Every win counts, at this stage of the regular season. Sadly, the Boston Celtics don’t quite seem to realize that yet. Tonight’s loss, against the New Jersey Nets, makes three Celtics losses in their last four games. The Chicago Bulls, idle tonight, have now tied Boston in the Eastern Conference standings.

I could discuss how Deron Williams hit a three-pointer to ice the game, or how Brook Lopez hit a tough jump hook in the waning minutes, or how Rajon Rondo decided a pull-up 20-footer was the shot Boston wanted with 1:30 left in the game, down by only two points. But to dwell on the late occurrences would gloss over when Boston really lost the game, in the second and third quarters.

After one period, the C’s had New Jersey on the ropes. The Nets had scored 14 points in the opening frame, meaning the Celtics had allowed only 70 points in their last five quarters combined. But that was when Boston stopped making things easy. Missed rotations characterized the defense, as Kris Humphries and Brook Lopez freed themselves for layup after layup. Missed shots characterized the offense, as the Celtics shot only 41.2%. But to lose, to the New Jersey Nets, while allowing only 39.7% shooting? The Celtics displayed an utter lack of purpose, a willingness to allow the game to pass through their fingers like a pass through Kwame Brown’s hands (if you can call them that). Missing jumpers sucks. But settling for jumpers was evidence of Boston’s lacking energy. The game was the second night of a back-to-back, and the Celtics have struggled mightily on such nights. But it’s time to kick that habit, with the top seed in sight and the season drawing to a close.

Rondo began the game with a drive and dish to Kevin Garnett, who hit a jumper. Number Nine then stole the ensuing inbounds pass, resulting in another assist to Garnett. If you’re scoring at home, that was two assists within the opening thirty seconds, and an exhale from me. “Rondo’s back,” I thought with a smile on my face. Unfortunately, he was mostly a non-factor for the remaining 23 and a half minutes of the first half, and the “What the hell is wrong with Rondo?” school of thought will undoubtedly gain steam. If I thought anything would bring Rondo out of his brief hibernation, a matchup with Deron Williams would be near the top of the list. Instead, no.

If there was one thing that set apart Rondo’s start to the season from the rest of his career (besides all those 20-assist games), it was his consistency. Finally, he had learned to bring his ‘A’ game on every night, even when the opponent was not top-notch. Finally, he had begun to display his greatness on a nightly basis. Finally, game-long duds were erased from his repertoire, and in its place was a star who dominated (or at least controlled) every game. Not anymore. Rondo now looks either A) banged-up, B) entirely disinterested, or C) slightly buzzed on alcohol or marijuana, and has looked that way for three straight games, and off-and-on for quite a bit longer than that. I’ll confidently rule out option C, but I’d prefer the Rondo who was fully engaged for each of Boston’s first 30 or 40 games. Worse still, Rondo injured himself during the third quarter and had to ask out of the game. He was seen icing his ankle after the game, and “looked in pain.”

Backing up Rondo, Carlos Arroyo continued to play a good quarterback. He did not have perfect stats, and has not had a truly impressive statistical output since joining the Celtics. But he plays mostly mistake-free basketball, and gets teammates in the right place. Joining Arroyo on the “I liked what he did tonight, even if his box score line won’t make your eyes pop out” was Troy Murphy. The Irishman didn’t score, nor did he take a shot. But he fought for offensive rebounds, and his legs no longer look like anvils (though they don’t look super-swift, still). Murphy grabbed three offensive boards, and five overall, in only nine minutes and change. For a team that has been starved for offensive rebounds for years, the Celtics could use those types of contributions.

Not so stellar was Nenad Krstic. I don’t want to pile on Krstic, because he’s been better than expected since joining the Celtics. After two straight double-doubles, he was due for an off night. But he’s not due for such late defensive rotations, which are clearly habitual for the Serb. Many times, Krstic was a step or two late on the rotation. Many times, Humphries or Lopez made him pay for his lack of punctuality. I can handle the way Krstic has played since joining the Celtics. He’s been phenomenal, mostly. But the Celtics would benefit if he learned to make more crisp rotations, on a more consistent basis.

The Celtics have already benefitted from Glen Davis’ return, and it’s nice to have him back. At least, it’s nice to have the “Glen Davis who affects play on both ends, because of his hustle” back. Since many of Boston’s players decided to take a night off, Davis’ energy proved ever more visible.

Rondo drew a -13 plus/minus. Paul Pierce could not buy a bucket, though he did add another reminder that, yes, his legs are quite a bit more bouncy than before. Jeff Green continued to easily find shots, but perhaps creating shot attempts come too easy for him. Too often, he settled for tough jumpers, when his physical skills should allow him to find layups. At least Ray Allen hit some difficult shots, Kevin Garnett played rather well on both ends, and Sasha Vujacic and Jordan Farmar both sucked.

“We’re just not playing well right now, number one,” said Doc Rivers. “And you go through that. Sometimes you have to wait for your team. Now, I’m kind of waiting for them to kick back into gear.”

Me too, Doc. Me too. If they don’t, the number one seed may soon fall out of their grasp.

The Celtics were ahead 25-10 once, early in tonight’s game, at which point I boldly predicted a Luke Harangody double double. Quite understandably, the double double never came (Rats!). Neither did the blowout which once, after Avery Johnson already called two time outs within the game’s first 2:05, seemed so certain.

Johnson’s first time out came just 29 seconds in, and he — in a voice I assume resembled the sound of scratching on a blackboard — spent the time out’s entirety yelling at Brook Lopez. The Nets center, who often plays with the excitement of a man who has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness, had just allowed an easy C’s bucket on an out of bounds play. Needless to say, Johnson wasn’t exactly enthused. With 9:55 still remaining in the first quarter, after the Nets responded to Johnson’s first time out like roofie victims, he called another.

Less than a minute later, Sasha Vujacic and Jordan Farmar were subbed into the game, in an apparent attempt to provide the Nets with energy. If New Jersey’s substitutions didn’t do the trick, Boston’s did. The Celtics bench entered the game, and that 15-point lead I previously discussed evaporated within a matter of minutes.

