Brooklyn Nets: 3 keys to victory over the Boston Celtics

2. Variation Between Floor Spacing and Isolation

The Nets need to make sure they’re adjusting on the offensive end.

Although the isolation sets designed for Irving and Durant drew excessive applause, Brooklyn’s ability to spread the ball around to different shooters all across the court operated as the tool most instrumental to their victory earlier this week. Passing with command and selflessness, the Nets often found open shots for each other, allowing themselves to light up the score board without much trouble.

With Durant and Irving either penetrating at will or drawing additional defenders, they frequently found shooters like Dinwiddie, Harris, LeVert and Landry Shamet open for high percentage shots from all different spots around the floor. Naturally, the Warriors defense looked lost and exhausted, with the game out of reach pretty quickly.

The Nets must carry that into battle with Boston, no matter how familiar the approach might seem to their opponent. Although starting out the game with this strategy intact surely bodes well for the Nets, blindly following it and not adjusting could come back to haunt them.

The Celtics are much more stout defensive team than Golden State, likely offering the Nets a more robust test. Even during the NBA’s bubble restart, the Celtics led the league in nearly every team-oriented defensive statistic, including opponent points per game, opponent field goal percentage, and opponent three-point field goal percentage. But still, a Miami Heat team with incredible floor spacing eliminated them from play.

With all these factors, coach Nash must enter Friday’s game ready to make alterations to his game plan, but only if necessary. Continuing to spread the floor and pass the ball effectively must remain Brooklyn’s initial offensive objective given their early success behind it.

However, if Boston’s team defense returns to its peak from last year and successfully negates whatever the Nets throw their way, they must adjust to an offense mainly featuring isolation plays for Durant and Irving since the two remain matchup nightmares for anyone.