Perception is not reality. The Brooklyn Nets opening the season as +225 favorites at BetMGM to win the NBA title was a perception, but the reality is they are a 7-seed preferred to be eliminated from the first round of the playoffs . This reality has given us the opportunity to take Kevin Durant with plus money. The value is too good to pass up. At least that is the perception of many bettors. The reality? Boston has more than enough kryptonite to defeat Brooklyn’s two-thirds of a super team.
What can Braun do for you?
The Nets beat the Celtics 4-1 in the first round of the playoffs last year, but that was with sniper Joe Harris out for the season and James Harden recently shipped to Philly in an oversized container. More importantly, Boston were denied the services of an injured Jaylen Brown.
Brown has played for the Celtics in four postseasons and reached the Eastern Conference Finals in three of them. When they drafted the young phenomenon, Boston hadn’t made it out of the first round in five years. With Brown in the lineup, they are a perfect 4 for 4 in the opening round and have a record of 16-5.
Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant led the Nets to a 4-1 win over the Celtics in the first round of last year’s playoffs. (Photo by Sarah Bull/Getty Images)
No sleep for Brooklyn
Do you like apples? Well, the Celtics had the number of the Nets this season. how do you like the apples Boston is 3-1 against Brooklyn, including a win in the only competition Durant and Kyrie Irving have both played in.
The Celtics are a downright terrible matchup for Brooklyn’s ISO-heavy playstyle. Boston ranks first in defensive efficiency thanks to a roster full of versatile defenders. Defensive player of the year favorite Marcus Smart has grabbed most of the spotlight, but four of the top 12 defensive player ratings in the NBA this season include Celtics: Al Horford (2nd), Jayson Tatum (6th), Smart ( 10th) and Brown (12th).
They are also better on offense. Tatum’s 54-point performance against the Nets in their last meeting can attest to that. Boston ranks sixth in offensive efficiency compared to 13th for Brooklyn. First-year coach Ime Udoka took just over half the season to sort out the Celtics’ problems, but a 26-6 result showed us just how dangerous this team is. When her shots aren’t falling, her excellent defense keeps her in the game. When their shots ring out, a bucketful of four-leaf clovers wouldn’t save you.
The story goes on
Nets coach Steve Nash has a staffing issue this series, and that’s not even counting whether Ben Simmons will ever be available for a suit. Andre Drummond is Brooklyn’s starting center, but he’s such a tremendous defensive liability against the Celtics that Nash might be better off limiting his time on the court, which in turn would cut into the Nets’ already thin bench. Durant and Irving need some serious minutes against a stubborn defense in this series. They are both incredible players but there isn’t enough talent around them to help.
Even if defender Robert Williams doesn’t return, the Celtics still present the Nets with Jay-Z-level problems. I’m confident Udoka can make the right adjustments when needed and I have no problem giving Boston the -140 to win the series.
Statistics from Basketball Reference, teamrankings.com, StatMuse and nba.com.