The bad news for the New Jersey Nets is that they are just 2-8 over their last 10 games.
The good news is that they will get to try and turn things around in Newark Sunday at the Prudential Center.
The bad news is the defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics will be waiting to meet them.
Not only have the Nets been losing but they are simply being worn out. When they take the court Sunday afternoon, New Jersey will be playing their 8th game in 13 days including three overtime games. Over the last week they have been forced to play without injured point guard Devin Harris and demoted swing man Terrence Williams, stretching Avery Johnson's crew thin.
The Celtics on the other hand have gone 8-2 over their last 10 games, including an 89-83 win over the Nets in Boston on November 24. Paul Pierce leads the Celtics with 19.6 points per game while Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett are scoring 15.9 and 15.7 points, respectively.
Boston point guard Rajon Rondo seems to be fully recovered from leg injuries that cost him three games recently. Friday night against the Bulls Rondo scored 12 points and dished out 19 assists.
Brook Lopez leads New Jersey with 19.4 points per game while Harris (17.7) is expected to return after a knee strain kept him on the sidelines the past two games.
The Nets have dropped 14 of their last 16 against the Celtics.