The brightest positive to come from tonight, perhaps excluding the win, was Paul Pierce’s 31-point explosion. I guess those two days he skipped practice healed his body pretty well, because Pierce was explosive tonight. He blew past his defenders with ease, which should make sense considering Anthony Morrow and Travis Outlaw took turns ole’ing him to the hoop. Pierce drew 13 foul shots, tying the most he’s taken all year (November 21, Toronto). He also did this:

With the game suddenly very much in doubt during the second half, the Celtics ramped up their defensive efforts. Lopez, despite his loafing tendencies and laissez faire play, had made shot after shot (after shot, after shot) to lead New Jersey’s run, and the C’s sent more help for Kendrick Perkins. Perk normally handles opposing big men all by himself, but Lopez was making Perk look like, well, Brook Lopez on the defensive end. So the C’s sent more help. It wasn’t a double team, necessarily, but the C’s were quite obviously aware of Lopez’ location at all times. Suddenly, with a second (and sometimes third) defender running his way, Lopez started turning the ball over like it was scorching hot, and missing the shots he had previously made.

Von Wafer did some nice things off the bench for Boston. He made one tough jumper as the shot clock wound down; penetrated and left a sweet dime for Perk (the play was called off when Wafer drew a foul); drove hard to the hoop for a transition layup (which missed, but he again drew a foul); drilled an open (and long) jumper; and attempted to defy gravity by taking off of two feet, outside the paint, to release a reverse layup on the opposite side of the hoop. His layup hit the bottom of the backboard, but still, Wafer impressed. He continues to make the most out of his increased minutes.

I already told you I predicted a Luke Harangody double double, but I couldn’t possibly have predicted Tommy Heinsohn calling Harangody “a decent leaper.” That’s like calling Shaq “a decent free throw shooter,” or calling Vince Carter “a decent clutch player,” or Brook Lopez “a decent energy guy.” It just doesn’t work, and just serves to offer the latest proof of Tommy’s senility. That said, I couldn’t complain about Harangody’s body of work tonight.

Want another symptom of Tommy’s senility? When Nate Robinson came off a screen to hit a midrange jumper, Tommy noted, “If I were the Celtics, I’d be running Nate’s play right there forever. That’s his shot.” Which was funny, because if I were the Celtics, the only play I’d be running for Nate would be “go take a seat.” I joke at Nate’s expense, but he wasn’t half bad tonight. Sure, he shot 2-7, and sure, his jumper’s about as reliable as a black-out drunk brain surgeon. But he was energetic, and had a nice couple takes to the rim. Then again, if I’m pleased with a backup point guard who shoots 2-7 and provides only one assist, maybe my expectations aren’t high enough.

Tonight wasn’t a pretty win, not even for the ultimate optimist. But at least it’s always fun to see Sasha Vujacic lose.

P.S. – The Lakers lost to the Cavaliers. I would laugh, but the game only brings back painful memories of last season. Does the term “5-52 New Jersey Nets” ring a bell?

The Morning Walkthrough is a set of links to Boston Celtics articles throughout the internet, designed to get your day started the right way.

The most important Celtic?

Kevin Garnett, Anta – “When I’m not playing, I hate talking hoops, so sorry for not blogging. You know how when you ain’t a part of something, it hurts to talk about it. That’s how I feel. Know what I mean? Don’t get it messed up, just cause I ain’t playing don’t mean I’m not working out. I’m working super hard and feeling good. Didn’t get to tell you about the tough game against San Antonio we had on Wed. Game was CRAZY. We were up 9 with 57 seconds and we somehow almost blew it. They had the ball down by 2 with 7 seconds left. It was crazy how it happened. P2 got the block to save the win and Rondo had a triple double. Big game by him. He was doing amazing stuff. Friday we had Toronto and young fella Luke played great. He stepped up and had a double double (17pts and 11 rebounds). He’s hard working and knows how to play. If he keeps working hard, he’ll be good. It was nice to get the starters some rest and let the young guys play. We won by a bunch, so it was nice. After the game, Dr. looked at my leg and we’re close. Real close to getting back. Took the flight to Chicago and got in at 2am, so watch a movie and then shut it down. Chicago is a city I lived in, so always have a special place for Chi-town. Pre game, I worked out at the arena in the Bull’s workout room. Anytime I get to workout around another team, my gas gets going. I was killing the weights and wanted to play. When I was in there, Scal (Scalabrine old teammate) came in and got me going even more. Good to see him. I don’t know how to describe the game as the guys energy was low, the ball was ‘sticking’ and not popping around. Guys were not doing their jobs. Frustrating watching and not being able to help. We played 6games in 9 days, so the guys need a break. Off day tomorrow for them, but I’ll be getting my stuff in. The loss just makes me more motivated to get back and help my guys.”

Mark Murphy, Boston Herald – “‘He’s human,’ Rondo said of Davis. ‘It’s going to be a tough challenge every night. It’s never easy, and he has to continue to grow. He has to accept that he won’t play well every night. Maybe it will be the next night,’ he said. ‘But he’s taking that next step to where people are looking at him as a challenge. I just told him to keep working hard, stay humble, and play every night as if it’s your last.’ That, and to also keep these performances in perspective. Davis took more shots than any Celtic Saturday night and also missed more, as evidenced by his 4-for-17 performance. But last Wednesday against a far better San Antonio team, Davis had one of his finest shooting nights of the season with a 23-point, 10-for-18 display. But Saturday’s matchup carried an extra sting because Davis was matched against one of the stars of his position. Boozer, from going right at Davis with nine straight points in the second quarter to banging him with impunity, easily established turf. ‘It didn’t affect me. Just a learning experience for me, especially if I ever want to be on the same type of level as the KGs and the Carlos Boozers,’ said Davis. ‘You guys have seen me grow a lot, and now it’s time to hit a different level, a different notch. Carlos Boozer got the best of it today,’ he said. ‘But at the same time, I want that success. I want all that, being that guy. So I take things in stride, get better each day and keep working. I have to get the credentials to play in this league — to play against the Carlos Boozers and Kevin Loves of this league.’”

