Draymond Green, Paul Pierce serve up priceless Twitter reactions after Celtics sweep Nets in NBA Playoffs

Ananth Pandian

Draymond Green, Paul Pierce serve up priceless Twitter reactions after Celtics sweep Nets in NBA Playoffs image

And just like that, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are out of the playoffs.

Dominating with defense and a tenacious offensive attack, the Celtics beat the Nets 116-112 in Game 4 to sweep Brooklyn in their first-round matchup. It's a shocking end for the Nets, who many believed to be a true championship contender.

It may feel like forever ago but the Nets actually entered the season as preseason NBA title favorites. And in bowing out in four games, they became the first preseason title favorite to not win a single playoff game in at least 35 years.

With their season on the line, Durant did everything he could to try and lead his team to a victory. The All-Star forward scored a series-high 39 points, dished out nine assists and pulled down seven boards. It was a classic case of "too little, too late" for Durant who struggled to shake free of Boston's suffocating D earlier in the series, a key factor in falling into an insurmountable 3-0 deficit in the first place.

Many NBA players — past and present — reveled in Brooklyn's postseason collapse at the hands of  the Celtics, taking to #NBATwitter to poke fun at the Nets demise.

Celtics legend and Hall of Famer Paul Pierce kept it simple and tweeted out the shrug emoji:

Golden State Warriors big man Draymond Green also went the emoji route.

Green did backtrack a bit, saying he wasn't talking about Brooklyn getting swept but also didn't clarify what he was tweeting about with all the emojis. 

And of course there were plenty of jokes at Brooklyn's expense. Here's just a few of them:

The Celtics now await the winner of the first-round series between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Chicago Bulls. The Bucks lead that series 3-1.

As for the Nets?

Expect major questions immediately regarding a suddenly murky future. Kyrie Irving can opt out of his contract and become a free agent, a topic which he was asked about immediately.

Ben Simmons never suited up for the Nets but will now have a full offseason to finally get past the hurdles preventing him from making an appearance in 2022.

Then there's the status of head coach Steve Nash, who now owns a 7-9 postseason record in two seasons with the Nets with one series win to show for it. Will he make it back for a third season?

Only time will tell. But for now, keep scrolling on #NBATwitter as the takes fly fast and furious.

 

 

Ananth Pandian

Ananth Pandian Photo

Ananth Pandian is a seasoned marketer and copywriter with over a decade of experience working for premium brands and publishers like Nike, SLAM, and CBS Sports. Prior to plying his trade as a wordsmith, he grew up in a farmhouse, surrounded by the woods, fields, and a creek. Ananth has spent much of his life outdoors, and is excited to guide you through his never-ending list of the best products to keep you from falling to the perils of nature. Nowadays, there is rarely a weekend that goes by where Ananth isn't out camping, hiking, or just back on his parents' farm.