Inside The Nets

The Nets fall short in the first game of a back-to-back against the Celtics

Brooklyn couldn’t keep up in the first half enough, leading to having too steep of a climb.

Peter Sunjic

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The Nets had a tremendous second-half performance against the visiting Boston Celtics, but it was too little too late. Brooklyn’s first-half performance was not up to par, as the team dug too deep of a hole for themselves to climb out of in the final 24 minutes.

Mikal Bridges and Cameron Thomas combined for 53 points, but it was not enough to overcome Jayson Tatum's 41 points and 14 rebounds. The rest of the Celtics' lineup was solid because the other starters scored at least 14 points.

“One of the things that got us into position to defend and give up only 46 points in the second half. The rebounding piece, the fouling piece, that’s starting us in the face. The momentum of the game of them shooting free throws and being in the bonus too early, so we got to be able to contain them and keep the ball in front of us and rebound the basketball,” Coach Vaughn assessed after the game.

The Nets were impressive in the second half

Brooklyn was down by 15 points at halftime, which proved to be an insurmountable lead for the Nets. However, Coach JV’s squad dug in deep to compete and almost pulled off an improbable comeback.

It would’ve been a significant result for the Nets, but they have another shot at the Celtics on the second night of a back-to-back at TD Garden. The coaching staff will make adjustments, especially with how they guarded Tatum. The former Duke Blue Devil got everything he wanted in this game.

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In terms of scoring, Cam and Mikal will be relied upon to perform again, but they have a big boost with Cameron Johnson set to return in the second part of the back-to-back.

Immediate rematch

Both teams will only have a few hours of rest as they will go to TD Garden to run it all back again. It will be another challenging game for the Nets, especially since Ben Simmons will not play for the second half of the back-to-back due to injury maintenance.

Thankfully, Johnson is back to help the Nets. After the All-Star break, there will likely be a fully healthy squad for the Nets. It will be a fun game against the Celtics, especially since Coach Vaughn wants his team to enter the All-Star Weekend on a high note.

Coach Vaughn loves having the two Dennises off the bench

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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