Brown did, had already been tipped off that Brown had said something he wouldn't appreciate.

"What did Bruce Brown say when he got up here?" Durant asked the assembled media. "He said something I didn't like, somebody just told me."

When told of Brown's comments, Durant tried to walk them back.

"That's caffeine pride talking," Durant said. "He takes something before the game. Those two dudes [Horford and Theis] can do the same stuff. It ain't going to be that easy, I tell you that."

Video at https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33727973/brooklyn-nets-kevin-durant-irked-bruce-brown-critique-boston-celtics-big-men

[gouki88]

Bruce Brown post play-in win: “They have less of a presence in the paint and we are going to attack Horford and Theis.”

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KgJV15tEfLs

I am literally begging that they do this. I am much more fearful of them getting hot from the perimeter than I am of them beating us inside.

[ozgod]

Celtics-Nets Game 1 is Sunday at 3:30 PM EST (ABC)

Rest of schedule will be finalized later I think, obviously to account for whatever happens in the coming days with the other games too

Ugh, 3:30EST is a brutal time for me! Dang it

Is that 5:30 AM in AUS? Toughen up!

Also on a side note I have a colleague who went to Australia recently to visit his family for a month (he’s from there) and he was saying how it was always raining/cloudy there and tons of flooding. He went back in February and early March

Indeed it is

Recently, it has been. Unprecedented levels of flooding right now, influenced by the unprecedented fires we've had recently too.

Man when I used to live there I could count the number of rainy days in Sydney on one hand. Climate change?!?!