The playoffs are played out today, with the Nets beating the Cavaliers 115-108 at home to make it to the playoffs and will play as seventh in the East against the Celtics in the first round.
In today's game, Irving was very good, playing 41 minutes, shooting 12-of-15, with 34 points, 3 rebounds and 12 assists. It is worth mentioning that Irving hit all 12 of his first 12 shots and scored 30 points. The first 12 shots set a personal record for Irving, after he had previously made the top 10 shots. In addition, Irving also became the first player in the 2020 park to score 30 points and 10 assists in a single game after James, and the shooting rate was more than 80%.
Durant also performed well today, playing 42 minutes, 9-of-16, with 25 points, 5 rebounds and 11 assists. Bruce Brown was also brilliant, making 8 of 19 and having 18 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists.
On the Cavaliers side, Garland played 39 minutes, shooting 13-of-24, 3-of-6 from three-point range, and scoring 34 points, 5 assists and 2 steals. Mobley played 35 minutes, shooting 9-of-13, with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks.
Although the Cavaliers lost today, they played with the Nets until the end of the game, which shows that they still have strength. And even if they lose today, the Cavaliers can play one more play-off, and if they win, they can enter the play-offs.
For the Nets, as long as Durant and Irving are there, their playoffs are a high probability event, and the facts have proved that they did enter the playoffs. And as long as they make the playoffs, they may be able to create miracles.
Last season, the Nets' first-round opponent was also the Celtics, but it was the Celtics who ranked seventh at the time, and the Nets in seventh this season, which means the Nets have no home advantage. However, home advantage is not a decisive factor, superstars are the decisive factor on the playoff stage, and the Nets have two superstars.
In the first round of the playoffs last season, the Nets, led by the Big Three, easily eliminated the Celtics, only allowing the Celtics to get a victory, which was only won by Tatum's slash of 50+. However, that doesn't mean the Nets can easily eliminate the Celtics this season.
First of all, the Nets have lost Harden this season, and Simmons has not yet returned, so their strength is not as good as last season, otherwise they will not have to play the playoffs. Secondly, the Celtics are not the Celtics of last season, they have performed very well this season, your 51 wins and 31 losses, especially in the second half of the regular season, they played a record of 31 wins and 10 losses, while their first half record was only 20 wins and 21 losses, less than 50% of the winning rate.
As a result, the Celtics also broke the Jazz (18-19 season) and The Lakers (02-03 season) to set a record of less than 50% of the best record in NBA history (50 wins and 32 losses) of the end of the half-time win rate.
Moreover, Tatum and Brown have also completed their evolution and become stronger this season, so it is unlikely that the Nets will easily eliminate the Celtics and stage Black Seven, just like last season. This is likely to be a series of equals, and it's hard to say who wins and who loses.