Halftime Scorching Takes: The Celtics appear to care about this sport towards Brooklyn simply as a lot as the remainder of us

By way of two quarters, the primary Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets assembly of the season hasn’t panned out the best way many would’ve anticipated. The Nets led for the whole half however Boston managed to chop it down to simply two earlier than the halftime buzzer.

Now, prepare for some Halftime Scorching Takes, buddy.

I’ve seen higher begins

Hear, I perceive that it isn’t fairly as simple to rise up for a sport towards the Nets in comparison with one towards the Golden State Warriors. However falling behind 12-0 to a staff that, earlier than the season, was a prime contender to land Cooper Flagg (who I hear really isn’t that good, it will be a attain if anybody picked him earlier than, let’s say, decide 30), is unacceptable.

Brooklyn is a staff that’s constructed an identification for itself by taking part in gritty basketball. Giving them confidence proper off the rip isn’t going to make the evening a simple one.

If I needed to pinpoint the problem, I’d say it has one thing to do with carrying “assertion version” black jerseys at residence, as an alternative of conventional residence whites.

I’ve to offer credit score the place credit score is due, although. The Celtics reduce the Nets’ result in simply 4 by the top of the primary quarter. That’s a championship stage response.

Jayson Tatum may need Corridor-of-Fame “Nook Specialist”

A big a part of Boston’s first-quarter push was Jayson Tatum’s 11 early factors. Of these 11 factors, 9 got here off of catch-and-shoot threes from the left nook. All three of the makes have been tremendous clear seems, and JT didn’t even need to work for them.

The extra threes we see Tatum take off of the catch, the higher (regardless that the numbers this yr would let you know in any other case). These are pictures that usually will come inside the circulation of an offensive possession, quite than having to be created by the person himself.

Nearly anybody who has watched the Cs will let you know that they’re at their finest when the ball is popping round, quite than when it’s sticking.

Final season, it was fairly uncommon to see Tatum getting seems from deep except it was off of the dribble. This yr, it looks like Joe Mazzulla has made it an emphasis to have him taking part in with out the ball on some possessions.

The Nets will not be a tanking staff

This is not essentially a take that’s particular to this single half of basketball, however it’s clear that the Nets will not be a staff in tank mode. They got here into Friday’s sport with a report of 4-4 and it’s not a thriller to why.

Have they got a ton of top-end expertise?

No.

However these guys play laborious.

They’ve placed on one of many higher defensive shows towards the Cs to date this season, holding them to simply 49 factors on the break.

On prime of that, they brought about a number of tie-ups, after diving on the ground after unfastened balls.

This was a big-time “earn my respect” half from them, for certain.