After a pugnacious opening game against the Celtics, Nets guard Kyrie Irving was very deferential after Wednesday's 114-107 loss in Game 2.
No hand gestures. No battles with the media.
Maybe it's just resigned fate ... that this Nets squad might not have enough to overcome a Boston apparatus — he also heaped praise on coach Ime Udoka and team president Brad Stevens — that could be, in Irving's mind, finally putting it all together.
"No, I’m not surprised at all, I just think the timing is right," Irving said. "Their window is now for these young guys on this team that have matured. They’ve been through series together, been through seasons together, they’ve been through battles together. And I got a chance to experience some of that, now being on the opposite end and going against a healthy Celtics team — without Robert Williams.
"But you’re just seeing there’s a difference in their verve, there’s a difference in the way they approach the game. And also they have a set offense and defense that they rely on. Ime’s been a huge part of that. But you’ve got to give credit to that guy that’s sitting in the president’s role as well now. We don’t get to see him as often, but Brad Stevens definitely has a lot to do with that."
Uh, where is Game 1 Kyrie, and what have you done with him?
You can understand why he felt that way. At halftime, the Nets had scored 65 points and led by 10, and Irving (six points) didn't even have to do that much. But after getting outscored by 17 points in the second half, with Irving and Durant scoring a combined two points from the field (1 of 17) after halftime when they were a combined minus-39, the air seems to be out of Irving and the Nets.
"Our identity is what it is," Irving said. "I felt like we were in great position coming out of halftime just as a team. ... I want us to continue with that effort. I believe we can do it. We’ve just got to show it. This late in the season, even though I brought up team cohesion, it is what it is. We really have to turn the page and learn through our experiences right now. We’re going against a team together for what, the last four, five years? So they don’t have to worry about that. And I don’t want us to worry about it in this series and make excuses on why things are not going right for us. It’s just time to strap up the boots and get the ammo ready."
That ammo better include ways to a) solve the Celtics' defense that has been smothering them for crucial stretches, and getting Durant, who is 13 of 41 from the field (31.7 percent) through two games.
"They’re playing two or three guys on me sometimes when I’m off the ball, mucking up actions when I run off stuff," Durant said. "I see (Al) Horford leaving his man and coming over to hit me sometimes. There’s two or three guys hitting me wherever I go, and that’s just the nature of the beast in the playoffs. I feel like I got a couple good shots there in the fourth that just didn’t go down. I see a few of their guys around me every time I get the ball when I’m setting up, so I’ve gotta be more patient but also play fast sometimes, too, and off the ball just be able to move a little faster, sprint a little harder for my guys to get free, but yeah. Just watch film and get better."
Both Irving and Durant thinks the Celtics are ahead of everyone else when it comes to defending the Nets due to his time as a Nets assistant — and the players have bought in and are executing.
"Ime knows us really well ... so I think he has some keys in the treasure chest that he's telling those guys," Irving said. "And this is what makes it special though, on the flip side; it's just being able to find some weaknesses in their defense and get their bodies moving and when they're on the swivel - when we have the ball popping and they're on a swivel and they have to close out to our drives - I feel like we're a better offensive team. But again, it just starts with the little details and make sure we cover up for one another.”
Said Durant: "They play a simple defense, switch everything, and then you’ve got length like they’ve got ... they’re basically playing zone, so it’s easy for every player. You don’t have to chase over screens or just fight over stuff. You can use your length to sit in the lane and help execute the game plan, so when you simplify the game, it makes it easier for the players, and I think that’s what Ime did."
The Nets' words were certainly nice — and warranted — but Jaylen Brown wasn't looking past the Nets. The Celtics know Brooklyn will make adjustments for their two home games.
"Yeah, why not?" Brown said when asked if it's their time to contend now. "We just take it one game at a time. That’s how we’re kind of looking at it and that’s all that’s important. You can’t look ahead; you can’t look behind. We’ve just gotta focus on what’s in front of us and this series is not over. We won two games, took care of home court. Still a lot of basketball to be played, so I’m focused on Game 3 in Brooklyn. I’m looking forward to seeing what adjustments they will make in the game, so I’m excited for Game 3."