{"id":432974,"date":"2022-04-17T11:00:14","date_gmt":"2022-04-17T08:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/nba-playoffs-2022-breaking-down-nets-celtics-matchups\/"},"modified":"2022-04-17T11:00:14","modified_gmt":"2022-04-17T08:00:14","slug":"nba-playoffs-2022-breaking-down-nets-celtics-matchups","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nba-playoffs-2022-breaking-down-nets-celtics-matchups\/","title":{"rendered":"#NBA playoffs 2022: Breaking down Nets-Celtics matchups"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a264b09786b8\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a264b09786b8\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nba-playoffs-2022-breaking-down-nets-celtics-matchups\/#%E2%80%9CNBA_playoffs_2022_Breaking_down_Nets-Celtics_matchups%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;NBA playoffs 2022: Breaking down Nets-Celtics matchups&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nba-playoffs-2022-breaking-down-nets-celtics-matchups\/#Nets_3-point_shooting_vs_Celtics_3-point_defense\" >Nets\u2019 3-point shooting vs. Celtics\u2019 3-point defense<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nba-playoffs-2022-breaking-down-nets-celtics-matchups\/#Celtics_3-point_shooting_vs_Nets_3-point_defense\" >Celtics\u2019 3-point shooting vs. Nets\u2019 3-point defense<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nba-playoffs-2022-breaking-down-nets-celtics-matchups\/#Rebounding\" >Rebounding<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nba-playoffs-2022-breaking-down-nets-celtics-matchups\/#Drawing_fouls_and_shooting_free_throws\" >Drawing fouls and shooting free throws<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nba-playoffs-2022-breaking-down-nets-celtics-matchups\/#Nets_ability_to_get_paint_points_vs_Celtics_interior_defense\" >Nets\u2019 ability to get paint points vs. Celtics\u2019 interior defense<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nba-playoffs-2022-breaking-down-nets-celtics-matchups\/#Celtics_ability_to_get_paint_points_vs_Nets_interior_defense\" >Celtics\u2019 ability to get paint points vs. Nets\u2019 interior defense<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nba-playoffs-2022-breaking-down-nets-celtics-matchups\/#In_transition\" >In transition<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nba-playoffs-2022-breaking-down-nets-celtics-matchups\/#Depthbench\" >Depth\/bench<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nba-playoffs-2022-breaking-down-nets-celtics-matchups\/#Coaching\" >Coaching<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nba-playoffs-2022-breaking-down-nets-celtics-matchups\/#Intangibles\" >Intangibles<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CNBA_playoffs_2022_Breaking_down_Nets-Celtics_matchups%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;NBA playoffs 2022: Breaking down Nets-Celtics matchups&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>Now that the Nets have brushed aside the Cavaliers in the play-in to clinch the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, their reward is a <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/watch-movies-tv-seriess\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"8\" title=\"Watch Movies &amp; TV Series\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">series<\/a> against arguably the hottest team in the entire NBA.<\/p>\n<p>The Celtics rode the league\u2019s best defense to go 34-12 down the stretch, and claim the No. 2 seed. This first-round series is  a rematch of last season\u2019s opening-round, won in a five-<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/game\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"7\" title=\"Game\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">game<\/a> laugher by the Nets, except this time, the Celtics are healthier, favored and in-form.<\/p>\n<p>There are myriad storylines surrounding Kyrie Irving\u2019s return to Boston, starting Sunday with Game 1 at TD Garden. And though Kevin Durant has professed nothing but respect for the Celtics, the Nets are privately confident that they match up well.<\/p>\n<p>The Post\u2019s Brian Lewis breaks down the matchups that will decide if they really do:<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Nets_3-point_shooting_vs_Celtics_3-point_defense\"><\/span>Nets\u2019 3-point shooting vs. Celtics\u2019 3-point defense<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>From the point at which Durant returned from his month-and-a-half absence due to a sprained left MCL injury, the Nets were third-best in the NBA from 3-point range (.399). But can Bruce Brown keep up his uncharacteristically hot shooting? Can Seth Curry, struggling with a sore ankle, regain consistency? Boston had the top 3-point defense in the league for the entire season (.339), and it has only gotten stingier in the second half. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Edge:<\/strong> Celtics<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/netsdurant.6.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum\" class=\"wp-image-21931871\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/netsdurant.6.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2048 2048w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/netsdurant.6.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1536 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/netsdurant.6.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/netsdurant.6.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">NBAE via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Celtics_3-point_shooting_vs_Nets_3-point_defense\"><\/span>Celtics\u2019 3-point shooting vs. Nets\u2019 3-point defense<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Most aspects of the Nets\u2019 defense have been middling through much of the regular season, although they did finish eighth in 3-point defense. The Nets finally seemed motivated and dug in down the stretch, and finished ninth in defensive rating as they closed 12-5. Boston hasn\u2019t been a high-volume shooting team, but was eighth in 3s made.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Edge:<\/strong> Even<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rebounding\"><\/span>Rebounding<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/netsdrummond.1.jpg?w=872\" alt=\"Andre Drummond\" class=\"wp-image-21931879\" width=\"319\" height=\"371\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/netsdrummond.1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=632 638w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/netsdrummond.1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=474 478w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/netsdrummond.1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=316 319w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/netsdrummond.1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=158 159w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/netsdrummond.1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 319px) 100vw, 319px\"\/><figcaption>Andre Drummond<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Charles Wenzelberg\/New York Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>This has always been an Achilles\u2019 heel for the Nets, who finished dead last in the league in defensive rebound percentage. But the addition of Andre Drummond has helped plug that hole and lifted them from abysmal to average. Despite an edge in physicality, the Celtics are near the middle of the pack as well. Boston losing Robert Williams III to a knee injury levels the contest on the boards. