NBA Round One: 3:30 pm ET on Sunday April 17, 2022
The Brooklyn Nets spent most of the year as the odds on favorite to win the NBA Championship. They had to defeat Cleveland in the Play-in round to even qualify, and now they get to face Kyrie Irving’s old team, the Boston Celtics. The war of words has started between the two squads as Brooklyn guard Bruce Brown came out and explained exactly how Brooklyn will be targeting the Celtics. Several Celtics players responded, setting the tone early: these two teams do not like each other. The biggest task of the series will belong to Boston guard Marcus Smart. One of the favorites to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award will have the task of shutting down Irving. This will put a major part of the offense in Kevin Durant’s hands.
While KD is basically unguardable, the Celtics will likely throw some different defenders against him including Grant Williams. On the other end, Boston should be able to have its way offensively. Brooklyn isn’t a particularly strong defensive team, ranking 18th in the league during the regular season, while Boston had the top ranked defense. Surprisingly, Boston also ranked 7th in offensive rating while Brooklyn was 11th this year. If Robert WIlliams is able to return early in the series from his meniscus injury, you have to like Boston as the stronger team. The Celtics roll deep with two solid units, and I actually like them to win the series. Give me Boston to cover the -4 points in a game that the Celtics will be taking personally.
Joey G.
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