The Boston Celtics will enter Game 2 of their first-round series with the Brooklyn Nets as an underdog. But veteran center Tristan Thompson said that despite Brooklyn’s obvious star power, the Celtics remain confident in their ability to go toe-to-toe with opponents.
“I mean, listen, if you have a team with Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving, you better step on the floor feeling good about yourself,” Thompson said after Boston practiced Monday. “But that doesn’t matter to us. At the end of the day, they put on their socks and shoes like us. So we don’t get intimidated or anything like that.”
The Celtics held their ground for the first three quarters of Game 1, before the Nets, who went 1-for-13 from the triple in the first half on Saturday night, finally managed to advance from deep and finally created enough separation. to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
But for Boston to do more than stay in Game 2, particularly with Jaylen Brown out for the rest of the season after undergoing wrist surgery, they will have to be more effective offensively, something both Thompson and coach Brad Stevens they stood out as a critical component to the team’s chances of evening the series in one game apiece.
“I think obviously I thought we played good defense,” Stevens said. “But I think we have to score over 110 to beat these guys on a normal night. That’s where, again, we have to be a lot better offensively, and we have to bring the same level of energy and competitiveness to be alert to different things. “.
Thompson spoke specifically about the Celtics’ need to avoid falling into the trap of trying to find mismatches against Brooklyn’s defense change.
“When teams change, sometimes you like to take advantage of those matchups, but you can do it at any point in the game,” Thompson said.
“Especially early in the game, when teams change, there is someone you can take advantage of, but instead of just isolating them and having the defense, try to catch them in second actions. I think that’s the best way to try to attack the change. Of course there will be times in the game when Kemba (Walker) or (Jayson Tatum) or Evan (Fournie) have a matchup that they like that they want to go ‘iso’, but that can’t be our main offense, because we did. in the second half and it didn’t work for us, “he said.
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