The Nets will face the Celtics for the second time in three days Thursday night. Here are three things to watch for when the ball goes up a little after 8 p.m.:
1. How will the starters look? – The Nets gave their starting lineup the entire night off Tuesday in Boston, delaying the chance to see how they will look against the five-time defending Atlantic Division champions. If the Nets want to win the division and claim homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs, two goals they have in their sights this season, they’ll have to go through Boston to do it.
The Celtics may be aging, but they’re talented and have depth at every position. They haven’t shown much in the preseason, and aren’t too interested in doing so – heck, Celtics coach Doc Rivers didn’t even come out to the bench for the second half of Tuesday’s Nets win in Boston. But it will still be interesting to see how the Nets’ starters fare against the Celtics.
2. The debut of MarShon Brooks – After spending the last week sidelined with right foot tendinitis, Brooks will get his first action of the preseason Thursday, assuming he’s able to get through shootaround without any complications.
Brooks had an up-and-down season a year ago, impressing early but fading late. At least some of that came from the fact that he was forced to be one of the focal points of the offense, and was really one of two players, along with Deron Williams, who was a threat to create his own shot.
But Brooks also had some issues at times. His biggest was trying to play without the ball, especially in games when Brook Lopez played, after spending much of last season and his senior year at Providence having the freedom to do whatever he wanted with the ball.
Tonight will be the first chance we’ve had to see just how he’s adapted to his new role as the sixth man coming off the bench, and to having less touches in the offense.
3. Andray Blatche – One of the biggest surprises of the preseason hasn’t been that Blatche has been successful, but how he’s been successful. Known as a player content to float around the perimeter and launch jumpers in Washington, Blatche has gone hard to the rim repeatedly right from the get-go this month. He was good for the third straight game in Tuesday’s win over the Celtics, not only because he finished with 23 points and nine rebounds but because of how he got those rebounds, including five offensive boards.
The Nets have been high on Blatche since before training camp began, and after losing over 20 pounds he’s in very good shape and is playing hard. If he can continue to attack the rim, he could prove to be one of the steals off the offseason.