Despite a tough loss against the new-look Celtics on Saturday, you’ve got to be somewhat pleased with how the Nets have played this season. Sure, they haven’t gotten a tremendous amount of scoring from anyone besides Richard Jefferson and need to start rebounding better on offense, but besides that, they’ve done some of the smaller things that have gotten them wins.

For instance, Jason Kidd is passing the ball and creating offense, in addition to leading the team in rebounding. That might not mean much this early in the season, but to me it shows that Kidd is trying to be a spark plug on a team that really needs one.

On the defensive side of the ball, the team getting enough boards, as Jamal Magloire, Kidd, Jefferson and Vince Carter are all averaging over four rebounds a game, but that’s still not enough. As far as rebounding goes, this team is towards the bottom of the league. That has got to change if this team is focused on making the playoffs this season.

Additionally, I’m sure I’m not the only one that expected the team to play a little better on offense. Especially considering all the hype this offseason about how Sean Williams and Josh Boone were going to get more playing time to help out down low and get some easy buckets. All I’ve seen so far is Jason Collins taking up space down low and Nenad Krstic missing most of the shots he’s taking.

The other day in the New York Post, Krstic said he felt 75-80 percent, but he was feeling better everyday. I got news for you, if you feel that you’re that far away from being 100 percent, I don’t think you should be playing. Give Williams, Magloire or someone else an opportunity to play some minutes. Shooting 37 percent from the field and scoring 6.5 points a game isn’t going to cut the mustard from your starting center in the NBA. Unless your Luc Longley and have Michael Jordan and Scotty Pippen on your team. While Vince Carter and Jason Kidd are no slouches, they’re not and will never be Pippen and Jordan.

Once Lawrence Frank decides to let Krstic rest until he’s completely ready to play, the Nets are going to get a mediocre effort from him and whoever steps in for him off the bench. Look at it from the opposition’s point of view. You’re playing against a dude with a bad knee and you’re kicking his tail down low. Once he comes out, you’ll have the confidence you need to play against anybody else. This is what’s happening to the Nets down low so far this season.

Once they can solve that problem, they’ll be able to take their game to the next level. Right now though, Kidd, Jefferson and Carter better keep up the tough play.