Boston Celtics: 3 keys to beating the Brooklyn Nets in the first round

The playoffs are officially here for the Boston Celtics. With the Brooklyn Nets taking down the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the NBA Play-In Tournament last night, that has set up a highly anticipated seven game series between the Celtics and Nets.

Typically the #7 seed isn’t expected to win in the playoffs, but the Nets aren’t your typical #7 seed. With Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving back healthy after missing time throughout the season, and Ben Simmons potentially returning at some point during the series, Brooklyn is one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference despite needing to go through the Play-In Tournament to get into the playoffs.

On the other hand, the Celtics happen to be one of the top teams in the East as well, and this series should be an absolute dogfight between two top teams. There’s a really decent chance that the team that wins this series ends up going all the way to the NBA Finals. Typically that isn’t said of a first round series, but that’s how good both these teams are.

This is going to be anything but an easy ride for the Celtics, but they have proven over the past few months they are up for the challenge. Beating the Nets is going to be a tall task, but Boston is the #2 seed for a reason. With the first round set to kick off on Easter Sunday, here are the three keys to victory for the Boston Celtics in the first round against the Brooklyn Nets.