NETS GAMENIGHT: #Nets @ #Celtics (ESPN)

By
Updated: April 10, 2013

Brooklyn Nets (45-32) @ Boston Celtics (40-37)

TD Garden 8:00

TV: ESPN– RADIO: Bloomberg 1130AM

The Brooklyn Nets looked very good last night when they destroyed the Philadelphia Sixers 104-83 by dominating the paint and the boards.  The Nets pounded the Sixers right from the beginning behind Reggie Evans and Brook Lopez.  Evans had 10 points and 10 rebounds in the first to go with Lopez 15 points and seven rebounds.

The game was blown open by halftime with an 18 point lead, 56-38, without Deron Williams scoring a single point.  The Sixers continued to be pummeled by the Nets frontcourt the rest of the night and lost the battle on the boards by an amazing 67-34.  Nets let the starters sit the entire fourth and won going away.

The Nets traveled right after the game to Boston to take on the Celtics tonight in the finale of their four game series.  These two teams do not seem to like one another and it has been apparent from the first meeting where the Celtics tried to put the new-look Nets in their place and show they weren’t done yet.

The second matchup featured the Rajon Rondo and Kris Humphries scuffle and continued the bad blood.  The Celtics are trying to cling onto the fact that they have the veteran leadership to make one last run so Brooklyn needs to come out tonight on ESPN and show Boston what could happen if they meet in the playoffs.Reggie Evans shooting free throw vs Sixers

[blockquote]”You kind of feel some sort of chippiness between the two teams to be honest with you when we match up against Brooklyn,” Boston forward Paul Pierce said.[/blockquote]

Evans will have to have another big night in Boston to help the Nets get a much needed win over an above.500 team and send a message to Boston come playoff time if they meet.  The Nets won the first two meetings of the series and lost the last one on a bad Christmas Day massacre at Barclays Center 93-76.

[blockquote]”It isn’t all about the way you look, how tall you are, how physical you look,” Evans said. “It’s all about that heart. I’d rather play a physical game than a pretty game. The more physical, the better it is. I like contact. I don’t like running away.”[/blockquote]

Deron Williams will be ready to roll tonight after playing limited minutes last night and sitting the fourth quarter while Joe Johnson will need to be a factor and get back into the flow prior to the playoffs but scored 11 points to help the Nets to the blowout win against the Sixers.

MATCHUP OF THE GAME: Gerald Wallace vs Paul Pierce

Gerald Wallace is having his worst statistical season by far but he still plays great defense and does the little things to help the Nets win.  He admitted he had lost his confidence earlier this week and it will be needed tonight to shut down Pierce.  Wallace has not shot the ball very much in the last four games which is noticeable although he has padded his stat line elsewhere and found the open man when needed.

Paul Pierce has always hurt the Nets and can come up with a huge game at anytime so it is imperative that Wallace focus on defense only tonight ans top Pierce from getting started.  Rondo is not around to get Pierce his wide open elbow jumpers but Avery Bradley has filled in nicely and the Celtics play much slower than with the injured Rondo in the lineup.  Pierce will be vocal and ready tonight so Wallace will need his A-game to make sure Brooklyn steals this road win.

STAT FOR TONIGHT: The Nets, who took three of four from Boston seven seasons ago, lead Chicago by three games for home-court advantage in the first round.

Season Series: BKN 2-1
11/15 –  BOS 97 @ BKN 102
11/28 – BKN 95 @ BOS 83
12/25 – BOS 93 @ BKN 76
4/10 –   BKN @ BOS

Nets:

Keith Bogans (tightlower back) is OUT

Celtics:

Rajon Rondo (Torn ACL, Right Knee) is OUT

Jared Sullinger (Lumbar Disc Surgery) is OUT

Leave a Reply