Nets Are Scorching

After being out of pocket all day, finally got to catch up with the game. Sebastian will have a more in-depth look tomorrow, but given how little Nets fans have had to celebrate this season, I have this simple message to the Celtics and the wonderful fans of Boston:

After the Celtics exploded to a 12-2 lead, the game appeared to be over.  However, the Nets took control from that moment forward and came away with a 104-96 win against the Boston Celtics (things got real hairy late).

• Courtney Lee put together his second straight 20+ point performance (first time as a Net) and played very well until he went out with an ankle injury.
• In addition to Courtney’s 21, Brook Lopez chipped in 25, and Devin Harris put up 23.  This is the second straight time they all put up 20+.
• Kris Humphries only had 11 points, but he pulled in 10 rebounds and left Marv saying “This is his best game as a Net.”
• The Celtics got the Nets’ lead to 6 points when Ray Allen was given a wide open three.  He missed it, and the Nets were able to pull away.
• Keyon Dooling put in 11 points as well, including 3 threes (including a very timely one in the fourth).
• In the third quarter, the Nets took two charges on Celtics’ fast breaks.
• CDR played a meaningful 27 minutes tonight, and maybe put this whole CDR-gate stuff to rest.  He didn’t score a ton, but after Lee left the game, he played very good defense on Ray Allen.
• The only Net who had a poor game was Yi.  In the fourth quarter he had a turnover and a missed shot, quickly getting pulled in favor of Kris Humphries.

The Celtics come into this game really struggling.  Everyone is calling them old, and without Paul Pierce they don’t really look fluid on offense.  Without Pierce, Marquis Daniels has been starting as the Celtics go small.  As for the Nets, they are coming off of a very good half of basketball against Portland and they have had 4 days off, 2 straight days without practice as well because of the snow.  The last time there was a long break in games, the Nets came out and beat Charlotte, so who knows what will happen.  Also, expect to see a lot of subs as Kiki manages minutes with a winnable game coming up tomorrow.  Onto the lineups…

Devin Harris vs. Rajon Rondo

With both of these guys at 100%, this is going to be real fun to watch.  These guys are just going to fly up and down the court back and forth.  Rondo has been playing real well as of late, but fatigue seems to be setting in with him late in games.  With Pierce out, Daniels who usually handles back up point duties is forced to start, and that means more minutes for Rondo.  You saw what happened in Cleveland, he just wore down.

Advantage:  Rajon Rondo

Courtney Lee vs.Marquis Daniels

Courtney Lee played great in the second half of the Portland game, but the biggest problem for him last year is consistency.  He has never really been able to put two or three games together, and if he can play well tonight, the Nets might have a chance.

Advantage:  Push

Jarvis Hayes vs. Ray Allen

After sitting out the last game, Hayes will be back.  Though you could see a fair amount of Trenton Hassell if Ray Allen starts to go off.  Since the trade deadline passed, that has been happening plenty.

Advantage:  Ray Allen

Yi vs. Kevin Garnett

It’s funny, when Yi came back he was playing great, but the rest of the team seemed to be struggling.  Now, for the most part the rest of the team is playing well, but Yi is struggling.  If he can hit a couple jumpers and stretch the defense, that is all we need from him at this point.

Advantage:  Kevin Garnett

Brook Lopez vs. Kendrick Perkins

This right here is going to be the match-up of the night.  Perkins is a nasty person (it seems like that at least), and his play matches that.  He is physical and tries to beat the opposing center down.  Brook has struggled with physical centers in the past, but I think the 4 days rest could help Brook.

Advantage:  Brook Lopez

The Nets had a hard time dealing with the snow, including Keyon Dooling, who was involved in a minor car accident.

Courtney Lee was equally miffed by the weather, according to Fred Kerber: “This is pretty brutal,” guard Courtney Lee said. “I’ve been in snow situations all my life, growing up in Indianapolis and then in Kentucky and this was probably the worst. [In Indy], we got snow like this once a year.”

Is Tony Battie a buyout candidate?

Nets fans disappointed by the team’s lack of activity at the trade deadline last week should hear what Marc Spears of Yahoo is reporting: Thorn said most of the teams talking to the Nets were focused on acquiring center Brook Lopez(notes) or guards Devin Harris(notes) and Courtney Lee(notes). Thorn considers all three to be key pieces of the Nets’ future – regardless of whether Thorn is around to call the shots after the team’s sale is completed. The New York Knicks, meanwhile, made deals to allow them to potentially sign two top-tier free agents.