The Boston Celtics clinched the #2 seed in the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs on Sunday by rolling past the Memphis Grizzlies 139-110 in the regular season finale. The Boston opponent for the round one best of seven series that begins on Sunday at TD Garden is none other than Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets. Brooklyn got the #7 seed with a 115-108 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the play-in round on Tuesday night.
Boston (51-31), who finished the regular season 31-10 after a 20-21 start to the first half, have been led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Tatum is averaging 26.9 points per game, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists while shooting 45% from the floor and 85% from the free throw line. Brown puts in 23.6 ppg, averaging 5.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists and shoots 47% from the field and nearly 76% at the charity stripe. The Celtics have also received strong contributions from Marcus Smart, Al Horford, and Derrick White. The key to the series with Brooklyn could be the health of center Robert Williams III. Williams tore his meniscus in a game on March 27th against Minnesota, had surgery on March 30th, and is possibly eyeing a return to the lineup sometime in this first round matchup. Williams adds a defensive and rebounding dynamic that certainly would help Boston.
Brooklyn (45-38) had been led a majority of the season by Durant. Durant averages 29.9 points per game, 6.9 rebounds, and 6.4 assists. Irving, who was only able to play away games for the Nets because he was unvaccinated, has only played in 29 games. New York City has since lifted that restriction on athletes who are unvaccinated. Irving has averaged 27.4 ppg, 5.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per outing. Brooklyn has also received double digit scoring from LaMarcus Aldridge, Andre Drummond, Patty Mills, and Seth Curry. Curry, who was acquired from Philadelphia in the James Harden trade, is averaging nearly 15 points per game including 47% shooting from the three-point arc. The Nets have also hinted at Ben Simmons taking the floor in this series. Simmons hasn’t played at all for Brooklyn since also being acquired in the 76ers trade for Harden on February 10.
OUTLOOK- Boston is certainly the deeper team, but one the biggest keys is the possible return of Williams III which would help near the basket with some of the bigs for Brooklyn in Durant and Drummond. Simmons being active in the series could end being an X-factor, not on the offensive end so much, but on the defensive side of things with his length at 6-10″ where he could definitely cause problems for Tatum and Brown.
PREDICTIONS- Here is what the Eastern Maine Sports crew picked for this series:
Chris- Celtics in 6
Jeff- Celtics in 6
Cassidy- Celtics in 7
Marc- Nets in 6
Anthony- Celtics in 6
SEASON HEAD TO HEAD/SERIES SCHEDULE-
Here is how the teams faired head to head in the regular season, and the series schedule with only games one and two with a game time (the rest TBD):
Head to Head-
11/24/21 Brooklyn 123, @Boston 104
2/8/22 Boston 126, @Brooklyn 91
2/24/22 Boston 129, @Brooklyn 106
3/6/22 @Boston 126, Brooklyn 120
First round schedule-
Game 1- Sun, April 17 @Boston 3:30 p.m.
Game 2- Wed, April 20 @Boston 7 p.m.
Game 3- Sat, April 23 @Brooklyn TBD
Game 4- Mon, April 25 @Brooklyn TBD
*Game 5- Wed, April 27 @Boston TBD
*Game 6- Fri, April 29 @Brooklyn TBD
*Game 7- Sun, May 1 @Boston TBD
*- if necessary
