As the top two teams in the East so far this season, the probability of encountering the playoffs will be very large, last year's playoffs, the Celtics easily eliminated the Nets 4-0 in the first round, so this season the team has been strengthened, which team is stronger?
Point guard: Smart vs Irving
Celtics: Smart, 28, averages 11.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 7.3 assists so far this season while shooting 41.9 percent from the field and 32.9 percent from three-point range.
Nets: Irving, 30, averages 25.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists so far this season, shooting 48 percent from the field, 35.6 percent from three-point range and 90.2 percent from the free-throw line.
Smart and Irving are two players with different styles, the former has the top defensive ability and skills of the guard line, the latter is the top offensive weapon in the league, look at their counterpoint will have a more dynamic shout, with the most gorgeous offense to hit the toughest defense, obviously this will be a set of wonderful matchups, as a super scorer 6 Irving will play very uncomfortable in the face of Smart's defense, but Smart wants to lock up Irving, it is impossible, he can only limit and consume Irving to the maximum, in this set of competitions, Owen still has to have the advantage!
Shooting guard: Jaylen Brown vs Joyce O'Neal
Celtics: Jaylen Brown, 26, averages 27.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists so far this season, shooting 49.8% from the field, 32.9% from three-point range and 79.5% from the free-throw line;
Nets: O'Neal, 29, averages 9.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists so far this season, shooting 40.2 percent from the field, 40.8 percent from three-point range and 67.7 percent from the free-throw line.
It's another great set of matchups, and the two players are obviously not at the same level, but the star-and-top 3D players will also look incredibly good. In the face of O'Neal, who is excellent in defense and fierce three-pointers, Jaylen Brown, who is good offensive and defensive, will obviously have more advantages, as the second in charge of the team, Jaylen Brown has played at the peak of his career this season, with the current O'Neal's ability is indeed difficult to compete, and in terms of physical fitness, Brown is much better, this group of Jaylen Brown wins!
Small forward: Tatum vs Durant
Celtics: Tatum, 24, averages 31.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists so far this season, shooting 47.1% from the field, 35.2% from three-point range and 86.7% from the free-throw line;
Nets: Durant, 34, averages 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 blocks so far this season, shooting 55.9% from the field, 37.6% from three-point range and 93.4% from the free-throw line.
It will be a showdown between the stars and two of the best small forwards in the league right now. This season, Tatum has completed his transformation again, with a number of statistics reaching a career high, a trend to catch up with the first small forward, and is also the favorite for the regular season MVP. But this season's Durant is still at the peak, but also played the most efficient season of his career, in terms of personal ability, between the two uncles, but Durant has a more critical scoring ability than Tatum, the key moment is not soft, the ability to hammer the hammer is obviously incomparable to Tatum, this round of the showdown, Durant defeated Tatum!
Power forward: Lowe vs Ben Simmons
Celtics: Lowe, 25 years old, averages 7.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists so far this season, shooting 76.3% from the field, 69.2% from the free-throw line, and no three-point long-range shooting ability;
Nets: Ben Simmons, 26, averages 7.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists so far this season, shooting 58.2% from the field, 41.3% from the free-throw line, and no three-point shooting ability.
Lowe and Ben Simmons, who also have no shooting ability, will bring an unusually different competition, Lowe who is good at defending the frame met Ben Simmons, who is good at organization and defense, to the point of all-being and help to the team, I am afraid that Ben Simmons has to have a certain upper hand, and Ben Simmons' ability to hold and handle the ball is far from comparable to Lowe.
Centre: Horford vs Claxton
Celtics: Horford, 36, averages 9.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists so far this season, shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 44.2 percent from three-point range.
Nets: Claxton, 23, averages 11.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 2.7 blocks so far this season, shooting 73.2% from the field, 47.1% from the free-throw line, and no three-point shooting.
The center matchup between the two teams will also be a big attraction, Horford, who can both protect the frame and shoot from a distance, meets Claxton, who has excellent running and jumping ability, and the threat on the offensive end is obviously much greater and more comprehensive, and Horford's defensive ability is also easy to be overlooked. As the Nets' starting inside, Claxton's finishing ability under the basket is stronger, moving faster, and age is more dominant.
Bench lineup showdown
Celtics: Brogdon, White, Gervais, Hout, Griffin and others
Nets: Curry Jr., Joe Harris, Warren, Yuta Watanabe, Mills and others
The bench strength of both teams is very fierce, and there are players who can sit in the starting lineup, but in terms of the overall strength of the bench, the Celtics may still have to beat the Nets.
Head-to-head showdown
Coach Marazu has done a very good job as the interim manager of the Celtics this season, after all, the record is the best touchstone for the ability to test, and the Celtics he led not only achieved the best record in the league, but also had a good offensive and defensive record, whether it was the team's tactical arrangement or the ability to coach on the spot, the young interim manager has played well. And Coach Vaughan is also on the verge of being ordered this season, after Nash left class, Vaughn took the position under great pressure, but the results are obvious, not only led the Nets in the quagmire to the second position in the East, but also for the improvement of both ends of the offensive and defensive ends is huge, this head coach does have something, whether it is coaching ability or on-the-spot adaptation, Vaughn has done a very good job, and Vaughn knows how to use people well without being paranoid, which is very valuable. And since taking office, Coach Vaughn's coaching record has also been among the top in the league during the same period. In the coaching staff matchup, the more experienced Vaughn also beat the younger Marazu.
All in all, from the perspective of the team's lineup and coaching staff, the current Nets team is obviously not the team in last year's playoffs, the overall strength of the team and the coach's execution have been significantly improved, and in the Celtics lineup matchup, the strength of the two teams is also between the two teams, if the playoffs meet again this season, the two sides will definitely play incomprehensible, then the importance of the star color at key moments will be highlighted, although the Celtics played exceptionally well this season, but in the competition of core players, Slightly behind, but the Celtics have a better combination of attack and defense. Overall, it's going to be a tough matchup, and if you have to pick a team, it's probably the Nets, but the lead isn't too obvious, what do you think?