How You Can Trick Your Brain Into Thinking The Celtics Have A Chance Against Brooklyn

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You know, people forget that David actually beat Goliath. Miracle on Ice, ever heard of it? The We Believe Warriors, Dikembe's Nuggets, the 2011 Mavs, the 2004 Pistons. Let's not pretend like we haven't seen some insanely massive upsets before. As we know

But let me be perfectly clear here. With no Jaylen (and it's looking more and more like no Rob), the Celts finding a way to win a single game in this series would be one of the biggest upsets this century, let alone win 4. But you know what? Fuck it. Weird shit happens, prayers get answered and sometimes the unthinkable becomes the reality. Am I reaching? You betcha. There's just something about an us against the world mentality that I can't help but love.

If 2020-21 has taught us anything about this team, it's that they never do what we think. So with the entire world predicting this to be a rather quick series, it would be so 2020-21 Celtics to actually make this a series. I understand that makes zero sense, that in the NBA above all other leagues it comes down to talent, and nobody has a more talented roster than the Nets from top to bottom. All logic and reason should tell you this is going to be a bloodbath. But playoff basketball isn't a time for logic or reason. It's about believing there's a chance until the clock hits 0.0 in the fourth loss of the series. 

So, allow me to take this time to give you some reasons of why you should allow your brain to think illogical thoughts. 

1. Marcus Smart is shooting 36% from three this season against BKN. His 8 3PM are the 2nd most made threes he has against any opponent

2. Over the last month, Kemba Walker is averaging 28.1 points on 50/42% shooting with 4.1 3PM a night

3. On the season, the Nets have the 22nd ranked defense. They are also 22nd in opponent 3PM, and 21st in opponents points.

4. Jayson Tatum is averaging 29.7 points on 50/44% splits vs Brooklyn this season

5. Brooklyn ranks in the 20th percentile in defending isolation and the 34th percentile in defending the P&R ball handler

6. The last time Kyrie Irving played in the playoffs, he shot 38/31%

7. Since 2011, James Harden only has 1 playoff season in which he shot over 35% from three. In fact, he's been under 30% in 2 of his last 4 playoff runs

8. Never forget when Marcus Smart mentally broke James Harden

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9. Since the trade deadline, the trio of Kemba/Tatum/Fournier have a 117 Ortg/108.5 Drtg/+8.5 net rating with a 59% true shooting percentage. In their last meeting, a Fournier/Smart/Pritchard trio had a 169 Ortg/66Drtg/+102.6 net rating

10. They have nothing to lose and everything to gain

11. This team stinks as the favorite and thrives as the underdog

12. The Celts were clearly saving all their wins against BKN for the postseason. You see their 0-3 record this year and think it shows why they have no chance. I see that 0-3 record and determine they were just saving their wins for a potential playoff series. Classic chess move. 

13. BKN gives up 47 points in the paint, good for 17th. Celts only give up 44, which is good for 5th.

14. The Celtics have never lost a playoff series with Evan Fournier on the roster. 

15. Don't rule out some Tommy shenanigans. Remember when Pierce went to the FT line in Game 7 vs the Cavs and Red helped that FT drop? I do. 

I don't know about you, but I feel even better after reading through that list. Any reasonable person will tell you how ridiculous I sound, but like I said, now is not a time to be reasonable. It's time to pray and see what happens. All I know is don't let them win tomorrow night. Just sayin