The Celtics opened up preseason play with a thud on Friday, losing 97-91 to Turkish team Fenerbahce Ulker in Istanbul. It's tough to draw much from the first preseason game for an NBA team when they're going against an overseas squad with greater motivation to win, and despite the loss, the C's had to be encouraged by the play of Jeff Green and rookie Jared Sullinger, who led the team with 16 points apiece. Romain Sato, a 2004 second-round pick by the Spurs, led Fenerbache with 24 points, while Ilkan Karaman, whom the Nets took 57th overall in this year's draft, was held to just four. Here's the latest on the Celtics, as they continue their European tour, and the rest of the Atlantic:
- Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe passes along a couple of comments from Celtics coach Doc Rivers about the team's management of Darko Milicic's psyche, well-worn from the expectations of being a No. 2 overall pick and an up-and-down NBA career (Sulia link).
- Newcomers Jason Richardson, Dorell Wright and Nick Young give the Sixers a significant boost from three-point territory, points out Bob Cooney of the the Philadelphia Daily News. John Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer tackles the same issue, noting that coach Doug Collins expects the team to average seven or eight made three-pointers a game.
- MarShon Brooks figures to come off the bench this season for the Nets, a year after serving as the team's second option on offense behind Deron Williams. Tim Bontemps of the New York Post examines his adjustment.
- Knicks coach Mike Woodson says Rasheed Wallace is still working his way back into shape, as Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com tweets. "He's not ready yet. He's just not there where we want him to be," Woodson said. "But he'll get there."