NEW YORK -- Brooklyn Nets star forward Kevin Durant has been in the league long enough to know that it's not wise to give a playoff opponent any extra motivation before a series begins.
So when Durant heard Nets guard Bruce Brown's critique of the Boston Celtics, saying that the Nets can attack them down low in their upcoming Eastern Conference quarterfinals series because of the absence of Celtics big man Robert Williams, Durant was quick to rebuke his young teammate's comments.
"We respect our opponents," Durant said after the Nets finished off a 115-108 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Tuesday night's play-in game.