Sound the alarm. The Celtics, enjoying with out Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis, misplaced to Steph Curry and the 7-1 Warriors. Time to panic.
However severely, one of the simplest ways to maneuver ahead after a troublesome loss is by, nicely, transferring ahead. The Celtics (7-2) will get an opportunity to bounce again after they host the sneakily strong Nets (4-4) on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
The sport could not carry fairly the identical pizzazz because the one earlier than it, however the Nets are not any joke. They’re at the moment tied for third within the Japanese Convention and play a quick, fearless fashion of basketball.
Listed below are three issues to search for as they conflict in an Atlantic Division showdown.
Can Jayson Tatum hold it rolling?
The season is simply 9 video games in, however Tatum has very a lot seemed the a part of a professional Most Priceless Participant candidate thus far.
He’s averaging 30.2 factors, 7 rebounds and 4.8 assists per sport and has scored 28-plus on all however one event thus far.
One factor I’ve seen currently is how nicely the Celtics make the most of Tatum within the excessive pick-and-roll. They’ll let him function simply in entrance of half courtroom, set a display and pressure the protection to modify. When Tatum has a guard on him, he makes use of his energy. When he has an enormous on him, he makes use of his velocity. When the double comes, he makes the best learn.
It’s easy basketball, but it surely’s efficient, largely as a result of Tatum’s decision-making has been elite. He’s working in a LeBron James-like position, the place he’s on the hub and every part revolves round him. It’s working, and there’s no cause to tweak it in the mean time.
Is Neemias Queta turning into a fan favourite?
A couple of years in the past, only some diehard NBA followers exterior of Sacramento knew of Neemias Queta. Final yr, he grew to become an intriguing title in Celtics circles. This season, he’s on the verge of blossoming right into a fan favourite in Boston.
Queta, who supplied 14 factors, 8 rebounds and a pair of blocks in 28 minutes Wednesday, is figuring it out sport by sport. He’s not fairly Robert Williams III but, however he does have some Williams-like tendencies and traits.
The following step for him is enhancing his ending on the rim, and which means sharpening his 3-to-5-footer. If he turns into a severe menace to attain on extra than simply lobs, be careful. It’s clear he’s earned head coach Joe Mazzulla’s belief within the brief time period and develop into a undertaking long run.
Can they comprise Cam Thomas and Dennis Schröder?
For those who thought you have been lastly finished watching Dennis Schröder for some time as soon as the Olympics have been over, I remorse to tell you that he’s now on the Brooklyn Nets.
And sure, he’s enjoying nicely. Very nicely, really. Schröder is averaging 19.9 factors and seven.3 assists and has earned minutes over Ben Simmons (sorry, I’ll go away Simmons out of this).
Requested Dennis Schroder whether or not he feels the Nets veterans have been neglected coming into the season:
“We do not actually care what folks assume, what they are saying. We imagine on this group, and all people desires to make the playoffs.” pic.twitter.com/mbQ0cNUIII
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) November 5, 2024
Schröder is the form of participant who thrives when he has freedom, and that’s what he has in Brooklyn. With Cam Thomas (24.9 factors per sport) and Cameron Johnson (16.6 PPG) as sidekicks, Schröder helps the Nets push the tempo.
They’re the form of staff that you simply assume you’re going to wallop, then you definitely lookup and it’s a six-point sport with two minutes left. It’s very potential the Celtics win by 30, but it surely’s most likely extra seemingly that the plucky Nets dangle round earlier than the Celtics finally prevail.
