A week ago, the Nets’ new look came to TD Garden for a preseason game and showed the Celtics why they will be a force in the Eastern Conference this year. But the game didn’t count and the Celtics were hopeful that the result and message would be different when it happened.
Then, this Christmas game, a real game, arrived, and the Nets were perhaps even more dominant, as they punished Boston in the second half and achieved victory by 123-95.
Guard Kyrie Irving, playing his first regular season game in Boston since leaving the team in the summer of 2018, had 37 points and eight assists. Kevin Durant added 29 points. The Nets beat the Celtics, 72-41, in the second half.
Jaylen Brown had 27 points and eight rebounds to lead the Celtics, and Jayson Tatum added 20 points from 9 of 22 shots. The Celtics hit only 37.8 percent of their pitches overall.
Game notes:
⋅ The Nets have hitters on all corners, and Brown and Marcus Smart separately mentioned the impact they can have when a team like this is playing basket after basket.
“They put pressure on you by shooting from the other side,” said Smart, “so if you don’t go down and run and get a great shot, they put your defense in trouble with the way they run.”
Brown added: “They have a lot of hitters on this team and, once they hit, we can’t get discouraged. We cannot let that speed us up. We need to keep moving the ball, keep playing our game. I thought that when they started taking shots, we felt the pressure a little bit and that comes with balance, comes with experience and we will continue to build on that. “
The Celtics, for their part, just don’t have that many shotguns at the moment. Newcomer Aaron Nesmith was not part of the rotation in the first two games, and Kemba Walker is out with a knee injury.
Finding crime will be a chore on some nights. The encouraging news for Boston is that Brown helped keep the attack afloat, deftly taking on more responsibility. He looks very comfortable at all stages of his attack now.
⋅ This was an extremely challenging period of two games to start the season, and coach Brad Stevens is probably fine with the various scenarios his team has experienced. The Celtics accumulated a 17 point lead in the fourth quarter against the Bucks before pulling in victory with some heroics in the end.
Against the Nets, the Celtics led at halftime before being hit after the break, as some of their defensive flaws were exposed. The end result is a 1-1 record and a lot to build on.
“It’s a great look to test us as a team to see where we are and where we need to go,” said Smart.
Istan Tristan Thompson started the game by defending Durant, but Durant didn’t really explore the confrontation. The beginning of the third quarter was different. Durant scored 9 consecutive points in Brooklyn over a two-minute period, all with Thompson as a defender.
After a timeout, Smart took over the task, but after Grant Williams moved to Durant, he drilled 3 more, helping Brooklyn to expand his lead to 81-73. Durant had 9 points out of 2 out of 6 shots in the first half and 16 out of 6 out of 7 shots in the third period only.
“I thought Durant really fought and Tristan did a good job,” said Stevens. “We have to improve in other areas. Defending Kevin Durant’s isolation is a problem for everyone in the world. That’s how good Kevin Durant is. All you can do is to battle. “
⋅ Tatum, who averaged 4.7 free throws per game last season and 7.2 in the playoffs, has yet to step on the foul line this year. He doesn’t seem to settle for jumpers very often, but this team, if challenged offensively, will need Tatum to close the deal and find their way to the line.
Brooklyn Brooklyn’s attack is likely to be the most potent in the Eastern Conference, and when Durant and Irving started the fourth period on the bench, Caris LeVert hit consecutive baskets and fired a pass to Landry Shamet for a 3-point basket, increasing Brooklyn’s advantage to 95 -79.
“I think it’s the deepest team in the NBA and quite possibly – certainly in the conversation for the best,” said Stevens. “We know that we have a lot of work to do, that is very clear. And we know what we have to look for. “
Cel The Celtics once again used a large two starter line that featured Daniel Theis and Thompson. It was a little surprising this time because the Robert Williams support center was removed due to illness, somewhat limiting the options with the second unit.
Thompson dominated for much of the first quarter, achieving four offensive rebounds. Both players dealt with some foul problems, however, including being called for offensive fouls in sealed moves that have become trademarks of this crime.
“I really don’t understand that,” said Tatum. “Roll and close, I don’t think there’s much difference if they roll to get the ball. But I think the referees watched the tape and are emphasizing it, so we will have to adjust. “
⋅ Nesmith made his debut in the regular season with Boston losing by 16 points and just under 10 minutes to go until the end of the fourth. He made a 3-point basket just over a minute later and it was an aerial ball, but he hit his next attempt at the end of the period. Of course, newcomer colleague Payton Pritchard is slightly ahead of Nesmith on the depth chart.
Pritchard had 7 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals in 25 minutes, but was cautioned for having his foot on the sideline twice in the fourth period, including before punching what would have been a 3-point wrench before Brooklyn moved away. .
Reserva Reserve keeper Jeff Teague will not shoot 100 percent beyond the 3-point line like a Celtic, believe it or not. Teague, who was 9 out of 9, including preseason, was out for a second quarter attempt.
Cel The Celtics maintained a moment of silence before the game for former playmaker and coach KC Jones, who died on Friday morning from complications from Alzheimer’s disease.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach