The Sunday matchup between the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics features storylines much greater than basketball. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett will be returning to their long-time home for the first time since being traded before the 2013 NBA Draft. Pierce spent 15 years in green while Garnett was their for six, helping Boston win an NBA Championship in 2008. Now, they return in different uniforms with the surging Nets.
Pierce and Garnett headlined a dominate era for the Boston Celtics, putting together the original Big 3 with Ray Allen. Outside of the NBA championship, they went to back-to-back finals before losing the Los Angeles Lakers. Before the three teamed up, Boston had gone four straight seasons with no playoff series win.
Without Pierce, Garnett and Allen, the Celtics are in a slump once again. The team is 3-16 in their past 19 games. They have Rajon Rondo back from injury, but that does not appear to be helping. First-year Celtics coach Brad Stevens is unaware of the legacy Garnett and Pierce left behind, instead remaining focused on a rebuilding effort for the Celtics.
On the other side, the Brooklyn Nets are on fire in the month of January, holding the best record of the month. They are 9-1 in their last 10 games while currently being on a four-game win streak. After going 10-21 to start the season, both Garnett and Pierce have played large roles in getting the team back on solid ground.
The return of the two veterans will certainly hold some emotions. The Celtics have planned video tributes for both players during timeouts. The two teams have met up once in the regular season with the Nets getting the win at home. Now they will try to do the same on the road.
