7:30 PM EST, TNT – Line: Celtics -9, Over/Under: 214.5
With the All-Star Break now in the rearview mirror, the race for the playoffs is upon us as bitter rivals clash in the city that never sleeps, with the Boston Celtics battling the makeshift Brooklyn Nets tonight from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Prior to last weekend’s All-Star Break, you would have been hard-pressed to have found a hotter team than the Celtics (34-26, 6th in Eastern Conference), who really found their groove under their new regime, winning nine consecutive games before falling to the lowly Pistons (more on that in a bit). Indeed, this past summer saw Boston undergo a soft reboot, with the franchise undergoing some fairly significant changes; after spiraling to a disappointing 36-36 finish, their first at .500 or below in six years, and an equally disturbing exit in the first round of the playoffs, Boston parted ways with long time basketball czar, Danny Ainge, who was replaced by (Head Coach) Brad Stevens, who in turn effectively abdicated his position on the bench in favor of moving up within the organization. Of course, Stevens had presided over this current era of basketball in Beantown, arriving to a side hitting the reset button for the first time in ages, rebuilding them in short order; the 45-year-old took his team to seven consecutive postseason appearances, including three conference finals, all the while developing the talent acquired via the plethora of draft capitol that Ainge had amassed over the years. His choice to succeed himself would be Ime Udoka, who after cutting his teeth as a member of Gregg Popovich’s staff in San Antonio (2012- 2019), spent last season as Steve Nash’s chief lieutenant in Brooklyn. From a personnel standpoint, Stevens would quickly get to work in the offseason adding (veteran Forward) Al Horford (10.1 PTS, 44.5% FG, 30.7% 3FG, 83.5% FT, 7.5 REB, 3.4 AST, 0.6 STL, 1.3 BLK, 16.5 PER), along with (sparkplug Point Guard) Dennis Schroder and (versatile Swingman) Josh Richardson in an attempt to inject some more playmaking and creativity into the rotation, bringing Horford back to the Northeast after a two-year stint away from the club that he had previously enjoyed some of his greatest years with (2016-2019). However, this cocktail proved to be a bitter one at first, as Boston stumbled out to a disappointing 17-19 start over the first two months of the campaign, struggling to build chemistry on either end of the hardwood, with rumors of their two young star Swingmen, Jayson Tatum (25.7 PTS, 43.4% FG, 32.9% 3FG, 84.8% FT, 8.4 REB, 4.2 AST, 1.0 STL, 0.7 BLK, 20.4 PER) and Jaylen Brown (23.7 PTS, 46.0% FG, 35.3% 3FG, 77.3% FT, 6.5 REB, 3.3 AST, 1.1 STL, 18.4 PER), coming into conflict with each other. Fortunately for all parties involved, they squashed whatever perceived beef there was, with the C’s all the better for it, for Udoka’s troops have gone 17-7 since the turn of the calendar, averaging 110.1 points per game on a healthy 47.0% shooting from the field, including 36.0% from downtown, while dishing out 24.9 assists in comparison to committing just 13.4 turnovers. With that said, the biggest change has come on the defensive end, where they have rounded into one of the stingiest units in the NBA over this stretch, yielding just 98.1 points on 41.1% shooting from the floor, including 33.0% from beyond the arc, while outrebounding the opposition by a stellar 4.1 boards a night, and permitting 21.3 assists opposed to forcing 12.8 takeaways. Obviously, having Horford back in the rotation to organize the defense has given them not only one of the smartest players in the league but some sorely needed interior defense and physicality, which was a HUGE issue for them a year ago. Simply put, they couldn’t defend the rim at all in 2020-2021, and the big fella has been a huge component for a side that ranks second overall in blocks (6.0) and first in two-point field goal percentage defense (48.8%). To further bolster their ranks, Udoka and Stevens were busy at the Trade Deadline in adding (former Center) Daniel Theis (4.5 PTS, 100.0% FG, 