BOSTON — Here are my three thoughts on the Nets’ 101-97 loss to the Celtics on Wednesday night:
1. Deron Williams didn’t play again in Boston on Wednesday, just as he didn’t in the five previous preseason games for the Nets. Though he and the Nets have been very pleased with his progression over the past several days from a sprained right ankle that he suffered last month, Williams admitted it could be “tough” to make it back in time for next Wednesday’s regular-season opener in Cleveland because of how little he has done on the court so far this preseason.
While it would be a disappointment for Williams, there’s no reason for the Nets to rush their star point guard back so he can play one game in October. The Nets haven’t put together a team with a payroll of over $100 million — that will cost, including luxury taxes, near $190 million — to win their season opener. They did so to compete for a championship, and they only will be able to do that if Williams is healthy and playing the way he did in the second half of last season.
So if Williams isn’t ready for next Wednesday, it’s not the end of the world. It’s just the Nets focusing on the bigger picture.
2. Jason Terry looked as if he was in midseason form Wednesday night, as opposed to a player who had sat out for the first three weeks of the preseason.
Terry looked spry coming off of screens for open jumpers, and he broke out his trademark “takeoff” celebration when he knocked down his first 3-pointer. Terry is one of several excellent long-range shooters the Nets have at their disposal, and really should benefit from the open looks he will get sharing the floor with other offensive weapons.
Unless Terry experiences an unexpected setback Thursday, he should play again in Friday’s preseason finale and then would be ready to go for the season opener next week.
3. Nets fans likely got one of their final looks at Mason Plumlee for quite some time Wednesday night as the rookie started and played 28 minutes. Plumlee still has plenty of work to do, particularly offensively, where he needs to develop a consistent jump shot, but he showed some flashes of why the Nets were intrigued enough by his talent to draft him 22nd overall in June.
Plumlee was billed as a guy who would rebound and play with a high motor, and he did both of those things throughout Wednesday’s game. He came up with nine defensive rebounds, and while he did not have any offensive boards, he had no issue mixing it up with opposing big men, including Celtics center Vitor Faverani.
Plumlee is likely to spend much of this season plying his trade with the Springfield Armor in the D-League, getting lots of minutes and working on his game. But he showed some signs Wednesday of the kinds of things he’ll be able to bring to the lineup if he gets a chance – due to either injury or rest situations – to get some minutes in Brooklyn.