2022 East First Round – Page 3

Are the Boston Celtics bringing back Robert Williams III too soon?

Or is it Timelord time?

When Boston Celtics star big man Robert Williams III was initially diagnosed with a torn meniscus, it was estimated the Texas A&M product would miss at least four weeks and perhaps as along as six weeks while recovering from the surgery he had on March 30. Now, nearly a week before the sooner of those two dates, Timelord is poised to return to action in Game 3 of the team’s first-round series with the Brooklyn Nets.

Are the Celtics perhaps bringing back Williams too soon? Given they are in a position of strength, would it not be wiser to play it safe with the Louisiana native? Or does the medical situation allow for such a quick turnaround assuming all things have gone well enough to warrant it?

This is the question tackled by Chris Forsberg, Tom Giles, and Jeff Goodman on a recent episode of NBC Sports Boston’s “Early Edition” show.

Check out the clip embedded above to hear what the trio had to say about a timely Timelord return.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Celtics Injury update: Robert Williams III to play 20 – 25 minutes vs. Brooklyn Nets in Game 3

Boston’s reinjury concern is minimal because Williams ‘has met every benchmark’ in the recovery process.

With the possibility of starting big man Robert Williams III returning to the court after missing nearly a month with a torn meniscus in Game 3 of the Boston Celtics’ series with the Brooklyn Nets comes understandable concern he might re-injure it given Williams is ahead of the initial four-to-six week timeline initially projected for Timelord’s return.

But according to Celtics head coach Ime Udoka, the team’s “concern is minimal because he’s played every benchmark and played it well,” suggesting that the Texas A&M product will see 20 to 25 minutes of floor time in Game 3 on Saturday evening.

With the team currently in a position of strength in their first-round series with the Nets with a 2 – 0 lead over Brooklyn, Boston must feel particularly confident with where Williams is at in his rehabilitation.

To say this is a significant development in the series Boston already holds a 2-0 lead is an understatement. https://t.co/bQL1euTLJc

— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) April 23, 2022

With little need to rush him back for an additional boost to the team’s range of capabilities on both ends of the court, it seems to be an issue of comfort and pain tolerance for the Celtics center.

Even still, fans should temper expectations given it’s been about a month since the last time Williams has played in a game.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Could the Boston Celtics realistically sweep the Brooklyn Nets?

With a 2 – 0 series lead and a returning Robert Williams III, it is certainly not off the table.

The Boston Celtics currently hold a 2 – 0 series lead over the Brooklyn Nets as they head to New York City’s Barclay’s Center for Game 3 of their first-round series of the 2022 NBA Playoffs and will likely get starting center Robert Williams III back from injury when they get there. Could the Celtics realistically end up closing out the Nets in just four games for the series sweep?

On one hand, the games have been close thus far, with Boston needing some of their best play of the season to put away Brooklyn on their own home court of TD Garden with the next two games having to be won on the road.

On the other, they have been playing without a key member of the league’s best defense for almost a month, and were still formidable enough to put a damper on two of the NBA’s best scorers.

Watch the video embedded above to hear what ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has to say about that prospect on a recent edition of his eponymous segment “Stephen A.‘s World.”

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Is the Boston Celtic s’ 2 – 0 series lead over the Brooklyn Nets safe?

Or can the Celtics expect a serious challenge on the road?

While no team has ever come back from a 0 – 3 series deficit in the history of the NBA Playoffs, plenty of franchises have come back from being down 0 – 2 in a postseason series, so after what we have seen so far, is it safe to assume that the Boston Celtics’ two-game lead over the Brooklyn Nets to start their first-round series with the Nets is safe?

The Celtics are heading to New York City now to play Brooklyn on their own home court of Barclay’s Center Saturday evening with the prospect of falling into the dreaded 0 – 3 deficit a real one. With that kind of motivation, one would expect an all-out assault by the Nets to protect home court. Even if a returning Robert Williams III manages to have an impact after being our for almost a month with a torn meniscus, it will likely be no easy task to win.

The hosts of the NBC Sports Boston “Boston Sports Tonight” show Michael Felger and Michael Holley chop it up on all things Boston – Brooklyn with guest Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer.

They cover the Celtics’ elite defense and whether their lead is safe, if the team could make the Eastern Conference Finals and more, so be sure to watch the clip embedded above.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets: 2022 NBA Playoffs Game 3 Eastern Conference first round (4/22)

Everything you need to know about Saturday’s Game 3 matchup between Brooklyn and Boston.

The Boston Celtics head to New York City to face the Brooklyn Nets on their home court at Barclay’s Center Saturday evening after having protected their own home court to build themselves a 2 – 0 series lead against their Atlantic Division rivals. They will likely face an intense battle from the Nets as Brooklyn looks to avoid falling into the as-of-yet insurmountable 0 – 3 deficit, but might have to do so with Boston big man Robert Williams III returning to action.

If you happen to be looking for a way to watch the action live on cable television or an online streaming service, keep reading while we get you up to speed on everything you need to know about the game.

Let’s begin with who ought to be available to play.

Shams: Robert Williams III ‘is close to a return and could play in Game 3 … or Game 4 … vs. Nets’ https://t.co/JyRiREfusb

— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) April 22, 2022

3 ways Robert Williams’ return will impact the Boston Celtics in their series vs. the Brooklyn Nets

Robert Williams is set to return to action in the first-round of the playoffs. What does this mean for the Boston Celtics?

