The Boston Celtics lead 2-0 over the Brooklyn Nets after a 114-107 victory on Wednesday night. Boston’s defense was the main difference in this race, as it made life difficult for Kevin Durant once again, limiting him to shooting with only 23.5 percent of the field. The Nets took command of this game at the beginning, increasing the lead by 17 points at one point, but after the half-time the Celtics gave up and began to perform in attack.
Jason Tatum scored with a clutch and finished the evening with 19 points, 10 assists and 6 rebounds, while Jaylan Brown scored another 22 points in the win. It was a really balanced attack by the Celtics, as all five starters scored double-digit, and Grant Williams climbed the bench with 17 points. Now the series will move to Brooklyn for the next two games, as the Nets are trying to return to this series against a dominant team from Boston.
Here are three excerpts from Game 2.
1. The Celtics’ defense has created all sorts of problems for KD
Durant has built a legacy of being one of the most difficult players to keep in NBA history. Its unique combination of size and skill makes it so that its stroke is essentially unguarded, as it can rise above anyone and get a clear view. Every time the ball leaves Durant’s hands, you assume it enters; he has been just as deadly a goal scorer throughout his career.
But on Wednesday night, Durant didn’t look like the man he’s usually unstoppable as he struggled to get into a rhythm. KD finished with 27 points, but he came out only 4 of 17 off the field and if it were not for 18 points on the free throw line, he would have only nine points in the game. This is crazy and you have to tilt your hat to defend the Celtics. It wasn’t just a weekend night from the future Hall of Fame. It was a total defensive attack, executed to perfection by the Celtics. Every trip down the floor Durant was met with pressure in defense, or by double teams, or just outright suffocating defense.
It was more than just Boston trapping Durant and snatching the ball from his hands. The Celtics did not allow Durant to do anything in an attack, and it didn’t matter who was in front of him. That’s what makes Boston’s defense so elite. He has the ability to switch almost anything, and the Celtics have such great length and athleticism that it is not entirely surprising that Durant looks anxious when attacking. Boston forced him to make six turns, as each player within arm’s length of Durant’s defense had active hands that tried to disappoint him and get him out of rhythm, and it worked. This is without a doubt the best team Durant has ever defended, and it will force Brooklyn to adjust to the rest of the series to try to find a way to give him better opportunities.
2. Balanced score from Boston
It was one of those games that showed you why great depth is so important in the playoffs. Seven players finished double-digit for the Celtics, and Boston received a great production from its two key players on the bench at Grant Williams and Peyton Pritchard. Williams especially had a starry night from start to finish. In the first quarter, he and Daniel Theis were the only two Celtics players who could do anything in attack and kept the game in range when Brooklyn came out of the gates in attack. His defense was just as remarkable, as he had several solid possessions guarding Durant and played a hand to force him to make a few turns.
Were it not for the production of boys like Williams, Thais and Al Horford in the first half, the Nets would probably have risen much more by the beginning of the third quarter. But instead, the players supported the team and reduced the lead from 17 points to just 10 points at the start of the half. It is also worth noting that these players often managed to get buckets because of Tatum’s passes. Although Tatum struggled to score in the first half, coming out with only 2 of 8 off the field, he made five assists and put his teammates in a great position for easy shots. Tatum’s departure was one of the key improvements in his game this season, an area in which Smart said the team needed him to improve in order to improve his game. Tatum definitely took this to heart and his improved vision on the field was fully demonstrated in Game 2. He influenced the game with his pass in the first half, then began to go down with his score to help Boston win.
3. Kyrie Irving needs to do more
Irving finished the game with just 10 points on 4 of 13 shots from the field and recorded just one assist. This is unacceptable. The Celtics will continue to be crowded with Durant every time he descends the floor, and Irving must be able to take over his groin when that happens. The Nets can’t afford Irving to have a free night because they don’t have the depth to rely on boys when the stars are under pressure in defense.
Bruce Brown did an excellent job of generating an attack, finishing with 23 points. But that alone will not be enough. We’ve seen Irving take over the games completely, and it was his chance to do that while KD struggled. But Irving seemed impossible, and nothing like the dynamic guard, capable of scoring you for 30-plus points each night. He didn’t attack the edge as much, nor did he create opportunities for his teammates, but instead forced a few shots and became a non-factor in the fourth quarter, coming in 1 of 4 for just two points in the last 12 minutes of the game. This will not work against the Celtics and Brooklyn will have to hope that Irving can join in Game 3, because if Boston presses Durant again, Irving will have to strengthen.
Add Comment