POST GAME - BROOKLYN - AWAY

by **112288** Tue Dec 10, 2013 10:17 pm

Rapid Reaction: Nets 104, Celtics 96

By Chris Forsberg | ESPNBoston.com

NEW YORK -- Rapid reaction after the Brooklyn Nets defeated the Boston Celtics 104-96 on Tuesday night at the Barclays Center:

THE NITTY GRITTY
At Tuesday morning's shootaround, first-year Celtics coach Brad Stevens noted, "We’re not playing the Nets that have played the first [20] games. We’re playing the Nets that everybody thought were going to be the Nets." The return of Deron Williams (25 points on 10-of-16 shooting, seven assists, three rebounds) and old friend Paul Pierce, along with a dominant effort by center Brook Lopez were enough for Brooklyn to snap Boston's three-game winning streak. Lopez got whatever he wanted against the size-deprived Celtics, registering 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting over 38 minutes. Brooklyn outscored Boston 48-30 in the paint. Even old friend Kevin Garnett (11 points on 5-of-10 shooting, 9 rebounds) found his missing touch against his former team.

TURNING POINT
Down nine coming out of halftime, it took the Celtics only 2:21 to tie the game (a couple of Sullinger 3-pointers bookending the offensive spurt). But Brooklyn took control back of the game even quicker. The Nets embarked on a 10-0 burst over a two-minute span, culminating with a 21-foot jumper by Deron Williams for a 70-60 lead with 6:48 to play in the third quarter. Any time Boston showed signs of another spurt, it was smothered in the form of easy Lopez buckets as he bullied his way to the hoop.

BOSTON MAKES A CHARGE
The Nets had Boston at arm's length for much of the second half after taking control midway through the third quarter. But these Celtics wouldn't go quietly and, despite trailing by 13 with 4:47 to go, surged within five with under two minutes to go. They would get no closer and a little 5-0 burst was enough to ice the game for the Nets.

KG GREETS FORMER TEAMMATES
Garnett, famous for his icy greeting of former teammate Ray Allen after he defected to the rival Heat last season, greeted each of Boston's five starters -- all returners from last season -- with daps and hugs before tip-off. Later, Garnett gave good friend Rajon Rondo a sideline squeeze during the break in the action.

PIERCE STILL DOING ALL THE LITTLE THINGS
Playing his first game back from a broken hand and sporting a black protective glove, Pierce had a fairly quiet line with 4 points on 0-for-3 shooting with seven rebounds, three assists, and a steal. But, per usual, he did all the little things. That included a fourth-quarter charge take (yes, bad hand and all) on Gerald Wallace when the C's were threatening to make a run). The Celtics miss those crafty plays that don't always show up in the box score.

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES
Wallace earned a technical foul for throwing the ball off Alan Anderson after giving a foul with 33.7 seconds to play. Anderson had flipped the ball at Wallace initially after the whistle, but Wallace's flip is what the refs noticed and drew the tech.

LOOSE BALLS
Rookie Vitor Faverani played only 4 ½ minutes picking up two fouls and finishing at minus-12 in plus/minus. .... Rookie Phil Pressey's 20-foot jumper early in the second quarter ended a 68-minute field goal-less drought for the rookie point guard. He hadn't made a shot since Nov. 25, a span of six bucket-less games. ... Former Nets MarShon Brooks and Keith Bogans were healthy DNPs. Kris Humphries played 16:38 and couldn't help slow down former frontcourt mate Lopez. ... Rookie Kelly Olynyk missed his ninth straight game due to a sprained right ankle.

WHAT IT MEANS
The Celtics were scrappy, but Lopez's early domination made it tough to fight all the way back (and some late whistles didn't aid their cause). Boston's win streak is over and the team falls to 11-12 overall but still sits atop the Atlantic Division. Reunion week continues Wednesday in Boston when the Celtics host former coach Doc Rivers and the Los Angeles Clippers on the tail end of this back-to-back. Boston closes out the calendar year by playing seven of their next game games at TD Garden, including a visit from the Knicks on Friday.
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FAST BREAK: PAUL PIERCE, KEVIN GARNETT WIN CELTICS REUNION

By Ben Rohrbach | 0 Comments

The pregame hoopla may have focused on Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce‘s first game against their former team, but Brook Lopez and Deron Williams stole the show on the court in Brooklyn’s 104-96 victory against the Celtics.