According to recent reporting, it does appear Robert Williams III will make his return during the opening round of the postseason for the Boston Celtics. This could come as soon as Game 3 or Game 4 in Brooklyn and would be a massive pivot point in the series between the Nets and Celtics.

Now in his fourth year as a pro, the Time Lord has become one of the most effective centers in the NBA this year. He is the anchor for Boston’s notoriously stingy defense and offers a consistent and punishing threat around the rim on offense. As a two-way compliment to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, he is an integral part of this Celtics club.

With his return right around the corner, it’s worth breaking down why Williams is so important to Boston. How will Robert Williams impact the Boston Celtics this postseason?

Shams: Robert Williams III ‘is close to a return and could play in Game 3 … or Game 4 … vs. Nets’ https://t.co/JyRiREfusb

— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) April 22, 2022

Shams: Robert Williams III ‘is close to a return and could play in Game 3 … or Game 4 … vs. Nets’

To say this is a significant development in the series Boston already holds a 2 – 0 lead is an understatement.

Per The Athletic’s Shams Charania, injured Boston Celtics starting center Robert Williams III “is close to a return and could play in Game 3 (Saturday) or Game 4 (Monday)” against the Brooklyn Nets in their first-round series of the 2022 NBA Playoffs. Per Charania, “final determination will be made on how Williams feels day-to-day.”

With the Celtics already up 2 – 0 on the series and plenty of comfort and familiarity playing with Williams this season, the Nets are staring down a significantly taller order to stay in the series and avoid falling into the dreaded 0 – 3 playoff deficit no team has ever recovered from in the history of the league.

Brooklyn has a star big man of their own in Ben Simmons who is also working his way back from injury with a projected Game 4 return of his own.

Boston Celtics center Robert Williams is close to a return and could play in Game 3 (Saturday) or Game 4 (Monday) vs. Nets, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Final determination will be made on how Williams feels day-to-day after suffering torn meniscus on March 27.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 22, 2022

But, due to the Simmons’ injury being tied to a herniated disc and the lack of experience playing with the Nets (or any team) this season compared to the continuity Timelord has had with his team and his own injury — a surgically-repaired meniscal tear — it seems Boston has the clear advantage in this series moving forward regardless of whether Simmons returns.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Is Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving about to quit on the his team?

Given his current situation and past, it’s not an unfair question.

There are more than a few fans of the Boston Celtics who will say that when the going gets tough, Brooklyn Nets star point guard Kyrie Irving gets going — and they are not talking about his game on the court so much as his commitment to his current situation. When the Cleveland Cavaliers lost in 5 games to the Golden State Warriors in 2017, Irving forced his way out ot the Celtics.

Then things didn’t go as planned in Boston, and we all know how that ended in 2019. Now supposedly in the place he chose of his own free will with the teammates he wanted to join him, things are once again looking like they very well could go sideways yet again. Will the mercurial star pack his bags once again at the end of the season and demand a trade?

Could his bags already be packed, at least in his mind? While there have been no such indications from his words, his past paints a picture that makes this a fair question.

Check out the clip embedded above to hear what the hosts of NBC Sports Boston’s Early Edition show have to say on this possibility as Chris Mannix, Chris Forsberg, John Tomase and Trenni Kusnierek debate the possibility of Irving throwing in the towel on his team.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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If the Brooklyn Nets depend on Ben Simmons vs. the Boston Celtics, they’ll be sent home fast, says Kendrick Perkins

The former Boston big man doesn’t believe the former 76er will be a serious factor for Brooklyn.

The Boston Celtics head to New York City to play the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday, April 23 with the prospect of putting the Nets in a 3-0 series deficit that no NBA team has ever come back from.

Whether Brooklyn wins or loses, it will have the looming availability of star forward Ben Simmons to consider, with the proposition of bringing the former 76ers star into the rotation after nearly a year without playing — never mind playing at the high-level that will be asked of him in the difficult postseason series the Nets find themselves in.

Does it make sense to bring back a player with a back injury and mental health concerns into such a pitched environment whether they win or lose Game 3?

According to NBA broadcaster and former Boston big man Kendrick Perkins, if Brooklyn thinks Simmons’ return will be the key to their success, they’ll be sent home in a hurry. Watch the clip embedded above to hear what Perk has to say about bringing back Simmons under such circumstances.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Why the Boston Celtics’ plan to stop Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving was a masterpiece of defense

The first half, less so — but the Celtics put the clamps on in the third quarter and did not take them off until the final buzzer sounded.

The first half of the Boston Celtics’ Game 2 matchup with the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday was an ugly affair for fans of the Celtics watching all the elements of the style of play Boston ran with in their mediocre start to the 2021-22 NBA season playout in a nightmarish re-run that saw the Nets go up 17 points on the Celtics.

But the disjointed defense and over-reliance on individual play were pushed aside as the first half wound down, and the team that took the floor against Brooklyn in the second half put on a masterclass of why their defense vaulted them from 11th place in the East standings to second by season’s end.

The amazing second-half performance orchestrated by Boston caught the attention of NBA fans and analysts as it forced stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving into one of their worst offensive halves of the season — and in KD’s case, his recent career.

Check out the clip embedded above to hear what the hosts of ESPN’s “Keyshawn, JWill, and Max” have to say about the Celtics’ amazing Game 2 second-half performance vs. the Nets.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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