Gary Washburn, Boston Globe – “The class of the NBA field has separated itself approaching the halfway point of the season. And as much as teams choose not to acknowledge closely following the progress of their peers, that cannot be denied this season, especially with the Celtics. Boston is skittish after last season, when a fourth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs meant losing home-court advantage for the final three series of the postseason, especially the NBA Finals. A five-horse race for the top seed in the East appears to be brewing and losses such as Saturday night’s 90-79 drubbing by the Chicago Bulls damage the Celtics’ quest for No. 1. Just five games separate the top five teams in the East, and the conference-leading Celtics (28-8, .778) have been caught by the Heat (30-9, .769), despite Miami’s well-chronicled dismal start. The Orlando Magic, who beat the Celtics on Christmas Day, are winners of nine straight, and the Atlanta Hawks are 8-2 in their past 10. There is an increased emphasis on the regular season, and scoreboard-watching has begun in earnest. Each time one of the other four teams drops a game, Boston realizes it has a chance to create more distance. That’s why the Celtics can’t afford to waste opportunities, such as Saturday night’s.”

A. Sherrod Blakely, CSNNE – “A year ago, losses got the same treatment as losing a couple of pennies. It happens. Not that big a deal. But as we near the halfway point of this season, finishing with the best record in the Eastern Conference isn’t just lip service. Look no further than Saturday’s 90-79 loss at Chicago. You would have thought the C’s lost Game Three or Four of a playoff series by their glum expressions. ‘We find ways to win these type of games,’ said Paul Pierce, easily bothered more than most by the loss. ‘We don’t concede anything. We don’t say, ‘Six games in nine nights. The last game we don’t give a damn about.’ We’re trying to win them all.’ And it is that desire to not just finish well, but finish atop the Eastern Conference standings, that makes this team unlike the previous units since the C’s Big Three joined forces in 2007.”

Chris Forsberg, ESPN Boston – “Screens lead to open looks, which leads to easy baskets. Allen leads the NBA in plays off screens this season, running off screens on 33.7 percent of his touches. Only two players in the NBA use screens for more than 25 percent of their offensive plays — Allen and Chicago’s Kyle Korver. Considering that 17.4 percent of Allen’s touches come in transition and another 20.2 percent are spot-up jumpers, it’s amazing that so many of his offensive looks require his teammates’ grunt work. And on Saturday, his teammates didn’t create space for him, which is why Rivers might again have to stress the importance of screens. ‘It’s a film thing,’ Rivers said. ‘It’s better to reinforce in practice, but when you don’t have practice time, you reinforce it by film — by showing the ones they’re not setting. It’s not the most positive way of doing it, and I’d rather work it out on the floor than using film, because it’s always a negative weapon, but sometimes you do it.’ Saturday’s loss was a reminder of the perils of not putting in that effort. ‘Offensively, from the start of the game, we didn’t create any rhythm,’ Allen said. ‘It is [surprising] because [the offense] has been pretty good. [Saturday] was definitely a break from the normal, from what we were doing offensively. For whatever reason, this was an example of why we lose games. Statistically, it’s so glaring.’ Zero shots for Allen in a fourth quarter that opened as a one-possession game. Credit the Bulls for their ability to chase Allen around the court, but don’t let it screen the truth: Boston sputtered because it didn’t do enough to get Allen and its other shooters open.”

Ken Berger, CBS Sports – “Carmelo Anthony “does not need to be convinced” to sign a contact extension as part of a blockbuster, three-team trade that would send the three-time All-Star to New Jersey, league sources told CBSSports.com Sunday night. One executive involved in the trade talks called Anthony’s stance on an extension with the Nets “a non-factor,” because the teams involved “already know it won’t hold up the deal.” The tipping point in moving Melo toward giving up his preference to wind up with the Knicks was the involvement of the Pistons, who would send Richard Hamilton to the Nets to help Anthony with his reclamation project in Newark, N.J., for the next year-and-a-half. That key component was close to agreement Sunday night, with the Pistons poised to send Hamilton to New Jersey in exchange for Troy Murphy’s expiring contract and Johan Petro — who may go to the Pistons or somewhere else, sources said. Hamilton, who has two years and $25 million left on his deal, was the key cog in a broader plan to entice Anthony to give up his resistance to extending with the Nets instead of insisting on a deal to his preferred destination. The other part of that equation involves Chauncey Billups joining Anthony and reuniting with Hamilton in New Jersey, sources said. The principle pieces New Jersey has offered to the Nuggets all along — Derrick Favors and multiple first-round picks — would still go to Denver in this three-team scenario. The involvement of Billups, who has stated that he wants to retire with the Nuggets, necessitates the Nets sending Devin Harris to the Nuggets. Though Billups would prefer to stay in Denver, a person with direct knowledge of his thinking rejected the notion of the Nets buying him out this season if he is sent to New Jersey in this trade. “Highly unlikely,” the person said. … Despite repeated assurances from Anthony’s camp, the Nets did not yet have approval from Anthony’s mouth as of Sunday night, according to one person familiar with the situation. Last month, a person directly involved in Anthony’s decision told CBSSports.com that the only team he’d agree to an extension with via a trade was the Knicks. There have been no indications from Anthony himself that he has changed his stance. However, given the perceived risk of leaving tens of millions of dollars on the table with a punitive new collective bargaining agreement looming — and with the addition of Hamilton and Billups meaning Anthony wouldn’t have to go it alone in Newark — the Nets and Nuggets are convinced the contractual issue won’t blow up the deal.”

Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports – “The Nets and Detroit Pistons believed they had an arrangement in place Sunday that would’ve sent Anthony, Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups(notes) and Pistons guard Richard Hamilton(notes) to the Nets as part of the blockbuster deal. Once the Nets and Pistons worked out the details of a side component to the 13-player deal on Sunday afternoon, the two teams were surprised to find Denver general manager Masai Ujiri wanting to replace players in the framework of the overall trade, sources said. Nevertheless, Nuggets officials were angry with the insinuation they had backed away, insisting they never agreed to a scenario where they would complete the deal. As one Denver official told Yahoo! Sports late Sunday, “People are trying to pressure us.” Still, everyone involved in the trade believed the Nuggets had come too far to walk away, and talks continued between Denver’s Ujiri and New Jersey GM Billy King late Sunday.”‘

David Aldridge, NBA.com – “Anthony refused to discuss a potential deal before the Nuggets played New Orleans in Denver on Sunday night. He said afterward he didn’t think a 96-87 loss was his last game in a Nuggets uniform. ‘Uh-uh, not at all,’ he said, repeating the phrase ‘not at all’ four times. Asked if that was an indication he wouldn’t sign the extension so the trade with the Nets could be consummated, Anthony demurred, saying: ‘I haven’t heard anything. Only, that it’s just been speculation as of right now.’ Anthony noted that team executive Josh Kroenke and general manager Masai Ujiri “are not even here, so I don’t see that happening.’ In what time frame was he referring to? ‘I’m just saying I don’t see it happening right now,’ Anthony said. This week sometime? ‘No.’”

