Preview: Nets (4-1) at Celtics (4-3) Preseason Game #8 10/22/14

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Brooklyn Nets (4-1) at Boston Celtics (4-3)
Wednesday, October 21,2014
7:30 PM ET
Preseason Game #8, Home Game #5
TV:  CSNNE, Yes HD
Radio:  98.5 Sports Hub
TD Garden
Referees:  Joey Crawford,  Matt Boland,  Scott Wall

The Celtics take on the Nets for the second time this week as they close out the preseason.   This will be the final preseason game for both teams with the Celtics playing in their 8th game and the Nets playing their 6th game due to traveling to China for the first 3 games.   Both teams will be looking to close out their preseason with a win but will also be looking to rest their starters and veterans in order to avoid injuries going into the season. 

The Celtics handed the Nets their only loss in the preseason and will definitely  be looking to even the score with a win in this one.   The Celtics have released their 3 camp invites, although Tim Frazier may stick around to play in this game.  James Young is returning to the lineup for this game after sitting out much of the preseason with a hamstring injury.   The starters are expected to play one half at most, which should give us plenty of time to see players like James Young and Dwight Powell get more playing time. 

The Nets will be resting Deron Williams for this game.  Kevin Garnett, Brook Lopez, and Markel Brown are also listed out for this game with injury/illness.   For the Celtics, Rondo, Faverani and Bynum will be out with everyone else expected to play.  These two teams will meet once again in the Celtics season opener on October 29. 



Probable Starters

PG:  Evan Turner...................................................................SG:  Avery Bradley


C:  Kelly Olynyk


SF:  Jeff Green ....................................................................PF Jared Sullinger
Off the Bench
Phil Pressey
Marcus Smart
Avery Bradley
Marcus Thornton
Brandon Bass
Dwight Powell
Tyler Zeller
Gerald Wallace
James Young

Injuries
Rajon Rondo (hand) out
Vitor Faverani (knee) out
Will Bynum (hamstring) out
Tim Frazier, Rodney McGruder, Erik Murphy, Christian Watford (released)



Probable Starters

PG: Jarrett Jack......................................................................SG:  Bojan Bogdanovic


C:  Mason Plumlee


SF:  Joe Johnson ................................................................PF:  Andrei Kirilenko

Off the Bench
Alan Anderson
Sergey Karasev
Marquis Teague
Cory Jefferson
Jerome Jordan
Jorge Gutierrez
Willie Reed
Mirza Teletovic

Injuries
Brook Lopez (foot) out
Kevin Garnett (stomach)  out
Markel Brown (stomach) out
Deron Williams (rest) out
Key Matchup
vs
Jared Sullinger vs Andrei Kirilenko
In the last meeting between these two teams, Jared Sullinger finished with 21 points and 19 rebounds against Mirza Teletovic.  The Nets have moved Kirilenko into the starting lineup to try to contain him in this game. 

Player to Watch


James Young is still pretty much a mystery to Celtics fans.  He injured his hamstring at the beginning of the preseason and fans have been waiting to get a look at what he might bring to the team.  Brad Stevens has been very high on his potential and so hopefully we will get an extended look at him in this game. 



Keys to the Game 
Defense - Defense is always the key to every game.  The Celtics are trying to make themselves into a defensive team and that, more than anything, will help them to get more wins this season.   They have got to concentrate on individual as well as team defense.

Set the Pace -  With the Celtics being a young team and the Nets being a more veteran team, it will benefit the Celtics to run at every opportunity and set the pace from beginning to end.  They also need to move the ball and keep the pace of the game moving with their ball movement.

Rebound -  The Celtics can't score if they don't have the ball so they have to crash the boards to give themselves extra possessions and to keep the Nets from getting fast breaks and second chance points. 

X-Factors
Effort and Energy
The Celtics won the first meeting between these two teams because they out ran and out worked the Nets.  If they put out more effort and energy again in this game, they will give themselves a good chance to win again.

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