Boston Celtics vs Brooklyn Nets 2/24/22: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Predictions

Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets Matchup Preview (2/24/22)

Don’t get too excited, NBA fans; we will still likely be without Ben Simmons for this Thursday night matchup between the Boston Celtics and the Brooklyn Nets. Other players that will also be sidelined for Brooklyn during this game are Kevin Durant, Goran Dragic, Kyrie Irving, and Joe Harris, who could require a second surgery on his ankle. For the Nets, there is some optimism, though; the majority of their players will be healthy soon, save Harris, and we will finally get to see a team that has impressive depth. Shooting will not be a problem whatsoever, but it will be interesting to see how this new group of players mesh, or don’t, together. In the meantime, the Nets must cling onto a playoff spot and hang in the picture, so they don’t get pushed out or put in a tight spot towards the end of the season.

Boston just took a regrettable loss to the Detroit Pistons at home after a nearly 50-point thumping of the new-look Philadelphia 76ers. While the Sixers were without James Harden, it still looked a bit concerning as Curry and Drummond played such integral roles in the organization. Still, Philly was able to rebound with a road win against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Celtics need to make sure that the Pistons game was a fluke and more of a “let-down” game than a stare of a slump. Below, under the betting odds section, I cover the best bets for this matchup and the likely outcome, so take a look!

Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets Betting Odds

I’m on the Boston Celtics in this one. Despite Brooklyn’s impressive comeback against the New York Knicks and slaughtering of the Kings, it still dropped a home game to the struggling Washington Wizards. The Nets have struggled covering the spread at home and have one of the worst home records in the league. I doubt that a one-point loss to the Detroit Pistons at home will derail the hottest team in the NBA. I like Boston around five or six points,  but if the spread is wider, I’ll pull the trigger on the Moneyline.

How To Watch

Date: 2/24/22
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Arena: Barclays Center – Brooklyn, NY
Channel: NBA League Pass

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Boston Celtics Starting Lineup

PG: Marcus Smart
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Robert Williams III
C: Al Horford

Boston Celtics Analysis

If we are being honest, I was off the Celtics against the spread against Detroit. I did not feel good at all about them being able to stay up and motivated after pummeling a Sixers team by nearly 50 points. It had a let-down game written all over it. Still, Boston remains one of the hottest teams in the NBA, especially on the defensive end, where it ranks at the top in every major defensive statistical category over the court of the past six or so weeks. The C’s are still 9-1 in their past ten games and only lost to the Pistons (I know) by one point. Boston has only let teams score over 100 points in three games during that span, which is beyond impressive. Additionally, it has eclipsed 100 points in every single game. No, that is not a misprint. The Celtics are not just beating teams; they control them from start to finish. Hopefully, the loss to the Pistons does not revert their play to how it was early in the season.

Brooklyn Nets Starting Lineup

PG: Patty Mills
SG: Seth Curry
SF: Bruce Brown Jr.
PF: Kessler Edwards
C: Andre Drummond

Brooklyn Nets Analysis

Let’s not sugarcoat this: the Brooklyn Nets must start winning basketball games as soon as possible. The Nets went from the top team in a top-heavy Eastern Conference to barely holding off the Charlotte Hornets and Atlanta Hawks for eighth place. Much of the Nets’ woes can be attributed to James Harden drama, Kevin Durant’s knee injury, and Kyrie Irving’s ability, or lack thereof, to still only be available for away games. If we are glass-half-full optimists, then we could at least be excited about the fact that the Nets have added significant depth to their roster with Seth Curry and Andre Drummond. Brooklyn ranks 17th in 3P% (three-point percentage) on the season but was much higher earlier in the season, exemplifying their fall from grace. Drummond’s arrival also marks a massive upgrade at the center position; Brooklyn started Blake Griffin as a small-ball five or put in Nic Claxton or LaMarcus Aldridge. Aldridge has played quite well, considering it’s his first season back since retiring; however, the Nets desperately needed more depth and rebounding. They rank 17th in total rebounds per game.

Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets Daily Fantasy Picks

There are several different players for the Brooklyn Nets that you could feel comfortable going with, especially since Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Goran Dragic, and Ben Simmons are still unavailable. The two players that I would watch out for in particular would be Cam Thomas and Seth Curry. Since being traded over from Philadelphia, Curry has been a considerable contributor, averaging over 18 points, five assists, and four rebounds. Cam Thomas has also proved to be one of the most impressive rookies on the offensive end and has recently hit his stride. His past eight games have been absurd for a rookie, posting 20+ points in six of them. Thomas has even started to find his groove in other areas of the stat sheet, such as rebounds and assists. Since he is still cheap, he’s a player that you have to at least consider on a nightly basis. This game, in particular, may be a bit tough for everyone on the Nets, though, since the Celtics have the league’s best defense.