Chris Broussard and Marc Stein, ESPN – “Denver, however, elected to play Anthony and Billups in its home game against New Orleans on Sunday night, suggesting that the Nuggets might not be ready to sign off on the trade and, according to sources, frustrating both the Nets and the Pistons at the end of a chaotic 72 hours. A similar scenario played out in the September deal, when the Nets and Nuggets hammered out the framework of a four-team swap with Charlotte and Utah, only for the Nuggets to decide that they weren’t ready to end their relationship with Anthony and back out of the deal. … Denver’s decision to play Anthony and Billups against New Orleans and a Bergen Record report Sunday night that the Nuggets want to make unspecified changes to the latest trade layout clearly rankled the Nets. The Record of New Jersey quoted an unnamed team official within the league as saying: ‘The deal is close. But Denver is looking to hit a home run.’ Earlier Sunday, one source close to the talks told ESPN.com that Sunday’s proposed trade was ‘on the 10-yard-line.’ Said another source with knowledge of the state of negotiations: ‘Almost there.’”

Got a tip? An article you think should be included? Send an email to jayking@celticstown.com or hit me up on Twitter @CelticsTown.

Uh-oh. That’s the one response I could muster to the lineup Doc Rivers used to begin yesterday’s second quarter. Avery Bradley running the point? Von Wafer at the two? Marquis Daniels, Glen Davis, and Shaq rounding out the unit? I know injuries have started to take a toll on the Boston Celtics, but still: Where does the insanity end? Where does it end????

Well, the lineup I thought was insanity actually changed the game. For the better, even. By the time Ray Allen and Nate Robinson entered the game with 7:03 left in the second quarter, breaking up the eclectic fivesome, the Celtics had gone on a long, 8-2 run. Yes, the Nets only scored two points in five minutes. The Celtics would go on to outscore New Jersey in the period, 30-12.

Instead of showing its inexperience, the odd crew played inspired basketball. The group didn’t exactly set the world on fire with offense — hell, it took the Celtics two minutes to score a point. But a two-minute drought doesn’t look so bad when your opponent takes almost five minutes to get on the board.

“The second unit, in the second quarter, changed the whole game,” Doc Rivers told the Boston Globe. “They went five possessions and they couldn’t score, but the other team couldn’t score and it was really good for them to see that. You don’t have to score. If you keep getting stops eventually, the dam will break and you’ll start scoring and it happened for them. That’s a good thing for all those young guys.”

The defensive effort was led by Avery Bradley. A rookie, leading the way defensively. Bradley showed his rough edges with the ball (he shot 2-7 from the field), but he is clearly an electric on-ball defender. Before the season, Bradley’s AAU coach gushed about the guard’s defense. (Boston Globe)

“Avery’s one of those guys, he puts people in a phone booth,’’ Ward said. “He could guard you so tight that you didn’t even want the ball no more. Avery Bradley makes the best ball handlers on the other team give up the ball. You see point guards give the ball to the center, and make the center bring the ball up.

“You know the definition of harassment?’’ Ward continued. “If you’ve got that ball, he’s going to harass you. He’s not going to harass you for one trip up the court, he’s going to do it for 48 minutes.’’

In his first extended stint of NBA playing time, Bradley’s lock-down ability didn’t disappoint. If you didn’t know what Bradley’s coach meant when he said, “He puts people in a phone booth,” just re-watch yesterday’s game. To say the least, it’s tough to get past Avery Bradley. Tommy Heinsohn just about drooled every time Bradley dropped into a defensive stance.

But Bradley wasn’t the only inexperienced Celtic who impressed. Von Wafer did a nice job, too, even if his defense wasn’t nearly as captivating as his rookie teammate’s. Wafer’s defensive highlight was jumping a passing lane for a steal, but it was his consistency that stood out. As Rivers told ESPN Boston, “Von buying in, it was really good.” Really good, indeed.

Glen Davis inspired with his energy, but that’s normal so I won’t discuss it in much detail. Really, I almost feel bad discussing individuals. The unit’s staunch defense was a result of five men working as one. Rotations, hustle, all that jazz.

“[The second unit] played hard for every second and every minute,” Nate Robinson, who earned a rare start, told ESPN Boston. “There were no letdowns. We’re up 30 points and Luke Harangody is diving on the floor for loose balls and Avery Bradley is forcing jump balls. That’s what separates us from other teams, just coming and playing with no egos.”

And yes, it was the much-maligned second unit playing so well. For a few weeks, I wanted to rip my hair out of my head every time I watched the substitutes play. Now, there’s hope for the second unit, although there is one catch.

“We’ve got to keep doing that not only against the Nets,” Von Wafer told the Globe, “but even better teams around the league.’’

Quisy led the Celtics in minutes, scoring in double figures for the third time this season.

All you need to know about the game is this: Von Wafer, Semih Erden, Luke Harangody, and Avery Bradley all played extended minutes.

New Jersey played with almost no effort and Boston rolled to its seventh consecutive victory, 100-75 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

I feel bad for anybody who paid money to see the Nets play today. In fact, I feel bad for any Nets fans in general–if there are any left after today.

Despite Avery Johnson’s pleading, the Nets refused to get back on defense, surrendering 18 fast break points in the first half, 25 for the game. New Jersey’s half court defense was just as porous, giving up 32 points in the paint in the first half, allowing Boston to shoot over 50% for the game. I can’t exagerate how awful the Nets defense was this afternoon.

Nate Robinson filled in admirably for Rajon Rondo, who missed the game due to a recurring sore hamstring. Robinson scored eight of the first eleven Boston points, leading the Celtics with 21 for the game, while also adding six rebounds and six assists.

With Rondo out, Bradley actually got into the game at the end of the first half, promptly getting blown past by Jordan Farmar while Tommy Heinsohn praised him for his defense. Not all went badly for Bradley though, as he scored his first NBA basket on an 18-foot jumper in garbage time.

