What we learned from the Nets’ embarrassing 50-point loss to the Celtics

In the first game of the back-to-back with the Boston Celtics, the Nets enjoyed a promising second half. The Brooklyn Nets were defeated by a huge score of 136-86, so they fell short of that promising showing. With 10 and 15 points respectively, Mikal Bridges and Trendon Watford were the only two players in double figures.

Coach Jacque Vaughn and the Nets were embarrassed by the outcome, particularly because they still had playoff hopes. Brooklyn is a good enough team to not be losing like this, especially since the previous night’s loss was just by eight points. Regretfully, there were some important lessons to be learned from this devastating loss.

The Nets’ rebounding game has gotten worse.
Brooklyn is eighth in the NBA in average rebounding per game at 44.4. Boston leads the NBA with an average of 47.3 boards per game when compared to them. Since Al Horford was absent from the game, the Nets would have had a rebounding advantage—especially with Day’Ron Sharpe in action.

Svi Mykhailiuk was the only member of the Celtics who did not collect four rebounds. The Nets were outrebounded 51 to 31, showing that they had abandoned their gang-rebounding strategy from earlier games. Boston was able to win by 50 points as a result of having more opportunities.

Ben Simmons was the only player not in the starting lineup for Brooklyn for this game. The Australian guard decided to rest his lower back ailment on the second night of a back-to-back. As a facilitator and defender, he is essential to Coach Vaughn’s scheme, which the Nets needed against Boston.