It’s wicked awesome to be a Boston fan these days. The Sox are the World Series champions. The Pats are the Super Bowl favorites. And, the Celtics morphed overnight into an undefeated basketball sensation of Teen Wolf proportions.

If I sound bitter it’s because, well, I am. Wouldn’t you be as a die-hard fan of the biggest choke artists in the MLB and one of the worst teams in the NFL? As a Mets/Jets fan, I’m at an all-time Will Ferrell funeral-crashing state of lowliness.

My one glimmer of hope resides over the river and through the parking lot to the hardwood floors of the IZOD arena. With the exception of their embarrassment against Toronto, the Nets are off to a fair start this season with a 4-1 record.

A win tonight against the Celtics would be huge for the Nets; not to mention, it would bring a halt to Boston’s invincibility. Beating the big green machine will be no easy feat though, thanks to the addition of perennial All-Stars Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. The undefeated Celtics squad has a 4-0 record, proving to be the most formidable foe in the East.

There has been a lot of buzz leading up to the game tonight. It’s only game 6 but many fans are making wild claims that this game will be a window into who will be crowned the Eastern conference champ in months to come.

Talk about pressure.

But, Cool Hand Frank refuses to submit to the mass hype. When asked about the highly anticipated game, Lawrence Frank responded, “It’s a division game, it’s the next game on our schedule… I don’t think this early in the season you make it a playoff game, because it’s not.”

A stone-cold bluff?

There’s no question that the Nets need to bring their A-game tonight if they want any chance at the pot. Coach Frank’s vow to treat every opponent the same is an honorable one so long as last Friday’s play isn’t the standard.

The Nets need to forgo their late-surge, catch-up mentality. Consistency and poise from the tip-off to the final buzzer are a must for them to pull off a win. Bad habits die hard in New Jersey, so fans better pray for a streak-free Vince and a hotter than hot Jefferson to combat the sharp-shooting Allen, the penetrating Pierce, and the all-around monster effort of KG.

New Jersey may have the better point guard with Jason Kidd at the helm, but Boston has a more dominant inside force. Containment will be crucial. Kevin Garnett is extremely dangerous in the paint. On any given night, you can expect him to wreak havoc under the hoop. In last night’s game against Atlanta, KG single-handedly contributed 27 points, 19 rebounds and 6 assists. Jason Collins and Jamaal Magloire are going to have their hands full trying to restrain this green giant.

Another key to winning for the Nets will be defense. New Jersey needs to embrace a defensive mindset in order to limit Boston’s offensive firepower. Only four games into the regular season, Boston’s point differential is at an impressive plus-18. Paul Pierce is a fierce penetrator who knows how to slash and draw fouls, while Ray Allen knows how to stick ‘em from the outside with his deadly jump shot. Richard Jefferson really needs to stick tight on these two tonight.

Last but certainly not least, the Nets need a more evenly distributed team contribution in order to beat the talent-bloated Celtics. Vince has shown some signs of life this week and will hopefully be more of an offensive threat this evening, because Jefferson can’t carry the team alone. Kidd also needs to take charge over the greener Rondo and control the pace of the game right from the start. There can’t be any 20-point holes and the expectation that they can just rally back for the win like they did against the Wizards.

Tonight’s match will be a fierce game of east coast pride. My ego needs a serious boost, so let’s hope the Nets pull through.