Kevin Garnett continued his fantastic play over the past two weeks or so, scoring 13 points and snaring 14 rebounds in just three quarters of action. Garnett did not take the fourth quarter off, however, as he was constantly jumping up off the bench, cheering on the second and third units for any nice plays, or good effort. At one point, Erden blocked a shot and KG slapped his towel against the court, while screaming out encouragement.

Erden played well, seemingly always finding the right spot to be offensively, however, he missed four of his six free throw attempts.With Shaq sitting the entire second half due to what was reported to be a sore right calf, Erden played 19 minutes, scoring four points and grabbing five rebounds.

The bench contributed 36 points, with Glen Davis (16 points, 9 rebounds) and Marquis Daniels (10 points) leading the way. Davis uncharacteristically did most of his damage in the post, outmuscling Derrick Favors and schooling him on the block. Davis also hit a three-pointer to end the first half.

Boston led by two at the end of the first quarter, but turned it on in the second quarter, while New Jersey backed down from the challenge. Boston outscored New Jersey 30-12 in the second quarter, extending the lead to 30 points multiple times during both the third and fourth quarter.

Farmar was the lone bright spot for the putrid Nets, recording 16 points, four rebounds, three steals, and actually giving a shit. Nets “stars” Brook Lopez and Devin Harris combined for just 12 points and it seemed like they’d rather be on the couch, eating pizza and wings, than playing a basketball game. Heralded rookie Favors scored 10 points, but was abused defensively and committed five (bad) fouls, three of them coming within a minute of each other.

The Celtics will head home with the Eastern Conference’s best record (trailing only the 16-3 Spurs), to host the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.

Delonte West in good mental state

If you watched The Association a couple nights ago, you heard Delonte West profess his love for basketball. “Basketball is my life,” he said. He was emotional after the Celtics gave him a second lease on his NBA career, and happy to be back on the court. Basketball is like a safe haven to West, whose life off the court has been a roller-coaster the last couple years.

With West’s bi-polar disorder, which makes highs better and lows worse, I wondered how he would react to his broken right wrist. Facing months away from the game that means so much to him, I wondered how West would be affected. Would it tear him down? Would it bring back the monsters of his past? Would he be okay?

West joined the team at yesterday’s game, the first time he’d watched a game since the injury. Though he said the injury was the worst broken bone in his life (he has broken eight bones), he said his wrist is good. His cast should be off in two weeks, and he expects to play later this season. For now, he is limited to jump-shooting (the broken wrist was his non-shooting one) and conditioning.

But really, when it comes to West, basketball isn’t most important. His mental health, so fragile at times, takes precedent. From that standpoint, West passed the first test.

“You know what? I got right back up and can’t feel sorry for myself,’’ he said. “Feeling sorry for myself, them days are over with. I gotta get back up again. The Lord is trying to get my attention, trying to show me something. He has my undivided attention now. And my eyes are open, seeing what I can do to help out in the community, help out off the court, and wait this out.’’

And so he continues to ready himself for the return he is certain will come this season.

“That’s what I have to do,’’ he said. “I can’t hang my head and cry about it, it happened. It’s over. It’s on to the next mission.’’

(Source: Boston Globe)

Kevin Garnett expresses uncertainty about future

Want to scare an entire fanbase? Be as vital to a franchise as Kevin Garnett, then say, “Who knows if this is my last year?” Of course, Garnett qualified that question with extenuating circumstances, but this is still the first time Garnett leaving has crossed my mind. Here’s what Garnett actually said (WEEI):

“At some point, especially with the lockout coming up, who knows if this is my last year or if we don’t play next what it’s going to be. So I’m trying to enjoy the guys now, you know.”

Enjoy the guys now, KG. But don’t tell me this might be your last season. Say it ain’t so.

The Noah-Garnett feud continues

Kevin Garnett finished exacting revenge on Joakim Noah last night, he kinda-sorta called Noah a nobody. That was to be expected. If a player talks shit about KG, the normal response from KG was exactly what he said yesterday: “I’m not entertaining nor addressing nobodies.”

Is Joakim Noah really a nobody? Absolutely not. He’s one of the league’s best big men, and a potential All-Star. You’ll just never get KG to admit any of Noah’s potential. After Noah’s disrespect, you’re more likely to see KG stop cussing for an entire year than you are to see him praise Noah.

Did KG have any extra motivation last night?

“It’s not that he’s up for [Friday's game], it’s that these young cats have no respect,” Shaq told CSNNE. “So Kevin just has to teach them.”

It looks like Noah learned his lesson.

“Maybe sometimes, you’re right,” he told CSNNE. “Maybe sometimes it’s better to just shut your mouth. And my mouth definitely, my mouth definitely gets me in trouble. But, you know, you’re right. Maybe sometimes it’s better to not say anything and let your game do the speaking. He (Garnett, 20 points, 17 rebounds) did that tonight, and I don’t like that.”

There’s a reason Noah and Garnett don’t like each other: they’re both competitors. Throwbacks to the days when players didn’t help opponents off the floor, the days when nobody gave a damn about being liked. Once Kevin Garnett steps on a basketball court, all of his opponents are nobodies. (Boston Globe)

“No way, unless you’re on the same team as him,” Glen Davis said of what players actually get shown respect. “Other than that, he’s just a fierce competitor. He doesn’t care who comes in. You can be my friend, but at the end of the day he’s trying to rip your head off. That’s the way he plays.”

That’s how EVERYBODY should play. In high school, I was really good friends with a lot of my opponents. I would hang out with them all the time, we’d play AAU basketball together, yada yada yada. But as soon as I stepped on that court and my friends were on the other side, those friends were just like anybody else –they were enemies. I wasn’t going to take it easy on them just because we had slumber parties once in a while. Fuck, if anything I wanted to beat them even more. Bragging rights are a powerful thing. Even my best friends were never immune to a nicely timed elbow.

I’m not saying, “Hey, guys! I did everything right! Model yourself after me!” Not at all. I was a mediocre basketball player. I had Eddy Curry’s vertical leap, Dwight Howard’s handle and Chris Quinn’s frame. Nothing about my basketball game was perfect. But I was a competitor, and I never wanted to lose. I feel like that aspect of basketball has partially been lost (see: Cleveland Cavaliers in Lebron’s return). But not within Garnett and Noah. Those guys, whether you like them or not, are warriors. They always come out to play.

