The staff within the Nets’ method is the one they simply can’t get round.
They’re going to have to determine a solution to beat the Celtics, unlock no matter cheat code is critical to defeat the NBA’s greatest staff. As a result of the highway to a championship — hell, proper now the trail to even reaching the Jap Convention finals — runs via Boston. And the Celtics have taken the measure of the Nets many times … and once more.
The Nets have misplaced 10 straight video games to the Celtics, the most recent a 139-96 nightmare Wednesday night at TD Backyard. Proper now the groups are on a collision course to fulfill within the playoffs, and people haven’t gone the Nets’ method.
“As a competitor, I’m not going to cease till I work out what this technique to the Boston Celtics is correct now and why they’re so scorching,” Kyrie Irving stated ruefully.
“[The] foremost cause is simply how related they’re, how a lot they’ve performed collectively, what number of minutes they’ve logged collectively. And that chip on their shoulder, you may see it, you may really feel it. We simply need to develop a more durable mentality right here. And after we try this, I really feel like we’ll be a greater competitors with them. I do know we are going to.”
Irving sounded each wistful and envious. Hey, the grass is at all times greener on the opposite aspect of the leprechaun patch. Or in a Celtics jersey.
The Nets’ mentality hasn’t matched as much as their expertise for the reason that franchise landed Irving and Kevin Durant in 2019. Irving’s defection from Boston damage the Celtics initially, however they’ve shortly recovered as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown matured, they usually’ve climbed proper over the Nets to the highest of the convention.
Now, Boston has one of the best file within the NBA, and the Nets, who’re 4-7 since shedding Durant to a sprained proper MCL on Jan. 8, sit fourth within the East. If the postseason began right now and went in accordance with chalk, the groups would face off in a second-round conflict, their third straight assembly within the playoffs.
That doesn’t bode nicely for the Nets.
The one groups within the East they haven’t overwhelmed this season are the Celtics (0-3) and the No. 3 76ers (0-2). However the Nets took the 2021-22 season collection from the Sixers, so it’s clear the Celtics are the larger subject. After beating them within the first spherical in 2021, they’ve misplaced 10 straight to them, beginning with a 126-91 rout on Feb. 8, 2022.
“It’s in all probability a staff we’re going to see down the road,” Seth Curry stated, “so simply be taught from it, transfer on and get higher.”
“I’m uninterested in shedding to them. However we’ll see them once more. We’ll see them once more in March; we’ll in all probability see them once more in playoffs. So simply one other studying expertise and we obtained to maintain constructing,” Nic Claxton stated. “We’ll see ’em once more. You simply take it on the chin. … We obtained our ass kicked [Wednesday]. Simply hold shifting ahead.”
The Nets had their lack of size uncovered final season in a first-round playoff sweep by the Celtics. This season, with an rising Claxton, a wholesome Simmons and Durant, the Nets anticipated to have three switchable 7-foot wingspan defenders. However Durant and Simmons are presently out with accidents, as is ahead T.J. Warren.
Towards the Celtics, the Nets have appeared not simply undersized, but in addition outclassed. They had been smothered Wednesday regardless of not dealing with Marcus Good, who’s out with a proper ankle sprain.
“We simply can’t be a kind of groups in [the Celtics’] method,” Irving stated. “We’ve obtained to be a kind of groups that stands as much as them and reveals them that we’re going to be competitors for them shifting ahead.”
Shifting ahead clearly begins with Durant’s return. However the Nets should get Simmons not solely match, however in kind. If he can’t be counted on, normal supervisor Sean Marks might have so as to add extra size and protection by the commerce deadline, which is that this coming Thursday.
The Nets had been reminded of some powerful classes Wednesday, together with the significance of coping with the Celtics’ star wings. However a very powerful was a reminder that loss of life, taxes and having to undergo Boston appear certain issues.
“It’s an excellent problem,” Claxton stated. “I’m trying ahead to persevering with to play towards them in March and the playoffs. It’s going to be an excellent problem for us.”
A problem they haven’t lived as much as.
