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

[LarBrd33]

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

Exactly.   Say what you will about Brooklyn, but their starting lineup has been a top 6 unit in the NBA this year.  It's their bench that has been disastrous.   

Larkin:  5 points and 5 assists in the first half... good sign for the young player
Barg:  10 points on 5/7 shooting.  Good sign for him.  He's averaging 5.4 points on 38% shooting this year off the bench, but is coming off a season in which he averaged 15 points on 45%/36%/81% shooting for the Knicks.
Robinson:  5 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks and 1 steal.  He's been active.  He's actually been solid in limited minutes.

If Brooklyn starts getting consistent contribution from their bench, they could be a lot better than their record implies. 

[JSD]

Man, Brook with that one handed flick shot.

[CelticSooner]

The body language sucks. Wake up

[PhoSita]

Weak start to the half.  The Celts really look like the 2-11 team in this one.  Poor execution, can't seem to get a stop.  Nets look comfortable in the half court.

[littleteapot]

Around here it's been pretty consistent -- you are allowed to have one of two opinions.  You think the Nets will challenge for the worst record in the league, or you think they will make the playoffs.

There are no in-betweens.  Anything you say will get placed into one of those categories.

Wait are you actually saying you think the Nets will make the playoffs?

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

let's pretend that jae didnt have like 15pts by this time last game... he has 2.

[esel1000]

That was a ridiculous shot by Lopez... that kind of night...

[PhoSita]

There's some of that one-legged action IT promised us in preseason.

[Ilikesports17]

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.

Sure, but hopeless teams destined for a bottom of the league record tend not to play with pride, period.  Even if they do, they typically don't have the horses to compete, regardless.  That's been the story with the Sixers for years now.

Not sure who said they were hopeless. I still think that's a top 5 pick maybe top 3 if Lopez misses any time. That's all you can ask for at this point in time.

Around here it's been pretty consistent -- you are allowed to have one of two opinions.  You think the Nets will challenge for the worst record in the league, or you think they will make the playoffs.

There are no in-betweens.  Anything you say will get placed into one of those categories.

TP to you. I'm really hoping for that "challenge for the worst record" business, but they have at least a few players who can play. My biggest hope is that they have to go deep into their roster through the season. They only have a bit of leeway before they turn into the 76ers.

Mike

Ive long been consistent that the pick would convey in the 7-12 range but since the start of the season my opinion has changed a lot. Now Id probably predict 3-7.

[PhoSita]

Around here it's been pretty consistent -- you are allowed to have one of two opinions.  You think the Nets will challenge for the worst record in the league, or you think they will make the playoffs.

There are no in-betweens.  Anything you say will get placed into one of those categories.

Wait are you actually saying you think the Nets will make the playoffs?

Bravo.

Just ... bravo.  Well done.

[esel1000]

The body language sucks. Wake up

That's honestly why I'm so disappointed... look the Nets are playing hard an hitting some tough shots give them credit. But the body language is pathetic, at least try

[mef730]

We can complain all we want about the officiating and point out that the Nets are, indeed, shooting way above their pay level. But they're winning by 17.

It's time to accept the fact that this Nets team simply isn't as bad as we hoped they would be. Their starting five is good enough to keep them in games and win a few if their opponent is off.

Mike

Hasn't this Nets team started poorly the last few years?  And each time they make a run late in the season when other teams stop caring and they sneak into the playoffs.

Am I misremembering that?

They have. I don't think that's going to happen this year, but I am thinking that top 5 pick could end up being in the 3-7 range. In a draft like this one, that could make a difference.

Mike

[PhoSita]

Nobody on our team can defend Brook.  The best guy we have to defend Jack is out.

[PhoSita]

We can complain all we want about the officiating and point out that the Nets are, indeed, shooting way above their pay level. But they're winning by 17.

It's time to accept the fact that this Nets team simply isn't as bad as we hoped they would be. Their starting five is good enough to keep them in games and win a few if their opponent is off.

Mike

Hasn't this Nets team started poorly the last few years?  And each time they make a run late in the season when other teams stop caring and they sneak into the playoffs.

Am I misremembering that?

They have. I don't think that's going to happen this year, but I am thinking that top 5 pick could end up being in the 3-7 range. In a draft like this one, that could make a difference.

Mike

I don't really have any solid idea about what kind of draft this is, but the only guy who seems exciting so far is Simmons.

If we can't get him, I think my hopes are set on Poeltl, who I expect to be a solid defensive center.

[LarBrd33]

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.

Sure, but hopeless teams destined for a bottom of the league record tend not to play with pride, period.  Even if they do, they typically don't have the horses to compete, regardless.  That's been the story with the Sixers for years now.

Not sure who said they were hopeless. I still think that's a top 5 pick maybe top 3 if Lopez misses any time. That's all you can ask for at this point in time.

Around here it's been pretty consistent -- you are allowed to have one of two opinions.  You think the Nets will challenge for the worst record in the league, or you think they will make the playoffs.

There are no in-betweens.  Anything you say will get placed into one of those categories.

TP to you. I'm really hoping for that "challenge for the worst record" business, but they have at least a few players who can play. My biggest hope is that they have to go deep into their roster through the season. They only have a bit of leeway before they turn into the 76ers.

Mike

Ive long been consistent that the pick would convey in the 7-12 range but since the start of the season my opinion has changed a lot. Now Id probably predict 3-7.

I was starting to get excited about the prospect of getting a top 5 pick from Brooklyn but this game just jittered me back to paranoia.  There's 70 games left in this season. They played really well down the stretch last year.  If they start getting this kind of production from their bench nightly, they will win games.