Nets (0-0) at Celtics (0-0) Round1 Game1 4/17/22

[ozgod]

This is awesome!

Also it's been discussed but yeah, KD and Kyrie practically did nothing on that defensive possession. Durant in particular was just standing. Probably smart that Ime didn't call timeout and let the Nets regroup on defense.

For mediocre defensive teams that aren't good at scrambling it's always good to keep them on the back foot with scramble plays, because they're not good at scrambling. For example, they threw 3 players (Dragic, Brown, Cryrie) on Jaylen as he drove to the rim, so he cut towards the free throw line (right there there were 3 players open - Smartacus, Tatum and White) and passed it to Smartacus, which caused both Brown and Claxton to close out and leave their feet when he pump faked, which left Horford with just Dragic in front of him with Cryrie at the weak side block, with Durant just standing at the top of the key defending nobody (probably Tatum but he wasn't even near him). Smartacus could have passed to Al but he saw JT (who had been open at the perimeter for about 5 seconds) cutting to the basket on the weak side and there was no way Cryrie was going to stop him, he did a good impression of a turnstile with his hand out to simulate where you put the token in 

No doubt he would have been crucified if they had not converted the score but they did so all is well. It's the kind of decision where the rightness of it is determined by the outcome - they made the shot so it was the right call, if they missed it that would have probably been the headline "Ime fails to call timeout and Cs lose" but I still think it would have been the right call even if they had missed.

[RPGenerate]

While we were able to escape with the W today, I think Ime needs to do better in terms of in-game adjustments. We started out with one goal; throw everything and the kitchen sink at KD, and it worked! However, once Kyrie started to get going, we continued to only focus on shutting a cold as ice KD down. It almost cost us the game, so we really needed to make that adjustment at the start of the 4th. Honestly, I'm fine with keeping just JT on KD, as he seems to do a pretty good job. Of course if KD starts cooking, we can revert back to putting more guys on him.

[csfansince60s]

After watching the incredible final sequence over 20 times, I realized that this team has grown to another level.

Derrick passed it to Jaylen in transition with 10 seconds left; in the past, another player might’ve held it and walked it up for the final shot.

Jaylen then gets cut off and passes it to Marcus open at the wing; in the past, he might’ve lost the handle or forced a shot up.

Marcus wide open at the arch dribble penetrates and delivers a great pass to Jayson with 1.5 seconds left; in the past, he definitely hoists up the 3.

Jayson pirouettes past Kyrie and lays it up with 0.5 seconds left; in the past, he might’ve tried to go through and over Kyrie or lose the ball on the spin or miss the layup.

We’ve been a subpar team in clutch situations since IT’s final Celtic season. We’ve seen each of the worst case scenarios as far back as midway through the season. It was a competitive game, but trust me, with Kyrie and KD having to carry 50% of the offensive load and in isolation against this defense, it will be tougher and tougher as the series goes on.

The energy has shifted.

Nice post, TP.

That was a phenomenal sequence which actually touched all 5 players hands and was set up by a great rebound secured by Horford, outletted to White, up to Brown, over to Smart and into Tatum.

More impressive was the defensive sequence that preceded it, with scrambling, switching, swarming D finished by Tatum’s forcing of a hurried Durant ( because the shot clock was running down because of the swarming D) shot, with the defensive rebound secured by Horford that started that winning fast break.

[csfansince60s]

Great game. Great finish.

Kyrie is a nut but he was amazing in the 4th quarter. Hope we do a better job of containing him on Wed.

Let’s go!!!

Amen, brother…TP.

[colincb]

I thought timelord went down on March 30 and they said 4-6 weeks. It's not even close to that yet??

Game 5 would be exactly 4 weeks since injury....I think.

TL was injured 3/27 and had surgery on Wednesday 3/30. 4 weeks would either be 4/26 or 4/27 depending if you count the day of the surgery. Game 5 is 4/27.

[Vermont Green]

I thought timelord went down on March 30 and they said 4-6 weeks. It's not even close to that yet??

Game 5 would be exactly 4 weeks since injury....I think.

TL was injured 3/27 and had surgery on Wednesday 3/30. 4 weeks would either be 4/26 or 4/27 depending if you count the day of the surgery. Game 5 is 4/27.

