Kyrie Irving: Nets Haven’t Gelled Like Celtics

Not even a Game in Brooklyn could save the Nets.

Instead, the Celtics took control of Game 3, and the series, courtesy of a 109-103 win on Saturday. They know own a 3-0 series lead, which always proves to be insurmountable in the NBA playoffs.

So if Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and the Nets are able to come back and win this thing, they will be making history as the first team ever to do it.

Irving said a lot has to do with the fact the Celtics have had their team mostly together since the start of the season. The Nets, on the other hand, have had some big injuries (including one to Durant), and Irving playing in only a handful of home games during the regular season.

They also shipped James Harden to the 76ers as part of the Ben Simmons trade. Simmons has yet to play, though that could change in Game 4 on Monday.

“I don’t wanna be cliche, but I don’t know how you make up time from October to now,” Irving said.

Just before that, he said the Nets are “in a new experience as a group, and we just have to respect that.” Meanwhile, he added, the Celtics have been “gelling since Christmas.”

Irving makes a valid point. But a lot of people still favored the Nets in this series. For whatever reason, that seems impossible now.