Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

The Celtics are hardly jumping for joy over their perch atop the NBA’s Atlantic Division. At 5-8 they would be no higher than fourth place in any other Division.

Head coach Doc Rivers that “we earned it,� laughing as he said that the current standings indicate that a lot of teams have struggled and that they may have struggled the least at this point.

While recognizing that standings at this point aren’t a main concern, Rivers said he’ll take it. He also pointed out that this isn’t the first time the teams in the Atlantic has had such early struggles and it won’t be the last.

When asked when the last time he had been on a team that was in first place with a record under .500, Paul Pierce responded, “Probably never. But I don’t really look at it like that. We’re only 13 games into the season .We’re just trying to get better game-by-game. First place means nothing right now.

West Coast hangover
The Nets come having lost their last six games, including four games on the road against Seattle, Portland, Phoenix, and the Los Angeles Lakers.

“To a man everyone is very disappointed at where we’re at,� Nets head coach Lawrence Frank said.

The Nets, a preseason favorite of many to win the Atlantic Division, are currently behind the Celtics by half a game with a record of 5-9 coming into tonight.

Boone still mending
Nets rookie Josh Boone out of the University of Connecticut will miss tonight’s game, according to head coach Lawrence Frank. Boone (left shoulder injury) has worked out with the coaching staff and is expected to practice by Friday of this week. He has yet to play in a game for New Jersey.

The 23rd overall pick by the Nets in the 2006 NBA Draft, Boone averaged 10.3 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per game, and 2.0 blocks per game.