Kevin Garnett and Joakim Noah have a history. (AP)
In 11 chances to play on the second half of a Brooklyn Nets back-to-back this season, Kevin Garnett has sat out in four of them. It's part of coach Jason Kidd's plan to rest Garnett during the season, to keep him fresh for the playoffs.
But he'll play tonight against the Chicago Bulls, as expected:
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Paul Pierce left the Boston Celtics this summer after sixteen years with the franchise, the last seven with mercurial but sorcerous point guard Rajon Rondo. Rondo's known for a variety of moves and abilities, but likely none more common than his famous fake, palming the ball behind his back as a fake to shift the defender backwards before slithering past, usually for a layup.
Rondo didn't invent the Rondo, he only popularized it. So Pierce, now with the Nets, probably didn't learn the Rondo from Rondo. But he still pulled off a hell of a Rondo against the Dallas Mavericks. Watch above.
Are the Nets suitors for the Boston Celtics point guard? (AP)
Are the Brooklyn Nets in the mix for Boston Celtics guard Jordan Crawford?... MORE →
Near the end of the Brooklyn Nets victory over his Boston Celtics, former Nets forward Gerald Wallace's frustration boiled over just a bit. After an intentional foul on Alan Anderson, Anderson tossed the ball in Wallace's direction, which Wallace fired back at Anderson in frustration. Nets teammates quickly pointed out Wallace's toss, and Crash was quickly assessed with a technical.
Though Anderson handed the ball somewhat innocently to Wallace, it's like the old saying goes: they never get the guy who throws the first shot.
See that chart above? That's a visualization of the career PER arc of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, the former Boston Celtics that the Brooklyn Nets traded for this offseason in the hopes of erasing their spacing and defensive issues that doomed them last season. But both Garnett and Pierce have stumbled out of the gate, and even though a decline isn't unexpected (Pierce is 36 years old and Garnett 37), this type of decline is stunning and immediate.
PER is one of those all-encompassing stats that doesn't tell the full story, but it's safe to say this is an accurate representation of how badly these two new Nets have looked this year. The Nets currently sit at 4-12 and 13th in the Eastern Conference, ahead of only the New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks.
If you don't see the visualization above, refresh the page. If that doesn't work, click here for the non-interactive image.
Former Nets forward Gerald Wallace (AP)
Boston Celtice small forward Gerald Wallace spent about a year and a half with the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets, never shy about giving his honest opinion. Speaking with The Boston Herald on Sunday, Wallace was asked about the Nets' struggles so far this season. Here's was he had to say:
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Here is a statline from tonight's game: 24 minutes, 14 points, 5-15 FG, 2-6 3PT, 5 REB, 1 TO, 1 BLK. Can you guess who it is? ... MORE →
Nope. (AP)
The Nets project their starters as Shaun Livingston, Jason Terry, Alan Anderson, Andray Blatche, and rookie Mason Plumlee, though things are always subject to change before tipoff. Terry is making his debut with the team tonight, after sitting out most of training camp and all preseason games following offseason knee surgery.
Here's three things to watch:
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The Brooklyn Nets have two postseason games on the road left before the regular season starts: they'll head to Boston on Wednesday to face the Celtics, before closing preseason in Miami against the Heat on Friday.
Two Nets won't be making Wednesday's trip: Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, who the Celtics traded this offseason to the Nets. Pierce was a lifetime Celtics player, having played fifteen years with the team before the trade this offseason, while Garnett had spent the last six seasons in Boston.
From Rod Boone:
Paul Pierce said he's not going to Boston to play vs. #Celtics Wednesday. Said he wants to do it once. But he'll actually have to go twice.
— Rod Boone (@rodboone) October 19, 2013
Some Celtics fans may think of this as "ducking" Boston, which is silly; since it's only preseason, it makes sense not to make such an emotional return in game that doesn't really matter. Besides, they'll go there on the days it counts, barring injury. Call it another "reward" day from coach Jason Kidd.
Paul Pierce, LeBron James shared comments on Pierce's past. (AP)
Former Boston Celtics and current Brooklyn Nets Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce came under fire from the Miami Heat's LeBron James this week. James called the two hypocritical for criticizing Ray Allen for leaving Boston for Miami in the summer of 2012, then leaving Boston themselves a year later.
"I think the first thing I thought was, 'Wow, Ray got killed for leaving Boston, and now these guys are leaving Boston,'" was James's exact quote. "I think it's OK; I didn't mind it. But there were a couple guys who basically s--- on Ray for leaving, and now they're leaving."
Garnett and Pierce were asked about James's comments after the 86-62 Nets victory last night over the Heat, and both responded about how you'd expect.... MORE →
