The Brooklyn Nets are set to face the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs. This is a matchup of two Atlantic Division rivals that already played four times this season. The Celtics got the better of the Nets three out of the four times, but the playoffs can be a completely different beast. This is surely going to be an excellent series. The Celtics have all the momentum, having the best record post-All-Star break in the league. However, the Nets are also going into the series in good form, and they might even get Ben Simmons back. Without further ado, let's look at three reasons why the Nets will defeat the Celtics in the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs.

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Reasons why Nets are beating Celtics in 2022 NBA Playoffs 

Ben Simmons should return and help their struggling defense

The biggest issue for the Nets this year has been the unavailability of players. James Harden, before the trade, had injury issues and also did not look right for the first few weeks. Kyrie Irving, infamously now, resisted the New York vaccine mandate and only started playing away games in January, and was fully available since late March. Kevin Durant also missed a ton of time through an injury. They have been missing the biggest piece they got in the James Harden trade, Ben Simmons, since he joined the club in February. Now, according to the latest reports, he could be available in this first-round matchup.

Apart from the unavailability of players, the Nets also had issues with their defense. For a very brief period of time in December, they were elite, but at the end of the season, the Nets finished 19th in defensive rating. Should Simmons return, he will be a massive factor in the return of the Nets' defense to a respectable level. He is an amazing defender and while he has offensive flaws, his competence on the defensive side should be reason enough for the Nets to hope for a slot in the Conference Semifinals. This is predicated on Simmons being as close to 100% as possible, but he can definitely be a huge factor on this end of the floor.

 

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are unguarable 

Out of the four matchups between the two squads, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were available for only one. In that game, it was the gargantuan effort by Jayson Tatum, scoring 54 points, that gave the Celtics the win. Durant had 37 and shot 12/21, with part of his misses coming out of desperation shots to get the Nets back into the game. Irving was 8/18, but he spent a lot of that game taking poor decisions and somewhat shooting himself in the foot. The playoffs, however, are a much different, and both of these players should be laser-focused on the Celtics. The C's do have the second-best defense in the league, behind the Golden State Warriors, but no defense can stop Durant and Irving when they are hot.

Last season, in their series versus the Celtics, the Nets duo put up some monster numbers. Durant specifically was amazing, scoring 32.6 per game, shooting 54.6% from the field and 50% from behind the arc. Irving was a bit more silent, but still put up 24.8 points on 49.4% shooting from the field. Obviously, that Celtics team was different and this one is stronger, but the offensive talent of these two guys can be the deciding factor in the entire series.

The Nets have newfound energy 

When we speak about the Nets as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, we can definitely say that they are much more than that. Obviously, circumstances have caused the squad to have to win in the play-in to progress to the playoffs, but most of the season was played by almost a different roster. Now team regulars and important pieces, Irving, Curry, and Drummond only played 29, 19, and 24 games, respectively. What was visible in many games as the regular season was coming to a close is that the Nets look rejuvenated and ready to compete for a championship.

Obviously, the Celtics are still favorites. They have the best momentum in the league coming into the playoffs, they beat the Nets three out of the four times, and they have a ton of confidence coming into this series. However, the Nets have a supremely talented roster, unguardable offensive threats, and a guy in Ben Simmons possibly joining the rotation that can turn things around completely. If Simmons can shake off some rust, he will bring even more energy to a Nets time on the rise and they could be seeing the Celtics off in the first round again, same as last year.