Here are The Game Day’s predictions and bets for the 2021 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference First Round series between the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets in our Nets vs Celtics preview.
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Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics Prediction: 2021 NBA Playoffs Round 1 Bet Tips & Pick
Brooklyn Nets 2020-2021 Season Recap
The Nets are coming off one of their best regular seasons in franchise history after going 48-24 and finishing just one win shy of the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Led by Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn was an offensive juggernaut under first-year head coach Steve Nash, ranking second in points per game. The scary part is that Harden, Durant, and Irving have only played eight games together this year, so we haven’t really seen what the Nets are truly capable of.
Brooklyn is also a deep team loaded with great role players such as Joe Harris, Nicolas Claxton, and Blake Griffin. While the Nets are weak defensively, they have so much offensive talent that it rarely matters. They’re incredibly difficult to stop and will be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs.
Boston Celtics 2020-2021 Season Recap
Marred by injuries, inconsistency, and underperformance, the Celtics were one of the biggest disappointments in the NBA this year. After advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals last year, Boston slipped to 36-36 this season and barely made the playoffs, needing to beat the Wizards in a play-in game just to get here. Head coach Brad Stevens just hasn’t been able to get everyone on the same page, leading to a disjointed offense and surprisingly pedestrian defense.
The Celtics’ biggest issue is their lack of depth, which was only exacerbated by Jaylen Brown‘s season-ending wrist injury. Boston will enter the playoffs shorthanded as a result, putting added pressure on Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker to carry the offense. And without their typically excellent defense to rely on, the Celtics are more flawed than usual this year.
Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics Matchup
The Celtics skidded to the finish line, losing 10 of their last 15 games prior to their victory over Washington. The Nets, on the other hand, won their final five games and will be well-rested. Without Brown, Boston doesn’t have nearly enough weapons to keep pace with Brooklyn. The Celtics lost all three of their matchups with the Nets this year, and will be lucky if they can scratch out a win or two in this series.
Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics Prediction
Brooklyn Nets Win Series 4-1
Against a depleted Celtics squad that wasn’t very impressive to start with, the Nets should take care of business quickly. The Celtics aren’t deep enough on either side of the ball to keep up with the Nets offensively or contain them on defense. Boston might be able to steal a win at home, but Brooklyn will ultimately dominate and send the Celtics home early.
Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics Bet Pick
Nets To Win Series (-1100)
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This one’s a no-brainer. The question isn’t who will win the series, but how long it will last. There’s a very real chance the Celtics get swept here, regardless of how well Tatum and Walker play.
