The Nets are facing elimination after going down 3-0 to the Celtics in their first-round series. With their backs against the wall, the team will need a miracle to overcome such a deficit, Scott Cacciola of the New York Times writes.
No team has ever come back from trailing 3-0 in NBA history. It’s happened in other sports such as baseball — the Red Sox defeated the Yankees prior to the 2004 World Series — and the NHL has seen it happen four times. As other coaches like Toronto’s Nick Nurse have noted (the Raptors were down 3-0 entering Game 4), several NBA teams have come back from a 3-1 deficit, making Game 4 an important one.
Brooklyn will have to win on Monday to have any glimmer of hope. The following game would be played in Boston. If the team can somehow manage to steal that contest, Game 6 in Brooklyn could provide enough momentum for a Game 7. Then again, there’s a reason so few professional sports teams have been able to achieve this feat.
Here are some other notes from the Eastern Conference:
- The return of Ben Simmons‘ back pain this weekend was met with surprise and disappointment from the Nets, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski writes. Simmons was expected to play in Game 4, but he reported back soreness on Sunday and will no longer play. He hasn’t appeared in a game this season.
- Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com examines whether second-year swingman Isaac Okoro could make a jump for the Cavaliers next season. Okoro disappointed in the team’s play-in tournament games, but he showed flashes of potential throughout the campaign. Cleveland drafted him No. 5 overall in 2020.
- He may not have won the Rookie of the Year award, but Pistons guard Cade Cunningham is vital to the team’s future, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press writes. As we previously relayed, Cunningham placed behind Evan Mobley (second place) and Scottie Barnes (first place) for the award, receiving nine of 100 possible first-place votes.
The last entry on Cunningham is odd. It almost seems to suggest that the team could back off of Cunningham because “despite finishing third in rookie of the year voting”.
I agree. Lmao.
yeah third is just AWFUL
The Pistons seemed to need Cade to win ROY to feel good about themselves. They wanted that shot of good news. A dubious desire.
The Cavs are probably deciding whether to draft a new Okoro. I doubt the Pistons will draft a new Cade… He is flexible tho… They have to decide on Ivey, another Weaver/Casey match that could play the 1 or 2… Not sure if they are combo guards, just big and talented guards.
Can’t wait for the new 30/30 on Ben Simmons “what if I told you I don’t want to shoot the ball, that basketball is just a job for me, that I alienated not just a franchise but an entire LEAGUE”.
Tim Tebow without Jesus.
Simmons back is hurting drop carrying all those free sacks of cash he earned from the Nets.
Simmons, Kyrie, KD, and Nash all laughing their way to the bank. What a laughing stock of NBA! Nets title window is officially CLOSED for good. KD and Kyrie singlehandedly ruined the Nets trying to be gm and hc. No accountability and total failure!!!
Absolutely do not fall for Kyrie BS again – no extension no matter what. Celtics moved on and they are much better.
This Nets team is a joke. Kyrie has a ton of BS excuses, and Simmons is one of the most trash players in the league. I used to stick up for this guy but I have come to the realization that he doesn’t want to play basketball, he just wants to collect paychecks.
Hopefully he goes to the Blazers.
Been Simmons. smh
I’ve also supported him but I’m convinced he just doesn’t want to play basketball anymore. Probably never wanted to in the first place. He wants the money, the life and lifeSTYLE, but doesn’t wanna play.
I knew Simmons wasn’t going to play. He’s focused on getting back the $20mil he lost from breaking his contract. He’s likely to use an injury excuse and playing might weaken it.
Cade should have gotten it. Wings >>>> Bigs. Just goes to show that the media and the upper management of many teams are slow to understanding what drives success in the modern NBA.
Who do you thing you are?
Now you know better than the folks earning a living with hoops, boy oh boy, SMH!
But… but…but… Cade plays the PG position… Haha.
It was ROY, not “what drives BB” in some meta-sense… and that theory would be arguable, if some thesis was stated (it was not).
None was a center.
Here’s idea – let’s just stop talking about Simmons! Maybe then we can talk about players that are relevant.
Yet…you clicked on an article about Ben Simmons and then mention Simmons so that you can talk about the guy you don’t want to talk about…hmmmm
Ben Simmons was told he would be counted on in pivotal game four and all of a sudden his back is aching…
Trade him to the Kings so he will never have to worry about being needed in important games and when his contract is up just let him leave the league as the embarrassment he is!
I wouldn’t doubt that the stress and fear of finally having to play a meaningful basketball game – in front of fans – literally made his back pain legitimately flare up.
Unfortunately, I believe he’s psyched himself into having real, legitimate mental issues.
Contract needs to be VOIDED. Of course, it won’t be, but…
I can only imagine the chill coming from that Nets locker room. yeesh.