Sunday marked the primary time the Nets had confronted Boston since final season’s humbling first-round playoff sweep by the hands of the Celtics. It was a check, a measuring persist with see how far they’ve come within the seven months since.
Towards the highest crew within the NBA — on tempo for the perfect offense in historical past — the Nets have been discovered wanting, crushed 103-92 in entrance of a sellout crowd of 18,043 at Barclays Middle.
Despite the fact that the Nets acquitted themselves properly defensively, and Kevin Durant (team-high 31 factors) performed Jayson Tatum to a standstill, they couldn’t deal with Jaylen Brown the identical means Boston smothered Kyrie Irving. That — and the Celtics’ edge from outdoors — was the sport.
“They seemed nice final yr; it’s carried over to this yr,” Durant mentioned. “They’ve obtained extra expertise, one other yr. Going to the Finals undoubtedly helps you as a crew, brings you nearer. [Tatum] is a yr older, [Brown] is a yr older. Their guys are simply getting extra expertise each day, and their file reveals.
“They’re an enormous crew, they shoot the ball properly, they obtained good size. So that you’ve obtained to match that if you wish to compete. We don’t have an enormous margin for error.”
Boston ran that league-best file to 19-5, aiming to go a step previous final season’s Finals berth and declare the title. Sunday, the Celtics’ protection seemed championship-worthy.
The Nets held the Celtics to only 43.2 p.c capturing. However they allowed Boston to go 15-for-38 from deep, whereas making simply 9 3-pointers themselves.
The Nets didn’t have injured Ben Simmons to assist on Brown, who was the perfect participant on the ground with a game-high 34 factors, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks and two steals. Tatum added 29.
“Positively would have needed to see Ben, see what it appears to be like like,” coach Jacque Vaughn mentioned. “One other defender on the market, somebody who may push the tempo towards them. Subsequent time. … Stay up for it.”
Even with out Defensive Participant of the Yr Marcus Sensible to placed on Irving, the latter nonetheless managed only a quiet 18 factors on 7-for-21 capturing.
“It’s the identical defensive ideas [as last season],” Irving mentioned. “They promote out on our drives and make us move; so crowd the paint.”
However there have been variations. Boston had mercilessly doubled and blitzed Durant to smother him in final season’s sweep, and did little or no of that for many of the evening. However after the Nets had hunted matchups and outscored them 19-13 within the third quarter, Boston pulled out the doubles within the fourth to show the tables 28-23.
“They only made well timed performs,” Durant mentioned.
“We did a number of hitting, trapping and double-teaming,” Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon admitted.
Durant dedicated 4 of his eight turnovers within the fourth quarter, because the Nets shot 7 of 19. Tatum had 9 turnovers — the value to be paid for top utilization — however the distinction was his operating mate Brown was unstoppable.
“I’m simply glad we received. 9 turnovers; that’s ridiculous,” Tatum mentioned.
The Nets ran out to a fast 11-2 lead, however allowed 14 unanswered factors to fall behind by 5.
Joe Harris knotted the rating at 48-all on a 3-pointer with 4:09 left within the second quarter. However after having performed a clear sport with simply two turnovers to that time, the Nets shot 1-for-5 and with three giveaways the remainder of the half. They conceded a 14-2 blitz and went into the locker room trailing by 12.
Brooklyn by no means obtained nearer than two. Durant pulled the Nets inside 78-74 on a 3-pointer, then discovered Harris on a reducing layup to make it 78-76 with 7:22 left. However they by no means obtained over the hump and ran out of gasoline.
“You simply take a look at the defensive numbers, on the quarters: 35, 27, 13, 28,” Vaughn mentioned. “My heartbeat was [like it was] watching USA versus Netherlands. We would like it extra like when my spouse watches these Hallmark films; simply good and throughout the board. A little bit bit extra consistency.”
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