You forgot the (if necessary).

[Vermont Green]

As to the game, the bench was the problem.  Dragic, Mills, and Claxton were all good,  GWill, White, and Pritchard, not so much (real bad +/- results).  The starters were +11 in 14 minutes.  Smart, WHITE, Brown, Tatum, Horford were +7 in 13 minutes.  So +18 in 27 minutes for our 1A and 1B line ups.  If you do the math, that leaves 21 minutes and -17 for various "bench" units". 

What this tells me is that we may need to split up Theis and Horford more.  Theis only played 20 minutes, 14 of those minutes were with Horford.   The team was bad when Grant was on the floor either with Horford or Theis (-17 in 21 minutes).  We may be better off with giving more minutes to Nesmith over GWill. 

There just isn't anyone for Grant to cover. The Nets play with either Claxton or Drummond and then all wings and guards.  GWill can't cover Claxton or Drummond and he can't cover Durant or Brown.  Nesmith could take any of their guards or wings much better than GWill assuming Horford or Theis is on the floor to take their big.

[td450]

It all worked out, but the game was a demonstration that the primary difference between us being mediocre and winning a title is the commitment to ball movement.  We went into a coma at the end of the 3rd period and woke up just in time. Unfortunately, much of the problem was Tatum. Most of the game he was outstanding, and he got the Sportscenter finish, but he came very close to costing us the game.

We got several really good plays from Brown, Smart and Big Al to stave off a disaster.

[Phantom255x]

Another thing I notice is that this team in hustle plays and transition is night and day different from the Nets. Felt like when the C's went on their runs and also in the game winning basket, when the ball was moving and the pace was fast, the Nets looked clueless.

That'll be the key going forward in this series. The Nets are already pretty slow and the C's can outrun them

[footey]

Thought an underrated play was the coast to coast drive by Brown that cut Nets' lead down to 1 point.  It was masterfully efficient.

[Surferdad]

Thought an underrated play was the coast to coast drive by Brown that cut Nets' lead down to 1 point.  It was masterfully efficient.

It was brilliant because it enabled a 2-for-1 setup. (I think there were 38 seconds left.)

[JSD]

What’s the source on this?

[Vermont Green]

Thought an underrated play was the coast to coast drive by Brown that cut Nets' lead down to 1 point.  It was masterfully efficient.

Brown was overwhelmed by the moment at the start of the game.  He had some ugly shots, flat out air balls in a couple of cases.  This game had the feel of a game 7 more than a game 1 and an EFC more than a first round game so I can understand how at the start of the game, it was a lot for some of our young players to handle.  But Brown in particular hung in and was able to make some big plays at the end.  Yes, well done.

I also like the overall focus and leadership by Tatum.  I didn't see a good chunk of the second half but from what I did see, Tatum set the tone on offense and defense and also in general with his "all business" body language.  He was as big as the moment, didn't get caught up in the moment, and this set the tone for the whole team.

Tatum and Brown are still really young players.  There is a lot on them in this series.  So far, so good.

[Donoghus]

What’s the source on this?

It was floating on twitter last night but don't remember who was the originator.

[PAOBoston]

Thought an underrated play was the coast to coast drive by Brown that cut Nets' lead down to 1 point.  It was masterfully efficient.

Brown was overwhelmed by the moment at the start of the game.  He had some ugly shots, flat out air balls in a couple of cases.  This game had the feel of a game 7 more than a game 1 and an EFC more than a first round game so I can understand how at the start of the game, it was a lot for some of our young players to handle.  But Brown in particular hung in and was able to make some big plays at the end.  Yes, well done.

I also like the overall focus and leadership by Tatum.  I didn't see a good chunk of the second half but from what I did see, Tatum set the tone on offense and defense and also in general with his "all business" body language.  He was as big as the moment, didn't get caught up in the moment, and this set the tone for the whole team.

Tatum and Brown are still really young players.  There is a lot on them in this series.  So far, so good.

Tatum went at KD hard yesterday. It’s like he has realized that he’s on that dude’s level and he isn’t your friend on the court. Thought it was a pretty master class performance from JT on KD in the first half. That being said, I fully expect Brooklyn to have KD be more aggressive in game 2 vs JT to get him in foul trouble.