Williams (25 points) and Lopez (24 points) helped the Nets end the C’s three-game win streak and crawl within two games of Boston’s Atlantic Division lead. Garnett and Pierce combined for 15 points, 16 rebounds and six assists.

All five Celtics starters scored in double figures, led by Bradley’s 22 points. Brandon Bass (13 points, 11 rebounds) notched his first double-double of the season. Jeff Green added 19 points and six boards while Jared Sullinger and Jordan Crawford added 15 apiece. The Celtics fell to 10-13.

WHAT WENT WRONG

Babbling Brook: The Celtics had no answer for Lopez. The undersized frontcourt of Sullinger and Bass was no match for the 7-foot, 275-pound Lopez, who scored 22 points on 10-of-12 shooting through the first three quarters, when the Nets owned a 46-24 advantage in the paint and an 85-72 edge on the scoreboard. The Celtics made it a game in the final minutes, but couldn’t overcome a Nets lead as large as 17.

El Hombre Destructible: Celtics coach Brad Stevens attempted to counter Lopez with Vitor Faverani, but the Brazilian 7-footer finished minus-12 in four minutes with two personal fouls and zeroes across the stat sheet. In his last five games, Faverani is averaging 2.8 points and 1.5 rebounds. While Kelly Olynyk‘s return may help the front line, the C’s still won’t have a defender capable of matching up with a true center.

Bench press: Pierce came off the bench for just the fourth time in his career, anchoring a Brooklyn second unit that dominated their Celtics counterparts. While Pierce scored in the single digits, he added seven rebounds and three assists to give the Nets reserves a total of 22 points, 20 rebounds and six assists. Faverani, Gerald Wallace and Kris Humphries all struggled, as the Celtics bench totaled just 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

WHAT WENT RIGHT

Second helping: Often matched up with Williams, who missed the previous nine games with an ankle injury, Bradley torched the Nets point guard in the second quarter, scoring 12 of his 15 first-half points to help the Celtics remain within nine, 56-47, at halftime. Bradley has now reached double-digit scoring in 15 games, a number he didn’t reach until mid-March last season.

Triple threat: The Celtics made eight of their first 14 3-point attempts, including their first three tries of the third quarter to tie the game at 60-60. Bradley started 3-of-5, Green made his first two and Sullinger connected on his first two tries after halftime, as the C’s erased a 13-point first-half deficit 2:22 into the third quarter.

Old friends: As far as the reunion goes, this hug between Garnett and Rajon Rondo during a timeout said it all. This wasn’t exactly the cold shoulder routine KG gave Ray Allen last season.

112288

by **112288** Tue Dec 10, 2013 10:20 pm

If we had a real center at 7'0 we win. Sully is a power forward/sometimes center only. He has played very well despite his height disadvantage.

Nets showed me nothing. This Celtic team has no quit in them!

A couple of roster moves with some quality players coming to us with height could make this real interesting come the spring.

112288

by **k_j_88** Tue Dec 10, 2013 10:43 pm

Boston had 9 fast break points and only 14 assists. That says it all right there.

Boston's bench also didn't do much offensively.

Yeah, Brooklyn has length, but they also lack the same level of youth. Boston should have ran them out of the gym. When Boston was able to push the pace, Brooklyn's defense was not as effective. When you're playing against a team that's bigger and slower, you don't win by playing half court the whole time.

But I think this loss will bring them back down to Earth so they can refocus their efforts.

KJ

by **Berlin-T** Wed Dec 11, 2013 8:04 am

It's hard to run the floor when your defense has no answer for their 7' center.

by **dbrown4** Wed Dec 11, 2013 8:14 am

Mild correction, Chris. We're 10-13, not 11-12. I do like his optimism, though!

by **sinus007** Wed Dec 11, 2013 8:42 am

Hi,
As Mike Gorman commented: BKN decided to play as they're predicted to be playing before the start of the season. No luck for Celtics.

AK

by **cowens/oldschool** Wed Dec 11, 2013 10:50 am

First game all season where Sully seemed overmatched, he usually holds his own, we played hard, but Nets have 4 7-footers, KG actually had a good game too, been awhile for him....too many jump shots by us. Crawford came back down to Earth alittle, but he just had 3 great games in a row, so overall I'll still take it.

by **beat** Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:28 am

Didn't think we played particularly well but again we played hard.

