So what is the most important aspect of the Eastern Conference semis between the Nets and Celtics starting tonight at the Meadowlands?

“Our defense, man. They’ve got a great penetrator and they drift out to the 3-point line so we’ve just got to contain the dribble and get out to their shooters,” said Kenyon Martin.

“We have to get production out of more people than just Paul and Antoine,” said Boston coach Jim O’Brien. “We need it across the board because they’ve shown in last year’s playoffs and this year that they are a team that unless we’re playing well, they can handle us.”

The Nets beat Boston in the six-game Conference Finals last year and then took Boston 3-of-4 in the regular season. The matchups, with the Celtics first, for the series that sends the winner against the survivor of Philadelphia-Detroit:

POINT GUARD

Tony Delk vs Jason Kidd

Delk is a good shooter with 3-point range. His quickness could create problems and he’ll get some open looks through Kidd’s help defense. But Kidd is the best at the position. And no one on the planet is quicker with the ball. He has strength, speed, vision, etc.

Edge: NETS

SHOOTING GUARD

Paul Pierce vs Kerry Kittles

Pierce buried Indy with spectacular rolls. With great size for the position (6-6, 230) he’s Boston’s best post-up player. He’ll get to the line (63 FTs against Indiana). A 3-point threat, the Celtics run much for and through him. Kittles is as fast as anyone in transition. His ability to run and finish makes him a great Kidd companion.

Edge: Celtics.

SMALL FORWARD

Walter McCarty vs Richard Jefferson

McCarty is a good spot up shooter with range. He’s athletic with great length at 6-10. But he can drift defensively. Jefferson gives the Nets a solid third option after Kidd and Martin. He creates his own shot, is a threat from the perimeter and a great finisher.

Edge: NETS

POWER FORWARD

Antoine Walker vs Kenyon Martin

Classic strong scorer vs. terrific defender. Go with defense. Walker will score a lot because he’ll shoot a lot. Took 109 shots against Indy and went to the line 12 times. Martin guards any position and was the dominant player against Milwaukee (22.3 points, 10.0 rebounds). He turned Walker inside out this season (15.3 ppg, .284 shooting).

Edge: NETS

CENTER

Tony Battie vs Jason Collins

Battie yields the spot to Walker in crunch time. He’s athletic, a terrific offensive rebounder (a hard to find for Boston with all the long rebounds). Collins is mom’s cooking, the family dog, flannel shirts: steady and dependable. A terrific help defender, he’s active, smart, a master of the little things that coaches adore.

Edge: EVEN

BENCH

Eric Williams will get endgame minutes and is Boston’s second-best post-up threat. J.R. Bremer and Mark Blount were sound second half pickups. Depth and versatility have been Nets’ strengths although Byron Scott has shortened the rotation. Aaron Williams (.613 vs. Bucks), Lucious Harris (10.8 ppg) and Rodney Rogers make the Nets a little deeper and a little stronger. Might not be another good series for Dikembe Mutombo’s playing time.

Edge: NETS

COACH

Jim O’Brien vs Byron Scott

O’Brien, low profile workaholic type, is one of the league’s most underrated coaches. Scott, who symbolizes his team’s confidence, has two division and one conference title already on the resume in three seasons.

Edge: CELTICS

PREDICTION

The Celtics are always one shooting binge away from burying anybody. They’ll snuff the Nets at least once with their long-range bombs. The Nets must defend the 3-point line and just do what they do: rebound, run, share the ball. Figure they will. NETS in FIVE.