Before the Nets' victory over the Celtics on Wednesday night in Boston, point guard Jason Kidd wondered whether he should tell the rookie Richard Jefferson just how he felt about him.

"I thought about as I was walking out there if I should say he should be a leading candidate for rookie of the year," Kidd said, then smiled. "But I don't know if he can handle that."

In the Nets' heady start, Jefferson, the 13th overall draft pick in June, has come off the bench to play a key role in dramatic finishes during the Nets' first two games, both victories. Jefferson, a 6-foot-7 forward, has scored a total of 23 points athletically and artistically; he has guarded All- Stars and he has been on the floor during down-to-the-wire moments in the fourth quarter.