Von Wafer wants what’s best for the team

It’s natural to desire playing time. If you didn’t, well, why do you play basketball again? So I didn’t dislike Von Wafer’s preseason “I don’t just want to make the team; I want to play real minutes” comment (I paraphrased) because he wanted minutes. Everyone in the NBA wants minutes, I assume. I disliked Von’s comments because it was evident he hadn’t quite grasped the team concept.

Now? Everything that comes out of his mouth is about the team. Yesterday, Wafer spoke about his role (or lack thereof) so far this season. He still wants minutes (again, who doesn’t?), but Wafer now understands he’s part of something greater. (Boston Globe)

“It’s tough. It’s very tough, because I’m a rhythm player. I need my rhythm. But it’s not about me, it’s about the team. I’ve just got to play the cards that have been given.’’

At this point, Wafer said, he’s more interested in making shots than making waves.

“Just do what I’ve been doing,’’ Wafer said. “Coming to the gym early, staying out of the way, listening to what they say. Just don’t become a distraction.

“Hopefully, they’ll eventually notice the work I’m putting in and how bad I want to be a part of this, because it’s something special.’’

Wafer said he will stay ready in case his opportunity comes, but he wants to keep his hopes down. He doesn’t expect to be subbed into games, yet he will be prepared when his name does get called. And that might happen sooner than Wafer thinks.

“We’ve got to get one more guy to play,’’ said Rivers. “Von is probably the first candidate.

“We’ve got to figure out a way of getting him going a little bit. He’ll figure it out. He’s close, he’s working. He’s just got to remember why we play him, and he’ll figure it out.’’

So Von, remember why the Celtics play you — because all other options are exhausted. I kid, I kid. Wafer’s coming around, but he still has to learn the Celtic way to play. At least he’s now headed in the right direction. The intentions are good. Now, the Celtics just have to work on defense and shot selection.

Injury news

– Rajon Rondo is still bothered by two ailments: plantar fasciitis and a sore hamstring. Early in the first quarter of Friday’s game, reports Chris Forsberg, Rondo actually asked Doc Rivers to replace him with Nate Robinson. Rondo’s hamstring was THAT stiff. Says Paul Pierce, “He’s battling through a lot of injuries right now.”

Even Doc Rivers admitted Rondo’s minutes have to be cut down. “”Rondo’s a guy, we have to lower his minutes. There’s no doubt about that.”

I bet you $100 Rondo plays at least 39 minutes today.

– Nate Robinson, limited by symptoms similar to those caused by plantar fasciitis, played only three minutes against Portland. He bounced back with 13 minutes against Chicago, and — despite registering more shot attempts (6) than points (5) — didn’t look any worse for the wear.

– Kendrick Perkins continues to recover from his offseason ACL surgery. Perk targets a February return, saying he intends to take the recovery slow and safe. Perk has been okayed, he said, for all activity except side-to-side movement. He can now run on a treadmill, and has been shooting jump shots for quite some time. By all accounts, he looks to be slimmer (in a good way) than he was before the injury.

– Jermaine O’Neal could be cleared for activity sometime this week. Still, according to Forsberg, “no return is imminent.” Yes, I know the Celtics originally said he would miss 2-3 weeks, and now it has (already) been damn near a month, but — hey — better late than never. Also, it’s not like the Celtics have a reputation of being open about injuries. They’re more Belichickian than Belichick himself.

– Devin Harris will likely return to the court today when the Celtics play the Nets. He has missed the last two games with a strained left knee.

The Morning Walkthrough is a set of links to Boston Celtics articles throughout the internet, designed to get your day started the right way.

Mark Murphy, Boston Herald – “In his best performance as a Celtic, O’Neal took a little time to bask in the crowd’s vocal appreciation. ‘I think people appreciate my hard work, especially over the last 18 years,’ he said. ‘I think they understand that when I came here for the 1.5 (million dollars), they knew what was on my mind. For them, it’ll be 18 (championships). For the Big Three, it’ll be two (titles). And for me it’ll be Big No. 5. That’s the only thing that I’ll focus on right now.’ O’Neal has also passed an early judgment on his team. ‘This is a great team, the best I’ve been on,’ he said. ‘They’ve got a lot of great weapons on this team, so on any given night anybody can be the leading scorer. . . . Yes, the best team. As far as players, as far as guys being really close. I know we’ve only been at this for two months, but hopefully the outcome will be a good one.’”

Gary Washburn, Boston Globe – “Delonte West spent less than five full games in uniform before bad luck struck the troubled guard again. In the midst of sparking his lethargic team in the second quarter against the Nets, West was knocked off balance by New Jersey’s Travis Outlaw on a drive to the basket, sustaining a broken right wrist. While it’s unclear how long West will be out, the club is preparing for him to miss at least three months. Coach Doc Rivers and team president Danny Ainge both mentioned West being ready for the playoffs in April. ‘It’s broken for sure,’ Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. ‘Don’t know anything else more than that; a compound fracture most likely. But that’s going to be a long time, let’s just put it that way.’ … Ainge said the club will not immediately search for another guard. ‘We like our guys, and Avery [Bradley] is starting to get healthy and Avery and Von are going to have to step up and play,’ Ainge said. ‘In order to make a move we’d have to let someone go and we like our guys. It’s tragic for Delonte. Basketball is a very important part of his life. I hate to see this happen. But Delonte will be able to return late in the season to help us.’”

Jessica Camerato, CSNNE – “On Wednesday night Delonte West broke his wrist on a drive to the basket. Rivers projects West could be sidelined until the playoffs, leaving a gap in the Celtics backcourt. Enter Wafer. Wafer started the fourth quarter and played during a five-minute stretch in which the Celtics went on a critical 9-4 run. Even though his box score reads zeros in every category, he provided a necessary spark off the bench. ‘Von Wafer — his stat line’s going to say he did basically nothing — I thought his defensive energy was phenomenal,’ said Rivers. ‘It was great for Von in the locker room. Everybody was grabbing him . . . because ‘defense’ and ‘Von’ can now go together. And that’s a great thing.’”

Mark Murphy, Boston Herald – “Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, supported by the 25-point, 11-rebound work of Shaquille O’Neal, took charge down the stretch. But Daniels’ modest numbers (four points, four assists, three rebounds) belied his ability to fill a gaping hole with a series of game-saving plays. ‘I thought he really changed the game,’ Pierce said. ‘I thought his length really bothered the point guards. In the pick-and-roll he was able to get over and under and switch it up. He just showed his versatility – some of the things he can do when he gets in the game. He usually doesn’t guard point guards, but we know he is capable of guarding two, three, four positions,’ he said. ‘They were great in the pick-and-roll in the first half against us, and in the second half, once we got him in the game, it really changed things defensively for us.’”

