Report by Brendan Sullivan and Benjamin Peisch
Brendan Sullivan takes a weekly look at the NBA teams in the Atlantic Division - Boston Celtics, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors - and breaks down what happened the week before and what to expect in the week ahead, as well as injuries and trades.
Recap Rewind: The Celtics rattled off another four wins this week –including an impressive victory over rival Detroit—averaging nearly 106 points of offense per game while giving up only 87. The Big Three held down the majority of the scoring once again, but the beast in Kendrick Perkins has now fully awoken. Perk averaged 12 points, 13.5 boards, and 3 blocks in the Celtics four wins this week.
Notable News: New addition PJ Brown had a short-lived debut for the Celtics this week. Brown put up 3 points and 6 rebounds in 6 minutes against his former team the Chicago Bulls. Backup point guard and other recent addition Sam Cassell did not play for the Celtics this week as he learns the Celtics' offense and recovers from a lingering wrist injury.
Fast Forward: The buzz around the league indicates that Cassell might suit up for the first time Monday night when the Celtics take on the Sixers. Look for this game—featuring the Atlantic Division's two hottest teams—to be a scrappy, hard fought match decided in the fourth quarter. The Celtics also face Seattle, Utah, and Milwaukee this week before next week's tour of Texas.
ATLANTIC DIVISION REPORTS
Boston Celtics/New Jersey Nets/New York Knicks/Philadelphia 76ers/Toronto Raptors