The 41-18 Boston Celtics take on the 26-33 Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden Tuesday, Mar. 3rd, and neither team looks much like the closely-matched pair from earlier in the season.
But can the East standings serve as a reliable barometer for these two Atlantic Division rivals, with the Celtics closing in on the second seed as they sprint through the stretch run — and is Brooklyn really slipping from their early-season success to a tenuous grasp on the eighth seed?
We reached out the managing editor of our sister site The Nets Wire, Nick Friar, for the lowdown on all things Bed-Stuy (and nearby neighborhoods in Brooklyn) to that end, with the following intel providing Boston fans some much-needed context.
Kemba discusses his return to action and how he plans to manage his knee moving forward. https://t.co/fVAJOt4Exk
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 2, 2020
What’s changed since the Nets last faced the Celtics?
To put it simply: the Celtics and Nets have moved in opposite directions since they last met.
Kyrie Irving (right shoulder impingement) is done for the season. Kevin Durant (right Achilles rehab) recently confirmed he is out for the year — he and the team had previously left room for speculation by saying he’s not expected to play in 2019-20.
In the meantime, the rest of the Nets are trying to keep playoff hopes alive. The Orlando Magic have taken over as the No. 7 team in the Eastern Conference and the Washington Wizards are four games behind the Nets.
What does each team need to do to win?
If Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart are out, Brooklyn is in much better shape. A big problem for the Nets is that their offense is limited. So, they need to perform well on the defensive end. That’s not easy to do against this Celtics team.
The Celtics need to keep Spencer Dinwiddie out of the paint. When he gets in there, that’s when he creates opportunities for himself, Jarrett Allen and DeAndre Jordan. Outside of that, if Boston guards the perimeter like they can and continues to shoot well, Brooklyn will have a tough time winning on Tuesday night.
Is there anything else we need to know?
Although Durant was with the Nets in Miami, he hasn’t been traveling with the team this year. Neither has Irving.
Durant will not be in Boston on Tuesday. Celtics fans shouldn’t expect to see Irving either.
Injury report: Kemba Walker probable vs. Nets, Smart, Tatum uncertain https://t.co/jpVl4R5f29
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) March 2, 2020
While that last bit will likely come as no surprise to fans who believe Irving dodges his former teams when it comes time for his current franchise to play them, it seems pretty far-fetched he’s faking such a serious injury for so much of the season — and farther still that he’d get elective surgery to do it.
Besides he and Durant, reserve guard Garrett Temple may also miss Tuesday’s contest with a sprained shoulder, and is listed as questionable for the tilt.
If he does, it won’t be the only thin backcourt on the parquet, as Boston’s starting point guard, Kemba Walker, will be on a minutes restriction if he plays after missing all of the Celtics’ games since the 2020 NBA All-Star game.
Added to super-sixth man Marcus Smart being listed as questionable along with All-Star forward Jayson Tatum potential scratches due to illness and you’ve got a potential trap game brewing.
The return to action of Robert Williams III ought to help balance out the temporary return of the Hospital Celtics if any or all of the trio sit, though.
Time Lord may also be considerably limited in playing time after spending most of December and all of January and February healing a seriously bruised hip. But, Boston might need some spelling for center Daniel Theis if big man Enes Kanter struggles to cover the Nets’ pick-and-roll.
As each team’s record might suggest, Boston should be heavily favored to win the contest, even if they end up down several players.
But one shouldn’t discount their opponents’ ability to dig down deep and produce a strong effort on any night of the season either.
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