Three things to watch for in Game 4 of Celtics v Nets

The Boston Celtics have a commanding 3-0 lead over the Brooklyn Nets within the first spherical of the NBA Playoffs, however that doesn’t imply that the sequence is over …but. There’s nonetheless an opportunity that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, two of the perfect tough shot makers on the planet, begin making tough photographs regardless of every part that the Celtics throw at them. However we’ve recognized that from the beginning of the sequence. Listed below are some further issues to look at for.

Officiating

For these unfamiliar together with his popularity, Scott Foster was as soon as voted the worst NBA official by gamers and coaches.

“He had one in every of our playoff video games and as quickly as he walked in, I used to be like, ‘this recreation is over.’ All of us knew we had been going to get unhealthy calls, and we did,” stated one veteran participant. “You couldn’t say something to him. Hell, I don’t assume you would even have a look at him.”

Now, I’m not one to focus too closely on the refs. Usually, unhealthy officiating impacts each groups and the one which is ready to react and alter has a greater likelihood of profitable.

What considerations me about that is the best way the Celtics have been aggressively bodily with Kevin Durant on this sequence. If the refs begin calling fouls early and sometimes on Boston, we’ve seen the staff get affected and that generally bleeds into the remainder of their recreation.

Ime goes to should maintain his guys centered. That is a kind of conditions the place he might need to get T’d up with a view to “take one for the staff” and ship a message of “let me fear in regards to the officers, you focus in your job.”

Robert Williams

It goes with out saying that Rob is a distinction maker. He solely performed 16 minutes in Recreation 3 based mostly on a minutes restriction, however he nonetheless managed to make an affect. He had 2 rebounds, a block, an help, and one monster alley-oop that everybody drastically loved (properly, besides perhaps Ben Simmons).

It appears like there have been no points together with his knee after the sport. So how lengthy will he be allowed to play tonight? How will Ime make the most of him?

The Nets haven’t precisely been fast to regulate up to now on this sequence. Not solely do the Nets should take care of Williams roaming on protection now, however they should account for him diving to the basket on offense as properly. Even in restricted minutes, he could possibly be the distinction between a win and a loss.

Bruce Brown

Boston native Bruce Brown has been an absolute revelation for the Nets lately. After averaging a mere 9 pts per recreation within the common season, Mr. Caffeine Pride has delivered back-to-back 20+ level video games. He’s capturing properly from 3 and getting well timed buckets, usually out of chaos and additional effort performs.

A lot of the Celtics’ defensive consideration is being centered on Durant and Irving, that their secondary gamers are getting alternatives to make a distinction. These x-factor guys should step up and ship in the event that they need to prolong this sequence and keep away from a sweep.