The Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics faced each other in the first round of the NBA playoffs last season. This year's series has a very different feel to it for both sides.

The Celtics are now the upper seed — coincidentally, the second seed in the Eastern Conference, just like Brooklyn was last year — thanks to their massive improvements under new coach Ime Udoka. The Nets had a rough regular season and are waiting to be full strength. Kevin Durant is ready to go and Kyrie Irving is coming off of a brilliant performance against one of his former teams, the Cleveland Cavaliers in the play-in game. He is coming into a matchup with his other former team with momentum.

Ben Simmons may not be coming into this series at all. He still has yet to make his Nets debut after dealing with a nagging back issue. Reportedly, the three-time All-Star could be back midway through this series against the Celtics, though head coach Steve Nash still claims they have no timetable.

Simmons posted a picture of his shoes on the basketball court on his Instagram story. Regardless of how much basketball activity he actually did, this is a positive sign for Brooklyn that he is working to get back to action.

Durant and Irving are good enough for Brooklyn to go toe-to-toe with anyone. Even the Celtics, a very good defensive team, will have their hands full. Simmons brings a very strong defensive presence himself, as well as the ability to make plays for his teammates and get downhill.