Gary Washburn, Boston Globe – “On that pass, Allen might as well have been Anfernee Hardaway or Derek Fisher, because it certainly was vintage Shaq. ‘I know I can do [the old stuff], that’s why Danny [Ainge] signed me up and I’m still here,’ he said. ‘That’s why I’ve accomplished so much. At the time I’m not really getting a lot of plays called for me, but guys are dropping it off and I am finishing.’ … ‘He looked like the 2000 Shaq. The ’99 Shaq, the 2001 and 2002 to 2003 to 2004 to 2005 to 2006,’ forward Kevin Garnett joked. ‘He looked fresh tonight. I thought he did a great job of getting us in a bonus early. On this team night in and night out, we are going to have a different guy from [Pierce] to Ray to anybody, and tonight it was Shaq.’”

Frank Dell’Apa, Boston Globe – “This was a game for Shaquille O’Neal to shine, Marquis Daniels to provide quality minutes, and Von Wafer to establish his defensive credentials. But when it counted, the ball was in the hands of the Celtics’ Big Three — Allen, Garnett, and Pierce. The Celtic starters were 8 for 11 from the field in the final quarter, Pierce the only one to miss a shot. Allen was 1 for 3 in the opening half but finished with 15 points and a season-high seven assists. Garnett was off (4 for 12) but kept firing away and landed a jumper from the top of the key off an Allen feed late in the third quarter, then played floor-pounding defense to stop Kris Humphries. Pierce playing point is not a long-term solution, though the Celtics might have to use a similar strategy against Toronto tomorrow, unless Rondo recovers enough for trainer Ed Lacerte to OK him to play. ‘I’m probably less likely, the way things are going,’ Rivers said when asked whether he’d use Rondo against the Raptors. ‘I’m serious about that. Unless Eddie says [Rondo’s] feeling great. And I know Rondo, so we’re going to have to really have a long talk for him to play.’”

Got a tip? An article you think should be included? Send an email to jayking@celticstown.com or hit me up on Twitter @CelticsTown.

The Morning Walkthrough is a set of links to Boston Celtics articles throughout the internet, designed to get your day started the right way.

Gary Washburn, Boston Globe – “They have known each other since the eighth grade, have played together with the Knicks. But after four months with the Celtics, going to the Finals and playing a major role in the team reaching Game 7 against the Lakers, Robinson wasn’t the same player Crawford knew. ‘He’s grown up an awful lot,’ said Crawford. ‘I think that he actually won a couple of games in the playoffs for them with just his energy and his impact on the game. He’s never going to back down. If you’re going to war, that’s somebody you want to be in a foxhole with.’ Some things were the same. For one, Robinson’s decibel level never changes. ‘At 6 in the morning, he’s the same as at 6 at night,’ Crawford said. ‘Seriously, he’s going around, bouncing off the walls. That’s just Nate.’”

Paul Flannery, WEEI – “Back in October it may have seemed like a fool’s errand, or a death wish, to ask the Celtics to keep pace with the Heat and Magic, but now the East seems wide open and with that comes the real possibility of gaining homecourt advantage in multiple rounds. We bring all this up because the Celtics are beginning a three-game stretch of games against the Nets, Raptors and Cavaliers. There’s no reason the Celtics should lose any of these games, but then again two of their four losses have come against Toronto and Cleveland. If they are going to win 60 games and compete for homecourt, these are the games they have to win and it wouldn’t hurt to do it convincingly. They probably don’t even need to be angry. Mildly annoyed should work just fine.”

A. Sherrod Blakely, CSNNE – “When Kevin Garnett has the ball, it’s more of the same. As the Boston Celtics continue to get props for an impressive start, there are a number of players who deserve some of the credit. You can include O’Neal and Garnett, a dynamic big-man duo whose collective efforts are too great to ignore. Statistically speaking, neither is having the kind of off-the-charts season that fans have grown accustomed to. However, both are delivering just what the C’s need at both ends of the floor.”

Steve Bulpett, Boston Herald – “Both aging big men are clearly feeding off each other this season. Both have talked about the remarkable decrease in double teams when they get to play in tandem. ‘Perfect,’ said [Shaq] O’Neal. ‘I think it’s a relationship of respect, after our battles over the years. We’ve seen what we can do over the years. We’re basically the same thing to each other, and we can say anything to each other. He can say anything to me and I’ll respect his word, and he’ll respect my word. I knew that it was going to be a good relationship coming in. I’ve played on a lot of other teams where the other team didn’t have to respect the 4 (power forward),’ he said. ‘So being that they have to respect him means that there’s a lot more room for me. It also means there’s a lot more room for him, so we’re going to use each other. I think it’s a good fit.’”

Colin Stephenson, New Jersey Star Ledger – “Troy Murphy will sit out his fourth straight game tonight when the Nets host the Atlanta Hawks at the Prudential Center and Nets coach Avery Johnson said the 6-11 power forward will not make the trip with the team to Boston for Wednesday’s game at the TD Banknorth Garden. ‘We talked this morning, and he feels he’s getting stronger,’ Johnson said of Murphy. ‘He’s not going to go with us to Boston – he’s going to stay back and get some more extra work done in our strength and conditioning program. And in about a week or so, we’ll see where we are with him.’”

Colin Stephenson, New Jersey Star Ledger – “Terrence Williams has been placed on the inactive list for tonight’s game against the Atlanta Hawks for disciplinary reasons, coach Avery Johnson told reporters in his pregame briefing. ‘Terrence is inactive for repeatedly violating team policy,’ Johnson said. ‘So that’s why he’s inactive tonight and he will not travel with the team to Boston.’ Williams will join Troy Murphy and the injured Quinton Ross (calf) on the list of players not going to Boston for Wednesday’s game against the Celtics.”

Got a tip? An article you think should be included? Send an email to jayking@celticstown.com or hit me up on Twitter @CelticsTown.

Stephane Lasme flies past Andrea Bargnani. Nice D, Bargs. You almost came within five feet of getting a block.

