Nets’ title hopes hinge on fixing troubling woes vs. Celtics

The workforce within the Nets’ manner is the one they only can’t get round. 

They will have to determine a solution to beat the Celtics, unlock no matter cheat code is important to defeat the NBA’s finest workforce. As a result of the highway to a championship — hell, proper now the trail to even reaching the Japanese Convention finals — runs by Boston. And the Celtics have taken the measure of the Nets time and again … and once more. 

The Nets have misplaced 10 straight video games to the Celtics, the most recent a 139-96 nightmare Wednesday night time at TD Backyard. Proper now the groups are on a collision course to fulfill within the playoffs, and people haven’t gone the Nets’ manner. 

“As a competitor, I’m not going to cease till I determine what this system to the Boston Celtics is correct now and why they’re so sizzling,” Kyrie Irving mentioned ruefully. 

“[The] major cause is simply how linked they’re, how a lot they’ve performed collectively, what number of minutes they’ve logged collectively. And that chip on their shoulder, you possibly can see it, you possibly can really feel it. We simply should develop a harder mentality right here. And once we try this, I really feel like we’ll be a greater competitors with them. I do know we’ll.” 

Irving sounded each wistful and envious. Hey, the grass is all the time greener on the opposite aspect of the leprechaun patch. Or in a Celtics jersey. 

The Nets’ mentality hasn’t matched as much as their expertise for the reason that franchise landed Irving and Kevin Durant in 2019. Irving’s defection from Boston harm the Celtics initially, however they’ve rapidly recovered as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown matured, and so they’ve climbed proper over the Nets to the highest of the convention. 

Now, Boston has the very best file within the NBA, and the Nets, who’re 4-7 since dropping Durant to a sprained proper MCL on Jan. 8, sit fourth within the East. If the postseason began at this time and went in keeping with chalk, the groups would face off in a second-round conflict, their third straight assembly within the playoffs. 

That doesn’t bode properly for the Nets. 

The one groups within the East they haven’t overwhelmed this season are the Celtics (0-3) and the No. 3 76ers (0-2). However the Nets took the 2021-22 season collection from the Sixers, so it’s clear the Celtics are the larger problem. After beating them within the first spherical in 2021, they’ve misplaced 10 straight to them, beginning with a 126-91 rout on Feb. 8, 2022. 

“It’s in all probability a workforce we’re going to see down the road,” Seth Curry mentioned, “so simply study from it, transfer on and get higher.” 

“I’m uninterested in dropping to them. However we’ll see them once more. We’ll see them once more in March; we’ll in all probability see them once more in playoffs. So simply one other studying expertise and we obtained to maintain constructing,” Nic Claxton mentioned. “We’ll see ’em once more. You simply take it on the chin. … We obtained our ass kicked [Wednesday]. Simply hold shifting ahead.” 

The Nets had their lack of size uncovered final season in a first-round playoff sweep by the Celtics. This season, with an rising Claxton, a wholesome Simmons and Durant, the Nets anticipated to have three switchable 7-foot wingspan defenders. However Durant and Simmons are presently out with accidents, as is ahead T.J. Warren. 

In opposition to the Celtics, the Nets have regarded not simply undersized, but in addition outclassed. They had been smothered Wednesday regardless of not going through Marcus Good, who’s out with a proper ankle sprain. 

“We simply can’t be a type of groups in [the Celtics’] manner,” Irving mentioned. “We’ve obtained to be a type of groups that stands as much as them and reveals them that we’re going to be competitors for them shifting ahead.” 

Shifting ahead clearly begins with Durant’s return. However the Nets should get Simmons not solely match, however in kind. If he can’t be counted on, common supervisor Sean Marks may have so as to add extra size and protection by the commerce deadline, which is that this coming Thursday. 

The Nets had been reminded of some robust classes Wednesday, together with the significance of coping with the Celtics’ star wings. However crucial was a reminder that loss of life, taxes and having to undergo Boston appear certain issues. 

“It’s an excellent problem,” Claxton mentioned. “I’m wanting ahead to persevering with to play towards them in March and the playoffs. It’s going to be an excellent problem for us.” 

A problem they haven’t lived as much as.