INDIANAPOLIS — All along, the plan has been for Jerry Stackhouse to be ready and waiting to be a key contributor for the Nets once the playoffs start.
Wednesday night in Boston, Stackhouse showed why that has been the case.
The cagey veteran was terrific against the Celtics, ably filling in for Gerald Wallace when he left the game with a left heel contusion. He finished with seven points, four rebounds and three assists in 22 minutes as the Nets came away with a 101-93 victory.
“You hate to see somebody go down,” Stackhouse said. “[He’s] one of our main guys. Hopefully Gerald can get back and get well, but every game that I sit and don’t play, I’m on the edge of my seat wanting to play. It’s not like I’m sitting over there comfortable and happy I’m not playing. I want to play in the games, and, when I get my opportunity, I try to make the most of it.’’
But, most importantly, Stackhouse gave the Nets a calm presence in a hostile environment, as they fought off a couple of second-half Celtics runs and eventually broke the game open in the fourth quarter to cruise to a comfortable win. It was no small victory, either, as the win moved them to within a combination of two Nets wins and Bulls losses of clinching the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference and homecourt advantage in the first round.
It also gave the Nets a taste of what it will be like to go on the road in the playoffs, something they will experience again tonight when they face the Pacers, who are three games ahead of the Nets for third place in the East.
“We’re still fighting for something. … It’s not like we’re just playing it out,” Stackhouse said. “We’re playing it out because if we don’t handle our business there’s a chance we lose homecourt advantage in the first round. Not that it means a whole lot. … You have one slip-up in the playoffs and it’s gone.’’
Stackhouse provided a little bit of everything against Boston. He hit a couple of shots offensively, and also had a couple of beautiful assists inside.
“[It] was a good win,” he said. “It was a great atmosphere, a great playoff atmosphere, and it’s what we should expect going into the playoffs, going into a hostile environment, and it’s got to do wonders for our confidence to know that we can go on the road and win.
“We want to go [into the playoffs] on a good note, and being able to have quality wins like this in this type of environment, playing a team that we know is going to be there when it’s all said and done, it’s a great feeling.”
The Celtics game wasn’t the only time Stackhouse has been a key contributor, and it’s no coincidence the Nets are 22-12 when he plays.
That’s why Stackhouse said he will continue to be ready whenever he’s needed.
“I’m always ready to go,” Stackhouse said. “Coach made the decision to give guys some minutes, and when he calls my number, he calls my number.
“But, like I said, I sit over there and support my teammates when I’m not in there, and when I get in there I’m going to compete as best as I can.”