After Net’s victory over the Cavaliers in the play-in tournament, they earned a place in the playoffs as the 7th place now to face the 2nd seeded (Boston Celtics). On the sidelines of the celebration, Kevin Durant didn’t seem happy knowing how Bruce Brown had strategized against the Boston Celtics’ big guys to win against them in paint.
Bruce Brown said “They (Celtics) don’t have Robert Williams anymore, so they have less presence in the paint, so we can attack.” [Daniel] established and [Al] Horford in paint. It’s great not to have Robert Williams.”
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Kevin Durant on Bruce Brown’s views on Celtic’s big guys: Let’s play rather than tell us what to do
Brown’s speech about how he believed they should approach Boston angered Durant. Durant, who held a post-match press conference after Brown, chose to comment on Brown’s response after sitting down.
With an unsettling backlash at the post-match conference, Durant didn’t like what Brown had to say about the Celtics and felt he was underestimating a strong opponent. Durant told “We don’t need to talk to them about what to do. I just don’t like it. But Bruce is like that. It maintains the same energy throughout the season. But we don’t need to say like shit. Let’s go outside and make a circle.”
He also said that what Brown did was “caffeine pride talk” and that they couldn’t underestimate Theis & Horford as they were equally good compared to Williams.
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Bruce Brown’s caffeine pride or performance pride?
Brown had a phenomenal performance as Brooklyn won 18 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 steals in 40 minutes in the 115-108 play-in tournament against the Cleveland Cavaliers. So Brown’s self-confidence may have been a little high after the riveting first-round matchup win with the Celtics. However, he also presented Boston with a bulletin board item for a team that Durant immediately tried to neutralize.
The Celtics and Nets have faced each other four times this season, with Boston winning three of those games. The Nets’ first victory came on November 24, months before the blockbuster trade. James Harden and to Philadelphia in exchange for Paul Millsap, Ben Simmons, Andre Drummond and Seth Curry.
