National Basketball Association

Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics Pre-Game Report

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:12 p.m. ET

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Oct 13, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin (7) defends against Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder (99) during a preseason game during the first half at Barclays Center. The Celtics won 100-97. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

After coming off of three straight losses, the Brooklyn Nets will look to turn things around against the Boston Celtics. This is the second time Brooklyn will match up against the new-look Celtics this preseason.

The Nets narrowly lost their last meeting with the Celtics 100-97 on October 13. The Nets started off well, leading at the end of the first quarter, but they fell apart in the second half as Boston took a firm hold on the game in the third quarter. Luis Scola led the way for Brooklyn in the loss, putting up 14 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.

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That was the Nets’ third loss of the preseason. They beat the Detroit Pistons in dramatic fashion to kick preseason off. Brooklyn then dropped games to the Miami Heat and their cross river rival, New York Knicks. However, the only game in which the Nets played their starters for an extended period of time was in their sole win, against Detroit.

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The Celtics have had a different experience in the preseason up to this point. Opposite to what Brooklyn has produced, Boston lost their first preseason game only to win four straight in the following weeks. They dominated the Charlotte Hornets twice before beating the Nets and Knicks on their home courts in more competitive games.

Despite this simply being a preseason game, tonight’s battle holds a bit more significance for both teams. The Nets and Celtics will be facing off on opening night (October 26) at the TD Garden. This game will give both sides an opportunity to analyze each other’s strengths and weaknesses in order to be fully prepared for the following Wednesday.

Oct 11, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Luis Scola (4) is pressured by Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Cutting Down on Turnovers

One of the biggest reasons the Nets fell short in their last meeting with Boston was a large amount of turnovers committed on offense. Kenny Atkinson‘s squad committed 18 turnovers, with Trevor Booker and Scola contributing four each.

This demonstrates that the Nets’ bigs, such as Scola and Booker, are moving away from their comfort zone and trying to do too much on offense. While these players may get away with this during preseason, this type of play must stop before opening night.

While players who are a lock to make the final roster may play carelessly on offense at points in preseason, these mistakes must be tightened up in the coming week and a half. If not, then players may carry these bad habits into meaningful games. From Brook Lopez to Chase Budinger, every player has to begin treating the next few games like they count.

The Nets must be held accountable for their mistakes for the remainder of the preseason. Coach Atkinson could approach this from a number of angles, including beginning to bench players who make careless mistakes. Every player, especially those who are not expected to be primary ball handlers, needs to play smart and make intelligent decisions on offense.

Feb 8, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Chris McCullough (1) drives to the basket during the 2nd half against the Denver Nuggets at Barclays Center. The Nets won, 105-104. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Young Guns Stepping Up

The Nets veterans have for the most part been carrying the team on both sides of the ball up to this point. Players such as Jeremy Lin, Scola and Randy Foye have been shooting a large volume of shots along with anchoring the team defensively. While these are positive signs for the team, Atkinson and his staff shouldn’t be pressured to play the veterans a large amount of minutes in preseason.

As demonstrated by the Nets third quarter collapse against the Celtics, Brooklyn’s second and third string need to demonstrate leadership and take advantage of their time to shine. Players such as Chris McCullough and Jorge Gutierrez need to show that when asked, they can come into a game and produce.

McCullough in particular has shown little to no improvement over the past few games. This has been a disappointment as many expected him to develop at a faster rate the longer he is healthy.

Players To Watch:

Nets: Chris McCullough (F) – 5.0 points per game, 4.7 rebounds per game
Celtics: Isaiah Thomas (G) – 6-13 on threes, 13-34 from the field

Oct 13, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin plays the ball while being defended by Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) during a preseason game during the second half at Barclays Center. The Celtics won 100-97. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

Projected Starters:

Nets:

PG: Jeremy Lin
SG: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
SF: Bojan Bogdanovic
PF: Trevor Booker
C: Brook Lopez

Celtics:

PG: Isaiah Thomas
SG: Avery Bradley

SF: Jae Crowder
PF: Amir Johnson
C: Al Horford

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