100.0% 3FG, 6.0 REB, 1.0 AST, 1.0 STL, 2.0 BLK, 20.7 PER) and (versatile Swingman) Derrick White (12.3 PTS, 37.8% FG, 23.1% 3FG, 75.0% FT, 4.3 REB, 3.8 AST, 1.8 STL, 1.0 BLK, 13.8 PER) in multiple trades with the aforementioned Schroder and Richardson going the opposite way. While the former brings familiarity and toughness off the bench, the addition of the latter is a coup for the Celtics; spending his first five seasons in San Antonio, White is very familiar with Udoka, who has already begun to utilize his length and playmaking acumen to positive results. The 27-year-old has the size and versatility to guard multiple positions, which is a must in Boston, while fostering more ball-movement on the offensive end of the floor, which is another thing that this group struggled with last year. Basically, Tatum and Brown were charged with creating for themselves and the rest of the team, and for all their growth and development over the past few years, facilitating the attack isn’t necessarily their strength. It’s a good thing that these two have settled into their roles, for this is a rotation that may be shorthanded coming out of the break, with (young Center) Robert Williams (10.0 PTS, 73.2% FG, 69.3% FT, 9.7 REB, 2.0 AST, 0.9 STL, 2.2 BLK, 21.8 PER) and (veteran Guard) Marcus Smart (11.7 PTS, 41.1% FG, 31.1% 3FG, 78.3% FT, 3.9 REB, 5.3 AST, 1.8 STL, 13.4 PER) labeled day-to-day with various maladies.
When we last saw the Celtics, their NBA-best 9-game winning streak abruptly came to an end home, edged in the waning moments by the fledgling Pistons, 112-111. Instead of simply going through the motions in lieu of the All-Star Break, this one was tightly contested, with neither side leading by more than eight points. Tied at 108-108 with less than two minutes to play, Detroit took a two-point lead on the strength of Saddiq Bey’s layup, only for the aforementioned Horford to drill a three-pointer to take the lead on the ensuing possession. After a brief official review, Jerami Grant knocked down a midrange jumper to put the visitors back in front, leading to a timeout called by Udoka. With twelve seconds to go, Brown’s running floater was blocked by Isaiah Stewart, recovered by the Pistons. However, White would come up with a huge steal after another timeout, granting the C’s one last opportunity to win just one second left on the clock, with Tatum inbounding the ball and missing the potential walk-off from 20-feet. In the end, Udoka’s troops shot a blistering 54.5% from the field, including 13-of-32 from beyond the arc (40.6%), with twenty-nine assists in comparison to fifteen turnovers. With that said, the Pistons earned the advantage from downtown, netting 16-of-30 attempts (53.3%), outscoring the home side by nine points on the night. Furthermore, Detroit absolutely MAIMED them on the glass (47-30), particularly on the offensive end, where their EIGHTEEN rebounds led to sixteen more attempts from the field. Brown led the way with thirty-one points on a torrid 12-of-21 shooting (57.1%), including 3-of-6 from three (50.0%), along with six assists, while Tatum added twenty-one points on 7-of-15 shooting (46.7%), with four rebounds, and five dimes. Horford also turned in a strong performance with nineteen points on an efficient 8-of-10 shooting (80.0%), seven rebounds, and seven assists. Unfortunately, the absences of both Smart and Williams left the rotation depleted, for the bench could muster just thirteen total points opposed to thirty-one for their opponent. With twenty-two games left in the regular season, the Celtics remain 4.5 games out first place in the wide-open East, trailing the Sixers, Cavaliers, and Bucks by only two games for third. Boston and Brooklyn have split their two meetings thus far in what is a rematch of last year’s postseason encounter, which the latter took in decisive fashion. When these teams met just two weeks, the C’s embarrassed them in a 126-91 thumping at Barclays Center, obliterating the hosts in a 35-16 first quarter, that featured 62.5% shooting and twelve points from Brown, who finished with a team-high twenty-two points.
