New York – It was Kevin Durant himself who asked the first question in his postgame press conference on Tuesday: “Hey, what did Bruce Brown say when he got here?”
Forty-five minutes after the Brooklyn Nets earned the No. 7 seed with a 115-108 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1, Durant said his teammate “said something I didn’t like. Someone just told me.”
The quote that angered Durant came in response to an innocuous question: What was the key to stopping the Boston Celtics in the first round?
“I mean, we can’t let [Jayson] “Tatum hits 50, we have to be physical with him,” Brown said. Then came the part that Durant would rather not say: “Now they don’t have Robert Williams.” [III]so they have less presence in the paint and we can attack Al Horford and [Daniel] You. So the lack of Robert Williams is huge.”
“Okay, man,” Durant said. “It’s probably the caffeine talking. Take some before the game. The two boys can do the same things. It won’t be that easy, I assure you.”
When a reporter asked Durant about his upcoming opponents, he kept it simple: Brooklyn must stay disciplined, play together and play with passion. Instead of talking about strategies the Nets could use against Tatum, he said they just have to play hard and “see what happens.”
Durant doesn’t appear to be mad at Brown. it was the atmosphere come on man.
“We respect our opponents,” Durant said. “There’s no need to talk, you know, what are we going to do with them. I just don’t like it, you know? But that’s the way Bruce is. You know, he comes in and says it. The same energy all season. , so.”
“But there is no need to say something like that. Let’s go out and call.”
It’s unclear if Durant and Brown disagree about the Nets’ chances in the first round of their series or just what they should and shouldn’t say to the media. Still, it’s fitting that Brooklyn expressed confidence and caution after one game, and one regular season gave plenty of reason for both.
The Nets took a 40-20 lead late in the first quarter, then scored eight points in the next 10 1/2 minutes. His number increased to 22 in the third quarter, only to allow Cleveland to score six in the fourth.
For Brooklyn, it’s great that Nicholas Claxton and Andre Drummond together put up 29 points and 17 rebounds in a 13-for-17 shootout, but it’s not ideal that shooting guards Seth Curry, Patti Mills and Goran Dragic put up nine points and an assist in one shootout. of 3. .-12 shots . The poise it took to eliminate the Cavs would have been even more impressive if the Nets hadn’t blew a significant lead against the same team in the same ballpark four days ago. At least this time they were not far behind.
Cleveland was an elite defensive team for most of the regular season, but its success depended on star Garrett Allen and rookie hopeful Evan Mobley to seal the paint. The version of the Cavs beating Brooklyn at Barclays Center wasn’t as claustrophobic, and the Celtics became as claustrophobic as it sounds. Boston is also superior on offense. If the Nets need 42 minutes each from Durant and Kyrie Irving to survive Tuesday, what will it take to compete with the Celtics on Sunday?
Durant is right: It won’t be easy. Brown is also right: It would be much more difficult if Boston started the series with Williams Slim. Mileage can vary depending on how weak Horford and Tess are defensively, but neither can cover ground, stop shots or take hits the way Williams can. For months, the Celtics’ defense looked flawless with Williams on the ground; Now there are at least some pressure points that Brooklyn can handle.
Cleveland played what Nets coach Steve Nash described as an “extreme” defensive style. He remained associated with Curry and Mills, sold out against Brown, Claxton, Drummond and Kessler Edwards and sent additional defenders to Durant and Irving.
“Sometimes, we did really well and punished them,” Nash said, referring to Brown’s 18-point, nine-rebound, eight-assist performance and the prowess of top players. “I moved the ball, played well and kept our principles for a long time to get a 20-point lead.” Then Nash admitted that they “didn’t play our best basketball after that.”
Brown noted that he “shot a 3-pointer” again (last Friday he had 18 points, eight assists and 10 rebounds against the Cavs) and laughed. “I’m just playing good, that’s all,” he said. The game is easy for him when the defense leaves him open, fills the paint and allows him to catch the ball ahead. Brown recalled Cleveland’s return to Brooklyn’s “neglected passes” and said he “wasn’t too worried about it.”
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Irving made 12 of his first shots and finished with 34 points on 12-for-15 shooting, plus 12 assists. Durant scored 25 points on 9-for-16 shooting and 11 assists. Many of these looks have been harsh, some more than multiple defenses, and the networks prefer not to rely on their superstars to save them. However, his ability to do so is why Brooklyn should inspire a great deal of fear. Even if Boston’s turn shuts down most of the Nets’ beautiful things, he’ll have to treat Durant and Irving in isolation. When they throw contested shots with their arms fully extended, there’s not much anyone can do.
Brooklyn, on the other hand, has won the last four games of the regular season, taken over the playing business and could get Ben Simmons back sometime in the first round. Simmons, on the other hand, hasn’t played all season, Curry is playing through an injured ankle, and with his postseason debut, Nash still talks about building cohesion and learning to play together.
Meanwhile, Boston knows exactly what his identity is and what the Nets are trying to do. His trainer, Amy Odoka, was on Nash’s staff last season.
“It’s going to be a big challenge for us,” Nash said. “For a new group to play a team like this, that’s great for both sides, it will be something that we hope will bring out the best in us.”
He doesn’t own the Celtics and Williams. this is huge
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