We have said all throughout the summer and into the surprising 4-4 start to the season, that the Nets fanbase should watch for individual play and improvement over team success. That sentiment will be no more true then Friday night when Cam Thomas and the Nets take on Jayson Tatum and the Celtics at the Garden.
Is anything new in Boston? Jayson Tatum continues to dominate regular season stat-lines - averaging 30 points per game on a 48/37/78 line. As for any team, the Nets will need to deal with his combination of size, strength, and athleticism - which has made him so dangerous on the offensive end throughout his career.
Tatum has put up 25+ points in all but one game this year. The perimeter shot as come and gone, but he has had double-digit looks in six games this season - spiking 42% or more four times.
For Jordi Fernandez and Brooklyn it will be a challenge to defend Tatum at all three levels, but even with the potential absence of Noah Clowney(illness), the Nets will have the length of Ben Simmons, Nic Claxton and Ziaire Williams to rotate different looks across 48 minutes of action.
One key will be their ability to collapse on penetration while rotating coverage on perimeter shooters. Boston has five players including Tatum averaging 37% or better from beyond the arc to start the year, sitting 9th overall in 3PT% in the league.
The more notable box score is Jaylen Brown who is shooting just 40% from the field and under 27% from beyond the arc. Both are career lows, though he is still averaging 25 points per game thanks in part to a career high 7.8 Free Throw attempts, a number that more than doubles his career average. While Brown is set to miss Friday’s game with a hip injury, the Nets will host Boston on November 13th at Barclays and likely see the nine-year pro across the court.
No Jaylen Brown should make for an “easier” offensive assignment for Cam Thomas, but Boston has plenty to throw his way. Jrue Holiday has the size and physicality to frustrate and Derrick White can provide the quickness needed to slow down Dennis Schröder.
The complimentary backcourt for Brooklyn could be taken out of rhythm in a hurry, which could leave Jordi Fernandez searching for answers and on-ball creation.
The Nets will be a 13.5 point dog on the road, though they do hold an. impressive 6-2 record against the spread this season. Meanwhile, despite demolishing the opposition on a regular basis, some monster lines have left Boston 5-4 against the spread overall, and 2-1 at home.
The Celtics have also beaten opponents by 10+ points in six of their seven wins to start the year. Time and again through the first eight games the Nets have proven they will not roll over. Let’s see if they bring that same fight up to Boston Friday night.