Meanwhile, the campaign has effectively spiraled out of control for the Nets (31-28, 8th in Eastern Conference), who after entering the season as the betting favorite to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy now inexplicably find themselves in the play-in field. Despite getting off to a stellar 23-9 start which saw them reach the top of the East, Brooklyn has plummeted down the standings losing NINETEEN of their last twenty-seven contests, including a season worst ELEVEN consecutive outings from late January to mid-February. So, what in the name of Derrick Coleman is going on, you ask? Well, we would reply with a question of our own: how much time do you have? At this point, it’s time that we start referring to this group as the greatest theoretical team in the history of the National Basketball Association, for they simply never managed to reach their lofty potential. After ambitiously landing (All-NBA talents) Kevin Durant (29.3 PTS, 52.0% FG, 37.2% 3FG, 89.4% FT, 7.4 REB, 5.8 AST, 0.8 STL, 0.9 BLK, 26.1 PER) and Kyrie Irving (24.1 PTS, 45.2% FG, 36.8% 3FG, 4.8 REB, 5.4 AST, 1.1 STL, 0.6 BLK, 19.0 PER) two summers ago, the Nets managed to swing a blockbuster trade early last season for another All-NBA regular, James Harden, effectively creating the NBA’s latest super team. Unfortunately, these three immense talents rarely featured together, what with Durant missing his entire first season with the club rehabbing from a torn Achilles, while all three suffered from various maladies last year to start a scant SEVEN games together before a postseason that ended with both Irving and Harden missing swaths of their epic 7-game showdown with (eventual champion) Milwaukee in the East Semifinals. Any hopes of building up a head of steam in the offseason were crushed due to the ongoing COVID vaccination saga of Irving and the state of New York, which prohibited the mercurial Guard from participating in games played within the city, meaning that he would be unavailable for the team’s home games (he’s played just 14 to be exact). Then Durant missed seventeen straight games with an ailing knee, leaving an upset Harden to carry them through the hard times, which was too much for the former MVP to handle, as he passively demanded a trade and was shipped away to the 76ers. And just like that the greatest team that never was disassembled, with (General Manager) Sean Marks wiping the proverbial egg from his face after parting ways with four first round picks, another four first round swaps, and a number of affordable young talents to essentially rent the bearded one for little more than twelve months. Now, (Head Coach) Steve Nash and his charges are left to pick up the pieces and cultivate a new rotation all the while attempting to escape the play-in field. In return for the outgoing Harden, the Nets did receive a decent haul in the form of (former All-Star) Ben Simmons, (sharpshooter) Seth Curry (18.3 PTS, 48.8% FG, 52.2% 3FG, 100.0% FT, 4.0 ERB, 5.0 AST, 14.9 PER), and (veteran Center) Andre Drummond (9.3 PTS, 46.2% FG, 36.4% FT, 12.3 REB, 2.3 AST, 1.3 STL, 0.7 BLK, 19.1 PER), however this group is not without its concerns. While the latter two will likely become useful pieces of Nash’s rotation, Simmons is another matter altogether. The former no. one overall pick is about as unique a talent in the league, as a legitimate 6′-11″ point guard who is dominant in transition and an absolute menace on the defensive end of the hardwood, capable of guarding every position at a high level. Furthermore, at 25-years old he is much younger than Harden, possessing a skill set that on paper slots perfectly alongside Durant and Irving, but there is a particularly large caveat here: Simmons hasn’t played a single minute this season after basically refusing to ever play for Philadelphia again following his role in their unceremonious ousting in last summer’s playoffs. What kind of physical shape is he in, and more importantly, where the hell is head at? If he had a hard time with the media in Philly, then he’s going to be in for a rude awakening in the Big Apple. So again, the team that everyone thinks that Brooklyn