Williams first game healthy and we really could not stop him. Lopez same thing.

In NJ can play like this their record will improve slowly but KG and PP are not going to be huge factors for them.

Hey a little bright side........Atlanta went belly up !

beat

by **bobheckler** Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:55 am

Boy, is Stevens ever right when he said "you're never as good as you think you are, nor as bad as you think you are and you're never very far from either"?

We were beaten by two players, Lopez and Williams. Pierce played well and did the little things. KG grabbed boards and anchored a defense that held us to 44%, but it was Lopez and Williams that we couldn't stop.

As much as there was to like in the blow out of NYK, that's how much there was to NOT like about last night.

1. Brook Lopez is an all-star center (back in the days when the league recognized centers as a position worthy of note on an all-star ballot). He played like it. He matches Sully pound-for-pound and used every ounce to bounce Sully back ala Shaquille O'Neal. When he had position he just easily shot over him and there wasn't a damn thing Sully could do about it. Sully was quite active on defense though. He didn't just stand behind Lopez and try to hold his ground. He would front him, then partially front him and just generally change the look of his defense, making the entry pass harder. Sully worked his butt off, but he was overmatched. Vitor had a shot at him and just looked completely befuddled how to handle someone as big and strong as him and much more physical than him. 2 fouls in 4 minutes for Vitor.

2. This was Deron Williams' first game back. He was supposed to play 20-25 minutes. He played 37 and looked like he had never been out. 25 points and 7 assists is one helluva nice night for someone who should have been rusty. Why couldn't we stop him?

3. Bradley had one of his big scoring games. He also had a very tough defensive assignment with Joe Johnson. Johnson had 7 points on 3-9. When he tried to cover DWill, though, they just rubbed him off on a pick.

4. The Nets were shooting over 60 percent for most of the game. Lopez and DWill combined for 49 of the Nets 104 points on 20-29 shooting.

5. KJ, on the Game On Thread, said that it's "feast or famine with Crawford". Well, he's been feasting quite a bit recently so a game of famine is to be expected, but there is one part of his game that has not risen this year. He is not a full court player, he is a half court player. He brings the ball up at speeds that range from a slow trot to Rondo's walk. Wallace brings the ball up faster than Crawford, so does Bradley. They're not as good as Crawford in the half court set, but they get the ball up to where you can begin the half court set much faster. He pounds the ball into the floor a lot without moving it or himself. The shot clock winds down and then he makes a great shot or pass to salvage the possession. To beat this team we needed to run run run. We didn't, and not just Crawford, NOBODY ran but maybe if he did others would too. But that's not his game. I think it's one of those things we're just going to have to accept about him, why he's not the 2nd coming of MJ (like he thinks he is). He's still doing well, I admit I'm surprised and impressed, but if we want to run volume basketball he's not the point guard we want to do it with. We need a pusher and a runner, not a jogger. This should be Pressey's opening, but he has regressed.

Look, statistically we could go down the line here and talk about matchup after matchup after matchup, but the bottom line is that the Celtics played without energy, didn't run, and got overpowered in the post and point guard positions. When you don't play with energy it makes it easier for their defense and creates opportunities for their offense. It all starts with ganas and, as a team, we didn't play with ganas last night. A few of our players did, Bradley and Sully notably, but we're not good enough to ride the back of just two players to wins.

On the bright side, we didn't go away either. We rallied back several times and closed the gap to a one possession game. Another dull glow of light is that Atlanta lost.

This next game, against LAC, is a BIG game. Not because of Doc, but because if we lose then it will be a 2-game losing streak. Winners hate/despise/loathe with every fiber of their beings 2-game losing streaks. It's what made the Russell Celtics so successful, losing 2 in a row was something that made their stomach's turn at the mere thought of. Brad Stevens talks about culture and the culture of winning. Well, this is gut-check time. We're playing better. We're learning "the Stevens Way" and developing chemistry between players. We've had winning streaks. We've played games where we've looked really good and games we lost but fought like wildcats. Now, we get to see what kind of taste a loss leaves in their mouths. It's not November anymore and they shouldn't expect to get their brains beat in anymore. They should be thinking "we can win every game if we play together and play hard". Whether that's true or not is not the point, they have improved to the point where their natural competitiveness should kick in and make another losing streak unthinkable and unbearable.

