National Basketball Association

Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics: Takeaways and Player Grades

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 2:58 p.m. ET

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Oct 17, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets guard Sean Kilpatrick (6) during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

The Brooklyn Nets dropped their fourth consecutive preseason game last night to the Boston Celtics.

Another tough loss for the Brooklyn Nets last night. Boston is just cruising through the New York teams — the Celtics beat the Nets last Thursday, then followed with another win against the New York Knicks this past Saturday. The Celtics actually close out their preseason with another game against the Knicks on Wednesday.

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In last night’s battle at TD Garden, the Nets trailed for a majority of the game, though they showed some signs of life in the third quarter. Jeremy Lin led the way in the third, bringing Brooklyn to within two, but that was as close as they would ever get. Beginning midway into the third quarter, Boston outscored Brooklyn 51-32, and never let the Nets get even an inch closer.

In the loss, Sean Kilpatrick led the Nets with 15 points. Isaiah Thomas led the Celtics with 19 points.

The Nets face the Celtics again on opening night, but until then, here are some takeaways and player grades from last night’s loss.

Oct 17, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) controls the ball as Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) defends during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Takeaways

1. Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers… but the Nets were unable to take advantage

The game began with both teams committing turnover after turnover. Most of the sequences in the first few minutes of the game involved both teams exchanging the ball back to each other off careless turnovers and missed baskets. Both squads ended the first quarter with seven turnovers apiece. However, the Nets actually finished the game with less turnovers than the Celtics — 19, compared to Boston’s 25. Each team converted on a total of 30 points off turnovers. Evidently, the Nets were unable to take advantage of Boston’s higher mark in turnovers.

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2. Boston is simply the better team

The Nets didn’t do terribly in every category last night. Just glancing at the team stats, Brooklyn did not shoot god-awful (41.4 percent from the field and 34.4 percent from deep). Brooklyn’s ball movement appeared okay, though there were times the Nets were simply unable to get anywhere during their possessions, as a result of the Celtics’ excruciating defense. Even when Boston had their third unit in the game in the second half, the Nets’ second unit was still overwhelmed. It’s only the preseason, but still, it was no competition.

3. Brooklyn was smoked on the glass

Although the Nets were pretty even with the Celtics in most categories, they did struggle in rebounding once again. In their previous matchup, Brooklyn rested Brook Lopez and saw a major dip in boards, but last night, Kenny Atkinson didn’t give his starters too much playing time — the most was 21 by Rondae Hollis-Jefferson — but without Lopez on the floor, Brooklyn did not have a true center. Young guns Chris McCullough and even Egidijus Mockevicius (who actually got playing time last night, by the way) played as a stretch-five for some time. Resting Anthony Bennett and Trevor Booker last night may have also contributed to Brooklyn’s poor rebounding. The Nets’ leading rebounders were Lopez and Chase Budinger, who both contributed five apiece. Boston finished the game with a 55-34 advantage in boards.

Player of the Night

Jeremy Lin

PG, Brooklyn Nets

BJeremy Lin got off to a shaky start, contributing to three of the Nets’ seven first quarter turnovers. However, Lin led the way in the third quarter, as Brooklyn attempted to make a comeback, and he brought the Nets within two. Unfortunately, the Celtics were too much for the Nets to handle after Brooklyn placed their second, third, and borderline fourth units into the game. Lin finished with 13 points, two rebounds, and five assists, and only committed one more turnover following the first period.

Wildcard

Chase Budinger

SF, Brooklyn Nets

B-Chase Budinger is possibly the Nets’ oddest signing of the offseason, and it’s still unclear where exactly he fits into the Nets’ offense. Last night, he received the most playing time that he’s had in the entire preseason, with 18 minutes. Budinger played for the entire fourth quarter and finished the game with 10 points, five rebounds, and two assists. As stated before, Budinger tied with Brook Lopez as the Nets’ leading rebounder of the night. Budinger is just 6-foot-7 and plays at the three, but could certainly be used by Brooklyn to get an advantage in the paint.

Up Your Game, Please

Isaiah Whitehead

PG/SG, Brooklyn Nets

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