Celtics (7-5) at Nets (2-11) Game #13 11/22/15

[CelticSooner]

The upside of this game might be that people won't be so eager to scoff at the notion that Brooklyn is not the Sixersian tankfest we all want them to be.

Because they might beat the Celtics? They're 2-11. We have over 620 minutes of evidence they're terrible. They have a bottom 3 differential. They're not the the Sixers, but my word, you guys are persistent.

Confirmation bias. Nets are playing with pride for the beatdown from Friday.

[Walter Moss]

such a effortless shame
same as dallas second half

[esel1000]

I can't believe we gave up 59 to the Nets in a half... That's so inexcusable for a team that prides itself on defense even with no Smart

[PhoSita]

Celts having trouble with Lopez's height inside, and Thomas is out of his depth trying to guard a bigger guy like Jack.

[Neurotic Guy]

Nets playing well.  Balls bouncing their way for sure.

[Monkhouse]

Not having Smart makes a difference for the Celts' rotation.  One of the few guys it really hurts them to lose. 

Thomas, Amir, Smart, Crowder.  Hurts the Celts a lot to have any of those guys miss significant time.

I agree.

Smart's impact on defense really sets the tone. You can tell it in opposing point guards or shooting guards when their dribbling the ball at the top of the key or the perimeter, and how scared they seem to try to lose it.

I disagree. This game is more about Brooklyn's bench showing some life than anything.  Nets have been in a lot of close games against good teams this year.  Their bench has been non existent. 

I do think that a Thomas and Bradley back court is a defensive liability, though.  Too small.

Okay list the best bench players on the Nets, and compare it to half of the teams in the NBA....

I'll wait.

Because the Nets literally have no bench. Yes their bench is doing well, but the reason why they haven't done so well before, is... well ding, ding! Because they suck.

I do agree though, the back court is way TOO small.

I would rather have Hunter and IT as our back court just for length and shooting.

[Who]

Nice hook shot by Brook Lopez. Just rose over the top and soft touch. Pretty.

[esel1000]

How do you not call that??

[Monkhouse]

IT got hacked, but so far it seems like the Nets are getting literally every foul call... Smh.

[cltc5]

Refs helpin out this joke team

[CelticsFan166]

How do you call that bogus offensive foul and then not call that? Absurd.

[hpantazo]

meh....the Nets aren't going to keep up this shooting in the 2nd half. If the Celtics stick to their defense and keep forcing turnovers, they will win this game. Then Nets are even worse of a team than I thought now that I see them play. Wow, they are really devoid of talent on that roster. There is Lopez and Young, who are decent NBA starters, and then there are washed up corpses like Bargniani , JJ, and Jack, and washed up prospects like Larkin and Trob. What a sad roster.

[Denis998]

no way nets continue shooting at that rate for another half.

[CelticSooner]

meh....the Nets aren't going to keep up this shooting in the 2nd half. If the Celtics stick to their defense and keep forcing turnovers, they will win this game. Then Nets are even worse of a team than I thought now that I see them play. Wow, they are really devoid of talent on that roster. There is Lopez and Young, who are decent NBA starters, and then there are washed up corpses like Bargniani , JJ, and Jack, and washed up prospects like Larkin and Trob. What a sad roster.

They look like a 15-20 win team at best

[PhoSita]

The upside of this game might be that people won't be so eager to scoff at the notion that Brooklyn is not the Sixersian tankfest we all want them to be.

Because they might beat the Celtics? They're 2-11. We have over 620 minutes of evidence they're terrible. They have a bottom 3 differential. They're not the the Sixers, but my word, you guys are persistent.

They've got a quality starting lineup and have shown an ability to compete with good teams.  Their starting 5 is one of the best lineups in the league by point differential.  That's an indication that they are better than their record.

If you go back into the historical standings for mid to late November, you'll see that teams with a horrible record at this point in the year can end up with well below 25 wins, and they can just as easily end up turning it around and finishing in the high 20s, mid 30s, even close to .500.

I'm as eager as anybody for the Nets to be horrible and hand us a top pick, and there have been plenty of legitimate reasons since before the season to believe that will happen.  There have also been plenty of reasons to think they'll stick around in a lot of games and threaten to stay above the bottom 5.  This game is an example of that.  That is all I'm saying.