On one hand, the Celtics’ final preseason game tonight against the New Jersey Nets means nothing. It’s just one more dry run, followed by five days of preparation. And on Tuesday, six days from today, the Miami Heat come to town. That’s when the real show begins.

On the other hand, the Celtics’ final preseason game holds more significance than the NBA Finals. Just ask Von Wafer, who will likely play in China if the Celtics cut him following tonight’s game. Just ask Stephane Lasme, who has no Plan B  for when, or if, he gets cut. Lasme just wants to be close to his family, which happens to live in Massachusetts. The NBA only permits teams to carry 15 players on a roster. The Celtics have 16 players worthy of inclusion. One will be sent home, likely tonight.

The importance of tonight’s game, at least to Wafer and Lasme, is life-altering. But most fans just can’t stop thinking about opening night, six days from now.

“There’s never been an opening game that has been more heavily anticipated,” Ray Allen told WEEI.

“I think with the anticipation [after] our exiting the finals last year and then with the new additions to Miami, they overly hyped the game,” Kevin Garnett added. “Yeah, I can see this has a lot of episodes, a lot of drama, if you will. It will have a lot of soap opera feel to it. Days of Our Lives, Another World, Santa Barbara.

“My grandmother was a big, big soap opera fan so it was either go outside or sit in there with her so I know that schedule quite well.”

Once you can get over the shock of Garnett watching soap operas, his message resonates. Before the Celtics and new-look Heat have met even once, a rivalry has been forged. The public has wanted a Heat-Celtics matchup since Lebron took his talents to South Beach, and so have the players.

The Celtics ran their mouths this summer, saying they aren’t afraid of the Heat. They’re the defending Eastern Conference champions, and until someone takes that title away the Celtics will consider themselves the East’s best. The Heat, meanwhile, have said all the right things. They’re still chasing the Celtics, they say. They haven’t won anything yet. But somewhere under that thin layer of humility rests a team that believes itself to be the greatest, not only in the Eastern Conference but the entire NBA. And they want to start proving it on opening night.

Coaches beg players not to overlook an opponent all the time. If I had a dime for every time my high school coach told me to “focus only on the task at hand,” I’d be living in my dream house, wearing Armani suits and eating nothing but caviar and steak. But tonight’s game is especially easy to overlook, especially because the W or L won’t show up on the Celtics’ record, especially because the NBA’s paper champions stand menacingly in the on-deck circle. Easy to overlook, that is, unless you’re Von Wafer or Stephane Lasme. Then, tonight’s game is the Super Bowl come early.

On a completely unrelated note, I now know why Garnett plays with so much rage. I’d have a lot of pent-up anger, too, if I spent my childhood watching Days of Our Lives.

The season is approaching (but not quickly enough), so that means it’s NBA preview time. Starting with the league’s worst team and working our way to the top, we’ll preview one team per day.

This picture must have been from two seasons ago. Last year, there was nothing for Harris to celebrate.

New Jersey Nets

Last year’s record: 12-70
Head Coach: Avery Johnson
Projected Starters: Devin Harris, Anthony Morrow, Travis Outlaw, Troy Murphy, Brook Lopez

Outlook:

It’s impossible to discuss next year’s New Jersey Nets without talking about last year’s New Jersey Nets. Because the Nets were supposed to be decent, last year, but were instead bad. Hideously bad. Almost historically bad. After their 12-win season, pardon me if I’m no longer sold on the star potential of a Devin Harris-Brook Lopez combo. Still, shouldn’t there be improvement there? Shouldn’t the Nets be a lot better, just by default? Who knows. I’m just happy I no longer have to listen to Avery Johnson’s voice on TV.

X-Factor:

Heart. Remember Vince Carter from his final days in Toronto? Mailing games in, milking injuries and generally acting like he didn’t enjoy playing basketball? Multiply that effort by twelve players and you get the ’08-’09 Nets. In my 20+ years of watching professional basketball, I’ve never seen a team play with less energy. Avery Johnson’s got a big job ahead of him.

Biggest Question Mark:

What the hell happened to Devin Harris last year? Talk about falling off the face of the earth. I know he was injury riddled, but damn. Look at the statistical drop:

’08-’09: 21.3 ppg, 6.9 apg, 43.8% field goals, 8.8 free throw attempts
’09-’10: 16.9 ppg, 6.6 apg, 40.3% field goals, 6.0 free throws attempts

Nagging injuries or not, 27-year olds NBA All-Stars aren’t supposed to jump off a statistical cliff. Harris’s return to form would go a long way toward repairing the Nets’ respectability.

Most important newcomer:

For this year, Troy Murphy. Any time you can add a 6’11″ player with three-point range who gets a double-double every night, that’s a nice addition. Even if it’s just Murphy. Another thing about Murphy? He plays hard and should be a breath of fresh air. Don’t sleep on Travis Outlaw, either. That man can play.

Key loss:

Can you possibly have a key loss from a team that won only 12 games? Almost any loss is addition by subtraction, right? If I had to choose somebody, I’d pick Courtney Lee. But only because I had to.

Most compelling storyline:

The Nets aren’t going to win 60 games. They aren’t going to be contenders. They aren’t going to pick the world up and drop it on its head. We all know that. Hell, they’re already talking about 2012 free agency. But I’m interested to see whether Avery Johnson can turn the attitude around. If he does, he’s a miracle man. I’ve always suspected that his work in Dallas was underappreciated.

Player to watch:

I could say Brook Lopez, but that’d be too easy. (And yes, I just went through an entire Nets preview without discussing Lopez once. Sue me.) Watch Derrick Favors, folks. The first post move he learns will be his first, but Favors can jump into the stratosphere. If I were a betting man, I’d wager on Favors becoming an All-Star before long. Then again, if I were a betting man I would have written the same thing about Kwame Brown.

Descriptive movie quote:

“I play for the Indians.”
“Here in Cleveland? I didn’t know they still had a team.”
“Yup, we’ve got uniforms and everything, it’s really great!”

- Jake Taylor and some other lady, Major League

Yup, the Nets still have a team. They’ve got uniforms and everything. And if you squint your eyes hard enough, they even have some talent. Squint a little harder and you’ll see a bright future. You know, as long as you use your imagination.

Projected Record: 25-57. But more wins wouldn’t surprise me. Jersey’s got a little talent. And I stress a little.