EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—A call of the Nets' final possession of the first half Saturday would sound something like this:

"Alston bringing the ball up, Boone sets a high screen, roll is covered. Swing pass to Terrence Williams. Boone with the screen, Williams drives right, crosses underneath the basket and finds Lopez, top-of-the-key. Lopez drives on Garnett, hits Boone cutting back door, reverse layup is good!"

The execution was uncanny; the players, all patient, all trusting. Down to eight healthy bodies, the Nets didn't have much of a choice. Against the Celtics at the IZOD Center, that didn't matter – the Nets made Boston sweat out 3 1/2 quarters with an effort it didn't seem possible to pull off on the second night of a back-to-back. Boston won, 86-76, dropping the Nets to 0-7 despite 23 points, seven rebounds and three blocks from Brook Lopez (10-16 FGs).

"It's tough," admitted point guard Rafer Alston. "We hate losing, we don't like losing, but we were right there to win it. Again, we're going to go back to film and find out we made some crucial mistakes, especially leaving Ray Allen open twice on back-to-back (shots)."

Those jumpers came in the game's 44th minute, sandwiching a long two by Lopez. Each pushed the Celtics' lead to eight points, a level reached only once before. The Nets committed to out-working Boston from the jump, holding the Celtics to .412 shooting in the first half (.449 overall) and outrebounding them 40-37. Kevin Garnett shot only 3-for-13, Rasheed Wallace hit only 3-of-10 and it took a 4-for-6 fourth to enable Allen to salvage a night that began 1-for-7. The Celtics hit just one of 10 threes.

It was the second consecutive surprisingly strong defensive performance by an under-manned Nets squad that won't admit just how proud it is of these efforts until there's a W accompanying the season-opening L's. There is unquestionable chemistry forming on the defensive end, and it's because of players like Josh Boone, the fourth-year big man whom rookie Terrence Williams believes is playing to his potential. Boone – only a season removed from an 8-and-7 sophomore campaign – shunted the attention, saying it was team defense and improved communication that limited Garnett.

"We're talking a whole lot more on defense," Boone said. "Our defense is based on being vocal and letting each other know where we are, because we're such a help-oriented team. We've gotten a lot better at opening our mouths and actually talking to each other."

Contributions came from all eight players. A night ago, most notable was Trenton Hassell going from 0-to-43 (minutes) and putting up a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double. Against Boston, it was Boone racking up up eight points and 12 boards in his first start since last November. Or the 33-year-old Alston going for 20 points and seven assists while playing 40-plus for the third time in a week. Or Williams subbing everywhere on the floor for 30 minutes while snagging nine rebounds a night after tallying nine assists.

The rookie shot 4-for-14, though his shooting percentage seemed victimized by a number of in-and-out attempts, perhaps none more crucial than a layup with one minute remaining. Williams worked off a screen by Lopez, driving after a hesitation dribble and floating a short runner that rolled around the rim before falling off the far side. Boone rebounded it, but his putback caught front iron and Garnett rebounded that. The outlet went to Allen, who hit Kendrick Perkins in stride for a layup that left the Celtics up eight with 54.6 seconds, sealing the Nets' best chance to close.

"If this was college, I'd probably go straight to the gym and sleep in the gym," Williams said. "But knowing that it's a long season, and listening to my teammates, they're good shots. One time, I ball faked Paul Pierce and shot it mid-range and missed. So as long as I'm taking shots and they're rimming out, there could be a game where it's my turn and I only miss one shot or they all go in. But you can't go into the gym and practice like, 'I'm just going to shoot this 'til I make it.' It's just the luck of the roll."

NETS NOTES
With Terrence Williams following up a career-high nine assists in Philly with nine rebounds tonight, what's next for the rookie swingman?

"Nine points!" said Williams, with a chuckle. "Nah. You just try to take what the game brings you. Yesterday, I had to play moreso the point and distribute the ball. Today, I tried to help on the glass with the big guys."

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