On February 8, the Celtics inflicted a correction of 35 points on the Nets. A little over two weeks later, again for Jayson Tatum’s teammates (30 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists), who came to win in the wide widths in New York lands (129-106).
Suffice to say that the All-Star Weekend break has not had the slightest impact on the state of form of the Boston franchise, simply unstoppable for almost a month, on each side of the floor. Evidenced by his 10 wins in his last 11 games!
Collectively impressive, to the point of having seven players with at least 10 points scored, Ime Udoka’s men are offering particularly pleasant basketball at the moment. They thus continue their crazy rise in the rankings, while Brooklyn continues to slide to the East, pending the return of its key elements…
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— Jayson Tatum, leader of a fire collective. As said a little above, the Celtics rolled out collectively. With seven players at 10 points or more, they had no trouble making the difference in this meeting, quickly taking control, never to let go afterwards. From far and near, but also at throws, the C’s recited their ranges in attack, throughout the first half. Before Jayson Tatum stepped on the accelerator after the break (17 points, including 11 in the third quarter), to offer a quiet end to the game for his team, who then only had to manage their advance.
— Brooklyn never made the cut. Led from the start to the end of this one-sided game, the Nets simply did not exist for a moment. It must be said that in addition to being overwhelmed defensively by the collective strike force of the Celtics, the players of Steve Nash also experienced all the trouble in the world to break through the defense of Boston, decidedly impermeable. Without Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Ben Simmons or Goran Dragic, no creator was on the floor, which was greatly felt, given the poverty of Brooklyn’s offensive game…
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Boston’s starting five. Beyond Jayson Tatum, much more prominent in the second half, it was all the Celtics holders who enjoyed today. From Jaylen Brown (18 points and 6 assists) to Robert Williams (12 points and 11 rebounds), via Al Horford (11 points and 13 rebounds) or Marcus Smart (15 points and 6 assists). One after the other, each player had their period of dominance, so as to constantly sink the Nets or prevent them from gaining confidence. And the bench then got in tune with its starting five, to validate this rapid advance taken on the scoreboard.
⛔ Patty Mills. We could have mentioned James Johnson (2/12 on shots), or even Cameron Thomas (4/13 on shots), also off the mark this night, but the expectations of the Australian “combo-guard” are not the same than those towards the two New York “role players”. Even more so without Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, as Patty Mills is set to be the Nets’ offensive leader, along with Seth Curry. However, unlike his freshly arrived teammate, the former Spurs player was royally holed up: 0/9 on shots, including 0/5 at 3-pts. A real ordeal in shooting, while he also failed to set up his team’s offensive game…
⛔ Jaylen Brown’s left wrist. If everything went for the best on the Celtics side today, in terms of the game, it is impossible to say the same on the physical level. Hit in the left wrist on a fall, in the middle of the fourth quarter (and when the gap to the score was already substantial…), the Boston All-Star rear / winger quickly grimaced when he raised. And this image is cause for concern, when you know that it was this same left wrist that ruined the end of last season for him… Case to follow, then.
THE FOLLOWING
Brooklyn (31-29) : trip to Milwaukee, on the night of Saturday to Sunday (02:30).
Boston (35-26) : trip to Detroit, Saturday evening (6 p.m.).
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