Boston Celtics: The 3 biggest roadblocks to winning Banner 18 post-free agency

Roadblock #2 to Banner 18 for the Boston Celtics: Brooklyn Nets

Perhaps the biggest offseason additions in 2021 were not fresh free agent contracts. They may just be the returns of a healthy Kyrie Irving and healthy James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets lineup.

Before Irving went down with an injury against Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Nets looked poise to make a run to through the east. The three-headed monster of Irving, Harden, and Kevin Durant was overwhelming teams with their unguardable offensive firepower.

The second half of the Milwaukee series featured Durant single-handedly willing the Nets to the very edge of glory only to fall short to the champs.

He couldn’t do it himself, but with his two star running mates back on the floor it’s far from impossible for Team USA’s new all-time leading Olympic scorer to win a third ring with a second franchise.

Given the domination the Nets displayed in their series–and the demonization of the entire city by Durant and Irving–with the Cs, Brooklyn serves as a massive roadblock to every team in the league…but Boston in particular.