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Edge:<\/strong> Even<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Drawing_fouls_and_shooting_free_throws\"><\/span>Drawing fouls and shooting free throws<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Nets were top 10 in the league in free throws taken and percentage made. And even with Irving inexplicably eschewing the drive, he and Durant will get deep into the paint and draw fouls. But they reach too often and give away too many cheap points at the charity s<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/trip-and-travel\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"10\" title=\"Trip &amp; Travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">trip<\/a>e (26th in the last 15 games). They should take lessons from the Celtics, who manage to have the league\u2019s best defense while still being in the bottom third in free throws conceded and bottom five in fouls committed. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Edge:<\/strong> Even<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Nets_ability_to_get_paint_points_vs_Celtics_interior_defense\"><\/span>Nets\u2019 ability to get paint points vs. Celtics\u2019 interior defense<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Bostonians were triggered when Brown said his Nets will be able to attack more with Daniel Theis and Al Horford in the paint instead of Williams, but he wasn\u2019t lying. Horford is a high IQ defender, but Williams\u2019 rim protection and help-side defense is elite, a huge reason Boston was top five in both blocks and fewest paint points allowed. The Nets had the second-fewest drives in the league and Irving had the fewest layup attempts of his career. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Edge:<\/strong> Celtics<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Celtics_ability_to_get_paint_points_vs_Nets_interior_defense\"><\/span>Celtics\u2019 ability to get paint points vs. Nets\u2019 interior defense<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Nic Claxton blocked five shots in the play-in win, while Durant rejected three. Claxton\u2019s improved form has helped the Nets\u2019 defense. They\u2019ll be tested by Boston wing Jayson Tatum, who averaged 26.9 points and has taken that final leap to superstardom. Still, despite Horford\u2019s efficiency and deft passing, losing Williams hurts the Celtics\u2019 ability to punish the Nets inside. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Edge:<\/strong> Even<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/netsirving.2.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Kyrie Irving\" class=\"wp-image-21931882\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/netsirving.2.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2048 2048w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/netsirving.2.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/netsirving.2.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/netsirving.2.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Kyrie Irving<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">NBAE via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignright\">\n    <\/aside>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"In_transition\"><\/span>In transition<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>With Durant and Irving, the Nets thrive out in the open floor. They\u2019re eighth in fast-break points, and fourth over the final 15 games (16.8). And the best way to attack Boston is before they get set up in the halfcourt game, their top-ranked defense merely good in transition. On the other end, even though the Nets have been lackadaisical getting back all season, Boston scored the third-fewest transition points in the league and may not take advantage. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Edge:<\/strong> Nets<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Depthbench\"><\/span>Depth\/bench<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This is the healthiest the Nets have been since the trade deadline. That gives coach Steve Nash the luxury of a nine-man rotation, with Claxton, Patty Mills, Kessler Edwards and Goran Dragic all playing <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ropriate roles off the bench. Williams\u2019 absence will force Boston to start Theis and Horford together, leaving Derrick White and Grant Williams (and perhaps Payton Pritchard) as the only reliable bench options. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Edge:<\/strong> Nets, by a lot<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Coaching\"><\/span>Coaching<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Nash has not only kept the team together, but also has improved his endgame management and after-timeout work. His former assistant, Ime Udoka, frankly should get love for Coach of the Year in his very first season at the end of the Celtics\u2019 bench. Udoka \u2014 the latest branch off the Spurs\u2019 tree \u2014 has impressed with his defensive acumen, player management and ability to motivate. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Edge:<\/strong> Celtics<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Intangibles\"><\/span>Intangibles<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Nets are still looking for cohesion after cycling through a team-record 42 different starting lineups. It remains to be seen if that will undercut the star talents of Durant and Irving, whose three-level scoring abilities let their prowess translate in the playoffs. Still, a Boston team that bounced back from a 17-19 start with a 34-12 finish must be doing something right in the intangibles department. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Edge:<\/strong> Celtics\n                        <\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/04\/17\/nba-playoffs-2022-breaking-down-nets-celtics-matchups\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;NBA playoffs 2022: Breaking down Nets-Celtics matchups&#8221; Now that the Nets have brushed aside the Cavaliers in the play-in to clinch the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, their reward is a series against arguably the hottest team in the entire NBA. The Celtics rode the league\u2019s best defense to go 34-12 down the stretch,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":432975,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/netsdurant.6.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1024","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[128119,70487],"class_list":["post-432974","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-4-17-22","tag-brooklyn-nets"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/432974","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=432974"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/432974\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/432975"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=432974"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=432974"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=432974"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}