Coming into Game 2 everyone was wondering how Brooklyn’s Big 3 would respond after heating up at the end of Game 1, a 104-93 Nets win. Turns out it was a different Big 3, along with some Big D, that did the Celtics in right out of the gate.
Brooklyn defeated Boston 130-108 (it wasn’t really that close) Tuesday night at the Barclays Center to take a commanding 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference quarterfinals series. Calling this one a lopsided affair, a blowout, or a romp, would be three ways to kindly say this was a historically terrible playoff game for the Celtics. A tough watch for anyone outside Brooklyn from beginning to end.
The Celtics tried to set the tempo early, driving aggressively to the hoop, taking a quick 10-9 lead. That was the last time they were on top. From there Brooklyn’s Joe Harris took over (22 at the half), burying three quick threes, scoring 10 in a row overall. Add some tenacious defense, something we hadn’t seen from this Nets team all year and it was 29-13 in no time. A team-wide defensive lapse by Boston allowed Brooklyn’s Jeff Green (yes, the same one who played for the Celtics and kills them in the postseason) to drive the lane for an uncontested dunk to make it 40-26 to end the first.
The scoring disparity continued well into the second, the Nets passing freely through the Celtics defense, with Boston struggling to find any offensive rhythm. Brooklyn took a 71-47 lead into the half, and there were to be no historic comebacks tonight. Especially not with the one responsible for them this season injured.
Jayson Tatum, already enduring another tough night, was poked in the eye by Kevin Durant under the hoop in the third quarter. Tatum left the game and was ruled out for the remainder quickly thereafter. Though it was a good sign to see him return to the bench late in the third, maybe he was lucky he couldn’t see the remainder of this loss too well. Tatum finished with just nine points on 3-for-12 from the field. Coach Brad Stevens said afterward, “He got hit, scratched pretty good. It looks pretty red.”
Tatum’s teammate Evan Fournier delivered the only excitement the rest of the way when he and Durant exchanged what seemed to be some pleasant words on the sidelines after a scuffle.
Adding more insult to injury, literally, on the way to defeat was Brooklyn’s Blake Griffin (who seems to be experiencing a bit of a resurgence), slamming several baskets home like his vintage self from years back. Some memorable moments in an otherwise forgettable game the Celtics likely can’t wait to leave in their rearview. The Celtics are now losers of their last seven in Brooklyn, nine overall to the Nets in the postseason.
Old Takes Exposed: “We’re looking forward to playing well tonight.”, said coach Brad Stevens before the game.
Now Stevens finds himself with quite the challenge ahead. Still he maintained his positive demeanor, like always, after the lopsided defeat.
Though most on social media took a different tact the series moving to Boston.
No Celtic topped 20 points (Smart had game high with a forgettable 19). As to where Brooklyn’s defensive resurgence came from after allowing almost 114 points per game in the regular season? “We got our whole team back. We had some practice time, and we was able to lock in on one team,” said Durant, who also had a team-high 26 points and eight boards. When Brooklyn is playing improved defense, has their Big 3 score less than half their total and they still coast to a 22-point win? That spells trouble for the Green.
The series moves now to Boston for Game 3 Friday night at TD Garden, where the Celtics will try and feed off their home crowd, albeit one smaller than the one gathered in the Barclays Center Tuesday. Still, Kyrie Irving’s first game back in the Garden should help the smaller crowd sound plenty big. And after two road losses to a Finals favorite like the Nets? The Celtics could use every last bit of home cooking possible.