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

[hpantazo]

So KO gets run over by Lopez and gets the foul called on him, then the refs give another freebie foul to give the Nets 2 free throws?

[PhoSita]

Like I said, they've played 13 games...2 wins and one near win don't mean anything. Flashes of good play, literally mean nothing.

How is it that playing tough against by far the greatest team in the league, on that team's home court, coming within inches of actually beating them, means nothing?

Predictive metrics and everything are nice, but I guess I'm still "old school" enough not to disregard when I see a team with a bad record putting together 48 minutes of high level play against a really, really good opponent.

All of that wouldn't mean a whole lot, regardless, if it were just one game.  But the Nets still have the nucleus in place from a team that's made the playoffs  -- and won playoff series -- multiple times over the last few years.  The Nets have guys who know how to win games. 


Now again, before somebody gets on me for saying the Nets are going to make the playoffs, that is not what I'm saying.  Just that there has always been an argument to be made that the Nets will challenge for 25-35 wins, and that argument is still valid, despite the 2-11 start.  Historically, the 25-35 range tends to yield a pick in the 5-12 range, not top 5.

[Neurotic Guy]

I like ET.  But right now, get the ball out of his hands.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Ball sticking to Turner's hands like crazy... missing all our open men.

[PhoSita]

By the way, I'm not sure you understand this, but if you're starting lineup has a good differential, but the other 10 guys have a tragic one, that's not some secret indication of quality.

It's an indication that if you're willing to lean on your starters because you have nothing to lose by doing so, you'll have an advantage over teams that lack depth who increasingly give minutes to lesser guys as the season goes on.

It also means that if you keep the game close heading into the fourth quarter, you've got a chance to win just because you can put a lineup out there that can compete.

It also means that to be in games you need to rely on starters for more mins than they can handle which will hurt you as the year goes on and you accumulate injuries like every team does.

Indeed.  On the other hand, how many games did Brook Lopez play last year?

[esel1000]

I hate late whistles...

[PhoSita]

I've always liked Jarrett Jack.  Not who you want as your starter, but he's a nice rotation piece. 

[BudweiserCeltic]

Terrible call.

[danglertx]

Some shakey ref'ing here.

[Neurotic Guy]

What a bad call.   

Feet are officially off the gas.   C's need another boost of energy.

[PhoSita]

IT is really struggling to defend Jack right now.  Making Jack look like Paul Pierce.

[tarheelsxxiii]

Back to IT + ET. Bad news. CBS is clearly trying to score our way back into the game -- gotta throw the ball now, can't run it -- but that combo doesn't work.

[makaveli]

the refs made 4-5 laughablee calls tonight, and all of them were on us

[Neurotic Guy]

JJ good board, but didn't you just know he was going to lose the ball?

[Walter Moss]

JJ IDIOT
WHAT AN IDIOT