CAN be is far different than the one that they actually are. And where they are is seven games out of first place in the East, and 2.5 games out of play-in safety, though they’re just as close to falling out of the playoff field altogether. With tonight’s affair played in Brooklyn, Irving is again inactive, and from everything we’ve heard coming from their camp over the weekend, Durant isn’t likely to return at this point. Ditto for Simmons, who has yet to announce an actual return date. Double ditto for (sharpshooting Forward) Joe Harris (11.3 PTS, 45.2% FG, 46.6% 3FG, 83.3% FT, 4.0 REB, 1.0 AST, 0.5 STL, 9.9 PER), who lasted only fourteen games before shattering his ankle back in mid-November and is expected to undergo a SECOND surgery which likely end any speculation of a return this season. With all that said, Nash should welcome the services of (veteran Guard) Goran Dragic (8.0 PTS, 38.2% FG, 28.6% 3FG, 100.0% FT, 2.8 REB, 1.8 AST, 1.0 STL, 16.5 PER) whom Marks added after the Slovenian was waived following his trade from the Raptors to the Spurs las weekend. The 35-year-old began his career alongside Nash as his understudy back in 2008, reuniting with his former mentor over a decade later, though admittedly hasn’t featured much this season; after signing with Toronto as a free agent in the offseason, Dragic played just five games north of the border, averaging just 8.0 points on a career-low 38.2% shooting from the field and 28.6% from downtown, along with 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists. At this point, who knows what kind of condition he is in and what he has left in the tank, but it’s clear that Nash needs any help that he can get, and there were worse options to be found than his former running mate.
When we last saw the Nets, after snapping that aforementioned 11-game losing streak with back-to-back victories, they went into the All-Star Break with a 117-109 defeat at home to the slumping Wizards. With the score squared away at 78-78 after three quarters, it would be Washington who owned the final stanza, outscoring the hosts in convincing fashion, 39-25. As it has throughout this disappointing stretch, Brooklyn simply couldn’t get stops on the defensive end of the hardwood, yielding an unacceptable 16-of-18 shooting from the field (88.9%) and 6-of-7 from beyond the arc (85.7%), with ten assists on those sixteen field goals. Meanwhile, Nash’s troops struggled to throw the ball into the ocean, netting a meager 8-of-21 attempts from the floor (38.1%), including just 3-of-12 from downtown (25.0%), committing more turnovers (4) than assists (3). In the end, the home side shot 40.4% overall and 14-of-38 from three (36.8%), while knocking down 17-of-24 free-throws (70.8%) and were on the hook for fifteen turnovers opposed to nineteen helpers. By far and away the biggest disparity was in the paint, where the Nets were outscored 54-28. (Veteran Sharpshooter) Patty Mills (13.4 PTS, 42.5% FG, 41.9% 3FG, 85.4% FT, 2.2 REB, 2.6 AST, 0.8 STL, 12.4 PER) scored a team-high twenty-two points on 8-of-14 shooting (50.0%), including 5-of-7 from three (71.4%), while (Rookie Guard) Cam Thomas (9.8 PTS, 44.5% FG, 27.3% 3FG, 80.8% FT, 2.6 REB, 1.3 AST, 0.5 STL, 12.8 PER) added twenty points off the bench. (Veteran Big) LaMarcus Aldridge (13.8 PTS, 55.9% FG, 30.8% 3FG, 85.5% FT, 5.7 REB, 0.8 AST, 1.1 BLK, 20.7 PER) chipped in with another sixteen off the bench, however the reserves outscored their starters (53-50), with Drummond offering a scoreless performance. We’d love to comfort Nets fans and tell them that it’s going to get better soon, but their schedule coming out of the Break is HELLACIOUS to say the least; following tonight’s encounter with the Celtics, they face the Bucks before a home-and-home with the Raptors and an affair with the Heat, before hitting the road for a three-game trip at Boston, Charlotte, and Philadelphia. If you’ve been keeping score, then you recognize that each of those opponents are currently a part of the playoff field, with three of them at the top of the conference. Simply put, this could get worse for Brooklyn, particularly if they can’t get healthy soon.