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| Evidence from the scene of the crime |
When: 12:00 PM; Tuesday, December 25th, 2012
Where: Barclays Center; Brooklyn, NY
TV: YES Network/ESPN
Christmas is known as a holiday that promotes peace and joy. However, the Christmas Day game to be played between the Nets and the Celtics at noon later today may not promote those ideas very firmly. The last time these teams faced off against each other, a November 28th Nets win in Boston, there was nearly a Malice at the Palace situation on the courth as Kris Humphries and noted troublemaker Kevin Garnett got in a bit of a kerfuffle after a free throw attempt. The small battle between two players quickly escalated into a benches-clearing fight concluding with some ill-intentioned Rajon Rondo shoves of Humphries, who for some reason was one of the three players ejected in the fight's aftermath (Gerald Wallace and Rondo were the others).
Obviously, it's unclear how much of that bad blood remains to this day, but the likely answer is a lot, meaning we could have a very fun, yet explosive, holiday nationally-televised game this afternoon. We also should get a very competitive game as well, as both of these teams entered the season with pretty high expectations that haven't been live up to yet. Boston, who most people thought would win the Atlantic Division crown, has badly stumbled out of the gate, winning just as many games as it has lost; not an acceptable mark for a team that is perenially contending for an NBA championship. Not much more was expected from the Nets, with their crazy rebuild and all, but certainly 14-12 is a worse record than the fans, front office, coaching staff, and players of the new franchise were looking for ward too.
Brooklyn may be getting a great Christmas present this Tuesday as the Celtics are coming to town as a beaten-down and struggling team that has lost four of its last five games, with the most recent one coming Friday in overtime fashion at home against the Bucks. The Nets had a similar loss a few weeks back while in the midst of their ugly five-game losing skid. Granted, a veteran squad like the Celtics knows how to turn the intensity up and give a little more effort against a team they are familiar with like the Nets. However, they haven't really done that as of late, showing very lackluster effort during their losing struggles. But when Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Rajon Rondo are on the opposing side, anything is possible (literally).
Probable Lineups
BOS- Rondo (PG), Terry (SG), Pierce (SF), Garnett (PF), Collins (C)
BKN- D-Will (PG), Johnson (SG), Bogans (SF), Wallace (PF), Lopez (C)
Final Thoughts
It looks like the Nets will continue to use the odd lineup that led them to victory over the 76ers on Sunday afternoon, with Keith Bogans starting at the 3 and Wallace at the 4. Hopefully its novelty and increased mobility on defense will work wonders against Boston, who doesn't really boast a true center who can use the size advantage that entails from the smaller Nets starting lineup. Additionally, this is the third game in the season series between these teams, with the Nets winning the first two. Will be pretty cool if they can take at least three out of four from Boston, a team that has killed them for years. Merry Christmas to those celebrating.
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