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NEW YORK -- One of the greats to wear green, Paul Pierce found it strange playing for the other side. "It was a little weird looking over and seeing all the green uniforms," he said of his first game against the Boston Celtics. "Im used to lining up in the green and white for so long." Pierce made just one basket but grabbed 10 rebounds and added five assists to help the Brooklyn Nets beat the Celtics 82-80 on Tuesday night in the first matchup between the teams since a blockbuster trade on draft night. Brook Lopez scored 20 points and Andrey Blatche had 14 starting in place of Kevin Garnett for the Nets, who won it when Chris Johnson made two free throws with 7.0 seconds left after the game was tied at 80. Pierce finished 1 of 6, his only basket a driving layup with 6.2 seconds left in the first half in the first meeting between the teams since the deal that sent Pierce and Garnett to Brooklyn. Coach Jason Kidd told Pierce to treat it like a green and white scrimmage -- and the white pulled it out. "I thought he handled it well, as any professional would," Kidd said. Courtney Lee led the Celtics with 14 points but missed a potential tying jumper in the final seconds. Pierce was the first Nets starter announced after he was always the last guy called in Boston. Originally shaken by the trade, he seemed to enjoy reminders of his past and catching up with his old teammates. He had a chat with Rajon Rondo by the Celtics bench while the Nets were shooting free throws, and later said something that drew a smile from Avery Bradley after blocking the guards shot. Pierce also visited the Celtics in their locker room before the game to wish them luck this season. "It was weird at first, but its at a point now where people just got to get used to it," Celtics forward Jeff Green said of the trade. Pierce spent 15 years with the Celtics and is second on their career scoring list and was the MVP of the 2008 NBA Finals. He knows he has a lesser role on a deep Nets team, but wont accept that his days as an elite scorer are over. "I still have it in the tank," he said. "When the big games come, I still am more than capable." Garnett didnt play as part of a regularly scheduled night off after the Nets played Monday in Philadelphia. Kidd called it a "reward" for Garnetts good work during the preseason, though Garnett has already made it clear he doesnt want nights off. The Nets were also without Deron Williams, who remains out with a sprained right ankle, and key reserves Andrei Kirilenko (back spasms) and Jason Terry (left knee), who was also part of the trade. The Nets host the Miami Heat on Thursday night. They will retire Kidds No. 5 before the game. Hector Rondon Jersey . - Kobe Bryant and LeBron James traded hugs, big shots and verbal jabs all night with warmth and humour. Roy Oswalt Jersey . -- Kenneth Faried made a turnaround hook shot over Draymond Green with a half-second remaining, and the Denver Nuggets made Golden State wait at least one more game to secure a playoff berth with a stunning 100-99 win over the Warriors on Thursday night. http://www.baseballastrosproshop.com/roberto-osuna-astros-jersey/ . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. Nolan Ryan Astros Jersey .com) - Ryan Miller made 28 saves to record his fifth shutout of the season and second in as many nights as the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 on Friday. Jake Marisnick Jersey . Austin does not believe the game-time temperature is going to be an advantage for either side heading into the Grey Cup. "We dont think about (the cold)," said Austin. "Im not even sure how you would determine an advantage.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - These are dark days for Rex Ryan and the New York Jets.Ryan is a coach with an uncertain future, and that means beyond even Sundays game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Jets will go on their bye-week break at this time next week and speculation has started that they could say bye-bye to their coach.After all, the Jets (1-8) are searching for answers and, more importantly, victories in a season marked by eight straight losses that has a disappointed fanbase already thinking about the NFL draft and next year.Our fans, I recognize their frustrations, Ryan said Monday, and its probably not easy to be a Jets fan right now.After a 24-10 loss at Kansas City on Sunday, this group of Jets became the third in franchise history to lose eight consecutive games. The last time was in 1996, when New York finished 1-15 under Rich Kotite, a season widely recognized as the worst — and most embarrassing — in team history.Before that, the 1975 Jets dropped eight straight on their way to a 3-11 season.Yep, those were tough times, too.But nine straight losses? It has never been done in the history of the franchise.Its just a stat, man, defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson said. We didnt want to lose eight straight, so we most definitely dont want to go nine.But talk about bad timing.Up next for the Jets, dealing with a shaky secondary situation all season, are the Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger, who is coming off becoming the first player in NFL history to throw 12 touchdown passes in a two-game stretch, with six in each.Nah, no concerns, Ryan said, almost rolling his eyes. I mean, when you look at it realistically, obviously, it is a huge concern. Theyre on fire right now.And, quite frankly, the Jets are the complete opposite.Picked by many before the season to hover between seven and nine wins and be in the playoff hunt, the Jets will be hard-pressed to win three or four games.We didnt expect to be in this position, said quarterback Michael Vick, wholl start against the Steelers. Obviously, coming into the year, you set high expectations and we had a lot of goals and to be one of the best teams in the league. To be in this position is very shocking.Some disgruntled season ticketholders set up a website last week called FireJohnIdzik.com, dedicated to urging owner Woody Johhnson to part ways with the teams general manager.dddddddddddd The site has raised $10,000 to buy space on a billboard near MetLife Stadium to further their cause.Idzik is feeling the heat, maybe even more than anyone else in the organization, because of the perception that he did little to provide Ryan with a roster that could be successful.Angry fans point to the lack of depth at cornerback, failed draft picks — only five of the 12 from last May are on the active roster — and the failure of Geno Smith to prove himself as a franchise-type quarterback.Ryan is not without blame, though, with in-game decisions and his once mighty defence failing to be dominant key strikes against him. Some fans and media believe its not a question of if, but when Johnson will cut ties with Ryan — and very possibly Idzik.If the Jets owner comes to that conclusion, it probably would be after the regular-season finale in Miami in December, but Ryan insists hes not thinking of that.I dont look past Pittsburgh, Ryan said defiantly. I know my opportunity is to be a head coach right now and Im going to do the best job I possibly can do for this football team, and to give us a chance to be successful.When Ryan was hired in 2009, he was a breath of fresh air to a stale franchise. He was a brash, bold media darling who commanded attention because no one knew what he might say or do.He restored the Jets to relevance on a national level, leading the franchise to consecutive trips to the AFC title game in his first two years.But, Ryan has toned things down a bit, and its understandable, considering the Jets are looking at their fourth straight season out of the post-season. Thats hardly a stretch that guarantees hell be back next season, and Ryan knows it.Well, 1-8, we all get it, Ryan said. I understand it, but the season is not over. You judge by when the season is over and you make up your own mind. But I know one thing: It isnt going to be by lack of effort, lack of passion, lack of anything.The results arent there yet, certainly they arent there yet, and thats not acceptable to anybodys standard, certainly not mine. So again, we have a lot of season left and I think our football team is going to play a lot better.___AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '