Boston Celtics
Celtics vs. Nets: Power Ranking the 10 best players in first-round series
This isn't your traditional No. 2 vs. No. 7 matchup, folks.
The Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets will square off in a star-studded first-round NBA playoff series that tips off Sunday afternoon. On one side are young stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who lead a Celtics team that won 33 of its last 41 games and have been the best team in the East by a wide margin since late January.
On the other side? All-world talents Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, who are two of the best postseason performers of their era with three championships between them.
Those four players will take center stage, but if this series goes a full seven games, it very well could be decided by which role players make the biggest impact. So, to preview Celtics-Nets, we're ranking the 10 most important players in this series. (And yes, we'll address the Robert Williams and Ben Simmons injuries.)
The Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets will square off in a star-studded first-round NBA playoff series that tips off Sunday afternoon. On one side are young stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who lead a Celtics team that won 33 of its last 41 games and have been the best team in the East by a wide margin since late January.
On the other side? All-world talents Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, who are two of the best postseason performers of their era with three championships between them.
Those four players will take center stage, but if this series goes a full seven games, it very well could be decided by which role players make the biggest impact. So, to preview Celtics-Nets, we're ranking the 10 most important players in this series. (And yes, we'll address the Robert Williams and Ben Simmons injuries.)
USA TODAY Sports
This isn't your traditional No. 2 vs. No. 7 matchup, folks.
The Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets will square off in a star-studded first-round NBA playoff series that tips off Sunday afternoon. On one side are young stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who lead a Celtics team that won 33 of its last 41 games and have been the best team in the East by a wide margin since late January.
On the other side? All-world talents Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, who are two of the best postseason performers of their era with three championships between them.
Those four players will take center stage, but if this series goes a full seven games, it very well could be decided by which role players make the biggest impact. So, to preview Celtics-Nets, we're ranking the 10 most important players in this series. (And yes, we'll address the Robert Williams and Ben Simmons injuries.)
The Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets will square off in a star-studded first-round NBA playoff series that tips off Sunday afternoon. On one side are young stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who lead a Celtics team that won 33 of its last 41 games and have been the best team in the East by a wide margin since late January.
On the other side? All-world talents Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, who are two of the best postseason performers of their era with three championships between them.
Those four players will take center stage, but if this series goes a full seven games, it very well could be decided by which role players make the biggest impact. So, to preview Celtics-Nets, we're ranking the 10 most important players in this series. (And yes, we'll address the Robert Williams and Ben Simmons injuries.)