Go Celtics! Let the stomach acid churn!

bob

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by **tjmakz** Wed Dec 11, 2013 12:22 pm

Bob,

Just a side question to your great post.
Have you looked at the Celtics schedule for January?
Going 6-11 in 17 January games would be pretty realistic in my opinion.

by **bobheckler** Wed Dec 11, 2013 12:39 pm

tjmakz wrote:Bob,

Just a side question to your great post.
Have you looked at the Celtics schedule for January?
Going 6-11 in 17 January games would be pretty realistic in my opinion.

TJ,

No, I haven't looked at January. To be honest, I haven't really looked closely at December either, other than knowing that it's easier than the Hell Month of November, although that's not saying much. November might be the hardest month I've ever seen, 19 games in one month and 6 back-to-backs. We're getting better, there is no doubt of that. We're integrating and developing chemistry. If Rondo comes back and can add to that chemistry quickly, then I don't really care about January's schedule since its difficulty is measured in indirect ratio to our readiness to play those teams and that readiness will be better a month from now. In other words, the better and more ready we are, the less difficult and imposing that schedule will be. Just like the Lakers. Now that Kobe is back it's a different team and their chances of winning a month from now is very different from what they were last week.

I said it all starts with ganas, and I truly believe that. Kobe injects a massive, MASSIVE amount of ganas into the Lakers and that will jump start it for you in ways that will transcend Kobe's individual ppg. For us, it will be Rondo.

bob

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by **tjmakz** Wed Dec 11, 2013 1:26 pm

bob,

Kobe and Rondo will make the Lakers more dangerous teams but I just think neither team has enough talent to seriously compete over 82 games. It's a little different for the Celtics because the East is historically bad this year. (2 teams over .500).
I still think Brooklyn will win the division so maybe Boston will compete for a lower playoff spot in the East. I just don't see the Lakers making a run for the playoffs in the West. GS and Memphis both should pull away from the Lakers. The Lakers can win when they hit a lot of 3's but their transition and interior defense is terrible. They are giving up the 2nd most points in the league. Gasol is providing no rim protection.

by **tjmakz** Wed Dec 11, 2013 1:33 pm

These are of course my opinions, and could wind up being completely wrong!

by **k_j_88** Wed Dec 11, 2013 3:02 pm

A few observations...

1. Brook Lopez will never drop 100, let alone 50.

He'll get his because he's just that good. But part of combating that is pace. Brooklyn isn't built for an uptempo game.

2. Where's the pace?

As BobH stated, Crawford was disappointing in that he never got the team running, which is what they needed. I recal one play where Green was pushing the ball but was outnumbered 4 to 1 because everyone else was dragging ass up the court.

3. Welcome to the Barclays Shooting Gallery

Boston's perimeter defense wasn't nearly as sharp. This allowed Brooklyn to rack up points in a hurry, pushing the lead to double digits.

I don't think Boston can win too many games playing from behind. They need to play out to a lead and hold it because they struggle to manufacture enough offense to come back.

4. Bradley was sniping at said shooting gallery

He finished with 22 points and has been getting very acquainted with the corner 3. Bradley's looking like a very effective offensive weapon.

KJ

by **Sam** Wed Dec 11, 2013 3:35 pm

TJ,

Rondo will make the Lakers a better team? Question #1: Has he been traded? Question #2 Or do you mean he's going to throw the Celtics-Lakers games?

Only kidding.

Sam

by **steve3344** Wed Dec 11, 2013 3:50 pm

http://www.csnne.com/blog/celtics-talk/did-celtics-win-trade-nets?p=ya5nbcs&ocid=yahoo

by **Outside** Wed Dec 11, 2013 6:34 pm

I differed with KJ on another thread about how well the Celtics match up with a bona fide big man (Hibbert in that case, Lopez in this), but we do agree that the way to overcome that disadvantage is by running. I didn't watch the game, but from everything I can tell, the Celtics didn't force the pace.

An effective Deron Williams makes a huge difference for the Nets, but Lopez is maddeningly inconsistent, and I don't trust him to put up games like this consistently, despite his advantage over Sullinger, Bass, or whichever Celtic jersey is nipping at his ankles. Given that:

• Boston can do a much better job of forcing a faster pace

• The odds of both Williams and Lopez playing their best games at the same time are low

• The Nets' have a high percentage of slow/old/defensively inept players

• Stevens will learn from this experience and adjust

I like Boston's chances the next time these two teams play.

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