Three things to look for as Celtics host Nets

Sound the alarm. The Celtics, taking part in with out Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis, misplaced to Steph Curry and the 7-1 Warriors. Time to panic.

However severely, the easiest way to maneuver ahead after a troublesome loss is by, properly, shifting ahead. The Celtics (7-2) will get an opportunity to bounce again once they host the sneakily strong Nets (4-4) on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The sport might not carry fairly the identical pizzazz because the one earlier than it, however the Nets aren’t any joke. They’re presently tied for third within the Jap Convention and play a quick, fearless type of basketball.

Listed below are three issues to search for as they conflict in an Atlantic Division showdown.

Can Jayson Tatum preserve it rolling?

The season is barely 9 video games in, however Tatum has very a lot seemed the a part of a respectable Most Invaluable Participant candidate so 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 to this point.

One factor I’ve observed recently is how properly 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 screen and drive the protection to change. When Tatum has a guard on him, he makes use of his energy. When he has a giant on him, he makes use of his velocity. When the double comes, he makes the appropriate 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 function, the place he’s on the hub and all the things revolves round him. It’s working, and there’s no cause to tweak it in the intervening time.

Is Neemias Queta changing into a fan favourite?

A number of years in the past, only some diehard NBA followers outdoors 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 offered 14 factors, 8 rebounds and a couple 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 subsequent step for him is enhancing his ending on the rim, and which means sprucing his 3-to-5-footer. If he turns into a critical risk 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 grow to be a mission long run.

Can they comprise Cam Thomas and Dennis Schröder?

In case you thought you have been lastly executed 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 taking part in properly. Very properly, truly. 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).

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 workforce that you just suppose you’re going to wallop, then you definitely lookup and it’s a six-point sport with two minutes left. It’s very attainable the Celtics win by 30, but it surely’s most likely extra seemingly that the plucky Nets hold round earlier than the Celtics finally prevail.