The assumption heading into the Celtics-Nets playoff series was that this was no typical first-round matchup. The Nets (+3.5 underdogs) might have crawled their path to the East’s No. 7 seed, but they still had Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
With stars like that in the fold, you can beat anyone. The Celtics might play excellent, disciplined team basketball, but they didn’t have two of the best shot makers in the world on their side. Bet against them at your peril.
With Boston now holding a commanding 2-0 series lead after a 114-107 win in Game 2, it’s fair to wonder when Durant — of anyone, surprisingly — will uphold his end of the bargain. The Celtics have him in a vise grip that he can’t shake free from.
#Celtics have Durant at 13-for-41 shooting (31.7%) through 2 games. So many moments this year made this defensive group look all-time special. This might be the highlight. They're all over him.
— Bobby Manning (@RealBobManning) April 21, 2022
Oh my goodness. 31.7 percent? On top of his paltry shooting through two games, Durant also has 12 turnovers and counting (!). Excuse me while I pick up my jaw off the floor.
Wait, it gets worse. Durant made zero shots in the second half: The first time that’s ever happened in his career, playoffs or regular season.
KD 0-10 FG in 2nd half.
First time in KD's career he's taken at least 10 field goal attempts in the second half and made zero of them. https://t.co/JGZlBMbhXd pic.twitter.com/T2c0bBubND
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) April 21, 2022
In his surefire Hall of Fame career, I don’t know that I’ve ever seen Durant — perhaps the greatest pure scorer of all time — in a position where he has no answers. The man has played in over 150+ playoff games and has seemingly always found a way to put the ball in the basket. You simply don’t stop Durant from getting buckets in big games. Almost no one ever has.
But not the Celtics and Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart. Not with their premium, tight game-plan ushered in by Ime Udoka. They’re flat-out pushing Durant around.
The Celtics have shut down KD in a manner we’ve truly never seen before. If he doesn’t turn it around soon, the off-season might be right around the corner for the Nets.
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