BK Nets: Miami Heat Recieve A Flabush Avenue Cold Shoulder

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

 

TODAY

 

BROOKLYN NETS

vs.

Orlando Magic

FROM

The Outskirts of Disney World

Florida

BROOKLYN NETS: Physicality Paved The Way, As Joe Punty's Squad Cooled Off The Heat.

The Jason Kidd Era Is Now Set To Begin...Again.

The Nets, Miami Heat and Barclays Center were in mid-season form Friday night, as Kings Borough was treated to its first Nets victory of the regular season.

Brooklyn's size advantage prevailed over the Heat.  They spread their infractions around with a deep rotation, and effectively bumped and bruised Miami into playing a slower game.  Brooklyn sent the Heat to the line thirty-six times, who converted on twenty-nine attempts.  Miami was limited to only seven fast-break points.

The home team was 27/39 from the line, and won the battle of the boards by a 40-30 margin.  But here's the simple math.  The Heat were 32/67 from the field, for 47.8%, while Brooklyn was 33/68 for a 48.5% shooting average.  Net result, Brooklyn wins by a point.

The Nets went cold down the stretch, and allowed Miami to go on a 10-0 run.  With 18.1 seconds left in the 4th quarter, Brooklyn's ten point lead had dwindled down to two.  Paul Pierce dropped two clutch free throws to make it a 99-95 game with 0:07 seconds left, but LeBron James answered right back with a three.  Then with 3.7 seconds left, the Heat put Joe Johnson on the line, who converted on both free throws, putting the Nets ahead by a 101-98 score.  Kevin Garnett fouled Chris Bosh and put him on the line for two.  Bosh connected on both attempts, but Deron Williams cleared out the rebound to Brook Lopez before the Heat could foul.  Game Over - Nets win by a 101-100 final score.

Just goes to show, scream loud enough in the right direction, and the correct ear is bound to hear.  Fill-in coach Joe Prunty must have gotten an earful after allowing Deron Williams to exhaust all his prescribed minutes before the fourth quarter during the season opener in Cleveland.  Coach did not make that mistake again Friday as Deron had his hand on the Nets final possession.

Deron Williams played twenty-seven minutes, which was a five minute increase over game one.  He scored eight points and issued a game high eight assists.

Four of five Heat starters played in excess of thirty-two minutes, with LeBron leading the way with forty-two.  It stands to reason then The Heat had five players score in double-digits.  The Nets scoring and allotment of minutes minutes were much more balanced.  Only Paul Pierce exceeded thirty minutes on the floor.  He and Joe Johnson tied for the team high with nineteen points.  Kevin Garnett and LeBron James both recorded a game high seven rebounds, and equally pulled down six on the defensive boards each.

Andrei Kirilenko was a factor off the bench in his first game for the Nets.  He scored eight points in twelve minutes, and showed decisiveness off the pass.  However, he put himself in quick, yet affordable, foul trouble.

Jason Kidd's two game suspension has been served.  Coach will rejoin the team in Orlando.  Assistant coach Joe Prunty ended his brief coaching career with a 1-1 record.

 

Mike.BTB