3 keys for the Boston Celtics to win Game 2 vs. the Brooklyn Nets

3 keys to a Game 2 win for the Boston Celtics: Trap/Double Kyrie Irving

Celtics fan everywhere watched in horror as Kyrie Irving dropped a game-high 39 points in TD Garden on Sunday. He reached this accomplishment on incredible efficiency, and very nearly sent the Celtics home with a three-point dagger with under a minute to play.

Containing Kyrie is nearly impossible. However, I do feel that improvements int he Celtics defense could help. On multiple occasions, the Celtics offered Kyrie drop coverage (specifically when Daniel Theis was targeted in the P&R). On almost all of these occasions, Irving responded by calmly drilling the three. The Celtics cannot play Irving with drop coverage, and I suggest that they blitz these type of screens.

Especially without the incredible length and shot deterring of Robert Williams, the Celtics best option to contain Kyrie is to bring double teams often, and try to trap him in the P&R. Of course, you have to be careful to avoid getting burned by the roller (in the case of Brooklyn this is often Bruce Brown), but with the Celtics’ versatile defenders, I feel they can effectively double Irving. You don’t have to look any further than the Celtics final possession on Sunday for evidence of this.

Like I said, stopping Irving completely is almost impossible, but the Celtics cannot afford to give up another Kyrie Irving Master Class, as they barely survived the first one.

Like all fans of competitive basketball, I cannot wait for Wednesday night’s Game 2 between Brooklyn and Boston. If Boston is to come out on top however, I feel the three a

reas of improvement I referenced might be not only helpful, but necessary.