The Boston Celtics are back on their home court tonight, gearing up for what’s only their fourth game of the young season against a Brooklyn Nets squad that’s fresh off a major offseason overhaul. This isn’t just another early regular season matchup, though. Boston, sitting at 2-1, is about to face a truly brutal stretch, and the 0-3 Nets are rolling into town looking to finally get one in the win column with some serious new firepower.
Celtics Navigating a Gauntlet
Boston might be 2-1, but the early season schedule is no joke. Tonight’s game is the second night of a back-to-back, and get this: it’s the first of *sixteen* such sets for the Celtics this season. That’s more than any other team in the league, with the average sitting at 14.2. Before December even hits, they’re staring down four separate stretches where they play three games in four nights. That’s a test of endurance right out of the gate.
The good news? They managed an easy win on Monday, with no player logging more than 27 minutes. You have to hope that depth they’ve built is going to be crucial in navigating this absolute gauntlet of a schedule. Last season, the Celtics had the Nets’ number, going 3-1 against them, with Brooklyn’s only victory happening right here in Boston. Historically, the Celtics dominate this matchup, holding a 148-75 all-time record overall and a solid 78-35 at home. But history doesn’t win games when new faces are on the floor.
Nets Roll Out a Whole New Look
While the Celtics are trying to find their rhythm, the Nets are basically a brand new team. They’ve been busy. Their biggest move? Snagging Julius Randle in a trade with the Timberwolves. That’s a serious addition. They also brought in Moritz Wagner, Keon Ellis, and even a familiar face in former Celtic Josh Minott. On top of that, they drafted Mikel Brown, Jr. with the 6th pick and Joshua Jefferson at 28th overall. This isn’t the same Nets squad we saw last year, especially with Malachi Smith, Ochai Agbaji, Tyson Etienne, EJ Liddell, Zaire Williams, and Jalen Wilson all gone.
They might be 0-3 right now, but this is a roster that needs to gel. They did have a “good” preseason, beating Charlotte, Philadelphia, and Washington before dropping their last one to the Miami Heat. This is the first of four games these two teams will play this season, so both sides are looking to set the tone. They’ll meet again in Boston on January 16, and twice in Brooklyn on December 13 and March 23.
After tonight’s showdown, the Celtics are right back home to host Chicago for their first NBA Cup game, then hit the road to Orlando and Houston before returning home to face Milwaukee. The Nets, meanwhile, host Detroit, then travel to Indiana and New York. This early season battle is going to show us a lot about where both these teams stand right now.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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